This stunning wedding takes me back to a time when romance and glamour reigned supreme. Elsie did an amazing job coordinating all the little details to create a celebration with a timeless feel, but full of modern style. What do I love the best about this elegant wedding? First, Elsie’s AMAZING gown. It’s simply fabulous! It is so stylish and really set the tone for the whole evening. Second, I love that Elsie and Ian took the time to carve out a few private moments for themselves between the wedding and reception. Even when throwing a fabulous party for friends and family, this couple remembered what their special day was really about: the love that brought them together. Read on to find out more about this charming couple and their lovely wedding day.
Elsie and Ian | October 10, 2010 | Newport Rhode Island
How they met
Ian and I were introduced to each other eight years ago, through a mutual friend who thought we would hit it off. After our first meeting we were both floored at how much we liked the other. We even made a date to meet again the very next day!
The Ceremony
Our ceremony took place in the Salon at Rosecliff, a gilded age mansion built in 1902 in Newport, RI. I was escorted down the isle by my father to Wagner’s Wedding March and was delivered to Ian who was waiting at the end of the isle with our wedding party and the officiant. Immediately after the ceremony my husband and I retreated to an upstairs room where we were able to share a private moment as husband and wife. We took formal photographs during the cocktail hour and did not see the guests until afterward.
The moment Elsie will never forget
Ian and I will never forget entering the ballroom for the first time, alone, before any of the guests. It was such a magical feeling knowing it was for us. We couldn’t believe how spectacular it looked.
The Reception
A lively cocktail hour promptly followed the ceremony on the veranda where guests were greeted with our signature Champagne cocktail. Following cocktails, guests found their name and table on our a scroll we had especially made by a local calligrapher. Ian and I love to travel so we named the 17 tables after foreign cities we have visited together. We had a soft amber glow of uplighting along the pillars of the ballroom during dinner that switched to vibrant hues of pink and purple after dinner to accompany the dancing. After dinner we opened up a large dessert table, had our cake cutting and danced the night away!
Splurges & Savings
I definitely splurged on the dress! I was not expecting to spend as much as I did on it but have absolutely no regrets. I honestly don’t think the day would have beent he same for me in a different dress. To make up for what I spent on the dress, we saved on the table linens and table rentals. We also went with the standard stemware and nixed the chargers.
How Elsie knew her wedding dress was “The One”
I probably tried on about 25 dresses and visited 6 different bridal salons before I found my dress. For me, the dress was the absolute hardest decision I had to make regarding the wedding. I actually said ‘yes’ to 2 other dresses before mine! Finally, 5 weeks before the wedding, I had a terrible panicking feeling that I was about to wear the wrong dress down the aisle. That’s when I snuck off to New York and found the dress of my dreams. The dress had everything I ever wanted – the form fitting style of the original mermaid dress mixed with the fullness of a traditional ball gown. It was perfect.
Why she decided to sell her dress
The reason I did splurge on the dress was because I knew I would be selling it after. Besides, it will just take up space in my closet and by the time I have a daughter, I’m sure she will think it is “old Fashioned!” I no longer need the dress and want to make someone feel just as happy with their dress as I was!
