I do believe this lovely bride is my new fashion icon.  Yes, indeed.  Any bride that can rock the coolest of hats from BHLDN (and one that I have been obsessing over for quite some time now), the most beautiful of wedding gowns from Mikaella Bridal and an all caps GORGEOUS bracelet via Rent The Runway is most definitely my new hero.  And to top it all off, she married her very own Prince Charming in an oh-so-lovely Cambridge soiree, complete with beautiful blue and white blooms crafted by Lauren Keene, bridesmaids wearing fascinators and billy ball boutonnieres.  Seriously.  Awesome.  And with stunning image after stunning image by Jo Cush Photography, this amazing wedding just made my day (and week).  Don’t miss a moment of pretty.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Nick and I got engaged on Christmas morning- he surprised me in our living room with a sparkly star-shaped box inside was a blue plastic ring that said XOXO… long story short he picked up the real sparkly ring a week later and gave it to me in the same spot. We decided on a long engagement so that Nick’s family and friends could make the trip from England and so we could save money in order to help pay for the occasion.  During the year and a half leading up to June 11, 2011 I had the misfortune of my grandfather passing away.  I always pictured my wedding day with him there smiling at me being his charming and warm self.  To say I was heartbroken would be an understatement, but it put wedding planning into perspective and on the day I absolutely felt his spirit and warmth in the room.  Also, it gave my Mum and I a chance to be more creative and figure out a way to still include the past and people who had passed without being morbid.  We put a meaningful note about Papa and Nick’s Father Jim on the back of our wedding programs and surrounded our wedding cake with our parents and grandparents wedding pictures.  I love how my photographer Jo Cush captured pictures of our wedding cake but also incorporated  the framed photographs in the background.

During the planning process we decided the key parts would be a unique venue (The Charles Hotel), restaurant quality food (they didn’t disappoint) and open bar- once that was all decided Nick bowed out and I took over planning all details to create a personal and meaningful wedding day for us.  Since the majority of our budget was spent on food and booze I had to improvise the rest.  Etsy became my best friend and with a little luck, some amazing vendors and family support it came together without a hitch.  It was the most special and sweet day of our lives. Since both Nick and I are not religious we opted to have our best friend marry us- he did such a remarkable job and everyone said the ceremony was “so us”.  I was so happy that we didn’t conform to what a traditional wedding is and instead made it our own because at the end of the day a wedding is about the couple who is getting married.  I really wanted to incorporate hats and fascinators for me and my bridesmaids because Nick is from England and that is a popular style of wedding attire.  I loved being a bride and had such a fun time dressing up and marrying the love of my life.  My favorite part of the evening was during dinner, I was able to take a moment and take it all in- all our favorite people from far and wide in one room celebrating us as a newly married couple.

Wedding Photography + Photo Booth: Jo Cush Photography / Flowers: Lauren Keane Floral Design / DJ: Beat Train Productions / Location + Event Planning: The Charles Hotel / Wedding Invitations: Sandskirpts / Wedding Dress: Mikaella Bridal / Bracelet: Rent The Runway / Bride’s Hat: BHLDN / Bridesmaid Dresses: Bari Jay / Bridesmaids Fascinator: Custom via Owllamode / Hair: Shag Boston / Makeup: Danielle King Nordstrom Burlington / Photo Booth Props: ThePaperStache + MaroDesigns + LindenLovebirds / Escort Cards, Menu, Table Numbers + Programs: Lamaworks / Petal Cones: Cami’s Paperie Customized Paper Goods / Vintage Inspired Handkerchiefs: Gift Wagon / Stickers on Favors: Timelesspaperco / Favor Bags: Bellaterra / Guest Book Tree: Tkd4673 / Flower Girl Dresses + Headband: J.Crew / Groom’s + Groomsmen Tie: The Tie Bar

What do you get when you combine insanely gorgeous florals by SHARLA FLOCK DESIGNS, the planning geniuses of MAP Events, and out of this world photography by Gia Canali Photography? Give up? You get the most romantic and elegant wedding EVER filled to the brim with the sweetest details…Hello vintage Parisian postcards and wooden boxes filled with lavender and pretty calligraphy escort cards. Not to mention the gorgeous bridesmaids dresses and the super adorable flower girls. I could literally gaze at these images all day long and I think I might do just that. Join me in the gallery, won’t you?

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…After toying with a faraway destination to celebrate our love of travel (Sidi bou Said, Tunisia was our front-runner), we decided that a beautiful, outdoor setting closer to home better fit what we wanted to be able to share with all of our family and friends. We were torn between Colorado (where I’m from), and California (where Nick is from, where we met, and now live once again). In the end, planning and seeing things in person was easier, and Northern California had no shortage of options, so it ended up being the right choice for us. Our planner, the fabulous Melissa Panico, was super patient as we scoured places from San Francisco to Mendocino. Beaulieu Gardens felt both elegant and intimate, and had the charm of Northern California wine country with its vineyards and hills along with a romantic European feeling with the tree-lined drive and rose gardens. When we first saw it, we could envision the exact wedding we wanted – and looking at the pictures now, the images exactly match (it helps to have a fantastic photographer).

Every moment was perfect, we couldn’t have asked for a single thing more. More specifically…walking down the aisle and seeing each other for the first time. My grandmother’s face as I got to the end of the aisle. Our moment with my dad right before the ceremony began. Our first glass of champagne as newlyweds. All the moments when we took a deep breath to absorb how crazy lucky we felt to have all the people we love celebrating in the same place all weekend.

Our save the date and rehearsal seating chart were postcard reprints of a vintage railroad map of California – which was significant because postcards have featured prominently in our relationship, and Nick proposed on a train! We also had vintage postcards as our guest book, and loved that people picked specific cards of places we’ve shared to write on. To fit the garden setting, our table names were the national flowers of countries we’ve lived in or visited.Our ceremony musicians learned how to play “Married Life” for our recessional from the movie “Up” (a favorite).

Venue: Beaulieu Gardens / Wedding Planning: MAP Events / Catering: Paula Le Duc Fine Catering / Officiant: Canon Christine McSpadden / Ceremony + Cocktail Music: Golden Gate Strings / Floral Design: SHARLA FLOCK DESIGNS / Wedding Photography: Gia Canali Photography / Band: Pride & Joy / Wedding Cake: Branching Out Cakes, Jill / Wedding Videography: Razon Byrne Productions / Lighting: Got Light? / Hair + Make-up: Sarah Hyde / Transportation: California Wine Tours + Antique Tours, 1947 Packards / Invitation: ADM, Eve / Calligraphy: Michelle Papineau Calligraphy / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Groom’s Suit + Shoes: Hugo Boss / Ties: Armani / Flower Girls Attire: Us Angels / Ring Bearer Attire: J.Crew

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I adore this bohemian chic inspiration shoot by Brienne Michelle Photography on so many levels.  Of course, the wild colors, eclectic mix of vintage and organic pieces and dreamy desert setting that just scream Southern California make my heart go all kinds of pitter patter but my favorite part might be what inspired this beautiful shoot – the gorgeous jewelry by The Nakate Project, a non-profit organization that helps create sustainable businesses for the women of Eastern Uganda.  So not only is this entire inspiration shoot beyond beautiful it is helping to support a great cause too!  Get your hippie chic on in the full gallery and make sure to stop by the California blog to see even more awesome inspiration from the golden state!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Brienne Michelle Photography… This inspired wedding is so much more than a beautiful boho chic styled wedding with gorgeous details. This is what a wedding could look like if a bride wanted to incorporate a piece of Africa right into their big day. You see, when Shanley Knox of The Nakate Project first approached me, I was not only struck by the beauty of the pieces, but by the Project itself. Nakate – who provided all of the jewelry, beads and those incredible feather earrings worn not only by the models, but peppered throughout the details and florals – is a nonprofit organization selling hand-made Ugandan jewelry to help create sustainable businesses for the women of Eastern Uganda.

Inspired by the colors and vibrancy of the jewelry, I decided to go with a natural, organic, vibrant take on a styled wedding. Petalicious provided the amazing floral details, collection of pocket watches, and even the furry friend who stole our hearts, Frankie (the French Bulldog). Emilee Sutherland of Tasteful Tatters created and provided all of the furniture pieces (including the pallet table and pallet couch), the burlap bow tie worn by Frankie, and styled the entire shoot. I am incredibly proud of the collaborative work we created and can’t wait to see where brides will take their piece of Africa in the future!

Photography + Concept: Brienne Michelle Photography /Jewelry + Beads: The Nakate Project / Styling, Furniture Rentals, Burlap Bow Tie, Bride’s Belt + Dinnerware: Emilee Sutherland of Tasteful Tatters /Florals, Pocket Watches, Bedframe, Apothecary Jars, Mason Jars + Antique Candy Jars: Petalicious Flowers / Wedding Cake: Amanda Christine Cakes + Confections / Hair: Anna Quinn Design / Make-up: Kiara’s Makeup Artistry / Paper Products: The Pomegranate Basket /Bride + Groom Models: Natalia + Lavar / MOH+ Best-Man Models: Meghan Christine Lubeck + Christian Baptiste

When this couple’s favorite wedding venue was struck by lightning, and burnt down, they were nervous. But the brave couple continued planning this absolute dream of a wedding throughout the rebuild of the Barr Mansion, and I am SO happy they decided to hold out for their perfect venue. Captured by Kelly Hornberger Photography, the whole wedding – from the sweet color palette, to the amazing flowers from Verbena Floral Design, to the gorgeous venue – is so sweetly romantic, I just can’t get enough. And when you just can’t get enough, click here for the rest of this beautiful fête in the gallery!

The main inspiration of our wedding was the city of Austin as well as the Barr Mansion itself. We wanted it to have that unique, quirky Austin feel we both love but also be very personal to Derek & I. Our signature cocktail was sweet tea-flavored vodka and lemonade, served in mason jars. Our colors were bright pink & apple green.

We looked at about ten different venues in Austin, Texas, but fell in love with the charm of Barr Mansion. It was by far the most unique place we visited and we knew right away it was the place for us. We booked it in late March 2010 and in June, the ballroom of the facility was struck by lightning and burned down. It was crazy news and definitely not what you want to hear about your wedding venue but we remained in good spirits and kept going as planned… monitoring the rebuild along the way of course. It was a much longer process than everyone originally projected, but we held out hope that it would be completed prior to our wedding in April 2011. Sure enough, Barr Mansion hosted their first wedding in the new ballroom about 2 months before our wedding. To say we were relieved would be an understatement!

Derek’s uncle is a Pastor and married Derek’s brother & his wife in May 2010. We were blessed enough to have him marry us as well and hope to maybe start a family tradition!

One of my most vivid memories from the day was waiting with my dad to walk down the aisle. I was incredibly nervous but so excited. The sun was about 45 minutes from setting and the lighting outside was absolutely gorgeous. We were hidden away behind the mansion itself and when we rounded the corner and I could suddenly see all of our guests, it took my breath away and I knew it was a moment I would never forget. As I got closer and could finally see Derek, tears filled my eyes, as I was finally about to marry my best friend.

Venue: Barr Mansion / Photographer: Kelly Hornberger Photography / Floral Designer: Verbena Floral Design / Event Planning & Design: Keegan ‘O Connell, with Barr Mansion / Invitation Designer: Maria Navarro / Cake: Barr Mansion / Wedding Gown: Marisa, Weddings By Debbie / Bridesmaid’s Dress: Watters / Jewelry: Nordstrom / Entertainment: Look No Further Entertainment / Hair: Black Orchid Salon / Make-up: Carl Crenshaw

My  love for each and every detail of this affair is far beyond that of the average wedding. It’s more like OBSESSION. But even obsession is a total understatement when it comes to the cake. Oh that shiny, happy geometric laden confectionery treat. Just wait until you lay your eyes on that gorgeousness crafted by Sugar Butter Flour. And all of the images by Harrison Long Photography? Those are pretty stinkin gorgeous too. All in all this is a wedding FULL of heart and a certain je ne sais quoi that speaks to the soul. Plus the color palette is bananas. Get your gallery on for more from this fab soirée.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Matt and I became engaged in New York after 3 years together, and I knew right away that I wanted to get married in my home town Los Gatos, California. We wanted to make sure our wedding would be unique, CONTEMPORARY and reflect the interests we share as a couple (candy bar, hip hop 1st dance, ping-pong table, golfing, dance off, and photobooth). Having our cocktail hour, and reception in my parent’s backyard was always a dream of mine, and sure enough my dream became a reality!!!! It was the PERFECT day, and the most PERFECT wedding ever!!!

From …Hailing all the way from New York, Caroline and Matt brought the party to the west coast! These two resident Manhattanites were wed in their home city of Los Gatos. Their wedding was nothing short of spectacular! From the beautiful Catholic church, to the SF cable cars, to the lovely outdoor reception – their celebration was certainly a classy one. Everything was wonderfully elegant and captured the fun & lively personalities of Caroline and Matt. These two did an amazing job of mixing the sophisticated exuberant energy of New York with the class of Los Gatos. The end result was an awesome celebration. Thanks for having Rob and myself along with you on your special day, we had a blast! Here are a few photos to share from the day!

Midway through the reception, Caroline grabbed the mic and announced a dance off competition between the best man, the father of the groom and some of the groomsmen.  While it was a huge surprise to all the guests, it was probably an even greater surprise to the contestants whom had no idea this was going to happen!  Caroline’s too cute, at the end of her announcement she mentioned that the winner would get a dance with her.  It was an awesome ten minutes of cabbage patches and shirts flying through the air.  At the end of the dance-off, the crowd voted with cheers and Caroline had her first dance with her new father-in-law.

Wedding Dress: Marchesa / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Tallia Black Label via Men’s Wearhouse / Hair Stylist + Make-up Artist: Clifford Hashimoto / Wedding Photography: Harrison Long Photography / Associate Photographer: Rob Skogs / Rentals: Encore Events Rentals / Caterer: Chef Chu / Waitstaff: Events of Excellence / Programs, Menu, Seating Charts + Invitations: Renee Lee / Wedding Cake + Groom’s Cake: Sugar Butter Flour / Candy Bar: Michelle Wong for EH Management / Wedding Planner: Montage Event Management / Cablecar Trolley: Events West / Photobooth: Oh Snap Box! / DJ: CV Creations / Wedding Videography: Justin Fone Productions / Lounge + Festoon Lights: Pineapple Planet

These amazing St. Thomas nuptials by Jules Bianchi Photography are the perfect example of why I l.o.v.e a destination wedding.  I can’t think of anything more romantic than running away together with close friends and family, tying the knot with the ocean as your backdrop and a tropical paradise surrounding you at every turn.  Yes, I think this bride and groom pretty much have it covered.  And with the pretty yellow and blue color palette, stunning bouquets by East End Flowers and a plethora of unique details all designed by the gorgeous bride and planned by Island Bliss Weddings, this is most definitely a destination wedding done oh so very right.  I’ll be in the gallery soaking up all of the lovely, so join me there for even more beachy goodness!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… My fiancé and I got engaged on the cliffs of the Italian Rivera at sunset, and as we began describing our wedding day together, we knew that we had to follow suit to the engagement, hosting a wedding in another exotic location away from home.  Both of us are entranced by the ocean, love soft sandy beaches and wanted an intimate affair in a tropical relaxed location.  I grew up in LA where the ocean was always a huge part of my life and he has an undying love for the Caribbean and all that it encompasses.  We picked the Sand Dollar Estate in St. Thomas, USVI, known as the White House of St. Thomas for its view of the famous Magen’s Bay, but mostly for its ability to host a private small wedding with its own beach where the ceremony would take place. We also LOVE sunsets, and have very special moments throughout our relationship during sunset and watching the view from the estate over the water at sunset blew convinced us this was our spot.

Our inspirations morphed into what I was calling “Beach Chic” using more of a romantic, soft casual feel of Shabby Chic playing off the bright turquoise waters of the Caribbean and the “pop” of yellow sunshine. Special details from the day included Michigan “M” Sugar Cookies, as my Husband and friends are avid University of Michigan fans, a Russian Babushka doll next to the guest book in remembrance of my Grandmother and Russian heritage, Chinese parasol’s brought from our current city in San Francisco, Frank Family wine – a favorite of ours from Napa, custom burlap and lace runners made with love from my mother-in-law and other fun items I sourced on Etsy.  All these special items were flown down with us to the island in 6 checked bags!

The day before our wedding day was the first rainfall of the year on St. Thomas, and rare for May.  It poured, all night!  The morning of the wedding, with the storm still looming above us, brought in the tide hiding our private beach where the ceremony was scheduled.  However, we adjusted our plans, the rain held off and we were married outside on the patio overlooking the water.  Even with the beach unavailable for the ceremony, we were luckily able to snap a few shots down on the rocks (without getting an ounce of water on the dress).  Even with the threat of the rain, and the change in plans, it was an amazing day!  My husband too cute, our guests lovely as ever and everything just as we imagined, including a spectacular sunset.

Wedding Photography: Jules Bianchi Photography / Flowers: East End Flowers / Event Design: The Bride / Event Planning: Island Bliss Weddings / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: Sand Dollar Estate / Wedding Invitations: Etsy / Wedding Dress: Jenny Lee / Bridesmaid Dresses: Carol Hannah / Makeup + Hair: Sugar & Spice Artistry / Catering: Modern Saute / Wedding Cake: VI Dessert

My barn-lovin’ heart hasn’t stopped pitter-pattering since the moment I first laid my eyes on this lovely Palo Cedro affair by Brent Van Auken and I don’t see this crush ending anytime soon.  With a charming burlap and twine ring pillow, fabulous galvanized bucket centerpieces and some all caps ADORABLE yellow bridesmaid dresses from Anthropologie, this wedding is rustic chic perfection.  All designed by the oh-so-talented and stunning bride, I am equal parts impressed and smitten.  Trust me, you don’t want to miss a moment of pretty, so join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Brent Van Auken… Amy and Ryan are a one of a kind couple, they are both very outgoing and you never know what they will say or do next. Their creative touches added to the already very stunning landscape at TBS Ranch (Northern Californian town, Palo Cedro). Burlap, birdcage name cards, horse shoe pits, vintage window frames and doors, made the wedding unique, and not to forget the bridesmaids’ Anthropologie dresses and Vera Bradley bags.  Many of the guests were all college friends that came ready to dance, the open air barn made for a perfect venue for this! The day was flawless!

Wedding Photography: Brent Van Auken / Catering: Nok Hamburg Catering / Wedding Cake: The Sweet Spot / Event Design: The Bride / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: TBS Ranch / Bride’s Shoes: Aldo / Bridesmaid Dresses: Anthropologie / Makeup: Brittany Martin / Hair: Michelle Brooks

We wanted to take a mid-morning coffee sipping break to gaze upon some gorgeous happening over on the Australia Blog today. Those Aussies sure know how to throw a pretty party of epic proportions which makes having a local blog dedicated solely to their wedding endeavors a no-brainer. Captured beautifully by ngg studios, this Byron Bay wedding is one breathtaking detail after another and every last inch of it is bathed in a sea of glowing light. So be sure to carve out some time to check out the FULL wedding here.

And while we’re on our coffee break, I think taking a tour of all the local blogs is a definite must. Get your blog perusing hats on because we have fabulousness coming out the wazoo. Lets see, we are toting locally grown content from New York, California, Texas, Florida and the Destination Blog. Not to mention our newest batch of lovelies from Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Australia and last but certainly not least, good old Canada. The SMP family is definitely growing and these little nuggets are brimming with real weddings, vendor spotlights, awesome inspiration and ALL locally grown, 100% Style Me Pretty approved. So take a little trip to each and every awesome locale from the comfort of your own office chair. And to make things a wee bit easier, we have each local blog linked at the bottom of the SMP homepage. Really all that’s left to do is get to perusing. Enjoy!

Seriously, is it just me or is there something extra special about the light in Byron Bay?  Every wedding I’ve ever seen come out of this magical place is draped in the most breathtaking glow.  This wedding by ngg studios, with its elegant details and creamy palette, looks like a dream in the soft, serene shimmer.  There is something so effortlessly chic about this day and about the beaming bride and groom, don’t you think? See all the lovely little details in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From ngg studios…Sarah & James tied the knot on 17th of June 2011 at glorious Byron Bay. Their style was sweet, classic, romantic chic. The ceremony was held in the beautiful old Ewingsdale Town Hall, full of old school character complete with rustic wooden floor boards, fresh cream hues and a fine old piano. Pure, sweet loveliness. Soft pastel tones surrounded the day. With an arch lane of enchanted Fig trees, and sweet as honey, golden winter light, photographing the day was heavenly.

Wedding Photography: ngg studios / Ceremony Venue: Ewingsdale Town Hall / Reception Venue: Byron Bay’s Surf Club / Wedding Planner: Evolution Concierge / Wedding Dress: Karen Willis Holmes / Setup Hire: Byron Bay Wedding and Party Hire / Caterer: Butlers Catering / Reception Lighting + DJ: Pip Theobold from Byron Audio

We all know that one of the most fun parts of planning a wedding is getting all dolled up with your love and getting your photographs taken for your engagement session. What other time will you have professional photos taken of just the two of you sans wedding garb? And in the case of this e-session by Rowell Photography, the romance factor was uped about a million times with the addition of a sweet, little rowboat and some fireworks. It really doesn’t get any more romantic than this, don’t you think? See even more here.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Rowell Photography…We have started a new tradition at Rowell Photography, to photograph one couple every year on Canada Day. The idea is to take engagement portraits with a backdrop of fireworks. This year we decided to take it a step further and choose a Canadiana theme for the engagement shoot. We bought a Hudson’s Bay wool blanket from The Bay, borrowed a boat from the Barrie Rowing Club, and had Kristine and Alan just laze around while the sun set over the city of Barrie. During the summer in Barrie there is no better place to be than on the water.  Happy 144th birthday Canada.

Photography: Rowell Photography

I’m totally loving this rustic, vintage wedding with its pops of pinks and turquoise and cowboy boots a plenty. The details are beyond sweet and you can tell by looking at the gorgeous images from Sherry Hammonds Photography that nothing was overlooked and so much thought went into each and every element. The lace tablecloths and vintage keys totally set the stage for this rustic charmer held at Red Corral Ranch. See much, much more here in the full gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We wanted the feel of our wedding to definitely not be generic or stuffy and we wanted to incorporate both of our styles, so a rustic feel with vintage and romantic accents summed it up perfectly. Another thing that was important to both of us, was for the whole event to be as stress free and relaxing as possible. With 18 of Christian’s family members coming over from Germany, we thought the best way for it to stay “stress free” was to find a venue that could accommodate everyone for the whole weekend. After visiting lots of places in the hill country Red Corral Ranch seemed to have everything we wanted; housing for our wedding party and families, an indoor “chapel” site to have the ceremony and a Big Red barn for the party, they even had a few extra Texas perks to entertain the guests, like the hay ride and skeet shooting range.

Aqua is a staple color in my wardrobe and life, so it was only natural for it to be the main color in our wedding, and the black-tied attire fit perfectly to make everyone look so classy. Almost all of the pieces we used for decoration were  from family and  some pieces were many generations old and passed down. This aspect was something I really wanted to incorporate, I love the thought and feeling of all of that LOVE and history at our wedding.

From Sherry Hammonds Photography…Being a shooter in TX I have certainly seen grooms in cowboy hats but these guys were different.  The hats, the boots, the jackets and those black jeans made for a style I have seldom seen and I hope I get to see more of!  I mean these guys had style! And since they wore what they were comfortable in, they had a great time on and off the dance floor. Kelsey is one of the happiest brides I have had the pleasure to work with.  She made my job easy by being herself, having fun and making Christian feel comfortable when they were posing for their photos.  I loved working with these two.

Wedding Photography: Sherry Hammonds Photography / Ceremony + Reception Location: Red Corral Ranch / Catering: Pascal’s Catering Company / Floral Design: WOW Factor Floral Design / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero / Bridesmaid Dresses: Mori Lee

When your brand new sister-in-law is the fabulous Raina of Raina Dawn Events, you’re going to have a fabulous wedding – no doubt about it. The proof is in this New York Botanical Garden affair – it’s gorgeous. Raina was able to work with her new sister-in-law to create the wedding of her dreams, and I’ll admit – it’s been the wedding of my dreams since I first laid eye on the soiree, captured by Carrie Rodman Wedding Photography. I bet it will even grace a few of your dreams tonight – especially after checking out all the stunning deets in the full image gallery!

In order to make it easy for our family and friends to attend our wedding, we chose to get married in New York.  We both live in New York City and Rick’s family and some of my family are in metropolitan area, and all of our friends are here, so it was very easy for us to decide on a location right outside the Manhattan.

We wanted a venue that would provide an elegant and formal atmosphere with a traditional ballroom and amazing food.  We also wanted a place provided an opportunity to take amazing pictures.  We found that at The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York.

We decided on a very formal, black tie, and elegant wedding.  Rick left most of the wedding planning up to me and his sister.  He only had a couple requests, one of which was for a red velvet wedding cake.  When it came to reception papers I chose a company recommended by my sister in law and professional wedding planner, Raina Dawn Events, called Haute Papier.  The menus they did added an accent flare to the table by using a scripty font in purple againstan ecru card stock with a damask theme. I used this same design for the programs, table numbers, and seating cards.

When it came to photography we chose the photographer who shot our surprise engagement and did such an amazing job that we hired her for the wedding.  She put the extra time and attention into the pictures and they turned out amazing!

Thanks to my amazing sister in law and wedding planner, I had a 33-page itinerary that included everything from the menu, contact numbersfor all the venders and bridal party, and an extensive timeline.   I allotted extra time in the timeline to minimize the stress on my wedding day and to account for the unexpected. Therefore,the day ran smoothly and on time.  Rick and I wanted to enjoy our cocktail hour and, since we have to see each other before the wedding in the Jewish tradition, we took pictures before the wedding.

I was told that something unexpected will always happen and to be prepared for it. That one thing that stands out was that the two people I asked to sign my katubah didn’t arrive in time. One of the individuals accidentally went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens instead of the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. When he arrived at the wrong destination there was a wedding and they were about to sign the ketubah. He told them he was there to sign the ketubah and they ushered him immediately in.  Not until he looked at the name imprinted into the yameka did he realize he was at the wrong wedding.  Needless to say, he didn’t make it in time for my ketubah signing.  These events you can’t predict, so we found two other jewish guests to sign the ketubah.  A story we will always laugh about in years to come!

When I think back on our special day there were so many memorable moments!  The ceremony by far was the most memorable moment for me.  Since I was a child, I imagined myself walking down the aisle and right before the doors opened, I still, couldn’t believe it was happening.  I just tried to take in that moment as best as I could and as I walked down the aisle,  I just gazed into Rick’s eyes.  I felt like I was floating down the aisle with my mom and dad guiding me.  It was completely surreal.

Another moment I’ll never forget was the ceremony kiss.  Our rabbi told us to practice, so we would know what appropriate and would prevent an awkward moment. Rick and I didn’t practice or discuss the topic much before the event, so we winged it.  Rick took control and it was the best kiss and an amazing moment full of emotion and elation.  Those emotions came out in the kiss and it was perfect!

Then of course there was the first dance.  That was an intimate momentthat we could hold each other and allow the events of the day to sink in. We spoke without others around, and kissed like no one was watching.

The night went by fast, so when I had the dance with my father, it was very touching between the two of us.  It was at that moment that it set in- this was my wedding and I’m was finally married to the most amazing man!

Photography: Carrie Rodman Wedding Photography / Cinematography: The Bleu Studios / Flowers: Lucy Wu Floral Design / Event Planning: Raina Dawn Events / Ceremony Location: The New York Botanical Garden / Reception Location: The New York Botanical Garden / Invitations: Judy Paulen Designs / Reception Papers: Haute Papier / Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Dress: Pronovias / Entertainment: NYC Swing / Hair: Davide Torchio Salon

Not only is this wedding the joining of one incredibly stunning couple as seen through the lens of Alea Moore Photography but it is a parade of so many thoughtful details. Getting married on the anniversary of the day they met, having a little piece of the Mother of the Bride’s dress originally made by her grandmother sewn into her wedding day gown – it’s the details like this that really make an event so personal and heartfelt. Then add the fab styling by wedding planner extraordinaire Lovelee Affairs into the mix and it’s a recipe for all out Atlanta gorgeousness. Don’t forget to stop by the gallery for even more images and a whole lot of pretty!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We got married two years to the date we first met each other when I asked him to take a picture of my friend and I at a restaurant in Atlanta. Trey and I both lived in the city but he was originally from Texas and I was from a town outside of Toronto, Canada. It was really important that we represented Trey’s Southern roots and my Canadian/Caribbean heritage in our wedding. For our save-the-date announcements, Trey drew caricatures of him and I — He as a cowboy, and me as a Canuck in stylish sub-zero gear.

It didn’t take me long to find my dress. As soon as I put it on, I felt like it fit my personality to a tee. What I loved most about it was that it had a piece of fabric from my mother’s wedding dress stitched into the inside hem. Her dress was handmade by my grandmother over 36 years ago. I also used a piece of her dress to wrap around my bouquet. It meant so much to me to have a piece of my mother and grandmother with me as I walked down the aisle.

Our planner Jade Lee of Lovelee Affairs was a Godsend and really helped us make our vision a reality. She helped us choose fantastic vendors and cool items that really made the day special. I also found a lot of inspiration from the website Etsy and purchased everything from our wedding invitations and Trey’s steampunk cufflinks to my garters and the ring pillow and endless other details on the site. Pictures of us and our families were displayed throughout the entrance of the gallery. To pay homage to the way we met, we had instant cameras for our guests to take pics of themselves for our guestbook. Since Trey is an artist, we had a cartoonist draw caricatures of our loved ones, which they took home as favors. Our guests also enjoyed a buffet of our favorite Southern and Caribbean foods and then danced the night away to everything from old school soul to reggae.

My favorite part of the night was surprising Trey with a Red Velvet groom’s cake shaped like his shoe design that won a contest a couple of months prior to our wedding. I also surprised him with the first pair of his shoes from the manufacturer and I’ll never forget the look on his face. At the end of the night, our friends and family, with sparklers in hand, formed a pathway to our getaway car. It was a beautiful ending to an absolutely amazing and beautiful day.

Ceremony Location: Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception / Reception Location: King Plow Arts Center / Wedding Photography: Alea Moore Photography / Wedding Planner: Jade Lee of Lovelee Affairs / Floral Design: Liz Gudmundsson at Adaptation Floral Design / Invitation: By Invitation Only / Lights + Chairs: Party Over Here Productions / Hair + Make-up:  Me’dea Whosendorfe of Glamorous Life / Wedding Cake + Groom’s Cake: Sugarplum-Visions / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet from Priscilla of Boston Atlanta / Veil: Priscilla of Boston Atlanta / Bride’s Shoes: J.Crew / Earrings: Lulu Frost / Cuff Bracelet: Badgley Mishka / Hair Comb: Portobello / Garters + Wedding Hanky: The Garter Lady / Bridesmaid Dresses: B2 Bridesmaids / Groom, Groomsmen + Father of the Bride Attire: Jim’s Formal Wear via Ken Barber Clothing / Groom’s Custom Shirt: Ken Barber Clothing / Groom’s Steampunk Cufflinks: edmdesigns / Ring Pillow: 28P Shop / Clay Ring Bearer Bowl: Paloma’s Nest / Vintage Wooden Baby Blocks: Tiny Giraffe Shop / Mr + Mrs + Thank You Signs: Perty.ful.tings / Personalized Hanger: La Cintre Boutique /Vintage Love Wish Tree Tags: Pack Rat Diva / Wedding Card Holder Birdhouse: Clegg Farm Creations /Shabby Chic Vintage Chalkboard: Mudpies & Marigolds

If my day to day life could look as pretty as this wedding by Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography, I would spend each waking moment even giddier than I already do. Believe me, that would be a dangerous (yet amazing) level of giddy. Although, after oohing and awing over all the cheery yellow details, the very handsome pooch, the flowers that joined forces with fruit to create greatness, the darling DIY touches, and that never go out of style, style that always makes me swoon – I think my giddy level is already moving quickly towards the danger zone this morning, and I am A OK with that! You can see all the reasons why in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Deciding to get married in Annapolis was easy, since it’s the town where Graham went to college, where we met, were engaged, and where we have made many happy memories.  We chose two historic venues in the heart of downtown – a traditional English style garden and a classic college hall.  From there we knew that we wanted our wedding to be an intimate event that focused on our closest family and friends.  We included only things that we love and that are important to us, and left out anything that is not.  Quality seasonal food, regional wine, good music, and ample time to celebrate with our guests were priorities.

We wanted a combination of garden party, dinner party, and dance party.  We were happy to have an eclectic mix of elements – Scottish handfasting, Spanish guitar, bagpipes, Krispy Kreme donuts as a groom’s cake, a Bob Dylan reading – as long as everything reflected us.  Graham is a pilot in the Navy, but chose a summer suit instead of his uniform.  We did keep the tradition of cutting the cake with his ceremonial sword. We incorporated vintage and sentimental elements, but did not have a specific theme.

We used a palette of grey, white, peach, pink, soft green and blue, punctuated with pops of bright yellow.  Our flowers included fresh fruit and were displayed in milk glass that we collected during the course of our engagement.  The custom runners for the king’s tables and the seersucker table cloths were hand-made by my mom.  Many items were purchased from fabulous Etsy vendors. Other elements, such as table numbers, program fans, welcome boxes, place cards, menus, and the seating chart, were our personal labors of love.

Wedding Dress: Tara Keely via Pure English Couture Bridal House / Groom’s Attire + Groomsmen Attire + Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Ties: Tux and Tulle / Boutonnieres: Blue Flourish / Bridal Party Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Hair + Make-up: Updos for I dos / Caterer: Ken’s Creative Kitchen / Wedding Cake: SugarBakers / Floral Design: Flower Child / Invitations: Hobson House Design / Classical Duo: Chris Dunn Classical Guitar / DJ: Evan Reitmeyer, MyDeejay / Trolley: Discover Annapolis Trolley Company / Marriage Certificate: spread the love / Custom Linens: Mother of the Bride / Other Paper Goods: The Bride + Groom / Day of Coordinator: Megan Mills / Ceremony Location: Paca House + Garden / Reception Location: St. John’s College / Wedding Photography: Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography

Well SMP Illinois – you did not disappoint when it came to inspiring us with your beautiful boards! I must say, it is so incredibly fun to go through and see what makes you all tick! Just because we have a winner today, doesn’t mean you have to stop building and inspiring though – oh no! Keep on building and tagging your boards Inspire Me Pretty Illinois, and your board will be in the running for next time! OK, enough of the chatter – you want to know who the winner is! Well a big, hearty SMP congratulations to Chicago Chic for her green meets urban meet fabulous fête! Do you love, or do you LOVE?

Until next time! xoxo, A. Blaire

Does it get any cuter than a puppy in a bow tie? I think not. Does it get any dreamier than a stylish soiree in Seaside, Florida? I know not after getting lost in all the gorgeousness from HBB Photography. When you put those two things together, then pile on an adorable couple and details that will make anyone smile – it’s easy to see why the full gallery of images is the place to be today!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From HBB Photography…The weather was perfect! The location, classic and serene. Jeff and Jaime were fun, creative, and totally chill to work with. Their wedding in Seaside, FL was intimate, elegant, and personal. They have a simple and very humble way of carrying themselves. Their day totally captured their personalities with the ceremony being small and intimate including their closest friends and family. The bridal party was up for anything and so great to work with. The reception was like seeing them through an open book. The centerpieces depicted photos from anything as their love for Westie Terriers to Ron Burgundy from Anchor Man and different silhouettes of poets, writers and musicians that really gave everyone a clear idea of their interests and personalities. Every details was laid out and put together with so much care and detail.

From the Bride…Jeff and I both have Midwestern roots — at heart, we like things simple, genuine and heartfelt, no big fuss.  And our wedding was no different.  We kept our wedding fairly small with only our family and close friends there, and decided on Seaside, Florida as the perfect location.  I grew up in Florida, and the beach to me is synonymous with happiness.  When we visited the Seaside chapel, I couldn’t imagine Jeff and I saying our vows anywhere else.  I got most of my wedding ideas from Style Me Pretty, Southern Weddings and Green Wedding Shoes and was drawn to weddings and ideas that were sweet, fresh and a little dreamy.  We wanted our friends and family to be comfortable and have a great time — more like a lovely backyard summer party than a big lavish wedding.  My friends and I made dozens of flowers out of pink, ivory and yellow fabric that we scattered on tables and strung on a few garlands along with pictures of Jeff and me with friends and family, and I loved all the lights strung over the guest tables and twisted up the beautiful sycamore trees in the courtyard.  Most of the centerpiece vases are my mom’s.  We got the idea for the table numbers from a wedding that used similar black-and-white images of mostly classic country music icons — like Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash.  We picked people and places that were important or inspirational to us, but all a little tongue in cheek.  Like I’ve seen in a million places, and I LOVE, we collected some framed photos of our parents and grandparents.  This meant a lot to me especially because none of our grandparents could make the trip to Florida, so it was a small way to honor them on our wedding day.

Wedding Photography: HBB Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Three Ring Media / Floral Design: Florals By the Sea / Event Planning: Heather Archdeacon-Williams / Ceremony Location: Seaside Interfaith Chapel / Reception Location: Moto Court Courtyard & Green / Bride’s Shoes: Restricted / Catering: Dine by Design Catering

Now, this is how I like to start my Monday.  In fact, I wouldn’t mind starting my every day just this way… With a nice cup of coffee, sunny skies and gorgeous image after gorgeous image of this lovely New York City affair by the ah.ma.zing Karen Wise.  Yep, sounds pretty good to me.  And you’ll be sure to agree with me once you jump right into this lovely soiree, complete with some of the most beautiful florals I have ever seen by Rountree Flowers, a breathtaking location, a brilliant purple color palette and a stunning Vera Wang gown.  Yes.  Please.  With every detail designed and executed by the genius that is Stellina Events, this is definitely one wedding that I’ll be revisiting time and time again.  So, sit back and stay awhile… There is a whole gallery full of pretty to enjoy!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Grady and I knew from the start that our wedding didn’t need to be nor should it be perfect.  Life is messy and unpredictable, and only in the chaos of it all can you step back and gain some clarity about what the priorities are.  Like almost everything in our relationship, we knew we would have to do things a bit unconventionally for our wedding.  Our daughter, Eva, was 17 months old when we got married.  Because of this we wanted our wedding to be an intimate affair – an opportunity for everyone we love to be together, celebrate with one another and meet our daughter. We decided to have our wedding in New York, where we both had lived and where my family currently lives.  When we chose our venue, we were living in Chicago and in the process of moving to Portland, OR.  So, all wedding choices would need to be made from the gut with little time to mull things over.  Having a baby helps with that process!

We picked our venue after only one visit.  The Lillian Goldman Stone Mill at the New York Botanical Garden and the in-house caterers, Abigail Kirsch, were the perfect match for us.  The setting was spectacular – an old stone mill on the banks of the Bronx River in a lush and wooded area.  We had only heard rave reviews about the food and planning that Abigail Kirsch provided.  With the venue and caterer settled upon, we knew we were going to use the photographer (the lovely Karen Wise) and DJ (Small Change) that Grady’s brother and sister-in-law used for their wedding.  Because planning was no simple task living on the opposite coast, in a new home with a little baby, we hired Amanda Diamondstein-Cieplinska of Stellina Events to help find some of the vendors and orchestrate the day’s events.  It was a life saver having someone in NYC locating these vendors for us and making sure everything went seamlessly on the day of our wedding.

The ceremony was beautiful and truly captured the essence of our relationship.  Our wonderful officiant, Cantor Micha’el Esformes, led a rich and meaningful experience that brought everyone into the moment through his words and music.  We stood underneath a chuppah, wedding canopy, that Rountree Florist helped us to envision and bring to life; standing there amongst our families and the pictures of our loved ones who couldn’t be there, Grady and I vowed our love for each other.  This was the most important detail of the whole wedding – to remember all our loved ones and to join our two lives and two families.

Wedding Photography: Karen Wise Photography / Wedding Planning, Design + Styling: Stellina Events / Floral Decor: Rountree Flowers / Venue: The New York Botanical Garden, Lillian and Amy Goldman Stone Mill / Catering: Abigail Kirsch / Wedding Invitations: Studio Olivine / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang / Hair Stylist: Renee Serra / Make-up Artist: Hiroko Takada / DJ: DJ Small Change / Transportation: Silver Star Limousine

There’s nothing more romantic than an elopement filled with beautifully colored roses, an adorable fluffy dog, and a stroll through Boston Commons in the middle of July. This sweet couple wasn’t totally alone in their elopement because they invited their immediate family and I love how impromptu, yet perfectly planned their day was. Lynette Boyle Photography captured all the pretty details handled by the beautiful bride and there’s so much more here in the full gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Chris and I live in Norwalk, CT and got married 7/22 in Boston at city hall.  We have VERY large families and after being together for 5 years, 2 of them engaged we decided to have a surprise elopement.  My parents had planned a trip up north from South Carolina and we decided just a few days before they came that we would get married during their visit.  With very little time (less than a week) we pulled together a city hall ceremony followed by dinner at Rialto in Cambridge with our parents, my brother (his wife), his sister (her boyfriend), his grandparents & aunt and that’s it.

Currently I’m the Content Director for Teroforma (teroforma.com) & style their collateral, catalogs & blog, prior to that I was a stylist for Food & Wine Magazine as well as Martha Stewart.  I couldn’t have a “non” styled event even if it was an elopement.   Since styling is my background I insisted on making all the details (I also continue to freelance as a stylist).

The day before I went to the NYC flower market where I bought my flowers.  I knew the day would be hot so I wanted flowers that would hold up plus its slim pickings in July for flowers.  I ended up with roses (my last choice) but after seeing the color pallet I wouldn’t have had it any other way + they lasted.  We ended up getting married on the hottest day in history for Boston and even the next day they looked fantastic.  That night after a little send off dinner with a few friends I went back home to make the details a put the flowers together.

Some of the details included my necklace to coordinate with my pink and purple colors, monograms & hankies. I tried to pull together an intimate wedding with all the touches I would have wanted in a larger wedding.

Photography: Lynette Boyle Photography / Make-up: Kacie Corbelle / Dinner + Wedding Cake: Rialto / All Other Details: Lauren Fister

From all of our hearts to all of yours, we remember.

Please join us in celebrating the heroism and strength our country has shown over the last 10 years. Through the images that photographer Ryan Ray captured, and Lavender Joy Weddings styled, we’ve joined hands with some of our favorite blogs to remember the lives lost and the unity formed after that fateful day.

Green Wedding Shoes / Wedding Chicks / Ruffled / Junebug / 100 Layer Cake / Grey Likes Weddings / Southern Weddings

Good Morning, LBBers! I hope you are thoroughly enjoying your Saturday thus far. I’ve got something to share with you, and I will guarantee that you will be enjoying your Saturday a lot more after watching it. A fantastic highlight film from Loudbyte Cinematography, filled with so much emotion, you will not be able to stop yourself from grinning ear to ear – and possibly even shedding a tear or two. The couple was separated by oceans and land, but was finally able to come together to wed on a romantic, rainy Illinois day. Click here for the full image gallery!

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106,000 Miles….A Wedding Trailer from Loudbyte Cinematography on Vimeo.

From Loudbyte Cinematography … 106,000 Miles is a wedding trailer starring Angela + Phil. As is the custom in many chinese weddings, the groom must go through many challenges or ‘door games’ before he gets to see the bride. The door games are hilarious! Phil had to do push-ups while speaking Cantonese!

From the bride … Rewind. September 26, 2006.  It is a beautiful Saturday afternoon and we are off to our first date to the Chicago Botanical Gardens.  Phil, like the laid-back guy he is, rolls up in his car wearing a polo and jeans.  I, like the high-maintenance girl I am, click-clock to his car in my high pale pink heels and a summer dress.  Our story didn’t seem likely but it soon became full of love and mutual respect.  Fast forward.  May 28, 2011.  It is a wet and rainy day but probably one of the best days of our lives because today is the day we say “I do.”  After traveling over 106,000 miles for each other from Chicago to San Francisco and then separating again for 10 months for my visa, we finally made it.

Ceremony & Reception: Eaglewood Resort & Spa /Wedding Coordinator: Sweetchic Events / Cake: Lutz Cafe / DJ: Spin Productions / Shoes: Nina / Florist: Vale of Enna Flowers / Groom’s Watch: Mont Blanc / Cinematography: Loudbyte Cinematography