Behind the Design: Emily & Nick’s Romantic Newport Wedding
Oct 07 2015 · 3 comments · Behind the Design, Em's Wedding, Inspiration, Personal ·0
Friends and longtime readers know that my daughter Emily got married this Spring. It’s been a whirlwind before and since then but I am finally ready to share some of the beautiful details of that incredible day.
When my daughter Emily was born I started planning her wedding ~in my heart. Never a word was uttered, but I had a folder (the paper kind, not computer) of ideas for her big day. I was going to give her everything she could ever want…
Years ago when I got married, the budget was small and we only had 50 guests, mostly family. My mother and I planned the day with as many special details as possible. She made my veil by hand and we embellished with baby’s breath the day of the wedding.
The bridesmaids (our sisters) were connected by a flower chain. It was outstanding.
And we held the ceremony in a summer chapel with only 10 pews on each side so it seemed to be brimming over with guests.
I always dreamed of giving my daughter a grand wedding that would also incorporate personal, meaningful details. So when Emily and Nicholas got engaged, together we went right to work.
We had to reserve a venue immediately because she wanted a Summer and she was moving to Philadelphia in a month ~if there ever was a challenge this was it! After a few weeks of frenzied searching, we secured a Springtime date at Glen Manor House in Portsmouth, RI. Located right next to Newport, Glen Manor House is a French style petite chateau located on the Sakonnet River and lush with romantic gardens ~ the perfect setting!
Glen Manor House provided us with a preferred vendor list and we found all of their recommendations to be excellent. Working together with our vendors allowed us to create the day of our dreams.
As the design of the wedding evolved, Emily decided that the theme would be Romantic. This was perfect for her and the setting we selected.
Emily designed the Save the Date cards online and they set the tone and theme for the wedding.
Not surprisingly, flowers were a very important element to us. We are both now gardeners and Emily wanted the centerpieces and bouquets to look like they were plucked from the garden, loose and natural. The floral designers at Stone Blossom delivered beyond our imagination.
Emily and I worked with Sherry at Stone Blossom to design four different centerpieces and they were all breathtaking. Sherry guided us to the flowers that would be in bloom on the day of the wedding, May 9th. The selection was a bit limited, but she came through. Sherry even contacted a local grower for anemones just for Em, her favorite flower.
The centerpieces were magnificent.
The dining rooms at Glen Manor House featured beautiful mantles. I love how we embellished them…
What a sight when the doors from the cocktail reception on the terrace were opened to reveal the dining space. The room had such a soft, romantic glow ~ I think I may have heard just a few oohs and aaahs from our guests (or maybe that was me!).
Other details included hand calligraphied place cards a la Emily and beautiful lace overlays on the tables which echoed the details on Em’s wedding gown.
We also put our artistic skills to work with the table numbers, I hand painted the corner with fleurs and Em added the numbers.
The seating plan was framed and displayed on the marble-top table at the entrance to the space.
And of course, there were chandeliers…
Blackstone Catering did a magnificent job preparing and displaying all of the food. Guests are still mentioning the incredible raw bar and tiny sugar cones filled with fruit we had during cocktail hour…
The wedding was actually a mini-destination for almost all of our guests. Emily created the most beautiful gift bags that greeted each guest as they arrived at their hotel.
Unfortunately, there was not 1 left after we packed them but here is a list of some of the treats:
- Nick’s popcorn recipe packed in a white bag with a custom label
- Nick’s extra special nut mix, packaged in a white bag with a cellophane window and a sticker that said “We’re all a little Nuts”
- Aspirin & assorted first aid sundries in a drawstring bag with a Red Cross on it labeled “In Sickness and In Health”
- A watercolor map of the Newport area created by yours truly featuring places of interest that were listed on the wedding website
Emily and Freddy filling the Goody Bags
Emily and I worked diligently to make every design detail extra special. Together we had so much fun creating the perfect day ~ what a reward!
Stay tuned for more photos and thoughts on the ceremony and reception at the end of the week!
*All photos of the wedding day and engagement session by Hello Love Photography*
xo,
Pamela
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Diane
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pcopeman
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Angela Raciti
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