Brenna Bennett & Matt Hadfield

Though they had met with a local jewelry designer to discuss potential ideas for an engagement ring, after nearly six months of waiting, Brenna Bennett was starting to wonder if she would ever see her ring. So, when boyfriend Matt Hadfield got down on one knee while on vacation in Kennebunkport, Maine, she was doubly surprised when he presented her with not one but six stacking rings. “Matt explained that the six stones represented his desire to give me the mountains (amethyst), the ocean (pearl) and the stars (diamonds),” she explains.
Choosing the venue for the reception was easy. Brenna always had a vision of marrying on the family farm in Middletown where she was raised and where her parents, Paul and Hedy Bennett, still reside. Using fresh, colorful organic flowers grown on the farm by the bride’s uncle, Brenna’s mother created centerpieces that blossomed from glass jars. Seating assignments were written in calligraphy and placed in ornamental frames, hand painted by the bride, and hung with ribbon on the outside wall of one of the smaller barns. The bride also hung 210 feet of fabric bunting flags made of lace, burlap and vintage floral cloth from the 20-foot ceiling of the tent; a task her father initially discouraged. Realizing she would not take no for an answer he eventually agreed to hold the ladder. “This was all done while the caterer was setting up,” says Brenna. “It was quite the sight!”
With 136 guests looking on, the couple exchanged vows before the organic garden, where the flowers for the centerpieces were grown. The bride wore a cotton, tulle and lace gown with a stunning lace train designed by Claire Pettibone. “I found it in a magazine and knew it was perfect for me immediately,” she says. She chose a simple veil and also wore custom pearl and diamond earrings given to her by her parents when she was a teenager.
The harvest menu featured a choice of grilled striped bass and herb roasted tenderloin. A cupcake tower featuring a choice of lemon, strawberry and carrot cake adorned with a lemon twist, a strawberry or carrot grating on the frosting was served for dessert, topped with a single layer of cake to be eaten on their first anniversary. For the ceremonial cake cutting, a single cake was placed on Brenna’s late maternal grandmother’s cake platter as a tribute to her.
As for Brenna’s happiest moment, “I loved looking around and seeing all of the people near and dear to me in one place.” Following a honeymoon in Bermuda, Brenna and Matt have settled into their Middletown home with their son William.

DETAILS
Venue: Bennett Farm
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Karol Richardson
Tuxedos/Suits: Brooks Brothers
Rings: Alloy Gallery
Rehearsal Dinner: Salvation Cafe
Hair: Divine Tranquility Day Spa
Nails: Star Nails
Flowers: Black Dog Organics, Broadway Florist
Caterer: McGrath Clambakes
Cake: Newport Sweet Shoppe
Officiant: Peter Regan
Ceremony music: Musica Dolce
Reception Entertainment: Brian Scott Live and DJ Shyne
Photographer: Alexandra Cordts
Guest Accommodations: Rhea’s by the Sea

Linsly Boyer & Adam Young

Linsly Boyer and Adam Young had known each other longer than they’d realized. Both Portsmouth natives, the pair had attended Portsmouth United Methodist Church as children, but wouldn’t have known it if it weren’t for Adam’s old family videos with Linsly peeking in the background. Linsly even described Adam as a “jock nerd, not my type,” until her senior year of high school when the two became inseparable.
Nine years later and with advice from a stranger, Adam spontaneously popped the question, giving her a ring later at their engagement party. With their parents, Pelham and Ann Boyer and Dan and Patti Young, in Portsmouth, Adam and Linsly were eager to wed in Newport County. “As an art history nerd, I really wanted to find a historic property, and the house and the barn at Mount Hope Farm are both beautiful,” says Linsly.
On the wedding day, sparks were flying, both figuratively and literally. Following an old world carnival theme, the couple made their wedding fit their own eccentric lifestyle. Featuring jugglers, face painting, tarot card readings, temporary tattoos and lawn games, Linsly and Adam’s wedding became a scene from a1950s circus. Paper lions, elephants and other carnival shapes decorated each table, and caramel apples served as placecard holders.
Despite the colorful scenery it was Linsly that stole the show as she began her descent down the aisle. In a dress fit for old Hollywood glam, Linsly preserved her more laidback style, forgoing heels for a pair of studded white leather Converse sneakers hidden under the ruffles of her A-line gown.
After strolling the pastoral grounds and retreating to the farm’s barn, guests enjoyed a variety of pies made by family and friends in place of cake. Under brightly colored parasols decorating the ceiling above, the newly dubbed Mr. & Mrs. Boyer Young danced to George Harrison’s “Long Long Long,” a further reminder of their 10-year anniversary the day before.
After a weekend of family outings, the newlyweds jet set to St. Lucia for a tropical honeymoon, before they returned home to Brooklyn, NY.

DETAILS
Photographer: Heidi Gumula Photography
Venue: Mt. Hope Farm
Rehearsal Dinner: Perro Salado
Hair/Makeup/Nails: New Leaf Salon
Flowers: Toni Chandler
Caterer: Russell Morin Fine Catering
Transportation: Newport Limousine
Entertainment: Arpeggio Entertainment
Wedding Night Stay: Cliffside Inn
Guest Accommodations: Newport Marriott
Post-Wedding Brunch: 41 North

Summer and fresh berries go hand in hand so incorporate them into your big day! Maggie Shields, Corporate Sales Manager at Russell Morin Fine Catering, shares tips on how sophisticated strawberries can wow your wedding.

Photo courtesy of Russell Morin Fine Catering

Be bold! Strawberries are expected in desserts. We all know (and love!) chocolate-dipped strawberries, strawberry shortcake and strawberry rhubarb pie. But Shields says strawberries also pair well with savory foods and mint. She recommends their chilled strawberry soup or strawberry trilogy salad: a warm strawberry Mascarpone purse with baby greens, candied almonds, sliced strawberries and a white balsamic vinaigrette.

Drink up and beat the heat with a strawberry basil cocktail. The combination of sweet and savory is a pleasant surprise that is sure to wow your taste buds and your guests.

Incorporate strawberries into your theme without being gimmicky and add a pop of color. “They’re red,” Shields says, “but vibrant in a different way.” Shields suggests making your centerpieces special by adding ripe berries to vases or tucking skewers of fruit into bouquets. These decorating tips take a classic wedding color and make it fresh.

Courtesy of Papers Facebook

He popped the question. Now what? Time to start planning! Judith Carroll of Papers in Newport, RI, explains how to stay organized when getting ready to send out your invitations.

When should I start planning my guest list?
The guest list is the very first thing a couple should plan, Carroll says, so it should be done a year in advance. A head start is crucial because you’ll need a count for your caterer and for your “paper wardrobe,” or all your Save the Dates, invitations and response sets.

My guest list is out of control! How do I start to trim it down?
People who you haven’t seen in a year should not be on the list. If your guest list is still too long after that, Carroll explains a scenario that will make the planning easier: If there are 100 guests, the parents of the bride and groom each invite 25 of their own guests. The couple decides the remaining half of the guests. Depending on who is paying for the wedding, the numbers may need to be tweaked. If only the bride’s family is paying, they may have a few more allowed invitees than the groom’s family. Each couple’s circumstances will be different.

What are some good tools I can use to manage my planning?
The best tool, and one more and more brides are using, Carroll says, is likely already programmed into your computer. Microsoft Excel, or similar spreadsheet-based programs, make tracking information and RSVPs more streamlined. Carroll gives her brides an etiquette sheet with tips and tricks, like how to write names on invitations and what symbols or phrases to avoid.

What information do I need about my invitees?
A correct home address and a phone number are the two most important, Carroll believes. Usually, there are about 10 people who will not respond to invitations. Papers offers a special service that ensures the bride is the star of the show. “We call people who have not responded,” she says, so neither the bride nor the family has to worry.

Courtesy of Papers Facebook

I have my list, but how do I pick my invitations?
Brides go to Papers prepared with their wedding colors and a font style they’ve always loved and pick their invitations from Carroll’s selections—she has hundreds of invitation styles. A traditional bride loves block fonts, Carroll says, but a script looks beautiful on wedding invitations, too.

Once the invitations are sent out, what’s the final step?Make sure your Save the Dates have been ordered nine months in advance of the wedding date and your invitations are ordered six months in advance. Use your Excel spreadsheet to track RSVPs and stay organized.

Happy planning!

Photos courtesy of Connerton Photography

Professional Advice for Wedding Party Photos

After months of planning, prepping and pampering for your wedding, the final step (besides walking down the aisle), is making sure that every precious moment is photographed to perfection. Photographer Kat Connerton of Connerton Photography shares her favorite Newport County locations and the secret to a seamless photo shoot: time.

“Time is always a factor on wedding days,” Connerton says. “It’s important to my clients and I that we choose a location that provides a backdrop that is practical (not too sunny or windy) and local enough to provide us with enough time to shoot without feeling rushed. There is nothing worse than feeling rushed on your wedding day!”

So, time permitting, where is Connerton’s favorite local spot to shoot? Connerton recommends choosing a backdrop that isn’t too busy so crowds don’t interrupt the shoot. Places by the water, like Gooseberry Beach and Fort Adams, make for great formal portraits, she believes. If shooting by the water isn’t an option, Connerton enjoys other breathtaking views of Newport County at The Chanler, Rovensky Park and The Officers’ Club in Newport, RI, where you can get shots of Newport Bridge in the background.

No matter the location, though, Connerton believes that although it may be fun to be non-traditional and jump in the air for your photo shoot, a classic shot of the wedding party lined up and looking at the camera will stand the test of time. “I love, love, love the shot of the entire bridal party walking towards the camera,” Connerton says. “This is the shot everyone remembers…I’m an advocate for lining up the bridal party in standard formation first to capture that one beautiful, timeless photograph. And after that, anything goes!”

Meghan Boyle Kelly & Jason William Gefaell

When Jason Gefaell and Meghan Kelly first met, Meghan and her friends had just missed the last ferry off of Fisher Island, N. Y. Essentially stranded for the night, Meghan found herself doubtful she’d make it home until a mutual friend called Jason who quickly came to her rescue. Instead of swiftly falling in love, the duo would wait another 10 years before they’d formally be introduced again, but this time sparks would fly. Following a whirlwind year of courtship, Jason brought the two back to the ferry landing where they first met, and proposed.

The Weekapaug Inn set the scene for the couple’s ideal reception, a favorite spot for the groom’s family. Located in Jason’s native Westerly, where his parents, Janet and Jay, still reside, their wedding would mark the first for Weekapaug Inn since its complete reconstruction.

Closed for years, the inn would open just two months before their big day, thus making their first few meetings equipped with hardhats and a lot of imagination: “Planning a wedding out of a construction site was funny. We really had no clue what the finished product would look like,” Meghan said. However, on the day of their ceremony the Weekapaug Inn was the perfect backdrop for their elaborate celebration. Encompassing a panoramic view of both the salt­water marshes of Quonochontaug Pond and serene waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Weekapaug Inn had transformed into an idyllic environment, a further reassurance that their unorthodox planning methods had been worth it. With traces of navy accents complementing the couple’s black­tie­inspired theme, Meghan and Jason said their “ I do’s” in front of 220 guests at Christ Church in Westerly before making their way to the inn where a night of dancing and entertainment ensued.

Opting out of the traditional sit­down dinner, guests helped themselves to dinner stations featuring some of the newlyweds’ favorite foods, including Peking Duck and roast breast of Rhode Island Turkey, with cupcakes, toffee and a custom candy bar for dessert. Still, it was the impromptu fireworks show put on by the bride’s parents, Richard and Ginna Kelly, which really stole the show as the night’s festivities came to an end. After a honeymoon in the British Virgin Islands, Mr. and Mrs. Gefaell returned to their home in New York, where they started their new lives together.

 Details:
Invitations: John Dumouchel from The Art Craft Co.
Rehearsal Dinner: Weekapaug Golf Club
Hair & Make-up: Sara Faella
Flowers: Broadview Florist
Caterer & Cake: The Weekapaug Inn
Officiants: The Rev. James Bocchino & The Rev. Richard Ryscavage
Reception Entertainment: Men in Black II
Photographer: Kathryn Whitney Lucey Photography
Wedding Planner: Sara True
Guest Accommodations: Weekapaug Inn & The Ocean House
Post-wedding Brunch: Weekapaug Inn

Megan Matteson & Seth Decker

DETAILS
Tuxedos: Viking Tuxedo
Invitations, Mason Jar Labels, Table Tent Cards, Seating Chart Sign: Katlem Design Invitations & Paperie
Rehearsal Dinner: Atlantic Beach Club
Flowers and Uplighting: Golden Gate Studios
Venue/Wedding Night Stay: Hyatt Regency Newport
Dessert Station: Sweet Indulgence
Transportation: ROCKSTAR Limo
Photographer: John Lovgren Photography
Videographer: Artistic Wedding Video Group
Guest Accommodations: Hyatt Regency Newport, Comfort Inn, Best Western Mainstay, Atlantic Beach Hotel & Suites

DETAILS:
Venue: Easton’s Beach Rotunda
Rehearsal Brunch: Canfield House
Nails: RaNew Salon & Spa
Flowers: Tom Kraig Designs
Caterer: Christian’s Catering
Cake: Newport Cookie Company
Transportation: Viking Tours of Newport
Ceremony Music: John Monllos
Reception Entertainment: Blockhead
Photographer: Joseph Laurin Photography
Wedding Night Stay: Canfield House
Guest Accommodations: Comfort Inn

Nait It: Newport Style!

Let’s face it, on your wedding day, all eyes will be on you, your gown and that gleaming new addition on your ring finger. Show off your nautical side with Nastynails.com Gone Sailing nautical nail art kit – a sassy way to complement your City-by-the-Sea style. The kit contains four shades of Essie nail polish in Good as Gold, Haute as Hello, Bikini so Teeny and Blanc, a two way black dotting pen nail art ball and brush, and silver striping tape. With simple step-by-step instructions, you’ll easily be able to create these nail masterpieces yourself. Grab your bridesmaids and have a painting party the day before your wedding. You can opt to have matching nails, or coordinate different versions and colored stripes. It’s Newport’s must-have for perfectly manicured nails.

Caffeine fiends rejoice! Rebecca Miller, sales coordinator/wedding specialist for yournewportwedding.com, shares these fun tips for incorporating both the color and flavor of coffee into your big day

Color your wedding fabulous. “Colors of cream, mocha and rich brown could set a tone for a coffee inspired wedding,” says Miller. “You could accent the rich tones with almost any color to give it a little flair!” Popular combinations include pinks, lavenders, blues and shades of red.

After a long night of celebrating, give your guests a pick-me-up. “Fresh ground coffee in personalized bags for each guest is a perfect favor,” recommends Miller. “I also like the look of a burlap little sac to really make it seem like a special treat.”

Coffee beans are a fun accent. “Fill vases with coffee beans and put pillar candles inside,” suggests Miller. You can also put coffee beans on the bottom of floral vases or in a tray to keep seating cards in place for guests. “Get crafty and make garlands out of beans and drape them about in lieu of a beaded garland,” she continues.

I’ll drink to that. “A coffee or espresso bar would be a huge hit at any wedding, but for a coffee themed wedding, you could add cordials on the side and special accoutrements such as flavored syrups, specialty creams and whipped creams,” Miller says.

Satisfy your cravings with a sweet mocha flavored treat. To complement your coffee theme, Miller recommends a mocha-flavored cake with a chocolate ganache. “You could even display a gourmet donut bar which pairs perfectly with…a cup of coffee,” she suggests.