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

Boho Chic Celebration At The Liberty Warehouse

From Kiss The Bride Films… Caitlin + Dan were married in August at The Liberty Warehouse, aglow in some of the most beautiful light we’ve seen. Their swoon-worthy photo session, by the spectacular (and incredibly sweet) Catherine Coons, was quite literally the calm before the storm. Talk about starting the rest of your lives together with a bang! Every detail of this Boho-chic celebration — from that gasp-worthy gown to the gorgeous florals to the heartfelt (and laugh-out-loud) vows was beyond breathtaking.

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“A thunderstorm hit just as our ceremony began,” says Caitlin, “and we could see bolts of lighting striking the Freedom Tower as we exchanged vows. After Dan broke the glass, the skies cleared and, during cocktail hour, our guests were able to enjoy views of Lady Liberty and the New York City skyline against the most magnificent sunset.”

Quintessentially Summer Engagement Session

There are certain backdrops that feel like Summer. There are certain people that feel like Love. There are certain moments that simply feel serendipitous. Like when I see this adorable pair, with giggles and joy and love bouncing off the screen, and it just feels like there is no where else in the world worth being. Photographed by Savan Photography and planned by The Walk Down the Aisle, this is happiness. Full gallery here.

From Savan Photography… Midcentury-style and vibe was what this couple is all about and since they are getting married in a very midcentury and iconic venue in Palm Springs our vision was to extened that same feeling throughout their engagement session.

We wanted to start with a casual lifestyle session fitted with a vintage bar cart and of course with brandy and vintage glasses, a lazy afternoon being silly playing croquet and cooling off with their feet in the pool while at the most beautiful and jaw dropping setting of the Frederick Loewe estate all thanks to Trish from “the walk down the aisle”. Every bit of this estate was beyond awesome from the pretty olive trees, creek and unqie pool, ligh, but all in reality was just so substance in comparison to their love and connection. It was wonderful to see how comfy they were together and in front of the camera. We then got fancy and rented a 1930’s porche and headed to a gem of a spot in Palm Springs where the backdrop and light was stunning. We wanted a bit more edge and drama look for the second half, but towards the end it was hard not to see the love that these two felt for each other. I was so honored and thrilled to be apart of their love story and that love really does wins at the end. I can’t wait to document their wedding day this summer.

NOLA Fun With a Second Line Parade

From Alicia Swedenborg… We teamed up with Race + Religious and the talented Sapphire Events to create a fun and youthful wedding inspiration shoot that combined playful elegance with Southern European style. There is absolutely nothing that fits the “fun” bill better than a stroll down NOLA streets with a second line band in tow! We were over the moon excited to have Kinfolk Brass Band join us for the day… their energy is positively contagious.

More from Alicia… Our entire team conceptualized the day perfectly! Race + Religious is located along the riverfront of the Lower Garden District in New Orleans. Louisiana charm is in abundance! It was the perfect setting for this organic and playful shoot. Our bride dressed in three different gowns: 1. Alexandra Grecco [cape] 2. Rime Arodaky [short] 3. Wedding Belles Boutique [patterned]. Melissa’s Fine Pastries made a jaw dropping cake, Leaf & Petal NOLA provided the most amazing florals, Scriptura crafted gorgeous invites while Perrier Party Rentals and Luminous Events created the reception area. Hair and Makeup by Bleu. Groom’s attire from Perlis. We couldn’t have been happier with the outcome!

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Rime Arodaky

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Blending Two Cultures Meant a Full Weekend of Ceremony and Celebration

The beautiful challenge in planning a multi-cultural wedding is in finding a way to seamlessly incorporate the incredible traditions that each culture holds so dear. And do so in a way that feels authentic, deeply meaningful and incredibly joyous for themselves and the ones they love. And today’s couple did just that. Photographed beautifully by Scott O’Malley, styled perfectly by Morgane Plaque of Big Day and coordinated flawlessly by Laura Dova, this bride and groom got the chance to basque in the traditions most important to their own hearts while celebrating abroad with family and friends. Full gallery here.

From the bride and groom…We were excited to bring our families and friends together from all over the world to share and celebrate with great food, wine, and company in the South of France! We had two ceremonies to bring together the two families and their cultural backgrounds.

From O’Malley Photographers… Jennifer and Salil live in San Francisco, but opted to treat their friends and family to a multi-day destination wedding in Provence where the groom spent many summers as a child. Friends and family flew in from all over the world and the couple went all out by treating their guests to great food, wine and gorgeous accommodations.

They had two celebrations spread over two days, with a traditional Hindu ceremony taking place in the midst of the chateau ruins and a western ceremony in the 16th century chapel. For the Hindu ceremony, Jennifer wore a traditional Lehenga and the groom’s aunt performed their ceremony.

On day two, Jennifer wore a gorgeous, custom Leanne Marshall gown and the entire celebration was styled to perfection by Morgane Plaque of Big Day and planned by Laura Dova.

Tropical North Carolina Wedding at Sanderling Resort

Just three short weeks before their Virgin Islands wedding, Kyle and Sara’s wedding celebration was canceled due to September storms in the Caribbean. They came to us at the Sanderling Resort in October with their previous plans and we all ran with it. With the help of Renee Landry Events and Erin Taylor Photography, I believe we captured their tropical visions perfectly!

Even though Sara was a busy, busy bride-to-be, she incorporated so many really thoughtful details including pashminas at the fire pit, a driftwood cake tree, steel drums, a corn hole game, welcome bags, spa snacks, you name it – Sara did it! See more of this bright and beautiful tropical wedding captured by Erin Taylor in the full gallery.

Neutral Nursery with the Sweetest Treehouse Vibe

I’m taking an educated guess that ‘neutral nursery’ has been one of the most searched terms on Pinterest the last few years. I absolutely fall into that category and designed a neutral nursery for my own baby boy! But I don’t think I’ve ever seen one inspired by a treehouse vibe… until today. Not only is this serene space layered with woody accents, it’s also sprinkled with the most beautiful pieces from Jenni Kayne. It’s a calm space with effortlessly casual style—just what this sweet mama-to-be will need to stay stress-free when her little one arrives.

Since Julia lives in the hills surrounded by trees and nature, she wanted the nursery to be an extension of the treehouse vibe – airy, light and peaceful with a warm neutral palette and calming natural materials like light woods, linen, canvas, alpaca, raffia and soft wools. The design is meant to feel natural, beautiful and not overly stimulating… which hopefully will keep the parents calm too! Truly, it’s all very much inspired by Jenni Kayne.

The nursery is intended to be a relaxing, quiet and cozy environment for the new baby that is not only a room to care for him, but also a space to let him spend time exploring as he grows. Julia set it up so there are plenty of places for him to be comfortable while having different experiences, like spending time in his own little den in the tent, or looking at the trees out the window from the soft boucle rug.

One of Julia’s closest friends Davina Pike recently launched WovnHome, a custom curtains business, and as a baby gift, she designed and installed the beautiful white linen shades in the windows, which really transformed the nursery.

The color study artwork is by Greg Foley. It’s a special gift from a close friend. Each of the pieces in this collection are inspired by different books and print references, and this particular image is inspired by Where the Wild Things Are, which is perfect for the room. The shearling baby slippers from the new Jenni Kayne baby collection. Julia has the matching pair for herself. Julia was determined to make the space functional and beautiful at the same time.

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There’s No Passport Needed for This Mediterranean Style Affair

Villa Montalvo has the feel of a gorgeous Italian estate with the convenience of a California zip code. And in keeping with all those Mediterranean vibes, Charmed Events Group and Gavita Flora crafted a gorgeous alfresco affair infused with baguettes at every place setting and olive oil gifted to guests. Now if that’s not a dream combo, we don’t know what is. Have a look at all the magic captured so beautifully by The Grovers and Aaron Novak Films.

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From the Bride… Dylan and I met through a mutual friend who invited us both to lunch. There was an undeniable, instant connection and Dylan and I spent the hour talking, laughing and getting to know one another. I remember calling my best friends immediately and declaring, “I just met the man I’m going to marry!”. Four and a half years later, Dylan’s Mom invited us to her birthday party. The plan was to meet at the end of a dock in Newport Harbor, where his family would pick us up for a sunset boat ride. (This was a birthday celebration we had done multiple times in the past, so I suspected nothing!) As we approached the end of the dock, Dylan took hold of both of my hands, got down on one knee and delivered the most beautiful proposal. After immediately saying “Yes!” and celebrating for several moments, we returned to Dylan’s parent’s home to find that my whole family and Dylan’s siblings all traveled from out of town to surprise me and to celebrate our engagement! The evening was complete with dinner, champagne, wine from wineries we had visited together around the world and framed photos of us throughout the years. It was the most beautiful, thoughtful and detailed proposal!

A hometown wedding meant the world to Dylan and me as we began envisioning and planning our wedding day. We wanted to welcome our nearest and dearest to celebrate our love in a location close to our hearts and it wasn’t long before we decided on Villa Montalvo, a Mediterranean inspired estate, in the town I was born and raised, Saratoga, California. Villa Montalvo is special to us, as it is a place I have been visiting with my family since I was born and a location where I brought Dylan the first time he traveled home with me to meet my family. Villa Montalvo was built in 1912 and is set on 200 acres with a dramatic sprawling front lawn and picturesque mountain range as the backdrop. After visiting the property once again after we were engaged, we knew there was no better place in the world for us to start our life together as husband and wife!

With a color palette of whites, grays and greens, we played upon the Mediterranean aesthetic of the Villa by incorporating olive branches into our floral design and adorning each place setting of our tablescape with a mini olive baguette. We wanted our guests to feel as if they were at a dinner party at a Villa in Italy, with an abundance of personalized touches that would make the day just as special for our them as it was for us!

Karla Lim of Written Word Calligraphy was an incredible partner in helping us create personalized details that brought our vision to life, including: a watercolor painting of the Villa which was featured on our save the date and on the envelope liner of our wedding invitation and a custom, hand-drawn monogram. These special touches helped set the tone of our wedding day from the start. Our monogram was used throughout our wedding on elements including: the invitation, ceremony program, dinner menu, signage, cocktail napkins, wooden cocktail stir sticks, embroidered pillows on the lounge in the Spanish Courtyard (which are now displayed in our home today!), hand-bottled olive oil bottles (which served as escort cards and favors), sugar cookies and coffee cups displayed at the coffee/tea station. Adding this dimension of detail was something we were passionate about from the start so our guests could feel the love poured into each aspect of our wedding day.

As it was important to us that our wedding was filled with meaning, Dylan proudly wore his paternal Grandfather’s cufflinks and his maternal Grandfather’s watch and bow tie. I wore Dylan’s maternal Grandmother’s vintage Cartier earrings and a diamond bracelet that was gifted to Dylan’s Mother by her Father on her wedding day in 1985. Dylan and I toasted for the first time as husband and wife with the silver kiddush cup that my parents used on their wedding day in 1978. We incorporated familiar items into our wedding day including a heirloom wooden wedding cake stand that belongs to Dylan’s Grandparents and a vintage wooden box for cards which is a decorative piece in Dylan’s parent’s home. Additionally, in honor of those we love most, we displayed wedding photos of our parents and grandparents in the library of the Villa.

When Dylan and I first started discussing our wedding ceremony, we knew we wanted someone special to marry us. We wanted someone who has watched us grow over the course of our relationship, someone who would remain a big part of our life moving forward and someone who we admire and look up to. The decision ended up being rather easy, as all signs pointed to my twin brother, Michael. Michael captivated our guests while creating an intimate and meaningful ceremony. Being that my Dad passed away, my Mom lovingly walked me down the aisle. I will never forget seeing Dylan at the end of the aisle, watching his eyes fill with tears as I walked towards him while the string trio played Canon in D. My three sisters were my co-maids of honor, Dylan’s two sisters were my bridesmaids and Dylan’s brother-in-law was his best man. It meant the world to us to have all of our siblings standing by our side during the most monumental moment of our lives. Our ceremony included our Mothers reading a modern version of the Jewish seven blessings and Dylan and I reading handwritten, heartfelt vows to one another. The ceremony ended up being one of our favorite moments from our wedding day as Dylan and I felt as if we were the only two people in the world!

After our ceremony, guests were escorted to one of our favorite locations at the Villa for cocktail hour, the Spanish-style courtyard. Lush with greenery, the courtyard displayed vintage wooden bars with olive branch garlands, a lounge complete with embroidered monogrammed pillows, and a display of personalized olive oil bottles. Our string trio continued through our cocktail hour as hors d’oeuvres were passed and drinks were flowing. In addition to an open bar, our signature cocktails were a “Montalvo Mule” served with a wooden, monogrammed stir stick and a “Lavender Sparkler” garnished with a fresh lavender stem. For our reception, guests enjoyed an al fresco dinner on the veranda of the Villa, overlooking the grandiose front lawn of the estate. After dinner service, we danced the night away to a live band in the main estate!

Growing up, my Dad started the tradition of celebrating birthday mornings in our home with a pyramid of donuts complete with candles. It’s a special tradition that my siblings and I still honor to celebrate birthdays today! Dylan and I felt like our wedding wouldn’t be complete without a pyramid of glazed donuts from the bakery where my Dad purchased donuts from my whole life. In addition to the glazed donuts, we had way too much fun cake tasting at Studio Cake and ultimately decided on cookie dough, cookies and cream, funfetti and strawberry shortcake for our wedding cake flavors!

One of our favorite aspects of wedding planning was giving back to our closest friends and family, and letting them know just how much they mean to us! I asked my sisters and sisters-in-law to be my bridesmaids with a woven basket filled with: a monogrammed blanket from Restoration Hardware, a Jo Malone candle, a mini bottle of Veuve Clicquot and a letter. On our wedding day, I gifted my bridesmaids a silk Stone Cold Fox robe, along with a note detailing how much they mean not only to me, but to us as a couple. Dylan asked his groomsmen to be in our wedding with personalized golf balls and divot fixers and on our wedding day gifted them a monogrammed pocket squares for their tuxedos along with monogrammed socks. We welcomed our out-of-town guests to my hometown with a welcome box complete with: Saratoga Rosé, San Pellegrino sparkling water, Ghirardelli chocolates, Dean & Deluca artisan popcorn, Feridies peanuts, a monogrammed sugar cookie, monogrammed cups and a letter welcoming our guests and highlighting our hometown favorites! (Are you sensing a theme here? Yes, we love a monogram!)

Our wedding day was pure bliss and we are forever grateful to our amazing family, friends and vendors that made our vision a reality! It was absolutely magical!

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TEAM Hair and Makeup

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Rustic Wedding Styles Inspired by Copper

From the inspiration team… In our local market we are lucky enough to have several beautiful venues like Rapid Creek Cidery that provide a space for our clients visions to flourish. This gorgeous space inspired us to take on the challenge of two styled shoots in the same day! We wanted to show how certain elements could be used to create quite different aesthetics and wedding themes. Inspired by copper in particular, we designed two looks with this in mind.

We were able to transform the natural barn wood table of Rapid Creek Cidery into a sleek modern tablescape with bright floral accents and strong copper elements. The airy feel of the overhead greenery married the modern to the natural rustic in the most perfect way.

With a quick turnover there was a softness to the room with a delicious mauve palette. The stars of this dramatic switch being the soft velvet rose quartz linen, delicate floral centerpiece and the foiled paper. Each bringing a wonderfully feminine touch to the Cidery’s barn.

We had “A Hole Lotta Love” for our doughnut wall and copper arbor during this shoot, as they were transition in simple but extremely effective ways with greenery and floral for both shoots. Being able to show new and different ways to use or showcase trending elements [such as doughnut walls and arbors] to our clients is key to our design process.

Wedding Paper Suite and Acrylic Signage By Invitation Only. See more on their website and on Etsy! Design Concept from Unique Events. Photography by Ivory + Bliss.

Clean Lines, Modern Details and a Whisper of Classic

So, what exactly IS an inspiration shoot? Well, first and foremost, it’s an opportunity for wedding pros to play. To push themselves creatively, to try out new trends and to work alongside peers that they love without boundary or limitation. But an inspiration shoot is more than that. It is an idea. Perhaps many ideas. Ideas that you can pluck right out of the photos and apply to your own wedding. Free of charge. And this shoot from Asher Gardner Photography – along with an ALL.STAR. list of vendors below – is an idea so lovely, I have this feeling it will definitely leave a mark on this style-savvy wedding community that pops in here every day. Full Gallery Here.

The inspiration for this shoot from Asher Gardner Photography… Paige and Sean are a New York City couple that wanted to celebrate the essence of their love in it’s purity. From the start of their relationship it’s always been about quality time and being raw with one another. They met at an event at the Museum of Modern Art and immediately hit it off. They both love going to museums on the weekend and enjoy trying hip new restaurants. They connected over their love for minimal design and finesse in the details. With Sean’s intentional mindset and Paige’s positive spirit it didn’t take long for their love to blossom. Sean proposed at their favorite dinner spot in SoHo with a Cartier trinity band.

Paige knew she wanted to intertwine the wedding with details that brought them together. As wedding planning progressed they decided to keep things minimal by having a elegant but small New York Wedding. With delicacy and care for each detail, they wanted a wedding that reflected their modern sensibilities but had a classic and timeless feel. They loved the idea of taking photos at the iconic New York Public Library while mixing a more modern flair at their reception in at the Bryant Park Hotel. Because they are very close with their supportive families, they were eager to spend time with those loved ones at an intimate ceremony. At the reception they celebrated by toasting with friends and family to their new love.

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Petit Bouquet

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Badgley Mischka

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Indoor Outdoor Jewish Wedding at the Chicago Illuminating Company

From jpb designs… As Stephanie and Cody’s guests walked into their wedding venue, an outdoor portion of the Chicago Illuminating Company, they walked straight into the ceremony area. With beautiful drapery and cafe lights, the tent space felt cozy and warm. But one of our absolute favorite things about this wedding was the hanging chuppah at the end of the aisle. It was lit. It was circular yet asymmetric. And it was seriously beautiful! Wait until you see how it gets repurposed later in the night, too…

Hop on over to jpb designs’ blog for more of Stephanie and Cody’s wedding images from Andrew Barkules Photography!

“Stephanie and Cody’s wedding was the perfect juxtaposition between their rural decor and the south side Chicago backdrop. The venue allowed them to incorporate soft blush florals, earthy tones among vibrant greens, and solid wooden farm tables. Their Jewish wedding was a wonderful combination of simple, yet intricate detail, and incorporated so many of their favorite things, including fragrant floral arrangements with eucalyptus, a decadent dessert table, decorative elements illuminating their love of wine – and above all else – their closest family and friends. Grandmothers became flower girls, the bride and groom hand-fed their entire bridal party wedding cake, and they even invited others to participate in the Horah! The newlyweds exhibited both their romantic and fun sides with a photo booth, Mr. & Mrs. Balloons, and dancing amid a backdrop of flowing white curtains swimming in a soft white light. It was a day which Stephanie and Cody will never forget.”

A Romantic Ballroom Wedding That All Started With a Swipe Right

This love affair began with a little ol’ dating app called Tinder. That’s right, these two swiped right into happily ever after and their St. Louis ballroom wedding is one for the books. Designed by Kate & Company and Exclusive Events, it is layered with a stunning emerald and blush color palette, with pops of a soft lovely blue in the bridesmaids’ dresses from Joanna August, romantic candlelight under a jaw-dropping floral installation by Twisted Willow and classic monogram stationery by Cheree Berry Paper. I guarantee you haven’t seen a celebration quite like this. Pore through the beautiful images captured by Clary Pfeiffer, plus a film by 24 Frames below!

From Maureen FitzGibbon, Senior Wedding Designer at Kate & Company… I knew the first time I met Erin that she had great taste. At our consultation, we discussed any and every thing wedding – her love of the tiniest paper details, the overall vibe, and of course, her fiancé Mike. I couldn’t wait to get started designing what was sure to be a stunning affair. Most importantly, I wanted to set the tone of the event from the onset. Our Save the Date from Cheree Berry Paper perfectly married Erin + Mike’s story. The merged skyline of Washington D. C. [where the couple met and lived at the time] with Saint Louis [Erin’s hometown, host city, and where they now reside] gave a glimpse into the whimsical tone for the event. I truly wanted this wedding to be about them – their story and their styles. Their hashtag [#swipedrightintomike] even gave a playful nod to their Tinder love story [they met on the dating app!].

The formal invitation introduced their branded monogram, which I utilized on special pieces throughout the rest of the design to keep the feel cohesive and personal. The reception head table featured this custom monogram on cloth napkins, which Erin and Mike now use in their home for dinner parties and holidays – a great keepsake! The pop of royal green, dubbed in our design process as mallard, showed up first in the mailed invitation pieces then later in the cake table linen and custom bar fronts. I loved the way this color reeked of subtle sophistication. The elegant emerald tone became my favorite aspect of the design overall!

It is such a dream to design in The Caramel Room at Bissinger’s! The tall ceilings, dripping chandeliers, and glossy wooden floors gave a near-perfect canvas to build Erin + Mike’s dream day. Many of the guests were not from the area, so I wanted their first experience at the venue to be a memorable one! Upon entrance to the reception, the guests were greeted with a iced Rosé bar cocktail. Gummy Pandas and truffles from Bissinger’s were a perfect pairing with this fizzy drink. The impressive monogram ice sculpture served as a bottle display, too. The experience didn’t stop there! His and her signature whiskey cocktails were waiting for guests on the cocktail level, along with yummy food from 23 City Blocks Catering.

From that very first meeting, Erin described her dream reception space to include candlelit ambiance and dramatic floral installations – so, I think we achieved that with this overall look! The reception ballroom was really the icing on the cake – literally. The multi-layer cake from De la Creme Studio was stunning and definitely a showstopper. The head table pergola created such a focal point in the room and truly brought the drama. Along with the strings of hanging florals and greens over the dance floor, it was hard not to be wowed by the space. I wanted to create various textures through the room, not only with florals, but with linens, plates, and colored glassware. The mixed table looks made the ballroom intricate and interesting, yet inviting. The rustic wooden feasting tables mixed with the elegant La Tavola textured linens were a perfect combination of the two styles Erin and Mike wanted.

Overall, I was ecstatic with the way that the design came together so cohesively! Our team at Kate & Company made sure every tiny detail was executed flawlessly. The day was captured perfectly by Clary Pfeiffer and 24 Frames, our photo and video gurus. Our creative and culinary partners totally knocked this one out of the park. Any idea I dreamt up, they made it come to life! Hanging table lounges in the ballroom – you got it! A twenty-four foot pergola covered in flowers – you got it! Wine pairings with each course, even with dessert – you got it!

Erin and Mike’s friends and family danced the night away with an amazing band from Nashville and indulged in personalized late night snacks – a dueling pizza war between Erin’s St. Louis style pizza and Mike’s hometown of Chicago’s deep dish! As much as it pains me to say this [because I’m a St. Louis girl through-and-through], the Chicago deep dish definitely won that battle! To end the night, Erin and Mike were sent off with a super sweet sparkler exit!

Finally… A Girl Baby Shower without an Ounce of Pink!

Don’t let this title fool you… pink is still our favorite color in the crayon box. But admittedly, it is SO refreshing to see a baby shower for a little gal on-the-way, sans pink (if you don’t count the martinis!). Instead, this sweet soiree designed by Foxes Events features gray, white, cream and gold with marbled cookies and foiled macarons galore. Let’s face it, that dessert station steals the show. I’ll take one of each please! Planning a shower of your own or for a mama-to-be? Make sure to give the gallery captured by Helen Warner a full click through—I’m betting you’ll want to steal a few details.

From Helen Warner Photography… From very early on Jordan knew exactly what her dream baby shower would look like! The inspiration for her shower comes from her love of neutral tones and colours! Even after finding out she was having a girl she wanted to stay away from the traditional girly pinks and incorporate a feminine vibe in a subtle way throughout the décor.

Jordan chose grey and white as the main colour scheme with hints of green, used in the floral decoration, and gold, which was incorporated throughout the design elements. Jordan’s closest friends and family were there with her and in going against the traditional shower code, also had her husband and his friends present too! Why should the guys miss out on such a special occasion right?!

Guests were greeted with the cutest cocktails on arrival; Mamajito’s for the ladies and Papatini’s for the guys! There was an amazing table filled with delicious treats such as cake pops, cookies and meringues along with the most incredible three-tiered cake, the entire bottom half covered in 24ct edible gold leaf! Jordan enjoyed creating the baby shower favours the most. She filled each box with her three favourite things, a custom candle à la Diptyque, mini concrete potted succulent and macaroons from Laduree!

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Luxurious and Colorful Rehearsal Dinner

If you love the fall… and you love rich autumn colors… add the intriguing description of “luxurious and sultry”… this one’s for you! Sent to us by Jeremiah & Rachel Photography, this wedding rehearsal dinner was planned and designed by Darci of Greenwood Events (the Groom’s Family). It will definitely go down in the books as one of our faves!

From Jeremiah and Rachel… Meg and Charles had a weekend full of events. For this particular event hosted by the Family of the Groom, Darci of Greenwood Events wanted to create a whole different vibe.

“Compared to the light luminous wedding, we went for a rich sultry look. The Rehearsal Dinner took place in the middle of September at the bride’s childhood Summer Country Club in Whitefish, Montana. Iron Horse Golf Club provided the perfect backdrop for the dramatic tent. The dark wood and stone details of the building worked perfectly with the rich Fall tones of burgundies, coppers, peaches, mauves, with touches of grey and gold accents.

Guests were picked up at local hotels by Trolleys for a fun ride up to the venue. Greeted with Moscow Mules and Champagne, guests were guided back to the tent that overlooked Whitefish Lake. Dinner took place in a clear top tent under the big sky with shear grey draping setting the tone. Large iron chandeliers lite by candlelight helped fill the space on the stone patio.

When guests took their seat for dinner, their tables were filled with rich autumn flowers. Greenwood Events grew most of the flowers for this event creating a fresh garden look. We purposely matched jewel tone glassware to add to fullness of the overall aesthetic. Guests not only enjoyed flowing wine, but a delicious Italian buffet as well to bring homage to the Groom’s family heritage. When dinner had settled the microphone came out and family and friends stood up one after another to share stories and memories of the families and couple. The sun set and the candlelight took the stage glimmering off guests’ happy tears from those coming together for Meg & Charles.”

*See more of this stunning rehearsal dinner on Greenwood Event’s Blog – right here!

A Trad Modern Home with Girly Touches and a Closet to Die For!

It’s Monday! Which means that A. you’re probably on your third cup of coffee and B. you really need the blogosphere to wow you because your brain is still entirely submerged in Rosé and chill. Well don’t you worry. The beautiful Ashley over at Modern Glam has graciously opened the doors to her insanely pretty California home to us and when I tell you that you’ll love it…I’m not even scratching the surface. And when you’re done, head on over to her insta account for even more eye candy. Full gallery here!

Hi guys! I’m Ashley, founder over at Modern Glam – a blog dedicated to all things beautiful. As a women’s clothing boutique owner and interior designer, I spend my days styling my clients’ wardrobes as well as their homes and I find inspiration from so many sources. Whether it be a beautifully tailored little black dress or an incredibly styled cocktail hour cheese spread – my blog is where I get to share all of my style obsessions with each of you. Thank you so much for stopping in to see my home, the place where my inspiration begins and ends…I hope you love it as much as I do!

Entryway. First and foremost, our entry way. I am always updating our front door decor. I love to create a welcoming entry for friends and guests. Layered doormats and gold lanterns are a must for me.

Dining Room. My style is very eclectic. I don’t like to stick to one design style for too long. And I love to mix different styles. My dining room table is a perfect example of that. We have a rustic farmhouse table made of reclaimed oak with an ornate trestle base. I chose to flank the table with modern lucite chairs. I love the mix of old and new!

Family Room. One of my personal design rules is that I always buy furniture in neutral shades. My couch, rug, benches and chairs are all either white or cream. This allows me to easily change my decor with the season or with my mood!

All of the walls in our main living areas are painted Benjamin Moore’s Cotton Balls. And when it comes to painting your walls white, I say you should paint the walls, moulding and ceiling the same color but in varying sheens. My walls are a satin finish, where the trim is semi gloss and the ceiling is flat. This creates a cohesive look that expands the room and makes it seem bigger!

Kitchen. Our kitchen truly is the heart of our home. I love to bake with my two kids (ages 6 & 9). I chose classic details like white cabinetry, marble countertops and subway tile backsplash. I love the timeless feel to the kitchen as well as the durability. Most people shy away from marble countertops but I love the character that it adds to our live-able home!

We are always cooking and entertaining though now that it’s Summer, it mostly happens in our pretty new outdoor space. A few of my favorite recipes made right here in our pretty kitchen…

PERFECT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES | SUMMER ROSE COCKTAIL | MASON JAR APPLE PIE

Bedroom. Pink is my favorite color. When I told my husband I wanted to paint our bedroom pink, he rolled his eyes but didn’t put up a fight! And I have to say, pink in the bedroom is very romantic! It has a glow at night that is ethereal. My favorite pink is Benjamin Moore’s Gentle Butterfly. My daughter’s bedroom is also painted this same shade. To offset the pink on the walls I chose natural linen bedding with pops of gold accents throughout.

When I purchase furniture for my home, I make sure it is something I know I can live with for a long time. I moved these lucite console tables from our living into our bedroom when I did my Master Bedroom Refresh a few months ago. I love having furniture that works in multiple spaces within my home. And moving furniture around allows you to create new spaces without having to spend extra money!

Bathroom. When designing our bathroom I new I wanted form to meet function. Because we travel a lot, I am inspired by hotel bathrooms. I chose our apothecary style bathroom vanity because it reminds me of our many travels. And in keeping with that timeless look I wanted the rest of the bathroom to be done in marble. Our vanity has no storage but I have come up with some clever solutions.

The baskets under the sink hide everyday items such a hairbrushes, my hairdryer and curling iron, and extra towels. All of my makeup and toiletries are stored in the nearby linen closet. Because we only have 2 sets of towels and sheets, there is ample room for all the normal bathroom toiletries and beauty products! One of my favorite parts of our bathroom is our large soaking tub. I love to take baths when I can and it is the prettiest focal point in our bathroom.

Closet. When we purchased our home, I knew I would be able to have the closet of my dreams. The original closet was huge but lacked any character or actual storage. I painted the ceiling and walls Calamine by Farrow and Ball. It was the perfect jumping off point for the rest of the room. Custom cabinets and lucite hardware lend a classic but sophisticated touch to the room. I even created an en entire bank of cabinets dedicated to handbags and shoes! And the finishing touch is the leopard carpet. I have to say, It is my favorite part of the whole house!

Outdoor. We live in the Bay Area, California where the housing prices are insane and lot sizes are miniscule. So creating an outdoor living area is an extension of our indoors and allows us more room to move about.

Our front porch is a favorite spot year round. We have these 2 Serena and Lily hanging chairs that we just adore! It is the perfect spot to watch the kids play with the neighbors and also a place to enjoy a glass of wine after the kids are in bed.

I love updating the pillows with the season. I like being able to change the color scheme so easily with a quick switch out of pillows. We have an outdoor bar that holds cold drinks and snacks that gets used more often than not!

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Petit Bouquet

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A Modern Ballroom Wedding at the Top of Aspen Mountain

I’ve only ever attended one wedding in Aspen and it was perhaps one of the most spectacular weddings I’ve ever seen. The colors of the open air backdrop are almost too pretty to compare – like a painting that has delicately and beautifully come to life. Give the incredible talent that is Jose Villa his camera – and a chic couple like Sterling McDavid and Carey Dorman – and the only word that comes to mind is…magic. Bluebird Productions is behind the coordination and I’m pretty sure the first word to will escape upon seeing this affair will be “wow.” Click here to see the whole gallery.

From the Bride…The last thing I had in mind when starting my career at Goldman Sachs in New York was dating, especially dating someone at work. After many long work days, I was casually introduced to Carey by a colleague. From the moment we met, I remember thinking Carey was unlike any guy I had ever met in my life. He was genuine, funny and off-the-charts intelligent. After nearly a year as friends, he finally asked me on our first date. From that moment, we never looked back.

I immediately told Carey I think we should vacate the area, but he insisted that we go take a look. He walked me towards the water and got down on one knee. A violin started playing and a photographer jumped out from behind some foliage to capture the moment. I was beyond surprised! It was the most incredible moment I had ever experienced. Following the over-the-top proposal, we sat for a private beach dinner and watched the sunset. It was the most magical evening!

We were quick to decide on Aspen, CO for the wedding destination given it is our favorite place on earth. We love spending any time of year in Aspen, but our favorite time of year is summer given we are avid hikers. We wanted nothing more than to share our favorite place with our closest friends and family. My family has been going to Aspen for over 40 years so that also made it extra special.

Our wedding was at none other than the Top of Aspen Mountain which is our favorite place to hike to and escape. It is so magical! Our guests kept repeating that our wedding weekend was like a fairy tale and we couldn’t agree more. I got to marry the love of my life in the most beautiful setting with our closest friends and family. It just doesn’t get any better than that!

Charming Colorado Wedding With a Few Raindrops

We’ve said it hundreds and hundreds of times on Style Me Pretty… you absolutely, positively, without a doubt need a video of your wedding day! Trust us when we say that. You will be so sorry and wish you had included a wedding videographer in your budget — if you don’t. Proof is in each and every video we post on SMP. So… kick back, relax and enjoy this short wedding film from Creative Films of Mary and Jake’s heart-warming Colorado wedding celebration.
[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/256081749 600 338]

From Creative Films… Mary and Jake had a beautiful weekend surrounded by family and friends in one of the most stunning settings in the world! They didn’t even let a surprise pop-up rain storm slow down their ceremony. They just got out the umbrellas, guests covered up with towels and we all continued celebrating with them. Their smiles never wavered and they were married in the end!

You Just Can’t Beat a Classic Celebration

We fall in love with weddings on the daily. It comes with the territory and this last installment of Erich McVey greatness is guaranteed to be a fast favorite. From first glance at the tulle and lace Mira Zwillinger gown to the open air vineyard reception designed by Ginny Au and the jewel toned florals crafted by Bows and Arrows, this day is classic to the core. Pop over here for even more.

From Ginny Au…Nestled in the hills of Santa Ynez, Sunstone Villa provided the perfect combination of modern and old world for Olivia Claire & Stuart’s wedding. It’s no surprise that the couple and their families traveled all the way from Alabama the get there. The indoor spaces are filled with light and full of character, and the outdoor landscapes range from lush vineyards to sun-kissed fields.

The couple brought together an incredibly talented team of creatives who delivered their finest work and executed their designs flawlessly. Ginny Au designed & styled the event, and worked with the couple to accentuate the existing beauty of the venue with natural greens, soft linens and silk ribbons incorporated into the design of the day. Script Merchant and Kaela Rawson collaborated on an amazing suite of paper goods. On top of the stunning bouquet and centerpieces, Bows & Arrows created a unique floral installation, inside of which Olivia Claire & Stuart exchanged vows.

The ceremony took place two hours before sunset, just when the light began to soften. At the reception, guests enjoyed an open air setup with string lights and candles, and arrived at their tables to find striking charcuterie boards. Seasons Catering created a family style meal, and live music and signature cocktails rounded out this lovely day for the couple and their guests.

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TEAM Hair and Makeup

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Bows and Arrows

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Roaming the Streets of Pienza and the Hills of Tuscany with These Cuties!

We are so pumped to have Erich McVey taking over SMP today! I met Erich at a workshop many moons ago and knew pretty instantly that he was the good stuff. Obviously all talent. But also incredibly kind and authentic which to me is the special sauce. So, when he sent us over this amazing engagement shoot, I squealed. Because A. It’s beautiful. But B. it’s also the photographs of an amazing photographer and great friend of mine, Leila Brewster, and her cute hubs Joel whom I have been hearing about forever! So it’s sort of a love fest all around!

From the bride… We loved having the idea of doing our wedding in Tuscany. We had envisioned the rolling hills of Tuscany as our backdrop and found our wedding venue outside of Pienza. We loved exploring the neighboring towns and loved both Pienza and Montepulciano the best! For the shoot, we just wanted to have some fun and incorporate a little bit of our love and sense of travel and adventure into our wedding memories! Joel and I met while traveling and one of the first adventures we did was scooter around the island of Antigua (where we met).

Photography: Erich McVey Photography | Vintage Lambretta: Vintage Tours

Pantone’s Ultraviolet is the Inspiration for this Dreamy Editorial

From Angelica Marie Photography… There are many brides who may be wondering how to incorporate Pantone’s Color of the Year, Ultraviolet, into their wedding design. After all, this bright and saturated color is a far cry from the muted tones we’ve seen in recent years, such as rose quartz and serenity. Chic + Pretty Events, Moss Floral Design and many other talented wedding pros got together to illustrate how using Ultraviolet can take your wedding decor to all new heights.

More from Angelica… Pops of ultraviolet in wedding florals and stationery, when mixed in with softer purples and yellows will exude a bold and imaginative element to any wedding design. For our shoot, Alexandra Grecco’s Amelie gown was the perfect, delicate touch to accentuate the bold hints of violet. The bright colors were also complemented by the beautiful all-white spaces of The Grand Ivory, a new wedding venue in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Little Black Book members who were a part of this lovely editorial shoot include: Tenth and Grace, Bella Acento, Lovely Bride and Bella Belle Shoes

Come for the Bali Backdrop, Stay for the Dreamy Black Tie Affair

You all are in for such a treat because today we are diving into three insanely beautiful features from friend and photographer extraordinaire, Erich McVey. First up is a destination affair like no other. When we think of Bali, it’s all tropical beaches and lush greenery and this wedding definitely has all of that. BUT, it also incorporates a fully decked out black tie celebration designed by Joy Proctor and planned by Wedding Atelier, along with florals by Bows and Arrows. It’s crazy gorgeous with a side of vacation wanderlust.

From Joy Proctor… Erin and Matt’s wedding was inspired by the beauty and culture of Bali. The neutral color palette of creme, taupe and green with gold and wood accents were taken from the landscape and architecture of Bali. The historic Villas at Khayangan Estate set the perfect backdrop for the oceanfront event. Guests were greeted with fresh coconuts and they made their way to the ceremony. After exchanging vows, the couple invited their guests for drinks and canapés as the sun set. The reception was held in a draped tent with woven lamps hanging overhead. The tables were filled with locally foraged flowers and heavy candlelight. Much of the design was inspired by Erin’s stunning Naeem Kahn gown. The lace pattern was used throughout the stationery as well as the cake including laser cut invitations and menus.

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Bows and Arrows

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Joy Proctor Design

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