Photo: Corbin Gurkin Photography
When it comes to wedding inspiration, there are no rules about where you can find it. Just ask Sabrina Strelitz and Gregory Weiss, both 28. The couple, who met during their freshman year of college, were engaged in March of 2011 as they prepared for a trip to Cabo. "Greg called to say he wanted to go out to dinner the night before we left to get vacation started," says Sabrina. "I was in the bathroom getting ready, and he knocked on the door when he got home. I opened the door and there he was on one knee!"
The next morning, the pair jetted off to Las Ventanas and celebrated for a week in paradise, then came home to get wedding planning underway. But Sabrina wasn't about to leave Cabo behind at the pair's September 2nd, 2012, wedding at Mount Hope Farm in Bristol, Rhode Island. "We mixed Mexican elements into the décor and served strawberry-basil margaritas, which is my favorite drink from the resort," says the bride. The couple hosted a formal open-air celebration with a touch of Rhode Island (and Cabo's) seaside culture.
Keep reading to see all the details, captured by the incredible Corbin Gurkin!
Photo: Corbin Gurkin Photography
As guests arrived for the weekend, they were gifted with goodies representative of the region—and to help with morning-after recovery.
Sabrina and Greg went the traditional route with their wedding bands, opting for yellow gold over platinum.
As a stylist and former accessories editor, "I took the accessories very seriously!" says Sabrina. She carried a gold minaudiere from Kotur, and borrowed her earrings and bangles from Dana Rebecca Jewelry and Ippolita. The turquoise bracelet was her grandmother's. "It was my something blue," says the bride.
What would a stylist bride be without show-stopping shoes? Sabrina's were lace peeptoe booties from Chanel and were, in her words, "so comfortable!"
The bride kept her makeup soft and framed her face with romantic loose waves, which she accented with a veil. The dress was Vera Wang's Ester. "I knew I wanted sleeves, but didn't want something too heavy since the wedding was outdoors," says Sabrina. "I loved the sheer sleeves and delicate cowl neck."
Before their Jewish ceremony, Greg and Sabrina signed a ketubah embellished with gold and flowers.
Sabrina carried a white-on-white bouquet of garden roses, ranunculus, hellebores, freesia, gardenias, and orchids. The stem was wrapped in fabric from Sabrina's mother's wedding gown.
Her two sisters served as bridesmaids and wore metallic gowns from BHLDN. "They're technically wedding dresses," says Sabrina. "They really reflected their personal styles." The 'maids carried bouquets of dahlias, hydrangeas, and green roses.
Greg wore a classic tux from Barneys New York and a ranunculus boutonniere trimmed with gray silk. "We wanted the evening to ooze elegance and glamour," says the bride.
Sabrina was escorted down the aisle by her parents to a chuppah made of branches and covered with hydrangeas and greenery. Her childhood rabbi performed the traditional ceremony, with rituals explained in the program. After their first kiss, Greg and Sabrina exited as their guests blew bubbles.
After the ceremony, Sabrina and Greg hopped on a trolley and took a ride into town. "It was so nice to just sit and relax for a moment between all the fun and craziness," says Sabrina.
Photo: Corbin Gurkin Photography
As her wedding gift to Greg, Sabrina hired a cigar roller to hand-make cigars during cocktail hour!
Inspired by Las Ventanas, the Sperry tent was hung with metal filigree and starburst lanterns. Tables were topped with a combination of more traditional and Mexican-inspired centerpieces. Pieces of driftwood were studded with orchids, and mercury glass vases overflowed with hydrangeas and roses.
Places were set with gold flatware and gold-rimmed glasses for a glam spin on a traditional farm table setting. The bride and groom's chairs were tied with vines, white hydrangeas, roses, and orchids, and burlap ribbon.
Photo: Corbin Gurkin Photography
The wedding cake, decorated with sugar flowers, featured red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and brown butter caramel pecan filling, and yellow cake with milk chocolate mousse. But the real highlight was the dessert bar. "We had cotton candy, Momofuku cake truffles, caramels, chocolates, meringues, salt water taffy, yogurt pretzels, and red vines (and then some!)," says Sabrina. The bride hand-made the paper flower wall that served as a backdrop for the seriously sweet display.
Photo: Corbin Gurkin Photography
The band, SPLASH!, played Van Morrison's "Crazy Love" for Greg and Sabrina's first dance, then had guests boogying all night. "People barely sat down for dinner," says Sabrina.
Another hit was "Walking in Memphis." "It's a favorite amongst our college friends," says Sabrina. "Everyone got up to sing along. It was a great flashback to our college days!" The couple took a few days to regroup, then jetted off to Mauritius for their honeymoon.
Sabrina has great advice for brides who know what they want. "Book the bigger things, like the venue or photographer or band, that you want as quickly as possible," she says. "There's nothing worse than finding out that the vendor you fell in love with is already booked! Then relax and take your time figuring out the smaller details."
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Mount Hope Farm || Day-of Coordinator: The Perfect Details || Bride's Wedding Dress: Vera Wang || Shoes: Chanel || Accessories: clutch - Kotur, earrings - Dana Rebecca Jewelry, bangles - Ippolita || Hair: Stacey Kuehn || Makeup: Kate of Dani Wagener Beauty || Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN || Groom's Tuxedo: Barneys New York || Wedding Bands: Cartier || Florist: Stoneblossom || Invitations & Paper Goods: Paper Moss || Music: ceremony - Music Manage, reception - SPLASH! || Catering: Russell Morin Fine Catering || Cake: Cakes To Remember || Dessert Bar: Infinite Events, Momofuku Milk Bar || Rentals: New England Country Rentals || Tent: Sperry Tents || Lighting: Ormonde Productions || Cigars: Boston Cigar Factory || Trolleys: A Formal Affair Inc. || Videography: Tweed Weddings || Photography: Corbin Gurkin Photography