Our Vintage Farm Wedding

07 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Real Weddings, Weddings

Tags

animals, antique, barn, country, dancing, dr suess, earth, eco friendly, farm, flowers, garden, hitherto, ivory, lord of the rings, may, natural, nature, new york, organic, queens, queens county farm museum, rust jewelry, spring, vegan, vegetarian wedding, vintage, vows, wedding, winnie the pooh

Daniel and I shared our vows on May 20, 2012 on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. Our wedding was held at The Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park where the surroundings are natural, rustic, earthy and filled with beautiful animals. This farm was close to our hearts as we fell in love with it the minute we saw it. Not only was it the backdrop for our wedding but a main character as well.

I had put so much time and work into this day. You see, I designed and created everything from the decor to our bouquets and pretty much planned it all out with Dan by my side. This was my chance to put together an event that was 100% Danny and I and you can bet I was excited. Even though we didn’t have a large budget, I felt our style and my aesthetic truly shined and us as a couple were represented flawlessly. We both give thanks to our families who helped make it all happen and our friends who happily accepted to play a part in our special day.

Our wedding was very much thought out and all the details clearly show that. We made sure our natural lifestyle and love for the Earth was a main focus. From the recycled paper I used to print the invites, programs and table charts to the favors which guests could plant, we chose to be good to the planet. Our vegetarian menu expressed that as well. We both felt it was important our wedding represented who we are as well as creating a beautiful and organic environment for our guests to enjoy.

The morning of, Dan and I along with my best friend and maid of honor, Meg, arrived at the farm bright and early to set up. Although there were a number of complications and less hands than we planned, we did our best to get everything situated as fast as we can. Since the venue was 45 minutes away from our house we only had a few hours to finish up.

Well, a few hours turned into more hours than we thought and the morning was very much rushed. Let’s just say we all sped home way past the speed limit and got ready like clockwork with Dan heading off to his parents and Meg and I taking turns getting our makeup done. My hair was being curled by my Grandmother and Meg at the same time while my friend Jen was creating my flawless face. Meg wasn’t even done when we left because we were going to be late! Due to time, we couldn’t have our first look shoot at the house either which was a bummer. But off we went determined and anxious.

As our guests waited outside in our ceremony space, which was adorned with burlap and vintage fabric I had purchased on Etsy, the girls and I got dressed inside the barn. My mother wore a garden inspired dress from Anthropologie while Meg looked beautiful in a navy dress from JCrew. My flower girl and Meg’s daughter, Leona Faye, was absolutely adorable in her plaid dress and sandals, showing off a french braid done by my mother. I wore a Hitherto ivory sweater and ivory lace skirt along with Lulu Townsend heels. Azaara earrings graced my ears showing a little shine, a crystal bow and my love for pearls.

Then it was time to walk out and meet my future husband. As we stepped out of the barn and began our little journey over to the pavilion, I was taken back by the visitors that surrounded me, it was surely a busy day at the farm. I had great excitement to finally share our vows before our dear friends and family.

My good friend, Hernan Feraci, played an original song he wrote for us on guitar as I walked down alongside my mother. My eco-conscious bouquet was mix of pink peonies, white and pink daises and button mums, held together with ivory vintage lace and the vintage key Dan gave me during our engagement. Meg’s bouquet featured hydrangeas along with the same as mine while Leona sprinkled dried pastel hydrangea petals down the aisle.

{These were the only natural elements we used that were taken from the Earth so I made sure they were whole trade and eco certified}

The groom wore gray plaid pants from Banana Republic with a wool plaid bow tie from JCrew and gray suspenders while the best man, his brother Nick, wore all gray with an ASOS vest and a JCrew wool plaid tie. Those are two handsome guys!

As our officiant, Mona Gulino, proceeded with the ceremony, we shared teary eyes, smiles and laughs with our guests. Filled with personal readings, chosen quotes from Winnie the Pooh and Dr. Seuss and a small dedication to my mother, aunt and grandmother, it was pure joy to stand by Dan and vow to love him forever. We shared custom vows typed on vintage paper and before we knew it we were husband and wife!

Proceeding the ceremony, everyone joined us in the barn for cocktail hour. We wanted to have light and healthy food served before dinner because it wasn’t long for meal time. Our guests found their place by the table charts I created and each were greeted by an earth friendly favor they could plant anywhere they chose. The tables featured various mini garden centerpieces I put together, each adorned with twine and a vintage key. Vintage fabric was used throughout the space on all the tables and all of the jars and birdcage where items from our collection.

We had natural soda pop as well as iced tea and lemonade as refreshments. Wine and beer were served table side along with the yummy food before dinner.

Dan and I danced to Under the Milky Way by The Church which spun into Two of Hearts by Stacey Q to get everyone up and dancing. We both handpicked the playlists for the event to make sure the music we loved was a character as well. Our DJ, my friends brother Joey, filled the room with good vibes and bangin beats. There was a mix of 80s, dance, some goodies from the 90s and instrumental tunes. Our favorite bands were showcased gloriously. And as you can see I was very excited to get the party started!

From there, we all danced, ate and had a great time. We had an open buffet of vegetarian italian options along with salads and breads, all served on bamboo plates. The weather was perfect and I was so happy to see all our guests explore the farm grounds. This venue is truly a playground for love, joy and happiness. Dan’s brother gave a great speech, which I missed while in the bathroom!, and everyone loved. Good thing I was able to watch it on our video thanks to my good friend Craig who filmed the whole reception.

I was also thrilled everyone attacked the cupcakes which we ordered from Georgetown Cupcake. They are the best! We also set up a little candy bar and served fresh fruit and italian cookies for dessert.

Although the day went by so fast, I will always cherish the special moments and all our friends and family who came and became a big part of making it a success. It was surely a day to remember. Now my best friend is my husband and 3 months later I can look back and say we created a fabulous day full of love. What more could a girl ask for 🙂

Event Details:
Makeup by Jennifer Lombardo
Officiant – Mona Gulino
DJ- DJ Ello, Joseph Mondello
Catering by Buona sera
Cupcakes by Georgetown Cupcake, NYC
Filmed by Craig Webb, What! Productions
Photography by Lauren Elle
Wedding Bands: {Melissa} Rust, England & {Dan} official Lord of the Rings ring

Elizabeth and Nick’s Handmade Wedding

11 Saturday Aug 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Real Weddings

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

aquamarine, Bjork, bride, bridesmaid, Dashboard Confessional, Dave Duong, diy, earthy, eco friendly, farm to table, Fogelsville, Food Fighters, Glasbern Inn, groom, handmade, JCrew, Love N' Fresh Flowers, Melissa Kae, milk and cookies, natural, philadelphia, real weddings, rustic, Sahlia Michelle, sustainable, Sweet Elizabeth's, The Alchemist, vintage, wedding invitations, weddings, woodland

I met Liz when I was 16 through a mutual friend and instantly we got along. It’s pretty impossible not to love her. Although, we haven’t seen much of each other throughout the years, I still consider her a friend. Last year she married the love of her life and I couldn’t be happier. I have never met Nick but I am sure he is an amazing guy.

The invitations were designed by Melissa Kae and the envelopes were adorned with the crafty bride’s handwriting.

Their wedding was a gorgeous collaboration of DIY projects and handmade decor, which were all thought out to the last detail. With Mother Nature surrounding them, they shared their vows and cleverly created a celebration that was a dream come true. Looking over the photos of their special day I was seriously moved. This is why I had to share it.

The programs were created by the bride. Her inspired idea came from the first RSVP that arrived at their door. The envelopes were repurposed as covers and special papers such as onion skin typewriter paper were used for the contents. The handwritten text was done by the bride as well.

October 1, 2011 was a day Liz and Nick along with 91 of their closest friends and family will never forget. Held at the Glasbern Inn in Fogelsville, PA, their wedding celebration was an intimate experience that was nothing less than authentic. From all the beautiful handmade details and vintage materials to the independent vendors they had help them, this was surely a wedding that reflected their personal aesthetic and style.

They chose this particular inn because it was a halfway point between their families in North Jersey and friends in Philadelphia. Their guests were invited to an unplugged ceremony so all were present in the moment. I love this! After, they wined and dined and truly had a farm to table experience. Not only is the Glasbern Inn a sustainably managed bed and breakfast, it is also a farm where all the food served is grown and raised right there on the grounds.

Walking in to Somersault by Zero 7, the bride looked stunning in her strapless lace dress by Marisa 737 and red BCBG heels. Around her neck she wore a Sahlia Michelle aquamarine necklace along with her grandmother’s 80 year old aquamarine ring. The groom stood waiting in a classic suit with a plaid tie and the bridesmaids all wore dresses from the JCrew bridesmaid line they picked themselves. They were all carrying white lanterns filled with wildflowers. The bride’s rustic style bouquet and boutonnieres were crafted by Love N’ Fresh Flowers, the only sustainably managed flower farm in Philly.

Sharing their written vows among the countryside, as the sun peeked out from behind gray clouds, their guests watched as Everlong by the Food Fighters was played by the acoustic guitarist, Dave Duong. Carried down in a vintage black ring box the bride found many years before, their rings were delicately brought by Liz’s 6 year old godson. The bride’s sister gave a reading from The Alchemist by Paul Coehlo and the newly married couple walked out to Hands Down by Dashboard Confessional.

The reception decor was done by the bride and groom as well. All the escort cards were handwritten by Liz and adorned by a personalized button for each of the guests. The tables had collections of vintage bottles filled with an array of wildflowers. These one of a kind bottles were excavated by the bride in a Phoenixville landfill and spiffied up by the groom.

Antique patterned paper was used at the base of the centerpieces, tiny button placeholders rested at each setting and the table numbers were made out of pieces of wood shingles. To bring a little fun to the tables, the couple had included open ended sentence cards for the guests to answer which are now resting in their guestbook along with the photos taken at the photobooth.

The bride and groom’s table was sweetly decorated with fresh flowers, personalized mugs and scrabble tiles.

One of the most memorable moments was Liz and her father sharing their first dance together. Helping him up from his wheelchair, her brother joined the two as they danced to Like Someone in Love by Bjork. Liz and Nick chose Love Song by the Cure (bride’s favorite band), the 311 (groom’s favorite band) cover, for their first dance.

The couple served milk and cookies for dessert and had a red velvet cake made for them by Sweet Elizabeth’s. The reception was warm and cozy as the fireplaces blazed brightly. The sign that hung on the stone wall was put together by the bride and groom by repurposing an old frame they found and painting the inside with chalkboard paint.

Guests had a great time in the photobooth which was lined with Edma fabric from Ikea. With silly props at their fingertips, they snapped photos full of happiness and laughter. They were asked to add one of the photostrips to the couple’s guestbook, made by Three Trees Bindery, and keep the other for themselves.

Most of the guests had a peaceful nights rest at the inn and joined the newlyweds for a delicious breakfast the morning after. What a beautiful way to end such a special occasion. Now the two live happily ever after and are expecting their first child at this very moment! The magical celebration was captured beautifully by Dave Waddell at Siousca Photography.

I honestly feel this is one of the most endearing weddings I have ever seen and its not just because I know the bride. From every detail to the location of the event, you get a sense of who the bride and groom are as individuals as well as who they are as a couple. It’s clear they are madly in love and felt it was important for their special day to represent how they feel, what they believe in and how they view the world around them. By creating an event that was sincere, personal and true to themselves they received everlasting memories of a dream come true wedding they will cherish forever.

Guest Post: How to Choose the Perfect Blinds to Modernize Your Home

16 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bamboo, blinds, curtains, decor, design, diy, eco friendly, home, home decor, light, modern, roller bilnds, tone, venetian blinds, windows, wood, wood blinds

From their easy fitting to their ability to control tone and light, blinds provide an excellent way to modernize your home. Moreover, they can provide essential solutions to establishing an overall decoration scheme, while updating your fittings to be more environmentally sound, and making the most of the space. It’s important to look at the different kinds of blinds that you can use, from horizontal Venetian blinds to UPVC vertical blinds, as well as single fabric roller and Roman blinds. With the multiple options available for those looking to update the feel of their home, it’s worth considering how each of these blinds will provide different but complementary effects.

Choosing the Right Kind of Blinds
First, you must think about what kind of blinds best suit your home and the ways in which you want to create a modern look. Vertical UPVC blinds are particularly recommended for creating a minimalist look, and are ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. However, horizontal wooden Venetian blinds work well for creating a relaxed atmosphere in studies and living rooms, and can also work well in bedrooms. Roller blinds are similarly effective as single pieces of fabric that can be decorated to tie into your overall decor.

The Best Blinds for Managing Tone and Light
You need to think about the best way of managing color, tone and light in your home and how it will contribute to an updated, modern style. Roller and Roman blinds that use high quality fabrics and insulating materials are recommended if you want to use striking or more understated colors, while single color vertical or horizontal blinds can blend in with the tone of wallpaper.

In terms of managing the amount of light passing into a room, easily adjusted UPVC and horizontal blinds are excellent at making small changes to a room’s atmosphere. By contrast, roller blinds can be easily removed from view, or converted into black out blinds if you want to create a more striking look.

Contributing to an Overall Decor
The perfect blind should contribute to an overall decor, and should be consistent with the look of a particular room. Kitchen blinds should consequently be lighter, using UPVC materials and horizontal slats to best let in light, while bathroom blinds should have the option for complete blackout for privacy. If you want to create a minimalist and modern look for your home, using these kind of simple blinds can ensure a clean finish. By contrast, heavier Roman fabric and wooden Venetian blinds are effective if you want to establish a rustic look for living rooms and bedrooms.

Being Eco Friendly
A modern home should take eco friendly materials and appliances into consideration as part of an overall commitment to recycling. As well as eco lighting and LEDs around the home, blinds can be chosen to provide the perfect blend of style and environmental strengths. Vertical and horizontal blinds can be purchased in materials like bamboo, woven polyester and honeycomb. These materials are naturally sourced and designed to be long lasting and resistant to dirt, while improving insulation and protecting from UV rays.

Maximizing Space
The best blinds are capable of enhancing the space in your home, and work particularly well for rooms with low ceilings. Vertical blinds work well at lengthening a room when combined with high bed posts and mirrors. Roman and roller blinds that can be removed from view during the day will also let in more light and open out the room. Skylight blinds fitted in conservatories and to windows in bedrooms can also work well to maximize the space in a room.

{Writing in coordination with Web Blinds, Christina Appleworth reviews the process of choosing the most perfect blinds to modernize your home. Christina’s passion is creative writing but when not writing she enjoys DIY design and modernizing her own home!}