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Halibut Burgers with Coriander Mayo

Wow your guests by whipping up your own burger buns and giving them a fun boost with squid ink (perfect for Halloween, if you ask me). Spicy halibut patties paired with fabulous Asian flavours really elevate this dish. A serious crowd pleaser!

Halibut Burgers with Coriander Mayo
prep time
1 Hour/s 30 Minute/s
cook time
5 Minute/s
total time
1 Hour/s 35 Minute/s
Serves 8Ingredients
  • FOR THE BUNS:
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 0.88 oz fresh yeast
  • 1 egg
  • 3 packs of squid ink (about 0.7 oz)
  • 1 tablespoon black seasame seedFor the fish patties:
  • FOR THE HALIBUT PATTIES:
  • 1 pound firm halibut (or other white fish fillet)
  • 3-4 tablespoons flour + for dusting
  • 3 spring onions
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 red chili or more
  • 1 small piece of fresh ginger
  • salt
  • oil for frying
  • FOR THE CORIANDER MAYO:
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 3/4 cup oil
  • juice and zest of a 1/2 lemon
  • bunch of fresh coriander
  • salt
  • pepper
  • TO ASSEMBLE:
  • bean sprouts
  • salad e.g. mizun
Instructions
  1. FOR THE BUNS:
  2. Heat milk, butter and sugar over low heat until the butter is melted. Add water and mix well.
  3. Sift flour, salt, and crumble yeast into the middle of your mixture.
  4. Add the egg, the squid ink and the milk mixture.
  5. Knead into a smooth dough, when too sticky add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
  6. Divide dough in 8-10 pieces and form buns. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet and let them rise for an hour.
  7. Brush the top of the buns with a little cold water and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
  8. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
  9. Bake buns for about 15 minutes and let them cool on a wire rack.
  10. FOR THE HALIBUT PATTIES:
  11. Process fish in a food processor together with the egg, soy and fish sauce.
  12. Pour mixture into a bowl and add thinly sliced spring onion, grated ginger, sliced chilli and season with salt.
  13. Form patties with the help of rings, dust it well with flour on both sides.
  14. Heat oil in a sauce pan and bake patties for 2-3 minutes on each side.
  15. FOR THE CORIANDER MAYO:
  16. Whisk the egg yolk with the mustard and the vinegar until creamy.
  17. Slowly add the oil in a thin trickle while whisking continuously.
  18. When the oil is completely incorporated, whisk in the lemon juice and zest.
  19. Take a tablespoon of mayonnaise, add coriander and blend it together, then whisk it to the rest of the mayo.
  20. Season with salt and pepper.
  21. TO ASSEMBLE:
  22. Cut buns in half.
  23. Put salad and a patty on each.
  24. Add coriander mayonnaise and bean sprouts.
  25. Enjoy!

Recipe & Photography: Almond Corner

Noemi

Contributing Editor, Food & Recipes
Creating the Perfect Registry with Jung Lee New York

For years, we’ve swooned over the magical events and weddings crafted by designer Jung Lee. With an incredible eye and an inspired mix and match aesthetic, Jung Lee has opened a brand-new NYC shop and online boutique featuring luxury home goods and entertaining essentials, perfect for couples looking for their dream registry.  Focusing on the customer’s own lifestyle and routine, Jung makes it fun and easy to register for gorgeous items that blend function with design!

The idea for an inspired and exciting registry option came to Jung after years of listening to her brides complain about the how cookie cutter and forced the process felt. According to Jung, “Registering should be one of the most exciting experiences of the planning process. If it doesn’t feel that way, something is wrong. My store makes registry fun and meaningful; as you are creating you lifestyle together!” Jung Lee’s approach to registry begins with the couple — their personal style and how they live, dine and entertain.  From there, Jung and her team work together with couples to build their highly-personalized registry.

Jung and her team will meet one-on-one with you (expect ample snacks, beverages, and a priceless education on how to dine at home) where you will play around with a variety of tabletop vignettes, taking into consideration what you already own, what you will inherit, and what you plan to add in the future.  Combining fine China and high-end pieces with more casual everyday items, Jung Lee helps clients create a personal style based on their needs that is beautiful, effortless and totally functional.

To enhance the registry experience, Jung has travelled the world for unusual, luxe items that are practical for everyday use, but beautiful enough to be passed down for generations. Every item blends function with incredible design and the loft-like concept shop, located in Manhattan’s trendy NoMad neighborhood, offers everything from flatware pieces and furniture to  lighting, priced from $6 to $4600.  According to Jung, “Whether you are ordering takeout for two, or cooking a holiday meal for twenty, the fundamentals are the same: make it personal and have fun.” Pretty awesome, if you ask me! Pop over to the concept shop at 25 West 29th Street, New York, New York or head over here to start your online wish list! Enjoy, lovelies! xo

Sponsored-Post

Alys Beach Anniversary Session from Lauren Kinsey Photography

After three years of blissful marriage, these two cuties (the ever-talented Jennifer Blair and her dapper Mr.) have still got it.  That eternally glow-y, love-filled happiness reserved exclusively for couples in all caps LOVE.  And what better way to capture that joy-filled bliss than with a pretty, pretty anniversary session set against a stunning Alys Beach backdrop and captured by the always stellar Lauren Kinsey? Answer: nothing.  See it all right here in the full gallery.

From Jennifer BlairToday I’m so excited to send over some photos from our anniversary session with the lovely and talented Lauren Kinsey. I had been planing our little 3-year celebration for a few months and was so happy to find such a phenomenal film photographer so close to where we live. As a wedding photographer myself, it was a huge deal to find someone that I love and trust completely. When Lauren suggested Alys Beach I was almost beside myself. It fit in perfectly with the style we wanted to go for. The home we’ve created is full of pastel blues, greens and white with a Tuscan feel. We hoped our session would reflect that as well. After three years of marriage, we are so happy to have some updated photos of our everyday love not just wedding photos. I feel like we’ve changed and grown so much in the past three years as well. I, for one, have changed my hair color (admittedly, quite a bit) and we both look less like the babies we were when we wed at 21 and 22! I’m so thankful Lauren was able to capture us in this season of life. I’m forever grateful.

Photography: Lauren Kinsey | Flowers: Petal Pushers | Shoes: Designer Shoe Warehouse | Couple: Jennifer Blair Photography | Jennifer's Formal Dress: Gianna Bini | Jennifer's Hat + Dress: Target | Jennifer's Shoes: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Jonathan's Attire: Express | Jonathan's Vest: H&M | Location: Alys Beach

San Jose Del Cabo Wedding from Sara Richardson Photography

If this wedding doesn’t make you want to swap plans and say I do amongst the sand, I don’t know what will. It’s a destination “I do” with pretty woven into EVERY detail, all thanks to crazy talented vendors like Florenta Flower DesignMartha Lomeli, and Sara Richardson. Oh, and we’re JUST getting started. There’s lots more to see and swoon in the full gallery right here.

From the Bride… Water has always played a significant part in Paul and my relationship; from our first dates of hiking near beautiful streams in Portland, Oregon to the pristine beaches of our Thailand proposal, we knew we wanted to get married near the water with our closest family and friends. After searching for a few months, we landed on a destination wedding in the small, quaint town of San Jose Del Cabo at the Cabo Surf Hotel. As Paul is an avid surfer, we realized this location was ideal for the small, intimate wedding we envisioned with enough activities to please all of our active family and friends who would be flying in from all over. We were so blessed to have Pauls 91 year old grandpa fly in from Florida, as well as some of Cats relatives from Prague, Czech Republic. With so many of our family and friends in attendance, we truly felt as if our wedding was a true representation of our combined lives together.

Planning a wedding from afar was easier than I imagined. At first, the idea seemed daunting but as we progressed, Paul and I learned to really trust our vendors and allow them to work from the experience they’ve gained over the years. Priorities are key and we chose to focus on only a few elements that were most important to us and executed these particular details with focus and follow up. Also, we had a lot of help from my mom, who hand-made so many of the details you see in these images. We are so blessed and appreciative to have these incredible images to remind of us of our magical first day as man and wife.

From the Groom… It’s a blessing to have a wedding in a beautiful place and its even better with a beautiful bride, great family and love all around me. The idea of a destination wedding allows for those special moments between events. Looking back at our wedding, these are some of my favorite times. Sitting on a board rising and falling with the waves, laughing at the pool, sunsets on the rocks when its only a memory, I couldn’t ask for better visions.

At the end of the day, we wanted our wedding to focus on the connection of people. Our bond with each other along with our closeness with family set the tone for an incredible few days of waves, sun and genuine connection a few of the best days of my life.

Photography: Sara Richardson Photography | Event Design: Cabo Surf Hotel | Floral Design: Florenta Flower Design | Wedding Dress: WTOO Watters | Cake: Cabo Surf Hotel | Bridesmaid Dresses: Free People | Men's Suits: Collier | Invitations + Paper Goods: New and Blue | Wedding Dress Style: Bristol

Beachy Bohemian Inspired Wedding from Kelly Stonelake Photography

Kelly Stonelake PhotographyTwig and Twine florals, Going Lovely design and styling, Found Vintage Rentals – these are all vendors on our must watch list. Together they’ve designed, floraled, curated and photographed a stunning combination of beachy bohemian nuptials. And it’s a total dream; especially if you have a love affair with gold, coral and seaside views like we do. See even more right here in the full gallery.

Before you head off into gallery la la land, have a look at the film of the day captured by Lighthouse Studios

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From the Bride… It all began in the pool of The Palms. I know it sounds cheesy, but the moment I laid eyes on him I knew that what happened in Vegas was just the beginning of something great. With numerous trips across the world, endless Skype sessions, and enormous long distance phone bills, we knew that we would make this work. After two years of long distance, I made the move to Brazil. Best, decision, ever.

While we both live in Brazil, we wanted to create a destination wedding for the groom’s family and friends in my hometown in Southern California. With both of us growing up in a beach town, it was important for us to combine our love for the beach in our wedding venue. The “perfect” place for our wedding was Casa Romantica, a stunningly beautiful Spanish cottage that overlooks the sea in San Clemente. Not only do the panoramic coastline views of the coastline take your breath away, but the background of our ceremony looks right over the pier that I swam around when I was younger.

The style of the venue is Spanish historical so we wanted to infuse a mix of Spanish details, bohemian elements and delicate beach florals to make our wedding unique. Due to the fact that we live halfway across the world, we enlisted our friendly trusted experts Going Lovely to help us bring light to our vision. They were spectacular at turning all of my Pinterest fantasies into a cohesive dream while tying in cultural touches of my fiancé’s native country Brazil.

It’s all in the details, and not one was overlooked by my wedding planners. In particular, I adored: our spectacular floral arrangements, our cigar bar (a must-have for the groom), the bridesmaids mismatched gray dresses, our hired Samba dancers, our sand ceremony (where we mixed sand from Brazil and California), our invitations, our fabulous wedding speeches, and our mouth watering food and drinks.

With lots of laughter, tears, and joy, everything went better than planned. While I may have forgotten to throw my bouquet during the festivities, it’s a good thing I had followed the Brazilian tradition of putting the names of all single women in the inside of my dress so they can find their special someone soon. This day truly captured all the love we had shared since we first met. It made all the time spent in a long distance relationship truly worth it.

Photographer: Kelly Stonelake Photography | Videographer: Lighthouse Studios | Florals: Twig & Twine | Wedding Dress: Anne Barge | Bride's Shoes: Le Capresi | Catering: Iva Lees | Hair and Makeup: Beauty And The Beach | DJ: THE FLASHDANCE | Groom's Suit: VR Menswear Brasil | Ceremony and Reception: Casa Romantica | Desserts: Sweet & Saucy Shop | Paper Goods: Hen & Co. | Planning, Coordination and Design: Going Lovely | Rentals: Signature Party Rentals | Samba Dancers: Samba and More | Vintage Rentals: Found Rental Co.

DIY Halloween Costume: Pastry Chef & Cake

Of all of the DIY costumes that we’ve shared this week – the hot air ballon, the sushi roll, the bubble bath duo – this one is the costume that produced bar none the most giggles. Probably because we handed the girls a pastry bag filled with vanilla frosting and told them to feed each other but also because the idea of actually BEING a cake and a cake maker!? Um, basically every 5 year old’s dream come true.

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Materials
Chef’s hat
Chef’s jacket
Disposable pastry bags
Frosting tip no. 6B
Whipped Cream
Spackling
White roll paper
Cardboard boxes
Utility knife
Hot glue gun & sticks
Pencil
White banquet table wrap
Wagon

instructions

step-1 Assemble your cardboard boxes and wrap each with the white paper. Make sure the boxes will be wide enough to fit your child’s head & shoulders.

step-2 Stack cardboard boxes in a cake shape. If they are too tall for your child’s torso, you can cut down the width of one or two. Cut out the base of each box.

step-3 Trace the outline of each box on the top of the box below. Cut out each box shape, then glue the boxes into a stack.

step-4 Cut out a large hole in the center of the top box, to the size of your child’s head. Have them try on the cake and mark where their arms are. Remove the cake and cut two holes large enough for their arms.

step-5Cut off the tip of a pastry bag and insert a large frosting tip. Scoop some spackling into the bag and twist the top of the bag. Squeeze the spackling out to line the edge of each “cake” layer. Let the “frosting” dry overnight.

step-6Wrap the wagon with the banquet tablecloth and trim the excess length.

step-7Dress up your chef and cake. Fill a new pastry bag with some whipped cream for the little ones to enjoy while trick or treating!

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography

Behind the Scenes With Peter Callahan

Today is sort of a celebration of all things Peter Callahan. A “PC” party, if you will. Because we adore just about everything he does (hello! have you seen his masterpiece miniatures?) we felt it necessary to take a peek inside his New York studio and find out just what makes him tick. Poppies and Posies whipped up some stunning florals for the occasion and Belathee Photography was there to capture. There’s lots more in the gallery, and you’ll find a look back at Peter’s very best moments  over on SMP Living.

SMP: How did you get your start in the food industry?

Peter: I was on Wall Street in commodity trading floor + decided to switch careers and do something more fun, I always liked food, so I picked that. My own company was my introduction to the commercial food industry

SMP: You created a sensation with food miniatures. Tell us how that came about.

Peter: One time a client asked me to pass hamburgers and she wanted them little smaller than regular size. Later I asked myself, what if they were really small like the size of a quarter. I had to chase my chefs around a little to get them to shrink them this size. But did it, they looked + tasted so amazing that after that I pointed my shrinking machine at everything, from bread pans for grilled cheese on mini bread to lobster rolls, popsicle molds, cotton candy, and more.

SMP: The moment you realized you finally “made it” in the industry?

Peter: I finally realized I made it in the industry after we shrunk everything in site and made custom trays to hold each hors d’oeuvres in a way that really showed off each one, things standing vertically as if by magic is one of my big things…and one day I did a wedding for Martha Stewart with all these things which no one had ever seen, and they were like WOW, we see it all and we have never seen anything like this…that’s when I knew…

SMP: Greatest lesson you’ve learned along the way?

Peter: The less you treat what you do like a business and treat more as something you love and pour uninhibited passion into it you shall have the best success and life!

SMP: Favorite food trends of the moment?

Peter: We are loving color, natural ones and matching foods in a very vivid pairing of striking colors, such as corn cakes topped with coral red lobster set on green cucumber weave..make the food a pop of color.

SMP: How do you stay inspired?

Peter: I stay inspired by constantly doing new things + evolving. I just renovated a 6,000 square foot Jive record recording studio into my kitchen office + tray fabrication prop shop + I had my talented wife Josephine make my private office there super stylish, really comfortable and where I want to hang out, so I can dream + bring the next chapters of my life to realities.

SMP: Some words to live by?

Peter: The more fun I have in my job the more successful I am…so I just need to keep that Willy Wonka spicket open….

Photography: Belathee Photography | Floral Design: Poppies and Posies

Mini-Versions of Your Favorites

If you haven’t had the opportunity to absorb New York Caterer, Peter Callahan‘s mini-masterpieces to date then today might be your lucky day. This man? He’s built of sheer brilliance. One look at his teeny tiny canapes and finger foods alike and you’ll see exactly what I mean. For more tiny inspiration, check out the gallery – it’s so  stinkin’ cute! And for a full behind the scenes tour & interview, head on over to SMP Weddings.

miniature burgers & fries

mini caramel apples

SMP: How did you get your start in the food industry?

PC: I got my start in the food industry very spontaneously. I was working on wall street a few years, following in my fathers footsteps, when I made the decision to do something a lot more fun and creative. I ended up landed in catering, but it really could have been many different things.

mini blueberry pancakes

lamb & mint pesto lollipops

SMP: I know I’m not alone here when I say that I’m seriously obsessed with every miniature you churn out. You’ve been recognized by celebrities, Martha Stewart… the works! How in the world did you know that miniature food could make such waves?

PC: To be honest, I’m not sure originally that I knew that miniature food would make such waves. I’ve always tried to come up with fresh different ways to do food so mini cheeseburgers were amongst a wide range of experiments. When i saw the first mini burger, I knew we were on to something. After that, we were off to the races thinking what we can shrink next. It was, and still is, a ton of fun

mini shrimp pots

mini milk & cookies

SMP: What was the turning point in your business where you knew these little bites would really take off?

PC: The turning point in my business when I knew these little bites would really take off was when people like Darcy Miller and Martha Stewart began asking me where I came up with the idea. They told me they had never seen anything like it, and they had seen a lot in their time!

mini fish tacos & patron

mini key lime pies

SMP: Could you describe the process? How does a miniature go from full sized to teeny perfection?

PC: The process of a miniature going from full size to mini first starts with the question “do I love this enough to shrink it”? If the answer is yes then I do a color sketch, to-scale. Then the hard part starts. I have to stalk my very nice, very busy chefs and convince them to craft something that’s never been done before!

miniature spaghetti & meatballs

crispy oysters & bloody marys

SMP: Out of all your miniatures, which one is the hardest to make?

PC: Out of all my miniatures, the hardest one would have to be the caviar rings. They aren’t exactly mini but boy are they a lot of work. They’re absolutely worth every painstaking moment though!

caviar rings

miniature scrambled eggs & bacon

SMP: And we have to know. Which one tastes the best?

PC: In my opinion the mini grilled cheese and mini strawberry rhubarb pies taste the best. I’d happily eat them every day!

Photography: mel barlow & co. | Photography: Ross Whitaker | Photography:: Ross Whitaker | Catering: Peter Callahan Catering

Jacquelyn Clark

Adelaide Hills Wedding from Nicole Cordeiro Photography

I’ve been dreaming of this wedding since I first laid eyes on the gorgeous images sent over to us by Nicole Cordeiro Photography. To me, it’s perfection. Elegant yet perfectly approachable, it’s a wedding I am sure their guests are still talking about today. And that Paolo Sebastian gown and those Christian Louboutin shoes? To die. It’s all to die for really, and you can see it all right here.

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From Nicole Cordeiro… The day was full of gorgeous details but my absolute favourite was the gowns. The bride, Sarah, looked absolutely amazing in her handcrafted Paolo Sebastian gown with French lace, floral beading, and 70 metres of pastel tulle to create a light whimsical train. Designed by her dear friend Paul (of Paulo Sebastian) he was there on the day to sew her into the dress. Paul also designed gowns for the bridal party, mothers of the bride and groom, and a number of guests all of whom looked exquisite!

From the Bride… A DIY romantic and rustic wedding in the Adelaide Hills filled with our nearest and dearest. The wedding décor included pastel colours with gold accents, personal touches with the wedding cake served in mason jars, a love is sweet’ cake table, etched water jugs for table numbers, and hanging flowers, to name a few of the detailed touches. The wedding was truly a labour of love with most of the wedding vendors family or close friends including dress designer Paul, Nicole the cake decorator, florist, hair and makeup team, @ Cemons, ceremony musicians and the classic wedding cars. The highlight from the wedding day was the surprise from Dean (groom). Dean played Lifehouse ‘You & Me’ on guitar at the wedding reception. Dean had secretly learnt the guitar 3 months before the wedding and organised musical members of our family and friends to put it together and make the night extra special. He even sang a verse or two!

Description of Proposal… Dean and I met at school and have known each for about twelve years. It wasn’t until after our studies that we connected, and within nine months whilst on a family holiday in Thailand, Dean surprised me (along with our family and friends) with a proposal! Dean is quite the romantic and had thought carefully about the proposal organising for us to be pampered at a day spa, followed by a candlelit dinner on a private beach. Looking back on it now I’m surprised I didn’t see it coming! At the end of the night we went for a walk to a lookout with fairy lights and beautiful view of the seaside. Dean then gave me a ‘present’ the first piece of jewellery he had bought me, a necklace with an inscription ‘marry me’. At the risk of sounding cliché it was a perfect night and one of our happiest moments.

Photographer : Nicole Cordeiro Photography | Cinematographer: Enlightening Films | Styling: Belles & Whistles | Wedding Dress: Paolo Sebastian | Cake: Cakeology by Nicole | Ceremony : St Francis Xavier Cathedral | Reception venue : Glen Ewin Estate | Shoes: Louboutin | Bridesmaids Dresses: Paolo Sebastian | Groom's Suit: Z by Zegna | Groom's Wedding:: Bulgari | Mothers Dresses: Paolo Sebastian

Santa Barbara Bacara Wedding from b. schwartz photography

This Santa Barbara wedding is a masterpiece.  Plain and simple.  It’s the kind of wedding that just screams “romance” with a huge dose of pretty details filling every inch of space.  I’m talking beautiful blooms from Ella & Loui, the fab stylings of Simply Santa Barbara Events and perfectly pink Loubs I need on my feet (ASAP).  See the entire day captured in drop-dead gorgeous images by b. schwartz photography right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… We met through mutual friends during our sophomore year at the University of California, Berkeley. Go Bears! Our first official date was at the Moffitt library as Wayne was studying for his Chemical Engineering midterm and I was studying organic chemistry. That’s how we knew we were meant for each other. Since then, we’ve made it through four years of long distance while I was in medical school in New York City and Wayne moved to Houston to begin working in investment banking. We finally made it back to the Bay Area three years ago with Wayne taking his current job in private equity and as I started my Pediatric Residency and now Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at Stanford.

Wayne popped the question under blue skies on a pier in St. Tropez on the French Riviera. Despite a few miscues including bad weather the prior day in Nice (it was pouring), less than ideal conditions in Paris (small children ruining perfect moments), and some awkward attempts to hide the ring throughout the trip (including in dirty laundry), the proposal went off perfectly! I was completely surprised even though he was convinced that I knew what was happening all along. We spent the remainder of our trip celebrating in the French Riviera and then in Chamonix Mont-Blanc before heading back to the States. We got engaged on September 5, 2011, signed the Bacara Resort and Spa in Santa Barbara in April 2012 and got married on June 1, 2013! An almost 2 year engagment.

I went to three stores with my bridesmaids on my first day wedding dress shopping and my Amy Kuschel gown was one of the first gowns I tried on. I immediately fell in love! Loved the shopping experience, too. All of my jewelry was designed by a friend of a friend (wedding band, engagement ring, tennis bracelet and earrings)! All of the bridesmaids had Kate Spade friendship bracelets.

Our wedding ceremony and reception took place at the Bacara Resort and Spa. Style was black tie optional with pastels and creams, soft lighting and orchids. Our goal was understated elegance. I wanted the venue to be the main attraction since the Bacara is so beautiful. Classic and timeless. We are wine fanatics, so we placed all the escort cards on wine corks. For a fun little twist, our programs were blue and gold for Cal colors!

Photography: B Schwartz Photography | Event Design: Simply Santa Barbara Events - Shelley Eschleman | Event Planning: Simply Santa Barbara Events - Shelley Eschleman | Floral Design: ella & louie | Dress: Amy Kuschel | Shoes: Louboutin | Wedding Venue: Bacara Resort & Spa | Wedding Venue: Bacara Resort & Spa | Bridesmaid Bangle Bracelets: Kate Spade | Bridesmaid Dress: Amsale

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DIY Quebec Wedding at Cheshire Lodge from Junophoto

Get ready to have your socks charmed right off, because this fabulous fête captured by Junophoto is seriously adorable. And sweet. And beautiful. Right down to the core, everything sitting in this gallery is what weddings are all about, and that just makes me so incredibly happy. See why here.


From the Bride… Etienne and I think love and happiness grows by being shared and the idea of getting married was foremost a way to share this love and happiness we have been experiencing for the past eleven years together. We searched a long time for that perfect location for our wedding. We were looking for an intimate place in the middle of nature with a rustic feel. Cheshire lodge was the best place! We fell in love at first sight!

A good advice for couples preparing their wedding is to engage the people around you to help. It is incredible what people can do for the cause of LOVE! We gave a mission to every person that was interested in having one. Everybody around us took their mission very seriously and gave their all to please us. It was so beautiful and touching to see all of our close friends and family work towards that project for the whole year!

Etienne’s mother (Anita) and sister (Clara) were dedicated to the table setting. All of the wonderful flowers and herbs are from Anita’s garden. Clara had the brilliant idea to reuse the centerpieces as wedding favors (eco-friendly we like!) The bouquets and boutonnières were fastidiously made by Atelier Carmel. Practically, every aspects of our wedding was diy. We even wanted to prepare the food at one point, but decided to be realistic to the relief of our family. We wanted the meal to be vegetarian and Miss Prêt à manger was one of the only caterer in Montreal to satisfy our needs! Also, because we like cheese so much, my sister and brother in law prepared cheese platters to die for!

When it was time to choose the photographer, we opted for Juno photo. Wedding pictures can be easily cheesy, but Junophoto was everything except that! They have a fun, creative and modern look. We were very pleased by our photos! The mason jar theme all started with the invitations that we had a lot of fun doing! Guests were drinking from mason jars, the flowers and candles were also placed in mason jars and let’s not forget the wedding favors; strawberry jam prepared on a sunny Sunday at my parent’s cottage with a lot of love and dedication from our
friends and family!

We really took the time to personalize the ceremony and every details of this beautiful sunny day and everything was better than expected!

Photography: Junophoto | Wedding Dress: David's Bridal | Groom's Suit: Tristan | Wedding Venue: Cheshire Lodge | Bouquets + Boutonnières: Atelier Carmel | Caterering: Miss Prêt à Manger

Parisian Wedding in Downtown Chicago from Cristina G Photography

Want to ensure a day that is literally dripping with romance?  Hold your wedding at the beautiful Murphy Auditorium in downtown Chicago, just like these two cuties did.  Because this wedding? This dreamland of Parisian-inspired details and beautiful blush hues?  It’s wonderful.  And it’s just the kind of affair that I know you are all dreaming of.  So, sit back, relax and prepare to soak in every last amazing moment captured by Cristina G Photography.  You won’t regret a single second.

From the Bride… The easiest decision of the entire wedding planning process was our first (after deciding to get married, of course!). We walked into The Murphy, the first venue we looked at, and booked it on the spot. The ornate Parisian cathedral style blew us away, and it became the inspiration for our wedding. The style, as we defined it, was “Midnight in Paris/Van Gogh’s Starry Night.” For florals, we went with soft, romantic colors such as white, peach, and pink, with dusty miller accents. To add to the ambiance we also chose amber uplighting around the perimeter and tall candelabras for the center tables to fill the space and draw our guests’ eyes up towards the gorgeous ceiling.

Our food also had French accents – from the chicken confit appetizer to our espresso creme brulee cups for passed late night snacks. Music during cocktail hour and dinner was French cafe-inspired, including many Django Reinhardt jazz pieces. And finally, to add to the formal, romantic mood, we chose black tuxedos for the men, and I chose a lace Liancarlo dress and pearl accessories. We couldn’t have been happier with how the event turned out and were able to enjoy all of the romance we had worked so hard to create!

Photography: Cristina G Photography | Floral Design: Meetinghouse | Cake: Alliance Bakery | Stationery: Stationery Station | Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Catering: Blue Plate | Hair & Makeup: Sonia Roselli | Lighting: Meetinghouse | Tuxes: Jos. A. Bank | Officiant: Chicago Weddings | Limo: Stretch Limousine Inc | Wedding Venue: The Murphy Auditorium | DJ/Music: Toast and Jam | Dress Designer: Liancarlo | Dress Store: Dimitra's Bridal Couture | Getting Ready Hotel: Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile

Downtown Dallas Engagement from Cottonwood Road Photography

You know what’s adorable?  These two.  These two sweeties celebrating their upcoming nuptials with a jaunt around downtown Dallas and one joy-filled moment after another captured by Cottonwood Road Photography.  It’s the sort of engagement session that adds just the right amount of happy to any old weekday, and fills the entire gallery with non-stop pretty.  Join me there for more.

From Cottonwood Road Photography… Abbey and Ian are simply the perfect couple. The way they adore each other shines through their photos! Sharing snow cones at Klyde Warren Park, gorgeous waterfalls, little black dress, this shoot has it all. This gorgeous engagement shoot is modern and glamourous. The couple is beautiful, the scenery urban and sleek. We all had so much fun with these engagements and I cannot wait for their beautiful wedding in January at First Baptist Church in downtown as well. This engagement session is simply beautiful in it’s uniqueness and urban charm.

Photography: Cottonwood Road Photography | Delicious Snow Cones: Crazy Fish | Location: Klyde Warren Park

Travel Inspired Destination Wedding on Ibiza from Fusion Photography

When a couple this stylish ties the knot, you can pretty much guarantee it’s going to be a gorgeous day. Like one of those days where uber-chic details and downright amazing moments combine in a crazy awesome love-fest.  It’s that good, people.  And when you add in a breathtaking (and I mean breathtaking) Ibiza setting and one moment after another captured by Fusion Photography, it’s the prettiest thing you’ll see all day.  Join me in the gallery for more.

From Fusion PhotographyThis was a wonderful wedding on the sunny dance island of Ibiza. It is our favourite wedding from the past year! Aime and Adrian flew from their home in the UK to have the wedding of their dreams in Ibiza, planning the whole thing to ensure it was exactly as they both envisioned. From the stunning hilltop villa, where the boys got ready, to the David Fielden wedding dress, everything was chosen very carefully. Adrian won best dressed male on the day with his custom tailored electric blue Hugo Boss suit, whilst Aime’s Chloe Green shoes had most ladies looking to the ground throughout the day.

The ceremony took place on a tranquil cliff-edge overlooking the Balearic Sea, in the uber-famous Amante Beach Club, and the mighty-talented Warren Cahill from ‘Rat on the Roof’ took care of the tunes for the bride’s walk down the sandy aisle, as well as the reception. The theme on the day was ‘travel’ with the stationery depicting destinations or plane tickets, with the guests names on them. World famous DJ Filthy Rich flew into the island to take care of the party side of the music afterwards. All in all, this wedding had the couples stamp all over it, whilst also paying homage to what the island stands for.

Photography: Fusion Photography | Event Coordination: Amante Beach Club - Zeta | Wedding Dress: David Fielden | Shoes: Chloe Jade Green | Makeup: Smack Ibiza | DJ: Filthy Rich | Groom's Suit: Hugo Boss | Officiant: Terry Freeth - Anglican Church | Wedding Venue: Amante Beach Club | Groom's Shoes: Hugo Boss | Guitarist: Rat on the Roof - Warren Cahill | Stationery Design: Dave Dalziel

Maypole Inspiration from Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio + Paperlily Photography

In a perfect world, I would live inside this photo shoot.  I would frolic in the gorgeous fields, rock a beautiful gown from Ivy and Aster and surround myself with lush (+ gorgeous) blooms from Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio for every second of every day.  Because this, my friends, is the kind of wonderland you sort of dream about, with every last mesmerizing moment captured in beyond perfect images by Paperlily Photography.  See them all right here in the full gallery.

And a beautiful film from Anchor Heart Films?  Yes, please.

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From Sherry Donnelly of Gertie Mae’s Floral StudioEveryone has a dream, a vision, something magical that runs around in their brain. I decided to bring mine to life in a styled shoot with the incredible talent of Paperlily Photography. Growing up in the southeastern part of the country, I was raised with the Maypole tradition. That of lovely girls in white dresses, dancing around the Maypole, and weaving the colorful ribbons in and out until they were braided. This event normally takes place in the spring time, so I put a twist on it and created an Autumn Maypole themed shoot. Adding the rich tones and textures in the ribbons, floral crowns, organic necklaces, and table settings, gave it a lush, yet natural feel. The concept was for the ladies to gather their own flowers, create their own wearable designs, and dance the afternoon away around the Maypole. The Ivy and Aster dresses were perfect for the storyline. My dream came to life through the lense of Paperlily Photography and even more so in the magical video Teejay Heaslip of Anchor Heart Films created of the day.

Photographer: Paperlily Photography | Film: Anchor Heart Films | Floral Design: Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio | Cake: Blooming Flour | Hair + Makeup: Andrea Carter Artistry | Hair + Makeup: Brielle Brenner | Hair + Makeup: Beth Pilgreen | Venue: Glen Ella Springs Inn | China: Vintage English Teacup | Custom Ribbons: Nicholas Kniel | Furniture Rentals: Crush Event Rentals | Lead Hair Stylist: Michelle McCoy | Muffins: Homespun | Stationery + Paper Suite: Julia's Poppies | Wedding Gowns: Ivy And Aster

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Cape Cod Wedding at Popponesett Inn from Hike Photography

Cape Cod weddings are always special, but this one takes the cake. Because it’s not only down right gorgeous thanks to the talented team of Cape Cod Celebrations, but it’s also filled with heart (their description alone sent the good kind of shivers down my spine). You see, on top of planning a wedding, this amazing Bride also donated her kidney to her soon-to-be hubby. I’ll let you take a moment to soak that in. They are literally the perfect match in so many ways, and their chic Cape Cod celebration must have been not only magical, but meaningful. See the entire day from Hike Photography right here.


From Cape Cod CelebrationsI had the pleasure of working with Marci and Bob this past May and what an amazing couple, on every level of amazing. I was inspired to work with Marci and Bob by Judy Fligg from All About Flowers for Weddings, when she told me that Marci actually donated her kidney to Bob in order for him to basically stay alive. I mean, talk about love!

From the Bride… Bob and I met years ago while working at the same company and formed a great friendship. We are very similar with our sarcastic nature, so we had a lot of fun together. Three years ago we took our friendship into a relationship. Our relationship was always so easy, a part of me always knew that I would move to Newburyport where Bob was living and that we would be married. I never thought about it, just knew that was the direction. Our love for each other grew very strong and for the first time we both felt like we could truly love and be loved.

From the beginning of our relationship I always knew Bob had health issues. He struggled with a kidney disease for many years and we knew that at some point in his life he would need a kidney transplant. In January of 2012 he was told that it was time after dealing with his disease for 12 years, he would need to go through the process of becoming a recipient for a transplant and to start talking to family and friends about donating. Two family members wanted to get tested to become a donor for Bob, so we started that process. Bob and I tried to go on with life as usual. In March we went on an amazing trip to Scrub Island in the BVIs. To my surprise Bob asked me to marry him on that trip and everything was perfect.

After the trip Bob’s family members that were being tested could not be donors. It was very emotional because of the willingness for them to donate as well as not being able too. Bob started to have other complications. I could not see him like this and wanted to do anything I could to help. I decided to call the transplant center and schedule to be tested, I didnt know my blood type, but wanted to try. Within three weeks of getting tested, I was a match for Bob. When I found out I was the match I knew I was going to have surgery. I was scared to death as I had never had a major surgery let alone spent a night in a hospital, but I knew I had to help and could never live with myself if I did not help him.

The week before the surgery Bob was admitted to the hospital with a pain in his arm. The surgery was cancelled and he was devastated, really not sure what was even going on. Later on we found out that Bob was suffering from a minor heart attack due to complications. The doctors handled his condition, but it left Bob with no choice, but to go on dialysis. With hope we would be able to be back on track in three months and have the surgery.

Three long months went by; Bob and I were once again cleared for surgery. There was excitement and so much fear. We were both so worried that this would affect our relationship. Neither of us wanted to resent each other we just wanted to be there for each other. On October 1st we had surgery and I donated my kidney to Bob. The surgery went well for both of us and we both had a long recovery ahead of us. With the help of our families we had the support we needed to get through a full recovery and although it wasnt always easy we made it through, together. Everything you go through in life makes you stronger and this made us as individuals stronger and together in our relationship resilient. We truly are the perfect match!

After surgery we started putting all our energy into planning our wedding. Since I was a little girl I always wanted to get married at the Popponesset Inn. I grew up on Cape Cod and really wanted to share that with Bob. Bob grew up in Newburyport, so we knew we wanted to have the wedding near the water. When I brought Bob to look at Popponesset, he thought it was perfect location for a romantic, casual and fun setting. I already knew the vendors I wanted to work with some old friends and some new faces. I met Judy Fligg from All about Flowers and instantly fell in love. Her creativity and ability to understand your vision is amazing. I met with her 6 weeks after surgery and she brought me back to life, her heart so fill with love and joy. Because of her I am able to work with the best vendors on Cape Cod. We chose a nautical theme of anchors, lanterns, sea glass, seersucker, and beautiful peonies in soft ivory and pink. Our invitations were custom done by Jen at Dulce Press, which set the scene for our Cape Cod wedding. We incorporated Cape Cod in our invitations and guest book. Cape Cod has become a second home for Bob and is special to both of us.

The wedding was incredible, everything we imagined it to be. Walking into the ceremony, Popponesset was breathtaking especially with the rain splashing down. Our family was a big part of our wedding party, which made the day that more special. Our twin nephews walked down before I did with driftwood sign that read Uncle Bobby here comes your girl. Rose pedals lined the aisle and at the end of the aisle were beautiful arrangements of peonies, roses, and hydrangeas on pillars. I held an all pink peonies bouquet with a charm to remember my mom; she passed away and wanted her to be part of my day too. We finished the ceremony and started pictures inside the tent, as we were getting through some pictures we noticed the sun peeking through and that the rain had stopped. All of us so excited went outside to the beach and was able to take some amazing shots on the beach thanks to Hike photography. I like to think it was my mom looking down on us sending her love. After pictures we went back into the tent got introduced as Mr. & Mrs. Eiserman and danced our first song I wont Give up by Jason Mraz, that Dan Sky sang for us. We chose Dan because we heard him sing one night and it touched our hearts.

When we sat and looked around the room we were amazed at the beauty of it all. Tables of white linen with cobalt chargers and glasses, white and pink flowers overflowing silver pales and lanterns, sea glass around the room, white lanterns and lights hanging from the ceiling, and the perfect little nautical touch of seersucker on the tables. We incorporated signs made out of driftwood for Mr & Mrs made by Liz Stotz of Newburyport. It was the perfect Cape Cod wedding. We dined and danced to the music of Dan Sky and just appreciated our lives, health and love.

It was a beautiful night for us and really came together with help from our fabulous vendors and planners that out of the goodness in their heart gave Bob and me a wedding to always remember after a year we wanted to forget! Many thanks and love to Jen at Dulce Press, Judy at All About Flowers for Weddings, Jamie Bohlin Cape Cod Celebrations, Jennifer Perry at Popponeset, Lisa from Delicious Desserts, and Dan Sky from Dan Sky music.

Photography: Hike Photography | Coordination: Cape Cod Celebrations | Floral Design: All About Flowers For Weddings | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Delicious Desserts | Invitations: Dulce Press | Bridesmaids Dresses: Lula Kate | Makeup: Robin Liebowitz | Hair: Brady Brumfield of James Joseph Salon | DJ: Dan Sky | Ties: Vineyard Vines | Men's Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Wedding Venue: Popponesset Inn | Bridal Boutique: Allegria Bridal

A Vintage Wedding + Tablescape Ideas from Southern Vintage

Vintage-loving brides! We’ve got just the feature for y’all today. It’s a sweet southern wedding complete with some of the loveliest vintage details, thanks to our friends at Southern Vintage, who will be breaking down some of our favorite highlights. Most of all, we love the personal touch that incorporating vintage goodies adds to a wedding and we want to know how to pull it off! Keep reading for the breakdown & tips and then join us in the gallery!

From Southern Vintage… For table numbers the bride and groom chose vintage postcards that reflected them—vintage West Point soldiers (groom West Point Army officer) and vintage Florida and Gators (the bride is from Florida and a University of Florida graduate). The post cards were displayed on wire stands on vintage door knobs and lids from Southern Vintage. The linens, vintage napkins and doily runners on the tables were vintage also.

The gift table and guest book table were set side by side on vintage wood tables. The bride wanted a vintage treasure for the guests to place cards in that was unique to let them know how important she felt their gifts were. She selected a Southern Vintage 6 drawer tool crate. The bride made the scrabble welcome sign and painted the M for Myers. The bride loves succculents so they were incorporated on to these two tables in milk glass vessels rented from Southern Vintage. The guest book was a large (huge) wood slab from the brides back yard. The guests signed their names on the slab and the groom is going to make a coffee table out of the wood slab. They rented a vintage wood table to place the slab on and a chalk board sign to instruct the guests. It was a unique guest book that all the guests had fun signing.

Tip: Pick a guest book that incorporates your style and that you will enjoy for years and even for life!

The bride and groom wanted a fun cocktail hour. They didn’t want their guests waiting in long lines, So two separate bars were created with vintage barrels with antique doors across the top for back and front bars. The back bars were created for the bar tenders to have a work area so the front bar stayed clean and pretty. Next to the two bars were unique displays with vintage stemware for the guests or bartenders to chose the appropriate stemware. Their was washi tape and markers for naming of glasses for the night. One display was a vintage garden cart and the other an oak dresser. Both had chalk board signs with the bar options and signature drinks.

Tip: Functional as well as lovely displays are important for the guests to have a good time. No one wants to wait on an hour line for a drink no matter how pretty the bar is!

The important elements the bride wanted on the table settings were vintage china, stemware, silver flatware, napkins and lace. Her florals were baby’s breath for a romantic breathy feel with other soft and pretty flowers in vintage milk glass and silver vessels, with a pop of blue and pink here and there. She chose all the elements and the day of coordinators styled the tables with all the Southern Vintage table ware on the day. The vintage floral vessels were given to the florist days before the wedding. Smaller wood boxes, rusty keys and small bird figurines were added to continue the rustic and romantic style.

Tip: Vintage table settings can get very busy in a hurray. Each piece is unique and lovely but if you overcrowd the table your guests can’t appreciate the loveliness through the clutter. So don’t send more to the venue than you want placed on the tables or it will all get set out.

Later in the evening, the dancers were given a sweet cool treat. The ice cream bar was very important to the bride because she and her dad loves ice cream. The used vintage treasures to create the ice cream bar, milk glass compotes, depression glass cookie jars, wood cheese crates, scales and ice cream churns all placed on a vintage farm table. Our vintage hoosier cabinet was used place vintage sherbet cups and spoons for the self serve ice cream bar.

The most important tip we have learned from our vintage weddings is that it’s to communicate your inspiration, style and details that are essential with the day of coordinators. We have brides that come to us to rent the vintage treasures with a clear vision in mind. On the day of the wedding, the bride should be primping and relaxing so it is essential that the day of coordinator knows her bride and her vision. Some brides are very detail oriented and some are not so make sure you pick a coordinator that fits your style and personality so all your months or years of planning are not lost on your big day! Congrats to Callie and Billy!

From Southern VintageCallie and Billy vision for their wedding was a romantic vintage rustic wedding, a relaxed and happy celebration of their love and their love of their family and friends. On May 3, 2013, Billy and Callie had their beautiful wedding at the Inn at Serenbe. They had a long and obstacle ridden path to their wedding. After the wedding, Billy said the wedding was amazing and worth the two year wait! Some of the obstacles they faced were: postponement of the their first planned ceremony in March 2012 until after Billys return from deployment to Afghanistan (First Lieutenant in US Army), a stylist that promised a “deserving couple wedding, since Callie a special education teacher and Billy soldier in Army, only to steal money from them and the unexpected change of venue five days before the wedding! Flexibility and perseverance were much needed by the couple and her parents to continue to create the vision. Thanks to good friends, family and gracious vendors that went above and beyond, Callie and Billy had their magically romantic vintage wedding. The Inn at Serenbe was so gracious to allow us to have the wedding at their beautiful venue with less than a weeks notice. The beautiful venue so complimented their style and vision for the wedding. In the end, it was that love of family and friends, one of the key ingredients in the vision they had for their wedding, that made it all possible!

The style of romantic vintage was created using vintage treasures from Southern Vintage and all Callies DIY projects that kept her busy while Billy was in Afghanistan. The color palette was filled with vintage hues but mostly white, ivory, blush, gray and a touch of tiffany blue. The brides dress with its flowing chiffon and a tiny bit of bling was perfect for romantic vintage wedding. Her mother adapted her veil from her 1983 wedding using lace from her dress and bling from Callies belt (that she didnt want on the belt) to create a less 80s headpiece. Callies love of children was evident in the amount of children in the ceremony and dancing at the reception. The couples puppy, Molly, a swiss mountain dog was the most special flower girl. The grooms cake was a delicious replica of Molly. The guest book was a huge slice of an old oak tree from the brides backyard that they will use to create a coffee table. The escort cards were attached to a vintage key on very old shutters. The table numbers were on very old postcards of West Point and other important places to the bride and groom. The ice cream bar later in the night for dancers to cool off, which was also the Father of bride’s favorite food. Lastly, the send off was lavender tossed at the couple from little muslin sachets.

Photography: Noi Tran | Photography: Caroline Akins | Event Design & Planning: Southern Vintage | Floral Design: Virtu Floral Design | Cake: Blooming Flour | Invitations: Tasha Rae Designs | Ceremony Venue: The inn at Serenbe | Reception Venue: The inn at Serenbe | Catering: Tulla White Catering | Hair & Makeup: Jamie | Day of Event Styling & Planning: Vinewood Plantation | Day of Event Styling & Planning: LeAnn Hurd of Southern Flair | Menus, escort tags + favor cards: Moore Custom Creations | Vintage Rentals: Southern Vintage

Our Top 10 Most Pinned Recipes + GIVEAWAY

I spent some time the other day sifting through our archives trying to figure out our most popular recipes to date. The ones that you guys have raved about, pinned like mad, and devoured to your hearts content. I discovered two things: you seem to go buck nutty about salads and low-fat hummus, and you all have a serious sweet tooth. Yep, we’re kindred spirits it seems! It’s all about balance anyway, you know? Here’s a quick recap of our top 10 recipes to date and a fun RECIPE INSPIRED CONTEST BELOW!

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So there you have it. The most pinned recipes on SMP Living to date. That freaking guacamole got like 45k pins which just blew our minds. But it actually is that good, so I guess it didn’t blow our minds that far.

So tell us, what are you favorite recipes of all time? Doesn’t need to be from SMP, can be from anywhere! We just want to hear from you!

the-giveaway

TO ENTER: Leave a comment and a link to your favorite online recipe of all time and tell us why you love it!

DEADLINE: Friday, October 25th at NOON EST.

PRIZE: A $150 Gift Certificate to Williams Sonoma gifted to one lucky winner who will be chosen at random!

Jacquelyn Clark

Koblenz, Germany Wedding from Birgit Hart Fotografie

If  I ever got the chance to go to Germany, I’d make it my mission to find this very spot. Charming architecture, gorgeous views, plus this total beauty from Birgit Hart, making it feel all more lovely. It’s a cultural mashup brought to life by Doreen Winking, and could can join me for a little looksy loo in the full gallery right here.

From Birgit Hart Fotografie… This wedding was truly amazing. The bride with roots in Afghanistan and the groom with roots in Spain. Guests from all over the world, wonderful music and food to die for. The couple was so laid back, the atmosphere just amazing. The free wedding ceremony took place in the garden of a former monastery, overlooking the rivers Rhine and Mosel. Perfectly coordinated by Doreen Winking Weddings. The Afghan singer Najim Nawabi flew in from San Francisco to perform for Farishta & Jean! There was a lot of dancing and I must admit that I am now a big fan of Afghan food & music!

Photography: Birgit Hart | Wedding coordination: Doreen Winking | Flowers: Monique Lebahn | Ceremony Venue: Klostergut Besselich | Catering: Feinkost Kulinaris | Afghan Music: Najim Nawabi | Hair & Make Up: Krissi van der Viven | Spanish Music: Manuel Torres

Nocatee, Florida Wedding from J. Layne Photography

This is the type of wedding I could get lost in for hours. The stunning florals from Shea Hopely Flowers, the perfectly placed details meticulously planned by Megan Martin and the plethora of picture perfect moments captured by J. Layne Photography – it honestly doesn’t get prettier than this, folks. It makes for a soiree worthy of spending some serious QT with this morning, and you can do just that right here.

From the Bride… I really love anything with a rustic edge to it, but I really didn’t want to go too far into the “country” feel, so my wonderful wedding planner, Megan Martin, dubbed my wedding style as “Fresh Rustic”: Light & Airy Details in Crisp Colors with A Rustic Flair. I wanted it to be romantic and elegant with a twist of my all-time favorite decorating style. I wanted everyone to feel like they were comfortable and at home, but also that they were at a very nicely detailed wedding. I had obviously cooked up a hundred and one ideas on Pinterest for my vision, but I was so overwhelmed that I think it became a few different visions. So, I handed it over to my wedding planner to take my vision(s) and create a visionary! Megan made this beautiful look book for me with pictures of the entire style of my wedding, with inspiration boards and color schemes and flower ideas I hadn’t even thought of, but that went perfectly. It put tears in my eyes to finally see it all coming together. She was the key to a very successful and organized plan.

My advice for new brides is, honestly, start early. I got my dress a week after Josh proposed, and the entire planning process followed suit. Not to say you should rush everything, some things take time, and it’s different for each bride. But, do things as early as possible that you KNOW you want. We did, and it was so we didn’t have to worry the week of the wedding. Everything was done, and we could enjoy our friends and relatives from out of town.

Get a planner! I can’t say it enough to everyone who asks if it’s worth it. I 100% would have been lost without someone to take my ideas and make them amazing in person. I would not change ONE thing about the look of the wedding.

Splurge on your photographer, if you can. Or at least do your research for a good one. The most important thing after planning and attending your amazing wedding is to have photographs to look back on that blow you away!! It’s so worth it, and I’m so glad I hired J. Layne Photography!

From J. LayneBeing a part of this wedding really opened our eyes as to how truly blessed we are to be in this industry. Megan, her family, and friends were all so welcoming we felt as though we were around our family and friends all day.and I think that is exactly the feel that Megan wanted for her wedding day.

The groom, being a Captain in the United States Air Force and stationed in OK, and Megan living in her hometown in FL, have spent the majority of their relationship apartI remember Megan telling me on her wedding day that she is just excited to begin her life with Joshua. Many of us, so often, take for granted our significant others being so close physically that mentally we lose sight at what is really important just being together.

Photography: J. Layne Photography | Event Design + Planning: Megan Martin | Floral Design: Shea Hopely | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Classic Cakes | Shoes: Designer Shoe Warehouse | Engagement Ring: Henri Daussi | Caterer: Designed Events | Makeup Artist: Paulina Perez | DJ: Skip Kelly Productions | Wedding Venue: Crosswater Hall | Bride's Crystal Belt for Reception: Essense of Australia | Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Alfred Sung | Canvas Bags: Stamp Out Online | Dress Boutique: Love Bridal Boutique | Drop Earrings: Haute Bride | Hair Artist: Casey Does Hair

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