Gabe & Kate 2008

THANK YOU

2009-01-10T08:49:00.000-08:00

(click image for larger view)

Dear Jenna, Renee, Meg, Felicia and Brooke:
A big huge THANK YOU again to you lovely ladies who treated me like royalty all throughout the wedding planning and the weekend of....but especially for throwing such a great shower!

I (and by I, I mean Gabe) finally just hung the shelves to display my growing collection of vintage black and white plates...most of which I got at the fabulous shower! I'll have to rotate them out cause there were over 50 plates!! Although it was a scorcher (I've got the sweaty pics to prove it) it was one unforgettable day with friends and family! Thank you so much for thinking of me in every detail. It was truly a perfect day. I know this is a bit late, but the sentiment is the same now as it was then....you are all amazing friends and I am a lucky gal to have you all.

A note to the Capone's: Thank you so much for hosting the shower at your home! It was really the perfect place, and I know you put so much work into making it all come together! Hopefully we'll get to enjoy those flowers you planted this Spring! ;)

A note to my Mom: Thanks for keeping everyone sane and for keeping me company that morning!

A note to the friends and family that attended: Thank you all for our contributions, for your generous gifts and for attending. I was shocked and touched by all the familiar faces that were there. It meant so much to have you there. Thank you again!

Love, Kate

VENDOR REVIEWS: The W hotel - Lexington Ave

2008-11-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

The W hotel was an awesome place to get ready for our wedding and also for our guests to stay. We were upgraded to an awesome suite (which came in really handy the day of for the girls to get ready in...it would have been tight in the smaller suite we had booked.) The Capone's were able to host their cocktail party the night before with plenty of space and a huge balcony for the many cigar smokers, in their suite. And the staff was just really pleasant and super efficient!
Thanks W!

Here are some pics of Gabe and his guys getting ready...a little different then my day of getting ready! :)

VENDOR REVIEWS: The Metropolitan Building

2008-11-25T17:58:00.000-08:00

The Metropolitan Building is a FABULOUS space! We were so thrilled when we found it and I was so unbelievably pleased with how it turned out that night! It is a gorgeous space packed with one-of-a-kind antiques and has such a comfortable yet formal atmosphere. It took my breath away to see it all lit up that night, with the twinkly lights and candles glowing throughout the entire space. Pure magic! Carlos, who runs the show over there was great, making sure everything went off without a hitch! Thanks Carlos!!!
Here are some shots from various friends but mostly from Virgil Stephens. (click through for larger)

VENDOR REVIEWS: Hair & Make-up

2008-11-25T09:02:00.000-08:00

So, I really lucked out with hair and make-up! I am not the kind of gal that does her hair and make-up every day, in fact some days, I may even leave the house with (gasp!) just some mascara and lip gloss on...So I was a bit nervous about finding the right person/people to do the job for my wedding day....I didn't want to look like a completely different person who Gabe might not recognize walking down the aisle.
Well, when Felicia brought up Beth Little, we sort of both looked at each other and weren't sure why we hadn't thought of it earlier...I wish Beth could have done everyone's makeup for the wedding (not that you all didn't look fabulous!) She just has a way of putting the perfect amount of gloss on your lips, sparkle on your lids and shimmer on your brow to not only make you look like a million bucks, but feel that way too. She was incredible, and super flexible in perfecting all the girls make-up. Thank you a ton Beth!
I was super lucky in the hair department as well, after speaking with my normal stylist who didn't seem that interested in working with me, I found Janessa from Soon Salon. I went in for my trial and LOVED it! She was great! She was so interested in not only making me happy, but making sure the hairstyle was perfect for my hair. She experimented and was super concentrated on getting it right! The day of, when I didn't have the pics from the trial with me, she remembered what we had done and even made it better than the trial! I couldn't have been more happy!! I loved my hair and was so sad to have to take it out!

So thank you to Beth and Janessa for making me and my special ladies look fabulous! Here are some shots (click for larger image) of the getting ready portion of the day.
(I'm not excited or anything).
...enjoy!

VENDOR REVIEWS: Photographer

2008-11-19T13:49:00.000-08:00

A big huge THANK YOU to Virgil Stephens and his assistant Pete Riesett. They were amazing and so much fun to work with! We had a blast and they captured it all! I admit, I gave them a tall order (I won't mention my lengthy photo list, ha!) but they caught the emotions of the day and I am still going through the hundreds of pictures we got from them! Thanks guys -- you exceeded our expectations by a mile!
Here is my favorite so far! We'll send along the link to all the guests in a few weeks and you can watch the whole day unfold before your eyes! (And order some great prints as well!!)
Stay tuned for more vendor reviews!

VENDOR REVIEWS: Day of Coordinator

2008-11-12T07:07:00.000-08:00

So our Day-of Coordinator, Tara Geremia from Exquisite Affairs Productions was amazing. She made sure that neither of us had any worries on that day and I really don't know what we would have done without her.
She was super organized, and knew exactly when to check in with us! She made sure all the details were set up according to our wishes and even made on-the-fly decisions based on her experience, which turned out to be perfect ones!
My favorite conversation was when she stopped by as we were shoveling food in our mouths before we got back out on the dance floor and it went like this:
Tara: You guys are having a great time, right?"
G&K: ABSOLUTELY this is awesome!
Tara: Great! So the cake cutting is coming up...still want to do it?
G&K: Nah...who needs it! We want to dance!
Tara: Yea, I thought so....I'll take care of it! Go enjoy your night!
And that was that! We nixed the cake cutting and danced the night away and she took care of it! She knew us and our style and adapted her gameplan accordingly! I repeat myself, but she was amazing. She not only is good at her job, but really enjoys doing it and it shows! Thanks Tara!!
(PHOTO credit: S. Kosloff)

Ciao

2008-11-08T15:11:00.001-08:00

Hi all! We're back from our amazing two weeks in Italy! Just wanted to say hello and a quick but HUGE thank you to you all for making our wedding beyond perfect. We had so much fun and hope you did too! I'll be posting pics and some videos in the next few weeks from the wedding and event around it as well as our honeymoon!

Hope you're all well and look forward to seeing you all in the coming months for the holidays!

xxooxxoo

Mike Tanton (a.k.a Tanton, T-ton)

2008-10-13T06:18:00.000-07:00

There's little I can tell you about Tanton. It's not because I don't know him well--he's been a close friend for 15 years--but because it's classified. Tanton works for the Federal Government. He leads the type of secret life that you only read about in spy novels. He lived at my apartment in NYC for a while and I let him practice his self-defense moves on me. He was able to knock me down using only his thumb. In return he let me wear his gas mask to the convenience store to buy a pack of gum.

I've seen Tanton's cop skills in action a couple times. One time in particular was when we were staying at a friend's place in Long Island. A drunk and disorderly (cop term) had been pool hopping and wandered into the house. Tanton wrestled with him and screamed "I am a cop." Meanwhile, I was searching the home for a camera in hopes to capture this dangerous event on film. The slippery guy kept squirming out of Tanton's clutches. Tanton eventually took the perp down and booked him. Truth is he may have me snipered for telling you that story.

Tanton has always been interested in foreign affairs--he's dated girls from all over the world. In college, after he got tired of American girls, he left and lived in Italy while others were scared to leave campus. Shortly after graduation, Tanton began his life as an international man of mystery. He has traveled extensively and had amazing experiences. His job conjures envy and fear at the same time. He's been to places on the map that most of us can't pronounce. You talk with Tanton and you say to yourself, "Wow. I need to read more." Tanton is fun to be around and has a smart sense of humor. He's a great conversationalist, even in Italian since he speaks it fluently. Oh, and he's recently engaged too. Of course, there are secrets that even Tanton can't hide. He's one of the only Americans who loves hockey and he has one of the worst tattoos ever. It's a caveman-like character with a lacrosse stick. It's on his lower back. Actually, I'm kidding, it's on his ankle. Ask him to roll up his tux pant leg and show it to you. Do it cautiously. Remember, he has been trained in several forms of self-defense, and who knows what else.

Weekend Itinerary

2008-10-10T13:48:00.000-07:00

You'll get a hard copy of this as well if you're staying at the W! We can't wait to see you!!!
XO

DOWNLOAD THE ITINERARY HERE!

10 days!

2008-10-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

MTWP: Kevin Dunn (Dice, Dunn)

2008-10-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

An old joke from Andrew Dice Clay goes something like this, "Excuse me sir, is this the back of the line?" "No, it's the front. We're all standing freaking backwards."
Dice responds and then he snaps open his lighter and ignites his cigarette. Those sharp (and censored for this publication) words are the type of response you can expect from Kevin Dunn. He's been known to channel The Dice Man from time to time and in fact his rugby nickname in college was Dice. Dunn has that sort of brash and blunt sense of humor that catches people off guard. You find yourself saying, Did he just say that? And then when you realize he did, you laugh until it hurts. Dunn doesn't pull any punches. He tells you what he thinks. Whether you agree with him or not is inconsequential. I've always admired his gusto and sometimes his acerbic observations are the slap in the face you need. And since Dunn tries to be brutally honest with people, I'm following suit with this write up.
Dunn can drink. I'm not talking about a few beers and shots. That's for the tourists. Dunn puts booze away like a squirrel puts away nuts to get ready for a long winter. The distributors of Gran Mariner (one of his favorites) called him and said, "Please stop. We can't keep up." I once saw him drink Wild Turkey like it was coca-cola and then he chased it with more Wild Turkey. You get the idea. He likes to party, he likes the nightlife. We've known each other since college and shared a lot of good times. He is a lot of fun to be around and he wants everyone around him to have fun. Talk to him at the wedding. I'd be willing to bet you'll laugh. Of course, Dunn and I have had a few bad times together. Like the time I saw him with his shirt off. Not pretty. In fact, that inspired the following Dice joke just for him: What's the difference between Dunn's upper body and a sweater? That's what I say. What's the difference. Ohhhhh!

MTWP: Mike Vorrasi (Vorrasi, Verspuci)

2008-10-03T06:18:00.000-07:00

In the song Maggie's Farm, Bob Dylan belted out Well, I try my best/To be just like I am/But everybody wants you/To be just like them. These lyrics are an accurate depiction of Mike Vorrasi. He is not one of the crowd. He's different. And he always views things from an unexpected angle. These are the traits that I like about him and why we've been friends for almost 15 years. Plus, it's a perfect way to be since he is a professional photographer. He's more interested in looking in than fitting in. The subjects of Vorrasi's photos range from rock bands to rocky terrains. He has the ability to capture the essence of these people and places and his stills are always engaging. Vorrasi does have his quirks. He has a strange fascination with Amanda Bynes' movies (I've never even seen an Amanda Bynes' film) and is prone to using sun tan lotion as a hair product. I've seen him dance in the middle of a crowded street. I've seen him strike up conversations with strangers. I've seen him drop his pants at parties, and it wasn't even that kind of party. Needless to say, Vorrasi is a source of entertainment. However, you're not laughing at him, well maybe sometimes, but you're laughing with him. He enjoys life. He likes to have fun. I don't see anything strange about that. So if you smell a guy who reeks like the beach and see him snapping photos, then you've stumbled upon Vorrasi. You'll have a great time talking with him. For a serious conversation, bring up his idol and the only other subject he likes to talk about as much as photography--Bob Dylan.

1 month away!

2008-09-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

In exactly one month, we'll all be together celebrating!!! I can't even explain how excited we are!

The RSVP'S are rolling in! And I'll tell you what - it's going to be quite a PARTY!!!

But we are still waiting on quite a few! So if you think of it, send it along! (And I've gotten some requests to keep the postcards, and I can certainly give them back once the affair is over with, but for now I would love to have them all back!!!)

Can't wait to see all your happy faces!
Many xxx's and ooo's!

MTWP: Chris Tanoff (aka Tanoff, Crit, Crit Dog, Casino)

2008-09-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

Tanoff likes to keep things even. He doesn't let his emotions get the
better of him. He would have been a great big league pitcher. Too bad
he throws like a little girl. Actually he has good arm, especially
with a whiffle ball, and is athletic and competitive. He's also a dyed
in the wool Yankee fan. I've known Tanoff since the first week of
college and we've been great friends since. After graduation, we even
lived together for a while in NYC. That's where I learned that Tanoff
takes more showers in a day than most people take in a week. Oh, and
by the way, don't touch his hair. He expertly sculpts his follicles
and encases them in some form of lacquer.

Tanoff has an approachable demeanor and people trust his opinion. I
think it's because he is a straight-shooter with a good sense of
humor. And if you want someone to plan something for you, then Tanoff
is your man. He makes plans and sticks to them. I swear he even
planned the date of his son's birth. Tanoff's lucky number is 23. His
son, Christopher, was born on 3/12/08. If you add up 3 + 12 + 8, you
get 23. That's no accident my friends, especially if you ask Tanoff.
He'll tell you he made that baby on purpose.

Tanoff considers all the angles. That explains his skills at Black
Jack. If he wasn't working at AIG, I could see him dealing cards and
cracking wise at the high-rollers table. He'd be sending home the
players with their heads down and their hands in their pockets. If he
busts out a deck of cards at the wedding then watch out suckers. Last
thing, ask Tanoff how tall he is. He's 5'11 and a half, but always
says he is 6 feet. You know why? Because 6 is an even number.

the countdown begins....32 days!

2008-09-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

Yay!!!! We are so excited!!!!!

We've been busy little bees getting everything finalized and all the details worked out...we've been on the hunt for out-of-the-ordinary ideas and really unique details that will make this day perfect!

....attached are some of our wedding day finds, as well as some "decoys" -- I can't give it all away!!!

Cupcake Tasting!

2008-09-04T08:47:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd post some images from our cupcake tasting a few weeks ago! Yummm!

We are happy to say we'll have SugarSweetSunshine cupcakes at the wedding!
Thanks to Peggy for meeting with us and letting us try all the delicious flavors!

MTWP: Brooke Tyson

2008-09-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

Brooke and I met 6 years ago almost to the day when Gabe and I were at his parents house in LBI -- Brooke and Chris, her then fiance, came to visit for labor day -- I was super nervous as Gabe spoke so highly of both of them that I was nervous that if they didn't like me, Gabe and I were not to be. But low and behold - it was a great weekend, kites were flown, seafood was eaten and much wine was drunk. It was a perfect weekend - except for the rain.

A lot has changed since that weekend, Brooke and Chris are now happily married and parents of two of the cutest little boys - Chase, our ringbearer and their newest addition, Andrew and live on the left coast in sunny California.

One of my favorite memories with Brooke, was when we went to visit soon after they moved to Cali a few years ago and we decided to have our own little dance party while Gabe and Chris were smoking cigars on the patio - yep, we danced for a good solid hour at least and even made up our own signature dance "One leg up, One leg HIGHER" - If you're lucky maybe you'll get to see an encore performance of it at the wedding...Although, I think Gabe and Chris would like to put that memory behind them - they did not love our dance moves - I don't know why though.

I am so happy to have Brooke, she has great insight, is super-smart and offers really great advice, which I find priceless in a friend. You'll recognize Brooke right away with her stylish sensibility, her bright smile and her great personality. I believe she was once famously described as "a lovely pink horizon." Ask her about that story - it's a good one! ;)

Cupcakes!

2008-08-11T07:41:00.000-07:00

Hey there! New poll added today! What's your favorite cupcake flavor? As most of you know, we're having cupcakes instead of a cake, cause, well, cupcakes are better! ha!

Let us know your favorite flavor cupcake, and who knows, maybe your favorite will be ours, too and show up at the wedding!

AC

2008-07-29T08:02:00.001-07:00

AC
7.27.47 - 4.21.08
You are in our thoughts daily and are truly and deeply missed!

4 months and 1 day...

2008-06-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Although I know these last months are going to go quickly and once it's over I'll wish it wasn't.....but I just can't wait! Here's an inspiration board I've been working on since we'll be meeting with our florist in the next week to go over more in detail what we want.....More soon! (click image for larger view)

MTWP: Felicia

2008-05-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

I've heard people describe Felicia as one of the most caring people they've ever met and I'd have to agree 100%. I'd also add she's so sweet and so sincere that you're almost unable to believe she grew up in Brooklyn and lives in NYC -- nothing against Brooklynites or New Yorkers of course, but most have an edge, that Felicia doesn't have -- well, unless you've been lucky enough to meet "Debo" but that's a story for another day...
We met a little over five years ago when I moved to NYC....Gabe and her husband, Chris (who you'll meet soon), were college buddies and old roommates. Felicia and I hit it off immediately and were fast friends! Soon after that, Felicia & Chris got married and we got to watch them plan their wedding....so needless to say, she has been so helpful in the planning of our wedding. Felicia is always so patient when I go on and on about wedding details, where most people have zoned out, Felicia is right there asking questions - coming up with great ideas and solutions and just generally knowing what to say and what I want (or need) to hear....good or bad!
Felicia was was a gymnast back in the day, loves to try new restaurants, has a very strong sense of family, always has a warm hug and a big smile to greet you, is a hardcore Yankee fan and is more knowledgeable about sports than most men I know -- go ahead ask her about college football (specifically Syracuse, her alma matter) and see what happens!
Felicia is also a brand new mommy, baby Christopher arrived on March 12, 2008. He's the sweetest little baby! So it should come as no surprise when I tell you not only is she a caring and wonderful friend, she's naturally an amazing Mom!

MTWP: Derek (a.ka. Deek)

2008-04-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

I've heard people make fun of their brother-in-laws. I have to admit it's funny stuff. Unfortunately, my brother-in-law-to-be doesn't provide me with any material. We actually enjoy hanging out together. Derek is one of those guys who could be President. I'm not kidding. He's righteous, intelligent, charismatic, genuine, witty, and articulate. And he doesn't possess any of that political ambivalence or macho ego junk that other politicians seem to relish. He's even worked for a senator and still remains true to his beliefs. Having said all of this, I don't want you to get the impression that Derek is a straight-laced square. He can enjoy a good night out as much as the next guy, especially if the next guy drinks beer in bulk. Ask Derek about his affinity for large mugs of German lager and limoncello. His drinking skills are similar to the rest of his talents: impressive. I'm lucky to have him as a brother-in-law, friend, and groomsmen. Have I mentioned that Derek is currently in law school? Yeah, he's a driven individual who doesn't do anything half way. The one thing he doesn't do is give me what I need to make fun of him. Well, I guess nobody is perfect.

MTWP: Renee

2008-03-25T08:02:00.000-07:00

My cousin Renee has always been a strong presence in my life. She is the cool cousin who we would wait by the window for when we were younger, we'd hear her car come speeding in the driveway and run out to greet her!! She taught me all the coolest things: shopping (in the good section of the mall), how to do my hair (we won't talk about the scar I have from the curling iron), how to wear makeup, funny curse words (my dad didn't like that part), showing us the latest trends (pegging your jeans, hello, priceless advice!) letting me borrow her clothes (I wore the "just another lizard for peace" shirt until it fell apart a few years ago!). There wasn't anything Renee wouldn't do for my brother and I. And now, she has become the rock of the family. We all gather at her house for holidays. She has the most amazing energy about her. Her daughters, who melt my heart whenever I see them, Grace (4) and Brooke (2), are non-stop balls of energy. But somehow, Renee seems to have triple their energy and is always two steps ahead of them. I don't know how she does it. Renee is always ready to hear a good joke, have a good laugh, offer up good ideas or even better advice. She has a natural nurturing ability and always makes sure to take care of the people around her. She's a cousin, and more like a sister to me than I ever realized. I'm so glad she'll be by my side on my wedding day, couldn't imagine it any other way!

Bridesmaid Dresses and other fun news....

2008-03-17T12:35:00.001-07:00

One of these dresses is the official bridesmaid dress -- which one is it? You'll have to wait and find out....Now for the shoes? hmmmmm... any ideas?

And a few quick shout-outs!

Congratulations to Chris and Felicia (you'll "meet" them soon as they're both in our wedding) -- they welcomed their first baby, Christopher Robert into the world on Wednesday -- we saw him briefly over the weekend and he is just as sweet as can be! I'll ask the proud parents permission to post some pics first and then you can see how cute he is for yourself!

And...a long-time friend, Lisa got engaged to her boyfriend Mike last week in PARIS!! How lovely and exciting! Look forward to seeing them soon to congratulate them in person!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Photographer!

2008-02-28T07:41:00.000-08:00

The photographer has been booked.....And he's awesome! We met him through one of the groomsmen, Mike V. who'll you'll meet soon... and have become friends with him ourselves!
He's Virgil Stephens! And he's great! Check out some of his work here!
Virgil is also the captain of the Aardvarks, the bike team that Gabe is a member of for the MS bike race. Not sure if you've heard, but they've recently been notified of their VIP status! Congrats Aardvarks!
Virgil is also a newlywed so knows first-hand what the day will be like and how to capture all those wonderful moments -- our first dance, the maid of honor speech, the best man hitting on the coat check girl -- you know, all those really special moments that we won't ever want to forget! ;)
But seriously, we are super psyched to have Virgil on board and know we're in good hands!

MAP

2008-02-12T09:54:00.001-08:00

Hope this helps to give a perspective of where everything is located!
click on map to make larger or DOWNLOAD PDF HERE

Sign the New Guestbook!

2008-02-08T11:02:00.001-08:00

Be sure to stop by and sign the guestbook!

Good things!

2008-02-07T06:44:00.001-08:00

So if you haven't gotten it yet, you will very soon! The save the dates have hit the mail!
Also, the informational website is up and running and can be found here and the registry is ready to go! (type in one of our names and the password is 101808)
More exciting stuff is coming up:
We met with a florist and a photographer in the last couple weeks and are just finalizing details on that. Hope to share more info soon!
And the bridesmaid dresses have been picked...but that will have to be a surprise!!! A very good surprise!!
And a quick shout-out to the Keith over at the Cranky Pressman for doing an amazing job on printing the save the dates! They are better then I imagined! Thanks!

MTWP : Chris T (west coast)

2008-01-26T09:39:00.000-08:00

Chris T (a.k.a. Isaac)
by Gabe

My closest friend and the sister I never had, Chris is one of the smartest, goofiest, charismatic, and appropriately dressed individuals that I know. He has a standing account at Tommy Bahama and is prone to adorning penny loafers while sockless. Chris is the only guy I know who buys a new outfit for each excursion (i.e., he purchased an entire fishing ensemble for a day at French Creek in PA). Beyond his unique fashion sense, Chris has a keen eye for finance and is a hot dog aficionado. What I’ve always loved about Chris is that he’s always remained true—no matter how much success he’s achieved or how much he’s traveled. Chris is a genuine individual who wants to make others happy and his generosity has no limits. I’ve known him for over 20 years and even though he lives 3,000 miles away among the orange groves, he’s still the greatest friend I’ve got. And lucky for me I am the Godfather of his young son, Chase. Chris’s status at the wedding is Colonel becomes he’s second in charge after my brother. Give him a salute and talk with him. Ask him to tell you one of the many stories from our youth that led his parents to question “Isaac, what’s wrong with you?”

UN HONEYMOOM SICILIANO

2008-01-21T07:53:00.000-08:00

So, as we scoured the internet and asked friends and family about each honeymoon locale we were thinking of, we finally made a decision, by process of elimination....and the winner is: SICILY.

Woo-hoo! We are very excited to start the actual planning and booking of our very own Sicilian honeymoon....there will for sure be yummy food, delicious wine, amazing sites and much relaxation time!

Please pass along any tips on Sicily, we are especially looking for great restaurants!

By the way, Thank you all for voting on the site and giving us your opinions and well wishes for an awesome honeymoon! We loved talking to you about it and hearing your thoughts! Grazie a mile!

New Honeymoon Poll

2008-01-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!
Starting the new year off with lots of good stuff....we are readying all the info for the "Save the Date Cards" (hotels, registry, etc) and you should see them in your mailbox very soon!
Also, we have narrowed down our honeymoon locales to the 4 you see up in the right hand corner (new poll!!! vote now!!!).

COMING SOON TO A BLOG NEAR YOU:
-- Look for some fun videos of our own Honeymoon voting process coming soon!
-- More Meet the Wedding Party entries...we've got some good ones! ;)
Hope you're all doing well and ringing in the New Year right!

til next year....

2007-12-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

So sorry for the delay since my last post....lots going on with both us, and tons of preparation for the holidays and visits from friends and family....

I'll have much to share in the New Year when the planning will kick into high gear!

Love to you all and if I don't see you -- have a happy holiday season and cheers to an excellent New Year!

xo

MTWP: Bridesmaid Meg

2007-12-03T10:53:00.000-08:00

Meg K (aka "The Winker")
How exciting it was to gain a sister when Derek and Meg got married. Meg can always be counted on for her quick comebacks, surprise you with her sly wit and she'll charm you with her sweet southern draw. She is an amazing person with so much love to give it's practically bursting out of her.

She has recently taken up tennis, is from the great state of Alabama, met my brother at the University of Richmond where they both attended, has lived in South Africa, loves Sudoko, is a scrap booking queen, is an excellent chef, rode an elephant in Thailand, is an amazing singer (for real, not just when I annoy her into singing karaoke), likes to dance (especailly to Lily Allen, ahem) and is an extremely passionate person who loves to hear a funny story and meet new people....

Back in March of 2002 Meg herself was a beautiful bride. Wearing a lovely champagne colored strapless gown that seemed to glow in the late afternoon sun... Their wedding was so much fun, it was held on a boat on the Potomac filled with their close family and friends, it was intimate and a love-filled occasion and I remember thinking to myself, I hope someday I can have a wedding like this...that thought set in motion changes in my life and their wedding was not only monumental in their own lives, but touched mine in a special way as well. I lucked out when Derek met Meg, not only did I get a new sister-in-law I gained a great friend!

Just Plain Printed Fun...

2007-11-26T12:52:00.001-08:00

So it's almost time to get the "Save the Date" cards ready to be printed and sent out and I am getting really excited! I can't wait to see the design I've been working on and tweaking these past couple months printed and in in my hands ready to be addressed, stamped and posted! It will be a good feeling.

Just need to wrap up the hotel situation, booking blocks of rooms, etc so we can include that on the save the date....

It was a great holiday this past week and really enjoyed seeing the family, although we missed a few-- that will just make it that much more sweeter at Christmas!

I've been debating "releasing" some details on the blog as I want to keep some things a suRprise, but I hope to have some more fun tidbits coming your way! We're really getting into the honeymoon location now and have added some more locales to our list. I'll be posting a new poll very soon..... And of course, MTWP is in full effect......good stuff!

Hope your staying warm!

The Dress!

2007-11-20T06:50:00.000-08:00

The Dress has been picked and ordered from Adrienne's right on Orchard Street in our very own Lower East Side neighborhood! How very exciting!
What's neat is that a lot of the wedding details are coming from our very own neighborhood -- the engagement ring came from Doyle & Doyle on Orchard Street, the dress from Orchard Street as well...there's a chance we may use the Flower Girl which is also on Orchard Street....so it's really a nice touch and I'm pleased with how it's all working out! If you look closely on the picture in this post you may be able to see the dress.....ha! just kidding! ;)
Have a Happy Turkey Day!

MEET THE WEDDING PARTY (MTWP): BEST MAN

2007-11-13T08:41:00.000-08:00

Bryan C (a.k.a. Big Bry)
If you are lucky your best man is either a great friend or your brother. Well I must be the luckiest groom-to-be around because Bryan is both. Bryan towers above his father and me. Like his Uncle Andy, his grandfather's brother, he owns most of the inches in the family. His height is not his only differentiating point. Bryan is an avid lacrosse player who could string up your stick in a matter of minutes. He has boundless energy, a quirky sense of humor, and is an aspiring creative writer. Bryan is currently a junior at Neumann College where he impresses the ladies with his belly rolling skills (ask him to show you during the reception). When not joking around or providing funny imitations, Bryan is interested in learning about family tradition. To all you seasoned wedding attendees out there, (yeah, I'm talking to you, the one who knows the origin of family members and friends nicknames) take Bryan aside and share your stories with him. He'll serve as an attentive and compassionate listener. After you've talked with him you'll realize why everyone finds him so likable.
(WRITTEN BY GABE)

Letterpress

2007-11-08T11:18:00.001-08:00

Not sure if you re-call how I was obsessed with letterpress a few weeks ago...ha! Well, it hasn't stopped, in fact the obsession has grown.....As mentioned, I took the workshop and now have a sweet boxful of letterpressed cards and lined envelopes!

I finished lining the envelopes last night which they taught us how to do in the class as well (I choose a lovely red textured paper to contrast the black impression and white paper) and now have a lovely finished set of notecards that were made with my very own hands! super cool!

Thanks to Diana from MAKE workshop and Breck and Matt from Sesame Letterpress for making such a cool learning experience available to the public! It was so interesting and a lot of fun! I also met a girl who was getting married on 10.18.08 and in Long Island City -- funny, right? What a small world. We're planning a drive-by of each other's wedding spots since they're only a few blocks apart!

Anywho, here's the final product! I hope to write to you all in the next few months so you can get an up close look! Also, more pics can be found on my flickr page!

MEET THE WEDDING PARTY (MTWP): MAID OF HONOR

2007-10-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

A new feature of the blog, debuting today is "Meet the Wedding Party" -- first up, my lovely little button of a friend and maid of honor:

Jenna D.
(aka The Hammer, Sheila) The Hammer hands out high fives like it's her job—witness her recent enthusiastic TV appearance on the Food Network. Jenna is a renaissance woman who has traveled the world to learn about gastronomic delights. She went to Greece to make olive oil, upstate NY to grow biodynamic vegetables and make cheese, and she even cultivated a gummy worm farm in Iowa. OK, the last part is false, but the rest is true.

Now she is in PA making the sweet indulgence known as chocolate. On the side she's swinging on a trapeze and learning the violin. Not at the same time of course, but we wouldn't put it passed her. Jenna is the kind of girl who will wear a prom dress to a dive bar and eat her dinner out of coffee cup. You love her the minute you meet her! Just yell out The Hammer or her other nickname, Shelia, and she'll come running to throw you a hug.

Belle Fleur & The Flower Girl

2007-10-23T06:56:00.000-07:00

Belle Fleur...This florist is a good find...I got a lovely bouquet from here when we first got engaged and have had it on my mind ever since.....they are a mother-daughter team and put out some beautiful bouquets. I'll be checking them out along with some other NYC florists.... Belle Fleur: These bouquets are especially beautiful!

Another florist I happened upon is in our neighborhood, inside the new Earnest Sewn shop (which sadly overtook the charming museum antique shop on the corner of Orchard and Broome. But does add interest to the growing neighborhood.)

The florist is the "flower girl"-- (I can't find a website and that always annoys me as I like to check out products and get a feeling and price range beforehand) but regardless, she had some interesting arrangements staged while I was there so I'll give her a call and see what comes of it.

Stay tuned for a new feature debuting soon on the blog -- "meet the wedding party" -- it should be a nice (and hopefully entertaining) addition!

365 Days to go!!!

2007-10-18T06:14:00.001-07:00

Exactly one year from today we'll be hearing wedding bells!!!!

woo-hoo! Exciting Stuff!!!

Nothing to much to update on this week....will be checking out some possible Rehearsal Dinner restaurants this weekend....that should be fun!
And deciding on the hotels for wedding party and guests....other than that...same old, same old!
Hope everyone is well!

The Groom's Attire

2007-10-10T06:21:00.000-07:00

As we all know Gabe has his own personal style so I am positive, him and his groomsmen will look amazing on the big day.....but in case he needs some ideas, I'll steer him in this direction:

The idea is simple, you find fabric you like (it seems silk or wool blends would work best) and then send it to this company and they'll produce and send back custom-made ties...how cool! Check it out here: Tiecrafters

It's a Good Thing

2007-10-05T06:38:00.001-07:00

Well, I am excited to say, after all my babbling about invitations/letterpress, I have gone ahead and signed myself up for a class on how to actually produce letterpress stationary. I can't wait....This great little workshop MAKE gives classes in not only letterpress, but sewing, knitting, block printing...and lots of other fun stuff! It just happens to be in my 'hood too! How fun!

I'll definitely post my finished project! The class is given by the peeps over at Sesame Letterpress in Brooklyn, so I'll be traveling to their studio for a lecture on Oct 23 and then a four hour printing session on Nov 3! Where I'll have 25 notecards to show for my efforts! I am super-excited! (can you tell?)

Got the Fall Martha Stewart mag last week, and have been slowly going through it, loving all the ideas.....(i like to savor all the wonderful inspirations! )

A few of my favorites:
White Bouquets I love the "bohemian chic" one

Yummy Favors I have mine all picked out, although those will be a secret until the big day! And they're not cookies. don't worry, martha will be proud.

Citrus Centerpiece I absolutely LOVE the idea of a citrus centerpiece, although with the colors we choose, it might have to be limes instead of lemons...anyone have a lime tree?

Of note, I think I am becoming martha-obsessed, what do you think? Maybe I should do a poll...I've used her name 3 times already in this post alone....does that mean I'm obsessed? As Martha would say (and my Aunt Connie would agree) "it's a good thing."

Have a great weekend loved ones! xo

Invitations

2007-10-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

I am slightly obsessed with invitations as you may have guessed....I can't help it....they really help to set the tone of the event. I have been involved with creating many in the past for the events I worked on so I really want to make sure the invites for our wedding are just perfect! I know it's a little early, but I've started our initial design and really love it! It's unique, but simple...now to find the perfect printer...this seems to be the hard part! Although I have been in communication with several that are promising and are willing to print outside designs. Save the Dates will be going out shortly...although if you're reading this, you probably already have the date saved ...so it's for everyone else!

Check out the invite suites from CeCi NY a preeminent NY invitation designer.

The Dress

2007-09-25T06:15:00.000-07:00

OK, so the all-important dress shopping expedition is coming up.....here are some of the places I plan to check out:

Wedding Atelier
Kleinfeld's

Shout Out!

2007-09-24T05:54:00.000-07:00

Look at this people, Our blog got a shout-out on this site, DIY Bride, how exciting!!!
Thanks DIY Bride!

Bride & Groom trivia - answers!

2007-09-24T05:43:00.000-07:00

Here are the answers:

1. Good Old Skippack RoadHouse
2. The movies and then Bud's Bar in Oaks
3. A cat named Stella
4. Puerto Rico
5. no!

So how'd you do?

Color Wheel!

2007-09-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

This site is very cool, you can preview different color variations and see how they look together. This would be cool even for any event, not just a wedding! Keep in mind for your next par-tay!
Color Studio.

Bride & Groom trivia

2007-09-17T06:35:00.000-07:00

here's a little gabe and kate trivia FUN for ya'll*:

1. Where did gabe & kate meet?
2. Where did gabe and kate go on their first date?
3. What kind of pet do g&k have? What is it's name?
4. Where was g&k's first vacation to?
5. What did kate's dad say at first when gabe asked him to marry kate?

happy monday.

*that's for you meg!

oh lovely letterpress....

2007-09-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

There really is nothing like letterpress. As I am searching for vendors to print our invitations I just keep realizing how much I love letterpress. Seriously, I would print everything in this style if I could.....it's just so lovely!

For those of you not familiar, here are some samples of this beautiful art form!

Louella Press
Good on Paper
Greenwich Letterpress
CECI ny

Inspiration Board #1

2007-09-10T08:48:00.001-07:00

From my sketch book and beyond......enjoy!

New York, New York...

2007-09-10T06:11:00.000-07:00

Hey there, sorry for the delay since my last post, this silly thing called a 9 to 5 job just keeps getting in the way of my wedding planning! argh!

Anywho, met with Chef Rossi, (theragingskillet.com) and she's wonderful! We look forward to finalizing a contract and working with her for the perfect menu! She gave us lots of insight on how the actual day would go, and even some inside tips for working with Eleanor, the owner of the Met Building. (If you haven't read, Eleanor is a one-of-a-kind sort of lady!) So we're glad to have Chef Rossi on our team!

In other news, looks like we'll get the band we were hoping for! So people, put your dancing shoes on! It's going to be SO much fun!!!

Working on a fun map that I will post very soon of fun things to do in NYC while you're here! So let me know if there is anything in particular you'd be interested and doing and we'll see about arranging it! (museums, shopping, siteseeing, people-watching, flea markets, art galleries, you name it, we've probably got it here in the city!)

Hope your enjoying the last days of summer! Much love to you all!

To Do This week....part deux

2007-09-04T06:11:00.000-07:00

So none of our To-Do's from last week got done! Ha! This week, however, is off to a good start.

Tomorrow we finally meet with Chef Rossi, I'll keep you "posted" on how that goes. We're very excited to see what she has to offer!

We have the invite list pretty much finalized, which is a good thing. Now the daunting task of gathering addresses is looming.

We hope to have the band finalized in the next week or two...we saw them at another wedding and they were phenomanal so we're super excited to have them at our wedding! They are full of energy and very FUN! Fingers crossed that they work out!

Also, hope to have all the wedding party asked by the end of September. That will be another big check off the list. We're trying to do it in person, so it's taking a little longer than expected!

So those are the big things, although the list somehow keeps getting longer, the rest seems to be the fun stuff! Dress shopping (eeeee!!! that's me being excited!), flowers, invites, photographers, hotels, cake, transportation, and the list goes on and on........BUT...I am really excited! Can you tell?

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! Working on some cool stuff for the blog this week so keep your eyes peeled! :)

I Heart Martha!

2007-08-29T07:38:00.000-07:00

Look at these adorable ring pillows made of vintage hankies! How lovely! I need to make these now! :) I bet she learned how to make these in prison!
Seriously, though, I really do heart Martha.

To Do This week....

2007-08-27T06:33:00.000-07:00

Up this week:

Finalize caterer

Check out Hotels in midtown area (If you have a favorite hotel or have points at a hotel chain in NYC let me know and we can add to our list for consideration-- we're shooting for 2-3 hotels to block off rooms for that weekend.)

Save the Date - printing vendor research

Also, In case you were interested, here are some of the other venues we checked out before we came upon the Metropolitan Building.....All were very nice but not as unique as the Met Building.

Castle on Hudson
Blue Hill at Stone Barns
The Garrison
Monteverde

Flowers

2007-08-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

Lily of the Valley, Peonies and really any white flower are at the top of my list right now, but there are so many options!

I do know I want to incorporate a lot of green leaves and foliage if possible, which coincidentally is a symbol of "wedded love." how sweet.

Dahlia's are in-season during October and are the the "traditional autumn flower." But I think they're a tad to colorful.

According to the Wedding Gazette these types of flowers are easy to get all year long as well, so I will consider, (although not sure what some of these are) :

Baby's Breath, Bachelor's Buttons, Carnations, Gardenias, Gladiolus', Lily of the Valley, Orchids, Roses and Stephanotis.

And last but not least, call me crazy, but I like these paper flowers and think they would add a nice touch to certain areas in the Met Building....

Tissue Paper Flowers
Paper Poppy Pomanders

History of the Metropolitan Building

2007-08-21T13:09:00.000-07:00

Here are some more articles & images about the Metropolitan Building.

It really has a very interesting history!

NY Times Article - April 2006

More Beautiful Pictures

Next Up.....The Food

2007-08-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

So now that the date is set, we're focusing on the caterer...

Check out www.theragingskillet.com to get an idea about who we are considering: Chef Rossi.

10.18.2008

2007-08-20T11:54:00.001-07:00

It's official!

Save the Date:
10.18.2008
Metropolitan Building
New York City

www.metropolitanbuilding.com