f e a t u r e s // Pure Wow

I have been dying to create an invitation with a crest, so when Kristina sent me the mood board for this project I knew it was the perfect application! The crest is a popular traditional motif, but when mixed with painterly florals, rich deep colors, and a more casual script - it turns modern. I love the cohesion that occurs when all of the paper goods coordinate. It rarely looks "matchy-matchy" because they are spread throughout different parts of the event, helping string together the theme. Like here, where the lettering style on the escort cards match the invitation, and the floral illustration is lightly added in the background. 

"For this shoot, I wanted to bring out the rich tones of the forest but with pops of colour to brighten it up. We decided to combine a gorgeous emerald dress as a unique bridal idea, and deep florals with pops of light colors to brighten up the bouquet and crown. 

Maggie (beautiful pup) and Suzanna (model bride) totally connected throughout the shoot, and it was so much fun to capture them working (and bonding!) together. Maggie is a 2.5 year old bi-eyed husky (one blue and one amber!) red husky, which can be unique, so we really wanted to highlight her beauty " -Kristina Staal

"We photographed this shoot at Waveny Park in New Canaan, Connecticut. And decided to use the gorgeous nature as a backdrop combined with stone buildings and their stunning mansion. 

We hope that this shoot can give brides inspiration for something a bit different than the traditional wedding dress. And most of all, we hope that it inspires brides and grooms to incorporate their animals into their wedding day! Because after all, our animals are like our family, and there's nothing more special than celebrating one of the best days of our life with family, whether human or furry! 

A few tips for bringing your furry bff along on your special day... 

• Make sure that you put any florals you have on your dogs at the last second (as they may be tempted to rip them off or play with them)
• Have someone beside assisting to make sure the dog is safe and doesn't run away
• And most of all, to make sure your pup doesn't eat the florals, as some florals can be dangerous for animals! " -Kristina Staal

Squad //

Photography: Kristina Staal

Model: Suzanna Scorcia

Beauty: Beauty By Luna

Florals: Fani Szterenbuch of Fani Flowers

Dress: Bella Bridesmaids Westport

Paper: Coppola Creative

Cake: Lovely Cakes

Stately stone manor? Yes. Perfect clear skies? Yes. Dusty blue & gold all over? Yaaaas.

Sharing such a sweet message from Carolyn of Tesora Photography about our sweet little wedding vendor world, and how collaborating is just as important as creating...

"When I first started in the photography business, I was worried that I would be lonley. After all, you don’t really have co-workers like you do in a traditional setting. However, I was quickly surprised at how wonderful other photographers and creatives are that I’ve met. They’ve become a rock for me in both my personal and professional life, and I don’t know what I would do without them. This positive environment really started when I joined my local chapter of the Rising Tide Society (with the motto, “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats.”) Meaning, that we are all in this together; your success is my success. It makes perfect sense too, because I can’t photograph every wedding, engagement or portrait session, and one of my friends might just be the perfect fit. Each year, our group comes together to photograph a huge styled shoot. This year, I jumped on the planning and styling bandwagon with my dear friend, Kristina (Kristina Staal Photography) and my old pals at Jack & Grace Events (remember the styled shoot on the mountain in Beacon?). I was able to secure the stunning and historic Wainwright House for our Enchanted Dusty Blue wedding shoot and I’m still pinching myself to have been able to photograph such beauty.

Enter phenomenal vendors such as Gather and Lounge, Carrie Wilcox Floral Design, Coppola Creative, Meredith Hayman, Makeup Artist, Melissa Scrofani of Westchester Hair and Makeup, A Little Something White Bridal Couture featuring Kelly Faetanini’s Star gown in blue, vow books from Elmo Paperstories (donated by Jessica Haley Bridal) and a custom cake from Palmer’s Bakery.  Without them, this shoot literally could not have happened. I thank each and every one of them for donating their time and creativity,  adding to the beauty of this wonderful day."

this project is one of my all time favorite collabs. an incredibly talented team of creatives got together to inspire you at the catskill mountain house. hipster vibes + boho beauty + eclectic details + mountain views = this.

Photography: Alicia King Photography

Venue: The Catskill Mountain House

Event Design: Monica Relyea Events

Florals: Catskill Weddings

Bride’s Ring: Zimmer Brothers Jewelers

Hair & Makeup: Jessica from Ell Beauty Bar

Invitation & Signage: Coppola Creative

Cake: Super Cakes

Rentals: North Country Vintage Rentals

need a last minute holiday dessert? look no further!! if you've had the pleasure of trying these cookies from lauren of jack and grace, you already know they're amazing. did you know lauren used to bake goodies for local shops? if you haven't tried these - you must make them! all three chocolate types makes them sweet and rich, with a chip in every bite. plus there's oatmeal in there, meaning you can eat them for breakfast. 

ingredients

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh or frozen cranberries

technique

1. preheat oven to 350 f. grease or line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 
2. combine dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl.
3. beat butter and both sugars until smooth. add egg and vanilla.
4. add flour mixture and oats into butter mixture. stir to combine. add chocolate & cranberries.
5. arrange tablespoon size drops of batter onto baking sheets about 2 inches apart. 
6. bake cookies one sheet at a time until edges are lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
7. cool on sheet for at least five minutes, and transfer to wire cooling rack.

photo: shaina lee photo

styling & recipe: jack and grace events

I adore gift giving. I love to watch a smile spread across a loved ones face (or better yet, a tear in their eye. love a good crying gift giving sesh). you know what's even better than that though? knowing you're DONE with holiday shopping. so I'm here to share my favorite finds this year & a few past year favorites. shop the links below. I am not affiliated with any of the companies or products, these truly are my faves! there's a few more ideas listed below that aren't in the visual so make sure to give it a once over. 

FOR THE NEW HOME OWNER

• Cheese Plate
• Cheese Knives
• Kitchen Towels

FOR THE FUN MOM

• Dog Cookie Jar (make sure you give him a ribbon collar, it's all about presentation)
• Flour sack towel
• Jarred Cookie Mix - Buy it HERE or DIY it HERE

FOR THE TRENDY GUY (or the guy you need to help ~*become*~ trendy)

• All Black Watch
• Cotton / Cashmere Sweater
• One More! Cole Haan Zerogrand Shoes

FOR THE MUNCHKINS

• Mudpuppy Chess & Checkers
• Mudpuppy Dominoes
• Bad Girls Throughout History Journal
• Gel Pens (for doodling in said journal)

FOR THE BEACH LOVER

• Yeti Can Cooler
• Backpack Beach Chair (this is essential for beach goers. make sure it has a cup holder!)
• Chic Beach Tent

FOR THE BOSS

• Farm Girl Flowers Arrangement
• Not a flower fan? They make cute & thoughtful gift boxes too!

FOR THE HOME COOK

• Cookbook stand & weight
• Cookbook! Some of my favorites:
  • Smitten Kitchen
  • Dinner
  • Genius Recipes

FOR THE WANDERLUSTER

• When my family vacationed in Italy we bought a few ceramic pieces in Florence in the classic lemon pattern. One of the pieces broke when we got home & my mom was heartbroken. I was able to find the same exact pattern online! The Little Market supports artisan women around the world by selling their goods. While this lemon pattern is selling through, there's still a few pieces left. Get it HERE

HAPPY GIVING!

xoxo, mcn

I had always toyed around with the idea of hosting a workshop. I loved the prospect of getting to pass my knowledge onto others. There is a magic and power to creating something, with a skill you never knew was inside of you. It's a special moment to watch that happen for someone else. I was so thrilled when Kate at Kate and Co Events gave me the extra little push; she reached out to me in hopes to collaborate on a workshop! Kate is a pro styler, making our space look like "Pinterest came to life" - as one of my students described. And she even brought on Alhy Berry to document it all.

Thanks to my squad for helping make it happen | Event & Florals Kate Co Events | Photography Alhy Berry | Rentals Cartwright

Interested in attending a workshop? Interested in hosting a workshop? Shoot me a note to be added to the list or chat about hosting! Click Here.

Alhy Berry Photography

"So, many of you have been asking “what is a ‘Sip ‘n See’?”  It’s a sweet Southern tradition—a casual affair, meant to give family and friends the opportunity to ooh and aah over your new addition. New parents are short on time (and sleep!), so it is the perfect party to outsource.  The new parents invite their close friends and family to come enjoy a drink (sip), meet (see) and cuddle the new baby.  Yajaira and Kipp brought us onboard to design, style and plan the day. And what an adorable occasion it was!" -Jack and Grace Events

| Squad |

Event Planning + Design: Jackandgraceny
Photography: Alhyberry
Custom Lettering: Coppolacreative
Floral: Jackandgraceny

photography: kristina staal

featured: how he asked by the knot

featured: red oak weddings

Inspired by nature’s color palette as Summer transitions to Fall, an Indian Summer has the beauty of both seasons rolled into one. What better way to celebrate the couple of the hour than with a bright and playful afternoon outside serving margaritas and throwing confetti? 

We were all desperately hanging on to the last ray of summer sunshine; and were happily surprised when an Indian Summer hit in the middle of a sweet autumn October.

Vibrant pineapple floral arrangements brought the DIY low palette table fit with rugs, blankets, and pillows to life. Over at the bar cart, margaritas were ready to be mixed, and custom chocolates looked too beautiful to eat. Down the walking path, the giddy couple threw custom mixed confetti at each other, and didn’t have to worry where it landed because it’s biodegradable! The bride to be, Karolina, stunned us all in a two-piece ensemble featuring a blush lace crop top and flowing tulle skirt in a contrasting cream. The afternoon ended with a a pair of clinking glasses etched with “his and hers,” as the sun began to descend behind the glowing estate.

So how does a couple take this inspiration and bring it to life at their own event?

Start with the pallet table and set the scene for a casual and approachable setting.” Megan told us.Simply stack as many palettes long and tall as you deem right. To achieve the same color feeling, gravitate towards indigo blues and white when picking decor. Layer your seating; runner rugs, blankets, and tons of pillows and poufs. Create a quick and gorgeous runner with a few yards of your favorite fabric and some branches of eucalyptus. If it’s available make sure you grab a few bundles of the seeded variety, it adds some texture and variety in size.

Onto the bar cart: stock it up! Using clear glass containers and throwing in fresh fruit creates a clean and colorful look. If you’re going for the “mix your own” bar, label everything! Hire a calligrapher or cozy up to your friend with the best hand writing. Make sure to throw in some small flower arrangements, even if it’s just a few blooms in a rocks glass. Now pour yourself a margarita and relax.

If a bride to be could take anything from my daydream that came to life, I’d want her to be inspired to savor the moment, and throw love around like confetti.

Visionary and calligraphy - coppolacreative.com Photography jamielefkowitzphotography.blogspot.com Event jackandgraceny.com Dress bellabridesmaids.com Florals firstblushweddings.com Dessert bluetulipchocolates.com Beauty jackiestyles.com Confetti theconfettibar.com Ribbon angelaliguori.com Jewels thejewelrygallery.com