Style Me Pretty

Wedding Registry by Bodanna

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

I have been really excited to tell you guys about the brilliant new registry feature at Bodanna Studio and Gallery...a non-profit organization that provides at-risk young adults with a place to thrive creatively and gain workplace skills through a handcrafted ceramics business. The talented artists at Bodanna put together this beautiful inspiration board for us, all inspired by their gorgeous ceramic pieces...

Ceramics by Bodanna, Necklace by Carrie D. Mader Jewelry, Wedding Dress by Nicole Miller, Ceramics by Bodanna, Flower by Rebecca Thuss, Bridesmaid Dress by RC Bridal, Stationery featured on Rebecca Thuss, Cake featured on Rebecca Thuss

All of the products in the new Bodanna Registry are hand-made locally in New York City by artisans, including graduates of their programs, and 100% of proceeds from each sale go towards developing and sustaining their program for at-risk young adults.

The best part? The ceramics are ABSOLUTELY beautiful...

Spend some time today looking over the Bodanna Studio and Gallery...it's a wonderful way to give back while choosing unique, creative registry items that you will use for years to come.

Wedding Jewelry by Tara Andrews

I am traveling to Houston today to visit the fam, but I wanted to leave you for the week with ONE GREAT POST. Tara Andrews, a wonderful jewelry designer whose work is sold on Etsy, is looking for a little help in launching her new line of bridal jewelry. Pearls specifically. Absolutely gorgeous pearls...

Tara has a few questions that she is hoping you guys can tackle. As a thank you, she will give one lucky girl an 18 inch white potato pearl necklace and earrings (as seen in the photo on the bottom left) OR a $75 gift certificate to her store!

I honestly love supporting Indie designers, so any help that you can give Tara would be greatly appreciated! Here are Tara's questions...

1. Are you planning to wear pearls for your wedding? If not, what are you wearing?
3. What style jewelry are you planning to wear?
    a) Classic style such as a single strand of white or pink pearls.
    b) Modern style such as a chunky multi-strand twisted pearl necklace that may be white or a metallic dyed color.
    c) Something custom made.
4. What is your jewelry budget?

Just post your answers in our comments section and you are entered to win one of Tara's beautiful designs! We'll close the contest next Friday at 5PM. Thanks so much and have a great weekend!

Wedding Photography by Jessamyn Harris

Today's brilliant featured wedding was photographed by one of my favorite photographers, Jessamyn Harris, and I wanted to really encourage you to check out her website. It's filled with unique and interested wedding shots, many of which will inspire you to no end...

Thank you so much Jessamyn for sharing all of these lovely images with us!! We can't wait to see your next wedding!

Real Wedding by Jessamyn Harris

Here are a few more photos from today's featured wedding shot by Jessamyn Harris...

I have to say, this is one of the best weddings that I have seen lately...it's so very important for couples to infuse their wedding with their own unique personality and perspective. This wedding does just that...and with style and elegance to boot. I love the juxtaposition of the traditional, elegant elements with the edgy, spirited details.

Real Wedding by Jessamyn Harris

One of my favorite photographers, Jessamyn Harris, sent me this wedding a few days ago...needless to say, I went completely nuts. This is the perfect example of a fun loving couple, infusing their personalities into otherwise elegant affair. The end result is a wedding that screams fun and yet is still oh-so-chic...

Event Design was done by the lovely and talented Alicia at Alicia K Designs

The wedding was held in August in Yountville (Napa Valley, California). The couple wanted something elegant but really fun. Thus, the wedding and reception took place at an absolutely beautiful, modern estate while whimsical details were incorporated into the overall style.

The men wore vintage suites and ties, the dogs were the ring bearers. They had a vintage candy dessert bar, a towering cupcake tree and  a "cheese" cake with imported rounds of cheese stacked on top of each other and decorated with flowers. The bride's former roller-derby teammates served as usherettes (amazing idea), they had a bouncing castle during the reception and a band that played all kinds of fun, swing songs. They had vintage car themed table settings and a self portrait set-up for the guests.

Bottom line? THIS is a wedding that I would love to have attended. I have more fun pics on the way so stay tuned!!

Wedding Photography by Andreas

For as long as I can remember, I have loved classic black and white wedding photography. There is something so timeless, so sophisticated about the perfect black and white shot...many times, it's the black and whites that convey the pure emotion of the day. They are dreamy and romantic in that chic and artistic way.

Lucky for us, one of my favorite Little Black Book members and Toronto based photographer, Andreas, specializes in those perfect black and white images that we love so much...

Before I comment on the stunning images, I should tell you all how much I am in LOVE with that wedding gown...custom made for the bride by Ines Di Santo herself. This wedding took place in Toronto at Graydon Hall and what really made it special was the unique connection between the families...hers a large Jamaican family, his a small French family. Huge cultural difference and yet a strong emotional connection.

And get this...the first dance was sung by none other than the lead singer of the Philosopher Kings, Gerald Eaton - the brides uncle!

Thank you so much, Andreas for sharing these gorgeous images with us. I am absolutely in love with the picture that you captured through the window of the couple dancing. Incredibly touching. Check out the Andreas Photography site when you have a minute for tons of beautiful inspiration!

Wedding Photography by Todd Johnson

Over the last five or so years, I have seen so many different styles of weddings...black tie dock-side ceremonies, champagne and chocolate affairs in contemporary art museums, barns decked out with crystal chandeliers. There are so many different types of couples out there, planning so many different types of weddings. It makes my job that much more interesting and that much more exciting.

To me, wedding photography should reflect the unique style of your wedding. When Teresa, one of our loyal readers and owner of Tempting Weddings, sent me a link to Todd Johnson Photography, I completely devoured his work. It is incredibly artistic and innovative, with photographs that are edgy and smart, perfect for a bride that is looking for something completely distinctive...

Spend some time today looking through Todd's work...his photographs provide such a unique look at a style that you don't see very often. Thanks so much, Teresa, for recommending Todd Johnson to us!

And, if you haven't already, DEFINITELY check out Teresa and her husband's photography studio, Tempting Weddings...

One part whimsy, one part sheer elegance...the duo at Tempting Weddings have some absolutely gorgeous images for you to fall in love with. Thanks again, Teresa!

Reader Inspiration Boards

Now that we have literally TONS of inspiration boards on our site (yay), I am dying to see how some of these boards translated into real weddings. If you think that your wedding translated beautifully from your board, or if you think that your board might have missed the mark a bit, we'd love to hear about it! Just shoot me an email at abby@stylemepretty.com

We have one last board for you today. This one, designed by Maia who will be married this October...

I love the color palette on this board...the pale teal paired with the yellow/green hue...gorgeous! Thanks to all of our creative brides out there who have shared their inspiration boards with us today!

Reader Inspiration Boards

This next reader designed board comes from Christine, who is having a Summer wedding in Alberta, Canada...

From Christine...

My fiance and I are getting married June 7 in our hometown in Alberta, Canada at an old school that has been converted into a museum (see pic mid right).  We really wanted to create an atmosphere that was unique, fun and inspiring with lots of surprises.  We've been to A LOT of cookie cutter weddings and definitely wanted something different.  We're using a palette of black and white (lots of damask), lush green/ivory florals with punches of red. Sometimes describing your wedding in words is tough, so I'll let the images do most of the work.  But if I were to describe it briefly I'd say its full of oxymoron's.. modern/vintage, fun/elegant with just a touch of whimsy!

Reader Inspiration Boards

Since we have been celebrating the incredible creativity and talents of our readers through Ameleah's real wedding, I thought it was appropriate to feature some of your latest inspiration boards!

The first was designed by Hailey, who is having her wedding at the peak of Fall foliage season this September in upstate New York...

From Hailey...

The reception will be in a large pavilion overlooking the beautiful Adirondack Mountains.  I am so excited for the way my inspiration board came out...its a perfect mix of simple and elegant.  I'm a Libra so I'm a romantic at heart and I want to incorporate lots of candles and lanterns to give my reception the perfect ambiance.  I would like to incorporate lots of golds, caramels and mochas into the color scheme.  The bridesmaids will be wearing an "iridescent almond" color dress by Ann Taylor Celebrations and I want them to carry bouquets of deep reds and grape leaves.  My dress is a beautiful Romona Keveza design with a simple detail of "kiss pleats" around the top and the bottom.  All of the pictures are a compilation of websites including The Knot, Brides and Martha Stewart Weddings.

More inspiration boards to come!

Wedding Flowers by Ameleah

I have had so many requests for additional photos of Ameleah's flowers, I thought that I would gather them up from previous posts and put them together so that you could see the overall style of the floral decor. Ameleah has also supplied a few more images for us, as well!

Thank you so much, Ameleah, for sharing this incredible wedding with us! I think that you have found your calling as a floral and event designer!

Real Wedding, III

I thought you guys might like to hear a bit more about Ameleah's wedding...

From Ameleah...

We saved a lot by thinking outside the box when it came to finding our ceremony and reception locations. I wanted an outdoor garden wedding. We looked at a lot of venues, but most had steep site fees and none of them really wowed us. My husband's family offered to host our ceremony in their back yard and it was perfect, a beautiful, personal location with no site fee! We ended up having our reception at my husband's favorite Irish pub. The pub is in a gorgeous historic building with high ceilings, wood floors and lovely details. I love historic homes and can't imagine living in a modern space so this fit my personality perfectly. We had the entire top floor for the day, it included tables, chairs, basic white linens and there was no site fee!  It isn't your typical wedding venue, but we were willing to be flexible and it saved us a lot of money.

We served our guests horse d oeuvres, a delicious three course plated meal and had an open bar. I'll be honest, we probably didn't receive the level of service that we would have gotten from a venue that does hundreds of weddings a year. We had to be very specific in what we wanted, double and triple check everything and their attention to detail wasn't the greatest, but I am probably the only person that noticed the tables were not set up correctly or that the servers didn't come around to offer wine before the main course was served.

We kept our guest list small. We only invited our families and closest friends. This whittled the guest list down to 90 people. It was tough at times because our parents frequently wanted to add great aunt so and so or their good friend from college, but we wouldn't budge on this. I love that we had a close, personal relationship with every single person at our wedding.

We took a chance and hired a wedding photographer that was just starting out. I know this is something that many people wouldn't be willing to do, but we really liked our photographer and we ended up with some very good pictures and a lot of pretty good pictures. There are certainly moments when I wish we would have splurged on a high end photographer that could have given us more polished images, but this is undeniably one of the elements that made it possible for us to stay within our budget.

Real Wedding, II

I really wanted to share a bit more from Ameleah's gorgeous and affordable wedding. For those of you that are dying to know how much this wedding cost and what exactly "budget-friendly" means...well (drum roll please)....Ameleah planned and executed this stunning wedding for a grand total of $12,331.

And just look at the sheer beauty and the chic style that she designed...it could grace the covers of any major bridal magazine!

More from Ameleah...

I tried to tackle as many DIY projects ahead of time as possible. I already mentioned the invitations, programs and save the dates but I also made moss covered monogram letters to decorate our reception doors (picture to come) and crepe paper poppers filled with freeze dried rose petals for guests to shower us with as we walked down the aisle.

I also did most of the flowers myself. I ordered our personal flowers from a florist, but I did all the centerpieces, decorated the arch for our ceremony, made nosegays for the aisle, two wreaths, and arrangements for the escort card table and guestbook table in the two days prior to the wedding. Flowers were one of my priorities, I wanted tons of flowers at my wedding, but when I received the quote from the florist I knew we couldn't afford it. I also didn't want to compromise on this. I wanted green orchids and masses of cream roses with pink and brown accents. I know this isn't for everyone, but I love flower arranging and I knew that I could save a ton of money by doing them myself. I shopped around a lot on the internet for the best prices, did a lot of research and made trial arrangements so I felt comfortable recreating them before our wedding. I recruited my mom and bridesmaids to help with the prep work. I actually ended up liking the arrangements I made myself better than the professional bouquets from the florist.

I also did a lot of comparison shopping on the internet. I knew what I wanted and I wanted to get the best price possible. Some of my favorite online vendors are  Jamali Garden for vases, Romantic Flowers for ribbon and Envelope Mall for envelopes for save the dates and envelopment style folders.

More great tips and ideas from Ameleah to come later today!

Real Wedding

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! I love to start off our week by featuring a reader's real wedding...for some reason, the creativity and approachability of the weddings that you guys create just completely inspires me for the week. So, that is just what we are doing today!

Ameleah sent me these pictures from her July wedding...brace yourselves people, this wedding is STUNNING...

The sweet but sophisticated color palette, the dreamy ambiance, the abundance of gorgeous flowers...everything is magical. But what I love most about this wedding is that Ameleah designed this fairytale on budget! And, she is here today to share with us her vision and her practical ideas for creating magazine-worthy style while keeping your budget in check!

From Ameleah...

When we first got engaged I had a million grand ideas floating around in my head fueled by all the gorgeous weddings featured in bridal magazines and on the internet, but I knew that we couldn't have everything and stay within our budget. We set our priorities early on and that guided our decisions about where to splurge and where to save. We decided on a summer garden wedding. The look we were going for was fresh and casual yet elegant. Our top priorities were the flowers and food.

We ended up spending the most money on these two elements, but we got creative to come up with ways to save as well. We also used this reasoning to pick out the elements we were willing to compromise on in other areas. When I looked at invitations I found that I was drawn to simple invitations on lux paper. Ideally I would have loved letterpress, but it just wasn't in the budget. I ended up buying lettra letterpress paper in bulk from Crane then designing our save the dates and programs myself, a talented friend designed our invitations, and had them printed and cut at kinkos. I ended up with invitations on the high quality paper I loved, but at a fraction of the cost.

More to come, so stay tuned!

Little Black Book

Update: We are going to be adding new featured vendors to this post throughout the day! Just scroll down to see these gorgeous designers...

It's a little hard for me to contain my excitement about the Little Black Book. We set out to find our favorite three designers in each major bridal category, in each major city...and you know what, we've had incredible feedback from brides and vendors alike. It's developing into a beautiful resource for any bride, filled with stunning inspirations and brilliant wedding vendors.

Over the last few months, we've added new cities and states...we've got most of California covered, we've added great wedding cities like Charleston, Lake Tahoe, beautiful spots in South Carolina, North Carolina and a great selection in Florida. And really, that's not even cracking the surface! We are working hard on Canada, on Texas and on just about every other city that you've mentioned.

Here is a sneak peak at some of the vendors that we are loving. Verbena Flowers in Austin does absolutely beautiful work....

All of these gorgeous photos were taken by another one of our Little Black Book members, the oh-so-talented Steven Karlisch from Dallas. Check out both Steven and Verbena's sites today when you have a minute!

I am also madly in love with Mindy Rice's Florals, out in Los Angeles...

all of these gorgeous photos were shot by Melissa Musgrove

How amazing are these flowers? And the color palette? And let's be serious...the menus and the hanging lanterns are just about as incredible as they come. Check out Mindy's site for some serious inspiration!

Izzy Girl is one of my favorite Seattle Invitation Designers...

Her work is clever and yet refined. It's the perfect combination of creativity and elegance. Check out the Izzy Girl site for more great ideas!

And just look at these beauty shots featuring make-up done by MakeUp NV in New York...

Remember that the Little Black Book is a work in progress! We are constantly researching new vendors, new cities and new regions. We want to make sure that we can put our SMP stamp of approval on every listed vendors, knowing that they are doing innovative, beautiful work in their industry.

If you have a city or a vendor recommendation, we'd love to hear from you! Feel free to leave a comment or email me at abby at style me pretty dot com!

Bridesmaids Gifts, III

This next set of bridesmaids gifts is all about the monogram. If done in a cute and fashionable way, monograms can be very chic...not to mention, a great way to personalize a gift...

Although monograms have been around for ages, there are now so many great options that are much more stylish and fresh!

1. Those insanely cute lacquer trays made by IOMOI are super cute and are great on their own, or used to hold another present. Maybe alongside a bottle of champagne and two cute champagne glasses with a note promising to visit so that you can have a celebratory drink!

2. I love this stationery set by IOMOI. The coordinating liner adds an element of style that makes them perfect for everyday use.

3. These initial necklaces, designed by Sonya Renee, are AMAZING. They are definitely on the pricier end but are honestly the most perfect gift if you only have a couple of maids. Or, as a special gift for your maid of honor. Sonya is so sweet and easy to work with, so I am sure that she can also custom design something for you, as well.

4. I am normally not a monogrammed flip-flop kind of girl, but these come in SO many colors and would just be a perfect gift for a Spring or Summer wedding. Too cute.

5. My best friend, Katie, gave us these awesome totes at her wedding. She also included a pashmina and a set of Sonya Renee earrings that we could wear at the wedding...together, it was the cutest gift and I have put every element to use time and time again.

Okay, so now that I've shared my picks...I'm dying to know what you are thinking about getting your maids? Or, what is the best gift you've received? ??

Bridesmaids Gifts, II

This next set of bridesmaid gift ideas is all about photos...whimsical ways to create and share memories. If your bridesmaids are a little more fun-going and might not appreciate the oh-so-feminine gifts from earlier today, a great photo gift will definitely make them smile...

I love these photo inspired gifts...one part vintage, one part whimsy. They are perfect for your more fun-loving bridesmaids!

1. A mini hand-held Polaroid camera...it spits out these adorable mini-pics. Include a few packs of film refills and you have a perfectly quirky gift!

2. This classic Polaroid is so great. You really can't beat the cool factor associated with a Polaroid. Although I did hear that the company went out of business, you can still buy these gems all over the internet. Just make sure to include extra film!

3. Kolo Arts makes some of the best photo preservation books and boxes that I've seen. These are actually scrapbooks and although it will take you a bit of time to create, a scrapbook filled with old photos and fun memories will be something that your bridesmaids will completely cherish. When you are making a scrapbook for a friend, try to make them simple and clean with photos, bits of memorabilia and a few handwritten words. Something that they would be proud to put on a coffee table.

4. I love photo boxes and this one by Kolo is just gorgeous. You can personalize it by inserting some of your favorite photos associated with each maid or by adding envelopes to divide the photos up with fun topics..."the early days," "college years," etc.

5. Okay, this is seriously cool. Send in one of your favorite photos to Custom Canvas and they will generate a "painted" canvas for your maids to love. They have a handful of different sizes and prices to choose from so there is something for everyone.

6. These customized lockets by Chloe Jade are so strange and yet so awesome, all at the same time. Send in a pic of you and your maid and they will make it into a custom locket. They are a little pricey and let's face it, a little kitchy, but there are certain people that will soooo appreciate their charm!

We have more great gift ideas to come!

Bridesmaids Gifts

I've been getting a lot of emails lately regarding bridesmaids gifts...you want something chic and stylish, but also personal. Something that your girls will hold on to for years to come. So today, we are going to help you find the perfect gift!

This first set is all about luxury. A great clutch, a beautiful pair of custom earrings, a stunning stationery set...

All of these gifts are perfect for the chic, modern bridesmaid....little pieces of luxury that they'd kill for, but that they might not buy for themselves. There are a variety of price ranges here, but many of these gifts might be out of your budget. Keep in mind, they are just to inspire an idea...all of these items are relatively common and could be swapped out for a lower priced option.

1. A great pair of ballet flats, with a note attached encouraging your brides to dance the night away!

2. Custom earrings designed especially for your brides. This pair was designed by Arianny DeJesus who also designed my own bridesmaids' gifts. Because we ordered 10 sets of earrings, she gave us a great price break.

3. A stunning desk set filled with note cards & coordinating envelopes, stationery sheets for longer letters and gift enclosure cards...all tucked into a beautiful fabric keepsake box.

4. A great clutch. What girl doesn't love a perfect little bag. If you want to step it up a notch, tuck a gift certificate for a mani-pedi inside.

5. A beautiful, but simple necklace. This one is by Kate Spade and is on sale right now for $45!

6. A pretty cashmere scarf or pashmina. To make it more personal, have their initials stitched on to one of the corners.

7. A set of journals is a great idea for any woman. To make these even more special, write a personalized letter to each bridesmaid at the front of the journal, letting her know just how much she means to you.

8.  A great bikini. Super cute for a fun summer wedding. Buy coordinating (but not matching) bathing suits for your girls to wear if you're having a poolside bbq.

We have more fun ideas to come, so stay tuned!

 

Wedding Stationery by Cotton Idea Studio

Thank you so much to Mindy for sharing the last two days of gorgeous weddings with us! As an invitation designer, with Laguna Beach's cutest paper boutique, Mindy has a knack for all things beautiful. And her online shop is no different!

Every bride knows that writing pretty thank you notes are a must...which is why I love having a set of my own personalized stationery. With all of the showers and gifts that you will be getting, customized note cards rank among the top wedding must-haves. If you have a set of stationery that you love, chance are, you'll be a much happier thank-you-note-writing fool...

And, there is NO rule that says the bride must write all of the thank you notes! Get your hubby going on them as well, with his own set of stationery!

And finally, coming from someone in the wedding invitation business, I know that bridesmaids LOVE their own stationery just as much as we do. What a perfect and personalized bridesmaid gift!

So, spend some time perusing the Cotton Idea Studio website for some brilliant finds. Even if you aren't looking for stationery, they do have some oh-so-cute details like letterpress coasters, great note sets and beautiful letterpress calendars.

A Real Wedding, II

A few more pictures from today's earlier wedding for you to devour...

all photos by Trever Hoehne Photography

This wedding is absolutely gorgeous...and the paper goods are just as chic! Take a look at these perfect paper details that Mindy put together for the couple...

all photos by Trever Hoehne Photography

I looooove those letterpress coasters. I actually love everything about these paper pieces...the pattern on the back of the RSVP card is just so fresh and smart, the cheeky thank you cards and programs are a perfect touch of whimsy. Great job Mindy!

Stay tuned for more from Cotton Idea Studio!

A Real Wedding

Today, we have ANOTHER real wedding for you to fall in love with. This one took place this past October 2007 at the Lido Isle Yacht Club in Newport Beach, California...

Wedding Dress by Monique Lhuillier, Event Design, Florals & Catering by Vesou, Paper Goods by the oh-so-talented Cotton Idea Studio, Photography by Trever Hoehne Photography, Videography by Paper Tape Films

Aside from the fact that the bride and groom are drop dead gorgeous, this wedding is just beautiful. The girls wearing different black dresses, the stunning green and white flowers and the simple but lovely surroundings...it all comes together in kind of an easy-chic way. I love that.

The groom in this wedding is actually the brother of one of our Little Black Book members, Mindy of Cotton Idea Studio. She has sent us another set of pictures that I will post later today, as well as some awesome ideas for inspired paper goods (perfect for bridesmaids gifts), so definitely stay tuned!

Update...we had a reader request for more photos of the bridesmaids' bouquets...here you go!

A Real Wedding

This morning I had an interview with Morning Living on Martha Stewart Radio and the girls were chatting all about Spring...those first perfect signs of Spring that let you know it's time to put away your boots and break out your pretty little dresses. So of course, when I saw this May wedding that was sent to me by Mindy at Cotton Idea Studio, I was in looooove.

all photos by Trevor Hoehne

Aren't the pink hues paired with the chocolate dresses just gorgeous? And that banquet table with the perfect small arrangements lining the table...STUNNING. The coolest thing about this wedding? We did an inspiration board for Jean (the bride) during our first month on Style Me Pretty! Here is the board that we designed for Jean...

I love the way that Jean interpreted this board into her own style...softening the pinks, bringing a sweet sophistication to the event. Thank you so much to Jean and to Mindy at Cotton Idea Studio for sharing this with us!

Dear Abby

One last Dear Abby for the day! I am going to begin writing in my answers later this evening and will finish up on tomorrow's AM post. I want to give you guys plenty of time to write comments and brainstorm with these brides!

I am planning a New York City wedding for November. The natural suggestion seems to be to go with a "fall colors" palette but for whatever reason I'm just not that into it -- probably because the church sanctuary where we're having our wedding has a beautifully gilded and painted domed ceiling in primarily medium-toned wood, French blue, gold and taupe colors. I feel like reds, oranges and yellows would clash there, as well as in our reception venue, which is likely to be a private club in soft neutrals.

I love the French blue and taupe color palette but I fear it will look "flat" once we get outside the church. Then again, NYC is all about greys and black and white. Also, I'm stymied as to what types of flowers would look good with French blue and taupe. Also, is that color combo just...over?

Initially, I was inspired by the Mariebelle chocolate boxes but went with the softer brown because I feel chocolate is somewhat overused. Is there any way to freshen/liven up this color palette or give it some "pop"? Is there a warm color that would be a good accent to those two tones that I could consider for flower?

A. Erin has found this bridesmaids dress that she loves. My suggestion with this dress, is to go with creamy white bouquets with either a flat gold or pewter colored strappy heal. I think that tying a silk or satin ribbon around the base of the bride's bouquet in that same blue shade would be gorgeous.

What do you guys think???

Dear Abby

Our next question comes from Catherine...

"I am currently having a color palette problem. I originally was planning on having my bridesmaids wear a burnt orange dress and then incorporate fall reds, oranges and brown into the color palette. My bridesmaid dresses have been decided, and they are a T length chocolate brown.  Now, this isn't too far off from my original idea, but I am having trouble with what color flowers to use.  I think it is difficult because when discussing shoes for my bridesmaids, 2 of them randomly said they would like to wear gold shoes....hence I would probably buy them some sort of gold jewelry to bring that together.  So, I have brown and gold.  Maybe I am thinking way too hard, but do you have any ideas as far as which flowers would complement this combination?"

A. I have to say, I looooove gold and chocolate together. It's one of those classic combinations that just makes sense. My bridesmaids all wore chocolate gowns with gold strappy shoes and these gorgeous custom earrings by Arianny Dejesus. Bottom line, gold is always a great compliment to chocolate. And, I think that using classic fall hues like an array of oranges and deep reds would be stunning.

I was doing a little brainstorming and although I think that the fall hues would be gorgeous, I also think that a deep terra cotta pink, paired with a peachy orange would be really beautiful and would bring a lightness to your palette that would compliment the chocolate brown. Plus, all of the hues are in the same warm family, so the look would be incredibly inviting...

Dress by Jenny Yoo, Pink florals by Ariella Chezar, Gold Sandals by Stuart Weitzman on Bluefly, Peach/Orange florals by Crimson & Clover Floral Design

Catherine would love any and all ideas that you guys might have!!

Dear Abby

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Today, we are all about color palettes. Choosing the perfect wedding color seems to be the most difficult part of planning a wedding for many brides. Either the colors that the couple have chosen clash with the reception venue or the bridesmaids don't like the hues that they have to wear...whatever the case, there are always stumbling blocks when it comes to your color palette. 

So today, we are doing reader color palette questions. Our first dilemma comes from Gina...

I'm getting married on June 21, 2008 in California at a country club up in the mountains (so lots of greenery).  I am all about having a classic, elegant, romantic, yet fun and chic wedding.  My favorite color is yellow and my husband's is blue, so originally I was going to go with a navy blue, yellow combination. However, after getting my dress and seeing the yellow dresses on my friends (they all have very pale skin), I have decided to go with my second choice - grey, blush, and a mauve rose. 

Does this color palette fit a summer wedding particularly against a lot of green?  I ordered grey dresses by Jim Hjelm in chiffon, but do you think that it is too dull for a summer wedding?  I don't really like hot pink, but do you think I need to add some brightness to my color palette?  Also, any ideas on what color linens to use??

A. First of all, I love the idea of having a grey and dusty rose palette. It is so incredibly chic and elegant. Grey dresses, varying shades of pink bouquets, and various shades of pink pashminas or cardigans for the reception (as one of our smart readers suggested!). With you in all white, this combination will be absolutely gorgeous. The natural element of green will be stunning against this palette, as long as you don't get too modern with your attire and your flowers. Think unstructured, flowy and organic.

Do you guys have any ideas or tips for Gina? Don't be shy...I'm sure that any input would be greatly appreciated!

Wedding Invitations by Robin Beth

Robin sent me this second inspiration board, based on her lovely teal invitation suite, Moderno...

Clockwise from top left - Boutonnière on Brides.com, Maple Sugar Favors on Martha Stewart Weddings, Jewelry on Martha Stewart Weddings, Bridesmaid Dress on Brides.com, Cake on theknot.com, Tablescape on weddingstyle.com, Moderno Suite by Robin Beth Designs

The Moderno Suite Is a modern design, but has a very organic feel. It is letterpress printed on 100% cotton cardstock, backed with a dark chocolate textured cardstock, uses a modern hand silk-screened Japanese decorative paper and is wrapped with micro suede tape.

I love when designers share their own tips, based on their own experience, with brides. I've asked Robin to share with us some ideas to consider when choosing or designing your wedding invitation...

As many people have said before, the invitation can really set the tone for the event.  When it comes time to choose invitations, most brides have already created their inspiration boards, chosen their colors and styles, picked their location, flowers, fashion and almost everything else.

Just as I use the incredible decorative papers that I find as my source of inspiration to create the invitation designs, so should you use the overall design of your wedding to help you choose your invitations. Whether it is a decorative paper, unique typefaces (and I mean more than one), ink colors, ribbons or other embellishments, all of it can help to make sure your invitations perfectly represent who you and your fiancé are and what your wedding day means to you. 

When a guest opens your invitation, it should invoke a feeling of what you are about as a couple and what the event will be like.  Make sure to include elements of your invitations on your inspiration boards and you will know very easily if they fit in with your style.  Most of all, don¹t be afraid to have fun and let your own personal style shine through with your invitations!

Thank you so much, Robin, for sharing this with us!!

Wedding Invitations by Robin Beth

I met Robin about three years ago when she was launching her first line of handmade letterpress invitations, Robin Beth Designs. Robin's attention to detail is truly unmatched, her styles are beautiful and her love of letterpress is shown in every piece that she creates. Robin is as sweet and as talented as they come, so when she sent me this oh-so-pretty inspiration board based on one of her new designs, I had to share!

Clockwise from top left - Flowers and lipstick on Martha Stewart Weddings, Strawberries and Wine on brides.com, Bridesmaids Dresses on Martha Stewart Weddings, Prismatic Invitation by Robin Beth Designs, Place setting on Martha Stewart Weddings, Red Bowl on brides.com, Return Address by Robin Beth Designs, Floral Vase on brides.com

Robin designed this board around that gorgeous marbled invitation in the center image...The Prismatic Suite. This suite is letterpress printed on 100% cotton cardstock, backed with metallic layers and uses a hand marbled decorative papers.

Robin let the fun, multicolored aspect of the marbled papers guide her inspiration...and the result, sweet sophistication. I love it!

Style Me Pretty on Etsy!

If you haven't already, you HAVE to check out the newly launched Handmade Wedding series on Etsy. Yours truly is the first blogger to kick-off the event, and I've discussed something that SMP readers are starting to know and understand really well...An Inspired Wedding!

Here is a sneak peak...

To find out the sources on this White on White board, as well as details on creating your own inspiration board, check out my article! (toot, toot) And, if you have time, I put together a list of favorite designers which is featured right after the article....

The Handmade Wedding series is so exciting, as are the other bloggers that will be participating. Etsy is one of my absolute favorite sources for inspiration so I am thrilled to see how this series progresses. I am sure that we will come away with some brilliant ideas as to how we can make our weddings charming and unique.

Style Me Pretty on Etsy!

I am so incredibly honored that Etsy is featuring Style Me Pretty in today's kick-off of their Handmade Wedding Series! The girls at Etsy were such a pleasure to work with and I had an absolute ball writing this article....

The full article can be read right here, though you should also spend some time checking out the other amazing bloggers that are going to be participating! The Handmade Wedding series is an incredible idea that I know all of you are going to love. Thank you so very much to Etsy for including me in this fabulous process!

More to come on this great event!

Wedding Flowers by Studio del Fiore

When Lisa Martin, at Studio del Fiore, sent me these pictures from a recent wedding that she helped design...I literally started clapping. Sounds strange, I know. But sometimes, when I see a wedding that is just this chic, I get really excited! I am totally smitten with this look. That gorgeous dress, the insanely unique color palette, the whole nine yards...

gorgeous images by Jasmine Photography

Here are some details that Lisa sent me...

Mike & Nicole Morris tied the knot on 9.1.07!

These two have a funny history. Originally Mike was to be set up with a co-workers friend, which was a bust. But being that Mike was new to the area, he was looking for a new place to rent and ended up renting a room from the co-workers friend. Which brings Nicole into the picture... she was the girl next door. Before they knew it those little talks on the porch became dinner and movies and so on..the rest is wedding history!

The ceremony/reception site was at the Oregon Historical Society. It's a great spot for a downtown wedding, with a great patio for a ceremony and reception site. They headed across the street to the park blocks for some family pics.  Nicole wanted to be a typical bride and be a princess, but did not want the typical princess dress-  She opted for a super funky dress that fit her personality.

Same for the flowers, she wanted something modern and funky with flair. Using the vibrant Green and Orange as her color pallet, her bouquet was a mix of Celosia, Spicy & Sweet Akito Roses, Cymbidium Orchids and Brunia.

I am dorking out, I know...but YAY! I love this wedding! Thanks so much, Lisa for sharing!!

Reader Inspiration Boards

Here are a few more reader inspiration boards for you to enjoy. The first one was designed by Mehan who is combining their American roots with Indian and Pakistani cultures, while also incorporating both Muslim and Hindu ceremonies. The reception will feature a peacock theme with blue and purple hues...

The second board was designed by Marissa who is having a purple inspired Fourth of July wedding...

Thank you to all of our oh-so-talented readers for sharing these inspiration boards with us! I am continually impressed by the creativity and imagination of our brides!

Reader Inspiration Boards

This next inspiration board was designed by Sierra, who is getting married this June in a fun, casual...but still traditional affair. Her colors are dark navy and a pale green...

Kristin is having a green and deep red inspired wedding at her family's bed and breakfast. If she were to put it into words, Kristin would say this..."you wake up in your japanese style open loft, go down stairs jump on your vintage scooter which magically transports you to a prairie field where you have a picnic with fresh fruit, cheese and wine with your best friend who gives you a big hug. Cozy organic vintage?"

And Lindsey is getting married next August in Cannon Beach, OR...

We have a few more to come, so stay tuned!!

Reader Inspiration Boards

Our next board has been designed by Erin, who is getting married this upcoming August at a traditional Irish Restaurant. She wants to avoid a cliché Irish themed wedding of Kelly green and four-leaf clovers. Instead, she pulled inspiration from her experiences traveling through Ireland: fine linens, precious crystal. a blend of new and old, a quaint sophistication… and most of all, a warm, welcoming environment...

Julina designed this next board...she is going for classy but cozy, with a lot of warm autumn colors...

The next board, designed for Christina's upcoming August wedding, was inspired by the European garden where she will have her ceremony. The reception will take place in an opera studio rehearsal space in downtown Wilmington...a stunning contrast the the opulence of the garden...

More to come!!

Reader Inspiration Boards

Today we are doing reader inspiration boards! I love the days that we feature your own work...it is forever inspiring me to keep dreaming up new ways to approach wedding style. Our first board was done by Erin, who created this board for her own maid of honor, Catherine. Catherine is looking to have a traditional wedding at home on her family's farm...

So pretty! Erin has a cute wedding blog as well that you guys should check out. Our second board was done by Bridget who is getting married in New Zealand this July...which is actually their mid-Winter.The wedding will be built upon these three words...Simple, Elegant and Personal. Bridget felt that once she and her fiance settled on these words, the rest has been rather easy...

Here are a few notes on Bridget's Board...

1) JCrew bridesmaid dress. I am having only one bridesmaid, my best friend for 24 years, and I want her to have an elegant stylish dress that she will wear for years to come. Nothing too bridesmaid-y!
2) This is a picture of our actual wedding venue, Fables Antique and Rug Gallery, in New Zealand. The beauty of this venue is that it requires almost no decoration.
3) I am having a tulip bouquet, not only because they are my favourite flower, but to honour my future mother-in-law who is from the Netherlands.
4 and 10) Tea-light candles, candelabras and fairy lights will be our primary decorations. The venue is so beautiful that little else is needed, and the lighting provided by the candles will enhance our evening ceremony.
5) Our actual invitations, from The Write Image. The ivory paper is gorgeous and thick, and the text will be in chocolate brown.
6) I based the neck-line of my dress on this image I found trawling the web. My dress designer is Jane Rhodes, a well-know New Zealand designer.
7) The monogram, designed by hand by my fiance Jason, will feature on our invitations, cake, and will be embroidered on the underside of the groom and best man's ties.
8) I envisage my curly hair loosely pinned up in an elegant but not too formal style.
9) Pearls will be another feature of the day, putting in appearances in my jewellery and that of my maid of honour, and in the decorations.
11) My dress will feature a latte coloured sash around the waist, leading to a single box-pleat at the back of my dress.

So many more boards to come!!

Real Wedding Inspiration Board, III

More from Melinda!

As I mentioned before, it was so important to me to feel that everyone was involved and a huge part of the day. A long time family friend of the Moore family, who married Danielle and Lee on their wedding day, also married us. We included a reading in our ceremony that was read by Cass’s sister, Danielle. I carried my grandmothers rosary and a handkerchief that Danielle had embroidered with my wedding day, and the word “Sisters” above the date.

Upon entering the reception, there was a tray that I had made with old wine corks with little escort cards tucked in it. However, they were not escort cards, but handwritten notes that we had written for each and every guest to thank them for coming, telling them to have a great time and to sit wherever they liked. Our favors, wine bottle stoppers, were placed in burlap bags, with tags I found off Etsy.com. Again, everything was in black and linen. My guestbook was non-traditional – I bought vintage Georgia postcards off eBay and lined the backs with card stock and a postcard stamp. My parents mailed them from the Dahlonega post-office back to our house the next day, and we have a fun album filled with cards from our guests.

Other little details: music is a huge part of our life, and we did not want traditional wedding and ceremony music. Our parents and grandparents walked down to my grandparents’ song, “Always”, by Rosemary Clooney; the bridal party walked down to the Magnetic Fields “The Book of Love”, and I walked down the aisle to a children’s choir recording singing “To Know Him is to Love Him” – a surprise for Cass, who pretty much cried the entire time (along with my photographers, I found out later!) That song, I felt, encapsulated every thing I felt about my husband to be – and I wanted him to hear that as I walked towards him.

At the reception, as a surprise for my parents, whose wedding anniversary was that day, I had their song, “Leaving on a Jet Plane” played. Cass and I danced to Bob Dylan’s version of “You Belong to Me”, and my dad and I swayed to “Stand by Me”. We surprised Cass’s mother for the mother-son dance with Willie Nelsons, “Don’t Let your Babies Grow up to be Cowboys” as a nod to Montana and their family. In addition, I managed to track down each of my bridesmaid’s first dance songs from their own weddings, and made sure that each song was played during the night. For my one remaining single bridesmaid, I chose a song that was a favorite of ours when we were roommates, and danced with her myself.

We did th