Glynn and Wes-Eisenhower House

 I had met Glynn very early in her engagement and was so excited to work with her to create her dream wedding.  Her simple but elegant style was perfect for under the tent at Eisenhower House. She had great food provided by Fine Catering by Russell Morin, a great band, Clique, and other great vendors such as Artistic Wedding Video, Luke's ENT for the photobooth. and PEAK event services provided all the rentals. A gorgeous day for a beautiful couple!  Congratulations Glynn and Wes!

Nicole and Morgan-Narragansett Home Wedding

      Nicole and Morgan had so many changes in their wedding plans due to COVID, but with all the necessary changes, managed to have a wonderful and special day with their closest friends and families. They had a gorgeous ceremony outside by the water in Narragansett, even with a little wind, managed to have a memorable ceremony with Nicole's brother as the officiant and sharing special stories and were married underneath an arbor built by Nicole's father.  Once the ceremony was over, guests headed back to the home of Nicole's parents and enjoyed a wonderful meal provided by Pranzi Catering. The Felix Brown Band played to a socially distance crowd and were incredible. The evening ended with a dessert buffet and late night snacks. What a wonderful day even with all the important changes! Congratulations Nicole and Morgan!

Microweddings-What are they? Should I have one?

     Microweddings have increased immensely due to Covid 19 this year.  This is a smaller version of both the ceremony and the reception, typically no more than 50 guests.  It is a super intimate wedding based of guests that are usually family and only close friends. Many couples don't look at it as a way to cut costs, but to provide more for their guests that they may have not been able to offer initially.  It is the perfect compromise if a couple still wants to get married in 2020 and does not want to postpone.  A smaller wedding may offer the opportunity to be more creative.  You could possible afford more florals or linens and decor, or add some lighting. You could move to a top shelf bar offerings and possibly an extra dessert or late night snack. A microwedding provides an opportunity to spend more time with your guests because there are not as many people to greet. Whether or not to have a microwedding is a personal choice. Many people want the larger wedding and are opting to postpone to 2021, And with many strict guidelines still in place in Rhode Island, the postponement means a full dance floor and a bar that guests can enjoy. No matter what you choose, it is between you and your spouse and what fits for you.  We are always here to help and answer your questions. 

Hope is not cancelled...

     It is August, I have not done a wedding since October 2019.  This is the longest I have gone without a wedding in 15 years.  In this time, I feel like a part of me is missing. I love what I do, I am passionate about my work, I truly love the connection with my clients and I have established such wonderful and meaningful relationships with vendors over the years, not seeing them has been difficult.  But we have to hold on top hope, that we will get past this difficult time and watch the joy on couples faces as they say their vows.  We have to embrace the micro weddings, because for the time being, they are what is possible. In an uncertain time, we have to have hope that the love of couples about to be married will prevail and they will embrace the changes that the wedding will now have. In the end, what really matters is the love between two people, looking to share a lifetime together. For now, we have hope, we have to hold on to that with all we can.  I miss you all and can't wait to share in your memories soon. 

Hillary and Porter-Breene Hollow Farm

     I have known Hillary for many years, and have watched her grow into a remarkable woman. She holds a special place in my heart so when she asked me to help her with her wedding, I don't think I could have said yes any faster.  Hillary's family owns a dairy farm, and she wanted this to be where her reception be held. She is living in Kansas, so it made her trips to RI short and far between, however, she had her mind on accomplishing many tasks each time she was home. Hillary assisted me with many weddings in her high school days, so she had a pretty clear vision of what she did and did not want. Family was the most important part of Hillary and Porter's day.  The ceremony was at the First Baptist Church in East Greenwich, with Porter's Dad being a pastor at his church in Nebraska, they knew they wanted him to be included in the service.  After the church, everyone headed to the farm for the reception.  Hillary had beautiful Gerber Daisy's in all of her centerpieces. She also had wood chopped and brought their own meat from Kansas.  The desserts were Allie's Donuts, which were gone as soon as they were out. I was so blessed to be a part of this day. Congratulations Hillary and Porter!

Madalyn and David-Rosecliff

     Madalyn and David had a gorgeous wedding at Rosecliff, and although the rain fell, we were able to bring the ceremony indoors and make it just as beautiful with the floral that was included. The rehearsal dinner was at Sardella's Italian Restaurant and the guests enjoyed a wonderful family style meal.  The morning of the wedding, we were back and forth with the wedding, but a look at the radar had us move everything inside.  They had outstanding service and food provided by Blackstone Caterers and danced all night long! Congrats again to Madalyn and David!

Kathryn and Shane-Caste Hill Inn

     I initially spoke with Kathryn's mom, and once I heard their story, I knew I had to be a part of their big day.  When a family member fell ill, the couple cancelled their destination wedding in Ireland, and decided to have a local wedding and chose Newport.  It would also just be immediate family and a couple of friends. They decided that Castle Hill was the perfect location for all they needed, guests accommodations, ability to enjoy the ocean and also have the ceremony and reception dinner in one location.  The day of their wedding could not have been a more beautiful day. The weather was amazing.  They chose to have their ceremony at the lighthouse and La Bella Musica provided the ceremony music. The ceremony had so many personal moments to it, it was quite emotional  After the beautiful ceremony, the couple headed to photos and enjoyed a beautiful dinner with their closest family and friends. Congratulations to Kathryn and Shane!!

Pantone Color of the Year 2017....

Greenery!! Pantone it's saying it is fresh and it is nature's neutral. I have not seen this color in a few years so will be interesting if our brides will be putting it as a focus on their color palette. Florists love to throw some greenery into bouquets and centerpieces so wondering with this color as the main focus, if we will see some new designs! Very exciting as always to see the new chosen color and if we will see it in the year to come!

Danielle and Matthew: Belle Mer

The morning started for Danielle and Matthew getting ready at the Mill Street Inn in Newport. Each had their own suite and had time to enjoy the morning with their friends and family members. A trolley from Viking picked up the wedding party and brought Danielle and Matthew were married at the Jesus Savior Church in Newport.  After the ceremony, the couple and their wedding party were off to Rosecliff for photos.  After some great photos, the wedding  party headed to Belle Mer to enjoy some time together before guests arrived in the wedding suite.  The Silver Arrow Band entertained the guests for the evening and Belle Mer provided a wonderful meal as well as some late night snacks. Congratulations to Danielle and Matthew!

Marley and Chris-Vanderbilt Grace

Marley and Chris had a gorgeous day for an intimate wedding at The Vanderbilt Grace.  The couple and their bridal party hopped on a trolley, provided by Rockstar Limo with their bridal party, photographer Jacklyn Lombardo, and videographer Clean Canvas Media to head around Newport for some great shots.  The ceremony and reception we both held at The Vanderbilt Grace, which is a small boutique hotel in downtown Newport. After the ceremony which was held under a beautiful arbor designed by Sayles Livingston Designs, guests headed up to the rooftop for cocktail hour, while we transformed the outdoor terrace into a gorgeous reception. Guests were entertained by the music of The Dream Team Band from NYC, who kept everyone on their feet all night long. Congrats to Marley and Chris.

All photos by Jaclyn Lombardo.

Planned to Perfection Featured on Borrowed and Blue!

Please check out Planned to Perfection as Featured on Borrowed and Blue!

https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.borrowedandblue.com%2Fnewport%2Fwedding-blog%2F5-tips-from-planned-to-perfection-newport-wedding-planners

A Groom's Wedding Attire

It is no secret that weddings are usually centered around the bride, what gown she’s wearing, her flowers, her hair… Unfortunately, it seems like most grooms get lost in the background, but not today! What a groom wears on his wedding day is just as important as his  bride, it does happen only once in a lifetime after all! Depending on the time of day and the formality of the wedding, there are many options for groom’s wedding attire, it can be as classic or as individualized as you desire!

The Tuxedo

The most traditional of all wedding attire options is the tuxedo. Generally, tuxedos are black or navy and are worn with a pleated white button down and cummerbund or vest. While grooms have had more liberty to personalize their look in recent years, the tuxedo remains the dominant option for nighttime weddings and formal affairs. On distinguishing tuxedos from suits, tuxedos are more tailored and also incorporate an element of silk, often on the collar, pockets, and sides of the pants. All in all, tuxedos exude a classic elegance that is unmatched by any other attire option.

The Suit

Not all men feel comfortable in a tuxedo; perhaps it’s not fitting for his personality or the weather will be too warm for an all-black ensemble. Whatever the reason, a suit provides grooms a more approachable option for wedding attire. Because suits are less formal than the traditional tuxedo they lend themselves perfectly to outdoor and daytime weddings. Suits can easily be customized to fit the tone of your wedding. Generally worn with a collared button down shirt, they can be dressed up by adding a vest or dressed down by choosing a light-colored material.

The Military Uniform

Not only are military uniforms patriotic, they’re also incredibly sophisticated and absolutely stunning in wedding photos! If you are a military serviceman (thank you for your service!), consider wearing your dress uniform on your wedding day. Aside from the elegance that a dress uniform adds to your wedding, it’s the ultimate personalization of your attire!

While there are many options to consider when choosing wedding attire, most important is what you feel comfortable wearing. Your attire should be reflective of not only wedding tone but also of your personality! If you would never wear a bow tie, then don’t wear one on your wedding day either! The more comfortable you are with your attire the more that will translate to confidence and poise on your wedding day.

Vendor Updates!

On Wednesday, March 12th, I had the privilege to attend 2 great events. The first one a luncheon at Blithewold Mansion in Bristol, RI.  Blithewold (www.blithewold.org) is a gorgeous venue, where we thoroughly enjoy working. It has beautiful gardens, an unbelievable view and a gorgeous mansion as the backdrop.  They are making some wonderful changes for the 2015 wedding season and we can't wait! Our second stop that day was at Rentals Unlimited (www.rentals-unlimited.net) in Newport, RI. They opened a new location on 360 Thames Street and it is amazing. There is great meeting space, and a showroom that will be able to assist our clients choose linens, china, place settings and specialty furniture in a one stop shop.  We are so thrilled for both Blithewold and Rentals Unlimited on their exciting changes and wish them both well!

Videographer?

Clients always ask if they should get a videographer. My response is always yes! There are moments that the videographer can capture that a picture can not. Voices and emotions can be seen and heard. Here is a same day edit from one of our 2013 weddings done by Artistic Wedding Video.  This wedding will also be featured in the upcoming edition of Bliss magazine. Enjoy!
http://vimeo.com/67036513

Wedding Wire Couples Choice Award Winner 2014

We are thrilled to have won the Wedding Wire Couples Choice Award for 2014. Thank you so much to all of our couples that took the time to write a review of our services. The Couples' Choice Awards recognizes businesses that are amongst the top 5% of wedding professionals nationwide.  We could not be more honored and proud and will continue to work just as hard for our couples in the New Year!

Erin and Jeff, Newport Hyatt

What a beautiful fall day at the Hyatt for Erin and Jeff's wedding. They were able to enjoy their ceremony outside and were able to take gorgeous pictures at the Elms in Newport.  The couple wanted to enjoy their cocktail hour and opted for the raw bar to satisfy Jeff's New Englands roots. Erin included so many personal touches including photos and display notes. They had a fabulous dinner and some wonderful desserts provided by Scrumptions, including a fun groom's cake.  The guests were on the dance floor most of the night with music provided by Music Mixers. Guests were treated to a late night snack of pizza and sliders. Congrats to Erin and Jeff!