I really dont know how to top a wedding with a buttercup yellow wedding dress! This Vera Wang confection was absolute perfection, and the whole affair is one I would have loved to have seen in person! Katie speaks more about it below…
The truth is, I really wanted to elope, but my husband-to-be wouldn’t let me! we started the process of compromise. The ceremony was most important to us, as we wanted to write our own vows, so we decided that an intimate guest count of 50 would feel right, and thought about a restaurant as a possible venue. Being totally devoted to all things food and wine, we instantly remembered our favorite New York meals being at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Having both grown up in Los Angeles, the idea of a beautiful farm setting was a bit foreign, but how could we resist the food and the incredible backdrop (cows!)
I have to admit, I got a bit carried away at the beginning with bridal magazines and a list of “must-dos”. But slowly, I organized my thoughts and priorities. I booked Di Bezi as our photographers right away!! Diana and Jeff shot my best friend’s wedding and I was obsessed with the pictures. I knew they would capture the day perfectly, and they did. We found an amazing man to marry us (recommended by Blue Hill) and started building our ceremony. After sitting in a Barnes and Nobles for an afternoon looking at “wedding” poetry, we decided to go with lots of fun readings from children’s books (my husband and I went to elementary school together) and song lyrics from our first dance (Talking Heads “This Must Be the Place”). I knew that Blue Hill would create a memorable and stellar menu, so I didn’t have to worry about the food or accompanying wines. I also used Blue Hill’s florist for our bouquets and center pieces. Other little fun details included using farm animals instead of table numbers and an adorable bride and groom pig cake topper I found on Etsy.
As for the dress…I knew from the beginning I didn’t want to wear white. A while ago I saw a pink dress in J. Crew’s bridal section and thought, Oh! What a good idea…After a trip to J. Crew, I realized that pink dress wasn’t for me, and though a tad discouraged, I did what all girls know is the answer. I called Vera Wang. When I got there, they were flustered to hear my wedding date was only 4 months away (we opted for a short engagement- why wait!?) I told them I was open to all dresses, white or otherwise, that they would have ready in time. And the lady helping me brought the yellow dress. I’ve never worn yellow, but I thought it’d be worth a shot. It was the first dress I tried. And it was my dress! It came with a russet brown sash that I toyed with wearing, but ultimately decided the simplicity of yellow was just what I wanted. I still felt entirely bridal and had so much fun in yellow.
Ultimately, after endless anxieties and a crazy roller coaster of emotions while planning the wedding (no one tells you about the roller coaster!), the day was perfect. My husband and I had all our hopes fulfilled. And I’m glad I didn’t elope…
more pictures after the jump!
Venue: Blue Hill at Stone Barns
Photography: Di Bezi
Florist: Sandy Clothier
Dress: Vera Wang
Bridesmaids: J. Crew
Groom: John Varvatos suit, J. Crew tie
Stationery: Judy Paulen at Bloomingdale’s NYC
Cake Topper: Romancing Juliet on Etsy.com
Hair & Make-up: Sheree Lunn
[images from DiBezi Photography]