Good Morning, SMPers and welcome back to another fabulous week filled with inspiration and pretty galore! We are kick starting your morning, sans caffeine, with this fun and spunky North Carolina fete. We totally love the crisp and fresh color palette of green, orange, and white and think the oh-so-fun pattern of the table runners and bouquet wraps lend such a whimsical and festive tone to the day. And how cute are those little flower girls with their tot sized fists of florals? I know, absolutely adorable! Kickstand Events crafted the entire amazing day and florals while Theo Milo Photography snapped each and every detail to perfection and we seriously can’t get enough. Neither can you? Well, just click here for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…When Chris and I got engaged on my birthday in April we knew we wanted a Fall wedding and we knew we wanted to have it outside. We both were raised in South Eastern NC and we love the beauty of the outdoors here in the Fall. When we were dating we spent a lot of time taking beach walks and spending time at local parks feeding the geese or turtles. One of these parks, which is near our home is Autumn Hall. It really caught our eye and we decided to pursue the location for our ceremony. To our delight, were blessed with the approval from the HOA to hold the wedding there. Then we had the difficult task of choosing a reception location. Wilmington is rich with beautiful venues for wedding receptions and after looking at several different locations we choose the Bellamy Mansion- a historic home now converted into a museum.

Next on our check list was a photographer. Chris and I both knew of Theo Milo Photography and his photography talents and style were in just the right vein for our wedding! We also knew that choosing the right event planners was a high priority and having been introduced to Kickstand Events through Theo, we went directly to them. The Kickstand girls were exactly who we knew we wanted and with the blessing of my parents (who paid for the wedding) we choose them. They handled all of our Day-of Prep and vendor managing as well as all the decor and flowers for both the ceremony and reception! They were super helpful and very easy to work with and with them taking over most of the planning parts of the wedding, Chris and I were able to focus on developing our soon-to-be marriage.

When it came to stylizing the wedding we both knew I would be making the magic of designing the wedding invitation set  happen (considering that I work full-time as a graphic designer and my freelance work consists of wedding invitation design). We liked a more whimsical theme which sat well with Kickstand’s versatile style. We’re not a very traditional couple and we knew that would come out in our styling decisions. I’ve had a lot of people tell me that they could see “me” in all the little touches-the small choices we made-at the wedding. Everything from doing “Coke and Cookies” for our favors to the groom and groomsmen wearing Chucks to the dinner choices, everything was a reflection of our personal styles and our upbringing.

All in all I can honestly say that our wedding day vision came to reality with a huge hand from Kickstand Events. Courtney and Kate helped in every way from designing the table set up to managing the vendors to suggesting guests throw leaves instead of birdseed (which Bellamy wouldn’t allow). Each element we thew at them they were able to pick up and run with! They were probably the linchpin of the entire event! We had such a spectacular time at our wedding and are so thankful to our parents who really made the entire event possible!

Wedding Photography: Theo Milo Photography / Event,  Floral Design + Planning: Kickstand Events / Rentals: Party Suppliers & Rentals / Lighting: High Performance Lighting / Ceremony Venue: Arbor Park at Autumn Hall / Reception Venue: Bellamy Mansion / Catering: Thyme Savor / Wedding Cake: Debbie Kinsey, Friend of the Bride / Groom’s Cake: Carolina Cakes & Confections / Desserts: Shore Shack + Sully’s Grille / Custom Hair Pieces: Friend of the Bride, Carter Rhae / Custom Guestbook: Bleu de tio / DJ: DJ Eyecon, Charles Seaton / Officiant: Mark Foland

Rise and shine my LBBers! This bride and groom win the “Best Wedding Inspiration” award this year. Get this. Indian Summer. Since the New York affair was to take place at the very beginning of fall, the stunning couple, along with the lovely team at Chandelier Events, decided to add a few Moroccan lanterns, bright jewel tones, and deep, sultry lighting that created a fantastic Indian Summer ambiance. Luckily for all of us who are craving a little inspiration this morning, Shira Weinberger was on hand to capture the wedding brilliantly. Make sure to pop into the gallery for more of this gorgeous wedding when you’re done!

With the timing of the wedding at the very beginning of fall, we took inspiration from the idea of an Indian Summer. We were also inspired by Marrakesh (cultural inspiration) which led us to use the lanterns and votive holders seen throughout the event. Last but not least, we wanted to celebrate the occasion and have FUN!

We wanted the night to be filled with color and achieved this by using jewel tones of some of our favorite colors – teal, orange, pink and gold. The gray bridesmaids dresses were selected for the sophisticated look that would also work well with our colors.

We wanted the rooms to feel warm to give the night a more intimate feel – which is why we went with low flower arrangements for the tables – so talking and laughing was easy for our esteemed guests.

We also wanted our guests to dance the night away – so the band was a difficult decision but we definitely chose well as the dance floor was packed all night!

For us, our wedding was absolutely perfect! We had the most incredible time – from the personal and emotional ceremony to the touching speeches from family and friends, to the stunning decor that encapsulated us and our guests, to the fun, high-energy band that kept us on our feet – we wish the night could go on forever.

Photography: Shira Weinberger / Wedding Planner: Amy Shey Jacobs, Chandelier Events / Flowers & Decor: StoneKelly / Music: Vali Entertainment / Photobooth: We Love Photobooths / Video: Anna Davis of Open Eye Media / Venue & Catering: Tarrytown House Estate / Dessert Bar: Baked / Cake: Oreos / Ketubah: Rachel Warschawski / Lights: Levy Lighting / Favors: Donation to the Wounded Warrior Project / Stationery: East Six

I’m totally head over heels for this Spanish inspired wedding shower photographed by Diana Lupu Photography. The colors, the textures, the games…and that dog! Everything is so absolutely adorable and perfect that I would have loved to have been there to see the look on the lucky bride’s face as she walked into this fiesta. Yup, this bride is one lucky chica. Thanks to her maid of honor, she had a hand crafted shower that everyone is sure to remember and one that we get to drool over for hours upon hours in the gallery. Yay! I guess we’re pretty lucky too. Click here for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Diana Lupu Photography…This wedding shower was put together by Felicia’s best friend Ursula, who envisioned a beautiful, bright Spanish Fiesta theme filled with tons of personal details, each one carefully created and made by Ursula herself. From the hand painted greeting cards adorning each table with words such as “many kisses,” to the yarn backdrop for the cake, no detail was overlooked.

The day was beautiful and as the group of ladies sipped on cold Sangria’s, a Spanish guitarist provided lovely tunes in the background. Classic games were played by everyone and Ursula designated a perfect area for photographs in the form of a classic red velvet sofa and a ruffled Anthropologie curtain. Guests could write messages to the bride on cue chalkboards which was one of my personal favorite details. Photographs of Felicia and her fiance adorned each table and the food was a delicious myriad of Spanish cuisine.

All of these details were kept under wraps for months as Ursula carefully planned and created, but the greatest surprise of all was when Felicia’s husband-to-be stopped by to greet his fiance, play a few games, and of course, grace me with some time for photos. That, along with the too-adorable-for-words polka dotted cake, was the perfect, sweetest ending to Felicia’s day and I felt honored to have been able to photograph it.

Photography: Diana Lupu Photography

Entwined Studio is bringing us a gorgeous stunner in wedding form this Monday morning, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it. Not only is it drop dead gorgeous with the prettiest little details and the sparkliest of shoes, but it also took place in such a fun venue – the Galapagos Art Space. It’s all seriously stylish with the personality of this handsome pair seeping through every little detail, and you can see even more in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Our little love story began in 1998 when Larry and I met in elementary school, becoming friends at 11 years old. We dated for a few months on and off throughout junior and high School until we finally began dating for good at 17. Since then our life together has been blessed with beautiful moments filled with love and happiness, not only from each other but from all of our family and lifelong friends who have supported us all these years. We have always been in awe of how lucky we are and wanted our special day to not only be a celebration of our life together but also celebrate the amazing people that have shared in our love.

In searching for a venue, we knew right off the bat we wanted something different. After researching a few places, we found Galapagos Art Space, a little gem right near the waterfront in DUMBO with amazing views of the Brooklyn Bridge. We loved the personality of the space; unabashedly relaxed and different from anything we had seen before and from that moment on it became the inspiration for our wedding. Next, we were on the hunt for photographer that would be able to tell our story and capture the beautiful space we had chosen – enter Entwined Studio. Run by husband and wife, Matt and Angie, there are no two people that were better made for our special day. From the moment the four of us sat down together, it was magic and we knew we had found our match.

From very early on, our goal was to make our personalities shine through as many details as possible. Your Hi Note, the vendor behind all of our stationery, could not have done a better job at capturing the essence of our relationship – playful but deeply in love. Though all communication was done through email, Erin was able to take the hundreds of pictures I sent as inspiration and translate it into something that really got to the core of what we were trying to accomplish. Everything from our invitation suite to our signature cocktail cards was a true reflection of who we are as a couple.

Our ceremony was by far the most special part of our day. As my mother and I approached the church in our fancy wheels, I was overcome with excitement as I realized the moment I had been waiting for my entire life had finally arrived. No words will ever adequately describe the feeling of having those doors open in front of me and seeing Larry for the first time – I was instantly hit with an overwhelming sense of joy and comfort in knowing that after that moment things would never quite be the same. Another very special moment during the ceremony was presenting flowers to the blessed mother in honor of Larry’s mother who passed away in 2006.

Larry and I love to eat so limiting our guests to one meal was just out of the question – we knew having a buffet was the way to go. With Blue Smoke as our caterer, our guests enjoyed everything from pulled pork sliders and jumbo shrimp cocktail to baby back ribs and mac n’ cheese. With bellies full and drinks in hand, our guests danced the night away only taking a break from the music to stop by the photobooth Entwined had setup or to stamp their fingerprint on our guestbook.

Every now and then we took a step back to soak it all in because we knew that in a blink of an eye it would be all over – and it was. But the memories of love we felt that day for each other and from our family and friends will remain with us forever.

Wedding Dress: Amsale / Bride’s Jewelry: Carolee / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaid Dress: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Shoes: Nina / Groomsmen Suit: Michael Kors / Ties: Brooks Brothers / Caterer: Blue Smoke / Wedding Photography: Entwined Studio / Wedding Videography: LOVE in PROGRESS video production / Stationery: Your Hi Note / Make-up: Sally Duvall / Floral Design: Opalia Flowers / Venue: Galapagos Art Space / Guestbook: Bleudetoi / DJ: DJ Gaza of 74 Events

Good morning LBBers! I hope your weekend is off to a good start, but if you’re waiting for the right thing to come along and jumpstart the day into a wedding induced love haze, this is it. If this is your first Vantage Point Productions wedding film, consider yourself lucky. Because not only was Vantage Point true to form, capturing every emotion, every smile, every detail perfectly, but the wedding at the center? Amazing. Beyond amazing, complete with an adorably in love couple. With the most adorable first kiss. I’ll stop, because we all know I can go on and on about a good wedding film, and I just want you to see it!

Photography by Ben & Eric Chrisman of Chrisman Studios.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/28418329 601 338]

If you’ve got a little time to kill, click here to check out our cinematography page!

From Vantage Point Productions … From the gorgeous Romanesque and Gothic elements of St. Mark’s Church to the renowned Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel at the crest of the illustrious Nob Hill district of San Francisco, this is a wedding to remember. Andreana planned the entire event while in Indonesia and saw to all the details, large and small, that would culminate in the hallmark of her vision – which included three dresses and a super fun wedding party dance! The day came together in a spectacular way, visually grand and beautiful. But sight is only one of the five senses and as filmmakers it is our goal to capture the energy of an occasion. This affair was charged with an electric energy of sweet fun … a tone set by Andreana and Eddie the minute they set foot in the city!

Venue: Mark Hopkins Hotel / Photography: Ben & Eric Chrisman, Chrisman Studios / Floral Design: Asiel Design / Music & MC: Maurice Britton of Amos Productions / Linen: 1st Class Linen Production / Cake Design: Mark Hopkins Hotel / Cinematography: Vantage Point Productions

As someone that suffers from a severe case of wanderlust, SMP Destination is my favorite little getaway. In one day I can go to Paris, Mexico, Bali, Ibiza, Italy – the options are endless. So I am so thrilled to welcome some of our lovely friends over here on the blog that provides a daily mini vaca. If you are planning a little getaway (a real one, that is), you just must check out Elite Island Resorts. Oh what I would do to be in one of their gorgeous locations right at this very moment. Don’t miss the FAB deal they are offering, it is beyond. And while we are talking about getting away, how lovely does Aspen sound? Well, if you are headed that way for your special day be sure to check out Bluebird Productions –  they will make your big day a dream come true. Phew! So many wonderful things happening in on pretty post! This Saturday just got even better! Welcome, welcome Elite Island Resorts and Bluebird Productions!

From Elite Island Resorts…Caribbean Beachfront Vacations & Honeymoons: Our impressive collection of unique beachfront resorts provides the best variety in Caribbean vacations. From the of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, Antigua, with its 365 beaches, seductive Nevis, lush and tropical St. Lucia, alluring Barbados, PalmIsland our private island paradise in the Grenadines, or our newest addition Grenada, the spice island, we have that perfect romantic escape you are seeking. If you’re in search of the ideal beachfront wedding destination our hardest decision will be which of our nine beachfront resorts to choose. No matter if you prefer the grand sophistication of Antigua or the exclusivity of our private island resort, Palm Island, you can be assured that every detail of your special day will be handled with absolute care by our professional wedding coordinators. We look forward to making all your island-wedding dreams come true and can accommodate most budgets. For the utmost in Romance there’s no place quite like the Caribbean for a honeymoon, just imagine a secluded island known for glorious beachfronts, exceptional service and unforgettable days and nights. Resort’s array of honeymoon packages lets you choose the best way to celebrate the splendid beginning of your new life together.

In honor of life’s big celebration we are happy to offer Style Me Pretty readers an exclusive offer: Pay for 5 nights get 7 at any of our all-inclusive resorts. Free room upgrade for first ten booking! Book by Dec. 20, 2011 – travel through Dec. 20 2012 (not combinable with other offers). Visit  http://www.eliteislandresorts.com/smp for additional offer details. Just add a comment with a sentence about why the Caribbean is the best place to celebrate your honeymoon. Is it the relaxation, adventure, exotic beaches, music, cocktails, people, cuisine, pampering, nightlife, lush landscape or ocean breezes? Our spectacular beachfront resorts offer an experience of a lifetime and cherished memories forever.

From Bluebird Productions…Bluebird Productions is a event design and planning company based in Aspen, Colorado. Our style, creative vision and modern approach to events sets us apart from others in the industry. We enjoy being friends with not only the best vendors in the area but also the best brides and grooms. Our attention to detail, energy and enthusiasm will allow you to sit back, relax and enjoy your Bluebird Day. Guests are sure to be speaking about your event for years to come.

Morning lovelies! It’s that time again for us to give a big virtual hug to some of our favorite Texas friends – and today that talented Texan is the one and only Nate from Nate Henderson Photography. He is filling your Saturday with some seriously pretty images, and an exclusive offer to SMP Texas readers that can’t be beat. He’s too good to us! So stay in your PJs a little longer, and help me give a big SMP Texas welcome to Nate Henderson!

From Nate Henderson…I am a fine art photographer and enjoyer of all things bright and beautiful. As a wedding photographer, I treasure the opportunity to give such an heirloom to each and every client. My vision for your union as husband and wife is to document the beauty, intimacy, and emotions of your wedding day with a fine art sensibility. And in honor of Style Me Pretty’s amazing wedding inspiration, I am offering a $1,000 discount to the first 5 SMP readers who book any package for their wedding, anywhere in Texas! Just mention it, and you’ll receive the discount.

Welcome to SMP Texas! We are so happy to have you in our family! xoxo, A. Blaire

Happy weekend everyone!  Another week of fabulous Canada weddings has flown by here but that doesn’t mean that fun has to stop with the work week.  We have an awesome new advertiser to grace the pages of Style Me Pretty Canada.  Please join me in giving a big SMP welcome to The Wedding Co. – a Toronto-based show and now magazine filled to the brim with inspiration and goodies!

From The Wedding Co… For 11 years running, The Wedding Co. has hosted The Wedding Co. Show. The show has become the destination for newly engaged Toronto couples looking to find best vendors to help make their vision into a reality. At the 2012 January show The Wedding Co. will be launching the premiere issue of The Wedding Co. Magazine a local, urban and modern magazine created to help and inspired all newly engaged couples.

We hope you love our newest Advertiser as much as we do and make sure to stop by their sites and show them some SMP support! Welcome aboard everyone, we’re happy to have you join our Style Me Pretty Canada family!

Happy weekend everyone!  Another week of fabulous Illinois weddings has flown by here but that doesn’t mean that fun has to stop with the work week.  We have an awesome new advertiser to welcome to Style Me Pretty Illinois.  Please join me in giving a big SMP virtual hug to Truffleberry Market, a stellar Chicago catering and event company.  Don’t miss out on their amazing giveaway either!

From Truffleberry Market… Truffleberry Market has a celebrated reputation for creating stunning events. We work passionately as we create your event, offering incredible creative ideas that will bring your vision to life. Our chefs have the highest expectations and deliver customized, remarkable, delicious, high quality restaurant style cuisine to the catering world. Whether your vision is chic or whimsical, formal or casual, dramatic or rustic, every detail is tailored just for you.

I hope you plan on staying in your PJs this Saturday morning because we have some lovely folks to welcome to SMP New York! So grab another cup of jo, and let me introduce you to some of our fabulous friends. First, if you’ve never had a little getaway to the seaside heaven that is Newport , you need to put that on your agenda ASAP. And Castle Hill should be your first stop on your tour. You will most certainly want to get to know this legendary estate! Then I just MUST introduce you to Tom Wang Photography. He is filling up the post with pretty images AND a oh so fab deal for SMP New York readers! And last but certainly not least, the lovely ladies at Under Her Veil are a must know – they literally style brides pretty, and we LOVE them for it! You have a lot of virtual welcoming to do – so settle in and take advantage of all the lovely discounts they are offering! So sweet of them!

From Castle Hill…Vast ocean views of a golden horizon with naturally elegant surroundings, stunning in their simplicity; a one-of-a-kind historic estate aged with the warmth of old-world charm; privacy of a forty-acre peninsula, a white sand beach and wooded walking trails; world-class accommodations, individual and unique; eye-catching, award-winning cuisine and our service team, welcoming and ready to host with grace. This is the legacy of Castle Hill- an inspiring array of unique possibilities guided by the seasonal beauty of the New England year. Classic summertime lawn parties and glowing galas beneath the open sky; gourmet lobster bakes on the beach in the cooling autumn eve; fireplaces warm while snow glistens and intimate promises are made…this is your day at Castle Hill. A member of the prestigious Relais &Chateaux, Castle Hill remains one of Newport’s most iconic landmarks- the epitome of  the luxurious 19^th century New England seacoast life.

From Tom Wang Photography…My primary focus is centered on my bridal couples and capturing their emotions, so they can remember exactly what they were doing, feeling and thinking at that very moment. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing my couples re-live their wedding day memories with tears, laughter and excitement. I came from a studio background, but decided to venture off and start my own photography business. Now, I am able to expand on my creativity and artistic style. My main goals are to interact with my bridal couples on a personal level and to draw upon that to create images that is uniquely tailored to their personalities. As the holidays are approaching, I want to feel like Santa Claus! So, I am giving away a free engagement or glamour shoot in or around the NY/NJ metro area to a lucky SMP reader! Please write a comment below or email me and tell me what make you and your fiancee the cutest couple? and I will pick a winner on Dec 24, 2011!

Welcome to SMP New York! We are so thrilled to have you part of our SMP family! xoxo

Don’t you just love Ann Taylor? They have so many gorgeous gowns and bridesmaids dresses that there is literally something for every bride (and maid!) and every budget. So, of course we were super excited to hear that they added two new gowns to their already fabulous collection! The Jasmine Lace gown will make your day even more beautiful with its shirred lux lace and delicate bodice detailing. We’re talking pure romance with layers upon layers of gorgeous cascading fabric! Can’t you just see yourself in it now?

Looking for something a little different? Then you’ll love their Silk Crepe One Shoulder Gown. It’s gracefully a-symmetrical and totally sophisticated. And the best part? Both of these new styles are available in petite sizes. As someone who is majorly vertically challenged, this is news to my wedding dress loving ears. Just think of all the money you’ll save on alterations!

As if you aren’t already squealing with glee over the two gorgeous additions to the Weddings and Events collection, the amazing people at Ann Taylor introduce a new color option for bridesmaids. Yup, gray is the new black people and these pretty frocks are sure to have a festive filled life long after your bestie’s wedding day.

And the best part of all? Ann Taylor is offering $100 off full priced wedding gowns and $50 off full priced bridesmaids dresses! All you need to do is head on over to Ann Taylor and use the code SMPBRIDES when you check out. Have fun and happy shopping! xoxo

Rise and Shine SMP Massachusetts! We’ve got two amazing new advertisers to introduce to you on this fabulous fall morning. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to bring you all the local goodness from in and around New England, so be sure to check out their websites and give them lots and lots of SMP love!

First up is Esq. Events, a fabulous boutique planning and designing company headed by Jennifer Cox, an attorney by day, who realized she needed a creative outlet. And thank goodness she did because this girl’s got talent! With tons of gorgeous weddings under her belt, you can rest assured that if you book Jennifer to coordinate your wedding day, you’ll be able to relax and just enjoy the beautiful moments.

From Esq. Events Esq.Events is the brainchild of Jennifer Cox, an attorney who loved her negotiation-focused day job but needed a creative outlet in addition to a rigorous legal career. Jennifer firmly believed that every couple deserved at least one extra set of hands on their wedding day and set out to fill that niche. The three year old Boston-based company now provides custom attention and advice during the planning process followed by detail oriented wedding coordination to all couples in New England and beyond. They are now accepting Weddings in 2012 and 2013. Esq.Events is offering a special discounted rate for any New Years Eve Brides and Grooms who mention Style Me Pretty.

If you love all things vintage and feminine, you’re about to go totally gaga over New England Vintage. Not only can they help you style and design your wedding, but you can also rent some seriously fabulous finds. Finally, there’s a one stop shop for all us vintage loving brides. One look at their pretty portfolio and you will be sold!

From New England Vintage:  New England Vintage is a styling and rentals platform for couples who want to make their events warm, unique and personal.  A few years back, I would incessantly comb through the Style Me Pretty blog dreaming up the details of my wedding.  When I went to execute those looks there was no unique rental options available.  Fast forward to today and the collection is ten times larger than when it first started and you can find everything from mismatched plates and tablecloths to furniture pieces.  If you know you want the vintage vibe but don’t know where to start let us help put the pieces together with our styling and design packages.

We hope you love our newest advertisers as much as we do and make sure to stop by their sites and show them some SMP support! Welcome aboard everyone, we’re happy to have you join our Style Me Pretty Massachusetts family! xoxo

Happy weekend everyone!  Another week of fabulous California weddings has flown by here but that doesn’t mean that goodies have to stop with the work week.  We want to welcome some awesome new advertisers to the pages of Style Me Pretty California.  We have a rockstar lineup for you today – gorgeous florals from Blush Botanicals, a chic Santa Barbara hotel, lovely photography by Maria Longhi, sweet jewelry by Rustic Gem and husband and wife shutterbug duo Sarah Maren Photographers.  Plus there are a few amazing giveaways too so don’t miss out on those!  Please join me in giving them all a big SMP welcome!

From Blush Botanicals…San Diego’s premier floral design company, specializes in catering to the ultra style-savvy southern California bride.  Owners Alex and Brittany custom design each wedding to be unique, chic and fabulous.  Call them to schedule a consultation.

From The Canary Hotel… As the most fun, fashionable, and sophisticated location in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, Canary Hotel offers a wedding venue that has no comparison. Perched high above other downtown buildings, the rooftop offers breathtaking 360 degree views of the Santa Ynez mountains, the Pacific Ocean, and charming Spanish style architecture that Santa Barbara is known for.

Our experienced staff will make your ceremony and reception exceptional by catering the event with our all-inclusive wedding services. If you like, the party can be moved indoors to a banquet room for a stylish wedding reception. Whether an intimate gathering or grand affair, your wedding will be just what you envision with the help of our dedicated team.

For more information on wedding packages and specials, please contact Sales and Catering at 805-878-99144 or email weddings@canarysantabarbara.com.

From Maria Longhi Photography… Maria Longhi is a fine art eclectic wedding photographer who is  company based out of Orange County California.  Specializing in photojournalism, lifestyle and portrait photography. I like to blend traditional photography with emotion and at time fashion and movies.

For the clients of SMP only a special gift is a 16×24 canvas print when they book there wedding package with MariaLonghi Photography.

From Rustic Gem Jewelry… Rustic Gem Jewelry creates high quality, unique, and contemporary jewelry for wedding occasions as well as every day wear.  Our team shares a passion for expressing our creative energy; we take great joy in making beautiful and unique handmade jewelry.  Our work is expertly crafted and affordable.  The name Rustic Gem combines our love for nature with our love for all things that sparkle.  We designjewelry that exemplifies our pride in craftsmanship, our design creativity, and our attention to detail.  We can custom design pieces just for you for any and all occasions, making your jewelry one of a kind and forever special.  We take great pride in offering excellent customer service and enjoy working closely with brides during the design process for their very important day.

We are offering SMP readers a unique opportunity for a 15% discount on their purchase by entering coupon code SMP15 at checkout.

From Sarah Maren Photographers… We are Sarah and Dustin. We are the husband and wife team that make up Sarah Maren Photographers. We think getting married ROCKS!  We love that our job is about capturing this really amazing time in a couples life together.  We find so much joy witnessing the start of a family because it reminds us  of how grateful we are for our own little family, and the happiness and comfort they bring us every day.  We are thrilled when other people find love like the kind we have.  It’s why we have chosen to photograph people in love.  We are so interested in the power that brings and keeps two people together. We are compelled by stories of love, stories of finding each other and feeling complete and wanting to make a life together.  It is those stories that inspire us and make us  see the world, and your wedding, in a very unique way.

We would like to offer the SMP audience a complimentary hour of wedding day photography when they book their wedding with us (value $350) if they mention that they saw us on SMP CA.

We hope you love our newest Advertisers as much as we do and make sure to stop by their sites and show them some SMP support! Welcome aboard everyone, we’re happy to have you join our Style Me Pretty California family!

You may be asking yourself why we are up so early on a Saturday morning? And we couldn’t think of a better reason to hop out of bed than to share our newest advertisers with you. Thanks to these insanely talented peeps, we get to bring you tons of inspiration each and every day right from your very own backyard! Okay, well maybe not your yard, per se, but your cities and neighborhoods.

Trust me when I say that if you are in the market for a photographer, you are definitely gonna want to hit up Vitalic Photo. Their website is laid out perfectly and allows you to browse through all different types of weddings, so whether you’re a classic bride or a rustic one, you’ll see gorgeous image after gorgeous image for inspiration galore!

From Vitalic Photo: Vitalic Photo is the collaboration of two best friends, Chrissy and Nicki.  Starting out in 2005, we soon discovered our niche and have blossomed into what we are today – a unique photography team who couldn’t think of anything more fun than crashing weddings every weekend.  Our style is relaxed and honest.  We have a great love for natural light, sun-drenched photos, and for couples with true love and great style.

Up next is the absolutely fabulous boutique Sugar(ed): Event Design and Planning and their ideas and visions will literally knock your socks off! Perhaps you remember them as our winners from our Inspire Me Pretty Florida board building contest? Their brightly colored festive board won all our hearts and once you check out the rest of their goods, you’ll have no doubt in mind who you want to help bring your vision to life on your big day! And get this-if you book wedding planning services anytime between now and the end of the month, they will do a complimentary custom inspiration board just for you!

From Sugar(ed): Event Design and Planning: We are a boutique planning studio with a focus on weddings–because we love them!  There’s nothing like that mixture of love, excitement and pure emotion on a bride’s face on the day of her wedding and it’s our goal to keep that look on her face by making her day both beautiful and seamless.  All she needs to think about is having an amazing time at the best party she’s ever been to!

What a crazy fabulous week it’s been here at SMP! Not only did we bring you your usual dose of fabulous wedding inspiration, but we brought you an entire day dedicated to all things modern! And we’re not quite ready to say goodbye to this fab modern inspired party just yet, so before we leave you for the weekend, we just had to share this phenomenal photo shoot by Champagne NW, captured perfectly by June Lion. This pretty little gem just goes to show you that modern comes in all shapes and sizes and sometimes it’s as simple as updating a classic look. We’re totally head over heels for this one, especially the cute chalkboard photo booth backdrop. Click here for more!

Click here for entire image gallery!

From June Lion: Myself and a team of other wedding vendors got together to put together this unique winter wedding with lots of DIY original details and indie appeal.  For the shoot I crafted a ringbox, wedding veil, reception hairpiece, necklace made from lace, yarn branch chandelier, cake topper with a photo of a classic plastic bride and groom, and a chuppah-like alternative to a wedding arch made with fabric streamers. Other fun decor details include a record player, logs, white painted frames for the backdrop, big white balloons, chalkboard that the guests would also write message on for the polaroid photo booth-guestbook.  The bride has a dress change for the reception so 2 beautiful dresses from local Portland designer Claire La Faye.

Styling and Coordination: Colleen and Jen with Champagne NW / Photography: June Lion / Art Direction: Kelly with June Lion / Assistant: Amy Cave / Flowers: Form and Flora / Hair and Makeup: Sunny with Face & Body Beauty / Dresses: Claire La Faye / Cake: LeCookie Monkey / Jewelry: Grayling Jewelry / Shrug: Toccata / DIY veil, hairpiece, lace necklace, wedding arch, cake topper, yarn covered branch, ringbox: Kelly Goode / Models: Patty and Chris Raz

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

a not-so-spooky Halloween round up and e-session
a job opening at your favorite wedding blog!
a modern and elegant indoor Canadian fete
a chic and modern Rhode Island affair
a drop dead gorgeous Sonoma soiree
a day filled with seven gorgeous weddings
a magical New Hampshire summer camp wedding
a pretty, pretty New York garden wedding
a Palos Verdes stunner
a gorgeously modern and perfectly perfect Chicago wedding

Some fabulous links from around the web:

a fabulous Martha’s Vineyard wedding via Once Wed
the cutest, most shabby chic little person party via The Sweetest Occasion
an earth friendly DIY headboard via DesignSponge

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

Each and Every Detail, LLC.
Flowers by Denise
The Laugh Box
Petals Planning Company
High Society Wedding & Event Planning
Bride and Bloom Wedding Flowers
One and Only Paris Photography
Create the Memories Photo Booth Rentals
Unforgettable DJs
VOWS Wedding & Event Planning
Capers Catering
Tara Jones Calligraphy

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

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

Well my darling LBBers, its the time of the week again when we must bid adieu for a couple days. A couple of days in which we can let the prettiness of the week really sink in, and start thinking about how to incorporate it into our own big day. Be sure to pop in tomorrow morning for a special treat, but to get you excited for Monday morning, we’ve got a little preview. Planned by Chandelier Events, the rest of the gorgeous New York affair will be headed your way bright and early on Monday. I’ll see you then! xoxo

Photography courtesy of Shira Weinberger.

The week at a pretty little glance, in case you missed any:

a beachy Same Day Edit with the most adorable couple hailing from Florida
a bit of Colorado Mad Hatter inspiration ripe for the holiday
a California Halloween soiree, á la Dia de los Muertos
a perfrectly classic and elegant Washington D.C. affair
a sweet as cotton candy North Carolina engagement sesh
a rustic Oregon bridal session with the most beautiful bride
a great word of advice on how to plan a wedding in a week
a very modern, very San Francisco wedding
a contemporary La Jolla fête, black, white and yellow all over
a scrumptious Malibu wedding of one of our loved LBB vendors
a beautiful beach affair on the shores of Mackinac Island

A few of our favorite links from around the web:

a great personalized glass jar DIY, perfect for favors via Oh Happy Day
an absolutely perfect Martha’s Vineyard wedding on Once Wed
a graphic bit of wedding inspiration featuring a Missoni bike from The Sweetest Occasion

Whenever we spot a Modern wedding, we literally jump for joy. The crisp, clean design, the structured frocks, the bold graphic prints – the whole lot speaks to our design loving hearts and thus deserves a full day of swooning here at SMP. So we are coming full circle from the gorgeous Chicago affair captured by Erin Hearts Court, right on to a collection of some of our favorite contemporary bashes to date and rounding off with a round-up of sculptural modern details fit for the best of soirées. If you are a Modern Bride looking to plan one heck of a wedding, this is a great place to start. Try some of these budget friendly details on for size and think EDITED. The best part about Modern is it is so easily incorporated into a modest budget.

1.  Gold Cocktail Dress from Zara. Believe us, your bridesmaids will THANK YOU

2. White cocktail ring by Kendra Scott perfect for the bold Bride

3. Monochromatic vases in several silhouettes via West Elm. Jamali Gardens also has a great collection of streamlined rectangular vases that would make for one stunning centerpiece

4. Chevron cocktail napkins via Caspari. Need we say more?

5. Can you say holy cow gorgeous? We can and have been all afternoon over these clear beauties from CB2

6. Like a work of art, this Maggie Austin Cake is. It would fit in seamlessly with an art museum fête don’t you think?

7. What’s black and white and scrumptious all over? Mr. Boddington’s collection of invites of course. And we can’t get enough of these chevron lined envelopes

8. With its column shape, gorgeous simple lines and beautiful key-hole back, this J.Crew dress is just what the Doctor ordered and the price? See for yourself.

9. We kind of want to cover our entire office with these sweet decals from Shanna Murray. They would make a lovely addition to a modern wedding too.

Before we dive into this beyond beautiful Michigan wedding from Kelly Sweet Photography, I just have to say – prepare for the summer wedding to jump top to your “Favorite Summer Weddings” list. Set on the quaint Mackinac Island, the wedding took full advantage of the charming Michigan setting. The island does not allow cars, so in true Mackinac fashion, the bride planned a wedding centered around horse-drawn carriages and, of course, yellow tandem bicycles. Without even considering that this bride has the genes to be the most gorgeous bride ever, this wedding scores top marks in every one of the pretty categories. Click here to see the rest of this bike-centric affair!

Robbie and I wanted to be married at a place that was truly unique to Michigan, a place where our families from out of town could enjoy a vacation, and experience a place they have never been before.  The first time Robbie and I went to Mackinac Island we knew it was the perfect place for us.  We fell in love with the relaxed life style, surrounded by water with no cars, it was a place we could enjoy the outdoors and truly escape time.

Robbie and I love to bike ride together, and the Island is full of bike shops and bike paths, so we decided to create a bike theme for our wedding.  We really wanted to have fun on our big day and make the most of our time with friends and family. The day of the wedding we did a morning bike ride with all of our guests. We biked around the 8 mile long Island and enjoyed some fresh air before saying “I do.” It was so much fun!

On the day of the wedding, it was great to see all of the details come together. Robbie and I spent countless hours at Michaels Arts and Crafts.  It took a year of tears and smiles and a living room full of scrap paper. We created all of the invitations, save-the-dates, thank you cards, ect. for the big day. We spent a lot of time on the internet looking for ideas and other weddings for inspiration. Robbie’s mom handmade all of the tote bags for the arriving guests and we filled them with trail mix, taffy, and homemade cookies. We printed cards to welcome and thank our guests for coming, and also included an invite for the morning bike ride.

Robbie and I chose wedding colors that we loved to wear, and that would match our outdoor theme. The guys wore brown suits and the girls were in fun yellow summer dresses- my favorite color! I asked the florist to create bouquets that were soft and romantic, full of big white garden roses with a touch of coral. We really tried to keep the theme for our wedding as fun as possible, and we had a blast!

After the ceremony we jumped on a horse and buggy, and popped open a bottle of champaigne. The bridal party followed us on bikes to the downtown salon where we enjoyed a  drink to celebrate. Robbie and I then took the bikes down to the water and spent some time together laughing and playing around before joining the reception. It truly was the most fun we have ever had together. It couldn’t have been more perfect!

Location: Mission Point Resort / Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography, Second Shooter Paul Retherford / Dress: Paloma Blanca / Flowers: Weber’s Floral / Cake: Bella e Dolce / Invitations & Stationary: DIY by Bride / Event Planning & Design: DIY by Bride

How fabulous is this Friday? A pretty day dedicated to all things modern wedding. Oh clean, crisp, contemporary goodness – how you make a modern bride swoon. After seeing the modern goodness of the last wedding, you might be wondering if you have what it takes to be a contemporary chic chickadee – well don’t fret my pretty, that’s what we are here for! We’ve pulled together a few (fun) questions for you to answer to see if you might fit the modern bride bill. And no worries my loves – we aren’t taking score.

See more of this lovely modern wedding here!

1. Does Scandinavian design make you swoon and clutter make you shudder?

2. Are you more Mac than PC?

3. Do you dream of a gown with a shapely silhouette? And maybe a sassy headpiece to go with it?

4. Do you lust over the exposed beams and wide open spaces of loft living?

5. Is Helvetica your default font for all correspondence?

6. Is your favorite color white with hints of lucite? Do you just die over all things monochromatic?

7. Do you go ga ga over geometric patterns? Does your dream cake replicate those crisp, clean shapes?

8. Do you scour the world wide web for gorgeous graphic design? Do you know the names of at least 10 fonts off the top of your head?

9.  When you think of the florals for you fête, do you think orchids (for the city chic) or succulents (for the outdoor affair)? Are your dream florals more than just flowers, but a huge part of your overall design?

10. Do you think less really is more?

Well, my darling, you just might be a Modern Bride.

And because we love you, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite modern SMP weddings for you to spend your afternoon swooning over…

A Palm Springs pretty full of gorgeous graphics…

A marvelously modern Rhode Island gala…

Modern glamour at its finest…

A San Francisco soiree that will have you craving clean lines…

It’s official, SmogShoppe is perfect for a modern fête…

A whimsical wonderland of modern goodness…

Modern meets nautical, and it sure is gorgeous!

A Brooklyn beauty with perfectly chic florals…

A seaside chic celebration with no serifs in sight!

Modern NYC fabulousness…

Welcome back to another awesome Q+A with the talented, creative and knowledgable Valley & Co. Last month you commented with your burning wedding planning questions and Aleah and Nick are here to give you some more of their stellar advice.  Remember!  We’ll be back in December with more guidance and know-how from this dynamic duo so make sure you leave your question in the comments!

How do you pick a photographer that will be perfect for you? What questions should you ask them when you talk to them? What qualities should you look for? I have no experience in photography, but want fabulous pictures and just not sure what questions to ask to get the product I want! Thanks!

Choosing a photographer is a key piece to your wedding puzzle. The special images they capture will live on and you’ll look back on them 50 years from now. Selecting a photographer that you are comfortable with is incredibly important. Start by perusing websites and blogs to help you develop an idea of a style that you like. Ask your planner or friends for recommendations they trust and have work with. When you find someone whose style and you start a dialogue, you like you can send them links to those images you like to give them a better idea of the style you are going for. Be sure to ask a photographer about their backgrounds and how that plays into their techniques and style. What do they do for fun? What’s their favorite type of location for weddings?

Possibly our number one photographer interviewing tip: give them room to be creative in your conversation. They are artists and need room to be creative both leading up to and on your wedding day. Questions are fantastic and necessary when getting to know them to ensure you are clear about what you are getting and what you want, but clicking with their personalities is so important. Once you’ve had a nice chat some nitty-gritty specifics to be clear on:

How much coverage will I be getting on my wedding day? Will there be a second shooter {having coverage for both of you is invaluable}? How do you prefer to capture portrait shots? What about candid shots? How will you tell the story of our wedding day? Approximately how many edited images will I receive? What’s your turnaround time post-wedding? What are your copyright clauses for image usage?

If you can, set up a pre-wedding shoot with the photographer to ensure you gel and have fun with then. Laughter and silliness should be present! When it comes down to it, your photographer{s} is going to be with you during every special and intimate moment on your wedding day. When it boils down be positive that they put you at ease and that you and your fiancé enjoy their company.

Photo by by Jeremy Leffel

My fiance and I are planning on having a Friday wedding in order to get the venue we want (it’s already booked every Saturday next October). I was wondering if you could tell me if it’s still acceptable to have a wedding at 6 p.m. on a Friday or should we consider having it at 6:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. to give guests plenty of time to arrive. Thanks!

Friday weddings can be so lovely and a fantastic way to kick off the weekend. It also leaves the rest of the weekend to either enjoy time with visiting out of town guests or just relaxing as newlyweds! Being mindful of guests getting off of work early for a Friday wedding is a polite gesture however, we would work backwards with your timeline to make sure that you and your fiancé aren’t cutting the wedding too short by having it start later, like at 6:30 pm or 7 pm.

Start with your end-time of when your venue needs to be clear and work from there. Clean-up {as a rule of thumb} will likely take about an hour dependent upon the amount of décor or rentals you have {check with your vendors on this as well to ensure it’s ample for them}. If you’re anticipating fun entertainment and  toasts and traditions like cake cutting and then guests dancing the night away, three hours should do it for that period {you know your guests in this capacity – perhaps you don’t anticipate a lot of dancing so this can be trimmed}. Dinnertime typically takes about an hour and a half, when all is said and done. And the ceremony and subsequent transitional time {often cocktail “hour”} can take about an hour and a half depending on how long your ceremony is. With this being said, we’re comfortably looking at about six-and-a-half to seven hours.

It’s an equation to get to that point but even a half hour {or more if people are stuck in traffic or running late} can really make an impact on your timeline. Send out save the dates {signifying a Friday wedding and the start time} well in advance to let guests know your expectation of timing. If given enough notice, we’d recommend staying with an earlier wedding start time of six o’ clock so that your wedding can flow nicely with no time crunch.

Male bridesmaids are becoming more and more prevalent in wedding celebrations and there are a number of ways to incorporate yours into the celebration while keeping him visible as part of your wedding party. Inviting someone to be part of your wedding party, whether male or female, is such an honor and making him feel unique standing next to you will speak volumes.

Gift him a tie and a pocket square that coordinates with the bridesmaids’ dresses, while keeping the looks of the groomsmen different. This will give him a distinct identification while standing out from the groomsmen.

On the wedding day invite him to be present with you while you prep for the big day. We’ve had a number of our brides have a male bridesmaid and we’ve encourage this. Start the day off with a brunch where he’ll be present and make him feel welcomed and not stuck in between the two parties.

Give him a special duty that also sets him apart: ask him to perform the task of escorting your mother or grandmother down the aisle. If he’s a musician ask him to serenade you during your ceremony by strumming the guitar.

With a combination of little gestures the appreciation will be felt and he’ll love standing beside you on your wedding day.

Photo by Ian Grant Photography

Thank you, Aleah + Nick, for another month full of incredible advice!  If you have a question or two that has been keeping you up at night make sure you leave them in the comments below!