little table setting details........

For our table flowers, I decided not match too much, so I asked our florist, Livia Cetti from The Green Vase, to make each table a little different using various vessels and flowers. The dining room has a lot of dark wood and beautiful large portraits, so didn't want the flowers to overwhelm and fight with the space. Livia used a variety of colors to go along with my color palette of violet, saffron yellow and cream. The table flowers included violets, white narciss, purple frutilaria, purple anenomies, assorted tulips and ranuculas in shades of orange and yellow and gloriosa lilies in orange and yellow mixed in with little votive candles.
Along with the flowers, I added a little light fun. With so many new faces around, (half the wedding guests where from Italy and the other half from America), I thought the fortune fish would be the perfect creative ice breaker to spark conversation. And guess what? it worked! Everyone LOVED it! it was hilarious.

Note to future brides, not all flowers I wanted were available in February and winter is a time when flower prices are a bit higher (also, with valentines day just around the corner prices where even more) Just keep in mind that even if you have your heart set on something, you may not get it, even if your willing to pay a higher price. This can happen, regardless of which season your wedding take place.

our little winter wedding in gramercy park......

Some more highlights of our February 9, 2008 wedding at the Player's Club on Gramercy Park. When we were searching for a venue, we wanted something that had the warmth and coziness of a old New York brownstone. After extensive research, I stumbled upon The Player's, a private club situated in a Greek Revival townhouse, facing Gramercy Park. What most people don't know, is that the club is open to non-members for events, with a fee of course. (it's not as steep as one thinks for NYC standards) Also, there are a lot of unique perks to this venue, one being that you have a access to Gramercy Park the day of your event. This is something very special as I believe it is the only private park in all of Manhattan. It was absolutely perfect for pictures, even in bare tree February but just think how beautiful a spring wedding would be! (note to future brides, the garden is filled with beds peonies in the spring) The inside of the venue has a vintage/library/bohemian feel, with 2 working fireplaces and beautiful chandeliers. Portraits of famous actors, costumes and old theater props fill up walls and rooms.

colors: violet, saffron yellow, cream
inpiration: vintage, chandeliers, candlelight and violets

little highlights from our wedding

I've been away from my blog for some time but now I'm back home in Milan, settling into married life. I will be posting more images from our February 9, 2008 NYC wedding very soon...

In the meantime, please enjoy the highlights that our photographer, Dorothee, from Belathee Photography, put together.

stayed tuned.....

a little spring fever inspiration...........

....inspired by the lily of the valley colors of spring green and cream and its delicate bell shape, here are some ideas for a spring bride....
(Top row, Bumble B Design, Anthony Nak earrings
(middle image, Jana Starr Bridal)
(bridal bouquet & table setting, Rebecca Thuss)

little mexican wedding cakes.............

........here's a little cookie that would make a perfect addition for a wedding desert display (particularly a winter wedding), Mexican wedding cakes, also known as Russian Tea cakes. They are also quite festive for the holiday season, I just made a fresh batch for my soon to be brother-in-law's birthday party tomorrow.

sweet delicate veils and accessories....

for those glamor brides, maybe a bird cage veil with a full bloom is the way to go, like this veil by designer Ellen Christine Millinery. (image from MS weddings)

veil or no veil? I'm still undecided..... so yesterday I was out and about in Milan, tried one on and fell in love with it! I mean what could be more romantic and beautiful then a handmade Italian veil. Roman brides, for instance, wore an intensely flame-colored and fulsome veil, called the flammeum, apparently intended to protect the bride from evil spirits on her wedding day. Whether your going for more the traditional look or something a bit more understated, here are a couple of ideas...
I found this beautiful veil at HOMA.....




delicate tulle and silk veil by designer, Lara Hélène. (image from Instyle Weddings)

or keep it simple with a single jeweled comb by christina garcia bridal....(image from MS weddings)



for those brides looking for a more unique accessory, I found Jude Miller paper flowers through Brooklyn Bride's Blog.

going vintage.....

Ingrid Bergman's dress is my inspiration today along with this chic vintage wedding dress I found on the bridal section of the The Frock. All those vintage brides out there, the frock has a great selection of period pieces, check it out.

Okay, off for a holiday weekend. It's St. Ambrogio today in Milan, (the saint of Milano), so we're off to Madonna di Campiglio for a cozy ski weekend. Ciao!

little natale and anniversaries in Italy.............

Our anniversary was this week, so I thought I would share a little sweet moment of our candlelight picnic in living room....After the little feast, we decorated our, piccolo albero di natale = isty bitsy christmas tree....
This is our second Christmas living together, so we have no ornaments, last year we only had white lights, so this year we decided to keep it simple and we made paper snowflakes.

branches, leaves and blossoms.......

A late winter wedding calls for bold leaf branches or blossoms hinting spring is in the air......
At the moment, we are considering, beautiful, rich and shiny dark green magnolia leaves. We have 2 trees in front of our house and this afternoon I clipped a small branch along with some greens from my garden, (top photo and center photo) I like the idea of beautiful greens in different little vases, mixed with some individual subtle flowers. Another blossom to think about would, quince, but it all depends on what's available.

if the shoe fits.....

A little luxury for your feet......
so many choices, Manolo Blahnik, Valentino, Jimmy Choo and last but not least, my new favorite, Brian Atwood.

Accessories are like the icing on the cake......

I love love love anything by, Anthony Nak. Owning a pair of his earrings is definitely at the top of my wish list. These ruby drops and topaz briolette earrings with sapphires, look like little sparkling clusters of grapes......
His jewelry can also be found at Barneys, Twist, Pied Nu
........green with envy is what I feel when I look at these festive earrings from Vintage Textile.

These beautiful Etruscan gold earrings are too die for, I found them on Fay Cullen.
Etruscan jewelry, is so unique and elegant, then again, aren't most things from Italy? Even though the Etruscans weren't not Italic, they did however live in Etruria (western Tuscany, Italy). It would be nice to find a piece for my wedding day, to tie in elements from fiance's country and my new home.