So, this wedding is it. The cat’s meow. The bee’s knees. The icing on the wedding cake. It’s so obviously gorgeous and yet that’s not the only reason we are obsessed. The bride and the groom just happen to be two of the coolest people we’ve ever seen grace the pages of a wedding blog and the groom, just might be the best dancer ever. Of course we’re going to make you wait for it and force you to look at the insanely beautiful images first (painful, I know…ha), but mark my words, this couple is going to be your new BFF. Before we give too much away, here’s a first look at the wedding, captured by the awesome duo at JAC Photography, that has completely and totally stolen our hearts. Oh and there is more right here in the gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

And just to give you a little teaser of the dance moves coming your way, Peter of studio205films shared this amazing Same Day Edit (yes, he edited this gorgeous film the same day the couple tied the knot – how fabulous is that?) to keep this pretty party going until the next post!

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From JAC Photography…Judith and Aaron’s wedding ceremony took place at the Westminister Presbyterian Church, a very beautiful and traditional church. After the ceremony, the couple was showered with lavender, which was packaged in vellum envelopes and hand stamped- “throw me”.

The reception was at the Altadena Town and Country Club. There were so many DIY elements throughout the reception. From the empty picture frames that held place cards, to the collection of white vases that the bride picked up from various stores, to the AMAZING HANDMADE backdrop for their dessert table- each detail was lovely! The bride surprised the groom with a groom’s cake, the groom’s favorite basketball team emblem on top of it…the groom surprised the bride with a choreographed Justin Beiber dance routine! The day was just beautiful, full of soft pink florals and succulents, beautiful print material and a highlight was a same day edit from the wedding videographer!

Wedding Photography: JAC Photography / Ceremony Venue: Westminster Presbyterian Church / Reception Venue: Altadena Town & Country Club / Wedding Videography: Peter of studio205films / Floral Design: Sacha of Bloom Custom Floristy & Events / Desserts: Sweet & Saucy, Friends + Nicole and Sacha of Bloom Custom Floristry & Events / Wedding Coordination: Jane Chong of Jane Event Designs

Before I send you off into the absolute dream that is this wedding, let me just preface it by saying: Yes. This is a REAL wedding. That stunning bride with her fabulous style? Real. And she really got married to that handsome groom in the bow tie. And they really did sit down with all their friends and family to have a delish meal in that absolutely phenomenally decorated tent. And every single fabulous person was real, real, 100% real. Not even the cat was hired. The fantastic affair was photographed to perfection by the oh-so-wonderful Marianne Taylor Photography, so you will definitely want to stop by the gallery to see the rest of this amazing wedding.

From Marianne Taylor Photography … Flora & Benjamin’s wedding in the south of France was a dream. The weather was beautiful, the surroundings stunning, and all the people present so warm and loving.

Flora & Benjamin got ready at their home in Marseille with most of their family and friends around them. The ceremony took place at a beautiful church close to their home, after which all we traveled over to the charming village of Le Muy for a reception in a private house in the French countryside, where Flora had created a beautiful “inside out” atmosphere with furniture and lots of pretty touches in the garden.

Apart from the amazing atmosphere and warmth of the people present, there were so many lovely details at this wedding. I just loved the bird theme that ran through the day in a subtle way, from bird cages in trees, to the paper crane escort cards and the cutest bird houses on every table.

Photography: Marianne Taylor Photography / Videographer: Florian Lalanne / Venue: private country house in Le Muy, France / Catering: Matyasy / Hair: Les Coiffeurs du Sud / Makeup: Smahane Legouit / Bride’s outfit: Louise Dentelle / Bride’s shoes: JB Martin

We just got to share their super adorable rehearsal dinner and now it’s on to this sweet couple’s big day!  This Napa Valley wedding puts all other elegant garden parties to shame.  Lush, dreamy floral arrangements from Flowerwild Floral Design, exquisite design by Bliss Event Productions and pretty photographs from Adeline and Grace Photography.  Talk about a dream team!  Pearls, mercury glass and chandeliers top off the stunning design and the result is nothing short of luxurious and chic.  Click here to see it all!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Adeline and Grace Photography…The wedding of Lindsey Meryl Witt (Assistant Store Manager of Tiffany in Beverly Hills) and Adam Rottenberg (an Attorney for a New York based law firm) took place on Saturday, August 6, 2011 at Beaulieu Garden in Rutherford, California.  95 of their closest family and friends flew to Napa Valley from Michigan, New York and Los Angeles to celebrate this charming couple.  The wedding ceremony took place under a custom created Chuppah and the ceremony was a mix of Lindsey’s Catholic religion and Adam’s Jewish faith.  The floral decor was a unique and eclectic mix of ferns, lavender and topiaries all in rustic pottery mixed with delicate and fragrant floral.  The decor featured an abundant amount of pearls, finials and mercury glass mixed with timeless and classic china to create a very subtle but regal look.  The escort cards were displayed in an antique library card catalog surrounded by pictures of the couples parents and grandparents wedding photographs.  All stationery was custom designed beginning with the Save The Date’s that were Tiffany luggage tags sent with a coordinating card and arrived to each guest in the distinctive Blue box.  The wedding cake was a multi tiered all white confection with a hand crafted white chocolate peony displayed on a mirrored table.  This destination wedding was a very beautiful and classic day and every detail reflected the couple and their love for each other and all their guests.

From the Bride...Adam and I met at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2002.  He lived down the hall from me in our dorm, East Quad.  We were fast friends but it wasn’t until a fateful walk through the arboretum at the end of my senior year in which he surprised me by asking me to dinner at a great restaurant downtown, one that didn’t consist of the usual college diet of coffee and ramen noodles. Flash forward five years: we had relocated to L.A. where Adam graduated from USC Law School and I work in management at Tiffany & Co. in Beverly Hills.  And as they say, the rest is history.

Throughout the entire planning process my mom was my partner in crime, not a day went by when we weren’t sending each other an e-mail of a photo or a link that we found inspiring. Checking Style Me Pretty was as routine as our morning coffee. We had such fun!  We also looked to interior design and entertaining books for inspiration—I loved the idea of bringing the comforts of the indoors outside– and fell upon a tablescape in a William Yeoward book on entertaining that served as the inspiration for the overall look of the wedding. The table featured heavy crystal goblets, a palette of platinum and wine hues, crystal chandeliers, and vintage urns spilling with pearls (a nod to my love of jewelry too!). We started collecting strands of pearls wherever we could, scouring vintage shops, antique fairs, and second-hand stores.

I love beautiful design and above all, I love thoughtful details. I tried to pepper the details wherever I could to create unexpected, memorable surprises throughout the evening, One of my favorite details was all of the paper accessories that I worked on with the incredible Molly of Paisley Quill; from the letterpress invitations that included a weekend timeline and map of our favorite culinary Napa stops to the whimsical drink flags, every detail was deeply personal and very us.

We really did have a veritable dream team of vendors that brought such passion and expertise to their work that I always knew we were in good hands: the incomparable Tiffany from Adeline & Grace who is amazing both in front of and behind a lens, Kate from Flowerwild whose stunning work looks as though it is plucked from a still life painting, the amazing Paula le Duc who made dinner service appear effortless (guests are still raving about the hamachi cones!), Reverend Jacqueline Eigen who handled an interfaith marriage nimbly and gracefully, and DJ Adam Bomb whose music really did bring the house down. There are so many indelible moments for me from that weekend, and to be able to share it all with our family and friends really did make it an affair to remember.

Planning + Design: Bliss Event Productions / Location: Beaulieu Garden / Catering: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering / Wedding Photography: Adeline and Grace Photography / Wedding Cake: Sweet on Cake / Floral Design: Flowerwild Floral Design / Officiant: Wine Country Minister, Rev. Jacqueline Eigen / Live Music: Gaucho Jazz / DJ: Wine Valley Entertainment, Adam Jobe / Lighting: Got Light? / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Invitations + Paper Goods: Paisley Quill / Hair + Make-up: JS Makeup Artistry / Transportation: Royal Coach Limousine / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang Chicago/ Alterations: Stitch In Time / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Groom Attire: Paul Smith /Groomsmen’s Suits: Jos. A Bank / Bridesmaid’s Shoes: Macy’s / Jewelry & Save The Dates: Tiffany & Co. / Michigan Cake Topper: Splendorlocity / Ketubah: Ketubahworks.com / Bridesmaid’s & Mother’s Robe: Plum Pretty Sugar

We certainly have put together the most delectable treat for you this morning.  It’s not every day that we get to share not only a spectacular Napa Valley wedding but the fun, chic rehearsal dinner that preceded it.  Bliss Event Productions helped put together both stylish events and Adeline and Grace Photography was there to capture it all.  We’re going to kick things off with the most adorable movie night under the stars complete with comfy lawn seating, popcorn and croquet!  Click here to see it all! And stay tuned for the main event!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Bliss Event Productions…This couple hosted a really fun and unique welcome reception for their guests the evening before the wedding.  A local Napa winery was the location for a Napa Valley style BBQ followed by a feature movie under the stars.  We filled the lawn of the winery with blankets and pillows facing the movie screen.  We had a custom espresso/coffee cart with a barista making coffee’s for the guests and a fully stocked movie candy bar.  And of course a popcorn cart popping fresh popcorn throughout the movie.

From the Bride…The night after we were engaged I remember being so anxious to start the planning process that I spent several hours in the middle of the night on Amazon.com buying every wedding design book I could get my hands on. Although I work on events by trade, I really had no idea of what I wanted for my own wedding. The only thing I did know was the location; since our friends and family are scattered throughout the country it was going to be a destination for most of our guests no matter where the locale, and there is something so decidedly modern and elegant about Napa that we just couldn’t resist. We’re also huge foodies- food and wine was one of our biggest priorities of the evening– and we knew that we couldn’t go wrong in the land of celebrated wine and Michelin stars.

I immediately enlisted the help of Brandy from Bliss Event Productions and after one phone call I knew I would be lucky to have her. She has an uncanny ability to bring your thoughts to life and elevates every detail along the way. For example, I knew that I wanted to use Tiffany luggage tags to welcome guests and with Brandy’s help we created a Save the Date that was composed of a luggage tag that read “Destination: Napa!” and the guest’s name that sat upon a corresponding Save the Date card, all wrapped up in a Tiffany box and bow. After all, how could someone say no after receiving a blue box in the mail? I loved that it set the stage for the event we had in store.

I fell in love with the wedding venue as soon as we drove up the long, oh-so-gorgeous tree lined avenue at the entrance of the Estate but it took us a few tries to find the site of the Welcome Dinner. We knew that we wanted a spot that was completely different from the wedding venue, a spot that took advantage of the beautiful Napa vineyards and allowed guests to have the wine tasting experience of a winery. However, once we found the newly opened Valley Gate Vineyard, with its sweeping views and rustic charm, we knew it was perfect. We wanted an evening that was whimsical, sunny, and cheerful. Brandy and I conceived of the idea of having a movie under the stars as a nod to Adam and his love of film. Guests played croquet on the front lawn and sipped wine, melon mojitos, and lavender lemonade before a dinner of roast chicken, molasses baked beans, and jalapeno corn bread.  After dinner, we created the complete movie going experience with a coffee cart, Izze soda, a popcorn machine, and colorful boxes of movie candy. We snuggled up with pillows and fleece blankets, and as the sun set on the eve of our wedding day we watched Father of the Bride under the stars. We loved that it gave us another opportunity to spend time with family and friends, and it was the perfect prelude for what was to come.

We really did have a veritable dream team of vendors that brought such passion and expertise to their work that I always knew we were in good hands: the incomparable Tiffany from Adeline & Grace who is amazing both in front of and behind a lens, Kate from Flowerwild whose stunning work looks as though it is plucked from a still life painting, the amazing Paula le Duc who made dinner service appear effortless (guests are still raving about the hamachi cones!), Reverend Jacqueline Eigen who handled an interfaith marriage nimbly and gracefully, and DJ Adam Bomb whose music really did bring the house down. There are so many indelible moments for me from that weekend, and to be able to share it all with our family and friends really did make it an affair to remember.

Photography: Adeline and Grace Photography / Planning + Design: Bliss Event Productions / Movie Projection: Wine Valley Entertainment, Adam Jobe / Linen Rentals: La Tavola Linen / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Location: Valley Gate Vineyards / Coffee Bar Cart: Maya Espresso Catering / Paper Goods: Paisley Quill

There is no doubt in my mind that you are going to love this little Sonoma beauty with all of your wedding loving hearts. No doubt whatsoever. First, it’s from the oh so lovely (and incredibly talented) Lisa Lefkowitz. Second, it has all the elegant style of a ballroom affair yet is all the way al fresco. Third, the soft color palette and flowers from Fleurs de France make me swoon. I could give you a fourth, fifth, six and seventh but you can see all the reasons I’m swooning over this Sonoma affair in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…When Peter and I decided to start planning our wedding, our main priorities were to have an event that would be relaxing and enjoyable for family and friends, and to have great food and wine. Chateau St. Jean was perfect for our summer outdoor wedding. The winery is located in an area called “Valley of the Moon” in Sonoma, California.  Having lived in San Francisco for many years, I had the opportunity to visit many Napa and Sonoma wineries, and Valley of the Moon became one of my favorite areas. I loved its natural beauty – it had such a relaxing atmosphere, with a Southern European feel.

Sonoma in July can be very warm. To diffuse the heat, we greeted our guests with chilled pomegranate lemonade and Asian paper parasols.  As they were seated, they enjoyed a Spanish guitarist, who also played during the ceremony and cocktail hour.  Our ceremony took place in the shade of the trees, and Chateau St. Jean’s vineyards were the beautiful vistas for the reception dinner. Chateau St. Jean provides Japanese lanterns that are hung between trees over the reception area. We loved those lanterns – they created a magical, fairytale setting.  With good food, music, wine, and desserts: this was the best way to enjoy our special day with friends and family.

Planner: Kiyoe Logan of Celebrations by Kiyoe / Catering: Elaine Bell / DJ: Perfect Day Events / Floral Design: Fleurs de France / Guitarist: Wine Country Music / Hair + Make-up: Mimi + Taylor Salon / Officiant: Dave Weidlich / Wedding Photography: Lisa Lefkowitz Photography / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals + Wildflower Linen / Wedding Cake: Fleur de Lisa / Wedding Dress #1 (getting ready + ceremony): Alfredo Angelo / Wedding Dress #2 (family pictures, cocktail + dinner): Mori Lee / Bride’s Shoes: Grazia / Groom’s Tuxedo: Calvin Klein / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfredo Angelo / Venue: Chateau St. Jean

I don’t think this couple can get any more adorable. Their engagement session by Union Eleven Photography is sure to make you smile on this Thursday morning, and probably throughout the entire day! From their cute as can be Save the Date to their darling smiles, the gallery is full of smile-worthy images for you to enjoy!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Derrick Rice from Union Eleven Photography in Ottawa captured our playful nature during our engagement shoot. Our attire was inspired by the save the dates we sent out. My sister made my white dress. I am wearing a Kente Cloth sash to pay homage to my Ghanaian heritage.  My fiance LOVES everything aviation, so we selected the aviation museum as our shoot location!

Photography: Derrick Rice of Union Eleven Photography / Shoot Location: Canadian Aviation Museum / Dress: Bride’s Sister / Save the Date: Felice Designs

There’s no denying the fact that if you want a beyond gorgeous contemporary wedding with insane amounts of glamour and drama, the Viceroy is where you wanna be. Each and every nook and cranny is the perfect backdrop for your wedding day images and there’s no doubt that the geniuses at ARTISAN, Event • Floral • Décor, LLC had an incredible time planning and designing this pretty pink, black and white fete. Oh, and did I mention that they also did the to-die-for florals as well? Yup, these people are pure geniuses I tell ya. Mi Belle Photography snapped all the beautiful images and if you’re like me and just can’t seem to get enough of this modern love fest, join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From ARTISAN, Event • Floral • Décor, LLC…..Stacie and Paul happened to be in town while touring The Viceroy Palm Springs and gave me a call knowing that it was last minute to stop by. I said you get me the way I am today, we had a big laugh on that!  They expressed their desire for style and creativity with colors of hot pink, black and white… and together we came up with a plan.

Scouring the fabric district of LA I came across a black and white leather fabric which was ultra-swank with super style.  I showed it to Stacie and Paul and they loved it. We used this to create the framework of what would hold the design of the wedding together.  I suggested they incorporate the pattern into elements of the wedding.  They could use it as a border on the invitation, the border on the place card, the place card box itself (which we created and completed with a pave of pink carnations with silver picks for the place cards), the design on the cake and the actual runners on the table… super cool!

Another design element was a chandelier, which was on the invitation.  We had a trio of ARTISAN white crystal chandeliers hanging over the long family tables that were covered in pink peonies, hot pink hydrangea, Esther roses and staggered candle stands with white floating candles. We used hot pink organza drapes to create a dramatic entrance to the courtyard.  The Viceroy Presidio, with its lush green grass was the perfect setting to dine under the stars.

Stacie and Paul listened when I told them the first dance was truly a special moment, they learned a spectacular dance and took it a step further and entered to “Dirty Bit” Black Eyed Peas, in sunglasses, family and friends were on their feet with excitement. The evening was stylized elegance with candlelight, romance and FLOWERS AS ART!

Floral Design, Inspiration + Coordination: ARTISAN, Event • Floral • Décor, LLC / Wedding Photography: Mi Belle Photography / DJ: Chris Paul / Catering + Location: The Viceroy Hotel / Wedding Cake: Pastry Swan

Quite possibly the best accessory in this Colorado Wedding, captured perfectly by Love Unscripted Photography. That amazing Rocky Mountain backdrop. I’m in total awe at Mother Nature’s way of completely complimenting this lovely bride’s color palette. But I would be wrong if I did not also mention the fantastic cake, impeccable style, and beautiful mountain lodge venue, complete with the most perfectly charming little details. Click here to see them all in the full image gallery!

Bret and I met in our hometown The Woodlands, Texas, but took our first vacation together to Telluride, Colorado.  We fell in love with the small town and visit often to ski and enjoy the summer.  We were engaged on the mountain in Beaver Creek so we thought it fitting to say our vows on a mountaintop as well.

We planned the wedding ourselves and used local vendors for most of the details.  We wanted a very small intimate affair and invited only 45 guests.  We were married at Gorrono Ranch, which is a historic lodge that sits under chair lift four on Telluride Mountain.

We welcomed our guests to The New Sheridan Hotel with personalized embroidered welcome bags that included everything from sunscreen to a town map with things to do highlighted.  We hosted a cocktail reception to greet everyone upon arrival Friday evening and hosted the rehearsal dinner at the hotel Saturday evening.   The wedding was on the mountain and we had hoped the rain would pass, but it did not so our ceremony was moved inside.  Each guest took the town Gondola to the mountain and then a private shuttle to the wedding site.  The bride and groom had separate cabins on the mountain to prepare for the ceremony along with the wedding party.  Champagne was served with appetizers including soup shots, bruschetta, and lettuce cups.

The wedding colors were purple, sage green, and brown, which were incorporated with flowers and fabrics throughout the ceremony.  We used instant cameras during the entire weekend to capture special moments and then used twine to hang the photos throughout the venue with clothespins.  Each guest was asked to take a snapshot and leave a special note for the bride and groom in the wedding book.  The fireplace was decorated with eucalyptus and the aisle chairs were decorated with vases and floral arrangements.  Tables were decorated with cream and green silk linens to host the cake, the guest book, and guest favors.  Blankets were given to guests along with boxed chocolate truffles.  We served surf and turf with baked macaroni and cheese.  The cake was vanilla with raspberry filling and butter cream frosting.

One special detail included was an engraved charm from Bret’s deceased mother’s charm bracelet, which was woven into the his boutonniere  to keep her close to his heart. My brother also performed a solo during the ceremony and the vows were written by Bret and me.  The invitations, programs, and menus, were printed on a home printer using paper by Envelopments.  The love bird theme was carried throughout the events of the weekend.

I wore a candlelight gown by Monique Lhullier, pearls that were a childhood gift from my aunt, and shoes by Kate Spade.  The bridesmaids wore self-selected dresses by J. Crew.  The groom and groomsmen wore chocolate tuxedos with purple and green ties.  We wanted to select colors and a theme that were indicative of the outdoor setting as well as our personalities and are happy to say it went off without a hitch!

Photography:Huy Nguyen, Love Unscripted Photography / Cinematography: Mountain Video Productions / Flowers: Kristin Undhjem / Event Planning: Holli Owen, Telluride Ski Resort / Ceremony Location: Gorrono Ranch / Reception Location: Gorrono Ranch / Invitations: Envelopments / Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bridesmaids: J.Crew / Instant Photos: Fuji Instax Mini / Guest Book: Rag & Bone Bindery

It took everything in my being to pry my eyes away from this morning’s gorgeous Elizabeth Fillmore gown, but pry I did and found a delightfully glamorous affair before me. It’s one of those classic beauties with hints of the couple’s Southern roots and a million images by Kristy Dickerson Photography that are as timeless as they are beautiful. The dock images alone are enough to send this blogger into wedding heaven and I’ve already mentioned my all out love affair with the dress. This is indeed a fairytale straight out of Mississippi. Hightail it over to the gallery for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Kristy Dickerson Photography… The wedding ceremony took place at a small church in downtown Ocean Springs, Mississippi and the reception took place at her grandparent’s estate. Both grandparents recently passed away before the wedding. The bride’s mother grew up on the property and the bride remembers going to the home to gather with family for the holidays. The bride got ready in her grandparents old room. It was filled with their gorgeous furniture, her grandma’s old perfume, and family pictures. The home is amazing and is located right on the bay in Ocean Springs. The home was filled with family pictures, wedding pictures, etc.. Guests could walk around inside the home to see all of this.

The bride wore an Elizabeth Fillmore gown and her veil was her mother’s that was originally from Italy and was handmade. The reception was located in the backyard overlooking the water. It was decorated with a vintage feel of soft yellows/soft purples, old oak trees, bird cages, wood/bark, and the list just goes on. Once the reception got going and night fell, they had about a 10 minute prelude of fireworks over the water coming from the dock.

Floral Design: Chesterfield Floral Co. / Wedding Gown: Elizabeth Fillmore / Wedding Cake: Sweet Spot Confections, Janet Allen / Wedding Photography: Kristy Dickerson Photography / Catering: Joel Catering & Special Events / Ceremony Location: First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs / Reception Location: Private Estate / Entertainment: Any Girl

Your jaws are literally going to hit the floor when I tell you that this breathtaking Pearl River affair was planned in just six short months.  Yes, it’s true.  Six short months was all it took to pull of this magnificent soiree, complete with some seriously stunning florals and decor by the amazing Hatch Creative Studio, gorgeous invitations and paper goods by Suite Paperie, Inc. (The Bride!) and beyond brilliant images captured by Craig Paulson Photography.  With a dream team like that, who needs longer?  Trust me, you’ll be swooning over every last minute of this magical affair for days.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… We had a very short engagement. We had been dating for almost 7 years- there was no need to wait! 6 months was all it took to plan a spectacular black tie affair! The planning process was so much fun for me. I have my own design company, Suite Paperie, a design house that creates custom invitations and paper goods for weddings and events. And I have many connections in the industry, so I hired my friends and colleagues to help me out!

The first person I approached was a no brainer for me: Barb from Hatch Creative Studio had to do my flowers and décor. I worked with Barb during my summers in college, and it was so important to me to have someone I trusted to bring my creative visions to life. After hours of poring over inspiration, sketches and visits to the flower market, Barb and her team surpassed all my expectations and wildest dreams on the day of the wedding. She took my love for vintage and my vision for a Victorian atmosphere, and spun them together to create a garden-like atmosphere that was jaw dropping. Our chuppah was undoubtedly my favorite piece that Hatch created. Created from a sketch I made, a spectacular (and giant) chuppah was created using 3 different draped fabrics and a crystal chandelier. The combination of off-white and peach laces, chiffon and cotton draped to perfection and uplit by amber lights was breathtaking!

Ian and I felt very strongly about having artsy photography. We wanted those romantic and dramatic shots using natural light. I turned to none other than the SMP little black book, and came across the wonderfully talented Craig Paulson. From the moment we met Jean and Tanya, we knew they were the right photographers for us. They are so enthusiastic and talented – we immediately signed on. Jean and Tanya totally exceeded our expectations with the shots they got (over 1500!). They captured every single moment and emotion, and we didn’t even realize they were there!  We couldn’t speak more highly of these amazing ladies. Hire them!

I started an inspiration folder on my desktop where I organized and stored images I loved. I found myself pulling images with warm tones, antique décor and regal finishes. After sorting through hundreds of pulled inspiration photos, I named my wedding theme “Victorian garden.” I wanted my flowers to be loose and have a fresh garden feel with a mix of peach, pale pinks and purples with leafy green accents. Since I was designing all the paper goods, I focused on the escort table a lot. I wanted the table to be a show-stopper, a statement piece! Our escort cards were all hand written and adorned with a cream lace on the bottom of each card. The table was set up to perfection using vintage mirrored trays and mercury glass vases filled with fresh blooms. The save the dates, invitation suite, programs, and escort cards were super important to me- as they were a reflection of my business! I wanted every guest to feel the love that I put into designing these paper goods.

For our invitations I teamed up with letterpress printer extraordinaire, Kevin Cox of Jazyrain Letterpress. He printed our gold and purple design onto Crane’s 220# lettra paper (super thick and yummy), with matching RSVP and envelope printed in gold. We designed a pattern using elements from the invitation to use as the envelope liners. Vintage stamps and computer printed calligraphy adorned each envelope to complete the suite. Our programs were 8 page booklets, written and assembled with lots of love! We explained all of the traditions of an orthodox Jewish wedding, shared our story and paid much respect to our families, friends and loved ones. Each program was adorned with a gold foil doily and wrapped with either a champagne or wine-colored satin ribbon.

The place we chose, The Pearl River Hilton in Pearl River, NY was perfect. We wanted a hotel where our friends and family could stay- make a whole weekend out of the affair! The space itself is gorgeous and has a Victorian feel to it. Gorgeous molding, lighting fixtures marble and carpets. Gerry, the coordinator at the hotel was beyond a pleasure to work with and helped make our 270 person wedding flow seamlessly. Les from Northern Valley Affairs worked with us endlessly on our menu until it was absolutely perfect. Guests are still raving about the wonderful food! Kosher caterers don’t get much better than this.

Wedding Photography: Jean Spencer + Tanya Salazar of Craig Paulson Photography / Catering: Northern Valley Affairs / Flowers + Décor: Barb of Hatch Creative Studio / Wedding Invitations + Paper Goods: Suite Paperie, Inc. (The Bride) / Wedding Venue: Pearl River Hilton, Gerry Burns / Bride + Bridesmaid Hair: Chris Brescia + Donna Hernandez / Makeup: Sadah Saltzman / Letterpress Printing: Kevin Cox of Jazyrain Letterpress / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo

I love the simple range of emotions a beautiful wedding film can evoke.  One moment you are laughing and the next you are crying some seriously happy tears… and all in just under 5 minutes.  Brilliant, no?  Lucky for us, today’s stunning video by CollabCreation Films will have you feeling all of the above and then some.  When you aren’t swooning over the gorgeous details styled by Christina Kreations or drooling over the fabulous florals by Liz Stewart Floral Design, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear over the Father of the Bride’s heartwarming speech and the love so obviously shared between the uber-adorable bride and groom.  Yes, I’ve had this pretty little number on repeat all morning long and I guarantee you will, too.  So, sit back, relax and enjoy… and then join us for even more pretty courtesy of Threaded Together Photography below!

As promised, we couldn’t leave you for the day without sharing these beyond breathtaking images by Threaded Together Photography.  Each and every one is so perfectly captured, I haven’t stopped oohing and ahhing yet.  That bouquet, that bride, that dress… Does it get any lovelier than this?  Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From CollabCreation Films… Jessica & Jonathan tied the knot! They celebrated their marriage alongside 200 close friends and family at the beautiful TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra FL. We were there to capture their first look leading to the reception, their fun photo shoot with Threaded Together Photography at the 17th & 18th hole, and so many more!

We couldn’t help but focus on one of the best part of the night, when the father-of-the-bride delivered an unforgettable speech. “When I look at Kelly, and my life, and our family, what really matters, to borrow a term from a cellular company, is really friends and family! There’s so many few things in life you can count on, but if you have strong friends and family, I think you’re the richest person in the world.” There was a lot of love in the room and it definitely shows!

Wedding Cinematography: CollabCreation Films / Wedding Photography: Lynelle + Andy Hayes of Threaded Together Photography / Wedding Coordinator: Christina Kopecki of Christina Kreations / Make-Up Artist: Kimtasha Pro Make-Up Artist / Entertainment: KTG Music Entertainment / Wedding Ceremony Location: Christ Episcopal Church / Wedding Reception Location: TPC Sawgrass / Floral Design: Tiffany Marus of Liz Stewart Floral Design / Hair: Casey Does Hair by Casey Powell

Apertura has completely made our day with this last little number that they photographed to sheer brilliance. It’s a yummy mix of boho and gorgeous garden party all held at The Condor’s Nest Ranch; one of our favorite spots in So. Cal. Isari Flower Studio added to the pretty shindig with a fab mix of textured blooms and ever popular succulents for good measure. We can’t think of a better way to end today’s festivities except for maybe a trip to the gallery for so much more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

jenn+scott {married} from 618studios on Vimeo.

From the Bride…Scott and I met at a lounge in La Jolla, CA – “Jack’s”. We had each gone out with 2 other friends looking to have a good time and ended up pairing off and talking to each other the whole night. I had just moved to San Diego from NJ and told him I needed help looking for a job and so I gave him my personal business card – a designer in the making! He emailed me a few weeks later after the holidays winded down and we’ve been together ever since, 4.5 yrs to the day we got married.

The Condor’s Nest Ranch was the perfect venue for Scott and I because we are both laid back and love to be around our family, which having the house for the weekend allowed us to do. We love the outdoors and nature’s beauty, so the open fields and beautiful view towards the ocean was awesome. It was quirky yet chic, with mismatched everything and antiques everywhere – from the old tractors, to the greenhouse, the vintage 50’s pool umbrellas, and can’t forget the llamas, horses, and pot belly pigs! It was perfect!

The theme would have to be rustic chic I think. Colors were mostly whites and creams with accents of soft blues and greens, lots of succulents, roses, peonies, and dahlias. Very soft and romantic table settings in mismatched china with antique silver. Burlap lined the tables and flowers were in vintage milk glass vases and mason jars. Cake was also very romantic with cream colored ruffled ribbon-like wrapped detail going all the way up the cake. Sugar creations in Succulents and roses adorned the top. Soft candle light on the tables and paper lanterns strung around the pool.

I guess the Condors’ Nest Ranch could be considered a destination wedding for Scott and I, about an hour north of where we are in San Diego, downtown area. We chose this place because we could rent the house out for the weekend or longer if we wanted and we could have friends and family come and go during the weekend. It just seemed perfect to “get away” from the typical beach weddings and venues around San Diego, and we wanted a place that felt magical and untouched and outdoors. Scott is from San Diego, but most of our family was coming from out of time, east coasters, and so the Pala Casino also served as a perfect resort for our guests to stay at, making the whole weekend pretty easy for everyone since we were so close. Scott and I love the outdoors and loved the privacy we had at the ranch and amazing views for the ceremony and the reception, truly a magical place!

My dress was a Vera Wang “Erin” from the designer’s Fall 2010 collection. Light Ivory in color, with a strapless corset bodice and a drop waist that leads to layers of organza trimmed with horsehair. The dress was light, romantic, and ethereal. The waist was accented with a velvet belt adorned with a vintage/tattered flower encrusted with crystals and pearls. My shoes were Vera Wang too, with a ribboned flower on the heels side. Scott’s suit was a sharkskin grey, light wool blend, from Banana Republic, slim fitted and sharp looking. White collared button down shirt with a cerulean blue paisley print tie to match the color theme of blue.

Wedding Photography: Vanessa of Apertura / Wedding Cinematography: 618 Studios / Floral Design: Isari Flower Studio / Ceremony + Reception Location: The Condor’s Nest Ranch / Bride’s Shoes, Veil + Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Groom’s Attire: Banana Republic / Wedding Cake: Kahea Milroy, Tickle Cake / Caterer: 220 Catering + One Perfect Pear / Make-up: Beauty Bar Salon

There is pretty…and then there is PRETTY. Jaw-dropping, beyond smitten, beyond darling, make an impression, let the doves fly type of pretty. This wedding my dears, is full of THAT type of pretty. And with this team of vendors and the talented bride and groom, I suppose it’s to be expected – but boy does it make for a pretty evening on the internets. Be sure to catch the beyond gorgeous video from Lola Film & Video below too – it’s such a treat. For even more pretty from EPLove Photography float on over to the full gallery of images!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/21456215 600 450]

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…My husband Jeff & I met through music- we both worked at a small radio station in Santa Barbara 8 years before we ever started dating. We planned our wedding & engagement shoot to include places that meant a lot to us. Our first choice was the radio station where we met. EP Love did an AMAZING job capturing the feel of the place and why it was important in our lives.

We live in Santa Barbara and as a Stylist (Hair+Make-Up) myself and my husband, an Event Planner, it was essential to us both that the wedding had a few key elements: 1. The music was (really) good 2. The wedding retained unique qualities including; Santa Barbara’s atmosphere, Spanish heritage mix with a  classic vintage vibe 3. A wedding team that was not only reliable, but super creative and fun (SUCCESS! We found all of them)  4. And MOST IMPORTANT, our guests to have a great time & memorable experience.

Enlisting the PEFECT team, included finding the perfect cinematographer & photographers, that got our aesthetic and had a unique take on their art. We chose Lola Video, Super 8mm Wedding Films and EP Love Photography. Both teams nailed our vision, personalities and we actually ended up becoming lasting friends. What’s cinematography & photography if you don’t feel and look amazing (glowing)? Hair, make-up & style, are such important parts of the emotionally journey you take on during your wedding (& engagement) experience. You might be fantastic at doing your own, but there is a special transformation that happens when you step off the chair glowing and feeling like “the Bride”. I’m a stylist myself and although I did my own hair & make up for (+grooming hubby) for our engagement shoot, I’ve worked enough weddings to know it was going to be super important for me to get the full treatment on our big day. So I enlisted the help of some of my most trusted coworkers and only after jumped in and styled a few friends.

After the most important parts of our day was booked, we knew it wasn’t over until we found the right wedding planners.  We enlisted our friends at True Blue Events (Santa Barbara). True Blue specializes in unique weddings- they helped us hand pick flowers from our local Farmers Market, created our table settings from scratch and generally got crafty with me every step of the way to save money, make our wedding look great and help give our special day a little spunk. (We even had a pinata at the wedding)!

Generally, we wanted to let our venues (El Presidio Chapel) and reception location (El Paseo Restaurant) be the focus. Each venue used was historic Spanish Colonial and their raw beauty alone was a huge part of our wedding style. Add a few classic/vintage touches and a few craft projects most inspired and taken care of by True Blue. We were very excited how it turned out! There is a reason Santa Barbara is known for weddings. We SO fortunate to Lola Video and EPLove capture all the goodness of what was truly the best day of our lives. . . and something to remind us what a special weekend we had with our friends, family and one another.

Event Design + Coordination: True Blue Events / Super 8mm Cinematography: Lola Film & Video / Wedding Photography: EPLove Photography / Hair + Make-up: Stephanie St. Gal de Pons MUHA / Ceremony Venue: El Presidio Chapel / Reception Venue: El Paseo / Wedding Dress: Enzoani via Proposals / Bride’s Shoes: Vivienne Westwood / Bridal Hair Pieces: Saint Gal de Pons / Music + MC: Spencer Fisher of Santa Barbara DJ’s / Wedding Cake: Traditional French Croque en bouche, Paris Pastries / Floral Design: True Blue Events / Wedding Paper Goods + Printing: Leslie Lewis Sigler, Lilly & Louise

A true backyard wedding is few and far between now a days but if you’re lucky enough to procure the perfect family retreat, what follows is usually an intimate and incredibly personalized affair. Elisabeth Kate Photography is proving my point with this vintage meets DIY meets budget friendly Utah wedding. It’s about as sweet as you can get with an equally stinkin cute couple and the getaway car? Now that is how you make an exit. See more of the day here.

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From the Bride…I decided I wanted the reception in my parent’s backyard which wasn’t quite wedding ready… Since our budget was fairly small, my Dad and then fiance decided they could do the work themselves. Little did they know it would take more than blood, sweat and tears to get that yard in tip top shape. But they did it! It turned out beautiful and they were so proud to be able to show it off to our guests. My uncle built the pergola over the patio and it went up the day before the wedding!

I wanted to be super involved in the theme and decorations of the wedding. After changing my mind several times, I decided on an old English meets shabby chic style. I got caught up in what everyone around me was telling me I should do or what they liked that I kind of lost my own opinion. When I finally decided on the theme it was a breath of fresh air knowing it was exactly what I wanted.

I found most of the decorations on local online classifieds, consignment and antique shops. The yellow antique couch I bought from a lady that posted on the local classified. That was definitely my favorite find! I wanted something unique for the guest book and came up with the idea of the bulletin board a few weeks before the wedding! We bought a lace fabric to cover the board and mailing tags from an office supply. We took the strings off of the tags and tied hemp on them for a more rustic look.  I found an awesome, budget friendly wedding planner who understood my vision for the decor and helped me out every step of the way.

We used very few vendors for our wedding. We were lucky enough to have some amazing friends and family that helped out. A family friend catered and the food turned out so great. Chicken skewers, wild rice, an array of fruit and green salad. A perfect summertime meal. We had a huge variety of desserts thanks to our extended families. French desserts from a local pastry shop, sugar cookies, brownie bites, coconut haystacks. The mini cupcakes that my husband’s sisters and mom made were a big hit!

A co-worker of my mom’s made the cake, another co-worker made the invitations, my aunt painted the wooden signs in calligraphy, my now brother-in-law was our videographer, my uncle provided the antique car, my close friend made my veil and my cousin took my bridal shots. If your budget is low, don’t be afraid to ask around! People are more willing to help out than you think. Don’t give up on your dream wedding because it is still possible to do at a lower cost. I spent many days searching blogs for DIY ideas and inspiration. Start early and you will be surprised at what you can do on your own.

Wedding Photography: Elisabeth Kate Photography / Wedding Planner: Wedding Expectations / Florals: Classy Petal Designs / Wedding Videography: Longstone Videos / Wedding Dress: The Brides’ Shop / Bridesmaid Dresses: YESSTYLE / Dance Floor, Linens + Chairs: All Star Rentals / Wedding Cake Decor: Classy Petal Designs / Wedding + Reception Location: Salt Lake City Temple + Private Residence

This California wedding by Erich McVey Photography might be the poster child for sleek, elegant vineyard weddings.  Rich, berry colors pop so beautifully against the lush, green backdrop and layers and layers of classic, pretty details fill each lovely image.  I love all the gorgeous pink, purple and green florals that perfectly compliment the equally as pretty couple.  Click here to see all the details!

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From Erich McVey Photography…My wife (fiancé at the time) and I traveled down to Jeriko Estate in California’s beautiful wine country to capture Luke and Sasha’s wedding just two weeks before our own wedding day. What an incredible experience it was to witness Luke and Sasha’s love and commitment to one another during their touching ceremony as we anxiously counted down the days left before we would say our own vows.

Old souls… nothing else can describe so succinctly and perfectly Luke and Sasha, both as individuals and as a couple. Their last dance was to Ella Fitzgerald’s “At Last.” Sasha wore Luke’s late grandmother’s earrings, which were passed down through the family. Luke carried a childhood picture of Sasha with him during the day (given to him by Sasha’s grandmother to remind him to take care of her little girl). The list of meaningful, heartfelt touches included in their wedding is too long to list in its entirety. Their entire wedding weekend was serene, sincere, warm, welcoming, and above all, loving. And in every way it fully demonstrated to everyone present how these two Old Souls were perfectly made for one another.

Wedding Photography: Erich McVey Photography / Ceremony + Reception Location: Jeriko Estate / Wedding Invitations: Marcia Chapter of Business Expressions / Rings: Jackson Jewelers / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Dress: Kathy Ireland Weddings via 2be Bridal / Wedding Cake: Fleur De Lisa / Bridesmaid Dresses: Cache / Groomsmen Suits: Custom made in Hong Kong / Make-up + Hair: Stella Stevens Hair Designs / Groom’s Ring: Samuel Jewel Designs / Bride’s Band: A. Jaffe Designs / Earrings: Groom’s Grandmother / Caterer: Chic Le Chef

Oh my goodness, I ADORE this Malibu fête by Erich Chen Photography.  Yes.  I.  Do.  The combination of darling DIY details, vintage chic stylings, vibrant hues and a very sweet bride and groom has my heart skipping one wedding loving beat after another.  Plus, any couple who serves ice cream sandwiches on their big day gets a gold star in my book.  Yummy and fabulous… can’t go wrong with that.  Click here for even more.

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From the Bride… Our first must-have: an outdoor wedding with a formal feel. We wanted guests to feel part of a celebration, not just attending an event. We wanted them to be participants, not spectators. The vintage feel was inspired by the bride’s love for Anthropologie and the groom’s love for design. Our desire to have a wedding that represents us was seen in the groom’s favorite shoes (Converse) and venturing into Coolhaus for ice cream sandwiches in place of a cake since the bride’s favorite dessert is ice cream.

We wanted to have food our friends and family would be excited about. We felt food trucks would be a nice deviation from the typical chicken and potatoes wedding meal. We were also on a budget and desiring to take on DIY projects such as the handmade table numbers, handmade fabric flowers, menu holders, DIY program fans, ribbon and lace table runners, and handmade name cards. We scoured Craigslist listings to find mason jars, vintage bottles, scrabble letters, etc.  As the wedding got closer, the projects felt overwhelming but in the end all the hard work paid off. We were blessed to count on friends and family to help with different elements of the wedding such as our invitations and printed materials designed by our bridesmaid Sarah Ramos, the menu holders handmade by the bride’s father, and the DIY program fans which turned out to be a whole family project. Certain design elements were influenced by other wedding design ideas, such as different color bridesmaid dresses, incorporating lace and planter boxes, and scrabble letters spotted throughout our wedding.

Wedding Photography: Erich Chen Photography / Wedding Venue: Malibu Rancho del Cielo / Wedding Coordination: Malibu Events / Wedding Videography: John Hwang Videography + Studio West Video / Officiant: Sergio Ramos / Hair + Make-up: Liz Beverly / Wedding Invitations + Printed Materials: Invite Designs / Florist: My Wedding Blooms / Ceremony Music: Nathan Morris / DJ + Photobooth: Mindscape Entertainment / Rentals: Smart Party Rents / Staffing: Argyle Events / Food: BoolBBQ Food Truck + Frysmith Food Truck + Coolhaus Truck / Doves: White Dove Release / Shuttle: CCC Tours / Ice: North Hollywood Ice

Cool venue alert! This just may be the coolest little rustic vineyard slash antique airplane hangar wedding you ever did see. This couple really knew how to infuse their big day with all types of personality and detail including a world map of the places they traveled, postcards and mailboxes for a guest book (a little homage to their fav Disney movie, UP!) and hors d’oeuvres of their most favorite tasty snacks. Captured Photography by Jenny shot all the details to perfection and there’s so much more waiting for you in the full gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…When John and I started planning our wedding, we first considered what we wanted the day to be like.  We decided we wanted to be surrounded by family and friends, we wanted it to exhibit our personalities, and we wanted it to be fun!

I grew up in southeastern Connecticut and had always thought I would get married in the church where I was baptized and confirmed.  Although we met in Washington D.C., John is also from Connecticut, so it worked out nicely when we decided to have the wedding at the Ledyard Congregational Church.  John and I bonded over Connecticut, sharing a new bottle of wine, and our mutual desire to travel and see the world.  Thus, once we found Saltwater Farm Vineyard – a rustic airplane hangar set on a sprawling vineyard with a view of the Long Island Sound – we knew we had found the perfect place for our reception!

We had a lot of fun with planes, postcards, and wine corks, to fill our rustic vineyard reception with a travel theme.  It started with our wedding invitations that had a boarding pass-style response card.  With the invitations, we created what ended up being the symbol of our reception – a pale yellow bi-plane with a trail of navy blue smoke in the shape of a heart.  It was one of my favorite little details as it tied so many things together.  We maintained the travel theme by having “gate numbers” instead of table numbers, postcards instead of a traditional guest book, a world map of the places we’ve traveled, and little wooden bi-planes and iconic structures such as the Temple of Heaven in China scattered about.  All of this was done with the help of friends and family who collected postcards, made the map, assembled the wooden puzzles, and cut corks for the place cards.

John and I included details of our personalities and interests everywhere we could think of.  Our first trip together was to Walt Disney World and so our cake had a hidden Mickey.  Our favorite movie is “UP!” so we included mailboxes to put the postcards in.  Our hot hors d’oeuvres were some of our favorite foods – sweet potato fries and cheese filled pretzels.  We provided a brief description of the meaning behind each table destination for our guests.  We knew our little cousins and nieces loved s’mores, and so we had a s’mores pit outside.  And at the end of the night, we stood by the door to thank each of our guests and wish them a great evening.  Even with all of this, my favorite part of the evening was when John and I had our first dance to Jason Mraz and Colbie Collait’s “Lucky” and everything seemed to pause.  I looked around the room, at some of the faces of our family and friends and there was so much love and happiness.  It is a moment I will never forget.

Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals Exclusive / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Bride, Bridesmaids + Flower Girl Jewelry: April’s Adornments / Wedding Ceremony: Ledyard Congregational Church / Reception Venue: Saltwater Farm Vineyard / Transportation: Viking Tours of Newport / Caterer: Gourmet Galley Catering / Florist: It’s So Ranunculus / Band: HotHouse Band / Wedding Cake: Felicia’s Sweetface Pastry Shoppe / Wedding Photography+ Videography: Captured Photography by Jenny

There’s nothing like the feeling of being in your hometown with the love of your life to capture your to-be-wed bliss. This fun and creative couple met in Sydney and both are attending school to be designers so you know their wedding is going to be super fun and photo worthy. And they even have their own blog that you can check out here! Ben Adams Photography captured the gorgeous natural light and the love that was no doubt swirling in the air all around them. Click here for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…I wanted to send you a peek at some of our photos of our engagement shoot we had a couple of months ago with our photographer Ben Adams. Ben and I have a wonderful working relationship happening at the moment too, as I’m doing some re-branding for his company. Our engagement session was also a bit of an impromptu business meeting! We spent most of the afternoon chasing the sun around my neighbourhood before it disappeared for the day. Ben has a wonderfully relaxed nature and manages to make you feel completely at ease. We traipsed through grass and weeds and riverbanks while he snapped away.

The photos are taken around the town I grew up in, in Lorn (the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia) which is also around the area we’ll be getting married in come December this year. I moved to Sydney to start university and met Joshua just a few weeks later. In a bizarre coincidence he had lived in my apartment a few years before me! Joshua and I have spent a lot of time back in my hometown, and it’s such a beautiful place to be in- it was perfect for our engagement photos.

My Joshua and I are both studying design (Industrial Design and Visual Communication, respectively) in Sydney and are planning a crafty and fun wedding day. We keep a little blog together at if you’d be interested in having a little look.

Photography: Ben Adams Photography

Just because you want to celebrate the joy of marriage with an intimate ceremony doesn’t mean you can’t go all out in the pretty department.  Love Life Studios and The Stylish Soiree put together this awesome vintage inspiration for two with beautiful wildflowers, lacy details and vintage pieces.  The setting would be perfect for just two or two hundred.  Click here to see all the details!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Love Life Studios…The concept behind this shoot was a summer garden party elopement celebration for the newlyweds. We like to think that even if the bride and groom aren’t planning a huge affair for 150 guests, they can still celebrate their union (and of course, their personal style) with a beautiful dinner set for two and plenty of lovely photos to commemorate the day.

The tablescape was created with a mix of new and vintage decor items in a color scheme that included taupe, cream, and shades of purple. A small white writer’s desk serves as the makeshift dinner table with two wooden bistro chairs pulled up for casual outdoor seating. A lavender table runner bathes the white desk in a wash of color, while lace placemats give the tablescape a dainty, delicate feel. The floral arrangements were placed in a mix of vintage amber glassware and brown apothecary bottles. Purple anemones, lavender, cabbage, sweet pea and thistle were used to create the ‘just picked’ look that suited our relaxed garden party inspiration.

The bride and groom’s place settings were adorned with their names crafted out of copper artist wire and newsprint paper flowers, as well as two sprigs of lavender held together with a blue hand dyed silk ribbon. We created a festive signature drink that matched the color scheme of the elopement dinner; a blackberry sorbet float made with two scoops of sorbet topped off with sparkling pink lemonade – light, summery and refreshing, perfect for summer.

Photography: Love Life Studios / Design, Florals + Styling: Yelena Johnson of The Stylish Soiree / Hair + Make-up: Jane Kim, The Glamourist / Plateware: Z Gallerie / Amber Glassware + Bistro Chairs: Archive Vintage Rentals / Table, Silverware + Vintage Wine Glasses: Personal Collection

I’ve literally been rendered speechless by this stunning Chicago affair by Gerber + Scarpelli Photography… and when you take a peak at all of the gorgeous below, you’ll see why.  Simply brimming with the most amazing of DIY details crafted by the oh-so-talented bride and groom (including paper airplane programs, vintage tie save-the-dates and the coolest homemade favors ever), it just does not get any more fabulous than this.  I’ll be spending my morning, noon and night soaking in all of this lovely… 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 the Bride… Travis & I wanted our wedding to feel like us. And we figured the best way to do that was to really get our hands on everything. The more we could make, build, and design ourselves the better.

For the save-the-dates, we collected used men’s ties and designed a “Tie the Knot” label to iron on. Each was rolled into a mailing tube and sent to our guests (some guests ended up wearing the ties to the wedding which was unexpected and really fun). The invites came next, each with a custom illustration. We bought a tool to perforate the reply card so that guests would tear off either the YES or the NO and mail it back. We printed funny excuses on the NO card like “sorry my favorite TV show is on that day.”

Travis and I love to cook and bake together. So we decided to make and bottle baking extracts for our guest favors. We made mint, lemon, or vanilla (our house smelled great for days). Each was paired with a recipe featuring that flavor. We displayed them in old crates we found at an antique store.

The bridal party wore gray with lots of accent colors. The guys couldn’t find ties in a color they liked, so the bridesmaids and the MOB got together and sewed yellow ties for the groomsmen. It turns out making ties isn’t so easy…but the end result was great and the guys loved them. The girls bouquets were dahlias wrapped in twine. During rehearsal, the guys said “The girls get to hold bouquets but we don’t get to hold anything…”  so during the ceremony, the guys each held a beer.

The wedding was held at the Red Canary in Chicago. It has a casual but sophisticated 1920’s lounge feel. The ceremony was outside in the garden. Programs were printed on blue paper and folded into paper airplanes that guests threw instead of rice. The reception décor was old tins filled with flowers. They were the perfect mix of vintage and modern. Everything turned out better than we could have hoped for. Having all of our friends and family together in one place to share our wedding day with us was so special. And our ridiculously talented photographer Melody of Gerber + Scarpelli was able to capture everything perfectly. The night felt like it went by so quickly, and being able to look through pictures that truly show how much Travis & I love each other, our family and our friends is priceless. We hope that our marriage is just as hands-on as our wedding was. The more love and hard work you put into something, the more you cherish it.

Wedding Photography: Gerber + Scarpelli Photography / Flowers (Bouquets): Flowerama Mundelein / Flowers (For Tins): Mariano’s Grocery Store / Cupcakes: Luscious Layers Bakery / Wedding Venue: Red Canary / Music: DJ Intel / Boutonnieres: Pomp & Plumage / Wedding Dress: GiGi’s Closette