The absolutely brilliant venue of The Lyons Farmette once again plays hosts to a gorgeous wedding, this with a down home Colorado country twist!  Jen Preston & Dave D Angelo, having been to their share of weddings and knew from the start the special little details that they wanted to include to truly hallmark their wedding as both stylish & thoughtful.  The couple pre-bottled Aperol Spritzers {their signature cocktail} to avoid the mad bar rush post ceremony as well as really focused on terrific food for the guests.  Coffee bean bags were re-purposed into a 700 foot long table runner, while vintage scales dotted the decor.  Traditional cake gave way to scrumptious pies along with the Coaches Scoop Truck which doled out the a la mode part!  As the lights went down, the sound cranked up in the form of Boulder’s premier 80′s group - The Goonies Band!  Jen & Dave’s wedding is utterly stunning & they did such a terrific job bringing dashes of country with the perfect touches of refinement!

Novella of the Bride…

We met through mutual friends in a ski share almost 3 years ago.  Dave travels a lot for work and we met the last weekend of the ski season.  We started dating immediately:)  Dave is a cinematographer who shoots all over the world and is gone for weeks or months on end.  I am a travel consultant and work in downtown Denver.  The distance is tough but it keeps the magic alive!  We both love to travel and I have been lucky enough to meet up with Dave during some of his far away shoots.

We fell in love with the Farmette at first sight!  There are so many quaint and quirky aspects of the farm that spoke to us–the bridge, the seating area down by the river, the old Ford truck, the millions of flowers, the beautiful air stream bridal suite, the animals.  We knew we could add our personal touch to the existing natural elements of the farm and have something personal, quaint, vintage and amazing.  The location has a comfy, laid-back quality and are biggest wish for our guests was for them to enjoy the event and just have a blast.

The theme of the wedding was Colorado Country Farm.  Our aim was to have an amazing time with 140 of our closest friends and family – there were no rules except to create an amazing experience.  Luckily, a lot of decor and preparations had been handled months prior – old burlap coffee sacks were washed, cut, and ironed into over 700 ft of table runners.  Denver’s antique stores and thrift shops were liberated of dozens of blue mason jars and old timey flour sifters for the flower displays.  We were also inspired by a previous wedding at the Farmette and hunted down a bunch of 50′s and 60′s kitchen scales to liven up the dessert table.  Leanne, the maid of honer and the bride’s sister, jarred homemade strawberry jam favors which were also used as place cards.  She baked over 150 cookies for the welcome bags.

One of the interesting things that made this wedding truly special and unique is what happened two weeks prior at Dave’s Bachelor Party in Austin, TX, where he was run over by a boat.  The groom was seriously injured in a boating accident, rendering his right knee and right arm immobilized for 8 weeks.  The prop sliced his deltoid in half and shattered his kneecap.  He also broke several ribs and punctured his lung.  Getting that call while at work on a Friday late afternoon was one of the scariest moments of my life.  For as serious as the accident was, every aspect could not have gone better, as strange as it is to say.  Its almost impossible to put into words how fortunate we felt that Dave was not more seriously injured and my only thought was–he is alive, who cares about the rest.  Immediately after the accident, Dave’s spirits were high and he stayed positive throughout.  He never once thought about postponing the wedding even though the doctors weren’t sure he’d be out of the hospital in time.  With great support, prayers and positive vibes from family and friends–he made it home the Thursday before our Saturday wedding, in a wheel chair, but with a huge smile:)  Needless to say it created many challenges, but nothing a wheelchair, larger pants, and some amazing friends and family couldn’t fix.  Despite the groom being in an Austin, TX hospital until two days before the wedding everyone banded together and got it done.  It was truly a memorable and magical day.

We had tons of help the 2 weeks before the wedding!  Given the fact that Dave, who is the primary wedding planner of this duo, was recovering in a hospital Austin, our groomsmen totally stepped in for last minute help.  The guys coordinated getting all of our decor elements to the farm, bottling our signature cocktails, staying in close contact with our wedding planner to pull together tons of details. My sister, Leanne, was a trooper and took charge over the bridesmaids and other willing friends to make sure other small details did not get missed.  I can’t say enough wonderful things about our wedding planner, Hope.  Without her, this wedding would not have been nearly the special event that it was.  In general, so many of our friends and family pulled together to make the best of a tough situation and it could not have been more perfect.

Being in our mid 30′s and going to lots of weddings, we had a lot inspiration to work off of.  For instance after seeing how many bride and grooms missed the majority of cocktail hour because of pictures we decided to make ours a full 2 hours long.  Another thing we noticed was right after the ceremony the bar would just get crushed.  To get that initial drink served quickly, the couple’s friends got together one night and pre-bottled Aperol Spritzers, the signature cocktail.  We also love food, so it was really important to us that folks were well fed – Big Bang Catering did a bang up job.  For dessert we skipped the cake cutting ceremony and the cake all together, opting for homemade pies from Spruce Confections.  What better to go with pie than ice cream – so during dessert we brought in Coaches Scoop, an ice cream truck.  This was a huge hit with young and old alike.  Deciding on music was a little tough at first.  For the ceremony, cocktail hour, and dinner we had Kort Macomber, a talented local Bluegrass musician. That was easy as he had played in two of the groomsman’s weddings and was amazing.  Figuring out who to dance to was a little tricky – we waffled between iPod and band, until it dawned on us – 80′s!!  Everyone will dance to rocking 80′s music and it just so happens we knew of Boulder’s premier 80′s group – The Goonies.  Finally, Boulder County shuts you down at 10 pm – way too early.  We wanted to keep the party moving and cohesive, so the buses brought everyone to Bacaro for an afterparty until the wee hours.

Couple’s Favorite Moments:

Bride: “There were so many moments!  The whole weekend was magical, celebrating life & love with our family & friends, but my two favorite moments were the sacred alone time Dave & I spent together in the back garden taking it all in (we had been apart for 2 weeks prior so it was so nice to have those few moments to ourselves to reflect on everything).  AND our first dance–we weren’t sure if Dave would be able to be out of his wheel chair for that long.  But he was and it was perfect! I still get chills every time I think about it…and hear the song “Faithfully” by Journey.”

Groom: “We had several unforgettable moments at the wedding.   Seeing each other for the first time, taking a moment to ourselves in the flower garden during dinner, and the first dance.  My right leg wasn’t allowed to bear any weight whatsoever and my right shoulder was effectively immobilized.  Still, we managed to prop me up to dance/sway on one leg for a very emotional and memorable first dance, The Goonies rendition of “Faithfully”

Vendor Love

Venue: The Lyons Farmette | Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza | Dress Store: Felice Bridal | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair Stylist: Twig Salon | Bridesmaid Dresses: JCrew | Groom’s Suit: JCrew  | Florist: Brighter Day Floral Design | Caterer: Big Bang Catering | Bakery: Granny Scott’s Pie Bakery | Band: The Goonies Band,Kort McComber Duo {Ceremony/Cocktail} | Event Planner: The Wedding Studio | Photographer: Ashley Davis Photography

A little bit country and a lotta bit rock’n'roll, Nicole DeJarnatt & Fred Blythe’s gorgeous Colorado wedding really hit all the right notes!  Throwing a light hearted outdoor summer affair, Nicole & Fred utilized the spacious grounds of Planet Bluegrass Ranch, to celebrate their day!  Guests were seated among the trees while the ceremony, dusted with yellow petals, was held al fresco!  After the couple made it official, guests were invited to play in lawn games such as croquet or even give the custom made hula hoops a go!  Strong vibrant hues greeted guests at every turn, while specially made spice packets from the couple’s friend’s shop, Savory Spice Shop, were the perfect unique guest gift!  Guests celebrated the night away, dancing to live music with Nicole & Fred, really getting into that Bluegrass feel!

What Storyboard Likes…

Down Home Goodness- I am loving Planet Bluegrass Ranch as a wedding space!  This gorgeous ranch is over 20 booming acres of awesome naturalness with a touch of rustic charm.  Having the opportunity to use a space like this gives a couple a lot of opportunity to do some really fun things with their day.  Nicole & Fred really encouraged their guests to play in lawn games, even giving custom made hula hoops a go!  Inviting guests to kick off their shoes, get some grass between their toes and spend the evening dancing away as they harnessed the essence that is Planet Bluegrass!

Bring It Color!- I love a couple that isn’t afraid of strong bold attention grabbing colors!  Nicole & Fred, under the stellar design eye of Cori Cook Floral Design, toyed with some very vibrant hues that rivaled their surroundings!  Nicole’s bouquet in particular is a work of art from the Cabernet & orange creamsicle dahlias to the perfectly muted white gooseneck and wax flowers, this bouquet is a bluegrass girl’s dream!  The Pièce de résistance for me are the stunning red poppies placed in an almost  trail like manner, leading your eye down to the beautifully wrapped lace handle.  Utilizing a piece of lace florish like that is utterly divine!

Just A Country Girl, In Some Country Boots- Let’s face it, Nicole is one stunning Bluegrass bride!  The choice of the fit & flare lace Watters gown was not only beautifully fitted to Nicole’s personality but spot on for the ranch affair!  Complimenting the lace frock were Nicole’s textured locks which were pinned into an updo, from which a simple yet impactful long veil tumbled from!  To finish her country look, Nicole choose a covet worth pair of Lucchese Boots, 1883 Precious Metal Python Print, to be exact!  These boots are stunning, much like our bride!

Novella of the Bride…

*A spot about the couple…

Fred and I met in summer 2008 at one of the first “Grateful Dead Tuesday’s” at Zio Romolo’s Alley Bar in Denver. Neither of us had ever been there before, so we like to say it was a fateful Grateful Dead night.  Vegetarians since the early part of our relationship, we like to say we’re each others’ “soy mate,” although we shared a hamburger on our very first date at a Colorado Rockies baseball game.

“Frecole” (pronounced freckle) is our celebrity name and pretty much what everyone calls us.

We love to travel both abroad and domestic, and our hobbies include skiing, camping, hiking, biking, attending music festivals, cooking and running an occasional 7K. We climbed Mt. Fuji together and plan to run a ½ marathon next fall.

Fred grew up in Enid, Oklahoma and earned his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. After graduation he headed out west to try his luck as a ski bum in Aspen, Colo. He realized he wasn’t cut out for couch surfing and decided to pursue his graduate degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting (MSBA). He spent 11 years in Vermont before the mountains of Colorado called him back home. In fact, the night we met, Fred had just closed on his new loft in Denver. He jokes that he got a girlfriend and a condo in the same week. Fred currently works as a Sr. Project Manager/Business Analyst for the Colorado Community College Systems by day and occasionally plays fiddle in a local bluegrass band, Modern Whiskey Market, by night.

Nicole is a Colorado native and grew up in Grand Junction, Colo. She attended Cottey College (an all-women’s school) in Nevada, Mo. and received her degrees in journalism and anthropology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She currently works as a senior editor in the Denver newsroom at Business Wire.

*Theme & Venue Selection…

Unbridled glee! Our whimsical, festival-themed wedding (a.k.a. FRECOLE FEST 2012) at Planet Bluegrass Ranch was a picture-perfect day along the North St. Vrain River filled with bikes, lawn games, homemade hula hoops, fruit pie, a silo and live music. The overall tone of the wedding was completely relaxed allowing guests to enjoy the 20-acre ranch and all its natural beauty.

We have attended a handful of festivals at PBR (Rocky Grass, Folks Festival, Mabon, Kinfolk Fest) and wanted our wedding to have the same carefree tone, where our friends/family could enjoy each other’s company while listening to amazing music and dancing (and hooping) in the Colorado sunshine.

Planet Bluegrass holds a special place in our heart and has been the site of many of our relationship “firsts.” I introduced Fred to Planet Bluegrass on one of our first dates (Folks Festival 2008), and it’s also where we got engaged (Folks Festival 2011). And this summer, Fred’s bluegrass band has been accepted into the band competition during Rocky Grass Fest. He will be playing in the Wildflower Pavilion on the same stage where our wedding band performed just one year prior, which is a really cool way to celebrate around our one-year anniversary.

We looked at numerous venues in Colorado (always with PBR in the back of our minds) and in the end, we both felt strongly about giving our (and our families) hard-earned money to a place that we loved and believed in, and where we knew we’d return year after year. We take pride in knowing that our wedding helped support Planet Bluegrass, which brings amazing music to Colorado and helps nurture talented artists–big and small. Moreover, we introduced 175 guests from around the world and a handful of new vendors to the venue, which we hope will encourage a new generation of festival-goers.

Planet Bluegrass strives to “re-use, recycle, and compost whenever possible.” That “green” philosophy fit nicely with what we envisioned would be a sustainable event. Planet Bluegrass’ preferred caterer, A Spice of Life, also kept true to that vision. Not only did we have a 100% vegetarian menu, but A Spice of Life is also a Zero Waste facility, working with PBR to be as kind to the planet as possible.

Cori Cook Floral created an assortment of wildflower centerpiece arrangements and designed bold, colorful, loose and textured bridal party bouquets, which perfectly matched the happy and free-spirited feel of the celebration. The men’s boutonnieres incorporated sprigs of wheat in honor of the groom’s Oklahoma roots.

We worked closely with A Spice of Life catering to create a unique, completely vegetarian menu that even the most die-hard meat-and-potato-eating guests LOVED. (We have been vegetarians for 4.5 years and weren’t willing to compromise our beliefs by serving meat at our own wedding). The dessert table was an assortment of in-season fruit pies handmade by Shamane’s Bake Shoppe.

*A little help from their friends…

Our friend Sarah Gagne and her son, Rye Gray, helped us make all the hula hoops. We bought the tubing at Home Depot and using a YouTube tutorial, we filled them with water, marbles and beans; sealed them with a hairdryer; and wrapped them in colorful electric/duct tape with wild colors and patterns. At the end of the wedding, we happily gave the hula hoops away to our nieces/nephews and other children to enjoy.

Our dear friend and Savory Spice Shop–Boulder owner, Dan Hayward, donated hand-crafted seasonings to spice up guests’ night and served as the official party favors. The spice packets, which were hand-tied with twine and featured the couple’s name and wedding date, boasted landmark Colorado names like Wash Park and Colorado Plateau.

The bride’s family (step-dad and great uncle) made vintage signs using lumber from an old school house that paired nicely with the rustic ranch details, and complemented the bride and groom’s western footwear.

The matron of honor’s mom, Gayle Gerson, is a Grand Junction, Colo.-based artist who created a one-of-a-kind concert-like poster to serve as the official wedding invitations. The posters were hand-rolled and placed inside self-sealing poster tubes for delivery. Gayle has known Nicole since she was in 4^th grade and was also her high school English teacher.

Bridesmaid and childhood friend Jennifer Schmidt of Jen’s Hems in Grand Junction, Colo. designed and created the colorful flower girl dresses, which included a touch of vintage French Alsace lace along the neck line. The lace was taken from a passed-down wedding dress that belonged in the bride’s family. The lace was also incorporated in the bridal bouquets and in Nicole’s wedding bracelet, which was also handmade by friend and Kansas City-based jewelry designer Laura J. Timmons of Vintage Moon Creations.

Nicole’s former boss and friend, Laura J. Holloway, received her online certification/ordination and served as the couple’s officiant for the wedding celebration.

*Memories for a lifetime…

We were fortunate to have so many friends and family actively involved in the wedding. Fred’s favorite moment was dancing with his nieces and nephews and introducing them to his passion for bluegrass. My favorite memory was the toasts that our MOH/best man gave; they were outstanding and very personal. I have been friends with the MOH since 4^th grade and Fred met his best man in 5^th grade so they truly know us and love us and support our marriage 100%, which was very apparent in their touching tributes, which I have printed and plan to frame for the house.

Vendor Love

Venue: Planet Bluegrass Ranch/Wedding Dress: WTOO Waters Bridal Lycette Gown/Alterations: Nadine Hooper of Boulder Bridal/Bridal Shoes: Lucchese Boots – 1883 Precious Metal Python Print/Veil: Nadine Hooper of Boulder Bridal/Bridal Jewelry: Vintage Moon Creations/Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo #7143/Flower Girl Dresses: Jennifer Schmidt of Jen’s Hems/Hair & Makeup Stylist: Jen Murphy/Groom’s Suit: Perry Ellis/Groom’s Hat: Goorin Bros./Groom’s Boots: Ariat via High Country Western Wear/Invitation-Poster Designer: Gayle Gerson/Transportation: CU Buffs Bus via the University of Colorado/Photo Booth: The ModPod (Elevate Photography)/Music Ceremony: Eamon Alger/Music Reception: PKB – Pete Kartsounes Band /Lighting-Sound: PBR Sound Engineer/Rentals: Flex Rentals/Florist: Cori Cook Floral Design/Caterer: A Spice of Life /Party Favors: Savory Spice Shop/Microbrews: Palisade Brewing Company/Baker: Shamane’s Bake Shoppe /Signs: Our Hobby to Your Home/Officiant: Laura J. Holloway-Pivot Communications/Photographer: Elevate Photography

When this wedding first hit my desk I was oh so very excited!  There is a certain lightness, bright airy loveliness to the entire affair.  The design styling is just the right amount of special touches in all the right places.  When I learned that the groom’s, Bassim Abo Said, name actually means ‘always smiling in Arabic’ I thought how sweetly perfect it was for him, but how very much the lovely Mona Abo Said is also a candidate for such meaning as well!  Their beaming smiles betray their absolutely bursting joy from within, inviting us to feel the glee that they do right along with them.  This wedding is a lovely departure from the more heavily styled & boldly colored fetes, leaving you with a sense of tranquility as you look through their day!

What Storyboard Likes…

Light Bright- One major reason that Mona and Bassim’s wedding so successfully pulls off the allure of a heavenly wedding is location. The gorgeous Art Gallery of Alberta is a glass wonderland offering up as much ambient light as the sun herself has to offer.  This is why something like where you get married is oh so very important.  If you wish for a similarly bright, light, airy wedding, choosing the right ceremony location is paramount.  Make sure that the look, feel, as well as lighting {both ambient as well as structured} properly portray the overall look & feel that your going for!  Where you get married should mirror and amplify your vision!

Bridal Details- There is so much about Mona’s overall look that I am completely loving.  From the choice of the lace form fitting mermaid San Patrick to the absolutely stunning hand made lace trim finger tip length veil, Mona is a picture of bridal perfection.  While the clothes do make the bride, Mona’s her & makeup are truly divine, bringing the perfect amount of drama in the eyes with the balance of softness & romance in her softly tumbling locks.  The pièce de résistance however, is the statement necklace, tying everything together in one sweet bridal box!  I am a huge fan of statement necklaces and when the right one is selected, nirvana!

Flower Power- Simply put, I love the flowers here.  The garden roses are utterly divine while the cream hue is perfection.  I appreciate the use of them as single blooms, vs grouped together to make something larger.  There is a lot of power in singular stems & considering the light bright feel to the day, the choice is superb!

Novella of the Bride…

My husband Bassim and I have been together for over 7 years and as cheesy as it sounds I knew he was the one for me very early in our relationship! He is the best of both worlds: super handsome + amazing personality!!! He treats me like a princess even when I dont deserve it Bassim is Egyptian and I am Persian and you would think it would be easy breezy both being from the middle east but it was anything but that.

We didn’t want to over do it with decor  for our ceremony so we had it at the gorgeous Art Gallery of Alberta.  When scouting for my ceremony locations I wanted something very clean that didn’t require too much extra décor..so it was love at first sight when I booked the Art Gallery of Alberta  The venue was so gorgeous on its own that it didn’t need anything extra. There was so much natural beauty and lighting surrounding the building that we didn’t need that much decor! Our wedding theme was split between the Persian ceremony and Egyptian reception. We had a traditional Persian ceremony featuring lots of whites and naturals. During the planning I looked for a lot of vintage mason jars and vases for the flowers. We used the most gorgeous garden roses and carnations. PS- I think it is time for the carnation comeback!!!!! The Ceremony was an ancient Persian ritual of getting married while seated in front of a spread of symbolic items, such as honey, apples, spices and family heirlooms.  During the ceremony the bride’s closest friends hold a silk lace fabric over the couples head and shower them in sugar flakes. Our reception had a traditional Zaffa entrance which involves a musical procession of drums, bagpipes, horns, belly dancers and men carrying swords. This announces that the marriage is about to begin. Our reception colors were pewter grey, ivory and pops of Tiffany blue.

We have been through so much and our relationship only got stronger through the planning process. Something that Bassim and I recommend for every couple during the planning process is to just be okay with things not being perfect. You are going to struggle and things will go wrong from time to time but you just have to let certain things (like a perfect wedding) go! From our personal experience it is so easy to get lost in all of the drama that you really lose track of why you are getting married in the first place. All that matters is that you are going to spend your life with the person you love! If possible, hire a wedding planner so you have someone who always has your back and can handle the situations you don’t want to get involved with. I had the honor of having the fabulous Maria Milonas Tsounis of Flawless Couture Event Planning to help put our dream wedding together. She is the best of the best! Finally, have at least one date night a week with your sweetheart and there can be NO wedding talk during this special time!

Bride’s Favorite Moment: “Looking back now, my favorite moment of the night was during our first dance as husband and wife! Our song was at last by Etta James and my husband whispered in my ear…at last..i get to call you my wife and then he kissed me oh so sweetly. It was a moment that was just for us and I will never ever forget it.”

Vendor Love

Ceremony Venue: Art Gallery of Alberta
Reception Venue: Millwoods Golf Club
Wedding Dress: San Patrick- Evelynn Gown
Bride’s Veil: Handmade by Brides Aunt in Iran
Bridal Jewelry: Novelle Bridal
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bridesmaid Dresses: Custom Made
Hair Stylist: Jennifer Chivers
Makeup Artist: Anita Gill
Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss
Invitation Designer: Pink Polka Design
Transportation: Audi
Rentals: River City Events
Florist: Funky Petals
Caterer: Millwoods Golf Club
Baker: Sweet Cakes by Wessam
Sofreh Aghd Design: Birds & Honey
Event Design: Birds & Honey
Wedding Planner: Flawless Couture by Maria Milonas Tsounis
Photographer: Klyment Tan & Dong Kim

A smile you can hear… some people just have it.  My sister in law is certainly one of those people, though after 4 years of knowing Christina Wisboro, I naturally also associate the genuine laughter that comes with it when I view photos of her in full force smile.  Christina & Hill Hardy met one another just a short bit after the hubs & I reunited.  It was an interesting relationship to watch develop & grow as I didn’t need to know Hill’s prior preferences in a gal to know how he was smitten as all hell when it came to Christina.  Thick as thieves my hubs says, and that simply could not be more dead on!  When the time came to ask for Christina’s hand, Hill proposed in a very Hill way.  {Read about that here} They asked if I would be their wedding planner & I politely declined in the desire to purely being a family member on that day & wanting to take the day in as such.  I offered my aid & input as needed along the way of course, as well as designing some of the lovely decor elements for them: wood crate slate signage leading guests along the Prospect Park pathways and wood burned birch wood table numbers in beds of moss.  For the card/gift area, we thought  a picnic basket was perfection considering the venue was the Picnic House!  The basket was laid on a large bed of moss surrounded by birch wood and candles, sprinkled with cream rose petals, much as the tables were as well.  These elements combined with the super tall twiggy centerpieces, paper lanterns which gently swayed from the sky & a very gorgeous twiggy wedding arch, all played handily into what started off as a simple Save The Date which included initials carved into a tree, which blossomed into a wedding theme: Fall In The Park.

Being that this is my family, as well as the fact that I designed some of the elements, I am going to forgo my What Storyboard Likes section to tell you a funny story and something that future bride’s can take heart in.  Let’s go with the lesson first, so we can leave your chuckling in the end!

Just a few shorts days before the wedding, the folks that were to be handling the day of coordination for the wedding, backed out.  Pretty much what your thinking,  that is up there in the worst case scenario hand book.  If there is just about any vendor quitting that will stress the hell out of a couple, it would be the one  that was to run the show.  Without question I jumped right in and took over the reins.  Having someone to run our wedding was one of the biggest elements that made my day as easy breezy as it was and Hill & Christina deserved that same calm on their big day.  In a way I am glad it worked out this way, as being able to handle this for them was better then any gift I could have given them.  So whats the life lesson here?  No, please don’t take it as vendors being unreliable.  The wedding lesson is being as prepared and in the know as possible, leading up to your event.  If something goes wrong, you will already know what part comes next and be able to pick up the pieces that fell, if only for a moment.  And of course, just breathe, it will all work out, it always does.

Now for the funny!  As you have I am sure by now noted, there is one adorable black lab hanging out in this wedding.  His name is Curtis {Martin} and is seriously one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met.  He & Truffle {our dog for those that dont know} are diehard bff’s.  Being a lab, Curtis loooooves swimming and catch, like mega crazy, omg omg omg where’s the ball/stick catch.  This is notable for a very funny reason, hehe.  When we were setting up the ceremony area outside, as the florist were installing the twig arch, they were having difficulty making it level on its own, on the park lawn.  Being rather intuitive, they grabbed a few larger rocks/sticks to help secure the arch.  Enter Curtis….  well good ol’Curtis saw a stick jammed under the arch and I can only assume he thought ‘Oh yeah, game on!’ {Curtis was off leash, shhhh don’t tell }  He proceeded to snatch up a stick and run around in circles like the happiest pup you’d ever seen!  Fortunately it wasn’t a keystone stick, so the arch remained up right, but there was a good few seconds of, sh*t grab the arch!!!!  All we could do was laugh, Curtis was being a pup after all,  he just wanted to play!

Novella of the Bride…

Hill was born and raised in Manhattan,  and attended college in Vermont.  Currently working for an Engineering Firm in lower Manhattan, Hill has found the perfect thing to aim his very objective personality at!  Christina was born in Queens and raised in Long Island.  Though Christina worked as Media Manager at ESPN for many years, she was recently hired by HBO {SBW Note: Winter is coming!!} and is very subjective.  Together they perfectly compliment  one another one, thick as thieves if you will.  After meeting at Whisky Town in July of 2009, they have been inseparable ever since.

The theme while not intentionally highlighted, transpired as “Fall in the Park”. It started out with our save the date, which had our initials carve in a tree and the theme evolved from there. I would say I was going for rustic elegance.  A lot of branches, burlap and neutral colors. We picked the Picnic House in Prospect Park as it was outside the mold of what I typically had seen for wedding receptions.  The brick layers, the wooden floors, the bay windows, it had a natural decor. Once you step foot into the venue there is something very quaint and grand about it all at the same time. I also grew up going to parks and something about it reminded me of my grandmother and that time. I thought to myself, my grandma would of liked this…

Bride’s Favorite Moment: “The ceremony. Hands down. Having all of our friends and family huddled together on the expansive bluff with the colors and smells of fall all around us made for a very memorable day. For a public space, our ceremony was extremely intimate and personal.”

Vendor Love

Venue: Prospect Park Picnic House
Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander
Shoes: Nine West
Hair Stylist: FAB Artistry
Makeup Artist: Sleek Beauty
Groom’s Suit: J. Crew
Invitations: Dawn Correspondance
Music: Jay Corbin
Lighting: Universal Light & Sound
Florist: Pedestals Florist
Caterer: The Raging Skillet
Baker: Potion Cupcakes
Event Design-Coordination: Storyboard Wedding
Photographer: Weddings By Two

New England weddings are the stuff dreams are made of.  Gorgeous lush green ranges, soft babbling brooks, blue skies as far as the eye can see.  Vermont plays host to some of the more elegant in New England weddings, with the Trapp Family Lodge handily playing host on their breathtaking grounds.  Sarah Logan & Chris Yen celebrated their big day among the Worcester Mountain range, on a spot overlooking some of the more awe inspiring views.  After the ceremony, guests were directed to a magical birch forest for cocktails which was then followed up by a softly light tented reception.  Sarah & Chris’s wedding day seems almost effortless, filled with full smiles & love.

What Storyboard Likes…

The Ease Of It All- There are times when viewing a wedding that you can immediately get the feel & vibe for the day.  Whether it is in a simple look, a small gesture, etc, its very clear that the ‘theme’ above all themes, is simply allowing your day to gently roll you down the stream.  For me, Sarah embodies the ease of it all.  Whether something went wrong that day, I certainly could not tell you, as her smile is above all radiant & her desire to stroll throw the soft sweet grass barefoot shows how ease breezy Sarah felt on her wedding day.  I love how giddy she appears each time she locks eyes with Christopher & I love how carefree everyone seems to feel.

The Perfect Location- Its no secret as you have come to know me, that the hubs & I also got married in Vermont, actually having a family house in Stowe.  I have personally been more then a few times to the gorgeous Trapp Lodge property {we actually took some photos here on our wedding day} and let me just tell you, it is one of THE most heavenly locations around.  The wedding meadow {where Sarah & Christopher were married} is one of these most breath taking spaces, lush with green, deep with blue & bright with so many vibrant colors from all the flora, that its easy to understand why Sarah & Christopher feel in love with it.  I think the thing I appreciate most about this particular spot is the fact that even though it is so very grand, it somehow does not take away from the couple in the least.  There is a magical balance that exists there and I highly encourage any bride looking for a mountain or New England wedding, to check out this location.

Pretty As A Posie- I am all kind of loving the gorgeous florals done by Trapp Lodge.  From the bouquet to the ceremony, these are some seriously crush worthy arrangements.  The color choices are superb & I am utterly dying over the simple table arrangement of cream snapdragons, pale pink roses &  soft pink goose neck, this grouping can show up to my door anytime!  While the reception flowers were more reserved, it was the ceremony florals that spoke in volume!  I love the oversized galvanized buckets of flowers at the base of the arbor while the abundant arrangements dressed the top.  If you are a flower lover, you are sure to be as in heaven as I am!

Suits & Dresses- Honestly, the boys never get enough love when to comes to weddings.  We talk about the bride & her maids, the flowers, the sweet decor touches, but the men deserve some love too!  I am completely on board with the super smart look of Christopher & his men, dressed in sharp light beige suits, fitted with vests and what I lovingly call, “Pappy Caps’.  I find the overall look to be extremely dapper & so very well put together!  Kudos boys!  Ok naturally I have to talk about this lovely Anna Campbell gown though!!!  This fitted lace dream is  a sweet departure from the sea of strapless gowns.  Artfully sculpted lace innocently covers  part of Sarah’s chest while a gorgeous T shape in lace takes form in the back, making it as a alluring as the front.  There is an air to the gown of old aristocrat feel and the gorgeous short train only serves as an exclamation point to the perfect sentence.

Novella of the Bride…

Chris and I are both physicians and we live in Montana. We love being outdoors, running, skiing, climbing, and playing with our dogs Sophie and Lucy.  We met in the Operating room. I was in my 4th year of medical school and he was finishing his anesthesia residency. He was my resident teacher for the day. I could tell I liked him right away even in our scrub caps and masks. We started dating shortly after, and then spent a year dating across country while I was doing my intern year on the West coast and he was on the East coast. We made many trips to visit for less then 24 hrs, and then decided we had to be in the same place. So we moved to Montana. When we first met, I knew he was different. All the rules changed. I just wanted to be near him all the time. We made up  games and laughed nonstop. I never slept because I just wanted to enjoy every moment. He became my best friend, and then I realized shortly after he was the love of my life. Nothing every has been more clear to me.

We did not have one theme to our wedding. The best way I can describe it would be like a fairy tail. There was a very natural feel to our wedding.  We were married outside in a field overlooking the Green Mountains. We had a Hawaiian musician who played the ukulele during the ceremony. He sang and played “Somewhere over the rainbow” as I walked down the isle. All the bridesmaids and I were barefoot. We wanted soft colors with pinks and blues.  We had a birch alter decorated with big open flowers in pinks, peach, and blue. There were a lot of big open roses, mixed with wild flowers.  We picked Trapp Family lodge in Stowe Vermont, because my family still lives in Vermont, I grew up there, and I think its one of the most gorgeous places in VT. There are trails to run and bike on. There are gorgeous pastures, and gardens. The staff and facility is amazing. And we wanted everyone to be able to stay there for the whole weekend.  The bridesmaids dresses were flowy and soft. The groomsmen wore tan vests and white shirts.  I think one special touch was that my uncle Doug married us. We had all of our grandparents walk down the isle,  as well as readings from our best friends. It was perfect.

My favorite moment of the wedding, was walking down the isle looking out at my family and best friends, and then seeing Chris at the alter. The musician was playing “Somewhere over the rainbow” on the ukulele, and the sun warm on my face. It was just the most perfect moment. I was overwhelmed with the natural beauty of the scenery  the sense of pure happiness that I was going to get to actually marry Chris, the love of my life. It was like a  dream that came true.

Vendor Love

Venue, Florist, Caterer, Baker, Lighting & Planning: Trapp Family Lodge
Wedding Dress: Anna Campbell
Bridesmaid Dresses: Saja NYC
Hair & Makeup Stylist: Salon Salon
Groom’s Suit: Astor and Black
Invitations: Carey Bunker
Music: Josh Cho
Photographer: Kathleen Landwehrle