This wedding is a serious celebration.  A celebration of two adorable sweethearts saying “I do” amongst a stunning Scottsdale setting, of beyond pretty details and amazing photography from Lexia Frank Photography.  And it’s a celebration of women, with an entirely female lineup of amazing vendors bringing every last picture perfect detail to life.  In other words, it’s the best way you’ll ever spend your Tuesday and you can start the swooning off right here in the full gallery.

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From Lexia Frank Photography… Ben and Kaleigh chose the absolutely beautiful resort of the Camelback Inn in Scottsdale Arizona as the backdrop to their wedding.  As a child, Kaleigh had visited Arizona often, fell in love with the desert beauty, and had always imagined getting married there. When it came time to tie the knot, she and her mother, Rosie, planned a beautiful day with much symbolism involved.  As a single parent for the entirety of Kaleigh’s years at home, Rosie relied on the support of other women, and wanted to reciprocate that support during her daughter’s wedding by using all-female entrepreneurs for the wedding vendors and artists involved in the wedding.  Everything from floral, to decor, to printed material…. even the bridesmaids gifts were made my local female artisans.  

On the day of the wedding Kaleigh and Ben were blessed with beautiful overcast skies, until just moments after the ceremony began. A thunderstorm with gusting winds forced the party inside to finish out the Jewish ceremony rituals.  friends and family gathered close, surrounding the couple on all sides with love and support- both symbolic and literal. Not being able to move the Chuppah indoors, groomsmen took turns holding The Tallit- the traditional Jewish Prayer shawl – over the couple as one of the most beautiful and symbolic gestures I’ve ever seen at a ceremony of any kind.  

As a nod to Kaleigh’s profession as a veterinarian, we opted to get some photo opportunities with horses at a nearby fort, and utilize the beautiful surroundings of Camelback Inn as the backdrop to their love story. The party ended with lots of dining and dancing to a live band- The Walkins, for a night no one will soon forget.

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Photography: Lexia Frank Photography | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Camelback Inn | Floral Design: Andie Cullinan, The Groovy Gardener | Band: The Walkins | String Quartet: Phoenix String Quartet | Printed Material: Jenn Sprinkle Creative | Handmade Roses: Amanda Bowers | Place Card Holders: Meg Crowder, Custom Events Design

Here at SMP we may be slightly obsessed with all things white dresses, bouquets + fabulous shoes, but we simply cannot forget about our guys! When the wedding weekend rolls around, we’ve got to be sure they’re looking dapper as ever! And that, my dears, is where fabulous custom clothier Alton Lane comes in. Created to provide today’s gents with gorgeous, luxe and affordable suiting made from high quality fabrics, Alton Lane makes the shopping process relaxed, easy and truly enjoyable.

It all starts with the ultimate fitting party. Invite your guys and head into one of Alton Lane’s showrooms (Dallas, NYC, DC, Boston+ more to come) where you’ll grab a drink and let the shopping begin (learn more about that right here)! Utilizing a top-of-the-line 3D body scanner to create a digital pattern which eliminates multiple appointments, the consultants at Alton Lane will help you pick out the perfect suit or tux for your event! (starting at just $595). From beachside casual to black tie, you’ll find a gorgeous selection of spring, summer and fall/winter weights to choose from. You can even get personalized recommendations in the Looks Guide (see it all here)! And get this: you  can customize all of the details to create an individualized style, from cut, vents, pleats, buttons, lining color, monograms and much more, and it’s all included in the pricing! Fabulous, am I right?! Head over here to see some of Alton Lane’s real featured weddings and for early access to Alton Lane Dallas & news about amazing offers and events, sign up here.

And as if you needed another reason to love Alton Lane, they’re giving one of our lucky SMP readers the chance to win a gorgeous pocket square! To enter, simply comment on this post letting us know how your groom will personalize his look on your wedding weekend! A winner will be randomly chosen and announced on August 30, 2013. Best of luck, lovelies! x0

This wedding is literally dripping with Southern elegance.  And when I say dripping, I mean that a cool sophistication is seriously bursting from every nook and cranny… the kind of day where glamorous stylings and vintage details collide with lush blooms from Gardenia Floral Design and a mesmerizing Vera Wang standing front and center of all of the pretty.  Oh, and the gallery of gorgeous images from Coleman Photography?  Simply amazing.  Join me there NOW for all of the pretty.

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From the Bride… This Georgia Historic Landmark created the perfect atmosphere of rich Southern charm and Georgia history I was looking for in my military wedding. The venue is a historic governor’s mansion nestled among grand Georgia Oak trees located in the middle of downtown Monroe, Georgia. A vintage chandelier dripping with crystals hung from a linen draped arbor envisioned and built by myself and my family for a simple, yet dramatic backdrop where my husband-to-be (dressed in Marine Corps dress blues) and I exchanged vows. Inspiration for the centerpieces came from the mansion’s book-lined library and masculine glamour reflected throughout the rooms inside with mixed mercury glass votives and tea cups filled with delicate flowers floating among stacked vintage books. Lace wrapped votives made by me were scattered amongst tables that were covered in ivory lace overlays for an extra chic touch. The bridal party table was designed by me with vintage china plates laid atop large vintage doilies on farmhouse tables to create unique place-settings. Coleman Photography captured the details of our day perfectly. Amy Reed with Amy Reed Events was beyond phenomenal in allowing everything to flow smoothly from start to finish.

Being a military wedding, there was a certain level of class and style I needed to attain. Choosing the perfect location was the hardest part about planning for our big day, because I desired for the venue to reflect both of our personalities. Alex, my groom, was in flight school throughout our entire engagement, so I was left to make most decisions such as this. A true Georgia peach (born and raised), I often drool over plantation homes with large columns and old gorgeous oak trees decorating the property . While touring our venue, there were little reminders of the beautiful things I love in life screaming out that this was the perfect place: vintage tea cups scattered throughout the house, a grand library full of old books owned by the historic governor, crystal chandeliers in every room, I swooned. Very carefully, I picked out details of the venue we fell in love with and incorporated them into our decor to create the chic vintage feel of our wedding day. A few of my favorite things from the wedding day: seeing how beautiful my bridesmaids looked in their soft blush colored chiffon dresses, sipping on mimosas while being pampered by Flawless Finish, the anticipation of seeing Alex’s face for the first time that day as I walked down the aisle, my father’s happy tears as he had his first glance at me in my white dress… The most perfect part of our day however, all details and decorations aside, was that I became married to the man of my dreams.

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Photography: Coleman Photography, Athens, Georgia | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Hair + Makeup: Flawless Finish | Floral Design: Gardenia Floral Design | Event Coordination: Amy Reed Events | Wedding Venue: McDaniel-Tichenor House, Monroe, Georgia | Bride’s Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: I DO I DO Bridal, Athens, Georgia | Flower Girl Dress: Marchesa for Target | Farmhouse Tables: Wedding & Event Rental, Oconee, Georgia | Vintage Rentals: (Chandelier, Tea Cups, Vintage Plates, Doilies) Ooh La La Vintage Rentals, Watkinsville, Georgia | Other Rentals: (Tent, Tables, Chairs, Lights): Barron’s Rentals | Arbor: Built by Bride’s Family + Bride | Unity Candle: Waterford | Catering + Wedding Cake: Trump’s Catering | Cake Bar: Cecilia’s

Before you even get into this fashion forward farm fête captured by Julie Sterling, do yourself a favor and take some time to sit with this Bride’s description. Because you will not only get a little peek into the prettiness sitting in this post, but you’ll also get an oh-so-sweet look into this couple’s love story…and it is darling. So it’s no surprise really that this gallery is bursting at the seems with sweetness, and you can see it all right here.

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From the Bride… As with all love stories, there is usually an interesting tale as to how it all started, and I’d say ours is almost too crazy to be true, but it is!! Thank the Lord for a divine encounter that happened on a crisp night in Boston’s South End…

I’d moved to Boston from Italy 8 months earlier and Phil had been living in Boston for about 10 years when I chose to walk in and change things up a bit. I had just attended a neighborhood block party with my wonderful roommate, who had moved to Boston only two months earlier from the UK. On the way home, she happened to point out a sign in the local firehouse window, advertising Fire Shirts For Sale! Well, it didn’t take us much to hop on that opportunity and we rang the bell! (It was only 9:30pm….what’s the problem?)

So long story short, Phil didn’t answer our bell ringing, but another firefighter did and since it was my roommate’s first proper glimpse at an American fire truck (or so her excuse went) we took some pictures, had some laughs and…down the fire pole comes Phil…literally SLIDING into my life! His timing couldn’t have been more perfect. It did take two more ‘coincidental’ meetings while I passed by the firehouse to go to/from the gym before Phil bit the bullet and asked me for a date, but to his credit, he explained that he simply “didn’t want to be a creep.” And thank goodness he finally did ask me, because I was starting to go nuts trying to plan creative ways for me to somehow get my phone number into his hands! We went on our first date a few days later, and for me, that’s all it took. I was immediately HOOKED on this guy and would’ve said yes to a marriage proposal within our first month of dating!

Our entire wedding event was rustic and vintage-inspired by our collective very deep love for vintage, historic, rustic things and whatever makes us nostalgic for the past, even the past we’re too young to have lived. It was a natural choice to have a vintage/rustic wedding theme and we had so much fun planning our day together. I wore my grandmother’s pink wedding hat from 1947 instead of a veil and a traditional, old-fashioned fresh-flower corsage (my grandmother wore one, too!). My dress was a high-low lace design reminiscent of the first half of the 20th century. It looked great and was easy to walk in on the farm. Top that off with a vintage mink stole for the evening and I really felt like I was living in another era for my wedding day…mission accomplished! Phil wore a vintage tweed suit and the boys wore suspenders and bow ties.

Our cake was modeled to look like stacked vintage hat boxes and we used mismatched coffee cups, saucers, and flatware for our tables. We had mason jars for our cocktail hour (and two specialty cocktails) and a “Stache Shack” for our DIY photo booth with temporary finger mustache tattoos (Phil has a real mustache tattoo on his finger and we thought it would be fun to work this into our day). We spent less than $200 on all of the flowers including my bouquet and corsage!

One of my very best friends married us and during our ceremony, we put a nice bottle of wine and letters to each other in a box, sealed it — to be opened on our 10th anniversary. For our first dance we waltzed to a song that my close friend Jessie sang (her husband was on the guitar) and they also sang/played throughout the ceremony. We had a four-person musical group (guitar, accordion, mandolin, violin, piano, clarinet all switching in and out depending on the song) and enjoyed contra dancing (New England square/folk dancing). Everyone learned the moves from a caller slowly and then all danced together. We had a fire pit, bean bags, horseshoes, hay bales covered in Phil’s Mother’s home-stitched quilts, and more! We exited in a 1939 burgundy Cadillac limo.

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Photography: Julie Sterling Photography | Wedding Venue: Smolak Farms, North Andover, MA | Wedding Stylist and Florist: Jillian at New England Vintage Rentals | Wedding Dress: Sabella Couture | Shoes, Hat, Jewelry: Vintage | Hair: Tricia Simon (the bride!) | Makeup: Sephora | Videographers: Well Spun Weddings | Caterer: Little Neck Clambake Company | Cake: Donna’s Cakes | Musician: Owen Morrison 

We’re girly girls here at SMP. Kate Spade kind of owns our hearts. So when we heard this wedding, captured beautifully by Ruth Eileen Photography, was inspired by one pair of gorgeous Kate Spade heels, it was the squeal heard ’round the office. The wedding is perfectly preppy, nautical, and of course, it has the signature girly Kate Spade feel.

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From the gorgeous bride… When Mike and I first got engaged, we started discussing ideas for where to get married, and we knew one thing: we wanted a distinctive venue. The day we walked in to visit the New Bedford Whaling Museum we both knew instantly “this is it.” Both of us loved the nautical charm and rich history of the museum, and the unique experience it would provide for our guests.

The Whaling Museum’s exhibits provided much of the décor – the ceremony took place in the courtyard of the museum, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour around a half-scale model of a whaling ship, and during dinner the tables were arranged under a ceiling display of blue whale skeletons.

The entire color scheme for the wedding started with a pair of shoes. Kelly green Kate Spade pumps with black and white striped heels served as the inspiration piece for the rest of the bridal party’s look. Bridesmaids wore Alfred Sung kelly green silk taffeta dresses, each in their own style accented with different types of pearl necklaces. Black and white striped accents carried through the rest of the event: striped ribbons wrapped around the bouquets, boutonnieres, napkin rings, and edging the layers of the wedding cake (carrot cake with cream cheese frosting– the groom’s favorite!), drinks were served with striped straws, and our sweetheart table had matching striped linens.

We were very lucky in the planning process to work with amazing vendors who we knew well: the florist and stationery designer were both bridesmaids! For flowers, we went with bright, spring blooms to balance the graphic black and white striped details: peonies, billy buttons, garden roses and chamomile. The design elements of the stationery suite had a nod to our nautical venue – an anchor logo with our initials, and kept with the black, white, and kelly green theme.

One of our favorite details of the day was our ‘guest book’ – we had guests take pictures with a polaroid camera and leave us a snapshot with a note on a large bulletin board. Coming back from our honeymoon and getting to see all of our friends and family at their candid, goofiest moments was such a great way to remember our big day!

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Venue: New Bedford Whaling Museum | Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Florist: Little Flower Cottage | Stationery: Designs By Taz | Hair and Make-up: Jennie Kay Beauty | Catering: Russell Morin Fine Catering | Cake: Russell Morin Fine Catering | Bride’s Dress: Priscilla of Boston from Vows Bridal Salon | Bridesmaid dresses: Alfred Sung from Flair Bridesmaid Boutique | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade | Rings: Long’s Jewelers | Band: Brick Park

Ah, the crostini. It’s pretty much the best invention on earth. Not only does it typically include carbs and cheese (my two favourite food groups), but it also acts as a canvas for anything your heart desires. Savoury? You got it. Sweet? Why not! And luckily for us Ruth Eileen sharing how she tackled these bad boys in three vastly different, yet equally incredible ways.

From Ruth… Need a quick and easy idea for a dinner party appetizer? Crostinis are one of the best ways to serve your guests with a tasty treat. We selected three crostini recipes that are so delicious our mouths were watering while we were shooting these photos! Below are the recipes to make the crostinis. These are also a great afternoon snack if you want something a bit fancier for yourself or your family. 

The base for all three of these recipes is a perfectly toasted baguette. To make it:

1. Buy a fresh baguette and slice into ½ inch slices.

2. Preheat your oven to broil on HIGH.

3. Place the crostini bread slices on a baking sheet and brush lightly with olive oil.

4. Toast the bread slices in the oven for 5–7 minutes, or until the outside edges are golden brown.

1/2 cup small-diced Vidalia onion
2 plum tomatoes, cut in small dices
3/4 cup cooked or canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 avocado, cut in small dice
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
Cilantro or parsley leaves, rinsed and dried

1. Combine the onion, tomatoes, black beans, cilantro, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Peel and core the avocado, and dice into 1/4–inch pieces. Combine the avocado with the lime juice and add the garlic, chili powder, and cumin. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Spread 1 heaping teaspoon of the avocado mixture on each crostini toast. Top with 1 tablespoon of the black bean mixture. Garnish with a cilantro or parsley leaf.

Cherry tomatoes
Basil leaves
Fresh mozzarella
Olive oil

1. Slice cherry tomatoes into halves, and cut mozzarella into slices that will fit on the crostini toast.

2. Layer the mozzarella, a few basil leaves, and cherry tomato halves on the crostini toast.

3. Drizzle lightly with olive oil.

1 ripe peach
12 tablespoons fresh ricotta (preferably sheep’s milk)
Freshly ground black pepper
4 thin slices prosciutto
Honey

1. Halve, pit, and thinly slice the peach.

2. Spoon about 1 tablespoon ricotta onto each crostini toast and sprinkle with ground pepper.

3. Tear prosciutto into feathery pieces and drape a few slices over ricotta on each.

4. Drizzle each with honey and top with 2 peach slices.

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Recipe & Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography

The concept behind this day was perfectly simple. A farm-to-table affair filled to the gills with classic elegance and southern flair. And with no shortage of personal touches and talented vendors like Brilliant Event Planning, Blossom & Branch, Tim Alan Smith, Cobblestone Catering and Sperry Tents, the wedding turned into this sweet couple’s dream-come-true. Daniel J Photography captured every farm-to-table detail woven in along the way, and it’s waiting for you right over here.

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From Brilliant Event Planning…Surrounded by lush, green foliage and vibrant springtime blossoms, the bride’s family’s New Jersey estate not only served as the breathtaking backdrop for Sabrina and Matt’s wedding, it provided us ample inspiration for this sophisticated farm-to-table affair.  We decided on a farm-to-table concept for their wedding because it perfectly combined the classic elegance of the home with the bounty of the surrounding countryside.  

The Farm-to-Table Aspects:  Each step of their incredible day was infused with farm-to-table touches.  Escort cards were supported by farm animal figurines in gold and silver hues and the highlight of dinner was an entree of grass-fed beef from cows raised at the family’s estate.  For the vegetarians on the guestlist, Sabrina’s favorite spaghetti from the famous Scarpetta restaurant was recreated. And, before dessert was served, the guests were served a lavish cheese plate with cheeses from all over the world.  The wedding favors were jars of honey from the hives of the family estate – blended and jarred by local purveyors!  

Interesting Personal Details: Sabrina’s mother has spent years collecting salt and pepper shakers so as a unique detail, we used a pair from her collection on each dining table.  It was such a fun way to make a normally-mundane part of the table something meaningful and interesting.  We were also lucky enough to have the family’s array of vintage cars for transportation throughout the wedding day…including a fabulous turquoise Thunderbird from the 1950s!  The cake wasn’t your traditional wedding cake, but a personal favorite of the bride and groom – a banana cake from Billy’s Bakery!

Cultural Details:  Matt and Sabrina have a deep connection to their cultural heritage, so I made certain to weave a variety of personal aspects into their wedding day design.  Sabrina’s parents are from Australia and her father’s descendants hailed from Scotland, so several traditional Australian and Scottish touches were included.  Besides a cocktail hour station featuring authentic Australian meat pies from The Tuck Shop, the florals throughout the wedding featured eucalyptus as a nod to the Land Down Under, and a Scottish bagpiper greeted guests on the front steps of their home as they arrived from the chapel.  Additionally, the couple displayed a Korovai, a traditional Ukrainian bread that is decorated with small birds, in honor of Matt’s Ukrainian heritage. I incorporated the birds as a meaningful symbol into their reception with table numbers and a cake topper of two lovebirds.  

Inside the Reception: Sabrina and Matt’s reception took place underneath a tent unlike any other.  As guests stepped inside the tent and looked up they were surrounded by an abundance of elegantly draped fabric and stunning chandeliers.   We selected walnut bentwood chairs as a nod to the Farm-to-Table aspect of the wedding, but kept everything else in the space very elegant – from a classic black-and-white dancefloor to the stunning floral designs by Blossom & Branch and delicately beaded crystal chargers.  The interior color palette was light and airy in keeping with the sunny spring day and our overall color palette of seafoam, ivory and the palest pink.
 
After guests finished their glasses of bubbly from the glamorous champagne tower, they watched the newly married couple share their first dance to the song “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong and smoked cigars from the personal collection of Sabrina’s father. Fun Fact: A few months before the wedding day, Sabrina’s mother caught wind of a Southern wedding ritual in which the couple buries a bottle of bourbon at the location of the wedding one month before the big day to ward off any sign of rain.  Much to the everyone’s delight, the bottle was unearthed the morning of their wedding on a gloriously sunny day.

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Photography: Daniel J Photography | Design + Planning: Brilliant Event Planning | Ceremony: St. Johns on the Mountain | Reception: Private Home | Catering: Cobblestone Catering | Floral Design: Blossom & Branch | Band: Doctors’ Orders |Bagpiper: 45Riots | Cinematography: Tim Alan Smith | Cake: Billy’s Bakery | Transportation + Valet: Liberty Corner Limo | Tent: Sperry Tents | Bathrooms: Johnny on the Spot | Meat Pies: Tuck Shop | Cake Topper: Ann Wood Handmade | Table Numbers: Tiffzippy Custom and Creative Paper Goods | Stationery: Judy Paulen Designs | Calligraphy: Abigail Hancock Calligraphy + Tucci Cursive | Hair: Ted Gibson Salon | Makeup: Cassandra Garcia

Some wedding simply take my breath away. Where I literally gasp at the prettiness I get to share. This is just such a wedding. Elegant and classic, it’s the epitome of the perfectly timeless affair. And it doesn’t hurt that the gorgeous images from Maggie Harkov will most definitely stand the test of time. It’s gorgeous from start to finish, and it’s all ready for you to devour right here.

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From the Bride… I’ve been told that I have an “old soul”. I truly appreciate the classics, I love to hear the history behind things and have a real love for anything vintage. Old movies, music, clothing…I love it! My husband on the other hand, thrives on modernization and technology. Together, I truly feel, we’re the perfect mix. We’re a healthy balance of old and new, much like the city where we met and fell in love. We met my freshmen year of college in New York and from then on I always knew that I wanted to be married in the city that ended up brining us together.

We both lead extremely hectic lives, so I knew before we even began the planning process that I would need some help along the way. We ended up hiring a wedding planner, Richard Newton from Atelier Weddings. This turned out to be one of the best decisions we made in our planning process. He listened to our needs and wants and tried to gain a true understanding of our vision for the big day. In short, we wanted our special day to properly represent us as a couple; we wanted it to be the perfect mix of old and new. Above everything else, we wanted our guests to have an absolute blast! With these things in mind, we found our venue, The Essex House. It screams classic New York, with its art deco design and vicinity to the one and only Central Park…it was love at first site. Then we were introduced to Marilyn and team at Belle Fleur in New York, who instantly grasped what we wanted for our reception. I think I only needed to say two words to her “light” and “romantic”…and they really took it from there. Next was the entertainment and as I mentioned this was was crucial to us. We had the opportunity to meet with Rich Greenfield and listen to some of the work by New York Edge and knew right then and there that they were exactly what we needed to get our party started. Now for a touch of the classics…why not hire some opera singers? Well, that’s exactly what we did, but they weren’t just opera singers…they were waiters too! We hired The Three Waiters to perform at our reception in addition to our band, and I must say it was an AMAZING choice. They started off their performance pretending to be waiters, they walked around greeted our guests and then surprised everyone by performing an absolutely amazing opera performance…our guests are still raving about them!

I can’t forget another very important piece of the wedding, the stationery! I knew that I wanted our invitations to really “wow” our guests and must say that this was achieved with the amazingly beautiful work of Lela New York. I wanted the invitations to have a luxurious vintage feel to them, so we implemented touches of silver, ivory lace and a beautiful crystal broach all on top of exquisite blush silk. The outcome was something I couldn’t have been happier with and we definitely got our “wow factor”.

After having gone through this whole wedding planning process, we’ve realized how fortunate we were to have found such amazing talent to bring our vision to life. Talent is not easy to come by, and we knew this was especially true in terms of a photographer. There are literally millions of photographers out there, many of which may have “the eye” for it…but when it comes down to it, I truly feel it takes more than that. It takes patience, understanding and the ability to capture moments in time that we would have otherwise never noticed. The look of your friend when she’s truly happy to see you marry the love of your life, the look in your father’s eyes as he gives you away or a glance you and your mother share as she’s zipping up your wedding dress. I know that her photos will speak for themselves, but Maggie Harkov is such talent and we were incredibly lucky to have her document our special day.

If I take a step back from it all and try to summarize our wedding day, all I can say is that it was everything we dreamed of and more. It was a perfect fairytale day that was made possible by all of the extremely talented vendors we were privileged to have met and by the love of my life, who continues to make my dreams come true each day I’m married to him.

Favorite moment of the day:
There were so many incredible moments that day, but I must say my absolute favorite was when we got into the taxi right after the ceremony and we had the opportunity to really speak to each other and take it all in. I remember looking at my husband and seeing how happy he was and the two of us just kept saying “I can’t believe we finally did it!”. That moment of calmness, looking into my husband’s eyes and feeling nothing but pure joy knowing that this day was the start of the rest of our lives together was a moment I will never forget.

Advice for other brides:
Some advice I’d like to share with other brides is to try your best not to stress the day of. Whatever you need to do to not stress, just do it. There is so much going on the day of your wedding that it will be easy to get caught up in all of the hustle and bustle and not enjoy the day, so try your best to prevent that from happening. We hired a great team of people and I made sure to stay extremely organized, so the day of I was very calm. Honestly, by the rehearsal I made sure to have everything in order and felt I could trust the team I hired. This allowed me to really take in what was going on around me because I wasn’t worried about anything. I could enjoy the day and all of the special moments that took place.

Another thing that my groom made sure to remind me of is that this is just one day and that we shouldn’t lose sight of what it represents. Needless to say, planning a wedding can be stressful. Be sure to remember that it’s more than just a big party you’re planning; it’s a day that represents the start of your lives together as husband and wife. It’s so much more than pretty flowers, invitations and guest lists; it signifies two people becoming one. Whenever I would begin to stress about something during the planning process, I would try to remember that if something doesn’t go exactly according to plan it’s okay because in the end I’ll still be marrying my best friend and that’s really what it’s all about.

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Wedding Photographer: Maggie Harkov | Reception Venue + Catering: Essex House | Church: St. Bartholomew’s Church | Wedding Planning: Richard Newton of Atelier Weddings | Cinematography: Kiss the Bride Films | Floral Design: Belle Fleur | Hair: Stacy Pitt | Makeup: Sally Duvall | Hat/Headpiece: Custom by Vivien Sheriff | Fur Shawl: Vintage | Purse: Mia Von Minks Weddings |Jewelry: Leonardo Jewelry, Red Bank NJ + Family Heirlooms | Men’s Attire: Baldwin Formals | Wedding Dress: Edgardo Bonilla + Tara Keely | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alvina Valenta | Stationery: Lela New York | Entertainment: The Three Waiters +  New York Edge Band

It took about 2.5 seconds for me to fall madly in love with this gorgeous Destin Beach shoot from Simply Sarah Photography, and after that it was a full-blown love fest from start to finish.  I’m talking legitimate drooling over the fab stylings of Elisa Event Design, crazy cool paper goods from Lauren Chism Fine Papers and a gold (+ glittery) Badgley Mischka that will literally make your heart sing.  I guess that’s what happens when beautiful nautical stylings and laid-back beachy goodness join forces.  Pure, unadulterated happy.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From Simply Sarah Photography… Classy nautical, simple, and elegant were my three style words of inspiration and from it this beauty of a shoot was born. I have always had a slight obsession with love and all things nautical, so when the opportunity arose for me to combine the two and photograph Ana and Brayden on the Emerald Coast you can imagine how my heart squealed with glee! I immediately started dreaming about our soiree by the sea and with the help of Elisa Event Design we were able to pull it off even better than I ever imagined.

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Photographer: Simply Sarah Photography | Masks: Artisan Maskers | Starfish Cookies: Cookies by Becky | Boxes + Welcome Note Calligraphy: Ink and Honey | Watercolor Boxes: Boxes Squared | Sea Glass + Shell Soap: Latika Soap | Sea Fans: Nature’s Bounty Supply | Kraft Tubes: Sparkle and Posy | SPF Bar: Blackberry Ranch | SFP Bottle: Bohemian Atelier | Utensils: For Such a Time Designs | Rope Knots: Karen’s Wedding Shop | Florals: Supposey Florals | Hair + Makeup: Brooke Miller | Dessert: Cupcake Emporium | Invitation Suite + Placecards: Lauren Chism Fine Papers | Dress Designer: Badgley Mischka | Bridal Accessories: Madison Lane Bridal | Event Design: Elisa Event Design | Models: Ana & Brayden Weekley

This is the kind of wedding that sort of leaves you speechless.  The kind of day where picture perfect details, one seriously stunning duo and moment after another of pure bliss join forces with an amazing lineup of vendors to create a day that is stop-you-in-your-tracks pretty.  A classic meets beachy masterpiece planned to perfection by A Stunning Affair with a night of non-stop fun orchestrated by the Flashdance and a gallery chock-full of amazing from Heather Kincaid.  See it all right here.

And a beautiful look into the day from Shark Pig… Enjoy, lovelies.

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From Heather Kincaid… Surrounded by a breathtaking ocean backdrop in Santa Monica, Jennifer and Andrew celebrated their nuptials under a bamboo structure draped in white dendrobrium orchids in the company of 130 of their closest friends and family.

As their guests arrived at The Santa Monica Beach Club, they were greeted with Lover’s Lemonade and Marry Me Margaritas, the bride and groom’s signature cocktails. To memorialize the occasion, photos were taken of their guests and placed in a guest book where they were then asked to offer their best wishes and sentiments to the bride and groom.

Andrew and his groomsmen, looked dapper in classic black tuxedos, escorted by Jennifer’s bridesmaids adorned in variety of colored bridesmaids dresses, pinks, grays and whites carrying white and soft pink bouquets. The beautiful bride Jennifer wore a stunning Vera Wang tulle gown and carried a bouquet of all white peonies.

Following the ceremony, guests gathered for cocktail hour where they listened to tunes from their Flashdance DJ, sipped on signature drinks and watched the sun set.

Before entering the reception, guests picked up their calligraphed escort cards by Calligraphy Katrina. The reception room was decorated with romantic twinkly lights above all of the reception tables. Centerpieces were displayed in a variety of mercury glass containers filled with roses, dahlias and dusty miller all surrounded by soft candlelight.

Guests spent the rest of the night dancing the night away to the sounds of an entertaining DJ. When it came time to cut the cake, guests gathered around and watched Jennifer and Andrew ceremoniously cut their cake from Susie Cakes.

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Wedding Photography: Heather Kincaid | Wedding Venue: The Beach Club in Santa Monica, California | Wedding Cinematography: Shark Pig | Wedding Coordinator: Lina Wallace with A Stunning Affair | Floral Design: Butterfly Floral | Wedding Cake: Susie Cakes | Linens: Designer Specialty Linens | Lighting: Amber Event Production | Chairs: Chiavari Chair Rental | DJ: Gary Ames with Flashdance | Wedding Invitations: Lady Fingers Letterpress | Calligraphy: Calligraphy Katrina | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ceremony by Joanna August

I don’t know about you all but for me, Fall is my most favorite time of year here in New England. Everything about the season is pure perfection and this wedding embodies that whole feel of crisp, cool weather mixed with cozy surroundings. The beauty of Stonover Farm in the Berkshires, the infusion of pretty autumnal colors and images captured by Karen Wise; I can almost taste the apple cider now. Is it too soon to switch out those flip flops for perfectly worn in riding boots? One look at the full gallery and you’ll be doing just that.

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From the Bride… For Peter and I, choosing to get married in the Berkshires was less of a decision and more a certainty, something that we both felt strongly about and knew was right for us before we even began to talk seriously about when and where to get married. As our preferred weekend getaway and an area that we both spent many summers in growing up, we knew that the combination of cultural and outdoor activities that the Berkshires provides, combined with the area’s natural beauty, made it the perfect spot to host our family and friends. We also knew that the fall was the right season for us to have our affair.

With those two givens, everything else seemed to quickly fall into place. We met with Linda Stripp at Mezze Catering and visited Stonover Farm on the same day, and what each provided was instantaneously right for us. Mezze’s attention to delicious, seasonal, beautiful food as well as their care and concern for the entire wedding was more than we could have ever asked for in a caterer. As for Stonover Farm, Tom and Suki, the owners of the B&B, have created a perfect intimate getaway in an idyllic spot, minutes from all of our favorite Berkshires excursions. Their upscale and contemporary furnishings in meticulously restored buildings informed all of our aesthetic decisions going forward.

While all of the wedding related tasks may not have been as simple as those first decisions, everyone we worked with completely understood the vision we had for a fun, celebratory, and joyful wedding and executed each element more perfectly than we could have ever imagined. Working with Crocus Hale on the flowers and table settings and Julie Seitel on the lighting, with all of our rentals provided by Classical Tents, the barn was transformed into a formal setting, appropriate for both our (unexpectedly indoors!) ceremony and our reception. And the Raggs and the All Stars band had the dance floor packed until one in the morning. With all of these details, and the joy on our guests faces, all of which were beautifully captured by our photographer, Karen Wise, we couldn’t have asked for more!

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Photographer: Karen Wise | Venue: Stonover Farm | Caterer and Day-of Coordinator: Mezze Catering | Florist: Crocus Hale | Linens: La Tavola Linen | Lighting: Julie Seitel | Dress: Lela Rose from Mark Ingram Atelier | Shoes: Miu Miu | Tux: Hickey Freeman | Invitiations: Designed by Miko McGinty, printed by Coeur Noir

I love that crafting 101 classes are popping up everywhere. Just the other day I spotted one that had a whole collection of courses from calligraphy to cupcake making to kids room decorating and chandelier crafting! Granted it was in australia but still! I love the re-found focus on all things handmade. Which is exactly why I’m a touch obsessed with this Terrarium Course that the girls at Make Tribe and Local Color Flowers sent our way (see below on more info about Make Tribe). Click here to see the whole gallery and make sure to scroll down to learn how to make a terrarium of your very own!

From Jess & Lindsay at Make Tribe – At the MAKE TRIBE terrarium workshop with Local Color Flowers, guests were greeted with flutes filled with chilled champagne as they made their way down the hall to the Readyluck warehouse studio.

Guests mingled and wrote their name on pennant flag straws to stir our signature cocktail, a Gin Basil Cucumber concoction. We intended the cocktail to be crisp and refreshing for the warm July evening, and comprised of local, in-season ingredients. We harvested cucumbers and basil from our backyard gardens and used Botanist Gin which is created from handpicked botanicals.

Tables were set with the tools needed to build the perfect terrarium: a variety of glass vessels collected from thrift stores, islands of foraged moss and galvanized buckets of soil, rocks and playful elements to decorate (like mini animals or found natural elements). Succulents were chosen and Carling from Local Color Flowers began the class by introducing the origins of terrariums and walking attendees through the steps for a successful planting.

Throughout the evening, the studio buzzed as conversations flowed. We asked guests to write ideas for future MAKE TRIBE gatherings on our sign, and we’re thrilled with the many exciting options to choose from. Our next class will be held Sept. 19, where we’ll learn how to bind raw leather notebooks with Almanac Industries. (almanacindustries.com). Tickets go on sale Aug. 29.

*MAKE TRIBE is a series of seasonal workshops that strive to promote and foster creative communities. Each gathering is an opportunity to make, sip and chat with fellow creatives.

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HOW TO CREATE A TERRARIUM AT HOME

1. Add a 1-inch layer of small rocks or pebbles to the bottom of your vessel (traditionally glass) as a foundation for moisture drainage.
2. Fill with soil and make sure it’s deep enough for the roots of the succulents to be covered.
3. Plant succulents, making sure the leaves don’t touch the glass walls, and pat down the soil around the base of the succulent to make it secure.
4. Add any decorative elements you choose, such as rocks, moss or tiny friends to live in your miniature world.
5. Admire your work and tend to occasionally, per instructions below.

5 RULES FOR SUCCULENT TERRARIUM CARE

1. To thrive, succulents need plenty of indirect sunlight. A sunny windowsill or bright room is best.
2. Beware of over watering. Your terrarium will only need to be watered once every two weeks at most.
3. Check through the glass to see if soil is moist, or mist lightly if leaves begin to drop.
4. Succulents require proper drainage. After watering, be sure no more than ½ an inch of water remains in the bottom of your vessel.
5. Allow for airflow. If your terrarium has a lid, remove it for a few hours each week so the terrarium doesn’t retain too much moisture, which could result in rotting or mold.

We’re back with a big heaping, second scoop of Heather Cook Elliott Photography, and this afternoon she’s teamed up with Tailored Engagements on a wedding that is every bit as beautiful as it is romantic. From the bridesmaids in pink, to the linens from BBJ, to the couple themselves, every bit of this day was perfect.

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From the photographer… Christine & Todd already have a long & winding love story that starts with them becoming best friends in college at Marquette in Milwaukee. It took awhile for them to realize that best-friendship would equal partnership, but once it hit home it really hit home. For the last several years they have lived in his hometown of Chicago where Christine worked downtown and Todd commuted an incredible 70 miles to work and back to her because where she is is where he needs to be. Todd played final four basketball at Marquette, professionally in Europe and is taking the lead in spiriting the two of them off on a new adventure as he recently accepted a new coaching position at a university. And Christine is happy to accompany him, even though it might mean passing the bar in a new state.

Christine & Todd, together and individually, are quite possibly the nicest people I have ever met. They both have huge hearts and know – really know – the meaning of family and its importance. Christine’s sister recently found out she has cancer and was undergoing treatment soon before the wedding. Thankfully she was up to the task of being a matron of honor despite the treatment and was by Christine’s side throughout the day. Todd’s birth and adopted family held him up throughout the wedding, as well, as Todd & Christine formed their own loving, time and trial tested family. I

have to write just a bit about the styling of the day as I was consistently struck by how beautiful, tasteful, delicate and inspired everything was from shoes to flowers, to treats, to music and of course to the gorgeous florals. I loved Christine’s two belts, Todd’s classically embroidered cuffs and I could shoot a pink and gold wedding with the stunning architectural backdrop that is the Milwaukee Art Museum every day of the week. My favorite part of the day was when Christine & Todd took a few moments alone amongst the “ribs” of the MAM’s architecture. He lifted her up onto a ledge and moved close to her. She kicked off her Jimmy Choos and just breathed him in. It was magical – just like their story and their love.

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Photography: Heather Cook Elliott Photography | Stylist & Planner: Tailored Engagements | Ceremony: Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist | Reception: Milwaukee Art Museum | Florist: La Tulipe | Band: Peter Hennes Orchestra | DJ: Ray Gooden | Table Numbers: Z Create Design | Trolley: Badger | Hair: Ann Weber and team from The Parlor | Makeup: Tayla LaMacchia and team (And Katy, American Cancer Society Certified Makeup Artists for bride’s sister Sara) | Cake: Drea at Sendiks Whitefish Bay | Linens: BBJ | Chairs: Canopies | Bride and Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Amsale | Bride’s Ceremony Belt: Anne Barge | Junior Bridesmaid Dress and MOH hat/scarf: Becky’s Custom Sewing, Bayview, WI | Wedding programs and signage: Sister of the Bride’s Friend + Sister of the Bride | Place cards: Blooming Quill | Groom’s gift: Watch by Burberry | Bride’s gift: Pearl bracelet by Tiffany | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo

If you ask me, it’s no accident Closer to Love Photography shoots some of the prettiest weddings on the planet. Their beyond-stunning work attracts those style-conscious couples whose weddings knock our socks off time and time again. But this time around, we’re talking about pretty taken to a whole new level. With vendors like White Blossom Events, Inviting Occasions, and 24 Carrots by their side, I’m gosh darn certain this day will go down as a forever (and ever!) fave.

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From the bride… Preston and I always knew we wanted to have an outdoor wedding & reception. Having a guestlist of around 180, we wanted our wedding to feel intimate. Franciscan Gardens was the perfect venue for us because with the space it provided, we knew we can really use our imagination and creativity to make it into the wedding of our dreams. Once the venue was decided, it was easier to go off the feel and the beauty of the venue. We imagined our wedding to be romantic with soft creams, peaches, blush with touches of light grey as our colors. To create the romantic feel our florist Larrissa helped us select flowers that were full, fluffy and just plain gorgeous. She also helped us design our mantle full of baby’s breath that we fell in love with the instant we laid our eyes on it. Additionally, the drapery around the pergola was another one of our favorites that made our venue feel more intimate and romantic.

We tried to incorporate details that reflected both of our personalities such as the Sweet (Preston) & Salty (Vicky) table and the Whiskey Bar. We also knew that we wanted our reception to be entertaining for our friends and family. From our grand entrance dance, to the speeches, to the 1st dance, to Preston’s surprise performance of our song “Better Together”, there was never a dull moment.

Thanks to Preston, the planning process went very smoothly! He was definitely the one that took care of all the logistics, while he left all the creativity up to me. Ask me if I’d do it all over again? Of course I would! Our wedding day could not have turned out better! It was everything we had imagined and more. Honestly, we are so lucky and honored to have worked with all of our AMAZING vendors. To us, we feel as if we had the dream team that made all of our ideas come true. Our wedding was truly the perfect blend of: intimate, romantic, and elegant.

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Wedding Photography: Closer to Love Photography | Wedding Venue: Franciscan Gardens in San Juan Capistrano, CA | Wedding Catering: 24 Carrots | Wedding Cinematography: Our Big Day Films | Floral Design + Menu Chalkboard Sign: Inviting Occasions | Officiant: Don Johnson | Day of Wedding Coordinator + Dessert Table: White Blossom Events | DJ: Atmosphere Entertainment | String Trio: Angelica Strings  | Wedding Cake: King’s Hawaiian | Photobooth: Sterling Photobooth | Invitation & RSVP: Template from The Wedding Chicks | Direction Card: Made by Groom | Calligrapher: Fiona McNatt  (Matron of Honor) | Guestbook: Heart Work Memories | Card Holder House: Door Country Woodworks | Chalkboard signs, Succulents Favors & Escort Cards, Bar Menu, Love Story: DIY | Bride’s Dress: Enzoani | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid Dresses: Dessy | Makeup + Hair: Grace Lin | Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss | Groomsmen Suits: Alfani

I’ve never been a vodka soda girl, just not my thing. I like flavor, sweetness and a bit of color in my cocktail. So when my girlfriend introduced me to this insanely simple and deliciously pink version a few years ago, it was a vodka soda match made in heaven. Plus, how cute is this for a girls brunch or bridal shower? Keep reading for the recipe and head on over to Yours Truly for more fun cocktails!

Melissa BaranIzze Sparkling Grapefruit Cocktail

prep time 2 Minute/s

cook time

total time 2 Minute/s

Serves 1Ingredients

• Izze sparkling grapefruit soda
• 1.5 oz. vodka
• 1 oz. freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
• crushed ice

Instructions

1. Fill glass halfway with crushed ice
2. Top with vodka and grapefruit juice
3. Finish with Izze sparkling grapefruit soda
4. Add a pretty straw and enjoy!

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Recipe and Photography: Yours Truly

I don’t know how else to describe this shoot, other than to tell you that it’s like the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen (it sooo is).  Well… maybe I could tell you that it’s the closest thing to a boho-inspired masterpiece that you’ll ever lay your eyes upon, with beautiful blooms from Bella In Bloom, a stunning Malachi Empire  gown and one light-filled moment after another captured by Lucinda May Photography.  At any rate, it’s most definitely a must-see and you can check out every last second in the full gallery.

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From Lucinda May Photography… Our reason for the shoot was we love the boho style, it has a natural effortless that is reflected well through film. Theres so many ways it can be portrayed so we wanted to show the way we envisioned a boho couple could be. 

The hairstyle Samantha did was for it to look feminine & young but not polished. We wanted minimal accessorizing so the headbands flowers worked well as it draws you to her hair without needing to add lots of jewelry  Samantha added the fishtail for a fun feature that would stand out as a point of focus.

Lucinda May Photography picked Cobblers Creek South Australia for our location with the sunset near the hills. The location and style of photography fitted perfectly with our overall look.

The dress was from Malachi Empire it is very young & flowing with nice but simple details. The hairstyle Samantha created complimented the dress perfectly.

Sam from Make up to shake up did a great job on the makeup. she kept the eye colour dark but not dramatic as we wanted her lashes to be the main focus.

Bella in Bloom made us a wild blooms bouquet as well as supplied the hair flowers &  boutonniere. She understood exactly the look we wanted it was perfectly imperfect which in our opinion it boho.

Our beautiful models were Mikayla Gradara and Damien Fanto who worked well together as you can see from the photos.

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Photography: Lucinda May Photography | Location: Cobblers Creek, South Australia | Floral Design: Bella In Bloom | Wedding Dress: Malachi Empire | Hair: Hair to Envy Body & Beauty | Makeup: Make up to Shake up | Models: Mikayla Gradara + Damien Fanto

It’s hard not to love a Napa Valley wedding. This is a proven fact. But it’s impossible not to love a wedding captured by What Shanni Saw and designed by Brilliant Event Planning. Impossible I tell you. Because that’s when you get this perfect mix of stunning Napa and serious style all captured so beautifully you just can’t help but smile, and you can see just what I mean right here.

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From the Bride… We chose the Napa Valley for its location; having friends and family flying in from all over Australia and New York, we wanted to pick a halfway point for them, and also to ensure that they could make a vacation from the trip. 

We went to Napa with a few locations in mind, Solage Calistoga was the hotel we stayed at, and we fell in love with the property. While it isn’t the traditional vineyard location that everyone expects from a Napa Valley wedding, the elegant casual feel of the Solage won us over, and was ideal for our wedding celebration.

The inspiration for our day was something I worked closely with Sarah to achieve. The key themes I wanted to work with were classic, elegant and very, very minimalistic. I wanted our guests to feel like they weren’t at a stuffy wedding – just at a nice lunch where they can relax and enjoy themselves, dance and have a great time.

As for the special touches that made our day extra lovely? While the beautiful and understated flowers and décor added to the laid-back atmosphere, I have to say that the one thing we and all our guests will never forget was the food – I still dream of the suckling pig we had as appetizer, and Hayden will never forget the coconut wedding cake he helped design.

From Sarah of Brilliant Event Planning… One of the first things on Julie’s mind when planning this wedding was location, location, location …and food.  Julie and Hayden are not just Australians, they are New Yorkers as well, so picking a location that was accessible to both their Australian and New York friends was important, which led her to Napa Valley.  

To accentuate the relaxed yet cosmopolitan feel of the resort, we decided on an all-white color palette for their elegant, afternoon ceremony and chic lunch.  

Julie is a die-hard foodie and knew right away that she wanted only the best foods at her wedding. Upon arrival at the resort, each guest received a custom-made welcome basket by Woods & Co filled with locally-sourced items like salami, chips, tapanade and a bottle of Cakebread Cellars’ cabernet sauvignon, one of Napa’s finest wineries.  

And, no wedding reception is complete without champagne and dancing!  Julie and Hayden toasted to a bright and love-filled future with Julie’s favorite champagne, Billecart-Salmon, shipped to Napa especially for their big day, and shared their first dance to the song “Everything” by Michael Buble.

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Wedding Photography: What Shanni Saw | Wedding Venue: Solage Calistoga in Calistoga, California | Event Planning + Design: Brilliant Event Planning | Floral Design: Julie Stevens Design | Officiant: Wine Country Minister | Private Chef: Ashton Keefe | Wedding Cake: Patisserie Angelica | Welcome Gifts: Woods & Co. | Day-Of Stationery: Abigail Hancock | Shoes: Ferragamo + Christian Louboutin | Beauty: It’s a Date

For all of you lovely ladies out there seriously pondering a boudoir session, but stopping short because of some “lack of clothing” hesitation, this drop-dead gorgeous inspiration shoot from Birds & Honey Events by Mona Abo Said is for you.  Because this is a shoot that proves you don’t need to show off your prettiest lingerie to capture those stunning + intimate moments… you just need your wedding gown, lush florals from Cerise Floral Studio and some breathtakingly beautiful images from Tegan Martin-Drysdale to really capture the mood.  See it all right here.

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From Birds & Honey Events by Mona Abo Said… A lot of women have some strong misconceptions about boudoir sessions…. most women tend to feel uncomfortable because they assume that boudoir sessions are a) for a certain kind of woman/body type and b) that it’s all about showing skin. My main goal with this shoot was to show women that a boudoir session could be as simple and sweet as a bride putting her gown on her special day. The inspiration behind this was to simply show a bride with her own thoughts before she takes on one of the biggest steps in her life.

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Photography: Tegan Martin-Drysdale | Concept, Design + Styling: Birds & Honey Events by Mona Abo Said | Floral Design: Cerise Floral Studio | Paper Cake: The Paper Suite | Ribbon Back Drop: Jessica Ann Boutique | Watercolor Stationery: Sarah Coat’s Design | Framed Watercolor Print: Oh My Deer | Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm + Sarah Seven via Delica Bridal | Hair + Makeup: Jenn Chivers | Model: Amanda Henry

Dreamy light, gorgeous photos from Dabble Me This and a couple so stunning you would think they were right off the runway – it almost sounds too good to be true, but perfectly describes the pretty sitting in this post. It’s engagement session perfection, and we are all lucky enough to devour it right here.

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From Dabble Me This… Dominique and Ryan are the epitome of unique. I have never seen a couple put so much effort into their engagement photos as these two and let me tell you their hard work paid off… big time! From Ryan’s amazing chopper and Dominique’s eye for details, their breathtaking engagement session is by far one of my favorites to date.

If you are wondering why I recommend taking photos during the “Golden Hours” these photos are proof. The light was so dreamy and it made everything glow. We could not have asked for a better day in Chicago and I’m so honored Dominique and Ryan let me documented their love together.

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Photography: Dabble Me This | Location: Marina City Tower Rooftop in Chicago, Illinois | Blue Dress: Rent the Runway | Engagement Ring: Chicago Diamond Center | Bracelet + Ring: Lia Sophia | Mrs Necklace: Kate Spade | Motorcycle: Harley Davidson

These two are adorable.  And not just because they threw one seriously breathtaking wedding in Maui. No, it’s because after meeting 15 years ago and working side by side for three, they realized that true love had been right there in front of them this entire time… and that they were sooo meant to be.  It’s the type of story you usually only see on the big screen, but for these two lovebirds it’s an absolutely amazing reality; one followed up by an uber-stunning wedding planned to perfection by Belle Destination Events. See it all captured by Wendy Laurel in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… I fell in love with Maui the first time I travelled there when I was 6 years old and as Maui became a family favorite spot to visit, I dreamed of getting married in Maui as a little girl. I fell in love with the beach, ocean, sand, palm trees, and romance of Maui. Jeff and I went together for the first time in 2010 as a couple and he fell in love with the island just the same. When Jeff proposed on Wailea beach inNovember 2011, I immediately wanted to get married on the island and I think Jeff secretly did too. However our ideas of our Maui wedding were a bit different. Jeff wanted to elope or just have immediate family and I wanted a bit bigger wedding with our closest friends and extended families. Jeff gave in and planned (yes he did most of the “work”, with my consultation of course), the most beautiful, memorable day I could have ever asked for with 54 of our closest family and friends. 

Jeff and I met in 1998 at a trade show (yes, i’ll do the math for you, that was 15 years ago). I worked at a local sporting goods store and he was the Sales Rep! I had my eye on him from the moment I saw him. He was attractive, smart and funny, but much to my disappointment, WAY to old for me. Looking back, there was no way in a BILLION years, I would have ever said, “i’m going to marry that guy one day”… how things can change after 10 years of having a secret crush on someone. After 6 years of working at the store, Jeff and I went for lunch one day when he came to the store to visit. To make a long story short, it turned into a bit of a business lunch and Jeff’s compnay hired me to come work for them running a clothing line. Could you believe that I now got to work side by side my secret crush? Well, another 3 or so years went by of working next to and crushing on Jeff and before i knew it, we had a little office romance going. It all started with us talking over beers at a local bar downtown. Jeff and I started to hang out quite frequently outside of work as he was super fun to hang out with. Jeff decided to take up one of my dreams, which was snowboarding and during the winter, this became a common activity for us to do together. In the summer, because we both love wakeboarding and surfing this too became a common activity for us as we spent many weekends on the lake with our friends, something I hope we continue in the future. We became best friends quickly and fell totally in love with one other.

We didn’t do much ourselves, we brought the wakeboard as our guest book. We chose the wakeboard as our guestbooks as wakeboarding is the connection that brought Jeff and myself together. He sells Wakeboards for a distribution company in Canada and I stareted at worked at the little watersports shop selling wakeboards when we first met at that trade show.

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Wedding Photography: Wendy Laurel + Assisted by Jeffrey Oltman | Venue: Hale Honu | Wedding Planners: Belle Destination Events | Floral Design: Bella Bloom Florals | Wedding Invitations: Be Marry | Calligraphy: Miss B Calligraphy | Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca | Groom’s Suit: Custom Coppley Suit | Bridesmaid’s Dress: Melissa Sweet | Catering: Aloha Events Catering | Bar: Garnish Events | Cake: Maui Sweet Cakes | DJ: DJ Del Sol | Musicians: Vance Koenig + Don Lax | Hair + Makuep: Mira Carmen | Officiant: Pia Aluli | Rentals: Pacific Isle Rentals | Limousine: The Limo Company