Katherine and Nathan

 

 

A backyard wedding, just like Father of the Bride–really, what could be lovelier than that? 

After nine years of dating, Katherine and Nathan decided to marry at the bride's parents' Virginia home, and no one was better equipped to plan this intimate tented celebration than the bride and her mother. Traditional calligraphed invitations from William Arthur made it clear the afternoon wedding would also be an elegant black tie event, but the soon-to-be-weds parents and their friends constructed the arbor under which the two were married, and the riotous peony and rose arrangements in white, pink and red.

Katherine wore a lace Elizabeth Fillmore gown with a feather fascinator and drop earring from Construct Jewelry, while the groom looked dapper in a J.Press suit. The bridesmaids wore Bari Jay gowns in shades of pink, and after dinner by Claire’s at The Depot, danced the night away under a wide white tent from Gibson Rental.  

Of course, there'd be nothing to show for this gorgeous evening without the work of Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography; I'm delighted to be able to be share his beautiful photos! 

Tell me, what's your favorite detail of this backyard fête?

P.S. Happy Halloween! If you're following me on Instagram, you might catch a peek at my costume this year!

Seated

I'm smitten with these pink bistro chairs for a wedding–and beneath them, I spy a gorgeous pair of nude pumps!  

Tell me, do you notice chairs at a celebration? I'll admit, I definitely do!

Image by welovepictures.

Posy

 I had Friday evening to myself, so after a very busy week, I headed home to indulge in a big glass of rosé and a few hours away from my email! I enjoyed some of the last avocado of the season for dinner, and after a few chapters of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which I've recently found myself engrossed in (I'm always so late to the party!), I crawled into bed for a little political drama under the covers.

John and I spent Saturday blissfully ignoring everything but each other; we curled up with Dirty Jobs reruns until we were desperate for lunch, and after filling up on tacos and Mexican coke at Underdogs, we headed back home for a long nap! Eventually we put on our best matching gingham for a provisions trip to Andronico's, and made a simple dinner with a spectacular end–pumpkin bread pudding! In keeping with our fall theme, we watched Clue for the first time in ages (I'd forgotten what a great movie it is!), and headed to bed early–the perfect cure for a challenging week. 

We were up early on Sunday, and after Saturday's indulgence, we decided to make the day count! I grabbed the last few things I needed to complete my Halloween costume while John hit the wash-and-fold and our local co-op, and then I handed John the keys so he could grab beer-brewing ingredients (we're trying White House Honey Ale) and scores from school. With the house to myself, I painted a pair of sneakers to look like saddle shoes and practiced a little yoga in the living room–a perfect Sunday afternoon, if you ask me. John made the most beautiful butternut squash risotto while I got cleaned up, and we lifted glasses of rosé to a truly restorative weekend.

Tell me, what were you up to this weekend? Halloween parties, battening down the hatches or even working on your holiday shopping? I confess, I may have crossed a few things off my list this weekend!

Image by Volatile Photography, bouquet by Vanda Floral.

Rum Collins

Few things, in my humble opinion, are better in a cocktail than rum. It has the magical ability to be both a warm weather sipper and a holiday tipple, but right now I love it in tall drinks like this limey riff on a classic Tom Collins!


Rum Collins

2 oz white rum 
1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
3/4 oz simple syrup 
Angostura bitters
club soda

Combine rum, lime juice and syrup in a shaker with ice; shake for 10 seconds, then strain into a Collins glass over ice. Add a few dashes of Angostura bitters, then top with soda. Cheers!

Image by Jenn & Dave Stark.

Ferned

Clever, classic and a little country, I've recently fallen head over heels for Dapper Paper, a husband and wife design team in Raleigh, NC. Their Rules to Always Being a Gentleman print is simply genius, but I've got a real crush on this botanical invitation suite–aren't all those typefaces divine? 

What's your latest Etsy discovery?

Mary and William

There's something about family tradition that just can't be beat, and walking down the same aisle your mother did some thirty years earlier is just the loveliest tribute I can imagine. 

After William proposed to Mary, there was no quite about where these two would tie the knot; the bride's grandmother's Victorian home in Summerville, South Carolina was the site of her mother and aunts' weddings over the years, and she'd always dreamed of marrying there herself. Once the location was settled, it was clear the celebration would exude classic Southern elegance, brought to life by Luke Wilson Special Events and announced in traditional calligraphy invitations by Studio R Design. 

The bride wore a lace Romona Keveza gown from Maddison Row paired with a simple pair of Nina shoes, her mother's four strand pearl bracelet with vintage diamond clasp and her aunt's French lace veil. Bridesmaids wore pleated taupe gowns by Watters & Watters, and the groom and his groomsmen were dressed in traditional white tie, including tuxedo jackets with tails. Mary carried a lush ivory and blush bouquet by Sara York Grimshaw Designs down the aisle, which matched the romantic arrangements, accented by cream colored linens and mercury glass of every kind. Under a shower of rose petals, the couple departed for the honeymoon, and I'm sure that when they returned, they were absolutely delighted by the images captured by Heather Forsythe Photography–they're simply stunning! 

Tell me, what's your favorite detail of this classic Southern celebration?