Apple Cider Mimosa The Cookie Rookie

Planning & Inspiration

Festive Fall Cocktails

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As the changing leaves and brisk winds have us reaching for our favorite sweaters and jackets, we’re also warming up our palette with delicious autumnal flavors.  And if you’re planning a fall wedding, no doubt your cocktails will include some seasonal favorites. Need some inspiration? You’re in the right place.  We rounded up five fall cocktails perfect for an autumn celebration – be that your reception, your bachelorette party, or simply a Friday afternoon with friends.

The Apple Cider Mimosa

What’s not to love about mimosas?  Simple, sparkling, and now – seasonal! Turns out apple cider and champagne most definitely mix.  This recipe from The Cookie Rookie includes an adorable glittering rim and apple slice garnish.
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Planning & Inspiration

Interview with Ron Ben-Israel of RBI Cakes

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Ron Ben-Israel / Photo by Kris Mae Weiss

Ron Ben-Israel / Photo by Kris Mae Weiss

 

World-renowned cake maker and a master in the art of decorative sugar, Ron Ben-Israel was aptly dubbed “the Manolo Blahnik of wedding cakes” by the New York Times in 2014.

After serving in the Israeli military and touring the world as a professional modern dancer, Ron began baking; a pursuit inspired by his Viennese mother, who passed on a fascination with the discipline and chemistry of cake construction.  He was discovered by Martha Stewart in 1995, when she was drawn to one of his cakes in a bakery store window. Stewart was starting a wedding magazine at the time and called Ron in to meet her, encouraging him to start his own business.
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Bridal Bouquet - Hannah & Tonni Wedding- The Garrison NJ- By Melissa Kruse Photography

Weddings

Hannah + Tonni: Rustic Charm in the Hudson Highlands

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Ceremony / Hannah & Tonni / The Garrison / Melissa Kruse Photography

Ceremony / Hannah & Tonni / The Garrison / Melissa Kruse Photography

 

Hannah and Tonni were married this past June before spectacular views of the Hudson River and Catskill mountains, at a sprawling countryside retreat in the Hudson Highlands. Hannah and Tonni spent a romantic getaway at a cabin in the Catskills early on in their courtship, after they met volunteering with Friendship Circle, an organization for kids with special needs in New York City.  It was at the very same cabin two years later, that Toni surprised Hannah by popping the question!

 

 

The ceremony took place beneath a marvelous wisteria archway with pops of peach, white, blush, and cream cascading down the front, adorned with lush woven greenery.  We love how these fresh blooms popped in the day and softened with the beautiful sunset come evening.
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Thai Floral Garlands via Thai Top Wedding

Planning & Inspiration

Floral Wedding Traditions from Around the World

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It’s easy to take for granted the wedding traditions we know so well, such as the first dance or tossing the bouquet. But our wedding ceremonies, rituals, and festivities vary greatly from culture to culture, including how we incorporate blooms & botanicals. Today we take a look at some floral wedding traditions from around the world, from competitive garland-giving to double bridal bouquets.

Italy

Italian Wedding Car Flowers via Whimsical Wonderland Weddings / Aynhoe Park / Alexa Loy Photography

Italian Wedding Car Flowers via Whimsical Wonderland Weddings / Alexa Loy Photography

 

We’ve all seen movies where the bride & groom clank away in their decked out wedding car, but in Italy it’s often a reality for the couple to make their first exit as man and wife in a car covered in fresh blooms.  As they drive off to wedded bliss, passersby will honk and shout “Auguri!” to wish the new couple a long and joyous marriage.
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Nicole / Nicole & Frank / The Woodmere Club / Brett Matthews Photography

Weddings

Nicole + Frank : Modern Magic at The Woodmere Club

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Nicole and Frank met in August 2007, on a cruise ship called The Norwegian Dawn, where they were vacationing separately with their families. After exchanging glances in the gym, their paths crossed again at dinner, where Frank claims it was “love at second sight.”

For years, Nicole talked about how much she wanted a black-and-white French bulldog to name Tuxedo, but always stopped herself from going through with the adoption due to her busy work schedule.  Turns out Frank was listening!

Nicole & Tuxedo

Nicole & Tuxedo

 

On a Wednesday night in November 2014, Frank was moving the last of his boxes into their new shared apartment in Williamsburg.  But when Nicole opened the door to help him carry what she assumed was a box of clothes, she was greeted instead by an eight-week-old black and white French bulldog with an engagement ring around his neck. “I will never forget that day!” says Nicole, “I did not know what to pay attention to first – the puppy or the ring?”
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Happy Couple / Kate & Alex / Battery Gardens / Susan Shek Photography

Weddings

Kate + Alex : A Radiant Summer Wedding at Battery Gardens

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Kate & Alex were married this past June at a marvelous ceremony in Battery Gardens. The couple met at work, when Alex interviewed Kate for her first “real job.” They worked together for years before getting together and falling in love. Alex popped the question on a romantic vacation in Croatia. “I was completely surprised,” says Kate, “Though apparently no one else was!”

Happy Couple / Kate & Alex / Battery Gardens / Susan Shek Photography

Happy Couple / Kate & Alex / Battery Gardens / Susan Shek Photography

 

“…We love traveling together and can always make each other laugh, which I think is the best part of us being together.”

Filled with vibrant colors and elegant details, the couple’s ceremony certainly reflected the joy and laughter they’ve found in one another’s company.
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