Being an SMP blogette sort of comes with an invisible press badge, one that lets us go behind the scenes of all things wedding. When we spotted this lovely Botanical invitation suite from Lana’s Shop, you better believe we whipped out that badge, and we’re so happy we did. Todd and Sarah, the sweet Bride + Groom had such a clear vision for their big day. Combine that with Lana’s talent and the dears at Calluna Events and Plum Sage Flowers and we’ve got ourselves a beautifully executed wedding. Just take a peek at Apples and Oranges Photography and Andi Mans photos to see for yourself. Keep reading to see how this pretty, pretty invitation suite came to life!

From Lana’s Shop… Sarah and Todd are a fantastic couple and were a joy to work with—incredibly kind and easy going! I wanted to deliver nothing less than pure perfection for the happy couple.

The Vision: Sarah and Todd wanted their stationery and day of paper goods to embrace the plants and herbs that Todd uses daily in his work as a distiller for his company, Leopold Bros. In addition, we drew inspiration from old botanical drawings. Sarah would send me photographs of her flower choices and we set up a Pinterest board so I could see her inspiration. Overall, they wanted a very botanical and natural feel. Calluna Events and Plum Sage Flowers transformed the space so beautifully!

Standout Features: I loved incorporating the word ‘celebrate’ on the band around the wedding invitation, which captures the couple’s complete attitude towards life. Instead of table numbers, we made each table a different herb. The herb was shown on their escort card and matched the table sign. As their wedding favors, they made a one time blend of Wildflower Liqueur and used the wedding invitation illustration as the label (loved that!).

Custom Services: Created and printed, Save the Date postcards, Wedding Invitation Suite, Thank you card, Table Numbers, Advice Box with 3 different designed cards to sign, Cocktail Menus, Menus, Escort Cards, and Label for their special Wildflower Liqueur favors.

[dotted]

From Sarah, the Bride… I am so grateful to have been referred to Lana! She contributed to the fun of it all, reduced stress, and did such beautiful work! Really, she turned words into a whole real look and feel – without her inspiration and her touch, it just wouldn’t have been nearly so gorgeous.

From Jolene of Calluna Events… Seriously… I see a lot of invitations. A lot of good ones and a lot of bad ones. Some mediocre ones too. Sarah + Todd’s suite is THE best I have ever seen. The authenticity of each sketch is evident and it is all flawlessly tied together. STUNNING! Bravo! I am in awe. This one goes on the wall.

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Apples and Oranges Photography | Photography of Paper Goods: Andi Mans Photography | Invitations + Illustration: Lana’s Shop | Event Planner: Calluna Events | Floral Design: Plum Sage Flowers | Venue: Parkside Mansion

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Calluna Events

View Portfolio

Florals

Plum Sage Flowers

View Portfolio

The vision behind this backyard soiree is simple. A casual, completely personal party that celebrates a love spanning across 10 years. And by bringing Truly You Events, Petals Lane and Eventions on board, the day turned into all that, plus more. Love Me Do Photography snapped up every swoon-worthy second, and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Chrissy at Truly You Events… Julia and Dan were absolute dreamboats when it came to planning their wedding. From our first meeting, and throughout the planning process, they were able to communicate and stay true to one clear vision for their big day: a laid back, beautifully detailed wedding in the backyard of Julia’s family ranch. Having dated for 10 years and attended many weddings together, Julia and Dan were strongly committed to creating something totally personal and unique for their special day. Instead of having a traditional bridal party and long straight aisle, Julia & Dan exchanged vows underneath of an apple tree surrounded by all of their siblings, nieces, nephews and parents. A few chairs were set for VIPs, and all other guests gathered round with drinks in hand. A close college friend officiated their self uniting ceremony and as Julia entered the backyard from a side gate, an acoustic version of “Julia” by the Beatles was played.  

For the reception, Julia and Dan wanted to highlight the beauty of the ranch and its backyard as much as possible. The tents were erected two feet higher than usual so that guests could look out and enjoy the beauty of the gardens and pond as they entered the event from inside of the ranch. The escort cards were wrapped around another tree near the pond, and the dining table flowers were selected to compliment the blooms that grow naturally in the backyard. Even the rosemary sprig that put the finishing touch on each place setting was inspired by the rosemary bush grown on property by Julia’s step dad.

For dinner, guests enjoyed a family style meal underneath of a canopy of lights. In each of the two tents, Eventions strung up over 450 lights to create the canopy effect. Julia’s stepbrother actually raised the pigs that were brined all week and then slow cooked on site by the Garces chefs for dinner. Instead of the traditional wedding cake, Julia & Dan opted for seasonal pies and cakes presented in mason jars and french macaroons for each table. The wooden lifts on the dessert station, directional sign post and beautiful card catcher were hand crafted by Julia’s Dad who dabbles in woodworking. As their planner, I loved seeing the way their DIY pieces worked in perfect harmony with the professionally created design elements. One of my favorite moments happened when Julia’s step dad welcomed guests on behalf of the bride, the groom and both of their modern families. The whole crowd raised a glass and let out an audible cheer. The warmth and openness in that moment really encompassed what this wedding was about. Working with Julia & Dan and their loving modern families was truly something special.

[dotted]

Photography: Amanda Jaffe, Love Me Do Photography | Wedding Planning: Christiane Lehman, Truly You Events | Catering: Garces Catering | Floral Design: Petals Lane | Tent: Eventquip | Lighting: Eventions | Paper: Hand Painted Weddings  | Ceremony/Cocktail Musicians: Joe DiVita Trio | DJ: Ari Rosenfield, Beat Train Productions | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Hair Styling: Pileggi on the Square | Guest Transportation: Philadelphia Trolley Works

Since we’re partway through August and fall is merely weeks away, I feel like it’s essential to embrace every last ounce of summer. So if you’re looking for me, I’ll be sitting on the beach, drinking an ice cold beverage while listening to my summer playlist. And I will be doing so until September rolls around, at minimum. And while I’m at it, I’m thinking Clove & Kin’s recipe for summer bruschetta needs to join me. Don’t you think?

Jacquelyn ClarkSummer BruschettaA summery take on a classic apetizer

prep time 5 Minute/s

cook time 5 Minute/s

total time 10 Minute/s

Serves 16Ingredients

• 1 loaf of ciabatta bread, sliced 1-inch thick
• 16 oz Burrata cheese
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 7-8 heirloom tomatoes, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1/4 cup basil leaves, chopped
• 1/8 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 clove of garlic
• kosher salt, sugar, and freshly ground pepper

Instructions

1. Heat stovetop grill on high
2. In a large bowl, add tomatoes, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, basil leaves, and red wine vinegar. Season with salt, sugar, and ground pepper to taste.
3. Line up ciabatta slices on a baking sheet and soak front and back with remaining olive oil using a basting brush. Place slices on heated stovetop grill and press firmly down on bread using a spatula to obtain grill marks. Grill both sides of bread. Working quickly, rub garlic on each slice after it comes off the grill.
4. Top each slice with burrata cheese and two spoonfuls of tomato mixture.
5. Enjoy!

[dotted]

Recipe & Photography: Clove & Kin |

I seriously want to crawl inside this shoot and live forever.  Or maybe just set up a shop at the stunning Sanchez House in St. Augustine and have the talented vendors behind every last ounce of inspiration on hand to surround me with pretty.  Because beauty like this?  It’s breathtaking.  From the devastatingly gorgeous blooms from Shea Hopely Flowers to the fab paper goods from Chirp Paperie to the yummy treats from Small Bites and Sweet n’ Flour, it’s a non-stop day of lovely.  See it all captured perfectly by Andi Mans in the full gallery.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Andi Mans Photography… What a lovely collaboration with so many amazing wedding professionals! I had been chatting with Amber and Nicole for a while on the idea of styling and capturing a shoot together and I was so very excited to do so once we set a date! What’s cool about this collab, all the vendors are spread around from Orlando, St.Augustine, Jacksonville to Savannah! Florida meets Georgia, eh? I was completely swooning over the loveliness of details and take a look at the adorable treats and stunning floral! I want to thank The Sanchez House and all the amazing hard working ladies for creating a beautiful vision into reality. I love the European and Spanish influences and textures that this small town exudes. Enjoy!

[dotted]

Photography: Andi Mans Photography | Venue: The Sanchez House, St. Augustine | Planning + Backdrop Arch: Simply Savannah Events | Floral Design: Shea Hopely Flowers | Table: Amber Veatch Designs | Dishes + Silverware + Plates + Goblets: Dishie Rentals | Chairs: Beach View Event Rentals | Cake + Large Cupcakes + Shortbread Cookies: Sweet n’ Flour | Macaroons + Mini Pies + Mini Cupcakes + Shooters: Small Bites | Invitation Suite: Chirp Paperie | Dress + Veil: Simply Bridal | Floral Crown + Necklace + Accessories: Adrienna McDermott | Hair + Makeup: Amanda Hopcraft

City Hall weddings hold a special place in my wedding-loving heart. Not because I personally tied the knot on city steps, but because a part of me always dreamed of doing so. And my dream looked just like this couple’s gorgeous day captured by Melissa Kruse Photography. To me, their day and their story is romance defined, and you can see every last moment right here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Melissa… With a bride of Russian heritage and a groom flying in directly from India the day before they wed, this is the ultimate international couple. And what’s more, this adorable and oh-so-sweet couple’s love truly transcends the test of time and distance. Having met 4 years ago while studying in Italy, they spent most of their relationship long distance with many trips in between. But after a proposal in India last year, and their recent knot-tying, he is finally moving to New York City for good!

So, to open this new chapter in their relationship we made it a point to capture New York’s finest, with the wedding at City Hall, a yellow cab ride to portraits in Central Park, and a quick stop at a quintessential hot dog stand. My favourite details of the day include the stunning emerald engagement ring they discovered in India, a dash of poppy red on the nails, classic white roses for a touch of elegance, and an ultra-lux fur shrug – a perfect touch for this chilly pre-spring occasion (and from H&M no less!)

And while this intimate marriage ceremony was already packed with so much love and beauty, they have a full wedding ceremony planned for family and friend’s this coming September in Italy, with a celebratory reception in India to follow in December.

From the Bride… I met my husband in a piazza in Rome almost four years ago. Jatin and I were students studying abroad at The American University of Rome when we met and fell in love. Since then our lives have been filled with Skype calls, airline tickets and lots of love.

Jatin is from India and I’m from the US so you can imagine the amount of frequent flier miles we have accumulated. We have had a long distance relationship for years with lovely trips in between – from the Coliseum to the Taj Mahal, we have been blessed to see some of the worlds most incredible sights together.

Jatin proposed to me a year ago in Hyderabad, India with a beautiful and unique emerald engagement ring, to this day I still can’t believe its mine! We celebrated our legal marriage here in New York City on a magical March day. We are having our Catholic ceremony back in the beautiful Italian city where we met this coming September. A reception in New Delhi, India will follow in December.

Thankfully we are finally now on the same continent, under the same roof and now sharing the same name. Love knows no boundaries! [dotted]

Photography: Melissa Kruse Photography | Fur Shrug: H&M | Dress: David’s Bridal | Venues: Central Park + New York City Hall

Nothing makes me happier than sweet, romantic details mix and mingling with a fab industrial space. Well, maybe a fab industrial space with vintage stylings woven throughout, like the gorgeous gem that is the Marin Headlands Center for the Arts.  When that happens, I am a little bit more than happy… I’m ecstatic.  Especially when the adorable duo behind the day throws one of the coolest weddings I’ve ever seen with a yummy sundae bar (!) from Katie Powers Catering, vibrant blooms crafted by Green Snapdragon and amazing images captured by Diana Maire Photography.  See it all in the full gallery.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Diana Maire Photography… I photographed this beautiful wedding at the Marin Headlands Center for the Arts last month. The venue is about 20 minutes north of San Francisco, and is an old military building for Fort Barry. It’s quirky and vintage looking, and fit the couple perfectly! The wedding felt like more of a get together than a traditional wedding. They omitted some of the traditional ideas of a wedding, such as a wedding party (they just had one bridesmaid and one groomsmen) a cake (they had an ice cream bar), the bouquet and garter toss (they just had dancing!). They did have lots of thoughtful and carefully laid out details that were important to them though. See description below from the bride.

From the Bride… From the beginning, we wanted our wedding to feel like us.  There were lots of details included to get there, but the first big step was finding our venue.  We were lucky enough to stumble upon the Headlands Center for the Arts a week before they were accepting reservations for 2013.  The whole place felt so special, plus it is all indoors which was an important factor for an April wedding in the Bay Area.  We loved the open kitchen in the Mess Hall, and the refinished original tin ceilings.  It was the perfect venue for us, and provided much of the inspiration for the big day.

Food is extremely important to us, and we had heard great things about the Headlands’ caterer, Katie Powers.  She and her team did not disappoint!  We worked together to craft a delicious menu featuring producers from around the Bay Area.  We also provided some homemade treats – pickled carrots, beets, fennel and green beans, to feature during the cocktail hour.  Since neither John nor I love cake, we elected to go with a make your own sundae bar with ice cream, hot fudge, and all the fixins.  Katie and the team put together a great spread! I wanted the wedding to look like an explosion of spring, and we got their with our florist, Green Snapdragon Florals.  We worked with Emily on a combination package of DIY and florist-made pieces.  Emily created our bouquets, boutonneirs, and a few key pieces, guided me on a trip to the SF Flower Mart for purchasing all of the flowers, and directed a DIY session with close family and friends the day before the wedding.  The results were amazing! They say the tone of your wedding is set by the invitations…and here I have to acknowledge my husband.  He designed the email Save the Dates and the actual invitations, and also designed custom stamps for our Return Address and escort cards.  The invites were printed at a local print shop, Mercurio Brothers, in Oakland.  John also designed all of the printed signage for the wedding, and it turned out even better than I could have imagined.

We were lucky enough to have the help of our mothers and sisters with some wedding crafts.  John’s mother made some lovely burlap banners to hang around the venue and my mom tea-dyed the escort cards and stamped them, to call out a few. The second best decision we made (after the venue) was to ask our friend Zach to officiate the wedding.  The hilarious ceremony that he wrote helped to set the tone for the entire evening, and had all the guests doubled over in laughter.  Everyone keeps asking me if I cried during the wedding, and I keep telling them that I didn’t have time between the laughs! We would not have made it through the day so flawlessly without the help of our day-of coordinator Rebecca and her assistants from Be-Hitched.  Can’t say enough good things about her! The results of all of the planning totally paid off.  The food was DELICIOUS, the place looked beautiful, and we walked around with giant smiles on our faces all day long.  It was such a treat to be surrounded by all of our loved ones for our day…we wouldn’t have changed a thing!

[dotted]

Photography: Diana Maire Photography  | Second Shooter: Rebecca Wilkowski | Floral Design: Green Snapdragon | Coordination:    Rebecca Pfiffner, Be Hitched, Event Planning & Design | Venue: Marin Headlands Center for the Arts | DJ + Guitar for Ceremony: Sutherland Entertainment | Catering: Katie Powers Catering | Audio/Visual: CMS Rentals | Officiant: Friend of Bride + Groom

I’m pretty sure this couple was destined for romance. After attending the same college for two years, they didn’t cross paths until a trip to China where they fell madly in love. Fast forward to their big day and it’s exactly as you’d imagine – filled to the brim with pretty details by Sweeter Waters Designs + Twigss Floral Studio + Archive Rentals and an overall sense of total, unabashed romance so perfectly captured by Danielle Capito Photography. See for yourself right here in the full gallery.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Danielle Capito Photography…After both attending Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for two years, Josh and Codie finally crossed paths in no place other than Rizhao, China on a missions trip during the summer of 2011. While on the trip, they got to spend 6 weeks exploring the country that they both fell in love with, had a blast with the 31 now best friends that went on the trip with, and most importantly spent A LOT of time together. After the trip was over, they both left behind a piece of their heart in China, and brought back with them life-long friendships. However, Josh had been secretly hiding the feelings that he had developed for Codie all summer, and by the time the trip was over he knew he had to let her in on the secret. A week or two after they were back in the states, Josh spilled the news and asked if he could take her on a date. Codie said yes! Their first date began at the good ‘ol ballpark watching a Giants vs. Cubs game, followed by some casual rollerblading through San Francisco, and ended with dinner at Cheesecake factory. When Josh gave Codie a rose, she knew he was a keeper! After close to a month of “dating”, Josh kept it casual and simply asked if Codie would be his girlfriend. She of course said YES, and on September 25th 2011 they began going steady! Who would have thought that close to a year from this moment she would be saying yes to a much more important question!

After spending a year growing together emotionally, spiritually and, most importantly, falling head over heels in love, Josh decided to ask for Codie’s hand on September 14th, 2012. He asked her father for his blessing, worked it out so there was a secret photographer, got down on one knee and even used her full name! Being the creative guy that he is, Josh proposed by using Photoshop to create personalized crayon labels that replaced the color names with the words “Will You Marry Me?” On top of that, he also had all of their closest friends waiting at his house for a surprise engagement party! Once again, Codie said A MILLION TIMES YES! After an 11-month engagement, they said “I do” at the beautiful Santa Margarita Ranch in July!

[dotted]

Photography: Danielle Capito Photography | Floral Design: Twigss Floral Studio | Event Design: Sweeter Waters Designs | Rentals: Archive Rentals | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Santa Margarita Ranch | Catering: Popolo Catering | Chalkboard Design: Adam Griffin | Succulents: The Succulent Source | Banners: BHLDN | Cupcakes: Tess Schiesl | DJ: Dwayne Taylor | Paper Goods: watercolorWEDNESDAY | Hair + Makeup: Ever After Artistry | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal from Trudy’s Bridal in Cupertino | Shoes: BHLDN | Bridesmaids: Free People, Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom | Flower Girl Outfits: Chasing Fireflies | Flower Girl Headpieces: Amanda Judge Untamed Petals | Ring Bearer Bow Tie + Suspenders: The Baxter Boy

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 1000 times, I’m a total, complete sucker for accessories. Jewelry, shoes, handbags and my one true love? Sunglasses. So when I was virtually introduced to DITTO, the new ecommerce site for designer eyewear, let’s just say it was affinity at first click. Carrying 35 top designers including Ray-Ban, Vera Wang, Derek Lam, Elizabeth and James and more, DITTO lets customers “try on” glasses in 3D with cutting-edge video technology. My dears, how cool is that?!

With so many outdoor weddings on our radar here at SMP, we’ve seen a definite trend in sunglasses making their way into your wedding day style (head over here to get inspired)! And really, could you think of a better gift for your maids and men than a fab pair of sunnies they can wear all year round? I think not. With so many incredible options to choose from on the DITTO site, you can enlist the help of a personal stylist who can see your DITTO virtual try-on and help you make a decision! You can even send your DITTO to your bridal party to see what they really think!

Top it all off with gorgeous, luxe packaging as well as free shipping, free returns AND a free two-year warranty, my dears, DITTO checks all the marks. Now get ready for this bit of exciting news: DITTO has partnered with Weddington Way to give one of our lucky readers a bachelorette party dress and FIVE pairs of Elizabeth and James sunglasses for your bridal party! Oh.em.gee. Head over here to enter! Best of luck, lovelies! xo

Photo Credits: Photorexit Photography | The Photographix | Charbeck Photography | DITTO

document.createElement(“img”).src=”http://at.atwola.com/adserv/3.0/5113.1/2821223/1/16/AdId=4520770;BnId=1″

In my humble opinion, we saved the best room for last. Living rooms have always been my very favourite spaces to design. They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but I tend to believe the living room is where all the action happens. Family’s gather, Christmas gifts are opened, movie nights are had. What’s not to love?!  Plus? We have the brilliant purveryor of all things beautiful, Kishani Perera, sharing some of her top living room secrets. And in case you want more, you should probably check out her book. It’s inspiration overload!

SMP: Your favourite living room you’ve ever designed?

KP: I designed Jason Statham & Rosie Huntington Whiteley’s home, and their living room is my favorite! The room was dark, moody, chic and captivating. We went for a rich grey palette, and accented it with a beautiful Moroccan rug and several vintage and unique accessories.

SMP: One splurge-worthy living room item?

KP: A beautiful rug. The simplest sofa and coffee table can be elevated and made to feel more intriguing if placed on a gorgeous area rug. In particular I love vintage floor coverings!

SMP: The biggest mistake most people make in the living room design?

KP: Matchy Matchy! The biggest mistake you can make is trying to match everything, from sets, as described above, to finishes and colors.

SMP: Fact or fiction: you should only use one type of wood in your design:

KP: Fiction. Mixing it up is always better! I recommend combing two wood finishes in a room, or more if you feel confident in your design skills!

1. Create seating arrangements that are conducive to conversation. Often living rooms are set up in such a formal way it makes it very difficult to have comfortable conversations within the space. If you’re lucky enough to have a spacious living room, I encourage multiple seating groups rather than one large one.

2. Combine vintage with new. This is one of my general rules, but one that’s especially poignant in living rooms. There is something about adding vintage touches to a living room that makes if feel more welcoming and warm to your guests. Whether just accessories, art, or textiles, a bit of vintage goes a long way!

3. Break up matching sets. If you love a collection from a particular store, resist the temptation to buy every piece from the collection. Purchase the sofa for example, and combine it with a pair of chairs from another store, or better yet, a mismatched pair of chairs that complement each other and the sofa.

4. As in all other rooms, lighting is very important in the living room as well. Here I like to rely on floor and table lamps to provide the majority of the lighting. If you have a space with can lights, include table lamps as well and don’t rely completely on the cans. Although practical, they don’t provide the soft ambient light that promotes conversation and relaxation.

5. When purchasing rugs for a living room, be sure to lay out your furniture and then select a rug that is wider and longer than the area that your furniture sits on. A very common mistake people make when buying rugs is buying ones that are only slightly larger than their coffee tables. The rug should sit comfortably outside the edges of your sofas and chairs.

[dotted]

Interior Design: Kishani Perera | Photography: Jean Randazzo & Troy House

The name of the game at SMP is weddings, but every so often we get a peek at the couple before the big day, and it’s always a joy later to find the photos from their wedding in our inbox. These two first graced our pages with their Scrabble inspired engagement shoot, and today Craig Photography is back with their beautiful wedding day!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/71042363 601 338]

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the photographers… Firstly, the wedding was held on Jasmine’s family farm that she grew up on. It was absolutely stunning. I love love love when a couple can incorporate such an intimate feel into their wedding and there is no better way to do that than to make it personal. I say having it at your home is pretty personal!

Jasmine & Gabe are an eco-conscious couple so they also included several eco-friendly elements, such as sustainable farm-to-table food, compostable flatware and cutlery, plantable programs (seriously…you could see the wildflower seeds buried in the programs!), and even the wild flowers used throughout the wedding were grown on their property by Jasmine’s mom. Jasmine and Gabe also held a tree planting ceremony following a lovely wedding ceremony, in which they wrote their own very touching vows.

The decor was very warm, very romantic and very personal as well. Jasmine had family heirloom, handmade quilts displayed throughout the property to create a rustic, warm atmosphere. Under the tent was family-style seating with super-long farm tables lined with wildflowers in a variety of vintage vases and bottles, accompanied by vintage books of poetry and stories. There were burlap runners to set it all off. And there was so much fun to be had!! There was a 3-piece band rockin’ the night away, a beer truck to quench your thirst, games such as bean bag toss, badminton and plenty of grounds to take a little walk and stretch your legs or toss a tent down for some overnight camping. Everyone danced, laughed, cried and even the puppies smiled for the camera (seriously… check out the photo of the white poodle pooch).

I also loved how Jasmine set up the ceremony site. The entrance had a row of wildflowers to greet you, seating was not only functional but adorable: bales of straw were covered in cotton material for guests to sit upon and each row was topped off by a tree branch coming up out of the ground and decorated with a mason jar tied to the branch and filled with wildflowers. The altar was very sweet with a homemade wooden backdrop and decorated with flag garlands.

Some of the sweetest parts of the day were when we were able to capture Jasmine & Gabe with Gabe’s adorable children. Oh my goodness were they sweet and to see them be such a big part of the day was heartwarming. Here’s to a new family! Cheers!

[dotted]

Photography: Craig Photography | Catering: Food for Thought | Cinematography: Sugar Leaf Films | Cupcakes: Macklins Cupcakes | Band: Abacus Jones | Ceremony Musician: Chris Murphy | Tents + Chairs: Event Central | Beverages: Freeland Wine and Spirits | Plates, silverware etc: Susty Party | Dress: Claire Pettibone from Betsy Robinson’s Bridal Collection | Shoes: Seychelles | Jewelry: Anthropologie and Heirloom | Bridesmaid Dress: BCBG Max Azria | Bridesmaid’s Belt: Clarissa Boutique | Groom’s and Best Man’s attire: Nordstrom | Hair and Makeup: Spa in the Valley | Veil: Twigs and Honey | Floral Design + Decor: DIY

In my mind, the saying “you eat with your eyes” couldn’t be more true. Though there’s no real logic behind this thought, I fully believe that a meal tastes infinitely better when prepared within a well designed space. Perhaps it’s just my inner design nerd emerging, but I’ll stand by that fact until the end! With this in mind, we recently turned to interior designer extraordinaire, Kishani Perera, to learn all about how she tackles kitchens. Chefs unite as your meals are about to become a whole lot tastier. For more interior inspiration, be sure to check out her fantastic book: Vintage Remix. 

SMP: Your favourite kitchen you’ve ever designed?

KP: I am actually working on it now! It’s a very high end property, so we were allowed the luxury of being able to select some very special (ie: super pricey) tiles, stones and appliances. The overall look is really unlike anything I’ve ever seen! We found exquisite hand cut mosaic tiles for the backsplash that were Moorish inspired, but completely made out of marble mosaics, we specified a very unusual marble material for the island that looks like a matte brown leather, and mixed with a beautiful Calacutta for the surrounding counters. The cabinet design is also quite intricate, and mixed with decorative mesh from the UK and an antiqued glass. It’s fresh and modern with a vintage feel, and has a generally quite chic look!

SMP: Any tips on personalizing a kitchen in a rental home?

KP: In rental kitchens I take the time to swap out the usually bland light fixtures for ones that I purchase myself. When moving, the originals can easily be replaced. Additionally, I replace the cabinet hardware for more personalized ones, and of course, paint. Paint is really the quickest, easiest way to give a rental kitchen a bit of charm without breaking the bank.

SMP: If you were to splurge on one item in your kitchen design, what would it be?

KP: I advise clients to purchase nice appliances, quality is always a good investment!

SMP: Fact or fiction: the kitchen “work triangle” is essential to good kitchen design?

KP: Fact, the work triangle is quite a practical arrangement for kitchen planning.

1. Since the kitchen should exude cleanliness and order, along with design, invest time in creating both functional and beautiful storage solutions. From fun cabinet and drawer liners, to great racks and shelves, kitchens should be cute yet feel organized and well kept.

2. If you are redoing a kitchen, I tend to favor slightly more traditional and classic surfaces like carrara and calacutta marbles. You can add color and whimsy by painting the walls or cabinets in vibrant hues – but if you tire of them, it’s easy to change the look with a fresh coat of paint (rather than having to rip out countertops & backsplash).

3. As with bathrooms, infuse kitchens with interesting textiles and floor coverings to add color and texture. I love to use vintage rugs and non-traditional towels. I also love to find beautiful cabinet hardware.

4. Don’t forget to accessorize! You can display your favorite cookbooks, and canisters in a way that is artful AND functional. Often times, I find that people are afraid to accessorize their kitchens because they don’t want clutter – but a few knickknacks here & there never hurt.

5. Bring the outside in. there are somewhat limited opportunities to add warmth to kitchens, but plants, or even small pots filled with organic herbs, can add that much needed warmth to your space.

[dotted]

Interior Design: Kishani Perera | Photography: Jean Randazzo & Troy House

You know that moment when you lock eyes with a wedding and are beyond convinced it’s a professionally staged styled shoot? Thinking there’s just NO way a day this gorgeous could be pulled off in real life. Well this Russian affair, m’dears, is one such wedding. With drop-your-jaw details, a modelesque bride and groom, and captures I swear look straight out of a glossy from Max Koliberdin, this dream “I do” will leave you flat-out stunned. That’s a promise.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride…Svyatoslav and I had been searching for the place for our wedding  during a long time. We’d like to spend that special day outdoor. At last I have fallen in love with the territory of country-house museum “Dvoryaninovo” near Tula. The small lakes, the beautiful garden and the old tree-arch charmed me. Svyatoslav did everything to create the dream-wedding.

From A Special Day…We strove to create the bright (but romantic and bohemian) rustic wedding for Svyatoslav and Alice: the haystacks as seats for the guests,  the wheatears on the guests plates, the blue-orange-rose DIY garlands (Alice made it by herself), the wooden boxes for the field floral compositions, the simple linen table cloth, the craft-paper favours, we also decorated the old tree-arch with white ribbons for the ceremony. Alice was like a Forest fairy in her floral wreath on the untressed hair. The color scheme was: blue + orange + rose. It was the very special day for all of us!

[dotted]

Photography: Max Koliberdin | Floral Design: Flowerbazar | Event Design + Planning: A Special Day | Ceremony Location: The Country-House Museum | Invitations: DIY | Wedding Dress: Papilio

Though the dining room seems like a simple space to decorate (hello chairs + a table) I can attest that there’s much more that occurs than what meets the eye. Everything from lighting to art selection must be carefully curated in order to ensure a well-designed space (there isn’t much worse than terrible lighting when you’re trying to have a romantic meal). Thankfully, Kishani Perera has agreed to divulge some of her dining room design secrets, and we are all ears.

SMP: Your favourite dining room you’ve ever designed?

KP: A stunningly elegant dining room in Bel Air that was the epitome of decadence.  We wanted to create a Deco chic space with color, clean lines and a bit of sparkle. We started with a gorgeous Chinese Deco rug that that was filled with oranges, plums and teals. We then pulled the electric teal out of the rug and upholstered the dining chairs in a silk velvet. The mix of furniture and lighting was both vintage, custom and new, and the overall affect was simply breathtaking! It was colorful, vintage glam.

SMP: Any tips for designing a dining room on a small budget?

KP: Mix it up, don’t buy sets! One thing I enjoy doing in dining rooms is combing vintage chairs with a new table, or vice versa. Keeps it interesting, less expected and budget friendly.  You’d be surprised how affordable a quality wood table can be on craigslist.

SMP: How do you choose art for a dining room?

KP: It really depends on the vibe of the room, but as a general rule I don’t select things that are very busy. They can be graphic, bold or colorful, but I tend to stay away from pieces that are chaotic in feeling. This goes back to trying to create an inviting atmosphere for dining.

SMP: Fact or fiction: lighting is imperative when it comes to designing a dining room?

KP: um, yes, yes and more YES!

1. Lighting is very important. Invest in a unique, eye catching piece light fixture for the dining room. It really becomes such a focal point it’s a worthwhile splurge. So many people get stuck with tacky chandeliers that come with the house – but it’s such an easy thing to swap out. And side note: dimmers are key! There’s nothing less conducive to a relaxing, conversation spurring meal than harsh bright lights. You want your guests to unwind, indulge and enjoy in both the company and food, and lighting plays a very important role in this mindset.

2. Your table does not need to match your chairs. In fact, it’s much more interesting when you have an eclectic mix – so don’t feel pressure to buy the entire “set.” Take your time and look for interesting pieces.

3. Make sure your seating is comfortable! Whether you add a simple cushion to a wood chair, or a fully upholstered one, a supportive chair makes for happy guests! Clearly I love toss cushions, so this is just another place I get to use them.

4. Storage and service areas are often overlooked in dining rooms. No matter how limited the space, I include a small piece to keep barware, and serveware close at hand. It’s also really nice to have a bar cart or cocktail area.

5. Table top designs are one of the most important areas to plan out in your dining rooms. My design philosophy of mixing and matching styles and pieces translates to how I combine table top pieces as well. For example, comingling vintage glassware with antique flatware, alongside new plates creates an interesting, tablescape that looks collected rather than quickly pulled together.

[dotted]

Interior Design: Kishani Perera  | Kishani’s Book: Vintage Remix | Photography: Jean Randazzo & Troy House

Max Wanger takes the kind of images you obsess over, the kind of images that burst with sooo much emotion and sooo much pretty, it’s impossible to look away.  And he also happens to attract some of the coolest bride and grooms on the planet, duos who throw drop-dead gorgeous weddings with Fantastic Mr. Fox themes and crazy beautiful contemporary meets classic stylings from Lace and Likes.  It’s lush blooms from Modern Bouquet meets beautiful stationery from Wiley Valentine meets The Donut Man bringing the yummy… and you can see it all right here in the full gallery.

And a sweet film from Today’s The Day Weddings to wrap up the day… enjoy, lovelies. xo

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride…Our story began in Los Angeles. It was at a dinner party at his high-rise, downtown apartment that I met Brendan, my now husband. And a year after that first meeting, our relationship revolved around that apartment while we explored the city we knew as kids and returned to in adulthood. So from the moment he proposed, I knew the wedding would be in L.A. (even though we moved to Silicon Valley shortly following the engagement).

Inspired by all the gorgeous, thoughtful weddings on SMP (we also found our wedding planner through the Little Black Book), we set out to create an experience that would be meaningful and memorable until the end of our days. We chose an overall theme of “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” because of our pup Layla, a fox-like red heeler, who serves as our constant inspiration (and obsession, some would say). So we immediately began collecting vintage editions of the Roald Dahl book and buying all things foxy (my favorite find was the Thomas Pink fox cufflinks in the exact shape of Layla!). We also identified our heritage (Irish for Brendan, Korean for me) and our families as important aspects of our wedding.

Finding a venue in Los Angeles proved to be tricky. Our wedding of 250 guests was too large for many of the favorite L.A. venues. And it was important for us to have a rooftop and a view in acknowledgement of the “apartment in the clouds” where our story began. Through word of mouth, we found LoftSEVEN, the penthouse apartment (with rooftop) in the historic Haas Building. The ceremony was at the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, only a mile down the road. We chose to hold the rehearsal dinner at the Los Angeles Athletic Club because Brendan’s late grandfather frequented the Club daily when he lived downtown, teaching as a law professor, in the ’80s and ’90s.

In my mother’s generation, the traditional Korean wedding ceremony “pae baek” immediately followed the main ceremony, ahead of the reception. But the outfit changes didn’t appeal to us on our wedding day (we didn’t want to miss a thing!) so we chose to hold the “pae baek” at the rehearsal dinner. It was important for us to bow to my grandfather and ask for his blessing in his native tongue.

We also included Irish influences like a bagpipe player in the wedding procession and the presentation of lavender to our mothers during the ceremony. In addition to old traditions, we incorporated new traditions of our own to mark the beginning of us. At the altar, we fed each other tastes of honey to symbolize the promise to bring each other sweetness throughout our marriage. And we mixed two different colors of sea glass in homage to our love of beach travel (Brendan won my heart on a tiny, beach village in Fiji) and as a symbol of a union that still honors individuality.

Brendan concocted the specialty cocktails for the reception: the “Whackbat Manhattan” and the “Lavender Cuss.” We also looped the Wes Anderson “Fantastic Mr. Fox” movie on two projectors throughout the space to continue the theme. Our planner Rachael of Lace & Likes worked her amazing DIY magic with homemade jam as favors, beautiful signage all around the reception space, feather chandeliers, chicken wire decor, and so much more. The rustic details perfectly complemented the more modern feel of our reception venue. And, finally, to dance under the L.A. stars, in the crisp January air, surrounded by family and friends — it was a wedding we will forever cherish.

[dotted]

Photography: Max Wanger | Wedding Planning + Design: Lace and Likes | Wedding Stationery: Wiley Valentine | Paper Goods: Alexandria Manson + Pinhole Press | Floral Design: Modern Bouquet | Reception Venue: LoftSEVEN | Ceremony Venue: St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Los Angeles Athletic Club |DJ: DJ Mike Farmer | Catering + Dining Rentals: Huntington Catering Company | Furniture Rentals: Found Vintage | Lighting: Town & Country Event Rentals | Cake: Cake Divas | Doughnuts: The Donut Man | Cinematography: Today’s The Day Weddings (footage edited by Bride’s brother) | Hair: Salon Pure | Make Up: Janelle Nelson | Wedding Dress: R-Mine Bridal Couture | Groom’s Tux: Custom, Zegna | Bridal Party Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Groomsmen’s Ties: Marc Jacobs

Florals just happen to make my heart sing. Florals as gorgeous as these from Flower Talk? That’s when my heart sings the sweetest of songs. So this inspiration shoot is just pure prettiness, and it’s all thanks to the talented team behind it all including Jules, Kassy Wong and Ruth Tarvydas. Lucky for us, we get to soak up all the lovely thanks to Hazel Buckley Photography, and you can do so right here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Flower Talk…A collobration of vendors to shoot this on a beach. We were lucky the weather was slightly overcast at 7.30am in the morning! Gorgeous gown was from Ruth Tarvydas collection. Flowers were hot pink bouganvilleas, red roses and bridal creeper vine.

[dotted]

Photography: Hazel Buckley Photography | Stylist: Jules | Floral Design: Flower Talk | Make Up + Hair: Kassy Wong | Gowns: Ruth Tarvydas | Ring: Jason Nesbitt: apprentice of the year, Perth – black pearl ring | Floral Design: Flowertalk | Model: Megan Wheelwright + Calvin Croeser | Location: Burns Beach Western Australia

Sometimes I can’t even believe I get to devour gorgeous weddings all day long and call it my job. It simply seems too good to be true. But oh how I thank my lucky starts that it is. Particularly when the wedding I’m devouring is as gorgeous as this one from Adrian Michael Fine Art Wedding. It’s a backyard beauty with the perfect amount of elegance, and you’ll want to join me in soaking up every last detail right here in the full gallery of images.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Adrian… It’s always a risk have an outdoor wedding in the Edmonton area in spring! But the gamble was worth it. This lovely Alberta Beach wedding, set on the bride’s parents lake front property, was a perfect, sunny day. Through the hard work of family, friends and do-it-yourselfness – along with the help of some very talented vendors – the transformation of their yard was spectacular. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Danielle and Chad, they are such a sweet couple. All the best to them in their new life together! [dotted]

Photography: Adrian Michael Fine Art Wedding | Wedding Venue: Bride’s Parents’ Lake House, Alberta Beach, Alberta | Event Planner: Nicole Craft of Energy Events | Floral Design: A+H Floral | Tent: Big Top Tents | Rentals: Elegant Touches | Catering: Elizabethan Catering Services, LTD | DJ: Revolution Entertainment | Film Processing + Scanning: Richard Photo Lab

Now that we’ve got our bathroom designs underway, we thought we’d turn our attention to the bedroom. All too often this room becomes the most neglected space in the house. But with Kishani‘s tips and tricks, there’s no reason not to show it a little love. After all, you do spend a good chunk of your time relaxing within the confines of these walls, why not make em’ beautiful! 

SMP: Your favorite bedroom you’ve ever designed?

KP: There are many, but I would have to say it was one I created for a client in NYC may be a favorite. The room was sophisticated, layered, and beautiful. A perfect retreat

SMP: Tips on mixing and matching patterns in bedding & toss cushions?

KP: Having a common thread is the key to mixing and matching bedding and toss cushions. I pull colors from a prominent pattern or piece in the room and carry it throughout. For example if a toss cushions has three colors, I’ll pull one for the sheets, another for duvet, and the third perhaps for another toss cushion or the drapes. If trying to create a more soothing, tonal palette, I’ll take one color and mix in shades and values of that one color throughout.

SMP: Your favorite store for bedroom related furniture and accessories?

KP: I pull from many resources for every room, so I wouldn’t say there’s one in particular for bedroom related furniture and accessories. but my faves in general are 1st Dibs, ebay and etsy.

SMP: Fact or fiction: a TV in the bedroom is a terrible idea?

KP: Fiction. It really depends on a person’s lifestyle. For me, I prefer to fall asleep in silence, but others need the distraction to quiet their minds in order to fall asleep.

Bedrooms are all about layering!

1. My most important tip is to layer your window coverings in the bedroom. Even if you’re one to rise with the sun, it’s always nice to have the option of complete darkness or diffused light. Having sheers with overs, or roller shades or romans with your curtains, provides light control opportunities that you wouldn’t otherwise have. During different times of day I like to lower the bamboo shades I have in my room simply to keep the heat out. At night, the layers give me a completely blacked out space!

2. Plush, soft textiles are also a necessity no matter what look you’re trying to achieve, modern, traditional, transitional. Layer high thread count sheets with comfy blankets and throws, and toss cushions fabricated out of luxe fabrics like velvets and sateens.

3. A cozy, inviting rug is also something I include in all of my bedrooms. It can be a flokati or shag, a wool pile rug, or if that’s not your style, even a simple flat weave. I tend to stay away from harder materials like seagrass and jutes next to the bed for the reason that I enjoy stepping out of bed onto something a little more sumptuous!

4. Dimmers are vital for any bedroom. Soft, mood lighting is the best!

5. Along those same lines, layer lighting as with window treatments. At times its necessary to have proper bright lights available for reading, but you don’t want those to be your only source of lighitng. I like to have slightly brighter lights next to the bed for reading, either table lamps or even small reading lights. Additionally, I install chandeliers (or small pendant or flushmount fixture) for ceiling light whenever possible. If space and design allows, I add yet another table lamp on a dresser or floor lamp next to a chair. Evenly distributed light, and fixtures with the ability to be dimmed, create the cocoon like atmosphere I find pleasing for bedrooms.

[dotted]

Interior Design: Kishani Perera | Kishani’s Book: Vintage Remix | Photography: Jean Randazzo

Searching for the right words to describe this breathtaking engagement shoot from Evan Hunt Photo is kind of like trying to find a needle in a haystack; I know they are there, but I’d dig for hours before I could really do these amazing images justice.  I guess that’s what happens when you combine Evan’s enormous talent with a duo as breathtaking as these two… pure, unadulterated perfection set against a stunning Art Institute of Chicago backdrop.  Ready for a whole lot of (speech loss-inducing) amazing?  Join me in the gallery for soooo much more.

From Evan Hunt Photo… Lauren met Alexis in Argentina while on a mission trip. They instantly fell in love and knew they had to spend the rest of their lives together. The love they shared was so great and overflowing that it made anyone even remotely close to them experience a part of their joy. We had a blast photographing these two together and can’t wait to photograph their wedding in July. They will be married at the Chicago Botanical Gardens and shortly depart for Argentina for more missionary work!

[dotted]

Photography: Evan Hunt Photo | Location: Art Institute of Chicago

There are DIY duos and then there are, you know, duos who travel the world together on The Amazing Race and then return home to craft every last detail of their wedding.  Those are the kind of duos that take DIYing to an entirely new level… and those aforementioned details?  Amazing (but of course).  I’m talking everything from the fab signage to the beautiful blooms, all crafted by two of your favorite sweeties (Trey and Lexi) and their devoted friends and family.  It’s a day that celebrated love in every which way and you can see it all captured by Everest Road Photography in the full gallery.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Everest Road Photography… You might recognize this couple from the last season of The Amazing Race, but that’s not how I know them. When Trey and Lexi came to me about photographing their wedding I knew nothing of their reality tv fame. All I saw was an unbelievable love. From the moment she hopped out of that antique red pick-up until their procession back down the aisle, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. And it makes sense. Anyone who has met Trey and Lexi feels like a part of their story. This bride and groom love people well! Their incredible DIY country chic wedding day at Kali Kate told a story of adventure and love. These two have already experienced a lot of life together, and their wedding day showed that off to everyone in attendance!!

From the Bride… Our forever began on 05.25.13. Next to Heaven it doesn’t get any better than this. We absolutely could not wait for that very moment to finally hear the words, “Trey and Lexi, you are now husband and wife.” Our forever day was just how we imagined it. We wanted all our families and friends to come relaxed, dressed in their cowboy boots ready to witness our vows and to celebrate– our Country Chic wedding day. We wanted the day to be very intimate and personal so we wanted to make everything ourselves– spending thoughtful time on each and every detail. My entire family helped me to have the sweet Southern Wedding I had always dreamed.

We made everything ourselves… Our invitations, Save-the-date & Thank you Cards were designed by my mother and me. I knew Trey and I would love to have an icon that would symbolize our marriage, so we started there and the rest fell easily into place. Our love for the great state of Texas– deer antlers and our initials, super easy and so representative of who we are.

I work in our family business, ATX Mafia Apparel Co., so we were able to create cute tees for our family and bridal party to celebrate our special weekend! We had our wedding icon on the front and the phrase “THE HUNT IS OVER!” on the back of the tee. Trey and I had so much fun giving them. Everyone couldn’t wait to get theirs and put them on immediately to celebrate our day!

I had always dreamed of wearing my Mom’s wedding dress. So we had a wonderful seamstress alter it. We de-poofed it a bit since my mom got married in 1986, removed the sleeves, cut out the back of it to make it more dramatic and added a free hand-sewn accent and left everything else the same. This was a really special moment for us when I tried on the final dress. I topped it off wearing my sweet cousin (and bridesmaid), Sara’s veil who was just married four weeks before. It was really special for us.

When I dreamed of my wedding day, I always dreamed that I would wear my Mama’s wedding dress and a pair of my cowboy boots! I wore a beautiful pair of Corral Boots– they were stunning and I never had to worry about my feet hurting. My focus was always on the man I was about to marry– and not how uncomfortable I was in stuffy high heels. I highly recommend it to any bride!

It was important to me that my sweet and wonderful girls did not spend more that $60 to join me on my wedding day. So I hand-picked 11 unique short casual dresses off of the internet… each wearing a certain color: coral, mint, lilac, beige and vintage pink. My maids of honor– my two sisters, Brooke and Jade wore the same short dress in light pink. They all wore their own favorite cowboy boots and they looked incredible! And they were comfortable too! Love that!

Our 12ft Cross wrapped in 1250 ft of rugged rope was built by my daddy and my mom did all the flowers. At first she was super anxious about it, but they turned out perfectly! Can’t ever go wrong putting some gerbers, magnolia, peonies and lilies together with tons of baby’s breathe. Our wedding aisle was decorated with 14 stained old crates with oversized Mason jars filled with some of our favorite white flowers, all hand-cut and placed by my Mama. Awesome! She also hand-wrapped and decorated 45+ old-fashioned mason jars of all sizes (and has the glue gun burn marks to prove it).

My bouquet was handmade and filled my favorite pieces of vintage jewelry from my great grandmothers, my grandmother, my mom’s and my collections. I also had a picture of grandmother and great aunt who are longer with us. Two women that I admire with my whole heart. My bouquet was so personal, so special & something I will keep forever as a token of our super special day.

We repurposed old shipping pallets for signage and quotes that are so important to Trey and me. My sister, Brooke, stained them and hand-lettered each one. And pillows– we had pillows galore! We love, love, love pillows as accents to showcase our personalities. We just had so much fun decorating each one. My mom and I made several burlap oversized pillows and then hand stitched a couple of deer heads on them. Trey is an avid hunter, so it was a most perfect accent. They now decorate our bedroom. We also had about 6 other pillows monogrammed with our new initials.

A few other special touches included tons of candles! You can never have too many candles. We had a candle company hand-pour our favorite scent into old galvanized containers and my mom then decorated them with coordinating burlap and fun ribbon. The venue smelled amazing and lit up the room to give it a wonderful country evening glow.

Trey’s Grooms Cake – I don’t believe I know anyone more patriotic than Trey. He requested cake balls shaped in our country’s beautiful great flag….we added more mason jars and candles decorated in the beautiful red,white & blue. (Note the cakes are about the only thing we did not make ourselves—-other than Rudy’s BBQ we had catered. No one can grill better BBQ than Rudy’s! Hometown favorite!

It was very important to me that everyone walked away from the wedding knowing a little more about Trey and me. The program was an important part of that. It explained how Trey proposed, the history of my wedding dress, gave insight to my bouquet and went through all the key important dates of our entire relationship.

We wrote our own vows. It was so incredible crafting some of the most important words we would ever say to each other. Saying our vows was definitely the most incredible part of the whole wedding.

We dedicated a small area to show our family and friends a handmade World Map where we travelled during The Amazing Race. Four weeks racing with Trey around the world solidified that we can battle through anything– hunger, exhaustion, testing our physical abilities to the limits and tough translation issues from country to country. And… We leaned on each other.

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Everest Road Photography | Day Of Coordinator: Samantha Conley of Kali Kate | Wedding Venue: Kali Kate | DJ: Ryan Williams of The Beat Connection | Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | Flowers: Mother of the Bride | T-Shirt Favors: ATX Mafia

You might want to take a deep breath and sit down before soaking in this wedding – because to say it’s breathtaking would be the understatement of the year. And really, I am struggling to find words to do it justice. So instead I’ll let the images from Alpine Image Company and the film from Sunshine Wedding Films speak for themselves. And boy to they have something really gorgeous to say. See them all here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride… When Kevin and I first got engaged, we were incredibly conflicted over what kind of wedding we wanted. Both Kevin and I are fairly introverted and dislike being the center of attention, making a big wedding (the only possibility given the size of Kevin’s close extended family) rather overwhelming and not completely “us.” We also were concerned with the high cost of weddings, which we would predominantly be paying for ourselves, and did not want to be overwhelmed with planning a wedding. On the other hand, we knew our family and friends were excited to celebrate with us, and we did not want to disappoint anyone.

Ultimately, we decided on the best of both worlds. Kevin and I decided to “elope” in New Zealand — a country we visited three years ago and absolutely fell in love with — and then we will have a New Zealand-themed reception near Kevin’s hometown in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (the party is in May). We chose to do a “heli-wedding” – a helicopter picked us up from our hotel and took us to the top of Coromandel Peak in Wanaka, New Zealand, a stunning lakeside town in the South Island. Our decision was absolutely perfect for us (“perfect” was a word used about a hundred times that day), and 12.12.12 was a magical day.

We wanted our wedding in New Zealand to be official, so we worked with Minetta Hope of The Wedding Company to coordinate all details of our wedding. She planned every detail (from all the legalities to the coordination of all vendors, including photography, videography, hair, makeup, flowers, and dinner) perfectly and was so incredibly helpful. She made the process entirely stress free and fun — all I had to do was pick out my dress and accessories, and make some flowers decisions. Everyone we worked with just made the day so special. We could not be happier, and now we have our reception to look forward to! [dotted]

Photography: Alpine Image Company | Cinematography: Sunshine Wedding Films | Floral Design: Crimson Floral Design | Event Planning: The Wedding Company | Ceremony Location: Coromandel Peak, Wanaka, New Zealand | Bride’s Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender | Wedding Dress: Bea’s Bridal Nook | Hair + Makeup: Alice Salon