Style Me Pretty: Wedding Blog for the Style-Obsessed Bride

Go from Single Serving to Batch Cocktail with this Perfect Party Sip

Hosting a party? Or maybe you’re simply on the hunt for your next great sip? This Palermo Viejo#2 cocktail is your all in one. Crafted by Alise Moffatt of Shift Drinks plus imagery by Blue Rose Photography, it’s a delicious spin on Argentina’s classic Cynar Julep and can easily go from single serving to large batch for your next celebration. And see the party behind this pretty cocktail right here!

From Alise Moffatt of Shift Drinks… This drink was inspired by a recent trip to Argentina, where the Cynar Julep reigns supreme. I was eager to put my spin on it by using fresh Oregon mint.

From Sip Northwest… Create this cocktail to order or batch this fun blend for pitcher drinks, multiplying the measurements by the number of guests you are hosting.

If batching, Moffatt suggests making the drink without the bitters then saving them to dash on each individual serving.

Palermo Viejo #2 Cocktail

prep time
5 Minute/s

cook time

total time
5 Minute/s

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces Aviation Gin
3/4 ounce Cynar amaro
1/2 ounce Pamplemousse Rosé Liqueur

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice and stir. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish by floating a mint leaf on top of drink
Aromatize the mint leaf first by placing it in the palm of your hand, clapping once

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Best Pitcher Drinks

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Best Pitcher Drinks

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Photography: Blue Rose Photography | Design and Styling: Simply By Tamara Nicole | Florals: Herban Feast | Cocktail: Shift Drinks | Magazine: Sip NW

Love Poems And Lavender Fields At This Dreamy California Wedding!

Surrounded by lavender fields and love poems, this couple tied the knot at Carmel Valley Ranch with their family, friends and ALL of the love you could ask for! Love poems were a common theme throughout the wedding from multiple readings during the ceremony and (my personal fave) a love poem placed at every table setting! Captured by Carlie Statsky, take a look at all of the gorgeousness below including dreamy pastel florals by Seascape Flowers and even handmade details like those poems and place cards, by the couple themselves!

From the Bride, Sahar…Our day was focused on intimacy and joy. We wanted our wedding to strike the right tone of elegance and romance, but really to be centered above all on surrounding ourselves and our friends and families with as much love as possible.

We took cues from the natural beauty of Carmel Valley Ranch and tried to bring in the splendor of the setting to all of our design elements, including the amazing lavender fields that CVR is known for.

The poetry of love to spoke to both of us, which is why we incorporated elements of poetry throughout the day, from multiple poetry readings in our ceremony, to individual poems on each place setting at dinner.

Highlights from the day included our vows to each other (accompanied by LOTS of happy-crying), having the groom’s brothers officiate our ceremony, the incredible food!, and watching our loved ones (shout-out to my grandma) dance their hearts out late into the night.

A Pretty Pink Valentine’s Baby Shower

When you’re choosing context and themes for celebrations, why not highlight a holiday? ESPECIALLY a holiday of love. So this baby Valentine’s day baby shower is just as sweet as they come.

Check it out!

A note from the planner:

When Viviane asked me to plan her baby shower, I truly couldn’t image a greater honour. She has waited her whole life for her daughter Amy, and I have no doubt that Viviane and Amy are soul mates. Viviane asked only for a “pretty and pink” party, and seeing her face light up as she walked into the room on the day of her baby shower is a moment I will cherish forever.

Inspired by the soon-to-be mama of three, and her love for all things pink and girly, this fabulously feminine fete included pink polaroid photos, soft pink crushed velvet napkins, and an abundance of pale pink roses.

The garden-style summer event was brought to life with a mix and match of texture: A floral suspension, raffia placemat chargers and cut crystal stemware with mirrored rose-gold name tags were just a few of the intriguing items that made up the gorgeous tablescape.

Thoughtful and personal touches were found throughout the event, including a pink piglet guest fingerprint signing board, and pig-shaped sugar cookie favours; a nod to the Year of the Pig (1983 and 2019) shared by the expecting mom and her baby girl. The ‘mimosa’ bar included sweet baby doll grapes for garnish, among other seasonal fruit, served in floral-adorned pink glassware. Using the beautiful selection of florals from the bud vases that lined the dining table, guests were treated to a flower crown tutorial, later posing for photos in their creative headwear. The heartfelt celebration of family, friendship and love and girl-power, finished on a sugar-high.

Viviane is the owner of Montreal’s favourite vegan and allergen-free bakery, Patisserie Petit Lapin, so all the bells and whistles were added to the sweet table display of floral, soft pink, ivory and gold bespoke desserts. When asked what her favourite moment of the day was, Viviane simply replied “all of it, it was surreal!”

Romantics Will Love This Open-Air Garden Wedding

A classic color palette with pops of dark burgundy and inspired details make this garden wedding a real treat! We love every last bit of it, from an effortlessly romantic outdoor ceremony to the awe-inspiring elegance of the open-air reception. You won’t want to miss a single second of the beautiful day artfully planned by Bustle Events. Take a peek inside the full gallery for all the swoon-worthy pictures shot by Anna Marks Photography.

From Bustle Events… Kendra and Tim wanted to get married at the stunning historical Filoli Gardens as it held a special place in Kendra’s heart. Memories of visiting the garden as a child filled her dreams.

During the ceremony, Kendra chose to walk down the aisle with her mother halfway and then she finished the walk alone. The couple exchanged heartfelt vows and listened to friends read touching poems.

The tables were kept clean and classic with textured gold-rimmed plates and gold flatware. Amanda Vidmar created low centerpieces with an exquisite choice of flower varietals and pops of dark burgundy all situated in a gold compote container. Taper candles illuminated the table while guests dined on the most amazing meal under the french bistro lights.

When You Hear This Couple’s Story – It Will Without a Doubt Make You a Believer in Fate.

We seriously don’t know where to begin with this gorgeous wedding from Arielle Fera Events. Between the couple’s incredible family history discoveries, the meant-to-be wedding date, the ridiculously gorgeous floral arrangements from Twisted Willow Flowers, the 20-person guest count, I mean… we’re just at a loss for words. It’s overwhelming how beautiful this wedding is, both inside and out. No one could describe it better than Arielle, read on for her heartfelt words and head on over to the full gallery, captured by Lauren Fair Photography, to see all this special day has to offer.

From Arielle Fera, the planner… A micro wedding filled with rich family heritage, luxury details and an abundance of florals. Francesco and Victoria met in September 2018, through a mutual friend in their small hometown outside of Philadelphia. They clicked instantly, having their first, second, and third dates all within the first week of knowing each other. They quickly learned that they grew up just 10 minutes from each other yet had never met before. As their relationship progressed, Francesco and Victoria also discovered that they had spent many nights at the same parties with each other’s family and friends. It truly felt as though they were meant-to-be! The most magical discovery happened when they hosted a dinner to introduce their parents to each other. They were shocked to find out that their fathers were friends from nearly 35 years ago and grew up together in Calabria, Italy. They’ll never forget that interaction; as the wine started flowing, the old photo albums from their hunting days in the 80s came out, along with so many stories of their dads together throughout the years.

The Proposal: Francesco proposed in a very private moment, the night Victoria moved in with him, just four months after their first date. It was a beautiful moment between the two of them followed by a celebration with their family members all weekend long as they went around their small hometown to tell each family member in person. Their first weekend engaged, they snuck away to NYC for a little getaway to relive one of their first dates in the big city. Knowing her love for New York City, Victoria’s mom suggested a quick honeymoon in NYC after the wedding. As the family prepared for the wedding, Victoria’s mom shared with her, a letter from her great grandmother on her honeymoon in New York City, to her family back in Philadelphia. The details in the letter are so beautiful, as she talked about the hotel, the city, and the adventures she embarked on with her new husband! Reading that note from over 100 years ago, made Victoria even more excited to marry her best friend! Victoria brought this same letter to her own wedding to incorporate her family legacy. Having large families on both sides and being the first children to get married, Victoria and Francesco’s parents were pressing for a large 250 + guest wedding that would be held about a year and half after the proposal. Victoria greatly struggled with this as her dream was to have a highly designed, intimate ceremony with her closest family members followed by the most magical dinner party one could ever imagine. A celebration where every detail was beautifully curated; surrounded by only her dearest loved ones. Also knowing that her grandfather was very ill, she did not want to wait a year and half to say I do and risk the chance of him not making it. It was her deepest desire to have him present with the family so he could see her get married. As grace would have it, he passed the day after her wedding. Shortly after saying yes, Victoria hired Arielle Fera, from Arielle Fera Events, to plan and design the big wedding of her parents’ dreams. A few months into planning and a date set for September 5, 2020; something still did not feel right to Victoria. That’s when plans were flipped upside down – a 250+ person affair was changed to an intimate micro-wedding with a guest list of only 20 immediate family members + a new date of October 3, 2019. The type of celebration that encapsulated the desires of Victoria’s heart. With the change in motion, Arielle got to work – designing and planning a new celebration to take place in two months.

Design: The design concept was a fresh take on an old-world garden romance. Every detail from the color palette to the food choices, to the aesthetic details were selected with discernment in order to create an environment that evoked the senses on all levels and felt truly “Victoria” while infusing the rich heritage of both families. Arielle Fera wanted Victoria and her family to feel as if they were transported to a romantic Italian countryside, where gorgeous design elements + luscious flowers took center stage of the atmosphere.

Color Story: The color story consisted of a soft, romantic palette consisting of tonal shades of pink, muted blush, café au lait & white. Accented with richer mauve tones for a gorgeous contrast.

The invitation: Papertree Studio designed a custom invitation suite that included handmade paper in their wedding color palette, gold foil printing, custom wax seals and a gorgeous floral envelope liner. The suite was hand tied together with blush silk ribbon.

The Brides Look: Victoria was breathtaking in her lace BHLDN gown. Her veil was her “something borrowed” from her best friend. Her shoes – two pairs to be exact – were designed by Christian Louboutin. Her hair was styled in an old-world vintage style, big loose waves pinned back on one side and romantic makeup completed her flawless look by Alisha Nycole Hair and Makeup. Victoria carried an ultra-lux bouquet by Twisted Willow Flowers that was designed in a fashion to include natural movement.

The Floral experience: Victoria is flower obsessed and the only guideline she gave Arielle for the design was that she wanted a wedding filled with gorgeous florals designed in an ultra-romantic way. Arielle brought on Twisted Willow Flowers for the design of Victoria’s floras as their design style is distinctly romantic and lush. Twisted Willow Flowers used a gorgeous variety of flowers including – garden roses from Grace Rose Farm flown in from California, sweet pea, Autumnal anemone, Lisianthus, cafe latte dahlias, ranunculus, cotinus foliage for dark pops, snowberries, antique hydrangea and lunaria for a light airy feel.

The Venue: The venue, The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm, was selected for their farm to table inspired cuisine and property that is reminiscent of a rural European Bread and Breakfast, set on 100 acres of preserved pasture and country gardens. The bride, her mom, mother in law and sister, who served as her maid of honor got ready in a lavish bridal suite located in the Inn. Francesco and his best man, his childhood best friend, got ready in the groom’s suite located on property. Victoria and Francesco spent a romantic night at the Inn the night of the wedding.

Ceremony experience: The intimate ceremony was set in the garden area of the Inn’s property. The first awe moment that the family experienced was the iron pergola that served as the entrance to the garden ceremony area. Twisted Willow Flowers lavished the pergola with florals to create a grand entrance point for the family and couple to walk under as they entered the garden ceremony area. With such an intimate celebration, each family member was a guest of honor. As such each member was presented pre-ceremony with a boutonniere or corsage that represented their significance to the couple and their wedding. It rained the entire day of the wedding; however, Victoria’s one hope was to go on as planned with her outdoor ceremony. Each family member was gifted a clear umbrella as they headed to their seats that were nestled within a garden walkway designed by Twisted Willow Flowers. Victoria was escorted down the gorgeous floral filled aisle by her father as “Can’t help falling in love with you” was played by Elegance String Quartet. This song holds great significance to Victoria and Francesco as they truly feel as though they couldn’t help but to fall in love with each other. Victoria and Francesco said “I do” surround by a lush asymmetrical illusion floral arch designed by Twisted Willow Flowers. A dear friend of Victoria’s grandmother officiated the ceremony. This made the ceremony even more personal as she has known Victoria since she was a little girl.

Dinner experience: After the ceremony, family members + the newlyweds were welcomed to an enchanting tent where they enjoyed an assortment of passed hors d’oeuvres and homemade wine produced by the father of the bride and the father of the groom. For the cocktail hour and dinner, we decided to forego the use of the Inn’s dining room and instead a tent was erected over the Inn’s slate patio so that Arielle Fera Events and Twisted Willow Flowers could transform the blank space into a romantic oasis. Twisted Willow Flowers lavishly covered the tent ceiling and sides with greenery to soften the space and bring the outside garden feel inside the tent. In order to achieve true intimacy in the dining experience, Arielle Fera Events positioned six wood trestle tables, from White Glove Rentals, in the form of a connecting rectangle. Louis style cane back chairs were placed around the outside of the tables so that all family members were facing each other. The newlyweds sat at their own table that was connected to the other tables and positioned at the head of the rectangle formation so that they could see and be seen by all their family members. A blush settee served as their seating. A magical hanging floral and luminary installation that also included crystal chandeliers by Twisted Willow Flowers, was designed so that it hung gorgeously in the center of the tables from the tent ceiling, creating a fairytale like feel. The twinkling of the lights from the crystal chandeliers set the stage of the romantic atmosphere. The newlyweds table was adorned with an illusion floral arrangement that appeared to be romantically spilling off of the table. The illusion ceremony arch was repurposed behind their table to encapsulate them in flowers. The other tables in the formation were lavishly adorned with gorgeous, lush, compote style floral arrangements in the couple’s wedding color palette that lined the full length of each table. Fresh plums, figs and grapes were styled between the floral arrangements to add additional visual interest to the tables and taper candles provided romantic lighting. Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose was selected to be pre-poured into the crystal champagne coupes which incorporated another hint of blush form the wedding color palette into the tablescape design. Arielle Fera Events curated the tablescape details to accentuate luxury infused with Italian details. The table was set with Italian cut crystal stemware, Finezza Italian ceramic chargers and salad plates, which are handmade in Italy and gold flatware. Linen napkins were tied with mauve silk ribbon. All the rentals are part of White Glove Rentals inventory. Each charger was adorned with a dainty gold bowl filled with Italian olives and a sprig of fresh olive leaf. A custom menu designed on handmade paper with gold leafing + a custom wax seal by Papertree Studio completed the look of the charger adornments. Seats were designated with the use of place cards designed on handmade paper outfitted with gold calligraphy. Personal nicknames were used on the place cards such as Nonna and Nonno to lend to the intimacy of the celebration. Lounge furniture in the wedding color palette was added to provide soft seating for guests to enjoy along with a distressed white Italian style bar with a dark wood top from White Glove Rentals.

The Food: The family feasted on a 3-course meal crafted by the Inn’s Executive Chef – Josh Homacki. The feast included – a first course arugula salad with shaved parmigiana Reggiano, pine nuts and fresh lemon vinaigrette; a duet plate main course included grilled tuna with Puttanesca of olives, tomatoes and capers paired with braised short ribs. For dessert, the family enjoyed limoncello that was homemade by Francesco and his father that was mad specifically for the wedding; while indulging in a duet plate of fresh fruit tart and panna cotta. The newlyweds opted for a small ceremonial cutting cake skillfully crafted by The Sugary.

The music: Instrumental music graced everyone’s ears as the string quartet continued to play throughout the night and provided the perfect melody for dancing with loved ones.

Photography: The wedding was exquisitely captured by Lauren Fair Photography. It was Victoria’s dream to have Lauren Fair shoot her wedding, but unfortunately Lauren was already book on the original date of the wedding. As grace would have it, Lauren was available on the new date that was chosen for the intimate wedding celebration.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Lauren Fair Photography

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Home 101: Three Simple Floral Arrangements

Today’s home 101 is a little different than our typical one! For this week’s edition, we’re taking a dive into floral arrangements (that can be gifted!) in honor of the upcoming holiday. You may think you know how to do flowers, but these three options are simple, elegant and super easy to execute.

Roses and Valentine’s day are about as iconic as it gets. But what if you don’t like the classic long-stem red roses? That doesn’t make you a Valentine’s Scrooge! We are of the secret opinion that roses are the preferred flower of choice because while they are chic, elegant and elevated, they are the EASIEST to assemble in a vase (*read: throw in a vase really quickly) and still look really good.

So if you don’t like roses your next assumption is that you have to drop a small fortune on a professionally assembled bouquet. There are SO many good options to choose from, and while they are pricy, they are GORGEOUS. But, by now you’re probably looking at the calendar and realizing you’re a bit too late to make an online order, and the local spots are probably already booked up.

Don’t panic! We rounded up three different ways to think outside of the red-rose-dozen and still feel all the ~love~ this Valentine’s day. (If you’re wanting to be on the receiving end of these florals, a simple email with a link should kindly send the hint)

You can find flowers at your local grocery store and build from there!

1. One Big Flower + Textured Stems

This flower display is one of those rare set-ups where it looks WAY more complicated than it actually is. And that’s the best kind of project. Here’s what you need:

One focal flower: Go for one that has a few really large petals, and is pretty bold in color. As your main focal point, you want it to stand out! Go for pinks, reds, purples, blues — whatever your recipients favorite color is will get you some extra bonus points.

A small bunch of greenery: Eucalyptus leaves work really well here because you get two textures in one bunch, but truthfully any stem will work well here! You’ll also want to be sure that your stems are taller than your focal flower because it will be sticking above!

Texture stems: This is what makes your ensemble tres chic. Adding in some rounded textured stems takes your set-up from homemade to pro! Go for a color that coordinates with your focal flower and it will tie the whole look together!

For assembly, place your focal flower front and center, send your green stems to be the tallest and fill in the blank space with your texture.

2. Small Bunch of Big Flowers

We will be the first to say that Hydrangeas are extremely underrated. They are elegant, textural and TOTALLY make a statement with just a few stems. Blaire Waldorf had the right idea.

AND when you google the meaning/symbolism of the flower you get things like “developing a deeper understanding between two people” and “heartfelt and honest emotion” and that is a true expression of a respectful love.

To assemble, all you need are two or three stems, keep the leaves attached (except for where the stem goes in the water, trim those off) and VIOLÁ! You have a multi-dimensional and multi-colored display that will actually last on the table longer than a dozen roses will.

You can also use peonies here, and 9/10 girls will say this is their favorite flower and that’s because they are, also, the best.

3. CURVEBALL: Highlight The Vase

Ok, we’re switching up the rules here. Flowers die, vases are forever.

If you don’t feel confident in your flower-arranging skills, your third option is to focus on the vase and put in something SUPER simple and it will really pack a punch.

And, since the vase is year-round your gift is not perishable! So it’s money well spent. They will be able to look at your vase the whole year round and it will be a constant reminder that you were creative and thought outside of the box.

You can go for one big vase or a grouping of smaller vases, whatever you want to do! To assemble, you can literally grab some (legal) wildflowers on the way home or grab a small bunch of flowers at the store and place a stem here and there to fill it out.

But because the focus is the vase, you can really do whatever you want!

So, now that you have options — spread the love this Valentine’s Day because, at the end of the day, everyone loves to receive tokens of appreciation and acknowledgment, so whatever you do will be greatly appreciated.

Illustrations: Cydney Cockerill

This Savvy Table Decor Idea Will Sweep You Off Your Feet

Say hello to happily ever after! When a wedding starts with a sunset ceremony, on the prettiest of fall days, and continues with unique touches like custom artwork you know you’re in for a treat. This Arkansas celebration is one for the books, Jessika Mccuin Weddings pulled it all togetehr seamlessly. Just check out the vases filled with single flowers floating down long tables created by Tanarah Luxe Floral to see what we mean! Leave it to Erin Wilson Photography to capture a love story in the most elegant of ways. Head over to the full gallery to check out every detail!

From Erin Wilson Photography… Kathleen and Zach had their modern, fresh wedding at The Clinton Center in downtown Little Rock. Their wedding was in early fall and they chose fresh soft colors to pop against the warm fall colors.

They had beautiful custom artwork at their bar and added so many little pops of their personality while making it fresh and inviting. In their lounge seating, they added some of their favorite books to the coffee tables so guests could look through them while spending time there.

Their reception was equal parts beautiful and romantic, much like the couple themselves. It was a magical evening and a true celebration of their unique personality and love story.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Erin Wilson Photography

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Every Fashion Forward Bride Needs To See This Couture Inspiration at a Neoclassical Château

Three couture gowns, one breathtaking château and an old world romance vibe that’s sure to inspire – these are just a few things you can expect to ooh and ahh over in today’s gorgeous editorial from Rachael Ellen Events. Raise your hand if you’re a total francophile (me, me, me!!)… then prepare to OBSESS over the full gallery of images captured by Molly Carr Photography. It’s a true french fairytale come to life!

From Molly Carr Photography… This shoot was inspired by the luxury French bride who hosts an entire week or weekend long experience for her wedding rather than just one day. These serve as inspiration for what the bride might wear for her welcome dinner, farewell brunch, rehearsal dinner etc. With the modern French bride in mind, we created a design perfect for the bride who loves the luxury of Paris, but wants to stay true to the romantic, old-world feel of the Loire Valley. We used shades of French Blue, Caramel, Rose, and blush to create a look that evoked the pastries of Marie Antoinette, the beautiful colors of the valley and the romantic nature of France.

For the wedding look, our bride wore a gorgeous Monique Lhullier gown – perfect for the setting. While grand and elegant, it also made a refined feminine statement with the low back and bow shoulder details. Her hair was styled in a classic french chignon and she wore natural, dewy makeup. Our groom wore a classic tux – the perfect counterpart to her absolutely bridal look. Every Little Letter created the gorgeous paper suite for this design. Mixing French blue, rose, pink, and caramel, the suite felt luxurious yet playful – perfect for the bride who would love the playful decor of the château.

We loved the way she mixed and matched textures, wax seals, tassels, and floral prints to create this custom chateau design. Our table was adorned with the same romantic tones as seen throughout the house and in Rococo paintings. Caramel, rose, and mauve taper candles gave the table setting height while overgrown florals added the perfect sense of romance. The blush linen was topped with a romantic chiffon runner and paired with velvet rose napkins to balance the caramel velvet chairs. We chose rose petal chargers to pair with the chateau china and vintage French glassware. Overall, we created a wedding fit for a modern Marie Antoinette complete with Loire Valley charm and French refinement.

A little more about the Chateau:
The smell of warm croissants, the touch of antique velvet curtains, the crisp Loire Valley Autumn air… Traveling in France is nothing short of an overwhelmingly beautiful sensory experience. Among the stunning châteaux of the region, the gorgeous Château Grand-lucé is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the beautiful ambiance that is France. The property allows you to take a step back into a time where days are spent wandering the rose gardens, enjoying tea in the grand salon, and admiring the many statues given as housewarming gifts by Louis XV. Over the years, the chateau has served many purposes. From housing philosophical leaders such as Voltaire, Diderot, and Rosseau to serving as a hospital during WWII, it now serves to fulfill its original intent – to inspire the most discerning traveler. The energy of the brilliant minds, incredible artists, and selective travellers who have walked the space is felt in every unforgettable room of this luxury hotel. Inspire it does with its 80 acre property, never ending gardens, stunning decor, and paintings by Jean Baptiste Pillement – his work is now seen in only one other location – Marie Antoinette Petit Trainon. Such a beautiful space deserves to be paired with – and only with – couture fashion.

The pastel neoclassical decor served as our main inspiration for this editorial. Picture a bride arriving to the château for her wedding weekend. She will need a gown for many occasions – her welcome dinner, rehearsal event, wedding ceremony, wedding reception, and of course, for wandering the gardens. Before her guests arrive, she enjoys stepping back in time – trying on her in gowns fit for a queen – and exploring a château all to herself. Each room begs for a different look with their distinctive touches of feminine luxury. It is a childhood fantasy – dressing up in couture gowns, running barefoot through an entirely pink dining room, jumping on beds draped in fine brocade fabric… Only this isn’t a fantasy. This is all real life and ready for any traveller or bride who wishes to be inspired. There is no space to mimic this level of authentic French neoclassicism while upholding such a fine level of luxury. This space and these gowns are fit for the modern queen and Francophile.

Ikea Hack: DIY Mini Bar Cart

Bar carts can cost a pretty penny and often take up a lot of prime real-estate; not the best option when you’re an apartment dweller. So what if we tell you we have a space saving solution that’s a fraction of the cost. We gave this super cheap (we’re talking $30!) utility cart from Ikea a glam makeover to become the perfect small-space bar cart. And it’s just in time to ring in the New Year.

Materials

Ikea cart
Gold spraypaint
Marble contact paper
X-Acto knife
Scissors

Remove all the pieces of the cart from the box. Place the metal pieces on top of the box and spray paint gold in several light coats. Let dry 1 hour.

While paint is drying, cover each of the white plastic shelves with marble contact paper. Press the paper over the top of the shelf, being careful to smooth out any air bubbles as you go.

Flip the shelf over and cut the contact paper where the side meets the corner, so you can easily fold the paper up the sides of the shelf. Trim any excess paper from the sides.

At the corners, use the X-Acto knife to cut out the curved corners (the corners will be pressed flush to the metal frame so you don’t need to worry about covering the sides of the corners).

Assemble the cart according to Ikea instructions, leaving out the sliding tray for a cleaner look. Fill the cart with your favorite glasses, booze, straws, coasters, and other cocktail accessories.

Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Design & Styling: SMP Living | Event Planning: Amazon | Decor: Ikea

Spanish Style on Manhattan Beach

We LOVE a house that goes bold with a style choice and fully commits to it. This Spanish styled home in Manhattan Beach is packed to the brim with character corners, jazzy tile and killer details!

Tell us about the homeowners:

They are a very active family and involved in motor sports and off road racing. They love to entertain and travel quite a bit, as the husband also flies his own plane! They are such a fun and sweet family and I feel lucky everyday to have such wonderful clients to work with. I knew when we met, it was a great fit and going to be a fun project.

How did this project come to be? What was the scope of the project?

I was actually working for a home builder on the house who was looking to flip the home. I designed the home, and then we had a buyer come in and was interested in purchasing the home during the remodel process. When that happened we ended up changing quite a few things, mainly tile selection and some of the finishes that were a little more specific to the clients taste.

How involved was your client – any specific design direction?

Before the client was involved in the process we had a very clean more modern direction the home was going in. After they purchased the property we really sat down and went over what they were looking for and the over all feel they wanted for their home. Most of the design they already loved but wanted to add pops of color such as some of the fun cement tile we used. It was so fun because so many clients are afraid of color but this client loved it all! Really made for a fun project. I had a great time pulling in modern elements and combining it with transitional Spanish design.

Details on each space within the home/photos:

The overall feel of the home is a Modern Spanish feel and we incorporated transitional and rustic elements to make it feel warm and welcoming. I love designing homes with clean lines but using lots of natural materials and textures to warm it up.

The entry of the home is quite unique because you enter in on a landing. The front doors are 10 foot reclaimed church doors. They are absolutely one of my favorite elements about the home and one of a kind. As you walk in we kept it simple with white textured walls, beautiful iron rails on the staircase, and a neutral cement tile on the stair risers to add drama.

At the top of the staircase we used beautiful woven baskets and neutral textured elements and kept the space light and bright. As you walk up the stairs you head into the living room, dining room, family room and kitchen. This space was a huge focus.

The views in these rooms are spectacular. You have ocean views from every room. The family room was a big focus when it came to furnishing. We knew this would be the predominately used space being that it’s next to the kitchen. We did a custom plaster fireplace.

When furnishing the space we wanted it simple. We used a large sectional to accommodate lots of people because they love to entertain and a natural jute rug and reclaimed wood coffee table. In the powder bathroom across the hallway, we used a fun cement tile and arched mirror.

As you walk downstairs, the first bedroom you see is their little boys room. We made this room so fun and did a black and white cement tile for the floor and a smoky blue finish for the cabinetry with brass accents.

The next room is for their little girl. Her bathroom got very little natural light so we kept the cabinets white and did a fun blue Moroccan tile backsplash to add a pop of color. For the master bathroom the client really wanted this fun black and white tile in the design. We decided to use it as the backsplash above the vanity with large arched mirrors.

One of the more unique rooms in the house has to be the foam pit room. This was originally a rock climbing wall but our client wanted something different for their little ones. So it became the ultimate kid hangout!

How long did the project take and what was your client’s reaction:

The project I would say from start to finish took about a year. The homeowners were absolutely amazing to work with! One comment I got from client was their oldest daughter who said, “ OMG, the house is so clean crisp and beautiful!” Comments like that just keep me going. I truly have a passion for what I do and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

When you are finishing up a project and you know your client is happy, that’s where it is. That’s everything to me. I know how personal it is to have someone come into your home and you have this vision of what you want. It’s an emotional process. But that’s what I love. It’s personal. It’s family. It’s your home.

Photography: Ryan Garvin | A Financial Solutions Company: Manhattan West | Interior Designer: Melissa Marie Interiors | builder: Manhattan West

A Destination Winery Wedding That Almost Didn’t Happen

Even California wildfires couldn’t stop this couple’s special day. Fires were raging rampant through the Sonoma wine region, making Amanda and Scott fear for the worst. Luckily, fate was on their side, and they were able to have a beautiful outdoor wedding just in the nick of time. Cambria Events created wedding magic with a green and white garden-inspired event. We’re just adoring the overflowing greenery and florals from Vanda Floral Design. Ashley Baumgartner took special care to capture the day that almost wasn’t in the most enchanting of ways. With a celebration this exceptional, there’s no way you can miss the full gallery.

From Ashley Baumgartner… The bride and groom, along with their guests, were here from out of town. A collection of their favorite people from Minnesota and all over the country had made the trip to California for their special day. A day that almost didn’t happen, but thankfully still did. A day that they will never forget, because of the fires, and because it is the start of their legacy of love.

On the lawn, guests were invited to a classic outdoor reception, complete with wooden signs, a mix of farm tables and rounds, cafe lights, and more dripping florals. Guests danced on the patio under the sky, something they didn’t expect to see with all of the smoke in the area.

Thankful for a safe, beautiful wedding day, the couple headed off to Maui to celebrate their union and the beginning of the rest of their lives together.

Picnic Like a Parisian with this 5 step Aperitif

If we had to pick one thing that the Parisians do crazy well, it’s picnicking (or maybe fashion). But for this how-to, we’re focusing on their ability to lay out the yummiest wine + cheese + baguette spreads. Learn the easy five step approach to packing a gorgeous French apero from Katie Donnelly Photography plus find even more pretty inspirtion in the VAULT.

Living in Paris there are only a few things that are ever certain: rain, red lipstick, the Eiffel Tower, and Parisians picnicking the second it becomes sunny. In France, picnics in the evening fall under the category of “aperitif” but everyone calls it “apero” for short.

While there are a few obvious things that always make their appearance (ahem, wine and cheese I’m looking at you!), there are some things you may not have thought of! Here’s your guide to the PERFECT Parisian apero. Santé!

An apero can consist of many different things but first and foremost, there is always wine. In the summer months you’re most likely to see people enjoying rosé. The best rosés come from the Côtes-de-Province. In France you can usually get them for less than 10 bucks. Even 5 euros will get you a good one! FYI: Rosé is drunk cold.

FROMAGE! (Aka cheese!) An apero is no fun without cheese. Traditionally, you have to have an odd amount of cheeses (3,5 or 7 different cheeses). There are over 3000 protected types of cheese in France so there’s a good selection to choose from!

Popular cheeses are:
Chèvre Frais (fresh goat cheese)
Comté
Contal
Brie
Roquefort
Tomme de Brebie
If you get a chance, head to a cheese market and ask the fromager (cheese merchant) what they would recommend! It’s a fab way to discover new and yummy cheeses!

Your quick guide to serving cheese:
If the French culture is anything, it is ceremonial. You have to serve and cut cheeses specific ways or else you could offend someone or give them a bad part with only the crust! Quick tips: if the cheese is round, you cut it like a pizza pie where everyone gets a triangular slice. If the cheese is square/horizontal (I’m looking at you Comté) you cut it horizontally so each piece has a bit of crust and no one is left with only a crust. Easy right? Bon appetit!

Snacks! Other essential snacks include olives, chips, and pretzels though aren’t limited there! Other ideas are hummus, peanuts, popcorn, and veges like tomatoes and carrots!

Baguette. Bread is a daily essential for the French and luckily for them, there is a bakery on about every corner! My favorite kind of French bread is the baguette tradition, it’s crunchier on the outside and more rustic. Perfect for eating with cheese!

Charcuterie. Dried meats are the last essential for your French apero! Saucisson (dried hard sausage), jambon de Bayonne (similar to prosciutto) and sometimes other European meats like chorizo make an appearance!

How One Couple Made Their 200+ Person Guest Count Feel Like an Intimate Dinner Party

Today’s stunning San Juan Capistrano wedding is proof that indoor weddings can be JUST as beautiful as outdoor affairs. The bride and groom tied the knot in front of over 200 guests in a winter fête adorned with blooms in the dreamiest color scheme there ever was – white, burgundy, mauve, dusty rose, and plum (umm can you say #winterweddinggoals!?) Thanks to Amorette Events Co., the event went off without a hitch! Don’t forget to head on over to the full gallery for major indoor wedding inspo – taken by Amy Golding!

From Amy Golding… Gathered against the beautiful Southern California winter backdrop, Elisabeth and Paul celebrated their long-awaited wedding day with their Romanian family at Franciscan Gardens in San Juan Capistrano, California. Originally planning for an outdoor gathering, recent weather changed their plans, moving the celebrations indoors. Using Elisabeth’s vision, Amorette Events Co., alongside Modern Bouquet, created a beautiful setting where even a 200 person guest count could feel like an intimate dinner. The couple decided on a dusty blue and cream color scheme, which Modern Bouquet complemented with the most beautiful blooms in various shades of white, burgundy, mauve, dusty rose, and plum to create a subtle winter vibe.

They exchanged their vows at Crossline Community Church, in front of a lush, open arch that perfectly framed the altar. Afterwards, the reception was held at Franciscan Gardens, where Amorette Events Co. and Modern Bouquet created an intimate, indoor space with lush, garden-like centerpieces and tall candles that created a soft and romantic ambience. The bride created her own wedding invitations and stationery, with the help of Kari Winters Calligraphy for the calligraphy, vow books, and envelope liner. She lovingly handmade each menu, each escort card, and program for her dear guests by creating deckle edges for an effortless, organic touch.

THE PROPOSAL: From the bride… Paul and I did long distance our entire relationship so we would visit each other back and forth switching off from him flying to LA and me flying to Portland. It was my turn to fly to Portland in May. The few days before I left, Paul and my best friend were acting strange and just kept emphasizing the weather or what I would wear specifically on Tuesday. So naturally, I thought he would propose that day! On Monday, we had plans to hike to a waterfall with our friends but when we got to the trailhead, they texted us saying they were about 30 minutes away and that we should start the hike without them. We did the hike usual thing and set up a tripod at this waterfall to get some pictures of us two. After the camera timer went off, Paul proposed! I was completely thrown off because I had thought he would be proposing the next day! Right after that, I saw a couple photographers there and Paul said they were people he hired to take pictures (which turned out amazing!) and in the end our friends weren’t actually coming but they were used to throw me off because I knew he would never propose in front of a crowd. It was the most perfect proposal I could have ever dreamed of, especially since I’ve always wanted to be proposed to in front of a waterfall!

OUR FAVORITE MEMORY: My most memorable moment was probably walking down the aisle. Paul and I did a first look beforehand but we still had all the tears and emotions as if it were the first time we saw each other that day! It was such a surreal and special moment walking down and seeing Paul standing as my groom waiting for me!

THE DRESS: I knew I wanted long lace sleeves for a winter wedding dress. Paul and I had hoped to get married in December for a good while so as I waited to be engaged, I was already looking online for ideas of a wedding dress. I found it on Sophia Tolli’s website and out of all the dresses I saw online, it was the only one I loved!

OUR FAVORITE DETAIL: My favorite detail of the wedding day was my bouquet! I could not stop staring at the florals anytime we had downtime during our wedding day!

A TIP TO FUTURE BRIDES: Enjoy all the planning and festivities that come with your engagement because it goes by so fast!

Wait Till You See The DIY Petal Bar At This Multicultural Wedding

Certain things will never go out of style, and we’re so happy that bold, bright colors are one of them! You can’t help but get a feeling of overwhelming happiness when you feast your eyes on the vibrant pinks, yellows, and oranges of Megan and Nathan’s wedding. Oh, and can we talk about that DIY petal station for a minute?! Beginning to end, Lavish Wed worked tirelessly to create an event that left guests breathless. Natalie Bray Studios uniquely captured the magic of the day in her beautiful imagery. Prepare to be inspired by all the love in the full gallery.

From the bride… We knew it would be the first Indian wedding experience for a lot of our guests so we wanted everyone to feel comfortable, have some understanding of what was going on, and of course, have a great time.

For the ceremony, we put together a program outlining all the steps and their significance so people would be able to follow along, but our priest did an excellent job explaining everything (everyone thought she was hilarious). Traditionally guests shower the couple with rice to bless them so we had a DIY bar of petals, lavender, and aromatic herbs for people to create their own confetti.

Our favorite moment was probably the end! The last song was Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen and it spontaneously evolved from a giant love circle/singalong, with people waving the votives from the tables, into a mosh pit. We literally said to each other, “Is this real life?!” when everyone started rushing in towards us as the guitar riffs kicked in – it was pretty magical.

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Natalie Bray Studios

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Peak Inside the Bieber’s South Carolina Wedding Venue in This Stunningly Romantic Editorial

You may have heard of the Montage Palmetto Bluff after the Bieber’s famously got hitched there this passed Fall, but today we’re so excited to share the most stunning styled shoot from Kelly Strong Events that truly embraces all this charming venue has to offer. The talented team of vendors were inspired by the colors of Lowcountry when designing this shoot, with soft greens and creamy hues sprinkled throughout the floral design by Urban Petals. Our favorite part? The gowns. One clean, striking and modern… the other, romantic and airy. See all the pretty captured by Heather Payne at the full gallery!

From Planner, Kelly Strong… Montage Palmetto Bluff was the host for this romantic editorial. The ultimate Southern Destination for couples looking for a true lowcountry experience. With so many event sites throughout the property, couples are able to create a true multi-day experience for their guests, never needing to reuse the same event spaces.

The staff at the Montage Palmetto Bluff delivers above and beyond service that elevates your guest experience even further. For this editorial, the main space used was a Veranda, overlooking the May River. The concept for this editorial was rooted in the soft greens of Spanish Moss and the romance the South naturally evokes. With that, the intention was to pull in the modern details that recent couples love.

The intention was Modern Southern Romance and through the design of the reception space in parallel with the bridal styling, the vendor team was able to bring the vision to life. For this editorial, there were two different bridal looks created. The first was a sleek, modern, sophisticated bride. Both hair and makeup were kept simple and classic. The sharp low bun was the perfect complement to the epic, show-stopping bow on the Viktor + Rolf gown. The simple neckline was accented with Oscar de la Renta earrings.

The bridal bouquet was hand-tied and structured to reflect the architectural elements of the gown. The airy, delicate ribbon from Honey Silks Co. Tied in the primary accent color of the event design. The second look was whimsical and romantic. Soft waves and dewy makeup complemented the intricate details of the Mira Zwillinger gown. The bouquet for this look was an ethereal yet still-tailored bouquet with all white and blush sweet peas, a handful of Litchfield Angel Garden Roses and ranunculus. The way this gown and the delicate blooms of the bouquet moved in the sweet Southern breeze was so special. For the reception space, linens from La Tavola added texture as the base of the tablescape. Each subsequent piece was intentionally selected to create soft and layered look – from the tulle runner to the knotted sage napkins. Carrying the same blooms from the bridal bouquet through to the arrangements, the movement of the sweet peas continued to wow.

NYC Meets Wine Country In This Al Fresco Fall Wedding

If your taste falls somewhere between cool girl and classic, do we have the wedding inspiration for you! Napa wine country sets the scene for an epic celebration, expertly orchestrated by LVL Weddings & Events, filled with black moody accents, blush tones, and tons of special touches along the way. Just take one look at the escort card display of custom leather luggage tags inscribed with guests’ names! Meg Sexton transports us to the middle of all the fun with artfully shot imagery. Come for the alluring nightlife inspired vibes and stay for all the beautifully curated touches along the way. Prepare to be delighted inside the full gallery.

From LVL Weddings & Events… This New York couple wanted to bring their family and friends to Napa’s wine country for a truly memorable wedding weekend. The couple’s love for nightlife, great food, and love to travel were all specific areas of inspiration when planning their wedding.

With the couple’s love for travel and all of their wedding guests traveling to Napa, both domestically and internationally, we created customized leather luggage tags with guests’ names to act as their escort card display. This statement piece was not only beautiful but also a nice little take-away gift for all of their guests.

We took their New York late-night party lifestyle and pulled it through the wedding design. The after-party dance scene featured a custom LED installation for the DJ backdrop and fun, masculine velvet lounge vignettes. Needless to say, this was a nonstop party full of energy all night long.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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A Green And White Winter Wedding With Timeless Charm

All white florals with lush greenery and gold accents give a classic feel to this gorgeous California wedding. With sparkling lake views and a modern romantic aesthetic (can we talk about that dreamy sweetheart table?!), this celebration is one we can’t get enough of. Sweetest Love Events designed a day equal parts elegant and inviting. Endless inspiration artfully shot by Anya Kernes Photography awaits you in the full gallery.

From the bride… We wanted something that was elegant and timeless for our SoCal winter wedding. We opted for white and gold with pops of greens for color, which played perfectly with the beauty of SeaCliff Country Club.

We were so fortunate to have friends and family who we could incorporate into our special day. Our long-time friend, Kevin, married us, our cousin, Anosh, hilariously MC’ed our wedding, and our long-time friend and Anish’s fraternity brother, Connor, DJ’ed our wedding! My piece of advice that I could give to brides-to-be would be to enjoy your special day! Take a pause during your wedding and look around and take it all in because the day just goes by so fast.

From Summer Blooms & Details… In Cat’s bouquet there were garden roses, peonies, ranunculus, anemones, lisianthus, different types of eucalyptus, and bleached/dried italian ruscus. We wanted to keep it classic and romantic, but added the bleached italian ruscus to add a little winter-y element into her bouquet since her wedding was in December. And dried, bleached flowers have been a pretty popular floral trend this year.

For their centerpieces and arch, Cat really was super easy going, and just gave me the colors she wanted to incorporate into the wedding. We tried to incorporate as much greenery into the centerpieces because linen was classic and ivory, which worked out well because the room was draped in white as well. As for the arch, we used a lot of smilax to create the airy-romantic feel. Even though their wedding was in the middle of winter, it made it feel like a warm summer day.

Colors: Emerald green, ivory, whites and golds

Theme: Romantic Winter Southern California Bride

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Petit Bouquet

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DIY Instagram Gallery Wall

I have officially proclaimed this the year of getting photos off my phone and computer and onto my walls. Seriously. So this DIY couldn’t come at a better time. And if you are anything like me, your entire life is captured in those small squares called Instagram. Print them out, grab some frames and make that insta feed come to life in a gallery wall grid too pretty to be virtual. And the cuteness below? From our founder Abby’s Personal Instagram.

Frames – We bought ours in a pack of 9 from Wayfair – $76.99 (AWESOME find)
Photos printed from Mpix – $2.29 for 8×8 square image

ps… the cute chair is from cute chair is from Wayfair. Obsessed with the delicate gold legs!

Print Your Photos.

Paint Your Frames. Remove glass, mat and backing from each frame. Spray paint a very thin coat of gold paint onto each frame. Let dry for about 20 minutes. Spray paint another coat to ensure you have a nice even paint covering. Let dry again, then flip and repeat on the other side, taking care to get edges on both the interior and exterior of the frame. Let dry completely.

Map Out Your Grid. Each frame measures about 13.5″ (12×12 would be the dimension of the mat without the frame and 8×8 is the mat opening). We started with our center frame, adding 1.5 inches between each frame. We then used a level and a pencil to mark each of our other 8 frames before hanging.Hang Your Photos. Rather than hammering 9 nails into our wall, we used 3M heavy duty picture hanger tape. This was SO simple to use, won’t leave a mark and allowed us to adjust a little bit if we needed to without messing up our wall.

Photography: SMP Living | Design And Styling: SMP Living | Cakes: Bed Bath & Beyond | Calligraphy: Emilia Paavola | Chair + Frames: Wayfair

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Petit Bouquet

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Give Your Wedding a Gilded Glow-Up With These Must-Have Items From the SMP Shop (Plus a Major Giveaway!)

So, there’s a saying, popularized out of a line by William Shakespeare … you might be familiar with it, maybe you aren’t, but it goes something like this, “all that glitters is not gold.” We get it, it makes sense – essentially not everything that’s incredible, sparkly, beyond mesmerizing is all that it’s cracked up to be. But when we’re talking about weddings? Well, we’ll make an exception, because everything that can be gilded, glittery, and/or gold – should be! It’s the most versatile metallic to use since it can really match any vibe – from romantic to bohemian, modern to high glamour. It also plays well with ALL the pretty palettes, whether composed of soft cosmetic colors like blush, taupe, and champagne, rich jewel tones like emerald and turquoise, or even other metallics: mixed metals for the win. We’ll always be #teamgold over here at Style Me Pretty, so you can be sure our shop is always stocked with gold details for your ‘I Dos.’

A VERY GILDED GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate our newest shop launch, we’re thrilled to gift one of our couples with a shimmering supply of gold goodies for their best day ever! Head over to our Instagram page right now for the full entry how-to, because you definitely won’t want to miss out on this golden opportunity. The prize bundle boasts items for the ceremony and reception, and everything is touched with one of our signature colors: you guessed it, gold.

Keep reading to get the scoop on what you can win for your wedding! Only one winner will be chosen, but you can still find all these golden treasures online exclusively at the Style Me Pretty Shop!

GIVE A GILDED GLOW-UP TO YOUR…

Cocktail hour

When we talk about having a warm welcome for guests, we imagine each person strolling into cocktail hour and upon taking a look at all the wooden details mixed with modern acrylic & metallic motifs, and chunky and & tapered candlelight everywhere, feeling at home (but still far away from theirs, because attending a wedding is the ultimate escape/date night).

Say ‘welcome’ to the wedding with gold calligraphed signs to display on your escort card and/or gift+card table! And while you’re at it, give your guests a place to snap those #bestweddingever photos before they leave some love in your guest book!

Gold Dipped Guest Book with Pen

…. Talk about a perfect place for a photo opp! #love, it’s what got your guests there in the first place!

Wedding bars

Let metallics be your magnet to draw all your guests to the bar(s)! We love prettying up a simple bar setup with garlands, candles, and some whimsical signage that just says it all. It’s just an easy way to add some extra sparkle and enlightened elegance to your barscape.

And if those things don’t do it, CHEERS certainly will, as will bottles of bubbly nestled sweetly in some golden champagne buckets. (These also look super cute for those bridal suite “getting ready” photos with the girls!)

Gold Cheers Acrylic Sign

Reception

Remember when we said that gold goes with any kind of vibe? Well, we weren’t lying!! Classic, clean+modern, rustic, romantic, gold can do it all for your guest tables. Our gold foil table numbers are such standouts, and the gold wire wooden stands are a total #mood. Not only can they hold table numbers, you can also use them to hold menus and reserved signs for VIPs.

Ornate Gold Table Numbers
Mr and Mrs Napkin Rings

Your sweetheart table, too, can get a nice dose of gilded glam with metallic Mr. & Mrs. napkin rings that feel ultra royal. And when you’re after something to spice up your sweetheart chairs, check out our very own Mr. & Mrs. gold-toned chair signs. They’re one of those ‘little things’ that can make a major difference when you’re looking back at your day!

Cake Table

Because, if you didn’t go for the gold with your cake cutting moment, did it even happen??! We’re sweet on a simple, multi-tier buttercream confection atop our gold-accented cake stand, and once that layered beauty is cut, it just tastes better when eaten off of golden, scallop-edged cake plates. Can’t argue with that!

Finish this classic snapshot with a toast to each other – out of bride and groom champagne coupes – and a little kiss to seal the deal! If frosting gets passed between lips, then so be it!

Did we convince you that this color is, simply put, a gold standard? Hope so! Shop all of these items exclusively on Style Me Pretty, and don’t forget to enter our giveaway that’s going on right now!!

Danielle Halibey is a writer, editor, and publicist living in New Jersey. She has been immersed in the world of weddings since planning her own whimsical, romantic affair in 2014. And isn’t that what they always say, “those who can’t do, teach?” Well, once her nuptials were over, she still had stuff in the ‘I Do’ industry to do. She writes regularly for top wedding blogs including Style Me Pretty and Wedding Chicks, and has garnered millions of press impressions for brands in the wedding space: fashion, beauty, wedding talent+tastemakers and more.

Photography: Sarah & Ben | Floral Design: Ever After DeAnn | Cake: Hands On Sweets | Venue: Studio Festive | Rentals: Studio Festive

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Petit Bouquet

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This Modern Monochromatic Wedding Inspo Will Have You Rethinking That Airy Color Palette

Bye bye airy, hello monochrome! The Blush Events, Nikki Santerre Photography and The Flower Guy Bron joined forces on a styled shoot that’s here to inspire brides to add a bit of color to their inspiration boards. From crisp whites to matte blacks to velvety textures and elegant layers… modern brides – this one’s for you! Head on over to the full gallery to see why we’re crossing our fingers monochrome weddings make a major splash in 2020!

From Nikki Santerre… As a collaborative effort, the creative team wanted to demonstrate the diversity of this incredible venue, Upper Shirley Vineyard, located just outside of Richmond, Virginia. Usually a space utilized in a more classic and romantic manner, we went with a modern and monochromatic motif, with a surprising pop of matte black and a golden yellow velvet for this editorial’s details.

From Kerri of Blush Events… Golden color palette and velvet, yes please! Challenging the airy style that we know so well to bring a more dynamic, modern, style and splash of color to our dream board. We love an edge of uniqueness, while bringing a clean polish that makes each design special and one of a kind. Reaching for combinations of yellows with deep, velvet textures, pops of white modern ceramic and black accenting gold flatware gave us classic and chic tablescape.

An organic climbing Smilac wall was the perfect backdrop for bridal details. Adorned as if growing inside, surrounded by taper candles with their light bouncing off polished wooden floors for an ethereal glow. Add our model to the mix and its bridal heaven! We wanted chic, simple yet elegant dress from Urban Set Bride and hair by Emily Artistry to be a clean knot to show off the back of the dress – swoon! Of course, silk wrapped Bella Belle heels with a bow and soft tear drop jewels accented the bride’s look. We saw the Marigold Tuxedo Jacket from Black Tux and had to feature for the groom because what goes better with velvet loafers and a black bow tie if not for a pop of color. The artistry each creative partner brings to our designs guarantees our level of caliber. The day of the shoot, we always are surprised by the interpretations of our design fitting together, piece by piece, after months of prep. Flower Guy Bron brought the centerpieces coherent with our palette, and blew us away with how well the ceramic vases mixed with the menu, velvet pale tablecloth, juxtaposing the clean white backdrop with black bent wood chairs overlooking the winery, making a layered, cozy, and dainty winter look.