Describe the proposal.  Dennis and I went to Nantucket for Figawi weekend in 2009.  Our friends decided to take a later ferry.  Once we arrived on the island, Dennis and I went to the Even Keel Café.  We grabbed some breakfast and then headed out to Brant Point to eat our ham and cheese croissants at the Brant Point Lighthouse.

When I finished breakfast, I said okay, let’s go to the ferry because our friends should be arriving soon.  He stalled the process and started showing me some rocks and shells that were on the beach.  He gave me a hug and kiss and I remember Dennis mentioning some future plans that we had discussed about Nantucket, our family, etc…

I did notice that he seemed nervous and he kept looking at the boats and made a few comments about how many boats were in the Harbor and I thought GEEZ…. It is Figawi weekend (aka big weekend for racing boats).  After about 5 minutes, a fishing boat, a lobster boat and the Hyline Ferry cleared the harbor and Dennis got down on one knee.  Dennis used to work at the Nantucket Yacht Club and he always loved Brant Point so he wanted to take me there and mark a moment in time that we would never forget and now we could both share Brant Point as a MAGICAL place in both of our hearts and minds.

I realized at the end that Dennis didn’t want anyone else to be a part of “our moment” and that was why he was watching the boats and waited for them to sail off so that he could propose!

I saw the Cecil dress by Amsale in a bridal magazine.  The style embodied confidence, but was also extremely comfortable.  The dress was A-line with a grosgrain detail around the waist.

There was a slight vintage detail on the left side and then I added buttons to the back of the dress to give it more detail.

We had all of our reception cards tied to a starfish.  The starfish was placed on sand from Brant Point, tying in our engagement to our wedding day.

Simply put, they were bright and full.  We had a mix of hydrangeas, calla lillies and roses to tie the blue nautical theme throughout the wedding.  We also added a large starfish onto each arrangement.

Our cake was amazing.  We went with 4 different layers and our baker Tom from Ivy Fine Cakes and Pastry’s has been baking birthday cakes for my family for quite some time.  We visited some other bakers that people told us we should consider, but once we did the taste test, Tom took the cake!

I love gold and carrot cake and Dennis loves chocolate so we decided to go with all of the flavors that we liked and our family and friends loved having an option during dessert!

Photography: Armor & Martel

Florist: Bellevue Florist

Venue: The Newport Experience

Stationary: Phillips Street Stationers

Wedding Gown: Amsale

Shoes: Kate Spade

Birdcage Veil: Birdcage Veils

Bridesmaid Accessories: Jo Jo Loves You

Cake: Ivy’s Fine Cakes and Pastry

Transportation: Newport Wedding Trolley

The results are in, the contest has ended and we have a winner!

You might remember two weeks ago we launched Candy Giveaway: Blair Candy. Well, wedding fever took over and I’m excited to say that after entering 8 times Quin is our winner!

The planning has begun and its time to start working on the menu. Food at weddings (or parties) is always a big topic and a lasting memory. Whether you are having a sit down dinner or making the food yourself, you need to make sure the food represents you and your fiance. You want your guests to enjoy themselves and walk away talking about every single detail from your wedding.

When I caught wind of my favorite food photographer and blogger Matt Armendariz aka Matt Bites new book I knew I had to share it with you. This book WILL get your guests talking!

On A Stick! is taking some of our favorite foods from state fairs, parties, street carts and making them into delicious party perfect food on a stick. From fried mozzarella to red and white sangria pops On A Stick! covers every aspect of the menu for your wedding.

I knew there wasn’t any other way to tell you about this book then to put it to work. The recipes are easy, delicious, and include tips as well as dipping sauces for almost all of the recipes.

First on the list was Berries ‘n’ Buttermilk Smoothie Ice Cream Pops. This recipe is perfect for hot summer days and will compliment your ice cream bar or dessert table. They are simple and fun to make and the kids will love them!

What would a wedding be without Cake Pops? Matt gives a great tip in the book for serving them. Make them ahead of time and let your guests dip their cake pops into colorful sprinkles, frostings, and toppings.

Can we see a cake pop bar in your future at a wedding?? I can. Kids would have a blast if they could dip their own cake pop.

If your cooking your own wedding food consider adding Panzanella to the menu. Paired with homemade Sherry Vinaigrette this dish will have your guests going back for seconds. This dish can be made a head of time and is VERY easy to make.

Make sure you use good size mozzarella balls because mine were just a little bit to small, but still tasted delicious.

Let’s just put it this way… You will need to make extra if you make Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp.

Served with a honey mustard dipping sauce your guests will have a Julie and Julia moment… YUM!

If you’ve been following my blog for a while you know lately we’ve had featured several weddings that are backyard or laid-back. If your a grill master this dish is for you.

Red Curry Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers are the perfect dish for your wedding, rehearsal dinner, or party. The combination of flavors is divine and the addition of pineapple gives this dish the perfect sweetness.

These are only a few of the mouthwatering recipes that appear in the book. You will also have to check out the Pizza Skewers, Deep-Fried Ravioli, Spicy Cajun Skewers, Deep Fried Mac ‘n’ Cheese, and Spaghetti and Meatballs.

The book was published by Quirk Books and is available for purchase on Amazon. This book is a MUST have and perfect addition to your cookbook library. And if you haven’t been to Matt Bites… then you need to go NOW!

Happy cooking and eating!

Photos by Adam Houseman

A little inspiration today for the bride who wants to make a statement. I came across Parant and had to share. Parant is handmade accessories for brides made by hair dresser Orjan Jakobsson, who lives in Sweden.

Orjan started Parant when he discovered there was a lack of creative, beautiful handmade pieces for brides on their wedding day. The best part of this line… they ship WORLDWIDE!

I love the detail and elegance in each of the pieces. You can check out more on Parant by visiting their website.

Elisea & Michael have an urban style and a love for motorcycles. They wanted to capture all sides of their personalities during their session in  San Diego since they will be getting married this summer in Kansas, Elisea’s home state. Betwixt Studio was along for the ride to capture this couples love first hand.

Betwixt Studio submitted this engagement session through Two Bright Lights. You can check out more of their work by visiting their website and blog.

Evangeline and Beau met for the first time at a Christmas party when they were 6 years old. They ended up attending the same elementary school, middle school, and high school, but never really hung out. It wasn’t until after college, when they both moved to New York City, that they finally started dating.

The silhouettes of Evangeline and Beau’s heads were the main focus of the wedding. Evangeline said it was her favorite part of the design of the day.

Photography: Sparkle Photography

Catering: Culinary Crafts

Florist: Solamente Celebrations

Venue: Rose Sachs Gardens

Stationary: Hello Lucky!

Gown: Vera Wang

Desserts: Pastry Arts Barrani

Music: Disc Connections and Maywood String Quartet

Groom’s Tux: Alfani Red

Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Butter by Nadia Groom