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

A Bridal Shoot You’ll See Tonight on HGTV!

From The Bride…I look back on our wedding and can genuinely say that it was my dream wedding- it feels like a fairy tale, and I am so thankful for how everything came together. From the start, Jonathan and I most importantly wanted our wedding to glorify God and give thanks to Him, showing how it was He who brought us together and is the center of our relationship. And I had a clear vision for our wedding early on. I knew I wanted it to be very natural and elegant- neutral tones as a theme throughout the wedding (I’ve always said that my favorite color is beige!), combined with the natural beauty of the outdoors. I wanted an elegant and natural aesthetic, stylish yet timeless and with touches of our personal story.

Living in Austin, we wanted to make sure we utilized the beauty of the greenery and water that surrounds us here on a daily basis, and Laguna Gloria proved to be the perfect venue for the look we were desiring. As an interior designer I love every aspect of design, so I truly enjoyed the entire planning process. In all of the selections for our wedding, from my dress to the flowers to the long table and music and chandeliers, I loved the process and felt so fortunate to plan such a gorgeous wedding.

My wedding planner Ellen Westcott was also an extraordinary help in the process, as she continually pointed me in the right direction, was incredibly organized, and was a calm and supportive presence throughout the entire process.

A key piece of our wedding and story was our son Levi. I adopted Levi as a single mom from the Congo when he was 2 years old, and he and Jonathan fell instantly in love with each other when they met and instantly had the bond of father and son. Jonathan’s and my first date was a day at Disneyland with Levi, and we had a whirlwind romance from that moment on. We knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together within our first month of dating, and we were engaged within 3 months. Our dreams really did come true at Disneyland! One of our favorite details in the wedding was our Groom’s Cake by Sweet Treets Bakery, which had a Disneyland theme. Levi was the ring bearer in our wedding, and he stood up with the groomsmen during the ceremony. Jonathan and I wrote our own vows for the wedding, and in his vows Jonathan stated that he loved Levi with all his heart and “from this day forth, we will be a family and he will be my son.” I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house at that moment (including my own)!

Three Branches Floral helped to create the gorgeous natural beauty and greenery that I was looking for in our wedding, and the venue itself created the most gorgeous backdrop that we could have hoped for. Ashley Bosnick was our photographer, and she captured the beauty of the night in the most spectacular and breathtaking way.

Another favorite detail of ours was that we ended the night by riding off in a boat on Lake Austin,
with Andrea Bocelli’s Say Goodbye playing from the speakers. We got to ride across the lake just the two of us after that, having the lake completely to ourselves at that hour, still playing Andrea Bocelli. I think it was the most romantic moment of my life!

We are so thankful to God for bringing us together, and to think that we were able to celebrate our marriage with so many of our closest family and friends in our dream wedding is almost too good to be true. Every detail came together so perfectly to make our wedding the culmination of my hopes and dreams since childhood. The only thing I wish I could have changed was that I wish it wasn’t all over so quickly! But now the best part of it all is that I get to spend the rest of my life with the man of my dreams.

HGTV lovers, keep an eye out for this pretty photo shoot during Audra Krieg Photography’s home renovation episode tonight at 9pm EST. The camera crews captured her in action while working with a team of awesome vendors to bring this rustic, beachy editorial to life. More waiting in The Vault!

From Audra Krieg Photography…Getting married on the Outer Banks is a completely unique experience. From lush sand dunes to top of the line vendors, you truly can plan a dream wedding. Heart of Harlow coordinated the styled bridal session of Caton’s dreams and we are in awe of the beautiful golden light and sparkling Atlantic ocean! We love the rustic beach vibe behind this bridal session and the beautiful seaside teepee is what boho dreams are made of!

Saturday Morning Movie: Bicycles + Sparklers = One Sweet Wedding

When life gets tough and you can’t turn that downward spiral upside down, what are you to do? We’ve all been there and when it happens, you gotta grab a guaranteed fix. For me, that comes in the form of fabulous (and happy tear-inducing) wedding clips. And this one delivers. From the written vows to the tandem bicycle sparkler entrance, Carl S. Miller Wedding Films captured magic – sit back and enjoy!

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Local + Seasonal Summer Wedding on the Waterfront

From Carl S. Miller Wedding Films… I’ve known the Bride, Noel, for a number of years and so I was ecstatic when she asked me to film her marriage to Dan. The day and preparations began in their new home in the historic barrio district of Tucson, Arizona. The architectural lines within were a visual delight, and I tried to incorporate aspects of their home as a metaphor for their relationship: new home, new marriage, new life together. Saguaro National Park provided a breathtaking vista of mountains and cacti as the backdrop for their Southwestern ceremony. Their event designer and florist, Atelier de LaFleur, did a phenomenal job with the chuppah and floral arrangements to provide an aesthetic and color palette to complement the desert landscape. The celebration continued at the Tucson Museum of Modern Art, where the festivities were started by Noel and Dan’s jaw-dropping tandem bicycle sparkler entrance. Now that’s original. Their film is designed to not only show the beauty and elegance of their day, but to highlight the many subtleties that make their relationship unique to them.

There are weddings, and then there are weddings. The latter? A stunning celebration captured by the incomparable Kathi Littwin Photography with second shooter Miana Jun. Complete with mismatched bridesmaid dresses and incredible florals, we’ve got it all waiting for you in The Vault!

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Weddings in Historical Venues

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They Were Set Up on a Blind Date and the Rest is Crazy Beautiful History

From Kathi Littwin Photography…I loved the simple approach that the couple had, never over the top but stunning when it all came together. The floral design was gorgeous. The individual bridesmaid dresses were striking as was the bride’s Oscar De La Renta gown, with an amazing train. It was a beautiful wedding, with a delicious menu, that felt true to the couple.

From The Bride…The girls used all different designers. My only request to the girls was to choose a long grey gown. I wanted to make sure they each felt comfortable in what they were wearing and that the dress reflected their own personal style.

For a story, this isn’t necessarily my strong suit. Jeremy and I are not the type to “over theme” anything- he wanted a great band and I wanted amazing flowers. Given that we met in Manhattan and both love nature, we thought the Wainwright House would be the perfect venue to reflect our love for city culture as well as the outdoors. We wanted to focus around local and seasonal- everything from the vendors we used to the summer themed menu and floral varietals. The most important part of the day was for our guests to feel at home and to enjoy an evening together with a delicious summer themed menu and great music in a warm, inviting ambiance. Having our families all together made for the most perfect wedding day. We truly felt so blessed to have everyone together for our special day!

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Wedding Dresses

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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The proof is in the pudding, folks: blind dates are sooo worth it. Just ask these two cuties, who met on a blind date with friends (after TWO YEARS of hounding!) and knew after just one “official” date that this.was.it. So when it came time to say their “I do’s,” they enlisted the help of Engaging Events for a botanical inspired celebration, aka, one of the prettiest weddings you will ever lay your eyes upon. Start soaking in every moment captured by Shannon Michele in THE VAULT.

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Religious Institution Weddings in Historical Venues

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#SMPWedding101 – Ways to Personalize Your Wedding Stationery

From the Bride… We were set up by two of our friends, Erika and Dana. (I introduced them to each other in college and now they are engaged!) They tried to set us up for about two years, but neither of us liked blind dates so we kept refusing. In early 2013, I told Erika I was ready to meet Matt (after a string of blind dates). The four of us met to grab drinks and dinner and unfortunately for introverted Matt, we are some of the loudest and extroverted people you’ll ever meet, so he really didn’t get a word in edgewise. At the end of the night, he plucked up the courage to ask me out on a solo date where we might be able to get to know each other a little better and I agreed. During the solo date we both admitted we knew that we were on a date with our future spouse.

On our wedding day, I felt overwhelmingly calm and excited throughout the entire day. I knew that everything had been so meticulously planned that I could relax and enjoy the day and take in every special detail. We started the day off getting ready with our friends and proceeded to take a trolley ride to St. Luke’s Chapel. I slipped into my dress with the help of my mother and maids of honor (my two best friends since childhood). I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the First Look, but both of us agree, it was the best choice for us. It took so much pressure off the day and gave us a special few moments together alone to truly soak in the commitment we were about to make.

Everything from the music, flowers, and programs were so beautiful and meaningful. We wrote our own vows (using ancient Celtic vows as our inspiration) and my younger brother officiated the ceremony. I still have friends and family remark on how beautiful, special and sentimental the ceremony was. Matt and I drove off to the reception in my grandfather’s 1951 Thunderbird. The weather and light made for the most beautiful pictures with our friends. The decorations were so beautiful! I really felt like it was a true representation of Matt and myself. Guests enjoyed walking from the rooms to the decks taking in all the gorgeous flowers and wedding day pictures belonging to our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. The food was incredible! Having stations throughout the reception really helped provide movement and allowed the guests to explore. Matt and I spent most of the night dancing to the amazing band and enjoying our guests company.

My father gave a toast before the cutting of the cake. It was at that moment that the reality of the day hit me. Here I was marrying my best friend in the same place as my parents in the city where I was born. As my father talked to the crowd I could tell how impressed he was by the wedding and reception and humbled by the beauty and thoughtfulness of the day we worked so hard to accomplish. We ended the night with our last dance to one of our favorite songs, “Sweet Disposition,” and exited as our guest threw a shower of dried lavender to send us off. It’s hard to put all of my thoughts and feelings towards the day into a few paragraphs; we relished every single moment and detail and would do it all over again and again.

As I was born in Charleston and it was a frequent vacation spot for our family and friends, I really wanted to honor the history and personality of the city as well as my family’s history and personality with the city. Charleston herself inspired the colors and motif I chose. Our colors were soft peach, lavender, sage, and cotton. For the motif I wanted a combination of rustic and modern. I imagined an old fashioned post card for our save the dates. I wanted the invitation to feel whimsical, rustic and botanical. For the program to be a modern representation of us as a couple, honoring our family and friends. I wanted the ceremony to be soft and sweet, and the reception to encourage our guests to appreciate the landscape and have fun. The food was inspired by the character of the city. All of this and more was accomplished. From the locations to the collateral, to the decorations, to the band, everything in my original vision was achieved.

Advice for Future Brides? If you have Cindy and the Engaging Events team behind you, ENJOY EVERY MOMENT! Honestly it is so easy to get overwhelmed and focused on all the unimportant minutia of the day. Remember why you are getting married. Think of how important and special it is for your friends and family. You want to look back on your day with the fondest of memories. So as hard as it might seem, relax. Enjoy yourself. Take in every special moment and try to capture it forever. My wedding WAS the best day of my life. It was fun, meaningful, sentimental, exciting, and beautiful. I only hope everyone has the chance to feel that way on their wedding day.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Justin Alexander

Spring 2016

Spring 2018

Justin Alexander Fall/Winter

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Pretty paper is my weakness and super personal pieces? Even better. So when I came upon Sara Fitz and her too-lovely-for-words creations, I not only added her site to my list of Favorited Bookmarks, but I had to know more. How does she tap into each couple to really personalize their Big Day invites and more? Read on for all her ideas and see all the adorable examples in our slideshow below!

Venue

A fabulous way to customize a stationery suite is to celebrate the details of the wedding venue! Couples get married in such spectacular spots that featuring elements from the landscape or nearby architecture really can set the tone for their entire paper collection. Whether they marry at a private estate, coastal club or city hotel, incorporating illustrations that reflect the location can tie everything together quite nicely before and during the wedding.

Map

A creative way to give guests information about the wedding locale is to include a custom map card within the stationery suite. This is particularly useful for a destination or weekend-event wedding. Not only is it helpful to highlight the basics: local landmarks, ceremony and reception spots, etc., but noting a favorite sandwich shop or ice cream stand, beach or park, or some other town feature, can give guests a glimpse into why the couple chose the location for their event.

Seasonal

Celebrating the season of the wedding date can be a lovely way to customize a paper suite. Showcasing natural elements that are quintessential to the time of year will not only feel festive, but stylish and relevant to the day.

Sentimental

Customizing a stationery collection can be a personal process and often couples choose to highlight an element that holds special significance to their relationship. Wedding papers that are reflective of the couple on a deeper level definitely lend a very one-of- a-kind feel to their paper suite.

Pets

Many couples are choosing to incorporate illustrations of their furry pets within their wedding papers – from Save the Dates and reply cards to thank you notes. This can be a very sweet and personal detail, showcasing just how meaningful their pet is, while subtly bringing them into the festivities.

Pastimes

Designing wedding stationery around a shared pastime can be a fun, unique option for customization. Including details of an activity that a couple enjoys on weekends, for instance, allows their paper suite to truly reflect their personalities.

Florals

Quite often, flowers play a large role in the overall wedding décor. Showcasing the type(s) of florals throughout the paper suite can allow for an elegant, cohesive and subtly custom look. Day-of items, such as the programs, place cards or menus will blend in beautifully with the ceremony and reception styling.

Details

The very best way to customize a stationery collection is to focus on the little things. Including meaningful details within the suite whenever possible, be it a significant number, color or initials, makes the papers even more memorable to the couple and their guests.

Envelope Liners

It doesn’t have to end with the invites! Continuing the custom illustrations onto the envelope liners can make a huge impact to the overall aesthetic of the invitation set. This detail adds another level of visual interest to the collection upon opening the invitation.

Sara Fitz's Pretty Personalization

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Sara Fitz's Pretty Personalization

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ONGOING GIVEAWAYS + DISCOUNTS…

Skillshare
Animoto
The Registry at Bloomingdale’s
the vondys.
Dana Walden Bridal

We’re excited to share that Shine invitations is currently offering FREE SHIPPING on orders over $500 (US orders only) as well as a free sample kit featuring the invitation of your choice, color charts, paper samples, and an example Save the Date! Don’t miss out!

THIS WEEK’S DISCOUNTS…

For our California Brides… Discounts from The Ranch at Laguna Beach and Weddings by Susan Dunne, and don’t miss the Weddings Unveiled event on September 11th!

For our Destination Brides… Discount from Hitch’d Weddings & Events

For our Tri-state Brides… Discount from Femina Photo + Design, giveaway from OLLI STUDIO, and don’t miss the Eddy K Dreams Collection Trunk Show at Designer Loft from August 19 – 28th!

Photography: Brea McDonald Photography | Stationery Advice: Sara Fitz | Watercolor Stationery

This Wedding Fits “Understated Elegance” to a T

Intimate. Organic. Modern. Natural. Just a few of the words I’d use to describe this Seattle wedding day, but to be honest? The images from O’Malley Photographers do it way more justice. They documented the day designed by Finch & Thistle and inside The Vault is where all the pretty continues.

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From O’Malley Photographers…We have a sweet real wedding that took place outside of Seattle to share with you. Fresh and springy, designer Rachel Bowes of Finch and Thistle perfectly brought together an intimate and modern feel through her lush, natural florals and design. The bride wore a chic and fitted Sarah Seven gown and beautiful paper goods were designed by la Happy. The bride and groom are actually dear friends of my wife and I, and although their wedding was beautiful aesthetically, their deep love for one another and those close to them is what made this union so beautiful and meaningful.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Wedding Dresses

Sarah Seven

Signature Bridal

Gold Label

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Private Estate Bridal Shower Filled with Pops of Blue

If there was ever a bridal shower that could leave you breathless, this would be it. Straight from the lens of Luna de Mare, it’s fun meets fancy and we’ve got it all waiting for you to fall in love with in The Vault!

From Luna de Mare…Set in the landscape of this zen-like beautiful family home, was this intimate luncheon for the Bride-To-Be among her closest family and friends. Celebrating the pending nuptials in between noshing on catered delights and toasting with a little rose was the only way to enjoy this unseasonably overcast Southern California day, offering everyone the perfect excuse to lounge a little longer.

Laurel Events Los Angeles (previously HomeArt& Events) designed this blue-and-white elegant affair with multi-colored Hydrangea hues from Mark’s Garden, continuing the tones throughout all the styling elements and table scape, and the result couldn’t have been lovelier.

Fashion Blogger “Somewhere Lately” Shares Her Engagement Session!

When Meggan, one half of the blogger duo behind Somewhere Lately, offered a look inside her Chicago engagement session we couldn’t say yes fast enough. Especially because she brought on Jacqui Cole to capture her signature light-filled prettiness that makes our hearts sing. Congrats lovers, your urban engagement session is EVERYTHING.

From Jacqui Cole Photography…When a fashion blogger has her engagement session you KNOW it’s going to be beautiful! This is Meggan from the blog Somewhere Lately. Meggan got engaged at the end of last year in Dallas and is planning a destination Cabo wedding!

From Meggan… Kyle and I are getting married in Cabo next June. We decided on Cabo because we wanted a fun location that we could celebrate with our closest friends and family. We are very much “go with the flow” people, who enjoy basking in the sun with a cold drink (or two) in our hands. We are having our rehearsal dinner at the gorgeous Flora Farms and wedding on the beach at Cabo Azul. The style of the wedding is bohemian, whimsical, chic, but there will be a touch of Mexico, think lot’s of tequila and a mariachi band ;) I haven’t got too far into the decor yet but I want to create an intimate feel. My color palette is very neutral (bridesmaids will be wearing white), with hints of light pink and gold. It seems like forever away but I know it will be here before we know it!

Photography: Jacqui Cole Photography

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Petit Bouquet

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15 of the Best Spots for Scoring Pretty Artwork Online

We ohh and ahh over art-filled interiors and stunning gallery walls on the daily. But where oh where does one find such cool pieces? Online, that’s where. We’ve rounded up 15 of the best spots for finding your art soulmate. From painters to photographers and large art print suppliers, check out the best corners of the web for scoring art, lots of art.

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Britt Bass

pictured above – Swoop

Minted

Lulu & Georgia

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Gray Malin

pictured above – Coogee Beach Triptych

Lulie Wallace

20 x 200

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Rifle Paper Co.

pictured above – The World is Your Oyster

One Kings Lane

Pure Photo

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Art.com

pictured above – JFK smoking a cigar

Waiting on Martha Shop

West Elm

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Leslee Mitchell

pictured above – Umbrellas I

Etsy

Society6

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Curate a Stunning Gallery Wall

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Curate a Stunning Gallery Wall

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The Ultimate Outdoor Desert Scottsdale Wedding

It’s weddings like this that make me wish I could get married all over again. Complete with beautiful blooms and the ultimate outdoor ceremony, Brushfire Photography has snapped it all to share and you’re sure to fall madly in love with each and every detail. See it all in The Vault!

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Every Rustic Bride Will Love This Sweet Farm Wedding

From Brushfire Photography…Lea & Jack’s Outdoor Desert Wedding was such a beautiful display. Working with Ashley Gain Weddings to bring their vision to life was the perfect fit for their day. Lea loves floral and wanted to incorporate as much as possible. The outdoor setting was perfect for a spring wedding in Arizona with a warm sunny day finished with a nice cool evening. Paradise Valley Country Club has some stunning views of the desert mountains as well as lots of nice greens. Add in all the lovely blooms and the place came to life! The tent was designed to give an intimate space for dinner without taking away from the evening views of the mountains. So it was an open tent with drapery allowing for some nice hanging decor and greens to accent the head table.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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Any wedding that begins with this colored stone ring is certain to be stunning. And no surprise, it beautifully set the stage for a backyard wedding filled with homey charm and Brianna Wilbur Photography + Matt Stambaugh Media didn’t miss a single beat. Lots more this way!

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Al Fresco Rustic

From Brianna Wilbur…There’s no better way to celebrate marriage then to be with all your friends and family, in the evening summer air, beneath twinkling market lights and a sky of stars. This Pennsylvania backyard, navy infused, farm wedding has down home charm with a touch of whimsical, colorful florals. The picnic style farm tables & benches fostered such a relational, loving reception. Her ring will make any vintage, colored gemstone loving gal’s heart just sing!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Wedding Dresses

Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

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Accessories

David's Bridal

"Wonder" by Jenny Packham Accessories

"Wonder" by Jenny Packham Bridal

"Wonder" by Jenny Packham Bridesmaids

David's Bridal Spring 2018

Oleg Cassini Spring 2018

WHITE by Vera Wang Spring 2018

Truly Zac Posen Spring 2018

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Brooklyn Meets the West Indies Destination Wedding

Although Celeste and Chris hail from Brooklyn, they chose to swap sand for skyscrapers and wed in paradise (and honestly – can we blame them?). Inviting Jamie Mercurio along to capture every Caribbean detail, it’s tropical meets timeless and we’ve got it all in The Vault!

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Beach Weddings Religious Institution

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This Bride Married Her Groom on the Same Beach She Built Sandcastles on as a Child

From Jamie Mercurio…As I sit down to write a bit about this incredible island wedding, I am (as usual) struggling to find words to describe how truly amazing this day was. The colors! The views of Mount Nevis and St. Kitts! The gorgeous family and friends that surrounded Celeste and Chris…The love! So, so much love.

Celeste and Chris hail from Brooklyn, New York, but Celeste’s father is from Nevis, so she grew up traveling to the gorgeous Island and her family has a home there. The two decided to hold their wedding celebration on the island, and it was simply magical. Their ceremony was held at at Cottle Church – a gorgeously historic church built in the early 1800s with dramatic views of Mount Nevis in the background. The wedding was officiated by Celeste’s father, with beautiful spoken pieces woven in by other family members – but I think my favorite part was watching Chris watch Celeste walk down the aisle. These two have so much love for each other.

After the ceremony, we took some portraits with the sun setting behind Mount Nevis, and headed to Paradise Beach for an incredible party. Dreamy twinkle lights surrounded tables and a dance floor was set up in the sand beside the bright blue Caribbean ocean. Guests toasted the couple with heartfelt speeches, enjoyed a beautiful dinner, and danced the night away to the most fun band I’ve ever seen. Beach bonfires and late-night swimming were the perfect way to cap the perfect night.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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When it comes to sentimental wedding details, we like to think that a venue reigns supreme. And for this darling duo? Well, let’s just say that where they chose to wed held a lot of happy memories for the bride. From childhood sandcastles to one sweet ceremony, Dash Photography captured every sweet detail to share and it’s all waiting in The Vault!

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Beach Weddings Outdoor Weddings

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We’ve Discovered the Wedding Dress Of Your Dreams

From Dash Photography…The bride, Grace, grew up on the beaches of Carillon at her grandparent’s beach house. She has memory after memory with her family in the little community, and was set on getting married there. James, Grace’s groom, fell in love with the quaint little beach community as well. Grace’s now 94 year old grandfather, along with her grandmother, welcomed friends and family to Carillon for a weekend of festivities. Grace and James said “I Do” with handwritten vows under a beautiful floral canopy on the same beach Grace built sandcastles on, then shut down the main street for dinner and dancing under palm trees and twinkle lights. It was such a sweet way for Grace to start her own family with James at a place so dear to her and the rest of her family.

You made it to Friday, in the dog days of summer no less, so I declare a necessary celebration. And so I present to you a wedding full of rustic, glam details – starting with this Berta Bridal dress. The intricate lace – from the stunning v-neck to those elegant long sleeves – have me rethinking all my wedding dress dreams. Tamara Gruner captured the whole look and more – including this bouquet from Fionna Floral that I predict will be all over Pinterest within hours. See it all starting now!

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Ballroom Weddings Religious Institution

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An Outdoor Ceremony Complete with Handmade Details

From the Bride… We were living in California when we got engaged, but knew we wanted to get married in our hometown of Chicago with all of our family and friends. We both grew up in the Chicagoland area, and went to college and lived in the city, so we knew we wanted to have our ceremony in the city. Holy Name Cathedral has always been a special church for me growing up, with its beautiful architecture and long history in Chicago.

We wanted an intimate and romantic space for the reception, and we found the perfect room at Concorde Banquets. The big windows overlooking the grounds, the soft lighting, and delicious food made the entire evening magical.

I have always had a picture in my mind of what my gown would look like – anything but ordinary. My style is very simple but detail oriented. The silhouette of the dress is very elegant, but the lace adds a layer of romance I knew would blow Daniel away. The dress struck the right balance between modesty and sexy. While I didn’t initially look for a long-sleeved dress, my mother’s wedding dress was also long-sleeved – so when I tried it on, and it fit like a glove – I knew it was meant to be.

It was very important to both Daniel and I to bring our California life into the wedding. The colors we chose – dusty blues, muted jade greens, ivory and slate gray with a touch of blush – were inspired by the colors of the Pacific ocean. The soft gold in the chairs, votives and decor brought the warmth of the California sun. My former boss and good friends from Fionna Floral in Santa Cruz flew the flowers and herself from California and provided the lush, intimate, romantic setting that evoked the sunsets off of the Pacific Coast Highway that we cherish.

Our theme phrase was “Love in a Mist”, reminiscent of our days at the beach in California. The flowers in the long, cascade bridal bouquet were white and blue veronica, dusty blue hydrangea, tillandsia, garden roses in ivory tones, tulips, green hanging amaranthus, dusty miller, eucalyptus, passion vine, air plants, and some olive leaves and berries. The boutonnieres were white roses, lilac, olive/bay leaves and berries.

We wanted our guests to have a piece of our wedding that lasted longer than the night, so we bought baby succulents from California with little white pails for them to take home as a reminder that love continues to grow with the proper care.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Wedding Dresses

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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Wedding Dresses

Berta Bridal

F/W 2015 Collection

Spring/Summer 2016 Bridal Collection

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It’s a well know fact that every SMP girl loves a little sparkle, and this beautiful bride? Well she’s certainly no different. Planning an elegant outdoor affair complete with a handmade pergola (that her father made for the ceremony!), it’s sweet meets sentimental and thankfully Amy Arrington Photography captured it all to share in The Vault!

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Outdoor Weddings Rustic Weddings

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Al Fresco Rustic

From the Bride…Will and I met at a UGA tailgate with mutual friends and went on our first date the next weekend. We fell in love so quickly, and only 5 months later we got engaged on a vacation together in St. Lucia!

We wanted our wedding to have a rustic/glam feel. We both love a beautiful setting and loved the idea of getting married outside. When we toured Foxhall, we both immediately agreed we didn’t want to look anywhere else. We chose the last weekend in August, because it was the last weekend before SEC football started. If you know anything about UGA fans, every game is important to them. Because August is so hot, we wanted a quick ceremony that could be followed by an indoor reception. This made Foxhall’s Legacy Lookout the perfect combination.

The biggest thing that we wanted for our wedding weekend was for everyone to have a stress free time all together. We rented homes on the property for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to stay in, and it was the best decision we made. It made it so easy to get dressed and spend the day together with your best friends.

As far as the look of the wedding I wanted all the sparkle to be in the dresses. I actually found my bridesmaid’s dresses before I found my wedding gown! There is a boutique in London called River Island that carried this dress, and the girls were able to get them off of Asos without the shipping delay. All of the girls looked stunning! As for my dress, I didn’t want the traditional wedding gown. Sisters know best! My sister actually picked out my wedding dress after hours of trying on dresses and not finding “the one”. I was putting my clothes back on to leave the bridal store, when she walked in my dressing room with this beautiful Maggie Sottero gown. As soon as I put it on I knew it was exactly what I wanted. The champagne dress with the ivory overlay and beading was perfection. I let my bridal party be the “sparkle” at the wedding and kept everything else mostly monochromatic. I love simple beauty. We had a mixture of greenery and white florals, with hints of gold. We also made sure to have farm tables to use for our buffet tables as well as our head table. I love the look of a farm table with greenery as a runner. Amberly with Wrennwood Design took my vision and made it a reality.

Three special memories, stories, or details from your wedding day?

My dad loves to build things as a hobby. He wanted to make something for my wedding day, and took on the task of making the Pergola we were married under. He spent months building this in a way that it could be taken apart and transported from our family farm in South Georgia to our wedding site. It completely made the wedding. It was so gorgeous and more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. The draping and flowers made it even more beautiful. Walking out and seeing it for the first time was breathtaking. It was such a special wedding gift made with love from my father, and now is something we have in our back yard that we can remember as being part of our wedding day.

Seeing Will for the first time at our first look was an amazing memory I will never forget. I’m so glad we decided to do a first look. It is such an intimate moment that you get to share together. I can’t describe the feeling of seeing him all dressed up and nervous at the end of that bridge. His face seeing me was priceless and filled with love.

My great grandmother was such an important part of my life. She passed away the summer before our wedding. Her handkerchief was my original something blue before my sweet husband surprised me with a beautiful aquamarine ring. Her handkerchief was pinned around my bouquet. A small piece of her with us on my wedding day.

If I could offer one piece of wisdom to couples currently planning a wedding, I would tell them that everything will work out. Just remember that you are getting married! No one will notice the small things that don’t go right. Keep your focus off of the small imperfections and on the fact that you are marrying the love of your life. It will be the most amazing day; I promise.

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Maggie Sottero

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Maggie Sottero Fall 2019

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See How to Get a Instagram Worthy Bedroom on a Budget

It’s pretty much a guarantee that anything Chrissy McDonald of Harlowe James is gramming, we’re going to double tap. She has a crazy chic sense of style and it so carries through to her bedroom design. She crafted a space that not only doesn’t break the bank but is infused with massive design savvy. And guess who already bought that headboard? muah. It’s only $130, do you blame me?

I spend a lot of time in my room, so it was important to create a clean, inviting environment. I am a huge fan of natural light, but this room only has one small window, so i painted the walls a pretty white (chantilly lace by benjamin moore). This immediately helped lighten the space.

However, I did not want a sea of white so i painted the ceiling a soft grey (grey owl by benjamin moore) for balance. My bedroom also serves as my office, so my boyfriend built a custom desk and shelves in an open alcove. This has made such a difference and helped a lot with storage. I don’t have much closet space, so the shelves above my desk now serve as a display for some of my shoes and design books.

My bed is my sanctuary and I love all white linens. Occasionally I throw on some colorful throw pillows to brighten up the space, but overall i like a clean aesthetic.

For as long as I can remember I have had a fascination with John F. Kennedy so needless to say my favorite piece in the room is the framed photograph of him above my bed. It serves as the focal point of my room and is definitely a conversation starter whenever someone sees it.

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Best Ever Bedroom DIY's

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Best Ever Bedroom DIY's

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Design and Styling: Chrissy McDonald

A Modern + Minialist Wedding Perfect for Two Artists

I don’t know about you, but this intimate NYC wedding is giving me all the feels. Captured by Caroline Yoon Fine Art Photography, it;s an artist inspired ceremony that’s sure to surprise. From the minimal details, to the turkish towel favors, we’ve got it all waiting for you to favorite via The Vault!

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