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

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Amelia Island Wedding at Oyster Bay Harbour from Wes Roberts Photography

From DM Events… Maria and Teddy were a dream to work with! Not only are they the sweetest couple, they are truly in love and it shined through all aspects of their wedding.

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens provided the perfect backdrop for this romantic, floral-inspired wedding. Lush soft blooms were used in all of the arrangements and complimented the natural beauty of the property. The affair was filled with thoughtful touches throughout. One of the most beautiful decor elements was the wooden menus with hand painted blooms from the artwork of Kristy Rice from Momental Designs. Playing of the natural materials, we used birch votives to help bring some of the outdoor garden beauty into the reception.

The night was a blast! Guests danced to the tunes of The Elements, a fantastic band from Elan Artists, all night! It was awesome to see so many smiling faces in the photobooth, too! We are always thrilled to create a wedding that is not only beautiful, but also a fun celebration ?

And who else would we turn to other than the uber talented Elisabeth Millay to capture all of these lovely details. Our favorite detail was the whimsical bouquets carried by all the lovely ladies, each filled with blooms of peonies, ranunculus, and an abundance of lush greenery.

From beginning to end, the day was perfect and we were so honored to be a part of it!

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

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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Amsale

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2014

Amsale Bridesmaids Spring 2014

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Amsale Bridal Fall 2014

Amsale Bridal Spring 2015

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Amsale Bridal Blue Label

Amsale Bridal Spring 2016

Amsale Bridal Fall 2016

Amsale Bridal Spring 2018

Amsale Bridal Fall 2018

Amsale Bridesmaids

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Alvina Valenta

Fall 2015

Spring 2016

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

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I love weddings like this. You know the ones. Those crazy gorgeous days where beautiful vintage stylings join forces with a dazzling backdrop (hello The Omni Hotel – Amelia Island), fab paper goods and lush blooms from Island Flower and Garden? Yep, that kind wedding. And when you add in an amazing duo and a gallery of gorgeous from Wes Roberts Photography, let me tell you… it’s some serious pretty. Click here for more.

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Joanna August Ceremony Collection + A Discount + A Giveaway!

From the Bride… At the age of 15, I met my very best friend and partner in life. It took many years, thirteen in all, to finally make our way down the aisle, but it was an experience we will never forget. Our love of traveling and my love of old books inspired an intimate vintage wedding on Amelia Island, Florida.

The ceremony was held at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation. Guests were greeted with handmade programs and ribbon wands, ready to be waved at the ceremonial first kiss. My brother and two close friends contributed their musical talents, singing throughout the ceremony. My favorite moment, and by far the most personal, was hearing “Baby Mine” as I walked down the aisle. This childhood song, sang by my brother, beautifully captured the love of my family and husband. Our service was officiated by a close friend, who lovingly brought tears and laughter to all who were present. The mothers contributed words of wisdom and both my husband and I shared our own vows. Each contribution was written in a leather bound book. This book was used in the ceremony and now resides on a bookshelf in my home. All together it was a deeply personal service that ended with the utmost joy as guests waved their ribbon wands and the bridal party danced out to “Reach Out.”

Guests were then shuttled to the Oyster Bay Yacht Club in Fernandina Beach where they were greeted with an antique key and connected escort card. Approximately three hundred used books were scattered throughout the venue. Old milk jugs and medicine bottles held bridal bouquets and simple floral arrangements. Our cake was displayed in a vintage chest with rose petals and my mother’s vintage lace. All keys, books, and glassware were purchased from a local flea market and libraries. Grandparents contributed old picture frames, a mirror, and pocket watch. We wanted to infuse as many authentic vintage pieces as possible within our decor while still having a sleek and simple design. Our flowers parallel this simple design, using soft champagne, white, and grey arrangements. Centerpieces utilized old books, wooden pedestals, and grey ornate letters on a simple white table cloth. Lanterns and candles were scattered throughout the deck giving soft flickering light as the sun began to set.

The soulful music of Ray Charles introduced guests to the bridal party. Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, and Otis Redding maintained a nod to the past as guests ate delicious hand served appetizers. Guests overlooked the waterfront drinking cocktails as a light breeze floated in from the deck. An incredible buffet of apple cider pork, spicy potatoes, and roasted chicken stuffed with prosciutto were served to guests. From start to finish Oyster Bay served and supported my family and friends as we ate, drank, and danced the night away. It was beyond a magical experience and something my husband and I will cherish for the rest of our life.

Lovelies, are you ready for a serious dose of bridesmaid dress eye candy? Well, get ready because we’re about to share a sneak peek of the crazy beautiful new 2014 styles in the Ceremony by Joanna August Collection! With six new body types (all available in long + short) as well as a gorgeous convertible dress and stunning new colors, let’s just say, you’re in for a real treat! The best part? Joanna August is hosting a contest letting you name the color of their new peach hue (see details below).

With the addition of three new styles of the Joanna August Signature Wrap Dress, as well as the convertible Tatum — which can be tied more than six ways — your maids are going to have a hard time choosing their favorite! Also debuting are “hard belts” which can totally transform the look of your Joanna August dress from ethereal to structured + classic. How smart is that?! Never failing to keep her dresses on trend, Joanna August is excited to add champagne lace to the Ceremony Collection as well as 3 new chiffon colors: Silver Bells, Blue Moon and a shade of Peach

The beautiful new styles are available for pre-order now through retailers and on the Joanna August site, and will be available to try on in stores this December. The Ceremony by Joanna August 2013-2014 Trunk Show Calendar is now available with shows running November- April nationwide (see local retailers here). Schedule an appointment at your local retailer to receive 10% off your trunk show purchase!

And here’s where you come in, my dears — Joanna August is hosting a contest to name their new peach hue and the winner will receive a free Ceremony by Joanna August dress! All colors must be song titles. “Peach” does not need to be in the title, but the song title should reference or evoke the color. View the Ceremony Color Card to check out the names of the current colors. If more than one person submits the same song title and that title is chosen, the first submission will be the winner and the 2nd will receive a 10% off coupon. Contest submissions should be made through the Joanna August website contact page with SMP CONTEST as the subject line. Submissions must be made by November 1, 2013 at midnight, and winners will be announced on the website on Saturday November 2, 2013. Good luck! xo

Peach Photo / Photography : Tyler William Parker / Hair & Make Up: Jenna Kristina / Styling: Lillian Goodman / Location: Parker Palm Springs

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Kelly Clarkson’s Wedding – A Sneak Peak

You may or may not have heard a little someone named Kelly Clarkson tied the knot last weekend. And her wedding? Total. TOTAL. Swoon. Our own ultra talented LBBers behind Archetype Studio Inc. did the honors of capturing the day and are giving us lucky little ducks a peek at all the pretty.

And truth be told, one little peek at Kelly’s Tennessee farm wedding is ALL we need to know we are wholeheartedly in love. Don’t you agree?

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Before you head off into the weekend, we’ve got a few super special winners!

Emily R snagged a pair of Wedgewood Vera Wang Love Knots Toasting Flutes from Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort! Woohoo!

And congrats to Fiona McGregor & Nick Connellan, who’ve won a free engagement session from Adrian Tuazon Photography!

Happy weekend! xoxo SMP

Chanel Inspired Destination Wedding in Paris from Fly Away Bride + Brosnan Photographic

Like most girls, I go weak at the knees for all things Chanel. She’s THE icon of timeless style, so to me, a Chanel-driven shoot only makes sense. Fly Away Bride, House of Hannah, and Mon Plus Beau Jour planned a Parisian fête that’s WELL beyond my wildest dreams. And the full gallery from Brosnan Photographic? Best described as a little slice of fashionista heaven.

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From Fly Away Bride… At Fly Away Bride, our passion is destination weddings, so when we decided to produce another photo shoot, travelling to Paris from Ireland was a no brainer for us and in January, we set off on a 3 day trip to the City of Lights. Both Amy and I are huge Audrey Tautou fans and really wanted to re-create the love story between her character, Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel and Arthur Boy Capel from the 2009 movie, Coco avant Chanel. In the movie, Chanel says that I always knew I’d never get married after a heart breaking scene where Boy reveals that he is to marry an Englishwoman of considerable wealth and the shoot was really inspired by the happy ending that they never had. Along with The House of Hannah, we began dreaming and imagining what their wedding would have been like if tragedy hadn’t struck and their love for each other had overcome all.

We were able to take so much inspiration from her life and movie that the shoot took us a day and a half. Simplicity and timeless elegance were the two main elements that we tried to focus on, after all Chanel wasn’t one for frills and feathers. It was really important to us that all of the details and ideas we shot were able to translate and be re-created for a real wedding.

The white wedding dress for look one was chosen for its collared low back, two key features Chanel favoured in some of her older designs. The black sequin dress for look two was also very reminiscent of her own personal style as a young woman and inspired by the night she spent dancing with Boy at the casino. The brief for hair and make-up was to keep it very simple and natural and so we chose not to use a veil or headpiece. The fabric cake with bow detail was inspired by her craft and the stationery was heavily influenced by her signature perfume box design, Chanel no. 5.

The seating plan was made using tweed fabric squares and guest favors were miniature bottles of Chanel perfume. One of our favourite details was the guest book, a French-English dictionary where words circled corresponded to messages left on bookmarks. We wanted to include a drink and cigar bar as it was said that the Chanel No.5 bottle was inspired by one of Boys whiskey decanters and he was fond of a cigar himself. Chanel developed a love for horses and so we were thrilled when we found that Ataturk could star in our shoot. The flowers were a mixture of Juliet roses, ranunculus, anemones and Chanel’s favourite, Camellia.

We were incredibly lucky to have such an amazing team of vendors on board that really made our vision come to life. We can’t thank them enough for their dedication and we had such a great time working together.

Palm Springs Wedding from Laura Goldenberger Photography

The O’Donnell House will forever be emblazoned in my brain as the venue with the absolute best ceremony view. It’s tucked in a hillside overlooking the desert and blanketed in the brightest fuchsia bougainvillea; a total dream spot and right up this couple’s alley when it came to the style and backdrop they wanted for their big day. The result, as seen through the lens of Laura Goldenberger’s camera, is good scenery, beautiful, hand-crafted details and a night that this couple describes as both monumental and totally perfect. Now that’s a wedding for the win. Have a look here for even more.

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Estate Weddings Outdoor Weddings

From the Bride… When my husband and I started planning our wedding it was only natural to choose a beautiful desert back drop. In our dream life we would live in a Mediterranean/Spanish inspired hacienda with amazing outdoor spaces and lush greens set against the rough terrain. I searched high and low for a venue that fit our vibe, and finally stumbled across the O’Donnell House, a historic Spanish estate set on the side of a mountain near downtown Palm Springs overlooking the entire Coachella Valley. We couldn’t beat the winding drive up the side of the mountain to the wrought iron gates, the hand painted tiles, the large outdoor patio, the hand built rock walls, lush gardens, and, of course, the city views to host our perfect evening. I took on much of the design of the wedding myself, and if I hadn’t had Style Me Pretty to use for inspiration I would have been lost! I based the decor color palette around shades of blue, and incorporating lots of natural textures including reclaimed wood, geodes, etc. I wanted to carry the Spanish/Mediterranean/Moroccan feel throughout the wedding, but without being too thematic. We picked the perfect time of year when the estate’s gardens were in bloom, just looking at photos of our ceremony space you’d never guess it was in the desert. The wedding could not have been more perfect. My Husband and I believe you have many great moments in your life, but only a few that are so monumental and perfect that you will never be able to stop talking about them. Our wedding just happened to be one of these moments.

Halloween Party from Waiting on Martha

Round these parts, Mandy Kellogg Rye – AKA Waiting on Martha – is a sort of celebrity. Every single girl here loves her and her easy, effortless approach to style, design, fashion, the works. She’s the kind of girl that we’re certain we would be best friends with. Which means that we’re also secretly hoping for an invite to her ridiculously chic Halloween Party – set for only the most fabulous of trick or treaters of course. Because you just know that with ideas like this…it’s going to be good.

From Mandy at Waiting on Martha…Halloween is one of my absolute favorite holidays, mainly because it symbolizes the beginning of the whole holiday season: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. It’s high on my list for decorating, celebrating and entertaining. So this year, I’m planning a classic, grown up Halloween gathering.

Notorious for cheesy décor, I wanted more of a classic and understated, orange-free look. Now don’t get me wrong, I adore orange. It’s actually my favorite color! But I made this decision for two reasons. One, to achieve a sophisticated look that appeals to those too old to trick or treat. Secondly, because I switch out my décor seasonally and entertain on a regular basis, I tend to collect pieces that translate in many different ways. For example, I fully intend to use the black lanterns year round. And the gorgeous mercury glass pumpkins will be perfect for my Thanksgiving table. With the addition of inexpensive moss and moss branches, candles galore, and a few crows, spiders, and chains, I was able to achieve an elevated yet haunting “Halloween” look and feel without going overboard.

My no “cheese” rule also pertains to the food, which we all know lacks a certain appeal when it is over the top and grotesque. I skipped the fake fingers and dip in vomiting pumpkins for some southern staples, like biscuit sliders, easy to eat black eye pea salad, and pimento cheese dip, of course.

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PS: Grab the homemade candy apple recipe here, and the apple & bourbon punch recipe here.

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Styling by Mandy Kellogg Rye of Waiting on Martha | Photography: Rustic White Photography

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And before we go, I’m excited to announce that the winner of our Recipe Contest is Tasneem, who’s go-to recipe is a delicious carmelized onion and spinach quick bread (um, yum!). Tasneem, keep an eye on your inbox because we’ll be contacting you to let you know how you can claim your William Sonoma gift card! Thanks for playing you guys. XOX

Missouri Rainbow Wedding from Jordan Brittley Photography

One of my most favorite possessions as a kid was my rainbow bright doll and that love affair with colorful objects clearly carried on into my adult years because I can’t seem to get enough of this wedding. It’s an explosion of colorful details and whimsical snapshots made all the more fun and heartfelt at the hands of Jordan Brittley‘s photographs. Have a look for yourself right here in the full gallery of images.

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Sonoma Wedding from Anita Martin Photography

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Whimsical

From the Bride… Our wedding venue was a pretty easy pick, because it was my home church. I wanted to celebrate our special day in a place that was important to me. For our guest book, we had our guests sign their names using a bottle of paint. We had this done on canvas so that they became a work of art we could display in our house!

I really wanted our wedding reception to be semi-informal, comfortable and FUN. The stage was a spot to have the wedding party sit where they’d stand out from the rest. For our first look, we were each holding a bouquet of balloons and released them once we were in front of each other. This day was all about happy, and I think balloons totally give off that vibe! It was exciting to have a moment together before the craziness of the wedding ceremony and reception began! I. love. color. I get SO much joy from seeing bright colors together, so I knew for sure that’s what I wanted the wedding colors to be. It took a painstakingly long time to get those colors…in that order…perfect.

My favorite part of the day, was really the day itself. It’s something I longingly looked forward to for so long. But even more than that day…all the days after…because I’m living life with my best friend. I also really cherished the message our pastor gave – encouraging us, “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” He gave us a hands-on analogy with some pruning sheers and a sharpener – it was a great visual.

Homemade Candy Apples

This may be a strange statement to make, but candy apples always remind me of happiness. They’re typically reminiscent of a day at the fair (we were always allowed to grab one on our way out when we were little) or, in this case, Halloween (my all time favorite as a child). It’s been years since I’ve had one, but with Waiting on Martha‘s recipe, all that may need to change. And stat.

Homemade Candy Apples

prep time
5 Minute/s

cook time
30 Minute/s

total time
35 Minute/s

Ingredients

8 apples
8 wooden skewers
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup red cinnamon candies (Red Hots)

Instructions

Line a baking sheet with foil and spraying with nonstick cooking spray.
Wash and dry apples. Remove stems and place skewers firmly in place of the stems.
Combine water, corn syrup and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
Stir until sugar dissolves and continue to cook, without stirring, until mixture reaches 250 degrees.
Wash down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush occasionally to prevent crystallization.
Add cinnamon candies and stir briefly to incorporate.
Continue to cook, washing down the sides, until candy reaches 285 degrees.
Remove from heat and continue stirring candy until it is smooth and even.
Hold an apple by the skewer and dip it into candy in saucepan, tilting the pan at an angle and rotating the apple to cover it completely with a smooth, even layer.
Twirl it to remove excess candy and set on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining apples.
Allow apples to cool at room temperature.
Once completely cooled, pull out skewers and replace with a moss or tree branch for an extra spooky effect!
NOTE: Candy apples are best enjoyed within 24 hours and once cooled are best stored in the refrigerator.

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More Halloween Treats

Spooky Halloween Treats

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Spooky Halloween Treats

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Photography: Rustic White | Styling & Recipe: Waiting On Martha

Jacquelyn Clark

SMP Living Spotlight!

I tend to be a bit wordy in these Living Spotlights, but today I’m just going to cut to the chase. Why? Because we’ve got a lot of fun ground to cover with a fall-inspired spin. So let’s put a quick “pause” on wedding world, and shift our eyes to all things Living, shall we?

The only thing that’s (maybe) more adorable than a DIY hot air balloon or sushi costume, is this little duo of pastry chef and cake. It’s the perfect trick-or-treat attire for pint sized besties, and bonus: frosting bites required along the way!

Floral crowns are sort of the “next big thing.” We’re seeing them embraced by brides and ‘maids alike, but you certainly don’t need a formal occasion to rock these blooming beauts. Whipping up a crown is as easy as 1, 2, 3, and Kristin Ess is going to show you how to do it!

The lovely Sarah Yates never ceases to amaze us. And this fall accessory round-up? No exception. Think booties and gloves and all your cold weather “musts” stepped up a notch in style.

I love a good pumpkin DIY. Mostly because they’re the perfect canvas for all kinds of fun. So whether it’s giving them a pretty touch of shimmer or carving in some fancy pants calligraphy, they’re a million and one ways to make these festive little pretties feel all your own.

Simple, elegant and perfectly sophisticated, this wedding from Anita Martin Photography is like the most wonderful breath of fresh air. Where the details that truly matter really shine through and it was all topped off with a night filled with toasts under twinkling lights. It’s my definition of a dream wedding, and it can all be seen right here.

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Botanical Garden Wedding in Sydney from SugarLove Weddings

From Anita Martin… Matt and Ginny’s California Wine Country wedding was perfectly simple and elegant. Virginia chose a neutral and white color scheme to compliment the lovely surroundings and intimate feel of her wedding. This couple is perfectly lovable and adoringly affectionate. I loved being a part of their day and their celebration was sweet, romantic, and calm.

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

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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This wedding? It’s exactly the reason I love SugarLove Weddings. Because not only are they uber-talented (they sooo are), they send us some of the sweetest weddings you’ll ever lay your eyes upon. Weddings that are literally chock-full of darling details, heartwarming moments and beyond breathtaking settings. And this gorgeous Sydney affair? It checks off all of the aforementioned, with an extra dose of pretty. See it all right here in the full gallery.

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Garden Weddings Museum

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Vancouver Farm Wedding from Deanna McCollum Photography

From SugarLove Weddings… Mariela and Barry were married at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney and held their purple hued reception at the newly renovated Museum of Contemporary Art on Sydney Harbour. Their wedding planner Jennifer Michael assisted with co-ordination which included a special photo room with ice sculptures at their pre-dinner party for guests. The bride designed her own stunning bridal gown. Family flew in from all over the world to help them celebrate their special day which included the couples two children Elliott and Isabelle.

I’m a sucker for a good story, and this one? Most definitely a good one. When the hard work of three generations prior make wedding day dreams come true, it’s nothing less than 100% heartwarming. These lovely photos from Deanna McCollum Photography say it all, but don’t forget to read the Bride’s sweet story and head on over to the gallery for the rest!

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Rustic Weddings Weddings in Historical Venues

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Vintage

From the Bride… The wedding venue we chose had the biggest impact on the overall feel of the day. The Kirkland House, is a restored farm house that was built back in 1910 by my Great, Great, Great Grandfather; William Kirkland. A portrait of him hangs on the wall inside. It seems the house is a very popular place for weddings in the summer and they were already fully booked for the year ahead, but luckily, just that morning the couple who had booked the exact day we wanted, phoned to cancel. It was meant to be. We couldn’t have dreamed of a more meaningful venue.

Not only did we have a personal tie to the house and beautifully kept grounds, but the year before the wedding the community built a barn on the premises for the purpose of holding receptions. The volunteers who organized the whole thing also organized an old fashioned barn raising event. So my Fiancée and I actually got to help raise the frame-work for the barn that became our reception site!

I toured many a web-site for ideas, and kept the venue in mind, as I chose a casual-vintage feel for the day. My husband and I were lucky to have such great friends and family to help us create our wedding day. The wedding favors I made doubled as seating cues; I wrote each guest’s name on in calligraphy. My husband and I spent the summer before picking wild blackberries, which I turned into jam and jarred for each guest. I cut fabric circles out of fabric given to me by the Groom’s mother, and tied them and the name tags on with simple kitchen string. I finished each tag with a stamp I had made at Staples that featured a cartoon image of the bride and groom, that I drew for our second anniversary. It doesn’t get more personal and heartfelt than that!

I continued the jam-theme by turning jam jars into hanging flower vases to line the isle and used larger jam jars as the vases for the centerpieces at each table. I prettied them up by wrapping brown twine around the centers, with a small strip of lace over the centre of that. I used the same fabric as I used on the favors to create triangle pennant bunting that was hung from the ceiling in the reception area.

We didn’t have enough money in our budget to buy the mother’s their traditional corsages, so I made them from felt. I bought the felt from the dollar store, as well as some alligator clips. I cut a swirl pattern for the flowers, then glued them together with hot glue, bunched them together and placed a felt leaf under them, and then affixed the clip. The mothers and grandmothers got to choose the clips they liked and wore them proudly throughout the day. I used the left over flowers to decorate some more items around the gift table and the cake table.

For the wedding, we made our own wine at a brew store. I ordered in my own wine labels and then printed them with the table’s numbers. The red and white wine we made was a hit, a money saver and they doubled as the table numbers! It was also a fun, stress free, afternoon for my husband and I to go in and bottle all the wine ourselves!

We also found a lot of treasures at thrift shops; vintage tea cups (some of which we turned into candles for the guest tables), old tins, cake plates, and frames. To keep with the rustic theme, I found ribbon, large wooden letters of our initials, and decorative items, like the bird cages and birds featured on the cake table.

We had many friends working on the day for us, preserving a personal and intimate feel for the day. Our parents and close friends helped to set up the reception site the night before. A friend, who is an officiant, married us. The musicians who played at our ceremony were friends. My husband’s father was his best man. My jewelry once belonged to my grandmother. At the end of the day, the most important aspects of a wedding are the act itself of getting married and the people you chose to share that special moment with. I’m glad that we were able to honor that on our wedding day.

Glenview Wedding at Valley Lo Club from Kina Wicks Photography

Lovely as all get out, this Valley Lo Club wedding by Kina Wicks Photography is practically perfection from start to finish. From the blue shoes for both Bride and Groom, to the energetic color palette, and everything in between – it goes without saying, this gallery is one fabulous place to be today. See why here.

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Ballroom Weddings Religious Institution

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New Orleans Inspired Wedding in Houston from Mustard Seed Photography

From Kina Wicks… Brittany and Trevor’s love is reflected in everything they did on their wedding. Everything from Brittany and Trevor’s fun, yet tasteful colors of sunny yellow and crisp navy blue, to the fun choice of shoes, they made it a point to let their personalities shine on their day. Both together and apart, Brittany and Trevor are funny, sweet, and basically the life of the party. But, they were able to find calm and serenity in the venues they chose, specifically in the Valley Lo Club in Glenview, Illinois. The Valley Lo Club sits on a beautiful lake that allowed Brittany and Trevor to take a moment to breathe and embrace each other amidst bridal party laughter and awesome music. It should also be noted that laughter was a huge part of this day! Their good sense of humor and fun personalities shined through the groomsmen’s socks and the bride’s sparkly Kate Spade shoes. At the end of the day, the sun set on a wedding that left everyone, especially Brittany & Trevor, smiling from ear to ear.

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

Wedding Dresses

Jim Hjelm

Fall 2015

Spring 2016 Collection

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New Orleans meets Texas in this stunning Hotel ZaZa fête, and let me tell you, it was a match made in heaven. With a classic black and white palette and details that would make anyone want to get up and dance, this stylish soiree from Mustard Seed Photography is one for the books. See why here.

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Praia do Rosa, Brazil Wedding from Weber Photography

From Mustard Seed Photography… Reagan and Nick were engaged in New Orleans and wanted to bring some of that French Quarter flair to their wedding. From the second line band,marching them all the way to their reception – to the perfectly styled New Orleans inspired decor, every detail about their wedding day brought the feel of the Big Easy here to Houston! You are sure to enjoy it as much as we did!

From the Bride… When we selected our venue, we most importantly wanted our guests to have a great time. We wanted a high energy party. Hotel Zaza is the perfect place to ensure everyone has a good time! The food was amazing. The service and attention to detail are tops. Our ceremony was at the First Presbyterian Church, which is probably one of the most beautiful churches in Houston.

We wanted everyone to feel like they were in New Orleans in the old days of Louis Armstrong. Sipping French 75’s and feasting on delicious Southern fare. We got engaged in New Orleans on the steps of the St. Louis Cathedral, so we knew we had to make everything about the Crescent City. The second line parade from the church to the hotel blew us all away.

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

Destination weddings are always fabulous, but when you throw an “I do” celebration in the pretty little land known as Brazil, it’s what we call a destination wedding of epic proportions. I’m talking breathtaking scenery every which way you look, lovelies. And it’s amazing. Throw in a bride and groom who seriously couldn’t be more stunning and an entire day captured by the ever-wonderful Weber Photography and, well. Happy, happy Friday. Click here for more.

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Beach Weddings Religious Institution

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Classic Cape Cod Wedding from Person + Killian Photography

From Weber Photography… Sarah and Sol’s Brazil wedding had a Classic style, with minimal decorating needed in lieu of the gorgeous scenery surrounding their venue. Their chosen location, Praia do Rosa, is a small surfing town in the state of Santa Catarina and is slowly attracting more and more attention by both Brazilian and international travelers. It was such a pleasure spending time with this beautiful couple! They were incredibly inviting and super excited to share the Brazilian culture with guests coming from all over the world!

From the Bride… We’d always thought the perfect wedding for us would be by the beach, on a perfect hot summer day, overlooking sunset by the sea. That’s why our chosen place, Praia do Rosa was perfect. Not only had I grown up going there every school holiday, but it was the first place I took Sol when he visited Brazil for the first time. The church was right by our favourite beach, so that’s where we headed as soon as the I do’s were said, and standing on the rocks watching the crashing waves under the hot sun just before the reception was an unforgettable feeling.

For our wedding reception we wanted to have a real mix of traditions as the groom is both English and Greek, and has family in Japan, and I’m Brazilian but I also grew up in England. We had an amazing eclectic mix of guests to cater for, so we had lots of fun choosing all the details of the wedding. We had the traditional set of bridesmaids, maid of honour and best man, the Greek version of groomsmen (koumbaros), the Brazilian traditional wedding godparents padrinhos and madrinhas, as well as my three goddaughters as flower girls! They all had special duties to perform, and loved taking part in the ceremony.

My bridesmaids’ dresses were designed by Joelho Roxo, a collective artist’s group– belonging to my bridesmaids’ and me! They were then beautifully tailored by Suzana Vargas.

Our cake had a special twist. As the wedding cake dolls, we had Japanese daruma given to us by the grooms brother, who lives in Japan. They are special lacquered paper dolls on which you draw one eye as you make a wish, and fill in the other eye when the wish comes true. The ritual, followed by the cake cutting, was even more romantic than wed wished, and we got to keep the bride and groom dolls to always remind us of our wishes!

Another personal touch were the lembrancinhas, small wedding gifts we shared with our guests. We collected sand from our two favourite beaches where the wedding took place, and filled small glass bottles with half of each type. The two types of sand were different colours, and we knew that just like us, as time passed, they would mix together and become one. We also picked small shells from the beach and attached them to the ribbon around the bottles, adding our own design of tags with the wedding date and location. We had so much fun making the hundred or so bottles and were happy everyone could take a piece of paradise home with them.

The beach scenery from the wedding venue was even more spectacular as sunset came and the candles were lit. We had a great lounge arrangement which allowed all our wedding guests to circulate and get to know each other better and by the time we hit the dance floor everyone spoke the same language! Our first dance was to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, which means a lot to us, and my bridesmaids performed an amazing choreography to our favourite night out song, That’s Not My Name by the Ting Tings, as well as two very romantic songs sang by one of them, who had rehearsed all the way from Ecuador.

The speeches were a very emotional time for us, as we wanted to express how grateful we were for all our friends and family who had travelled from all over the world to share our special moment, and especially to my mother, who had, like us, always dreamed of the perfect wedding… it was the perfect moment for us to let everyone know we had had the best day of our lives, and we couldnt have been happier!

Is it just me or are Cape Cod weddings always fabulous? Not just me? Great. Because this gem of a day captured by Person + Killian Photography is the epitome of Cape Cod perfection, with a preppy meets classic vibe that is all kinds of amazing. Think gorgeous blooms from Lilacs, the fab planning skills of Cape Cod Celebrations and one beautiful moment after another set against a stunning Chatham Bars Inn setting. See it all right here.

From Person + Killian Photography… When deciding where to have their late summer wedding, Jessica and Michael instantly knew that Cape Cod was the place they wanted to be. Their family has been vacationing on the Cape for over 50 years, traveling all the way from Texas each summer to enjoy the beautiful New England seaside! The happy couple started their classic Cape Cod wedding weekend with a traditional New England lobster bake for their rehearsal dinner Friday night.

A tent was installed in the backyard of their rented house in Chatham, MA to host their friends and family for the beautiful evening dinner. The long family-style tables were decorated in navy blue and white with lots of fun nautical details, even the bottles of water were kept in a classic rowboat filled with ice with a custom “Jessica + Michael” life preserver on the front! We loved getting to meet all of the Jessica + Michael’s closest friends and family, and hearing all of the heartfelt toasts about this wonderful couple the night before the wedding.

Here’s what the bride and groom had to say about their beautiful Chatham Bars Inn wedding:

“We wanted to feel like we were throwing a casually elegant dinner party at our own home so that people can literally kick off their shoes, put on flip flops, and dance the night away. We chose a destination wedding in Cape Cod because Jessica grew up going there in the summertime. Her grandfather started the tradition when he lived in Boston, before moving to Texas and carrying on the tradition. We also decided to do a beach wedding because we both LOVE the ocean, and we wanted to limit our wedding to the people that we know will be lifelong family and friends.”

The next morning the wedding celebration began — Jessica and her bridesmaids got ready for the day in their rented house, while Michael and his groomsmen spent the morning at the Chatham Bars Inn. The ladies wore beautiful eggplant purple bridesmaid dresses, and Jessica looked stunning in a lace-topped Elizabeth Fillmore wedding gown. The men looked perfectly “Cape Cod” in light grey suits paired with soft green ties and a simple calla lily boutonniere.

Rustic wooden boat signs pointed the way towards the outdoor wedding ceremony at the Chatham Bars Inn, which took place under a beautiful white arbor overlooking the ocean. The long winding staircase leading down from the Inn itself made Jessica’s big entrance especially stunning and unique! After the “I do’s,” the happy newlyweds were led down the aisle and back to the Inn by a traditional Scottish bagpiper.

While guests began cocktail hour in the Chatham Bars Inn Boat House, we took the opportunity to get some great formal wedding photos with Jessica, Michael, and their wedding party. After the formal photos, we kicked off our shoes and took just the bride and groom out to the beach for some romantic beach wedding pictures. With the beautiful blue water, grass-covered dunes, and sailboats in the background this was the perfect place for classic Cape Cod wedding photos!

The evening reception was set up inside the Beach House Grill, with classic silver linens and ballroom chairs paired with white napkins and cushions. The floral centerpieces were a beautiful mix of white, green, and blue summer flowers, and each place setting featured a customized wedding logo with Jessica + Michael’s initials inside a silver ship’s helm. Dancing took place outside under the adjacent clear tent, which was lit with purple uplights as soon as the sun started to set.

After a night full of eating, dancing, and celebrating with their friends and family, the beaming bride and groom made their exit while guests held up sparklers and threw white dove-shaped confetti. The celebration didn’t stop there, as guests who weren’t ready to stop dancing headed to the late-night after party for even more fun!

Thank you Jessica and Michael for having us there to photograph such a special weekend for you, to the team at the Chatham Bars Inn and team at Cape Cod Celebrations for being so great to work with as always!

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Classic Wedding at Primrose Cottage from Buffy Dekmar Photography

Buffy Dekmar has a way of capturing weddings that always leave me weak in the knees. She just has this amazing talent of snapping up the most beautiful moments in the loveliest of lights leaving us with weddings like this one that is happily sitting in a league of its own. With its southern charm and perfect details, this is just as pretty as it gets, folks. See it all here.

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Charlottesville Wedding from Stephanie Yonce Photography + FÊte Studio

From Buffy… Katie and Sean’s wedding day was so simply beautiful and elegant. I loved how graceful Katie was as a bride, and how happy her groom was to see her walk down the aisle. The soft pastel florals and the smiling bridesmaids dressed in electric blue fit perfectly against the quintessentially southern backdrop of the antebellum mansion and the spring foliage in the gardens at Primrose Cottage. As a thoughtful surprise gift from the groom’s brother, the bagpiper led the processional as a tribute to Sean’s heritage.

The couple’s family and friends traveled from all over the country to celebrate their wedding, so Katie and Sean wanted to show them a truly southern wedding. Their styling, menu, and venue choices accomplished that beautifully, and a good time was had by all!

When the right vendors partner up with the right couple magic ensues. Fête Studios, Paisley & Jade, Just Write Studios, and so many more fabulous vendors worked perfectly together to create this dream of a day for this dream of a family, and lucky for us, Stephanie Yonce Photography was there to capture every moment!

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