It’s really not a hard task to bring tears to my eyes when wedding’s are involved. It happens daily, and today’s tears are brought to you by this beautiful wedding and a lovely sentiment about their hands. You simply must read the bride’s write up below to full understand (and warning to you emotional lovelies, grab a tissue). The tears were fitting though, because this wedding, complete with beautiful blooms from Valerie Jurado, is stunning. See all the beautiful images from Ryon:Lockhart Photography here.

From the beautiful bride… My husband and I were overwhelmed by the joy and love we felt on our wedding day. Our wedding took place at the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown LA. The grand ballrooms were filled with an abundance of champagne roses, cream hydrangeas, and pale pink rice flowers to add a pop of color — elegantly enhancing the venue’s beauty while maintaining a soft, romantic feel. My husband looked dapper in a classic black tuxedo and I wore a A-line ivory lace gown.

With so much that happens on the day-of, we wanted to integrate moments throughout the day to act as reminders of the celebration we were sharing with our family and friends.

Moments like my bridesmaids reactions when they realized I gave them each a letter they wrote to me in high school over 13 years ago, reminding us of the laughter we shared and how much we’ve grown together over the years. Moments like the look on my grandmother’s face and the tears my father shed when I showed them a locket carrying a picture of my late grandfather, acting as a symbol of him sharing the occasion with us. Moments like when my soon-to-be husband and I held our hands tightly together as my mom recited the hand blessing ceremony, helping us conceptualize our future together…“these are the hands that will tenderly hold your children…these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.” These moments are what made our wedding day so magical for us and the moments we’ll cherish for a lifetime.

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Wedding Photography: Ryon:Lockhart Photography | Wedding Cinematography: JuiceBox Media | Wedding Planning: Simply Natural Events | Floral Design: Valerie Jurado Botanical Design | Ceremony & Reception: Millenium Biltmore Hotel, LA | Rings: Gum Mae Diamonds & Jewelry Co (Bride), Cartier (Groom) | Wedding Cake: NancyKay Confections | DJ: RedShoes Entertainment | Hair & Makeup: Kelly Zhang | Wedding Dresses: Casablanca (Ceremony: Style 2072, Reception: Style 2052) | Veil: Nina Bridal | Shoes: Miu Miu (Bride), Prada (Groom) | Bridesmaids Dresses: Monique Lhuillier  | Invitations: Twin Raven Press | Flipbooks: DJ Bros

There’s no doubt about it — California weddings have that undeniable “it” factor. That sense of too-cool-for-school spunk that’s just not found anywhere else. But the very best part of West Coast weddings? The cream of the crop vendors California brides have right at their fingertips. Photographers like Emily Blake and planners like Kensington Ryan Event who were able to help take this pretty backyard wedding to the next level. Catch every fun-filled moment right over here.

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From the Bride…Our Wedding was a dream come true. Both Chris and my parents celebrated their nuptials at the parents homes so we thought we should keep the tradition alive. Our vision was this; an upscale backyard BBQ with 220 of our closet friends and family, a killer dance floor, a stocked bar , a menu that made coming back for seconds, and anything on top of that was icing on the cake. Our wedding day would not have happened if we didn’t have the amazing vendors we did, the late night crafting parties and most importantly the support of all our families and friends.

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Photography: Emily Blake | Wedding Planning: Megan Davis, Kensington Ryan Events | Floral Design: Kate Jeremias | Invitations: Lindsey Kath, Branch + Cotton | Rentals: Signature Party Rentals | Food: Saltwater Catering | Dessert: Simply Sweet Cakery | Ceremony Venue: San Francisco Solano Catholic Church | Reception Venue: Private Residence | Band: Tijuana Dogs | Wedding Dress: Ulla Maija | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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So this DIY is awesome. Like really awesome. Like “wow, I think I spotted this chandelier at that fantsy pants boutique the other day” awesome. And while it may look a bit complicated. It’s not. I promise. If you can say over-under-over-under, you can totally do this. Totally.

Ikea lampshade 
Ikea pendant cord
1 coil of flat basket reed
Woodglue
Gray woodstain
White paint
Foam paintbrushes
Plastic bucket
Stapler & staples
Scissors
Lightbulb
Masking tape

Place your basket reed in the bucket and fill with water until it is completely submerged. You may need to place something heavy on top to keep it submerged. Let soak 30 mins up to 1 hr (definitely do not leave in the water overnight or mold will begin to grow).

Remove the fabric from the Ikea shade- you will be left with the frame and another metal hoop, but we only need the frame. Find a basket, large bowl, or other object that you can use to shape your shade (we used a round cake carrier). Tape or tie the center of the shade frame onto your object.

Once the reed has soaked and is flexible, you can start attaching spokes to the frame. Cut the reeds to 14” lengths. Wrap one end around the frame and staple to itself. Repeat until the entire frame is covered.

Now we can begin weaving the herringbone pattern. Start by stapling a reed horizontally to one of the spokes, as close to the top as possible. Place a piece of masking tape at the start so you remember where it is every time you go around. Weave the horizontal reed over three spokes and under three spokes, repeating all the way around the frame. If you run out of horizontal reed, just staple a new one onto the end of the old one. When you reach the beginning, continue by starting a new row below the first. Change it slightly by starting under one spoke, then over 3, then under 3. On the third row, go under 2 spokes, over 3, then under 3. Fourth row, go under 3, over 3, under 3. You’re essentially moving the same pattern over by spoke to the right on each successive row. Having trouble picturing it? Here’s a video of this pattern being woven on a chair. Continue weaving until you reach the bottom of the spokes, and let dry overnight.

Remove any visible staples and place a dot of wood glue in their place. Place a piece of masking tape around the bottom ¼ of the shade. Use a foam brush to stain the top ¾ of the shade gray, on both the inside & the outside. Let dry ½ hr. Use another foam brush to paint the area below the tape white, on both the inside & the outside. Let dry 2 hours. Remove the tape.

Screw the shade onto the pendant cord and screw in a lightbulb. Suspend from the ceiling and enjoy your new pendant lamp!

A serious fairytale from start to finish.  That’s what I am calling this beautiful Adelaide Hills affair captured by Lucy Spartalis Photography, because, well… it so is.  An amazing proposal (seriously, read below) followed by a drop-dead gorgeous affair filled to the brim with sophisticated details and glamourous moments every which way you turn.  In other words, it’s a show-stopping gem with a stunning San Patrick gown, lush blooms from Alyssiums on Pirie and a breathtaking reception at The Pulpshed at Glen Ewin Estate.  See all of the amazingness right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… I always thought I would have an idea of when James was going to propose, especially after seven years together… but he caught me completely off guard.

We live in Adelaide, but I was in Sydney for a two day work trip and staying on for the weekend to visit friends. My friends and I had decided to go out for dinner Saturday night. We went to the Opera House and started with a few photos together in front of the Harbour Bridge. My friends seemed to want a lot of photos (they knew what was about to happen) and I obliged with cheesy posing.

What I didn’t know was that James was sitting on a bench close by waiting to propose. I recall seeing him walking towards me and hearing some excited screams from my friends and tourists as he got down on one knee holding an oval shaped diamond in a box. I could not believe it and of course said YES!

We had celebratory drinks with friends immediately after at the Opera Bar before James and I went back to the spot he proposed to call our parents. To make the moment even more wonderful while on the phone to our parents, fireworks unexpectedly started at a venue nearby. It really was quite magical.

James went to so much trouble for the proposal… asking my Dad for his permission, flying in from Adelaide, booking a beautiful hotel with champagne and asking my boss if I could have an extra day off to stay in Sydney a little longer. His proposal exceeded whatever I had ever hoped for and caught me totally by surprise.

We commenced trying to find venues fairly quickly. I knew I wanted to marry in the same church that my sister had, and while driving home from Glen Ewin Estate in the Adelaide Hills James and I knew it was the reception venue for us. We married 13 months after the proposal on Easter Sunday.

I LOVE weddings and when planning ours we focused on making sure our guests had a great time with great food, wine and music, and choosing great South Australian suppliers who we could trust to make the process stress-free. I looked at Style Me Pretty every single day for a year (and still do), Pinterest and read countless wedding magazines and blogs for inspiration.

I found my dress at the first boutique I went to. My mother and sisters knew immediately that it was the one for me but I still wanted to try others before making a final decision. Of course I came back to the original choice, and everything else seemed to start falling into place once I chose the dress. My attendants were my two sisters, who wore ivory dresses, and my brother, who wore a slim fit tuxedo and bow tie. James had his brother and two close friends as his attendants.

After seeing Shine Invitations on Style Me Pretty I could not wait to get started on invitations. Brittany at Shine was an absolute pleasure to work with. In spite of the obvious time zone differences between Australia and New York she seemed to answer my questions almost instantaneously every time (I wonder whether she sleeps) and when I received the invitations they were packaged securely and beautifully. I cannot recommend Shine more highly.

We were married at St. Andrews Church in Walkerville by the Archdeacon who conducted a beautiful, heartfelt and fun ceremony. We had my brother-in-law’s partner and her sister play the violin and cello during the ceremony which created a beautiful atmosphere. I expected to be very nervous but instead I smiled and laughed all the way down the aisle as I was so overjoyed to FINALLY be marrying the man of my dreams.

Our lovely friends served light refreshments and chocolate-dipped strawberries with personalized serviettes to guests after the ceremony while we had photos with family in front of the church.

We kept the day relaxed by having all our photos at the church and Glen Ewin Estate and chose the gorgeous Lucy Spartalis to capture the day. She made the day fun and relaxed and we were thrilled with the images she took. We made sure we allowed plenty of time for photos in order to join our guests for canapés on the lawns of the estate. This was a wonderful part of the day as we got to spend time chatting with guests without feeling rushed.

The reception venue itself is a 100-year-old jam factory called the Pulpshed. It is a beautiful room and like the surrounding gardens did not need a lot of decoration. We had white paper lanterns on the roof and my gorgeous friend Louise, who runs Lovely Parties, made the most gorgeous material backdrop for the bridal table after we saw a similar one on Pinterest. She also created an amazing photo booth that guests seemed to love. We had a lounge area set up between the photo booth and dessert bar for guests to relax on.

I chose Alyssiums on Pirie to make flower arrangements that sat on rectangular mirrors on each table, and James and my father drank countless amounts of juice leading up to the wedding so we could save the cute bottle for more flower arrangements around the venue. We sprinkled fresh rose petals and added heaps of tea lights around the room to create a warm atmosphere.

The chef and staff at Glen Ewin Estate were incredible. After canapés on the lawns, we moved into the Pulpshed for a 3 course sit-down meal. We had a dessert bar of various mini-desserts, and a cake of cheese that was served on platters to guest’s tables. Being Easter Sunday we gave raspberry truffles to the girls and dark chocolate easter eggs to the boys as bombonieres.

We were honoured to have so many friends come from interstate for the weekend. It really was the best day of our lives and we would love to do it all over again!

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Photography: Lucy Spartalis Photography | Ceremony Venu: St Andrews Church, Walkerville, South Australia | Reception Venue: The Pulpshed at Glen Ewin Estate, Houghton, South Australia | Wedding Dress: San Patrick via Bridal on Pulteney | Belt: Wendy Louise Designs | Earrings: Miss Martini | Hair Clip: Chantal Eveleen | Shoes: Wittner + Witchery | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Custom | Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Joanne Mercer | Clutches: Witchery | Hair: Renee Modra | Makeup: Blush Make Up by Jacqui + Larissa Jones from International Make-Up Artist | Floral Design: Alyssiums on Pirie | Photo Booth + Table Backdrop: Lovely Parties | Lounges: Sash Events | Invitations: Shine Invitations | Serviettes + Thank You Ribbon: The Knot | Cake of Cheese: Udder Delights | Bomboniere: Haighs Chocolates

We fell in love with this darling duo a couple of weeks ago when we featured their amazing wedding film by FortyOneTwenty.  So in love, in fact, that sharing even more of their dream day seemed like a total no-brainer.  Especially since it meant hours upon hours of soaking in some serious beauty from We Heart Photography, photographers we happen to ADORE here at SMP.  And, of course, any excuse to bask in the amazingness that is Wynn Austin Events and Organic Elements is always, always welcome.  So join us in the gallery to get to know the cutest couple ever… even better.  It’s time well spent.

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From the Bride… Brennen and I have the classic “high school sweetheart” story. We feel that God brought us together in His perfect timing in His perfect plan.

I’m not sure if there was any one particular thing or idea that served as my inspiration for the wedding day, all I knew was that I wanted our wedding to be classic, romantic, and fun. I’m one of those people who tends to like pretty much everything. If you were to look at my Pinterest wedding board you would probably have no idea what I wanted my wedding to look like. I would pin pictures of rustic weddings, vintage weddings, classic weddings, and whimsical weddings. If it were not for my wonderful wedding coordinator, Wynn Austin, the wedding probably would have been a disaster. She helped me to have a clear and specific vision for how the wedding should look and did her part to make it happen. When I arrived on my wedding day, every detail was absolutely perfect and uniquely us, I was in absolute awe. After the wedding I had people approach me and tell me that the wedding was exactly how they pictured Hannah and Brennen’s wedding would be and that it reflected us perfectly. I feel the exact same way and I have to thank Wynn Austin and my wonderful parents for making our special day possible.

My mom was the DIY queen of this wedding. I cannot give her enough credit for all she did. After looking around for invitations and always falling in love with the design that was way out of our budget, my mom decided that she would hand make all 140 of the invitations. From there she went on to hand make all of the programs, menus, place cards, signs and table numbers. She did everything from formatting and heat embossing to glueing tiny pearls to each and every invitation and menu. One of my favorite details of the wedding day was my grandmother’s gold cross that I had attached to my bouquet. She passed away five years ago and never had the opportunity to meet Brennen, but it was so special to me to have something of hers close to me throughout our wedding day. Another one of my favorite details was the Bible verses we had printed on each of our table numbers. Brennen and I picked out 21 of our favorite verses about love and marriage and each table had a unique Bible verse under the table number. Another detail that we included that was very important to my family was that we used wine boxes from my grandparents’ winery as décor throughout the wedding. My grandparents moved here from Germany to start a winery in California, and if it were not for that leap of faith, my family would not be where we are today. We served my family’s wine throughout the wedding.

Brennen and I both agree that our favorite moment of the day was sitting together at our sweetheart table listening to the speeches given by some of our closest loved ones. We were overwhelmed by the love poured out on us and were amazed by the thought and care that went into each speech. We will never forget that moment and we feel so blessed to know that there are so many people who love us and support us.

My advice for other brides is something that I wish I had heard when I was engaged. It is easy to become envious when looking at wedding blogs and magazines and feel like your wedding will never measure up to the gorgeous weddings that are featured. Always remember that your day will be absolutely perfect because you will be marrying the love of your life and you will be surrounded by all those who you love most. Why would you want anyone else’s day? Your wedding will be uniquely you and will be filled with all the details that you chose and worked so hard on. Do not feel like you need to blow your budget to make your wedding measure up to anyone else’s. I promise you, when you look back on your wedding day you will not want to trade your day with anyone else, not for a second.

Although it is nearly impossible to pick a favorite from the hundreds of amazing photos that were taken on our wedding day, I would have to say that our favorite is the one of us on the hill overlooking the sunset with the hot air balloon in the background. Planning an outdoor wedding in January was probably one of the riskiest decisions that I have ever made. Leading up to the wedding day I prayed and prayed that the weather would be bright and sunny. Although my heart desired for a beautiful and sunny wedding day, I knew that even if it wasn’t, God would still be watching over us and blessing our day. Our wedding day turned out to be one of the most beautiful days of the entire winter and the incredible sunset that night was just the cherry on top. Brennen and I both agree that God was smiling on us that day, and when the hot air balloon drifted by, we truly felt that that was His gift to us. Jacob and Christin captured that moment so beautifully and it will be a photo we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

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Wedding Photography: We Heart Photography | Wedding Venue: The Santaluz Club | Event Coordination: Wynn Austin of Wynn Austin Events | Floral Design: Organic Elements | Entertainment: Michael Tiernan of Still Listening Productions | Hair + Makeup: Ashley Mason of Bella Villa Salon | Wedding Gown: TULLE New York | Men’s Attire: A Better Deal Tuxedo

I sort of have an obsession with sunrise engagement sessions.  Maybe it’s because the combination of my favorite time of day and two cuties in love is a serious dose of pretty, or maybe it’s because sipping coffee with the one you love is one of my favorite ways to spend the morning.  My guess?  It’s a lovely mix of all of the above, and when you add in some gorgeous images from Natalie Andrusiak Photography, it’s beyond amazing.  See it all right here in the full gallery.  (Psst… there’s breakfast goodies.)

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From Natalie Andrusiak Photography… I knew Josephine and Jonathan were the perfect clients for me when I suggested a sunrise session and they jumped at the opportunity. We met at Wood’s Park – a secluded spot right along the Elbow River in the heart of the city. The gardens are stunning and evoke the feeling of being in Europe. Afterwards, we wandered into the Mission district to do what these two love best – breakfast! Josephine + Jonathan spent a lot of time in this part of town when they first began dating, and Le Boulangerie brought back lots of fond memories for both of them.

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Photography: Natalie Andrusiak Photography | Location: Le Boulangerie

Have I told you all before how much I love Chicago weddings? I have? Well, I’m going to profess my love for them again today, because after seeing this beauty from Riverbend Studio and Barbara Moss Events I simply can’t contain myself. It’s elegant, yet comfortable, city chic, yet warm at the same time. It’s everything I love about Chicago weddings wrapped up in one lovely post, and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

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Our wedding was a reflection of everything we loved: our recessional to Bob Dylan’s “I Want You;” our first look on the hotel’s terrace overlooking the Chicago River we had walked along twelve years earlier on one of our first dates; a trolley ride through Chicago with our wedding party; and most of all, our friends and family gathered in one place.

David and I come from different religious backgrounds, and our wedding honored and reflected our traditions, faiths, and customs. Our ceremony was a vision of how we will incorporate our religious differences into our shared life in the future. It was jointly-officiated by a minister and a rabbi who blended our beliefs into a beautiful ceremony. In our wedding program we explained the significance of several meaningful elements: our interfaith ketubah, my parents’ wedding prayer, the chuppah, the koufeta- our Greek table favors, and the Seven Blessings.

We surrounded ourselves with memories of our families under the chuppah. My mom made me a handkerchief from the lace of her wedding gown, and we wrapped it around my bouquet. I placed pictures of both of my sets of grandparents on their wedding days into my grandma’s signature locket and carried that with my bouquet, as well. David wore his late dad’s cuff links and was married with his dad’s ring.

Our vendors were spectacular. They made our space beautiful, kept the party dancing all night, made sure every detail was perfect from start to finish, and captured all the excitement, emotion, and happiness in photos and on film. We remain grateful to all our vendors. It is also absolutely imperative to thank Style Me Pretty for the hours of enjoyment and inspiration their blog has provided (and still provides!). Thank you!

David was an incredible partner in wedding planning. Because we made all decisions together, the day was wonderful and truly ours. Exercising the best advice we received during the planning process, we spent our entire wedding side by side. To pass on good advice: In the excitement and craziness of the day, it’s easy to get pulled in opposite directions. Your wedding day will be amazing, make sure you spend it together.

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Wedding Photography: Robin Sloan of Riverbend Studio | Wedding Venue: Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel | Wedding Planner: Barbara Moss of Barbara Moss Events | Floral + Event Design: Richard Remiard Design | Ceremony Music + Band: Dan Hayes Orchestra | Cinematography: Xpress Video Productions | Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston (now closed) | Bride’s Sash + Hair Clip: Modern Trousseau | Bride’s Shoes: Nina | Bride’s Veil: Nina via Nordstrom | Bride’s Jewelry: Nadri via Nordstrom | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuillier via Bella Bridesmaid | Invitations:  Programs + Menus + Escort Cards: Miss Print | Trolley: Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co. | Hair + Make Up: Chicago Avenue Salon

This Bride is movie star gorgeous. And her wedding? Worthy of the big screen as well. With breathtaking florals from Bows and Arrows, planning by Urban Magnolia and the stunning Dallas Arboretum setting the stage, it’s easy to see why. Every image sitting in this gallery from Apryl Ann Photography paints the picture of a seriously perfect day, and it’s all waiting for you right here.

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From Apryl Ann… Luciana and Jose’s wedding took place on a chilly October evening in the Women’s Garden of the Dallas Arboretum. The guests were entertained by a string quartet as well as the glass sculptures of Chihuly. Their backdrop for the ceremony was the garden’s gorgeous fountain with the purple glass sculptures in the back. Luciana chose a soft neutral color palette to truly allow the guests to enjoy the garden scenery as well as to not detract from the garden’s elegance. Luciana dress was from the Vera Wang collection through David’s Bridal. The flowing layers of the dress was offset by the structure of the bow that accented her tiny waist. The bridesmaids’ dresses were also from the Vera Wang collection were all different styles and a beautiful shade of taupe. The florals for the wedding day truly added to the garden feel as the arrangements were built in and around bird cages. Luciana’s bouquet was structured, yet felt just like the garden.

Their reception took place at the DeGolyer House’s lawn and patio. The guests were treated to special spiced tea made specially by Two Sisters Catering as well as a cheese table with cheese selected by the bride. The guests were treated to amazing treats from Sugar Bee Sweets from a custom bride’s cake with an expanding rose and the groom’s treats of multiple scrumptious flavors of cake balls.

As their wedding drew to a close, the guests assembled a tunnel with floating bubbles for Luciana and Jose’s send off.

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Photographer: Apryl Ann Photography | Venue: DeGolyer Loggia at the Dallas Arboretum | Wedding Planner: Urban Magnolia | Floral Design: Bows and Arrows | Cinematography: Media Blend Studios | Catering: Two Sisters Catering | Cake: Sugar Bee Sweets | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang via David’s Bridal | Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss | Bridesmaids Dresses Designer: Maria Com Cha by Luana Soeiro | DJ: Mike Mahnich | Wedding Rentals: Ducky Bob’s

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This bridal session is like the prettiest thing I have ever seen.  And I am not kidding.  It’s a breathtaking Barcelona backdrop meets a stunning Santos Costura gown meets some crazy gorgeous stylings from Belle & Chic… and you know what?  It’s all kinds of amazing.  The kind of amazing that will make you want to grab your honey, fly to Spain and shoot some serious pretty with the oh-so-talented Sansaara Photography.  See it all right here in the full gallery.

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From Sansaara Photography… The location of this bridal shoot was the historic Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, Spain. Esther Friedrich of Belle and Chic assisted on the shoot. The dress was made by rising Catalan haute couture designer Santos Costura. The styling was kept fairly clean and simple given the location, making the bride the main focus of the images.

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Photography: Bijal and A.Y. Shah of Sansaara Photography | Production Assistance + Styling: Esther Friedrich of Belle & Chic | Wedding Dress: Santos Costura | Hair + Makeup: Meritxell Seva

Summer just happens to be my favorite season of them all. There is nothing more magical than those few months where the weather is warm, and the activities are plentiful – particularly in New England. This shoot from Forevercandid Photography at Willowdale Estate perfectly celebrates the fact we are still knee deep in all summer’s glory, and does so with style. Beautiful blooms from Table and Tulip, pretty paper from Wicked Bride, the gorgeous gown from Bella Sera Bridal and delicious desserts from The Topsfield Bakeshop and Cookie Creatives by Jennifer – I’m talking to you. It’s summer prettiness at its finest, and you can see it all right here.

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Our inspiration was all about the journey of taking your own current milestone affair and adding it to the legacy of a New England landmark mansion’s festive history. The venue induced a historic and graceful vibe, such that we wanted to enhance it with the charm of the past, while honoring the beauty of the present. In the multi-garden property, at the one and only Willowdale Estate, built in 1901, the exquisite calmness, authentic age and whimsical beauty evoked our interest in creating an ambiance that would be cherished, evolving and sophisticated.

Garlands of greenery lined our tabletop down the center of our burlap runner to call attention to the center of the table in an understated way. Our use of garlands in our centerpiece is a great example of how you can exclusively use greenery and make a visual impact, without using an abundant amount of flowers. The green also made a fresh, current vibe while it helped cut down on some costly floral bills that couples would appreciate. The large angular glass terrarium-style lantern was used as our focal point, essentially framing the sheer beauty of nature. With the centerpiece being translucent, the complete visual setting created a dynamic feel to the tablescape. We incorporated mini plants into our escort cards, having potted succulents as a natural favor to take home. In order to add some additional volume to the table, we added the appeal of real pheasant feathers standing straight up out of each succulent place-card setting. This helped tie in the theme of nature to other parts of the table all while the gorgeousness of the feather’s pattern took the visual appeal to another level.

With the location’s stonework and outdoor splendor, we made sure to emphasize on the beauty of nature by including re-purposed wood, natural tree slabs, tons of plants, florals, and an emphasis on birds and feathers displayed in the ceremony, on the style of the bride, throughout the table top items, the stationery items, and reception spaces.

An additional important aspect to our theme of celebrating the now but cherishing the past, just like the ever evolving nature we witness every day, our goal was to communicate the loveliness of gifting our guests with treasures of history: and continuing on with them as of that moment onward. Their main favors to take home would enable them the opportunity to foster history’s timepieces, while combining its destiny into the guest’s very own life-journey. Those special favors were original vintage cameras, unique in size, color and shape, embarking in a new path in real time with each of the guests to cherish forevermore. We also wanted to show brides how easy it could be to use strategically placed items and props in their wedding in order to communicate a theme without needing to go overboard with decorations.

To add some pops of color, in lieu of celebrating love and marriage in the summer, we had adorned cookies of various shapes, sizes, colors and styles customized and placed on each plate of our place settings: mostly emphasizing LOVE for outlining the day. The color didn’t end there as we mix and matched glassware with hints of green and blue to saturate and compliment the earth’s natural color scheme, topped with vintage striped straws in a strong pink just to be fun and open with color. The menus were meant to show topnotch details by using letterpress card-stock, gold shimmery sparkled backings, soft naturally patterned bird’s feathers, happy summer text colors, and whimsy text. The menu piece tied in all of our looks into one which made the table complete. We felt that a little bit of sparkle would go a long way, and it did exactly that. To continue our gold metallic touch, we used gold silverware and gold rimmed dish chargers made of glass allowing guests to see the raw exposed natural wood of the dining table. As we felt that mixing natural elements with metallics would simply complement each other over and over again, we also mix and matched the color of our dining chairs to bring that eye-popping perspective to the table from any angle. To celebrate the current trends, our bride painted her toes and fingernails with the primary popping colors we used which were closer to an aqua and pinky peach color. This was an act of reminding couples that weddings can always be fun when still creating an elegant setting. To take that mix and match concept one more level without going over the top, we took two very neutral napkins and we mix and matched them at every other place-setting to continue with establishing dimension and acting as a finish to the table.

The dessert table was important that we extended our theme almost one notch higher, by positioning it in a romantic setting, which was the initial objective. Then hanging a birdcage over the table, adorning the cage in a romantic wild look, using solid slabs of wood to display our custom desserts mixed in with gold dessert stands, and adding an extra large focal point with the cake’s very thick tree stump, the dessert table was a finale. We had personalized desserts with the last name’s initialed on it and we continued to keep the variety of popping colors consistent To add to that mix and match feel we took the same blue and green glassware along with some metallic candle holders, flipped them upside down and used them as the actual holders, or stands, for some smaller wooden tree stumps we worked with. Florals, feathers, a sign celebrating love and a variety of greens made this sweet table a center-stage.

We want to encourage couples to have fun with details and give your guests something unique to remember about that special day. For this wedding theme, our vintage camera favors added that final touch to our story by inevitably adding a few extra layers of depth to the event: where guests were given unusual items to play with while at the table, the pieces were automatically conversation starters for the newly acquainted, and they even acted as a prop for guests to use in wedding pictures! We want to encourage couples to feel free to add meaningful aspects to their décor; even if only the two of you realize the symbolism, it will be another special something that you can share on this wonderful day. It can even simply be by incorporating a flower or plant that means something special to you as a couple. We also brought this aspect to life with our potted succulent escort cards, since succulents are plants that represent endurance and longevity, these were beautiful hidden meanings to be surrounded by. They are also undeniably adorable and are a great whimsical earthy-glam keepsake guests can take home. The other example of meaningful detail that we incorporated was that we had vintage looking postcards of our venue’s property made, and used those pieces as the RSVP cards from the formal invitation set, and the postcards are then intended to become keepsakes for the couple upon receipt from all the guests sending them back.

Fun right!? Enjoy your wedding planning!

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Photography: Forevercandid Photography | Venue: Willowdale Estate | Floral design: Table and Tulip | Wedding Coordination: Blue Ivy | Rentals: Peterson Party Center |Invitations, Menus + Escort Cards: Wicked Bride | Sign: Sierra Knot | Desserts: The Topsfield Bakeshop | Cookie Favors: Cookie Creatives by Jennifer | Decor props: Mad Props Boston | Wedding Dress: Bella Sera Bridal | Suit: Russo Tux Shop and Limousine | Hair: Shannon White of Lifestyles Salon | Makeup: Nancy Gorman of Makeup by Nancy | Bride’s Hair Piece: Veiled Beauty

Sometimes a wedding looks like soooo much fun, it’s contagious.  Like you can’t help but smile, because every last person is grinning from ear to ear and, well… love is just that darn wonderful.  This is one of those weddings.  A beautiful day set against the gorgeous Sea Island Resort with a preppy meets classic style and enough pretty to last a lifetime.  Add in one seriously adorable duo (oh, are they ever) and an entire gallery of pretty from Scott Hopkins Photography and it’s a joy-filled day in the full gallery.  Join me there for every last ounce of lovely.

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From Melissa & Scott Hopkins… Betsy and Greg were married in the luxurious Sea Island Resorts in Sea Island, Georgia. They were wed at the Chapel on the grounds of the Cloister at Sea Island. Betsy wore a beautiful LulaKate gown and her bouquet adorned a bible that has been passed down and used in weddings. After the ceremony, guests made their way to Sea Island’s private beach club for dinner and dancing. Dinner and dancing was held in the Ocean Room . The tables for dinner were adorned with beautiful flowers that matched her bouquet. Betsy and Greg then departed via golf cart through a grand sparkler exit.

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Wedding Photography: Melissa and Scott of Scott Hopkins Photography | Event Planning + Design + Flowers: Sea Island Resort | Ceremony Venue: Cloister Chapel at Sea Island | Reception Venue: Sea Island Beach Club | Dress: LulaKate

I know we all enjoy a good Nicholas Sparks romance. The Sparks kind of love is that weak in the knees feeling at it’s absolute best. Well, 509 Photo and Inkspot Crow Films have sent a Nick Sparky romance, minus the complicated backstory, and plus a stunning couple. It’s just a story of true love, and it’s beautiful. You may want to grab a tissue before heading into the gallery… and maybe the box before watching the film below!

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I hope you carved out just enough time for this video from Inkspot Crow Films and a quick mascara re-apply…

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From the beautiful bride… Jim and I met freshman year of college and were introduced by mutual friends. He went to Wake Forest and I went to Georgia, so we kept in touch, but we didn’t begin dating until our junior year. We dated for six years before getting engaged in Charleston (hence the wedding location). For the past two years we’ve lived in Chapel Hill, but we’re moving to Birmingham Al in July and excited for all that a new location has in store.

From the planner… Betsy and Jim wanted the wedding to feel comfortable and organic, almost like attending the party of a fabulous host. To bring Betsy and Jim’s vision to life, we wanted a lot of greenery, organic details, and sparkling café lights to really bring the evening to life. The long estate tables on the front lawn and bluegrass music made it feel like a fabulous dinner party with all of your favorite people. Betsy was a gorgeous bride and the pair were a dream to work with!

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Photographer: Caleb Chancy,  509 Photo | Venue, Caterer, + Baker: Lowndes Grove Plantation | Event Design + Coordination: Melissa Barton, A Charleston Bride | Officiant: Vance Polley | Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Musicians: Christian Sedelmyer | Videographer: Inkspot Crow Films | Equipment Rental: Snyder Event DRS | Lighting: Technical Event Company | Entertainment: Crystal Clear Band | Transportation: Absolutely Charleston, Charleston Black Cab Company | Hair + Make Up: Paper Dolls, Carrie McLeod | Dress: Ulla Maija | Getaway Dress: Alice + Olivia | Shoes: Badgley Mischka

When it comes to fashion for the modern bride, the only rule is that there are none. From stripes to sparkles and everything in between, we’re always giddy to see a bride step outside the white and ivory box. So the second we got our hands on this sweet St. Louis elopement — with a bride who rocked a glittering Badgley Mischka from Rent the Runway — we knew it’d be filled with style moments to the max. Megan Thiele Studios was there to document all the “I do” goodness, and the full gallery? It’s the only place to be.

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From Megan Thiele Studios…On a romantic Wednesday in early June, in historic Forest Park in St. Louis, Olivia and Baris were married in front of 13 of their closest friends and family.  They met at Washington University, and decided to take a non-traditional yet glamorous approach to their wedding.  Olivia sparkled in a gold Badgley Mischka gown, holding a bouquet of white peonies, while walking the path to meet her groom right before the ceremony; you could see her classic red lips smiling a mile away. They said their vows in a short ceremony next to a reflecting pool in front of the Jewel Box, a 75-year-old Art Deco greenhouse, accompanied by a few sprinkles, a couple of ducks, and a bunny in the shrubs nearby.  Once their union was made official, all 15 persons had a photo taken to commemorate the event, they shared a toast, and the bride and groom set off to take photos with their two dogs, Argon and Shirley.  The day ended with a warm summer shower and radiant smiles; a lovely story to share with generations to come.

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Photography: Megan Thiele Studios | Floral Design: Walter Knoll Florist | Ceremony Location: The Jewel Box, Forest Park, St. Louis | Wedding Dress: Badgley Mischka via Rent the Runway  | Earrings: Kenneth Jay Lane via Rent the Runway | Shoes: Aldo | Groom’s Suit: Kenneth Cole

If you’re anything like us, running a creative  business is definitely high up on the bucket list. Doing something you love, sticking close to family, and challenging yourself creatively is a dream come true. Thus, we are SO excited to introduce you to someone who is not only doing just that, she’s also juggling a gaggle of little ones to boot! Boston based interior designer Julie Richard of Shelter Design has partnered up with the equally fabulous Bellini Portrats to give you guys a behind the scenes look at all things Shelter. Oh, and there’s a gallery if you need just a bit more pretty!

From Stephanie of Bellini Portraits… I’m a portrait photographer south of Boston and feature local “mamaprenuers” on my blog a few times a year.  This is Julie Richard of Shelter Design, an incredible interior design company.  I spent a morning with her and her two beautiful kiddos capturing shots of a normal morning routine and details around her home. I had the pleasure of interviewing this talented woman, and here’s a little re-cap of our time together:

How long have you been in business?
Four years

Please explain a little bit about your product/business and how you developed the concept behind it:|
I obtained my master’s degree in interior design in 2004 and worked for a number of elite firms in Boston before branching out on my own. I knew I had the passion, ideas, training and experience to launch my own firm.

Shelter is a full service interior design firm that specializes in residential interiors. I work on an array of projects with small or large budgets. I want my clients to feel that great design is accessible. I try to incorporate not only high-end items into my projects, but also include artwork from sites like Etsy, vintage pieces from flea markets and shops and archival fabrics. I view the designer-client relationship as collaborative. My vision is infused into each design, but only if it reflects my client’s style, tastes, and needs.

Design is all about the art of transforming environments, but you also need to know how to execute your ideas. I have established relationships with a number of craftsman and workrooms in the Boston area and feel that these collaborations bring a quality to my work that sets Shelter apart from other firms. I believe that good design is all about the details. It is my role to introduce items, concepts, color schemes and ideas that the client may not have considered.

Tell us more about your business, Shelter Design?
My goal is to create dynamic spaces. Many of my clients know what they like but often have trouble creating a cohesive design. That’s where I come in. I work closely with clients to create the perfect space for them. It is also my role to introduce them to new sources and ideas. I usually design custom pieces for every project. I. I am in the process of creating a furniture line of upholstered pieces. When I cannot find the perfect piece for a job, I just design it! I really want my clients’ homes and projects to feel personal and unique. I try to stay away from anything that looks contrived, overdone, or predictable.

What is the hardest part or have been some of your struggles starting your own business?
Making time for everything!! I would love to fit more design related travel into my schedule. Sifting through all the paperwork and accounting is extremely time consuming. I could spend half my week on those tasks, but I would much rather be designing, sketching, and finding new product sources.

How many children do you have? 
I have two children, a three-year-old son named Colby and a one-year-old daughter named Emerson. I was pregnant with my son when I began my business.

What are some of the creative ways you have found to juggle being a woman, a mother, and a business owner?
Most days are very busy. I try to keep the kids and myself on track with a routine, but I am also open to deviating from our daily routine. Children are bright little people and can sense when you are stressed out. I try to keep them engaged with creative play. We draw, dance, sing, play outdoors etc.
I also need down time, so I make time for myself. I exercise, and meet friends for a glass of wine. A happy mother makes for a better mother and a more efficient business owner. Writing my blog is time consuming but it is also an escape. I love to read other design blogs. They are very inspiring. Daily:
– I keep a detailed to do list. I do this for all personal and professional “tasks.”
– I write down all my professional and personal appointments on my day calendar.
– I enter them into my I-phone, too. I cannot rely solely on my phone. There is something reassuring about writing them down.
– I am constantly sketching ideas in my sketchbook and tearing inspiring ideas from magazines. I have a huge inspiration board in my office, so when I sit down to design my creative space is engaging.
– I note weekly appointments, reminders and inspiring quotes on a large chalkboard wall in my kitchen. If it’s on the wall, it absolutely will not be missed!!
– Finally, exercising at least three times a week helps me keep a clear head!

Who is your biggest inspiration?
Personally, my immediate family, my parents, and sister are. They are very supportive, hardworking, and creative! Professionally, designers from the past inspire me. My short list includes Dorothy Draper, Frances Elkins, and Coco Chanel. These women took risks, pushed societal boundaries, and were creative geniuses during a time when many women didn’t work. Their designs remain classic today. And for the men, I often look to David Hicks, Albert Hadley, and Warren Platner for inspiration. As far as current icons, I am continually in awe of Kelly Wearstler. She breaks the rules and is a master with color. I’m drawn to her unique and glamorous style. She has done an amazing job branding herself and her products. Design is my passion. I could talk for days about inspiration and admired icons.
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Photography: Bellini Portraits | Interview: Julie Richards of Shelter Design

Overflowing with style, this beauty captured by Pat Furey at The Metropolitan Building is the perfect stop for your daily dose of inspiration. We owe it all to the Bride’s vision of how her day should unfold, and boy did it unfold beautifully. With florals from Sprout Floral complimenting every personality-packed detail, one gorgeous venue and my favorite detail of all – love, it’s hard not to fall head of heels for this fête. It’s a bit whimsical, a bit modern and a lot fabulous – and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

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From the Bride… When people asked me about my wedding planning process and what my theme was, I could never really find the right words. I had snippets of words to describe the feel and colors, but I could never find the words to describe my vision and my mental photographs accurately. Everything seemed like random bits and pieces. I usually just referred people to my Pinterest and described things as ‘anthropologie-esque.’

Tunaidi and I are an eccentric, fun, loud couple and we wanted to have a wedding that truly captured our spirit and love for one another. When it came to planning, I had the pleasure of executing my snippets. The most important step for me was to find a venue. When I stumbled upon the Metropolitan Building online, I knew I had to visit. I showed up by myself on a snowy day in January. It was pretty surreal, and I felt like a character in the movie, Amelie. I called Tunaidi, who was back in Wisconsin, and said, “I found our venue. But it’s in New York…” From that point on, everything else fell into place.

I wanted things to be ‘different.’ Consulting my friends with my gazillion ideas, Tunaidi and I handmade all the wedding decorations, along with some help from Etsy. We sat for months on the floor of my apartment printing, cutting, gluing, stamping, and sewing. As a results, we had little spools with plush hearts and handmade bow ties, fabric kites, fun photobooth props, bunting, hand assembled invitations, fun favor tags, hand-embossed programs and custom designed programs and signs.

I was terrified that my mental snippets would just seem like a random Pinterest board on the day of the wedding. But I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. With our loved ones present and as we exchanged vows, it started to snow outside. It was truly beautiful.

The wedding was full of little things that represented us. We had an espresso bar because I love coffee. Braised short ribs as one of the entrees because Tunaidi loves braised meat. Honey stick favors from Madison, Wisconsin, where we first met. From the music to the flowers and decor, everything seemed random. But it was truly us. Perfect. [dotted]

Photography: Pat Furey | Wedding Venue: The Metropolitan Building | Catering Coordinator: Greta Poretsky of Bartleby & Sage | Catering: Bartleby & Sage | Cinematography: Kiss the Bride Films | Floral Design: Doan Ly of  Sprout Floral | DJ: James Mulry of 74 Events | Coffee Catering: Joe Coffee | Favors: Honey Sticks via Gentle Breeze Honey, Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin | Wedding Dress: Wtoo | Hair piece: Handmade by Sara Kim | Makeup + Hair: VickyC5 | Groom’s Suit: J.Crew | Invitation Design: Jisoo Kang | Wedding Decor: DIY by Bride

When a wedding is this sophisticated, it kind of blows my mind.  And not only because of its breathtaking beauty and glamorous details.  No, it’s that downright amazing feeling that is bursting from every last moment; that all-around fabulousness that just can’t be replicated elsewhere.  Throw in an oh-so-chic green and white color palette, beautiful blooms by Events by Nouveau and a breathtaking collection of images from Candice K Photography and I’m spending my entire day soaking it up in the full gallery. Join me there for all of the pretty.

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From Candice K Photography… Bethany and Jason are from Columbus Georgia and chose Alys Beach, Florida for their incredible destination wedding experience. Bethany envisioned a tented ceremony and reception in an all white and green color palette. The couple’s guests enjoyed the lavish homes in Alys Beach for several days before the wedding which put everyone in a very relaxed mood for the big day. Bethany’s style is best described as timeless and classic and her dress set the tone.

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Wedding Photography: Candice K Photography | Floral Design: Events by Nouveau | Event Planning: It’s a Shore Thing Weddings and Events | Wedding Venue: Alys Beach

You know what looks like soooo much fun?  This wedding.  This drop-dead gorgeous, seriously stunning Los Angeles affair where contemporary stylings and DIY details meet.  And you know why?  Because this is the kind of wedding where smiles are contagious, dancing is obligatory and pretty is bursting from every nook and cranny.  Oh, and The Holding Company?  All kinds of amazing.  See every last glorious detail captured by Snapmotive in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… It was surprisingly a lot of fun! After a series of crazy events leading up to the wedding, including a trip to the E.R. on the day before, we were just praying we could stay sane through the event, but it was an unexpectedly carefree and blissful celebration! The best part was just being able to be in the company of great family and amazing friends. The little side chit chats, exclamations of congrats, the silliness on the dance floor, the teary smiles, and the long hugs – they were all our favorites! The inspiration came from trying to make it as intimate as possible for a 150 people. We wanted our friends and families to feel like they were part of our moment before God as much as they could instead of just spectating as an audience member. So, we tried to create a space that was quaint and close but not claustrophobic or uncomfortable.

We used disposable cameras as an alternative to a photobooth, which seems to be a must have these days. Most of them are a tad expensive and they took up too much space for our venue so we picked up this idea from other wedding and they were awesome! It was really fun looking through them after they were developed. Our guests told us that they really enjoyed the popcorn bar and everyone didn’t have to tell us that they enjoyed the other bar. We couldn’t have gotten married without pintrest and wedding blogs. A lot of the little gold details came from Etsy and a lot of the other decor items were just redesigned, painted, decorated things from the 99cent store and Goodwill. Wholesale districts were also a good resource. The backdrop was picked up from a fabric store. All the flowers for the centerpieces and bouquets were from the Downtown Flower Mart in Los Angeles and arranged by myself and my wonderful bridesmaids the day before. Basically, the entire wedding was one giant DIY project. All of the decorations, from the place cards to popcorn bags to the flowers, were done by me and my staff, I mean bridesmaids. The groomsmen also helped with the set up.

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Photographer: Snapmotive | Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Holding Company | Coordination: Will Greene,The Holding Company  | Catering: The Flat Iron Truck | Cake: Friend of bride + groom, Jin Shim  | Invitations: Made by cousin of Bride, Sandra Kwon + printed at my friend’s Mary and Sonya Park’s family owned print shop, BTS Graphix | Programs: FRiend of Bride, Yoon Ju Chung | Wedding Dress + Accessories: Custom, friend of bride, Janice Park’s family owned bridal store, Royal Bridal, in Downtown LA

Navy blue stripes and lemons just might be my favorite design combo since gold and anything paired with gold. No joke. It’s  fresh and summery and so encompasses this couple’s style –  California cool with a touch of whimsy. You know what else is a great pairing? The backdrop of McCormick Ranch Home and festivities held under twinkling cafe lights all captured by Jasmine Star. Have a look here for even more.

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From the Bride… My favorite memory from the day was that moment when we turned around after the ceremony thinking I couldn’t be any happier…and then I saw everyone we loved! In one place! And THEN the mariachis kicked in to walk back up the aisle-it was just the best.

The inspiration for our wedding was navy and white stripes (coming from most of both mine and the groom’s closets…), the gold accents remind me of my grandmother so we tried to tie in fun pops of gold like the trophy vases. We wanted it to be pretty and lighthearted, with a bit of nostalgia. I think that showed up in the champagne saucers, ice cream cart, teepee, lighting. There was also a subtle (maybe not so subtle) Mexican theme running through it with the mariachis and piñata, tying back to family as well. In summary: nautical Mexican nostalgia. There was a lot of DIY elements that I loved like the bridesmaids dresses, the piñata, the photo booth, the marquis arrow (one of our groomsmen made that for us!), the drink stirrers, programs, invitations. We even had the napkins made out of a fabric we picked!

My advice to Brides is to get as many small details decided on and completed early, and try to leave yourself time closer to the day to do the necessary last minute things. For example, maybe come up with a DIY drink stirrer idea BEFORE the week before your wedding…just sayin’. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help-it took me a while to warm up to this because I was afraid of being needy or bossy. Oh, and properly thank those who do help!

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Wedding Photography: Jasmine Star | Floral Design: Yamaguchi’s | Event Planning: Becky McCormick | Ceremony and Reception Location: McCormick Ranch Home | Catering: Season’s Catering in Camarillo, CA | DJ: Tendaji Lathan | Custom Built Vending Trike for ice cream sandwiches: A Nouveau Gourmet Brownies | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Makeup and Hair: 1011 Makeup | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Custom | Groom’s Tie: J.Crew | Groomsmens’ Ties: The Tie Bar | Invitations: Meet The Foleys

Every once in a while, a classically elegant wedding comes along and sweeps me off my wedding loving feet. Like Prince Charming, it’s traditionally stunning with ball gowns and roses, a white cake and candles, and I just eat it right up. Artstar by Laura Stone captured said wedding and tied it up in a pretty blue and green bow. It’s perfect for a day like today.

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From the beautiful bride… Our meeting was pure happenstance, as we had been working in the same office complex for several years before we ever met. A chance meeting in the cafeteria, and the rest is history! We soon learned that the stars had aligned in our favor. We discovered that we had many similarities. For example, our fathers had worked for the same company for many years, we each had a brother named John (Jim’s brother John was ironically married to a woman with the same name as me), and we both had a sibling with special needs. The coincidences continued to pile up until it became clear that we were truly meant to be.

Jim’s proposal was heartfelt and personal. On a Wednesday evening in August, he arranged to arrive at my apartment before I got home from work where he had flower petals everywhere, roses and champagne waiting, and most importantly a ring tied around my pug, Bella’s neck. When I walked in from work that night, Bella ran right to me and I knew as I saw the pink ribbon around her neck, with a shiny diamond ring attached, what was coming. Jim got down on one knee and of course I said yes!

So, let the planning begin! We knew we wanted a ceremony and reception that was classic, elegant, and traditional but also with some unique elements. We decided to get married in Atlanta because it had meaning to us. Jim grew up here and this is where we met and now call home. For the ceremony, I chose a variation of my favorite color scheme: blue, green and white. We worked with a local vendor on our invitations to incorporate our colors and taste. The bridesmaids wore blue dresses with green and white flowers and I had an off white dress with traditional flowers. I wore my grandmother’s garter as my something old. We had a small wedding party that consisted of our close friends and family. Our ring bearer and flower girl were the son and daughter of my bridesmaids. We had our cousin’s hand out the order of worship. We decided in lieu of traditional wedding favors to make donations to organizations in honor of our brothers with special needs.

We were wed in the church by which we both belong (Peachtree Presbyterian) and by our minister, whom we hope to have baptize our kids someday! It was a beautiful traditional service in a warm and familiar setting. This was the easy part of our planning!

Finding a reception venue proved much more difficult as there were so many choices in so many different styles. Jim and I wanted something with indoor-outdoor access, city skyline and water view (not to much to ask, right)?! We happened to stumble upon what we believe to be the best venue in the city – Greystone at Piedmont Park. A hidden gem within one of the cities most beautiful parks, set in a picturesque section bordering a small lake, a pool and the midtown skyline. We knew the second we saw it that this was the place for us.

Looking back on our wedding day, we think of many wonderful memories. One that we will cherish forever is walking down the aisle and seeing each other for the first time, since we chose not to do a first look. We had a gorgeous, classic Rolls Royce drive us through the city to our reception, bag pipes lead us in to be introduced as husband and wife, King of Pops (a local popsicle vendor) on the outside balcony overlooking the pool, and spending time with our family and friends as we danced the night away. Couldn’t have been a more perfect day!

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Photographer: Artstar by Laura Stone | Videographer: Ryan Rodinis | Floral Designer: Tulip Blooming Creations | Event Designer/Planner: Nicole Fantz of Peachtree Wedding and Events | Invitation Designer: Avie Designs | Calligraphy: MM Ink | Desserts: Classic Cheesecakes and Cakes and King of Pops | Wedding Gown Designer: Amsale | Bridesmaids’ Dress Designer: J.Crew | Hair Brooch: Scott Antique Market | Hair and Makeup: Formal Faces | Venue: Greystone at Piedmont Park

We love Wendy Laurel around these parts. Love her. She makes our hearts flutter for many reasons, but the main one for me is how beautifully she captures love. Almost as if it’s just effortless for her. This elopement is the perfect example. Every image is perfectly stunning and overflowing with love – keeping my love affair with Wendy Laurel going strong. See why here.

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From Wendy Laurel… Tara and River wanted a carefree romantic elopement on the Maui beaches where they didn’t have to worry or stress. They chose the Ritz Carlton Kapalua to stay and arrange their wedding ceremony on the beach. They are both from Santa Cruz and love an easy going beach lifestyle.  Their love and joy was easily apparent on the wedding day. [dotted]

Venue + Event Planning + Leis: Ritz Carlton Kapalua, Flemings Beach | Wedding Photography: Wendy Laurel | Officiant: Pia Aluli