Memorable Music Moments 2011

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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?!

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

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!

August 20th: Jenna & Ryan

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

June 11th: Emily & Matt

May 30th: Cayla & Ben

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

"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!)

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

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