A few images that we could not resist to share from our latest Gown photo shoot with photographer JP Elario in Saratoga Springs. Hair & Makeup by Make Me Fabulous & a sampling of gowns from Cameo Couture, Lily Saratoga & Something Bleu. A special thanks to the Saratoga Race Track for hosting our shoot!

In the morning, we met at the Ocean Edge Resort in Cape Cod, a sprawling estate with a beautiful beachfront. Patrice Milley from Patrice R. Milley Floral Designs brought the tabletop flowers as well as a bouquet, and she and her daughter helped with setup the rest of our time there. Katie McConell of Wild Bunch Studio also brought a bouquet, which looked great against the sandy backdrop. David Seaver shot all of this, including the cupcake stand, complete with adorable cupcakes from Penny at Cupcake Charlie’s. To tie everything in, Jane Leonard’s invitations from M. Smith and Company were placed on the table-making everything come together famously. We left there to shoot at a breathtaking private residence on Cape Cod-spotlighting tasty gourmet food from The Catered Affair.

We had two more shoots in our crazy day, and drove down to the Wequassett Inn for a oceanside shoot. The weather was looking grim, so we set up quickly and made it work. Karen from Lilacs brought an incredible bouquet, a perfect fit for our shoot. Shama Klee also brought some amazing floral arrangements, and the cake provided by Konditor Meister looked great with everything else. The shoot was fabulous, the staff incredibly helpful, and everyone left feeling very happy with our work.

Lastly, we headed to the Cape Cod Museum of Art, where Steve, director of event planning, and The Crazy Chefs were waiting. We shot a very artsy, very gorgeous palette against the artwork. It was a fun shoot, and we’re excited to see the results.

We’re back at our home base in Vermont, feeling very accomplished. The week was tough, but fun, and we’re so excited for the next issues to come out!

Day 2: Nantucket

For those following along, we are back with a recap of our second day of shooting for the new issue of Well Wed Magazine. Yesterday, we detailed our fun-filled shoot all over Martha’s Vineyard last week. Today we bring you our day in Nantucket-enjoy, and feel free to leave a comment below!

The morning after our Vineyard shoot, we got on the boat from the Cape to gorgeous Nantucket. We shot at the Wauwinet Resort, a beautiful inn right on the water. A wonderful bouquet was provided by Flowers on Chestnut, tabletop flowers were from Soiree Floral, and rentals were from Placesetters, Inc. The peach and lavender table top looked amazing, and the resort provided an incredible backdrop. While we were there, Plum TV came and interviewed Krista about the new magazine-we’re excited to see the footage! Jodi Levesque from Jodi’s Cakes brought adorable miniature bridal cakes, and Marty Kelly brought sweet, organic paper goods for invitations and tags.

After the Wauwinet, we drove over to Bartlett’s Farm-a colorful field full of lively, enchanting flowers. Our very own Kyla modeled a gown and mud boots for us while Laurie Richards from Pixel Perfect shot. Courtney from Courtney’s Floral Creations assembled an amazing bouquet on-site, which looked and smelled wonderful. While we were talking with these incredible wedding professionals, someone mentioned a local bamboo forest that would be a prime location for our “green weddings” photo shoot. We drove over, and were awed by the incredible backdrop the tunnel of bamboo provided. With the help of Courtney, the Well Wed team assembled an incredible “green” tabletop using elements from the nature around them. After some much-needed local Clam Chowder, we got on the ferry to the Cape, ready for the next day of shooting.

We have one more day in the area left to tell you about, so be sure to check back tomorrow for more!

In case you haven’t heard, the Vermont Vows/Well Wed family is growing-with additional magazines being started in the Hamptons as well as Cape Cod and the Islands. We’re having a blast putting it all together, but it’s hard work as well. This past week, our editor-in-chief, Krista Washburn, took her assistant (Sara McDonald), 2 interns (Jana Devereaux and Kyla Dumont) and photographer David Seaver to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Cape Cod to shoot editorial segments for the upcoming issue of Well Wed. We spent 3 days shooting in multiple locations, working with the area’s finest wedding professionals, and realizing with every introduction-to a person or a location-just why we chose Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket as new markets for Well Wed Magazine. The people were amazing and welcoming, and the area was breathtakingly beautiful-a perfect spot for brides looking for a beachy destination wedding. Over the next few days, we will give you a glimpse into our three-day photo shoot marathon, which brought us from the rustic fishing villages of Menempta to the elegance of the Wequasset Inn.

Day 1:

Even through threatening weather, our rental car falling apart, and missed ferry rides, we made it out relatively unscathed-but with lots of great photos, editorial, and connections made in the process. We first met up with florist Lynda Dandeneau, florist extraordinaire. She owns Dandeneau Flowers, and created truly beautiful bouquets for our first shoot. She and her two daughters, Phoebe and Kelsey, went above and beyond for us our entire time there, opening up their home as a makeshift “home base” for us, and allowing the Well Wed team the use of their cars. We shot at The Boathouse in Edgarton, Martha’s Vineyard, and were very impressed by the impeccable service and gorgeous views. Event rentals were provided by Big Sky Tents, who graciously provided everything we needed. We were also welcomed with open arms by Plum TV, who shares in our mission of elevating the perception of the local wedding industry. They shot snippets of our setup and prepping process, and even caught a few bloopers as well. (Be sure to check their website for airdates!) Sarah Stock from The Cottage Garden also brought some amazing bouquets, which we shot around the dock area of The Boathouse. Lisa Raffael of Delicious Desserts made a fun, nautical themed cake that was perfect for the location. The tabletop was made after setting out the menus from Heidi Girvin’s Parchment Fine Papers, resulting in a gorgeous tabletop spread.

We headed on to our next location-the house of Tea Lane Caterer’s Dee Smith, who was getting ready for a huge soiree. Still, she managed to set aside some time for us to shoot some nautical themed appetizers, which were both tasty and looked beautiful.

Next, we headed over to Menemsha for the start of gown shoot. We were thankfully housed by an amazing, high-end boutique right in the center of town, Pandora’s Box.  Click Modeling Management provided the models, Molly and Aly, who were both beautiful and professional. Hair and makeup was done by Susan House of Boucle Salon and Spa, and accessories were provided by Tulle Bridal. Joe Mikos and his assistants shot a ton of gorgeous, amazing dresses in different beach locations all over Martha’s Vineyard.

We weren’t done yet! Nicole Friedler met one of our interns, Kyla, and some adorable child models on an antique schooner for a flower girl dress shoot. The sun was setting in the background, the girls were well-behaved, and the shoot was really fun. Late that night, we raced to the ferry, and just made it.

The week was chock full of great introductions, great times, and great shots! Stay tuned for more!

Your bridesmaids are there at every juncture during your wedding and wedding-planning process, so it’s nice to reward them with a token of your appreciation at the end of it all. Before you go completely traditional with gifts such as matching necklaces or beauty products, consider a number of more unique approaches.

Gift bags are becoming increasingly popular, and they give brides a chance to completely personalize the gift for each person. Scour sales for tote bags made by the same designer, and fill them with goodies for your ladies. If the wedding could be chilly, consider pashmina shawls. Warm and versatile, these shawls seemingly have a hundred uses, and your bridesmaids will thank you for providing them with a stylish way to keep warm. For destination weddings, include a taste of the area-maple cookies in Vermont, key lime candy in Florida, wine in New York, or sweet tea bags in the south.

Another popular option for bridesmaids is spa services. Give each of your ladies a gift card to a local spa, and head there together the day before the wedding. Allow each one to pick out their service-be it a manicure, pedicure, massage, or facial! This works well for brides on a budget- the bridesmaids won’t expect a manicure, pedicure, and hairstyle the day of the wedding.

No matter what you decide, be sure to give each bridesmaid a variation on the gift to ensure everyone is treated the same!

When planning an outdoor wedding or reception, there are many things to remember. By keeping the following ideas and tips in mind, you’re sure to have a great time beneath the beautiful New England sky.

Of course, factor in the weather. Though the area is gorgeous in the winter, wedding guests will not enjoy traipsing through snowdrifts to the cocktail bar. For winter weddings, a tented reception with space heaters and panels open toward breathtaking views is a must. All other seasons can be appropriate for a full outdoor wedding and/or reception, but weather still can be fickle. Always have a backup plan. Often, outdoor reception sites will have an indoor area available in the general area, but be sure to ask. If you’re nervous about the weather, consider booking the indoor area as well, just in case. Though you’ll end up spending more money, the security in knowing that you’re taken care of no matter what the weather brings is well worth it.

For outdoor receptions, be sure to break up the area with different outdoor “rooms.” Having a designated dance floor, bar area, and lounge area ensures that all areas of your space are utilized and guests remain circulating. Designate areas by using barriers, couches, even rugs! Decorate the space as if you were decorating an interior area-use light fixtures, tables, and linens that evoke a relaxed atmosphere. Guests will enjoy the feeling of being inside while enjoying the scenery of our beautiful state. Just be sure to have a quick plan that you can enact if the weather turns on you-and use weatherproof furniture and linens.

New England is known for its beautiful scenery, so if you have the chance to celebrate outdoors, do! Just take the necessary precautions, and you’ll be sure to have a beautiful reception.

Do it yourself favors-good idea or bad idea? Many times, the idea of adding such a large responsibility to her plate around her wedding day can cause even the most put-together bride to shudder. But, done right, DIY favors can save a lot of money, guests tend to appreciate them more, and you’ll have fun making them!

When deciding on a DIY favor, time is your biggest variable. If you don’t have much time around the wedding day, a food-based favor is not a good idea. If you can spare a little time, though, homemade goodies are the easiest and cheapest way to give all of your guests a favor. Fresh-baked cookies boxed with the recipe and a unique cookie cutter are a yummy way to thank your friends and family for attending, and the cookies will end up costing just a handful of change!

If you don’t have a lot of time in the days surrounding your wedding, you can make other kinds of favors weeks in advance and set them aside. CDs of your favorite songs as a couple are always a hit, and give the guests something to listen to on their way home. You can prepare these favors, complete with song list and photo insert, at your leisure.

When planning DIY, just keep in mind the overall cost and time needed, and figure out if it’s all worth it.

Just one week after we announced the release of our newest issue of Vermont Vows, we are pleased to bring you the latest issue of WellWed in New York. With a country-wide distribution, you’re sure to be able to find a copy in your area, or just order one through wellwedmagazine.com! Until then, check out a sample of our online version above. Enjoy!

Recently two of our staff members here at Wellwed went on a top-secret photo shoot. Assistant to the editor, Sara McDonald, and public relations intern, Jana Devereaux, were called upon to drive to a secret location in the Adirondacks. They drove through storms so powerful, they ended up having to pull over for a while. After a harrowing trip down an extremely long, muddy dirt road, they came upon not one, not two, but three downed trees. They pressed on, and made it to the location with moments to go before showtime.

Upon their arrival, they met the owner of the resort-a $25,000 a night (for up to 22 guests) haven in the heart of the Adirondacks. Afterward, they met with the team of experts who the owner called in to photograph his amazing place. Lisa Light, a destination wedding expert from New York, led the show. She set up photo shoots, directed everyone, and made sure that all events went seamlessly. Word on the street is that she runs her business the exact same way.

The team sat down for dinner catered by Glen Sanders Catering, and was blown away by the quality and taste of the incredible 5-course meal. After everyone got their fill of the deliciousness, it was time to work. Sara and Jana assisted David from Rennaisance Floral with setting up props for the shoots, and David Seaver took hundreds of photographs of every part of the resort. Gio from Gio’s Culinary Studio even brought in a gorgeous cake to photograph.

Everyone had a great time taking part in such an amazing photo shoot, surrounded by some of the best names in the business. It was a fantastic opportunity for our girls, as well.

“It was an amazing place, with amazing people,” Sara said. “I’m really excited to see how the photos will turn out in the next issue.”

“I was lucky enough to get to go on this shoot and finally meet some of the people who advertise in the magazine,” Jana noted. “Working with such talented, amazing people confirmed my view that we only offer the best to our readers.”

The photos from this top-secret photo shoot will be in the next issue of Well Wed. Look for it in January!