snippet & ink: daily wedding inspiration

Sunday Edition #59

2009-11-08T05:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Weekend!

2009-11-06T05:30:00.001-06:00

In addition to stepping back a bit from my own blogging, I've actually held off reading other blogs for a little while, so I don't have as many wonderful links to share with you this week as I usually do. But some of these are such charming things I've had bookmarked for awhile, so even if you've already seen them, they're good for a smile....

{by Mandy Lynne}

Mmmmm... pastries.... Paris....

Musical birds on a wire.

If only treadmills were actually this much fun.

Touching strangers.

Guerrilla wedding in the Met. This might just be the way to go.

I heart Richard Avedon - if you can get to this exhibit before it closes, you won't regret it.

Well lovelies, that's all the links for this week. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have! And a big thank you once again for all of your support and kind words - my heart is filled to overflowing to know that there is a community here that, though I might not be able to see it, is certainly palpable and real. Have a happy happy weekend!

Thank You All!

2009-11-03T12:00:00.003-06:00

Dear sweet readers,

I am absolutely blown away by all of your words of encouragement and understanding. I'm not sure what I expected to happen when I decided to write that post, but finding this amazing well of support was such a happy surprise and blessing. Thank you so so much to all of you, from the bottom of my heart.

Much love,
Kathryn

Hello Again!

2009-11-02T16:00:00.001-06:00

Hi lovelies! I'm back from my retreat, and I can't even begin to tell you how amazing it was to have an entire week without any internet or cell phones. I highly recommend it to everyone.

In addition to just saying, "Hi, I'm back!" I also wanted to check in with all of you. The personal voice of this blog seems to have gone missing in the past several months, and now that I've had some time away, I feel like I'm in a good place to do some sharing about what has been going on over on this side of Snippet & Ink. Though I've debated whether or not to "go there" on this blog, I've found that keeping things open and honest is always a better option than closing things off, so here we go.

{by Kari Herer}

For some time now, I have been struggling with depression, and only in the last couple of months have I started to actively address it. My honey and I have decided to put wedding plans on hold for the time being, while I make this a priority. Things with us are good, and I'm still wearing my engagement ring - it's just going to be a longer engagement than we had originally planned.

Another part of my life that has been affected is this blog. Growing pains are a natural part of the readership growth and changing blog world that Snippet & Ink has seen in the last two years, and whenever a creative hobby becomes a business, the dynamics of it change. But more than that, so much of the joy I took in blogging went away, my creativity has felt sapped, and I've lost focus on what I love about this blog.

All of this is to say that, while things here on Snippet & Ink may be a bit bumpy for awhile, there are some great things and exciting changes in store in the next year. I am working on re-focusing and bringing back the joy and creativity that make this blog such a fun place for me - and I hope for you. I can't even begin to express my gratitude for the incredible readers that I have, the wonderful comments that you leave, and the kind words that you send in emails. My hope is that, through it all, Snippet & Ink continues to be a source of daily inspiration for you.

Sunday Edition #58

2009-11-01T05:30:00.001-06:00

by Jules

Love Shoot: Carolyn & Chris

2009-10-31T05:30:00.004-05:00

A sweet and casual love shoot from Snippet & Ink reader, Carolyn: My new husband and I are currently living in Singapore and we were married last month in Perth, Australia where he is from. We wanted to incorporate something Australian into the pictures and what better way than Australian bottle trees at Bottle Tree Park, right here in sunny Singapore!

Bride's dress: Banana Republic

Groom's suit: Zara

Photos: The Peeping Thom

Real Wedding: Sharlyn & Jim

2009-10-30T05:30:00.004-05:00

Gia Canali takes such lovely photos, so I'm thrilled to have a chance to share her work with you on Snippet & Ink... Sharlyn shared with me why she and Jim chose this for their wedding: "We had recently moved to the Bay Area and wanted to provide an exciting opportunity to have our friends and family join us for a long wedding weekend get-away. We liked the charming feel of Healdsburg and absolutely fell in love with Healdsburg Country Gardens - it was quaint, private and romantic. Nothing pretentious or gaudy. The amazing oak tree overlooking the vineyards symbolizing a new life of strength and wisdom, the European gardens that wound around the premises, and the 1804 barn just sealed the deal as my husband had asked me to marry him at a barn in Seattle (with my horse in tow). Believe me when I tell you, he wanted to figure out a way to have my horse there at the ceremony!"

As much as I love wedding photos, I just can't resist the sweet stories from the bride and groom that might not be visible in pictures. Sharlyn shares one of her favorite moments from the day: "A light wind had picked up during the ceremony, blowing through the grapevines and oak tree. After the exchanging of vows and the kiss, we walked down the grass aisle to have the wind scoop my veil up and tightly wrap Jim up in it. As soon as it was unraveled, the wind blew again only to find Jim wrapped closely to my side in the veil. It was a great symbol of our now joined life together." Sharlyn's mother made her veil.

Venue: Healdsburg Country Gardens, Healdsburg, California

Bride's dress: Jenny Lee

Thank you to Gia Canali for sharing these photos. And of course, congratulations and best wishes to you, Sharlyn and Jim!

Real Wedding: Elizabeth & Noah

2009-10-29T05:30:00.003-05:00

Noah and Elizabeth are a "BBQ loving Southerner and vegetarian New Englander," and they were married somewhere in between at this historical Maryland inn. Katie Stoops from Open Air Photography sent over some beautiful photos of this timeless wedding...

Elizabeth wore fresh lavender in her hair.

With more than 20 children in attendance, it was important to include them and make the wedding enjoyable for them, too. The innkeepers set up a kids' station with kid-friendly foods and floor seating with pillows. They also had babysitters on site for the little ones and so parents could enjoy the evening stress free.

Favors were 5 dragees in canvas tea bags, with a tag that read "five wishes for a sweet life."

Elizabeth shares this bit about the cake: "About 8 months before the wedding, I couldn't think of the perfect wedding gift for Noah, until I was watching an episode of the Food Network's Ace of Cakes. The idea hit me, and several friends and family kept this a guarded secret until the reception. Noah is a longtime Star Wars fan, so I auditioned all of the characters in my mind until I decided on the Millennium Falcon ship. He had no idea until we walked into the tent and were walking up to the cake."

The fireworks were one of the couple's favorite moments of the day. Since they love fireworks, they chose to fit it into their budget, and surprised all of their guests with a beautiful finale to the day.

Venue: Brome Howard Inn, St. Mary's City, Maryland

Bride's dress: Pronovias

Bride's shoes: Nine West

Flowers: DIY, purchased from a wholesaler

Cake: Charm City Cakes

Fireworks: Digital Lightning

Congratulations to Elizabeth and Noah, and a big thank you to Katie Stoops for sharing these photos with us. You can see even more from this beautiful wedding in the galleries on Katie's website.

Real Wedding: Dmitra & Pascal

2009-10-28T05:30:00.002-05:00

In some ways, today's feature is an ode to a dress, but I also love sharing a couple's wedding day story in their own words, especially when it is put as beautifully as this one was. I enjoyed reading this lovely story from Dmitra and Pascal as much as I enjoyed their amazing wedding ensembles (photographed by the talented Jude Mooney)...

"Dmitra and Pascal finally decided to get married on their 10 year anniversary. Pascal is French and sometimes feels he was born in the wrong century, so they chose to have 18th century ensembles created. She wanted lush and gorgeous clothing that wasn't too theatrical, while he wanted to retain his punk rock aesthetic. Master San Francisco costume designer and couturier Todd Roehrman helped the couple hone in on their vision through historical costume research, creating sketches and sifting through fabrics. Dmitra's dress featured a fully hand-built embroidered silk corset and cascading, hand-made silk flowers, one of Roehrman's specialties. He also created a striking pheasant feather headdress and velvet collar, finished with period silk brocade and buckle shoes. Todd added industrial zipper piping, large clasps and silk flowers to Pascal's gentleman's frock coat and pants, paired with an embroidered silk vest and the quintessential black boots. Everyone else got to wear whatever they wanted, which made for an eclectic and originally bedecked audience. The ceremony and reception were held on a friend's private ranch near Sonoma, surrounded by ancient oak trees and rolling hills. The couple ended the ceremony by jumping over a manzanita broom made by a friend in the African American tradition of Dmitra's heritage. They have a 9 year old son, Keda Dawn, who would not wear his fancy Indian suit but did come down out of the oak tree to put the rings on his parents."

Venue: private ranch in Kenwood, California

Custom wedding clothing: Todd Roehrman

Buckle shoes: Fugawee

Catering: Olive & Vine

Dmitra shares her favorite reading from the ceremony, an Egyptian song dating from 1300-1100BCE, found inscribed on a vase in hieroglyphs and adapted by Robert Haas: This love is as good as oil and honey to the throat / as linen to the body, as fine garments to the gods / as incense to worshippers when they enter in / as the little seal-ring to my finger / it is like a ripe pear in a man's hand / it is like the dates we mix with wine / it is like the seeds the / baker adds to the bread. / We will be together even when old age comes. / And the days in / between will be like food set before us, / dates and honey, bread and wine.

It's so wonderful to see such a unique wedding, that is such a reflection of the couple. Thank you so much to Jude Mooney for sharing these photos, and to Dmitra and Pascal for sharing the story of the day!

Real Wedding: Courtney & Christian

2009-10-27T05:30:00.003-05:00

I'm sure you already know of my love for Jonathan Canlas' photography, and today's feature is no exception. Courtney and Christian's wedding was a beautiful, classic event at the bride's childhood home. Says Courtney: "I always wanted to have my reception at home, in my backyard. I am from Maryland and I love the big, tall green trees in my backyard. Each of my four sisters also had their receptions at home, and I have grown up looking forward to mine. Another wonderful thing that I loved about our wedding is that we got married at 2:00pm. We had all morning to relax, and at 11:00am we went out for brunch with just our parents. It was so nice and peaceful. After that we went to the LDS temple to be married, and the rest of the day just flowed. The weather was perfect. Not a cloud in the sky, which is a miracle because it had literally rained for the two weeks before that day, and the two weeks after it."

Venue: Potomac, Maryland Courtney and Christian's May wedding took place at the bride's childhood home.

Bride's and bridesmaids' dresses: Jessica May Bridal

Flowers: Shelley Black

Rentals: Sugar Plum Tent Company

Band: Fabulous Fantoms

Cake: Windows Catering The cake was, according to Courtney, the best cake ever! Each of the five layers was a different flavor: almond, lemon raspberry, milk chocolate, and vanilla blackberry.

Congratulations Courtney and Christian! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful day with us, and thank you to Jonathan Canlas for sharing these stunning photos. You can see even more from the wedding day on Jonathan's blog, as well as the couple's "bridals and groomals."

Board #440: Kumquats & Orchids

2009-10-26T05:30:00.000-05:00

I know it's still the middle of autumn, but I was so inspired by this orchid and kumquat and couldn't wait to create a chic winter wedding board with it in mind. Crisp white is the perfect backdrop for this unique winter palette of evergreen and orange. Though it's not a minimalist look, the details are simple and not over done. It balances classic and modern, for a timeless yet updated look. If you wanted to add a holiday touch to this winter wedding, without being too obvious, unembellished white crackers would be a good choice.

Mood: modern elegance, winter chic
Palette: dark evergreen, white orchid, kumquat orange

{click image to enlarge}

Top row from left: centerpiece with orchids and kumquats and green wedding invitations both from Martha Stewart, modern orchid centerpieces from Wedding Style Guide, kumquat boutonniere photo by Blonde Tulip
Row 2: white bridal headband from Brides, cascading orchid and vine bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, floral gown by Reem Acra, escort cards with jasmine display from Michelle Rago
Row 3: green and white ring pillow by Maihar Design, calligraphy favor box from Martha Stewart Weddings, kumquat arrangement and citrus desserts photo by Aya Brackett, Location 05 modern loft studios

Sunday Edition #57

2009-10-25T05:30:00.000-05:00

by Josh Goleman

Love Shoot: Anna & Tyler

2009-10-24T05:30:00.002-05:00

Anna wrote me the sweetest email, sharing her engagement photos with me, and now I get to share them with you! In Anna's words: My wonderful friend Windy took engagement photos for us before we left California to move back to the East Coast. Tyler and I are high school sweethearts, been together 10 years... about time he popped the question!

I love the different places Anna and Tyler went for these photos, but the beach ones are my favorite...

Congratulations Anna and Tyler! It's always so fun to see engagement photos that really show a couple's personalities and absolute love for one another! You can see more from this shoot over on Windy Dougall's blog...

Happy Weekend!

2009-10-23T11:30:00.000-05:00

This weekend brings more visitors, and then I'll be taking off for about a week - no cell phone and no computer for six days! Meantime, I'll have some beautiful real weddings scheduled to post while I'm away, and of course there are the weekend links...

{by Rodney Smith}

Pillow fight!

Loving the look of Remedy Quarterly - hope it gets kickstarted!

Clever jewelry photos.

Incredible Gatsby party, via Party Perfect.

Find some wedding inspiration here?

These flowers are making my day.

What can you do with paper? via Chewing the Cud

Too cute!

Working on living in the moment, so I'm feeling inspired by this.

I heart this sweet beach wedding.

Fashion advice from Vivienne Westwood.

Lots of little treasures in these wedding invites.

Antique jewelry at Topazery, via East Side Bride.

Glamorous feathers.

Cookies in the mail!

Happy weekend lovelies!

Real Wedding: Rebecca & Keith

2009-10-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

Rebecca and Keith's August wedding looks like such a fun time, and I'm so glad they decided to share it with us. Here is a bit from Rebecca about the planning process: Since we're both grad students now, we knew we needed to plan a wedding on a budget. Our friends and family are all uniquely creative, so we knew we wanted to incorporate their skills and talents. We wanted a wedding reception that would be a fun party first, and a wedding second. When my Dad offered his backyard as the venue for the reception and we decided that it would be the perfect spot to have our reception: free, gorgeous and casual. As for the ceremony, Meditation Mount was also suggested by my Dad (he sort of became our wedding planner).

Instead of "getting ready" shots, Keith wanted to do something fun with his groomsmen for pre-wedding photos. His brother, the best man, arranged an archery lesson as a last minute surprise.

How great is this detail about the flowers: Keith chose three things to take charge of for the wedding: flowers, music and booze. He took a lesson in bouquet construction at Chestunut and Vine, and learned how to make a perfect bouquet. He foraged in Ojai for a lot of the grasses and flowers in my bouquet. He also made boutonnieres from succulents we grew at home, corsages for our Moms, and the centerpieces which were our own succulent collection housed in wooden boxes from IKEA.

Rebecca wore gorgeous green earrings by Jennifer Miller.

The bridesmaids wore green J.Crew dresses.

I love this passage from Rebecca and Keith's wedding ceremony, spoken by their officiant:
There are a couple things about the ceremony I want you to know. First - It is not going to be that long, maybe 20 minutes, and second - at some point, I will ask: WHO STANDS FOR AND BLESSES THIS MARRIAGE? And you have the opportunity to say WE DO. This will not be a time to be shy…this is a time to be loud and wild and full of love. Your endorsement is a gift. We checked in with the center’s staff and they said a joyful whoop is ok - so feel free to really go for it. (Says Rebecca, "My husband loved it so much, he asked her to have them do it again, and they shouted WE DO!!!! again. It was amazing.")

In addition to the live centerpieces, the tables were decorated with sea glass collected by the couple on trips to the beach, and mason jars filled with river rocks also collected by Rebecca and Keith. Each table was named after a different beach.

I love this hilarious cake topper by Melabo! Rebecca says they chose it because, "Keith runs like a giraffe and I hibernate like a bear, so it seemed fitting." Dinner was catered by a favorite taqueria, drinks were purchased from Costco, and dessert was a traditional Mexican tres leches cake.

What's not to love about a wedding that includes a dance-off! Rebecca reports there was break dancing and moon walking galore.

Thank you to Jeff Clark for sharing these photos, and congratulations to Rebecca and Keith! Thank you so much for sharing your fun wedding with us! Check out their save-the-dates and invites here, designed by their friend Sara. Oh, and I think this bit of advice from Rebecca is some of the best I've ever heard - it seems so obvious, but it's so easy to forget: Don't spend more than you can afford; you really don't need to.

Discounts, Giveaways, Etc.

2009-10-23T05:30:00.001-05:00

Discounts

Bliss Weddings Market is offering Snippet & Ink readers 20% off during their Halloween sale, until 10/31. Coupon does not apply to Bridal Labels, Bridal Hang Tags, shipping, or tax, and cannot be combined with other offers. Coupon code: SNIPOCT2009

Wiley Valentine is offering 10% off all orders placed before 10/31, excluding design fees and proof charges.

Sarah Drake has introduced a line of lower-priced invitations called Simply, and every month they'll feature a different invite for 10% off. Check out this months' offering here.

9tailors is hosting a 2 day event to celebrate their new studio space, 11/13 and 11/14, and they're giving Snippet & Ink readers 20% off purchases from the Premium and Luxury Collections. RSVP to info[at]9tailors.com. If you cannot attend and would like to take advantage of the discount, email them at weddings[at]9tailors.com before 11/30.

Giveaways

Enter to win a $2500 jewelry rental from Adorn Brides through PreOwnedWeddingDresses. See all the details here.

Project Wedding is giving away $1500 in prizes to the best wedding blooper videos submitted in their Wedding Whoops! contest. See details here.

The first 20 Snippet & Ink readers to sign up for The Wedding Salon New York event on 11/2 will get 2 free tickets, a $50 value. Coupon Code: SANY9C

Her Name Was Lola is giving away an invite designed by Dana Cordova in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Learn more here.

Brenda's Wedding Blog is giving away a $65 gift certificate to Blossom Accents. See details here.

Etc.

If you're in the New York area, check out the Temperley London trunk show on 11/7 and 11/8, from noon to 5:00pm, at the boutique (453 Broome Street, 2nd floor). Attendees can enter to win $2000 worth of bridal goodies. RSVP to virginia[at]temperleylondon.com

Classic Bride is selling her beautiful wedding dress, bolero, and veil. See it here.

Real Wedding: Mia & Christian

2009-10-22T05:30:00.001-05:00

Our friends from A Bryan Photo are back today to share this beautiful Southern soiree with us. Mia and Christian's June wedding took place at the beautiful Belmont in Elkridge, Maryland, and though the morning of the wedding was full of heavy rain and wind, the sky cleared just an hour before the ceremony and made for a picture perfect wedding...

Mia wore a gorgeous gown by Oscar de la Renta purchased at Mark Ingram's Bridal Atelier in New York.

Mia embellished basic paper parasols with pink paper petals for the flower girls. Mia owns bridesmaid dress boutique, Garnish, and she chose dresses by her friend Anna Elyse for both the flower girls and the bridesmaids.

All of the stationery, from the invitations to the programs to the menus, were designed by Mia's friend Katie at Chelle Paperie (you may remember Katie's wedding feature from a while back). Peach and cream were used throughout, as well as a dragonfly motif inspired by Mia and Christian's china pattern.

Mia shares a bit about the ceremony: Our officiant was the pastor that baptized me when I was a little girl. My family is from South Carolina and we were raised Southern Baptist. To give a little feel of the south to the wedding, we jumped the broom after our ceremony, a family tradition which is followed on my mother's side.

A gospel choir sang the guests into the cocktail hour, where the sipped Arnold Palmers in the Belmont's gardens.

Christian and his groomsmen wore navy blazers and khaki pants purchased at Peter Elliot in New York, as well as coordinating neckties.

All of the flowers were arranged by Mia's friend Shawn at The Floral Studio, a boutique right next to Mia's shop.

Since Christian's favorite pastime is sailing, the couple wanted to incorporate a small nautical element in their decor - he came up with the idea of including goldfish in the centerpieces.

Favors were tiny copies of the book I Like You by Sandol Stoddard, which was also included as a ceremony reading.

The four-tier buttercream cake had alternating lemon and chocolate layers. Mia's mother helped choose the other treats for the dessert buffet, including cookies, cupcakes, chocolate covered fruit, macarons, and fruit tarts.

The night ended with confetti poppers! Also, I had to share this wonderful detail with you, from Mia: My husband had a little surprise for all of us and was called on stage later in the evening and played drums with the band. He had apparently traveled to new york and practiced with them after telling me he was going away on a business trip. It was an awesome surprise and got all of our guests excited!

Congratulations Mia and Christian! Such a classic, Southern wedding - thank you so much for sharing with us. And thank you to A Bryan Photo for sending over these incredible photos - beautiful work as always. Oh, and if you're a bride in the Maryland area, check out Mia's boutique, Garnish!

Real Wedding: Anna & Bruno

2009-10-21T05:30:00.001-05:00

Anna and Bruno planned a wedding that reflected their interests and personalities, and they were kind enough to share it with us today. But before we get to the photos, I love this detail from Anna, about one of her favorite parts of the day: "The morning of the wedding, I came out of my room tired and stressed. My friends took my to do list away, swarmed around me and rubbed my hands and feet, putting cucumbers on my eyes and offering words of reassurance and comfort." What a great way to start the day!

Anna is a children's author and illustrator, so she did some illustrations of herself and Bruno as bunnies, which were incorporated throughout the wedding, from the invitations to custom buttons. The wedding took place at Nine Mountain Retreat Center in the Berkshires - Anna and Bruno chose this venue so that they could spend the entire weekend with their 50 guests.

Anna designed and illustrated the save-the-dates and invitations, which were Gocco printed by Etsy vendor Heatherjeany.

The outdoor ceremony area was decorated with garlands of origami cranes that many friends and family helped to fold and string. Anna and Bruno walked down the aisle together, following their parents.

A friend read Anna's favorite children's book, The Rabbits' Wedding, as one of the ceremony readings.

During the ceremony, the couple planted a small oak tree, and invited their parents to contribute soil from the places where Anna and Bruno grew up.

How cool is this art installation on the retreat property?

Anna wore a dress from BCBG that she embellished with handmade organza flowers. Bruno wore a suit from Banana Republic.

Anna and Bruno wanted to avoid paper napkins at their wedding, so Anna made darling mismatched napkins for the reception, which doubled as favors for their guests.

Some advice from Anna: Don't worry about what other people will think about your wedding. Do something that is meaningful and special to you and people will be moved and excited about it. Also, while I am a big fan of DIY, don't take on more than you can reasonably do! Pick and choose the projects you care about, and let the rest go.

A Brazilian-inspired meal was served to honor Bruno's heritage. In addition, after dinner, Bruno changed out of his suit and played Capoeira with his friends.

Tin cans and Ball jars were used as vases. The flowers were bought in bulk from a local organic farm, and then arranged by the couple and their friends the day before the wedding.

Cheers Anna and Bruno! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding with us, and thank you to photographer Kelly Lorenz for sharing these photos.

Board #439: Mercury Glass and Whimsy

2009-10-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

Another Halloween-inspired wedding board for you today, though again I tried to keep it from being too obvious. The palette is elegantly whimsical - fitting for both a black tie affair and a Halloween soiree. Silver jack-o-lanterns set the mood, though nothing overly shiny and new - mercury glass has a tarnished look to it that's just perfect here. Black polka dots on a white backdrop are wonderfully fun. Make table numbers key players in centerpieces, by creating number collections under a bell jar: glittered numbers, dominoes, playing cards all let guests know where to sit. I couldn't find any great images for this, but I think that silver glittered spider webs could be a nice touch - maybe as favors for your guests.

Mood: elegantly eerie whimsy
Palette: cool white, jet black, mercury glass

{click image to enlarge}

Top row from left: Tim Walker polka dot room via Oh Joy!, silver jack-o-lanterns by Carolyne Roehm, black swiss dot veil via Perfect Bound
Row 2: Elie Saab dress with butterfly sleeves from Brides, mercury glass candlesticks via Paris Parfait
Row 3: black and white cupcake photo by Victoria Pearson, silver glass glitter table number, anemone centerpieces from The Knot, silver leaf staircase via Willow Decor
Row 4: mercury glass pots via Lobster & Swan, commedia letterpress via Moontree, black and white groom suiting photo by Millie Holloman

Real Wedding: Jennifer & Manny

2009-10-20T05:30:00.004-05:00

The playfulness and whimsy in today's real wedding is absolutely irresistible! Jennifer is an art director and graphic designer for Nickelodeon, and Manny, formerly a comic book illustrator and cartoonist, is creative director at an ad agency. Says Jennifer, "You can imagine the spinning wheels going on for us when creating an event. We really didn't want to make it an epic project. I have a huge appreciation for such things and I'm extremely detail oriented, but we wanted to focus on relaxing and not being stressed out. I had to restrain myself a bit, but I'm grateful - less was more!" But no matter how much they held back, their creativity and playfulness is apparent in these beautiful photos by Erik Ekroth.

40 guests joined Jennifer and Manny for their May wedding. The ceremony took place at the Union Church of Pocantico Hills, followed by a reception at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. From Jennifer: "We chose to have a very small and intimate wedding. Manny and I were both previously married, and wanted to focus on different things this time around. We wanted to invite those who were close to us and to offer a really special experience for our guests. Food was definitely a priority and that is why we chose this venue. We loved the idea that a farm could be laid back, yet elegant. Also, the venue was beautiful on its own - it didn't need a lot of prep work, which was something we wanted to avoid."

And now, on to the photos!

As a graphic designer, Jennifer really got into designing the invitation suite. Each piece incorporated illustrations from vintage children's books, as well as Betsy Dunlap's wonderfully whimsical calligraphy. The pale pink, dusty blue, and cream color scheme was perfectly light-hearted.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns provided all of the flowers, including Jennifer's pink and white peony bouquet. Jennifer worked directly with Carmela Sutera in choosing her wedding dress, and paired it with blue floral peep toes. (Make sure you enlarge this photo and check out all of the detail on that dress!)

Jennifer used vintage embroidered flowers to make a simple and lovely hair pin.

Jennifer shares a bit about the importance of family for their wedding: "Not having a bridal party was special for us because it was myself and Manny and his two boys. Jacen (age 10) was Manny's best man, and Logan (age 6) walked me down the aisle. One of my favorite moments was being walked down the aisle by Logan. He was so proud and took it sooo seriously and wanted to do the best job! And he did! It was special that our new family was the focus - it was a great bonding experience." Though they didn't have a cake, Jennifer and Manny had a cake topper custom made by The Small Object, even including the boys' orange bow ties!

Jennifer made orange bow ties for the boys, as well as boutonnieres from vintage wooden toys - what a great alternative to a floral boutonniere!

Manny wore a gray Ralph Lauren suit purchased at Kohl's.

Jennifer says that the wedding felt more like an elegant dinner party than anything else, starting with passed hors d'oeuvres and a signature cocktail: a black currant cosmopolitan. The three course dinner included: "Greenhouse Greens and Herbs salad with asparagus, apricots and this morning's farm egg; Stinging Nettle Cavatelli with mushrooms and asparagus; Loin of Beef with cracked wheat, quinoa and parsnips." Each course included a wine pairing.

The children's book illustrations made an appearance again as table "numbers."

The littler guests were greeted at their seats by various stuffed animals.

Instead of wedding cake, dessert was a crunchy chocolate hazelnut brownie with maple ice cream. Music was provided by the couple's iPod!

One of my favorite things about Manny and Jennifer's wedding is that it's proof that a small intimate dinner party doesn't have to be stuffy - it can still be totally playful and fun! Thank you so much to both of you for sharing this wonderful day with us, and to Erik Ekroth for sending over these fabulous photos (don't you love those dancing shots?). You can see even more from this wedding on Erik's blog.

Board #438: October Whimsy

2009-10-19T05:30:00.002-05:00

Inspiration boards are back! If you want to give a bit of Halloween flair to your October wedding, without going all the way with jack-o-lanterns and candy corn, black-and-white stripes, checks, and silhouettes are the right color and add a certain whimsy. Just the smallest touches of orange make it a truly Halloween palette. But not a pumpkin in sight!

Mood: October whimsy
Palette: black, white, hints of caramel and orange

{click image to enlarge}

Top row from left: bridesmaid with black cardigan photo by Jose Villa, gourmet candied apples from Michelle Rago, black candle holders from Wedding Style Guide, JM Flora anemone bouquet with black and white ribbon photo by Kate Headley
Row 2: s'mores from Brides, favors wrapped in black gingham photo by Gabriel Ryan via Green Wedding Shoes, fabric envelope photo by Marie Labbancz
Row 3: carnation boutonniere from Martha Stewart Weddings, strapless gown with black sash photo by Bonnie Tsang, silhouette garland photo by Leigh Miller

Sunday Edition #56

2009-10-18T05:30:00.000-05:00

by Stacey Ilyse

snippet & ink: daily wedding inspiration

Sunday Edition #59

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Happy Weekend!

Thank You All!

Hello Again!

Sunday Edition #58

Love Shoot: Carolyn & Chris

Real Wedding: Sharlyn & Jim

Real Wedding: Elizabeth & Noah

Real Wedding: Dmitra & Pascal

Real Wedding: Courtney & Christian

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Board #440: Kumquats & Orchids

Sunday Edition #57

Love Shoot: Anna & Tyler

Happy Weekend!

Real Wedding: Rebecca & Keith

Discounts, Giveaways, Etc.

Real Wedding: Mia & Christian

Real Wedding: Anna & Bruno

Board #439: Mercury Glass and Whimsy

Real Wedding: Jennifer & Manny

Sponsored Post: Love At First Invite

Board #438: October Whimsy

Sunday Edition #56