I thought I had my all time favorite wedding nailed down. But today’s pretty (and by pretty, I really mean hold your breath gorgeous, throw a few high kicks into the air beautiful) is giving my fav a run for its money. Kelly Oshiro and Tricia Fountaine blew it out of the freaking water with this and the photographs that Caroline Tran snapped…swoonfest. What I love though, is that this wedding is rustic but in a whole new beautiful way. It’s elegant and yet still feels homey and warm. Like you want to cuddle up on the sofa with one of those throw pillows and drink pink champagne with the maids until the wee hours of the morning. And if you can believe it, I couldn’t even come CLOSE to fitting in all of the details so you have to promise me you’ll check out the full gallery of images. Like STAT.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Caroline Tran Photographer…Elizabeth is a clothes designer & Jamie is a writer.  Tricia did an AMAZING job personalizing the decor – pages from old books to wrap the candles, flowers growing out of vintage typewriter & sewing machines, old thread spools in the decor. Specific flowers were chosen to represent their background too – cotton from North Carolina, Thistle for his Scottish background, Acorn from her childhood. Elizabeth’s mom hand-picked raw cotton from North Carolina for Tricia to use in which she made a cotton wreath and incorporated them into the boutonnieres, to name a few.  Everything was styled so beautifully and naturally.

They are both Catholic, so they brought the church to their ceremony by putting old church pews & old barn doors under a 200-year-old sycamore tree.  Details galore.  The reception took place in a barn.  All the tableware was vintage China.  There was a “make your own pot of tea” station, which I don’t think has been done before – all with real vintage tea sets.

For even MORE California weddings, check out our local Cali blog!

Wedding Photography: Caroline Tran Photographer / Wedding Planning + Production: Kelly Oshiro Design / Florals, Event Design, Props, Draping + China: Tricia Fountaine / Venue: Rancho dos Pueblos / Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone / Rentals: Town & Country Event Rentals / Lighting: Ambient Event Design / DJ: Johnny Hawkes / Catering: Bread + Wine Catering / Wedding Cake: Christine Dahl / Bathroom: Hollywood Honeywagon / Transportation: STA / Makeup: Kelly Shew/ Hair: Sunny Lee / Plantable Programs: Invitesite / Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Music: Javier Orman and Tom Farrel of Duo del Sol / Chocolate Mousse: Mother of the Bride

There is something so peaceful and beautiful about this Connecticut country wedding, and I am eating it right up. It’s the perfect piece of calm beauty to spend all Friday afternoon soaking up, recharging before the weekend. I absolutely love the intimate love that shines through every one of IRIS Photography‘s fantastic photos. This is just one of those weddings that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside from all the love, commitment, and romance. And those adorable bow ties aren’t too bad to look at either! Click here for the full image gallery.

Photography:  IRIS Photography / Venue:  Apricots, Farmington CT / Bowties:  Forage / Florals: Lane and Lenge / Pies: Dee’s One Smart Cookie / Bride’s Dress: Nicole Miller / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Priscilla of Boston / Shoes: Pelle Moda and Kate Spade / Hair: Defining Styles / Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Entertainment: The Hartt School / DJ: Connecticut DJ

Blue has never really been on my radar as far as favorite colors go. That is until now. The perfect shade of blue is making a dreamy appearance in just about every nook and cranny of this Charleston wedding. From the vibrant azure of the bridesmaid’s dresses to the softest pale blue of the hydrangeas and it fits right in with this Southern soirée crafted from beginning to end by Tiffany Snyder of Loluma. One thing that has always been on my favorites radar though is Corbin Gurkin who has never taken anything short of an amazing photograph. And her perfect picture taking continues with one dreamy photograph after another in the full wedding gallery. See it all here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Corbin Gurkin Photography…Ross and Amanda met nearly 10 years ago at Elon College, and their friends knew, it was a match made in heaven from the start.  They chose Charleston for the celebration of their nuptials as many couples do for its beauty, romantic and historical feel, great food, and a weekend of entertainment for their guests.  This wedding turned out just as Amanda and her family dreamed.  In a wedding venue, they wanted an intimate and casual feel that was an extension of the property itself.  The private, southern, estate feel of the Governor Thomas Bennett House was exactly what they had in mind for the modernized, Victorian style reception, and the garden setting made for an incredible backdrop for the ceremony under an oak tree strung with white wash, French chandeliers.

Following the ceremony, the guests were led into the house for a champagne toast from the bride and groom on the gorgeous spiral staircase.  They were then left to enjoy the house along with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while the bridal party returned to the garden for photos.  The tent on the carriage house lawn awaited the group following cocktail hour and as guests were led there, they strolled under trees of votives in clear glass to create a dreamy effect of twinkling light that increased as the night progressed.  The elements of detail in the tent focused on various lighting fixtures, an antique style mirrored bar and back bar shelf lined with an eclectic assortment of votives.  The lounge accented with pale blue and cream toss pillows embraced a glass cube coffee table filled with the bride’s signature blue hydrangea glowing with soft light.  To top it all off, the addition of perfect fall weather was the best gift the bride was given all day.

Wedding Photography: Corbin Gurkin Photography / Wedding Coordination, Design + Floral Design: Tiffany Snyder of Loluma / Caterer: Cru Catering / Wedding Cakes: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal / Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Musicians: Helen Greenfield / Reception Music: Skate Rink Jukebox via East Coast Entertainment / Bridal Gown: Romona Kevesa via Bridals by Lori / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groomsmen Attire: JoS A. Bank / Transportation: Charleston Black Cab Company / Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals / Bridesmaid’s Hair: Stuart Lawrence Salon / Make-up Artist: Margaret Ghierhart / Bride’s Hair: Ashley Fisher

I am obsessed with the idea of a Day After Shoot. Can you imagine how fabulous it would be to take a few pictures once all the stress is gone, the party went off without a hitch, and it’s just you and your main squeeze against the world? Not to mention, it provides a lovely excuse to twirl around in your dress again. Well this shoot by  Ben Yew Photography just made me even more obsessed with the idea. It’s all around gorgeous, and there is even more in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Ben Yew Photography…This lovely couple from Vietnam (Lauren+Duy) got married a few months back (in Perth), but they wanted something different from their wedding day which was captured by another photographer. It was actually a post-wedding photo session, more for the fun of having a bridal session without the stress on their wedding day. Lauren decided to have the session in Margaret River and Augusta as its away from Perth, more relaxed location. Glad the weather was good besides being so cold during winter and it didn’t rain on that day, which was great!! We started our session in Margaret River and move towards Augusta, Western Australia.

Photography: Ben Yew Photography

I am super amped for today’s post. We are going to get the inside scoop on wedding planning from two totally amazing planners, Nick and Aleah Valley of Valley & Co. Plus this is just the first of many visits from the two experts!  They’ll be gracing our blog on a monthly basis to answer your wedding questions.  We’ll kick it off with a little introduction from the duo plus their top nine planning tips of all time.  These aren’t the same old tips you hear over and over again either so make sure you are taking notes!  After you’re done cramming put together a list of your ultimate wedding planning questions and leave them in the comment section below.  Aleah and Nick will pick three questions to answer next month!

We are Nick and Aleah Valley of Valley & Co., the award-winning husband and wife wedding + event planning and design duo™ since 2003. We’re just thrilled to offer our planning tips and advice that we’ve found invaluable over our years to Style Me Pretty readers!

In no particular order of importance, these are some of our most cherished tips that we encourage our couples to incorporate into their big day and planning process:

1. Delight in the simplest of ways. Greeting your guests with tray passed wine and cocktails is a wonderful way to start off your celebration, but don’t forget simple things like tray passed iced water. Dress it up by infusing with lemon or cucumber or garnish with frozen grape skewers. Welcome your guests to their place settings with a fresh fruit plate or gourmetcheese board. It’s all about unexpected {simple} ways to delight your guests.

2. Give thanks. Thanking your guests for coming to show their love and support is such a sweet and important thing to do. It can be as simple as printing up {or hand-writing} thank you notes that you slip into each place setting. If friends or family have traveled from afar, give thanks to them in your toast.

3. Divide and conquer. Talk to your fiancé about what’s most important to each of you during the wedding planning process and on your big day. Divvy up tasks based on what you both love and enjoy and come together for duties like your cake tasting, menu planning, and logistics. Spice up the planning and let each other plan one surprise for the big day.

4. Appease the senses. When designing the flow and ambiance of your wedding, bring inunexpected textures, flavors, and scents in subtle ways to create a true experience. Ta pinto the senses: an abundance of candlelight is always aesthetically appeasing. Enhance taste with fresh seasonal dishes and a palate cleanser like a basil lemon sorbet before your entrees. Bring in beautifully textured linens and napkins and incorporate natural elements in your centerpieces.

5. Break the rules. While some wedding traditions should always be, break the rules and go with what you enjoy and love.

6. Entertain. Surprise your guests with entertaining elements like a steel drummer during cocktail hour, a raspy jazz singer during dinner, or fire or hula dancers to kick off your dance floor. Tie in a fun and funky piece of entertainment based on your hobbies, places you love to travel, or something quirky you both enjoy. If you’re on a tighter budget, source local schools for musicians or tap into your neighborhood community center.

7. Roll with the elements. Sometimes the most wonderfully planned weddings are thrown a curveball with the weather. Plan ahead as best as you can: for chilly or windy evening celebrations, gift the ladies in attendance rolled up shawls cinched with fanciful ribbon or place vintage blankets stowed in oversized wicker baskets to encourage cozying up to enjoy the night. For hot summer soirees, stage galvanized tubs with Limonata drinks and sparkling water to keep guests cool. Provide paper parasols for them to use while they wait for you to sashay down the aisle.

8. Bond with your team. Bring on talented, experienced wedding artists who understand your vision and whom you click with. You’ll be spending a lot of time with each vendor so developing a comfortable relationship will ensure a fun planning process and a smooth,beautiful day. We typically spend up to a year with our marvelous clients and know how important it is for them to click with us and for us to enjoy them as well. These relationships will play an important role in your big day.

9. Savor every moment. Enjoy the planning process and document it! Take photos, keep menus and swatches, and have fun! The planning process is an experience in itself and,when done properly, you’ll be left excited for your big day! This is the start of your new adventure together so savoring and enjoying the planning process is a key to kicking off your marriage on the right foot.

I certainly could have used some advice like that when I was engaged!  I especially love the tip about enjoying the engagement and planning process.  It all goes by so fast!  You know what else went by too fast?  This month’s segment with Nick and Aleah.  But don’t dispair!  Leave a comment with your ultimate wedding planning question and Valley & Co. will be back in October to give you the lowdown!

I’m a wee bit obsessed with this sparkly little number from BHLDN.  Every time I see it I start planning my vow renewals immediately so obviously I was thrown into quite a tizzy by this phenomenal photo shoot from Mike Larson Photographers, Inc.  I’m thinking an Italian villa destination wedding do-over is in order.  I don’t know how they do it but Alchemy Fine Events and Invitations continues to create the most richly elegant and exquisite inspiration shoots I have ever seen.  This Tuscany delight might just take the cake!  See all the gorgeous and gilded details in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations…For this romantic Tuscan inspiration shoot I wanted to combine the rustic elements of the surrounding vineyards and hillsides with the modern and fashionable side of Florence. Think Town and Country, Italian style. We started by incorporating rough woods, ceramics and raw elements such as horn  and layered on hand-painted Valentino silk fabric and 18th century china ware. While keeping in tune with the juxtaposition of styles, we incorporated modern lucite louis ghost chairs, mirrored cube risers and sleek lucite candleholders. Large and lush arrangements of white and soft peach peonies were presented in cut crystal vases while purple lisianthus and lilac garden roses were tucked into vintage gold goblets. To bring in authentic elements of Florence magenta and lilac scarves from the Florentine Markets were used to create napkins which were tucked inside of vintage silver monogrammed napkins rings.

I couldn’t possibly leave you without offering up some ideas on how to bring this marvelous Tuscany wedding on home.  There is no reason why this luxurious look needs to break the bank either!

1. Of course, my favorite dress needs to make it into this buying guide.  All you lucky, engaged ladies in the market for a gown can pick up this beauty from BHLDN for under $1500!  It doesn’t get much better than that!

2. Decorating with lucite candelabras might be breathtaking but not quite so budget worthy.  That’s where Z Gallerie comes to the rescue.  I love scouring their website for unique decor ideas for weddings and my house!  This white candelabra and matching chandelier would be perfect to create an elegantly modern ceremony site similar to the draped alter in the photo shoot.

3. OK, I know that ghost chairs may not be the must budget-friendly item in the world.  They are, however, available to rent from some rental companies now which is all kinds of awesome.  Plus I love the look of just two special ghost chairs for bride and groom combined with gold dining chairs for the guests.

4. Monogrammed napkin rings for all your guests?  A little excessive.  Monogrammed napkin rings for just the two of you?  A nice touch that you can bring home with you.  Jamali Gardens, a fantastic wedding resource, has a set of four silver napkins rings for under $10!

5. The gilded, opulent look of this shoot is easy to replicate with just a couple of simple touches like renting gold-rimmed china.  I would feel like royalty even eating a burger and fries off of these beauties!

6. Lisianthus is one of my absolute favorite flowers.  They are oh-so pretty in white or purple and a very wallet-loving alternative to roses or other expensive blossoms.

Photography: Mike Larson Photographers, Inc. / Design, Styling + Coordination: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations / Invitation + Stationery Design: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations / Calligraphy: Calligraphy by Durante / Floral Design + Furniture Rentals: Floralia / Table Settings: Small Masterpiece [ We Set The Table ] / Wedding Cake: Erica OBrien Cake Design / Venue: Villa La Selva / Bridal Gown (white): Angel Sanchez via M Bride Salon / Bridal Gown (cream ruffle): BHLDN / Jewelry: Rachel Leigh Jewelry

Let me just tell you that I love this wedding and the sweet couple’s intimate ceremony on a covered patio, safe from the rain drops falling overhead, yet close enough to enjoy its calming sounds. Talk about romantic! Their theme reflected their love of food, wine, travel and music perfectly. Firefly Occasions was there to cover each and every detail from who to hire to designing their big day and thanks to Alison J Photography we have all these gorgeous images to gaze at all day long. See even more here in the gallery!

Click here for entire image gallery!

From the bride…Our love of great food, wine, music and travel permeates our relationship, so we focused on having each of these things well represented at our wedding. While many wedding venues offer nice menus, few can compete with Calgary’s top restaurants, so by keeping our guest list small, only 60 people, we were able to enjoy a wide-ranging gourmet Italian feast at Bonterra Trattoria. Not only were the food and wine choices sublime, the venue itself had all the warm character and charm of an authentic Italian Trattoria, making it a wonderful backdrop for the evenings film, photos and festivities.

Rather than take up a whole day with the wedding, photo sessions and a reception, we chose to start in the late afternoon with a short wedding ceremony which moved right into the reception. The ceremony was held outside on Bonterra’s charming patio, and although the weather didn’t cooperate, the patio heaters kept everyone toasty warm, and having rain fall around the edges of the patio’s awning cover only heightened the romantic ambiance of the moment. A live clarinet and guitar duo added further to the warmth and charm of the occasion.

We then moved inside for the fabulous dinner, complete with loving and hilarious speeches. Our wedding cake was a multi-tiered cupcake stand by Crave Cupcakes and we enjoyed a short slide show revealing a glimpse of our individual pasts. Then came a special treat; recording artist, Tim Tamishiro, and a live quartet  played three sets of old standards. Tim, a consummate crooner, put on a fabulous performance and the dance floor was packed from beginning to end. Guests, both young and old, loved the music, and we heard many times over that it had been one of the classiest weddings in memory.

That the event was such a great success was largely due to the professional and experienced Firefly team. All of the suppliers that they recommended were first rate, and they made sure that everything came off on schedule and as planned. Firefly’s hand-picked team of experts, including photography, flowers, hair and makeup, was a joy to work with, and the talented efforts of these professionals elevated our cherished event in Bonterra’s ideal venue to perfection. We are deeply grateful to all these fine people.

Photography: Alison J Photography / Cinematography: David Schuurman Wedding Cinema / Flowers: Flower Arstistry / Event Design and Planning: Firefly Occasions / Ceremony and Reception Location: Bonterra Trattoria / Invitations: Glimpz Invitations

These Orange County nuptials by Sharon De La O are literally a breath of fresh air as the last few days of summer drift on by.  The sun, sand and a whole lot of gorgeous has left me daydreaming of the days past… And planning for the summer of 2012. With a breathtaking ceremony and reception held only steps from the ocean, tables overflowing with beautiful blooms and succulents by Organic Elements, vibrant blue vases, s’mores on the beach and a stunning bride who is not afraid to get a little sand on her dress, I can’t think of a better way to start the weekend than with this fabulous beach chic soiree.  Yes, this wedding is most definitely a much needed departure from the cooling temperatures and there is even more lovely to keep the sun shining in the gallery.  Join me there!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Sharon De La O… This wedding was a dream to be a part of. The perfect combination of awesome vendors and DIY goodness. Katie and Bo were absolutely head over heels in love with each other. Some of the DIY items included a wooden post made out of drift wood Katie found on the beach. She wrote all of their favorite beaches and surf spots on it. She also made a sweet little candy table with labels of their favorite beaches and adorable goodie bags with the cutest details on them. She had signs and labels made of drift wood on everything. Stones on each place setting with the guest’s name hand written on it, then the guests each wrote a note to the newlyweds on the other side of the stone as a keepsake for them. Katie’s shell bouquet made by Organic Elements was to die for!

Wedding Photography: Sharon De La O / Caterer: Annel & Drew’s Kitchen, LLC / Floral Design: Organic Elements / Musicians: Pete Goslow / Reception Venue: Private Estate / Linens + Coverings: Platinum Party Rentals

We’ve got a super fun and whimsical wedding to kick off your weekend in style. Sent into us by the super talented Two Pair Photography, this wedding is sure to put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step. We’re loving the vibrant color palette, the happy-happy couple, and the super cute DIY touches like the adorable ribboned ceremony programs. See so much more in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Two Pair Photography…My (now) husband and I both grew up in Texas and have lived in Austin for 7+ years, but in deciding where to tie the knot, we knew it needed to be somewhere a little bit different. I am an Event Coordinator and previously worked in wedding planning for three years, so I felt like I had worked in every venue in Austin and within a 50-mile radius. Within two minutes of getting engaged, my (then) fiance and I looked at each other and said simultaneously “how about Marfa?” Marfa, Texas is a tiny town of just under 2,000 people in the West Texas desert. While still dating, my husband and I had taken a weekend road trip there – a 7 hour drive from Austin, and fell in love with everything about the town from the amazing cafes and pizza joint to the art museums and fabulous hotels. We both agreed that we wanted to keep the wedding small and intimate and hoped that our guests would enjoy a mini-destination wedding to the home town of the “mystery lights”.

In planning our wedding, we designed the decor and chose our vendors with three things in mind: fun, cheerful, and modern with a western touch. I asked my bridesmaids to each choose their own dress in a common color scheme (teal) and balanced the modern style of our reception venue with natural and bright colors – in our Chiavari chairs, burlap runners, and pops of yellow and teal in florals and satin toppers. As the majority of the wedding planning took place from Austin, I had to base some of our vendor decisions on mere phone calls and email, but we completely lucked out and everyone from our caterer and bartender to our lighting and venue crew were amazing. We tried to use as many local West Texas vendors as possible but based on our budget and my connections as a planner, we did wind up hiring an Austin-based florist and coordinator who actually drove out to Marfa with a car full of florals the day prior to our wedding. I still can’t believe the dahlias and ranunculus survived in the Texas summer heat – they turned out gorgeous!

As an Event Coordinator and creative person, I took on a lot of the DIY tasks myself: designing our invitation suite (with the additional help of two dear friends), creating labels for the cake jars and late-night popcorn snack, table numbers and individual drink tags, a poster announcing our wedding for outside the church and ribboned ceremony programs, and the fun little signs and pinwheels our guests waved as we exited the church. Fortunately, as a former wedding planner, I know it’s easy for brides to take on too many tasks, so I did order a lot of our items from Etsy vendors – everything from my veil to the photobooth props and confetti eggs guests broke and threw in the air for our final exit! I also received help from our many talented family members for the table banners and painted cake toppers. Wedding planning was stressful and overwhelming at times, but in the end, everything came together perfectly, our vendors were God-sends, and my husband and I enjoyed ourselves so much that we wished the evening had never ended. It really was one of the best days of my life and I’m so glad we chose to spend it in Marfa, Texas!

Wedding Photography: Two Pair Photography / Band: Ghosts Along the Brazos / Coordination + Floral Design: The Gala Gal / Event Design + Invitations: The Bride / Ceremony Location: St. Mary’s Catholic Church / Reception Location: Capri Event Space & Lounge / Caterer: Reata Alpine + Murphy St. Raspas Co. + Cornucopia Gourmet Popcorn / Wedding Cake + Cupcake Jars: Sugar ‘N Spice Patisserie / Rentals: Premiere Party Central + Loot Vintage Rentals / Wedding Dress: Venus

When you wed at The Parker Palm Springs, and your flower girl is a pink tutu-wearing French Bulldog named Lulu, you’re wedding is absolutely bound to be awesome. Much like this FAB fête from ARTISAN, Event · Floral · Décor, LLC. Every single image from Duke Khodaverdin screams fun – which is always perfect for a California wedding. All the pink, orange, and white, with the modern edge of the décor, compliment this fantastic couple’s amazing style. Don’t forget about the full image gallery for even more of this glam affair!

From ARTISAN, Event · Floral · Décor, LLC … The Gene Autry Estate located on the grounds of The Parker is where Lauren and Devon had this intimate celebration.  Pink, coral and crisp white created the color palette for their wedding.

One of the highlights of the evening was Lulu their French Bulldog dressed in a pink tutu and walked down the aisle.  Finding her way down the stylized white and pink rose petal walkway bordered with hot pink pomanders was just adorable.  As a surprise for everyone at the wedding, Lauren and Devon were pronounced man and wife the Mariachi’s came out of hiding in the house… talk about fun!

A diamond shape dance floor was the center with family style table surrounding created this intimate setting on the back lawn, with frosted mini globe lights strung over the tables and stylish pink linen fabric boxes varied in size and shape filled with white hydrangea, coral peonies, orange tulips and hot pink ranunculus nestled between tall candle stands with floating white candles creating the landscape down the table.

A stylized Fiesta meets The Parker!

Floral: ARTISAN, Event · Floral · Décor, LLC / Event Coordination: ARTISAN, Event · Floral · Décor, LLC / Photography: Duke Khodaverdin / DJ: James Gonzalez, Eventertainment / Catering: The Parker Palm Springs / Venue: The Parker Palm Springs

Is it just me, or are backyard weddings the most fabulously intimate and seriously stylish affairs? I have a good feeling it’s not just me, and weddings like this one by Megan Welker Photography just show the proof is in the pudding…or the pictures in this case. Speaking of these pretty, pretty pictures – would you believe me if I said they were taken by Megan while she was also serving as Maid of Honor? Talk about double duty! Luckily Raquel Leal Photography was there to make sure not a moment was missed. Between the two of these lovely ladies, they filled the gallery with so many images you’ll want to cozy up with this backyard beauty and stay awhile.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Megan Welker Photography…Wynter and Will were married late April at a family friends private estate in Visalia, Ca. It was a beautiful day filled with so much love, emotion and laughter.

It was my best friends wedding so being a photographer I wanted to capture it but I was also the Maid of Honor. Am I crazy? I was. A tad. I had my wonderfully talented friend Raquel Leal shoot it with me and cover for me during the ceremony and all times I was to do my MOH duties! She did a fantastic job and I couldn’t have done it without her.

We were getting pretty nervous a couple of weeks before the wedding because of all the rain we’d been getting. The whole, “should we rent a tent, should we not” debate floated in the air. That morning we awoke to the most beautiful blue skies and a perfect breeze. The day couldn’t have been better for Wynter and Will. The girls showed up, we took our time getting beautified, drank mimosas and bloody mary’s and enjoyed the last few hours before Wynter became a Mrs. The details downstairs at the ceremony and reception site were set and ready to go. Before we knew it guests were showing up to witness this special, long-awaited day. I cried as soon as I saw Wynter walking down the aisle with her parents. The remainder of the ceremony was emotional, there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd. As Coldplay’s “Strawberry Swing” played in the air, Wynter and Will had their first kiss as husband and wife.

All of the floral arrangements you see (besides bouquets) were done by family and friends. A friend of the family had all of the succulents planted for the wedding. It was a completely DIY wedding; we hand sewed the tulle/burlap table numbers, table runners, and bunting signs. The succulent favors were all made by Wynter’s family and every single white pitcher used as the centerpiece on each table was from a family friend. It was an incredible wedding literally made from love.

Wedding Photography: Megan Welker Photography + Raquel Leal Photography / Wedding Videography: Floataway Studios / Venue: Private Residence / Table + Chair Rentals: Details / DJ: Mobile Sound Productions / Caterer: Wahoo’s Fish Taco / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Cakes by Kathy Bell / Florist: Sweet Memories / Hair + Make-up: Eclectic Chic Salon / Wedding Dress + Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender via Neiman Marcus

Every wedding is special but for this bride and this groom, who returned from Afghanistan one month before marrying his beloved, the wedding day must have been really spectacular.  How’s that for major heart string pulling?  You know what else gets my insides all melty?  Extraordinary photography by Laura Leslie Photography, luscious florals and perfect, elegantly natural details. See them all in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Laura Leslie Photography…Wesley and Jaimee were married on July 30th 2011 in Augusta, GA in a Greek Orthodox Ceremony. Wesley is a military captain and he returned from Afghanistan one month before the wedding. They exited the ceremony through swords in an effort to mimic photos from her grandparents wedding.

We drove across the border to South Carolina for wedding party and first sight bride and groom shots on a horse farm. Jaimee and Wesley had 18 members in the wedding party. Four of the guys were captains in the military. Go team 18 wedding party!

Their reception was held at the historical Sacred Heart building in Augusta which used to be a Catholic Church. It had beautiful high ceilings and stained glass windows. It was a day full of natural elements from the ivory and light green flowers to the horse farm but also infused with a formal and a classic feel from the military suits and unique Orthodox ceremony.

Wedding Photography: Laura Leslie Photography / Floral Design: Dyson Designs / Wedding Cake: Dianna Tornow Cakes / Catering: Southern Delights Catering / Event Planning: Special Moments / Ceremony Location: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church / Reception Location: Sacred Heart Cultural Center / Hair + Makeup: Halo Salon and Spa

There are approximately three billion things that I love about this intimate Highland Park affair by Orange 2 Photography, so I think it’s safe to say that I am officially obsessed.  For starters, I absolutely adore weddings at home, especially when the home is affectionately called “Our Pleasant Place” by the bride and groom.  Yep, seriously love that.  And when you add to all of that backyard loveliness the fabulous florals by Botanicals, the crazy awesome heart-shaped tree sign and a wedding dress that is all caps AMAZING, this soiree just took a quick jump to the top of my all-time favorites list.  It’s pretty much a guarantee that I’ll be spending my afternoon (and weekend) in the gallery with every last bit of pretty, so join me there for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… I knew that I did not want a conventional wedding, with ordinary details. This wedding needed to represent me, and us, it needed to stand for something more than just a passing night that looked the same as the wedding the week before. We don’t love to dance, a hotel setting never felt right, and at my wedding, I didn’t want to be introduced to anyone for the first time. We threw the rule book away, and my mom and I set the stage for what would be the most dreamy day of my life. Scott was not involved in the planning, he left the decisions up to us.

Decision number one, the wedding would take place at our new home, which we fondly refer to as Our Pleasant Place. I started the search for my dress. Le Salon Bridal Boutique made my wedding dress dreams come true. I fell in love with the Spanish designer, Rosa Clara and they were one of the only boutiques in the country who carried her line. Le Salon specializes in creating a unique individualized, unrivaled experience for the bride who is looking for her dress to say something more, and my Rosa Clara gown did just that.

Our day of wedding coordinator, Alyssa Stark, was seamless in her choreography. The event went beyond smoothly, in large part due to her quiet confidence and her abundant knowledge of how to make a perfectly flowing wedding. Scott’s mom, created the Scottie and Tracey heart sign that was used as a backdrop for pictures. My mom and I did the rest, which involved an exorbitant amount of cleaning and yard work, stamping “happily ever after” bags for homemade chocolate chip cookies, stringing twinkle lights in the tents, filling mason jars with lights which added to the ambiance, decorating the front entry tree with Japanese lanterns, creating the music for the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and after party, and all the other odds and ends. And of course my mom and I can take full credit for the vision, which was influenced by our love of vintage, our free spirits, and our desire to be true to ourselves. It was without a doubt the wedding of my dreams.

Wedding Photography: Orange 2 Photography / Wedding Dress: Rosa Clara via Le Salon Bridal Boutique / Catering: Wolfgang Puck Catering / Floral Design: Botanicals / Wedding Invitations: Elizabeth Grace / Tent: Party Time Productions / Valet: Red Top Valet / Rabbi: Solel / Wedding Cake: Jewel-Osco

This is a tale of a gorgeous, GORGEOUS Bride and her equally handsome Groom exchanging vows in a breathtaking locale in New York. On paper, it sounds like a complete dream and in reality, it’s even more so. Readyluck snapped some amazing imagery for us to drool over and if you can manage to pry your eyes away from the perfect little Monique Lhuillier number, you’ll fall even more in love with every understated yet ever so elegant detail. So sit back, get cozy and spend some time exploring all the fabulousness in the full wedding gallery!

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From Readyluck…In May I headed an hour outside of New York City to photograph Chloe and Mike’s wedding at Chloe’s parents house.  I met Chloe last year while on assignment for the London Times.  The Times commissioned me to photograph Chloe upon the release of her first book, “Wild Romance,  A Victorian Story of a Marriage, a Trial, and a Self-Made Woman”.  She spent a year living in London researching and writing her book and we met shortly after her return to Washington D.C.  Chloe and I worked wonderfully well together and shortly after our portrait session, she contacted me to see if I would be interested in photographing her wedding.  I was thrilled!

The wedding was everything I thought it would be and more.  Both Chloe and Mike’s clean sophisticated style were present in everything from her lovely dress by Monique Lhuillier from Mark Ingram  to the finest table details.  Wedding planner, Michelle Meltzer, was on top of everything and did a fabulous job with the design of the wedding.  The catering, done by Susan Lawrence, was some of the best I’ve tasted, not to mention the presentation and organization was top-notch.

Wedding Photography: Readyluck / Location: Private Residence / Floral Decor: The Green Vase / Catering: Susan Lawrence Catering / Lighting: Frost Lighting / Tent: Stamford Tent / DJ: DJSeek10, Masika Henson / Ceremony + Cocktail Music: Raya Bass Band / Hair: JD Bowers of Tosler Davis / Make-up: Mary of Tosler Davis / Wedding Coordinator: Michelle Meltzer / Transportation + Valet: World Class Parking / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier

We’re wrapping up another lovely week of inspiration here on Style Me Pretty Florida with this fabulous Key Largo affair that’s guaranteed to leave you smiling through the weekend.  From the outrageously gorgeous ceremony set against an ocean backdrop to the oh-so-pretty color palette to the brilliant images by Haring Photography, this wedding is one part beach chic, one part traditional and all parts perfect.  Not to mention those ah.ma.zing bridesmaid dresses from twobirds Bridesmaid that are simply stunning in every way possible.  Swoon.  With every last detail designed by Divine Design by Guerdy, there’s a lot to love in this elegant soiree, so be sure to join me in the gallery for all of the pretty and then stay tuned for more fabulous from Serendipity Studios!

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Oh, and there’s more.  Feast your eyes on this amazing video by Serendipity Studios.  Absolute perfection.

From the Bride… JJ and I met in Med School in Miami in 2006. I grew up spending my summers at the Ocean Reef Club, a private community in the upper Keys, and when JJ and I started dating he began to spend summers there with us too.  We shared many special moments there, so while we both moved to California a couple of years before our wedding, we knew we wanted to get married at this special place where our relationship first started to grow.

Planning a wedding from the opposite coast has its set of challenges, but after hiring my wedding planner Guerdy Rejouis-Abraira to help coordinate the process became much much easier! Having a bridal party of 11 girls with different body types and scattered across the country, I fell in love with the twobirds Bridesmaid dresses. They were one size fits all and could flatter every figure. I was able to have twobirds custom color the dress to fit the wedding theme that I wanted— not too matchy matchy, very elegant, very glamorous, but most of all fun.

Most of my other vendors I found on the SMP Little Black Book and on Etsy. There were a few components that we insisted on including in our wedding- we wanted a weekend event so we could be around our friends and family for as long as possible, we wanted a beach ceremony because that is where we both feel at home, and we wanted it to feel elegant without being too contrived. The ceremony took place outside on the beach at sunset. Aside from our wedding canopy, decorated with a mix of spring roses and flowers, we kept the other decorations minimal so that everyone could enjoy the spectacular ocean view. Ocean Flowers and Guerdy transformed this nautical themed ballroom into our dream space, with wall draping, uplights, and a massive upholstered center bar that made sure everyone was having a great time. The band played until midnight when a DJ kept the party going until 3AM. I know a lot of brides get stressed about planning their weddings and I certainly had my moments but over all from start to finish, planning to party I wouldn’t change a thing!

Wedding Photography: Haring Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Serendipity Studios / Floral Design: Ocean Flowers / Event Design + Planning: Divine Design by Guerdy / Location: Ocean Reef Club / Invitations: Aileen Invitations / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Dior / Wedding Dress: Oscar de la Renta via Ever After Miami / Bride’s Belt: Maria Elena via Ever After Miami / Bridesmaid Dresses: twobirds Bridesmaid / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: J.Crew / Groom’s Shoes: Gucci

Newport is such a fab little destination wedding location for New Englanders. Just a hop, skip and a jump away from Boston and the likes, and full of style and history – Newport produces loads of pretty. And this wedding by Lisa Rigby Photography at Belle Mer is most definitely pretty. SUPER pretty. Overflowing with flowers from Stoneblossom and stylish details around every corner, it’s pretty and THEN some! See it all for yourself in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…John proposed one year to the day after our first weekend away together at our favorite NYC hotel. I was completely surprised and over the moon happy. On our way home from celebrating our engagement that evening I found myself in front of an all night news stand buying wedding magazines. I couldn’t believe it was my turn to not just pass by this section but to finally start the fabulous adventure of planning our wedding. Being that John and I are both originally from NY but currently live in Boston we decided on a location that was half way between our two homes and Newport, RI was the perfect fit. We decided to do a mini-destination wedding in this beautiful seaside town. Belle Mer was our first appointment and we fell in love.Our wedding theme came easily to us since the venue was on the ocean and we booked a summer date, we wanted a modern seaside chic wedding filled with lots of personal touches that reflected our style. After securing the color scheme and choosing the bridesmaid dresses we went with a navy, bright purple and white color palette with accents of aqua.

Following Style Me Pretty religiously throughout the planning process I was inspired by so many beautiful weddings and took details that I liked and then put our own spin and style on them. I learned what I wanted our photographs to look like and knew I wanted both photos and film to capture our emotions on the big day. Lisa Rigby and Still Motion were the two best vendors who really understood that. Flowers and paper goods were my next obsessions. I wanted peonies & hydrangea everywhere an Stone Blossom seemed as giddy as I was planning out an all white floral palette with the only color being my wedding bouquet. Miss Pickles Press worked with me over the course of a year designing all the paper items and dreamed up the exact look we wanted for our modern wedding. Details were so important to us and we really felt made the wedding special to John and me. I envisioned beautiful pillows, frames, apothecary jars, mirrors, vases everywhere and was able to find them all on Etsy. Every Etsy vendor I worked with was amazing and really gave me custom items to match our wedding. I was constantly surprised when everything came out better then I had imagined.

On the day of the wedding we had the most beautiful weather and everything went as we exactly as we had planned. It was the best overwhelming feeling of love and happiness we have ever felt and will always remember. We will be forever grateful to everyone who helped make all of our dreams come true on our special day!

Wedding Photography: Lisa Rigby Photography / Film Makers: StillMotion / Venue: Belle Mer / Floral Design: Stoneblossom / Wedding Cake + Groom’s Cake: Confectionery Designs / Wedding Dress: Anne Barge via Kleinfelds / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale via L’Élite / Band: Night Rhythm / Cocktail Hour Band: Steel Rhythm / Save the Date: Cheree Berry Paper / Wedding Invitations + Day of Paper Items: Miss Pickles Press / Navy + Aqua Pillows: Willa Skye Home / White + Navy LOVE Pillow: Wrap it Up LLC / Table Frames: Frame it by Jill / Hammered Silver Items: West Elm / Bridesmaid Rings: Toosis / LOVE Dishes: Say Your Piece / Wedding Mugs: Timeless Creations / Ring Pillow: Giggle Room / Silver Urchin Escort Card Holders: Gallery 360 / H&J Wood Letters: Compulsive Collection / Vases for Drink Stirrers: CB2 / Tote Bag Design: QA Design

We all know that pretty much everything that the lovely Elizabeth Messina does turns to wedding gold, but this next shoot…it’s not simply gold. It’s sparkly and rich and layered with so many textures of beauty that I can hardly contain my wedding giddiness. Gold times about a million. Elizabeth shot the feature for the on-newstands-now edition of Munaluchi Bride, THE most gorgeous wedding magazine ever with an emphasis on brides of color. And the result was give-you-chills kind of beautiful. From the Twigs & Honey headpieces to the Tejani jewels and the drop dead gorgeous fashions, models and florals, every last bit of this is pure delicious. Oh and there is SO much more in the current issue of Munaluchi that will be sure to leave your hearts a-flutter.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Elizabeth Messina…I was so thrilled when Jacqueline, Editor and Chief of Munaluchi Bride, asked me to fly to New York to photograph an editorial spread. Couture Gowns from some amazing designers….a Castle in New York…beautiful brown skin models….seriously this was a dream come true for me. As the mother of mixed race children I have longed for my work to reflect the beauty I see in my family. I love what Munaluchi is doing and I feel proud to be part of it.

Photography: Elizabeth Messina / Location: OHEKA CASTLE / Hair Adornments: Twigs & Honey / Earrings: TEJANI and TEJANI / Rings: David Tutera / Suits: Hugo Boss for Kleinfeld Mens / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair: Brian Mann / Makeup: Dex New York / Floral Design: kat flower / Fashion Stylist: Joy Adaeze / Poetry: Chioma Obii-Obioha / Cakes + Desserts: Palermo’s Bakery

If romance is at the top of your wedding musts then you’ll want to pay extra close attention to this lovely affair photographed by Frenzel Photographers. Every single inch of this baby is oozing all out glamour and the romance is center stage. (aside from the gorgeous Bride and Groom of course). Joyful Weddings and Events crafted a sea of pretty details and can we please discuss the fabulous florals by Modern Bouquet? DYING. After your oohhs and ahhs and collective le swoons, be sure to pop over to the gallery to fawn over even more of this stunning day!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…A few years ago I was really into the blogging world and came across the Joyful Weddings and Events blog. I was mesmerized by their beautiful and creative weddings. I saved their website and other photos I found to my favorites for later. One of those photos was of a beautiful arch for a ceremony. When I began planning, that same arch that I had saved happened to show up on a wedding featured on Style Me Pretty. When I saw it I was so excited! I was able to learn more about that wedding with “the arch” and their team of vendors. It ended up being Southern California wedding AND it was designed by my old blog favorite Joyful Weddings and Events. It was meant to be, and I booked them right away. It was the best decision we made for the whole wedding. Their fresh ideas and inspiration from their past weddings had a huge impact on how my day came to be.

If it were up to my husband(!), we would have been married in a quick ceremony in Las Vegas right after our engagement. He doesn’t like people making a fuss over him, so I had to keep that in mind while planning our wedding. Early on we decided that we wanted something outdoors and that he wouldn’t wear a tuxedo. We wanted a relaxed feel to the day, but still some elements of tradition. After that, he let me run with it. I envisioned a romantic garden setting with gorgeous flowers and candlelight. My sister and I came up with the color scheme while browsing bridal magazines. Navy, green, ivory, blush, and touches of aqua seemed like a natural fit for a garden setting. I didn’t want any one color to stand out too much. My bridesmaids wore the cutest dresses that my MOH found for a steal, and they accessorized them with metallic and pearl accents. Jeff bought his groomsmen their suits and they wore navy ties to coordinate.

Tiffany & Co. has played a significant role in our engagement, so I wanted to incorporate some Tiffany blue into our day as well. We brought that in with the sweet flower girl dress, our custom stationary, guest book set up, and paper drinking straws. I regularly checked all the wedding blogs (and still do, even after our wedding) for ideas. My mom and I searched all over for mercury glass vases and candle holders, and I found many other decor pieces on Etsy. We had an amazing team of vendors, and everything came together so perfect! Jeff and I both had so much fun. I wish I could go back to that day. It really was the best day ever.

Wedding Photography: Frenzel Photographers / Floral Design: Modern Bouquet / Event Design + Planning: Joyful Weddings and Events / Ceremony + Reception Location: Fransiscan Gardens / Invitations: Sugar and Fluff / Wedding Dress: Signature Bridal and Tuxedo / Wedding Cake: Sweet and Saucy Shoppe / Vintage Rentals: Found / Lounge Wear: Plum Pretty Sugar / Catering: 24 Carrots

Do you ever see photos from a wedding, and just feel the energy, the love, the excitement radiating off of them? That is exactly the feeling I’m getting from this Naperville wedding from Melissa Hayes Photography. I always say Indian weddings have got to be amazing to be a part of, and the images you’re about to see have just proven that fact. The couple chose such brilliant, vibrant colors, therefore achieving such a fun and exciting ambience that flies right out of the computer screen. Don’t forget about the gallery for even more!

From Melissa Hayes Photography …  The bride and groom, Nazihah and Saif, had their ceremony at a Mosque in Naperville.  The Mehndi was held earlier in the week.  Recalling their engagement session back in the winter and watching Nazihah transform into a goddess-like  bride was amazing to witness.  Their heartfelt ceremony was filled with words of wisdom and guidance to each of them on respect, love, and cherishing one another for every single moment.

A photo session with just family and bridal party immediately followed nearby.  Families and friends made their way to the reception at Ashyana in Naperville later that evening.  The guests felts as though they had transcended into a mid summer’s night dream with a light blue sky and nature accents of branches and an array of delicate blossoms. Karuti, the event coordinator for Ashyana did such fabulous work turning the bride’s vision into reality.

Nazihah and Saif looked as though they had stepped out of a fairytale and were absolutely breathtaking.  The vivid colors and gorgeous patterns were a photographer’s wish come true.  With both the families being long time friends, and Nazihah and Saif knowing each other since childhood, you could feel how emotional it was for everyone.  As the bride and groom made their exit, everyone immediately followed to give them their final best wishes before their departure.  Fireworks were ignited as they drove off in their car adorned with flowers.  It truly was a dream for us to document their wedding and we wish them all the best!

Photography: Melissa Hayes Photography / Cinematography: Oak Street Films / Event Design: Karuti with Ashyana Banquets / Hair Stylist: Roz Morris / Makeup Artist: Sana Ghani / Catering: Masood Ali Catering & Ashyana Banquets

I want to take this wedding by Jessica Smith Photography and put it in my pocket so it never leaves my side. It is detail, shoe, seersucker, barn, stationery suite Perfection. Yes with a capital P. Don’t even get me started on the flower girls in moccasins because that is major. Majorly adorable and majorly melts my heart. This entire wedding has me in a straight up tizzy if you can’t tell, so I’ll be spending way too much time in the full gallery today crushing over ever detail. Really can you blame me?

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…When Eric and I started looking for a venue to host our wedding, our biggest priorities were rustic and relaxed but still elegant.  So when we discovered the Enchanted Barn, in Hillsdale, WI, we were ecstatic and the rest of the details quickly fell into place.  The Enchanted Barn property is so architecturally unique and whimsical it inspired a number of personalized DIY projects and all of our many many helping hands and amazing vendors.

Since our wedding reception had 200 guests and 32 tables, personalizing the table seating cards and showcasing the dinner menu was quite the challenge. I found these amazing customizable rustic wine bottle labels, from an Etsy vendor, which allowed us to combine the table and menu cards.  The wine bottle labels were treated with grubby ink and dye treatment to give it a vintage, rustic look.

My favorite DIY wedding project from our wedding, was the “Favorite Recipe’s by Julia’s Favorite People” personalized cookbook paired with Anthropolgie kitchen apron bridesmaid gifts.  I wanted my gift to make my bridesmaids feel special, and know how thankful Eric and I were for sharing our wedding day with us.  The personalized cookbook included a favorite recipe from each bridesmaid, mother-of-the-bride, mother-of-the-groom, and wedding attendant.  Also, I included a short favorite cooking memory I have shared with each of them.  Liz Nault, a friend of mine and very talented graphic arts designer, added her creative graphic touch before we created and printed the cookbook through LuLu.com.

Invitations: Katie Range Graphics / Stamps: Stamps.com / Welcome Bag Contents: Pastoral Cheese, Potter’s Crackers, Quince and Apple + Wisconsin Glacier Springs / Bridesmaid Gifts: Liz Nault Graphics + LuLu + Anthropologie / Table Seating + Menu: Etsy, Paper Source, Bottles: Midwest Supplies / Music: Mark Keating + Luckystar Productions / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Necklace: Jenny Ewing / Bride’s Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo / Groom’s Attire: JoS A. Bank, Clifton Charles Custom + Converse Jack Purcell / Flower Girl’s Outfit: The Children’s Place + Minnetonka Moccasins / Flower Basket + Ring Pillow: Etsy / Ring Bear Outfit: Kohls + Converse / Wedding Photography: Jessica Smith Photography