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

There are some weddings I could talk about for hours  but the weddings that are the most special weddings to me, leave me speechless. I sit here wondering how to describe how beautiful the couple is, or how palpable their love is. I can’t quite find the words to portray the pure art that is Catherine Hall Studios. I’m not sure how to do the beautiful decor justice through my own words. And really, I just can’t. I simply must send you straight to the gallery.

From the photographer… Impeccably planned, and stylish beyond imagination, the wedding of Lesley Blumenthal Malakoti and Daniel Malakoti was nothing short of breathtaking. With Viansa Winery bursting in an abundance of ripe summer grapes, the backdrop was set for a perfectly picturesque summer ceremony, in which Lesley endearingly wore the exact same pair of crystal encrusted Valentino heels that she was wearing on their first date together. So many times we arrive at a wedding, with palpable emotions filling our senses, partly with wonder, hope, excitement and joy for the newlyweds to be. And as unique as each wedding is, with the countless possible color, food, and music combinations, the story of how two people embarked on their journey toward this day is one that always invokes curiosity, and sparks hope in the hearts of so many.

Two separate yet equally prestigious educations led these Lesley and Daniel to find jobs in San Francisco CA, where success was booming and possibility was abundant. Late Winter 2009, at an exclusive watering hole called “Slide”, Daniels friend was hosting a birthday party at the gorgeous “speakeasy” style bar, and fate would have it that Lesley’s friend was also hosting a birthday party there on the very same night. Mingling came naturally between the groups, and low and behold, conversation sparked, and a first date ensued. Their first dinner together was a success, and it would certainly not be their last, as a matter of fact many dates followed as their relationship blossomed, and Daniel’s plan to propose lingered on the horizon.

Propose he did, as they spent a weekend away in Sonoma, CA, on their way to exclusive dinner reservations at The French Laundry. As they were on their way to dinner, Daniel savored the last few moments of sunset light, asked the driver to pull over near a Napa Vineyard to pose for a picture, and proposed to Lesley amongst the vines. Jump to June 30th, 2012, bride positively glowing in and Enzoani Gown and her groom dressed impeccably in Hugo Boss, surrounded by a motif of champagne colored linens, elaborate floral undertones, and crystal encrusted elements, Lesley and Daniel were happily married. With a ceremony and reception carefully coordinated by Courtney Antonetti, and catered by Sage Catering, all of the details flowed beautifully, from the floral arrangements, to the exceptional champagne and hors d’oeuvres, to the sliders and S’mores served by the open fire upon nightfall. Pops of colorful bouquets decorated the champagne schematic, and crystals glistened well into the night as the couple enjoyed the amazing scenery of Viansa, and savored their wedding day well into the evening. Friends and Family danced, and sipped champagne as they wished the couple well on their journey of marriage. Shortly after, the couple honeymooned in Italy and France, lingering in their newlywed status, and building a foundation for memories to come.

When Lesley Blumenthal Malakoti and Daniel Malakoti think back on their picturesque wedding day, surely they will be filled with joy, reminiscing about the touching ceremony where they celebrated their love with their closest family and friends. Forever, even the smallest of details will remain emblazoned in their memory; the way the flatware sat beautifully upon linens they chose, perfectly colorful centerpieces brightly illuminated their reception, and the symbolism behind their crystal encrusted accent pieces. With no doubt, Lesley and Daniel truly proved that uniqueness can be expressed through many ways, and influence every choice on such a special occasion.

Photography: Catherine Hall Studios | Photography: Catherine Hall Studios | Coordinator: Viansa Sonoma | Flowers: Wine Country Flowers | Wedding Cake: Forget-Me-Not Cakes | Invitations: Able Printing of San Jose | Catering: Sage Catering | Bride's Dress Designer: Enzoani | Ceremony & Reception Venue: Viansa Sonoma | DJ/Band: Denon And Doyle | Groom's Wardrobe & Shoe Designer: Hugo Boss | Shoe Designer for the Bride: Valentino | Vendor: Catherine Hall Studios

It’s official, Lexia Frank needs to be my BFF. We’ve already travelled to Paris, Switzerland, Amsterdam & Brussels with this lucky girl, and now we get to peek at The Netherlands through her lens. And her lens? It’s been good to us. One peek through the gallery and I have no doubt you’ll see exactly what I mean.

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From Lexia… My grandmother grew up in a tiny tiny little village in the Netherlands, and it has always been my mother’s dream to visit the village she grew up in for the first few years of her life. Although all of our blood relatives have since passed away, their caretakers and friends still live in the same little village. After decades of planning this voyage, my mother, sister, and I decided to make it a reality.

The town my grandmother grew up in is extraordinarily small, just a handful of blocks. To get there, we had to rent a car from Amsterdam and drive through the vast countryside. This was a hysterical experience- my 66 year old mother driving through the streets of Amsterdam while my sister and I screeched in fear of the bicyclists flying by, but well worth the effort. one of my favorite memories was stopping along side a country road to run out into a farm field in full bloom of tulips. This wouldn’t have been an odd experience other than the fact that I was running in my new wooden shoes I had bought from the wooden shoe factory the day before. If running through a field of tulips wearing wooden shoes isn’t on your bucketlist… it should be.

After walking through the small villages where my grandmother grew up and visiting gravesites and visiting with family friends, we went to Edam (home of Edam Cheese) to see the cheese factory and windmills. The wooden shoe factory there is incredible- they demonstrate how they carve out the shape of the shoe, and then decorate it with carvings (like mine) that are typical of ‘wedding shoes’ or paintings that indicate the dutchman’s home province. We are from Friesland (specifically) and our province’s shoe is decorated with what look like hearts but are actually red waterlilly leaves. The shoes are still worn for things like gardening, and they are really quite comfortable. i wore my wooden shoes all day touring the countryside as well as downtown Amsterdam (although i did get a few funny looks, as they are not worn in the city, but i didnt care). When we return to Holland, i’m dying to stay at a tiny little bed and breakfast we discovered: hotel de fortuna on a picturesque little cobblestone street in the heart of tiny Edam.

Lastly, we visited the Keukenhof gardens, arguably one of the most famous gardens in the world, and it’s annual tuplip time flowerbeds are awe-inspiring. For hours we strolled this garden, and it was amazing to have both the experience of this garden, as well as the experience of walking through the farmer’s fields of tulips in the countryside.

The mix of personal heritage and beauty made me have so much appreciation for my dutch ancestry. The welcoming people, the misty cool atmosphere, and the sheer beauty of this low country makes me want to get back the first chance I get.

Photography: Lexia Frank Photography | Hotel: Hotel de Fortuna | Gardens: Keukenhof Gardens | Location: Edam | Location: Friesland

In just a few weeks I’ll be taking a little holiday hiatus to the countryside of Ireland. Just me and my love in a quaint Irish cottage. So naturally, when this like-minded English wedding came my way, my excitement level nearly shot through the roof.  It’s filled to the gills with that quiet charm and unexpected whimsy. And this pretty set of photos we’re swooning? All thanks to the talented Jay Rowden. Grab that mug o’ coffee and take a trip across the pond in full gallery right here.

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From Jay Rowden…. A simply stunning summer wedding reception at a Mr & Mrs Smith boutique hotel in the heart of The Cotswolds with details to die for. The couple in question, Mr & Mrs Cotton, created a gorgeous wedding with details heavy on the cotton theme. Cotton yarns on thread for the table plans, cotton ribbons galore, tiny balls of real cotton attached to each place setting, a cotton wreath on the church door, hymn sheets fashioned into cornets for the lavender confetti and all topped off with a stunning Jesus Peiro dress. The bride and groom married in a church which was almost 900 years old and had their wedding reception a short walk away at The Rectory.

Photography: Jay Rowden | Videography: Dean Sherwood | Flowers: Flowers By Passion | Wedding dress: Jesus Peiro | Church: All Saints Church, Crudwell | Brides shoes: LK Bennett | Grooms Suit: Paul Smith | String Quartet: Bryden String Quartet | Hotel: The Rectory | Bridal Veil: Rainbow Club | Choir: Swindon Male Voice Choir | Wedding Band: Funkify | Wedding Dress Shop: Miss Bush Bridal | Wedding Hair: Sheena Warltire | Wedding Make Up: Emily Tarrant | Wedding Rings: Lionel J Wiffen

This film?  This beautiful look into the heart of one crazy gorgeous wedding?  It’s amazing.  The kind of amazing that sort of takes your breath away.  And then there’s this moment.  This raw, emotional moment where the groom sees his bride walk down the aisle for the very first time… and it’s heart-stopping.  Press play to see every last second captured by Bridges Cinema, because it’s sooo worthy of your work day break.

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From Bridges Cinema… There is nothing more spectacular for a filmmaker than to see through your lens the story of two people who love each other come together in one magical day. Here’s the story of that day for Parool and Karl. We were privileged to experience not only the union of two families but the fusion of two cultures come together. We love when we can capture that magic!! The magic of the words of a dad who has the privilege of marrying his son. You can feel so much emotion. You can hear the strong bond between brother and sister as you hear the brother’s giving words of advice during his toast. The beauty of this wedding is accentuated by the beauty of the bride & groom, the gorgeous venue, Villa Woodbine and all the intricate details of the wedding. Thank you Parool & Karl for choosing Bridges Cinema to be part of your magical day!

Photography: Katie Lopez Photography | Cinematography: Bridges Cinema | Event Planning: Pawar, Inc | Floral Design: Cameron Keating Events | Catering: Bill Hansen Luxury Catering and Event Production | Venue: Villa Woodbine

With its snowy NYC backdrop, breathtaking candlelit everything and stunning Gramercy Park Hotel setting, this glamorous wedding is the literal definition of romantic.  Which makes perfect sense, really, since this darling bride and groom have one of those crazy cool love stories that is straight-from-a-movie awesome.  Think chance meeting in an elevator meets Paris proposal and you’re on the right track.  Add in the ever-talented Robert & Kathleen Photographers to capture all of the pretty and this, my friends, is a day that deserves your full, undivided attention.  Click here for more.

From Robert & Kathleen Photographers… When Lauren’s friends ask her where they can meet a guy like Josh she has a very simple answer for them. “An elevator.”

It was an ordinary day. Lauren was heading out to take her dog for a walk when the elevator doors opened. There was Josh. Tall, handsome Josh with kind eyes and shy smile. They rode together long enough to learn each other’s names and for Lauren to find out that Josh was new to the building and to Florida, in general. Josh knew he had to get to know that gorgeous blonde whose smile he couldn’t seem to forget. It didn’t take long for a first date to be made and the two of them to hit it off. Living in the same building, they got to know each other quickly and found it surprising (and nice) just how easily they fit into each other’s lives. Lauren showed Josh around her home state, quickly making him feel very much at home there. Josh would return the favor, bringing Lauren up to Connecticut to meet his family and see where he grew up.

What you’ll quickly discover about Josh is that he doesn’t do anything half way. He swept Lauren off her feet better than most leading men do in romantic comedies. But that’s not to say what they have isn’t real. What they have it so sweet, so genuine that the best examples of anything remotely similar that come to mind are from the best books and movies. Because what they have is not only real, it’s rare.

Because it’s rare that you find a man willing to put his heart out there and tell you exactly how he feels. Rare to find a mind that flies you to one of the most romantic cities in the world and asks you to be his wife in a suite overlooking the Eiffel tower. But Josh did just that. Because he knew that what he had found was rare, too. He knew it was rare to find a woman who was just as kind as she was beautiful. Rare to find a woman who was supportive of him and who truly thought for herself. Even more, they knew it was rare to find someone that their friends and family loved almost as much as they did. Because their friends and family could see exactly what they already knew – together, they had become better versions of themselves.

They decided on a destination wedding of sorts, having his family from Connecticut and her family from Florida all gather together in another one of the world’s most romantic cities for their big day. The scene was set: NYC in December. It was a cold day and there was a threat of snow that would have made a lot of other brides nervous. Not Lauren. The cold was a change of pace for her and the snow was the icing on the cake. She could think of few things more romantic than to have snow falling as they said their vows under the glass roof of the Gramercy Park Hotel. And – to top it all off – this was the first snow some of her guests had ever seen. (I have to say, standing there and watching the wonder of snowy NYC through the eyes of Lauren’s sweet friends and family made me fall in love with the city all over again.) But even that, even NYC and the snow falling were no match to the magic of Lauren and Josh themselves. Watching them say their vows, seeing the way they looked up at each and held hands so tight during the ceremony. They were flanked by a sea of friends and family (with crying bridesmaids in the front) all smiling broadly while they shared their first dance.

It was enough to make even the hardest heart melt just a little bit. Enough to make many a single girl to head to the elevator, looking for exactly what Lauren and Josh have found.

Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers | Cake: Ron Ben-Israel Cakes | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Sung | DJ: Jarrell Entertainment | Venue: Gramercy Park Hotel | Bridal Gown: Mikaella Bridal | Bridal Shop: The White Magnolia

If you ask me, destination weddings are the way to go. You get the romance + the travel + the honeymoon all built in one fabulous event. So when I came across this affair from the rolling hills of Tuscany…let’s just say I was a little envious in more ways than one. The whole day was orchestrated by Italia Celebrations, with Joanne Dunn there to capture. We’ve got the full gallery of Italian wedding goodies, and you don’t want to miss the Cinemate’s stunning film waiting down below!

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From the Bride… Erik and I got engaged in the Summer of 2011 on a trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia. Since any wedding was going to be a destination wedding for most of our guests, we thought we might as well pick an awesome destination and make a long weekend out of it. Erik and I decided early on that we wanted all of our guests to stay on-site together. For many of our guests, this would be their first trip to Europe — and for some, their first time on an airplane! — so we wanted to minimize their travel hassle and make it as easy as possible for them to join us. By deciding early on that we wanted a venue that could sleep everyone on-site and had room rates at a variety of price points, we were able to really narrow down our venue search. When we met Brenda at Italia Celebrations, our wedding planner, she said that she had the perfect location for us and she was right.

When we traveled to Tuscany to visit several possible venues we immediately fell in love with the Il Borro estate. We loved the feel of the medieval “borgo” village and the flexibility that the property offered in terms of reception spaces. We loved the colors of the Il Borro estate — the dusty rose of the main Villa, the light cream of the village walls and, of course, the olive green of the Tuscan cypress tree. We decided to build on those colors to create a natural looking palate.

While we knew that we wanted to stick with the natural theme, the look & feel of the wedding really came together when we worked with Emily & Anna at PaperMoss to design our Save the Dates. I’d never cared much about stationery. After watching several friends stress about their invitations, I promised myself that the paper goods would be a low priority for us. But working with Emily & Anna made me quickly change my mind. The ladies at Paper Moss took my rough ideas on look & feel and they created a Save the Date that set the whole tone for our wedding. When our guests wrote to RSVP, more than one person said that they’d been carrying the Save the Date in their purse to show it off to friends!

Everyone says that your wedding will fly by. And that was definitely true for me. Even though we had events spread over five days, it still felt like a whirlwind — an absolutely fantastic whirlwind. Right as I was boarding the plane to Italy, I got the news: It was going to rain. I’m a planner by nature, so I’d spent months thinking about what our “Plan B” would be in the event of bad weather. But even though I’d thought through those ‘worst case scenarios,’ I never really thought that it would happen to us.

When I got the forecast (70% chance of rain), it really hit my spirits hard. Fortunately, my brother — who was lugging my wedding dress through airport security at the time — helped me make a quick decision to plan for a downpour, order a tent for the reception, and resolve not to let the rain water down the weekend.

It turned out to be great advice. While the tent was an extra expense, it easily paid for itself in terms of eliminating any weather-related stress. And true to the rule of ‘preparing for the worst,’ the grey clouds parted just in time for our ceremony and not a drop of rain came down during our big day.

From the Groom… One of my favorite parts of the weekend was our wedding reception. Since we had the opportunity to spend the whole weekend with our guests, Laura and I decided to have our own private table at the reception. This ended up being really nice for us — it was the first time during that whole day that we had a chance to be alone. I loved sitting next to my new wife and soaking it all in together.

We were really fortunate to work with a team of absolutely incredible vendors. From our calligrapher to our caterer, we felt extremely lucky to have the opportunity to work with such talented people who really went the extra mile to make our wedding incredible. Our Italian wedding band even learned how to play Sweet Home Alabama for us! In terms of advice, I’d strongly recommend hiring a wedding planner if you’re having a destination wedding. I love to plan. But I couldn’t have organized a wedding like ours without some professional help. There are so many little things that go into a wedding (..like where you’ll plug in those outdoor fairy lights) and hiring a planner really takes a huge load off your shoulders.

We felt like we really lucked out with Brenda Babcock of Italia Celebrations. Brenda was with us from the beginning — helping us find Il Borro, hire a band and florist, source wedding favors, the works. We worked with her weekly via email for 10 months leading up to the wedding and she was a tremendous source of local knowledge, decorating ideas, and logistical solutions. During the wedding day itself, Brenda and her assistant Linda kept our parents laughing and quietly ensured that everything went off without a hitch. I could not recommend Italia Celebrations more highly.

We also felt fortunate to work with the team at Il Borro who were exceptional hosts for our wedding weekend. The staff at Il Borro went above & beyond to help our guests feel at home. They even bought a waffle iron so they could whip up some American-style waffles for our post-wedding brunch!

Photographer: Joanne Dunn Photographers | Videographer: CineMate Films | Wedding Planner: Brenda Babcock Celebrations | Florist: Noosheen | Bride's shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo | Bridesmaid's dresses: Jenny Yoo | Calligrapher: Megan Chapin Calligraphy | Groom's attire: Hugo Boss | Bride's Dress: Suzanne Neville | Printed Goods: Paper Moss | Tuscan Villa: Il Borro

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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When a whole troop of our favorite vendors put their expertise to use, the resulting wedding is a show stopper to say the least. Vendors like photographer Lacie Hansen who snaps a mighty fine image, designer Jill LaFleur and florist Camilla Svensson Burns who can mold rustic into something fresh and totally elegant and a backdrop like Ojai Valley Inn & Spa that was just made for wedding day feting. See so much more right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… Zach and I met in passing in July 2009 at mutual friend’s going away party in San Francisco, where I lived at the time. Zach flew in from New York City to surprise his friend that evening, and he walked into the party just as I was preparing to leave. There was an immediate and undeniable spark, comfort and connection between us. We both felt it almost immediately. But the timing wasn’t right then for anything beyond conversation; so, we went our separate ways.

Just over a year later, our paths crossed again when I planned a trip to the Hamptons with girlfriends. I wrote to Zach to ask him where us girls should stay, play, eat and sun. After he gave me oodles of thoughtful advice, we continued writing and getting to know each other. A few weeks later. he asked if he could visit me in San Francisco. I was absolutely delighted by his offer, and one beyond expectations first date later, our bi-coastal romance was born!

Over the next seven months, we spent tons of time on the phone and shared several exciting weekend trips and holidays, together — our most romantic being Labor Day Weekend in Santa Barbara. That winter I became a rather adept traveler, honed my skill of functioning at a reasonable level without sleep, developed into a somewhat accomplished skier (due to my patient, understanding, talented and handsome instructor), and fell head over heels in love with my husband to be!

In May 2011, we decided it was time to close the gap and that I would move to New York to live with Zach.  Four months later, I packed up my life and left my dearest friends and beloved California in search of true and lasting love in the Big Apple.

Thankfully, our transition from long distance to inseparable was more seamless than we imagined it would be.  Despite the frantic pace of our lives in NYC, we quickly called one another our best friend and recognized what a profound blessing it would be to spend forever together. Zach proposed the following summer on the beach in Montauk (the most California-esque spot in New York), and the rest is history!

Zach and I fell in love with Santa Barbara area on our first weekend trip there together. We returned as a newly-engaged couple a year later, and we knew the moment that we stepped onto the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa property that it was the place where we would be married. The serenity, purity and natural beauty of the Ojai Valley brought me to tears when I first experienced it, and it will forever hold a special place in our hearts. We absolutely loved sharing its magic with our wedding guests!

Photographer: Lacie Hansen | Videographer: Ram Hernandez | Wedding Planner: La Fleur Weddings & Events | Florist: Camilla Svensson Burns Couture Floral and Event Design | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Ceremony Venue: Ojai Valley Inn | Reception Venue: Ojai Valley Inn | Bridesmaid dresses: Amsale | Hair and Makeup: TEAM Hair and Makeup | Venue: Ojai Valley Inn | Bride Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Dj, Saxophonist & Pianist: Gavin Roy | Earings: Haute Bride | Grooms Bowtie: General Knot | Grooms Cufflinks & Studs: The London Silver Company | Grooms Tux: Brunello Cucinelli | Grooms Watch: Bell & Ross | Grooms shoes: Prada | Invitations and paper goods: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Lighting and Decor: Ambient Event Design | Tote Bags: Toda Totes | Wedding Rings: Michael F and Co. Jewelers

It wasn’t that long ago that we rounded up our most pinned recipes, and now we’re back with my favourite food group: cocktails! Yep, 10 over the top concoctions that have seriously made waves through blogland. Unsurprisingly, I might add, as they’re all ridiculously delicious (I miiight have tested a few of them in my time). I’m dying to know though – what’s your beverage of choice? We’re taking votes and, you never know, your recipe may just end up on our pages!

Oh, and for all you bloggers out there, if there’s one thing I’ve learnt during this experiment it’s that pink cocktails seem to share the best! #themoreyouknow

This wedding holds the trifecta of my biggest obsessions… beautiful weddings photographed brilliantly by Lukas Konarik, no less, Eastern European culture in stunning Prague, and a couple who is so obviously in love, it’s like a breath of fresh air and 360 days of sunshine all wrapped up in one. And the party to celebrate their matrimony was top notch thanks to White-Prague Wedding Agency!

From the planner… Katherine & Eren Kemal from Sleaford, United Kingdom, were married in Prague at a Catholic ceremony in St. Giles church in Prague on 10th August 2013. They are young, so-in-love sweet couple and they had been planning their destination wedding for over a year. They have hired a us at White – Prague Wedding Agency to assist them with the planning, but Katherine still showed her creative side and her and her artsy friends have made lot of things and decorations for the Wedding – Eren said to us before the Wedding –”Katherine has made so many things you won’t believe it.” Katherine knew exactly what she wished for on her wedding day and created a perfect, beautiful concept. We were very happy to be able to help to bring the concept to life. The colours were Navy, Coral, Gold and White.

Katherine has arrived to the ceremony with her father in a vintage white Rolls Royce. The breathtaking Bridal gown was from Angelica Bridal in Islington who custom made the cathedral veil.

Four gorgeous looking bridesmaids were waiting for the Bride outside of the church with the the cutest flower girl and page boy. The Bridesmaids dresses were hand made to order by Hannah Jane designs base in Arklow Ireland . Hannah was the rockabilly bridesmaid with tattoos.

After the traditional Catholic ceremony (performed by English speaking priest) the receiving line and group photo shoot took place in the courtyard of the church – beautiful fairytale garden. Before heading towards the reception, the guests were given pair of sunglasses – as the newlyweds did not want to “blind them with their love,” as the beautifully framed sign placed next to the sunglasses said and made everyone smile. The newlyweds also gave all their guests coral bubbles that they hand painted themselves back in England.

A vintage tram that we recommended as different way of transport brought the guests to the wedding reception. While sipping on sparkling wine, the guests enjoyed the historical sights of Prague. While the 55 guests were having sangria as welcome drinks at the reception venue, the Bride and Groom had a relaxed portrait photo shoot around the Prague Castle with their photographer.

The reception took place in Neo Baroque Ballroom of a hotel in the centre of Prague. The newlyweds were welcomed by a Czech Wedding tradition of breaking the plate. A plate is broken at the feet of the bride and groom and they must sweep the chips together. This tradition has its roots in two superstitions; that chips bring happiness and the newlyweds show a will to cooperate by jointly sweeping the chips away.

One of the cutest things of the day were the Bride and Groom having their dinner at a sweetheart’s table – just the two of them. Food was important to Kat and Eren and they chose the four course Wedding menu at a pre-wedding visit a few months before the wedding.

Katherine loves birds- the guests were putting wedding cards into a bird‘s cage and she hand wrote the bird’s shaped name cards.

Amazing candy bar was situated in one of the niches of the ballroom and was the centre of the attention. From the Bride: “All the the sweets were ordered on line but I used east of India stickers and postcards to create individual labels and quotes to make the sweets more personalized and fit in with our theme. We had jellies, popcorn and candy floss to remind our guest of childhood memories. We made ring box for the candy ring pops and pillow boxes with pocking candy and vintage sweets hidden inside.”

The Macaroon Wedding cake from our amazing pastry chef was to die for: Katherine: “Our amazing cake was chosen as we love macaroons and wanted a wow cake that wouldn’t go to waste and it didn‘t.” The cake topper with a “Better together” sign was from Better Off Wed from Etsy and was custom made in the Wedding colours.

As an evening snack Kat and Eren chose a burger & chip buffet with the glass cokes. It was a real hit hit for the guest too. They loved the idea.

The Brides bouquet was made by her friend and consisted of over 300 brooches, rings and crystals given from friends and family members and special ones from Katherine‘s grandmother who couldn’t be with me her the day. The bridesmaids bouquets were all made from buttons, pearls and 1 brooch each representing their individual style and taste.

The reception tables were decorated with coral and navy flowers. Our motto was- “to make it different.” The main flowers were Gladiolus, Dahlias and Roses.

Katherine had a picture of her grandmother and grandfather on their wedding day at the back of the guest book so they could be there with her on her wedding day.

One of the most touching moments was the when Katherine danced with her father to… and her friends were throwing confetti from the balcony on them..

Photography: Lukas Konarik | Wedding Planning: White-Prague Wedding Agency | Floral Design: Inspirito | Cake: PunkRockCakes | Reception Venue: Grand Hotel Bohemia | Hair & Makeup: Bara K. | Bridal Gown: Angelica Bridal

This love story is pure, raw, romantic, and strong. It’s beautiful in a way that only true love can be. And the wedding takes place in Puerto Rico, so the eye candy is undoubtedly there too. The film from Hoo Films is a stunning representation of Jingjie and Larry’s love story, so here’s your warning: grab the tissues!

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From the cinematographer… From the minute I sat down with Jing and Larry to discuss the details of their day, I knew it was going to be special. They had thought through each and every detail to be sure each moment meant something to the both of them. They chose to have their destination wedding at the Ritz Carlton Reserve in Dorado Beach, which is one of two six star Ritz Carlton resorts in the world…and wow, this place was beyond amazing! And large. Very large. After many challenges and living on separate sides of the Pacific Ocean from one another, they decided to have their fairytale wedding in the Caribbean in Puerto Rico. The weather at Dorado Beach was absolutely perfect on the day of the wedding. Not too hot, not too windy, not too bright. The sun and clouds were just ridiculous and no matter which direction you looked, the scenery was beyond gorgeous.

Jing and Larry decided not to have a photographer for this wedding so that they could just focus on creating a film that captured their story. What an honor! (But, um, no pressure) I am so thrilled I got to work with Jing and Larry for this amazing day and I truly feel it was not even work. Jing and Larry, and their families were beyond amazing to be around. Jing is graceful and Larry charming. You could just feel the happiness radiating in every moment. With their beautiful vows and breathtaking scenery, this film documents the magic that was their wedding day. And so this begins their happily ever after…

Cinematography: Hoo Films | Florist: INTIC Design | Wedding Dress: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Shoes: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Suit: FitWel Custom Clothes | Wedding Venue: Ritz Carlton, Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico

As a mommy of two little ones, I can tell you one thing; finding cute maternity clothes – the beauties that are both chic, comfortable, and magically don’t make you look like you’re wearing a potato sack – is sort of like finding a teeny tiny needle in an enormous haystack. I, for one, loved the way my bump looked and refused to purchase clothes that made it look anything but adorable. Enter Fourth Love. The cutest maternity wear ever. The leather maternity pants, pocket dress, perfect v-neck, all out fabulous kind of maternity wear that cranks maternity style up a notch (or ten!)

If you’re anything like me, you’re swooning right about now. The best part? I mean, besides all of the adorable, cozy maternity fashion of course… Is that each Fourth Love item can easily carry you from mama-to be, to baby on the hip. And as an added bonus, each piece is made right here on our own soil, helping to support our local economy, and save the planet while doing so. Great maternity fashion with a conscience? I’m in.

Oh, and it gets better! The sweet folks at Fourth Love are offering us all a 15% discount on our entire purchase! Simply enter: FOURTHLOVESMP at checkout!

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I’ve always been a girl’s girl. You know — the sort who prefers skirts to jeans; sparkles to sports. So as you can imagine, this pretty-filled Provence shoot is just my cup of tea. It’s girly glam to the core with planning and design all thanks to CountDown Events. (And that Ines Di Santo gown from the lovely Blush Bridal? Don’t even get me started!) Melissa Gidney knocked our socks off with this full gallery of gorgeousness, and you can get in on the fun right over here.

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From CountDown Events Planning & Design… Inspired by the glamour of Provence. We created a setting of natural and relaxed luxury. The Ines Di Santo gown led the way for a romance inspired creative. The long stone wall in the meadow and the beautiful canopy of the trees lend themselves to a European setting.

The colors for the table design were many shades of green, with a punch of color from Tree Peonies in yellow and pink, white exotic blooms, jasmine vine and some metallic accents set against a natural linen. We created an eclectic feel for the table design utilizing both gold flatware, taupe grey ceramic flatware and silver vintage mercury glassware.

A very romantic but regal feel throughout all of the design details. Old world grandeur; the gown was the epitome of soft feminine lace edges – an overall majestic theme was established using gorgeous blooms, gold and mercury accents along with some amazing hand calligraphed stationery. A beautiful blend of luxury and serene natural splendor.

Photography: Melissa Gidney Photography | Cinematography: Life Studios Inc. | Floral Design: Celsia Florist | Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo | Bakery: Laduree | Cake: Sweet Bake Shop | Jewelry: Elsa Corsi | Hair + Makeup: Nadia Albano Style Inc | Invitations + Calligraphy: Laura Lavender Calligraphy & Illustration | Venue: Private Residence | Decor: Upright Decor | Decor: The Cross Decor + Design | Design + Planning: CountDown Events Planning & Design | Dress Boutique: Blush Bridal & Special Occasions

If you ask anyone who knows me, they’ll tell you I’m a bit of a brunch aficionado. It happens to be one of my favourite activities, and it isn’t uncommon for me to dedicate each weekend to testing out new haunts. Though my boyfriend typically appeases my weekend missions, I do think that this timeless and tailored bloody mary brunch at home is something we could both completely agree upon. Boutique Bites has done it again, and there’s a full gallery to prove it. 

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From Boutique Bites… I’m back with another Fashion to Fork video! The theme for this one was Tailored & Timeless — A Bloody Mary Brunch. I wanted to create a video and party that appeals to both guys and girls. My husband and I are both chefs and we host Sunday bloody mary brunches, so that was my inspiration behind this video and look (he makes a cameo as well as one of the party guests!).

I incorporated masculine and feminine accessories into the decor like luggage tag drink holders, flower vases wrapped with belts and scarves, and a muted color palette. For my party attire, I wanted to stay somewhat casual for a weekend brunch, so I paired a floral print Zara pant with a crisp white J Crew button down shirt and navy Zara heels.

Photography: Carasco | Cinematography: Emily Hard Films | Cinematography: Andie Cumber Makeup | Event Design & Food: Boutique Bites

We all know that Stewart Leishman is crazy awesome, but did you also know that he happens to attract some of the coolest couples you will ever have the privilege to virtually meet?  I’m talking sweet, sweet duos that are not only full of love for each other, but also really know how to throw a pretty wedding. Think lush DIY blooms, seriously stunning bridesmaid frocks (hello Sheike) and a whole lot of happy.  See it all right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Jarrod and I met at high school in 2005. He was in Year 12 and I in Year 11. We started to talk at a mutual friends house party, and I thought he asked me out as a joke so I declined. Jarrod was persistent though, so eventually we went on a date. Jarrod had half pink half black hair at the time (hard to believe now!) and I thought he was a little arrogant, but after the first year we dated I realised he was just a big teddy bear and seven years later I couldn’t be happier! He makes me laugh like no one else, and he really is my best friend.

The wedding went amazingly! My family, my bridesmaids and the Minister (my Dad’s best friend) and I all stayed at Summerfields the night before. Summerfields supplied breakfast and lunch for us the next day and the food and staff were unbelievable. We also had two vegans in the group and they were catered for greatly – some of their food looked better than the non-vegans! We set up early in the morning and the rest of the day was so relaxing. From the ceremony, to the photos to the reception – everything went so smoothly there was absolutely nothing to worry or stress about. There really wasn’t anything I could fault on the day. Summerfields was the greatest venue we could have asked for, it made us feel like we were home celebrating with all our friends and family in such a relaxing environment. And the photos! We received the photos a few days ago and I can’t count how many times I’ve look at all of them over and over. Stewart was very courteous not just to us but all of our guests absolutely loved him, and the moments he captured are such wonderful memories every time we look at them we feel like we’re there again. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Photography: Stewart Leishman Photography | Floral Design: Brides Aunt | Reception Venue: Summerfields Country House | Rings: Larsen Jewellery & Saleras Jewellery | Bridesmaids Dresses: Sheike | Makeup: Christine Spiller | Hair: Erin Voyer | Groom's Suit: Cambridge & Co | Brides Dress & Veil: Linda Gorringe Couture | Flower Girl Dress: Target

Just try and spend some time with this wedding and not leave happy. I would go as far as to say it’s practically impossible. Between the pretty blooms by Bloomsters, the pretty details sprinkled throughout and the pretty bride – it’s safe to say all the images from Heather Avrech are sure to put a smile on your face. See for yourself here.

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From Heather Avrech Photography…I’m so excited to share Annie and Dax’s beautiful and intimate wedding with you! When I arrived at Saint Anthony Church in San Jose, I was blown away at how adorably cute and perfect this little church is!! It is nestled in beautiful Almaden in San Jose and surrounded by the popular Quicksilver Trail. I’ve lived in San Jose all my life and never knew about this cute little church..it’s definitely a hidden gem!

Photographing this wedding made me want to go back and redo my whole wedding all over again! I loved the neutral, blush tones she chose. The bridesmaids dresses all different and gorgeous, the flowers were STUNNING. The tables at the La Foret Restaurant were the reception was held was just FILLED with beautiful flowers….just perfection!

After the reception, we drove on over to Annie’s parent’s house where they were having an after party in their backyard. And oh my goodness what a backyard! Seriously gorgeous! The garden, the flowers, the trail, the lights, the dance floor, the bar everything was just absolutely gorgeous. It was absolutely the most beautiful backyard I have ever stepped foot in! Annie and Dax had so much fun at their after party reception they were dancing, laughing and having fun. Everyone was. It was so fun to watch.

Photography: Heather Avrech Photography | Flowers: Bloomsters | Wedding Dress: Haute Bride | Cake: Icing On The Cake | Ceremony Location: St. Anthony Church in San Jose | Reception Location: La Foret in San Jose | Shoes: Nordstrom | Reception Dress: Francesca's

This couple is so incredibly lucky. They not only found the person they can’t imagine living without, but they also got to celebrate their forever love with a wedding that is stylish and then some. Top it all off with the fact that all the priceless moments of their special day were captured by none other than the talents behind Tim Tab Studios, and lucky doesn’t even cover it. See their entire day here.

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From the Bride…Kevin and I first met in Chicago at Loyola University where we attended college. We both immediately fell in love with the city so it seemed only appropriate to get married not only in the city we loved so much, but also where we had fallen in love. I had always envisioned a Fall wedding and Kevin’s only request was to have our ceremony at Loyola University’s Madonna Della Strada chapel. Once we set a date, everything else seemed to fall right into place. Afer looking at numerous reception sites, we decided on Loyola’s University’s Kasbeer Hall. It is located on the 15th floor and the room is surrounded by massive windows that overlook all of downtown Chicago. The room was illuminated with so many twinkling candles and orchids were the flowers of choice for the table centerpieces. The room was simply breathtaking and we have our florist and wedding coordinator to thank for that. We don’t think either of them will ever know how grateful we are for all that they did to make our reception so beautiful. And more importantly, we get to remember how beautiful the entire day was by looking at all of our amazing photos that our photographers captured of us, our friends, and family. We honestly couldn’t have asked for two better and more talented photographers. The night came to and end with a dance party that was out of this world. To this day, we are still complimented on how entertaining and fun our DJ was. We can’t thank him enough for traveling all the way from New York to make the dancing portion of the night truly unforgettable. Aside from all these wonderful moments, I think my most favorite memory was knowing I was marrying my best friend and life partner and saying our vows out loud in the presence of all of our loved ones. It is a day the both of us will certainly never forget!

Photography: Tim Tab Studios | Florist: Katie Deffke | Wedding Dress: Wtoo Brides-Watters Collection | Church: Madonna Della Strada Chapel | Reception: Kasbeer Hall | Bridesmaids' Dresses: JLM Couture, Inc | Hair: Ergo Salon | DJ: DJ Uch | Groom's Suit: Men's Wearhouse | Reception Coordinator: Amanda Masson | Wedding Dress purchased from: Savvy Bride

I’ve never really been what you would call a “girly girl” but show me some vibrant fuchsia hues and a whole host of drop-dead gorgeous details and I turn into a literal swooning mess.  And today it’s a swooning mess for this darling inspiration shoot from Milton Photography, aka, a crazy amazing inspiration sesh just waiting to be pinned away.  Click here for sooo much more.

From Milton Photography… I thought up this shoot that was just so gorgeous I had to put it together. With raspberries and peaches in season, having both on top of vanilla ice cream one day, the colors were gorgeous and the flavors were fantastic! I simply had to expand on this idea more. With the idea of an intimate backyard elegant estate style wedding, this styled shoot came to life.

I shared my ideas with Rena, the wedding planner and she helped me create exactly what I envisioned, Rena & Heather came together to set everything up with me on the day of the shoot, it was a great team that really helped the shoot come to life, it was absolutely breath taking when it was all put together.

I bought up old tables, and 6 antique church pews, I sanded them all down and painted them a shade of white called ‘pot of cream.’

The old estate style table was perfect for the head table, I had this idea for an intimate sweetheart table with a floral table runner and in my exact words “so many candles it’s a fire hazard.”

I scoured every thrift shop, every vintage shop and second hand shop in the city to find a ton of old brass candle holders and pots and bowls for the center pieces. I found so much! Using the tall skinny elegant candle holders for tall candles, and the more decorative ones for small fresh floral arrangements to go on the two guest tables.

I wanted this shoot to be modern yet very elegant, I hunted every blog, website and shop I could find to get the chevron table linens I wanted, La Tavloa was the ONLY place that had the linens I wanted, and determined to have this shoot be just perfect, with only 2 days to go I had them rush ordered to me, & boy am I glad I did, they looked phenomenal!

The flowers were gorgeous, I wanted it to be swimming in flowers, I tried finding succulents and didn’t have much luck, thankfully my mom grows a bunch in her yard, so I kindly pruned them for her! They looked great amongst the rest of the florals! To add a bit of a spin we stuck some real raspberry plants into the arrangements and the bouquet, it was a perfect pop of color.

The cake/pie plates were all DIY. using brass candle holders, usually upside down and using epoxy to glue a plate or pie plate to the candle holder, they make the perfect white and gold pedestal stand!

The martini glasses I wanted to be super fancy so we used edible sprinkles and rimmed the glasses using egg whites to make the sprinkles stick.

We baked our own table favour pies using peaches and raspberries in mini mason jars. We cut out a heart shaped pie topper for the pies and attached little tags around each jar for the guests.

I had a profesional personal chef come in and prepare some dishes for the shoot, they were amazing!

Photographer: Justine Milton Photography | Event Designer: FY Design | Wedding Planner: Rena Elise Weddings | Cake: Style Cakes | Catering: Chef Sheridan | Make-up: Jack'd Up Makeup Artistry | Hair: Amy whitham hair and makeup artistry | Suit: Derks | Bridal Bouquet and Pew markers: Flora | Bridal Hanger: ivision | Chair Ruffles: A Chair to Remember | Chevron linens: BBJ La Tavola | Church Pews, Head table, cake plates, centre pieces: Justine Milton Photography | Custom Painted Shoes: Arttrocity | Dress, veil & Jewellery: Novelle Bridal Shop | Gold Sequin Linens & Rentals: Special Event Rentals | Invites: The Paper Lover Co. | Love cake topper: ivision | Ottomans & Charger Plates: Elegant Touches