Nantucket Weddings Unveiled

We sent out a note to ask past and upcoming Nantucket brides what music they played (or want to play) to get people up and out of their seats at the reception.  Regardless of having a band or a dj, some of the musical choices were a big standout.  Here are a few of our favorites:

Music to get the ladies out on the dance floor:

*I think we’re alone now (by Tiffany)

*Single Ladies (put a ring on it)

Songs to get Mom and Dad on the dance floor:

*The Way you Look Tonight – by Frank Sinatra

*Just the Way You Are – by Billy Joel

*Sway – by Michael Buble

Tunes to get everyone on the dance floor:

*Sweet Home Alabama – by Lynrd Skynyrd

*Hey Ya! – by Outkast

*Sweet Caroline- Neil Diamond

and the ALL TIME FAVORITE to end the evening -

*Don’t Stop Believin’ – by Journey

Anemones are one of those beautiful, distinct flowers that a lot of brides absolutely love and can’t remember their name.  They are often described as ‘the flower with the dark center’.  Anemones come in some fabulous jewel tone colors including red and deep purple (sometimes referred to as ‘blue’).  Of course, the most popular color is white which shows the stark contrast of the black center.  Read on for the meaning behind this incredible bloom:

The name anemone comes from the Greek word for “windflower.” According to Greek mythology, the anemone sprang from Aphrodite’s tears as she mourned the death of Adonis. Thought to bring luck and protect against evil, legend has it that when the anemone closes its petals, it’s a signal that rain is approaching. Still other mythology connects the anemone to magical fairies, who were believed to sleep under the petals after they closed at sunset. Perhaps it’s because of this magical and prophetic tales that today in the language of flowers, anemones represent anticipation

We ALL love wedding cake but more and more couples are opting for a little something extra for dessert at their weddings. Candy buffets, chocolates and cupcakes have all been seen in 2010 but what about adding in an all time favorite fall dessert … perhaps caramel apples?

Paper tags by Griffin-vites Stationery.

We LOVE everything that Emersonmade touches! Their beautiful flowers, poppers and clutches are so perfectly made and styled that they make every event special! Now they have ring pillows with soft layers of flower petals surrounding the ring. Classic, feminine and in the perfect colors for every wedding. Visit their website to view all of them!

You have selected the perfect wedding dress and now you need to find the perfect shoes! You want comfort, style and something appropriate for those Nantucket beach portraits. Nantucket Island is known for it’s own style guidelines. Flip flops & Jack Rogers are everywhere…and we found some perfect for your wedding day too. Take care of your something blue with Vineyard Vines Bay Blue leather whale flip flops.  Exclusive Nantucket Red Jack Rogers only available at Murray’s can be worn long after your wedding day. Looking to make a serious statement with something out of the ordinary? Visit Vanessa Noel for both traditional and statement making shoes right on Centre Street. And you can never go wrong with a strappy embellished sandal or of course Manolo’s are always in style! Here are a few of our favorites.

Top Row Left to Right: Exclusive Nantucket Red Jack Rogers, available at Murray’s Toggery Shop: Manolo Blahniks, Photo by Kristina Ransom.

Middle Row: Both shoes available at Vanessa Noel.

Bottom Row: Strappy Sandles, Photo by Brea McDonald: Vineyard Vines Puzzle Whale Leather Flip Flops in Bay Blue.

When planning for your tabletops – try to think outside the box.  Your rental company may have some great items that can be used in different ways.  Here, for example, a dessert pedestal is being used to showcase flowers.  Giving different height and adding a unique element to the tables is a sure way to stand out from the typical cookie-cutter weddings.

rentals by Placesetters, flowers by Soiree Floral

We all know that the quintessential flower of Nantucket is the beloved hydrangea.  But do you know how it got its name?

In most species the flowers are white, but in some species (notably H.macrophylla), the showy Hydrangea flower clusters come in a range of colors, from the common pinks and blues to more vivid purple, amethyst, and nearly red hues, and several shades in between. In these species the exact colour often mirrors the ph of the soil; acidic soils produce blue flowers, neutral soils produce very pale cream petals, and alkaline soils results in pink or purple.

While the Hydrangea has been a favorite in the garden or landscape for years, it has become a popular cut flower to enhance garden-style arrangements.  The white is exceedingly popular in bridal bouquets and other wedding designs.  The massed, spherical form and supple texture of Hydrangea blooms make them a preferred choice in upscale floral arrangements.  Rare is there a home interior design magazine these days that doesn’t show a picture or two of a bouquet of Hydrangeas among its pages.

photo by Cary Hazlegrove

Something Old…..every bride ponders her ’something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’ – we received a GREAT tip from a past Nantucket bride, Melissa, who was married this September on the island.  From Melissa:

“for my something old, I glued two pennies to the bottom of my shoe.  One with the year that I was born, and one with the year that my husband was born.  It made for great photos, and when my family and friends saw the photos after the big day, my phone rang off the hook.  A lot of people were not aware I did that, and they thought it was a fun idea.”

Thanks for sharing Melissa!

Fall brides have so much to choose from when it comes to color palette and blooms for their bouquets and centerpieces. Everything is available from seed pods, oak leaves, miniature gourds/pumpkins/corn, bittersweet vines and the oh-so-showy dahlias in every color imaginable (think a rusty orange and a deep burgundy). Mixing up textures can bring a lot of ‘wow’ to the table that will let your guests feast on eye candy all evening long.

At Soiree Floral, some of their favorites this fall have been reclaimed wood, birch bark containers, rosehips, exotic striped orchids, and fiddlehead ferns. Below is a sophisticated tablescape by Soiree Floral where they added mini crabapples to the base of every design. Blue silk linens with burlap runners, twig chargers, and gilded chargers graced the table. All rentals by Placesetters.

Selecting your wedding dress is one of the most exciting and nerve racking parts of planning your big day. With so many amazing designers out there it can be difficult to narrow down just what to wear on your wedding day.  One of the first things to consider is the feeling of your wedding.  Will you be married on a beach with a tented reception or is this a black tie affair?

Many Nantucket couples opt for the first, a beach wedding.  And even if you aren’t getting married on the beach chances are you will hit the sand for some portraits. We found these beautiful dresses that would work brilliantly for a Nantucket beach wedding.  They capture the easy, breezy, laid back feel of the island.

Happy Shopping Ladies!

Left to Right, Top Row: Cymbeline’s Carelie Dress; Priscilla of Boston, style #4211.

Bottom Row: Monique Lhullier’s Essence; Reem Acra; Carolina Herrera’s Columbine