Greetings!
Last month's Newport Bridal Show at OceanCliff and Rosecliff was a smashing success! Brides from all over the country came to scope out venues for their big day and find the perfect caterer, entertainment, photographer and special touches to add to their memorable event. But if you weren't there it is not too late to come visit Newport and plan your wedding.
Within the next few weeks Newport will transform from a winter wonderland to a spring oasis with blossoming trees and luscious gardens.
So forget the spring-cleaning for another weekend and come experience the wonders of our City-by-the-Sea. Be sure to use your copy of the 2008 Newport Wedding Magazine, the best resource for planning your Newport Wedding! -NWM |
Amy Potter & John G. Ganga III
Castle Hill Inn & Resort on September 21, 2007
Just like a Judy Bloom tale, Amy Potter and John Ganga met the summer before starting high school at Rogers and Portsmouth, respectively. They spent days basking in the sun and swimming in the waves at Second Beach, until season's end. The two eventually lost touch after they returned to their separate schools. That is, until nearly five years ago, when in a moment of kismet, the two happened to spot one another at the Brick Alley Pub, became reacquainted and soon, were inseparable.
John, son of John and Susan Genga of Portsmouth, asked for Amy's hand in marriage on a trip to Cape Cod. Upon their return, wedding plans went into full swing. They chose Castle Hill as the perfect setting to celebrate their union. "John and I have spent many afternoons relaxing in the Adirondack chairs enjoying the amazing view," Amy says. "We have fond memories [there] and were so excited to be married at such a beautiful, classic Newport location."
Throughout their two-year engagement, the couple changed the wedding date three times and the venue twice! Even the attire had changed for the bride. Four weeks before the wedding, Amy decided the wedding dress she had chosen earlier just was not "the one." "I thought to myself that I wanted a wedding gown that I loved and felt like I never wanted to take off," she explains. " I thought if I happened to find a gown that fit me off the rack, that it was fate. I found this dress and fell in love with it - simple, classic and elegant, and most importantly, John loved it!"
On an early Friday evening, Amy, escorted by her parents James and Carol Potter of Newport, walked down the lantern-lit aisle of St. Joseph's Church on Broadway, the parish she attended as a child. The two exchanged vows and were whisked away by trolley to the nearby celebration. In a sentimental twist, the couple made a donation to the Lance Armstrong Livestrong Foundation to honor cancer survivors, as the bride cares for cancer patients as an oncology nurse practitioner at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and her mother is a breast cancer survivor.
Not quite ready to let the party end, the next day the newlyweds asked their closest friends to join them on a sunset cruise aboard the schooner Madeleine, followed by dinner at the Fifth Element.-AM |
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The Details
Amy and John planned every detail of their special day. Cconsider their vendors for your Newport wedding!
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Bridal Gown: Alexandra's Bridal, Fall River, MA
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Bridesmaids' Dresses: Ana's Bridal, East Providence
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Suits: Viking Tuxedo, Middletown
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Rehearsal Dinner: Sardella's, Newport
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Make-up: Cosmetic Cosmos, Newport
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Nails: Oasis Salon & Spa, Middletown
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Entertainment: The Pulse of Boston, Boston, MA
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Videographer: Unique Video Productions by Bruce Valliere, Cranston
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Insider Tip: Bridal Shower Secrets from Our Wedding Expert Andrea E. McHugh
This is the time of year, dear spring summer and fall Newport brides, when all of your friends and bridesmaids are talking behind your back. Don't worry; it's a good thing. We're chatting about shower themes, invites, dates and places. And, yes, that's a "we" because not only are 3 Newport Wedding Magazine staffers in 3 separate weddings this summer (1 in a tea-length, espresso J. Crew number, the other in "something" lilac for a garden wedding, and the other...well, undecided- that bride has to get crackin'), and one of our own will be walking down the aisle soon enough.
So, there's 2 ways you can both get the shower of your dreams while simultaneously making our lives easier: 1. Communicate. You don't have get into all the details, but give us some hint if there's something that would really make you happy...or unhappy. If being the center of attention sounds like your biggest nightmare, let your bridesmaids know so they're not planning for you to sit in the middle of the room perched on a wicker throne accepting pastel-wrapped presents. A more activity-based shower, perhaps a ladies-only tea party or champagne bunch, will take you out of the spotlight a bit. 2. Register well. Yes, we know your dear fiancé has his fingers crossed for the 60" flatscreen, and it might even happen, but a diverse registry at a few select stores will greatly please your guest list. Some gift-givers enjoy picking up a handful of things to build a themed-gift, while others prefer to choose, wrap and ship with just a simple click.
Big-box and department stores are obvious, but if a large number of your guests are from the same area, consider including a registry at a local home décor, kitchen or bath shop. By carefully choosing artisan or uncommon pieces- vases, artwork or accessories, your new nest will have a personal touch all your own.
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"Venues, Menus, 'I Dos' and More"
Newport Wedding Magazine has just revealed a new website and it is a must see! With a full menu of each article listed, finding the specific topic you want is as easy as point and click.
With helpful support such as The Newport Wedding Professional Guide, 19 individual categories of vendors are listed to make sure nothing is forgotten when planning your wedding details. There are tips for newspaper announcements, how to properly make a toast, unique etiquette for Newport's style, how to decide upon a veil, a modern day dowry, and more. Whether you wish to save your dress for posterity or use it for a photo shoot in the sand and 'trash' it, the website can tell you how to go about do so. Honeymooning in Newport? Find tips to personalize your weddingmoon to your individual style.
Don't forget to browse through the 15 featured Newport real weddings. Photos of flower arrangements, appetizers and cakes brighten the pages with their magnificent colors and may spark ideas for your own nuptials.
The marriage license, the thank you cards and even tips on how to combine your decorating styles when moving in together, this website is your best resource for the little things that mean a lot.
Click here to see the new site now! | |
