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!
Comment by Blair on 1 November 2007:
Congratulations ladies, and thank you so much for sharing the love with us on your Seattle page. We wish you all the best in all you do.
Blair
Junebug Weddings
Comment by It's Lovely on 1 November 2007:
This is such an amazing resource. Thank you so much for sharing!! I’ll keep my eyes open for great NYC vendors for you to add. WOW!!! Well done!!
Comment by Eddye on 1 November 2007:
LOVE your new “LBB”!!! I can see that it will serve both as a resource for brides in the listed cities…and…as another wealth of ideas & inspiring photos! Great addition to your site.
Comment by Glamour This! by Kelly on 1 November 2007:
Congratz … i remember you working hard on this. Who knows… maybe in the near future you will add some canadian cities : vancouver, toronto, montreal… the main 3
Comment by eva on 1 November 2007:
Another vote here for Canadian cities…Vancouver especially, but only cause that’s where I live…
Comment by Kelly on 2 November 2007:
Congratulations on the Big Launch and thanks so much for sharing all of your wonderful resources!!!
Comment by sb on 2 November 2007:
Toronto, please!! Pretty please!!
PS - I love your site, thanks for all the inspiration!
Comment by Sarah Dennis on 2 November 2007:
BIG things come in LITTLE packages.
Congratulations Abby! The Little black book is a must have resource for all brides.
Comment by Maria Cooke on 2 November 2007:
LOVE this Abby - thanks to you & Michelle for your efforts! I will keep you posted on the DC area vendors that are the latest & greatest.
Comment by Lia on 2 November 2007:
I am happy to help add to the Atlanta section!
Comment by Brittany on 2 November 2007:
Orlando, please! Check out Solutions Bridal–we are the 2007 “Central Florida’s Best for Wedding Gowns” as voted by WESH A-list, as well as a 2007 Knot Best Of pick! The premier place for wedding gown shopping in Central Florida.
Comment by nashgirl on 2 November 2007:
I would love to help with the Nashville section! I’ve got tons of great recommendations as I not only recently got married here, but do a lot of high profile event planning (i work for a record label and we are always looking for vendors with a little extra something-something
)
Comment by Elizabeth on 2 November 2007:
This is great! I am planning a vow renewal in Atlanta but live in Chicago so I’d be happy to help you add to those two cities!
Elizabeth
http://elizabethannedesigns.blogspot.com
Comment by Kelly McWilliams on 2 November 2007:
Fantastic idea, and a great list you have started! You really did pick the best!
Comment by jobrien on 2 November 2007:
Hi Abby,
I read your blog all the time and was a bit shocked at your vendors for the DC section. No offense but they are definitely not up to par with the unique style, creativity, and originality of vendors I have always thought your blog represented. I’m planning my upcoming March 08 wedding & you have left off really the chicest vendors in DC like
Floral: Volanni, Philippa Tarrant, Nick Perez, Helen Olivia
Comment by christine on 3 November 2007:
this is awesome! btw, the san francisco photographer list would not be complete without anne kuperberg!
http://www.kuperberg.com
Comment by bee on 3 November 2007:
congrats abby! this is a fabulous idea and resource. =)
Comment by Martina on 3 November 2007:
This is so great! I love the unique qualities of the vendors you choose. Interested in adding Honolulu? Destination weddings are popular, and soo fun!
Comment by Amy Taylor on 3 November 2007:
I love the site. But I don’t see any wedding cinematographers in any of the cities. I’d like to put up Jenny Lehman in Washington DC. Furlavision in Chicago and David Robin Films in Los Angeles.
Amy
Comment by Catie on 4 November 2007:
I have a great photography vendor for Dallas:
Perez Photography
http://www.perez-photography.com/
They are a husband and wife team and the pictures that they produce are so stunning and so chic with a little bit of spunk! Cesar (husband, have not met his wife yet) is very nice and easy to work and communicate with. I highly reccomend their creative, photojournalistic style!
Comment by Claire Stein on 4 November 2007:
I have a GREAT makeup/hair stylist for the Tri-State area. Actually it’s a company but I had Zena for my wedding. We hired her very last minute for our destination wedding to Bahamas in May. Our original artist had broke her leg one week before the wedding. In a panic, I contacted her and she was available!!! After meeting her, she felt like one of my girlfriends. Highly recommended!! http://www.redcarpetbridalbeauty.com
Comment by Rashana Anderson on 4 November 2007:
I’m just ecstatic about this!
As always … thank you.
Comment by abby larson on 4 November 2007:
Thank you guys so much for all of the sweet words! This Little Black Book has been a labor of love and I am so glad that it has been so well received.
Jobrian…I actually really love our DC vendors. The LBB is VERY much a work in progress…we hope to have three vendors in each major category, for each city. So I didn’t really leave off the chic vendors that you’ve listed, but rather, just haven’t gotten to them yet! Living in Boston, I have really relied on my closest girlfriends, readers of the blog and industry professionals, to let us know who their favorite people were to work with. We’ve poured over portfolios and chatted at length with our vendors. It’s been a long, but fun process. But, it’s still very much in progress.
I LOVE all of the tips that you guys have given me…definitely keep them coming!!
Comment by Tanya Perez on 5 November 2007:
This is a great site. Saw it as a referer on our blog stats so decided to check it out!
Comment by Alissa on 5 November 2007:
Ooo Kansas City please!
This is such a great idea!
Comment by Meghan Young on 7 November 2007:
I’m working with a fantastic photographer out of Charlottesville, Virginia for my Washington, DC wedding:
Cramer Photography
http://www.cramerphoto.com
She’s so passionate about her work and takes the most amazing photographs. She really knows how to capture the emotion and tradition of a wedding day in a creative, photojournalistic way. She makes her subjects feel so comfortable and relaxed - you’ll leave feeling like you’ve known her for years! I highly recommend her to anyone, anywhere (she will travel!).
Comment by planning...forever events on 8 November 2007:
Abby - I love your blog and read it all the time. This is a great idea! Maybe you could also have “regions” as my local city would never make it to your list (you would probably choose Indy).
Don’t leave us mid-cities out, please!
Keep up the great work.
Comment by BigShot on 27 November 2007:
Since the vendors have to pay a small fee to be listed, do you think this compromises the network at all?
Comment by abby larson on 27 November 2007:
You know, I really struggled with this. I wanted to ensure that every vendor, large and small, was handpicked. And held to the most discerning taste. I wanted to make sure that the LBB was just that…a list of referred vendors that I could honestly recommend. Those that were really doing great things in their industry.
The idea of a fee was born when I realized that I had to financially support the site. We are doing a redesign so that SMP becomes a real resource for brides. The blog will always be the focus, but I wanted to give small, beautifully designed businesses a place to thrive. I wanted to ensure that SMP not only inspires, it gives you a tool to plan your wedding. And, that takes money. The vendors all agree to pay a small fee to help me design a site that all of you will really love. So for me, it’s worth it.
And, I love the vendors that I have chosen to be a part of the Little Black Book. They are completely dedicated to making this industry better…and, I would rather leave a category blank than put a vendor up that I don’t believe in. So I guess my answer is no.
Hope that helps!
Comment by Teresa Vigil on 1 February 2008:
you got to put Elizabeth Messina
http://www.elizabethmessina.com/
some where! her work is breathless.