After oogling over this fabulous wedding by We Heart Photography for some time now, I feel like I am besties with the bride and groom. Because every single detail is just SO them, and if this wedding is any indication of how adorable they really are – well then they are just a whole new level of fabulous. All the details were a team effort from the dynamic duo, and the result was a wedding that I just can’t get enough of. Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We drew inspiration for the wedding from everything we loved! Whether it was silly things like grassy fields, comfort, natural beauty, anything French, even our friends and family inspired us. My husband called our wedding “classic French hippie” which is probably a more accurate description. We knew when we liked things and what we were going for – a meaningful, personal ceremony and the most fun BBQ/dance party you’ve ever been to. 

The location really set the tone. When we first started planning, the number one thing on my “top 5” list was…getting married in a field. Fields are not as easy to come by in San Diego as you’d like to think. So when my dad called me to ask what our wedding plans were and out of nowhere mentions that he thought his good friend, Richard, would maybe let us do it as his ranch in Bonsall if we wanted, I flipped. I spent many family BBQ’s there fishing for crawdads in their family’s creek and climbing up trees. One visit with Chadwick sealed the deal. I mean, he has an adult treehouse there and not just one field…but two! 

To give the wedding that personal feel, save money, and make our vision reality, we did take on a ton of DIY projects. I’m a 5th grader teacher and we had just over three months to plan the wedding so that we could get married while on summer break. Now, I know that I never usually read these things and just looked at the pictures but I feel this might give some of you hope – I am NOT a creative person at all and yet somehow managed to pull all this off. My husband, Chadwick, is the most innovative and artistic person I know (fitting, since he’s a graphic designer and photographer for Invisible Children). He came up with many of the design elements and branding for our wedding. From hand-drawing our invitations and then screen-printing them one by one. Or creating a logo we used as a stamp for envelopes, drink tags, and whatever else we felt like stamping. I figured out how to sew for the wedding and made all the pennant banners, our ring bag, collected little knick-knacks from garage sales, bargain hunted the remnants at fabric shops, and made the “yay!” flags/programs. It was 100% a team effort. Not just between Chadwick and I, but with at least half of the people at our wedding! Everyone helped out. Friends brewed beer for the occasion or brought local kegs, bridesmaids hand-painted signs, brewed iced tea, and spent the whole day setting up rentals, my mom and grandma personally made all the 300-400 appetizers for our “Happy Hour”, Chad’s grandma handmade all the guys’ ties, his mom made all the heart pillows for decor, groomsmen invented cocktails and bartended, friends let us borrow things from their own weddings including 150 sets of mismatched china and silver, my dad put together the doors for our entrance and found the wood backdrop. The list goes on and on. We even bartered with our best friends to have them DJ, film, and coordinate the day of. Everyone helped! We were so blessed and the day would not have come together without all of them.

Our favorite details were probably the meaningful ones. We didn’t want to just do things without having a clear purpose. We had our food catered by TK Burger which is Chad’s favorite place from his hometown and where we had one of our first dates (and it’s incredibly tasty/affordable which helped. If you’re ever in Newport, get a shiitake burger there, it’ll change your life). We had ice cream sandwiches for dessert instead of cake as I am obsessed with ice cream. We had my little brothers pass the rings through the aisles as part of the ceremony to signify that everyone there would have a “hand” in our marriage. We gave everyone in our wedding party disposable cameras to use throughout the ceremony and night as Chadwick and I both love the challenge of capturing an event with only 27 exposures. My big surprise (one of the few I’ve ever been able to keep a surprise) was I knew Chad had really wanted me to pull up to the ceremony in a classic car, but it just wasn’t in the budget and we had had a hard time finding one for free (go figure). Richard, who owns the ranch, happens to have a beautiful old convertible that I discovered on one of my trips up to plan. It was even used in my own parents’ wedding! He sneakily helped me work out all the details so Chad didn’t know until I pulled up.

As far as advice goes, I’m not sure I’m a pro but have fun! It’s your wedding! This is the one time everyone you love gets to be together and celebrate you two. Don’t worry about perfection. Pick the things that are most important to the two of you and go from there. People won’t care if you forgot to order sparklers or if you ended up having to forgo the personalized name tags. Really, not one person came up and told me they wished we had had a sparkler for them to wave at the end of the night. It works out. Oh, and let people help. I thought I would try and take on everything but quickly learned that was going to make for a rough few months. Enjoy your engagement. Let other people be a part of it all. Hire a wedding coordinator for the day of stuff if you can or even a friend (or if you luck out like us, you have a friend who IS a wedding planner and helps you with all of that – thanks Julie!). I guess you should just understand that you may come to a point where some things never got done or made or finished and you just let it go. You get to marry your best friend at the end of it. All of the other stuff is just extra.

Wedding Photography: We Heart Photography / Wedding Coordinator: Julie Leontieff of Events by J & C / Venue: Family Friend’s Ranch / Catering: TK Burger Truck / Floral Design: Michelle Johnson (friend) / Wedding Cake: Mother of the Bride / Entertainment: Tyler Fordham (friend) / Hair: Amber of Halycon Salon / Make-up: Melissa Rae & Co. / Gown Designer: Watters / Men’s Formalwear: Banana Republic / Wedding Videography: 4th Floor Media

This wedding is a gorgeous mix of lovely details and the most smitten couple we ever did see. Their love is practically bursting from each and every gorgeous image by Lachlan Burrell Photography. Add to that a vivid color palette and a sea of breath-taking Aussie views and we are headed into pretty overload. Care to join us? Check out the gallery for every single fabulous image from this Sydney stunner.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Justin and I met through work almost 9 years ago. Despite having a no dating colleagues rule, we couldn’t deny our feelings so we decided to give it a go. Thankfully, we did! Justin is an incredible partner. He is loving, considerate, supportive, funny, and most importantly, he is my best friend. I can tell him anything, and he loves me regardless. He even encouraged me to pursue my dream of a working holiday in the UK. 2 years and 1 month he patiently waited for me, for us. When I returned, I was convinced we were made for life!

We wanted a smallish, vintage themed, Spring wedding but, not being one of those girls who had planned her wedding at the age of 6, I had no clue where to start! Having great friends like Kim and Veronica was a downright blessing! They assisted in every way they could and we are very grateful for their help.

The theme was 1930’s/vintage glam. To bring in some color to the traditional vintage theme, we added peacocks and a hint of red into the color scheme. To ensure our theme flowed throughout we carefully designed our invites, menus, order of service, name cards, table names and Justin personally handmade each and every one of them (with a little help from my brother, Ken). Both being passionate about travel, we chose to name each table after our favorite cities in the world. With my love and knowledge for photography, I spent a lot of time searching for the best photographers in Sydney and came across Lachlan Burrell. His photos are colourful, candid, unique and creative. One of the few remaining that still uses film, and he also likes to capture photos mostly from an f1.4 aperture lens, making him the ideal photographer for us.

My stunning Luci Di Bella couture dress, together with the beautiful headpiece I borrowed from Kim, matched perfectly with my theme. My bouquet consisted of red roses, dusty millers, blushing brides and ostrich feathers. Kim, my matron of honour, was dressed in a teal dress with pearls, a peacock headpiece and a matching bouquet. Justin and Darryl, the best man, both looked dashing in their light colored grey suits, matching paisley ties, and boutonnieres made of peacock feathers.

We were exceptionally lucky to have one of the most gorgeous days this year for our wedding day. We were married before our closest family and friends at Observatory Hill, which boasts a splendid hillside view of Sydney Harbour and our magnificent Harbour Bridge. Our reception was held at the Victoria Room, the Royal Automobile Club of Australia. The members only bar comprised of a stunning chandelier, high ornate ceilings, stained glass windows, emanating class and romance making it the perfect venue. The room was impressively decorated by Veronica with red roses, spider orchids, dusty millers and my personal favorites, the 2 main pieces behind the bridal table. These main pieces had draping crystals, orchids, red roses, crystal globes with tea lights, and peacock feathers.

When I stepped out of the 1922 Silver Ghost at the ceremony and saw the looks and smiles on Justin and our family and friends, it made all the hard work and stress worth it. Our guests all complimented us on how beautiful everything was and that they had a great time, which made it truly memorable and one of the happiest days of our lives.

Wedding Dress: Luci Di Bella via Marie Autumn Bridal / Wedding Photography: Lachlan Burrell Photography / Floral Design: Veronica Trau / Reception Location: Royal Automobile Club of Australia / Car: Able Classic Wedding Cars / Wedding Videography: CandidPro / Celebrant: Stephen John Myers / Wedding Band: Miki Lendvai / Hair: Sebastian’s Salon / Make-up: Brows & Makeup

The poppy centerpieces, from Market Fresh Flowers, which grace this Pennsylvania wedding might just make it on my Christmas wish list. They are absolutely amazing – and after reading about all the work the bride went through to get them (more on that below) I can’t help but name them the most beautiful florals I’ve seen in a long time. Which is fitting, because this wedding? It’s a stunner. Perfectly laid back and fun, but the bride and groom scrimped none on style and, of course, love. Captured by Justin & Mary, this wedding is most definitely one for the books. Click here to see more!

Mike and I didn’t know where to begin when it came to planning our wedding.  We knew only a few things that we wanted from our big day. We wanted an open outdoor space, an informal but delicious meal, we wanted our guests to mingle, and most important we wanted people to dance!  The Audubon center caught our eye because there were indoor and outdoor elements.  There were trails for our guests to roam and explore, and then there was that 100 year old barn… we were sold.

To encourage our guests to mix and mingle we asked for smaller tables for dinner, and mixed our families at each.  We also had a buffet style meal hoping that guests would get up and move about.  Our wedding party was quite large so we started the party off by introducing them in pairs.  We hand picked some unique songs for each pair to enter to and tried our best to keep it a secret.  We wanted to have a playful vibe to get everyone loose and ready to rock the dance floor.  We even had our DJ create a fun mash up of our favorite songs for us to enter into the reception.  Thanks to our talented DJ and a wedding party without shame the crowd got going, and we danced the night away.

We chose colors that would set the mood for our night.  We chose a modern grey, with a pop of orange and bright green to show our fun side.  Mike and I went on vacation and I saw a field of poppies and fell in love with the wild and delicate look of the flower.  I started calling florists and got many call backs insisting that my choice was impossible.  I even had a few people refuse to work with me based on inquiring about poppies at all! One day I happened to find a card for Christine Brown at Market Fresh Flowers. We set up an appointment to meet and to my delight when I mentioned poppies to Christine she did not immediately turn me down, she got excited!  Due to the delicate nature of the flower Chrisitine ordered a bunch of poppies and tested them out for durability for our bouquets.  When she realized the flower was too delicate for handling and hugging instead of giving up she created the most amazing centerpieces that I will never forget.

The wedding day went without a hitch due to not only our new friends at market fresh flowers but also some of our dearest friends and family.  My extremely talented sister-in-law designed all of the print materials for our wedding including save the dates, invitations, and place cards.  My mother, who is an incredible baker, made bride and groom cookies as a take away treat for our guests.  Even the my nephew, the ring bearer, got in on the action creating a ring box for our wedding bands out of legos.  The day went by so quickly and I am forever grateful to our wonderful friends and photographers Justin and Mary Marantz who captured every moment of our wedding day so beautifully.  Every time I look at our wedding photographs I can smell the afternoon air, sense sun on my shoulders, and feel my husbands hand in mine as we say “I do.”

Photography: Justin & Mary / Location: John Audubon Center / Catering & Cake: Jeffrey Miller / Floral Design: Christine Brown of Market Fresh Flowers / DIY Details: Bride & Groom and Groom’s sister / DJ: Steve Seegers of DJ Collision / Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Graphic Designer: Brass Feather

Meg Perotti photographed this affair to remember and it has whimsy coming out its ears so to speak. The colors are so lively, the florals by Nicole Ha Floral Design so fun and the whole affair is FILLED with personality driven details that we can’t stop gushing about. If vibrant were a wedding, you’d be looking at it right now. Take a break from that work piling up on your desk and spend some time in the full wedding gallery. It’s an afternoon must!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Meg Perotti Photographer…When George and Joyce got engaged, they immediately knew where they wanted say their vows at Crystal Springs Golf Course. Joyce who passed by the golf course everyday on her way to work knew that she wanted their ceremony overlooking the majestic valley. Inspired by the shabby chic style, they chose the magical Los Altos History Museum as their backdrop for their wedding reception.

The couple wanted to incorporate their own relationship, style and craftsmanship into every detail. Everything from the intricate invitations, sticker monograms, lace chiffon backdrop and even directional signs were hand made by the couple. They wanted some of the old world charm using old trunks, milk glasses and tea cups while incorporating vibrant colors of red, magenta, yellow and accents of green to reflect their bright personalities. At the same time, the couple incorporated their Asian roots treating guests to a mouthwatering menu which included Dimsum appetizers, Korean BBQ short ribs, a sushi station, bubble tea and lychee sake. Everyone had a great time and the couple couldn’t have imagined a more perfect and sweet day!

Wedding Coordinator: New Sunrise Events / Wedding Photography: Meg Perotti Photographer / Ceremony Venue: Crystal Spring Golf Course / Reception Venue: Los Altos History Museum / Catering: Greenfish Catering / Wedding Cake: Satura Cake / Floral Design: Nicole Ha Floral Design / Entertainment: Big Fun Disc Jockeys / Make-up: Michelle Tan / Hairstylist: Mimi and Taylor / Rentals Napkins: La Tavola / Photobooth: Magnolia Photobooth Co. / Limo: Limo Fiesta / Vintage Rentals: Milk Glass Vintage Rentals

There really is nothing better than getting all your friends and family together in one location for a weekend full of wedding festivities. Unless of course you’re getting together at a Starwood Hotel! Perhaps you’ve only thought about hotels when considering your honeymoon, but we’re here to tell you that if that’s the case, you’re really missing the boat. Starwood Hotels & Resorts has amazing locations all. over. the. world. We’re talking beyond unique settings, exquisite taste, and experienced staff ready to make your dream wedding a reality.

Whether you’re seeking an exotic beach get-away or a cozy nature wedding nestled in the woods, the good people of Starwood Hotels & Resorts have you and your guests totally covered. Your guests will be super pumped to stay at such amazing hotels and will truly relax knowing there is no driving to be had since all of your events are in and around the hotel. And what’s also super cool is that by booking your wedding at one of their hotels, you can start earning rewards points (hello, free nights!) to use for your honeymoon. How’s that for convenience and savings?!

By now you’ve guessed that we’re totally into hotel weddings and know that they can be some of the most gorgeous and memorable locations for your special day. So don’t forget to check out all of Starwood Hotels & Resorts amazing locations and get booking! xoxo

It’s been two whole days since we last saw you, SMPers… and if you are anything like me (And I know you are!), than you are most definitely in the mood for some pretty, pretty inspiration.  Well, have no fear, lovelies, because this Toronto Islands wedding by Christina Gapic Photography is about to fill your entire Monday with lovely.  From the breathtaking setting to the beautiful florals by Coriander Girl to every last detail so lovingly crafted by the sweet as can be bride and groom, I am seriously smitten with each and every moment of this casual, yet elegant affair.  I think a day spent wrapped up in this pretty is most definitely in order.  Join me in the gallery for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Glen and I are Torontonians through and through, and even though we loved the idea of going away to get married ultimately we knew that we wanted to be home with all of our friends and family. Nevertheless we really wanted our wedding to be different – to be casual yet elegant, to embrace the outdoors and the city that we love, and most of all to be a blast – for us and for everyone who shared our day with us. In the end it was all of those things and more… the word that we heard many people use to describe the day was “magical.”

The Toronto Islands are just that – magical. Its a bit of an adventure to get there – we ended up hiring a huge boat to take everyone over to the tiny church in the woods by the water. When you are there – even though you have a perfect view of the city skyline it feels like you are miles away. That’s exactly what we wanted. All of our guests got off the boat and crammed into the tiny church. It was amazing walking in and seeing the faces of all the people we love in one room! We had a string quartet play Ben Fold’s “The Luckiest” for the Processional and “Hoppipolla” by Sigur Ros as the Recessional.

After the ceremony we didn’t want to leave our guests and go off to take pictures, so instead we planned to board the boat with everyone for an hour tour of the harbor, complete with an amazing live band, oyster shucker and incredible views of the city. It was a great chance to have a cocktail, relax and mingle with everyone. We were dropped off on another island at The Island Yacht Club for our reception. It was the perfect setting – boats and trees and a beautiful wood and glass building just for us.

It was really important for us to personalize our wedding and make our guests feel like we had really thought about them when we were planning everything. We spent almost an entire year scouring vintage stores and the Internet for old postcards from the places everyone was either from or that meant something to them. We then hung them on a clothesline as place cards for guests to use to find their seat. Then we asked them to write us a note on them and we used them as our guest book as well. We loved watching as people realized that their postcards were really about them! Even our table numbers were framed on a background of locally printed maps of the Great Lakes.

We also spent months and months collecting dozens of vintage tea tins for our centerpieces. In the end we had over 100. It was a daunting task I’m sure for our dear florist – Allison from Coriander Girl to fill each and every one with beautiful and different bouquets and then lug them all over to the island. But boy did she step up to the task. They were amazing!

As we were getting ready to sit down for a delicious steak and lobster dinner it suddenly, out of nowhere, began literally snowing cotton from the cotton trees on the island. It was a totally unplanned, completely magical moment. Everyone got up and ran outside to take it all in. Our incredible photographer Christina Gapic managed to capture it all on film and its something we will never forget. The members of the yacht club told us a few days later that it happens every year but no one ever knows the day or the time!

Another highlight was our groomsmen’s speech. They ended up surprising us with a video that they made that completely blew us, and everyone there, away. By the end of the night everyone was dancing and singing to the song when the DJ played “our” version of it.

We had a dessert table instead of a traditional cake – with custom “nautical” cupcakes with our initials, along with lobster lollipops and gummies, salt water taffy and all sorts of fun candy. The day before the wedding my wonderfully sweet bridesmaids and I spent the day making trifle in little jars to give away to guests. We called them “Nana’s Trifle” in honor of my dear 93 year old Nana and her famous recipe. The trifle even managed to match our wedding colors! Talk about serendipitous!

In the end, to be alone on a beautiful island celebrating with our closest family and friends, with the lights from the city twinkling in the distance – not to mention a cotton blizzard of our very own, was about as magical as it gets!

Wedding Photography: Christina Gapic Photography / Wedding Ceremony Location: St. Andrews-by-the-Lake / Wedding Reception Location: Island Yacht Club / Wedding Dress: Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Groom’s Suit: GreenShag / Day-of Coordination: Events by One Fine Day / String Quartet: Intrada Sound / Band: Jake and the Blue Midnights / Floral Design: Coriander Girl / Cupcakes: Sugarbelle Cakes / DJ: Indie DJ

I absolutely ADORE a winter wedding, so it pretty much goes without saying that I have fallen head over heels for this stunning Chicago affair by Heather Parker Photography.  Yes, with a room all aglow in candlelight and Christmas tree lights, this is one seriously gorgeous fête.  Plus, when I first laid my eyes on that cake by The Peninsula Chicago, I didn’t know what to do with myself.  Have you ever seen a more fabulous creation?!?  Swoon.  It’s a good thing that I have an entire day left to take in all of this lovely… a very good thing.  Join me in the gallery for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… When Dave proposed, I was excited. And then I had to plan a wedding and that excitement turned to anxiety and frustration. Living in a city like Chicago and having the Internet at my fingertips, I realized that the enormous variety of vendors and options to choose from was a blessing and a curse. It was so overwhelming at first to try and choose the right vendors to help us create a memorable event without breaking the bank. Talking to other brides to be on various website message boards became a godsend as it helped me realize I wasn’t alone. Even better was that the other brides helped me with vendor selections, DIY ideas and offered suggestions when I was stumped for ideas.

I spent a lot of time researching before we made decisions, but once we started hiring vendors and making selections, the planning turned from stressful to fun. Dave and I wanted to make sure we planned a wedding that was beautiful and fun. Both of our families live outside of Illinois so we wanted to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves. We chose The Peninsula Chicago because of its stellar reputation of service. We timed the wedding date perfectly as the hotel was decorated the night before for Christmas. Our photographer, Heather Parker, knew exactly how to create the most memorable pictures using our decorations with those of the hotel. I wanted to keep the flowers for the tables simple as I felt the room was beautiful enough with the lighting and the floor to ceiling windows overlooking Chicago.

Perhaps the easiest decision about the wedding was the color theme. My favorite color always has been purple and I thought chocolate brown would compliment that with the room. I didn’t want to be completely traditional as a bride who wears all white. I wanted to wear purple too! Not only did I wear purple shoes, but I also found gorgeous purple earrings and had purple flowers in my bouquet. Perhaps the most special part of my outfit was the row of heart shaped buttons that Zuzu’s Petals added to the handle of my bouquet. They were buttons from my great, great grandmother’s wedding dress that my mom had on her veil for her wedding day!

It was cold but sunny on our wedding day but we didn’t care. We were blessed to have so many friends and family make it from out of town. It was fun seeing their reaction to all of the details we planned for them. We had lots of DIY projects throughout the room, Dave created the place card poster thanks to a bride’s blog from the internet. He also took all of the pictures around Chicago that became the centerpieces for our table numbers. We painted our aisle runner. Making our wedding invitations and menu cards added to the color theme. My mother helped by hand beading my veil, making my bracelet as well as bracelets for all of the girls in the wedding party and making her famous chocolate covered toffee to be added to the candy buffet that everyone enjoyed! Along with the candy buffet, we had a photobooth that was a constant hit all night as we saw many of our guests acting silly and enjoying themselves.

The day went by fast but I haven’t forgotten a minute of it. The food was amazing. The cake was gorgeous. The toasts were funny and touching. My brother surprised me by getting up and reading a letter written by my grandmother and aunt who couldn’t make it that night. Tears were shed and laughs were shared we felt love from everyone in the room on a night that exceeded all of our expectations.

Wedding Photography: Heather Parker Photography / Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal / Musicians: Harpist Kari Gardner / Men’s Attire: Black Tie Formalwear / Wedding Gown: Kathryn Bridal / DJ: Dancetrax Mobile DJ Entertainment / Floral Design: Natalie Willett of Zuzu’s Petals / Photobooth: Magnolia Photobooth Company / Location, Caterer + Cake: The Peninsula Chicago / Escort Cards Sign: The Groom

If your Monday morning is feeling a bit dull, this beauty of a wedding in the Bahamas by Stop Motion Productions will be sure to brighten it up a bit. A beautiful blending of cultures and styles with fabulous pops of coral and turquoise, the DIY bride made sure every details was covered. And how fun is their Moroccan style low table reception? It’s all sure to brighten up your morning, and you can head on over to the full gallery of images for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Scott and I got married in the balmy Bahamas on June 25th and I’d like to share with you some of the snapshots of our special day. Having grown up in completely different parts of the world, we had a hard time picking a place for the wedding. Should it be in Pittsburgh where he is from, or Singapore where I grew up? We ended up picking the island of Nassau because if there’s one thing we had in common, it was that our families and friends loved to have a good time.

We had a Hindu ceremony on the beach with the color scheme of turquoise, cream and silver. Being a DIY Bride, as well as a bit of a control freak, I spent many hours on the little touches. I used blue wine bottle labels to adorn the cover page of our ceremony programs. I then scanned those in and use the graphic to make smaller tags on a number of things including the buri fans we handed out to our guests. I had help from the hotel (Sheraton Nassau) and my family to make the garlands, and the traditional cloth that was used to adorn my walk down the aisle with my brothers. Overall, it was a small traditional wedding but it was just the way we imagined it to be – with smiles all around.

For the reception, our color scheme was coral and cream with gold accents. This color scheme played out in our selection of bridal party garments as well as decor. As you will see, we went with a Moroccan style low table setting, but played out the same colors. I made butterfly place cards (on the glasses) – I had seen them on Etsy but did not have any budget left to order them so I made them on my own. We had our cake topper made by mudcards on Etsy, and she did a terrific job bringing our hobbies to life through them – Scott is a musician outside of his job, and I am a photography nut in my spare time.

Wedding Photography: Dominic + Ronnie of Stop Motion Productions / Location: Sheraton Nassau / Event Design: Wildflowers / Cake Topper: Mudcards / Wedding Planner: Weddings Romantique / Priest: Vimal Rawal

This pretty little vintage number by After Yes and Sarah Kate, Photographer  has certainly brightened up my Monday morning.  If the rest of the week looks half has good as this then it will be a lovely week indeed.  Old world charm meets modern romance in a Dallas wedding filled to the brim with eye-popping details.  There are homemade jams and some of the cutest cakes I have ever laid eyes on and that is just a taste of the goodness in store for you.  Go to the full gallery to see it all!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Groom…When we first started planning our wedding, we knew immediately that we wanted to accomplish three things: (1) create a relaxed, intimate setting designed to maximize our quality time with loved ones, (2) give honor to our family and our past throughout the night and (3) incorporate personal touches that held meaning to the both of us. What we didn’t know quite so immediately was how complex that planning could become. Thankfully, we found Elizabeth (with “After Yes”) who was able to translate our quirky style into the lovely wedding that we never knew we always wanted.

Strategically placed couches (covered with antique quilts) and carefully chosen local wines and beer created the relaxed environment we were looking for and a sit-down, four course meal gave us the opportunity to celebrate with our closest loved ones in a small personal setting.

My wife and I look to our parents as living roadmaps to a successful marriage (after all they’ve managed to make it work for some 40 odd years themselves) so a simple way we chose to honor them was to use their wedding colors as our own, blue for my folks and yellow for hers. My sister is famous for her homemade jam’s, so it was a “no-brainer” to gift our guests with her Banana Jam, our personal favorite (so much so that it also made its way as a filling into one of our five different wedding cakes). We were also able to hunt down and put on display old family photo’s of couples going back five generations on each side of our growing family tree.

My wife and I are embarrassingly obsessed with surrounding ourselves with antiques, so why would our wedding be any different? A few of our favorite items were: an antique typewriter serving as our “guest book” (also used when we addressed our invitations), a 1901 gramophone used during our first dance, a 1950’s Chevy pick-up truck used as our “get-away” vehicle and selected vintage Dallas postcards used as place settings.

For days after the wedding we heard over and over again that the night was “soooo you two”… and to us that’s the best compliment we could ever receive.

Wedding Photography: Sarah Kate, Photographer / Floral Design: Bows and Arrows / Event Planning: After Yes / Ceremony + Reception Location: Hickory Street Annex / DJ: Astounding Sounds / Catering: Two Sisters / Cakes: Sugar Bee Sweets / Officiant: Love Notes / Ceremony Music: Serenata Strings / Hair + Make-up: Haute Facade / Invitations + Wooden Signs: Elefant Press / Bride’s Shoes: BHLDN / Exit Car: Dallas Classic Chevy

If I looked this cute the day after my wedding, I definitely would have had a fabulous photographer like Haley Sheffield snap images of me and my hubby frolicking in a field with flowers and doily garlands. This couple is seriously cute and basking in the glow of their post wedding day bliss. If their day after shoot was this amazing, I can only imagine how gorgeous their actual wedding was! Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From The Photography of Haley Sheffield…Matt and Abbie’s day after session was incredibly special. There are some FABULOUS Southern vendors involved in the making of this session, in addition to the lovely Jannie Baltzer headpiece that Abbie wears for the second half of the session. Vintage rentals, fresh flowers, handmade paper goods… it has all sorts of charm.

Location: Private Home + Barn / Photography: The Photography of Haley Sheffield / Vintage Rentals: Four Inch Fold / Floral Design: Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio / Paper Goods (Doily Envelope, Hand-stitched Initial Invite, DIY Doily Bunting): A Darling Day / Bridal Headpiece: Jannie Baltzer / Groom’s Attire: J.Crew / Wedding Dress: Enzoani

My What I love About This Wedding list for this breathtaking Cape Cod soiree at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club by Eric Laurits would be a mile long. Maybe two miles. I wouldn’t even know where to begin – the bride’s Oscar de la Renta gown? The Mother of the Bride’s gorgeous Monique Lhuillier gown? The charming Cape Cod scenery mixed with black tie elegance? It’s impossible to decide what I love most, so I think I’ll just spend the day drooling over all the lovely in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Eric Laurtis took the most beautiful pictures of our wedding July 24th, 2011 at the Wequassett Inn in Chatham, Massachusetts.  

Buzzie and I met six years ago, and fell in love during our first summer spent together in Cape Cod.  Our families both have homes in Cape Cod, so when we got engaged it was a no-brainer that we would want to be getting married in the Cape.  My wedding was planned by me in New York city, with the help of my family with all the details. The Wequassett Inn was the most beautiful colorful, and perfect backdrop for our wedding, so I wanted to keep the flowers and the rest of the wedding all shades of white.  

My Aunt, Diane Valle had owned a flower store in Boston growing up, and though she retired from that she so generously offered to do my wedding flowers.  We spent countless hours looking at magazines for inspiration, and also wanted to celebrate the natural beauty and flowers that are at the Cape.  

I am a buyer at Saks Fifth Avenue, so I was obsessed with finding the perfect dress and bridesmaid dresses. My dress was Oscar de la Renta, I tried on the runway sample, 1 week after the spring 2011 collections walked, and ordered that dress immediately.  I scoured the marketplace for the perfect bridesmaid dresses, and finally picked those amazing Notte by Marchesa bridesmaid dresses off the rack. I then searched for the perfect mother of the bride dress for my mother and found the most amazing green Monique Lhuillier dress. 

My grandmother painted small paintings of flowers to give away as wedding gifts as people left.   My wedding couldn’t have come out more perfectly, and we had the most amazingly beautiful evening of celebrating love and family!

Wedding Photography: :e: – Eric Laurits / Floral Design: Diane Valle / Ceremony + Reception Location: Wequassett Resort and Golf Club / Invitations: Ceci New York / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress: Oscar de la Renta / Bridesmaid Dresses: Notte by Marchesa / Mother of the Bride: Monique Lhuillier / Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister /Makeup: Dani Wagener

Welcome back LBBers! We’ve got some oh-so-pretty weddings to share this week, but before I get too far into this feature, I have to warn you – get your bags out, because when you see this Colorado wedding (which took place in November!) you are going to be booking it to the airport to make your way to the Colorado Rockies. It’s that beautiful. The fantastic floral design from Swank Stems – Fine Floral Fashion is perfect for the crisp mountain air. And the wedding itself? A spectacular mix of love, family, style, and amazing colors – all photographed spectacularly by Jenna Walker Photographers. In fact, there is a image gallery packed to the bursting point with more of this gorg wedding, so click here to see that!

From the Groom … My most vivid memories of the day include taking an early morning run across the beautiful ranch, passing by the cabins where my bride and her bridesmaids were getting ready, enjoying the solitude of the open valley, and envisioning the amazing day to come.  Also, the paired grooms and bridesmaids slowly winding their way through the meadow and down to the alter, followed by my gorgeous bride-to-be.

From the Bride … I love the photos of the bridesmaids amongst the aspen trees.  The contrast of the blue dresses with the tall trees is gorgeous.  I also love the photos of Geoff and I just after our ceremony when we walked around the ranch.  Jenna Walker Photography captured the sun’s rays of light beaming through us and nature in a way that appears so magical.

Wedding Planner: ZaZen Event Design / Venue: Devil’s Thumb Ranch / Photographer: Jenna Walker Photographers / Floral Design: Swank Stems – Fine Floral Fashion / Cinematography: Sky Focus Films / Invitation Designer: The Paper Guppy / Cupcakes: Bites Cupcakes / Wedding Gown: Watters / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Amsale

Rise and shine lovelies, because we here at SMP headquarters cannot wait to get this Monday morning started. Why might you you ask? Well, we have been sitting on this wedding by Laurie Bailey Photography where southern charm meets Hollywood glamour all weekend, and we can’t keep it from you any longer! It’s all just so perfect I could kiss it. From the bride’s stunning Monique Lhuillier gown to the black tie glamour to the hunt club venue – it’s completely divine, and you can see even more in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Laurie Bailey Photography…Krissy and Chris live in the glamorous world of Hollywood, California. Chris, a top agent at William Morris/Endeavor, represents some of the best-known directors in the world – artists including Martin Scorcese, Milos Forman, Michael Winterbottom and Barry Sonnenfeld. Krissy works for the Noreen Fraser Foundation, a non-profit focusing on women’s cancers – a cause close to her heart as she, herself is a cancer survivor who underwent chemotherapy as she planned this unsurpassable wedding. To all, this day was a profound and special celebration on many levels.

While their everyday lives are all about the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Krissy grew up in the lovely Southern town of Charlottesvile, Virginia and wanted her nuptials to embody the tradition and classic Southern charm epitomized by the spectacular Keswick Hall. But they also wanted to add touches of understated, classic Hollywood glamour to pay homage to those who paved the way for their successes.

The muted colors for the reception were chosen with that in mind: creams and browns with a touch of a pale green – organic, traditional, clean, crisp. Barbara Shiflett, the event designer, brought in a spectacular, clear tent for the reception and used oversized green drum shades for the lighting…. keeping with organic hues and hinting of the 1940’s, which is a period for which Chris has a fondness and which pulled in that old Hollywood feel. A jazz trio played during dinner, adding to the atmosphere.

The wedding day began in true Southern style as Chris and his groomsmen took a walk at dawn through the Virginia countryside with 50 bloodhounds, courtesy of the Keswick Hunt Club! Truly a sight to behold.

In lieu of a guest book, Krissy and Chris used an old, vintage typewriter… both a nod to Chris’ work with Hollywood writers and directors as well as to the 40’s. During cocktail hour, waiters tray passed mouth-wateringly innovative Southern fare such as Shrimp and Grits, served in tiny skillets.

On the tables with the florals were placed tiny bird’ s nests, a delicate detail and symbol of new beginnings – embodying the move beyond Krissy’s past health challenges and toward a beautiful new life together.

But one of the most spectacular moments of the day took place when all the guests adjourned to the outdoor terrace after dinner to release Chinese wish-lanterns into the October night sky…with each guest given a single lantern to release. The sight of one hundred and thirty two lanterns slowly drifting up over the back of Keswick Hall into darkness was something that they guests will not soon forget.

The celebration continued into the wee hours at Fossetts, the restaurant at Keswick Hall, where a checkerboard dance floor gracefully transformed the room into an old Hollywood nightclub. After dancing the night away, the couple rode off into the moonlight in a horse and buggy. A truly spectacular wedding!

Venue: Keswick Hall / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Ties: Brooks Brothers / Wedding Bands: Tiffany & Co. / Event Stylist: Barbara Shifflett / Wedding Photography: Laurie Bailey Photography / Horse Drawn Carriage: Hundley Carriage / Floral Design: Floral Images / Transportation: B2B Transportation / Reception Tent: Skyline Tent Company / Vintage Car: Albemarle Vintage Limousines / Rentals: Festive Fare Rentals / Rehearsal Dinner Catering: Harvest Moon / Bluegrass Band: Andy Thacker / Jazz Trio: John Dearth / Ceremony Music (strings): Jennifer Myer / DJ: Patrick Critzer / Make-up: Daphne Latham / Hair: Tobey Tyler + Charles Fernyough

You’re pretty much guaranteed a fabulous Monday when you start the day off with a stunning soiree such as this one captured by Ulysses Photography.  In fact, with its breathtaking setting and darling DIY details, I predict an entire week of lovely thanks to this charming mountain affair.  Plus, when you read the gorgeous bride’s description of the day, I guarantee you’ll fall head over heels for this adorable duo.  (They are awesome.)  So, sit back, relax and spend some time in the gallery.  There is so much more pretty to be seen!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… What is it that makes a wedding truly epic? By end of our magical day, I can comfortably answer that question: focusing your energy on making your friends and family a part of what makes your love and lives together unique. For Greg and I that meant we needed to envelop our guests in crazy delicious food, potent, lip-smacking drinks, music that rips you out of your seat, and personal touches that evoke the true friendship and love we have for each other. Together we have traveled far and wide for amazing, farm-to-table cuisine, so for our wedding, Blue Mountain Bistro in Kingston, NY was an easy choice. They focus on local, seasonal ingredients and they even sourced a grass fed cow for us to offer as our beef option. Awesome. Our cake was an ice cream cake made by Jane’s Ice Cream in the Hudson Valley; it was the best cake anyone had tasted.  As many couples choose to do, we offered a signature drink at cocktail hour, which was a mint julep – highlighting our love for bourbon (you naughty, delicious beast you).

We sprinkled personal touches throughout the day. Greg and I each wrote our own vows and during the ceremony we passed our wedding bands through the crowd in a small, white satchel, so each loved one could silently bless our rings. Our rings were handmade by a young, Brooklynite jewelry designer, Salt and Stone. We designed our programs (Greg is a graphic designer – super helpful) and offered bubble soap to each guest at the ceremony. Our seating card table was spattered with family wedding pictures as far back as grandparents. Our tables were named after streets in Brooklyn that are important to us; we simply took pictures of the street signs and mounted them on cardstock. I’m a singer in a cover rock band named The Subscribers. My band played a set in the middle of the evening – I sang Walkin’ on Sunshine and there was confetti and oversized beach balls being tossed about everywhere.

To jog all my wonderful memories as I write this, I’m looking at the photography done by Ulysses Photography – a husband and wife team of titanic magnitude. Not only did Jenni and Ulysses capture every smile, every tear, every laugh and every rock and roll hand sign, they inexplicably captured the emotions and feelings of the day in artful candids that portray the life within each moment. I actually found the beautiful venue at which we were married, Onteora Mountain House, looking through wedding photography sites in the weeks after Greg and I were engaged and finding Ulysses’ beautiful photos of another wedding at this location – they were the first vendor I had to have and the rest easily fell into place shortly thereafter.

It’s relatively simple – your wedding is just one, enormous party and the more you’re able to inject facets of what make your relationship special, the more your guests will find themselves sinking deeply into a magical world of wedded bliss. My only complaint is that we couldn’t do it all over again the following weekend!

Wedding Photography: Ulysses Photography / Floral Design: Green Cottage / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: Onteora Mountain House / Catering: Blue Mountain Bistro / Wedding Cake: Jane’s Ice Cream / Bride’s Shoes: Diane B / Wedding Dress: Christos / Bridesmaid Dresses: Watters & Watters / Hair + Make-up: Dorothy of Pretty Bird Bridal / Earrings: Ellie Rose Designs / Rings: Salt & Stone / Band: The Subscribers Foundation / DJ: 74 Events

I am just swooning over this engagement session by Bella Chic Photography.  It doesn’t get much more adorable than a vintage picnic for two complete with balloons.  Plus I’m secretly coveting this bride-to-be’s outfit.  This is such a simple and sweet way to dress up an engagement shoot and have a little bit of fun while you’re at it.  See it all in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Bella Chic Photography…Adrianne & Derrick wanted two things for their engagement session: vintage and picnic; so we went to an old, run-down, U-Pick Farm in Southern Florida and the location worked out perfectly. The tall green grass, the old Cola bottles, the vintage picnic basket & the colorful balloons and flowers gave the perfect aesthetic to their beautiful shoot!

Photography: Brittany Elaine Purscell of Bella Chic Photography

It’s Saturday LBBers! And you know what that means – time for a little wedding film eye candy. Classic Pixels Films sent this one our way from Louisville – and it features the wedding of two adorable lovebirds. They had been together for nine years by the time he dropped to one knee, so the lovely bride had a long list of DIY projects to create the perfect wedding. That she did – and it was captured by Classic Pixels Films in a highlight that is sure to put a smile on your face!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/30990025 601 338]

Marty and Kristina met over a decade ago when they were in high school through mutual friends. They met at an event called “Rock the Water Tower,” a fall music festival in Louisville. That was fitting because they have gone on to see over 100 concerts together since they met. Marty went to an all boy’s catholic school & Kristina was at an all girls academy. They instantly became friends and spent every bit a free time together that their parents would allow. They spent most of their “dates” playing video games with friends and at the gym working out. Marty & Kristina both spent a year at the University of Kentucky after high school where Kristina was on the dance team. They quickly discovered that the new city was not for them and moved back home to attend the University of Louisville. Kristina & Marty graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in Nursing & Marketing respectively. Kristina went on to work as a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a local children’s hospital and Marty attended the University of Louisville’s law school. Marty is now Assistant prosecutor for the County Attorney in Louisville.

Oddly enough, they never talked about getting married, or engagement rings, it was always understood that they would be together though. Marty popped the question on his mom’s birthday, their nine year anniversary, as a surprise to both of them. And boy was it! Kristina’s mom snapped the perfect picture as Kristina said, “YES”. Kristina’s whole family was there for the big moment and the rest is history.

Marty gave Kristina a gum ball machine ring he found in the junk drawer at his parents’ house, that we later found to glow in the dark. He figured he’d let her choose for herself what she would be wearing for the rest of her life. Kristina wore the hideous pink, glittery, glow in the dark ring proudly until she got the real thing. Now the ring resides in a shadow box in front of the photo captured by Kristina’s mom. They knew they wanted the wedding to be a family affair, so they incorporated as many family members as possible in the ceremony.

They were both raised catholic, so the wedding took place at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Louisville, where Kristina went to grade school. Marty’s uncle was the priest, his aunts were the cantors, both of their living grandmothers were lectors, his second cousins were the flower girl and ring bearer, and the bride and groom’s sisters were bridesmaids.

The Wedding ceremony was a modern twist on the catholic prayer service. The couple wrote their own vows and included a poem about the hands of the husband and wife and all they will do for another in the future. Their program included a “wedding map”, which mapped out placed in the city where they met, got engaged, where the ceremony, reception, and hotel was located. The program also included a list of 25 things the couple wants to accomplish before their 25th wedding anniversary, and a horoscope that went with the “earthy” theme, entitled, which Tree did you fall from?. 

The bride has always enjoyed crafts, so she decided that she would coordinate, design, and organize the whole event on her own. She was obsessed with bridal inspiration websites throughout the engagement and handmade every decoration used at the wedding and reception with the help of her lovely bridesmaids. The décor was fall themed – earthy, and vintage all in one. Music has always been a huge part of their lives together, so they had a string quartet, harp, and trumpet at the ceremony, which sounded beautiful in the old church.

Upon arrival to the reception, guests found their place cards which were rocks with their names on them. The tables were named after concerts that Marty & Kristina had been to. While the guests waited on the bridal party to arrive, they made themselves busy with the photo booth, and the local art work at the reception site. Kristina painted a bare tree on four separate canvases, and had ink placed next to each one that corresponded to the seasons. Guests used the ink to make thumb prints on the canvas. After the wedding Marty & Kristina were left with four beautiful pieces of art for their home.

Kristina collected wedding photos from parents, grandparents, great grand parents, and even beyond that for a memory table that doubled as a family tree.

On the head table, Kristina made frames for each of the bridal party members with a short biography in them for their place cards. The night was filled with dancing. One of the groomsmen did a Michael Jackson tribute including props. The limbo stick made an appearance, and during one of the DJ sets, glow sticks were handed out to “light” up the dance floor. Overall, the night was full of love, happiness, and just plain fun. A night that no one in attendance will soon forget!

Florist: The Blossom Shop / Ceremony: St. Elizabeth’s of Hungary / Reception: Mellwood Arts Center / Caterer: Rolling Pin Catering  / Entertainment: Fusionary / Cinematography: Classic Pixels Films / Photography: Miller Photography

Can you even believe that we’ve already found ourselves at the last month in 2011? Pretty soon we’ll be ringing in 2012, but not before we take a moment to meet the latest advertisers that have joined our big, happy, SMP family.  So please join us in welcoming them to the group, we’re just tickled pink to have them with us as we head into the holidays and all the celebration that the season calls for! So Welcome, everyone! We sure are glad you’re here!

Getting us started today is Wanderable, who is going to be your newest obsession if you’re one who loves making memories and traveling to new places. Which is pretty much all of us, right? If you’re looking for a place to create a totally personalized, easy-peasy honeymoon registry that isn’t going to charge you an arm and a leg in the process, then you simply must check out Wanderable and start dreaming of far away lands! Oh the places you’ll go!

Wanderable’s wish is for couples to focus on making memories with their loved ones, not accumulating more stuff. And they’re going to help all of you soon-to-be-married’s by allowing you to make beautiful honeymoon registries for free. Now we’ve got your attention, huh? Free and stylish honeymoon registries, all with no ads…its like a dream come true! They don’t take any percentages or fees (credit card payments from your guests are made through PayPal) leaving you free to personalize your registry with a photograph, personal note, wedding details and any images of your choice. So don’t wait any longer, click here for the tour and pretty soon you’ll be packing your bags for the trip of a lifetime. Create, Share, Go! With Wanderable, it’s just that easy.

You know that feeling you get when you walk into a store and immediately feel at home, like this place was made just for you? Everthine, a bridal boutique centrally located on the Connecticut Shoreline in Madison, CT was created with the unique and modern bride in mind. Upon entering those doors, you will feel a vintage nostalgia that will make your heart flutter. And that is even before you get to the dresses.

With their original hardwood floors, exposed wooden beams, stone fireplaces and natural sunlight, all held neatly together in a 1740’s antique home, Everthine is the perfect place to get to the business of finding your dream dress. And with Designers from Jenny Packham to Sarah Seven, they carry high-end designers large and small, all of whom portray vintage details, soft elegance and bohemian spirit. All dresses are hand selected with the unique bride in mind and are chosen to make you feel special, different and one-of-a-kind. In addition to feminine, elegant gowns, Everthine also carries unique headpieces, vintage jewelry and more so that you can personalize your wedding style from head to toe all in one, dreamy, charming place.

Images by Michelle Gardella Photography

And because we can’t get our head out of the traveling clouds today, we’re excited to introduce you to Bungolow, which is a new, members-only travel club featuring upscale Latin American hotels at rates of up to 50% off! Start packing now! Each hotel and resort is hand-selected and reviewed by the Bungolow team for quality of service, amenities and character so that you know you’re getting the best of the best. And best of all, membership is free so you can indulge your senses with getaways from cozy beachfront escapes to majestic city retreats and even enchanting vineyards.

Bungolow provides its members with access to premium hotels and resorts coupled with candid, honest reviews to ensure that you select a property that fits your travel style. Because of its private sales model, membership is provided on a referral basis, but because Bungolow wants to share the love with us, SMP Readers can receive instant membership to Bungolow by using the code: VACATION. Register here before 12/17/11 and receive $15 in credits towards your first booking. Bungolow wants to know what’s in your honeymoon and vacation dreams. One reader will receive a $250 credit to use on www.bungolow.com. To enter, comment below describing your fantasy getaway (doesn’t need to be one featured on Bungolow).  Get all the latest info from Bungolow by following them on Twitter: @Bungolow and Like them on Facebook: Facebook.com/Bungolow  And happy traveling!

Well there you have it, we hope you love our newest Advertisers as much as we do. Although with honeymoon registries, bridal boutiques and travel discounts, you can’t really go wrong! Make sure to check everyone out, you’ll love what you see. And have a very happy holiday season!

Happy Friday all you lovely Style Me Pretty readers!  You are probably getting ready to start your weekend full of gift-shopping, hot cocoa-sipping and tree-trimming but we just couldn’t end this already amazing week of wedding inspiration without sharing a North Carolina engagement shoot by Lauren Jackson Photography.  It serves up a serious dose of cuteness that makes are DIY-loving hearts go pitter-patter.  How absolutely chic are these stylish soul mates?  And the fabulousness doesn’t stop at the outfits.  Every detail is perfectly crafted and oh-so-easy to do at home!  See them all in the full gallery!  We wish you all a wonderful weekend and can’t wait to see you back here on Monday!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Anthropology meets Urban Outfitters. We wanted our engagement pictures to be fun and light hearted, a reflection of us.  Everything around weddings can be perceived as “stuffy” or too formal or “too black and white…” We wanted to make sure that our engagement shoot really showed our personalities by bringing in a lot of color, smiles and personal touches from our everyday lives. We have lived in so many places and our personal world/home is surrounded by memories of our travels and life experiences. It was important to us to incorporate that into our pictures. Also, we enter this marriage with a hyper-active child already, our puppy Koda.  He’s such a dominant part of our lives and it was important to us to incorporate him into the shoot, as well. 

The way I see it, your wedding is the most important day in OUR life so it should be special for everyone involved. The problem is, food is eaten, bands shut down and cake goes bad….PICTURES are what help you remember the day and what lead up to it…we wanted our pictures to help us remember who we were, who we are, and the special days leading up to our wedding.

Photography: Lauren Jackson Photography / Adorable Dog: “Koda” the Vizsla / Flower Shoes: Steve Madden / Boots: Mossimo via Target / Bride’s Skirt & Scarf: Urban Outfitters / Groom’s Attire: Urban Outfitters / Pink Dress: Bevello / Groom’s Hat: Disneyland / Bride’s Hat: Target / Ampersand, Chalkboard Thought Bubbles: DIY, The Bride / Austin Snow Globe: Gift /  Round Frame: Consignment

If you missed any, here are all of our pretty posts from the week:

a classic Pacific Palisades soiree
a breathtaking Bali affair
a dreamy Long Beach soiree
an elegant Manhattan wedding
an uber-romantic St. Louis affair
a rustic glam Spokane soiree
a stunning Boston inspiration shoot
a day filled with eight gorgeous weddings
an uber-romantic Seattle photo shoot
a modern New York affair
a gorgeous San Diego photo shoot
a beyond beautiful Temecula soiree
fabulous Texas inspiration
a perfectly pink Ojai wedding

Some fabulous links from around the web:

Abby shares her Top 4 Most Inspiring Weddings of the Week via Glamour
fun DIY clay lollipop ornaments via Creature Comforts
lovely felt ball garland via Oh Happy Day
Abby’s list of fun ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve via Working Mother
fabulous holiday wedding ideas via Tres Sugar
Abby picks her favorite frocks via Weddington Way
the always stylish Kim Fusaro’s Top 3 Dresses of the Week: Trailing Lace Edition via Glamour

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Little Black Book members…

Trisha Dean Events
Erich McVey Photography
Events of Distinction
Sadie’s Couture Floral & Event Styling
Grand Engagements

To apply to become a member of our LBB click here.  We’d love to hear from you!

And last, but certainly not least… we have some winners to announce!

Jennifer Davis Photography selected one lucky winner to receive a free lifestyle photo shoot in New York City.  Congratulations to Emily!

The winner of the $250 M&J Bridal Salon Gift Card is Katie Zabriskie!  Congratulations, Katie!

Have a pretty, pretty weekend!  See you back here Monday morning. xoxo

Just like visions of sugarplums, another week of stunningly pretty soirees has danced right on by. I suppose when surrounded by such lovely affairs all week long, time is bound to fly by as it does. Lucky for us, we have a breathtaking Florida engagement session from Love Tif to send us off into our weekend right. Enjoy it, and then meet me back here Monday morning for another wonder-filled week! xoxo

Photography by Love Tif. Click here for more!

The week at a pretty, pretty glance:

a cute as a button couple in an Atlanta highlight film
a modern Marie Antoinette inspiration shoot from San Jose
a beautiful Canadian soiree with a romantic, vintage ambiance
a lovely bride whom we love in this Connecticut wedding
an extraordinarily fresh engagement sesh a la San Dimas
a rustic glam California fête of two high school sweethearts
a perfect Washington D.C. affair filled with sweet + rustic deets
a sweet, sweet southern soiree in a North Carolina train station
a gorgeous and oh-so-luxe Charleston manor wedding

Three of our very favorite links from around the web:

a perfect Christmas wedding color palette we’d love to see come true via The Sweetest Occasion
a perfect Sex and the City proposal in the city of Carrie, Miranda, Sam, and Charlotte via Perfect Bound
a GORGeous bit of snowed-in winter wedding inspiration via Green Wedding Shoes

Ryan Ray and his gorgeous film photography are our Friday heroes. And how could they not be when you can literally see and feel the love oozing out of each and every image? All of us here at SMP are going all sorts of gaga over this romantically classic wedding today and I’m sure you’ll understand (and share) our obsession once you see all the simple and sweet details coming your way. Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…I have to bashfully admit my vision for our wedding didn’t really start coming together until I found my wedding dress. I originally thought I wanted a really modern, stylish wedding based around the elegant black and white damask print. The course I had originally envisioned for my wedding completely changed directions when I found the dress! After trying on 40 wedding dresses, the last dress I tried on brought me to tears and was my inspiration in planning the rest of the wedding. As soon as I found my wedding dress I was reminded of the old movies that I love and Grace Kelly! I realized I wanted to achieve a romantic, classic feel for our wedding. I wanted it to be simple and sweet; for our family and friends to be able to say- ‘This is SO Ben and Jess.’

After Ben and I relentlessly toured several wedding venues in Florida, we came to the understanding that what we were looking for may not be in our home state. We ventured to Rhode Island to visit family, and stumbled upon the perfect venue for us. The Towers in Narragansett is a romantic venue combined with elements of sweet historic charm. We were ecstatic, and for the next six months we aggressively planned a long distance wedding through email and Skype chats.

The colors for our wedding were a combination of tans, ivories and pale pinks. We tried to play off the amazing brick and cobblestone architecture of the Towers when determining the wedding colors and striving to reach that romantic look. We tried to keep it simple with the decorations, relying on the natural beauty of the venue and the understanding that we were going to be limited in how many decorations we could travel with!

The sweet touches were added by our family and friends. My mom made all the lovely table runners and my sister-in-law baked the remarkable cupcakes. It meant so much to have these personal touches in our wedding. This wedding would not have been possible without the immense support of our family and friends. Being surrounded by the people we love was most important to us and truly made our wedding day special.

Wedding Photography: Ryan Ray Photography / Venue: The Towers / Hair: Dellaria / Cupcakes: Raspberry Eggplant / Caterer: Simply Devine Catering / Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Floral Design: Weedweavers of Wakefield / Film Work: Richard Photo