There’s something about a modern, black and white, with a side of fierce design aesthetic that we love! It seems like Love Inc. felt the same way because they have featured our photo shoot that took place at The Goodwin Hotel in Hartford, Connecticut!

Designing this shoot was a treat — a slight departure from our usual approach to creating wedding specific content. While our inspiration normally begins with the venue — our surroundings and natural aesthetic, this shoot began with the couple. We wanted to focus more on their story and dynamic as that’s what the wedding day is really all about: the two people we are there to celebrate. From there, the other pieces would come together.

Check us out!!

Take a peek here and get soaked up in all the sexy, sequin goodness! Thank you to the team at Love Inc. for sharing such an inspiring day and collection of ideas and stay tuned to the blog for the full spread!

the A-team

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck
Venue: The Goodwin Hotel, Hartford
Planning + Design: Diana of Jubilee Events
Flowers: Persephone Floral
Beauty: Catie Bane for Willow Salon
Suits: Valentino Tailors
Styling: Beth Chapman Styling
Cake: Sugar Therapy
Gowns: Ines de Santo and Theia via The White Dress by the Shore
Maid’s Dresses: Hayley Paige, Jenny Yoo via The White Dress by the Shore
Accessories: Sara Gabriel
Rentals: PEAK Event Services
Linen: Nuage Designs

1. SPIKED APPLE CIDER: Am I the only gal who eagerly awaits when the grocery store starts selling jugs of apple cider? Didn’t think so. One of our favorite ways to incorporate Fall into your menu is through an adult bev. Consider serving warm apple cider, spiked with your favorite bourbon, and garnished with a cinnamon stick. It’s sure to keep your guests warm (in more ways than one!).

2. BUTTERNUT SQUASH BISQUE SHOOTERS: Served hot or cold, these sweet + savory appetizers are perfect for cocktail hour. Serve them in a shot glass or a small cup

6. MAC N’ CHEESE: OK, Mac n’ Cheese isn’t necessarily Fall — but remember, carbs don’t count. Serve up an adult version of this favorite childhood dish by adding an adult approved meat: bacon. In fact, we recommend bacon in nearly every dish you serve at your wedding.

It is one of the most exceptional parts of our job to witness and celebrate a couple coming together and celebrating the next part of their adventure surrounded by their loved ones. It may top the list, really! We’re witness to one of the most monumental and intimate events in a family’s life, something we call ourselves lucky for. When Carats & Cake featured the dear Amanda and John‘s mansion wedding at the Branford House this past week, we were easily reminded of this sentiment and afforded the opportunity to relive one of the most special, personal days — and one of the BEST dance crowds — we’ve ever been a part of!

The Couple

A little bit about Amanda and John… we love them!! And it’s just that. They are our people and we thoroughly enjoyed every element of this process with them and especially on the day of. They’re down-to-earth, kind, and so excited about planning an experience that they and their guests would enjoy. And boy did they!!

They’re also not scared of a bit of adventure, which we all celebrated when these two stopped traffic on the Mystic Bridge for a few photos. Yes, you read that correctly… they stopped traffic on the Mystic Bridge for a few smiles and even more jaw-dropping reactions from their crew — vendors, wedding party, and strangers alike! Thanking our lucky stars for the beautiful soul that is Brooke Allison, as she captured and embraced every moment of this as our couple did.

The Design at the Mansion

The Branford House is one of our most favorite spaces to work with and every design we have created within this property has become a timeless favorite. When we began mansion wedding design, Amanda described her day as embodying a classic, art-deco, romantic, nature-inspired. I remember her giggling because, how could that make sense, she asked. It does, though! We can always make sense of the array of images and words in your mind and that, to us, is one of the coolest aspects of design!

Through our floral decor with the amazing Blush Floral Design, black and white checkered dance floor, and the most romantic color palette of blush, taupe, cream, gold, and pops of navy and slate blue, we created an aesthetic that made our hearts sing and will continue to do so for eternity! Add in the most amazing stationery design from Coral Pheasant Stationery to set the tone for this momentous occasion, complete with a wood grained invitation that awakened the senses and we had a celebration on our hands.

The Best of the Best

Looking at Amanda and John’s photos, there were so many that I could call my favorite, but the ones that stood out the most — other than these two stopping the world in their tracks on the Mystic Bridge — were the photos of everyone dancing. The life and enjoyment on their faces and happiness behind their experience. Also, this bridal party has been unofficially adopted as our hype squad for all events and projects in life, wedding related or not! It’s safe to say we all found ourselves cheering and smiling when surrounded by this crew!

Amanda and John, THANK YOU SO MUCH for giving us the most fortunate chance to be a part of your story and be in the presence of such happiness. We are the luckiest ones to have been surrounded by so much love that day and we hope that’s a feeling that stays with you always!! Here’s to many more days, weeks, and years smiling, laughing, and dancing together. XOXO

For other amazing Branford House weddings, check us out here!

credit reel

Photography: Brooke Allison
Ceremony Location: Saint Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, Mystic
Event Planning + Design: Diana of Jubilee Events
Flowers: Blush Floral Design
Reception Location: The Branford House
Catering: David Alan Hospitality
Reception Entertainment: DJ Eko
Stationery: Coral Pheasant Stationery
Beauty: Rob Rivers Salon and Spa
Lighting: Drape Art Designs
Bride’s Gown: Made With Love from The White Dress by the Shore
Bride’s Accessories: Love Bird Bridal Boutique
Alterations: deMelis Atelier
Rentals: La Tavola Linen, PEAK Event Services, Gather + Lounge
Trolley: Rockstar Limo

Erica and Jacob’s Classic Home Wedding Inspired by the Water

We love a good home wedding! Logistics are what we thrive on and there is really no better design than the one we derive from learning about our couple. What makes it better is when that couple is as cool and thoughtful as Erica and Jacob. We’re saying it now, but Erica is going to save the world one day!! She comes from a family of kick-assers so I knew I was standing in front of greatness the first time I met her and Jacob, who always had a way of making you feel like good times were at hand.

The Signature Details

Our design was inspired by no better place than our surroundings! With Erica’s family home set waterside, we brought in the colors we’d find throughout the scenery like blues and greens, mixed with some seasonal inspiration, like blush and plum. Being waterside always has a way of making you feel fresh and relaxed and that was a vibe we maintained at this shoreline wedding, up to the very last dance under string lights.

With a raw bar brimming to the top with fresh oysters, scallops, shrimp and more as well as a full pie bar from A Thyme to Cook, guests were in for a literal treat. We couldn’t get enough of Erica and Jacob cutting their pie. Not the biggest fans of cake, they brought in their own personal twist on tradition, which guests are still talking about today! The menu is always one of the most exciting parts to develop because there are so many avenues to travel down based on your season, background, and wedding setting. It’s the unspoken language of love!

One of my favorite details?! Our guest book featuring messages in a bottle. Guests wrote sweet love notes to the beautiful couple to uncover and revisit long after their momentous day! How fun!

Erica and Jacob, thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your magic, experiencing such a breathtaking space, and for being a part of such priceless moments with your family. We look forward to seeing all you amazing souls accomplish!! XOXO

For more information and inspiration for your home wedding, be sure to visit our helpful tips and tricks here!

Saira and Kai’s Summer Garden Wedding

We just adore a sweet summer garden wedding and there is truly no place better to set the scene than the Grace Mayflower Inn + Spa. Add the charming Saira and Kai to the mix and we knew it would be nothing short of perfection!

We were granted the very lucky opportunity to collaborate with Saira, one of the sweetest, kindest people I’ve ever had the chance to know. But really, that’s how all of our couples are so we fit well together right away. Over the course of the planning period, Saira and Kai were living and traveling in between New Mexico and Hawaii as Kai is active duty military. Being that these two are worldly travelers and know an amazing place when they visit one, they had their heart set on the Mayflower Inn from the day Kai popped the question!

It’s natural to assume that planning a wedding from such a distance would present its own set of challenges and difficulties, but being able to learn more about who Saira and Kai are, as well as the vision they had in mind only added to how personalized their day was — and how much fun we had building their wedding weekend!

The Sweet Details!

Surrounded by meticulously cared for gardens, the Mayflower Inn set the inspiration for our blush, ivory, and green aesthetic. Perfecting this summer wedding was the floral texture present in our stationery, linens, and, of course, floral decor!

My favorite detail? The escort card display that we created to replicate Saira’s bouquet Just For You Floral Designs hand crafted. Instead of finding a space to preserve her bouquet amidst their packing and travels, we designed this as momentum that will forever remind the of the memories they created on that warm summer day.

Saira and Kai, thank you, thank you, thank you for allowing us to be part of your adventure! We look forward to following your travels and seeing all the excitement life has in store for you! XOXOXO

You’ve had an introductory peek at the Chatfield Hollow Inn, but now it’s time to see just how perfectly this is set up for a wedding or event! Right before we spent the evening with some of our industry friends, we played in the clusters of ferns and BEAUTIFUL birch trees to highlight the property in all its glory.

If words and photos could do this space justice, then we would write about it and share images all day long! Every part of the property has been so meticulously cared for and designed, making it one of the most unique wedding venues our state has to offer. The owner and designer of Chatfield Hollow B and B, Ken, knows how unique each of his couples are and wants to be sure his space offers the same opportunity for customization. So much so that he has a variety of spaces for your ceremony or reception based on your guest count. Each one has been hand built so each of your guests are able to fully experience the beauty behind this location.

As a working farm, this special Connecticut wedding venue offers its couples and vendors the chance to use pieces of the property as part of your day. Their fully operational mushroom garden, peach and apple trees can be enjoyed through your food and beverage menu no matter the season. My favorite part? The peony garden gushing with bright pink and purple peonies that don’t just make a beautiful photo, but an even more stunning aspect of your design!

Our girl Chelsea from Everthine Bridal Boutique with a little behind-the-scenes touch ups. Sometimes all the pieces are just as easy to love as the final product.

Those.FERNS!! They are everywhere around the property, creating the perfect nooks for photos, a first look, or even your ceremony. Even some texture for a bouquet!

And this is Chelsea in all that ferny glory!!

Say hi to Danielle from Gather and Lounge, who has the best collection of vintage furniture and accent decor.

Besides the yards of ferns lining the property, Chatfield Hollow Inn offers an array of ceremony locations, all which have been carefully designed for beautiful views, guest comfortability, and timeless memories. Take a peek at the photos below (thank you, Carla Ten Eyck!!) to get an idea of the magic behind this space!!

This “house” below is the gym at Chatfield Hollow Inn — nicest gym you’ve ever seen right?! It’s also a perfect area for some of your wedding party to get ready!

A Modern Garden Love Story

We were just creeping up on summer of last year when we received a call asking us to design a shoot to inspire events in those warmer summer months and we were elated, to say the least! With carte blanche to create our aesthetic and assemble a team of the best of the best, we hit the ground running and developed the most colorful, cheerful modern garden inspired setting, taking place on the grounds of the GORGEOUS Blithewold Mansion and Gardens. Fit for an outdoor wedding, mansion soiree, or garden affair, we’ve developed enough eye candy to make you want to wrap yourself up in this shoot!

The Inspiration + Design

Starting with shades of pink and all citrus tones, we developed a modern garden inspiration perfect for any Spring or Summer event. Of course, we are big proponents of color so we certainly support the idea of featuring this palette any time of year!

With colorful florals and natural textures to juxtapose the clean lines of fashion and backgrounds, our team produced a whimsical, modern concept to perfectly inspire your garden party.

The Fashion

While fashion is another aspect to bring in your personality, it’s also the best source of inspiration for your design because it perfectly represents you! Beth Chapman Styling and the team from The White Dress by the Shore, as always, completed our look with the most fitting gowns, complete with all the texture and romance we need. That cape! Need we say more?!

Kate and Richard’s Belle Mer Wedding is Featured on Carats and Cake!

We are so excited to see the gorgeous duo of Kate and Richard on Carats and Cake today! Their classic Belle Mer wedding was beaming with bold accents, super personalized details, and romantic views. These two were even more to love!

Head on over to the blog to revel in every romantic detail and leave them some love! To check out their full love story, visit the blog here.

Thank you to the team over at Carats and Cake for sharing another wonderful memory. XO!

VENDOR REEL

Design and Planning: Libby, Jubilee Events
Officiant: John Pence, Brother in Law of Kate
Hair and makeup: Simply Gorgeous by Erin Infantino
Dress: Anne Barge via The White Dress by the Shore
Musicians: Golden Scrolls
Photography: Carla Ten Eyck
Video: Lucent Wedding Films
Florist: Stoneblossom
Band: Murray Hill, Flipside
Rentals: PEAK Event Services
Paper: Roseville Designs

Alicia and Corey are on Carats & Cake!!

There’s nothing quite like reliving one of your favorite weddings ever, but, lucky us, today’s the day to do so! Alicia and and Corey are on Carats and Cake with all their gorgeous details. Check it out here! Thank you to the team over at Carats and Cake for sharing!

If you’d like to immerse yourself in a little more eye candy of their home wedding, be sure to visit our recent blog post where we retell the memories of the day!

This wedding certainly would not have been what it was without our amazing team for the day. Sending lots of love to these professionals!!