In what has been an incredibly wet year for weddings, we finally had a day when I didn’t have to keep checking my three weather apps throughout the day. It was a gorgeous September day at Blue Hill at Stone Barns for Carmen and Matt. We had to reschedule their wedding twice due to COVID-19, and everyone was so happy when the big day finally came. Both sets of parents spent many weeks in quarantine on their journey from China. Carmen and Matt were both such a pleasure to work with. They dealt with the pandemic challenges with compassion and grace. I think this bodes well for a long and happy marriage!
After exploring a number of different cursive fonts for their names in the invitation, nothing felt quite right, so we ended up doing hand calligraphy. I love incorporating calligraphy when the design style and budget works. The main card had a beautiful custom watercolour floral illustration. However it was the details card illustration of Blue Hill at Stone Barns with the two chickens that was my personal favourite. So cute! A dusty blue envelope enclosed the suite by 1440.
Carmen, Matt and the majority of their guests were coming from Manhattan. Realizing it was the start of the UN general assembly, we ended up moving the departure time earlier, to make sure nobody got stuck in traffic on the way to the wedding. It is always a good idea to check on weekend road closures for a wedding. Parades, summer street fairs, visits by dignitaries, races and the UNGA can really cause problems with traffic around NYC. Thankfully with our early departures, everyone arrived on time for the wedding.
Poppies and Posies created an 8 foot custom curved arch for the ceremony. It was a stunner. Filled with smilax, lace hydrangea, blush champagne garden roses, spray stock and touches of pale blue delphinium in a classic and elegant style. A simple white aisle runner marked the way of the processional. The Eleven Band provided a trio for the ceremony with keys, guitar and 2 vocalists. The processional for the family and bridal party was “How Long Will I Love You” and the bride walked down to “Beautiful in White”. It was a really sweet and personal ceremony, which a good friend of the couple officiated. The recessional piece was “I Do” by Colbie Caillat.
Carmen and Matt wanted a whole wedding photo and Shawn Connell made it happen. Right after the ceremony, we gathered all 58 guests on the long pathway near the Dooryard Garden and Shawn took the photo from standing on the brick wall. Then guests proceeded to cocktail in the Dooryard Garden, while Carmen and Matt took a few more sunset portraits alone. As some of the guests didn’t drink alcohol, Blue Hill offered a signature cocktail and a signature mocktail. The cocktail was Kura Collins – Sake Lees Vodka, Cucumber Verjus, Cardmom, Rocks. The mocktail was The Pollinator – Lemon Verbena, Chamomile, Honey.
1440 created a very special seating chart. It illustrated the story of Carmen and Matt through the years together. A watercolour painting of the couple in Hong Kong, Shanghai, California, Toronto, Philadelphia and New York. In many of the pictures they are holding boba milk tea, which is one of their favourite things to drink. (More on boba later.) 1440 worked really hard to get each illustration perfect for the couple. The guest table assignments were grouped by city and the title encouraged guests to “please find your seat in the city where we met”. We also printed and framed each of the individual illustrations and displayed these on the wooden table in the silo lobby surrounded by pictures of Carmen and Matt in those cities.
For a smaller wedding in the Hayloft, we decided to have the long head table with seating only one side, so everyone faced the dance floor and the rest of the round guest tables. We had plenty of room, and it was fun to create a long dramatic table for 11 guests. Poppies and Posies created floral arrangements in varying sizes and glass candle holders with soft white taper candles cast a warm elegant glow on the table. On each place card was a detailed personalized note of gratitude from the Carmen and Matt to each guest. It was such a special and meaningful touch. I hope all the guests really appreciated the time and effort that Carmen and Matt put into this.
After a 4 course meal with wine pairings, guests were offered a trio of passed desserts as everyone was having fun on the dance floor and using the photobooth in the hayloft lounge. We thought it was a stretch, but asked Blue Hill if they could possibly do a dessert that was boba inspired given Carmen and Matt’s love of the drink. They obliged and made mini boba tea for the guests! We so appreciated the personal touch they incorporated. The guests had a blast dancing away to the tunes from The Eleven Band. Later on we also had late night snacks passed: potato chips, churros and potato balls. I always love that salty late night snack. It was a smaller wedding that they had originally envisioned, but no less special! Thank you to Shawn Connell for capturing Carmen and Matt’s day so beautifully.
See more of Carmen and Matt’s wedding on their video highlight here by McKenzie Miller Films
Photography: Shawn Connell | Wedding planner: Ang Weddings and Events | Venue: Blue Hill at Stone Barns | Florals: Poppies and Posies | Videography: McKenzie Miller Films | Paperie: Fourteen Forty | Band: The Eleven Music | Rentals: Party Rental Ltd | Gown: Mark Ingram | Beauty: Beautini | Photobooth: Amazebooths
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