A Perfect Country Wedding

Meghan and Stephen: Photographer Shots

2012-01-18T13:06:00.001-05:00

Completely appreciate when photographers send us a few shots of our weddings. I love being able to share them with you all! Thanks to Todd Lafler for sharing these with us. I've posted a few shots here, but you can see all the photos on the photographer's blog.

Getting ready in the playhouse

Playing on the swing

The ceremony: view from the Stone Cottage

Reception: celebrating with friends

Memorable Music Moments 2011

2011-12-28T12:21:00.000-05:00

I was just thinking about all the songs used during Crossed Keys weddings in 2011. From crooners like Michael Buble and Dean Martin, to alternative and indie acts like Ingrid Michaelson and James Morrison. It's so interesting to see how a choice reflects a couple's love and personalities. From fun to romantic, we had it all this year. Here are few of my favorites and complete list to inspire your music choices.

Favorite Processional: Strawberry Swing - Coldplay
Such a unique choice for a processional and the lyrics couldn't be more great "It's such a perfect day..."

Most Popular First Dance: You are the Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne

Personal Favorite: First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
Just a guitar and some nice lyrics...this one is bubbly and romantic and I love it!

Here are a few more first dance song idea from some of our 2011 couples:

You Make It Real - James Morrison
Still the One - Shania Twain
That's How Strong My Love Is - Otis Redding
Love Song - 311
Got Me - She and Him
The One I Love - David Gray
Feels Like Home - Randy Newman
All I Do Is Dream of You - Michael Buble
You Belong to Me - Michael Buble
Save the Last Dance for Me - Michael Buble
Make You Feel My Love - Adele
The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson
Out Loud - Dispatch

Lauren & Mark

2011-12-12T21:04:00.001-05:00

The last wedding of the season, and what a great one it was. These pictures say it all. I just posted a few of my favorites, but please visit the photographer's blog to see all the great shots from Lauren & Mark's October 22nd wedding.

Jessie & Noah's Photographer's Shots!

2011-11-15T08:40:00.001-05:00

I always love when a photographer sends us their work at Crossed Keys! There is a particularly gorgoues shot of the ceremony in Jeff Tisman's collection of shots from Jessie & Noah's October 9th wedding. I'll share just a few of my favorite with you.

To see all of Jessie & Noah's pictures and read a little bit more about this lovely couple click here

October 15, 2011: Kerry & Dan

2011-11-03T13:25:00.002-04:00

I think this video says a lot about this couple. Fun, happy, loving, and caring, Kerry & Dan had a really special day on October 15th. Playing in the cornfield, in the leaves, and holding hands walking around the grounds, you can see the joy and love they share. One of the many highlights of the day (besides my obsession with Kerry's GORGEOUS dress), was the touching and honest vows the couple shared. They had me and the photographer in tears! A truly beautiful ceremony followed by a fun-filled reception.

Johanna & Ryan Update!

2011-10-30T19:44:00.000-04:00

Johanna & Ryan's photographer shared this lovely slideshow with us, featuring some great pictures of the special day. Enjoy the beauty, the love, and the fun of this great October wedding.

October 8th: Johanna & Ryan

2011-10-12T11:47:00.002-04:00

Think Pink! So many brides stay away from pink, thinking that their future hubbies won't be down for the cause. But what a shame because look at what a gorgeous wedding it makes! If done right, pink only accentuates the romance on your special day. The key is not to make it look like a bottle of Pepto Bismol exploded! Event Designs by Katherine worked with Johanna on her color scheme and flowers and the details came out perfectly. We kept it soft with pale pinks and added just a few touches of a brighter pink to get the right look. The bridal bouquet was TO DIE FOR! Johanna loved the idea of white cymbidium orchids, so we added a few stems to the soft white hydrangea and pink dahlias. Pink paper lanterns added some fun flair to the decor and just begged for people to come party on the dance floor! At the end of the night, guests enjoyed a childhood favorite - cookies & milk! Yum yum! Enjoy the video of Johanna & Ryan's wedding, featuring one of my favorite first dance songs ever!

October 2nd: Katelyn & Duncan

2011-10-05T12:53:00.002-04:00

The first weekend of October was a wonderful wedding weekend indeed! Saturday's wedding was beautiful in pale blues and vintage details.....and unfortunately I lost all the pictures of it! The collaboration of a creative duo (the bride and her mom) and the Event Designs by Katherine team afforded Saturday's wedding with a one of a kind look to die for. Hoping to share some of the photographer's shots soon, so keep a look out!

Sunday's wedding video speaks for itself. And it is screaming, "LOOK AT THAT DRESS!" Hope you guys like it!

September 17th: Lynn & Rocky

2011-09-28T11:14:00.000-04:00

Details, details, details. I cannot say it enough. The more details the better. And this wedding was full of them! Event Designs by Katherine worked very hard to create an elegant look for Lynn's wedding. By mixing wildflowers with roses and calla lillies, we combined the elegant look Lynn wanted with the country charm of Crossed Keys that the bride and her family fell in love with. Poles draped with iridescent orange fabric, twinkle lights, and jeweled branches brought in the warmth that Lynn was looking for. A signature lightning bug drink went along with mason jar fixtures filled with faux lightning bugs that lit up the outside of the tent and fire pit area. A truly warm, loving, and beautiful event that was made even more perfect by the non-stop dancing and a sparkler send off to die for! Watch Lynn & Rocky's video below to see the magic :) {{Don't forget to watch in HD!}}

Who Doesn't Want To Go To A Ball?!

2011-09-19T13:14:00.002-04:00

Remember how beautiful and special your wedding day was? Imagine making that happen for someone facing terminal illness. Wish Upon a Wedding’s Blissful Wishes Ball raises funds to do exactly that.

On behalf of Wish Upon a Wedding & the deserving couples they assist, we would like to invite you to the Blissful Wishes Ball, October 5, 2011 at The Crystal Plaza, Livingston, NJ.

The Ball raises crucial funding needed to grant wedding wishes for individuals facing terminal illness & other serious life-altering circumstances.

We invite you to donate by purchasing a ticket to the Ball. Come enjoy the party & bid on prizes at the silent auction. Even if you can’t make it to the ball, we encourage you to purchase a ticket to donate to this wonderful wedding cause :)

http://wishuponaweddingnj.eventbrite.com/

Seriously you guys, who doesn’t want to go to a fancy ball? Come bid on prizes like an e-shoot, bouquets for your wedding, photobooths, and more, all for a great cause!

September 10, 2011: Kristin & Ajay

2011-09-10T14:48:00.000-04:00

East meets West in this bright and beautiful celebration. One traditional Indian ceremony, one Christian ceremony, bright colors, fun times, good music, and tons of love and laughter. Kristin and Ajay are a couple that deserves all the happiness in the world. Not to mention Kristin is the sweetest! It was such a pleasure working with her on flowers and details, and so much fun to be a part of their AMAZING wedding! We wish you all the best in your married life :)

Winning! Yay!

2011-08-30T13:37:00.002-04:00

August 20th: Jenna & Ryan

2011-08-22T00:30:00.002-04:00

Please excuse my poor videography, editing, and choice of effects. This was my first time trying to shoot a movie but it was so much fun! Though I have no experience in videography, I think this video proves that when true love is there, even an amateur photographer can capture the beauty and romance of two people deeply in love. Plus, Jenna & Ryan were so sweet I thought it was the perfect opportunity to do something special for the bride and groom.

Working with Jenna on the floral and decor for her wedding was a dream. Jenna's organizational skills and attention to detail really paid off. The couple's choice of colors and fun touches captured the feeling of the wedding and the couple's personalities. A do-it-yourself Polaroid guest book brought a vintage feel and the colorful paper lanterns, matching jelly jars, and bright flowers made the tent come alive. This really was a perfect country wedding for a really wonderful and special bride & groom.

P.S. I have to make a side note: The photographer was really cool and fun! I think we'll be seeing pictures from her soon! Yay! Updates to come!

May 30th Update: Cayla & Ben's Wedding Video

2011-08-20T03:34:00.000-04:00

This video is AWESOME! Enough said. FortyOneTwenty did such a great job capturing Cayla and Ben's special day that I had to share it! So beautiful and touching.

Thank You's from a Lovely Bride

2011-08-11T18:35:00.002-04:00

Our July 23rd bride just sent us this email. It was so sweet, I had to post it!

Dear Katherine,

I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our Special Day unforgettable. Everyone keeps talking about how much fun they had, how everything looked entirely beautiful, about the great service, about the beautiful grounds, and about the delicious food! Woodney and I met with you for the first time last year, in the months of February, I remember it clearly because it was a rough winter and the Crossed Keys' grounds with covered with snow. Woodney and I fell in love with the place, we envisioned how beautiful it will look on our wedding day. We didn't care about looking anywhere else, the Crossed Keys was and will forever be a magical place, there isn't another place that can replace what it has to offer.
You and your daughter were extremely helpful in putting together all my ideas together, and of course, you had amazing suggestions that I trusted 100%. Thank you for keeping me calm the entire time, thank you for reassuring me everything will be fine and beautiful, thank you for your kindness, and availability when we needed to speak to you. Thank you for your hard work, it must be really hard, and I will never be able to do what you do. Thank you for all Katherine.
Thank you to your husband!! The food was amazing! Family and friends rave about how exquisite the food was! The choices were incredible! I cannot continue to brag about the service! Absolutely outstanding! I didn't have any worries.. I knew everything was going to be taken care of =)
You are all wonderful! Thank you thank you thank you!!! My thank yous are not good enough, I will always remember my experience at the crossed keys and your wonderful family and staff.

Love,
Gabby & Woodney

May 30th Wedding Update

2011-08-08T13:43:00.005-04:00

Hello future brides & grooms, mothers of future brides, and more! One of our weddings was recently featured on The Wedding Chicks website with some beautiful pictures from ee photography. I wanted to share some her shots here of the Cayla & Ben on the grounds since they are so lovely! Enjoy!

To see even more pictures and details of Cayla & Ben's wedding see ee photography's blog post

July 30th: Stacy and Jay

2011-07-30T12:25:00.001-04:00

Life is short, love is sweet :) And this wedding was SWEET! The details alone made this wedding so much fun. Coming down the driveway lined with 100 year old trees, guests were greeted by a 27 ft "Love is Sweet" sign to get them in the wedding spirit. During the cocktail hour, guests loved mixing their own "Love is Sweet" drink made with lemonade and sweet tea vodka in country mason jars. Lots of dancing and good food created the perfect reception! By dessert time, the guests were sure to know that love really is sweet! A candy bar was set up for treats that doubled as favors. We rolled out an ice cream cart full of Good Humor bars with a signature yellow and white striped umbrella for Stacy's yellow and green color scheme. Just when you thought there couldn't be more, we brought out strawberries n' cream whoopie pies that were to die for! I can only hope that this slideshow can show you all the fun and love that surrounded this wedding!

Note: All the exclamation points are a nod to how much I loved this wedding! Stacy and her mom worked tirelessly with our team to make this day picture perfect. We love you gals!

Best. E-mail. EVER!

2011-07-13T11:57:00.002-04:00

Received an email from a bride-to-be recently that made my entire day. Emails like this are why we do what we do. Thank you anonymous bride-to-be!

"Even though we have only been engaged a little over one week the infamous "so when are you two getting married?" question has been on everyones lips. Sunday night, feeling overwhelmed and uninspired by typical, New Jersey banquet halls, I typed "hidden gems of NJ" into google. Crossed Keys was the first link I clicked on. They say when you find your wedding dress you'll cry, well as soon as i saw your location I got choked up. My fiance said to me "This is the first time in a week that I'm not overwhelmed by the thought of planning the wedding." We've stayed up late the past two nights, giddy and excited about the possibility of having a wedding that really represents us and a place we feel good about. To say were obsessed is an understatement."

June 25th: Kristyn & Patrick

2011-06-25T21:17:00.001-04:00

Until the very last dance, this wedding was a blast. Not only did Kristyn and Patrick look fantastic - they were also dancing up a storm! Kristyn wanted a romantic look and feel for her wedding wich was provided by softly lit paper lanterns, her satin ivory dress with gorgeous lace details, and birch wood boxes filled with beautiful pink roses, lavender larkspur, and fluffy white stock and hydrangea. Mix all of this romance with the fun and tradition of bagpipes, kilts, and even a groomsmen singing "My Prerogative" and you know you are in for an epic night. Congratulations Kristyn & Patrick! It was such a pleasure to see everyone having such a great time on your special day.

June 18th: Gina & Brad

2011-06-18T09:51:00.002-04:00

Love sweet love is right! Gina and Brad were such a sweet couple, and it shows in their adorable photos. A colorful and lively reception reflected all the love and excitement of the day. Peaches, purples, and pinks were present in the floral designs housed in milk glass and colored glass vases. Gina and Crossed Keys Inn owner Katherine went all over looking for milk glass and the result was stunning! Paper lanterns in theme colors, pewter bridesmaids dresses with hot pink shoes and bouquets, and Gina's bouquet of beautiful pink peonies all created a look that added to the energetic ambiance. The bride was dancing all night long, surrounded by longtime friends, proud family, and her loving groom.

June 12th: Mandy & Ralph

2011-06-12T09:53:00.000-04:00

June 11th: Emily & Matt

2011-06-11T19:21:00.000-04:00

May 30th: Cayla & Ben

2011-05-30T10:27:00.000-04:00

From the start of the day, we knew Cayla and Ben's wedding would be beautiful. The dusty peach color of the bridesmaids dresses, the peony bridal bouquet, and Cayla's beautifully detailed dress became even more romantic when placed in the country setting of Crossed Keys. This wedding was full of details. Scrabble letters spelled out table numbers and cute messages. The candy bar, adorned with the couple's initials, was a huge hit housing candies in all shades of blue. A simple photo booth with tons of fun props made for some great shots of the guests and the bridal party! A scrapbook of the Ben & Cayla's story decorated the gift table and allowed guests to get to know the couple from their first meeting to their wedding day. My favorite detail by far was Cayla's choice of song for her processional - "Strawberry Swing" by Coldplay (featured in this slideshow). What a unique choice! Another fun song choice: Jack Sparrow was played by Ben's aunts as a surprise and everyone had a blast with it, especially when the pirate hat came out!

May 28th: Jenn & Jeff

2011-05-28T13:28:00.004-04:00

"I am so glad we went with you guys for our wedding. In a word, it was perfect. Our friends are raving and we can't stop thinking about it." - Jeff

It really was a perfect wedding. Couldn't have asked for better weather and a nicer couple! The best part about the wedding (besides that all the guests, family, and friends were so fun and nice) was that everyone was dancing like crazy! It was so much fun to see and photograph. They even played a version of spin the bottle - if the bottle hits you, you have to run to the middle and give your best dance moves! It was a lively party indeed and a touching one at that. Jeff's brother and Jenn's sister gave really heartfelt speeches and just filled that big tent with a ton of love. With no shortage of fun, love, and laughter...we couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. We wish Jenn & Jeff all the best.

Spring Has Sprung (and So Has the Tent!)

2011-05-09T08:59:00.002-04:00

Crossed Keys is an amazing place to be in the midst of spring. To watch 100 year old trees go from being bare, to having little buds, to fully blooming is remarkable thing. Tulips and hyacinths have come and gone, lilacs are here for now but will soon disappear as well. The green of the trees begins as a shade of bright apple and slowly changes to a more mature kelly. Everything is blooming! And with the growth of new flora comes the lifting of the tent! Enjoy some of our most recent photo ops:

Cleaning and preparing the ceremony garden for planting

The hardest part - picking up that 25 ft pole to raise the whole tent!

2009 Crossed Keys Wedding

2011-03-25T14:05:00.004-04:00

Just thought I'd share some beautiful photos from a 2009 Crossed Keys wedding shot by Todd Laffler Photography. Enjoy!

Spring 2011 NJ Bride: Garden Party Florals!

2011-02-18T07:36:00.005-05:00

Event Designs by Katherine, an affiliate of Crossed Keys Inn, did a floral spread in the Spring edition of NJ Bride and it is finally on the site! Check it out! http://www.newjerseybride.com/articles/garden-party/index.html

BeSpoke Affairs Praises Crossed Keys

2011-02-17T12:04:00.000-05:00

As I was stumbling around the internet this morning, I was lucky enough to come across a write up about Crossed Keys Inn! I was thrilled to learn about Bespoke Affairs who wrote about us back in November. What an honor that Adrienne Colosimo loves our venue so much! To read what she had to say click here. Thank you very much for your kind words Adrienne, they are much appreciated!

Event Designs by Katherine

2011-02-15T12:53:00.002-05:00

Event Designs by Katherine created these stunning designs for our 2010 wedding season. With a long history in event planning and floral design, Crossed Keys Inn was happy to start Event Designs by Katherine, our floral and event design business! The best part is that in hiring Event Designs by Katherine at Crossed Keys Inn, you have you wedding planner, even designer, and florist all in one! No need to deal with several vendors - we have it all for you at Crossed Keys Inn. http://www.eventdesignsbykatherine.com/

Book Your Wedding Today!

2011-02-15T12:46:00.000-05:00

Beautiful moments happen at Crossed Keys Inn. Call today to make an appointment and learn about our beautiful venue and gorgeous grounds. 2011 is almost booked and 2012 is filling up quickly!

Crossed Keys' Favorites

2011-02-01T13:16:00.000-05:00

Love Crossed Keys weddings? Find out what other creative wedding ideas we love on our Tumblr blog

http://crossedkeysinn.tumblr.com/

Congratulations Crossed Keys!

2011-01-31T08:01:00.002-05:00

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Crossed Keys Inn has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for the Ceremony/Reception Venue.

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Crossed Keys Inn stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Crossed Keys Inn for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Crossed Keys Inn is among the very best Ceremony/Reception Venue within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at weddingwire.com/crossedkeysinn.

2010: A Year to Remember

2011-01-04T19:37:00.001-05:00

A very special thanks goes out to all who made our 2010 wedding season one to remember. To our couples and their families; to our loyal and incredibly helpful waitstaff; to our family - head chef Celso, chef John, and assistant Jessica; and to the wonderful photographers who supplied us with all of the beautiful images of Crossed Keys that we get to share every day - thank you for another great season!

Jessica's Favorite Wedding of 2010

2011-01-04T18:00:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone! I'm Jessica, Katherine's daughter and the official Crossed Keys blogger. As I was making the best of 2010 slideshow, I realized one of these weddings was very dear to my heart. Though all of the 2010 weddings had details that were out of this world, Angela & Will's August wedding took the cake. Silver and purple accents, simple decor and flowers done by Katherine, and the yummy specialty drink; the sparkler trail sending the bride and groom off; Angela's two stunning dresses and blue shoes were to die for! The crowd was young and fun, and everyone from the bridal party to the grandparents were dancing up a storm. A friend surprising the couple with her rendition of my favorite song, "At Last" and Angela's adorable dog all dressed up in her tutu were a welcome addition! Above all else, the connection this couple had was amazing. Their love truly brought tears to my eyes. To see all of the pictures from my favorite wedding of 2010 click here.

Desirea and James

2010-10-23T12:10:00.004-04:00

Details were the key to another unique wedding at Crossed Keys. The fall colors in the bouquet and bridesmaids dresses, the vintage car, and antique teapots used as centerpieces blended so nicely with the historical landscape of Crossed Keys. Desirea and James used carved pumpkins as table numbers, an old-fashioned suitcase as a display for place cards, and chose a Crossed Keys classic for their favors: little jars of honey. Paper dahlia napkin rings were so pretty they looked like they were picked right from our garden! Another beautifully designed fall wedding with another fantastic couple.

Photography by Elisabeth Millay

October 10, 2010: Perfect Ten!

2010-10-10T10:20:00.000-04:00

The colors that Erica choose for her décor where not your typical fall colors. The combination of royal blue and coral really made this wedding pop! Royal blue bridesmaids dresses with coral sweaters looked stunning against the lush greens of Crossed Keys. We had the most amazing coral dahlias in our garden which we incorporated into her bouquet. A great personal touch was an old Bible Erica carried with her bouquet - the same one carried by her parents and grandparents for their weddings.

Just want to thank our staff for saving the garden the night before from frost by covering the entire area with tarps! To our surprise Sunday morning the garden was still beautiful.

Photography by John O'Boyle

October 9th: Sarah and Jeff

2010-10-09T12:20:00.002-04:00

An Italian theme was in the works on this beautiful fall day at Crossed Keys! Sarah and Jeff's centerpieces of Chianti bottles were inspired by Sarah’s family trips to Italy ever year. Filled with beautiful Dahlias and herbs grown at Crossed Keys, these centerpieces were a step away from the ordinary and made a beautiful statement with a very personal touch. The tables were even more dressed to theme with each table being named for a favorite Tuscan town. Home-made Limoncello made by Sarah's dad was a wonderful addition to the cigars by the fire pit. The wedding was hopping with music and included an awesome first dance that the bridal party and bride and groom performed to a song by the couples favorite band, Pearl Jam. The dance floor was never empty and the tent was filled with joy all night long!

Photography by Elisabeth Millay

October 2nd: A Bicycle Built for Two

2010-10-02T20:16:00.000-04:00

September 25th: Susan and Erik

2010-09-30T19:40:00.007-04:00

Photography by J Marie

September 5th: Ariele and Peter

2010-09-13T12:36:00.009-04:00

What a great way to start our September weddings, and all of our fall weddings for that matter! The weather was gorgeous and the crowd was fun. Throughout the ceremony, their first dance, and their intimate photo shoot in the cornfield, it was a pleasure to see a couple so in love. The ceremony had personal touches including the couples own vows and well wishes read by the bridal party. The fans with the couples' initials and the programs gave a perfect country and vintage feel to the ceremony which carried over to the reception with the use of burlap table runners. The cocktail hour featured shrimp cocktail and oysters which was a very nice addition. Add tons of dancing and 5 varieties of cupcakes to the reception and you are definitely in for a treat. The bride and groom were able to have a great balance of hanging out with their friends and stealing intimate moments together. The photo shoot in the cornfield not only produced beautiful pictures with the sunlight perfectly hitting the couple, but it also gave the couple some moments to stare lovingly into each others eyes and steal a few kisses. Not only was this wedding fun but it was one of my favorites because the bride and groom chose lobster and filet mignon to serve as the entree! Yum!

Photography by J Marie

September 4th: Jeremy and Katherine

2010-09-04T17:38:00.000-04:00

Photography and slideshow by Phil Cantor

Jeremy and Kate met at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia in her fall semester 2004. As a student in Jeremy's English 422 Shakespeare Tragedies class, Katie had an instant crush on him (like most of his other female students) but politely kept her distance. After Katie graduated, Jeremy left William & Mary to teach at the University of Toronto. After keeping in touch via email to discuss Katie's plans for grad school, the couple met up for drinks when visiting Washington, D.C. and the rest is history! After four years of long-distance between New Jersey, Indiana and Toronto and they finally tied the knot and are living right where they had their first drink - DC! After meeting in Jeremy's Shakespeare class, it was no wonder their wedding featured a Shakespearean actor among the details of this beautiful, classic, and fun wedding!

August 29th: Eva and Gary

2010-08-29T09:19:00.000-04:00

For years, the owners of Crossed Keys Inn have been catering and planning events for loyal clients all over New Jersey. The husband and wife owners of Crossed Keys Inn came full circle on August 29th when they hosted Eva's wedding. After catering her baby naming and Bat Mitzvah, it was truly an honor that Eva and her family chose Katherine and Celso to make her wedding day spectacular. Eva's love of shoes was seen in the red rose centerpieces shaped like high heeled pumps, which owner Katherine made with her own hands! We'd like to thank Phil Cantor for capturing a wedding close to our hearts and creating the slideshow seen above. Phil is a regular at Crossed Keys and we love his work! To see more visit PhilCantor.com

August 28th: Erin and Michael

2010-08-28T18:04:00.000-04:00

A beautiful couple with a romantic story, Erin and Michael were high school sweethearts who dreamed of the perfect wedding. When the couple went on a cruise through the Mediterranean last August, Erin was surprised with a proposal on a gondola in Venice! This wedding incorporated a lot of personal details, like table names of the cities visited on their cruise, a picture of the bride's grandpa on her bouquet, a Yankee's garter (the couple's favorite team!), and the bride's Estonian culture. Some Estonian details included the traditional Kringel (raisin bread-which was her grandpa's specialty) and tossing a crown of blue cornflowers instead of the bouquet. The bride (with help from family, friends, and some margaritas) made all the escort cards and menus which added that personal touch. What a fun wedding! The bride put it best when she said: "I think the best part of the wedding was how well our family, and friends all mixed and really enjoyed themselves. I think the dancefloor was full the entire night and it was great to see some of Mike's friends from college dancing with my aunts! That strong theme of family made it that much more memorable to us-can we do it again in ten years?"

August 21st: Melissa and Kevin

2010-08-27T12:38:00.001-04:00

Photography by J Marie

Blue is a popular color for many weddings but in this case it was also a color close to the bride's heart as she was a Navy pilot for 7 years and was joined by many of her Navy friends in her bridal party. This wedding had some great details like the bride's powder blue Christian Louboutin shoes, a bark covered flower girl's basket with carved initials, daisy place cards for the guests that doubled as favors, and green, yellow, and cream paper lanterns that added to the bride's blue and green color scheme and made the white tent pop. The bride and groom chose a great band and offered s'mores at the fire pit which added to the fun of the reception. Another beautiful wedding at Crossed Keys Inn.

August 14th: A Perfect Love

2010-08-17T19:53:00.008-04:00

Photography by J Marie

To say that Angela and Will are truly in love is an understatement and any guest at their August 14th wedding would agree. The next day people were saying, "The way Will looks at Angela made me cry tears of joy." We were so thrilled to host this romantic couple at Crossed Keys on such a beautiful day. The best part about this wedding where the dazzling details that Angela incorporated. Her dog Chloe wore a pretty white tutu and Swarovski crystal barette in her hair, adding that sparkle that Angela also incorporated in her bedazzled cake. The paper parasols that Angela made herself made the bridal party photos that much more fun and interesting and the parasol reading "Just Married" was a spin on a classic. A specialty drink of champagne and wild hibiscus was a hit amongst guests and Angela's dress change was a fun and flirty way to get the reception started! Other details like Angela's blue Manolo Blahniks, the bride and groom's initials on the ceiling of the tent, a ciger roller, and a special guest performance of "At Last" made this wedding shine. Just when the guests thought they had seen it all, sparklers were passed out and lit to create a spectacular sendoff for the bride and groom. It was definitely a night filled with fun, laughter, surprise, and sparkle, and one we at Crossed Keys will never forget :)

Crossed Keys Inn Meets David Tutera!

2010-08-13T11:01:00.001-04:00

Photography by J Marie

Crossed Keys Inn cooks for NJ Bride, David Tutera, and fans! New Jersey Bride magazine hosted the "Meet David Tutera" event in Morristown Tuesday night to promote their fall issue as well as David's new bridal line. David is the host and wedding planner on the hit WEtv show "My Fair Wedding" and came to the bridal boutique I Do...I Do to show his wedding dress line, meet fans, and sign copies of the fall issue in which he is featured. Katherine, the owner of Crossed Keys Inn, designed the bountiful table which included smoked salmon and baked brie, as well as floral designs by Event Designs by Katherine. We all had a great time meeting David and hanging out with the excited fans!

Meet David Tutera!

2010-08-05T16:27:00.001-04:00

Crossed Keys Inn is pleased to be catering the New Jersey Bride event "Meet David Tutera" On Tuesday, August 10th. The event will be held at the bridal boutique I Do I Do, which will be carrying his line of bridal dresses. David will be signing copies of the New Jersey Bride's fall issue in which he is featured. Follow the link to find out more or RSVP: Meet David Tutera Info

July 17th: A Moment All Their Own

2010-07-20T13:29:00.007-04:00

Photography by J Marie

Little did they know, that as guests at a wedding in Mexico, Susan and Mike would meet each other and find true love. About a year later, they would celebrate their own one-of-a-kind wedding at Crossed Keys Inn on July 17th. The weather was gorgeous, and the greens of the garden went perfectly with the shades of green Susan chose as her colors. A very detailed bride, Susan knew the importance of the little things and all of the unique additions are what made this wedding so perfect. From her grandmother and great-grandmother's jewlery adorning her bouquet, to the antique handkerchiefs presented to guests at the ceremony, the bride's flair for creative features set this wedding apart. The flowers were simple, sweet, and wild with thistles, hydrangea, boxwood, and queen anne's lace being just some of the many wild flora used in the centerpieces. Chocolate cupcakes with coconut topped cream cheese icing were a lovely addition as well, acting as a focal point of design as well as a delicious dessert. The bride took every measure to make the details as personal as possible with touches of Mike's love of hockey and the brides love of natural beauty, touches that created an ambiance all their own.

June 27th: Beauty, Joy, and Love

2010-06-27T16:26:00.000-04:00

A joy and a pleasure, the June 27th wedding of Anand and Punita was nothing short of spectacular. The couple and their families were a delight to work with and their joy and love poured out during the entire celebration. I could go on about the beautiful decor, energetic dancing, and unique tradition for days, but I think the pictures really speak for themselves. The guests danced for hours and enjoyed every minute. I took over 500 pictures of the happiness shared on this day and I still don't think I could have captured it all! I chose some of my favorite pictures and created slideshows that can be seen below. It was truly a beautiful day, a beautiful ceremony, and a beautiful celebration.

June 27th: Slideshow 1

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June 27th: Slideshow 2

2010-06-27T15:20:00.002-04:00

June 27th: Slideshow 3

2010-06-27T12:54:00.001-04:00

June 19th & 20th: The Path to Love

2010-06-23T14:18:00.004-04:00

Some couples meet in college, some couples meet at work, and some couples meet and get engaged on the Path between New York and New Jersey! Our Saturday couple did exactly that and used that unique detail as a theme in their wedding, naming their tables after significant places as opposed to using numbers. Memorable weddings are definitely all about the details.

Our Sunday wedding was all about dancing and joy. The DJ was great and really got the guests going and having a good time. Some people may choose a band or low key music, but if you want to have a dance party that everyone can enjoy, a DJ who sets the mood for fun is definitely a must.

Fun details were also in appearance on Sunday in the bride's classy feather headpiece, ruffled dress, and gorgeous red shoes.

June 13th and 14th: Snapshots, Smores, and Cigars

2010-06-16T14:37:00.005-04:00

The theme this weekend was fun! Both weddings had beautiful, understated flowers that looked like they were fresh picked from the garden. Picking one color and adding white to it was a big hit this weekend with one bride choosing yellows and the other choosing greens. A great tip for your wedding is keeping your colors to a minimum so you can play them up without overwhleming your guests. Both weddings also featured a bride and groom's pick for the drinks which was a very unique touch. Whether it's a fun cocktail or your favorite wine, a signature drink is a sure way to give your wedding a more personalized feel.

One of the best parts about the weddings this weekend were the unique activities offered to the guests. Saturday's wedding provided cigars and smores around the fire pit while Sunday's had a great photo booth where guests could take their own fun pictures! Everyone had a blast!
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This weekend wasn't all fun and games though as we had a terrential downpour come on us around 1:00 in the afternoon right before the ceremony! Luckily we were prepared and we set up a beautiful ceremony area underneath the tent with a decorated chuppah and everything. Thankfully, mother nature gave us all a break (especially the lovely bride!) and the rain stopped right before the ceremony started. It was a great wedding and a weekend full of happiness and fun!

Revisiting a Great Wedding

2010-06-13T16:23:00.000-04:00

"...the moment we walked onto the grounds of Crossed Keys Inn our search was over. We walked down the shady path of tall hundred-year old trees, saw the lush garden setting of the ceremony, the old stone barn, and the honeymoon cottage. This was us."

We recently received word from Tova, a CK bride featured on our blog, that she was to be featured in another blog, the Brooklyn Bride! We want to thank Tova for all of the wonderful things she said in that blog post and we thank Brooklyn Bride Online for recognizing how special Tova's wedding was. You can see Tova's story and some photos from her wedding at Brooklyn Bride Online.

Beautiful Addition to the June 13th Wedding

2010-06-13T11:47:00.000-04:00

We just received a link from photographer Kimberly Hurst of some absolutely gorgeous pictures from the June 13th Crossed Keys wedding of Tova and Jeremy. Kimberly did a wonderful job photographing the details of the wedding and the true beauty of Crossed Keys. We are proud to share her blog with you! Thanks Kimberly!

Kimberly Hurst Photography: Jeremy and Tova

Crossed Keys Inn

2010-06-09T10:12:00.000-04:00

Walking down the aisle behind purple lilac trees, over white rose petals, towards a beautiful English garden. Dancing under a tent draped in billowy ivory fabric, twinkling lights like stars over family and friends, fresh flowers decorating the cake, the sun setting in the background. Saying goodbye to guests as they walk up the path between 100 year old oak trees, spending time after the reception at a private gathering with the bridal party, and finally, ending the night in a secluded stone cottage overlooking the garden where the cermony took place that same day.

These are just some of the aspects of Crossed Keys Inn that make it the perfect setting for your perfect wedding. As I sit here and begin this blog, I glance out the window and see a mother and baby deer that have been visiting us in the meadow lately. It is the natural beauty of this place that can only be grasped upon visiting. After living in the city of Richmond for the past five years, coming to work at Crossed Keys Inn on a daily basis is a calming and tranquil experience. Taking a walk on the grounds never ceases to amaze me. The magical effect this location has on its guests, is the reason we are honored and so grateful that we are able to share it with so many on their most special day.

As I continue this blog throughout the wedding season, I will detail the events going on here at Crossed Keys, and give some unique wedding day ideas that we have helped come to life. Please visit our website, crossedkeys.com, for more details about our services.

Colors of Love: Addition to the May 30th Wedding Post

2010-05-30T19:36:00.001-04:00

Though we featured the May 30th wedding with a few of our own pictures, we were lucky enough to have Chuck Fishman, the photographer, share this beautiful slideshow with us. For a wedding like this, a professional's work was definitely needed to show off the vivid colors and bright spirits of the bride and groom, their bridal party, and all of the guests. You can see more of Chuck's work at http://www.chuckfishmanweddings.com/

May 30th: Loungin' Out

2010-05-30T15:47:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately I was not able to be at the wedding two weeks ago but the pictures speak for themselves. This wedding really shows the amazing and unique things you can do for your wedding if the space allows for it. The couple turned a blank pallete into a work of art. With hot pink, saffron, and lavender colored fabric and paper lanterns, the white tent was transformed into a fun, modern atmosphere. The gold colored banquettes and tableclothes worked well with the fabric and lanterns. The orange and turquoise pillows resting on the banquettes made the whole reception area feel like a lounge. With beautiful centerpieces and gold tabletop decor, this wedding had a lavish and warm feeling all around that only added to the warmth of having family and friends gathered at Crossed Keys for that memorable day.