Tess and Erik | Bermuda Wedding Invitations | CMP for à deux : bespoke bridal paper

I think that I had a freak out moment this afternoon. Ok, I know that I had a freak out moment this afternoon when I opened up the over the top Save the Date that I worked on with my print partner, à deux : bespoke bridal paper. The level of detail is amazing in this multi layered, multi-texture one of a kind Bermuda wedding Save the Date. Well, it really is much more than a Save the Date. When planning a destination wedding it is important for guests to book their airfare and flight far in advance from the date of the wedding to obtain the best prices. In the print material we were certain to include information not only on rates at the Fairmont Southhampton Hotel, but air fares etc. for the guests travel convenience.

The bride wanted sand, and sand she got. It is after all, all about the pink sand of Bermuda. The applique sand and shells on the inside cover on the Bermuda Blue Box Blew me away. Say that one five times fast. All in all, I am a tough critic, this is one of the very best that I have ever seen. I almost forgot that I will get to go to this wedding. That I will again have my little toes in the pink sand and Kevin, my dear Kevin will be there too as a special guest of this most amazing family. Getting the save the date brought me right back to our most recent visit to this lush island to plan the wedding. I am getting a little misty eyed to think that the wedding is upon us......and a little thirsty for a rum swizzle. To Tess and Erik and the rest of my beloved Griswold clan, I love you guys. AND if that dog pees on my Louis this time it will be a deal breaker.......A little insider Rochester, MA humor. 

Thank you Kelli. Brilliant!!

Amy & Gregg | Chatham Bars Inn Weddings | Plum and Platinum

Wedding Planning and Design : Chad Michael Peters

Photography seen here : Chad Michael Peters

Official Photographer : Bryce Vickmark, work will be showcased in seperate CMP style blog story

Venue: The Chatham Bars Inn

Hair and Make-Up : Jacki Norri, Wedding Tresses

Floral : Chad Michael Peters

Stationery and Print Material : Praez Occasions

Linens and Decorative Rentals : Chad Michael Peters

Entertainment: The Manhattan Touch

Lucy & Greg | Fairmont Copley Plaza Weddings

Their wedding was only three days ago, and I miss Lucy and Greg already. There is always a time of reflection for me as I look out on to the dance floor at the bride swirling in a sea of fun. I know that our time together is coming to an end, in this capacity anyway. I have made hundreds of friends with my brides over the years. And oh yes, I have made many BFF's  with my merry bridal parties that I get to know too!

This past Saturday night at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston was AMAZING! First let me start with a white gloved high five to all of the staff at the hotel. I am getting a little misty guys thinking of the high a level of gracious service that was given to the bride and groom's guests. The food, ba da bing! Forget about it, of the charts yummy. I was most impressed when a selection of entrees was prepared for me, not only to eat, but to double check the plate designs that were to be presented to the guests. Who does stuff like that? The Fairmont Copley Plaza does and I love it !

I have worked with Lucy and Greg over the past year or so in planning not only her wedding but her over the top bridal shower. She and I get each other and we worked so well going over all the details to her amazing bridal bling wedding. I too,  got to know the entire family and when I say entire, I mean ENTIRE. There were brothers and cousins and sister in- laws and nieces and uncles that all came to bits and pieces of the bridal planning process. It was always a laugh as we worked through the endless list of pretty details that go into a wedding as you see in the photos.

The family is Italian many of them speak English but many don't, including the feisty Mama de la brida, I love her. Old School, enough said. She was always very sweet to me and funny. I give her a lot of props for the life that she has lived and to be such a glamorous moment. I adored her broken English comment to me when she said, " I don't just want to dance with you Shad, I want to dance with you twice." In that moment we very well could have been Sophia Lauren and Omar Sharif. She wouldn't give it out then, but I will continue to haunt her for the recipe of La Torta de La Nona Piazza, a delicious home made lemon, melt in your mouth, covered in powdered sugar, piece of heaven that was served to the guests after their six course dinner, and espresso and an amazing Candy Bar. Those Italians put the E in eat. Yummy!

The wedding was a sea of amazing details from a to z. The highlights being the thousands of hand opened south American roses in five shades of Ivory, gloriously mounded into crystal vases. The calla lilies, served as the focal point to the cocktail portion of the party. The groom liked Callas, the bride Roses, hence our design. The calla for me also gave a poetic nod to the over the top wedding that I worked on for the National Production of "Hitched or Ditched", a saucy reality show that was shot about a year ago. Lucy, the bride saw this wedding, saw me, and called. The life of a wedding designer and planner, full circle.

I know that the next time I see Lucy and Greg it will be in the mist of some family joy and I look forward to it wholeheartedly. In weddings such as this, there is always a little piece of me left behind in the memories and the pictures. I can assure you Lucy and Greg that there is assuredly a bit of both of you in my heart. Kisses on both cheeks, three times to both of you. My love and Congratulations, Always, CMP

P.S. Please don't post pictures of me doing the Soul Train Dance, ah go ahead, it was a party. CIAO! Bona Sera

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B & W Wedding Portraits | Regatta Place Weddings | Photography by Genevieve de Manio

 

I have loved the photography of Genevieve de Manio for as long as I can remember. I think that it was a gorgeous mound of white flowers being held by the bride in the first photo that I saw of hers. They way that the soft and subtle nuances of the flowers were dappled with light captivated me. I had been so wanting to work with her, so I was thrilled when I called to inquire about her services for my lovely princess bride, Kim and she said yes!! Yeah. Her work on the wedding held at the luxurious Regatta Place in Newport was gorgeous. She captured the rich and vibrant color of the decor and the flowers in a most perfect way. Of course, the photos of the bride and the groom were heartfelt, I could actually feel the love.

Never in a million years did I have any idea that this photographer was on the brink of world famous. In the two weeks that followed Kim's wedding, I woke early on a Sunday morning to read about Chelsea Clinton's wedding. I was thrilled to see Gigi, stretched out in one of the photos, strapped with cameras and capturing the most famous wedding of recent times. How thrilled I was for her to be the official photographer to the Clinton wedding and to have her worked published all over the world. Of course, that meant that my bride Kim's wedding went to the next level too. There are not that many gals that can say they had the same photographer as Chelsea Clinton right?

I think that it is fitting to leave you here with these four Black and white wedding portraits of Kim and her Groom, Brendan. Their smiles and the elegance of the setting along the shores of Newport Rhode Island tell the whole story to this wedding. There is no need for color here, the photos are clearly the color of love. Many thanks to Genevieve de Manio for working with me on this Regatta Place Wedding, your photography is gorgeous. I so look forward to the honor of working with you again.

I thought that I would include this great clip from E Entertainment about Chelseas wedding so you would have a chance to see the still shots done by Gigi. Click the Arrow to play.

 

To learn more about the many fabulous photographers that I work with please visit by chad michael peters photography services.

 

 

Tess & Erik | Destination Wedding Save The Dates | à deux : bespoke bridal paper

 

 When planning a destination wedding, the Save the Date becomes a much more important part of the wedding stationary suite. Of course, it announces the wedding, but for destination weddings it is also important to get a good understanding as to who will be coming to your wedding. There is so much more to plan for when your guests are travelling to your wedding. For example things like hotel room rates, travel to and from airports, hints to international travellers and things to do while you are at the destination should all be included in the Save The Date Design.

Tess & Erik are so excited about their wedding as are their parents and the rest of the family as well. Who wouldn't be right? Hello, ......we are all going to Bermuda. The design for their Save the Date is coming along really well. I love how à deux has used the bride's signature shades, inspired by the stunning waters that surround the cluster of islands known as The Bermuda's. Adding details such as the shells and a bit of sand to the invitations will give the guests an experience of travel from the moment that they open this fabulous invitations.

We will have an additional printed card in the suite which will outline air travel and accomodations so guests can take advantage of the lesser fares by planning in advance. When we send the invitation, the guests will be able to visit a wedding web site designed just for Tess & Erik. Along with their engagment photos, we will be able to give her guests a digital glimpse into the Fairmont South Hampton Bermuda and it's amazing grounds. My guess is that they are going to be thrilled. I can hardly wait to get mine in the mail!!!

Gold and Crystal Wedding Invitation | Signature Partner | Praez Occasions

While I was on Facebook today, I saw that one of my favorite hotels, The Fairmont Copley, turns 98 years old today. That of course got me thinking about all of the magical moments that I have had within that hotel for the work that I do. It also got me thinking about my bride Lucy and Greg. Their wedding to be held in the Oval Ballroom is a just a few weeks away. The print material always sets the tone for a wedding and gives guests an idea as to what the theme of the party will be and at what level it will be done at.

Custom Invitation Design | Shades of Berry in the Shenandoah Valley

 

Within a suite of wedding stationery, the invitation should be the pinnacle of details and design. It is sometime difficult when planning and designing the print material to make sure that all of the details are accomplished within both budget and design guidelines. I often advise the bride to add a motif or design as a simple flat printed motif. Here, I got to it with my sketch pad and created a hand drawn arching tree detail that perfectly sets the tone for the wedding of my dear friend Meliissa at the Museum of The Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. My print partner's Praez Occasions did a marvelous job in mirroring the image and creating a wonderful proof for the bride and her family to review.

There were some changes from the proof process to the finished invitation that went out to the bride, her family and their guests. In the end, we decided to use a gate fold style of outer card and to trim it with a cellophane wrap. The guest would open the card to an inner mounted card, in a deep berry shaded border that would have all of the invitation details to the wedding.

For more information on couture wedding stationery, please click here.