Lucky Faye!   Her wedding gown will be custom-designed and created  by the famous couture dress designer and dressmaker,  Janice Martin. The gown is now down to two stunning designs.   And you get to choose which one Faye will wear on her wedding day!

When we last talked about the planning of Faye & Matt’s wedding, you were asked to vote on the invitation by Two Paper Dolls.   And the winner is:

Now, we’re on the wedding gown, and so far, the voting has been unbelievable.   The dam has opened and votes are pouring in.

At their first meeting, Faye and Janice got to know each other so that Janice could design the dress to not only to suit Faye’s beauty and style, but her personality as well.  Eclatante was there for the fittings of the muslin versions of each evolution of Janice’s designs. We were so impressed by Janice’s compassion and ability to figure out exactly where to begin and how to make Faye feel completely at ease with the process.  By the time Faye’s gown is complete, there is absolutely no doubt that it will be a one-of-kind couture wedding gown that was made to fit and suit Faye absolutely perfectly.

These two drawings depict the two designs by Janice that were created for Faye.

GOWN #1

This is a halter style fitted gown with a layered train. The fabric will be a cotton/silk blend and the gown will have a slight blue cast to it. The train starts higher in the front, lower in the back. The dress may have small covered buttons down back of gown. The train is of layers of chiffon or organza, so that each layer will “flow” or “float” evoking waves. The gown may also have a blue sash at waist to complement the bridesmaids dresses. Blue was chosen for two reasons:  First, Faye’s amazing eyes; and, second,  because the ceremony will take place at  the rotunda that juts out onto the water outside the Independent Seaport Museum.   The effect of this gown is “light and airy”. The halter style gives Faye’s figure support and her shoulders more definition.

Gown #2:

Same silhouette as Gown #1, but is a strapless fitted gown of shirred silk satin. This is a much more “formal” fabric. The train is layered with a “bubble” type effect, so that overall the gown would be more sculptural and elegant.  Both gowns are very “body conscious” so either will show off Faye’s lovely curves. Both gowns will feature blue in the construction to give depth and richness to the gown and flatter Faye’s skin tone and eyes!

So, just like you did with the invitations (thank you!), please log onto Philly.com/weddings to cast your vote for either Gown #1 or Gown #2.   Hurry, though.   Faye is very anxious to find out which gown is hers!!

Next time, you’ll be asked to choose between two amazing centerpieces from Beautiful Blooms.

Brierley & Andy will stay in our hearts forever. We so adored every minute of planning this wedding that sometimes I wish we could go back to when we were talking to this family and this incredible couple all the time. To say we miss them is really an understatement.

One of the most interesting facts about this gorgeous couple is what Andy does for a living — he’s a professional sailboat racer (as in, The America’s Cup and a gold medal in the Pan American Games).   I mean, really — how does that happen?   Well, he comes from a family who loves to sail and it just took hold. He started sailing when he was six and proposed to Brierley on his father’s sailboat, “the “Thistle” (which will re-emerge in Part 2).  And from there, we just had a great time incorporating little sailing elements throughout the wedding.

Brierley’s very cool profession finds it’s way into the reception.   Her life is all about incredible food.   More about that later.

The amazing photography was beautifully accomplished by Sarah DiCicco. I LOVE LOVE LOVE working with her.   Not only does she produce incredible photos, but she is a total dream to be around.

Here are some great shots of Brierley and Andy getting ready

We love the font of their invitations.

Brierley's yummy Monolo Blahniks

These cool wine bags that held the wine Andy gave to his groomsmen were were made from recycled sails.

While the girls were getting ready, Andy took the guys bowling at Lucky Strike.   It really is a completely different thing for guys that day!

Although she wasn’t bowling, Brierley was way cool in her hotel room as things were getting started.

Claudia Seyler’s incredible artistry with hair & makeup and her wonderful, calm persona was the perfect fit for this low-key, but fun-loving crowd. Brierley looked absolutely amazing.

Brierley steps into her stunning Romona Keveza gown, with a beautiful light blue, crystal encrusted sash around the waist.

This is one truly happy bride!

Back from bowling, Andy was relaxed as could be while getting ready.

The gorgeous bouquets from Beautiful Blooms arrived at the hotel and Brierley was ready to see Andy for the first time.

Brierley & Andy wanted to take some photos in some very Philly places – so off they went to the 30th Street Station and of course, they had to stop for the famous Broad Street photo!   Sarah was very accommodating with a few game-day changes.

I love this picture of Brierley and her mom, Lindsay. It's not hard to see where Brierley got her looks, eh?

Stay tuned.   Next up will be the stunning ceremony and reception at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. You will love.

We introduced you to Faye & Matt in an earlier post.   They are the amazing couple that won the Love of a Lifetime wedding at the incredible Independence Seaport Museum on May 23rd.

Here is your opportunity to vote for the invitations designed by Two Paper Dolls that will be going out shortly.  Both are beautiful!

Here’s how it goes.   Each element of the wedding will be voted on by the public on the website hosted by Philly.com.  So far, the perfect menu and food service from Culinary Concepts has been chosen.  (YUM! – Philadelphians have great taste in food!).  Now it’s up to you to choose between the two amazing invitations created by Two Paper Dolls.   Here they are.

Hurry up and cast your vote for either one of these.   I have my favorite, but that hardly matters!

After the invitations comes the two totally custom-made wedding gowns from Janice Martin.   We’ve been going to the fittings and I’m sure you will adore what’s being created for Faye.   Deciding between the two might be a problem though.

Congratulations Matt and Fay e- winners of the “Love of a Lifetime” wedding!

Photo by Kevin York

(more…)

Photo by Cliff Mautner

Photo by Amy Deputy

Photo by Tania Lezak

Photo by Tania Lezak

Photo by Laura Novak

Photo by Sandor Welsh

Photo by Therese Marie Wagner

Photo by Marie Labbancz

Photo by Marie Labbancz

Photo by Maggie Wallace Cullun

Photo by Tania Lezak

Photos by Alison Conklin

We have a tone of these amazing photos of kids at our weddings.   We might do this again someday!

We were so excited to learn that Rachel & Chris’ fun and exciting wedding at Appleford were going to grace the pages of Brides Magazine.   They were such an adorable couple with an amazing family!   Good things do happen to good people!

In Part 1, we talked about the tables where your guests are seated.   Now, it’s on to place settings.

Setting a table is a simple matter of logic and symmetry.   You’ll see.

Photo by Marie Labbancz

First, let’s do a rundown of the elements that make up a table setting

PLATES

Charger (or “lay plate” or “service place”)

A charger is optional, but it is usually a terrific addition to the décor and function of service of your dinner– the bottom edge is aligned with the edge of the table.  It allows you to remove and replace salad and entrée plates while leaving an attractive plate at your setting.

Photo by Maggie Wallace Cullen

Dinner plate or luncheon plate

The large entrée plate is placed in the center of the charger.  If there is no charger, then the bottom of this plate should be placed about an inch above the edge of the table.

Photo by Marie Labbancz

Photo by Marie Labbancz

Salad plate

This really all depends on whether you’re having a sit down dinner at home or a large reception. and whether you want salad served after guests sit down.  When you serve the salad you can remove the dinner plate and replace it with the salad plate with the salad already placed.

Dessert plate

I’m really not a huge fan of a lot of plates at the table when people sit down.   For dessert.  I think it’s better to remove all of the plates (except for the cup and saucer) and place the dessert plate (and spoon and/or fork) when it’s time for dessert.

Photo by Sarah DiCicco

Cups and saucers

Again, I think these should be left off the table until you’re ready to serve coffee and tea after the entrée (usually with dessert).   Cluttering up a table is never a good idea.

Bread and butter plates

I love these little plates.  I often like to do something unusual with them as an accent to the table.  Usually placed above the dinner fork (the top left of the charger), they are use to separate bread and butter from the other foods on the salad or dinner plate.   I really don’t like having the actual bread and butter sitting at each place setting when your guests arrive in the room.  Although purist North American formal at-home dining etiquette removes the bread completely (way to formalistic for me!), I believe the more lovely way to provide bread and butter to your guests is to have it served once your guests have taken their seats.  This is especially true at a large reception where you have worked so hard to plan a meticulous and beautiful look on your table – without bread and pats of butter (don’t get me started on those shaped patties of butter) impeding your beautiful tablescape.

Photo by Michael Branscom

Photo by Amanda Kraft

GLASSWARE

So, there are a myriad of types of glassware, but, for the sake of yourself and your guests (and to minimize clutter on the table), keep it to these simple three types of glassware:  water, wine and champagne (if serving champagne at the table). Drinking glasses of any kind are placed the top right of the charger or dinner plate, above the knives and spoons.

Photo by Amy Deputy

Photo by Marie Labbancz

Water goblets are the largest glasses (can also be used for ice tea, unless you want to use Tom Collins glasses).  Red wine glasses then white wine glasses follow, and finally, the champagne flutes.   The water goblet  is placed directly above the knives. Smaller glasses are placed in front.  See the diagram below.

Depending upon the kind of party you’re having, you can, of course, use whatever glassware suits your party best.  You can also include a dessert drink glass if you’re serving sherry after the meal, but again, I feel that it is better to place that glassware after the dinner service has been removed.

FLATWARE

Honestly, there’s nothing particularly interesting about flatware — it’s just about placement.

Forks go on the left, knives on the right (and, usually, spoons). After that, logic takes over.  what you use first goes on the outside  – so, the salad fork is to the outside of the dinner fork; the soup spoon goes outside of the dinner knife.   After that, it’s just a matter of symmetry,

I’ve always liked waiting until dessert is served for the dessert spoons to come out, but sometimes, it’s just not practical.   In that case, placing the dessert spoon above the plates is fine.

Oh, and the knife blade faces the plate.

Here’s a diagram for you:

A:  Salad fork

B: Dinner fork

C:  Charger

D:  Napkin (which can go onto the center of the plate or, if you have a salad plate or soup bowl, to the left of the plates

E:  Dinner Plate

F:  Dinner knife (blade facing the plate)

G:  Soup Spoon or teaspoon (If you aren’t serving soup, then for the sake of symmetry, you could place a teaspoon in its place, which could, if you choose, be used for the dessert spoon later.

H:  Butter knife

I:   Bread & butter plate

J:  Dessert spoon (if necessary)

K:  Water Goblet

L:  Red Wine glass

M:  White wine glass

N:  Champagne flute

Trust me when I tell you that none of the rules are unbreakable.   They are much more like guildelines than rules.   Sometimes the reality of what’s happening on the table makes it less attractive or functional to change things around a little.

But always remember the Golden Rule we started out with in Part I –

It’s always about the hospitality.

So whatever you do, don’t confuse your guests with unnecessary pieces.   Keep it simple and lovely and your guests will be thrilled!

There are lots and lots of other things that happen depending upon the types of food you’re serving or the type of food service.   This is just the basics of a formal dinner table.

Now relax and have an amazing time!

There really is an art to throwing a great party — whether it’s a small intimate dinner-thing at your dining room table or a reception for 300 of your closest friends.   So, here’s the next golden rule:

It’s always about hospitality

I do acknowledge that there are far more important things going on in the world than worrying about how to set a table.   I also freely admit that knowing the in’s and out’s of how to throw a great party does not make me a candidate for the next Nobel Peace Prize.

But, honestly, if you’re going to go to all the trouble of getting things together for a dinner party or a reception, don’t you think you should go to the trouble of doing it right?  I’m a huge fan of getting the details right.  It truly is what sets a great party apart from a mediocre one!

photo by Marie Labbancz

Part 1:  The Size of the Dinner Table

One of the biggest (and most annoying) mistakes people make is to place too many people at their tables.  I can’t measure your dining room table, but I can step right up on my soapbox about how many people should be seated at the standard size dinner tables used at receptions.

No matter who tells you otherwise, it is not a good idea to seat 10 people at a 60” table or 12 people at a 72” table.  Why?  Because it’s really uncomfortable and has the personal touch of an annual meeting of an insurance company.  When you’re serving your friends and family, here is your rule of thumb:  about 2’ per person (a little less is okay, but don’t fudge too much).  Most of the time, for receptions, you will be dealing with square or round tables with the following dimensions:

So, for the comfort of your guests, 60” tables should seat only 8 people and 72” tables should seat only 10 guests.  (Don’t worry about the fractions, it’s not an exact science).

Rectangular tables come in lengths from 6′ to 10′ or 12′.   The same 2′ per guest applies.   But the widths of all rectangular tables are not equal — make sure the width of your table is at least 36″ if  you plan to have anything placed down the middle of the table.

Photo by Cliff Mautner

If you need some backup on this, here’s why it works best this way:

Photo by Michael Branscom

Photo by Marie Labbancz

This is how your table should look if your guests are having a great time and they have enough room to move around:

Photo by Sarah DiCicco

photo by Maggie Wallace Cullen

There’s no way this could happen at a cramped dinner table

Photo by Maggie Wallace Cullen

If you’re having a dinner party, be realistic about the number of people who can fit comfortably sit at your table – whether your having food placed on your table or not. It’s easier to bring in tables than it is to serve between crowded guests.

Part 2 will make it easy to set a great table.

We were so excited to be asked to showcase ourselves to the brides of the Please Touch Museum.    It is such a wonderful, unique and fun place in Philadelphia to have a really spectacular celebration.   It’s unusual to have a place in the City (other than a hotel) where so many people can be seated with room enough for a good size dance floor.   Plus, the place is just gorgeous and is a joy to work in.

photo from the Please Touch Museum website

What more can I say?  Oh yeah, it has a carousel!!

Sofia Negron took some wonderful photos of the table we created for the occasion. We did something a little different this time and people really loved it. Thank you so much Sofia!

We often get asked by our clients to create tablescapes instead of centerpieces — which is one of our very favorite things to do. We think these lovely red flowers (provided by Beautiful Blooms) are the perfect floral accent when you don’t want the flowers to dominate the decor.   And the napkins rings are perfect – they have a little hole to insert a single flower stem.   You can get a set for yourself at the Eclatante Boutique.

Lately, we’ve seen a bit more family-style service on the dinner tables. Here, we’re serving dessert family-style, on pretty plexiglass platforms filled with petals. Just a little different. And it gives the table some dimension and interest.

These individual little butterfly seating cards are among our favorite things in the Eclatante Boutique.  The birds are adorable, too.   People really really love them!   And guests are totally enchanted when there is one at their placesetting.

By the way, it’s taken me a long time to like stemless wine glasses.  I know I’m behind the curve on that, but I’m finally here.   I actually like them now!  Especially since we got a gorgeous set for Christmas.

Thanks to Kelley, Scott & Kimberly at Max & Me Catering!  It is pure pleasure working with everyone at Max & Me who really put this whole thing together!  Not only is their service and food absolutely amazing, their people are GREAT to work with!

We’ll do a more complete blog on the Please Touch Museum soon.  There is so much to that incredible place!

The Golden Rule of Timing a Great Party

Part 2)   An amazing party.

If you read Part 1 of this little series, which included Rules #1 – #3, you know it’s all about the critical, albeit invisible, element of timing.

Rule #4:  Let the opening of the doors to the reception signal the beginning of your great celebration.

After an hour and a half of  mingling with old friends, drinking wonderful beverages and eating scrumptious and creative hors d’oeuvres and short plates, your guests should be feeling the anticipation of the great party in store for them. When you open the doors, they should be stepping into something new —   the music goes up several notches, the lighting moves to a whole different level and the decor gives them all that they’ve been waiting for.   What your guests see and hear should reflect your unique style and vision. Creating this new enthusiasm will inspire your guests to have a great time.

Photo by Mike Kehr

Photo by Sarah DiCicco

Photo by Cliff Mautner

Photo by Marie Labbancz

Rule #5)  Once your guests enter the reception, standing around is not an option.

Recently, we did something very fun.  Instead of introducing the bride and groom in the typical way, the bride and groom were dancing (perfectly lit, of course) when the doors were opened.  All the guests surrounded the dance floor. After a short time, the guests were invited to join the bride and groom at which point, they instantly became part of the party. That’s the goal.  You want to engage your guests into your party as soon as they walk in the door.

To accomplish that, remember this:  If nothing is happening, then your guests will do nothing.  But if there’s something to be paid attention to, they will. Nothing will deflate the enthusiasm for your party like downtime.  If that means you need to line up your wedding party for introductions right away, then make sure your wedding party isn’t hanging out in the bathroom.

Photo by Marie Labbancz

Rule #6)  Do not front load your party with a succession of  toasts and speeches.

Honestly, just don’t do it.   Almost no one is entertaining enough to keep your guests interested for more than three minutes.  ”Leave them wanting more” will never be more true than it is here.  If you must have several toasts, then space them out throughout your party.

Rule #7) Do something fun and different at some point in your party.

This can take on several forms, and should take not up a lot of time (do you see a theme here?).    Here are just a few suggestions.

Photo by Amy Deputy

Photo by Mike Kehr

Photo by Amy Deputy

Rule #8) The bandleader or DJ is not the final word on how your party should flow.

Don’t get me wrong, a good bandleader or DJ will know how to keep your party moving and energized. And will do everything possible to make sure it all happens right.  We know and work with some of the best musicians and DJ’s around, and they will take the flow of your party very seriously.  But there are some things they just don’t know because they’re not you and they’re not your planner (don’t get me started on band agencies that claim to be planners).   Furthermore, it’s perfectly okay to want a different kind of party than what that particular band is used to playing. For instance, most bandleaders don’t know when the photographer has left the room and wouldn’t think to delay the cake cutting until the photographer returns. (And yes, this is an extremely good reason to have a good, experienced planner on board).

Photos by Marie Labbancz

Rule #9) Be flexible.

Sometimes things just happen that are completely unexpected, which may require that things get moved around a little.  Do not let this upset you; some of the best experiences are borne from game day decisions made in the face of some unforeseeable happenstance.

Rule #10)  Leave them wanting more (the Golden Rule).

No more than four hours after the cocktail hour (or so) began, you should be saying your goodbyes.

Okay, that’s it.  Have an EXTRAORDINARY party!!!

Welcome back to Holly & Bill’s wedding.   If you read Part I, you know that their wedding was incredibly romantic and beautiful.   Just like them.

So, to continue, after the ceremony, the guests were invited to eat, drink and mingle among the stunning statues and masterpieces that adorn the walls of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts while Holly & Bill took off with Marie Labbancz for a memorable photography session.

Meet Bill’s adorable twins – Evan & Lexie.   They were so delightful throughout the whole day.

I think forgot to show you the wonderful ring bearer’s pillow that Beautiful Blooms created for Evan in Holly & Bill, Part 1 — it was really cute.

The couple then went into the Sculpture Gallery and had some incredible photos taken.  I just LOVE these!

And of course, with Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in such a prime location on Broad Street, there is simply no excuse for not taking the classic and always beautiful photo in front of City Hall.

Guests just loved their seating cards — they received a beautiful handblown glass pumpkin with their names printed on attached cards.   So so so so pretty.

After the photos and the delightful cocktail hour where they greeted all of their friends and family, Holly & Bill had their grand entrance into the real party!

The tables were absolutely lovely.   Beautiful Blooms did a spectacular job of creating the centerpieces that perfectly matched the look and feel that the couple wanted.

Since the night of that wedding, I’ve called their maid of honor toast “the best MOH toast of all time.”   If you need a refresher on that amazing story, here it is:  TRUE BFF’s

Finally, the cake cutting:

Then the guests danced the night away and left with candy & caramel apples.

We look forward to keeping in touch with these two.  I just know their lives will be filled with wonderful stories and beautiful memories!

Holly and Bill are two amazing people who met when Holly was walking her adorable little Yorkie, Lola, on the street where she lived.   As luck would have it, Bill lived just a few doors down.   They had to go through all the motions, of course, but really, the die was cast that day on Wildey Avenue in Philadelphia.

Holly was a gorgeous and sweet bride.   Her Lazaro gown was amazing and her Manolo Blahnik shoes were just right.   I loved Holly’s hairstyle that day (beautifully done by Claudia Seyler).   Beautiful Blooms created all the floral magic which began at Holly’s home in Phily, then moved on the enchanting Academy of the Fine Arts (the Historic Building) for the gorgeous ceremony and reception.

Marie Labbancz masterfully captured the romance and the beauty of that amazing day!

First up, Holly getting ready at her very cool row home in Philly and the extremely touching ceremony.

This is the very spot where Holly met Bill (with Lola)!

Well, here’s the final episode to Kelly & Liam’s amazing wedding on the beach in Bethany, Delaware.   There so much to tell.   But the photos by Amy Deputy do such an incredible job of giving you the beauty of evening.

After the ceremony (see Kelly & Liam, Part 2), the guests were invited to step over to the cocktail are on the beach.   Who could resist?

The reception took place inside an impeccably constructed tent on the sand by The Party Center.   We had to pay extremely close attention to the tide tables — there was a storm out there somewhere and their wedding was on the night of the high tide.   We weren’t quite sure until the construction was complete exactly what configuration would best suit the shape of the beach on that day.   Further, each piece of the tent had to be carefully transported in from the public access point two miles down the beach via Hummers.   It was quite the process!

The dinner tables were stunning.  We brought in each carefully chosen element on every table crate-by-crate down the long narrow boardwalk leading to the beach where the reception tent was constructed.   Each table eventually became an understated, yet very beautiful, setting for a shared meal among friends and family – dinner was served family style.    There were no large centerpieces; rather the table was colorfully decorated in small arrangements of delphinium orchids and pillar candles placed on beautiful teal seaglass — Expertly created by Beautiful Blooms (as always).

Dinner was served family style by the family’s long-time friend, favorite caterer and restaurateur,  Jamie Weist — owner of Chef Du Jour Catering. Jamie  executed a beautiful and scrumptious presentation.   The guests raved all evening long about the food.   It was wonderful!

There was a surprise in store for the guests after Kelly & Liam’s first dance.  Waiting outside the tent was an amazing Irish Dance team who charmed everyone in the room.  They were absolutely incredible to watch!

Meanwhile, Amy Deputy had one of the best photo booths set up that we’ve encountered.   Everyone took a turn and had a blast.

I absolutely love these photos of Amy and Kelly!

I got such a kick out of this -- even the security guard had fun!

As the night was drawing to a close, we had just one more surprise in store for everyone who came to celebrate Kelly & Liams incredible wedding.

Fireworks straight ahead.

It was a truly great wedding.   It was hard to say goodnight.

It was a truly enchanting night.   We see an amazing future of love and laughter in the lives of these two extraordinary people.

Welcome back to Kelly & Liam’s wedding.  Hope you enjoyed Part 1.  This Part 2 is about their very special Quaker ceremony on the private beach at her mother’s summer home in Bethany Beach, Delaware.   Only these amazing photos by Amy Deputy can even begin to tell the story of how beautiful and romantic the ceremony and its setting were. Amy’s genius is in capturing the magic in every moment.

When guests arrived they were offered these refreshing lemon/limeaid beverages

Guests were then invited down the lovely boardwalk accented beautifully with blue ribbon and glass lanterns

Guests were offered seats in the lovely Quaker Meeting House setting we created on the beach for Kelly & Liam's wedding ceremony

In case you don’t know, a Quaker ceremony is a bit different than a typical wedding ceremony. The guests will gather for silent worship.  Then, as they may be inspired to do, individual guests may stand and give their own messages to the couple and the other guests.    Afterwards, the couple signs the marriage license and the guests are invited to do the same.   This certificate becomes the couple’s treasured possession.

At Kelly & Liam’s wedding, the couple and their immediate family members sat under an absolutely gorgeous structure created by Beautiful Blooms that perfectly reflected the stunning setting. The words spoken by many of the guests – some of which in a truly melodic Irish brogue — were incredibly warm and loving.   It was, in all ways, one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have ever seen.

The adorable flowers girls carried these perfect flower baskets created by Beautiful Blooms

Kelly enters the beach with her brother

After the ceremony,the guests were welcomed into the cocktail hour on the beach

Really nothing like a cocktail hour on the beach!!

We had these absolutely perfect pinwheels created to serve as the seating cards for the guests. Guests just LOVED them!

While the guests enjoyed their cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, Kelly & Liam spent some time basking in their first moments and husband and wife.

There is one more amazing part left to show you about Kelly & Liam’s wedding.   The wedding reception was as much fun as it was gorgeous.   Just wait!

Kelly & Liam are an extraordinary couple.   Therefore, of course, they had an extraordinary wedding.  Everything took place at Kelly’s mother’s summer home on the beach in Bethany Beach, Delaware.

Amy Deputy was the incredible photographer that brilliantly captured every facet of this wedding. There is no way to do this wedding justice in just one post.   Soon you’ll see why.

Kelly & Liam met when Liam was working on Kelly’s home in Philly.  Liam is a true Irishman – with a sweet brogue and an amazing soccer game. Once they met, it was all over. They got engaged in June of this year, came to Eclatante in July and got married in September.   And what a wedding it was.

Carolyn of The Papery got right to work to create the perfect invitation for Kelly & Liam.   Totally reflective of the wedding being planned and Kelly’s elegant and clean style, the invitation was the guests first look into this amazing wedding.

We planned this stunning beach wedding (all the parts to take place on the sand with the reception in a tent) in a matter of weeks – and it came off without a hitch. That is not to say that there weren’t a few scary moments.   On the Monday prior to the wedding, the weather reports cited an 80% chance of heavy rain, complete with lightening and thunder.  But by Friday, there was not a cloud to be found.   They say it was Kelly’s grandmother’s wedding present!

As the story goes, Kelly wonderful grandmother passed a way a couple years ago.   Before she died, she told her family that she was going to become the Angel of Weather.   Well, most of us turned into believers that weekend and think that Kelly’s grandmother gave her granddaughter the best wedding present either.

Here are just a couple “before” photos (from my iPhone) taken as we were setting up the tent on Bethany Beach during the days before the wedding.

Tenting by Party Center - Photo taken with Kendall's iPhone

Photo by Amy Deputy

I think I’ll just start posting photos and let the story unfold.  (All the rest of the are Amy Deputy’s.)

There's nothing quite like a wedding rehearsal on the sand.

On the morning of the wedding, Liam’s family were were playing in the water with delight.  It was the perfect beach day.

Even Lulu, Kelly & Liam’s fun-loving golden retriever was having the time of her life.   A totally calm Liam had a great time in the water playing with Lulu just hours before the ceremony.

While Liam and Lulu were playing on the beach, Kelly was up in the house getting ready.

Of course, eventually  Liam did come in from the ocean to get ready for his wedding. His boutonnière created by Beautiful Blooms was the great final touch to his perfectly chose attire as was his best man’s.

Then the moment came for Kelly & Liam to see each other for the first time.    Kelly grabbed her beautiful bouquet created by Beautiful Blooms – with her beloved late father’s class ring attached – and headed downstairs to see Liam for the first time.

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  This is a lovely shot of Kelly's bouquet (A hand-tied bouquet of white mini callas, white spray roses, white dahlias and an accent of soft blue delphinium) and Liams's great tie!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Kelly & Liam’s wedding.   We created a Quaker Meeting House ceremony on the beach.  It was absolutely beautiful!