From the gorgeous bride…

True New Yorkers at heart, Jonathan and I still grew up in small towns, which means for us that family and tradition are highly prevalent in our lives. He’s a Yankee from upstate New York and I’m a Southern Belle from the Deep South. Our lives crossed paths one day at Starbucks and since then we’ve been inseparable. Being Southern is a huge part of who I am and also played a huge role in what made Jonathan fall in love with me, so I wanted to make sure this heritage was spread throughout the Wedding. From the cuisine all the way down to the boutonnières we made sure this theme was in the details. The ceremony and reception were held in the Huntsville Roundhouse, which is an old converted train depot. The building was perfectly Southern and vintage all in one.

One of the very most important details of the day was my dress, as it is with most Brides, however being a Fashion Designer and co-owner of my own line it was of the utmost importance. I’ve always loved to place my own spin on tradition and so a white wedding dress just wouldn’t do. I choose to go with mine and my Grandmother’s favorite color of dark purple. My business partner and I then added all our touches using silk taffeta and organza as the main fabrics, and the lining was a pale pink to match the lining we use in all our clothing. The buttons were vintage antique and all the zippers used inside the dress were blue to symbolize the something blue.

I wanted more than just my dress to be special and felt that my Bridesmaids and dearest friends should have the same. Kiley, my maid of honor, was head designer of evening wear at Kay Unger and went to work designing some of the most beautiful Bridesmaid dresses I’ve ever scene. The girls held wooden fans with bows attached to match the Wedding dress, which was a true Southern detail.

We couldn’t leave the men out of being “dressed for the occasion” and so my company had ties made in the same fabric as the Bridesmaid dresses, which was also a gift to the groomsmen. Stacey, the groomswoman, wore a Sara Claire & Esther (my company) dress created specially for her to match the tuxes. The boutonnières and corsages were made by hand using feathers my Father, a hunter, had saved for me.

During the ceremony friends and family enjoyed looking through the vintage books that were recreated into the programs by using a book cover and pages I designed and pasted inside. Near the end of the ceremony one of my close friends stood up to recite a poem for the special moment that she’d written just for us. Very few flowers were used, but hydrangea and willow branches were incorporated into the alter where we stood.

The food itself was all Southern fair with the Grits station being the most important, especially for all the Yankees whom were visiting. The Wedding cake was made from my Great Grandmother’s special Charlotte cake recipe and topped with blackberries and homemade whipped cream. The groom’s cake was 3 tiers of glazed a doughnuts – a true favorite of his. A special addition to the food was the coffee lounge that was a surprise created by our Wedding Planners. Since we’d met at Starbucks this was one of the evening’s highlights. The lounge included homemade biscotti, coffee, and mint julep sweet tea.

Thank you so very much to Vania and Christine of Simply Bloom Photography for sharing this GORGEOUS wedding with you. It’s such a fun departure from your standard wedding and yet it’s still filled to the brim with such beauty. Definitely spend some time on Simply Bloom’s blog as it’s a candy store of wedding inspirations.

OH! And the amazing purple gown…it’s for sale. It’s $3900 and you can email mail{at}saraclaireandesther{dot}com for more info.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 25 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Purple, Purple Wedding Dress, simply bloom photography
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Vintage Chic, Whimsical

And this wedding, that Amy Nichols (who we love here at SMP) sent us…is all of that, and so much more. The photographer, Andy Berry of PurkinjeBlue did an incredible job at really capturing the spirit of the day…telling the story to perfection.

The wedding was held at the Miraval in Glen Ellen and was actually only the second wedding to have taken place at this gorgeous venue. Miraval is a destination home that is available for things like weddings and events…and on a clear day you can actually see all the way to San Francisco. Kind of stunning actually.

There are two things that I love about this day. The color palette…and the RIDICULOUSLY gorgeous flowers. Table after table after table of the most beautiful flowers I’ve every seen. Designed by Taste Catering, the style is romantic and utterly delicious. Add to that a color palette of warm pinks, greens and yellows along with homemade charm in the chalk boards and you basically have perfection in my book.

Thank you so much to Amy Nichols and to PurkinjeBlue for sharing this incredible wedding with us. It’s completely ideal for all of our Spring and Summer 2010 brides. And it’s kind of perfect for me too.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 19 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Amy Nichols, Miraval, Napa Valley, Purkinje Blue, Sonoma
Post categories: Casual Elegance

From the gorgeous bride…

When Axel and I got engaged we knew, right away, that the celebration would have to be in wine country. Our favorite trips have always been in Napa, so we decided it was the perfect location for a Texas girl and New York boy to say I do. While we searched for a location, we knew it had to be unique and private. Our favorite thing about Napa is the understated elegance that you can find throughout the valley. It has a casual, but sophisticated feel. This is the overall feeling we wanted to convey at our wedding and the way we want to live our lives. We live in NYC, but have a lake house in Virginia. Whether it be a hot night in the city or a casual boat ride to the local watering hole at the Lake – we love both sides of our life. This is what Napa offers on a daily basis. In order to ensure our guests had the same experience, we created booklets in lieu of welcome gifts that acted a guide book for the way we see Napa. This booklet included our favorite vineyards, restaurants, activities, maps and was designed by our friend Kristi Head (vendor links below).

Napa’s understated elegance translated to a beautiful ceremony that just had to be near the vines on the property. We wanted the full view of the valley and we found the most perfect spot right in front of the cabernet vines. We also made sure that we incorporated our favorite beverage by having a wine ceremony in lieu of a unity candle. We also incorporated his family’s Jewish heritage by standing under a gorgeous chuppah (thanks to Jennifer French at Lush Floral) and partaking in the ceremonious breaking of the glass. But, my favorite part was the non-traditional decision of walking into the vines instead of back down the aisle once the ceremony was over. This gave us some time to reflect on an amazing moment and have a delicious glass of our favorite wine!

While we were enjoying our moment, our guests were enjoying a chilled martini as our signature cocktail. This martini comes from a family recipe that is dear to
us as my Great Uncle passed it down before he passed away. During the time, the guests were also able to view old wedding photos of family members that were displayed on a reclaimed wood frame that was created by my wedding planner, Joellen Pope.

When deciding what kind of wedding we wanted, we focused on 3 things: the location, the food, and the wine. And, we were lucky enough to get to work with Paula Le Duc Catering. They helped us choose a fabulous menu that included our favorite element, truffles – the pasta course was to die for! Plus they passed late night snacks of truffled fries along with some sweet treats that were amazing.

It was important to us to have a seating arrangement that included everyone instead of breaking guests up into tables. As a result we went with Kings tables and had 2 long tables. Each section was labeled (so guests could find their seat) as names of places we visited in Ireland where he proposed. We sat in the section called the Scilly Walk which is an area in Kinsale where Axel popped the question. A hand written note was placed on each guest’s chair.

In order to highlight my Texas roots, we had to have a country band! Our guests loved this element and even got to take home a straw cowboy hat to remember the event. Most of them even learned how to 2-step!

Vendor List: Catering by Paula Le Duc Fine Catering / Coordination by Pronupto / Flowers by Lush
 Floral / Beauty by It’s a Date / Officiant Kimberly Thompson
 / Dessert by Karaʼs Cupcakes / Eco-friendly, Letterpress Invitations by Julie Holcomb / Guest Guide to Napa booklet design by Kristi Head

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: It's a Date, Julie Holcomb, Kara's Cupcakes, Kate Webber, Kimberly Thompson, Kristi head, Lush Floral, Napa Valley, Paula Le Duc Fine Catering, Pronupto
Post categories: Casual Elegance

The first wedding that Beth Helmstetter designed, actually took place in Los Angeles and yet it captures the vibe of Napa Valley to perfection…from the color palette to the elegant, but understated details. The gorgeous photographs were captured by B & G Photography.

Beth Helmstetter is one of those designers that approaches each event, each couple as if it’s her very first wedding. She puts her heart and soul into the affair so that the day reflects that unique couple to perfection…whether it’s a chic Cultural inspired dinner or an elegant, rustic celebration. I love Beth and everything that she does.

From Beth…

Susie and Curtis were the most amazing couple! They have been to their share of weddings and knew what they didn’t like as much as what they did which meant leaving out many things such as an uber long photo shoots that left guests hungry and bored, a forced dance floor for a group that wasn’t that into dancing and a stuffy and uncomfortable dinner where guests can’t relax. The end result was a really comfortable and approachable wedding that I was proud to be a part of.

Her vision for the day was rustic and vintage which I definitely think we accomplished. The ceremony took place literally in a forest at the Descanso Gardens and for the decor we let the environment do most of the talking. Adding leaves for the aisle and stumps with candle light and doilies seemed to be all we needed for the heavenly location.

For cocktail hour, Susie is all about cheese, so we served an artisan cheese board and mini grilled cheese sandwiches in the rose garden of the venue. Guests were greeted with Kir Royals which happens to be Susie’s favorite champagne cocktail. For dinner, they wanted the entire evening to resemble a slightly larger version of a dinner party in their home. We worked with the caterer to customize the menu with comfort foods such as Pot Roast, Herb Roasted Chicken and Maple Glazed Squash. The guests dined at ultra long feasting tables and were kept close to encourage intimacy and conversation. For entertainment, we had a small band that played tunes from the Rat Pack all night long which allowed those who wanted to dance the ability but didn’t force the dance floor onto anyone who would rather chat the night away.

Holly Flora did an amazing job with the mismatched, Anthropologie inspired table scape which included everything from vintage pressed glass to sugared plums. For dessert, we had homemade pies which guests helped themselves to and the cake was from SusieCakes here in LA. SusieCakes specializes in cakes that are just like grandma used to make so they were the perfect ending to the down home meal. For the favors, Susie and Curtis gave the guests some of their favorite brownies boxed up in the sweetest packaging complete with a Laura Hooper seal to boot.

Vendor List: Photography by B&G Photography / Calligraphy by Laura Hooper Calligraphy / Florals by Holly Flora /Catering by Patina / Linens by La Tavola / Venue Descanso Gardens / Custom Runners & Pillows The Sewing Lounge / Cakes by SusieCakes

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 18 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: B & G Photography, Beth Helmstetter, Descanso, Holly Flora, La Tavola, Laura Hooper Calligraphy, Los Angeles, Napa Valley, Patina, SusieCakes
Post categories: Casual Elegance

From the lovely and talented Jasmine Star…

Throughout the course of Stephanie and Stephen’s wedding day at DC Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona, Stephen was so accutely tuned into what Stephanie wanted, needed, or wished for, it appeared they’d been married for fifty years. At least. The way they looked at each other was as if they hadn’t seen each other for years and the love they shared could, quite literally, be felt throughout the venue. From a photographer’s perspective, there are some things that just come together, like two puzzle pieces interlocking at the right time.  I was extraordinarily blessed to document the series of moments as they strung together to create a beautiful and memorable wedding day.

From Stephanie Fay, the bride…

We had SO much fun planning this wedding and every little detail had meaning. I searched through thrift stores to find tea cups, bird cages, chandeliers and chairs of all sorts to decorate our venue with.  Details can get quite expensive while trying to plan a wedding on a budget, so being creative is the trick. It took a lot of work and a lot of ideas. Wedding blogs definitely helped get the ideas flowing! Style me pretty was my favorite of course.

The moss chair was a DIY project. It was an old chair that we found at an antique store. My Aunt Mary and I personally covered and designed the chair in moss along with the sign on it that says “He loves me, He loves me not, He loves me…We tied the knot.”

My dress was by Jim Hjelm, shoes by Kate Spade. I wore a vintage lace shrug that was custom made by Holly Stalder on Etsy. She made it to fit the design of my dress and I was so impressed with how quickly she worked.  She’s amazing! We hired Tamara from AZ Petal Pushers who did an amazing job on the flowers for the entire event. The La Tavola Linens were a leek lace overlay and set the vintage tone for the entire reception.  I absolutely loved the look we got from these linen overlays. Our invitations and paper goods were designed by Dina Remi. She has such a creative eye in design and is full of ideas.

I actually bargained shopped for many of my decor items.  I bought the birdcages from TJ Max believe it or not. Found all the China at antique and thrift stores. Our cake topper was a 100 yr. old antique china cup that I found at an antique store for $1. The menus, programs, and paperweights were all designed by my talented cousin Dina at www.dinaremi.com. She has such a creative eye in design and is full of ideas.

You can see even more of this gorgeous wedding right here. Thank you so much to Stephanie Fay, the incredible bride behind the day. You will definitely find TONS of eye candy on Stephanie’s gorgeous blog.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 61 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Jasmine Star, shabby chic, Stephanie Fay, Stephen and Stephanie
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Traditional Elegance

And this one, that Kelsey Sheofsky of Alison Events designed, is sure to bring a big smile to your faces. It’s easy going, laid back and it’s fun. Which is what I love. The incredible photographs were captured by Adi Nevo.

From Kelsey…

Laura and David were all set to be married at a venue in Santa Cruz when they had some problems with the on site wedding planner and decided to pull out at the last minute.  They hired Alison Events to find them a new venue and basically start the planning process from scratch, all within four months of their chosen wedding date. Thankfully Holly Farm, an extremely eclectic, groovy venue in Carmel Valley, CA had a cancellation on the chosen date and as soon as Laura and David saw it, they were sold.

The great thing about Holly Farm is that it sleeps 22 people so all of Laura and David’s closest friends stayed on property in a collection of small bungalows through the entire weekend. Other friends and family rented homes in Carmel Valley or stayed at various hotels in the area but came by Holly Farm during the day to play bocce ball and spend time with the wedding party.  The venue is the epitome of laid back cool and the guests enjoyed a less structured free-flowing wedding weekend.

Laura loved the idea of using light yellow, cream, grey, and touches of blue and green in the decor. The ceremony took place under a huge oak tree which was adorned with festive tissue paper puff balls in shades of butter yellow and ivory. During cocktail hour the guests enjoyed white wine sangria, and a variety of made to order bites at the Mediterranean griddle station. For the dinner, rustic wood tables were adorned with light grey linen runners and pops of yellow and green flowers down the middle. Mercury glass votives added a warm glow to the space along with the cafe lights strung overhead. After dinner the guests danced into the night in the carriage house and explored the different nooks around property. Guests enjoyed wedding cake baked by a friend of the bride and a cigar and port lounge set up in the garden.

LOVE. Make sure to check out Alison’s awesome Destination Weddings book…a MUST for anyone planning a destination wedding!

RECEPTION VENUE: Holly Farm / CATERING: Grapes of Wrath / BAR: Bottles n’ Bins Liquors / PHOTOGRAPHY: Adi Nevo / FLORAL DESIGNER: Natalie Bowen Designs / INVITATIONS: Hello Lucky / RENTALS: Classic Party Rentals / LINEN RENTAL: La Tavola Linen

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Adi Nevo, Alison Hotchkiss, Carmel Valley, Destination Wedding, Holly Farm
Post categories: Casual Elegance

Is that not the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? And you know what…it isn’t the least bit surprising coming from a studio like Elysium. I had the sheer pleasure of seeing Julie and team in action at one of our dear friend’s wedding and when I say their work was amazing, I am hardly doing them justice.

We reached out to the photographer behind the event, Aaron Delesie…who also happens to be a friend of ours and a MAJOR style me pretty love…to share some of the pics with us. You can also click right here to see InStyle’s gallery of images and get more information about the affair.

Thank you so much to Elysium and to Aaron Delesie for sharing this ridiculously gorgeous wedding with us. It’s one of those weddings that just a dream, a purely gorgeous dream.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 29 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Elysium, Puerto Rico
Post categories: Cultural Beauty, Traditional Elegance

From Corbin…

Wendy and Mike were really great sports – it absolutely poured buckets on their wedding day. I’ve never seen so much rain in my life!! They benefited from it being a midday wedding in a very well lit venue so in spite of the rain, I was still able to achieve the light and airy shots that I was after. Luckily (for both of us!), they are having a reception in Hawaii in January where we’ll get to do another photo session and make up for the rain. When the weather acts up, I always encourage my clients to plan a “day after” session or throw the dress back on after the honeymoon. It’s worth getting those portraits after the fact if the wedding day weather just doesn’t cooperate.

This wedding is complete eye candy and although I am not normally a fan of overly matchy matchy weddings…I heart this palette in a big way. The blanket of white from the space just creates the perfect canvas for little pops of color. The clean lines, the sheer draping, the chic logo threaded through every part of the wedding. It’s a completely edited approach to wedding design and it resonates in a big way with my own sense of style.

And the details that I mentioned earlier…well, just look at how cute they are!

Corbin has blown it out of the park with this wedding and I just can’t thank her enough. It’s pure inspiration and will definitely be used in style boards from now until forever. Make sure to check out Corbin’s fab blog that is overflowing with eye candy.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 20 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Corbin Gurkin, Newport, Orange and White, Rhode Island
Post categories: Casual Elegance

And the photographer behind the day, the completely loved Corbin Gurkin (seriously loved), took a minimalist approach that allowed each and every element to completely shine. I am head over heels for this one.

From Corbin…

This wedding took place at the Bell Mer in Newport, Rhode Island. The bride, Wendy, had an amazing sense of style and I really loved the unusual palette she used – orange, white, and silvery gray. Having a very specific “look” in mind that only a perfectionist like herself could execute, Wendy designed everything herself and even opted for making some paper flowers as an alternative to fresh cut ones.  She even hand cut her own confetti circles to match the décor!

Here are a few details…

The bride wore a stunning Vera Wang gown and perfect, blue Valentino shoes. Wendy actually designed the invitations herself, all centered around a Hawaiian quilt motif, then had Studio on Fire print them. The ring pillow was also designed by the bride using a paper flower that was inspired by a backdrop she spotted at a recent fashion show. All of the flowers were…get this…done by the bride and her friends. Talk about DIY Luxe!

OK. If you thought that this set was as dreamy as I did…you are going to go NUTS when you see the next set of images. They are seriously as perfect as you can possibly get.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bell Mer, Corbin Gurkin, Newport, Orange, Rhode Island, studio on fire, Valentino, Vera Wang
Post categories: Casual Elegance

I spent months scouring Style Me Pretty, The Bride’s Guide and other blogs for inspiration. Then, I turned to Sarajane Johnson with Lily and Company. Erin and I gave Sarajane a stack of pictures and left everything in her hands. Sarajane and the Lily gals really got my vision. They selected succulents and flowers that picked up the blues in the bridesmaids dresses. They also used tons of stuff that Sarajane picked up at antique stores. I didn’t want to spend the money to rent table runners, so my mom sewed 21 burlap ones with teal string to match the dresses. I used brown kraft paper because it seemed like something I would do for an impromptu dinner party, like cut up some brown grocery bags to scribble the menu last minute. I wanted the tables to seem relaxed.

Or course, I couldn’t relive this day for the rest of my live without the help of our amazing photographer, Carrie Patterson. Carrie and I met a few years ago when I wrote a magazine feature about her. With Carrie, I had to give little direction. I knew she would capture all those things about my day that I didn’t see. She has a fantastic eye. I am forever indebted to her.

Erin and I felt that the ceremony site was too expansive and that we needed a focal point. A groomsman offered to build an altar for us, and one weekend later he got permits to cut down trees in the national forest. He and Spencer built this amazing arch in a few hours. Later, the wedding arch turned into our photo booth, one of the best decisions I made. I bought about $100 in props, and my mom sewed the fabric for the backdrop. Taking the photos really got people in the mood to have fun. The photo booth also gave people something to do other than to look at us. Guests will get a copies of their photo booth pictures as gifts.

Thank you so very much to Cara and Spencer for sharing their wedding with us. It’s one of my favorite weddings EVER (I know, I know) and the details…well, I am pretty sure that most of you have saved them in your “inspiration” files. Here is a list of vendors that participated in the event:

Vendors

Wedding Coordinator: Erin Roy / Photographer: Carrie Patterson / Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Hair piece: Oh My Deer / Groom’s suit: Paul Smith / Invitations: xowyo / Makeup: Jenny Hickey / Hair: Cynthia Estrada / Venue: Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis / Flowers: Lily and Company / Cakes: Rich McLaughlin / Band: Soul Impressions

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Cara and Spencer, Carrie Patterson, Jackson Hole, Lilly and Company
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

For me, this wedding is the perfect example of DIY that looks REALLY expensive, really luxe. Together with friends and family, Cara (bride) kept their budget in check by doing little tidbits that added charm and personality. From hand sewn table runners to do-it-yourself invitations, so many of the details were made by hand. And the result was total perfection.

all of the gorgeous photos were snapped by Carrie Patterson

From the bride…

My dad actually found our venue with a quick Google search. Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis was perfect because it offered straight-on views of the Tetons. We thought the view would be magical for our 80 out-of-town guests. Golf and Tennis also had a big white tent with brick pavers, which gave us a perfect canvas for creating our look.

From the start, my wedding was destined to look amazing because of my vendors. I hired Erin Roy to help me put it all together. I have a tendency to think of ideas that are too grand (I wanted to pickle 130 jars of beets this summer and give every guest a jar of “Heart Beets,” but that was vetoed). Erin kept all my ideas in check and cohesive and offered up plenty of others. I decided the wedding would be an Anthropologie meets comfortable Autumn outdoor dinner party.

all of the gorgeous photos were snapped by Carrie Patterson

My friend and I came up with the Western-inspired design and created the elk head logo (elk hunting season is in September), which we carried throughout the event. My mom stitched 130 invitations for me. And that was only her first sewing project. Some of the men even folded them in their suit pocket for the wedding. People loved the invitations so much that my friend and I are starting a company creating invitations and stationary with a mountain feel.

Through planning a wedding, I realized that I am very girly. I wanted the tent and tables to twinkle and sparkle – just like the necklace. I wanted succulents and hydrangeas because they remind me of my childhood – my mom had jade plants all over the house and a huge hydrangea bush. And I also wanted organic elements that reflected Jackson, mainly wood cuts. One day, I noticed my friend’s neighbor had cut down a big birch tree. Early the next morning, I drove back and put the stumps and branches in my car. Someone walking his dog asked if I lived there and if I should be doing that. Spencer used a table saw to make the cuttings.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

When I first approached the bride from today’s affair about doing a double feature on our blog and on Darcy’s blog, she was beyond shocked. She couldn’t figure out why we chose her wedding for our launch feature. Well for us, it was a no brainer. This wedding is the epitome of all things chic, the epitome of effortless elegance. It’s a little bit organic, a little bit eclectic, a little bit fresh-from-the garden chic…and we heart every bit of it.

all of the gorgeous photos were snapped by Carrie Patterson

From the bride…

It was just a matter of days after getting engaged that we started planning our wedding. We decided to be married in Jackson Hole in the fall, our favorite time of year because most of the tourists have left and the leaves are changing colors. We chose Jackson because that’s where we met. We wanted our wedding to be as much about our guests as it was about us. If 80 people were going to have to travel, we wanted to make it a trip of a lifetime for them.

photos by Carrie Patterson

A more than 100-year-old crystal necklace and earring set inspired the look of my wedding. The set belonged to my great-grandmother on my mother’s side. My grandfather inherited the jewelry after his parents died, but the necklace clasp was broken. They were a big Catholic family with seven kids, and fixing the necklace was never in the budget. Still, my mom remembers pulling it out of her mother’s draw just to look at the necklace. Aside from a few vintage pocket watches, my mom said it was one of the most luxurious items in their house. My mom inherited the set after my grandmother passed away and had it fixed so all the granddaughters can be married in it. She’s worn the jewelry twice in 20 years, and I was the first granddaughter to wear it.

The jewelry helped us find the gown. I knew I had found my Monique Lhuillier when I put on the necklace, and my mom and I cried. They looked perfect together, and I had tried on what must have been 50 dresses. I actually had to go to San Francisco for the dress because there are not a lot of options for finding a gown in Wyoming. We don’t even have a dress shop in Jackson. I also chose San Francisco because that’s where Spencer’s parents live, and I wanted his mom to be involved.

photos by Carrie Patterson

I borrowed a veil from my college roommate, Whitney, who owns the cutest boutique. Whitney, who’s having twin girls, was one of the first of us to get married. She wants all of us to borrow her veil and plans to embroider every bride’s initials on it. So with the necklace, the veil and the dress, my attire really set the tone for the rest of the wedding. Together, they looked very vintage and “Anthropologie-esque” to me.

My bridesmaids chose their gowns. Since there was nowhere for me to look in Wyoming, my mom, sister and Whitney went shopping without me in Charlotte. It was important to me that each girl have a dress that she really loved and felt pretty in. The gals selected the three Jim Hjelm dresses and the colors. I didn’t see them until wedding day.

We have so much more goodness coming up for you from this gorgeous wedding.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Cara and Spencer, Carrie Patterson, Jackson Hole, Monique Lhuillier
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

The main thing to note when finding inspiration within this wedding is the natural elegance. They looked to the beach…the colors, the textures, the natural beauty…and translated that into each and every detail. Starting with the color palette. With a blend of whites, greens and natural hues the look just faded perfectly into the backdrop.

Next up, the details.

1. If you are getting married at a hotel on the beach, ask the hotel to borrow some of their lounge chairs. They always have extras on hand and although they might make you pay a rental fee, the look will be totally relaxed and chic.

2. Keep the details simple. Look to IKEA for accent pieces like these amazing floor cushions. A runner using plain muslin fabric. Branches instead of flowers to frame the aisle. Think organic, simple and refined. These adorable fans are a pretty affordable accent and your guests will love them.

3. Keep your flowers ultra simple and tidy. Wrap your bouquet in natural linen and twine or leather. With centerpieces, go for simple and low white flowers. Accent with big bowls of styrafome balls wrapped in twine (make your own based on these from Target). You can also fill in with artichokes and other pretty veggies without spending a ton of money.

4. Gift your boys a clean, casual white shirt that they can wear with khaki’s from their closet and a pair of brown flip-flops.

5. Finish off the look by creating wooden signs to mark each area of your wedding. The Ceremony…The Drinks…The Dinner…etc. You can even add in fun things like this couple did like a Jewelry Making station or Domino Dock. White paint on a sturdy wooden board will go a long way for making your affair seem a bit more homegrown, a bit more charming.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 25 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Destination Wedding, Gia Canali, Yifat Oren
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

The ridiculously stunning photographs that Gia Canali shot only make it that much sweeter.

A few details from Gia…

The couple held a simple, gorgeous, ceremony – the bride’s uncle co-officiated with a local officiant, who ended the ceremony by saying, “And now, not only by the laws of these islands, but also by the laws of your hearts, I declare you husband and wife.”   Then there was a blessing stone ceremony that everybody joined in!

Are you madly, madly in love yet? The dress on the beach, the lounge chairs, the effortlessness and total luxury placed side by side within every detail. We have more goodness coming up in just a bit!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Destination Wedding, Gia Canali, Yifat Oren
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

And I have to say…a ballroom gown on a beach has to be one of my favorite wedding luxuries. It’s impossibly gorgeous and will forever be a look that gives me butterflies. The gown in particular, by Monique of course, just might be as close to perfect as you can get, setting the tone for the ridiculously beautiful wedding to follow.

As for flowers, I love, love, love the concept that GD Designers put together for the affair. For a really expensive, absolutely luxurious affair, the flowers were a welcome, understated style.  They were muted, they were organic, they were simply stunning. And the invitations, designed by Jennifer at Tiny Pine Press. Ummm…hello gorgeous.

Here area a few deails from Gia Canali, the photographer behind these perfect images…

Jennifer Parsons of Tiny Pine Press designed gorgeous stationery across the board.  The save-the-dates were printed on wooden paper and a luscious handmade paper and wrapped in turquoise blue threads.  The invites were letterpressed on handmade paper and mounted on wooden paper (like the opposite of the save the dates) — with little turquoise waves stitched in at the top. The decor behind this wedding was perfect–simple, modern, earthy, and sweet.  Each event, from the beginning to end, was planned to be fun and meaningful — with good food and lots of time for friends.  There were surprises, too, like fireworks at midnight! Each groomsman’s boutonniere matched a bridesmaid’s bouquet, featuring a single (different) bloom.  My favorite boutonniere featured something that looked like asparagus.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 26 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Destination Wedding, GD Designers, Gia Canali, Parrot Cay, Tiny Pine Press, Yifat Oren
Post categories: Casual Elegance