Andrew

Several years ago I received a text message from a 16 year old kid. It basically said "Hey. It's Andrew Clarke. I'm bored sitting at home. You need any help tomorrow?" I had a large wedding the next day, and did in fact need the help, so I told him what time to come in.  

Although I usually would not hire someone who applied with a text message, I am so glad that I did. Even though he was only 16 years old, I very quickly began to rely on him to help me complete each wedding. Andrew is one of the hardest workers I have ever had on my team. In addition to being able to create beautiful flower arrangements (that I can't tell the difference from my own) Andrew is always willing to do the most tedious tasks and the dirtiest of jobs (and rarely complains about it). He is the kind of guy that you can count on to work until 3 in the morning, and stay until the job is done.  What's more, his great sense of humor and personality adds even more character to our team and makes even the hardest days enjoyable. I can't say enough good things about this guy. He's going to make it far in life.

Andrew has worked three out of my six wedding seasons, and I'm pretty lucky that he is coming back this summer for his fourth season. 

These photos I've collected over the years of Andrew working will not only prove how talented this guy is, but will also give you a behind the scenes glimpse of life at SMD.

 

Andrew, despite how much you tease and harass me, and even though you are constantly texting, I love having you on my team and as a friend! Thanks for all your hard work, being loyal and dedicated and simply making me laugh as much as you do! I'm glad you are only a college freshman. Hope we have a few more summers to get to work together! 

Rebecca Cairelli

My good friend and colleague Rebecca Cairelli launched a new line of wedding gowns this year, and I am thrilled to share some of her collection with you today. 

I am a dressmaker myself, and use to regularly craft wedding gowns. I thought I was talented. Then I met Rebecca, and realized she dances circles around me with this incredible gift she has.

Her attention to detail, determination for originality, commitment to quality, and love for fashion serve as the foundation for her impeccable creations.  They are sophisticated yet whimsical... timeless yet distinctively modern.  Each piece is so well thought out and crafted to absolute perfection.  They truly amaze me.  

Through the end of this month, Rebecca is offering 10% off of her creations. Check out www.rebeccacairelli.com for more details. Don't miss this great opportunity!

This photo shoot took place in my design studio and was shot by Sergio Motolla 

 

I am proud to stand behind these dresses and this designer.  Rebecca may be new to the scene, but I have no doubt she will go far  This is just the start of something big.

Annie Wright School Wedding

I am long overdue for updating my blog.  With a very busy wedding season, ending with my own wedding, I just simply have not had the spare moments to share more of my recent work. Hopefully, I will be able to post more often now that things have slowed down a bit.

This next wedding was the perfect combination of rustic wine elements and classic elegance. Chalkboards, wine barrels, vintage bottels and stacks of trunks were a few of the components that brought this vision to life. 

images by Michele M Waite

erik

the success of any business, in large part, is dependent on the quality of employees that it has.  here at smd, putting together a wedding requires long hours, tedious work, heavy lifting, driving big trucks, loading and unloading, arranging flowers, getting cut by thorns, staying up late into the night and putting up with me changing my mind, and making you redo something until i think it is perfect.  although my name is on the business, it takes a team to pull off every event, and the success of everything i do depends on who i have on that team.

for the past 3 summers, i have been lucky enough to have erik lead that team.  erik is my right hand person. he is the backbone to the production of my events and he is the person i most rely on to make things happen. he can fix almost anything, can solve almost any technical problem, will balance on top of a ladder to make something hang right, arrange the bouquets of flowers, know how to make everything fit into a truck that is too small, and can find just about anything i ask him to find, no matter how tough the request is. he helps me on every photo shoot, cleans up every wedding, organizes my shop, moves my furniture where i want it to go (usually only to move it back to where i had it in the first place).  he paints, builds, sews, bakes, ties ribbons, does my electrical work and usually entertains me the entire time we are working. because i have him around, i am able to do attend to my clients and do my job as a designer.

although erik can be the biggest pest in my life, absolutely stubborn and definitely has a mind and a way of his own, i don't know what i would do without him.  

so erik, for being the behind the scenes person who makes it all happen, without ever getting recognition, THANK YOU!

these images michele m waite captured during our engagement session of erik showcase what i love the most about him- the playful personality that has the ability to frustrate you and make you laugh hysterically all at the same time.   

these pictures are for erik.  he insisted that we pose like this.  he got the crew together to move that piano to and from the shoot, so it was the least we could do to repay him.

an extraordinary season

i love being engaged.  don't get me wrong... just like every engaged couple, we have had our stressful moments. but even with those few bumps in the road, i love being engaged.  i love waking up in the morning and realizing i am one day closer to marrying my best friend.  i love being filled with great anticipation, and eagerly awaiting the day i will make a life long commitment to the love of my life. i love dreaming with jamie about what our life is going to be like.  i love crafting what our home is going to feel like. i love talking about the wedding and considering every detail, and tweaking it until it feels just right.  mostly, however, i love growing closer in friendship and commitment to each other.... planning our marriage... learning how to communicate... learning how to be selfless... learning what it really means to love someone.

despite my eagerness to just be married, i find this to be an extraordinary season, so I have chosen to savor these final months of engagement.

michele m waite, who will also be shooting our wedding,  captured these images for us. jamie baked the tarts and pie, i assembled the cake (and made the skirt she's wearing) and then together, we styled this shoot.  i hope you enjoy this glimpse into our lives.