This Canadian winter photo shoot from Orange Girl Photographs is nothing short of fabulous. Winter weddings often get overlooked in the grand scheme of things, and I for one, can’t imagine why. Nothing compares to the sparkle of a fresh snow, except perhaps a bride’s smile. This shoot, styled by Sharon Auld of Naturally Chic, embodies all that a winter wedding should be: gorgeous, warm, and white, with a little bit of hot chocolate on the side. So instead of thinking ahead a couple of days to spring, why don’t you spend just a few more minutes in winter with me. Make sure to visit Kirstie’s blog for even more of this winter wonderland!

From Sharon Auld of Naturally Chic…There are many brides who love the mountains and rustic lodges, but have envisioned a little “glam” on their wedding day and aren’t sure how to make that happen in a mountain lodge. We wanted to show brides that rustic and “glam” can work together beautifully. Balance is the key to achieving a signature mountain chic look.

The beauty of a mountain lodge in winter was the inspiration. We were picturing the quiet beauty of Emerald Lake Lodge in winter; snow-laden trees, a cozy roaring fire in the fireplace, wooden beams and majestic views. Of course, there’s nothing like the sparkle of a snowflake and thus it became a sort of a motif for our “rustic glam” mountain wedding. For more styling inspiration, check out Naturally Chic’s blog post about the shoot!

From Kirstie, the 0h-so-talented photographer…Emerald Lake Lodge has a couple of outdoor firepits and a fireplace in their reception room so Sharon created an overflowing s’mores and hot chocolate bar for our wintery inspiration shoot. One of my favourite details were the cashmere hand warmers tucked in wooden boxes with each guest’s name engraved on the box and a wooden note inside that read “A gift to warm your hands and heart. Thank you for warming our hearts by joining us on our special day. Love Suzanne & Nick.” Sharon created a hand drawn wedding map that she then engraved onto maple wood that was stunning and a great welcome into a reception.The favours really reflected the idea of a cozy intimate winter wedding celebrated with those closest to you and a desire to make everyone feel welcomed for a week-end of winter fun.

Emerald Lake Lodge is stunning in the winter and offers a kind of quiet and intimacy I have not found anywhere else. None of the rooms have tv, cell phones don’t work and every room has a fireplace stocked with wood ready to light, all of these details inspire taking time away from everyday cares and enjoying time with those you love in an incredible setting.You can venture out to snowshoe, ride sleds, cross country ski and then cozy up in the evening by the fire with a glass of wine and good food or soak in the outdoor hot tub while snowflakes fall. It’s a romantic Canadian experience. Emerald Lake Lodge even offers couples the opportunity to rent the whole island making the wedding week-end an intimate and exclusive experience to be celebrated with those you love most. It’s my favourite place to seek out in winter time and it never ceases to feel magical to me each time I visit.

Photographer: Orange Girl Photographs / Decor and Styling, engraved favors, s’more and dessert bar, wooden monogram & wooden wedding map: Sharon Auld of Naturally Chic / Venue: Emerald Lake Lodge / Florals: Willow Haven / Hair & Make-up: Stephanie Roy of Symiotics / Chauffeur Services: Gerrard of Highland Executive Chauffeur / Table runner: Great Events Group / Bride’s dress: Jim Hjelm / Bride’s red and black cape: Ruche / Bride’s boots: Sorel / Bride’s orange shoes: Emerson Made / Groom’s attire: custom made suit, Prada shoes and UGG boots

And before we go this week, I want to thank Mallory ~ our newest addition to the writing squad at Style Me Pretty ~ for all of her help this week! You know the more we build our team ~ the more features we can bring you and that’s a really, really wonderful thing!

A little more from Mallory …

Hi, I’m Mallory! I’m a navy blue wearing, DIY loving, self proclaimed wedding enthusiast. Big, small, vintage chic, modern, traditional, I love them all. I cry at just about every highlight film ever, which I like to think makes me sentimental, not sappy. I started my wedding inspiration folder when I was 8, subscribed to my first magazine when I was 12, and picked out my wedding venue when I was 17. Worried about the groom later. I still watch Father of the Bride as often as possible, and yes I cry every time (again, sentimental). I have a german shepherd called Duke, and black and white cat called Calvin, and a husband named Prince Charming (or Jon). I’ve been married to my Prince Charming for close to two years and we had a beautiful Michigan summer wedding. But that hasn’t slowed me down. I’m currently in the process of convincing my husband that he wants to get married to me 20 more times, so we can have 20 different weddings. And of course, I’m still collecting pretty inspiration for the day he finally realizes I’m right! I’m telling you, nothing compares to a beautiful wedding. I really do adore everything about them! And that is me!

This goes out to all of you foodies and lovers of culinary treats. A Chicago wedding of two chefs filled with adorable food inspired centerpieces and one eclectic venue that has us reeling with delight. This is a food lover’s DREAM, a vintage lover’s PARADISE, and the perfect example of thinking outside of the box all while creating a unique and personal wedding. See this couple’s recipe for love and the rest of the yummy details in the gallery.

Click here to see the full image gallery!

From the Bride… Our inspiration came from my engagement ring and our love for all things old. We had my engagement ring made by Fuenfer Jeweler in Winnetka, IL to look like a vintage early century piece by oxidizing the platinum/diamond band and setting to appear blackened where a rare orange/pinkish padparadscha sapphire was set in.

We were on a fairly tight budget but felt that the wedding location would basically determine the overall feel of the wedding. The moment we walked into Salvage One in an industrial area near downtown Chicago I knew that the architectural salvage warehouse was the place. The venue was at the top of our budget but we justified the cost because it included mismatch chairs and tables that didn’t require linens and tons of decor and charm which meant less rentals and headaches for us. All the paper goods I printed and designed myself with the exception of the invitations which I custom ordered from an Etsy artist Letter Box Inc. Both my husband and I are chefs (him – a chef, me – a pastry chef) so we decided to use pastry ingredients as our centerpieces which was metaphoric to our recipe for love. We collected Brett’s grandmother’s vintage bowls and vessels to put them in. I bought burlap from Joann’s fabric and created runners with them. I also made the homemade fig jam for the favors and asked our food industry friends and family to make cookies for the cookie bar. It was all DIY.

My dress was from the 1960’s and the first dress I tried on at Silver Moon in Chicago where Liz Meyers (a stylist for the likes of Aerosmith and Paul McCartney) specializes in vintage wedding dresses. We reworked the dress to a strapless with a sweetheart neckline and removed a hideous gold sequined stretchy band from the waste and replaced it with a pewter chiffon sash. The silk chiffon dress was made of a beautiful champagne color not seen today in wedding dresses. It was also incredibly affordable at $770 with alterations. The 1920’s cream fur shawl we picked up at the last fitting with Liz. My necklace was a cameo that was last worn on Brett’s Mother’s (Robin Swartzman) Bat Mitzvah 50 years ago, the diamond earings were also from Robin, and the gorgeous bracelet was from her mother who gave it to her sister Beth who then gave it to her before she passed.

Brett’s suit was the best find of all. We strolled into a resale shop in Evanston, Il  by the name of Classy Closet and were met by the owner who was reminiscent of Bernie Mac in a double breasted black suit and a fedora. We walked out with a custom Oxxford Suit for Neiman Marcus circa 1980 for a bargain price of $50. The only catch was that it was a size too small so we took it Saks Fifth Ave. and had it tailored for $160. And that’s were we picked up all his other accessories.

The food was everyone’s favorite part at the wedding. We heard statements all night, “Best wedding food EVER!” All the food ingredients were donated by Brett’s best friend and food purveyor/owner Patrick Fitzgerald of Midwest Foods. Blue Plate Catering did the rest and I can’t tell you what an amazing job they did. We are still receiving compliments to this day. And, the beautiful vintage laced cake with pewter ribbons and whimsical peachy grey peonies was a wedding gift from a dear friend of mine Mary Winslow who owns Take the Cake.

Our day-of coordinator was our friend Millie Harper who was the catering director at Brett’s country club. It was her wedding gift to us since I made her grooms cake earlier that year for her wedding. Besides Spencer Lokken, our awesome DJ who played none of that generic or hokey wedding music, we hired a college kid from UW-Madison Miles Comiskey to drive down to be our guitarist/soloist for the cocktail hour and ceremony. And a friend was our Elvis impersonator later on in the night.

Wedding Venue: Salvage One / Wedding Caterer: Blue Plate / Wedding Gown: Silver Moon / Wedding Cake – Take the Cake / Florist – Asrai Garden / Wedding DJ – Style Matters / Soloist/Guitarist: Miles Comiskey / Rabbi – Michael Sternfield / Hotel – TheWit Hotel / Wedding Coordinator: Friend of the Bride / Jeweler: Fuenfer Jewelers / Wedding Invitations – Letter Box Inc.

This session from Sedona Wedding Studio represents what we love so much about inspiration shoots.  There is a little something for everyone with a perfect blend of the old and the new, the timeless and the modern, the eclectic and the elegant.  Arizona sweethearts are seriously lucky to have such a plethora of talented wedding folks at their fingertips!  Check out all the steal-worthy details from vineyard to vintage in the full wedding gallery!

Click here to see the full gallery of images!

From Sedona Wedding Studio… The photo shoot was intended to show the possibilities for Sedona weddings.  There are so many options that are just as exciting as the famous red rocks of Sedona. Margaret Van Damme wanted to create an atmosphere incorporating vintage elements.  “The collaboration of talented Sedona Wedding Studio members resulted in this inspirational design that reflects a southwest image not often imagined by brides that live on the east coast or Midwest.  In the midst of the rustic country feel is incorporated a sense of casual elegance that might be found in the Italian countryside.”

Colorful vintage bottles were used as a staple element through-out the shoot.  Among other areas, bottles were hung from tree limbs and filled with flowers to create a charming and playful setting for the ceremony site.  Also, wooden benches were used at the ceremony site instead of traditional folding chairs.  Old bottles were set on the ends of the benches to serve as interesting aisle decorations.  The explosive florals were made in vintage wire baskets straight out of the 1920’s, and included peach eremurus.

The gorgeous wedding bouquet, by Ken Heflin, of Events By Show Stoppers, incorporated a berry theme.  Inspired by the vineyard location, complete with immature green grapes, Ken created a textured bouquet that was both elegant, unique, and vintage. Varieties of blown garden roses in various colors dotted the design. Pepper berries added a hot pink texture and spicy fragrance that blended with the scent of roses for an exciting composition.  Echinacea (cone flowers) brought in another texture with the thistle look of the Southwest.  Pale blue scabiosa gave the bouquet that touch of wildflowers that a vintage look demands.

Studio member Deborah Beggs, of Classic Party Rentals, provided her popular Descanso tables and Mahogany Chiavari chairs.  Antique crochet table runners ran the length of the table, with mix-and-matched china, and dozens of vintage bottles in every size, color and shape imaginable.  Pastel colored wine glasses accentuated the color of the bottles.

Kimberly McDowell, of Event Essentials, designed all the paper products under direction from Margaret Van Damme and Katrina Wallace.  The invitation color scheme of ivory, wine, and Tiffany blue was lovely and maintained the theme.  A wisp of feathers and tiny pearls finished the look.

Old planter boxes with pealing paint were used to house some of the vintage bottles in the center of the banquet table. This rustic look was just what the table needed.  Bottles are so much fun to collect and can be wonderful keepsakes to use over-and-over, and as well, can be charming party favors.

Photography: Katrina Wallace and Andrew Mejia of Sedona Bride Photographers / Design + Coordination: Margaret Van Damme of Van Damme Weddings / Floral Design: Events by Show Stoppers / Venue: Dancing Apache Lodge / Wedding Cake:  Sedona Cake Couture / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Make-Up Artist: Liz Margin / Hair Styling: Patricia Vega / Catering: Perfection Catering / Groom’s Attire: Saverio / Paper Products: Kimberly McDowell of The Event Essentials / Mask: Sweet Ruin / Models: Katie Anderson and William Copsey of M Model Management / Gown: Destiny’s Bridal

We have the distinct pleasure, today, of introducing our newest voice on Style Me Pretty ~ that of Mallory! She’s been with Style Me Pretty for quite awhile, and so she’s already well-acquainted with many of our Little Black Book members. She’s also a pretty recent newlywed herself, and that ~ in and of itself qualifies her as quite wedding-savvy. We figured, what better way to highlight her talents, than on The Little Black Book Blog. You’ll be hearing more from Mallory a little later this afternoon. But for now, we’ll let her introduce Alex Kon’s latest wedding film on The LBB Blog!

It is my humble opinion that rain makes everything seem extra warm and dreamy. What’s more romantic than snuggling under an umbrella with your sweetie? While our next bride did not plan on including rain on her guest list, I am so glad it showed up. Something about the rain evokes such a strong feeling of intimacy and closeness, and IQ Videography did an amazing job capturing this feeling. I think it’s time we embrace the rain! Grab an umbrella and your someone special, and check out even more romance in the gallery.

Grab some tissues and get ready for the highlight from Alex Kon at IQ Videography!

The Caneros Inn Wedding | Jaeca & Matt from IQ Videography

From the lovely bride…Matt and I started a long distance relationship just seven months before we were engaged. I’ve always laughed at people that said, when you know, you just know, and ironically we knew. After many trips cross-country, Matt lived on the East Coast and I lived in San Francisco, phone conversations that sometimes lasted hours, and endless iChat dates, we were engaged in February of 2010. I never thought that I’d have so much in common with someone that on paper looked to be in such a vastly different stage of his life. We share so many of the same values, but are different in ways that compliment each other. As I said in my vows, “I never believed what so many people told me, that love could be so easy.”

The Carneros Inn is where Matt and I took our first trip together and where we got engaged, so we felt that it was only natural to have our wedding at the same beautiful venue. We were so excited to share our favorite getaway with all of our family and friends. We picked October because it’s typically one of the most beautiful months in Napa; the leaves on the grapevines are changing color and the weather is typically mild. This year, the weather was perfect in early October, but a week before the wedding, rain began to cover the Bay Area with a forecast of showers for the weekend. I held out some hope for our outdoor wedding in the Apple Orchard, and the morning of the wedding was dry, but somehow at 2pm the skies opened to a downpour. I can’t say that I wasn’t disappointed, but in the end, the rain gave the day a unique romantic ambiance, and while it wasn’t the ceremony that I had envisioned I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

If there is one thing that I’ve learned from planning this wedding it is that many times the day doesn’t unfold exactly the way that you had envision it, some times it turns out better than you ever could have imagined. Put your trust in the professionals that you’ve hired as vendors and then just let it go and enjoy the day. I was lucky, I picked an incredible group of vendors who weren’t even phased by the downpour. Our photographer and Alex Kon, our cinematographer, captured the essence of the day even as they struggled to keep their equipment dry, and we couldn’t be happier with the end results.

As for the cake, my family owns bakeries in the Philippines and in the United States. We’ve been in the cake making business for over 40 years. My grandma and her sister started their first bakery out of her home and it’s only gotten bigger! Obviously, our cake was designed, baked and decorated by Goldilocks Bake Shop. I knew that it was going to be spectacular; it took weeks to create and in the end it was bigger and better than I ever could have imagined. It seemed to be the running theme of the day, “bigger and better then I ever could have imagined.” Before the wedding I had a very specific vision of the how the day was supposed to look and unfold, but even my imagination could not have dreamt the reality, and so far the same has rung true in marriage.

Cinematography: IQ Videography / Photography: Cindi de Channes Photography / Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Carneros Inn / Cake: Goldilocks Bake Shop / Month of Coordinator: Amy Bridges Events / Entertainment: Tainted Love / Floral: Julie Stevens Design

Julie Stevens Design

This Miami wedding is just so full of style, and it has another super talented bride and groom at the helm. Seriously, you people amaze me. All the invitations, table signs, place cards, guestbook pages, favor tags, etc. were done by the talented couple. I would say this duo already makes quite the team! And now they have quite the collection of images from Captured Photography by Jenny to remember all their efforts for their gorgeous and timeless day. It doesn’t stop there of course, be sure to head on over to the full gallery of images for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… There are so many ways I could describe this wedding! Some of the words that pop in my head are: Miami-stylish-romantic-garden wedding. The day started at the Hyatt Regency located in Coral Gables, a Spanish-style hotel with lots of interesting indoor and outdoor spaces such as a natural stone courtyard and a beautiful fountain. This is where I got ready and met with Gian for the first time.

The ceremony was an outdoors intimate event held in the beautiful gardens of the Zen House located in South Miami. The ceremony was conducted by a very good friend of ours who we admire, respect and love very much. We also wanted Gian’s dad (who has been married for 30 years) to say a few words of how beautiful love and marriage is and my brother (who just got engaged) to talk about love and the commitment relationships require in order to be prosp-erous. There was a music trio playing some of our favorite classical songs and the flower arrangements were a mix of greens, yellow, white and pink, which consisted of succulent plants, eucalyptus, yellow pom-poms and garden roses, among other plants. The reception took place at the historic Douglas Entrance, a beautiful building built in 1927, which set tone for the romantic-vintage style and where the flower arrangements brought the garden feeling indoors.

All the place cards, table signs, guestbook pages, menu, favors tags, invitations, etc were done by us. I wanted to add personalized touches throughout the wedding and make it fun for our guests, so I decided to make the guestbook using my few Photoshop skills and asked several questions to our guests such as “How do you know the groom and bride?” “Any advice for the newlyweds?” “Your favorite bride and groom memory” and asked to draw a portrait of themselves and of us. Using the same design style I created the place cards with the names of each of our guests and a little icon on the side which helped differentiate what dish each guest was having (meat, fish or vegetarian). The three icons we used were a camera, keyboard and a dog. These three things are meaningful to us since I love photography and do it as a hobby, Gian is a keyboard player in a band and we have a lovely and playful 4-year old beagle called Malkovich. The seating chart and table numbers were also done with the same design style.

The favors were little pots with candles shaped as succulent plants and boxes with little chocolates called “brigadeiros.” The little tags attached to the candles with our initials and the date (V+G) were hand made by me. The tags were done with the same card stock used for the place cards and table signs, and the borders of these tags were hand painted in acrylic and hand written. There were several fun things to do at the reception such as a photobooth with cool props, a barista with an espresso/gourmet coffee station, and a candy station. The guests had so much fun… it was 2am and there were still some people dancing on the dance floor!

Wedding Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny / Wedding Flowers: Trias Flowers / Event Design: Fetes and Events / Event Planning: Mia Bella Events & Design / Wedding Ceremony Location: The Zen House / Wedding Cake: Edda’s Cake Designs / Wedding Reception Location: Douglas Entrance / Invitations & Paper Goods: The Bride & Groom / Wedding Gown: La Sposa from J del Olmo Bridal Gallery and Couture / Bridesmaids Dresses: J. Crew / Groomsmen Suits: Mr Tux / Hair & Makeup: Gladys Perez / Ceremony Music: Elegant Musicians / Wedding Transportation: Florian’s Classics / Photobooth: My Event Photo Booth / Wedding DJ: The DJ Connection / Wedding Favors: Sweet Caroline and Favors by Serendipity / Pastries: Le Royal French Bakery

Abby featured the lovely Laura Hooper’s engagement party plus her sister’s equally awesome rehearsal dinner yesterday on Style Me Pretty … and as Abby said, we honestly can’t rave enough about Laura! Her calligraphy may be where it all started, but my-oh-my-goodness … the places she’s gone!

Our sincere congrats to Laura on her own upcoming nups! We couldn’t be happier for you!!

As you’ll read on her website, Laura Hooper Calligraphy is a green wedding company creating THE most fabulous invitations, save-the-dates, custom maps … you name it … couture creations for “the most discerning brides”!

photography courtesy of Steve Steinhardt

You can see all these delightful examples of Laura’s work plus so many more in the SMP gallery {here}! Do take a look ~ we know you’ll fall in love all over again!

Laura’s Engagement Party and her sister’s Rehearsal Dinner

Now that I have fully admitted to stalking Jose Villa on a daily basis, I thought I should tell you WHY I love him so. It’s that there are very few people on this planet that can capture a perfect wedding, a perfect detail, a perfect moment…with such clarity. His photographs are so far from your standard wedding photojournalism fare. They are art. Gorgeous works of art that I can pick out of a stack of thousands any day of the week. And well, aparently, I’m not the only one to fall head over heels for Jose and his unique photography style. Because guess what, kids. He’s gone and written a book all about it.

Tucked inside the gorgeous cover you’ll get to read all about Jose’s secrets for “bringing a stylized sense of composition, lighting, posing, and most important, design, to your images, while still keeping them organic and narrative.” You’ll learn how he encourages his subjects to be at their most natural and how he gets the images right in-camera rather than needing heavy postproduction. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg people.

This book is kind of like a backstage pass to all things Jose. With a heavy hand of beauty, style and pure eye candy to go along with it. And we’re giving one away!

Just leave a comment with the words “JOSE VILLA FAN CLUB” below and we’ll choose a random winner.

For those of you that have to get your hands on it now, you can pre-order a copy right here. He’ll even sign it so you can consider yourself an official member of the Jose Villa fan club. I myself…am the president.

Jessalyn and Craig fell in LOVE with the casual elegance of The Ostoff Resort at  Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Hoping to blend traditional elegance with country charm, they introduced details all throughout the day to make their wedding celebration uniquely their own! Shared with us by Leann at Honeybee & Peony Photography, we’re pretty sure you’ll label their wedding a complete and total success!

Invitations from Laura Hooper Calligraphy.

LOVE the seating chart!!

While on vacation, we fell upon a beautiful estate set on the shore of the crystal blue Elkhart Lake. Instantly, we new that this estate, located just down the road from a quintessential village, would make the perfect venue for us to celebrate the beginning of our new life together with family and friends at our side.

Our wedding vision was an amalgamation of vintage, country, and classic styles. We hoped this ambiance would provide for an atmosphere of beauty, comfort and fun. It was important to us to weave pieces of our families into every detail–from the groom’s “old fashioned bar” (a family favorite) served in Mason jars to the seating chart set inside windows (from the bride’s childhood home) … to using the bride’s signature breakfast treat as both a favor and an invite to Sunday brunch. We also wanted to highlight local favorites–steak, local micro-brews and, of course, cheese! In fact, we were able to hand pick our favorite Wisconsin cheeses at our favorite NYC cheese shop (Murray’s!).

Jessalyn & Craig’s favorite part of the day?
To begin our lives with the person of our dreams, with family and the closest of friends, was a dream come true. The music, champagne, “old-fashioneds,” a lakeside lobster bake rehearsal dinner and after-party at the tiki bar were mere icing on the cake.

Photography: Honeybee & Peony, LLC / Flowers: Urban Sense / Band: The Eddie Butts Band / Event Planning: The Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, WI / Ceremony Location: Community United Church of Christ, Elkhart Lake, WI / Reception Location: The Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, WI / Invitations and Stationery: Laura Hooper Calligraphy / Veil: Sara Gabriel / Dress: La Sposa Fanal / Bridesmaids– JCrew dresses and shoes. (I asked the girls to be in my wedding party by sending them the shoes and asking if they’d walk by my side.) / Groom’s Attire– Calvin Klein tux, Brooks Brothers tie / Catering: The Osthoff Resort

Let me preface this next wedding by saying this…if I wasn’t friends with Jose Villa, he would DEFINITELY be a little scared of me. Every time I get one of his weddings, I automatically become a class A lunatic, gushing like gushing was going out of style. I don’t know whether he is simply the world’s best photographer and can make any wedding look spectacular or he is blessed with super cool clients that know what style is all about, but whatever the case, I’ve never received a single Jose wedding that I didn’t frantically get up on SMP. Case in point, this next little number that he collaborated on with the fabulous Beth Helmstetter. Oh and before I let you loose with these images, we have a super cool Jose Giveaway coming up next! Click here to see even more!

click here to see the full wedding gallery!

Natalie & Pat wanted nothing more than to provide an intimate and unique experience for their wedding celebration and bringing together their family and friends from both coasts to Napa, offered just that! After many a trips to Napa, Natalie & Pat thought there would be no better a location for their day. Natalie’s never ending passion for interior design fueled the process with me and her design team referencing architecture, restaurant design and the like for inspiration for her day. She certainly didn’t want a day that looked like any old wedding and in the end, I think we accomplished just that. Sleek and modern with just the right amount of charm played off of the juxtaposition of the venue’s industrial meets rustic design. For the ceremony, Natalie chose the Apple Orchard as the place to exchange vows and kept the area understated with simple black X back chairs and shepard’s hooks. The main statement piece at the ceremony was the black baby grand piano that played Coldplay’s Reign of Love as Natalie walked down the aisle.

During cocktail hour, the pianist continued as guests enjoyed elderflower champagne and wines selected during several trips to the Napa area by the bride and groom. For dinner, we had a true Napa Valley inspired menu that included seasonal ingredients straight from the valley. For design, based on a color story inspired from the interior of a cathedral that Natalie couldn’t get enough of, we worked with a pale slate blue as the base for everything from the invitations to the linens. To keep the look clean and streamlined, Natalie had her heart set on ghost chairs designed by Philipe Starck and the design team was happy to oblige. Clean vessels filled with soft white flowers added romance to the look while maintaining the sophisticated vibe and touches of whimsical yet mod butterflies for everything from place cards to random moments on the drum shades to the picture display.

The evening ended near the outdoor fire place surrounded by modern meets romantic lounge furniture and an elaborate S’mores display. Guests enjoyed, cocktails, cocoa and sweets until the wee hours of the morning when Natalie & Pat said their goodbyes to all of their guests that traveled so far to celebrate with them in true Napa style.

Photography: Jose Villa / Event Planner: Beth Helmstetter / Floral Designer & Rentals: Kathleen Deery / Linens: La Tavola / Venue: Carneros Inn / Cake: Perfect Endings / Stationery: Village Invites / Entertainment: Patrick Numair / Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Music: Michael Udelson / Piano Rental: Santa Rosa Music Center / Calligraphy: Laura Hooper / Macarons: Paulette Macaron Dress: Oscar De La Renta / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale

We are having a Mexico Wedding kind of day. It must be the grip of Spring fever that has us New Englanders dreaming of sandy beaches and cocktails in the warm sun. Or maybe it’s just that this dreamy garden wedding meets Mexico is out of this world GORGEOUS. Photographed by the lovely Jillian Mitchell with design and styling courtesy of Mishka Designs, this is a full on destination wedding extravaganza and you all are invited. See more of the day here.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

Wedding Photographer: Jillian Mitchell Photography / Bridal Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Tommy Bahama / Bridesmaids Attire: J.Crew / Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Location: La Terrazola Restaurant, Sayulita, Mexico / Wedding Ceremony Location: Brisa del Mar Palapa, Sayulita, Mexico / Event Design: Mishka Designs / Wedding Coordinator: Kerry Moehler / Hair and Makeup: Kolor by Kori

South Africa is on the top of my list of places I want to get to at least once in my lifetime.  This amazing, handcrafted wedding by Otto Schulze Photographers certainly does not deter me from that dream.  It seriously ranks up there as one of the most crush-worthy, creative nuptials ever.  There are so many pretty little pieces tucked into each corner and every tree branch.  I can’t believe how many projects they perfectly executed but they don’t even compare to the love that radiates out of every photo.   The DIY, vintage party keeps rocking in the full wedding gallery!

Click here to see the full gallery of images!

From the Bride… As much as the term ‘vintage’ has become overly popular and cliche, our wedding was mainly vintage. It was also colourful, spring, nostalgic, farm, picnic, red & white checked, doilies.  Our entire wedding was to be outside. It wasn’t going to rain and we didn’t have a back-up plan. On the morning of the 11th it was gray and overcast and my brother welcomed me with the news that there was a 75% chance of rain. By the time I walked down to meet my almost-husband, it had all blown away and the sun had come out and it was a lovely spring day. It didn’t rain one single drop and the party carried on till late under an umbrella of stars. The next day it rained.

The most memorable part of the day was the walk from the Farm house to the ‘Chapel’ under the trees. This walk involved everything that is dearest to my heart and everyone that I love the most.  A few weeks after Travis proposed, our awesome and incredibly-loved dog ‘Bokkie’ was knocked down by a car. She was supposed to grow old with us.  We buried her underneath some Cherry blossom trees on the farm, which I passed en-route from the farm house to the ‘Chapel’.  My best friends and my sister were with me, smiling and joking and being awesome.  My dad and I walked hand in hand through the yellow fields and met my mum about half way.  Our favourite song ‘Staralfur’ from Sigur Ros was playing.  Even though the day had started miserable and grey, the sun was shining and it was a lovely spring day.  And then at the end of the walk, there was my almost-husband, waiting for me, looking all handsome and awesome.  Oh my, just writing about it makes me go all tender and soppy.

My wedding dress was made by my darling friend and super talented fashion designer Terese Meijering from Nooi. After getting engaged, my one grandmother gave me her original wedding dress (60 years old!) and my other grannie gave me some hand-made lace. Sentimental and nostalgic me wanted to create a new dress with that. Terese had the vision and the awesome talent. She made the most beautiful soft and simple dress using mainly the lacy fabric from the vintage dress, layering it with off-white coloured silk and rounded it all off with the hand-crocheted lace from my other grandmother. Et voila.

This wedding wouldn’t have happened without all the love and patience and hard work that was poured out for us from our family and friends. Every single item at this wedding was made possible by our friends and family – from my grannies doilies to the hand-painted signs to my dress sewn by an amazing friend. Travis and I have had long chats about the few days before the wedding, and we think we only now understand how utterly and awesomely we are loved by our friends and family and ultimately that this is a representation and extension of HIM. Our wedding would not have been close to what it was without all the helping, blistered hands, the sweating brows, the big laughs and the frustrated sighs, the dirty feet and hay-bale-slaving, the tree-cimbing and heart-hanging, the sign-painting and the high fives, the bunting-flag-sewing and origami-bird-folding, the invite-designing and dress-making, the organising and sourcing, the cupcake decorating and paper-flag-folding, the teepee-tent-sewing, the never ending patience and finally and above all, the never-ending love.

Wedding Photographer: Otto Schulze Photographers / Wedding Flowers: Multiflora Flower Market / Catering: Prep’ed by Sasha / Wedding Cinematography: pixelated pixies / Wedding Venue: Frankenhof (Private Residence) / Officiant: Pierre of 3rd Place / Wedding Coordinator: Nadine van Aswegen / Wedding Gown: Terese Meijering from Nooi / Bridal Make-Up Lessons: Nadja Seale / Bridal Shoes: g-mo footwear / Bridal Accessories: Friend of the Bride, Skermunkil and Country Road / Groom’s Wedding Band: Tinsel / Bride’s Wedding Ring: Antique / Wedding Decor: In Good Company / Wedding Stationary: Gerhard of This Pencil /  Wedding Cupcakes: Friend of the Bride / Wooden Signage: Michael Linders

This Sarasota wedding from Audrey Snow Photography is romantic. It is glamorous. It is personal. All in all, it is what little girls hope for when dreaming of their own someday wedding. This beautiful bride not only found her Prince Charming, but was able to have the wedding of her dreams at an estate seeped in grand style and history, fit for a fairy tail. And thanks to Audrey, our bride and groom have these gorgeous memories to share with their children and grandchildren one day. Make sure to check out even more in the gallery!

From Audrey…Anna and Dustin were married at the lovely Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota, FL on 7.10.10. The estate has a distinctly Mediterranean feel which effortlessly gives guests the feeling of celebrating in another time and place altogether. It is absolutely perfect for any bride and groom with timeless style. The lacy detail on Anna’s gown paired with Dustin’s classic white linen suit were right at home here. Little pops of orange in the florals were a beautifully vibrant contrast to the elegant, more traditional navy that ruled the details from the table linens to the bridesmaids gowns. We particularly loved the cupcakes with their pattern-coded wrappers depicting each flavor within, not to mention their adorable love bird cupcake toppers!

Though it was a typically toasty South Florida day, wedding guests stayed comfortable in the shaded outdoor ceremony site and tented reception. Dinner was held under the tent and then after sunset, Anna and Dustin danced the night away with their guests under the bulb party lights that ran from the tent to the mansion. The lights gave the feeling of partying in an open air Italian piazza. From beginning to end, it was the loveliest of wedding celebrations!

If you, like me, need even more of this wedding, make sure to pop over to Audrey’s blog!

From our gorgeous bride…Most brides would say their wedding day was magical. As I began to plan my own, I feared that for one reason or another, mine would not end up that way. I love being creative, and I am a planner at heart. But at the same time, I did worry about every little detail. Dustin grounded me every day, reminding me of “the reason for the season.” Forgetting about the details, I realized those fears were silly. We were joining together, uniting as one, best friends committing our lives to each other, all while being surrounded by our closest family and friends. How could it not be magical?

We told ourselves one thing before we met at the aisle that day, remember to pause and soak it all in. Arm in arm with my dad, from across the room, or while dancing under a glow of lights, we stared into each others’ eyes, reminding one another to pause. Telling ourselves to capture the faces around us, feel the breeze, embrace the summer’s air, admire the glistening water and the swaying trees. I have never truly embraced the moments of a day more than on that day.

There are some memories that seem to come alive when I reminisce. I remember feeling more beautiful than I ever have in my life, and I imagine I may never feel that way again. My brothers teared up when they saw me for the first time in my dress. I will always remember that. I remember my mom looking beautiful. She wore a light blue shirt in the bridal room that made her glow. I remember laughing with my dad as a snake slithered in front of us on the sidewalk. I was in awe of the view as I walked down the aisle. Focusing in on Dustin as he stood in the center of it all, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Watching the sun set behind the water was bittersweet. It was breathtaking, all you would hope a Florida summer sunset would be, yet it meant that our day was that much closer to being over. I loved hearing the songs I requested and skipping through a sea of people to find Dustin. (He is the cutest dancer!) And there is just something special about seeing your parents laugh as they swing each other around the dance floor.

As I try to put into words my feelings from the day, I find it is impossible to fully express or summarize in any justified way. But in the end, and in the simplest way put, it was magical.

Photography: Audrey Snow Photography / Flowers: Beneva Flowers / Event Coordination: Nellie’s Catering / Ceremony Location: Powel Crosley Estate / Reception Location: Powel Crosley Estate

If only there was a way to snap my fingers and magically end up in this dream of a destination photo shoot styled by Grey Likes Weddings – I would appear amidst the sand in less than 2.5 seconds. Believe me, I am snapping over here with all my might trying to do just that. It doesn’t hurt that the amazingly breathtaking Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya provided the stunning backdrop and the images from Troy and Aimee of Troy Grover Photography (who also played models for the day – adorable) are just a vacation within themselves. I don’t know about you, but I think I might just take a little Thursday vacation in the oh so pretty full gallery of this stunning shoot, care to join me?

Take a little trip on over to 100 Layer Cake for more of this dreamy destination photo shoot and information on Summer Watkins’ upcoming workshop!

Destination weddings are always a lovely opportunity to combine the excitement of a wedding with the relaxation of a vacation. Summer Watkins of Grey Likes Weddings recently teamed up with honeymoon planner, Katie of Ever After Honeymoons, to plan an inspiration shoot for destination brides.  Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita in Riviera Maya, Mexico hosted our team and helped put on a simple beachside affair doused in local flavor.  Photographers (and models) Troy and Aimee Grover captured all of the lovely images. Megan of MaeMae Paperie designed a custom invitation suite with loads of color and whimsical patterns.

We made an effort to utilize ideas that can easily be packed in a suitcase for airplane travel. Flowers were picked fresh onsite for the bouquets and boutonniere. Red fringe was attached to poles found at the resort for carefree ceremony decor. Tequila shots greeted guests at their place cards, while Zoetry’s sommelier provided a variety of tequilas for an impromptu tequila tasting. Mini bottles of boutique tequila varieties, along with shot glasses and a lime were used as favors.

In addition to the wedding, we shot a rehearsal dinner on a catamaran,which is actually available daily to all Zoetry guests. Coronas and street tacos were served as guests enjoyed a seafaring tour of the Mexican coastline.

Location: Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya / Stylist: Summer Watkins of Grey Likes Weddings / Honeymoon Destination Planner and Coordinator: Katie Frederick of Ever After Honeymoons / Photography and Modeling: Troy and Aimee of Troy Grover Photographers / Paper goods: Megan of MaeMae Paperie / Wedding Dress: Terra Amore by Jessica Charles

OK, I have a Bride crush. Not only did this drop dead gorgeous Bride fully brand their fabulous day (I am such a sucker for that), but she also designed all the wedding stationery and hand letter pressed all of their invitations. Swoon. Major swoon. This music-themed affair, captured by Cuppa Photography, has all the makings for rock-star wedding status, and you can see it all in the full gallery.

Click here for the full gallery of images!

From Cuppa Photography… Louie and Mary Elisa are chic without the pretension, edgy without being sharp. When they invited me to capture their big day, I knew I was in for artsy cool and urban modern and was so excited to see what they’d come up with! I got my first hint of what was to come when I received one of their gorgeous invitations, completely designed and hand letter pressed by the bride, inspired by the handbills to a rock show. I think it can be really difficult to design a wedding that falls on a holiday like Halloween without having the decor feel a bit kitschy, but Mary Elisa managed to even use traditional Halloween colors and still have it feel contemporary and modern and sophisticated! Their mutual love of music, especially punk,  was one of the shared delights that brought Louie and Mary Elisa together in the beginning and having that theme run through their day kept it so fun and personal. Their invitations and scrumptious cupcakes featured guitar picks stamped with their wedding logo and their guestbook was a beautiful electric guitar covered in messages of love from their guests. They incorporated a touch of Halloween in the costume props in their photobooth, and their guests spent the evening laughing hysterically in witch hats and sombreros! It was truly a delight to capture Louie and Mary Elisa’s unquestionable love for one another and the laughter and fun that defined their wedding day!

Wedding Photography and Photobooth: Cuppa Photography / Wedding Flowers: Celeste’s Flower Barn / Wedding Cupcakes: Michelle’s Pastries / Hair: 26th on Hanover / Wedding Ceremony Location: St. Joseph’s Cathedral / Wedding Reception Location: The French Building at The New Hampshire Institute of Art / Invitations: The Bride / Shoes: Converse / Dress: J. Crew

Get ready to soak in some sunny San Juan Capistrano! This once upon a time worthy affair by Erin J Saldana was all about the style and sentiment. A real life fairytale – the Bride played Cinderella at Disneyland in her past life, and she sure did find her real life prince charming! Boy do we love a happy ending. There is so much more to see of this storybook affair, so be sure to check out the full gallery.

Click here to see the full gallery of images!

From Erin J Saldana… In the heart of lovely San Juan Capistrano, Kristin & Joe joined together at El Adobe Restaurant. We took their “first look” and romantic photos at nearby downtown San Juan Capistrano. Kristin, being the lovely songstress that she is, wrote and recorded a song for Joe to listen to just before they saw each other. They had a custom made guestbook with all of their engagement photos inside and chose to personalize their reception tables with cute frames with photos of them holding the table numbers.  A wedding party of 10 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen (a wife filled in as one of the groomsmen) allowed for a fun group session. Kristin used to work as “Cinderella’s Best friend” at Disneyland (character), so if you look closely at their toasting glasses you’ll see engraving of cinderella and prince charming. I used a little mickey mouse inspiration for the ring detail shot! She certainly found her Prince Charming. Their colors were a sage green and warm chocolate brown. One of her bridesmaids knit Kristin a beautiful shawl–just perfect for when it got chilly after the ceremony. Yummy cupcakes and chocolate covered strawberries were the choice sweets for all the guests. This stunning day all with out a Wedding Coordinator!

This Nashville wedding from Brocade Designs was inspired by Mississippi charm (where this great couple met and fell in love), and all I can say is that if this is what southern hospitality is like, count me in! One word can sum up this charmer of a soiree: fun. Any bride who has her blue suede shoes on is ready to have a good time. It was definitely the personal touches the couple incorporated into the day that made it so unique. Though there were flowers everywhere, no two arrangements were the same. And that is what takes this vintage chic wedding to a whole new level. Check out the gallery for even more!

From the beautiful bride… Dan and I met in Greenwood, Mississippi, a small town of amazing food and that southern hospitality that you only read about. I was hooked the night I met him. He was an Atlanta Boy; I was born and raised in Indiana. And Greenwood was where we fell in love. After graduating college, I moved to the closest big city to Greenwood where I could find a job, just south of Nashville. Dan moved up a year later. When Dan proposed in late March, we knew that another year was too long to wait. So the date was set for October 2. Six months is not that long!

I quickly realized that our wedding was a celebration of the two of us and our new lives together. So the overall theme of the wedding became things we enjoyed together: birds, books, history, and the outdoors. All of that wrapped up with that southern charm we discovered in Mississippi. I decided I wanted to keep my dress and accessories classic. The birdcage veil was a must. I found a crystal encrusted birdcage veil, and it was beautiful, just the right amount of sparkle. I found a fascinator by VelvetOwl on Etsy that I attached to the comb of the veil to make it my own. I originally wanted a tea-length dress, but after trying on this one, I knew it was mine. No sparkle, just folds; Simple, Classic, beautiful.

We wanted to keep the ceremony sacred. With minimal decorations, we kept the focus on our vows. But the ceremony programs, kids programs, and our bouquets were enough to set the scene. After the wedding was over, I had people requesting copies of the Kids programs to take home!  I wanted my bouquet to look like it had been freshly picked from the field. Hillary, the florist, twisted copper wire into a waterfall of vines that gave it that ‘wow’ factor I had wanted. The bridesmaid’s were equally amazing. Some even had little birds incorporated into them! The groomsmen’s boutonnieres were all brilliant. Dan’s had a little bird on a nest with an antique key dangling from it. Having a smaller budget was tough when it came to flowers, but Hillary was able to do a lot with nothing. I just had a color scheme and a general look that I wanted. She did an amazing job. There were flowers everywhere, and no two arrangements were alike!

I’m crafty. From day one I knew (despite the advice of everyone I know) that I had to make everything that I could. Luckily I found a florist who shared the same vision and craftiness as me. Everything from the invitations and programs, to little paper details and cloth napkins, were all handmade. It helped keep everything personal. The decor was very eclectic which was great for a smaller budget! Searching for decor became a great adventure. Garage sales, flea markets, Etsy, and Ebay became my focus.

I had several great compliments that evening. Some of the kids said that they didn’t know a wedding could be so ‘cool’. A friend of mine said it was like he had stepped into my imagination for a few hours. And Dan said it was perfect. It was definitely the wedding I had always dreamed of.

Photography: Arlund Imagery / Event Design: Brocade Designs / Linens: Bride & Family and Brocade Designs/ Ceremony Location: Church of the Good Sheperd, Brentwood TN / Reception Location: Cool Springs House / Dress: Marisa Bridals from Faccio Bridal / Shoes: Cindy Lou / Videographer: Dynamic Video Weddings / Stationery: PhrenicCircus

I am having such a hard time deciding what I love more about this wedding but that perfect shade of red lipstick is definitely at the top of the list and paired with the prettiest ballet flats makes for an ultra romantic bridal style. We are definitely all about romance around here. And then there’s the wedding…the gorgeous garden wedding in the middle of New York City with scrumptious florals by Denise Fasanello Floral Design. Yep, if I had a wedding redo, you bet your bottom dollar it would look EXACTLY like this pretty number. See the rest of the gorgeous images captured by A Couple Of Cameras in the gallery.

see the FULL wedding here!

From the Bride… We wanted to have an outdoorsy wedding with lots of trees and greenery, which is not so easy to find in New York City. Fort Tryon Park and New Leaf Restaurant (located in the park) were absolutely perfect. The New Leaf Restaurant is such an amazing place to have a wedding reception. Not only is the staff amazing, but the food is fantastic. There are so many trees in the park – you can’t believe you are still in Manhattan. Kevin, his dad and his best man took the subway to the ceremony, so we ended up with some cool photos from that. Overall, we didn’t want anything to be too perfect or polished, so we went with decorations like mismatched vintage books and bottles, and wildflowers. I have a longstanding obsession with Alice in Wonderland so we used cards featuring Alice characters and quotes on the Save The Date postcards, table and seating cards, gift table, and dessert table. We also had vintage Alice in Wonderland books incorporated into the centerpieces. Kevin has a love for the novel Dune, so a few of those sneaked into the table settings, too, and his favorite cartoon (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) ended up as cupcake toppers. Instead of a traditional guest book we put out an assortment of antique and vintage postcards for people to leave messages on. I wouldn’t change a thing about our wedding — everything came together perfectly and our guests had a blast!

Photography: A Couple Of Cameras / Flowers: Denise Fasanello Floral Design /  Ceremony Location: Fort Tryon Park / Reception Location: New Leaf Restaurant / Invitations: A Printable Press / Save The Dates: design by Joe Krause / Shoes: Lanvin / Dress: Sarah Seven / Hair: Rubi Jones at Whittemore House Salon / Makeup: Mary Schook / Groom’s attire: Alton Lane suit; Freemans, Sporting Club tie / Maid of Honor dress: Pinky Otto / Table and seating cards: Pink Cherry Mama on Etsy (we added charms and stamped them ourselves) / Desserts: Baked / DJ: DJ Seep

It is no secret that we really, really love Saddlerock Ranch around here.  Every wedding that takes place against those Malibu mountains is full of magic and wonder.  This love-filled affair from another favorite of ours, Erin Hearts Court, is full to the brim with whimsy, perfectly understated, organic details and a handful of the best vendors on the west coast.  Don’t stop til you get enough in the full gallery!

Click to see the full gallery of images!

From Cassandra… Andrea + Phinny… that is probably the only way to start to explain the connection of a pair truly in love, silently romantic, outrageously funny and soon-to-be parents, our bride and groom. These two clever people met on the stage at their theater company and both hit the mark in compatibility. Phinny’s quiet nature allowed for Andrea’s fun filled heart to shine on their wedding day in Malibu, California at Saddle Rock Ranch. While honoring Andrea’s jewish heritage with a beautiful handmade chuppah, the wood arbor provided for a ceremony full of laughter. Many friends participated with musical jingles, full chorus line productions and tibetan sound bowls. Family was certainly a highlight of the day as was a playful school theme (both Andrea & Phinny are teachers) seen throughout with chalkboard signage, wood cut table numbers and an invitation suite that recalled “The Giving Tree” by Shell Silverstein, a classic kids book (created by Hello Lucky!). Their catering selection was of the utmost importance and standard “wedding fare” would not stand a chance on these foodies pallets. Heirloom Catering created a beautiful family style meal that fit the bill along with custom cocktails that were fresh pressed earlier that day. Michael Antonia of Flashdance had the barefoot party swaying along to a mix of oldies and hip-sets that kept this Sunday wedding going well into the night.

Wedding Photography: Erin Hearts Court / Wedding Flowers: Brown Paper Design / Event Design and Planning: Cassandra & Company / Catering: Heirloom LA Catering / Wedding DJ: The Flashdance / Wedding Venue: Saddlerock Ranch / Wedding Invitations: Hello Lucky!

A good friend is a really nice thing to have.  Generous friends with talents galore who open up their gorgeous home to you and your loved ones are really, really nice to have.  This beaming bride and groom put together a beautiful, vibrant California wedding with a little help from their dear friends.  Orange Turtle Photography‘s photographs of each bright, breathtaking view puts a little spring in our step and warms our hearts!  Check out more sunny details in the full wedding gallery!

Click here to see the full gallery of images!

From Orange Turtle Photography… Sara managed to throw a gorgeous, outdoor wedding with an affordable budget.  Her secret? Her friends!  Her wedding took place at her friends’ gorgeous mansion that has a beautiful backyard.  Her friends even purposely got more landscaping work done in preparation for her wedding.  The florist, Marisa Tsikounas, who is also a personal friend of Sara, did an amazing job adding colors to the ceremony and reception area with her beautiful floral work. We absolutely love the warm color palette that Sara chose for her wedding – which consists mostly of orange!  The color palette cannot be more perfect for a late summer outdoor wedding.  At nighttime, everyone dined, ate and danced under the white twinkle lights beneath the full moon sky.  It was a picture perfect wedding!

But all of that prettiness pales in comparison to the sparkles that Sara and Brian have between them. Sara & Brian met in youth group when they were still in high school.  Though they were young, they knew that they were meant for each other.  As you will see in one of the photos – fairy tales do come true – especially for Sara & Brian. They have been together since their youth group days.  They have grown together and separately through tears & laughers, and most of all from the support of their loving families.  On their wedding day, their love shines through so naturally in all the photos. Every single moment of the wedding was full of love, giggles and celebration.  These two are the most beautiful people you will ever meet.

Wedding Photography: Orange Turtle Photography / Wedding Florist: Revel Floral / Wedding Cake: Sugar, Butter, Flour / Wedding DJ: Final Touch Entertainment / Catering: The Party Helpers / Wedding Venue: Private Residence

You all should know by now that we’re huge advocates of engagement sessions AND first look sessions. Now we have another favorite … day after sessions! When the guests are gone and the dust has settled ~ when you’re finally able to relax as newlyweds … AND you get to wear that gown of yours one more time! What an example we have in store for you! From Allie and Brian at Callaway Gable, an absolutely breathtaking Day After Session with Dana and Colin at Joshua Tree …

From Brian … Two huge advantages of Day After Shoots are the luxury of time and the ability to choose a much more dramatic setting. When we first met Colin and Dana, they expressed an interest in a more editorial-style photo shoot than we would be able to do on their wedding day. We immediately suggested doing the session at Joshua Tree.

You can see all the A M A Z I N G shots on the Callaway Gable Blog ~ along with a few of Dana & Colin’s wedding highlights.