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.

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.

Photographer: Fete Photography | Florist: Studio Flora Diva | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: City Bakery | Ceremony Venue: Grand Bohemian Hotel | Reception Venue: Grand Bohemian Hotel | Bride's Shoes: BHLDN | Jewelry: BHLDN | Bridesmaids Dresses: JLM Couture, Inc | Hair Stylist: Suraj Spa & Salon | DJ: All The Right Grooves | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Make-up Artist: Blush By Wendy

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.

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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.

Photographer: Bentinmarcs Fine Art Photography | Florist: Mary Wauchope | Wedding Dress: Caleche | Grooms Suit: Rhodes & Beckett | Celebrant: Merrilyn Williams | Venue: Longview Vineyard | Wedding Reception: Longview Vineyard | Wedding Rings: Metal Kakdus

As the newest Style Me Pretty Living contributor, I thought I’d start with a full Thanksgiving spread, just for you! But before we get to the goods (they’re coming, I promise), I wanted to share a couple of recipes that really made our event shine. My husband and I started brining and smoking our turkey on the Big Green Egg 2 years ago, and we’ll never go back.  The brine, while an extra step, is a complete game changer. I promise you the most flavorful and tender turkey you’ve ever tasted!

Mandy Kellogg RyeButtermilk Brined Smoked Turkey with Chestnut StuffingElevate your thanksgiving with this incredible dish!

prep time 19 Hour/s

cook time 14 Hour/s

total time 33 Hour/s

Serves 12Ingredients

• FOR THE TURKEY
• 2 oz. turkey brine, I prefer Williams-Sonoma's Apple & Spices Brine (just use the entire jar)
• 1 quart water
• 4 quarts buttermilk
• 1 fresh turkey (preferably organic and/or free range), 12 to 18 lb., neck, heart and gizzard removed
• 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 Lemons (cut in half)
• 1 head of garlic (cut in half, leave the peel on)
• 2 white onions (cut into quarters)
• Twine
• Extra large brining bags
• 1 small bottle of apple juice
• mesquite chips for the smoker
• 1 disposable turkey pan
• FOR THE STUFFING:
• 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 3-4 halves of garlic, diced
• 4 celery stalks, diced
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 2 cups peeled and roasted chestnuts, halved
• 1 package (1 lb.) La Brea Bakery focaccia stuffing
• 4-6 cups vegetable, turkey or chicken stock, warmed
• Thyme
• Butter

Instructions

1. In a large pot over high heat, combine the turkey brine and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring often, until the majority of the salt dissolves, 5 to 10 minutes. Let the brine mixture cool to room temperature. Add buttermilk.
2. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and place in a large brining bag. Carefully pour the buttermilk brine mixture into the bag. Seal the bag, pressing out the air, and place in a large stockpot or other container large enough to hold the turkey. Refrigerate for 18 to 36 hours, turning occasionally.
3. Remove the turkey from the brine; discard the brine. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Trim off and discard the excess fat. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a large roasting pan. Add lemons, garlic, and onions to the cavity of the turkey and truss legs with kitchen twine. Melt the butter and rub the skin evenly with a basting brush. Let the turkey stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
4. FOR THE BIG GREEN EGG
5. Soak mesquite chips for 24 hours in water.
6. Heat egg to 600F-700F degrees, add soaked chips. Set place setter with legs up (this allows for indirect heat smoking). Place turkey on turkey rack and place entire turkey and rack in disposable turkey pan. During this process the chips will naturally bring temperature down to desired temp of 250F.
7. Smoke turkey for 60 minutes at 250F, check periodically to see if the legs or breast are burning, if so tent with tin foil. Please note when smoking a turkey the skin will appear much, much darker than roasting, this is a not a sign of being burnt. Refer to pictures above.
8. Continue smoking for 10 hours at 250F, checking periodically and basting with apple juice. Turkey is fully cooked when the internal temperature of the breast reaches 175F.
9. Transfer the turkey to a carving board, cover loosely with foil and let rest for 30 to 60 minutes before carving. While resting, turkey will continue to cook reaching a final internal temperature of 180F.
10. FOR THE STUFFING:
11. Preheat an oven to 375°F.
12. In a large fry pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the garlic, onion, celery, salt and pepper and sauté until soft and translucent, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the chestnuts. Transfer the onion mixture to a very large bowl.
13. Stir in the stock 1/2 cup at a time, making sure it is completely absorbed into the croutons and does not pool in the bottom of the bowl. Taste a crouton; it should be moist throughout but not crunchy or mushy. You may not need all of the stock.
14. Transfer the stuffing to a buttered 3-quart baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the top is golden brown and crisp, 25 to 35 minutes more. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with thyme

Note: If you don’t have a smoker, no worries.  Simply follow all of the brining instructions and roast your turkey in the oven as directed!

Photography: Rustic White | Recipe: Waiting On Martha

I love the rain.  Like love, love, love the rain.  It’s refreshing, romantic and cozy… and when it comes to Big Day celebrations, in my world, the more rain the better.  So the little downpour that occurred mid-ceremony in this sweet St. Augustine affair?  Pretty much perfect, and the kind of unexpected surprise that makes this day truly unique.  See so much more captured by Laura Yang in the full gallery.

From Laura Yang Photography… They came from out west, where it rarely rains, to the Sunshine State for a cozy wedding with just their closest family members. So, naturally, the skies opened and the heavens poured down on them right in the middle of their courtyard ceremony. They simply slipped under some umbrellas and ducked inside the Old City House Inn’s dining room, where they finished off their vows — with the restaurant’s guests to cheer them on.

In spite of the literal storms they had to face, this relaxed, intimate wedding was a dream of a day. From the skeleton key theme — taken from the couple’s first meeting, at a Lock and Key party — to the gorgeous stationery created by the bride’s sister, Eileen Tan, to the sweet father-daughter first look and the couple’s portraits around the puddled cobblestones of St. Augustine, everything fell perfectly into place in spite of the weather. They rolled with the punches and simply soaked in this special time as they brought their two families together, and started a new one of their own.

Photography: Laura Yang Photography | Videography: Adam Pressley Films | Flowers: Flowerworks | Gown: Winnie Couture | Cake: Publix Bakery | Stationery: Eileen Tan | Ceremony Venue: Old City House Inn | Reception Venue: La Pentola | Shoes: Nordstrom | Catering: La Pentola | Makeup: Elizabeth Johnson at Debbie's Day Spa and Salon | Officiant: Elegant Events | Hairstyling: Elizabeth Johnson at Debbie's Day Spa and Salon | Music: Richard Kuncicsky

Everything about this wedding at Martha Clara Vineyards from W Studios New York makes me beyond happy. It put permanent grin on my face the minute I opened it, and what’s better than that on a Friday morning? With a picture perfect palette, lovely florals from Moments in Time and love-filled details sprinkled throughout, you don’t want to miss all the happy sitting right here.

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From W Studios New York…Katie & Andre planned the perfect wedding on the North Fork. Not only did they have a stunning vineyard for their ceremony and reception, but they also rented a house right on the water to get ready in on the big day. Katie along with her mom and mother in law spent her free weekends collecting bottles & jars for her centerpieces, hunting for just the right votive holders, making burlap runners, and creating paper tag placement cards. It all paid off as the details came together beautiful for the celebration. One of our favorite moments of the night was the heart felt cheers and greetings that came from the crowd of friends and family as the newlyweds strolled out of the barn lit by the glow of the sparklers!

From The Bride (Katie)…Our wedding felt like a fairy tale, everything was absolutely perfectly (minus me forgetting the marriage license at the house that we were staying at the day of the wedding! Oops it all worked out though!) The day was filled with so much love between Andre and I and our family and friends.

The morning of our wedding it was raining and kind of gloomy, even as I was walking down the aisle it had stopped raining but the sky was filled with clouds and the wind was blowing. Before I finish the story of our wedding, I have to give you a little history on Andre and I. We have been dating for over five years now and towards the beginning of our relationship around six months in Andre’s father passed away (it was so sudden and heart breaking, I’m sad that I never really got to know my father-in-law.) I love hearing stories about Andre’s dad, how he was always the life of the party and made friends with everyone he met and had such a strong will. During our ceremony you can see all of the dark clouds behind us, at one point our reverend acknowledged all of those who were not present at the wedding but with us in spirit. After that the clouds started to break and the most beautiful blue sky started peaking though. This was a sign from his dad that everything was going to be alright and he was with us. You can see it in the pictures! It was such a touching moment, I think that everyone there had goose bumps! It was amazing and beautiful!

I have to say that this was truly the best day of our lives.

Photography: W Studios New York | Florals: Moments in Time Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Christopher Michael Catering | Make Up: Michele Ambery | Hair: Lauren DeCosimo | Band: Fusion DL | Suits: Ralph Lauren | (Venue) Vineyard: Martha Clara Vineyard

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I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have a whole lot of “boho” in my day-to-day wardrobe. BUT that doesn’t mean I don’t drool over those stylish brides and ‘maids who totally pull it off. The perfect example? This California wedding styled to T by Davia Lee Events. It’s full of that flowy, free-spirited soul that makes me want to trade in all my preppy stripes for a maxi skirt, stat! Danielle Capito captured one of the coolest galleries I’ve seen to date, and I recommend you pay it a pretty little visit!

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From Davia Lee Events… Brad & Amanda came to me with one request for their beachside wedding-they wanted their to feel like them. Amanda wanted to feel the happiness pouring out of Brad’s heart when he saw her and sees our ceremony and reception site the day of the wedding. Amanda want to feel her grandparent’s happiness and love for each other and them. She wanted to feel all the love from their family and friends.

They are major nature lovers and wanted the space to reflect that along with their fun personalities. They wanted their wedding to be ‘the best day ever’ and a big party all day long! Through lawn games and a bridal party flip cup match, I think we hit the mark! Interactive food also helped to keep guests entertained, young and old.

As a reflection of the love Amanda & Brad share for each other we wanted to create a special and unique ceremony space for them. WE did this by using railroad ties to create a natural arch draped with ivy. We also built wood crate like boxes to cover the existing fire pits from the picnic sites. We than incorporated various flowers, succulents and a collection of containers that would make you feel as if they were all scavenged for. We went for an eclectic mix of items to feel as if you were at a fun beach party.

Amanda reminded us of the most important aspect of the day and that still brings a smile to our face. For her it was that she gets to marry her favorite person and be with all of their family and friends all at the same place, and same time for one big celebration.

Photographer: Danielle Capito Photography | Shoes: Chelsea Crew | Catering: The Hidden Dolphin | Hair + Makeup: Shanna Spencer Style | Groom's Suit: Paul Smith | Venue: El Capitan State Beach | Bridal Attire: La Sposa | Churros: Fernandos Churros | Design, Planning, Florals: Davia Lee Events | Ice Cream: McConnell's Ice Cream | La Tavola Linen: Creative Coverings | Rentals: Embellish | Rentals: Ventura Party Rentals

Paris is always a good idea; especially when contemplating where in the world to hold your destination wedding. Romance is woven into the very fiber of the city and Mademoiselle Fiona has captured that je t’aime fervor in the most beautiful way. Her images make the details designed by Mon Plus Beau Jour sparkle extra bright. And the film captured by Duncan Wolfe? Well that’s the sweet little beret on top of this Parisian affair. See it below along with even more imagery from the day in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… My fingers are hovering over the keyboard and I’m at a loss – how do I describe our perfect day? Our wedding was held on the banks of the Seine on Friday, August 2nd, 2013, one of the hottest days in Paris: the city we fell in love with and the city we fell in love in. The shade from a beautiful old tree created the perfect amount of relief from the sun as we exchanged our vows in front of our closest friends and family. It was perfect for us. It was the best day of our lives.

We spent a week in Paris leading up to the wedding in a beautiful apartment in the Marais. It was truly a mixed bag of emotions: excitement, nerves, laughs, occasional stress… but most of all a lot of love. We couldn’t have pulled it off without all of our family and friends; they literally made our wedding day. It was very important to us to keep everything simple with a lot of personal touches – Paris does provide quite the scenic backdrop, after all. We hit the jackpot with all of our vendors. Our incredible photographer, Mademoiselle Fiona, and our amazing videographer, Duncan Wolfe, were able to capture all the love, joy, and celebration through their beautiful work. I am still in disbelief that we were fortunate enough to work with these magnificent artists. What Duncan created for us leaves me speechless – the joy I feel every time I watch our video is indescribable. How Fiona was able to photograph all the love we felt on our wedding day is beyond me. Every picture is perfect. Our video and photographs are a way to relive this perfect day for lifetimes to come – I am so grateful.

Carrie Barker of Pink Toast Ink and Marie-Emilie of Mon Plus Beau Jour went above and beyond to create the perfect atmosphere for our big day. I truly believe that Carrie had a window into my thoughts when she created all of our paper details for the wedding. From the gold tins holding the amazing flower arrangements, the balloon table number cut outs to the beautiful lavender escort cards and the hand crafted menus – every inch of the ceremony and reception was a reflection of us and our collaboration with these two talented women. Marie-Emilie was with us every step of the way and I can’t thank her enough for everything she did for us. I am in awe of everyone, Fiona, Duncan, Marie, and Carrie and their talents – our day wouldn’t have been the same without them.

Our very dear friend and Brian’s best man officiated our wedding; laughter and tears were a constant theme during the short but very personal ceremony. Lavender seeds were tossed, which were both beautiful and fragrant while Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” wrapped it all up. To this day, Brian and I can’t smell lavender without thinking of our special day. We all walked over the bridge and down the river 10 minutes to our beautiful reception site, a restaurant on the water called Le Quai where we dined, laughed, sang, and danced until 2:00am. At midnight we passed out mini bottles of champagne with straws that read “Merci!” and “Midnight in Paris” and had a midnight champagne toast with sparklers in the rain along the river.

We were both extremely emotional during the ceremony but the day was just so surreal. We kept telling each other over and over again – I can’t believe we get to celebrate our marriage in Paris – because it was so much more than a wedding – it was a celebration of our lives together. It may have been the hottest day of the year in Paris, but we wouldn’t have changed a thing. If I were to pass along any advice to anyone planning their wedding it would be don’t stress the small stuff, and savor every single moment. It goes by SO quickly. People tell you that, but you won’t realize until you’re truly IN it.

Photography: Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography | Videography: Duncan Wolfe | Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Bride's Shoes: Louboutin | Hair & Makeup: Lexi Derock | Bouquet & Boutonniere: L'Artisan Fleuriste | Bridesmaids' Gifts: Plum Pretty Sugar | Bridesmaids' Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Dessert / Maracons: Laduree | Groomsmen Gifts: Warby Parker | Groom’s Suit: J.Crew | Headpiece: Untamed Petals | Invitations, Stationary, Stamps, Bags, Guestbook: Pink Toast Ink | Planning, Design, Reception Florals: MON PLUS BEAU JOUR | Sash: Vera Wang | Tote Bags: Zazzle

My stomach is already growling with thoughts of turkey & dressing this November. Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite time of year, not only for the gathering of family and friends but also for the fun ways you can layer up your wardrobe. I tend to steer on the more casual side of dressing for Thanksgiving but even if it means just adding a piece of bling, there should always be a bit of flair incorporated into your holiday outfit. Here are a few things I plan on wearing for Turkey Day! For more fashion inspiration, head on over to my blog Damsel in Dior.

Barbour: Amazon | Bauble Bar: Amazon | Black & White Check Jacket Image: Happily Grey | Breckelle's: Amazon | Burberry: Amazon | Cozy Socks Photo: East Coast Class | Essie: Amazon | Fall Bun Photo: Vallmai | Fall Kissing Couple Photo: Revel | Fall Outfit Photo: Atlantic Pacific | J. Crew: Amazon | Madewell: Amazon | Menswear Inspired Photo: Sea of Shoes | Michael Kors: Amazon | Scarf Bundled Overhead Image: Model Love | Vendor: Damsel In Dior | View of Central Park Image: Bond & Co.

We all know that wedding planning + inspiration gathering has come a long way from ripping pages out of bridal magazines! In today’s digital age, couples gather ideas everywhere from blogs to Pinterest, and thanks to Kumbuya, the social commerce platform allowing people to build communities around common interests, the wonderful world of wedding inspiration has gotten even more fabulous!

With a vibrant network of over 7,300 communities built by its members, Kuymbuya allows users to buy and sell products, upload media and share content that relates to a specific theme or concept. Spanning everything from travel, fashion, music, food — and of course, weddings — Kumbuya members are using the platform to share and gather endless inspiration. How amazing is that, my dears?

One of the site’s fastest growing and most popular communities was started by George Street Photo, an event photography + video company that has roots in several cities! Using Kumbuya, George Street Photo can share ideas for wedding dresses, florals and gorgeous venues all in one location! With this much pretty in one place, be prepared to spend some serious time browsing! Head over here to get signed up for free and start building your community! Enjoy, lovelies! xo

Photo Credits: George Street Photo + Video

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If there is something more beautiful than a bride on her wedding day, I’ve never come across it in my 26 years. The joy and elation surrounding her every move is the absolute best and it’s the reason I spend my day in the happiest of tears. This wedding from Scott Piner Photography features one of the most stunning brides I’ve ever seen and her wedding day is a reflection of that. Everything from Fiore Fine Flowers‘ floral design to the gorgeous Southern outdoor locale is happiness embodied. It’s almost all right here… but don’t forget to save a little time for the fab film from Life Stage Films!

From the Bride – Our love story has proven to be more of a marathon than a sprint. Adam and I met and began dating while at school at the University of Tennessee. After we graduated, it was another three years before we were able to finally live in the same city again. After this period of long distance, we finally were able to move to be together and decided to settle in Raleigh, NC.

During the course of our relationship, we always held the North Carolina coast as a very special place, specifically Oak Island where we have had a family beach house for the past thirty years. In May of 2012, nearly ten years after we met, Adam proposed on the beach there, the very place where I had taken my first steps.

With my family being from Philadelphia, PA and Adam’s from Chattanooga, TN, it made perfect sense to get married at a destination location that is so special to us. Wilmington, NC is just 30 minutes from Oak Island, and is filled with southern charm and history. Adam and I fell in love with the Bellamy Mansion at first sight. Located on a historic, downtown street, filled with live Oaks covered in Spanish Moss, it is an absolutely magical place. It was very important to us that our ceremony and reception were outside. The garden area and grounds at Bellamy were filled with Magnolia trees, their flowers at the peak of bloom in early June. The location provided the perfect backdrop to incorporate natural elements without having to bring much on site.

On the morning of our wedding, I woke up feeling just as relaxed and calm as ever; a disposition that is not typical for me! My intuition proved to be right. The day couldn’t have gone more smoothly – the weather was perfect, our happy guests danced all night, we ate delicious food, and our dog, Cooper, who is very special to us, made an appearance at the end of the night! We celebrated with the bridal party, family and friends from across the country for the rest of the week on Oak Island.

Hands down, my favorite moment of the day was seeing Adam’s eyes well up with tears as I walked down the isle. It was just an absolutely perfect day and we couldn’t have been happier.

Photography: Scott Piner Photography | Cinematography: Life Stage Films | Wedding Planning and Design: Social Butterfly Events | Flowers: Fiore Fine Flowers | Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani | Wedding Cake: Imaginary Friends Bakery | Invitations: The Paper Butterfly | Ceremony Venue: Bellamy Mansion | Reception Venue: Bellamy Mansion | Shoes: Sam Edelman | Bridesmaids: Bari Jay | Catering: Pine Valley Market | Hair & Makeup: Bangz Salon | Lighting: High Performance Lighting | DJ: Active DJ Entertainment

You know what I love? A couple that doesn’t take themselves too seriously. Just like these two love bugs who planned a wedding with equal parts elegance and spunk. They asked Mark Brooke Photography to capture their very special day with JL Designs behind the styling and blooms. I’m sort of obsessed with every last bit, which is why I’ll be swooning this modern LA affair from the inside out.

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Patrick and Jeni became friends early in high school, although they did not fall in love until almost 15 years later. Staying friends throughout the years, their friendship became very close after a few vacations together with their tight group of friends! When they both were unsure of whether to take the leap into a love relationship they looked to the universe for a sign! And there it was! Jeni expressed to her mother she felt Patrick was leaning towards a more loving relationship when he began sending flowers to her work and sweet text messages. Jeni’s mother responding by saying it looked as though the feeling was mutual. A mother knows best! The very next day Jeni’s mother surprisingly ran out of gas in their local town. Another sweet lady pulled up and offered to help Jeni’s mother, seeing that she was distressed. As the two ladies got to talking they realized they were Patrick and Jeni’s mothers! They laughed and rejoiced about how the couple was ‘meant to be together’! And it was with that sign Patrick and Jeni fell in love!!

Patrick’s love for automobiles, motorcycles and everything masculine and Jeni’s love for eclectic things and unique events led them straight to the Smog Shoppe for their wedding! Jeni’s passion was to bring in the Executive Chef Chris Garasic of Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach, where she works as the Director of Events. The menu included fresh passed canapés, prime rib and shrimp scampi. The couple handcrafted their table numbers and cake stand from reclaimed wood found at Pat’s industrial warehouse. Carissa of JL Designs worked with Jeni to create a vintage, yet feminine and romantic reception to include industrial accents and an old Hollywood influence. A long dining table covered in Tuscany olive table linen from La Tavola and bouquets of creamed and white garden roses set in galvanized metal and wood vases lined the space. Pat wore a charcoal suite from Mattucci Tailors along with a argyle bowtie and themed Irish socks with lucky Shamrocks! Jeni wore a gown by Amy Michelson made of silk and lace cap sleeves. Jeni’s father was ordained and married the couple! Guests danced the night away to music by DJ Andy of Vox DJ’s and enjoyed ice cream from Sweet Lucie’s and cake from Lido Bakery. The guests visiting from Iowa and Ohio as well as the local South Bay enjoyed all of the uniqueness of the Smog Shoppe, the vintage flair and efforts the couple created for their special wedding day!

Photography: Mark Brooke Photography | Coordination: LVL Weddings & Events | Florist: JL Designs & Events | Wedding Gown: Mon Amie Bridal Salon | Cake: Lido Bakery | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Makeup: Jacob's Hair Studio | Wedding Venue: SmogShoppe | Accomodations: The Culver Hotel | B&G Transportation - Rolls Royce: O'Gara Coach Company | Catering and Bar: Shade Hotel Redondo Beach | DJ - reception: Vox DJs | Ice Cream: Sweet Lucie's | Invtiations: Amber Moon | Linen: BBJ La Tavola | Management Co: TACT | Photo Booth: Mobile Photo Booth | Rentals: Signature Party Rentals | Tailors: Mattucci Tailoring And Tuxedoes | Wedding Gown Designer: Amy Michelson | valet: Jeffrey Valet

We’ve had the pleasure at peeking behind the scenes of a few of our favourite independent artists in the past, but none have quite sucked me in like Momental Design’s. Her studio is overflowing with pretty petals of the handmade variety, and I couldn’t be more in love. Captured by With Love and Embers, there’s a full gallery of pretty, just for you!

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From Kristy… We work on a 40 acre farm with a ton of character.  We rallied our passions to create an inspiring place that would not only fit our big personalities but also suit the hustle and bustle of our daily comings and goings.  The studio combines a busy production area, my personal studio space, an inspiration wall, a prop “closet”, packing room and meeting room.

My goal when creating this studio: It had to be be pretty enough to keep the creative juices flowing and tough enough to stand up to our creative wear and tear.  Yes, our floors are covered in paint everyday and we love it!

Studio furniture is an eclectic mix of mostly old and some new.  Ikea desks are perfect for production because they are lightweight and easy to rearrange per the whims of any project.  Painting and designer tables range from old diner style, colorful laminate tops to rustic Pennsylvania dutch style kitchen tables with colorful carvings.

I’m a collector of everything.  Anything that could inspire a new creation or possibly be used as a unique embellishment is like candy.  I display my treasures on big open shelves in my work space to be seen and used everyday!

And you guys? It gets better. Because the sweet Kristy has agreed to give one lucky SMP’er $150 towards anything in her new shop.  Yep – iphone cases, art prints & hand painted calendars are all up for grabs!

The Prize: The winner will receive a $150 gift card to use towards anything in Kristy’s shop

To Enter: Head on over to Momental Designs and let us know what you have your eye on!

To Win: Comment by The deadline to enter is Thursday, November 14th at 11:59 pm EST. One winner will be drawn at random and announced right here on Friday, November 15th.

Terms & Conditions: Can all be found right here.  Good luck loves! xoxo

Photography: With Love & Embers | Studio: Momental Designs

I’ve professed my love for Australian weddings a time or two on this little ol’blog, but how could I not when we get to feature weddings like this one from Kellie Blinco Photography? Filled with gorgeous light and perfectly placed details, it’s impossible to not be in love with every image sitting in this gallery. See them all here.

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From Kellie Blinco Photography..Sarah and Todd’s Wedding started in Gladstone Qld – where the couple had chosen to get married in at Star of the sea church. Sarah had her dress made by the Mother of one of her bridesmaids – who was up til 4am the morning of the wedding making finishing touches. Sarah told me the French Lace for her dress was the same as Princess Kates.

Sarah’s Dad owns a yellow combi – and he loves them – so the wedding cars were Combi’s which really suited the wedding. The reception was held at Cedar Galleries – an artists village, near Calliope QLD. The reception was all handmade and set up by their good friend.

From the Bride…

What was the best part of the day?

All of it! There were so many special moments throughout the day and memories that we will cherish forever.

How did you feel when you put your dress on?

Putting the dress on was like something out of a fairytale. One of my bridesmaids mother is a designer and made my dress from exquisite satins and French lace. The wedding day was the first time I wore the dress complete. I had many fittings with the dress in pieces but as it was such a delicate dress, the final touches could only be made half an hour before the wedding ceremony.

What went through your mind as you walked towards Todd, to say your I Do’s?

I was actually hoping I wasn’t too late! Then I paused, took a deep breath, looked around and took in what was about to happen. It was a beautiful moment.

What was the most special part of the wedding day?

We had too many special moments to name just one. The ceremony was intimate, the reception was fun and we had many laughs throughout the day. Walking down the aisle (as mentioned above) and walking in to the reception venue (Cedar Galleries Art & Craft Village). A lot of effort and collaboration went in to the styling of our wedding day and the way it looked just took my breath away; I couldn’t have been happier with it. Thanks must go to Aleisha from Pretty My Love for her inspiration, guidance and patience with me, and to a girlfriend, Megan, and sister-in-law Alanna, for making our reception magical.

Photography: Kellie Blinco and Sam McGrath of Kellie Blinco Photography | Styling: Aleisha from Pretty My Love | Flowers: Lavish Flowers of Bundaberg | Wedding Dress: Maria Smith from Marsuzs Designs | Cake: Mother of the Groom | Ceremony: Our Lady Star of the Sea | Reception: Cedar Galleries | Catering: Chattin Café | Make-up: Blush.by Anna | Hair: Mel and Raylene from Hair Culture by Raylene | Transportation: Buslink | Rentals: Capricorn Event Decorators

Like all of the amazing weddings Troy Grover sends our way, this wedding is easy to obsess over.  It’s that perfect mix of laid-back California elegance with that sweet sophistication and glamour that just comes with a venue like the Montage Laguna Beach.  And then there is the beautiful bride and groom (plus their awesome friends and family), who happen to fill up every last frame with a pure, unadulterated happiness that simply brings a smile to your face.  See it all in the full gallery. 

From Troy Grover Photographers… Nadia and Nolan are a laid back couple with a love for beautiful places and things. The elegance of the space, along with the gorgeous ocean view, made the Montage Laguna Beach the perfect venue for the two. Being that the couple loves the ocean, combined colors of aqua, navy, ivory and metallic’s played a reoccurring roll throughout the day.

It was a beautiful day in Laguna Beach as pool goers watched the wedding take place over the pool deck. Nadia glistened as she walked down the aisle and not far in front of her was Laika, the couple’s sweet dog. She made for the most adorable flower girl! She is so shy that she had to be carried down the aisle by the bride’s friend and ring bearer, Ray.

The ceremony concluded and the bride and groom were more than ready to celebrate! Nadia and Nolan love to be with friends and family and always with a great drink in hand; they are the ultimate hosts! All of their family and friends know that fireball whiskey is a must at every party without fault, so they had to incorporate fireball at their wedding. Sasha, the maid of honor and bride’s sister, toasted with all of their guests with a fireball shot to start of the night right.

Nadia’s dad and family are from the Middle East, meaning guests flew in from all different parts of the world such as Egypt, Syria and Lebanon. To incorporate their Middle Eastern culture, hookah and belly dancers played important roles throughout the late hours of the reception.

While preparing for the wedding, Nadia and Nolan found photos from Nadia’s parents wedding where her parents are standing next to an ice sculpture of a camel. They thought this was beyond hilarious! All in good fun, they decided to keep the tradition going with their very own ice sculpture of a camel with the picture of her parents next to it! Nolan’s family is from Chicago and their favorite family treat is Fanny Mae Chocolates. Nolan’s mom made adorable little boxes of individually wrapped chocolates for each guest tied off with a perfect aqua bow.

The night concluded with LA All Stars dancing and singing and Lime Food Truck serving late night munchies!

Photography: The Grovers | Flowers: Jenny B Floral Design | Dress: The White Dress | Hair: Ashley Christman | Venue: Montage Laguna Beach | Invitations, Signage, Paper Goods: Amber Moon | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Planner/Designer: Intertwined Events | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

No doubt about it, this bride is awesome.  She’s witty (see: her cute-as-can-be description), beautiful and that certain kind of style-savvy that I can only wish I could be.  In other words, she rocks.  And her wedding?  A zebra print filled love fest with bright coral hues, a show-stopping Mori Lee gown and an entire gallery of pretty from Brittania Drew Photo & Video.  Click here for sooo much more.

And a gorgeous film from Brittania Drew Photo & Video to wrap up the day? Yes, please.

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From the Bride… The perfect guy, the perfect dress, the perfect day… and the perfect pair of zebra shoes.

Nick proposed only three months after we met. In sweat pants. So classy. But it’s part of our story and only one of the thousand things that makes us — us!

First off let me tell you… Nick had fair warning. The other “great love” of my life has been zebra print since I was old enough to recognize it. I always thought I’d outgrow the obsession but there I was, 25 years old trying to incorporate zebra into our wedding. How do you plan a wedding that incorporates zebra, coral, puzzle pieces, and all that sparkles? I don’t know but somehow we pulled it off! I chose Coral Red Mori Lee Bridesmaids dresses for my girls to break up the black and white-ness of it all. The girls wore zebra shoes and carried zebra clutches. I wore a lush Mori Lee Fit and Flare dress with shards of organza covering the trumpet. For added support and of course added BLING the ladies at the boutique helped me choose a custom beaded belt that was attached as a halter. To carry through the lush feel of my dress I chose Hydrangea bouquets for the girls accompanied by Amsterdam Coral Roses, the stems of which were wrapped in…you guessed it! Zebra Print! My custom zebra print black crystal and white pearl shoes were by Marc Defang and I absolutely loved them.

We were married by our pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows which has a beautiful little white chapel with stained glass windows. One important aspect of our wedding ceremony was having our Grandmothers as our flower girls which was a big hit! At our reception we had a white fondant cake with zebra print ribbon and sugar flowers with crystal stone centers to tie in the vases that I spent hours working on with nothing but my E6000 and crystals! Tall hydrangea centerpieces filled the reception space and my DIY crystal covered candles lit up the room.

My brooch bouquet was a project I started a year before the wedding, collecting brooches, earrings, buttons, you name it! All from our family. I hand tied some crystal ribbon to wrap my bouquet “corset style” to match the back of my dress. I repeated this pattern on a memorial candle at our reception. Nick and I have been calling each other our “puzzle pieces” since we met. This was so important to us to incorporate into our wedding because we believe that God has made us one through marriage. A Complete Puzzle. We had a puzzle guest book that I made and had all of our guests sign. We dressed it up by placing the pieces in crystal boxes we purchased at a craft store. 2 interlocking puzzle pieces topped our wedding cake and perfectly reflected us as man and wife.

From start to finish our wedding reflected our relationship, our style, and our love for each other.

Photography: Brittania Drew Photo & Video | Cinematography: Brittania Drew Photo & Video | Florist: Shamrock Garden Florist | Cake: Oak Mill Bakery | Ceremony: Harvest Bible Chapel Rolling Meadows | Reception: Empress Banquets | Shoes: Marc DeFang | Bridesmaids: Mori Lee | DJ: Dance Flow Control | Limo: M&M Limousine | Bridal Bouquet: Handmade by Family | Dress + Jewelry: Here Comes the Bride | Program + Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas

I don’t think I could love this wedding more if I tried. Actually I know I couldn’t. It’s filled to the brim with details so darling I could squeal, and a couple so adorable I just want to squeeze them. I basically want to spend all day with these gorgeous images from Well, Hello Photography, and I might do just that. See all the pretty here.

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From the Bride, Annie…The first time Duncan took me to God’s Mountain seven years ago my jaw dropped and I fell instantly in love with its eclectic beauty. The white washed stucco buildings on the property reminded me of being in Greece or Italy and the warm evening breeze made me feel drunk with romance. Rows of Riesling vines lead away from the main guesthouse and toward the towering rock faces that surround the property. Tiny strings of lights lit our way as Duncan’s good friend and now proprietress of the Mountain showed us to our room. We zigzagged through the main house past walls of books, cases full of tiny figures and dishes and curious tools, past antique accordions and typewriters, through hallways where faces in huge oil paintings watched us. I felt like we had gone back in time. Each of the 14 rooms in the house was different from the last and each was decorated with more countless antique objects. That was the beginning of our love affair with God’s Mountain and we have been back every year since. We even moved to the Mountain to work on the property cleaning rooms, working in the vineyard and helping with whatever else needed doing–just to be there. Last summer on our visit to God’s Mountain we sat in the vineyard and Duncan proposed to me over a sunset and a bottle of local wine. This very special place became even more special and we knew we had to have our wedding here.

Our venue didn’t need much in the way of decoration so we kept it simple. This worked in our favour as we were on a tight budget. We wanted rustic romance for our wedding so we had friends and family rescue used glass jars from their recycling bins for us. We put a candle in each one and hung all 88 of our collection with jute from the tree branches surrounding the reception and dance floor areas. It looked like fireflies in the trees. Duncan made hand painted signs with recycled wood scraps found in our neighbourhood. We made little envelopes and filled them with lavender for our guests to shower us with after the ceremony instead of rice. I made terrariums using gathered moss and twigs from our local hiking trail, and crafted some crepe paper flowers to pretty them up. We used olive branches from around the property to wrap around banisters and local peaches as a centrepiece.

Sarah, the owner and spirit behind God’s Mountain’s eccentric style, had been a dear friend to Duncan for years and through our time spent there, had become like family to me. It seemed only fitting to have her perform our ceremony. We wanted everything about our wedding to feel personal and intimate. We even had our pug Louise as our ring barer. We had all of our photos taken before our ceremony which meant that afterwards we got to enjoy sparkling wine, canapés, and cello music with our guests.

Our favourite part of this magical day was the time we spent with our guests sitting around one long communal table. Local, seasonal, and organic food from nearby farms was expertly prepared by our caterers. Paired with our favourite Okanagan wine and a beautiful view of Skaha Lake in the background, it was an experience we will not forget. I made our wedding cake myself and it felt good to offer our guests a sweet ending made with so much love.

Photography: Well, Hello Photography | Flowers: Budget Blooms | Wedding Dress: From Bella Sposa | Cake: Cake By Annie | Shoes: Vera Wang | Bridesmaids dresses:: ASOS | Hair and Makeup: Michelle Miller | Groom's Suit: J.Crew | Caterers: Joy Road Catering | Cellist: Martin Kratky | Ceremony & Reception: Gods Mountain Estate | Veil:: Gilded Shadows

Have I mentioned just how much I love a classic wedding?  Because sharing this gem of a day captured by Robin Nathan seems like the perfect time to repeat myself.  I’m talking sophisticated details, gorgeous bridesmaid frocks (hello Jenny Yoo) and a seriously stunning bride and groom filling our galleries with pretty and teaching us just how awesome a traditional (with a twist) wedding can be.  Dive into all of the amazingness right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Tyler and I wanted our wedding to exude classic elegance with a dramatic edge. We looked to incorporate our Jewish traditions in a way that fit with that vision, such as our huppah, which featured floating candles, flowers and my maternal grandfather’s tallis.

It was important to me to find a dress that mirrored the décor: dramatic and edgy but also classic and tasteful. I pulled a lot of inspiration from architectural and structural designs, as seen in my dress and the wedding cake. My dress made the whole vision come together for me. I was excited when I found my bridesmaids dresses at Jenny Yoo because they followed that same inspiration and looked amazing on my girls.

The heart charm on my bouquet was worn by my grandmother on her bouquet when she got married 64 years ago as well as by my sister on her wedding.

We took special care with the hospitality bags as our DIY project. We brought together our favorite items from my home, Atlanta, and Tyler’s, Minnesota. We also gave our out of town guests a taste of the South with fried chicken and waffles at our after party.

My sister and I planned our weddings at the same time. She was married in June in Atlanta. We are very similar so we worked hard to define our own styles and keep them distinct. We shared a veil to honor how close we are.

Photography: Robin Nathan Photography | Photography: Robin Nathan Photography | Cinematography: Evolution Video | Coordination: Magnolia Events & Planning | Floral Design: Andy Beach | Floral Design: Andy Beach | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Stationery: Fontastic | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Make-up: Van Michael Salon | Hair: Todd with Studio Todd G Salon | Band: Rupert's Orchestra | Wedding Venue: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis

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This wedding is awesome in literally every sense of the word with two seriously adorable sweethearts saying “I do” in one of the most creative (+ fun) ways you’ll ever see.  And by “creative,” I mean a carnival-esque type party complete with funnel cake (YES), amazing paper goods and oversized balloons aplenty. Even better?  All of the happiness is sitting pretty in the full gallery captured by Bowerbird Photography. Join me there for more.

From Bowerbird Photography… We received a call from Angela last spring, telling us that she and her girlfriend were flying from Texas to San Francisco for Gay Pride weekend. Angela wanted to propose to Erica on the trip and wanted the proposal photographed. We took them to Golden Gate Park and it was a perfect proposal, with Erica sitting in a buckeye tree in the Botanical Gardens. We felt an immediate bond with them and were thrilled when they asked us to come to Texas to document their wedding on March 15, 2013. The wedding was at Cedar Bend Events, a gorgeous outdoor location.

From the Brides… When we first started planning our wedding, we agreed on almost everything, immediately. We knew there were a few things that we definitely wanted. We were warned repeatedly, by other couples, that the wedding would go by in a flash and we would hardly remember it once it was over. We wanted a wedding we could never forget! We also wanted a wedding that our guests could really enjoy.

The county fair theme came to us quickly on our flight home from San Francisco, where we had just gotten engaged. After all, who wouldn’t want a wedding complete with over-sized balloons, fun food, funnel cakes and yard games?

From our invitations to our streamer send off, every part of our day has become a wonderful memory. One of our favorite moments was walking down the aisle. As a wedding with two brides, we both wanted to walk down the aisle! We walked simultaneously down the the outside aisles, escorted by our fathers. Our guests got to witness us see each other for the first time. It was incredible and emotional!

Though the weatherman predicted thunderstorms all day, the clouds cleared just in time and every detail came together perfectly. It was truly a day to remember. But how could we forget? Our friends and family still talk about our wedding and what a great celebration it was!

Wedding Photography: Bowerbird Photography | Flowers: Cedar Bend Events | Wedding Dresses: Melange Bridal | Catering: My Little Things Catering | Make-up: Mandy Hernandez | Hair: LucieMarie | Balloons: Balloons 'N' Smiles | Funnel Cake: Hands Off My Funnel Cake | Jam: My Little Things Catering | Photo booth: Ed's Photo Booth | Pies: Maxine's on Main | Wedding + Reception: Cedar Bend Events

This post is basically my dream come true. I’ve been obsessed with elopements since the beginning of time, so when you give me an elopement in my favorite city in the world, Paris, I could faint with happiness. Add a stunning Jenny Packham gown and images so pretty I want to hang them in my house from Sarah Kate Photography – and this elopement is in the running for my favorite post ever. See it all here.

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From the Bride: Both Jeff and I wanted our wedding day to be about the two of us, our love and our commitment to one another. Living away from our families in London made this an even easier decision for us. There were only a couple of things that we were set on. One was my dress. I had seen this gorgeous Jenny Packham about a year earlier and without even trying it on, knew that it was my dress. Two was having a relaxing day, spending the entire day together and really enjoying every moment. And three was a beautiful destination. Paris fit the bill perfectly. Neither of us had been since we backpacked in Europe ten years earlier, but were both so excited to go back.

We ended up planning pretty much the entire wedding in two weeks when we found out I was pregnant. We found a gorgeous apartment in the heart of the Latin Quarter that far exceeded our grandest expectations. We had such a relaxing morning getting ready together while nibbling on croissants, then we moved the furniture around and had the ceremony in the apartment in front of a beautiful fireplace. After that we were picked up in 2 CV with our photographer for pictures all around the city, which for two people who hate having their pictures taken was actually so much fun thanks to Sarah Kate. We finished pictures around 7:30 and cancelled our dinner reservations to stay home with pizza! The day could not have been more perfect!

Photography: Sarah Kate, Photographer | Dress: Jenny Packham | Bouquet: Sarah Kate, Photographer

Studio Nouveau is serving up some serious sweetness today with this LaBelle Winery wedding, and I couldn’t love them more for it. With gorgeous light, lovely details and two of the most adorable flower girls I ever did see, it goes without saying that this gallery is one fabulous place to spend some time today. See it all here.

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Photography: Studio Nouveau | Event Planning: Laurel Events | Wedding Dress: Casablanca | Catering: Fireside Catering | DJ: ECF Entertainment - DJ Boogz | Wedding Venue: LaBelle Winery