From the moment I opened this Charleston wedding, I have not been able to stop soaking up every romantic, classic detail. It was the Monique Lhuillier dress that drew me in. That luxe, gorgeous dress. I quickly fell in love with the grounds of Middleton Place, and was enamored by the sword ceremony – and the sense of history it added to the special day. Every fantastic detail, all courtesy of Red Letter Events, has my head spinning in a full pretty parade. Captured by Kate was on hand to capture every memory of the day – and there is a full image gallery with even more, waiting for us all right here!

After spending months searching for the perfect ring, I set out in route for Charleston on Friday, November 5th. Kate new that we were planning to go to Charleston for the weekend, but she thought we were going to celebrate homecoming at The Citadel with friends. Once we got there, we spent time together walking the streets of Charleston and reminiscing on all of the fun times we spent there. When it was time for dinner, I surprised her by driving outside of town to Middleton Place Plantation where we had reservations at their restaurant. Kate and I have always had a special place in our heart for Middleton Place, and we spent many a nights walking the grounds, sipping wine until the sun went down before heading over for dinner at the restaurant. At one point, this was a date we would have together on almost a weekly basis. Dinner was outstanding, and afterward I proposed to Kate on the plantation. It was beautiful, and she said yes!

The inspiration for our wedding was the venue itself! The simplicity of Middleton Place was really the inspiration behind all wedding colors and style. The bridesmaid’s dresses were sable to compliment the greenery around the plantation. I chose lime green, poppy, and gold as colors for the ceremony and reception.   We incorporated moss in the big S hanging behind the wedding cake and also had moss covered pots with floral arrangements on many of the tables. We had poppy colored linens on almost all tables and had a poppy and gold striped stage skirt. That was one of my favorite touches.

It is a Citadel tradition to have the Sword detail consisting 6 Citadel Cadets creating an archway of swords for us to walk under as we exit the ceremony aisle.

Stacey, Missy and the entire crew at Red Letter Events made the entire evening truly magical.They were right by my side if I ever needed them and made the evening seem effortless! Throughout the planning, Stacey listened to my thoughts and dreams and helped to make them a reality.  It was perfect!

Planner: Red Letter Events / Ceremony: Butterfly Lakes at Middleton Place / Reception: Pavilion at Middleton Place / Caterer: Duvall Catering / Bar: Duvall / Ceremony Music: Classical Charleston / Reception Music: Gentlemen & Their Lady / Photographer: Captured by Kate / Florist: Lotus / Pastry: Ashley Bakery / Rentals: Duvall, Eventworks, PDA Lighting, & BBJ Linens / Bride Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bridesmaid Dress: Badgley Mischka

I don’t think I could love a wedding any more than I love this one. I’m completely smitten with it’s perfectly pink hues, gorgeous vistas, and the fact that the entire family chipped in and got their DIY on for the big day. This intimate wedding truly was a labor of love and everyone on the guest list contributed in some way, helping to create a feeling of inclusion and love. Sigh. This sweet fete truly reflects what weddings are all about. Paige Lowe Photography snapped gorgeous image after gorgeous image and there’s tons more waiting for you in the gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Our wedding was a family production from start to finish.We were married at my husband’s parents’ home in Ojai, California, where they operate a private vineyard and small farm.  Despite being busy doctors, they love to cook and prepared most of wedding dishes for our 100 guests.  Imagine having a home cooked meal at your wedding!  My husband and I come from multi-cultural families, so we created a menu to reflect our many heritages.  This included cuisines from Italian, Mexican, African American, Jewish and Californian traditions.  All of the wine served at the wedding was grown, prepared and bottled on the land.

Contributions from family and friends did not stop at the wedding dinner: my sister/maid-of-honor is a pastry chef and she baked all of our amazing wedding desserts; my stepmother styled my hair; the nurses from my mother-in-law’s hospital volunteered to be our servers; our cousin acted as DJ;  my brother-in-law played acoustic guitar during the procession; and our siblings and friends helped us do everything from hand paint decor pieces to shovel cow remnants from the pasture where we were married! It truly was a family affair.  And while the week leading up to the event likely resembled a circus coming to town, the end product was an inclusive celebration in which everyone involved felt a small piece of ownership.  It was the best wedding gift that we could have hoped for.

Tables + Lights: Events Rents / Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham / Flowers: Yamaguchi Florists / Wedding Photography: Paige Lowe Photography / Wedding Day Coordinator: Veronica Johnson / Desserts: Sister of the Bride / Dinner: Groom’s Parents / Decor: The Bride + Friends / DJ: DJ Ton Sol

Love is sweet and this Melbourne wedding by Tom Blachford Photography is just about the sweetest way to celebrate it!  It is the perfect mix of vintage elegance and eclectic whimsy.  We are especially gaga over the gorgeous, lavender bridesmaids dresses and the delicate corsage each lovely lady wore on her wrist.  The rest of the details are just as lovely and they can all be found in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We always knew that we wanted to have our ceremony in a place that meant something to us and that was unique in the sense that nobody else had married there before. So choosing my mother’s newly renovated 1930’s house in Hawthorn was an easy decision to make!  The girls and I got ready upstairs which made for a no-stress and relaxing morning and the staircase provided the perfect entry for the ceremony. I walked down the aisle to ‘Arabesque’ by Debussy which is the song I always knew I’d walk down the aisle to. Our ceremony was short and sweet and my beautiful sister read a poem she had written for us which was a really special moment.

It was raining all day but luckily it held off while we were getting our photos in the gardens! We chose the Port Melbourne Yacht Club as our reception venue for its endless ocean views. Being great lovers of the beach and the sea, the venue spoke volumes of our relaxed personalities. We definitely did not want a ‘curtain and carpets’ formal kind of set up!

Music is a subject close to both of our hearts so having our friends’ jazz band play for the first part of the reception was absolutely perfect! But we also had a few hours of our favorite 60’s, 70’s & 80’s hits on the iPod for dancing later which was so much fun.

When it came to the flowers I wanted them to look very natural as though they’d just been picked and randomly put into jars, accompanied by tea-light candles. Lilacs, delphiniums and roses were what I went with as the colors tied in to the lilac color of the bridesmaid dresses and the colors of my bouquet.

Aaron and I both really love lollies so choosing personalized rock candy as our bonbonniere was a no brainer! I sourced the jars myself online, had the ‘Love Is Sweet’ stickers made on Etsy and chose the material myself to top them off – they also doubled as the guest place cards. It took quite a while for them to come together but the end result was great and everyone loved them!

Instead of a traditional guestbook, I found these amazing vintage style Penguin Publishing postcards from Anthropologie which we displayed on a table for our guests to sign. Reading through them the next day was so much fun and there were a few tears, and lots of laughter.

We had the most perfect day and everything went to plan and we are both enjoying married life more and more every day!

Wedding Photography: Tom Blachford Photography / Floral Design: The Lone Hydrangea / Event Design + Planning: The Bride / Ceremony Location: Private Residence / Reception Location: The Port Melbourne Yacht Club / Invitations: Speedgraphic / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Dress: Aire Barcelona / Bridesmaid Dresses: Lisa Brown / Hairpiece: Stephanie Browne / Groom’s Suit: Peter Jackson / Wedding Cake: Love At First Bite

This is such a tremendously sweet wedding.  Not only because of the details which are, don’t get me wrong, as pretty as can be, but for the sentiment and love that went into each and every planning decision that this bride and groom made.  They celebrated their love for each other and for their family members, both those who were present in person and in spirit, in some of the loveliest ways imaginable.  NovaMarkina Photography captured every precious moment and every romantic, vintage detail.  Click here to see them all!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the groom…Our day was special before we even got married, before we even got engaged. Our day was special for a very different reason, our day is the day Alisha’s Grandmother passed away; it’s been 8 years as of this year. So before we planned a single detail, we knew this day would be special.

We planned a day of nostalgia, we planned a day of family, we planned a day of décor looking as if it wasn’t planned, but rather – meant to be – LIKE US! The challenge was to create a special day out of an already special day – create a day that was a bittersweet reminder of Granny Kit – a day that was about us – but also about all of our guests. We started with us..

We like old things – we live in a century home, we go to antique shows and shops, we breathe new life into old things. Our home is proof. We chose the oldest, most beautiful church we could imagine, St. Peter’s. People often gasp when they come in, the beauty of St. Peter’s to us was it’s beauty – we only needed a single decoration – posie pockets. Alisha’s Grandma Jacquie lovingly hand-stitched one by one, then she hand starched them with Great-Grandma’s starch recipe 17 in total, each one as perfect as the next.

Next came the venue – we were sticky on this – how does a couple go about having a massive family wedding in somewhere other than a hall or tent? The London Club was perfect – a tight squeeze for 200, but perfect, established in the 1800’s as an “old boys club” it has maintained its nostalgia, class, and charm while allowing for some updates and female members. The next way we brought “us” into the day was in décor. Not only were most items antiques that we hunted and searched for over a year but they allowed for some DIY too. Table numbers were antique prescriptions with numbers stenciled over top, all the other candles were a mish-mash of old and new, some borrowed that were all unique and beautiful in their own way. The crates around the room added a rustic element that we were looking for amidst the ivory linens and clean candle light. The bottles on the tables are all pharmacy bottles (the groom is a pharmacist – hence why the table numbers and bottles work) they were borrowed from the pharmacy Mike works at and had about 50 years of dust and who knows what else on them when they were dug out of the basement!

A reoccurring theme was a tandem bike which we loved as it symbolized being on the same journey together. The save the dates, the table stationery and cake topper all followed this theme. We brought family into our day by displaying pictures of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days with the verse: “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”. We cut our cake with the groom’s grandparents serving set used at their 50th wedding anniversary and subsequently at all grandchildren’s weddings after.

Now to bring in Alisha’s Grandmother.. Alisha wore her Grandmother’s earrings, the same ones Granny Kit wore on HER wedding day years before.  We danced to her Grandmother’s favorite song, Elvis’ “Love Me Tender” –according to Granny Kit – it was the only REAL love song. In lieu of traditional wedding favors, a donation was made to Strathroy Hospital, where each of the 19 of Granny Kit’s grandchildren were born and where we said goodbye to Granny Kit 8 years ago.

The day was perfect, the nostalgia was there, our family was there, and most importantly, the loved ones who couldn’t be there – were there.

Ceremony Location: St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica / Reception Location: The London Club / Transportation: Checker Limousine + Tourism London / Wedding Photography: Nova Markina of NovaMarkina Photography / Hair: Hair by Lindsey Boyd / Make-up: Janet Entwistle of Face Trends / Floral Design: Olive Lane Floral / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman via Zappos / Bride’s Hairpiece: Prim and Posies / Bride’s Earrings: Her Grandmother’s (who wore them on her wedding day too!) / Groom’s Suite + Shoes: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Shirt: Nordstrom / Groom + Groomsmen Bowties + Pocket Squares: The Belle & The Beau / Custom Hangers: DIY Brides via Etsy / String Quartet: String Classics / Band: The Doug Varty Band/ Invites, Table Numbers, Guest Book, Drink Flags, Seating Chart: DIY / Cake: IncrEDIBLES by Lani

This gorgeous garden wedding is so perfectly simple and beautiful that I’m not exactly sure where to even begin. I could start by expressing my complete adoration with the bride’s gorgeous Sarah Seven dress, or I could tell you all how in love I am with the pink and white hydrangeas, or how cute it is that the groom proposed while playing Scrabble and how the couple re-created that board for their wedding day. But I think I’ll let the pretty images from Bryan Swisher Photography do the talking…And, as always, there’s so much more waiting for you in the full gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Softness and simplicity was what I wanted to be surrounded by on my wedding day. The blush color scheme of the roses and hydrangeas decorated our day, making it everything I envisioned it would be. The vintage clutch my foster sister gave me, my Sarah Seven dress and it’s incredibly ethereal feel, the understated diamond studded earrings my mother-in-law lent me, and the beautiful hint of blue from my bridesmaids’ dresses were all the tiny touches of something old, new, borrowed, and blue. The garden location right outside of Chicago lended itself perfectly to the romantic, simple backdrop I had dreamed of. For our reception, we wanted to subtly incorporate Scrabble since that was how my husband Adam proposed. The words on the gameboard show that we are laidback, easy-going people and we wanted nothing more than for that to radiate on our wedding day. We also love traveling together and wanted to incorporate the places we have visited by using Scrabble tiles to name our tables after countries like Morocco, New Zealand, Ireland, Costa Rica, etc. Every detail we kept small, but many were abound, creating the most romantic day.

Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven / Floral Design: Lisa Atterberry of Cattails / Wedding Photography: Bryan Swisher Photography / Wedding Venue: Itasca Country Club / DJ: Kristin Marks of Toast & Jam / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung via Cenzina’s Boutique / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Clutch: Vintage / Placecards + Calligraphy: Mary Fiala

Well, I don’t think this Lake Tahoe wedding by Matt Edge Wedding Photography can get any prettier. Actually I know it can’t. Is it just me, or is Lake Tahoe the land of lovely where gorgeous is the norm? Because this elegance meets the outdoors wedding is knocking my socks off this morning with all of its gorgeousness! It’s sure to do the same to you, and don’t forget you can get lost a bit more in the land of lovely by stopping by the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Joe and I both grew up in Danville, CA and went to rival high schools, but it took Spring Break in Maui for us to meet. I was 16 and a sophomore in high school, and Joe was 18 and a senior in high school. Both of our families were traveling with family friends – who happened to know each other. So all of the kids got together one night and hung out. Joe asked for my number and called me when we got back home. Our first phone conversation lasted 4 hours, and the rest was history! 10 years later, we decided to tie the knot!

Joe and I decided on Tahoe for our wedding location because it’s place we love to go together and spend as much time as possible. Since it would be too difficult to have all of our family join us in Hawaii (Amanda’s dream), Tahoe was the easy compromise to get a destination wedding that was still close enough to home – not to mention it’s a beautiful place to begin with. The Hyatt in Incline was the perfect venue because of their lakefront location and accommodations.

We wanted to keep our decor simple since Tahoe is already a gorgeous backdrop. We went with a wood and crystal theme, and kept all our color palate as different shades of white. The wood balanced out the “bling” of the crystal to give it a natural yet glamorous feel. As you can see from my shoes and head piece – I really like “bling,” but wanted to be sure it was done tastefully.

We worked really hard to make our wedding as personal as possible, which in many aspects just meant making it fun and classy, but with a twist. We scripted our entire ceremony with our officiant, and family friend, which was one of the most rewarding aspects of our wedding. It was short and sweet, but very meaningful and very “us.” We wanted to attend cocktail hour with our guests so immediately after our ceremony we met our guests at the bar and were serenaded by a steel drum band – which was something Joe wanted from the very beginning.

The meal was also a very big part of our wedding. We were able to customize our menu to be a delicious 3 course, Mexican-inspired meal: tortilla soup, salad, and tostadas. We both don’t eat a lot of cake, so we decided to go with our favorite dessert, chocolate malts. And if that wasn’t enough, a frozen yogurt machine and topping bar opened up a bit later on in the evening. The one thing I always said growing up was that I would have a frozen yogurt machine at my wedding – and my wish came true! For those who made it to the end of the evening and worked up an appetite (again), we provided late-night food of hot pretzels and dipping sauces in to-go boxes.

Lastly, and perhaps one of the most personal touches of our wedding was our favors. Joe is a hot sauce connoisseur, so he wanted to create his own and bottle it for each of our guests. He called it: “Joe and Amanda’s burning fire of love,” which definitely brings out sense of humor. To balance out the spicy with a little sweet, we also included “Ball” jars (Amanda’s maiden name was Ball) of raspberry freezer jam, which is a family recipe passed down from Joe’s grandma. We are still getting requests for refills of both.

It was a magical day and all of our vendors made it happen. Now if only we could just relive it!

Venue: Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe / Wedding Planner: Julie Briggs Dunn of JBD Events / Floral Design:  panacea event floral design / DJ + Lighting: Exquisite Entertainment / Rentals: Celedon Events / Wedding Photography: Matt Edge Wedding Photography / Wedding Videography: Rose Street Studios / Hair + Make-up: Jane Kim, The Glamourist / Frozen Yogurt: Raff’s Tropical Frozen Beverages / Steel Drum Band: Bay Music and Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Head Piece: Priscilla of Boston / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids Dresses: Ann Taylor

We absolutely adore a traditional fête here at SMP and these stunning Biltmore nuptials by Lovelee Affairs have us literally jumping out of our seats.  From the sweet pink and blue color palette to the tables filled to the brim with beautiful blooms to the uber-adorable bride and groom, we are loving every last moment of pretty.  And with each and every gorgeous image captured by Dana Eason Photography filling our gallery, we can’t think of a better way to spend your Friday.  Click here for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Lovelee Affairs…Valerie and Paul got married on the most perfect September day, the weather was just right and the timeline couldn’t have gone any smoother. Our planning process was disrupted just two months before the wedding, a music festival was coming to town and would take over our venue for the weekend.  

Luckily, The Biltmore (An Atlanta Landmark) had an available ballroom so in just a few short weeks we were able to move the wedding, it turned out to be everything Valerie + Paul had wanted. The vision for the wedding was more traditional with sweet southern accents. We used a mix of silver and glass on the tables and decked the room with romantic candlelight. During cocktail hour, guests enjoyed spiked lemonade in mason jars – they were a HUGE hit. The entire room danced the night away to a fabulous local band, Ascension. 

Wedding Photography: Dana Eason Photography / Event Planning + Floral Design: Lovelee Affairs / Wedding Ceremony  + Reception Location: The Biltmore / Invitations: Paper Daisies / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Wedding Cake: Eileen Carter Creations / Band: Ascension

It might be close to impossible to not smile from ear to ear after setting your sights on this mood-lifting lovely by Lara Kimmerer. It’s just happiness wrapped up in on pretty (and pink) post. You can almost feel how happy this couple is through every image, and if that isn’t enough the cake from Let Them Eat Cake will stop you in your tracks! It’s a fabulous way to start your Friday, and there is even more to see in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Lara Kimmerer…Amy & Eddie are two of the most joyful people I’ve had the pleasure to know. There’s a playfulness between them that’s infectious. Amy grew-up in Massachusetts, and Eddie was raised in Singapore. His parents had quite the love story of their own – during a time in Chinese history when couples didn’t often marry for love. I’m sure being raised by two parents who truly respected one another gave Eddie a high standard for a lasting relationship – and he found his match in Amy.

Both have done a good deal of world traveling and each ended up in New York City. The two met at a mutual friend’s party. Eddie immediately took a liking to Amy. Amy was busy enjoying life and being young in the city, and didn’t notice Eddie right away. After a bit of coaxing from Eddie she agreed to go out for a drink. The conversation over drinks led to more conversation, which led to dinner and eventually a marriage!

Their wedding was hosted by Amy’s wonderful parents at their home in Cape Porpoise, ME. Eddie had family travel from all over the world – including his 88 year old father, who came all the way from Singapore! The ceremony was the perfect blend of traditional and personal. They each wrote vows to one another, and Eddie’s Maid of Honor read a selection from The Velveteen Rabbit. Immediately after the ceremony Amy & Eddie took a few minutes for themselves to soak in everything that had just happened. In the meantime, their guests enjoyed an incredible spread from Kitchen Chicks. The presentation was fantastic – and the food was delicious.

The reception was beautifully decorated by Kitchen Chicks and Anniebells. The pink gingham tablecloths and gorgeous flower arrangements came together to create a feeling of casual elegance – perfect for a Maine summer evening. For the guest favors, Amy & Eddie showed their humor, while being serious about their commitment too! Each person was given a bag with candy – as well as Toms of Maine toothpaste and a toothbrush. The note to their guests read, “Marriage is a balance of holding on, and letting go.”

All of the details were beautiful, but their friends and family were what was most important to them that day. Smiles didn’t leave their faces for a moment.The party culminated with sparklers on the front lawn and finished with all of their guests circling around Amy & Eddie for their final dance. Everything was absolutely perfect!

Wedding Photography: Lara Kimmerer / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Dancing Dress: Adrienne’s Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: Watters & Watters / Location: Private Residence / Floral Design: Anniebells / Catering: Kitchen Chicks Catering / Wedding Cake: Let Them Eat Cake / Make-up: Joanne McDonough of Joya Beauty / Hair: Lena Hartford of Hair That Moves / DJ: Amazing DJ Music / Transportation: Intown Trolley

There is just something about a train station that is so romantic. Maybe it’s the thought that it’s like a crossing point in your life. You can jump on a train and end up anywhere, starting a whole new chapter. It definitely evokes the most perfect image for a wedding – so when I heard this wedding, captured by Katy Cook Photography, took place at the Salisbury Train Depot, I couldn’t contain my excitement. And when I saw the fantastic vintage elements A Southern Soiree helped our bride and groom incorporate, I knew this would be a perfect soiree. You’ll see what I mean when you visit the gallery!

Ben and I met at the hospital where we both work and started dating shortly after.  After a wonderful two years together Ben proposed and we decided to have our wedding in my hometown of Salisbury, North Carolina.

Our ceremony was held at First United Methodist Church and it could not have been more perfect.  The wedding service was traditional with absolutely beautiful music and solos.  During the service rain fell outside, only to stop and result in a beautiful rainbow shortly after the ceremony was over.  This solidified something I already knew, my father, who has passed away, was definitely there in spirit.

The reception was held at the Historic Train Depot, also in Salisbury. I dreamed of a vintage, southern reception, inspired by my mother’s back porch where she keeps potted plants in abundance.  I love the look of the overflowing pots and decided I needed to have them everywhere, and that is just what we did.  The color palette was neutral with ivories, creams, and lace overlays, with a pop of color added with wildflowers.  My mother and I collected vintage vases, votives and other “knick knacks” throughout the engagement to complete the look.

Kailey with A Southern Soirée did an amazing job filling the overwhelming large venue, paying special attention to all of the details I envisioned.  Two of my favorites were the guest book, which was a vintage file box filled with cards for guests to leave us a sweet note, and the small white wire tables that served as children’s tables with arts and crafts!

A Krispy Kreme doughnut bar was set up to serve as the favors.  This was unique to Ben and I since he is from the home of Krispy Kreme, Winston Salem, North Carolina. Also, Krispy Kreme recently started making cheerwine filled doughnuts, and since the Cheerwine company was founded in Salisbury, this made the perfect tribute to both of our hometowns.

Also, I am very blessed to have a genus artist/illustrator as a new sister in law!  She did an amazing job designing the save the dates that tied into the menu card design.  I loved this personal touch on our wedding day. The band Rubberband kept the energy at the reception going well into the night.  They kept the guests entertained and the dance floor full!  A bride’s dream! The day was truly amazing and one I hope not just myself but others will remember for a lifetime!

Photographer: Katy Cook Photography / Event Design: A Southern Soiree / Event Planning: A Southern Soiree / Ceremony Location: First Methodist Church / Reception Location: Salisbury Train Depot / Band: Rubberband / Caterer: Holly Tate Fine Catering / Rentals: Happy Rentz / Cake: Wow Factor Cakes / Dress: Hayden Olivia / Doughnuts: Krispy Kreme

Levi Stolove Photography is serving up a whole lotta lovely this Friday morning in the form of this contemporary, chic and style-filled soiree. With a glowing bride (who just happens to be an interior designer) and a dashing groom (who always is as sweet as can be – please read his proposal below, adorbs), every inch of this post is full of those sweet, meaningful details that turn us all here at SMP into complete wedding mush. We are loving the modern feel of this fête, so thank goodness there is more to see in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Levi Stolove Photography…Stephanie Ebeyer and Michael Verdirame wanted a wedding where most every detail of their day had a personal connection. They appreciate modern design and wanted that to be an underlying theme to their wedding.

The ceremony was very personal, the groom’s uncle officiated who is a Unitarian Universalist Minister. They had their 4 ½ year old miniature dachshund named Oscar, as their “ring bearer”. Both their wedding and groom’s cakes were gifts from friends. The wedding cake was a gift from a friend whose learned from John Barricelli the owner of the SoNo Baking Company and is also affiliated with Martha Stewart. They ceremony and reception where held at Steelcase in New York City at Columbus Circle on July 16th 2011. Stephanie is an interior designer in New York City and always admired Steelcase’s New York showroom. Steelcase’s branding colors are orange and charcoal gray so the couple added yellow and pink since it would be a summer time wedding, and worked every detail around these colors. The bridesmaids wore charcoal gray dresses, the bride wore gray shoes, orange/pink/yellow were incorporated into the save the dates and invitation design, favor bows and candies for favor boxes as well as labels for cookie bags, floral designs, pillows, groom/groomsmen’s/Dad’s ties and handkerchiefs, dog collar and wedding cake.

Another theme became modern dots, which developed from the save the date and invitation design. In addition to the stationery the modern dot theme appeared on the dog collar studs, aisle runner for ceremony made from circular off white carpet tiles by Flor, use of craspedia (aka “Billy Balls”) for floral designs, and accent pillow design.

The couple met 8 ½ years ago in New York City while Michael was conducting his medical internship. The couple has sustained a long distance relationship, medical school, residency and two moves. When Michael proposed to Stephanie, he adorned Oscar, their miniature dachshund in a custom collar with a tag that read “Will You Marry Us? Love, Mike & Oscar” and attached the engagement ring.

Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik (grey) + (white) Kate Spade / Suits: Charles Tyrwhitt / Ties + Handkerchiefs: Nicole Miller / Bridesmaid Dresses: Monique Lhuillier for Nordstrom / Dog Collar: Hot Dogs All Dressed / Jeweler: IBN New York / Wedding Dress Hanger: Wisconmon / Hair + Make-up: Karen Roy / Hair Flower: Tessa Kim / Day of Wedding Coordinator: Katie Berger of Sara Kate Events / Flowers: LeeAnne Rickey / Music: David Anthony Cruz + David Llewellyn / Wedding Photography: Levi Stolove Photography / Catering: Neuman’s Catering / Wedding Cake: SoNo Baking Company & Cafe / Groom’s Cake: Nina + Christian Giordano of Cake It Etc. (friends of Bride & Groom) / Invitations: Shine Wedding Invitations / Pillows: Design by Maid of Honor, printed by Spoonflower / Venue: Steelcase

I have fallen madly in love with a pretty, pretty shade of teal blue… and when you take a look at the lovely bridesmaid dresses below, trust me, you will, too.  Even better, when you add this uber-fabulous color to a stunning soiree such as this Jacksonville affair by Agnes Lopez Photography, well, it’s almost too good to be true.  From the lovely florals to the beyond gorgeous bride and groom, I am one seriously smitten blogger.  I’ll definitely be spending my weekend wrapped up in all of this pretty… and you should join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Agnes Lopez Photography… Ashleigh and Jeremy were married in an indoor ceremony at The River Club. Ashleigh looked absolutely gorgeous and together she and Jeremy make an amazing couple. Monica Da Silva and Chad Alger performed at the reception, offering their take on an Adele song for the first dance. It was such a beautiful moment.

Wedding Photography: Agnes Lopez Photography / Wedding Ceremony + Reception: The River Club / Floral Design: Gardners of Ortega / Jewelry: Ellie Bing / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale via Bella Bridesmaid / Music: Monica Da Silva

Good morning, lovelies!  We’ve reached the end to yet another week of pretty here on SMP New York and we couldn’t think of a better way to kick off your weekend than with this uber-charming engagement session by Alison Mayfield Photography Studio.  Believe me, you won’t be able to stop smiling once you lay your eyes on this adorable duo, who decided to celebrate their impending nuptials with a photo shoot in their favorite city… and flew all of the way over from Indonesia for a three day e-session in NYC!  How absolutely fabulous is that?!?  Yes, these two lovebirds are just too cute for words and you can see every last fun-filled moment in the full gallery! 

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Alison Mayfield Photography Studio… Here is a “fab” pre-wedding/engagement shoot for you to see! I am currently based in Thailand and I had a cute couple from Indonesia who wanted to fly over to the USA and re-live some good times in their favorite city! Here in Asia, pre-wedding shoots are huge, they shoot for either one or two days (This one was 3!!) and I had never experienced this before.  (Coming from New York where our engagement shoots would last up to 3 hours, at the most!)  It was a very exciting experience for me!

Photography: Alison Mayfield Photography Studio

If vintage and whimsical had a pretty little baby it would be this number filled with sweet, happy colors that only Jill Thomas Photography can capture so beautifully. We almost feel like we’re there, looking down that rose petaled aisle as all the gorgeousness unfolds. Amorology Weddings left no creative detail unturned including that fabulously pink bike and a mix of heart palpitating florals by Twigg Botanicals. Let’s just say we have ourselves a match made in wedding heaven. See more of this blueberry + daisy filled affair in the gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…I have been dreaming of a romantic, whimsical wedding, with simple, yet beautiful details.  When I entered the stone house venue of Temecula Creek Inn with my mom and dad, I knew it was the perfect wedding location.  It was lovely on its own, with the 150 year old stone house, ceremony lawn surrounded by oak trees and twinkle lights perfectly strung above the outside dance floor.  Though I knew my fiance would be thrilled with any location, he also fell in love with the charm of the venue.  Because we wanted our wedding to be an intimate affair, the privacy of the venue, secluded from the main property was ideal. After the venue was selected the planning process began.

Though the final goal was to say “I do” to my best friend, I will always remember the planning process as the time I spent with my first friend, my mom, who worked with me every second of the way to make my dream affair possible.  Together we cut and pasted wedding invitations, explored antique shops, vintage boutiques, and family collections for details, and tried on more wedding dresses than I thought possible.  We also made the best decision to hire Amorology as our wedding planner and her mother, Robin Mathis of  Twigg Botanicals as our florist.   As daisies are my favorite flower, they became the inspiration for the entire wedding.

In addition, cottage flowers and heirloom items from family and friends were collected for the table centerpieces.  The place settings and glassware on the head table were from my mom’s collection and the vintage birdcages on the ceremony lawn, pink bike and window for the menu were all from my Aunt’s garden.  My crafty uncle created a directional pole and all the additional signs created from wood.  A family friend graciously painted all the signs and wrote out the menu window in her beautiful handwriting.  A family friend also created a dollie pennant which hung from the stone house from my mom’s collection and the same friend also made the ring bearer pillow from a heirloom handkerchief which was given to me at my bridal shower.  For the nine months leading up to the wedding, my mom, a family friend and I diligently hunted antique and garage sales for beautiful teacups to create the escort card table.  One of the best details of the wedding was a broach from my nana on my mom’s side which was attached to my bouquet and a necklace from grandmother on my dad’s side which my sister wore.  Though both were not present, I know they were looking down from Heaven smiling.

I wanted all ten of my bridesmaids to showcase their own style, so I had them choose from a variety of dresses in all the same beautiful navy dupioni silk fabric from Watters and Watters.  Each looked absolutely gorgeous.  The groomsmen looked perfect as well.  I still remember walking down the aisle with my dad and noticing how adorable all the groomsmen looked in their cute bow ties and grey tuxes.  Then I remember looking at the smile and tears running down my fiance’s face and wanting to melt.  It’s a moment I will never forget.

Though I will always have the wonderfully beautiful photos taken by Jill Thomas to recall the details of the day, the most important memories will always be those I spent with my mom planning and detailing every moment, those I spent with my sisters looking for dresses and giggling about the thought of being married, those I spent with my aunt and uncle searching for heirloom pieces, and those moments I spent with my dad right before I walked down the aisle – trying to hold back tears.

Wedding Photography: Jill Thomas Photography / Floral Design: Twigg Botanicals / Wedding Planning + Event Design: Amorology Weddings / Ceremony + Reception Location: Temecula Creek Inn / Wedding Dress: Rina Di Montella / Bride’s Shoes: Enzo Angiolini / Vintage Veil: Sparrow Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses:  Watters and Watters / Groomsmen Bow Ties: The Tie Bar / Groomsmen Socks: Express / Hair + Make-up:  Ashley Marie Mason / Wedding Cake: VG Donuts / Guest Book: Etsy / Reception Paper Elements: Brightly Designed

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With the holidays quickly approaching, and winter wonderlands popping up all over the place, we thought it was fitting to share this glamorous winter wedding inspiration shoot, sent our way by the fab designers, Couture Events. The juxtaposition of the glitter and the rough warehouse made a PERFECT pair, and we can’t get enough of the fashion, the sparkle, and that little puppy. Scott Lawrence Photography granted our winter wish and filled a gallery full with beautiful images from this shoot – click here to see that!

From Couture Events … At Couture we hold a few key words in mind when styling weddings and our holiday tables: glamour, class, beauty, and whim. We can almost hear the photos singing a fabulous mashup of Fergie’s “Glamorous” and the Christmas classic, “Walking in a Winter Wonderland.” Set inside the Culy Warehouse we hung a backdrop of light bulbs against an unfinished wall. The contrast of soft and bright against the wall of rough and textured made for a perfect setting, creating a room that was all softly aglow. Our gorgeous brides are dressed in Bliss Bride’s winter wedding gowns and are accompanied by Couture Events very own snow-furred pup, Bruiser.

The table, benches, sofas, and chairs came from one of our favorite furniture rental companies, Lounge Appeal. The invitations made in icy hues, elegant cursive, and accented with silk ribbon and a crystal broach set the tone for an affair to be remembered. We also placed a name card at each setting to welcome the guests to their chair. The gorgeous centerpieces made of beautiful winter white flowers mixed with crystals and delicately glistening silver leaves. Crystal candelabras and shimmering candlesticks, timeless silver dinnerware and white glitter made for a truly winter chic table. To top it all off we add some snow (glitter) – our favorite and final touch. Be dazzled and enjoy, and don’t hold back an ounce of cheer this holiday season. FROST YOURSELVES, your holidays, and your wedding!

Photography: Scott Lawrence Photography / Venue: Culy Warehouse / Furniture: Lounge Appeal / Rentals: Raphaels / Florist: Trendee Flowers / Gowns: Bliss Bride / Paper Goods: Paper Scissors Print / Makeup & Hair: Foxi Lady Makeup and Hair by Kristen Brown / Coordination and Design: Couture Events

We’re headed south now, down to San Diego, where Justin & Mary were inspired by the desert wedding in Fools Rush In. We’re absolutely loving the juxtaposition of rustic elements like the terra cotta pots alongside the lace and crochet accents, but I’m pretty sure we’d all agree that the amazing vintage inspired dress takes the cake here…although those churros wrapped in lace look pretty darn good too! Click here for even more fabulousness.

 Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Justin & Mary….We were inspired by the desert wedding from “Fools Rush In” when preparing for our San Diego stop. We wanted colorful streamers and a festive vibe full of terra cotta and accented by lace. La Estancia served as the perfect backdrop for our reception and we even found the perfect spot on the property to hang our brightly colored streamers! We bought flan from a nearby farmer’s market and mixed it in with some traditional breads and pastries to make a dessert table. There was berry water in vintage goblets, churros wrapped in lace and mini succulents as place cards.

How to pick a photographer: Personality is important. There is no doubt about that. And you’re going to want to go with a Photographer that makes you feel like a friend. You will spend more time with that person on your wedding day than you will your future spouse, so finding somebody you connect with is crucial. But that’s not all that goes into it. Because once the day is over, it will be your relationship with your Photographs, not your Photographer, that will become the most important thing. Did these images capture the feelings and emotion of the day? Can you look at them and feel like you’re right back in that moment? Are they authentic? Did they capture life as it happened. Are they enduring? Will they become iconic and nostalgic? Or will they just become the “heads in the brandy snifter”  shots of our generation. You want images that you will fall in love with over and over again for the next 50 or 60 years. Images that your grandchildren will be proud to put in silver frames. The last thing you want is for someone to look at your pictures and say, “So I see you got married in 2011.” You want something that leaves behind a legacy. A history. That documents the start of a life together. Something that will stand the test of time. Just like the two of you.

Photography: Justin & Mary / Style Interns: Dianne Dotter + Sarah Lejavardi / Reception Location: Estancia / Bridal Gown: bliss bride / Maids: Village Bridal Boutique / Accessories: LovMely / Make-up Artist + Hair: Stephanie Boardman / Paperie: Jim & Ravyn of Three Fifteen Design / Printer: Czar Press / Vintage Rentals: Pow Wow Vintage / Maid Models: Dianne Dotter + Nicole Benitez / Bride + Groom: Lizzie + Ip

This gorgeous outdoor fete is the epitome of a casually elegant California wedding. I’m loving the al fresco dining full of simple, white blooms by Flowers by Denise, the mini glass bottled coco-cola wedding favors with wooden tags made by the groom inscribed with “It’s the real thing,” and those subtle, yet glittery table numbers. Ya, they make my heart happy. As do all the beyond pretty images by Ken Kienow Photography and all the touches of lavender. Click here for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Brian and I fell in love with our venue from the moment we visited it a year ago.  We knew we could get everything we wanted in our wedding by choosing this location.  Located on a bluff overlooking the vineyards with lush greenery and twinkle lights, a glass of wine and good company is all you need. We wanted a small, intimate and romantic wedding with lots of dim lighting, neutral colors, white rose petals and subtle hints of lavender and amethyst.  When I was planning my wedding, I knew I wanted a variety of white flowers in low vases as our centerpieces so our guests could talk easily with one another in a laid back atmosphere.  At the reception, a slideshow played which included pictures of Brian and I growing up, our relationship together, and pictures of our friends and family.  We then danced to Keith Urban’s “Making Memories of Us,” one of our favorite songs from a concert of his we went to so long ago.  As guests mingled throughout the night, they heard thunder and saw lightening in the distance from a storm that had threatened us all day.  Luckily we only caught the tail end as it began to sprinkle just as the dancing was coming to an end…

Some personal touches we added to make our day special:  My bridal bouquet was adorned with a brooch that belonged to my late grandmother.  Our aunts, uncle’s, and parent’s were given special corsages and boutonnieres as they arrived to the wedding.  And each person’s place card was hand written by me in the same printed paper that I used to line the envelopes for our wedding invitations.  My shoes were plain silver flats I found at Nordstrom that I had added a brooch too. Our wedding favors were vintage coca cola’s with brown wooden tags (painted by the groom) that said, “Michel & Brian – It’s the Real Thing.”  My amazing cake is a replica of one I saw and fell in love with on SMP!  I HAD to have this cake!

My favorite memory of our wedding was sitting down at the reception for the first time, as dinner is being served and the sun is going down looking at all our guests enjoy each others company at our wedding.  The twinkle lights became brighter and brighter as the sun went down and Sinatra began to play, what an amazing feeling being just married celebrating our love with our family and friends.

Wedding Photography: Ken Kienow Photography / Bouquets + Boutonnieres: Flowers by Denise / Wedding Venue: Castoro Cellars / Catering: Epic Weddings / Wedding Cake: The Cakery SLO / DJ: Haro Entertainment / Make-up: Kelli Munger / Invitations: Bella Figura / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal via Mia Bella / Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstrom / Groom’s Suit: Tallia / Ties: Burberry / Brooches: Fabulous Brooch

We are keeping this Justin & Mary pretty train a rollin’ with a stop in Seattle and a Water for Elephants inspiration shoot.  Yep, I know… I am excited, too.  And just wait until you take in the vibrant pink hues, uber-romantic florals by Bella Signature Design and circus-themed sweets table, complete with cotton candy.  Believe me, you won’t be able to contain your glee.  All set against the urban backdrop of SoDo Park, this shoot gives a whole new meaning to the word fabulous.  Click here for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Justin & Mary… As we were preparing the west coast stops on our tour, the movie, Water For Elephants, had just come out in theaters.  We decided to use the movie as inspiration for our Seattle stop, but we didn’t just want to do a circus theme, we wanted to do something a little darker, a little grittier so we used dark red, cream, and dusty pink for our colors.  We decorated with popcorn, lollipops, cotton candy and striped table cloths.  We created a kissing booth for our bridal party and served five different signature drinks named after different circus performers.  We served sno-cones for dessert and used mini galvanized buckets as our place cards. 

Photography: Justin & Mary / Venue: SoDo Park / Florals + Styling: Bella Signature Design / Paper Suite: Lifework Media / Hair + Make-up: Kathy Evans Beauty Studio / Hair Accessories: Lo Boheme / Bridal Gown: La Belle Elaine’s / Linens: Linens by Alice / Place Settings: Totally Tabletops / Models: Chelsea & Trevor / Style Interns: Bunn Salarzon + Dianne Dotter / Other: Laura Marchbanks (Huge thank you!! She is just about the sweetest girl we know!!)

I am an absolute sucker for all things wedding cinematography. Save the Dates, Same Day Edits, full wedding films – I just eat.them.up. I may or may not watch my wedding film FAR too often, like daily. Wedding cinematography just makes you stop – stop and watch and see and listen, I love that. You can’t scroll down quickly, you have to pause. So I highly recommend taking a minute to pause today to take in this darling Save the Date film by  Brent Foster Photography. It will be so worth it. Your to-do list will wait for you, I promise.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/31440169 600 338]

From Brent Foster Photography…Erica and Mike will be getting married in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on Dec.10. 2011. We can’t wait to photograph this awesome couples wedding!

Videography: Brent Foster Photography

Oh Sayulita – how I love thee!  Every wedding that we feature from this majestic Mexican village makes me want to hop on the next jet plane headed south of the border.  This enchanting affair captured by Derk’s Works only increases my wanderlust with its gorgeous seaside views, luscious florals and sweetly modern details.  And, yes, all those picture perfect details were created by the stylish blogger bride!  Click here to see them all!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Derk’s Works….You know that feeling you get when you’re invited to the “cool kid table”? There is that excitement and rush, knowing that the people you like and look up to think similarly of you! When my cousin, and extremely stylish style blogger, Anna approached me about being the photographer for their wedding I had a tinge of humble gratitude and then a wash of excitement. The day was beautiful and Anna was radiant. Each detail was carefully laid out and the entire event oozed the love, joy and impeccable style of the bride and groom. It was an honor to photograph the day and see all of Anna’s planing fall together into complete perfection.

From the Bride…Since Eric and I have been dating since we were 16, we knew our wedding would have to be something that reflected our unique relationship. Enter: Mexico. It was the natural option since we visited the Riveria Nayarit and fell in love with the beautiful beaches and welcoming people.  We wanted to celebrate with our closest friends and family and have an unforgettable vacation, as well, which made Sayulita the perfect place.  Our wedding was unforgettable and truly one of the best and most memorable days of our lives.

Wedding Photography: Derk’s Works / Wedding Planner: Yazmin Gizeh of Sea of Dreams Weddings / Catering: Naef Cuisine / Floral Design: Vodax Detalle by Francisco Salazar / Wedding Venue: Villa del Oso / Name Place Tags, Burlap Runners, Favor Bags, Table Names: DIY (The Bride)

We’ll continue our day of inspiration from Justin & Mary with a romantic, rustic stop in Houston.  They took inspiration from a favorite country tune – Cowboy Take Me Away by the Dixie Chicks – and infused a laid-back country fête with elegant, vintage details.  I love the thread of blue – from the groom’s denim attire to the blueberry treats – that they wove throughout the decor.  Click here to see all the fun details!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Justin & Mary…For our Houston stop, we channeled the ethereal vibe evoked by the Dixie Chicks famous song, Cowboy Take Me Away.  We wanted a soft simple vibe with tons of soft blues.  We served three different types of blueberry desserts, had burlap bags of seeds as favors and had a station filled with quilts to keep you warm and hankies for your happy tears.  We borrowed a fiddle from a friend to use for portraits and found a wooded area to take the bridal party that really captured the essence of the song. “I said I wanna touch the earth, I wanna break it in my hands. I wanna grow something wild and unruly. I wanna sleep on the hard ground, in the comfort of your arms on a pillow of blue bonnets and a blanket made of stars.”

We kept the design simple, buy using mismatched china on our head table, vintage keys and quilt patches for decoration on our welcome table, and filling mason jars with blueberries and wild flowers as decorations. Special thanks to Lacy Degarath and Christine Trimoulet for pitching in to make it all happen!

Photography: Justin & Mary / Venue, Tables, Chairs + Linens: Houston Oaks / Paper Suite: Invitations Ink / Hair + Make-up:  Jessica of Adorne Artistry / Bridal Gown: Bride’s Own / Bridal Hair Accessory: Maison De Mode / Vintage Rentals: Rent my Dust / Style Interns: Meagan Bechtel + Ginny Wosak / Models: Amber + Allen Strickler / Maids: Meagan + Ginny / Additional Contributors: Lacy Degarath of More than an Image + Christine Trimoulet