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Bershires Bride

Abby & Pedro

In dreaming up her perfect wedding day, Abby delighted in the details — and it shows. From the custom-designed dress reconstructed from her grandmother’s gown and bouquets full of local blooms to the bow shoes she fell in love with at first sight, every part of Abby and Pedro’s Berkshires ceremony was completely personal and utterly special. Read on for the bride’s story behind the celebration now.

 

Photography by Hope Allison Photography

"My dress was incredibly special, it was made from my grandmother’s wedding gown. She married my grandfather in 1962 in Nahant, MA. Years later, my mom wore the same dress (with added sleeves!) for her winter wedding to my dad at Trinity Church in Boston in 1989. The original silhouette didn’t quite suit my shape, so with their blessing, I had the gown completely taken apart and reimagined by the incredibly talented Rowena Gill in Millbrook, NY. Rowena was a dream, so fun to work with, and she completely understood my vision from the start.


"While in Millbrook, my mom and I became regulars at two beautiful shops, The Orangerie and Creel and Gow, which ended up playing a special role on our day. I found my stunning green and gold statement earrings at Creel and Gow, from Loulou de la Falaise, the iconic brand started by Yves Saint Laurent’s muse. Anthony from The Orangerie provided gorgeous topiaries for our cocktail hour and the fabulous plants that flanked the tent entrance!


"And for my 'something old,' my grandmother gifted me a delicate tennis bracelet that had been passed down from my great-great-grandmother. Every detail felt deeply personal and connected to the women in my family who came before me."

"The moment I saw the Noa flat I knew they were the one — even before I had a clear idea of what my dress would look like! I fell in love with the oversized bow; it felt both whimsical and regal, almost like something someone in Louis XIV’s court would have worn, which ended up complementing the silhouette of my dress beautifully. When I showed them to Rowena, the designer who reimagined my mom & grandmother’s gown, she immediately agreed that they were perfect for the look.


"The natural woven raffia paired perfectly with the antique champagne fabric of my dress. It added a little texture, a little charm, and just the right amount of playfulness to the overall look. And beyond being beautiful, they were so comfortable! I wore them all night, from the ceremony to the last dance, and not once did I think about taking them off. That’s no small feat for wedding shoes!"

"Chesterwood was once the home and studio of Daniel Chester French, the renowned sculptor behind the Lincoln Memorial. The house, studio, and grounds have such a magical quality, elegant and full of charm, but still intimate and unpretentious. I had always dreamed of walking down the aisle framed by the hydrangea trees in front of French’s studio. The setting, surrounded by mountains, forest, and winding dirt roads, felt like the perfect representation of the Berkshires, my happy place and the most meaningful backdrop to share with the people we love most. We never even considered another venue!


"The Berkshires hold deep roots for our family, my great-great-grandfather built our family’s house there in 1926 after arriving from Wales, and it’s where we still gather most summer weekends. Getting ready on the screened porch, the same place we spend summer evenings sharing stories and laughter, made everything feel so grounded and special. Being surrounded by my favorite people in that space truly put me at ease and made the day feel incredibly personal from the very beginning."

"I spent so much time dreaming about the details! I really wanted the entire day to feel like a joyful garden party, something that truly reflected Pedro’s and my love for each other. Everyone who knows us knows we’re silly, happy, and love color and fun, and Chesterwood made it so easy to bring that energy to life. The ceremony setting was magical on its own: an aisle lined with blooming hydrangea trees, a gentle fountain, and French’s studio in the background — it didn’t need a thing!


"Decorating a big sailcloth tent in the middle of a field felt intimidating at first, but we leaned into color and had so much fun with it! One of the most meaningful gifts came from my business partner, Lisa. Before her career in real estate, she was a florist, and she so generously offered to do the flowers for our wedding. We sourced the blooms from the amazing Collin Stark of Stark Blooms in the Hudson Valley, supporting local growers was something that felt really important to us! The Thursday before the wedding, we had the best time driving down and filling our cars to the brim with the most beautiful variety of flowers. On the big day, Lisa, my mom’s best friends, and my family all came together to transform the tent into something truly spectacular. it was a labor of love, and you could feel it in every arrangement!


"Another favorite detail was working with Michelle, my brilliant illustrator from England, who designed our invitations, place cards, menus, and so many sweet custom touches. And I have to say, the colorful bunting flags were the cherry on top. They tied everything together and gave the whole celebration the festive, joyful spirit we imagined!"


"What kept me grounded throughout was the thought of all the people we love, coming from all over the world, to celebrate with us in our happy place"


"I honestly loved the entire process! Planning the weekend with my mom was incredibly special, she has amazing taste and such a great eye. While she let it be a full expression of Pedro’s and my personalities, she was also the backbone of the planning and supported us every step of the way. One of the most exciting parts was having a blank slate and getting to customize everything, from the forks and linens to the transportation and timing. We had so much fun thinking through every little detail."


"What kept me grounded throughout was the thought of all the people we love, coming from all over the world, to celebrate with us in our happy place. That vision made every decision feel joyful, because at the end of the day, we just wanted everyone to experience an unforgettable weekend in the Berkshires."

"One of the best choices we made was working with local vendors. Not only did it give the entire weekend a true sense of place, but it also made everything run seamlessly. Most of our vendors had worked together before, which created a sense of ease and trust that we really appreciated. It felt like everyone was part of the same team, working toward the same goal: making it an amazing weekend for us and our guests."

"One of the moments I’ll never forget was when we recessed down the aisle after the ceremony, it was just pure joy. Pedro literally jumped into the air out of excitement, and I could feel the happiness radiating from everyone around us. It was such an incredible feeling to look out and know that so many people we love were all in the same place, celebrating with us.

"Pedro is from Brazil, and while his parents, sister, and much of his family still live there, they all made the trip to be with us. Having both of our families together, some meeting for the first time, felt so meaningful and rare. It truly made the whole day feel even more magical.

"And the dancing! Being on the dance floor surrounded by our friends, family, and even our grandparents moving to oldies, new music, and Brazilian songs was one of the most magical parts of the night. Everyone was smiling, singing, and fully in it. It was pure, joyful chaos in the very best way!"