RĂŞverie Winter 2012
Elizabeth Messina dreams a little dream with Claire Pettibone
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THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to‌ Our families Duncan The Mothership & Elven Elizabeth Messina Caroline Burstein & all the ladies at Browns Bride Our intern, Katy Our incredibly gifted contributors Our advertisers Our daily blog readers Our subscribers Our friends Our colleagues Your support and utter faith and confidence in us individually and in the strength of our project have motivated us to produce a magazine that has been a true labor of love. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and from the tops of our champagne bottles.
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Welcome
TO OUR DEBUT ISSUE!
We couldn't be more exited about finally being able to share Rêverie with you. We hope that you find these pages as inspiring to read as we did to create. With 3 months to go until our second issue we've been sure to pack our debut with plenty to keep you going, and when you've digested every last pretty picture and heartfelt word, there's our blog to tide you over until 12th April. So, without further a do, on with the show...!
reverie |'revərē| noun a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream: a knock on the door broke her reverie | I slipped into reverie. RÊVERIE
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A note from the Editor in Chief
a new year, a new magazine As the pages of this premiere issue reach your screens for the first time, we are elated and supremely grateful to now have the opportunity to share this new journey with you. We also have immense gratitude for the outpouring of support that we have experienced in the last several months, culminating even in a launch celebration at Browns Bride. It is a new year and with it comes a new magazine, one which we have poured our heart and soul into, and which is full of fresh content and dazzling inspiration that we are proud to share with brides in the UK and all over the world. In our debut, we feature a range of eye-candy weddings as captured by some of today's hottest talent, including: A hip LA wedding with the most nostalgic series of portraits shot by Max Wanger. A sophisticated wedding packed full of Southern charm from Kate Headley. An eco-conscious wedding from Aneta Mak that was catered by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. An elegant celebration in London with the softest pink palette from Polly Alexandre. A destination wedding in the South of France from Caught the Light. And an outdoor vineyard wedding in Napa Valley with the
Photo by Shell de Mar
prettiest of details shot by Elizabeth Messina. And of course there are the dresses! From Leila Hafzi to Oscar de la Renta to Vera Wang and more, our pages are filled with an abundance of romantic creations. Nowhere is this feeling of fresh and new more perfectly conveyed than on our dramatic cover, shot by Elizabeth Messina and featuring Claire Pettibone’s evocative gown and lace mask. A masked bride brings with her an air of mystery, the promise of something unexpected and different. And we hope that as you unmask the pages of this issue, you’ll unveil something new and unexpected yourself: It's YOUR day, so dare to be bold, provocative and exciting! What else is new you ask? – well, we are also very excited to be rolling out our Lookbooks (see page 12), making the viewing experience of all the wedding content even more accessible. Weddings are all about celebrating love and enthralling guests with a new chapter that each couple is starting together. This premiere issue is the start of our new chapter – and we are so excited to start it with you.
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A return to elegance A note from the Executive Creative Director The day that Mary & I first talked about the idea of a magazine, we sat in a cafe in Primrose Hill, drinking tea, devouring macaroons and discussing everything that thrilled and inspired us about the UK wedding industry. During 15 years in the industry, I’ve catered and waitered at weddings both sides of the Atlantic and event managed weddings for a boutique hotel. I’ve been guest, bridesmaid and on one very stressful occasion, cake maker. As a make up artist I’ve had more than my fair share of jittery brides, and as a stationery designer I’ve talked more than one bride through the pitfalls of gift list and ‘no kids’ etiquette. Throughout all of those weddings there’s one consistent theme that has always been noticeable, either by it’s exquisite presence or it’s conspicuous absence - confidence. Whether your wedding style is Belle Epoque or Chintzy Vintage, Park Avenue Chic or Rustic British, if your choices are made consciously and with confidence, your day will be authentic, unique and truly you. There’s been plenty of hype within the industry lately about whether or not “vintage” weddings are on their way out. I’m not going to wade into that particular quagmire, but there are definitely new influences
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emerging. There’s a return to elegance, to more classic styles and more refined aspects of the past. The 1920s will have a huge influence on wedding style this year with the release of Baz Lurhman’s much anticipated remake of The Great Gatsby and a new season of Downton Abbey set in the same dazzling decade. And let us not forget one of the biggest influences of the last year, the Royal Wedding. The dress, the cake, the flowers, all beautifully judged and elegantly executed. Of course, that’s easy to say of a royal bride, but even Kate Moss, the undisputed queen of vintage & ‘boho’, cast aside her rock and roll persona for a wedding which was elegant, polished and classic (and just that little bit 20s). As we set about creating the Reverie world, our first job was to write down the qualities we felt best embodied the Reverie Woman - elegant, feminine, considered, playful, intelligent, witty, thoughtful, charming, respected, confident. These are the qualities that we look for in the women and the weddings that we feature, in the designers who’s work we pour over, and in the attitudes of the industry experts we turn to. These are the qualities of the women that we created Reverie for.
Kate Taylor x
Photo by Shell de Mar
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t h g u o r b e v a h o h w e l p o e p e h T x . e f i l o t s e i r our reve Elizabeth Messina Photographer
Aneta Mak Photographer
Alicia Pollett Photographer
Jillian Clark Amanda Halbrook Kristina Meltzer 100 Layer Cake
Jodie Chapman Photographer
Max Wanger Photographer
Polly Alexandre Photographer
Emma-Jane Noren Photographer Caught the Light
Tec Petaja Photographer
Kate Headley Photographer
Minhee Cho Paper+Cup Design
Sarah Hanau Paper+Cup Design
Saer Richards Writer
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Get Knotted
248 Reading Reverie couldn't be simpler, flick through the pages, or just click on the feature you want to read and voila! Reverie Real Weddings 58 80
Colour Meets Whimsy by Max Wanger Sweet Virginia by Kate Headley Organically Wed by Aneta Mak Romance Upon Thames by Polly Alexandre Oh L’Amour! by Caught the Light Nuptials in Napa by Elizabeth Messina
Features Dye it Yourself DIY delights from the girls of 100 Layer Cake The Unbearable Lightness of Claire Pettibone Elizabeth Messina shoots the new Claire Pettibone 2012 collection
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Hats Off To Her A tour around the studio of milliner Edwina Ibbotson Franklin, My Dear Jeweller Emma Franklin talks inspiration and gold dinosaurs Do you have that song by... Dancefloor do's and don'ts First Dance Six of our favourite wedding bloggers share their first spin as Mr. & Mrs. Dinner is Served A Brit-girl abroad shares alternatives to traditional wedding fare
17 Easy as NYC
18 Mad Hatters
Maid in Heaven
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Reverie {Life}Style When Max Came to Tea Photographer Max Wanger takes us on a whistle stop tour of 'his' London Travelling Tec Tec Petaja on the unexpected joys of destination weddings Past Reveries
Shopping Editor’s Picks Where we Find our Inspiration: Paper+Cup Design London Calling
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Southern Sipping
Putting on the Glitz Gatsby-inspired table inspiration Getting in a flap Get your best girls all of a flutter with peachy 20s inspiration MOB pleads pleats please One mother of the bride shares her tale of triumph! Back to Bases How to get that W-day glow The Reverie Registry Red, white and blue gets a modern makeover Get Knotted Tie your knot in style on your big day RĂŠVERIE
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Wait! There's more... We are so inspired by all of the beautiful weddings featured in Reverie, and we know you will be too, so we've made it even easier for you to take that inspiration and run with it! Look out for the DOWNLOAD SYMBOL at the end of each feature, where you can download a condensed "Lookbook" of the wedding in pdf form. Save them to your computer, forward them to a friend, print them and stash them in your planning book, read them on your iPad - the limits are endless.
Look out for this symbol
for lots of added extras!!
Did you know...? You can read Reverie on your iPad or handheld device? Just visit our homepage and click on the iPad icon. Simples.
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diary
one for the
7-14 January
7-20 January
14-15 January
21
January
22
January
3-4
February
10-12 February
15
February
24-25
February
24-26 February
David Fielden bridal sample sale www.davidfielden.co.uk
Phillipa Lepley bridal sample sale www.phillipalepley.com Watters Bridesmaid Designer Weekend www.lauraleaboutique.co.uk Alan Hannah Sample Sale www.alanhannah.co.uk
Browns Bride Sample Sale www.brownsfashion.com Browns Bride Mira Zwillinger Trunk Show www.brownsfashion.com The Designer Wedding Show www.designerweddingshow.co.uk Caroline Castigliano Catwalk Event at The Dorchester www.carolinecastigliano.co.uk Browns Bride Peter Langner Trunk Show www.brownsfashion.com National Wedding Show www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk
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Editor’s
I firmly believe we should all go back to wearing hats everyday, not just to weddings Tobacco Ribboned Fedora Anthropologie £68//$110
The little things that make us smile...
Triple Threat 3-in-1 Bangle Kate Spade $248//£155
So classic & French, I die. Multi-Colour Muse Two Bag Yves Saint Laurent £1,320//$1,895
I love polka-dots; in this two-tiered dress, you’d be the sassiest guest at a wedding Ellie Dress Steven Alan $348//£218 While it’s still a bit chilly out, I would wear these with tights Handy Wedge Shoes Isabel Marant £390//$675
mary’s picks
I’d feel instantly comfortable and stylish curled up in this armchair Pelikan armchair by One Collection Skandium £3,963.55//$6,340
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Socks can completely make an outfit. Chevron Sheer Front High Socks Tabio £19//$30
s Picks It's always time for tea Animal Party Cup & Saucer £24.95 // $38 Bird & Cake Teapot £55 // $85 Mellor Ware Liberty of London
I just can't resist the colour or the ladylike look of this bag Oversized Red Bowler, ASOS £40 // $60
Because thank you notes always sound better when you write with a pretty pen Sonnet Cisele fountain pen Parker at Selfridges £235 // $360
M
I am a stripe fiend, and love the simplicity of this print "I love stripes 2" by Van den Heuvel Daphne L'Affiche Moderne £48 // $75
kate’s picks If you're going to change into an evening dress for your reception, make sure it's a show-stopper! Shayla sequined tulle gown, Rachel Gilbert Net-a-Porter £995 // $1,600
Strappy Suede Heels Gianvito Rossi Browns £535 // $825
Arty gold-plated glass ring Yves Saint Laurent Net-a-Porter £140 // $215
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Parisv 1.
Inspiration Where we find our
You may have already read their book Paper+Craft and gotten all arts-and-craftsy as a result (and if not – you must get your hands on a copy!) - so you might already know that the ladies of Paper+Cup Design give ‘creative’ a new name. Paper+Cup’s Creative Director, Minhee, founded the company with her husband based on a design philosophy of “something old, something new” - and saw their creativity f lourish in New York City. Just last year, they spread the Paper+Cup love across the pond with their Art Director, Sarah, expanding their custom invitation services in London and Paris. We are thrilled to have Paper+Cup so close to us and we think all of you brides will be too! In the spirit of their European expansion, we’ve asked Minhee & Sarah to put together their inspiration for each of their Paper+Cup locations and a selection from their invitation suite that best ref lects the mood of London, New York, and Paris.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1. Save the Date card // 2. Paris print // 3. Leather gloves // 4. Nail polish // 5. Flowers // 6. Card // 7. Macaroons.
LONDON
NEW YORK
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1. 2. 3.
3.
2.
4.
5. 4.
5.
6.
7. 1. Invitation // 2. Headband // 3. Flowers // 4. Suitcase // 5. Balloons // 6. Necklace // 7. Candles.
7.
6. 1. Invitation // 2. Clutch // 3. Balloons // 4. Shoes // 5. Letters // 6. Gown // 7. Hotel room
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Hats off to her . .
Her creations are as wildly imaginative and indulgent as she is downright lovely. Reverie delves into the showroon and studio of milliner, Edwina Ibbotson to find out what makes her tick. Photography by Jodie Chapman Words by Kate Taylor
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How did you get started as a milliner? I went to millinery classes in both London and New York before starting my business with help from The Prince's Trust. How would you describe your creative style? My style is feminine, elegant with a slight vintage feel. Tell us about the women you design for? My clients tend to be women who love, and have an interest in, clothes and fashion, who are happy to treat themselves to something special and unique. Do you design in seasonal collections, or as and when the ‘spirit’ moves you? I design both summer and winter collections for hats and headdresses, the summer collection is a lot larger with pieces ideal for the mother of the bride, and other wedding guests as well as more elaborate pieces, perfect for the races such as Ascot. For bridal pieces I tend to design once a year, ready in time for spring brides. What are your favourite materials to work with? I work with so many different fabrics, silks, lace, straws, felts, tulle, veiling, feathers, beads, crin, the list goes on; I love working with them all. What to you love about your studio? I love the fact that McGinty and Sam, my two dogs, come to work everyday. It may add a little chaos to the studio at times, but I still have company late at night when everyone else has gone home. Take us through a ‘typical’ day in your studio... I walk to work and check and answer emails before my assistants arrive at 9.30. We talk through what each person needs to work on that day. I'll then make phone calls to clients and designers I need to speak with, order any materials that are needed, check my diary and see what appointments I may have that day. Start working on the piece/pieces I need to do, this may be dyeing fabric, blocking a hat, steaming and shaping feathers, making silk flowers etc.
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Where do find your inspiration? I find inspsration from all over nature, colours architecture but mostly my ideas come in dreams and if I am lucky enough to remember when I wake, they usually get made eventually when time permits. How does the design process work when you’re creating a bespoke piece? When I am creating a bespoke piece, I will start with a definite idea, but then allow the piece to develop and grow whilst working on it. What advice do you have for someone who may be nervous about commissioning a bespoke piece? With hats and headdresses it is very difficult to find exactly the perfect piece, I would recommend someone who is slightly nervous and may be new to commissioning a bespoke piece to trust your own judgement and take advice from the designer, only work with someone who you feel comfortable with and whose designs you love What would be your dream brief from a client? My dream brief from a bride would be to design and make something ultra romantic - lots of flowing silk tulle, and hand made flowers to wear with a very simple but beautiful dress. Who would be your dream client? My dream client would be anyone with style and good taste, who knows what she likes and is not afraid to wear a statement piece.
Edwina Ibbotson Millinery By appointment only Mon-Sat 10am -6.30pm
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45 Queenstown Road, London SW8 3RG Tel: 020 7498 5390
FRANKLIN, MY DEAR From Amy Winehouse to London City gents to LA rap stars to English aristocrats, jeweller Emma Franklin's client list is as ecclectic and unique as her wild creations. Photography by Jodie Chapman Words by Kate Taylor
How did you get started as a jeweller? I trained at London’s Central St Martins. Then set out on my own on a commission for someone who had faith in me and wanted the first piece by Emma Franklin. I made so many mistakes on that first piece! But it funded the first few pieces of the animal collection which meant I had something to show clients and buyers. Tell us about the women & men you design for? I design for everyone from young teenage girls to city gents, elegant women (Kate Moss and Helena Christensen are both fans) to stylish grandmothers - that's the really fun part, each commission is so different from the next. Do you design in seasonal collections, or as and when the ‘spirit’ moves you? With my animal collection I add to it regularly, hence the size of the collection. If I have been asked regularly about a particular animal I will add it if it fits. Recently I am focussing on my bespoke work, particularly engagement rings. It's become much more important to me and I've learnt that I find it far more thrilling and rewarding,
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How would you describe your creative style? Robust yet extremely elegant. What are your favourite materials to work with? For me, it is more about the visuals. The three golds in 18ct are beautiful. Rose is my favourite, and even though I am not a diamond girl myself, when working with a stunning diamond you realise you simply can’t beat them, they are in a league of their own. What to you love about your studio? The position, and being surrounded by wonderful architecture, extreme contrasts of some of the oldest London buildings and the clean modern lines. The area is full of hard working creatives. It is my space and makes me feel proud and relaxed, people say it is inviting and has a calming atmosphere which is important to me. Take us through a ‘typical’ day in your studio; the comings and goings, what you're working on, who you're working with... Walking to the studio is crucial to me, it takes over an hour but clears my head and gets me ready for the day. The day will be punctuated with phonecalls, I will talk to a stylist for a shoot, a journalist for some editorial press, my polishers about what I’d like them to do, London Goldsmiths Hall where all pieces get hallmarked, such a variety of interaction. Where do find your inspiration? For my bespoke pieces I am often inspired by architecture, though more so the person who I am creating for, even if I haven’t met them. How does the design process work when you’re creating a bespoke piece? It tends to vary but the pattern that works well is having an initial meeting in my studio with the client. for engagement rings, it can be a complete surprise or sometimes the couple come together. Occasionally, this is done over email or calls if the client lives overseas. I gather ideas from the client to get a starting point: references can be anything from buildings to furniture, actual jewellery or fashion. This gives me a starting point for design, and from there, we discuss colour and
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practicalities, etc. I design a few ideas and then one is picked to develop or two of them are combined - it is very flexible. Once the design is finalised, I get to work on making it. The delivery of the fnished piece is always nerve-wracking, but very exciting and so far only delighted customers! What advice do you have for someone who may be nervous about commissioning a bespoke piece? My advice would be, anything is possible, even if you feel it is outrageous! Some people worry the idea might be too simple and not exciting enough for me, which is crazy - each job is unique and the “simple” ones are often the most challenging. What would be your dream brief from a client? I would love to make a gold lipstick case or lighter case - the size allows for more design and the added challenge of function. Something that isn't worn, but used intimately, appeals greatly. Who would be your dream client? It would have to be Iris Apfel, she's extraordinary. To contact Emma for a commission, or to see more of her work, visit www.emmafranklin.net.
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W
g n i l l a C London
e’re very proud of the city we call home, and the designers, creators and craftsmen who make it such a stylish city. So here’s a little shout out to the London ‘things’ that make our hearts sing...
Photo by Shell de Mar
London girls are loopy for Liberty Cashmere Shawl Christopher Kane for Liberty £295//$455
Two of the best in Britain meet in one gorgeous diary that makes appointments look glamourous Jonathan Saunders at Smythsons £295//$455
London without gin is like LA without sunshine! Sipsmith Copper Distilled London Dry Gin £27.49//$41 This Geranium Bath Oil will have you in a state of complete relaxation with just one sniff Bamford Body £38//$58
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Holy sweaters Batwoman! Eley Kishimoto £190//$290
The quintessential London brand Skull-embroidered suede ballet flats Alexander McQueen £295//$455
This rich hand cream actually absorbs and doesn’t leave any greasy, sticky residue. Plus it smells divine Jo Malone £38//$58
Nothing takes the edge off a hard London day like a cup of tea Tea Flower Tea from Postcard Teas £6.50//$10
Travel in style with this sunshine yellow leather Oyster card holder Liberty of London £45//$69
Go schoolgirl chic with this gorgeous leather satchel that will age beautifully Ally Capellino £306//$471
Enhance your English Rose complexion with this lotion from one of London’s oldest pharmacies Milk of Cucumber & Roses D R Harris £17.95//$27
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YOUR WAIT FOR AN INCREDIBLE DJ IS OVER
WEDDING SMASHERS
w w w.we dding s ma s he r s .com
Dye-It-Yourself Beaded Napkin Holders
Brought to you by the girls from
Photography by Scott Clark Photo RĂŠVERIE
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Dye-It-Yourself Stuck with standard white napkins from your reception venue? Why not jazz up those whites with pops of colour from napkin holders made with hand-dyed wooden beads. The cakelets from the uber inspiring bridal blog, 100 Layer Cake, have dreamt up this fabulously simple DIY idea to share with Reverie readers...
What you’ll need:
• • • • •
Wood beads (approx 7 per holder) Neutral coloured jute string Powdered dye (we used evening blue, denim, teal, grey, yellow and golden yellow by Rit Dye) Floral wire Craft hang tags
We used Rit Dye,but you can use any powdered fabric dye in any combination to suit your wedding colours.
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Let’s get started...
Step 1- Begin
by boiling a large pot or kettle of water. You’ll need approximately 4 cups of water per colour of dye. Place all of your beads into a bowl and set aside. Next, place coloured dye into 4 bowls. (See over for colour recipes). Once the water has boiled, pour into your bowls of powdered dye and stir each one well.
Step 2-
Step 3- Now that your beads and colour are ready, begin to string about
5 - 6 beads on your f loral wire. You can put more if your bowl allows. Now submerge beads into your dye for 2 - 6 minutes. Bend the wire on the ends so that the beads stay submerged. Repeat process until you’ve dyed all your beads. RÊVERIE
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Step 4- While beads are in dye, lay out towels for drying.
Carefully take the beads out of the dye and place them onto the towels. We chose to bend the wire a bit so they didn’t lie f lat. You could also hang them if you like. Either way let them dry overnight. Voila! You now have beautifully coloured beads to get crafty with! These colours are suited for a beachy or nautical celebration, but you can use any colours that take your fancy. You can use these beads as cute napkin rings, place cards or escort cards or even just as a garland. Enjoy and add some pop to your reception!
How we mixed our colours...
Yellow: 1 tsp yellow / 1tsp golden yellow Blue-Green: 1/2 tsp teal / 1/4 tsp grey Light Blue: 1/2 tsp of denim Dark Blue: 1/4 tsp denim / 1/4 tsp grey / 1/4 tsp teal
We 'd love to know if you give this DIY a go, get in touch and send us some pictures!
STUNNING WEDDING FLOWERS LONDON AND THE HOME COUNTIES
www.wild-about.com Clerkenwell - 020 7404 2541 // Twickenham- 020 8744 0641
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THE UNBEARABLE li g htness of Claire Pettibone
Photography by Elizabeth Messina
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Ooh La La! Wedding Dress Claire Pettibone £5,180//$6,325
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Ooh La La! Wedding Dress Claire Pettibone £5,180//$6,325
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Genevieve Wedding Dress £4,790// $5,875 Venetian – embroidered mask with silk ribbon ties. £256//$395 Claire Pettibone
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Genevieve Wedding Dress Claire Pettibone £4,790// $5,875
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Toulouse Wedding Dress £4,750// $5,800 Colette - antique French lace cap with flowers and beading £565//$875 Claire Pettibone
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Amélie Wedding Dress Claire Pettibone £2,445// $3,000
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Mademoiselle Wedding Dress Claire Pettibone £2,600//$3,200
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Fleur de Jour Wedding Dress Claire Pettibone £4,130//$5,075
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Belle Wedding Dress £8,460//$10,400 Halo - silk white organza floral crown £190//$295 Claire Pettibone
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Provence Wedding Dress Claire Pettibone £2,800//$3,500
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Lyon Wedding Dress Claire Pettibone £4,640//$5,700 opposite Plumeria - silk flower comb $145//£93 Vintage Bloom - veil $1,250//£800
Photography by Elizabeth Messina. Shot on location at Sunstone Winery & Villa, Santa Ynez, California Hair & Make-up by Stephanie Lawrence Model - Ciara Christensen at Next Models
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Flagship CLAIRE PETTIBONE 236 South Robertson Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90211 310-360-6268 UK BLACKBURN BRIDAL COUTURE 56 Tranquil Vale Blackheath London SE3 0BD 0208 297 1188 www.blackburnbridal.co.uk For more stockists, visit www.clairepettibone.com.
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RÊVERIE WEDDINGS BEAUTIFUL AND ORIGINAL INSPIRATION FROM REAL WEDDINGS
C olour M eets Whimsy - M ax Wanger S weet Virginia - K ate H eadley O rganically Wed - A neta M ak Romance Upon Thames - Polly A lex andre O h , L’A mour ! - Caught The L ight Nuptials in Napa - E lizabeth M essina
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COLOUR kmeetsk
Whimsy A non-traditional couple tie the knot to funky beats, pops of colour and plenty of LA cool.
Photography by Max Wanger Text by Mary Lee Herrington
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A
computer played matchmaker to Sarah and Joe. Joe, no stranger to computers - he is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst – met Sarah, a graduate student in Education, on Match.com. For their first date, they went to a microbrewery in the Silverlake neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Turns out that Joe was the first guy Sarah met on the dating website - and of course, the last! The date went so well that Sarah gave her three-month Match.com membership to a friend. In the three years that followed, Sarah and Joe saw some big life changes, including a cross-country move, a new job for Joe and graduate school for Sarah. And of course, a wedding, which, even though they had a new life in Massachusetts, meant they had to go back across country to where they first met: Los Angeles. To Sarah and Joe, it was important that their wedding have both indoor and outdoor elements and also evoke a spirit that was at once "whimsical, fun and non-traditional" - as Sarah puts it, "those characteristics define us as a couple." With its funky interiors, vibrant colours and a fantastically quirky succulent wall, SmogShoppe in Los Angeles ticked all the boxes.
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"whimsical, fun and non-traditional... those characteristics define us as a couple."
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thekfirstklookk
S
arah and Joe chose to have a “First Look” portrait session with their photographer, Max Wanger, at the Culver Hotel and around SmogShoppe before their ceremony. The First Look provided them with a private moment to see each other and take in the excitement of the day ahead (and also calm nerves!).
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thekweddingkparty
T
he six bridesmaids each chose their own dresses based on a colour palette that Sarah provided them with. As a sign of thanks, Sarah gave each of her maids a Ban.do sequin heart hairpin to wear in their hair for the wedding. To relax before the ceremony, Sarah’s bridesmaid organised a preceremony drink for all the ladies at The Tasting Kitchen in Venice. “It was super fun hopping off the bus and walking down Abbot Kinney in our wedding attire,” raved Sarah.
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thekdressk Sarah donned a Nicole Miller strapless gown
with a sweetheart neckline and accessorized with hot pink heels. Tied around her waist was a long light blue sash – her “something blue.”
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I
n the courtyard of LA’s SmogShoppe on July 3rd 2011, Sarah and Joe were wed in front of 108 guests beneath a sunny LA sky. After their wedding party walked out to Jose Gonzalez’s Heartbeats, Sarah walked in on the arm of her father to The Winner Is by Devotchka. Marrying them that day was not just any old stranger, but Sarah's brother, a licensed officiant. Sarah and Joe further personalised their ceremony with readings by their maid of honor and Joe's brother with poetry by Pablo Neruda and Rainer Maria Rilke. Sarah's father also read a homily that was written and read by his father and last read at her great-uncle’s wedding nearly 40 years ago. And to honour Sarah's mother who had passed away four years prior, their friend Dayyanah sang the song Summertime. After a touching and emotional ceremony, Sarah and Joe walked out as newly husband and wife to the tune of Queen's
You're My Best Friend.
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When colour met whim fell in love and travelled the wor
msy in a secret garden they rld together.
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A
dding to the colourful wedding design were the flowers – all arranged by a friend of Sarah's and her friend's mother. The day before the wedding, the three women met at the LA Flower Market and selected all the flowers together. Becky and Alexandra then created table centrepieces featuring mint, geraniums, roses, gerber daisies, dahlias, chrysanthemums, carnations, ranunculus and yellow button poms. Just like the rest of their wedding, the menu for the day was full of fun eats, including truffled grilled cheese, grassfed beef sliders, skewers of Argentinian lamb, grilled chicken shawarma, spicy grilled shrimp and marinated grilled tofu. “We wanted to do something different for our guest book,” said Sarah. As guests arrived for the wedding, two members of Sarah and Joe’s wedding party took Polaroid photos of each guest which were then clipped onto twine that was hung off of utility shelves in the reception area. Guests later wrote well wishes on note cards (that Sarah and a friend had handpainted) and attached them to their photos.
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COLOUR kmek HApPY!
S
arah and Joe took a turn on the dance floor to Hallelujah, I Love Her by Ray Charles, but not the version of the song that they had practiced – rather, a more fast-paced version! They had not told the DJ the specific version of the song and had to adjust to the faster tempo, which resulted in hysterical laughter until the end, when they managed to finish the dance
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"with some style."
And even after the wedding, the party went on: the next day, Sarah and Joe, together with a large group of wedding guests, went to see Hall & Oates perform at the Hollywood Bowl, one of their favorite spots in LA and where they had previously had their engagement photos taken.
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CreATiVE SOurCES Location SmogShoppe
Hair Chrome Salon
Photography Max Wanger
Makeup Morgan Jenkins
Wedding Coordination Loop Haro of TACT Event Management
Officiant Michael Nichols (bride’s brother)
Catering EcoCatering
Bride’s Dress Nicole Miller
Flowers Becky Yianilos & Alexandra Moran
Bride’s Shoes Marais
Stationery Kristin Northup Illustrations Lindsay Balbierz
Hair Accessory BHLDN Jewellery Urban Outfitters & Macy’s
Photo booth Smile Booth
Groom’s Suit John Varvatos, with J. Crew tie
DJ Michael Antonia of The Flashdance
Groomsmen J. Crew ties & Urban Outfitters socks
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Fuji Instax instant camera Photo JoJo $90//£56.25
Ruby red giant heart balloon Party Supplies UK £10.54/$17
Felt garland Steph Loves Ben on Etsy $10//£6.25
Box of 12 jam jars Amazon $13.99//£8.75
GET THE LOOK Inject some colour into the proceedings!
The "Visit" Collection Hello!Lucky $4.20 per card// Wool argyle socks Paul Stuart $26.50//£17
Watercolor escort cards Griffin Vites Price on application
kkkk
Mini heart clips Ban.do $10//£6.25
Strapless dress with sweetheart neckline Aria Price on application
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Sweet Virg
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ginia High school sweethearts mix southern charm with autumnal touches in a wedding of wonderful opposites.
Photography by Kate Headley Text by Mary Lee Herrington
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When Caitlin, an attorney, met Shea, an operations manager for Proctor & Gamble, she was a freshman in high school and he a strapping junior with a driver’s license and more maturity than the male counterparts in her grade. After a couple of years as high school boyfriend-and-girlfriend, Shea left Maryland for Pennsylvania, then moved to Georgia, Ohio and Louisiana. Caitlin soon graduated and left the nest for North Carolina, then New York and Tennessee. They lived in separate states and cities for years, but only found that their love and friendship persevered. After years apart, they finally selected a common city for their home – Baltimore, Maryland, where they now live with their French bulldogs. And 12 years after the freshman girl met the junior boy, Caitlin and Shea were married at The Rust Manor House in Leesburg, Virginia. “I like to say that we grew up side-by-side,” says Caitlin, “and we’ll grow old side-by-side.”
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Oscar de la Renta
Caitlin’s
gown brought the va-va-va-voom, and hidden from view was her “something blue” – her initials sewn inside the lining. Caitlin accessorized with jewellery by Kate Spade and silk pumps from Italian shoe designer, Pura Lopez.
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the invitations
Caitlin and Shea’s letterpress invitations reflected both grace and charm, designed by Laura Condouris and printed on luxurious thick cotton paper. “The invitations were my favourite part of our entire wedding,” noted Caitlin. “I used vintage stamps to mail our save-the-date and invitation. My mom and I were collecting stamps for months!”
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Shea's cuff links were made out of repurposed shotgun shells
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In the late afternoon of October 15th 2011, Caitlin slipped into a stunning Oscar de la Renta gown and walked down the aisle with her father, Allen, to Air on the G String, by J.S. Bach. Waiting for her on the steps of The Rust Manor House was Shea, dressed in a black Ralph Lauren tuxedo with a black
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and white bowtie made from knobby tweed (a playful take on a classic). Beneath the stunning Southern architecture Caitlin and Shea said their vows in front of 130 guests and chose readings from a traditional Irish wedding blessing and their favourite poem, i carry your heart with me, by e.e. cummings. RĂŠVERIE
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Photographer, Kate Headley, took portraits of Caitlin at The Waterford Pink House, a B&B where the ladies got ready. Caitlin’s all-white bouquet featured white hydrangeas, cabbage roses, freesias, ranunculus and peonies.
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Shea and his groomsmen had their portraits taken around The Rust Manor House as they waited for the bridal party to arrive.
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Following the ceremony, guests mingled in an environment that exuded sophisticated Southern charm. Caitlin and her parents worked tirelessly on DIY touches, from the ceremony arch to the teacup lights that lit the pathway to their marquee. With the help of their stationery designer, Caitlin and her mother made the programs and menus themselves, and they also brought in furniture from Caitlin’s own home to use as a guest book table and dessert table, which matched beautifully with additional hired furniture including a vanity table on which they displayed the escort cards, a tea cart to use as a s’mores station, a hutch to hold the wedding favours and couches and chairs for the lounge area.
a signature welcome drink
Caitlin and Shea carefully selected a menu for the day that ref lected their love for autumnal f lavours and this was made clear in their signature welcome drink: mulled apple cider with ginger brandy.
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the details
THE FLOWERS The reception florals mirrored the flowers from Caitlin’s bouquet, with white hydrangeas, cabbage roses, freesias, ranunculus, and peonies and also included an assortment of parrot and frill variety tulips held in bud vases and bell jars collected by Caitlin’s mother.
THE CAKE Like their dinner menu and dessert station, Caitlin and Shea’s wedding cake also had autumnal flavours: beneath the elegant frosted cream was a pumpkin and carrot sponge cake.
THE DESSERT STATION After the cake, they provided even more surprise treats for their guests – a late night s’mores station (set up next to an open fire for guests to cook up their s’mores)
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Wanting their guests to eat well and dance heartily, Caitlin and Shea made sure to plan a menu with a flavorful punch: a starter of chévre and potato millefeuille, followed by beef tenderloin with mulberry wine glaze, roasted sea bass with mustard and sherry, haricots verts and julienne carrot bundles tied with leek, and wild mushroom and champagne risotto timbales. To top it all off, there wasn’t simply one dessert, but several throughout the course of the evening, starting with their sumptuous wedding cake.
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Wedding Favours
Guests were treated to a midnight snack of caramel apples and peach lollipops, arranged on the shelves of a beautiful white armoire.
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Make You Feel My Love
Caitlin & Shea's first dance as husband and wife was to Adele's
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Creative Sources
Location The Rust Manor House
Lighting Event Dynamics
Photography Kate Headley
Officiant Dr. Thomas E. Leland
Wedding Planning Jessica Brown of Simply Chic Events
Ring Pillow Paloma’s Nest
Catering Occasions Caterers
Hair Bridal Hair by Remona
Flowers Holly Heider Chapple Flowers
Makeup MadeUpArt
Invitation, Wedding Day Stationery & Calligraphy Laura Condouris
Bride’s Dress Oscar de la Renta
Save-the-Date Invitation Christina Barbour Cake Kendall’s Cakes Ceremony Quartet Con Brio Band Chris Weaver Band
Bride’s Evening Dress Vintage Bride’s Shoes Pura Lopez Jewellery Kate Spade Groom’s Tuxedo Ralph Lauren Bridesmaid Dresses Lula Kate
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Boris Donegal tweed bow tie Alexander Olch via Mr Porter £63//$100
Agnes Gown Rosa Clara Price on application
Bell jar Laura Ashley £21//$34 Dogwood cake Maggie Austin Cake Price on application
Get the Look Grey letterpress invitations Aerialist Press Price on application
Channel Caitlin & Shea’s Southern chic with these beautiful pieces Pheasant & shotgun cufflinks Emma Frankin Price on application
Armoire The French Bedroom Company £1,300//$2,080
Watters black satin bridesmaid dress Watters Price on application
Box of 25 grey stripey straws Pipii £2.55//$4
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An environmentally conscious London couple give ‘organic’ a new name with their celebration in Devon, England that is televised, hosted and catered by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
Photography by Aneta Mak Text by Mary Lee Herrington
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Erudite, lingual and environmentally friendly are just a few apt adjectives to describe Louise and Phil, who first met while reading Modern Languages at Oxford University over ten years ago. Having been together for just over ten years, it seemed natural to start talking about the subject of a wedding before an official proposal, and even purchasing an Erdem gown that Louise thought she would wear one day as a wedding dress (she eventually wore it as
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an evening dress on her wedding day). Still not engaged (yet thinking and talking about a wedding), Louise and Phil were curious about River Cottage after Phil’s brother had raved about a recent visit to River Cottage’s canteen. Louise and Phil knew that the farm at River Cottage hosted weddings and decided to check it out. It was perfect. All that was left was an actual proposal – and sure enough, that came too when, later that day, Phil proposed in the pouring rain.
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Who would have thought, though, that after the organic way in which the venue selection and proposal occurred, that their wedding could become even more perfect? Not only did they book the perfect ecoconscious venue, but they also got the man himself, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to personally cater their wedding – and feature it in his most recent series for Channel 4.
With the whole River Cottage team and Hugh involved in planning a full vegetarian wedding menu (as well as a few suggestions on other aspects of the wedding, such as an edible f loral bouquet!), Louise and Phil embarked on an incredibly memorable wedding journey (with camera crew in tow!) that truly focused on what it meant to them to be green and chic.
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Louise’s wedding gown was designed by Sarah Banks and custom made for her. “It was a fantastic experience – I loved being able to do something new and creative, and it was really satisfying to me that I had major decisions on my dress, such as the neckline, sleeves and belt.” True to the eco-chic spirit, Louise’s wedding day jewellery were all ethical and Fairtrade.
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On September 17th 2011 at The Alexandra Hotel in Lyme Regis, Louise and Phil were married in an informal cosy sitting room in front of fifteen guests. This informality lent itself to their decision to walk into the ceremony together, a decision for Louise that represented equality and companionship, true to her feminist spirit.
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After the intimate ceremony, the wedding guests enjoyed canapés in The Alexandra’s gardens before hopping onto the most quintessential rural vehicle to transport them to the afternoon reception at River Cottage HQ, Park Farm – a tractor trailer (with their bagpiper, in full highland dress, leading the way).
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Taking part in River Cottage's Channel 4 series added an extra dimension of fun and excitement to Louise & Phil's wedding planning, not to mention that it had all been recorded for posterity.
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The former head gardener for River Cottage, Victoria Moorey, created all of the floral arrangements. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall also had input into the design of the bridal bouquet – suggesting that it be completely edible! While Victoria Moorey drew the line on broccoli and carrots, the bouquet was indeed completely edible with roses, lettuce, “bolted” (or flowered) herbs and artichokes. After the wedding, Louise & Phil cooked the artichokes from the bouquet and ate the lettuce in a prepared salad and even dried the herbs for future use!
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After their intimate wedding ceremony, Louise and Phil welcomed additional guests to River Cottage, all of whom joined in the feast of freshly prepared River Cottage food. Canapés included cheese straws, freshly-picked vegetables from the gardens with yogurt dip and courgette and leek bhajis prepared by Hugh. The wedding breakfast begen with fresh garden gazpacho, followed by a mushroom ragout with soft polenta and shaved summer vegetable salad. Guests sat at long wooden tables, perfect for sharing plates, such as beetroot tarte tatin, roasted aubergines and potato, autumn spelt salad and tahini-dressed courgette and green bean salad. Dessert included a plum pudding bar as well as a cheese wheel tower which served as a wedding cake. Guests have since hunted out the recipes in the River Cottage cookbooks: “people have been trying to make some of the recipes from the day – the beetroot tarte tatin in particular!” RÊVERIE
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Embracing the River Cottage ethos, Louise and Phil – with the help of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall – picked cherry plums and, ala Lucille Ball, mashed the plums in barrels with their bare feet in order to create their own wine made their wedding wine, which they aptly named Chateau La Feet.
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Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall presented gifts to Louise and Phil: a tool set for Louise and a cookbook on meat and butchering chart for Phil, a meat-eater who had been so agreeable to an all-vegetarian menu on his wedding day.
Louise danced the night away in the Erdem dress she had bought before Phil even proposed.
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FREE SPARKLING WINE
Because they ’re such tip-top folks, the good people of River Cottage are offering free Sparkling Elderflower Wine to any Rêverie couple holding their wedding at River Cottage in 2012
Offer is for one glass of River Cottage Sparkling Elderflower Wine per person to be served upon arrival. Email Charlotte at parkfarm@rivercottage.net or call (01297) 630302 and quote “Rêverie Magazine”
Location River Cottage Ceremony Alexandra Hotel Catering Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and the River Cottage team Photography Aneta Mak Photography Flowers Victoria Moorey Stationery Tortie Rye Cake The Teddington Cheese Band Frank Reid Dance Band Hair & Makeup DoubleDutch Bride’s Bridal Dress Sarah Banks Bride’s Evening Gown Erdem Bride’s Shoes F. Pinet Jewellery Catherine Zoraida April Doubleday Graeme McCulloch Groom’s Suit Apsley Umbrella Hire Hire a Brolly
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At Skye Cooks we are known for our culinary delights and love for good honest food. We use locally sourced, seasonal ingredients to create simple, delicious dishes.
Skye Cooks Artisan food for weddings, private parties and corperate events. www.skyecooks.co.uk // byskye@aol.com // 07939592724
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The perfect fit for an unforgettable day
STYLISH, MODERN FURNITURE FOR HIRE FOR A SUMPTUOUS WEDDING
BARS - LOUNGE SEATING - TABLES - CHAIRS - LANTERNS - CUSHION
www.velvetliving.co.uk info@velvetliving.co.uk 020 7731 3525
18K yellow gold tiara diamond stud earrings Brilliant Earth £906//$1,450
Jillian strappy kitten heels J. Crew £125.07//$150 Kilt MacGregor MacDuff £199//£318
Men’s gold twill tie John Lewis £20//$32
White Lucy wedding umbrella Brollies Galore £22.99//$37
Get your eco-chic on with edible flowers, a vintage dress and ethical gold...
Edible Flowers First Leaf Price on Application
Letterpress Pig Print Missive at Etsy $20//£13
Edwardian style cream tiered lace dress with capped sleeve The Vintage Wedding Dress Company Price on application
Cherry wood salad bowls Williams-Sonoma £48.86//$71.50
18K White/Yellow Gold Plain Wedding Bands April Doubleday From £300//$480
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Romance Thames upon
A stylish Nor th London couple tie the knot in an intimate celebration surrounded by refined elegance and minimalism in idyllic Richmond upon Thames.
Photography by Polly Alexandre Words by Mary Lee Herrington
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The Story
As chance would have it, Karina and Dan had already 'shared' a room at a wedding in South Africa before they even met, when Dan took up an empty room in a house shared with mutual friends after Karina cancelled at the last minute. The missed connection must have made an impression on their friends, who insisted after the wedding that Dan be invited to Karina’s exclusive friends-only New Year’s Eve party that she was throwing in Islington, London. Perhaps the room in South Africa had already formed a cosmic connection between the two, as Karina, an officer in finance, and Dan, who works in technology sales, instantly hit it off. However 'instant' the connection, the two took it slowly and went on their first date 9 months after the New Year – and three years later, on August 27th 2011, they invited fifty guests to The Bingham in Richmond upon Thames for their nuptials.
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Jamie Aston created a bouquet of metalina, amnesia and sweet avalanche roses with bombastic spray roses and peonies.
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The Dress
Karina’s dusty pink Leila Hafzi dress and her engagement ring, with its pink sapphire, were the inspiration for the rest of the wedding design. “It all started with the dress,” says Karina, “I knew I didn’t want a white dress and that I wanted a dress made by the designer Leila Hafzi.” Upon discovering that the dresses were not available in the UK, Karina searched far and wide on the internet until she found the perfect Leila Hafzi dress in the US. “The texture and colour of the dress just took my breath away when I pulled it out of the box. I knew then what the mood of the wedding was going to be.” RÊVERIE
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The night before the wedding Karina presented each of her bridesmaids with a pink heart-shaped leather keyring from Smythson embossed with the bridesmaid’s initials.
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To allow her Leila Hafzi dress to stand out, Karina accessorized with a simple silver clutch from Anya Hindmarch and an elegant pair of Rupert Sanderson heels.
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The Ceremony
Sticking to their promise to make the wedding truly
about them, Karina and Dan walked down the aisle
together (a surprise which they managed to keep from
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friends and family).
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Following a touching ceremony where Karina
After a dessert of decadent hazelnut and
and Dan had personalised their vows, the
chocolate marquise with natural yogurt
celebrations got underway with drinks outside
sorbet and a glazed butterscotch sauce, the
in the gardens followed by a gourmet dinner of guests watched Karina and Dan take a spin on Dorset crab risotto with pink grapefruit, kaffir
the dance floor to Aretha Franklin’s Ac-Cent-
lime and Thai basil followed by a main course
Tchu-Ate the Positive, followed by a DJ set that
of Label chicken, broad beans, asparagus
followed the eras “1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s-
and potato gnocchi served with creamed
2000,” and had everybody on the dance floor.
chanterelles.
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True to its reputation, the English weather on their wedding day began with thunder and rain before the clouds suddenly par ted to reveal
clear skies and sunshine just as the ceremony began...
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“I decided to spare no expense with the flowers, and looking back now it was absolutely the right decision.” The Setting
The mood of the wedding was soft simple elegance with subtle hints of Bohemia. Providing just this exact mixture of bohemian elegance was a Spanish guitar player who performed during the ceremony and drinks reception. The florals also reflected the understated mood of the wedding with London florist Jamie Aston designing arrangements in keeping with the flowers from Karina’s bouquet in low silver vases. Small glass bowls with roses and peonies were placed on each of the outside tables, and Jamie Aston decorated the balcony railings with ivy and small posies.
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Konditor & Cook created a two-tiered cake with different layers of striped raspberry and vanilla sponge topped with raspberry cream cheese icing.
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An Intimate Moment
Karina and Dan made a pact before the wedding that they would take a moment to step away from the par ty and “just observe and take it all in. We went to the bottom of the hotel garden and found a quiet spot during the evening cocktails and just sat and watched. It was magical.” 156 | RÊVERIE
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The Honeymoon
Following a day that had been “special in every way,” there was one last surprise for Karina: Dan took her to Claridges for a night
in their honeymoon suite before flying to Bangkok, Thailand for their five-week honeymoon travelling from Bangkok to Lombok island in Indonesia to Bali to Java and finishing their travels in the Kingdom of Bhutan, where they hiked up the Himalayas. “Words cannot describe the view or the experience of being so high above the world in such a remote par t of the world.” What an unforgettable experience following an unforgettable wonderfully relaxed wedding day.
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The Creative Sources Location & Catering The Bingham
Bride’s Dress Leila Hafzi
Photography Polly Alexandre
Bride’s Shoes Rupert Sanderson
Flowers Jamie Aston
Bride's Clutch Anya Hindmarch
Stationery Smythson
Jewellery Monica Vinader Indira Merchant
Cake Konditor & Cook Guitarist Adrian Azuelo DJ Nick McMeier Hair Richard Ward Makeup Lucy Hawkins
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Groom’s Suit Mark Marengo Savile Row with Turnbull & Asser tie Groomsmen Thomas Pink ties
Leather Heart Key Ring Smythson of Bond St £40//$60
Wool geometric lace cap sleeve dress Miu Miu at Flannels £650//$1,000 Abigail Ostrich Feather Capelet Ralph Lauren at Berdorf Goodman £1,940//$2,998
Vera Wang for Men Eau de Toilette £42//$65
Ribbed Silk Tie Turnbull & Asser at Mr Porter £75//$115
Get the Look
Embrace Karina and Dan’s soft, modern romantic look with these gorgeous finds London Skyline Wedding Invitation Hello!Lucky £2.46//$2.55 for 100
“Pétanque” tea light holder Puiforcat at artedona £163.36//£250 Flower embellished evening gown Marchesa Notte at mytheresa £1,189//$1,865
Mariella Wedding Cake Peggy Porschen Cakes Price on Application
Patent-leather sandals Miu Miu at Net-a-Porter £445//$680
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O3h6, L3’A1mo
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our!
Among vineyards, fields of lavender and guests who had travelled across the globe to join them, two Londoners say “oui.” Photography by Caught the Light Text by Mary Lee Herrington RÊVERIE
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W3W
ho would have thought that when Jennifer, an art director, and Scott, a sports physiotherapist, met in Australia when they were 15 years old, that nearly 14 years later, they would be getting married in Bordeaux, France? It seems international travel would be a resounding theme in their very Francais wedding too, with guests travelling from Australia, Sweden, America and the UK to spend four days with Jennifer and Scott in Gironde. “We wanted our wedding to be a short break/holiday for everyone joining us,” said Jennifer, “because we had a 4-day event, it allowed us to spend quality time with everyone and relax and enjoy each other’s company.”
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the D1
Jennifer wore Temperley’s gorgeous “Mirage” dress, with it's empire-waist an For her “something borrowed,” Jennifer accessorized her Temp
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D1ress
nd delicately pleated ruff les and paired it with white silk satin Jimmy Choos. perley gown with earrings and veil borrowed from her friends. RĂŠVERIE
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the Bridesmaids
Each of the bridesmaids picked her own dress from shops in Sweden, London and Sydney, a mix and match that complemented the others in subtle pinks and pastels.
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the Bouquet4
Jennifer’s bouquet featured a posy of white roses and soft pink peonies, with no additional greenery. The rest of the f lorals for the wedding included a selection of local f lowers - peonies, roses, sweetpeas, eryngium, lisianthus, poppies, phlox, ranunculus, jasmine and freesia.
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the Gr
room’s Entourage The Groomsmen all wore matching suits and blue & white gingham ties from Suit Supply
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the C1eremony1
In the late afternoon of May 20th 2011, Jennifer and Scott’s 65 guests were asked to don attire that was “French chic.” In the sunny 32ºC heat, Jennifer walked down the aisle on the arm of her father to Pachelbel’s Canon in D, performed by the band Hicksville. Jennifer and Scott chose special readings for their ceremony, including Dr. Zeus’s Oh the places you will go (recited by Jennifer’s brother) and a Gaelic blessing and an extract from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, both recited by Scott’s two sisters. As a sign of their new union, Jennifer and Scott lit candles as Hicksville performed Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. After they kissed as husband and wife, Jennifer and Scott walked hand-in-hand to the tune of Temper Trap’s Sweet Disposition.
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For their celebration, Jennifer and Scott created a reception that evoked “feminine and natural beauty” with colours “that echoed the grounds and the colours in the bridal party’s attire.” The mood was at once elegant, vintage, glamorous, romantic and subtle. In such a lush natural setting, a “French chic” atmosphere was created that was relaxed and informal with subtle attention to detail. Guests enjoyed a relaxing lounge area with f lorals of soft pink pastels and were free to wander around the expansive grounds and vineyards of the chateau. For Jennifer and Scott, the setting was so relaxed and warm that they simply did not want it to end. “The day f lowed seamlessly and the weather was incredible,” gushed Jennifer. “We loved every minute and every detail of the day and wouldn’t have changed a thing other than to have the time all over again, as the time disappeared so quickly.”
the Setting9
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With a wedding full of globetrotters, Jennifer and Scott wanted to ensure that guests mingled. To encourage this, they seated everyone next to someone they had not met before and provided custommade booklets for each place setting that included a paragraph on each guest, with a funny anecdote about them and how they were related to the bride or groom. “Apparently the first 15 minutes before we were announced into the room was dead silent as everyone read through the booklet and found out about who they were sitting with at their table!”
the Wedding1 Breakfast7
Jennifer and Scott treated their guests to a menu that celebrated local French cuisine. Starting with a salad of scallop and John Dory tartare and warm goats cheese salad, followed by fillet of lamb with rosemary jus and dauphinoise potatoes laced with mace and a mushroom tart with fondant tomatoes. It wouldn’t be France without a cheese course, and the menu didn’t disappoint on this either, as guests enjoyed cheese from the Basque region. During dinner, Jennifer incorporated a Swedish tradition into the wedding that was sure to result in some memorable moments: each time the bride or groom got up to leave for the restroom, all the members of the opposite sex had to line up and give either the bride or groom a kiss on the cheek!
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Following the French cuisine and cutting their traditional French wedding cake – a croquembouche – Jennifer and Scott took a turn on the dance f loor to Hold My Hand by Sean Paul featuring Zaho. “I woke up on the morning of the wedding and when I was drinking a cup of tea, I heard it on the radio and thought, That is the one,” remarked Jennifer, “It was perfect with the lyrics and the French words.” For the rest of the evening, guests enjoyed music, dancing and riotous photos taken in their photo booth. And following their four-day wedding weekend, no one would be surprised to hear that the globetrotting newlyweds travelled to yet another country for their honeymoon – Italy, stopping off in Sardinia, Stintino and the Costa Smeralda.
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creative credits6 Location & Catering Chateau Rigaud
Bride’s Dress Temperley
Photography Emma-Jane Noren of Caught the Light
Bride’s Shoes Jimmy Choo
Flowers Local, arranged by Chateau Rigaud Stationery & Calligraphy Jennifer Rymill Band Hicksville DJ Aib Hair Carey Hawkins Makeup The Bride
Wedding Rings Mussons Sydney Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Suits Suit Supply Groom’s Shoes Church’s
Classic gingham tie J. Crew £49.61//$59.50
Blue suit Ozwald Boateng Price on application
Vintage 1960’s peach lace shift dress Rokit £120.00//$192.00
Dried lavender bunches Pembrokshire Lavender £10.50//$16
Get the Look Bring the lavender fields and vineyards to life with these beautiful buys
Isabella with silk twist Emmy Shoes Price on application
Mercury silvered candlesticks Cox & Cox £18//$29
Whitney bridal gown J. Crew £248.46// $298.00
Lavender shea butter soap L’Occitane en Provence £4.50//$7.20
Croquembouche Boulangerie Jade £4.50 per person
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Nuptials in Napa Two lovebirds say "I do" and celebrate in the heart of Napa Valley where sophistication meets soft romance.
Photography by Elizabeth Messina Text by Mary Lee Herrington
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A Love Story. . Veronica
and
Evan,
two
southern
Californians, met at the ultimate California showdown: an annual football match between the University of Southern California versus the University of California at Berkeley. Evan, a student at USC at the time, drove up to San Francisco to cheer his team to victory against their archrivals. That year, Veronica decided to join her sister (another USC alum) and her friends at the game – and it just so happened that it was there she met one such friend called Evan. There must have been more than just collegial spirit in the air because these two football fans stayed in touch after the big game; and a year later, they officially began dating. Fast forward five years to find both of them back at USC – this time as graduate students in the MBA program – and planning their wedding.
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"Evan and I instantly
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with love from me to you. .
On the day,
Evan surprised Veronica with a Cartier watch, engraved on the back with the date of their wedding, along with a note that moved her to tears. RĂŠVERIE
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The Ring
Veronica is the third-generation to wear the stone from her engagement ring. The stone is an antique round brilliant-cut diamond from the 1930s, which was worn first by Evan’s great-grandmother and then by his mother (and at one point even admired by Veronica), before it was set in a wedding band designed by Evan in collaboration with Raphael Basta Jewellery in Beverly Hills. Veronica and Evan returned to Raphael Basta Jewellery to design wedding rings that complemented the design of her engagement ring.
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The Bridesmaids
Veronica found a local shop that sold cute and stylish robes and purchased one for each of her bridesmaids that best matched their personalities. To express her thanks even more, Veronica designed freshwater pearl & Swarovski crystal earrings that she commissioned from a local artist. She presented the earrings to each bridesmaid in a silver wine bucket (befitting the Napa location) at their bridesmaids’ lunch, which also contained a perfume 'kit' so that they could create their own scent!
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The Dress
Veronica made a glamorous statement in a Vera Wang strapless lace trumpet gown with layer upon layer of silk tulle. To accessorize, Veronica wore a matching Vera Wang cathedral-length veil with lace trim. Sewn into her dress was Veronica’s “something blue”: a ring with a light baby blue gem that her dad’s mother, who is also Veronica’s godmother, gave to her when she was 10 years old and which also originated from her grandmother’s family store in the 1940s. With her grandmother now 98 years old and unable to travel, it was especially meaningful to Veronica to have the ring so close by throughout the day.
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The Ceremony On the afternoon of July 16th 2011, Evan, dressed in an Ermenegildo Zegna suit, waited at the altar of St. Helena Catholic Church as Veronica walked in on the arm of her father Rick. Guitarist, Ray Fortune, performed their favourite song by Bedouin Soundclash, 12:50 Lullaby, the song that Veronica and Evan first danced to after they got engaged. Marrying them that day in front of 156 guests was Father Michael Ford, their priest who f lew in from Boston
and worked with Veronica and Evan on selecting readings that “ref lected love, modesty and thankfulness, strong morale and ethics, regards and hope for the less fortunate, and blessings for the future.” The ceremony was all the more poignant with special guests who had f lown in from afar – including Veronica’s 88-yearold grandmother from Colombia, South America and Evan’s great-aunt and his mother’s childhood friend, both from Wales. RÊVERIE
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The Wedding Party
Veronica’s sister was not only a member of the wedding design trio (with Veronica and their mom) but she was also the maid of honour. Leading up to the wedding day, her sister sent her sentimental cards counting down to the wedding and for her speech, she constructed a long scroll with illustrations rather than words to depict their lives growing up together – not only was it a beautiful prop on the day, but it remains a cherished memento that Veronica and Evan keep in their home. The mother of the bride’s dress was also a collective project: she and Veronica designed it together. And to honor her father, Veronica surprised him with a Tom Ford tie that was embroidered with the words, “Father of the Bride, 7.16.11.”
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The Portraits
Elizabeth Messina, Veronica and Evan’s photographer, took their portraits along the entrance to the Beaulieu Garden estate. “I cannot convey how lovely and amazing I think she is,” gushed Veronica when speaking of Elizabeth, “I connected with so many of the incredible images that she has captured; it was a dream to have her as our photographer.”
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The Venue
Following the ceremony, guests were hosted at Beaulieu Garden in Rutherford, a venue that provided an intimate and exclusive ambiance for the wedding and overf lowed with a feeling of “soft romance” – a thematic mood which permeated Veronica’s entire wedding planning and design. “For me, softness is traditional elegance,” said Veronica, “yet enjoyable and comforting.” the months leading up to her wedding, Veronica worked closely with her mother and sister on the wed “It was so much fun spending extra time with my mom and my sister,” smiled Veronica, “And now th I miss working with my mom, so we need to find a new project!”
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Over dding’s design. hat the wedding is over, RÊVERIE
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The Invitations
Veronica and Evan’s invitations were truly a labor of love. With the help of her mother and aunt, Veronica added touches of romance to her letterpress invitations (made from handmade paper) by wrapping tulle around them and using inner and outer envelopes. On the outer envelopes, guests’ names were written by their calligrapher, Barbara Close (who is also a calligraphy instructor to Veronica’s mother), and Veronica used antique stamps depicting garden designs that matched their venue, Beaulieu Garden. The inner envelopes were made of handmade paper and addressed to the guests by their casual names. To ensure that such a labor of love was mailed as cleanly as possible, Veronica’s mother took them to the post office to have them all hand cancelled (so that they would avoid risk of damage by going through a machine).
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The Setting
The french-syle landscaping of Beaulieu Garden was something Veronica and Evan fell instantly in love with. They could not imagine having dinner anywhere else but outside in those gardens. Veronica also personalized the setting by adding personal elements including antique candlestick holders, votive holders and lanterns, purchased from local shops in Los Angeles and taking inspiration from decorations in her parents’ home and matching them with rentals.
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The Details
Intimate seating areas were created throughout the cocktail area with studded white leather couches clustered around vintage luggage trunks serving as coffee tables. Nestled under vine-covered arbors, the seating gave guests a shady respite from the warm Napa sun. Guests found their tables by reading the "windows" hanging around the reception area, each inscribed with guests names and table allocation. Table numbers were hand-painted on pieces of glass by the design studio Momental Designs. To add more personalized details to their reception, Veronica displayed framed photos of each of their parents’ and grandparents’ weddings.
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Dinner is Served
As guests arrived for the reception at Beaulieu Garden, they were presented with two signature cocktails. Playing on their surnames, Veronica and Evan served a cocktail called “MuSlavik” – comprised of vodka, St. Germaine and grapefruit juice. Their second signature cocktail was the “Downtown” – their favourite drink from their local in LA, which contained a mix of whiskey, bitters, agave, basil and red pepper. Seated outside on long wooden tables with low peony arrangements and a trail of greenery cascading down the middle of each, guests feasted on organic local cuisine from the Napa Valley. For their starters, guests were served burrata and heirloom tomatoes that were grown in the estate’s organic garden, and were then served succulent smoked tenderloin of beef. For dessert, guests chose from the dessert bar and, if they had room, relished pieces from the two wedding cakes.
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Finishing Touches
THE PAINTER Adding another touch of their “soft romance” theme was a painter, hired by the couple, who set up an easel and painted their reception as it unfolded. The painting now hangs in Veronica and Evan’s home – a beautiful memento of their wedding for even more guests to enjoy in years to come! THE PHOTO "BOOTH" Veronica hung gilt-edged frames from trees branches, where guests posed, took photos on a Fuji Instax camera and pasted them into a guest book. Guests also enjoyed dancing and posing in front of the Flip Book Station, where a camera filmed their actions for 10 seconds and then printed a f lip book that, when f lipped through, displayed the guests in an animated cartoon. THE CAKES In addition to their decadent dessert bar, Veronica and Evan had two cakes: a wedding cake made of red velvet and coconut passion sponge, and a German chocolate groom’s cake in the shape of his Labrador retriever, Koda (a surprise on the day from Veronica).
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Creatuve Sources Ceremony Location St. Helena Catholic Church Reception Location Beaulieu Garden Photography Elizabeth Messina Catering Paula LeDuc Flowers Pineapple Planet Stationery Brenda Himmel Stationery Calligraphy Barbara Close Cake Sweet On Cake Guitarist Ray Fortune Band NDemand
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Props, Furniture & Linen Rentals Classic Party Rentals Hair & Makeup Lindsey Neavitt Officiant Father Michael Ford Photo Booth Action Flip Books
Videography Pixel / Cloudless Weddings Bride’s Dress & Veil Vera Wang Bride’s Shoes Emmy Wedding Rings Raphael Basta Jewellery Bridesmaid Dresses Amsale Groom’s Suit Ermenegildo Zegna
Wonderland wedding dress Suzanne Neville Price on Application
Chinese wedding parasol My Wedding Favours Direct $10//£6.40
Simple sophisticate wedding invitations Minted £1.46//$2.34
Loretta Swarovski crystal and satin pumps Pedro Garcia £94.50//$151
Il Padrone Tuscan extra virgin olive oil Carluccio's £12.95//$21
Get the Look Bring a touch of Napa luxury to your special day
Parfait 24-karat gold-plated Swarovski crystal earrings Bijoux Heart £295//$457
Glass Hurricane Lamp John Lewis £30//$48
Phyllis Robe Beautiful Bottoms £73.50//$118
Chloe Photo Frame John Lewis £15//$24
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RÊVERIE {LIFE}STYLE BECAUSE A WEDDING ISN'T THE ONLY REASON TO GET YOUR SPARKLE ON
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Glitz Puttingl on the
Glam is the new black. For your wedding reception, bring some razzmatazz to every little detail of your setting and watch the colours pop.
Photography by Alicia Pollett
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Styled by Forever & Ever Events
Champagne coupes, gold rimmed charger plates, white dinner plates all available to hire from Jones Hire. Vintage wine goblet, stylist’s own. Mercury Glass Votives, Cox & Cox £14.50//$22 for 4. Green dinner plates, Jasper Conran for Wedgwood £32.50//$50. Menus, Coquette Paper & Press £3//$4.60.
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Give your toast even more sparkle with raspberries served in champagne coupes and served on cut glass trays. Tray from B&T Antiques ÂŁ450//$696. Champagne coupes available to hire from Jones Hire.
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On the Table
Table cloth, napkins, champagne coupes, wine glasses, water glasses, coffee cups & saucers, charger plates, white dinner plates and cutlery all available to hire from Jones Hire. Yellow goblets, stylist's own. Mercury glass votives, Cox & Cox £14.50//$22 for 4. Bud Vases Cox & Cox £22/$34 for 8. Green dinner plates, Jasper Conran for Wedgwood £32.50//$50. Flowers, Wild About. Menus, Coquette Paper & Press £3.00//$4.60.
Checkerboard
pattern
vintage
chairs, B&T Antiques (available as part of a set, £4,000//$6,400) .
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French chandelier (left) £3,800 // $6,080 and cut glass tray (above) £380 // $608, both from B&T Antiques
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Canapés by Wild Peacock Events. Green dinner plates, Jasper Conran for Wedgwood £32.50//$50.
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Champagne coupes, gold rimmed charger plates, white dinner plates all available to hire from Jones Hire. Vintage wine goblet, stylist’s own. Green dinner plates, Jasper Conran for Wedgwood £32.50//$50. Place Names, Coquette Paper & Press £1.50//$2.30.
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Desserts by Wild Peacock Events. Gold rimmed charger plates, white dinner plates all available to hire from Jones Hire. Green dinner plates, Jasper Conran for Wedgwood £32.50//$50. Bud Vases, Cox & Cox £22//$34 for 8. Flowers, Wild About.
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Macaroons and wedding cake, Peggy Porschen, price upon request. Mercury glass votives, Cox & Cox £14.50//$22 for 4. Wooden platter Cox & Cox. Cake knife and cut glass dishes, stylist's own.
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Just
Desserts
Extend your wedding theme with a well designed dessert table reflecting your wedding’s colour palette and style.
Coloured meringue kisses, cake pops and cupcakes displayed on cut glass dishes and mirrored trays play up to the 1920s theme of decadence and glitz.
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Meringue kisses, Peggy Porschen, price on request. Cake pops and cupcakes, Molly Bakes, price on request. Cut glass dishes and cake stands, stylist's own.
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DO YOU HAVE THAT SONG BY... Let’s just go ahead and say it: the prettiness of weddings is all well and good, but for your guests, what they’re really looking forward to is one helluva rockin’ party. Keep your guests happy and on their toes by requesting some smashing tunes from your DJ or band – and, equally, put together a “Do Not Play List” to keep the lame factor at a minimum. We asked The Wedding Smashers, the sickest DJs in London, for a list of tunes that are guaranteed to rock the house. And of course we also asked for a list of crooners that are most likely to result in a deserted dance floor!
THE SMASHERS SAY
THE SMASHERS BEG
DO PLAY!
DO NOT PLAY!
The Beatles - Twist & Shout Little Richard - The Girl Can’t Help It Hot 8 Brass Band - Sexual Healing Beyoncé - Single Ladies Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back In Town Prince - I Would Die 4 U Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere The Human League - Together In Electric Dreams Rihanna - We Found Love Jaheim - Just In Case (Garage Version!!)
R Kelly - Double Up Rick James - 17 James Blunt - Beautiful James Blake - Limit To Your Love CelIne Dion - My Heart Will Go On Rednex- Cotton Eyed Joe Black Lace - Agadoo Lily Allen - Not Fair Black Eyed Peas - My Humps The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up
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Amanda from Ruffled "This will be our year" by The Zombies
Kathryn from Snippet & Ink "You're All I Need to Get By" as sung by Aretha Franklin
Alexis from OMG I'm Getting Married "Make you Feel My Love" by Adele
what was your
FIRST DANCE? Jen from Green Wedding Shoes "Crush" by Dave Matthews Band
Annabel from Love My Dress "Our Day Will Come" by Jamie Cullum
Kat from Rock N'Roll Bride “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles
Photography Credits - Kathryn from Snippet & Ink - Elizabeth Messina // Alexis from OMG - Marianne Taylor // Jen from Green Wedding Shoes - Esther Sun // Kat from Rock N'roll Bride - English Rose Weddings // Amanda from Ruffled - Jess + Nate Studios // Annabel from Love My Dress - Karen McGowran
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dinner is served From food trucks to farm tables, Brit-girl abroad and all round expert foodie, Saer Richards explores the alternatives to traditional wedding fare...
Photography by Aneta Mak
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T
he most gastronomically remarkable wedding I ever attended in New York was the pairing of a vegan groom to a gluten-free bride. The spread
fantasy like you’d never believe. Rumours
was abundant and exotic – from an
and temperament suits such a concept.
tell me that such trucks can cost in the low to mid single digit thousands depending on the size of your party. Definitely not a bad idea if your wedding
entirely vegetarian sushi bar to glutenfree main courses to a wedding cake created by allergen-conscious Babycakes
Saer Richards
on the Lower East Side. The combination mirrored the diverse crowd which included Jewish grandmas, tuxedo adorned female artists and afro-haired indie musicians. Like the crowd that surprisingly intermingled so well, the food was a flavour-filled adventure that at no time collided unsavourily. I couldn’t help but feel like I was on a gastronomic expedition and the bride and groom my gustative guides.
But if you can’t quite imagine old Auntie Grace navigating the finer parts of a dumpling and dipping sauce while balancing her new oversized hat, there are sit down options aplenty. Take the farm-to-table concept - a direction that many restaurants have taken and now wedding caterers are embracing. From one end of Brooklyn to the other the ability to purchase farm to table food is highly accessible and nourishing to the soul. The idea of eating a meal sourced entirely from farmers
There is no denying that food is a huge chunk of a
in and around the state of New York can be socially,
wedding budget, so it’s only right to be persnickety
mentally and emotionally as sustaining as it is delicious.
about what one gets, yet reading a menu that
Foods emit the colours and textures of the season - a
accommodates a variety of dietary restrictions
beautiful accessory to the table and tummy. Caterers
and yet excites the palate is a challenge that
such as Red Table and Cleaver Co. pride themselves in
many New York-based vendors meet and exceed.
being purveyors of this responsible, dare I say, ‘trend.’
Walk down any street or avenue in Brooklyn or
As a daughter of parents who were raised on farms,
Manhattan and you are likely to come across one
this idea sits very well with me. The romantic in me, sees
of the hundreds of food trucks that trawl the City’s
it as a way to bring the concept of ‘love,’ ‘commitment’
roads. New trucks pop up on a near monthly basis
and ‘honour’ to another dimension in including
and offer fare that is not the common street meat of
love for the environment into one’s special day.
yesteryear. Gourmet fare is de rigueur, in the form of dumplings, lobster rolls, tacos as well as dessert trucks
Overall, the guests are going to leave a wedding with a
sporting crème brulee and ice cream sandwiches.
melange of memories. From the music to the vows to the
Eating from these trucks is on par with many of the
dress ( Oh! The dress!! ). But if you can have them leave
fine brick and mortar restaurants this city is known for.
with fond recollections of the food that was served, then you will have succeeded in creating a journey that they
Savvy brides and grooms have been taking advantage
will treasure and reminisce about for years to come.
of this four-wheeled revolution and having such vendors cater their post-nuptial festivities. As a food
Saer Richards blogs about food, kitchens, pastries,
lover, the thought of going back again and again to
breakfast and pretty much anything there is to do with
a food truck satisfies an as-yet unfulfilled childhood
food as The Craven Maven at: www.cravenmaven.com
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Getting In a Flap
Take your bridesmaids back to the 20's with beaded dresses, silk, feathers and pearls in nude tones... Charcoal Tipped Headband BHLDN $120//£75
Lanvin Long Jewelled Pearl Necklace mytheresa £445//$690
Flower-Dipped Dress BHLDN $495//£319
Thoht Tassel earrings Farfetch £48//$74
Paloma Pearl Clutch Coast £60//$92 Tan cut out tie front court shoes Debenhams £25.60//£38
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The Wedding Party
MOB P leadskk
I
PLEATS PLEASE
t may not be as hard as a bride finding the perfect wedding gown, but let’s not underestimate the challenge for the Mother of the Bride to find a perfect MOB dress of her own. Reverie asked a recent MOB, mom to blogger
OMG I’m Getting Married, to describe how she found her Issey Miyake dress for her daughter’s wedding. What to wear...what look to achieve? Certainly not matronly! Certainly not grandma-esque! I wanted to be hip and stylish as the MOB... I live in a small town on an island and there is virtually NO shopping. So for months I had to be content with looking on websites. I saw some
Cropped Two Tone Jacket Pleats Please Issey Miyake at Liberty £330//$528
great things, but how to know if they would look good on me? They always look great on the models on the websites but I am NOT a model. So when I arrived in London, my daughter suggested I look at Issey Miyake. My first thought was "Sure, those tiny little pleats will look just swell on me!" But I humored her… and I am so glad I did! Issey Miyake is GOD. He is a miracle worker. Those tiny pleats look good on everyone.... and the colors are brilliant. I tried on several styles and finally decided on an electric blue dress
Native American Drum Print Dress Pleats Please Issey Miyake at Liberty £345//$552 Sunset Intreccio Memory Nappa Knot Clutch Bottega Veneta $2,320//£1,530
with a V-neck and a matching jacket. Electric blue is a very cool color but what shoes to wear with it? The search continued... it was more time consuming than finding the dress! Finally, I opted for black patent slingbacks by Ralph Lauren. Comfy and classic! My advice to future MOBs: give yourself plenty of time... and be sure you LOVE what you buy. It will shape the way you feel about yourself on the day. - OMG MOB
Irena classic round toe pumps Jimmy Choo £335//$525
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Bases BACK TO
Kate Taylor
It's the Shangri-la of every bride, flawless skin with a soft dewy glow and even tone. And it's never been easier to fake... Prime skin with a serum to create a nourished and moisturised base. Apply with fingers and indulge in a facial massage, to stimulate blood flow and plump the skin. Illuminators such as MAC's Strobe Cream (2) are packed with light reflecting particles to bounce light off the skin. Apply under foundation to create that dewy glow. Water-based foundations with a fluid (rather than cream) consistency are great for those with a relatively clear complexion. Applied in sheer layers to even out skin tone and built up in areas that require more coverage, water-based foundations are light on the skin and long-lasting when set with a loose powder. For younger or more sensitive skins, a botanical brand such as Dr Haushka or Korres won't irritate or sit heavily on the skin and will keep your look light. Apply your foundation with a flat topped brush, working in a small circular motion to create a soft, airbrushed effect. Combat under eye shadows with a light reflecting concealer, be sure to keep the product to the
area where shadows naturally fall, covering your entire undereye area will only result in a skigoggle tan! Once you've primed, evened and corrected, it's time to highlight. Using a product such as Benefit's High Beam (10), highlight the brown bone, outer eye socket and cupid's bow, making sure to blend well before the product dries. Then use a warmer toned illuminator such as NARS Illuminator in Orgasm (11) and buff onto your temples, the apples of your cheeks and down the centre of your nose, again, don't forget to blend, blend, blend! Finish the look with a dusting of loose powder. This may seem contrary to the look you're trying to achieve, but it's the only way to make sure your makeup doesn't slide off during the day! Press the powder onto oily areas using a powder puff and then buff with a large fluffy brush to distribute across the rest of the face. Et voila! 1. Nude Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum £68.00/ $92.00 // 2. Chanel Vitalumiere £33.00/ $55.00 // 3. Dr Haushka Translucent Make-up £19.95/ $31.92 // 4. Boots No. 7 Protect and Perfect Beauty Serum £19.50/ $31.20 // 5. MAC Strobe Cream £12.00/ $15.00 (30 ml) £21.50/ $30.00 (50 ml) // 6. Diorskin Nude Foundation £29.50/ $46.00// 7. Korres Mineral Foundation £18.16/ $28.00 // 8. Dior Skinflash £25.00/ $37.00 // 9. Lancome Teint Miracle £27.00/ $37.00 10. Benefit High Beam £18.50/ $26.00 11. NARS Orgasm Illuminator £21.50/ $29.00
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White acquer candle holder John Lewis £20//$30 Donna Wilson fox cushion John Lewis £69//$105
Latte bowls Anthropologie £3.50//$5 each
Red kettle Dualit at The Wedding Shop £74.50//$120
Donna Wilson Frank zig zag pouffe John Lewis £425//$657 Turquoise rope glass bowl Liberty £8.50//$14
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Nespresso Pixie automatic coffee machine John Lewis £149.99//$249
Pop goblet Jonathan Adler £22//$34
TheReverie Registry
Metal number 3 John Lewis £10//$15
Red, white and blue gets a modern makeover with bright turquoise, vibrant tomato red and polished metals
Te ò tea-strainer Alessi £21//$34
Light blue colander Alessi £36//$68
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Cranston bow tie David Hart & Co. $115//£72
Skull bow tie Alexander McQueen at Selfridges £95//$185
G et K no t t ed Tie your knot in style with texture and pattern that will get you noticed...
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Heart-patterned bow tie Paul Smith £46//$74
Woven Reppe silk bow tie Drake’s London £75//$120
Velvet bow tie Brioni at Harrods £59.95//$96
Mahogany collection of mini dot bowties Hickey Freeman $34.99//£22
Tussah silk tie Drake’s at Mr Porter £105//$168
Meadow Liberty print tie Liberty £55//$88
Herringbone Silk Blend Tie Drakes £95//$146
Modern chain scarf tie Hermès £160//$215
Textured plaid tie Barneys New York $129//£80
Slim diagonal stripe tie Z Zegna at Matches £120//$192
Seersucker tie Alexander Olch $140//£87.50
River Stripe Knitted Tie Thomas Pink £59//£91
Flash tie Sovereign Beck $90//£56.25
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WHEN MAX came to tea
H
e is known for quirky, offbeat images that that have redefined the landscape of wedding photography. He is known for his use of negative space and images that evoke a sense of ephemera. He is also known for being part of the hippest professional collective in the US wedding market. His photography is
also known simply by the moniker "Max." And, yet, for all his notoriety, there is a certain mystique about Max Wanger. On his recent trip to Ol’ Blighty, Reverie’s Mary Lee Herrington sat down with Max at Gordon Ramsay’s York & Albany and got to asking him a little bit more about his inspirations, his start in photography, and his experience as a tourist in London.
Words by Mary Lee Herrington Photography by Max Wanger
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So, I hear this was your first tip to London, where did you stay? The Arch London. Really nice boutique hotel, centrally located. Did anything surprise you about London? I was expecting it to be gray and rainy, but it was sunny every day. I guess we got lucky! London is pretty famous for its rainy climate - perhaps not the ideal wedding weather! How would you approach this challenge as a wedding photographer? Perhaps not ideal, but coming from sunny southern California, I actually like the overcast days because the light is much more even and subtle. Unless you’re having a humanist ceremony, all wedding ceremonies must be held indoors at a licensed venue – this can often mean either super dark interiors or awkward tungsten lighting). As a wedding photographer and as an artist, would you find this to be a challenge to capturing inspired images? Initially perhaps. But our job is to make the most of any situation. There is beauty in everything, you just have to seek it out and you have to be able to think outside the box. How would you compare a city like London to cities like New York and Los Angeles? I love everything about London, there’s so much history, so much to see and do. I can’t wait to go back.
British food has a pretty bad reputation – would you agree with this reputation? (we won’t be offended, if you say yes!) Hard to say. If you’re willing to spend the money, there are some pretty fantastic options. Describe one of your favourite days in London, from leaving your hotel in the morning to the moment you hit the hay. The first day on any trip tends to be the most exciting because you wake up in a different place and are likely running on adrenaline. I think our first day was spent walking around Marble Arch, winding through Carnaby St., taking the tube to Notting Hill and Portobello Road and ending up back in Soho. It was definitely a full, fun, touristy day. Also loved the day we spent walking through Shoreditch. I think the next time we visit, we’ll stay somewhere on the eastside. How would you compare a city like London to cities like New York and Los Angeles? I love everything about London, there’s so much history, so much to see and do. I can’t wait to go back. What are some of your favourite British phrases/colloquialisms? Brolly (umbrella). Cheers. Would you ever consider relocating to London? Not sure how realistic it is, but I’m certainly open to the thought.
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What made you get interested in photography? Did you take courses in high school or college? I grew up in a very creative household. It’s always been a love. Aside from a couple darkroom classes in high school, I’m completely self-taught. Did you have a light bulb moment when you knew you wanted to break out into wedding photography? The “aha” moment came when I realized I could shoot weddings differently, the way I saw them in my head and that there were people out there who wanted something less traditional and more creative. How did you get your start as a professional photographer? Did you go part-time at first, or did you go just for it? Started freelance. And worked my way into full-time. What inspires you when shooting weddings? The energy of the day. The pure joy on people’s faces. What inspires you when shooting editorial, or for yourself ? Art, design, books, film, music. Is there a photographer or artist whose work inspired you or continues to inspire you? Rodney Smith. Tim Walker. Anna Wolf. Ellen Von Unwerth. Paolo Pellegrin. How would you describe your style and how do you feel it is different
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from other work out there? Whimsical. Off-beat. Romantic. Everybody sees the world differently. It’s the beauty of photography. Hopefully my point of view, my perspective, stands out just a little. What are your thoughts about recent debates in the wedding photography world, such as film versus digital, the use of heavy actions, vintage looks, details versus emotion? Ultimately, it’s about taking a good photograph, regardless of the equipment or processing. I always tell people to shut out all the chatter, keep your head down and do what you want to do. Follow your instinct and trust in your ability. How have you dealt with brides who send you a list of hundreds of “must have shots”? You do the best you can. You also have to trust that they hired you for a reason and that they know they’re in the best hands possible. As a photographer, what are some tips that you’d give to engaged couples to handle wedding jitters and nerves in front of the camera? I always talk about how nervous and terrified I was to get my picture taken on my own wedding day. I think relaying a personal experience helps. I understand what they’re going through, I know most people aren’t comfortable in front of the camera. I always say that the first 5 minutes may be awkward and that’s normal. But after that, we’ll fall into a rhythm and you won’t even know we’re there.
"our job is to make the most of any situation. There is beauty in everything, you just have to seek it out and you have to be able to think outside the box."
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What are your favourite destinations – are there any you haven’t been to and are dying to visit? I love New York. I love Tokyo. I love Paris. I love Hawaii. I haven’t been to Bali or the Maldives yet. Would also love to visit Australia and New Zealand. If you weren’t a photographer, what would be your ideal job or path in life? A PGA tour pro. It doesn’t get much than travelling around the world and playing golf.
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Do you have a favourite camera kit or lens? 5D Mark II with a 35 or 50 and I’m happy. My Polaroids and Contax G2 are high up there, too. Is there any type of rare camera that you wish you had the opportunity to try? I’m slightly obsessed with old cameras. Too many to name.
"One of the first things we saw when we walked into the tate modern was a group of ballet dancers practicing down below us. I felt compelled to just stop and watch. It was beautiful, such an unexpected little surprise." RĂŠVERIE
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QUICKFIRE Round What was your favourite London shop? I must say Topshop was pretty amazing. Others: Labour and Wait, Trunk, Grenson. Your favourite London museum? Tate Modern. Your favourite London neighbourhood? Shoreditch. Your favourite British band? The Who. Your favourite British movie? There are lots. And I may get some flack for saying this, but Love Actually gets me every time. Dogs or cats? Hmmm. That’s tough because we have both. 2 years ago, it would’ve been hands down dog. But I’ve become a cat lover, which is still beyond me. To be fair though, I’ll say both. Coffee or tea? Tea. Jacket or hoodie? Both. City wedding or country wedding? I really enjoy both, though it has to be the right city.
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Rock or hip hop? Depends on my mood. Mac or PC? Mac.
Blackberry or iPhone? iPhone. Joy Division or New Order? New Order. Canon or Nikon? Canon.
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Ttravellin
Photographer Tec Pateja on the unexpected joys of destinaiton weddin
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T ng tec
ngs
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Shakespeare & Co., Paris - "a fantastic bookshop on the left-bank in Paris."
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Barga - Italy "one of my favorite places I've traveled."
W
ith the increasing popularity of destination weddings, wedding photographers are now asked to travel all over the world to capture their clients’ precious moments. While travelling for work is not exactly easy (long f lights, hotel beds, the demands of the job itself), the upside is that it can take you to places that you wouldn’t ordinarily go to – and for a curious photographer, it is the perfect opportunity to take a few extra days to explore new surroundings, new inspirations, and new perspectives. Celebrated wedding photographer, Tec Petaja, has galivanted around the world on assignments – and these are the spots that particularly inspired him. RÊVERIE
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Kenya, Africa - "the children, landscape and animals were so inspiring to be around.
Kenya was a bit different for me! I went with a film maker and director of Got Your Back. We were there scouting schools since they were in the midst of looking to give away new uniforms and they had me come along to document children and the area. It was completely different from what I typically shoot but the children, landscape and animals were so inspiring to be around.
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This was in Dunton Hot Springs in the Southeastern corner of Colorado. It's a stunning location and a great getaway.
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Past Reveries All this prettiness had to start somewhere...
Mary's Mom & Dad
Kate's Mum & Dad
9th October 1976 Daegu, South Korea
2nd December 1972 Tandridge Hill, Surrey
"We were married in South Korea and had two ceremonies: a Western ceremony, when I wore a white dress, and a traditional Korean ceremony, when I wore a very colorful hanbok, the traditional Korean dress."
"I designed my own wedding dress and made my own headress. My 'something old' was an heirloom pair of earrings that had once belonged to a Russion Princess. My bouquet of freesias smelled amazing on such a day.
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