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

Vintage Backyard Wedding Inspiration from Marcie Meredith Photography

Styles

Romantic

From Sara & Rocky Photography…Emily contacted us the Wednesday before we left to go on vacation to Paris to see if we wanted to shoot an elopement while we were there. We said yes, of course, and they booked their tickets to come that night. The entire day of their wedding was like a dream. It started off with wine and cheese in their amazing apartment near the Pompidou Centre, and then we headed off to the romantic Ile de la Cite to their ceremony spot for the wedding. Afterwards, we headed to a small cafe to toast to their marriage (and for a warm drink), and then on to Pont des Arts to lock their padlock onto the bridge. We wrapped the day up with portraits across the city, ending at the Louvre.

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Photography: Sara & Rocky Photography | Florals: Bought at local Market + put together by bride | Shoes: H&M | Fur Stole: Borrowed from a Friend

Have I mentioned that I love inspiration shoots? Because I soooo do. Especially ones dripping in Southern meets vintage chic details and brought to life by a talented team of Texas vendors. Ones like this bundle of inspiration from Southern Elegance Design and Marcie Meredith Photography, a laid-back, yet elegant love fest of soft peach hues, fab paper goods from Blissful Duo and a yummy creation from Pink Cookie Box (and I mean yummy). It’s a day that is literally bursting with inspiration and you should most definitely get to pinning right here in the full gallery.

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Spring Weddings

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Backyard Outdoor Weddings

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Romantic Vintage

From Marcie Meredith Photography… Shot on both film and digital formats, we were looking to create a charming, Southern backyard wedding using a mix of old and new. The fabulous women from Southern Elegance Design used a palette of blush, peach, cream, and touches of gold. They used an eclectic group of antique pieces along with their own creations, such as various painted flower vases, which came together seamlessly.

We chose a wedding dress that was a little less formal but still chic. Since it was a wrap dress, we were able to create two different looks, which was really fun! A vintage ring, modern jewelry, and a loose braid with flowers completed her look. I wanted the groom to complement her so we kept his suit light and selected an ever so charming bow tie. The color palette really shines on the bride and groom together! Love it! We were so happy to be able to shoot at a beautiful historic home. It really was essential to set the tone.

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North Shore Engagement Session from Annmarie Swift Photography

I love Summer. I love boating, hiking and soaking in the rays like it’s no one’s business. But when it comes right down to it, I spend most of my June through August missing the cooler weather. Maybe that’s the Montana girl in me, but boy do I love me some hot cocoa and fireplace lounging. Which is why I happen to be super smitten with this sweet engagement session from Annmarie Swift Photography, a Winter lover’s dream come true with snowy landscapes and one adorable duo just itching to say “I do.” Click here for even more.

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Winter Weddings

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Kellum Valley Farm Wedding by Adam Nash Photography

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Casual

From the Bride-to-Be… I met Greg in college and we’ve been together ever since. After four wonderful years he popped the question on January 22nd in Tortola while we were vacationing in the British Virgin Islands. We spent a week there in warm, tropical newly engaged bliss and then came back home to the bitter cold weather of Massachusetts. We decided to make the best of it and had ourselves a mini engagement shoot to celebrate. We had a fun day out out in the North Shore area of Massachusetts shooting in several locations in Beverly (My fiance’s hometown) and Rockport (where our wedding will be)!

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Photography: Annmarie Swift Photography

An outdoor wedding is always a bit of a risk. Just a tad. But when it all goes as planned (or even better that you could have imagined), that’s when wedding magic happens. There is something so sweet about saying I do outdoors, particularly at a place as pretty as Kellum Valley Farm. And it just gets better. This Bride’s gorgeous vision of her biggest of big days unfolded in the most perfect fashion, and you can see it all right here.

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Outdoor Weddings Rustic Weddings

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Casual

From the Bride…Everyone always asked Jamie and I the same question about our venue, “Do you two have family up there?” And the answer was always the same, “No, but have you seen it up there!? It’s beautiful!” We knew we wanted an outdoor ceremony, and we knew we wanted natural beauty within driving distance of most of our family. That left an obvious choice- the mountains. The Ruins at Kellum Valley Farm was the first and only venue we visited; I think we both knew that was “it” before we even stepped out of the car. The ruins exude such rustic elegance, and it was a perfect fit for our dream wedding. We won the wedding lottery in choosing The Ruins at Kellum Valley Farm, as they introduced us to a dream team of suggested vendors, all of whom we used, and all of whom went above and beyond our wildest dreams.

We originally chose to have the ceremony in front of this beautiful old tree on the side of the house that by April, would be adorned with gorgeous purple blooms. The reception was to be held in the ruins strung with twinkle lights and adorned with tons of romantic candles. As luck would have it, the cool spring held off the blooms, and it rained. So, our outdoor wedding resorted to plan B. We were fortunate enough to have a dry ceremony, still under our tree, and the overcast weather made for fantastic pictures. We even had umbrellas waiting in the wings just in case the rain moved in. We were determined to carry on the ceremony under the tree; no rain was going to stop us! The aisle was marked with beautiful flower arrangements in mason jars hung on delicate shepherds hooks. The same arrangements hung in the tree in mason jars adorned with ribbons that blew in the coming winds. It was incredible.

The reception was moved under a tent that was draped in lights, chandeliers, and beautiful flowers. It truly was a dream. I gave very little direction to any of the vendors, save for “rustic elegance and timeless romance with pink and peach hues.” Truthfully, that was all I really had of a vision, it really was created for me that day. There were twinkle lights with intertwining tulle that were strung around the perimeter of the tent. Fresh flowers in pinks, peaches, and lavenders spilled over all the surfaces to create the most romantic setting I’ve ever seen. Whitewashed woods, rustic antiques and intricate details kept the ambiance cozy and personal. Dinner was served in the adjoining barn, where the gift table, guest book and favors were set up as well.

Jamie and I enjoyed our last dance to “Come Away with Me” by Norah Jones before running through a tunnel of our favorite people cheering with sparklers (a long held dream of mine) to a getaway car we had no idea was there. My grandparents surprised us with a car to take us to the Atlanta airport to fly off to Jamaica. While the cooler temperatures and rain threw our initial plan for quite the loop, the day turned out to be the most picturesque fairy tale. All that mattered in the end is that I married my best friend in the company of our favorite people.

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Wedding Day Survival Kit Checklist from Kristin Banta Events

As picture perfect as we all imagine our wedding day to be, the truth is, there will always be hiccups along the way. A bridesmaid might chip her nail, a groomsmen might need a little lint-roller action on his tux and the flower girl might stain her dress. Just ask rockstar event planner, Kristin of Kristin Banta Events, accidents are bound to happen! So, we teamed up with her to put together a downloadable survival kit checklist. The better prepared you are, the smoother your day will go!

From Kristin Banta Events… Everyone should have an emergency kit handy on the day of an important event. As an event producer, I would not show up without it. However, the emergency kit is not just a necessity for event producers, it is also great thing for a bride/groom to have when preparing for the big day.

Anticipating anything big or small that can go wrong on the day of is key to producing a successful event. After over 20 years of working in the business of weddings and events, I’ve pretty much been through it all in terms of minor or major mishaps. From the bride and groom forgetting their rings, to the mother-of-the-bride falling into a pool, allergic reactions, overtanned bridesmaids, groomsmen in gym socks with their tuxedos, even fires, floods, and hurricanes. Gradually these things have led me to having the mindset of “expecting the unexpected.”

We’ve included a list below and a downloadable survival kit checklist! You can also check out my video from Hallmark’s Home & Family Show to see what I stash inside my emergency kit.

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Event Planning and Wedding Day Survival Kit: Kristin Banta Events | Photography: This Modern Romance

A Simple Co-ed Baby Shower from Greer G. + Joel Catering

We’ve showcased everything from million dollar parties to the most economical in Style Me Pretty’s past. But I have to admit, I tend to be drawn to the simpler, more thoughful versions. As it turns out, some well placed treats, a stunning backyard and a beaming mama-to-be are all you really need to throw a memorable baby shower for the entire family! Captured by Greer G. Photography and designed by Joel Catering, there’s lots more eye candy to be found in the gallery

From Sarah… When we found out my sister was pregnant our whole family was beyond excited. Not only was it my sister’s first baby it was also my parent’s first grandchild and my first niece or nephew. Then we found out she was having a boy and we knew we were in for a rough and tumble adventure! But when it came time to plan the baby shower I can admit that I was a little stumped- baby showers are pretty girly affairs, but we’re celebrating the impending arrival of a baby boy and it’s going to be coed. After a couple weeks of deliberation, I realized I could make it pretty without being too girly. I decided to go with a color palate similar to Annie’s plans for the nursery and spent much time poking around SMP and Pinterest gathering endless ideas and then editing them down to what I could actually accomplish!

Annie had a few requests, starting with having the shower outdoors- even though the end of May in New Orleans tends to be on the warm side. So we booked a tent and some umbrellas for shade and forged ahead! Since the shower included husbands and kids we wanted to make sure it was going to be fun for everyone- and we didn’t feel compelled to stick to every tradition. We decided that rather than opening presents we should have a Bocce ball tournament. It’s a game our family has played for years, but you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy it- in fact a novice won the match (much to our chagrin).

I decided to take on the event design and set up myself- with help from some amazing vendors . Jane Bensel, of Stationer of New Orleans, designed the invitations which were printed by Rise & Shine Printing. I actually found the calligrapher on Etsy- Lindsey Bugbee of The Postman’s Knock, and she was just a joy from start to finish. The chalkboard signage was another great Etsy find, from Sarah Says Sew. Urban Earth Design Studios kindly lent me their gorgeous vases and delivered the perfect flowers for me to work with. Perrier Party Rentals supplied the amazing wood table tops, along with the chairs, linens, china and glassware. Of course Joel Catering provided the food- all of our summer favorites. Our baker, Jen Greenwood, made the cake and cupcakes. And the incomparable Greer Gattuso of Greer G Photography came by to make sure that we had beautiful photos of our wonderful afternoon.

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Jacquelyn Clark

Paradise Valley, Arizona Wedding from Melissa Schollaert Photography + Victoria Canada Weddings & Events

It’s official. This bride and I are soul sisters. Because any girl who can pull off every shade of pink — not to mention an ombre aisle runner that’ll rock your world — is a bride after my own heart. Victoria Canada Weddings & Events and Petal Pushers brought this fairytale affair to life, and Melissa Schollaert Photography worked her magic behind the lens. Still longing for more? You’re in luck, because we’ve got the a-maz-ing film from Serendipity Cinema waiting down below.

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Spring Weddings

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Classic Weddings Romantic

From Victoria Canada Weddings & Events…A Fairytale Wedding – Allie and Kyle are Disney Fans at heart but not to the point of it being obvious. Allie felt she met her Prince in college. He loved her enough to celebrate her love of fairytales. Subtle references to Disney were everywhere at the wedding but not in any obvious way. An Ombre of rose petals to float down the aisle was a beautiful start of the ceremony. From the cocktail napkins with phrases from numerous Disney Movies- “Can you feel the love tonight” “All you need is love, faith and pixie dust” Etc. Bride and Groom Mickey and Minnie ears for the photo booth. At cocktail the music consisted of instruments of various Disney love songs. Allie, a native of Louisiana wanted to show off some of her native foods with some spicy fair at cocktails. The Ballroom at the exclusive Sanctuary Resort and Spa nestled in the mountains of Paradise Valley was the perfect spot to set up lounges to view the sunset over the iconic Praying Monk Rock. Hanging Seating cards indicated guest seating. The Reception was Full of soft pinks and elegant touches. The custom table numbers added a bit of glamour. The Cake was a blend of Modern elements that matched the resorts clean lines with a softness in the floral. Allie certainly looked like a princess in her dress and we wish them all the best for their happily ever after.

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These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Wedding Dresses

Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

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Surprise Proposal from Charlie Juliet

When you work in the wedding world, there is really nothing as amazing as a surprise proposal. Especially one featuring two cute-as-can-be sweethearts, a breathtaking Brooklyn backdrop and a crafty groom-to-be. And this happy-filled proposal? Well, it has all three. Plus, one love-filled (+ uber-joyous) moment after another captured in amazing images by Charlie Juliet and a sweet description from the soon-to-be Mrs. that will leave you smiling all week. Check it out in the full gallery.

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Fall Weddings Spring Weddings

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Montverde Wedding from Justin DeMutiis Photography

Styles

Casual

From the Bride-to-Be…When the opportunity presented itself to schedule a couples shoot with CJ, I immediately jumped on it. CJ and I have been friends since Design School; knowing first-hand how talented she is, I just couldn’t pass up the chance to get in front of her camera! Little did I know, Rob had already been planning on proposing around the same time… later on he told me that when I mentioned the idea of the photoshoot to him, I was giving him the perfect “layup” — how could he not propose then?!

The day of the shoot, we met CJ at one of our favorite spots in Brooklyn. I jokingly brought along a “diamond” cocktail ring for the shoot — upon my mentioning this to CJ, Rob quickly jumped at the opportunity to swap it out for the real thing. CJ, who was of course in on the plan, was ready to capture it all on camera. I was absolutely surprised by it all (which, in hindsight, seems a bit silly as this had all the makings of an engagement shoot!) but in the end, I can’t imagine it having happened in a more perfect way.

Being able to share CJ’s photos with our friends and family was by far one of the highlights of the day — I don’t think either Rob or myself could have realized how meaningful that would end up being to us. CJ beautifully captured just how happy both of us were that day; being able to share these once-in-a-lifetime images with those closest to use is more than we ever could have asked for.

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Photography: Charlie Juliet

Justin DeMutiis, I couldn’t love you more right now. Because this beauty at The Club at Bella Collina is the definition of perfection. With lovely hints of tradition and glamour, gorgeous light, and too many other things to list – it’s hard not to fall head over heels over every moment sitting in this gallery. And once you take a peek, you’ll see why I’m in the running for president of the Justin DeMutiis fan club. See it all here.

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Spring Weddings Summer Weddings

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Country Club

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Del Mar Wedding from We Heart Photography + Isari Flower Studio + Event Design

From the Bride…Since we are having an outdoor wedding we want to accentuate the natural surroundings. For our decor, we envision a natural shade table cloth with mahogany chiavari chairs and both high and low floral centerpieces in ivory, pink, and green. We also want to add some chic elements like crystals as well as some rustic, tuscan-inspired elements such as corks to hold the name cards. I am planning on wearing a lace gown and my bridesmaids will be wearing black to give our wedding a classic feel.

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This wedding is everything. Everything that makes my hearts start to pitter patter, everything that makes me adore weddings. It’s sparkly gowns on gorgeous maids and stunning Jimmy Choo shoes. It’s the seaside views of L’Auberge Del Mar and breathtaking florals from Isari Flower Studio + Event Design. And it’s the pure joy on the faces of this new Mr. & Mrs. It’s moment after moment captured beautifully by We Heart Photography, and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

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Spring Weddings Summer Weddings

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Punta Cana Wedding from Angie Silvy Photography

From Krissie, the coordinator at L’Auberge Del Mar: Beth, the lawyer, coasted around the bridal changing room with such content; she had a continuous smile and radiated the bridal glow from the top of her soft swept updo to the tips of her Jimmy Choo heels. Bridal-ness at its best. John, the wine connoisseur, surfed the ocean waves by morning and by the afternoon was dashingly dressed to impress. I have never seen a couple so at ease for their new life journey that was about to begin.

With a sparkle in their eyes that later illuminated the market lighting above the ceremony they said their “I do’s.” The bridesmaids stood elegantly in navy blue sequins the mimicked the waves from a distance. It was simply incredible. Isari’s lanterns lined the aisle, that later adorned the long tables with an eclectic mix of candles, hydrangeas, anemones and mercury votives. This momentous occasion signified love, bliss and cheer. The hand selected wines at the dinner tables were carefully and strategically placed by John. Watching him place each bottle of wine on the tables was comparable to watching a chef in the kitchen selecting, tasting and creating the perfect dish. Remarkable.

No guest was left without thought as the Maid of Honor, Sarah, had handcrafted each program, place card and menu. Each table was rich with a zestful enthusiasm and excitement for the newlyweds. Whether it be the carefully selected wines or the details, it is certain that this couple inspired and shared their love to all of their guests around them. The night came to close after an energetic grand entrance, and a goose bump worthy first dance – the night was alive. The bride and groom remained in the center of the dance floor– heels kicked off, hands in the air … their adventure is just beginning. To the new Mr. & Mrs. Vidal, cheers and let’s raise a glass to the newlyweds!

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Any wedding that involves sand and ghost chairs is bound to be a good one. I think that exact rule is #1 in the Gorgeous Weddings Rule Book. It has the modern elements that we love mixed with a sense of old world charm of the Dominican Republic and a team of unbelievable talents like design and styling by The Stylish Soiree, florals by Soulflower Design Studio and last, but in no way least, photography captured by Angie Silvy. Have a look here for even more of this destination beaut.

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Fall Weddings

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Beach Weddings Destination Hotels + Resorts Weddings

From The Stylish Soiree…The look for Natalia & Alex’s wedding was modern meets old world, with a color palette of cream, yellow, orange, taupe and accents of green. Some couples we work with like the same aesthetic, while other couples are on opposite ends of the spectrum. With Natalia and Alex, Natalia was much more into the modern, clean look and Alex loved Old World and rustic elements. My challenge was the meld these two different aesthetics into one cohesive look for their wedding, so we juxtaposed décor items like modern ghost chairs with burlap runners and crackle urns from Anthropologie for an eclectic yet cool look that was clean and beachy meets old world. One of the biggest hurdles we faced planning-wise was getting the right look and feel in a place that didn’t have a lot of the design elements (floral or decor-wise) that are readily available in the states. We ended up working with an amazing SF-based florist, Emily from Soulflower, who created the look we were going for by using a lot of dried flowers, importing some flowers, sourcing some locally, and even using high quality silk flowers – the end result was truly fantastic, and not something you see at most weddings since it was such an eclectic mix of sources. It took countless hours of research and setbacks to come to the final design, but I think it turned out beautifully in the end.

We also ended up each bringing 3 full-size suitcases with us (9 total), and even brought all of the floral containers with us since it was so expensive and risky to ship anything to the Dominican Republic. It was incredibly tough logistically, but the end result was so lovely it was all worth it. Because of the more affordable cost of rentals, venue, and food in a destination location, we were able to bring in most of the vendors from the states so that Natalia & Alex could meet with them in San Francisco and fly them out to the DR for their wedding. Angie Silvy, the photographer, Emily Dreblow from Soulflower Floral Design, The Stylish Soiree team, and even hair and makeup (Jane Kim from The Glamourist) were all flown out for the big day to ensure the quality would be up to par. A wonderful venue and awesome local vendors rounded out the team that pulled together to make their big day picture perfect.

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These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Bridesmaid Dresses

Lela Rose

2014 Bridesmaid

Fall 2014

Spring 2015

Fall 2016

Spring 2016

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Hungarian Langos

Lángos is a deep fried flat bread that is served warm and usually topped with sour cream and grated cheese or garlic butter (a fabulous combination, if you ask me!) Traditonally, this dish was made from leftover bread dough and baked in a brick oven. Inspired by an old family recipe, this particular version is stuffed with sheep milk cheese and herbs (in other words: perfection). For more recipes, be sure to check out my blog, Almond Corner.

Hunagrian Langos

prep time
1 Hour/s 30 Minute/s

cook time
10 Minute/s

total time
1 Hour/s 40 Minute/s

Ingredients

FOR THE DOUGH:
4 2/3 cup flour plus extra for rolling out
3 medium potatoes
1 1/2 ounces fresh yeast
about 2 cups milk, lukewarm
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
FOR THE FILLING:
500 g sheep milk quark (for example bryndza) or ricotta
2 bunches of chives
1 bunch dill
salt, if you used ricotta
pepper
vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

FOR THE DOUGH
Boil potatoes and let them cool completely.
Crumble yeast and add sugar to 1/2 cup of lukewarm milk and let it stand until the yeast swims on top.
Sift flour into a large bowl, add salt and mix well.
Grate potatoes finely and add to the flour.
Make a mould and pour yeast-milk into it and start to knead the dough together.
As soon as the dough starts to get together gradually add more milk and oil and knead it until it all comes together into a ball and you have a soft, but not sticky dough.
Dust the top with flour, cover with a cloth and let it stand for an hour or until it has doubled its size.
FOR THE FILLING:
Finely chop herbs and mix it with the sheep milk quark or ricotta. Season with salt if using ricotta. If you use bryndza salt is not necessary as it's a salty fresh cheese.
TO ASSEMBLE:
Dust a working surface with flour, cut the dough into 8 equal pieces and shape into balls.
Divide filling into 8 portions.
Roll out the balls one by one, put filling into the middle, then flip the side of the dough to cover the filling and shape balls again. Carefully roll the stuffed balls out.
Fill a frying pan with 2 inches of oil an heat. Once it's hot, fry the stuffed flatbreads over medium heat until golden brown.
Serve with yoghurt or sour cream.

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Recipe & Photography: Almond Corner

Noemi

Contributing Editor, Food & Recipes

Almond Corner

Bridesmaid Gifts + Personalized Accessories from Zazzle

It’s a big job being a bridesmaid, that we know is true. From planning engagement celebrations and bachelorette parties to picking out the perfect dresses, this job is no small feat! So when it comes to thanking and honoring the amazing ladies who’ll stand by your side as you say “I do,” you’ve got to make it extra special! Enter, Zazzle. From personalized totes and cosmetic bags to adorable candy tins, cards and even iPhone cases, you’ll find everything you need to gift in style!

I know I would love to get one of these adorable totes filled to the brim with personalized goodies! Anyone taking note, here?! With an amazing selection of colors and styles, you’ll find the perfect gifts for each and every one of your ladies at Zazzle! You could even order custom totes to use as welcome bags for your out-of-town guests! Throw in some snacks + water, a map and some of your favorite local goodies and voila! — the perfect beginning to your wedding weekend!

And with their amazing customer service and fast shipping, you’ll have a fab experience from start to finish. Head over here to start shopping for your favorite custom Zazzle goodies! xo

Products Pictured: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

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Oheka Castle Wedding from Robert & Kathleen Photographers

If it gets any prettier than this Oheka Castle wedding from Robert & Kathleen Photographers, I’m not sure how. Sixpence For Your Shoe pulled together a soiree that is fit for an impossibly beautiful romance, pulled in Jennie Fresa to accentuate that love, and the finished product has me, for lack of any other word that would remotely fit here, giddy. This is the kind of wedding I LOVE.

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Winter Weddings

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Luxury Venue

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Citrus Inspired Photo Shoot from Chelsea Scanlan Photography

From the photographers… Jess and Dan met as students in medical school and somehow found time to form a solid relationship in the midst of studying, residency, and starting their careers. When it came time for their wedding, they knew that they wanted an elegant, majestic place that would set the tone for their wedding weekend. Oheka Castle provided the perfect setting for their ceremony and reception.

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These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Wedding Dresses

Alvina Valenta

Fall 2015

Spring 2016

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

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Don’t get me wrong, I love the rustic look. And cozy barns lined with mason jars? Stunning. But truth be told, a modern citrus-inspired shoot comes as a MUCH needed breath of fresh air in the wedding world. With stripes, polka dots, and every print + hue your little heart desires, this San Diego stunner — planned by Bon Wed and shot by Chelsea Scanlan — is basically a Pinterest board just waiting to happen.

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Modern Whimsical

From Bon Wed…Nothing speaks more mid-century summer fun than The Pearl Hotel located in San Diego, California— this hotel has a personality of its own! With a lounge full of retro games and an outdoor modern restaurant, you feel like one cool cat the second you walk in. The best part is that everything is centered around the pool! Not only is the hotel a marvelous coastal wedding venue but all 23 rooms of the hotel can be reserved for your guests to stay on site creating one big wedding celebration! The hotel’s hip vibe made a perfect setting for our summer wedding inspiration photo shoot.

The moment I found this short yet classy Fey gown by Illume Gowns, I knew we needed to be together. The gown is retro yet modern and feels extremely high fashion with pockets! Illume Gowns designs amazing gowns and we knew we would definitely have fun with this one. With simple black and white graphics being extremely on-trend, we thought it would be fun to use them among pops of citrus colors. La Tavola Linen provided the black and white graphics in our linens and we enjoyed mixing the prints up for stylish flair! Polka dots in the textiles matched the light Swiss dots on the bride’s gown—a perfect way to keep the style cohesive.

On the table were placed pincushion flowers to give an edgy pop, paired with bright blooms and long luxurious greens. We had fun incorporating drinks and candy into our grapefruit and lemon color scheme giving it just one more fun “pop” of color. Guests’ names were tied to each candy bag at their seat greeting them with a sweet surprise.

Guests can sign in, leave a well wish, and take a polaroid! With a fun summer wedding, polaroids, sunglasses, confetti, and silly straws were all present to start the party off right! When we shared with Alex Obering of Alex Obering designs that we were inspired by sunshine, citrus, mid-century style, and J. Crew’s famous orangey-red lipstick, she knew exactly what to create for our paper elements. She blew us away with these incredible paper elements and stationary that brought a boost of style and flair to our photo shoot! “Pucker up!”

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Raspberry & Shiso Jam from Whip + Click

Let’s be honest here, there isn’t much that beats a slice of warm bread with a heaping portion of homemade jam. And in case the idea of making jam scares you, I’m here to assure you that it’s ridiculously easy. Like, maybe one of the easiest things you’ve ever made type of easy. Now, a classic recipe can’t really be beat, but I’m kind of loving Whip + Clicks version. Pair shiso with raspberries while they’re still nice and fresh and sweet, and you’ll be eating breakfast like a king in no time flat.

Raspberry Shiso Jam

prep time
2 Minute/s

cook time
30 Minute/s

total time
32 Minute/s

Ingredients

500 grams of raspberries
325 grams of sugar
juice from 1/4 lemon
3 shiso leaves (you can also use basil leaves)

Instructions

Quickly rinse the raspberries before combining them with the sugar and lemon juice.
Cook over medium high heat, making sure to stir periodically.
As the jam cooks, remove any foam that collects on top with the help of a small skimmer or sieve.
In the meantime, cut the stems from shiso leaves and cut each leaf into thin strips lenghtwise, then cut the strips into a dice.
The jam should be near ready when it has thickened and any foam on top has gone.
Check the set by placing a small amount of jam on a cold plate (that you've placed in the freezer).
Add the shiso leaves and continue cooking for another 2 minutes.
Pour into your jars and seal!

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Styling: Whip + Click | Recipe: Crosstown Sweets | Photography: Evi Abeler Photography

Jacquelyn Clark

Sydney Wedding from Milk and Honey Photography

Milk and Honey Photography always sends us the sweetest soirees, and this Sydney wedding at the Dunbar House is another one to file in their oh so pretty features folder. Pretty purple hues, glittery heels and a sweet love story all captured as pretty as possible. It makes for one gorgeous gallery of images, and you can see every last one of them right here.

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DIY Studio City Wedding from Callaway Gable

From the Bride… Our ceremony was perfect and set under the fig tree at Robertson Park, with magnificent views of Sydney Harbour. Our reception was held at Dunbar House. Guests enjoyed cocktails and canapés on the upstairs harbour terrace whilst being entertained by a live band, before moving inside for a delicious three course dinner and dancing. Dunbar House did an excellent job and guests were very complimentary about the venue, food and service.

As soon as we inspected Dunbar House we knew it would be the perfect venue for our wedding– classic and elegant with some amazing views of the harbour! Being able to have our ceremony just in front of Dunbar House under the fig tree was also very important to James and I, as we wanted to minimize travel for our guests, particularly those that had travelled long distances to celebrate with us.

Incorporating our families into our special day was really important to both James and I. My sister was my maid of honour and both of James’ sisters did a reading at our ceremony. James’ nieces and nephews ‘stole the show’ as our gorgeous and very cute flower girls and page boys and both our fathers delivered heartfelt and memorable speeches on the night. James’ brother in law also did an excellent job as our MC of the night. As a special touch, my ‘something old’ and ‘something borrowed’ was my Mum’s ring which she has worn since she was a child, which I tied to my bouquet. We were also fortunate enough that the senior chaplain from James’ high school was available to conduct our ceremony. Being married by someone who had seen James grow up and who he was familiar and comfortable with was a very special touch for us.

For guests who wanted to help us celebrate with a gift, we provided them with the option of a registry or a wishing well. The wishing well option was particularly important to many of my family and friends as in Chinese and other Asian cultures, ‘red envelopes’ or monetary gifts are typically given to the married couple as a symbol of good luck.

Finally, the Flashback Photobooth which we had on the night was a great hit with our guests and something that I would definitely recommend to other brides! All our guests had so much fun getting silly in front of the camera with the props which made for a very memorable guest book for us!

One thing which we will never forget is how lucky we were with the weather. They say that rain on your wedding day is meant to be good luck and if that’s the case, we must be the luckiest couple around because it felt like Sydney had saved up an entire month of rain on the morning of our big day! Miraculously, about an hour before our ceremony was due to start, the sun started to appear and we had our ceremony outdoors as planned.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Jenny Yoo

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This wedding is soooo cool. Like that kind of cool you couldn’t even replicate if you tried. It’s an amazing backyard setting meets a plethora of fabulous DIY details meets a crazy awesome Lucky Number 7 theme. And the duo behind the day? Well, they are amazing. Because any twosome that puts together this kind of celebration most definitely deserves a place in the SMP Hall of Fame. See it all captured by Callaway Gable Studios in the full gallery.

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