Up next is this super sweet, love bird themed Minneapolis wedding and we are loving the orchids and hydrangeas that are peeking out around each and every adorable corner. Liz Banfield was on hand to capture all the pretty details from the fab blue Manolos to the yummy blue and white ribbon adorned cake. We’re loving each and every inch of this gorgeous fete and know you will too, especially when you see what’s waiting for you in the full gallery!

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From Liz Banfield…Ann & Jonathan were married in a one-of-a-kind space, dubbed “The Amber Box” on the top floor of the Guthrie Theatre with dramatic views of the Mississippi River and historic Stone Arch Bridge.

The lovebird motif was used throughout the wedding, including stylish cakes and beautiful 2-sided letterpress invitations.  A blue and warm copper color theme was carried throughout the wedding, including the bride’s blue satin Manolo Blahniks.

After the intimate ceremony among close friends and family, the bride and groom stopped at a local lake on their way to the reception to take pictures in the warm fall afternoon light. A larger reception followed at her parents’ country club just a few blocks from her childhood home.

Wedding Photography: Liz Banfield / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhullier / Ceremony Location: Guthrie Theatre / Floral Design: Arts & Flowers / Wedding Cakes: Robin Martin Gateaux, Inc. / Invitations: Gateaux, Inc. + Spark Letterpress / Coordination: Kate Kerfoot, Event Marketing & Management

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There’s just something so romantic about the Riviera Maya and I’m pretty sure it’s the best destination for a wedding in Mexico. The ocean is beyond gorgeous, (think Corona commercials), the locals are super friendly, and your guests will love you even more for choosing such a relaxed and naturally beautiful location for your nuptials. And this wedding, with pretty images from Samuel Luna Photography is the perfect example. I can practically feel the sun shining on my face which is perfect on this cold and rainy New England morning. Join me in the gallery for even more!

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From the Bride…Jason & I had only a few requirements for our wedding day: a beach side wedding with laid back elegance, where our friends and family could kick back and enjoy the weekend. We had family traveling from as far as Australia, England, and across the United States so it was important to us that the destination and resort was luxurious and relaxed all at once. We chose Ceiba Del Mar Beach & Spa Resort in Puerto Morelos, an intimate boutique hotel in the Riviera Maya.

Wedding Photography: Samuel Luna Photography / Floral Design: Eventos Euforia / Event Planning: Denise Courtney of Tropical Weddings / Ceremony + Reception Location: The Ceiba Del Mar Spa Resort / Invitations: Inky Livie

This Houston soiree is just what the doctor ordered for those mid-week blues and, oh my goodness, is it ever fabulous.  Keely Thorne Events created a literal wonderland of wedding perfection, complete with amazing chandeliers, upholstered chairs (love) and some gorgeous candelabras.  Seriously.  Swoon.  Worthy.  And with crazy beautiful florals by Events in Bloom, a breathtaking ceremony space and uber-stunning images by Chris Bailey Photography, it all adds up to a traditional soiree at its absolute finest.  Yes, your Wednesday is about to get a whole lot lovelier, so join us in the gallery for even more!

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From Keely Thorne Events… The inspiration for the wedding started with a tree. The meaning behind the tree started on July 7, 2010 when J.J. proposed to Kate under a very meaningful tree at the Fenway Golf Club in Scardsale, New York.  As a child, J.J., had spent many days playing golf with his dad at Fenway. When his father passed away unexpectedly when J.J was 8 years old, in memory of his father, the Fenway Golf Club planted a tree on their 8th hole, his father’s favorite hole. Kate and J.J. decided to have their ceremony outside at the Bayou Club in Houston, Texas, where trees could provide the perfect backdrop for their wedding.

Both the ceremony and reception took place at the Bayou Club. The couple worked with Kate’s minister and J.J.’s rabbi to blend a traditional Christian ceremony with a traditional Jewish ceremony. They wed under a chuppa and beneath a canopy of trees as the sun was setting. As guests arrived at the Bayou Club, they received their own individual ceremony programs with their names done in hand calligraphy from custom-made lattice screens that also served as their escort cards.

Following the ceremony, guests entered the backyard of the Bayou Club where a tent had been constructed over the club’s pool. Wooden tables, upholstered dining chairs, sofas, settees, coffee tables and side tables were all brought in to make the space comfortable for guests and to also create an “at home” but elegant feel. Large scale mirrors placed around the tent not only helped disguise the tent legs, but made the space feel grand and the candlelight that reflected made the entire reception glow!

For the groom’s cake, with J.J. growing up in New York, it was natural to have Yankee Stadium as his groom’s cake! To add a personal touch, an iPad was incorporated as the scoreboard and a slide show played throughout the evening with pictures of the couple. After a seated dinner, guests danced the entire night, but the unexpected addition of the groom on the drums and his brother on the guitar for a few songs really got the crowd going! At the end of the night, the bride and groom exited to her grandfather’s Model T Ford. Her grandfather loved cranking the car to get it going and then sped away with the couple! Prior to leaving, the bride’s cousins definitely had a hand in adding a few “decorations” to the car!

Event Planning: Kristin McShane of Keely Thorne Events / Wedding Photography: Chris Bailey Photography / Wedding Cinematography: 3 1 F I L M S / Floral Design, Linens + Tent Draping: Events in Bloom / Invitations: Sicily Eason / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Band: Sauce / Ceremony Musicians: Divisi Strings / Tent Rentals: SPF Event Resources / Lighting: Pro/Sound / Wedding Cake: Susie’s Cakes + Confections / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale via Bella Bridesmaids / Rentals: A Finer Event + Swift and Co.

I will never, ever tire of beautiful weddings in barns. They hold a special spot in my heart. So when Zinke Design sent over a wedding in a barn, in my current home state, my little fingers couldn’t open it up fast enough. The Tulsa wedding was exactly what I was hoping for – rustic, beautiful, sunny, and warm, with the perfect touch of the DIY. Captured by Candi Coffman Photography, the wedding has lived up to each and every one of my barn nuptial expectations. I’ll meet you in the gallery when you’re ready for more!

Alan and I met while working at CVS.  We are both pharmacists and he was scheduled to pick up a shift at my store.  The first time we saw each other was through the glass of a drive through window.  He was coming by to get a copy of his work schedule (and just to meet me, I later found out).  His smile and big blue eyes made me blush instantly.

We love to travel so almost instantly we started planning trips with his best friend and his wife.  We probably take two or three trips with them every year, so it was nothing out of the ordinary for the four of us to be going on a trip to Mexico.  One night while we were there, we had a wonderful meal and Alan asked me to take a walk on the beach after dinner.  We kicked off our shoes and walked along the beach talking about life and our plans.  Alan then led me down a pier and we just looked out over the ocean holding each other and then he got down on one knee and I burst into tears.  He had such a lovely speech prepared and I am not sure if i heard all of it, but I did hear him ask me to grow old and wrinkly with him and managed to say YES once I stopped crying ten minutes later.

We definitely wanted an outdoor wedding with a rustic feel, so what better than a barn to house our wedding?  After much Googling, I found The Barn at Vive le Ranch through a photographers website.  We set a meeting to see The Barn and fell in love.  The entire area was just so beautiful we didn’t look anywhere else.  Besides the beauty of the area, The Barn just gave a feeling of love and warmth, which was perfect for our wedding.  We could already envision everyone laughing and dancing.  Kids running around and playing on the wooden swing!

We wanted our wedding to reflect us. The day needed to be relaxing and casual with simple but beautiful florals and a spring like essence.  The colors we used were lavender, buttercup, and heather grey.  The soft colors remind me of spring, plus I happened to find perfect bridesmaids dresses at J. Crew that had all these colors, so it was meant to be. We gave the colors and feel to Christina (our wedding planner and designer) and she came back with the perfect vision! She knew both of us wanted rustic, so thats where the haybales and flowers in mason jars came in.

During the ceremony, we decided to have a salt covenant, rather than a unity candle, etc.  The idea arose from biblical times when people would make commitments to each other using salts from each person.  The salts are combined and the covenant may only be broken when the individual grains of salt are separated from one another.  Alan and I each had a sachet of salt and combined them in a crystal bowl leant from my mom.

Our wedding day was perfect. Perfect to us. We wanted the day to represent everything that encompasses us as a couple, but also as individuals.  The day was a reflection of our pasts and our upbringing.  The family and friends witnessing our vows, are the people who have influenced our lives. They are responsible for creating the man and the woman we have become.  God planned for us to be together and our family and friends lit the path for us to find each other.  We are so grateful for our love and the love that has always supported us.

Photography: Candi Coffman Photography / Cinematography: Cherished Traditions / Flowers: Anne Marie Foy, The French Bouquet / Event Design: Christina Clayton, Zinke Design / Event Planning: Christina Clayton, Zinke Design / Ceremony Location: The Barn at Vive Le Ranch / Reception Location: The Barn at Vive Le Ranch / Invitations: Minted / Dress & Hair Flowers: Adele Wechsler, Unbridaled / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew and Nordstrom / Catering: The Chalkboard / Cake: Ludger’s Cakes / Registry: Honeyfund

This Chicago wedding by Jess + Nate Studios is such a great example of a fun, fall wedding.  There is an earthy, urban vibe that works really well in the industrial yet romantic setting.  There is so much character and personality shining through from the palette of creams, browns and yellows to all the lush, interesting textures that were incorporated into the decor.  See all the details in the full gallery!

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From the Bride…From the time Aaron and I were engaged we knew we wanted a venue with character. When we saw Cafe Brauer for the first time it took our breath away. From the old brick to the iron details and stained glass windows, this venue was bursting with personality. It wasn’t long before we met Bambi Caicedo Rogers who guided us through the planning process and helped us find some amazing vendors. We knew from the start that we wanted to ask Jessica and Nate Johnston (photography) and Lee Thomas (videography) to come from Michigan to capture our special day. They had worked with family members in the past and we knew no one could tell our story better than them. Kehoe Designs designed our floral and lighting including a custom-made Gobo that incorporated our design from the invitations and cake. Calihan Catering put together a fantastic meal (including both Latin and Asian flavors- our favorites!) finished off by mini ice cream cones at that end of the night!

More than anything, we wanted our wedding weekend to be reflective of us and our personalities. Our rehearsal dinner was held at Wrigley Field which was a surprise for Aaron who has always been a long time Cubs fan. My uncle officiated our wedding ceremony and added that touch of humor and charm we were hoping for. Both being music lovers, we were thrilled when Bambi introduced us to Tony and Avi who are an amazing guitar/percussion duo. Our music throughout the ceremony, including the song I walked down the aisle to and the unity candle music, was all Led Zeppelin. Aaron and I have always loved photo booths and so we had one out during the reception with various costume accessories for fun. At the end of the night, we all took a bus into the city to continue the festivities. To end a perfect weekend, we arranged for brunch with our family and friends at our all time favorite brunch spot- Shaw’s Crab House.

Wedding Photography: Jess + Nate Studios / Wedding Cinematography: Lee Thomas Films / Event Design + Planning: BCR Events / Ceremony + Reception Location: Cafe Brauer / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier

I pretty much had my bags packed for a move to Georgia after I laid my eyes on this gorgeous Sea Island soiree courtesy of the amazing La Dolce Vita Studio.  I’ve been daydreaming all day about the breathtaking location, those fabulous sparkly Loubs and the cake that looks much, much too pretty to eat.  And those bright pink bridesmaid dresses?  Yep, I love those, too.  It’s a good thing that we have an entire gallery of stunning images to spend the day with, so join me there for all of the pretty and then stay tuned for the crazy awesome video from Artworks Wedding Cinema below!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

And now for the amazing video from Artworks Wedding Cinema!

From La Dolce Vita Studio… Kathy Gillen & Chris Grant live in Washington DC and chose to have a destination wedding on a quiet south GA island.  They were childhood sweethearts.  Having been together for 14 years and having a beautiful baby boy, Colton, they knew they were perfect for one another all along. Chris proposed to Kathy in one of their favorite vacation spots in the British Virgin Islands.  They both love the tropics and have an affinity for all things beach related.  They ideally wanted to get married on a beautiful Caribbean island, however, because Kathy’s father will not fly they decided to look for some place in the US that gave them the destination beach feel they were after.  They found The Cloister at Sea Island, GA and immediately fell in love.  It is a luxury resort on a secluded piece of the island that gave them that destination feel they were longing for.  Although the Cloister itself has more of a luxurious feel rather than tropical, Kathy brought in bright flowers and decor that gave the hint of the tropics she was looking for.

Although she is a busy mother working in DC, she took the time to play an active role in some of her details.  She created her invitations and other paper goods herself.  She set the tone with bright pops of orange in her invitations and carried the bold colors through to her place settings, escort cards and table decor.  Pink is her favorite color so most of her flowers were pink orchids and pink flip-flops were provided for guests to kick off their shoes and enjoy the seaside dance floor.  Guests danced while sipping wine under the stars just steps away from the ocean.  The Heather Hays band was truly one of the best bands we have seen, keeping guests jumping all night long.

Kathy chose a simple Vera Wang gown accented with Christian Louboutin shoes to keep the feel of her wedding elegant yet relaxed just the way she envisioned it would be.  The men all wore black tuxedos that gave a perfect air of classic elegance to the day. Everything was absolutely perfect.  Beautiful southern weather and sunshine were all anyone could ask for and the sparkler fountains lit the way as the horse-drawn carriage carried the newlyweds off.  It was a perfect end to their romantic southern beach destination wedding.

Wedding Photography: La Dolce Vita Studio / Wedding Videography: Artworks Wedding Cinema / Wedding Ceremony Location: The Cloister Sea Island Chapel / Wedding Reception Location: The Beach Club at Sea Island / Band: Heather Hayes Experience / Hair + Make-up: James Grella + Shelia Martin of Image Artisans Salon Studio / Flowers: The Cloister Florist / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bridesmaid Gowns: J.Crew

Morning glories! What a lovely morning it is! That’s right, it’s Wednesday aka the day we overload your inspiration folders with snippets of seven weddings. Seven weddings all in one day…sounds glorious right? To fit it all in we can only show a snapshot, but have no fear the galleries are full of all of the greatness!

Speaking of all things glorious and great – this backyard beauty by Stephanie Reeder Photography is all that and then some! Its southern vintage at its finest and adorable to boot. It’s also safe to say when you put cutie patootie ring bearers in bow ties I let out a squeal or two, and that most certainty happened when I saw this southern soiree. There is so much more to squeal about in the full gallery of images – so be sure to check it out!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Sam and I met five years ago in our hometown of Madisonville, Kentucky. There was an instant connection between the two of us and as crazy as it seemed I knew I wanted to marry him. Once Sam and I got engaged, I immediately started planning. We debated a destination wedding, but when we previewed Ruby Lodge we knew that we wanted to tie the knot in our hometown.

After buying tons of magazines, looking through blogs, etc. I was drawn to the southern vintage themed weddings. Once the theme was decided, it seemed very easy to choose things like flowers, decorations, and everything else that comes with wedding choices. Anything lace, burlap, or vintage inspired I absolutely adored. We purchased tons of old milk glasses and made all of the signs from old barn wood. I was not particular about wanting everything to match completely; every flower arrangement unique and done by family. Sam is an engineer so everything that needed to be cut or created, he was on the job.  He was thrilled when I told him about the homemade wooden alter. He gathered up a few guys and literally assembled it the morning of the wedding.

My wedding dress was decided on after it seemed there was no hope. Once the Enzoani Blue gown was zipped, I knew I had finally found the one.  Everything about the dress was what I wanted: It was timeless, lace, and made me feel like a bride. Our choice of photographer was simple. As for hair and make-up, my sister and sister-in-laws did an excellent job. I wanted natural, soft makeup and long flowing curls and they gave me exactly what I wanted. When I saw the work of Stephanie Reeder Photography I knew that she would be able to capture the simple, meaningful moments the best. Her pictures tell stories and that is what we wanted for our day.

The wedding day was everything I wanted and more. It was so worth all of the stress, decision-making, and phone calls. My step-father and father gave me away and I finally joined hands with my handsome soon-to-be husband. We exchanged our own hand-written vows, held back most of the happy-tears, it was time for my favorite part of the entire day. Sam and I lit the unity candle and he prayed over our marriage for the first time. It was so meaningful and something I will never forget. Our day was so perfect and special. It truly was the best day of our lives and such a perfect way to begin a special, new journey together.

Wedding Photography: Stephanie Reeder Photography / Floral Designs: DIY / Location: Ruby Lodge / Wedding Cake: Rosa McBride / Wedding Gown: Blue by Enzoni

This beautiful bride didn’t let a little rain dampen her big day. The rain that originally made her cringe now makes her smile because she’s got some seriously super cool images from Ulysses Photography complete with pretty, pink umbrellas. How’s that for looking on the bright side? This wedding is packed to the brim with the prettiest of details and if you’re looking for even more, click here!

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From the Bride…The perfect wedding cocktail combines one part disciplined organization, one part creative intuition, and one part planning prowess. My family and friends would hardly select disciplined and organized while describing me. Fortunately, my mother (and wedding planning counterpart) seamlessly managed this ingredient.  As for creative intuition, I scoured countless magazines, books, websites, and blogs (Style Me Pretty included!) to help conceptualize our day.  The planning portion is a slow, continuous pour I savored. My husband, Jared, may characterize my planning as obsessive, as it began for him when the Ring Fairy delivered photographs of potential bling upon his pillow. I saw in the planning process an opportunity to fashion a day that would represent the fabric of who we were, are, and may become.

We chose to conduct our ceremony at St. Martin de Porres Church. Beautiful natural light shines in through the windows, and Jared made all of his sacraments there as a child. Sheer occupancy proved to be the most important factor in our search for a venue. We needed a space that could house my immense Irish Catholic family and Jared’s close-knit Italian side without sacrificing class and elegance. Our venue search included over 15 sites, culminating with the Tarrytown House Estate.  We were ecstatic to discover the TTH offered precisely what we were looking for, and incidentally, advantages we had not yet considered. The sprawling, manicured grounds provided a lovely backdrop for photographs and strolls. The professionalism and helpfulness of our event coordinator, Gail, and all the staff members made both planning and celebrating our wedding day an enjoyable experience. Having on-site luxury lodging accommodations allowed our guests much-appreciated comfort and convenience. The TTH exceeded our high expectations and gave our wedding a home.

The creme de la creme were our photographers Ulysses and Jenni of Ulysses Photography. Just as I knew Jared was “the one,” and I knew my (second) dress was “the one,” I knew Ulysses and Jenni were, too. We began our work (and play!) together before the wedding day, at our engagement shoot. Through Facebook and e-mail, we stayed in touch with the couple and built excitement for our day. Ulysses and Jenni brought professionalism and dedication to an uncommon level. Their approach is unobtrusive, leading to a natural capture of the day as the story unfolds. Back from our honeymoon, we now face the daunting and exhilarating task of canvassing through hundreds of choice photographs. Upon reading a great book, a natural inclination is to rave about it to friends and thrust a copy in their hands. I feel this way about all our vendors and offer my fervent recommendation.

After months of incessant planning, a bride and groom must ultimately let go on the wedding day and trust that the day will unravel as planned. It invariably does and it invariably does not. Oddly enough, it is often the unplanned happenings that give the day its signature. I will admit that the rain briefly dampened my spirits. It certainly had not been included in my wedding recipe! I was saddened to see cocktail hour moved indoors from the terrace. However, our guests loved the unique character and adornment of the rooms in the Biddle Mansion. I winced as droplets of rain landed on my dress as I demanded (a minor Bridezilla moment) an umbrella. Those umbrellas became iconic props in our photographs, and we adore them. Perhaps the most delectable wedding calls for a splash of the unknown.

Wedding Photography: Ulysses Photography / Flowers: Forever in Bloom / Ceremony Location: St. Martin de Porres Church / Reception Location: Tarrytown House Estate / Invitations: Graphic Nature / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Hair + Make-up: Bella Luci Salon / Wedding Cake: Artuso + Sons / Music: Jimmy Dee Productions

There is a preppy chic fever going on here at Style Me Pretty Florida and it is all thanks to this awesome Palm Beach wedding.  This is a black tie affair bursting with personality and style.  I’m loving the green dresses, creamy florals and fun, beachy, preppy vibe.  My favorite Florida photographer – Laura Leslie Photography – was behind the lens capturing every delightful moment!  See them all in the full gallery!

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From Laura Leslie Photography…Joe & Kim had a Palm Beach destination wedding at the Royal Poinciana Chapel on Palm Beach Island with a reception following at the historical Harriet Himmel Theatre in West Palm Beach. They put a southern spin on their classic and elegant south Florida wedding to reflect their southern GA style and upbringings. Her green and ivory decor complimented the pastel hues of the Island.

To add to the fun of the reception, they had funky sunglasses for the guests to wear. At the end of the night, they exited the reception through an arch of fireworks and hopped into a vintage Rolls Royce.

Wedding Photography: Laura Leslie Photography / Floral Design: J Morgan Flowers / Wedding Cake: Sweet Tiers / Event Design: Ovations! / Ceremony Location: Royal Poinciana Chapel / Reception Location: Harriet Himmel Theatre / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero / Green Shoes: Cole Haan

There’s just something so classic and beautiful about Cape Cod weddings that I just can’t seem to get enough of them and this wedding is certainly no exception. This laid back, beautiful bride gave her groom-to-be the reins on setting the stage for their big day and based all the design and color around his custom made suit by Franklin + Gower. The groom’s great taste in color paid off and the proof is in the pretty, pretty images by Zev Fisher Photography filled with gorgeous shades of blues and greens. This wedding is casual Cape Cod elegance at its best and if you want to see more, just click right here!

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From the Bride…Most people who know Dave would say that he has an eccentric and colorful wardrobe stocked full of Vineyard Vines, Lilly Pulitzer and any other companies that create pink, purple or turquoise men’s clothing. He also has a penchant for customized clothing, and had his dress shirt for the wedding monogrammed with our initials (B+D) along with our wedding date. Unlike most traditional planning situations, the groom’s choice of attire was the inspiration for the entire wedding. He found a unique company, Franklin + Gower, which creates custom tuxedo-like pants and blazers using the fabrics of your choice. After checking out the merchandise during a trip to Los Angeles, he settled on a turquoise, lime green, white and periwinkle blue pattern. Not only would it be used in the groom and groomsmen’s pants, but their bow ties were made of the same fabric, and the fathers had pocket squares lined in the material. F+G graciously provided extra fabric, which enabled us to wrap the bridesmaids’ bouquets and give the wedding party a cohesive look. However, the clothes were only the beginning as the pattern was also used on the invitations, menu cards, thank you cards, and cake. The linens were color coordinated to match using periwinkle blue and lime green throughout the ballroom.

Because the feeling was fun and casual, we wanted our flowers and the decor to evoke the same vibe. With the expert help of Patrice Milley, we chose non-traditional centerpieces for all of the guest tables that were made of grapewood pieces with orchids and small bunches of flowers attached to the branches and surrounded by candles. The giant head table of 27 ran through the center of the room and was adorned with vases of towering curly willow, low arrangements of white and green flowers such as hydrangeas and roses, and a multitude of votive candles. For the ceremony, Patrice enhanced the outdoor setting with an airy birch branch chuppah and birch containers placed along the aisle, overflowing with white and green flowers. Because of our different religious backgrounds, we wanted the ceremony to be non-denominational yet also incorporate elements from both traditions. A close family friend, Judge Gary Nickerson, performed the ceremony and we stood under a chuppah, the traditional Jewish wedding canopy. Dave also broke the glass at the closing of the ceremony, and we later signed a ketubah. In honor of my Irish roots, Judge Nickerson read an Irish blessing, and we asked guests to participate in a Celtic Pebble Toss during the reception.

Many of the other details could not have been accomplished without the help of our dear family and friends in addition to a little of our own elbow grease. Dave’s parents collected rocks along the shores of Little Compton beaches that were used as place cards. His father built the wooden containers used to hold the sand for their display. He also built the signs used to direct guests to the ceremony and reception, which my father then painted in our colors. Local artist, Greg Vaughn, did the lettering on the signs. With the help of a dear friend, Ben Closson, we created a custom monogram that was used on our stationery, cake and cocktail napkins. Ben also designed several signs and the menu cards. Another friend and designer, Jill Pertuso, created the cards that acknowledged our donation to the MSPCA in lieu of favors. Dave and I hand collected approximately ten pounds of sea glass on the shores of Cheung Chau, an island in Hong Kong. Small vases filled with the glass and floating orchids decorated the cocktail tables. In recognition of Dave’s love of sailing, and the company that he created with his father, each table was named after a different knot, and knot boards with hand tied knots were taken as keepsakes by many guests. Guests were also treated to a special performance of Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel and More Than a Woman by R&B legend, Grammy winner and family friend, Ralph Tavares. At the end of the evening, we rode away in ultimate style as my father gave us his 1980 limited edition MG, which was the first car that he and my mom bought together.

Wedding Photography: Zev Fisher Photography / Floral Design: Patrice R. Milley / Wedding Gown: Melissa Sweet / Bride’s Shoes: Burberry / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit + Groomsmen Pants: Franklin + Gower / Shirt: Alabaster & Chess / Groom’s Shoes: Sperry Top-Sider / Venue + Catering: Ocean Edge Resort / Wedding Cake: Casual Gourmet / Chair + Linen Rentals: Rentals Unlimited / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Menu Cards: Ben Closson / Band: Men in Black / Special Musical Guest: Ralph Tavares / Ceremony Musicians: Boston String Quartet / Hair + Make-up: The Makeup Artists / Officiant: Judge Gary Nickerson

If you’re on the fence as to whether a destination fete is in the cards, well, we’re about to seriously sway the decision. Snapped by the fabulous Smitten Photography, this Bahamian number is about as beautiful as you can possibly get with a bride that is jaw droppingly gorg (and seriously has the best hair I’ve ever seen which is completely irrelevant) and a groom, NFL player Britton Colquitt, that is absolutely in love. Reason enough to share some serious eye candy with you guys here on SMP. Plus, it’s a wedding that gives proof to the idea that if you find yourself a crazy gorgeous backdrop, the rest will follow.  Oh and a fun little tidbit before we set Pinterest on fire…the couple had a tiny guest list and opted to have their reception at a local restaurant in town. So romantic. So so intimate. Love that.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Britton and I are both Tennessee natives and are close to our southern roots but moved to Denver when Britton got a job punting for the Denver Broncos. We fell in love with the mountains of Colorado and spend much of our free time exploring the Rocky Mountain National Park. Britton popped the question there on a snowy rock on December 20th 2010. We quickly decided because of the football season, we would plan our wedding for March. Three months is a narrow window to see a girl’s dream come to fruition! Needless to say, there was much work to be done. Our vision of the perfect wedding combined Britton’s love of the islands and my dream of a traditional elegant wedding. We were amazed to find the jewel that is the One and Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. This venue combined our desire to have a sophisticated and unique island wedding with the charm of an exclusive plantation-style country club. We chose the Cloisters in the gardens of the resort for our ceremony. The beautiful ruins are definitely what sold us on this location because they are truly breath-taking and unmatchable. Next, I found a traditional wedding gown designed by Ramona Keveza at Ana Be’ in Denver and had a lace belt  custom made by my seamstress to mirror a Monique Lhullieur design. Britton was referred to Astor and Black by a teammate when he asked around about a custom tailor to create a one of a kind linen suit.

We arrived in the Bahamas 4 days prior to the wedding and our guests also got  a vacation out of the trip. Everyone had such a great time reuniting and unwinding on the beach the days leading up to the wedding. On the big day, my mom helped me get ready for the ceremony in a private bungalow onsite. It was such a relaxing experience to share with my mother the final moments before the wedding.  My something borrowed and blue was a ring passed down to me that day by my mom.  Our bridal party consisted of only us, we just felt like that was right for us. And much more romantic. We hired a local Bahamian bishop, Lester Cox, to perform the ceremony and could not have been more thrilled with the authentic island feel he brought to our day. To add to the authenticity of our Bahamian wedding, Francis Henry played Canon in D on the steel drum for the bride’s procession. Guests sipped on key lime pink lemonade as they arrived, and were graciously passed pink champagne after our announcement. With only 30 guests in attendance we decided to have a casual dinner reception dining on local fare in town.

In less than 100 days, with the help of many, Britton and I were able to plan and experience the best day of our life. Immeasurable thanks to Sharon Clark our photographer who documented the  day and delivered the most amazing wedding photos we have ever seen! We still have to catch our breath when we look at them.

Wedding Photography: Smitten Photography / Location: One & Only Ocean Club / Wedding Gown: Romona Keveza / Bride’s Shoes: Betsey Johnson / Bride’s Veil:  Anna Bé Bridal Boutique / Groom’s Suit: Custom by Astor & Black / Groom’s Shirt: Astor & Black / Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan / Flowers: Floral Arts / Rings: Trice Jewelers / Steel Drum: Francis Henry / Coordinator: Cara Deveaux / Officiant: Bishop Lester Cox

A couple of weeks ago a little brown box arrived on our doorstep. And placed perfectly inside was THE most insanely beautiful book I’ve ever seen. With photographs of homes so beautiful you have to pinch yourself. And DIY projects, perfect for the SMP styled fete, that make you want to dog ear the page until you remember that the pages themselves are pretty and glossy and everything gorgeous.  It was volume one of the brand spanking new Design*Sponge at Home. And I say volume one because I’m trying to hint to Grace and her awesome publisher that we would looooove us some D*S volumes 2, 3 4 and maybe 5 because it’s just that good. Anyway, back to the book.

So when Grace reached out to us with a special sneek peek taylored exclusively for our wedding savvy readers…well, we jumped. Here is an absolutely darling DIY fresh from the pages of this new read and the perfect additional to any rustically gorgeous affair.

DIY PROJECT: Lace Doily Table Runner by writer and crafter, Christine Chitnis

Materials

• Lace Doilies
• Pins
• Needle and thread or sewing machine

1. Arrange your doilies across a table-top to create a long runner, overlapping the edges of each adjoining doily.

2. Once you have achieved your desired look, carefully pin together the edges of the doilies.

3. Using either a needle and a thread, or a sewing machine, stitch together the edges of the doilies.

* * *

Thanks so much to Gracey Bonney and the whole D*S team for giving us a glimpse into what is sure to be the next Home Bible. You can buy your copy right here.

This is the PERFECT example of an elegant backyard wedding done so, so right. Mastin Studio snapped the oh so gorgeous images and it’s almost as if we are right there in that backyard, enjoying all of the festivities. And the lavender field shot? Does it get any better? We’re kind of dying over that number. No detail was left uncharted and the best part is that it was all handcrafted by the couple and their wedding warriors. This is what backyard bliss looks like and there is A LOT of it so be sure to stop by the gallery for the full stunning affair!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…When Erich and I began dating, he was just starting his wedding photography business. Although I had never been a girl who dreamed of her wedding day growing up, exploring wedding blogs and photography sites with Erich quickly snowballed into a mild obsession with all things wedding. I figured that designing our own wedding would be a breeze since we had become so familiar (aka obsessed) with weddings over the last few years. It totally wasn’t. We had completely overwhelmed ourselves with so many ideas, themes, color schemes, dresses, venues and moustache-laden photo booths that we didn’t know where our own wedding and sense of style fit in the mix. Finally, it all started coming together when we chose our colors – white, crème, beige, champagne, our wedding colors were “no color,” and from there things quickly fell into place. Our venue (a forest on my parent’s farm) was like a green, tree canopied cathedral, and we wanted to maintain the natural beauty of the area by enhancing it slightly with details and allowing the scenery take center stage.  Keeping the wedding natural and neutral in terms of colors definitely didn’t mean we were lacking in the DIY department. Almost every aspect of our wedding, including stationery, framed signs, flowers and centerpieces, were designed and created by us with the help of our very generous – and talented – friends and family.

For the ceremony, guests first came to a sign in table (a thrift store desk my sister and I found while hunting for other wedding décor items) where in lieu of a guest book they signed antique postcards which then hung on twine tied between two trees. Near the ceremony seating, programs and handmade cones of confetti sat in old wooden crates we borrowed from my grandpa’s orchard. The “altar,” was a small antique table from my parent’s home on top of the oriental rug from my childhood bedroom. We had planned to have a unity candle lighting during the ceremony, but because it was windy that morning we decided to scrap it. My grandma was helping us set up decorations when we made the decision to not have the unity candle on the table for the ceremony, and she kindly offered to let Erich and I use a crystal cross as a focal point on the table during the ceremony. She and my grandpa then gifted us with the cross after the wedding, and it now sits on a shelf in our home. My bouquet, which I made myself the day before the wedding, served as a way for me to carry bits and pieces of family history with me during the day. It was wrapped in lace from the veil both my grandma and mom wore on their wedding days, and on top of the lace I wrapped a beautiful silver and turquoise necklace, which Erich’s mom gave to me at my bridal shower, and was her late mother’s. It made my bouquet even more special to have so many meaningful items incorporated into it.

At the reception, the tables had handmade table numbers made by Erich, and burlap runners sewn by my mom with the help of her good friend, topped with hundreds of antique vases, candelabras and jars we sourced from local thrift stores. Over ten family members and friends did all of the floral arrangements the day before the wedding, with all white and cream flowers as well as hundreds of potted succulents (which my mom grew in one of the farm’s greenhouses especially for the wedding). One of our favorite parts of the reception area was the dance floor. Instead of renting a dance floor, Erich and my dad hunted on Craigslist daily for large rugs and found two perfect, beautiful rugs which we put down side-by-side over plywood as the dance floor area. Erich designed and custom framed a number of large signs for the wedding site, and made one for the dance floor area that said “Cut a rug.” The guests loved the signs, and the dance floor area and sign helped to set the fun, light-hearted mood of the reception.  Other special touches in the reception area included framed quotes and song lyrics that were special to us, and framed photos of our parents, grandparents and great grandparents on their wedding days. Erich and I are so blessed to have strong legacies of love and lasting marriages on both sides of our families, and we wanted to celebrate their loving marriages on our own wedding day.

Wedding Photography: Mastin Studio / Wedding Cinematography: Moetic Wedding Films / Wedding Dress: Augusta Jones / Belt: Kristen Kuehn Designs / Flowers: The Bride’s Mother, Aunts, and Family Friends / Venue: Private Residence / Wedding Planning: The Bride + Groom / Music: Symmetry/Symmetry / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew / Groomsmen Suits: Shyrocks Men’s Wear / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Groom’s Shoes: Edmond Allen / Bridesmaid Dresses: Various / Stationery: The Groom / Wedding Cake: Cherry City Cakes / Engagement + Wedding Rings: Simon G via Jackson Jewelers / Bride’s Earrings + Bracelet: Nordstrom

We can’t help but absolutely adore this wedding. Everything about it. The sweet color palette of pinks and greens play up the gorgeous Virginia winery venue perfectly. The flower girls and ring bearer – are you kidding me? Too cute. And that gorgeous Marisa gown from Pure English Bridal. So soft, so romantic, so beautiful. Captured by the talented Echard Wheeler, this is definitely a classically stunning affair that I won’t be able to stop thinking about. Click here for even more!

John and I met in July and were engaged in July, so it made sense to plan the wedding for July of 2011. After looking at several potential venues we found the Williamsburg Winery. We knew right away it was the perfect place. It had that mixture of rustic charm and elegance we were looking for. John grew up in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and I was raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, so having our wedding in Williamsburg, Virginia, seemed like the perfect “marriage” of both of our families.

After selecting the venue we immediately met with a caterer, Laura Reeves from “The Catering Company”, and we knew right away that she understood our vision of a simple yet elegant summer feast. Next we met Echard Wheeler, our photographer. Immediately we sensed that his artistic vision and relaxed personality would capture our wedding memories in a beautiful way . Another important element to us was the flowers. Since the venue already has such rustic charm we knew we wanted soft, romantic flowers to complement it. Jennifer from “My Favorite Things” did a wonderful job of transforming the space and even managed to get peonies in July for my bouquet, which I was really hoping for.

My mom was right by my side throughout the planning process. We had a great time meeting with vendors and planning all the details that made the day so special. We took on a few DIY projects including the table numbers, cookie bar, escort cards and directional sign. My Dad built the sign that we then painted with some of the guests’ hometowns and the distance they had traveled to come celebrate with us.

Finding the perfect dress was easy. The beautiful Marisa gown was the first one that I tried on and I loved it. The lightweight silk organza was great in the July heat and I felt totally comfortable in it. Helping our guests with the heat were parasols and program fans, as well as bottled water during the ceremony.

The day ran very smoothly with the help of our mistress of ceremony, Caroline, and our DJ, Rodney Charles. They both worked hard to make sure that things were organized and happening as they should. Rodney got the crowd dancing as the night progressed and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves on the dance floor.

There was no grand exit for John and I. We danced until the very end with all of our friends and family. It was a perfect way to end our special day and I feel blessed to have married such a wonderful man. As we walked next door to the hotel under a full moon we were excited to begin our lives together and very excited about our honeymoon to Italy.

Dress: Marisa from Pure English Bridal / Photographer: Echard Wheeler / Florist: My Favorite Things / Caterer: The Catering Company / DJ: DJ Rodney Charles / Venue: Williamsburg Winery / Cake: Shockley’s Sweet Shoppe / Carriage: Smithfield Horse and Carriage / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Makeup: Kim Wadsworth / Hair: Cindy Scheper / Programs and Invitations: Paperwhyte

It doesn’t get more classically chic than this wedding designed by Sterling Social! I feel fancy just looking at all the elegant images from Michael & Anna Costa Photographers Ltd. Chandeliers, Jimmy Choos, calligraphy-laden invitations, luxurious-lounge areas, and a Rolls Royce or two – it’s a chic as they come.  Top it all off with an appearance by the USC Marching Band, and ladies and gentlemen – we have a stunner on our hands! You can see even more chic in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Michael & Anna Costa Photographers Ltd.…Betsy & Stenn’s wedding was the perfect combination of high-class traditional with a flair for fun. Although they served their guest appetizers that consisted of oysters and a raw bar, they ended the night with Betsy’s favorite meal – burgers! The day began with a traditional ceremony at their church in Montecito followed by a fun-filled night of being entertained by the USC Marching Band, rocking out to their AMAZING live band and ending the night by lighting it with a sparkler exit. Betsy & Stenn’s details consisted of such things as a classic car, traditional Santa Barbara Red Trolley, Cabana’s with lounge chairs and surrounding tree’s lighting the night with votive candles hanging from the branches. Their perfect day was just that, perfect.

Wedding Photography: Michael & Anna Costa Photographers Ltd. / Event Design + Planning: Angela + Erin of Sterling Social / Ceremony Location: Montecito Covenant Church / Reception Location: Birnam Wood Country Club / Flowers: Brown Paper Design / Band/Music: “Jumpstart” from Bob Gail Special Events / Lighting/Fabric/Furnishings: Bella Vista Designs /Trolley: Santa Barbara Trolley Company / Hair: Kasai Hair / Make-up: Danika Blood / Film Work: Richard Photo

Just when I thought it was impossible for me to love Southern California weddings any more than I already do, along comes this La Jolla stunner to prove me wrong.  Turns out, I can love them more… And this beach chic meets glamorous affair has me completely head over heels for every fabulous detail designed and executed by the amazing Nellie Chan of The Occasion Events.  From the crazy awesome invitations and paper products (courtesy of the genius + gorgeous bride) to the beautiful blooms by Stems Design Studio to the mismatched bridesmaid dresses, I am officially obsessed with all things this wedding.  Thankfully, The Image is Found was there to capture every stunning moment, so you know where I’ll be… In the gallery with all of this pretty.  Join me there for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… We decided to have our wedding at our favorite restaurant. We looked at a lot of venues, but when it came down to it, we loved the idea of supporting a place we loved in a location that we knew we could return to time and time again. The restaurant overlooked the California coast line, sourced all of their food locally, and set the tone for us visually.

The ceremony was at Scripps Institute, outside overlooking the water (there’s a theme here). We arrived early and took all of our photos beforehand with our incredibly talented photographers, The Image is Found, because we didn’t want to miss a minute of the cocktail hour. I’ll never forget after the ceremony, running down the aisle to our friend playing the piano, jumping in the photographers’ car, and going directly to the restaurant, George’s at the Cove. When we arrived, we walked up the stairs that were dotted with candles, and walked out onto the gorgeous patio, with the band playing and the cocktails ready to be served and the beautiful, colorful flowers interplaying with the bold colors of the space. It was absolutely perfect. After months of planning and emails and phone calls and spreadsheets, it was absolutely perfect.

Shortly afterward, the guests arrived. We drank, we toasted, we ate. Then we transitioned downstairs to the dining room, which had dimmed lights, endless candles and sculptural orchids cascading down the tables. Nellie Chan was the mastermind and brilliant muse behind our entire event, and she orchestrated incredible moments for our guests, from the florals to the flow of the space to the timing of events. (She is incredible. We are kind of obsessed with her.) After guests sat down, the dinner of all dinners began: 6 courses, all chosen the week-of by chef Trey Foshee, and sourced primarily by Chino Farms. It was exactly what we had always imagined, a dinner party of friends celebrating great food and wine together. It was intimate, it was warm, and it was delicious.

I’m a designer, so I loved creating some of the smaller moments throughout the day: from the laser cut wooden elements that hung from Nellie’s jaw-dropping florals at the ceremony, to lyrics from Brenden and my song intertwined into the dinner floral pieces. We worked with the one and only Rohner Letterpress in Chicago for the invitations, made welcome books by hand for all the guests, printed and folded ceremony programs, and even hand-cut all of the liners for the save the dates. For me, the wedding story began with the Save the Date, and unfolded over time through each printed element guests received. Telling that story was truly a labor of love, and, of course, incredibly rewarding.

The night ended with Jukebox, an incredibly fun and talented band, rocking out to songs until the wee hours. I changed into a shorter dress, Chef Foshee sent out platters of tacos and bite-sized desserts and everyone was dancing. The night was so perfect that we decided not to do a sendoff, and instead were the last ones to leave. It was perfect.

Wedding Photography: The Image is Found / Floral Design: Stems Design Studio / Event Design + Planning: The Occasion Events / Wedding Ceremony Location: Scripps Institute of Oceanography / Wedding Reception Location: George’s at the Cove / Entertainment: Jukebox / Wedding Invitations: The Bride / Letterpress: Rohner Letterpress / Calligraphy: Betsy Dunlap / Flower Embellishment: Neiman Marcus / Veil: Toni Federici / Reception Dress: Marchesa

Prepare yourselves for a whole lot of lovely, because these Canberra nuptials are literally overflowing with the lovely (and the pretty… and the awesome) and I, for one, am completely obsessed.  How could I not be head over heels for an entire wedding inspired by the bride’s gorgeous lace gown?  Love.  And with all of the beautiful florals by Flower Flirtation, those fantastic blue bridesmaid dresses, a museum reception and breathtaking images by Kelly Tunney (who turns everything she touches into pure magic), it simply does not get much better than this.  Join me in the gallery for all of the pretty!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Dan and I studied together for 2 years but it wasn’t until the year after we finished that we got together. I found out that Dan had his eye on me for a while but I was completely oblivious to the efforts to get his attention. I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight as we had known each other for a few years but once we were together it was a lovely whirlwind romance.

My beautiful lace wedding dress was a big inspiration for the style of our wedding. Dan is from the country and I love anything with a classic vintage feel so once I found my dress everything fell into place from there. We kept the classic style going with natural whites, greens and a deep blue colour scheme. The National Portrait Gallery was another thing that was chosen long before the real planning started. It has so many amazing spaces we knew it would be the perfect venue for our reception.

So many people put a lot of effort into making our day so special. A lot of the vendors were people we knew before we got engaged which made the day a little more intimate. I have been going to my hair dresser at Hair Connection for over 10 years, she did an amazing job with my hair and I couldn’t have been happier. The amazing Kelly Tunney, what can I say? After seeing a few friends weddings photographed by her and also following her blog for 2 years it was an obvious choice for us. She was the first thing that was locked in for our big day! One of my bridesmaids, Katie, is a make-up artist and there was no question she would do everyone’s make-up on the day. I always feel like a million dollars when she does my make-up so who better to do it on my wedding day! Although I didn’t know our florists, Gay and Kristine did such an amazing job with the flowers. They took the picture I had in my mind and turned it into real life perfectly!!

Wedding Photography: Kelly Tunney Photographer / Wedding Reception Venue: The National Portrait Gallery / Wedding Gown: Wendy Makin / Jewelry: Kingston Markets / Floral Design: Flower Flirtation / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Amelia’s Cakes / Bride’s Shoes: Tony Bianco / Hair: Hair Connection

Now that the sun and fun and BBQ’s of Labor Day weekend are over, we are refreshed and ready to get back down to the business of weddings and we can’t think of a better way than to introduce you to one of our Look Book designers, Erica Elizabeth Designs. These pieces are anything but timid and with veils, blushers, headbands, fascinators and other fanciful showstoppers, you might just be thankful you had an extra day to rest up this weekend, because these babies are going to send you into overdrive.

What we love about Erica Elizabeth Designs is that there is a little bit in here for everyone. Whether you’re a bride who is going to be rocking a fabulous 50’s retro look or vintage French chic is your thing, or even if you’re just aiming to be the most classically gorgeous bride of the century, there is a look in here that is sure to inspire you and woo its way into your wedding day ensemble.  And did we mention that these lovely creations have some serious attitude? There is lots more to love in Erica Elizabeth’s Look Book Collection, so make sure to check it out and see what has us so smitten.

Photography: Melinda Kelley / Hair & makeup: Lindsey Burwell / Model: Kristen Malko

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Erica Elizabeth Design

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Talk about romance!  This Alberta wedding by Eternal Reflections Photography and THE WEDDING PLANNER takes the cake in the romance department.  I love the shades of peaches and cream that are oh-so perfect for a fall celebration.  The flowers, the lace details and the elegantly sweet touches look simply divine and delicious!  See them all in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Eternal Reflections Photography…Sasha & Pat’s wedding was on a breezy day with blue skies and puffy white clouds. They were married on Pat’s family farm under a charming white tent. They had live musicians playing as the large wedding party & adorable flower children walked up the petal-filled aisle. There was not a dry eye as they shared their incredibly heartfelt vows.

Cocktail hour was held outdoors beside the family’s log house and offered fresh fruit, signature drinks and lemonade in mason jars. They also offered custom Jones soda, complete with a picture of the two of them on it, in a vintage bathtub. Their reception tent was filled with white lights, Chiavari chairs, gluten-free cupcakes, and ice cream bars, endless laughs and a fabulous dance.

The tables were set with burlap & lace with centerpieces of candelabras and mason jars filled with flowers. Sasha’s wedding beautifully mixed vintage, rustic with all things graceful & elegant. The bridesmaids each carried a different bouquet, suited to their personality. Sasha carried her grandmother’s hair pin on her bouquet. The day was filled with warmth, laughter and a love that was as tangible as the incredible cupcakes.

Wedding Photography: Eternal Reflections Photography / Event Design + Planning: THE WEDDING PLANNER / Ceremony + Reception Location: Private Residence / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Transportation: Red Deer Limos / Caterer: Remi’s Catering / Ring: Spence Design / Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: Family Friend / Wedding Dress: Demetrios

A garden party in Austin is maybe the prettiest combo on the planet. Who doesn’t go gaga for a romantic outdoor setting riddled with peonies and other yummy florals by Stems Floral Design and the sweetest lineup of cakes by CoCo Paloma Desserts? And that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this pretty party captured so perfectly by Jessica Monnich Photography. Believe us, you’ll want to head over to the gallery for more from this sweet Southern wedding. It is a total knockout from beginning to end.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Andrew and I really wanted two things going into our wedding. 1. for it to reflect our personality and 2. for it to be a glorified party, not just a wedding. We chose the French Legation as our wedding and reception site because it was a beautiful venue that also allowed us to really transform the place into exactly what we wanted, a Southern Garden Party. Throughout the wedding we wanted to create the feel of a casual elegance. We chose eclectic centerpieces that didn’t quite match, yet just “went together” and the same rule applied to the dessert table, which was made up of mini cakes and personalized pies.We put emphasis on having our flowers look “hand-picked” and our florist (Abbey from Stems Floral Design) accomplished the look perfectly.

I wanted my bridesmaids to really love their dresses so I let them choose whatever they wanted within a vintage pastel color range. The colors of their dresses ended up complimenting the reception decor perfectly. We also wanted to incorporate French themes into the wedding since our venue was Texas’ original French Embassy, and because Andrew and I had spent quite a bit of time in Paris together. To do this we used vintage French postcards as our sign in book, and danced to “La Vie En Rose” as our first dance song. Looking back, the wedding was everything we wanted it to be. Old world Paris met a Southern estate and both seemed to compliment the backdrop of a Texas sunset. It was so special for us to have everyone we loved in one place during such a magical night.

Catering: Portabla / Wedding Cake: CoCo Paloma Desserts / Pies: Cutie Pie / Venue: French Legation Museum / Wedding Photography: Jessica Monnich Photography / Floral Design: Stems Floral Design / Wedding Planner: Events by Emily / Band: Minstral Band