Ally & Matt's Summer Wedding

Ally & Matt had their wedding reception and ceremony here at the beginning of July!

Perfect lighting, perfect kiss!

Their outdoor garden ceremony was beautiful - complete with classic navy blue and yellow accents!

Chairs for the ceremony, delicately decorated with baby's breath and navy ribbon.

Is it over yet?

Ally's grandfather officiated the wedding...a memory they will cherish forever.

You may kiss your bride!

Their reception wouldn't have been complete without the live music from Boston Common Band -  everyone danced all night long!

Ally & Matt boogie on the dance floor!

And what would a wedding be without someone doing the worm over an invisible jump rope??

But, the highlight of the wedding reception was THE HORAH!

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the Jewish tradition, The Horah is the chair dance!  Ally, Matt, and a few others were raised up...the excitement & energy could have been felt all throughout the New England!

Ally, Matt, and the supportive groomsmen!

The ring bearer!  What a cutie!

Ally's mother...and her first Horah experience!  Think she liked it??

Ally's father...and his first Horah experience!  He definitely liked it!

 The incredible photography was done by Benoit & McCarthy Photography

Here are more photos below for you to enjoy!

Stunning bride, inside and out!

A beautiful portrait taken in the Bridal Suite

Look at that train!

Mother & daughter before the ceremony

Beautiful shot in front of the Parson Capen House

Goofy groomsmen!

The entire bridal party...gorgeous in navy blue and gray!

A moment alone after dinner, captured by the photographer!

We wish you many, many blissful years of marriage, Ally & Matt!

The Commons 1854 is Boston's North Shore Premier Wedding Venue

CHANEL Bridal Shower for our GM!

Kristi Martino, of Boston Wedding Consultants, had a vision for Johanna's Surprise Bridal Shower and it was CHANEL inspired!

We wanted to incorporate the bride's classic design, love for fashion, and taste for gourmet cuisine into one fabulous shower.  We had so much fun creating a classically chic and fun bridal shower and we want you to experience it too!

First, the invitation.  It sets the tone for your event and draws people in, you want them to RSVP, don't you?

By incorporating both the bride and groom's first initials, J, for Johanna and Jim, we created a logo specifically for them to look like the CHANEL logo, naturally!!

The Johanna & Jim logo was carried throughout the entire shower - on menu cards, flowers, the cake, and...yes, the perfume bar!

When you think of CHANEL, what comes to mind?  Black, white, pink, pearls, quilting, and perfume!

The table was set with beautiful pink L'Amour linens, pearl embellished napkin rings, and a classy black charger.  And each charger held a menu - with the logo of course!

Gourmet menu for CHANEL inspired shower

 

The flowers, by Annette Rinaldi, were romantic and absolutely stunning!  The tables had arrangements of pink Esperance roses and white fresh-cut anenomes.

Annette also created a floral CHANEL purse made completely of Esperance roses and the Johanna and Jim logo.  It displayed so beautifully next to the exquisite cake!

The cake...oh, the cake!  It was masterfully created by Pastry Chef Mary Bandereck of The Topsfield Bakeshop.

Not only did the three-tiered cake have the quilting that CHANEL is known for, but this beautiful cake was finished off with the signature camellia flower made out of fondant.  The cake was also decorated with a CHANEL necklace to complete the theme.

The gorgeous bride, Johanna, cutting the cake!

Mary also created pink French macaroons with a chocolate filling as favors for the guests.  Each guest received a CHANEL inspired box of these delicious treats to take home.

What would a CHANEL Bridal Shower be without a perfume bar?

We ordered custom labels for each perfume bottle and Johanna was presented with her very own pink crystal perfume bottle.

Guests had fun creating their own perfume, by choosing favorite essential oils and playing mixologist!  They created individual scents to best suit their personalitites!

Here are more pictures of Johanna and her guests enjoying this incredible shower:

Photos by Gaby McCarthy of Benoit-McCarthy Photography. 


Blog posted by Jennifer LeBel of The Commons 1854

Candy Bar!

Ever thought about having a Candy Bar at your wedding reception?  Well, you should!  At The Commons 1854, many young couples have had deliciously elegant Candy Bars.  By the end of the night, your family and friends will want nothing more than to fill a "Mr. and Mrs." bag of sweet treats to take for the car ride home!

Candy station featuring button candies, jelly beans, and M&Ms,
with plastic bags for guests to fill to the brim and take home!

Make it personal with these candies:

• M&Ms with your new last name!
• Heart-shaped lollipops
• Monogrammed chocolate bars

Or transport your guests to an Old Fashioned Penny Candy Store with some of these:

• Mary Janes
• Caramel Creams
• Boston Baked Beans
• Rock Candy
• Atomic Fireballs
• Bit-O-Honey
• Tootsie Rolls
• Salt Water Taffy

Candy Bars are sweet and decadent  - personalize it, color coordinate it, make it fun!

White and gold winter themed candy bar!

The opportunities are endless for your wedding reception.

...and your guests will be on a sugar high well into the after-party!

Beautiful candy station displayed in the rotunda for guests to take
as they leave the wedding reception!

Blog posted by Jennifer LeBel of The Commons 1854

A Rustic Chic Wedding has been the trend among many brides these days.  Rustic Chic Weddings can include anything from lace-wrapped mason jars as wedding reception centerpieces to hand-painted vintage wooden signs for your ceremony.

The Commons 1854 is the perfect place for your Rustic Chic Wedding.  Located just north of historic Boston, The Commons 1854 is in the heart of Topsfield, Massachusetts.  With burlap, lace, and turquoise as your country chic color-scheme, your guests will feel as though they're no longer in Massachusetts!

Ideas for your Rustic Chic Wedding Ceremony & Reception:

• Turquoise painted vases filled with baby's breath as centerpieces for the reception
• Display your signature cocktails on chalkboards
• Mason Jars for guests' drinks during cocktail hour
• Mini planter boxes w/ stamped table number as centerpieces for the reception
• Cowboy boots!
• Lace-wrapped mason jars filled with sunflowers as centerpieces
• Wooden signs lining the aisle of the ceremony "from this day forward", "for better or worse", "'til death do us part"
• Tie place cards to horseshoes or just simply display the name cards in sliced wooden logs
• Shock your guests by showing up to your ceremony in a vintage Rolls Royce

Happy Planning!

Blog posted by Jennifer LeBel of The Commons 1854

Formal Wedding Photo Etiquette and Checklist

Formal Wedding Photography Etiquette in Boston

and on the North Shore of Boston- The Commons 1854 in historic
Topsfield, MA

All vendors hired play such an integral role in your wedding day.  Here at the Topsfield Commons 1854, when we execute your wedding day timeline, we use the following comprehensive checklist.   Below is a guideline for the photography for a wedding reception established and published by The ABC.

 

Brides Wedding Portrait Etiquette

If the bride chooses to have a formal portrait taken, she should do it when her wedding dress is ready. In addition, she should have her hair styled and her makeup done in the same manner that she plans to have it done for the wedding; she should also wear the same accessories she’ll wear on the wedding day.

Traditionally, a bride’s formal portrait was taken to provide her with a wedding picture to send, along with the wedding announcement, to the newspapers. Today, formal portraits are commonly taken on the wedding day, and the best photos processed rapidly so that it can be released to the newspapers; however, the bride giving the groom her formal portrait, as a wedding gift, is still considered a romantic notion. In addition, taking a formal portrait before the wedding is also a good way for the bride to do a test run of the hairstyle and makeup she wishes to have on the day of the wedding.

 

We use the following checklist to help clients decide what photos they

wish to have taken.

 

Formal photos of the

_____ Bride alone, in her wedding dress

_____ Groom alone

_____ Bride and groom together

_____ Bride with her parents

_____ Bride with the maid or matron of honor

_____ Groom with the best man

_____ Couple with the bridesmaids and maid or matron of honor

_____ Couple with the best man, groomsmen, and ushers

_____ Couple with the groom’s parents

_____ Couple with the bride’s parents

_____ Couple with the children in the wedding party

_____ Couple with the entire wedding party

Candid photos of the

_____ Bride leaving the house

_____ Guests arriving at the ceremony site

_____ Bride’s family getting out of their car

_____ Ushers escorting close relatives to their seats

_____ Groom’s parents being seated

_____ Bride’s parents being seated

_____ Wedding party members in the processional

_____ Bride and her escort

_____ Exchange of vows

_____ Special moments, such as lighting a unity candle or breaking a glass

_____ Children in the wedding party

_____ Couple walking during the recessional

_____ Wedding party, with the ceremony site in the background

Candid photos of the Wedding Reception

_____ Couple being showered with toss items like bubbles

_____ Couple getting into their car

_____ Couple sitting in the back seat of their car

_____ Couple arriving at the reception site

_____ Couple greeting guests

_____ Couple mingling with guests

_____ Couple at the head or sweetheart table

_____ Couple dancing the first dance

_____ Bride and her father dancing

_____ Groom and his mother dancing

_____ Couple cutting the wedding cake

_____ Couple feeding each other a piece of the cake

_____ Family and guests dancing

_____ Couple making toasts

_____ Couple saying farewell to their parents

_____ Bride tossing the bouquet

_____ Groom tossing the garter

_____ Couple leaving the reception site in their getaway car

_____ Any other special moments the couple has determined in advance with the photographer






Blog Posted by Johanna Eve of The Topsfield Commons 1854 and Boston Wedding Consultants 

 

 

 

 

 

Here at The Commons 1854, we see a host of the most amazing photographers that present us with truly incredible work.  Thus, this thought inspired today's blog to be really light and cheery and made me want to simply post some of the most thoughtful and creative photographs that we have seen throughout the years here at The Commons.  Of course, these few are just a miniscule amount that have touched us, but just a few we would like to highlight.  Each photograph is different, and really highlights what each professional has to offer in terms of their creative sense.  Happy browsing !! 

Add some fun "extras" !

We love to see people add really fun stuff to their weddings to really make them unique, and "their own."  Here at The Commons 1854, we see a lot of these amazing ideas that really help to enchant the evening.  Some people go the traditional route, through the introduction of unusual cuisine or goody stations that feature the bride's favorite cupcake, or the groom's favorite pastry.  Others feature it during cocktail hour.  We most recently had a bride donate her recipe to our chefs, so that her menu could feature her signature appetizer, a buffalo chicken quesadilla, made bite size in a crisp puffed pastry dough.  However, food is somewhat the most common theme in terms of "spicing up the night."  Why not use media instead?  Let us tell you what we are thinking....

First off, let us talk about using entertainment.  Most recently, we had an amazing wedding that really exemplified both the bride and groom's dedication to their heritage through something fun that the bride hid up her sleeve.  The bride, who was wedding her long time love from Uganda, decided to bring a piece of her husbands culture to life.  She surprised him with native dancers, dressed in all the traditional garb, that were simply amazing.  They danced and chimed in unison, and brought such a surprise to the onlooking guests.  You could tell by the gasps and the awe in the room that this was a brilliant, fun and really different idea.  Not only did the guests get to know her groom a little more, but they also learned about his personal background and got a glimpse at what is held closest to their hearts, and how they will start and fulfill their marriage.  Others as well choose to go with the "theme" of the evening.  Last year, we found it so amazing that one bride and groom chose to have Victorian Carolers standing at the entrance to welcome guests to the seasoned winter wedding.  All of these unique ideas really will have your guests remembering the individuality of your wedding for years to come. 

So, we have cultural dancers and carolers that tops off our "extras" list.  They were simply amazing.  However, instead of viewing the spectacle first hand, why not save it for later.  Confused?  What we mean is this.  Make your guests live entertainment in themselves and install a photo booth!  We have one custom made for The Commons 1854 by our most recommended DJ's from Move it Music DJ and Lighting Co., and it is seriously a hit every time.  The bride and groom can customize a backdrop for all the photos to be printed on, and then leave it up to your guests to create pictures that you can look back on for years to come.  It is SUCH a great idea.  Let's face it, the photographers are amazing but simply cannot capture every single great photo of the night.  A photo booth allows your guests to be themselves, dress up in boa's and tiaras with crazy glasses and let loose.  The bride and groom can be adorned in hats and masks, that look hysterical when thrown over a tuxedo and a wedding dress.  The best part?  The photo's print out for you right there, so request that all your guests get copies and leave them for you :)  That way, you can see you guests in their finest hour, having a bawl at your wedding.  Sometimes, these natural smiles and laughs can surpass formal photos by FAR.  

There are so many more unique ideas out there...These are simply a couple.  Go ahead and have your groomsmen perform magic tricks, like a couple of ours did recently, or take some salsa lessons and salsa for your first dance.  The point is, even if your in love with the classic "Black Tie" theme, and want your wedding to stay traditional, it can never be seen as out of bounds to offer entertainment that your guests will love.  Our blog preaches about creating individuality and a setting that will create the best memories possible, and these are certainly a couple ways to achieve just that!

Happy planning! 
-Melissa