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

Tallapoosa Wedding from Laura Barnes Photo

Alex and Chris first met in 1997. They’d both recently graduated from college and had moved to Washington, DC. They had mutual friends, and ended up in the same circle of friends for about two years, but then both went their separate ways and lost touch. Alex had always thought Chris was cute, but her roommate liked him too, so he was off-limits.

In 2009 Alex was finishing her residency in Buffalo, NY, and was getting ready to move to Hartford, Connecticut to start her fellowship, when all of a sudden Chris popped up as “someone you might know” on Facebook. She thought “Wow, I haven’t talked to that guy in 10 years! Wonder what he’s up to! (And if he’s still cute?)” so she sent him a message. Chris responded – and it turned out he was living in West Hartford, one town over! After she got to Hartford, Alex’s girlfriend (and later bridesmaid) Kelly was visiting, so Alex used that as an excuse to send Chris a message, asking if he could recommend some fun things to do, and casually adding that he was welcome to join them.

A few days later, Alex and Kelly were out after dinner, and even after ten years, Alex immediately recognized Chris as she saw him come walking down the street. The “reunion” went well (and he was definitely still cute!), and ended with a “we’ll have to do this again” – and they did.

After finishing her fellowship, Alex took a job back in her hometown of Newport, Rhode Island, and Chris moved with her. They got an adorable French Bulldog puppy named Frank about a year later. Then one Sunday afternoon in June 2011, a few months shy of their 2 year anniversary, Alex was called in to the ER. When she got home, Frank met her at the door, as usual. But she immediately noticed something on his collar, and said “What’s this?” Chris said, “Oh it’s a new toy.” Alex went to look more closely, and it was a little pouch, with a little silver box inside, and inside that was the most beautiful ring! It turned out Chris had worked with Alex’s sister (and maid of honor) Kate to design it, using diamonds of their mother’s, and emeralds (Alex’s birthstone, and favorite color), and he’d been carrying the ring around for almost 3 months, waiting for the perfect moment to set up a surprise. Alex then managed to catch her breath and finish walking in the door, and noticed candles and flowers and champagne set up on the back porch… It was there that Chris got down on one knee, and Alex of course said yes.

They decided to have a traditional ceremony at St. Columba’s Chapel- a beautiful old stone chapel about a mile down the street from where Alex grew up. An old friend from high school officiated, and another friend played bagpipes outside the church. The reception was held at The Clambake Club of Newport- a private club right on the water with breathtaking views (and amazing food!), with a vintage home-like feel. They wanted a sea side, classic, down to earth wedding with a touch of “Newport”- and with the help of some amazing vendors, and some wonderful personal touches from friends and family, we ended up with a gorgeous, dream day. The rest is history!

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

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It’s just doesn’t get sweeter than the obvious love between these two cuties. It just seems to seep through each and every image snapped up by Laura Barnes Photo – and their darling barn wedding? Just as sweet. It’s enough to charm your socks right off, and you can see every last moment right here.

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From Laura Barnes Photo…I absolutely loved photographing Becky & Josh’s wedding on June 15th! These two are one of the sweetest couples with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working. They’ve dated for ten years and were surrounded by an incredible group of supportive friends and family (plus their pup Rudy!) Becky and Josh opted to do a first look so we were able to photograph most of their portraits before the ceremony – their first look was my favorite part of the day!

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7 Tips for Planning a Destination Wedding from Rachel Rose Weddings

A destination wedding is probably the most romantic kind of wedding. Whisking away to a far off land with your love and your nearest and dearest to tie the knot. But as some of you may have realized, a destination wedding is not all bikinis and mai tais. Rachel Rose Weddings, Wedding Venues in Spain is here with seven fab tips to make your destination wedding absolutely perfect. (And a stunning bit of wedding inspiration to boot!)

From Rachel of Wedding Venues in Spain… To say we were excited when we discovered this beautiful riverside villa would be an understatement. It is a picture perfect wedding venue set within a stunning valley in southern Spain. We decided we just had to do a styled wedding shoot at the villa at our earliest opportunity so that we could show this romantic beauty off in its best light and with the andalucian sunshine that is some pretty good light! We wanted the shoot to have a slightly whimsical feel so opted for a floating seating plan suspended by balloons (the child models had a lot of fun with this!) and vintage ceremony styling with lots of lace and pretty florals in pale pinks and greys. The tablescapes were pure vintage chic with mercury glass centrepieces, silver chargers and elegant glassware. We used some of our vintage furniture range for the cake table to ensure that these fabulous cakes were displayed at their absolute best.

1. Give yourself plenty of planning time.

Destination weddings are usually booked well in advance with our own venues booking up around 18 months before the wedding date. So start planning early if you don’t want your choices limited! Send out ‘Save the Date’ cards as soon as you can so that you can allow your guests the chance to incorporate your wedding into their annual leave. You don’t want to leave it too late where all your guests have already booked their holidays and cannot make it to your big day.

2. Location, location, location.

With your guests needing to travel abroad for your wedding it is important to factor in the travel time and likely costs involved as there is no point in inviting all your friends and family to your fabulous event if it is going to be too difficult for them to get to or too expensive. So check that there are good flight connections for your guests and that there is a wide range of local accommodations to suit all budgets. You should also factor in the travel time from the airport to your wedding location and ensure that there are good transfer companies available as not everyone wants to drive abroad.

3. Remember to get help!

Planning a wedding at home can be stressful enough so please don’t think planning a wedding abroad will be any easier. Language barriers and lack of knowledge of the area can be a real stumbling block so hire a professional wedding planner who will have a vast knowledge of the area and will provide the very best team of vendors. I would recommend hiring a planner who also offers a décor and styling service as you don’t want to be filling your cases up with decorations, leaving no room for your beautiful dress. You shouldn’t have to be worrying about the logistics of your event and whether or not you have chosen a good vendor or if they will even turn up so leave this to the professionals, sit back, relax and enjoy!

4. Look after your guests.

Your wedding guests will have gone to a lot of effort and expense travelling to your wedding so it is important to make sure they feel this is appreciated and that they are well looked after but you also don’t want to end up being their personal travel agent! We offer a dedicated Concierge Service who is the point of contact for your guests and our concierge will assist them with all their travel arrangements including airport transfers, car hire, accommodation and activities. If your wedding planner doesn’t include this service then there are some very good free templates for building your own wedding website where you can include all necessary information for your guests and include this as a point of reference within your wedding invitations. It is also nice to provide additional events for your guests as they will usually have travelled for a long weekend or even a week so booking a good restaurant for a welcome meal before the wedding and arranging something the day after such as a relaxed brunch or pool party with a BBQ are always a good idea. We also like the idea of having a welcome pack or welcome letter for your guests on their arrival to add a personal touch from the Bride & Groom.

5. Plan for all kinds of weather.

Weddings in Spain can be hot, very hot! So it is a good idea to make sure that your dream venue can offer some areas of shade for you and your guests to ensure that you are not all fading in the heat before the fun has even begun. We love to offer a cooling station for our clients which includes iced water and fresh lemonade, fans and parasols, cold towels and refreshing facial mists as well as sun screens and shades. You have decided upon a destination wedding and most likely for the weather, but this is not always as reliable as it once was. So plan for sun but if there could be a chance of rain then you need to ensure that your venue has a contingency for inclement weather and that this would not impact your planned day too much!

6. Don’t forget to pace yourself.

If you think a destination wedding means a more relaxing time for you, think again. You will be surrounded by your nearest and dearest for a week and they will want to spend lots of time with you having fun! This can be quite overwhelming and exhausting and it is important to make sure you allow yourself some downtime as you don’t want to look like a zombie by the time your big day arrives. I never advise arranging any big events for the night before the wedding and I also advise a little alone time with hubby to be. Maybe a relaxing afternoon at the local beach club or spa and if this is not possible then try to arrange a night or two together in a lovely hotel once all your guests have left.

7. Make sure you know what’s legal!

Marrying abroad is not always straight forward so it is important to check the laws of the country you wish to marry in before booking your wedding. In Spain, for example, you cannot legally marry unless you have been resident in the country for 2 years or you are Catholic and marry in the church. Therefore most of our couples choose to do the legal bit back home before they fly out to Spain and then have their personal wedding ceremony here performed by a minister within the grounds of our venues.

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Thank you so much for these fabulous tips Rachel! Do we have any brides planning a destination wedding? What kinds of tips are you picking up along the way? Or, if you’ve already had your destination wedding, what do you wish you would have thought about? We want to hear from you! And don’t forget to visit the gallery for the rest of this stunning shoot

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Bathroom Design from Kishani Perera

You probably know Kishani Perera because of her book. Her gorgeous, always facing forward, shockingly “me” (and I’m guessing “you”) cover image picturing that fabulous chandelier and that hint of vintage, hint of modern sensibility. Yes, that book. Well, somehow, the gods are shining down on SMP today and we managed to score a full day of Kishani Perera genius. As she is sharing all of her must-have rules for interior design – from bathrooms to bedrooms and everything in between. So here we go kids! Buckle up…it’s a day of all out gorgeousness, starting of course, with the loo.

SMP: Your favorite bathroom you’ve ever designed?

KP: One of the favorite bathrooms I designed was for a celebrity hairstylist named Davy. We found a pair of vintage fish sconces for the vanity area, had a gorgeous custom shower curtain fabricated, brought in a sweet little side table for toiletries, and a wonderful antique mirror over the sink. The combination was very unique and inviting!

SMP: Name one small change that makes a big impact in a bathroom:

KP: I think lighting has the most impact in bathrooms. In such a small space you really want to add a touch of sparkle! Let your fixtures do the talking!

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

KP: Yes! Paint is a great way to personalize a bathroom – if you can’t (or don’t want to) invest in wall paper – there are some amazing stencils you can use to add depth & dimension. Swap out the vanity mirror for something more special, and bring in really fun textiles with your shower curtain & rugs.

SMP: Fact or fiction: you should not use wallpaper in a bathroom?

KP: Complete fiction! I am a big fan of wallpaper in bathrooms!

Don’t forget to address the bathroom as a living space and add warm touches as you would any other room – specifically art and accessories.

1. No matter how small the space, try to include a piece of furniture in your bathroom. It could be a small side table, a petite chest of drawers for storage, or a vintage mirror. This will automatically add character and interest.

2. Bath rug, schmath rug! Don’t limit yourself to a rug specifically designed for the loo! Find a great rug that you love and just add a non-slip rug pad underneath – you’ll have so many more great options to choose from.

3. Invest in a custom shower curtain. One of the most simple places to implement a little DIY touch is the shower curtain. I like to find vintage fabrics, or vibrant patterns and have my local tailor cut & seam it to size and pop a few grommets into the top hem (or if you’re handy – YOU can do it!). With an inexpensive liner hung behind it, you have a water resistant and unique curtain for your bathroom.

4. Mix up your lighting! I like to add interesting light fixtures – a vintage chandelier, or even a table lamp – to my bathrooms. When combined with the more practical task lights, it keeps things from looking too generic.

5. Personalize your bathroom with little touches, and don’t forget about art! Instead of a toothbrush holder, use a small antique glass or vase. A vintage tray adds beautiful detail to your bathroom counter, and an easy way to organize. So many people don’t think to put art in the bathroom – but a collection of small paintings, or framed photographs really livens up the space!

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Interior Design: Kishani Perera | Photography: Jean Randazzo

Milwaukee Wedding from Erin Jean Photography

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from poring over dozens upon dozens of weddings here on SMP, it’s this: personalization is key to the perfect day. I’m talking about weddings that feel thoughtful and authentic; where, if nothing else, guests can walk away saying, “That was so them.” And this Midwest affair fits that bill to a pretty little T. Erin Jean Photography captured every eclectic-loving detail, and there’s a million more moments to be swooned sitting right here.

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From Erin Jean Photography…Melissa and Ryan are a modern couple. It’s a love story of photographer meets teacher. That produces a beautiful wedding. They had gorgeous details that scream personality. It was an urban meets vintage affair. Dream wedding! The grooms words were, “this is an etsy wedding!” From the bow ties to the paper elements surrounding the room, it was a handmade affair.

From the Bride and Groom… Like any other couple anxiously awaiting the day they finally get to marry the one person who makes their heart sing, Melissa and Ryan had a definite vision for their wedding day. Luckily for them, that day became everything they had dreamed and more. Their picturesque Milwaukee wedding landed (coincidentally) on the first day of summer, and after heavy rains and thunderstorms pushed through, their big day became one for the books.

Ryan, a musician and history teacher, and Melissa, a photographer and graphic designer, could not have selected a more beautiful venue for the day, historic Turner Hall Ballroom, a local and national landmark, built in 1882. Decorated in an eclectic but simple taste, they wanted the celebration to truly represent them as a couple. Making use of antiques they have been collecting since they’ve met, the assortment of their own vintage pieces merely enriched the distressed, but elegant environment of Turner Hall. The couple wanted to focus their wedding around local and handmade goods that would make their day one of a kind, including the handmade lace wedding dress, paper goods designed by the bride, and antique windows and picture frames painted and labeled with signage and seating arrangements.

Surrounded by the people that mean the most to them, the couple exchanged vows in a succinct ceremony officiated by their good friend, heard music performed by the groom’s bandmates, and dined on a vegetarian meal catered by Beans and Barley, a local vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant and market. They also provided the rustic floral arrangements of wildflowers on each table, as well as the delicious vegan red velvet wedding cake. Erin Jean Photography beautifully captured this stunning event.

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Goodwood Museum and Garden Wedding from Annie Agarwal Photography

This Goodwood Museum and Gardens wedding has so much heart I just want to hug it. With the sweet DIYs sprinkled throughout and a chic yet country vibe, every image from Annie Agarwal Photography is just downright adorable. It’s enough to make your Tuesday perfectly charming, and you can get lost in all the lovely right here.

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From Annie… Sarah and Jonathan’s wedding was one of the hottest of the summer…110 degrees! Despite the Florida Sunshine, they waltzed through their day full of enthusiasm and passion for one another. Sarah, an interior designer selected a lovely venue for their wedding and reception and created a plethora of home-made details that personalized their day.

From sweet accessories to charming signs handcrafted from the groom’s relative’s barn, from dried lavender to a variety of wild flowers, from heirloom pieces to thrifted plates- Sarah and Jonathan’s day was perfect. Their love and personalities were evident to all who attended. [dotted]

Photography: Annie Agarwal Photography | Wedding Venue: Goodwood Museum and Gardens | Invitations: DIY | Wedding Dress: Jenny Yoo

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Highlands Country Club Wedding from Judy Pak Photography

Judy Pak has this way of making you fall in love with weddings; it’s like the moment you lay your eyes on her stunning images (works of art, really), you can’t help but seriously adore all things “I do.” And this darling Highlands Country Club affair is certainly no exception with its rainy day awesomeness and beyond beautiful classic details mix and mingling with vibrant purple hues. Fall in love with every last moment right here.

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Wedding at The Villa San Juan Capistrano from RomaBea Images

From the Bride… I will forever hold in my heart, the moment Travis and I sat at our sweetheart table and looked back to the candlelight glow hitting the frames that adorned the fireplace (each frame more memorable than the last), and when we looked to the right, we saw T’s family table which had friends and family that traveled across the United States to share our special day with us and when we looked forward we were overwhelmed by all the smiling faces, enjoying the day and celebrating Travis and my love for each other… we just looked at each other and reminded ourselves how lucky and loved we are on this day and in our lives. My grandma asked me the other day (as she was unable to attend the wedding), “You had said you wanted a wedding of your dreams….did you get what you wanted?” I undoubtedly answered, “Yes, Gram…. yes I did!”

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You know how I knew I was going to absolutely adore this wedding? The photographer (the amazing Beatrice Howell of RomaBea Images) described it as a complete “dream.” A dream filled with pretty pink hues, lush florals from Marcia L.Johnson Floral Artistry and one gorgeous moment after another set against the breathtaking beauty that is The Villa San Juan Capistrano. That’s the kind of wedding that I can fully get behind, and when you add in a stunning bride and groom sooo in love, it’s palpable, well… just call it a dream day here on SMP. Click here for all of the pretty.

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From RomaBea Images… Describing this Wedding is like describing a dream. One filled with blush colored roses, a Bride & Groom that looked like Hollywood stars and so much emotion it was nearly impossible to restrain oneself from letting the tears flow. There were so many moments that just tugged at the heartstrings… that moment when a Father first saw his little girl as a Bride, with her Mother looking on to both her husband and daughter crying tears of joy, overflowing with emotion herself. The touching First Look, where both could hardly believe that moment had arrived, when they would soon become Man & Wife. The speeches that didn’t leave a dry eye around and the closeness both families shared as their lives intertwined around the Love of Jessica & Michael.

The day was intimate and displayed personal touches such as the Hand Painted Invitations by the Groom’s Sister, who was also a Bridesmaid. Those invites depicted both the Bride & Groom in front of The Villa surrounded by the same ivy that grows on it’s historical walls… and the whimsy of the Bride holding a string with a Dragonfly on the end of it hovering just above. Such was the level of detail in personalization, that the very cookies laid out for guests were their own version of that Dragonfly.

It was a beautiful ceremony, one I was honored to capture, and one that most certainly tugged at my heartstrings, and made me cry.

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Oakland Wedding from Abi Q Photography

This wedding shot by Abi Q Photography is such a beautiful example of pairing down details to only the most beautiful, most bang for your buck. Take note brides to be: you don’t need to blanket your entire day in flowers. Instead? Try a show stopper like a floral blanket at the head table. It has that wow factor that can completely transform an event. And we’re kind of dying over it. Have a look at the gallery for more as well as the beautiful, beautiful film shot by Shakewell Studios below.

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From Abi Q Photography…Evan and Madeline were sealed in the Oakland temple, and had their reception at the stables that Madeline grew up riding at. It was gorgeous affair, and one of the most spectacular things was the floral blanket that covered the head table and draped onto the grass below. Madeline rode in to the reception on her horse ruby. It was an amazing event and I’m so glad I got to be apart of their beautiful love story.

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You know when you meet someone and you automatically feel as if you’re going to be fast friends? Well that’s how I feel about Michelle Rago. Not only does she have the best job in the ENTIRE world (destination event planning? Hello!), she’s also has style for days and a sense of humor to boot. Thanks to the girls at Belathee, we had the sheer pleasure of sneaking a behind the scenes peek at all things Michelle. Oh and here’s lots more in the gallery if you need a bit more of your Rago-fix.

SMP: Destination event planning. What a dream job! How did you get into this line of work?

MR: There was no clear trajectory. I always knew I wanted to be in the hospitality/service industry. I truly think I shaped my goals and passions as the industry was evolving. It was a pretty organic process. And, the fact that destination weddings exploded as I was evolving, was truly dumb luck.

SMP: What’s your favourite part of your job?

MR: My favorite part of the job is both the sales process and production. I equate the sales process to sculpting. It defines the relationship. And then when the party goes live – I absolutely love production.

SMP: So clearly you have a great sense for design. How would you describe your home aesthetic? Have your travels affected your design sensibilities?

MR: I am casual chic all the way. I love modern art and treasures from my travels surrounding me. I think a home should be tasteful and lovely but approachable and above all relaxing! Constant exposure to luxury has helped me to focus on the things I love and am most comfortable with to integrate into my day to day.

Such as… how I serve my tea or my love of linen towels. If you are a house guest, I always have a linen mat with slippers where your feet touch the ground after a good night’s sleep!

SMP: If your house were to go up in flames, what are the three things you would grab on your way out (pets and family members not included!)

MR: I have all of my treasures from childhood that I value most on a vintage metal shelf next to my bed. I would probably grab a few things from there like family photos, a book of poetry from my grandmother and of course my passport!

SMP: The best meal you’ve ever had while traveling?

MR: I was in a very old café in Paris, big fireplace, stone walls, wood floors, lots of candles. Several meats were on a rotisserie in the fireplace with all of the renderings dripping into a big copper pan of potatoes and vegetables. We dined on pates, amazing bread, chocolate soufflé and stinky cheeses. Heaven.

SMP: If you could go to any place in the world, where would it be and why?

MR: I want to head to Corsica and float around on a big sailboat with a very handsome Italian sailing crew and lots and lots of Prosecco!

SMP: Yep. I think I could get on board with that! Any secret tips to planning a destination party we should know about?

1. The harder it is for guests to get there is really not such a bad thing. Guests relax much more quickly once they arrive if they have been tousled around a bit.

2. If you don’t want too many people. DON’T SEND A DAVE THE DATE – if you invite someone well in advance, they will come.

3. Daytime parties rock.

SMP: Quick! You have to drink one cocktail for the rest of your life. What would it be?!

MR: I am a wine and champagne devotee BUT… I suppose a greyhound when push comes to shove (with fresh pink grapefruit juice of course).

SMP: If Abby and I showed up for dinner, what would you make for us?

MR: To Start:
A few yummy hors d’ouevres of sausage stuffed mushrooms, prosciutto wrapped asparagus and deviled quail eggs.

For the Main Course:
Grilled spatchcocked chicken with roasted yukon gold potatoes, green beans and herby greek yogurt. Plus, white asparagus with home made tarragon mayonnaise.

For the Salad Course:
Organic salad greens with balsamic vinaigrette and pickled shallots. Maison Kayser Bread.

To Finish:
Cheese, cheese, cheese…And lots of wine pairings! I am not a huge dessert fan but most likely something chocolate and salty.

SMP: And I’m officially inviting myself over! Lastly, just for fun: if you were given a million dollars and told you had one day to spend it all, what would you do?

MR: I would buy a vineyard in Provence with lots of guest rooms and a sexy pool. I would bottle my own wine (already have it scoped out!.) A vintage woody and a kick-ass sports car. I need goats to make cheese and chickens for my eggs. I would make sure all of the technology and equipment in my farmhouse was state of the art. Uh-oh I think I blew my budget!

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Photography: Belathee Photography | Interview: Michelle Rago

Jacquelyn Clark

2H2 Design + A Giveaway!

I absolutely, positively loved planning every last detail of my wedding. But with so many different elements involved in stitching together your big day, it’s always good to have an expert pair of eyes on your side to help make your dreams reality. Enter 2H2 Design – the design service (created by interior designers) for the couple looking for custom and affordable wedding design that’s done on their own terms!

The process? Couldn’t be easier. Simply fill out a questionnaire, and 2H2 creates a custom design plan delivered right to your door; and you implement using your own budget and terms! This amazing, online service helps you achieve a custom wedding design at your own pace, all while keeping you totally involved and hands-on in the planning process! The creative geniuses behind 2H2 design events as a reflection of their client’s lives — creating backdrops for beautiful memories and stunning events. Offering step-by-step plans and truly attainable concepts, the 2H2 service allows for gorgeous events that can be planned stress-free! The cost? Totally affordable. And the timeframe? Just 6-8 weeks after you place your order, you should have design plans in hand! How easy is that?!

Designed to help cut the cost of hiring a full event coordinator, 2H2’s wedding design service makes it totally possible to plan your dream day on your own terms. Ready for the icing on the cake, my dears? 2H2 is giving two (2) lucky SMP readers a chance to win a $250 discount on any design package (including 2H2 Interiors, does not apply to gift cards). For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post letting us know your favorite 2H2 Vision Board! A winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, August 23, 2013. See terms and conditions here! Best of luck, my dears! xo

Pretty in Pink Board: Ceremony Sign / Ceremony Drapes / Petals / Earrings / Program / Ceremony Seating

Nautical + Navy Board: Shell Calligraphy / Cake / Shoes / Compass Place Card / Calligraphy Place Card + Florals / Ceremony Chairs

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Chicago Wedding from Loudbyte Cinematography

I love Chicago and I love winter. And now, thanks to Loudbyte Cinematography, I love this couple. They are beyond cute and their wedding was a stunner. I can’t help but get all warm and fuzzy when the look at each other. The way she smiles at him is pretty much the sweetest thing in the whole wide world. You’re going to love them!

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Summer Inspired Photo Shoot from Coco Tran Photography

From the groom… Rea and I were officially introduced when I was urged by friends to ask her to the Junior Prom. I was told it would be a good idea to ask her, even though I barely knew her. Who knew it would blossom into the relationship it has. We quickly formed a bond around our love for one another and close family and friends. It’s hard to explain our relationship in a few words but we know we have something special and we don’t take it for granted.

We were a bit overwhelmed when looking for a cinematographer, along with wedding planning in general, but Steve and Ton-Essa made it easy. From the initial meeting to the end of our party they made us feel comfortable and assured that our movie would be fantastic. We can’t express how we felt when we saw the final film. It brought us right back to our wedding day. We literally watched it about 20 times in the first few days and it got better every time. The quality, music, and moments captured were second to none.

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Can I just say that I’m kind of obsessed with this shoot. And by “kind of” I mean 100%, through-the-roof in love with this work of art ode to all things summer. From the perfectly styled blooms by Vo Floral Design, to the crazy pretty paper goods from Kathryn Murray, to the a-maz-ing captures by Coco Tran Photography. And as if this full gallery wasn’t enough to get us compltely giddy , Coco is breaking things down with 5 tips for translating this inspiration to reality on your Big Day. Have a look below!

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From Coco Tran Photography… As a photographer and a stylist of this shoot, I was able to pick and pull ideas that I liked from wedding inspirations and translate them into a cohesive theme that I envisioned. It was definitely a challenge to narrow down all the ideas I had but to make the details all fit together I had to do some snipping and cutting. In the beginning of the brainstorming for the shoot, I had envisioned many details from different themes! They were all so pretty and I knew they would look beautiful when photographed. I know, that as a bride it can be challenging and overwhelming to pick and stick with a theme that you want, because ultimately you want all the themes! A little bit of rustic, a little bit of modern, a little bit of country and so on and so forth. But in the overall sense, all the details have to fit together or it will be confusing to the audience. Here are 5 tips that worked for me and I hope will help you incorporate inspirations to your wedding…

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From Photo Shoot to Wedding Day:

5 Tips from Coco Tran

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1. Hire a professional or a trusted friend who’s work/style fits your vision.

One of the best investments is hiring a professional to help you and guide you with you wedding. I wish I deserved all the credit for this gorgeous shoot, but it was a collaboration between some amazing vendors that helped me put this shoot together. One of the most frustrating things that many wedding vendors encounter is a bride who has specific looks or ideas that don’t fit the vendors overall work or theme. Hire the individuals work that you love and trust them to help you make your vision come together.

2. Start with a brainstorming session.

This is your initial map for the overall feel and look for the wedding. This is where you gather all your ideas and plan the essentials. When planning this shoot I started with the season. I knew I wanted a summer inspired wedding. From then I picked the color palette that I wanted. I was able to communicate better with the florist and gave Vo Florals a better idea of the colors and feel I wanted, I trusted and knew Thuy and Trang of Vo Florals would do an amazing job. And they did! It blew me away when I saw what they put together.

3. Location is key.

The location sets the tone for the wedding.

4. Surroundings are important.

Keep in mind the time of year and how the surroundings are going to look. When I picked this location early in the summer, everything was green. I knew that shooting in the later months of summer the grass would be dried out and bring a peach/ yellow tone into the pictures.

5. Details are the bread and butter.

Details are the one thing that make your wedding unique. Use local and online resources to make it personalized. Think outside of the box and look beyond what has already been done and make it new and make it yours.

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If time and budget allows, preserving those sweet moments as a family is always a fantastic idea. With that said, we know from experience that a sweet photoshoot can turn sour in minutes if you haven’t come fully prepared. And since we know these things can run a pretty penny, we’ve asked Christine to share some of her tips on how she ensures a flawless photoshoot each and every time. And for more shots of this sweet family, be sure to check out the gallery!

Be natural… Let your kids do what they do best. Don’t try to pose them the whole time. They’ll get tired and unhappy. Take them to a location where you know the lighting is great and then let them play. Get some good individual shots of each kid then ask everyone to get close for a family shot. Normal interactions between family members are the best! You’ll end up with beautiful smiles that are completely natural and totally genuine.

What to wear… It’s a good idea to coordinate outfits, but you want to be careful to not look too matchy-matchy. Start by choosing a couple of complimentary colors you love and outfit each member with those colors in mind. That way everyone is unique yet the shoot feels unified.

Where to shoot… Choose a location where kids can let loose, run around and have fun. Be sure to ask the photographer if the lighting at your desired location is appropriate. A relaxed environment and great lighting is a recipe for a fabulous shoot.

When to shoot babies/children… The best time of the day for babies is when they’re napping, which usually occurs right after they’re fed. With kids, it’s of course when they’re energetic and happy. This will vary depending on the family, but 3-5 pm is usually a great time. The lighting is great, and the kids typically have high energy and great moods. Bringing along some favourite snacks also helps when they start to get a little tired.

In terms of activities… Sometimes it’s a good idea to try to engage otherwise shy children. One toy is a good idea for a younger child but, whenever possible, I try to shy away from toys because it then becomes the focus. Activities like skipping or jumping are always fun. It engages the child without distracting from the shoot. Plus, a simple activity is enough to make even a shy child smile for that perfect shot!
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Photography & Tips: Christine Choi Photograpy | Outfits: J. Crew

Jacquelyn Clark

Maleny Wedding from Calli B Photography + CL Weddings & Events

This wedding ticks all my dream wedding check boxes. Gorgeous photography by Calli B Photography? Check. Dreamy vistas? Check. Perfect florals from Mondo Floral Designs and stuning styling by CL Weddings & Events? Check. Adorable family? Check, check, check. It’s a wedding filled to the brim with love and so much lovely I can barely contain myself, and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Classic Weddings Romantic

From the Bride…We decided from the start we didn’t want a coloured theme or anything like that. we had splashes of all different colours with a lot of white. we wanted classic elegance with a whimsical theme that will never go out of style.We had garden wedding with 55 of our closest family and friends with Tiffany chairs and galvanized buckets full of blooms at the end of the aisle, we also had jars of flowers and bunches of flowers hanging from the gazebo. our wedding sign was a just a vanished wooden sign with a huge yellow love heart on it to match the front of our invites as we had quite an intimate ceremony we made sure there was a seat for each of our guests. My dad and I arrived in Berti Bentley from private airport transfers, where my bridesmaids and I walked down the aisle to Angus and Julia stone- will take you there. Matt and I wrote our own vows and my Matron of Honour, Tina did a reading by AB Paterson As Long As Your Eyes Are Blue, Jayden gave us our rings and our guests pronounced us husband and wife, they each had different coloured pastel ribbons that the bride had made instead of confetti that they waved also, our celebrant had practiced it with the guests before the brides arrival, was a huge highlight for us and something very special.

Our guests had refreshments and canapés in the court yard while we went off and had our photos. we had a lot of fun and got to spend some quite time together before the reception as well as seeing some amazing spots in Maleny. For the day we had hired furniture from CL Weddings and Events, we had a cocktail reception so we had hired lounges and other furniture from their linen range for plenty of setting for all our guests as well as high bars in the outdoor smoking area where we places boxes of cigars, they were a huge hit with all the guest!! the bride made and done all of the decorations with Mondo Floral designs doing all the floral designs to perfect the decorations. we used the bridesmaids flowers in vases on a table with a wooden Mr & Mrs Goldman sign and photos of our parents on their wedding day. our favours to our guests were magnets Matt, Jayden and I had made, we had drawn a picture and had a stamp carved into the picture (etsy.com)we glued painted and stamped them for our guests a small personal gesture to our guests. everyone loved how original they were and it gives us butterflies seeing them on peoples fridge.

A few special memories were, when the music started Matt knelt down to Jayden and gave him a big hug and said “I love you, its go time!” then they both stood tall and watched and waited for me. My dad is very shy and wasn’t going to make a speech on the night as he is terrified of public speaking but with the help of my Matron of Honour he got up a said a short speech to Matt and I, it meant more than words could explain it was the best gift my dad has ever given me to do that for us. when we had our first day Matt and I were dancing away then turned around and everyone was on the dance floor it was amazing when then both floated around the dance floor and had a little dance with everyone. Jayden was very involved in our big day and he also made a speech that he wrote himself when after Matt and I had done ours he made everyone love and cry a real crowd pleaser, he also entertained everyone later on by dancing the whole Gangnam style dance.

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Photography: Calli B Photography | Floral Design: Mondo Floral Designs | Decor + Styling: CL Weddings & Events | Ceremony + Reception Venue: House of Laurels | Cinematography: Focus Films

Corralitos Wedding from Nerinna Valera Photography

Outdoor wedding perfection. That’s what I am calling this darling Corralitos wedding, because, well… it soooo is. A breathtaking day filled to the brim with personalized touches (think Star Wars meets Lord of the Rings meets all kinds of pretty), it’s the kind of wedding that puts a smile on your face the moment you dive into each and every detail from Pema Osei Ling. And that, my friends, is what we refer to as a whole lot of happy. See it all captured beautifully by Nerinna Valera Photography in the full gallery.

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Chicago Cultural Center Wedding from Olivia Leigh Photographie

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Casual Rustic

From Nerinna Valera Photography… Keith and Rachel held their wedding amongst the Redwood Forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Their ceremony location on Pema Osei Ling was surrounded by beautiful redwood trees that felt massive, old, and peaceful. The trees were so tall.

Their reception location was a walk down the hill to an outdoor seating area with circular tables for guests and a U-shaped table for the bridal party. On the tables were beautiful hand picked details ranging from tin square canisters, antlers, candy sticks, miniature gardens growing in boxes and glass cups. There was a Lord of the Rings/Star Wars theme. The cake had a Princess Leia and Han Solo topper and the tables held signs titled “Helms Deep,” “Shire,” and “Rivendell”…. all are locations in the movie Lord of the Rings.

Rachel, who is an animation artist, apparently picked out a lot of the details including collecting the tea canisters. She was responsible for many of the DIY items that you see in the images. Another thing to point out were the beautiful items she donned which very much was vintage. Loved her necklace, bracelet, head piece, and especially her wedding dress.

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Photography: Nerinna Valera Photography | Floral Design: Laughin’ Gal Floral | Ceremony + Reception Location + Catering + Decor: Pema Osei Ling | DJ: Sound in Motion | Cake: Edith Meyer Wedding Cakes

| Decorations: DIY from the bride

Garden party meets gorgeous ballroom. Let that image soak into your head for a moment, and then start to scroll through the stunning images from Olivia Leigh Photographie below to see it come to reality. The result is just pure perfection from start to finish with one adorable couple adding to the sweetness, and you can see it all right here.

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Spring Weddings

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Camp Wedding on Golden Lake from A Simple Photograph + Honey & Dear

From the Bride… It was really easy to tell in the beginning stages of our relationship that my husband was a keeper. He is truly an amazing man – kind and patient, a sweetheart that helps with household chores, touches base regularly throughout the day just to see how I’m doing and randomly asks “Are you happy? What can I do to make this relationship better?” Having just recently celebrated our first year of marriage, there’s still the occasional squabble over dirty socks left strewn about, but I love my husband even more fiercely today and am truly thankful to have found my life’s partner.

Looking back at the wedding-planning phase, I am still blown away and completely humbled by how overwhelming the process could be at times. Generally speaking, I’d say my then-finance and I were a pretty resourceful and well-organized team; we had traveled the world together, lived abroad, stretched ourselves professionally and personally – but I’m not going to lie, there were times I thought we weren’t going to make it. We laugh about it now, but I vividly remember a teeny-tiny moment when I thought it’d be easier to call the whole thing off than to effectively verbalize the type of overall feel we were hoping for – which ended up being something along the lines of “an intimate, yet elegant garden-like affair”, but started off as “uh, we would like some pretty flowers please.”

The staggering amount of details and decisions that comes with a wedding is enough to make any sane person weep, but from the get-go it felt like we were fighting an uphill battle trying to plan a wedding in Chicago from Philadelphia – and then the big bomb, the city announced it would be hosting the 2012 NATO Summit that same weekend. Then began the all-out scramble to understand and address any and all logistically nightmares that the added security presented including rerouting vendors and guests through and around closed streets and protests groups, and being moved to another part of our venue for the cocktail hour because the Secret Service needed to prep the room for a luncheon the next day.

But in the same way life would not be the same without Mac by my side, our wedding weekend would not have been the most beautiful and incredible time of our lives had it not been for our team of the most-talented and wonderful vendors. Our ceremony/reception took place in the Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center – a breathtakingly beautiful space; where when we first walked through during the hunt for the venue our moms collectively clapped, gasped and held each other’s hands.

We loved how our officiant Pastor Bill Yaccino really took the time to get to know us as a couple so that the ceremony felt very personal and intimate for us and our +200 guests. Our floral designer, Kate McCollum of K.La Designs really went above and beyond, bringing the already spectacular space alive with her creations. Scott Reichelsdork of J&L Catering not only elevated the level of dining service, but really was a much appreciated calming presence given the extraordinary circumstances of the NATO Summit weekend. We could not have imagined a more excellent way to celebrate with our friends & family than with the incredibly phenomenal Kristin Marks of Toast & Jam, who kept the dance floor packed ALL NIGHT! And the unifying force behind it all, Darcey Lohman of Big City Bride who was our planner-extraordinaire and truly a godsend. It was the best weekend of our lives and we will be forever grateful to Olivia Leigh (our photographer) and Chris + Oliver (our cinematography team), for being part of our celebration and for capturing all the details, precious moments, and all-around magic so beautifully.

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Romona Keveza

Romona Keveza Luxe Bridal

Romona Keveza Luxe Bridal Fall 2016

Romona Keveza Bridal Fall 2017

Romona Keveza Collection Bridal Spring 2017

Romona Keveza Collection Bridal Fall 2019

ROMONA New York

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It’s hard to imagine anything more fun than a drop-dead gorgeous wedding held in a beautiful camp setting, unless of course that drop-dead gorgeous wedding is followed up by a beachside BBQ and lawn games, something as crazy cool as this awesome day from A Simple Photograph. With its laid-back vibe, beautiful bride and groom and breathtaking ceremony setting, it’s the epitome of all things rustic chic with its fair share of happiness dotting every last second of pretty. See so much more in the full gallery.

And a sweeter than sweet film from Honey & Dear to really kick off the work week. Happy Monday, lovelies. xo

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Maui Wedding from Wendy Laurel

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Casual

From the Bride and Groom… We decided to have the wedding at Lutherlyn Camp because it’s very close to Robin’s cottage. Robin’s parents got married at the cottage 30+ years ago and it has always been the focal point of her family’s values: love, togetherness, and nature. Unfortunately, it’s not set up to be able to host 95 people for a whole weekend. The Camp is just up the road and has a beautiful outdoor chapel built into the hillside of a pine grove. From the grove, it’s only a short walk down to the water’s edge and the lake. Thus was born the motto of our wedding, “In the heart of the woods, at the edge of the lake”. This phrase also captures the most essential aspects of where Dave and I formed our relationship and find our strength: we are both ardent paddlers and have spent most of our free time over the last few years doing paddling trips in and around Algonquin Park. “In the heart of the woods” while portaging, Dave and I learned the keys to cooperation, mutual support, and teamwork. “At the edge of the lake”, we camped, reveled in the beauty of nature, and learned to relax in one another’s company without seeing another human being for days.

The reception for the wedding was held at The Sands, just on the other side of the lake. Robin and I had both been there several times in the past – a couple of times for New Year’s Eve and, more importantly, it was often their beds and food that were the first taste of civilization on our way back from a trip across Algonquin Park. We knew they would be able to host a great party and we were not disappointed!

The day turned out amazingly. Since we planned an outdoor ceremony followed by a BBQ and afternoon on the beach for our guests, we were very much at the mercy of the weather. In the end Mother Nature cooperated and we had a beautiful day. Even the bugs stayed clear of the ceremony site – although that may have been in part due to all the Off! lanterns and clip-on’s we had bought. It was a bit windy, which made our first paddle as husband and wife a little more bumpy than we had planned, but nobody went overboard!

After the ceremony, while we went for photos, our guests enjoyed a BBQ lunch on the beach. When we returned from photos, it was time for beach games! Many of the games were inspired from Ellen Degeneres’ tv show and included blindfolded musical chairs with beach balls, a game where participants were tethered together with a bungee cord and had to run in opposite directions to eat marshmallows, as well as many others. We even turned the bouquet and garter toss into a version of a competitive lifesaving event called beach flags (if you youtube it, all will become clear). Everyone agreed it was a great way to spend the afternoon and it gave us extra time to visit with family and friends that we don’t get to see very often.

The reception was held in the evening inside at The Sands and our wedding party gave tremendous toasts that we will cherish for years to come. The food was delicious, the dance party absurd, and the sunset unforgettable. All in all, it was the perfect day and everything we could have asked for.

Having planned much of the wedding ourselves, we were so grateful to have Erin from A Simple Photograph and Andrew + Emily from Honey and Dear there to help us through the day and allow us to relive the joy, the love, and the memories for years to come. It meant so much to us to know that these professionals were on hand to record all the important details so that we could just relax, drink in the day, and let it unfold.

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This wedding is spectacular. Like a full-blown awesomeness bursting from every nook and cranny. It’s the kind of wedding that combines one breathtaking backdrop after another (hello Maui) with a seriously adorable duo and that laid-back sophistication that only a Hawaiian wedding can bring. In other words, it’s pure perfection… and you can see it all captured by Wendy Laurel in the full gallery.

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Beach Weddings Destination

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Casual

From Wendy Laurel… Monica’s Family has a long history with Keawalai Church in Makena, Maui. Monica’s Dad has been attending for years and year and bringing his children with him every year when they call Maui their home for a few months. So when Oliver proposed, Monica suggested they get married there. It seemed like a good middle ground for everyone. Monica and Oliver live in Australia, but Monica’s family is from California and Oliver’s from England. Why not Hawaii? And they timed it so that they could be there for the Church’s annual barbque and big get together. After a beautiful ceremony, the couple and all their friends and family went next door to the beach for some champagne toasts before heading to the Four Seasons for lunch. As their photographer, I loved shooting the ceremony because Keawalai is where I was married and where all four of my children have been baptised, and where my mom’s memorial was held.

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Saja

2014

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Austin Wedding at The Plantation House from Ashley D Photography

Austin is one of the most awesome cities in the country; it’s fun, vibrant and full of life. The kind of place that simply screams fabulous wedding, from its amazing venues to its uber-stunning bride and grooms tying the knot. Case in point? This gorgeous duo, who said “I do” at the amazing Plantation House amongst bundles of beautiful florals from Luanna Clara Design, breathtaking moments and vibrant purple hues. See it all captured by Ashley D Photography right here.

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Outdoor Weddings Tented

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