Last week, the historic Bee & Thistle Inn and Spa hosted a party to honor our most recent issue of GALA Weddings magazine and the “All-American Elegance,” Jacqueline Kennedy–inspired photo shoot, which we featured on page 45. Our editor, KB, joined the Inn’s owner Linnea Rufo, her husband, David, and a fabulous group of wedding professionals for an amazing evening filled with beautiful music and delicious cocktails…

The shoot’s fashion on display, including the amazing Anne Barge gown:

GALA, ready and waiting for its big moment:

The absolutely amazing band:

The lovely Linnea and our editor, KB:

Many thanks to everyone at the Bee & Thistle Inn for hosting the celebration and the photo shoot, which was just one example of the spectacular work being generated by this amazing group of wedding professionals…

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck Photography
Art Direction: Jubilee Events
Fashion Styling: The White Dress by the Shore
Hair & Makeup: Dana Bartone & Company
Floral Design: Datura: A Modern Garden
Stationery: Coral Pheasant Stationery + Design
Letterpress Printer: Fresh Heifers Artisan Letterpress
Chandelier Rental & Installation: Ryan Designs
Cake: A Little Imagination Cakes

And lastly, thanks to Jacqueline Kennedy, for providing all of us with such lasting inspiration…

We’re thrilled to announce that the historic Bee & Thistle Inn will be hosting a GALA Weddings Magazine launch party in celebration of the Jacqueline Kennedy Inspired Shoot, which took place at their venue and graced the pages of our most recent issue. Please join our editor, KB, along with all the talented vendors who worked on this shoot, to celebrate Jackie O’s wedding style on February 8th in Old Lyme, Connecticut…

GALA Weddings Magazine is off press and ready to help you plan!

Check out the “Unveiled” section of GALA, where we publish some our favorite wedding styles, trends, and products. In this issue, we shared balloons from Shop Sweet Lulu, handmade bow ties from Forage, Will You Be My Bridesmaid Books from Coral Pheasant Stationery + Design, Washi tape from BHLDN, crazy and amazing photo booth rentals from Smilebooth, accessories from Emiliner, and custom clutch designs from Ila Handbags.

GALA Weddings Magazine is off press and ready to help you plan!

Over the next few weeks, we’ll share some of our favorite GALA stories with you right here on the blog. First up, get inspired with some fantastic ideas in our Inspiration Closet featuring fantastic images from Poppies & Posies, Jen Huang Photography, Joy Marie Photography, Kelly Dillon Photography, Rodeo Photography, Melani Lust Photography, Bharat Parmar Photography, and more…

With our annual issue of GALA Weddings magazine about to come off press, we’ve got a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at our “All American Elegance” photo shoot. Together with a team of top New England vendors, Candice Coppola of Cheshire, Connecticut–based Jubilee Events set out to tell a wedding-day story inspired by the black-and-white images of Jackie O. and JFK’s 1953 nuptials…



Photographed on the actual day (September 12th) that the iconic couple exchanged vows 58 years before, the photo shoot is a nod to the classic bride, who Coppola believes is making a comeback. “She’s a bride who was inspired by this year’s royal wedding. She wants to honor tradition and embrace timeless wedding fashion but, like the Duchess of Cambridge, she’s a savvy, modern woman who craves one-of-a-kind design,” says Coppola. With that in mind, an elegant and traditional table was set for the shoot, but the centerpieces by Datura: A Modern Garden showcased contemporary blooms and each setting received a trendy champagne split. Escort cards were affixed to the back of each ghost chair for a unique spin on a traditional element.

Beth Chapman of The White Dress by the Shore styled the model in an Anne Barge gown inspired by Jackie O.‘s original dress, pairing it with a bright, contemporary handmade clutch, cathedral-length veil, and modern makeup applied by Dana Bartone & Co. After marrying the old with the new, and infusing the set with classic details, they left the rest up to well-known wedding photographer Carla Ten Eyck and her team…








The resulting images tell a timeless story that honors an icon who has been inspiring women since she said “I do” to a public life nearly 60 years ago. The full story is pure magic and can be found on page 45 of GALA Weddings, off press in mid-December.