There’s far too much pretty in this soiree to wrap up in a short and sweet intro, so I’m to stick to the detail of this day that strikes my fancy: That. Hayley Paige. dress. It’s timeless, flowing and has a twirl-factor for the books. She wears it so well and I might add, it’s the perfect match for a garden wedding of this caliber. Intrigued? There’s more waiting in THE VAULT thanks to Honey Honey Photography.

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From The Bride…Tony and Diana met in Viva Las Vegas! Diana was traveling the world at the time and took a small break to go home to California for 3 weeks. Within that time, she went to Las Vegas with girlfriends while he was there for a bachelor party. Tony lived in Orange County while Diana resides in The Bay Area. 7 months later was when they reunited for the first time when Tony drove all the way to San Jose just so he can take Diana out on a date.

First date went well and continued with weekly back and fourth traveling. 6 months later, he realized he couldn’t stay away so he packed his bags, rented a uHaul and moved to the beautiful Silicon Valley. 2 years later, he asked for her hand in marriage and she said yes!

Diana wanted a simple, yet chic and romantic look. She loved the outdoor garden feel and fell in love with the venue at Franciscan Gardens in San Juan Capistrano. Found Rentals delivered a beautiful blush tufted love seat to go with a 6 foot rustic wood table decorated with lace and candles galore. Who wouldn’t want to sit under the stars and flower terrarium globes in such style? Diana and Tony danced on what looked like clouds to Endless Love which was the highlight of the day. Their talented videographer filmed a music video in which the couple got all of the wedding guests involved. There was a ton of lip synching and ended with a flash mob dance. This was definitely the highlight of the night!

From the Bride… My advice for future brides planning a wedding would be not to procrastinate. Do your research and book your vendors early! Make tons of lists, get organized and always ask for help. Groom, bridesmaids, family members and friends are all willing to lend a hand. Getting a great day-of coordinator makes a world of difference. We didn’t have a thing to worry about on our special day and that left more time to have fun and remember the day. Last advice is to just let go, be in the moment and have loads of fun on your wedding day.

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More California weddings here!

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Photography: Ether & Smith | Cinematography: Visual Poets | Coordination: Kelly Duprat | Floral Design: Pink The Little Flower Shop | Wedding Dress: Haute Bride | Cake: Rebecca's Cakes | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Catering: Giracci Vineyards Farms | Makeup: Debbie Celeste Makeup Artistry | Hair: Bernard McVeigh | DJ: DJZ Productions | Groom's Attire: Custom Suit | Venue: Franciscan Gardens | Bridal Boutique: Haute Bride | Groom's Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo | Photo Booth: Instant Party Pix Photo Booth | Rentals: Found Rental Co.

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

Petit Bouquet

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We’re waking up to a brand new year, and chances are, you are nursing a lovely little hangover this morning. Oh the joys of New Years Eve. Try these easy steps for feeling refreshed and ready to take on 2016. And once you’ve grabbed a little hair of the dog, peruse some of SMP Living’s favorite moments of 2015. We’re talking favorite home tours, DIY’s, cocktails, parties and the like. Happy New Year!!

Best Home Tours of 2015

Best Parties and Celebrations of 2015

Best DIYs of 2015

Best Cocktails of 2015

2015 was a big year for this little ol’ blog. We launched an editor-curated database filled to the brim with millions of beautiful images (a.k.a. The Vault), published more real weddings than we could dare count, and shared your very own love stories that left us inspired every single day. And 2016 is bound to be bigger and better than ever. We’ve got so many fun projects in the works, but today let’s stop and talk new trends we’re predicting will soon grace our pages. From florals to design, dresses to furry friends, here’s the top wedding trends we expect to see in the coming year.

2016 Wedding Trend Predictions

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2016 Wedding Trend Predictions

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My favorite part of a wedding?  The vows.  Those brief moments during the ceremony when you get a heartwarming sneak peek at the undying love + devotion that two people so sweetly share.  And thanks to the brilliant work of The Film Poets, we’re spending our day basking in the gorgeous words of Jeremy and Helen; a duo who is sooo in love, it will make your heart happy.  Press play NOW.

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From The Film Poets… We first met Helen while we were shooting a wedding in Atlanta, GA for her friends Bona and Andrew. She was the star of the dance floor that night, so when she called us I remembered exactly who she was and was thrilled. Jeremy and Helen’s personal vows were so beautiful and sweet that we had to include them in their film. Jeremy even learned how to play a song on the piano so that he could kick off his first dance with Helen. Watching him nervously practice throughout the day really made me hope that he would nail it, and he did!

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See more Elegant Weddings in THE VAULT!

Photography: Once Like A Spark | Cinematography: The Film Poets | Venue: Callanwolde Fine Arts Center

I dare you not to blush at this alluring elopement from Thecablookfotolab. The mini boudoir session alone was enough to reel me in, complete with a dreamy lace robe from Ann Summers. What is it about a perfect lace robe?! And when those super intimate I do’s hit the page? It’s all over. It doesn’t end here loves, there’s more to pore over in THE VAULT.

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From Darya Kamalova of Thecablookfotolab… This beautiful wedding was a dream and challenge for me at the same time. I was both: event planner, stylist and photographer. I was so happy to spend hours and hours searching for the most breathtaking location for my couple. I (with a help of my team) organised the ceremony and shooting on one of the most beautiful tuscan villas – Palazzo Pfanner. I can say that I shot there one of the most beautiful boudoir sessions ever – in the old part of villa where the lemon trees were growing many years ago. We had hundred candles and beautiful light from the big windows, gorgeous antique furniture from Corydon, simple and chic florals from Bianco Weddings, elegant MUAH from Lidija Malinovskaja… All was so perfect that I couldn’t ask for more. My heart was crying from happiness when I saw Julia’s tears during the oath. This is a perfect example of how you can spend your perfect day without guests, sharing your happiness only between you two in such a beautiful and intimate way.

From The Bride… Like all girls from childhood I dreamed of a fairy tale. No, not of a prince on a white horse who’s gonna save me from somewhere, but of simple human love for life. Moreover, there was a perfect example before my eyes – my parents.

My husband and I met in the fall. And it wasn’t love at first sight. No tragedy worthy for novels. We met for a long time and talked a lot. And just before the New Year in December Kostya started the “conquering part”. I want to note that he was very active. So much active that less than a month after we started to live together.

I always had flowers in our home, then our beloved cat appeared, we changed apartments and town. Year followed year. The white stripe was replaced by black, scandals – reconciliation. In general, we lived and were happy.

I never thought that someone would love me so much. Just for what I am. And certainly I never thought that I could love someone so much. So he proposed to me on the 46th floor of a nice hotel, almost under the clouds. With a huge bouquet of red roses. Of course I agreed.

I always knew that I will never have the normal average wedding!! I couldn’t imagine me sitting in the center of the room with my husband and all the relatives from all over the country around us. No… And so there was no doubts we needed a wedding for two. The question was only the choice of the location. I knew exactly that it should be in Europe. France or Italy. Nothing could be more romantic. But the choice was made by itself when I met Darya Kamalova from Thecablookfotolab. She did both: wedding planning and pictures of our wedding. She lives in Italy and she offered me magnificent places to choose from. And Italy firmly sunk into my soul.

And then it was simple. I started preparations. I chose a dress (Sonesta) and shoes (casadei) of my dreams. Suit (tommy hilfinger) for my husband. We chose the location. Flowers and furniture. Make-up artist and videographer. Everything went so fast that I did not have time to notice, as we were already in Italy and I was in a wedding white dress walking towards him on the road made of small pebbles surrounded by lemon trees. Our oaths to each other. A small tear of happiness from my eyes. And here we are husband and wife. It was the most perfect day. I will never forget Lucca and beautiful villa Pfanner. The day passed quickly, reviewing photos and video I dip into this atmosphere. And I can’t help smiling. And it seems to be repeated again and again.

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See more Elopement inspiration here!

Photography: Thecablookfotolab | Event Planning + Design: Thecablookfotolab | Floral Design: Bianco Weddings | Wedding Dress: Sonesta | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Hair And Makeup: Lidija Malinovskaja | Groom's Attire: Tommy Hilfiger | Venue: Palazzo Pfanner | Furniture Rentals: Corydon | Lingerie: Incanto | Robe: Ann Summers

Before you run off to ring in the New Year, we’ve got just the wedding to put you in the glitz and glam mood. Set at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, it’s the ultimate inspiration for the ballroom bride with a classic white-on-white palette, endless floral elegance from The Hidden Garden, and a Vera Wang gown fit for a modern princess. Our girl Jana Williams captured each bit inside The Vault.

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From Jana Williams Photography… Ayla and Betzalel were high-school sweethearts whose love has only grown more with each passing year. These two lovebirds were married in a beautiful ceremony at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills surrounded by their family and friends. I was so moved by this wedding.

To me a wedding day is an expression of soulmates sharing their love and making a promise to honor that love in the presence of the ones nearest and dearest to their hearts. Ayla moved me with her grace and her presence. Her Vera Wang dress was literally made for her. She looked elegant and chic, the perfect counterpart to a very dapper Betzalel. It was a day filled with much laughter and tears, but only the good kind. It was the perfect day.

Photography: Jana Williams Photography | Event Planning: Events Enchanted | Floral Design: The Hidden Garden | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Bride's Shoes: Monique Lhuillier | Makeup: Angles And Arches | Band: Nefesh Music | Venue: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Rentals: Luna Party Rentals

It should come as no surprise that our first choice sip around these parts is a good ol’ glass of bubbly. Fancy coupes, happy clinking, toasting to love and happiness… all pair so well with the sparkly stuff. But breaking into a bottle can be quite a challenge if you’ve never tackled it (and equally as entertaining), so we decided it was high time to layout the how to. Cheers, loves!

Step One

Make sure to chill your bubbly in advance. Opening a warm bottle is a recipe for disaster and not to mention, it won’t taste so great. We recommend chilling at least a couple of hours.

Step Two

Once your bubbly is chilled to perfection, remove the foil, hold the neck of the bottle at a 45 degree angle and place your thumb over the wire cage. Make sure to point the bottle away from any bystanders!

Step Three

Carefully unwind the cage. Grasp the cork with unwound cage intact and hold the bottle firmly with your dominant hand.

Step Four

Twist the bottle (not the cork) back and forth slowly until you slowly feel the pressure ease out and you can remove the cork fully.

Step Five

Break out the coupes and get pouring! Cheers!

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Champagne Cocktails

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Champagne Cocktails

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Photography: Bonnie Sen

It’s no secret that cocktails are our jam and as we get ready to ring in the New Year, we are sure to have one or three of these libations in hand. So in honor of the impending celebrations, let’s raise a glass to some of the prettiest, tastiest cocktails to grace the pages of Style Me Pretty in the last year. These are the best of the best and I promise only 75% are pink. We kind of have a thing for those too.

The Best Cocktails of 2015

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The Best Cocktails of 2015

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A few other Cocktail Inspired Goodies from 2015…

Tips for an Effortless Cocktail Party | DIY Mini Bar Cart | How to Get Your Bar Cart Party Ready

These little ballerina flower girls and bowtie-clad, curly-haired and man-bun-sporting little ring bearers are the cutest things I’ve ever seen! Them, and the handsome Groom’s reaction to seeing his Bride come down the aisle. But this whole day, which the couple won from the incredibly generous and talented Becca Lea Photography is pretty amazing. See each and every gorgeous moment in THE VAULT!

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From Becca Lea Photography… Emily and Dominic were my 2015 wedding giveaway winners. Each year I hold a giveaway for a deserving couple and I am thrilled that I chose these two. Their style was simple, understated, and beautiful, while filled with so much love.

When it came to the details, Emily found timeless antique pieces to incorporate throughout the day. They blended seamlessly with the delicately understated florals and touches of blush within the wedding. She also decided to incorporate her dance background by choosing to have ballerina girls, rather than flower girls, and let’s not forget about the adorable ring bearers. The man bun, bowties, suspenders, and curly hair are enough to make your melt.

While the details were perfect, the love between this couple was even better! When Emily walked down the aisle, Dom was in tears. It was one of the sweetest, most heartfelt moments I’ve ever had the honor of photographing and that moment alone speaks volumes to their love.

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Photography: Becca Lea Photography | Floral Design: Flower Trunk | Venue: The Grove At Denton Valley | Bridal Boutique: Lulu’s Bridal Boutique

This engagement session had me at hello, or should I say, bonjour. First, it takes place in Paris. Secondly, it’s the e-sesh of the crazy-talented and completely lovely Sabrina Dahan. When I met Sabrina during Bridal Week, I fell in love with her gorgeous gowns and the designer behind them, so I can say with complete certainty, that her groom is one very lucky man. And so are we, thanks to all these beautiful photos from Katie Mitchell Photography in THE VAULT!

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This past summer, I was working on launching “Sabrina Dahan” my debut bridal collection– so Aaron and I decided to not go to Paris. But when he decided that he wanted to propose, he brought our “special” place to me. Aaron surprised me with an Eiffel Tower replica and a picnic for two. When it was time to plan our engagement photos, it only seemed fitting to go back to where we fell in love to capture photos that we will cherish for a lifetime.

We knew that we wanted images in front of the Eiffel Tower because it is so quintessential Paris and Katie Mitchell Photography grasped exactly what we wanted. I also wanted to wear something totally different– a look that was more fashion-forward, so I designed myself a lace peplum top paired with matching crepe pants. The shoot was so much fun and looking back at all of the photos, I can see and feel the love all over again.

Photography: Katie Mitchell Photography | Venue: Paris France | Bride's Outfit: Sabrina Dahan

With pies baked by the Bride’s mother, her horticulturist father involved in the flower arrangements, and food catered by the couple’s favorite deli from their college days, this wedding was, as the Bride put it, “So special [because] we could look around and know that every detail had a purpose and reflected some piece of our relationship.” See all the special moments from Graham Terhune in THE VAULT!

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From The Bride… Alex and I wanted every detail from our wedding day — from the food to the escort cards to our individual vendors — to be meaningful and personal to us. Merry Hill Farm was the perfect venue because it was not only beautiful and charming, but it also gave us the flexibility to bring in our own style. We were also thrilled to be getting married near Chapel Hill, NC, which is where we met almost 5 years ago while students at UNC-Chapel Hill. One of our favorite places to eat together when we were students was Mediterranean Deli, an amazing restaurant in the heart of Franklin Street that serves healthy, fresh, authentic Mediterranean and Greek style foods. They were the first (and only!) place we looked to select our caterer. After our wedding, we had dozens of people tell us that it was the best food they’d ever had at a wedding! We had to agree. :) For dessert, we wanted to do something a little less traditional. My mom is a wonderful baker, and one of her specialties is homemade fruit pies. We knew it would be a huge undertaking, but she was honored and thrilled when we asked her if she would make pies for our wedding. In all, she made 25 fruit pies (apple, peach, & blueberry!), which we served with vanilla ice cream from our favorite local creamery (Maple View Farms). For our bar menu, instead of having a signature cocktail, Alex wanted to showcase some of his favorite craft beers. In addition to four of our favorite wines, Alex picked out 11 different craft beers, including two from our favorite local breweries.

One of my favorite details from the wedding was the flowers. My dad is a horticulturalist at Sarah P. Duke Gardens, and I knew I wanted him to be involved in picking out flowers and designing our arrangements. He helped me find a wonderful independent florist (Theo Roddy) who he frequently works with at the Gardens. (Theo also did the flowers at my sister’s wedding!) Theo and my dad worked together to design the table arrangements and select the flowers for the bouquets. I wanted the arrangements to have a free, effortless style, and I could not have been more pleased with how they turned out. The bouquets were stunning! My dad also put my aunts and uncles to work making wildflower arrangements to place throughout the venue. My favorites were the arrangements in old watering cans! Among some of my other favorite decorations were my family’s tandem bicycle (which Alex and I also used in our engagement photos) as well as the bicycle-stamped escort cards, which we hung out on mini clotheslines. (Can you tell we like bikes?)

Our wedding was magical. And, part of what made it so special is that we could look around and know that every detail had a purpose and reflected some piece of our relationship. We also could look around and feel an incredible sense of gratitude, knowing that we were only able to pull everything off with the support of so many family members and friends.

Photography: Anagram Photo | Floral Design: Theo Roddy | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Donna Morgan | Catering: Mediterranean Deli | Hair And Makeup: Kerri Nicole Artistry | DJ: Bunn DJ Company | Groomsmen Attire: The Tie Bar | Groomsmen Attire: Nordstrom | Venue: Merry Hill Farm | Pies: Bride's Mom

Truth be told, we don’t like to play favorites because all wedding are worth celebrating. But every now and again we come across a day that speaks straight to our wedding-loving souls.  I’m talking about those weddings we spend far too long obsessing over, emailing around the office, and pinning until our boards overflow. So as the year draws to an end we’ve put asked our SMP editors to sort through the thousands (literally, thousands!) of real weddings we featured in 2015, and highlight their favorites below!

Best Of 2015 Weddings: Editor Picks

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Best Of 2015 Weddings: Editor Picks

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Bubbly, a well-designed bar cart and anything Laura Hooper and the ladies at Sweet Root Village touch just so happen to be a few of my favorite things. So to say I am excited about this post would be the understatement of the year. Lauren & Rachel from Sweet Root Village are dishing some of their go-to styling tips for your libation station this NYE, and trust me, these girls know what their talking about. Cheers!

From Sweet Root Village …A well designed bar cart will be a feature element of your New Years Eve gathering and we have put together some tropical meets hollywood glam inspiration for you! A bold hand-lettered sign up high balanced by staggered plant life below. Plenty of crystal, gold, and glass elements in the middle for a sharp look that draws all the attention. Here are some tips for what to consider as you piece together your own look for New Years Eve!

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TIPS FOR A WELL-DESIGNED BAR CART

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1. Height.

Vary the heights of the items going on your bar cart. Think of your cart in terms of sections. If one section has a tall decorative item, then the other sections should be shorter than that item. Don’t forget the lower shelf of your cart (if applicable) – it needs to be styled as well, with one tall item and the rest of varying heights.

2. Florals.

Don’t be afraid to spice up your bar cart with a floral arrangement.

3. Glassware.

Choose the glassware you want to include. Include 2-4 pieces, no need to put all of your glasses on the cart. Do you have a fun tray they can sit on? If so, include that, too!

4. Accessories.

Once your liquors, wines and glassware are anchoring your bar cart, feel free to add in your accessories. Napkins, coasters, wine tags and stirrers all make great additions to any holiday bar cart.

5. Interest.

Think outside the actual bar cart – do you have a fun, oversized print to hang on the wall behind it? Any free standing objects you can place around the base?

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Shop this look: Gold Bar Cart from Target | New Years Accessories from Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Crystal Decanters from Bed Bath & Beyond | Vintage Glassware at The Hour | Pineapple Boxes from One King’s Lane

Cakes: Etsy.com | Cakes: Bed Bath & Beyond | Invitations: Target | Favors: One Kings Lane | Stir Stick, Coasters, Napkins: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Styling + Florals + Photography: Sweet Root Village | Wood Sign: Laura Hooper Calligraphy

When you put together a team with the likes of True Event, Tie That Binds, Jennie Fresa and Smilebooth, well, magic happens – and this autumn wedding demonstrates it all. Overflowing with florals from these colorful centerpieces (thanks to Hana Floral Design) to the Bride’s gorgeous gown and the bridesmaid’s (decked out in Jenny Yoo) bouquets, this is one of those weddings that makes you hungry for more – and that craving can be satisfied with Buzz Media’s film and all the pretty pics in our VAULT right here!

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From the Bride… Braden and I met on June 25th, 2013 during the week of my sister’s wedding in Martha’s Vineyard. We flirted a bit but Braden was hesitant to make a move because of our six year age difference (I was 22 at the time and he was 28). I saw no issue with the age difference so I made the first move and we had an amazing time hanging out at the wedding.

After that there was no one else! Braden was working in Baltimore at the time but his home base was North Carolina while I lived in Boston. Despite the distance, we saw each other almost every weekend. On March 20th, 2014 while on vacation in Aruba, Braden asked me to marry him at this beautiful nature pool surrounded by the ocean. After a year of traveling to see each other I moved to North Carolina in June 2014 to be closer to him. We decided to get married in Connecticut because my favorite place in the world is where I spent my summers growing up, Groton Long Point, CT. I had never pictured myself getting married any other place. We found a beautiful vineyard nearby in North Stonington and decided it was the perfect location. Our rehearsal dinner was in Groton Long Point and the wedding was at the Vineyard. During the whole wedding process we decided to up our stress level and build a house at the same time, we move in at the end of October!

Our wedding planner, True Event, was essential in pointing us towards some of the best vendors in the industry. Their knowledge and experience helped us avoid the wedding-day horror stories that everybody fears, and the entire weekend was accomplished without a single hiccup!

Yumiko from Hana Floral was one of the most important wedding vendors. My florist really took my vision and brought it to life. She was willing and able to do anything I wanted and was able to give me suggestions as well.

I really could not have done it without my paper designer, Mekala from Tie That Binds. She helped me design the most amazing invitations and from there every other paper detail at the wedding you could imagine. I asked her if we could do invitations on real wood and she went out of her way to make it happen! From there we then did welcome bags, matchboxes, welcome bags, and do not disturb door hangers and menus on real wood as well! She designed the most beautiful floral image off of inspiration flowers photos I sent her and was able to incorporate it beautifully into each piece. I was also extremely picky about the font I used and she went above and beyond to make sure it was exactly how I liked it. I clearly wasn’t the easiest client to work with but she made it seem like I was! She went above and beyond!

My hair stylist and makeup artists were wonderful. Jennie Fresa and her crew really took my ideas and made them come to life. I couldn’t have been happier with my hair especially!

My caterer, Russell Morin was great. They were so easy to work with and made some amazing food. I asked them to make me a cheese table for cocktail hour and I wanted them to create a cake out of cheeses (a cheese cake, but made from just cheese!); they did an amazing job putting it together and made it exactly how I pictured it! The rest of the food was just as amazing!

Ana Parzych Cakes was also incredible. She really created a piece of art with her sugar flowers that were almost identical to my wedding flowers!

Kleinfelds also were a crucial part to my wedding because they helped me find and alter my dream dress! I had seen my dress on a “Grey’s Anatomy” a few years back and we showed Kleinfeld a picture of it so they could get an idea of what I was looking for, and it turns out they had the exact dress! I felt like the luckiest girl ever. Because it was such a delicate dress I was very nervous about them altering it but they did a beautiful job!

Our band, the Rhythm Collective… amazing! They made every song sound like the original and everyone wanted them to continue so bad after the reception was over. They came onto the dance floor at one point and sang and danced with the crowd and that got everyone even more excited.

Ryan Designs was also a big part of the day! They were in charge of setting up the tent draping and hanging the lanterns/lights. But they also custom made the most beautiful ceremony doors for us and a beautiful ceremony archway.

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Peruse more Connecticut weddings here!

Cinematography: Buzz Media Company- Wedding Films | Event Planning + Design: TRUE Event | Wedding Dress: Kleinfeld Bridal | Cake: Ana Parzych Cakes | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Russell Morin Fine Catering | Hair + Makeup: Jennie Fresa Brow & Beauty Bar | Band: Elan Artists | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Transportation: First Student Charter | Transportation: Black Swan Limousine | Venue: Jonathan Edwards Winery | Bathrooms: Luxury Loo | Bridal Boutique: Kleinfeld Bridal | Floral Design + Photo Booth Backdrop: Hana Floral Design | Invitations + Paper Goods: Tie That Binds | Lighting Decor + Bars: Ryan Designs | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Photo Booth: Brooke Courtney Photography | Rentals: Rentals Unlimited | Rentals: New England Country Rentals | Signage: Sweet Carolina Collective | Tent Rentals: Sperry Tents

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

Hana Floral Design

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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When a Santorini wedding comes across my desk, I stop everything. Especially when said wedding is captured by Anna Roussos and Xavier Roussos and planned by Santorini Glam Weddings, featuring a Bride as stunning as she. You can almost feel the sunshine pouring over THE VAULT. See even more right here!

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From Santorini Glam Weddings…A couple we will never forget! Full of love and happiness, Joyce and Nathan chose Santorini to celebrate their special day along with their close family and friends. The planning process was absolutely lovely, with emails full of enthusiasm and anticipation for the big day!

Joyce wanted an all white wedding and we couldn’t agree more with her decision. Aiming for a unique and luxurious style, she knew exactly what her dream was and our goal was to make her dream come true. We used beautiful David Austin and garden roses together with olive branches for the flower decorations and lots of candles to create a romantic atmosphere.

The details didn’t stop there, after all we had to bring a girl’s dream to life! Joyce walked down the aisle with a harpist playing their favorite song. Furniture and tableware were brought from Athens to complete the ideal dinner set up.

The wedding of Joyce and Nathan was all about creating memories and spending quality time with their friends. A welcoming party on the beach, which was followed by a rehearsal dinner overlooking the Caldera and a private catamaran cruise around the volcano completed the perfect four-day celebration of their wedding.

From The Bride…I always assumed I would have a huge wedding with my big family all in attendance whenever the day came. However, when my sweet husband, Nathan, and I got engaged, we both kept fantasizing about an intimate affair in an unforgettable location. Our idea of a perfect wedding day is sharing it with close friends and family with enough time to talk to, take pictures with, and thank every single guest personally. We just couldn’t shake the dream of a destination wedding!

We visited Santorini on a cruise in 2012 and it remained at the top of our list for a possible location. Once we browsed the work of our incredible planner, Evita Psycha, and the jaw-dropping photos from Anna Roussos Photography, we knew Greece was it!

We spent five days in paradise with our sixteen guests traveling all the way from Los Angeles and Scotland. Everything was just perfect from our beachside welcome party complete with a fire dancer, the magical sunset rehearsal dinner in Fira, our dream wedding, and taking everyone sailing the next morning on a private boat around the caldera as our way of saying, “Thank you”. We will certainly cherish these memories for a lifetime.

Photography: Anna Roussos | Cinematography: Olive Tree Films | Event Planning: Santorini Glam Weddings | Floral Design: FABIO ZARDI Event & Wedding Design | Wedding Dress: Katie May | Cake: Alexandra's Cake | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Ceremony Venue: Adronis Boutique Hotel | Reception Venue: Celestia Grand Executive Villas | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Makeup: Renia Bledaki | Fireworks: Sky Light | Guitarist: Michalis Karamolegos | Rentals: Zazoo

Leave it to the ladies at Amorology to take this bride’s vision of an “indoor/outdoor English garden-style wedding set against Spanish ranch architecture” and bring it perfectly to life. Along with stunning blooms by Oak & The Owl , they wove in lots of playful nods to the couple’s story – including where they first met at happy hour. Lots more in The Vault from the lens of Carmen Santorelli!

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From The Bride…Ours was a classic love story of boy meets girl at Rock Bottom…Brewery in San Diego. We met at an after work happy hour and immediately hit it off. Our personality types were very opposite – Jason is an unfettered extrovert while I very much cherish my quiet time, my alone time, and my “me time” — yet we also had so much in common! I even cancelled my plans for that very evening to spend more time getting to know him. We were both living in San Diego at the time with no plans to move anytime soon.

Flash forward 4 years and we were both living and working in San Francisco when I was invited to have lunch with a childhood friend who also lived in SF. There was limited parking close to our chosen venue so she suggested we meet at her place and walk through the Palace of Fine Arts, a San Francisco landmark with beautifully landscaped grounds. As she and I walked down the path I noticed a sign that read “Amber, please have a seat” sitting next to a lone chair. As I sat, Jason came from where he was hiding behind a tree, playing Tim McGraw’s “My Best Friend” on his guitar, knelt down, and proposed…cue my friends and family cheering from where they were watching nearby!

One week later (yep, just one week… I was excited!) and we were planning our wedding. Since we had met and fell in love in San Diego (and because the weather is kind of spectacular) we decided it was the perfect place to start our lives together. I scoured the web and magazines for the perfect planner in that area, and that’s when I came across Heather and the Amorology team. I fell in love with a wedding they had created and knew I needed to work with them!

Flash forward again and, a year and a few months later our wedding day had finally arrived. Thanks to our wedding planners, Amorology, it was a perfect day/night. I was adamant that I wanted the convenience of a hotel wedding without a cookie-cutter package. I waxed poetic about the merits of an indoor/outdoor English garden style wedding set against Spanish ranch architecture, and as crazy as that sounds they made the dream a beautiful reality (thanks for existing Rancho Valencia! And Erica, we heart you!)

Everything was customized by Amorology in a palette of creams, copper, and lunar grey with touches of brass and accents of wood. From the free standing beer bar with working taps aptly called “Rock Bottom”, to the moon cutout backdrop built from reclaimed wood that was a nod to a story about a boy and the moon that my mom told me as a little girl. Calligraphy place cards alluding to the moon sat at each place setting atop tin ceiling tiles that doubled as chargers.

They brought in actual church pews for the outdoor ceremony and to play to our love of ice cream we had vintage ice scream scoops to serve as table markers as well as lovely take home favors for our guests. Simply everything was carefully designed to make it feel special and unique to us. The Amorology team and the right, level headed fiance combined to keep me on track so that we ultimately got to experience the most perfect day of our lives!

And while we’re giving props to those that helped us out, we also wanted to say thanks and throw a shout out to Generation Tux for introducing tuxedo rentals to the 21st century, getting my wonderful husband, his groomsmen, and his father looking so sharp, so conveniently, on the big day!

Photography: Carmen Santorelli Photography | Wedding Planning: Amorology | Floral Design: Oak And The Owl | Wedding Dress: Mira Zwillinger | Cake: SusieCakes | Invitations: Lovely Paper Things | Hair And Makeup: 10.11 Makeup | Calligraphy: Twinkle And Toast | Lighting: Classic Party Rentals | DJ: Matt Phipps | Groom's Attire: Generation Tux | Groomsmen Attire: Generation Tux | Venue: Rancho Valencia | Backdrops: Backup Backdrops | Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Music: Trent Hancock | Chair Rentals: Abbey Party Rents | Gelato Bar: Bottega Italiana | Lounge & Tables & Ceremony Structure & Pew Bench Rentals: Found Rental Co. | Tabletop Rentals: Hostess Haven

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Event Planning

Amorology

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New Year’s Resolutions are made every year, but so few are actually kept. Let’s make 2016 the year that changes. We can’t help you stick to your new gym routine or savings plan, but we can help you with all your design goals thanks to these interior design New Year’s Resolutions from Homepolish‘s co-founder, Noa Santos. Implement these tips, and 2016 will be a very good looking year!

Interior Design Resolutions

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Interior Design Resolutions

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More Interior Design Inspiration

The Best Home Tours of 2015 | How to Mix Patterns | Design Solutions for Small-Space Living

As New Years Eve approaches and the countdown commences we’ve only got one thing on our minds – kissing our sweethearts! Once the clock strikes twelve we plan on ringing in the New Year with a few smooches, which is why we’ve asked Mar of TEAM Hair And Makeup to share her tips on ways to get perfectly kissable lips every single time. Press play to learn how you can achieve that perfect pout!

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Exfoliate |  Try an all natural method with baking soda and warm water or find your favorite makeup line and purchase what you prefer! The idea here is to slough off any skin in a gentle way.

Hydrate | Dap a small amount of oconut oil dab across your mouth, this will help trap enough moisture in your lips.

Lip plumper | By using a lip plumping serum you’re not only going to see instant results, but it also flushes your lips with its natural color!

Testing 1,2,3 | Grab your sweetie and start smooching!

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The Secret Behind a Classic Red Lip!

We have a little bit of a pillow obsession over here at SMP. Ok, more than a little bit, we are full on addicted to their versatility. We switch them out for every season (and mood) change, so having options under our wings is crucial. Well, we have yet another DIY beauty to add to our arsenal today – and this extra long lovely is taking our sofas to another level.

Extra long pillows are the fastest and simplest way to take your bed from blah to fancy (see Emily Henderson on the topic), but they can be pricy. Luckily you can DIY your own with a simple cotton rug, some cotton batting and a half hour of your time. H&M has a great selection of inexpensive cotton rugs that aren’t too thick or rough.

Small cotton rug
White thread
Sewing machine
Polyester stuffing
Scissors

Fold the rug in half (the long skinny way), so that the printed top side of the rug is facing in on itself.

Sew the rug halves together along the edge of one short side and the long side. Leave the other short side open.

Reach inside the rug to find the other end and gently pull the end through to reverse the pillow. Stuff the pillow completely with the polyester fill.

Sew the remaining short side shut from the outside. Trim any excess threads, and voila!

Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Design & Styling: SMP Living | Invitations: Michaels

These two cuties combined their talents and cultures to create a wedding that was 110% them. Mixing the Bride’s Indian heritage with the Groom’s Jewish background it was a celebration complete with a “chupdap,” creative vows and Bright Rentals’ fantastic pretty pieces – and thanks to onelove photography we have all the memories in our VAULT right this way!

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From the Bride… We wanted to honor our families and cultural backgrounds by melding both Indian and Jewish traditions in our wedding. The best way for us to do this was to write and create our own ceremony. Although we wrote the majority of the ceremony ourselves, Brad (our officiant and, conveniently, Ben’s dad) helped to put the finishing touches on the ceremony. The ceremony had a few important aspects that reflected Ben and I and our two cultures: first, we were married under a “chupdap,” a combination of a chuppah and mandap. In both cultures, this structure represents the home that the bride and groom will make together. Second, we took seven vows that mirrored the vows taken in a traditional Indian ceremony and also decided to alternate reading each of our seven vows. Ben and I wrote our vows together as a way to minimize day-of crying and to create promises and hopes for our marriage together. Lastly, we broke glass and clay as part of our ceremony, which have similar cultural significance in both Judaism and Hinduism. The breaking of the glass and clay signifies that our love will last forever and that we have the power to face any obstacles together.

Our friends are an important part of our lives and we wanted to honor their role on our wedding day. One way we did this was to have a large head table that included our wedding party and our closest friends.

Many of our family members and close friends offered their skills and talents to help us create our perfect wedding. One of the most memorable things is that Ben’s dad got ordained specifically to marry us! Having Ben’s dad perform our ceremony made it feel very personal and meaningful. Other contributions included Ben’s mom lending her green thumb to help us plant succulents for our centerpieces, Ben’s paternal grandmother designing hand-made clay vases to house our beautiful flowers, and Ben’s maternal grandmother designing and hand-painting our table number cards! Also, my mom made my bridesmaids and I look and feel beautiful by doing our make-up for the Saatek and wedding. My childhood hairdresser and close family friend, Misty Stevens, traveled from my hometown to do my and my bridesmaids’ hair for all the wedding events! Also, our good friend, Kevin Brown, designed the majority of our wedding stationery (several invitations, our menu and wedding program)!

Our wedding was extra-memorable because we held two events in the days leading up to the wedding. On Thursday evening, my parents hosted a Mendhi Night where the lovely and talented Hiral Shah adorned myself, my bridesmaids, and other guests with intricate henna designs! With so many guests traveling from all over the state, country, and world, this was a great way to kick off the wedding festivities. On Friday morning, my parents hosted a Saatek, an Indian ceremony meant to remove any obstacles and receive blessings from our families. This ceremony was so meaningful to Ben and I and it was encapsulated in the moment when all of our family and friends surrounded us to give their love, support and blessings. To pay homage to my maternal grandparents who are no longer with us, my grandfather’s handkerchiefs were used to wipe away my own and our guests happy tears.

Ben and I hand-made the majority of our decorations (thanks to Pinterest for the ideas and Benny for his carpentry skills)! Our favorite handmade décor were the escort card holders!

Some pieces of advice we learned through our planning process include:
1. Although we planned our wedding over 1.5 years, it flew by! Enjoy engaged life!
2. Spreadsheets and lists can be your best friend or worst enemy!
3. Number the back of your RSVP cards to keep track – not everyone fills theirs out completely!
4. Hire a wedding coordinator – Danielle and the Kai Squared team saved our sanity and helped us truly enjoy our wedding day!
5. Enjoy and savor every moment of your wedding day! When we reflect back and think about our wedding day, celebrating our love with family and friends was the most memorable part of our wedding!

• Ben and I snuck away from the reception for a few minutes to practice our first dance (for the first and only time, I might add). The best part – Danielle (our wedding coordinator) caught us and snapped an amazing photograph!
• Our first look – for both of us, having a private moment before we tied to knot was so special and helped to calm our nerves. Taking some photos together before the wedding also allowed us to join cocktail hour and spend more time with our guests.
• Dancing the night away with our friends and family was phenomenal! Ben’s grandmother stole the show with her dance moves!
• Entering the barn – we introduced our wedding party and they set the stage for an amazing, fun-filled reception with their entrances. Minutes before entering the barn, our wedding party choreographed unique dance moves for their entrances!

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Peruse more multi-cultural weddings here!

Photography: onelove photography | Event Planning: Kai Squared Events | Floral Design: Mission De Flores | Wedding Dress: Novella Bridal | Cake: Forget-Me-Not Cakes | Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas | Bride's Shoes: Toms | Catering: Park Avenue Catering | Makeup: Joshna Patel | Hair: Misty Stevens | DJ: AMS Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Tuxedo Wearhouse | Transportation: Sonoma Sterling Limousines | Venue: Olympias Valley Estate | Henna Artist: Hiral Shah | Photo Booth: Night Owl Photo Booth | Rentals: Bright Event Rentals