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

Butterflies, Blooms and Blush Hues – This Editorial Is the Definition of Femininity

From lush garden roses and crawling ivy to the classic getaway car, this wedding inspiration is the definition of timeless romance. With the stunning backdrop of Kestrel Park and the Santa Ynez hills, Kaleb Norman James Design worked in bold combinations of color and texture to a more traditional palette. If the full, fragrant arrangements didn’t bring enough floral texture, the bride’s dress by Alexandra Grecco featured hand embroidered appliqué that caught the sun soaked California light perfectly in every shot. Take a look at the full gallery below for all the floral goodness!

From Kaleb Norman James Design—The inspiration for the design came from the beauty & color of early spring floral—the fragrant lilacs, the lush garden roses & of course, everyone’s favorite: peonies!

The soft tones of lavender and blush mixed with the peach and orange tones created this colorful combination that is vibrant, yet soft, romantic, but bold!

The dress brought everything together, with the perfect shade of peach to compliment the flowers and contrast with the beautiful surroundings of Kestrel Park.

For the getaway car, I wanted to add some kind of adornment that wasn’t just floral and came up with the idea of filling the back the convertible with beautifully wrapped gifts, which of course had to all match!

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A Modern Farmhouse in Newport Heights

My love affair with shiplap is still going strong thanks to a gorgeous West Coast number that puts a fresh modern twist on the idea of farmhouse. Masterminded by Blackband Design, this bright white space is grounded by simple barn style black lighting and pops of indigo throughout. And if the shiplap doesn’t get you then the outdoor lounge certainly will. See the full tour captured by Tessa Neustadt right here.

This open floor plan and fun interiors make the perfect home for family get togethers and entertaining! From the funky demilune sofa in the living room to the custom reclaimed table in the dining room, this house is anything but traditional. We took its Modern Farmhouse architecture and added a twist!

A cool and relaxing master bedroom creates the perfect retreat, but wait until you see the Master Bathroom. The Blue Tumbled Limestone flooring is beautifully paired with honed Carrara Marble. This modern farmhouse resides in Newport Heights, California. Home build by Graystone Custom Builders.

Photography: Tessa Neustadt | Design: Blackband Design | Builders: Graystone Custom Builders

High School Sweethearts Say I Do in Havana Surrounded by their Children & Family

Today’s wedding wasn’t solely a union between the Bride & Groom. For Kaprisky and Jose, it was a day of love for their entire family (including their three sweet children). A marriage wasn’t the start of their family journey, but more of a celebration of the beautiful life they’ve built together. AIRE DE FIESTA and Coordinate Cuba made sure their destination fete went smoothly, while Ayenia Nour documented every moment for a collection of memories they can enjoy for years to come.

From the Bride… Jose and I met and dated in Anchorage Alaska while in high school. We come from big families—all immigrants, constantly seeking change so we ended up in Alaska. We lost touch after I moved back to Massachusetts after my freshman year, years went by and we had yet to reunite but I always had this feeling. About eleven years ago, I went to New York to visit a friend, I wanted to switch it up and needed a change of scenery. I was coming off an uptown train when I saw Jose. It was a love that never faded or changed–it was patient and waited for us. Ten years later we were celebrating our anniversary in Havana, Cuba where we got married surrounded by our beautiful children and family.

Jose proposed in November 2017 just after we bought our first home. It was a whirlwind since then trying to plan a wedding on top of raising three children, working full time and renovating our home. A small destination wedding made the most sense for our hectic schedules. We’d already been together for many years and done the whole kids and house thing, so a wedding was just the cherry on top, something for us to really celebrate the life we’ve built together. My new last name would be Castillo (castle in English) so it was fitting to create our hashtag of #BuildingCastillos (building castles). That’s exactly what we have been doing, building our foundation stone by stone. Building Castillos! We knew our ceremony had to be in February (our anniversary month) and if we were going to spend so much money on this wedding it’d better be somewhere warm. With our Dominican background, our destination had to be in the Caribbean. I absolutely could not deal with our relatives complaining otherwise and the kids needed distractions which the sun always provides. An intimate ceremony made the most sense to us–a week long getaway for us and our favorite people. Havana was always on our bucket list to travel so without a moment of hesitation we decided to get hitched in Cuba and it was perfect.Traveling to Cuba may seem scary as an American but you can still travel under specific visas. We traveled under the “support the Cuban people” visa which is quite perfect for those travelers who want to know and understand the Cuban culture. Under this visa, you would support Cubans by staying in Airbnb’s, eating at none government owned restaurants and purchasing at none government owned stores. We created an itinerary and went on tours, beaches and bar hopped right through the Airbnb website; amazing experience! Cubans are full of love and culture and are eager to help. The friends we made during our stay will always remain close to our hearts.

My cousin recommended I contact with a photographer named Ayenia Nour and we started planning the wedding immediately. It just felt right—almost like I met Ayenia when I was supposed to. Ayenia listened to our story and was so excited with us every step of the way. We checked in from time to time and she made sure all our questions were answered without hesitation. We built a relationship and we still keep in touch. Ayenia introduced us to Mariam Gonzalez from Coordinate Cuba who, hands down, is the best destination wedding planner anyone could ever have! There is not a more powerful duo than a bride and her planner and we were it. Her attention to detail and professionalism goes a long way. We fell in love and booked our wedding location prior to seeing it in person. Crazy! La Guarida had a rustic and glamorous look that we loved. We needed every part of our wedding to speak a story. Our love has never been simple, it’s changed and grown as much as we have as individuals. On our visit in July 2018 our decision to have our wedding in La Guarida was affirmed as soon as we walked in. I felt it in my bones, this was the place we were meant to get married.

Jose has an old soul and is attracted by all things antique and vintage. I wanted to make sure our invitation suite reflected his vintage style. I found calligraphy writer on Etsy, Hannah Yoder. We chatted for a bit via email as we went back and forth on what I envisioned. Hannah knew exactly what I wanted and even sourced homemade paper from Share Studios for our unique invitations. Combined with a stamp seal from Stamptitude and Hannah’s design, our invitation suite were better than what we imagined. The flat lay photos were perfection which included many trinkets and items I sourced at local antique shops and of course a ring box from The Mrs. Box. Some of the flat lay photos display a piece of the fabric used to make my dress which set well with the beautiful ribbon from Silk and Willow. It was all so special.

I started looking for a cinematographer in January 2018. I found a Miami based company, Dream Light Visuals, who have worked with couples in Havana. I reached out to them and was put in contact with Junior Garcia and his wife Vanessa. I love a good power couple. Another perfect match only sweetened by Junior’s Dominican heritage and Vanessa’s Cuban descent. The wedding was in good hands. Every detail and every person needed to speak to who Jose and I are. We are people of the people, supporters of our culture and admirers of growth. Coming from a family of immigrants is the central point of our story, it’s influenced who we’ve become and the opportunities we’ve received. Junior and Vanessa add a sexy Caribbean vibe to their work which Jose and I fell in love with. Our conversations always included our elevated voices to the point where I would screech with excitement with all of his wonderful ideas. I will for sure miss it!

My wedding dress was the only detail I did not struggle with. Contrary to many brides, I knew exactly what I wanted. In the start of my wedding dress hunt, I’d gone to a traditional bridal boutique where I was encouraged to buy something simple and timeless. I think that was just code for white and boring. I still ended up buying a dress I wasn’t in love with, but I just kept going back to our story… the complexity, our history and who I was. This wedding was just for Jose and I to begin with but I lost sight of that with my dress. My wedding dress meant everything to me. I needed something with more meaning—so I sold my first dress six months before our wedding and enlisted a local designer named Yanell Galva. She made the dress I imagined my children wearing. I didn’t tell anyone except my sister that I’d changed dresses. My mom would’ve had a heart attack, but I knew that I needed to trust my gut. In the end I wanted to surprise them all! Yanell is a young woman who grew up in the town where my children were born and who also has a Dominican background. She’s a spiritual woman with a hip rock flare who’s soft spoken and so gentle. We connected immediately and she took my vision and ran with it! Yanell also kept the dress a secret and worked around my schedule for fittings and updates. She worked diligently through most nights and made sure I was aware of every detail. Did I mention this was her first wedding dress? When I mentioned I trusted my gut, I meant it. Yanell listened to what I wanted, and I trusted her from start to finish. Her craft is genius.

(continue reading the Bride’s story below!)…

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Upon our arrival to Havana in February, we had an agenda and knew exactly what to do and what to expect. I spent my days drinking Guava juice and eating ceviche with my gorgeous family. Our wedding was a dream to say the least. I couldn’t have been calmer. I’m pretty type A so everything was very organized because dealing with three kids means I don’t have time for any more stress. Our ceremony and reception were breathtaking. Michel Valdes from Aire De Fiesta Cuba is truly a master at his work. From our ceremonial large archway to the mojitos being served upon guest arrival, Michel understood my attention to detail. The different unique chairs was definitely a vision I had and Michel made it happen. Jose and I love greenery and Michel was a bit nervous when we told him less flowers and more greenery but it all turned out beautiful! I wanted to create an experience for our small party (26 people to be exact), one they’d live with for as long as I did.

Meeting Jose meant learning to lean on someone else. My wedding day served as the biggest test in trust. All this preparation and planning leading up to a day entirely out of my control. And you know what? It was complete bliss. My wedding was the least stressed I’d ever been. I had so many people in my corner who wanted to make sure I had the best day possible. I’m a mother and it’s hard to find those selfish days where I can think about myself for a change. If I hadn’t of had my sister with me that day I probably would’ve melted. She ran around me in every which direction to make sure my dramatically and dreamy long veil was always sorted. Umm…my veil was 200 inches by the way! Heather from Sash + Veil knew I meant business when I requested a drop veil made with 200 inches of her silky soft material. It was a vision!

Our first look was out of a storybook. We first saw each other at the Plaza Catedral. I walked towards Jose with our children standing close by. I saw our eldest daughter Paris crying and couldn’t hold back my own tears. Jose was in love with me. I wasn’t just the luckiest woman in the world, I was the luckiest mother. I could not have ever imagined us getting married without our children present. It didn’t make sense to us. There is everything Jose and I want to teach our children but for myself, as a woman, I wanted to show my children what it means to fall in love with someone who deserves you and how to accept the love you deserve. Jose loved my dress and made sure to tell me exactly why when he first saw me.. Swoon!

I planned to walk down the aisle alone until we factored my veil in, then my sister volunteered to walk right behind me, and I got to walk into the next phase of my life with all the support I needed. Brides say they never hear the music being played as they walk down the isle because they’re so nervous. I heard every chord. I Could Fall in Love by Selena was played by a Cuban quartet who almost understood the support I needed. I could fall in love and I could have the wedding I always dreamed of as a little girl. I just needed to have faith, the rest was quite simply a dream.

Jose and I could barely get ourselves together to speak our vows. It was so emotional, and everyone was ugly crying as Jose said his vows and Spanish and I said mine in English. We made sure to follow Dominican tradition and include the exchange of thirteen arras. Each arra (coin) represents a value we will share with each other. Our children were all involved with the ceremony as this was as much their wedding as it was ours. Our reception was unreal! It was located on one of La Guarida’s rooftop terraces which has an amazing view of Havana. We walked in and danced our first dance to a live band playing Juan Luis Guerra “Burbujas de Amor”. A Cuban band playing a Dominican love song, it couldn’t have been better. We were presented with a 10-course meal of the finest dishes from La Guarida and it was ALL so delicious! I’m a trained dancer so of course I changed into something livelier to keep up with the musical night. The sexy white fringe jumpsuit from Meshki did the trick and Jose could not stop staring. Mission accomplished! Our small wedding was the perfect mixture of everyone we needed. Heels were thrown aside to accommodate the endless dancing that ensued. We were all drunk uncles in the end: pretending the band was ours and owning the Havana night like it was our last.

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Engaged in April, Married in August… How This Couple Planned Their Wedding in 5 Months

Planning a wedding in five months might seem daunting to most, but for Somia and Jared, a short engagement was their wish from the start. With the help of their amazing planner, Ang Weddings and Events, that wish was made possible in the most beautiful way. It was a day full of tradition, smiles and the prettiest reception dripping with sparkling details. See it all captured by Heather Waraksa and Kiss The Bride Films below.

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From the Bride… As soon as Jared proposed in early April while we enjoying the cherry blossoms in Washington DC, we knew we had to get to work since we wanted to get married within the year. The first – and most important decision was finding a wedding planner who would be able to help us pull this off. I hired Tzo Ai Ang of Ang Weddings and Events who was spectacular throughout the whole planning process. She made it all so easy and fun despite our crazy work schedules and neither one of us actually living in New York City.

Jared and I visited the Rainbow Room and after seeing a few other venues the same day, we knew as soon as we stepped off the elevators on the 65th floor that it was the perfect location for a city wedding. It is timeless venue with various spaces, each with it’s own unique setting. We chose a romantic color palette that worked well with the natural lighting and tied the three different spaces together. The florals for both the ceremony and reception were beautiful white and pink tones with a lot of greenery. To make sure we had uninterrupted views of the city, I asked Sierra of Poppies and Posies to build a floral structure from the ground up to be the statement piece of the ceremony room. She extended this theme throughout the venue at the escort card and sweetheart tables.

After deciding these key details, I went to Pakistan with my family to find my dress. As a Pakistani American, I had dreamed of wearing a traditional Pakistani wedding dress ever since I was a little girl. I went to designer, Zara Shahjahan’s bridal studio in Lahore because her style is timeless; her designs are classic with a modern twist. After visiting the studio, I decided to wear two outfits. For the ceremony, I fell in love with a sharara – pearly white raw silk wide leg pants and a long sleeve knee-length top with beautiful blue, pink, and gold embroidery. I paired this look with traditional polki (uncut diamonds) jewelry. Zara’s style is timeless; her designs are classic with a modern twist. For the reception, I selected a lengha choli – a full skirt with heavy silver embroidery worn with a short sleeve top. Both looks made me feel so confident, beautiful, and comfortable – something that was very important to me from day one of wedding planning.

Our Nikkah (ceremony) was full of love, laughter, and happy tears. It was performed by a family friend who has known me since I was a child, Imam Zaid Shakir. He spoke about how love is a universal language across all races, ethnicities, cultures, and ways of life. This is beyond true for an interracial couple like Jared and me.

After the ceremony, our guests enjoyed amazing food, crowded in line to use the MirMir photo booth, and took in the beautiful views of the city. Jared and I started the night dancing to Dream a Little Dream of Me while the original Rainbow Room dance floor rotated beneath us. We toasted our guests while we cut into the elegant cake designed by Ron Ben-Israel. The night ended with us dancing with our families and friends to the Bollywood hit Desi Girl. Our wedding day was far more beautiful than we could have imagined and it was amazing to be able to bring our families and cultures together in such an iconic setting.

We Teared up the Minute We Found out Who Performed Their Wedding Ceremony

“People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel”…and boy do today’s nuptials give us all the feels! Tyler and Alisha were married at Alisha’s family home which itself is extremely meaningful, BUT if that wasn’t enough, both the bride and grooms parents performed the ceremony! (You can grab a tissue now!) Meredith Jane Photography was called upon to capture it all, and did she ever! From intimate moments to unforgettable ones, she certainly got some forever shots! Amy McLaughlin Lifestyles brought the couple’s vision to life filling the space with farm style chairs, a beautiful hardwood dance floor and the perfect mix of ivory florals and lush greenery. Take a scroll below, and be sure to check out the video by Anecdotally Yours.

An interview with the bride…

How/when/where did you first meet? We met in Washington D.C. at a job interview in 2014. Turns out we both got the job offer and the rest was history!

How/when/where did the proposal happen? Tyler planned a beautiful fall day date that took us from Boston to New Hampshire. Ending the day with a proposal at the Mt Washington Hotel and followed by a surprise engagement party at our house with all of our friends and family.

What was the vision for your wedding, the style/color/scheme? How many guests? Our vision was for a clean and natural wedding with a focus on family, food, and music! Our colors were white, gray and green! We had 250 of our very closest family and friends.

Why did you choose your wedding venue? It is our family home that holds a lot of special memories for us and it is where I always dreamed I would get married.

Describe the ceremony, what made it unique/special: Our ceremony was performed by our parents, which was extremely meaningful. They each wrote vows that they asked us to commit to and we felt there was no one better suited to help us make the best decision of our lives!

Describe the reception, what made it unique/special: Our reception started with a dance party and ended with a dance party! Our guests were on their feet boogieing from the moment we went into the tent and it was the best thing, EVER!

Describe the flowers used for floral arrangements. We wanted whites and greens and Amy did a beautiful job mixing Peonies, roses, and others to provide stunning texture in all of the floral arrangements as well as 100’s of feet of green garland used to dress the tent!

What was the inspiration for your wedding cake? We had donuts and assorted desserts, no cake!

Describe the favors for guests: We did personalized matchbox!

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A Crisp, Edgy, and Eclectic Family Home

It was love at first sight when I first laid eyes on this California home designed by Amber Lewis of Amber Interiors on MyDomaine. Bright, airy and full of fun touches, it’s everything I want in my future home. In fact, I’m ready to move into that playful pink bedroom today, like right now. But for now, I’ve settled on pinning every image of this gorgeous space. See your new dream home below.

From MyDomaine… Los Angeles–based interior designer Amber Lewis of Amber Interiors can do no wrong in our book (get familiar with her work, and we’re sure you’ll agree). In her latest project, the interiors visionary steered in a new direction that we can only hope to see more of: rock ’n’ roll. Decorating a new home for fashion trend forecaster Susan Anderson and her husband Timmy, a music producer, head of A&R at Capitol Records, and co-founding member of Ima Robot, the designer had the opportunity to mix her signature California-eclectic look with the edgy, fashion-forward accessories her clients had collected over time. The result? Laid back, boho, and impossibly cool.

“Our goal was to create a casual California aesthetic with rock ’n’ roll undertones,” Susan tells us. “We wanted a house that felt similar to the way we dress—lots of white, black, and leather—with a bohemian print direction.” With crisp, white paint and custom simple, solid sofas as a base, Lewis layered in vintage kilim rugs and pillows (both staples of her work) to ground the space and infuse a bit of pattern and worldly flair.

Her greatest discovery, Lewis tells us, was the black-and-white striped rug in the family room. “It was divine intervention; I was looking for one for months before I found it,” she says. “Sometimes this is how the cookie crumbles; it’s the last-minute finds that make the space amazing.”

Giving that rug a run for its money is a beautiful collection of furniture, both vintage and new, with lasting style. We love the midcentury black leather armchairs in the living room and the sycamore and leather bar stools in the kitchen, which were handmade in a studio in Philadelphia. “I didn’t want it to feel too serious or over-upholstered,” Susan tells us. “I also wanted to invest in great pieces I can take to the next house if we ever move—à la the leather safari chairs [in the master bedroom].”

Thoughtful choices in lighting, including fixtures by Apparatus Studio and Workstead, both New York–based makers, and Robert Ogden for Lostine, punctuate every room.

With the groundwork laid, Lewis did a remarkable job of bringing the space to life with a curated selection of the Anderson’s personal mementos and vintage music memorabilia. To the blind eye, it just looks cool, but for the Andersons, it makes the stunning space feel like home.

“The thing I loved about working with Amber is that she used all of our accessories we’ve collected throughout our marriage—a jackalope from a trip to Aspen, rock ’n’ roll posters I got as gifts for my husband, and lots of Hermès accessories I collected on fashion trips,” Susan says. “I feel like we had a great collaboration between cherished items I already owned mixed with her style.”

Photography: Tessa Neustadt | Photography: MyDomaine | Interior Design: Amber Interiors

How to Blend East Coast Charm With West Coast Cool in Your Wedding Decor

When the bride is from California and the groom is from Connecticut, their wedding decor was the perfect marriage of coastal details and classic East Coast style. They exchanged vows under a towering arbor teeming with greenery at Rancho Valencia with 13 bridesmaids and 13 groomsmen standing by their side (now that’s a bridal party!) Thanks to Shannon Leahy Events, the day went off without a hitch! Head on over to the full gallery captured by Lacie Hansen to see all the magic unfold.

From the Bride… Griffin and I met the old fashioned way (before the age of internet dating) at the only bar at our college, USC. We both ended up in line alone – on a Monday no less – and were then serendipitously introduced by a mutual friend. It took a series of rather fortunate events for us to begin dating (including griffin losing his ID and my roommate finding it) and in two weeks we were inseparable. We have been ever since. We continued to date all throughout college, spent time doing internships in both New York and Barcelona, made it through law school, and the treacherous Bar Exam. We made it through losing grandparents and beloved dogs. If you ask anyone, they barely remember one of us without the other. We both say we knew each other was the one in about a week.

It was the month of our seven year anniversary (and also Griffin’s parents 28th wedding anniversary) when our families took a trip up to Lake Tahoe for the weekend. We stayed in this amazing cabin by the water – the perfect time of year when we could still go boating with a light sweater on the lake and sit outside for happy hour, after the scorching heat of summer but before the torrential downpour of snow that was to come. Griffin proposed on the dock outside Westshore cafe in the company of both our families at sunset on the Sunday of our trip – toasting with champagne to finally make it official after a long day of hiking and a cheese plate was our perfect beginning of the next chapter. For our wedding, we always knew we wanted to get married at Rancho Valencia in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. My family had grown up heading down to Del Mar Beach every summer and the quaint yet sophisticated beach town has always had our hearts. Coupled with my dad’s love of tequila (the Pony Room at RV has one of the largest selections in CA) and we knew it was the perfect place to make our almost a decade long relationship official.

Griffin grew up between Greenwich, CT and Jupiter, FL so we definitely wanted to incorporate some of the more traditional east coast classic elements into our wedding decor. We went with a simple white, green, and natural linen look with lots of rattan and matte black elements to create a classic country club feel mixed with coastal California elements. Our goal was simple, chic and classic (but without feeling stuffy) – striped linens, loose greenery, an open tent to let the night sky in, and a monogrammed dance floor in a sleek black and white pattern. The food was also extremely important to us, as one of our favorite pastimes as a couple is trying new restaurants and exploring new types of cuisine when we travel. We achieved this with individual cheese and charcuterie plates for each guest before dinner, which was preceded by a ceviche bar and Spanish tapas passed around. The day before the wedding, while the groomsman and my groom played a special golf round, I held a private yoga class for all my bridesmaids in the spa and yoga pavilion on property. The yoga and fitness center is another reason why we chose Rancho Valencia for our wedding. The pavilion reminds me of being back in Bali (which was a special memory as my late Opa was from Indonesia).

Immediately after classes guests are greeted with fresh green juice and cold towels – what more could you ask for! The weekend was also kicked off with a welcome party at the Hacienda on property, complete with skinny spicy margaritas, an Abandanado tequila tasting bar (flown in from Mexico by my dad personally), a personalized corn hole (which featured our wedding crest), a flatbread station, and a make your own welcome bag gift station. Guests were free to choose from some of our favorite items- mini Casamigos tequila bottles, personalized golf balls (an ode to Griffin’s second true love), coconut water to refuel from a long match of tennis on property, goldfish, rice chips, and our beloved mini dark peanut butter cups. On the night of our reception, after an amazing night dancing to Impulse from West Coast music, we surprised our guests with a Havana, Cuba themed after party, complete with fries, queso, and mini Cuban sandwiches to end the night. With fedoras on and “Havana” by Camilla Cabello blasting, our hearts will forever be happy and full remembering this unforgettable weekend.

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You Won’t Believe the Luxe Details of This French Chateau Wedding

When the favorite guest comment is “You’ve officially ruined weddings for other people”, you know you’re in for some serious beauty. That’s exactly what this French fete from Alexandra Vonk and France Wedding Planner is—beauuutiful. For a travel-loving duo, their destination wedding at Château de Chantilly was the perfect way to celebrate their union. Take a peek, you might just be adding this venue to your list after this.

From the bride… We love to travel the world, so we knew it had to be at an international destination, otherwise, if we kept it local, we’d probably end of just going to city hall in NYC! Once we narrowed it down to France, we had initially thought we’d do it in one of the wine region’s of France because we love wine, specifically wine from Bordeaux, but we got married at the Domaine de Chantilly near Paris. The first time we saw pictures of the venue, it was aerial drone footage, and we immediately fell in love. We were also looking at other chateaus in France, and also considered going down to the South of France for the wedding, but ultimately decided Chantilly was it for two reasons 1) the team they have in place running the property, Nicole, Celine, Chef Julien, they are true professionals and went above and beyond to accommodate us during the site visit and ultimately during our wedding weekend 2) the location of Chantilly was ideal for us because 90% of our guests were flying into France, and being that it is only a 20 minute drive from CDG Airport and 40 minute drive from Paris, we didn’t have to worry about our guests having to take another plane/train to get to the final destination.

There is also so much history behind Chantilly, and the fact that it has the 2nd largest painting collection in all of France, next to the Louvre, was very enchanting. The property actually has a few originals in place there, and the will of the last person who lived there states two things 1) the paintings can never leave the property, so to see some of these original work of arts, you must go to Chantilly 2) the paintings in the room where we had the reception, they are not allowed to rearranged, therefore, when you look up at the walls, you’ll notice the paintings are not hanging in size order and look a bit scattered, but it works!

We wanted to go with a elegant and classic look and feel. We added some pink to the wedding, for a pop of spring color. For the flowers we worked with Laura Le Cam, owner of Oz Home. We were definitely a bit nervous because she mainly spoke French, but with the help of our wedding planner, we were able to get our ideas across and Laura delivered at the end of the day. The floral arch and the florals during the reception were beautiful, they complemented the outdoor ceremony space and rooms they were in very well. Because the venue is already so beautiful, we wanted something that wouldn’t detract from it, so we were very focused on a classic style.

We designed the wedding invites, menu’s, name cards ourselves and had it printed by our friend who owns his own commercial print shop.

My Netta BenShabu dress was also custom designed, we actually took ideas from two different dresses that she designed and combined it into one. When I placed the order for the dress, I actually never had the chance to try on the final product as it had yet to be designed, so I ended up putting on two dresses at once to be able to see the combination of it. When the dress arrived, it was close, but we still had a fair amount of work to do, the seamstresses at Wedding Atelier did a phenomenal job getting every piece of detail I asked for, in place (including essentially building out a new upper back for the dress with applique that they had to go back and order from the designer after the dress initially arrived).

Francis’ ceremony and reception dinner jackets were also both custom designed, working alongside our good friends / designers / owners of Monsieur Brunold. They happen to be French and transplanted to the US ~8 years ago. When you order jackets from them, they have it completely built in France, then shipped back to NYC. They are so easy to work with and know what their customers want. Francis’ reception dinner jacket was purple paisley since purple is one of his favorite colors.

Chef Julien’s team from the michelin star restaurant at the Auberge designed and made our cake. Again, we did not have the luxury to taste the exact cake being that we are NYC based and did not have a chance to go to France the month before the wedding, but it was DELICIOUS! We do not like fondant, they did a wonderful job with a butter cream strawberry cake.

Favorite Moment… Walking down the aisle to Kevon (from Shine Live Band) singing Hallelujah during the ceremony. I actually heard him rehearsing about an hour beforehand as we were getting ready at the Auberge, and when I first heard it, it gave me the chills. His voice is so beautiful, soothing, yet powerful. He sang it with so much grace, I could listen to it over and over again. Also, it rained about half an hour before our ceremony started, I saw it coming down as we were finishing up our final touches in the Auberge and I felt really deflated because our ceremony was set up to be outdoors and we made the call the morning of that we would chance it and have it outdoors. Luckily, by the time I was heading over to the ceremony it stopped. The moment I began walking down the aisle and set my foot onto the white carpet with my mom by my side, I felt a lot of heat on my right arm, that’s when I realized the sun came out, the timing could not have been better!

Favorite Crafted Detail… This is actually an (un)crafted detail, about half an hour before the ceremony, it began raining and I was worried the guests would be all wet, so we sent a mass group text message out to all the wedding guests, asking them to bring umbrellas with them to the ceremony 15 min before every one was supposed to show up. Because they did so, the umbrellas got integrated into some of our wedding photos and it was beautiful. It made the pictures much more dramatic and added a nice flair / vibe to the wedding. Luckily, by the time the ceremony started, it stopped raining!

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Advice for brides-to-be:

– For any brides-to-be who plan on going abroad with a destination wedding, it can be stressful with the time zone difference and not physically being able to visit vendors at your leisure, but having a wedding planner who knows the local market / speaks the native language, doing your own research online using social media tools such as Instagram and having Skype calls with your vendors can really help pull things together.

– I’d also suggest applying the 80/20 rule (if it’s 80% there, the 20% is often a nice to have) when you’re in the final stretch of planning, obviously we all want everything to be perfect as we envision on the wedding day, but it is true, there are many small details that your guests will often not realize and/or remember when looking back at your wedding day!

– Lastly, it is incredible how our vendors from Alexandra (photographer), Ben (band), Tatiana (hair & makeup), Alex and Federico (videography), Rachel (wedding planner), Nicole and Celine (Domaine de Chantilly) all pulled together to create such a beautiful event for us. We are so grateful that everyone was professional and able to work together, meeting each other for the first time during our wedding weekend.

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Jenny Yoo

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Searching for a Wedding Venue in America That Looks Like a Parisian Château? We Found It!

Inspired by the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in Paris, The Olana brings that old-world romance and delicate charm of France to the Lone Star State! This stunning shoot planned by Ivory & Vine Event Co. will transport you straight to an enchanted Parisian garden in Spring thanks to Something Pretty Floral‘s gorgeous arrangements at every turn, teeming with blush and cream blooms. Head on over to the full gallery to see all the swoon-worthy details captured perfectly by Stephanie Brazzle Photography.

This editorial session at the Olana was inspired by the architecture of the venue itself. Formally known as the Champ D’Or, The Olana was built to honor the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in Paris.

We kept the venue at the heart of our design when concepting color palette, floral and rentals – the intricate wood carvings in the wall panels, the luxurious texture of the Parisian-inspired furnishings and the grand scale of the building inspired each element from our stationery suite to the place settings.

Something Pretty Floral provided lush, garden-inspired floral to evoke the feeling of a Parisian garden in springtime; incorporating soft, romantic blooms and lush greens. Our gown, the Amanda by Maria Farbinni, was a stunning gown laden with a gorgeous train and many intricate details like hand-sewn feathering and a dramatic, plunging neckline.

Maitee Miles transformed our bride with natural, glowy makeup and a loose, whispy updo. Our stationery suite from Sarah Ann Designs included sophisticated sketches of the venue, and many other gorgeous elements including a rich velvet envelope liner, and handwritten calligraphy. Our rentals provided by Perch, Top Tier and La Tavola helped to heighten the sense of luxury via neutral, linen-backed chairs and heavy, textured dishware. Our couple enjoyed spending time in their vintage 63 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, provided by Blue Diamond Limousines. Each of these elements was photographed in stunning vignettes by Stephanie Brazzle, who utilized the natural light of the grand windows at The Olana to elevate each image.

So, you want to elope? This intimate inspiration is just what you need.

Elopements are on the rise, my friends and today’s editorial from Maricle Kang and Everly Fleur is exactly why they look so tempting. The modern day elopement doesn’t need to me ‘running off’ to say your I dos; it can even be a celebration that begins at home like this inspirational story. Full of pure romance and charm, every detail that surrounds Georgia and Eloise’s union is of the sweetest sophistication.

From Maricle Kang… This is a story between two people who simply fell in love and eloped in a way that reflects their characters and personalities. All the details, from the dress, florals, to the location, stationery, and the cake, were all inspired by modern minimalistic chic. We wanted to feature clean lines, lucite decor, and an overflow of fresh greenery to showcase the concept.

The day started in the morning at their apartment where the couple, Georgia and Eloise got ready for their elopement. We wanted to capture those little moments and interactions between them, like chatting on the bed, kissing each other’s forehead, having breakfast at the dining table, and casually chatting at the kitchen counter. It is those moments in our daily lives that define who we are and develop the love we have with one another.

Getting ready is both the most exciting and nervous time of the day and we wanted to capture their anticipations getting into their bridal outfits separately. They love contemporary designs, Georgia dressed in bridal separates, a top and a pant, and Eloise dressed in a modern cocktail dress with pockets, accessorized by minimalistic jewelry by Kara Yoo. The couple exchanged their vows in front of a white chapel structure at Bear Creek Park. It was decorated with sophisticated color palettes, white florals and greeneries. And the white and beige backdrop created sleek lines and a minimal background to the overall ceremony. We used the same backdrop for our stationery flat lay. The design of stationery was to feature bold text and a monochromatic colour scheme for a modern event. They celebrated with champagne, their favourite macarons, and an elegantcake afterwards. After the ceremony, we took some couple and individual portraits to remember the day.

The Perfect Blueprint for a Modern Farmhouse

Get cozy loves… this home tour is jam packed. Packed full of the most perfect modern farmhouse inspiration, that is. It’s not a room or two kind of tour, it’s a whole house and exterior, including a kitchen, dining room, great room, mudroom, laundry, pool and patio, stairwell, den, three bedrooms and bathrooms. Whew! Every inch of it is gorgeous. AND it’s all designed by a designer who I happen to have a huge crush on—none other than, Mindy Gayer. It’s realllly hard to pick a most-loved moment in this home, but I’d have to go with the serene stairwell. Dreamy right?! What’s your favorite room? Have a look at the full gallery captured by Kyle Monk and then come back to let us know in the comments! Oh, and join us on Instagram today as Mindy takes over!

From Mindy Gayer Design Co.… We were brought onto the project a little later in the design build process; the house was already under construction and we stepped in after a change in the design direction. However, taking the project on mid-build was a dream because it gave us a blank canvas to dream up the perfect modern farmhouse that the Client was envisioning all along.

We worked closely with the Client in achieving the look of their modern farmhouse through the selection of all lighting, hardware, wallpaper, flooring, furnishings, window coverings, paint colors, poolside finishes and furniture, etc.

Both the Client and I sought out to give their home a light and fresh aesthetic, while still remaining timeless and reflective of the California lifestyle. With all of the sunny days we have here in Southern California, and the incredible natural light that pours in throughout the house, we knew we wanted to play up the effect that clean, white walls and neutral finishes provide.

We prioritized keeping the look & feel of the home light and bright during the entire design process, while incorporating a monochromatic palette.

For the exterior, they chose classic board and batten siding with a standing seam metal roof, iconic for many farmhouse-style homes. Barn Doors were used in lieu of standard interior doors for the Pantry and Master Bedroom Closets. The finishes were intentionally kept simple and minimalistic throughout, including subway and field tiles, classic oak hardwood floors and one of the biggest focal points in the home…their staircase!

Once we had a classic palette in place with all of the hard finishes, we started layering in patterns and textures with the use of patterned wallpapers, fabrics, furnishings and accessories. Designing a home from scratch gives you the ability to think of each layer and step of process as an opportunity to step back and determine what is still needed to make a space pop and feel more cozy and livable.

We loved layering in these textures throughout. We typically start by anchoring each room with lighting selections, and then move on to wall coverings, fabrics, window coverings, cabinetry hardware, rugs and artwork.

The fun thing with this home is our Client’s willingness to create a distinct look for each room. With that, each room stands apart with a chosen wallpaper that sets the tone and texture for the space, after which we layered in bedding, linens, furnishings and accessories in varying patterns and textures to add a bit more interest. No two rooms are alike, but all work together seamlessly with little pops of fun in each space. And by keeping to a neutral palette, we were able to include a mix of subtle patterns within each space while still making the home feel timeless.

Our Client’s really desired a home that was inviting year-round, and one they didn’t have to fuss or worry about things with getting “lived in.” They love to entertain as well, so big open spaces were a must! Take a peek at their outdoor living space…it’s a dream!

One of the best part about being a Designer is seeing your blank canvas come to life after months and months of dreaming up every little detail, which if you’re lucky, your Clients come to love even more than they thought they would!

Seeing this modern farmhouse take shape and evolve, room by room, was such a fun process. And as everything started coming together, meeting by meeting, piece by piece, we had the incredible privilege of watching the property start to evolve into a home that the family had dreamed about for years! A place they had dreamed about making memories in, growing their young family in, and calling home for countless years! Being part of this beautiful project was a dream!

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This Gorgeous Wedding Color Palette Would Work Beautifully Year-Round

Truth be told, just about any color palette plays out beautifully in sunny Southern California. But today’s pink-y, peach-y, mauve & buttercup yellow goodness would work anywhere, anytime of the year. I’m already predicting that this fete will be plastered all over Pinterest and I don’t doubt that it’ll be front and center on many of your wedding boards for late 2019 and 2020 weddings. A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production mastered this day, along with Lavenders Flowers on blooms. And our dear friend Natalie Bray created works of art with her breathtaking images. What are we waiting for? Let’s dive in!

From A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production… Addie and Richard reached out to me to help them plan their wedding celebration and make sure everything came through on the day of the event. Inspired by their love for Japan, Addie and Richard wanted the design of their wedding to be simple, yet still romantic and elegant. She dreamed up a color palette of warm neutrals, grey, taupe, dusty mauve, peach, blush, and pink. Janelle Wylie of Lavenders Flowers used wild greenery, twigs, and dried blooms mixed with fresh garden roses and other seasonal blooms to create textures throughout the wedding. She created a whimsical bouquet of loose blooms and assorted greenery, all wrapped in hand-dyed silk ribbon. For the ceremony Janelle created beautiful arrangements in the Japanese art of flower arranging known as Ikebana that grew for large urns. At the dinner tables, she created smaller Ikebana centerpieces in ceramic and marble vases, accented with smaller budvases of delicate blossoms. For a romantic touch, taper candles provided a soft glow to the space.

With their love for food, Addie and Richard chose Anqi by House of An to host their wedding reception. Their guests feasted on five full courses and enjoyed a beautiful dessert display. To accompany dessert, Mr. & Mrs. Creamery provided fun ice cream pops for guests to enjoy along with a yummy cake for the couple to cut into. The couple danced the night away with their guests for an unforgettable evening.

From Natalie Bray Studios… I had the honor of getting to know Addie and Richard over the course of a year. Their love is inspiring and has a special place in my heart. The day began with Addie looking stunning in her gown from the White Flower Boutique. It was hand painted with delicate floral details and a gorgeous neckline. Her hair and Makeup looked flawless by Ting and bouquet from Lavenders Flowers was just work of art.

Richard wore a classic tux and looked very classic. Together the two of them shined. The couple also chose to do their first look in traditional Korean Hanbok attire that was a perfect way to bring their heritage in their wedding day. Japan is a special place for Addie and Richard, which inspired the design for the reception and all the florals. Anna from A Good Affair did a fantastic job making the day run seamlessly. It was a beautiful winter day and I could not be happier to know this amazing couple.

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Ines Di Santo

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This Couple Tied the Knot at an Ancient Spanish Monastery! The Definition of Old-World Charm.

For these two, an Ancient Spanish Monastery was where the wedding bells rang, and the day was filled with family, friends and all of the elegance you can imagine! Erika Delgado Photography captured every intimate moment from the ‘I Do’s’ inside a small chapel to the couples first dance surrounded by their guests. Soco Alicea planned today’s fete alongside Ever After Floral Design, who together created the most beautiful and fitting to the venue centerpieces. Take a peek below and get swept away in Erika’s photos and the old-world charm of this romantic wedding day!

From Erika Delgado Photography…The Ancient Spanish Monastery and it’s old-world charm set the scene for Carissa and Jorge’s wedding celebration. They were married in the small chapel and then dined and danced in the cloisters of the timeless building, which was incredibly romantic.

It was a fairly intimate event with their nearest and dearest friends and family, including their children who were important bridesmaids and groomsmen in their stunning bridal party. We absolutely loved the fusion of family and friends that played important roles throughout the day, which made for even better photo opportunities.

About the Photographer…Erika Delgado documents beautiful weddings with her brother Alexander and her husband Joshua. The team is based in South Florida and NYC and together they offer years of experience with meticulous dedication and care in each of their projects.

Erika’s work is described as “Timeless, Editorial and Authentic”; she is often recognized for being trustworthy, for her attention to detail throughout your experience with her, her joyful spirit and quality of customer service; Erika’s photographic works will evoke emotion and inspire.

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This Grace Kelly-esque Fairytale Wedding is a Must-See Classic

Does a lakeside, ballroom, Grace Kelly-esque kind of wedding sound like your jam? ‘Cause that’s what we’re serving up today alongside Lasting Impressions Weddings and Trish Allison Photography. It was the Bride’s childhood wedding dreams come true—from getting ready in her home on the lake to saying I do in the church she grew up attending, all topped off with the most dazzling reception we’ve seen in a while. This beauty also happens to be one of our editors—go give her some love!

From the Bride… I grew up surrounded by lake life in Minnesota. So when it came time for my (now) husband and me to plan our wedding, it only seemed fitting to center it around the biggest lake in the Twin Cities – Lake Minnetonka. Throughout the planning, which was done from where we were currently living in San Francisco, I reflected on sweet childhood memories to inspire the day. Think popsicle-infused prosecco signature drinks, pictures taken on my favorite dock in downtown Wayzata, and a local specialty, walleye, served at dinner. The elegant nature of our venue, Lafayette Club, only elevated the evening with its jaw-dropping chandeliers, scalloped windows lake views, and an all-white exterior that exuded classiness as you walked with your champagne flute through the door.

I’ve always trended towards traditional taste, so I knew a country club on the lake would be the perfect venue to set the tone for the day. To complement the season, I adorned it in as much white, blush, and subtle pops of greenery as possible. (let’s just say our flower request was a tall order!) Other must-haves included a lively, 12-piece band, champagne passed on the hour, and scattered tea candles everywhere. For attire, my husband rocked a sharp velvet tux jacket (with matching velvet loafers to boot!) while I paraded around in a slim-fit Galia Lahav gown with a cascading train. All of this made it come together like a true Grace Kelly-esque fairytale.

We started the day by getting ready at my house, which was conveniently located on the lake the reception was held on. In between doing hair and makeup, the girls spent time sipping coffee on the deck overlooking the lake in their adorable matching floral robes. It was the perfect backdrop for a few candid photos!

Following a ceremony at my childhood church, we squeezed in bridal party photos on the docks of my favorite locale growing up – downtown Wayzata. The sharp black tuxes and blush bridesmaids gowns looked stunning against the watery backdrop, an ideal way to set the tone as we made our way towards the club.

Lafayette Club fulfilled the timeless look I had envisioned for my wedding with its all-white interior to greet guests as their vehicles pulled around the semi-circle drive-up. Along with this, came a chance for me to really play up the details. Think a floor-to-ceiling custom balloon wall in our wedding colors to prep the cocktail hour space for a night of fun. And signature his and her drinks, which including a Wisconsin Old Fashioned (where my husband is from) and a prosecco popsicle option for her (creatively titled a “Minnesota Meltdown”). On the dancefloor, I featured an enlarged, gold version of the custom monogram we had on our stationery suite, surrounded by towering arrangements of spring flowers on every table. A specially made donut wall continued our “light and bright” color theme, with goods baked up specially from our favorite Minneapolis donut store. An adorable local coffee cart was stationed next to the dance floor, which got its fair share of visits as the band commanded more energy with each passing hour.

Overall, the day fulfilled every vision of grace and elegance we had hoped for – with our own Minnesota twist – thanks to these special details. Nods to life on the lake surrounded practically every element of the day too, which seemed all too fitting for this Twin Cities loving gal.

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Paper Rock Scissor

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Bluewater Kings Band

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Galia Lahav

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How One Couple Celebrated Each Chapter of Their Love Story During Their Vow Renewal

We all know that vow renewals are a time to celebrate the milestones, the growth, the accomplishments and so much more that you and your S.O. have achieved together since saying “I do”, but not everyone knows exactly how to touch on so many years of beautiful memories while sharing your excitement for the future at the same time! Well, allow this gorgeous couple to seriously inspire you. With a little help from A. Griffin Events, this husband and wife managed to commemorate their past, present and future with every detail of their vow renewal ceremony on their 5th year anniversary. Head over to the full gallery captured by Madeleine Collins Photography to see the magic unfold!

From A. Griffin Events… What better way to embrace a move to a new city than by celebrating an anniversary? For their fifth anniversary, Ashley and Brett hosted an intimate vow renewal in their new home of Los Angeles, inspired by their Mediterranean honeymoon five years prior. Anniversaries are a wonderful opportunity to look back at the past and ahead to the future, which is exactly what we wanted to signify with Ashley and Brett. They hosted the vow renewal in their new city of Los Angeles, and Ashley wore the same custom wedding gown she wore on her wedding day, designed by Modern Trousseau.

Because a fifth wedding anniversary must be celebrated in style, Ashley chose to wear nude suede Jimmy Choo open-toe heels and her yellow gold halo solitaire diamond ring by Susie Saltzman, as always. In contrast, Brett wore a deep custom suit with a stylish, slim fit. In keeping with the high-fashion ensembles, Brett chose to wear his shoes without socks for a modern look. In designing this Mediterranean-inspired vow renewal, we pulled colors from memorable spots Ashley and Brett visited on their honeymoon. Aqua reminiscent of the Mediterranean sea, soft neutrals from the beaches found off the coast of Greece, bright white from the houses lining the Amalfi Coast, and touches of green found in the lush vines of Italian vineyards. Touches of gold representing the constantly-shining sun were added to tie the color palette together.

We first utilized the talent of Every Little Letter to create an invitation suite that included a custom illustration of Tuscan cypress trees and Italian ruscus. Softened with a vellum overlay and then sealed with the most romantic gold wax seal, the invitation suite was as romantic as Ashley and Brett’s love for each other. EverBloom Florals kept each floral element organic and whimsical, just as Italian vines grow loosely. We started with a ceremony backdrop that stood asymmetrically, like the trees of the Italian countryside. Ashley held a beautiful, loose bouquet of all of Ashley’s favorite flowers, including panda anemones with the softest navy center that picked up the navy of Brett’s suit. Ashley’s bouquet was tied at the base with a sand-colored silk ribbon that moved ever-so-softly in the wind. A large, loose compote arrangement drew the eye to the center of the dinner table with blooms sprouting playfully in each direction.

Like the sea, an aqua velvet runner from BBJ Linen flowed down the center of the table, pooling slightly at the bottom of the table for a soft, romantic look. A custom vellum-topped menu with a gold wax seal picked up the gold in the flatware and gold-rimmed french-inspired china from Cherished Rentals. As another nod to Ashley and Brett’s time in France, Sugar Alkymi created a stylish cake inspired by the French Riviera, with almost wave-like texture and touches of gold foil. Because of their deep love for dessert, we added French macarons by Joy and Sweets in both white and aqua with gold foil. As a final detail, we added touches of smilax and small blooms for a wispy, romantic feel. Shortly after moving to L. A., Ashley and Brett made another large decision for their future: they adopted Benedict, their corgi puppy. Having fallen in love with him immediately, they knew they wanted a piece of their future in their celebration of their past. Holding the very important role of ringbearer, we adorned Benedict’s collar with touches of greenery (that he, as a puppy, quickly ate.)

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A Toronto Fixer Upper with Ridiculously Beautiful Natural Light

I’ve always believed that the best characteristic a home can have is natural light. Sure, paint, lighting and good design are all necessary (and very present in this home), but that natural light is key. And it’s absolutely pouring into Andrea McQueen‘s stunning abode that we’re touring today. Her fresh and crisp style is right up my alley and I can’t wait to see what this budding designer is going to do next. If you need me, I’ll be pinning every single snap from Nicole Lewis to my home board. Join me for the full tour!

From Andrea McQueen… My home is located in Burlington Ontario, a suburb of Toronto. It was built in 1986, and was in original condition when we found it (dusty rose carpet all over the master bath, linoleum floors, and a white melamine kitchen). We’d been searching for a fixer upper for over a year, and our rock star realtor found this property before it came on the market, so we were able to snatch it up quickly. Although it was dated, it had great bones, was on a huge lot, and had tons of natural light. We camped out in the basement during the 10 week renovation (not something I recommend to clients!), which enabled me to oversee all of the construction.

When it comes to design, I love to create spaces that improve the way we live. Life can be hectic when you’re juggling a career, kids, activities, and social commitments. It’s so important that your home is your haven, where you can relax and unwind surrounded by the people and objects that bring you joy. My style is pretty classic, and I tend to incorporate trends with things like lighting and accessories.

Now that the construction phase is finally complete, I’m focussing on decorating the rest of my house. I’m a big believer in buying what you love, so I’m saving to invest in things like window coverings and am currently planning my Formal Dining and Living Room. My kids also want new bedrooms so that’s also on the list (it never ends!).

The kitchen and family room are where we spend the majority of our time. We love to entertain so I designed the 9 foot island to accommodate seating for guests while we cook. (The island may also be the scene of a few late night karaoke parties). The island is painted BM Hale Navy. It took a little time to convince my husband to commit to the blue but we’re so glad we did. The island includes a prep sink & second dishwasher (which was a total game changer and the best decision). I love how the soft gold hardware contrasts with the navy and white cabinets, and how the backsplash creates subtle movement and texture.

The Family Room is a relaxed, casual and cozy. I think its pretty classic but with a mid-century vibe, and nothing is too precious as we have two kids and a dog. We painted the original brick fireplace to match the clean white walls (BM Oxford White) and replaced the original mantle with a beautiful rustic reclaimed piece. I don’t love the look of a big television but we found one that has a super slim profile and I did my best to decorate around it. Fun fact- my two boys (ages 6 and 9) are currently obsessed with cooking shows, and they love to watch them on TV while they are in the kitchen whipping up their own “recipes” and pretending they are contestants on whatever show they’re watching.

The sofa is Mitchel Gold Bob Williams in a custom gray fabric, the throw pillows are all from Tonic Living, the chairs are West Elm Mid-Century Show Chairs, the rug is from Dash and Albert, the console is the Print Maker’s Console from Restoration Hardware, the art is from Canvas Gallery in Toronto, the faux fiddle leaf fig and basket are from Pottery Barn, the coffee table is from Pottery Barn, the drinks table is from Elte, the reclaimed mantle is from Loft Doors in Burlington.

The Master Bathroom is calm, serene, monochromatic (a big departure from what it was originally- see before pic). I really wanted to use marble on the floors but it wasn’t in the budget, so I went with a Mayfair Porcelain tile that has subtle veining and texture, and a “marble like” appearance. I laid it in a herringbone pattern to add interest. I used a basket weave marble on shower floor and in the niches, and designed a 7 x 8 foot double glass shower with dual rain heads and a hand held shower. The new bathroom has a ton of storage and is super functional.

The tub is from Costco, faucets are Brizo in Polished Nickel, Mirrors are from Restoration Hardware, Vivian Dual Sconce is Visual Comfort, George Mini Chandelier is Visual Comfort, Vanity is custom in BM Vintage Pewter, walls are BM Gray Owl, Styling Accessories are from Pottery Barn, Turkish Towels are from Tonic Living.

The kids bathroom was designed with my two little boys in mind. I went with a cheap and cheerful white hex tile and dark grout for contrast, and tiled the walls in subway tile (because… boys). The navy vanity and brushed gold hardware are consistent with the colour story in the rest of the house. There’s a ton of storage in the vanity and I love the character that the lighting adds. I also went with single lever faucets because they are easy to clean.

The Bistro 4-light Bathroom Sconce is by Visual Comfort. The custom double vanity in Hale Navy is by Top Notch Cabinets. The plumbing fixtures are Kohler, the Julia Rothman Dream Shower Curtain is from Hygge and West, the stool is from Loft Doors in Burlington, the art is from Etsy.

The Master Bedroom is a still a work in progress, but we’re getting there. I love a calm, serene vibe in a Master and tend to keep things minimal. I’m still in the process of layering in textiles for softness, and still need to find the perfect rug… I have white linen draperies on order from Q Design- I think the draperies will add so much softness to this space. And I’ve designed a sitting area (again- waiting to find the perfect pieces!). The mirrored side table and Upholstered bed are from Elte, the bench is Mitchell Gold Bob Williams, lamps are Pottery Barn Carlotta Lamps, Dresser is Vintage, light is Barbara Barry Simple Scallop Chandelier from Visual Comfort, Bedding is all Pottery Barn, Mirror is from Cocoon Furnishings, Canadian Art is all from Canvas Gallery in Toronto

As you can see, our home is still a bit of a work in progress. But its where we come together to connect, unwind, and enjoy each other’s company, and we are so happy here.

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You’ll Want to Steal This Bride & Groom’s Adorable Anniversary Tradition!

High School sweethearts, Jessica & Michael, have a sweet tradition you may just want to steal for yourself. Every year on their anniversary they break out this box, filled with a bottle of wine and cards they’ve written to one another—a time capsule that gets replenished each year, which began at their ceremony. How fun is that?! There’s a whole lot more that you may want to steal from their celebration and you can view it all below, thanks to Jennifer Lam Photography.

Jessica & Michael were married this past May at Sea Cliff Manor on Long Island. Everything about their wedding was amazing. From their mismatched bridesmaids dresses, to Jessica’s flowing cathedral length veil and gorgeous florals! When it came time for their ceremony, Jessica walked down the aisle to Mike with the biggest smile on her face. The sun set behind them as they exchanged rings, and stared at their almost spouse! The bride & groom created a time capsule of sorts during their ceremony which included cards to each other and a bottle of wine. Every year on their anniversary, they will open that box, read the cards, and cheers to a great year of marriage. Then they will replenish the box with wine and new cards to open the following year, and every year after that. What a wonderful tradition and keepsake for their family!

From the Bride… Michael and I went to the same high school. Because it was such a large school, our paths never crossed until the first day of Senior year. Not knowing anyone in the class we both sat with our friend Melanie who introduced us. We instantly became best friends and could not get enough of each other. I also had developed a huge crush on him. It was just weeks before going to different colleges, in different states, I took the chance to tell Michael just how I felt about him. Worst case I would lose a friend and not have to see him again. Michael did not say much when I told him. I got scared. Then he asked me out on a date. We went on our first date the next night and have been together ever since. We dated just shy of 11 years before before making it official!

Our vision was simple, romantic, and elegant. When designing our space we felt less is more. We picked Sea Cliff Manor because it was not a huge, overwhelming ball room. We wanted an intimate party and Sea Cliff Manor was cozy and felt like home. All we needed were some flowers, some candles. We wanted the focus to be on just a having good time with good company.

A Kid Friendly Home from House of Hire

As an interior stylist with two little ones (and one on the way!) Lauren Elizabeth – stylist and face behind House of Hire – is who I want to be when I grow up. She approaches design with such a relaxed and meaningful style that every room in her home feels intentional and totally authentic to her family. As a mom of three, I can tell you without hesitation that building a home that not only tolerates little kids but that embraces them in a way that allows them to play and jump and make messes the way that kids do, while still being chic and well designed, is no easy feat. But Lauren did just that and the result is a space that is simultaneously magazine worthy and totally livable. Want more? Check out her insta here!

From Lauren Elizabaeth…When I am designing the rooms in our home I really try to keep functionality at the top of the list (despite what my husband thinks at times haha) and how we are planning on using the space. It can be tough at times because there are a lot of really beautiful pieces out there but I think it’s important to stay true to how the room is meant to function and build around that. When I keep that in mind it makes it a lot easier for the space to come together and the process is much more enjoyable!

Who do you look to (blogger, designer, etc) for your inspiration? I tend to find inspiration everywhere when it comes to design. Sometimes it’s an idea that pops into my head, other times Pinterest is a great place to go to get your creative juices flowing! There are also a lot of amazing designers out there like Studio Mcgee and Emily Henderson that really keep things fun and interesting.

Are there any mistakes you made when decorating? I think there are are always going to be things that you look back on and think you may have done differently. After all we are always growing and evolving and our tastes do change but I look at that as a good thing in a lot of ways.

In terms of flat out mistakes I would say to always tape off your trim and ceiling when painting – trust me it makes everything much easier!

Can you talk about designing around a family? Ensuring that the space is beautiful and yet functional for a family of five? I think finding that balance between good design and family is always evolving as your family grows.

I am all for the fact that you can have a home you are proud of and have children, it isn’t one or the other which I think it can be easy to think in some seasons of life. Doing things like selecting durable, scrubbable fabrics, baskets for toy storage, patterned rugs that hide wear and tear all help you to get a home you love and also one that can handle what a busy family throws at it.

What stores or online resources are your faves? There are so many home decor stores where I love to shop, though I would say I mostly use Homesense and Wayfair as they always tend to have a mix of affordable and current pieces.

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If Meghan Markle Married Prince Harry in California, Here’s What The Wedding Would Look Like!

You had us at “inspired by the royals” – this gorgeous day planned by Sweetest Love Events is what classic weddings are all about. A chic Monique Lhuillier gown, elegant bridal updo, timeless green and white flowers by The Bloom of Time and of course, a love story that will never go out of style. Passionate royalists, don’t miss out on the full gallery of images captured by Anya Kernes Photography!

From the Bride… Our vision and overall feel for the wedding was simple elegance. Something that would be classic and timeless. I took a lot of inspiration from the royal weddings, as cliche as that may sound. I love all the tradition and elegance.

Franciscan Gardens was the only venue we toured and booked it soon after. It was a great combination of top service, location and intimacy. We wanted our guests to enjoy the entire venue and we were able to use the indoor and outdoor spaces. The venue really spoke for itself and we loved that about it.

We were excited to incorporate some of our special memories and interests as a couple into the wedding. One of mutual best friends officiated the wedding. All our table names were named after our favorite films or TV shows. My Mom brought leis to pay tribute to our Hawaiian side of the family and we made a donation to America’s VetDogs on behalf of our guests. Overall it was an amazing day, filled with so many special memories.

Our team of vendors made the day absolutely unforgettable and we were able to spend the best day with all our closest family and friends. One of the best memories for us was watching everyone enjoying themselves, eating, drinking and dancing.

Looking down at our wedding party head table with the gorgeous decorations, flowers and chandeliers. The wonderful speeches made by our families, a mini college reunion and great music makes for the best day of our lives.

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This is the Perfect Wedding Blueprint for an Old World French Vibe

This entire editorial was inspired by that stunner Kate McDonald dress, and understandably so. From that, stemmed a French-inspired garden wedding blueprint that I truly hope one of you will scoop up and turn into your own. Kaleb Norman James Design, Maria Lamb and Amanda K Photography all made it come to life here in the full gallery.

The inspiration behind this shoot came after finding this Kate McDonald dress. We were immediately stuck by the gowns combination of the soft blue tones and the darker blue & purple accents in the beading. It all just felt very French.

The design for the shoot continued from there, bringing out the gowns accent colors into the floral & tablescape, with the mauve velvet chairs, light blue table linen & soft lavender/blush tones in the lilacs & peonies. The paper goods brought in the old world French vibe with our tonal color palette & vintage classic portraits throughout.