I’ve never been shy about my love for TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress, and I’ll be the first to admit that I fan-girled the first time I walked into Kleinfeld (how could I not?!)—the boutique is as magical as it looks on TV, and the consultants are just as lovely. But what happens after you say yes, especially if you start to wish you had said no? We asked Kleinfeld co-owner Mara Urshel to give us tips when you have a “I Said Yes to the WRONG dress” moment.

You Lost That Loving Feeling—It’s OK

Since most brides select their gown nine to 12 months prior to the wedding, when it finally arrives (two months prior to “I do”) a lot of brides have forgotten what the dress looked like when they first fell in love. Fit issues can also be to blame for your lukewarm feelings. The stress of planning a wedding can often cause women to lose weight or gain weight, and if your body has changed, the dress may look different than you envisioned.  But don’t worry, alterations can work wonders if you use a skilled professional. Finally, if you purchased the gown before you found the venue, you might find the two aren’t a perfect fit. You may have fallen in love with a satin beaded ball gown, but on a beach in Mexico, you’ll probably want something lighter.

You Can Fall Back In Love with Your Dress

Proper alterations and accessories change the entire look of the gown. Wait until you see the full ensemble (veil, jewelry, shoes) before deciding you want to break it off with your dress. You may just surprise yourself and fall back in love!

Take a Deep Breath

Before you decide to go shopping for round two, take a moment to reflect. Remind yourself of how happy you were the day you said yes and meet with an experienced fitter or alterations department to see if you can alter the gown to your liking.

Think About the MOney, Honey

If you do decide to start fresh, set a budget!  Re-selection can often be expensive—special order gowns can’t be returned, so you may have to purchase a brand new dress, incurring rush fees to get it on time. To avoid blowing your budget, consider buying a 2nd dress off the rack, at a sample sale.  Think about wearing the original dress to your ceremony, and changing into a second dress after your first dance.

Don’t Bring a lot Of People Shopping

To select or re-select a gown, only bring close family or friends whose opinions you value, but who will support you no matter what decision you make.

Remember, Your Opinion Matters Most

When you go shopping again, your emotions will be running high, so stay calm! Stick to your budget and be sure there’s an available seamstress to fit the gown in a timely manner. Remember, your fiancé will love the way you look no matter what you are wearing on your special day! It’s most important that you are happy—don’t try too hard to make your friends and family happy.

And Don’t Forget…

Be prepared for your appointment (see Mara’s shopping tips below!). Before you purchase a dress, ask about the return policy and don’t leave the store until you feel great about your decision! Most importantly, be confident in your bridal vision for your wedding day…after all, your photos will last a lifetime!

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Mara Urshel’s Dress Shopping Tips

Kleinfeld's Tips to Say Yes to the Dress

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Kleinfeld's Tips to Say Yes to the Dress

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More Fashion Inspiration for Your Big Day

Wedding Dress Silhouettes 101 | Find the Best Silhouette for Your Body | 50 Elegant Gowns

Here’s hoping you didn’t have plans today. because once you see this Bows and Arrows bouquet we have a feeling you’ll want to fill those Pinterest boards pronto. A dreamy pairing of pastel petals, we think this handful of happiness may (or may not have) inspired Pantone’s 2016 color picks. Scroll for more because we’ve asked this powerhouse of pretty to share how you too can get this beauty, below!

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Spring Inspired Photo Shoot

• 8 hellebores
• 4 lilac
• 8 peony
• 10 clematis
• 6 astilbe
• 12 sweet pea

From Bows and Arrows… When creating this bouquet I was inspired by water colors and the soft variation of colors in nature that spring brings. I wanted to create a cooler bouquet that was still warm.

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Find more Bouquet Breakdowns here!

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Floral Design: Bows and Arrows | Photography: Ryan Ray

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

Florals

Bows and Arrows

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According to Wandeleur this is the only cold cocktail you’ll want to make this winter and from the looks of it, we fully agree. Consider this the copper clad, gussied up version of your traditional mule and it comes baring wintertime accoutrements. Grab the ingredients below and cheers away the cold weather blues with a mug or two of the good stuff.

From Wandeleur…While warm cocktails are all the rage, sometimes there’s nothing better than an icy cold cocktail. Sure, we love tea infused cocktails, apple cider bourbon drinks and anything else that warm us up – but sometimes a drink on the rocks is exactly what you need to beat the winter blues.

We’re big fans of anything fruity and delicious, so we whipped up this cranberry, rosemary mule that’s even more delicious than looks.

Erin LepperdWinter Moscow Mule

prep time 5 Minute/s

cook time

total time 5 Minute/s

Serves 2Ingredients

• 1 oz sweetened cranberry juice
• 3 oz gin or vodka {I used gin!}
• 4 oz ginger beer
• 1 rosemary sprig for garnish
• orange slice for garnish
• cranberries for garnish

Instructions

1. Grab a shaker and combine cranberry juice, vodka and ginger beer together with ice.
2. Shake thoroughly and pour over tumblers filled with ice.
3. Garnish with a spring of rosemary, an orange slice as well as cranberries. Drink it up and enjoy!

Find more yummy cocktail inspiration on Wandeleur!

Photography: Wandeleur | Recipe And Styling: Wandeleur

If you watch Top Chef as religiously as I do, you know that most of the chefs dread making a dessert. That’s because baking is a science. Whereas in cooking, you can improvise with a pinch of salt here and a dash of olive oil there, baking requires specific measurements and precise recipes. Yes, you can find them online (like here at SMP!), but according to Sugar + Butter these 5 books are the key to becoming a better, more informed baker.

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The Books

The Essential Baker by Carole Bloom

This cookbook comes first on my list for a very specific reason: If you’re trying to bake classic pastry, this is all you will ever need.  Carole Bloom has covered all of the classics in this book.  Baking can sometimes be very kitschy – especially the stuff you’ll find on some blogs.  You know the ones, where they use pre-made pie crust and Reese’s to make a new “recipe.”  If you’re looking for authentic and easy to understand recipes, you need this book.  Find it here.

The Baking Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum

When I think of my baking heroes, Rose Levy Beranbaum is the first to come to mind.  She is absolutely the only baker who can call her book a bible and not be exaggerating.  She tends to write more elevated books that you’ll need to really focus on when trying to follow her recipes, but it is well worth it.  If you want to step up your baking game in the new year, get this book.  Find it here.

Baking, From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan 

Deep in my heart, I really, truly hope that Dorie Greenspan and Rose Levy Beranbaum are good friends.  I like to imagine them sitting around together eating flakey pastries and discussing articles in New York Times arts and leisure section.  Dorie Greenspan is an authority, no two ways about it, and this book is fabulous if you want to expand your horizons in the New Year.  Find it here.

Good to the Grain by Kim Boyce

When you think of whole grain baking, it can seem too healthy not to be boring.  I often wondered, before I bought this book, why anyone would choose whole grain over any other ingredients when making dessert. This book is a revelation in baking, I promise.  Want to bake a little closer to nature?  This is the book for you.  Find it here.

The Cake Book by Tish Boyle

The title says it all.  This is absolutely my go-to book for cake recipes and foundational knowledge.  Tish Boyle completely changed the way I approach baking cakes and I bet this book will do the same for you. Find it here.

It’s the personal touches that make a wedding truly special, and this sweet California fête is full of them. Take, for instance, the ceremony procession. The Bride’s brother learned to play her favorite song on the ukelele and walked behind her down the aisle as his partner sang along. Another? The vintage china and Champagne flutes, sourced by the Bride’s mother so that each place setting was truly unique. See these details and so much more pretty captured by onelove photography in THE VAULT!

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From The Bride…Since Matt is from Australia and we were planning on having a fairly large contingent of overseas guests, it was really important for us to find a venue that had on-site accommodations for at least a portion of our guests as well as grant us access from Friday-Sunday. We really mindful of the fact that this would probably be the only time we’d have all of our family and friends together at one time.

In terms of the actual wedding, we wanted the venue and aesthetic to be unassuming and laid-back. We placed a lot of emphasis on sourcing a high quality food vendor (we ended up using one of our favorite restaurants) paired with local beer and wine, chosen by Matt. In hindsight, the extra money we spent on a highly-recommended DJ company was one of the best investments we made. We wanted guests to have a great time and tell other people it was the best wedding they had ever been to :)

One detail that added a very special touch, and that many guests commented on, was that my mom spent over a year individually sourcing unique pieces of vintage china and champagne flutes, such that every place setting was different. The champagne flutes also served as escort cards and gifts for our guests to take home. She also sourced the votives and vases used through out the venue.

Know where you’re willing to compromise in order to spend more in other areas. Although I really loved the idea of letterpress invitations, I realized the money I’d save on less expensive designs could be used towards paying for an awesome DJ.

Additionally, from the outset Matt and I had a very clear vision for the weekend, and made sure that all of our decisions were in line with that vision. Our focus was on providing space for our friends and family to spend time together and for our overseas guests to meet our stateside guests – this was one of the reasons why we decided to serve dinner family-style.

It’s easy to get caught up in the details, but stepping back and reminding ourselves of what we wanted the weekend to feel like was really helpful. From the casual BBQ the night before the wedding, to breakfast burritos on the Sunday morning after, we wanted to make sure our guests had opportunities to spend time together and enjoy the amenities the venue offered. There are so so many!

For the procession, my brother learned to play one of my favorite songs on the ukulele while his partner sang. They ended up walking behind behind my parents and I as we made our way down the aisle; it was really touching and special to have my family around me as I walked towards Matt.

The speeches from my dad, maid of honor, and best man were all the perfect combination of sentimental and funny.

One of our favorite memories from the reception was when the DJs played Wonderwall by Oasis and our guests gathered around Matt and I in a big circle, with everyone singing along as we danced in the middle.

Photography: onelove photography | Coordination: Ali Blasing | Floral Design: Ampersand | Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven | Cake: Moustache Baked Goods | Stationery: Minted | Bride's Shoes: Armani Vest From YOOX | Jewelry: Mociun | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Asos | Catering: Nopalito | Hair + Makeup: Jenna Blanchietti | DJ: Dart DJ | Groom's Attire: Indochino | Venue: Triple S Ranch | Reception Dress: Free People | Sash: Untamed Petals

Thank you Annamarie Akins, because after seeing (and saving and sharing) these pics, Strasbourg has now earned a spot on my must-see-ASAP list. Add in the surprise proposal you captured and this is a post to be favorited and returned to anytime you need a happiness boost; I promise it’ll do the trick. Dive headfirst into our VAULT and thank me later.

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From Annamarie Akins… It was definitely one of the most exciting secrets I’ve ever had to keep! The Saturday before I left for Europe, Brittany and I were shooting a wedding together in DC… she’s become one of my dear friends and lucky for me, she’s my second shooter most weekends! I was leaving for my trip the next day and she was leaving a few days after that… and little did she know that she was about to be engaged! Jeremy had contacted me a few weeks beforehand with the news that he wanted to propose while they were on their vacation in France with a ring from his grandmother… and as you can imagine, I was so excited!

Brittany and I had been talking about meeting up for a photo shoot while we were there for months… so after talking with Jeremy, it was easy to turn the photo shoot idea into the perfect secret proposal plan! They were staying in Paris and we were spending time with my family near Munich… but I have an old friend who was living in Strasbourg for the summer, which is a beautiful city on the water in the Alsace region of France, right on the border next to Germany! This place looks like Germany and France had a baby that kind of resembles Venice. It’s absolutely beautiful! And I couldn’t picture a better place for a photo shoot turned proposal… so we made plans to meet there a few days into our trip to do the shoot and visit my friend!

Jeremy and I decided on a code word so that when I found a good spot for him to propose [based on the lighting and where people wouldn’t be in the background of the photos], it would be easy to let him know to go for it. Finally after walking around and shooting for an hour, I decided we had found the spot! I was so nervous (this was the first time I’d captured a proposal!), but he seemed totally calm and the whole thing went perfectly! Brittany was so surprised and excited! And we were all on cloud nine and celebrated with champagne at the sweetest little cafe afterwards!

Jeremy and Brittany are such an incredible couple and I am so excited for them to get married! It was such an honor to get to be a part of this special moment… I hope you enjoy my favorites from their shoot and the surprise proposal!

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More engagement inspiration this way!

Photography: Annamarie Akins Photography

Smoothies are kind of like milkshakes but healthier and more acceptable for breakfast sipping. Plus you can smuggle spinach or kale in them and no one is the wiser. I would probably drink smoothies all day, every day if I wasn’t so lazy about having to clean the blender. I literally loath cleaning that beast. This simple mango smoothie from the Cookie Rookie might just be worth it though.

From the Cookie Rookie… These Simple Mango Smoothies are one of my favorite ways to wake up. It’s sweet, fruity, made in seconds, and tastes like a dessert. You could add in some protein powder if you’re really into those New Years Resolutions. Not a bad idea, but it’s just as tasty without all that!

Erin LepperdSimple Mango Smoothie

prep time 3 Minute/s

cook time

total time 3 Minute/s

Serves 2Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) bag frozen mango
• 1½ cups almond milk (or skim milk)
• 1-2 tablespoons honey (or more to taste

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse until fully combined. If too thick, add more milk, if too thin, add more mango.
2. Add in 2 shots tequila if looking to make a Creamy Mango Margarita! Only on the craziest of mornings of course.

For more healthy breakfast ideas, check out The Cookie Rookie!

Photography: The Cookie Rookie | Recipe And Styling: The Cookie Rookie

As someone who’s been a bridesmaid more than once – and already has a few more gigs lined up this year – new styles, colors and collections get me pretty excited. And so, Weddington Way, with over 1,300 dresses to choose from, brings back the joy of being a bridesmaid. From pretty spring pastels to rich jewel tones in the fall, Weddington Way has options for every season, all available in their online showrooms. Don’t miss all the dresses below – and a chance to win a wedding wardrobe for your ladies!

SPRING:

Springtime is practically begging for feminine styles in pretty pastels and a dash of shine! Blush continues to be a favorite but spring is also the perfect time to mix and match not only silhouettes, but colors as well! With Weddington Way, brides pick their favorites and share with their gal pals, making it a breeze for all! Everyone doesn’t live nearby? No problem – it’s all online!

SUMMER:

Tis the time to have a little fun with bridesmaid dresses! Show a little more skin with shorter dress lengths, strapless tops, and sometimes even bare feet (beach wedding here we come)! Color is key – try out mint and coral candy tones or even experiment with pretty florals – Weddington Way is the bridesmaid dress expert, able to advise for all style situations!

FALL:

We’re already excited about two big color trends for autumn: jewel tones galore and the always trusty neutrals. Blues, greens and purples are an all-star this time of year, but be careful mixing and matching too much; it’s always better to stick with one color family for a more cohesive look. Lover of neutrals? Mix and match away to your hearts content! Create a beautiful, romantic color story with taupe, lavender, and rose.

WINTER:

Winter’s the time to get a little fancy! It’s all about elegant colors palettes and textures – we’re going bold! Eager to add a bit more sophistication? Navy blue and crimson red are favorite picks. For the adventurous brides, winter whites for bridesmaids are chic and elegant. And for winter neutrals done right, stick to icier hues like light slate and blue.

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Already excited to dive into Weddington Way’s collections for every upcoming season? Well, we have even more good news to share – Weddington Way is giving away bridesmaids’ dresses for your whole wedding, officially making you the very best bride out there (valued at $750)! Enter here and good luck!

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Reserving hotel room blocks for our guests was one of the most frustrating tasks of wedding planning. From negotiating rates to reviewing confusing contracts, it was overwhelming. Oh, how I wish I had known about Skipper (formally Jetaport)! This streamlined (and FREE) solution to quickly and easily book room blocks takes care of sourcing the best rates – and today, they’re sharing their secrets for conquering this dreaded task. Read on and if you’re like me and ready to hand this job off, Skipper is just a click away!

Tip 1:

Don’t wait! Book a room block as soon as you’ve picked a wedding date and venue for a higher chance of availability and lower rates.

Tip 2:

Choose a wedding date outside of major events and holidays to keep hotel rates lower and to ensure guests are able to attend. Also, shoulder season (between peak and off-season of a destination) gives you the benefit of attractive hotel deals and the town to yourself!

Tip 3:

To estimate the number of hotel rooms needed, take the total number of out-of-town guests and divide that number by two. If you have a large number of out-of-town guests, choose hotels at different price points and room categories to provide more options.

Tip 4:

Convenience is key! If you can’t get a hotel walking distance from the venue, choose hotels close to the wedding and see if the hotel can offer you a complimentary shuttle.

Tip 5:

Try reserving a courtesy room block over a guaranteed room block to avoid any financial penalties for unused rooms – generally limited to 10-20 rooms. If you need more than that, then it’s best to select multiple hotels for your guests.

Tip 6:

Make sure to communicate booking details to your guests early and clearly. Most hotels require a cutoff date meaning that the hold on the rooms is “lifted” and rooms are added back into inventory. Cutoff dates are usually 30 days prior to arrival.

Tip 7:

Ask Skipper’s Travel Advisors any questions along the way. They are there to make sure all of your needs are met in the group booking process.

Tip 8:

Hotels often offer perks for more rooms booked. These perks can include a room upgrade, a complimentary suite or a special amenity.

Tip 9:

Be sure to sign your e-contract as soon as you can to lock down those room block rates. Don’t forget to share your hotel room block information with guests!

Tip 10:

If you use Skipper, avoid reaching out to hotels on your own. It adds confusion to the hotel sales managers who are already working with Skipper and ultimately slows down the process.

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STILL VENUE HUNTING? CHECK OUT THESE SPECIAL SPOTS!

Most Amazing Wedding Venues

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Most Amazing Wedding Venues

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ONGOING GIVEAWAYS + DISCOUNTS…  

Sonoma Wedding Sweepstakes
Allure Bridals 2016 Ultimate Sweepstakes
Zola
Minted

THIS WEEK’S DISCOUNTS…

For our California Brides… Discount from The Ranch at Laguna Beach and a giveaway from Magnolia Weddings

For our Tri-state Brides… Discounts from Femina Photo + Design and Ieie Bridal Dress Boutique!

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

For our Southeast Brides… Discount from Cassidy Carson Photography

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Ask anyone of us here at SMP, “where do I start building my vendor team?” and you’ll see all fingers pointed toward our Little Black Book. Not because we’re biased (we are), but because we’ve gotten to know them on a genuine level. Whether we’ve worked with them for one of our own weddings (myself, Liz and Michelle most recently!) or we’ve written the stories of amazing vendor-couple relationships or just drooling over details in general. That’s what sharing these moments are about each week!

Must-See LBB Moments

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Must-See LBB Moments

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Start planning your wedding with The Little Black Book!

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Featured Members: Found Vintage Rentals | Real Doll Makeup | Casa De Perrin | Valley & Company | O’Malley Photographers | Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Krista A. Jones | Jewel Hair Design | L’Relyea Events | TEAM Hair and Makeup | Laura Miller Design | Sweet On Cake

Ben Higgins has officially won the hearts of ladies around the SMP offices, and it’s probably safe to say he’s won yours too. So when you happen to be huge fans of the show (guilty pleasure, anyone?) you’re bound to dream of what you might wear to those all-important rose ceremonies. We’re taking cues from the fashionistas of our archives, and sharing 20 gowns the ABC cameras could simply not ignore.

Dresses We'd Wear to a Bachelor Rose Ceremony

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Dresses We'd Wear to a Bachelor Rose Ceremony

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PS: Our Favorite Bachelor(ette) Moments on SMP

Currently: I’m super jellin on Ojai‘s version of winter. Where beach days are do-able (and actually enjoyable) and the sun still breathes life into al fresco weddings. Where scenes like this still make their way onto our pretty pages, thanks to Smith + James Events and Sally Pinera. Fair warning before you take a virtual step into THE VAULT, you’ll be there a while. Dive into all the beauty and grab the tasty winter cocktail recipe below!

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From Smith + James Events… I grew up in California, so my idea of the winter season is a bit different than our friends on the east coast. Any native Californian will understand what it means to occasionally enjoy the beach in December or January- especially this year!

With this shoot, I wanted to share the feeling of the winter season in California and knew that the rolling hills of Ojai with its magical light would be the perfect setting. I put together a team of my favorites, because my favorite part of doing styled shoots is collaborating with a talented group of my friends. Plus, we get to spend the day laughing and creating together.

We aimed to use seasonal textures, colors, blooms, and even fruit to tell the story. Kate from The Ark let us go shopping in her inventory and her collection is such a dream. The wooden table top from Elan’s collection allowed us to do a fresh take on the farm table look by combining a draped linen with a more rustic wooden top.

I always try to create details that are meaningful without being too theme driven and Sally Pinera is so talented at capturing everything we bring to the shoot in the most beautiful, delicate way.

Crystal Sanford of Heirloom Design House brings such beauty to everything her hands touch. Everything she does looks a still life painting; fine art that should be hung up in a home to be treasured.

It makes such a difference when you have models that are actually a real-life couple. Jaclyn and Alexander made everything feel so relaxed and uncontrived. Jess Wilcox made the hair and makeup fit right into the vein of the shoot’s unfussy, yet elegant vibe. Jess is amazing to work with- she just gets it.

I want to say an extra thanks to Kelly Oshiro for coming onboard to help style the shot by shot details and fluff all the little extras at the end! Love that girl!

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We love hearing the inspiration behind these gorgeous shoots straight from the vendor team, and speaking of, did you catch Tory of Smith + James‘ wedding we featured earlier this week captured by Jose Villa? Isn’t she a stunner?!

Melissa BaranPear Brandy Champagne Cocktail

prep time 5 Minute/s

cook time 7 Minute/s

total time 12 Minute/s

Serves 0Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup plus 4 teaspoons French pear brandy Recommended: Poire William
• 2 2/3 cups chilled champagne
• 1 Small Bosc pear

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, heat sugar and 1/4 cup pear brandy over moderate heat until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes.
2. Remove pan from heat and cool syrup.
3. Spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons syrup into each of 4 champagne glasses and add 1 teaspoon pear brandy to each glass.
4. Add 2/3 cup champagne to each glass and stir well.
5. Cut pear lengthwise into thin slices and add 1 slice to each cocktail.

See more Ojai weddings here!

Photography: Sally Pinera | Event Planning + Design: Smith + James Events | Event Styling: Kelly Oshiro | Floral Design: Heirloom Design House | Wedding Dress: Emily Riggs | Cake: Sheila Mae | Hair + Makeup: Jess Wilcox | Calligraphy: Plume Calligraphy | Candles: Creative Candles | Hat Box: Trousseau & Co | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Models: Jacyln Cartier Ghilarducci And Alexander Ghilarducci | Rentals: Elan Event Rentals | Rentals: The Tent Merchant | Ribbon: Silk and Willow | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Tabletop: The Ark

If Lauren Kelp and I lived in the same city, we’d be BFFs, because (besides the fact that she’s ah-mazing), my girl Lauren makes a killer cocktail. Case in point: this Whiskey Fig Sangria. With a bottle of Malbec (my fave), whiskey, cognac, fresh fruit, cinnamon and vanilla, this is the perfect cocktail to sip on over girl talk with your BFF, or date night in with the hubs. Get the recipe below!

From Lindsey Brunk of LaurenKelp.com… I started thinking about how to incorporate fresh figs and a bold whiskey base with a few of my favorite fall flavors like apple and cinnamon. Simple, but full of depth and flavor, this recipe is perfect for enjoying with friends and family for a Sunday Dinner, or you can just whip up a batch for an afternoon of football with the hubs. Cheers!

Gabrielle HurwitzWhiskey Fig Sangria

prep time

cook time

total time

Serves 0Ingredients

• 1 bottle Malbec
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey
• 1/4 cup cognac
• 1/2 apple, chopped
• 5 figs, sliced
• 1 plum, sliced (look for a juicy ripe one)
• 1/2 pear, sliced
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cinnamon sticks (more for optional garnish)

Instructions

1. Cut up all of your fruit and drop into the bottom of a glass pitcher
2. Add a cinnamon sticks and vanilla.
3. Pour the whole bottle of wine, whiskey, cognac and apple juice over the fruit and gently stir to combine.
4. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours.
5. When ready to serve, spoon out a few fruit slices into each glass and pour in sangria. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and enjoy!

Photography: Taylor Lord Photography | Recipe + Styling: Lauren Kelp

Ten years of wedded bliss is a reason to celebrate; even better if it’s spent feting under the stars. For this couple,  it was less about creating another wedding and more about really celebrating with everyone they love. Add to that a style inspired by rich jewel tones and a group of all-stars including Not My Dish, Bespoke Occasions and Sierra Solis Photography and the result is a party for the books.

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As our 10-year wedding anniversary approached, the first question we asked each other was how the heck did time go so quickly and the second, should we have a celebration? Neither of our families live near, we didn’t get married in San Diego nor did we even live here then. We thought we would just go have a nice dinner and call it a day. As the owner of Not My Dish, I work in the industry of helping others create beautiful events, but it never occurred to us to throw a party for ourselves. However, with all the questions about our anniversary and the urging of our friends, we realized that 10 years really was something to celebrate!

Once we decided to throw a party, the question was what kind of party did we want to throw? Neither of us wanted to do another “wedding.” The piece we did want to recreate from our wedding was bringing people we love together to have an amazing time. We knew we would wear our gifts we gave each on our wedding day, an engraved watch I gave to Stefan and the earrings he gave me, which were passed down from his mother. Other than that we wanted our anniversary to have a completely different feel than that day 10 years ago.

Considering my job is to create beautiful tablescapes, the party planning process naturally started with the table. I had recently found a vintage china pattern that was the jumping off point for the party’s style. We decided to go with rich, deep jewel tone colors with just a touch of Moroccan influence. To create an intimate environment, we chose to have it in our backyard lit by market lights and candlelight. I went with jewel toned mix-matched vintage china, crystal glassware, gold flatware and brass accessories.

We consider ourselves lucky to have amazing friends that work in the industry whose creative gifts came together to create this magical evening. The beauty of having a working relationship with all of these vendors is the trust that I could put into their talents. I gave everyone our idea, sent a picture of the dish and let them run with it.

We started with Sierra Solis Photography. I consider her my spirit animal when it comes to pictures. Her photography pairs perfectly with my design style. Considering she had just given birth a little more than a month earlier, I was surprised she agreed to do it! However, she was there making this camera shy couple comfortable taking the most stunning images.

My warehouse mate, CC Vintage Rentals, provided all the furniture, including one of the most beautiful bars I have ever seen. I also asked that we be able to use one of our favorite of theirs, the navy blue chairs for the lounge in our courtyard. Cristina kept me sane throughout the process and helped me figure out how to fit 25 people into our backyard using farm tables. She was there the day of helping set everything up and taking control along with Leah from Bespoke Occasions while we got ready for the party.

Speaking of Leah from Bespoke Occasions, I can’t say enough about the flowers she designed for the evening. I gave her the vague image of deep colors dripping in lushness and she delivered! She took my table set up and elevated it to the next level. She was creative on the spot taking some of my brass candlesticks and CC Vintage’s terrariums to elevate the look.

Some of the first people I met in this industry were the SociaLights team. Kelle and Eryn are the most genuine, kind hearted people you will meet. They outfitted the backyard with market lights and strung our courtyard with what I call their “starburst” lighting installations that they custom make. As guests arrived these are one of the first things they commented on!

To complete the tablescape I enlisted Ashley with Fruit From Her Hands. She is another creative that I always just let run wild. She came up with the idea of calligraphy on marble tiles as place cards. The bonus was that each guest could bring theirs home. My husbands’ and mine have already made it onto our memory wall. She also took her talents to the bar menu that she hand-lettered and painted the greenery to match the decor.

Please and Thank You was the astounding bartender for the evening. We love Stephen and can always count on him to make sure everyone has a great time! As luck would have it we also love his girlfriend Jessa who owns Touch of Glass. She rents amazing barware and vintage glassware. So of course she got in on the fun and provided the gorgeous glassware for the bar.

Not only did these amazing vendors come together to create this dreamy evening, we are fortunate enough to call them friends and they stayed to partake in all their hard work. Stefan and I took a moment before the festivities to take it all in. Our favorite moment, just like at our wedding, was watching people from different parts of our lives come together, become friends and no one wanted to go home.

We are constantly asked “what’s the secret to marriage?” Commitment and communication is a good place to start but our best advice to those about to get married or newlyweds is to figure out what works best for YOUR marriage. Every marriage and the two people in it are completely different. Figure out what works best for you, even if others think its quirky (we go to bed angry all the time because we forget about why we were fighting by morning). Oh and also remember, everything will be funny in a few years! We are definitely blessed to have spent 10 years of marriage together, even more so that we still make each other laugh every day, truly love spending time together and have the most amazing people in our lives to share it with!

Photography: Sierra Solis Photography | Floral Design: Bespoke Custom Floral and Event Design | Calligraphy: Fruit From Her Hands | Lighting: SD Socialights | Craft Cocktails: Please & Thank You Liquor Bar | Furniture Rentals: CC Vintage Rentals | Glassware Rentals: Touch Of Glass | Tablescape Rentals and Design: Not My Dish

What exactly is California cool? It’s this Santa Barbara wedding captured to perfection by Carmen Santorelli. Complete with a stunning Bride in a backless Katie May wedding dress, loose, vibrant flowers and colonial-era Spanish touches (how much do you love that chapel and the flamenco?!), this wedding is the very definition of effortless elegance. See each and every detail in THE VAULT!

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From The Bride…When Jason and I walked into the chapel of El Presidio de Santa Barbara, we knew that this was the perfect place for us to be married. With Jason’s deep Santa Barbara roots and my Basque heritage we both felt incredibly connected to this beautiful historic Spanish chapel. The interior exudes old world charm and makes you feel as if you are being transported into another time, back to the days of fiestas and flower-bedecked carriages.

Our dear friend, Patrice Handley of Santa Barbara Classic Weddings, wrote the ceremony for us. She happens to be one of Santa Barbara’s top wedding officiants, and we were honored to have her share our love story with our beloved friends and family. Patrice recommended the very talented local Spanish guitarist, Chris Fossek. He created a magnificent piece for me to walk down the aisle to, as well as arranging for an entertaining flamenco show at our reception.

Our photographer, Carmen Santorelli, was like a wispy sprite, taking amazingly artistic photos without us even noticing her. She totally captured how enraptured we both were during the ceremony, as well as the joyfulness of everyone during the whole wedding. Carmen’s photos of my wedding gown by the incomparable designer, Katie May, are radiant; her skill is clearly in creating ethereal wedding photos!

We decided to have the reception at Arnoldi’s Café. Jason’s wonderful Godfather owns the restaurant and there is a local, Italian family vibe that we knew all our friends and family would love. The mood of the starlit night in the courtyard with exquisite Spanish guitar was so romantic, and the fiery flamenco dancing had everyone jump out of their seats in applause!

So many things made our wedding special and unique, particularly the love and support we had from our incredibly loving community of friends and family. We were totally embraced by their warmth and happiness for us, which made every single thing a memory we will treasure forever!

Photography: Carmen Santorelli Photography | Floral Design: Terra Malia Designs | Wedding Dress: Katie May | Cake: Christine Dahl Pastries | Invitations: Maddie Gordon | Ceremony Venue: El Presidio Chapel | Reception Venue: Arnoldis | Rings: Ben Bridge Jewers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Officiant: Patrice Pandley, Santa Barbara Classic Weddings | Getting Ready Venue: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Guitarist: Chris Fossek | Programs: Leanna Wolf

You guys, this week we went to a dog wedding. You read right – a dog wedding. And let me tell you, when two Instagram starlets (who just happen to be pups) tie the knot, it’s serious business. Think a glamorous NYC affair complete with final fluffs and an official first look. Betsi Ewing Studio snapped every moment of the ToastMeetsWorld™ + FriendsofFinn celebration, including a Marchesa gown for the bride and celebrity guest sightings through the night. More inside THE VAULT!

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[dotted] Photography: Betsi Ewing Studio | Wedding Dress: Marchesa | Groom: Finn Hearst | Wedding Venue: The Refectory | Bride: TOAST MEETS WORLD™ | Getting Ready Suite: The Highline Hotel | Grooming: Canine Styles NYC | Grooming Materials: Conair | Jewelry: London jewelers | Registry: Zola

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Let’s just imagine for a second that you find yourself in the incredibly scenic Telluride, Colorado to celebrate your upcoming elopement. You’ve got Tamara Gruner Photography behind the camera, and a horse ranch as your backdrop. What happens? This adorable engagement session – that’s what. See the full gallery inside The Vault!

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From Tamara Gruner Photography…Shelby & Tyler came all the way from California to have a very intimate elopement in Telluride in Colorado. Both love Telluride so much that they decided to have their wedding here. Along with their closest family they celebrated two days of fun. On the first day they went horseback riding while on the second day they had their family celebration. Congrats to this lovely couple!

Photography: Tamara Gruner Photography | Venue: Ride With Rowdy | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Her Boots: Justin Boots | His Boots: Ariat

It’s easy to race to the fridge when times get stressful (helloooo, all of wedding planning!) but when it comes to snacking make your foods work for YOU. We’re talking about foods that fill you up and keep you energized, versus the endless sugar and caffeine crashes any bride is prone to. Scroll below for 15 healthy + tasty snack ideas that’ll leave you anything but hangry.

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Healthy Snack Ideas for Brides-to-be

Carrot or Cucumber Sticks & Guacamole

Fruit or Veg Smoothie

Greek Yogurt with Berries & Honey

Chia Seed Pudding

Hummus with Veggies or Pita Chips

Air Popped Popcorn with Sea Salt

Spinach & Greek Yogurt Dip with Baked Pita Crisps

Apple Slices with Almond Butter

Strawberries & Goat Cheese

Light Caprese Salad

Whole Grain Crackers with String Cheese

Hard Boiled Eggs

Roasted Almonds and Pumpkin Seeds

Walnuts with Hazelnut Butter

Apricot with a (small) side of Dark Chocolate

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Need More Healthful Inspiration?

Clean Eating Tips

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Clean Eating Tips

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This Bride is all types of beautiful, but her gown? S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G. It’s so out of this world gorge that our words can’t do it justice. And if you think this gown is good, just wait until you hear Andrew and Cassi’s story. Brace yourself – he has loved her since the 6th grade. If that doesn’t turn you into a ball of mush then the captures by the talented Kate Weinstein Photo certainly will. See it all in THE VAULT!

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From Kate Weinstein Photo… He’s loved her since the 6th grade,” was the theme of the wedding toasts on Cassi + Andrew’s wedding day. The two have been best friends since elementary school, and while Andrew realized his love for Cassi early on (the 6th grade to be exact!), it wasn’t until after college that Cassi finally realized that Andrew was the man for her.

They chose the 4th of July for their wedding date, because since middle school, it’s been their favorite holiday to spend together. The day was set at Andrew’s parent’s home just outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and their ceremony was set up overlooking the Wisconsin countryside, laced with white flowers by Fresh Design. String music for the ceremony was performed by Tatiana Migliaccio and accompaniments.

Cassi wore a gorgeous illusion neckline dress by Pronovias, and her bridesmaids wore dusty blue Joanna August dresses. Jen Ganson planned the wedding day to perfection, North Star Bistro catered a family-style dinner, and Fresh Design created the bouquets, table arrangements, and adorned the tables with greenery. The reception took place under a Sperry Tent, and Lakes Area rentals provided the long tables and the french country chairs. Sweet Perfections made a simple and lovely cake and MaeMae & Co. designed the paper goods and invitation suite, including a custom crest with Cassi and Andrew’s initials.

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Photography: Kate Weinstein Photo | Event Planning: Dare to Dream Weddings | Floral Design: freshdesign | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Sweet Perfections | Invitations: Mae Mae Paperie | Catering: North Star Bistro | Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Ceremony Music: Tatiana Migliaccio | Bridesmaid Dress Brand: Joanna August | Bridesmaids' Dress Shop: Bella Bridesmaid | Calligraphy On Escort Cards: Love Letter Calligraphy | Escort Cards: Mint & Lovely Studios | Film Lab: The Find Lab | Linen Rentals: Arena Americas | Rentals: Lakes Area Rental | Tent Rentals: Sperry Tents | Valet: Keeh's Valet

Take our advice and forward this gallery to your hubby, because this right here is what we like to call #anniversarygoals. With the help of Dream Weddings Europe this groom surprised his bride with the ultimate 5th anniversary treat, an unbelievably romantic day in Paris. Complete with Christian Louboutin shoes, a dream dress, and a luxury suite, he really made his wife feel like royalty, and Elena Belaya captured it all for us to partake in the pretty via THE VAULT!

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From Dream Weddings Europe… An unbelievable surprise that the husband offered to his beloved wife for their 5th Wedding Anniversary – which is a good way to put the spark back into a relationship.

To welcome his wife in a romantic way, the husband has chosen a luxury suite with the Eiffel Tower view at the Regina Hotel in Paris, the city of love and passion. In the morning, the stylist Ana Quasoar & the Vip Manager of Christian Louboutin, had graciously joined the couple in their suite with some of their amazing creations, to let our Princess of the day to choose her dreamed dress & Louboutin shoes for this perfect day. What a great surprise!

Once dressed, the couple left with their driver and vintage car for a photoshoot in the most romantic places in Paris. To end this beautiful day, the couple had a ceremony in an old Chapel for their vows renewal and a romantic dinner on a boat. 

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Photography: Elena Belaya | Event Planning: Dream Weddings Europe | Wedding Dress: Ana Quasoar | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Getting Ready Venue: Hotel Raphael