J & G | Art Deco Inspired Wedding at The Four Season's Boston

The night of a wedding always seems to me like a runway fashion show. Of course, the star is always the bride, typically in white, veil, amazing flowers and accessories that complete the fantasy fashion look. My bride Jolie comes from a family that has built its business reputation working with the elite of the high end world of jewelry and accessories. They have worked at the manufacturing and production with such design luminaries as Jay Strongwater and Judith Leiber, both designers noted for their amazing use of crystals and gems. Can you say sparkle?

It was so many years ago now that I received a gift a small jewel encrusted frame with the mark of Jay Strongwater. I adore it and it sits among my miniature collectables gathered through my years here on this earth. I covet these little things, they bring me joy and always bring back the memory of the special time that they were collected.

Who would have guessed that my bride and her family produce these fabulous little things? It is a small world.

My bride had a very clear visionas to what inspired her and what she wanted her event and the details within to look and feel like. The sleek feel of art deco nuances were always on our minds. We all wanted cohesion, exuberance but both with a sense of restraint. We started on the journey together and together we remained through out. AMAZING!! to say the very least.

Each detail of the wedding was thoughtful and reflected the bride perfectly. She looked amazing in her Priscilla of Boston beaded and embellished gown. She even wore a blusher, which I personally love. Thank god I was with her just as she was about to head down the aisle. She had both parts of the veil over her lovely face. God, you could hardly see the poor thing. We fixed that and fluffed her up.

She took that feather trimmed red bouquet and worked it so beautifully as the star of my little design show. Perfection among the details.

There are so many people involved in a haute couture event such as this. I just have to list some of my favorites and let them know how much I appreciated their commitment to five star excellence.

Philip Dechamps of The Four Season's Hotel. Merci, Merci. Hats of to you and your amazing staff.

Dave Lebeau of Lightworks Productions, our exclusive lighting partner.

Kelli at A'Deux Bespoke Bridal Paper

Jenny at Jenny's Wedding Cake

Larry Chan for his amazing work on the Calla Lilly backdrops that you see within the photos

Table Toppers of Newton

Ali @ Peterson's Party Rental

Jay Strongwater frames and accessories

Judith Leiber, ladies bags

Baccarat Crystal: Bride and Groom Toasting Flutes

Nightshift, for rocking the house!!!

and of course the many, many hands and creative minds that make up my creative team here at CMP. As always, you guys rise to the occasion to help me produce what my minds eye sees. For this I am more thankful than you could imagine.

Take a moment to watch the video that I put together to catch a glimpse of all the beautiful details. They will never do it justice. The magic of the evening will always be shared by a small group of people who helped to celebrate this magnificent wedding. Mazel Tov Jolie and Gio. Congratulations and much love always, CMP

Marian and Jim | Wequassett Inn | Grace Ormonde's Real Weddings

After being alone for nearly four decades love captured Maria Battaglia and Jim McAleenan by complete surprise and just in the nick of time. Maria, an internet marketing executive, and James, a patent attorney, met on a warm May night in Boston where they both attended a party hosted at a popular downtown bar named Brandi Pete’s. 

Jim spotted Maria and waited for an opportunity to talk to her. It wasn’t long before they were chatting up a storm and a romance was born. An old-fashioned courtship followed and this active couple filled their time biking, running and racing their way across New England. By May of the following year, they were engaged on the rocky beaches of Rockport, Massachusetts. 

Since this was the first marriage for both of them, they already knew that they wanted to be married on the ocean in Cape Cod in an intimate ceremony surrounded by close friends and family. They picked the Wequassett Resort in Chatham for their elegantly casual wedding. Maria wanted every detail to be perfect, from the flowers to the décor, so she employed the services of Chad Michael Peters who helped bring her vision to life, and even went on a shopping trip with the groom to find the perfect suit and tie.

The wedding cake was custom designed in their lovebird theme, and tasted just as delicious as it looked beautiful. When it came time to choose their photographer, the decision was easy: they chose longtime family-friend of the groom, Felice Boucher. They knew her style of telling a story through pictures was exactly what they wanted to remember their day.

When all was said and done, every detail was perfect. “We look back fondly at what a special day it was for us to share the start of our lives together and we feel profoundly grateful that we found one another … in the nick of time,” says Maria.

Jenny's Cakes | Web Platform with Blog and Social Media Integration

As I am writing this, I am dying for a huge piece of butter cream frosted cake from Jenny's Wedding Cakes. I have spent a lot of time over the past few months with my photography, so I thought that it was time to write a bit, and give you a bit of insight to the creative projects that I have been working on. You know that I love to switch it up a bit from time to time, so it was great fun to put together my digital marketing and web design skills for my good friend Jenny Williamson of Jenny's Wedding Cakes. She and I have talked the biz many times. Each time that we do, I have implored her to move forward with showing off her brand in grand digital style. A creative business today has to have a web site that is dynamic and constantly showing off the newest products that you are bringing to the market place. Jenny now has a great blog platform to write more detailed stories about the five star baking and decorating that she is renown for. To give her fans a peek into her fabulous kitchen, she can use facebook to post pictures and have them appear within the rest of her digital structure.

Really cool when you think about it. Jenny is cool and her cakes are to die for!! I am proud of this project my dear Jenny. You and I have been to some incredible parties where our work melds so wonderfully well together. Here we are at the digital party, together again.I  want to take a big ol bite out of your web site.

Thank you for trusting my style and encouraging me to bring the very best to you and your business.

Boston Weddings launch party at The Boston Public Library

I don't go to many industry social events, I guess that I should, I always have fun. Believe it or not, sometimes I would rather just be home watching the Real Houswives. I get invited to all sorts of parties, I am flattered of course and try to make it to some of my favorites. Of course, Boston Magazine is always at the top of my social calendar list. The are the epitome of good taste and showcases from the bridal world here in Boston. There is always something new, fresh and exciting. When the most recent edition came to my office, I flipped right open to the page showing photos from the launch party of the magazine, which I was lucky enough to be invited to and to attend. It was an AMAZING night of bridal fashion, yummy food and catching up with some of my besties in the biz. How fun that I am pictured with Lauren Killian of Person + Killian Photography ! Loved seeing my friends DJ Raffi, Donna Garlough and Danielle of the magazine while I nibbled the BEST, the very BEST cake from my gal pal, Jenny from Jenny's wedding cakes.

I got to meet a lot of new people that night as we wound down with a final sip of champagne at The Fairmont Copley Plaza, which is right across the street from the Boston Public Library. My favorite introduction being to none other than the very talented Kelli Parker of à deux : bespoke bridal paper. It was nice to see you all that night. Even nicer to see on the glossy pages of Boston Weddings.

Wequassett Weddings | Maria & Jim

 

Last night, with weather from the gods, my bride Maria was married to Jim at the posh Wequassett Inn and Resort inn Chatham, Massachusetts. Defining "Cape Cod" luxury this boutique resort sits on the beach and has about one of the best views and backdrops to celebrations anywhere on the Cape, or in the world for that matter. The bride and groom looked as if they had stepped off of the pages of Town and Country Magazine. She in vintage beaded couture ball gown with an elegant silhouette and train. The bride carried a world class bouquet fluffy and softly scented peony and the rarest of the rare, Japanese sweat pea. She was radiant and conjured up images of timeless elegance, romance and Grace.The groom was not too shabby himself. He and I had a chance to get to know each other when, as part of my work, I accompanied him to shop for his wedding attire. His classic Armani suit and the new shirt, and melon tie perfectly complemented his strawberry blond hair and ice blue eyes.

Maria and I worked for some time in the planning of this wedding. She has excellent taste so it was easy for us to banter over ideas. She first came to me with a motif of "Modern Birds of  Feather Flock Together". The simple nods to this design esthetic come together to form a sophisticated wedding palette. Of course this is only possible with many, many details coming together in a symphony. The flowers were the chatter of the wedding. Their bold color and sophisticated design looked unbelievable against the stunning ocean blue backdrop of The Wequassett.

Every wedding that I have ever worked on is so much more work that I ever expected it to be. I am always prepared for that and love that adreniline rush as we push to the close of my work. The candles are lit, the tables perfectly set and the scent of heavenly flowers fills the air. There is that magical moment when the fire of a party takes off and last night was no exception. The bride and groom's entrance was enchanting as the swirled and dipped around the dance floor with Gene Kelley and Ginger Rogers flair and it was this moment with the crowds roaring cheer and effusive praise of the wedding, that it was time for me to slip into the background and begin to think about what I would write and what photo I would publish. Of course, Maria in her gown, with the bouquet and feather in her hair would be "my" cover shot. Are you kidding me? GORGEOUS!!!! I worked until midnight to get these photos first, to my bride as a special way to remember her day and our work together.

Maria and Jim, I will always remember your wedding. Of course, we will be friends for life. Congratulations!

A very special thanks to my friend Jenny Williamson, from Jenny's cakes. Collaborating with her is always a thrill and her work is always impeccable. The sugar paste birds in the branches, I can see in many magazines. It is about the cutest cake "topper" that I have seen. Thank you Jenny. It was nice to see you, as always.