After three days of celebrations in the beautiful Berkshires, Jillian and Alex were wed at the historic Blantyre Estate. Today, I’m honored to share that their wedding celebrations have been featured by Over the Moon!
“Twelve years after interior designer Jillian Kupferberg and Alexander Xavier Shea met through a mutual friend in high school, he flew her out to Amagansett and greeted her with their new dachshund puppy, named Winifred. Later that night, he had another surprise for Jillian, and he got down on one knee at Indian Wells Beach.
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The engaged couple wanted their wedding to feel like a Roaring Twenties black tie event. They had originally planned to get married at Babington House in Somerset, but due to COVID-19, they decided on hosting their celebration at Blantyre in the Berkshires.
Once they switched locations for their July 17, 2021 event, the couple worked with Nicole Simeral & Co. to help plan everything. Floraison Design & Co. was able to set the tone for the day with a personalized wedding crest and stationery. “I worked with Ashley of Floraison Design Co. to create a custom toile pattern that reflects scenes from our life story: Winnie our dachshund, Trinity College where we both went to school, our travels through New Zealand, our first home together, Amagansett where we got engaged.”
On the morning-of, Jillian got ready with Jen Lagers and bridesmaids, all of whom wore monogrammed Matouk robes gifted by the bride.
For her bridal look, Jillian knew she wanted to wear something simple that still made a statement. For her rehearsal dinner and wedding gown, she went to Monique Lhuillier. The bride used Over The Moon’s styling service for her engagement shoot and bridal shower look, and head stylist Anny Choi helped the bride find her lace Jimmy Choos and Anissa Kermiche pearl drop earrings to wear on her wedding day, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes for the rehearsal dinner, and a Fanm Mon dress for the brunch.
Alex wore a Pal Zileri tuxedo with Tiffany cuff links from his grandmother for the ceremony and changed into a Victor Talbots white dinner jacket for the reception.
The couple chose to see each other before their ceremony on Blantyre’s Great Lawn. There, under the shade of an ancient oak tree, the two hugged, kissed, and reveled in their love and good fortune. The adorable Winnie even joined them for a few snuggles and licks, a favorite moment of the day. After, the couple first shared their vows together in private in the Dom Perignon Champagne Room.
The couple had planned to exchange vows on the great lawn, but due to a summer storm, the ceremony was relocated to the Music Room. Winstons Flowers beautifully lined the aisle and decorated the fireplace with sprawling florals. The ceremony set-up artfully designed by Winston Flower who created an English garden setting. The bride walked down the aisle with her father accompanied by a string quartet playing “Clair de Lune.”
During the ceremony, Jillian felt calm and grateful for her friends and family, who were there to share the moment. Reverend Hannah Grace of Grace Ceremonies beautifully led the service. The bride’s brother acted as the ringer bearer, and presented the rings in a custom ring box with their wedding monogram, designed by Floraison Design Co.
Jillian’s bridesmaids complemented the bride well in floral dresses from Johanna Ortiz, Ulla Johnson, Markarian, and Needle & Thread. Each bridesmaid picked her own dress working within a color palette. It was important to Jillian that everyone loved what they were wearing. Winstons Flowers created individual bouquets for the bridesmaids that coordinated but every arrangement was unique and one-of-a-kind.
Cocktail hour was held on the terrace and inside the manor house. The couple continued their custom toile on the bar and other pieces throughout the wedding weekend.
Dinner took place in the conservatory. The space was lit with gorgeous Murano Glass chandeliers and hand-dipped candles. Jillian worked closely with Floraison Design Co. to create the hand-torn and dyed menus. Since they had a small wedding, they had the opportunity to personalize all the menus with their guests’ names.
The night kicked off with heartfelt toasts from the bride’s father and brother, then transitioned into a feast created by Daniel’s two-Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud. Guests enjoyed a candlelit seven-course tasting menu, complete with wine pairings. As a Blantyre wedding photographer, the evening had a magical quality that was an absolute dream to capture. “It had a very midnight in Paris vibe,” the bride recalls.
For the party, Jillian donned an original gown that she designed along with her mother’s dressmaker, Shahin. The gown was paired with blue Loeffler Randall heels.
Dancing took place on the covered terrace and in the Music Room with eight-piece band HiFi. The newlyweds didn’t have a first dance. “Our goal was to lean into a black tie party, rather than abide by wedding standards,” Jillian explains. After the reception formally ended, the after-party kicked off in the wine cellar, where they continued the party until the early hours.
Blantyre Wedding Photographer: Molly Carr Photography | Wedding Planner & Event Designer: Nicole Simeral & Co. | Creative Direction: Lily & Sage | Wedding Gown: Monique Lhullier | Venue: Blantyre | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Groom’s Tuxedo: Pal Zileri | Groom’s Accessories & Dinner Jacket: Victor Talbots | Hair and Makeup: Jen Lagers | Paper Goods: Floraison Design Co. | Florals: Winston Flowers
