Attending a Wedding in Newport, Rhode Island
With its stunning shorelines and ocean views, Newport, Rhode Island is a beautiful setting for a beachside wedding.
Last month I attended a very special wedding at the Belle Mer: A Longwood Venue - located on the edge of Narragansett Bay. It was for former Martha Stewart Weddings stylist and editor, Colleen Banks, and her betrothed, Stephen McManus. They married on a gorgeous summer day in front of 275-guests - it was a spectacular celebration.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Here I am in front of the wedding favors table. Favors were packaged as giant wrapped candy filled with gummy candies in the colors of the wedding palette.
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- Moani Lee and Linh Nguyen worked together to get Colleen ready. This hair and make up team has worked on many Martha Stewart Weddings fashion shoots.
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- Jeweled button details adorned Colleen’s beautiful Dolce and Gabbana gown – very appropriate for a jewelry editor.
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- The wedding theme was roses and bows – Colleen loves bows, so she made sure to include them in her ensemble. These shoes are Rochas.
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- Here are the bride’s parents before the ceremony. Colleen’s mom is wearing a Zac Posen gown.
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- Inside, custom wedding textile upholstered furniture displayed more of the rose themed pattern.
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- Every detail was carefully considered. This is an escort card and colored tissue paper cut into hearts for the confetti toss.
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- Here is young ring bearer, Atreus, carefully walking down the aisle.
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- The palette of pink, yellow and red was stunning.
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- And here is Colleen, our gorgeous bride, walking with her father, Keith.
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- It was a beautiful evening with gentle summer breezes – just enough to keep her wedding veil perfectly in place.
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- And here are Mr. and Mrs. Stephen McManus.
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- All the guests enjoyed the colorful confetti toss.
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- Other favors included decorative drink stirrers, foil stamped napkins with a “ring on finger” motif throughout.
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- More fresh roses filled the mantel.
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- Here was my table – number 23.
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- The menu included watercress, arugula and radicchio salad to start, then seared East Coast halibut, seared boneless chicken breast or quinoa stuffed portobello mushroom for the entree. For dessert – carrot cake, red velvet cake or a jumbo chocolate covered strawberry.
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- Many of the guests are former members of the Martha Stewart Weddings team – it was a wonderful reunion of friends.
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- All of Colleen’s friends and colleagues were very mindful in choosing outfits that matched the bride’s sense of style – lots of flora, bows, and tulle. This dress was worn by former Martha Stewart Weddings style editor, Melissa Colgan.
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- All the dresses were so beautiful. This is a closeup detail of the dress worn by former Martha Stewart Weddings style editor, Cassidy Iwersen.
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- Here is a nice photo of our newlyweds, myself and celebrations expert and author, Darcy Miller Nussbaum.
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- And here is a nice snapshot of Kevin Sharkey and Kate Berry.
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- The Belle Mer: A Longwood Venue is a contemporary space surrounded by more than seven acres of manicured lawns – it was a splendid location for the event.
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- Here, Colleen stops for a quick photo with former Martha Stewart Weddings special projects editor, Anthony Luscia.
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- Here I am with Kate and her daughter, Quinn.
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- I love this large group photo with Colleen, Stephen, myself, friends and colleagues – it was so wonderful to see everyone together again for “Baby Bank’s” wedding. She was affectionately called “Baby Banks” because she was the youngest on the Martha Stewart Weddings style team.
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- Here is another fun group photo of Cassidy, Anthony’s husband Rusty James, Kate, Melissa and Anthony.
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- It was a beautiful wedding for two very special people – congratulations, Colleen and Stephen.
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