Stewart, Stewart, Stewart. You always know just how to make my day come to a screeching halt with your seriously stunning images. It never fails, before I even open his gorgeous images, I have to clear my calendar – because I know my day will be spent soaking up every last drop of pretty he produced. And I might as well clear my entire weekend for this Yarra Valley wedding. It’s pure Stewart Leishman perfection from start to finish, and you can see it all right here.

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From Stewart Leishman Photography…Stones of the yarra valley would have to be one of my all time favourite wedding venues in The Yarra Valley! Liam and Sarah tied the knot in style with an absolutely gorgeous chapel ceremony. We all started off down the road before the ceremony at yering gorge cottages A cute little set up at the foothills of the yarra valley mountain range. When you first arrive the first thing you see as you come over the crest is the Kangeroos, they look at you for a split second and then carry on, followed by the rabbits and then the almost deafening squawking Cockatoos! A great place to get ready with lots of character.

The great thing about Liam and Sarah’s wedding was they kept it simple logistically speaking , the location between the getting ready and ceremony locations was close. There was no traffic to contend with. All of the guests stayed in the Yarra Valley which made it a much more pleasant experience due to the whole day being pretty much all in the one location. If I could give a bride and groom a red hot tip, keep your wedding day all in the once location. You get to spend more time with your family and friends.

So moving along, the ceremony was very emotional, the words that were read out during the readings by family and friends was real, lots of love! It was a great setting to head right into the reception, spirits were high!

A big thank you to Liam and Sarah for inviting me be a part of your wedding day.

Photography: Stewart Leishman Photography | wedding dress: Gwendolynne | Reception Venue: Stones of the Yarra Valley | Hair: 3 Blind Mice | grooms suit: Versace | Head Piece: Richard Nylon

Choosing a fair as your e-sesh destination? Genius. You’re bound to take part in one smile inducing activity after another, like these two sweethearts snapped up by Jeremy Chou Photography. Could eating turkey legs and corn dogs be any cuter? I think not. Join me in the gallery for the rest of the fun!

From Jeremy Chou Photography… Dara & Khaoi (Cow-y) are such a fun couple, and when we were brain storming for a possible location, we knew we wanted something a little off beat and fun. It just so happened that there was a fair in Southern California at the time; even though it was about 2 hour drive away, we decided to still shoot it there. And I’m so glad we did! The couple enjoys having fun, and definitely loved just hanging out at the fair!

Photography: Jeremy Chou Photography | Fair: Antelope Valley County Fair

Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is just five days away. So if you’re anything like me, the planning efforts are officially in full force. But thanks to the ladies on SMP Living, this year is looking to be a whole lot smoother. You see, they’ve mapped out everything you need for a picture perfect Turkey Day…recipes, decor, florals and all! Today we’re peeking at the highlights along with a look back at our TODAY show appearance and one very exciting giveaway. Enjoy!

We get it. Thanksgiving is about family and rest and eating far too many calories. So planning some wow-factor table decor and recipes that delight can feel all too daunting. Lucky for you SMP Living has taken out the legwork and planned out your guide to the perfect Thanksgiving. Yep, you can thank ’em later.

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So you may or may not have heard about SMP Living’s (second!) appearance this week on TODAY. Abby rocked her segment on at home relaxation, and the best part yet? We’re spilling all the product info plus more, just in time for that holiday shopping!

In true blogger fashion, this week SMP Living announced one amazing holiday giveaway. I’m talking a $300 Ferme à Papier giftcard on the line. So have a peek at this fun Ferme à Papier spotlight and get those entries in, stat!

Power combo of the day?  Romance and whimsy.  Together these two gems are making some serious waves in an Ontario wedding that will, put simply, take your breath away.  I’m talking pretty pink hues, jaw-droppingly gorgeous florals from Village Vines Florists and a tented reception that is the epitome of awesome.  See it all (plus a seriously stunning Tara Keely gown) captured by This Moment Forever right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… I was never one of those girls that dreamt of my wedding since childhood. But when Andrew and I got engaged and started thinking about our vision for the big day, I slowly but surely became completely enchanted with the idea of creating a romantic, whimsical and laid-back affair in my hometown of London, Ontario. We toyed with the idea of a destination wedding, but at the end of the day, the most important thing to both of us was to have all of our friends and family in one place to share in our celebration, so we went with a hometown venue. Elsie Perrin Williams Estate was the perfect combination of historical charm, lush outdoor grounds, and casual patio cool. We were totally enamored by the idea of an outdoor ceremony and tented reception from the get-go, and were so thrilled to be blessed with the most perfect weather for our June day. The forecast showed thundershowers for an entire week before the wedding (which led to some premature and ultimately unnecessary tears!) – but on the morning of the big day, the sun came out early and stayed the whole day.

Andrew and I decided to go for a first-look; which probably turned out to be the most memorable moment of the day for both of us. Seeing each other for the first time in private was so intimate and personal; and also meant we got to spend our cocktail hour with our beloved guests – bonus! When we were done with the happy tears and giddy hugs and kisses, the rest of the wedding party joined us for photos while guests began arriving at the estate for the garden ceremony.

Before taking their seats, guests were able to help themselves to a refreshing beverage at the outdoor lemonade stand and mingle while one of my high-school friends (now a talented and successful musician) strummed the acoustic guitar. I walked down the aisle to his cover of Coldplay’s “Yellow”, and Andrew and I exchanged traditional vows in front of a hundred-year-old tree adorned with artist-commissioned paper flowers. The bridesmaids added to the ceremony aesthetic with their flirty ivory lace dresses accompanied by lush hand-tied bouquets in soft pastels with pops of vibrant pinks and cascading satin and lace ribbons.

After the ceremony, everyone hit the patio for hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, including ‘his and hers’ frozen daiquiris and pina coladas. I scored an adorable blush pink vintage couch set on kijiji that we set up as part of our outdoor ‘lounge’ area, complete with tables, rugs, pillows and throws for a little added comfort. Inside the tent, we chose to keep most of the decor neutral using shades of ivory, cream and white, and played up texture with a billowing fabric ceiling liner, lace linen overlays and a tulle curtain backdrop complete with over 150 tissue flowers that my mother-in-law, bridesmaids and I made by hand in the months leading up to the wedding. We punched up the color with our sprawling pastel floral centerpieces – which were set on rustic wood slices atop of white scalloped cake-stands. Vintage vases with single stems and small arrangements were also scattered eclectically around the reception space. One of my favorite details was the dessert display we created using two old dressers that had once belonged to my Grandparents. Andrew and I painted them the prettiest shade of blush pink and outfitted them with some new crystal hardware and voila! They worked perfectly to display our cupcake and candy bar on one, and my Mom’s homemade carrot cake (best in the world) on the other, which we opted for over a traditional wedding cake.

Andrew and I wanted our food choices to be a big part of our guest experience, so we created a unique menu around our love story. Guests could pick and choose from three different types of cuisine – Mexican (Andrew proposed in the Mayan Riviera), Indian (our favorite kind of dish to cook at home), and South-east Asian (where Andrew and I recently spent a number of months backpacking). Everyone got a kick out of the fun menu inserts we tucked into the napkin at each place setting. Finding ways to tell our story and put personal touches into our wedding day made it all the more unforgettable and seeing the labor-intensive DIY projects come together so harmoniously was truly the icing on the (homemade) cake!

Hearing the loving words in the speeches given by our parents, siblings and an absolutely beautiful toast to the bride by my Aunt (who also spoke on behalf of my Grandfather, who was not in good enough health to travel for the celebration) filled our hearts with so much warmth. I loved looking around the room throughout the evening to see our friends and family laughing, crying, and just genuinely enjoying each other’s company. We partied on the dance floor until the wee hours and Andrew and I stuck around at the end of the night to help with tear down. We were totally spent, but also totally elated and grateful to have had what we both felt was the most perfect day we could have ever imagined.

Photography: This Moment Forever | Event Planning: Fabulous Occasions | Flowers: Village Vines Floral & Event Design | Wedding dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Ceremony Venue: Elsie Perrin Williams Estate | Reception Venue: Elsie Perrin Williams Estate | Bride's shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid shoes: Forever 21 | Bridesmaid dresses: JLM Couture, Inc | Catering: Culinary Catering | DJ: Music Central | Ties: Le Chateau | Groom's suit: Kimmy Tailor (Vietnam) | Groomsmen suits: Joseph's Clothiers | Bride's bracelet: Kate Spade | Bride's makeup: Katherine O'Donoghue of Polished | Bridesmaid clutches: K Slademade | Bridesmaid jewellery: Aldo | Bridesmaid makeup: Makeup By Brittany | Charger plates: Gervais | Doily fencing, tissue flowers, seating chart: DIY by the bride | His and Hers stir sticks: For Your Party | Invitations, menus, signs, placecards: Lemon and Lavender | Linens, napkins: Susan Murray International | Paper flowers: Kitty Gosen | Veil and garter: Posh Veils | Wedding cupcakes: Razzle Dazzle Cupcakes

Pretty little affairs like this are exactly the reason I love farm weddings.  Why I go a little crazy for a big, red barn and rustic meets romantic details every which way you turn.  Maybe it’s the Montana girl in me… or maybe it’s just because this is a day that is just soooo darn pretty.  Either way, you can guarantee I’ll be spending every last spare second of my Friday swooning over all of the beautiful details captured by You Me Photography right here in the full gallery.

From You Me Photography… This was the wedding type that every photographer wishes to get the chance to capture. I felt in love with this young, great couple and every little detail that you could spend hours on admiring.

Thank you Emily and Kristian to make me a part of your beautiful event, it was something to talk about and to be pleasantly remembered!

Photography: You Me Photography | Floral Design: Fairy Godmothers Bridal | Wedding Dress: David's Bridal | Wedding Cake: Lovin Oven Cakery | Invitations: Bridget Polacheck | Shoes: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Make-up: Helena Wang | Hair: Zazu Salon in Oakbrook | Dj: X-Fade Entertainment | Tuxedo: Men's Wearhouse | Venue: Volkening Heritage Farm | Earrings: Charming Charlie | Groom's cake: Couture Cakes | Photo booth: The Traveling Photo Booth | Video: Kinema Group | Wedding rings: Tacori

This wedding from M and J Photography has ‘cool’ written all over it. The effortlessly beautiful Bride with her fuchsia lip that contrasts perfectly against the deep blue Aegean and bridesmaids dresses from Twobirds Bridesmaid. The groom with his dark locks and navy blue gingham shirt. And how about the absolutely serene setting?! It’s a wedding I want to live in over and over again and I’m going to do just that right here in the gallery.

From M and J Photography… London couple Chris and Vik decided to marry in Paros after falling in love with the Island over the course of various holidays there the last few years. Chris also has greek heritage so it seemed like the perfect choice. The week long celebration was a great opportunity for the couple to spend some quality time with friends and family from all over the world. Most of the guys hired quad bikes for the week, which allowed Chris to show them around some of the best spots on the Island and have great fun doing it!

The wedding day was a very relaxed but intimate affair. A short ceremony on a beautiful terrace overlooking the sea at the city hall was followed by a long and eventful dinner and drinks outdoors on the pretty fisherman’s dock in Naousa. An endless supply of deliciously fresh food was served by the restaurant, Barbarosa. Fun and games with sky lanterns finished off the evening beautifully, despite the wind causing them to start small fires on a nearby boat or two.

Photography: M & J Photography | Dress: David Fielden | Cake: Cake: Panayiotis Hamilothoris (Based on a design by Maggie Austin) | Stationery: Designed by Bride & Groom | Brides Shoes: Michael Kors | Rings: Independent Jewelers from Paros & London | Bridesmaids Dresses: twobirds Bridesmaid | Groomsmen's Bow Ties: Mrs. Bow Tie | Grooms + Groomsmen's Attire: Ben Sherman

This is a wedding that was made for swooning; an al fresco gem that you just can’t take your eyes off of. It’s classic stylings planned to perfection by Jessica Brightwell meets lush blooms from Verbena Floral Design meets romantic everything, and it was all captured perfectly by Caroline Joy Photography.  In other words, it’s a big ol’ dose of Allan House awesomeness and you can spend your entire Friday soaking it all in right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Throughout our engagement, Matt and I tried to keep things simple – no drama, no stress, etc. That said, I LOVE weddings, so the whole planning process was really fun. I got all kinds of ideas and help from my mom and sisters and – of course – Pinterest!

Matt and I really liked The Allan House and loved the idea of an outdoor wedding. We wanted to complement the outdoor setting and little touches like twinkle lights strung through the trees with other garden-y, romantic decor. Beyond that all we really wanted was to get married in front of our family and friends, then throw a great party.

I tend to be pretty rational, so I’ll never forget how emotional the vows were! Another favorite memory was dancing with my husband on the dance floor – glow sticks in hand – thinking how lucky I was to have just married (in my opinion) the nicest, cutest person on the dance floor. We had a blast and wouldn’t change a thing!

What’s next for us? Well, we’re back in San Antonio now, settling into married life and hunting for a house. We’re both busy with work and trying to keep Calvin, our Labradoodle, out of trouble!

Photography: Caroline Joy Photography | Wedding Coordinator: Pearl Events Austin | Floral Design: Verbena Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Rivini | Cake: Michelle’s Patiserie | Invitations: Stamped Paper Co. | Bride's Shoes: Ryan Seacrest Distinction | Bridesmaid Dresses: Ryan Seacrest Distinction | Hair & Makeup: Jenine Galante | Bride's Jewelry: BHLDN | Groom Attire: Z by Zegna | Wedding & Reception Venue: Allan House

Adorable is the first word that comes to mind when describing these two Maine sweeties, but honestly? It’s an adjective that doesn’t even do them justice.  Because when you combine the cutest “how we met story” ever with a wedding as amazingly beautiful as this classic meets romantic affair, this sweet twosome is more than adorable… they’re awesome and then some.  Add in a bundle of some of Maine’s finest vendors (think Emily Carter Floral Design, Anticipate Invitations, A Family Affair of Maine and Daisies & Pearls) and you have the perfect start to the weekend.  See every moment captured by Meredith Perdue right here.

From the Bride… You could say Mike came into my life “mother-approved.” My mom worked with him for a few years and often spoke about him, constantly mentioning what a nice guy he was, how funny he was, and even showed me a picture or two to gain my interest. And like all good daughters, I ignored her. Then one day, I met her for lunch and as we were walking down the street, Mike tapped on the window and waved from inside a pizza shop, and she excitedly took me inside to meet him. Less than three years later, Mike took me back to that pizza shop, got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I guess mothers really do know best.

Perhaps the easiest part of wedding planning was deciding where it would be. We live outside of Philadelphia, but Mike has close family members that live in Camden, Maine and has spent a lot of time there over the years. When he first brought me to visit, I immediately fell in love with the charming little town and the beauty of the world around it. So once we became engaged, we both knew it would be an amazing spot for our celebration. Since I am from Pennsylvania and he is from New Jersey, the majority of our guests were traveling quite a distance to be with us on our wedding day, so we planned a weekend full of schooner rides, fireworks, and a lobster bake, held down by the beach at his family’s home in Camden.

The details of the wedding were by far my favorite part of planning. We wanted the day to reflect us as a couple, and feature our style, favorite foods and the people we love. We spent time going through thrift shops and flea markets, looking for old books to use for our ceremony décor and vintage Philly cigar boxes to add a touch of “home” to our out-of-town nuptials. Since we were planning a mini-destination wedding in an unfamiliar place, I can honestly say that I relied on SMP to help me pick some fabulous vendors and they did not steer me wrong! In addition, we worked with amazing designers to create whimsical and personalized details to keep the feeling of the day light-hearted and “us.” (Hence the “formal but here to party” wedding cake!)

The day of the wedding was simply picturesque and perfect. The morning clouds and rain transformed into gorgeous sunshine and Mike and I had our “first look” outside on the mountain of Point Lookout, overlooking the Penobscot Bay. After a lovely ceremony, we played lawn games and enjoyed cocktails outside on the grounds of the Summit before heading inside for a delicious family-style meal. Once the reception came to an end, we shuttled guests down the mountain to Point Lookout’s Bowling Alley for our “surprise” after party. It was amazing to watch our friends and family playing, mingling and just genuinely enjoying their time together. We were lucky to have so many loved ones with us and the entire wedding was truly a beautiful day that Mike and I will remember forever.

Photography: Meredith Perdue | Coordination: daisies & pearls | Floral Design: Emily Carter Floral Designs | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Cake: Sweet Sensations | Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids Dresses: Dessy Collection By Vivian Diamond | DJ: High Tech Entertainment | Officiant: A Sweet Start | Ceremony Music: Peter Miles | Wedding Venue: Point Lookout | Gelato Bar: Gelato Fiasco | Hand Painted Signs & Menus: Paper Tangent | Paper Goods: Anticipate Invitations | Photo Booth: Viral Booth | Rentals: A Family Affair of Maine

We like to toast to things around these parts – we’ll raise a glass to a gorgeous wedding without a second thought. So as we started to ponder which delicious cocktail we should mix up  to send our office off into the weekend, we of course headed straight to our galleries. Which led us to this beauty from Jade + Matthew Take Pictures. Lucky for all of us, they so graciously shared the recipe, and yes, we know it’s not summer, but ohhh doesn’t this sound delicious…

Abby CapalboLime Coconut Granitas

prep time

cook time

total time

Serves 0Ingredients

• 1 Stalk of Lemongrass, chopped
• 1 Tbsp of agave
• ½ cup of water
• 3 cans of plain coconut water
• 2 limes (one finely zested, one peeled into curls and the juice of both)

Instructions

1. Simmer lemongrass and agave in water until it reduces to about ¼ cup of liquid (about 15minutes), let cool.Meanwhile use a lemon zester and make little curls of rind with one of the limes and zest the entire peel of the other. Juice the naked limes. Keep the lime curls in a glass of water in the fridge; they will curl up. Remove lemongrass stalks and combine remaining syrup with lime juice, zest and coconut water in a casserole or baking dish. Freeze for 2 hours, every 15-30 minutes rake it with a fork so that it breaks up into little grainy ice crystals. Once the entire mixture is frozen, but grainy and separated, spoon into bowls and top with the remaining lime rind curls.

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Photography: Jade + Matthew 

To say I’m obsessed with this wedding might be the understatement of the century. The feeling I get when I look through Perry Vaile Photography’s gorgeous images is akin to the feeling I had on my own wedding day. Giddy, butterflies in the stomach, smile reaching from ear to ear, happiest day ever kind of feeling. The cotton fields, the tent, the rustic charm… everything is the best. Seriously. The best.

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From the photographer… The skies on Rebekah and Nick’s wedding day (October 12th, 2013) blanketed the state of North Carolina in thick overcast clouds and added a little romance to the day. This wedding could have been celebrated in December based on the lovely muted palette that was the theme for the day! The beautiful town showed off rural sweetness and was chock full of soy bean fields and puffy cotton balls dotting the horizons with enough charm to last a lifetime. We actually got to shoot their bride and groom portraits in a cotton field owned by the bride’s family filled with a heaping of Carolina fog.

Attire: Rebekah asked her bridesmaids to choose any dress they wanted within a tan color palette and the variety is really what makes the set so beautiful! All of the ladies wore cowboy boots, and even the bride and groom brought some sweet southern country beauty to their outfits with Lucchese and Double H boots! Since Rebekah knew the fields would be filled with cotton, they chose boutonnieres made of fresh picked cotton puffs for the groom and groomsmen and put the men in pale tan suits and vests.

Traditions: One of the most beautiful parts was the letter exchange – the photo I snapped looks just like a painting but has so much heart behind it – the first line of the letter reads “Rebekah Jean Shingleton… the most beautiful girl in the world…” It’s a perfect sampling of the southern soulfulness that filled this wedding and if that’s not enough to get your romantic heart pitter pattering I don’t know what will! Rebekah’s mother walked her down the aisle, which I thought was so sweet and she enjoyed her first dance with her brother, such beautiful ways to incorporate her family into the special day! They also had two vintage wedding dresses hanging on a door near their ceremony wore by her mother and grandmother on their wedding days!

Ceremony: The ceremony was outdoors facing the cotton fields across a small lake, with a wooden cross at the altar, and the processional walked through a stunning wooden wall with doors, all of which was built by family and friends for the special day. The guests were driven through cotton fields to get to the ceremony space by tractors – even the bride and bridesmaids arrived (hidden from groom’s view) on a big beautiful green tractor owned by family friends.

Reception: The reception was under a SIX POINT tent nearby next to the water and filled with pumpkins, mason and coke glasses, baby’s breath and small candles. Looming overhead were giant chandeliers that lit up the evening for the 300 guests. The couple exited from within the tent to a family friend’s vintage mustang and were showered in beautiful confetti!

Family friends made the cake, wooden ceremony details and created reception decor! It was a group effort by all of the people that loved Rebekah and Nick!

Photographer: Perry Vaile Photography | Floral Design: Flowers and Gifts by Roberts | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Brides Shoes: Lucchese Boots | DJ: Bunn DJ Company | Grooms Shoes: Double H | Rentals: Chair and Equipment Rentals

Up until I was 12 years of age I survived solely on white food. And by white food I mean chicken fingers, noodles (hold the sauce) and plain rice. Truly. How I didn’t perish from scurvy is beyond me. But I swear, Brown Eyed Baker’s grean bean casserole is one that even my 12 year old self would have devoured. Bonus? They taste like you slaved over the stove for days, but they’re actually ridiculous easy to make. You’ll look like such a rockstar!

Jacquelyn ClarkEasy Green Bean CaseroleA super easy vegetable dish even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy

prep time 10 Minute/s

cook time 40 Minute/s

total time 50 Minute/s

Serves 10Ingredients

• FOR THE TOPPING:
• 4 slices white bread, each slices torn into quarters
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 cups canned fried onions (about 6 ounces)
• FOR THE BEANS AND SAUCE:
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 pounds green beans, ends trimmed, and halved
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 pound white button mushrooms, stems removed, wiped clean and chopped finely in the food processor
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1½ cups heavy cream

Instructions

1. FOR THE TOPPING:
2. Pulse bread, butter, salt and pepper in food processor until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with onions.
3. FOR THE BEANS & SAUCE
4. Heat oven to 425 degrees F.
5. Fill a large bowl with ice water.
6. Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 2 tablespoons salt and beans. Cook beans until bright green and crisp-tender, about 6 minutes. Remove beans from pot using a slotted spoon and plunge in ice cold water (this will keep them bright and green and stop them from cooking futher). Spread beans on paper towel to dry.
7. Add butter to now-empty pot and melt over medium-high heat until foaming subsides.
8. Add mushrooms, garlic, ¾ teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; cook about 6 minutes.
9. Add flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
10. Stir in broth and bring to simmer, stirring constantly. Add cream, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until sauce is thickened and reduced to 3½ cups, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Wait until cooled.
11. Once cool, arrange grean beans in an even layer in a 9x13 baking dish and pour cream overtop.
12. Add topping, plunk 2 tablespoons of butter on top and bake for 15 minutes or so, until topping is golden brown and sauce is bubbling. Serve immediately.
13. NOTE: You can refrigerate the beans overnight in the cream sauce. Simply add the topping right before you're ready to bake.

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Photography: White Loft Studio | Recipe adapted by: Brown Eyed Baker

Ever since I saw the first Hunger Games movie I’ve literally been counting down to the next. Yep, I’m one of those. And while the wait felt like an eternity, I’m happy to say Catching Fire is now at a theater near you. So being the wedding bloggers we are, we decided to celebrate the best way we know how. A Hunger Games-inspired shoot, of course. Crafted by the likes of Closer to Love Photography, Bella Bloom Floral Design and Life in the Sunset, it’ll put you in the movie watching mood faster than you can say “Team Peeta!”

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From Closer to Love Photography… After watching the new “Hunger Games: Catching Fire” movie trailer this Summer, I was inspired to contact our favorite Vendors in the Southern California area to help create a Hunger Gamers Inspired Session with a romantic twist, incorporating white, pearl, gold, hints of brown and black. Wanting the Session to have an Autumn feel as well, we wanted to integrate fall-inspired hues organically into the design – bird feathers, rustic jewelry, white roses, arrows, and antique clocks can be found throughout the design. Our model Bride and Groom are a real engaged couple, getting married in just a few short months! Ultimately, it was the love between Katniss and Peeta that inspired us to create a Session that was so romantic, organic, and full of timeless love.

Photography: Closer to Love Photography | Styling and Design: Life in the Sunset | Florals: Bella Bloom | Wedding Dress: Claire La Faye | Makeup: Artistry by Danika | Groom's Suit: H&M | Arrows: Fletcher and Fox | Cupcakes and Cake Pops: Sugar Babies Cupcakery | Furniture: Farm Tables And More | Hair and Headpieces: Trace Henningsen | Paper Products: Goodheart Design | Tableware: Archive Rentals

We are sending you off into the weekend with a soiree so sweet, I can barely hold in my squeals. Captured by Angela Newton Roy in a way that just makes me want to kiss this screen, it’s the kind of wedding that will inspire and then some. Romantic, darling, and filled with pretty blooms by Floral Cottage – it doesn’t get any better than this lovelies. See even more here.

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From the Bride…Kaylan and Matt were married on a gorgeous summer day! They are high-school sweethearts who wanted to host a wedding weekend that brought all of the friends and family together whom had shared in their journey over the years. The Victorian-esque Ardmore Mansion at MountainView Manor was the perfect spot for a beautiful outdoor ceremony and a festive reception. Each of the bridesmaids, who wore shale green dresses from J.Crew, were gifted adorable chevron and chain link patterned coral and grey clutches, filled with tons of wedding day goodies. The groom gave each of his groomsmen carefully selected bottles of wine from Brooklyn Winery, as a nod to both their love for their home in Brooklyn, NY and of the winery. The florals by Floral Cottage, provided beautiful burst of tangerine, peach, pink and ivory for both the ceremony and reception, and Kaylan carried a gorgeous bouquet of peach, purple and pink. They were the prefect summer colors! The bride looked amazing in her Jenny Yoo dress, accented by Kate Spade shoes and BHLDN earrings. She and her sister both wore special sentimental rings, created from their late mother’s wedding ring, as a tribute to her. After the heartfelt ceremony, the party continued into the night with music by the A-List Band from Around Town Entertainment. It was such the perfect day as these two were surrounded by so many loving family and friends!

Photography: Angela Newton Roy Photography | Flowers: Floral Cottage | Wedding Cake: MountainView Manor | Ceremony Venue: MountainView Manor | Reception Venue: MountainView Manor | Bride's Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Band: Around Town Entertainment | Groom's Suit: Tommy Hilfiger | Bride's Dress: Jenny Yoo | Bride's Earrings: BHLDN | Groomsmen Tie Bars: Mickey Chase Jewelry | Second Photographer: Sasha Felix

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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So, as you may or may not know, we recently launched our second SMP Fashion & Beauty magazine, and it was pretty darn lovely if we do say so ourselves. But, it did leave me craving baubles like nobody’s business, so I decide to round some of my favorite accessory moments on SMP. Because who doesn’t love a little bling-browsing during their workday? I certainly do. So sit back, enjoy and prepared to be dazzled – oh! and share any of your favorites in the comments!

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Pure prettiness, no? I could look at images like this for hours. Which is just how I might be spending the rest of today…See even more accessory magic right here in our galleries. 

Is there really anything better, than warm, straight from the oven apple pie with a big ole dollop of ice cream on top? If you said, yes, I’m seriously questioning your judgement. Well, to each their own. For me, the topper to the perfect Thanksgiving is a slice of this little dream boat, which if you ask me, is the best one around.

AbbyApple + Pear Spice PieA classic apple pie gets a hint of Autumn spice with cinnamon and pears.

prep time 30 Minute/s

cook time 1 Hour/s 5 Minute/s

total time 1 Hour/s 35 Minute/s

Serves 8Ingredients

• Pie dough (homemade or store-bought)
• 2 tbs all-purpose flour
• 3 large Granny Smith apples
• 4 large Anjou pears
• 1 tbs fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp grated lemon zest
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp ground allspice
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 large egg white

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 500° F.
2. Press a sheet of pie dough evenly into the pie dish. Leave the excess dough hanging over the edges of the dish. Place in the refrigerator to chill.
3. Peel, core, & slice the apples and pears. 100% apples would also do the trick.
4. Toss the slices with lemon juice and zest in a medium mixing bowl.
5. In another bowl, mix the sugar, flour, spices, & salt, then toss the dry ingredients with the fruit.
6. Pour the fruit mixture (including juices) into the pie dish, leaving a slight mound in the center.
7. Roll out a second sheet of dough and slice into long strips, about 1” wide. Place the strips on the pie, starting in the center and weaving each strip over & under to form a lattice top. Trim any excess length from the lattice strips, then gently roll the dough from the bottom layer over to form a rim around the pie. Press the tines of a fork into the rim to seal it to the lattice strips. Brush crust lightly with the egg white. If you like, you can sprinkle with some sugar.
8. Place pie in the oven and lower the temperature to 425°. Bake until the top crust is golden, about 25 minutes.
9. Rotate the pie and reduce the temperature to 375°, continue baking for another 30-35 minutes longer.
10. Transfer pie to wire rack and let cool to room temperature.

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Photography: White Loft Studio

If ever there was a signature pie for Thanksgiving, I’m pretty sure the Pumpkin Pie would be it. I have no idea what it is about this pie – maybe the cinnamon and clove flavors, maybe the rich color, maybe just the fact that I’ve only ever seen a pumpkin pie served at Thanksgiving – but this pie, is the one pie that no Thanksgiving table should be with out. And this recipe is the bomb dot com. We ever so slightly adapted it from Simply Recipes but the core of the original recipe is still firmly and beautifully in tact.

AbbyClassic Pumpkin PieA classic pumpkin pie that can be made with store bought pie dough or homemade.

prep time 15 Minute/s

cook time 1 Hour/s

total time 1 Hour/s 15 Minute/s

Serves 8Ingredients

• Pie dough (homemade or store-bought)
• 2 cups canned pumpkin purée
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs, plus the yolk of a third egg
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Press a sheet of pie dough evenly into the pie dish. Leave the excess dough hanging over the edges of the dish. Place in the refrigerator to chill.
3. Mix sugars, salt, and spices in a large bowl. In a small bowl, beat the eggs lightly, then add into the large bowl. Stir in the pumpkin purée, then cream. Gently whisk until ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
4. Pour pumpkin mixture into pie dish. Gently roll the dough to form a rim around the pie. Press the tines of a fork into the rim to seal it.
5. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350° and continue baking for another 40-45 minutes.
6. Cool inside the oven with the door cracked for 1 hour, then on a rack at room temperature for another 2 hours. The pie naturally shrinks and deflates as it cools- if cooled too quickly, the pie will crack. Serve with whipped cream.

Destination weddings are pretty amazing just in their own right, but when you throw in the fabulous One and Only Paris Photography and the world’s most romantic city (Paris, of course), it takes it to entirely new level of awesome.  This, lovelies, is a wedding that seriously bursts with romance, from the stunning bride and groom (she’s seriously rockin’ that Vera Wang) to a mesmerizing ceremony overlooking the Eiffel Tower to one moment after another of pure, unadulterated pretty.  See them all right here.

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From the Bride… Ramin proposed the day after our 12 year anniversary (we’re high school sweethearts!). We went up north to a ski resort for the weekend and he popped the question on top of the hill with no one around us! He pulled aside saying that he had to fix the bindings of his boots. He asked me to pull on his boot strap and it didn’t phase me that he was already down on one knee. He turned my attention to something in the snow and there was the box! When I opened it, the ring was inside.  The name of the ski hill was ‘memory lane’ – my heart melted.

We’ve always wanted a small destination wedding. After going over many locations, we finally decided on Paris! It’s classic, romantic and beautiful. Ramin used to live there as a child before coming to Canada. We both speak French and fell in love with the city when we went earlier in our adults years. We kept it very intimate and had only our close 30 family and friends present. It was perfect and comfortable for everyone. After the wedding, a bus picked us up and we partied at VIP til 6am! (Rihanna made a surprise appearance! – couldn’t get a photo with her:( )

I planned the entire wedding MYSELF, just me and the internet! I initially wanted to hire a planner, but got too caught up in the process that I wanted to do everything myself, and it was very enjoyable! I did a lot of research ahead of time and knew which vendors I wanted. I scheduled a visit in October 2012 for meetings and to check out the location. It was hard staying calm before the big day because I wanted everything to be perfect, but nothing is in our control sometimes! (It rained out our wedding day, but hey we made the best of it and it made for great lighting for pictures!)

My advise for brides planning a wedding in Paris or any destination is to do your research well in advance! Start making a list of the ideas, themes and locations you want and then start to narrow your choices down to your top favorites. Be okay with the fact that not too many people will be able to attend if you are planning a wedding overseas. If you were like us and wanted something small, invite your near and dearest only. We kept it real and what really mattered – the love of two people. Sometimes big weddings take away from the couple and it becomes a party for everyone else. Stay true to what YOU want, (not what others want) and you will not have any regrets.

Photography: One and Only Paris Photography | Dress: Vera Wang | Invitations: Allison Gertridge | Reception: Yacht De Paris | Shoes: The Bay | Jewelry: Cartier | Rings: Custom | Makeup: Sanni Sorma Makeup & Hair | Hair: Pia Paysant | Bow Tie: Tribut Ives Saint Laurent | Groom's Suit: Z by Zegna | Groom's Shoes: Enrico Piaceri

Erich McVey has this way. This way of capturing moments that make my heart flutter and my day stop. So when he gets behind the camera to capture a wedding that is this special, this stylish, this all around fabulous – magic happens. The kind of magic where every image deserves a virtual round of applause, making it a no brainer for our latest SMP Fashion and Beauty E-Mag. We are thanking our lucky stars we get to sit with this sparkly, woodland beauty for just a tad bit longer, and you can join us right here.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/74188979 600 338]

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From the Bride… When I started working at YMCA Camp Silver Creek in 2008 I never thought I’d fall in love or get married in that very place. Jeff and I have a long history with Camp Silver Creek. We were both campers growing up, and Jeff started working there when he was 16 and later on became Camp Director! I worked there for 6 summers, and we fell in love after working alongside each other for two summers. When we started to talk about marriage and a wedding, it was so clear to both of us that we wanted to get married in the very place we fell in love. We had our first kiss there and we would have our first kiss as a married couple there. Camp is a magical place for us. We were very excited to share our favorite place with our favorite people.

Once we picked our venue, everything else fell into place. First off, we knew we had to have Erich there to capture our day. Not only are him and his wife Amy so talented, but they also amazing at helping us feel comfortable in front of the camera. We chose our favorite restaurant to cater and we chose Jeff’s boss and mentor (and my boss when I was at camp) to be our officiant. After that it was great recommendations from friends for the rest of our vendors. Our main goal was to celebrate and throw a great party for our incredible family and friends.

When I first started to think about décor, dresses, & Jeff’s look, I was so excited but so overwhelmed. I knew I wanted everything to be really light and bright. People would ask what my color scheme was and I would say, no color. I wanted nudes, ivory, and some sparkle. Eventually I branched out into wood, birch, and some green accents. We wanted cake and wine to be easy and accessible for everyone so we had a mini cake and wine on each table with a note encouraging guests to dig in! I am a little embarrassed to admit I already had a lot of the decorations. Some of them are decorations in our house and some had been purchased for other parties or styled shoots. Almost every item was thrifted from local shops or garage sales. I became obsessed with peach garden roses and used those to accent the decorations since the tables were already pretty full with cake and wine. We did a few DIY projects: Hand stamped macaron favor bags, printed a thank you note for each place setting, and used glitter tape to make glitter flag drink stirrers. Since the field is completely dark at night we used the bistro lights and candles to give light, which gave us a dreamy and intimate feel.

I knew I wanted my bridesmaids in long dresses with sparkle and texture and I love that each one was so different and 0 beautiful. I had a lot of expectations for my own dress, which made choosing one pretty difficult. I tried on a handful but couldn’t envision it without accessories. A lot of women choose their dress first but I needed my accessories before I was able to envision the whole look. I loved the slightly fitted beaded skirt underneath the dress which showed my shape a bit, and the more fluffy top layers which gave me the best of both worlds. While it took me a while to choose a dress, it was an easy choice for Jeff. He’s not nearly as fashion obsessed as I am, so a classic black suit was perfect. Classic without being trendy.

I knew I would be nervous the day of the wedding and I knew once we had our first look I would be instantly at ease for the rest of the day. Jeff always seems to put me at ease and that day was no different. Most of the day was a blur but I remember the first look so clearly. We carefully planned our ceremony, our officiant shared sweet and funny stories of us at camp and we shared our stories of when we knew the other was the one. The whole day was absolutely perfect. It was truly a labor of love. My parents did so much, my dad put up the lights, my gorgeous bridesmaids kept me calm and fed, the groomsmen kept us laughing, and we felt so loved by all the people that were able to share the day with us.

Photography: Erich McVey Photography | Photography: Abby Jiu Photography | Photography: Allie Rae Photography | Photography: Devon Rachel | Videography: Grant Lemons | Event Design & Styling: Samantha Rosen | Event Planning: Merren Events | Event Planning: Amazon | Floral Design: Belle Fleur Floral Design | Dress: Marisa Bridals | Shoes: Zara | Necklace: J.Crew | Bridesmaid's Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Bridesmaid's Dresses: JS Collections | Catering: Wild Pear Catering | Makeup: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Hair: Violet Barnts of Bella Vita | Groom's Suit: J.Crew | Belt: Ruche | Cake Stands: Vintage | Ceremony & Reception: Camp Silver Creek at Silver Falls State Park | Groomsmen's Suits: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Hair Accessory: Anna's Bridal

Allow me to introduce you to Erin of Foret Design. Because this girl? Well, you really need to know her. Not only is she as sweet as pie, she also happens to be the genius behind this incredible, show-stopping, over-the-top centerpiece that graced our Thanksgiving table. And guess what?! She’s breaking it all down for each and everyone of us right now. Fancy tables, here we come!

A water tight container
Poultry netting (or chicken wire)
A pin frog
Floral putty
Floral tape
Wire cutters
Flowers
Clippers

Flower types used:
Amaryllis, Peonies, Ranunculus, Roses, Chrysanthemum, Tulips, Ammi, Pistachio branches & berries, Privet, Kumquats, Magnolia, Pear branches

Using floral putty, attach a pin frog to the bottom of your container.

Create a dome structure of poultry netting and place inside your container and secure with floral tape.

Fill the container with water.

Start by adding your structural elements i.e. fruited or flowering branches and berries. Secure them by using the pin frog — these first branches are the foundation to your composition. We chose an asymmetrical composition by having more of the visual weight on one side of the container than the other.

Start adding in your “show-stoppers”– your big blooms like amaryllis and/or peonies.

Begin incorporating your supporting flowers such as roses and ranunculus and layering them in at different depths. All the while, continue to add in additional textural elements.

Rotate your arrangement as you work to make sure all angles are considered. Don’t forget to bend down and check the edges of the container and make that the structure is concealed (both wire and tape).

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Helpful Tips and Tricks from Foret Design

Why chicken wire as opposed to floral foam? We love the loose whimsical feel that chicken wire allows. it helps to create a more natural looking arrangement rather than something that is stiff and overly structured.

Where to start and what to choose: think about the feeling you wish to evoke. if you want to create something feminine and romantic, think about a dusty, soft palette that may incorporate creams, peaches, blush tones and sage. If you’re seeking a more earthy arrangement, try using richer tones like plums, burnt reds, and oranges. In this case, we choose to use a softer palette but infused a pop of plum for contrast.

Pair clippings from house plants or outside foliage with store or florist bought flowers to keep costs down or to increase the variety of materials used.

Remember, it’s not just about the flowers. Textures are just as interesting! Think about incorporating berries, produce, vines, grasses or branches to add more interest to your design.

Check out this cute video for the full rundown!

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Floral Design, Tips & Guide: Erin of Foret Design | Photography: White Loft Studio

You might have heard that we’re hosting a little giveaway shindig here on SMP. A Shutterfly giveaway, to be specific. Last week we debuted their sparkling holiday gift guide, and the photo goodies they’ve got for everyone on your list. But it gets even better. Because they’re giving one lucky duck the ultimate grand prize that’s simply too good to miss!

So here’s the nitty gritty. One SMP reader will win a prize package including Shutterfly’s 12×12 Premium Photo Book, 10×10 Album, fifty 5×7 Flat or Folded Holiday Cards, 15 oz. Photo Mug, Samsung Galaxy or iPhone Case, and 12×12 12-month calendar! To enter, pop over to this post and leave a comment with your favorite Shutterfly gift and who would you give it to. We’ll select a winner at random and announce November 22nd right her on SMP. Oh and now through November 25th receive 40% off your entire order using the code FRIENDSFAM, so get to shopping! xoxo

Featured Products: Gift Tags | Photo Books | Mugs | Phone Cases | Holiday Cards | Ornaments |Calendars

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