Okay so winter hasn't quite hit us yet, but today's real wedding has me already longing for spring flowers and brighter days. (Guys, it got dark at 4.30pm yesterday!).
Jennifer & Jason were originally hoping for a wintery celebration, but the thought of a snowstorm on their wedding day made them reconsider and opt for a beautiful spring wedding instead.
And we're pretty glad they did, their New England bash was filled with gorgeous blooms, elegant rustic details and soft tones.
We're also pretty glad that the wonderful Jessica Brigham of Brigham & Co was there to capture it all.
The first thing that will strike you when you scroll through these pictures is just how happy Jennifer & Jason look. I wish we could include even more photos of this loved-up pair, because they've actually made me smile!
But there's a lot to smile about with this wedding, from the fun first look (I love how Jennifer's family are watching from inside!) to the fabulous style, and the atmospheric location to the luxe table settings.
So make yourself a cup of tea (maybe grab something sweet), think of cherry blossoms, and treat yourself to this lovely wedding.
Our Love Story
We are both from the same city in Connecticut and but never actually met in person until a mutual friend introduced us at a Jets/Giants game in 2010 (he’s a Jets fan, I’m a Giants fan, and he was really sneaky in getting my phone number!)
We were just friends at first and then decided to make it official a few months later.
Jason proposed when we were on a trip with friends in Whistler, B.C. It was toward the end our second day skiing and snowboarding when he suggested we take a group photo at the top of a peak.
He first asked our friends to take photos of just us, and next thing I knew when I turned around he was down on his knee. He was so nervous he forgot to really say or ask anything but it didn’t matter; it was the perfect moment, with a beautiful view of the moutaintops below – it was definitely very “us.”
The Dresses
I wore a fitted dress from Sarah Seven, which had a sweetheart neckline bodice with a delicate lace overlay on top.
My bridesmaids wore beautiful Jenny Yoo gowns that in some light looked blush and in others looked more champagne.
They had a lace sweetheart neckline as well that I thought matched my dress nicely, and most of all they loved it too!
The Inspiration
We originally had our hearts set on a winter wedding, but the more we looked into it the more nervous we got about the weather messing up our day! To compromise, we waited until a big snowstorm to take our engagement photos so that we’d have photos that reflected us and our love for winter.
After looking at Tappan Hill Mansion, we decided on April – it felt like the perfect timing as flowers would just be blooming and the Hudson River in the back.
It was such a romantic venue, with a hint of vintage being that it was Mark Twain’s estate, so we wanted to continue that feel.
With the spring season, we chose mostly soft colors: ivory, champagne, blush with a pop of deep burgundy in the flowers for contrast.
Favourite Moments
We decided to do a “first look,” and I have to say that was one of my favorite parts of the day.
Even though our bridal party was looking on from inside the house, it felt intimate and seeing him before the ceremony definitely helped me relax more.
The Photography & Videography
As soon as I saw Jessica’s work, I knew she was the right photographer for us.
In the photos I saw, she just captured the couple’s stories so perfectly and I loved that she took time to learn about us – how we met, what our hobbies were, and even about our family and friends too.
Her work is so natural, and doesn’t look staged or awkward at all. She really does capture wonderful images… I can’t say enough good things about her!
I was having trouble finding a videographer that was our style – some felt a little tacky! – when I came across Matt’s videos.
We loved that he used a drone, and his five minute trailers were so amazing! He has wonderful editing skills and a really great eye for putting the video to music.
The Ceremony
My talented uncle sang at our church ceremony. He has such a power voice and sang Ave Maria so perfectly that the guests actually clapped when he finished!
It was wonderful, and very special to us.
The Refreshments
We were so excited about the food that we planned our day around going to the cocktail hour!
We had a large selection of passed hot and cold hors d’oeuvres as well as themed food stations, and then a formal sit down meal during the reception.
We chose a beautiful red velvet wedding cake with buttercream rows and real flowers.
The Venue
We chose Tappan Hill Mansion because the grounds were beautiful, and we loved the history behind it.
Not to mention Abigail Kirsch is well known for having some of the best catering around. It just felt like the perfect fit for our taste.
The Decor & Details
We wanted it to feel like we were outdoors, and so we used a lot of natural elements, like moss and wood as well as the flowers, for the escort table and centerpieces.
We also wanted soft lighting dispersed throughout the room, so we had beautiful string lights hung over the dance floor as well as lanterns and candles sprinkled throughout.
My bridesmaid Alex made our amazing Bride and Groom chair signs, and my mother-in-law was in charge of the favors, which were traditional Jordan Almonds wrapped in tulle, traditionally given at Greek and Italian weddings.
Also, we cut a piece of my late grandmother’s wedding dress and wrapped that around the stem of my bouquet. It was so special to me to have a part of her there in a unique way.
Advice for Other Couples
I printed out a sample wedding timeline from The Knot that helped me to stay on track starting at about 10 months out, so I could be sure I was on track.
We definitely recommend adding a honeymoon registry as well, especially if you’ve been living together already have a lot of the essentials or even if you just don’t have the room for all of the typical kitchen gadgets.
We used Traveler’s Joy and were able to customize our site so friends and family could give toward an excursion or hotel instead of a product.
We wouldn’t have been able to afford our honeymoon of a lifetime without it!
The Budget
We definitely splurged on the band… we had heard NYC Swing at our friends’ wedding a few years ago and they had the entire room dancing and singing – it was awesome!
So they were the first ones we called after we chose a venue and date. Because it was a 12-piece band, it was definitely pricey but it was so worth it for the quality and the variety of songs they played – people are still telling us how great they were.
Also, we made sure we provided coach buses for our guests to take them from the hotel to the reception and back.
It was a little over a 30 minute drive, and we wanted to be sure everyone was safe and enjoyed themselves responsibly.
The Music
Processional: Canon in D
Recessional: Queen of Sheba
First dance song: Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
The Honeymoon
We did a mini-moon in nearby Newport, RI, to get away for a few days after the wedding, but we waited a few months to go on our big honeymoon – two weeks in New Zealand and Fiji!
We loved waiting… the wedding day and the weeks leading up to it are already so busy, it was nice to have some time off to prepare for an amazing honeymoon and give us something else to look forward to.
I love Jennifer's advice on the honeymoon registry – such a great idea. And isn't their reception decor just beautiful? And the first look is just so sweet, I've probably seen hundreds, but they get me every time!
Thanks so much to Jessica Brigham of Brigham & Co, and newlyweds Jennifer & Jason for sharing their wonderful spring wedding.
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