Rachel & Mike | April 4, 2009

This blog post is loooooong overdue, but better late than never, right? We kicked off our 2009 season with the wonderful wedding of Rachel and Mike. Rachel came to us just a couple of months before the big day for some help in wrapping up a few last-minute details. She and Mike both have demanding careers which left them with little time to devote to the hectic final months of planning. They were also working with a very unique theme inspired by their professions – she’s a scientist and he races cars (cool!) – and they wanted to make sure their event had a cohesive look and feel. Working with a science/racing theme was a challenge to say the least, but it was a fun challenge and the event came together beautifully.

All of the below images were captured by photographer Bob Fairweather, who is a friend of the couple.

Rachel and Mike opted to host both their ceremony and reception at the stately Lounsbury House in Ridgefield, CT. Walking down the aisle in a wedding gown and heels is always a little tricky, but Rachel decided to up the ante by making her bridal procession down a flight of stairs in the foyer of the Lounsbury House. Luckily, her dad was by her side to escort her and keep her steady.


After the couple exchanged vows, they made their way down the aisle as guests waved miniature checkered flags.


When selecting the color scheme for their event, Rachel and Mike drew inspiration from Mike's racecar, settling on a vibrant palette of yellow, blue, and green. The car also served as the inspiration for Mike's groom's cake, which was created in its likeness.


Other racing-themed touches were evident throughout the event decor, including this pegboard displaying keychain favors that doubled as place cards.


Ann from Dirt Floral provided all of the flowers, including these beautiful floral centerpieces nestled in silver trophy vases. Rachel and Mike chose to distinguish their guest tables with numbers that represented their favorite racecar drivers.

Mike's parents had these very cool antique wooden toys that added a whimsical touch to the fireplace mantels, while continuing the racing theme.


The racing elements definitely outnumbered the science elements at this wedding, but subtle touches including Erlenmeyer flask vases decorating the cocktail tables and test tube shots at the bar ensured that both themes blended seamlessly.

And now for an action shot: I love this photo of the happy couple enjoying their first dance.


Rachel and Mike, it was such a pleasure to share in your special day and we wish you all the best in your new life together!

Lauren & Jason | September 28, 2008

This past Sunday, we had the pleasure of coordinating the lavish wedding of Lauren and Jason, which was held at WoodWinds in Branford, CT. The couple was referred to us by Jason’s sister, Chrissie, whose wedding we coordinated back in September of 2006 (thanks Chrissie!).

Flowers and candles were in abundance at this event amidst a soft color palette of ivory, champagne, and pale pink. All of the ceremony décor did double-duty at the reception – the floral wreaths and altar arrangements adorned the entry staircase at WoodWinds, while the pew arrangements served as centerpieces for the cocktail tables. In the dining room, centerpieces alternated between silver candelabras and lush floral arrangements of hydrangea and roses. To add a touch of personalization to their wedding, Lauren and Jason chose homemade baklava wrapped in tiny gift boxes as their guest favor.

Although the wedding took place on a Sunday evening, the reception definitely had more of a Saturday-night vibe going on. The very energetic band – Nuts in a Blender – had the dance floor packed from the moment the first note was played.

With more than 300 guests in attendance, this wedding certainly kept us moving, so I was only able to grab a handful of pictures throughout the day. All of the below photos were taken by me, but be sure to check out http://www.jaylauren.com/ in a few weeks to see the amazing shots captured by photographer Jerome Braga of Studio 1923. This was our third time working with Jerome (who is a blast to hang out with, by the way), and at all three of the weddings we’ve done with him, the groom’s name has been Jason. Coincidence?

Lauren and Jason, thank you so much for letting us be a part of your wonderful day. We hope you have an incredible honeymoon in St. Lucia and we wish you all the best in your new life together!

Kelly & Giancarlo | August 16, 2008

Kelly and Giancarlo were married at Caramoor in Katonah, NY, a beautiful and historic music and arts center. I originally met with the couple last November and could see right away how well they balanced each other out. Kelly is a very sweet, laidback woman with simple, natural taste, while Giancarlo has more of an opulent style. The aesthetics of the wedding were very important to him, and it was refreshing to see a role reversal of the typical bride/groom dynamic we normally experience.

At the outdoor ceremony, guests gathered in Caramoor’s Sunken Garden where they were warmly greeted with a refreshment of lemongrass-infused lemonade and cucumber water.

Kelly and Giancarlo exchanged marriage vows amongst the natural beauty of Caramoor’s expertly manicured grounds, including two willow trees that were brought in by Michael George Hybrid for the occasion at Kelly’s request. Afterward, the couple greeted their guests along the Cedar Walk as they made their way to cocktail hour.

While guests enjoyed tasty hors d’ oeuvres, flutes of champagne, and orange-infused water, Kelly and Giancarlo posed for formal photos with their bridal party and parents. Caramoor’s wonderful variety of shaded nooks and crannies provided the perfect backdrop. Photographer Ken Lax did an amazing job of capturing the carefree and relaxed atmosphere of the wedding.

The tented reception was held in Caramoor’s Italian Pavilion, where guests were treated to a five-course seated luncheon prepared by Great Performances Catering, as well as signature lavender martinis.Gerard Carelli Orchestra orovided the soundtrack for this lovely event as guests enjoyed the festivities.

Kelly and Giancarlo’s centerpieces were truly the life of the party – monarch butterflies flitted amongst tree moss and branches in dainty glass enclosures, which were surrounded on all sides by square vases of green and white flowers. Later in the afternoon, the butterflies were released by guests in lieu of a traditional centerpiece giveaway.

Kelly & Giancarlo, it was a pleasure working with you for the past several months to plan your beautiful event. Enjoy your honeymoon in Hawaii and Sedona, and we wish you the best of luck in your new life together as husband and wife.

__________________________________________________

Additional wedding professionals included:

Officiant- Shauna Kanter

Rentals- Northeast Tent Productions & Party Rentals LTD

(Photos taken by Bliss Weddings)

Alessandra & David | July 4, 2008

Welcome to the brand new Bliss Weddings blog! We’ve been following the blogs of several of our fellow wedding professionals for a few years now, and we’ve finally decided to join them in the blogosphere. We’ll be posting about a variety of topics – from weddings, to creative ideas, to random musings about the wedding industry, and maybe even a few snippets from our personal lives here and there. And what better way to debut our brand new blog than with Alessandra and David’s spectacular Cinderella-themed wedding?

We originally met with Alessandra and David last summer to discuss their ideas for their July 4, 2008 wedding. We have to give David props – he was one of the most involved grooms we have ever worked with, and his knowledge of the wedding plans was right up there with Alessandra's. When designing their wedding, the couple drew inspiration from Alessandra's favorite movie and childhood heroine: Cinderella. The event promised to be a fairy-tale celebration, and on the big day, it certainly lived up to that promise.

We began our day at Alessandra’s parents’ house, where she and her bridesmaids got ready. Since it was Independence Day, many of their neighbors were hosting cook-outs, and so the quaint neighborhood was already bustling with activity when Alessandra’s horse-drawn coach arrived to take her to the church. She must have felt like a celebrity, with all of the party-goers wandering over to snap pictures of the scene as she posed for formal photos with her bridesmaids around the property.

At the church, with David safely concealed out of view, wedding guests gathered outside while trumpeteers outfitted in full regalia announced the bride’s arrival. Guests applauded as Alessandra and her parents exited the coach onto a red carpet that had been rolled out to welcome them.


After the ceremony, Alessandra and David opted to separate from their bridal party and spend some quality time together while taking their formal photos. The very talented photography team of Jason and Shari Weaver from Dreamscape Studio followed them to a local ice cream shop, and then to a nearby beach to capture their first moments as husband and wife. (Be sure to check out Dreamscape’s blog in a few weeks to see the professional pictures!) Alessandra and David caught up with their bridal party and parents for more photos later at St. Clement’s Castle, where the reception took place.

Following an outdoor cocktail hour, guests gathered in the courtyard at St. Clement’s, where Alessandra and David kicked off their reception by performing a carefully rehearsed waltz.



As you can see, Alessandra had the most beautiful (and enormous!) ball gown, and - professional photographer though I am not - I was able to capture this great action shot as David lifted her and twirled her around during their dance.


When it was time for dinner, guests proceeded inside to a beautifully decorated dining room, anchored by a magnificent wedding cake created in the likeness of Cinderella’s castle.


Other whimsical details included vintage candelabras adorned with cascading floral arrangements (provided by Datura), white pumpkins dotting the place card table, and chocolate mice representing Cinderella’s companions as a reception give-away.


Alessandra and David, thank you so much for allowing us to take part in your amazing day. We hope you had a wonderful honeymoon in Disney World and we wish you all the best in your new life together!

Nuala & Rob | October 27, 2007

Nuala and Rob's wish for their late October celebration was a cozy, intimate gathering with those near and dear to their hearts. Following a touching ceremony at Nuala's childhood parish, guests moved on to a casual reception at the Historic Hartford Club in Hartford, CT, where a stationed dinner set the relaxed atmosphere Nuala and Rob desired.

The couple decided to forego much of the traditional wedding fanfare, including the cake cutting, bouquet toss, and garter toss events, to allow more time for mingling with their guests. A diverse range of musical favorites from the 80's and 90's ensured that the dance floor was packed all evening.

Here are a few images from Nuala and Rob's wedding, taken by Bliss Weddings:

[Portrait credit: David Photography]

Tami & Jason | October 6, 2007

Tami and Jason's late evening wedding took place at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield, CT. At their lakeside ceremony, the couple exchanged marriage vows under a custom-designed chuppah adorned with rich gold fabric, while luminaries lining the aisle cast an ambient glow against the setting sun.

Though their wedding day was unseasonably warm for early October, a luscious color palette of cream and chocolate brown with accents of mango set the tone for a chic autumn wedding. Even sweeter than the colors, however, was the array of desserts that were offered. Guests enjoyed red velvet cake made from a cherished family recipe as well as rich chocolate truffles that were placed upon each table. As a final treat, a delectable buffet of cookies and milk thanked guests for their attendance as they departed from the reception.

Here are a few images from Tami and Jason's wedding, taken by Studio 1923: