This beachy wedding last May was so incredible! It was a year ago today that Lauren and Alex got married at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Beach Haven, NJ, then celebrated at their reception bayside at Bonnet Island Estate in Manahawkin. Lots of beautiful Ukrainian traditions were included in their special day. And we especially loved those photos on the beach! Happy 1st Anniversary to Lauren and Alex!
We love 3D appliqués! They’re eye-catching decorative embellishments embroidered onto a gown that have a distinctive layered quality, partly raised from the fabric of the dress. Today’s most favored wedding gown 3D appliqués have a bold floral blossom motif. But they’re easily found in bridal shops in various traditional lace patterns as well. Some appliqués also contain additional pearl beading, sequins or even feathers.
The gown’s skirt is the most popular location for 3D appliqués, however many feature these delicacies throughout the bodice, neckline or added onto long lace illusion sleeves, like the Eden from Suzanne Neville’s 2022 Nova Collection Lookbook. But what they all have in common is Read more
Monochrome is in for 2022 weddings. You’ll find lots of one-color schemes this year in invitation suites, wedding party attire, table centerpieces, linens and décor. And this eye-catching trend will especially be celebrated in bridal and bridal party bouquets. What’s the projected most popular color for bouquets this year? All-white!
Even though they’re trending, all-white bouquets aren’t Read more
We’re so overjoyed that the new wedding season is really getting into full swing now, and with it already feeling so much like summer on this beautiful day, it was simply made for a wedding event ‘down the shore’! We were looking forward to working with this couple and their lovely bayside wedding location was just icing on the cake!
Lauren and Alex met at work as they both gained employment at the same bank in Manhattan after graduating college. As with many relationships, they began just as friends at work and eventually started dating. We love how Lauren described how she knew Alex was ‘the one’ for her, as she said she feels more like herself with him than with anyone else. He just ‘feels like home’. Love sure feels like that, and we know the love and affection shared by the two of them will only grow stronger over the years.
Lauren and Alex got ready on the morning of their wedding day at separate private residences in Long Beach and Beach Haven, New Jersey. And all the wedding party’s chosen ocean blues were so lovely and so apropos for this beachy wedding event! Lauren’s bridesmaids wore pretty light blue dresses, beautifully matching Alex in his summery light blue suit. And his groomsmen coordinated so nicely in dark suits with lighter blue ties.
Then Lauren, with help from her mother and sister, dressed into her beautiful Lela Rose strapless gown that featured an A-line silhouette and an amazing 3D floral appliqué skirt. It was such a romantic, light and airy bridal style, perfect for this shore wedding event and for Lauren! She accessorized with Jimmy Choo shoes and had a long veil fastened to the back of her chic and modern updo (practically a must hairstyle for those photos later on the beach!).
Once everyone was dressed and ready, it was time to head to the church! Lauren and Alex’s ceremony was held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Beach Haven. Carrying a lovely, lush all-white bridal bouquet, Lauren walked down the aisle with her parents at her side to join Alex at the altar. Their traditional wedding ceremony was officiated by Father John Frambes, who led the two as they recited their vows to each other, exchanged rings and became husband and wife.
We loved the photo shoot that followed the ceremony! It was so much fun to film while photos were taken on the beach by associates from Christian Oth Studio. And what a pleasure it was to work with this team. The couple obviously truly enjoyed posing for photos in the warm sand, too! Additional photos with their wedding party were taken on the dock and in the gardens at their venue. And even Lauren and Alex’s sweet little pup got in on the action!
Then, Lauren and Alex’s reception kicked off at Bonnet Island Estate in Manahawkin. Natural light poured into the venue, which was beautifully decorated by Katydid Signature Floral & Event Design. Crisp, white linen-draped reception tables were lined with white peonies, fluffy blue hydrangea blooms and tall, flickering white candles. The flowers and décor definitely fit perfectly with the bayside, summer-like resort location.
In honor of Alex’s Ukrainian heritage, the couple was sure to have the special wedding bread, Korovai, along with salt, honey and wine on the table at the reception. Every item holds unique symbolism: the beautifully crafted bread represents nature’s bounty with the tree of life symbolizing life, love, hope and the building of a home together in the center, the salt is a necessity of life, honey symbolizes the sweetness of life and wine represents prosperity. And lovely embellishments on the bread include braids, wheat stalks, fruit, herbs, nuts and flowers, all with their own special meaning.
Lauren and Alex entered their venue’s ballroom and shared their first dance… complete with a perfectly executed dip! We loved seeing the newlyweds and their friends and family enjoying themselves so much! Afterwards, Lauren and Alex were given beautifully prepared toasts by Lauren’s father and her sister, her maid of honor and by Alex’s best man, his brother.
Those sweet parent dances followed and in between dinner and the formalities, Elan Artists’ Fortress rocked the house! Lauren and Alex and their guests stayed on the dance floor all evening long!
Kudos to Daryl Valdivia and his assistants at LLG Events for helping Lauren and Alex plan and coordinate such a flawless wedding event. We enjoyed every minute of their fantastic wedding day, a day simply overflowing with joy, romance and love. Congratulations to Lauren and Alex!
Photographer: Christian Oth Studio – New York, NY
Floral Design & Décor: Katydid Signature Floral & Event Design – Spring Lake, NJ
Hair Stylist: Boho Hair Salon – Asbury Park, NJ
Makeup Artist: Monica Nguyen Makeup – New York, NY
Wedding Dress: Lela Rose
Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Entertainment: Elan Artists – Fortress – New York, NY
Cake: The Bake Works – Northfield, NJ
Wedding Planner: LLG Events – Daryl Valdivia – New York, NY
Officiant: Father John Frambes – Long Beach – NJ
Church: St. Thomas Aquinas Church – St. Francis of Assisi Parish – Beach Haven, NJ
Venue: Bonnet Island Estate – Manahawkin, NJ
When we were looking last fall at all the wedding trends expected to be big in the new year, we discovered, without a doubt, that pearls were going to be highly a desired accessory in 2020. We were excited to see the different ways pearls would find their way into weddings once the season started. Now that the pandemic postponed most events that were scheduled for the spring and summer, we still expect that this trend will continue on through 2021, primarily as many brides will be wearing gowns and accessories they purchased for their original 2020 wedding dates.
Wedding experts predict more brides will be wearing gowns with luxe pearl embellishments and will feature these organic gems on gorgeous hair combs, headbands and barrettes. Pearls will also be prominent ornamentation on bridal handbags and shoes and will bedeck many a wedding cake. And they’ll be forever popular in traditional wedding jewelry such as earrings, bracelets and necklaces.
Designers chose some very innovative and unexpected ways to incorporate these luxurious beads in many of their currently available bridal collections. Look for Read more
Dana and Fred had a truly romantic wedding with New England charm. The two were engaged in Vermont and celebrated their wedding ceremony in a rustic boathouse chapel transported from New England to Bonnet Island Estate in Manahawkin, NJ. The venue’s ballroom was designed to look like an inverted hull of a ship, perfectly themed in keeping with this shore wedding location. Dana and Fred are such an amazing couple and we loved having the opportunity to film their beautiful wedding event. Happy 1st Anniversary!
Dana and Fred were married at the gorgeous Bonnet Island Estate in Manahawkin, NJ, which is just over the bridge entering Long Beach Island. Their ceremony took place in their quaint “Boathouse Chapel”. This rustic building was transported from New England and reassembled on-site, complete with roughhewn beams and barn doors. It was a beautiful ceremony in a truly romantic setting.
And Dana and Fred have some relevant New England history of their own! While vacationing in Vermont and on a break from their hike up Mt. Equinox, Fred got down on one knee and proposed to Dana. It was only fitting that their wedding harken back to their first moment of their engagement and include that New England charm.
Bonnet Island Estate’s ballroom is more than charming. On the outside, the structure resembles many nearby stately and nautical LBI structures, but inside, with its exposed wooden beams and high, arched ceiling, it was designed to resemble the inverted hull of a large sailing ship. Perfect for this NJ shore wedding location.
We were completely in awe of Dana’s dazzling wedding dress! It shimmered with beading and embroidery and was complemented by equally sensational Jimmy Choo shoes. MDS Floral Designs incorporated bright, fall-inspired florals for the affair. The colors of the flowers, decor and even the bright purple bridesmaids dresses popped brilliantly against the all-white “Boathouse Chapel”.
As always, Drew Noel captured amazing photos of the couple and their beautiful wedding day. (Be sure to check out some of his inspiring work on his website!) It was a true pleasure for us to have the opportunity to film Dana and Fred as well. They’re such sweet individuals… and a perfect couple. And check out that multi-tiered wedding cake from The Bake Works! The flowers mirrored those found throughout the event, including Dana’s bouquet. Such a work of art!
Finally, EBE Events’ Milan 77 were completely awesome! They had the guests on their feet, dancing and celebrating the marriage of two wonderful people. Congratulations to Dana and Fred… We wish you all the happiness in the world! Salute!
Cinematographers: Glen Elliott // Violet Elliott // Kevin Owens // Lisa Skala
Photographer: Drew Noel Photography – Columbus, NJ
Floral Design: MDS Floral Designs (Michelle) – Manahawkin, NJ
Hair Stylist: Pro Style Crew (Kerry-Lou Brehm) – New York, NY
Make Up Artist: Pro Style Crew (Kerry-Lou Brehm) – New York, NY
Entertainment: EBE Events and Entertainment – Milan 77 (LaMont Walker) – Philadelphia, PA
Cake: The Bake Works – Northfield, NJ
Venue: Bonnet Island Estate – Manahawkin, NJ
Accommodations: Drifting Sands Oceanfront Motel – Ship Bottom, NJ
 Wisdom // Wedding Day Pearls - Blog post from Cord3Films.com)
