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

Lombardi House Wedding with Puzzle Box and a Pup

What’s better than a beautiful wedding at the Lombardi House? A beautiful wedding at the Lombardi House that includes subtle nods to your pup of course! Take this stunning affair designed and planned by the beautiful bride {of Mad Love Events} and day-of-coordination by WINK! Weddings, elegant La Tavola Linen, and the ever-so-talented onelove photography behind the lens. Trust us, one look at this gallery and you’ll know the true meaning of puppy love. See it all in The Vault!

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From The Bride…We wanted our wedding to feel like US; if our friends and family stepped into this wedding blindly, we would have wanted them to be able to guess that the elements of the wedding, the styling, the decor was dreamt up by us and put together by the two of us.

Brian and I both love working on projects together; whenever we can, we work together creatively and whatever we put together feels much more “ours”. One of Brian’s talents is woodworking, and this skill and hobby has now become a big part of us. For our engagement, Brian created a puzzle ring box for me by taking different pieces and types of natural wood, and over the course of months, created this beautiful ring box that can only be opened by navigating through the puzzle that spells out LOVE. I loved this wooden box for many reasons — for how beautiful it was, but also the love and thought that went in on this item. For our wedding, we wanted to include items and elements important to us and we worked together to incorporate natural wood into our big day. All the signs were cut by Brian and hand lettered by me. For our ceremony, we wanted to include elements that were meaningful to us, and we decided to assemble a wooden box together. We bought two pieces of wood together and Brian spent time carving Dove-Tail joints, a joint known for its strength, to join the pieces of wood and to create this box. Inside the box, Brian and I wrote letters to one another, to be read at our one year anniversary. During the ceremony, Brian and I assembled this box together, with the wooden pieces representing the two of us joining together and the dove-tail joint representing the strength we want for our marriage. This portion of our ceremony, though simple, was meaningful for the both of us.

Once engaged, there are so many ideas and elements of weddings that a bride will learn and encounter, and it can be so easy to get lost in all of these ideas, all of which are wonderful in their own way. However, thinking about the reasons ‘why’ something is important or significant to you, rather than just focusing on all the most beautiful trends happening at the moment, then all the elements, decor, and all the little details for the wedding will come together so much more easily…and best of all, it will then be something that is incredibly meaningful and unique!

There are so many beautiful memories from our wedding it’s hard to pick just a few to share. However, I will always remember the moment that Brian and I did our first look. Brian and I met in high school and then dated for 8 years, and planning a wedding can at times feel so busy, so when I finally saw my groom on the day of the wedding, it was so wonderful and I felt like I could take a nice deep breath of fresh air. I will always remember that moment forever.

Sharing a fun father-daughter dance with my dad was also a great memory I will always remember. Surprisingly, I had never had a dance with my dad before because my dad deemed himself “not a dancer”. For my wedding though, he busted out his own little dance on the spot, and all I had to do was follow along with his awesome moves and laugh with my dad.

Another memory I will be forever be grateful for, is that my loyal, funny, clownish long-hair Dachshund, Roper, was able to partake in our wedding! All dog owners know what an important part of the family our furry besties are, and I loved knowing Roper was there on my special day and of course seeing him walk down the aisle as my ring bearer!

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Elegant + Romantic Atlanta Spring Wedding

This Bride had a vision, a very clear, chic vision for the dress she’d wear when she walked down the aisle. And when, after searching high and low, she couldn’t find it anywhere, what did she do? She got creative – and it’s with that talent and perseverance that she’s our new style crush. With the same passion she created her whole wedding and Carla Gates captured it all. Spend some time getting to know this fashion-forward lady and her handsome man in our Vault right this way!

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From the Bride… We met in the Big House during our first football game at the University of Michigan. After a year of studying for economics exams, nights at Scorekeepers, and swimming dates at the campus gym, we made it official during a matinee showing of “The Goonies” and never looked back. We kept it going through graduation, my law school, and ultimately, cohabitation in Chicago. On the day before Thanksgiving, I came out of my office on the streets of Chicago, looking to meet my assistant’s mother, and Drew was outside in a tux kneeling on the sidewalk! The rest is history!!

I was really inspired by using a shabby chic feel combined with an elegant twist. There are so many weddings that are really over the top, which is great, but I wanted the “less is more” look, while not looking bare. Heather from Tulip was beyond incredible! We shared pictures, thoughts, and ideas to set the stage for the most perfect night.

The colors were blush, champagne, and other soft colors. Lots of string lighting with hanging lanterns and candles. I wanted to capture a soft, ethereal feel – making you want to fall in love with our story when you walked in the door.

So the dress is a long story! I was inspired by one of my favorite bloggers as far as the top, and knew I wanted a slim fitting bottom, with a WOW factor in the back! Of course, there was nothing that quite hit the nail on the head when you have this vision in mind. So what do you do when that happens? MAKE IT YOURSELF! I ended up finding a dress with the right bone structure, and then let my imagination run wild. With the help of my amazing seamstress Hanan, and eight 5-7 hour fittings later (including sewing the sleeves on my dress the day before the wedding!), we created the dress of my dreams!

It is amazing :) All lace with an overlay, beaded on the top with shoulders covered by a hanging piece of beaded fabric. All backless! There are buttons that go all the way down the train.

Puritan Mill was the perfect space that lend itself to the shabby chic feel I knew Drew and I both wanted to achieve while being convenient to our guests in Atlanta. It was a big space, yet could be intimate at the same time. The ability to work from a blank canvas was definitely a plus!

My mom and I went wild with DIY decor! I felt like a little kid again doing art projects! One day, my mom and I were scouring our basement and found old window frames that were going to be tossed out. We spray painted the frames and I blew up pictures of our grandparents and parents and taped them to the back of the screen. It looked great and was a perfect way to incorporate some of the people we hold dearest who couldn’t be there to celebrate with us.

Also – I am a total sucker for cotton candy, so we ordered a bunch of bags online (which ended up being delicious) and then created customized stickers! Etsy became my best friend for the nine months that led up to my wedding. I was inspired by a lot of ideas on Pinterest and then made them come to life with the help of my mom, who was my rock throughout this whole process (along with Drew).

My most memorable moment was when Drew and I signed our wedding Ketubah before our actual ceremony began. In Jewish weddings, the Ketubah is a wedding contract, which is signed before the ceremony. It is considered an integral part of a traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride. I remember when we signed it, my heart was beating out of my chest. This was the first time when everything felt surreal. It was actually happening! I was marrying my best friend and love of my life.

Additionally, seeing my dad for the first time. I am Daddy’s little girl, and I couldn’t believe that I was being given away!

My advice for future brides is that the process is supposed to be FUN! Don’t sweat the small stuff, and just breathe :)

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Pink Woodland Fairytale Mountain Wedding

If you think Brittany and Nicholas’s wedding is fairytale material, just wait until you hear about the proposal that proceeded this celebration. Quick summary, he proposed at a chateau in the Loire valley surrounded by an ancient oak forest – I mean, talk about a story! See their sweet woodland beginning captured by Corrina Walker Photography in The Vault!

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From the Bride… We met at an ugly Christmas sweater party hosted by mutual friends. Nick likes to say I had the ugliest sweater in the room and that’s what hooked him. I remember the moment he arrived – there was a confidence about him that instantly had me interested. He walked right over and introduced himself! I drove him home after the party that night and we sat on his driveway and talked for hours. He finally asked me out a few days later!

A year and a half later, Nick proposed on a trip to Europe. We were in France to celebrate the wedding of two of Nick’s university friends and then planned to spend a week in Istanbul and finally a week in London. He had planned to propose in London on the Millennium Bridge (an homage to my love of Harry Potter), but after a weekend being surrounded by so much love and celebration, he proposed in France the day after his friend’s wedding. It was truly out of a fairytale – he popped the question at a beautiful chateau in the Loire valley while we were walking the grounds surrounded by an ancient oak forest! The birds were chirping, the oak trees rustled in the wind, and a faint rainbow could be seen above. He has been carrying the ring in his pocket since we left Edmonton and had notes written in three different languages, which were to be passed to border security guards just in case we were stopped at airport security! Nick is not a man to be rendered speechless, but he was so nervous and excited that he didn’t say a word for half an hour after the proposal! We celebrated with wine and cheese and continued the festivities with his family when we all met up in Istanbul the following day.

We spent about a year planning the wedding. We both knew we wanted a mountain wedding as we spend so much time in Canmore. We loved the rustic but elegant feel of the timber beams and stonework at Silvertip Resort and had heard amazing things about the food so it was an obvious choice for us. To top it off, the ceremony site has a breathtaking view of the Bow Valley. It was also important for me to incorporate the Banff Springs, as it was where my parents were married 27 years ago, so my family and my bridesmaids stayed there the night before the wedding and spent the morning of relaxing and getting ready in the stunning castle in the Rockies!

When we started the planning process, we knew it was important for us to have a planner as we were unfamiliar with some of the Canmore area vendors and didn’t want our family and friends working on the big day. We worked with Stephanie LaGrange of Lynn Fletcher Weddings in Calgary. She was truly amazing to work with and was there with us every step of the way helping us create an unforgettable event!

The best way to describe our theme is “woodland fairytale”. We wanted something traditional and elegant, but with some woodsy elements to reflect our love of the outdoors and Nick’s love of woodworking. The two of us were set on having wooden chargers for the place settings and we eventually chose to make them ourselves with birch rounds purchased from a local firewood seller and a custom iron brand. We spent hours cleaning, sanding, and branding over 200 tree cookies, but it was a hit with all of our guests! We had so many requests from guests asking if they could take them home to use as place settings of their own! Stephanie and our wonderful florist, Jamie Gage of Fleurish, worked with us to turn our vision of a woodland fairytale into a reality. Wherever we could have greenery and flowers, we did. They were even able to drape the huge iron chandeliers in the Pavilion with greenery!

My dress was also chosen with this theme in mind. I fell in love with “Sophie” by Hailey Paige. Swiss dots, intricate lace, texture, and romance – I got everything I wanted in one gown thanks to Delica Bridal! I chose to wear my sister’s veil as my something borrowed and it matched the dress perfectly! The bridesmaid gowns, “Anabelle” by Jenny Yoo in Begonia Pink, were also from Delica Bridal. I saw these dresses on Pinterest one day and never forgot them. They were soft, elegant, and romantic and I loved that each girl could wear their dress in their own way!

The day itself was unforgettable – Nick and his groomsmen spent the morning getting ready at his family’s home in Canmore. My morning with my bridesmaids at the Banff Springs started early with makeup beginning at 5 AM to be ready for the ceremony on time!

We all piled into our limos and I was waiting to walk down the aisle when we realized my vows never made it to our limo! My dad had to run all the way back to the parking lot to get them from my purse which had somehow made its way into their vehicle. Having been standing at the altar waiting and having no idea what was taking so long, Nick could finally breathe a sigh of relief as the music began and my dad escorted me down the aisle. Our ceremony was officiated by a close family friend and Queen’s Bench judge and Nick and I wrote our vows to each other making it such an intimate experience.

We headed off to Quarry Lakes and the iron bridge after the ceremony for photos. All of us had a blast romping through the park and warding off the imminent rain!

We arrived back at Silvertip just in time to join our 200 guests for cocktail hour and get a special sneak peek of the reception space with Stephanie.

Once everyone filtered through from cocktail hour, our dinners were served and speeches (and subsequent tears and laughter) began. We served our wedding cake as dessert (a raspberry and white chocolate cake with ruffled buttercream frosting crafted by Alison LaFrance of Whippt Desserts & Catering Inc.) and started into the dances. My dad surprised us and sang Heartland’s “I Loved Her First” for Nick and I, then my dad and I danced to Tim McGraw’s “My Little Girl”. For our first dance, we chose “Come What May” from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack – we love to belt out musicals on road trips to the mountains and this duet is one of our favourites! Once the dances wrapped up, everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) hit the dance floor for the rest of the night. The Silvertip staff even commented that they had never seen a dance like it at another wedding. Our DJ, Rob Lavery of Class Act DJ Service, was brilliant – he kept everyone on the dance floor with a perfect mix of music!

We were having so much fun that when the lights came on it seemed as if the party had only just begun, but everyone had an unforgettable night of amazing food, excellent company, and great music and dancing!

Nick and I spent the next day at a brunch hosted at his family’s home followed by an afternoon of spa treatments at the Banff Springs and a romantic dinner at the Grizzly House (I no longer needed to fit in my dress!). Two days later, after some relaxing time in Canmore, we jetted off to Sandals Whitehouse, Jamaica for a week- long honeymoon in the sun!

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Ireland Inspired Green Garden Wedding

The best part of this wedding? Well… everything. From the stunning locale to the lovely DIY details to the buttercream frosting and home brew, it’s a non-stop day of gorgeous all planned to perfection by Blush And Whim with yummy treats from Chowgirls and lush florals from Camrose Hill Flowers. Jeff Loves Jessica captured all of the brilliant imagery and you can see more in THE VAULT.

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From Jeff Loves Jessica… Katherine & Brendan brought their love for Ireland (and plans to honeymoon there!) to Minnesota when they created their wedding day. They selected Camrose Hill as their venue, for its outdoor charm and lush green landscapes. The same lush greens with soft pops of peach were woven through their floral and color scheme. We were so impressed by Katherine’s DIY talent–She cross-stitched so many sweet details of the day, including a “thank you” banner that hung from a vintage table with small jars of honey for each guest. Katherine’s dad also added a great deal of DIY spirit to the day–he spent a year before their wedding to create an array of home-brewed beer to be served during the cocktail hour and reception. They also invited an amazing bluegrass band to contribute to the atmosphere of their ceremony and cocktails. We are so thrilled for these two both for their marriage and the beautiful event they created for their family and friends!

From the Bride… Brendan and I envisioned our wedding day as a chance to share with our family and friends everything we loved about summertime in Minnesota: fresh food, great music, and forty shades of green! When initially planning, I could only picture an outdoor wedding surrounded by flowers. Camrose Hill was my vision come to life and provided a gorgeous setting that allowed us to bring in our favorite vendors on site so we could treat our guests to bluegrass music, home-brewed beer, cake from my hometown (with the best buttercream you’ll ever have) and a dinner menu that shared our food personalities as thanks for their well wishes and travels.

Even though it was one of the hottest days of the summer, I was so delighted seeing all the visions I had in my head assembled together. I remember walking around and thinking, “That’s exactly what I wanted the tables to look like!” or “This bouquet is my new favorite thing.” or “Oh my gosh, he looks more handsome than I’ve ever seen him!” To see our handmade details, like the cross-stitch table numbers and our embroidery hoop escort cards in their places, instead of in heaps of crafting chaos in my apartment made me smile from ear-to-ear. The absolute best part of the day was seeing almost everyone we loved and cherished together, celebrating and enjoying the food, drinks, cake, games, music and dancing we had planned with their enjoyment in mind.

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Sassy Lipstick + Libation-Themed Bridal Shower

I’m a lipstick kind of girl. (I’m also a cocktail kind of girl.) So when I saw this “Lipstick & Libations” themed shower, it was love at first sight. A DIY lipstick station? Pretty pink cocktails? An abundance of sweets plus a cake from Buttercream Bakeshop? And a lipstick piñata? Sign me up! Get your fix of pretty thanks to Sweet Root Village in The Vault!

From Sweet Root Village…This bridal shower was a labor of PURE LOVE! Rachele is one of our favorite people on the planet. Our first ever employee at Sweet Root Village and she has been the glue keeping us afloat as we’ve grown and taken on more and more exciting things. We were so excited to spoil her and throw a big party for her and all her lady friends. We were inspired by who she is and what she loves. A balanced mix of sass and class with a healthy dose of cheeseball. Lots and lots of pink, glitter, and a little splash of corgi pups.

We had met and gotten to know Pamela at some recent events and had been hearing about her amazing home art studio she built for herself. When she invited us to visit and check it out, we knew immediately that this was the PERFECT space for Rachele’s bridal shower! We coaxed our friends at Buttercream Bakeshop into creating a perfect cake and all sorts of dessert goodies for the evening and then exhausted Pinterest looking for any savory pink foods. NOT an easy undertaking, so we basically just stuck to sugar.

We came up with the overall theme for the night after stumbling upon Kelly Mendell of Studio DIY’s instructions on how to make a lipstick piñata. We about died with happiness, and then “Lipstick and Libation” was born. Rachele tackled the project of constructing her own lipstick piñata, while Lauren and I (party hosts, bosses, and friends of Rachele) split forces to tackle the rocking cocktails and all the DIY elements of the party! We hand-lettered invitations, name tags, and signage; we hung mylar and tissue paper from the ceiling and laid it down on the tables, we assembled a massive DIY lipstick bar, and added corgi figurines on top of all the cocktail stir sticks. It was pure magic. Rachele’s sister got in on the action and made us confetti and ribbon wands for the photo booth and Lauren used her grandma’s secret watercoloring technique to make us a rocking art piece for the back of the dessert bar. We made flower arrangements of all our favorite pink and red blooms of the brightest varieties and set coordinating taper candles around the space. We even picked up second hand wooden chairs to paint pink and gold. We had QUITE a cargo van load of things to set up. Even though Rachele knew most of our plans (working with us on a daily basis and all), it was still a pretty big unveiling to see it all put together in the beautiful space. Wall-to-wall pink happy goodness. This evening was so incredibly RACHELE and so so incredibly fun.

Sophisticated Wedding in Borgo Santo Pietro, Tuscany

Gattotigre – Destination Wedding Videography, you’ve got every single one of us feeling all the wedding day feels thanks to your cinematographic magic. For Amy & Keith’s special day is what dreams are made of. Overflowing with Tuscany Flowers and endless love, this is one celebration you’ll want to preview pronto. Get ready for some happy tears and press play to see it all below!

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From the Bride… Keith and I met in East Hampton during the summer of 2012 through mutual friends. I am from Texas and we both work in finance in NYC: me, in the real estate private equity business development and investor relations, while Keith is an inter-dealer broker. After a few years together, Keith proposed during the Christmas holiday. I love the holidays – particularly Christmas. We made an event of decorating our apartment in Nolita (Manhattan) for the holidays – Christmas tree decorating, light hanging, etc – and the next morning, Keith proposed under the tree in our pajamas, over my favorite green juice breakfast.

My goal for the wedding was to create a wonderful memory for my then-fiance’, our family and friends. Every detail was meant to make the weekend feel special and intimate and create a lasting memory that will make the people we love smile every time they think of our wedding. The most exciting part of the wedding planning was the wedding dress shopping and menu planning! I loved wedding dress shopping with my mom, sister and brother – all who flew in from Texas. I equally adored choosing the menu. From the truffled ricotta with lavender honey antipasti, to the wine pairing, I loved every detail.

Invitations were embossed on rounded-edge ivory double-ply, brown gilded edge paper in a romantic brown script. The ceremony invitation, farm-to-table welcome dinner invitation and farewell brunch invitation each included a sketch – the Borgo Santo Pietro villa, a platter of Italian vegetables and a rose bush, respectively. The invitations were bundled neatly with a ribbon and sprig of lavender. Inner and outer envelopes were calligraphed in brown ink, with the outer envelope sealed with a wax stamp of the couple’s initials. Day of stationery included a welcome note, escort cards and menus.

I had lace scraps from my dress sewn into the inside pocket of Keith’s tux (which luckily he didn’t notice during the fitting) and was a surprise on the wedding day! We had a simple ceremony officiated by the mayor, with a Catholic blessing after the conclusion of the civil ceremony. The reception opened with a few welcome speeches; oysters and typical Tuscan appetizers were served while guests were enjoying the cocktails. The tablescape included long garland of peonies and olive branches. On each lady’s place setting, atop the menu, was an alternating peony or garden rose; atop the men’s place setting were olive branches. Tuscany Flowers also provided the antique candelabras on the tables.

We chose The Maldives for our honeymoon – Gili Lankanfushi and The One and Only. It was gorgeous – crystal blue (80 degree) water teeming with sea life, which we enjoyed while scuba diving and snorkeling. We also (of course) fully enjoyed the food, which was rich with Indian and Arabic influences.

From Gattotigre – Destination Wedding Videography… The wedding took place in Borgo Santo Pietro Luxury Relais (Chiusdino, Siena, Tuscany – Italy) on Saturday May 23rd, 2015. This stunning Relais is located about 45 mins to the south-west of Siena. It is set in its own delightful gardens, and it is an oasis hidden away behind private gates and walls. Once inside you are greeted by perfectly manicured gardens, fountains, statues and endless authentic details. Inside the villa the level of decor continues providing a very inspiring backdrop for a wedding. The Bride’s suite was simply stunning, with a big marble fireplace in the middle. The Bride looked gorgeous in her Ines Di Santo sheath dress purchased from Bergdorf Goodman, while the Bridesmaids chose their own blush and mauve dresses.

It should have been a beautiful day of sunshine and an outdoor wedding followed by drinks and dinner under the stars… instead it rained from sun up to sun down and into the night and every single photo/video had to be done under cover. Even the outdoor shots were done with an umbrella. Amy and Keith were supposed to get married in the main part of the St. Galgano Abbey – instead we used a small side area which was covered but looked out onto the gardens and continual rain. It wasn’t an easy day by any means! Anyway, with tons of soft candlelights and ancient candelabras, elegant white details and the romantic feel of a secret garden, the wedding reception was still a dream come true!

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Classic Wedding at the Boston Public Library

If a Public Library is good enough for Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City,” it’s definitely good enough for me. And this Boston Public Library is so good. For starters, there’s the Bride’s gorgeous Vera Wang gown and beautiful invitations from Paper Moss. Then there’s the personal touches like moonshine and bourbon to honor the couple’s West Virginia and Kentucky roots. I could go on, but I’ll stop myself because you can see it all from Joyelle West Photography in The Vault!

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From The Bride…When planning our wedding, we focused on food, family, and friends. Since our wedding took place over a three-day weekend we invited all of our guests to enjoy drinks and food at The Gallows. Working with The Gallows restaurant, we were able to coordinate an unbelievable and intimate family style dinner for our wedding party with hor d’oeuvres and drinks for all of our guests to end the night. It allowed us to spend more time with our guests and kicked off our wedding weekend. Most of our guests traveled to Boston for the wedding, so we made sure guests gift bags included a custom map highlighting where our events were taking place as well as classic Boston attractions. We also had a custom travel journal made by a vendor I found on Etsy, Cara of Print Stitch and Paste, who crafted several personalized pieces for our wedding.

Although the wedding took place in Boston, we wanted to pay tribute to our respective home states. Bobby is originally from West Virginia, and I spent the majority of my life in Kentucky, so including nips of moonshine and bourbon was a fun way to pay tribute. We also included chocolate from Hotel Chocolat because Bobby proposed during our stay at Bouchon, their chocolate plantation and resort in St. Lucia.

The ceremony was held at the Cathedral of Holy Cross. As guests entered the cathedral they were handed programs designed by the talented Lisa Hedge of Venamour, who also designed our gorgeous wedding menu and table numbers. Afterwards guests were transported to the Boston Public Library where the reception was held. As guests entered the library, they made their way to the beautiful courtyard where they were greeted by a jazz quartet as they enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres. For dinner guests were escorted upstairs to Bates Hall where the jazz ensemble continued playing throughout dinner. As guests entered Bates Hall they passed by the wedding cake, which featured a detailed custom cake topper designed by Concarta.

Going back to our roots, we also incorporated ramps onto the menu, a local West Virginia specialty that luckily was in season, and Graeter’s ice cream, a favorite from my upbringing. We also had charcuterie on the tables when the guests arrived so that guests had something to nibble on as they waited on each course. The sides were served family style, which gave the meal a communal and familial feel. We wanted the guests to enjoy the ritual of passing the dishes around the table and the conversation that inevitably flows. After dinner we danced the night away with our guests. At our request, the band ended the night with all the guests in a giant circle singing Country Roads, another homage to Bobby’s home state. As guests left we gave them a custom cookbook crated by May Designs that held some of our favorite recipes. The next morning, before most guests caught their flights, we held a recovery brunch at XV Beacon to conclude the weekend.

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Vintage Chic Charleston Wedding

I have such a love affair with Charleston. And Charleston weddings? Some of the very best. They just know how to combine tradition with sweet southern style in a way that always makes me swoon, and this beauty captured by Dana Cubbage Weddings with florals from Branch Design Studio is the perfect example of why. And you can see just what I’m talking about right here in the VAULT.

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From Dana Cubbage Weddings…The Legare Waring House at Charlestowne Landing is just one of those venues that is so quintessentially Charleston and so naturally beautiful. It’s no wonder that Lara + Ed fell in love with it’s beauty and used it as the inspiration for their wedding design! They wanted to utilize as many areas of the property as possible, so they planned their ceremony beneath the majestic Wedding Tree, cocktail hour on the patio in front of the main house, and an open air reception in the Avenue of Oaks! It was stunning!In an effort to incorporate even more of the property into their photos, we did their First Look, portraits, and bridal party photos in the Wedding Garden… one of my favorite spots at Legare. The lighting was absolutely PERFECT, streaming through the trees + Spanish Moss. That’s the kind of stuff that gets me really excited as a photographer!After a beautiful ceremony under one of the most majestic oak trees I’ve ever seen, Lara + Ed enjoyed a seated dinner with their family + friends before hitting the dance floor. Lauren of ELM Events helped bring Lara’s wedding vision to life and their rustic-inspired design featured a mix of family-style long tables and smaller rounds, wooden chairs, lanterns, candles, and plenty of beautiful floral arrangements by Branch Design Studio. Chandeliers hung from the Avenue of Oaks, adding a touch of glam to this beautiful soiree. Beneath the glowing lights and stars, Lara + Ed dined al fresco and danced the night away with their closest family + friends while Charleston Groove Factory rocked the house. It was another beautiful fall evening in Charleston and such an amazing day all around.

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Marriage Matters: 45+ Years of Adventure + Love

Anyone who knows me knows how much I absolutely adore Valentine’s Day. And while yes, I’m quite the fan of flowers and sweet treats, it’s love stories like this one here that truly pulls at my heart strings and gives me so much joy. This one, told by the dapperest of gentlemen, and the pure love captured in Julie Paisley’s pics, are the best #relationshipgoals I ever did see. Sound a little too good to be true? Read on – I promise you it’s not only worth it, but you’ll be smiling all weekend long.

From Fred… This story begins on a cold winter’s’ night in March of 1967, in a small, remote town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Marquette, Michigan to be exact. How a boy from Deptford, New Jersey and a girl from Floresville, Texas happen to cross paths there is beyond me, but this is where this story begins. Did I say it was a cold winter’s’ night in Marquette? Cold may not begin to describe what it’s like in the Upper Peninsula, take my word for it, when I say cold I mean cold. Snow, about 200 inches a year, and the temperature that night was probably around 8 or 9 degrees… yes, it was cold.

There was a dance that Friday night at the Airman’s Club. A small version of a Non Commissioned Officers Club on K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, smack dab in the middle of the Michigan State Forest. And… it didn’t take long to make eye contact with a woman, who, little did I know at that time would become my wife of 45 (+) years. Yep, I was hooked. Call it fate, a chance meeting, destiny, happenstance, call it what you will, that chance meeting changed my life forever. There she was dancing in the middle of the dance floor creating a scene, and stopping traffic. Well, whatever she was doing was mesmerizing half the male population of K. I. Sawyer AFB, (the other half must have been sleeping), and of course being the suave, sophisticated Mr. Cool boy from New Jersey that I am, I asked her to dance. (Of course I was immediately turned down)….

But… persistence pays off, and before the night was over, we danced and talked and laughed. She made fun of my New Jersey accent, and I made fun of her… well, there was nothing to make fun of. Let’s just say, it was great. And, from that moment on our lives have been full of one shared memory after another. Some of the coolest, fondest, most wonderful memories anyone could ask for. I’d like to take a moment or two to share some of those memories with you.

Let’s see, where do I begin… from the Ice Carvings at Northern Michigan University, smack dab in the middle of Marquette, to about two years later, in August of 1969, when we were married in her home town of Floresville, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. It was a dream come true for me. Of course, I should mention that it was the middle of summer, 105 degree heat in Floresville, and me in my dress Air Force blues. But 105 degrees… really? But that was the day I can say my life actually began.

From that day forward we shared memories halfway around the world and back again… several times over. We spent many unbelievably special evenings on the beaches of Waikiki on the island of Oahu. Crisscrossed most of these 50 United States over the years, and made a second home for ourselves in Europe. Ramstein, Germany to be exact. In between all that we have been showered with good fortune that most couples can only dream about.

From Michigan to Goose Bay, Canada. From Washington D.C., to Hawaii, and many spots in between, we’ve had a blast along the way. Three Children and six grandchildren later and we’re still together, and enjoying a life together that most folks envy, and many families only hope for. I have a funny feeling that this journey is far from over. We have so much still to see, so many places to experience, and still so very memories to share.

More Marriage Matters moments right here!

Photography: Julie Paisley Photography | Venue: Carrington Crossing

This Valentine’s Event Proves Sugar + Champagne are a Killer Combo

I first tried Sugarfina’s champagne bears over the holidays and let’s just say that little box of yummy didn’t stand a chance. Have you tried? Obsession is an understatement. If you’re in need of a little Valentine’s inspiration, look no further than this gummy and champagne induced party whipped up by Mstarr Event Design and held at Boston’s little slice of sugar heaven with photography by Readyluck. For even more, pop into the VAULT.

We teamed up with Sugarfina to host a special Valentine’s Day event at their new store in Boston. For two hours we closed the store and offered candy samples, champs + lip makeovers from Benefit Cosmetics! And of course some goodies from mStarr including DIY heart coasters.

Photography: Readyluck | Design + Styling: mStarr event design | Floral Design: Wild Folk Studio | Host: Sugarfina | Lip Makeovers: Benefit Cosmetics

Elegant Vintage Style Hair Knot

Are you looking for the perfect wedding hair-do without having to follow a million little steps? Well, thanks to this tutorial now you can have a legendary look without all the effort. Complete with vintage flair and a stylish side knot, this Old Hollywood hairstyle is ultra glam and sure to add a lil’ somethin’ to your special celebration. Press play and learn how you can get this timeless look below!

How To Create A Vintage Style Hair Knot

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Videography: Elysium Productions | Photography: Victor Sizemore Photography | Hair: Jennie Kay Beauty

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14 Days of Valentine’s Day Giveaways: Troi Ollivierre Lipstains

Pucker up, loves—it’s almost Valentine’s Day. And today’s giveaway ensures that yours will be filled with a whole lot of love and kisses. Because beauty guru extraordinaire Troi Ollivierre is giving away a set of his fabulous lipstains. In the prettiest shades of red, these pretty lipstains deserve all your love. Enter below for your chance to win!

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To enter, simply enter your email into the widget above. The Sweepstakes ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 12, 2016. Open to legal residents of 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older. Limit one (1) entry per person per day. One (1) winner will be selected in a random drawing the following day and will receive TK Troi Ollivierre lipstains valued at $TK. By entering, you confirm you have read and agree to the Official Rules.

50 Adorable Couple Moments That Will Sweep You Off Your Feet

Here at SMP, we love love. (I mean, it is our job.) And with Valentine’s Day fast approaching, it’s safe to say we’re in full-fledged rom-com, heart-eyed emoji mode. To celebrate this momentous holiday, we’ve rounded up the all-time cutest #RelationshipGoals moments that will turn your heart to mush, and sweep you off your feet — literally. So go ahead and get a little carried away with us, we won’t judge!

Romantic Couple Moments That'll Sweep You Off Your Feet

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Romantic Couple Moments That'll Sweep You Off Your Feet

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Old Hollywood Glamour-Inspired Missouri Vineyard Wedding

This is my kind of Bride: a woman with a vision. Her vision? A “timeless, classic and romantic” wedding. And with gorgeous flowers and greenery decorating the space, a beautiful invitation suite designed by the Bride’s friend, and a candlelit ceremony, it’s safe to say this Bride executed her vision to perfection. See every beautiful detail captured by Carretto Studio in The Vault!

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From The Bride…Greg and I met at work in 2009. A seasoned sales rep with the company, he was gifted the task of being my trainer– a cross-country friendship sparked as I was in Baltimore and he was in Dallas. Years later, we both started new jobs and moved back to our hometowns of Detroit and St. Louis, and some how after all that came to the conclusion that it would be a good idea to finally start dating… long distance. After two and a half years of paying a small fortune to Delta Airlines, Greg’s sales skills finally convinced me to move to St. Louis. It was on December 23rd, 2014 when Greg asked me to meet him at a park around the corner from our condo. When I walked through the gates, he was holding the world’s most adorable King Charles Cavalier puppy in his jacket. (We later named her Lucy.) He handed her to me and wished me a “Merry Christmas”. My heart stopped…seriously?? We wanted a puppy, but I wanted a RING. Greg waited a few agonizing moments of me loving on the puppy to finally ask, “Did you think I was going to propose??” When I responded with a disappointed yes, he responded “well good, because I am”. He got down on one knee and pulled out the most beautiful cushion cut diamond I could have ever imagined. The engagement was very private, just how we both imagined it. Knowing how badly I would want to savor that moment forever, he had secretly hired a photographer to capture the memories. Every time we look at them, it brings us right back to that amazing December day.

We kicked off planning a May 2015 wedding at a gorgeous Northern Michigan resort. After my parent’s retirement plans moved them out of Michigan, our wedding plans quickly followed. We loved visiting Chandler Hill Vineyards during my visits to St. Louis while we were dating, so we felt like it would be a beautiful venue for our big day. Our goals for the wedding weekend were to create an event specific to our story, make it a memorable experience for our out-of-town guests and make it as personal as possible. As I stated earlier, we are a couple that cherishes memories so naturally our most important steps would be the big details – photography, floral design, venue, videography and entertainment. We didn’t want a theme, but a feel — “timeless, classic and romantic”. My biggest fear was that we would be type casted by Pinterest because our venue was a vineyard. I must have told all my vendors a thousand times how much I despised the words rustic, vintage and burlap.

The most taxing step was finding vendors. Since I did not grow up in St. Louis, I decided to go with our gut and trust referrals from those who did. A friend from college recommended our amazingly talented photographer, Andy Carretto of Carretto Studio. A few close friends had used our florist, Barb Wehking of Bloomin’ Buckets. We had been to 12 weddings this year (we were invited to 14) and every one of them had hydrangeas used in the design. I love hydrangeas and all of the weddings we attended were gorgeous, but I wanted something different. Sue was the only florist we met with who truly understood that vision. Our invite suite was custom designed by a close family friend, Jennifer Smith, who started her own custom culture company called Madranas in Detroit. Our videographer was a random find, but a beautiful gem. Mike Dalton of Mike Dalton Films is an up-and-comer here on the St. Louis wedding scene and boy-oh-boy was he worth taking a shot. We used Karmen Rowles, a friend of my mother-in-law, for coordination, which was key for bringing the entire look together.

Although we are both Catholic, we decided to have a close friend marry us at Chandler Hill. We knew it was out of the box, but fit much better in our “personalized” feel. While planning, we always pictured the ceremony taking place outside on the deck with the sun setting into the fall colored trees, but forgot to take daylight savings time into account. Instead we were married by candlelight and it all turned out beautiful. We held the cocktail hour outside and moved everyone inside for the reception. The room was a vision of white and blush-toned roses, peonies, football mums and gladiolus for extra height, all were tied together with the most gorgeous greenery and candles. We wanted to have a grand feel to the room since the ceilings were so high with beautiful exposed wood on the beams and the large bar. We mixed the tables with pin-tucked satin linens; rose-gold sequined tablecloths and we left our thirty-foot feast table bare with exposed wood as well. The fireplace was lit and the lights were dimmed. We couldn’t have been happier. The evening went off beautifully – we couldn’t have asked for better weather for a November wedding in St. Louis. (65 and sunny during the day and a brisk 45 at night.)

Instead of sharing our personal vows in front of all of our guests, we chose to do them in front of our bridal party and parents at sunset. We shared traditional Catholic vows during our ceremony.

We ended the evening with fireworks! Chandler Hill Vineyards is in the middle of wine country and the pitch-black sky created the perfect setting for the display! Our feast table sat twenty-five people (parents, bridal party and spouses) and featured a forty-foot garland of beautiful greenery and roses.

Greg sported a custom tuxedo from Brooks Brothers. The groomsmen wore black on black, while his was midnight blue with a black grosgrain lapel to help him stand out. The tables were each named by a city that played a significant role throughout our long distance relationship.

As one of the readings, Greg’s brother read the Irish Lord’s Prayer in remembrance of his late mother and grandparent’s proud Irish heritage, which ended up being the opening voiceover for our video.

Sonoma Valley Wedding at Kunde Family Winery

The heart behind this wine country wedding? It’s simple, really. In the words of the Bride, “Every detail of the wedding took a cue from our relationship. Not overly traditional or noisy or busy, just a simple, classic celebration with our favorite people on earth.” That’s a vision we can wholeheartedly get behind, and when that day happens to be photographed by Sylvie Gil and filmed by Morocco Lee, you better believe we’ll happily welcome the entire gallery into The Vault.

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From the Bride… Life is full of uncertainties, but when it comes to Justin and my relationship, there are a few things that have never wavered. Most notably, our love for one another and our love for wine. So when he surprised me at my doorstep on Christmas Eve with a proposal, we immediately went to work planning our dream wedding in Sonoma Valley.

Eighteen months later, we were saying ‘I do’ under two gorgeous, old California Oaks on top of Boot Hill at the Kunde Family Estate, surrounded by the valley, the vines, and the overwhelming love of our family and friends. Every detail of the wedding took a cue from our relationship. Not overly traditional or noisy or busy, just a simple, classic celebration with our favorite people on earth.

We knew our guests would be traveling in from all corners of the world, so we planned a weekend of events for everyone to get to know one another and experience some of our favorite spots in wine country. We loved that by the time the wedding rolled around, new friendships had formed and we could all just enjoy the moment together. Not to mention, a few glasses of wine!

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Intimate + Sweet Lombardi House Summer Wedding

The flutter sleeves on this dreamy dress captured my attention immediately but it isn’t the only detail I’ve been pinning to my Pinterest boards from this bright celebration. And once I learned the Bride herself is a photographer, it all made sense. She designed her wedding with light and color being of utmost importance, and it paid off, because these pics by Steve Steinhardt are brilliant. I could go on forever fawning over it all, but you can see for yourself, with all the beauty in our Vault right here!

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From The Bride…As a wedding photographer myself, I’ve had the opportunity to see and experience many different unique and beautiful approaches to planning your wedding day. When Tyler and I found each other and fell in love, after he popped the question I felt so overwhelmed about the wedding planning process and all the decisions ahead I didn’t even know where to start! But after taking a step back and narrowing our focus to what we really wanted our big day to look and feel like, and what would be most true to us, we decided to take a simple, organic approach to our wedding. We used as many friends for vendors as possible so we were surrounded by people who knew us on a personal level, and we tried to make as many of the details by hand as time permitted so that our guests were surrounded by a world we created for them. Tyler’s warm, loving nature tempered my stress and made the planning fun!

The perfect backdrop for our vision was The Lombardi House in Hollywood, CA. The size of the space was perfect for our guest count of 130, and the color palette was exactly what we were looking for, with bright white walls and lush green grounds. Given my line of work, photography was the most important thing to me and I designed 95% of the wedding day decisions around it. Time of day, lighting, color, timeline, it was all designed around optimal photography! And there was no photographer I could have trusted more than Steve Steinhardt, my dear friend, mentor, and photo-idol. Steve captured our wedding day perfectly, down to every last detail! We are so in love with the images and will treasure them forever.

After all of the planning and preparations, the big day was everything we dreamed of and more. To be surrounded by our closest friends and family from all over the country was so surreal, and to make our lifelong vows of love to each other in their presence was an honor. We are so glad we kept our wedding day simple. We invested our time and resources into the details we valued most, and tried our best to take on a manageable amount of tasks so the process wasn’t ruined by stress.

My favorite project was my dress, which began as a strapless ballgown I found at a small boutique in Utah, then worked with a seamstress here in California to strip out several layers of tulle and add on the flutter sleeves with lace appliqués I had designed for the dress. It came out exactly like I imagined! Other handmade details we loved were the wooden planters in the shape of our initials that my friend Patrick made for us, and the little bags of rose petals we fixed to the backs of the chairs so people could throw them after the ceremony.

Looking back I’m still so overwhelmed with gratitude for our families and friends who helped us pull this together. Most of all, I’m grateful to have found my perfect companion and forever love, Tyler. He makes every day an adventure and I couldn’t feel luckier to get to spend the rest of our lives together.

More California weddings here!

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Sottero and Midgley Look Book

There are Thursdays, and then there are the Thursdays like today – a not-so-average work day that is putting the newest Look Book collection from Sottero and Midgley right here on center stage. I’m talking chic, fashion-forward styles that are perfect for brides looking for an affordable couture gown that is as unique + fabulous as they are. We are sooo in LOVE.

From elegant, yet understated silhouettes to boldly crafted details (read: floral lace appliqués, plunging illusion backs and Swarovski crystals) to some of the prettiest fabrics you will ever see, Sottero and Midgley knows everything there is to know about making your style-loving heart happy. Think the glamorous fit and flare of the “Sylvia” gown, the bohemian poet sleeves of the “Gabriella” and the dramatic leather lace of the “Kristen”… just to name a few. Not to mention that each Sottero and Midgley design is crafted using the highest quality everything, which means that wowing your guests has never been easier… or more stunning.

Luxurious ball gowns with crafty details (hello, pockets), sophisticated sheaths, elegant a-lines, show-stopping fit and flares… no matter your personality or style, Sottero and Midgley has a dress that is exactly what you’re looking for. (Trust us.) Visit the brand’s newest Look Book collection TODAY to begin browsing all of the crazy gorgeousness… we seriously can’t wait to see which one you choose.

get the how-to for making those chic built-ins!

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This pinch pleat curtain DIY is everything!

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While sewing her very first apron at the age of seven, the joy of turning something useless into a functional work of art captured her heart. Her keen eye for aesthetics and appreciation for an international artistic palate later equipped her to become a manager at Nell Hills.

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Rita settled back into her home state of CA with her husband, Damien, and their two furry kitties. Her favorite pastime is sharing her concept of life and any way to make life beautiful.

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Photography: Rita Crane | Design And Styling: Rita Crane

#TBT: SMP Wedding Dress Hall of Fame

Finding the perfect wedding dress can seem as hard as finding the perfect man or woman. And finding the most gorgeous wedding dresses out of the thousands of beauties we have in The Vault and on Pinterest was no easy task, either. But our editors were up to the challenge. See their picks below, and let us know, which dress you’d wear down the aisle?

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It Started With a Tweet: A Twitter Proposal

We’re no stranger to a good love story, but this particular tale has the ultimate modern-day spin. What began as a casual exchange on Twitter turned into love and ended in a hashtag-driven proposal plus “Will You Marry Me?” tweet. The Groom-to-be set the bar for millennial proposals everywhere, and you see the full surprise unfold inside The Vault. #Tweethearts

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How We Met

My friends know me as social media obsessed. I use social sites for my personal and professional benefit. I have used Twitter to reach out to individuals that have similar professional interests as me and throughout college and law school and even after, this has led me to have over 16 different internships and 9 of those started with relationships I built off of Twitter. I also have a knack of finding social media contests on Twitter and have won tickets and prizes to almost every local concert and sporting event I can think of (almost $10,000 in prizes on Twitter!) Therefore, it was no surprise to anyone that I met my fiance on Twitter!

I was searching for tickets one day in September 2013 on Twitter for Jazzoo, an annual event held at Zoo Atlanta. I searched “jazzo tickets” and Anuj Patel’s (my now fiance) tweet popped up. He had tweeted just a day or so earlier, asking anyone if they want to join him because he had an extra ticket. I randomly reached out to him and asked if he still had it. He had already given up his ticket but his biography on twitter caught my attention because he works in sports and entertainment, which is a field I was very much interested in getting into. We started chatting and tweeting turned into Direct Messaging and then emailing, and then texting, and phone calls, and then we met in person. The rest is history I guess! This is a snapshot of our first exchange on Twitter, so you can see where it all began.

The Proposal

It was only fitting that his proposal was “Twitter” themed. The day started with my sister dragging me out of bed for breakfast. Then, she led me to Drybar to have my hair done. At this point, I knew something must be going on. As soon as we left the hair salon, a few of my closest friends were waiting outside (two of them armed with cameras and shooting video as well) and they had the first clue for me along with instructions for the scavenger hunt. I was blown away just by the first clue. Anuj had created his own “tweet” clues.

The tweet clues resembled an actual tweet so perfectly and they were already time stamped with the EXACT time I was to receive each clue throughout the day. My sister and friends were tasked with getting me to each location on time. The tweet clues always led me to a meaningful location in our relationship and at each new location, there was a close friend of mine waiting to greet me with a rose and the next clue. The timing was amazing, as every time I received a clue, I would check my watch and it was literally the SAME time printed on the clue! Anuj was also tweeting as soon as I received a clue, so I had to go on Twitter and favorite and retweet the same tweet clue that I had just received on the actual website as well. He also had a unique hashtag, #SumitaFindAnuj

He had asked two of my friends to follow me all day, capturing photos and videos. One of the last clues included a horse carriage ride around downtown Atlanta. The horse carriage ride ended at the W Hotel in Midtown where he had booked a room and when I went in, a dress and my shoes were already laid out for me, along with the last clue, which asked me to take the elevator up to the helipad.

Of course, after getting ready, I headed up there, and there he was. Waiting for me at the top. Anuj is deathly afraid of heights, so the fact that he chose this spot to propose blew me away. Not only was he waiting with the ring, but he had one more tweet for me! He held up a tweet sign that said “Will you marry me?”. It was perfect.

He had the entire day timed so that this last tweet would be at 5pm, right when the sun was setting over Atlanta. After saying yes, he led me back down to the hotel, where all of my friends were waiting with one more surprise. They had choreographed a dance to two of my favorite artists, Justin Bieber and the Backstreet Boys. Anuj does not dance, he always refuses too, but he completely blew me away when he joined in in the middle of one of the songs. He had learned the dance just for me! As if this was not enough, after the dance, we headed to Tin Lizzy’s restaurant, where he had both of our families waiting for a celebratory dinner. It was truly a magical day.

Photography: Jeffrey Franks Photography

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