1. Real Weddings

A Vibrant, Glam Wedding at Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, Massachusetts

From a vibrant palette of orange and purple to a menu packed with Cameroonian and Belgian fare, Carmen Monthe (30 and pediatrician) and Eric Dreze’s (

From a vibrant palette of orange and purple to a menu packed with Cameroonian and Belgian fare, Carmen Monthe (30 and pediatrician) and Eric Dreze’s (35 and a manger at L.A. Burdick) wedding was packed with personality and fun. The pair gathered their families and friends at Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, Massachusetts, kicking off the day with a ceremony on the expansive lawn. Lush forests and rolling hills provided a quaint natural backdrop for the affair, while bright orange blooms lining the aisle brought the outdoor space to life. Carmen arrived to the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage, and heart-warming performances by their close friends throughout the proceedings blew guests away. Playing tribute to their respective cultures was key for the couple, with Eric hailing from Belgium and Carmen, from Cameroon. Working with the chefs at Indian Pond Country Club, they created a menu that incorporated the flavors of each. “Eric and I wrote the main dish recipes and gave them to the chefs at Indian Pond Country Club, who were able to execute them perfectly,” Carmen says. Dessert featured a Viennese hour with sweets made by a close family friend who owns an Italian bakery in the Bronx, New York, as well as three types of wedding cake. Carmen and her bridal party arranged all the centerpieces, bouquets and boutonnieres themselves, and Luke's Entertainment brought down the house with a mix of Cameroonian, European and top 40 hits. “The guests really enjoyed our wedding,” Carmen says. “It was fun and unique and represented a blend of different cultures.”

Following Carmen’s lead, the bridesmaids also wore Alfred Sung dresses. The knee-length dresses had a flattering A-line silhouette and featured vibrant purple fabric with a subtle sheen, halter necklines with ruffled detailing and bow accents at the waist. “They had a haute couture flair,” Carmen says. To complete the look, the girls wore their own gold heels and understated drop earrings.
An Alfred Sung design, Carmen’s wedding dress perfectly captured the day's glam, summer vibes. The strapless mermaid-style gown featured floral embellishments on the skirt and bust, draped detailing along the bodice and subtle crystal accents. “My mom actually saw it first and picked it out,” Carmen says. “When I saw it, it was love at first sight. It was exactly what I had envisioned, a dress that was sexy, classy and modern with just a hint of bling-bling.”
For Carmen, making an entrance was a must. She arrived in style to the ceremony riding in an elegant horse-drawn carriage. “The entrance to Indian Pond Country Club was grandiose and allowed for me to have the procession I envisioned for our wedding,” Carmen says.
Carmen and Eric’s wedding was filled with bright, vibrant color to capture the spirit of summer and the cheerfulness of the occasion. To match the bold orange bouquets that ran the length of the ceremony aisle, the couple accented their purple programs with orange ribbon.
Lush forests and rolling green hills provided Carmen and Eric with a serene, natural backdrop for their outdoor ceremony, to which they added their own personal flair in the form of eye-catching orange blooms and pink rose petals. Eric’s two friends, both classically trained and composers, sang as guests arrived to the ceremony and Bilen Eminov, Carmen’s close family friend and an opera singer, performed “La Vie en Rose” for the bridal processional and “Ave Maria” mid-ceremony.
When it came to the decor, Carmen knew she wanted the day to feel bright and vibrant to reflect the summer. She filled the elegant ballroom at Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, Massachusetts, with eye-catching shades of purple and orange, with gold accents incorporated throughout to infuse the room with a glam undertone. Carmen and her bridal party made all the centerpieces themselves, using pale purple orchids that gave the tablescapes a modern feel.
Wanting the reception to be a fusion of their Cameroonian and Belgian backgrounds, Carmen and Eric worked with Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, Massachusetts, to create a menu that incorporated the flavors of their cultures. After a decadent progression of grilled Asiago polenta, salad and stuffed chicken with mushroom raisin sauce and herb-crusted salmon, guests were treated to a choice of strawberry Grand Marnier, tiramisu and marble chocolate wedding cake. “We also had a Viennese table,” Carmen says. “How could we not? My mother works in an Italian neighborhood of the Bronx and has a very good friend who owns a bakery there.”
After a dinner of Belgian and Cameroonian dishes, the newlyweds and their guests hit the dance floor. Luke’s Entertainment kept the party going late into the night with upbeat Cameroonian and European dance music, plus plenty of top 40 hits. For their first dance, Carmen and Eric danced to “Vivo per Lei,” sung by Carmen’s close family friend Bilen Eminov.
From the menu to the upbeat mix of Cameroonian and Belgian that kept the dance floor packed all night, Carmen and Eric’s wedding perfectly captured their fun-loving personalities. At the end of the night the couple sent their guests home with chocolates from L.A. Burdick, where Eric is a manager. Instead of having a classic guest book, the pair had guests write their well wishes and advice on smooth river stones.