Nicole and Mark’s Summer Tented Home Wedding

The very first moment I met Nicole, she welcomed me with the biggest ear-to-ear smile, lavender hair, and a 50s style hoop skirt with cartoon kittens decked all over. Surrounded by their nearest and dearest from all stages of life and family, we celebrated a love that was ten years in the making and there was no better place than Nicole’s childhood home. And that day? Just as unique and memorable as this out-of-this-world duo! This summer tented home wedding holds a special place in my heart and this couple and family sits directly beside it!

Though Nicole and Mark had been a part of each other’s adventure for ten years, their friendship began many many years beforehand, so much so that their siblings are friends and had been with one another since childhood. You can only imagine how celebrated this day was, as it marked a significant moment in so many lives and stories that were present!

They and their family are a group of people that make you feel exceptional. You’re welcomed with open, gracious arms, and the most infectious smiles and playful banter. Their day was just as incredible!

The Design…

When asking how they would describe their day, Nicole confidently replied, “like Princess Peach’s magic kingdom. A celebration of color!” Nicole and Mark’s design made me declare the season to come the year for color! The wedding gods must have heard me because I’ve seen an explosion of color through decor.

I LOVE that couples are infusing their energy into their aesthetic! In the coming days, you’ll see a series of posts that further share the elements of their day and how it boasted their story together. A tented home wedding affords us a blank canvas, which allows us to flex our creative muscles even more and add more personality to this custom day. See more of our tented weddings here!

The Photos…

If ever there were a summer tented home wedding that captured our hearts, this one will forever be it and we cannot thank Emily Kirke enough for capturing its true essence! Nicole and Mark, thank you so much for giving us the incredible opportunity to be a part of such a historic day for you and your family! We look forward to celebrating you for years to come!!

credit reel

Photography: Emily Kirke Photography
Ceremony + Reception Location: private home in Newtown, CT
Event Planning + Design: Diana of Jubilee Events
Flowers: Botanique NYC
Cake: Sarah + Simon Cake Design
Catering: Riverhouse Catering
Reception Entertainment: DJ Eko
Stationery: Coral Pheasant Stationery
Beauty: Erica Martell
Ribbon + Draping: Drape Art Designs
Love Cat Illustrations: Salvador Vega Jr
Rentals: La Tavola Linen, PEAK Event Services, Gather + Lounge
Tent: Greenwich Tent Co

Home weddings are.our.JAM! We know the ins and outs, we love planning in such sacred locations, and we adore that it strongly requires a design, which means we get to know our couples even better! I was first introduced to Alicia and Corey through Mae, our dear mother of the bride who, we are certain, we could not adore any more! Alicia and Corey lived out of state and while Mae was holding it down in Connecticut, she opened her home for us to design and plan her only daughter’s outdoor wedding, a day we will never forget.

A tented, outdoor wedding allows us to build a home, for our couple and guests. A place where they create memories with one another and share moments of laughter that they won’t soon forget! The best part? Our backyard wedding can truly be anything we want it to be! The story in that tent reflects our couple, and every piece of this classic, beautiful, and inviting aesthetic mirrored Alicia, Corey, and their family!

We are beyond grateful that Mae brought us together because we were treated to the warmest, most hospitable and appreciative group of people! By the end of this wedding, we were looking for any excuse to hang out with this family. Our interest in Bridgewater Chocolate, the hometown delight certainly increased, but you won’t hear any soreness over this out of us!

The Outdoor Wedding Experience

Alicia knew she wanted their day to be memorable… to deliver an experience to their nearest friends and family. This is what we are all about at Jubilee Events, so we knew it was a match made in heaven! An outdoor wedding requires you to plan for a variety of pivotal moments, all that the guests and couple will form a memory around. Beyond the space, you have to consider all the elements that can contribute to everyone’s comfort, like temperature and terrain. Above that, it’s the seamless moments we don’t consciously take note of, but truly impact the moment.

You know the feeling you get when you intend to go out for a cozy dinner with your loved one? You enjoy your time, you soak in the ambiance, and you eat every last morsel of a carefully prepared menu. A well thought out cocktail and glass of wine certainly helps, too, but at the end of the evening, you leave feeling happy and full — in more than one way, as it should be! While it may just be the two of you, this experience can easily be transformed into a larger celebration and that’s exactly what we did.

Our home property was inherently blessed with a natural view that still, to this day, cannot be beat. It set the scene for guests to take in and be present in their surroundings. Yumiko and the girl power team at Hana Floral Design only added to the beauty. Just you wait and see!

From cocktail hour with freshly prepared and local fare (thanks, Gourmet Galley!) to the reception with an equally exciting menu and a band that flat out knocked our socks off! We made sure our couple and all guests were on the dance floor until the very last song. A big shout out to The Party Shop for ALWAYS bringing some serious heat. We love you and your musical stylings from the bottom of our hearts!

We hope everyone enjoys these photos as much as we did living through it! To Alicia, Corey, Mae, and your amazing family, thank you for giving us the opportunity to create magic for you and to see you experience it all! Cheers to many more decades of celebration and happiness! XOXOXO

To learn a little more about our love for home weddings, check us out here and here!

Liz & Jeremy’s Jonathan Edwards Winery Wedding

When we first met with Liz and Jeremy about their wedding at Jonathan Edwards Winery, color became the topic of conversation. We had to have it and it needed to make you smile! We wanted guests to feel the type of energy that you experience when you look forward to a night of merriment with your nearest and dearest!

As the planning process unfolded into the big day, not only had we succeeded in making their event colorful and bright, we celebrated two of the many qualities this couple and their family treated all of us to each step of the way. Never without a smile on their face or a level of excitement that made everyone giddy, this was a family that treated us as part of their own and allowed us to walk away with friendships as strong as ones we were able to witness that night.

The thing I love most about a vineyard wedding is that it invites this natural, organic, relaxed feeling into the day and design. It requires you to stop and embrace your surroundings, enhancing the overall experience!

The Wedding Ceremony

Our design began with a bright color palette that would complement the inherent nature of Jonathan Edwards Winery. Married in between the lush vines, Liz and Jer built a ceremony around what meant most to them and honored their history and future in the most beautifully personal way possible.

Alongside their close friend that officiated the celebration, Liz’s mom, Chief of the Mohegan tribe performed a sacred blessing ritual on their union, bound together tightly by an elected leader. Starting off their adventure with the love and support of their crew had never been so profound. You’ll see we’ve given a special nod below to Liz’s dad, our dear father of the bride. We just cannot get over how much he adores his girls and it certainly shows through these photos. We know if we’re smitten with these memories, then Liz’s family are easily carrying the same fondness in their hearts.

The Wedding Experience

Set under the big top tent at the vineyard, Liz and Jer treated their guests to a fresh, seasonally inspired menu courtesy of A Thyme to Cook. How lucky are we (rather, smart and well planned) to host such a beautiful day in the middle of the best time of year for colorful food! Through personal moments, creative touches, and nonstop dancing, we built a lifetime of memories in a single night, though the only thing that may top those were the smiles Liz and Jeremy shared with each other and with their crew all night long. I’ll never forget the way they looked at one another and can feel that happiness when I get wrapped up in their photos.

Liz and Jer (and the cutest, sweetest family around), thank you so much for sharing your love, your history, and your happiness with us! We will always think of you when we visit or celebrate at Jonathan Edwards Winery! You have a forever place there and in our heart! We wish you all that a million times more as you continue life’s adventure together. XOXO

To see more of our vineyard weddings, check us out here!

Under the Big Top Tent

Over the last 10+ years, we have had the incredible opportunity to meet a variety of couples, their families, and closest friends. Often times, that group of people becomes an extension of our own family. Jenny and Victor, their kind and lovable parents are the perfect poster couple for this great fortune. Aside from their epic carnival wedding that we will detail below, we planned, designed, and celebrated a number of other milestone events together. Their personal backyard engagement party, Jack and Jill (hello, wedding party Olympics), and entire wedding weekend were just a few.

After growing with this family for the last two years, we have been afforded the chance to simultaneously plan events for their second baby on the way and their brilliant baby girl’s first birthday early next year. Like we’ve said before, life is made up of a series of moments with those we love and it is with great honor that we have been a part of so many with this amazing crew!!

Come one, come all: Carnival Wedding

We’ll take it back to October 1st when Jenny and Vic celebrated the start of their own wolf pack with the perfect level of fun they were hoping to treat their guests to. While their wedding held many traditional elements that honored the history of Jenny and Victor’s family and story, there were also quite a number of whimsical twists that this couple gifted their guests.

They had decided that they wanted the emphasis of their wedding to be on the fun had by all their loved ones. We knew it would be easy to accomplish with all of the wonderful vendors and plans we had in our back pocket, but in true Jenny and Victor fashion, they opted to take it a step above and bring everyone to a carnival — rather, bring a carnival to them!

Surprises for All!

We had the best time developing unexpected, yet thoughtful plays on many aspects of their carnival wedding decor! Their ceremony program came complete as a box of fresh popcorn and in place of escort cards, each person had a caricature created, customized with nods to some of their favorite hobbies and pastimes with the couple.

Instead of floral decor, the tables were lined with an array of cotton candy cones for everyone to enjoy. Of course, no carnival wedding is complete without games, a plethora of games (and prizes!), all which sat underneath the big top tent, masterfully decorated by the one and only Drape Art Designs. Check out every strand of ribbon individually placed from top to edge!

The best part of it this day is that their wedding truly represented Jenny and Victor and brought everyone memories that will never be topped. It’s so special to see the unique paths each event takes and this one will go down in our hearts as one of the best!

Jenny and Victor (and the Cormier and Maso family), thank you for giving us the opportunity create something so special and so wonderfully you! This day gave us a relationship and new family that we are honored to not only be a part of, but to witness grow through life. Love you all!

Want to see more of our tented and vineyard weddings, check us out here!

Tents are easily our favorite spaces to design! It’s always an exciting process to see how the decor in the tent comes to life. From lighting, to draping, hanging florals and unique customized pieces — we’ve done it all. One element we love is classic wedding tent decor using draping and lighting. Trust us when we say there is not a chandelier or swag of fabric that does not have our heart! So, we put together 3 draping ideas to spruce up your wedding tent decor.

3 Ways to Spruce Up Your Wedding Tent Decor Using Draping

Photo: Ali + Julie   Tent Decor: Drape Art Designs

Wedding Tent Decor: Texture

Play with textures. For Alicia & Corey’s wedding at a private home in Connecticut, we decked out a Sperry Tent with alternating fabrics, bringing texture to the ceiling. Speak with your planner or tent decor company about other fabrics and textures that can be introduced into your design to heighten your aesthetic!

Photo: Carla Ten Eyck Photography   Tent Decor: Drape Art Designs

Wedding Tent Decor: Use of Color

Bring in a touch of color! We said we love classic draping, but you don’t have to limit yourself to a white or ivory fabric. For Kara & Victor’s tented wedding at The Branford House, we brought in their color palette with beautiful mauve and blush draping. Draw inspiration from your own color palette, stretching this to every aspect of your design, making your wedding day look complete.

Photo: Armor + Martel   Tent Decor: Ryan Designs

Wedding Tent Decor: Patterns & Styling

 Pattern your fabric! Your guests will look up to revel in your romantic decor as soon as they enter the tent. Add a bit of intrigue and impact by weaving your fabric between the center poles, allowing this aspect to shine a bit more! We love this look that we created for Amy & Scott’s tented wedding at the Eisenhower House. The weaved fabric is unexpected, and added A LOT of drama to the ceiling of this magical tent!

Want to see more of our Connecticut tented weddings?

Amy and Scott are two wonderful people that you cannot help but adore the moment you meet them! Right away I knew that we would have an incredible adventure planning and designing their wedding together. Without a doubt, their Eisenhower House wedding was a day we still get giddy over!

Their hearts, made of gold, always took such great care of their guests’ experience, making sure that every aspect of their wedding was something for everyone to look forward to and enjoy to it’s full extent. They were so invested in every step of the process and it truly showed on the big day! Amy and Scott so perfectly exemplified while planning a wedding is so FUN!! They embraced every step, loved talking through ideas and questions, and also placed their guests’ experience at the forefront of their thoughts, which is an element we always lead our plans with!

The Eisenhower House: Design

Amy and Scott’s design was a perfect reflection of one of their favorite places they enjoyed every year – Newport, Rhode Island! Fort Adams, where the Eisenhower House is set happened to be the where our couple spent many weekends picnicking on the lawn, watching the sailboats drift by. Naturally, we developed a classic, nautical inspiration, set on the lawn of the historic yellow house, complete with the most elegant sailcloth tent from Newport Tents (just wait until you see the epic draping and to-die-for crystal chandeliers!). The views of the historic Pell Bridge added the perfect touch to an already perfect evening!

Flowers are a staple in our couple’s love story, so there was no better person to go to than the wildly talented Sayles Livingston Design. She created the most luxurious centerpieces full of blush, ivory, and cream buds bursting up from champagne rich tables. Pops of gold graced our tables and, my favorite element, the gold foiled script on our invitations and stationery courtesy of the immeasurably talented designer, Nichole of Coral Pheasant Stationery!

We were graced with the most colorful sunset that evening, bidding farewell to the most perfect Newport wedding and couple. Amy and Scott, we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to collaborate with you, to spend time getting to know you, and eating pounds of cake with an array of fresh buttercream and fillings. We miss you dearly and wish you the very best first anniversary in the coming weeks and many more exciting adventures in the decades to come! XO!!

CREDIT REEL

Photography: Armor + Martel
Ceremony Location: St. Augustin’s Church
Reception Location: The Eisenhower House
Event Planning + Design:  Diana of Jubilee Events
Flowers: Sayles Livingston Design
Videography: Vantage Point Films
Catering: Blackstone Caterers
Music: The Sultans of Swing
Bride’s gown: Marchesa from Ultimate Bride
Stationery: Coral Pheasant Stationery
Hair and Makeup: Dana Bartone + Co.
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Jenny Yoo
Cake: Confectionery Designs
Groom’s suit: custom Salvatore Ferragamo
Tent: Newport Tent
Tent Decor + Lighting: Ryan Designs
Rentals: La Tavola Linen, Rentals Unlimited / PEAK Event Services

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