Today we are featuring the prettiest wedding, designed by the ever talented Lisa Thomas of Ooh Events in Charleston. There is just something magical about Charleston…it’s so effortlessly beautiful. A relaxed but oh-so-chic style. I am kind of obsessed if you can’t tell by all of the Charleston weddings that I post on SMP!

I don’t have a ton of details from this wedding, other than the fabulous photographer was Marni Rothschild. Oh, and this sweet little tidbit…

The invitations were printed from a personally handwritten letter from the bride’s father and we made a custom insignia to make it even more personal.  –Michelle of Ooh Events.

So, so lovely.

After setting the date, finding the church, finding a reception venue, dreaming about your gown … the next thought on your mind might be your wedding colors or color ‘palette’ as it’s lovingly referred to these days!  Tara Pollio of tara pollio floral-event design sent us this beautiful wedding with a color palette of orange, chartreuse and pewter. Tara said, “The contrast of the bright orange and cool pewter were so unique and set the tone for a glamorous and fun wedding!”

tara pollio floral-event design specializes in signature destination weddings and events.  She says, “Every design starts with a clean slate and is built around each client. If you can dream it, we can implement it. From your custom linens, event rentals and lighting professionals, we work only with the best. All of our flowers are brought in from around the globe, using specialty growers when possible. Our product is cut specifically for us and shipped overnight to ensure quality and freshness”

Devon and David’s August wedding was held at the Hildene Estate in Manchester, Vermont. The colors they chose effuse such a fun, warm, sophisticated sophisticated tone to the affair. Photography provided by Tara Pollio and Barrie Fisher.

I’m not sure what the best color palette “generator” programs are out there … but I do know that they exist. If anyone would like to leave a comment telling us what you’ve used that others might benefit from, please do!

Thank you, Tara for sending us Devon and David’s wedding. We LOVE the chic white couches paired with the perfect touches of natural Vermont charm!

Today’s wedding is all about easy, breezy beautiful style (can you tell that I watched an America’s Next Top Model marathon this weekend)…complete with different little cabana seating areas, perfectly designed florals and that touch of Southern charm with it’s butter yellow, chocolate and green palette. Lovely.

all photographs by Marni Rothschild Pictures

Lisa of Ooh Events designed this gorgeous affair and her colleague, Michelle, has been sweet enough to share a few details with us…

The reception was at Lowndes Grove, one of the most beautiful venues here in Charleston, South Carolina.  Her colors were chocolate, ivory and yellow…….we are all still in love with the three unique lounge areas we created with a mix of vintage, a twist of modern and our Indian fabric tents.

Do you ever wake up on a Monday and try on ten, fifteen outfits…none of which seem quite right? Well, that was me today, only I was trying on weddings to feature! I couldn’t, for the life of me, decide which wedding to put up today, so I spent WAY too long sifting through one style after another…chic, ballroom affairs, quaint outdoor weddings, beautiful beachside fetes. One after another, after another. Until I saw this one.

Sent to me by Michelle over at Ooh Events, this wedding is just about as pretty as they come. Perfection really…

all photographs by Marni Rothschild Pictures

Love, love, love this Southern style wedding…everything about it is just sweet, sophisticated and utterly gorgeous. Stay tuned for tons of additional photos and details!

When Viola of Chewing the Cud told me about her newest venture, I literally jumped for joy. She’s partnered up with Jubilee of Jubilee Lau Events to host the first ever Wedding University…a full day seminar on February 8th in Silicon Valley, packed with HONEST advice as to how to stretch your wedding dollars. And how to do so beautifully. To hear all about it, check out the new blog they’ve set up that will give you an inside peek at what these talented girls are planning!

Do a dress rehearsal – literally. Practice getting dressed in your gown, and try on your entire ensemble together to make sure nothing’s missing or uncomfortable. Then try walking, dancing, hugging – and bustling.   Brought to you by bridalguide.com.

It’s rare, really really rare that Lisa, of Ceci New York, ever offers discounts on her designs. She keeps so busy with orders that she doesn’t really need to…but, she has been gracious enough to offer 10% off her custom work or her White Label collection (designs start at $11 per set for 100 pieces) to all SMP orders.

Just use the code CECISMP0109 when you contact Lisa (either by phone at 212.989.0695 or via email) and your discount will be honored.. Thank you, Lisa, for being so sweet and making our Friday!

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In other discount news, one of my FAVORITE jewelry designers, Erin Gallagher, is having their semi-annual sample sale in just a couple of days…40% off all custom jewelry from January 19th-25. Mark your calendars ladies, this is a good one!

I have a bracelet that Erin designed for me and I am being modest when I say that I wear it twice a week. It goes with everything and is so completely elegant and yet so completely modern. LOVE!

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We are going to announce the winners of the Paloma’s Nest giveaway on Monday!!

There is nothing more frustrating for a bride than walking into a stationery store, seeing rows upon rows upon rows of invitation albums…all with different printing styles, papers, colors and most daunting, price points. Once you pick the invitation, you have to figure out how many you need, what pieces are important, when and how to stamp and ship them, oh my! Well, Lisa Hoffman is here to help…giving her top 10 tips for choosing and ordering invitations.

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Lisa’s Top 10 Invitation Tips – Do it Right, the First Time.

Understandably, for most of you this is the first time you’re planning a wedding and having to order wedding invitation. There are so many little details to think about below are some helpful tips that I hope will make your experience more enjoyable.

1. Don’t wait til the last minute -avoid rush charges by starting the planning early. Takes the pressure and worry out! If you’ve booked your wedding date and venue – book your stationer.

2. Expect the worst with the postman. Unfortunately, the post office isn’t the most reliable. I’ve had a client send out all her invites on the same day and two family members both neighbors received their invitations 3 weeks apart! One arrived the next day and the other 3 weeks later! No rhyme or reason. So have patience and don’t panic. Make sure you mail them out with plenty of time to spare in order to avoid this worry.

3. Always order extra invitations so you’re covered – I know it’s easy to try and save on costs but when you’re short, it ends up costing you so much more in the long run. Plus there are always the extra guests that pop up along the way. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did. 15-25 extra is always a good cushion.

4. Make sure you weigh your invitation at the post office. Triple check it with 2-3 different postal people and then go over what they recommend in postage. Typically invitations are thick and do not bend and even though the weight says one price, if it doesn’t bend or the oversize of it puts it into another pricing category – they don’t always tell you that and we all know we don’t want beautiful invitations being returned!

5. Get your guest list together right away- not only is this important for your invitations but it will help make the rest of your planning easier since everything is dependent on it. Make sure you have all your addresses spelled correct and no abbreviations on city and states. Also, know you have to submit your list to most calligraphers in a word document so don’t worry about excel. They wont accept it.

6. If you’re sending out save the dates to all your guests – those same guests must get invitations – even if they personally told you they couldn’t make it. It’s proper etiquette and polite. Don’t skimp!

7. I recommend making your RSVP date one month before your wedding. Some do 3 weeks but I think that’s cutting it too close. Factor in one week for the stragglers plus you don’t want to have the added stress so close to your big wedding day. Giving yourself that extra week makes a world of a difference.

8. Go the custom stamp route – yes it’s possible! It’s worth the little extra splurge and it shows you care about every detail. After all, it’s your wedding!

9. Make sure when selecting your stationery vendor you are confident in their capabilities. Ensure they truly can deliver what you want. It’s not worth it to try and save on costs then end up in a hard sifpot with something you don’t love. Look at their portfolio and make sure they have at least 3-5 years experience. It may seem like a simple thing but trust me, there are a lot of details (beside the design) that you need your stationer to take care of. You don’t want to make silly, embarrassing mistakes – an expert stationer will guide you through the process seamlessly and stress free!

10. Personality is key. If you are working with a custom stationery designer, make sure the two of you “click” – you should be working very closely with them for quite a while so you want to make sure you are on the same page – both creatively and professionally. You will find the experience much more enjoyable if you do!

SPECIAL BONUS GIFT – I’ve put in a special request with the editors at BFF Bridal and they’ve graciously extended to me a special deal for all Style Me Pretty readers to their upcoming “BEST IN BRIDAL: HONEYMOONS & DESTINATION WEDDINGS” event. Use the code CECI when booking your tickets and receive 2-for-1! (that’s $75 savings). Bring your sister, your mom, your MOH (or bring everyone!) and treat yourselves to makeovers and beauty treatments while planning and shopping for the perfect honeymoon. Get discounts and upgrades to the best hotels in the world, pick up style tips from the experts, and shop for a chic honeymoon wardrobe at a discount! Round it all out with cool cocktails, yummy appetizers, great music, and a gift bag to brag about.

Putting together this wedding feature from Meghan Sepe was such fun! Each group of photos emphasizes just how much happiness can go into planning a wedding. Look at these images and you know that Allyson and Cody are simply delightful people, full of excitement and ready for a lifetime of adventure, together.

For some reason, when I saw the photo of Cody and his guys, all I could think of was … Lancelot and his knights…boldly approaching to carry Guinevere far far away!

You know we love all of the special touches that define a couple’s personality. We love the vibrant, happy colors. And we love big juicy kisses.

The rainbow of colors used in Allyson and Cody’s wedding … Camelot, right? (remember the scene where all of the maidens were dancing around the maypole in lovely gowns…?) Actually, this wedding was in August in South Darmouth, Massachusetts, but same idea! A great love story…

Meghen Sepe, their photographer, claims that Allyson and Cody’s wedding is one of her favorite weddings of all time. “The entire day was phenomenal – perfect weather, wonderful friends and family, an abundance of personal touches – a perfect day.”

Now this is cool … Allyson and Cody live on their sailboat in Annapolis, MD. When asked where they were going for their honeymoon, they shrugged in unison and said “We don’t know. We’ll sail somewhere, wherever.”

As Meghan says, “Can’t think of a better place to go!”

Here are a few more of the details of the day ~~

Wow! LOVE this wedding! Thanks, Meghan for bringing it to Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book Blog. And Congratulations to Allyson and Cody!

{to see the full gallery, click here!}

Meghan Sepe resides in Newport, Rhode Island, but is available for travel … anywhere! Here are a few photos from her travel and lifestyle gallery ~~

This next invitation suite that Lisa Hoffman of Ceci New York crafted is my favorite…it’s so completely unique and original. I haven’t ever seen anything like it!

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This invitation is a charming birdcage branch design executed in really unexpected, brilliant colors. There were three levels of reveal on this invitation design – the purple birdcage sleeve, the orange bird branch belly band and then the invitation. I love the transition from bright intense color to elegant white and soft grays.

The birdcage door even opened to reveal the bird peeking through!

We featured a laser cut band delicately wrapped around the invitation, as well. I love mixing hand calligraphy with block fonts- perfect mix of classic with modern elegance. The theme carried throughout the remainder of the wedding suite – even her custom stamps!

Stay tuned for Lisa’s tips on ordering your own wedding invitations…the process can be tricky, so it’s great to hear the best approach straight from the horse’s mouth!

It’s time for our monthly guest blog by contributing editor Lisa Hoffman of Ceci New York! When I visited Lisa in New York a couple of months ago, I fell head over heels for her newest line of laser cut invitations. I’ve honestly never seen anything like them…they are incredibly tactile, begging you to feel their intricate designs and their exquisite patterns. So, I am thrilled that Lisa is talking about this new trend today on SMP!

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For me, great invitation design begins with great execution. Experimenting with new printing techniques is what I am known for and love. I am always a fan of pushing the envelope and one of my newest trends in invitation design is laser cutting. Think beyond the standard letterpress, engraved or flat printing. Laser allows for a new sense of three-dimensionality and for a reveal.  It also adds a very new sense of unexpected luxury. I love to play with the transition as a guest opens the invite and give them the wow factor that will get them immediately picking up the phone raving about how this is the most incredible invitation they’ve ever received.

This invitation is all about Old World Hollywood Glamour – Chandeliers and Damask. Accents of deep blood red were added throughout for the a bit of color impact and variation. It also tied in her bridesmaid dresses and floral decor. The outer envelope came in red with silver calligraphy with matching custom designed stamps.

When guests opened their invitation the first thing they saw was the damask print that was laser cut to create a reveal technique with the paper. The invite slide out the top to present a french quote that was significant to the bride. As you know, I love to do modern interpretations of monograms. The logo I made for her presented the two J’s of their first initials surrounded by decorative damask in a unique die cut shape.  The last image is a close up of the french quote on the back of her invite. I blind embossed it on for a gorgeous tactile look. “On ne voit bien qu’avec le couer” roughly meaning “We only see clearly with our hearts.”

Below is some close ups of the rsvp. You can see the incorporation of the chandeliers on each of the cards. I love to mix and match printing techniques, paper types and ink colors. Keeps the experience interesting and always impressive.

More from Lisa coming up in a bit! And just wait until you see the next laser cut invitations…it just might be my all time favorite from Lisa’s collection!!

We have a lot of fun things happening on SMP today! First, though, I wanted to introduce another new DIY Editor that we’ve enlisted to help us grow our DIY  project base…Whitney Deal of Darling Dexter! I fell in love with her blog months ago and after seeing all of the ridiculously great projects that she crafted for her own wedding, I had to ask her to become a part of Style Me Pretty!

So, without further ado, here is her first project, based on the Sweet Love concept that she had at her wedding!

So, so cute! Perfect for a quaint, “sweet” wedding, a shower or any other party for that matter! Here are the step-by-step images that coordinate with the instructions below…

Materials:
Several sheets of cardstock for the front (preferably white)
Several sheets of cardstock for the backing (a contrasting color)
Glue Stick
Decorative Paper Punch (I have a doilie punch from the Martha Stewart Craft Line)
Ribbon
Scissors
Xacto Knive or Ribbon Paper Punch

Instructions:

1. Decide on what you would like your sign to say and then head to the computer to print out the individual letters. If you are looking for a more interesting font to use but don’t want to invest a lot of money on a high-price font, check out sites like dafont.com which offer mounds of free fonts.

2. Now is the time to decide how big you would like each of your individual letters to be–depending on where you plan to display them and how far away they need to be read. When cutting out your color backing be sure to make it large enough that when you punch your design into the edges, it still peaks around the sides of your letters.

3. Glue the two pieces of cardstock together.

4. Using an xacto knife or a ribbon paper punch (I know the Martha Stewart Craft Line carries one of these handy tools) — make the slots for your ribbon to pass through

5. Lastly, weave your ribbon through the individual letters and voila!

Whitney is the epitome of that sweet sophistication that we feature so much here on SMP. I know that her aesthetic is going to resonate with so many of our readers so needless to say, I am beyond thrilled that she is joining Kathleen as a DIY editor. Definitely check out Darling Dexter (although you’ll need to allot a few hours, because it’s that addicting), when you have some time!

PS – If you are interested in joining our DIY team of editors, shoot me an email with a link to some of the projects that you’ve crafted!

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To see even more DIY projects, check out our Wedding DIY Gallery. Some of my favorites include…these perfect little gumball favors, the cupcake tier, the ringbearer bookslings and the luggage tag save the dates!

Remember the Elle F Designs giveaway that we did here on SMP? Well, the custom cake topper was crafted and we have a picture of how it all turned out! It’s absolutely adorable and I have more pictures, just click here. Thank you so much to Leslie of Elle F Designs for working with SMP on this fun giveaway. Definitely check out her etsy shop when you have a minute!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Lyndsey Hamilton for sharing today’s featured wedding with us! It’s absolutely gorgeous and such a reflection of your talents. And Jake McBride of Christian Oth, well, your photographs are flawless!

From Lyndsey…

Kaitlin wanted to make a big exit, so we passed out sparklers to all guests and lit them as they ran thru the lines of family and friends.  We also lined a walkway with dozens of lanterns from the barn to the street–it was truly breathtaking!  This was one of my favorite weddings of last because of Kaitlin.  She was so wonderful to work with and just wanted a fun, laid-back, and non-fussy wedding!

Wedding Update: Kaitlin and Will’s Mulford Farm wedding is featured in the Hampton’s edition of Well Wed Bridal Magazine, just realeased yesterday!

{To see the full gallery, click here!}

For those of you that are checking in on your afternoon coffee break, we are featuring the most lovely Hamptons wedding today, which was sent to us by the ever so talented Lyndsey Hamilton. Lyndsey plans events from New York to New England and back to California (and of course, everywhere in between) and her sense of style and design is always spot on. She brings the couple’s life into every element, making sure that the weddings she plans are a true reflection of the couple…

photographs by Jake McBride at Christian Oth / Florals by Matthew Robbins at Artfool

This reception…sigh. It’s so beautiful, it’s hard for me to find the right words. It’s got this effortless chic style going, with the flowers set in mason jars, the pretty silver lanterns, the craft paper menus and the sprigs of fresh rosemary. It’s a little bit French country, but not too much. A little bit Anthropologie, but not too much. It’s organic and fresh, it’s styled but not over-styled. Love, love, love.

From Lyndsey Hamilton…

For the reception, Kaitlin and I decided upon a blue and white color palette, with beautiful blue linens and bamboo folding chairs.  We wanted the flowers to be unfussy, with each arrangement in its own unique container, ranging from antique tins to milk bottles.  Kaitlin did not want a traditional wedding cake, but rather her childhood favorite: a “fudgy-the-whale” ice cream cake from Carvel, that we topped with two bride and groom rubber ducks.  Guests also snacked on a beautiful dessert table of local pies and cookies.

{To see the full gallery, click here!}

When I see one of these barn inspired, Hampton-esque weddings, here is what I think about…Simple, natural flowers. Sweet, rustic details like wrought iron lanterns and shabby chic containers. Wonderful, organic food. And a sense of luxury and elegance. This wedding is that and so much more…

photos by Jake McBride at Christian Oth (and I am loving every single image)

The flowers for this wedding were done by one of my favorite designers, Matthew Robbins at Artfool. His sense of style is unmatched, really…with each design complimenting the whole to perfection. The catering was done by Thyme and Again and if it taste as good as Jake made it look…well, it must have been exquisite. Just wait until you see the absolutely gorgeous reception that Lyndsey designed. It’s FLAWLESS.

{To see the full gallery, click here!}

Here’s a first look at the cocktail hour from today’s wedding that Lyndsey Hamilton sent us…

photos by Jake McBride of Christian Oth Studios

I love that the colors of the linens echo the colors of the bridesmaids dresses…a great way to tie the styles together without going overboard. More to come!

{To see the full gallery, click here!}

One of the things that I love about today’s featured wedding is the completely laid back style. The wedding is gorgeous and it’s thoughtfully designed, and yet it seems like the planning was really seamless. Every element just flows. It’s got this Jackie Kennedy way about it…don’t you think?

photographs by Jake McBride of Christian Oth Studios

From Lyndsey….

The wedding was to be outdoor and tented.  We planned to use the various barns and structures located on the property for cocktail hour and also incorporate them as a unique element for the flow of the wedding.  Their ceremony was held at St. Luke’s church, directly next to Mulford Farm.  Guests then walked from the ceremony into beautiful gardens and passed thru an antique turnstile to Mulford Farm.

More to come!

{To see the full gallery, click here!}

Loving today’s Lyndsey Hamilton planned event…it’s Hampton style at it’s best!

photographs from Jake McBride of Christian Oth Studios

From Lyndsey…

Kaitlin wanted a causal wedding and chose gorgeous silk skirts in varying bright colors for the bridesmaids.  Each bridesmaid wore her own white shirt.  We incorporated the bright colors of the bridesmaid skirts in the floral decor and linens for cocktail hour.

{to see the full gallery, click here!}

If you’ve already done your engagement shoot, we apologize for dwelling on the subject.

photography by Arising Images (Style Me Pretty~Little Black Book Vendor~Michigan)

If you hadn’t planned on doing one … we beg you to reconsider.

If you’re new to this game, and need some convincing ‘inspiration’, we have it right here ~~Don’t be nervous. Don’t even give it a second thought. The day is yours. Bask in the glory of your love for each other.

We asked one of SMP’s regular contributing LBB photographers, Karen Wise, for her thoughts on the planning process that precedes an e*shoot and here’s what she had to say …

I actually had to plan an engagement shoot today that I will be doing next week in San Francisco. There are times when I don’t get to meet the couple before planning the shoot, as in this case, so I try my best to get to know the couple over the phone before we actually meet up. It’s a challenge, but I ask them this: If you could describe yourselves as a couple, how would you? How do you make each other laugh? Can you bring out the laugh in front of the lens, while I’m there? This couple who I will meet next week describe themselves as “silly”most of the time. I thought to myself, “Awesome”, that’s just what I wanted to hear. Silliness for the pictures helps loosen up the subjects (and the photographer)!

In the photo that they sent to me, they look and seem cute. My goal is to bring the playfulness out in both of them again, in person. We discussed outfits, I suggested colorful, yet not too much pattern, stylish, and a great neckline is most important. I prefer when the men don’t wear business attire, but sometimes that is how they see themselves. Although a nice Armani suit is often sexy and quote fashionable in the photos! It can always depend on “how he wears it”.

The toughest thing of all is doing it in an original way. I love when couples bring props. Balloons can be fun, or even their newest puppy. Pets, fashionable clothing, matching coats, a great pair of gloves or a hat, something that will appear unique in these shots are essential for fun and colorful e*photos. A lot of the time they just want a nice photo for the New York Times announcement page! I’ve learned the ropes too: The NY Times criteria is to have cheeks almost together and eyebrows aligned!

photography by Karen Wise

I think the location can also really dictate whether or not the shots will be beautiful too. I personally prefer an outdoor location (a park, or a historic or rusty urban setting) to an indoor seamless photo paper shoot.

Engagement photos are quite popular these days, I’d say about 50% of all of my brides and grooms request an Engagement Shoot prior to their wedding. Not only is it a great way for the couple to get familiar with the routine, and for their photographer to get to know them and their different “angles”, but the photos can be used for a Save the Date card, the guest book or a slideshow at the wedding. I highly recommend it.

Thanks, once again, to Karen Wise not only for providing SMP with more great examples of her photography skills, but also for giving us more insight into e*shoots from the professional’s point of view. Karen has become one of wedding bloggers favorite go-to sources for amazing real-wedding features! Be sure to visit her website and blog for lots more real weddings and engagement shoots.

Thanks, also to Little Black Book members Prem and Cheridy Mukherjee of Arising Images in Detroit, Michigan, for the first engagement images shown in today’s feature. LOVE their architectural perspective in the images at the beginning of this post. We hope to feature one of their real weddings in the very near future!

We have one more feature on e*shoots set for next week from another of our tremendous Little Black Book photographers.

And …if anyone has any topics you’d like to see more of on The Little Black Book Blog, send me an e*mail at eddye@stylemepretty{dot}com.