We are thrilled to see Eva & Kristopher’s culinary-inspired Crane Estate wedding featured in Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston Weddings issue today. Eva and Kris got married on a beautiful sunny day in September at the Great House at the Crane Estate. While most weddings that take place at the Crane Estate are stunningly elegant, refined and memorable, this particular wedding stands out for so many more delicious reasons.

Their Story

Eva is a Boston-based chef and owner of personal chef service, Eva’s Little Kitchen, so it was only fitting that the moment these two met, they decided to have a cook-off! The couple met online where Kristopher messaged Eva and they started chatting. Eva was cooking dinner – Cauliflower rice with an Indian twist: think curry spice, vegetables, and raisins (yum!). Kris was impressed and decided they should have a cook-off. Their first date was at Highland Kitchen, a restaurant Kris suggested without knowing that Eva had been dying to try the food there. The rest is history!

The Vision

When Eva & Kris came to Whim for design & planning, they discussed their vision of a classic and timeliness Crane Estate wedding, and that spending quality time with the people they loved was most important to them. We got to know the couple and learned guest hospitality is a very special piece of who they are. They are big entertainers in their own household together, throwing elaborate Christmas parties where Eva curates the menu, cooks, and sources the prettiest tablescape details. Growing up, Eva’s family parties were always food and drink centered, involving huge Syrian feasts and Arabic dancing, so they wanted everyone attending their wedding to feel that same sense of warmth and welcome.

As we began designing Eva & Kris’s day, our team worked with their original vision of classic white, forest green, soft gray, and gold color scheme. Yet we knew their day was much more than a color scheme. To us, planning their day was like unique family recipe that just gets better the more it is made. Together, we created a design concept that focused highly on their love for food and entertaining, fresh ingredients, thoughtful details, and joyful eating. The design was also inspired by rich family traditions, where we incorporated olive Branches (a symbol of life and peace in Syrian Culture) and Lebanese drummers. We were also were inspired by fun elements in their lives: Eva’s favorite website Food52 in which their home is filled with goods that reflect minimalist yet thoughtful design, their dog Eleanor, and their cute nicknames for each other. (Bubzo – turned Hubzo & Wubzo for the wedding).

The Details

We worked with Fete Collection to create a stunning invitation suite that melded the elegance of the Crane Estate with the unique characteristics of the couple. The suite included letterpressed pieces in various shades of grays and greens and a custom-made monogrammed crest with olive leaf. Each invitation was wrapped perfectly in the softest forest green velvet ribbon and wax seal. This was the first “package” for guests to receive before the big day.

On the morning of the wedding, Eva & Kris truly wanted to treat their wedding party. The girls arrived in their floral pajama sets given to them by Eva to prep in the Tavern at the Crane Estate. They brunched and primped, and we even used Eva’s grandmother’s mirror and her mom’s vintage silver trays to style all the details. Kris and his wedding party got dressed offsite at the Hotel Salem in the most dapper of tuxes, and were pleasantly surprised when the Gronk bus picked them up to bring them to the wedding! And even better, each groomsman was surprised with their own custom pair of Air Force One sneakers to change into after the ceremony! Talk about treatment for those you love and care about.

The details on this day were planned with care. Upon check in at their hotels, guests received a beautiful welcome box of tasty treats, made and packaged entirely by Eva. When they arrived at the Crane Estate, they were given a program that told the story of Eva & Kris’s life in food, including the first meals they cooked for each other, their favorite food memories together, and more. Guests overlooked the stunning view of the ocean and sunset at the Crane Estate, and celebrated their marriage under a ceremony arch covered in olive leaf. Eva vowed to always make sure Kris is well-fed and Kris vowed to always be her (honest!) taste tester.

Guests celebrated on the terrace at cocktail hour, feasting on oysters and drinks, before they moved into the tent at the Estate. We worked with Eva to develop stunning tablescape that was “feast” centric. Our floral designer, Moira Thompson, took Eva to the flower market before the wedding where Eva picked up bunches of flowers and smelled them, just like she would have done with herbs at the grocery store!

We learned Eva adored the smell of bay leaf, which then became beautiful garlands on the tables for the wedding day. The centerpieces were a mix of bay leaf garlands, olive branch arrangements and floral bowls filled with flowers, vegetables, and fruits including artichokes, persimmon, figs, anemones, and roses. For the rentals, we used an olive gray napkin and gold silverware, wood chairs, and soft gray and natural linens for an organic, refined feel.

The couple wanted to make their wedding party feel extra special at the head table, so each member of their bridal party received an heirloom bread and butter plate, with their names hand-calligraphed as a memento (including one for Kris and Eva – Hubzo & Wubzo, of course!) Kris and Eva sat with their loved ones among the candlelight, on a cozy loveseat watching the night unfold.

One of our favorite parts of the night was their amazing introduction. The couple was introduced to the beats and dancing of Lebanese drummers as they filtered in from the back of the tent! The guests were then encouraged to dance with them on the terrace, which was a fun and unexpected cultural element. Guests loved it!

Other details we adored: their cake, organic and fresh and decorated with persimmon, Syrian pastries provided by the bride’s family, Kris’s “Big Catt” cigar & scotch bar, where guests experienced hand-rolled cigars for them outside late-night. We also loved the hand-made olive oil favors, made by the bride. And, let’s not forget the guest book sign with a custom-drawing of their pup, Eleanor! Last but not least, the fashion! Eva wore a stunning Monique Lhuillier gown, and her mother wore an Oscar de La Renta, styled perfectly all day by Beth Chapman styling.

Details aside, this day was truly filled with so much love, warmth, and joy – that same feeling you get when you are surrounded by your family at the dinner table. Everyone was welcome, everyone was honored and all hearts were full.

 

Crane Estate Wedding Vendor Team

Photography: White Loft Studio

Venue The Crane Estate, Band Groove Alliance, Bridal Stylist Beth Chapman, Bride’s Gown Monique Lhuillier, Cake Mayflour Confections, Catering Fireside Catering, Ceremony Strings Fantasia Strings, Drummers Freedom Dabka Group, Wedding Planner & Floral Designer Whim Events, Guestbook Mulberry & Elm, Hair Zac Isaac Hair; Melinda Brandt Hair, Makeup Blush, Menswear 9Tailors Rentals Kadeema; Peak Event Services, Stationery Fete Collection, Transportation Rockstar Limo, Videographer LMV Productions