WEDDINGISTAS | A Wedding Blog from Two Connecticut Wedding Planners

Thoughts from a Same Sex Wedding Planner

We are always thrilled when other wedding professionals are willing to be a guest blogger for a day. I would like to introduce you to Bernadette Coveney Smith, who is a wedding planner that specializes in same sex weddings, which are legal in the state of Connecticut. You might remember when we featured a wedding from Heidi and Anna not too long ago. We just love when people are in love!

I have the coolest job – I’m a gay wedding planner.  I’ve been doing this in Massachusetts for six years, since it’s been legal here, and have worked with over 130 couples.  Same sex weddings are different – they have this built in sense of jubilation and triumph.  They have new traditions.  They’re rare, they’re historic and they’re very powerful.

Image: Derek Goodwin

Every year, I work with couples who come to New England from all over the country, just to get legally married.  We create tiny weddings and big weddings, elopements and over the top productions.  Throughout the course of six years, I even had my own gay wedding.

Since November 2008, same-sex marriage has been legal in Connecticut.  It’s great news and means that Connecticut is only one of six places in the entire U.S. where gay couples can legally marry.  It’s very cool – and lots of couples from neighboring New York are actually traveling to Connecticut to marry.  That works out very well because New York state recognizes gay marriages performed in other states.

It worked out well for the first gay couple to be featured in Martha Stewart Weddings magazine.  These New Yorkers, Jeremy and Andrew, had a beautiful wedding in Litchfield Hills, Connecticut.   You can see the magazine feature here, but below is one of their beautiful pictures from Jag Studios.

Image: Martha Stewart Weddings

Have you been to a same sex wedding?  What was it like?

-Bernadette Coveney Smith

Inspire Me! (Yellow, Pink, Navy & Grey)

We experienced unseasonably warm weather for March this weekend and I could not be happier! All the sunshine inspired me to make a board bursting with yellows and pinks.  There's a way to incorporate these bright colors into your design and decor without it looking like a baby's birthday party. If you want to stay sophisticated with your Spring decor, add in small touches here and there.  Use base colors such as navy and grey and add pops of yellow and pink.  I love the watercolor effect in these Wedding Paper Divas invitations.  And the bold bouquet - flowers are an excellent way to bring in fun colors.  Also, I think having colorful paper-flower wrapped favors will bring in a festive Spring touch to your reception tables.

  

Bridesmaid: Evoke Photography via Love & Splendor; Boutonniere: Meghan Labarbera via Style Me Pretty; Invitation: Wedding Paper Divas; Paper Flower Wrapped Favors: Martha Stewart Weddings; Earrings: J. Crew; Rings and Sorbet: Cameron Ingalls and Cunningham Photography via Style Me Pretty; Couple: Love Life Images via The Brides Café.

 

Beautiful Dresses: Bridal Bliss Designs

  

The super talented Jane from Bridal Bliss Designs has a beautiful wedding gown collection on Etsy. She specializes in custom design reproduction. And after you get past the flirty vintage designs, your mouth will drop wiiide open from the cost. The gowns pictured are all under $600! They’re made of high quality materials and custom made... and still under $600.  It doesn’t get any better than that! 

  

 
 
Images: Tea Length Vintage-inspired Tulle gown ; Flowing Chiffon One-Shoulder Gown; Lace/Tulle Tea Length Vintage 1950's inspired gown: Bridal Bliss Designs

If I had to pick a favorite, I think it’s the lace/tulle tea length vintage 1950's inspired tulle gown (pictured last), which is priced around $587; however, Jane has a handful of other designs – so check out her collection! But the best part is, if you show her a photograph - she will recreate the dress for you. I love that kind of customer service!

 

Sunday Sweepstakes: Monique Lhuillier Wedding Gown

Image: All Movie Photo  

I’m not sure if you’ve caught previews for the upcoming wedding flick, Our Family Wedding, but it looks darn cute! The Wedding Channel paired up with them to offer a fabulous sweepstake! You could win an ivory lace Monique Lhuillier wedding that America Ferrera wore in the film AND two tickets to see the movie.

Approximate Retail Value: $6,823

Promotional period ends: March 22, 2010

In case you don’t happen to win the Grand Prize, they are offering a 2nd place prize that’s pretty great too. It includes two tickets to see Our Family Wedding and a $3,000 Bed Bath & Beyond gift card.

Please note: The winner is responsible for all costs related to alternations and cleaning that may be needed for the wedding gown and will be notified on or before March 26, 2010. You should always read the official rules prior to entering any contest of sweepstake. Then, make sure you enter this contest because it's a gorgeous gown.

Trunk Show: Douglas Hannant Fall 2010

      

Don’t miss out on the Douglas Hannant Fall 2010 special viewing that’s coming up at Gabriella New York Bridal Salon in New York City.  At the Trunk Show, you’ll receive 10% off all his gorgeous gowns.

Thursday, March 18^th - Sunday, March 21^st

It’s by appointment only, so please be sure to call 212.206.1915 to set something up.

Vendor Spotlight: Events Party & Tent Rentals

We were thrilled to be able to work with Events Party and Tent Rentals, in Georgetown, for our rental needs for this shoot. We worked with Tracy who was so extremely helpful and excited to work with us on this project. We explained a lot about our vision and the room (which is the most important when it comes to rentals) and Tracy helped arm us with what we needed. We used gold crinkled tablecloth and delicately draped it down the center of the table to add interest.  We also used the same fabric in a deep green to help bring the dessert table to life. Gold chargers were used to pull the whole table together, and also to bring out the gold in the plates that are a family heirloom. All of the colors worked perfectly with the look of the venue’s room, and gave everything a warm, glowing, yet elegant feel.

Images: Michael Maler Photography

You can contact Events CT  at 203-544-RENT or email them at events@eventsct.com. Be sure to check out their show room at 2 Main Street, Georgetown, CT for a vast variety of rentals for your next event.

Thank you so much Tracy for your generosity! We loved our rentals and it was an absolute pleasure to work with you!

Vendor Spotlight: Inn at National Hall

If you are familiar with the Westport center area of Connecticut, you probably have passed the Inn at National Hall a million times, but never really noticed that it was there. It is such a hidden gem in the heart of Fairfield county. You have to take the elevator up one floor to the front desk. As the elevator doors close, you realize you have been transported to a vintage library with books and a grandfather clock, and this is just in the elevator. As the doors open behind you, the front desk is exactly that. One small, old fashion desk with a friendly face behind it. Nothing is corporate here.

We held most of the bridal shoot in the board room, which had some of the most stunning features. Ornate silver candelabras, an amazing crystal chandelier, long rich wooden table with armed chairs, and vintage artwork and photography all around. The views of the Saugatuck River were just as impressive.  We were also in the sitting room that featured a roaring fire in the beautiful fireplace. We wanted to keep our décor on the simple side, as to not take away from the beautiful rooms that we were in.

We also shot our boudoir session in The Turkistan Suite, which was one of the most amazing rooms I have ever been in in my life. But more on that in our boudoir posts!

Images: Michael Maler Photography

You can contact the Inn at National Hall by calling (800) 628-4255 or email them at info@innatnationalhall.com.

Thank you so much to the kind staff at the Inn at National Hall. Everyone was a pleasure to work with and the rooms were simply stunning!

Sunday Sweepstakes Winner: Valentine's Day Pursuit

  

Thank you to everyone who participated in this contest. Unfortunately, there can only be one winner. 

So, a big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Kacy C for winning the Valentine's Day Pursuit Sunday Sweepstakes! Enjoy your autographed CD by the one -  the only - Jamie Cullum!

 

Sunday Sweepstakes: $100,000 Ultimate Wedding Contest

 

Crate & Barrel teamed up with Daily Candy and celebrity planner Jo Gartin to bring you this awesome contest.  The Grand Prize is “The Ultimate Wedding,” which will be organized by A–list planner extraordinaire Jo Gartin. And I LOVE when there are runner-ups and additional prizes to be had. So, the second place prize will receive a  $7,500 Crate & Barrel gift card, and third place will receive a $2,500 Crate & Barrel gift card.  Also, there will be 15 ‘honorable mention’ winners. They will each receive a 
$1,000 Crate & Barrel gift card.

Here’s how you go about entering:

1. You need to be registered at Crate & Barrel 
2. Complete the Contest Entry Form 
3. Then, you’ll have the opportunity to link to the Ultimate Wedding contest entry website 
4. Upload a photo of you and your fiancé 
5. Write about your love story in 100 words or less 
6. Share 3 details of your 'Ultimate Wedding' in 100 words or less 
7. And describe your everyday dream day in 100 words or less 
8. Get Out the Vote!

Your entry will go live for all to see and friends and family can vote for you online. It’s your job to get 
as many people to vote as physically possible. Fifty couples will be chosen by the voting public to move on to the next round.  And even if you’re not the chosen winner in the end, the highest vote getter will receive a 
$500 Crate & Barrel gift card for being so freakin’ popular.

Please note: To advance to the final round, your wedding registry must contain at least 50 items and have a total value of at least $2000.  The lucky winners will be notified in April 2010.

Value: $100,000

Promotional period ends: March 31, 2010

Vendor Spotlight: Lassod Moon Designs

I was especially excited to work with Carey from Lassod Moon Designs on the stationery for this shoot. Although Carey is not located in Connecticut, she was so easy to work with remotely. As we did with most of our vendors, we spoke to her about our theme and showed her some inspiration pieces, and let her work her magic. I love being able to do that with vendors. So many times they are told what to do by their clients that they don’t often get to be overly creative.

Carey used metallic papers in a deep purple, antique gold and diamond colors.  She used clock gears and vintage style graphics to create a custom design based on the Steampunk theme: clocks, time and a raven (thinking of a little Edgar Allen Poe). 

Images: Michael Maler Photography

Carey pays attention to each and every detail. If you look carefully, all of the clocks throughout the invitation and menu are set to the time of the events- the invitation clock, set to 2 pm and the clocks on the menu are set to 4, 6 and 8 pm! (This last picture was taken by me, so forgive the poor lighting!)

You can contact Carey via email at info@lassodmoondesigns.com or call (802) 247-4724 and ask for Carey. You can also check out her very inspirational blog Under the Moon!

Carey, thank you so much for your beautiful work on this shoot. It was a pleasure to work with you and hope to do much more in the future!