Winter Wedding with Old World Elegance at Rosecliff Mansion

Cait and Luke wed at Rosecliff Mansion in December 2022. Their day was elegant, vintage-inspired, and overall memorable. The Gilded Age-era mansion was the perfect place to host their celebration, where Old World architecture and the elevated ambiance of bygone days surrounded them all day long. Our team was honored to provide partial plus planning!

The couple met when Cait went to Luke’s house with a group of girlfriends for a pre-prom gathering. They stayed in touch through mutual friends for several years, then began dating during their freshman year of college while on winter break. Six years later, Luke proposed on Carson Beach in South Boston. He chose the location right down the street from their first apartment, where the two reminisced on their journey together.

Planning a Sophisticated Winter Wedding

When Cait and Luke approached us about planning their wedding, they explained that they envisioned an elegant affair with Old World influences. It was important to them to create a thoughtful and cohesive event design that would give their guests a breathtaking experience, and their wedding’s location was integral to that goal. Accordingly, they chose Rosecliff Mansion as their venue! Located steps from the coast of Newport, Rhode Island, the historic property exemplified every aspect of their vision.

The couple also sought our guidance on designing a winter wedding that would capitalize on the coziness and anticipation of the holiday season without reading “Christmas.” We chose a green and white color palette as a nod to the season but avoided decorating with cliché seasonal motifs, such as Christmas trees or poinsettias. Instead, we let the ornate architecture of Rosecliff Mansion do the talking while gold accents and fronds of evergreen cultivated a sophisticated, wintery atmosphere.

Cait also collaborated with Designs by Lorraine to design winter wedding bouquets for herself and her wedding party. She carried a simple arrangement of calla lilies with twigs and greenery bundled inside a white satin bow. Meanwhile, her wedding party held romantic white and blush bouquets filled with peonies, ranunculus, roses, and astilbe, a few of her favorite flowers. Luke wore a calla lily boutonniere to match his bride, with hypericum berries to add a pop of color.

Reception in the Ballroom at Rosecliff Mansion

Cait and Luke chose unique entertainment for their reception inside the Rosecliff Mansion Ballroom, which made their celebration stand out. They hired Style Events to provide a DJ and a five-piece band that played backing music to every song throughout the evening. The band was incredibly talented, and their jazz sound harkened back to the parties held at Rosecliff in the Roaring ‘20s. 

However, the couple also incorporated contemporary music into the evening. We loved the introduction song they chose, “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” by Harry Styles, which their DJ and band performed. It was immediately followed by another Harry Styles track, “Late Night Talking,” for the couple’s first dance as husband and wife.

Before their wedding day, Cait and Luke told us they most looked forward to marrying their best friend. When the day finally arrived, we were overjoyed to witness their happiness as they entered a new chapter together! If you and your partner are ready to start planning your New England wedding, we would love to hear from you.

Vendors:

Planning: Elegant Aura

Venue: Rosecliff Mansion

Photography: Alex Paul

Floral Design: Designs by Lorraine

Videography: Still Water Wedding Films

Catering and Cake: Russell Morin Catering & Events

Entertainment: Style Events

HAMU: Jessica D'Amore

Officiant: Groom's uncle