This wedding just looks like fun. And full of love. Which, if you ask me, is a pretty dynamite combination. Luckily we get to see it all unfold through the talented lens of Bonnie Jenkins, and the result is just lovely and then some. Full of smiles and loaded with prettiness, how can you resist a wedding this sweet? See it all here.

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From Bonnie Jenkins…Simon and Fumiko’s wedding was such a wonderful blend of both Japanese and Australian culture. Yandina Station was the perfect setting as was the weather for this daytime Sunshine Coast wedding. Simon was best man at a wedding at the Yandina Station 10 years ago and knew that this was the ideal place for his own wedding. Simon, Fumi and Fumi’s family travelled over from Tokyo for the wedding, getting a great feel for the Australian countryside offered at the venue. The origami cranes offered a little taste of home set amongst the rustic environment. While organising their wedding day from Tokyo offered some challenges, the day came together just as the couple have hoped.

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Photography: Bonnie Jenkins | Ceremony + Reception Location: Yandina Station

Valley & Co. is back at it again with yet another incredible cocktail. This time? All eyes are on this pretty pink concoction. The mixture of rose, a hint of lemon and edible flowers truly cannot be beat. It’s sunshine in a glass and for that, I am smitten. Cheers!

Jacquelyn ClarkSummer Rose PunchA light and refreshing drink, perfect for the warm summer months.

prep time 2 Minute/s

cook time

total time 2 Minute/s

Serves 1Ingredients

• a good crisp rosé
• 1 oz. vodka
• 1 oz. lemon sparkling water
• fresh edible flowers {most grocers carry these in the veggie section}
• ice

Instructions

1. fill a low ball or bistro glass with ice
2. top with vodka and sparkling water
3. finish with rosé and edible flowers to garnish

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Recipe & Photography: Valley & Co.

Oh, what a week we’ve had on SMP Living. It’s been filled to the gills with food and fashion, travel, and more. I mean seriously, never a dull moment. We went to the Grand Canyon with Bryce Covey, toured a gorgeous home with Melani Lust, dove into one pretty party after another — but that’s just the beginning. Take a peek at some highlights from the week, and pop on over there for soooo much more!

Have a family recipe that’s your go-to every time? The one that everyone requests because it’s eat-it-til-the-last-bite good? Then don’t wait another second and send it our way for Living’s “Grandma’s Favorite Recipe Contest.” One super luck winner is going home with a KitchenAid Mixer and eternal bragging rights for the best recipe ever!

By now you’ve come to know and love one of our favorite Living features — Behind the Blog. And this week we caught up with the ever-so-stylish Jacey, of Damsel in Dior. We toured her home, picked her brain, and got to know the fabulous lady behind the blog (and her loveable pooches) a little bit better.

When it comes to delicious (and totally healthy!) food, Love & Lemons really knows her stuff. So we couldn’t have been more thrilled to debut Jeanine as our latest Living contributor this week. She spilled the secrets behind her Blackberry Lemon Cake — which is vegan, I might add — and you can find the recipe right over here!

There are around 9 million reasons that I love this glorious La Jolla wedding, but I’ll start with the obvious: it’s soooo pretty.  The kind of pretty that is styled to perfection by Melissa Barrad of I Do Weddings & Events, captured in beautiful images by Tyler Branch Photo and held against the stunning backdrop that is the Martin Johnson House.  It’s one take-your-breath-away moment after another sprinkled with some of the most heartwarming details around.  And that, my friends, is just the beginning of all of the fabulousness.  See for yourself right here.

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From the Bride… We were so blessed to have such a beautiful celebration with all of our loved ones’ support.  The day just felt like bliss as we prepared to walk down the aisle and commit our lives to one another.  There truly were so many special moments that were created that day.  Tai and I wanted to soak in every moment and really worked on focusing and being present to enjoy it all!  The preparation and planning was all worth it, as in the end we had a stress free and just overall joyous day where we became one.

The planning of the event was a labor of love.  My husband Tai was so amazing at researching and hiring vendors with me and he really did put so much time into the planning process.  He saw the wedding day as “our wedding day” and really willingly provided more help than I could have ever asked for – I am so grateful to have a true teammate for life!  Of course my Mom was an amazing rockstar, too as we brainstormed and crafted all the personal touches for the big day!  And so many personal touches there were!

On the morning of the wedding day I remember waking up and feeling so calm and happy, as I knew when I placed my feet on the floor the day was going to take off and by that evening I would be married to the most amazing man in the world!  As the morning moved on my bridesmaids made their way into my room and the groomsmen made their way into Tai’s.  We all enjoyed getting ready!  As the guys played dice and shared stories, the ladies were being pampered in coordinating outfits!  I had gifted my bridesmaids each a cover-up monogrammed with their initials for the getting ready process as well as bracelets made from silver spoons to wear for the wedding.  Tai’s groomsmen received cufflinks, and each cufflink gift was unique as Tai chose something that reminds him of that friend.  The groomsmen also received hand-stamped shirt stays (made by Tai himself) as well as coordinating ties, of course!

There are so many happy memories from our day… With my Mom walking me down the aisle my gaze met Tai’s and we both had tears falling from our eyes.  I knew that the moment had begun – our wedding!  It was so special to have my Mom walk me down the aisle and while we all missed my Dad, he was remembered with a picture and an engraving on a beautiful locket tied around my bouquet.  I absolutely felt his presence and joy during our ceremony and happy occasion.  Tai and I both gave tributes to our Moms during our wedding ceremony and it was such a special moment for both us, as well as our Moms (I sure do think it was a pleasant surprise for them!).  We really wanted to recognize and acknowledge them for all the love they have given us through the years and for helping to shape us into the people we are today – perfect matches for one another!  We also had our Grandparents bless our rings during the ceremony.  They each said a prayer for us and gave us sound advice.  Together they share over 100 years of marriage and wisdom – That is pretty incredible!  Our officiant did such a beautiful job intertwining our vows and our story and really held everyone captivated and in the moment.  We shared our love for each other as the birds sang, wind blew, sun shined and ocean soothed us into the occasion.  Once we were pronounced Husband and Wife a flurry of joyous bells rang and rose petals were tossed as we walked back down the aisle with tears rolling down our faces and we happily began our life as one.  As we spent time enjoying a private moment to ourselves our guests made themselves at home with cocktails in hand and appetizers being passed.  Through the cocktail hour friends and family were prompted to share their advice on love, travels and help make us a ‘bucket list!’ all written in books in which we hand made and wrapped with coordinating graphic yellow and gray fabrics.  The evening made its way into dusk and we had an incredible bright pink sunset as guests were seated to enjoy their dinner.

There were many smiles and much laughter all around as we celebrated on the cliff side amongst the torrey pine trees, ocean and stars.  God truly created the most beautiful and perfect day for us – It was a dream start to our marriage and we look forward to enjoying life with all its pleasures and surprises together as husband and wife!

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Photography: Tyler Branch Photo | Wedding Consultant + Reception Florals: Melissa Barrad of I Do Weddings & Events | Floral Design: Rae Florae | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Martin Johnson House | Officiant: Deborah Young | Ceremony + Reception Music: Choice Entertainment | Cinematography: Campbellicious | Caterer/Baker: The French Gourmet | Rehearsal Dinner: Table 926 | Make-Up: Tiffany Monday (Samantha Muleady) | Hair: Andrew Whitcomb  | Getting Ready Suite: The Grande Colonial Hotel | Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca | Sash: Custom Design | Earrings: Nadri | Garter: Etsy (BridesBoutik) + Embelished with Grandmother + Great Grandmother’s Necklaces | Shoes: Glint | Groom Suit: Banana Republic | Bridesmaids Dresses: Watters + WTOO, Falcon | Silver Cuffs: Bridal Party gift, handmade bracelets from silver spoons

I love the color palette of this wedding. It’s lovely and soft with the perfect amount of style, and carried beautifully throughout the entire party. And the images from Carla Marie? Equally lovable. They tell the prettiest story of a couple head over heels in love, and you can see every last gorgeous moment right here in the full gallery of images.

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From the Bride…When we first moved in together, we would take walks to and from our home to the river. On those walks, we’d pass this beautiful old church, and I knew from the moment we first walked by it that I wanted us to be married there, and that we would have a picture with all of our guests on the steps of the church. When we got engaged, we chose the ceremony venue of the Royal Mayfair Golf Club because of all the huge windows in the ballroom, which made you feel as if you were almost sitting outdoors – but without the mosquitos that plague our city every August! It was a gorgeous setting, and both venues were right in the heart of downtown and the river valley – two places where we first really fell in love.

We met while on vacation in Mazatlan, Mexico three and a half years earlier, so it was important to us to have subtle hints of “Mexico” in our wedding. We accomplished this at the reception by starting off the evening with a toast to our guests: as our wedding party walked in they began handing out margaritas that our venue made for us, called “The Mazatlan”. The table numbers were in Spanish and the favours that our guests took home were salsa and chips, both of which were made from a local chef who recently immigrated to Canada from Mexico City, and who uses only local organic ingredients.

I’ve said so many times that I would re-live that weekend every single year. Family members and friends flew in from all over the country and the US and we started off the party with a relaxed backyard rehearsal dinner at my parents’ home. The night before the wedding, my mom and I stayed together in the hotel where we got ready the following morning, chatting, laughing, and crying about all of the beautiful things in our lives. And on the morning of the wedding, my beautiful bridesmaids began to trickle in with Starbucks and magazines in hand. Over the course of the next few hours, we relaxed, laughed, and watched as my Maid of Honour painted little signs celebrating each of us: one sign stating “Newlywed”, another “Engaged”, another “Bébé On The Way”, and others. When I was in my gown, I made my way to the lobby of our hotel for the first look with my soon-to-be husband: a moment I will never forget, and one that I am so glad is captured on film!  We then left the hotel, just the two of us, and went next door to our favourite Mexican restaurant and shared a Margarita, as another ode to the country where we met. It was wonderful to start the day off with a private little “date” before the pictures and ceremony.

My advice to brides would be simply to go with your gut – don’t second-guess your style or your choices simply because you are seeing or hearing different things online or from your family or friends. Also, please don’t feel compelled to complicate the day with unnecessary details. Find a few things that are important to you, and stick with them. For me it was being surrounded by family, the subtle theme of Mexico in the decor and creating an environment that was relaxed and welcoming for all of the guests. And finally, choose an amazing photographer – we were blown away by the beautiful, clear images that Carla from Carla Marie Photography captured. They are the images that will decorate your home and memory books for years to come, the images that your grandkids look at and ponder, the images that you will cherish. We are so thankful to Carla and all of the other vendors for their help making our day so incredible.

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Photography: Carla Marie | Decor: A Chair To Remember | Floral Design: Funky Petals West Edmonton | Printed Items (all signs, programs, invitations, thank you note, etc): One of the groom’s lovely sisters | Ceremony Location: St. Joachim’s Catholic Church | Reception Venue: Royal Mayfair Golf Club | Cake/cupcakes: Whimsical Cake Studios | Cake-Topper: Better Off Wed | Makeup: Jenn Chivers Freelance Hair and Makeup | Hair: STACIE PAIGE HAIR | Wedding Dress: Watters WTOO | Bride’s Shoes: Nine West | Jewellery: Bittersweet | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew + Donna Morgan | Groom’s cufflinks: White Truffle | Groommen’s Tie clips: Metals Heart |  Bride’s Rings: Simon G

Kristin La Voie is awesome.  She really, really is.  She’s sweet, funny and talented… and sends us some of the most amazing weddings you’ll ever lay your eyes upon.  Like this stunner of day held at the Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago, a classic meets contemporary gem with details that will leave you speechless and a love-filled vibe that is all kinds of romantic.  Chock-full of fabulous?  Oh, yes… yes it is. See it all right here.

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From Kristin La Voie… There is nothing quite like this Bridgeport Art Center wedding in Chicago, Illinois. Amy and Brad are the sweetest couple on the planet, and their wedding was a proven fact that good things happen to good people. Their wedding was detailed to a T; from the amazing paper flower backdrop at the ceremony, Amy’s Vera Wang dress with gorgeous rosettes, the girls amazing one shoulder dresses, the beautiful pictures at University of Chicago, gorgeous centerpieces and flowers on spectacular tables capes, and pretty little Kate Spade flats to top it off. All of their family and friends were there to help them celebrate and turn it into one of the most amazing weddings I’ve experienced. SO happy for Amy and Brad!

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Wedding Photography: Kristin La Voie Photography | Wedding Venue: Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, Illinois | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang White Collection via David’s Bridal | Men’s Attire: J.Ferrar via JCPenney | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade via Nordstrom | Makeup: Vanessa Valliant | Desserts: Whole Foods | DJ: Famos! | Floral Design: Flowers by Grattoni | Catering: D’Absolute Events & Catering | Harpist: Kari Gardner of Black and Gold Harp | Hotel: Hyatt Regency McCormick Place

You know what I love about this wedding?  Well, besides everything?  It’s the adorable bride and groom. A duo that dove head first into creating and crafting their big Texas soiree all of the way from Tennessee. It’s some serious dedication that totally paid off with a breathtaking affair chock-full of personality and, well… you know how we adore those.  From the sweet Oak Knoll Ranch setting to the succulent-filled blooms from Dr. Delphinium to an entire gallery of pretty from Dyan Kethley and Meredith Bacon, it’s the perfect start to your Friday.  Kick off the weekend in style in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… Chris and I dated long distance a year before I moved to Tennessee in May 2012 and got engaged soon after on September 1, 2012. We were so excited to get married and start our new life together as man and wife!

When we started thinking about our wedding, we wanted it to be a celebration of the union of two people whom the Lord brought together, but also of two families joining together—filled with the all of the people we love. Our wedding day was filled with family and friends from all walks of our lives; people who have impacted our lives and played integral roles in molding us into who we are today, surrounded us with love, support, and encouragement as we spoke our vows and committed our lives to each other forever. There were a few important family members that were not able to be at the wedding, namely, Chris’s Granny, with whom he is very close to. He was able to honor her by wearing her late husband’s, Chris’s grandfather’s, high school class ring. Chris also honored his other grandfather by wearing Doc’s cuff links that have the family crest embossed on them. I wore my great grandmother’s wedding band on our wedding day to honor and celebrate her life, as well.

The barn we were married at was on my family’s ranch. My Dad grew up on a farm in Ohio and used barn wood from the Ohio farm inside the barn on the ranch. The beauty in the reclaimed wood on the walls in the new barn is breathtaking, beauty not only from the wood, but from the story and meaning from where the wood is from.

Our wedding had lots of personal touches reflecting our relationship, loves, and passions. The look I was wanting was lovely, simple, and delicate. The delicate details to add beauty, simple decorations such as the burlap runners, and lovely—which was exquisitely captured by the barn and ceremony. My mom did a wonderful job helping with the flowers, and worked with the flower vendor based on pictures I sent her to capture the natural, soft look I had hoped for, and incorporated our wedding colors beautifully! The barn has a functioning antique photo booth, providing fun pictures for everyone! All of the barn antiques are a cool aspect as this is a love of mine that I share with both Chris and my Dad.

Chris and I absolutely love building things together and are passionate DIY’ers. We wanted to incorporate this in our wedding in as many details as we could despite the distance of living in Tennessee and getting married in Texas. Chris built the “family” signs for the tables as well as the direction signs for the wedding with wood from a pallet that he pulled apart. Chris’s mother and I spent several nights chalking, cutting, and fraying the burlap runners for all of the tables which were so much fun to make with her! I was able to make little things while in Tennessee to send home to use at the wedding, which appeased my adoration for “little lovelies”—things that would add beauty but not take away from the splendor of the barn. I wrapped jute around several letter “K’s” to put around the guest book table and the inside of the barn. My younger sister decorated a chalkboard that said, “Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy” on it, that was hung in the entrance of the barn. As a little surprise and way to honor Chris, a University of Tennessee Volunteer, I got UT orange garters and hand embroidered “Go Vols” on the toss garter myself in orange thread. As an Arkansas Razorback, I have told my new husband, I will fully support and cheer on the Vols at every game, until they play the Hogs. I also made each of the flower girl’s headbands, which were made of elastic lace ribbon, rolled rosettes of navy, white, and grey, and had little seed pearls in the middle of the rosettes. We added other personal touches through our colors: orange—for the University of Tennessee of course, yellow and gray—I have a small obsession with yellow and gray, and navy simply because we felt it complemented the other colors we chose. One of my favorite things was our guest favors—UT orange koozies that said “To have and to hold” on one side, and “The Kennedys, 04.27.13” on the other. I had the graphic design company I worked for in college make them which was fun to be able to include them in our special day. On our wedding RSVPS, we had each guest write in a song request when they RSVPed to our wedding, all of which were played during the reception. It was so much fun to dance with everyone on the dance floor, especially when the song requests came on—you could see the excitement in everyone to hear their song requests!

Another fun, personal touch is who married us. One of the officiants was one of Chris’s Dad’s very best friends, who flew in from Florida to marry us, which was very special and meaningful to Chris and I. One of our brother-in-law’s fathers also took part in officiating the ceremony, blessing us with a person from each side of the family uniting Chris and I in marriage. We asked each of our bridesmaids and groomsmen pick out their own dress and suit based on the color we gave them because we wanted them to like what they were wearing and be comfortable in it as well. The complementing shades of navy and gray and mixing of dresses was a stunning array of beauty lined up at the ceremony, celebrating each of our friend’s individual beauty, uniqueness, and how much they mean to Chris and me. We wanted our day to not be solely about us, but about the Lord’s provision and seeing us fit to be married, celebrating the people who have helped us grow into who we are, praising the Lord for who He is, and what He will do in and through our marriage.

We are so thankful for all of the vendors that helped make our day the special, joy-filled day it was. Thank you for everything!

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Photographers: Dyan Kethley Photography + Meredith Bacon Photography | Wedding Venue: Oak Knoll Ranch | Event Planner: Events by Kristin | Catering: Gil’s Elegant Catering | Floral Design: Dr. Delphinium | Tables: Shag Carpet | Chairs: M&M Special Events Company | DJ: It’s Your Night Entertainment | Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta via Stardust Celebrations | Koozies: B-Unlimited Inc. | Cake: Two Chicks Cake Tricks | Hair + Makeup: Susie Gray Uphues | Bride’s Shoes: Milk & Honey

A weeklong celebration of love in St. John? That sounds pretty darn dreamy to me. And thanks to Pat Furey Photography, it looks pretty darn dreamy too. Gorgeous actually. With its subtle yet stylish vibe and stunning vistas, it will be hard to deny the prettiness in this post. And really, why would you ever want to? See all the pretty here.

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From Pat Furey Photography…Jess and Dave’s wedding was a weeklong celebration on the small island of St John located in the US Virgin Islands. They got married and celebrated at Villa Kalorama; they rented the private mid-century modern villa for week to spend amongst family and friends. For portraits we headed to what Conde Nast Traveler named as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, Trunk Bay. I think it more than lived up to it’s reputation. We found a cool private beach with a cove and tons of rocks for portraits.

From the Bride…Our destination wedding began as the perfect compromise between eloping and having a traditional soiree, but ended up being more than we could have ever imagined.

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Photography: Pat Furey Photography | Floral + Event Design: DIY by bride and mother-of-bride | Event Planning: Laurie Crandall | Ceremony + Reception Location: Villa Kalorama | Invitations: Powerhouse Paper  | Catering: Local & Tasty | Program Fans: DIY by Bride | Cupcakes: Island Sweet Stuff | Table Runners: DIY Bride & Mother-of-Groom| Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Grooms Suit: J.Crew

I love 3Ring Weddings… and not just because they know how to capture the pretty.  No, it’s more than that.  It’s their ability to really dive into the wedding; to share the real essence of the duo getting married. And when you combine their talents with a breathtaking day like with this sweet Atlanta affair held at the stunning Crowne Plaza Ravinia, it’s like the best three minutes you’ll ever see.  (Literally.)  Press play for every last second of lovely, and then stay tuned for one devastatingly gorgeous image after another from the amazing Scobey Photography.  Happy, happy Friday, indeed.

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From 3Ring Weddings… Introduced long distance via family friends, Geetika and Peter were friends first because, as Peter told her during their first phone conversation, he wanted “no strings attached.” They talked once per week after that. Geetika said she enjoyed the pressure-free friendship and they were comfortable in the friend zone for quite awhile.

Peter traveled from Georgia to Arizona to meet Geetika face to face. He visited her a couple more times before meeting her parents. At this point, even though they were still just friends, they began talking and texting almost every day. And while Peter is the one who initiated the “no strings attached,” he admits he knew from day one that they were meant to be together. But he also knew that Geetika needed more time and so he waited. “His perseverance to really rough it out and to never give up” is one of the qualities about Peter that Geetika admires most.

“She has a lot more kindness in her heart than I’ve seen in most people,” Peter says. “She doesn’t like to hurt anybody and she won’t say anything bad against anybody. That takes a lot… She’ll say, ‘Well, it’s not for me to put somebody down.’ That’s a big quality that I like in her. A quality that I don’t have.”

The couple had very different childhoods and thus they see the world differently. Yet Peter asserts, “Different people can come together.” The more Geetika and Peter talked, the more they felt they had a great deal in common. “Sometimes, even though we are so different, our differences can actually make it stronger,” Geetika explains. “We’ve learned a lot in these last six months. It makes the relationship even more stronger. You do have to work in every relationship, but it should come naturally and I think at this point it does come naturally.” They strove to make the most of their differences and work through them. When you look at life with “no strings attached” to your biases, you can overcome just about any obstacle.

“I think we all have dreams, but then… with him, I saw much more than I expected, in so many ways. It was more; it was never less,” Geetika muses. “Yes, we have our differences, but we can overcome them. They’re really insignificant when you take the whole picture. He was more than what I would dream of – in a lot of ways. You can’t get it all, but what you get is kind of priceless.”

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Photography: Scobey Photography | Cinematography: 3Ring Weddings | Ceremony Venue: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Atlanta | Reception Venue: Crowne Plaza Ravinia, Atlanta | Event Planning + Hair + Makeup: Scoobie West | DJ – DJ Jaz | Event + Floral Design: Charles Vance of Jackson Durham

This is the kind of wedding that just makes you happy.  The kind of wedding where smiles are contagious and drop-dead gorgeous details are bursting from every nook and cranny.  It’s a powerful force, people. And even better than all of the pretty?  The sweet bride and groom.  A couple that is sooo in love, they laugh, smile and dance the night away with a never-ending joy.  Fall in love with them in the full gallery captured by April K Photography.  It’s all kinds of amazing.

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From April K Photography… This dreamy and romantic love celebration was nothing short of amazing. From the breathtaking flowers to the “Love Actually” ceremony ending, there was not a detail overlooked. Kaitlyn and Kenny topped off the day with never ending passion and emotion for each other.

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Wedding Photography: April K Photography | Wedding Venue: Turner Hill Mansion | Floral Design: Pepperberry’s | Event Design + Planning: Bride + Carol Travers, Turner Hill Mansion | Invitations: Michael’s | Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal | Shoes: Valentino

This couple got engaged on their very first date, after their very first kiss. It’s a story (spelled out below) that you won’t want to miss. The resulting wedding, captured brilliantly by Alders Photography, was worthy of a love story so fantastic… though it is way too pretty to be planned in a day.

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From the photographer… Kerry and Ben live in Hawaii, but wed in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado on the homestead of Ben’s parents estate. There’s is the most backwards love story. Kerry and Ben met their first week of school freshman year at the University of Colorado Boulder. After a fun trip to the grocery store and as Ben put it in his vows, hundreds of jokes about cereal, the initial seed was planted. But not for love. No no. For their friendship. A fort was made under Kerry’s bed in her dorm room for Ben. The two were inseparable. But not yet in love.

Later that fall, after a football game, the two friends found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Appearing on the scene of a fire shortly after it was started (by some other rowdy Boulder students), the two went closer to the fire to get a better look. Unfortunately, that’s when the cops showed up, and mistakenly arrested them. They spent the night in jail together. But they did not fall in love.

Ten years passed. Kerry and Ben were best friends. They finished college together, vacationed with each other’s families, did everything together. Work brought Kerry to Los Angeles and Ben to Hawaii. Despite their distance the two remained very close. But they did not fall in love.

Finally one day on one vacation, Ben worked up enough courage and turned to Kerry and basically said, “You know we’re in love, right?” And she did.

Shortly thereafter, while in Colorado, the couple went on their first date. They revisited their old haunts in Boulder, kissed for the first time, and at the end of the date, Ben proposed. Kerry of course said yes, relocated to Hawaii, and the rest is history. Because they are in love.

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Photography: Alders Photography | Caterer: Mount Vernon Country Club | Dress Store: Saks Fifth Avenue | Cake Designer: Bee Sweet Bakery | DJ: DJ on Demand | Venue: Ben’s Parents Homestead in Evergreen Colorado

When Trent Bailey sends a wedding our way, I get a little extra excited. Because not only does he attract the world’s coolest clients, but always works alongside top-notch vendors like Rock Paper Scissors Events, Swiss Cottage Designs, La Boheme Event Planning and Generation Events, who I’m certain make his job about a million times more fun. And today, my dears, Trent sent along what has to be the prettiest, peppiest Cape May wedding on the planet. And if this full gallery doesn’t scream “Happy Friday!” I don’t know what does.

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From the Bride…What a day! June 9th 2012 was the day that Sean and I got married in Cape May, New Jersey surrounded by our closest friends and family. Over our relationship, Cape May became a really special place for us and it was the perfect place for us to host our family and friends for the weekend long celebration. My husband’s mom is 1 of 9 children and has about 45 first cousins and every summer the families would come to Cape May and take over the town for a week. So…when Sean and I started dating he decided to introduce me to this place (I am originally from Southern California and had never even heard of it). We visited each and every summer and were even engaged on the beach in Cape May while staying at Congress Hall.

When it was time to start wedding planning I think we both assumed that we head back to Southern California to where I grew up and have the wedding there so Sean was absolutely shocked when I brought up the idea of Cape May (as were my parents). But…when we thought about what we wanted out of the day and our weekend it completely made sense. We wanted to get married in a place that would always be special to us and that we could continue coming to each year as our family grew over time. Additionally we wanted to bring our family and friends together in a place that felt small and had activities for all to enjoy and this was exactly that.

So – once we made the decision on location it was time to start thinking about the wedding details. It all started with the paper and the save the date. How to we portray what Cape May is all about and the weekend that we were planning to get our guests excited about traveling all the way from California to New Jersey? We worked with Swiss Cottage Designs to create hand drawn icons of a few of our favorite things in Cape May and it came out perfectly! We then carried that theme all the way through the wedding with the invite suite (inclusive of a schedule of events with the custom icons and a map of Cape May) and with the welcome gifts.

The weekend itself was magical – it’s so hard to explain the feeling that we had. I’ve never in my life been surrounded by so much love. I really feel like it was the perfect way to enter in to marriage. We planned 3 nights of activities for guests that were making a vacation out of the trip…

Night 1 – Mini-Golf (classic Jersey Shore activity) followed by a pub crawl around town to the various bars. We left a schedule in guests rooms for those arriving that night who were able to meet us along the way. It was so exciting as we entered a new bar greeting a new group of friends who had just gotten to town!

Night 2 – We hosted our rehearsal dinner at The Rusty Nail – super casual outside bar where your feet are in sand and there is acoustic music playing. About 2 hours later all of our guests joined us there for a Welcome Reception. It was the perfect way to welcome people to a beach and fun filled weekend!

Night 3 – The Big Event…our wedding. We hosted everything outside and it could not have been more beautiful. From the gorgeous sperry tent to the personalized decor it felt like the perfect dinner party with a mix of lanters, loose pieces of driftwood and multiples small vases throughout on the tables. Our wedding team also did such a great job that we were really able to enjoy every second and not worry about a thing! If we could, we would do it every year!

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Photographers:  Trent + Dara, Trent Bailey Photography | Event Design: Rock Paper Scissors Events | Event Planner: La Boheme Event Planning | Floral Design: Beautiful Blooms | Location: Congress Hall, Cape May NJ | DJ: DJ Jason Fioto of Generation Events | Stationery: Swiss Cottage Designs | Linens: La Tavola Linen | Wedding Dress: Kenneth Pool | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids: Amsale via Bella Bridesmaid | Formalwear: Brooks Brothers | Tent Rental: Sperry Tents

Charlotte Hale, the brainchild behind the much beloved Plum Pretty Sugar, is a name that pops up frequently at the SMP offices. We had the pleasure of taking a peek at her backyard nuptuals not long ago, and now we’re shifting focus to all things baby. Designed by Blair Britt, it comes as no surprise that her baby shower is totally and completely swoon-worthy. Captured by Marisa Holmes, there’s more right here in the gallery. 

From Marisa… Charlotte’s baby shower was held in late 2012 upon the expected arrival of her son in early 2013. It was a blue-sun-shiny day in Southern California although the gusty breezes reminded us that Winter was here (and made for displays just a little bit difficult)!

Charlotte decided early on that she wanted to celebrate her sons arrival with her husband and stepson and so the shower was for both men and women and sweet families! The event included games and activities for kids as well as a beer tasting for the men (and women!). The décor was based around the colors of the baby’s nursery… taupe and white with just a little bit of baby blue tied in. And since the baby was to be a Fourth, Richard Thurman Hale, IV… many of the décor items centered around the roman numeral IV.

It was a lovely, lovely day with tears from Charlotte and her side of the family… the first grandson! A very special day.

 Richard Thurman Hale, IV was born early on January 14. The family calls him “Hale.”
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Photography: Marisa Holmes | Venue: Charlotte Hale’s Home | Design & Styling: Blair Britt Events | Catering: 24 Carrots | Craft Beer Bar: Congreagation Ale House (a business owned by the Hale family) | Perfume Bar: Ka-Mil-Yin

This wedding is a fashion power house.  A stunning Monique Lhuillier gown meets dapper men in bow ties kind of powerhouse that takes everything you think you know about glamorous weddings and kicks it up a notch with some of the most beautiful details you have ever seen.  I guess that’s what happens when an amazing team of vendors (think Boca by Design, Momental Designs and Alexi Shields Photography) come together to create a dream yacht club wedding.  It’s all kinds of amazing.  Click here for all of the pretty.

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From the Bride… Our South Florida wedding was an intimate affair at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. All guests, except my mother, flew in from out of town. The resort was the perfect choice for our guests, who once arrived never had to leave, and for my husband and I, who were planning the wedding first from Charlotte, North Carolina and later New York City.

I absolutely love the Spanish style of the Boca Raton Resort. Our décor, from the mahogany Chiavari chairs, the hand-painted tile place cards, and the wrought iron candelabras, reflected this style. One of my favorite design elements that embodied the Spanish aesthetic was the chandeliers that hung from the arch during the ceremony. Because I could not get enough of them, these same chandeliers were later hung above the family tables during the reception. Another important aspect I considered throughout the planning process was the color of my wedding dress. Because I was not wearing white it was very important to me to still feel like a bride. The blush color scheme throughout the ceremony and reception paired with my blush dress, veil, shoes, and bouquet truly exceeded my expectations of what a bride should feel on her wedding day!

Looking back, I am so thankful that we decided to keep our wedding intimate because of the amount of quality time we were able to spend with family and friends. I am also thankful for our photographers, Alexi and Shane, who beautifully captured all of the memories that were made. I cannot help but smile every time I look at our photographs, which is still almost daily (I just can’t get enough!). Knowing the love and joy that was shared between my husband and I leading up to our wedding day and on that day excites me and reassures me that our next steps in life will be filled with equally as much or more love and joy!

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Wedding Photography: Alexi Shields Photography | Event Planning + Design + Floral Design: Boca by Design | Wedding Venue: Amalfi Terrace + Venetian Ballroom, Boca Raton Resort Yacht Club | Invitations, Menus, Place Card Tiles + Table Numbers: Momental Designs | Bride’s Shoes: Valentino | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Belt + Earrings + Purse: Maria Elena | Hair + Makeup: Spa Palazzo | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Groom’s Tuxedo: Custom | Groomsmen Tuxedos: BLACK by Vera Wang

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

Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Today might just be one of my favorite days on SMP New York. Because we are going to be talking all things Bridal hair with none other than Linsey of Face Time Beauty Concierge. That’s right, she is dishing all the deets on ways to master your mane on the day you say I do. And trust me when I say you will want to file these tips away for ever and ever (because they totally apply to your daily ‘do too)…

Choose your hairstylist wisely. You will know from the first correspondence with your potential hairstylist if they are “the one” as long as you trust your instincts. Ask yourself these questions. Did he/she respond to your email or your call in a timely manner? Were you comfortable with them right off the bat? Did they make you feel at ease and confidant that they would not only be able to make your hair look like a million bucks but also show up on time? Remember that you can always work with the hairstylists to make minor adjustments to your hair but you cannot change their personality. If you feel uncomfortable from the get-go, find someone else.

Don’t fight the overall aesthetic. If you are getting hitched on the beach, don’t go for a ballroom hairstyle. Your hair and makeup should be the underlay or backdrop to the dress and the atmosphere of your wedding. A beach bride should opt for something a bit more playful or casual like big waves or a whipped chignon that doesn’t look too overdone. However, if you are getting married in a ballroom or a formal setting, then go for the structured updo to play up the drama and sophistication.

Hair can’t hold curl? Try these tips: Shampoo but don’t condition. If your hair has a hard time holding texture, do this just once right before your hairstylists arrives. It will not ruin your hair, instead, it will roughen up the cuticles and help hair lock curl into place. Set your hair for as long as possible. Just before each small bunch of hair is curled, spritz a bit of product on to deadbolt it into place. Then longer your hair can set, the more time it has to conform to it’s new curly or wavy texture. Once the set is taken out, the locks should be good to go for a long time.

Consider extensions. At Face Time Beauty, we often add “clip ins” for a timely and temporary boost, when hair is limp or lifeless. Just be sure that the extensions you buy are real hair (as opposed to synthetic) and the color matches perfectly.

Scheduling should make sense: Make sure you have enough time for each person to get ready. At Face Time Beauty, our “rule of thumb” is 1 hour per service for bride and 40 min per service for each other person. We also build in cushion room at the beginning and at the end. We always suggest that the bride gets her beauty services somewhere in the middle of the timeframe. For example, if there are 3 people getting hair services, the bride should be second. This way, the bride isn’t first but she also isn’t at the tail end when nerves are running high. There is nothing worse then rushing.

Book your stylist for touch ups: Hairstylists often pack up when the bride and bridal party start getting dressed, but the bride has hours before she actually gets married. Consider asking your stylist to stay until the ceremony or longer. This way, you can rest assured that your hair will be perfect for your walk down the aisle.

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This afternoon we are bringing you some of our favorite styles that have graced the pages of SMP – so stay tuned! xoxo, A.Blaire.

Dream weddings (a.k.a this next affair) often consist of wildly talented vendors poring their hearts into every last detail behind the scenes. Vendors like KT Merry who knows her way around a beautiful image or Jill la Fleur who whips up the prettiest details time and again. And then there’s Botanica International who has added a layer of white and blush colored florals that take this wedding to complete fairytale status. And there’s so much more people. Check out the gallery for the full rundown of goodness and you can see even more in the current issue of Weddings Unveiled!

And the swoonfest continues with a capture from Lola Film and Video…

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From the Bride…From the moment Ben and I met we had an instant connection. We grew to be best friends and found it impossible to be apart. After a year of being friends, we had fallen head over heels for each other, and decided to turn our friendship into something more. We quickly realized that we could not live without each other and that we wanted to spend an eternity together! Immediately after he proposed, I embarked on the journey of wedding planning. I was really inspired by lace details and soft, romantic color palates. I knew that I wanted a timeless and elegant wedding with vintage touches. Our advice would be to take your time and enjoy the wedding planning process. If you do decide to have a wedding planner, make sure you are making a good investment. We were lucky to be able to work with Jill la Fleur, which was such a delight. Also, keep in mind that the day is probably going to go by really fast. It is important to make sure you have a photographer and videographer whose work you love, to capture all the details of the wedding. But most importantly, just relax and enjoy the day!

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Photography: KT Merry Photography  | Wedding Planner: Jill la Fleur | Floral Design: Botanica International Décor & Design Studio | Cinematography: Lola Film and Video | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Bella Collina | String Quartet: Orlando Violinist | Musician/Band: Marty Dread and Band | Stationery + Paper Goods: The Paper Shop | Wedding Cake: Party Flavors | Chair Covers: A Chair Affair | Hair + Makeup: Mar of TEAM Hair and Makeup | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Veil: Deise Leli | Bridesmaid Dresses: Lazaro | Groom’s Tux: Tommy Hilfiger | His and Her Rings: Tiffany & Co.

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

KT Merry Photography

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Before the dress is chosen, the cake tasted and all the florals picked out, all of us wedding obsessed bloggers know the planning begins with one major detail: the ring. With so many decisions and selections to be made, you’ve got to know exactly what’s what when it comes to selecting the metal in which your stone will reside. And let me tell you, my dears, this choice is simple. With its naturally white color that won’t fade or change over time,  amazing durability + strength and incredible beauty, choosing platinum is a no-brainer.

Thirty times more rare than gold and incredibly durable, platinum not only ensures a safe and gorgeous setting for your stones, but it also serves as a symbol of a relationship that will endure the test of time! Buying platinum will ensure that the beauty in which you wed the love of your life will be passed down for generations! How cool is that?! Unlike white gold — which is actually 58% or 75% yellow gold mixed with non-precious metals such as nickel and rhodium to give it a white color — platinum will never have to be re-plated and the purity of the metal enhances the brilliance of diamonds and other gemstones! With settings starting at $1,500 and wedding bands from $1000, the high quality metal is much more affordable than you would have thought. See my dears, picking platinum will be one of the easiest decisions you’ll have to make! And that’s something a bride can get behind…

And after the big day is done, platinum makes the perfect gift. From wedding day jewelry and anniversary gifts to “push presents” and everything in between, you’ll honestly never go wrong with a platinum bauble for your honey (or yourself!) For more info about platinum as well as platinum retailers, head over here! For regular updates and details, check out Platinum Guild on Facebook, Pinterest and on Twitter! Now go out and get to platinum shopping, my dears! xo

Pieces Pictured: Gabriel & Co. Platinum Victorian halo engagement ring with sapphires / Mercury Ring “Halo Twist” platinum and diamond engagement ring / Whitehouse Brothers Vintage platinum engagement ring with corner accents of diamonds / Novell Design Studio  Platinum and diamond wedding band / Danhov Abraccio Collection platinum and ruby engagement ring /  Kirk Kara Platinum handcrafted wedding band from the Dahlia collection crafted with diamonds and marquise cut green tsavorites / Sasha Primak Platinum and pave diamond “Sashinka” heart-shaped pendant / Simon G. Platinum and Diamond earrings / Blue Nile Platinum “Love Knot” pendant

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New York City and love – they simply go hand and hand. So it’s only natural that this vibrant locale would act as the perfect backdrop for this fashionable one year anniversary shoot. And this stylish couple has had me swooning from the get go. From their simple yet suave attire all the way to Priscilla’s ruby red lip – these two would give even the most style savvy a run for their money. Captured by Bryce Covey, there’s more right here in the gallery.

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Photography: Bryce Covey Photography | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Make Up: Sephora (5th. Ave) with Robert | Priscilla’s Blog: La Partie Diva | Get the Look – His: Pants from J. Crew | Jacket from John Lewis | Tie from J. Crew | Watch from Georg Jensen | Shoes from Aldo | Hers: Dress from Far Fetch | Jacket from Top Shop | Shoes from Heels.com | Scarf from Pret a Beaute | Lipstick from Top Shop

I lived in Colorado for a few years of my life, and it’s weddings like this which make me miss those days more than anything. Brinton Studios captured the Rocky Mountains so beautifully… and the wedding itself was even more stunning, if you can believe it. Filled with the soft pastels of a Colorado sunset, it was the kind of soiree which could make you miss these mountains… even if you’ve never been!

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From the photographer… What an amazing day with a truly beautiful couple on the inside and out!  Kelly and Erik’s wedding at Beano’s Cabin in Beaver Creek was so stunning, as were they, so much fun to be around…full of love and laughter!  Beano’s Cabin made for a great setting for both the ceremony and reception and The Martini Shot Band kept them partying all night long.

We loved the soft colors the bride used for her bouquet and the vibrance of the bright and soft pinks used for the details and bridesmaids bouquets and groomsman’s boutonnières.  The landscaping around the venue was gorgeous and very lush green backdrop for the ceremony and great pictures that we got of the couple.  The tall trees and old wooden cabins were great for rustic, yet romantic pictures.  We absolutely loved the different jars holding the flower arrangements and center pieces on the tables at their reception, along with our favorite elk horn chandeliers the venue had within the cabin.  The logs of wood with slits cut into them to hold the placement cards were so cool and looked great with the ambiance of the cabin.  Also, the lighting used for the reception tent was so great to photograph and really added an element of fun to the scene.  

Thanks to the coordinator, Peggy and everyone else for the perfect wedding!  We were are so happy we got to be a part of Kelly and Erik’s fabulous wedding day! 

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Photography: Brinton Studios | Event Planning: Peggy Campbell | Venue: Katherine Pollock; Beano’s Cabin, Beaver Creek | Reception music: Martini Shot Band

Anyone that knows me knows I have a love affair with neutrals. As in, white, beige and gray happen to be a few of my very favorite hues. But after spending some time with this color-happy shoot designed by Engaged & Inspired, I’ve come to realize I might have been on the wrong team all along. Because when a crew of our fabulous LBBers — This Love of Yours Photography, Huckleberry Karen Designs, Paradise Catering, Holman Ranch and JLM Couture — sent over this vibrant inspiration overhaul, I decided team color is where it’s at, after all.

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From Engaged & Inspired…The concept behind this shoot was Palm Springs meets Rustic. We added plenty of colorful details, mid-century modern furniture mixed with rustic touches. Brides tend to stay away from adding too much color so we created something that could act as inspiration for those that want to have some bold accents.

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Photography: This Love of Yours Photography | Floral Design: Huckleberry Karen Designs | Event Design + Planning: Engaged & Inspired | Ceremony + Reception Location: Holman Ranch | Butterfly Chairs + Tree Stumps: Shelter Co | Rentals: Hartmann Studio Rentals | Invitations: Dauphine Press | Catering: Paradise Catering | Hair + Makeup: Melissa Hoffmann | Shoes: Louboutin | Necklace: J.Crew | Dress: Hayley Paige via Haute Bride