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

A Chic San Francisco City Hall Wedding Filled With Filipino Traditions

This classic wedding, done in a green and white color palette, is all sorts of chic. Dream A Little Dream Events planned the timeless day and filled it with special touches, while Soulflower Design Studio brought the couple’s love story to life with lush white floral design. Imagery captured by Adriana Klas beautifully documents all the heartfelt emotions of the day; head to the full gallery to fall in love with all the lovely.

From Adriana Klas… The ceremony took place in San Francisco City Hall’s stunning rotunda, with the grand staircase as a backdrop. Starlite Strings quartet played songs from Stephanie & Gabriel’s favorite Wicked and Hadestown musicals for the wedding party to walk down the aisle. The bride carried a classic bouquet with cream garden roses, ranunculus, and dahlias, accented by a sentimental pendant commemorating Stephanie’s dear father, who passed. Their wedding ceremony, officiated by Lili Goodman-Freitas of Weddings of Heart, incorporated Filipino wedding traditions, including tying of the nuptial cord, coin blessing, and the veil ceremony.

After the ceremony, guests ascended the grand staircase to enjoy cocktail hour on the Mayor’s Balcony. The menu created by Global Gourmet Catering incorporated Filipino and Asian inspiration and Hawaiian elements, paying homage to the bride’s background and her time living in Honolulu. Glazed pork belly lettuce wraps, and tiny thai tombo tuna tacos were passed during cocktail hour. The Calamansi Margarita specialty cocktail featured fresh juice from the Filipino citrus fruit. And their desserts highlighted tropical ingredients such as coconut tapioca, mango, and passionfruit.

The vendor team, led by their wedding planner, Camille Jacinto Hale at Dream A Little Dream Events, flipped the Rotunda to an elegant dinner. The color palette was white and green with a touch of blue and silver. Tables were adorned with romantic florals designed by SSoulflower Design Studio. The place settings featured Theoni Collection’s Babele blue and white chargers with vintage silverware and platinum-rimmed crystal stemware. After dinner, the couple and their guests danced the night away in City Hall’s North Light Court, and Last Wave Productions kept the dance floor packed all night long.

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Adriana Klas

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Magnificent Maui Waterfront Wedding In Tones Of Dusty Blue

Destination wedding lovers have we got the dreamiest of days for you! This Maui wedding is nothing short of magical, all expertly planned by White Orchid Weddings. From the oceanfront ceremony to the bloom-filled tented reception, floral design by Teresa Sena Designs is a feast for the eyes. The love and joy of the day radiate through elegant imagery artfully captured by Dmitri and Sandra Photography; you can see it all inside the full gallery.

From the Mother of The Bride…Stephen surprised all of us with the most romantic – and unique proposal of all time! Having made a very special trip to Elizabeth’s hometown – I shall say island – Stephen came packed full of surprises! Tricking Elizabeth’s parents, he invited them to lunch at Mama’s Fish House – Elizabeth wasn’t invited, but their son was. When we arrived, we were surprised to see that the reason for our lunch was for him to ask for her hand in marriage. More than happy we all jumped for joy and celebrated. As a crazy fun twist to the story he had actually purchased a cow – yes a cow – well prior to the engagement that was raised on Maui to gift to them as a dowry. It was delivered later that day! After lunch Stephen surprised Elizabeth, inviting her down to the family taro patch, which had very special meaning to them all. That is where he got down on his knee in the mud, her in the mud too, to ask her to be his wife. From there the planning began.

From Carolee Higashino of White Orchid Weddings… Elizabeth and Stephen chose to be married in a very intimate ceremony in Makena, Maui, at their family’s oceanfront beach house. This breathtaking spot, with its white sandy beach and sunset to die for, was exactly what they were looking for. They both held many years of treasured memories at this very spot. Elizabeth chose to create a very breezy ocean elegant vibe and even hand-painted her own save the dates, invitations, and place cards as a special touch. Fishing is a huge part of both of their families and also a passion of Stephen’s, so the theme ran throughout. Their menu consisted of a very abundant raw bar including oysters, poke, sashimi, and especially local delicacies such as Opihi and of course, freshly caught fish by her fiancé, brother, and father. Lavender martinis from a local lavender grower were especially enjoyed as well as local brews and libations. After their sunset photos on the lava point, the party continued into the night, lit by the brilliant stars overhead. But…That certainly wasn’t the end of this celebration. A few days after the wedding, the celebrations continued at Elizabeth and Stephen’s very own home in the beautiful valley of Waiehu. With traditional Hawaiian flair, they threw a Grand Luau with their closest friends. After months of bulldozing and rock building the dream of her very own waterfall came to life and was the backdrop for the event. In Hawaiian, it is said that if you ‘Malama the ‘Aina’ – take care of the land – you will be blessed. Every single member of the family, including the children, put their hands in the soil and took part in the preparation. The traditional imu ceremony (underground pig roast) started the day before with friends and family, along with the stringing of lei for all of the guest arrivals. Giant rings of tropical flowers hung overhead and along tables along with a colorful floral ceiling in their lounge. Hawaiian music, mai tais, and lilikoi tarts were abundant and a special Lockeford Sausage roast was shared as Stephen’s hometown favorite! Elizabeth’s beautiful classmates from childhood performed a lovely hula show bringing tears of joy to all. The most wonderful thing about this day was that everyone in their ‘Ohana (family) took part in some way. The gorgeous smiles, laughter, and joy will forever make this day one that will always be cherished. As Elizabeth’s mother and wedding planner, the most special part of the wedding was planning and designing a dream wedding day for my daughter and son-in-law.

From the Bride… I have been going to the White Orchid Beach House since I was in elementary school and I knew without a doubt that was where I wanted to be married. What mattered to us most at our wedding was intimacy. We wanted to be surrounded by a small group of family and friends to share a few happy tears with, as we marked the official start of our family. Ok…maybe it was more than just a few tears. The design was very important for us. We opted for a simple, elegant, and timeless design that worked with the natural beauty of the island and venue. We also wanted amazing food. From the moment our guest arrived to the moment they left, there was always something yummy nearby to eat. Our advice to future couples would be to do things that are meaningful to you as a couple and don’t make your decisions based on others’ opinions. The highlights of our wedding were the most personal elements, such as – our ceremony which Stephen’s childhood friend led, Stephen’s Vows, and our 8-year-old son’s unplanned speech. Our last piece of advice is to get a wedding planner. If I didn’t have my mom and sister to guide me through the process, I think I would have missed a ton of the details and elements of wedding planning.

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BBJ La Tavola

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Dmitri and Sandra Photography

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Seaside Wedding in Maui With All White Bridesmaids Dresses

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Audrey & Tyler’s wedding day had an organic, tropical feel starting with a color palette of what and shades of greenery accented with pops of soft, sunset hues. The sunset hues consisted of pink and peach tones with hints of yellow.

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Audrey & Tyler’s main focus of their wedding day was to create a relaxed and fun atmosphere for their guests with amazing food and drinks. They also requested for their guests to wear shades of white attire for more of a laid-back feel! Locally sourced flowers were also a main focus of our couple. Our bride’s bouquet only consisted of locally sourced flowers from farms on the islands of Maui and Hawai’i. Guests were seated on natural light-wood tables and chairs set in a u-shape formation of which a minimal yet playful display of flowers went down the center of the table. We also include palm-printed napkins and a cute sea shell with guests’ names on each for guests to keep after the wedding.

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Tyler and I were visiting the beautiful Maui island for the first time and he told me long before to not get any ideas and that he was not going to propose to me in Hawaii. Tyler had planned this whole fishing trip and kept reminding me that we had to be super early so that I could drive him to the dock. On the day of the fishing trip, Tyler surprised me and said that instead, we were going to a luxury day spa. I should have suspected it because Tyler hates massages! Haha, but I had no idea what he was planning. We had a lovely time at the spa, then went to grab sushi at Miso Phat. While driving back Tyler wanted to stop at this beach. He kept driving up and down saying how perfect this beach was for a swim I’m trying to put on my swimsuit in the car and Tyler was flustered like “no, you don’t need it don’t worry!” We get to the beach and it is a beautiful perfect day. I look out to the ocean and turn back and Tyler is on one knee with a ring in his hand.

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Our bride’s wedding gown was from Grace Loves Lace BHLDN and it was full of texture and laced elements.

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Audrey wanted the Bridesmaid’s dresses to be all white keeping with the theme! The beautiful matching dresses were from BHLDN.

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Food was a very important part of our couple’s wedding day. Guests enjoyed local favorites such as kalua pork wontons and braised short ribs for dinner.

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The flowers were a very important aspect of our couple’s wedding day. Bella Bloom created a beautiful floral circle consisting of all Hawaiian tropical flowers. The circle had flowers grouped together to create a monochromatic and organic design. The tables also consisted of a variety of flowers such as ginger, anthuriums, and orchids that were grouped together and not mixed.

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Our bride’s best friend and bridesmaid designed and made her veil! It flowed beautifully and paired nicely with her wedding dress.

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Dmitri and Sandra Photography

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Tradition, Style, and FUN Reigned Supreme at This Springtime Charleston Wedding

Today’s fashion-forward Lowcountry wedding is a Southern Belle’s dream! Bright colors, classic blooms by Vero Designs and joy jumping off the page are just a few things you can expect to find at the full gallery of inspiration, all captured by the always fabulous Anne Rhett Photography! 💕

How did you meet?

From the Bride… Connor played soccer at College of Charleston with a lot of boys from Charleston, where I (Katharine) am from. Connor and I had lots of mutual friends, and I always had a crush on Connor. When we finally went on our first date after college, I learned that he is so much more than a handsome face. We fell in love fast.

Tell us about the proposal!

Connor works out at Kiawah River, which is a beautiful area of land along the Kiawah River on Johns Island, SC. The land was privately owned, then purchased to build on so a lot of the land is still natural. We love to take our dog, Bourbon, out there to run around in the woods and find trails along the river to explore. One Saturday morning, Connor said he had to go out there to do a few things from work so suggested we take Bourbon out to run. I happily agreed as it was a beautiful fall day and we love to take him there when we can. I put on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and duck boots, thinking we would be frolicking through nature for a couple of hours. He walked out in a nicer outfit because he was going to have to “see” a few homeowners, took one look at me and said, “you also may see some homeowners, maybe put on something a little bit nicer?” So I went for a shirt I hadn’t worn in 8 years, my grubby jeans and a pair of tennis shoes not knowing what the heck was in store. We get out to Kiawah River and head to the area where we love to walk along the river, and he proposed! Looking back, I absolutely wish my hair had been washed and that I was wearing something different, but I love that it was a total surprise! I still smile thinking back on it : )

How did you choose your wedding venue and aesthetic?

Connor is from Atlanta, so I wanted to use this opportunity to show his guests the true Charleston experience that I grew up loving. We got married at the St. Phillips Church, a gorgeous historic building with the oldest congregation in the state. More importantly, this is the same church where I was baptized and confirmed as a child and where my whole family has been married (and buried!). It was so special to have my own milestone moment in a space with such familial significance. We hosted our rehearsal dinner and reception at private local clubs that also carry lifelong memories for me, and I hope our guests loved seeing these venues.

What was the date of your wedding? April 23, 2022

Can you walk us through your thought process for clothing, jewelry, wedding ring/bands and beauty for rehearsal and wedding?

I wasn’t sure what I wanted but “knew” I did not want a strapless dress. I made my debut in college and remember the girls that chose strapless dresses were constantly pulling them up and readjusting. I walked into Maddison Row South and was helped by the lovely Michelle and she said, “would you just try one dress on for me that I don’t think you would pull from the rack yourself?”. I put it on and my sister and mom both said, “Katharine!!!” and I agreed, the dress was so much more than just strapless. The structure and detail, the fit – it was stunning. I tried on several styles after and kept thinking about that one dress, I came back a second time just to be sure and it confirmed that I had fallen in love with the dress. I owe it all to Michelle.

For jewelry, I wore my late maternal grandmother’s diamond earrings in classic diamond jackets, my late maternal grandmother’s sapphire ring that was my something blue, my sister’s dainty necklace dusted with diamonds that was my something borrowed, and a collection of pearl bracelets that were given to me by my now late fraternal grandmother. (My something new was my dress, my something old was the family veil I wore). My jewelry was simple, but special and meaningful. Connor created my engagement ring around my maternal grandmother’s diamond, he could not have done a better job (especially since we had never talked about it and I didn’t even know what I preferred! It turns out he has great instincts.) We picked our bands out at Croghan’s Jewel Box and I wanted something that would not take away from my engagement ring. I chose a small diamond infinity band and he chose a classic gold band.

Connor wore a custom black tux, suspenders, velvet loafers and custom, gorgeous Brackish bowtie that he also gifted to all his groomsmen. I may be biased, but I think he was truly the most handsome groom I have ever seen!

The groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos and all had the matching Brackish bowties. My friends have great style, so I let my bridesmaids wear what they wanted. They blew my expectations away!

Describe the ceremony!

We got married at St. Philip’s Church, which is where my sister, parents, grandparents and every member of my family on my father’s side were married. The preacher we asked to marry us grew up in Charleston and also went to Porter-Gaud (where I and my very talented photographer cousin, Anne, went) and his father and my mother grew up together. It was such a full circle moment.

How did you feel during the ceremony? To be honest, the adrenaline was pumping and totally took over, I don’t remember all that much of the ceremony. Having those doors open and every single pair of eyes on you is quite the experience. I hope my mother understands why I needed a sneaky shot of tequila before heading to the church : )

And how about the reception details?!

The reception was at The Carolina Yacht Club. We served three passed items: bacon wrapped quail with a balsamic bbq sauce, a pimento cheese and pickled okra crostini, and fried chicken sliders with bread & butter pickles and sweet hot sauce. We had two chef attended stations: braised beef short ribs with herbed polenta, wild mushroom & tomato ragout, parmesan, gremolata and fried shallots, and then also a ricotta gnocchi florentine with creamy presto, spinach, roasted tomatoes, parm and toasted brioche crumbs. And then we had a delicious display of sushi from our favorite sushi restaurant, Zen. Our band was ATL Groove Factory and oh. my. goodness. were they good! People were dancing from start to finish, abd I wish it had lasted another four hours! The band was our number one priority so it makes me beyond happy to still hear comments about how good the band was and how much fun people had.

What song did you dance your first dance to? You’re All I Need to Get By by The Queen, Aretha Franklin

What was your favorite part of the reception? Pure happiness and non-stop dancing!!! Our biggest wish was for all the people we love to be in one room and have fun together, the band (and alcohol) was the most important part! Having all of your best friends and family together to celebrate you, add in a bomb a** band, what else could you want in life? My cheeks hurt the next day from so much smiling, the word fulfilled was given a new meaning <3

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Anne Rhett Photography

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Art-Infused Intimate Outdoor Wedding At Nasher Sculpture Center

Creative couples will love this art-inspired wedding help at Nasher Sculpture Center! SilentTea Studio planned the well-thought-out day and infused the couple’s personality into every carefully curated detail. Just wait until you see the DIY seating chart using geometric building blocks! Floral design by Wedfully Yours adds to the elegance, and every special moment is spectacularly captured in time by Studio Opia. You’ll fall head over heels in love with every photo inside the full gallery.

From the bride… I love nature and art of Nasher Sculpture Center, and always wanted to have an intimate outdoor wedding surrounded by both of the elements. Nasher offers timeless and whimsical feelings I had always wanted, luscious greeneries, swaying willow trees, bubbling fountains, and the works of art by modern masters, which makes our wedding more special. Both the ceremony and reception spots have meaningful artistic concepts. The ceremony is in front of a sculpture called Squares and Two Circles. It is about the mutual relationships of the squares and circles. And the reception is in front of a sculpture piece called Eviva Amore, which means long live love.

We try to collaborate fairy and whimsical feelings with a modern and contemporary touch in my wedding designs and decorations. The sculptures from the museum definitely play a big part in our design. We incorporated geometric shapes and elements. One highlight is the DIY seating charts using geometric building blocks. And the wedding cakes and other small details also share the same concept.

Henry and I have very different personalities, he loves driving, and I am a terrible driver. He is very quiet, and I talk a lot. He is very spontaneous, and I like to plan ahead. However, together we complete each other. We can view and experience the world from different angles through each other. Fun fact: Thanksgiving 2019, we went to Maui Hawaii to attend my friend’s wedding and tour the island. We drove on one of the scenic highway called Road to Hana, which is also known as “Divorce Highway”. The road is really sketchy with sharp curves and narrow roads and therefore a super stressful long drive. We joked that if we did not break up after the trip, we would get married. And here we are. I was worried about the inclement weather since both the ceremony and reception are outdoor. May is one of the rainier months in Dallas. I kept checking the weather forecast and prayed for good weather. It turned out to be a sunny day, and the hottest day of the month. One thing I learned from wedding planning is to relax and think less about the details. Everything will turn out perfect on your big day.

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BBJ La Tavola

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Studio Opia

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Romantic Blush Winery Wedding In Sonoma

This unforgettable winery wedding is overflowing with inspiration. The sweet celebration was artfully planned by Natalie Choi Events who carefully curated each and every dreamy detail. From the outdoor ceremony to the tented reception, every inch of the celebration was filled with swoon-worthy floral design by Laura’s Floras. You can feel the love and joy of the day shining through elegant imagery shot by Meiwen Wang, visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the lovely.

From Natalie Choi Events… Tiffany and Jeffrey’s wedding was the culmination of their love of over 10 years, set in early fall nestled amongst the vineyards of Sonoma.

Filled with the softest and most romantic details, we wanted every detail to be a reflection of their sweet love. Tiffany wanted a color palette filled with soft pinks and blushes, paired with neutrals and many organic touches.

Guests enjoyed sparkling on tap from the cutest vintage bar cart, before dining under the trellis in the olive grove beneath a canopy of green vines.

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BBJ La Tavola

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American Style Wedding In The Netherlands With A Touch Of Blue

It’s elegance all the way at this fine-art wedding in the Netherlands with the prettiest pops of dusty blue. Perplexz Wedding Styling did the styling and coordination for this dream destination celebration, and floral design by Bloom Your Life filled the day with endless romance. Each incredible image captured by Wike Zijlstra Photography is more beautiful than the last; see all the incredible inspiration inside the full gallery.

From Wike Zijlstra Photography… Ashley and Terell met in 2014 in a comedy club when mutual friends both invited them to see a show. During the show, he wouldn’t stop talking to her and she thought he was very cute, so she let him walk her to her car when at that moment he asked her out for a date. Eight years – and three beautiful children – later, they got married in The Netherlands in American style. The bride is half American, half Dutch and the couple lives in the US. She told me it was actually an easy decision to choose Holland as their location. Since the bride’s mother was very sick at the time, she wasn’t able to travel. Based on a friend’s tip and the photos alone, they chose Buitenplaats Sparrendaal as their venue. The venue has a long history and has been restored with care with lots of classical details, which was a great starting point to build upon with the couple’s styling wishes.

From the bride… I have been designing my wedding since I was a little girl. Throughout the years it changed with the current trends, but the attire was always going to be black and white. Terell let me make the styling decisions as long as it wouldn’t be all pink, which is my favorite color. The inspiration for the blue came from the traditional Delfts blue, but we wanted to tone it down a little bit and eventually, we chose dusty blue as the base color. When it came to our ceremony, we wanted it to be American and personal, not just a standard run-of-the-mill ceremony. Since we are very close to The Halls family – with Amy as my Matron of Honor and bestie, and her husband Apollos well on his way to becoming an elder in our church – it was an easy decision to ask Apollos as our officiant. Apollos was the closest thing to a pastor we could get, and we knew he would do a great job incorporating God into our ceremony. Our friend’s daughter and our oldest Alijah, got to be the two flower girls and the oldest kids were so excited to finally witness a wedding. As a wedding planner myself I try to tell our children about my job, but now it felt so good to show them how a day filled with love looks like when mom and dad got to say “I do”. Alijah’s favorite part of the wedding was when we kissed at the ceremony. She said, “It was sooooooo romantic!”

From Bianca from Perplexz Wedding Styling… Being a wedding planner herself, Ashley had a clear vision of what she loves. Important was a fine art feeling, with lots of flowers, the classical Louis chair, and dusty blue. Very often I work together with Marte from Bloom Your Life, so we really made sure the styling and flowers combined into a beautiful soft, romantic, and timeless look. I loved combining both cultures by adding the Delfts blue clogs into the table styling, which the bride got as a little favor for all their guests.

From Bloom Your Life… For the ceremony, we choose soft colors, so they would fit with the surroundings of the beautiful venue and the trees in the garden. For the backdrop, the bride was really set on lots of flowers, and we made sure it was unique, therefor we added the four classical vases on different heights filled with, among other things, lush hydrangea, delphinium, and Eustoma flowers. The ground pieces were a beautiful, organic addition to the long aisle and they were reused during the reception and the dinner. Bianca from Perplexz Wedding Styling found a beautiful dusty blue table linen and we decided for the table pieces to add a slightly stronger pink so it would really pop with the blue styling.

From Wike Zijlstra Photography… One of my favorite personal touches was the custom sneakers Terell and the groomsmen wore during the party. With a touch of pink, the bride’s favorite color! The first dance as Mr. And Mrs. Dixon was to John Legends You And I. It was followed by a father-daughter dance and finally the electric slide to the song Candy. I love how the couple incorporated both Dutch and American culture into their wedding day and it was so fun to see everyone participate in that dance, also their Dutch guests!

Ultra-Romantic Wedding Weekend in Tuscany That Exudes Femininity

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We wanted to showcase the versatility and options that a countryside Italian venue like Villa di Geggiano could provide for an entire weekend experience for our couple and their guests. The couple’s celebratory experience began with a softly colorful welcome dinner the night before the wedding followed by a garden ceremony with the cutest flower girls and a timeless outdoor dinner reception framed by the gorgeous villa. These paired with a pre-ceremony portrait session in a floral Monique Lhuillier gown highlighting the gorgeous gardens, a celebration including a vintage Fiat 850 Spider getaway car, and a delicious MonAnnie designer cake. We also included dozens of details like dreamy paper goods by talented stationery artist, Studio Wren & Co., chic Jimmy Choos, and a unique, sparkly Monique Lhuillier for the bride’s final look. To bring the details to life, we chose colors that weren’t overly bright, yet felt fresh with touches of the colors seen in both the wildflower gardens and the indoor living spaces, using shades of pinks, creams, and subtle greens and blues. It was important for us to keep in line with the fine art aesthetic while adding both personal touches and pops of colorful patterns.

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Villa di Geggiano is just outside Siena in Tuscany. The winding, cypress-lined roads through the Chianti Classico region of Italy led us to the family-owned (since 1527!) winery escape of Villa di Geggiano right outside of Siena. The blend of this incredible area (including a hilltop view of Siena’s silhouette from the villa’s garden) with a nod to baroque architecture and decor, antique frescos, wildflower gardens, soft country landscapes, and truly familial hospitality from the original family owners and staff made it a perfect choice for a dream couple’s intimate Tuscan celebration.

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The experience was both intimate yet elevated as we showcased the couple’s preference for fashion and design in the haute couture gowns from Galvan London for the welcome dinner, Eisen Stein Bridal for the ceremony, a stylish and bold floral gown by Monique Lhuillier for pre-wedding portraits, and a sparkly Monique Lhuillier for the reception dinner. The groom was not spared in his regal look as well in two different attire designs by Bencivenga Alta Sartoria. The couple was adorned with jewelry and accessories by Eden Luxe Bridal.

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We worked with the incredibly talented floral designer, Winsome Floral, to create stunning floral vignettes that flowed naturally throughout each space – from a show-stopping ceremony installation flowing through the iconic garden gates peering out to Siena in the distance, to two lush tablescapes – one backdropped by the villa and the other by the Tuscan architecture in the gardens, each lush with pops of softly toned florals and taper candles. She also created the most romantic bouquets for the bride and her delicate, romantic gowns. The touch of flowing florals, grapes, fruits, and cheeses perfectly enhanced the already stunning natural vineyard landscape.

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Inspired by the “blue room” inside the Villa where the bride got ready, we incorporated touches of this blue throughout the design, from a hint of it in the stationery to asking guests and having the flower girls include the color in their outfits.

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For a wedding weekend, unique fashion for each event is a must. In keeping with a true Tuscan theme of being stylish and chic yet relaxed, choosing designs that offer both ease and impeccable style are a must. It’s also important to consider the aesthetic and color palette of each event. For this welcome dinner, the vibe was simple yet elegant so the bride wore a long white shift gown with a unique tie along the back. For epic pre-ceremony portraits, she wore a fashionable floral Monique Lhuillier gown, which easily played off the wildflowers and colors in the gardens and allowed her to move easily. She chose something more traditional for her ceremony look in the Eisen Stein Bridal gown, before changing into her last Monique Lhuillier gown. Her final gown was beige and sparkly – a nod to the colors cast on the villa in the setting sun and to the party that would soon follow the dinner!

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This Modern Midwest Meadow Wedding Is Filled With A Fresh Color Palette And Meaningful Moments

When Claire and Parker got engaged at her sister’s home, the couple knew this special place would be the perfect spot for their wedding day. Collected & Co. brought the couple’s wedding vision to life and helped turn the residence into a fairytale wedding destination surrounded by romance. Fresh floral design by Rose and Laurel is a sight to behold, and Tiffany Kokal artfully captured the joy that radiated throughout the celebration in elegant imagery. You’ll find endless inspiration inside the full gallery.

From Rose and Laurel…Claire and Parker got engaged on her sister’s family property in Minnesota overlooking a lush meadow. Just as the sun was setting Parker got down on one knee and asked Claire to spend the rest of his life with her. Right after she said yes and they were taking in the moment, the idea of hosting their wedding and sharing this special space that meant so much to them, with their family and friends came to life. Over a year before the big day, Claire and Parker partnered with Collected & Co. to help with all the joys and challenges a private residence event brings as there was a lot to be done to the property. The first project was preparing the site where the tent would be located. Claire’s sister and brother-in-law leveled the ground, planted grass, and started a garden all in anticipation of the big day. Claire and Parker opted for a sailcloth tent, which let in the soft summer breeze. The weather on the big day was perfect, with a sunset to match. To complement the color palette of the meadow and surrounding landscape, Claire decided on a palette of crisp white, soft olive, and beige with a dusty blush accent.

Jill Elaine Designs created a custom crest and incorporated the floral textures from the day into the suite. Soft olives, warm taupe, and a dusty blush all came together for this stunning suite. The custom crest was repeated on the custom bar for cocktail hour, as well as the linen signage for the reception. Flowers were important to Claire. She brought photos of plants and grasses she had seen during walks with her dog as inspiration for the florals. Rose and Laurel created a custom design specific to her vision which included meadow grasses, hydrangeas, Russian olive, and garden roses. To bring in a touch of beige, they used dried apples of Peru for an unexpected touch. On the day, the florist arrived early to harvest additional blooms from the garden and meadow on-site. This enhanced the sense of place and made the flowers truly custom to Claire and Parker. Part of the décor Claire was most excited about was incorporating weathered terracotta. Rose and Laurel provided footed compotes from their inventory. Claire loved them so much, she and her mom decided to create their own, and DIY’d the aged terra cotta pots with herbs that served as centerpieces for some of the reception tables. Claire’s bouquet was clean and simple. A single-ingredient bouquet of clove-scented stock flowers to compliment the clean lines of her gown. Claire and Parker wanted to create a fully immersive experience for their guests. They achieved this through multiple custom bars by Collected & Co., along with clean-lined and casual bentwood chairs. To keep the party going, they started the evening with music by Bluewater Kings Band, before switching to a silent disco for the remainder of the evening. A silent disco is a great option for private residence weddings, so you can be respectful of neighbors!

To Get the Look: 1) Start with a Great Location. Claire’s sister spent a considerable amount of time preparing a flat space for the tent. Your property may have a great level spot with views that could be a beautiful option. 2) Hire an experienced planner. At-home weddings take a high level of logistical management. If you want to truly enjoy your day, having a full-service planner will ensure your loved ones make it from location to location smoothly and stress-free. 3) Pick one Special Project. For Claire and her mom, this was distressing the plant pots that adorned some of the tables. This is a great way to bond, especially for those who love to craft together! The key is to make sure the project can be done well in advance of the wedding, with a trusted professional to take it over the finish line!

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Bluewater Kings Band

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Refined Yet Intimate Wedding at Grace Hotel in Santorini

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Neutral pink and peach tones complimented the pure, serene tones of the deep blues in the Caldera, without competing with the fiery Santorini sunsets.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]An elegant celebration of love by the water. Bianca & Tim cultivated an intimate, refined dinner party under the stars.[/field]
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Bianca and Tim met in college and went through long distance for many years. Tim waited 8 years until 2020 during the height of the pandemic to propose. Tim surprised her by planting a decoy—he asked their friends to ask Bianca for a portrait session at my favorite spot, and then he hired his own photographer and snuck up from behind her while she was shooting them.

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Bianca’s gown from Milla Nova was a stunner. With intricate lace and beading detail and a flowing half-skirt train, the only thing that made this look more spectacular was the dreamy veil.

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The maid of honor wore a champagne satin gown from Show Me Your Mumu. There were no other bridesmaids in this intimate wedding.

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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Food is very important to Bianca & Tim, so this was one of their top priorities during the planning process. The vision was a refined dinner party by the water, under the stars. Food is one of the reasons why they chose their venue. It is a boutique hotel, part of the Auberge Resorts collection. Bianca, Tim, and their intimate guest list indulged in a 5-course plated meal by a Michelin chef. Bianca says: “It was one of the best meals we’ve ever had!” [/field]
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The overall vision was whimsical, organic floral design, with an emphasis on natural beauty. With their surroundings as stunning as they were, it was important to them that their florals didn’t overpower but accentuated the jaw-dropping views.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake Details”]Bianca & Tim opted not to have a wedding cake.[/field]
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The sister of the groom was the officiant, which was such an important and special part of their day. An acoustic guitarist played for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and first dance. He was incredible. They wanted it to feel like a private concert for their guests, and Louis Vlahakis delivered. Processional – Can’t Help Falling In Love Recessional – Here Comes the Sun First dance – You and Me (Lifehouse)

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As a wedding photographer herself, Bianca chose to take her own flat lay images of her keepsake invitation suite. Carefully curated details came together for their wedding paper, including a landscape painting and an intricate line drawing. Embellished with whimsical floral illustrations, the invitations gave a peek into the design of the day. They were letterpressed on handmade paper and hand-brushed with gold leaf. The Santorini line drawing and stunning calligraphy place cards made their way onto the day-of menus to carry everything through.

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Bianca & Tim opted for a sunset photo session the night before the wedding, where she wore a stunning Jenny Yoo gown and they were able to spend some extra private time together before the ceremony the next day.

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]After an intimate first look, Bianca & Tim chose to walk down the aisle together for their ceremony.[/field]
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An Intimate Garden-Inspired Farm-to-Table Wedding in West Cape May

This Cape May wedding feels like sunshine. With a punchy yellow and peach color palette and special details popping up throughout the day, this stunning summer celebration brings the heat. Inspired floral design by Cape May Flower Co is woven throughout every inch of the affair, and Lauren Fair Photography perfectly captures all of the joy and fun. You’ll love every minute inside the full gallery.

From the bride… Kristi and I met during our sophomore year at Rutgers University. On my way out of a party with some friends, Kristi caught my eye. I walked right up to him to introduce myself. I asked him if he knew how to spell my name, to which I said “it’s brie like the cheese.” After over 7 years together, Kristi proposed at sunset on one of our favorite beaches in the world, Turks and Caicos. As soon as we began wedding planning we knew we wanted a laidback, intimate-style wedding that felt elevated and classic, yet whimsical and unfussy. Instead of opting for a wedding planner, I chose to plan the wedding myself, as I knew I would be able to bring our vision to life. Intimate, romantic, warm, and full of love and light. Of course that brought some challenges, but having the ability to make our wedding weekend feel the most like us was worth every minute of planning. We fell in love with Beach Plum Farm‘s charming, picturesque setting as soon as we laid eyes on it. So much, so that we signed the contract that same day. The 60-acre farm was exactly what we were looking for and it was the perfect location for our laidback, garden-inspired wedding weekend. The venue sits a few blocks from the beach with onsite cottages for our guests filled with farm-to-table jams, eggs, and fresh bread. Each unique cottage is designed so effortlessly chic with an on-site luxury pool and golf carts for our guests to ride into town. We wanted each of our loved ones who traveled to the charming and quaint beach town of West Cape May, New Jersey to enjoy a comfortable atmosphere throughout our wedding weekend. We will never forget during our first visit to the farm, on a sun-filled September afternoon, we spotted a small rainbow under the willow tree where our ceremony would take place. We knew it was a sign from our loved ones above that this was where we were meant to get married. From that moment on, we knew Beach Plum Farm was the one. We turned to the natural setting of Beach Plum Farm to inspire our vision and details. It was important to us that the aesthetic felt relaxed and intimate, yet elevated and whimsical. Modern with a twist. Our color palette of soft pink and muted peach with pops of daisies and delicate blooms complimented the farm’s natural, charming landscape. On the morning of our wedding, the bridesmaids wore a smocked Eileen West nightgown and I opted for a colorful, floral nap dress from Daily Sleeper. I wanted every last detail, down to our getting-ready outfits, to match the modern, country aesthetic of the farm. I only tried on 3 wedding dresses before declaring the Dinah Dress from Lea-Ann Belter Bridal the one. At the bridal appointment, I didn’t even turn all the way around before tears swelled our eyes. I dreamt of finding something timeless and classic with a twist. The asymmetrical bow on the back of the dress was exactly that. It felt as if it was made for me. I paired the look with custom gloves from Kerry Parker embroidered with “To Have & To Hold, To Love & To Cherish.”

My bridal party wore hand-selected mismatched dresses in shades of pink, mauve, and floral. Creating the aesthetic of their bridal party dresses was one of the most memorable activities as I was able to lean into different fabrics, textures, and prints. I wanted them to embody their personal style and feel comfortable while matching our colorful, whimsical aesthetic. They each held small bouquets of delicate posies to compliment the venue and wedding florals. Upon arrival at the ceremony, our guests were greeted with a fresh lemonade-inspired cocktail to sip on while they nestled under the trees. The chairs were lined with hand-held fans to keep cool during the sun-filled September afternoon. We opted for a grounded floral arch under the breathtaking willow tree for our ceremony, to give a whimsical, natural feel. Almost as if the florals were sprouting from the ground. One of our dearest friends, Paul, officiated our marriage while we exchanged personal vows. Writing and sharing our own vows was something we always wanted to do one day at our wedding. We will never forget turning to face our family and friends in the middle of the ceremony and seeing not a dry eye in sight (and also, lots of big smiles). I don’t think my mom stopped sobbing since 9 AM that morning. Following the ceremony, our guests crossed the wooden bridge and wandered through the colorful garden before arriving at cocktail hour. Cocktail hour was set in their beautifully landscaped and picturesque garden with hors d’oeuvres such as fresh oysters, farm-to-table pulled pork sliders and paired with a refreshing Aperol Spritz. On their way to the reception, guests scanned our array of mismatched potted plants for their seating arrangements. This was one of the most fun projects of the wedding. We picked various clay pots in different sizes and shapes and painted a select few soft hues of pink and black for dimension. Cape May Flower Co filled them with extravagant greenery and it was one of our favorite details of the day. The reception took place under a white sail-cloth tent on the grounds of Beach Plum Farm with a modern black and white checkered dance floor. The tables were lined with bud and bowl vases filled with in-season delicate florals and pops of daisies. Our crafted raw-edge menus outlined the family-style farm-to-table dinner with shareable plates such as line-caught halibut and herb-roasted chicken. Our guests still talk about the Granola Caesar Salad (I can still taste it!)

While the guests dined on dinner under the lights, toasts were made by our family and friends filled with lots of tears (and lots of laughter). Instead of opting for a traditional champagne toast, each table setting was set with our favorite: a tequila shot. We did say our wedding was modern with a twist, right?! To dance the night away, I wanted a fun, comfortable party dress so I changed into a LAMARQUE Feather Mini Dress paired with a classic pair of Converse sneakers (the best decision). Thanks to the incredible work of our DJ, I don’t think a single one of our guests left the dance floor the entire night! Nothing concludes the evening quite like a late-night grilled cheese. Beach Plum Farm whipped up a delicious display of grilled cheeses with an array of homemade jams. It was the perfect way to send our guests on their way (to the after-party, of course).

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Lauren Fair Photography

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The Escort Display Every Bride Will Save to Her Garden Wedding Moodboard!

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Champagne, Blush, Mauve[/field]
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Romantic Garden party in Wine Country. Haley wanted to bring the Garden vision to life in Sonoma so we set out to do just that! With thoughtful florals and a statement Garden inspired seating chart we designed a romantic and floral-inspired soirée.

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The bride wore ‘Dinah’ by Lea-Ann Belter Bridal Flagship Boutique and looked sophisticated and modern with an unexpected neckline.

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Bridesmaids wore timeless one shoulder champagne dresses from BHLDN.

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FolkTable provided a delicious family-style meal that focused on fresh California cuisine and the pesto gnocchi was a crowd-pleaser!

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We partnered with J Blooms Floral to elevate the garden vision and she delivered the most spectacular lush garden roses and lush florals throughout.

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Flour & Bloom Cakes provided the sweet buttercream cake which we adorned with florals from J Blooms Floral.

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The Seating Chart by Shimmer and Stain was a WOW moment and guests were even taking pictures with it. It was the perfect entry for guests as they walked into the dining tent.

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

Bella Bridal Hair & Makeup

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Springtime Vineyard Wedding Inspired by a Love of Flowers

Kassandra and Jonathan tied the knot on a beautiful sun-soaked day in Virginia. Inspired by a love of flowers, their garden theme with touches of old romance was brought to life by Elle Loren & Co and Olivera Floral Design. Our favorite part? The bride’s spot-on wedding planning advice for future couples! Read on for all the details and don’t forget to head on over to the full gallery of inspo, captured by David Abel Photography.

Kassandra and Jonathan were married on the lawn overlooking the grapevines at Keswick Vineyards in late April. Kassandra wore a beautiful Ava Laurenne Bride gown, while Jonathan was dressed by The Black Tux, complete with a Brackish bow-tie. Kassandra’s bridesmaids were all dressed in blush pink dresses by Reverly and the flower girls had the most adorable flower crowns. The couple shared a special first look together before getting married with their family and friends by their side. Guests enjoyed an open-air cocktail hour on the lawn adjacent to the reception tent before being greeted with mini honey jars as place cards in the reception tent. Their reception showcased time together celebrating as a newly married couple.

From the Bride… The overall theme of the wedding day was a garden theme with touches of old romance based on a love of florals.

Our invitations were really important to me because they are the first impression the guests have of your wedding. We used a custom design that felt unique to our theme with handmade paper and beautiful calligraphy.

For our favors, I wanted something that guests would actually use and that was meaningful to us. Honey from my aunt’s farm seemed like the perfect combination of the two.

On choosing my wedding dress- To be honest it was not the look I initially envisioned for myself but knew immediately upon putting the dress on that I felt like a princess. Cheesy I know, but so true!

Our favorite moment of the day was definitely our last dance which was just the two of us while the guests were lining up for our exit. It was nice to share an intimate moment together after the chaos of the day.

One piece of advice I would give other brides is stick to your guns. You know what you like and don’t like. Try not to let other people’s opinions sway your decisions.

Beautiful Harbor Wedding With Touches Of Dusty Blue

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The bride and groom chose a fun and gorgeous palette of blues, grays, greens, and whites.

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Our first wedding back from the long covid slump proved to be nothing short of magical! From the beautiful families we had the opportunity to work with, to the fact that the weather was forecasted to be 100% chance of rain and we ended up with a bright warm April day, to the lush spring blooms, this day was nothing short of lovely. Roche Harbor Resort is very special to Mollie and Quinn. They spend a lot of time there with their families and were excited to share it with their friends visiting for the first time. They told us that the details (colors, menu, gifts in the rooms, table settings, wedding party outfits, etc.) and a simple, yet elegant design are both reflections of their personalities.

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Mollie, the bride, chose a sleek and modern vibe for her gown while her bridesmaids wore whimsical, long dusty blue gowns in the style of their choosing. The mix of modern and whimsical is so fun!

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The groom went with a traditional black tux from Suit Supply.

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When it comes to PNW fresh food no one does it better than Roche Harbor Resort located right on the waters of the beautiful Puget sound. The bride and groom treated their guests to a full-on raw oyster bar and fresh seafood dinner!

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The florals and overall decor included a gorgeous mixture of springs best in the tones of whites, creams, greens, and a little pop of dusty blue. The whites and greens set a classic tone while the pops of blue brought in a pop of fun, fresh playfulness. [/field]
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A beautiful 3-tier cake was made by Felicitations with fresh, local florals added for a pop of color.

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Their ceremony was very personal as well; the priest who married them also married Mollie’s parents and Quinn’s brothers sang during the ceremony.

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A Whimsical Al Fresco Destination Wedding in the Sintra Mountains of Portugal

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The wedding colors were pale yellow, pale green, light blue, light purple, and pale pink.

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From the bride… In looking for wedding venues, we wanted to find a place that was “us” and would create the setting for an unforgettable memory. To us, this meant that the location would be private, light, romantic, floral, glamorous, and distinctly Portuguese. When we came across Quinta da Penalva, its lush greenery, rich florals, exceptional grounds, delightful cobblestone, and Portuguese charm had us instantly swooning. Despite the large area, the space felt intimate, curious, and playful; even though there was only one Quinta, the layout made us feel like we attended several different weddings throughout the course of the night and amplified the enchantment as we advanced through the labyrinth. Of course, it gave us a lot of confidence to know that Sofia Nascimento Studios had hosted many (GORGEOUS) weddings there before and would have a good grasp of the layout and transitions throughout.

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Carson proposed to Lenara on January 16th, 2021. Following an Edmonds-kind-of- walk and a long (but beautiful) drive complete with sing-alongs and scenic detours, Carson and Lenara arrived in Port Angeles, Washington, where Carson and Company managed to make an already perfect Saturday even more perfect. Amidst the magic of family, countless candles, hundreds of yellow roses, an almost-sunset, and a sparkly ring, Carson got down on one knee and Lenara said yes.

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I wanted something classic with a “wow factor,” and after stumbling upon and subsequently falling in love with a stunning flowered veil at Mark Ingram Atelier, I knew I needed a refined canvas on which the beautiful florals could flourish. With the help of Sofia Nascimento Studios, I chose some tasteful pieces to complement the ensemble, such as the Manolo shoes, and paid homage to Portugal with exquisite statement earrings handcrafted by Cremilde Bispo Jewellery. Because our wedding color palette had a lot of pastels, we chose a black tux for Carson, pairing it with velvet loafers to better fit the garden-scape. If overwhelmed, start with an anchor piece and go from there; limit your expectations because sometimes treasures reveal themselves unexpectedly; and finally, find something that makes you feel both beautiful and comfortable (especially the shoes!).

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From the playful centerpiece flowers that came in boxes the morning of the wedding, to one-of-a-kind “basket” flower bridesmaid bouquets, to extravagant arrangements at the altar, walking through the wedding was like finding yourself in a fairytale come to life. All the design elements came together like different parts of a storybook as we went from a whimsical ceremony to an intimate, candlelit reception, and ended the evening dancing in the moonlight. The florals, lighting, details, and flow between distinct spaces at the venue realized an atmosphere of wonder and magic.

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A beautifully textured fondant cake design with Choco & Berries by Migalha Doce. It tasted as sweet as it looked!

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Laughing at the altar as my brother officiated will forever touch my heart! Knowing that we were in the hands of an incredibly capable and talented team, Carson and I didn’t experience a lot of anxiety about the logistics or the overall design of the wedding – instead, we worried endlessly about guests getting COVID, arrivals in Portugal, and family and friends from abroad getting through security. Needless to say, when we finally saw everyone from the altar, a huge weight was lifted and we could finally let ourselves be swept entirely away by the shared beauty, love, and happiness.

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I enjoy making greeting cards for friends and family, so I chose to do my own wedding Save the Dates and invitations, which were much less professional and more flawed than the work that Sofia Nascimento Studios would achieve. To my surprise, Sofia Nascimento Studios still managed to design wedding day-of stationery that carried forward the theme my invites attempted in an upscale, light, romantic, whimsical and elegantly unique style.

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In searching for the perfect venue, we found Quinta da Penalva, and in turn Sofia Nascimento Studios. After our first conversation with Sofia, we knew we didn’t have a choice – she was the one. Sofia is a warm, gentle, kind, beautiful friend and professional, and she works with a team that shares her passion for designing weddings better than you could dream of. Just look at the photos, they speak for themselves.

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From the beginning, Sofia and her team set realistic expectations, were consistent and flexible in their communication, and always kept our needs and preferences top of mind. One of our concerns before starting the wedding planning process was how to go about decision-making, but SN Studios made it so easy, offering options with which you couldn’t go wrong and recommendations that were tried and true. Their relationships with vendors made the process stress-free and accommodating, and left us with nothing but excitement for the end result. Even when the war began in Ukraine and some of our family and friends abroad encountered various travel restrictions, Sofia and her team worked tirelessly to ensure that they had the documents needed to receive visas. When you choose to plan a wedding with SN Studios, you know you are in the company of good friends. From start to finish, Sofia and the team provided comfort, sensibility, excitement, feedback, and heartfelt support.

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A Wedding Photographer’s Intimate Monterey Wedding

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Krista and Colin’s wedding colors played on a fresh and perfect fall color palette – stormy blues, deep yellows, sage greens, and pops of pink and burgundy.

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As a wedding photographer, the bride wanted an intimate wedding so she could be fully present. Krista and Colin were so laid back throughout the whole process. You could tell they were confident and calm about their decisions – and they were ready to enjoy the day – however, it unfolded.

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Krista and Colin got engaged in Seattle in early August 2021. They were on a road trip and Colin popped the question after dinner by the Seattle waterfront right along the pier with a beautiful view of the water.

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Krista wore an Essence Of Australia wedding dress with lace and beaded detailing on the bodice. The skirt was filled with layers and tulle – and the cut accentuated her petite waist.

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[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Colin’s mother passed away a few years ago, and he kept a pin with her photo on the inside of his jacket. [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Krista and Colin had signature drinks named after their dogs – Shilo and Luna! The had a family style dinner that was just delicious. [/field]
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Their ceremony was held in Memory Garden in front of the blue door. Mandy’s Garden Design created a deconstructed floral arch for their ceremony. These two walked down the aisle with so much excitement in their step – Colin high-fiving guests as he made his way to wait for Krista. They exchanged personal vows – making promises of all that’s to come on their journey together. The theme of owning many, many dogs came up a few times. Their reception was filled with a fresh and perfect fall color palette – stormy blues, deep yellows, sage greens, and pops of pink and burgundy. They had an intimate wedding with petite tables holding five to eight guests. The addition of the twinkle lights in the magnolia trees made the space magical.

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Krista surprised Colin with two tiny figurines of their pups on the back of their wedding cake. I love how they incorporated Shiloh and Luna throughout the event, even though the dogs couldn’t be there. After a hilariously messy cake-cutting, Krista and Colin shared their first dance.

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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]At the beginning of dinner, we all took a moment to honor the guests that couldn’t be there with them – specifically Colin’s mother. It was a touching tribute and I feel confident she was smiling down on everyone in attendance as she watched her son marry the love of his life.[/field]
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Krista is a wedding photographer herself! It was such an honor to photograph her wedding day as she married the love of her life!

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How to Be the Greatest Best Man & Maid of Honor Ever

At the end of my own wedding night, my bridesman (yes, that’s right!) told me that he hadn’t realized how much of a privilege it was to be in my bridal party until the day unfolded. Cue a huge hug from me! As a best man or maid of honor, know that you’ve been honored to be a large party of the bride or groom’s core group for the wedding day and that truly should mean something to you. They could have chosen any of their friends or family members to fill the position and they chose you. To live up to the title, here’s how to be the greatest best man and maid of honor ever.

1. Always Ask How You Can Help

The bride or groom likely will need help at some point throughout their planning and especially on the wedding day. Not all couples will directly ask for help, so be sure to ask often if they need anything or what you can do to help.

2. Plan a Bachelorette/Bachelor Trip

Traditionally, the maid of honor and best man plan the bachelorette and bachelor trips, respectively. If you’re up to the task, plan a trip that the bride or groom will love. If they’re huge party people, perhaps plan a lively weekend in Vegas. If they’re more chill and prefer relaxing, you could opt for a quiet trip to Palm Springs. Bottom line, plan the trip with their interests in mind and ask for help from the other bridal party members if you need any assistance. That way the bride and groom never have to lift a finger. They’ll simply enjoy the trip and some time away from work and wedding planning.

3. Know the Wedding Timeline

I cannot stress enough how quickly the wedding day goes by and how many things the bride and groom have on their mind. On my own wedding day, I loved that I didn’t have to look at a schedule. My bridal party had it printed or saved to their phone to reference throughout the day. All I had to do was ask when something was going to happen next and they immediately could tell me! My husband’s best man had the timeline fully memorized and was wonderful at directing where he and the groomsmen would go next. It seems simple, but knowing the timeline like the back of your hand will be a huge help to the couple!

4. Organize the Getting Ready Room

Before the photographer is set to arrive, enlist all of the bridal party members in cleaning up trash, plastic water bottles, suitcases, shoes, etc. from the areas that will be photographed. This is not only greatly appreciated by the photographer but also from the couple who will love their cleaner photos!

5. Keep Bridal Party Members On Time

Again, the timeline of the wedding day is something you should know well. Know when to direct the bridal party to be at their next location and ensure they have everything they need with them like bouquets, boutonnieres, or anything else important. You don’t want the bridal party photos cut short because any of you were late for portraits, so keep them on a tight schedule!

6. Lookout for Hair and Makeup Touch Up Needs

Although hopefully the bride’s photographer has an eye for detail, you’ll want to make sure that you are looking out for stray hairs or smudged makeup on the bride in case the photographer misses it. Make sure she looks flawless throughout the day and always jump in to fix anything out of place. She’ll be so thankful!

7. Write an Incredible Toast

To give an unforgettable wedding toast, keep it to less than 4 minutes and be sure to tell guests who you are at the beginning. I find toasts that tell a story with a great flow from start to finish seem to do best with guests rather than a collection of random inside jokes. Be sure to practice your toast multiple times and have someone you trust give you feedback. Perfecting the toast not only shows you truly value the couple, but also ensures you give the best possible speech!

8. Check the Reception for Left Behind Items

At the end of the evening, the couple will be busy saying their goodbyes. Before you leave, check the reception space for any items they might have left behind. Phones, handbags, shoes, makeup, or even gifts certainly shouldn’t be left behind. It’s these little tasks that will truly make you the greatest best man or maid of honor!

Cavin Elizabeth is a wedding film photographer based in San Diego, California. Her wedding work has taken her all over the United States and abroad. In addition to being a photographer, Cavin is an educator and an avid blogger of wedding planning tips for brides and grooms. She authored the book A Bride’s Guide to a Picture Perfect Wedding, which teaches couples how to make wedding plans that are best for photography.

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A Charming & Intimate Black Tie Affair at The Post House Inn

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Inspired by Charleston Charm and the natural elements of the area, Betsy selected an elegant color palette of greens, reds, pinks and pearly white.

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There’s something truly divine about an intimate wedding day. The closeness of the guests, to the extra minutes to fill with deep conversations and memory making, to the exquisite personal touches added to every facet of the day. Betsy and James’ intimate black tie wedding day at The Post House Inn had all of these things and more and is a day that I’ll never forget. Each special element of the day represented something important to the couple while the weekend was filled to the brim with celebrations and shared experiences that highlighted each of their favorite things.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]It only took one date for Betsy and James to know that this was it. Drinks at a local speakeasy led to a dinner at “their” restaurant, Rank 616 in Austin, an evening filled with Ranch Waters and captivating conversation, which quickly led to the realization that they had met their forever in each other.

Fast forward to a weekend getaway trip to Charleston – James made reservations for dinner at The Post House Inn in Old Village, Mount Pleasant for their first evening in the Holy City. This darling coastal spot has more charm than most of the restaurants in the city combined, with a locally sourced menu adored by locals and tourists alike. But rather than being seated for dinner, James led Betsy up the stairs to the private Rose Room – which had been adorned with glowy candlelight and filled to the brim with flowers. It was there in that magical little spot that James asked Betsy that most important question – and without a doubt, she said yes. [/field]
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Betsy’s wedding gown, designed by Ukrainian designer, Aleena Leena Bridal, was a true show stopper – perfectly southern with the most unique textured fabric. Accented by dreamy Jimmy Choo pearl slides and an organic bouquet of fall’s best florals by Branch Design Studio, Betsy was a true bridal vision.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]With an “honorary” bridal party, Betsy’s bridesmaids selected dresses that matched their personal styles and tastes! Betsy’s maid of honor and sister, wore a simple green dress with a plunging neck line to match the green tones incorporated throughout the day. [/field]
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Guests were greeted with Champagne in coupes topped with fresh figs, drizzled with local honey. A long table filled the open air reception space and was adorned with gold rimmed and scalloped edge plates, custom menus for each guest and whimsical florals from Branch Design Studio. A cane trimmed bar offered more custom drink options – from Ranch Waters to Spritzers, each detail representing a part of Betsy and James’ journey.

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Local and seasonal florals in whites, pinks, reds and yellows elevated the overall design of the day and brought together even the smallest details. But Branch Design Studio‘s centerpiece, Betsy’s bouquet was a true showstopper and one of my favorites from the year. Adorned with anemones, garden roses and ranunculus, it accented Betsy’s gorgeous gown in the most perfect way.

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Guests were treated to the couple’s favorite deserts, prepared by The Post House Inn. An impossible choice between Key Lime Pie and Red Velvet Cake, both options were absolutely divine and enjoyed by all in attendance.

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At last, it was time for the moment they had been waiting for. Betsy and James were married in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Downtown Charleston. Consecrated in the year 1887, you could feel the significance in the moment we shared during the mass that brought this sweet couple together as husband and wife. The recessed into a tunnel of rose petals and made their way to their Post House Reception.

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Wedding Guests were the recipients of a stunning invitation suite designed by Peach Paper Design – RSVP cards with scalloped and trimmed edges, an adorable peach itinerary card for the the weekend and other beautiful papers in creams, greens, and gold, all sealed beautifully in an olive green envelope lined with a coordinating toile print.

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Betsy and James shared a sweet first look in the courtyard before we were whisked off by Low Country Valet‘s Olive Green Vintage Bus, “Jasper” and journeyed down to Charleston’s historic center. Chalmers’ cobblestone streets were the perfect backdrop for portraits with this sweet couple, their bridal party, and their families.

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Local artist, Haigan, stood nearby, crafting a custom portrait of the night’s events while guests sat down to dine on locally sourced dinner offerings and delicious desserts. Toasts were made, laughter was shared and most of importantly, our couple celebrated just they way they had envisioned their first evening as husband and wife.[/field]
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Glamorous Garden Estate Vineyard Wedding Featuring The Couple’s Sweet Dog

This glamorous wedding is the perfect mix of luxurious details and sweet moments. From the mobile bar overflowing with blooms to the couple’s pup in a doggie tuxedo, special touches were the driving force of this celebration all artfully planned by Lindsey Wise Designs. Floral design by Luxe and Bloom was equal parts romantic and elegant, and the love of the day shines through imagery captured by Sarah Folsom Photography. Fall in love with all the dreamy details inside the full gallery.

From Sarah Folsom Photography… One of the sweetest parts of Lauren and Harrison’s wedding was how they honored their beloved dog, Buck. Buck was featured on the welcome boxes as well as the bar menu, but Buck was also physically present for the entire wedding day, from the getting-ready moments to post-ceremony photos.

He donned a doggie tuxedo and watched the entire ceremony, laying next to the groomsmen. He stood and got so excited when Harrison and Lauren had their first kiss and were pronounced husband and wife. Unfortunately, sweet Buck passed away just one week after the wedding. Everyone adored Buck and he added so much joy to Lauren and Harrison’s wedding. He is very much missed and it was such a gift that he was able to be such a big part of the wedding.

From Lindsey of Lindsey Wise Designs… When touring wedding venues Lauren and Harrison quickly fell in love with the location and outdoor beauty of The Farm at High Shoals. However, the reception space didn’t exactly match their “luxe elegance” vision. Throughout the wedding planning process, we kept this in mind and put a lot of emphasis on design and all of the little details that could help bring more elegance to the converted horse barn backdrop. Soft colors, upgraded linens, elevated arrangements and stage and dance floor rentals all helped transform the space to better align with Lauren’s initial vision.

A Swoon-Worthy Neutral Color Palette Key Largo Wedding Overlooking The Water

Be still our hearts, this Key Largo destination wedding feels like a dream come true. The Golden Pineapple Event Company planned a day brimming with carefully curated details all done in a soft, neutral color palette. From the lush white blooms to the scenic setting, every inch of the celebration is filled with romance. The love and joy are elegantly captured in beautiful imagery shot by Mary McCarty, visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the lovely.

From Mary McCarty… Sarah and Jerry’s December destination wedding in Key Largo, FL was the most beautiful venue for their friends and family to celebrate their marriage. The day was the perfect mix of happiness and love.

Sarah and Jerry’s ceremony was held on the beautiful lawn, overlooking a perfect sunset on the water. Shoes came off for the cocktail hour in the sand and dancing under the lights.

This neutral, coastal destination wedding was absolutely stunning. It was shot hybrid on film and digital, and the results are everything a bride could’ve dreamed of and more.

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1. Always Ask How You Can Help

2. Plan a Bachelorette/Bachelor Trip

3. Know the Wedding Timeline

4. Organize the Getting Ready Room

5. Keep Bridal Party Members On Time

6. Lookout for Hair and Makeup Touch Up Needs

7. Write an Incredible Toast

8. Check the Reception for Left Behind Items

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1. Always Ask How You Can Help

2. Plan a Bachelorette/Bachelor Trip

3. Know the Wedding Timeline

4. Organize the Getting Ready Room

5. Keep Bridal Party Members On Time

6. Lookout for Hair and Makeup Touch Up Needs

7. Write an Incredible Toast

8. Check the Reception for Left Behind Items

Join The Conversation

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From Our Partners

Little Black Book

Lookbook

International Weddings

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Style Me Pretty