Traditional elegance has nothing on these two sweeties, because this pair? They know how to party, classic glam style. Think an awe-inspiring museum setting, personalized Coca-Cola bottles (so cool) and a stunning custom gown. Press play on the sweet film from Crystal Blue Productions to see sophistication in action, then see every beautiful moment captured by the talented Still55 Photography in THE VAULT.

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From Still55 Photography… Caiti and Jack are amazing people. They both attended Elon but didn’t start dating until they met in New York. Jack proposed in Dumbo on a bench that overlooked the Manhattan Skyline. Once engaged they decided to host their wedding at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk VA. Caiti’s family has ties to the area and she absolutely fell in love with museum when she visited it. Mainly the architecture, she adored the stone archways, muted grays and neutral tones and the grandeur of the imperial columns that the museum showcased. She incorporated those elements into the overall design of her wedding. Blending both her style and the existing features of the space together to create a elegant cohesive space for her family and friends to enjoy.

Caiti was no stranger to blending things together, in fact she wound up taking pieces from three separate dresses to create her very own dream dress! With the help of talented ateliers and many fittings she wore a one-of-kind on her wedding day. Another one-of-kind item introduced itself at the cocktail hour, Jack’s father is a Coca-Cola Exec and had custom glass bottles created for their wedding. The outstanding team of vendors all helped bring to life the wedding of their dreams! All in all we couldn’t be happier for these two, they truly are great people and we wish them the very best in the life ahead.

Photography: Joseph Rogero | Cinematography: Crystal Blue Productions | Event Planning: Style Events | Floral Design: Palette Of Petals | Wedding Dress: L'Fay Bridal | Cake: Incredible Edibles | Invitations: Stephanie B Design | Ceremony Venue: Ghent United Methodist | Reception Venue: Chrysler Museum Of Art | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Catering: Cuisine & Co. | Makeup: Rebecca Wood | Hair: Flawless on Site | Band: Atlanta Showstoppers | Groom's Attire: Brooks Brothers | Groomsmen's Attire: The Black Tux | Honeymoon: Giltedge | Photo Booth: Joseph Rogero

We’re here today to give major kudos to the talented vendor team behind this big day. For not only did Unveiled Hawaii and Maui’s Angels manage to pull off a last minute wedding, BUT they also made sure that Tropical Storm Darby didn’t dampen the day. And for that? We say THANK YOU, because this Maui designed day is everything. Captured by Wendy Laurel it’s all waiting for you in The Vault!

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From Wendy Laurel… When you’re a very busy wedding planner and stylist, what do you do when your brother asks you to plan a very last minute wedding and then the day of the wedding a tropical storm hits? Make it an exceptional day of course. Lorrie from Unveiled Hawaii and Maui’s Angels did just that during Tropical Storm Darby in July. Her brother, Tom, and his fiance Eva recently moved to Maui with their baby girl and Tom’s son and decided to get married last minute when all the family was coming to Maui for vacation. Lorrie planned and styled a gorgeous family only wedding at Merrimans Kapalua. The weather had other plans, and tropical storm Darby hit Maui the morning of the wedding. Merrimans provided a cabana for the ceremony on the ocean side deck and Lorrie and her team had it looking elegant and gorgeous in no time. As luck would have it, after the ceremony and family shots, the weather cleared just enough to all a few oceanfront photos of the very happy bride and groom.

Photography: Wendy Laurel | Event Design: Unveiled Hawaii | Event Planning: Maui's Angels Weddings | Floral Design: Sunya Flowers | Ceremony Venue: Merriman's | Band: Marvin Tevaga | Officiant: Kumulani Chapel

This classic wedding? It’s like a love letter to Savannah. With a ceremony set at the historic Cathedral Of St. John The Baptist and a sense of Southern charm woven throughout the day, it’s no wonder the images by Vitor Lindo left us speechless. More pretty awaits right this way.

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At the end of the day, amidst all of the flowers, and cake, and dresses, and rings, the most important part of the day was the love shared between Morgan and Jake. In their own words, they make each other better. They bring out the best in each other, and that is what is most important about marriage. Their favorite part of the wedding day was getting to see their whole families, meeting everyone, and getting to share their special day with so many friends and family members. Being a part of such a true and authentic romance is something I will always cherish, and I look forward to hearing how this couple grow more and more as the years go on.

Photography: Vitor Lindo Photo + Video | Cinematography: Vitor Lindo Photo + Video | Floral Design: Garden On The Square | Ceremony Venue: Cathedral Of St. John The Baptist | Reception Venue: Westin Savannah Harbor | Bride's Shoes: Macy's | Ring: Kay Jewelers | Transportation: Old Savannah Tours | Hotel Accommodations: Mirabelle Suites | Menswear: Men's Wearhouse | Second Shooter: Esther Griffin Photography

There’s a reason fate is involved in so many epic love stories – it’s the epitome of soul mate level love. And this here is no different. One little street in Paris had special meaning for these two and when they realized their connection (the story is not to be missed below!) it was the perfect sign. Their happily ever after kicked off with this black and white wedding planned by Twofold LA, with Gregory Ross and NST Pictures capturing all the high fashion looks and more – right this way!

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From Twofold LA… When Emilie moved to Paris for a year abroad, she never could have imagined that a particular corner stop on her every day commute would eventually become so significant to her. Over a year later, in Los Angeles, Emilie and Sam met and immediately became inseparable. As they became more serious, Sam took Emilie to Paris to meet his mother. Upon arriving, Emilie noted that the street looked strangely familiar and soon realized that for a full year, she had walked past this very apartment, never knowing that it was the home her soul mate grew up in. Although they had no doubt in their connection, this sealed the deal that they were truly destined for each other.

For Emilie and Sam, the wedding was all about celebrating their family and friends. Both Emilie and Sam have family and friends living in France so they wanted to create a setting that felt comfortable and approachable for their international guests. From the very beginning there was a clear understanding that the wedding should be an accurate reflection of both of their styles, meaning that anything too feminine or frilly was a big no. Emilie and Sam knew that they would quite literally be in the best of hands with their planner Olivia Korenberg of Twofold LA who is the bride’s younger sister. Upon their first meeting, they began brainstorming and conceptualizing, using fashion houses such as Celine and Tom Ford as inspiration for the black and white affair. They soon settled on a color palette of black, white, rose gold and carerra marble.

The reception table settings evolved quickly with an extravagant extra long head table filled with simple arrangements of crisp eskimo roses, rose gold vases, hundreds of candles and elegant calligraphy details from Plume Calligraphy. Flanking guest tables were a toned down version of the head table with square tables, a simple arrangement of white roses in black boxes and votives to provide a beautiful glow.

Conceptualizing the ceremony was a bit more challenging. It was important to Emilie and Sam to have a traditional Jewish wedding but they wanted to modernize the concept of the chuppah. Twofold LA threw out hundreds of ideas ranging from marble pillars, modern flower walls to a tailored canopy, but it was Sam who stumbled upon a concept image featuring metallic copper pillars that were part of an art installation in Paris. Solidifying that as the direction, Twofold LA turned to their interior design contacts to source a rose gold metallic wallpaper which could paper enormous custom triangular columns to flank the couple and mirror the LA City skyline.

On the day of, Emilie wore a Monique Lhuiller Gown and cape paired with Olgana shoes and jewels from RoseArk and 14 Karat. Sam was equally fashionable in a Tom Ford suit, Magnannis Shoes, and vintage gold Rolex watch. Together they were the perfect embodiment of modern sophistication. They chose to walk down the aisle to the Louis Vuitton’s 2016 cruise collection runway song, which resonated with them after they had attended the show in Palm Springs together the previous year.

Working with the Beverly Hilton, Emilie and Sam created a custom menu with classic French dishes such as simple salad, steak frites and a millefeuille topped with fresh blackberries for dessert. Opting out of a traditional wedding cake, the Bride and Groom turned to local bakery Pitchoun to create custom macaron towers in shades of white, rose gold and black adorned with a single white rose. DJ Tessa of Prism DJ’s was on hand to make sure that the energy stayed up the entire night and saxophonist Daniel Bossy joined towards the end of the evening as a surprise guest. As the reception came to a close, guests were invited to join the Bride and Groom downstairs and continue the party at the hotels Le Chateau wine cellar. The party raged on until the late morning hour with Sam and Emilie dancing the night away.

Photography: Gregory Ross | Videography: NST Pictures | Coordination: Day Of Gal | Event Design: Twofold LA | Floral Design: Petals LA | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Pitchoun Bakers | Invitations: Bliss & Bone | Bride's Shoes: Organa | Make Up: Tammy Pham | Hair: Tawny Dee | Calligraphy: Plume Calligraphy | DJ: Prism Entertainment | Tuxedo: Tom Ford | Wedding Venue: Beverly Hilton | Bride's Jewelry: Roseark | Bridesmaid Hair + Makeup: Glamsquad | Groom's Jewelry: Rolex | Groom's Shoes: Magnanni | Rentals: LA Event Design | Saxophonist: Daniel Boissy | Wedding Rings: Cartier

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If there was every a wedding that solidified our love for peonies, this would be it. A classic vineyard affair captured by Lindsay Madden Photography that’s everything a girl could ask for. Complete with a gown from Gabriella New York Bridal Salon, the prettiest PJ sets courtosey of Pretty Plum Sugar, and of course delicious bites a la Marcey Brownstein Catering & Events, we’ve got it all waiting for you to fall in love with via The Vault!

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From the Bride… It was the summer before we got engaged. Jon and I took a weekend trip to the North Fork, where we stopped at a winery called Bedell Cellars. We were immediately blown away by its beauty. Sitting on the deck–which, incidentally, would become the site of our first dance two years later–and enjoying a glass of wine, we took in the gorgeous views of the vineyard–and knew this was where we would be married. And within days of getting engaged, we booked the venue. What we loved most about having a wedding at Bedell was the fact that we didn’t need to do much, because the venue spoke for itself. We chose a muted color palette to let the natural colors of the vineyard and the gardens shine. We included pops of pink peonies and garden roses (thanks to Karen Lenahan Designs) to add some color, and hung string lights throughout the pavilion and tent, but that was about the extent of it; we kept everything else simple.

Riva at Bedell, Daria of Daria Culver Events and Leslie at Marcey Brownstein Catering and Events made planning my wedding a pleasure rather than a stressor; they are all incredible people to work with. The only thing we actually needed to worry about about was the weather on the big day. On the morning of, we woke up to the sun shining, and knew everything was going to be absolutely perfect. Jon and I had the best time getting ready with our parents and bridal party, and our first look was picture-perfect (thanks to Lindsay Madden Photography). Nothing could have been better–seeing all our loved ones in one beautiful place; feasting on fantastic food, wine, and cocktails; enjoying the stunning sunset, followed by an epic dance party (thanks to the Joel Young Band)- our wedding was, beyond a doubt, the best day of our lives.

Photography: Lindsay Madden Photography | Cinematography: Amanda Madeline Studios | Wedding Planning: Daria Culver Events | Floral Design: Karen Lenahan Designs | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Cake: Leanne's Specialty Cakes | Invitations: Little Black Dress Paperie | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Marcey Brownstein Catering & Events | Makeup: Nicole Sievers Makeup Artistry | Hair: Styles On B | Lighting: Karen Lenahan Designs | Entertainment: Hank Lane Music | Groom's Attire: Boglioli | Bridal Dress Salon: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Bridesmaids' Prep Outfits: Plum Pretty Sugar | Ceremony & Reception: Bedell Cellars Winery | Getting Ready Location: The Harborfront Inn | Reception Rentals: Party Rental Ltd.

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Three things: children’s books, a gender neutral theme and friend chicken. That is what this mama-to-be wanted and Emily Burgess of Hill Country Bride so delivered. Playing off the theme of Alice in Wonderland, she incorporated whimsical garden details, a beautiful gray and white neutral palette, a cake bar and yes, fried chicken. Sounds like the perfect combo. See all the beauty Lori Blythe captured with even more in the VAULT.

It was such an honor to be asked to style this baby shower for a very good friend of mine, Jennifer and her coming little one. When we started planning this shower we asked the mom to be if she had any specific requests. She mentioned three things: she would love to have baby books with personalized inscriptions instead of cards, she would like it to be gender neutral as they were waiting to find out the gender of the baby, and fried chicken. Yep, fried chicken. That was her pregnancy craving food that she couldn’t get enough of!

With these three requests in mind, we had a lot of freedom to design, but a good starting place to give us direction. Since she mentioned the baby books, we found out that her own favorite children’s book was Alice in Wonderland. As we explored these elements, we came up with a design theme of an Alice inspired tea party, in neutral color tones (gray and white) and an evening of comfort food.

The Color Story

We chose neutrals, because of the unknown gender of the baby. From there we narrowed it down to black, white, and gray, to honor the original printing of Alice illustrations that were in black and white. We also snuck in just a couple of robin egg’s blue details reminiscent of Alice’s blue dress in the first movie version. We asked all of the guests to wear white/gray to include the attendees as a part of the design of the evening, and asked the momma to wear a bright pop of color as the center of attention and affection!

The Venue

Another friend’s garden backyard was the perfect setting for this event. It even came with a garden door that was like a real life door into wonderland!

The Linens

We really wanted to use a fun linen on the table, something that felt like Wonderland. When we came across a gray on gray roses, we were sold! It so reminded us of “Paint the roses!…” in the Queen’s garden. It was perfect!

The Favors

When considering guest favors, we came up with tea cup potted plants. The tea cup after the Mad Hatter’s tea party, of course, and the plants as a symbolic inspiration of new life. Jennifer is also a lover of nature and totally appreciated the incorporation of a gift that keeps giving life!

The Florals

The Flower Pail did a great job of executing our vision for the florals. She made a whimsical arrangement using white roses (referring to the white roses in the Queen’s garden again!) and untamed greens in white milk glass.

The Eats

We did a family style meal of comfort food, just as our Momma to be requested! This was a crowd pleaser for sure! We also had a variety of tea party style desserts served on a restored 1950’s vanity (this is when the first theatrical version came out) and incorporated our story through little “eat me” signs!

The Paper Products

Our paper designer brought her own unique touch to our inspiration! She had lovely whimsical mommy and baby rabbit graphic for the menu and used a floral robin’s egg blue envelope liner for the invite. She used a gold metal clip to incorporate the menu with a prayer card for the guests to send prayers with the Mommy to be.

The Charm

Since literature is so special to Jennifer, we really wanted to make this evident in the story of the evening. We pulled inspiring quotes from the Alice in Wonderland book and posted them about the party. These quotes were the perfect fit for the magical celebration of a little one! We found these lovely white funky chairs and mix-matched chairs, including a big high-backed chair for the guest of honor, just like the original illustrations of the Mad Hatter’s tea party.

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From New Mama, Jennifer Phillips… Two years ago my husband and I moved from Dallas back to a small Texas town and I didn’t dare dream we would find such a marvelous group of friends to share our life with here. But after less than a year we had fallen in with a great group of people and when the ladies of said group banded together to throw me a baby shower, I knew it would be a dream come true. When I arrived I was completely enchanted. It really was the kind of idyllic soire you see in magazines or read about in a Fitzgerald novel. To celebrate the arrival of our sweet baby, these talented women had created a stunning evening filled with candlelight, laughter, a thousand beautiful details, my favorite foods, and–best of all–friends. Hosted by Katie Turpin, Sarah Dale, Sara Harding, Emily Burgess

Photography: Lori Blythe Photography | Floral Design: The Flower Pail | Invitations: Bobo Workshop | Furniture & Styling: Restored Fredericksburg | Rentals: Sisters Vintage Party | Stylist: Hill Country Bride

Inspired by the bride’s love of antique astrology maps, this isn’t your cookie cutter wedding day. The amazing planners at TOAST Santa Barbara translated her vision into a blue-toned affair at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa dotted with glowing star lanterns all captured by Pat Moyer. The grand finale to their epic day? Dancing beneath the stars, of course.

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From the Bride… I like to call our wedding “the vintage California-French astrology-inspired marriage party of my dreams,” which gives you an idea of the number of influences I had going into the planning process. I wanted it to feel like an extended dinner party you might have at someone’s country house in Provence, complete with great wine and dancing under the stars.

Our recurring themes were sprinkles of tiny stars (inspired by my love of antique astrology maps), all different shades of blue, and a mixture of rustic French style with California accents. My husband and I had a shared vision of a party that was elegant but not at all fussy, and we really wanted our guests to feel taken care of.

I threw all of these disparate elements at my extremely talented wedding planners from Toast Santa Barbara and they didn’t even flinch. They were so patient with me, and so reassuring. Their excitement about tiny things like cocktail napkins and calligraphy styles was contagious.

Once we toured Casa Elar at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, we knew that if everything else went wrong, the beautiful location would make up for it. Ojai is this golden, magical place, and the estate is so luxurious. We really enjoyed pretending we lived there for a couple days!

We’re not very traditional, so our entire wedding party got ready together. Our friends brought their kids over and everyone played in the pool. I think that set the tone—relaxed, friendly, and spontaneous. There were wedding conventions that we didn’t care about, so we skipped them. We wanted as much time with our friends and families as possible.

Some of my favorite party details were the Mediterranean china from The Ark; the French ticking stripe linens and chair cushions from La Tavola; the gorgeous cream and blue flowers that Toast put together (they even included some thistle, as a nod to my Scottish grandfather); and our amazing reception band, The Class (who were seriously so good that a couple of guests tried to pay them extra to play past the 10PM noise curfew).

The night ended with a bourbon and dessert bar in tribute to my dad’s love of both, and a confetti surprise. I had this vision of gold confetti raining down on people as they were dancing, and Toast made it happen. After the reception, a bunch of our guests grabbed the extra champagne and jumped in the pool to keep the party going. It was a blast.

We were surprised by how much detail and care went into every single part of the day. I remember standing with my new husband just outside of the dance floor. There were candles everywhere, paper star lanterns twinkling all around us, and the band was playing Fleetwood Mac. We turned to each other in disbelief and said, “This is for us?” We feel honored to have been invited to such a wonderful party, much less to have it thrown in our honor.

Photography: Pat Moyer Photography | Event Design: TOAST Santa Barbara | Floral Design: TOAST Santa Barbara | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Hair and Makeup: 19 Blue Salon and Spa | Lighting: Bella Vista Designs, Inc | Band: The Class Band | Bluegrass Band: The Bakersfield Boys | Linen: BBJ La Tavola | Paper Goods: Susanne Duffner Designs | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Rentals: The Ark Event Rentals | Villa: Ojai Valley Inn

P.S. More Wedding Astrology Fun!

Your Dream Wedding According to the Stars

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Your Dream Wedding According to the Stars

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When planning their wedding in Puerto Rico, this duo skipped anything that wasn’t truly authentic to them, and focused only on what really represented their approach to life and love. The results? Totally worth it. STEM Events created tropical floral masterpieces and ART IS FOR LOVERS captured the blooms and all the other dedicated details – see more in our Vault right here!

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From the Bride… Our main goal for our wedding was to showcase the real purpose for why people get married, and that is because two people love each other and have made the decision to venture forward in life together. To us, that meant keeping it simple, and eliminating age old traditions that just didn’t make sense to us. Our goal was to keep the formalities short and sweet and to focus on just having a nice dinner and dance party with our closest family and friends. In doing so we did not have a wedding party, we didn’t do any first dances or cutting of the cake. I think the way in which we planned our wedding showed that we are a laid back couple, and that we are not traditionalists. Ultimately it was our day, but we wanted to make everyone else feel just as joyful, and welcomed and comfortable. And by eliminating some of the traditional things that typically focuses solely on us it allowed for a wedding that made it feel like it was also about friends and family!

We really didn’t want a traditional altar, so our designer came up with just some flowing fabric hanging from the palm trees, that I thought was very beautiful. We used some personalized marquee lights for the reception. When the guests arrived they saw our initials lit up (B&L), and then at the cake table the marquee read YUM, BAR, and in the distance LOVE. It made the scene quite beautiful.

For the escort cards, I painted the inside of shells gold and it had the guests name on it. I placed them on clear glass rocks and in a tray to make it look like oysters on the half shell. To give it that beachy feel. I also tried to add a Puerto Rican feel by creating the menus with the title of “Buen Provecho” which is what Puerto Ricans say before a meal – it essentially mean “Bon Appetit”. I also wanted all my flowers to be something that was native to Puerto Rico or to the Caribbean – in doing so we got a beautiful arrangement of colorful, tropical flowers.

I think it’s really important to just put both your personalities into your wedding as much as possible. Even if others might not understand your choices, for doing this or not doing this, ultimately a wedding is about the two people getting married. Guests will really feel the originality of your wedding and it won’t feel so generic. Try to do certain things on your own if you can. Even if it’s just the tiniest thing, it makes your wedding look even more unique. Details, details, details. Think about little things that you can add to your wedding that will help take it to another level. Personalized napkins for the cocktail hour or in the bathroom. Cocktail straws with your colors. Signage. Cake toppers. Bar menus so your guests know what you’re serving. Gift bags… It was all amazing! Every memory is the best!

Photography: ART IS FOR LOVERS | Coordination: Anne Marie Kleis | Event Design: STEM Events | Floral Design: STEM Events | Wedding Dress: Katie May | Cake: Le Meridien | Shoes: Guiseppe Zanotti | Jewelry: Elizabeth Cole | Catering: W Retreat & Spa | Makeup: Javier Moreno | Hair: Javier Moreno | DJ: Jose Concepcion | Band: La Super Banda | Wedding Venue: W Retreat & Spa | Headpiece: Bo & Luca

This couple first met on the confetti-laden floor of “Dancing with the Stars”, so obviously you know their wedding is going to be one stunning affair. Complete with Jaime Byrne Events at the helm planning perfection and onelove photography capturing it all to share, we’ve got every bit of beauty waiting for you in The Vault!

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From the Bride… Will and I met as many couples do – on the confetti-laden floor of “Dancing with the Stars.” I, a publicist for the show at the time, and he, a reporter for E! News, spent countless hours backstage and in the ballroom as co-workers and slowly, as friends. In a bold move, I gave him my number, and he called me…5 months later. We went out to dinner a bit after that and our work friendship flourished into a loving and wonderful relationship.

I think it’s fair to say that I had been cultivating a “someday” wedding inspiration Pinterest board from the moment Pinterest was introduced to me. The only thing that could tear me away from my wedding board was a home décor board. Luckily, Will and I were fortunate to buy a house in Los Angeles a little over a year ago after 7 years of dating. On the morning of the final walk-thru, he proposed on the walkway of our new home with his great-grandmother’s 100+ year old family diamond that his father and sister had re-set. It was perfect, and I wouldn’t have changed a single thing getting us to that moment.

Almost immediately I began culling through SMP and Pinterest, attempting the daunting task of trying to actually pull together what I wanted for my – our – wedding day. I frantically deleted and then re-added pins. I searched every magazine. I envisioned myself walking down the aisle and tried to piece everything together but my brain was a never-ending spiral of wedding images. I knew I wanted it to be black tie. And the venue had to have a romantic but glamorous vibe, with an outdoor or courtyard ceremony, and a big room that was not a hotel ballroom where we could hold the dinner AND our dance space so that people could eat, sit, and dance at any given moment all in the same room. Enter The Fig House in Highland Park, an up and coming “hipster area” on the East side of Los Angeles, near our new home in Atwater Village.

Once we saw The Fig House, we knew that was where we could see ourselves getting married. We had been to 24 weddings together over the course of our relationship – and The Fig House just felt special. We were incredibly lucky to have our families help us, but my Pinterest dreams had really lead me to believe that I was going to have a million dollar wedding. Tackling our budget and figuring out what I could cut out, what I could DIY, and what I would have to splurge on were the hardest decisions. We decided that the food and beverage were important to us – we enlisted RoomForty catering for the meal and the bar – and we immediately knew we were in good hands.

I started with the bridesmaids and found a great DIY for my 7 ladies who all love a glass of rosé and a good cry (much like myself) – so I turned to Etsy and printed out “Will You Be My…” wine labels and personalized cards, as well as had handkerchiefs embroidered with “No Ugly Crying,” our date, and their initials – all before I had settled on any color scheme or plan for the day. Luckily they all said yes. I narrowed in on the Adrianna Papell neutral beaded bridesmaid’s dresses I had been coveting – again, without any plan for the other stuff. Since The Fig House had such vibrant and distinct colors, I knew I wanted tons of greenery, big white flowers like garden roses and ranunculus, and metallic and crystal clear elements but I still wasn’t sure how to tie it all together.

After agonizing over the Vera Wang dress I desperately wanted but could not afford, I quickly chose my dress, an Alvina Valenta gown that I found at a sample sale – it was a budget save that I was so happy with! My generous friend lent me her Lazaro veil and Maria Elena headpiece from her wedding, which to be honest, were the show stoppers of my look and put my long lost Vera Wang dreams to rest. I bought my Stuart Weitzman heels on eBay, as well as most of the vases for the tables. My future husband borrowed a gorgeous Ted Baker tuxedo from his job and I enlisted a family friend as our florist. I sent her my Pinterest board link along with pictures of my dress, the bridesmaids’ dresses, and the venue, and she put it all together. My advice to all brides on a budget: save where you can. With a little bit of Internet sleuthing and time, you can find what you’re looking for without breaking the bank – for the most part. It also helps to have super talented friends and family.

My incredibly brilliant friend and bridesmaid, Lauren Darling, helped be my “wedding creative director” as the driving graphic design force being all of the invitations and design work throughout the wedding. She is the Creative Director of Town & Country Magazine, and as my friend since we were 5 years old in the same kindergarten class, she knows me better than anyone. Her sense of design helped me select the floral envelope liner on Etsy that my mom & sister painstakingly hand cut 200 copies of. And she was single handedly responsible for not just the invitations, but the save the dates, menus, bar signs, etc – she also taught me that in fancy art director talk, it’s called “collateral.”

The hardest part was the last 3 months. My running list of DIY ideas had officially gotten too long and I felt like I hadn’t really tied everything together. Luckily, my wonderful friend is a skilled event planner who stepped up to the plate when I started questioning every. Single. Choice. I had made. My other piece of advice – hire Jaime Byrne Events! She listened to my stream of consciousness rants about table linens, hair & make-up, and everything in between. She advised me on layouts and food choices, and also gave me the pep talks I needed to make decisions and move on. I agonized over table linens for much longer than I would like to admit. Finally, we took a few linen samples over to The Fig House, and quickly determined that the black linens would look great in the space and would tie everything together. Looking back on it, I realize it was the best (and most budget friendly) decision we made.

I had long been obsessing over finding some sort of crystal or geode type of place card holder, but no amount of Googling was providing me with any sort of solution. Finally, in what I can only account as divine intervention – I stumbled upon designer Emily Henderson’s blog about a winter tablescape, and low & behold, there was a crystal place card holder DIY tutorial. I ordered the crystals and wire on Amazon and I enlisted my handy sister to help me make them. As a skilled DIY-er and interior designer who is not afraid to get her hands dirty, she became a place card holder-making machine. It took a little while to get the hang of it, but after making 180 of them and seeing them all lined up ready to go to the venue the day before the wedding – I knew the hand cramps from cutting and tying the wire were worth it.

What we couldn’t account for was the unknown heartbreak we were about to experience. Late in January, just about 2 months before our wedding, Will’s father unexpectedly passed away. It was, and still is, a shock to our system. All wedding planning came to a halt as we spent 2 weeks on the east coast with his family. His father had relished in the planning of our wedding. As the heart and soul of this big Italian family I love so much, this was a devastating loss. Before his death, as the CEO of Victory Optical – a 4-generation family run eyewear design company started by Will’s great-grandfather in New Jersey – he designed and ordered custom Victory sunglasses for all of our guests as our favor. He had personalized them even more than we expected by creating a one-of-a-kind matte black-on-black styles for the men and the women based on the favorite styles that Will and I wear. He also added our names and wedding date on the inside of the frame. It is the most special wedding favor I have ever seen, and something our guests still rave about today.

When we returned to Los Angeles with less than 2 months until the wedding – and a whole new perspective on what was important – our wedding day became less about the design details and more about our families. We wouldn’t have made it through those 2 months, and our wedding day, without the love and support of all of the people around us. My best friends and family stepped in and helped finish all the last minute projects like the guest bags, the welcome sign, the table assignment board, and the “for happy tears” individual tissue packets. The caterers at RoomForty brought us dinner one night while I was stuffing envelopes. I stopped obsessing over Pinterest details and focused on writing our ceremony and finding the best way to honor Will’s dad. Luckily, we had recruited our wonderful friend, PJ Byrne, as our officiant. As a talented actor and one of our closest friends, his wit, comedic timing, and ability to captivate an audience made him the perfect person to marry us.

The actual day-of was a total blur. I cannot thank the Jaime Byrne Events team and everyone at The Fig House and RoomForty enough. Everyone tells you to enjoy the moment and take everything in. I really tried, but it was incredibly overwhelming. Walking down the aisle felt like I was underwater – looking at the pictures now – I realized I just cried the entire time. My future husband selected the song for my processional, “Wonderful” by My Morning Jacket. I had heard it before, but never loved a song more until after hearing it through my tears as I looked out at all of our loved ones who were there celebrating with us. The reception was everything I wanted it to be and more. Our friends and family’s speeches were a highlight, each person giving poignant and heartfelt toasts to our future. We had an epic dance party, followed by the most delicious chocolate naked cake filled with chocolate Bavarian cream and chocolate chips from Great Dane Baking Co., and Room Forty’s famous “gutter nachos” served in an actual 10’ long rain gutter to top things off as our late night snack. The end of the night culminated with a very special dance circle to Katy Perry’s Firework as our last song. We did not want the night to end.

We owe a lot to every single person and vendor who helped us get to that last song. It was the best day filled with happy and sad tears, but tons of laughter and love.

Photography: onelove photography | Cinematography: TrumpetBird Productions | Event Planner: Jaime Byrne Events | Floral Design: Karen Donovan Flowers | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Great Dane Baking | Cupcakes: Lark Cake Shop | Invitations: Custom Design + Print by Lauren Darling | Bride's Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Nordstrom | DJ: Gumbo Entertainment | Transportation: Exclusive Sedan Services | Wedding Venue: The Fig House | Bridal Undergarments: Nordstrom | Bride's Clutch: Rent The Runway | Cake Serving Set: Kate Spade | Card Box: West Elm | Catering & Bar: RoomForty | Groom's Shoes: Hugo Boss | Groom's Tuxedo: Ted Baker | Guest Welcome Bags: DIY | Guestbook: Blue Sky Papers, Fine Handmade Guest Books & Albums | Hair & Make-Up: Be.NYLA | Headpiece: Maria Elena | Invitation Envelope Liners: GreyBerry Design | Linen + Table Rentals: Town And Country Rentals | Personalized Cocktail Napkins: For Your Party | Place Card Holder Crystals: Amazon | Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Sunglasses: Victory Optical Collection | Table Assignment Board: DIY Custom Covered Cork Board | Table Numbers: Etsy - GaugeNYC | Valet: American Limo Service | Vases: Assorted from eBay | Veil: JLM Couture | Will You Be My... Labels + Cards: FeatheredHeartPrints

Throwing the world’s greatest dinner party?  Well our friends at Nambé are here to help you kick your entertaining style up a notch.  Think 10 totally unique (+ seriously stunning) items that will leave all of your guests talking.  It’s everything from the perfect cheese set to a fab ice bucket to tumblers that are sooo pretty. Guys, these will make your evening.

Moderne Carafe | Forte Bowl | Curvo Wine Rack | Curvo Cheese Set | Drift Bowl

Whether you’re hosting an intimate bash with a few of your closest friends or plan on having the Party of the Century to “officially” say goodbye to summer, Nambé’s sleek lineup of serveware, barware and home decor is seriously everything you’ll ever need to impress every.last.guest on your invite list.  Think stunning alloy and concrete pieces from the new Forte Collection (they’re coated in food-safe lacquer) for those yummy apps, the Tilt Wine Chiller to keep those whites nice and cool (put it in the freezer before your guests arrive) and the mouth-blown + hand-cut Moderne collection, aka, glass serveware and giftware that is basically everything. (Seriously.) Want our picks for the coolest ever lineup? Here you go…

 Skye Tumblers | Forte Condiment Trio | Tilt Wine Chiller | Braid Serving Tray | Scoop Ice Bucket

Nambé plus any get-together is a sure fire hit, so don’t be afraid to add all of their amazing products to your Macy’s Registry.  Trust us, Nambé is perfect for everything from holiday feasts to Super Bowl Sundays to those date nights in with your sweetie.  And with Nambé’s Registry Completion Offer available only at Macy’s, you’ll even receive a 6″ Butterfly Bowl (an $80 value) when you purchase at least $250 of Nambé!

So here’s where it gets awesome.  Did you know that Nambé makes some of the most stunning contemporary jewelry you’ll ever see?  I’m talking sterling silver necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings that are designed for everyday wear with that quality and beauty Nambé is so well known for. Want to win a stunning piece? Scroll for more info.

What: Nambé is giving away an Open Pendant from their new sterling silver collection! (Value $250)

How: Simply head to the Nambé website, then come back and comment on this post telling us which piece (jewelry, home decor, serveware and more!) has to make an appearance in YOUR home. (Ex: I love, love, love the Forte Salt & Pepper Shakers!)

Who: One lucky winner, chosen completely at random, will be announced right here on SMP on Friday, October 14, 2016. For terms and conditions, click here. Good luck!

This design-savvy power house has a long list of wow moments on her resume. One of those being the hit show ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. So to say she knows a few secrets to dream home status is an understatement. Read along as Veronica Valencia of the Design Hunters fills us in on 12 ways to gorgeously style your home inside and out. And get ready to take notes with even more in the VAULT!

For the past 10 years I have traveled the United States drawing, remodeling, designing, styling and staging homes within ridiculously accelerated timeframes for people I have never met. Sound crazy? Well it was and still is! This my friends, is the design home makeover world you see today scattered across TV’s nationwide. I started this journey in my early 20’s, touring the States with the hit show ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

The pioneers of the design makeover world, EMHE was the ultimate training. Since then I have run art departments for other major networks, such as NBC, FOX and OWN Network, who all credit me as a Design Producer. The rest of the entertainment industry refers to my position as a Production Designer; Collective Magazine called me Miss. Makeover, Remodelista called me the Master of Design Transformations (humble brag! Eeek!) and I like to refer to myself as the Design Hunter.

Much like your modern day sportsman, my team and I have to think quick on our feet, hunt for every bit of inspiration we can get our hands on (quickly), track and pursue great deals (even more quickly) and make construction decisions in a matter of a minute, all while cameras are rolling 24/7. The kicker, we hardly ever get to meet the families that move into the homes we spend hours on end designing night after night. And, the even crazier part, a majority of the 300+ homes I have designed to date have each been built from the ground up in a matter of 7 days. 7 days!!!

PULLING INSPIRATION & THE DESIGN JOURNEY

The takeaway from my unconventional beginnings in the design industry…
Design your home based around your loves, feelings and lifestyle. You will adore the results SO much more. Every project you take on, whether its for a client or your own home, will come to fruition exactly the way its suppose to. Don’t loose sight of the big picture. If a painting comes 2″ too wide, it is not the end of the world. You will survive! Enjoy the journey, its the best part! Everyone pulls inspiration from others, everyone. Pinterest is an incredible source of motivation and incite. If you are not pinning, get to it! It is a great way to make yourself aware of what you like and identify your personal style.

DESIGN WITH THE SEASONS

Much like the seasons, people, places and products change annually. Revisiting your home at the beginning of every season is a great habit to get into. Not only do you challenge yourself to live more simply, but you are able to pay close attention and tap into what is working and what is not working within your home. If you are not in love with it, move on.

WHEN CONSIDERING THE INTERIOR OF YOUR HOME, START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Focus on the big ticket items, like your sofa and bed. Never start and splurge on accessories (unless you MUST have it). Items like pillows, lamps and bedding are always great items to change up here and there. I am such a huge fan of swapping accessories from room to room throughout the house or potentially even grabbing new ones every season. Summer makes me feel different than Fall and Winter, and I want my home to reflect that.

FOR NEW HOME BUYERS AND REMODELERS, GET SOME PAINT UP ON THOSE WALLS!

Paint is the quickest way to express yourself, bring out your personality and set the mood for your home, both on the interiors and exteriors.

SHIPLAP WALLS CAME AND WENT… AND NOW THEY ARE BACK!

Traditionally used in barns and historic homes, this is always a go to when you want to spend a little extra to bring a big wow into your home. There are so many different versions of shiplap out there. Rustic barn boards can be a great way to bring character to a fireplace, while running freshly painted pine boards vertically or horizontally can make your office or kitchen feel immediately cozy and chic. There are so many DIY’s that can be found on Pinterest to walk you through which works best for your space and how to install yourself. If you have the budget to do this, and don’t want the hassle… consult with your local contractor.

INCORPORATING BEAUTY AND WELLNESS INTO YOUR HOME WITH JUST ONE PURCHASE! COUNT ME IN!

Not only do plants beautify an empty corner of your home, they tremendously improve your health and wellness. Toxic cleaning supplies release so many harmful chemicals into the air of your home. Did you know there are 3 common houseplants (you can easily pick up at your local home improvement store) that can be grown indoors to cultivate fresh air throughout your home? A design decision that can make your air as neutral as possible, along with removing unwanted formaldehyde! Crazy! (Tip: Areca Palm, Mother-In-Law Tongue and the Money Plant are the most common indoor plants to help improve air quality. They are also said to help cure headaches, as well as foster human productivity.) To read more about this, check out the book How To Grow Fresh Air and check out Kamal Meattle’s Ted Talk, How To Grow Fresh Air.

WHIMSICAL AND BRIGHT ARTWORK WILL BRING A LOT OF CHARACTER TO ANY SPACE.

Artwork is a great centerpiece for any room. The perfect anchor to set the style of any space, and more importantly a wonderful conversational piece for guests.

SET OUT TO MAKE A COLLAGE WITH UNEXPECTED, INEXPENSIVE ITEMS.

Straw hats and straw fans are a great cheap way to provide an empty wall with a bit of flare. Your local goodwill and amazon are both great places to start hunting and gathering dollar finds.

GET ROMANTIC AND BOLD WITH WALLPAPER!

As a designer who is obsessed with instagram and all of the beautiful content generated from fellow stylists, making any moment “instagrammable” whether it’s in my own home or a client’s, is definitely something I strive for. Frankly, wallpaper has always been my friend. It brings immediate eye candy to any space.

WHEN IT COMES TO CURB APPEAL – PAINT, LANDSCAPING AND PATIO FURNITURE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.

It doesn’t matter what style of home you have, a freshly painted front door and an unexpected shutter color will do the trick. Landscaping is always key! Invest your money in a professional landscaper. A lot of times, homeowners will set out on a DIY weekend and plant tons of plants in their front yard….. And guess what? They die a week later! Let professionals who know how to maintain your yard, take care of all of your hard weekend work. Just like indoor plants, exteriors plants soften and make any ol’ house feel like home. Splurge on interesting patio furniture. A lot of times I will hang wicker chairs in the front yard to give a house some character. It’s like the statement earrings to an outfit!

USE TWINKLE LIGHTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

I remember when I first moved out of my parents home, I found the perfect guest house in Silverlake. The week I moved in, I convinced my roommates to drape string lights from the front of my house to the back of their house. Our property was immediately magical! It was an inexpensive purchase, that helped set the foundation for so many lovely memories and gatherings.

BUILT IN SEATING IS YOUR FRIEND.

Today, with a shift toward small living, formal dining rooms tend to eat up so much valuable space in a home. If done right, built in seating can be an affordable alternative and sometimes even more cost effective than a brand new dining set. The amount you spend on dining chairs, can potentially be comparable to the price of what material and labor costs to construct your dining corner. Built in seating is a great and intimate way to host formal dinners and respectively, provide an informal hangout for homework time, game nights and more! It is also a great addition to any backyard and deck. It’s inviting and perfect for those summer al fresco nights!

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Photography: Love Ala | Lighting: Candelabra | Lighting: Shades of Light | Lighting: Circa Lighting | Lighting: Parkstudio LA | Accessories & Furniture: Target | Accessories & Furniture: One Kings Lane | Art Work: Artfully Walls | Art Work: Joshua Smith | Book: Books By The Foot | Exterior & Interior Shutters: Southern Shutter | Exterior Door Hardware: Emtek | Exterior Hanging Rattan Chairs: Pier 1 | Exterior Rattan Ottomans: Miadora | Exterior Siding: Certain Teed | Frames - Art Work: Framebridge | Furniture: Ikea | Furniture: Crate & Barrel | Furniture: World Market | Furniture: West Elm | Furniture: CB2 | Furniture: Candelabra | Hardwood Flooring: Mohawk Flooring | Interior & Exterior Paint: Benjamin Moore's Robbins Egg, High Gloss | Interior Designer & Stylist: Veronica Valencia | Kitchen Cabinetry & Bookcases: Waypoint Living Spaces | Kitchen Cabinetry & Bookcases: Waypoint Living Spaces | Mud Cloth Pillows: Etsy | Shutters: Southern Shutter | Velvet Grey Sofa: Article | Veronica's Design Company: Veronica Valencia | Wallpaper: Ellie Cashman Design | Window Treatments : Select Blinds

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Meet Parker and Kori, a couple with the cutest love story ever. One that started in the denim aisle while he was shopping for jeans and she was the helpful associate who made sure he got the right fit. Fast forward 3.5 years later these two are making their way down a completely different kind of aisle and we’ve got their sweet beginning captured by the incomparable KT Merry Photography in The Vault!

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From the Bride… Jeans brought us together. I know, jeans.

It was a slow afternoon for Kori, who was a sales associate at a boutique in Hollywood, CA. While Parker’s parents were visiting they wanted to take him shopping for jeans and decided to go to a rad denim shop. Kori just happened to be working and it just so happened to be her turn to help the next customer to pop in.

Our first meeting was at the door, where Kori shared introductions with Robert and Kathy. Parker putted behind both of them, his ball cap down low. Being the eloquent and professional sales associate she was, Kori recommended Robert a pair of “old man jeans” located in what she would like to call, the “relaxed fit” section. Unbeknownst to her, Robert’s fear of getting older sent that “old man” comment through a chain of uncomfortable exchanges of “uh, that’s not what I meant to say” sales banter. (To this day Kori has not lived this comment down. It will forever haunt her.) Underneath the embarrassment she ran around grabbing a variety of styles, sizes and colors. In the hurricane of denim, Kori had yet to really notice Parker. Let’s just say that Robert needed the most attention. After getting both men in jeans, Parker walked out of the dressing room and finally Kori had her first look. TA DA! It was love!!

While it may not have actually been love at first sight, Kori did experience what she calls “knowing”. She knew in that moment that she wanted to know more about this quiet, handsome, shy human. So what is a girl to do? Oh yeah! Ask his mom. She probed Kathy with questions… “What does he do?” “Does he have a girlfriend?” Kathy was very thorough and enthusiastic about her son, answering all of Kori’s questions and intriguing her more.

By the time everyone reached the register Kori was already planning her move to give Parker her phone number. He was so shy so she had no idea if he was going to ask her out. She couldn’t let him leave without her number so she proceeded to write her number on her business card. She politely told him: “Here is my number, we should get together and hangout sometime.” Parker smiled and said, “yeah.” He reached out that evening and 3 ½ years later we are engaged and love each other deeply. We look back at that day as the day we both finally found one another. We are so happy to have you celebrating our special weekend with us!

Photography: KT Merry Photography | Bride's Vintage Fashion Store: Parks and Lea | Floral Dress: For Love And Lemons | White Dress : Chloe

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KT Merry Photography

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We tune into Million Dollar Listing New York to ogle over Manhattan apartments we can only dream of calling home someday. But, we also tune in because we love watching Ryan Serhant and Emilia Bechrakis’ adorable relationship. And on July 7th, the two  said “I do” on the picture-perfect Greek isle of Pontikonisi and we’ve got a sneak peek for you right now. And for the whole thing, don’t miss “Million Dollar Listing New York: Ryan’s Wedding” premieres on Thursday, September 22 at 9PM ET/PT.

What was your vision for the wedding?

E: I was definitely the opposite of the girl who dreams of her wedding. I had no idea about weddings. I had no idea what I needed to do. I had no idea of timelines and how much work actually goes into planning a wedding. I never envisioned something in particular, but I definitely had in mind, when Ryan proposed, that I would want to get married surrounded by our close family and close friends and the ideal at the time would have been to be married in Greece, but we considered getting married in the states, but getting married in Greece was just a dream come true.

What was it like planning a wedding with cameras around?

E: For me it was terrible, for Ryan, it was great. A wedding is stressful in and of itself, a destination wedding adds a layer to that and the cameras elevate that to I don’t even know what difficulty. It’s very stressful, it’s a lot of work. And you’re very conscious of your guests and your family and everyone around you because they don’t really ask to be filmed, but they are inevitably because we were televising the wedding. So you think about a lot of aspects of it because it is very stressful process. But, it’s fun because now we can look back and have that memory.

What advice would you give to couples who are planning their own destination weddings?

E: Plan well in advance. Simplify your life. The planners can say things like, “wedding charger plates” or whatever they’re called and linens and fly them in. And, I just wanted to simplify everything and source everything locally and I think that makes a massive difference. The only thing we did source locally, well part of it we did, was the flowers. So, we had local flowers and obviously because the flowers we chose were not in season at the time or on the island, we also flew in flowers from Holland. So that was the only thing we outsourced in terms of vendors, but everything we wanted locally. But I definitely advise that for couples, because you’re also giving jobs to the community that you’re getting married in. It’s quicker and easier and fresher and makes life a lot better.

R: And I would say it’s great to have a wedding planner that’s local with you, but a wedding planner on the ground wherever it is that you’re going. Our destination wedding was on the other side of the world and in a foreign country. I don’t mean like if you’re from New York and getting married in the Hamptons. It made a big difference when we finally brought those two pieces together because we spent a lot of wasted energy working with just one wedding planner here who promised us that they knew how to do destination weddings and they do weddings all over the world and when it really came down to it, things just got way too complicated and they hadn’t done a destination wedding in that specific location, in that specific church with those specific vendors. It’s like me trying to sell a house in Greece, I would work on it from Greece.

Looking back on the wedding now, what was the highlight of the day for both of you?

R: It’s a tie. Actually, it’s, aw man, I don’t know. There were so many highlights. It was all pretty awesome. I distinctly remember Emilia finally showing up and walking up the steps — apparently it’s a big tradition for the bride to be really late and drive around the church on a boat honking a horn blowing sirens and pretending not to show up. So when she finally got off the boat and was walking up those steps with her dad and her brother, looking beautiful, I will never forget that moment. That, and, I got to take a pirate ship. We got married on Corfu, and Corfu is an island off of Greece and where we actually got married is on another island off of Corfu called Pontikonisi that the whole island is just this insanely magnificent church and the peacock and so we got married there and everyone had to come over by boat and so I and my men, my brothers and my best friends, from our villa, got on a pirate ship and took a pirate ship over there.

E: Definitely — all of the stress of the wedding was overwhelming, but when I put on my dress and then got in the car and got on the boat and had my dad and my brother with me and then arriving on the island, I just was so giddy and happy and couldn’t contain my happiness and the whole wedding ceremony was just amazing, and definitely when I walked up the steps and saw Ryan and he looked so cute. It’s a Greek tradition that the Groom holds the bouquet and the bride is given to the groom by the father and typically the brothers and then the groom will give the bouquet to the bride and then they will walk to the altar together and he looked so cute and nervous and hot and tired, relieved that I walked up the steps. But, I was so, so happy that anything that had gone wrong or was about to go wrong, I did not care about, so that was the highlight. That, and the fireworks. We were surprised by fireworks when we danced our first dance. We didn’t realize the fireworks were going to go off so that was definitely a highlight.

What’s the best part about being married?

E: The best part about being married is, as cliche as it sounds, it really is the beginning of your life, the rest of your life, and to start a family and that whole thing. I think it’s beautiful that I no longer, you’re no longer alone. You’re a family. So I think that’s the most beautiful part, is that we’re a family now.

R: It’s very funny, but the minute you get married, you stop planning, it’s not like when you’re dating and you’re planning weekends and you’re planning dates and the wedding and this that and everything. But now that we’re married, we’re planning the next five years, the next ten years, the next 20 years and I don’t know, there’s something inherently comforting and exciting about that at the same time. With your best friend, obviously.

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Photography: Dimitrios Kambouris

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Opting for an intimate celebration in Mexico to celebrate their “I do’s,” these two sweeties grabbed 30 of their closest friends and family and headed to Secrets Akumal in the Riviera Maya to party the weekend away in classic meets glam fashion.  From the luxe gold, black and white color palette to the bride’s gorgeous Eve of Milady gown, this is a day that is as pretty as it was fun. See every stunning moment captured by Shannon Skloss in THE VAULT.

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From the Bride…When Kenneth and I first met, I never would have imagined in just a few short years we would be getting married in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The two of us met while out with friends one night and I will never forget the look in his eyes when he first walked up to talk to me.

Fast forward two years later. Kenneth and I are spending an afternoon in Dallas watching college football. As we are headed home, he makes what I thought was a wrong turn and pulls up to the valet of the hotel at Reunion Tower. We head up to our room where I find an overnight bag and a cocktail dress hanging in the closet. Kenneth had arranged for all of our things to be packed and dropped off by my sweet mother. He proposed that night with a gorgeous 3 stone emerald cut ring he had designed to look like my mom’s.

When we began the wedding planning process Kenneth suggested having a destination wedding so all our family and friends could vacation together and celebrate our big day. We decided Mexico would be the perfect place for our wedding after having such a fun time vacationing there a few summers before.

Our wedding day was perfect. We woke up and had breakfast together with our family and friends then spent some time on the beach before we started to get ready. The thirty guests who joined us were given black and white totes, beach hats, and cigars with personalized match boxes to use while they enjoyed their vacation. My closest girlfriends also received robes to wear while helping me get ready.

We decided on natural colors for our wedding and let the beautiful Mexico scenery be our backdrop. Secrets Akumal was the most amazing venue. We used white and gold and some acrylic and black accents for our décor. The tall white rose floral arrangements couldn’t have been more beautiful at the end of the aisle during our ceremony and on the long white tables for our reception. We personalized our event with monogrammed linen napkins and custom fans during the ceremony to keep our guests cool. The most memorable part of our wedding was walking down the aisle with my dad by my side and seeing my future husband standing there with tears rolling down his face. It was the same sweet eyes I saw when we first met, and I couldn’t believe I was now getting to marry this man and spend forever with him. I am beyond grateful we brought our photographer from Dallas to capture such special moments. We had so much fun dancing the night away. The chandeliers and lounge seating around the dance floor were the perfect touch to providing a beautiful and fun night. Marrying in Mexico was the best decision we could have made.

Photography: Shannon Skloss Photography | Floral Design: Secrets Akumal | Wedding Dress: Eve Of Milady | Cake: Secrets Akumal | Invitations: The Magic Pen | Bride's Shoes: Betsey Johnson | Catering: Secrets Akumal | Lighting: Secrets Akumal | Wedding Venue: Secrets Akumal | Bride's Gift: Roberto Coin | Groom's Gift: Tag Heuer | Monogram Napkins: Etsy Monograms Inc | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Travel Agent: Jerre Martin

I think we can all agree that a pastel spring wedding will never go out of style. Set in beautiful Charleston, Gabby and Pedro tied the knot with a celebration that truly embraced the season, including details like the prettiest hanging lanterns and a tablescape worth adding to your pin board. More from the lens of Dana Cubbage right this way.

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Gabby and Pedro traveled from Germany, where they are currently living, to celebrate their wedding day here in Charleston earlier this spring. The day started bright and early at Lowndes Grove Plantation on the Ashley River in Charleston, where Gabby and her bridesmaids got ready with her mom and future mother-in-law. It was such a fun group of ladies and I just loved their coordinating pajamas + robes! The guys arrived later in the morning for photos before everyone headed to the church on James Island for their mid-afternoon ceremony.

The reception space was absolutely stunning with long family-style tables topped with beautiful blush florals, candles, and lanterns. As usual, the ladies of Pure Luxe Bride and Branch Design Studio made everything look AMAZING!! Gabby’s mom even hand-made the LOVE sign displayed under the oak – so fun! It was seriously the perfect evening to celebrate Gabby and Pedro as the sunset on the Ashley River.

Photography: Dana Cubbage Weddings | Event Planning: Pure Luxe Bride | Floral Design: Branch Design Studio | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau | Cake: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group | Reception: Lowndes Grove Plantation | Bride's Shoes: Nine West | Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group | Hair + Makeup: Paper Dolls Wedding Hair & Makeup | Lighting: Innovative Event Services | Band: Simply Tayo Band | Rentals: Eventworks | Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals

Fall may mean football for many, but in my house, September means it’s time for the red carpet. Award season kicked off last night with the Emmy Awards and to say that we were pleasantly surprised with the fashion would be an understatement: the ladies brought it this year. From vibrant yellows and chic white gowns to colorful and creative ensembles (we’re looking at your Kristen Bell and Sarah Hyland), Sunday evening sparkled and shined. Here’s our favorites – who was your best dressed?

The Best Dressed Stars on the Emmy's Red Carpet

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The Best Dressed Stars on the Emmy's Red Carpet

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Photography: Getty Images

I have new hopes for my future anniversaries and it’s right here in front of you. Thanks to Sophie Epton and these two adorable lovebirds, I’ll be spending my week (and many weeks after) imagining myself in this beautiful landscape. Lake Como may be for lovers but it’s also for amazing anniversary shoots – get your week started oh so well with our Vault right here!

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From Sophie Epton Photography… Shooting Madison and Eli in Lake Como was the true Italian dream. This sweet couple (originally from Nashville, TN) were living in Belfast and wanted to escape the cold, gray weather to commemorate a year of marriage… And what better way to celebrate than to fly down to beautiful Lake Como, Italy! The lake and surrounding towns are one of the most stunning destinations we’ve ever traveled to and photographed, and provided such a serene backdrop for the entire anniversary shoot. We spent a sunny afternoon walking all over the historical town of Varenna and exploring both the botanical gardens with turquoise water and ancient sculptures, as well as the quaint city center covered in splashes of soft sherbet hues. Madison chose both a bright mustard yellow and poppy red dress to wear that blew perfectly with the breeze and really accentuated the colorful landscape. As the sun started to set behind the Italian Alps, we took a boat out on the lake and ventured out to the historical Villa Balbianello, which was such a great way to cap off the entire day. They say “Lake Como is for Lovers,” and this anniversary shoot was not only beyond magical, but a fabulous way to celebrate commitment and love all over again.

Photography: Sophie Epton Photography | Reception Venue: Villa Balbianello | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Mustard Dress : Forever 21 | Pants: H & M | Red Dress: Free People | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Shirt: Topman | Silk Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic

Can a wedding totally change your mood? Why yes, yes it can. Because if Emma + Nish’s Aspen wedding is any indication, you’re about to be beaming from ear to ear. For this culturally chic and colorful celebration is beautiful beyond measure and it’s all thanks to the talented Bluebird Productions. A day graced with gorgeous hues and a lush outdoor ceremony, Lacie Hansen is sharing it all in The Vault!

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From Bluebird Productions…Emma & Nish’s Aspen wedding was the perfect reflection of everything that makes them the fabulous couple they are. The couple exchanged vows and danced the night away at Emma’s childhood Aspen home. Looking up at Pyramid Peak, this home is one of the most splendid locales in Aspen and a place so many of Emma’s friends and family had visited over the years. Nish’s heritage filled the space just as equally though; the décor, floral, tent, and attire all were an expression of Nish’s Indian culture.

Guest arrived at their residence and wound their way over the hill to Emma’s backyard. A sitar player filled the glen of trees with music and guests were greeted with chai tea as they wondered through a sanctuary dripping with marigolds to the ceremony site and its jaw dropping backdrop. Emma and Nish’s first child, their adorable dog Harper, was part of the processional along with bridesmaids, who wore a variety of bright burgundy dresses, and groomsmen, who wore jackets tailored in the traditional Indian style.

Guests found their escort cards hanging in the air interspersed between marigold chains and then entered the tent with a custom silk lined ceiling of gold stars and mirrors and cascading gold lanterns. Emma’s custom dress was two pieces, which made it easy for her to switch her chiffon floor length skirt for a playful tulle tea length reception bottom. She and Nish flawlessly executed a choreographed first dance that quickly morphed into a Bollywood dance where all of their bridesmaids and groomsmen ran onto the floor and joined along with all of the steps they had learned to celebrate the couple!

The menu was designed to show a perfect melding of the families’ traditions. There were three buffet stations with aptly paired selections: Indian, Colorado, and Southern (for Emma’s Georgian roots). Being part of their celebration was a true honor. Both families could not have been more kind or supportive of the marriage and the celebration of Emma and Nish’s love and commitment to one another. If there’s one wedding that a planner wants to do over and over again, it’s this one!

Photography: Lacie Hansen | Wedding Planner: Bluebird Productions | Floral Design : Bloom | Cake: d'Elissious | Stationery : Brydon Paper Design | Jewelry: Bhavani | Rings: Jangmi Jewelry | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Various | Catering: Aspen Culinary Solutions | Makeup: Vanessa Vieni | Hair : Nicole Popp | Groom : Mohan's Custom Tailors | Groomsmen attire: J.Crew | Officiant : Family Friend | Ceremony Music: Silver City Strings | Bride ceremony skirt: Emily Riggs Bridal | Bride reception skirt: Anthropologie | Gown Top: The Outnet | Reception Music: Elan Artists | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Premier Party Rentals | Rentals : Halcyon Productions | Rentals : RAJ Tents | Sitar: Ustad Roshan & Jamal Bhartiya

This home office of graphic designer, Heather O’Brien Stationery Boutique is ripe with celebration vibes. The bar cart adorned with chilled bubbly helps but it’s the pretty paper goods and wedding centered details that give it that extra pink sparkle we so love. Wouldn’t you want to work your buns off in this space? We certainly would. See so much more captured by Amalie Orrange Photography in the VAULT.

Heather O’Brien, owner of Heather O’Brien Design asked me to come photograph her in her in her brand new house and amazing new office, so gorgeous!!! She is a graphic designer from Jacksonville Florid. She always had a passion for design and creativity, and with that, decided to choose a career path in graphic design.

In planning her own wedding, she found her love for wedding and stationery design. The need to have all the fonts/colors/designs/papers to match perfectly to one another was a little bit obsessive (lightly put!). She began designing announcements, invitations, and business designs for friends and family and finally decided that this passion was more than just a hobby and wanted to offer her love and obsession to everyone!

 I have created a business where customers are able to work one on one with a designer to get exactly what they are wanting. I offer an array of products in many different styles and I am continuously adding new designs.

Whether it’s classy and chic, or fun and crazy, I can help to create the look you are wanting. If you don’t find what you are looking for, please contact me regarding a custom design. I can design for any and every occasion! Check out her perfect office, I was in photographers heaven with this one!!

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The Chicest Back-to-Work Office Supplies

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The Chicest Back-to-Work Office Supplies

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Photography: Amalie Orrange Photography | Floral design : Liz Stewart Floral Design | Stationery: Heather O'Brien Stationery Boutique | Hair & Makeup : Studio Bride Artistry | Office Design: Heather O'Brien Stationery Boutique | Rentals: Luxe Party Rentals | Styling and design : Dairing Events - Adair Currie

You know you have a slight obsession with someone’s work when you find yourself countless photos deep into their Instagram. I’m slightly embarrassed to say that’s me with floral designer Kiana Underwood of Tulipina. But one look at her gorgeous floral works of art, and you’ll be right there with me. Today, we’re giving you a taste of all that pretty with this breathtaking workshop captured by Rebecca Yale — trust me, you don’t want to miss any of it.

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For this private class with Polina Babina of Vancouver-based Floretta, Kiana put together a magical scene using some wonderful vintage furniture from Pieces by Violet, and for the installation, chose to decorate a beautiful vintage easel with locally grown flowers from a tiny but mighty dahlia farm in Santa Cruz, CA. With dresses styled by Annie Cavallo, bridal boudoir by Girl and a Serious Dream, and photographer Rebecca Yale’s keen eye for beauty, they were able to create a wonderful setting for model Elise to lounge and luxuriate in and amongst a sea of floral beauty.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Floral Design: Tulipina - Kiana Underwood | Rings: Trumpet & Horn | Hair + Makeup: The Glamourist | Calligraphy: Written Word Calligraphy | Floral Ring: Trumpet & Horn | Gown Styling: Annie Cavallo | Lingerie: Girl With Serious Dream | Model: Kayla Marie Cromer | Ring Boxes: The Mrs Box | Student Floral Design: Dafiori Design | Vintage Furniture Rentals: Pieces By Violet

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Photography

Rebecca Yale Photography

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Written Word Calligraphy

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Petit Bouquet

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