Good morning, SMPers and a happy, happy Monday to you!  The holiday weekend may be officially over, but we are still in a very festive mood here on SMP Georgia… and all because of two uber-adorable lovebirds and one cute as can be Save-the-Date video by JAMS.  Yes, this darling stop motion film will leave you grinning from ear to ear with its delightful soundtrack (which I may or may not have just downloaded) and sweeter than sweet jump roping theme.  Seriously, if this ah.ma.zing film is any indication, I can’t wait to see what these two cuties have in store for their big day.  So, prepare yourselves for a whole lot of awesome and enjoy!

From the Groom… We were about to send out Save The Date postcards and my fiancee Jamie (Savannah, GA native) asked me, “Can’t we do something more fun?  More ‘us?’” Now, as background, I happen to be a filmmaker who runs a boutique marketing and production company, JAMS.  So, when Jamie asked me if I could do something “creative” – I came up with the idea for a stop-motion music video.  Together, we came up with the story line.  I wrote a script.

The shoot took about six hours.  We edited it.  Then emailed it to our family and friends.  The response was incredibly positive.  It ignited great excitement for our big day and actually has led to couples from as far away as Dubai emailing us to help them make their Save the Date video. The interest and it being the best experience we’ve had as a couple led us to start our own Save the Date video company called Better Save The Date.

And, for me, the funniest thing about stop-motion animation is that it has the power to make a dorky Jewish guy like me actually look momentarily cool.

Cinematography: JAMS

It’s only appropriate that when a love story starts as sweetly as the one shared by these two lovebirds that the wedding day should be just as romantic.  The gorgeous Martha’s Vineyard nuptials captured by Dreamlove Photography are the perfect blend of timeless elegance, rustic beauty and a little bit of good ol’ New England flair.  The views are breathtaking, the florals stunning and each and every little detail absolutely lovely. Click here to see them all!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…The way David and I met was really one for the books and in every way he made it feel like a real life fairytale. While I was studying fashion in Florence, Italy, David was in town from Paris representing his family’s menswear company.  I was on my way out one night with some friends from school to celebrate the last weekend before we parted ways for summer break. While crossing a piazza, my friend ran into a man she met at a business appointment earlier that day and while they chatted, I found myself in front of a stunning Frenchman.  From the second we locked eyes, I knew this was going to be something special.  He had the kindest eyes I had ever seen. That night would change my life forever.  David called work and changed his flight to stay a few more days in Florence. For the next year we traveled back and forth, meeting in cities people only dream of visiting over a span of a lifetime.  We spent time in my home town of Miami, New York City, Martha’s Vineyard, Saint Tropez, and finally in Paris where we ended up living for one year. Now we are settled in Miami, surrounded by the most amazing family and friends.  I could not think of a better place to be newlyweds.

When David proposed there was no doubt about where we were going to be married. Being from two very different places we knew Martha’s Vineyard would be the one place everyone would happily jump on a plane, bus, car, or ferry to visit.  The Vineyard has been a place my family has called home for the summer for many generations. My newly retired mother was the perfect person to help me with the planning, and the first thing we booked was the venue, the Vineyard Haven Yacht club.  My great-grandfather was one of the founding members and the childhood memories I have of jumping off that dock don’t get any better.  For most of our friends and family this would be their very first time visiting the island and we wanted to make sure we represented ourselves and the island while setting the tone for the wedding.

The Yacht club does an amazing job of creating a casual elegant feel, and when I came across Dreamlove Photography I knew there was no one better who could capture this day.  When guests arrived on Island David made the design for our custom wedding bags and my parents and I filled them with island favorites. David also made the “Wedding” and “Welcome” signs to greet the guest when they arrived at the yacht club.  Working in fashion I think it comes with the territory to be neurotically obsessed with detail.  When planning our dream wedding I wanted to make sure to delight all the senses.  With the ocean breeze at our backs, the McGees playing a string quartet, there was no other way I wanted my dad to walk me down the aisle. My uncle Jeff performed our ceremony which my mother and I wrote referencing a book of weddings from all religions. After our I do’s, the Phil Darosa Band played an acoustic version of “All You Need is Love” by the Beatles.

I wanted our dinner at the reception to feel like everyone was sitting down for a family meal.  With the guest list under 100, every person in the room had influenced our lives in a positive way.  We had a vintage window seating chart set out to let guests know where they would be sitting for dinner.  We bought white washed wood table numbers and had french lavender seating card with the guests names attached thanking them for coming to our wedding.  April from Everything Little Miss made all of our invites, maps, and the most perfect custom lobster bibs. Jan from the Kitchen Porch provided the guests with a New England Lobster bake dinner.  From the Menemsha lobster to the herbs on the chicken every ingredient came from the island. We used long farm tables with hand stitched burlap my godmother made.  We purchased all of the lanterns, candles, and vases.  The day would not have been the same without the wild organic flowers Island Ambiance filled throughout the venue.  From the second I met Marline I knew she understood exactly what I wanted. There was really only two things I did not want for my wedding, matching bridesmaid dresses and a fondant cake.  Cakes by Val made the most amazing cake I have ever tasted. While bistro lights lined the ceilings and dance floor the Phil Darosa band made sure guests from all ages were having the time of there life.

This was truly the most magical day of my life.  With this team of vendors there was not one detail left untouched. This was the perfect beginning to the next chapter of my real life fairytale with David!

Wedding Photography: Dreamlove Photography / Venue: Vineyard Haven Yacht Club / Band: The Phil Darosa Band / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Lilly Pulitzer / Groom’s Suit: Arny’s Paris (David’s Family Company) / Wedding Jewelry: TEJANI / Hair + Make-up: Sea Spa / Catering: Kitchen Porch / Wedding Cakes: Cakes by Val / Floral Design: Island Ambiance / Vintage Window Seating Chart: Beyond White / Rustic Table Number: ShabbyWeddingChic / Lavender Sprig Seating Cards: Life Is So Beautiful / Lobster Bibs: Everything Little Miss

This couple got it right. They picked a beyond gorgeous venue that needed very little decor. They chose a phenomenal photographer, mk Photography, to capture their day right. And they each married their best friend. That part you can tell from the looks they give each other. The sweet little glances at their newly wed, the meaningful eye contact that only two people in love can have. All I have to say is, good thing mk Photography was on hand to capture those sweet looks, because now they have a full, emotion-filled account of the day. See what I mean in the gallery!

We first met each other in August 2008 on a rock climbing day trip organized by a mutual friend.  We small talked a bit, but I don’t think either of us guessed then that we would end up dating each other.  We crossed paths again a couple months later when a second rock climbing trip fell through at the last minute.  I asked Evan if he instead wanted to go for a hike at Great Falls, just outside of Washington, DC, where we were both living at the time.  We had a great time together and pretty much started dating right after that.

At that time, Evan was in the process of applying to graduate schools out west.  Only a few months later, when it came time for him to decide which school to enroll in, I had just gotten laid off from my job at an architecture firm and was up for the adventure of moving to a new city.  We decided on Vancouver together and in August 2009 packed everything we owned into a Penske truck and drove across and out of the country!

Our relationship has grown so strong since we have been here, and on the first day of spring in 2010, Evan packed a surprise picnic and took me to Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver, where we hiked and picnicked on a rock outcropping just like we did on the day at Great Falls.  He proposed there with a gorgeous ring that he designed himself and had made by a local artisan.  It was perfect!  We watched the sun set over the beautiful Strait of Georgia, which also meant hiking back in the dark (very funny, and a little scary!).
We originally wanted to have a small wedding out here in Vancouver, but realized it would be much easier on our families to have it close to home.  We happened to make that decision while we were in Pennsylvania visiting, so in just a day or two, we ran around to look at different venues.  Greenville was a no-brainer.  It is beautiful and we are both so outdoorsy that we knew we wanted an outdoor wedding.

We couldn’t afford to fly back east again before the wedding, so all the rest of the planning was done from afar.  We used vendor recommendations from Greenville to find the rest of our vendors. We asked our Pastor from when we lived in Washington, DC if he would preside at the wedding.  He had gotten to know us a bit while we were in DC and was able to add the most wonderful personal touch to our ceremony.

My mom and aunt flew out here to take me wedding dress shopping, which was extremely nice of them!  We stuck with only our siblings in our bridal party, and I asked my sisters to pick out their own dresses (they coordinated them on their own) and Evan’s brother wore a suit he already had.  Evan and I were fairly laid back about the planning.  While as designers we had a general look that we were going for, we had no desire to get caught up in the details.

I think we really understood that it was a day to celebrate our commitment with each other, and our families and friends.  Not a work project to be designed or perfected.  I think that worked well for us because we had such a great day, even with the record-breaking heat!  Everyone was worried about it,except for us.  Perhaps living so far away in a rainy cold climate, we were happy for a sweaty hot day surrounded by family and friends!

Bride’s Dress:  Paloma Blanca from Isabelle’s Bridal / Brides Hair Flower:  Isabella’s Bridal / Shoes:  Nine West / Bridesmaids Dresses:  Alfred Angelo / Flower girl: Alfred Angelo / Photography: mk Photography

The last of our holiday guests left this morning to a teary goodbye and we couldn’t help pinching ourselves as to how lucky we are to have had such a beautiful Thanksgiving. We’re easing back into the swing of things here at Style Me Pretty with one of the prettiest, most smile inducing weddings we’ve seen in a long time. Photographed to gallery inspired perfection by Aaron Delesie, whose work we have coveted on SMP from the very beginning. And whose work just seems to get better and better with age. So beautiful in fact, we’re devoting a whole day of gorgeousness to Aaron and his weddings. First up, an Australian beauty that is sure to leave your wedding hearts a flutter…

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the bride… A few little tidbits about our wedding. I love nature. In particular, trees and flowers, so I thought of incorporating these two elements as much as I could in our wedding. I didn’t want to have the usual guest book. Instead, we adopted the idea inspired by Japanese customs of having guests write wishes on votives and hang them on temples, though we brought in Luci’s Italian Heritage and had our guests leave wishes written on note tags to grow on an olive tree.

I love the old world style, so we rented a solid wrought iron screen (bless Luci and dad for helping me out carrying it up TTR at QVB and saved me from the sore back…LOL!) so that I could display the escort cards.  I decided to name the tables of all the places in Italy where Luc’s heritage is, as well as places that we have been together as a couple.

Luci loves cakes! Like LOVES cakes :) When he let me have my unusual green tea flavour for our wedding cake, I decided that I would surprise him with his favorite chocolate cake for him being so sweet and kind. I asked my very talented cousin to create this devilishly crowd pleasing chocolate cake topped with a figurine of Luci in his favorite soccer team attire. My cousin added the rum balls as an extra.

Wedding Photography: Aaron Delesie Photographer / Ceremony venue: St Mark’s Church in Drummoyne, New South Wales / Reception venue: The Tea Room in Queen Victoria Building, Sydney / Day of Planning: 1/2 day planning  by Girl Friday Weddings / Bride’s dress & veil: Vera Wang / Shoes: Christian Louboutin (ceremony), Lanvin (reception) / Groom’s suit: Dior Homme / Groom’s shoes: Miu Miu Homme / Flowers: the bride / Bouquet: Plumbago / Stationery & calligraphy: Laura Lavender Calligraphy / Invitation Suite: Elf Press / Cakes: Meysienti Supandi / Hair & Make Up : Marie Hairdesigns and Christina Cleary / String Quartet: Jasmine String

When I first laid my eyes on the simple black and white invite and read the words “live jazz and burlesque,” I knew this was going to be one fabulous fete. And then I saw the gorgeous images from Lilian Haidar, and I was immediately in awe and totally jealous of every single person that was invited to this intimate, rooftop celebration. The dress, the flowers, and the jazz all add up to one stylish and romantic day. Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Dominic and Anjanette attended grammar school together; Dominic was in 7th grade and Anjanette was in 8th! We lost touch for years after that until we ran into each other while attending Parsons School of Design in New York. We had no idea the other was there! We lost touch again after we graduated and ran into each other six years ago just walking on the street in NYC, exchanged numbers, made plans and had dinner…and of course lost touch again!! Note of course that all these times we were both in other relationships and just considered each other friends. And then we reconnected in February 2011 when “out of nowhere” Dominic e-mailed Anjanette an invite to attend his album release party – she wasn’t going to be in town, so we planned dinner to catch up! In our email exchange we found out that both of us were single this time (because funny enough, we ended up making plans on February 14th and we didn’t even realize it) and the rest is history – he proposed in March! The universe kept bringing us together and we believe it’s always been our destiny since 7th grade -and now just happened to be the perfect timing for us. We’ve waited 40 years for our love and we tell you it is worth the wait -when you find this you realize why all those poems were written and all those song have been sung – we truly wish the whole world this kind of love!!

Anjanette wore a custom gown designed by her friend, Carmen Marc Valvo. It was a silver micro-pleated silk ribbon gown from his couture collection featuring cascading pleated ribbons each individually embroidered onto the gown; not at all a traditional bridal gown. She paired it with sexy, silver strappy heels from Jimmy Choo and a purple ribbon sash.

Since Anjanette is the President & Creative Director of luxury jewelry brand Diamond in the Rough, jewelry was a very important part of her big day. Dominic designed her rough diamond engagement ring and “FPO” bracelet (“For Position Only” in the design world). As you can imagine, designing an engagement ring for a jewelry designer (who has an engagement ring collection herself) can be a daunting task which required time and proper planning. That being said, when Dominic (who is a designer and co-owner of the branding agency OFFICELAB) proposed, he had a henna tattoo with the letters “FPO” as a placeholder. Once the actual ring arrived, we had a commemorative bracelet made which Anjanette wore to the wedding. Since Anjanette’s dress was so intricate, she wanted to keep her other jewelry simple. She chose small champagne bubbles drop earrings from Diamond in the Rough to complete her look and not detract from her dress or glowing face.

We were married by a friend (who was recently ordained especially for this event) at 620 Loft & Garden on a beautiful Saturday afternoon amongst our closest friends and family. The space was so beautiful in its own right so we wanted to only add simply touches like a circle of chairs joined by a garland made of white orchids. St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Saks Fifth Avenue both acted as amazing backdrops for our ceremony.  We also incorporated fabric parasols which we laced with special purple ribbon of varying shades from M&J trimming matching Anjanette’s sash.

Our intimate reception was held at Duane Park, a burlesque jazz club and restaurant in Tribeca with a 1920’s vibe. We had visited the restaurant on a date prior to getting engaged so it had special significance. When we thought about an interesting New York restaurant to have our reception at, which was really an intimate dinner party, this felt just right. Dominic being a musician, we had a Jazz trio play during both our cocktail hour and during our celebration. Fabulous burlesque dancers entertained guests, keeping to our theme of “Sexy Beautiful.”

In between the two, we took a respite and had lunch at Beauty & Essex where we recently returned to celebrate my birthday. The venue is unassuming; it appears to onlookers to merely be a pawn shop, but as you enter, you are swept away through a secret door and into a magnificent multi-level restaurant with a real old-world feel….the perfect mid-day escape! Long story short…it was a perfect day and the perfect way to start our lives together!

Wedding Photography: Lilian Haidar / Floral Design: Jodie Zimmerman Designs, Inc. / Ceremony Location: 620 Loft & Garden / Reception Location: Duane Park / Invitations: Paperless Post / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress: Carmen Marc Valvo / Bride’s Jewelry (engagement ring, wedding band, bracelet + earrings): Diamond in the Rough / Groom’s Wedding Band: Anne Sportun / Hair: Patrick Melville / Make-up: DEX New York

Happy Monday SMPers! I hope you had the loveliest of long weekends and are refreshed and ready to conquer yet another week of pretty! I can’t think of a better way to start the week long pretty parade than with this lovely wedding by Pezz Photo. With the simple elegance of a backyard affair that we all love so much and a Bride planned every little detail, this is a DIY wedding executed to perfection. Want to see more? Of course you do, so head on over to the full gallery of images for even more pretty!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Pezz Photo…When Elizabeth and DJ first set out to plan their wedding, they met with a wedding planner who declared that every wedding detail should shout, “that’s so them.”  Elizabeth wholeheartedly agreed and right then and there made the decision to hire the best person for the job: herself. To encapsulate all the adventures of their ten-year relationship, complete with two close families and a group of shared, childhood best friends who had the dream of growing old together living next door on a cul-de-sac, Elizabeth knew that no one but herself could pull off the ultimate “that’s so them” wedding. And “so them” it was – with Elizabeth running the show no detail was left untouched and no opportunity to incorporate an adventure or favorite thing of the couple was missed. The 85 person wedding was held in the bride’s family’s backyard in the couple’s hometown of Sarasota, Florida. The lush and intimate venue set the stage for what would become wedding’s unofficial theme of “relaxed backyard elegance.”  In the months leading up to the wedding, Elizabeth and DJ easily tackled the standard wedding details: caterer (www.mattisons.com), wine list, guest transportation (of course it had to be the Sarasota Trolley) and the DJ. But other matters took more careful planning.

A lover of all things paper and pretty, invitations were a top priority for the bride. She commissioned the artistic talent of Christine Elizabeth Van Duyn of cevd.com to create a custom letterpress invitation suite in a palate of pinks, tans, gold and creams.  Christine created a personalized monogram with subtle reference to the couple’s nicknames “Bear” and “Lizard” bestowed on them by their friends. Addresses were beautifully hand-penned by Elizabeth and topped off with vintage stamps found on The Paper Nickel to give guests a tease of what the wedding had in store. The wedding itself featured unique accents special to the couple to give the wedding a personalized and one-of-a-kind touch.

Ceremony music was provided by the bride’s “second mom” on guitar, the ceremony officiant was the groom’s aunt, the wedding cake was made by the bride’s uncle and a late night dessert spread was created by the couple’s friends. And to the entire wedding party’s delight, the groom’s mother baked hundreds of her famed chocolate chip cookies for the special occasion.  Bridesmaids wore dresses of their own choosing in colors complementary to the invite’s color scheme, a bridesmaid (accompanied by her mom and sister) sang the couple’s favorite Jack Johnson song during the ceremony, and guests dined family style at two long feasting tables underneath lighted trees.

The breathtaking table setup – complete with antique glass vases from store shopping trips with bridesmaids, succulent centerpieces handpicked from a local flower market, the bride’s grandmother’s china at the head tables, and rose wine bottles used as table markers (an idea lovingly “borrowed” from this Style Me Pretty post) – played host for an amazing dinner of shared fare, heartwarming toasts and even the presentation of a photo of the couple’s first date during their senior year of high school.

The only guest absent from the wedding was the couple’s beloved pup, a rambunctious chocolate lab who threatened to spend the entire wedding in the pool and on guest’s laps.  But to everyone’s delight, Anna was incorporated into the wedding in several dress-saving ways, including an illustration of her in the couple’s wedding monogram and as the “welcome chalkboard,” (www.chalkink.com) which served as the wedding’s first impression. The evening ended with guests filling in around the pool to dance under the twinkling lights to a playlist picked by them (the couple set up a music request on their wedding website!), which guaranteed a packed dance floor. After pulling guests off the dance floor and watching guests stash chocolate chip cookies into suit pockets, guests packed on to the Sarasota Trolley for a quick drive to the couple’s favorite bar. Complete in wedding attire, the celebration continued well into the night thanks to the bar’s signature drink “the village idiot.”

Ceremony + Reception Location: Private Residence / Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone / Groom’s Suit: Z by Zegna / Make-up: Colours by Linny / Hair: Elena Joseph / Wedding Photography: Amy Pezzicara of Pezz Photo / Assistant Photographer: Michelle Fader / Stationery Design: cevd {custom invitation studio} / Vintage Stamps: The Paper Nickel / Catering: Mattison’s / Floral Design: Lynne Pitts Hamilton of The Finishing Touch / Wedding Cake: Bride’s Uncle / Desserts: Brides’s Uncle + Couple’s Friends / Day-of Coordination: Bride’s Friend / Lighting: Affairs in the Air / Transportation: Siesta Trolley / Officiant: Groom’s Aunt / Seating Chart Chalkboard: RevivedVintage / Dog Chalkboard: Chalk Ink / DJ: DJ Al Garcia

For those of you enjoying all the weekend deals comfortably in your PJs on your couch, we have another fabulous sale to get excited about – and this one is from the oh so fabulous Wiley Valentine. How can you not love that? We swoon hard over stationery here, and when it’s on sale AND from Wiley Valentine we get more than a little excited. From all the gorgeous holiday cards to their fabulous marriage certificates, their Etsy shop is full of so much pretty. Even better, from 11/25 (midnight EST)  through 11/28, enter the coupon code HOLIDAYPROMO40 while checking out to receive 40% off your ENTIRE order from our shop.  Yes, you read that right – 40% off. Happy Shopping! (*offer valid in the etsy shop only).

Who doesn’t love a good sale, particularly when enjoyed from the comfort of your own couch. So be sure to stop on buy Wiley Valentine’s Etsy shop to get the most fabulous deals minus the crowds. Do you love, or do you love?

Stationery: Wiley Valentine

After yesterdays delish food, we’re all a bit stuffed, but we do have one more feast for your eyes before we let you go for the weekend. Don’t worry, it’s calorie free! We’ve got the week of pretty weddings all served up on a platter to wash down the turkey and mashed potatoes of yesterday – the perfect dessert in my humble opinion. Well that and a nice big piece of pumpkin pie. Make sure to have a wonderful weekend, andwe’ll be here bright and early Monday morning, back to business, with more of this fabulous wedding from MK Photography! xoxo

Photography by MK Photography

The week of weddings, all in one spot – in case you missed any:

a soft and oh-so-romantic Navy wedding in Texas
a crisp autumn wedding in Canada, uniting the sweetest of high school sweethearts
a modern and chic art gallery soiree in Colorado
a gorgeous Long Island vineyard affair
a fantastically exciting highlight film with the most adorable Ohio couple
a southern garden soiree to die for in Tennessee

A few of our favorite things, courtesy of the world wide web:

a fantastic Thanksgiving rehearsal dinner via Ruffled
a cranberry bourbon sauce perfect for the holidays via Design*Sponge
a winter board from Veils & Vows we’d love to see come to life via our Inspiration Builder

Mmm… we’ve got a sweet, southern wedding on the agenda today. And it is filled with the most romantic Memphis details. Perfect way to start your morning. You can almost feel the southern hospitality, courtesy of the event planners & designers, Southern Event Planners. Every image from Christen Jones Photography has a hint of “Y’all come back now, ya hear?” tucked inside the insanely gorgeous affair. And I haven’t even touched on that dress yet. Just click here for the gallery. You’ll thank me later.

From Southern Event Planners … Guests traveled from all over the country to be a part of Amanda and Erik’s wedding day. They were greeted at the hotels with goodie bags that included a bunch of Memphis favorites: GooGoo Clusters, Goody’s Powder, Elvis Postcards, Jelly Krimpet TastyKakes, an itinerary of the wedding, and brochures from local museums and tourist attractions.

Amanda and Erik met at a sushi restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada where they both lived. A year and a half later, Erik proposed at the top of the Stratosphere…or as they like to call it “the top of the world.” For their wedding, they knew it would be a requirement to incorporate the elements of Las Vegas. Amanda grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and that’s where she wanted to be married. Planning this wedding from afar was nothing new to Southern Event Planners, and the details were quickly worked out in the first few visits.

It was important to Amanda and Erik that the adult guests of their wedding could enjoy the celebration, so they hired an event sitting service to watch the children. The sitters brought activities and gift boxes for each child, and the parents were free to have fun!

The ceremony was held in the Japanese Garden overlooking the lake at the Memphis Botanic Gardens. A guitar and violin duo serenaded the crowd as the family and bridal party entered and took their places. Amanda looked stunning and overjoyed as she made her way down the aisle to her future husband. One of Amanda’s closest friends sang “Songbird” as the flute and guitar accompanied her, and there was not a dry eye in the house! After being pronounced “Mr. and Mrs.” by the officiate, guests made their way inside to Hardin Hall.

Blue lighting, candles, and elegant place-settings topped with a California Mixed Greens Salad greeted the guests as they entered the room. Soft music was playing and the atmosphere was very cool and relaxed. Guests sipped on cocktails as they found their seats. Amanda made real casino chips into escort cards! She printed labels with the guests’ names and table numbers and stuck them on the chip. She purchased custom shot glasses that housed glittered bonbons, and the escort chip was laid on top of the glass for each guest! On each table, a picture frame housed a photo of the casino and the corresponding poker chip. Guests had fun calling out their casino names and helping each other find the tables.

Amanda and Erik were soon announced into the reception, and the dances begun. Their first dance was a medley of songs, but little did the guests know…they had a second choreographed dance planned! The reception carried on as planned with a Father/Daughter Dance, Mother/Son Dance, and dinner. Wedding guests feasted on two buffet stations: a Jersey station (for Erik’s personality) and a Southern station (for Amanda’s personality). Hand rolled sushi, mini cheese-steak sandwiches and stuffed manicotti were among the groom’s choices, while grits, fried green tomatoes, and catfish bites with hush-puppies were among the bride’s requests.

After the champagne toast and cake cutting,  Natalie Cole’s voice began the first verse of “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love).” Amanda and Erik waltzed across the dance floor to each other and guests clapped and shouted when they realized what was happening. This was their second surprise dance for the guests. All of the events of the night were captured on video and edited together with footage from the rehearsal dinner the night before. A few minutes before the grand exit, Amanda and Erik invited their guests to huddle around the projection screen to watch a recap of the wedding events. The videographer did a wonderful job with the same day edit!

After the video, sparklers were lit outside as the bride and groom made their way to their waiting towncar. It was truly a day they will never forget!

Photography: Christen Jones Photography / Cinematography: Daybreak Cinema / Flowers: Deedra Stone Designs / Event Design: Deedra Stone Designs and Southern Event Planners / Event Planning: Southern Event Planners / Ceremony Location: Memphis Botanic Gardens, Japanese Garden / Reception Location: Memphis Botanic Gardens, Hardin Hall / Invitations: RSVP Stationers / Dress: Alfred Angelo / Catering: A Moveable Feast / Transportation: Tennessee Limo and Cline Tours, Inc. / Event Sitters: Elegant Event Sitters, Inc.

Happy Thanksgiving lovelies!  By now I’m sure you’re gearing up to hit the road for the relatives’ house or making preparations for your own holiday house guests.  Your shopping is done, the house is clean and the turkey is about to go in the oven.  Now there is only one thing left to do and that is relax!  What better way to bring a little sparkle into your day than with a scrumptious ginger champagne cocktail.  Lisa Thiele took a cue from Martha Stewart and created these delicious, fizzy beauties.  So grab a glass and have a sparkly holiday!  Cheers!

Ingredients

Set a fine-mesh sieve over a small bowl; set aside.

In a small saucepan, boil ginger, sugar, and 1/4 cup water until it becomes a syrup, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and pour through sieve and into a bowl, discarding solids.

Pour about a tablespoon of syrup into each champagne glass. Top with sparkling wine, gently stir.

To store syrup, refrigerate in an airtight container, up to 1 week.

Styling and Photography: Lisa Thiele / Recipe: Martha Stewart

There is something so wildly refreshing and romantic about this bohemian inspiration shoot by The LANE Event Styling.  I love the way the bride and groom gaze so sweetly at each other, her flowing, delicate dresses and beautifully crafted headpieces, the white wicker furniture against the crystal clear ocean waters and the overall lighthearted and whimsical feeling.  Get your hippie beach chic on in the full gallery and make sure you check out the über-romantic film below!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From The LANE Event Styling…There’s nothing more romantic than a Summer afternoon wedding held by the sea at a secluded beach.  There’s such a calming, nostalgic energy about the ocean and I wanted this shoot in Byron Bay to really capture those feelings, with styling that looked effortless and complimented the space & the couple, as opposed to ‘proppy’, over-styled decor that I feel has given beach weddings a bit of a bad name.

This shoot tells the story of a bohemian romance and private commitment ceremony held on a secluded beach in Byron Bay, NSW. I wanted to capture the free-spirited mood of the 70’s, and drew inspiration from nature, fire, music, art and sun-drenched afternoons in Australia.

I was dreaming of a small, intimate wedding celebrated barefoot on the sand; a vibrant beach celebration with guests lazed on over-sized cushions at picnic-style tables, indulging in beautiful food, red wine & toasted marshmallows around a fire at dusk.

Stylist + Art Director: Karissa Fanning of The LANE Event Styling / Videography + Editor: Johnny Abegg / Photography: Trent Mitchell Photography / Floral Design: White Ivy Design / Models: Beau Campi + Tia Martyn / Music: Priest With Balloons by Tiny Ruins

I have so very many things to be thankful for this lovely holiday morning and I just added this gorgeous Chicago affair by Heather Parker Photography to the list.  Held at one of my favorite venues of all time (the oh-so-wonderful Gallery 1028), these two high school sweethearts tied the knot in style with vibrant red and pale pink hues, beautiful blooms and one very gorgeous pair of sparkly shoes.  Yes, I am more than smitten with this wonderful soiree… and you will be, too.  So, be sure to join me in the gallery for all of the pretty and then have yourselves a very, very happy Thanksgiving, lovelies! xoxo

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… The story of how Josh and I met can be found on our beautiful and unique letterpress wedding invitations. Josh and I were camp counselors at our local YMCA. Initially, we became very close friends. We’d talk on the phone every night and spend as much time together at school as possible. The summer of 2002, we started dating. And the rest is history. All of our most memorable moments have been spent together. And being one year apart in school has meant double the fun: prom, graduations, college parties, travel abroad. We are the quintessential definition of high school sweethearts… and college sweethearts for that matter!

Josh and I consider ourselves true Chicagoans. While we did grow up in the north suburbs, we have both spent so much time in the city. Since we moved in to the Lakeview neighborhood together right after college graduation, we now think of Chicago as our home. So getting married here was the obvious choice! When my mom and I pulled up to Gallery 1028 to visit for the first time, I literally said, “Let’s just go… this is a loading dock!!” But she convinced me to take a look…I fell in love! When I brought Josh back to see the space, he loved it just as much as I did! The perfect raw venue, but with a distinct vintage vibe. Exactly what we wanted for our wedding.

Josh and I were the first of our friends to get married so we truly had no idea what we were doing as we went through the planning process. It took us a long time to land on colors and a theme, but once we did, we were both so pleased. Galley 1028 can go two ways, super modern with clean lines, bright, colored lighting and lucite furniture or it can be vintage, playing off the antique floors, exposed brick walls and beautiful vaulted ceiling and that’s exactly what we did.

I’ve always considered my design style to be “modern vintage.” I know that sounds like a complete contradiction, but it works. For example, our vases were all antique milk glass vases that we found on Etsy and eBay.  We used only roses, the iconic flower of romance but we used modern colors of the rose: a bright red/pink and a pale peach. For our desserts, we combined traditional treats from both of our heritages and modern candies.

Instead of following the traditional format of the wedding, we wanted our wedding to be extremely personal. Even though there were guests that neither of us knew, we wanted them to feel welcome and a part of the intimate event by making sure THEY knew US.  Our invitations told everyone the story of our relationship and our officiant’s words and our vows both provided a great deal of insight into who Josh and I are as individuals and as partners.

Wedding Photography: Heather Parker Photography / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: Gallery 1028 / Wedding Stationery: Magnus Deuling + Tweedle Press (printing) / Mr. + Mrs. Signs, Lips on Sticks, Stashes on Sticks: The Paper Stache / Wedding Gown: Melissa Sweet via Priscilla of Boston / Bridesmaid Dresses: Ivy & Aster via Bella Bridesmaids / Veil: Bride + Mother of the Bride / Bride’s Jewelry: Jody McGill of Vintalogie / Cufflinks: Under Her Charm / Florist: Groom’s Uncle, Daniel Aquado / Tuxedo: Calvin Klein / Officiant: Friend, Joshua Grossman / Wedding Planner: Laura Patterson of The Ideal Day / DJ: Noah of Style Matters / Wedding Cake: Sweet Mandy B’s / Dessert Stands: Vintage / Desserts: Mothers of the Bride + Groom / Chandeliers, Draped Curtain, Hora Chairs: PJ Acosta of Studio AG / Stickers for Candy Bar: MAU Promos / Love Bird + Minnie Cake Topper: garden4arts / Hair: Daniel Aquado / Make-up: Eric Holt Makeup

While your neighbors below in the States are feasting the day away, we thought it would only be appropriate to give you something to feast your eyes on this festive Thursday morning. And although the Canadian Thanksgiving has come and gone – this rustic photo shoot by Revel Events will give you so much to be thankful for. Captured perfectly by Gucio Photography, believe me when I say you’ll want to devour each and every image! Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of image!

From Gucio Photography…When Gucio Photography and Revel Events got together to set up this rustic, autumnal photo shoot, it was a classic Vancouver day—grey skies, wind, and rain—but we kept cozy indoors at the lovely Ironworks Studios in Gastown. A refurbished warehouse from the 1880s, the Ironworks provided the ideal inspiration. With its weathered, bottle-green paint on the original wood plank floor, its fir beams, brick walls, skylights, and antique metal accents, no venue could have more aptly embodied our theme of rustic Canadiana. We were inspired by natural textures and colors, and wanted to incorporate as many raw materials as possible into our shoot; in particular, we aimed to feature objects and images reminiscent of the West coast of Canada. Wood, moss, pine cones—and yes, even antlers—helped set the scene and enhance this cool color scheme.

Graphic designer Leah Browne created all of the stationery, including escort cards, table numbers, menus, favor tags, and dessert flags. She used textured kraft paper to compliment the rustic theme, and her design incorporated images of animals indigenous to this beautiful corner of the earth. Inspired by Leah’s design, we glued twigs to the escort cards and used a bed of moss in a wooden tray to anchor this 3-D twist on a seating chart. Instead of seating your guests at table 1 or 2, why not invite them to take a seat at Salmon, Deer, or Bear?

We were so excited to find this antique solid wood dinner table with its scalloped edges and intricate scrollwork. The table has so much character that it would have been a shame to cover it up; instead, we chose to accent the dark wood with a mottled grey bamboo table runner. Clusters of candles in various heights lined the runner and lent a warm glow to the table, highlighting the true showpiece: the fabulous terrarium centerpieces! Nghia Diep at Blumen Floral Boutique crafted these gorgeous succulent creations inside a trio of apothecary jars. The place settings were accented with guest favors of white porcelain acorn ornaments that also served as the place card holders. Fruitwood chiavari chairs added a delicate complement to the heavy solidity of the table.

Of course, no table would be complete without a delicious meal! We brought award-winning food blogger Emily Wight (Well Fed, Flat Broke) on board to create a West Coast menu to feature in the photo shoot. Her menu incorporated the best meats, cheeses, and fresh produce that the Okanagan and Fraser Valley have to offer. The fabulous Vancouver home décor and accessories store, Walrus, provided us with wood serving trays to showcase Emily’s culinary delights.

To cap off the meal, we created a tiny cake-built-for-two, plus a buffet of other Canadian-inspired confections: maple cupcakes, Nanaimo bars, beaver tails, and berries. For those DIY-ers out there, our vintage-inspired green dessert table was a $15 Salvation Army find. We sanded off the unattractive shellac, painted the table this cheerful shade of green, and then sanded the edges and corners to give it that weathered look. It was a fun, budget-friendly way to add a pop of color and character to the décor.

Our stunning model, Kimberly, allowed us to play dress-up with her all day. She spent the morning having her hair styled by Lauren McFadden, and her makeup done by Emily Cheng. Aiming for casual elegance, we steered clear of the typical wedding gown, opting for a trio of short dresses. Each one evoked a different mood: the first, a playful party dress that we commissioned local designer Carina Gonzalez of Philosophy Pink to create; the second, a pure white, flowing linen and lace frock from H&M; and the third, an elegant, flirty, halter dress in a pinkish hue from Club Monaco.

Blumen’s garden-inspired bridal bouquet was a feast for the senses—it looked beautiful, smelled incredible, and featured so many textures and shades of white, grey, and green that it was truly a work of art. The boutonnieres were delicate, yet masculine, and tied in beautifully with the floral accents in the terrarium centerpieces.

Of all the bridal accessories we used in the photo shoot, none was more meaningful than the most enduring of wedding symbols: the ring. The magnificent pearl solitaire gracing Kimberly’s hand was handmade by local jewelry designer Rex Lavado (Broken English) as a gift for his wife, who graciously allowed us to borrow it for the day. Every gal in the room was envious!

Photography: Gucio Photography / Décor, Shoot Coordination, Cake + Desserts: Jenna Smith of Revel Events / Stationery + Décor Consultation: Leah Browne / Floral Design: Nghia Diep of Blumen Floral Boutique / Food: Emily Wight of Well Fed, Flat Broke / Model: Kimberly Love / Hair: Lauren McFadden / Make-up: Emily Cheng / Attire: Carina Gonzalez of Philosophy Pink, H&M + Club Monaco / Shoes: Banana Republic / Ring: Rex Lavado of Broken English / Hair Accessories: Julie Gunn of Sage Leaf Studio

Oh my goodness, SMPers, do we have a fabulous holiday treat for you this wonderful Thanksgiving morning.  Yes, this darling Austin affair by Tamir Kalifa Photography is not only filled to the brim with the loveliest of details (including beautiful florals by Pollen Floral Art, gorgeous invitations designed by the cute as can be bride and one very awesome wedding gown), but it’s the sweetest marriage of two adorable high school sweethearts that actually met in the sixth grade!  Yes, my heart just melted, too.  So, join me in the gallery for all of the pretty and then stay tuned for a seriously charming film by Crooked Tie Studios below!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

One last bundle of gorgeous before you head off into your holiday… This amazing film by Crooked Tie Studios will leave you crying some very happy tears.  Enjoy!

From the Bride... Jacob and I met in sixth grade. We were in some of the same classes, but the only spark between us was the one from a match Jacob tried to light on his friend’s arm cast during science. I rolled my eyes at the disruptive behavior and we went our separate ways. Jacob went on to a different high school and we didn’t meet again until a mutual friend “introduced” us when we were sixteen years old.

Finally, we hit it off! He asked me out, and I drove him around (because he didn’t even have his license yet). He taught me about history and archaeology. And I taught him about old movies and musicals. He taught me to let loose. And I taught him dedication and hard work. We dated through high school, through four years of long-distance college years, through getting first jobs (me), and through the first years of grad school (Jacob). And after eight years of dating, we got married!

We wanted to keep the wedding small and budget friendly. We made our dream day come true for $10,000. There were four words I kept in mind during the whole planning process: fun, sweet, casual, quirky.

So, we had both the ceremony and reception on the second story of a downtown Austin restaurant. I used patterned paper as the backdrop to all printed materials and the colors of the wedding were red-orange and chartreuse. The bouquets and boutonnieres were made from ranunculus and succulents. I picked three patterned fabrics in coordinating colors and my mom made beautiful napkins for the day out of them. I wore a short dress and flats, and my bridesmaids wore different colors. Jacob and his groomsmen didn’t wear ties. We hired a folk band to play and a photojournalism student to capture the day. It couldn’t have been a more perfect summer wedding for us.

Wedding Photography: Tamir Kalifa Photography / Wedding Videography: Crooked Tie Studios / Floral Design: Pollen Floral Art / Ceremony + Reception Location: Parkside Restaurant on 6th Street / Invitations + Planning: The Bride / Bride’s Shoes: Bruno Magli / Wedding Dress: After Six / Lace Bolero: Alex Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: LulaKate

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Before we all dive headfirst into plates of turkey and sweet potatoes, we wanted to share this extra special wedding with all of you. This super fun and adorable couple held their wedding the same weekend that Hurricane Irene decided to come down hard on Vermont and left them, along with 100 of their guests stranded for days. But even that didn’t stop them from having a fabulous celebration! a love supreme photography was there to capture all the fun details and lucky for us, there’s much more in the gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From a love supreme photography…I’m not even sure words can describe just how plain awesome this wedding was. Auste and Jonas and 200 of their loved ones gathered at Camp Neringa in Brattleboro, VT to celebrate. The handmade details were amazing, Auste is stunningly beautiful and absolutely hilarious, their family and friends were incredibly gracious and welcoming, Jonas has some killer dance moves, and I’m pretty sure we partied all night long. The fun just didn’t stop!

And all of this happened right in the middle of Hurricane Irene’s worst. I stayed the night and left about 20 minutes before the main roads got washed away, leaving about 100 wedding guests and the entire wedding party stranded for four days! Their story made a couple of newspapers, and was on the Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and Inside Edition! Auste says, “we’re all home safe now and finally able to laugh about the whole ordeal. It was pretty inspiring seeing how everyone came together and turned a disaster into a wonderful celebration! I had almost forgotten through all the hurricane drama that the entire weekend began with our beautiful wedding!”

Wedding Photography: a love supreme photography / Wedding Dress: Watters via Lovely Bridal Shop / Bride’s Reception Attire: Club Monaco / Coordination: The Bride + Mother of the Bride / Caterer: Sharon Myers / Rings: Mark Lash / Bride’s Shoes: Barefoot! / Hair + Make-up: The Bride / Flowers: FiftyFlowers + Brattleboro Farmers Market / Band: BrickPark Entertainment

We have a wondrously romantic woodland wedding for you on this fine day of thanks and giving.  Shaded under a large oak and surrounded by loved ones these nuptials, captured by Melissa Prosser Photography, are full of wonderment and magic.  Perfectly wild arrangements of seasonal blossoms and vintage vessels nestled into little beds of moss look darling against the woodsy backdrop.  Click here to see all the natural beauty and have a marvelous holiday!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Melissa Prosser Photography…Katherine and John hosted an absolutely beautiful wedding at Dunaway Gardens.  The only way to describe their day is fairytale.  I have never walked into a venue and felt like I was in another world!  The ceremony was hosted under a beautiful gigantic tree.  It was a simple ceremony with a few readings and personalized vows from the couple.  Katherine chose a very natural whimsical decor to go with this amazing outdoor venue.  Lots of beautiful flowers donned the tables that seemed like mother nature had put them there, the buffet was filled with candle light and vegetables. Even her dress felt like from another world.  It definitely had a vintage nod with the color and style and fit her quiet sweet personality to a tee!  The reception had an awesome jazz band that kept the atmosphere going into the evening.  Friends and family enjoyed catching up with each other, dancing, or simply enjoying the outdoor fireplace.  It was an evening to remember

Wedding Photography: Melissa Prosser Photography / Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone / Bride’s Shoes: Seychelles / Food: Avalon Catering / Band: Moonlight Jazz Trio / Groom’s Suit: H. Stockton / Floral Design: The Perfect Poppy / Venue: Dunaway Gardens

Good morning, SMPers and a Happy Thanksgiving to you!  We have one very stunning Medfield affair to jump start your holiday in style this lovely morning… and it’s sure to put a smile on your face with every delightful detail, including a seriously gorgeous color palette of orange and blue, a yummy s’mores station and a ceremony space filled with some uber-fabulous balloons.  Awesome.  And with the gorgeous stylings of Invited Special Events and beyond brilliant images captured by The Wiebners, this darling affair is the sweetest of ways to spend your day.  Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Invited Special Events… The couple, Anne and Taylor, are based in DC, but they decided on getting married at Anne’s parent’s home in Medfield, MA. It was the PERFECT location for them, and it allowed us to incorporate all the casual “home-style” details that the couple really wanted. The bride’s favorite color is orange, so we made sure it was everywhere! The bright pops orange were complemented beautifully with blue throughout all the details of the day. The couple also knew they wanted to incorporate the neighborhood in some of their photographs, so they decided to have their first look at a family friend’s barn. From there they went to the local ice cream shop, Bubbling Brook, to take bridal party photos and enjoy a couple ice cream cones!

There were so many personal and DIY projects that were taken on for the ceremony and reception: from the chalkboard seating chart (a labor of love completed by Anne!) to the custom reclaimed barnboard table runners (thanks to her Dad!) to the program and menu design (another labor of love by the bride) to the three-foot orange balloons we had throughout the ceremony. Every person had a hand in making the day what it was, and her parent’s were so gracious when their home became wedding central!

Not a fan of wedding cake, Anne and Taylor decided against it. We opted instead for a pound cake and ice cream bar for all the guests to enjoy! With three flavors of pound cake, four flavors of ice cream and dozens of topping options, the guests were more than happy! We actually even ended up using Anne’s own pound cake recipe which also served as their wedding cake, with a custom bike cake topper of course. One of the best parts of the evening was the fire pit “after party!” We brought in hay bales for seating and covered them with orange jute for all the guests to cozy around the fire pit so they could enjoy the little s’mores station we’d set up for them, and enjoy it they did!

The photographers, The Wiebners, did an unbelievable job of capturing all the custom details of the day, including all of the priceless moments that were shared. Any wedding that ends up with the bride, groom and entire bridal party enjoying beers in the hot tub at 2am in the morning is a fabulous wedding in my book!

Wedding Photography: Joel & Rita Wiebner of The Wiebners / Event Design + Planning: Invited Special Events / Floral Design: Judy’s Village Flowers / Caterer: Baker’s Best / Ice Cream: Bubbling Brook / Rentals: Peterson Party Center / DJ: Beat Train Productions / Ceremony + Reception Location: Private Residence / Invitations: The Bride (design) + Gus & Ruby Letterpress (printing)

Happy Thanksgiving SMP-ers!  We have so much to be thankful for: the fact that we get to look at gorgeous weddings day after day and, of course, you!  We hope you have a love and food-filled holiday surrounded by friends, families, and lots of pie!  As an extra special treat, we have a phenomenal fall rehearsal dinner by Pineapple Productions with decor that is fitting for the holiday table or a casually chic al fresco wedding.  Click here to get all the autumn inspiration in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Pineapple Productions…When Mary and I first started working together, she showed me photographs of a beautiful al fresco dinner set within a community garden in an urban area.  She hoped her rehearsal dinner would have the same feel — from the casual-but-chic outdoor setting to the seasonal fresh-from-the-garden cuisine.

We were all set with the perfect venue, the perfect caterer and the perfect floral designer when Mother Nature threw us a curve ball.  Record high temperatures hit Washington, DC, and the extreme heat and humidity made it impossible to be outdoors, even in the late evening.  Vendors worked together at the last minute to move the event to an indoor location and then to craft a plan that preserved Mary’s urban garden style inspiration.

To keep the al fresco feeling alive, rather than cancelling the market umbrellas, we kept them.  We just moved them into an art studio space with lofty ceilings.  From those lofty ceilings, Holly Heider Chapple hung an assortment of lanterns — some weathered wood, some nickle, some bronze — and interspersed them with suspended clutches of baby’s breath to add an ethereal and natural quality to the studio setting.

We completely re-worked the floor plan, using a mix of long rectangular tables and rounds dressed in heavy natural linen in a seamist and ivory color.  Some linens were striped, and others were in a graphic Grecian key pattern for a dressed up picnic feel.  Holly placed more lanterns on the tables, as well as herb pots and wooden boxes filled with dahlias, roses, hydrangeas and thistle in cheery coral, red  and blue tones.

The menu reflected favorites from Mary’s home state of Texas and her new home of Michigan.  Texas style watermelon margaritas and cans of Michigan’s own Vernor’s Ginger Ale were passed on trays as guests arrived for the party.  We also set up a beer bar featuring Mary and John’s favorite Michigan microbrews.  The buffet featured firecracker tenderloin of beef, pecan crusted chicken, crab cake sliders and Texas “caviar” made from black eyed peas and colorful peppers.  Dessert included Southern style caramel cake as well as hand pies made from Michigan cherries.

Venue: Halcyon House / Event Planner:  Allison Jackson of Pineapple Productions /Caterer: Design Cuisine / Photography: Kate Headley / Floral Design: Holly Heider Chapple Flowers LTD / Invitations: Just Paper and Tea / Calligraphy + Signage: Arney Walker Calligraphy

Happy Thanksgiving, SMP New York! While all of you are busy whipping together mashed potatoes and pumpkin pies, I am drooling over this gorgeous vineyard wedding and totally slacking on my turkey day obligations of olive trays and green bean casserole…but I think everyone will thank me because this, my friends, is one fabulous fete! With Quatre Coeur on floral design and Bright Bird Photography behind the lens, you really have so much to be thankful for. Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Quatre Coeur…Ashley and Jordan were married in June at a family owned vineyard in Mattituck, Long Island. Every detail of their wedding day was perfect for an outdoor summer wedding– from the simple and elegant chuppah Ashley’s father built in a near by field with the vineyard as the backdrop, to the stunning Sperry tent where guest enjoyed dinner and dancing.

Ashley wanted an inviting, casual and elegant feel for her wedding with a mix of modern and vintage elements. For the flowers, we arranged bunches of garden roses and peony in bright coral, fuchsia and peach shades with fun accents like poppy pods and lambs ear. The arrangements were styled down long tables with mercury glass votives for a touch of vintage romance. Antique lanterns and beach glass from Ashley’s father were incorporated with the seating card floral decor to make a beautiful display.

Bright Bird Photography captured the mood of the day and all of the unique details with sweet images that feel timeless and contemporary.

Wedding Photography: Bright Bird Photography / Floral Design: Quatre Coeur / Caterer: Sydney’s / Ceremony Location: Private Residence / Reception Location: The Barns at Vineyard’s Edge / Wedding Dress: Michelle NY / Calligraphy: Kendall Rose Calligraphy / Music: AE / Pies: Briermere Farms / Hair + Make-up: Special Effects Salon & Spa / Tent: Sperry Tent

To keep you distracted from all the lovely Thanksgiving smells currently floating through your home, we thought we would share a beyond lovely fête filled with fabulous fall hues by Vitalic Photo. Complete with a whole lotta love and warm, cozy tones – it just feels fitting to feature it on such a festive day. There is more pretty where this came from, so if you need even more distractions – spend some time in the full gallery of gorgeous!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

How about one more pretty little distraction? This film of their pretty day by Key Moment Films should do the trick!

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From Vitalic Photo…Emily + Brandon’s wedding had true sentimental value at Christ by the Sea Church because Emily’s parents were married there over 25 years ago! Their ceremony was meaningful and was followed by an intimate reception at Grand Harbor Golf Club. Emily exudes a sense of grace and Brandon is simply a southern gentleman. Having met less than a year ago, they knew they were meant for each other and didn’t waste much time being apart. The perfect October weather and the adorable autumn details made us fall in love with their wedding, and with them.

From the Groom…Emily was born and raised in Vero Beach, Florida.  She grew up on all things citrus and all things country.  Her mom is to credit for her sweet charm and caring spirit, and her dad is to credit for her ability to shoot guns and love of citrus fruit. I am convinced Emily is the most beautiful thing that I will behold in this life.  Her beauty is inexhaustible, and I am blessed beyond my deserving to spend a lifetime discovering it to new depths.  She is the beauty that I have always longed to pursue and so much more.  Words utterly fail to describe my affection towards her.  Her beauty has captivated my heart and enchanted my soul. She is my treasure and my chosen, and I am excited beyond words to spend a lifetime loving.

From the Bride…Brandon was born and raised in Lilburn (not to be confused with Wilburn), GA.  He holds great pride for the state of Georgia and Chick Fil-A and believes no other state (or restaurant) compares.  He is a southern gentleman who truly knows how to sweep a girl off her feet.  He is no stranger to opening restaurant doors, using words like “beautiful” and “captivating” to describe me, opening car doors, writing me love letters, opening doors to the mall, saying funny things just to see me smile, opening doors to the supermarket, stopping me in the midst of something just to give me a long hug and opening lots and lots of doors.  He has won my heart with his patient demeanor and sweet spirit.  His smile and southern twang make my heart melt.  I didn’t know the depth of love I could feel for another until I met Brandon; I’m excited to grow in our relationship and spend everyday with my best friend.

Wedding Photography: Vitalic Photo / Wedding Videography: Key Moment Films / Day-of Coordination: Lara’s Theme / Ceremony Location: Christ by the Sea Church / Reception Location: Grand Harbor / Flowers: Monti’s Flower Market