Credits: Rochelle Mort, Blooms by Martha Andrews, Twin Lens (3), Back Bay Flower Co. (2), Karen Wise, Jen Huang, Andrea Polito Photography, Inc., Carla Ten Eyck

So…our super talented vendors are going to be hard at work, making this a little piece of inspiration that you can take with you during your wedding planning. I can’t wait to see what they come up with! Here are the vendors that are heading up the shoot…

Vendors: Meagan Gilpatrick of Maine Seasons Event Planning, Sara Fitzgerald O’Brien of Griffin-vites, photography by Brea McDonald Photography, Videography by Meg Simone and Flowers by Dawn Kelly of Soiree Floral.

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Post categories: Contests, From Inspiration to Reality

And they just happened to choose the cutest freaking board EVER to transform!

Credits: snippet and Ink, once Wed, Once Wed (4), Priscilla of Boston, Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart

Congratulations to Kate who designed this perfect inspiration board. I love the sweet, girly style and cannot wait to see what the talented vendors above will do with it. Fabulous!!!

For those of you that need a refresher course on our From Inspiration to Reality, click right here. We have vendors lined up from now until 2010 who can’t wait to turn all of your Style Circle Inspiration Boards into a reality…filled to the brim with steal-able ideas and inspirations that you can infuse into your own wedding!

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Post tags: From Inspiration to Reality, Millie Holloman, Salt Harbor Design
Post categories: Contests, From Inspiration to Reality

Credits: this is glamorous (3), 100 layer cake, Jose Villa, Jose Villa Photography, Interieurs et Fleurs

I LOVE that they picked such a high glam board to transform. It will be incredible to watch this really come to life, to see the ideas and inspirations that Agnes and team will come up with. SO, SO, excited! Just a quick sidenote…the photoshoot will be featured around the 24th of November as it will take a couple of weeks to order flowers, get the styling done, and process the images. Seriously, can’t wait to see the final product!

We will be announcing our next From Inspiration to Reality Challenge very soon! Coming up next…the most incredibly gorgeous Jose Villa wedding you’ve ever seen.

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Post tags: Agnes Lopez, Eric Torres, From Inspiration to Reality, Liza Chung
Post categories: Contests, Inspiration Boards

Board by: Crystal on the Style Circle. Credits: www.projectwedding.com, www.countryliving.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, www.marthastewart.com (4), www.theknot.com (2), Byron Hoffman and Lasting Images, CUSTOM EVENT GROUP, Sedona Bride, Sedona Bride

You can design your board based on any theme that you want…from rustic chic to modern elegance. Agnes and Crew will choose the winner this Monday, November 9th. To enter, head on over to the Style Circle and create an inspiration board. Make sure to title your board INSPIRATION CHALLENGE #2 to be considered an entry. If you don’t already have a Style Circle account, now’s the time! Can’t wait to see what you guys come up with!

We have tons of goodness coming today including some fun DIY projects from our last From Inspiration to Reality Challenge.

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Post tags: Agnes Lopez, From Inspiration to Reality, Inspiration Boards, Style Circle
Post categories: Contests, Inspiration Boards, Style Circle

So…today’s lucky bride is… Erin, who said:

Just registered at C&B for my upcoming nuptials. Love this stuff!

1. Lucia bed linens – LOVE this color palette.

2. Shun 8″ Ken Onion Knife – Cuts a sweet potato like buttah!

3. Olivewood Cheese board – I think this board pairs well with any cheese spread.

4. GreenPan cookware – It’s PTFE free but still does the job of a non-stick!

This is the second time today I’ve been able to share good news with one of our readers… it’s pretty fun making someone’s day! I love my job. Thanks for participating everyone! Congrats Erin!

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Post tags: Contest, Crate and Barrel Favorite Four, Winner
Post categories: Contests

I have to confess… I have a little bit of a horse obsession, so this board makes me deliriously happy. It might just be my perfect day all wrapped up in one. Thank you to everyone who created a design for this challenge. We recieved countless submissions… I know Sarah had a really hard time picking a winner. But alas, there can only be one… so congratulations Tonia. Also an enormous thank you to Sarah Drake and her team for taking on this awesome project… we can’t wait to see the result.

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Post tags: Contest, Inspiration Board, Invitation, Sarah Drake
Post categories: Contests

board by the fabulous Annie Packman on the Style Circle

To enter, head on over to the Style Circle and build a board around the theme of your choice. Make sure to title your board INVITATION CHALLENGE. Sarah will choose the big winner on Tuesday, October 27th so make sure to get started this weekend!  Can’t wait to see what all of you come up with!

Please note, this is a design challenge not a giveaway. The winner gets the HUGE honor of designing a piece to add to Sarah’s collection. Pretty big feather in your cap!

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Post categories: Contests, Wedding Invitations & Stationery

Well…you all might remember the Inspiration Board contest where we asked readers to design a board based on a wedding style that they would like to see come to life. We had some of the most amazing entries you’ve ever seen but managed to choose our very favorite board….a 50’s inspired style with girly, super flirty details. Designed by the FABULOUS Bran coprata over on the Style Circle, this board was perfection.

photos above by Martha Stewart Weddings (poms and wedding cake), My Vintage Vogue (bathing beauties), Alessandra Mortola (ice cream sundae and cherry cup) and Nicole Hill Gerulat (table setting, bar, cobbler and recipe box)

So coming up today, we are going to share the photos from the shoot that we did, literally bringing this inspiration board to life! The day definitely exceeded all of our expectations and we ended up with a wedding style that just about anyone could do no matter what budget they are working with! Stay tuned.

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Post tags: From Inspiration to Reality, Inpiration Boards, Style Circle
Post categories: Contests, Inspiration Boards

Here are our latest Crate and Barrel Favorites…

1. Couture Flatware – Umm, these just might be the perfect pieces of everyday flatware. They are modern, without being too stiff. They are timeless, without being too stuffy. Perfect is the only word that seems to fit.

2. Edge Wine Glasses – I became completely obsessed with these little beauties after watching an episode of Flipping Out, where Jeff was going nuts over them. They are flawless in my opinion and in fact, I am going out to scoop up a set for myself when I have a free weekend!

3. Vienna Candleholders -Thought these gorgeous candle holders went beautifully with our “tablescape” above. They are a little bit contemporary, a little bit traditional, perfect for a forever chic look.

4. Aspen Dinnerware – I have to admit. I am a white plate junkie. I just think that everyone should have a set of good white everyday dinnerware. Aside from the fact that food looks it’s best on white dinnerware, it’s also perfect for layering in different linens, chargers and dessert plates. The perfect canvas if you will.

Ok! So if you don’t already know the drill. Let us know what your latest FOUR FAVORITES are over at Crate and Barrel in the comments section below. We’ll choose a random winner on Friday, October 23rd who will receive, wait for it, 6 sets of the Couture Flatware! Um, hello! For a bride…that just might be the best. prize. ever.

And, if didn’t hear about our AMAZING $4,000 registry giveaway with Crate and Barrel, you HAVE to check it out. All you have to do is register with Crate and Barrel through Style Me Pretty and you’ll be entered to win a shop card for $4,000. We will be announcing the big winner in December! Click here for more details.

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Post tags: Crate and Barrel, Giveaway
Post categories: Contests

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

Yep, you read that right. Martha Stewart Weddings is turning 15 and we are gifting two tickets to the celebration to one lucky, lucky reader. The party will be held at The Plaza in New York City where some of the most well known faces and voices in this industry will be rubbing elbows and chatting about all things Martha. The event is at 6PM, Monday, October 19th.

Oh and Matthew Robbins, one of our FAVORITE Little Black Book members will be designing the flowers. Claudia Hanlin’s Wedding Library will be producing the event. The incredible soiree will also feature a retrospective of stunning wedding cakes featured in the magazine over the years from a variety of cake geniuses!

To enter, leave your name and wedding date in our comments section and we will announce the random winner tomorrow morning at 9AM! Please note…you must be able to get to NYC and attend the event in order to win.

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Post tags: Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart 15th Anniversary
Post categories: Contests

But first, (I know, I’m torturing you) another HUGE thank you to our extraordinary vendors for getting involved with this ridiculously awesome giveaway and thank you to all of our wonderful readers for participating. Over 700 responses and amazing reasons for choosing your dream destination… we wish that you all could win.

It’s with great pleasure that I announce our winner, Heather, who said:

My dream destination would be New York City (in the winter) for many, many reasons. Although NYC isn’t a sunny, tropical, typical “destination”, for me New York stands for everything romantic, vibrant, and cultured. It is where my fiance took me on a whirl-wind, mid-week, day-trip and suprised me with an engagement – by far the best and most memorable day of my life! In the winter when the snow is sparkling against those skyscrapers, it is more romantic than anywhere I’ve ever been…I’m almost getting goosebumps thinking about it! The city is so alive with its architecture, food, and people, that we both get a feeling there that we get no where else in the world. We are both huge foodies…reading about and researching chefs and restaurants, trying to learn how to cook like the masters, and where better to experience the best of the best? I have a love affair with New York. My fiance and I enjoy the city and our weekend trips there so much that we both find ourselves missing it if it is too long between visits! I think that a destination wedding in New York would be the ultimate destination for us because we consider it “our” place and has been part of so many of our most cherished memories.

* * *

Heather has won a 1 hour consultation with event goddess Alison Hotchkiss and a signed copy of her book Destination Wedding Planner, 100 free destination wedding invitation sets from Hello!Lucky, a gorgeous seasonal cup set from Heath Ceramics, a $75 gift certificate from Napa Style, and a free wedding photography consultation with seriously talented, Thayer Alison Gowdy. She will also be staying for at the beautiful Bardessono Hotel and dining at Bottega Restaurant in Napa Valley for 2 days for… FREE.

Congratulations Heather!

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Post tags: Contest Winner, Napa
Post categories: Contests

So, although I could blab on and on about this…I’ll instead just announce the winner!

photos above by Martha Stewart Weddings (poms and wedding cake), My Vintage Vogue (bathing beauties), Alessandra Mortola (ice cream sundae and cherry cup) and Nicole Hill Gerulat (table setting, bar, cobbler and recipe box)

We are so thrilled to say that Brancoprata has taken the grand prize! We’re thinking a cherry inspired, picture perfect ode to all things vintage, all things girly. Brancoprata’s blog is filled to the brim with some of the best inspriation boards a girl could want, so make sure to check it out when you have some time!

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Post tags: Contest, Inspiration Board
Post categories: Contests, Inspiration Boards, Vintage Chic

So, without further ado, the winner is… (drumroll please)…Alicia who said:

My favorite Crate and Barrel items all say hospitality and provide that extra detail that makes guests feel welcome when visiting – whether for a dinner party or for the weekend!

My picks are:

1) The Carlisle vase – fresh flowers are a must, and even inexpensive blooms look fabulous in this gorgeous crystal, but modern, vase. 2) The silver cube placecard holders – an easy way to make a dinner party very personal, and they can be switched out to hold photographs, too! 3) The Organico blankets – SO soft and luxurious – perfect at the foot of a guest bed. 4) The embossed sugar and creamer set – no sleepy houseguest will miss them over morning coffee with the cute “sugar” and “creamer” printed right on them. Thanks Crate and Barrel and SMP!

****

Thank you to all of the readers who participated! Have a great weekend!

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Post tags: Crate and Barrel, Winner
Post categories: Contests

So let me just get right to it. In honor of all things Napa Valley, and destination weddings at their finest, some of the Bay Area’s insanely talented vendors have come together to gift one lucky reader a pretty fantastic bag of goodies. And by fantastic, I mean $2100 worth of products and services. Yep, you read that right. Pretty incredible!

Oh and the best part is that you definitely don’t have to be in the Bay Area to play!

* * *

First up, the forever talented Alison Hotchkiss is ponying up an autographed copy of the book, Destination Wedding Planner AND a 1 hour consultation with her personally. Alison is the voice behind some of my all time favorite weddings and during the consultation she’ll be able to share style ideas based on your own vision. Priceless.

Next up is Hello!Lucky. If you read SMP, you know that I LOOOVE the girls at Hello! Lucky. They are pure talent and their designs are off the charts gorgeous. And for one lucky bride, they are gifting 100 free destination wedding invitation sets which includes the invitation, envelope, and reply set. Umm, holy cow.

Heath Ceramics, who just happens to craft some of the most gorgeous pieces I’ve ever seen is gifting a seasonal cup set to our winner. Heath’s pieces are organic, they are handcrafted, they are timeless and forever elegant. Personally, they are one of my all time favorite wedding registry spots.

Add to the mix the Bardessono Hotel in Napa Valley who is giving away two free night’s stay valued at $1,000. If you aren’t familiar with this STUNNING hotel and spa, you really need to be. It’s a little piece of perfection in one of the world’s most gorgeous spots and would certainly set the stage for a romantic getaway for you and your hubs.

And while you’re at the Bardessono, you stop by the Bottega Restaurant in Yountville, as they are giving away a $100 gift certificate. Bottega just happens to be Michael Chiarello’s restaurant…which is so cool in and of itself…and is know for perfect dishes that are as warm and cozy as they are completely 5 star.

This next artist is just about as good as they get. Thayer Alison Gowdy, the photographer behind Alison’s Destination Wedding Planner book and the talent behind some of the most beautiful photoshoots you’ve ever seen (including many in Martha Stewart Magazine) is offering a free wedding photography consultation. Based on her RIDICULOUS skills, she’ll tell you how to work with a photographer to get the very best images you can. This is a really, really rare opportunity.

Napa Style is adding a $75 gift certificate so that you can stock up on some of the most gorgeous kitchen and home wares you could ever want. I love, love, love Napa Style and could spend the $75 in about 2 seconds flat. Their products have that Napa flavor that exudes an organic elegance and total style.

* * *

WHEW!! So much goodness it’s almost hard to believe. I am MAJORLY jealous of the lucky bride or groom that wins this package. Marjorly jealous.

Here’s what we want from you! Because we are honoring one ofthe most incredible destination spots this country has to offer, Napa Valley, we want to know what YOUR dream destination is. If you could tie the knot in any city in the world, which one would it be?

Leave a comment below and you’ll be entered to win! We’ll announce the winner next Wednesday, September 30th. Good luck to all!

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Post tags: Alison Hotchkiss, Bardessono, Bottega, Giveaway, Heath Ceramics, Hello! Lucky, Napa Style, Napa Valley, thayer allison gowdy
Post categories: Contests

OK. So, I know that you guys have all registered for dinnerware and serving platters, crystal and silver. BUT, what about all of those little rooms outside of your kitchen! Having delicious bath towels, a set of gorgeous candles and some pretty accessories will SO help you to start or end your day beautifully.

1. I la-la-LOVE these Organic Turkish Bath Towels. They are purely yummy, SUPER plush and eco-friendly. An absolute must-have for any bride, particularly one who wants to impress her house guests!

2. I have been all about modern decor these days and the bamboo bath accessories above speak to my inner stylista. Love that they are so simple, so sleek. SO perfect.

3. Perfect candle holders are A MUST. I actually am building up a little collection so that I can change them out when the inspiration strikes. Set these beauties by the bath and you just might convince your hubby to join you! Did I just say that out loud??

4. Last, but certainly not least….a pretty bamboo topped candle set right beside the sink. It smells like fresh linen so it won’t overpower your newly lovely room.

Bottom line…don’t forget to register for the rooms that aren’t your kitchen!

Now it’s your turn! Name your newest favorite four products from Crate and Barrel below and you’ll be entered to win a set of the Organic Turkish Bath Towels (2 of each). And don’t forget to set up YOUR registry through SMP!!

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Post tags: Crate and Barrel, Favorites
Post categories: Contests