We are ever so excited this morning to share the winning board for the Inspiration to Invitation Challenge by Sarah Drake. A couple of weeks ago, we put a call out to all of you wedding gurus who have a flair for fabulous board building to design an inspiration board that would be the muse for a totally unique, never been seen before invitation design by Sarah Drake. Out of ALL the gorgeous entries that came our way, Sarah chose this amazing Mexican beach-inspired beauty by Taylor Jayne!

Sarah will be back in a couple months to reveal her brand new invitation based on this board!  Stay tuned!

If you are in the mood for some romance this lovely Friday morning, then you most certainly came to the right place.  This breathtaking Galveston soiree is delivering a big ol’ bundle of romance and then some with its stunning seaside location, muted tones and beach chic meets elegant style.  Not to mention that the uber-gorgeous bride also happens to be a DIY genius and crafted almost every detail of the day all by herself, including that fabulous bouquet.  Talk about inspiring.  Luckily, Julie Wilhite Photography was on hand to capture each and every breathtaking moment, which means there is an entire gallery of brilliant images just waiting to be adored.  Join me there for even more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Julie Wilhite Photography… After 11 years of being together and creating a beautiful family of four, Nicole and Jack were married on the beach in Galveston, TX.  Surrounded by the most important people in their lives, in a sand-shaped heart, they tied the knot.

What I love so much about this wedding is that almost everything was made by the bride herself – her bouquet, her garter, her hair piece, the boutonnieres, her daughter’s dress… all made lovingly with her wedding in mind.  Everything was so unique and personal, it made the day even more special!

Wedding Photography: Julie Wilhite Photography / Bouquet, Boutonnieres, Daughter’s Dress, Garter: The Lovely Bliss (The Bride) / Preparations: Hotel Galvez / Wedding Ceremony Location: Beach in Galveston, TX / Wedding Dress: Kathy Ireland by 2be / Wedding Hanger: Wisconmon / Jewelry: Vintage / Wedding Shoes: Allure / Groom’s Suit & Son’s Suit: Ralph Lauren

I’ve seen this wedding before. Many times. The gown, the gorgeous estate, the timeless elegance, the love, the bridesmaids in tulle tutus with ballet slippers – I’ve seen it before, but not on a blog or a magazine or in a book. How you ask? Well this, my darlings, is the wedding that I dreamed of as a little girl. It reappeared in my dreams over and over and over again, and now I get to see it with my eyes wide open through the gorgeous, breathtaking images by Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography. It’s a dream come true, literally, and there is even more in the full gallery of absolutely perfect images…

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography…I’m excited to share with you the gorgeous wedding of Aude and Gilles, a couple from Los Angeles who got married in France this summer.

I think you will like their destination wedding which has a lot of style and personal touches.  The bride Aude designed the whole event and made a beautiful garden party.  She is very crafty so she handmade a few details herself.   I loved her ballerina wedding gown and her bridesmaids’ tutu dresses.  During the day, Aude also wore a gorgeous traditional pink sari, to honor her husband’s sri lankese heritage.  And last but not least – I’ve rarely seen such a handsome groom and such a graceful, gorgeous bride!

Wedding Photography: Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography / Second Shooter: Leila Brewster Photography / Cinematography: FIRR Paris / Floral Design: Le Jardin des Fleurs / Event Planning: Blanc Blanc Prune / Ceremony + Reception Location: Chateau de Montplaisant / Invitations: Paper Source / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Catering: Pignol / DJ: Organicus / Jazz Band: Djoukil / Groom’s Suit: Zegna via Saks Fifth Avenue / Groom’s Shoes: Bexley Lyon / Bridesmaid Tutus: BCBG Maxazria / Bridesmaid Shoes: Gap

Apple picking season may be over here in New England, but we just can’t seem to get enough of this vintage, cheery and bright photo shoot by Jennifer Bullock Photography. And what a fun way to spend the afternoon with the love of your life, skipping through rows upon rows of apple trees, treating yourself to some apple cider and yummy cupcakes, and capturing all the memories forever. And if you’re like me (and this adorable real life couple) and are already married, don’t let that stop you from enjoying a professional photo shoot. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Jennifer Bullock Photography…For a while, I had this idea to photograph a couple in love, using an apple theme with a touch a vintage and I knew that it just had to take place in a pretty apple orchard.  Since I was already finished photographing engagements and weddings this year, I decided to search for a couple in love so that I could still have the chance to create and photograph this type of session. It didn’t matter if they were dating, engaged or already married – as long as they were a happy and fun couple.  And that is when I met the perfect couple I was searching for…Michelle and Dan! They’re already married and are certainly in love, so I felt that it was appropriate to call this photo session a “photo-love-shoot”.

This was a styled photo-love-shoot.  And since this was my first styled photo shoot ever, I wanted to create this session with a DIY and budget mind. I didn’t want to go “over the top” with this apple theme, but I wanted to incorporate just enough items and ideas to make this photo-love-shoot extra special. All it took was picking up some items from local chain stores and putting my hot glue gun to work, and voila. My first sweet and simple styled photo shoot is made! I frequently communicated with Michelle about the type of wardrobe I envisioned for her and Dan and she was so great about going out and finding the items she needed to wear.  She then topped it off with getting her hair and make-up done just right.  I believe a big part of what made this photo-love-shoot into exactly what I envisioned were the results of the vintage look that they so perfectly put together.

I think whether people are engaged to be married, already married or simply dating – there is always a good time to capture the love between a happy couple, and to step it up a little by planning their session with a fun theme and detail.  Michelle and Dan were very fun and great to work with and I’d gladly do a styled photo shoot with this theme again for any of my future engaged couples!

Location: Atkins Farms Country Market / Her Dresses + Jewelry: Forever 21 / Hair & Make-up: Total Image Salon / His Attire: H&M / White Table, Vases, Flower Filled Bottle, Plates, Tiered Cupcake Holder, Pie Stand, Quilts, Baskets, Candle Lanterns, Mason Jars + Spigot Jar: Christmas Tree Shops / The “Happy Harvest” Apple Sign, Rattan + Ribbon Details: Michael’s / Napkins: Joann Fabrics / Candied Apples + Pie: Big Y / Apples + Cider: Atkins Farms Country Market / Mums: Randall’s Farm / Cupcakes + Heart Chalkboard: Jennifer Bullock Photography / Photography: Jennifer Bullock Photography

A picturesque view from the comforts of Wolf Mountain Vineyards, enough wine to feed an army, a gorgeous Bride and Groom – we’re thinking this Georgia wedding is about as lovely as it gets. Melissa Prosser Photography sent us this beauty and it’s a perfect reminder of how awesome her photographs are. All the pretty details combined with those special moments at a wedding so often missed by a photographer. You know the ones: the Groom grabbing grapes right from the vine, the ring bearer busting out his best breakdancing moves. It’s all there and makes for one very heart-warming tale. See the FULL wedding here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We were married at Wolf Mountain Vineyards in Dahlonega, GA on 9/10/11.  Todd’s family is from Ohio and mine is from Alabama so we wanted a venue that allowed our families to enjoy the beautiful scenery.  We both love wine and getting married at a vineyard was a perfect fit for us!  Our guests were able to overlook the Appalachian Mountains during sunset at the reception and enjoy the local wine.

Todd and I wanted to incorporate playful twists to make our event unique.  We had guests throw paper airplanes when we left the reception instead of the traditional bubbles or sparklers.  My husband and I are both avid travelers for work and leisure and we wanted to incorporate our love for travel into the wedding.  One of our favorite things to do together is stay home and cook.  We created a website where our guests could enter their favorite recipes.  It was a yearlong effort but we walked away with a treasured and unique wedding favor.  We included family pictures into the cookbook and all of our guests seemed to enjoy them.  We also included Georgia themed items into the OOT bags for our guests including: peanuts from Plains, GA where Jimmy Carter is from, Peach preserves, Goody’s Powders because you can’t find them in the North, and personalized water bottles.

The day was perfect and it reflected who Todd and I are as a couple.  The special touches that we incorporated were special to us and we will always look back on our day with fond memories.

Wedding Photography: Melissa Prosser Photography / Venue + Catering: Wolf Mountain Vineyards / Programs: Kasey Hamel Custom Design + Event Styling / Floral Design: Stems Atlanta / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Flower Girl Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Bridesmaid Dresses: Ann Taylor / Wedding Labels: My Own Labels / Cakes: Classic Cheesecakes & Cake, Mark Lotti / Wedding Dress Hanger: Blackscrapcat

How is it possible for this Oregon wedding to look so classic, chic, and pretty, yet feel so sweet and easy? I’m totally getting a “This is our big day, and we’re so excited to be married, but we’re so calm and collected” feel from the affair. Such poise radiating from this beautiful couple. Ink & Peat was the talent behind the floral design, and I’m going to have to give them a large portion of the credit of creating the perfect ambiance. Well them, and of course, Kim+Phil Photography, for capturing every sentimental moment. And speaking of every moment, click here to see the rest of them. It’ll make you wish you had this bride’s demeanor every day of your life.

I fell in love with John because of playfulness and his wit.  After I accepted his proposal, he immediately gave me a card that said, “Congratulations on your engagement.”  Then he cheerfully added, “Allow me to be the first.”

Our wedding was an opportunity to reconnect and revitalize our community.  We chose local vendors from our home in Portland, Oregon and prioritized a lovely setting, delicious food, wonderful music, and a sense of humor.  Family and friends traveled to Garden Vineyards in Hillsboro, Oregon for a garden party.  We greeted guests with family wedding photos and included a snap of our favorite newlyweds, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Programs with apricot branches designed by Studio Olivine also welcomed guests.  John’s mom made everyone beautiful handkerchiefs, which slid into the programs’ fronts pockets.  Guests posed with silly props to snap instant photos they taped in a handmade guest book.  It is hilarious to see how the pictures evolve throughout the evening.  By the final pages, our cousins are posing with our college friends under wine-infused captions such as “new friends.”

John is a violinist and worked with Classical Revolution PDX to transcribe string music for our ceremony.  We walked down the aisle to Radiohead, the Velvet Underground, and Nina Simone.  Our dear friends Sara-Catherine Wheatley and W.C. Beck also sang tunes by Laura Veirs and Johnny Cash.  The most meaningful part of our ceremony was when we explained why we wanted to marry one another.  John once again cracked everyone up when he said, “I love how you challenge me in overt and subtle ways.  You told me you were tired of cooking most meals, then you bought me a waffle iron.”

Pam Zsorsi, owner of Ink & Peat, designed breathtaking floral arrangements.  Both our moms are avid gardeners and Pam’s creative use of seasonal flowers delighted them.  Pam compiled full centerpieces with peaches and creams punctuated by bright and pale yellows.  She incorporated Karamel Antik garden roses, Peach Avalanche roses, pale peach hypercium, unripe blackberries, peaches and dream dahlias, coxcomb, lemons, and feverfew.

Art of Catering prepared delicious dishes with fresh, local produce.  We served baguettes with salmon terrine, tomato mozzarella on focaccia, and risotto cakes at cocktail stations so everyone could spread out and enjoy the vineyard.  Our family and friends played croquet and drank estate-grown wines.  Bakery Bar made five cakes in flavors ranging from orange poppy seed to red velvet, which we supplemented with miniature lemon-basil and chocolate cinnamon macaroons from Little Bird Bistro.  Kate Greiner made the festive garland we strung as cake toppers.

Once my dad gave his heart-melting toast, W.C. Beck jumped on stage with the band and unexpectedly played Mary Jane’s Last Dance.  You probably remember this as a goodbye love song, with a music video that features Tom Petty on a date with a dead Kim Basinger in a wedding dress.  That didn’t stop anyone from getting on the dance floor, where we celebrated the rest of the night.  It was magical.

Photographers: Kim+Phil Photography / Flowers: Ink & Peat / Dress: Elizabeth Dye, English Department / Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Suits: Duchess Clothier / Ties & Shirts: Collier & Brooks Brothers / Hair: Dosha / Makeup: Blush Beauty Bar / String Trio: Classical Revolution PDX / Singers: W.C. Beck & Sara-Catherine Wheatley / Reception Band: Swingline Cubs / Cake: Bakery Bar / Mini Macaroons: Little Bird Bistro / Sign In Book: Artist Katie Ries / Photo Props: The Funny Side of Life / Cake Toppers & Sign Garland: Kate Greiner / Invitations & Programs: Studio Olivine / Venue: Garden Vineyards

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Trust me when I say you will need to open your Pinterest accounts, be ready to fill up your inspiration folders and have your “eeks” ready before devouring this pretty as can be succulent-filled fête – because when you have The Floral Lab and our very own Sweet Emilia Jane at the helm, you are automatically guaranteed a boat load of inspiration. And believe me, this wedding inspires. Jackie Wonders captured each and every detail with such perfection you will most certainly need to catch your breath at the end of this modern meets rustic meets elegant meets whimsical soiree. I can’t tell you what I love most – the cake, the ringbearers sporting seersucker and bow ties or the stunning less is more styling – but I can tell you that I love every bit of it! Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

And just when you don’t think it can get any better, Enjet Media throws a breathtaking film in the mix making this Friday oh so fabulous…

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From Jackie Wonders…Stacy is not only one of the sweetest and most beautiful brides I have ever worked with but she is also one of the most style-savvy.  She had a very specific vision for her wedding – a combination of modern meets rustic meets elegant meets whimsical – and we worked with all of her and Ozhan’s vendors to make that vision a reality.  The outcome was certainly so much more lovely than I could have ever imagined.

The Rancho Santa Fe estate that Stacy and Ozhan found definitely set the tone for the day.  Guests made their way to the house by the painted wooden signs that Stacy’s dad made for the occasion.  More signs helped guests find their way around the massive estate.  Guests were greeted with lemonade at a magnificent tree where we tied green and white ribbons creating an ombre effect for the ceremony backdrop.

Following the touching ceremony, guests entered the house into the courtyard for cocktail hour and relaxed around the fire pit and pool.  Dinner was served under the most gorgeous open air tent I have ever seen on a large soccer field behind the house.  Groupings of mason jars filled with candles and lanterns hanging from the tent produced a dreamy and elegant ambience.  The Floral Lab created the most lovely spread of lush, creamy arrangements along the entire length of the mahogany tables.  Stacy and her family made the burlap runners that brought in a fun bit of rustic texture, the lovely table numbers and escort cards and the hilarious mad-libs tucked into each napkins. A sweet fig was placed on each napkin for a little added yum-factor.

The food, the music, the joyful atmosphere was so amazing that guests didn’t stop partying until the wee hours of the morning!  As an extra fun treat, they found a delicious selection of cookies from Uncle Biff’s waiting for them on their way out.

Wedding Coordinator: Sweet Emilia Jane / Wedding Photography: Jackie Wonders / Wedding Videography: Enjet Media / DJ: Austin Hendrix Productions / Floral Design: The Floral Lab / Invitations: Pistachio Press / Caterer: Behind the Scenes / Venue: Private Estate Rancho Santa Fe / Valet: Aloha Valet / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Hair: Heather Barclay of Bakerloo Salon / Make-up: Symmetry Beauty by Nyrie / Wedding Cake: Sweet Cheeks Bakery / Cookies: Uncle Biff’s Killer Cookies

What do you get when you have a beautiful east coast bride inspired by cool, California style? Well after spending a lot of QT with this lovely wedding by Kate Connolly Photography, it appears you get beachy chic perfection. From the cool mint hues to the all the DIY details the bride tackled on her own (all the paper goods were handcrafted with love by the pretty lady in white!), I must say it all feels like a refreshing breath of sweet salt air. Click here for even more seaside pretty!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

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From the Bride…After a Christmas morning engagement in 2009 (with a diamond passed down through four generations), I fully embraced bride-to-be status.  Planning our wedding became my favorite hobby, and I eagerly checked blogs such as Style Me Pretty everyday.  (Favorite SMP wedding still being this Santa Monica Wedding).  While I would have loved a California wedding, I am a Jersey girl, and thus we began the wedding process by searching our home state for the perfect venue.

After visiting about thirty different not-quite-right venues, we fell for The Stateroom in Long Beach Island.  Finally we found a place that we both loved and could truly envision ourselves celebrating the night away with our closest friends and family!  We pictured a beach style wedding, and LBI fit the bill.  An 18-mile long island along the Atlantic Ocean, LBI is a truly charming Jersey Shore community.  The Stateroom has a Tommy Bahama style area reserved for cocktail hour, while upstairs the elegant ballroom has large windows that offer spectacular views of the bay.  Both Matt and I are Roman Catholic, so we chose to have the ceremony in the nearby church, where Matt’s mom actually worked when she was a newlywed living in Long Beach Island. With parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other couples we admire all with June anniversaries, we chose June 25th as our wedding date.

The inspiration for our wedding was casual seaside elegance, and the fresh mint color of the J.Crew bridesmaids dresses guided the rest of the wedding selection process.  I pictured aqua mason jars and mercury glass vases filled with an assortment of peonies, garden roses, astilbe, lavender, dahlias, and scabiosa.  During our engagement I collected lanterns for the reception tables.  Etsy was amazing for finding many items!  Perfect ties for Matt and the groomsmen, striped straws for our signature cocktails, a personalized wooden sign to greet guests, shells to hold our table numbers, and so much more.  And, whatever I couldn’t find, I made on my own (programs, table numbers, menu, candy bags, etc.)

In the end it was just a beautiful day that really was over too fast.  I spent the morning getting ready with my best friends and was so glad to be with them, chatting, laughing and anticipating all that was to follow.  The ceremony was emotional and meaningful, followed by a fun trolley ride and happy moments taking pictures on the beach with my husband and our bridal party!  We found a perfect blue wall behind Ron Jon Surf Shop on our way to cocktail hour, and some of my favorite shots from the day happened there.  At the reception, toasts from our siblings and college roommates were wonderfully kind and funny.  We danced our first dance as husband and wife to Van Morrison’s “Steal My Heart Away.”

Overall, I think what stands out most is the love Matt and I felt from every single person there celebrating with us.  For months prior, I had considered every detail, but on our wedding day those same details were overshadowed by a tremendous sense of joy.  How lucky I was to be marrying Matt, and to do so surrounded by the most important people in our lives!  We left that night on cloud nine.  I am still filled with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for our family, friends and wedding vendors who together made it the most amazing day we could have ever asked for.

Wedding Photography: Kate Connolly Photography / Music + Cinematography: Off Beet Productions / Floral Design: Michele Tallent & Co. / Hair + Make-up: Aqua Bleu Salon / Ceremony Location: Saint Francis of Assisi Church / Reception Location: The Stateroom / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet / Bridesmaid Dress: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Necklace: Anthropologie / Groom + Groomsmen Attire: J.Crew / Groom’s Tie: Hand Made by Emy / Groomsmen Tie: Tux & Tulle / Trolley: Trolley Tours / Bridesmaid Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar Loungerie / Wooden Wedding Sign: Craft Mart Texas / Chair Signs: Lil Missy / Seashell Table Number Holders: Gallery360 / Lanterns: Pottery Barn, Target, Ikea + More / Mercury Glass: Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, Target + More / Mason Jars: Etsy + eBay / Programs, Table Numbers, Menu, Candy Bags, Straw tags, Banner, etc.: The Bride

Nautical chic is a popular choice along the beautiful Florida coast and, if the gorgeous seaside soirees we’ve seen on SMP Florida are any indication, the look won’t be going out of style any time soon.  Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning is one of my favorite vendors to come out of the sunshine state and I love their twist on this already lovable look.  It’s a glamorously modern underwater fairytale with chic metallic touches and fun florals with tillandsia and succulents tucked in.  Click here to see all the details!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning…When the South Florida based creative trio of Becca Borge Photography, Hide and Seek Floral Design and Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning came together (at Starbucks, of course!), we decided to try a fresh approach to the wedding inspiration shoot.  Our idea was to take the classic South Florida beachfront hotel wedding and give it a modern and chic twist.  The theme became ‘Ocean Glamour,’ with a focus on stormy ocean hues, shimmery metallics and florals that evoked the textures of an underwater garden.

Our beautiful “bride” and her handsome “groom” were a recently married couple who are clearly head-over-heels for each other.  You could feel the love oozing into the room as they stared into each other’s eyes!  We chose an amazing dress from Ivy and Aster; the sweet eyelet fabric gave it a ‘beachy’ vibe while the glamorous neckline and floral accessories took the look beyond the sand.  The bride’s already amazing eyes were enhanced with smoky purples and the rest of her face was lightly bronzed, her hair gently waved to reflect an evening after the beach.  The groom kept it casual but chic with a simple black suit and white shirt, open at the collar.

We had originally planned to do most of the photo shoot outside in the gorgeous waterfront garden of The Pillars, a boutique hotel in Fort Lauderdale.  Unfortunately it rained (a lot!) that day, but it became a good lesson in choosing the right venue and making things work despite Mother Nature.  The hotel has a lovely little interior lounge area, both modern and glam at the same time, and it became the main backdrop for the shoot.  Rain is an obstacle that every bride who dreams of a garden wedding must plan for (especially in tropical South Florida) and this shows how important having a “Plan B” and picking a venue whose interior is compatible to the wedding style can be.

The clean white accents, upholstered furniture and romantic lighting lent themselves well to the ‘Ocean Glamour’ theme.  The fireplace and mantle became a fantastic backdrop for the wedding cake, an ombre fondant confection accented with a variety of succulents, evoking a garland of sea anemones.  Candlelight and mercury glass added evening-appropriate sparkle, while several sea urchin accents provided a literal ‘under the sea’ reference.  Hide and Seek did an amazing job of developing the concept that succulents and air plants could create a coral reef type feeling and further complimented the look by adding pops of color and texture with florals that evoked the feeling of sea life, including red protea, purple thistle and red kangaroo’s paw.  The ‘You are My Sunshine’ bride and groom chair hangings became a playful nod to the stormy weather outside, while Ocean Glamour brought a warm glow to the cozy Pillars lounge.

Wedding Dress + Accessories: Sasha’s Bridal Boutique / Linens + Chargers: Contempo Linen / Venue: The Pillars / Floral Design: Hide and Seek Design / Photography: Becca Borge Photography / Event Design and Coordination: Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning / Stationery (Invitations + Menu): Minted / Chair Signs + Placecards: Little Laws Prints / Hair + Make-up: Nilla from Academy of Glam / Wedding Cake: Creative Cake Factory + Hide and Seek Design

I’m seriously not even sure where to start with this beyond gorgeous Santa Barbara fete captured perfectly by Tanja Lippert Photography. I could literally gush on and on about the amazingly perfect design and florals by Lavonne Crawford of Adorations Botanical Artistry. I mean really, take a look at that bouquet…It’s insanely beautiful and the perfect combo of structure and freedom. And then there’s those adorable flower girls with their sweetly sophisticated black and white dresses that match the overall design to perfection. I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever used the word perfect in each and every one of its forms. Yup, it must be true. I’m totally smitten with this one! Click here for even more of this sophisticated Santa Barbara soirée.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Jono and I first met when I was on a job interview at UC Santa Barbara. I was interviewing to be the ticket manager and he was currently an assistant basketball coach for the men’s basketball team. I was being shown around the office and introduced to staff and coaches when I was introduced to him. He asked where I was from, and I said Spokane, Washington. His response was, “I hate you.” I was slightly taken aback but laughed, and he explained that he had been there a few months earlier and had a horrible case of food poisoning, so he didn’t have the best memories. We always joke about the fact that the first thing he said to me was “I hate you.”

I accepted the job and moved to Santa Barbara. We became friends and hung out with a group of young, single co-workers often. We started working out together and hanging out just the two of us at times. I thought he might like me but I shrugged it off because I didn’t want to date a co-worker. But eventually after being set up on a date with someone else, I realized I was thinking about Jono the entire time and I should probably give it a shot (no basketball pun intended!). That was November of 2008 and we’ve been together since!

We looked at two other locations for the wedding. But I think we knew once we visited Bacara that it was the spot for us. We worked very close to Bacara and went on walks nearby often. We loved that our ceremony site had a garden like feel, but with views of the cliffs, beach, ocean and islands. We didn’t have to worry about the challenges of getting married on the beach (sand and wind issues). It was also important for us to be able to take some photos after the ceremony on the beach. We both agree that those beach photos are our favorite and we’ll hold the memories of taking those photos very dearly.
I had part of my baby blanket sewn in to my dress. I have loved my baby blanket my entire life and my great-aunt gave me a hard time since I was little that I should have it sewn in to my wedding dress, so I did! My baby blanket is blue and white gingham, and she actually hosted a bridal shower for me with a blue and white gingham theme!

Our place cards were designed to look like tickets to a game. I was the ticket manager at UCSB and sold tickets to the games Jono coached… tickets and games have played a significant role in our lives for sure! They were situated at the cocktail hour in green lentil beans, which is also significant as I grew up in Eastern Washington, which is the lentil capital of the world. Our save the date, invitation, place cards and menu’s were all from a hand drawn design specially created for us by Wendy Ware. She did an amazing job! She also hand-glued 10 crystals on each of our wedding invitations! In addition, the Bacara took the design from the invitations and created it for our cake.

From Tanja Lippert Photography…This was a beautiful, intimate wedding that I was asked to shoot for an amazing online inspirational show for photographers called the [Framed] show.  The wedding was gorgeous and the bride outdid herself with gorgeous details, amazing venue and everything was picture perfect!!!  The cool thing about this wedding is that is was filmed for an episode of the [Framed] Show and there is a very cool behind the scenes inspirational video that highlights Tanja Lippert Photography.

Venue: Bacara Resort & Spa / Florist + Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry / Invitations, Placecards, Menu’s, etc.: Wendy Ware / Linens: Concept Design / Wedding Photography: Tanja Lippert Photography / Assistant Photographer: Melissa Niu Photography + [Framed] / Dance Floor: Barker Décor Service / DJ: Gavin Roy / Ceremony Music: AMS Entertainment / Officiant: Rev. Miriam Lindbeck / Wedding Coordinator: Tracy Apodaca / Wedding Cake: Bacara Resort & Spa / Hair: Angel Puente of Mishay Salon & Spa / Make-up: Tomiko Taft + Romina Murillo / Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse / Flower Girls Attire: Children’s Place + Kalinascopes

This modern Minneapolis DIY wedding, captured by Natalie Champa Jennings, has a little something for everyone. The clean, contemporary venue is perfect for those of you who love a little glam. The DIY details provide so much inspiration for those of you who want to create for your own big day. The gray and yellow color palette adds a little whimsy for you romantic LBBers. But my favorite was definitely the floral design by the lovely La Petite Fleur – modern, clean, and chic, chic, chic. Click here for more of this lovely couple!

Kyle and I met in college our senior year through mutual friends.  Upon graduation we both moved to Minneapolis and continued our friendship by spending more and more time together until we began dating in 2007.  After two and a half years together, Kyle proposed.  On Valentine’s day, Kyle took me ice skating at our favorite outdoor Minnesota ice rink.  I didn’t think too much of it because we didn’t have any other plans that day and had decided to go ice skating last minute. Kyle’s skating skills have never been impressive; so I was not surprised when he fell to the ground after an aggressive turn.  However, words cannot describe my surprise when rather than crawling to his feet, Kyle instead stayed on one knee and asked me to marry him.  Much to Kyle’s relief, I said yes after spending a few stunned moments on the ice.

We were looking for a venue that was modern, simplistic and had a lot of light. We also planned to have the ceremony outdoors and needed a great space. The Burnsville Performing Arts Center had that modern sleek vibe in the building and also had a beautiful outdoor garden area and amphitheater.   We immediately fell in love with the place.

My inspiration for the wedding was really the colors: yellow and gray. I had seen a gorgeous yellow and gray wedding on Style Me Pretty and fell in love with the color scheme.  I wanted to DIY a lot of items, but also wanted to keep the décor simple and colorful to let the venue shine.  I made chalkboard signs from mirrors, table numbers from scrap wood, made my own hair piece, hand stamped cocktail napkins and spray painted votives gray for the tables. I also found some funky yellow jug and white circle vases on craigslist and used them as my centerpieces.  The florist, Carra Otten, did a beautiful job of seeing my inspiration and putting together amazing arrangements that complimented my DIY projects.

We incorporated a Dutch love letter ritual into our ceremony.  We wrote each other love letters and sealed them in a trunk with a bottle of wine and two glasses.   The trunk will remain sealed until our 5th anniversary when we will drink the wine and read our letters to each other.

I had a brooch added to my bouquet.  It was a gift I had given my grandmother when I was 5 years old. She had held onto it for many years so I wanted to show her how important she is to me. I also had some of my mom’s lace from her wedding dress wrapped around my bouquet.

My most vivid memories are of my first look with my husband and when we released butterflies.  Natalie did a beautiful job of capturing our emotions in the first look.  It was so reassuring to see my future husband and have a few private moments with him before the wedding.  I also loved the butterflies.  The venue had several butterflies flying around and my bridesmaids grabbed a couple for us to release.  It was so much fun, even though I look quite scared in the photos.  My favorite photos also included the ceremony photos. The amphitheater was so beautiful and there is so much emotion in everyone’s faces.

We had frosted sugar cookies from a local non-profit bakery in North Minneapolis that teaches young people employment and interpersonal works skills to prepare them to enter the workforce. I felt it was a great way to support a cause that is important to me (I’m a Recruiter for a living) and the cookies are absolutely delicious.  We did simple gray frosted and yellow frosted cookies.

Photographer: Natalie Champa Jennings / Floral Designer: La Petite Fleur / Event Designer & Planner: Bride / Invitation Designer: Bride / Cake & Desserts: The Baker’s Wife & Cookie Cart / Wedding Gown Designer: San Patrick, from Raffine Bridal / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: J.Crew / Hair: Jess Pratt from Pixie Salon / Make-up: Mariah Herndon from Mariah’s Beauty Marks / Venue: Burnsville Performing Arts Center

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just a week away?  If you’re like me and not quite ready for the colder winter months then this adorable engagement inspiration shoot by Vero Suh Photography will certainly warm your spirits.  A late-summer, romantic picnic for two sounds quite inviting and this shoot shows the sweet date in style with strawberries, pretty pink florals and a couple adorable outfits.  Click here to see all the details!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Vero Suh Photography…This is a collaboration of talented vendors in the San Francisco Bay Area, working together to bring  a “mood” board and create an engagement session inspired photoshoot.  The event designer envisioned a lazy afternoon/mid summer medley/old world charm feel for the shoot.  With great vision, we were able to demonstrate how teamwork and determination can, not only create beautiful images, but make any bride’s wedding day vision come to life!

Photography: Vero Suh Photography / Event Designer: La Vie Douce Design / Florist: Tanjeeryn Designs / Make-up + Hair: JBeautique / Models: Cameron Lee + Bailey Roush / Event Planner: Amy’s Wedding & Events

If you’re a vintage lover like me then you are sure to find loads of inspiration in this Burlington wedding by Jayme Van Geest Photography and Eph*ra Event Design.  All the details are perfect for a romantic, summer affair with a sweet vintage vibe.  Yellow and grey is a color palette that works in any style and this fun fête is no exception.  I love all the unique touches that were included like the handmade lemonade stand and vintage frames holding each table assignment.  Click here to see all the details!

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From the Bride…It was the beautiful summer day overlooking Lake Ontario that I had dreamed of.  I wanted everything to be soft and elegant so I chose yellows, greys and ivories as my colors with giant bouquets of yellow mums and fresh lemons to give the day a fresh but old vintage feel.  I really wanted our guests to be cool and comfortable, despite the heat, so we made a vintage lemonade stand from an old barn board and had cute little grey/white stripe straws to sip through during the outdoor ceremony.

The wedding party had a bit of a sorority feel to them with the guys their grey suits and yellow ties and girls in cute lemon yellow dresses.  I wore an off-white mermaid dress with a long train of ruffles which I thought fit the scene perfectly. The theme throughout the day was “love and family tradition” and I really wanted the reception room completely ‘decorated’ and inviting.  It’s not always easy to get that when your wedding is at a venue like a golf course, but we totally pulled it off!

We added vintage-chic old antique frames (removing the other things from the walls), an abundance of flowers in pale yellow and white shades, bird cages everywhere. The ceiling was filled with cascading Chinese lanterns and touches of the vintage theme were shown through silver tea pots filled with baby’s breath, carpenters boxes filled with lemons and antique family candelabras placed on the head table.  Super cute mini Lemoncello bottles were given to the guests as favors with cute little tags thanking them for the day. A yummy cupcake table filled with a variety of flavors and daisy decorated cake topper filled the sweet table area. The setting was cute/adorable and fun it turned out exactly the way I envisioned it for so many months. I had a hard time choosing what I wanted in a number of cases, so I decided that I didn’t have to choose!  I had both yellow and grey shoes.  I had a black sash on my dress (for the ceremony and the photos) but changed into a yellow sash and cardigan for the reception (and put a pony in my hair too!).  Why choose on your wedding day? All in all, and with the help of my awesome vendors, the wedding was unique and memorable from start to finish!

From Eph*ra Event Design…Kate had a dream for her wedding and it came to us in the form of hundreds of inspiration photos! From the moment we met Kate we were inspired by her energy, her love for her groom-to-be and her vision for her wedding.

We loved working with the grey and yellow color scheme. We created a look that was fresh, cheerful and stylish using lemons (of course) and loads of bold fabrics and unexpected details.  We wanted to give Kate & Spencer lots of surprises and personalization, so we designed and hand-painted a lemonade stand, had aprons for the guests to sign, used charming vintage silver, hand-painted “Mr. & Mrs. Kent” signs, and each guest table had a unique centerpiece. The seating chart was divided into different frames and printed on playful paper. It wasn’t all smooth sailing though. Unbelievably, the fabric we ordered got caught up in a labor strike and didn’t arrive until 3 days before the wedding. But it was obviously meant to be because it arrived with just enough time for us to sew table runners like there was no tomorrow! Due to the level of detail it took our team of 2 over 10 hours to set up the reception – this wedding definitely raised the bar for us!

From Jayme Van Geest Photography…Kate and Spencer were one of my favorite couples of all time!  I had done both fall and spring engagement shoots with them so by the time their wedding came around they felt like good friends more than clients.  Although the golf course was limited in terms of where we were allowed to go for photos (as is the case with many golf courses) I was so impressed by the grounds at the Burlington Golf and Country Club.  They are were well taken care of and gave us a number of beautiful backdrops to choose from during the official portrait taking time.  It was such a pleasure to photograph all the little details Kate and her planner had put together.  Regardless of budget, it makes you realize how big of a difference all of those ‘little things’ do make to the overall look and feel of the day and especially the difference it makes to your ‘photo story’ at the end of it all.   Kate was one of those brides that had a ton (A TON!) of ideas ahead of time and admittedly spun out of control a number of times, but she and Spencer both did a really good job of just letting go on the day of, trusting the vendors they put in place (which I would recommend every bride try to do!).  I think that it definitely came through in their photos because they look so relaxed and happy!

Wedding Photography: Jayme Van Geest Photography / Event Designer + Coordinator: Eph*ra Event Design / Floral Design: Sticks and Stems Floral Studio / Cupcakes: The Cupcake Diner / Venue: Burlington Golf and Country Club

I just fell madly in love with the Riviera Maya.  And when I say madly, I mean madly, because all it took was just one look at this stunning fête by the ever-amazing Elegant Occasions and I was done for.  The breathtaking setting, the beyond gorgeous florals, the seaside reception… I simply can’t say enough about this beach chic meets elegant affair.  Which is why I’ll be spending my Thursday soaking in every last brilliant image captured by Craig Okraska Photography… and I suggest you do the same.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Elegant Occasions… Erin Crandall, former buyer for Shopbop.com and now owner of NYC boutique, A Man and A Woman, chose The Tides as the venue of her wedding because of the eco-friendly resort as well as the beauty of it. It was important to her and her fiance, Ben Phillips, that the weekend was relaxing and fun. Their inspiration was the palm trees that grew all around the resort. They used this to create their theme of palm trees throughout the wedding, from the save the dates to the welcome bags.

Because they wanted everyone to enjoy themselves, the rehearsal dinner was meant to bring everyone a little closer together. Elegant Occasions designed a long table seating about 80 people. The organic-like structure was created to go with the feeling of eco-friendly and relaxed yet chic. The Tides was a great choice to host this fun-filled wedding weekend.

For the night of the party, the couple used a mixture of square and round tables to keep it interesting. The tables were set around the pool of the resort so at night when the pool lit up, it would add to the atmosphere. Lights were strung across the pool and more floating lights were put into the pool, again, to make the night even more romantic. This fashionably trendy couple got the wedding of their dreams!

Wedding Planning: Elegant Occasions / Event Design: Elegant Occasions + The Bride / Wedding Photography: Craig Okraska Photography / Music: DJ Monk / Wedding Venue: The Tides, Riviera Maya

Some people have a wedding day and some people have a full blown weekend extravaganza devoted solely to celebrating their love. I happen to be an uber fan of the latter. It just sounds so amazing, right? Being surrounded by friends and family for three days of welcome parties, brunches and all out merriment. Jillian Mitchell photographed this Wellesley weekend complete with stunning Ghanian touches and it’s beautiful in every sense of the word but the images filled with smiles are the ones we love the most and there’s a whole lot of those. See them all here.

And, of course, some snippets from the rest of the weekend festivities full of gorgeous dresses and lots and lots of love…

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Jillian Mitchell…I met Connery and Pash at a wedding I shot in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. I’m originally from Massachusetts so when they asked me to be a part of their wedding in Wellesley, MA I jumped at the chance. Besides being amazingly fun and genuine people, Connery and Pash have awesome friends and family which made the three day festivities a blast.

The welcome party was held at the TZE house at Wellesley College and we got to shoot most of the wedding photos around the campus as well. The ceremony and reception were held at Wellesley Congregational Church where Pash’s father is a minister. There is nothing more intimate than having your father preside over the ceremony.

Pash’s family is originally from Ghana so throughout the weekend there were amazing Ghanian touches throughout the wedding. Whether it was the pieces of fabric that the couple gave away as gifts or the beautiful dresses of women at the Sunday brunch the day after the wedding. They even made Connery and her family their own Ghanian outfits for the occasion. They are incredibly intricate and so colorful. The brunch was also full of the most unbelievably delicious Ghanian food. Amazing!

Wedding Photography: Jillian Mitchell / Floral Design: Petal Pushers Floral Studio / Event Design + Planning: DIY / Ceremony + Reception Location: Wellesley Congregational Church / Bride’s Shoes: Cole Haan / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals / Groom’s Suit: Custom Prada / Groom’s Shoes: To Boot NY

Want to know my favorite part about weddings? I love all the sweet details, like the little jars of pie filling as escort cards used in this affair. I love the fabulous style, and the way it comes out in the fashion and the decor, like those great little seating areas. I love the floral design, intricate, sweet, modern, or romantic. But I capital LOVE getting to see what makes the couple tick from the photos, which Kate Harrison did such a great job with on this Sonoma wedding. Bliss Event Productions knew these two were total rockstars, and helped them design their complete dream of a rockstar wedding. I love getting to know each couple through their special day. Click here for the full image gallery!

Justin and I are music and food nerds whose idea of a perfect evening involves dinner with good friends at a neighborhood gem, a little 80s karaoke, and some major dancing…so when we stated planning our wedding, we looked away from the formal venues in NYC (our home town) and turned to wine country to get the laid-back, foodie vibe we wanted.

We scheduled our first planning tip to Sonoma in the middle of the NYC winter (a destination wedding bonus!) and hit the ground running. Over the course of four days, we drove over 600 miles and saw many gorgeous spaces, but none felt right until we stepped onto a storied private estate, tucked into the Sonoma hills.  Stone ruins, an old barn, and gnarled, mossy oaks charged the air with drama, but felt informal enough to have the kind of rockstar party we wanted.  Justin and I high-fived as we left the property, knowing that we’d found the place where we’d marry.

With the help of the immeasurably talented Brandy Cabral at Bliss Event Productions, we designed a wedding filled with details that celebrated our love for each other.  Surrounded by 110 of our closest family and friends, Justin and I became husband and wife in a ceremony we had written together.  We honored our families by referencing them wherever we could:  my grandmother carried my late grandfather’s beloved Red Sox hat with her down the aisle; I wore bracelets that represented each part of my family; we changed into traditional Chinese wedding attire during the reception.  We served our favorite foods (pork chops and pie!) and got everyone on their feet during a dance-off/air-guitar battle.  Justin took the whole thing next level when he jumped on stage to sing “Sweet Child of Mine” with the band!

Our little wedding-turned-concert was the perfect combination of love, laughter, and fun.  We wouldn’t have been able to pull it off without the tremendous efforts of our amazing vendors (huge, ridiculous thank you)!  Justin and I feel like the luckiest couple in the world.

Photography: Kate Harrison / Flowers: Flower Wild / Event Planning: Bliss Event Productions / Ceremony Location: Annadell Estate Winery / Reception Location: Annadell Estate Winery / Invitations: Minted / Shoes: Dune & Valentino / American Dress: Richard Tyler /Chinese Dress: Boutique in Chinatown NYC / Bridesmaids: J.Crew / Hair & Makeup: Wedding Hair & Makeup by Julie Morgan / Pies: Sweetie Pies / Catering: Alex’s Catering / Band: Notorious / Tents: Zephyr Tents

This is the thing about my job, I fall in love each and every day. It never fails. There is just so much pretty dancing around the screens of SMP my heart falls victim to a full on love-fest on a daily basis. Today, that love-fest comes from the pretty as can be state of Rhode Island through images by Rebecca Arthurs. How could you not fall in love with this fête? With a bevy of blush-wearing bridesmaids, a beautiful bride carrying a gorgeous bouquet complete with succulents, and a pinch-her-cheeks-she’s-so-cute flower girl in a bundle of tulle – it’s inevitable that a wedding nerd like myself will be head over heels for this affair. The icing on the cake? It all took place the night before a hurricane, but you would never know that by looking at all the gorgeous images in the gallery because it all looks like absolute perfection.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Rebecca Arthurs…The day of Danielle and Grant’s wedding the weather didn’t look promising. It was the day before hurricane Irene was about to hit New England. There was a chance of rain, wind and strong fog in the forecast. However, Grant and Danielle were not affected in the slightest. They both were filled with joy and excitement in anticipation for the events about to take place. It must have had some effect on the weather because it never more than sprinkled all day.

Grant and Danielle are one of those couples who makes everyone around them feel good, beaming with love and laughter. The theme for the styling of the wedding came from DIY ideas and the bride’s love for all things vintage. She hand crafted most of the vintage elements that made their wedding unique, like the place cards, programs and block words. The venue, Linden Place, is a historic property in Bristol, Rhode Island and was the perfect setting for this delightful wedding.

Wedding Photography: Rebecca Arthurs / Venue: Linden Place / Floral Design: Joy of Flowerthyme / Caterer: Blackstone Catering / Wedding Gown: Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Cake: Ashley Owens, Groom’s Sister / DJ: Larry of Engagements / Wedding Videography: Wellspun Wedding Films / Invitations + Place Cards: The Bride / Hair: New Leaf Salon / Make-up: Kirsten Brusse of Joli Visage / Rentals: Fancy That

I’m such a complete and total sucker for white tulips so once I spotted this wedding and those dramatic centerpieces, I knew I would be gushing for hours. This pretty, little fete is one part elegant and one part shabby chic and I’m loving the pale green and yellow color combo that seems totally perfect for an outdoor Florida ceremony. Ashley Daniell Photography was there to capture all the sweet details, like those amazing floral displays by Missy Gunnels Flowers. Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Ashley Daniell Photography…Emily and Bob’s wedding was elegant, with some shabby chic thrown in, and just the right amount of Southern charm. They were married outside on the grass overlooking the lake at Golden Eagle Country Club in Tallahassee, FL. Her color scheme was green and white with yellow accents. There were beautiful yellow rose petals lining the aisle and instead of programs Emily rented a large vintage framed chalkboard with all of the necessary information written on it. Two large white urns overflowing with hydrangeas and roses in shades of yellow & green sat on either side of the aisle and Emily provided fans for her guests to keep themselves cool(er) during the ceremony. During the cocktail hour there were passed appetizers and three different water options (plain, lemon, and cucumber). There was also a photo booth area set up with white wicker chairs and frames for guests to have fun. In true Tallahassee fashion, Emily and Bob entered their reception to the FSU war chant.

Wedding Photography: Ashley Daniell Photography / Floral Design: Missy Gunnels Flowers / Event Planning: Michelle Griggs, Weddings Unlimited / Ceremony + Reception Location: Golden Eagle Country Club / Invitations: Karmanos Printing / Wedding Dress: WToo via Vocelles – The Bridal Shoppe / Music: Greg Tish, GT Entertainment / Make-up: Randi Buchanan, Makeup As Art / Hair: Jennifer Breedlove, Kelly’s Cottage Hair Salon / Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein via Belles N Beaus

This gorgeous North Fork wedding by Adam Piorkowski might have fallen on one unusually chilly June day, but a little rain and cold wasn’t about to stop this adorable bride and groom from having the time of their lives.  Nope, they made sure to make the most of it by grabbing some cute as can be umbrellas and heading out into the drizzle for some very fabulous photos ops.  Yep, how awesome are they?!?  And with a wedding filled to the brim with gorgeous DIY details, an all-white color palette and the sweetest of nautical touches, you won’t be able to help but love them even more.  Click here for all of the pretty!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… I knew in planning our wedding that we really wanted to capture the essence of the North Fork since that is where we grew up and spend most of our weekends now.  We chose a venue located on the Peconic Bay so people could enjoy the water view and the natural beauty of Southold. Founders Landing, the venue, is a very simple gray building that only fits about 125 people but we loved everything about it!  The building is basically a blank canvas so with the help of my mom, Gerard’s mom and especially his aunt Kathleen, we created a masterpiece!

I wanted everything to be really simple and all white.  For the tables we decided to cover them with different size mason jars filled with votives and hydrgangeas.  I also took a page out of the SMP book and had a man in Mystic, Conneticut create the nautical rope table card holders I had seen at a previous wedding.  I had discussed all of the flower details with our awesome florist Becky Jens but didn’t see the finished product until after the ceremony when I walked into the reception.  I was IN LOVE!  Becky chose the most beautiful full ivory hydrangeas, they looked absolutely gorgeous.  Between the hydrangeas and the candles, the room had a very romantic cozy feel.

Gerard’s Aunt Kathleen handled many of the details around the room.  She covered the walls with one of our favorite poems, “I carry your heart with me” by e.e. cummings.  Each frame had a different verse of the poem.  I also wanted to make sure our parents’ and grandparents’ wedding photos were included in our day so Kath made this beautiful frame out of beachwood, painted it gold and placed black and white photos of all the weddings before us.  The best part was it sat atop a mantle on a fireplace that said, “Gift of the Southold Players,  XMAS 1923” which I thought was really neat.  Instead of a guest book we found these penguin postcards with vintage book covers of all the books they published and had everyone write us a special note.  Kath situated them in a glass bowl filled with sand.

For the food we wanted to make sure it had a very local, seaside feel.  We chose a raw bar as part of the appetizers and a lobster-bake for our main entree.  Matt Kar, our chef, was amazing!  He knew the exact menu we were going for and everything was delicious.  Our cake was done by Miche Bacher of Sacred Sweets.  Gerard and I had met with her to choose a cake and went through all of her beautiful examples.  We thought we had chosen one and then I spotted a magazine cut out from a Martha Stewart Living article she had just been in and I said – THAT ONE!  It was so beautiful and romantic.  It was three tiers with the top tier sitting upon a delicate little cake stand and this glorious fluffy buttercream icing.  Finally she added a beautiful peony on top, which was the very same flower as my and my bridesmaids bouquet.

Of course, we wouldn’t have been able to capture any of this without our amazing photographer and friend, Adam. We really wanted a photographer that knew us and could translate our essence into photographs.  Adam did exactly that!  The day was a very cold, cloudy, blustery, rainy day in June – hence the umbrellas.  But it made for awesome photographs!  My dreams of everyone roaming the grass down near the beach were squashed but the energy inside that little gray building was palpable.  Adam was with us from start to finish and he put his heart and soul into this project.  Our pictures aren’t traditional, but they represent perfectly what an amazing day we had!

Wedding Photography: Adam Piorkowski / Floral Design: Becky Jens of Moments in Time Floral Design / Wedding Cake: Miche Bacher of Sacred Sweets / Catering: Christopher Michael Catering / Wedding Ceremony Location: Sacred Heart Church / Wedding Reception Location: Founders Landing / Cellist: Jody Redhage / Wedding Wand Streamers: Craftupyourlife / Save the Dates: Architette Studios / Table Card Holders: Matt Beaudoin of Mystic Knotwork / Wedding Invitations: Simply Put, by Ashley Woodman / DJ: PopShop! DJs, DJ Colleen Crumbcake / Hair: Michael Lopez / Wedding Dress + Veil: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groomsman Ties: J.Crew

Everyone loves a good fiesta and when papel picado banners and a Mariachi Band are part of the festivities, it takes that fiesta to a whole new level of adoration in our eyes. Love Ala Photography captured this affair and every single one of her images brings a blast of bright colors, perfectly perfect details and yummy paper goods to match. There’s not one single element of this day that we aren’t head over heels for. Translation: WE LOVE IT and we think you will too. Be sure to stop by the gallery for more. Buenas Noches lovelies.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Love Ala Photography…Color. This whole day was about color. You could see it everywhere. In the beautiful textures of the flowers and the papel picado swaying in the light breeze and the fireworks that lit up the blackened night sky. But the most colorful of all, was the smiles of Laura & Jimmy. One glance at the Mr. & Mrs. and you could see the colors of their sheer adoration and devotion to one another. Bright, bold with no signs of fading.

From the Bride…My advice for brides, make the wedding YOURS!  Your wedding should be a true reflection of you and your husband-to-be; your likes, interests, hobbies, culture, etc.  Have fun with colors, themes, and DIY type of projects.  Add “details” to your wedding and have fun doing them.  Include your hubby as much as possible, you will be surprised what great ideas and recommendations he will give you. Learn to delegate tasks, you don’t have to do it all on your own. Remember that you can only worry about things you have control over, don’t stress the things you can’t control.  After all, it’s your close friends and loved ones that are there to celebrate you! Nothing can possible ruin the fun you and your guests will have. Savor every minute of the planning process AND the wedding day because it will come sooner than you imagine.  Have fun and Felicidades!

The best part of the wedding day was seeing it all unfold.  Jimmy and I are right brained people. We visualize things and the best feeling is seeing the picture-perfect thought or idea come to life.  All our ideas, our dreams, our visions played out that day.  From the religious ceremony, to the small details, and the firework filled sky.  It was magical! All our work and planning paid off when we saw our guest enjoying themselves; socializing, eating, drinking, dancing.  Receiving comments from friends and family the day of the wedding and thereafter is the most rewarding.  You get married to the person you love, but you have a wedding so that your loved ones can witness it and enjoy it with you. Make sure to do just that.  Have fun and Felicidades!

Venue + Catering: Hotel Maya / Coordinator: Edmundo Pelayo / Wedding Photography: Love Ala Photography / Hair: Stacy Godwin / Make-up: Karen / Bridal Gown: Jobyna’s Bridal / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss / Cufflinks: Burberry / Maid of Honor Dress: BCBG / Floral Design: Veronica’s Flowers / Invitations: Lena Patel of Blu-fin Designs / Band: Bumptown Band / Wedding Videographer: A Picture Forever / Veil: Made by Bride’s Mother / Rings: Alishan Halebian