You’ve seen my posts about our recent trip to heaven (also known as Nantucket) and you’ve heard me talk about the favorite clients that inspired the trip…Well, friends, I feel as though it’s only fair to introduce you to the totally smitten couple!
Miss them so…
Here is just a small sampling of some the gorgeous photos from their truly lovely day.
It was a steamy August day but the beautiful couple accepted a potentially sweaty brow and extra shine in exchange for stunning photo-ops on the grounds of the Art Institute. (Check out that bridal bod! Still in envy.)
The groom had handsome custom Vineyard Vines bow ties and cummerbunds made for himself and all of the guys.
Possibly one of my favorite dresses to date, the brides Christos dress featured the most darling swiss-dot detailing that stirred a bit of an obsession for me.
The ceremony took place at the always impressive Holy Name Cathedral.
The reception was held at The University Club of Chicago, a private club overlooking Millennium Park.
The charming printables were designed to cue guests into the couples’ inspiration. (All designed and produced by favorite local stationer Clementine Ink + Paper.)
Keeping with the summery color palette of pinks, creams and greens, the centerpieces were composed of fluffy hydrangea, fragrant roses and petite spray roses – compliments of Hello Darling.
…And this special couple will certainly live happily ever after…
{image credits} gorge wedding photos by amanda hein photography. university club photo from chicago architecture info
Still in a dreamy haze of bold colors, I came across this beautiful shoot that Summer Watkins styled for Southern Weddings Magazine. I had to share her gorgeous handiwork.
I’m madly in love with the punchy color palette of poppy, pink and garnet paired with subtle, muted neutrals (my latest obsession as you can see in my pinterest collection!).
The bouquets featured a collection of roses, peonies, anemones, astilbe, dusty miller foliage and velvety geranium foliage – love the texture and the lace ribbon!
The handsome couple was casually clad for their afternoon dessert and punch celebration (a decidedly old school southern tradition).
A simple velvet ribbon is all you need to add some drama.
This cast away scrap fork that was dressed up by dipping it in paint. Simple! The napkin rings are composed of a band of paper and scalloped lace trim.
My favorite picture!
(This brings me back to the sticky-floors of a favorite U of I bar where groups of us would share ‘shark bowls’ composed of…who knows what…that always did the trick!)
Renny and I had a fantastic day styling for a photo shoot, yesterday, and while we spent hours on location at the Chicago Botanic Gardens with some favorite vendors/industry friends – this gorgeous arrangement is all I have to show for it at this time!
This bold arrangement {composed of coral charm and coral sunset peonies, apricot roses, salmon ilex berries, concord grapes and gold-dusted foliage} acted as the perfect partner for our refined rustic setting and looked smashing as support to our color palette of Coral, Camel and Navy.
Upon arrival in Nantucket, the rain continued to pound. J and I were still buzzing with excitement {or was it terror from our stormy flight in an airplane the size of a minivan?!} and we insisted on exploring town. Our first stop was for a late lunch and we found the perfect cozy respite for burgers and beer…
Brotherhood of Thieves was originally opened in the 1840s as a whaling bar and much of the original setting still exists today.
I decided on the Veggie Burger and loved every bite. J chose the Bayou Burger and thought it was delicious – especially with the spicy red pepper remoulade. A couple of beers from the local Cisco Brewery were the perfect partner for our burgers and provided the energy needed to continue meandering down the cobblestone streets.
We had selected our first dinner in Nantucket to be at Lola 41. This chic global bistro had a menu that we couldn’t resist {paired with countless first hand raving recos!}, with seemingly something for everyone. We selected a couple of random dishes, not meant to be complimentary paired, but meant to explore the menu. We started with the Tatara, a basic starter sushi roll {J is new to sushi…we were easing into it}. It was delicious and sizable. We then moved on to the handmade Gnocchi Bolognese. The buttery little pillows of potato were as light as clouds…absolutely delectable and quite possibly one of our favorite dishes of our trip! We also shared the Pressed Sandwich – featuring thick crusty bread hugging a combination of proscuitto, arugula, asparagus, bufala mozzarella and thick, gooey aged balsamic. We waddled home, navigating ankle-deep puddles, in a blurry haze of delicious wine and indulgent dishes.
Day two started with a delicious breakfast prepared by our innkeepers. We had a day of exploring the island ahead of us and, therefore, I felt in necessary to have even more fuel than our abundant breakfast offered…
A strong latte from The Bean was a good start…
But the sure way to keep me going is to have a sack full of sugar-candy! The sweet lady at the Nantucket Candy Company viewed me as a regular by the end our our trip!
After hours of sightseeing we were ready for a snack to sustain us until dinner and decided to pop into the Easy Street Cantina for a bite. The location is great, on the corner of Easy and Broad Streets, right by the water and I can imagine that it is packed in the summer months. The fish taco and chicken salad wrap were average, but did the trick.
We were seated at a cozy window table for dinner, our second night. Black Eyed Susan’s is a teeny little BYO {cash only!} restaurant that offers breakfast and dinner. People rave about their breakfast…but I’m only able to rave about their dinner. I had the Salmon Tikka Masala that had a deliciously Indian flare, while J chose a safer chicken dish that the waiter offered as a special for the evening. We so enjoyed our meal, romantic and casual…and quite bustling for off season!
The next day we embarked on an island bicycle trip and stopped at The Green, after breakfast, to pick up lunch on the go…something that would fit in the woven basket on the front of my bike {J would not hear of putting a basket on his bike!}
Once we hit Siaconset beach {10+ miles later} and found the perfect overturned rowboat to act as our picnic respite, it was time to sample the natural/organic creations the early shift at The Green put together for us. My multigrain wrap was stuffed with tuna, veggies, spinach and brown rice. To say it was fresh would be a massive understatement…it was the perfect fuel I needed. J’s chicken salad wrap must have also been noteworthy because before I could ask how it was…it was gone!
Once we got back into town, nearly 25 miles in nutty wind-gusts later, we both agreed we were owed a treat {as if the backpack full of sugar-candy wasn’t treat enough…}
Petticoat Row is a darling bakery bursting with even more darling treats. In the 1800s, many of the island men were away on whaling voyages for months, if not years, on end. The wives at home were forced to step up and fill in with the labor shortage and started running businesses and shops. The lady-run shops on Centre Street started being referred to as Petticoat Row.
The macarons were massive, the cookies were trouble with their gooey centers and crispy edges and the misc goodies left us wanting more {while also feeling sickly full}…
After a bit of relaxation, it was time to gear up for yet another meal! After a menu change at our originally planned restaurant, Toppers, we selected Dune for our final dinner.
The almost urban setting was bustling with an interesting mix of chic, glossy patrons and with a few casual hoodie-clad locals, all simply awaiting a delish dinner with drinks.
I convinced The Man to start with Oysters on the half shell. We shared the pepper pappardelle with black truffle and risotto. The dinner was delicious and we were so glad to have shared our last dinner there.
The morning of our departure, we realized we had yet to make a visit to a local favorite…Downyflake Donuts.
We decided to walk, even though it’s location was described as middle island. The donuts were surprisingly small…allowing us the further indulgence of a sampling of a few of their flavors: regular, chocolate, and pumpkin spice. The walk was way more manageable than expected, therefore not easing my conscious…perhaps I worked off the free sample bite left on the counter?
Before the weekend came to an end, we needed snacks for the flight and treats for friends at home and made a final stop at Sweet Inspirations, where chocolate covered gummy bears {surprisingly delicious} and chocolate covered cranberries {local and seasonal} came home with us by the boatload.
I haven’t yet stopped my two-a-day workouts and am pretty sure I shouldn’t for months to make up for the few fabulous days of dining we experienced on Nantucket.
There was a significant chance that I was setting myself up for a massive disappointment. I have heard nothing but rave reviews for the charmed island, therefore I had built Nantucket up in my mind as a magical place where locals and visitors were casually beautiful, carefree and discreetly preppily posh. Where the setting provided a backdrop of lapping waves, lighthouses and weathered shingles. A place where there were tunnels of trees edging the streets, where roads consisted of brick and cobblestone instead of smooth concrete, where shops had both the character and vision to be unassumingly fabulous.
A place like that was surly mythical. Was surly a big fat farce, for a part of me wouldn’t have been surprised to find grimy, littered streets just beyond the heart of downtown; pretty buildings whoes interiors were outdated and grandmotherly, posers that couldn’t tell the difference between Nantucket Reds and Old Navy chinos.
Oh – but on the contrary! Nantucket is core-shakingly authentic. Every inch of the intimate island is cared for and tended to – determined to keep the integrity and charm that has attracted visitors for generations.
In short: I’m obsessed.
Here are some of the dreamy sights we took in…
The harbor…
View of town from the beach…
Downtown Nantucket. {As much as I didn’t want to believe – one truly does need to forego their pumps, favoring flats as the streets of ‘Tucket promote utter klutziness!}
Darling residential streets with houses dating back to the 1800s…
Weathered shingled homes and cottages…
My favorite home on the island {no surprise there…}
Window boxes still boasting blooms so late in the season.
A quiet spot to catch up on Coastal Livings’ latest issue…
Seals frolicking in the surf….
Cranberries waiting to be harvested…
And I have still much more to share – so put on your Sperry’s and check back soon for more reports on accommodations, dining and details!
If you’re like me, I am just finally starting to embrace the transition to autumn – so I hesitate to remind you that it’s not too early {in fact…hurry up!} to order your holiday stationary.
I am currently loving these absolutely fantastic watercolor notecards from Inslee By Design – making it MUCH more exciting to think about the transition from fall…to…gulp…the holidays.
We had an lovely time in Nantucket – I’m excited to share so much, so stay tuned…but first, I’ve got heaps of make-up work and upcoming wedding preparations calling my name. Hope everyone had a great weekend!
{Loved the fluffy autumn colored hydrangeas that accented nearly each and every charming house on the island. Clip them now – or pick some up at the farmers market – and they will simply dry in place for a lasting arrangement…}
