I am so excited to share with you a rehearsal dinner that I worked on a couple of weeks ago for Nicole and Rob, who got married at Island Farm in Stonington, CT on June 18th.
They wanted a laid-back, rustic feel, with pops of color and candlelight, and most importantly, they wanted a meal cooked with all local ingredients.
I collaborated with Lucinda Wesson of Chocolate Creative Design to come up with the table design. It consisted of 2 long dining tables, covered in canvas drop cloths (*see design tip below), with ivory linen napkins, tons of votive candles, and the most gorgeous turquoise and olive green fabric, which we used as a runner - the fabric was pulled from Lucinda's personal collection, which I could lose myself in - she always has exactly the right piece to make a design perfection.
The mismatched chairs were from 2 houses on the Island, and worked perfectly together to add a little rustic charm to the room. Hana Floral Design designed the beautiful floral centerpieces that were bursting with color and personality.
And the food. The FOOD. Was. Amazing. From the passed hors d'oeuvres, to the salad, to the striped bass, and the hands down best strawberry-rhubarb pie I've ever eaten - everything was made with local ingredients. How great is that? Drew McLachlan and Jennifer Connell of Servesse were the food geniuses behind the menu (full menu below), and it couldn't have been more fitting.
Congrats to Nicole and Rob, and thanks to everyone who helped make it such a great night! I'll be sharing some photos and the story of their special wedding day soon, so look out for that!
DESIGN TIP:
Pick up a canvas drop cloth at your local Home Depot to use as a table linen for a rustic chic dinner look. They are durable and versatile, and work wonderfully with all types of china, flowers, and tabletop accessories.
MENU:
Passed Hors d'oeuvres
Trio of Crostini: Local egg salad topped with butter poached lobster; Arugula pesto and fresh mozzarella; Prosciutto with Parmesan Saba
Salad
Arugula, Strawberry and Goat Cheese w/ a warm Toasted Coriander, Lemon vinaigrette
Entree
Pan-Roasted Striped Bass w/ Asparagus, Roasted Beets, Sautéed Foraged Mushrooms, Grilled Ramps, and Nage
Dessert
Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie w/ Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
With 4th of July right around the corner (yippee!), I'm loving these Maypol sandals sold at Anthropologie. They come in my favorite color (orange), and also in turquoise, have just the right amount of height for a flat sandal, and they literally look like fireworks exploding off of your feet. How much more festive can you get?
I'm all for love, and the more people who can freely and legally love, the better. On Friday night New York made history and became the 6th and largest state to legalize same-sex marriage!
Senator Mark J Grisanti, a Republican from Buffalo said, "I apologize for those who feel offended...I cannot deny a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, the people of my district and across the state, the State of New York, and those people who make this the great state that it is, the same rights that I have with my wife." I think that statement, especially coming from a Republican, is honest and honorable, and I couldn't agree more.
The fact that gay and lesbian couples can legalize their love in the state where the national gay-rights movement originated, is nothing less than awesome. It's estimated that 56,000 gay couples will travel to New York over the next 3 years to tie the knot, and with 50,854 gay couples living in New York in 2005, the number of gay and lesbian New Yorkers who will likely plan a New York wedding is going to be monumental.
In honor of this historic event, I'm offering 10% off any Ruffles & Tweed wedding planning package for all New York weddings booked before the end of the year. Feel free to contact me at adrienne@rufflesandtweed.com or 877-630-4062 with any questions you may have. Congratulations to all of the patient, deserving people whose lives have been positively affected by the passing of this bill. I'd love to help plan and design your beautiful day. Neil Patrick Harris, I'm talking to you!
Quote found via The New York Times
Stats found via WNYC
Check. These. Out. They're like chandeliers for your feet, by none other than Manolo Blahnik. I'd like to think that I could pull these off, but the bullet-shaped beads and hard-core metal chains make me think otherwise. In my dreams, I would wear these and kick some major booty. A girl can dream.
I attended an Association of Bridal Consultants meeting last month at Del Frisco's Steak House, and I must say, this might be one of my favorite spots yet. They are located in Midtown Manhattan, and the three-story restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows and endless possibilities for your special event.
They have five different private room options, all with their own personality, and although there is no rental fee for any of the rooms, each has a food and beverage minumum. We were in the wine cellar for our meeting, which holds up to 80 guests at round tables, or 150 guests for a standing reception. This space is completely private and even has its own private bar - a perfect spot for an intimate wedding dinner.
One of my favorite rooms is the Lounge, which I am determined to rent out for one of my husband's future birthday celebrations. The old-world feel of this room, along with the whiskey display and tasteful nude paintings make it a great "guy hangout" type of space.
So beyond the amazing atmosphere, the service is impeccable, and the food is mouth-watering. I enjoyed the best salad I've ever eaten - maybe it was the 2 strips of bacon on top, or the secret dressing, but whatever it was, I've been craving it ever since I left. The Fillet Mignon was out of this world, and was paired with delicious mashed potatoes and fresh, crisp broccoli. For dessert, we tasted bread pudding with a Jack Daniel's sauce - yes, I absolutely fit it in and it was worth every bite.
During this amazing dinner, I also had the pleasure of meeting the incredibly talented Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York. She gave us an insightful presentation on branding for your business, and considering that she has set the standards for luxury invitation and corporate identity design, I think she knows a thing or two about branding. Ceci is definitely a company to keep your eye on - they are constantly pushing the design envelope in the best ways possible, and continue to innovate within the fashion, lifestyle, and design spaces. And, if you're looking for custom wedding invitations, then look no further.
Thank you to JoAnn Gregoli of Elegant Occasions and the Association of Bridal Consultants for another wonderful night.
Today's Tuesday Shoesday post is dedicated to my friend and colleague, Kim Gross, who has a very impressive, jealousy-inducing shoe collection, and some incredibly stylish ensembles to match. I'm actually dying to see her closet! She modeled these suckers for me last week, with her fab blue toenails and all, and I just had to feature them.
How perfect would these be with every single outfit you'll wear this summer? They are just the right amount of fancy, with just the right amount of casual, while being completely cute and versatile, all at the same time. Available at Nordstrom. Thanks Kim, we all want your shoes!
