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

Sweet One Year Birthday Celebration

Oh to be guest at this birthday. Dessert was most certainly on the menu to celebrate Shiloh’s first year; including the sweetest heart cookies, painted macarons and cakes galore by Sweet And Saucy Shop. Add to that a dazzling floral backdrop, a dash of sparkle and meaningful cultural details tucked inside all crafted by Modern Dame + images by Erin J Saldana. See even more of this beauty in the VAULT.

The best thing about event planning is helping people celebrate the important days in their lives in a unique and meaningful (and, of course, beautiful!) way, so, when Anna contacted me after seeing my French Ladurée themed baby shower to help plan her daughter’s first birthday party — I knew I had to help! Anna came to me knowing that she wanted an ethereal, whimsical party with a few glam touches sprinkled in for her daughter, Shiloh.

It was also important to Anna for us to organically incorporate the Korean tradition of dol or doljabi, which celebrates the first birthday of a baby, while also blessing the baby with a prosperous future. With these goals in mind, I set off to put together the most wonderful day for Anna and her precious baby girl.

The first step to achieving all of our goals for the event was to find the perfect location. Ultimately, we chose Saladang Song, a gorgeous Thai restaurant in South Pasadena. It provided us with not just an large, open space, but beautiful floor to ceiling windows that made it the best spot for a party that was aiming for a light and airy aesthetic. Next, I contacted my go-to vintage rental, Found Rentals, and secured their Boothbay cabinet to act as a display for the photos of Shiloh in shabby chic frames, some of her favorite knitted dolls, the custom heart-shaped ‘Shiloh is One’ cookies, and the traditional Korean rice cakes with heart-shaped details. The most important part of event planning is incorporating meaningful details and adding family photos, treasured mementoes, and items with cultural significance are an amazing way to do just that.

Another important personalization done especially for the birthday girl was the lovely backdrop handmade especially for Shiloh by Helen at Supermamasong. Shiloh’s name, lovingly and meticulously constructed out of paper flowers, and the larger, accompanying arrangements, served as the primary focal point for the party and created a beautiful setting for not just the photos of the family, but all of the delectable sweet treats made by my favorite baker in town, Sweet and Saucy Shop. Simple, yet elegant, a touch of gold glitter was dusted on the cakes and hand-painted macarons.

Each dessert had a floral detail, as well, which tied in with the shabby chic whimsy of the other decor. Finally, my friend Brooke Foley at MTF Studio created the most fantastic floral arrangements. Effortlessly chic and delicate, the flowers dotting the tables around the room in hand-painted bud vases were beautiful and perfectly in-theme. The addition of the garland vines on the photo shelf was an amazing and eye-popping addition and, along with the sequin chevron runner, gave the room a fun, festive look.

My favorite part of the day was the doljabi area, which was a display where guests could guess which item Shiloh would pick up in the doljabi game for a prize. Doljabi is a traditional Korean game played at a baby’s first birthday and is meant to foretell the birthday boy or girl’s future. It is always fun to see which items the baby reaches for first! Because Shiloh’s parents are a doctor and an attorney, her doljabi consisted of a stethoscope and a mallet, as well as the traditional pencil (symbolizing teacher or scholar), money (wealth), basketball (athlete), and microphone (entertainer or performer). As you can see, Shiloh made a grab for three of the four! Afterwards, guests enjoyed entertainers from Bubble Mania and a photo booth as the extremely talented photographer, Erin Saldana, continued to snap the beautiful photos you see here.

Intimate Al Fresco Napa Wedding

This Bride’s “something old” is giving us all the feels. To honor her deceased grandmothers, she had her florist incorporate their broaches and hair pins in her bouquet so she knew they’d be with her as she walked down the aisle. And that’s not the only special detail from this Napa wedding photographed by onelove photography. See all of them (including the glassine bag menus from Coral Pheasant Stationery + Design) in THE VAULT!

Colors

Seasons

Fall Weddings

Settings

Luxury Venue Outdoor Weddings

Styles

Al Fresco

From The Bride… For as long as I can remember, I knew I wanted a romantic and intimate al fresco style wedding. When I closed my eyes and envisioned our wedding, I saw rolling hills, a lake, and cool night temperatures that left everyone enjoying a cozy fire.

Since my (now) husband and I live in Texas, Austin seemed liked the obvious choice. A few years prior to becoming a Mrs., my husband and I took our first big trip together to Europe. We spent 2 weeks exploring France and Italy. We fell in love with the charming countryside and the Tuscan Villas. The wine wasn’t so bad either ;) So when it came time to planning, we knew we wanted to bring back that romantic Tuscan feeling and share it with our closest friends and family. We said goodbye to our state capital, hopped on a plane to Napa; and a year later celebrated our marriage at a Tuscan inspired private estate overlooking vineyards.

We wanted the beauty of the estate and it’s breath taking views to speak for itself. I chose an earth tone pallet that included navy, gray, pistachio, and ivory. Our goal was to create something simple yet elegant.

I spent hours on wedding blogs and websites searching for the perfect details to include in our wedding. For me, this was the most important part. I wanted each detail to be original and fun. We printed our pre selected dinner and desert menu on glassine bags, and used them to hold dinner rolls! Both of my grandmother’s have passed away, and I wanted to include them in our special day. I asked my florist to incorporate both of my grandmothers’ broaches and hair pins in my bouquet. It was a special moment walking down the aisle knowing they were right there with me.

My favorite moment of our wedding was walking down the aisle and seeing that familiar smile. It was the most amazing feeling knowing I was about to embark on a journey of a lifetime with the man of dreams.

My favorite crafted detail was definitely the 40×40 heart shaped display made of 1,409 wine corks! My family (dad included!) and I spent several hours arranging and gluing the corks to make the perfect ombre heart. We were pretty proud of the end result and couldn’t wait to show it off at the wedding!

For flowers, I wanted vibrant shades of green, various textures, and unique shapes. I am a lover of eucalyptus, ferns, succulents, and air plants, and wanted an abundance of all! Our wedding planner and florist both understood our vision and it was amazing to see it come to life! The eucalyptus table runners with accents of white blooms and succulents were a dream come true!

I wore an off the shoulder trellised lace gown by Anna Maier- Ulla-Maija- “Gabrielle” Collection. I also wore a lace bolero jacket during the ceremony-my favorite accessory!

As a wedding goodie for our guests, we bottled olive oil from the olive trees surrounding the estate. We used them as place cards as well. Each bottle had a custom label and a calligraphy name tag that was hand painted in water colors to help indicate each guest’s meal choice.

We’ve always been huge fans of frozen yogurt and thought it would be a fun idea to serve froyo during the reception. The yogurt station offered several of our favorite toppings- definitely a crowd favorite! We also offered bite-size cupcakes from our favorite local bakery. Each cupcake was topped with a pink cowboy hat or a blue cowboy boot; a small homage to our hometown state!

Don’t forget to breathe, enjoy a few cocktails, and take a few minutes to soak it all in. During my father’s speech at the reception, I remember looking around the room thinking how amazing it was that our family and friends traveled to Napa to share this special day with us. It was a humbling moment for me, and one that I will certainly never forget. And last but not least, don’t forget to wear your veil! Amidst the roller coaster of emotions, my bridesmaids and I forgot to add the veil! In the end, it all worked out, and we could not have asked for a more perfect day!

Sunny Sedona Wedding + Blush Bridesmaids

Said best by Paper & Posies….It’s safe to say that it’s impossible not to get lost in this day. Starting with this adorable first look, then this proud Dad, of course this little upside-down monkey, and how could you not melt with this first dance. And packed in between all those special moments? Is a wedding planned by Margaret Van Damme filled with details galore. See even more captured by Vienna Glenn in THE VAULT.

Colors

Seasons

Summer Weddings

Settings

Outdoor Weddings Rustic Weddings

Styles

Rustic

From Paper & Posies….It’s safe to say that it’s impossible not to get lost in this day. Each photo will leave you endlessly dreaming of the romantic photography that is so full of beauty and inspiration. What is to love most about these photos is the effortless joy that was captured in each and every moment.

A heart warming “First-Look” of the bride and groom was captured prior to the ceremony that will warm your heart for days. This moment was followed by an intimate mountainside view for an infinity of life’s new wonder and adventure together as husband and wife.

The bride wore a strapless, sweetheart neckline gown by Lillian Lottie Couture, which was later adorned with a laurel wreath in her hair. Long, effortless curls, and natural make up completed this bride’s soft look. Her bridesmaids complimented her in backless, blush Lulu gowns.

The groom offered a cheerful approach in a navy suit, polka dot tie, festive dress socks, and an heirloom watch passed down by his grandfather. Soft and delicate colors of cream, sage, blush, and grey were so graceful in this Sedona, Arizona wedding. Bold, peach peonies, white roses, and bundles of rosemary were dripping in every corner of the ceremony and reception. A hand-painted, floral watercolor signage welcomed the guests.

The reception table displayed rosemary tied escort cards which were finished with a modern calligraphy. The bride chose a large globe to use as her “guest book” for a unique and personalized approach. Leafy garland rested upon the simple and delicate white, three tier cake. The guests spent a wonderful weekend away at the Creekside Inn Sedona, which offered a weekend of full festivities for their celebration as family and friends.

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

Wedding Dresses

Pronovias

ATELIER PRONOVIAS

PRONOVIAS

Dancing Lights, Cruise Collection

View All Collections

Elegant + Contemporary Cultural Windsor Yacht Club Wedding

When it comes to a good wedding, love is in the details and that couldn’t be more accurate when describing Kreeshna and Christian’s colorful ceremony. A celebration awash with significance and style, this is one gallery you won’t want to miss. From the Bride’s beautiful sari to the gorgeous purple gowns, Villa Bel Mara captured it all and you can see it in THE VAULT!

Colors

Seasons

Fall Weddings

Settings

Yacht Club

Styles

Glamorous

From Villa Bel Mara… Kreeshna and Christian’s love story is one worthy of representing how far the World has come. Their story proudly shows that love most certainly does not discriminate. Gone are the days when partnerships were heavily reliant on nationality, religion, culture and financial status. As Christian’s father had said, “Who knew that my son, a plumber, would marry an optometrist?”

On their wedding week, they had a cultural ‘Henna night’ and ‘Indian puja (pray-over)’, two consecutive days prior to their wedding. On their wedding day, there was practically two weddings.

The first wedding was a light Indian wedding ceremony at the Windsor Yacht Club in the morning that lasted for about two hours, and this was a shorter version than if they followed the full traditional ceremony. The Indian ceremony colours were mostly warm – reds, beige and golds – with a touch of mint. The bride, her parents, and the groom wore these colours for the ceremony, while the bridesmaids wore white saris and the groomsmen wore traditional suits. Having grown up immersed in a lot of cultural celebrations myself, it was easy to feel in-tune with the ceremony.

For their non-denominational ceremony the colour themes were purple, mint and gold. It was quite emotional and romantic. The bride and groom’s eyes were glimmering with tears of joy and overflowing love. Everyone in attendance were gripped with awe, in such a beautiful combination of cultural saris, gowns and suits. After reciting their vows and sealing it with a kiss, they were loudly cheered on by their guests. It was then time to take their man, wife and entourage photos at the beautiful Willistead Manor. Fall colours made it absolutely stunning, and the bride and groom were starting to relax and appreciate their official marriage.

The reception at Fogolar Furlan Club of Windsor was decorated with a rich combination of purple, mint, gold and clear jewels! The head table’s centre piece were two white branches adorned with purple flowers and gold mesh. In synchronization with their theme, the food selection was either Indian or Western, both very deliciously catered by the venue. The music to complement the mood of the celebration was light and dreamy. Everyone was having a good time, dressed in the latest fashion trends.

Part of the evening included Kreeshna and Christian going around to each and every table, greeting their guests and thanking them for their attendance. This provided the opportunity for us to shoot the bride and groom at each and every table, and as such, we were able to ensure that all guests had their photos taken for the reception. This was my solution to a common problem for brides who are worried about the photographer not being able to include each and every guest in the photos. A wedding reception practice that is commonplace in the Philippines, that was much appreciated by everyone after the wedding!

Overall, the theme for the entire day was a sweet mixture of cultural tones, with hints of contemporary romanticism. We were all equally amazed at the photos, and is definitely a very great first multiple-day wedding coverage our part. Being strongly aware of turn-around time for photos, I ensure that the bride will get the first 6 photos the morning after her wedding. She immediately made my photograph her profile photo on her social network. All her photos were done in under two weeks, and it was very humbling that the response was absolutely astounding. All her friends, families and guests were very happy to see themselves in many of the photos.

[dotted]

See even more head-turning trends here!

Chic Black-Tie Milwaukee Wedding

If you followed along with our Bridal Market coverage back in October, then you know that off-the-shoulder wedding gowns are a major fashion do. And in her gorgeous lace off-the-shoulder Robert Bullock wedding gown this Bride is looking trendy and timeless. See more of it and the rest of this classic blush wedding captured by Kate Weinstein Photo in THE VAULT!

Colors

Seasons

Summer Weddings

Settings

Ballroom Weddings Religious Institution

Styles

Classic Weddings

From Kate Weinstein Photo…The downtown area of Milwaukee was the backdrop for Eileen and Mike’s wedding day, and they kept the style chic, elegant, and simple, from the bride’s Robert Bullock lace gown and the grooms sleek black tux, to the soft blush color palette and romantic floral decor.

They exchanged vows in a traditional Catholic ceremony at St. Sebastian and the reception was held at the historic Pfister Hotel. Sweet floral table numbers and white and blush flowers accented the tables as Mike and Eileen danced the night away.

Intimate Wedding Inspiration in Germany at Schloss Auel

This stunning dose of inspiration captured beautifully by Kibogo Photography reads like a list of all of my favorite things. Stunning florals and design from Gutjahr Dekoration, a Jenny Packham wedding gown (enough said), and lovely signage from Laura Hooper Calligraphy – it’s honestly image after image of the best kind of pretty, and you can head to the VAULT for even more.

[iframe http://www.youtube.com/embed/roimRNHHF0Q 600 338]

From Kibogo Photography…This was the editorial shoot at my wedding photography related workshop. We were a small group, which I wanted so I was able to give each attendee enough attention they needed. The idea behind the styled shoot design was, since it’s late autumn and winter is right in front of us, escaping winter by just sailing away far away where the sun is ;) Yes, I know we were not at the beach but thats the point. The venue Schloss Auel, where we were is a perfect location for small intimate weddings where you can have the ceremony just right under the tree in front of a small pond. The reception can be held either indoors or when the weather is right outdoors as well. For more ideas about how to celebrate your wedding there visit their website;)

And my very dear Friend Helene Gutjahr was the genius who put the whole design into reality with the florals and Sonja with the stationery!!

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

Abby Capalbo

Design, Styling, Parties

Abby Capalbo Styling

Romantic Violet & Smokey Charcoal Wedding Inspiration

I could write a poem about how much I love these Oscar de la Renta shoes (don’t worry, I won’t). And they’re just the start of the pretty in this editorial from Amelia Johnson and Claire Duran Weddings & Events. With a truly stunning Claire Pettibone wedding dress, invitations from Mabel & Maggie, calligraphy by Sarah Bohl Designs and a gorgeous garter from The Garter Girl, this photo shoot is full of the prettiest inspiration. See it all in THE VAULT!

From Claire Duran Weddings & Events…When I started thinking about this shoot, I wanted to create an effortlessly elegant wedding inspiration. The natural beauty of the grounds of future venue The Regent at Stone House provided us with the perfect background to embrace the feeling for an elegant outdoor affair. We wanted to go for a palette inspired by white and black watercolor brushes and anemones. With such inspiration in mind, we first captured our model bride in the bridal suite getting ready and dreaming of the amazing moment that was to come, while going over her vows written on the Paper Walrus vow journals. We brought several details into place: the gorgeous silk and lace robe from Love Ophelia, the classic garter from The Garter Girl, the amazingly beautiful heels by Oscar de la Renta, the gorgeous Griffith ring by Trumpet and Horn and the most delicate and dreamy gown by Claire Pettibone. The makeup from Make up by Kevan and hair styling by Lori Nansi, presented a classic and simple beauty for our bride, adorned by accessories and head piece by Lindsay Marie Design.

With our handsome groom in a fitted gray suit by Savii Formale, we envisioned the ceremony by the lake adorned by a hand painted backdrop by Christine Olmstead that would add an interesting contrast to all the untouched nature around.

Aided by the gorgeous inventory from White Glove Rentals, we sought to further showcase the interplay of neutrals in the place settings bringing a pop of color through the garden-style florals of Blossom and Vine. We continued this trend with the stunning cake by Fluffy Thoughts, the calligraphy and paperie by Sarah Bohl Designs and Mabel & Maggie, with the organza ribbon accents form Bella Me Ribbon and Haven Court’s artisan gift.

With all this setting in mind, it was unquestionable that I wanted to team up with a fine-art film photographer who would beautifully capture all of this with her endless talent, and working with Amelia Johnson was as formidable as wedding experiences get.

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

Claire Pettibone

Couture Bridal

Fall 2015 Romantique

View All Collections

Sweet Southern Engagement Session in Nashville

You guys, how cute is this pup?! Even cuter? The fact this lil’ ball of fluff started one sah-weet love story. For it was when Hynes – Lara’s eccentric mosaic lab – took an interest in his new next-door neighbor Daisy – Will’s puppy – that resulted in a playful encounter and eventually a puppy park proposal. See I told you it was sah-weet – see it all from Cassidy Carson in THE VAULT!

From the Bride-to-be… Despite having lived down the hall from each other in our apartment building in Nashville, TN for almost 6 months, it required the intervention of our two dogs to bring us together. had recently been given a yellow lab, Daisy, for his birthday that fall. Hynes, Lara’s eccentric mosaic lab, took an immediate interest in his new next-door neighbor Daisy. While our two dogs were playing, it gave us a chance to get to know one another and Will arranged for our first date at the dog park. Living down the hall from each other gave us the opportunity to pursue our relationship, overcoming our busy work schedules as a resident at Vanderbilt and as a financial analyst.

A year and a half later, we got engaged at the same dog park where we went on our first date. Amusingly, neither dog was in Nashville at the time, forcing Will to borrow a dog to have an excuse to go to the dog park. During our engagement, Will, an only child, has enjoyed getting to know his two wonderful new sisters and Lara, a Pittsburgh native, is learning more about Will’s Southern roots in Alabama. Most importantly, we love spending time together and have enjoyed sharing our interests with each other. We enjoy running with Hynes and recently ran our first half marathon together and look forward to many more as husband and wife. Will recently took up snowboarding and is still hopeful that one day Lara will learn to drive a tractor. We can’t wait for our friends and family to join us next spring at Belle Meade Plantation for our wedding.

[dotted]

See even more head-turning trends here!

Photography: Cassidy Carson Photography | Venue: The Cool Springs House

White Chocolate and Pistachio Mug Cake + A DIY!

Mug cakes. If ever there was a dessert that everyone in the world should be making, it’s a mug cake. Without even trying, you can manage portion control in a cute and delicious way. If you’re planning to cook a meal at home for Valentine’s Day, why not whip up a mug cake or two? This white chocolate & pistachio is a winning combo that is the ultimate in sweet satisfaction! And it’s made in under three minutes. Instant gratification is a thing. xoxo Lexy Ward | Proper

White Chocolate and Pistachio Mug Cake

prep time
3 Minute/s

cook time
2 Minute/s

total time
5 Minute/s

Ingredients

1 Tbsp butter
1/2 bar (2oz) white chocolate + 1 square
2 Tbsp sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking powder
5 Tbsp all purpose flour
2 Tbsp crushed pistachios + more for sprinkling

Instructions

Start by melting the butter and white chocolate in the microwave for 45 seconds.
Stir well with a fork and then add the sugar, egg, baking powder, and flour.
Microwave for another 45 seconds and then stick the square of chocolate and the crushed pistachios in the center of the cake and bake for an addition 30-40 seconds.
Remove the mug from the microwave and let it cool slightly. Drizzle the top with more melted chocolate and sprinkle extra pistachios on top. And devour as quickly as possible.

Bonus DIY!

Create custom mugs for your valentine by drawing designs on blank mugs with a sharpie marker. Allow the designs to dry for 24 hours and then bake in the oven at 400 degrees F for 40 minutes. Let the mug cool in the oven and wipe down before use!

Photography: Lexy Ward Of PROPER | Recipe & Styling: Lexy Ward Of PROPER

Lexy Ward | PROPER

DIY, Lifestyle

Proper

Elegant Military Yacht Club Wedding

Kelly and Kevin’s wedding is the type of celebration that you’re going to want to bookmark, pin, and peruse for like, ever. Set alongside the water, their Yacht Club ceremony is filled with plenty of military traditions, elegant white wedding details, and of course endless love. Thanks to the candid captures a la Jacqui Cole Photography we’ve got this stunner of a soiree waiting for you in THE VAULT!

Colors

Seasons

Fall Weddings

Settings

Yacht Club

Styles

Classic Weddings

From Jacqui Cole Photography… I am thrilled to share Kelly and Kevin’s stunning fall wedding with you! They are such a beautiful couple inside and out and their wedding day was a joy to capture. There were so many perfect details and traditions that really spoke to Kelly and Kevin as a couple and made the big day very personal.

The couple chose Carlouel Yacht Club as their reception venue. Set alongside the water it is the most romantic backdrop to spend the evening in celebration. Kelly wanted both organic elements incorporated in her decor as well as maintaining an elegant and timeless feel. She accomplished this by having white florals with whimsical greenery and gold highlights throughout the reception details. Her sweet ‘To the moon and back” cake topper was such a perfect focal point of the room. Kelly broke out of the norm and incorporated deep emerald bridesmaid dresses! They looked absolutely stunning against the Florida greenery.

I absolutely love that Kelly was able to embrace two different bridal looks throughout her day. During the ceremony and portraits she wore a lace bolero and removed it for the reception. It was the best of both worlds!

Kevin is part of the US Coast Guard and therefore many military traditions were included throughout the day. One of the most important ones for Kelly and Kevin was the iconic saber arch at the end of the reception. It was so much fun to witness the joy on Kelly’s face after they announced “Welcome to the Navy!!” Congratulations Mr and Mrs Noll!

From the Bride… I knew that I wanted to have a military wedding in the church that I grew up in, and I knew that I wanted Kevin and I to be the only two in white. I envisioned an elegant and classic day, with old Florida touches.

Kevin and I met on Clearwater Beach the summer of our senior year in high school. We immediately connected over our love for the outdoors, and our first date was kayaking through the Weeki Wachi river. It seemed a no-brainer to have our wedding as near to the spot where we first met as possible, while incorporating all the lush greens and white of the sandy beaches that we love so much about Florida.

Our families are a large part of why Kevin and I were able to handle 7 years of long-distance, so we knew that incorporating our families any way we could was important. My family is Irish, and we had a sign at the entry say “Ceade Mil Failte” which in Gaelic means “one hundred thousand welcomes.” We had my mother give an Irish wedding blessing as the opening prayer, and included photos of our parents at their weddings on the mantle overlooking our wedding cake. I wore my grandmother’s bracelet and had photos of both my grandmothers on my bouquet. Also, I knew that as the day was drawing closer, my mom was thinking a lot about her own wedding and how much she missed her dad, who passed away when I was little. So, the morning of the wedding I gave her a locket that had a photo of her father walking her down the aisle inside.

We also wanted to incorporate Coast Guard elements into our wedding. Kevin wore his dress whites, we left the church under a sword arch, and cut our cake with Kevin’s saber. We are so blessed to be surrounded by so many amazing military men and women, that it was very important to us that we took a moment to thank them for their service to our country and to us, and to remember those were not able to attend because of their service.

My father brews his own beer, and growing up each of my siblings had one created specially for us. When Kevin and I discussed what type of favor we wanted to give our guests, we thought that showing our guests something so integral to my childhood and so special to me and my father was the best way to go. Also, who doesn’t love craft beer!?

Our cake topper said “to the Moon and Back.” This stemmed from a saying that Kevin and I would say to each other, when he was stationed on a cutter in North Carolina and I was in law school in Boston. Kevin would be in the middle of the ocean, with the beautiful night sky, and we knew that although we were so far apart, that we loved each other “to the moon and back,” and with a love like that, we could conquer any amount of distance. When Kevin proposed, on a mountain-top, he had my engagement ring engraved to say “Moon and Back” as well.

Although wedding planning is really fun and always on your mind, make sure to take time out from it to have fun with your fiancé! Kevin and I would go out on a date and focus on each other and our day-to-day lives, and not talk about all those items still on the to-do list. We would go hiking and just enjoy each other’s company, and remember why we were getting married in the first place!

[dotted]

See even more head-turning trends here!

Spontaneous NYC City Hall Elopement

Completely over the stress of planning their wedding and meeting the demands of everyone around them, these cuties threw it all to the wind and ran off to City Hall. And are we glad they did – because these pics by Cynthia Chung are too sweet for words. Their genuine love for one another is evident in every single photo and isn’t that what weddings are all about? See them all in our VAULT right this way!

Colors

Seasons

Fall Weddings

Settings

City Hall Hotels + Resorts Weddings

Styles

Classic Weddings

From the Bride… We planned our $2k elopement in 10 days and it was truly the most fun I ever had during our wedding planning. Although we’d been engaged for a year and a half and there was only two months left till our big day, we were constantly dealing with family drama and our wedding no longer felt like ours. When you’re crying almost every night because of your wedding and absolutely dreading it, you know something has to change.

We have been people pleasers our entire lives. I finally broke down one day and decided I couldn’t allow myself to have a wedding neither of us absolutely did not want. So we took the plunge and decided to get married at City Hall on our anniversary on a Wednesday morning.

I told my photographer all the anxiety I felt about my wedding and how Chris and I finally decided we were going to elope. She was incredibly supportive and helped make our day extra special by capturing it all. I bought a Badgley Mischka dress from Century 21 the weekend before and asked my florist to make me a simple bouquet of white anemones, which she kindly delivered to work for me. I put my faith into a wonderful makeup artist I discovered on Instagram and without a trial, asked her to come to my apartment at 7 am to help me get ready. I felt like Cinderella getting ready for the ball with all my amazing vendor helpers.

Right before we entered the chapel room, my mom whispered to me that I was the most beautiful bride and my eyes started watering. When Chris began to say his vows, I immediately began to cry.

After our ceremony, we blew bubbles outside the steps of City Hall and took pictures at the Ludlow Hotel, where we were staying for the night. We had lunch at the Dirty French, where the amazing staff kept bringing out complimentary dishes in honor of us being newlyweds. We spent the rest of the afternoon at the Bowery Museum and had a private dinner at the Stanton Social. The next morning, we had breakfast together at the hotel and went straight to work.

It’s unbelievable how fast the day passed for us, and that I get to call Chris my husband now. The sight of his wedding ring on his hand always makes me smile, and I am so excited for our future together. Although we are still having the big 150 person wedding and honeymoon in Mexico in December that our family wants us to have, we have absolutely no regrets for having the small and intimate wedding we always wanted. I encourage any couple who’s in the midst of wedding planning to really take a step back and see if the vision you have for your day is really yours, and to honor what both of you want.

[dotted]

Peruse more elopement inspiration here!

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

Wedding Dresses

Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

View All Collections

Colorful + Modern Firehouse8 San Francisco Wedding

If you haven’t figured it out by now, the quickest way to my heart is with an amaze wedding, and BrittRenePhoto? Well she sure knows how to capture my affection. A dreamy celebration full of colorful modern details, it’s easy to see why I’m crushing hard on Tysie and Jared’s special day. One look at this gallery and you’ll understand the love I feel towards this pretty lil’ party, see it all in THE VAULT!

Colors

Seasons

Spring Weddings

Settings

Event Venue

Styles

Modern

From the Bride…Tysie moved to the West Coast in 2004 and promptly started going out almost every night, leading her down the primrose path to a group of friends she would have forever. Little did she know at the time that one of those friends would end up meaning much, much more.

We met shortly after Tysie moved to town but didn’t start dating until 2012 after Tysie persistently pursued Jared to hang out after a concert:)We spent that morning laughing at reruns of The Batchelor and talking about what we wanted to eat that day. Who knew this would come to define our favorite pass time – going to the grocery store!

But it wasn’t meant to be quite yet – after hatching a creative plan to get rid of Jared that day, it was up to him to figure out how to spend more time with her. So, like the resourceful guy he is, he realized Tysie is one of San Francisco’s most famous Notary’s. So he found a couple of documents he needed notarized and turned that into dinner and a movie. We went on 4 dates that first week including a Napa wine tour, Giants game and a dance party – the rest, as they say is history.

[dotted]

See even more head-turning trends here!

Romantic Fall Wedding Among the Redwoods

With the sunlight shining through the forest ceiling, casting an ethereal glow on this whole celebration, you can’t help but go weak in the knees. Jen Rodriguez captured the magic, and between the beautiful Bride and a reception shining bright with La Tavola linens and the work of Got Light, it’s all we can do to not stay in this gallery all day – see what we’re all crushing on here in our VAULT right this way!

Colors

Seasons

Fall Weddings

Settings

Weddings in Wineries

Styles

Rustic

From Jen Rodriguez Photography… This wedding was so much fun to photograph. From the ceremony that took place amongst the redwoods, the stunning florals, the surprise firetruck grand exit, and of course this amazing couple who have been together since high school; I don’t know if it gets much better than this wedding right here.

Sasha Souza was on hand to bring all of the beautiful elements together, and boy did she knock it out of the park with this event. All of the details, down to the beautifully executed name card board, complete with butterfly cut outs was perfection.

[dotted]

Discover more California weddings here!

Al Fresco Garden Wedding in Montecito

Truth be told, putting together this post was a nearly impossible task. Because when Every. Single. Image. can stand alone as it’s own work of art (thanks Jose Villa!) it just feels wrong to exclude any moment. It’s the wedding day of one of our most beloved photographers, Jen Huang, and it’s chock-full of inspiration and Frenchie love galore. Make sure you start with the cozy, cultural welcome dinner, and end with a trip to the full wedding gallery inside The Vault.

Colors

Seasons

Summer Weddings

Settings

Luxury Venue Outdoor Weddings

Styles

Al Fresco Classic Weddings

From The Bride…I met Elihu at Pomona College in Claremont Los Angeles where Elihu studied economics and I studied fine art. Currently we are both entrepreneurs living in Santa Barbara, I am a wedding photographer and Elihu owns Heirloom Bindery.

Our wedding was definitely one of my favorite days in my entire life. There’s nothing like the feeling of family and friends around for the week, to help celebrate and solemnize your marriage. It was truly a magical time and wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work that my family and friends put into it. Being a wedding photographer, some things come easy – like being friends with some of the best wedding artists in the community. I have to say the event wouldn’t have happened without their guidance and intuition.

Elihu and I were married at a Friday wedding in Montecito at a private 20’s estate under a path of old olive trees. Although the home isn’t a traditional wedding venue, we fell in love with it’s gardens, antique details and beautiful stone courtyard and were able to have our wedding completely outdoors in beautiful Santa Barbara weather and light.

We wanted to echo the 20’s details of the home in our decor, design and style and focused on muted blushes, golds and sage greens. Much of the design included the idea of heirlooms, antique old-world treasures and crafting – like my 1920’s mine-cut engagement ring (which I have to be honest, started it all!). A few months prior to the wedding our guests received our save the dates, which were beautiful gold rimmed porcelain jewelry dishes hand-made by Paloma’s nest, inscribed with our wedding date and a dogwood branch and enclosed in a printed linen satchel which had more hand written information. Later, invitations were mailed in pale dusty blush hand-made spanish envelopes, with hand calligraphed addresses and invitations on cream paper in gold and black ink and closed with a wax seal. I chose to calligraph my own invitations because I love the idea of hand-written letters, and notes coming from the heart. I thought, if it’s going to be an invitation to my own wedding, why not write it myself?

When guests arrived at the wedding under a gorgeous wrought iron door trimmed with peonies and garlands, ladies were welcomed with perfumed and carved wooden fans and gentlemen all received a Poppies and Posies boutonniere made of herbs and succulents and tied with silk ribbons. We wanted everyone to feel like a special part of the wedding, which they all were. Guests also enjoyed fresh citrus water and mint-lemonade pool-side before our ceremony.

We wanted our ceremony to be intimate so we went without chairs and without microphones and definitely without cellphones. All our guests stood beneath olive trees in a loving group. I walked down the aisle with a gigantic bouquet of sally holmes roses, ferns, more garden roses, dahlias and peonies – basically every beautiful flower the girls from Poppies and Posies could find at the market. I wore a custom gown designed by Sarah Janks in a light blush, with a silk tulle veil simply draped over my low up-do and the antique diamond earrings Elihu had gifted me for my wedding. My father walked me down the aisle and to this day I can remember exactly how it felt – like heaven. Our ceremony was short and sweet and utterly perfect, and we ran back down the aisle together to “here comes the sun” by the beatles. Our friends and family tossed (some threw) scented lavender as we walked off as a married couple for the first time.

During our cocktail hour, guests sampled delicious bites by Duo catering on vintage silver platters I had sourced over the year. We also asked Duo to create a few signature cocktails that we loved and our wonderful band led by Brian Stodardt played so perfectly that guests thought it was a recording.

One of my favorite wedding moments was our entrance – earlier in the day I had presented Elihu with his wedding gift – a vintage Triumph bonneville motorcycle. Poppies and Posies created a mini garland on the back and I had provided them a carved wooden sign that said “just married” with trailing ribbons. Elihu and I rode into our reception on the motorcycle and went into our first dance surrounded by family and friends and plenty of sparklers. Brian Stodart sang our entry and first dance song while playing on his signature grand piano and accompanied by his guitarist.

The reception courtyard was absolutely magical thanks to the efforts of Borrowed Blu, Duo Catering, Enjoy Cupcakes and Poppies and Posies. Gorgeous floral centerpieces in antique silver vessels and brass candlesticks with golden candles dotted the tables. Little fruits and flowers were scatted about in between seven magnificent cakes on stands with their own antique silver cake knives (for guests to do their own cake cutting). Various styles of white plates with gold rims were layered with hand made linen napkins, runners and gold knives and forks. Carved crystal glassware accompanied each place setting along with a hand painted menu. String lights, that Elihu’s step-father and step-brothers had hung, twinkled overhead throughout the night.

To the side of the courtyard, a mini table was set up with a tea bar and a pipe-tobacco bar, both completely demolished by the end of the night! For dinner, guests enjoyed a full bar, our favorite red and white wines as well as a five course tasting menu by Duo catering that included Shishito peppers, pork belly, Santa Barbara carbonara, cod and steak. After our speeches, I changed into another custom made qipao (this time white with hand painted pink peonies on silk) and we cut our cake with sparklers on top. Our guests were invited to cut their own cakes so that they could join in on the fun. One of my dear friends, who is a great singer, started off the dancing by a surprise rendition of Justin Beiber (of course!) and we danced the night away and ended the evening on Santa Barbara’s state street for post-wedding shenanigans.

Our day was captured wonderfully by Jose Villa Photography and Andy Jackson Films – who were both laid back, gentle, accommodating and immensely talented. Mimi & Taylor also created my look for the wedding – dewy and bright, with a voluminous low up-do that made me feel so beautiful throughout the whole day.

I think what made our wedding the most special was all the hand-made touches – the details that my family and friends created with us – linen napkins, runners, garlands, drapery etc. etc. And of course all the customized details from our wedding vendors – my dress, my hand made shoe detailing, the wooden signs and porcelain save-the-dates. Everything had a story, nothing came from a catalogue or a store, everything had love infused into it. However, I would never recommend doing this alone, it was only with the help of my incredibly talented friends and family that we were able to pull this off. Things came together so seamlessly and so beautifully, it just meant so much to us. And to me it foretells a collaborative and balanced marriage, which is what is most important after all.

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

Photography

Jose Villa Photography

View Portfolio

Photography

Jen Huang Photography

View Portfolio

Erica Elizabeth Design

View Portfolio

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

Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

View All Collections

Sarah Janks

Glasshouse Collection

Canto Paradiso

Elan

All the Stars

View All Collections

Hushed Commotion

2014

2015

2016

View All Collections

Genius Ideas for a Chic Work Space

Chances are you spend more than half your waking hours in your office and whether cubical, corner suite or a home hideaway, if it’s a space that’s gorgeous and inviting, you’re much more likely to achieve total work domination. #Likeaboss That’s the goal right? Have a look at 25 ways to whip that office space into tip top shape. All in all, they give working late a chic new spin

Chic Up Your Office

View Slideshow

Chic Up Your Office

View Slideshow

For More Office Inspiration…

DIY Lucite Desk Accessories | Office Supplies to Dress Up Your Desk | 30 of the Prettiest Offices Ever

Multicultural Santa Barbara Welcome Dinner

We’ve had a total girl crush on Jen Huang since the day she first submitted a wedding to SMP. It’s always a treat to feature her beautiful photography, so you can only imagine how insanely excited we were to get our hands on her own welcome dinner and wedding day. She pulled in a few talented industry friends like Jose Villa, Poppies And Posies plus Borrowed Blu to be a part of the welcome celebration, but this is only the beginning. We’re got the entire wedding up NEXT.

Colors

Seasons

Summer Weddings

Settings

Backyard

Styles

Al Fresco

From Jen & Elihu…We hosted our welcome dinner at our home in the Lower Riviera of Santa Barbara. We wanted to have our events at private homes because being surrounded by family and friends around us during our wedding week was a big priority and having our event at home gave us the freedom to create our own schedules and host our guests.

In many ways, the welcome dinner was about family – the celebration of the love we have for our family, along with the start of a new family – my and my husbands! We had just purchased our home that year and couldn’t think of a better way to “warm” it than to have all of our family eating a delicious meal together in our back garden. We also had our Chinese tea ceremony in our living room before the dinner. These places are now sacred to us and are filled with the most wonderful memories.

During our welcome dinner, we wanted our details to feel like they came from our home. The bench was an antique we found in Santa Barbara – it was broken but my husband fixed it, and it now resides in our foyer. It was the perfect seat for two, and since it wasn’t a rental, we can sit on it together whenever we want. The antique barware was also collected throughout our trips antiquing across the country and sits on our bar. Our house guests can still use the same bar ware that we had at our welcome dinner – I feel like our details tie our present day to the past and remains meaningful beyond that one time use!

We had a very “western” and “traditional” wedding so I incorporated a little more Chinese culture into our welcome dinner. We also had a selection of Irish whiskeys to bring in Elihu’s background. The lanterns are from China – and a symbol of celebration. We hung these in our living room where we had our tea ceremony. In China, the color of weddings and happiness is red, so we selected reds, pinks and brighter shades to convey that sense of joy.

The dress I wore was a traditional Qi Pao made of silk and custom ordered in China. My mother measured me in the U.S. and sent the measurements to my aunt in China who then had it commissioned. There are lots of different Qi Pao designs now, and many brides who wear a design in white, but I wanted mine to be as traditional as possible – bright red with hand embroidered flowers.

For the food, we love tapas and family style dinners so we went in that direction – charcuterie, bacon wrapped chorizo, jicama chicken etc. Guests were also welcomed with Sangria when they entered. We wanted everyone to feel full so we had Duo create a huge tasting menu in a family style.

I had wanted to hand write all of our invitations and paper goods because I felt even if it wasn’t the most professional calligraphy, it was still heartfelt and special. I think hand written notes are so important (and so rare now-a-days) but they serve such a wonderful purpose – letting your recipient know they are loved and that you spent time on your words. For our menus, I knew that we would need boards for our charcuterie so I wanted to utilize the board as a way to introduce the menu as well. I wrote the menu myself and had it laser engraved into the sides of raw wooden boards. Then, during one of my foraging trips with my husband, when we were looking for old windows for our house renovations, I found knife and fork drawer pulls which we then attached to the boards so that they could have handles.

I also hand wrote the little envelopes which doubled as place cards, I watercolored fruits on them, to match the fruits scattered around our tables, and inside were cards with little fun and funny facts about myself and Elihu. That way, our respective families could open their envelopes, learn a little bit about us and share their cards around the table.

We had a tea ceremony prior to the welcome dinner with just our immediate family. Traditionally at a tea ceremony, you kneel and present your elders with tea and they will give you gifts for your wedding. We knelt in front our parents, served them tea and also thanked them for their sacrifices throughout the years – as you can imagine, it was a very tearful, but happy occasion.

Photography: Jose Villa Photography | Event Planning, Design + Floral: Poppies And Posies | Location: At Home | Tabletop Rentals: borrowed BLU

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

Photography

Jose Villa Photography

View Portfolio

Photography

Jen Huang Photography

View Portfolio

DIY Gold Charging Station

My husband has been begging me to set up a charging station in our house for months. Rogue cords and power adaptors are always in rotation from room to room as needed. Sound familiar? Well, we’ve got a pretty solution for the charging madness and it comes in the form of this chic gilded drawer. Not to mention it’ll match your DIY desk accessories!

Materials

Acrylic drawer
Mini cord clips
Gold leaf adhesive size
Gold leaf sheets
Sealant
Foam brush
Paintbrush
White spray paint
Safety glasses
Drill
13/32 drill bit
Smaller size drill bit like 1/8 to make the pilot holes
Masking tape
Ruler
Sharpie
4 port usb wall plate (optional)

Take the drawer out of the outer box. On the backside of the box, mark off 4 points 1.25” from the bottom edge and roughly 2.25” apart.

Put on your safety glasses! Acrylic is brittle and as you drill little pieces will splinter off- they won’t hurt you but you really don’t want one of these pieces in your eye. Drill a pilot hole with the ⅛ bit at each point. Change the bit to 13/32 and drill a hole through the acrylic at each point.

Place the drawer back in the box and drill briefly through each of the holes on the back of the box to mark where the holes should line up on the drawer. Remove the drawer and drill each mark through.

Tape the edges of the outer box and cover the outside in paper or plastic to protect it from paint. Place it on cardboard and spraypaint the inside white in 2-3 light coats. Let dry overnight.

Use the foam brush to paint a thin layer of adhesive size on the inside of the drawer (bottom and sides).

step-6

Let dry 15 minutes until tacky, then press gold leaf sheets on the tacky area. Keep applying gold leaf until the entire inside is covered. If you miss any spots, just press on more leaf. Use a dry paintbrush to gently brush off any excess leaf.

Apply a thin coat of sealant over the gold leaf and let dry 1-2 hours. Add 4 cord clips to the base of the drawer, one in front of each hold in the back of the drawer.

step-8 Thread power cords through the back of the drawer and into the cord clips. If you’re using a 4 port wall outlet, install that according to the package instructions, then plug in your charger cords. Plug in your phones or tablet, and voila!

Event Planning: Amazon | Styling + Design: SMP Living | Invitations: Michaels | Vendor: The Container Store

Romantic Bay Area Redwood Engagement Session

After two years in New York, I consider the Big Apple home. But this engagement session is making me homesick for my real home: the California Bay Area. Full of rolling hills, towering redwood trees, one adorable puppy and this sweet couple, this engagement session from Brooke Beasley Photography and L’Relyea Events perfectly captures that elusive California cool. See it all in THE VAULT!

From L’Relyea Events…As wedding planners, we see & hear about couples getting engaged or married on a daily basis, but very rarely do we get to relish in the excitement of our own engagements. Today, we celebrate the genuine love of one of L’Relyea Events very own talents & lead planners/designers, Julia Evans. Julia & her fiancé, Galen, are more than thrilled to share some details of their engagement & their love story. These two opted for the whimsical & organic backdrop of Muir Redwoods and Mount Tamalpais in the foggy city by the Bay. This setting was truly perfect for the vision of Julia, who desired an organic and dreamy approach for her engagement photos. Even through frigid cold & wet weather, these two embraced the powerful setting created by the dark & mysterious climate, which made for sensational photography. It is not hard to see how in love & humble these two are through their romantic engagement session, and we could not be more thrilled to share with you this type of inspiring love! Julia & Galen will be getting married at the Villa Chanticleer in Healdsburg, California next May.

Photography: Brooke Beasley Photography | Event Planning + Design: L'Relyea Events | Hair + Makeup: Marisa Perel | Venue: Muir Redwoods & Mt. Tamalpais

Romantic + Ethereal Pedernales Falls Inspiration Session

I’m rarely at a loss for words, but this inspiration session from Sophie Epton Photography seriously has me speechless. Those wild, bright blooms from Bristol Lane Florals. That dreamy lace BHLDN gown. And that can’t-take-my-eyes-off-it ring from Trumpet And Horn. They’re all working together to create one truly mesmerizing (and totally Pin-worthy) photo shoot. If you need me, I’ll be in THE VAULT admiring these beauties for hours to come.

From Sophie Epton Photography…“But I love your feet only because they walked upon the earth and upon the wind and upon the waters, until they found me.” – Pablo Neruda

This incredible quote by Pablo Neruda was the basis of vision for our cliffside bridal inspiration, an ode to the incredible power of both love and the nature that surrounds us. Set amongst the jutting white bluffs and running waters of Pedernales Falls, we wanted to portray a bride who has traveled far away to a special place of Mother Nature, a haven for her mind to be quiet and reflect on life and devotion before her wedding day.

The grand scenery of Pedernales Falls provided both a magnificently beautiful yet peaceful backdrop of rugged earth, water and a bit of wind that was the perfect site for our bride to get lost in her own thoughts. The vivid, sumptuous colors of florals by Bristol Lane seen in both the bouquet, garland and floating petals represent the idea of a love that is bursting open like a blossom in the Spring, and provides the perfect pop of hues against the alabaster rock formations. Jessica Crowell recreated the Pablo Neruda quote on a textile banner, symbolizing the passion and devotion that is required of any long-term union, and a tangible reminder that our bride was able to hold on to during this time. The ethereal BHLDN Beau gown combined with the pearl headpiece worn by our bride further elevated the romantic feel of the shoot, and the stunning vintage engagement ring by Trumpet and Horn was the final piece de resistance of warmth and sparkle.

We hope this story provides inspiration for any future bride to take the time for themselves during their engagement to go out in the living world, de-stress, and think about the incredible commitment of love happening in their near future (and maybe have a few gorgeous photos taken along the way!)

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

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

View All Collections

Life in Bloom + A Giveaway!

Life in Bloom is what we like to call a powerhouse of petals. Entering their fifth season, this Floral & Event Design company specializes in far more than just handfuls of heaven. Located in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago they craft customized experiences to suit your every floral need. From casual dinner parties, to elegant wedding affairs, it’s easy to see why Life in Bloom is a master in their field!

With her extensive knowledge of Horticulture, owner and lead designer, Rachel Wyffels, is a plant enthusiast to the core! Considered one of the best florists in Chicago, Life in Bloom is known for theirbreathtaking bouquets and extravagant events (think backstage artist lounge at Lollapalooza)! Think that’s impressive? Just wait until you see what this team can do with a bundle of blooms.

Enter for your chance to win a complimentary Bridal Bouquet from Life in Bloom worth up to $300! To enter, leave a comment by February 11, 2016 and let us know which flower must be in your bridal bouquet!

SMP Sweepstakes Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary to enter, only open to US readers with a US shipping address. Winner must be located within 40 miles of Downtown Chicago.

Floral + Event Design: Life In Bloom

categories

tags

Categories

Posts By

See even more head-turning trends here!

Abby Capalbo

See even more head-turning trends here!

Bonus DIY!

Lexy Ward | PROPER

See even more head-turning trends here!

Peruse more elopement inspiration here!

See even more head-turning trends here!

Discover more California weddings here!

For More Office Inspiration…

From Our Partners

Little Black Book

Lookbook

International Weddings

US Weddings

Real Weddings

Inspiration Galleries

Explore

Archive

Magazine

Style Me Pretty

categories

tags

Categories

Posts By

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Abby Capalbo

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Bonus DIY!

Join The Conversation

Lexy Ward | PROPER

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

For More Office Inspiration…

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

From Our Partners

International Weddings

US Weddings

Explore

Style Me Pretty