from Robert and Kathleen’s blog … In our line of work, it’s not unusual to be completely surrounded by raw emotion.  The way the groom’s voice cracks when he reads his vows, the deep breath a bride takes just before taking that first step down the aisle … For us, it’s one of the true perks of our job! One of the occupational hazards, though is that sometimes, the emotion gets to us, too. We can usually see it coming ~ when you have a couple whose connection is so evident that you feel it, even before you see them together! You feel it in the energy in the room while they’re each getting ready, in the excitement of the guests as they sit down for the ceremony. And as much as you prepare yourself, sometimes it just catches you off guard. There are little moments in every wedding that get to either one of us, but it’s not often that the very same moment touches us both ~ Rob and I ~ at the very same time. Julia and Avi’s wedding was the exception … – Robert and Kathleen Photographers

Robert and Kathleen Trenske are a husband and wife team who have the keen ability to capture all the details with big, bold clarity and all the emotions with a finesse and skill that few others have. And when you read their blog, you can just tell that they are really, fully consumed in every wedding that they shoot. On their blog, they share stories, not only of the day, but of the bride and groom … and you can just tell that thru the process, they’ve become friends!

What do we love about Avi and Julia’s wedding? All of it!

see the full gallery here

Do you want to know what moment it was that touched both Kathleen and Robert simultaneously? Head on over to their blog to hear the full story!

Congratulations ~ Julia & Avi!

Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Location: The Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown, CT / Caterer: Margery Gussak Catering / Make-Up: D.D. Nickel / Bridal Gown: Watters / Shoes: Kate Spade / Flowers: Fleur de Lys Floral in New Haven, CT / Entertainment: Soulfarm

More of Robert and Kathleen’s fantastic wedding stories …

Kate & Spencer’s Wedding Story

Hillari & Danny’s Wedding Story

Jenny & Brett’s Wedding Story

We have heard your cries for more indoor, contemporary wedding celebrations and we aim to please. This Atlanta affair photographed by Melissa Schollaert is just what the doctor ordered. It’s like a breath of fresh modern air and totes a chic combination of industrial meets incredibly glamorous all executed gorgeously by Toast Events. We have a feeling you all are going to LOVE this day. Be sure to pop into the gallery for more images from this Southern wedding.

see the FULL wedding here!

Jaime and Scott celebrated with a modern affair which was held in a historic warehouse building in downtown Atlanta. King Plow Arts Center is a beautiful space, and the ceremony and reception were both held in one of the historic plow manufacturing buildings, while the cocktail hour was held in an adjacent art gallery. Jaime and her designer/planner Lindsay Pitt inserted a modern aesthetic into the space with all-white florals, grey linens and clear ghost chairs for the ceremony and reception. The ceremony and reception were both filled with lots of candlelight that made the room glow. The reception featured light dinner music with a seated dinner and a dessert/candy bar of cupcakes and assorted candies.

Photography: Melissa Schollaert Photography / Cinematography: One Chance Wedding Video / Flowers: Jackson Durham / Event Design and Planning: Lindsay Pitt of Toast Events / Ceremony & Reception Location: King Plow Arts Center / Invitations: Hi Note / Dress: Paloma Blanca / Bridesmaid Dresses: twobirds bridesmaid / Cupcakes: Gigi’s Cupcakes / Dessert Bar by Tasty Pastry in collaboration with J Park Events Table Design / Catering: Bold American Catering / Linen,Table,Chair Rental: Classic Party Rentals / Drapery Rentals: Event Drapery / Band: Papa Sol of East Coast Entertainment / Hair and Makeup: Luxe Beauty Co / Stage Rental: Peachtree Tents & Events / Transportation: Atlantic Limo

Now that we are totally immersed in Valentine’s Day goodness, we’d like to share one of Kristin Vining and Weddings And The City’s sensational weddings from last year. Grace and Sean were married at The Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte in August. According to Grace, Tiffany and the lovely team at WATC helped her realize her dream-come-true! “She stood by me patiently as I changed my mind dozens of times and always offered me great suggestions! When our day finally came everything flowed flawlessly and we couldn’t have asked for a better turn out. In the logistical aspect of wedding planning, Tiffany is absolutely professional and reliable but even better, we discovered a life long friend!”

More from Grace … We met when Sean was in his 3rd year with the Charlotte Bobcats and I was working at a local hole in the wall bar about 2 blocks from the arena where he played. It was the “place to be” for meeting up and having some drinks before a night on the town, so he and his friends walked in one day in November after one of his games. I was behind the bar and he sent over one of my co-workers to ask if I would be his girlfriend! Of course he was being silly and I laughed it off and said “yeah right!” I eventually gave him a chance and we became great friends and quickly escalated to having the beautiful relationship we have today.

On our second year anniversary, that also happens to be Valentines Day, we went to Miami for the weekend. Thinking that we were just celebrating our anniversary and the holiday, I was totally caught off-guard when he surprised me … 13 minutes after midnight on – officially – February 14th I walked into a rose petal and candlelit covered room with 11 beautiful flower arrangements with red roses and white lilies. On each arrangement was a card with a picture of us on the outside and on the inside a different reason why he loved me. He walked me to each arrangement and had me read each card. At the 10th vase I thought it was over but there was one more left. At the 11th arrangement, of all white roses and lilies, the card read “for all these reasons I want to know…will you marry me?” I turned around and behind me was Sean on his knee holding my ring!

When it came to planning the wedding, I must say that Tiffany at Weddings and the City made the planning process effortless! She totally rocked! I would have to say the most unique part of our wedding was where we had our ceremony. We were privileged enough to be the very first couple to get married at The Urban Garden at the Ritz Carlton. The Urban Garden was the perfect setting for a very sticky August day allowing for the natural light of the sunset yet still providing comfort and air conditioning for our guests. It is located between the Ritz and the Bank of America building and is basically an indoor garden area with windows surrounding about 75% of the room. From there we moved our party to the grand ballroom where the mood transformed from a natural outdoor type setting to a classy-chic formal setting. I decided I wanted lots of red and at our reception that’s what I got! We covered the entire ballroom with red draping and it truly made an impact and set the perfect mood for our reception.

For more of this smokin’ hot couple, take a look at their Engagement Shoot, Kristin’s blog of their Wedding, and their feature on Weddings And The City!

Photography: Kristin Vining / Wedding Planning & Design: Weddings And The City / Ceremony: The Urban Garden at The Ritz Carlton / Reception: Grand Ballroom at The Ritz Carlton / Cake: The Ritz Carlton / Flowers: A Place For Flowers / Gown: Lazaro from  J Majors / Shoes: Christian Louboutin from– Saks 5th Ave / Bridesmaid’s dresses: Alvina Valenta from J Majors / Tuxedos: Elevee / Rings designed by Sean May and Mike Ealy from Skatell’s / Hair & Make-up: tylist for portrait: Who’s the Fairest, Kymm McLean / Invitations: Three Little Birds / Music: Split Second Sound / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals, Cloth Connection and Extravaganza / Favors: Chocolate Menus by Totally Chocolate  Wedding / Photobooth by Carolina Photo Booths

It can be tricky creating a pink-infused wedding without it falling into princess birthday party territory but Hey Gorgeous, Events by Rhiannon Nicole totally nailed it with this sweet, feminine, vintage-inspired photo shoot.  Heart-shaped cookies, vintage tumblers and striped barber straws are the perfect combination for a girly yet playful Valentine’s Day wedding.   And pale pinks and creamy ivories paired with gray brings a fun, modern twist to the whimsical and romantic theme. We’re in love with the dreamy photography of Elizabeth In Love.  You can see even more from this phenomenal team of artists in the full gallery!

Click here to see more inspiration in the full gallery!

The initial inspiration I had for this shoot was from some gorgeous pink glass tumblers my mother found at the Goodwill. The textured glass and pale pink hue not only resonated with my love for all things vintage and feminine but also reminded me of one of my favourite holidays of the year, Valentines Day. Immediately I recruited a team of fabulous vendors to help bring my vision to life.  The original inspiration board featured a palette of creams, ivories, pale pinks, roses and champagnes with subtle pops of red. I wanted the shoot to have a soft, dreamy and romantic feel with a quirky whimsical twist.  Incorporating letterpress paper products, faded paperback books, fluffy and full florals, and subtle lace, and pearl details were important elements in making the shoot so beautiful and cohesive.

Asking Beth from Elizabeth in Love, Weddings by Elizabeth Kaye, to capture the shoot was a no brainer for me.  She is one of the most talented photographers I know with an eye for beauty and attention to detail like no other. I knew having her on board would be the best option to ensure gorgeous visuals and downright stunning bridal portraits of our model, and was I ever right! Beth’s specialty is really allowing a bride to shine and look her absolute best and if you look at just one of her photos you’ll see what I mean. She is a total dream and I cannot wait to collaborate with her in the future.

The venue for the shoot was downtown Hamilton, Ontario at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. The Art Gallery is such a unique spot for weddings and both Beth and I were thrilled when we were granted their reception space for the shoot. Weddings at the Gallery are held in a very large room with incredible floor to ceiling windows; the light? Simply gorgeous. The room? So awesome to work off of a blank canvas with minimal distractions. On top of all of this, we were given a fabulous piece of artwork to incorporate into the portraits as well as some spectacular jewelry for our model to show off (these pieces are sold in the Gallery’s gift shop). The staff at the Gallery were extremely kind, courteous and more than willing to accommodate our needs; three incredibly important characteristics when planning an event as pivotal as your wedding.

Olivia from I Do Wedding Cakes is the genius behind the pretty pink three-tiered cake. Olivia created my own wedding cake and I can’t say enough fabulous things about her and her business. I have ate a lot of cake in my life and nothing come close to tasting as drool-worthy as Olivia’s cakes. Paired with her impeccable design techniques, talent and incredibly affordable prices, she’s a dream come true for brides-to-be. I sent her the Inspiration Board, explained my desire for a soft, romantic cake and voila! I showed up to her bakery to pick up one beauty of a cake.   For the paper products, Michelle from Paper Talk Press designed and printed an incredibly cohesive and stunning letterpress invitation suite made with hand mixed inks. The suite included a response card, map, and envelope printed on 100% cotton Crane Lettra and a bellyband printed on a translucent vellum. The envelopes were lined with the most darling cotton Crane Lettra that added a touch of whimsy to our shoot. The menus, table numbers, escort cards, favour tags and signs were printed on 110# wove paper. For the table numbers I tied the label on with lace and pearls around a vintage bottle filled with the same “Love Potion” from our drink station. I have worked with Michelle in the past and highly recommend her work to brides looking for elegant and unique paper products; after all she styled and printed the paper products I proudly used for my very own wedding.  The talented and super sweet Lisa Collins, of Sweet Woodruff in Toronto, did the florals. Lisa is an up and coming vendor in the industry and was very much into helping me coordinate arrangements that not only looked stunning but didn’t break the bank. Using a blend of coloured hydrangeas, pink, pale green and white carnations, various shades of roses, pale purple wax flowers and subtle greenery, she created soft and full-looking arrangements for the tables and an absolutely lovely bridal bouquet (which I fastened with a sparkly vintage heart-shaped pin found on Etsy). On the cake table were my Anthropologie monogram mugs spelling out LOVE, which Lisa filled with white and red carnations, adding a little punch of fun to the otherwise pale hued colour and floral scheme. To help keep the shoot budget friendly, I purchased vases from the Dollar Store, which I then wrapped in lace and pale pink strands of pearls.

Last but not least, was our incredible model Jody who I know all of us vendors cannot say enough great things about. The night before the shoot, our original model called to say she couldn’t make it. In a bit of a predicament I called my most gorgeous and model-esque friend who just happened to have been a bride herself this past summer. With her dress in hand, and an eagerness to help me out she showed up to the shoot and totally knocked everyone’s socks off. Without an ounce of food in her belly and hours of posing and pouting, Jody went above and beyond our expectations and really took our shoot to the next level. The dress was her own, her stud earrings are from Aldo accessories, shoes belong to the photographer and the lace netted gloves were found by yours truly on Etsy.  Sarah Smith did Jody’s utterly beautiful make up and Madelaine Griffin of Aura Salon and Spa, completely transformed Jody’s hair into three very different but all equally phenomenal styles. These two were on hand all afternoon to make sure Jody stayed beautiful, staying by her side for touch ups when needed. Both girls really outdid themselves in creating a look for our bride the worked so well with all of the other shoot elements.

Style + Concept Design: Hey Gorgeous, Events by Rhiannon Nicole / Wedding Photography: Elizabeth in Love, Weddings by Elizabeth Kaye / Cake: I Do Wedding Cakes / Florals: Sweet Woodruff / Paper: Papertalk Press / Venue: The Art Gallery of Hamilton / Bride’s vintage stud earrings: ALDO / Heart-shaped sugar cookies: Sweetness Bakery / Hair styling: Madelaine Griffin of Aura Salon and Spa / Make up artist: Sarah Smith / Bride’s floral headpiece: Mignonnne Handmade / L O V E banner: Victorian Station / Model: Jody Mifsud

On this day of amore, it only seems appropriate to bring over a little romance to inspire you from a country that is well-versed in the language of love – Italy. Designed, coordinated and crafted by le Frufrù, this pretty little shoot has me smitten with the bold pops of red my heart craves on Valentine’s day. Better than a box of chocolates, the gallery is full of more love-inspiring images from Cinzia Bruschini to swoon over. Bellissimo indeed!

click here for more inspiration!

For this session I was inspired by  typewriter “Valentine” of Olivetti, a piece of Italian 70’s design and “my funny Valentine”a Chet Backer’s song. Based on these three elements and combining my passion for embroidery and crochet I created a dessert table and an inspiration e-session. The idea was to give everything an hand made and vintage mood. I have used embroidery for the cake topper and for a frame that shows the philosophy of the entire session: “Every day is Valentine’s Day”. Details crochet hanging from the branches of a tree and in small nests taken in hand by the couple. The graphics and illustrations are based on characters of the typewriter and rows of old school notebooks to give a more romantic. Outside, I created two positions: one for a great pic Nic where we find many vintage items, from old lp player, the old 45 rmp, with vintage tin boxes and bottles of “spuma” a drink very popular in the 60’s and 70’s in Italy. Between the branches of the tree are also frames that carry sentences of four famous love songs.

Planning,design,hand made: le Frufrù / Photography: Cinzia Bruschini / Graphic and illustration: Nazario Graziano / Venue: Abbazia di Santa Maria in Potenza

Valentines Day isn’t just about sweet, sweet love in our opinion. It also happens to be all about sweet, sweet treats and our favorite cupcake connoisseur, Amber Vander Vliet of Enjoy Cupcakes has stopped by to share the love. Her fabulously vintage and oh so adorable cupcake trailer has made its rounds this past year from engagement shoots to weddings and so many fun events in between and it was all caught on film by some of the industries best photographers. Here’s a little snippet of a year in the life of Enjoy Cupcakes and there just so happens to be a lovely giveaway at the end…yum! See more from Enjoy Cupcakes in the gallery.

From Amber…

It has been an adventurous and magical year for our little vintage Shasta cupcake trailer. It was first photographed by Jose Villa, filmed by Joel Serrato and featured here on Style Me Pretty earlier this year. Since then, our little trailer has been like a traveling gnome for engagement sessions, photo shoots, parties, and of course weddings.  One of it’s best features is that it’s a nostalgic timeless piece of history.  This element allows for the trailer to fit perfectly with it’s surroundings – no matter if it’s at a beach, top of mountain, in front of a mansion, tucked into a backyard, parked in the city or nestled within the trees.

The cupcakes trailer has not only served cupcakes but has also served as a sweet little hideaway for couples to sneak in some kisses, a dressing room, the perfect playhouse for some tiny wedding guests, a fun photo backdrop for some of the most beautifully in love couples we’ve ever seen and a napping spot for a sleepy ring bearer. We wanted to share some cupcake trailer snapshots that have been captured by so many brilliant photographers throughout this year.

see more of the cutest cupcake trailer EVER here!

Oh if only that Shasta trailer could talk. So to celebrate one really amazing year, Amber is giving away a dozen cupcakes (shipped) to one lucky reader. Simply leave a comment below letting us know what your flavor of choice is in the lineup of Enjoy Cupcake flavors. Choosing will be the hardest part! A winner will be selected at random on Friday, February 18. Enjoy and Happy, Happy Valentines Day!

Sometimes we need a day to completely give into our romantic side and show off our inner glam girl (and guy) for no reason at all.  I am a big fan of the anytime photo session and Meg Perotti shows us how it should be done with this charming, 40’s inspired, love shoot.  This makes me want to grab a great vintage dress and some red lipstick and spend the day with my own funny Valentine!  The full gallery is where it’s at to see more of these newlyweds.

Click here to see more inspiration in the full gallery!

Photography: Meg Perotti / Makeup: Maria Brizendine

LOVE is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning …

We’re starting Valentine’s Day off with this adorable E*shoot from Callaway Gable Photography! And we want to join every other wedding blogger in the world to salute couples eagerly planning their own weddings ~ as well as everyone else who just happens to be in love!

Joya and Emre are getting married on the beach in Palos Verdes, CA. So for their engagement, they decided to go inland with a shoot that celebrates their love for Los Angeles, Hollywood and California. Additionally, they are both from out of state and work in television, so they wanted their guests to see pictures of sunshine and Hollywood as these images are being used for her Save the Date Invites. Joya made the signs, and we brought the heart chairs. These pictures were shot in Griffith Park and in Hollywood, right below the Hollywood sign. An interesting note on the “Californian” sign: There is a seldom-used little park by Griffith Park where the City of Los Angeles maintains a storage yard. In this yard lays an old rusted neon sign from the early part of the 20th Century that reads “Hotel Californian.” This is all that remains of what was once a modern hotel in the booming hotel district of MacArthur Park. The City of Los Angeles is keeping the sign here until the day the area is redeveloped. and the sign is hopefully placed onto the new building. Until that day comes, it will serve as a really cool backdrop for the beginning of Joya and Emre’s engagement session. – Callaway Gable Photography

See the whole gallery here!

More of this adorable E*Shoot on the Callaway Gable blog!

Please enjoy more of Callaway-Gables’ wedding masterpieces …

Stylish Cicada Wedding

Spectacular Vibiana Wedding

Incredible Coto de Caza Wedding

…more Valentine’s goodness coming up in a bit!

We love LOVE around here so it’s no wonder that we are all about Valentine’s Day. The holiday built around matters of the heart is kind of like our Christmas and we are ready to celebrate. And how do we celebrate at Style Me Pretty? With a bevy of gorgeous inspiration of course. There is seriously a FULL day of loveliness headed your way so be sure to carve a little time out between all the heart shaped chocolate nibbling and bubbly-sipping with your loved ones. To start the celebration, we have a lovely little photo shoot designed and styled by Dana Muchow of Spokane Bride with photography by Samantha Cabrera. It is perfectly pretty in every way and you can see even more of this Valentine’s inspired shoot in the gallery.

see more of this love inspired shoot here!

We wanted to create a modern but romantic spin on the classic Valentine’s Day palette using pink, red & a touch of black. We couldn’t resist throwing in heart shaped jewelry, decor and even a teddy bear. We brought in antique furniture & jewelry from The Vintage Rabbit Antique Mall, a pink champagne layered coconut cake from Cakes by Stefanie, ultra romantic bouquet by The Art of Flower and gorgeous letterpress invitations, menus & save-the-dates by Modern Mint. For our model we wanted red lips and a relaxed romantic up-do which Julie Farley of The Make-up Studio & Sonna Brado of Jaazz Salons created flawlessly. She wears gowns from Storybook Bridal Boutique. We shot in the very hip wedding venue “The White Room”. Samantha Cabrera is a jewel of a photographer hidden here in Spokane and with her incredible eye she took these stunning shots.

DIY projects made up most of the decor. To hang over the table I covered heart shaped chocolate boxes in antique sheet music and strung them from copper tubing. I used paper doilies for place mats and crocheted hearts & ribbon for napkin rings. I repurposed a vintage pair of peep-toe shoes by painting them red. I attached heart shaped shoe clips I also made myself from glittery foam heart stickers & vintage netting. The chandelier was a $7 yard sale find that I spray painted matte black.

Photography: Samantha Cabrera Photography / Styling: Dana Muchow of Spokane Bride Blog / Venue: The White Room / Gowns: Storybook Bridal Boutique / Letterpress: Modern Mint / Flowers: The Art of Flower / Hair: Sonna Brado of Jaazz Salons / Makeup: Julie Farley of  The Make-up Studio / Cake: Cakes by Stefanie / Antique Jewelry and Furniture: The Vintage Rabbit / Model: Ryley Krause

We’re gearing up for Valentine’s Day, along with all the other lovers and wedding aficionados in the world! We’re thrilled to have Kay English ~ a fine art wedding photographer (extraordinaire) ~ joining us today with a very special Valentine’s Eve feature. She teamed up with some fabulous vendors to style this Valentine-inspired shoot. You know the best part about Valentine’s inspirations? They’re ALWAYS in style!

From Kay English … Valentine’s Day is doubtlessly the most romantic day of the year. It celebrates feelings of romance, joy and love. These sentiments inspired this styled wedding shoot! Set at the exquisite Ashford Estate in Allentown, NJ, and styled by the ever-so-talented ladies at Viburnum Designs, this location has been the target of many a Cupid’s arrow. Raspberry and aquas enkindled the theme with peacock feather accents. Sunlight graced the couple’s yearning glances as they strolled around in whimsical delight. We hope you enjoy these real life wedding inspirations and we wish you a very Happy Valentine’s Day!

the entire gallery is here!

From Ashling of Viburnum Designs … Our overall color scheme combined shades of vintage aqua and pale pink, with accents of intense pink and rasberry! The bouquet accentuated the pink of Peony Alexander Fleming with fresh Jade, soft leaves of Dusty Miller, Sprigs of Heather, gold Aspidistra leaves, with fun and flirty accents of purple Uluhe fern shoots and peacock feathers. We partially wrapped the bouquet in ivory satin ribbon and fringe accents that unified the color scheme.

Our groom’s boutonniere was a fun composition of Sprigs of Heather, fresh Jade, soft leaves of Dusty Miller, and accents of purple Uluhe fern shoots and Black Berry Najaco, wrapped in ivory satin ribbon and accented with a vintage pin.

The table was set with a pale aqua linen accented with subtle gold embellishments. Place settings were accented by vintage art and décor display books napkins of aqua and ivory brocade, with custom menu cards prominently placed. Our whimsical table centerpieces, arranged in mercury glass candlesticks and composed on a vintage mirror base, contained the same assortment of florals as in the bouquet. Fresh Red Raspberries were used as accents throughout the centerpieces and table number holders, as well as in individual martini glasses that held our guest’s escort cards.

A color-coordinated candy buffet was displayed against a beautiful rose-colored brocade background, and featured selections of old-fashioned candies, in addition to modern favorites displayed on vintage cupcake and cake stands.

Our thanks to Kay for sharing this lovely feature with us today! See more on her blog {here}

Credits: Photography and fashion styling: Kay English Photography / Floral and Event design: Viburnum Designs Princeton, NJ / Venue: The Ashford Estate Allentown, NJ, / Hairpieces: Lo Boheme / Decorations and flags: Starlit Nest Gifts / Hair and Makeup: Krysalis Kreations / Chocolates: Promise Me Chocolate/ Dress accessories: Dress Me Fancy / Cake: Twin Cakes

This past summer Sharrone and her team at Fiore Films created a Hot Shot film for Cara & Lance to screen on their wedding day. What makes this such an aprapos short film to feature today is that Lance proposed to Cara on the bridge in Central Park, NY … and now they have a tradition of staying at The Plaza Hotel every Valentine’s Day! So we’re hoping they’re there … and we’re hoping they re-live this exhilarating experience over and over again …

Never seen one of Sharrone’s Hot Shot Films? You’re in for a REAL TREAT!

Cara & Lance Hot Shot from Fiore Films on Vimeo.

From Sharrone … What an amazing time we had! Our good friend Steve from Cinci (Studio Z Films) came out to join us and rocked the steadicam! Special thanks to Josh as well. We were so happy to be a part of this special shoot and Cara & Lance’s amazing wedding. Congratulations you crazy cats!

Hope you’re having a lovely first Valentine’s Day as newlyweds, Cara and Lance!

“Forget dark chocolate and oysters. If you want to get in the mood, pop in a Fiore Films flick”
– Event DV Magazine

Each and every month, the staff at SMP is psyched to bring to you our latest and greatest advertisers.  All of our advertisers really embody what SMP is all about and we’re hoping that you take a moment to check them out!

Wouldn’t it be great if there was one website where you could choose from dozens and dozens of affordable letterpress invitations and lovely accessories?  As of last month, The Pressroom & Company is a select group of experienced and passionate stationery designers who came together to showcase their beautiful designs!

Whether you are looking for full invitation suites or the perfect birth announcement, The Pressroom & Company has something for you.  A 100 quantity, 4-piece set in 1 color letterpress is only $850, which is an amazing deal for those of you who might have thought letterpress was not in your budget.  And let’s face it, everything looks better letterpressed!  And for being such great readers, The Pressroom and & Company is now offering 10% off your entire order – by using code SMP when you place your order.  Ya-hoo!

Just imagine your perfect wedding….is it the fresh lush colors of a Spring wedding, maybe the fresh sea breeze of a Summer wedding, how about the gentle warmth of a Fall wedding or a beautiful enchanted white Winter wedding?  Thankfully, French’s Point’s spectacular grounds and restored estate provides the perfect backdrop for your big day…no matter what time of year!

Located on the Penobscot Bay in Maine, French’s Point’s private coastal estate offers guests that elegant feel that every bride and groom deserves on their wedding day.  And now French’s Point is having it’s first-ever Open House called the Four Seasons of Weddings for brides on Saturday, Feb. 19 from 2 to 6 p.m.  Every hour the food, beverages and demonstrations will change to match the season highlighted.  Now THAT sounds like the perfect afternoon!  Sit back, relax and start planning the wedding of your dreams with the fabulous staff at French’s Point!

Are you constantly looking for hip and modern elements to incorporate into your wedding?  Nothing says hip and modern more than paperless invitations.  The brother/sister team behind Paperless Post have created custom and personalized invitations that are sent online.  Totally cool and totally eco-friendly!

Paperless Post brings the world of online cards to a new level of design and visual elegance.  They’ve also partnered with some of the best offline stationers to help them bring their craft online.  Some of our favorite designers are already on there!  Paperless Post is a convenient and cost efficient way to announce the celebration of such a special occasion while still retaining the elegance and sophistication of printed stationery.  We actually can’t think of a better time of year to try out Paperless Post…it’s almost Valentine’s Day! Paperless Post has a beautiful array of cards for your special Valentine!  Stop by their website and show them some l-o-v-e!

Boy, oh boy does Iconic Weddings have the perfect destination for your wedding!  With Iconic Weddings, you can experience your one-of-a-kind wedding in one of the most spectacular destinations in the world.

Whether you dream of an intimate affair on the white-sand beaches of the Caribbean, an adventure-filled ceremony atop a Rocky Mountain peak, or a festive celebration on the shores of a sparkling alpine lake, Iconic Weddings has the destination that is perfect for you!  Just a few of their exceptional locations include Aspen, Miami, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and St. Lucia.  We can only picture how perfect-o your wedding would be!  The creative and dedicated Iconic Weddings specialists are committed to helping you design and execute your event from beginning to end.  From selecting the perfect venue to choosing the scrumptious cuisine, their staff will work closely with you to make sure every detail is taken care of … flawlessly!

Who doesn’t love a great DIY project?!  Well, for over the last 10 years, TextStyle Designs have been providing brides with custom invitation design and great DIY papers.  And a huge plus…they feature the full line of Envelopments products and much more!

It doesn’t matter if you are looking for a totally custom invitation suite or you are a DIY bride…TextStyle Designs is for you!  DIY brides can consult their rockstar experts with questions about paper quality, color selection (including complimentary swatches), sizing and layout and assembly tips.  With custom work starting at $500, custom clients can turn to TextStyle Designs to create a full invitation suite including programs, menu cards, table numbers, escort cards and more.  And to sweeten the deal…use code SMP10 to get 10% off your DIY orders over $150 in product (5% off orders under $150) or mention that you found them through us when booking your custom design to receive complimentary guest addressing and ink upgrade. If you can imagine, TextStyle Designs can create it!

We are certain that you found something today that got your style juices flowing.  So…please help us welcome our newest advertisers with a great big SMP hell-o!

While the rest of the world is thankful to see Friday come, I must admit we here at Style Me Pretty get a little sad to put the swooning aside for two FULL days. That’s a long hiatus in Style Me Pretty time. Luckily the fabulous and oh so easy to use new board builder will keep you busy and allow the swoonfest to continue throughout this Valentine’s weekend. Speaking of the board builder, here is something I just whipped up while writing this little wrap up!

Enjoy these pretty posts and we look forward to seeing you on Monday!

a stylish barefoot Costa Rican wedding with one hip little ring bearer
a sunshiny vintage photo shoot sure to brighten your day
New England meets Max Wagner in this wedding and the outcome is beyond lovely
DIY done oh so right at this Austin wedding
a nautical Newport Beach wedding that made our hearts set sail
a vintage Louisiana wedding that left us speechless (and was photographed by the groom!)
the reason we love Wednesdays
a whimsical Washington wedding
a rooftop engagement party
a handcrafted Australian celebration

Fun links from around the web:

I love everything about this inspiration board, but that skirt needs to be mine! via Postcards & Pretties
calling all photographers, a first of its kind workshop hosted by LaFleur Weddings
delightful floral arrangement how-to by Love n’ Fresh via Design*Sponge
sweet DIY invite for a cozy couch picnic via Eat Drink Chic

We’d also like to extend a very warm welcome to our newest Little Black Book Members…

PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn
Photoboothsocial.com
Michael & Anna Costa Photographers Ltd.
Amy Zaroff Events + Design
Signature Events, LLC
Ann’s Garden
Mahaffey Tent and Party Rentals
Ambient Sky
Merci New York

Enjoy every bit of your weekend! Who has fabulous Valentine’s Day plans? (Please note: I classify a bottle of wine on the couch as fabulous Valentine’s Day plans). xoxo

Update:  This post is outdated.  Style Me Pretty released a new version of it’s inspiration board builder tool in December of 2011.  To use it, go to ourgalleries and click on the Board Builder tab on the right of the page.  

Some of you may have noticed our ever so exciting news… we just launched a new and improved Inspiration Board Builder and we think you are going to so completely LOVE it. We definitely have fallen head over heels. The best part is everything is right at your pretty little fingertips! Now you can simply click the build a board icon right on the homepage and start creating inspiration to your hearts content. You can watch the how-to right here.

Plus, you can easily search the entire Style Me Pretty archive of images by tag or color. Need to find the perfect pink bouquet? Simply type it in and voila – lots and lots of gorgeous imagery to choose from. You can also view and edit all your boards on your account via the dashboard. We are all about quick and simple around here. After all, it leaves way more time for you to plan that gorgeous wedding of yours.

The fabulous features don’t stop there. We have also made it possible to share your boards with friends, family, even vendors from a custom link. You can also post your comments to your facebook account right from SMP. Are you ready to start creating?

We are so excited about the improved Board Builder and we can’t wait to see what all of you creative readers come up with. You can peruse the SMP galleries and add gorgeous images to your favorites or add images directly from a post and then all you have left to do is create, create, create…

This Tennessee wedding is completely filled to the brim with warm and cozy details perfect for a winter wedding. Good thing because this was an outdoor affair in the countryside of Nashville so keeping guests comfy and warm was key. We are talking everything from hot cider and blankets to smores and dancing, all wrapped up in a really pretty package. Does it get more romantic? And the photographs from Katherine Holly are the lovely bow on top. Be sure to stop by the gallery for more of this cold weather soiree.

Find all of the goodness in one pretty spot!

The final day before the first snow flurries of the season, Seth and Amy wed outdoors at Front Porch Farms in the rolling hill country outside of Nashville, Tennessee. It was stunning. Kathy, the owner of FPF and the wedding planner, made sure the chilly weather wouldn’t be an issue. Their guests were welcomed with hot cider and blankets to keep warm throughout the ceremony. Afterward, they enjoyed an evening under an outdoor pavilion that was prepped for the cold with heaters, soup, smores, hot cocoa, dancing, and more… all of the details put into the day were incredibly well thought through, and most of all, Amy and Seth became one…so overwhelmed with excitement and joy, they committed to one another till death do they part.

Photography: Katherine Holly Photography / Flowers: Catherine Clement  / Event Design and Planning: Kathy Best, owner of Front Porch Farms / Ceremony Location: Front Porch Farms / Invitations: Seth Kiehl

Be still my heart.  I am completely head over Jimmy Choo heels for this whimsical wedding by Larissa Cleveland and Allison Weddings.  Big Sur is so magical and full of romance (I should know…I got engaged there!) and what better way to show it off than a foggy, al fresco reception packed with love-filled ceremonies and heartfelt touches.  It seems like the stars aligned and the coastal sea breezes united to create a perfect union for this lovely bride and groom.  Lucky for us there is more romance and enchantment in the full gallery!

Click here for more inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

Location was a really important element for us.  We wanted something outdoors in a natural setting, a place that was beautiful in an of itself and didn’t need much added to it.  We knew we wanted the ceremony in a grove of trees and a field for the dinner table, so we were looking for a property with multiple locations to use throughout the day.  We were incredibly lucky to find Rancho Rico, because in addition to the fantastic ceremony and dinner locations, their house had a big, high ceiling artist’s room upstairs with double doors that opened to a meadow — perfect for the after dinner festivities!

The ceremony was the critical part of the day — we put a lot of thought into how to make it personal and reflect us, rather than just going through the motions.  We did a few things in particular:
1) We lit a candle in the beginning of the ceremony to symbolize our loved ones who weren’t there.  This has special significance because my grandmother passed away a two months before the wedding and it was an important way for me to honor her on our wedding day.  The candle followed us throughout the entire day, even to the after party!
2) In the beginning of the ceremony we did a “walk down memory lane” — Max and I dug into our email accounts and pulled out little snippets of our communications over the years, going back and fourth and reading them to our guests.  It really set the tone for the ceremony, bringing everyone into our relationship in a very personal way.
3) We had the guests pass our rings to each other throughout the ceremony, to symbolize their blessing of our union.

The dinner was another key element, in fact much of our wedding was inspired by the images of a long table in the middle of a field from Outstanding in the Field dinners.  The property had an incredible location for it — this little meadow that came up out of no where on the path, just big enough for the table, then dropping down to the ocean hundreds of feet below.  The fog broke for just long enough to see the view when we arrived there after the cocktail hour.  All of the food for the dinner was sourced locally, many things were from the ranch where we had the wedding itself!

We also had several fun, interactive elements for our guests.  We had a tree of “keys to a happy marriage,”  where guests would pick an old, rusty skeleton key, attach a note with their marital advice to it, and tie it to a tree.  We’re turning them into a piece of artwork for our home.  When guests arrived to the dinner table, we had a trunk full of eclectic, colorful plates where each guests chose one to use for dinner — Max and I spent the summer collecting interesting plates from garage sales and thrift stores.

Finally an unplanned element — the fog!  At first we were upset that the weather was so uncooperative, but in the end it made the entire day truly magical.

At the very end of the night, Max and I carried the candle we lit at the beginning of the ceremony symbolizing our relatives from the after party to our room (I never imagined it would make it that far into the night!).  It was really beautiful for us to end the night carrying this symbol of my grandmother, which stayed with us throughout the entire day.

Our hats (or headbands or whatever else may be atop our heads) are off to this lovely Australian wedding captured by Pobke Photography. It is beautiful for so many, many reasons, one of which is the easy elegance of it all. It’s as if this day came together PERFECTLY without a hitch. AND are you ready for this? Most of it was hand-crafted by the couple and their family and friends. Now that is insanely impressive. See the whole day in one pretty place. Yep, were talking about the gallery.

see the rest of this pretty day here!

From the Bride… When we thought about what we wanted from our wedding we new we wanted our day to be fun, a reflection of us, our relationship and faith, with a rustic DIY country feel as well as fit within our small budget – I think we pulled it all off! We were married not far from home in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia. We had a garden ceremony at The Vintage Golf Course, which was then followed by a garden party next to The Vintage Club House. The Vintage supplied all the garden games (the game signs were made by my father) and was actually one of the reasons we chose them as a venue. Plus the groom was excited that we got to ride around on the golf carts!

Our friends and family really helped bring our day together and keep it all under budget – my bridesmaid and friend helped make our invites, friends from the states kept sending over packages, my aunt helped decorate our cake and made macaroons for our dessert bar and my dad made pretty much everything else you see. On the day friends and family members gave Bible readings, two of our closest friends and bridal party members lead us in worship, Morgan’s uncle married us, we had our parents pray over us and we wrote our own vows – which were a surprise to each other on the day. It all made the day very personal and sweet. On the way to the reception we were in search of a dry country field for our wedding photos and found the perfect setting with the perfect light (the photographers were so excited!) – although I ended up climbing through a barbed wire fence in my dress with the help of the groomsmen to get the photos you see here! It was another funny moment!

Our reception was held at Margan’s Winery – we fell in love with the barrel room at Margan’s Estate as soon as we walked in and knew it was where we wanted to have our reception. It was so moody and rustic it hardly needed any decorating! My mum helped me make the hessian table runners and the flowers were brought wholesale and arranged in an assortment of jars by us and the staff at Margan’s – saving us a lot of money! The photo booth was definitely a highlight at the reception. We hung some Amy Butler fabric from our photographer’s stand, supplied a wooden crate full of empty picture frames and my dad helped me create chalkboard speech bubbles in different sizes. No one was ready to pack up at the end of the night (particularly our photographer, Christine!) and we got some very funny responses. Everyone also loved the dessert table and it was pretty much cleared out before dinner had even begun! My dress was a satin gown with a pleated tulle overlay and croqueted lace flowers which we sourced from New York. I found a dress which I fell in love with which was out of my price line so my dress maker, Kelly from Kel-Leigh Couture, helped me take the elements I loved and created a new gown – which I think turned out even better and was so me! Kelly also made my silk flower headpiece and veil and I purchased my shoes for under AU$100 from zappos.com. The girl’s dresses were made by a friend of a friend and the boys outfits were from Roger David. I made the boutonnieres myself from hessian, feathers, wire and buttons from All Buttons Great and Small. A lot of other items were sourced from my trip to the states earlier in the year, lots of online shops and Etsy. One of our highlights from the day was actually leaving our reception. We had a sparkler send off and everyone gathered on the lawn outside and we ran to the car as our friends and family whistled and clapped. We ended up getting to the car before the sparklers ran out and so we turned and ran back down again. We had also forgotten to do the garter and bouquet toss and now took the time to do it. We then drove away in my brother’s 1958 convertible Bug-Eye Austin Healey Sprite, complete with a Just Married hessian banner (made by the groom) and tin cans trailing behind. The perfect end to such an amazing day captured so beautifully by Pobke Photography!

Photography: Pobke Photography / Event Design and Planning: Bride / Ceremony Location: The Vintage, Hunter Valley, New South Wales (Australia) / Reception Location: Margan’s Winery, Hunter Valley, New South Wales (Australia) / Invitations: Bride / Hair + Makeup Artist: Amanda of Bellus Hair / Dress: Kel-Leigh Couture /

Charleston, South Carolina is home to many of THE most romantic weddings that grace the pages of wedding glossies and blogs! Some of the very best come straight from the fabulous and artistic talents of the ladies at A Charleston Bride. ACB will take your ideas, your thoughts, your dreams and turn them into your picture perfect wedding! Emily and Dave ~ today’s newlyweds ~ can definitely attest to this!

photography courtesy of Julia Elizabeth

From the lovely ladies at A Charleston Bride … This Chicago-based couple chose Emily’s family plantation, Turkey Hill, just outside of Beaufort to set the scene of their big day. Emily & David’s ceremony took place in her families memorial garden just across the lake from the plantation home- which was such a sweet & memorable spot during Emily’s childhood. Emily & David exited their wedding in an old timey, wooden mule cart and literally rode off into the sunset together. Their reception followed under a crystal chandelier clad tent adjacent to the home. Guests enjoyed a fabulous home style Southern supper at sunset. The evening ended with a delicious favor & a fireworks display that left guests talking about this wedding for quite some time. A couple of neat key points:
Cupcakes were boxed as a favor for guests to take with them. They enjoyed this late night sweet on their trolley ride home.
The calligraphed butler cards were displayed on a jute line along a garden wall covered in ivy.
Emily & David surprised all their guests by dancing to the Waltz for their first dance.
Their oh-so-southern supper consisted of Carolina Crab Cakes, Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Collard Greens ~ and Sweet Tea, of course!

See more of this beautiful day on Juliet Elizabeth’s blog.

Photography: Juliet Elizabeth / Flowers: Jonie LaRosee, A Charleston Bride / Event Planning & Design: Melissa Barton, A Charleston Bride / Venue: Turkey Hill Plantation, Beaufort SC Invitations: Studio-R Design / Bridesmaids Dresses: Coren Moore

A Charleston Bride’s blog is filled to overflowing with design ideas, planning advice and decor details that might just be the inspiration that you’re looking for! Here are just a few examples …

Bee Inspired  ~ A Bee Themed Wedding

Think Outside The Birdcage!

Welcome to Welcome Bags

Some of their terrific floral creations!

Rooftop parties are an east coast delight that I’ve missed terribly since becoming a California transplant.  So when this pretty party from Abby Jiu Photography and Fleurish Events was sent my way I felt a sharp pang of jealousy.  But it was quickly replaced with joy brought on by this carnival-inspired, rooftop engagement party.  How could anyone walk away glum from a party full of cotton candy, bright blues and vivid reds, quirky paper goods and a cozy dinner overlooking Georgetown, DC?  Check out the full gallery for more al fresco inspiration!

Click here for more inspiration in the full gallery!

A coordinated assortment of milk glass and fresh, white florals elevated the whimsical table settings to elegance.  The table, made from two rescued doors, provided a pop of color, neutralizing the need for a oh-no-i-spilled mood-killing tablecloth.  Guests sampled gourmet amore’s fresh corn and red pepper salad. Candy-striped straws (personalized with Kate and David’s initials) adorned milk glass tumblers; ice-breaker playing cards were tucked into napkins; menus at each place help determine the source of taste-bud bliss. Uncoordinating chairs lent an easy, friends-pull-up-to-the-table flair.

The message on the menus read “eat, drink, and the merriment will take care of itself,” which soon accurately described the evening’s unfolding.  As the sun went down, the d.c. lights glowed and the guests conversed and over a sampling of fare shaming even the crispiest funnel cake.  Gourmet amore’s frangelic chocolate mousse cups, topped with a pair of gold and red raspberries and a sprinkling of roasted hazelnuts, took center stage.

Befitting a night of activities enjoyed by even the most juvenile, the guests surrounded Kate and David for a sparkler-salute goodbye.

Photography: Abby Jiu Photography / Event Design + Florals: Fleurish Events / Catering: Gourmet Amore / Venue: On the rooftop of a Georgetown, DC condo. / Invitations + Paper Goods: Deleted Space Creative / Dress: Anthropologie / Makeup and Hair: Trish Deel

We have been poring through a ton of great wedding attire lately, i.e. really beautiful dresses for bride and bridesmaid alike but now we are here to delve into what comes after you find that perfect frock. Yes, we’re talking about the almighty headgear. And our latest edition to the SMP Look Book, Tessa Kim, is proving that gorgeous accessories can be the proverbial cherry on top of your wedding day look.

Tessa Kim’s pretty accessories have totally captured our hearts and we love, love, LOVE that every piece is completely handmade. Whether you are a whimsical bride looking to rock a halo of flowers on your big day or a more classic design is your cup of tea, there is bound to be something just right in this lineup of beauties. So if you are on the hunt for that perfect veil or floral/feathered adornment, definitely take a trip over to the Look Book and Tessa Kim’s collection of fabulous bridal pieces. We have a feeling you are going to fall head over heals for these little gems.