Is it just me or does it look like this wedding was a rocking good time? Huge smiles, fresh mint mojitos and a grit bar are also major indicators that this was an affair not to be missed. J & J Photography captured all of the Southern festivities that were comprised of a ton of fabulous DIY details and ended with horse-drawn carriage riding off into the night. You know we love a great exit around these parts and there is more, more, oh so much more in the gallery so hightail it on over there stat.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…He was right under my nose! Traxler and I met multiple times growing up.  Our parent’s were friends and every once in a while we crossed paths. The last time we saw each other, it was apparent that fate had something much stronger in mind for the two of us.  After one year of long distance, and two more years in Charleston, SC, Traxler asked me to marry him.  And I said, “Yes!”

Traxler and I collaborated, and with our North Carolina upbringing, our new home in Charleston, and our love for the mountains, we figured it out.  A southern wedding in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina all with a rustic/elegance theme.  That’s right, tuxes and horses!  Although we had a strict budget to stick to, I remained optimistic.  For I am a bargain hunter!  My ultimate goal was to obtain all the extravagant details for a third of the cost…or something close to it.

After checking the big items off the list, the event site, the church, the photographer…it came down to fitting in all the details.  I scoured magazines, books, and blogs (thanks SMP!), to find the perfect final pieces to our matrimonial puzzle. Etsy became my new best friend, where I found all of my jewelry, gifts, and accessories.  My aunt was the florist, the cinematographer was my theatre teacher from high school. The gorgeous cake was made by a very close family friend, who also DIY’d the table numbers, and helped me with my DMOIY “Do Most of It Yourself” invitations, from Lani Blue Stationary.  My sister’s talented artistry was seen on many of our DIY projects as well, like the mirror which she transformed into the dinner menu, and the river rock table numbers.  We were truly amazed at everyone’s phenomenal talent, and are beyond thankful for their love and hard work!

Some of my favorite touches of the day included:  Mason jars, mojito’s (worth every effort for bulk fresh mint), grit bar complete with shrimp and andouille gravy, church ceremony, a “grooms-lady” live mountain music , LED hoola hoops, and a horse-drawn carriage exit under the stars.  We had hope and perseverance, and yes there were quiet a few bumps along the road, but to our delight, it truly was the best night of our lives.  Everything we wished for, tied together with music, dancing, and our favorite people.  What a great time!

Wedding Photography: J & J Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Dreamlight Films / Event Planning + Design: The Bride + Groom / Flowers: Beverly’s of Midway (Brides Aunt) / Event Day Coordinator: Hidden River Events / Ceremony Location: All Souls Cathedral / Reception Location: Hidden River / Invitations: Lani Blue Stationary + Etsy / Bride’s Shoes: Benjamin Adams / Wedding Dress: Watters via White on Daniel Island / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Hair: Adorn Salon and Boutique / Make-up: Makeup at the Grove Arcade / Catering: Caroline Allured / Wedding Cake: Family Friend / Jewelry, Gifts, Guestbook + More: Etsy / LED Hoola Hoops: Cosmic Hooper’s Emporium of Bliss (Family Friend) / Music: Dr. Robert Gant (Organ), Jay Brown (Cocktail Hour), + DJ Ozzie

You’re going to laugh at me. Well no, first you’ll gasp, then you’ll laugh. I don’t have a big sweet tooth. I know, I know.  As a wedding blogger, who oohs and aahs over beautiful cakes and cupcakes daily (I really do love looking at them), I should love sweets. But I just don’t. And that leads me to – I was very naive about the options out there for cupcake wrappers. Bake them in a white paper wrapper, and call it a day. Well, a few weeks ago, we featured some awesome tablescape inspiration. And my eye went straight to the fantastic cupcake wrappers. Designed by one of our fabulous LBB members, Bella Cupcake Couture, they were SO not white paper wrappers. I fell in love, and maybe even had a rare cupcake that night. So I asked Carrie of Bella Cupcake to sit down with me so I could share my epiphany with all my favorite LBBers.

1. Who is Bella Cupcake Couture? And what is it exactly that you do?

Bella Cupcake Couture offers “Fashion for cupcakes”. We created chic and stylish textile-inspired cupcake wrappers for all special occasions. Our boutique-style designs add a touch of sophistication and elegance for any event. Each cupcake wrapper is printed with soy inks on recycled paper. So we’re not just a pretty face, we’re also eco-friendly. We are frequently complimented on our quality and great service. We are very proud as it is at our core to provide the best styles, service and products! Our hope is that our Bella Cupcake Couture wrappers bring smiles to our clients and the ones they care about.

2. Why cupcake wrapper design?

I have always enjoyed having friends & family over for special parties. It’s fun to think of all the little details that will make them feel extra special. One evening a friend complimented me on my party planning and décor skills and she wanted to know “how to do it?” I started thinking how could I make it easier for her and others who want to have parties but aren’t really baker/party planner types. Then I somehow became obsessed with wanting something fashionable for the bottom portion of my cupcakes. I always said “Why should the frosting have all the limelight?”

Now it’s easy for someone who does or even a person who doesn’t enjoy baking. They can simply bake or buy a cupcake and set inside to add that instant decoration every party planner is looking for.

3. What is your favorite kind of project to do?

We enjoy being a part of our client’s special events. We work frequently with brides and party planners who put together the best table displays for their clients. It’s important to us that they receive a “Wow” response from their guests and we make it so easy for them to create a beautiful table top display or incorporate into a candy buffet. We enjoy helping our clients to plan different color combinations and designs which will work together. We also enjoy hearing what new designs our clients would like us to add to our collection. We received so many requests for zebra print and cheetah that we knew we had to add it to our line. And now they are one of our best sellers.

4. What is your absolute favorite part of a wedding?

The cake of course! Every cake display is so different, we enjoying seeing how creative couples become when having their cupcake/cake display designed. From soft subtle elegance to bright & cheery. I also enjoy when they have a special song playing while cutting their cake. You also get a glimpse into the couple on how they “share” the cake; will they be kind and not smush the cake in each others face or will their playful side come out? It is definitely one of my favorite moments (aside from then eating the cake, of course).

5. What advice do you have for the newly engaged?

Plan a wedding that is perfectly “you” together. Tell a story on the day that speaks to how you met and what your life together is and will be like. It’s easy to add little details that mean something to you both together and that your guests who know you both well will adore. Then just relax and enjoy!

Cupcake Wrappers: Bella Cupcake Couture / Photography: Wenmei Hill Photography

We’ve totally got each and every bride-to-be covered today with a little bit of everything and now we’re moving onto this beyond gorgeous traditional Scottsdale wedding sent into us by Sedona Bride Photographers and coordinated by Tres Chic Events. We’re absolutely loving the bouquets overflowing with beautiful white tulips, so classic and elegant! And please don’t get me started on those amazing centerpieces, such a perfect balance of rustic and refined. See even more of this pretty, pretty day here in the gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Sedona Bride Photographers…It’s hard to believe Patty and her mom, Karen and their wedding planner, Monica had come to us over a year ago and met us at our studio in Sedona. A fun year of planning came to this beautiful day where the weather was perfect and they day was filled with fun. We know how much love and attention you put into this wedding and what a huge success it was! This group knows how to have a great time!

Special thanks to Monica McQueen who’s wedding planning really made our job easier by letting us focus on getting great images instead of the schedule. We saw so many places where Monica had put her special touch into the details of the wedding to really make it unique and special for Patty and Dallas!

Venue: Royal Palms Resort and Spa / Wedding Coordinator: Monica McQueen of Tres Chic Events / Floral Design: The Garage by Ivy / Invitations + Paper Goods: Lucky Luxe Couture / Ceremony Music + DJ: Mancini Entertainment / Wedding Cake: Royal Palms Resort and Spa / Groom’s Cake: Sedona Cake Couture / Hair + Make-up: Angie + Jennifer of Angessa Salon / Linens: Wildflower Linens / Wedding Photography: Sedona Bride Photographers

Alright ladies, it’s time again to get your booties over to the The Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Resort in San Diego on October 2nd from 12-5 for another fabulous San Diego Wedding Party Bridal Show and this one is better than ever featuring so many fun activities, you’ll never wanna leave! And you’ll be in the best of hands with over 40 of San Diego’s finest wedding industry peeps there to help you plan and visualize your big day.

These charming Melbourne nuptials have made me very, very happy.  It’s true… I haven’t been able to stop smiling since the very first stunning image by Dekuji Photography and there’s really no end in sight to all of this wedding joy I am feeling.  For starters, there’s the adorable bride and groom, whose love for each other is simply palpable… It literally jumps out of my computer screen with each and every breathtaking moment.  And when you take all of that L.O.V.E and wrap it up in a grin-inducing orange, black, red and gray color palette, cute-as-can-be umbrellas and my new favorite birdcage veil, I am more than certain that it just does not get any better than this.  I plan to spend my ENTIRE day wrapped up 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… I had a stroke about 7 months before the wedding, so it was really important to me to show everyone how much I loved Rob for standing by me during that time! Our wedding was not all smooth sailing, our reception place emailed us about 2 months before the wedding to say they were selling, so they weren’t confirming any bookings! And I ordered my bridesmaid dresses online and when they arrived they didn’t fit! So we had to buy some more 2 weeks before the wedding!

I walked up the aisle to “Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes” by Paul Simon.  That was a tribute to my dad, he died 6 years ago, so he couldn’t walk me up the aisle.

Our wedding was in an Aboriginal art gallery and our reception was in a Spanish restaurant. Everyone got up to dance!

Wedding Photography: Dekuji Photography / Flowers: Family + Friends / Boys Button Holes: Native Bloom and Foliage Design / Event Design: The Bride / Wedding Ceremony Location: Ochre Gallery / Wedding Reception Location: Del Los Santos / Wedding Invitations: Ainsley Deans, Friend of the Bride & Groom / Bride’s Shoes: Ralph Lauren / Wedding Dress: D’Zage

This sweet West Yellowstone wedding has captured my heart with its bright primary pops of color and homespun goodness. This small, intimate wedding is filled to the brim with the cutest DIY bits including origami paper crane escort cards and colorful potted table markers. But my absolute favorite part of this fete is the fact that the bride and groom personally served all forty-five guests dinner because as they said, They were our guests after all, why wouldn’t we take the time to serve each and every one of them their dinner? Jodi Miller Photography was there to capture all the special moments and details and as always, there’s so much more to see in the gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…My husband and I both wanted a simple, affordable wedding, something “no fuss and no muss” that represented our personalities. When we sat down to talk about our wedding, three priorities were set: stay within our $10,000 budget, a small enough wedding that would focus on family and community rather than on ourselves, and a wedding full of pretty handmade details that not only represented our personalities but told a story as well. We managed to keep those goals, except for maybe the “no fuss,” bit.

Choosing our location was easy enough. I had always wanted to get married on a desert island with very few people around. Since the desert island was most certainly out of our $10,000 wedding budget, I compromised when Ben suggested the Greater Yellowstone Area. Both Ben and I grew up out West. His parents live in West Yellowstone for the summer and most of Ben’s fondest childhood memories are from his summers up there. The decision was really a no brainer. West Yellowstone was far enough away to feel reclusive like a desert island and it was most certainly beautiful, but I still had the added benefit of a wedding near a small-town home. We lucked into our location at Harriman State Park with its absolutely stunning views and shockingly affordable prices. With Harriman, we were able to not only invite our nearest and dearest to come spend the day celebrating with us, but we were able to invite them to come spend a whole holiday weekend with us. We got to see all of our 45 guests the day of our wedding, and we got to spend the two days leading up to the wedding sitting down and catching up with those family and friends. We tried out best to make the weekend an unforgettable and fun vacation for our guests. We even did away with having the caterer or a buffet serve our guests dinner and took on the job ourselves. They were our guests after all, why wouldn’t we take the time to serve each and every one of them their dinner?

The rest of our other major planning components, the caterer, the flowers, the minister, the chairs, all came from my mother-in-law’s friends and acquaintances in town. The small town of West Yellowstone—population of about 1,511—really came through for us. It seemed like every time I turned around someone asked about our wedding or was offering to help in some fashion.  People loaned us towels, sheets, and pillows (one of the houses at the ranch didn’t have any). A few friends offered up their houses for any guests who planned on coming early or staying after the wedding weekend. One friend even offered to take care of anyone who got sick during the weekend (thankfully no one did). Our caterer gave us an excellent deal and cooked some of the best food I’ve ever had. And our small town florist created arrangements that rivaled those of big time city florists for probably half the price. Without the help of the community of West Yellowstone, we more than likely would have blown our budget. Their support gave us yet another reason to appreciate the importance of community.

There were so many small and large details that went into our wedding weekend. Each small part of our wedding has a special memory or story attached to it. The strings of cranes and water bombs would never have been completed if our girlfriends hadn’t come together to help us string them at the last-minute. The escort cards would never have been finished if our maid of honor’s sister didn’t sit up into the wee hours of the morning with me learning how to fold cranes, and they would have never been displayed or handed out if our groomsman’s family didn’t pitch in to help put everything together the day of the wedding.  As I look back now, what I remember most is not the breathtaking scenery of the countryside that surrounded us or the flowers or decorations or any of the other components that went in to the actual wedding. What I remember most is the loving community that surrounded us that weekend.  We ended up getting exactly the kind of wedding we wanted. We came in within our wedding budget. We had a small intimate wedding with 45 guests. And our guests were involved in pretty much every small detail and memory that made our wedding the special event that it was.

Wedding Photography: Jodi and Kurt of Jodi Miller Photography / Venue: Harriman Ranch State Park / Florist: Sagebrush Floral / Caterer: High Altitude Catering / Wedding Cake: Bonnnie Hansen (Family Friend) / Reception Dress: Bygones Vintage Clothing / Hairpiece: Fiber & Stone / Groom’s Attire: Brooks Brothers / Groomsmen Attire: J.Crew / Bow Ties: Divine Domestication / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Necklaces: Margiezbeadz (Stephanie’s Grandma) / Officiant:  Rev. Benn McCracken / Invitations, Origami + Flower Pots: The Bride + Groom / Centerpiece Dish Towels: Anthropologie

I LOVE fall.  If I could find a place that had crisp autumn weather all year round I would pack my bags and move there in a heartbeat.  Sure, there is something to be said for the perky spring months, the long, warm days of summer and, well winter, I’m not sure if there is anything good about winter, but there is just something about the smell of fall in the air.  I love the golden leaves, apple cider and excuse to make lots and lots of pies.  I can’t imagine spending a cool day in a better way than biking to the beach, late afternoon movies and hanging with my honey.  This Jayme Van Geest Photography engagement is absolutely the ideal September date.  See it all in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Doing a practice run of engagement photos before the wedding was really important to us as we think we might be the most un-photogenic couple in the world, a joke among many friends. Jayme Van Geest did an amazing job of making us look good while still being ourselves.

We did what we normally do on the weekend, bikes rides at the beach and the movies. Were a pretty simple couple!

Photography: Jayme Van Geest Photography

Personality, color and tons of pizazz make this show-stopper Austin wedding by Katherine O’Brien Photography a true one-of-a-kind beauty.  Succulents and wildflowers bring an organically modern vibe to the scene while colors galore, mismatched bridesmaids dresses and personal touches create a fresh, eclectic feel that sets this celebration apart from all the rest.  See all the fun, vibrant details in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Katherine O’Brien Photography…This fun & colorful wedding was all about Austin! Their tables were labeled with their favorite Austin locations like Mount Bonnell, the Greenbelt, the Broken Spoke and Deep Eddy and the place cards were simple, colorful hand written names with small pebbles to hold them in place.

Verbena Floral Design worked in succulents and nettles into the floral arrangements. The groom and groomsmen all had colorful bow ties and matched the bridesmaid’s colored dresses.

Melissa & Joe met in the Peace Corp in Panama so one of their unique gifts was a set of his & hers machetes! The gift to their guests – donations in their honor to the Peace Corps Partnership fund for helping underprivileged communities with access to clean water and sanitation! They exited to color streamers and a classic Texas Limo with Longhorns!

Wedding Photography: Katherine O’Brien Photography / Venue: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center / Wedding Coordinator: Rosa Gibson of Austin Wedding Planners by Rosa / Florist: Verbena Floral Design / Caterer: Austin Catering / Officiant: Bill Frisbie / Band: Original Recipe Band / Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel from Unbridaled / Suit: J.Crew / Rings: Dean Frederick / Cupcakes + Wedding Cake: Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop / Hair: Avant Salon / Make-up: Donna Bruns from Saks Fifth Avenue

Today we’ve got just the thing to push you right over that middle of the week hump, and keep you smiling all the way to the weekend. This California wedding, sent our way by J. Shipley Photography, features disco balls, orange trees, mustaches, flower girls in fairy wings, and SO many more fantastically whimsy details, it’s impossible to count them all. Set at the ever fabulous, ever welcoming Rancho Las Lomas, this affair is the kind of wedding I just can’t get enough of. Lucky for me (and you!) this is just a small sampling of the gorgeous day. Make sure to visit the gallery for the rest!

We met 14 years ago when we were sophomores in high school through mutual friends.  While we went to different high schools, we were always seeing each other at the same sporting events, parties and high school dances.  After 10 years of friendship, we fell in love one magical night under the fireworks on the beach on the 4th of July.  A beautiful relationship began to blossom that night, and continued to do so.

After years of Candice hinting, Vince finally popped the question on her 29th birthday.  He set up the backyard with a small “birthday celebration”…  Just champagne, flowers, and a gift.  Little did Candice know, that the gift box with the slippers she had asked for contained a little bit more than comfy shoes.  The ring inside was just what she wanted; a vintage design with a beautiful green emerald as the centerpiece.  After the proposal, Vince was shaking, Candice was crying, and they both were laughing and a little stunned with excitement and joy.

After enjoying being engaged for a few months we finally started looking for venues.  We immediately fell in love with Rancho Las Lomas once we saw the tigers, zebras and various other wild animals, not to mention that the venue just gave us a homey feel which we loved.  The venue is so breathtaking on its own, with the beautiful architecture and décor, we didn’t even know if we needed decorations!  But in the end we decided to accentuate the lovely venue with our personal style.

Since we are huge concert goers and music enthusiasts, and have attended various music festivals for the past 6 years together, we decided to make our wedding into one big musical celebration. We wanted the venue to take on the feel of a festival.  Ticket stubs served as our save the dates and concert lineups as our invitations.  We had a disco ball over our altar and fake musical instruments on the dance floor and in the photo booth.  The tables were named after our favorite bands and musicians, and various signs were posted around the venue directing our guests to different “stages” across the grounds.

Our colors were bright and vibrant… the theme was “peacock” colors.  They really went well with the already colorful and bright venue. The men dressed in white linen suits with light green accents, and the lovely ladies in green, summery dresses.

On the day of our wedding we began in true Vandice style by the groom getting “iced” with a bottle of Smirnoff Ice.  We spent the whole morning hanging out together with our friends and lounging by the pool.  By the time we made it to the site, neither of us were nervous because we were so excited to get our party started.  When the ceremony began, our wedding party walked in singing “All You Need Is Love” by the Beatles. We had our favorite uncle get ordained and marry us.  We had a remembrance candle with hand written names at the altar with us to honor all of our loved ones who were watching from heaven. We kept the ceremony light and funny, with a “Princess Bride” reference by the good reverend, and a stern and funny confirmation by all the uncles of their approval.  Our vows consisted of reciting the theme songs of the 80’s sitcom classics “The Golden Girls” and “Family Ties” to each other.

After the “I do’s” our family and friends showered us with ribbons, cheers and even a cowbell and tambourine made it into the mix. Jeffrey and Isaac really captured the day beautifully.  Our favorite photos had to be the “let me out of this phone booth!” shot, the beautiful individual portraits of the bridesmaids and bride, and the shots of us two in the orange grove. One of the memories that stands out most from the wedding was Candice’s brother singing The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” during the father daughter dance.  Not a dry eye in the house! Also, the epic dance party that ensued after dinner will be talked about for decades to come.  What a fantastic day to start a fantastic life together.

Photographer: J. Shipley Photography / Venue: Rancho Las Lomas / Makeup: Amy Gibson / Hair: Lisa Strohsack / Cake: Erica O’Brien Cake Design / Caterer: 24 Carrots / Coordinator: Elene Shemwell / DJ: Elevated Pulse / Floral Design: Avante Gardens / Bride’s Cocktail Dress: Unique Vintage / Groom’s Attire: Frair Tux / Lighting: Elevated Pulse

The classic wedding is making a big comeback around here and, I have to say, all that glitz and glam is making me giddy.  This grand Chicago celebration by Miller + Miller Photography is a shimmery and  sublime swoon-fest with divine, all-white florals, oodles of candlelight and sparkly, metallic details.  Visit the full gallery for more drama-filled elegance!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Liven It Up Events…Tiffany & Eric were married in June at the newly built, Renaissance Hotel.  This modern gem was over the top from the minute you walk in the doors.  It says “luxury” everywhere, which was the perfect backdrop for Tiffany & Eric’s vision for a grand wedding.  While hair & make-up in the bridal suite in the morning, Miller + Miller Photography & Orange Video Productions began to capture the day as it unfolded.  Art of Imagination & Veil of Enna along with the team at the Renaissance were building a dramatic backdrop for the wedding ceremony all while being overseen by  Liven It Up Events.  As the details came together and guests began to arrive, Okyne Media kept them entertained as the ceremony unfolded.  Cocktails were enjoyed following the ceremony and after a flip of the room, once again, the ballroom was transformed and was the perfect setting for all 300 guests to eat, drink, and have fun way into the evening!

Wedding Photography: Miller + Miller Photography / Cinematography: Orange Wedding Film / Flowers: Vale of Enna Flowers / Event Design: Art of Imagination / Event Planning: Liven It Up Events / Ceremony +Reception Location: Renaissance Hotel / DJ: Okyne Medialab

Oh my heart flutters when it comes to families. Particularly at weddings. So when I read this lovely bride wore the dress her mother and grandmother wore when they were married, let’s just say this blogger got a little sappy. That is ADORABLE. The entire celebration captured by White Rabbit Studios is just as adorable with its herb pot centerpieces and casual elegance. It’s practically perfect in every way, and there is even more in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Steve and I met on July 4, 2007, in Charleston, South Carolina when mutual friends invited both of us there to celebrate the 4th of July.  We started dating immediately following the trip.  After 3 years of long distance dating from Knoxville, TN to Huntsville AL, both Steve and I were offered positions at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Steve proposed.

DJ: Andrew Wroblewski of Dub Smash / Wedding Planning: Ashley Wroblewski / Wedding Photography: White Rabbit Studios / Wedding Location: Big Canoe / Hair & Makeup: Stacey Hain, Friend of the Bride / Officiant: Father Frank Richardson / Burlap Tablecloths: Friend of the Family / Herb Pots: Mother of the Bride / Favors: Tupelo Honey via Blue Ridge Honey Company / Quilt: Friends & Family of the Bride

Rise and shine SMPers! We have a big day ahead! So grab your cup of caffeine, and let’s get this wonderful day full of weddings (seven to be exact) started. For those of your new to Wedding Wednesdays, it’s the day we here at SMP crank out snippets of seven beyond GORG weddings. Hour after hour of pretty. Because we can only feature a snapshot – be sure to get lost in all of their galleries, because there is so much more to see here folks.

First on the docket of delightful weddings, is a budget friendly Ohio beauty by Todd Pellowe. Since the bride is a wedding photographer herself, she was well-versed in what she wanted her big day to look like, and it looks like her vision was quite the success. It’s pink and pretty as can be, and there is even more in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…On December 16, 2009 my best friend and love of my life Michael asked me to marry him. Due to the fact that we are both active duty Air Force officers at different bases, our wedding was delayed until June 12, 2011. We had over a year and a half to plan the details of our wedding, and what a beautiful day it was! Between contributions from both sets of parents, myself, and the groom, the total wedding budget was $20,000. We knew having a beautiful country club wedding might quickly push the envelope on our budget. But I wanted to have my cake and eat it too… so we got creative. Instead of investing thousands of dollars on multiple large bouquets for the ceremony, we focused our money into two large beautiful arrangement to be placed at the end of the aisle and an aisle design of pink rose petals. Since our wedding was outdoor, the large willow trees created a gorgeous landscape that needed no competition.

Since I am also a wedding photographer (www.lindsaysmithphotography.com), the most important aspect of our wedding to me was the quality of my photographer. I chose Todd Pellowe after being engaged a week. I knew by having him as my photographer I could relax on my big day. He used both digital and film cameras to capture all the details.

My wedding style was distinctively modern with a 1950s throwback. Clean lines were a must-have, but ivory and pink accents softened the overall appearance of the decor. Our wedding was on a Sunday afternoon, and the weather was 77 degrees with a slight breeze. Although the ceremony was outside, the reception was inside the country club in a room encased by full length windows. Adjacent to the room was a white outdoor covered tent, where my husband and I shared our first dance. Since my husband and I work as an engineer and mathematician, respectively, we choose to use famous historical mathematician’s last names instead of table numbers. Each table had a small photo frame with a photograph of a mathematician and a few facts about the mathematical contribution that he made. To keep the look of the wedding decorations and paper goods consistent, we chose only two different fonts: Honey Script and GeoSansLight. To save money, I created my own seating chart in Photoshop, and had it printed at Kinkos for only $30. I found a large frame at Michael’s Craft Store and put the seating chart inside to give it a polished look.

At the end of our wedding, Todd Pellowe took Michael and I out to a nearby wheat field to snap a few more couples shots. The sun was just settling on the horizon, producing beautiful warm-toned images. In fact, those images are our favorites photos from the entire day. But, the best part of the wedding was marrying my best friend!

Wedding Photography: Todd Pellowe / Flowers: Sherwood Florist / Ceremony + Reception Location: Country Club of the North / Invitations: Gartner Studios / Bride’s Shoes: Colorful Creations / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal

Okay, so this is like every girl’s dream come true in the form of an inspiration shoot by the talents of Scott Andrew Studio and Tracy Taylor Ward Design. They decided to collaborate on something different and that something turned out to be this modern romantic tale of two people, away for a weekend in the city and a surprise engagement and wedding. Imagine you wake up in the morning to a gorgeous ring and the love of your life asking you to marry him that very day. And he’s thought of everything: your dress, your jewels, your flowers and shoes. I know, can you even stand it! I think you’ll agree with me when I say that this photo shoot is beyond gorgeous and romantic. And there’s even more in the gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Tracy Taylor Ward Design…When Adrienne from Bespoke Affairs and I decided that the time had finally come to get together to produce an inspiration shoot befitting our timeless, romantic and modern ideals of love, it was only a matter of minutes before we knew exactly what needed to be done. We wanted to flip the notion of a traditional wedding on its side and break out of the box, so we decided to show what a proposal-cum-elopement (which could also translate perfectly into a vow renewal) might look like! We thought that a morning wedding (a “wakeup wedding”) would enable our couple to take the entire day thereafter to rejoice in the beauty of their newlywed bliss … And wouldn’t the voyeur in all of us enjoy a sneak peek into what could go on after-hours?

The plot reads as Anderson Parker has just proposed to Kylie Wilson. Upon arriving in New York City for a weekend away together Anderson asks Kylie to “marry me today,” and luckily for him, Kylie has eagerly accepted. Anderson has already coordinated all the wedding details in advance so that every aspect of the day will be a starry-eyed surprise and breathtaking reveal for Kylie; from her bridal gown and jewels, to the table scape, to a wedding breakfast tasting menu, all the fun and romance in store is beyond her wildest expectations. She knew he was a romantic, but he has TRULY blown her away.

I wanted the decor and styling to reflect the feeling of everything being “perfectly undone” and to portray the couple unwinding layer by layer. From the lush and flowing flowers falling off the table set for two, to the couples hair and attire gradually unraveling throughout the day, my goal was to show how natural beauty radiates from everything… Especially when you’re in love, having fun and allowing yourself to let go!

Wedding Photography: Scott Andrew Studio / Event Planning: Adrienne Colosimo of Bespoke Affairs / Event Production, Florals, Styling + Graphic Design: Tracy Taylor Ward Design featuring Tracy Taylor Ward (design), S.Kendall Bradford (florals), Haley Lieberman (styling) + Paper with Benefits by Matthew Carrigan (paper goods) / Venue: Eventi Hotel / Hair: Styles on B / Make-up: Sally Duvall / Wedding Dress + Veil: Junko Yoshioka / Suit: Zara / Undergarments: Kiki De Montparnasse + La Perla / Jewelry: Kate Spade + Judith Jack / Bride’s Shoes: Nicholas Kirkwood / Forks: Pretty Paris / Plates + Goblets: The Creme / Petit Cakes: Lolly Love

Engagement Shoots are such a great way to get your feet wet in front of the camera before the big day and of course, the bonus is having fantastic images of you are fiance that don’t involve a big, white dress. (Believe me, you’ll have plenty of those pretty images too.) Kelly Dillon Photography snapped today’s engagement delights and they are about as cute as you can get. The couple, the Massachusetts coastline, the old boat… it is a blast of New England goodness and you can see the FULL engagement right here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Our engagement shoot was one of the most memorable days I have had since Aaron and I got engaged back in February.  While we are busy planning our dream “Winter Wonderland” wedding it was fun to do something completely different for our engagement shoot and just enjoy the beautiful weather and each other.  Our wedding will be glamorous and formal so we went with a more laid back, casual and simple engagement shoot.

Kelly Dillon was so fabulous and wonderful to work with and thank you to Rita Sorrentino of Chanel cosmetics for doing my make-up and making me feel beautiful!  Thank you also to my loving parents and my incredible team from Hopple Popple for making this wedding planning experience so memorable!

From Hopple Popple…Beautiful, radiating warmth, magnetic, glowing …words which aptly describe Lacey and Aaron, and as well, words which describe their upcoming wedding in so many ways.  While creating their “Winter Wonderland”, filled with a warm  candle-lit glow and the sparkle of ice and snow, they are always focused on their guests having a fun, warm and memorable experience.  We feel confident that their family and friends will “feel the love”!

Photography: Kelly Dillon Photography / Event Planning: Hopple Popple

Held in the small, picture perfect Colombian town – Barichara, this wedding by efeunodos photography is a cultural beauty for sure. Rich in tradition and style, each and every detail reflected the couple’s personality. Of course I can’t go through this entire post and not mention the couldn’t-be-cuter flower girls and the bride’s FAB dress! It’s a cultural celebration full of love and style, and there is even more to see in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From efeunodos photography…This is a very special wedding because it was done in one of the most beautiful towns of our country. It’s a small very well-kept colonial town called Barichara, it’s located between the mountains very close to Parque Nacional del Chicamocha, a gorgeous natural park. The bride’s name is Maria Juliana and the groom’s name is Luis, they both live in Bucaramanga a city about 2 hours from Barichara by car. They decided to get married in Barichara because they wanted a wedding with a lot of personality and in a place that would be different from the city and they chose well!

They got married in the main church of the town plaza, a beautiful and huge colonial church, everything was decorated in beige and pink, pink symbolizing Maria and beige symbolizing Luis and their union. They used organic materials such as felt, and a local fiber called Fique for the decorations. The bouquet, boutonnieres, flower girls headpieces and flower girls shoes decorations were hand-made by request of Maria Juliana by Puro Love. The wedding reception took place at the lovely Taller de oficios de Barichara, a big house that works as a school for local artisans and crafters, they divided that venue in several rooms each having the name of a different craft such as: cooking, pottery, carpentry, etc.

The bride and groom met an hour before the ceremony in a colonial house to take some pictures, after the ceremony they walked the 2 blocks to the venue with a typical town band playing music and all the guests followed. The men were dressed in Guayaberas, typical Colombian attire that is considered formal in warm weathers and that looks amazing because all the guys wear white. After a toast by the bride’s father,  dinner was served and the party lasted until 4:00 am.

Wedding Photography: efeunodos photography / Wedding Gown: Pronovias / Bouquet, Boutonnieres + Flower Girl Headpieces: Puro Love / Bride’s Shoes: Jorge Ramirez / Groom’s Suit: Distinguidos / Floral Design + Decor: Marta de Bohórquez / Venue + Catering: Taller de Oficios de Barichara / Band: Rey and Rey / DJ: Nicolás Rojas / Wedding Cake: Pastelería Nevada

From the moment I laid my eyes on yesterday’s lovely Coconut Grove engagement session, I simply could not wait to see what the charming bride and groom had in store for their big day.  I had a sneaking suspicion that we were in for one fabulous affair… And I was most definitely not mistaken.  This Coral Gables soiree is one huge bundle of fabulous and then some, complete with a soft peach, pink and green color palette, an insanely gorgeous wedding cake and a pair of oh-so-wonderful sparkly silver heels (my new obsession).  13:13 Photography was there to capture every pretty moment, so there’s an entire gallery of swoon-worthy images just waiting to be adored.  Join me there for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Ricky and I fell in love after working together in the same non-profit 2 years ago. We both shared the same passions and that really drew us together. After a year of dating Ricky got down on one knee, in the middle of a chicken wing eating contest one January day, and asked me to be his wife. We immediately started planning one of the most important days of our lives!

Planning our wedding was one of the most amazing, craziest, and exciting things we experienced together! And the process was all worth it. With our budget nailed down we considered the things most important to splurge on and the things we could do ourselves! We made our invitations, favors and seating chart and were able to save enough money to get the amazing photographers at 13:13 Photography and the beautiful Granada Presbyterian Church in Coral Gables, FL. For my invitations, my amazing friend and artist Coral Tschannan created the design and wording. I took the design to my local printer and used some supplies from Stampin’ Up to complete the invites! It was cheap and we got the vintage romantic feel we wanted.

We once had someone say we reminded them of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, two different ingredients coming together to make the perfect treat. So when it came time to pick our favors I knew it had to be Reese’s Mini Cups. We bought some little boxes from the wedding aisle at Michael’s and bought some thick cheesecloth from a local fabric store and made the party favors! I love the way they turned out!

We even had a “Bride runner” at the wedding! No one has heard of them yet, because it’s a new service that recently came into existence in South Florida.  They are the cutest ladies who serve as a personal assistant to the bride and take care of last-minute needs, run errands, and act in emergencies.  I needed eyelash glue at the last-minute, so thank God the “Bride runner” was there! She rushed to Walgreens and came back on time for me to walk down the aisle! My wedding day was just as amazing as my husband, Ricky, and I prayed it would be! Thanks to all the great vendors and family that helped!

Wedding Photography: Sarah and Phillip of 13:13 Photography / Flowers: Marle’s Flowers / Make-up: Amaris Gonlalez / Catering + Linens: Amelia and Carmen Catering / Wedding Dress: Leggenda Bridal / Tuxedos: Tommy’s Tuxedo’s / Bride Runner: Sabrina Sosa of The Bride Runner

It’s been awhile since we’ve delved into a buying guide but fear not. We’re back and ready to party with today’s gorgeous display of Santa Barbara nuptials photographed by Michael and Anna Costa with the yummiest of florals by Modern Day Design. The wedding may have been beach side but glamour was definitely not forgotten. We are talking tuxes, a breathtaking gown and loads upon loads of romance. Yep, romance was the name of this game. So buckle up and get your buying hats on because we’ve got some fabulous pieces perfect for infusing into your own wedding day extravaganza.

1. Glamour starts with your groom in a classic, black tux and J.Crew has quite the affordable collection for this most special of occasions.

2. The flowers from today’s affair played center stage. To get the look, try pairing bunches of one type of flower per vase (think ranunculus, hydrangea, roses and other textured blooms) then group the vases together for a really striking albeit insanely beautiful look.

3. Sparkling candlelight will set the mood for a romantic evening indeed. We love these mercury glass votives from West Elm. They are a classic that never goes out of style and the sparkle factor? Through the freaking roof.

4. A gorgeous, ruffled wedding gown. Can you really imagine the Bride wearing anything else to this fête? Come one, come all and join us as we say YES, PLEASE to this ruffled beauty from J.Crew

5. Aside from the Bride and Groom, the only other necessity at a classic wedding like this is flutes of bubbly. No need for fancy signature drinks, just pop open a bottle of Champy and your guests will be happy, happy clams

6. We love a good monogram around these parts and can’t think of a better accessory for all your wedding paper goods. These letterpress monogram tags from Paper Source are just the thing for favor boxes. (Add their peacock colored ribbon to complete the look) Another favorite? Betsy White who has a plethora of fabulous monogram designs to choose from.

7. Your favorite ladies will look beyond stunning in this floor length number from Dessy

8. Looking to add a little bling to your ears? These Pear Drop Earrings from Nadri are both sophisticated and timeless and the price tag? Not too shabby my friends.

9. To keep all eyes on those pretty petals making up your centerpiece, go for a clear glass vase. These square vases from Ikea will do just the trick and at $2.49 a pop you can sprinkle them all over the place

Tux: J.Crew /  Flowers: Fifty Flowers / Votives: West Elm / Wedding Gown: J.Crew / Moet & Chandon: K&L Wines /  Letterpress Monogram Tag: Paper Source / Bridesmaid Dress: Alfred Sung #D511 for Dessy / Earrings: Nadri via Nordstrom / Square Vase: Ikea

We’ve been saving this next wedding for a day where we didn’t have too much scheduled…mainly so we could literally pause and gasp at each and every gorgeous photograph that Michael and Anna Costa snapped and devour each and every detail that Modern Day Design tucked inside this picture perfect wedding. So, in order to make the lovely last that much longer, we’ve put together a Buying Guide for this very fete, complete with approachable, affordable, totally fabulous deets on how to inspire your own just-like-this-wedding. But first, the wedding…oh and there is more gorgeousness right here in the gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Michael + Anna Costa Photographers Ltd.…Carmen & Robert’s wedding was a beautiful event to behold. Their choice of venue for one, at the glorious Bacara Resort & Spa was the perfect place to encapsulate their vision of modern Hollywood glamour combined with a serene coastal atmosphere.

Carmen wore Vera Wang while Robert and his groomsmen adorned classic tuxedos. Beautiful, delicate floral was done by Modern Day Design featuring roses and peonies in pink pastels and white. As usual Bacara’s cake designers worked their magic, this time featuring an architectural simplicity with delicate pave like detail surrounding.

Ybarra Music’s cool sound and visual style emanated in the courtyard as guests dinned during sunset before heading into the stunningly lit ballroom by SWANK Audio Visual to dance the night away.

Venue, Catering + Wedding Cake: Bacara Resort & Spa / Wedding Photography: Michael + Anna Costa Photographers Ltd. / Planning: Jennifer Lopez / Lighting: SWANK Audio Visual / Officiant: Richard Tobin / Band: Ybarra Music / Floral: Modern Day Design / Hair + Makeup: Beatrice Najera / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Film Work: Richard Photo

From the first glance at the first photo from Amelia + Dan Photography, I could tell this sweet South Carolina soiree was going to be somewhat simple, and a whole lot beautiful. Thanks to Red Letter Events‘ design and coordination, I was right. The couple wanted their wedding to be an extension of their personalities, and thus wanted something a bit casual, but still something fabulous. Perusing through the day, I can completely tell that the wedding was a success – exactly what they had described wanting. It doesn’t get much better than this – so make sure to check out the gallery for more!

Matt and I aren’t very conventional people. We wanted to have a very laid back wedding without too much formality, which ruled out a lot of  the usual venues in Charleston – plantations, historic homes, churches, etc. Nothing we looked at seemed to match our vision. Finally we found what we’d been looking for, and it was right under our noses – the James Island County Park! It’s only a mile from our house. In addition to the perfect venue for a casual wedding, they also have 1o awesome cabins that we rented for our friends and family.  It is such a beautiful park, they gave us a lot of latitude to choose our own vendors, and it was really affordable to boot!

Once we decided on the park for our venue, we really wanted our wedding style to “embrace the park”. We chose greens and yellows for our colors to compliment spring time in the park. The lovely ladies at Red Letter Events made sure everything turned out perfectly.

Matt and I put together our own little ceremony, using parts of a lot of different traditions. My favorite part was planting a tree together in place of lighting a unity candle. I also wore two garters that day. One of them was made by my great aunt out of the bridesmaid dress she wore for my grandparents’ wedding. Since both of them have since passed, it was so special to have that piece of family history with me.

Matt and I love plants, so our florist, Thuy, came up with the great idea of giving away some little ferns as favors. She wrapped them in burlap and tied them with pretty green ribbons. Not only were they cute as table decorations, but our guests will get to continue to enjoy them at home (hopefully) for a long time!

Photography: Amelia + Dan Photography / Flowers: Jade Water Designs / Event Design: Red Letter Events / Event Planning: Red Letter Events / Ceremony Location: Edisto Hall at James Island County Park / Reception Location: Edisto Hall at James Island County Park / Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals & Red Letter Events / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: David’s Bridal / Entertainment: DJ Ric Rush / Catering: Granvilles Cafe & Catering / Wedding Cakes: Bride

The circle is such a beautiful symbol for love and, especially, for marriage.  What a clever and creative idea, then, to use it as the main design element like this artistic couple did for their fun Sonoma wedding.  The decor and details are just stunning from the circle motif in the stationery to the fun, colorful wreaths behind the bride and groom chairs to the vibrant and lush florals.  So much heart and soul was obviously poured into each little element and, a Northern California favorita, Jessamyn Harris makes all the pretty just pop!  See all her lovely images in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

There is no need to stop the fun just yet!  Lovespun Films put together an awesome reel for us to go crazy over (and, trust me, we are)!

From the Bride... Sometimes starting is the hardest part. When planning our wedding, I found that it was easy to get overwhelmed and distracted by all the beauty and creativity that the wedding industry has to offer so I decided to keep it simple. Circles. We chose to have a circle theme present for our wedding.  The circle, much like the shape of our rings was to represent the circle of life, circle of love, circle of family, unending, unbroken and everlasting. Much like our love for one another. From there, things began to fall in to place.

We choose to get married at Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma because of the unique beauty that it offered.  From the artistic garden displays to the beautiful blooming flowers that cascaded over every nook and cranny, we loved it instantly.  We wanted our guests to explore the grounds so we used a Polaroid camera as the guestbook and told guests to find a garden, take a picture and put it in a guestbook along with a note.  I was looking to meld two elements together for the style of our wedding.  Sleek and modern design with cozy pieces that complemented the venue.  Almost all of the items used at our wedding either came from antique fairs, I DIYed it or I found it at a local nonprofit that recycles old building material (a fancy junk yard).  Being a creative person, this was the ultimate project for me.

By making our own décor like the hand dyed muslin strips for the dessert table, signage, drink flags, invitations, menus, guest gifts and programs I was able to keep costs down and personalize everything.  By sticking a fresh coat of paint on items I had found at the junk yard I was able to create custom pieces out of recycled items that cost me just a few dollars.  While my then fiancé thought I was crazy for coming home on a regular basis with what looked like trash and gallons of teal paint he soon began to understand the vision. Seeing everything come together on the day of our wedding was amazing. The colors popped but it wasn’t distracting.  It was shabby chic but not super shabby and honestly not super chic.  It was simple, sweet, personal and memorable.   Just like we had wanted it to be.

Venue: Cornerstone Gardens / Wedding Photography: Jessamyn Harris / Planning: A Savvy Event / Invitations: Hello Cupcake LLC (The Bride) / Wedding Videography: Lovespun Films / Catering: Sage Catering / Floral Design: Studio Choo / Wedding Cake: Occasional Cakes / Whoopie Pies: Three Little Birds Bakery / DJ: Miles Green of 101 Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Alyne / Bridesmaids: Tracey Reese / Bridesmaid Belts: Charlotte Russe / Groom’s Suit: Zegna / Groomsmen Attire: 3 Day Suit Broker / Make-up: MS Makeup Artistry / Hair: Stacy Motoviloff of dekko salon / Nonprofit Junkyard: Building Resources / Rentals: Wine Country Party & Events