Nothing makes me happier than when my brides send in photos from their big day! Here are some of our most recent brides!

Brianna looked amazing in a Nicole Miller gown! Photography by Fred Grinstein.

Laura was our first bride to order the Watters Sydney in Oatmeal! Photos by Mackler Studios.

Renee wore one of my favorite Ivy and Aster dresses, In Bloom. Photos by Turn Loose The Art Photography.

This wedding has traditional beauty, with vintage flare. Elizabeth and Fred’s Connecticut affair is one you will be drooling over for weeks. From the perfectly styled modern gown, to the inventive decor, we know you’ll be oo-ing and ah-ing as much as we were! Not to mention the stunning photography by  Blue Diamond Photography that really captured the intimate feeling of the day.

Lovely: Tell us about THE dress and what inspired your look.

Elizabeth: I wanted my dress to be effortless and chic and expressive.  After coming into Lovely a few times, by myself and with friends, I decided I really just wanted my Mom and Dad to help me.  We came in with the intention of getting a simple white dress that I had seen the week before, but this blush/oatmeal Watters gown had just arrived for a trunk show and my Dad insisted I try it on.  It was definitely different but from the moment I put it on I knew it was not only elegant, but made me feel like a princess.  Everything after the dress really fell into place- from my grandmother’s earrings to the hair and make-up.  Everything was just very natural and I really let the dress (and me!) be the focus.

My veil was a family heirloom from the groom’s side and really completed the traditional bride look- in fact it made an otherwise very untraditional dress traditional!  I didn’t need to jazz it up with too many accessories.  After the church I added a really cool sterling chain mesh purse that was my grandmothers as well, which added another element of the vintage feel.  The shoes were the absolute hardest part of accessorizing.  I needed wedges, neutral formal-ish wedges.  They don’t exist- they are either espadrilles, or satin, or totally embellished, or dark brown.  Finally I was at Morandi with my friends and I saw a girl in the PERFECT heels.  I chased her down and she told me they were Kors by Michael Kors and currently on sale for 10% off at Zappos.  I had them 2 days later!

 Lovely: What were the most important details to pulling off your dream wedding?

Elizabeth: The décor- hands down. We got married at my husband’s family home in CT everything needed to be brought in.  Designing the tables was the most fun and the most difficult.  We really wanted to keep everything local and different, so for the centerpieces we decided to use mixed potted herbs, and people could bring them home with them as a favor if they wanted. The herbs ranged from rosemary to mint to thyme to purple sage and were in patina pots.  Fred decided to cut logs into 1”, 3” and 5” slabs and place white pillar candles on them to add some height to the table.  Our planner Talia even had her husband cut a HUGE log to use as a cake plate for our wedding cake as a surprise.  The cake topper was my maternal Grandmother and Grandfather’s and was antique porcelain and totally made the cake perfect for me.  The big thing was the smell in the tent that the wood and the herbs created.  When I first saw it I cried.

The other important detail was the flow. We had a fire pit- that I built- next to the tent where we had marshmallows and s’mores to roasting.  We had a HUGE fireworks display, which was a non-negotiable for my husband. During cocktail hour we had a mandolin duo and we even put out some fishing rods for people to throw in a line.

Lovely: What was the most memorable moment?

Elizabeth: The most memorable moment for me was definitely walking into the tent.  Our planner pulled Fred and me aside and said that we really needed to see the tent before it was full of people.  Seeing our vision come to life was spectacular.  It was also a quiet moment where Fred and I were able to take a step back and take a deep breath and just have a moment alone with each other, which was really special.  Ultimately, there was no “one moment”.  The whole day/evening was perfect.  Everything was just perfect- the blend of traditional with what Fred and I love most about our family, our friends and ourselves.  It truly was my dream wedding.

Lovely: If you could give future brides any advice, what would it be?

Elizabeth: Breathe, everything will come together.  It’s the advice I got the most and didn’t heed as much as I should have, but the whole thing is really over in a flash and you can’t go back so breathe. Take it all in and really celebrate ALL of the love in the room because it is a super special moment.

DRESS DESIGNER: Wtoo by Watters

ACCESSORY DESIGNERS:

Earrings: My grandmother’s vintage Tiffany pearls (my something old)

Engagement Ring: Vintage

Wedding Band: Oscar Heyman and Bros.

Shoes: Kors by Michael Kors

PHOTOGRAPHER:  Blue Diamond Photography

FLORIST: Maria Madsen (our neighbor on the property and a dear family friend)

WEDDING PLANNER: Talia and Lindsay at Six Pence for Your Shoe 

ANYONE ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO CREDIT:  Caterer- A Thyme to Cook, helped us keep the vibe local and farm to table, but at the same time completely elegant

The Lovelies were anxiously awaiting Christy and Colin’s wedding photos after she walked away with one of our favorite dresses in the store, and let’s just say, we were not disappointed! The couple flawlessly pulled off a vintage, bohemian, funky event incorporating color, print, and texture to everything from the day of attire to the cake topper. Christy is a prime example of how to pull off two totally different looks between ceremony and reception as well! Get ready to be whisked away!

Lovely: Tell us about THE dress and what inspired your look.

Christy: When I started looking for dresses I knew I wanted something timeless, unique and bohemian. The second I saw Delphine Manivet’s designs I knew that I had to wear one of her dresses. They were the perfect blend of everything I was looking for. I went to the trunk show and fell in love with two dresses a short 60’s style dress and the Alexandre. The mini felt like something I’d wear everyday, while the Alexandre made me feel like a goddess. I decided to go with the Alexandre because it felt more special and I thought it would go with my great grandmothers veil. I was lucky enough that Lovely was also selling Sarah Seven samples so I was able to get a short dress to change into for the reception so I could dance the night away.

Lovely: What were the most important details to pulling off your dream wedding?

Christy: Apple barn farm was one of the first places we visited and as soon as we pulled up I knew it was where we’d get married. It had everything we were looking for; beautiful scenery and rustic nature while still being chic.

Since I’m a visual artist I had a bunch of visual elements I wanted to include. Polaroids, letterpress letters, hand drawn elements and monkeys (my affectionate nickname for Colin) all had to be incorporated. I tried to think about the wedding like an exhibition that I was putting together. Luckily I had the help of so many of our talented friends who where willing to help make our dream wedding happen.  Having close friends who are also professional photographers was a godsend. I couldn’t imagine being so relaxed around a stranger and everyone told me how at ease they felt with Jill. We were also lucky to have found Erik Kraff at popshop DJs, he kept everyone on the dance floor all night long.

Lovely: What was the most memorable moment?

Christy: Well, there are countless, but one that stands out is when it was getting to the end of the night, and we were brought from the back of the barn into the front yard, where to our surprise everyone had lit up sparklers and were dancing around in celebration. It was amazing to see such a spontaneous celebration.

Lovely: If you could give future brides any advice, what would it be?

Christy: Relax and enjoy every moment of the day. It all happens so fast you want to cherish it. Trust your vendors. We spent so much time planning things before the wedding but as soon as we got to Hudson we tried to relax as much as possible and let everything take its course. We figured that they are the experts and we should let them do what they do best. We had absolute faith in everyone we chose to work with and a hands-off approach paid off.

I was lucky to have a friend confiscate my phone on the day of the wedding so she could intercept any and all calls. I was able to enjoy the whole day and not fret or worry, even when it poured down rain all morning. I figured whatever was going to happen would happen. I think that this really translated into how much fun our guests had.

I would also recommend spending a few days where you’re getting married. I was in Hudson from Wednesday to Monday and it was easily the best week of my life. Having five days with my favorite people from around the world is something I’ll treasure forever. Getting to see so many of our friends and family from various stages of our lives connect is truly a magical once in a lifetime event.

DRESS DESIGNER:  Delphine Manivet and Sarah Seven

ACCESSORY DESIGNERS:

Bride’s shoes: Prada

Groom’s shoes: Duckie Brown

Groom’s suit: St. Laurie Tailors

Bridesmaid’s shoes: Asos

Veil and bracelet: Family heirlooms

Bride’s earrings: Erica Koesler

Hair flower: Tessa Kim

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jillian Mitchell with additional photography by Tanya Sakolsky

FLORIST: The Rosery

WEDDING Coordinator: Marybeth Boruta was our Jane of all trades at Apple barn farm

ANYONE ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO CREDIT:

Makeup Artist: Jessa Blades

Hair: Esther Ahn

DJ: Eric Kraff of popshopdj’s

This wedding is near and dear to the Lovely Ladies. Julie and Cesar have been a part of the Lovely Family since the beginning, and we’ve loved following all of their wedding planning! From all of the DIY projects, to the day of styling, we could not have been more wowed! The couple’s intimate ceremony was performed by Cesar’s brother at the Metropolitan Building this September, and delivered some of the cutest details. All of their hand made paper flowers provided the perfect pop of color for the historic site, and knowing these two crazy cats, the DIY Munny’s were the perfect guestbook! Get ready for some eye candy readers, and take notes on how chic a NY DIY wedding can be! Congrats you two!

LOVELY: Tell us about THE dress and what inspired your look.

JULIE: My background is in costume design and I watched Grease and West Side Story a lot in high school, so I always find myself attracted to the full-skirted 50s silhouette.  As I perused the blogosphere for dress inspiration early in our engagement, the Fiesole would pop up again and again.  Each time I’d say, “Ooh, that’s a cute dress,” without realizing it was the same dress I’d seen before.  On a trip to my hometown, my mom booked an appointment at Priscilla of Boston.  The first tea length gown I tried on felt so perfect, but it took me a while to realize it was the same dress I’d oohed and ahhed over for months on the web.  I believe the dress sought me out.

LOVELY: What were the most important details to pulling off your dream wedding?

JULIE: Our main goal was to pull off a dream party during which we’d get married, rather than a dream wedding followed by a reception.  To do that, we needed to make sure every element of the day would make all of our guests smile as much as it would make us smile.  We planned everything on our own and made all our decorations by hand, including the origami bouquets and centerpieces, the hanging escort card display (and the cards themselves), my veil and hair flower, and the men’s boutonnieres.  Our family and friends also played integral roles: Cesar’s brother officiated, our bridal party helped us set up in the morning, and we had two friends compose and perform original music for our short but very sweet ceremony.  We splurged only on the things that were most important to us (clothes, photos and reception music) and scaled back where we knew we could get away with it (favors and paper goods).  We had everything we wanted, and absolutely nothing that we didn’t.

LOVELY: What was the most memorable moment?

I think the moment Cesar and I will talk about the most for the rest of our lives together will be when the dj put on “Apache” by the Sugarhill Gang and half the dancefloor spontaneously broke into the Fresh Prince dance(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4qcbmiNmBM)  while the other half stood back in delighted bafflement.  Our first dance may have been to Bright Eyes “First Day of My Life,” but I’m pretty sure “Apache” will now be our song.

JULIE: If you could give future brides any advice, what would it be?

If you are dance-crazy DIYers like us, consider relinquishing the reigns when it comes to music.  While iTunes playlists sound like an awesome idea in the planning stage, there is no bigger drag than having a lull in the party because your guests aren’t in tune with your musical tastes.  I didn’t initially like the idea of a DJ because I was wary we’d be dancing to nothing but top 40 pop songs and the electric slide, but with some research and solid consultations, we found an incredible gal that got every single one of our guests on the dance floor and only played the pop we requested (I can’t help it, I love Party Rockin).  We didn’t have to worry about keeping an eye on the iPod or laptop all night, and like a mentioned above, our dj was responsible for creating some incredible memories.

This couple is bound to make you smile. Meghan was a Lovely bride through and through, and made sure to include us in all aspects of the soiree (the couple’s wedding invite it still hanging on our fridge in the office!). We could’t help but be enthralled with their radiating positive energy! Being a Graphic Design team, John and Meghan created an amazing ambiance through their save the dates, invites, and paper products that truly carried the entire theme of the wedding. Not only that, but you really can’t help but swoon seeing these two together. Get ready for lots of smooches and quirky details!

LOVELY: Tell us about THE dress and what inspired your look

MEGHAN: Since we were having an outdoor wedding, I wanted something light and unfussy, but still wanted a classic silhouette. I found this crinkled taffeta Nicole Miller sweetheart gown at Lovely Bridal and immediately fell in love- I bought it on the spot! At the fitting I tried it on with the fingertip length pencil hemmed Erica Koesler veil and ended up getting that, too. I originally planned to wear a necklace but I found these purple glass earrings and decided to wear them instead, along with a Tiffany brooch that my mom wore in her wedding, and a tourmaline cocktail ring that came from my Nana. My hair was loosely pinned up with a loose braid in the front.

After sending around photos of ton of bridesmaids’ dresses, my girls each loved a different one and couldn’t agree on a single dress to wear; luckily my wedding didn’t have just one set of colors, so I ended up letting them each pick one and then pulling all the colors together into the bouquets, which worked out great. John and the groomsmen wore khaki suits (his was a deeper caramel color with a navy checked shirt) and they wore checked pocket squares to match.

LOVELY: What were the most important details to pulling off your dream wedding?

MEGHAN: We wanted to have a super fun, whimsical, colorful, low-key outdoor wedding, with a totally DIY vibe. I wanted to do it in Cincinnati where I grew up (been in Brooklyn a little over 5 years), so we booked the Krippendorf Lodge at the Cincinnati Nature Center. The lodge is set in a 1000-acre forest and has a fantastic stone patio and wrap-around porch.

I had the idea pretty early on to use cakes for centerpieces, so I started collecting vintage cake plates and creating the tiny bunting flags. We got three different types of cheesecake (we went with cheesecake because it could be frozen and would last better being out on the tables for a couple of hours), which I labeled with color-coded flags. My mom made the table runners (cut to look like ribbons) and I bought multi-color rock candies and made tags for those too. Jill, the co-Maid of Honor, made the bunting flags to hang from the porch, and my Dad helped with the string balls and the awning. Jill also made the awesome “Mrs. Sokorai” sash that I wore when we were introduced.

A photo booth was a must, and I created the background with teal fringe curtains from Pearl River and paper chains I made myself. We bought a bunch of silly props at Hobby Lobby- the “realistic” furry mustaches were the most popular.

LOVELY: What was the most memorable moment?

MEGHAN: My favorite part was the First Dance and the Father-Daughter Dance. My two favorite guys!

LOVELY: If you could give future brides any advice, what would it be?

MEGHAN: Relax! The flowers you want are always out of season, there’s a messed-up cake topper, a hairdresser who mysteriously leaves the country the week before the wedding, record-breaking 103-degree temperatures… but everything always works out in the end!

DRESS DESIGNER: Nicole Miller (Purchased at Lovely!)

ACCESSORY DESIGNERS: veil by Erica Koesler, earrings by BHLDN, shoes by Something Bleu, ring and brooch (worn at hip) family heirlooms, engagement and wedding rings by Hannah Clark

PHOTOGRAPHER: Christa Kimble 

FLORIST: Expressions by Elizabeth (Cincinnati)

ANYONE ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO CREDIT: Our caterers, Elegant Fare in Cincinnati, were amazing! The Photo Booth was done by Signature Photo Booth in Cincinnati, hair by Leslie at the Strand, video by Aaron M. Conway, venue was Krippendorf Lodge at the Cincinnati Nature Center

MEGHAN: Since we are both graphic designers, we of course started with the invitations. Using elements like flying pigs (the symbol of Cincinnati), our silhouettes and the state of Ohio, we started with letterpressed Save-the-Dates (with magnets affixed to the back) and went from there. The invitation itself contains letterpressed invitation and RSVP cards, plus a second invitation to an open-house at my parents’ house, enclosed in a trifold wrap (which opens to reveal a custom map of Cincinnati on the reverse). We also printed our Thank-you cards in this run. For the envelopes, we created a custom wax-seal and commissioned a hand-drawn rubber stamp of our return address. I also programmed a custom “WEDsite,” which you can still visit at www.jmgettinghitched.com.

You can contact the couple about their killer design skills at hello@meghanhopkins.com, and visit meghanhopkins.com