Wedding Wednesday: As Featured on Style Me Pretty, Saltwater Farm Sparkle & Hay Wedding

Photos by Anna Sawin Photography

Photos by Anna Sawin Photography

Photos by Anna Sawin Photography

Photos by Anna Sawin Photography

Last week we were so honored to be featured on Style Me Pretty with such an amazing group of friends and talents in the industry.  It was the most spectacular day!

Working with Erin and Dan was a designer's dream.  Every detail had thought behind it and told the story of them as a couple.  A vision of rustic details with chic, elegant accents set the tone for the most incredible Rustic Chic wedding.  We used layers of fabric, satin and burlap on the tables with glitter sprinkled on the burlap to give it the most subtle sheen.  Wrapped votives with lace and hay bills with fabric to weave the details through every space of the venue.  I think when you are designing an event it is very much like creating different rooms in a house, using the color palette and design details in different ways to set the mood/ tone.  We wanted guests to move from ceremony to cocktail hour to dinner  and dancing and be wowed through each transition.  No detail was missed for Erin and Dan's wedding, and what made it so special for guests was that it was unique to them as a couple.

Sparkle & Hay: The Inspiration...why Rustic Chic
It started with the setting. After a fairly short search (my list of criteria combined with our guest list did not provide for a long list of reception site options in Connecticut) Dan and I chose Saltwater Farm Vineyard as our reception site. The moment we turned down the slightly hidden long dirt drive I knew this was going to be the place. 

Pulling up it is as though you are transported to another place, and inside the meticulously revitalized space (I don't dare say renovated as so much of the building's authenticity has been preserved) has such fantastic raw energy. The space was originally a WWII aircraft hangar, which means towering high ceilings with gorgeous exposed wooden beams and ceilings. The space comes as-is... and lends itself perfectly to personalization through colors, textures, linens, flowers, lighting, and all sorts of fabulous details.

While exhilerated by this I was also (ever so slightly) overwhelmed... until I met Sarah True. Sarah is the creative event mastermind who after listening to my chaotic inspiration list (French Provincial meets Paris Chic, vineyard but not too wine focused, fall but not overkill of oranges and yellow, soft & warm lighting, browns, dark blues, dark purples, flowers but not too flowery, candles, lanterns, and the list goes on...) somehow decifered it all into a Rustic Chic inspiration - and it just fit! I am so excited (and lucky) to have Sarah working on our wedding; I cannot image attempting it without her.


Collaboration:
Venue: Saltwater Farm Vineyard / Design and Coordination: TRUE Event / Photography: Anna Sawin Photography / Catering: Anna Lathrop and Jeanette Holliday of Gourmet Galley / Floral: Hana Floral Design / Paper: Chocolate Creative Design / Entertainment: Power Posse Productions & JA2M / Rentals: Rentals Unlimited / Transportation: Newport Trolley / Videography: Tim Ethier Video Productions / Beauty: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library / Dress: Augusta Jones from Kleinfeld New York / Bridesmaids: J.Crew / Bride & Groom Forks: Beach House Living / Guest Book: LovliDay / Bridesmaid and Bride’s clutches: Oatmeal Lace Design / Hanger: LilaFrances

Wedding Wednesday: Pauline and Michael's "When Pigs Fly" Mystic Wedding

Venue: Private Residence, Mystic, CT

Mood/Details: This past summer I had the pleasure of working with one of the coolest couples. Their wedding was a weekend celebration of family and friends and full of FUN!!! The festivities started Friday night at the Mystic Aquarium and continued into Saturday as guests arrived to a tented affair on the couple's property in Mystic. Definitely not a traditional wedding, but one I know guests are still talking about, especially all of the kids! For the reception we brought in 2 inflatable bounce houses, a balloon artist, an airbrush tattoo company, Rock Band Stations were set up in various locations, Movies played under the stars of the blue tent, ping pong, pinatas, games of corn hole, and a Photobooth. The energy flying around the yard was infectious and guests danced and partied well into the evening on one of the nicest nights of the summer. 

Collaboration:
Photography:Anna Sawin Photography
Photobooth: Mystic Photobooth Company

Lighting and Sound:Power Posse

Catering: Coastal Gourmet
Flowers: Hana Floral 

Sperry Tents
Ace Security
Country Portables
Innovative Inflatables
Airbrush Tattoos by Dawn
Smiles By Sandy Balloon Artist

Cask & Keg

Wedding Wednesday: Kate and Brad's Waterfront Wedding

Inspiration Board

Venu: Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club

Mood/Details: Kate described their vision as Romantic Garden, Vintage, Whimsical, and Fun. The colors helped to set the tone for their vision in using soft pinks, greens, and cream with accents of silver and gold. We used lace as an accent detail that appeared on paper (programs, escort cards, etc), wrapped around candles on the guest tables, and we pulled vintage linens that were in the family to use on the guest book table and dessert station. Centerpieces looked like they were hand picked out of the garden and we picked vintage looking chargers, and gold rimmed glasses, that really brought all the details together on the tables.

Collaboration:
Coordination: True Event
Photographer: Steve Depino
Florist: Hana Floral Design
Stationary: Chocolate Creative Design
Beauty: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library
Dress: White Dress by the Shore
Videography:The Light Mill
Rentals: Rentals Unlimited & Party Rental Ltd.
Tent Decor/Lighting: Ryan Designs
Photobooth: Photobooth Planet
Music: Hank Lane

Caroline and Alexi's Saltwater Farm Vineyard Wedding

Venue: Saltwater Farm Vineyard (Stonington, CT)

Mood/Details: Caroline and Alexi are a couple that reminded me on a daily basis why I am so lucky I get to do what I do. Without ever meeting Caroline after a short phone conversation she booked me on the spot, and we immediately became great friends. It makes me smile when I think how lucky I am to work with such incredible people on the biggest day of their lives, and this is a couple/family that will always hold a special place in my heart and a wedding I will always remember. Caroline described their vision as Whimsical, FUN, and a new term we coined "Hippie Preppy" a blending of details, tons of fun, bright colors, and a party that was filled with love.

The Venue an old airport hanger was a source of inspiration for the details we wove through the paper (stay tuned for a separate post on the incredible designs for the invitation, escort cards etc. that Paper Moss worked with us to create)

Collaboration:
Event Design/Coordination: True Event
Photography:Max Flatow
Floral: Hana Floral Design
Hair/Makeup: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library
Paper: Paper Moss
Catering: River Tavern
Music/Lighting: Elan Artists (Eric Nicolas and One Love)
Rentals: Rentals Unlimited
Venue: Saltwater Farm Vineyard
Attire: The White Dress by the Shore
Accomodations: Inn at Stonington, Hilton (Mystic)

Alicia and Stephen's Coast Guard Academy Wedding

For a complete look at the details of their wedding click here

Location: Coast Guard Academy (New London, CT)

Mood/Details: Alicia and Stephen described their vision for the day as organic, to include natural elements (birch), with vintage accents (textured linens, mercury glass votives). As we discussed the details and design Stephen volunteered to take on the DIY projects with birch and did the most incredible job of creating a one of a kind cupcake stand, menu frame and escort card tree, all out of birch.

Colors: Chocolate, Deep Purple, White, Blush Pink

Collaboration:
Event Design/Coordination: True Event
Photography: Justin and Mary Marantz
Floral: Hana Floral Design
Hair/Makeup: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library
Cake/Cupcakes: Bleu Squid
Music/Lighting: Power Posse Productions
Rentals: Rentals Unlimited
Attire: White Dress by the Shore
Aisle Runner: Wedding Runways

Deanna and Dini's Branford House Mansion Wedding

Location: The Historic Branford House Mansion in Connecticut- 180 degree water views and the most incredible span of grass surrounds the gorgeous mansion.

Mood/Details: When I first met with Deanna she described their vision for the wedding as: romantic garden, elegant and fun with Tuscan inspired details. We had such a great time taking this vision and weaving it through all of the details. It was the most perfect summer evening, ending with fireworks over the water as they danced their first dance.

Collaboration:
Photography: Justin and Mary Marantz
Floral: Hana Floral Design
Catering: Gourmet Galley
Rentals: Rentals Unlimited
Tent: Sperry Tents
Music: DJ Renzo
Attire: White Dress by the Shore
Venue: Branford House Mansion

Theresa and John's Connecticut River Museum Wedding- Buyer's Guide

1. Ice cream cart (Rentals Unlimited)
2. Cupcake wrappers
3. Turquoise doilies
4. Bride's Dress
5. Bottles (antique stores)
6. Paper Pom Garland
7. Blue and white stripe straws

Theresa and John's Connecticut River Museum Wedding

Inspiration Board

Location: This board was created for Theresa and John's Fourth of July wedding at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex. Essex is a quintessential New England town, with the most adorable main street, lined with antique stores, gift shops, restaurants, the Griswold Inn (a historic inn) and one of my favorite wine bars in the state. It is the perfect location for guests to stay, all within walking distance to the venue.

Mood/Details: When I first met with Theresa and John they described the mood as whimsical and fun, with unexpected personalized details, eclectic, and crafty. Theresa is a fashion designer so I knew that we would have alot of fun in designing their wedding day. I was blown away by the DIY projects that they incorporated to fill the event with the most incredible details.

Colors: The color palette reminded me of the perfect summer day, bright accents of yellow like the sun and varying shades of blue and turquoise like the water. Lots of detail, layers of texture, and vivid pops of color!

Collaboration:
Event Design/Coordination: True Event
Photographer: Dave Robbins Photography
Caterer: Emily's Catering
Florist: Madison Flower Shop
Makeup: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library
Music: George Baker (cocktail hour) & DJ Select (reception)
Tent: Sperry Tents
Rentals: Rentals Unlimited