Your Own Personal Space- To the Bride

It is of the utmost imortance to have your own personal space as a bride.  With all the jitters than can naturally happen on your wedding day, our Bridal Suite at the Commons 1854 is the perfect location to relax prior to your ceremony.  Not only can it give you some simple peace of mind and clarity, it's a place in which you can also share with your bridesmaids and closest friends (Ladies of course :).   A Champagne toast with your bridesmaids in the last moments before your wedding ceremony will create an unforgettable moment in time between friends and a memory that will carry with you a lifetime.   And not to mention this extremely important fact?  Every bride wants to look stunning all evening...so our Bridal Suite can serve as a key place to which you can retreat to to touch up your make up and fix your hair, just to make sure those pictures come out flawless all night.  After all, every woman loves their own space to get ready.  Why not make sure you have that and some to make even your "shiniest" moments look like radiance! 

Wedding Music

Music is a very important and integral portion of your wedding ceremony and Reception. When considering the music for your wedding, be sure to create an overall consistent theme for the music. If you have live entertainment for the ceremony cocktail hour then a band is certainly appropriate for your reception. Be sure to create an overall “playlist” from the moment the guests enter the venue to the moment they leave. For example, hire your music vendor to begin the music 30 minutes prior to your ceremony. The first guest who arrives should hear the prelude or interlude. If your ceremony is at a venue such as The Commons 1854, personalize your processional and recessional music such as a classical and instrumental version of your favorite song or that same version of your grandparents wedding song. Ceremony music is often left as an afterthought when it should be planned during the start of the music planning process to carry through a consistency and help to make lasting memories through the music. The cocktail hour music should also be well thought out. The music should not be too loud but serve background music to your guest’s conversation. If you hire a live singer, he or she should stand away from the entrance to the cocktail hour and slowly make their way toward the guests, this makes a more dramatic effect. The Reception music is a personal choice but leave the mixing or general song selection to the professionals. The last thing you will want is to clear the dance floor with music that your guests cannot or do not want to dance to.   Check out out preffered music entertaniment vendors for more information.  C-Zone Music; Move It Music; Nu Image DJ.

Happy Planning!  Johanna Pechilis- General Manager/ABC Consultant- The Commons 1854

March Wedding at The Commons 1854

Becky and Sean in front of their classic New England Wedding Venue

The perfect indoor ceremony location

Simple pink bouquet is the perfect compliment to the wedding dress

The brides personal bridal suite before her ceremony

A traditional horah dance to start the Reception

The top 6 wedding colors of 2012 and 2013

The top 6 Top Wedding colors for 2012-2013 

The Commons 1854 is the perfect palette to suit your dream colors at your wedding reception.  Below are the hottest color trends.

And The Color Of The Year Is...

***(1) It looks like the kind folks from the Pantone Color Institute are responsible for this one....Tangerine Tango & Pink. Pantone declares tangerine tango as a "bright and encouraging color" and as such, is a perfect combo for your spring or summer wedding. However, tangerine alone can certainly be a bit overwhelming used on its own, so it could use a little sumpin-sumpin' to calm it down a little. Enter hot pink. Now I know you're saying hot pink...how can that be calming? There's something about pink that despite the shade adds a softness to whatever it touches. Can't you just picture your bridesmaid's bouquets in all roses of tangerine and pink with maybe a little yellow thrown in for fun?

***Your Wedding Decor Is In The Pink

***(2) Blush Pink & Pewter Gray. Now I'll admit to being a pink fan from way back, but this pink is not the pink you would be pairing with the Tangerine Tango hotness mentioned above. This is the softest of pinks, think the faint blush of a baby's cheek. Paired with grey, which is on a high it hasn't seen in years, it's a gorgeous and elegant color combination. Throw in a little bling with some diamond mesh wrapped votives or mercury glass vases and you have a stunning look that will create an audible intake of breath when guests first lay eyes on your reception venue, I promise! Grey IS the new black!

***Vintage Wedding With Your Grandmother's Blue Willow China

***(3) Blue Willow & White. At a loss for what else to call this color and very hesitant to tag it with a handle like Royal Blue which sounds like it belongs in a nautical themed wedding, I'll call it Blue Willow like the famous china of the same name. Of course, Pantone would call it Sodalite Blue, another on their list of hot colors for 2012, but hey, what do they know, right? You'd think they were color experts or something! The great part about this shade of blue is that it's flattering to just about everyone, so your bridesmaids will love you for it! Ditto your groomsmen, since men are famous for their love of blue. Not to mention with the emphasis on vintage still in full swing, despite Huffington Post's misguided assertion that vintage is dead, you can use readily available pieces of blue & white china for centerpieces and decor. Throw in a little red if it's a military wedding or sunny yellow which looks fabulous with blue & white and you have an amazing color palette.

***The NonColor Color...White

***(4) White On White - The beauty of white for a wedding is absolutely unparalleled. When you think of white, most people think of a stark color, but white can be so much more. How about cream, ivory, buff, eggshell, vanilla, magnolia, ecru, beige...the list of beautiful whites goes on and on, including an off-white called Starfish tagged as a hot color for 2012 by Pantone. Mixing different shades of white in your wedding decor can look incredible together if you're careful about the undertones of the whites you are using. Some whites have a bluish undertone, giving them a cool look, others have a brown undertone which tends to warm them up a bit. The fun part about using white on white is you can play with texture to really make the differences in the whites stand out. An example would be using a stark white tablecloth for your reception tables with a beautiful khaki (also a form of white!) damask runner and a cluster of milk glasses vases as the centerpiece filled with peonies, roses, and dahlias all in different shades of white and cream. Even versatile burlap which comes in ivory and natural can add interesting texture to your tables and centerpieces.

***Be My Valentine!

(5) Red & Pink - OK, I'll admit this is a stretch, even for a dyed-in-the wool pink lover like myself, but I have seen some truly amazing combinations of red and pink that were simply stunning. With this combo, you need to be careful about the color red and pink you choose. Hot pink and red...not so much...pale pink and red... ahh, yes, gorgeous! You really need to underplay the use of this palette to avoid it looking a little Valentine-y, but if you don't morph into overkill, it can turn out looking elegant instead of cheesy. For a classic look, pull in some silver touches like mercury glass with your centerpieces. Put your bridesmaids in blush pink short dresses with red rose or peony bouquets and have groomsmen wear pale grey suits with pink ties and hints of red handkerchiefs poking out of their bread pocket. Your friends will call you crazy until they see the effect all together at your wedding, then they'll call you innovative and daring!

***I'll Have A Margarita, Please!

***(6) Sweet Lilac & Margarita- I'll admit these were stripped straight from the Pantone Hot Color Chart, but can you imagine this dynamic color duo? In 2011, pewter and eggplant, grey and plum, purple and silver were done to death. This is such a fresh and light approach to the heavy handed purples we saw last year with the fun zing of a soft lime added to the mix. With the innovative things florists are now doing with shades of green in bouquets including green hydrangeas and Bells Of Ireland, your bridesmaids could wear dresses in lavender tones and look incredible. Lilac, like blue, is a color that looks great on just about everyone, whether of fair or dark complexion and can be paired with either gold or silver.

***Top colors from Hubpages.com and DIYweddingplanner

Fall Wedding Reception at The Commons 1854

978-887-4100

Bride and Groom: Jaclyn and Fernando Garcia

Fernando and Jaclyn met in 2005 while attending Bentley University.   Jaclyn and Fernando envisioned their wedding to be in an elegant and Romantic setting that could provide five star cuisine. The historic Ballroom with its grandiose windows was the perfect setting for their wedding reception.                 

Guests dined on poached lobster tail and filet mignon, while hand-rolled sushi was created by authentic Japanese sushi chefs.  Everyone enjoyed a late night snack featuring Black Angus sliders, truffle parmesan fries and Fried dough.   

The Arrival:

Jaclyn and Fernando arrived in style escorted in a vintage Rolls Royce provided by Black Tie Limousine.

  

The Perfect Venue:

The Reception was held at The Commons 1854, a historical venue that specializes in weddings.

Jaclyn and Fernando loved the idea of having the venue all to themselves for the day.

   

The Brides Bouquet:

This lush, classical bouquet incorporates a blended palette of soft pastels.   A luxurious mix of hydrangea, calla lilies, and Dutch Candy Bianca roses radiates warmth and romance. A vintage brooch of Swarovski crystals from Pricilla of Boston accents the bouquet. 

  

Wedding Attire:

The Bride wore a custom -made gown designed by Stephen Yearick, the cathedral length vale was adorned with Swarovski crystals scattered throughout. After the ceremony, the vale was replaced with a Swarovski crystal headpiece from Priscilla of Boston. The Groom wore a Joseph Abboud tuxedo paired with a black silk dupioni tie and white silk pocket scarf.

Escort Table:

The hand calligraphy escort table cards were secured by Swarovski crystal holders atop custom designed linens.   

Signature Martinis:

Guests were greeted at the door with the couples favorite signature blended martini’s, some of which were garnished with petite granny smith apples served on silver trays.

Seafood Raw Bar:

Fresh delicious seafood bar consisted of the finest seafood brought in from the Boston fish pier. Shrimp, lobster, king crab claws and oysters overflowed on heaps of crushed ice.  An ice bar just steps away was filled with Ice Cold grey goose Vodka where guests enjoyed   oyster shooters. 

Authentic Colombian hors d’oeuvres:

Aprepas with avocado crème and shaved Jicawa salad was served in mini martini glasses a tribute to Fernando’s Colombian heritage.

Cuisine: 

Chefs created a color pleasing palate with exotic fruits placed on the stationary food display. As the evening progressed, guests dined on poached lobster tail and filet mignon, while hand -rolled sushi was created by authentic Japanese sushi chefs.  Everyone enjoyed a late night snack featuring Black Angus sliders, truffle parmesan fries and Fried dough.    

FireFly Event Lighting:

The crystal candles reflected the lighting that was created by FireFly Event Lighting . The lighting captured the mood of the evening creating a magical romantic feeling. The architectural pillars in the ballroom took on new meaning each time the light changed. 

Centerpieces:

The bride's elegant centerpieces were designed with all white phalaenopsis orchids (named for their resemblance to tropical moths). These fragile orchids, flown in from Thailand, cascaded from crystal vases with embossed basket weave design and were surrounded with three Swarovski crystal candle holders. Wedding Flowers by Annette envisioned the brides dream and created these exquisite floral centerpieces. 

Romance:

Jaclyn and Fernando posed for a gorgeous photo in front of the indoor water fall.  Firefly event lighting provided saturated rich hues of color to enhance this breathtaking photograph.   

Wedding Cake:

A five tired fondant hexagon cake was designed to reflect the warm tones of the ballroom, consisting of handmade sugar orchids which were brushed with a 14 karat gold trim to match the elegant favors at each place setting.   The third tier was shaded in a warm cream tone and boasted the couples Initials.

Entertainment:

Live Saxophone and jazz duo played throughout the cocktail hour. Entertainment was provided by the Boston Band “Night Shift” The first dance sung by Night Shift was a Love that will last from Renee Olstead.   The Guests didn’t sit down from that moment on.

Favors:

To conclude a perfect evening, male guests enjoyed hand rolled cigars and scotch outside on the patio. For the woman, Favors were placed at each setting consisting of Slatkin candles, personalized matches adorned with bow toppers with crystals from Papyrus.  Handmade purse holders from Colombia with the damask motif matching the invitations were provided by the Grooms Mother.

Cuisine: 

The Commons 1854

978-887-4100

Flowers: 

Wedding Flowers by Annette

781-289-7870

Photographer:

Benoit & McCarthy Photography

978-774-4133

Cake:

Topsfield Bake Shop

978-887-0795

Hair:   

Vidal Sassoon

617-536-5496

Dress:

StephenYearick

Bridesmaid  Dress:

Priscilla of Boston

Espresso & Cappuccino:

Black Tie Espresso Service

978-887-5655

Event Lighting: 

Firefly event lighting

978-880-8892

Entertainment:

Night ShiftEntertainment

800-465-1917

Cigar Rollers:

Old Cuban Cigar Factory

978-777-4129

Invitations:

Paper Potpourri

978-372-3861

Table Linens:

Table Toppers

617-558-0008

Limo and Rolls Royce:

Black tie Limousine

800-624-9990

Grooms Attire:

Joseph Abudud /Giblees 

978-774-4080

Ice Carvings:

Fitzy Snowman

781-249-1494

First Look

First Look or First Sight
Many of our brides at The Commons 1854 feel as though the most important moment of their wedding day and maybe their lives thus far is when her groom will see her for the first time.  Many of our couples are opting out of the traditional first look at the beginning of the aisle and are deciding to do a “first look”. 

History…
In the past, in many cultures a bride was the property of her father and her future and husband was arranged without her authority.  The matrimony of a visually unappealing woman was often arranged with a man from another municipality.  The bride and groom would have never met or seen each other.  The fear was that when the groom first saw his future wife for the first time on the day of the wedding, he may change his mind and leave the bride at the altar. This is why It became bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the day of the wedding prior to the ceremony.

The Common’s 1854 preferred photographer’s thoughts…
Roland Silva (one of The Commons 1854 preferred photographer’s) thoughts…

“Times have changed..... No longer is it bad luck seeing the bride before the wedding, as far as I have seen very little is different.  What is different is that instead of the bride and groom seeing each other for the first time from 500 feet or more.

They have a special moment that can be either private or shared with the company of family and friends.  I suggest a special gift or a card right after the first time they see each other, and if it’s with family and friends then I suggest 5 minutes alone.

It is truly a magical moment.....

I once had a bride’s mother that was very much against the brides wish to do a first meeting then the formals before the ceremony so she could really enjoy her cocktail hour and reception without interruption or stress.

The bride’s mother looked at me and said, "you know that special look, the one when they see each other for the first time, you have seen that, right ?", I replied " yes it’s called nervousness, anxiety, deer in the headlight look at being in front of so many people and sometimes even squinting to see so far away".  There is nothing private or intimate about seeing someone from 500 feet or more in front of hundreds of people.

Formals/Photographs before the ceremony:

 I always recommend if possible doing the photographs before the ceremony for a multitude of reasons. First you can enjoy your cocktail hour with your family and friends, and its burning time that you are paying for and getting to enjoy very little.  Second, if something happens

like someone is late or does not show up, you have the backup of the cocktail hour in reserve, and we all know nothing ever goes wrong at a wedding and no one shows up late.  It also allows for weather considerations, running late getting ready (hair dressers, makeup etc) and

acts as a buffer to ease stress on everyone, the bride, families, vendors and the reception hall.  It also adds one more element of flexibility of choosing an alternate location for formals and allows formals also at the reception site.  So if you wanted to stop by the beach first

then the time can be appropriated without time constraints from the reception sites.  The reception sites main goal is to give the best possible experience and food.  This means if something goes wrong earlier in the day, then the kitchen can do its job and not worry about each course coming out too early or late or food being over cooked. Preparing a multicourse meal for a multitude is a daunting task, so being on time is critical so they can produce amazing culinary treats.”

Thank you Roland!

Vladi from The Perfect Image (one of The Commons 1854 preferred photographer’s) thoughts…

“We always capture the expression on the groom's face as he sees his beautiful bride for the first time, be it down the aisle or down the stairs.  As she approaches we capture her smile as she approaches the man she will be marrying very soon. I feel privileged to have been a part of hundreds of such special moments. Capturing those special loving looks with my camera can produce a timeless image to be enjoyed for generations.  But imagine if you could see a thousand such moments with the actual sound of the wedding day, the first words exchanged, the music playing... that is why everyone must have a video.

I believe doing formal photographs prior to the ceremony is a great idea.  The bride and groom tend to be more relaxed, happy to be getting married soon.  The photographer is not quite as rushed and will have the time to take romantic and creative photographs of the couple.  Plus, they will be able to enjoy their cocktail hour with friends and family”.
Thank you Vladi!

Gaby McCarthy of Benoit and McCarthy Photography (one of The Commons 1854 preferred photographer’s) thoughts…
"We love doing the formal photos before the ceremony! That way the bride and groom can enjoy the cocktail party and we have time to photograph all the fun details. Doing a first look is fun. Capturing the look on the grooms face when the bride walks up to him and he is turned the opposite way is just great."

Thank you Gaby!
At The Common’s 1854, we advise our brides and grooms to decide on their first look based upon what is best for their style, culture and personalities. This will ensure they are happy with their decision. We embrace tradition and trends to help create the style of event that is best for each bride and groom’s special day.