classic bride

Casual Hippy Bohemian Redwood Forest Grove Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:05:00 +0000

I have often thought how amazing a forest wedding would be but Meagan and Tony take that idea to whole new level of cool by getting hitched under a redwood grove. I. looooove. it. Amazing images by eLLe PHOTOGRAPHY.

Says photographer Laura Monfredini, "I wanted to send you some shots from a sweet wedding we did up in Fairfax, Calif. -- it's a cute, tiny, hippy town out in Marin County that's in between San Francisco and the northern coast. The couple got ready at Cavallo Point, which is one of my favorite spots & the wedding ceremony/reception was in Fairfax under a redwood grove.

They say that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but for Meagan and Tony that is anything but true. Tony is from England and he was in Las Vegas for his brother's bachelor party (or, as they say, 'stag' party) and Meagan was there for a trade show. The fates aligned and they ended up in the same bar one night. Meagan caught Tony's eye, and they started talking, and they never stopped -- one of their wedding toasters joked that they logged more hours on Skype than the whole guest list combined. For them, it was instant love and shortly after they met, Tony moved to the US to be with Meagan and he proposed to her shortly after.

The couple are both creative -- Meagan is a makeup artist (she did her own gorgeous retro-look for her wedding, as well as a few of the bridesmaids!), and Tony is a musician. They conceptualized their day as bringing together their creative sides with a touch of their heritage and with a music theme based on their song, 'All You Need is Love' by the Beatles. Together, with the help of many of their creative friends, they pulled off a beautiful affair under the redwood trees in Fairfax, Calif., that included a caricature artist and retro-touches for an English-feel.

The couple did all of the major details themselves -- they scoured the Alameda Flea market for vintage touches, they did all of the floral arrangements themselves. They had a touching, personal ceremony officiated by a family friend. It was really important to the couple that their guests have fun at the reception. They also set up a candy bar and had a friend play the acoustic guitar for a musical-festival vibe during the reception. Many of their friends stood up to toast the couple -- so many stories were shared and it brought the whole party together and made things so personal."

Aren't the towering redwoods and string lights just magical? Thanks so much to eLLe PHOTOGRAPHY for sharing these lovely images and congrats to Meagan and Tony! xx.

Credits:
Photography: eLLe PHOTOGRAPHY (Bill Hipps & Laura Monfredini)
Hair/Makeup: Meagan Major (the bride!)
Flowers: the bride & her maids and Mom
Officiant: a family friend
Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Venue: Cavallo Point (getting ready) & Deer Park Villa (ceremony and reception)
Caricatures: Bay Area Caricatures

GIVEAWAY | Amazing Stationery GIVEAWAY from Minted - 150 winners!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:25:00 +0000

As you probably already know, Minted is one of my top favorite sites for gorgeous custom stationery so I'm thrilled to be partnering with them today to offer 150 of my readers a custom greeting card! If you're not familiar with Minted, this would be a great way to try out their product and find out just how amazing they are!

With Father's Day right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to round up my favorite Father's Day cards on Minted and share them with you ... because if you win, it might be nice to share the love with your Dad. :) You can check out my top picks below or browse the full gallery of Father's Day cards here.

But first, let's discuss the super simple details and just how easy it is to enter this contest!

THE DETAILS
What's being given away:

150 randomly selected winners will receive a gift code for a free greeting card at Minted.com

How to enter:
Just click here and enter your name and e-mail. That's it, folks! :)

Deadline to enter:
June 1, 2013, at midnight Central European Time. Winners will be notified by e-mail. Bonne chance!

And I loved that last one so much I just had to customize it for my own super special Dad:

Yep, that's me and my daddy picking azaleas together.
Aren't we a fine looking pair? And I can't help saying we still are! ;)

I also put a little something together for my Mom because I'd never want her to feel left out. She's a pretty fabulous part of my life and I like reminding her of that:

Tell me which card you would choose if you win! :)

ps. Minted also has a great collection of Father's Day gifts and Father's Day art if you need something to go along with that card. ;)

This post is sponsored by Minted. Images via Minted and my personal collection.

Sneak Peek of Greece {+ some exciting proposal news!}

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:52:00 +0000

Hey loves, J&I made it back from our Greek Isles cruise this week and we are trying to get preliminary things for our move to San Antonio in order. {Whew, why are moves so exhausting?!} Anyway, I thought I'd share a tiny glimpse of our cruise with you! We met up with our friends T&J {you might remember T from these Med travels} in Venice and then cruised onto Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and Olympia. And you know that saying, "save the best for last?" Well, that's just what T's boyfriend did because right after my husband and I left for the airport, J proposed in St. Mark's Square in Venice while it was raining!!!! I mean ... could you ask for a more romantic proposal than that?!? Only wish we had been there so I could have taken a crazy + countless number of photos and maybe been mistaken for the paparazzi. ;) Okay, maybe that wouldn't have been so romantic. Seriously, congrats T&J! J&I are so stoked for you both and can't wait to put on our party shoes for your big day!

Yep, that's the newly engaged couple ... before they were engaged! Imagine how happy they look now! ;) [+ me!] ;)

Santorini in all its splendor.

J&I loving it up in Santorini.

The Greeks are so on trend. I mean, who has a chartreuse door?! Adorbs, no?

More to come soon!

ps. Amazingly fun giveaway coming up, too! :P

Idea: {Wedding} Flower Crowns

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:01:00 +0000

Right before we flew to Venice, J&I caught Lana Del Rey in concert in Luxembourg and aside from the amazing show {I was completely starstruck and wanted to buy tickets to follow her all over Europe like a total groupie}, I was intrigued with the number of girls in the audience wearing floral crowns. They were so sweet yet felt so current and on trend. And, of course, it made me think how wonderful they'd be for a wedding. Whether for the bride, bridesmaids or the sweet flowergirl, I think floral crowns would be a darling statement.

Maybe Kate Moss got the trend rolling with her wedding:

{Via Vogue // photo by Mario Testino}

See more crowns here. Tell me what you think of the crown trend.

Charming Winter Wedding at Miami University of Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:40:00 +0000

As I'm finishing packing for J&I's Greek Islands cruise {we're flying to Venice tonight and I can't wait to meet up with Miss T & her beau for a gondola ride and some drinks at Harry's Bar and all the adventures that are sure to ensue!}, I thought I'd share another college campus wedding with you. It's another Miami University wedding {did you miss the first?} And it's totally making me miss my alma mater {and the snow!} already! Enjoy and bon voyage, loves! Beautiful images by Anna Kirby Photography.

The lovely bride, Kate, says, "Our style was simple and elegant, using blue, silver, and ivory colors to reflect both our Alma Mater (Duke University) and to give the day a shimmery Christmas feel. We chose to have the wedding in Oxford, Ohio – the quaint college town where I spent my undergraduate years, and a central location for both of our families to gather. The chapel held a lot of sweet memories for me as an undergraduate musician at Miami University, but more importantly, the chapel created a beautiful setting for us and our guests to celebrate and reflect on the joy of marriage.

We didn’t do a lot of decorating in the chapel, but with the fabulous stained-glass windows, cast-iron chandeliers, and traditional wooden interior, not much was required!

The couple had the pastor from Kate's home church, Dave Mason, officiate the ceremony and his wife, Linda Mason played piano. Linda was also Kate's piano teacher from grade school. One of their close friends played the violin during their unity candle lighting.

Kate's favorite memory? Being up on the altar together at Kumler Chapel – while the rest of the day was fun and beautiful, being up in front of everyone, saying our vows, hand-in-hand, face-to-face, really made the day feel special and right.

Having the reception at the Oxford Community Arts Center provided a warm holiday glow, where we could enjoy visiting with our friends and family in a small space with a character all its own! We loved having the local artwork on display, Christmas décor throughout, and the wall of mirrors in the ballroom. (perhaps a little Christmas in Versaille?)

While planning our wedding, we tried to stick to the theme of 'simple elegance.' It was important to us to create a more intimate setting that would allow time and space for conversation with our close friends and family, and also give us the opportunity to reflect on the beauty of our marriage, where our relationship had been and where it was now headed."

Kate's advice: As stressful, confusing, and overwhelming as wedding planning can become, have confidence that the wedding day will be every bit as beautiful and wonderful as you would have hoped. Also, definitely take the time to find an excellent photographer – someone who can take the lead with their creative license, and promise not to do a lot of posing. We don’t remember seeing Anna most of the day, but her photos clearly managed to not only capture those big moments of walking down the aisle and dancing with our parents, but also the little stuff – like happy reunions with college friends, relatives telling jokes, the nervous smiles before the ceremony… a reflection of how much joy and love was being shared that day. Being able to look back on the day and remember these things means the world.

Thanks so much to Anna Kirby for sharing these sweet images! xx.

Credits:
Photographer - Anna Kirby Photography http://annakirbyphoto.com/
Hair and Make Up - Attitudes Uptown http://attitudesuptown.com/
Floral Design - The Fig Tree http://www.thefigtreehamilton.com/
Wedding Ceremony - Kumler Chapel at Miami University of Ohio https://www.hdg.muohio.edu/Weddings/
Officiant - Dave Mason
Wedding Reception - Oxford Community Arts Center http://www.oxarts.org/
Reception Coordinator - Donna Stevens with the Oxford Community Arts Center
Baker - Spoon Fulla Sugar http://www.aspoonfullasugar.com/
Catering - All Things Catered http://www.allthingscatered.com/
Center piece candles and lanterns, custom champagne flutes, and other reception details were all DIY projects.

This post sponsored by:

Find out more about in-post ads: theclassicbride@gmail.com

Gina Made It WINNER

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:38:00 +0000

Happy May 1st! And big congrats to the winner of the Gina Made It giveaway: Christina Chin! Christina, you'll be receiving a message soon regarding your prize. :)

Thanks to Gina Made It for sponsoring this awesome contest!

xox.

DIY: Watercolored Letterpress Invites via Minted

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:37:00 +0000

Hey loves! I made it back from Italy but it looks like I brought home a nasty cold, as well. And just in time for our Greek Isles cruise later this week - boo! While I'm trying to recover, I thought I'd share this awesome DIY from Minted's new blog, Julep. Their creative director, Annie Clark, designed and hand-painted these beauties for an event and I'm seriously obsessed with how great they look!

Would you add some DIY watercolor to your wedding? If so, tell me what you're trying. ;)

Images via Minted.

GIVEAWAY | Preppy Prettiness: Gina Made It Headbands and Bun Bow

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:54:00 +0000

Right now, I'm hopping on a jet plane with my BFF, B, to Milan, Italy. {eeee!} We're going to take the train over to Cinque Terre and stay in Riomaggiore for the week to soak up some sun, do some hiking and swimming and down a few cocktails like the champions that we are. {Yep, I convinced her to come back with me} ;)

But don't think I forgot about you! I scheduled out a little surprise for you today while I'm soaking up those Italian rays! That's right, I'm excited to be giving away some goodies from Gina Made It!

Gina attributes her preppy + polished style to the days she spent studying in New England at Bowdoin College, her travels abroad, and her love of the sea. She says, "As a curly haired girl, I always kept an eye out for comfortable headbands to help with those unruly hair days, or to keep the beach breeze from creating a wispy mess! My own line of headbands started after years of creating decorative party headbands for birthday girls and brides-to-be. My younger sister, who at the time was a senior at Marymount School of NY, started wearing them to class and girlfriends began asking her where she got her headband. Mimi’s response: 'Gina Made It!' "

Such a cute way for a business to begin, no? Gina Made It is now in boutiques across the country and all the products are proudly handcrafted in North Carolina at a worker-owned, eco-friendly factory. Love that.

Love this chic twist on the sock bun!

THE GIVEAWAY
What's being given away:

A bun bow for the bride and a headband for the maid of honor. The winner may choose from available styles.

How to enter:
Simply leave a comment on CB's facebook page telling us which styles you would choose if you win!

How to achieve extra entries:
- Like Gina Made It on facebook ---and/or---

- Share this giveaway on your blog
............. Just make sure to mention if you do either or both of these on CB's facebook page. ;)

Deadline to enter:
Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at midnight Central European Time.
One randomly selected winner will be announced on May 1, 2013! Bonne chance!

This post is sponsored by Gina Made It. Images via Gina Made It.

Gorgeous Custom Wedding Rings {and more!} from Joseph Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:59:00 +0000

I am so excited to share a lovely store and company hailing from Seattle with you today! Joseph Jewelry offers an exquisite array of antique engagement rings, stunning wedding and anniversary bands and a to-die selection of estate jewelry. But their custom engagement rings may be my favorite of all! Clients can sit down with a designer {in person or online} to create ideas from scratch or they can take inspiration from showcase rings and customize them to make them more personal - I truly love this idea, don't you? Let's first take a peek at some of their envy-inducing antique engagement rings:

Gorgeous, right? You can browse the full collection of antique engagement rings here. I'm honestly not sure how I would ever be able to choose just one! ;) Now let's sneak a peek at some of the eye-popping custom engagement rings from Joseph Jewelry:

I absolutely love the creativity that went into these striking designs. I'm also really fond of using colored diamonds or lovely gemstones instead of your gorgeous yet typical diamond. I also love that all of the custom jewelry from Joseph Jewelry is created on-site and they have a wonderfully-skilled master hand engraver who can add fabulous personalization to any purchase or existing piece of jewelry.

Feeling inspired to design your own engagement ring? Get started here.

Now moving onto the selfish bit of the post! I'm currently on the hunt for a new wedding band so I naturally gravitated toward the fine selection of anniversary bands on Joseph Jewelry's site. Below are my top picks:

I'm so torn between these lovely anniversary band styles. A simple and classic infinity band .... a romantic filigree-inspired ring ... or a big and bad band with serious antique appeal ... who am I kidding? I'm totally digging that last style. Which style of band suits your tastes?

Finally, I must share a glimpse of the jaw-dropping selection of estate jewelry:

Gah! Don't you feel like a kid in a candy store? Hope you'll tell me what caught your eye. Personally, I'm pretty hung up over those gorgeous anniversary bands {in case you didn't catch that already!}.

ps. Keep up with Joseph Jewelry via their social media handles:

Pinterest // Facebook // Twitter // Google Plus

This post is sponsored by Joseph Jewelry.

A Peek of a Wedding at Notre-Dame de Reims, France

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:27:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, my husband surprised me with a 3-day weekend so we decided to take advantage and I booked a b&b in the Champagne region of France. We first drove to the city of Reims to visit the gorgeous cathedral, Notre-Dame de Reims, where the kings of France were once crowned:

And can you guess what we found inside? Oui! A magnificent French wedding!

The seats here are empty because the bride and her father {sorry for the poor picture quality but doesn't he look so proud and joyful?} had to walk past the public area to get to their "private" wedding area:

It was such a treat to be able to sit in on a French wedding! I wish I would have taken more photos. :( After enjoying the city, we took off for our countryside b&b. It was so fun and surreal to pass by famous champagne vineyards:

We finished up the weekend with a day of flea marketing and a side trip to the memorial of the Battle of Verdun. Have you visited the Champagne region? If so, I hope you'll share your tale with me!

Images by moi.

Genius: Start a Honeymoon Pinning Map!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:12:00 +0000

Wouldn't you know ... just as I'm knee-deep in boxes and bubblewrap and preparing for our move back to the States, I find not one but two amazing bloggers who share my love of European antiques, flea markets, traveling, interior design and, duh, blogging ... and they're just mere hours away from us. I mean, really?! So, like any normal blog stalker, I stayed on Ashley's blog, Design Eur Life, and read post after post and then I came across something that I knew I just had to share immediately. Ashley and her husband, Brennon, wanted to create a visual of all the places they had traveled in Europe so they decided to put together a framed map that they could pin.

Stop right there. This is amazing for a few different reasons.

1. I have wanted to do this for eons. No, really. Eons.

2. I have a seriously gorgeous vintage map of France that I picked up at the Lille flea market and have been wanting to pin with all of the French towns and cities J&I have visited {and you know there's a ton!} to celebrate our obsessive love of France! :)

3. I think this would be so cool to begin right after your honeymoon ... and then continue to pin as you travel together. {okay, you might need to switch to a world map but this is a good start!}

Okay, I'll stop rambling and share the good stuff now. You can check out Ashley's full tutorial on how to create a beautiful pinning map here. It's seriously genius and it's now on my immediate to-do list. I promise I'll share my results. And I hope you'll share yours if you decide to make one! Just post a photo on my facebook page. ;) Let's take a look at Ashley's fabulous creation:

ps. Isn't the chippy frame perfect? Ashley found it at the Metz, France, flea market - one of my favorites!!

Incredible, right? Ashley also recently opened up her own European boutique featuring many of the chic finds she comes across while flea marketing. You must take a spin through the shop - I was drooling. :)

The other blog I discovered and am loving is The Poor Sophisticate {isn't that a great name? hah!} You should definitely take a look! Molly is an interior designer who has completely transformed the German barn she and her husband are currently renting. It's totally fabulous and guaranteed to make you a bit jealous. ;)

Images via Design Eur Life.

BREAKING NEWS: CB is moving to San Antonio, Texas!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:11:00 +0000

Hey loves. Big news on the CB front - We're moving to SAN ANTONIO. Wow.

My husband received official word last week that we'll be moving to Texas this July and I'm not sure it's really sunk in quite yet. When I think about leaving Europe again {I've spent a third of my life over here}, I feel just like I did when I was 7 years old and my parents told me we'd be moving for the first time. Ummm, what? Disbelief ... shock ... heartbreak ... I'm feeling it all over again.

You would think after 8 moves, I'd be used to packing up and leaving but it never seems to get any easier. It's so painful to have to leave wonderful friends and wonderful memories behind and start fresh.

That said, I'm trying hard to get excited for the new changes ahead of us and I'm thrilled that I'll be closer to my Stateside friends and can hopefully fill my calendar with fun travels/reunions!

Since I've only visited San Antonio once {way back when I was 16}, I'd love to hear from my readers about some insider tips! The best place for a fish taco? Your favorite neighborhood? You know the stuff. :) Dish!

xx S

Gorgeous Wedding Shoes from My Glass Slipper

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:16:00 +0000

Are you having a tough time finding the perfect wedding shoe? I know I had the hardest time. Luckily, there's a site that basically serves as a rolodex of the most fabulous wedding shoes in existence, My Glass Slipper, including a few of my personal favorite labels like Badgley Mischka, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman. Below are a few of my fave wedding shoes from My Glass Slipper. Let me know what you think!

I'm also totally in love with these Badgley Mischka knockouts:

Tell me which pair would make your final cut!

This post is sponsored by My Glass Slipper.

Destination Wedding Inspiration from Lovely Notes: Megève, France

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:56:00 +0000

I've arranged a little mid-week morning booster for you with a visit from our friend Michele from Lovely Notes. Today, Michele is sharing her vision for a destination wedding in Megève, France. Le sigh.

Says Michele, "Megève is a charming ski resort located in the French Alps. Since I recently returned from a wedding here, it’s easy to imagine this destination wedding locale. Snowcapped mountains and a blanket of white set the scene for this party. Small but fashionable, this is also the place to bring your glitz and glamour. Almost every woman strolling the town center is wearing a fur coat and our imaginary bride is no different. An intricate beaded gown is therefore fitting for this fashion forward lady. An all white tablescape is appropriate for this winter wonderland scene as is this beautiful anenome bouquet. Upon arrival guests are greeted by mulled white, a popular cocktail of the region. Make sure you keep up the energy since dancing continues into the early morning hours. A traditional French croquembouche cake is the perfect ending to a lavish multi course meal. It’s a perfect evening in a very cozy setting."

... And just when I was starting to get tired of the cold and snow here in Europe! It's certainly not sounding so bad anymore... ;)

Check out Michele's gorgeous wedding visions for these faboo destinations, too:
Santorini //Paris // Provence // Seville // Venice // and her own stunning wedding {beyond words!}

Credits:

1 Source

2 Pinterest

3 Source unknown

4 Source

5 Snippet & Ink

6 Source

7 Style Me Pretty

8 Once Wed

This post sponsored by:

Find out more about in-post ads: theclassicbride@gmail.com

Classic College Wedding at Miami University of Ohio {w/the Perfect Getaway Car!}

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:29:00 +0000

Last week I asked for some college campus wedding submissions and today I'm happy to share the first! This wedding hits a little close to home for me and I just love it. J&I met and became engaged during our college years at Miami University - we even had our engagement photos taken on campus and had given some pretty serious thought to booking Ses chapel for our wedding so you can imagine my excitement today in sharing Chris and Stephani's beautiful wedding at Miami's adorable Sesquicentennial Chapel. Gorgeous photos by Andrea Dozier.

Miami's Sesquicentennial Chapel - doesn't it look like a jewel straight out of New England?!

Chris & Stephani met in college at Miami University and after graduating, both went on to serve in the United States Air Force. At the time of the wedding planning, Stephani was serving in Germany and Chris in Nevada. They were married at Miami's quaint Sesquicentennial Chapel and had a reception at J & J Winery in Richmond, Indiana.

It's well-known legend on Miami's campus that if a couple kisses under Upham Arch at midnight, they are destined to marry and live happily ever after. {Oh, you can bet J&I kissed under Upham Arch more than once ... (:}

Obviously, a must-have photo for Chris and Stephani's wedding day was a kiss under Upham Arch. I love that she slipped out of her gorgeous Lord & Taylor stilettos and put on a pair of Tiffany-colored Chuck Taylors to make the walk more comfortable.

Miami's seal - the saying goes that you'll fail your next exam if you step on it. :-/ ps. Aren't her Converse the cutest?

Stephani's Dad's classic car waited outside Ses Chapel as their getaway ride. I know ... isn't it just beyond perfect?

Thanks so much to Chris and Stephani for sharing their lovely wedding and to photographer Andrea Dozier for sharing her oh-so-gorgeous images of the day. xx.

And if you'd like to share your own college campus wedding, please send photos and a short description to theclassicbride@gmail.com. Can't wait to see! :)

This post sponsored by:

Find out more about in-post ads: theclassicbride@gmail.com

Honeymoon Idea: Glamping in France via a Vintage VW Van!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:17:00 +0000

On our flight to Dublin, I was reading the in-flight magazine and came across the coolest idea for a honeymoon: Renting a vintage VW camper van and traipsing around Southern France. I mean, how fun?! Check out some of the vans that are available:

I totally dig it! Camper hire seems to be a pretty popular thing in France as I found several sites that offer vintage VWs during my research for this post.

What do you think? Would you do some retro glamping in Southern France for your honeymoon? I think it's clear what my answer would be but I'd love to hear from you! :)

Images via here and here.

This post sponsored by:

Find out more about in-post ads: theclassicbride@gmail.com

Deliciously Preppy {Tennis-Infused} Southampton Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:09:00 +0000

Was it a coincidence I was watching one of my favorite movies, Match Point, when Patricia sent over this lovely tennis-infused wedding? Whitney and Sim's impeccably preppy Southampton wedding was such a delight to edit - I didn't want to leave a single photo out. And I can't get over how much Whitney reminds me of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy - what a knockout. She especially reminds me of CBK when she's exiting the chapel. Her hair even has that same "I totally just woke up but look flawlessly cool" vibe. And the insanely gorgeous photos are by one of my all-time favorites, Patricia Kantzos.

Thanks so much to Whitney and Sim for sharing their beautiful day and to their endlessly talented photographer, Patricia Kantzos, for sharing her gorgeous photos. xx.

Credits:
Photography: Patricia Kantzos Photography
Venues: Dune Church, Southampton, NY + Meadow Club, Southampton, NY
Bride’s shoes: Christian Louboutin
Bride’s jewelry: Rent the Runway
Hair & Makeup: Rachael Grey: 714-920-4913 hairbyrachael@gmail.com
Groom & Groomsmen ties: custom
Groomsmen jackets: Rent the Runway
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Rent the Runway
Flowers: Sag Harbor Florist -3 Bay St # B, Sag Harbor, NY 11963
Wedding Chairs & Linen: Party Rental LTD: 7 Tradesman Path, Bridgehampton, NY
Coordinator: Margot Louthan cell: 571-388-7453
Saxon Band: John Doboe--(631) 289-3100
Invitations: Shine Invitation
Southampton Inn: http://www.southamptoninn.com/
Easthampton Babysitters www.easthamptonbabysitters.com"

Patricia Kantzos Photography is a current CB sponsor but this is not a sponsored post.

This post sponsored by:

Find out more about in-post ads: theclassicbride@gmail.com

Calling All College Campus Weddings!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:36:00 +0000

Isn't there something special about the idea of getting married to your college sweetheart on your college campus? The idea of being surrounded by so many fun memories and inviting all the friends who helped create those memories - I just love the idea! J proposed our senior year at Miami University and we seriously thought about getting hitched at the art museum on campus but we ended up having a long engagement and plans eventually changed. I do sometimes think about how our 2008 Southern Wedding could have been different ... we went through so many venue ideas! I'd love to live vicariously through a few brides who chose the college campus route and share a few gorgeous weddings on CB!

If you're planning/planned a college campus wedding, I hope you'll consider sharing! Just send your story and photos to theclassicbride@gmail.com.

Snow-covered MacCracken Hall at J&I's beautiful alma mater,
Miami University of Ohio - perfect setting for a winter wedding!

Image via

Home Sweet Home

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:57:00 +0000

This past month has been a whirlwind of travel for me. I'm finally home for a few weeks before I fly down to Italy {going to re-visit Cinque Terre with a friend}. It feels so good to be home for awhile. I'm looking forward to catching up and sharing my recent travels with you guys plus some beautiful weddings I've had on hold. Here's a glimpse at my travels this month ... I'll share more soon! xox.

The White Arch along the Cote Sauvage in Quiberon, France ...
we only spent about 4 hours hunting down this beauty! ;)

Quimper, France. le sigh.

Our ahhhhmazing B&B in Audierne, France - I can't wait to tell you more about this serious gem!

A flea market in Rennes followed by a gallette for lunch. nom nom nom.

Quimper, France

gah :)

Meet my new armoire! Yes, this lovely came home with us ... we're putting it back together this weekend
{it had to be broken down to fit in our Audi A4} and it will be transformed into our new entertainment cabinet. :)

We were on espadrille patrol and found these lovelies at a French grocery store! I came home with 3 pairs. :)

A peek at our rental wagon on the last day of our trip ... filled to the brim! Mais oui!

Welcome to Dublin, Ireland! This trip was our official "spring break" w/J's parents ...
temps were in the 20s and we experienced rain, wind, snow and hail ... the pubs were our saving grace:

I learned to like Guinness!

I made it across the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge! Brrrr....

We also made it to the Giant's Causeway which blew my mind. I'll share the Cliffs of Moher soon
as well as an in-depth look at Dublin. Stay tuned, loves!

Full travel journals coming soon!!! xx.

Off to Ireland!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:32:00 +0000

Hi loves, I'm catching a flight tomorrow with my hubby to meet his parents in Dublin, Ireland. We're planning on staying in the city but heading out on a few days to the Cliffs of Moher and to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. I may have to down a pint or two of Guinness to get myself across the bridge but I'm looking forward to seeing new scenery and spending time with J's family.

If you have any last-minute tips, let me know. Below are a few of my favorite "Irish" pins ... check out more of my honeymoon + travel pins here.

Source: cushendallcottages.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge ... I wonder how many people have dropped their cameras while crossing?

Source: flickr.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Source: favething.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

The Trinity Library in Dublin ... isn't it amazing?

Source: myfavoriteandmybest.blogspot.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Can you tell what I'm most excited to see? Bye loves ... see you next week! xx

Dreamy Historic Home Wedding in Malibu, Calif.

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 08:22:00 +0000

String lights. Palm trees. The Malibu coast ... you know, the standard ingredients for a dreamy California wedding ... Kathryn and Kyle's gorgeous soiree had all of that and more at the beautiful historic Adamson House in Malibu, Calif. Enjoy:

Says Kathryn, "The beach has always been a special place for us. We knew we wanted to get married by the ocean, but we did not want to actually be married on the beach. We wanted to get married in a unique place where we had never been and would be unique to our guests as well. We wanted a place close to home, but not down the street. We wanted a venue that was intimate, romantic, and felt like we were miles away. Our wonderful planners had mentioned looking at the Adamson House in Malibu. After spending many weekends looking for the perfect venue, we finally looked at the historical Malibu home and fell in love. It incorporated the ocean setting we wanted as well as the uniqueness and elegance we envisioned. It is such a unique venue that we had driven by it numerous times on Pacific Coast Highway and never noticed it. We felt like it was our own little paradise.

Our wedding was a mix of comfortable elegance, romance, and beach-chic. Our colors were blush and peacock blue. The original color scheme was ivory and blush, but when I set out to find blush bridesmaids dresses, I fell in love with one of the sample dress colors which was a beautiful peacock blue. It complemented the ocean and the historical tiles which cover the Adamson House property. The bridesmaid’s dresses are the only place you will see the peacock blue, which made the color pop and blend beautifully with the shades of pink.

When we first saw the Adamson House, the first thing we noticed were the beautiful tiles all over the property. They are so historical and such a special part of the venue so we wanted to incorporate them into our wedding. We decided to have tiles made into coasters which had name tags attached for the escort cards. The guests took their coasters home as their favor which had a thank you message on the back from us which stated, “In Celebration of Our Wedding on the California Coast.” Valerie Pang created these gorgeous coasters for us using original Mexican talavera tiles.

The other thing we loved about Adamson House was that we could bring in our own caterers and rentals. We rented specialty linens from La Tavola and Wildflower Linens, had Italian string lights over the reception and specialty lighting by Revagio Entertainment and Productions, and were able to choose every detail from the dark wood chivari chairs to the silk ivory napkins.

When people say your wedding day is the best day of your life, we now know what that means. It was perfect. It was a magical day and truly was the best day of our lives."

Thanks so much to Kathryn and Kyle for sharing their beautiful day and story with us and to Couture Foto for sharing these brilliant images. xx

Read on for the story of how Kathryn and Kyle met and fell in love:
Kyle says he first laid eyes on Kathryn at a Dodgers game when he was 16 and Kathryn was 15. Kathryn was there with her sister and her dad and Kyle was there with a friend. He saw her from a few rows back, thought she was cute, but they never talked that day. It was not until a year later that Kathryn and Kyle met officially in high school but were just friends. A few years later, Kathryn was home from college for the summer and gave Kyle a call while she was staying in Santa Barbara. Kathryn invited him up to hang out with her and he gladly accepted. Completely unexpected and unplanned, they began spending every minute together. That summer, they fell in love. Three short months later, Kathryn had to return to college at Saint Mary's a long 6 hours away. They decided to stay together and try to make their relationship work through the long distance ...which it did. After years of long distance phone calls, endless plane rides back and forth, life's up's and down's, and graduate school stress they knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. On May 29, 2011, almost 7 years later to the day, Kyle brought Kathryn back to the city where it all began. Kyle casually mentioned they should spend the day in Santa Barbara over Memorial Day weekend. Kathryn, absolutely clueless, was so excited to spend the day in their favorite city. After hours of eating, shopping, and walking up and down State Street, they walked to the beach. They had brought a blanket and were searching for a perfect spot to relax when the wind picked up and sand was flying everywhere. Kyle asked Kathryn to stand up so he could straighten out the blanket. After trying to get the blanket under control, Kathryn turned around to see Kyle on his knee. Kathryn cried and listened to the beautiful things Kyle said, which ended with "Will you marry me?" Kathryn fell to her knees and said "Yes!"

Credits:
Venue: Adamson House, Malibu, CA
Photographer: Couture Foto: http://www.couturefoto.com
Catering & Rentals: http://www.trulyyourscatering.com
Florist: http://stellabloomdesigns.com
Coordinator: http://allyouneedisloveevents.com
Harpist: http://www.harpgigs.com/vonetteyanaginuma/index.html
DJ: http://www.rsvpdj.com
Dessert: http://www.viktorbenes.com

Recipe Rolodex: Groom's Cake for an Irish Countryside Wedding | Molasses Bundt Cake w/Guinness Glaze

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:21:00 +0000

Are you ready for St. Patrick's? If not, you're in luck because today we have Jocelyn Pierce from Mayflour cake + confection and Heidi Murphy from White Loft Studio to share a recipe for a delicious Molasses Bundt Cake with Guinness glaze in the spirit of an Irish countryside wedding - and we all agree that it would make a spectacular groom's cake! Even more exciting, Jocelyn and Heidi will be dropping by CB every so often to add more mouth-watering confections to our recipe rolodex! :) Oh, and make sure to check in tomorrow to see a gorgeous wedding in Ireland shot by Heidi.

Ginger Molasses Cake w/ Guinness Glaze

*cake recipe from Joanne Chang; baking time adjusted for a bundt*

Ingredients:

2 sticks (228 g) unsalted butter, room temp

3/4 c (165 g) packed light brown sugar

3 tbs fresh grated ginger

2 eggs, room temp

3 1/2 c (490 g) unbleached all-purpose flour

1 tbs baking powder

1/4 tsp kosher salt

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground clove

1 1/2 c (480 g) unsulfured dark molasses

1 c (240 g) very hot water

1 tsp baking soda

Directions:

Position rack in center of the oven, and heat to 350 degrees.

Butter and flour bundt pan, being sure to go all the way up the sides

as cake will rise significantly.

Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown
sugar until light and fluffy, stopping the mixer a few times to scrape
down the bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk together the grated fresh ginger and eggs until
well blended. With the mixer on low, slowly add the egg mixture to the
butter mixture- increase speed and beat until homogeneous (about 30 sec).

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and all the spices.

In another medium bowl, whisk together the molasses, hot water, and baking
soda- the mixture will foam up as you mix.

With stand mixer on low, add 1/3 of flour mixture until incorporated.
Immediately pour in half of the molasses mixture and continue to mix on
low until combine. Repeat, alternating flour mixture and molasses mixture
until all remaining ingredients are incorporated. Stop and scrape the
bowl, then mix on low for about a minute until homogeneous.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for an hour, until the edges darken
and the top of the cake springs back when lightly pressed in the middle
with your finger. Let cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes, then unmold.

Guinness Glaze:
Add 2 tbs of Guinness to a small bowl. Let sit for 15-20 minutes. Slowly
whisk in sifted confectioners sugar until glaze is thickened almost to a
loose paste (a similar consistence to molasses, you will most likely use
1-1 1/2 cups of sugar).

Slowly pour over completely cooled cake, allowing glaze to run down sides.
Let stand 15 minutes until glaze sets.

This cake keeps well at room temp in an airtight container for three days.

Says Heidi, "I was a little stumped on the styling until the morning of the shoot, and I had last minute inspiration to use a hand knit cabled blanket as a table covering for this...which created a day-of harried prop shopping excursion!"

Is your mouth watering? I know mine is! :) Thanks to Jocelyn and Heidi for sharing this lovely recipe and I'm incredibly excited about their return next month - one word: Croquembouche. I know, I can't wait. ;)

Credits:
photography + styling: White Loft Studio
cake: jocelyn of Mayflour cake + confection
recipe: jocelyn's adaption from Joanne Chang's Gingerbread Cake

Roundup: Favorite All-Time Wedding Looks

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:47:00 +0000

I'm making my way back home today from France so I can promise you lots of fresh new posts for next week but for today, I thought I'd pre-schedule a look at some of my all-time favorite wedding looks I've collected on Pinterest. I hope you'll tell me what wedding look is your favorite!

Source: parlaamne.tumblr.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Aymeline Valade. Christian Dior.

Source: tig-fashion.blogspot.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Vintage Dior.

Source: bellethemagazine.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Lazaro Spring 2012

Source: bhldn.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Whirlwind Dress in SHOP The Bride Wedding Dresses at BHLDN

Source: net-a-porter.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Lela Rose Polkadot Tulle Dress

Source: boutique1.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

ELIE SAAB Cap SLB Beaded Top Silk Gown

I'm really loving the idea of grey gowns or pale blue or pink for a wedding - what about you? Of course, I'm not sure any wedding look will ever be as beautiful as the vision of CBK or Grace Kelly ....

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

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Source: google.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Check out all of my favorite wedding looks here.

Eiffel Towers, Geodes, Plastic Animals ... Just a few of my fave wedding ideas!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:44:00 +0000

Hi, my loves. Today I'm staying near Quimper, France along the coast but I have a few favorite pins to share with you. I love coming across creative ideas on Pinterest and I've come across some fabulous wedding/DIY ideas. You can see all of the great wedding ideas here but below are my top faves:

Source: ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Appropriate for my travels this week. :) How cute would these DIY wafers be for a Parisian wedding?

Source: ill-be-your-sweet-iced-tea.tumblr.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Not a novel idea but I love the look of these bridesmaid skirts ... and mismatched statement necklaces for a pop of color. Coral and jade always look so amazing together.

Source: stylemepretty.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Why not stamp your cookie favors with a monogram, message, etc.? Adorable.

Source: ruffledblog.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Gems and geodes are so on trend right now. Why not incorporate their radiant colors as mini-paperweights for escort cards? So luxe!

Source: ruthburts.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

I am in love with this gorge coat ... wouldn't it be fab to replace a getaway gown with this?

Source: bhldn.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

I'm sure you've seen lots of DIYs with plastic animals but slicing them down the middle and using them as table numbers struck me as genius. You could dip their legs in gold or a vibrant neon for added interest.

Check out the rest of the wedding ideas I've rounded up!

Want more? Here's my DIY board and my genius board - I know you'll love them! xx.

Getting my French Fix on :)

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Darcy) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:20:00 +0000

I thought I'd schedule a post ahead and share some French inspiration with you. Today, I'm making my way from Lyon, France, to Chateau d'Usse {the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty} and the Brittany coast. In preparation for this trip, I had fun pinning some of the locales we would be visiting along with some general French happiness. Check out my French Fix board here ... I've shared a few of my top favorites below:

Source: flickr.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Source: saksfifthavenue.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Source: mostbeautifulpages.com via Sarah Darcy on Pinterest

Looking forward to sharing all of my adventures with you soon! xx.