Friday, March 31, 2017

When a Destination Planner Crafts Her Own Wedding in Umbria

Jet setting to Umbria is now at the tippy-top of my travel list and it has everything to do with this destination wedding. It is an easy, elegant yet totally un-stuffy celebration crafted by the Bride herself, who just so happens to be a destination wedding planner and it shows! Al fresco tablescapes, the most perfect Umbria-esque rattan chairs, bright blooms and a day filled with Italian beauty… these are just a few of the details to be found in the photographs by Rachel Gomez and Sposto Photography.

Colors
Seasons
Summer
Settings
Villa
Styles
Al Fresco

From the Bride… It was my dream to get married in the Italian countryside; it’s my favorite place on Earth. My fiancé and I decided on Italy for the wedding (my heritage) and to tour Scotland (his heritage) for our honeymoon! I am a destination wedding planner and produce weddings mostly around Telluride, CO. I have planned pretty much every type of event.. but for my wedding I wanted to take our family and closest friends on vacation to celebrate life, eat great food and drink wine!

Our main focus was to highlight both of our personalities with unique touches to create a completely custom event. We hosted 52 of our family and friends for a week in Umbria, Italy. The guests stayed onsite at Casali Cole San Paolo a family-run olive oil estate with three guest farmhouses and a historic chapel built in the 13th century! This was the venue’s first wedding and I was lucky enough to work with the bilingual owner of the property to secure local Italian vendors in the area.

The setting of Umbria served as color inspiration, we used dusty peach, light sage, creams and taupe with rose gold and dark gray accents. We wanted to set the tone with custom invitations and worked with Whimsy Design Studio, based in Denver, CO. Whimsy incorporated a watercolor of one of the farmhouses my artist friend painted into the design of the invitation. She added watercolor touches, custom wax seals and plant-dyed silk ribbon to complete the look.

Upon arrival, guests were greeted with baskets of local wine, Turkish pool towels from Positano and chocolates from Perugia. We spent the week exploring the Umbrian countryside, visiting little hamlets and relaxing at the property!

Our ceremony was set at the top of Mount Solare at Fontanelle Farmhouse, a stone house surround by fruit trees and lavender. We used natural wicker furniture and kept it very organic. My brother-in law married us and my brother played acoustic guitar was I walked down the aisle with my father. It was truly a family affair! We set a black-tie dress code, the groom and groomsmen wore tuxedos, the bridesmaids chose their own dresses based of the watercolor painting and my wedding dress I fell in love with because to me it was elegant- classic with European glam.

The reception was hosted just down the olive tree-lined dirt road at the pink farmhouse named Poderaccio. The surroundings very natural, it was important to me to create a “black-tie garden party” and the ladies at Puscina Flowers made my dream a reality. The three sisters and fine art floral designers grow everything they use. Their attention to detail was a dream come true for a wedding planner bride.

We continued the theme of art/watercolor on the table by including small paintings “of Italy” at each setting and used a custom crest designed on the menus. The table was lined with organic looking floral arrangements, herbs potted in rustic terracotta pots and accented with fresh picked fruit and taper candles. The look slightly eclectic yet polished and cohesive with the environment. We were served an elegant 5-course meal at a table set for 52 that was looking over the Umbrian countryside. We had an American-style three tier wedding cake and Italian millefoglie cake for dessert. The dance party continued for many hours after under the gazebo overlooking the pool.

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Photography: Sposto Photography | Photography: Rachel Gomez | Event Planning: Polished.Fun. | Floral Design: Puscina Flowers | Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal | Cake: Eros Mariotti | Invitations: Whimsy Design Studio | Ceremony Venue: I Casali di Colle San Paolo | Shoes : Badgley Mischka | Jewelry: Family Heirloom | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Elizabeth & James | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Azeeza | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Catering: Eros Mariotti | Hair: Alex Cox | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Hotel: Villa Monte Solare | Hotel: I Casali di Colle San Paolo | Wedding Venue: I Casali di Colle San Paolo | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Azienda Agricola La Querciolana

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The Bride Wore Oscar de la Renta and Took Everyone’s Breath Away!

This wedding is proof that when you hire the right people, really pretty things happen. Especially when you’ve got people like Trent Bailey StudioMichelle Elaine WeddingsFace Time Beauty ConciergeKatydid Signature Floral & Event Design and Around Town Entertainment on your vendor list. Scroll on for the entire lovefest, including a beaming bride in Oscar de la Renta who completely stole the show.

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Colors
Seasons
Fall
Styles
Classic

From the planner, Michelle Elaine… I absolutely loved working with Lauren! We planned together for about 14 months so time was on our side to get every last detail perfectly nailed down. Her natural style carried over into her wedding design displaying that same class and elegance. The vision created was timeless, with antique silver candelabras, lush white florals, gorgeous table garlands and slight touches of deep navy, courtesy of our talented calligrapher, Tara Jones. Lauren’s wedding dress, a stunning Oscar de la Renta, completely took everyone’s breath away as she walked down the aisle; I couldn’t even keep it together as I prepared her to walk!

Following the ceremony, the couple had portraits done as my team ensured no detail was missed at the venue. Lauren wanted to create the reception in a way that guests would enjoy a very formal, seated dinner and then be entertained on the pool deck by an incredible band to dance the night away, which they did!

From the bride, Lauren… Dan and I both went to the University of Southern California and were introduced by mutual friends. The first 2 years of our relationship were long-distance, trading weekends up and down the coast between LA and San Francisco, before ending up in Venice Beach. But while our life together is very much rooted in California, I knew immediately after we got engaged that I wanted our wedding to take place in my home state.

My parents both have homes near the Jersey Shore, so when we visit during the summer that has become our home base. It was important for us to have a Catholic ceremony, and as soon as we saw Saint Catharine’s, a stunning historic church, in Spring Lake, the most charming Victorian beach town, we knew it was meant to be.

After choosing the location, we set out to find the right vendors. I actually discovered both Michelle Elaine Weddings and Trent Bailey in the same Style Me Pretty post, and after exhaustive research, I’m so glad I went with my gut and hired them both! Trent’s editorial style was exactly what we were looking for in a photographer; and Michelle not only kept track of every detail leading up to the wedding, making long-distance planning a breeze but also perfectly executed our vision on the day.

We wanted everything to feel very elegant, classic and timeless. Dan and I both tend to favor neutral colors, so we chose that palette for the wedding as well. Almost everything was white or ivory, with accents of gray and antique silver, and a very dark navy for the calligraphy. I’m obsessed with all things paper and calligraphy and immediately fell in love with Tara Jones’ work, which really set the tone for the rest of the details.

The day of the wedding was a dream. My bridesmaids, who all wore different gray dresses of their choosing, came over to my dad’s house, and my mom brought over “Father of the Bride” and “My Best Friend’s Wedding” to play while we got ready. Dan and I gave each other gifts (pearl earrings for me, vintage cufflinks for him), and notes that we had written earlier. It rained that morning, and I think I was the only one who actually wasn’t worried about it… My trusty weather app told me the sun would come out at 2, just in time for the wedding, and sure enough, as we pulled up to the church in the trolley, singing “Going to the Chapel,” the clouds parted and the sun started shining.

I didn’t want anything to distract from my dress, so I carried a simple bouquet of white tulips and lily of the valley… and a huge smile, which I could not keep off my face! My father walked me down the aisle and we had a full mass, with readings by my godmother and Dan’s sister, and a solo of “Amazing Grace” performed by one of my bridesmaids. 

Before the reception, the bridal party took the trolley back to my dad’s house, which is one of my favorite places in the world, for portraits. The photographs Trent captured there are so special to us. When we got to the reception, Dan and I snuck into the ballroom before heading out to cocktail hour to see the set-up and have a moment (and some food) to ourselves. It was so thrilling to see every detail we’d spent so much time planning brought to life and to spend a few moments alone as a married couple reflecting on everything before heading out to take it all in together.

While I had always dreamed of a traditional black-tie wedding, it was really important to us that our guests (many of whom flew across the country to be there) could still feel comfortable and have fun. The Spring Lake Bath & Tennis Club was the perfect venue to accommodate that, with its old-school East Coast charm and oceanfront setting being just the right amount of formal, without feeling stuffy. After the cocktail hour on the oceanfront pavilion (with signature Dirty Martini and Old Fashioned cocktails), we moved inside to the ballroom for a candlelit seated dinner. After 3 brilliant toasts and a delicious meal, the party moved back outside under the stars (actually, a tent filled with twinkly lights). I changed into a custom-made strapless ivory column dress and white Adidas, and we cut the cake with a champagne saber my mom’s boyfriend gave us as an engagement gift. The Around Town Band did not disappoint, and the dance floor was packed the whole night. Actually, I think the only time we were sad the whole day is when they played their last song!

The best piece of advice I received (and, thankfully, actually listened to!) is to be present – enjoy yourself, and be yourself. It really does go by so fast, so don’t miss a moment by worrying about something silly. Spend the whole day having fun with your new husband, your families, and all the people who are there to celebrate you! Thanks to Michelle and her team, we were able to feel like guests at our own wedding, which is how everyone should experience it.

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Photography: Trent Bailey Studio | Cinematography: Kiss The Bride Films | Event Planning: Michelle Elaine Weddings | Floral Design: Katydid Signature Floral & Event Design | Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Cakes: Chocolate Carousel | Ceremony Venue: St. Catharine's Church | Reception Venue: Spring Lake Bath & Tennis Club | Bride's Shoes: J.Crew | Rings: Custom by Structure Manufacturing of Fine Jewelry | Bridesmaid Dresses: Various | Hair & Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Calligraphy: Tara Jones Calligraphy | Band: Around Town Entertainment | Groomsmen's Bow Ties: The Tie Bar | Tent: Ocean Tents | Bridal Party Monogrammed Shirts: Life a Stitch | Bridal Salon: Erin Cole | Bride's Earrings: Christian Dior | Ceremony Programs: Design by Bride, Printing by the Father of the Groom | Flower Crowns: Bluebird Twine | Groom's Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo | Groom's Tuxedo: Ralph Lauren | Paper Goods: Color Box Design & Letterpress | Rentals: Party Rental LTD | Uplighting: Finer Touch Entertainment | Veil: Janice Haddan | Wax Seals: Nostalgic Impressions

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Thursday, March 30, 2017

Guests Came from Across the World to this Wyoming Wedding

Sarah and Tony call L.A. home but they wanted to throw a destination wedding weekend their guests would never forget. With loved ones traveling from across the world, including Tony’s family from Nigeria, they brought everyone to Saratoga, Wyoming for a rustic retreat unlike any other. Ashley Sawtelle photographed and we’re so ready to watch it all unfold.

Colors
Seasons
Fall
Settings
Rustic
Styles
Rustic

Los Angeles residents, Sarah & Tony, wanted to create a memorable 3-day wedding weekend at Brush Creek Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming. Guests came from all over the U.S. and even Nigeria – where Tony’s family is from – to enjoy the great outdoors and celebrate the two. The couple wanted to pair decor elements with the beautiful surroundings of the ranch during the fall season. 

Dusty lavender, sage, wheat, and whites were incorporated into the floral designs, ceremony and reception decor. The ceremony took place inside with candle light, rustic wood pews and greens hanging from the light fixtures above. 

Guests got to enjoy cocktail hour on the deck of the main lodge witnessing the beautiful sunset and were welcomed into the grand tent for dinner and dancing.

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Photography: Ashley Sawtelle | Event Planning: Table 6 Productions | Floral Design: Ali Fortunato | Cake: Sweet Marie's Bakeshop | Makeup: Danica Severance | Hair: Sara Bicknell | Venue: Brush Creek Ranch | Paper Goods: Tasha Rae Designs | Rentals + Design: Design Works

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