It’s Christmas Eve, and we have an early present for you! Today’s giveaway is from a store whose name says it all: High Fashion Home. Full of stylish, chic pieces for every style—from furniture and accessories to lighting and art—High Fashion Home has everything you need to turn your house into your dream home. And with today’s giveaway, a $250 gift card to High Fashion Home, you can get started on the transformation. Enter for your chance to win below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To enter, simply enter your email into the widget above. The Sweepstakes ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 24, 2015. Open to legal residents of 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older. Limit one (1) entry per person per day. One (1) winner will be selected in a random drawing the following day and will receive a gift card to High Fashion Home valued at $250.00. By entering, you confirm you have read and agree to the Official Rules.

When it comes to styling winter celebrations, I fall into the mindset of “opposites attract.” Take this holiday-inspired shoot from the fabulous Cedarwood Weddings, Designs In Paper and Julie Paisley. It’s metallics and glam paired up with natural, organic elements and fresh foliage galore. Rustic and modern and glam all at once, THE VAULT is bursting with ideas for winter brides in every style camp. Grab your hot cocoa and let’s get started.

From Julie Paisley…The holidays are a time to sparkle and shine, even on a Tennessee nature preserve. It is precisely the play of festive patterns and metallics against outdoor landscapes that encourages intimate weddings and backyard celebrations during a season defined by lovely settings.

We paired glitter and glam with organic elements for a rustic chic style that is unexpected but undeniably warm and inviting, starting with glided evergreens in the ceremony altar at the venue’s Cedar Cottage. Sequined overlays on bench seating continues on reception chairs to unify spaces. Festive paper goods and table decor in black, gold and white offer modern appeal. Fresh foliage is the star of florals, especially in the loosely gathered bridal bouquet. The bride and groom are perfectly balanced between style elements with her bejeweled headpiece and his hand-crafted wood bow tie.

Photography: Julie Paisley Photography | Wedding Planning: Cedarwood Weddings | Floral Design: Cedarwood Weddings | Wedding Dress: Gossamer | Cake: Patty Cakes | Invitations: Designs in Paper | Bow Ties: Venuto Woodwork | Venue: Cedarwood Weddings | Hair Accessories: All About Romance | Rentals: Liberty Party Rental

Forgot getting to the gym more often or getting more organized, you want to know my new years resolution? Mastering this amazingly gorgeous plaid pie crust from Heidi Allison of Sugar Bee Sweets, with florals by Bows And Arrows and photography by Natalie Shelton. Heidi’s walking us through the pie-making process step by step below, and trust me, I’m taking serious notes.

With plaid being everywhere this holiday season what better way to bring it to your Christmas table than on the top of your holiday pie? With a little twist on my grandmother’s original apple pie recipe we have detailed out the steps to the perfect Salted Caramel Apple Pie with a plaid pie crust topper.

Pie Recipe:

6-8 tart apples (pared, cored & sliced)
1c. sugar
2T. all-purpose flour
1t. ground cinnamon
Dash nutmeg
Dash salt
3T. salted butter (room temperature)
Salted Caramel to taste (I like a lot!)

Crust Recipe:

(this is enough for bottom and top crust)
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2t. salt
1c. butter (chilled)
1/2c. water (chilled)

Egg Wash Recipe:

1 whole egg
1T. heavy whipping cream

Yield: 1, 9” pie

Pie crust prep:

Combine flour, salt & sugar in bowl
Incorporate cold butter in pieces
Mix with pastry blender until coarse
Add chilled water a tablespoon at a time until you find that the dough sticks together and will hold its shape. You may have to add a bit more water if desired.
Divide into 2 equal pieces and refrigerate until ready to use

Pie filling:

Combine sugar, flour, spices & salt
Mix with apples
Add desired salted caramel
Combine all ingredients & apples
Set aside
Directions:
Light dust work surface with flour
Roll out bottom crust to approximately 1/8″ thick and large enough to fill pie dish
Spray your pie dish with cooking spray
Place pie dough into pie dish and trip off excess dough
Fill pie dish with apple pie filling
Combine excess pie dough with your other 1/2 of prepped pie dough and roll out to approximately 1/8″ thick
Cut 4 – 1 1/4″ thick stripes + 14 – 1/4″ thick stripes
Egg wash your bottom crust edge so that your plaid stripes will slightly stick, do not press down the edges until you are finished weaving your top crust
Place your first stripes in the same direction in your favorite plaid pattern (we use 2-3 thin, 1 thick, 2-3 thin, 1 thick, 2-3 thin)
Once your first set of stripes are placed you will add your weaving stripes 1 at a time weaving them in and out (see pictures for a helpful hint on how this looks!)
Make sure to keep the stripes as straight as possible throughout this process!
Once your weaving is finished you’ll want to press down all edges so that they stick to your bottom crust!
Use remaining pie dough to roll out approximately 18″ – 20″ long and cut 6 – 1/4″ stripes
Use 3 at a time and braid those pieces for your crust trip
Egg wash your trip and place each braid around the top perimeter until they slightly over lap and egg wash the end pieces together
Egg wash the entire top of your pie and sprinkle with sugar so that you get a nice golden brown once the pie is complete!
Bake for 45min – 1hour at 400F

Photography: N Barrett Photography | Floral Design: Bows and Arrows | Apron: Salt Shop Handmades | Recipe And How-To Steps: Sugar Bee Sweets

This sweet couple is living proof that every now and then a good, old fashioned blind date ends in the real deal. Fast forward a couple years and many dates later and you get this gem of a wedding planned by True Event. It’s a celebration of all things New England, with amazing East Coast vendors like Paper Moss and Gabriella New York Bridal Salon making every detail perfection. Leila Brewster snapped the photos, Elysium Productions filmed the day, and you can follow me to THE VAULT for even more.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/147802435 600 338]

From The Bride…Dan and I met on a blind date, set-up by a dear friend of mine from college. My friend, Sarah, worked with Dan and according to her, thought of me “immediately” when she met him. Incidentally, the timing wasn’t quite right for us to meet until about two years after Sarah had her initial gut feeling. When we finally did meet in November of 2013, it was only a few months into our relationship that we knew Sarah’s intuition was spot-on. Dan was certainly worth the wait! He proposed to me in September of the following year.

Living in Brooklyn, Dan and I are both “city people”, but spent many of our formative years in New England and knew we wanted to get married in a more rural, rustic setting. We also couldn’t quite get the idea of a barn out of our heads. Not knowing quite where to start, we enlisted the assistance of True Event who immediately helped us crystallize our very rough ideas and led us to the charming and exquisite Gedney Farm, in New Marlborough, MA. Gedney Farm embodied the “rustic elegance” we were craving and The Berkshires seemed like a centralized location, with most of our friends and family coming from either New York or Massachusetts.

Dan and I are both pretty “go with the flow” people, which we learned is both an advantage and disadvantage when planning a wedding. We wanted to hire a team of experienced and trusted vendors who would help us figure out exactly what we wanted without us being able to articulate much of a vision. With the wonderful people at both True Event and Gedney Farm now guiding us, we soon surrounded ourselves with a stellar team, making the planning process infinitely easier and more enjoyable.

For flowers and lighting, we used Maryanne Gillooly of Gillooly & Co. Design, who knew the space at Gedney incredibly well and completely encapsulated what we wanted in neutral and natural tones (ivory, pale pink, green) with splashes of jewel toned blue and purple. I love soft lighting and Maryanne illuminated the barn with numerous candles and strings of Edison bulbs, keeping the “rustic elegance” theme very much alive. She also created the most picturesque and enchanting spot for our ceremony on the knoll at Gedney Farm.

One of the highlights of planning was the tasting and with the incredible chef Rob Burnell in the kitchen at Gedney Farm, we had a difficult time narrowing down what we wanted, but were incredibly pleased with our choices. The cheese board in particular was a highlight and so exquisitely arranged! Numerous guests told us the food was some of the best they had ever tasted at a wedding.

As the wedding day approached, Sarah True of True Event was instrumental in making sure all the details came together. She also proved to be an extremely calming and nurturing presence in a very vulnerable time. The same should be said of Colleen Granahan, Michael Smith and James Love of Gedney Farm who were the perfect combination of kindness and professionalism. Leila Brewster and Elysium Productions were incredibly talented, creative and easy to work with and did a fantastic job of capturing the beauty of the day. And big kudos to both Emily Reale and Katie Bouchard who made me look more glamorous than I ever thought possible, while ensuring I still looked and felt like myself. Ceremony musician Steven Rutledge “nailed it” (as Dan so succinctly put it) and Unity (Wedding Band) was an energetic musical force able to get the most unlikely of guests on the dance floor.

Somewhat unexpectedly, the ceremony was the highlight of the day for me. Jim Sexton (a local interfaith reverend) officiated and was someone we had just met, but with whom we felt immediately at ease. The atmosphere gifted us the most glorious weather and with the sun shining down on us while we recited our own vows in front of all our favorite people, I knew it was a magical moment I would never forget.

THANK YOU to all those who helped make our day better than we could have ever imagined!

Photography: leila brewster | Cinematography: Elysium Productions | Wedding Planning: TRUE Event | Wedding Dress: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Invitations: Paper Moss | Catering: Gedney Farm | Makeup: Dana Chasen Thomases Owner Of Beauty Muse Bridal | Hair: Emily Reale | Band: Unity | Ceremony Music: Steven Rutledge | Transportation: Ormsbee Transportation | Venue: Gedney Farm | Bridal Boutique: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Floral Design & Lighting: Maryanne Gillooly Design | Officant: James Sexton

While my husband is wholeheartedly in the red and green camp for Christmas decor, I am all about pretty pastels and colors that pop. And if you have a white tree, I’ll take that too. Or a gold tree? Even better. The ladies of Karson Butler Events totally know the way to my pink holiday decor loving heart and this rooftop Christmas shoot might even win over the staunchest of classic supporters with its colorful pops. See the whole spread captured by Jodi Miller  in the VAULT!

From Karson Butler Events… In most of California (especially SoCal), we can only dream of a white Christmas. Palm trees replace pine and the hustle and bustle of city lights cast a different type of glow. There is something magical about a city Christmas, especially in Los Angeles – “The City of Angels.”

What do you do when you are traveling with your talented photographer friends and your flight out of LAX is delayed? An impromptu shoot of course!

Using the California Love Compartés chocolate bar as our color palette inspiration, we did a quick run to Target, pulled a few things Amber had on hand and recycled blooms! The aftermath was a fun #DTLA morning perfect for a California Christmas outdoors on the rooftop lounge of our downtown Los Angeles pied à terre. What a festive set up for a holiday brunch or evening soiree!

Photography: Jodi & Kurt Photography | Event Design: Karson Butler Events | California Love Chocolate Bar: Compartes | Misc Holiday Decor: Target | Rentals- Plates And Flatware: Dish Wish

By combining their backgrounds (she Italian, he Mexican) and adding in their love for all things tasty, these two created a celebration that not only represented them perfectly but was one amazingly, delicious bash at the same time. Melissa Fuller captured the day, from the beautiful bridesmaids’ decked out in Weddington Way, Rent the Runway and more, to the Bride’s bouquet with the perfect pops of red thanks to Huckleberry Karen Designs. See this (and more!) in our VAULT this way!

From the Bride… Ryan and I wanted our wedding to closely reflect the things that matter most to us in life – family and friends, food and lots of fun. I come from a big Italian family and Ryan comes from a large Mexican family. For us, having 40 people at Christmas dinner is the norm, so we wanted our wedding to feel like that. One big celebratory dinner to honor our families and closest friends coming together. So we had five long farm tables placed out on the gorgeous lawn amidst the Redwood trees in the Santa Cruz forest. Tables were adorned with olive branches and figs from my grandma’s garden. Gold chargers, gold-rimmed champagne flutes and gold flatware made for our perfect Tuscan dinner party, and don’t forget freshly baked bread and sea-salted butter!

Food was also a major source of inspiration for us. We cook together a lot at home, we even stated in our vows that day (without knowledge of one another’s vows) to always be the other person’s head chef and sous chef. Our caterer worked with us closely to create the perfect menu with lots of Italian/Californian farm-to-table flavors and details. We had an olive oil tasting bar with olives imported from Spain and it featured olive oils that Ryan and I had collected at local farmer’s markets and in wine country throughout the year. To keep with the dinner/food theme… even our invitations were printed on dish towels. I worked closely with our designer (Kim at Bright Room Studios) to create a map of the Bay Area that included all of the most important places to Ryan and me throughout our time as a couple. We printed our invitations on dish towels to remind people of how we like to cook and spending time in the kitchen together, hoping that one day the towel would be reused by our guests.

Fun radiated throughout the entire wedding day and the team at Nestldown, My-Dung in particular, helped us bring our vision to life that day! Some of the “fun things we did” – choreographed our first dance, we had four matching ring-bearers and one flower-girl carrying an oversized balloon, the bridesmaid’s sequin dresses, a Dr. Seuss reading, dragons, dwarf-cottages and a king’s throne, a custom Nor-Cal vs So-Cal corn hole set, bocce ball, custom beer koozies, a life-size train for people to ride around the grounds, the bride and groom being “Iced” by the best man, a vintage Volkswagen bus for a photo booth and glow sticks on the dance floor!

We spent most of our 14 months of planning brainstorming ways to make our guests feel like they were at the center of the celebration right along there with us. This is why we hired Melissa, our awesome photographer. We loved her photojournalistic style and knew she would help us capture all the special moments of our family and friends we might have missed so that we could re-live this special day for years to come. She did a fantastic job capturing all the details from our special day and our fun, loving group of family and friends – pictures really are worth a thousand words in this case! :)

Other standouts include: every detail was thought through to try to make the whole experience really reflect Ryan, me and the things we love in life. The table numbers reflected the different locations on our invite map, I hand-painted each and every sign, the drinks were called “La Sposa” (the wife in Italian) and “El Novio” (husband in Spanish), and we even poured wine from the small winery we belong to and spend many weekends at in Sonoma.

[dotted]

Peruse more California weddings here!

Photography: Melissa Gayle | Coordination: Nestldown Events | Event Design: Megan Klasila (Bride) | Floral Design: Petite Petal | Wedding Dress: Wine Country Bride | Invitations: Brightroom Studio | Bride's Shoes: Nordstrom | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Rent The Runway | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Macy's | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Nordstrom | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Weddington Way | Makeup: Priscilla Francine Makeup | Hair: Salon Mona Lisa | DJ: Los Gatos DJ | Ties: J.Crew | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Groomsmen's Attire: J.Crew | Officiant: Father Peter Pabst | Venue: Nestldown | Alterations: Novella Bridal | Bridal Boutique: Wine Country Bride | Bridesmaid's PJs: Forever 21 | Cake + Bundtinis: Nothing Bundt Cakes | Candy Bar: Suzi Tinsley | Catering + Rentals: Thomas John Events | Custom Beer Koozies: Rook Design Co | Custom Cornhole Game: Colorado Joes | Party Dress: Rent The Runway | Photo Booth: Das Bus | Robe: BHLDN | Signage: Megan Klasila (Bride)

Kristin La Voie Photography, you sure know how to make our hearts happy. Because Julie and Will’s beach e-session is one we’re clearly smitten with. For when it comes to stealing a few smooches with your main squeeze, take note from this duo and bring along a blanket for added warmth. It’s the ultimate sandy shore session and we invite you to witness every sweet moment in THE VAULT!

From Kristin La Voie Photography…It was a perfect day with the perfect couple. Lake forest beach, one of my favorite locations ever, was the perfect setting for Julie and Will. Beautiful blue skies and turquoise water, abundant sunshine, and not a cloud in the sky. It felt like the entire beach was for us. It was quiet, peaceful, and sweetly intimate for the two lovebirds. A little chill was in the air (my preferred weather!) which was even more appropriate for Julie & Will to snuggle under a blanket together. There is something so magical about this place, but it was Julie and Will together that really created something even more spectacular. Let’s not forget to mention Julie’s to-die-for engagement ring, which was her Grandmother’s! I wish I could relive it over and over again.

[dotted]

See even more head-turning trends here!

Photography: Kristin La Voie Photography | Venue: Lake Forest Beach | Black Dress: White House Black Market

One beyond adorable pup and two cuties in love? Doesn’t get much better than this right here. These pics by Muddy Love Photography are all the proof you need and with the festive florals and wreath from The Flower Factory, we’re officially in a ridiculously romantic holiday spirit. See every stylish snap in our VAULT right here and let’s get the eggnog and hot cocoa flowing!

From the Bride… We decided to decorate our Westfalia camper van for Christmas and take some pictures at one of our favorite local beaches – Spanish banks. The cold weather didn’t stop us from having a winter picnic followed by some fun in the snowy sand. Our photographer, Cindy Hughes from Mudddy Love Photography was beyond amazing and captured everything so naturally. My heart beams with gratitude as I look at these pictures of our sweet soul of a dog, my amazing husband and the anticipation of many more adventures to come in our life together. Joy is what happens when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things are in the present moment. The moments Cindy captured definitely fill our hearts with an abundance of joy and gratitude.

{dotted]

Find more holiday love here!

Photography: Muddy Love Photography | Floral Design: The Flower Factory | Venue: Spanish Banks Beach | Mugs + Plates: Anthropologie | Puppy: @romeotherubycav | Puppy Sweatshirt And Bowtie: Barking Babies | Puppys Collar : Walk In The Bark | Towel Roundie: The Beach People

This beautiful Bride is a floral designer, so it should come as no surprise that the flowers at her wedding were on point. Combine the gorgeous blossoms with the stunning backdrop of Paris and the one and only Le Secret D’Audrey behind the camera and you have the dreamiest destination wedding imaginable. See all the pretty (including the incredible calligraphy work of Studio French Blue) in THE VAULT!

From The Bride…I came to France to become a florist in Paris and there I met my husband. As I am now a florist specialized in weddings and workshops in Paris, it was a great experience to prepare my own wedding bouquet and flowers.

I chose my favorite old roses, anemones and mimosa leaves for my wedding bouquet and put “something blue” silk ribbon on it. This blue grey was a theme color and we prepared items like invitations, calligraphy, dragees, rubans, cakes, flowers etc. in this color.

The inspiration of “blue grey” came from our wedding venue, Hotel Shangri-la Paris, where my parents and my husband met for the first time. Paris is like a museum and has so many beautiful places. Paris gives me many inspirations and it matches well with rustic and romantic flowers. Because I’m also passionated by photography and organize photo shoots of portraits or couple photos with bouquets in lovely Parisian streets, it was my dream to have Le Secret d’Audrey as my wedding photographer because her photos of Paris are so romantic.

I love preparing wedding flowers more right now after my wedding because wedding day is a dream day which is kept in memory with images.

Photography: Le Secret d'Audrey | Floral Design: Floraison | Wedding Dress: Stephanie Allin | Hair And Makeup: Venus Paris | Calligraphy: Studio French Blue calligraphy + design | Venue: Shangri La | Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic

A fabulous team of vendors, a chic purple, pink and gold color palette and DIY details that will make your heart happy: say hello to your new best friend, lovelies.  Think total elegance planned to perfection by I Do… Weddings & Events meets a breathtaking ceremony meets all kinds of crazy beautiful captures from Readyluck.  Head to THE VAULT to soak it all in.

From the Bride… I envisioned my wedding to have a vintage feel that was very much present day. I wanted subtle, elegant colors with a spurts of chic radiance. I certainly did not want to convey an uptight, “don’t touch anything because everything looks perfect” feeling. Instead, I wanted loose, flowing, asymmetrical. I wanted the overall appearance to be artsy! The old and worn out coupled with the new and pristine. Lots of lace and pearl but not in an overwhelming way. Delicate touches of it here and there.

I spent A LOT of time on this wedding; most of the elements you see were DIY. From champagne bottle favors, selfie-stick favors and entry table signs to the flower girls framed signs, outfits and floral halos. You name it! If it could be made, I made it myself. It was not easy juggling a full-time job and taking care of all the wedding details but I knew it would add a personal touch that you can not put a price on.

My favorite moment of the entire wedding is a tie between: The moment the church door opened for my father and I to make our way down the aisle and the moment in the night when all the formalities were done and I could literally kick my ridiculously high heels off, let loose and jump around the dance floor…barefoot! In that moment, I was really and truly IN the moment!

My flowers were arranged by Caroline from Wild Folk. I knew I wanted to work with Caroline the moment I met her. She has an air about her – very artsy and unique. Her work reflected my exact vision. I never wanted perfect looking arraignments, rounded with clean edges. She was able to deliver with the natural, free falling look. As if the perfect selection of flowers were randomly picked along with the greenery to accompany them and just placed in the perfect pretty vases to give them that dressy, wedding-appropriate feel.

My gown is designed by Inbal Dror. It was the very first dress I tried on. I knew the moment I saw the picture of the dress that it was the dress meant for me! It had the fitted sexy feel while remaining very elegant and very vintage. It showed skin in all the right places without being too revealing. The dramatic train and train extension were to die for! Lace and pearl again sprinkled all over the gown. It was just so me! And the color! I never wanted white. So it was just the right shade of ivory. Soft and timeless.

My cake was done by The Icing on The Cake. I worked with the wonderful Paula on the design. I gave her the exact design that I wanted and she brought it to life!

My hair was done by my most amazing hair dresser and maid of honor, Elisa Ortiz from Salon Viva. All I had to tell Elisa was I wanted lots of volume and nothing “perfectly in place” looking and as you can see, she delivered! The sweeping, big hair, loose strands off to one side allowed the gown to still be the main show piece but added that perfect touch to complete the look. Elisa also did hair for bridesmaids, flower girls, and mother and aunt of the bride. Makeup for myself, bridesmaids, flower girls, and mothers of the bride and groom were done by Angela Zatzos.

 Our videography was handled by Ready Set. Jeff Brouillet and his fantastic team of videographers were a delight to work with. While we have not seen the final product yet, I can say they made us feel so comfortable and just blended into the background of what was going on.

We had the pleasure of working with Lindsay Hite from READYLUCK and her fantastic team of photographers on our day. I met Lindsay at a Starbucks long before the wedding and instantly I knew she was our person! She was kind enough to allow Akil (my fiancé now husband) to chime in from NC on speaker phone. He too was convinced that Lindsay was the right person to shoot our wedding! I recall Lindsay asking me for a hug when our meeting ended that day at Starbucks and I remember thinking to myself, wow, not many people are that warm and personable these days. It’s so refreshing! We are so fortunate to have chosen READYLUCK because we are absolutely in love with our photos and what Lindsay was able to create for us. The last thing we wanted were stiff, ordinary photos of us posing in common places around the city. So, Lindsay found hidden gems around the city instead! A bridge underpass with graffiti as a backdrop and an abandoned, vine-covered little building. How artsy and perfect to offset our look as bride and groom! The photos were playful and very much in the moment and that is exactly what we asked for. Lindsay exceeded our expectations. The best part though is that her and the team were SO MUCH FUN to have around at various stages of the day. Especially in the limo when they suggested we pop the bottle of champagne to celebrate and we felt so comfortable that we could be totally 100% ourselves even with them there!!!! Best decision we made!

The piece of advice I would give future brides is, no matter what people tell you about not stressing during the planning process, do be prepared for all sorts of things not going “according to plan”. Be prepared and be ready to shrug it off because on THE day of your wedding, the year or so you spent planning, the hiccups, the stress, the sleepless nights, all the little things that will go wrong, no one will know about them but you! Your guests will be too busy oohing and ahhhing over the bride and groom, the gorgeous venue, dancing, laughing and having a grand ole time! Believe me, no one will notice a thing! Just be prepared to dance the night off and create memories you will look back on for the rest of your life!

[dotted]

See more Ballroom Weddings in THE VAULT!

Photography: Readyluck | Cinematography: readyset[film] | Event Planning: I Do Weddings & Events | Floral Design: Wild Folk Studio | Wedding Dress: Inbal Dror | Cake: Icing On The Cake | Ceremony Venue: St. Catherine's | Reception Venue: Omni Parker House | Bride's Shoes: Aminah Abdul Jillil | Rings: Homsy Jewelers | Makeup: Designs By Janet Suzanne | Hair: Salon Viva | DJ: Audio Prophecy | Band: Salah Kurdi & Band | Groom's Attire: Taylor Richards & Conger | Officiant: St. Catherine's | Transportation: Luxury Fast Ride Inc | Photo Booth: Epic Entertainment

Quoted from the beautiful Bride… Our wedding was not supposed to be perfect, it was supposed to be “us.” And everything we did during the planning process—from the proposal to our venue to the wedding day itself—was a reflection of us as a couple. Perfectly imperfect. One look at THE VAULT imagery by Cassidy Carson and that’s easy to see. Bridesmaids in Jim Hjlem burgundy, rentals by Southern Events, happy florals by Vintage Florals and sooo much more. See it all here!

From Margaret, the Bride… Perhaps by some standards, our wedding was not perfect. We had planned an outdoor wedding, but it rained. The shuttle got lost, and our outdoor ceremony started twenty minutes late with looming clouds. But I would not have changed a thing. Our wedding was not supposed to be perfect, it was supposed to be “us.” And everything we did during the planning process—from the proposal to our venue to the wedding day itself—was a reflection of us as a couple. Perfectly imperfect.

Ben and I met six years ago in Washington, D.C. through mutual friends. Over the years, our own friendship grew into something more. Ben is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. Not only is he tall (I’m 5’11”, so that was pretty important), funny and in my opinion pretty handsome, but he is truly the most genuine person I have ever met. In 2013, Ben moved with me to my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee so I could start law school. I always knew Ben was special, but the fact he wanted to move with me and made such an effort to make Nashville his home too was really amazing. Last year, I told Ben I had planned to take a class one weekend in September. Unbeknownst to me that was, of course, the weekend Ben had planned to propose at my family’s lake house. He had invited our out-of-town family and friends to be there, so moving weekends wasn’t an option. So he improvised, and on a walk in our favorite park with our (crazy) dog, Larry, Ben asked me to marry him. I, of course, said yes.

Right away, we knew we wanted to get married at Glen Leven Farm, just minutes from our house in Nashville. The property itself is perfectly imperfect—a (somewhat) restored historic home, a working farm, and sixty-five beautiful acres all just four miles from downtown Nashville. It doesn’t have manicured lawns and some of the interior paint is chipping, but that’s one of the reasons I love it. More than anything, Glen Leven just had an amazing energy that we wanted to guide our planning. Not only does the property have a lot of historical significance, but it now serves the Nashville community in numerous ways. And, the previous owners willed the property to the Land Trust for Tennessee with a conservation easement (all facilitated by my amazing Dad, an estate planning attorney), so the land will never be developed. It’s pretty neat to get married at a place that has been around for hundreds of years and that you know will be around forever.

With our venue decided, it was time to move on to planning. Glen Leven had never really had a wedding of more than 100 people, so we really just had to make things up as we went along. Our main goal was to figure out how to showcase the natural, at times imperfect beauty of Glen Leven. Our unbelievable vendors (who thankfully knew what they were doing!) made our wedding vision come true. Kathryn Christenbury (Fleur de Letters) designed a beautiful invitation suite that set the tone of the event for our guests. The amazing Melissa Broadwell at Vintage Florals made our already beautiful ceremony backdrop—the front of the home—into a dream, from the wreath on the upper balcony to the railing design to the amazing arrangements. She showcased the beauty of the home by decorating each of the six fireplaces with beautiful arrangements, and she brought the outside in to our tent, with greenery all along the tent ceiling. Our caterer, Jeannette Goddard, fixed a feast that our guests continue to rave about (and the best shrimp and grits I’ve ever tasted). Our band, Scat Springs, kept guests on their feet the whole night. And our unbelievable photographer, Cassidy Carson Lynch, captured the whole wedding perfectly.

Sure, there were things beyond our control. A rouge GPS made the shuttle late. But it didn’t start raining, so the ceremony still took place outdoors. And as soon as our officiant pronounced us as husband and wife, a ray of sunshine came through the trees and found us for our first kiss as a married couple. That wouldn’t have happened if everything ran on time. And when the rain came, it brought all of our guests under the tent to dance the night away.

Our favorite part of our wedding day was our “family dance.” Instead of a traditional father-daughter, mother-son dance, my Dad and I started out dancing to “What a Wonderful World.” We were joined a few seconds later by Ben and his Mom, then my Mom and Ben’s Dad, and my brother and his fiancé. Toward what should have been the end of the song, the band invited our friends and family to join us. My Aunt and Uncle jumped up, and soon the dance floor was full of our friends and family all dancing to an extended version of “What a Wonderful World.” All the most important people in our lives dancing together as the rain poured down around us. That is as close to perfect as it gets. We will remember that experience for the rest of our lives, and we are so thankful for all of those who were able to make that moment—and the amazing moments before and after it—a reality for us.

Photography: Cassidy Carson Photography | Floral Design: Vintage Florals | Wedding Dress: Mikaella Bridal | Cake: Publix Bakery | Invitations: Fleur De Letters | Bride's Shoes: Sergio Rossi | Jewelry: Deepa Gurnani | Bridesmaids' Dresses: JLM Couture, Inc | Catering: Chef Works | Makeup: Cakes To Di For | Hair: Kimberly Averheart | Calligraphy: Fleur De Letters | Band: Scat Springs | Groom's Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Wedding Venue: Glen Leven Farm | Bridal Boutique: Arzelle's | Groom's Shoes: Florsheim | Groom's Tie: Charles Tyrwhitt | Rentals: Southern Events Party Rental & Vintage Prop Shoppe

Olivia from Livvyland here, and I’m thrilled to share the latest update in our wedding planning process with you – our save the date photo session! Of all the things I’ve checked off on our list of wedding to-do’s thus far, I’d say taking our save the date photos has been my very favorite. In particular, it was that special moment when we received the photos from Kayla Snell that really hit home.

Blake and I were cuddled up on the couch in our pajamas, laptop in hand, scrolling through each photo one by one…it was just such a sweet thing to see these intimate moments between us captured on camera – and experience that together. Aside from announcing our engagement to the world back in May, sending out save the dates is really the first solid step involving friends and family as we inch closer to the big day. In other words, it just means this whole wedding thing is starting to feel more real than ever! (And hey, I’m pretty darn excited as it gets closer!).

I’m a huge fan of using Pinterest for photo shoot inspiration, and I’d been pinning save the date ideas to my wedding board for months leading up to our shoot. The images I kept gravitating towards were always really candid, sweet moments with a lot of blank space above so that the words “Save the Date” could fit onto the image without covering the couple in the photo. With the blank space idea as our priority for the shoot, we tried brainstorming parts of Austin where a big white wall could act as the backdrop, but nothing came to mind that wasn’t in a public place (especially because our preference was somewhere without a ton of people staring at us!). Then I remembered the top floor of our old apartment parking garage (yes, really, ha!) because it was so high up that you’re basically only seeing clouds from a photo perspective. I chatted with my photographer, Kayla Snell Photography, and she agreed that this could definitely work.

After we had the location set, it was time to figure out what to wear! In my wedding dreams, the vibe of our big day will be ultra classy and super romantic, so I wanted to set that same tone with our save the date shoot. One of my best friends used Rent the Runway for her save the date outfit, so I decided to give it a try for ours. After all, if there’s any time to wear a stunning designer gown and feel like a million bucks, it’s absolutely for this occasion! I wore Badgley Mischka and it ended up being just the perfect amount of bold color and sparkle paired with Blake’s handsome all black look. I loved this combination!

Getting married is clearly something to celebrate, so we brought along a bottle of champagne and popped it open for the shoot. Truth be told, having a drink throughout the session really helped calm our nerves and make us more comfortable for the camera! We couldn’t be more enamored with the photos from our shoot. From the incredible photography to the pretty outfits, and (thankfully) the overcast day and vacant parking garage (woo!), I’d say this fun and simple save the date sesh was a major success! Hopefully one day our grandkids will look back at their lovebird grandparents and think we were super glam and fabulous – I certainly hope so!

[dotted]

Follow Olivia’s Journey:

Meet the Bride | Bridesmaids’ Gifts | Mistletoe Moment

Photography: Kayla Snell | Venue: City of Austin | Blogger Bride: Olivia Watson | Bridal Boutique: Rent The Runway | Red Dress: Amazon

With Christmas just a few days away, now is the time to make your list and check it twice. But, don’t worry if you forgot anything, because Abby Larson is back on the TODAY Show!  Tune in during the 8 o’clock hour (though varies for some markets, so make sure to check your listing!) for all the last-minute DIYs you need to ensure your Christmas is a major success! Plus, we’re sharing even more crunch time ideas below. Merry, merry!

More Last Minute Decor Ideas

[dotted]

DIY Holiday Pillows | Holiday Mantle Inspiration | DIY Sweater Stockings | DIY Holiday Wreaths | Simple Holiday Decor Ideas | DIY Foraged Garland

Crunch Time Gifting Ideas

[dotted]

DIY Agate Coasters| DIY S’mores Kit | DIY Jewelry Dish | DIY Hot Cocoa Kit | DIY Ombre Soaps | DIY Gingerbread House Kit | DIY Sugar Cookie Kit

Our Favorite Treats to Whip Up

[dotted]

Nutella Hot Chocolate | Homemade Mint Marshmallows | Christmas On A Plate | Hot Cocoa Cupcakes | Peppermint Molten Lava Cake | Flourless Hot Cocoa Cookies | Pomegranate Champagne Sorbet

I think I’m turning into my mother. I used to joke that she carried everything but the kitchen sink in her purse, and I’m the same way. But, not every purse was made to fit your life inside. That’s where this Gigi New York Tori Tote comes in. In six gorgeous shades of leather, this handcrafted bag is big enough to carry everything you need and pretty enough that you won’t look like a bag lady—win, win. Enter for your chance to win below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To enter, simply enter your email into the widget above. The Sweepstakes ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 23, 2015. Open to legal residents of 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older. Limit one (1) entry per person per day. One (1) winner will be selected in a random drawing the following day and will receive a Gigi New York Tori Tote valued at $350.00. By entering, you confirm you have read and agree to the Official Rules.

You know how some Brides say they have no idea what they want their wedding to look like? Yeah, that’s not me—I’m about as wedding obsessed as they come (the proof is all over Pinterest). But, I don’t want a wedding. Mr. Right and I will be eloping to somewhere magical before jetting off on our fabulous honeymoon. Why? Each and every one of these 10 reasons below!

[dotted]

More Wedding Planning Practicalities

Simple Ways to Save on Your Wedding | What Most Brides Forget to Do | Wedding Day Myths Debunked

If you’re wondering what happens when a sweeter than sweet duo ties the knot in a romantic meets intimate summer affair in Australia, well, this is IT, lovelies.  Think colorful blooms from Florals By Silva, a stunning Karen Willis Holmes gown and a happily ever after captured in beautiful images by Gold Hat Photography.  Fall in love with every breathtaking moment right here in THE VAULT.

From Gold Hat Photography… I started my day with Justin, two Patricks and one very docile Jasper the Pomeranian in Cremorne to cover the preparations. Perhaps due to his past duties in the RAF, Justin seems to be very neat and tidy – it’s rare to find the groom’s details so neatly arranged, and bed sheets folded with hospital corners! No wonder Jasper’s so well behaved.

Next stop was the 1888 Hotel in Pyrmont to join Jess, her mum, a gang of super cute flower girls and bridesmaid Jasmina. Father of the bride Andrew and I were clearly outnumbered.

The beauty of a Grounds of Alexandria wedding is that both the ceremony and reception can be held in the same awesome space. After the ceremony, guests were treated to a tasty Grounds smorgasbord of treats, some hilarious speeches, and Justin and Jess’s first dance as a married couple under the twinkling atrium. Oh, and Andrew’s crazy dancing…

[dotted]

See more Australian Weddings in THE VAULT!

Photography: Mark Condon | Floral Design: Grounds Florals by Silva | Wedding Dress: Karen Willis Holmes | Cake: The Grounds Of Alexandria | Bride's Shoes: Wittner Shoes | Rings: Hardy Brothers | Hair And Makeup: Makeup By Alexandra | Band: Duke | Groom's Attire: Calvin Klein | Groom's Attire: Ted Baker | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Celebrant: Kathryn Breusch | Hotel: 1888 | Venue: The Grounds Of Alexandria

You know how Santa has “a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly?” Well, he didn’t get that merry figure by going easy on the Christmas cookies, and why should he? Christmas is one of the few times of the year when calories don’t count (another being your birthday). So, we won’t blame you if you decide to make all the cookies below—they are for Santa after all, right?

[dotted]

More Recipes to Spread Christmas Cheer

Christmas Cocktails | Peppermint Treats

It doesn’t get much better than a Christmastime wedding. Take all the magic of the holiday season and pair it with two people vowing forever, and you’ve got the ultimate celebration. Anchored in a palette of ivory, gold and pops of festive red, this wedding takes a subtle and elegant approach to embracing the season, and we can’t get enough. Thanks to Perry Vaile for sharing each image inside THE VAULT.

From Perry… Holiday’s in the South are unique – rarely do we get snow, and sometimes it’s even been so beautiful we can wear tank tops to the Christmas Parade. The warm breeze off of coastal Bluffton, South Carolina might have allowed you to mistake it for May, but Christmas was only a couple weeks away. For Kate and TC, they wanted to embrace a bit of the holiday nostalgia that surrounded them at Palmetto Bluff in the month of December. The intimate, light filled chapel where they said their vows was adorned with sweet traditional wreaths, as they embraced a gold and white palette with accents of oxblood red as a nod to the season.

Kate and TC knew they wanted to keep the party small and intimate, choosing to forgo traditional bridal parties and allowing their friends to truly soak in all elements of the day as guests. The cocktail hour was kicked off by the gospel choir following the ceremony’s conclusion; powerful voices dressed in white led the way for guests. The cocktail hour continued on the porch of the main Inn, highlighted by an abundance of white linen furniture and gold details.

Their reception decor included garlands dancing across full-length banquet tables and thin, tall tapers glowed between floral clusters, and the couple capped the night by roasting s’mores on the lawn.

Photography: Perry Vaile Photography | Event Planning: Ashley Rhodes Events | Floral Design: Em Creative Floral | Cake: Minette Rushing | Invitations: Lowcountry Paper Co | Band: Flashback | Wedding Venue: Montage Palmetto Bluff | Rentals: Ooh! EventHaus | Venue & Catering: Montage Palmetto Bluff

Home is where the heart is, and these home tours will definitely steal your heart. Whether you gravitate towards traditional and timeless, beachy and casual or bright and fun, these spaces are undeniably gorgeous—and set the bar very high for 2016. See the best of the best below!

[dotted]

[dotted]

View all of our home tours right here!

Set at the Natural History Museum Los Angeles this wedding is ultimate celebration for the couple who’s not afraid to buck tradition. It’s chock-full of whimsical details (with dinosaur fossils on the guest list!) and Honey Honey Photography captured each and every bit. Hop over to THE VAULT for lots more wedding fun!

[iframe https://player.vimeo.com/video/149380403 600 338]

From The Bride… As the months became years while we were dating, we would always set time aside for each other. We occasionally took trips along the California coast, which gave us the chance to be together, without the influence of friends, families or work. We visited random cities like Carpinteria, Solvang, Palm Springs and Morro Bay, to name a few and spent days, completely enamored and wholly devoted to the other person. As we got closer and more accustomed to being together we began to incorporate our friends to our many little trips.

A trip to Zion in 2014, with the most amazing friends, would eventually solidify our relationship and lead us to ultimately become husband and wife. After 3 days of rough hiking, in one of the most beautiful places on the planet, John, my faithful boyfriend of 9 years, finally proposed and raised himself to “fiancé” status. Out-of-the-blue, or possibly due to my nagging, breadcrumb of obvious clues, he proposed to me at Zion National Park and asked willingly for my hand in marriage. I accepted without hesitation, knowing that the two of us were ultimately meant for each other.

Our first look, seeing each other for the first time on the day of the wedding felt comforting. Knowing that we were both together gave us the confidence that we could get through the day. Kids asking if we were getting married and other children complimenting my dress as we walked to the rose garden was very uplifting. I also walked down the aisle with my mom.

I definitely did not want a traditional dress, a white dress doesn’t look great with my skin tone. I also didn’t want a veil, but I liked the idea of it and decided to go with a cape instead. My tips for future brides is to plan ahead because tasks and projects will take longer than expected. Allocate funds for unexpected expenditures and on the day of the wedding, relax and enjoy the moment. Also, at the very least invest in a Day-Of Coordinator.

Photography: Ether & Smith | Cinematography: Marc's Wedding Film | Coordination: Chloe+Mint | Wedding Dress: Atelier by Dawn from Downtown LA | Cake: Jay's Catering | Invitations: Designed By Bride, Printed At Uno.la | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Catering: Jay's Catering | Hair And Makeup: Jenny O | Lighting: Jay's Catering | DJ: All The Above Events | Groom's Attire: Dawn FitzGerald Atelier | Officiant: Friend | Hotel: Line Hotel | Venue: Natural History Museum Los Angeles | Burlap Table Runners: Ordered From Uline, Sewn By Mother Of Bride And Dyed Gray By Bride | Ceremony Backdrop, Signage & Paper Goods: Made By Bride | Customized Glass Flask: Done Better | Earrings: ERS Creative | Earrings: Loli Bijoux | Floral Design, Paper Flowers, Boutonnieres & Sweet Heart Garland: Made By Bride | Gold Animals: Michaels | Groom's Shirt: Kohl's | Groom's Shoes: Cole Haan | Hair Accessories: BHLDN | Love Tattoo: Tattly | Nails: Nail Korea | Photo Collage Board: Designed By Bride Via Artifact Uprising | Tie And Pocket Square: The Tie Bar | Tie Clip: ERS Creative | Travel Wallet: Paper Source