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Photography Katie and Ben chose an invitation design from minted.com, then revised the layout, text, and colors to their liking. “It was a great, efficient site to work with,” Katie says. |
Katie says that, in making the decorations, she wanted to be “as ‘Martha Stewart’ as possible.” On a random trip to a craft store, Katie purchased a collection of patterned paper that would become the basis for the place cards, the table markers, a welcome board, and the gift box.
In carrying with the crafty motif (and eco-theme), guests were encouraged to leave their fingerprint on a tree instead of signing a guestbook. This tree had a special place in both receptions because, as Katie said, “the fingerprints transcended language barriers!”
Being together with friends and family was another major theme of the day. This togetherness also inspired some of the decorations. Instead of buying new vases for the floral arrangements, Katie used her mom’s antique collection of Ball jars. Her bridal bouquet featured her grandmother’s brooch in place of a flower. Katie’s mom also sewed the couple’s names and dates of their ceremonies into their garments (which they re-wore for the second ceremony). The cake toppers were bobble-head monkeys that Katie and Ben made during their first Christmas together.
In 2009, the pair moved to Maisons-Laffitte, Ben’s hometown just outside of Paris. They currently work together (and share an office) at a bilingual school there.
RESOURCES
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jackie Pfeffer and Matt Versweyveld
VIDEOGRAPHY
Nate Armstrong
(845) 532-4199
CAKE
2600 South Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY
(845) 473-5220
CEREMONY AND RECEPTION
955 Route 9D, Garrison, NY
(845) 424-3254
ENTERTAINMENT
106 Fairview Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY
(845) 473-1086
FLORIST
25 Hester St, Piermont, NY
(845) 365-0315
INVITATIONS
WEDDING ATTIRE 

Bride
Melissa Sweet Gown, purchased at Priscilla of Boston (now closed)
“Makin’ Whoopee” Fascinator made by Debra Moreland, Paris by Debra Moreland
Groom

Paul Smith Suit purchased at Printemps in Paris
Ted Baker tie purchased at Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
Dresses purchased at Priscilla’s of Boston (now closed)
Amethyst lotus earrings purchased at Etsy shop karinagracejewelry
Brooches purchased at Etsy shop Rosebud Lips
Groomsmen
Calvin Klein suits purchased at Macy’s
Kenneth Cole ties also purchased at Macy’s
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- The groomsmen’s pink socks and laces matched the color scheme. They were purchased at a boutique in Paris.
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- We wanted our wedding to be about our loved ones just as much as it was about us, Katie says.
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- Florist Lee Vazquez also made great use of Katie’s mom’s collection of antique Ball jars.
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- The Pastry Garden made a cake with chocolate frosting on a yellow cake with chocolate and ganache filling. It was topped with bobble-head monkeys that Katie and Ben made together as an art project during their first Christmas together.
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- Instead of a program, Katie and Ben invited guests to cheer them on with DIY “cheer flags” that said “Yay,” “Yippee,” “Bisous,” and “Hooray.”
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- We knew we wanted to use the garden space at the Highlands Country Club for the ceremony, but we felt that the tree needed to be grounded in some way, Katie says. Florist Lee Vazquez came up with the idea for the wreath with the ribbons for just that purpose.
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- After the celebration in Garrison, the couple took the fingerprint guest book to their wedding in France, where their French guests added to it (no translations required).
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- Ben proposed at Stewart Park in Ithaca, New York, where they both attended college.
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- Katie and Ben used their engagement photos, also taken by Click Pictures, in their table cards. The tables were named after important places in their lives.
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- Candleabras on the tables were a nod to France, where the couple now live. “They reminded us of our candlelit dinner parties across the pond,” Katie says.
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- Florist Lee Vazquez selected locally available flowers for the bridal bouquet. Katie added her grandmother’s brooch.
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- The couple chose to get married at the Highlands Country Club in part because of its spectacular views.