Danielle & Noah Wedding - Cold Spring Country Club NY - Bride & Groom Reception Room Cherry Blossom -Photography by Brett Matthews

Weddings

Danielle and Noah: Timeless Elegance at the Cold Spring Country Club

Danielle and Noah were married on a lovely day in March in a stunning ceremony and reception at the Cold Spring Country Club in Cold Spring Harbor, New York.

 

Danielle & Noah Wedding - Cold Spring Country Club NY - Bride & Groom Reception Room Cherry Blossom -Photography by Brett Matthews

Danielle & Noah Wedding – Cold Spring Country Club NY – Bride & Groom Reception Room Cherry Blossom – Photography by Brett Matthews

 

The stars were aligned from the moment Danielle and Noah first met. Danielle was riding the LIRR headed out to the Hamptons when a friend recognized her. As they caught up, she immediately noticed the cute guy her friend was traveling with. His name was Noah and they started chatting. He offered her a sip of his beer and they hit if off immediately. “I don’t fully believe in ‘everything happens for a reason,’ Danielle recalls, “But I do believe August 19, 2013 happened for a reason.” Their wedding story is as close as it gets to a modern day fairy tale.
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Heavenly Rooftop

Mary and Galen’s heavenly rooftop wedding was straight out of a fairytale. The west coast couple embraced the spring season with a gorgeous pink and green color palette and a stunning ceremony with a magical canopy of hanging flowers.

 


As told to BRIDES, Mary and Galen’s romance was straight out of a fairytale. In fact, the couple was watching Frozen when Galen proposed! He told Mary a story about a boy’s love for a girl, and by the end she realized he was talking about their relationship!

 

The couple took their time over two years to plan an intimate ceremony and reception for 50 guests with help from wedding planner Kate Werkin at Chancey Charm. The rooftop of the Hudson Hotel was the perfect venue for their intimate wedding and the perfect mix of a traditional Chinese and a Western wedding. Mary and Galen initially considered getting married in California’s redwood forest, but since they were moving to New York after the wedding, they decided to host their wedding in their new city. They settled on a beautiful verdant palette of light green, peach, pink and white, and carried those colors throughout their invitation suite, florals, decor and even their wedding cake!

 

The day started with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony with both of their parents, who traveled from China to celebrate the wedding of their children. Mary and Galen then had a Western ceremony on the rooftop terrace of the Hudson Hotel. They mentioned to BRIDES that instead of reciting their wedding vows in front of their guests, they privately shared their vows with each other before the ceremony. We thought that intimate moment was such a beautiful decision! Mary walked down the aisle in a stunning Vera Wang gown and gold and pink crystal Christian Louboutin pumps that Galen had given her as a gift. We also couldn’t help but notice her cheeky rainbow rolling stone tattoo!

 

Mary chose to carry a bouquet of white and blush peonies wrapped in silk ribbon, which were absolutely gorgeous and in season in May. There were so many gorgeous elements to Mary and Galen’s ceremony, it is hard for us to pick a favorite! The end of the aisle was decorated with a stunning wedding arch made of eucalyptus, fern, Italian ruscus and lemon leaf and accented with beautiful pops of white blooms, including hydrangea, peonies, Tibet roses, vendela roses, and spray roses. The whimsical and natural design of the arch was perfect for their intimate ceremony. Over 2000 blooms made a breathtaking canopy over the top of the ceremony terrace. We suspended 600 blush stock flowers and 1800 blush carnations with Italian ruscus from the ceiling, creating a magical and enchanting floralscape that guests could enjoy on the beautiful spring evening.  

 

At the reception, the guests were greeted by a beautiful manzanita tree adorned with lush cream and blush roses, white peonies, cascading greenery and hanging terrarium bubble votives. The base of the card table arrangement was decorated with a lush mixture of white hydrangea, blush and cream roses, blush dahlias, green moss, seeded eucalyptus and fern accents.

 

Guests were all able to see each other by configuring the reception tables into a U shape, with the dance floor in the center. We love lush greenery garlands for rectangular table decor, because it allows the guests to really see each other and the happy couple. Using Italian ruscus, seeded and silver dollar eucalyptus ivy and asparagus fern, we created the greenery garland base. We then weaved in peonies, quicksand and vendela roses to bring color and lightness to the tables. The long tables were illuminated with simple glass votives and stemmed floating candles. Mary and Galen’s chairs were decorated with a sweetheart garland made from Italian ruscus, seeded eucalyptus, ivy, white spray roses, cream vendela roses and blush Cafe Au Lait dahlias.

 

During the reception, Mary changed into a gorgeous white lace dress embroidered with florals and greenery, that perfectly matched her wedding decor and her delicious floral wedding cake from A White Cake and A Simple Cake. It was the perfect sweet ending to a magical spring wedding!

 

Vendors

 

Venue: Hudson Hotel

Planner: Chancey Charm

Photographer: Jacquelyne Pierson Weddings

Gown: Vera Wang

Bride and Groom’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Music: Highline String Quartet

Invitations: Yao Cheng Design

Cake: A White Cake and A Simple Cake

Hair and Makeup: Vicky C5

Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals

Pink Peonies - via Pinterest.com

Planning & Inspiration

Flower Feature: Peony

The peony is a gorgeous flower admired for its impressive bloom, lush petals, and unique texture. Mainly found in white, peonies also grow in an array of hues from light pink and purple to a deeper red.

 

Single Pink Peony - Perfect Peonies - by Kathy Woodard - via The Garden Glove.com

Single Pink Peony – Perfect Peonies – by Kathy Woodard – via The Garden Glove.com

 

Nearly unrecognizable in the early bloom stage, the peony starts out as a tightly condensed flower bud. Once the bud is cut and placed in warm water, the petals begin to open up. It continues to expand until becoming this elaborate, beautiful flower full of color, texture, and dimension. Though it looks delicate, the peony in full bloom is prized for its sturdy foliage and low maintenance care.
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Anna & Matthew Wedding - High Centerpieces - Pierre Hotel NYC - by Brett Matthews

Weddings

Anna + Matt: Romantic Elegance at The Pierre

Anna and Matt were married last September in a beautiful ceremony and reception at The Pierre in Manhattan.

 

Anna & Matthew Wedding - Bride and Groom - Pierre Hotel NYC - by Brett Matthews

Anna & Matthew Wedding – Bride and Groom – Pierre Hotel NYC – by Brett Matthews

 

For most, a Phish show is not the first place that comes to mind for meeting your future husband. But a Phish show in Saratoga Springs, NY was exactly where Anna met Matt. She recalls, “We stood next to each other on the lawn during the first evening of a three night show. There were around 30,000 fans there!”

Anna and Matt hit it off immediately that first night, kept in touch, and began dating. They soon learned that in addition to Phish, they both share a love of travel. When asked which of their trips together was her favorite, Anna replied, “Our trip to Thailand, because that was where we got engaged!” She remembers, “We were staying at the Four Seasons in Chiang Mai. I had a sense that Matt was going to ask. One evening, he planned a private dinner for just the two of us in a gazebo overlooking a gorgeous lake that’s on the property. There was a musician and bonfire as well. Matt really went the whole nine yards with everything and was so nervous leading up to it. But then he finally proposed. It was perfect!”
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Floating Marigold - Photo by Nathan Michael - via SF Girl By Bay.com

Planning & Inspiration

Flower Feature: Marigold

The marigold flower is one of the most recognizable flowers around the world, known for its vibrant yellow and shades of gold that resemble the sun. The marigold genus includes 56 species and varies from annuals to perennials. Though marigolds may be known as common garden flowers, they are beautiful, significant and meaningful in the flower kingdom. Grown all over the world, many see them as common weeds, yet when stripped down to their core, their beauteous shades of gold, orange, white and yellow are like no other.

 

Dark Orange Marigold - Marigold Flower - via Pinterest.com

Dark Orange Marigold – Marigold Flower – via Pinterest.com

 

Marigolds often vary in display as many have a pompop-shaped head made up of large amounts of small-layered petals, mirroring the sun. Other marigolds in the kingdom offer a variety of shades from darker petals on the inside to a lighter petal outline in more red-orange and maroon tones.
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Honeycomb DIY Garland - Photo by Kim A. Thomas - Crafting by Stephanie Pressler - Via Oh Happy Day.com

Planning & Inspiration

Unique and Creative DIY Bridal Shower Decorations

 Planning a bridal shower comes with a lot of responsibility. Between choosing a venue, sending out the invitations, and selecting food and drink menus, even the most seasoned host may find herself a bit overwhelmed. And let’s not forget about the importance of bridal shower decorations.

 

Greenery Garland Decor - Bridal Shower Display - via Pinterest.com

Greenery Garland Decor – Bridal Shower Display – via Pinterest.com

 

When it comes to choosing décor, aim to create a party atmosphere that reflects the bride-to-be’s personality and style. This is also an area where you can be creative and have fun by opting for DIY bridal shower decorations. Now you don’t have to make everything, but getting together with the other bridesmaids for an evening of crafting and wine is a great way to de-stress and bond. We rounded up our favorite DIY bridal shower decoration ideas, which are sure to add a stylish and personal touch to the event.
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