Style Me Pretty

Real Wedding by Stella Alesi

Today is my last guest post over at Design*Sponge...what a great week it has been! Before we begin here on SMP, I wanted to just say a HUGE thank you to all of our Little Black Book members that sent me images and inspirations from their homes and their studios. It was so difficult deciding who would be featured on D*S as so many of them were absolute gems. The good news is, I am going to post a few more homes here on Style Me Pretty in the coming weeks though...so that we can really meet the people behind the brilliant art!

We are featuring three different designers today on D*S...Stella Alesi / Photography, Sugar Paper and Innove Events. If you haven't already, definitely head over and check out the gorgeous creative spaces of these oh-so-creative people.

Brian and Stella Alesi sent me this lovely wedding a few weeks ago and I have been waiting for the right time to post it...what better day than today!

Here are a few details from Brian...

This was a beautiful and unique wedding that didn't break the bank. Paul and Melissa got married in a city park in Austin, Texas. There is a lottery system in place for these outstanding, but budget venues and this couple was lucky enough to have been chosen. The wedding took place on a beautiful November day so it was early enough that the warm Austin weather was still hanging on.

The groom who is a landscape designer did all the flower arrangements, center pieces, door hangings, bouquets, etc. Paul's centerpieces were truly DIY. He used common fruits and cuttings from his backyard to create these amazing, but simple, works of art. One big table was set and the whole event had a communal feel to it.

The bride had her dress designed specifically for her. And the groom was looking dapper in a traditional english morning suit with tails and hat.

Designs by Wiggy Flowers

The next designer that we are featuring on Design*Sponge is the ever talented, Catherine Conlin of Wiggy Flowers in San Francisco. What I love about Catherine is that her passion for design and color comes through in everything she does...from the gorgeous studio she  designed to the absolutely breathtaking florals that she puts her heart and soul into...

These gorgeous photos were shot by the oh-so-talented Kate Webber and Lauri Levenfeld of Zoom Photography...Kate will be shooting full time with Zoom starting this month and it seems that they are adding quite a talent to the team!

Lauri and Catherine often work hand in hand on weddings, which generally makes for absolutely spectacular, and oh-so-colorful images. But for me, it's the gorgeous black and whites that Lauri produces that are so incredibly captivating...

Thanks to both Lauri and Catherine for sharing their creativity and their imagination with us!

Real Wedding by Stephanie Cristalli

This week I have been guest blogging on Design*Sponge, which needless to say, has been a huge thrill for me. Just like the creative people that I am featuring over there, my interests are not only in what I do professionally. I simply love design...whether it's interior design, crafting, cooking, anything really. So, to have a chance to see how some of my favorite wedding professionals translate their own creative instincts...well, it's been pretty incredible.

Today, on both Design*Sponge and on Style Me Pretty, we are featuring the work and homes of photographers, Stephanie Cristalli and Chenin Boutwell, along with florist Catherine of Wiggy Flowers. All of these artists are talented from the tops of their head to the tips of their toes, thus it's been a joy to learn a little bit more about their creative aesthetic.

First up is Stephanie Cristalli, a Seattle-based photographer that I've long admired...

I completely adore the color palette for this wedding. The contrasting raspberry, terra cotta and green is so beautiful...during the day the colors look fresh and lively, at night they look romantic and inviting. And although it's clear that so much time and energy went into the planning of this wedding, it seems cohesive and  relaxed. A backyard style ceremony and an intimate dinner with close friends and family. Can't beat that. 

Head over to Design*Sponge today to check out Stephanie's GORGEOUS home.

Real Wedding by Red Ribbon Studio

Today on Design*Sponge, I featured some a-a-a-mazing homes and creative spaces, one of them being the gorgeous studio of Maribeth at Red Ribbon Studio. Maribeth basically transformed a sad, little retail space into the most gorgeous studio you have ever seen. It just goes to show that creativity doesn't stop with one craft...this girl is all talent!

Here is one of Maribeth's weddings that I am completely in love with...

From Maribeth...Kaija and John got married in her grandpa's backyard. Kaija wanted an upscale backyard barbeque, and that's exactly what it was. Guests sipped on a signature drink called a Bootlegger and snacked on passed treats like Minnesota State Fair cheese curds. A perfect summer day for a backyard wedding with great laid-back but elegant style.

Real Wedding by Yvette Roman, II

As promised, here are a few more pictures from the insanely gorgeous Yvette Roman photographed wedding. The design was done by none other than Lisa Vorce of Oh How Charming! so you know that it was basically perfection...

Vendors included: Photography by Yvette Roman Photography, Wedding Florals by R. Jack Balthazar, Event Design and Planning by Oh How Charming!, Wedding Gowns by Les Habitudes, Trash Couture, Paris, Location Saddlerock Ranch, Malibu, Caterering by Duxbury

Yvette has also offered to share some details from this stunning affair...

The Flowers...Ashley, the bride, is a floral designer at R. Jack Balthazar, and masterminded both the incredible floral arrangements, and the amazing midsummer nights’ dream design of her wedding. Both the bridal and bridesmaids bouquets featured Japanese fans, as did the men’s boutonnieres.

The Fashion...Ashley Wore Two Dresses ~ White For The Couple’s First Glance, And A Sea-Foam Trash Couture Dress, embellished with tiny chains, torn tulle, and polished stones, For The Ceremony And Reception

The Ceremony...The Ceremony Took Place Underneath A Willow Tree. The Bride Is Japanese-American, And The Groom Is Jewish thus, in order to acknowledge both traditions, a Chuppah was decorated with strings of orchids and 1001 Origami Cranes, which Ashley’s mother made by hand. The Ceremony was performed by a Buddhist priest and the music was provided by friends of the couple.

The Reception...The tables were decorated with an eclectic collection of heirloom sterling silver pieces, moss, roses, fresh fruit, and hundreds of white taper candles, which were allowed to drip onto the tables. Two classically elegant Raj tents, lit by crystal chandeliers, were erected. One for adult guests to linger under and another for the many childdren at the wedding to play. The children's tent was appointed with a vintage dress-up trunk containing masks and clothes and a large low table for art supplies and face painting.

Real Wedding by Yvette Roman

Over on Design*Sponge today, I am featuring the homes and creative spaces of some of my favorite photographers. So, I thought that it would be a fun opportunity to show a bit of their work here on Style Me Pretty, as well. Our first featured photographer is one that I not only admire professionally, but one that I really consider a friend...Yvette Roman, a California based photographer who often shoots some of the most beautiful weddings you've ever seen.

This first wedding is straight out of a movie. The bridal portraits alone are beautiful enough to hang on the walls of your home...

The bride actually wore two gowns...a "first look" dress that she could wear to capture these spectacular images, then a second dress for the ceremony and reception....

I have more photos coming from the actual wedding, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check over at Design*Sponge to learn a little more about Yvette and see the gorgeous home that she has designed for her family.

Also, don't forget to submit your entry in our incredible giveaway with Four Seasons Films...the prize is worth over $10,000 so it's definitely worth it!

Real Wedding by Oh How Charming!

I have a few more fun pictures from today's Lisa Vorce designed, Oh How Charming! wedding. I know that I have said this a million times in the past, but I am just continually in awe of Lisa and her talents. Her events are always beyond chic, beyond sophisticated and yet completely intimate. There just aren't enough words in my vocabulary to properly describe how I feel about her events. So, I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves...

And, a few more details from Lisa...

Catering was provided by the fabulous team at Food Art Events. Their food not only tastes amazing - but it is styled beautifully as well. Their custom signature cocktails are also to die for! The linens were provided by Tabella. I designed three "tablescapes" - so we used a combination of white crinkle linen with chartreuse crinkle runners, chocolate brown pintuck linens, and white crinkle runners -- depending on the table.

My other favorite elements of the night... Vanilla Bake Shop's delicious dessert bar, the In-N-Out truck (we had the In-N-Out truck come to Vibiana -- and my staff tray-passed the scrumptious burgers which were devoured!), the gorgeous Neb of champagne for the guest sign-in...and of course...Gillian's chartreuse Christian Louboutin shoes! How perfect were those???

And last, but not least...the wedding was shot so beautifully by the very talented Cheri Pearl. She did such an amazing job capturing the emotion, the details, the people, the vibe. This was my first event with her, and I couldn't be happier! Showtime filmed the preparation, installation, and execution of this wedding -- so a very heartfelt thank you to the Bride and Groom for allowing the cameras in, and our extraordinary team of vendors who made the day so unbelievably special and beautiful.

Here are a few images of the catering, the dessert bar and the in and out burgers...too, too cute!

Thank you so much to Lisa and to all of the vendors who collaborated on this absolutely gorgeous wedding. Your thoughtful TLC came through in a beautiful way...in a way that I am sure will inspire so many of our brides!

Real Wedding by Oh How Charming!

I have so many more pictures from today's real wedding to share with you...let's get right to it. The images, all shot by the incredibly talented Cheri Pearl, speak to just how lovely this wedding is...

As usual, Lisa Vorce (the creative force behind this amazing wedding) has been sweet enough to share all of the perfect little details with us...

I know I say this about all my weddings - but this is truly one of my favorites! My clients - Gillian and Tim - were so great about letting me do my thing. They were also incredibly resourceful and brought some amazing new vendors to the table which I'm delighted to share with your readers.

Gillian and Tim wanted a chocolate brown and white wedding. My original design inspiration started with a simple chocolate brown & white honeycomb pattern. I added the chartreuse green element to give everything a little pop of color. I asked Mindy at Cotton Idea Studio to create simple boxed invites. We used chocolate brown box mailers from Paper Source and Mindy created a very crisp white letterpressed invitation with the honeycomb pattern letterpressed in chocolate brown. Everything was tied together with a chartreuse grosgrain ribbon.

The honeycomb motif was subtly carried throughout the wedding via several decor elements. Barker Decor showcased the honeycomb pattern on a custom high gloss white dance floor with a thick chocolate brown border. The honeycomb pattern was applied in white on the brown border section which was absolutely stunning. Mindy incorporated the honeycomb pattern on the menus, table numbers, and hanging escort cards, and Amy at Vanilla Bake Shop did a brilliant job of incorporating the pattern into Gillian and Tim's cake. And...my favorite honeycomb touch...the patterned flip flops I found at Old Navy. They were absolutely perfect and provided the ladies with a much needed break from their high heels.

The wedding took place at -- Vibiana -- which is a beautifully restored former Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles. It brings 35,000 square feet of gorgeous architecture and was a dream to light. Barker Decor Service did the most insane lighting. It was breathtaking! Curtis at Classic Party Rentals provided the beautiful wood tables and all the modern china and glassware. Amy at Hidden Garden created exquisite floral arrangements for the different types of tables. My favorites were the stunning dogwood centerpieces! The tall blooming dogwood arrangements combined with the low clean wheat grass arrangements were such a perfect combination.

For added interest and color - I had the custom lantern structures built. I needed something quite large for some of the tables, as the ceiling at Vibiana is extraordinarily high. The lantern structures were the perfect fit. They provided height, interest, and a sensational glow later in the evening.

More images and details to come! And, if you haven't already, check out my guest blog over at Design*Sponge where you can get a sneak peak into Lisa Vorce's a-a-amazing home!

Real Wedding by Oh How Charming!

It's official. I have a new all-time favorite wedding. Typically, when Lisa Vorce at Oh How Charming! sends me pictures from her latest wedding, I know that they are going to be great. I know that the detail is going to be flawless, that the overall style and design is going to make me jealous in that "oh-if-only-my-wedding-was-that-pretty" kind of way.

But when I got THIS wedding, I actually started clapping and screeching so loud that my husband came out of his office to see if everything was okay. This wedding is perfection. From the oh-so-smart color palette to the splashes of contemporary charm, everything about it is gorgeous. So without further ado, feast your eyes...

We have so many more images, as well as a rundown of details and vendors from Lisa at Oh How Charming! a little later today.

In the meantime, I am SO excited to let you guys know that I am guest blogging over at Design*Sponge this week. Aside from the fact that D*S just happens to be my favorite design site, I am beyond thrilled about the topic of the guest blog...Creative People and their Creative Spaces. I've enlisted the help of our Little Black Book members, who are giving us a peak into their homes and creative spaces.

First up is the insanely talented Lisa Vorce of Oh How Charming! whose home is straight out of a magazine. Grab a cup of coffee and head over to the Design*Sponge guest blog when you have some time...I promise you'll be inspired!

Giveaway by Four Seasons Films

Today is a big day on Style Me Pretty. Huge, actually!

I am so excited to announce today's giveaway, I can hardly stand it. One of our very favorite Little Black Book cinematographers, Four Seasons Films, is celebrating this year's wedding season by offering an exclusive contest to Style Me Pretty readers. The prize is a Four Seasons Films destination wedding film vignette...worth over $10,000!

Paul and Holley of Four Season Films are two of the country's leading cinematographers, filming each wedding with a unique and oh-so-personal approach. They seem to capture each couple in a way that will bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your face, all at the same time. Here is a little taste of the beautiful work that they are producing...

Pretty incredible, isn't it? Okay, so here is the deal...to enter the Four Season Films wedding contest, you need to head over to this page and answer a few easy questions about your big day and about the weddings featured on the Four Seasons Films website. The contest will be closing at midnight on May 31st, with the winner being announced on June 9th.

The winner will be responsible for travel and accommodations (3 nights) for Paul and Holley from Asheville, North Carolina. As an added bonus, however, Style Me Pretty would like to offer a $500 American Express gift certificate to help with the costs. Although this  may still be outside of some budgets, for those that can swing it...this is a once and a lifetime opportunity!

*Tip...before you fill out the questionnaire, spend some time perusing the gallery of video clips.One of the questions is in regards to your favorite featured clip.

Wedding Beauty Tips by Fresh Beauty

I am so excited that Nikol, of Fresh Beauty Studio in Florida, has agreed to share some tips on Summer Wedding Beauty! Nikol is an incredibly talented make-up artist and if you're in her area, you should book her for your wedding ASAP!

Some tips from Nikol...

Summer is here, heavy makeup is not. Keep your look Fresh and clean with these must have tips from Fresh Beauty Studio.

Clean skin is always your first step to looking young and polished. You want to have a simple yet effective skin care regimen. Always invest in the best ingredients and keep an eye out for antioxidants, AHA’s, enzymes from fruit. Vit C etc.  Your skin must be exfoliated at least once a week to keep a youthful glow. To feed your skin make sure you are putting on a serum suited to your skin type. We love Eminence Eight Greens Youth Serum. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize your skin. We love Crème de la Mer for a dewy look.

Use a tinted moisturizer with SPF. You will get beautiful coverage that will even out your complexion without adding a lot of weight.
Cream shadow is light and dewy for summer. It gives your eyes that sparkle. Try NARS cream shadow duo in Summer Time. You can take this look into fall by trading out your cream shadow for a powder shadow and going more bronze and gold as seen on Oscar de la Renta and Roberto Cavalli fall 2008 runway shows.

Hydrate lips: I can’t live without Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. I recommend this to all my brides for the perfect kissable pout.
Mascara and gloss are your new BFF’s. To keep your look simple coat your lashes twice with black mascara (Lash Blast is amazing by Cover Girl) and gloss up those lips. At Fresh Beauty Studio we keep it old school with our line of TINte Cosmetics. The lip tins and glosses bring you back to your childhood. One of our brides favorites is a lip gloss named Cake and it smells good enough to eat. We are always finding ways to keep you feeling young. 

Lashes: If you aren't up for wearing mascara this summer, try treating yourself to lash extensions. Believe it or not, I am a lash certified stylist..at FBS we apply  Xtreme Lashes, a service that is so popular for Summer brides.

Thank you so much, Nikol! Nikol's studio is filled with tons of great producst and services so if you are in the area, definitely stop by...she offers facials for the bridal party,  lunchtime peels for the busy bride-to-be and so much more. Fresh Beauty Studio also has an online shop filled with oh-so-cute favors and fashions that you should absolutely check out!

Wedding Beauty

I was lucky...my cousin is an incredible hair stylist in Boston, so getting my hair done was a no brainer. If there is one thing that I am still getting questions about, it's my hair. So many of my friends have requested photos to replicate for the their own wedding, which is such a huge compliment to my sweet cousin, Kristine. Here are some hair and beauty shots from my own wedding. Kristine and my make-up artist, Lynne, did all of the maids' make-up and hair, as well...

For my hair, I wanted it to be up, in a disheveled bun for the ceremony and photos, then I wanted to take it down for the reception. This easy up-do was perfect for me because it felt so soft and romantic, but in that really non-prom-ish way. My cousin set it without using rubber bands so that I had no creases when we took it down.

For my make-up, I wanted to look natural...all eyes and a subtle lip. When I tell you that I loved what our make-up artist, Lynne Avallone did, it just might be the understatement of the year. I felt beautiful, but I felt like myself. Lynne used warm neutrals with touches of pink, champagne, copper and chocolate. She also applied subtle false eyelashes that made my eyes pop in pictures.  My maids all chose their own hair and make-up styles...some wore low, loose buns and others just had some waves put in. Everyone looked and felt gorgeous.

If you are in need of more beauty inspiration, check out Lynne Avallone's site...she is an absolutely incredible make-up artist, who I cannot recommend highly enough!

And, I am so excited that Nikol of Fresh Beauty in Florida, is stopping by a little later today to share some of her best make-up tips and ideas! Don't forget to check back in!

Wedding Beauty

Since launching Style Me Pretty over a year ago, I have received a ton of emails about my own wedding day hair and make-up. And, believe it or not, this is only the second time that I have written about the topic! So, today, I wanted to tackle all things beauty. Starting with these gorgeous images from MakeupNV, one of our Little Black Book beauty members...

To hire a make-up artist or not is a big question. It's an expense that is often difficult to justify. And yet, I have to say...my make-up artist, my hair stylist and of course my pretty dress were the reasons that I felt as beautiful as I did on my wedding day. There is something special about someone coming in to help transform your look...from you, into your BEST you...that just makes you feel like a princess.

So, I am curious, how many of you guys are planning on hiring someone to do your hair and make-up? Bringing a friend in to help out? Doing it yourself?

We have more to come on this subject so definitely stay tuned!

Real Wedding by Perez Photography

I think that this next real wedding is so incredibly charming, so incredibly chic, I just had to share it with you! The wedding was sent to me by Cesar + Tanya Perez of Perez Photography, who summed it up like this...

"Jana + Kurt were married this past weekend in Burleson, Texas a town a little bit outside of Fort Worth at Kurt's family home. Their wedding was soooo amazing and was more than we ever expected. Cowboy chic all the way! They are two of the sweetest people we have ever met and we were completely humbled and honored to have been there with them. No words could ever describe the AMAZINGNESS of this wedding. :) Here are a few of our favorites..."

Aside from the fact that this wedding makes me so homesick for my Texas roots, it also brings a huge smile to my face. The gorgeous color palette, the feather accents, the whimsical touches...it's just what a wedding should be. Thank you so much to Perez Photography for sending this our way! You can check out their blog for a few more photos from this wedding, along with other great images and inspirations!

Real Wedding by Cameron Clark

This wedding that was sent to me by Little Black Book photographer Cameron Clark is just too charming for words. The bride and groom designed the affair around a vintage travel theme, complete with handmade paper airplanes as seating cards, vintage style invitations, a trunk to hold presents, vintage style wedding dress and stamps from around the world on the tables. Each table card featured a different famous hotel of the world, all handmade by the bride.

Just as Cameron said in her email, "You can tell the bride put her heart and soul into making this wedding theme come together. It was gorgeous..."



The wedding took place in Sedona, Arizona at L'Auberge de Sedona, with a creekside ceremony and reception. Events by Show Stoppers designed the gorgeous flowers. I am hoping that the bride will stop by a little later to share more of the details!

Thanks so much to Cameron Clark for sending us this lovely wedding!

Reader Inspiration Boards

This next board was designed by Yvette, a history buff, who looooves Marie Antoinette. Yvette is having her reception at The Westgate Hotel in a Versailles themed affair (they have a Versailles Ballroom for brides just like Yvette), complete with a Venetian hour, a chocolate fountain, a candy bar and plenty of champagne. Her style is Opulent Decadence...

So pretty! I would love to see how this all turns out as I too, LOVE the Marie Antoinette style...the movie itself was a designer's dream. The colors, the textures, the complete unabashed luxury. Loved it all.

Reader Inspiration Boards

Both of our next boards were designed by Kat, one for her own wedding and one for her oh-so-lucky friend. Kat is getting married in Amelia Island, Florida and although she is a pink girl all the way, she wants a wedding that isn't baby pink nor hot pink...rather a dusty rose with plum and silver accents. She is going for a fun, Spring-like wedding with modern flair...

She designed this next board for her friend's deep red and silver inspired affair...

ABSOLUTELY gorgeous!

Reader Inspiration Boards

Our next reader inspiration board comes from Lisa who is having a ballroom wedding at the same perfect spot that I had my wedding reception...the Parker House in Boston, Massachusetts!

So pretty! Lisa does have a quick question for you guys though...

I’m in love with the “cement” color that Jenny Yoo sells in shangtung.  I always saw my maids in a champagne/gold-y color, and “cement” fits perfectly with my imagined color scheme (I’ve attached my inspiration board – also the cover of my wedding binder! – so you can see what I mean).  The thing is…am I going to have 9 pissy bridesmaids if I make them wear this?  My mom is convinced that it’s “blah” and that it will wash people out, but I think it’s elegant and really don’t want to go with a color for my evening wedding in the city.  And the model who's wearing the dress is blonde with light skin and she looks gorgeous in it, so I have to disagree about the "washing out" part.  Can you let me know what you think?

Reader Inspiration Boards

Today is all about reader inspiration boards! I love these days because it gives me a chance to see what brides are really loving out there. And, how completely different ideas and inspirations can come together in absolutely beautiful ways.

Our first board was sent to me by Jennifer, who is getting married in Del Mar, California in a laid back, semi-casual affair. Using the beach and ocean as her inspiration and backdrop, Jennifer wanted to combine both her style and her fiance's...the end result will be a blue and brown themed wedding, with the ceremony on the grass in a park overlooking the ocean, and the reception on the beach. This wedding is all about understated elegance...

The next board was designed by Bridget who was inspired by the Steven Holl chapel at Seattle University...

Bridget has recently started her own blog, featuring her wedding planning journey. It's a cute read filled with gorgeous pictures and ideas, so definitely check it out when you have some time. I have more inspiration boards coming throughout the day!

Real Wedding

When one of our readers, Monique, sent me pictures from her recent wedding, I fell completely in love. Granted, I only feature weddings that I love as much as my own on Style Me Pretty, but this one is particularly beautiful in an incredibly glamorous way. The wedding was held in Auckland New Zealand in an intimate, European inspired affair...

Monique has been sweet enough to share some of the details and inspiration with us...

I met Ben 7 years ago when we both worked together at a local restaurant...we were married this Autumn with a vintage, french cafe inspired wedding. We exchanged vows at a catholic cathedral located in the central city, then with 80 of our closest family and friends went on to our intimate reception at Mantells, a gorgeous European styled venue.

My color theme was a simple classical ivory and black with a touch of soft green, inspired by a black and ivory dotted ribbon which I incorporated into my invitations, menu, programmes and table settings. All of which I designed and made myself with a little help from my bridesmaids. My gifts were small takeaway boxes filled with homemade fudge and finished with the ribbon and the M & B emblem I designed, only costing about $1.50 each.  My table seating board was embellished with crystals and sat on a gilded gold stand ( An idea I got from Style me Pretty! )

My biggest splurge was my dress...a pure silk strapless dress by Jane Yeh adorned with swarovski crystals and an ostrich feather skirt, which was hand dyed ivory. My Bridesmaids dresses were inspired by the famous Marilyn Monroe dress and featured gorgeous pearl and swarovski broaches.

Oh, this wedding is so beautiful! Thank you so much to Monique and Ben for sharing their day with us!

Wedding Photography by Elizabeth Messina

Okay, we're on to Paris for the rest of the day. And when I say that I love this wedding, I mean I LOVE this wedding. It's the perfect combination of rustic charm and unabashed elegance...

This wedding was all about beauty and simplicity, designed by the forever inspirational Lisa Vorce of Oh How Charming! Lisa let the natural surroundings dictate the style of the day, something that everyone should do. When you approach a wedding this way, whether you are having it in your own backyard or in a city ballroom, your wedding style will seem seamless and completely approachable. And together, Elizabeth and Lisa managed to capture that approachability to perfection...

Thank you so much to Elizabeth Messina for sending me these beautiful images. Elizabeth's weddings are always incredible...fairy tales, really. And no matter what your budget, it's easy to find inspiration through her photographs. And to Lisa at Oh How Charming!, for providing constant surprise and delight in everything that she does.

Wedding Photography by Elizabeth Messina

This weekend, a handful of my best girlfriends are heading to Anguilla to celebrate my dear friend, Lyndsay's wedding. I am so insanely jealous that I couldn't make this trip, you have no idea. From what I hear, her wedding is going to be one of those amazing beachside weddings where you get to dance to a calypso band while sipping fruity cocktails and chowing down on coconut shrimp. Again, I am so jealous.

So, I thought that the next best thing would be to write about a few paradise inspired weddings today, all shot by the incredible Elizabeth Messina. This first one was celebrated in San Miguel De Allende, Mexico...

Yep, I so wish I was there. Stay tuned though, I have another wedding coming from a different part of the world...a different part of paradise.

Wedding Dresses by Lela Rose

It's official. I love Lela Rose. She is easily my favorite new designer and her name seems to be popping up more and more these days. From Amy's amazing dress featured the other day, to Jenna Bush's bridesmaid dresses...Lela is all over the place. And, it's easy to see why!

all photos on Brides.com

Although the silhouettes are rather simple, the details are...um, amazing. Each gown seems to be the perfect combination of old world charm and modern femininity. The lace overlays, the tailored buttons, the girly lines. I love every bit of these gowns...

all photos on Lela Rose

To me, it's the combination of fabric and cut that makes these dresses so pretty...the fabrics are soft and romantic, the cuts are simple and elegant. Each dress is all girl. And I love that. What do you guys think?

Wedding Calligraphy by Laura Hooper, III

I know that our readers are working with a huge array of budgets, particularly when it comes to the "add-ons" like calligraphy. Lucky for us, Laura Hooper has been kind enough to offer some cost saving tips on working with a calligrapher...

More from Laura...

Allocating Your Budget: First and foremost I think it is really important to try to factor calligraphy into your invitation budget. Many girls forget to do this and that is where you encounter the budget problems. They spend $10-$15 dollars a set on invitations and don’t factor in $2-$3 for calligraphy (per invitation). Go in knowing that the rate for an envelope in pointed pen is going to cost around $3 per invitation. If you are doing inner envelopes, factor in another $1.50 per piece.

Quick Tip...When you are at your invitation session, perhaps choose a slightly less expensive set, so that you have room for calligraphy in your budget. Everyone says this, and that is because it is true: that the envelope is the first thing that your guests will see of your wedding, and they should always be hand lettered.

Working with New Talent: If you do not have room in your budget for an experienced calligrapher, you can likely find someone just starting out in the business. They typically will have lower prices, but just know that even if you request a sample, it does not mean that your order will consistently look as good as that sample throughout. The more experience a calligrapher has, the more consistent they will be. Brides should ask for references from calligraphers who offer budget calligraphy, so that they can confirm with previous clients the quality of the lettering throughout the order.

Quick Tip...Contact area art schools to find students who have experience in calligraphy. Typically, art students will charge you much less than someone who has been in business a long time.

Help from Friends & Family: If you have no room in the budget at all, enlist your mom, aunt, or a friend with nice hand writing to do the addressing for you. You can purchase an inexpensive light box at any Michael’s store, and use guidelines to be sure the lines are straight.   Practice makes perfect, so make sure they do a few practice runs on some spare paper…not your expensive invitation envelopes.

Overall it is really important to figure out what is most important to you when it comes to your invitations, and how much you are willing to spend on all the aspects of the invitations, including calligraphy, in advance. That way there are no surprises later!

Thank you so much to Laura for sharing these brilliant tips with us!

Wedding Calligraphy by Laura Hooper, II

I honestly believe that (if your budget allows) calligraphy can add so much to a wedding. From a beautifully designed envelope, to perfect place cards...calligraphy adds a touch of femininity and art to your look. Thus, I wanted to share a few more tips from Laura Hooper about incorporating calligraphy into your wedding style...

Think Creatively: I have done some pretty interesting pieces in calligraphy. Most recently, I did an order for a wedding in San Diego, CA for calligraphy on Lucite tiles. They were dark red, and the calligraphy was painted on in gold ink. They looked amazing. They were displayed on the wall with a light behind them so they lit up. The table numbers were matching, they were larger red panels with the names of golf courses as table names instead of numbers. I have also done sanddollars, compasses, and Spanish tiles as placecards as well. 

In addition to envelopes and placecards, you can do all your table signs, bar signs, and miscellaneous signs in calligraphy. Also, you can incorporate camera ready artwork into your invitations, menus and programs. I do a lot of work for menus and programs.  I also like to do personalized photo mattes, and I have a lot of requests to get wedding vows and poetry written in calligraphy as well.

We have a bit more to come...Calligraphy, The Look for Less!

Wedding Calligraphy by Laura Hooper

The National Stationery Show is right around the corner and it has me dreaming about letterpress on squishy paper, engraving so delicate it seems to just float on the page and of course, the prettiest calligraphy a girl could ever want.

Laura Hooper of Laura Hooper Calligraphy is one of my favorite calligraphy artists...her work is sweet and sophisticated, and yet it's completely approachable. Lucky for us, Laura has totally revamped her website and the calligraphy candy is just off the charts...

Spend some time checking out Laura's new site, exploring the MANY options available for different price points and different personalities. For those of you who are a little clueless when it comes to calligraphy, Laura has agreed to give us some of her best tips...

Finding and Booking a Calligrapher: You should definitely book your calligrapher in advance. Because we do everything by hand, we have a limited number of clients we can take on in a given time period. You should at least start looking when you order your invitations, that way, by the time the envelopes are done, your calligrapher may have space available in their schedule.  A normal turnaround time can be anywhere from 1-4 weeks that I have seen. In the busy season, my turnaround is about 2-3 weeks depending on the size of the order and the number of jobs in my queue.

Popular Services: I offer a full range of services, from envelope addressing, placecards, invitation design, invitation printing, custom hand drawn maps, monogram design, etc. I also provide stuffing, stamping and mailing for an additional fee as well. The possibilities are really endless. I enjoy doing unique projects, I am sure most other calligraphers do as well, so if you have an idea, let us know.

Average Rates: The rate for an experienced calligrapher using pointed pen techniques can range from $2-$7 per envelope.  You can get very nice calligraphy for $2.50 an outer envelope in a range of contemporary, popular, and classic styles on my website, and then I have several more intricate styles at higher price points, so that I can appeal to brides in different budget categories.

Be sure you know what you are buying. Many calligraphers use a felt pen or an italic pen and this does not give nice thick and thin lines. Maybe that is okay with you, but just know in advance what you are ordering so that when you receive your order back you are 100% pleased with it.

Also, you aren’t limited to calligraphers in your area only, so don’t settle! I work with girls all over the US, even Canada, the UK and Italy, so search the web for someone whose style appeals to you, and contact them for availability.

We have more to come, so stay tuned!

Real Wedding, III

Here are a few more gorgeous images from Amy and Aaron's featured wedding...

Amy has been kind enough to provide the link to her brilliant photographer's site, so that you can see ALL of the images!  Just head to Tanja Lippert Photography / Client Images / Galleries (on the right) / Weddings / Amy + Aaron to see more of this beautiful wedding! Beware though, it's addicting!

Thank you so much to Amy and Aaron for sharing your special day with us. It has no doubt provided hours upon hours of wedding inspiration!

Real Wedding, II

I knew that you guys would completely love Amy and Aaron's wedding...so, as promised, here are a few more images and tidbits from Amy about those perfect little details...

Here are the oh-so-fabulous details that Amy and Aaron included in their wedding...

Modern gown – My gown, The Mansion, was from Lela Rose’s first bridal collection. The bejeweled neckline and muslin fabric were the perfect mix of organic couture that I was seeking and was fitting to our setting. Our wedding date was stitched in the hem in light blue. And it was so special to purchase the gown from a grade-school friend and client Elle Warren, who owns Warren Barron Bridal. Later in the year, we designed Lela’s new website after sending her a proposal full of photos from our big day!

Design your own materials — Aaron designed all of our printed materials. Letterpress was a must, so we enlisted Inky Lips Press for the printing. We also used Aaron’s photography (http://www.brandhatchery.com/clients/napa/napa07/) ( http://www.brandhatchery.com/clients/napa/napa06/) from our trips to Napa as the basis for the table cards, escort cards and save the date.

Tribute to family and friends — We wanted to give a nod to all of the married couples—family and friends—who inspired us to take the leap. We mailed an extra card with the RSVP asking married friends and family to send us photos from their big day. We scanned and converted all of the images to black and white and hung them on a tree where all of our guests could recount memories and share stories. We also used the photos on the back of our dinner menu and for a slide show at our rehearsal dinner, which took place at Artesa Winery.

Beyond the guest book  — We collect books, especially coffee table books. So when it came time to choose a guest book, we opted for a copy of Shades of the Vine, a beautiful tome published by Meadowood that now sits on our cocktail table.

Honor your grandmothers — I carried white peonies, my late paternal grandmother’s favorite flower, from Julie’s Flowers. It was my way of making sure she was present. We reset my maternal grandmother’s engagement ring and I wore an antique pin on my bouquet from Aaron’s side of the family.

Non-traditional style – My husband wears Pumas, jeans and t-shirts to work every day, so I knew he wouldn’t be in typical attire. He surprised me by wearing green Converse shoes to match the green polka dot tie from Ted Baker that we picked out together. And I surprised him with green striped cuff links the night before.

Gem friend — My friend Shelby Katz designed a gorgeous seed pearl necklace for my sister, my maid of honor, who wore a Nicole Miller cocktail dress (a frock she will actually wear again), and a smoky quartz necklace for my mother.

Beyond the bridal portrait — Instead of the traditional bridal portrait, Aaron created a collage of black and white photos which hung in the entrance to the ballroom.

Handcrafted details — Aaron’s mom is a very talented seamstress. She designed the girls’ dresses, the ring pillow using Aaron’s great great grandmother’s handkerchief and the platinum fabric gift bags for the olive oil—our favorite--that we gave as gifts. She even sewed muslin bags for our invitations which was similar to the fabric of my gown. And my mom knitted an ivory silk shrug for me to wear with my dress later in the evening and to brunch the next morning.

Personal scent — We mailed boxes of Casa Blanca Lily candles—a personal favorite of mine—made by our friends at Mast-Peters Fine Candles to illuminate.

Real Wedding

We are featuring THE most gorgeous real wedding today, which was sent to me by one of our loyal readers, Amy. First, I wanted to introduce this lovely couple, as their "story" is just too cute to pass up...

From Amy...

Aaron and I met in July 2004 as volunteers of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I was chairing the foundation’s black-tie fundraiser, Wish Night, Aaron was the Creative Director. After pouring over piles of my old children’s books, we settled on the theme “Once Upon a Wish,” all based around fairytales. And a fairytale year it was. We fell in love and raised $1 million. Since then, we have designed and built a new house, established The Brand Hatchery, our small but rapidly growing branding, advertising and interactive agency in Dallas, TX, and planned our wedding—together.

*  *  *  *  *

These two are what I strive to be in my head. Seriously.

Okay, now for the really fun part...the wedding! Amy's sweet husband Aaron put together these beautiful story boards for us, so that we could see just how lovely their wedding was. I know that you are going to love them as much as I do! Here is the first look...

A bit more from Amy...

After our engagement. we flew to CA and drove more than 600 miles one weekend in search of the perfect setting. It wasn’t until we returned home that I found The Carneros Inn in Napa Valley online and booked it sight unseen. We also found our rockstar photographer, Tanja Lippert, online. We were married by one of my father’s best friends in the Inn’s Apple Orchard standing on a bed of white rose petals a few months later. We designed all of the details, but Wedding Coordinator Marie Rios of Creative Occasions made our vision possible.

Are you in love yet? Well, just you wait. Amy will be sharing all of the beautiful details that made her wedding magical a little later today...and of course, we have so many more pictures for you to devour. 

Wedding Details by the MacBeth Collection

I completely love these storage containers by The MacBeth Collection, that my dear friend Heidi at Spitfiregirl Design told me about. As a side note, Heidi is also doing the re-design on the new Style Me Pretty site which I seriously cannot wait to show you guys. Anyway, we've been talking today about adding pretty details to your wedding without breaking the bank and these tins would do that to perfection...

How great would that large bucket be for holding bottles of beer, wine or champagne? Or even a pile of flip flops for your female guests to use at the reception. The trays would be great for holding escort cards (just fill the bottom with a bit of sand or something similar and tuck your cards in neatly). The little votive holders, aside from the obvious use for candles, would make great packaging for wedding favors. The tin boxes would be ideal packaging for in-room welcome baskets...oh, I could go ON and ON!!

Now for the best part...you can customize each piece with your own great pattern, and perhaps even a chic monogram or icon...

I absolutely love this stuff! Although the items are a little pricier than our last batch of wedding detail ideas, you don't need a lot to make a huge impact. Since the patterns and colors are so vibrant, you just need a few accent pieces to really liven up your palette. Love it!!

Wedding Details by Luna Bazaar

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

You know, as we post more and more real weddings, it's becoming really clear that those weddings where the details are tended to, really capture the hearts of our readers. Whether your budget is $5,000 or $50,000, guests delight in those perfect details...those thoughtful, and yet approachable, touches that make a wedding completely unique.

So, I'm always on the hunt for sources that sell great accouterments at a reasonable cost. I have a few to share with you today that have so many lovely accessories that will add that magical touch to your big day...

I am kind of obsessed with the wares found at Luna Bazaar...painted paper lanterns, rice paper tea light holders, fans, party lights, vintage votive holders. They have all of your standard party decor items and SO MUCH MORE. I love all of the hand painted items, like that great paper lantern in the top right corner. So chic, so much personality.

Here are some ideas as to how you can incorporate these pretty details...

If you're having an outdoor ceremony, hang five to ten paper lanterns among the trees.You don't even need to have them light up, to get that festive, romantic effect. With each lantern being $9.25, you can make a huge impact for less than $100. Pretty good.

For a Spring or Summer wedding, place a colored, paper fan on each person's seat at your ceremony. When the guests are using them, you add a pop of color to your decor, without having to spend additional money on florals or expensive touches. These paper fans start at $1.25.

Tea light holders, particularly the rice paper varieties, are perfect for large spaces...lining both sides of a path, along a garden wall, clumped together in a variety of colors and sizes on cocktail tables. Again, a completely affordable way to add a splash of color and a great impact.

Fill a vintage tin bucket or a wicker basket with white parasols that you and your girlfriends have hand-painted. I was at a wedding last weekend where the bride had done this using yellow paint (and we aren't talking masterpiece paintings here, just fun, whimsical designs in one cohesive color). The pictures are going to be so completely adorable with guests donning pretty parasols.

For indoor weddings, use the lanterns and candle holders as table decor. They work great clumped in different sizes, placed on the bar or scattered throughout a buffet table. If you buy smaller paper lanterns, they could also be used for actual centerpieces. Use floral decor on 1/2 of the tables, then place a cluster of 3 paper lanterns with a glass contained candle inside, on the other 1/2 of the tables. Super cute.

So now, I'm dying to know...what are your best ideas for adding inexpensive touches to your wedding style??

Real Wedding

Today's real wedding was sent to me, along with the sweetest note in the world, by one of our readers. Myrha was married in a Filipino inspired ceremony where most of the details were do-it-yourself touches. I'll let Myrha share all of the lovely details with you, but here are some gorgeous images for you to devour...

all photos by David Hanson Photographer

From Myhra...

Before getting exposed to Style Me Pretty, I absolutely had no idea how to throw a wedding party. I thought, as long as I had a dress, there were venues and we could provide food, that was already it. But Style Me Pretty and InStyle Weddings Magazine showed me that there are so many options out there, so many themes to choose from, and it's so much fun to plan for a wedding. Our wedding turned out more than my husband and I expected it to be. It was such a fun and relaxed wedding! Not to mention downright affordable (we only spent about $8,000 total for the wedding). All your DIY features and inspiration boards had given me ideas I could never come up with, on my own. And your blog has inspired me to make our wedding memorable, and not lacking in character.

We only had 80 guests, so our venues were small and intimate. We are Catholic so our ceremony had to take place in a Catholic Church. We chose a small, white chapel in Tagaytay (a small high place 45 minutes away from Manila that has a breathtaking view of the Taal Volcano) for our vows, and a Country-themed inn for the reception (www.discoverycountrysuites.com). Our motif was Cerulean blue, with gold and textured off-white as accents (think brocade). We infused traditional Filipino elements like using Pineapple fiber for the fabric of my wedding dress (Piña, as we call it, has a nice Ivory shade to it). My husband's aunt made and embroidered it for us. We also gave traditional Filipiniana fans (embroidered Pineapple fabric on rich, dark Narra wood) to the members of our female entourage. To make the look cohesive, we monogrammed our stationeries (menu cards, misalettes, gift tags, table numbers) and seals. We also wrapped our giveaways -- $1.5 shawls from China, a gift from my sister-in -law -- in Cerulean blue wrappers and tied it in a gold ribbon (my mother-in- law I did this two weeks before the wedding).

There was also the labor of love. My sister and I designed the dresses for the female entourage. We bought the fabrics and had the dress made by a local dressmaker. Total cost is $25 per dress. I designed the Mint-to-Be wrappers in Photoshop and had them printed in a local digital printing store. My colleagues and I packaged the mints ourselves (on a sidenote -- and with pride -- I wrote the ingredients on the Mint-to-Be's: a spoonful of love, a sprinkle of magic, a dash of hope, a cup of respect, a slice of commitment, a drop of kindness and patience and a daily dose of endless hugs and kisses!). My sister and I printed the menu cards and misalette covers using her Print Gocco machine.

Our biggest expense was the food, we wanted our guests to go home full and happy. Since we only had 80 guests, we could afford to serve them a seven-course meal and to end it with a dessert buffet.

My cousin and his friends from www.mayadstudios.com, produced for us a video that you can see here.

Again, thank you so much Abby. Your blog is an online bible for all bride-to-bes. Style Me Pretty has made me realize that "style begins where budget ends" is full of hogwash. All brides deserve the wedding of their dreams, but they definitely do not have to pay the high price of executing it. Your blog is a testament that elegance and style need not be expensive.

Eco-Chic Wedding by Violet Designs

The week is winding down and I figure what could be better than finishing it with a few more real weddings. If yesterday's wedding was sweet and sophisticated, this next wedding is vibrant and fresh in a beautifully organic way. The amazing florals were designed by Traci at Violet Designs in Boston...

The oh-so-cute bride, Miya, has offered to share some of the details from her wedding as well as little tidbits of advice that every bride will love...

When we first got engaged, we thought a lot about the kind of feel that we wanted for our wedding.  Essentially, it came down to the fact that we wanted a wedding that people would be excited to come to, and where we would have a chance to hang out with our friends and families for the weekend.  Since our families and friends are dispersed across the country, we wanted to find a place where people could spend time together without feeling like the wedding was overshadowing everything.  I also wanted to showcase my home state (California): this meant bright colors, a laid-back attitude, western and Asian influences, and, of course, concern for the environment. 

During the planning process, I was fairly adamant about my belief that an event like a wedding shouldn't be an excuse to abandon environmental ethics.  We used only 100% post-consumer content recycled paper, and we kept our paper consumption to a minimum by having people RSVP by email, and instead  of sending information about the area via mail, we replied to RSVPs with a guide to the wine country that we put together as a pdf attachment.  We also chose a venue that served local and organic food, and served fish and vegetarian options. That said, you can never make an event to this scale as environmentally friendly as you want, but you can certainly make little tweaks here and there (use soy candles instead of paraffin, use recycled or cotton paper, cut down on the paper that you use, use local and/or organic ingredients, rent from local companies) that can, added up, make a big difference. 

I also included a lot of DIY touches...I sewed the panels for the canopy that we were married under, I made the groomsmen's and bridesmen's ties, I made the jewelry for the bridesmaids and groomsmaid, made my veil, and designed and printed the invitations, programs, and favors.  My dad made the structure to hang the panels for the canopy out of bamboo that had grown in the front yard of my childhood home.

Though ceremonies are often overlooked, ours was very un