Last weekend we were out at Martha Clara Vineyard out in Riverhead. Whoever said details don’t make a wedding, well let’s just say they don’t know MARTHA!!!!!!!!!! They absolutely add the flair and take the wedding from the level of ordinary right over the top to spectacular! This was such a wedding. I hope you enjoy and anyone planning an affair, can take some of these ideas and adapt them to your own.
We had been there before, but were in another building, so it was kind of like being at a new location. We met Alex and Joseph (his nickname is Fred and that is what we know him as, so I will be referring to him as Fred from now on) at the Holiday Inn, also in Riverhead. When we entered the room, Alex was busily getting done by two outstanding people in the fields of makeup and hair, respectively, Jacqueline Nicole of pretty me and Nicole D’Angio. Both do outstanding work and if you are beginning your search for either, please be sure and check the two of these girls out.
.jpg "Jacqueline Nicole doing up Alex face")
Laura Mastriano of LA Productions and her team, a wonderful full service wedding coordinator that we have worked with many, many times, was also on hand to make sure Alex and Fred’s day went off without a hitch.
.jpg "Laura wearing her fa fa fa flower ring!")
Rich went down a few doors to see what Fred and his best man, Anthony were up to.
.jpg "Freds spats!")
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.jpg "monograms....")
.jpg "Fred and Anthony clown around")
He snapped a few shots and then met up with me who by now was capturing Alex and the girls. Alex’ beautiful Amsale gown, was simply gorgeous, so unique, and so flattering. Amsale has a special place in my heart, for one because it was my daughter’s designer, and second, because all of her styles of gowns are so simple, yet so elegant and really so different from anything else you see out there.
.jpg "the Amsale gown!")
.jpg "crystals from her shoe")
.jpg "their rings")
.jpg "Alex in her gown")
.jpg "Nicole putting on Alex veil")
She chose a pallet of hot pink silk shantung for the girls and the matching hot pink gerber daisies, roses, and calla lillies in her bouquet were the perfect compliment. All the flowers were done by LA Blossom’s very talented owner and florist, Laurie Bellocchio. We then went down with Alex to meet Fred outside the Holiday Inn for his first peek at his lovely bride.
.jpg "Freds first peek at Alex!")
.jpg "some of the girls capture the moment")
To my amazement, I noticed Fred’s shoes, which were black and white spats! Quite cool! We loaded the wedding party in the limo (Sir Oliver Limousine) and headed off to Goldsmith Inlet. Alex and Fred had picked this place after visiting the vineyards out East.
.jpg "the wedding party")
.jpg "Alex")
.jpg "another one of the wedding party")
It was really pretty with a little inlet that cut into the rocky beach providing a perfect place to capture their portraits. Anthony was quite the joker and had us laughing from the moment we arrived to the moment we left.
.jpg "Fred and Anthony clown around")
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.jpg "Fred and the girls")
Katy, the maid of honor and only sister to Alex, was the maid of honor. Katy herself has just gotten engaged, as a matter of fact, the week before, from what we heard, so congrats to you, Katy and Keith. They are planning a wedding abroad for sometime next year. Alex and Fred had no groomsmen other than Anthony, but had instead, a bunch of girls who we had a great time with as they tried to navigate the rocks in their stilettos, which trust me, was not easy! There was all these guys fishing in the inlet, and at one point, I was kneeling to try and get this great shot and looked down and what do I see, a dead fish! I screamed and Fred and Alex laughed so hard. It was quite gross, let me tell you. They were such a great couple, Rich had them doing what Alex’ deemed “gymnastics” to get the shots, LOL, I told her she could sock him any time she wanted if it got to be too much, but no, she went along with everything, what troopers they were.
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.jpg "through the legs")
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.jpg "Fred alone")
.jpg "spinning bride")
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Let me just stop here, as Alex’ mom had made her the perfect accompaniment to her gown, a small birdcage veil which looked just smashing with the gown. However, the wind that day didn’t want to cooperate and being that it was just a little poof, it wanted to blow around quite a bit, so check out Alex laughing about how to “tame” the veil! Then we left Goldsmith, and Rich had spotted on driving there, an old truck out at a local farmstand. The guys at Harbes Family Farm, are such nice people, really, they couldn’t have been nicer.
.jpg "by the ole truck")
.jpg "a toast for the happy couple")
.jpg "little country things....")
They were like, “hey we have this place to take photos, and we have that place over there, etc. etc.”. So please, next time you are out on the island and want to grab some mums or veggies, be sure and check them out. They are a great place to take the kiddies.
.jpg "walking on a country lane")
So after that we headed to our location for our wedding, Martha Clara Vineyards. It is such a picturesque place to have a wedding.
.jpg "in among the sunflowers at the vineyard")
.jpg "sunflowers")
.jpg "a kiss in the fields")
.jpg "the barn where the reception was held")
Guests were escorted by Wayne Sailor Valet Service on where to park……….
.jpg "wedding this way............")
They had a big tent set up in the back to hold the ceremony and then the barn was where the reception took place. They had a country lemonade stand set up before the ceremony complete with pink and white striped tablecloths and mason jars for anyone who had a thirst.
.jpg "country time lemonade")
En route to the ceremony tent, guests were asked to take their seating cards done up in a pink and white paisley printed paper and hung by cloths pins from tangled grape vines, too pretty…….
.jpg "guests seating cards")
Pretty tin buckets of white hydrangeas lined each row of white wooden chairs………………..
.jpg "the pew decorations")
Here are the girls waiting for the signal to line up….
.jpg "waiting to go down the aisle")
Alex was either crying or laughing hysterically during the ceremony, it was too funny. Check out one of my fav’s from this wedding, it is like Fred is saying to her during the vows, what on earth is so funny? Too cute for words……
.jpg "Alex and Fred during the ceremony")
.jpg "Fred thinking what the heck?")
.jpg "Alex, vows")
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.jpg "leaving the ceremony")
When the ceremony was over, the guests all waved streamers with ribbons that read “Alex and Joseph tied the knot”!
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.jpg "We tied the knot streamers")
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The barn room was beautiful complete with pink and white paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling, Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson signs on their chairs, and arrangements of three types of flowers set in alternating vase heights. Crystal charges with silver ball trip, pink tableclothes, and tiny votives filled with candles and flowers lined the tables. Complete country elegance prevailed….
.jpg "staggered height vases set on the tables")
.jpg "the French bar")
.jpg "lanterns in different shades of pink and white")
.jpg "tablescapes")
.jpg "the adorable chair signs done by Laura from LA Productions")
The music was provided by the exceptional dj’s, Michael, the owner and Ryan, the spinner of some great discs, both of Music by Michael. If you want a classy dj peformance, not overwrought with tons of microphone gabbing interruptions and someone yelling “everybody scream”, then these are your guys, for sure. Catering was by Christopher Michael who served up some delicious steak, swordfish, chicken and potatoes. Yummy, in a word. Our couple also had a photobooth installed for the occasion which is always fun. It was by NYC Photobooths. Couples would visit it and take some crazy and goofy photos and then glue them down into a book provided for that purpose as a keepsake for the bride and groom to always have and laugh over. Very cute to be sure.
.jpg "even our happy couple had a good time in the booth!")
.jpg "this booth is occupied!")
The party was rocking all night long and then came time for the cake, made by a friend, which was simply gorgeous.
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So pretty, in the same black and pink colorscheme. The place to put your cards was a wooden wine box with a slit at the top, how inventive!
.jpg "cake detail")
.jpg "wooden wine crate for gift cards")
Cupcakes done by Sugar Sugar were, OMG, the most tastiest things I have ever eaten. And, I mean it. Not to knock other companies, but holy smoke, they were better than Crumbs, Sprinkles, Magnolias, you name it, so sweet and the icing, so creamy, DELICIOUS. My mouth is watering just writing this.
.jpg "Sugar Sugars cupcakes, simply delicious!")
Our happy couple is waiting on taking a honeymoon as you see, our bride, Alex, just became a nurse and got a new job at a local hospital! So congrats to Alex on her achievement. All the guests were treated to a favor of wine before heading out to retrieve their cars.
.jpg "wine favors")
Guys, we hope you like the photos, and as always, leave us a comment!
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LA Blossom: I am speechless! Those pictures were amazing!!! :) Laurie September 16, 2009 8:33 am
Berrinda: AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!!! September 16, 2009 1:07 pm
Allison: Stunning! September 16, 2009 1:42 pm
Becca Robison: Umm Alex, you are a beautiful bride!! Just gorgeous!! It looked like a fabulous day for you all! I so wish I could have been there. All of the detail, just so cute!! Enjoy being newlyweds : ) September 16, 2009 6:56 pm
Gail & Steve Nee: I can't even begin to tell you how much we love the pictures. You did the most amazing job. Thank you so much!! September 16, 2009 7:35 pm
Laura Mastriano-LA Productions: The pictures are just incredible-amazing-breathtaking! Mindi & Rich: you guys are just the best- creative, dedicated, super nice and uber talented!!! Can't wait to work with you again! :o) September 18, 2009 5:56 pm
Jacqueline Nicole: These pictures are the most gorgeous pictures I have ever seen. This was a beautiful top notch wedding. Every detail was so exquisite. From the flowers, to the cakes, the ribbon wands, drinking out of ball jars, the wine box card holder and my personal favorite the picture booth. Gosh...not one stone went unturned. Alexandria and Fred looked liked the picture of the bliss. CONGRATS Guys!! September 19, 2009 1:21 am
Nicole D'Angio: Fabulous pictures of a fabulous couple!!! I wish for you many years of love and bliss!!! These photo's tell a story , I feel as if I were there. Mindy and Rich bravo, well done, once again!!! September 30, 2009 11:01 pm
PiterJankovich: My name is Piter Jankovich. I wanted to tell you that I just love your photos and follow your blog it's really cool March 29, 2010 9:38 am
snowshoes: I absolutely love your photos and your stories on your brides and grooms! I visit often.... May 16, 2010 10:35 am