We’ll be the first admit that this equestrian bride got the ultimate gift from her groom. Want to know what it was? A a beautiful horse named Rayne Dance. From that point on Deidre Lynn Photography captured it all to share. From the first dance, to their first kiss as newlyweds, we’ve got their new beginning waiting for you in The Vault!

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From The Bride…Kyle and I met in 7th grade and since that day, everyone always said we’d end up together. After 14 years of friendship and 4 years of dating, he popped the question among friends and family and I quickly got to wedding planning!

As an avid horseback rider since age 7, I knew that equestrian touches and décor would be incorporated into our wedding celebration. During reception venue tours, my fiancé and I stumbled upon a nearby and intimate country club – the Saint Charles Country Club. We immediately fell in love. The private club is nestled in between the cities of Saint Charles and Wayne – historically known for it’s prominent equestrian ties and the fox hunt. Saint Charles is also home to our beloved Fox River – the river Kyle spent his childhood water skiing on and the river we continue to boat on most of our summer weekends.

The proximity of the country club to the iconic Hotel Baker and beautiful Baker United Methodist Church made for an easy decision when choosing our church and hotel accommodations. Both are situated in historic downtown Saint Charles along the Fox River and made for some beautiful backdrops.

Kyle and I wanted everything to appear very classic so we chose a gold, white and gray palette with the men in black and the girls in white. Floral was important to us and we had arrangements draped over just about everything – chandeliers, our animals, a classic car, etc. Much of our décor was vintage and gold, all tying back to our equestrian theme.

Kyle wedding gift to me was extra special and my ultimate dream – a beautiful horse named Rayne Dance. He was trailered into the country club to make for some enchanting (and very happy!) photos.

Our most special June day turned out to be 88 degrees and sunny. Cocktail hour was enjoyed on the veranda overlooking the picturesque golf course while light flooded the ballroom for dinner and dancing. It was truly such a magical day surrounded by our nearest friends and family who traveled near and far to celebrate with us!

Photography: Deidre Lynn Photography | Cinematography: Daniel D Video | Floral Design: Debi's Designs | Wedding Dress: Enzoani | Cake: The Sugar Path | Invitations: Minted | Ceremony Venue: Baker Memorial United Methodist Church | Reception Venue: St. Charles Country Club | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Jewelry: Marchesa | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Dessy Collection By Vivian Diamond | Makeup Artist : Joey Claeyssen Makeup Artistry | Calligraphy: Hello Happy Print Co | Hotel: Hotel Baker | Decor: Denise's Adornments | Linen Rentals: Ultrapom

White is a favorite color choice among designers; especially in the upholstered arena. It’s bright, it fits a multitude of styles and really freshens up a room. And I know, white is scary if you’re a red wine drinker or have any sort of offspring, furry or otherwise. But that’s what they make bleach for. So throw caution to the wind and jump on the bandwagon with 25 white sofas that totally steal the show.

White Hot Sofas

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White Hot Sofas

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More Home Ideas to Try…

10 Show-stopping Wall Mirrors that Make a Statement
12 Stylish Stools to Complete Your Kitchen Island
30 Dream Kitchen Moments that’ll Make You Want to Renovate

One of my favorite places in our home to cozy up with a good book is this sweet little comfy chair that sits in the corner of our living room. It’s neighbor is the fireplace and in addition to luring me in for many a read, it also pairs well with a good cup of tea I might add. Want to infuse a cozy reading nook in your home? Find the perfect chair here!

10 Comfy Chairs for the Ultimate Reading Nook

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10 Comfy Chairs for the Ultimate Reading Nook

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This couple’s “how we met” story is straight out of a movie. They (quite literally) bumped into each other at a local bar and the rest is history. Maria Lamb photographed their wedding day set in a mountain meadow the gallery is a rustic bride’s inspiration goldmine.

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From The Bride…11 years ago I took a waitressing job at the local college bar to help pay my way through school. A few weeks in I turned the corner too quickly and ran into the bar-back who was carrying several cases of beer. Behind those cases of beer was the cutest guy with bright blue eyes and a smile that suddenly made me feel a little bit better about the mess I’d made. I was mortified to say the least, but took the opportunity to introduce myself. We became fast friends and eventually started dating. We jointly discovered a passion for travel and set out on numerous trips around the world.

In September 2014 we planned a trip to Turkey and Greece. We had a list of sights to see, places to eat, and little to my knowledge, a place for Brad to propose. A private evening cruise on the Bosphorus Straight in Istanbul, Turkey will hands down always be my favorite adventure. It is where Brad asked me to marry him and I joyfully accepted. We love the outdoors, so we wanted everything about our wedding to reflect that. We found an incredible property just outside of Lake Tahoe, California and set the date for August 22, 2015.

Photography was a top priority, so I started researching shortly after the venue was booked. Maria Lamb’s images spoke to me the moment I saw them and I knew I had to talk to her. It was love at first chat and Maria was quickly booked to capture our wedding day. As you can see from our photos, Maria has an amazing talent for capturing the moments in between and the raw beauty of Mother Nature. I can’t wait to look back at these photos over the years and remember just how young and carefree we were.

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Photography: Maria Lamb | Cinematography: Kristen Bliss | Floral Design: Erin Go Bloom | Wedding Dress: Watters | Cake: Safeway | Bride’s Shoes: Ivanka Trump | Engagement Ring: Padis Gems | Jewelry:Nadri | Rings: Jewelry by Design | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Vera Wang | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Lela Rose | Bridesmaids’ Dresses:Watters | Catering: Farm to Belly | Makeup: Samantha Moreno | Hair: Alysha Anderson | DJ: Caliber DJ’s | Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | Officiant: Alison Holeyman | Transportation: Northstar | Venue: Mitchells Meadow | Accommodation: Hampton Inn Amelia Island | Accommodations: Northstar Zephyr Lodge | Alterations: Just My Size | Bride Belt: Haute Bride | Cake Topper: Cake Topper Bliss | Day of Coordination: Forget Me Knot Events | Dessert Truck: Lazy Sundae, Lizette Rios | Event Planning, Design + Styling: Bride | Film Lab: PhotoVision Prints | Mother Of Bride + Mother Of Groom Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Photo Booth: Das Bus | Rentals: Camelot Party Rentals | Signage: Mother of the Bride

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

Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Petit Bouquet

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It’s no surprise that we SMPers love anything and everything that sparkles, so when our lucky eyes caught sight of Lady Liberty Event’s Portfolio, well, they didn’t stray. From their Cover Pics to their Profile Image that’s #bridalgoals in photo form, we’re loving it all. And it continues as we scroll down to their Collections full of the love stories that have graced SMP’s pages, all planned and designed by Lady Liberty. Our new Portfolios are pretty much where the party’s at…

While there’s no denying Lady Liberty’s Portfolio shines, what we really love is that it represents THEM. It shows off their talent, their style, their approach. By customizing their Portfolio with little easy-to-do edits, Lady Liberty Event’s page tells potential clients – brides-to-be just like you! – what they stand for so you can decide it they are the wedding planner for you (our guess is yes, they are).

MORE LADY LIBERTY LOVE RIGHT THIS WAY!

Perfectly Lovely Photo Shoot | Gene Simmons’ Stunning Vow Renewal | Beautiful Boho Glam Bride

Pregnancy is such a special time for both you and your partner, from brainstorming baby names to guessing what your little one’s gender will be to designing his or her nursery. Like many other of life’s milestones, this is one to definitely capture in photo form. Case in point? This dreamy sunlit session from Jose Villa! See more in The Vault and keep scrolling for 5 maternity session tips.

Location

Choose a location that radiates beauty or has some special meaning to you. Whether it’s a beautiful al fresco scene like this one, in your freshly designed nursery or at your favorite vacation spot, try to consider your backdrop and what it will offer for image variation.

Timing

Want to capture that sweet bump without feeling totally huge (or exhausted)? Aim to set a shoot date toward the end of your second trimester or beginning of your second when that bump is super adorable and while you still have the energy to get jazzed up and walk around in dresses and heels!

Style Choices

Choose flattering dresses to show off that cutie bump of yours. Flowy styles are a favorite, or opt for a striped number to enhance your belly if you’re doing the shoot a bit early on in your pregnancy.

Hair and Makeup

Treat yourself to a bit of pampering with professional hair and makeup! There’s no doubt that you deserve it. You’ve probably already got a beautiful mama-to-be glow going on, but the extra fancying will be so much fun.

Props (or Pups!)

Include things that are special to you. Whether that’s a darling little pair of shoes you bought for baby or your first (furry) babies. These little trinkets and treasures are things you’ll love looking back on after baby has arrived and for the years to come.

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Try this stunning hairstyle for your maternity session!

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32 Classic Baby Girl Names + Matching Nicknames
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Photography: Jose Villa Photography

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

Photography

Jose Villa Photography

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Sure we may be in the sweltering heat of summer, but that doesn’t mean spring is far from our minds. Because if this lovely inspo from Elizabeth Fogarty and Claire Duran is any indication, said blooming season is all we’ll be thinking about for the rest of the day. Graced with Plume Calligraphy and beautifully fragrant bouquets, we’ve got it all waiting in The Vault!

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From Claire Duran…The inspiration for this shoot was the floral beauty that comes with the Spring and Summer. We wanted to convey a soft and elegant wedding inspiration in which neutral tones and floral texture would prevail. Part of our objective was to use the casual beauty of Seven Spring to show non-rustic decor style in such space. We loved being able to link such different sets of architectural and structural elements of the modern barn with a styling pattern that could be attractive as well to the sophisticated bride. Our favorite piece was the Alexandra Grecco gown. It has amazing texture and movement, bringing together all the elements of this editorial.

Photography: Elizabeth Fogarty | Event Planning + Design: Claire Duran Weddings And Events | Floral Design: Porter & Ives | Wedding Dress: Alexandra Grecco | Cake: Maliha Creations | Bride's Shoes: Bella Belle | Ring: Susie Saltzman | Makeup: Makeup By Kevan | Hair: Elle Style Studio | Calligraphy: Plume Calligraphy | Groom's Attire: Tuxedo by Sarno | Venue: Seven Springs | Models: The Artist Agency | Robe: BHLDN | Veil: Tessa Kim

Bring out the tissues because this beautiful Parisian wedding film by Zen Film Works captures this creative couple’s love story to absolute perfection. Afterwards, you’ll want to head to The Vault to see even more of the prettiness, from the bride’s chic gown to the stunning statement floral centerpieces!

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From The Bride…We met at my first real job out of college, and it was probably somewhere near the end of summer. It was in the morning, and I was in the break room alone, and he walked in. The rest is history. Since then we’ve lived in San Francisco, and then currently now in New York. Our first trip together was Paris where we completely fell in love with the city.

The foundational theme of our relationship is constant support of each other’s creative growth and seeking new experiences together. This has taken us around the word, several career pivots, and a deep bond.

When Jonathan and I first moved to New York, a few days in, I had a crazy incident when a psychic flagged me down in the middle of the street somewhere in the West Village, to tell me that I was meant to marry the man I love with the name starting with a “J”. That was my first and last time with a psychic.

Jonathan proposed on an impromptu trip to Florence, Italy. He proposed unexpectedly a few days into the trip before our dinner reservation while I was still getting ready.

Before we were about to head out to the restaurant, I asked him (as I always do), “is there anything you’d like for me to hold for you in my purse?”. He quickly responded with “actually, there is something I’d like for you to hold, but I’d like for you to hold it forever”, and then got down on one knee with a ring.

It was a magical evening, that’s almost a cliche scene for romantic date movies. We found an amazing trattoria that was the best meal of our trip. We drank fantastic wine and glowed the way newly engaged people do.

Then it started pouring rain. The city smelled clean and of wet stone. We ran through the streets without an umbrella, eventually taking refuge under an archway, which turned out to be the entrance to a small church. Moments later, the church doors opened and a congregation of elderly couples, shuffled out of a late service. There we were among 50 elderly Italians, with warm smiles and kind eyes, appreciating the peacefulness of the heavy rain. Their nods, seemed to say “stay with us for as long as you need, you are among friends.” There would be the occasional excited exclamation we couldn’t understand, but could relate to whenever the lightning and thunder struck.

Jonathan thinks these were all good omens. The rain symbolized new beginnings. The elderly couples showed us a future we could aspire to have. The church accepted our vows before they were made. The delicious meal filled our bodies with warmth. The night’s events filled our hearts with love.

Some people say the chaos of the day will make you forget everything. We soaked every moment up. Our vows were for each other, sincere, loving and as true as the sun is bright.

The pride of our parents witnessing our union and the life we’ve made with each other was a moment of self actualization.

The speeches from our friends and family brought tears of joy to us. There were a lot of tears of joy.

But most of all, sitting under our tree of love in the dining room after running around Paris to take photos we sat back and took in what was before us. We simply watched as our most beloved friends and family connected with each other, in a historic venue, building new bonds that ultimately reinforced ours. These people from around the world, of all walks have one thing in common – they love us.

Any advice for couples wanting to get married in Paris/France?
You are in Paris. You are in love. And those with you are there to celebrate your love. This is not a performance, so you can’t make a mistake. Just be present.

For the guys, know this: Everyone is watching the bride, but the bride only sees you.

For the girls, know this: things may not go as planned, but it’s your attitude that determines if they’re “going wrong” or “happening as they should”.

Society has made us forget how to be romantic and respect the gravity of marriage. Express your love to each other to the max, because there are few events in life that warrant such celebration.

Photography: Claire Morris | Cinematography: Zen Film Works | Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai | Bride's Shoes: Paul Green | Makeup: Onorina Jomir Beauty | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Venue: Shangri La | Event Planning + Floral Design: Luxe Paris Events | Groom's Cufflinks: Montblanc | Groom's Watch: Rolex

I love cute couples. And this one? Yup, they’re totally adorable and Ashley Kelemen and Jen Wojcik’s pics are all the proof you need. From start to finish (and all those delightful details in between – we’re looking at you Found Vintage Rentals) these two only had eyes for each other – and at the end of it all, our Groom serenaded his lucky lady. How does it get any cuter than that!? Head to our Vault to see it all!

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From Ashley Kelemen… Taylor and Brad’s wedding day was as sweet as they are, full of personal details and an emphasis on fun and beautiful moments. They brought LVL Events on board to make the day perfect, from the lawn games (jumbo Yahtzee anyone?) to the donut bar and every pretty detail in between. The live music rounded out their celebration, especially when Brad hopped on stage at the end of the evening to serenade Taylor like a rock star. The gorgeous florals by Olive and Willow perfectly tied together the soft colors of the surrounding landscape, the mismatched bridesmaid dresses and the sweet vibe of the couple. Overall, Taylor and Brad wanted the day to feel comfortable for all their guests, with lounge areas to encourage sitting and talking, endless amounts of delicious food and a perfect atmosphere for celebrating.

Photography: Ashley Keleman | Cinematography: Anthology Films | Event Planning: LVL Weddings & Events | Floral Design: Olive Willow Designs | Stationery: Jen Simpson Design | Hair + Makeup: A Toast To Beauty | Lighting: Event Lighting | Band: Scott Cummings Music | Venue: Temecula Creek Inn | Decor: Rustic Events | Decor: Signature Party Rentals | Decor: Found Rental Co. | Desserts: VG Donut & Bakery | Linen Rentals: Luxe Linen | Photography - Assistance: Jen Wojcik Photography | Rentals: Rustic Events | Rentals: Signature Party Rentals | Rentals: Found Rental Co.

When you’re celebrating two mamas and three babies on the way, an all white rustic gone glam baby shower is the perfect solution. It’s  gender neutral and wildly gorgeous no matter which way you spin it. One of the mamas is none other than Rachel Parcell, blogger and baby shower designer extraordinaire. See how she planned a knockout affair to celebrate her and her sister-in-law’s bebes on the way with even more captured by Mariko Kay in the VAULT.

My sister-in-law and I are both due one week apart from each other. I’m having a boy and she’s having a boy and girl (yes, twins!!). 

My mother-in-law wanted to throw a celebration with close friends and family in honor of the three new babies that will be arriving at the end of the summer, so we did just that.

We kept the color scheme of the shower neutral because we didn’t want the shower to scream boy or girl. We went with the theme of rustic glamour. The mason jars, wood tables, whiskey barrels, cross back chairs and that incredible willow tree all gave the shower a rustic feel, while the gold accents, candles and vintage settee added just the right amount of glamour.

The celebration turned out perfect. Delicious food, a beautiful atmosphere and even better company. We all felt as though we were in a midsummer night’s dream.

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Vintage-Inspired Baby Names

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Vintage-Inspired Baby Names

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Photographer: Mariko Kay Photography | Floral Design: Ashley Nackos | Florals: Esprit Raw Flowers | Invitations: Minted | Food: Kneaders Bakery | Cake and Desserts : Cakebites from The Sweet Tooth Fairy | Event Planner/Designer: Rachel Parcell | Event Rentals: Alpine Event Rentals | Placemat Calligraphy: Sarah Rose Ward | Signage Calligraphy: Chalk a Fine Line | Vintage Sofa and Cake Table: Refined Vintage Events

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

Petit Bouquet

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It takes a special kind of couple to roll with the punches, especially when that means finding a new venue just months before the big day. Their backup location, Garden Grove proved to be a pretty incredible “plan B” and Jenna McElroy told the story behind her camera lens. Go see the celebration unfold in The Vault!

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From Jenna McElroy…Callie and Ian have an inspirational, contagious kind of love. When they were told mere months before their wedding date, that their original wedding venue would not be finished being built in time for their April 9 nuptials, the couple took everything in stride. They knew that everything happened for a reason, and that no matter what happened with the wedding details- that becoming husband and wife was the most important part, and that would happen venue or not.

They found a new venue- Garden Grove- and this was the very first wedding that the venue hosted. All of the vendors came together and helped to create a special, wonderful, and memorable day for this couple to remember and cherish forever.

Photography: Jenna McElroy | Cinematography: Adam Grumbo | Coordination: Blue Lotus | Event Design: Hello Lovely Wed | Cake: Bride's Table | Invitations: Shine Wedding Invitations | Bride's Shoes: Dune | Catering: Pappa's | Hair + Makeup: Lola Beauty | Calligraphy: Whitney Farnsworth | Band: All Hat No Cadillac | Venue: Garden Grove | Bridal Boutique: Blush Bridal Lounge | Earrings: BHLDN | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Ring Box: The Mrs Box

Your wedding day? FILLED with unexpected twists and turns.  And for this darling duo those unplanned moments happened to include the threat of a hurricane AND broken down transportation.  Yep, they missed their cocktail hour stranded on the side of the highway, but one call to Uber later and they were celebrating in a beautiful ballroom with their loving friends and family.  See it all captured by Amy Rizzuto in THE VAULT, then press play on the sweet film from ESU Events.

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From Amy Rizzuto Photography… Francesca and Alex were married in October in one of the most romantic cities in the world. Francesca got ready at her parents’ house in Connecticut while Alex prepared for the day in their NYC apartment.  Francesca popped the champagne with her bridesmaids while Alex and his groomsmen sipped on Johnny Walker Blue.  At 3pm the couple said “I do” at St. Francis Xavier church before heading to the New York Public Library for some pretty portraits.  The iconic steps made the perfect backdrop for some classic and romantic images and our time there was one of my favorites of the day.  Francesca and Alex ended the evening by dancing the night away at the Greentree Country Club.  Soft candlelight filled the room and confetti fell all around them as they celebrated their first night as husband and wife.  Thank you Francesca and Alex for giving me the opportunity to capture your beautiful day.

From the Bride… Our wedding was nothing I expected the day to be like, but wound up being more than I could have ever dreamed! What we imagined as a beautiful end of summer type day, turned out to be a mercury retrograde of events which included the threat of a hurricane blowing through NYC and our wedding party’s bus breaking down on the side of the highway. The bride and groom had never been more excited about an UBER coming to the rescue than the one that picked them up on the side shoulder of I-495!

Our love story begins in New York City – meeting through the bride’s cousin who is married to the groom’s best friend. We knew each other for years before connecting one-on-one. They say, you never know you who are going to fall in love with, he or she could be right under your nose, and there he was!  It only took 3 dates for us to know that we would become each other’s forever.

After three years of dating, Alex proposed to me while on a beach in Block Island, surrounded by the island’s beautiful cliffs. It was romantic and perfect.

The wedding process was relatively easy for a person that knew what they wanted from the start. The main goal of our wedding was to enjoy the day as husband and wife, and to make sure our guests walked away from the night with amazing memories that lived on – not just an ordinary wedding. A real party!!

Being both from Italian families, there were a lot of expectations to meet, food (and an abundant amount of food) being at the top of the list!  Alex and I had to find a venue that accommodated at least 300 guests and matched a laundry list of credentials. We wanted a modern ballroom wedding and initially wanted the reception to be in the city since we were getting married in Union Square at St. Francis Xavier Church. Alex went to Xavier High School and the church meant a lot to him. We soon realized that a venue with amazing food, enough space (and no wall-to-wall carpeting!) was going to be very difficult to find.  We were completely blown away when we walked into this updated villa manor, Greentree Country Club, in New Rochelle, NY, that overlooks the Long Island Sound. It was breathtaking and had everything we were looking for.

We wanted our wedding to be a reflection of our personalities: traditional, but modern, with a twist of that ‘je ne sais quoi’.

We chose Amy Rizzuto to capture our day because she has a great eye and her use of natural soft lighting captivated me. She brings across an ethereal look to all her photos, almost as if there is a halo surrounding the subjects. She was amazing to work with and captured every detail of the day for us to remember… and for me to remember how much I lamented over them!

Days before the wedding, a hurricane popped up on the weather map from out of nowhere. What I had been worrying about as mercury retrograde believer, was happening!  A nor’easter of a day it was, but it all turned out to be as magical as one could dream! The day began early in Greenwich, Ct while Alex and his groomsmen got ready at our NYC apartment. We met at 3pm at St. Francis Xavier Church and tied the knot.

We took pictures at Bryant Park and then headed up to Westchester for our reception.  Not far into the ride to Greentree, we found ourselves on the side of the highway with smoke billowing out of our party bus. Stranded, we soon realized we were going to miss our cocktail hour. The transportation company said that a new party bus was on the way, but could not be sure when it would be there to get us. A groomsman opened his UBER app and ordered an UBER. Ten minutes later, an Uber pulled up to the side of the highway taking the bride, groom, maid of honor, and best man to the reception. Our Uber driver found it so amazing, that he asked to take a picture with us! It was definitely the comic relief we needed at that point.

As our guests were relishing at cocktail hour, they had no idea that what was happening to the wedding party. Our day-of-coordinator was amazing and got us ready as soon as we arrived to the venue. Twenty minutes later, our wedding party arrived. They ate a few bites (and had a few drinks!) in the wedding party suite and then we proceeded with our grand entrance. After that, we enjoyed every endless second of the night.

Looking out from our sweetheart table during dinner, Alex and I were overwhelmed with gratitude to be surrounded by the people in our lives that meant the most to us. As the night went on, everyone danced the night away as two wild families celebrated love on a confetti covered dance floor.

We saw our DJ two days later and he exclaimed, “That was an epic wedding! Top 3 weddings that I have been a part of in 20 years in the industry”.  We wanted a party to remember and we got it!

Photography: Amy Rizzuto Photography | Cinematography: ESU Events | Floral Design: Westchester Floral Decorators | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Invitations: DIY by the Bride | Ceremony Venue: St. Francis Xavier | Reception Venue: Green Tree Country Club | Bride's Shoes: Carolinna Espinosa | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | DJ: ESU Events | Favors: Let Love Brew Coffee Tins, custom created by the bride's parent's coffee roasting company, Bonjo Coffee Roasters | Groom's Attire: My Suit | Bridesmaid's Jewelry: J.Crew | Groom's Ring: David Yurman | Groom's Shirt + Bow Tie: Thomas Pink | Groom's Shoes: Prada | Hair Accessories: Rent The Runway | Invitation Envelope Calligraphy: Etsy Shop, Exquisite Squid | Lounge Decor: ESU Events

We’ve discussed coffee table books before but there are some new beauties on the block and they’re so deserving of a little shout out. These books will give your table styling some major design cred plus they’re crazy pretty to look at. Which if we’re being totally honest, is one of the essentials of this genre. From art to fashion and even wanderlust inspired adventures, check out twelve books to add to your coffee table situation STAT.

Best New Coffee Table Books

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Best New Coffee Table Books

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More books to add to your collection

The It List of Business and Blogging Books | Best Beach Reads | Fashionable Coffee Table Books

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Last week we asked you a pretty big favor. We needed your help voting in our SMP Hot Groom Awards, and thanks to your selfless act of kindness we’ve narrowed it down to the top eight handsome hubbies. This time around? The stakes are EVEN higher because only four grooms can advance to the next round. VOTE, share, and even nominate your own man on Instagram using #SMPHotGrooms

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CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

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CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

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Photography: 1. Kendra Elise 2. Sarah Kate 3. Brandon Kidd 4. Jillian Mitchell 5. Heidi-O-Photo 6.Ruth Eileen 7. Ana Lui  8. Emily Scott

More for Your Man

Get Him Excited About Wedding Planning

What Every Bride Wants Her Groom to Know

20 Ways You’re Secretly Driving Your Groom Crazy

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

Petit Bouquet

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Every engagement ring is beautiful, but if you want that extra wow factor, there’s nothing like a custom design from Dana Walden Bridal. The husband and wife duo, who’ve been designing together out of NYC for the past 8 years, have a track record of creating some of the most beautiful engagement rings you’ve ever seen.

Get the Ring You’ve Truly Always Dreamed Of

At Dana Walden Bridal, they’ve streamlined the diamond selecting process by pre-screening the finest conflict-free diamonds. They’ll select diamonds especially for you — based on your individual preferences, like beauty, sparkle, and value. Most importantly, all of the diamonds will be in your price range, alleviating the pressure to spend more for a “better stone.” This specialized approach allows you to maximize your budget by choosing a diamond that speaks to you, under the guidance of the very artisans that will be creating your engagement ring.

Create a Work of Art

As designers, Dana & Rad love to explore beautiful forms and patterns. They’re intrigued by themes of multiplicity found in their favorite works of art — from Buddhist mandalas, to Minimalist sculptures, to Minoan frescos.

Every Ring is Truly Unique

Every stone has it’s own unique personality and dimensions — whether you’re talking about a diamond, sapphire, or colored stone. Dana and Rad embrace these distinctions by custom designing each setting around the exact dimensions of their unique center stone. This makes every piece of jewelry at DWB one of a kind. Dana, Rad and their team of artisans design every ring, select every stone and fabricate each piece of jewelry by hand, using only recycled metals and conflict-free diamonds.

Get a One-Of-a-Kind Personalized Experience

During your appointment, relax as you try on sparkly rings from their signature and vintage collections. And if you’d prefer a custom creation, Dana will explain his process, showing you his personal sketches and hand-crafted models along the way. Custom engagement rings and wedding bands are their specialty and the premium service is perfect for couples who desire a bespoke experience—including a one-on-one meeting with the designers, viewing a master model of your ring before they create your actual ring, and complementary diamond sourcing.

Don’t live in New York? No problem! Dana Walden Bridal offers a curated collection of rings online, where you’ll receive the same quality and care as any client who can make it into the store. And with the ability to ship almost anywhere in the world, there’s nothing stopping you from finding the perfect ring online.

It Can Become a Family Heirloom

Dana Walden Bridal has mastered the art of transforming classic silhouettes into luxurious heirlooms with distinctive details. They believe that a ring’s elegance comes from the masterful execution of a timeless design, with a focus on proportion and balance.

Give New Life to an Older Gem

If you have an existing stone, try DWB’s stone resetting service to breathe new life into your diamond or gem. Whether you have an heirloom diamond or have purchased a diamond independently, DWB is experienced at creating extraordinary settings around the exact dimensions of your stone.

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The Giveaway

Dana Walden Bridal is giving away their WREN engagement ring ($2600 value)! It is handmade in 14k rose gold and features a 1.50ct cushion-cut morganite center stone. To enter, click here and tell us why you love Dana Walden Bridal‘s designs — and why the WREN should be yours to win!

When designing your baby’s nursery, making it one-of-a-kind is usually on the top of the list, from the cutest wall hangings to the perfect hue on the walls or a bit of wallpaper to wow. But making that sweet space efficient too is SO key. That’s where storage comes in and we’ve got 10 adorable ideas to stow all of those toys, trinkets, clothes and keepsakes.

10 Sweet Storage Solutions for Baby's Nursery

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10 Sweet Storage Solutions for Baby's Nursery

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Friends, the SMP Living Dream Home Awards are fully underway and we are so excited to announce our first round of homes moving on in the bracket this week! You all sure did pick some beauties out of the bunch for a fabulous eight remaining. Cast your vote this week to help us determine the final four!

Click to cast your vote!

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The Bracket Contestants

Classic One | Classic Two

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Coastal One | Coastal Two

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Eclectic One | Eclectic Two

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Modern One | Modern Two

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OFFICIAL RULES

Voters must follow Style Me Pretty on Facebook to cast a winning vote. The first round of voting, ending on August 6, voters will select the two homes from each style category that they’d like to move on in the bracket. These two homes from each style category with the most votes will advance in the SMP Living Home Awards bracket. Voters will then pick one home from each style category, until August 13. Then, voters will pick two homes from the final four until March 20. Finally, voters will vote for the ultimate home from the final two until August 27. The final home will be revealed on August 31. Followers are allowed one vote per IP address. Facebook voters determine the ultimate home winner, votes will only qualify if submitted daily through Facebook polls on the Style Me Pretty page. The home winner will be announced on August 31st.

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Click to cast your vote!

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To simply say that pair planned one heck of a party would be the understatement of the century. Because not only did their wedding include a dance down the aisle, but it also featured a flash mob. With Jana Williams Photography behind the lens and Love & You Video filming every Found Vintage Rentals vignette, we’ve got it all waiting for you to favorite in The Vault!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/175911094 600 338]

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From The Bride…The most important part of our wedding was creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that focused on bringing two cultures together. For us, it was all about showcasing us as a couple and really paying attention to all the details. We wanted our guest to walk away with a truly unique experience that is now forever imprinted in their hearts and memories. Besides all the personalized details the most important part of the planning process was perfecting the day of timeline; I wanted to ensure the energy was at an all-time high throughout the whole night. With that said, we surprised our guests all night through various ways: a dance down the aisle, flash mob, and incorporating traditions that were exciting for both cultures to experience. Our guests were so curious to participate in all the Jewish and Danish traditions that we included in the wedding; from starting the wedding reception with the Hava Nagila to the Danish Waltz before the clock stroke twelve.

When I first started the wedding process, I was obsessed with finding the best of the best in terms of location and venue. My husband is from Denmark and I from New York; so finding the perfect location was job in itself. Being from two different parts of the world, we knew it was going to be destination wedding. Our first pick was Tuscany, we even went there to scout locations with our families. I had my heart set on Castello di Casole but the weekend we needed wasn’t available; all the other locations we scouted were beautiful but not at the same level. After I received the news, I was on a mission to find a luxe Mediterranean inspired resort state side which brought me to The Grand Del Mar, which is nestled in a canyon preserve in sunny San Diego. The Grand Del Mar exceeded everyone’s expectations; and the dedicated staff really put a magical touch to all our events that we hosted on property. From a Mexican theme pool party to a travel themed rehearsal dinner – the hotel has several event spaces so each event felt unique and intimate.

In terms of picking out the color theme and décor; the most important thing was to compliment the beauty of the location. I didn’t want anything to feel like it wasn’t meant to be. The wedding style was natural, chic, and romantic. I hired a florist that was a botanist by trade; she really was able to create an effortless look with lush greenery accented by a beige/pink tone flowers. The reception had a very romantic feel to it with a lot of candles; the whole room felt warm and inviting. One of my favorite details was the escort card structure we built; our florist created a hanging garden with ribbons and names cards. Guest loved it and interacted with the structure all night; from finding their names to taking pictures under it as it glowed through the night. Another fun detail, we hired a Photo Bus- which was a one of a kind vintage Photo Booth built right into 1960’s VW Buses and it was a big hit among the guests. People had so much fun using it with the props. All the pictures were then put in a book with notes from everyone.

My advice for future brides is the wedding should highlight you as a couple; your guest should walk into the room and feel like they are part of your life. Don’t get caught up on what “you’re supposed to do” – do what you want to do and to be honest you will enjoy the whole planning process even more. The day of the wedding, don’t get caught up in the small things focus on the making memories with your husband and guests!

Photography: Jana Williams Photography | Cinematography: Love & You Studios | Event Planning: Details Details | Floral Design: Art With Nature | Makeup: Beauty By Melina | Hair: Carmen Tafoya | DJ: DJ Gar Gar | Band: West Coast Music | Officiant: Cantor Kathy Robbins | Venue: Fairmont Grand Del Mar | Chair Rentals: Abbey Party Rents | Childcare Services: Marion's Childcare | Draping + Lighting: Chiavari Chair Rentals | Furniture: Found Rental Co. | Goblets: Dish Wish | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Photo Booth: The Photo Bus | Tables: Farm Tables And More

This is not your average hometown wedding. It’s the kind of wedding you’d swear was straight from the pages of a magazine and it has everything to do with Katie Grant, Bows and Arrows, Hey Lovely Makeup and the entire vendor crew. Think lush florals, a dream Mori Lee ballgown, and a sense of Southern charm from start to finish. The Vault is guaranteed to be your new little happy place.

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From Katie Grant Photography… Katy and David, both residents of LA, decided to head back to Katy’s hometown to celebrate their wedding with family and classic Southern Charm in Houston, Texas.

The couple chose the quaint and charming venue of Tiny Boxwoods for it’s elegant yet rustic vibe. Tiny Boxwoods was transformed into a garden oasis with lush florals and simple tablescapes.

Katy got ready in her childhood home and wore her mother’s actual wedding shoes. She looked stunning in her Mori Lee gown which was perfectly complimented by her bountiful Bows and Arrows bouquet. The two were all smiles all day and their excitement about spending their lives together was all too apparent.

Photography: Katie Grant Photography | Floral Design: Bows and Arrows | Wedding Dress: Mori Lee | Hair + Makeup: Hey Lovely Makeup | Venue: Tiny Boxwoods | Chalkboard Signs + Place Cards: Half Moon Lettering

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

Bows and Arrows

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We’ve got a major, stage 5 clinger kind of crush on Rita Donahoe’s most recent seaside beauty. Every last Nantucket infused moment of it is pure gold. But even if you’re no where near the wildes of this New England beach community, it doesn’t mean you can’t bring all that charm and classic good looks to your own home. Here’s 10 small ways to get the look without buying a vacation home.

Get the Look of this Nantucket-Inspired Home

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Get the Look of this Nantucket-Inspired Home

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More Ways to Jazz Up Your Space…

10 Show-stopping Wall Mirrors that Make a Statement
12 Stylish Stools to Complete Your Kitchen Island
30 Dream Kitchen Moments that’ll Make You Want to Renovate