When some people hear theme party, they might get a little nervous. Admittedly, I fall into that category. They can easily teeter on the side of cheesy (and there is definitely a time and a place for that), but we are here to prove the point that theme parties can be super chic and elegant too. And we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites to prove that point in the prettiest of ways.

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More Party Tid Bits

How to Set a Table | The Easiest Party DIYs | Stocking Your Entertaining Arsenal

While I’m lucky enough to discover fabulous new photographers daily, there’s a group that I like to keep extra close, right in my back pocket. Their talent speaks for themselves, and these are the peeps that I’ve come to depend on, that never disappoint. And one of the newest members of my personal crush club is Cassidy Carson. Her modern, fine art film photography has made me a fan and I’m not the only one.

Based in Nashville, Cassidy loves traveling all over the Southeast and beyond, capturing beautiful couples and celebrations. Any opportunity that affords her the luxury to travel makes her heart sing and that joy is evident in the photos she captures. Her documentary approach to wedding photography and her delight in capturing stories in an authentic, organic way, makes brides adore her the world over.

Ready to make Cassidy Carson your new bff for your upcoming bash? Mention this post when contacting Cassidy and receive $250 off any wedding collection!

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Photography: Cassidy Carson

You found the perfect wedding dress that will make you feel gorgeous on your wedding day. But if you really want to feel like a bride walking down the aisle, it’s all about the veil. And the lovely Ieie’s Bridal Dress Boutique has every veil you could ever dream of to take you from a pretty woman in a white dress to a beautiful, glowing bride on the big day.

No matter which style dress earned your “Yes,” Ieie’s Bridal Dress Boutique has a veil that is its perfect match. Play up your gown’s vintage vibe with a gorgeous lace Mantilla veil. Or, let a plain, soft tulle veil complement a slinky, modern dress. Can’t find the veil of your dreams? Ieie Bridal Dress Boutique will work with you to create a customized handmade veil to complete the bridal look you’ve always dreamed of. And with exceptional quality at an affordable price point, finding a veil at Ieie Bridal Dress Boutique will be as easy as saying “I Do,” to the love of your life.

High-quality, truly affordable and beyond anything you’ve ever imagined… contact Ieie’s Bridal Dress Boutique to get the perfect veil to put the finishing touches on your bridal look.  And make sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for even more gorgeous inspiration.

As if the gorgeous veils weren’t wonderful enough, Ieie Bridal Dress Boutique is offering free shipping (within the U.S.) on regular priced veils with the coupon code SMPVEIL from January to February!

When wedding planner Tory of Smith + James became a bride herself, she didn’t waste any time and booked the vendors of her dreams – Jose Villa, Amorology, Flowerwild and The FlashDance, just to name a few. And while fires spreading through the San Diego area threatened to cancel the festivities altogether, the Big Day went off without a hitch thanks to a dose of luck and one incredibly committed vendor crew. Peek through The Vault, and you’ll see how a potential crisis was (beautifully) averted.

From the beautiful Bride, Tory of Smith + James…I had a really specific vision for my wedding. As a planner myself, I absolutely LOVE details, but it was important to me not to make it feel too forced or fussy. I wanted it ooze romance and cool… but also make it feel like us. We decided to combine lots of leather and lots of flowers to create our own very elegant but still barefoot-in-the-grass sort of vibe.

I’m still so in love with my gown. When I tried it on for the first time, I just knew. The lace is so delicate and I thought the dress was really different yet still classically beautiful.

Jose Villa was the first vendor we booked. I’ve always loved his work but I had no idea what an incredibly kind and humble human being he would be. I absolutely hate having my photo taken so this was the most dreaded aspect of the wedding for me. He made us feel so comfortable and made everything so easy. His photographs are our most treasured (new) family heirloom.

My favorite part of the whole planning process was definitely meeting my all-time favorite human Amber Moon and working with her on our invitation suite. I wanted our invites to be romantic, a little dark and stormy with a rock-n-roll/Andy Warhol vibe. I even asked for a custom rorschach test (that ink blot test used in psychology!) as part of the invite suite. With all my crazy requests, she absolutely nailed it. We had so much fun going totally overboard with leather wraps and toggles and ties. It was a blast.

Kate Holt of Flowerwild is such an incredible lady and her creativity is endless. She really helped make a lot of things come together at the last minute and I can’t thank her enough. She totally understood my vision. The way she tied all the ribbons into that tree for our ceremony was breathtaking. She’s another member of my vendor team that I’m keeping forever.

We hired Heather Balliet of Amorology to plan the wedding, knowing her reputation for paying attention to the details. I’m so glad we had her on our team. She really was more than a wedding planner, she became a friend when I needed help with wedding politics.

The week of our wedding was totally crazy. There were huge arson fires burning through San Diego and much of the city was evacuated. People thought we were going to cancel the wedding. Our venue was evacuated on Wednesday and then my parents home was evacuated on Thursday about two hours before they were meant to host a Welcome Barbecue for out-of-town guests. My mom just grabbed her dress and shoes for the wedding day and my dad’s tux and ran out the door. Bless that woman. Luckily, everything in that area calmed down by Saturday.

I think my favorite part of the wedding day was that everything externally was so stressful for everyone with all the fires and yet Blake and I were so calm. It didn’t stress us out at all. We just wanted to get married. We were so happy to have everyone there. Our only concern was with the people losing their homes in the fires.

With that said, all of our vendors went above and beyond to create this wedding, some of whom were evacuated from their homes while creating our wedding day. No joke.

I think my favorite detail was our guestbook/cake table, which had tons of candles with matches so guests could light a candle and make a wish for us on our wedding day. It kind of went with the unintentional “fire” vibe of that whole week and I remember looking over there thinking that table was all lit up with our friends and family’s encouraging thoughts for us. It was so optimistic.

I know flower crowns are on their way out but I just love ’em. Anywhere I can put flowers, I will and if that means bridesmaids hair, so be it.

For our favors, we gave our guests our secret weapons: macarons from Bottega Louie in Los Angeles. On the favor tags it read “We enjoy these on good days (and require them on bad days!) So, on our best day, we’d love to share these treats with you. -Tory and Blake” People really got a kick out of those since it was so personal to us. I also ate probably 50 macarons the day after my wedding! No regrets.

I also have to add that Gary Ames, our DJ, was a total rockstar. It was such a rad dance party and everyone still reminds us of that.

The best advice I can give to brides-to be is to think of the guest experience first and foremost. When planning our day, we went out of our way to make sure guests would feel included, loved on, taken care of, etc. I never wanted my guests to feel like they were being shuffled around or excluded from something, even if that meant sacrificing something I really wanted. It paid off. So much of the feedback on our wedding is about the way the event felt and the overall vibe. Everyone really felt the love and that is truly the best feedback we could get!

Photography: Jose Villa Photography | Cinematography: Sharkpig | Event Planning: Amorology | Floral Design: Kate Holt Creative | Wedding Dress: Amy Michelson | Cake: Hey There, Cupcake! | Invitations: Amber Moon | Makeup: Amy Clarke | Hair: Linda Moulios | DJ: THE FLASHDANCE | Favors: Bottega Louie | Venue: The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Henna: Henna San Diego | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Photo Booth: Amigo Booth | Rentals: Pow Wow Design Studio | Rentals: Abbey Party Rents | Table Top Rentals - Stemware: Casa de Perrin | Tabletop Rentals: Kate Holt Creative

Everyone needs a little inspiration every now and then, and art can be a fantastic place to find it. Especially typography art (and I’m not talking about the cheesy motivational posters that hung up in your middle school classrooms). So, give yourself a reason to smile—and something pretty to look at— with these sassy, fun and inspiring prints!

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More Art Inspiration

Standout Photography Art Moments | How to Pick the Perfect Frame | Affordable Artwork You’ll Love

Between you and me, I think the only thing better than an amazing wedding, is an amazing wedding that actually helps you pay for your honeymoon. Cue the confetti! That’s exactly the idea behind SPG Weddings at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Not only do you walk away with a gorgeous venue for your wedding festivities, but you earn bonus Starpoints® to apply towards free honeymoon nights at hotels and resorts across the world. An escape to Paris? A retreat in Bora Bora? Yes, please.

Now let’s talk details. When you host your wedding at participating Starwood Hotels & Resorts in North America, Mexico, Latin America and Canada, those awesome Starpoints® will be awarded once you sign your contract, so you can use them right away or save them for an anniversary celebration down the road. It all adds up to a total win-win.

All that’s left to decide is where you’ll chose to travel with your soon-to-be. Whether you’re the adventure-loving couple dying to hit the ski slopes, the beach bum couple who wants to relax with sun and sand, or the European travelers dying to wander the streets of Paris, the options are absolutely endless.

Thanks to SPG Weddings + Honeymoons you can go ahead and let the wanderlust begin!

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Remember freshman year of college when Mom would send care packages of candy, magazines, nail polish and goodies galore? Think of the items below as a care package for the newly engaged couple. From the practical (Champagne flutes to toast the occasion) to the pretty (the Style Me Pretty Weddings book for endless inspiration), these treats will make any couple’s engagement that much better.

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More Inspiration for the Newly Engaged

What Not to Do When You Get Engaged | How to Avoid Losing Your Ring | Take the Perfect #SMPRingSelfie! 

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In my dreams, where messy toddlers, and husbands who are opposed to anything pink aren’t a factor, I have a whole room devoted to my closet and it’s blanketed in wallpaper just like this. Making it a reality is probably not on the horizon but I can live vicariously through Floral & Bloom’s gorgeous new studio space. It’s so beautiful and inspiring; the perfect spot to practice her craft. See even more of this flower filled space shot by Bonnie Sen in the VAULT.

I’ve been dreaming of a home studio to call my own to design in and store all of my supplies and inventory in. I wanted the space to be inspiring and aesthetically pleasing for all of my clients but to also match my brand and style while still being functional. I love having my clients come visit and I think it actually makes the whole experience of working with Floral & Bloom more personal, which is very important to me. Things on my wish list for my studio were lots of natural light, driftwood floors, clean lines, open space to work in, and lots of shelving to easily grab vessels. I also splurged on a fun floral wallpaper from Anthropolgie to create an accent wall. My business has evolved so much in such a short amount of time and I feel this space is just another stepping stone to future opportunities and growth in the flower world!

Photography: Bonnie Sen | Floral Design: Floral & Bloom Designs | Makeup Artist : Blend Make-up Artistry | Shelving : Ikea | Wallpaper : Anthropologie

The search for a perfect venue is over, because Omni La Costa is it. Not only do you get a dedicated wedding specialist who’ll partner with your coordinator to plan your dream day, but the North San Diego location is sure to add sunshine to your ceremony. Add in a chance to see an array of setups and meet their specialists, we think it’s easy to see why Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is perfect!

Offering a variety of venues and atmospheres to choose from, Omni La Costa has every type of accommodation to fit your festivity. Be it your rehearsal dinner, wedding shower, or celebratory wedding brunch, Omni La Costa has it all accessible leading up to your big day (and beyond).

In addition to luxurious accommodations, Omni La Costa offers the #1 wellness spa, two championship golf courses, five on premise restaurants and limitless options for leisure and fun. From Omni La Costa’s dynamic indoor and outdoor spaces to stunning scenery complete with panoramic views, it’s impossible not to fall in love with every single detail.

Also, did you know that when you book your wedding at any Omni Hotels & resorts property you will receive a complimentary honeymoon stay at one of 14 premier resort destinations (!!) amazing right?! It’s easy to see why Omni La Costa is the ideal destination for guests and getaways alike and with a variety of venues to accommodate every need, we ask you – what are you waiting for?! Get booking!

Celebrate your engagement and preview the perfect venue with a weekend getaway to Omni La Costa Resort & Spa!

Ten couples will win two nights of world-class accommodations at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa

Package includes:
*Two nights at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
*Customized amenities
*Welcome cocktails and appetizers
*Dinner in one of the luxury ballrooms
*Your choice of spa/golf/tennis/yoga activity

You will have the opportunity to see a variety of inspirational wedding setups, and meet our wedding specialists and see if Omni La Costa Resort & Spa could be the right venue for your special day!

Leave a comment below by January 31, 2016 and let us know why Omni La Costa is your ideal wedding location for a chance to win!

Please note transportation to and from the resort will not be provided

Venue: Omni La Costa Resort & Spa

I’m a bit upset I didn’t see this wedding before I had my own because there’s more than one detail I totally would have replicated – we’re talking a craft beer cocktail hour AND custom ice cream sandwiches here people. Add in these cuties and it’s a Colorado bash for the books – see every delicious detail captured by Austyn Elizabeth in our VAULT – get started right here!

From Austyn Elizabeth Photography… Jaime and Jared desired to create an intimate destination wedding, allowing all their friends and family in Texas and Kansas to come and celebrate the beginning of their marriage in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. The day was inspired by all the things they love; fine craft beer, great food, and the people they love the most. A year before their wedding they began making trips to Colorado to search out wedding vendors. They instantly fell in love with the organic, gorgeous and simply elegant Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park as their backdrop for their wedding weekend getaway.

The wedding date was August 3, 2015. The couple couldn’t have asked for better weather… the morning and start of the ceremony were cloudy (with a very tiny mist at the start of the ceremony) and the clouds broke just in time for cocktail hour on the deck. The theme was “rose gold” if you want to call that a theme :-)… Jared proposed with a gorgeous cushion cut diamond set in rose gold, and this was a total surprise to Jaime (as they didn’t look at rings and she never hinted about wanting anything in particular)… and this rose gold ring set the tone for the entire wedding. This included Jaime’s custom designed wedding dress from Binzario Couture out of Dallas, TX (where the couple live). Jaime’s dress was a color she called “rose gold” – somewhere between a smoky peach and champagne.  Just like Jaime’s dress was a surprise for Jared, Jared’s outfit was a surprise for Jaime! He wore a handsome combination of linen and suede that was the perfect amount of unique to impress Jaime and fit the uniqueness of the day. Bride’s makeup was done by Makeup by Heather B from Lone Tree, CO and hair was by Kristy Shelton of Something Blue Hairstyling of Kansas City. The ceremony was officiated by Pastor David Brooks and included live acoustic guitar and personalized wedding vows. The couple has a love for craft beer, so the long cocktail hour on the deck at Della Terra had a craft beer tasting theme with the title “craft brews, Texas tunes, and happily ever after.” Guests received favors of small tasting glasses with the couple’s wedding date and monogram and tasted some of the couple’s favorite beers. These were categorized by beer style and a menu provided a description of the beer as well as why it was significant to the couple. Live acoustic music was provided on the deck by Jonathan Moody of the Jonathan Moody Band from San Antonio, TX. Blackbelly Catering provided amazing passed hors d’oeuvres that paired with each style of beer. The reception began at 6:00 and featured an eclectic stations style menu by Blackbelly catering. Stations were as follows: Meat Station, Seafood Station, Mac-n-Cheese station. Guests were encouraged to try a little of everything during a dinner reception that encouraged socializing and mingling while eating. Dancing was kicked off by the couple’s first dance to “Kiss Me in the Dark” by Randy Rogers Band performed live by Jonathan Moody Band from San Antonio, TX. The couple wore new cowboy boots (a wedding gift from Jared that surprised Jaime to tears prior to the first look!)… the couple had take two-stepping lessons in Dallas so the boots fit the theme of the dance well. Shortly after the start of dancing, dessert was served. The couple hired White Whale food truck to provide ice cream sandwiches on the patio by the waterfall. This was a huge hit! After dessert, the dance floor continued with live music from Jonathan Moody Band. Guests danced the night away! Flowers were by Painted Primrose from Boulder, CO and photography was Austyn Elizabeth Photography. Another detail included the theme “you are my bucket list” which was included in vows, printed on napkins, and painted on a large sign by the sweetheart table. Paper products by The Bee’s Knees Custom Design out of Dallas, TX. Various signs were displayed throughout the venue – a welcome sign, cocktail hour signs, stations signs, beverage menu sign, and “you are my bucket list.” These signs were custom made by Jaime’s dad who specializes in custom woodwork. The words were painted by Longhand Edition (check for them on Etsy!).

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Find more Colorado weddings here!

Photography: Austyn Elizabeth Photography | Floral Design: Painted Primrose | Wedding Dress: Binzario Couture | Cake: White Whale Ice Cream Sandwich Truck | Rings: Diamond Doctor | Catering: Black Belly Catering | Makeup: Makeup By Heather B | Hair: Kristy Shelton | Calligraphy: Longhand Edition | Band: Jonathan Moody Band | Officiant: Mywedding Com | Venue: Della Terra Mountain Chateau | Rentals: RC Special Events

Looking for unique ways to brand your big day? Consider crafting your own monogram! It’s the perfect statement that your guests are sure to love, and bonus points: you can use it long after you say “I do”. We’ve rounded up a few fun ways your you to add your initial stamp to your ceremony, see a few favorites below and even more inspiration in THE VAULT!

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See more tips on how to brand your wedding day!

We all dream of saying “I do” in paradise but guess what m’dears? Those dreams can become reality and with the help of the newest kids on the Bali event planning block, Hitch’d Weddings & Events, it’s a breeze. Focusing on the finest details with a fun, quirky edge, Hitch’d is a breath of fresh air, excited to share your love story with all your friends and family as you celebrate your new adventure together.

Wedding planning doesn’t need to be that stressful experience we all too often hear about. With Hitch’d stepping in as the couple’s personal assistant, everything from booking the venue and all vendors to choosing the decor and design details that make your celebration YOU, planning becomes fun and easy. Based in Bali and available via phone and Skype, Hitch’d looks forward to learning all about their clients so that they in turn, can create the experience that the couple has always dreamed of.

With loved ones coming from all over to celebrate with you in Bali, many more days of activities are needed – and Hitch’d helps with them all. These “Love Festivals” are just another way that Hitch’d caters to their clients, organizing events for all the wedding guests to enjoy, from sunset cocktails and canapes before the Big Day to a recovery Pool Party to wrap up the whole experience, always tailored to what each individual client loves and hopes for, but always making it a week to remember!

Hitch’d Weddings & Events is offering couples 50% off their management fee if they book their wedding between June and October 2016, the best months to hold your wedding in Bali! Just make sure to mention ‘SMPWED16’ when you reach out to Hitch’d!

Photography: Alma Photography | Wedding Dress: Beaded Boudoir | Cake: Butter Bali | Decoration: Hitch'd Weddings & Events | Flowers, Decoration + Lighting: Gloriosa Flower House | Furniture: Bali Event Hire | Hair + Make-Up: Yeanne Make-Up Art | Private Villa: Taman Karang Kembar (Villa Dua) | Resort + Beach Club: Sakala Beach Club | Weddings + Events Manager: Hitch'd Weddings & Events

Brielle and Mike, every single one of us here at Style Me Pretty have a confession to make: your wedding day at Shadow Creek has completely stolen our hearts! Every detail is SO good that we honestly. Just to give you an idea, every pastel pretty is sure to find it’s way onto our Pinterest boards, and thanks to Elizabeth Fogarty we’ll all be spending the rest of our days in the THE VAULT!

From Elizabeth Fogarty…Mike and Brielle met in college at an introduction freshman course. And six years later, here they are. They wanted their wedding to be a reflection of them: fun, warm, and outdoorsy. Brielle picked blush, champagne, and eucalyptus tones for her colors and they came together beautifully! The different bridesmaids’ dresses were also perfect! Brielle purchased gowns from BHLDN, J Crew, and Jenny Yoo for her girls. The bride and groom picked this fairly new venue because of its blonde wood, vaulted ceilings, and wrought iron chandeliers. It put a whole new twist on barn weddings. This barn wedding was modern and elegant! The one fun fact about this venue is that they have a very special guest during the cocktail hour- a super friendly horse! The venue provides snacks like carrots for the guests to feed it.

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See even more head-turning trends here!

Photography: Elizabeth Fogarty | Event Planning: Merren Events | Floral Design: Blooming Arts | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Invitations: Minted | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Hair + Makeup: Jamie Dagostino | DJ: MyDeejay | Groom's Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Venue: Shadow Creek

You’ve got mail! That’s right come your Big Day you’re going to be swimming in an unbelievable amount of paper goods and envelopes and you’ll need a place to stash all these pretties during the party. Which is why we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite unique card holders to inspire your necessity. Click for more and find even more inspiration in THE VAULT!

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See even more head-turning trends here!

These two were meant for a destination wedding on the beach. Those smiles alone prove it. And their sweet family and friends were able to share in those smiles with them, destination style, in beautiful Portugal to be exact. Thanks to French Grey Photography, THE VAULT gallery makes me want to dig my toes in the sand and hop on the love train. Join me here!

From French Grey Photography…Stacey and Rich treated their closest friends and family to a stunning wedding day filled with the amazing summer rays that only the south of Portugal can deliver. The Algarve coast is an amazing spot for summer weddings; great landscapes, friendly locals, and nothing but the best first class hospitality. For a photographer it is a region filled with diverse landscapes and beautiful historical buildings that make capturing a wedding or an engagement truly breathtaking.

The 5-starred Sheraton hotel in the PINE CLIFFS area of the Algarve, is a place that once you discover, you never want to leave. It has everything a 5-starred wedding event needs. Great vendors and views all on site! I hope to visit this amazing venue again with many more happy couples!

I was honored to be a part of Stacey’s and Rich’s emotional wedding day, full of tradition, good friends and great food! Not to mention an amazing sunset and a fabulous couples session on their private beach!

From The Bride…Rich and I vacationed in Portugal shortly after our engagement in August of 2014, and we fell in love with the stunning views at Pine Cliffs/Sheraton Algarve. The rugged red cliffs, gorgeous blue water, amazing coast line, and the the zen-like pines made a strong impression on us. We wanted a small, intimate wedding where we can share our special day with our family and close friends over food, drinks, and laughter. It was important for us to be able to spend quality time with each of our guests and let them know how much we appreciate them for being a part of our lives. We were very lucky to have friends and family join us from Asia, Europe, and the US for our wedding.

See more Destination Weddings here!

Photography: French Grey Photography | Coordination: Sheraton Algarve | Floral Design: Ambient Flores | Wedding Dress: Rosa Clara | Hair + Makeup: Serena-Grace Horn | DJ: ABC Sound And Light | Band: Joana Gouveia Music | Venue: Sheraton Algarve

Congrats! You have a new special sparkler on your finger and one major party to plan ahead of you…but news flash, you still need to wake up and go to your day job, and you know, make the moola to pay for it all. So how do you get all those fun, fabulous plans in place but continue to keep the boss happy? We’ve got the inside scoop for being productive in both roles that you’re rocking these days straight ahead!

BE ORGANIZED

Plan Ahead:

Approach each work day knowing what you hope to accomplish while at your desk and after. Having those duties planned out in advance makes it easier to tackle them whenever a burst of free time opens up for you.

Online Work Only:

Keep those magazines and binders at home! Whatever work you do at the office should be purely accessible online. You’re trying to keep you personal projects on the downlow and stacks of linen samples and magazine cut-outs kind of give it away.

BE SMART

Lunch Hour Is Key:

Take advantage of this special time slot! This is the time for all vendor calls, inquiries and meetings! An hour a day, five hours a week, is precious productive time waiting to be used!

Free Time Is YOUR Time:

Every little 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there, is an open opportunity to fit in more wedding work! Calls can be made during your commute, reception music ideas can be listened to during your workouts!

BE HONEST

Be Respectful:

You may have a co-worker that’s eager to hear all about your weekend dress shopping adventure, but no matter how supportive your co-workers may be, they don’t want or need to hear about every single wedding planning moment for the next 12 months (or more)! Sharing a bit is fine and fun but erring on the side of caution and holding back on spilling too many details is always a wise choice. Are there ladies in your office eagerly awaiting a ring as well? No need to make them feel bad by constantly gabbing about gowns.

Clear Priorities:

Never, ever forget why you are at the office – to do that job that you’ve worked hard to get. Day job duties always take priority and 99% of the time, wedding planning items can wait til later. The wedding will come and go but you want your career to still be standing strong when you return from that honeymoon!

If Caught, Don’t Lie:

Boss come up behind your desk and take you off guard as you pin the 134th bouquet on your Pinterest board? It’s not worth trying to cover it up; be honest and apologize. Close that tab and get back to your regular work for the rest of the day (play it safe and maybe lay off the wedding work for the rest of the week we recommend!).

Follow the Rules:

Each and every company has their own rules and regulations including what sites are allowed on work computers. Check on your company’s guidelines and keep in mind that your online habits may be watched and recorded.

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Stuck in a rut? More wedding planning advice this way! 

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It’s here, it’s here! The day has finally arrived as we witness our very own blogger bride, Kara of  Politics of Pretty, walk down the aisle, and darlings this is one we’ve been waiting to share. The epitome of style grace, it’s a day infused with plenty of Real Doll Makeup, perfectly saturated hues of pink, and of course endless love. Thankfully Elizabeth Fogarty captured it all and we’ve got it all in THE VAULT!

From Blogger Bride, Kara Manos of Politics of Pretty… I had spent almost two years planning my wedding. I’m sure any bride would agree— wedding planning is basically a temporary part-time job. I experienced all the highs (the bridal shower, the bachelorette, the tastings) and lows (budgeting, the seating chart and more budgeting) on our journey to the altar. Needless to say, wedding planning came with a bunch of mixed emotions, a lot of work and months of saving. But well worth it, because here I am, on Style Me Pretty, sharing all the little details that made our day so special.

The vision I had for my wedding was a mix of vintage and whimsical—I like to refer to it as The Great Gatsby meets Alice in Wonderland. Like any bride, I wanted this entire day to be one-of-a-kind and memorable for us as a couple and for the friends and family we chose to celebrate this monumental moment with.

I loved the idea of a fall wedding and I wanted my color scheme to compliment that time of year. It didn’t take me long to decide on a rich raspberry, navy and gray color scheme with accents of gold. While it took a long time to find the right shade of berry I was looking for, I found it in beautiful Donna Morgan bridesmaid dresses (that also happened to be on sale at Nordstrom). According to my husband this was going to be, “a very berry wedding.” I loved the idea of navy tuxes for the guys but it did take some time to convince my husband.

One of the best decisions I made was booking B Floral Event Design as my wedding florist for the big day. Shelly Bagdasian, founder of B Flora, designed the most beautiful centerpieces. She understood my vision perfectly, not to mention, completely exceeded my expectations with my bouquet (a hand tied bouquet in a range of berry colors filled with dahlias, peonies, roses, and pepper berries tied with a silk ribbon and flower shaped broach to coordinate with my dress detail). My favorite reception centerpiece was our escort card table—Shelly came up with the clever idea of hanging vintage skeleton keys from the arrangement. In my free time, I tied heart shaped skeleton keys with a silk ribbon to each table card—a way of telling them that their “presence was key.”

For my bridal look, I wanted to look like a modern Jean Harlow— and a timeless one shoulder satin gown worked perfectly for my vision. I felt so lucky because I found this gorgeous Pronovias dress at a sample sale at Love Couture Bridal. It was equal parts elegant and sexy, but most importantly, unique. As you may already know, I was a bride on a budget and proud of it! My experience at Love Couture was nothing short of amazing and it’s what prompted me to go back there to shop for my veil and jewelry. I also happened to have the best hair and makeup team a bride could ask for. Anna of Styled by Anna Fazio and Lauren of Real Doll Makeup perfected my look with old Hollywood waves and glam makeup.

Curtis & I made the decision to do a first look and I’m so glad we did. As you may remember, the proposal was filmed in front of our family and posted on YouTube, so we enjoyed having an intimate moment to ourselves before the ceremony. It was certainly more emotional than I thought it would be, but it was also extremely calming for one another, considering the chaos while getting ready and what was about to ensue.

I was baptized and raised in the Greek Orthodox Church and my heritage has always been a huge part in my life. We had our ceremony at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, D.C. A Greek ceremony is typically 45-minutes long. Sounds grueling, I know. Especially when you’re wearing 4-inch Jimmy Choo heels. Miraculously, the shoes were pretty comfortable (we are three hours in at this point though).

We had our reception at The Hyatt Regency Bethesda. Our Hyatt wedding planner, Shelley Belk and her team went above and beyond to make sure the evening went off without a hitch. Perhaps the most generous to note was the hotel upgrading us to the Presidential Suite for a truly memorable weekend. After the toasts, cake cutting, and mother/son and father/daughter dance, we wanted to make sure we had as much open dance time as possible. Our emcee and DJ, Jordan Solender, had our guests on the dance floor all night thanks to the variety of music he played.

Elizabeth Fogarty Photography captured our day perfectly. I love the dreamy, ethereal aesthetic in Elizabeth’s work and I knew she would tell our story in beautiful images.

My husband is a videographer so our friends at Reflexion Videography and one of his close friends, Adam Reuter, captured all the memorable moments of our wedding day on film. Without them, our wedding day would not have been complete. We feel so blessed to have the opportunity to experience those moments all over again.

I thought I would experience a loss from no longer wedding planning but after coming back to reality from our dream day, I have felt nothing but relief and pure happiness. I underestimated what married life would be like and that’s the journey I’m looking forward to most.

What advice would I give to brides-to-be? Make a list of the things that matter most to you and invest in those details for the big day. Find budget friendly alternatives for the rest. Spend time researching every vendor so you can choose the right team to help you bring your visions to life. I spent much of my time on WeddingWire reading reviews before reaching out to vendors. If budget is a concern, negotiate! It never hurts to ask and if they are truly a great vendor, then they will be willing to work with you as long as your budget is realistic. And most importantly, don’t stress about the little things! It’s easy to get caught up in the headache of wedding planning but remember the point in all of this—love.

From Elizabeth Fogarty… Where do I even start to talk about Curt and Kara? Gosh, their wedding day was one of a kind! These two are just sweethearts and from all the pictures, you can tell that Curt is CRAZY about Kara. The colors and the theme were perfect for the fall. My favorite detail was the Donna Morgan bridesmaids’ gowns. They were simply gorgeous! My favorite part of their wedding day was their first look. Curt’s reaction was simply priceless! There were lots of smiles and kisses. It was such an honor to capture such sweet memories for these two.

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Follow Kara’s Journey:

Meet the Bride | Makeup with Carl Ray | Nail Polish Ideas | Bridal Beauty Checklist | Parisian Inspired Bridal Shower

Photography: Elizabeth Fogarty | Videography: Reflexion Videography | Floral Design: B Floral Event Design | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Creative Cakes | Invitations: Minted | Ceremony Venue: St Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral | Reception Venue: Grand Hyatt Bethesda | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Donna Morgan | Makeup: Real Doll Makeup | Hair: Styled By Anna Fazio | DJ: District Remix | Groomsmen Attire: Jos A. Bank Rentals | Transportation : Awards Limo | Blogger Bride: Kara Manos | Bridal Boutique : Love Couture Bridal | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Table Numbers + Escort Cards: Minted | Veil: Sara Gabriel

Oh how I love an accent wall moment. It’s like the happiest surprise in a room, and instantly brings any space from pretty to show stopping. So whether you choose wallpaper, paint or some pretty art to add a little dazzle to the room of your choice, you’ll definitely have some fans over here at SMP Living.

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More ways to pretty up your home right here!

At first sight of April Lynn Designs’ invite with the oh so true saying “All You Need Is Love and Cookies” I knew this shoot was going to be chock full of Pinterest worthy ideas to steal; my own anniversary might still be a few months off, but that doesn’t mean I can’t start planning now! How can you resist with all these creative ideas captured by Kay English? Get a head start pinning away in our VAULT right here!

From Kristin Rockhill of Details of I Do… This sophisticated preppy shoot is the perfect marriage of upscale shabby chic charm, rustic styling and whimsical details!

The colors consisted of a dreamy mix of pinks and peaches with pops of muted turquoise and blues. The wood tones and burlap linens brought in our signature rustic charm.

The white wash beer garden and vintage door table were custom made by Vinterest Props and decor. Vintage velvet chairs, a dry sink, metal gazebo and reclaimed wood benches and seating added character and shabby chic style to the shoot.

The tables featured an eclectic mix of flowers, colored glass bottles, glass and wood candlesticks and lush blooms. The table is also styled with vintage plates, stacked books and candles in every shape and size.

The Baby’s Breath runner and tall floral arrangement pack a powerful punch of wow and have a cloud like ethereal quality. The lush garden roses, ranunculus and draping greens and hanging amaranthus add a pop of color and a touch of whimsy.

Soft Yet Dramatic, the girls looked glam and effortless and the poofs of Baby’s Breath tucked into their hair added an ethereal quality.

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More anniversary celebration inspiration here!

Photography: Kay English Photography | Event Planning: Details of I do | Event Planning: Merren Events | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Makeup: Genna Verde Longo | Hair: Letitia Kakas | Venue: Nassau Inn | Floral, Event Design + Styling: Kristin Rockhill | Invitations + Stationery: April Lynn Designs | Rentals: Party Rental LTD | Style Consultant: Y Knot Now | Vintage Furniture, Props + Decor: Vinterest Props

As a social media gal on team SMP, I’ve seen my fair share of Facebook engagement announcements. And believe me when I tell you — social media can either make or break a bride. From major oops to “like” worthy posts,  we’re dishing our tried and true tips to navigating the world of social media… as a bride-to-be! So exit out of Instagram and take notes before you become that girl.

P.S. Tips for the Newly Engaged