Giving some love to my BFF, Nicki Clendening today, who was just featured as a design crush on Style Blueprint. Nicki and I first met waiting tables together at an amazing Italian restaurant in Charleston, and have been collaborating ever since. We recently moved into a new office in New York, and had Nicki do the design for it… you can see more below.
We loved this seaside rehearsal dinner in downtown Newport, RI. It was the perfect compliment to the formal wedding held the next day, and a fantastic way to welcome guests in for the weekend. Held at a local restaurant, friends and family joined the couple for an intimate rehearsal dinner, followed by a dessert and dancing party for all guests. Corbin Gurkin captured all of the events of the weekend.
Guests enjoyed popular favorites like New England Clam Chowder and mini lobster rolls. Keeping in line with the sea colored palette, escort cards were nautical inspired flags displayed on a watercolored board.
Keeping the decor natural and simple made the most sense for a nautical inspired feel. Table runners were of a french linen flour sack feel. Potted rosemary topiaries and simple hydrangea blooms dotted the length of the tables.
One of my new favorite design elements are colored border linen dinner napkins. So simple but they lend such an elegant touch. And, how cute were these white nautical rope balls which we used to “anchor” the place cards. White ink on navy paper is an unexpected but pretty way to present the dinner menus.
No seaside rehearsal dinner in New England would be complete without a lobster course.
Spectacular views were offered as desserts and drinks were served to the tunes of a DJ so the couple had many moments to enjoy chatting with guests before the big day…
We were so stunned by this bridal portrait shoot Jose Villa did with our beyond gorgeous bride, Caroline, we just had to share.. There are so many benefits to doing a bridal portrait session prior to your wedding and with your actual wedding photographer. We use them as a hair and make up run through, a dress fitting (and learning how you will move around in the dress,or if tweaks are needed prior to wedding), and an intimate time getting to know your photographer so that that level of comfort comes through in the actual wedding photos.
Caroline chose a dress by Carolina Herrera. The Whitby Hotel in New York City was chosen as the shoot location- the couple would marry upstate at Troutbeck. We also like to use the portrait day as a test for the bouquet.
Recognized as one of the nation’s leading tastemakers, Tara Guérard has earned a widespread reputation for her ability to create spectacular settings celebrating life’s most anticipated occasions. As the visionary and founder of Tara Guérard Soirée, she is best known for her distinct style that honors the storied traditions of Southern hospitality paired with a modern aesthetic and flair for the unexpected.
