Oh how I adore a beach wedding. And a beach wedding with a bit of chic? Well, that is so up my alley. So this little seaside soiree captured by Monika Gauthier has my name written all over it. Each beautiful image paints the picture of a day that was not only gorgeous, but meaningful – and to me, it doesn’t get better than that. See it all here.

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After dusting off the sugary white sand, the party headed upstairs to the resort’s Atlantic Room which boasts uninterrupted panoramic views of the ocean below. The tablescapes gave a nod to the venue with clusters of white coral, oyster shell votives and barnacle clusters tucked between small arrangements of white flowers in mercury glass. Dinner was then served, and the newly weds danced the night away with their guests.

Megan and Marc’s favorite moment of the whole day would have to be their first look moment. The bride and groom came downstairs on separate elevators, and when the doors opened and peeked their heads around the corner to see each other for the first time on their wedding day as captured by photographer Monika Gauthier.

Photography: Monika Gauthier Photography & Design | Florist: Rachael Kasie Designs | Wedding Dress: Mikaella Bridal | Bridesmaid's Dresses: Alfred Sung | Hair & Makeup: Evelisse Hahn | DJ: Matt the Sax Man | Groomsmen's suits: Kenneth Cole Reaction | String Quartet: Classern String Quartet | Venue: The Shores Resort And Spa | Chairs: A Chair Affair | Day of Organizer: The Shores Resort And Spa

There’s this powerhouse duo that kills it in the wedding world. That designing and floral artistry twosome better known as Lisa Vorce and Mindy Rice have a way of creating the most magical affairs. The kind that transport you to a whole new world where everything from the paper goods to the teepees (see below) convey a sense of who the couple is and perfectly reflect the spot that they’ve chosen to host such a big day. Sedona is today’s spot and the beauty is in all the millions of details and in the killer imagery captured by Aaron Delesie. Have a look here for every last little bit.

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From Lisa Vorce… The wedding took place at the wonderful Enchantment Resort in breathtaking Sedona, Arizona. So, so gorgeous! Our clients put an extraordinary amount of trust in us and let us do our thing, so Mindy and I had a blast. So much inspiration from the natural environment there. Starting with the Save the Date – we set the tone for what was to come. We partnered with Device Creative Collaborative who created the most amazing tipi save the date. One of my favorites!

For the wedding ceremony, our groom selected a spot in the middle of the secluded Boynton Canyon. Surrounded by red-rock formations, it was simply breathtaking. Mindy created an enormous hand woven dream catcher ceremony structure – embellished with feathers and wood beading inspired by the colors of the surrounding earth. The bride carried a beautiful organic bouquet composed of eucalyptus, garden roses, hellebores, millet, bunny tail, euphorbia, spray roses, and feathers. For the petal toss – guests were given gilded leather pockets embellished with native stone beads – filled with micah and a variety of soft feathers.

At the cocktail hour, a friend of the bride made a beautiful dream catcher as a gift. We had die cut feathers made in the wedding colors, and had each guest write a message to the bride and groom and then hang their “message feathers” on the dream catcher. So cute!

For the dinner reception in the ballroom, we brought in a truss structure and had the most incredible “tufted” ceiling created. The walls were draped in a beautiful plumy taupe fabric, and twenty-four foot dinner tables showcased loosely woven linens, mother of pearl flatware, stone washed lavender napkins, petite “booklet” menus which also functioned as place cards (each guest’s name was calligraphed on the cover of the booklet), tufted gold mercury glass candles, and hand thrown pottery housing collections of bleached feathers. For the centerpieces, Mindy created the most beautiful combination — wooden vessels holding feathers, sterling silver and prelude roses, eucalyptus, succulent blossoms, and astilbe. Gorgeous!

Other fun dinner reception details included lounge vignettes detailed with moroccan wedding blankets, ethnic punched tin lanterns and and metallic taupe pillows. Each lounge vignette had petite wood containers with metallic bon bons in silver, purple, lavender, and plum. Was such a fun detail!

Sedona was the perfect peaceful environment for our genuinely kind and sweet clients. An amazing celebration of their love and we were so happy to be a part of it.

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Photography: Aaron Delesie Photographer, Inc | Event Design + Production: Lisa Vorce Event Design & Production | Floral + Event Design: Mindy Rice Floral & Event Design | Stationery: Device Creative Collaborative | Officiant: Janice Midkiff, Love in Sedona | Tipi Marquee: Under Canvas | Linens: Custom from Lisa Vorce Event Design & Production + La Tavola | Rug Rentals: Casa de Perrin | Catering: Enchantment Resort | Specialty Event Furniture: Elan Event Rentals | Lighting + Trussing: Lighten Up Inc | Music: Guacho Jazz | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Shoes: Hadleigh’s Bespoke Evening Slippers  | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Wedding Cake: Sedona Cake Couture

I always get so anxious when we’ve got a full day filled with goodies and we have to wait until the LAST post to see the full reveal. We are such teases, aren’t we?! But we couldn’t not fill you in on all that DIY goodness. Our DIYer went to town this time around and the gold-leafed art, the gallery wall, the tray and that incredible desk were just too good to leave out. But I promise you that Stephanie’s adorable apartment was well worth the wait. One look at Ruth Eileen’s photos and I have faith you’ll swoon alongside us. Don’t miss the “before” pics of the living room, kitchen, & office– you won’t believe the transformation!

From Stephanie… I think we can all agree city apartments have their quirks. Whether it’s some outdated tile or a major lack of space, there’s always a design challenge or two to work around. But after living in a “garden level” apartment (AKA, a basement) for our first six months in the city, I knew one thing for darn certain: I wanted our next space to feel extra light, bright, open yet cozy. A little space in the city to truly felt like our own.

With that inspiration in mind, we went for lots of white-on-white elements,and a few pops of color thrown in along the way. High up on the room re-design list was the office. As a work-from-home SMPer, my office is my ultimate place of inspiration. My girly little nook. The room I spend hours on end writing, editing and dreaming up ideas every week. So it had to be special. Feminine, yet sophisticated. Functional, yet fun. And thanks to some easy peasy DIYs and a little touch of gold, I’m happy to say, mission accomplished.

The office is right off of the living room, so it was important to feel a cohesive “flow” from one room to another. Keeping that in mind, we kept it super neutral and light with touches of gold tying the two spaces together. The result? A sort of beach-cottage-meets-city-glam. And I wholeheartedly love it.

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Remember those apartment quirks I was talking about? Well, our kitchen and bedroom are chock-full of those. But thankfully we were able to design around our mustard yellow kitchen tiles and not-so-pretty bedroom walls. With a big ol’ splash of white and accessories that added a layer of lovely, both spaces transformed from completely simple to something special.

Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Alarm Clock: Pottery Barn | Brass Spheres: West Elm | Calendar Prints: Snow & Graham | Chevron Rug: West Elm | Chunky Tassel Throw Blanket: West Elm | Crosshatch Picture Frame: Target | European Cities Prints: Live Creating Yourself | Faux Sheepskin Throw: Ikea | Flower Prints: Ikea | Gray & White Throw Pillows: Bed Bath & Beyond | Gray Stripe Dish Towels: West Elm | Gray Tufted Chair: West Elm | Ivory Diamond Rug: Target | Jute Rug: Ikea | Mirrored Side Table: Target | Ombre Pillow: Target | Owl Cookie Jar: West Elm | Pink Flower Print: Ikea | Round White Table: Ikea | Studded Throw Pillow: Target | Sunburst Mirror: Target | Tea Cup Candle: Anthropologie | Turquoise Coasters: Anthropologie | White Ceramic Vase: West Elm | White Duvet Cover: Target | White Lacquer Desk Set: West Elm | White Side Table: West Elm | Yellow Rug: Ikea | Yellow Stripe Mixing Bowls: Ikea | Yellow Stroke Coffee Mugs: West Elm

PLUS, ALL THE DIY’S IN ONE PLACE: Gold-Leafed Art | Gallery Wall | Zig Zag Tray | Gilded Ikea Desk 

Bold statement alert: this is my favourite DIY we’ve ever featured on SMP Living. That says a lot considering there are a number of them that have completely knocked me off my feet. But I would pay big bucks for this gorgeous gilded number in a high end store. The best part? With just a little elbow grease, you can do the whole thing for virtually nothing! Ah, Ikea hacks – how I love thee.

IKEA Vika Gruvan desk with trestle legs
Adhesive size Gold leaf (4 packets)
Glue brush Painter’s tape 2” foam brush
Paint brush
Clear acrylic spray

Remove the glass top of the desk. Use painter’s tape to outline the edges of the trays.

Use the foam brush to paint adhesive size on one tray, including the sides. Let dry 15 mins, until tacky.

Press the gold leaf on the tray until it is covered entirely. Repeat steps 2 & 3 on the other tray. Press more gold leaf onto any missed spots and use the paint brush to remove any excess leaf.

Spray two light coats of clear acrylic spray to seal the gold leaf. Remove the painter’s tape and place the glass top back on your desk. Enjoy your fabulously luxe new desk!

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Design & Styling: Style Me Pretty Living

We saved this wedding for today, just in case you aren’t super excited to be sitting in your office in front of your computer after you holiday weekend. Mirelle Carmichael Photography’s images are enough to make your desk chair a little more comfortable and your day a little more cheery. The wedding is an ear to ear smile from beginning to end!

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From the glowing bride… My husband Jason and I had been dating for almost ten years before we finally decided to get married, so our wedding was a very special time in our life. Very much like our personalities and styles, we wanted our wedding to embody a classic and lighthearted elegance. It also had to feel effortlessly romantic! We chose pink, green and gold as our wedding colors gold is a lucky color in my Chinese culture and green and pink are our favorite colors. I also have a fondness for pink as it was often mistaken for my Chinese name (Pheng, pronounced Ping) when I was little! The colors perfectly complimented our June wedding, as well as the beautiful Spanish bricks and wooden artifacts of our venue, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. We both love art and the museum, with its Asian influence (Jason is half Japanese, I am Chinese), was able to accommodate our wedding of over 200 guests!

My background in ballet and fashion design greatly influenced the fabrics for our wedding. I love texture and anything airy. My wedding dress, made of lace appliqués and tulle, had illusion rosettes throughout the bottom of the skirt. The bridesmaids wore chiffon gowns and our adorable flower girl wore a dress reminiscent of a tutu! For our reception, we had satin pintuck linens. I accented our sweetheart table chairs with chiffon sashes made by me.

To keep with the romantic and elegant feel we choose blooms like peonies, ranunculus, garden roses, polo roses, freesia, mini roses, lisianthus, hydrangeas, astilbe, and dusty miller for our florals. Metallic pearlescent cardstock were used for our programs, menus, table numbers, escort cards and signs to add a feel of elegance among the museum’s artifacts. All the paper goods for our wedding were designed and made by me. Many hours were spent cutting paper and tying bows for our large guest list!

Having grown up with a family owned business, I tried to be conscious of choosing small and independent vendors. I actually found our photographer (Mirelle Carmichael), florist (Commerce Flowers), makeup artist (All Made Up), and my veil (custom by Crowning Glory Designs) through Style Me Pretty! Each one of our vendors were amazing to work with. They made the whole planning process such a memorable time!

Our main focus during our planning stages was our guests. We wanted them to make sure they left with a full stomach and enjoyed themselves! We had late night appetizers of sliders and warm sandwiches passed around an hour before our reception ended and a photobooth that was open all evening. We also had around 30 children guests. I made gift bags filled with a DIY wedding activity book, crayons, and toys for them. We also had several party packs of bi-colored glowsticks (which could be made into bracelets, earrings, sunglasses, balls, and more) for the kids but a lot of the adults joined in the glowstick fun as well!

One of my favorite parts of the wedding was the ceremony. I remember waiting in the bridal suite, so nervous, yet when I saw my almost-husband waiting at the end of the aisle all I could do was focus on him with a huge smile on my face. We wrote most of the ceremony ourselves, incorporating certain scripts from various faiths into it, all the while keeping it very genuine and us. We also wrote our own vows and I cried through most of them. Jasons Uncle, an ordained Reverend, officiated the ceremony and his mother did a reading during a handfasting ceremony we included. His mother started crying halfway through her reading and I saw Jason start to tear up as well (It is very hard to watch your mother cry, even if it is tears of joy, he says.) It was such a touching, meaningful ceremony to all of us. We did a choreographed jazzy foxtrot as our First Dance to kickstart the reception and it was a fun segway into a night filled with laughs and memories shared with the people we loved the most.

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Venue: Bowers Museum | Photographer: Mirelle Carmichael Photography | Catering: Al Kanjo, The Patina Group | Florist: Commerce Flowers | DJ and Custom Lighting: Brian Lee, Elevated Pulse Productions | Coordination: Love of Whimsy Events | Custom Macarons: Moochie Pops | Cinematography: TK Productions, Inc. | Hair & Makeup: All Made Up Team | Veil: Custom made by Crowning Glory Designs | Wedding Gown: Enzoani | Bridal Boutique: Blush Bridal Couture | Wedding Gown Alterations: Roxie Poynor | Tuxedo: Carrera, Friar Tux | Bridal Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Cake: Rossmoor Pastries | Flower Girl Dress: Etsy, Little Dreamers Tutus | Monogrammed lace handkerchief: WhiteLinens | Personalized bridal hanger: After the Ring | Table number mini easels: soami | Officiant: Ted Zahn | Rentals: Bridal & Event Lounge | Rings: Custom made by Matt Meis | Bride’s belt custom made by the Bride | Bridal Jewelry: Nordstrom | Bridal hair comb: Hair Comes the Bride | Stationery: The Bride

In my humble opinion, one can never have enough trays. I honestly couldn’t even count how many I have laying around corralling various objects of all shapes and sizes. They add instant class to any ol’ room, especially when they’ve been decked out in a hint of gold. So, naturally, that’s just what we did. And we’ve got the full how-to just for you!

White tray of your choice (we got ours from Target and painted it white)
Adhesive size
Gold leaf
Glue brush
1” Painter’s tape
Paint brush
Clear acrylic spray

Use the masking tape to draw out a V shape on the bottom of the tray, about halfway across the tray. Repeat that shape parallel to the first, keeping the width of the space between the tape the same as the width of the tape. Keep repeating until you get to the end of the tray. On the second half of the tray, lay out sets of masking tape stripe shapes, at different angles than the V shapes.

Paint the bottom of the tray with adhesive size. Let dry 15 mins, or until tacky to the touch.

Press sheets of gold leaf on the tray until it is covered. If you miss any spots, just press excess scraps of leaf on until they are covered. Use the paintbrush to press the gold leaf on and brush off the excess.

Gently remove the masking tape and brush off any flakes. Spray two light coats of acrylic spray to seal the leaf.

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Design & Styling: Style Me Pretty Living

The BAD news: Labor Day weekend has officially drawn to a close. The GOOD news: this Sarasota wedding is more than enough to put the pep back in your pretty little step. Because when two photographers say “I do” with The Anti Bride and SRQtees by their side, the result is amazing. I’m talking an absolute overhaul of gorgeousness brought to life behind the lens of Justin Demutiis. And you know what, loves? We didn’t even scratch the surface. See it all right over here.

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From Justin Demutiis…I’m often asked if its nerve racking to photograph another photographers wedding. But the truth is, I find it energizing. In this case, both the bride and the groom are photographers and they could not have made my job any easier! Maybe all their experience shooting seriously inspired them, because I loved their design and detail choices! Of course you can never go wrong at the Powel Crosley Estate, but the florals, cakes, and vintage furniture truly added to their day. It was an absolute honor working with Dan and Vicki.

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Photographer: Justin Demutiis | Florals, Styling + Makeup: The Anti Bride, Jeanne Ciasullo | Day of Planner: SRQtees, Ashley Grutters | Vintage Furniture Rental + Styling: Amazing Grace Vintage Rentals, Angela Compton | Location: Powel Crosley Estate Sarasota | Catering: Milan Catering | Hair: Style by Cory, Cory Woomert (941-780-3124) | Entertainment: Jonathan Cortez | Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone via Klienfeld’s | Party Dress: BHLDN | Shoes: Valentino

Because art is one of those things that can quickly deplete a budget, when it came to Stephanie’s apartment we knew we had to get creative. When we stumbled upon this stunning botanical inspired calendar we felt like we had hit the jackpot. Beautiful floral graphics filled pages that were simply ripe for the picking. And for just a few dollars we were able to outfit Stephanie’s office with an entire wall full of pretty!

11×17” calendar of your choice- we used this Snow and Graham Calendar
Pencil
Scissors
11”x14” picture frames

Trace the insert from the picture frame on the backside of your favorite calendar prints. If you’re not sure where to crop the image, you can hold it against a window with the insert behind to check the position. Cut out along the lines.

Place the prints in the frames.
Hang in a grid pattern and enjoy your new gallery wall!

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Design & Styling: Style Me Pretty Living

There are some weddings that grace the pages of SMP that I just want to live in forever. This is one of those weddings. It’s perfectly sweet, and filled with the kind of love that just makes you smile from ear to ear. It’s the type of wedding that you just want to wrap yourself up in, and thanks to all the gorgeous images from Joshua Mikhaiel Photography, you can do just that right here.

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From the Bride…Nigel and I were looking forward to getting married but definitely dreading organising a wedding. It seemed such a daunting task, particularly while we were both working busy jobs. Luckily we were both pretty easy-going and didn’t get too stressed over the finer details. The internet also became our best friend. Each night we scoured the net to find a bow tie, decorations or bridesmaids dresses. It was a truly international wedding – not only did our guests fly in from different countries but as did things like our invitations (Canada) and clothes (USA). There was no theme or colours, we just wanted it to be relaxed and fun! The day went so fast and we were so blessed to have the amazing support of our parents and a relief from the rainy weather during the week. It was worth all the organisation and we could not have had a better day! Most memorable moments included putting the ring on the wrong finger, the suckling pig which had people lining up for thirds, smooth sounds from the jazz band, the Chinese tea ceremony and drooling over the dessert table.

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Photography: Joshua Mikhaiel Photography | Floral Design: Floral Affects | Ceremony + Reception: Emerson’s at Pokolbin | Decor: DIY | Invitations: one plus one designs | Photobooth: Newcastle Photobooths | Sound: Ellipsis Jazz and Tim Evans | Hair: Belinda at the Hair Cellar | Makeup: Melissa Vowles Beauty | Bride’s Cheong Sam: Shanghai Silk House in Singapore | Wedding Dress: Designs by Melanie Ford | Grooms Suit: Hugo Boss | Bridesmaid Dresses: Anthropologie

Mark your calendars, my dears, because Southern California’s newest high-end wedding showcase is just around the corner! Something Lovely Wedding Event will launch on Sunday, September 29th, 2013 from 12pm until 4pm at gorgeous Laguna Beach venue [seven-degrees]. The curated event will be filled to the brim with high-end wedding vendors + resources, luxe gift bags and inspiration galore. Could you imagine a better way to spend a Sunday? I think not.

Something Lovely Wedding Event aims to give couples unique inspiration, allowing them to create a completely personalized wedding celebration! Featuring hand-selected vendors such as fragrance maven Jo Malone London, photographer extraordinaire Samuel Lippke Studios, Shawna Yamamoto Event Design, Luxe Event Rentals, The Ritz-Carlton and wedding film mavens ElmanAdam Films, this event will leave you filled to the brim with incredible ideas. Be sure to taste some treats from Sweet and Saucy Shop and fawn over the gorgeous wares of Mikimoto, Midori Ribbon and LaTavola Linens! And no bridal event would be complete without a fashion show! Guests will be swooning over an exclusive runway show with gowns from The Wedding Suite by Nordstrom and Mir & Mookhi! Be sure not to miss the fabulous mini pop-up shop and favor bar as well as goodies from the ever fabulous Wantful.

With media sponsors Nouveau, Modern Luxury Brides California, Riviera Magazine and Angeleno Magazine, Something Lovely Wedding Event will bring you the best Southern California has to offer! Sounds amazing, am I right? With a limited number of tickets available ($45 online and $55 at the door), this show is not to be missed! And just for our lovely readers, Something Lovely Wedding Event is giving away a pair of tickets to the September 29, 2013 show! To enter, simply comment on this post with what you’re doing to make your wedding totally unique! Winners will be randomly chosen and announced on Friday, September 20th. Best of luck! xo

Photo Credits: [seven-degrees] image by Nicole Caldwell Photography /  Bride/limo image by Samuel Lippke Studios

This Bride is one lucky lady. Not only did she get to marry the man of her dreams, she also had one talented team of family and friends behind her to make every moment nothing short of perfect. That’s right, a sister who just so happens to be the talent behind Created Lovely Events and mother who also does makeup. Oh, and did I mention the stunning images sitting in this gallery were snapped up by the Bride’s soon-to-be brother-in-law, Royce Sihlis? Now that’s some fabulous luck, and now we get to enjoy every fabulous moment right here.

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From the Bride…From the moment I met Pat I knew there was something special about him. Maybe it was as simple as he was the best looking thing in the run down bar where we met… but either way, he caught my eye. He was so sweet and charming. I do not want to say it was love at first sight because that is too clich, but it really was.   It was only a few years later that Pat was on one knee proposing in our downtown Vancouver apartment.  It was one of the best nights of my life followed by about a week of engaged bliss until the stress of planning sunk in.  Countless venue hunts later, my indecisiveness came to a stop when we decided Vancouver was the perfect place for our big day.  After all it’s where we went to university, where we live, where we got engaged, and where our work has taken us.  

And so the planning began.  Well… not really for me but for my sister.  Luckily enough for me, my sister is a wedding planner and her fiance is a wedding photographer.  It’s so ironic but true and I reaped all the benefits.  My family luck didn’t stop there though, my mom is a make-up artist and did my sisters and I’s make-up on the wedding day.  I couldn’t have imaged anyone better to help me get ready on the biggest day of my life than my own mom.  She also made all of the wedding favours with her famous caramel popcorn recipe.  My mom came in handy again sewing my dress together when it was a little snug in the morning.  While my sister was doing up my dress the clasp ripped out completely!  The loud tear was unnerving but made for a memorable moment and candid photo to say the least. Not so sure why my sister and mom thought it was so funny though…

With my two sisters at my side and Pat’s former college roommates by his, the day really unfolded just as I had dreamed of.  On the morning of our wedding, Pat and I exchanged letters and I surprised him with a handkerchief I had gotten scripted on for him, signing it with “Your Pretty Girl” as he always calls me.  I also handed my parents scripted handkerchiefs after an emotional moment of my dad seeing me in my dress for the first time.  My mom’s was scripted with, “I love you forever and ever no matter what.” A line she has wrote to my sisters and I our entire lives through notes she sneaks into our bags and mail when we’re away.

With 90 guests in attendance, it was just the simple and elegant wedding we had always wanted.  The decor consisted of foiled seating cards hung with ribbon from each chair, silver foiled table numbers, double sided thank-you cards with bride & groom fill-in-the-blanks at each place setting as the guest book, “Mr.Right” and “Mrs.Always Right” chair signs (which is true by the way), a seating chart displayed on vintage mirrors, a working vintage typewriter, a homemade cake topper and bar sign, and suitcases filled with homemade popcorn to take home.  My sister’s design of silver, blush, and white came together timelessly with vintage accent pieces such as lace cocktail tablecloths and mercury votives throughout the room. To sum up our wedding day in one word, it was perfect. It was just so “us” in every way.

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Ok so before we get to Stephanie’s big reveal, we have a few pretty wonderful DIY’s we need to share. First up: this awesomely simple gold leafed art, inspired a bit by Lovely Little Details + Song Ink’s gorgeous print and a bit by this fun print we saw on Art.com. My favourite part about this particular project is that you can customize it to your hearts content. Have a favourite saying? A special date? Go forth and make golden art!

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A printer that can print 11×17” prints, or access to a FedEx Office
“Be Still and Know” template
Scissors
11”x14” picture frame
Gold leaf
Adhesive size
2 small paintbrushes

Download the “Be Still and Know” template and print on the cardstock. Trim along the dotted lines.

Carefully paint adhesive size to cover the “Know”. Let dry 15 mins, until tacky to the touch.

Press gold leaf sheets on the adhesive. Use the second paintbrush to gently rub off the excess gold leaf.

Place the print in the frame, and voila!

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Design & Styling: Style Me Pretty Living

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This is the kind of wedding that I live for.  That traditional meets whimsical meets all kinds of romantic wedding that you Chicago bride and grooms have down pat.  The sort of affair that stops your day in the best kind of way with crazy gorgeous DIY details, glittery gold accents (YES) and moment after moment of pure perfection planned by Sweetchic Events.  This, my friends, is take your breath away pretty and you can see it all captured beautifully by Dawn E. Roscoe in the full gallery.

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From Dawn… Karen and Steve wanted a fun, light-hearted wedding where they didn’t take themselves too seriously and where there would be a lot of dancing. The two met in NYC where they currently live, but coincidentally were both from Chicago. Wanting to share the hometown they love with their guests, the city of Chicago was their inspiration. In addition to choosing an iconic Chicago venue for their wedding, bits of the city showed up in their wedding details, and the night concluded with surprise Chicago deep dish pizza and hot dogs for their guests and a love-filled sparkler send off for the newlyweds.  The entire day was full of personalized details that really showcased the couple’s story, love for Chicago and cute surprises along the way.

A few highlights…

Cake Topper: Karen ordered this as a surprise for Steve, who loved that the topper was wearing one of his straight brim hats and his favorite sneakers (which have the Chicago skyline on the sides).

Mason Jar Centerpieces: The centerpieces and all the frames were spray painted by Karen & Steve in his parents’ garage (his parents would come out from time to time and wonder what the heck we were doing). We then also took the encyclopedia set at their house that Steve never used as a child.

Paper Suite: The escort cards, invitations with the Chicago skyline envelope liners, programs, photo bookmarks and menus were made by Karen and her sister.

Dessert Table: The dessert table let people “Choose their city” with both NY and Chicago themed cookies and also featured Steve’s favorite Peanut M&Ms (totally ruining our color scheme)!

Coasters: The coasters told their story in a short and sweet way.

Ring Pillow: The ringbearer’s pillow was a football, again due to Steve’s obsession.

Lots of pics: Instead of a slideshow, our baby pictures were incorporated throughout the card table and above the bathroom signs. The photo locations we chose also were to feature Chicago – the Chicago L stop, LaSalle Street bridge, Art Institute Gardens, and Merchantile Exchange on LaSalle Street.

DIY: Lots and lots of DIY inspired elements made the day!

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Photography: Dawn E. Roscoe Photography | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Luscious Layers| Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | DJ: Music Masters | Ceremony + Reception Location: The Rookery | Getting Ready + First Look: JW Marriott | Getting Ready Location: JW Marriott, Chicago | Makeup + Hair: Sonia Roselli | Second Photographer: Torie McMillan | Wedding Planner: Sweetchic Events | Floral Design: Vale of Enna Flowers

I have what one might call a serious case of travel fever. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that SMP Destination is my happy place. It’s like getting the chance to go somewhere new every single day, and today we are headed to Brazil by way of these gorgeous engagement pictures from Weber Photography. Love and travel in one pretty place? Consider me one happy lady. See it all here.

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From Cory Weber of Weber Photography…Sarah and Sol’s story goes back years and crosses the ocean many many times! They dated in high school in London, but Sarah went back to Brazil for University while Sol stayed to study in the UK. After a year in Japan, Sol came home to London where Sarah was back again studying for her Masters. Having stayed in contact the whole time, they easily rekindled the relationship and the rest is history! For their engagement session we spent most of the time at Praia do Rosa, the same place that they had their wedding a few days later. The beaches are practically private and pristine, surrounded by hiking trails, and happily scattered with surfers. We hope you enjoy!

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Photography: Cory Weber of Weber Photography

Austin is one of those crazy cool cities that you don’t even have to visit to know just how extremely awesome it is.  The kind of city that houses some of the world’s most stunning couples and hosts some of the world’s most amazing weddings, too.  Weddings like this sweet Antebellum Oaks affair from the ever-wonderful Forever Photography Studio; an affair so pretty that sweet purple hues, lush florals from Visual Lyrics Floral Artistry and a whole lot of romance burst from every last love-filled image (seriously).  See them all in the full gallery.

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From Forever Photography… April and Charlie were high school sweethearts. It was love at first sight for the couple. After both graduating from the University of Texas, Charlie popped the question at the couple’s favorite Austin spot, Mount Bonnell. How romantic!

After looking at countless wedding venues, they finally found the right one. They knew right when they saw it. The venue was called Antebellum Oaks. It would be an outdoor ceremony with beautiful, vibrant flowers, oak trees, and mason jar lanterns. The venue also had a perfect open pavilion for the reception to follow. The color scheme was victorian lilac and ivory, to give the wedding a vintage, chic feel. The thing that the couple remembers most about their wedding day was the weather. It was absolutely perfect, and made the day even more special for the couple. 

Photography: Forever Photography Studio | Cinematography: RVM Films | Floral Designer: Visual Lyrics Floral Artistry | Wedding Gown: Alfred Angelo | Jewelry: Regale Jewelry | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Wedding Venue: Antebellum Oaks Venue | Desserts: Dessert Divas | Invitation Design: Nuptial Necessities

We love a good barn wedding around these parts, but when that barn wedding is sprinkled with a whole lot of glam? Well that’s when you hit our wedding sweet spot. Think rolling country fields mixed with layers of Vera Wang ruffles. It’s a stunning barn setting with a chandelier  thrown in for good measure. It’s all around lovely, and it’s all waiting for you right here.

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Katie’s attention to detail was incredible with paper goods ranging from mad lib cards to keep her guests occupied to paper fan programs to keep them cool during the ceremony. The escort cards were antique keys with hangtags presented in frames. Keeping to her elegant vintage style Katie wore a beautiful Vera Wang gown complete with a 1920s style headpiece and carried a bouquet of perfect white peonies and garden ranunculus. Sean wore a three-piece grey and white striped J. Crew suit and his guys all wore vests and pants with black and white polka dot ties. The girls were in pale pink Monique Lhuillier dresses and carried garden inspired bouquets with pops of bright pink and coral. To bring in their nesting theme the guys had birds nest boutonnieres, the favors on the table were nests with chocolate eggs, and on top of their beautiful ruffled ombre cake were porcelain lovebirds. Katie and Sean beamed all day in their relaxed, elegant, vintage inspired day with a side of wayfarer fun!

Photography: Lexi Photography | Floral Design: Dogwood Floral Design | Wedding Gown: Vera Wang | Cake: Konditor Meister | Invitations: Gus & Ruby Letterpress | Bridesmaid Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Makeup: Tricia Utley | Hair: Axle Color Studio | Men's Attire: J.Crew | Venue: The Barn At Gibbet Hill | Headpiece: Doloris Petunia

You know what makes for one seriously awesome combo?  Two adorable high school sweethearts, the amazing city of Atlanta and one breathtakingly gorgeous wedding.  That’s what we here at SMP call the trifecta of wedding goodness and this pretty little affair has all three.  Not to mention it’s a day that is seriously brimming with pretty, from the sweet romantic details to the traditional reception bursting with elegance to the fabulous gallery from Melissa Pepin Photography.  Join me there for every ounce of lovely.

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From Melissa Pepin… There are not enough words to describe how beautiful this affair was! Danielle and Tyler were the epitome of beautiful on their wedding day. Every detail was custom fitted to them. From the monogrammed outdoor bar to the artist drawn images from their engagement session pictures to the personalized wedding cakes… it was perfect.

Danielle adorned her hair with a custom-made piece that was created based on the belt of her wedding dress. All of her maids wore beautiful Kate Spade jewelry that went perfectly with their peach and soft pink dresses. Tyler was stunning in his linen suit and made all of his groomsmen happy with their customized cigar boxes filled with favorites he selected for each person. Outdoor seating on the back patio of their venue also made for a super relaxing evening under the stars while inside their guests dined and danced the night away to an amazing band brought in just for their big day.

After dating for 10 years and finally marrying their high school sweetheart, this couple put on the perfect affair and we were SO excited to be a part of it!

Photography: Melissa Pepin Photography | Florals: Jamie Parrish | Wedding Dress: Matthew Christopher | Wedding Cake: Sugar Kneads | Ceremony: UGA Chapel | Reception: Foundry Park Inn & Spa | Jewelry: Kate Spade | Catering: Foundry Park Inn & Spa | Make up and hair: Southern Roots | Band: Fly By Radio

It’s kind a party in the SMP offices today because one of our (super gorgeous!) LBBers just tied the knot and we’ve got the amazing images from Michelle Gardella Photography right here. Chelsea of Everthine Bridal Boutique married her sweetheart in a soiree that has our hearts racing and the butterflies in our stomaches doing flips!

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From the beautiful bride… When planning our wedding, we truly focused on making sure it felt natural. We didn’t anything to feel too perfect. The grounds at Harkness are so beautiful, we wanted to magnify it in the wedding details. Harkness State Park was actually the only venue we looked at! My husband and I both grew up on the CT Shoreline, so we knew that no matter where we got married, it had to be on the water. It felt so right, there was no reason to look any further!

By using a very soft color palate of peach, light green, and creams we were able to highlight natural elements and romantic details. I come from a family who treasure hunts on a weekly basis, so we used lots of pieces that were from our own antique collection. We used about 50 different vintage bottles that my dad collected throughout his lifetime. They made the perfect centerpieces for tables without larger arrangements. Our table numbers were potted herbs that also doubled as favors. A big hit among the guests! I wanted to be able to send our guests home with a memory and they loved them! My dress was a bit daring with the low cut and open back, but i paired it with a long cathedral lace veil to play with some tradition. I’m all for unexpected details, so my dress could be none the less! I happen to own Everthine Bridal Boutique, which is where my dress is from. My heart was set on Jenny Packham and I instantly fell in love with the old hollywood feeling of my gown.

Overall, our wedding was everything we could have imagined and more. It felt effortless, timeless, and irreplaceable.

Photography: Michelle Gardella Photography | Event Planning: Jackie Maculaitis, Ambiance Luxe | Flowers: Bakes and Baldwin | Dress: Jenny Packham | Invitations: Ladyfingers Letterpress | Ceremony Location: Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial Park | Reception Location: Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial Park | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Hair: Emily Reale | Beauty: Jennie Fresa Brow & Beauty Bar | Bridal Boutique: Everthine Bridal Boutique | Bride's Headpiece + Bridesmaids' Sashes: Untamed Petals | Rentals: New England Country Rentals

It might not feel like fall just yet, but after five seconds with this Georgia “I do,” a mug of cider was calling. my. name. Factor in all the autumn-inspired florals from Twigs, Leaves & Flowers plus every picture-perfect moment caught by Red Fly Studio, and I’m feeling an oh so sudden urge to cuddle up in a cardigan and watch the leaves change outside my window…but until then, I’ll be perfectly happy spending my days right here.

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From the Bride…When Daniel and I first started planning our wedding we knew that we wanted an event that came from our hearts. We choose a venue that was near his parents home in the mountains and it fit our vision perfectly. We’ve always loved the area and it seemed fitting to get married in a place that was close to our hearts. We did a first look, included our dog, Bella, and spent our time focusing on the things that really matter. I’ll never forget our ceremony and the way that Daniel looked at me, the prayer that Matt spoke over us and the feeling when“Home” by Edward Sharpe started playing as we walked down the aisle as husband and wife.

It’s the moments that are spent with the people that mean the most to you that really matter and working with a great team that you know, love and trust makes all of the difference. Molly and Cristina, our photographers, did an amazing job capturing every moment and we loved having them as part of our celebration. We can’t say thank you enough to Daniel’s family for making sure that everything came together the week before hand. Our florist Mrs. Cyndi of Twigs, Leaves and Flowers understood our vision perfectly and created the most precious wreath for Bella to wear, along with my bouquet and all of the table pieces.

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Photography: Red Fly Studio | Floral Design: Twigs, Leaves & Flowers | Event Venue: Lawn at Skylake Clubhouse | Black Tie Events: Rich Leggitt | Wedding Dress: J. Crew

Today is such a fun day on SMP. Last week, we took a peek at Erin’s apartment overhaul… and now we’re back in action with our dear Stephanie. Stephanie is a Weddings editor and has more talent and taste in her pinky finger than most people I know combined. But, much like our beloved Erin, she’s busy. Like, burning the midnight oil on a daily basis type of busy. And her sweet home has fallen on the back burner of life’s priorities. Luckily for us, Stephanie was sweet enough to spend a few days with us living gals to give her apartment a mini-facelift. And we’re here today to tell the tale!

Like all of our editors, Stephanie lives, works, entertains and does everything else in her apartment. Her idea of a getaway is a trip to the local coffee spot. So when we sat down with Stephanie we knew that she would have a few non-negotiables that she knew would make her space feel entirely like home.

1. A bright, white and cheery space.

2. An open and inviting home that still feels cozy and warm. This was going to be a bit of a challenge because like Erin’s home, Stephanie’s space isn’t big. It’s city living at its finest which means that the it’s a bit of a tight squeeze.

3. A comfortable and inspiring office (since that’s where the majority of her time is spent).

4. Feminine accents without going completely over the top. After all, her hubs is all boy and since this is their first home together, she wanted it to feel like a place where they both never wanted to leave.

5. To keep our budget low by embracing the flaws and funny-isms that the apartment came with and make them really sparkle – splashes of yellow tile and things of that nature.

Here’s a quick peek at where we started:

And before we get to the big reveal, we’ve got a whole lot of DIY action coming your way!

Bart Cart: Houzz | Calendar: Snow & Graham | Gold Dish: Shop Histoire | Polka Dotted Notebook: Waiting On Martha | Round White Table: Ikea | Shadow Box: Project Decor | Yellow Rug: Ikea