Maggie + Jamie | Classic Bedford Post Inn wedding

It was quite a journey to get to Maggie + James’ intimate wedding at the Bedford Post Inn! They originally contacted me for their planned June 2020 wedding at the Bedford Golf & Tennis Club, but then COVID hit and they had rescheduled for October, thinking (as we all did) that things would be back to normal by then. As it got closer, they didn’t think they could safely have the big celebration they had planned. So the final decision was a private ceremony at church with their closest family + friends, then a small reception at the Bedford Post Inn. This wasn’t what they had envisioned when they got engaged, but they were ready to be Mr. & Mrs. and begin their life together. But I was there for M + J at every step of the way, helping them with a beautiful custom wedding paper story and keeping their guests informed of all the changes throughout the process.

Their color palette was natural + classic, with green like the blazer James wrote, and a soft blue inspired by the gorgeous sash from Maggie’s wedding gown. I love all the color they used in their attire, and it lent itself so well to that preppy look they wanted!

Their paper story started with a beautiful crest designed by a family friend of Maggie’s. As always with save the dates, I don’t like to give away the full look of a couple’s crest of wedding logo, so I always include details but never the whole shabang! We incorporated just the monogram of their wedding crest into a simple + elegant save the date, with the beautiful blues + greens. We then had created a full suite for their originally planned 2020 date, incorporating their crest as a tag to go on a classic paper belly band in that soft blue. It allowed the invitation itself to be classic + simple with just text. When we had to make new invitations for the private wedding ceremony, we paired it down with just the one card (since they knew all their nearest + dearest would attend, and wouldn’t need RSVP’s), and a soft blue envelope liner. The biggest challenge for Maggie, and many of my COVID brides, was how to kindly communicate to a majority of their original guest list that the big wedding was cancelled. Their wasn’t much existing etiquette for how to handle weddings amid of global pandemic, but we worked together to word it in a way that was honest but loving. And in general, people understand the difficult circumstances surrounding weddings, and appreciated that their hosts put people’s healthy and safety as the #1 priority.

Now just because you have an intimate wedding doesn’t mean it can’t have those thoughtful details! In fact, the smaller the guest count the more you have in your budget for the elements that can make your wedding thoughtful + personal. We did a vintage postage story celebrating their love of golf, plus their time living in Washington DC + New York. A postage story doesn’t have to mean tons of stamps, and when you mix current USPS stamps with one or two vintage ones (like we did here), it can be more budget-friendly and less work to assemble. Win-win! And no classic wedding invitation suite is complete without calligraphy from BL Calligraphy!

The day-of items were classic + elegant, incorporating details from their custom wedding crest. First we did lovely square programs with a bouquet painted by their family friend, tied together with hand-dyed blue silk ribbon. At the reception were cocktail napkins with their crest, place cards, and custom-monogrammed cloth napkins. I’ve seen this done more + more at weddings, and it really elevates the place setting, and at the end of the day you can take them home for your own collection! And the hand-painted white pumpkins celebrated the fall season without it feeling rustic or kitchy.

Throughout the whole wedding process, amid all the bumps in the road, Maggie maintained a cohesive look and prioritized stationery as an important element to her. Her paper goods are not just a keepsake, but really a relic of a profound time in her life and history. But I think she’ll look back so happy with the decisions she made, creating something beautiful and prioritizing what was most important: getting married to the love of her life.

Maggie + James, I was such a pleasure to be on the journey of your wedding story with you. You cared deeply about the details and your union, and that all came through beautifully on your big day!

For tips on how to manage your wedding during COVID, check out my guide to communicating pandemic guidelines with your guests! For more classic wedding inspiration, see my post for Maura + Ben’s romantic Hill-Stead Museum wedding.

VENDOR REEL

Photography – Kelsey Combe Photography

Venue – Bedford Post Inn

Flowers – Bedford Village Flower Shoppe

Linens – Smith Party Rental

Band – Hudson Horns

Makeup/Hair – Jennifer Kinford Beauty Group

Coordination – Kelly Marie Events

Invitations + Paper Goods: Roseville Designs