One venue was never going to be enough for Isabelle and Johnny’s Newport wedding weekend.
Over several celebrations, their guests moved from a Tuscan-inspired dinner among the vines to an intimate gathering inside The Vanderbilt, an all-white speakeasy-inspired party at The Chanler, and finally the grandest setting of them all: Rosecliff Mansion.
The couple spent two years working with Rachel Koger Ferro, Owner and Head Planner of Cose Bella Events, to bring the weekend together. Rather than repeating the same aesthetic at every event, each gathering was given its own atmosphere while contributing to one cohesive luxury experience captured by Anna Panutsa Portraits.
A Tuscan-inspired dinner started the weekend at Newport Vineyards
The festivities began with an intimate rehearsal dinner at Newport Vineyards.
The couple leaned into a Tuscan-inspired vineyard atmosphere, creating a relaxed introduction to a weekend that would become increasingly glamorous as it unfolded.
It gave Isabelle and Johnny an opportunity to begin the celebration in a setting distinctly different from Newport’s famous mansions while still maintaining the elevated feel that would carry throughout the weekend.
An intimate family dinner took over The Vanderbilt’s Billiards Room
The family then gathered for a private dinner inside the Billiards Room at The Vanderbilt.
The smaller gathering created another change in pace before the larger celebrations ahead. By moving between venues and experiences, Isabelle and Johnny could create more intimate moments with their closest loved ones without trying to fit everything into the wedding day itself.
That sense of progression became one of the defining features of the weekend.
A speakeasy party transformed The Chanler
Next came a decidedly more glamorous chapter.
Isabelle and Johnny bought out The Chanler for their closest family and friends, transforming the property into a speakeasy-inspired celebration.
The monochromatic dress and design concept gave the party a strong identity of its own, distinguishing it from both the vineyard dinner that preceded it and the formal mansion wedding still to come.
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Taking over the entire property also allowed the celebration to feel private and immersive, giving guests another complete experience rather than simply another event on the itinerary.
Rosecliff Mansion became the grand finale
After several days of celebrations across Newport, Isabelle and Johnny saved Rosecliff Mansion for their wedding day.
Both the ceremony and reception unfolded at the iconic property, giving the weekend the spectacular finale the couple had envisioned. After the intimacy of the earlier gatherings, Rosecliff provided the scale and grandeur for everyone to come together for the main celebration.
Cose Bella Events oversaw the weekend’s planning and design, drawing on Rachel Koger Ferro’s extensive experience producing weddings at Newport’s historic mansions to coordinate the multiple venues, distinct events, and luxury vendor team.
A dramatic floral installation framed their vows
Semia Floral Design created the flowers for every event throughout the weekend, allowing the floral story to evolve alongside the different settings.
The work culminated on the wedding day with a dramatic ceremony installation at Rosecliff. Designed as the backdrop for Isabelle and Johnny’s vows, the florals brought another layer of romance to the mansion setting and created a defining visual moment for the ceremony.
After several events with their own identities, the installation helped ensure the wedding itself still delivered the weekend’s biggest floral statement.
Custom lace and pearls transformed Isabelle’s reception look
Fashion was just as important to Isabelle’s vision as the settings and floral design.
Her bridal wardrobe was thoughtfully planned around the different moments of the celebration, with each look offering its own interpretation of the weekend’s romantic, sophisticated aesthetic.
For the reception, Isabelle changed into a second look featuring custom-designed lace adorned with delicate pearls. The intricate detailing created a romantic transformation from her ceremony style while maintaining the sense of refinement that had defined the weekend.
Paired with her bespoke bridal looks, the reception dress made fashion another element that evolved as the celebration moved from one event to the next.
Four distinct celebrations created one unforgettable Newport weekend
What made Isabelle and Johnny’s wedding particularly memorable was not simply the number of beautiful Newport venues involved. It was the way each location was given a reason to be part of the story.
Newport Vineyards offered the warmth of a Tuscan-inspired dinner. The Vanderbilt created space for an intimate family gathering. The Chanler became an all-white speakeasy for a private party. Then Rosecliff Mansion delivered the scale and grandeur of the wedding itself.
After two years of planning, the result was not one wedding aesthetic repeated across an entire weekend. It was a series of carefully considered experiences, each with its own personality, building toward one spectacular mansion finale.
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