Martha Swann Photography

Even without snow, winter was long this year, and for the past couple months I’ve been dreaming of spring–not to mention all the beautiful weddings on the calendar! While we’re still easing into wedding season here in New York, it’s easy to get swept up in the anticipation of lovely brides, lacy dresses and sweet details. So here’s a little elegant countryside romance to help you start your week off, complete with vintage pearls, delicate florals and one fabulous cake!

I fell in love with Downton Abbey when I saw the first episode–and as soon as Matthew and Mary met, I started planning their wedding in my head (they were just so perfect together!)  and dreaming of what their day would look like. So while England’s still a bit of a trek I started brainstorming to see how a bride who’s equally smitten with the romance of the show could incorporate a few nods to English elegance in her wedding day. This gorgeous headpiece from Ruche’s bridal collection stole my heart at once!! ˆ

The first time I met Miss Hannah Crosby of Hannah Elissa Floral Design was actually on the “set” of another styled shoot! We were introduced by our good friend Miss Alyse French Morrissey when she invited us to work with her on a project of her own in Cooperstown last summer! It was love at first sight of course :) I knew she would be the perfect person to help make this vision come alive–and I still can’t believe what a gorgeous job she did! She crafted the lush floral garden-inspired designs that we used throughout the day using flowers with soft romantic colors to help bring the English countryside to us!

And of course you can’t have a wedding without cake! This beauty was hand crafted by Marjorie Landers (and the cake stand is hers too! Don’t you just love it!?)

The centerpiece contained Pieris japonica, viburnum, ‘Creme de la crème’ roses, ‘Majolica’ spray roses, azalea, double tulips, flowering jasmine vine, maiden hair fern and stock

Of course none of this could have happened without the help and cooperation of The Landmark Inn–they allowed us to shoot on their property, which provided a perfect backdrop for our day! Hannah was instrumental in coordinating the use of the property and made sure that everything was in place when we arrived. 

I was just in love with the Landmark’s china pattern–absolutely swoon-worthy! ˆ

Meet Alex, our gorgeous model! She and her boyfriend Matt spent the day with us and we couldn’t be more grateful! 

Hannah found the candelabras for the mantel arrangement in an antique shop–and knew they would be a perfect addition :) 

The garland was made from plumosa fern garland and accented with maiden hair fern and white ‘Majolica’ spray roses–the perfect accent for the elegant mantle arrangement!

One of my favorite parts of the planning was getting to work with Miss Jessie Burns–she designed the invitation suite and menu cards for our shoot!

Did I mention that we got to eat the cake? Believe me it was to die for! The bottom layer was a deep chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and chocolate crème filling, but the  top layers were a beautiful pale white cake with white chocolate crème and fresh raspberry filling (YUM!). Top it all off with a specialty Swiss meringue butter cream frosting, and this, guys and gals, is what we call wedding cake perfection :)

The bridal bouquet was made up of Phalaenopsis orchids, ‘Creme de la crème’ roses, ‘Majolica’ spray roses, pieris japonica, viburnum and maiden hair fern

Alex’s lace gloves were another Ruche find–one of my favorite accents from the day!

Look at Matt! He’s got that look that just says “I so love this gorgeous girl!” ˆ <3

Love how sweet they are together :) Alex and Matt–you two were perfect in every way! The ring was one of a kind–Hannah’s grandmother let us play with it that morning.
Another favorite sequence from the day–isn’t she gorgeous!? ˆMore antiquing finds by Hannah! (Don’t you want her to find all your beautiful things for you!?)<3ˆ