Mike and Kerry's Wedding Recap: Cocktail Hour

Mike and Kerry had their cocktail hour and reception at the Queens County Farm - the last and only remaining farm in Queens. Cocktail Hour was held in the Barn, which Kerry decorated with the perfect amount of personal touches and beautiful candle lighting.

Once inside the barn there was sooo much to take in! For their card box, Kerry bought a plain wooden box at Michaels. Her dad sanded, stained, and varnished it, put a nob on the top and painted their initials and date to the front. He's quite the handy-man!

All of Kerry's signs were from Two Cardinal Day on Etsy (the same place she bought her marriage certificate).

Our place-cards were attached to an envelope which held a card stating that in lieu of gifts, a donation had been made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. These donation cards held the same theme as their invitations and tied their whole look together!

 

Furthering on with her theme, Kerry opted for a fingerprint tree instead of a guest-book. She had seen so many of these trees online and was very close to purchasing one of the many options on Etsy. Then she remembered how amazingly artististic her bridesmaid Amanda is! She asked her if she could paint a custom fingerprint tree to match the farm. Amanda visited the farm a few times to scope it out, and make some sketches of the surroundings.

 The week before the wedding, Amanda delivered this beautiful painting to Kerry's apartment:

Amanda should be very proud of her work! Kerry and I are trying to convince her to open her own Etsy shop!

Kerry put out green stamp pads on the table, next to a basket of hand wipes for guests to add their fingerprints and clean the ink afterward. Chris and I were quick to add our thumbprints to the painting!

 

After the wedding, the filled tree looked amaaazing. I don't have a picture of the finished product but once I get one, I'll be sure to share it.

Cigars and matches were placed out on the tables during cocktail hour. Many guys took these and held on to them for later during the reception!

Here are Kerry's straws in action again at the bar!

Each cocktail table had different sized hurricanes and candles holders with pictures of Mike and Kerry's engagement shoot. But the best part of this picture is their signature drink: Pumpkin Spice Ale with a Cinnamon Sugar coated rim! I'm not normally a beer drinker - but this was all I drank all night!

During the hour, we were treated to live music by two musicians who performed mellow Dave Matthews Band music. Mike and Kerry are long-time DMB fans, and this was yet another great personalized aspect for them!

It was great to catch up with friends we haven't seen in awhile!
James and Maria:

Rich, Julie, Timmy, Anna, Katie and Michelle:

Anthony, Corinne, Chris, Juan and Meg:

 With some of my fellow bridesmaids!

Next up: We were led out to the tent for the reception to begin!