Skip to main content

Claire & Michael Paul: Farm Fête

When we shared snapshots of our Farm Fête wedding a little over a month ago, we mentioned barely being able to wait for professional photos because we KNEW they would be amazing.  And well, the proof is in the pudding!  This, one of our most anticipated events of the season, was such a beautiful example of placing wedding trends and "what's hot, what's not" aside for the sake of creating a celebration truly reflective of the couple and their love.  It was perfect.

The ceremony, cocktail hour and reception were held atop and around the hills of Highlands Farm in Blairstown, New Jersey (land affectionately owned by the groom's family).  Guests were shuttled to the farm on yellow school buses and led down a sunny, tree-lined path toward the ceremony space.  It was a balmy Saturday afternoon, so we sat out rows of white wooden chairs flanked with bunches of daisies and had galvanized buckets of ice water nearby.  The bride and bridesmaids all wore vintage cowboy boots...the groom and groomsmen donned suspenders.  After the exchange of vows, guests entered a carnival inspired cocktail hour where varieties of games were set-up (including an adult moon bounce) along with cotton candy, popcorn, mint lemonade and a build-your-own slider bar.  Escort cards were strung up on the massive old silo with miniature cloth clips and handpainted wooden stake signs led the way to all major activities and goings on.  The tented reception started off with a bang, thanks to the awesome 7-piece live band, and featured an abundance of tasty comfort foods like cranberry glazed meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, flank steak and rosemary potatoes.  The Polaroid-style photo booth was also a hit, as friends and family of the bride and groom enjoyed the life size frame and props while creating memories to last a lifetime.  Toward the end of the celebration, everyone was treated to interactive create-your-own cupcake and s'more bars but also gifted individual s'more packs as favors.  The atmosphere was so easy and relaxed, we weren't surprised at how many times we heard "This is the most fun I've ever had at a wedding!"

It was such a pleasure working with Claire and Michael Paul.  We wish them a lifetime of love and happiness as we share many of the best moments of their wedding day below, thanks to Smirnov Photography.

 Finally, special thanks to Jocelyn and Alexandra for assisting me.  As always, it was FABULOUS!
- - - - - - - - - -
by Rashana Anderson
Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY LLC

Comments

chadp23 said…
Great Great Great Job - A+Plus

I am sooooooo Proud of you.
chadp23 said…
Great Job - APlus

I am so Proud of you
WedPittsburgh said…
This is so adorable! I love the laid back yet fun aspect of this type of wedding. Turned out beautifully!

Popular posts from this blog

scam (skām): A fraudulent business scheme

Y esterday, I received my first wedding scam attempt (guess my latest marketing and advertising efforts are starting to work). I received an email from an "Irish" bride-to-be whose fiance was offered a job in the U.S. and needed help planning a small wedding in New Jersey. I vaguely remembered hearing of certain swindle attempts on wedding vendors (especially photographers and videographers), so my radar peaked immediately, however, I didn't jump to any conclusions right away. I responded to the email, drew up a preliminary proposal, quoted cost of service and submitted an invoice for payment. Nonetheless, when it became apparent that the bride-to-be and her French fiance only intended on mailing a cashier's check, I knew right away what I was dealing with ... a scam! I happen to know that international cashier's checks are not fully validated for 90 days. So even though the check may clear at first, if found to be phony, the money is later deducted. I must say, i

"Farm Sweet Farm" 1st Birthday Party

My husband and I celebrated our baby twins, Jonah & Gia's, 1st birthday with a "Farm Sweet Farm" party last weekend.  The party was held at our home (aka The Anderson Farm ) and our closest family and friends excitedly attended.  Honestly it's still difficult for us to believe a full year has gone by since they entered our lives, but one thing was clear from the beginning --- we had a lot to celebrate and we intended to do just that! Everyone had loads of fun; they would've partied until the cows came home if we let them.  And since the guests of honor LOVE animals, the theme proved to be absolutely perfect for them and their guests.  To most, I'm known for planning amazing weddings and bridal celebrations by means of THE BRIDAL PARTY , so it was really a lot of fun to step outside of my comfort zone and show off my versatility and range.  I can't deny, this was FUN!  I'm still quite "giddy" about it all. * * * * * * * * * * INVITA

New Beginning, New Life...Newlyweds, find your StyleScope!

Surprisingly I'm not ashamed to admit how much I adore shopping at HomeGoods (known for being packed with an ever-changing array of one-of-a-kind, and unexpectedly incredible finds from all over the world). There's just something about perusing their aisles and discovering those diamonds in the rough . So, to my husband's dismay, I am frequently "HomeGoods happy"...even recently taking advantage of an amazing sale on Lacoste bath linens! (yep, still somewhat giddy about it) Anyhow, as many of our readers are soon-to-be married or newly married, you'll have to take on the task of figuring out how your new home will be decorated. Unless you're a professional decorator, it may be somewhat difficult to figure out how yours and your hubby's styles will fuse, so just for fun take the HomeGoods StyleScope quiz . Find out what your decorating style really is and note the really great tips that will help you make the best decor decisions. Let's face