I can’t believe it’s been one year! I wish I could go back and relive that magical day. Everyone had told me to relish in every moment of the wedding because the day would go by so fast and it sure did. In honor of our anniversary, I’m sharing some of my favorite photos from the wedding and details of our special day.
GETTING READY
I still remember those butterflies in my stomach when getting ready before the ceremony. Not only was I nervous about all the details coming together and having the day go perfectly, it had rained all week and the weather forecast for Saturday wasn’t looking so good. By Saturday morning, the sky had cleared and by afternoon, it was sunny and warm. The weather was beautiful.
My dress was an Allure Bridals gown. I talked about how I found the dress in a previous post. I attached a sash to add a little vintage glam to my look.
Our precious nieces were the perfect flower girls.
I’m so lucky to have these ladies in my life. I couldn’t imagine getting married without having them by my side as I say ‘I do’. They were so amazing and helpful through the planning process and my matron of honor/sister-in-law graciously opened up her home for the gals to get ready. We spent the afternoon doing hair and makeup, eating snacks and sipping mimosas. It was a bit hectic with people coming in and out… makeup artist, florist, photographer, limousine driver… but everything went right along on schedule. Keith and his groomsmen were getting ready at a local hotel where we had booked a suite for the evening and where we had blocked rooms for our out-of-town guests.
And we’re off…
FIRST LOOK
Our ceremony would take place at 6:30 PM. Our photographer offered the option of doing a first look about an hour before the start of the ceremony in order to get some formal photographs in the natural light. I was a little apprehensive as I wanted to have that moment us ladies have always envisioned – when our groom sees us for the first time walking down the aisle. In the end, we decided to do the first look and formals before the ceremony and I’m so glad we did. By the time the ceremony was over, the sun was setting and we wouldn’t have gotten these amazing photographs in the garden. We were still able to have that private, special moment of seeing each other for the first time that our photographer captured beautifully. Also, seeing Keith before the ceremony really calmed my nerves.
CEREMONY
For our gazebo ceremony, I wanted to create the feel of an English garden with floral arrangements in urns and clusters of blush, creams and white.
Our ceremony included the lighting of the unity candle and a presentation of roses to our mothers, Keith’s grandmother and a special rose in honor of his late father.
Mr. & Mrs.!
RECEPTION
After the ceremony, our guests enjoyed drinks, hot hors d’oeuvres and an assortment of cheese, crackers, fruit and vegetable crudité in the cocktail lounge while listening to a live pianist.
Expanding on the English garden theme, I wanted the reception décor to be vintage and classic. I opted for blush, cream and white floral centerpieces on brushed nickel, antique-looking high rise holders. I found these die cut lace place cards and table number cards to tie in the garden theme. I also found these table card holders to hold the table number cards that matched the tablescape.
These “stone” color satin napkins tied in the portobello color of the bridesmaids dresses perfectly.
Our Menu:
First Course: Minestrone soup
Second Course: Mixed greens salad
Entrée: Filet mignon, chicken saltimbocca or vegetarian pasta primavera accompanied with russet potatoes and a vegetable medley
Dessert: Piña colada wedding cake and a chocolate fountain with assorted fruit, crackers, biscotti and marshmallows
Late Night Snack: Hamburger sliders and french fries (which our guests loved!)
For our first dance, we danced to Sam Smith’s “Latch”.
One of my favorite parts of the wedding was right after our first slow dance when Keith and I surprised our guests with a choreographed four-step hustle to Maroon 5’s “Sugar”. We took dance lessons for six weeks and pulled it off!
My father and I danced to “I Loved Her First” by Heartland and Keith and his mother danced to “Never Alone” by Lady Antebellum.
This is one of my favorite photos of my father and I taken at the end of our dance.
And just like that our beautiful day came to an end, and here we are a year later!
VENDORS & SOURCES
Bridal Gown: Party Dress Express, designer/style: Allure Bridals/C280
Bridal Shoes and hair pins: Shoes To Dye For
Makeup: Danielle’s Makeup Creations
Hair: Trilogy Salon
Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal (various styles, color: Portobello)
Flower Girl Dresses: David’s Bridal, shoes also David’s Bridal
Veil and Flower Girl headbands: Designed and created by my amazingly talented Mother-in-Law
Flower Girl Baskets
Ring Bearer Pillow
Guest Book
Unity candle holders
Venue: Raffael’s (Walpole, MA), now Avenir by Saphire Event Group
Place cards
Table number cards
Table card holders
Cake: Konditor Meister
Flowers (bouquets, centerpieces, gazebo decor): Flowers & More Design Studio
Invitations: The Invitation Depot
Save the Date cards and ceremony programs: Minted (see my Minted review here)
Videographer: Black Tie Video/Films
DJ and uplighting: NuImage Entertainment
Photographer: Dina K Photography
Photography credit: Dina K Photography
I hope you enjoyed reading about our wedding, you can check out my wedding planning and wedding-related posts here.
