Style Me Pretty: Wedding Blog for the Style-Obsessed Bride

Country Chic Tuscan Wedding from Varese Wedding + Lisa Poggi Photography

Marrying amongst the Florentine hills has to be about the most romantic way to go. Because if you ask me, being surrounded by the olive groves and Tuscan scenery easily makes for a mighty fine day. So who better to bring it all to life than Laura of Varese Wedding? She wove in sense of rustic chic style, with our favorite Lisa Poggi capturing behind the camera. Ready for even more? We’ve got it waiting to be perused, pinned and swooned right over here.

When Elise described me the style and the type of place, she want for her wedding, I knew that La Borriana would be the perfect setting. She would like to get married outdoor in a farmhouse or wine estate, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards and she want to have everything in one place. What better venue than a farmhouse in the Florentine hills, with a great rustic atmosphere and great landscape? The estate was able to accommodate all the guests and the romantic ceremony was set on the olive grove garden. To keep the country chic style I used different elements to decorate the ceremony and the reception. From the burlap runner on the reception tables to the flowers buckets on the ceremony aisle, from the mason jars with rustic flowers to the colorful buntings, that Elise created and that we hung under the reception marquee.

It was really exciting to work for Elise and Henrick. I had plenty ideas and when I suggested them to Elise, she was really enthusiastic and gave me more inspiration. — Laura, Varese Wedding

Fall Wedding Inspiration from Design*Sponge + Giveaway!

The folks at Design*Sponge are one talented team. We’ve oogled over their site for years (and that’s a long time in blog land), and it’s always one of the first we check when we open the computer in the morning. So when we heard they were sending over some wedding inspiration, we literally dropped everything to sit by our computers until it hit our inbox. And boy did they crank out some pretty. It all took place at the fabulous Terrain at Styers, and is filled with stunning florals from Sullivan Owen, a perfectly pretty cake by Lael Cakes, and lovely details all styled by Ginny Branch Stelling. Long story short, this shoot captured by de la Barra Photography is a stunner, and you’ll want to catch it all right here. Oh! And be sure to check out the giveaway below, it’s beyond.

From Design*Sponge… This is the first ever design*sponge wedding inspiration shoot. We were inspired by the merlot-colored dinner plate dahlias that we kept seeing at the floral market. With that color in mind, we headed off to one of our favorite places on the East Coast – Terrain at Stylers just outside of Philadelphia. We took our Brooklyn crew, including one of our favorite wedding photographers, Jorge de la Barra, down to Philly to spend a day creating an wedding inspiration shoot. Philadelphia florist, Sullivan Owen created loose wild arrangements filled with our inspiration flower. And Lael Cakes made a beautiful simple cake to compliment her flowers.

And it gets even better, lovelies! Because the super talented de la Barra Photography is giving away (you read that right!) an engagement shoot in New York City styled by none other than the talents at Design Sponge. Our jaws hit our desks when we heard that too – It simply doesn’t get any more stylish than that little combo. To enter just like de la Barra Photography’s facebook page and leave a comment below letting us know how you knew your main squeeze was the one. We’ll pick a winner on November 15th. Best of luck everyone! xoxo

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Cayucos Wedding from We Heart Photography

Classic tented receptions are a definite favorite around these parts. The all white draping sets off everything from a romantic, traditional affair to one with a little rustic flair. This Cayucos wedding with it’s farm-style tables and boxed centerpieces by Flowers by Denise lands somewhere in-between traditional and rustic and with tons of beautiful imagery by We Heart Photography, you can devour every last inch of it right here.

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From the Bride… We met Welcome Week my freshman year at Cal. A relationship was the last thing either of us were looking for but there seemed to be bigger plans for us. We started dating right away and over the years we have learned how to grow together without growing apart – 7.5 years later we were engaged, 8.5 years later we were married!

We wanted to keep it local, “romantic” with a touch of vintage, and family oriented. We came up with tons of ideas for how we could really incorporate our family and friends into the day and ensure they had a good time!

$460 Pomegranate Giveaway!

And just when I didn’t think I could love Waiting on Martha more, she goes and wrangles the most amazing giveaway EVER with Pomegranate (my new favourite home goods store, by the way). Inspired by her Thanksgiving spread? Yep, the entire look can be yours by entering below.

One lucky winner will get:
1 Aviary Coral tablecloth (60 x 90)
1 Aviary Coral apron
1 Aviary Coral table runner
1 Aviary Coral set of potholders
6 Aviary Coral napkins
6 Lichen/Coral pom pom napkins
6 Lichen/Coral pom pom placemats
6 Aviary Coral placemats
For a Grand Total of $460!

To enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more Thanksgiving inspired goods, you may want to take a peek at Mandy’s shop, Waiting on Martha.

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All Items found at: Pomegranate | Giveaway set up by: Waiting on Martha | Photography: Rustic White Photography

Jacquelyn Clark

About Time + Rachel McAdams

Everyone has their favorite actors, but when it comes to romantic comedies, I’m all about Rachel McAdams. Ever since The Notebook, I’ve followed her films and basically fell in love with every last one. So when I heard she’d be starring in a new movie from the makers of Love Actually and Notting Hill? Well, there was no question I’d HAVE to see it. With Rachel starring alongside actors like Bill Nighy and Domhnall Gleeson, I’m convinced About Time is bound to be a total classic.

To set the scene, About Time is the story of 21-year-old Tim, who discovers the men in his family can travel in time. He uses the power to re-live life’s best moments and undo life’s worst. Along the way, Tim meets Mary (played by Rachel McAdams), experiences a journey of love and loss, and learns what it means to savor each moment — time travel or not.

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After seeing the film, loving the film, the only thing left for me to do is go see it again. Seriously, I want to. So what are you waiting for, my dears? About Time is now playing nationwide, and is the perfect feel-good movie for this holiday season. Snag those tickets and get to the theaters, stat!

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Mansfield, Ohio Wedding from Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Weddings

To understand my obsession with this wedding, you first have to understand my obsession with Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Weddings. Fine Art says it all, because Lauren’s work is enough to give me goosebumps every single time. So when Lauren announced that this bride (coincidentally, also named Lauren) would be her sister if she had one I knew the goose bumps were going to carry over a hundred fold. But I didn’t take into account that her wedding was going to be this beautiful. I’m completely obsessed. And a total, teary eyed mess.

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From the photographer… I have to say, if I ever had a sister, I would imagine that she would be someone just like Lauren. It’s funny to me that we share the same name and we are such similar people. Lauren is a book publisher for Simon and Schuester in NYC, and her husband Ken is in the USMC. Their wedding was a culmination of 13 years together, and I was truly blessed to be a part of it. Lauren & Ken live in NYC, with Lauren’s identical twin sister Emily, but chose Mansfield OH because that is where they both grew up. They were married in the same gorgeous Catholic church that both sets of grandparents AND parents were married in. Their reception was held on the lush grounds of Kingwood Center, a historic plantation and landmark in central Mansfield. Lauren was inspired by old Hollywood for her wedding, and wanted a very elegant, but paired back, feel to her wedding by letting the details be minimal and guests to be inspired by the mansion. Mansfield is small town America, but attracts many movie enthusiasts to the popular Malabar Farm, where the rehearsal dinner was held – and also the site for Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall’s wedding in 1945.

Lauren looked stunning in her Ramona Keveza gown and her sisters Emily and Molly served as her maid and matron of honor. She also made her own bouquet using wholesale flowers, and I think the results were truly beautiful. I will always remember Emily’s toast to the couple at dinner as one of my all time favorites. Emily told a story about a journalism class that she and Lauren were in together while in college, and it was around of 9/11. The professor gave the class the task of thinking about how they would feel if they had to be the people in the building, knowing that they were not going to make it out, and what they would do if they were faced with the impossible decision to jump out the window, as so many people desperately did? But he imagined that there must have been great comfort in knowing that they were not alone in having to make that horrible decision, and that there were people who would go with them. Emily passed Lauren a handwritten note that said “I will go with you, wherever you are going.” Lauren keeps that little shred of paper in her wallet, to this day. It this kind of connection that moves me so deeply about this family. This is just who they are.

A Southern Thanksgiving

In the South few things are held as high as tradition and family. And what’s more traditional than gathering around a Thanksgiving table with family and friends to feast on the season’s bounty? Inspired by my love for a classic Thanksgiving, I combined rich browns and oranges with an unexpected twist of coral and sage greens to create a picturesque Southern table. Captured by Rustic White Photography, there’s a whole festive gallery just waiting for you to sift through.

Pomegranate’s Aviary patterned linens, pom pom placemats and napkins were the ideal backdrop for my faux bois and gourd patterned plates, rose gold silverware, and feathered napkin rings.

I finished the tablescape with ivory candles along with fresh florals in burgundy, orange, and green.

The centerpiece, a smoked turkey (courtesy of my Big Green Egg), was presented on a monogrammed platter.

I accompanied the star of the show with side dishes like sweet potato au gratin, green bean casserole, and foccacia with chestnut stuffing.

Rounding out dinner our bar cart was lined with sweets and treats: a traditional pumpkin pie, warm red wines, and sparkling apple cider which proved to be the perfect ending to a perfect day.

Psst… Grab the turkey & chestnut stuffing recipes here & don’t forget the butternut squash soup recipe here

Mandy Kellogg Rye

Contributing Editor: Fashion, Food, + Lifestyle

Waiting on Martha

Charleston Engagement Session from Ruth Eileen Photography

Confession: This adorable couple I hold very close to my heart for numerous reasons, but a major one being this duo is made up of my sister and soon to be brother-in-law. And I happen to think their engagement photographed by Ruth Eileen is about as perfect as they come. The images capture their laughter-filled spirit and their undeniable love. But the story behind those cute faces makes them all the more endearing. This is a love culminating from a very successful blind date set up by two meddling sisters. Amazing, right? Read all about it below and for even more, check out the full gallery.

From the Bride-to-Be… Our paths collided in July of 2011. My sister was living in Boston with her husband and called to let me know she had met a sweet girl who had an amazing brother that I absolutely had to meet!!! I told her she was crazy and that I would not be jet-setting from San Diego to go on a blind date in Boston. She then told me that was the best part – he also lived in San Diego. So, with no pressure and the hopes of at least making a new friend, I accepted his email and his date offer.

A week later I met Sasha at an Irish pub around the corner from my house. This is where we spent the next six hours laughing, talking, and getting to know each other. Sasha offered to walk me home after our date which is when we realized that we had been living a mere block from each other for the last year. A block! Over the next several months Sasha and I fell completely head-over-heels in love. Sasha is an Officer in the Military and a year later, when he received orders for South Carolina, he asked me to move with him. As you can imagine, this was a total no-brainer!

So two years and two coasts later, I was over the moon when Sasha proposed to me. We took a trip up north to Sasha’s Granny’s home in Barrington, Rhode Island. Granny’s is a special place because Sasha’s parents as well as his sister were married there. We woke up the following morning after we arrived to a torrential downpour. Our big plans of laying on the dock and enjoying the sunny weather were out.

We decided to go into town for lunch. As we were getting ready to leave, Sasha asked if I could help him move pots from the end of his Granny’s dock (that he “forgot” to move earlier). Obviously I was not thrilled about the idea of running down the dock in the pouring rain but after a few minutes of resisting I gave in. We put our rain jackets on and made our way out to the end of the very long dock. When we got to the end, Sasha turned around and told me ” Clearly there are no pots out here.” Then he bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

New England has a very special place in our hearts for so, so many reasons. It’s where Sasha is from, where our sisters’ lovingly schemed to get us together, and where we ultimately got engaged. We have decided to have our wedding October Eleventh at Moody Mountain Farm in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. A Fall wedding in New England, does it get any better?

From Ruth Eileen Photography… Megan and Sasha currently live in the South, and one of their favorite cities to visit and explore is Charleston, SC. We had a blast galavanting around the town with these two. Everywhere you looked, gorgeous scenery was at our disposal to capture this happy and adorable couple. This couldn’t have been a better combination: Megan + Sasha + charming Charleston = Perfect Southern Love!

Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography

Casa Romantica, San Clemente Wedding from Dapper Images

A tried and true ingredient for any fabulous affair? Romance. Yep, add a dash of the big R to any wedding and you can guarantee a day that is not only drop-dead gorgeous, but chock-full of meaning. And this pretty little day captured by Dapper Images? Overflowing with romance, from the pretty pink hues to the lush blooms from A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production to the seriously stunning setting (hello Casa Romantica). See so much more in the full gallery.

And a sweet little film from Dapper Images? Yes, please.

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From Dapper Images... Romantic themed seaside wedding in a Spanish styled Casa in San Clemente, California. Lush plants surround the ceremony that overlooks the ocean and pier. The first half of the reception and dinner takes place in a Spanish outdoor courtyard rimmed with towering exotic trees followed by dancing and dessert inside the Casa. Casa Romantica was previously owned by the founder of San Clemente, every inch of this gorgeous property is meticulously preserved and cared for and is not only breathtaking on it’s own, but then add the hilltop ocean view! Pink and Cream romantic blooms adorn the property and are a beautiful contrast to the various cacti growing around every corner of this estate.

Emily looks so lovely in her custom made lace and leather gown. The energy and love she and Ryan share is so sweet and it’s easy to see that they are a perfect match for each other.

Royal Botanic Garden Wedding in Sydney from Daniele Del Castillo

These two are cute in ways you didn’t even know existed. From their adorable wedding to their non-stop smiling faces to the stunning details they infused into their Big Day. And while you spend your entire day smiling from ear to ear while soaking in the full gallery of gorgeous images captured by Daniele Del Castillo, you should most definitely check out the fabulous DIY projects they crafted together. They’re amazing.

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From the Bride… I knew that planning the ‘biggest day of our lives’ was going to be a big task, but being a fastidious designer, I threw myself into the project and produced many a moodboard to inspire the many facets of the day and rationalise my ideas. We chose the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney harbour for our ceremony and The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) just round the corner for the reception so the locations demanded a slick, city wedding with bold touches. The colour palette was inspired by Uluru (Ayers Rock), where James proposed, matching an earthy red, with gold, black and white, for a contemporary edge. The striking architecture of Sydney harbour also helped to get the creative juices flowing – and I looked to incorporate the linear patterns and details found in these iconic structures into our big day as well. What resulted was a day that I am proud to say was uniquely us. Nothing too frilly or frou frou, just amazing surroundings, wonderful people, brilliant food, and lovely unique touches to tie it all together. Truly one of the most incredible days of our life.

We love good food and the sense of community it can bring, so the tables in the venue were arranged as two long tables so that everyone could muck in together and enjoy each others’ company. To compliment this, all the food was served on platters along the tables so that everyone could share the food together, no “fish or chicken, sir?”, just good food and lots of it!

James loves James Bond (must be the name…) so we added a few Bond touches to the day. My father walked me down the aisle to the Bond theme, played expertly by Yossi Cascun on the classical guitar. When I met James at the end of the aisle he was wearing the same design of tux that Daniel Craig did in Skyfall, very suave! Yossi then played ‘We have All the Time in the World’, from the Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service whilst we signed the register, and finally ‘Nobody Does it Better’ from The Spy Who Loved Me as we walked back down the aisle at the end. Similarly, when we arrived at the museum for the reception we walked in to a jazz version of the Bond theme, which set the scene for the trad jazz soundtrack to the meal (James’ father’s favourite music!), plus we did our first dance to a contemporary cover of ‘Nobody Does it Better’ which kicked off the dancing part of the evening littered with lots of great 90s dance classics amongst favourite tunes from earlier and more recent times.

In order to save a little cash we decided to go for pot plants on the tables instead of arranged flowers. For a fraction of the price we managed to get 12 lovely bergonia plants for only $15 (AUD) from Flower Power and then dressed them up in some nice white pots from Ikea. At the end of the night we offered the plants to all the guests, so some people got an extra little memento of the night.

James loves candles, in fact most nights we eat by candle light! So candles were key. We got our candles from Stacks of Wax in Newtown, Sydney. These included tealights held in white frosted votives up the length of the tables and beautiful wax lanterns for the tables out on the balcony. These too were also given away to guests at the end of the night.

To save cutting out 70 odd bespoke printed place cards for the tables, we instead ordered blank tags, with a chevron pattern on one side, in line with the linear theme to the wedding, from Green Ridge Designs on Etsy, complete with lovely shiny gold hole reinforcements, and hand wrote all the names of the guests instead.

Our ‘x’ and ‘o’ crayons were actually inspired by a post on Style Me Pretty Living. We bought a school size box of crayons and spent many a spare hour peeling off the labels, melting down the crayons, creating new colour combos, pouring the wax into silicone letter shaped ice cube moulds and popping out little Xs & Os.

The large ‘x’ & ‘o’ on the dance floor at the reception were made as a favour by some joiners for us and then over a two day period I painted them white and gold in my parent’s back garden before the big day.

SMP Living Spotlight!

Believe it or not, it’s that time of week again. The part where we shift from wedding world and turn our attention to all the lovelies of SMP Living. But this time around, it’s not just about the pretty. It’s also about the smart. Like ways to protection your online rep, and killer advice on starting a blog. Put that all together and you’ve got a spotlight of epic proportions.

When Coco + Kelley offers to give you a look inside her home, you say yes. No question. Because not only does she have great advice on business and blogging, she’s also got interior design skills like you wouldn’t believe.

We’ve all been there. That embarrassing photo or wish-I-never-posted status. The one that threatens your online reputation. It can be a virtual mess, but luckily Randi Zuckerberg (yep, from THAT Zuckerberg family) stopped by to share a few tips for keeping that online rep squeaky clean.

If you haven’t yet discovered Momental Designs, you’re sort of missing out. She’s got a studio overflowing with handcrafted pretties, and the best part yet? You’ve got a chance to a $150 gift card to shop it all. Christmas came early, my dears – enter right here!

Y’all know “DIY” is basically our middle name here at SMP, so when Wild Folk Studio whipped up this simple fall wreath in four easy steps, it was music to our pretty little ears.

Classic Vintage Wedding at Stone Mill Inn from Alyssa Alkema Photography

I am just going to start out by telling you that this wedding is awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I sort of just know that you’ll be spending your entire Friday soaking in every last bit of lovely. I guess that’s what happens when a beautiful planner bride (the amazing Shaw Events) teams up with Hazlitt Vintage Rentals, Echo Letterpress and Alyssa Alkema Photography (among many, many others)… pure, unadulterated pretty. See it all in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… As a wedding planner, I felt overwhelming pressure to make our day perfect. After months of planning, and stressing out, it finally hit me. This day is for us. This day is for one thing – to express our love for each other. I spend so much of my time telling brides I work with to remember why they are having a wedding. How could I myself forget that? At that point, I knew no matter what happened, the day would be perfect for me. And it was.

I began by booking the big three – the reception location, the florist and the photographer. We looked at many different locations – trying to find one that suited the theme. I wanted a vintage theme, so I didn’t want a typical banquet hall. I knew once all of the decor, florals and candle lighting were in, the room would really transform.

Finding Alyssa Alkema as our photographer was a blessing. She does amazing work, and Sean and I knew we were going to end up with photos we would cherish for a lifetime. She captured all of my hard work perfectly. To make the photos even more stunning, we chose an estate home as a location for our photos.

I rented items from different vintage rental company’s such as Hazlitt Vintage Rentals and KJ & Co. And many of the items were DIY and purchased from Etsy. It took my family and I months to finish the hundreds of twined and laced mason jar candle holders, and I made our favours and place card holders on my own. The long hours spent on all of the items was worth the sacrifice, as it left money to be spent on other important areas. My favourite DIY items were the vintage windows I used as the seating plan, and the table numbers made from frames and brass numbers.

The day could not have gone smoother. I was relaxed – okay, I may have had my cell in my clutch for any unexpected things – but most importantly, I pulled myself out of planner mode and enjoyed the day.

The most important choice I made for the day was hiring a fellow planner. Michelle of Bespoke Event Design was wonderful. I hired her as my day of coordinator when I realized I needed a little help to completely enjoy my day. She did an incredible job. She was able to handle all of the decor I left for her and completely understood my vision. My favourite part of being a planner is the moment the couple sees all of their hard work come together – and when Sean and I walked into the room, it took our breath away.

I had many favourite moments of the day, but one that stands out in my mind is my first look with my dad. I chose to keep my dress secret from him and I had Alyssa capture the look on his face when he saw me. It was a beautiful moment we will always remember. After planning the first look with my dad, Sean and I were torn on whether to do a first look with each other. I encourage couples to do first looks, as it gives much more time for photos, and allows you to have your moment in private. We decided to keep the traditional elements to the day, so we chose not to see each other before walking down the aisle. Knowing we needed to calm each other down, we decided to take a moment to talk to each other, and say a prayer, before we left to the church. The catch? There was a door keeping us from seeing each other. It was so comforting to hold his hand and talk to him about our nerves and excitement without ruining the element of surprise.

Having our dog Maddox involved in the wedding was also a very important element of our day. As we got married in a Church, he was unfortunately not permitted in the ceremony. Instead, we had a friend bring him to our photos at the Estate. He looked so dapper in his bow tie, and we were thrilled he was able to be there with us.

Overall, the day was everything Sean and I dreamed of. It could not have gone smoother, and to have all of our friends and family enjoy themselves was all we could ask for.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

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Butternut Squash & Apple Soup with Homemade Croutons

There is no better way to start a meal than with a warm, cozy bowl of soup. This year I took the classic butternut squash soup and kicked it up a notch by adding granny smith apples, homemade croutons, and sage leaves. All easy additions that will have your guests asking for seconds, and possibly even thirds. For more goodies, head on over to my blog, Waiting on Martha!

Butternut Squash & Apple Soup with Homemade Croutons

prep time
10 Minute/s

cook time
45 Minute/s

total time
55 Minute/s

Ingredients

FOR THE SOUP:
2 Tbs. unsalted butter
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 jar (2 lb.) butternut squash puree (I prefer Williams-Sonoma)
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
2 cups vegetable broth
2 small bay leaves
3 tsp. kosher salt
Sage leaves for garnish
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
FOR THE CROUTONS
crusty bread such as french, sourdough, or you can even use dinner rolls
2-4 tablespoons olive oil
salt

Instructions

In a Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and cook until soft but not browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the butternut squash puree, apple, broth, bay leaves and salt and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Partially cover the pot and simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove the bay leaves and discard. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup directly in the pot until smooth.
Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and garnish with sage leaves, croutons and pepper. Serve immediately. Serves 6 to 8.
FOR THE CROUTONS
Preheat oven to 400F.
Cut bread into large squares and place into a mixing bowl. Add 2-4 tablespoons of olive oil and salt, mix together with your hands. You want just enough olive oil to lightly coat each piece, but not enough where the bread is soggy.
Place bread on to a cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes just until bread is golden brown. Switch oven to broil for 2-3 minutes to properly crust the croutons. Make sure to watch this last step as the croutons can quickly burn.

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Photography: Rustic White | Recipe: Waiting on Martha

Mandy Kellogg Rye

Contributing Editor: Fashion, Food, + Lifestyle

Waiting on Martha

French Market Wedding at Galleria Marchetti by Ashley Biess Photography

When a wedding starts off with a gown as gorgeous as this Vera Wang stunner, you just know the rest is going to be good. And let me just say that the gown is just the beginning of the pretty sitting in these lovely images from Ashley Biess Photography. It’s pure Chicago perfection coordinated by LK Events, and the perfect way to send you dancing into the weekend. See it all here.

From Ashley Biess Photography…There was just SO much pretty at this August affair! The happy couple celebrated their wedding at the always-beautiful Galleria Marchetti. Audrey wore a stunning Vera Wang gown, adorned with gold sequins, as she walked down the aisle at the sunny, garden ceremony. Her bridesmaids wore ruffled lilac dresses that flowed effortlessly in the wind. To go along with the rustic, European and garden style of the venue, the couple decided to have a French Market themed wedding. Instead of choosing one or two wedding colors, Audrey and Pat’s decor highlighted an array of different colors, ranging from purples, pinks, reds, blues, greens and whites. The combination was dreamy and perfect with their garden inspiration. At the reception, guests found their escort cards at a beautifully decorated table that was inspired by a French flower cart. The reception space was candle-lit and tables were decorated with eclectic metallic and jewel toned candles and jars full of flowers. After dinner, guests were on their feet all night long dancing and celebrating with the newlyweds. It was a beautiful day from start to finish!

Nautical Inspired Engagement Session from Kelly Rucker Photography

I am going to file this engagement session under “how I wished my life looked on a daily basis”. It’s absolute perfection from the tip of the bride-to-be’s gorgeous ballerina bun to the fabulous team of vendors that teamed up for the shoot – including Verbena Floral Design, Jenn Sprinkle, Marquee Rents, and Buttoned Up Events. So I guess it goes without saying I love every image from Kelly Rucker sitting in this gallery. Check them all out here.

From Kelly Rucker…This nautical inspired engagement session celebrates the love of Roxanne and David. The couple are soon to be wed at the the beautiful Laguna Gloria in Austin, Texas. Their nautical themed engagement session was shot on the beautiful Lake Travis in Austin, Texas on a recent summer day morning- complete with a luxury boat, champagne and perfect weather. Roxanne currently lives in Dallas and David currently lives in Austin, but the two plan to unite and reside in Austin after the wedding day- so having their engagement session in the city they will soon call “home” was fitting.

New Orleans Wedding from Greer G. Photography + Kim Starr Wise

This, my friends, is one wedding that is all about the glamour. A vintage-inspired glamour that is pretty much the most awesome thing I have ever seen. Think Jenny Packham meets sparkle-clad bridesmaids meets the always amazing city of New Orleans. And beyond all of the sophisticated details (thank you NOLA BASH and Kim Starr Wise) and jaw-droppingly gorgeous settings, there’s a burst of pure love radiating from every moment captured by Greer G. Photography. See it all in the full gallery.

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Vintage

From NOLA BASH… From the Big Apple to the Big Easy, Elina and Jason threw a true destination bash leaving their friends and family wanting more! Let’s begin with the bridesmaids spectacular dresses! Elina entrusted each of her best gals to get a beaded, tan, vintage dress. These girls knocked this one out of the park! Their bouquets jumped off of the dresses and truly became their best accessory of the night. The gentlemen complemented the ladies in crisp, black tuxedos which really brought this vintage feel together for pictures under the mossy oaks of New Orleans City Park.

The two committed their lives to each other in an intimate courtyard at the Masion Montegut House followed by a 2nd line parade which had guests dancing in the streets. The parade, led by the Young PinStripes Brass Band, ended at the New Orleans Board of Trade where guests were greeted with cocktails and raw oysters. Vintage, mirrored window panes hung from trees displaying table assignments. Inside the tables were adorned with sequin linens (that were to die for!) accented by vintage books, bottles and camera. Not to mention the silver tea pots which boasted with gorgeous, bright flowers. Taboo rocked the stage keeping the dance floor full at all times – with the exception of the flower girls who felt it was past their bedtime and were found in deep dreams on the vintage lounge furniture. The reception ends but not the party; everyone moved to an after party down the street which kept them dancing until the early hours of the morning.

Camp Southern Ground Wedding from Belle of the Ball Events

This wedding is pure magic. A laid-back meets glamorous type of magic that is making me want to pack up my bags and set up shop right under those majestic oak trees. It’s the kind of day that is innately beautiful, from the fabulous stylings of Belle of the Ball Events (they rock) to that beautiful bouquet from Virtu Floral and Event Design to the beyond breathtaking scenery. See it all captured by Jane Johnson right here in the full gallery.

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Fall Weddings

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Rustic Weddings

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Casual Rustic

From the Bride… Every girl dreams of her big day being perfect and just how she imagines, but it is only once in a lifetime that a bride has her day that is better than she could have ever hoped for. The morning of the wedding, I woke up thinking, “oh my goodness I am about to marry my high school sweetheart, my first and only true love, and my best friend!” After my moment of bliss, it hit me that everything had to be set up that day. I got a little bit nervous, and then I remembered that with the tremendous help of my girlfriends, my wonderful mother in-law, and my amazing planner, Eva, that I wouldn’t even need to lift a finger. I was spoiled that day! They were able to pull off everything in a matter of a few hours. The reception was under two beautiful Georgia Oak trees. To keep tradition, we didn’t see each other before the ceremony. However, guided by our maid of honor and best man, Tommy and I met up in the middle of the woods and read each other our vows… our backs touching so that he couldn’t see me. This was the perfect way to settle any nerves so that we were able to be as intimate as we wanted to be with the promises that were to last for a lifetime.

It came time for my daddy to walk me down the aisle, and as soon as the double doors opened, seeing Tommy stand under those trees, I was ready to RUN to him. He built the altar that was under the trees with his own handsome hands. It was his idea to have the alter serve as the guest book. Guests signed wooden chips that were inserted post-ceremony. The weather that day was beautiful, not too hot and just the right amount of breeze. Once we were pronounced husband and wife we were able to take pictures. The sun was setting and the atmosphere was perfectly romantic for our intimate moments.

The reception was filled with details that took my breath away! The dessert table was filled with different styles of treats and sweets all surrounding our Oreo cake. All the tables had candles and flowers all on top of burlap, which set the mood for the night. The entertainment included a poem from one of our dear friends, a song from my beautiful nieces, our song by Tommy’s brother and one of my bridesmaids, and the MOH and best man speeches. I loved that it was all very personal. The cake cutting part, consisted of Tommy and I stacking together a bunch of oreos and feeding them to each other, followed by a milk toast with teeth full of oreos!

My vision for my wedding was to have a personal setting that would be like a big family dinner, and that is exactly what it was. After the guests sent us off with a sparkling exit, we returned to the reception site for a private first dance. This was my favorite part, because I was able to have my dance with my husband and still keep tradition. Only our family, close friends, and the bridal party were there. Our song was a “Thousand Years, Part 2” which was exactly how we felt that day! Being a bride that loves personal touches, I loved that everything was put together by the people that love me dearly, and each of them were able to put their own spin on it. It was definitely a group effort and the result was phenomenal!

Boothbay Maine Wedding from Beautiful Days + Leah Fisher Photography

Hello Color! If you need a little pick me up this morning, you’ve come to the right place. I mean, why have a single pop of color when you can have a rainbow of wonderful? And how perfect is the venue name – the Bold Colorful Life Inn? It all plays out absolutely beautifully in the images from Leah Fisher Photography below. Add some stunning florals from Beautiful Days and my new favorite gown on the internets right now, and this gallery is one happy place to be today. See it all here.

From the Bride…After knowing each other for over 8 years, we wanted to create a simple, beautiful and meaningful celebration, only shared with a small number of our close friends and family. One thing we really wanted was to find a venue that we could house our wedding party and family for not just the day of, but for the entire weekend. We were so pleased when we found The Bold Colorful Life Inn located in Boothbay, Maine. The Inn not only featured a large farmhouse and small guest cottage, but also a small rustic barn, all right on the ocean which also tied in beautifully with our aesthetic.

Color was the largest inspiration for the day. From the decor and attire to the bridesmaid’s dresses and the display of 100’s of repurposed glass pieces on the family style dining tables. We hired local vendors across the board- even beer brewed the morning before right in the next town over.

We skipped having a DJ or reception band and instead had each guest, along with their RSVP, send in a dance request song. The night was filled with hand-picked songs from all of our friends and family.

The glassware is still displayed in our home, as well as many of our guests’ homes as we asked them to take their favorite piece.

Truly a magical weekend that we relive all the time.

Asheville Wedding from Fete Photography

When sumptuous and relaxed beauty collide, it ridiculously pretty, as you are about to find out. Fete Photography captured a wedding that was both lavish and grande, but boasted a vibe that was nothing short of welcoming and happy, and it’s pretty much the best thing ever. And really, do I even have to mention the flower girl? I die.

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Summer Weddings

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Ballroom Weddings Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Romantic

From the photographer… Courtney and Rob live in Ohio and had a destination wedding in Asheville, North Carolina on June 1, 2013.

Courtney planned the wedding herself and the event really reflected her unique personality. The Grand Bohemian served as the perfect venue to feature the couple’s elephant cake toppers, hot-air balloon paper goods and floral arrangements draped in crystal beads. Although Courtney was the ultimate glam girl in her BHLDN ankle-wrapped heels and tulle Pronovias gown, she is extremely down-to-earth and incorporated old family photos into the decor. Also, the table with the sunflower vase and picture is a memorial to one of the bride’s childhood friends who passed away. The bride and groom have two dogs that unfortunately didn’t make it to the wedding, but they named the signature drinks after them: The Ole and The Eddy.

Australia Winter Wedding from Bentinmarcs Photography

Most people would tell you that rain and slush is a wedding day no-no. But those people probably haven’t seen a bad-weather-turned-crazy-romantic day like this. It’s what happens when a glowing mama-to-be bride and her love tie the knot amongst the Australian countryside, with some showers and rubber rain boots thrown into the mix. Bentinmarcs Photography filled a gallery with the day’s stunning captures and if you ask me, it’s the best place to be.

Danielle & Troy’s beautiful winter wedding was held at the amazing Longview Vineyard in the Adelaide Hills South Australia. Cold winds and rain was all part of the attraction. Danielle was also 22 weeks pregnant and looked just beautiful in her Caleche wedding gown. Some guests braved the weather and headed outside to take in the beautiful scenery while others took comfort in front of the open fires inside. Initially the wedding ceremony was to be held outside under the century old gums but due to the weather the covered deck seemed like the best spot. After a brief photo session we headed in for lunch which was served with a selection of great wines from the vineyard. The whole day was a huge success thanks to Jess and the team at Longview Vineyard. Even the pouring rain while Danielle and Troy were leaving didn’t dampen the day.

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