Modern + Sophisticated Manhattan Wedding

Every square inch of Laura and Reeve’s Manhattan wedding is spectacular, right down to a surprise fireworks show along the Hudson. It was a gorgeous, sunny Saturday when they said their vows at the Shrine Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, a few blocks from their apartment in SoHo. Laura is a classic bride, selecting a lace Ines Di Santo gown, which she paired with Jimmy Choos and a veil handmade by her mother. We love her sophisticated topknot by Erol Karadag. Pretty violet Amsale bridesmaids dresses provided a pop of color, which carried through to their reception at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, where Diana Gould Ltd created gorgeous centerpieces in shades of violet, plum, and spring green for the tabletops. We adore the easy glamour in these beautiful images from  brklyn view photography!

Above all else, there are three words to describe Alyssa and Scott’s wedding: classic New York. Their Saturday night, black-tie wedding at The Waldorf Astoria is quintessentially Manhattan, and their vision of an elegant and sophisticated black and white wedding came to life thanks to a dream team of vendors. Belle Fleur created an incredible rose, hydrangea, and orchid chuppah for the couple’s interfaith ceremony and a mix of dramatic arrangements for the ballroom reception. The Steve Delisi Band played a mix of top 40 hits, Nat King Cole, and wedding classics (hello Journey!). And the spectacular Lindsay Madden Photography captured every moment from a first look on Park Avenue (car free thanks to Alyssa’s befriending of police officers on hand post-UN summit) to the last dance and everything in between. We are smitten with Alyssa’s bridal style: her Badgley Mischka gown from Kleinfeld Bridal and Jimmy Choo Fearne sandals are befitting a princess. Each and every detail is perfection!

Once in a while, a wedding comes that is so sublimely stunning that my breath catches and my heart skips a beat. Silvia and Henning’s wedding at Masseria Potenti is just so. The Manduria resort is ever so lovely, an Italian oasis that was the perfect setting for the couple’s sophisticated, modern wedding. The couple worked with Chic Weddings in Italy to create a wedding in keeping with Italian traditions, but with a modern flair. Herbs and dried florals were festooned above the farmhouse-style tables adorned with centerpieces by Chic Weddings in Italy. We adore the customized food stalls for the aperitif, the printed linen seating plan and table numbers, and the organic way that the wedding blended into the gorgeous surroundings. Les Amis Photo outdid themselves with the spectacular images and cinema, and we are completely head over heels!

This uber-mod, chic wedding held at New York’s Three Sixty in Tribeca, is a study in monochromatic palettes and sleek sophistication! All white flowers with pops of green from Ovando keep the vibe romantic and contemporary, with planning from the always flawless Ang Weddings & Events. For the Buddhist ceremony, the bride chose a romantic beaded gown by Monique Lhuillier with a Pronovias belt, while her single bridesmaid wore a white dress with a similar silhouette from Badgley Mischka. Of course, we adore that the couple’s dog participated in the festivities, dressed in his own tux found on eBay!  These images from Susan Stripling are just stunning!

Oh, we have loved these past two weeks! Scouting for our favorite weddings series is one of the most fun tasks of the year, and we have the perfect wedding to complete the series before we are back on Monday with gorgeous new inspiration to share. Jen Huang is one of our favorite ladies. She is an amazing, sincere, and beautiful person—inside and out—and a true master behind the lens, as you can see in Judy and Jack’s Los Angeles soiree! Held at downtown LA’s open, airy Carondelet House, these nuptials feature not only some of LA’s best vendors (romantic florals by The Little Branch, libations from Pharmacie, and the Kogi taco truck to name a few!), but we also have two adorable pups, an absolutely fabulous Mikaella gown, and a couple that is just so in love it’s ridiculous. Sophisticated, thoughtful, and chic, we couldn’t ask for a better way to officially close out 2013. Visit the gallery to see it all!

We love the mix of Dallas style in Rachael and Cam’s Santa Barbara destination wedding! The entire affair is equal parts California mod and Southern sophisticated, starting with Rachael’s contemporary column-style Amsale gown. But to offset the crisp lines, she chose soft white peonies and hydrangeas for florals by Juniper Designs. We also really like the look of black-and-white striped ribbon around bridesmaids bouquets, paired with their taupe Bari Jay dresses. The outdoor ceremony was held at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore, Santa Barbara, before guests entered the hotel’s Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club for an indoor/outdoor reception. Events by Philippe ensured the details were perfect, like gold sequined linens atop cocktail tables, dramatic flower topiary centerpieces, and tailored striped chair cushions on Chiavari chairs to mimic the wedding details. The gold cake prepared by the resort is the perfect send-off for this elegant bash! We adore all of these spectacular images from the amazing Hazelnut Photography!

Gina and Joe’s story begins like so many others in this generation: via a dating app and an awkward first date. Despite the fact Joe was not a Francophile and “avoided all of the French words” at the French restaurant they ate at, the pair met up again and the rest was history. Before they knew it, they were planning a wedding in Temecula’s wine country with Ashley Bee Photography documenting their day. Purple was common favorite color between the two of them, yet they wanted to break up the hues with various shades. Mauve, gold, and the deep brown wood interior at Wiens Family Cellar created a classic and rustic feel. Gina and Joe are fond of the outdoors, yet due to the weather and the season, they opted to stay warm and cozy inside. Despite this, they wanted to extract those aspects of the outdoors they love and add them into their indoor venue. Long, wooden tables mostly exposed with Sweet Flowers’ wildflower-esque creations gave this nature-loving couple exactly the motif they wanted, and it’s a treat for us all too!

Christine and Jeff were married on a picture-perfect Charleston day at the sprawling Lowndes Grove Plantation. Having met at Furman University, the couple knew they wanted to be married in South Carolina, and held their wedding on Christine’s parents’ 40th wedding anniversary, August 5th. Though August is traditionally muggy and hot, a light summer rain left a breezy afternoon and beautiful sunset. A Charleston Bride worked with Christine and Jeff to create an elegant, unfussy, atmosphere with a timeless color palette of white, gold, blush, and touches of ivy. Palmetto Bloom designed arrangements in a mix of heights, making for a spectacular atmosphere in the tent, draped in swaths of white fabric with glimmering hanging chandeliers. The result is breathtaking! Adding a touch of color, bridesmaids donned floaty Amsale dresses, which beautifully complemented Christine’s Vera Wang gown and Jeff’s crisp white tuxedo jacket by Ralph Lauren. Absolutely smitten with each and every moment captured by Virgil Bunao!

Samantha and Max were married on a sparkling early fall day at the historical Duke Mansion in Charlotte, North Carolina. Samantha describes their wedding as “simple and classic elegance, with a touch of southern charm” and we couldn’t agree more! Samantha is ever so chic in what may be one of our favorite bridal looks ever: a structured Amsale gown (with pockets!) and a classic chignon styled by Be Pretty. A crisp and preppy color palette of navy, green and cream set the scene, and perfectly accented the whitewashed exterior of the mansion. The couple’s custom monogram is woven throughout the day, from the beautiful stationery by Elle Dee Designs to embroidered linen napkins, ceremony programs, and table numbers in swaths of navy calligraphy. Love and Honey and Lily Greenthumbs transformed the mansion’s courtyard into a secret garden, with creamy white florals, greenery and garlands, and lace-patterned linens under a canopy of string lights.  We couldn’t imagine a more beautiful Southern setting, and the day is captured perfectly by Cathy Durig Photography!

Manhattan’s iconic Rainbow Room was the setting for Sara and John’s classic New York City wedding. Surrounded by their family and friends, the couple tied the knot after almost a decade of dating with sweeping views of the NYC skyline as their backdrop. Their sophisticated evening of dinner and dancing began with a ceremony underneath an intricate branch chuppah from Spina with Sara’s grandfather’s tallit atop, and ended with her grandfather’s flawless rendition of “New York, New York” performed for the reception. A chic Sylvia Weinstock cake with fresh blooms complemented the lush florals in ivory, blush, and lavender, decorating the one-of-a-kind Rainbow Room. We are head over heels for every moment of this NYC soiree captured by Brklyn View Photography and captivated by the beautiful film from McKenzie Miller Films!

Dominique and Blake’s vision for their Scottsdale wedding was pure romance, and working alongside Jennifer Ellis of White House Design Studio, their ideas transformed into reality. The couple, dating since their sophomore year of college, were joined at the Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia by family and friends who had watched their love blossom over the years. A vivid color palette of berry, wine, and ivory was selected to enhance the beauty of their desert setting, and White House Design Studio created arrangements overflowing with orchid, hydrangea, and magnolia leaves to festoon the ceremony arch and adorn the luxurious reception tables. In lieu of traditional place cards, guests received hand-calligraphed notes in ivory ribbon-wrapped boxes, the notes serving as a warm thank you from the couple for joining them to celebrate their special day. As always, Melissa Jill Photography captured each moment perfectly!

Rachel stood at the entrance to St. Pauls Chapel at Columbia University, took a deep breath, and interlocked arms with her mother. As the doors to the chapel opened and she walked down the aisle, pre-wedding craziness was replaced with pure and complete joy as Nicolas beamed from the altar. As Rachel recalls, “I’m certain that the way he looked at me is the way every bride hopes and dreams her future husband will look at her – as though he just won the jackpot.” The couple’s March wedding couldn’t have been more quintessentially New York City, complete with a vintage Checker cab! With the snowcapped branches of Central Park as the backdrop, The Central Park Boathouse set the stage for an exquisite event celebrating their union. Cress Floral Decorators created organic arrangements of roses, snapdragons, orchids, and stock in ivory and green, with a sea of candles to light up the winter’s evening and Spanish tile table numbers to honor Nic’s heritage. Rachel is an absolute vision in a structured Oscar de la Renta gown, and the pure joy that these two radiate is beautifully captured in the timeless images from Emilia Jane Photography!

Modern and sophisticated, Melissa and Michael’s Chicago wedding at Hotel Allegro captivated us from the moment we set eyes upon it! The couple worked with Bianca of Estera Events to bring their vision of a chic, contemporary spring wedding to life. Working with a sleek color palette of silver, white, green, and navy, the always-fabulous Fleur created arrangements with an assortment of candles and white peonies, hydrangea, tulips, and garden roses. Every element down to the gorgeous cake from Alliance Bakery featured snowy white blooms! We simply adore Melissa’s classic bridal updo and natural makeup by Sonia Roselli, a perfect complement to her trumpet gown. Each moment is beautifully captured by Kina Wicks Photography!

Laura and Joey’s Austin wedding is full of glitz and glamour! The couple was living in Connecticut while planning their Texas nuptials, so they brought in the fabulous CLINK to execute their vision of formal-meets-fun, with a healthy dose of sparkle. They selected The Driskill Hotel for their venue—it was love at first sight—and enlisted Amy of Merveille Event Design to create a mix of showstopping arrangements for the tables bedecked in gold sequin linens. Our favorite? The showstopping estate table with a “runner” of white roses and votive candles! Though Joey patiently assisted in choosing stationery and centerpieces, his excitement bubbled over at selecting the menu for the day. After consuming an inordinate amount of options during the tasting, he chose a nicely balanced selection of filet, sea bass, and veggie risotto to go along with their gorgeous cake from Simon Lee Bakery. We are head over heels for every perfect detail in these images from Forever Photography!

It doesn’t get more perfect than an Italian villa in the middle of the Arizona desert! Scottsdale’s Sassi restaurant was the setting for Danielle and Richard’s classic wedding, which combined the elegance of the venue with the desert setting for a unique and beautiful event. The couple wanted their intimate wedding to reflect their personalities and taste, and put their skills to work handcrafting items for their soiree. Danielle designed the wedding invitations and calligraphed the envelopes and favors, while Richard made the box for their wine box ceremony. Each guest received a succulent or cactus plant as a favor, perfect for their out of town guests, who were able to bring home a touch of Arizona. Flowers By Jodi created chic white and cream centerpieces of garden roses and hydrangea, adding sprigs of greenery to echo the venue’s ivied walls. We’re smitten with each thoughtful detail, captured by the wonderful Andrew Jade Photography!

On a snowy Chicago night, Laura and John were married at one of the most unique and beautiful venues, Salvage One. Working with Pistil and Vine, the couple created an intimate dinner party feel in the gorgeous architectural space. Arrangements in ivory and green adorn the wood tabletops with mismatched chairs, and fresh flowers surround a tiered confection from Alliance Bakery. Laura’s Monique Lhuillier long-sleeve gown from Ultimate Bride is sophisticated and vintage-inspired, and Amsale bridesmaids dresses in shades of blush and slate perfectly complement the rich brown tones of the venue. We’re head over heels for each and every image by Julia Franzosa!

Elegant and sophisticated, Chloe and Jonathan’s wedding featured not only one but two New York City neighborhoods. Grace Church in Brooklyn Heights is in a magical setting, sitting near the promenade with views of lower Manhattan’s iconic skyline—a perfect spot to catch a gorgeous sunset! Although it was terribly cold on their November wedding day, the bridal party braved frozen toes for portraits in their stunning Amsale dresses and tuxedos from The Black Tux. Chloe, Jonathan, and their guests traveled to Manhattan’s Upper East Side to the Harold Pratt House for the intimate reception designed by Celebrations Event and featuring beautiful ivory and blush florals by Stems Floral Design. Chloe is a vision in a stunning Mika Inatome gown, and we are head over heels for the elegant images from Rebecca Yale Photography!

Katie and Michael’s pretty, light-filled wedding at Gladstone New Jersey’s Ryland Inn had us at hello! Classic but with a soft and romantic feel, their florals from Jardiniere Fine Flowers blended blush and ivory blooms beautifully. The centerpieces were mixed and matched on each table and featured a mix of hydrangea and roses in wooden boxes and hobnail jars. Katie is a vision in a Jim Hjelm gown from Exquisite Bride and patent Jimmy Choo sandals, and Michael is dapper in a Hugo Boss tuxedo and tie from Vineyard Vines. We simply adore each and every frame from Lindsay Madden Photography!

Caroline and Kyle were married in a joyful celebration with fiesta flair at the Four Seasons Austin, designed by WHITT. After exchanging vows beneath an oak tree laden with gorgeous floral chandeliers, guests moved into the ballroom for the classic reception, with tables dressed with a sea of glowing candles and ivory centerpieces from Wendee Sawran. In keeping with the fiesta theme, the cocktail hour featured Mariachi Relampago, guests were decked out in floral crowns and maracas, and the reception featured Bobalu Cigar Co. We love the mix of sophistication and Southwestern fun in these images from Caroline Jurgensen!

Syreeta and David’s at The Peninsula is modern Chicago elegance. Kehoe Designs worked with a clean color palette of silver, black, and ivory to transform the Peninsula’s ballroom for the ceremony, with a classic white uplit chuppah and lush florals elevated in black urns. The guest list was comprised of immediate family, so in lieu of a traditional reception, everyone was treated to cocktails followed by an intimate dinner at a feasting table with a lush rolling landscape of white floral, woven between gorgeous black candelabras. We have to gush over this incredibly fashionable couple: David is the epitome of the dashing groom in a Yves Saint Laurent tux, Tom Ford tie, and Prada shoes, and Syreeta is absolutely glowing in a J. Crew gown, BHLDN headpiece, and sparkly Christian Louboutin heels. We love the easy elegance of this beautiful wedding from Justine Bursoni Photography!