Ashley and Thomas

Wednesday, July 18, 2012






























 





 
 




This Iowa bride and Jersey boy were both living in Manhattan, and when mutual friends set them up on a blind date in Manhattan, the attraction was instantaneous. After their Central Park engagement, Ashley and her groom-to-be set off to plan a wedding that would honor her home state and delight their East Coast guests with a celebration that was laid-back and elegant!

The couple chose the Iowa State Memorial Union for their big day, and brought in Iowa-based event coordinators Down to Details to make sure everything ran smoothly. The bride, with her degree in design, wanted to have a strong hand in the visual elements of the day–she made the programs, menus, printed signage and lace votives, but put her trust in Pistachio Press for the invitations and Dancing Pen & Press with the calligraphy. Ashley designs neckware for Ralph Lauren, so it's no surprise that the bridal party is so sharply dressed; Thomas wore a Ralph Lauren Black Label tuxedo, and those darling polka dot bow ties were custom made as a gift to the groomsmen. Bridesmaids wore black dressed from 57 Grand, but if you're anything like me, it's the bride's gorgeous gown you can't stop thinking about! She found her Vera Wang stunner, the Gwendolyn, after visiting more than a dozen of Manhattan's best bridal shops–but saved the best for last. Ashley paired the gown, just days off the runway, with a pile of jeweled bangles from Chamak by Priya Kakkar and a pair of sparkling Miu Miu sandals.

After the traditional ceremony at the Collegiate United Methodist Church, guests made their way to the stately but welcoming Memorial Union for dinner and dancing. Table arrangements in shades of ivory, peach and pink by Mary Kay's Flowers echoed the bouquets and boutonnieres worn earlier, and the Art Deco-inspired menus featured the newlywed's first email exchange on the back. Dinner and those darling cakes were the work of the Iowa State Catering and Bakery teams–don't you just adore that bow-topped beauty?

As always, a huge thank you to Molly of m three studio for sharing her spectacular work; these photos are nothing short of a dream! 


Tell me, what's your favorite detail?

23 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, if I had a black tie wedding someday, I would want it to look exactly like this! Vera Wang, polka dot bowties, bridesmaids in mismatched black dresses, gorgeous peach flowers, calligraphy, gold chiavaris...seriously, it's perfect!!

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  2. Those polka dots are the sweetest detail! Her ring is fabulous, too. I love the trio of bands. What a lovely Midwest/East Coast combination!

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  3. everything about this wedding seems absolutely perfect! Stunning from her dress to her veil and the bouquets are amazing! my jaw dropped!

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  4. Gorgeous wedding gown! But my favorite detail has to be those sweet polka dot bow ties.

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  5. oh my gosh. such first rate style and class. his polka dot bow tie stole the cake for me!

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  6. Oh, Lena... you just have the MOST fantastic, beautiful taste. This wedding is so beautiful. I die for those bow ties and that veil!

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  7. Oh it is just hard to pick a favorite. I just love all of the details here. Beautiful photography!

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  8. I love that she wore such bold bracelets with her dress. Its a nice touch.

    Stop by & enter my Skincare RX gift card giveaway!

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  9. The back of the cake with their first piece missing!!! So.darn.cute.

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  10. I am in love with her dress! It's so peachy pretty!

    And they make the perfect couple. Gorgeous

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  11. I just adore that dress but her choice of accessories, those divine bracelets, just takes it to the top for me!!
    And I will always fall for the cream/black color combination! When it is done right, like at this wedding, every aspect radiates chic!

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  12. This wedding is the epitome of glam!!

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  13. The stack of hands. her's around his ontop of each other and then to top it all,his on top. That moment of "you are my one." with the knowing that all this implies.

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  14. What lovely details! All of the details are gorgeous...the table, here dress, so very perfect and pretty!

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  15. She looks so happy! I love weddings where the bridemaids wear different dresses like this.

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  16. omg the dress, the bouquet, the POLKA DOT BOWTIE...so gorgeous!

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  17. I love the close ups of the dress... So beautiful and elegant!

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  18. That dress is phenomenal. Just every detail!

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  19. I absolutely LOVE the groom's bow tie!

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  20. Her dress and bracelets!
    Lovely.
    Laura@RicevereconStile

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