Bermuda Destination Weddings | The Fairmont Southhampton

It is a tough job, but somebody has to do it right? When generational family friends of Eastover Farm in Rochester called on me to work as their wedding designer and planner for their daughter's wedding, I jumped at the chance. It was hard for me to believe that she would not want to be married in the stone lined fields of their family's elegant estate, but she too has always had a dream as a bride and it did not include the farm. Instead a beachy, elegant wedding was her choice. After a lot of discussion, we finally agreed that The Fairmont Southhampton, Bermuda would be a perfect place to celebrate this once in a lifetime event for their family. I just got off the plane last night from my trip down to sure up the details prior to bringing the family down to the island to review all of the wonderful surprises that I have in store for them. Every detail to the hotel is simply impeccable and the service rivaled the best hotels in the world. Even I was impressed and in awe of the well oiled machine and staff that make up the experience of this five star resort. I was especially impressed with two people on the resort, first the trolley driver who sang  and acted out " The Wheels on the bus go round and round....." to the delight of two little cuties and their parents who had hopped in with us for a ride from the beach back up the winding road of the resort to the hotel. Every person on that trolley, myself included was humming along and smiling as the jolly driver tooted the horn and swished the windshield wipers. The second stand out was our waiter on the last evening of our stay. He charmed us with his Indian accent and beaming smile and of course he waited on us and every guest there as if we were royalty. A very special treat. Of course it is hard to thank every delightful staff member who always greeted us with smiles and exceedingly good service.

I fell under charming spell of the island from my first sight of it's crystal blue waters and elegantly dressed gentlemen in their "Bermuda" shorts and knee socks. Prior to leaving I too, had to don a pair of knee highs, pink of course with my matching "Bermuda Pink" shorts and because it was a chilly 72 degrees that evening I decided to throw a pink cashmere sweater over my shoulders. I loved it and I fit right in with the locals and British tourists who painted a colorful palette across the south lawn of the hotel for "Tea" (a.k.a. Dark and Stormies or Rum Swizzles) Lucky me, I get to head back in a few weeks to act as the guide to my clients and friends. I am sure that my bride will be thrilled, but can I convince the groomsmen to wear knee highs and Bermuda shorts?

CMP for Alex and Ani at Grace Ormonde's Grand Bridal Show

 

Grace Ormonde continues to be a force within the bridal world, essentially defining "wedding fashion". Along with her glossy, critically acclaimed bridal magazine she also hosts the grand bridal events around the country.  Each year hundreds of brides and their families will converge upon Rhodes on The Pawtuxet to meet with the creme de la creme of the industry.

I am honored and excited to be appearing as the spokesperson for the newest addition to the Alex and Ani family, the bridal collection. I have designed many pieces that are elegant, chic and will be modelled on the runway this Sunday at the show. I will be in my tux, trying to look handsome and of course I will have my camera and flip video to capture the beautiful action.

For more information on attending the bridal show please visit: www.thegrandbridalshow.com.

 

New Year's Eve Wedding at The Four Seasons Boston

OMG here we go again......I am thrilled beyond belief to be working again with the nicest family on the east coast, The Hearn Family. Sarah, one of their two stunning daughters has chosen to be married this New Year's at The oh so swank Four Seasons in Boston. The hotel holds a fond place in my heart as my Kevin and I spent many get away nights there when we first dating and I still had the expense account of a banker. Those days are gone but the romance is still there none the less.

New Year's eve has so many magical details to it anyway, what better night to go over the top, to have guests dressed to the nines to sip champagne and to bask in the romantic glow of a beautiful Grace Kelley bride and her oh so handsome groom.  I have planned the floral and decor details to the wedding to be soft and chic, per the bride. I will be using phaleonopsis orchids, gardenia, branches with crystal and candles and lots and lots of candles. This will all be set on a gorgeous dupioni silk pin tucked table cloth. Our transport shuttles will be providing guests transportation from the hotel to the Church in Wellesley and I get to personally photograph the event......too exciting.

Of course, New Year's day will bring a story and many amazing photos for us to share. I can hardly wait.

 

 

Tabor Academy Bridal Party Photography by Elin Bodin

 I totally wish that I was there for every single moment of every single wedding that I work on. I am flexible in how I do my creative job. Sometimes brides need a wedding planner that is more of a wedding designer, pulling together the details, making sure that everything will coordinate and will look good......and of course to "do" the flowers more than they need someone ticking of checkmarks on a list and blabbering into a headseat.

I had a great time working with the Brown family from Marion on their daughter's wedding this past August, held at the majestic Tabor Academy. From linens and flowers, to the over the top personal flowers of the robust wedding party, each detail came together as if it was meant to be.

I am so happy to have received these photos of this gorgeous and enormous wedding party of twelve bridesmaids and nine gentleman, plus the bride and the groom. Many thanks to my good friend Elin Bodiln for her amazing work behind the lense, you captured the light and the color of the day in a most awesome way. I am happy to have this collection as part of my digital portfolio. 

Wedding planning, hand calligraphy and signature details

As a wedding planner and a designer it is important to me that each detail of a wedding or event be unique, inspired and as pretty as possible. To me, there is nothing more elegant than the art of calligraphy. I am so pleased with the work that Jennifer Medley Gillespie did on the table names, each representing a special place on Cape Cod for the bride and groom. I always want to take things to the next level and took it upon myself to hand draw with pen and ink and my French colored pencils the floweret detail that has been prevalent in the wedding. I love the beautiful curve of the calligraphy with the hand work and color of the wedding in the stylized drawing. I hope that my bride likes it too!!

I can hardly wait to see these details, along with all the others for the wedding come together. My floral inspired creative studio is in full swing for the next two days with this amazing event for my bride and groom Amy and Andrew. Congratulations to your both !

Early Fall Color

 

My studio is filled with flowers this morning for the wedding of Kristen and Jeff. The flowers are from all over the world and consist of white hydrangea, casablaca lillies, macarra orchids, pepperberry and one of my favorites, calla lillies in the most delicate of shades of deep peach. The flowers are taking our breath away here at the studio, I can hardly wait to see them on deep nantucket red linens, dresses with embroidered napkins, the gilded chargers and the neatly trimmed candles flickering away.

I feel especially honored to be invited to the wedding as a guest. I can hardly wait to dance with the bride in her gorgeous San Petro gown.

Cafe Nuevo Fall Demo

 

I love when we do demo days here in my studio. Of course, the brides love when we bring their sketch to life using some of the freshest flowers from around the world. It gives me and my staff an opportunity to create a formula for the big days of production which lay ahead with the wedding.

Here you see my rich inspired sunset colored flowers for the wedding of Renee and Ken to be held at the oh so chic restaurant, Cafe Nuevo in Providence, Rhode Island. The rotunda of the building is covered in head to toe apricot and chocolate marble. I think that these flowers on chocolate embroidered ribbon linens will look amazing with the soft lighting washing the marble and highlighting these gorgeous arrangements on the tables.

Southern New England Weddings 2010

 

For each of the past five years I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with Southern New England Weddings Magazine. Their commitment to excellence in Weddings is so appreciated and I feel lucky to be among the best of the best. I look forward to seeing my name in their glossy pages for many years to come. For this year's 2010 issue, I chose one of my personal favorites peonies from a photo I took last spring to represent the lush, elegant and chic flowers and decor that represent my brand. Thank you to their team for such an awesome job.

Tickle My Fancy

I have loved working with my bride Lindsay on her upcoming wedding. The process of creative discussion, to drawing my original rendering, to doing up demo flowers, tweaking the design, to delivering a knock your teeth in wedding for me is a creative thrill time and time again. With this bride and her mom, it has been a true pleasure. Her mom is one of my biggest digital style blog fans. Every wedding, every detail she has looked at, to say the least it is flattering. She assured me the minute that this is published she will be one of the first people to read it.

Today we had the wonderful opportunity to see my original rendering come to life for the bride. Gorgeous phaleonopsis orchids, crystal trimmed candles and lush mounds of flower in mercury glass on platinum ruffle table cloths looked amazing laid out for my bride. There wasn't a change to be made. Happy high fives all around. We are now on the countdown to the wedding to be held at The World Trade Center in Boston. I can hardly wait to share the finished product with you. Cheers !

Citrus Chic

 

Nancy and her family were a blast to work with. I loved our theme and the mounds of citrus roses on crystal stands. Around each arrangement I loved laying out limes and oranges with little classic urns of garden roses. She was so cool and chic in her Audrey Hepburn inspired gown.
She chose to have a brunch reception at a waterfront restaurant. We chose festive fuscia organza cloths which the bold flowers looked so stunning against.

Later on in the day my team and I moved all of the flowers to an after party hosted by another member of the family. It was so cool to see a chic bride transform herself into an artsy punk chick. I wished that I had the time to photograph the incredible tattoos of the guests.