Sharon Belden & Thomas Castonguay
Hotel Viking
July 19, 2009
Published in Newport Life Magazine July 2010

Sharon Belden started 2009 off the right way – by saying “yes.” Her wake-up call that New Year’s morning was a marriage proposal from boyfriend Tom Castonguay. There really was no other answer for Sharon to give. Taken with Tom since the first time she saw him three years ago at the Boston Beer Summit, Sharon says, “I was there for the beer, but attracted to the muscular guy with the friendly smile.” She took a chance, struck up a conversation and found that she worked across the street from him in Beantown – Susan was working on her doctorate at Harvard and Tom was a postdoctoral fellow at Boston University. “My fate was sealed,” Sharon says. “Not many PhD chemists can bench press more than 300 pounds!”

A year and a half later, the two were planning their wedding. Having grown up attending St. Mary’s Church in Portsmouth, with her parents, Jeffrey and Diane Belden, the decision to tie the knot there was easy for the bride-to-be. All eyes were on her as she approached the altar in her ivory Priscilla of Boston gown, which she chose for its resemblance to Princess Diana’s dress. The wedding party celebrated at the Hotel Viking, where guests enjoyed an afternoon tea of lobster salad sandwiches, scones, fruits, truffles and petit fours, along with chocolate covered strawberries and cupcakes, instead of the traditional wedding cake. “I chose the Viking because I wanted to do an afternoon tea reception, and they were willing to expand their standard tea to accommodate our wedding,” Sharon says.

Nearly every aspect of the wedding included a personalized touch. Sharon made the tiered cupcake stand, decorating the base with shells and two mini Adirondack chairs as a nod to her family home in the Adirondacks. Even the music gave guests something to talk about. Tom’s brother Jason, a professional musician, played keyboard throughout the reception. “People kept asking me where I’d found him!” Sharon says. “He was Fox-TV’s ‘Connecticut Idol’ in 2004, so we were lucky to get him, Tom’s brother or not!”

After a honeymoon at a friend’s house on Chesapeake Bay, the Castonguays moved to Rye, New York.

Featured Vendors:
Bridal Gown: Priscilla of Boston, Boston
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Flair, Boston
Invitations: Papers, Newport
Rehearsal Dinner: Mainstay Inn, Newport
Hair: Delaria, Providence
Flowers: Clements’ Marketplace, Portsmouth
Caterer: Hotel Viking, Newport
Cake: Mad Hatter Bakery, Newport
Photographer: Deb Hanna Designs, Wilbraham, MA
Wedding Night Stay: Newport Marriott
Guest Accommodations: Hotel Viking, Newport, Howard Johnson’s, Middletown
Post-Wedding Brunch: @ The Deck, Newport
Other Gifts: Vineyard Vines Ties, Island Outfitters, Newport

Looking for more inspiration? Click here for A-List Wedding Pro’s!

Meghan Jacobson & Christopher Bancroft
Fort Adams
October 17, 2009
Published in Newport Wedding Magazine 2011

After a chance meeting during freshman orientation at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, Meghan Jacobson and Christopher Bancroft fell in love and spent the next four years in step around campus. When Meghan moved to Miami for law school, Christopher decided to propose to her in a candle-lit garden in Key West on a weekend visit.

Having grown up in South Kingstown, Meghan set her sights on one place and one place only for her dream wedding reception: Fort Adams. The cocktail hour in the stone casemates of the fort was a stunning and dramatic way to start the celebration in such a lovely setting, notes Meghan. “There is nothing quite as beautiful as the view from Fort Adams,” she says. “We had an unimpeded view of Newport Harbor and the bridge in front of us, and the towering walls of the Fort behind us. It was the perfect backdrop.”

The bride wowed attendants in an equally perfect strapless satin ballgown by Kenneth Pool for Amsale. “I have always loved the formality of Kenneth Pool gowns,” says Meghan, “and both my mother and I fell in love with it the moment I put it on.”
The newlyweds paid tribute to their collegiate New Orleans roots with a Dixieland jazz band for cocktail hour, fleur-de-lis on the invitations, menus and cake, pralines as guest favors shipped from the Big Easy, and table names after New Orleans streets. The bridesmaids wore black satin strapless gowns by Badgley Mischka to match the groomsmen’s classic black Armani tuxedos.

The “perfect” day was not without hilarious incident, however. One of the bride’s closest friends forgot to bring her reading to St. Mary’s Church and so discreetly carried her Blackberry to the altar and found the passage in an email. “No one in the audience knew she was reading from her cell phone,” laughs Meghan. “Including me!” Prior to the ceremony, the wedding trolley nearly drove away with Meghan’s veil before several guy friends chased it down.

The newlyweds flew to Los Cabos, Mexico to soak up the sun before returning to their home in Austin, Texas.

Featured Vendors:
Bridal Gown: Kenneth Pool, New York, NY
Invitations: Papers, Newport
Rehearsal Dinner: International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport
Hair: Natural Creations, Newport
Flowers: Broadway Florist, Newport
Caterer: Fine Catering by Russell Morin, Newport
Cake: Cappuccino’s, Middletown
Photographer: Person + Killian Photography, Boston, MA
Videographer: Video & Vision, Newport
Wedding Night Stay: The Pelham Court Hotel, Newport
Guest Accommodations: The Pelham Court Hotel and the Hyatt Regency Newport
Tent: Newport Tent Company, Newport

Looking for more inspiration? Click here for A-List Wedding Pro’s!

Kara Nugent & Ashish Shah
OceanCliff
December 4, 2010
Published in Newport Wedding Magazine 2012

Dr. Kara Nugent and Dr. Ashish Shah are at home amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City, where they first locked eyes during residency training and where they currently reside. Ashish popped the question in their tiny apartment in the Big Apple, but Kara’s affinity for her home state led the couple to begin their lives together in scenic Newport.

The bride’s parents, Stephen and Mary Nugent, still live in Barrington and were among 190 guests who shared in the celebration, which included a Catholic ceremony at Our Lady of Mercy Chapel at Salve Regina University followed by a traditional Indian ceremony under an elaborate gold mandap with a rich red backdrop at OceanCliff. “It’s a beautiful location, and was a warm and cozy environment for our December wedding,” Kara shares. The couple exchanged wedding garlands, and elephants were featured on programs and in brilliant statues adorning either side of the red aisle as a symbol of good luck, prosperity and longevity.

The reception color palette was as warm as the venue, blending creams and lattes to complement the bride’s stunning vintage embroidered silk gown from León, Spain. Bridesmaids wore fawn J. Crew dresses of silk taffeta and carried elegant bouquets of cream and blush roses. From the couple’s first dance to Norah Jones’ serene “Come Away With Me,” to the exquisite three-tier almond cake with chocolate ganache layers and rich buttercream frosting, romance was in the air from start to finish.

The happy couple returned to their home in the Empire State after a honeymoon in Bahia, Brazil.

DETAILS:
Invitations: Papers, Newport
Rehearsal Dinner: Hotel Viking, Newport, catered by Gourmet India, Providence
Hair & Make-up: Jennie Kay Beauty Parlour, Middletown
Flowers: Toni Chandler, Newport
Caterer: OceanCliff, Newport
Cake: Confectionary Designs, Newport
Reception Entertainment: Flipside, Boston, MA
Photographer: Adeline & Grace, Pawtucket
Videographer: Artistic Wedding Video Group, Newport
Wedding Planner: Details with Love, Newport
Accommodations: OceanCliff, Newport

Katie Leeber & Justin Parascandolo
Hotel Viking
May 20, 2011
Published in Newport Wedding Magazine 2012

Had Katie Leeber realized Justin Parascandolo made big plans to propose at dinner that evening, she would not have made him wait so long. Still, she happily accepted and the Portsmouth natives planned to marry on the island where they grew up. “We are lucky enough to call Newport home, and we had to have such a special moment in our lives celebrated here,” the bride says.

Katie was the picture of elegance, dazzling in her satin Casablanca gown with a sweetheart neckline, pleated bodice and draped skirt with gentle pick-ups. At their spring ceremony, Justin had the pleasure of kissing the bride twice after an initial mispronunciation of their last name.

Finally married, the newlyweds celebrated at the Hotel Viking on Bellevue Avenue in the heart of Newport’s Historic district. The bridal party donned floor-length satin gowns in platinum along with the pinkest of shoes, and carried a mix of pink roses and peonies to pop against the dresses. Place cards and programs that were decorated with rhinestones featured the couple’s monogram, which was also atop the four tier almond cake with raspberry filling and “chandelier-inspired” designs finished with a shimmer glaze.

As the couple shared their first dance to “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne, guests savored petit filet with crab stuffed shrimp, cider-glazed statler chicken breast with pancetta mashed potatoes and spinach and portabella raviolio with roasted tomato butter and mashed goat cheese. The new Mr. and Mrs. Parascandolo made their way back to Portsmouth after a honeymoon cruise to Bermuda and the Caribbean.

DETAILS:
Bridal Gown & Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ana’s Bridal Boutique, East Providence
Tuxedos: Viking Tuxedo, Middletown
Hair & Make-up: Allison Barbera Beauty, Newport
Nails: Star Nails, Middletown
Caterer: Hotel Viking, Newport
Cake: Scrumptions, East Greenwich
Flowers: Broadway Florist Designs, Middletown
Invitations: Papers, Newport
Transportation: Celebrity Limousine, Attleboro, MA
Reception Entertainment: Luke Renchan Entertainment, Newport
Photographer: Armor & Martel Photography, Portsmouth
Wedding Night Stay & Accommodations: Hotel Viking, Newport

Looking for more inspiration? Click here for A-List Wedding Pro’s!

Megan Reardon & Bryan Clooney
Atlantic Beach Club
June 3, 2011
Published in Newport Life Magazine July 2012

Megan Reardon and Bryan Clooney met in her apartment during the first week of her senior year at Salve Regina University. Bryan, a local Newporter, came over with her roommate’s boyfriend to help hang shelves. The two grew inseparable and after 10 years of dating, Bryan brought Megan to his mother’s grave on Christmas morning, carrying with him his mother’s engagement ring that he had customized. “He said he wanted his mother to be there when he asked me,” she says.

The couple chose Newport as the wedding location, where Bryan’s father Robert Clooney still resides. The ceremony took place at the historical St. Augustin’s Church in front of 245 friends and family.

Once Mr. and Mrs. Clooney sealed their courtship with a kiss, they were whisked away by old-fashioned trolley to the Atlantic Beach Club. “You can’t get much better than being right on the ocean,” says Megan. Splashes of navy blue, pink and lime green popped amongst every detail, whether it was the groom’s striped navy and pink tie or the delicate ribbons that wrapped fragrant bouquets of peonies, calla lilies, white lisianthus and hydrangeas.

Throughout the evening, guests dined on a succulent menu including filet mignon and lobster tail. One of the focal points during the reception was their pineapple ice carving, a welcoming sign of Newport created by Bryan’s family-owned business Eastern Ice.

The newlyweds took a mini-moon to Boston after their whirlwind wedding weekend. Now living in Portsmouth, Megan and Bryan welcomed a baby girl in June.–CC

DETAILS:
Ceremony: St. Augustin’s Church, Newport
Bridal Gown: Alexandra’s Boutique, Fall River, MA
Suits: JoS. A. Bank, Newport
Rings: The Platinum House, Newport
Invitations: Papers, Newport
Rehearsal Dinner: La Forge Casino Restaurant, Newport
Nails: Star Nails & Spa, Newport
Flowers: Bellevue Florist, Newport
Transportation: Viking Tours, Newport
Reception Entertainment: Rhythm Productions, Newport
Photographer: Dussán Photography
Accommodations: Quality Inn & Suites, Middletown

Looking for more inspiration? Click here for A-List Wedding Pro’s!

Julie Ferro & Peter Eagan
Eisenhower House
July 23, 2011

Published in Newport Life Magazine January/February 2012

It seems storms of one kind or another hindered then helped these two. When Newporters Peter Eagan and Julie Ferro hit it off on a chance meeting in St. Maarten, thunderstorms foiled their first date plans on the island. With no way of contacting her, Peter’s luck changed when their shared return flight to Boston was delayed thanks to a New England blizzard. Fate landed them in the same bar that evening, where they exchanged numbers and never looked back. “Peter is a sailor and I have always loved the beach, so Newport seemed like a natural fit for our wedding,” Julie says. “Living here made planning the wedding and meeting with vendors very easy.”

An elegant reception at the Eisenhower House transported them to their dating days, when they would sit on its lawn and watch sailboats in Narragansett Bay. “We wanted a location where we could see the water and for our guests to experience the quintessential Newport wedding. We knew right away it was the spot for us!” The sailing-themed occasion incorporated blue and white invitations featuring the nautical knot, groomsmen in sailboat ties, “monkey’s fist” nautical knots to hold table numbers at the reception and homemade sailboat cookie favors. Blue hydrangeas and white spray roses kept the coastal theme, and a savory meal included poached cilantro chicken quesadillas, caramelized onion and bleu cheese crostini, antipasto and prime rib carved tableside with horseradish chive sauce and mushroom Madeira reduction.

In an unforgettable day, there was a standout moment for Peter: when the newlyweds returned from sunset pictures in front of the Newport Bridge to a glowing tent filled with 110 loved ones. As Newport residents, the feeling is recreated every time they see the bridge.

DETAILS:
Tuxedos/Suits: Jos A. Bank and Island Outfitters, Newport
Invitations: Papers, Newport
Wedding Coordinator: The Pink Polka Dot, Falmouth, Massachusetts
Rehearsal Dinner: The Rhumbline, Newport
Hair & Makeup: RaNew, Newport
Nails: Star Nails, Newport
Flowers: Sarah Rodgers Florals, Portsmouth
Caterer: Blue Rocks Catering, Newport
Bridal Party/Guest Transportation: South County Trolley Company, Narragansett
Photographer: Maaike Bernstrom Photography, Middletown
Reception Entertainment: Mac Chrupcala Orchestra, Portsmouth
Guest Accommodations: Inns of Newport and Hotel Viking, Newport
Tent: Newport Tent Company, Newport

Q&A: How to Organize a Guest List

Courtesy of Papers Facebook

He popped the question. Now what? Time to start planning! Judith Carroll of Papers in Newport, RI, explains how to stay organized when getting ready to send out your invitations.

When should I start planning my guest list?
The guest list is the very first thing a couple should plan, Carroll says, so it should be done a year in advance. A head start is crucial because you’ll need a count for your caterer and for your “paper wardrobe,” or all your Save the Dates, invitations and response sets.

My guest list is out of control! How do I start to trim it down?
People who you haven’t seen in a year should not be on the list. If your guest list is still too long after that, Carroll explains a scenario that will make the planning easier: If there are 100 guests, the parents of the bride and groom each invite 25 of their own guests. The couple decides the remaining half of the guests. Depending on who is paying for the wedding, the numbers may need to be tweaked. If only the bride’s family is paying, they may have a few more allowed invitees than the groom’s family. Each couple’s circumstances will be different.

What are some good tools I can use to manage my planning?
The best tool, and one more and more brides are using, Carroll says, is likely already programmed into your computer. Microsoft Excel, or similar spreadsheet-based programs, make tracking information and RSVPs more streamlined. Carroll gives her brides an etiquette sheet with tips and tricks, like how to write names on invitations and what symbols or phrases to avoid.

What information do I need about my invitees?
A correct home address and a phone number are the two most important, Carroll believes. Usually, there are about 10 people who will not respond to invitations. Papers offers a special service that ensures the bride is the star of the show. “We call people who have not responded,” she says, so neither the bride nor the family has to worry.

Courtesy of Papers Facebook

I have my list, but how do I pick my invitations?
Brides go to Papers prepared with their wedding colors and a font style they’ve always loved and pick their invitations from Carroll’s selections—she has hundreds of invitation styles. A traditional bride loves block fonts, Carroll says, but a script looks beautiful on wedding invitations, too.

Once the invitations are sent out, what’s the final step?Make sure your Save the Dates have been ordered nine months in advance of the wedding date and your invitations are ordered six months in advance. Use your Excel spreadsheet to track RSVPs and stay organized.

Happy planning!

“When I was a little girl, I attended my aunt’s wedding reception at Rosecliff,” Andrea says. “From that day forward, I dreamt of being married there.”

Andrea Mauro & Evan Gotlob on August 23, 2014
Published in Newport Wedding Magazine 2016

It all began with a handshake and a smile when Rhode Island native Andrea Mauro met Evan Gotlob on her first day of work in a New York City prosecutor’s office. Their relationship was purely professional; however, says Andrea, “Between shared weekend arraignments shifts, office softball games and coffee breaks, something shifted.” During the couple’s first date, they spent hours walking lower Manhattan while eating red velvet cupcakes and sharing stories. Love quickly followed. Not wanting to fuel any office gossip, the couple kept their courtship quiet until Andrea answered a resounding “Yes” to Evan’s proposal while they stood at the highest point on the Brooklyn Bridge.—TS

Tradition
Each wedding guest received a small box containing five Jordan almonds with the following inscription in honor of the bride’s Italian heritage: “The five almonds in this box represent five wishes for the bride and groom. These wishes are for health, wealth, happiness, fertility and longevity.”

Little Things
Little details carried throughout the day. As the ring bearer, Evan’s two-year-old nephew Noah carefully carried the rings on a little pillow made out of material from Andrea’s late grandmother’s favorite pink cashmere sweater. The groomsmen received personalized bobble-heads that were each made to look like the recipient (see p. 18). And the couple hired an expert to roll cigars with custom labels for party-goers.

Love
The couple shares a great affinity for tennis, so they included the International Tennis Hall of Fame as the site for their welcome cocktail reception and rehearsal dinner. “On the morning of our wedding, while I was busy fretting over hair and makeup,” says the bride, “Evan was busy playing tennis with his college coach and former teammates. It was his first time on grass courts.”

Where Are They Now
After saying “Aloha” to their Hawaiian honeymoon, the couple continues to work as attorneys in New York and still eat a cupcake or two on occasion.

Featured Vendors
Groomsmen: Viking Tuxedo
Invitations: Papers of Newport
Rehearsal Dinner: International Tennis Hall of Fame
Ceremony/Reception Venue: Rosecliff
Hair/Makeup/Nails: Wave Lengths Salon & Spa
Flowers: Sayles Livingston Design
Caterer: Blackstone Caterers
Cake: Confectionery Designs, Sin Desserts
Officiant: The Honorable Robert E. Hardman
Transportation: Rockstar Limo
Ceremony Music: Entertainment Specialists
Reception Entertainment: New York City Swing
Photographer: Carrie Rodman Prophett
Videographer: Buzz Media Company, Mystic
Planner: Galen Cobb Limoges
Wedding Night Stay: The Chanler
Guest Accommodations: Hotel Viking
Post-Wedding Brunch: The Dunes Club
Schooner Rental: Schooner Aurora
Cigar Roller: Boston Cigar
Photo Booth: Insightful Eye Photography
Wedding Cookies: Newport Sweet Shoppe

“We considered it an honor to be married in a mansion that has such beauty and amazing historical significance. And to treat our families and guests to the same—it was simply a no-brainer.”

Patricia Mascali & Leo Orsi on June 12, 2015
Published in Newport Life Magazine January/February 2016 issue

Little did Patricia Mascali of Jamestown know that her position as a realtor would open the door to the love of her life. Selling New Jersey native and Princeton alumnus Leo Orsi his coastal home led to a celebratory dinner at Castle Hill Inn and three years later, a proposal on Valentine’s Day. For most of their lives, the two have enjoyed the social life and nightlife of the City by the Sea, and with shared support for the Preservation Society of Newport County, the couple agrees that they, “couldn’t think of a more majestic, elegant, beautiful and historical venue than the Tea House and the Marble House Mansion,” Patricia says.—EK

Cake:
As the two are members of the Princeton Fishing Team and Leo the author of the best-selling book Striper Chronicles, their cake topper featured a custom porcelain figurine of a bride reeling in her groom with a fishing rod.
Cherished Memory:
The ceremony along with the “elegance and grandeur” of the Gold Ballroom were the couple’s favorite aspects of their celebration, in addition to entertainment provided by a live nine-piece band.
Advice:
“If at all possible, start planning a year in advance,” suggests the bride. “Venues, caterers, florists, and entertainers book way in advance. If you start early you have a better chance of getting exactly what you want when you want it.”
Honeymoon:
Prior to the wedding, the couple enjoyed a 14-day Caribbean Holiday cruise. After their wedding day, they rented a waterfront home on Block Island with their wedding party and went striped bass fishing.
Where Are They Now?
Mr. and Mrs. Orsi reside in Jamestown where Patricia remains a realtor at Mansions & Manors and Leo is a commercial real estate consultant.

FEATURED VENDORS:
Rings: Grenon’s of Newport
Invitations: Papers Newport
Cake/Caterer: Russell Morin Fine Catering
Photographer: Kate Whitney Lucey Photography
Videographer: Patrick Beritti
Makeup: Frank Antonio Hair & Makeup
Nails: Rose-Perfect Nails
Transportation: 5 Star Limousine
Flowers: Broadway Florist
Ceremony Venue: Chinese Tea House
Reception Venue: Marble House Mansion
Reception Entertainment: Decades by Dezyne