Results tagged “Boston” from Beantown Bride, Boston weddings, wedding blog, real weddings, DIY weddings, wedding blogs
- Plan budget
- Choose groomsmen's attire
- Plan rehearsal dinner
- Arranging wedding day transportation
- Plan honeymoon

Photography by: Lens Cap Productions
You have just found the wedding dress of your dreams but you just cannot swing the price. How does a bride-to-be score the perfect gown without blowing her budget?
Contact other shops carrying the same dress line as the one you want. Inquire about price, shipping time, and special sales. Check the internet for brides offering gently used gowns or bridal outlets selling at a discount. Armed with pricing information, you can negotiate for a lower price based on what others are asking. Bridal boutiques want to keep their brides happy and move merchandise. Chances are they will work with you, especially if you plan to buy a veil, shoes and accessories as well. Word of mouth and internet reviews sites such as Yelp can sometimes be enough incentive to make sure you walk away with dress in hand and a bit of green left in your pocket.
One way you get can a budget-friendly dress is to buy a pre-owned or 'used' wedding dress. I got a beautiful gown from an individual seller at SmartBrideBoutique.com.
(04.09.10 @ 12:17 PM)Author: Kate Langenberg
Photography by: Emily Sterne Photography
If you're looking for a wedding venue that won't break the bank, why not consider City Hall? It's increasingly popular option for couples on a budget or for those who want a no-fuss ceremony. That doesn't have to mean no frills- you can still add personal style with flowers and capture the moment with a photographer. Here are five tips to help you get a head start on planning your City Hall Wedding.
Get a marriage license. Check with your local City Hall for application requirements. Some towns impose a brief waiting period before issuing the license. The license will expire after a certain number of days.
Pick your officiant. Your City Hall may employ a Justice of the Peace who can perform the ceremony. Make separate arrangements if you plan on being married by a clergy member. Out-of state clergy may need special permission to perform the ceremony in your state.
Verify witnesses. Some states require them, some don't. The same goes for different religions. Check with City Hall and your officiant to make sure you're prepared in case you need witnesses.
Resolve age concerns. Again, this varies by city, but you may need legal paperwork and parental assistance to obtain a marriage license if you're younger than a certain age. Proof of age in the form of a birth certificate or passport may also be necessary. It's likely that this information is posted on your city's web site.
Confirm details regarding the date, time, and guests. Find out whether you need to make an appointment for your City Hall Wedding. Ask whether there are any restrictions on the number of guests who can attend the ceremony.
*Getting Married in Beantown? Visit Boston City Hall weddings. Beantown Bride sponsor Person and Killian photography recently shot a Boston City Hall wedding visit their blog for more inspiring images on local couples eloping here in Boston.
Hooray! I think a JOP ceremony can be just as special as a regular wedding. My hubby and I had a quick (and very sweet and emotional) Boston JOP ceremony two weeks before our official GA wedding. There was something so wonderful about that ceremony; it was no frills, for sure, but the fact that it was just me, him, the officiant and no one else was extra special. We went to the Elephant & Castle directly afterward where complete strangers bought us a few rounds in celebration!
(03.25.10 @ 02:02 PM)This is one of my fav features so far because I love the focus on the intimacy of the couple
(03.26.10 @ 11:42 AM)Author: Andrea E. McHugh
Video by: GENERATIONS Cinemastories
Of course you need a killer gown (or two) for the wedding, but ask any experienced bride and they'll tell you about the array of events leading up to the big day: tastings, showers, registries, bridal expos, vendor meetings, beauty prep, shopping, shopping, shopping and more! You'll want to look your best as all eyes are on you. Remember Elle Wood's snarky observation of her nemesis? "He's engaged! She's got the six-carat Harry Winston on her bony, unpolished finger!"
Thankfully, Beantown is chock full of chic boutiques, and today we're gushing about South Boston's Ku De Ta. It's a one stop shop with the hippest fashion and accessory lines, including Justin Timberlake's William Rast, Nicole Richie's House of Harlow, Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers, Gorjana, Joe's Jeans, Free People and Fumblin Foe, to drop just a few names.
Knowing brides and their 'maids can benefit from a little retail therapy, Ku De Ta hosts Girls NIght Out parties, where customers can indulge in an evening of shopping with 20% off store-wide and two hours of complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres! Get a sneek peak at the Ku De Ta's spring/summer collection at their fashion show on May 27th at the Liberty Hotel's Fashionably Late Thursdays series.
*Ku De Ta is generously offering 10% off exclusively to Beantown Bride readers! Happy shopping!
Author: Andrea E. McHughOhhhhh, this is fantastic! My fiancé and I are getting married at the end of July. Rather than head to a beach in the Carribean somewhere, we figured we'd hang around here when the weather's the most beautiful. Among a few you've listed, Nova Scotia is on our list as well!
(03.16.10 @ 11:56 PM)Great list! As someone who is still relatively new to the New England area, I'm so excited to check out some of the places on this list. Thanks for sharing!
(03.17.10 @ 09:20 AM)Wedding Day Details:
Invitations: Paper Source
Gown: Badgley Mischka
Florist: Ilex Designs
Cake: The Icing on the Cake
Venue: The Omni Parker House
Music: BC & Company Band
You are SOOOOO right... SOOOOOOOO MUCH FUN! SUBLIME really makes you comfortable and takes fabulous photos! Ladies... this is a must for your man! HEY, who wouldn't want to feel like a Victoria Secret model for a day??!!
(03.13.10 @ 02:41 PM)Sublime Boudoir, what a perfect idea and a great gift for any occasion.
!
Author: Andrea E. McHugh
Wedding Day Details:
Invitations: Pink Orchid Designs
Gown: Monique Lhuillier
Rings: Tiffany
Florist: The Tangled Web
Venue: L' Espalier
Music: DIY
love the ring nest, super sweet idea!
(04.02.10 @ 03:34 PM)
Photography by: BKB Photography
A huge advantage to having an outdoor wedding is being able to play off the natural beauty of your venue. Garden settings give you the chance to incorporate blooming flowers, green grass, and lush landscaping into your wedding day décor. Here are some tips for dressing up the outdoors to create an unforgettable garden ceremony:
Use complimentary colors. For a look that's truly pulled together, coordinate your bridesmaids' dresses, groomsmen's ties, and flowers with the colors that naturally occur in the garden.
Find the best backdrop. Consider your guests' view of the ceremony and what will appear in the background of your photos. Many venues stick to a tried and true set up when they organize a ceremony, but you might discover a better vantage point by changing things around.
Don't forget the details. Add a splash of color by hanging flowers on the chairs lining the aisle or tie color-coordinated ribbons on the programs.
Lighten up. Votive candles and lanterns can add a warm touch to an intimate garden ceremony. They're fun for day and functional for night.
Refresh your guests. If it's a warm or hot day, arrange for water and lemonade to be available before the ceremony, and pass a signature cocktail immediately afterwards. Again, consider matching the color of the glassware and drink itself to the colors you've used elsewhere.
These ideas perfectly conforms a good wedding program. I like the idea of 'refresh your guests'. The celebrants can incorporate fun programs with it. :D
(05.30.10 @ 03:11 PM)Author: Kate Langenberg
Photography by: Shang Chen Photography
When Hingham native Joshua Mitchell, 34, decided to propose to girlfriend Maureen Hogarty, 26, of Stow, MA, he knew he finally found a use for the Lite Brite that had been stashed in the trunk of his car for the last four years. Joshua had always joked about spelling out his proposal on this children's toy, but it was serious business when the moment arrived. After a surprise proposal in the lobby of Maureen's office building, the couple began planning a summer wedding.
On August 15, 2009, the ceremony and reception took place at the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter in Boston, a place Maureen calls "a modern and fun venue." Mango- and cranberry-colored orbs and parasols added a big splash of color that transformed the neutral environment into a festive party space. Maureen wore a strapless dress from Private Label By G while her bridesmaids wore simple black cocktail dresses, perfectly matching the groomsmen's black tuxedos. The newlyweds shared their first dance set to Ray LaMontagne's "You Are The Best Thing" and later cut a square, multi-tiered cake made by Joshua's sister, a pastry chef. Their 150 guests sat at long rectangular tables dotted with an assortment of flowers. As wedding favors, Maureen and Joshua gave each of their guests an original painting.
The bride and groom both agree that being able to share their big day with so many of their friends and family members made for an incredible event. It's a summer evening they'll never forget.
Wedding Day Details:
Invitations: Emerald Invitations
Gown: Private Label By G
Florist: The Flower Market
Caterer: Fine Catering by Russell Morin
Venue: Artists for Humanity EpiCenter
Music: Atlantic Strings
I agree Sara, beautiful colors. Shang really captured this event well. The food also looks to die for! This is a fun venue for Beantown Brides to know about - it's a blank canvas and you really can make it represent your style modern, funky or classic.
beautiful details and such vibrant colors! This looks like an amazing venue! beautiful work shang!!
(02.19.10 @ 11:09 AM)Fab photos from Shang, as always! I love hearing a little more about the couple's day too. Ray LaMontagne makes my heart melt and I love the personal touches like Josh's sister's cake and the wedding favor idea!
(02.19.10 @ 11:10 AM)Oo I love the use of parasols as decoration! Love the long tables as well. The last shot of the dancing is my fave! Awesome capture.
(02.19.10 @ 11:15 AM)I love these pictures Shang! These photos are really timeless, and what a gorgeous couple!
(02.19.10 @ 11:27 AM)Brittany, I totally agree with you with this venue being a blank canvas. There is just so much you can do with this space. Josh and Maureen totally rocked it!
(02.19.10 @ 02:17 PM)i love the bright colors! Shang takes gorgeous photos, and is a total sweetheart!
(02.19.10 @ 02:28 PM)what a beautiful wedding, and beautiful details captured by Shang!
(02.19.10 @ 03:58 PM)WOW! loving this....I love the details you've managed to capture - im sure the couple will treasure these memories forever!! I especially love the first photo that's on display - you've managed to capture such a tender moment so beautifully. Love it!!
(02.19.10 @ 07:34 PM)WOW! THis is fabulous! I love the vibrant details you've captured - truly a timeless memory that the couple will cherish!! I especially love the first picture on display- you've captured such a tender moment so beautifully. GORGEOUS!
(02.19.10 @ 07:36 PM)loved the earings!
(02.22.10 @ 08:52 PM)Author: Andrea E. McHugh
Photography by: Allegro Photography
When Shelley Greenberg noticed Andreas Senai from across the room the first day of her senior year of high school, she made a mental note that this was someone she would like to meet. Days later, a friend introduced the two at a football game, and the couple never looked back.
Shelley and Andreas attended Boston University together and after graduating, settled into professional life. "I caught the 'wedding bug' first, but after talking, we both realized that there was not point in waiting any longer," says Shelley. "We had known for many years that we wanted to get married." Once the decision had been made, waiting for the ring tested Shelley's patience. "He finally proposed on Christmas Eve," she says, describing the much-anticipated moment simple and heartfelt. "He said, I'm not sure of the best way to do this, but I just want you to have this and to be my wife."
The couple, who would be welcoming guests from as far as China, England, Sweden and Kazakhstan, sought a uniquely Boston wedding site with historic value and cultural appeal. Shelley and Andreas also sought a venue that they could host both the ceremony and reception while keeping within their set budget. The Wang Theater, nestled in Beantown's Back Bay, fit the bill with its Versailles-inspired Grand Lobby, classic ambiance and place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Shelley made an unforgettable entrance, flanked by her mother and father, as she descended from the ornate stairs to the lobby where 75 guests waited in awe. Her exquisite, unique bouquet created by Whole Foods of deep purple dahlia, blue/green hydrangea, white roses, yellow billy balls, hanging greens and dramatic pheasant feathers, contrasted against the refined elegance of her ivory Modern Trousseau gown blending French alencon lace and chiffon with duchess silk satin. Easing the butterflies, the couple had seen each other prior to the ceremony, having photos taken at the Rose Kennedy Greenway and on Beacon Hill that made for some of the days most memorable-and private-moments. After exchanging vows they each wrote themselves, the two stole a private moment, called the Yichud in Jewish tradition, and soon after, kicked off the reception with a rousing second line dance. "A second line is a traditional parade-like dance originating from New Orleans, where my mom is from," explains Shelley. "Everyone waves around handkerchiefs as the bride and groom lead the parade waving around umbrellas." Guests' seating assignments paid homage to Boston locales including Beacon Hill, Copley Square and Faneuil Hall, many of which guests visited the day before on a pre-arranged Duck Tour. Together, the international gathering celebrated the union a long time in the making, Andreas, a mechanical engineer, and Shelley, a blogger make their home in Beverly.
*To visit Shelley's blog CLICK HERE.
Wedding Day Details:
Invitations: Inviting Company
Gown: Modern Trousseau
Florist: Whole Foods
Cake: Sweet Tooth
Venue: The Wang Theater
Music: Four Guys in Tuxes
So sweet... and that theater shot! Absolutely beautiful...
(02.17.10 @ 10:16 AM)Shannon, thanks for stopping by! It is an awesome wedding 4sure! ;-) Amazing how the bride and groom really incorporated everything from attire, decor and venue really making it a unique event! Thanks Shelley & Andreas for sharing your story with us, your wedding was def a one-of-a-kind!
(02.17.10 @ 12:04 PM)Wow! That is an awesome venue, I would love to shoot there. Nice shots :)
(02.17.10 @ 01:32 PM)
Author: Andrea E. McHughPhotography by: BKB Photography
Many brides' wedding days start early in the morning with beauty prep and go late into the night on the dance floor and keeping up with the pace can be exhausting. Here's 10 helpful tips to make sure every Beantown Bride is at her best.
1. Step away from the planning binder! Let go of all the loose ends the second you arrive at the rehearsal. What's done is done, and what's not can be delegated. Your friends and 'maids can make sure every "i" is dotted and every "t" is crossed; enjoy the fruits of your labor as soon as you take the paper plate bouquet down the day-before aisle.
2. Sip, don't slam. True, it's time for celebration, but going heavy on cocktails and bubbly during the rehearsal dinner can easily sneak up on you with all of the excitement. Moderation is the key.
3. Sweet nothings. After the rehearsal, steal a few minutes away with your fiancé. Just a little time away from your future mother-in-law, the ill-behaved ring bearer and that one bridesmaid who you know is more concerned about what she'll look like coming down the aisle than you, can be all it takes to make sure you don't sweat the small stuff.
4. Beauty sleep. As hard as it is to catch some shut-eye the night before, you have a long day ahead of you. Enlist the help of an iPod, noise-canceling headphones or a rousing pillow fight - whatever it takes to take the edge off and catch some Zzzzzzs.
5. Routine. If you normally squeeze in a daily morning jog and a Great One from Dunkin Donuts to find your sanity, maintain as similar as a routine as you can. Stress-busters like these will help ease the butterflies in your belly.
6. Diet-schmiet. It's done; you've Zumba-ed, treadmill-ed and squatted your way to a svelte bridal silhouette. EAT a smart breakfast (sans the salty bacon) and STAY HYDRATED to make sure you don't look like the loopy bride from 16 Candles.
7. Let the pros handle it. You did your homework and hired the vendors you felt were the best fit for you and your fiancé. Now let them do their job. Remember: this might be your first wedding but it's certainly not theirs. If they don't know how to get there, they probably have GPS (except for maybe the limo drivers - print out a copy of any directions before the big day and entrust a bridal party member - on both sides - with a spare set).
8. In her Shoes. Every bride loves a sale, but make sure you don't scrimp on comfortable footwear. At a recent wedding I was in, the bride asked for help putting on her shoes and to my delight, this rug-cutting bride-to-be chose a gold pair of Capezio (professional dance shoes) brand stilettos so she wouldn't miss a moment of the dance floor. Brilliant!
9. It's a wrap. As determined as you and your hubby may be to savor the lobster tail dinner you're paying out the wazoo for, friends and family can't help but visit the head table for congratulatory hugs. Ask your caterer to prepare two to-go dinners for you both ahead of time that you can take with you and chow down later - they will be happy to do it and usually at no extra charge.
10. Ship 'em out. The good news? Tons of gifts await you. The bad news? You didn't account for how to get them home. This is your day, and maybe your only day, that friends and family are chomping at the bit to help you. Designate your SUV-owning pal or that always-pumping-iron uncle to load up the gifts and take them to a designated locale (home, their home, etc.). Tiara-wearing gals never load boxes (unless their robin-egg blue, of course....).
These are fantastic! Along the lines of #3 "Sweet Nothings" I would say try to steal away a moment after the ceremony as well if you can. You're about to be surrounded (bombarded) by friends and family for the rest of the evening- spend a moment with your brand new hubby alone.
I'm getting married in July and #8 (shoes) is something I've been debating skimping on. But you're right-I need to be able to rip up the dance floor all night!
(02.16.10 @ 07:28 PM)
What a generous, exciting offer! So cute... :)
(02.12.10 @ 08:38 AM)Lots of beautiful stories coming in... thank you everyone. PHOTO FUN BOX of Ma has donated a photo booth for the contest wedding! Check out http://www.photofunbox.com
(02.12.10 @ 02:15 PM)Congrats!! I hope you get an amazing couple! I also just saw a North Shore wedding couple win a completely wedding package yesterday! I can't wait to share the photos from our Boston Green Wedding Giveaway - they were a couple I totally felt good about donating to!
(02.15.10 @ 09:55 AM)




LOVE the shoes!
(05.27.10 @ 12:20 PM)The photo of the shoes were one of my favorite photos, too!
(05.27.10 @ 01:30 PM)