Style Me Pretty

Reader Blogs Galore!

I love, love, love, love, love (did you see how I threw in an extra two loves?) these blogs...

Earth Friendly Weddings is such a pretty blog, filled with great eco-friendly (but oh-so-inspiring) ideas...

This particular wedding was created by the oh-so-talented Mark of Queen of Hearts...a brilliant source of inspiration!

Kelly, of Glamour This, is a long time reader (and I am a long time reader of her blog, as well)...I am constantly checking her site for her newest inspirations. Such a great eye for design and beauty...

It's Lovely is a new blog that I discovered and I will definitely be keeping tabs on it...

Not to worry...I have lots more reader blogs to share with you!!

More Reader Blogs!

I looooove Grace's Birdcage Wedding blog...it's so completely addicting! She has a really great eye for unique ideas and products...

I think that a lot of you are fans of Oh Happy Blog even though it's relatively new, but I wanted to give her a mention because I just love what she is doing. What I love about this blog is that it really is happy! Always full of pretty, lighthearted inspirations...

Stay tuned...there are more fun blogs to come!

Reader's Wedding Blogs

You know, every now and then, I go back through all of the comments that have been made along the way and I take a peak at some of our reader's websites. I can't believe what creative and fun people we have reading this blog every day...it makes my job so much more interesting to know that you guys really have such discerning taste and a wonderfully creative spirit.

So, I wanted to take today to give a shout out to some of the reader's blogs that I have noticed! I thought it would be fun to just do an all day stream of great blogs (I mean, your boss doesn't really think that you are going to work on Friday, right?)...

In This Instance, written by the lovely and talented Tara, has such pretty ideas...

We haven't checked in on Perfect Bound (which I am sure you have heard of already) in a while, and it's clear that her blog is only getting better and better. Such eye candy!

And Elizabeth Anne Designs is not only full of gorgeous inspiration...

She is having a Gocco contest that ends at midnight tonight so definitely check it out!

More fun blogs to come!!

Wedding Photography by Aaron Delesie

I am so in love with these detail pictures, shot by Little Black Book member Aaron Delesie...the colors are so vibrant! It goes to show that it truly is the details that can turn a good wedding, into a spectacular one...

In my opinion, Aaron is the epitome of a great photographer. He not only captures the colors and the textures of the day, you can see the emotion and the pure joy spilling out of every shot. Aaron worked with Lisa Vorce at Oh How Charming! on this Maui wedding that is just completely gorgeous...not to mention, a perfect "wish-I-was-there" wedding for this cloudy, cold day in Boston!

If you are in need of a little inspiration, Aaron has a ton of gorgeous photos on his site!

Wedding Mementos by ScanCafe

Have you guys heard about ScanCafe? If you haven't, you really should spend some time checking out their brilliant new site. In a nutshell, ScanCafe will scan your hard photographs, slides and negatives, digitally archiving them on a dvd that you can enjoy for years and years to come...

(thanks Damon for the lovely photo collage made just for us!)

I have about a zillion pictures from my wedding that were taken by friends and family along the way...many of them a bit more personal and candid than those that were taken by my photographer. And yet, they are sitting in a box waiting patiently for me to put them into an album. Hmmm, probably not going to happen. ScanCafe is so perfect for me...the lazy girl's way to get organized. All you have to do is pack up your photos, send them to ScanCafe, then wait for the online proofs. You only have to pay for the photographs that you choose. Nice. Oprah thinks so...they were recently featured in her O Magazine Gift Guide!

I am thinking that this is perfect for the rehearsal dinner slideshow? The gifts to your bridesmaids or your parents (what is more personal than a look back at your favorite memories)? The options are endless.

Oh and, Damon said that they have successfully scanned over 3,000,000 images...so I'd say you can trust them with that picture of you and your hubby that you just can't bear to part with.

Weddings For a Good Cause

I wanted to take this morning to tell you about a few things that are happening in the wedding world that I am finding really inspiring...

First, Rebecca over at White Aisle, recently launched an absolutely beautiful new silk product line...handmade flowers, sashes and ring pillows that have been sewn by Cambodian girls using the finest local silks. Rebecca's wonderful new project allows girls and young women  to leave their otherwise unimaginable jobs, earn a salary each day with the option of living next door in group housing...and ultimately, reintegrate themselves into society with a strong vocational skill.

I have fallen head over heals in love with those gorgeous silk flowers. I am going to order some of them and make a pillow for my home. Lovely! They would also be gorgeous tucked neatly into a loose bun for your wedding, or sewn onto your table linens. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. 100% of profits go back to the girls that are making the products.

Secondly, Charity Buzz is holding an auction to benefit the New York Cares Organization. Justin Lawrence, Inside Weddings, and Destination Bride donated a package that includes “a five hour consultation with renown wedding planner Lisa Light of Destination Bride, a copy of "Destination Bride, A Complete Guide to Planning Your Wedding Anywhere", a one-year subscription to Inside Weddings magazine, and wedding day make-up by high-fashion, high-society make-up artist and beauty consultant, Justin Lawrence.” Each year, New York Cares enables 33,000 caring New Yorkers to volunteer at social service agencies, homeless shelters, public schools, and other deserving organizations.

And finally, I just wanted to send a reminder to everyone to start working on your Do-It-Yourself entries...we really want to see a huge array of DIY projects that every bride can do. Although we love seeing those done by skilled crafters or designers, we are also really excited to see projects that are approachable and real. Thanks so much to everyone whose entered thus far...I can't wait to share the ideas with you guys!

A Late Summer Color Palette, II

If the first palette that I came up with for Nicole was soft and muted, this one is playful and perhaps a bit lighter...

Left Column from Top: Shoes shot by Elizabeth Messina, Peach and Favor Boxes on Rebecca Thuss. Right Column: Flowers by Wiggy Flowers, Dress on Bluefly

When I was looking at Nicole's inspiration board, I was really drawn to the peach hues that she included. They seemed to stand out from the rest, a sweet take on a Fall palette. When I was playing around with colors for this second board, I started drawing from the peach...adding pinks, khaki and a deep orange to ground the look. I absolutely love the end result. It seems Summery, but warm. It seems like Fall, but not quite as heavy. To me, it's a good compliment to the elements that Nicole was working with.

A Late Summer Color Palette

I have actually come up with two completely different color palettes for Nicole...one a bit more subtle and romantic, one a bit more playful and lighthearted. Both using "vintage" chic as inspiration.

The first palette is a combination of deep purples, rose and cream.

Left Column by Elizabeth Messina, Flower Photography by Elizabeth Messina, Deep Purple Dress on Bluefly, Jewelry by Saylor Sage

I absolutely love this palette. It seems really organic and sophisticated. I think that working with colors that are muted and softened, creates a style that is more approachable and real. It seems natural to me, not contrived or over-styled. Accenting with deep golds and crystal brings a bit of sparkle to the look. And of course, candles as far as the eye can see.

Dear Abby

This is our first Dear Abby in weeks, and I must say...it's a pretty good one! Reader and future bride Nicole, is struggling with a clear color palette for her upcoming September affair.

Q. I've put together the attached inspiration board, but I'm having trouble coming up with a palette that works for this time of year- on the cusp of summer and fall. I've been pondering sage green, lavender, with touches of ivory. I was considering brown as a neutral at first but I'm just terribly bored of seeing chocolate brown at weddings. I'm open to any and all palette suggestions, however. 

Some details:
-The wedding ceremony is at my family's church, where my parents were married and I grew up. The church was rebuilt about 7 years ago, and the space is amazing. Photo on the board. The ceremony will be at 2pm, a full mass.
-The reception is at a country club, founded by GE employees in 1900 (http://www.edisonclub.com). The cocktail hour will be on the terrace overlooking the golf course, and the reception will be in the ballroom.
-My engagement ring is an antique, 1930s, and we'd like to carry over some of the ring's charm into the wedding, with a timeless feel to the event.

I would love for all of you to take a stab at this, then I will let you know what my ideas are later this afternoon! Thanks everyone!!

A Wedding Built for Two

I love the board that reader Alissa has put together...somehow making Gray, White and Black seem so chic and elegant. I love that she has taken a rather understated palette and given it a sparkle that I might not usually be able to envision...

From Alissa...

Over the past two and a half years, I have lost both of my parents. As a 25 year old, and the oldest of three kids with a giant extended family, it's just been an unbelievable time, it still doesn't always seem real. But each day you get yourself up and face the music. Through that time I had a best friend, and then a boyfriend and then a fiance that held my hand and was there for me, and now I get to marry him:-) I am especially excited for a celebration. To get all of my family together in a room for a happy occasion. I can't wait. So some aspects of my board are things we are doing in memory of my parents, and I am just so excited for the meaning we are putting behind things.

Our color scheme is black, ivory and gray gray gray! We love classic - our space is from the 1920s, with chandeliers, warm woodwork and stained glass. We've got black bowties and silver candelabras. I don't know if it's necessarily vintage, rather classic in it's own way.

I think one of the most meaningful things will be our altar (drawing in my board). Our venue is not a church and we wanted to create an 'altar' to be married in front of. Our florist suggested using trees in memory of my parents (they owned a tree farm and loved the outdoors). We are doing two 6'-7' flowering trees on either side of our altar with votive candles hanging in the branches. We're also going to use branches throughout-in the centerpieces and possibly in the invitations.

I found a website that does 'trees in a box' for favors. My fiance and I have designed a simple table that we are going to build with help from my fiance's father, using wood from my father's tree farm. I like that we've designed it, but both of our fathers will be a part of it. And after the wedding, we can use the table in our house. 

Also, our bridal party isnt going to carry bouquets- but the bms and gms are both going to carry candles in glass cylinders and set them on the altar when the get to the front, like they're each bringing a little of themselves to the altar:-)

Thank you so much, Alissa, for sharing such a touching (and beautiful) story with us. I was really moved to tears at just how personal this wedding is for you. This is exactly what a wedding should be...personal, incredibly special and meaningful in a way that YOU appreciate. I love this...and can't wait to see how it all unfolds.

A Winter Wedding in SoCal

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I wanted to kick off the week with a gorgeous reader inspiration board. Designed by Nina, I really fell in love with this board. It's not only her beautiful color palette (which I am a HUGE fan of), but it's her sense of restrained elegance that I am completely drawn to...

From Nina...

My fiancé and I decided on a winter wedding because we find cloudy weather very romantic.   We wanted our wedding to be very elegant – but very inviting, so the Don Room at the El Cortez was the perfect location for us.   The circular ballroom creates very intimate feeling, and we plan to get married in front of the outdoor fireplace on the patio. http://www.donroom.com/home.html

Right after we got engaged we traveled to Greece, and were inspired by all of the Mediterranean blues. A rich navy seemed the natural choice for us when it came to colors, and we felt it went well with the ornate gold ceiling of the Don Room. All of our florals will be white, and we will incorporate the gold and navy into the bridesmaid dresses and stationary.  The ballroom will be adorned with clusters of candles and white bouquets as centerpieces.

For the ceremony, rather than using flowers, we are hanging Moroccan style lanterns on Shepard's hooks down the aisle.   The lanterns are amber with gold metal, and will add to the warm cozy feeling of our wedding and our color scheme. A brand new designer, Sarah Monico (feel free to email Abby for her contact info), designed an intricate motif for us based on a Moroccan tapestry, which she then incorporated into our invitations and other stationary.

Even our food will reflect the warmth and elegance of our wedding, with appetizers such as tray passed butternut squash soup and lamb skewers. Last but not least, for music we plan on having both a three piece jazz band and a DJ to heat up the dance floor.

DIY Contest!

I am so excited to announce our next contest...a DIY extravaganza! I am looking for the best of the best, DIY wedding projects. Whether it's a gorgeous, but quirky centerpiece, a perfect little favor, an inexpensive but elegant invitation...anything goes.

I made these custom favor bags for the occasion...inspired by the Little Black Book design. I wrote a little "story" about my husband and myself, then printed them on white label paper (along with standard monogram designs) and stuffed the bags with sugar cookies. Cute, easy, fun.

Just send me three to five photos of your best DIY project, along with a brief list of "how-to" tips and your sources where we can find the materials. I know that not everyone is graphic design savvy, so really...let your imagination run wild. I will post the top two projects in each category, then you guys will vote. Simple as that! The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to the online store of their choice!

All entries must be emailed to me (abby at style me pretty dot com) by December 15th, 2007. We will vote the following week, so the winner will receive their gift just in time for the holidays!

Wedding Invitations by Bella Figura

Before we announce the topic of our next contest, I wanted to share with you some fun news from one of my favorite letterpress shops, Bella Figura. First and foremost, if you haven't already, spend some time today checking out their site as there are some absolutely gorgeous designs and inspirations...

After you check out their site, and their new 2008 catalog, head over to the CMarket Auction where the designers at Bella Figura are auctioning a wedding invitation set by none other than Amy Graham Sigler of Snow and Graham...a value of $1150. Right now the opening bid is $300. The best part?  This invitation is printed on tree-free, 100% cotton paper that's made exclusively for Bella Figura. The proceeds of the auction are going to 1%  for the Planet.

Thanks Andrea for giving us the heads-up on this great opportunity!!

Wedding Favor Ideas by Garnish

One of our readers, Catherine, sent me a tip on this great site for wedding favor packaging ideas....Garnish. They have tons of simple, but chic packaging options that are absolutely perfect for wedding favors.

If you see something you just have to have, go ahead and place your order...Garnish is offering flat shipping rates thru the month of December! I am actually going to order some of them for Christmas gifts this year. Now I that I have found the packaging, I just have to figure out what is going to go inside!

PS - We are announcing our latest contest this afternoon...so definitely check back in a few hours!

Hot Pink Wedding Color Palette

So here is my interpretation of a hot pink color palette, with touches of black and white...all inspired by the Erlikh prints that I posted earlier today....

Top Row: Chloe dress at Saks, Florals by Taste, Cake by The Cake Girls. Center Row Photo by Taste. Bottom Row: Flowers shot by Aaron Delesie, Invitation by Saima Says, Clutch by Saylor Sage

The goal was to translate the Erlikh prints in such a way that evoked a hip, but incredibly elegant look...sometimes hard to achieve when you are working with such bold, intense colors. With that said, I really love the above inspiration board. It makes me excited about color. I can completely see this look at a great art gallery or a downtown loft. Decked out with tons of candles to soften the overall effect.

Wedding Color Palette

I have spent the last few nights fixing up our guest room and scouring the internet to find great prints for its very bare walls. I have been a long time fan of Edward Erlikh's sketches and watercolors, so I have been dreaming about the day that I can hang some of these. I am especially in love with the bold, hot pink pieces...with touches of black and white. So of course, it got me thinking about wedding palettes.

What if we used these prints, to dream up a bold but sophisticated wedding palette of bright pinks, blacks and whites. Do you think that we could pull it off, while still seeming elegant?

Check back in a few hours to see our Erlikh inspired style board! Oh and in the meantime, check out my interview over at The Brides Cafe! Janie was sweet enough to ask me a few questions about Style Me Pretty and my oh-so-fabulous home life (and when I say oh-so-fabulous, what I really mean is oh-so-totally-average, perhaps-a-little-boring).

Real Wedding Inspiration Board

Another inspiration board for you to devour! This one from a real wedding done by reader and recent bride, Danielle, that in my opinion, is completely and absolutely beautiful. I kind of think that my new favorite color is lime green, thanks to this gorgeous board!

photos by TJ Studios

Danielle and her fiance were high school sweethearts (how cute is that) and being recent college grads, they wanted their wedding to be beautiful, but also affordable. She is a graphic designer at Bennett Schneider in Kansas city, a brilliant little stationery shop that you should definitely check out.

Danielle and her fiance had two goals for the day...they wanted a celebration that included their closest family and friends and they simply wanted to enjoy the day, to have fun and to throw one great party. Looks like it was mission accomplished!

Danielle is stopping by the comments section to answer some of our questions! I am dying to know if she designed all of her own stationery. And who made those completely adorable flower girl dresses. And, who designed their flowers...love, love, love the limes in the vases!!

Country Chic Wedding

Today I wanted to feature a few of the reader inspiration boards that I have received over the last few weeks. The first one comes from Megan, who is looking to design a somewhat non-traditional affair hosted at this amazing winery, overlooking the mountains...

After the ceremony, the party will retire to a farmhouse hotel for a light country-style buffet. Megan is wearing her mother's wedding dress, altered a bit. Instead of a wedding cake, she is going to serve cherry pie. Her favors will be little jam and honey jars, jelly beans and plantable seed paper hearts. Their budget is $7500 so we are so excited to watch this wedding unfold and keep tabs on Megan. We are hoping that she will come back after the wedding and share more of her cost cutting tips!!

An Inspired Affair, II

Lisa at Oh How Charming! has yet again, come thru in the clutch, with some oh-so-fab details about the gorgeous wedding from earlier today!

This wedding was held at the beautiful Maroma Resort & Spa in the Riviera Maya. Cathy and Steve wanted a super organic wedding, but also wanted to mix in as much traditional Mexican decor as possible. They wanted the wedding to have a fairly under-produced and authentic vibe. To accomplish this, we utilized as many local resources and artisans as possible.

The extraordinary Mindy Rice of Mindy Rice Floral Design and I did a shopping expedition in the beautiful towns of Tlaquepaque, Tonala, and Guadalajara. We were able to commission specific pieces from the local artisans there including the beautiful wicker balls we used for the ceremony and the traditional tin stars for the dinner reception.

Lewis Barker from Barker Decor services who is from Guadalajara originally was able to work with a local carpenter to have the insanely gorgeous rustic wood tables, benches and chairs made for the wedding. Lewis also constructed a 40' x 80' tent out of local reeds as our structure for the dinner reception.

The colors of the wedding were intentionally muted. We didn't want to compete with the crystal clear blue ocean and the amazing white sand of the Riviera Maya -- so Carlos and Anna of Tabella specifically selected raw, organic fabrics that would complement the natural beauty of Maroma.

The wedding was insanely magical. I'm bringing my whole team back in December for another wedding at Maroma so stay tuned!

An Inspired Affair...

On to another inspiration board from our An Inspired Affair Series! I absolutely love this board. And, as it is cold and rainy here in Boston, I also thought it would be a nice little "vacation" for us...

Designed by the magnificent Lisa Vorce at Oh How Charming! and shot by the wonderfully talented Elizabeth Messina, this wedding was so well executed, it's almost hard to believe that it's real. I love that the decor doesn't fight with the natural beauty of the beach...it only enhances it. Simple elegance. Love, love, love it.

Wedding Photographs by Christian Oth

A few weeks ago, I drove to NY to do an on camera interview with Get Married TV on the Lifetime network. The piece was shot in none other than the studio of Christian Oth Photography...a photographer that I have admired for some time now. Aside from the fact that Christian and his colleagues were so kind, the studio itself was in a word...gorgeous. Some of the most spectacular photographs that I have ever seen adorned the walls...

Every bride was spectacular. Every groom seemed blissfully happy. And the detail shots...MORE than magazine worthy...

We are lucky enough to have Christian as a member of our Little Black Book and even luckier that he has shared with  us this incredible portfolio. If you want even more inspiration, spend some time today pouring over his website. There are about eight different photographers that work with Christian Oth, with prices beginning around $4500. Even if this is outside of your price range, definitely check out Christian's online portfolio for hours upon hours of eye candy.

How to Write a Thank You Note...

Speaking of thank you notes, I get a lot of emails from readers who are looking for some tips on writing a thank you note...

Left Column from Top: Pulp Invitations, Silhouettes by Sugar Paper, Notepaper Stationery by Sugar Paper / Right Column by Abby Jean

The Daily Obsession is going to be doing a big feature on Thank You notes and I am submitting some of my ideas for good note writing. Here is a little teaser of the tips that I am going to send them...

1. Make it Personal. Toss the "stock" thank you note template in the trash. Each note should reflect your true appreciation for a specific something.

Don't: Dear Aunt Betty, thank you so much for the lovely gift that you sent. We will always treasure it. With love, Bride and Groom.

Do: Dear Aunt Betty, thank you so much for the gorgeous silver dessert platter that you sent us. We served our famous chocolate chip cookies on it when we had guests over this past weekend! We can tell that this is an addition to our home that will not only be loved...it will be used! With Love, Bride and Groom.

2. Keep it short, but not too short. Although it's nice to write a brief sentence about how the two of you are doing, you don't want to write a novel. It will take away from purpose of the note.

3. Handwrite everything. Although in this day and age, typing something out is much easier than handwriting it...it's cold and completely impersonal. There is absolutely nothing better than a handwritten thank you note.

4. Use paper that you are proud to send. Whether it's ultra thick, 100% cotton paper, engraved with your initials...or a more whimsical, but sweet design...a beautiful note card is always more fun to send, and to receive.

5. Presentation is key. Make sure that your paper is clean, without tears and presented in such a way that would make your mother proud.

What are your best tips? What is the best pen to use? Who designs your favorite thank you notes? How do you begin and end your note? I'd love to include some of our readers' ideas in the pitch!

Thank You Notes by Cotton Idea Studio

A couple of months ago, Mindy Gayer, owner of Cotton Idea Studio (this amazing letterpress shop in Laguna Beach), emailed me to let me know that her gorgeous new site had launched. And now, lucky for us, they opened an e-commerce portion of the site so that we can buy some of her hand-picked goodies directly...

I love, love, love the selection of paper goods that Mindy is featuring on her site. Now I just have to decide which ones to buy!

White Color Palettes, II

Okay, so here is how the whites color palette would translate into a wedding board...

Top Row: Wedding Favor photography by Belathee, Wedding Gown by Jenny Packham on Brides, Cocktail featured on Food In Motion / Center Row: Little Girls photography by Belathee, Flowers by Victoria Pearson, Letterpress by Black Pearl Press / Bottom Row: Cocktail Dress by Maggie London at Nordstrom, Food Photo by Victoria Pearson, Gown by Romona Keveza on Brides.

As I was putting together this board, I was reminded of two things that are really important when doing a palette using any ONE color...hue and texture. If you want to achieve a sense of depth and elegance, you really must vary the shades of white that you use...from pristine whites, to creams and ivories, to even a more champagne or nude color. It will really give your color palette a richness that you just can't achieve by using a single shade of white. When you pair the various whites with different textures, your look will seem much more cohesive.

All White Color Palette

There have been so many times on this blog that I have praised the use of color in your wedding color palette. Color can completely transform a space...it can bring a warmth in, a sophistication, even a flirty and fun feel. I love color. And yet, I am and will always be a die hard white fan. My furniture is almost all white, my clothes usually center around some form of white, I tear out magazine pages that feature all white weddings because I think that they are frame-worthy.

So, when I saw Victoria Pearson's all white color palette, of course...I fell in love.

The layers of white are just so inviting to me. Sweet sophistication. I am working on a wedding board that is inspired by Victoria's color palette that I will put up a little later today. But, in the meantime, I am curious what you guys think? Is white boring? Or is it completely elegant?

Also...make sure you check out our two very important announcements right below this post!

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

A quick bit of news for everyone. The producers over at Whose Wedding Is It Anyway (you know, that amazing show on E! that you can't help but watching despite your husband's plea to put on something, anything but more wedding shows) is casting! They wanted me to post the details so that some of you brides and grooms, as well as wedding planners, could apply...

WHOSE WEDDING IS IT ANYWAY? SEASON 7 CASTING COUPLES
Are you planning your wedding day, but the never-ending tasks keep getting in the way? Are you and your fiancé fun and fabulous, but drowning in details? Then let us hook you up with a top-notch wedding planner, to help organize the wedding of your dreams and take you down the aisle in style.

The Style Network is currently casting for the seventh season of Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? Looking for couples with or without a planner, who want to share their wedding-preparation adventures with the hit prime-time wedding series!

All participants must be 21 years of age or older and have a wedding date set from November 20, 2007-March 1, 2008.  Please send your info and wedding story to dwcasting@trueentertainment.net

WHOSE WEDDING IS IT ANYWAY? SEASON 7 CASTING WEDDING PLANNERS
Are you a wedding planner who is fierce, fun and fearless?  If you’re dying to show the world your talents on Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?, The Style Network is currently casting for the seventh season and we’re looking you! 

All applicants should be based in NYC tri-state area OR California; have a press packet readily available; have weddings planned between November 24th, 2007 and March 1, 2008 AND meet the criteria above: fierce, fun and fearless.  We’re not looking for inexperienced or mediocre talent.  Please send your submissions to dwcasting@trueentertainment.net

It would be SO great if a Style Me Pretty reader could secure a spot on this great show! Then, you could come back and tell us all of the fun details!!

Calling All Graphic Designers!

As some of you might have noticed, over the past few months, Style Me Pretty has been slowly developing into a website that is not only a blog, but also a complete resource for brides. Our goal here is to create a site that inspires you to design a beautiful wedding...while also being a tool filled with practical advice, vendor referrals, events in your area...and so much more.

We don't want to spill all of the beans, but over the coming months we will be working hard to design a website that is truly invaluable in planning your wedding.

And this is where we need your help! We are looking for a brilliant graphic designer to not only help us with a new logo and look, but to help us organize the site in a way that allows YOU to easily move through our contents. We want someone who has a feminine, but edgy aesthetic, someone who can really think outside the box when it comes to organization and presentation, and most importantly, someone who is willing to work hard to create a beautiful site for all of you!

If you're interested, please either leave a comment or shoot me a quick email (abby at style me pretty dot com) to discuss the details! Or if you know someone who might be interested...definitely spread the word!

A Real Wedding Inspiration Board, II

Clarise, bride and designer of today's Real Wedding Inspiration Board, has been sweet enough to share with us some (ten to be exact) of the elements that made her wedding day truly special...

1. My gown, along with my Princess Diana type train, made me feel like I was a princess, even though it wasn't a puffy dress.
2. The gorgeous bridesmaid dresses and also my reception 'red carpet' gown by Betty Lewis ( www.bettylewisdesigns.com). They were a huge hit.
3. The banquet hall, Versailles Convention Center, had huge chandeliers that just looked amazing at the reception and contributed to the whole 60s theme I was going for.
4. My husband and I planned the majority of the wedding by ourselves. However, we did get some guidance by event planner Alexis Rodney of Glass Slippers (www.glassslippers.ca).
5. The limo we had was called a 'typhoon'...apparently a rare type in Ontario. Black top, silver bottom.
6. We made our own invitations...I think they really helped shape the rest of the wedding.
7. I wanted to have a lot of dancing at the reception, as well as good music. Dj Al was awesome and the floor was packed. A lot of the people who don't really dance...ended up dancing. Many said they had never been to a wedding where the floor was packed.
8. My photographers, Angela and Mike, did an awesome job at capturing the whole thing. Many of these images I am sending you are by them. www.angelalewis.com
9. I wanted to do a traditional 'wedding march' at the reception to open the dance floor...a fun Portuguese tradition. My dad led the march and it was grand. Although not everyone was familiar with it, all of our guests immensely enjoyed it.
10. Finally, the cake! It was simple, yet elegant...and extremely delish!

Thank you so much, Clarice and Richard, for sharing your big day with us! It seems like it was a huge success!!

A Real Wedding Inspiration Board

I wanted to start out this week by posting a Real Wedding Inspiration Board that was sent to me by two of our readers, Clarice and Richard, who were married just a few weeks ago! Here is there stunning board...

I am in love with this perfect Fall color palette...so warm and inviting, and yet it maintains a sense of elegance that is so fitting for this affair. Clarice and Richard are going to stop by later today to let us know what the 10 elements were that made their wedding truly special. Can't wait!!

Wedding Cakes by take the cake

After a long flight from Houston to Boston yesterday, I arrived home to most wonderful surprise package. Inside, were two perfect boxes filled with two perfect sets of sweets, made none other than one of our Little Black Book members, take the cake in Chicago. My husband and I devoured the cookies and truffles in about three minutes flat, which was a good sign that I should write about them on today's post ...

The first two images are of take the cake's newest addition, Chocolate Gourmet, a collection of sweet treats that would make for the most perfect wedding favors. The best part about the little cookies and truffles...they easily fit the two requirements for a good food favor...delicious and absolutely adorable. Plus they come in oh-so-clever flavors like "messed-up mocha, oozy boozy caramel and morning after merlot." You can buy their cookies and truffles online...the only tough part might be deciding which ones to order. When in doubt, go for the chubby wubby chocolate cookies. Heaven, literally.

take the cake also designs truly stunning wedding cakes...seriously. Just look at that detail work. There isn't much more to say about these cakes other than "wow." The colors, the styles, the overall look and design...it's so chic and contemporary, and yet feels really romantic.

Thanks so much to take the cake for being such a wonderful inspiration! And, for providing my husband and me with a nice little welcome home "dinner." 

Wedding Favors by Pear and Peony

I love these favors and accouterments that the girls at Pear and Peony are doing...

 

Aren't they great? The founders, Aimee Aikens and Kristen Yeates, started this company because they saw a true need for environmentally friendly, but chic and stylish products that are used to celebrate weddings, showers, business ventures or just a really beautiful gift to a friend. Everything is made organically using the finest ingredients. I love that.

Palm Springs Wedding, Part III

Lysa, at Demby + Solomon has been kind enough to stop by for a little visit to share with us some of the amazing details that this fairy tale, Palm Springs Wedding featured...

From Lysa ...

-As the direction for the invites was discussed, we threw around a lot of ideas - but since fashion is such a large part of the bride's life, she settled on the concept of creating a logo or "crest" that was inspired by fashion branding. The "crest" motif was then worked into many of the items and touches - from the invite to the programs, menus, cocktail napkins, guest towels, etc. The invitation was very un-traditional and consisted of 3 square cards printed in a dark silver on an iridescent textured luxury heavyweight cardstock. The top card was a sheer iridescent vellum printed with the crest.

-The ceremony was a sleek all-white and silver (inspired by the wedding stationery)  - to better showcase the couture gowns created by Colleen Quen, each of which was a bright, pop color (fuschia, orange, red, etc.). 

- The ceremony took place as a "fashion show" on a 32-foot raised white runway.  All the ceremony chairs were set up facing the runway fashion-show style. The bridesmaids, bride, groom, parents, etc. all walked the runway. Even the program was designed as a "fashion-show" style program.

-Dinner following the ceremony was morroccan-inspired, with aubergine/eggplant table linens and orange orchids - there was an orchid on each napkin with a marigold/orange napkin band printed with the guests' name in plum ink.  A menu with the "crest" motif was tucked into each napkin.  The same gothic-style numerals used on the invitations were used again on the table numbers and escort cards.

-Dancing at the "after party" was back to the white-and-silver pallette - with crystals and mirror mixed in.

Some special touches:

-As a cute tribute to the groom, whose last name is MacDonald, mini Kobe beef "sliders" were served at midnight in waxed hamburger bags with french fries - complete with a custom-designed, McDonald's inspired hamburger sticker.

-Each guest was given a "Survival Kit" filled with a petite water bottle, eye mask, candy "pills", a lavender sachet, aromatic candle, and Chips Ahoy (to match the blue and white theme of the kits).

-Little "I do" cocktail flags were placed in the tall lemonade glasses prior to the ceremony.

-Crossword puzzles were laid out poolside for the guest's at the brunch on the Sunday morning following the wedding.

From Erika...

Working with Lysa was wonderful. I really hope to have the opportunity to meet her in person some day! She brought my visions to life. I wanted to create a logo for our wedding that reflected fashion and romance. I sent Lysa a copy of the Juicy Couture logo to look at and suggested that it might be fun to create a crest with our initials, and instead of the Scotty dogs that are in the Juice logo, I suggested swans since they are thought to be very "weddingy." Lysa designed a gorgeous logo. Her ability to incorporate her client's vision, paired with her extraordinary design talent, made for a truly fabulous end product. We used our logo on all the creative elements including the program, the survival kits, the invitations, the menus, etc... It enabled us to brand our weddings in a way that will help our guests remember it forever!

Thank you so very much to Lysa for sharing these wonderful tid-bits with us. Both of you did a spectacular job with this event and I am sure that it will inspire many brides to create something that is both edgy and sophisticated. Many, many thanks to Lysa for all of your help with this feature!! And to Erika...you are amazing! Your eye for design and your creative ideas are really incredible! Thank you so much for inspiring so very many of us!!

A Palm Springs Wedding, Part II

Along with the amazing pictures, Lysa also sent me the stellar list of vendors that helped to design and produce the gorgeous wedding featured earlier today...

The gorgeous photography was shot by none other than the brilliant and talented (not to mention, a member of the Little Black Book) Laurie Levenfeld of Zoom Photography. Her photographs are the perfect marriage of style and sentiment and if you haven't already, definitely spend some time perusing her incredible site.

The invitations were all done by Lysa at Demby + Solomon...well, not just invitations. The Programs, the Menus, the Cocktail Flags, the Stickers, the Table Numbers, the Placecards, the Napkin Bands and the late nite snack packaging (will show you a little later). Each piece is completely couture and oh-so-perfect for this wedding. Lysa is incredibly talented and never ceases to amazing me with her creative ideas and inspirations.

The Florals were done by R. Jack Balthazar (another Little Black Book member). They were a stunning collections of pinks and reds and oranges...hues that are not only ultra chic and sophisticated, but incredibly pretty and almost delicate. The florals at this particular wedding didn't overpower the natural decor, but only served to enhance the gorgeous environment...exactly what perfect florals should do.

The finishing touches for this wedding were done by Beth-Anne Lipin of B.A. Lipin Event Design. When you browse her online portfolio, you see that Beth-Anne has an uncanny ability to make-sure that the smallest of details are perfect. Beth was there to ensure that all of Erika's designs and creations (the bride) were taken care of.

When you pair these oh-so-talented vendors, with a bride like Erika Gessin who is the founder of San Francisco fashion week and owner of the chic event production firm Mystery Girl Productions (and the true creativite force behind this wedding), you end up with a night that basically defines today's version of "wedding chic." She spent hours upon hours dreaming up this absolutely perfect night, and it truly shows. Her eye for color is spot on, her creative details were so thoughtful , her execution of every element was both elegant and edgy...a combination that is incredibly difficult to create.  Bottom line, she's all talent.

Check back later for some additional detail shots and a visit from Lysa Goodman who is going to share some of the fun details that the couple did!

A Palm Springs Wedding

I am so excited about today's series. Lysa Goodman, over at Demby + Solomon, just sent me the most amazing pictures of a wedding that she just did, along with a collection of other brilliant designers, at Palm Springs' now famous Parker (designed by Jonathan Adler). I first want to show you some of the amazing shots that were taken of the fashions and the pre-festivities...

Aside from the insanely gorgeous color at this wedding, the design elements really did go above and beyond your standard "fabulous wedding." To start, the bride, Erika Gessin - who produces San Francisco Fashion week -  actually had a runway show, instead of your traditional aisle processional. How cool is that? Each bridesmaid wore a couture gown by designer Colleen Quen, so they really looked every bit the part. 

There are so many fun details that I can't wait to tell you about. Check back later to see some additional photos and to find out who the amazing vendors were that helped to produce this incredible wedding!

Wedding Blog by Janie Medley

Speaking of beautiful flowers...I am so excited to let you guys know about Janie Medley's (of Janie Medley Flora) new blog, The Brides Cafe! Although only a few days old, the blog is jam packed with gorgeous floral inspirations that will give you guys some great ideas for color palettes and arrangements.

Definitely add Janie's blog to your list of your must-reads if you haven't already...I have a feeling this is going to be one of those sites that just keeps getting better and better!

Wedding Flowers by Rufus Felix

This past weekend, I flew to Dallas to my very best friend's wedding. And honestly, if I had to do it over again, I might design a wedding just like hers. It was perfect. Beyond perfect...budget perfect. Next week I am going to post all of the pictures and go into detail about some of the fun things that she did, but for now, I wanted to highlight one particular vendor from her wedding.

Rufus Felix, florist and event designer, designed what I would probably say, is the most beautiful bouquet I have ever seen. It was vintage, it was chic, it completed her look to perfection.  I'll show you pictures next week, but here are some highlights from their site...

It's company's like Rufus Felix that lead me to create our new Little Black Book. They are small, intimate design firms that although they might not be known in all of Dallas as the go-to source, they shine because they really listen to what their client wants. They spend the time getting to know their customer, checking out the venues, understanding the overall feel...and they deliver something that literally brings tears to the bride's eyes. I wanted these companies to sit right along side those that are written about in magazines. I wanted to show you that the best florist or cake designer isn't always the most well known, but rather the one that your best friend recommends because they truly made her wedding beautiful.

If you haven't already, take some time today to sift through the vendors on our Little Black Book, even the cities that don't apply to you. There is so much inspiration, so many ideas, so many creative resources. And, it's only just begun!!! We are adding vendors as we speak...some that you've heard of, others that are new to scene. All brilliant.

Introducing, Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book!

The wait is over! I am beyond excited to announce the launch of Style Me Pretty's latest addition...

Forget everything you know about that “other” little black book. The names and numbers you need now are the ones for the hottest, most innovative wedding vendors (I know, it’s going to take some getting used to!). Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book is a highly edited collection of wedding service providers—from mom and pop boutiques to the red carpet A-listers. Personally recommended by our closest girlfriends, industry insiders and Style Me Pretty readers, there are three, hand-picked listings per category.

You've read about some of our vendors in major magazines, you've heard me chat about others on this blog. But, many of those listed in our new Little Black Book, are up-and-comers who we hear are doing really great things in the wedding industry.

I hope you'll take some time today to peruse the various categories and cities...there really is hours upon hours of bridal inspiration. Over the next few months, we will be adding vendors to the cities listed, as well as adding a nice handful of new cities. We are working really hard to make the Little Black Book a practical and oh-so-inspiring resource for you!! Please use either the links provided in this post, or the link in the right column of the blog, to connect to the book.

Also, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Whether you have a great vendor recommendation or you simply have ideas as to how we can make the book even more useful, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email! Thanks so much to everyone who helped make this happen!

Little Black Book of Vendors

Today is a big day. Huge actually. For the past few months, my dear colleague, Michelle, has been quietly helping me launch a new portion of Style Me Pretty that will not only provide hours of inspiration, it will ultimately allow our site to become a true resource for you while you are planning what is probably the biggest day of your life. Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book of Very Important Vendors.

I have so much more to tell you, but for now, I need to dust off the cover, check and double check the pages and make sure that it is absolutely perfect for our launch a little later this afternoon. Sit tight, though...I promise, it's worth the wait!