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

A Garden Wedding Inspired by the Couple’s Love of Art

It’s not every day you come across a wedding quite as striking as this. And that’s saying a lot coming from an editor who sees pretty amazing nuptials on the reg. No surprise, vendor masterminds like A Modern Plan were behind the scenes on the making of this art-inspired celebration, and our beloved Jose Villa worked his usual magic behind the lens.

From the planner, A Modern Plan… Katie + Clark are both from Alaska. They met in high school and are simply the most lovely couple. They share a strong love of art and traveling. Their wedding was filled with lots of personal touches. Katie’s love of the quaint flower shops in Paris was echoed in the beautiful abundant blooms displayed in vintage flower buckets by Brown Paper Design.

Clark and Katie’s affection of the arts was seen throughout their day. In the programs created by the bride and also their menus. Each menu had a print of one of their favorite paintings or drawings. The week leading up to the wedding date showed rain in the forecast. The rain added such an intimate touch to their day. A beautiful tent was set up at Beaulieu Garden for their reception and guests gathered around their ceremony with clear umbrellas. Such a beautiful day.

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Photography

Jose Villa Photography

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The Details in These Gowns are Everything

In the world of dreamy wedding gowns, Morilee Madeline Gardner can seriously do no wrong. And their newest Reflections Collection? One of their best yet. Think beyond stunning styles boasting 3-D florals, sparkles + sequins and figure-flattering silhouettes just waiting to steal the spotlight. Yep, this is a collection that is all about the details… and it’s sooo gorgeous.

Whether you’re saying “I do” in a traditional ceremony at your family church or tying the knot in a more laid-back setting, the Morilee Madeline Gardner Reflections Collection has everything you’ve ever wanted… and so much more. From the dramatic detachable trains to the intricate details to the silky smooth fabrics, every last piece in this breathtaking collection will WOW each and every one of you guests and have you dancing the night away like a total princess. We love that.

From beautiful ball gowns to sassy fit and flares to A-line pretties, the Morilee Madeline Gardner Reflections Collection is your go-to for that gown of your dreams. Visit them today to start perusing the beautiful options… we can’t wait to see which gown you rock on the Big Day, lovelies.

The Most Glamorous Wedding Overlooking the Houston Skyline

Imagine the most glamorous affair on the planet and then kick it up a few hundred notches and you get this Texas-sized celebration. Crafted by A Fare Extraordinaire along with Harper Events, Events in Bloom and imagery by Aisha Khan, it’s a day that blends modern with luxurious and all while looking out over a breathtaking Houston skyline.

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Summer Weddings

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Ballroom Weddings

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Glamorous

From A Fare Extraordinaire… I loved working with Brett and Meagan Burgin to create the perfect menu and dinner layout for their big day! By working hand-in-hand with wedding planner Hedi Shankleton, of Harper Events, and Rob Smith, of Events in Bloom, we were able to turn their dream wedding into reality so they could embrace this very special life moment. Their vision was an industrial-chic themed wedding, with acrylic furniture and pops of light pink, hot pink and metallic colors. The gorgeous wedding overlooked the Houston city skyline through the windows of The Astorian. This 14,000-square foot, bi-level, private space is located within a landmark Houston building with 14-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing downtown Houston. It served as the idyllic space to set the tone for an industrial-chic scene, especially with its beautiful overhead lights for both the ceremony and reception. It was very important to the bride and groom that their guests enjoyed every minute of the wedding and decided to deviate from some of the more traditional details to focus on celebrating this momentous occasion. Here at A Fare Extraordinaire, our typical wedding involves a seated meal or buffet dinner. It was so fun to get creative with the couple and plan a unique menu. The food was served on small composed plates in the lounge area. In lieu of a wedding cake and ceremonial cake-cutting, A Fare Extraordinaire passed dessert bites around the dancefloor so guests could continue dancing the night away with little interruption. To add the final touches to the event design, each table was topped with gorgeous floral arrangements, created by Events in Bloom, incorporating the pops of light and hot pink colors. Front and center on this magical night was the gorgeous bride in her Loretta Gown, by Galia Lahav, and the sharp-dressed groom dancing the night away and enjoying newlywed bliss!

This Minimal, Detroit Wedding Is a Work of Art

I don’t know what I love most about this wedding – the black and white color palette, the minimal letterpress stationery, the magnificent Detroit Institute of Arts venue, or the phenomenal Vera Wang dress (take a look at its stunning back cut out!). Every moment captured by Blaine Siesser Photography is modern yet timeless, and oh-so-good. But my favorite part of all is the intimacy of the gathering. Wanting to show their appreciation for their friends and family, the bride and groom gave handwritten, personalized letters to each of their beloved guests.

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From the Bride…. We wanted the wedding to feel more like an intimate dinner party for our guests and for each one of our guests to know how much we appreciated them being there. Celebrating with family and friends was the cornerstone of our day as well as staying true to our individual styles, so it was very important to us that the guest list was small and that the venue was private. Knowing that most of our guests would be coming from out of town, we also wanted the celebration to feel very iconic of the city Detroit. As we searched for wedding venues, we couldn’t help but feel like they all started to look the same until we saw the DIA. The marble flooring and intricate murals created the most perfect foundation for our unique vision. In addition to having one of the most amazing art collections in the world, we loved that the museum exhibited all the French architecture that inspired the design of the city.

The venue dictated the style of the day – modern yet timeless. The dress, the invitations, the photographer, and the décor for the day all flowed from there. In many ways, it was a challenge to find simple, elegant, and modern elements that highlighted how timeless we wanted the day to feel. To put our own personal touch – and as a gesture of appreciation – we gave each guest a handwritten letter, individually describing how much we appreciated their friendship and support, and had the letters waiting at their table settings.

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Wedding Dresses

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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A Winter Wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Take all the elegance of a winter wedding and pair that with mountainside scenery and you’ll have the essence of this day captured by Adam Barnes Photography. All white florals and greenery accents dressed up the indoor setting, and we kindly invite you to see every moment for yourself.

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From the Bride… When we began to plan our wedding day, we knew we wanted to honor our families’ American and Korean traditions, highlight our Ohio and Virginia roots, and keep the day intimate with our families and closest friends. Through all of the planning, it was important to us to focus on the real reason for the day: our love and lifetime commitment to one another.

We chose Charlotteville, Virginia because we spent many weekends meeting there during our two-and-a-half-year long-distance relationship. As our wedding weekend was a “destination” for 100% of our guests, we knew we wanted our guests to experience the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. King Family Vineyards, our favorite winery in the area with its spectacular views, was the perfect location. We had visited many times during our long-distance relationship and knew that it was beautiful in all seasons, including winter. We also knew that it would be a place that we could revisit for years to come. Every year on our anniversary, we plan to open a bottle of King Family’s Meritage wine that we served at our wedding.

Above all, we wanted to remember our wedding day as classic, timeless, and “us.” We first had a traditional Christian ceremony in the carriage house. We held firm in our decision to not do a first look before the ceremony, opting instead to follow tradition and wait until I walked down the aisle. We will never regret that decision. Seeing each other for the first time when those doors opened is something that we will both remember forever. A longer cocktail hour in the carriage house gallery accommodated wedding party photos and allowed our guests to experience sunset in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Before sitting for dinner, we had a second ceremony: a traditional Korean paebaek (bowing) ceremony to honor our families. My amazing mother ensured that every Korean custom was authentic, down to the silk tablecloths and wooden ducks that were brought over from South Korea, the Korean wine that we served our elders, and personally preparing the nine different snacks and Korean jujubes (dates) on the table. The traditional screen that served as the backdrop for the ceremony was hand-painted by my talented grandmother, a Korean folk artist, and shipped over from South Korea.

We approached the planning process as an introduction to marriage – a true partnership. We worked together to design and create the day-of paper goods, including the ceremony programs, menus, and cork place cards. All of the signs were designed and calligraphed by me, and ultimately inspired me to start my own lettering business on the side, The Write Decision, fully encouraged by Michael. We were also incredibly fortunate to work with the best team of vendors. The talented Alyssa Kristin (along with Lesley Bartosek at B.Loved Bridal Boutique) custom-designed my wedding dress, turning my hope for a timelessly elegant dress with sleeves into reality. Amy and her team at Blue Ridge Floral Design perfectly captured our vision of simple, beautiful greenery. And, of course, Adam Donovan-Groves of Donovan-Groves Events, as well as The Local catering led by Helen Osinga, brought our day to life and ensured that the day went seamlessly. Every moment was wonderfully captured by Adam Barnes Photography and eMotion Pictures Wedding Films. It was such a happy day – not counting every day thereafter.

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Petit Bouquet

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From Romantic Vacation Destination to Picture Perfect Wedding Venue

After a holiday in a wildly romantic spot like Puglia, it is completely understandable that you would never ever want to leave. Rather than move their, this Bride and Groom, did the next best thing… they got married in the very spot where they had vacationed. Surrounded by olive treas, a view of the mediterranean and the gorgeous Italian countryside, this destination wedding planned by The Italian Wedding Company and gorgeously captured by Les Amis Photo just might make you plan a little vacay to Puglia too.

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Summer Weddings

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Al Fresco

Beth and Joe decided to get married in Puglia, Italy, after a holiday. They felt in love with white houses, wild landascape and good food and wine. The warm welcoming of the people made the rest. The color palette was based on the tones of white and blue. The setting was delicate, organic and elegant. The masseria, typical puglia house, was designed as a boat with the view on the mediterranean sea , surrounded by olive trees and and wild countryside.

Ultra Romantic Wedding Inspiration in Old Havana

I could just lie in these pics all day long, surrounded by the fabric and florals and so, so much beauty. Between the classic old Havana spirit and the gorgeous work by Designs by Hemingway, this shoot from Matthew Ree’s workshop in Cuba earlier this year is pure magic. Sit back, relax and travel back to a place with dreamy dresses, stunning sites and more – all in our Vault right this way!

From Matthew Ree… We had attendees from all over the US and England attend our first photography workshop in Havana, Cuba. This was our second trip to Cuba in one year and we saw changes right away. Upon landing, we noticed a new terminal in the airport for all the exploding arrivals coming from the US. In the city of Havana, there were new hotels being built, tour buses on all major roads, and the American tourists from cruise boats were flooding the streets of Old Havana. If you want to see Havana before it really changes, plan a trip now!

We are still in love with the romance and charm of this cultural city. The weathered patina colors of buildings, amazing textures, patterned tiles, and narrow streets are like no where else. The ombre glow at sunset is beautiful against dilapidated grandeur buildings of era’s past. It really is a photographer’s dream come true to be there now before the big changes come. All the attendees were mesmerized by its charm. Cuba has a way of making you immediately feel like you have stepped back into a time warp. We had four days with all the photographers styling shoots around the city during the day and riding around in vintage cars at night exploring some of the city’s best paladors.

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Wedding Dresses

Claire Pettibone

Couture Bridal

Fall 2015 Romantique

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Wedding Dresses

Grace Loves Lace

The Golden Hour

Wedding Dresses 2012/2013

La Nouvelle

B L A N C

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Rustic + Colorful South Carolina Wedding

I love a bride that’s not afraid of a little color, and this lively South Carolina wedding is exactly why. From the dapper, pink bow ties and the turquoise, cowboy boots to the soft, seafoam gowns and the whimsical, peachy florals, every ounce of this wedding is cheery and bright. Be sure to check out all the photos by Dana Cubbage Weddings, because this colorful celebration is pretty as a peach.

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From Dana Cubbage Weddings… From the moment I arrived to the bridal suite on the morning of Maegan’s wedding, I knew it was going to be such an amazing day. Maegan is truly one of a kind. She is so kind, so laid back, so excited about everything happening around her! Her enthusiasm and pure joy during the wedding day made documenting it all such a breeze, and this was a wedding that I’ll never forget. It was stunning and simply a blast. Maegan and Eric know how to throw a fabulous party!

After Maegan and Eric shared a beautiful first look under the Oaks in front of the River Course at Kiawah, just outside of Charleston, SC, we zipped through photos and tucked everyone away before guests started to arrive for the ceremony. Their riverfront ceremony was GORGEOUS. I just LOVE that view and backdrop! Maegan and Eric enjoyed cocktail hour with their family and friends before heading to their reception. The decor was so beautiful, and the florals were AMAZING. Sara York Grimshaw knows what she’s doing when it comes to fun, whimsical florals! The dance floor was packed all night, and the newlyweds held it down with their family and friends. At the end of the night, they hopped into a golf cart and headed off.

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Wedding Dresses

Sareh Nouri

Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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The Cutest French Café Wedding Ever

Dom and Amanda first met at a restaurant, so celebrating their wedding at Colette Grand Café felt like coming full circle. They wanted an intimate affair with only their closet friends and family, and the pros behind Lexington and Co. Events helped them achieve exactly that. Amanda stunned in an ethereal Carol Hannah skirt, which was graciously gifted by a fellow bride she met online! Read the full story below and don’t miss a single image from the incredible ARTIESE Studios.

From the bride, Amanda… Dom and I met in the summer of 2014, shortly after he moved to Toronto, at a busy downtown restaurant. Being the cheeky flirt that I am, I took off his baseball hat and put it on my head. He later told me that he fell in love in that moment. One drink turned into dinner, which turned into a second dinner at another restaurant down the street, and so began our shared love of good food, good wine, laughter, and being together. We have been inseparable ever since.

We wanted to create a special, intimate celebration with just close family and friends. As soon as we walked into Colette Grand Café, we fell in love with the space and booked it right away. The décor is classic French style: warm and elegant. The ceremony took place in the sunny white latticework pavilion outside, framed with hanging ivy pots and a floral backdrop.

We have such a talented group of artists in our family and circle of friends, and they added so much sparkle to the day. Family and friends played acoustic Edith Piaf and Beatles songs during the ceremony and classic love songs by Dean Martin during the cocktail reception. My mom read a beautiful indigenous poem that left not a dry eye in the room. My aunts did makeup and dress alterations, and my cousin made our vintage-inspired, delicious wedding cake. Exquisite details by my sister-in-law, who runs a DIY blog, tied everything together with a bow.

I would be remiss not to mention a very special person I met throughout this process. When we started planning the wedding, I came across the dress online. It was a skirt, actually. An ethereal, blush pink linen skirt worn by a beautiful bride named Katie who lives in Pennsylvania. I called a store in Toronto that carries the designer, Carol Hannah, told them I wanted to buy the skirt, and made a fitting appointment. My mom and I showed up on appointment day to take measurements, and when we got there, the owner of the shop told me that there had been a mixup, and that my dress wouldn’t arrive in time for the wedding. I was heartbroken. I called seamstresses to see if it could be recreated. It couldn’t. I called other boutiques across North America that sold the skirt. No one would sell me a sample. As a last resort, I emailed the photographer, who photographed Katie’s wedding, and explained the situation. The photographer promised me he would contact her. That night, I got an email from Katie. She said she wanted me to have the dress, and that she would put it in the mail the next day. Her only request was that I send her a picture of me in the dress, so that she could put it next to hers. I will never tire of telling this story. It’s an uplifting reminder of the good in people, and the kind of person I want to be.

Special thanks to our wedding planner Lexi for bringing our vision to life, and photographer Therese for capturing the most memorable day of our lives with such grace and professionalism. We ate dinner by candlelight, we laughed, and we cried. Just me, my best friend, and the people we love. It was the perfect way to start our life together.

A Seriously Chic Industrial Wedding

When the bride works in fashion, you know her big day style is going to be impeccable. Between the Suzanne Neville short-sleeved gown and the statement-making bridal party who nailed the mismatched look, this wedding by Polka Dot Events is a fashionista’s dream. You won’t want to miss any of Ashley Caroline’s photos all waiting for you right here.

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Summer Weddings

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Industrial

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Modern

From Polka Dot Events… Jessica and Brent met during college when Brent visited their mutual friend, Kyle, who was attending Fordham University with Jessica. However, the timing was never right, and their relationship did not truly begin until years later at Kyle’s wedding when they were finally both single. The pair immediately reconnected, and they maintained a long distance relationship with Jessica in New York City and Brent in Chicago until Brent moved to New York shortly before their engagement.

For their wedding, Jessica and Brent knew they wanted an event that would bring all their friends and family together on a weekend escape without being too far from home. Jessica’s family is from Connecticut, Brent’s is from Lancaster, and their friends are from NYC, so Beacon, New York was the perfect spot! The two families rented an Airbnb property in Cold Spring, New York – close to the venue – where Jessica and her girlfriends shared a relaxing morning getting ready for the Friday evening wedding. The families also hosted a post-wedding brunch pool party on Saturday at the Airbnb.

As a fashion marketing professional and the owner of Jessica Allyn Design + Decor (a custom furniture refurbishing company), Jessica had a clear vision for her wedding day design. She chose to showcase the sleek, industrial decor of the Roundhouse with greenery and white floral centerpieces, which softened the room and brought in a natural element while still maintaining the venue’s modern and simple ambiance. Guests were greeted by a “Goodies” table including colorful pocket squares for men, as well as hankies, umbrellas, and custom fans for the ceremony.

Their ceremony was officiated by Kyle, the very same friend from college who introduced them, and the couple read their own vows. Brent’s Best Man was his father and Jessica’s Maid of Honor was her sister. After the ceremony, the escort cards were displayed in small frames under Jessica’s large collection of antique wedding cake toppers that she had been collecting since she was a little girl for this very day. The couple enjoyed a night of happy and emotional toasts from family, and they danced the night away with their families and friends from college, home, and city life. After the reception, everyone headed to the Roundhouse Hotel for an after-party and pizza!