August 19, 2014

Bre and Matt's Nature-Inspired Wedding

August 19, 2014/ Jamie Sylves

My husband and I have been lucky enough to attend 23 weddings together in only five short years and we can't thank our friends enough for inviting us to be a part of their special day. As I thought about how I wanted to expand my blog and include new types of content, I wanted to find a way to incorporate our friends who continue to inspire us. So, what better way to show off their amazing personalities and impeccable taste than to give you an inside glimpse at their wedding day.

Meet Bre and Matt. Bre and I met after we were already signed up to live together junior year in college at Penn State. We quickly bonded over our obsession with celebrity gossip and interior design and after graduating, we both made the big move to NYC. After a few years, she moved home to Florida to be with her family and settled down with the love of her life. When it was time to plan the wedding, she chose Fallingwater - a Frank Lloyd Wright home tucked away in the woods in her mother's home town. It was the perfect balance of simple elegance and rustic charm. It was basically Bre if she was a wedding.

Please enjoy these lovely pictures from the bravest, funniest and most kind-hearted person I know.

In one word, how would you describe your wedding day? Magical

What was your inspiration? I was inspired by my wedding venue. It was held at Fallingwater which is an iconic home in western Pennsylvania. The architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, pioneered organic architecture which unifies how we live as humans with nature. I wanted to embrace the beautiful mountains and autumn flowers while still keeping the wedding semi formal and stylish.

What was your favorite wedding blog or website that you trolled on a daily basis? pinterest and www.naturecomposed.com

What is the one piece of advice that you wish someone would have told you before your wedding? Delegate! Do not take on so much responsibility. People around you want to help, so let them. Give up the control and treat yourself. It is your special day!

What was your first dance song? Into the Mystic by Van Morrison covered by Fungus (local band)

What is the best part of marriage? The best part of marriage is getting to spend your life with that person who brings out the best version of yourself. You will bring this out in each other and, together, reach a whole new level of happiness and trust.

Any wise words on life as a wife? Choose your battles!

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Photography: Kassie Jackson Photography | Ceremony and Reception Venue: Fallingwater | Floral Design: Nature Composed | Catering: Myriam's Table | Hair Styling: Mansberry Hair House in Uniontown, PA

October 14, 2013

Our Wedding - Lucky in Love

October 14, 2013/ Jamie Sylves

Photography: Anthony Wincko Photography & Design

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Two things inspired our wedding day - our family and our Brooklyn apartment. We weren’t going for vintage, rustic, classic, but rather a mix of everything Jamie and Jason. It was very important for our guests to walk away and feel like they saw the world through our eyes. We made sure every single detail was true to who we are as a couple and did our best to include every member of our immediate family in a special way.

For the ceremony, we worked with the city of Pittsburgh to secure a permit to close off the alley where our reception venue was located. The backdrop was a row of homes painted by literary writers who were exiled from their country and under threat of persecution because of their writing. These safe homes, owned by City of Asylum, are used as a canvas to express their feelings. The minute we strolled down the block after booking our reception venue, we both looked at each other and said, “let’s get married in the street!” and so we did.

As guests arrived, my nephew and ring bearer, who surprised with me a ring box he made the night before with his Legos, gave a piano recital. We purchased raffia fans to keep everyone cool on the hot summer day and handed out my favorite, local beverage, Turner’s Iced Tea. I walked down the aisle to Kissing You, performed by a string quartet, and my uncle, who I’ve always respected and admired, married us underneath an open canopy made of birch tree branches.

After the ceremony, guests walked to the Mattress Factory Art Museum for dinner and drinks. We kept the galleries open for those who wanted to explore while my oldest nephew, a jazz musician, performed with a few of his friends.

My father, an avid antique collector, gave us a vintage mattress spring, which our wonderful florist used to create our own mini art installation woven with vines, dahlias and escort cards. We filled the space with hanging plants in macramé holders just like our home. A tent strung with globe lights housed our 175 guests for dinner. My mother used the same fabric design as our sofa to make table runners and my father let us borrow his antique glass jar collection to use as vases. Glitter dust was scattered on the tables for a pop of metallic!

After dinner, guests hit the dance floor, which was both indoor and outdoor. We had a disco ball to give a genuine party feel and I asked the DJ to create a playlist of music from our high school days -1998-2001! We served our cake and an assortment of 15 pies for dessert and surprised our guests with the PGH Taco Truck for a late-night snack before they hopped on the bus back to the hotel.

The next day, we treated our guests to a baseball game - Pirates vs. Mets. It was the best way to end our wedding weekend and it allowed us more time to spend with family and friends and reminisce about the wedding festivities. Everything about our wedding was a magical dream come true.

April 10, 2013

Bridal Banter

April 10, 2013/ Jamie Sylves

I promised that I wouldn’t turn this blog into wedding vomit, but I’m 90 days out from the big day and I can’t help it! My mind is consumed with all things wedding. I don’t want to ignore ClaraMaeJames any longer so I must concede and share the peaks and valleys of this journey…starting with Bridal Shower Outfit Drama!

Do I wear white? Do I not wear white? Long? Short? Hippy? Chic? What would Jessica Alba wear? This is what runs through my mind every night as I comb the Internet for my bridal shower dress. My top picks are above, but I need help. Pretty please?! Enter your fave in the comments and I’ll come up with a way to reward you all for your help. #swear

1. Long Crossover Japanese Print Dress

2. Frock and Frill Shift Dress with All Over Embellishment

3. Lashes Of London Smock Dress In Lace With Fluro Contrast

4. Crazy For Love Dress

5. Lydia Bright Swing Dress with Lace Top

6. ASOS Pencil Dress In Colourblock With Contrast Detail