Couples Tribute: Masha & Kevin

Masha and Kevin were married on August 29th, 2020 in an outdoor wedding celebration at Celebrate Snug Harbor. It was a very romantic, memorable day for all.

Why did you pick Snug Harbor for your wedding, was there any special reason?

We picked Celebrate Snug Harbor for our wedding venue for many reasons. Growing up I have fond memories of going to the art lab and walking around the grounds with my mom. Furthermore, my husband and I had gone on many dates at Snug Harbor. There was one moment when we actually walked around the field over by The Tented Pavilion, and I am pretty sure that’s where I first realized he was the one. The one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. It was very special to get married there, in that exact same spot.

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Where on the grounds of Snug Harbor did your wedding take place?

We had our wedding ceremony in the Tuscan Garden followed by our wedding reception in the Tented Pavilion.

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Did you have a wedding planner or any DIY elements?

We did not use a wedding planner, but we were very fortunate enough to have my mom Victoria assist with all the wedding details and planning.

Did you have a certain wedding theme or color scheme?

We went with a garden theme for our wedding. Our beautiful flowers were done by InFlowers. We went with a color scheme of blush, grey and eucalyptus. Each guests recieved succulents for their favor.

What was your 1st Dance Song?

For our 1st dance we picked Dustin Kensrue’s song Of Crows and Crowns. Kevin sent me this song when we were dating and I absolutely loved it.

Advice for future celebrate couples?

“Celebrate Snug Harbor is beyond a beautiful venue and the team made all my wedding dreams come true. John was the most supportive coordinator and was an absolute pleasure to work with. My day of bridal attendant was my hero! When my dress was too long for the first and the father daughter dance she was able to fix it on the spot so I wouldn’t be tripping over my own feet. Aside from the most beautiful grounds, Snug harbor provides a unique experience for the wedding guests allowing them to explore and be inspired by the space.”

We are so lucky to have delightful couples like Masha and Kevin to work with at Celebrate Snug Harbor. A special thank you to Julian Ribinik Photography who was on hand to capture every moment of this special wedding.

Wedding Vendors

Douglas Genuard (MC and band)

Inflowers (florist)

Julian and Evgenia Ribinik (photos)

Ray Estrada and Sharrone Calafiore (video)

Lotus Bridal (wedding dress)

Bridal Styles Boutique (clip and veil)

Spring Wedding Bouquets

As spring quickly approaches, it’s time to think about the seasonal touches you can add to your bridal look. There’s nothing that highlights a wedding gown like a springtime bouquet. The best part about selecting a bouquet is that you can’t go wrong if you focus on seasonal flowers. We’ve selected our favorites, highlighted by Martha Stewart Weddings and are pairing them with our favorite spots of Snug Harbor!

Soft Tones

When you think spring, you think soft, pastel tones. Combine your favorite pastels with light greens to create a unique, seasonal bouquet!

These pastel tones will pair beautifully with the old world charm of the Great Hall at Snug Harbor and custom centerpieces!

Sunny Spring

You can never go wrong with yellow. Perfect for any outdoor ceremony, bring together all types of yellow flowers to create a lovely bouquet to hold going down the aisle.

Allow your sunny hues to pop in the beautiful and custom tree tunnel of Snug Harbor!

Pop of Fuschia

The best part about adding in a bold pop of color is in your bouquet is that it becomes your statement piece. Not only will it be a fun statement piece, but it will also bring out the white or ivory tone of your wedding gown.

The unique bamboo garden of Snug Harbor is the perfect backdrop for a wedding photo. Your pop of color in your bouquet will look stunning!

Springtime Succulents

Who doesn’t love succulents? The best way to bring your favorite florals together is to have a flower or greenery that works as the “glue” in your bouquet. Succulents add the perfect texture to any bouquet!

Imagine setting down your succulent bouquet on your reception table in the rustic Tented Pavilion of Snug Harbor!

For more inspiration, check out our Pinterest page!

Creative Wedding Signage

Wedding signs are a great way to get creative and keep your guests up to date on what to pay attention to. You can place signage as a welcome for your guests, to give directions as to where the party is, or just use them to get a warm-hearted laugh from your wedding guests. Martha Stewart Weddings and Brides.com offer a charming selection of wedding signs to get inspired by!

Welcome signs:

This adorable wedding sign is on framed glass with gold markered to match the frame. The bits of greenery at the top compliment the garden setting. Just lovely!

Photo credit: Paperlily Photography

Creatively stationed on the stairs of this wedding venue, this wedding sign is written on an antique mirror, with roses and green leaves wrapping the frame. Stunning!

Photo credit: Joseba Sandoval Photography

Signs with Direction:

This wedding sign is a lovely combination of different pieces of driftwood. Not only does it help guests see where the ceremony will be, but the nautical driftwood is just so appropriate for a beach wedding!

Photo credit: Brandon Kidd Photography

This wedding sign is a great way to enhance the rustic feature of this garden wedding. The information is also adorably entertaining!

Photo credit: Paige Jones Photography

Charming Signs:

As if we didn’t already love a chalkboard sign! This sign captures the love of the couple by placing the Song of Solomon verse. Heart-warming!

Photo credit: One Love Photography

This wedding sign reminds us all that signs are a great way to incorporate a loved one into your ceremony!

Photo credit: Jen Fariello Photography

Signs at your wedding can be easy, fun, and an inexpensive way to add detail. If you are all set on your venue, you can choose frames, colors, and calligraphy to match the ambiance of your wedding. Wedding signage can be the elegant touch you and your bridal party work on to bond before your big day!

Small Plates & Hor D’Oeuvres for Your Wedding Day

Some wedding guests cannot get enough of a cocktail hour. It’s a great time to socialize and enjoy your wedding space. So when it comes to your menu, try to think about small plates and hor d’oeuvres that are diverse enough that your guests can each enjoy a bite or two. If you’re stuck on ideas, this is where an excellent caterer will know what to do. A general rule is to try and vary your options so that you offer a little bit of everything. Relish Caterers will guide you through every aspect of planning as well as creating spectacular wedding catering menus.

Inspired Hor D’Oeuvres:

Have fun with flavor when it comes to hors d’oeuvres! Allow there to be a mix of textures and flavors. The featured collage offers some flavor inspiration with a fried oyster in a bucket (top left), a honeydew gazpacho (top right), pretzel crusted shrimp (bottom left), and Asian beef tartar (bottom right).

Check out more from Relish Caterers here!

Sliders offer a great opportunity to put a new twist on a classic favorite. Consider these Relish Caterers slider creations that are featured on the Celebrate at Snug Harbor menus.  A falafel burger (left), short rib in a cream puff bun (top right), fried chicken slider (middle right), and a truffle beef sirloin slider (bottom right). While you’re keeping the classic style of a burger, you are also offering a variety of flavors.

Check out more from Relish Caterers here!

Small Plates:

If you’re looking to offer a bit more with your cocktail hour, consider offering your guests a few small plates. The featured photo captures a delicious burrata (left), steamed duck bao (top right), and tuna on a rice cracker (bottom right). Slightly larger in portion, a small plate is the perfect upgrade to your cocktail hour. Your guests that have traveled to come to your wedding will thank you, too!

Check out more from Relish Caterers here!

Hor d’oeuvres and small plates are meant to create an ambiance in which your guests become excited about what is to come in the rest of the night. Because the cocktail hour is a more laid back part of your wedding celebration, take risks and get creative with your food! See all that Relish can bring to life by visiting their website: Relishcaterers.com.

Beautiful Bouquets

When looking for inspiration for the bouquets at your wedding, consider all of the elements of the bridal party: the bride, the bridesmaids, and the groom and groomsmen. There is an entire world of flowers you can explore and have fun with when designing a bouquet or boutonniere with your florist so make sure you explore as many avenues as you can.

For the Bride:

In the featured collage, you get a combination of bold and classic. If you’re looking for something vibrant, consider mixing an array of colors to create an ombre effect, as seen in the left photo. To add dimension, mix up the flowers with garden roses, tea roses, poppies, ranunculus, orchids, peonies, and more. Then, create  a cascading effect by adding a longer floral piece so that it breaks the mold of a typical bouquet shape. But if classic what you desire, you can’t get more elegant than white peonies in this bouquet to complement the bride’s look. If you really can’t decide between bold and classic, meet in the middle by incorporating lighter hues of vibrant colors, as seen in the top right photo of the featured collage. By adding the hint of dark green with the foliage, there’s depth, but also a softness to the bouquet because of the pale tones of pink.

 

Photo Inspiration: Martha Stewart Weddings

For the Bridesmaids:
Although the bride is the star of the show, don’t forget about the bridesmaids! Their looks will also be completed with a bouquet. To help compliment their look while also highlighting yours, choose a smaller sized bouquet that is just as beautiful. The featured image on the right is a favorite of ours because of its delicate tones and textures. The varied height of the flowers also compliments the simplicity of the bridesmaid’s dress in the background. To compliment a darker toned dress, consider pairing simpler colors, such as white and green to make the color of the dress pop, as featured in the top left photo of the collage. And if you’re up for a more vivacious bouquet for your bridesmaids, go for the rustic looks of antique hydrangeas, roses, scabiosa pods, and spikes of purple veronica, as in the bottom left photo of the featured collage.

Photo Inspiration: Martha Stewart Weddings

For the Groom/Groomsmen:

The groom’s finishing touch for his wedding day look required a boutonniere that will stand out, but not overpower him. You can never go wrong with a classic boutonniere that compliments the bride’s bouquet. The bottom left photo of the collage featured a pink, peach, and green boutonniere with dusty miller and roses. But if you’re looking to spice things up, try getting creative by adding a metal accent, such as the featured photo with the gold arrows with greenery with dusty miller and brunia berries. There is also something very elegant about a single lily boutonniere with wrapped twine and accent flowers, as in the featured top right photo. Our absolute favorite is this succulent boutonniere with red accents. Wrapped in metal twine, this boutonniere is the perfect combination of unique, sophisticated, and modern.

Photo Inspiration: Brides.com

The floral selection for your wedding should be fun and exploratory. There is so much to learn about seasonal flowers and colors and textures that can be combined to create something beautiful and unique.

All About Flowers

Flowers are a big deal when it comes to weddings. It helps highlight the romance and brings elation to those who are near them. When budgeting for flowers, talk to your fiance about the must-have flowers from beginning to end of your wedding day. From there, decide the types of flowers you want to have and how they’ll match the decor of your venue.

Bouquets:

The flowers in a bride’s bouquet is the finishing touch to the bride’s look. If you’re looking for bouquets that are versatile, consider going for some of the colors and textures in the featured photo. In the bottom right corner, a simple bouquet of lavender with a silk bow embodies the elegance needed for a bride. Above this bouquet is a lovely combination of blush pink roses, white peonies, ranunculus, and a combination of greens, including eucalyptus leaves. But if you’re looking for your bouquet to be the statement piece of your look, go for the cascading bouquet, which features a mixture of garden flowers and leaves. What’s perfect about this look is that you can’t go wrong with color. The combination of color makes it look like you’ve got the perfect piece of your garden with you!

Photo: Brides.com

Aisle Decor:

When selecting flowers for your wedding consider how you’ll want your pictures to come out during the ceremony. What colors and textures do you want surrounding you? Then, discuss ways to make your vision a reality with your Event Designer. In the featured collage, the photo on the left uses a green moss-like backdrop to accentuate the variety of pink flowers with an ombre effect. To the top right, you’ll see a more subtle approach of flowers for your ceremony, which is flower balls hanging from the gorgeous large tree. The best part about flower balls is that you can use almost any flower, so you’ll have options with colors, and you can have your florist create a variety of sizes to add depth to look. Lastly, the bottom right photo uses purple hues to highlight the copper of the venue. The petals that line the aisle match the assorted triple tower hydrangea arrangement. So creative and beautiful!

Photo: The Knot 

Reception Ideas:

For your reception, tie in bits of your ceremonial flowers and bouquet. If you had wild flowers or a mixture of garden flowers for your ceremony, consider having centerpieces that embody that same look. The bottom left photo features seasonal flowers in The Great Hall of Celebrate at Snug Harbor.  With the combination of green, yellow, orange, red, and white, the bride and groom had plenty of color options for the rest of their decor. The bottom right photo is a great way to utilize the greens of your bouquet or aisle decor. The hanging greenery of the dinner table match the leaves set as the table runner. What’s great about this look is that you can pair the greenery with almost any venue. Lastly, the top photo captures the elegance of white flowers. The bunched hydrangea and baby blue-eyes arrangements act as a runner for the table. This gives the table a rich and graceful look!

Photo: Celebrate at Snug Harbor & Brides.com

A word of caution, you may fall in love with a flower that isn’t in season for your wedding, so consult with a florist and your Event Designer to make sure you’re getting the fabulous florals you want for your wedding! Most importantly, have fun with the selection process! There are so many options to choose from and so even if you aren’t able to get the flowers you thought you wanted, you can still have the perfect arrangements for your wedding.

Couples Tribute: Caroline Polachek & Ian Drennan Wedding

Take a glimpse into the wedding day of Chairlift lead singer Caroline Polachek and Ian Drennan, featured in VOGUE Magazine https://goo.gl/28iy6R

Focused on keeping their ceremony and wedding simple and elegant, Vogue Magazine goes into the intimate details of the couple’s big day. Here’s what we loved about their wedding!

The Attention to Detail:

According to Vogue Magazine, Caroline wanted her wedding band to look similar to the band that has been in Ian’s family for years, worn by several family members. Each band has the statement, “I love our world” in it, which makes it even more special. To add, the lead singer goes on to tell Vogue that their florist was able to create a centerpiece created in segments, so that everyone could have a piece of it to take with them. So thoughtful! But what we consider to be the most precious touch of the Polachek-Drennan wedding, was that the two were married by Caroline’s opera teacher, whom she tells Vogue Magazine, later became her mentor.

Photos by: Noah Rabinowitz

The Space:

While all of these personal touches are priceless, they are enhanced even more by the space in which Caroline and Ian chose to marry. Both fans of Chinese architecture, Caroline tells Vogue Magazine, “We loved that people could spread out and wander the paths, meeting each other in motion and sitting down together along the built-in seats instead of being closed in one area together. The circular doorways, central koi pond, and looming stones had an otherworldly tone that made everyone feel very much farther from the city than we were, and because the paths are mostly covered, we could be surrounded by nature regardless of the weather.” With the Chinese Scholar Garden’s beautiful pavilions, handcrafted walkways, and stunning architectural elements, what’s not to love?

Photos by: Noah Rabinowitz

Photos by Noah Rabinowitz

Photos by: Noah Rabinowitz

 

This lovely wedding is a great reminder to all brides out there that is is so important to visit the space you wish to get married in as soon as possible. You want to be able to go through the motions of the day and be content with the flow of the ceremony to the reception, as well as determine how you’ll wish to incorporate yours and your spouse’s personal touches so that you’re as happy as Caroline and Ian!

Table Setting Must Haves

Table settings are often an overlooked element when planning all of the details for a wedding reception. But a few minor touches to a table can set the tone for the lavish reception you want your guests to enjoy. Remember that guests love noticing the thoughtful details to help make their memory of your big day last.

Candles:

Never underestimate the power of a candle or two. Candles are the romantic touch every table needs. In the featured collage, the tables on the right have floating candles in tall glasses that vary in height for an aesthetic appeal. These images note that while focusing on a gorgeous centerpiece is a must, so is focusing on what will surround that centerpiece so that it doesn’t look too idle. The largest photo creativity places a candle inside a lantern to make it the focal point of the table, while also having small votives surround the lantern in antiqued holders. The elegance of the candles screams romance!

Varied Pinterest Inspiration

Identification:

There are so many adorable ways to identify your table numbers so that your guests know where to sit. Brides usually list the guests’ names on a place card on the dinner plate itself, or having a separate location for guests to pick up their place card and assigned table number. Some brides even get creative and avoid table numbers and instead, name their tables after their favorite travel places. The featured photos below include classic calligraphy on a gold-framed chalkboard, as well as a California post card placed on a rope knot. There is no wrong way to do this as long you clearly and elegantly identify your tables or where your guests will sit.

Photo: Brushfire Photography via Martha Stewart Weddings

Photo: Mustard Seed Photography via Brides.com

Personal Touch:

There’s always a way to add a personal touch to your dinner tables so that your guests can be surprised or touched by your efforts to provide a beautiful reception for them. In the photo collage are a few ideas that guests have brought to life in their receptions in The Great Hall at Celebrate at Snug Harbor. A personal touch could include drink tags with the guests names on them so that no one gets their glasses confused. This can also serve as a place card! The bottom row of photos from left to right feature wedding favors placed behind the bread plate, a small pumpkin to accentuate the fall theme, and a small white rose next to each menu.

Varied from receptions in The Great Hall at Celebrate at Snug Harbor

While some personal touches may seem like a small gesture, remember that less can be more.  You don’t need a personal touch on every aspect of your wedding. Just remember that table settings are where you want to add your details!

Floral Inspiration for Creative Centerpieces

Planning the floral decor for your wedding will most likely be as stressful as choosing the right wedding dress. There are just so many styles to choose from and so many floral elements to consider, that it’s tough to know where to begin. For this blog, we’ll be exploring inspiration for creative centerpieces to help narrow down the wide world of wedding florals.

The Wow Factor:

If you’re looking to really impress your guests, you’ll want a centerpiece that speaks for itself. For this effect, consider adding different textures and colors on a larger flower holder. With floral textures, consider mixing the soft with the rustic. In the featured photo below, the lavender and soft pink carnations stand out with the charming and dark branches. The tall vase is thoughtfully skinny so that the centerpiece is a conversation piece, yet it won’t be an obstruction for your guests when they sit and enjoy their dinner together. When planning for a Wow Factor centerpiece, you’ll want to consider your wedding venue. Notice how the wood in the centerpiece below compliments the wood in the Great Hall of Celebrate at Snug Harbor. It completely flows with the space and doesn’t look out of place.

Rustic and tall centerpiece

Focusing On Color:

If tall and textured doesn’t match your style, opt for a centerpiece that is more low key in terms of height, yet speaks volumes with it’s color variety. This featured centerpiece holds multiple types of eucalyptus leaves, pink and yellow solidago, with purple and orange as the accent colors. If you want your centerpiece to look as though you’ve gathered the finest florals from a lush garden, this is the style for you. When including more than one vase at the table, changing up the base of one of the centerpieces with aspidistra leaves will make each arrangement stand out even more. Remember, you’re going more for color here, and so the deep green of at the base will only further accentuate the eye-catching color scheme of the arrangement.

Eucalyptus, solidago, with purple and orange accents

The Ever-Elegant White Centerpiece:

White flowers at a wedding are timeless.  When undecided on how to have your centerpiece best compliment your wedding theme, white florals will match any indoor or outdoor wedding. You can also get creative with mixing white roses, hydrangeas, and white daisies for the varied hues of white each flower carries. You’ll notice a hint of yellow in the floral combination featured below. Lastly, don’t forget a few green leaves to make the white stand out even more. If you’re going for classic, white florals are unfailing and sophisticated.

White hydrangeas, roses, and daisies

Choosing a centerpiece for your reception can be overwhelming if you don’t know what to look out for. Remember to take into account the colors and textures you want your centerpieces to possess. Then, speak with your wedding planner to get his/her suggestions on what would look great in your reception location. The possibilities are endless! Celebrate at Snug Harbor is home to what seems like endless possibilities to host your dream wedding with your favorite floral arrangements.