BROOKeLYN LOVE

NYC brides-to-be: check out Brookelyn Photography! Brooke is an amazing NYC-based wedding photographer (part of the unbelievably creative ensemble that the WEDDING AC is comprised of--filmmakers, photographers & stationers). She's THE dream photographer for our upcoming wedding. The way she captures moments through her creative direction & her truly unique eye has captivated me since I first laid eyes on her art!

Take a look at The Wedding AC--the super nice Lisa (lisa@theweddingac.com) will guide you through all of it :) After all, once the wedding day is said & done, photos (& videos) are the most valuable keepsake! Let a photographer do justice to your big day. I know I will.

photos via Brookelyn Photography

CLAIRE PETTIBONE BOUDOIR

 

Absolutely captivating, super sweet & sexy Claire Pettibone boudoir photo shoot.
I mean, what groom wouldn't be enthralled by this heirloom lingerie??

Photography by Elizabeth Messina of Kiss the Groom

via Style Me Pretty

PERFECT MOMENTS

A 16mm Bolex wedding film from Ed and Ginny's Wedding by Josh Goleman. This video makes me tear up every time. perfection.

The rest of their wedding can be seen here: http://joshgoleman.com/2009/06/ginny-and-eds-wedding/

LOVELY BRIDAL

Lovely Bridal is a couture wedding shop at its best. Lovely's well edited collection is a nice contrast to the often overwhelming selection of big bridal shops. It's a cozy, intimate, lilac-scented boutique with chiffon, tulle, satin, and lace galore! The two-story shop, located in a townhouse on West 4th, is itself is as whimsical as the dresses they carry. Lovely has an impeccable, curated selection of beautiful bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses, jewelry, headpieces, and custom boleros. The ethereal white, ivory, cream, champagne, blush dresses--marked with vintage shipping tags--are displayed on racks against the backdrop of black chalkboard walls and scalloped mirrors.

This is the perfect bridal shop--a must for any NYC bride-to-be! I can't wait to try on some of their dresses as our wedding date approaches. Most of their wedding gowns range between $1,000-$5,000, and the stylists are nice as can be! What are you waiting for? Make an appointment here.

MY ENGAGEMENT RING

It reminds me of the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) in Venice.

I never specified what ring I wanted prior to our engagement, except that I've always thought that a round brilliant cut diamond is timeless & classic. Mark popped the question on a black sand beach in St. Lucia (I foiled his original plan, but that's another story).

The ring we got is shown above. It's a Tacori Crescent except set higher. We got it customized at Michael C. Fina on 5th Avenue. Justin helped us out along the way. This design wasn't available when we got it--but it looks like Tacori's now added it as one of their designs (HT2513RD7512X)! I am absolutely in love with it--it has at once an heirloom vintage feel & a certain unassuming intricacy.

I'll post photos of it when my good friend (photographer extraordinaire, co-founder of our company & bridesmaid!) Sophie Elgort photographs it. Once we get married, I'm going to get it engraved with our wedding date & initials!!

BEYOND PERFECTION

An amazing wedding video of Noah and Rachael's (fellow blogger lace and likes) wedding by Cana Video Productions, based out of California, but available for worldwide weddings! Plus, they're part of my favorite entourage: The Wedding Artist Collective. They are insanely good and we're hiring them!!

EAT, DRINK, AND BE MARRIED

You're a champagne lover and he's a beer or whisky snob? Rent a beer truck with all your favorite microbrewery beers on tap -- or have a whisky table to quench everyone's thirst!

If your venue is BYOB (like the beautiful Crossed Keys Inn in NJ) then buy a bunch of liquor $3,500 as quoted by Roger from 54 Wines for 200 people. Many liquor shops will buy back any unopened bottles. Or better yet, throw a liquor shower!

ART BREATHES ON

Forget about an engagement photo sesh to announce your newly altar-ed state! My good friend Gina Schippacasse is an incredibly talented illustrator perfectly suited to turn your engagement announcements, save the dates, and wedding stationery into something completely unique and creative.

Send her a photograph or let her sketch you and your sweetheart, and she'll turn it into a whimsical

piece of art. Give her a shout out at artbreatheson@gmail.com for quotes!

JOSH GOLEMAN CAPTIVATES

Since I'm heavy on the flapper theme - I'm 100% head over heels with every detail of this sweet, sweet Gatsby-themed wedding--everything from the barn to the photo booth to the groom and groomsmen in seersucker suits and pink bow ties to the flapper theme! They carried the theme so beautifully throughout..

Photographer and cinematographer *Josh Goleman* captures the emotion incredibly! He's part of my favorite--uber-talented--wedding photography/videography entourage, The Wedding Artists Collective, based in Brooklyn.

We are DEFINITELY hiring a photographer and videographer from them! Each and every one of their artists are top-notch and completely unique. Brookelyn Photography is another fave. Check them out! After all, photos and videos (and your own fuzzy memories of the big day) are the best way to relive the day over and over again. A worthy investment if you ask me!

Josh Goleman works on tour with a rock band and only photographs a handful of weddings per year. His rates start at $6,000 for:

- 10 hours of wedding day coverage

- 1 hi-resolution disc with Josh’s selection of images

- Personal gallery for friends and family to view and purchase prints

- $200 print credit for bride and groom - Polaroid Portrait Photobooth

- $1,000 for engagement session

- $1,500 extra for a wedding video (10-12 minute 16 mm movie filmed with antique bolex camera) such as the gorgeous one below:

A 16mm Bolex wedding film from Ed and Ginny's Wedding by Josh Goleman: 

BACKLESS LACE DRESSES

Lace, lace, lace. I'm all about it. Elegant, deceptively simple, and ever so versatile...
After weeks of research, I've come to love three dresses in particular:
1 - Claire Pettibone: Chantilly * 2 & 3 - Monique Lluhlier