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

From 200 Guests to 20, This Backyard English-Garden Wedding is Wow-Worthy With The Sweetest Details!

Countless weddings were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, from cancellations and postponements to cutting guest lists by 90% which is what this bride and groom did to keep their original wedding date. What started out as a tough decision, turned into an intimate backyard garden wedding, practically planned by the bride’s mom with overflowing blooms by Ebb & Flow Florals which transformed the space. Photographed by Jessica Bedore, you can feel the sweetness from start to finish, even from the local custard shop!

From Jessica Bedore Photography…During a season of extreme uncertainty when many couples were choosing to postpone their wedding day, Margaret and Tim were faced with a choice they never thought they would have to make. After spending a year planning a grand garden affair with 200 of their closest friends and family members, COVID made those dreams impossible only weeks before their wedding date. After hearing the news that they could no longer host their wedding day as expected, the pair had to make a hard decision – whether to move forward with a different version of their wedding day while keeping their original date or postpone until months later.

The decision was really hard for Margaret and Tim, but after several phone calls with their vendor team, they chose to keep their original date in early June and host a smaller, more intimate wedding in Margaret’s parents’ backyard. Luckily, Margaret’s parents were up for the challenge of turning their gorgeous backyard into the perfect scene for an English-garden-inspired dinner.

Margaret and Tim and so many special touches planned, and we loved photographing all of the thought that was put into this day. Family heirloom wine glasses were on display as well as bottles of Cabernet from one of the family’s favorite Napa vineyards, Far Niente. As a surprise to the bride and groom, Margaret’s parents had a congratulatory message written on the sign for their favorite local custard shop Zesty’s Frozen Custard, walking distance from where the bride and groom grew up. Later that evening, after the cake was cut, guests were treated to an ice cream bar from that very same shop. Such a fun end to the day!

Highlights from this day as a photographer were the gorgeous tent and stunning flowers by Ebb & Flow Flowers. The all-day forecasted rainy skies that turned a beautiful golden color at dinner made our hearts sing and reminded us what wedding days are all about – celebrating the pure, undeniable love that couples have for one another, and that their families have for them.

From the Bride and Groom…Even before the pandemic, our wedding planning wasn’t a straightforward process. With Margaret in medical school in Omaha and Tim transitioning careers, planning a wedding in Wisconsin was challenging. We knew we wanted a summer garden wedding vibe from the beginning, but that dream became a big challenge leading up to the wedding as the scope of the pandemic became more and more clear in late spring. Despite our original plan fitting (mostly) within local restrictions by late June, we made the hard decision to move the reception to Margaret’s parents’ home, minimizing the guest count to keep everyone safe.

Our budget went a lot further under the new circumstances. The back yard and tent were transformed into an almost magical garden thanks to our incredible florist, Sunny from Ebb & Flow, and we got to plan the menu of our dreams through The Runaway Spoon since our guest list was only 10% of what we had originally planned. We had incredible vendors who we trusted completely, and their creative skills made the day exceptionally beautiful.

Ultimately, it was a team effort to make the day happen, and we relied on our families a lot to make sure that the details came together. From Tim’s family hosting the rehearsal dinner at their new home and his sister spending three days preparing their backyard, to Margaret’s dad booking us a tent only 48 hours prior to the wedding day when the forecast called for rain, so much of what made the weekend special was not in our original plan. We are really grateful for Margaret’s mom especially, for picking up a lot of the slack leading up to the wedding, as it was such a transitional time in our lives. Since the wedding wasn’t at a venue, there was no staff or planning support, so Margaret’s mom truly became our coordinator!

We have been through a lot of change and challenges together since we started dating our first year in college! We’ve done long-distance, a couple of cross-country moves career changes, medical school and so much more, so planning a wedding during a pandemic was just another thing on a list of unexpected turns for us. We are so grateful to have been able to celebrate safely with our loved ones!

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Jessica Bedore Photography

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Flower Forward Whimsical Garden Meets Classic Elegance Wedding

Flower lovers rejoice! You’ll have to look no further for inspiration than this whimsical garden meets classic elegance wedding lovingly designed by Nouvelle Weddings. From an abundance of organic florals seeming to grow from stone stairs to a cake surrounded by a bevy of blooms, Stacy Bowen Floral Design creates moments that take our breath away. The timeless touches and overall charm were artfully captured in the imagery by Alicia Lacey Photography. Don’t miss the full gallery for a closer look.

From Nouvelle Weddings… Whimsical garden meets classic elegance was the inspiration for this shoot that was so artfully captured by Alicia Lacey Photography. The mansion of Great Marsh Estate provided a dramatic and elegant backdrop for the classic, yet playful design.

For the ceremony, the couple was surrounded by organic, garden-style florals that enhanced the natural beauty of the surrounding field. Garden roses, ranunculus, sweet pea, and a variety of greenery lined the stairs and framed the entrance to the porch.

Two tablescapes were designed. The first with a luxurious style which had a large floral table runner, velvet napkins, and gold accents. The second tablescape provided a more whimsical look with gauze napkins, wicker placemats, and floral-etched glassware. To finish off the whimsical garden vibe, a classic white cake was decorated with fresh flowers, playfully dancing in a variety of heights and surrounded by a sea of florals.

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Nouvelle Weddings

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When a Wedding Florist Designs Her Own Wedding… No Detail Is Left Unturned!

Ready to do a double-take? Because today’s wedding demands one! When the blushing bride also just so happens to be the owner of De La Fluer Designs, you know it’s going to be good. Brightly colored blooms in delicious warm hues brought their day to life, while The Addison Boca Raton provided the most breathtaking backdrop for their “I do’s”. See all the pretty at the full gallery, captured by Melissa Blythe Photography!

From the Bride…I wanted our wedding to feel like a gorgeous day in the country side of France full of natural beauty sans pretention, effortless elegance, and a touch of whimsy. Just a perfectly flawed, natural, representation of the both of us. As a florist, flowers are a big deal to me, yet I knew that there’d be some details that I’d have to sacrifice as I designed and executed my own wedding. The color palette was one of those things that had to be perfect as well as our ceremony arbor, and the feel of our ceremony space between The Addison’s massive Banyan Trees. Needless to say, my amazing team totally nailed it! The color palette of our florals, like our wedding, was not very typical and included touches of biscotti, copper, and French blue. Seeing all of the flowers come together each shining beautifully, painting the gorgeous portrait that was our day, was simply a dream. The floral design and the venue were non-negotiables in seeing our vision come to life.

We wanted everything at our wedding to be meaningful, memorable and authentically representative of who we are and our story. God is at the center of our relationship and our lives as individuals, so worship was the essence of our ceremony and our faith was laced throughout every aspect of our wedding from our first touch as we prayed together, to our officiant & Pastor, who is also my Dad!

My absolute favorite part of the day was the worship session at the beginning of our ceremony. I always envisioned walking down the aisle and expressing thanks and gratitude to God for our relationship, experiences and the journey leading up to that special moment that we said, “I Do”. Those special moments with a live band and stringed quartet all surrounding a song that has so much meaning to me, “The Goodness of God”, felt like pure magic. The sound of the voices of our closest friends and family singing together coupled with the sound of nature in the open air under those Banyan trees is a sound that I’ll always feel and never forget. It was indeed a sacred moment—the sweetest blessing on our special day.

The morning of our wedding getting ready with our favorite people in the world was another favorite memory from our day. Taking photos with my little nieces and experiencing their excitement and anticipation for what the day would bring was so special. We both agree that the short moments of peace and stillness that we each had the morning of our wedding were special. As I added the finishing touches to my vows the morning of our wedding, I thought, this is really happening! I also felt the greatest sense of a relief that everything that comes with wedding planning would soon end, and our new lives together would begin!

My best advice for future couples would be to invest in a photographer and videographer whose style you adore. Your wedding day will end before you know it, and the memories captured in those photos and in your video will let you re-live that magical day over and over for years to come, each time in its very own special way. Secondly, if you love cake as much as I do, ask your venue concierge/catering manager/planner to ensure that any cake that’s not served is packed away for you to take home and enjoy! I am pretty bummed that I barely had a slice of my delicious 3-tier dulce de leche filled wedding cake. Yes, I do have an obsession. But seriously, have a plan for getting everything that is truly important to you done whether that includes getting any sentimental item photographed or captured by your videographer, or getting that photo with your second Aunt on Dad’s side, or perhaps if you have an obsession like me, getting a decadent slice of cake for you to enjoy on your wedding night. Have a plan for getting it all!

From Melissa Blythe Photography… When Miami-based wedding florist Daphne of De La Fleur designed her own wedding, she didn’t skip a single design detail! Photographing Daphne & Ricardo’s wedding was an absolute dream. Not only were there beautiful details around every corner, but there was also a deeply meaningful ceremony which Daphne’s father, Pastor Zizi, conducted, and their entire church attended.

European Summer Elopement At Redleaf In The Hunter Valley Australia

Pour yourself an Aperol Spritz and prepare to be transported. This editorial designed by a powerhouse team of vendors has us feeling as if we’ve taken a trip to Europe in the summer. Opulent Events styled the day intending to bring in elements of the venue and the surrounding area for an organic feel. Beautiful blooms by Floral Collective up the charm and romance. Every last iconic image by Sheri McMahon Photography feels elegant and timeless all at once. Don’t miss all the details in the full gallery.

From Sheri McMahon Photography… This vision and concept were created and styled by Sheri McMahon Photography, Opulent Events, and Floral Collective. Together we wanted to showcase the timeless fine art style of an intimate European elopement in our region. Sourcing the right venue was first on the list as this would act as our muse.

Redleaf was the perfect venue that would bring together the European feel we wanted to create. When planning the style and design. It was important to bring in elements of the venue and the surrounding environment colors and textures.

The table was styled with terracotta napkins, earth-toned candlestick holders, bread, wine, and fruit scattered throughout. This would create the warm feeling of a large Italian family gathering around the table.

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This Is the Citrus Inspired Bridal Shower of Our Italian Summer Dreams!

Color coordination was top priority for this Italian inspired bridal shower! Lemon lovers rejoice – the team from Detailed Touch Events incorporated the finest yellow details amongst dark blue to create a stunning and eloquently designed event. There’s no doubt that this day completely raised the bar for celebrating brides-to-be. It couldn’t have done so without the vibrant and artful floral arrangements that beautifully set the scene from Garden District Flowers or the unbelievable citrus themed invitation suite curated by Matinae Design Studio. See the full event unfold in the full gallery, lovingly captured by Mariel Hannah.

From Detailed Touch Events… When I was asked to plan and design a Capri inspired Italian bridal shower, I could have not been more excited! The bride to be really appreciates her Italian heritage so that is something the host wanted to play heavily on.

The sprinkles of lemon and blue mosaic tile can be seen throughout the design, but I really wanted to make sure the overall aesthetic didn’t come off too theme driven. To balance the bright hues, I anchored the space with an open-air, white draped tent.

Then I brought in neutral elements through the light wooden chairs, rattan pendants, charger plates and other small design details through-out. The goal was to have the shower feel beautiful and elegant, while still evoking a crisp, clean and modern aesthetic that complimented the host’s private estate.

It is all about the details! Here are a few elements I loved:

Greenery accents attached to the tent to mimic overgrown greenery crawling up the side of an old Italian villa.
Blue and white chinoiserie vases used that were the host’s late mother’s collection. It is always about including those personal touches for me that make an event extra special!
Olive oil favors were sourced locally from the Edible Schoolyard where school children help sustain their own organic gardens.

Edited by Lauren Megerdichian & Carly Zumar

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Detailed Touch Events

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This Sweet and Chic Texas Wedding Will Inspire Your Own

Pops of burgundy, blush, and burnt orange have us dreaming in color. For this sweet, springtime editorial Little Black Book members Storybook Weddings & Events created a day that’s all about style. From ceremony stairs beautifully blooming with flowers to a reception table overflowing with romantic florals, designs by Remi and Gold delight. You’ll swoon over every last detail beautifully captured in the imagery by Lucy Struve. Head to the full gallery to fall head over heels in love.

From Storybook Weddings & Events… This sweet and chic editorial took place in the Hill Country of Austin, Texas. We played off of the southwestern style vibes that came naturally from the dry desert greenhouse at The Greenhouse at Driftwood and intertwined them with a beautiful garden softness.

We incorporated light woods from our furniture and paired it with sweet berry hues and vibrant orange details to make this shoot colorful, bright, and super sweet. We love the vibrancy that this shoot provides will remaining timeless and chic all at the same time.

Our couple was incredibly down to earth and you can see the shyness of our bride interact with our super charming groom for a very playful vibe. The entire story came together beautifully.

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Remi and Gold

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Inspired By Francois Boucher’s “Triumph of Venus” This Editorial Is As Pretty As A Painting

This editorial is as pretty as a painting. Inspired by Francois Boucher’s “Triumph of Venus”, Glitter & Glue Weddings designed a day brimming with delicate details and velvety touches. Just one look and you’ll feel like you’ve fallen into a fairytale. Beautiful blooms by Lizzie Bees Flower Shoppe add to the romance and ethereal aesthetic. The elegance is artfully captured in the imagery by Stephanie Michelle Photography. Visit the full gallery for a closer look.

From Stephanie Michelle Photography… Our stationery designer, Every Little Letter, beautifully hand sketched all of the illustrations. Each hand-made invitation was recessed with gold foil. The place cards were pressed with gold foil, as well.

Our florist, Lizzie Bees Flower Shoppe imported a lush variety of blooms from California notably koko loco, hellebores, cappuccino, quicksand, butterfly ranunculus, and spray roses. The result was overwhelmingly romantic.

The day came together beautifully from beginning to end. All of these elements combined with the stationery illustrations enable any designer to visualize a cohesive design from start to finish.

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Romantic and Feminine For This Pride & Prejudice Inspired Editorial at Strong Mansion!

Elegance, romance, and feminism make up for today’s stunning inspiration shoot at Strong Mansion shot by Megan Bennett Photography. A day in the gardens planned by Christine McFarlane Events full of florals by The Art of Violets and all of the gorgeous dresses and details created a day fit for Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Take a look below to see all of the magic and get swept away!

From Megan Bennett Photography…Inspired by the romanticism of Jane Austen writings, this talented team came together to curate their representation of PRIDE & Prejudice. After seeing this fine art editorial, you’ll be saying Bridgerton who?!
Megan Bennett Photography and Christine McFarlane Events knew their refined, hyper-feminine shoot should take place at a venue that was stately and represented the romantic reminiscent of Austen’s Pemberley Estate or Bronte’s Thornfield Hall. Nestled into the hillside of Sugarloaf Mountain, was the perfect venue- Strong Mansion.

Our two brides dawned numerous styles fit for two queens. The dresses included a dusty blue lux robe and a swiss dot of the shoulder gown from East Coast Gowns, a stunning Marchesa style from Cherie Sustainable Bridal, and a show-stopping dress from Liza Ray New York. JKW Beauty enhanced the models stunning features in soft dewy makeup, and the perfectly tossed side braid and romantic low bun. Both blue BHLDN heels look as though they were plucked straight out of Emma Woodhouse’s wardrobe. The rings from Nelson Coleman Jewelers are vintage-inspired pieces with a contemporary flair.

The Art of Violets created two beautifully unique bouquets for each girl. One monochromatic bouquet with lots of texture, and one elegant bouquet with the shocking addition of powder blue anthuriums. Nested into the stone steps of the ceremony location were complimentary arrangements to the tablescape. The Art of Violets created to compliment the manicured gardens surroundings of the tablescape.

Honeywood Rentals brought the ideal pieces to complete feminine tablescape with the refined farm table, luxe linen padded chairs, elegant glassware, and flatware. BBJ Linens complimentary patterned napkins and table runners showcased the color scheme of creamy ivory, dusty rose, and powder blue. Stephanie Gould Calligraphy created handmade custom pieces for our two brides including a classically beautiful invitation suite, place cards, and full page of scripted love notes. To match the essence of the editorial, an outer envelope and envelope liner by Margaux Paperie was paired with the paper goods.
The elegant, organic design of Fleur & Flour’s two-tiered cake and sugar flowers is almost too good to believe. An elegant day in the gardens isn’t complete without a curated picnic. This lovely couple got to enjoy fresh fruits, elegant custom sugar cookies, and a local bottle of wine while enjoying a good book atop their powder blue and ivory checkered blanket. Extra-large brimmed sun hat included!

Take Our Quiz To See if You’re Up for the Task of Maid of Honor MVP

And, let’s be honest, you will – because you always show up for your best girl, especially when she’ll be getting ready for her best day ever. Whether you were raised under the same roof (#sistersareourfirstbesties), found forever friendship on your first day of kindergarten, became inseparable as roommates in college, or bonded in the trenches at work and haven’t left each other’s side since, your love for one another is strong, so much so that you’ve been entrusted with one of the biggest tasks around: keeping the beautiful bride beaming from the beginning of this wild ride to the very happy end (and then from there on out, too!). And if she’s not beaming 24/7, then it’s time for you to shine, sister!! She’ll have highs and lows throughout the entire engagement, so she’s going to need non-surrendering support and hype, a solid shoulder to cry on, and impeccable comedic timing from her biggest cheerleader in life to get through it all.

Her mother or father, aunt or uncle, grandparents, or guardians growing up may be “giving her away” at the altar, and caveat, that’s not even a thing anymore, because she’s in control of her future and she’s exchanging vows of her own volition, but at the same time, you kind of are too! You’re not losing her, of course, you’ll just be sharing your sunshine with her new spouse (whom you adore, with any luck!), and figuring out the new normal for your ride or die routine. It will be great, we promise, but before the big day comes, let’s circle back to those to-dos on your list – the ones that will 1) take some pressure off of that bride bestie of yours 2) keep her smiling and 3) show her how on-point her decision to trust you with the coveted MOH role really was.

Photo by Mist of Morning

We had a lot of fun last month when we quizzed our readers on all of the events in the wedding celebration timeline (from pre-aisle soirees to post-vow farewell fetes), so now it’s your turn, Maids of Honor. Are you up for it?? Let’s go!

P.S. bonus points from the start if you read that last line and said “hold up, I’m a Matron of Honor, thank you!” That’s right, you can be a Maid or a Matron of Honor – it’s the same role – you’re just a Maid if you’re not married and a Matron if you are. So, don’t be shocked if you have a counterpart, you’ll be partners in crime.

True or False:

First up on your priority list is planning a get together with your girl (and a few of your other friends) to celebrate her engagement and start looking through all the amaze wedding inspo she’ll be so excited to brainstorm with you.

If you show up with these items, you’ll be letting her know she can count on you for ALL the things (including some adorable ‘will you be my bridesmaid?’ cards to add to her bridesmaid proposal):

As the MOH, you’re second in command (and truly, that might even be first, because bridesmaid drama is best kept far away from the bride) when it comes to checking in with the rest of the bridal squad. You’ll want to ensure everything is squared away for all of these outings:

And you’re officially on caffeine and champagne duty for the duration of her engagement, so keep these tricks in tow!

A. Bridesmaid dress shopping
B. The bridal shower
C. The bachelorette
D. All of the above

Photo by The Great Romance

Rules have changed over the last few decades, but for the most part, the Maid/Matron of Honor does host or helps host the bridal shower – you’ll want to make sure everyone special to the guest of honor is included on the invite list, you’ll want to help plan games and a curate a menu that you know she’ll love, you’ll also want to spearhead the gift or gift(s) you and the gang might go in on.

True or False:

These little things will remind the soon-to-be-Mrs. that she’s got a glow about her today (and always!)

The BLANK is where you bring out your A-game and plan a night or weekend that aligns all the things your bride loves most in life (cocktails, cute outfits, an aesthetic that’s styled so perfectly it’s worthy of a whole carousel of images on Insta, etc.). And you do it in her taste, too, because you know it’s all about her for the last fling before the ring!

Hint: these picks will ensure no one feels left out from all the fun!

A. Engagement party
B. Lingerie party
C. Bachelorette party
D. Bridal luncheon

Once the rehearsal dinner has concluded, it’s pretty common for brides to spend the night before their wedding with their MOH, sisters, mama, and/or other bridesmaids. You can help everyone get a nice eight hours with little care packages prepped with …

A. Sleep masks
B. Coffee mugs for the morning java jolt (and double points if you appoint someone to make a pre-glam-squad-arrival run to Starbucks)
C. Floral makeup bags
D. Floral Mini Tissues
E. All of it!

Photo by Emily Foster C/O Everlee Event Studio

And now, the big day has begun: beyond making sure that the bride is well fed and hydrated throughout the day, you’ll also want to be sure your bustling and bouquet-holding skills are up to snuff, your signature looks stellar on the happy couple’s marriage certificate, and your speech is in tip-top shape. What else should be filed under ‘#HandledbytheMOH?’

Hint: This is an open-ended answer, but if these are setting off [wedding] bells for you, then you’re on the right track:

Answers:

1. True
2. D.
3. True
4. C.
5. E.
6. We’ll take any of these: Making sure everyone signs the guest book, decking out the newlyweds’ getaway car, collecting all of the cards and gifts at the end of the night, and/or getting the couple’s top tier of the wedding cake packaged up so they can share something sweet in one year (extra points if you treat your PIC to a picture-perfect cake topper)

Photo by Natalie Bray

Good luck with everything, Maids/Matrons of Honor and remember, your bride bestowed this high privilege on you for a very special reason, so if anyone knows that you’re the right one for the job, it’s her! And if you need anything else to make the adventure all the more merry, be sure to shop our totally-curated Style Me Pretty Collection!

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Natalie Bray Studios

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Swept Away: An Intimate Sunstone Winery Elopement Designed to Embody the Spirit of Traditions

We were indeed swept away by the tender love created by the ambience from this fall vineyard shoot. After just a look through these stunning images produced by Lauren Fair Photography, how could you blame us? As a nod to sweet housewarming traditions, Amorology uniquely incorporated brooms into her design, while Nectar + Bloom created wow-worthy arrangements of neutral hues to complement the French architecture of the luxurious Sunstone Villa. The beauty of this inspirational shoot is truly blinding! Check out all of the inspiring details at the full gallery — and let me tell you, it’s unlike anything we’ve laid eyes on!

From Amorology… Inspired and rooted in traditions of housewarming gifts given to a new couple, we created a “Swept Away” shoot taking place at Sunstone Winery with soft European touches. Our desire for the shoot was to embrace traditions that have gone before, especially those of housewarming gifts that are given to couples as they begin their own homes. Some of those elements included: bread so that they may never know hunger, honey, so you may always know the sweetness of love, candles that their home may always have light and salt that their life may have flavor among others! And of course, brooms that they may always sweep away their sorrows,

The ceremony structure was inspired by the concept of brooms and how they beautifully elude to taking care of your home and the clouds of gypsophila that Nectar and Bloom added to the arch delicately and romantically hinted toward the dust being swept away. The custom-built wood boxes were filled with warm dried elements and feathery pampas grass to again give a nod to the brooms while wishbone chairs offered another collective grouping of wishes to the couple.

The table was laid with a swiss dot overlay that played to the bride’s gown and was adorned with some of the housewarming elements of bread, candles, and warm tones of florals. Each setting was set with woven chargers and chairs and a thoughtfully placed small whisk broom that held each guest’s name at the table.

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TEAM Hair and Makeup

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Event Planning

Amorology

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Lauren Fair Photography

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This Hawaii “I Do” Will Have You Day Dreaming Of A Destination Wedding

Say Aloha to this Hawaii wedding filled with muted blues, silver accents, neutral tones, and the most beautiful garden blooms. The talented Erica Goldsmith of Couture Events Hawaii created a day that dazzles. From the romantic ceremony filled with cascading, natural greenery, and crystal hanging chandeliers to the open-air reception featuring tables covered in ethereal blooms by Teresa Sena Designs, every second of this special day delights. Dmitri and Sandra Photography were there to capture all the magic in their artful imagery. Head to the full gallery for all of the beautiful details.

From Couture Events Maui… Tina and Maverick always knew that they would have a destination wedding in Maui as it holds a very special place in their hearts. They dreamed of having a fun and classic, yet natural and romantic Maui wedding surrounded by their family and friends. They also wanted their guests to experience something unique, a different venue with an incredible backdrop that would absolutely wow everyone in attendance: The Haiku Mill.

Our couple placed a big emphasis on amazing food and specialty crafted cocktails for their celebration and wanted to fully experience every aspect with their guests. The elegant decor continued throughout their celebration with artfully crafted furniture and seating placed under the graceful mango tree in the courtyard.

Their dinner reception was straight out of a fairy tale! Seating charts were uniquely placed onto chic crystal decanters, tables were covered in ethereal blooms, tall, twinkling taper candles, lovely blue runners, and topped with beautiful place settings. As the sun went down, flickering candles and crystal chandeliers filled the spectacular space with a romantic glow as everyone celebrated the love of this amazing couple.

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Event Planning

Couture Events

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Dmitri and Sandra Photography

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Love, Laughter, And All Of The Feels By The Lakeside At Lake Bomoseen Lodge in Vermont!

All of the love, all of the laughter, and ALL of the feels can be felt in Ali + Tim’s wedding video by Sixpence Studios! There was laughter from the beginning…during the couple’s vows which carried over to maid of honor and best man speeches, which you could hear throughout Lake Bomoseen Lodge. From an awesome first look to dancing the night away, Garrentee Photography captured the memories to share with us all! Check out the heartfelt video below!

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From Sixpence Studios…My favorite weddings are the ones where I’m laughing so hard I have to concentrate on holding the camera still. Ali and Tim’s wedding was one of those. From the giggles during their vows, to the speeches where we laughed, then full on guffawed when Ali’s maid of honor compared their infant selves to their fathers “I had no hair, and you had a drink in your hand.”

We filmed Ali + Tim’s wedding in the summer of 2019 in Lake Bomoseen, Vermont. Vermont is slowly opening back up, and by July 4th we should be back to business as usual. The joy we feel reliving Ali + Tim’s wedding through their film, is the perfect way to get back into the wedding season spirit!

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Sixpence Studios

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The Bride Stunned in an Edgy Jumpsuit at This Intimate Topanga Canyon Elopement

The striking details from this Topanga Canyon wedding simply cannot compare. Simona and Greg enlisted the help of Kaleb Norman James to make their dream wedding a reality, in a timeless and intimate form. Their private estate venue proved to be the perfect location for a timeless affair, full of perfectly coordinated elements. We just can’t get enough of these classic white with touches of blue details and that bridal jumpsuit adorned with elegant Italian lace. For the ultimate dose of pretty, dive into the full gallery of stunning images, as taken by Michael Radford — you don’t want to miss them!

From Michael Radford Photo… Simona and Greg were married on March 6th in a beautiful canyon in Southern California.

Due to the pandemic, they chose to keep their guest list small, and invited only their closest family and friends.

With the help of Kaleb Norman James, they put together a timeless, yet intimate wedding with lots of beautiful details.

Edited by Lauren Megerdichian & Carly Zumar

A Taste Of French Elegance In The Hills Of California

If you can’t travel to France, why not bring France to you? Charming Peony Studio did just that when designing this editorial which transports you to Provence, France, without ever leaving the golden California coast. With endless valleys and hills covered in budding vineyards, acting as a lush green backdrop for a garden ceremony and reception, Sunstone Winery & Villa was the perfect place to bring this inspiration to life. The day features an elegant boudoir shoot and not one but two dreamy bridal gown moments from Claire Pettibone. Sean Thomas Photography brings all the details to life in beautiful imagery. Watch it all unfold in the full gallery.

From Sean Thomas Photography… Being heavily inspired by the Old World architecture, Yuliya with Charming Peony Studio, couldn’t wait to create the perfect Provençal wedding editorial, which was captured by Sean Thomas Photography and recorded by the Hugo Film Company. She began by imagining an elegant and tasteful bridal boudoir with all of the undertones of romance and classic styling.

The bride’s bouquet was filled with Tulips, Sweet Peas, Butterfly Ranunculus, and Garden Roses. The ceremony space was placed in front of the wood and iron Villa entry door, which acted as an old-world frame for the floral and green ceremony three-quarters arch, created with Blush Tulips, Japanese Spirea, Ranunculus, and Sahara Roses.

The table was magnificently styled with a light pink floral and lace linen from La Tavola. With beautiful plates, chargers, silverware, and glassware from Borrowed Blu and the paper place settings and menus by Every Little Letter, the tablescape was giving the guests a luxurious garden-inspired setting in which to have their meal and celebrate the newlyweds.

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Outdoor Garden Romance at Sunstone Winery With Whimsical Details & Beautiful Backdrops!

Outdoor weddings are seriously stunning and after the last year, we realized how important they really are. This romantic editorial at Sunstone Winery proves just how gorgeous they can be especially with these beautiful backdrops. Designed and planned by Styled Shoots Across America and Heather Benge Events, luxury and garden romance was showcased from the beautiful blooms by La Fleur De Jour to the gorgeous gown by Styled Gowns. Check out The Fourniers captivating images below and take note of the unique escort card display in an old boat filled with champagne!

From The Fourniers…This spring editorial shoot was held at the Sunstone Winery, a vineyard and wedding venue in Santa Yenz, California. Designed by Styled Shoots Across America, the inspiration for the decor was to highlight how luxurious a wedding venue can look from the outside. Each year, weddings adapt to style changes and trends. It is significant to share outdoor weddings this year.

This shoot was a beautiful representation of how things change, and while things might not go as we originally planned, it doesn’t diminish the celebration of love. It heartens us to know that sometimes, our second plan is better than the first.

Styled Shoots Across America effortless wove together the soft florals and romantic tones of the decor amidst the magnificent backdrop of the rolling blue Santa Yenz mountains, enticing grapevines, and the soft glow of the California sun.

You’d Never Know This Shoot Didn’t Take Place in the French Countryside!

Prepare to be transported! This styled shoot is bringing us all the European destination wedding feels despite taking place in sunny California. Heather Benge planned a pastel-filled day brimming with soft, romantic details. For the ceremony, CeCe Designs created a floral arch with sprawling garden roses to bring a decidedly European touch while allowing the venue’s stunning architecture to shine through. All the dreamy details of the day were artfully captured in the imagery by Lisette OC Photography. Take a trip to Europe in the full gallery.

From Lisette OC Photography… While couples everywhere may have had to put their dream destination wedding on hold due to COVID-19, it’s still possible to achieve a dreamy destination-esque affair to celebrate your love with your guests. The design team behind this styled shoot brought soft, organic, and romantic details to this ceremony & reception design, all based around a pastel color palette primarily consisting of lilac and blush tones.

For the stationery suite, a romantic design with old world-European flair came to life to add a special touch. When it comes to style, the bride wore a lilac-toned tiered gown, adding a modern pop of color while still feeling classic in the silhouette. The groom’s navy tux perfectly balanced her romantic gown!

The reception space was accented with asymmetrical floral installations, and the tables were set with handmade personalized engraved cheese boards that doubled as guest favors and place cards. The cake pulled everything together with floral touches, especially lavender to mimic the shades throughout the bride’s gown and the florals!

A Downtown Miami Wedding Filled With Personal Touches, Sentimental Moments, and a Steal-Worthy Beer Bar

This Downtown Miami wedding sprinkled with personal touches may just bring a tear to your eye. If this day doesn’t represent the value of a father-daughter bond, we truly don’t know what does. Planners from Oh my Occasions uniquely embraced the couple’s love story and brought it to life, and boy did it get the “oh my” reaction it deserves. Aesthetically pleasing floral arrangements stole the show thanks to the artistically talented team at Event Bliss Design. Between epic views of the city and a customized beer tap wall, this Miami wedding will surely long be remembered and cherished. Head on over to the full gallery steal-worthy inspiration, captured by Kt Crabb Photography.

From Kt Crabb Photography… Katrina’s father stepped onto the dance floor with his wife in hand, Katrina’s mother. The room fell quiet as he looked down and paused for a moment. “I’m so grateful to be alive to see this moment.” As Katrina had expressed earlier, her father is often not a man of many words. “My dad has also battled health problems in the past, so him being present at my wedding and giving a heartfelt speech was everything to me.” Of course, he brought his sense of humor as he grabbed a sheet of paper with his speech and let it unfold into what looked like a novel as the paper was long enough to drag on the floor. The room erupted in laughter as he glanced over to catch a glimpse of the reaction he seemed to value most, his baby girl.

The bride and her father hold such a unique bond. He walked her hand in hand from the car up the staircase to the cathedral. However, he too wanted to witness the moment the doors opened for the first time in the cathedral. He stood partway down the aisle as she walked towards him to join together before reaching Jeremy at the altar. “My father standing halfway symbolized that he is always there for me when I need him the most. He’s there to catch me when I fall, guide me, and offer a helping hand (literally and figuratively because my dad is a handyman!).”

Hearing and witnessing the role Katrina’s father held in her life proved that her life partner would need to be someone just as special. According to Katrina, “My mom always told me when you visit a new church, make a wish. On November 9, 2008, as I stepped inside St. Augustine Church for the first time, I wished, ‘I wish I will meet my future husband.’ After the mass, I met Jeremy outside on the steps of the church. At that time, I had no idea that God just granted me my wish. It wasn’t until we started dating when I first thought, ‘Wow, how funny would it be if this guy ends up as my husband!’.” This serendipitous story was one Katrina kept close to her heart and shared with Jeremy for the first time on their wedding day through her gift to him, a hand-crafted album full of moments and stories of their life together.

Their wedding day was sprinkled with personal touches throughout. From momentos of their travels abroad to the deep love for uniquely crafted beer, and of course, freshly made donuts. Their unique personal touches invited their guests in first hand to experience their love story. They gifted their guests with their own custom beer blend created for their wedding day which was later served in their personalized beer tap. Their wedding day was held at the EPIC Kimpton hotel in Miami, a city near and dear to their hearts. The EPIC hotel offered great views of their favorite city while they prepared for such a life-changing moment together. “While we were sitting at our sweetheart table during dinner, we had another moment to look around the ballroom- this time with all of our guests sitting in their seats, eating, drinking, and having fun. We were so humbled to see all of our close family and friends there to celebrate us. We took in a deep breath, had a big sigh of relief, drank a beer from our custom beer tap wall, and said, “wow, this is so beautiful”. This simple, little moment between all the big moments, was one of our favorites.”

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Edited by Lauren Megerdichian & Carly Zumar

Beautiful Spring Colors Put Romance In Full Bloom

Step inside a romantic soiree that’s sure to steal your heart. The Simply Elegant Group planned a day; for couple Fran and Steph, brimming with special touches and overflowing with love. Blooms in blush, peach, and pink tones designed by Ashland Addison Floral & Event Decor make us believe that love truly is in the details. You can feel the joy and happiness of the day in the exquisite imagery by Mandelette Photography. Don’t miss every last detail in the full gallery.

From Mandelette Photography… Fran and Steph met while they were working in treasury, and their relationship really took off! The pair decided to get new jobs, and have been dating for many years. Then this year, Steph popped the question to Fran on a trip near Breckenridge, Colorado where Fran said, “yes of course!”

The pair are so sweet together; both incredibly kind a bit on the shy side. You would never be able to tell from the photos that they aren’t professional models!

The stunning cake was baked by no other than Jen from Sugar on Top Bakeshop. What an amazing soiree it was!

How to Not Let Bad Wedding Weather Rain on Your Parade

After everything that has transpired in the last year and caused couples to chart out entirely new courses for their wedding days, we’re ecstatic that things are slowly returning to a semblance of normality (although we know that ‘normal’ isn’t really a thing anymore, and we kind of like it that way). Contingency planning isn’t a walk in the park no matter what the circumstances, but we don’t think we’d be speaking out of turn if we said that we’d happily get back to weather-related fallbacks if those were the only ‘just in case’ considerations on the table. Rainy days, windy days, too-hot temps or too-cold conditions can absolutely do their best to put a damper on your day, but if you have alternate accommodations and amenities at the ready, you’ll be just fine. That’s no lie, either: we’ve written about buckets of bad-weather best days ever and they’ve all turned out 👌. After all, if the two of you can put on rain boots and jump in puddles when the pressure kicks in, you’ll be in a much better position to weather future storms together – and that’s marriage goals, for sure!

So, where should you start when your pre-wedding to-do list is already flooded with things to figure out? Well, first things first, remember that there is a difference between not letting weather bother you and not caring about the weather at all. A relaxed and stressing-less attitude is great, because it keeps you flexible and allows you to roll with the punches, but you’ll still need to plan ahead and have plans A, B, and yes, even C in place before the potential big day clouds roll in.

Photo by Clary Pfeiffer

In the event your plan A (that’s your just-about-perfect, no solutions or substitutions needed scenario) doesn’t vibe with the weather on your wedding day, here’s what we at Style Me Pretty love for successful and buttoned up backup plans:

Plan B (the big picture things):

This is what you’ll need to work out with your venue well before a forecast is on the horizon. If you’ll be having an outdoor wedding at an estate, a mansion, a country club, a vineyard, a stunning farmstead, etc., how will you be providing cover if inclement weather ensues? Can you tent? Does the venue have one or more indoor spots should the weather be too intense to remain outside (even with guests sheltered under a tent, draping, or a canopy)? While your venue coordinator and on-site team will have the best frame of reference for how the weather should play out during the time of year you’ll be getting married, you can also rely on your wedding planner/designer (if you have one! And if you don’t, it’s a great reason to bring someone aboard if your budget allows) to troubleshoot any concerns or questions that need clearing up well in advance and to help you navigate weather-specific nuances on the days leading up to your wedding.

Photo by Clary Pfeiffer

Photo by Lauren Fair Photography

Plan C (the little things that mean the most):

This is what you’ll need to spend some time brainstorming as you get closer to your event day. When your weather predictions are looking grim at 10 or so days out, you’ll want to be proactive about what to do in a pinch (i.e. should you push back the ceremony a bit if the weather looks promising to turn around?), and you’ll need to keep all of your vendors posted on your thought process (because they’ve probably been through plenty of ‘what do we do with this weather?’ worries in their tenure and will know what to have prepared for your party). Talk to your photographer about your entire shot list and what he or she suggests for handling your ceremony captures, your individual and couple portraits, your bridal party pictures, etc. And add some periphery budget for any day-of triaging involving guests: umbrellas for rain, personal fans, auxiliary AC units, and hydrating refreshments for soaring, heat-stroke-level temperatures, disposable hand warmers or blankets, thermoses of cocoa or artisanal coffee, portable heaters for unprecedented chills.

Photo by Sylvie Gil

Photo by Sarah Ingram

While we don’t have a magic fix for wedding day weather flops, we promise that we’re doing gorgeous-weather dances every day and every night for our couples and sending all of the best vibes out into the universe for you! We also put together a whole collection of Ultimate Planning Guides to help you maneuver hiring a wedding planner, choosing your venue, finding the right vendors for your style, etc. All of them have helpful hints about weather planning, too!

And here are a few more things that can help, if inopportune weather turns out to be your #somethingblue, after all!

For your tent

For your touch ups

For your toasts to a great wedding day (even if the weather didn’t cooperate)

Oh! And embrace all of that good luck that’s supposed to come from the storm!

Photo by Brittany Frisch

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Lauren Fair Photography

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Soft Spring Colors Inspire In This Romantic Editorial At The Swan House

Buttery yellows, shades of peach, and french blue will have you dreaming of the prettiest of spring days. This inspiration shoot at The Swan House revels in the beauty of the season. The distinctive European feel of the venue guided the romantic design and styling aesthetic by Godfreys Weddings. Enemies of the Average highlighted the beauty of the location with incredible floral moments, like a fountain encased in flowers that served as the ceremony site. You’ll love the artful imagery by Lauren Berry Photography. Take a closer look in the full gallery.

From Lauren Berry Photography… The Swan House with its breathtaking views, voluminous florals draping ever so delicately over the stone and staircase, sounds of water flowing from the fountains, and the romantic European feel is a happy awakening for the senses.

With blooming lush gardens abound, Godfrey’s Weddings created a high-touch wedding inspired by the natural beauty of the venue and its European charm, incorporating flowy organic styled spring florals bursting forth with a hint of soft spring colors by Enemies of the Average. We wanted to illuminate the garden and fountain and incased it in exquisite soft spring florals ascending from the ground giving more height and dimension to the space.

The color palette incorporated colors reminiscent of a beautiful spring day with French blues, lavender, buttery soft yellow, shades of peach, blush, and soft whites. The cake with its intricate floral design was masterfully crafted by Cake Envy. The reception table was adorned with spring blooms, tapered candles, & hand-calligraphed place settings affixed with French blue tassels.