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

Savannah Bridal Shoot Inspiration

From The Bride…Mick and I met through a mutual friend at two separate sporting events – the cricket and the rugby. After having a good chat at the cricket (during a rain delay), neither of us didn’t think much more of it. By chance we saw each other at a Reds v Western force game, had another couple of drinks and a chat, after which he asked me out.

About three weeks in I knew he was the one. Having both been married before, and neither of us overly backward in coming forward, we were pretty upfront about who we were and what we were after in a partner. By chance, our needs/wants/goals etc were very similar and in most instances the same.

Proposal was very low key. We were at the farm for the weekend and upon waking up one morning, he asked me to marry him. No fireworks, not string quartet etc, but that wouldn’t have been very Mick. We had talked about it previously, but neither had a real need to get married initially. We were with each other because that’s where we wanted to be – we didn’t need to be married, but after a while we both wanted to.

What I love most about Mick is that he is who he is. There is no pretence with him, and as such he has a confidence without being arrogant. He is as honest and loyal as the day is long, and is the most genuine person I know. Mick loves the confidence that I give him.

Being able to share that experience with our family and close friends was the best part of our day. We didn’t have a huge wedding but those that were there were the ones that will be in our lives in the future.

My advice to other brides is it will all be fine… We had our reception in an open air marquee. Despite rain in the lead up week and ominous clouds on the day ( which looked great in the photos ) there was not a drop of rain on the day. The roof stayed off the marquee and the night was lovely. I did have moments of terror however.

That you can always aim for the wedding, that isn’t a wedding, but you will most likely end up with a wedding….

I tried to be as simple and what I thought was as elegant as possible. We did a country wedding, but we didn’t want too casual. Sarabah Estate was a big help in that regard, and we tried to keep it less formal by using local flower pods etc to decorate the tables alongside candles and flowers. Everything was shares of white, highlighted with waxy green leaves and Crow’s Ash pods.

Mick is from Canungra and it was important for him to have a wedding at home. We didn’t even consider having it anywhere else – it just felt right. It also meant that we could use our property for the photos which made it special for us.

A short honeymoon straight after the wedding – we kept it simple and went to Noosa. A very low key week – lots of good food, wine, trips to the beach and surrounds, and sleep-ins. We were shattered after the wedding and it was great to just relax after it all…. We may head overseas next year.

Savannah is romance defined… a truly perfect precursor to a walk down the aisle. This bridal shoot brought to us by Sawyer Baird, Ivory & Beau, and Sarah Ingram is a portrait of pure sophistication. Add to it a gorgeous handmade Ivana Krejci gown and it’s officially a feast for our couture loving eyes. Fortunately, all the pretty is on display right here in the gallery.

From Sawyer Baird… This bridal session was placed together with some of the greatest vendors and the sweetest ladies. I had planned a personal weekend to Savannah for a mini vacation. That soon changed and this shoot came to life. Shooting in Savannah has been something I have dreamed about for some time now.

Ivory & Beau allowed me to use these beautiful pieces from Twigs & Honey, Jaclyn Jordan, Ivana Krejci, and I had my dear friend Sarah Ingram do what she does best- create!

Being able to work with a Ivana Krejci gown was swoon worthy. These gowns are handmade and beyond stunning.

Overall- I can’t really say just how grateful I am for this amazing shoot.

Elegant Chicago Wedding at Fulton’s on the River

This darling day from Cristina G Photography, which began with some seriously beautiful getting-ready shots I might add, is Chicago elegance at it’s best. No surprise here when we saw that Clementine Custom Events and A Stem Above added their pretty touch. And following all that pretty? A first dance shot that’ll steal your heart, with none other than Toast & Jam at the DJ helm. Head to the gallery for more!

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Eatery Religious Institution

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Vibrant Dutch Wedding Inspiration

From Cristina G Photography…Jen & Tyler’s wedding was a romantic and chic celebration at one of my favorite venues in the city – Fulton’s on The River. Cocktails al fresco with the sun setting over LaSalle Bridge and beautiful nighttime views of the city as the backdrop for their head table, not to mention delicious food, and you have the perfect late spring wedding in the heart of downtown Chicago.

The day was emotional and full of love. Starting with getting ready pictures in the beautiful suite at St Michael’s in Old Town, a tearful first look of the bride and groom just before they walked down the aisle and a touching ceremony in one of the most beautiful churches in the city.

Jen & Tyler laughed, cried and danced the night away together with their friends and family!

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Nicole Miller

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Drawing on Dutch culture, this photo shoot, shot at Woodlawn Manor in Sandy Springs, is as rich in history as it is in color. Designed by Petals By The Shore, the tablescape was layered in vibrant shades of reds and blues that literally pop off the page. And, with a floral-crowned bride styled by Amy Decker Beauty, dressed by Fabulous Frocks and gussied up with a little something blue from The Garter Girl, the gallery is sure to be a must see for some serious inspiration.

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From Rachael Foster… Both sides of my family are originally from Friesland, a northern province of the Netherlands, and many of the Dutch and Frisian items in the shoot are family heirlooms. I’ve always been inspired by my cultural history, and I’m thrilled to share some of the traditions and keepsakes that have been passed down to me. Through this shoot, I hope couples of all different ancestries will feel inspired to incorporate their own traditions and heritage into their wedding.

Though Friesland is a tiny province (about 500,000 people), it has a rich cultural heritage. The people of Friesland are known for building the first windmills and dikes and breeding beautiful horses and cattle. It’s an incredibly beautiful place filled with idyllic villages of brightly trimmed brick farmhouses, beautiful green landscapes, and gorgeous waterways. The culture and landscape of Friesland (and the traditions of the Netherlands more broadly) inspired us to craft a fresh, vibrant, and romantic wedding.

Friesland’s red, white, and blue flag and the Netherlands’ royal orange provided our primary color inspiration. Throughout the planning and styling, we included Frisian and Dutch artifacts and customs including Delft tile inspired place settings for our dinner table, an antique Dutch coffee set, and the Frisian flag. In lieu of a guestbook, we crafted a series of small wishing trees. According to Dutch custom, guests write wishes and greetings on tags and hang them on a tree. We displayed our wishing trees on a vintage white dresser with small floral arrangements in antique pewter vessels. The Dutch love bicycles, and our bride and groom enjoyed a ride on their own vintage tandem. After their ceremony, they celebrated with the Frisian custom of a horse-drawn carriage ride. This gorgeous wedding could easily be set in the U.S. or in a Frisian village.

We chose Woodlawn Manor in Sandy Springs, MD for our location. The beautiful brick manor house, long green pastures and old stone barn reminded us of a traditional Frisian home. The natural beauty of this working horse farm paired with gorgeous floral designs, unique vintage pieces, and modern styling made for a perfect marriage.

Our bride-to-be wore a stunning cream-colored Badgley Mischka lace gown and shoes, earrings by Sara Gabriel, and bracelet by Meg Jewelry. Her Dutch-inspired braided side up-do and vibrant tulip headpiece was the perfect combination of romance and whimsy. She carried a voluminous loose bouquet of red and orange tulips. Her groom to-be wore a navy Hugo Boss suit, Burberry plaid tie, and boutonniere of complimentary orange and red blooms.

The ceremony space was set against Woodlawn’s original stone barn. To complement it’s picturesque arches, our florist crafted stunning moss walls with voluminous floral sconces. With farm-style chairs, the ceremony blended garden aesthetics and honest country details.

We set our dinner table outside the Mansion on the lawn and paired Delft style plates with royal blue glasses and a bold floral tablescape. The center statement arrangement of bright red, orange and yellow blooms was perfectly paired with soft cream jute linen and royal blue napkins. Tuscan farm chairs and wicker base plates completed the table.

Coffee and tea are staples of Frisian life, so we served up place cards on heirloom coffee cups featuring different styles of Dutch clocks. We added vintage ceramic clocks in pastel hues for color. We also set a lounge area with a vintage sofa, side table and floral chandelier near near our coffee and tea bar. The romantic floral chandelier was hand-crafted using moss and fresh cut flowers. Our coffee and tea bar also included hot cocoa alongside tempting confections of Dutch pastry, chocolate dipped spoons, sugar crystal sticks, and, of course, cream and honey. Signage included translations of English words into Dutch and West Frisian.

No Dutch wedding would be complete without pastries. Our dessert table is a delicious confection of favorite Dutch pastries: cinnamon rolls, fruit tarts, almond cookies, layered puddings, and our own special creation of “Dutch Orange” macarons.

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Amie Decker Beauty

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Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

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Pink Peonies in the South of France

Loads of peonies in the South of France is a dream scenario no matter how you spin it. It easily lends itself to a wildly beautiful affair ripe with black-tie attire, a blanket of lush florals by Roni Fleurs and effortless chic details crafted by Lavender And Rose Weddings. It’s also the kind of day that has left SMP green with wedding envy and you can see even more captured by Polly Alexandre Photography right here.

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Colorful Living Room & Office

From Polly Alexandre Photography…I’m delighted to share this beautiful South of France wedding with you. Renata & Johnny’s first meeting involves 2 jetskis, 1 sea urchin, 40 spikes, 2 cities and a hospital. You can read more about their story, and see their Ibiza pre-wedding shoot on my blog. The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is one of the most beautiful villas on the Cote d’Azur. It overlooks the Bay of Villefranche and the Bay of Beaulieu and is in one of my favourite areas of the South of France; such gorgeous coastline, so romantic; it’s a perfect choice for your wedding. Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild was a strong, intellectual woman who built a dream villa and put together an exceptional collection of art and antiques.When she discovered this plot of land in 1906, Béatrice fell in love with the beauty of the spot. However, back then, it was no more than an arid rock crossed by a mule track. When she learnt that the land was for sale, she bought it immediately. It took 5 years to build the villa and when finished she used it to home her incredible collection of porcelains, paintings by the masters and furniture. She made this her winter residence from 1912 onwards and came here regularly for over ten years, during which she split her time between Paris, Monaco and Deauville. The villa is now owned by The Academie des Beaux Arts, and open to the public, as well for private hire. Renata and Johnny got ready at the Grand Hotel du Cap, and had a private first look in their gardens, before travelling together to the Villa Ephrussi for some pre-ceremony photographs in the gardens. A beautiful and moving Jewish ceremony followed under a glamorous chuppah in the centre of the gardens, and as Renata and Johnny walked down the aisle together as husband and wife, the music started and the fountains shot high into the air in celebration. Guests explored the gardens over a cocktail reception and then were seated for a beautiful outdoor dinner in the gardens. Speeches followed, live music and then a wild party to the sounds of an awesome band from Marseille, a dessert table, macaroon pyramid, lively hora dancing and yet more dancing late into the night. As you can see from the photos, the day just got more and more fun as it went on! The Bride would like to share a sentence from her Wedding Report by Emma that perfectly sums up how they felt about their day.. “It was a similar sentiment that echoed throughout the evening as the newlyweds surfed their way through a sea of awed congratulations. It was almost as though this reality that Renata and Johnny had created was better that any dream that could be imagined; this display of love was filling each and every heart to bursting point.”

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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Had you told me this living room/office combination was done on a budget I would have told you to shut your dirty mouth! Because this space right here is what designer dreams are made of – and I could have sworn it ran this lucky homeowner a pretty penny. It’s light, and bright, and infused with just the right amount of colour. Designed by Kirsten Krason and Erin Morgan, there’s more over here!

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From Kirsten Krason… Our client is a young mom with two kids so she needed spaces that would be vibrant and youthful but also classic and kid friendly. We set out to design a space where she could live comfortably with soft rugs and fluffy pillows and also that would be safe for her kids to play. She loves color but we also infused neutral textures and lots of white so the color didn’t overpower the design. The office was small so we needed to utilize the space well. We picked small scale furniture and added saturated teal roman shades to draw the eye up and liven the space. We carried the teal into the Living Room with two arm chairs. Our budget was reasonable but not extravagant so we exercised high/low design by splurging on fabric and a few accessories but keeping everything else affordable. Most of the furniture is from World Market, Target, JC Penny and Overstock!

Interior Designer: Kirsten Krason | Interior Designer: Erin Morgan

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Petit Bouquet

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Jacquelyn Clark

Coconut Grove, Miami Garden Wedding at Villa Woodbine

13:13 Photography always, and I mean always sends us weddings that make us want to stop and stay awhile. Weddings like this beautiful Miami soiree that looks like it came straight out of a dream. Between the gorgeous florals from Nevot Flower Design and the stunning Villa Woodbine setting, everything in this gallery is just pinch yourself pretty, and you can see it all here.

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Cozy Fall Silverleaf Country Club Wedding

From The Bride…David and I met a few months after I moved to Miami to get my graduate degree and it did not take a long time to realize we were meant for each other. David, a native Miamian introduced me to South Florida and all the most beautiful, romantic spots including enchanting Coconut Grove, surrounded by water and filled with the most luscious trees. When thinking about the perfect venue for our wedding, I knew Coconut Grove was the perfect place.

For the wedding day, I wanted it all. A blazing sun with a cooling breeze in a romantic spot near the water surrounded by trees where we could see the sunset. Timing was everything and thanks to my great wedding coordinator Danielle, from a LoveForDetail, we got it all. I couldn’t be happier with how everything went. It really was a magical day!

I got ready at the Grove Isle Hotel, in a private island retreat by the water, where my bridesmaids and I could look at the ocean while we got our hair and makeup done. David and I decided not to do a first look, but I asked Ashley, our AMAZING photographer from 1313 photography, if they could do a first look for me and my dad. Words cannot describe the moment, but the pictures do a fantastic job!

The ceremony was at St Hugh Catholic Church. It was filled with little details that brought together all of our family and friends, from the entrance of the ring bearer with a pillow hand-made by my mom, the powerful ceremony vocals sung by David’s cousin, a bilingual exchange of vows and a colorful exit with wands made by my grandma to wave at us, newlyweds.

As we entered the reception venue at beautiful Villa Woodbine, it felt like an enchanted garden filled with roses, peonies, hydrangeas in soft peach, pink and white. The wedding decor finally came together to create a very elegant and almost whimsical feel. As we ate we could see the sunset, and by the time it was time to cut the cake, the sun had gone down and the bistro lights covering the patio gave the villa the most romantic feel.

My favorite part of planning our wedding was incorporating little details to make it unique. As an Ecuadorian I could not forget to put little details to remind me of home. My mom brought hand-embroidered handkerchiefs from Ecuador as favors for our guests. Another one of my favorite details were my cakes. Todo Dulces (Everything Sweet) made me five small custom made cakes to complement my decor. The music selection was also very important, the father-daughter dance was a typical Ecuadorian song to make that moment that much more special, and for dinner we listened to Cuban music to highlight David’s heritage. The night ended with a very Latin tradition “The Hora Loca”, where for the last hour of the party the guests are given props and everyone can dance the night away!

In the end, all the planning was worth it! David and I had the best time of our lives. It was a perfect day and we could not have done it without the fabulous work of all our vendors. Everyone came together to create a magical day!

Can we talk about these Badgley Mischka‘s for a sec? With their gilded goodness and leaf-like toe patterning, they’re kind of perfect for fall. This entire affair from Victoria Canada Weddings & Events actually has autumn written all over it. With classic fall hues of red and golden yellow coating every inch, including those gorgeous tables clothed in La Tavola linens, this gallery from Melissa Jill is a seasonal delight. Bonus? The film from Serendipity Cinematography will warm you right up.

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From the beautiful Bride…Our wedding had all the elements that make a great wedding. The location was the exclusive County Club at Silverleaf, nestled in the Scottsdale McDowell Mountains. A Breathtaking venue, gorgeous and lush flower décor, and a rocking band to dance the night away were just a few of the cornerstones of this dream wedding. Looking back the most meaningful elements for our beautiful

Wedding were the small things that had meaningful and sentimental aspects that represented us. The personal touches will always remain the most unique and endearing for us were the vows we wrote to each other, the lace heart on my veil created from my grandmothers veil, a hanky I carried down the aisle that my great grandmother carried on her wedding day 110 years prior. We met in the Fall 16 years ago and it only seemed fitting to be married in the Fall. Our Invitation Suite told our journey from Middle School to the Altar as our closest friends and family surrounded us. The Stone reception area was colorful, rich and vibrant with the Fall Inspired floral arrangements. A touch of the Northwest where we reside was represented by the 200 colorfully lit Glassybaby votives from Seattle. They were the perfect touch to bring in the vibrant colors. As beautiful and sentimental as our wedding was the choreographed dance that I created with my father surely will keep me giggling for years to come. The night ended with Sliders and guests dancing under the stars to our fabulous band with the mountains in the background. It could not have been a more perfect day.

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Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

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A Sweet Anniversary Shoot 61 Years in the Making

This is what it’s all about. All of the bouquets, the dress, the personalized vows… it all comes down to that person; that one you want to be laughing with and dancing arm in arm with sixty one years later. True love is a beautiful , beautiful thing and these two and their epic story have captured our hearts. Their love is palpable as seen through their granddaughter, Shayna San Nicolas’s gorgeous images and film below.

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From Shayna San Nicolas… If I could describe what a life of happiness looks like, I would tell you the love story of my grandparents. This handsome young sailor swept my then 15 year old grandma off her feet, they married, had three children, 6 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. They have traveled the world together, owned businesses, built homes, traveled cross country (and to Alaska) in their motorhome, and have had a blast doing it all! We could not have asked for a better example of marriage, forgiveness, generousity, friendship and faith than what we have wrapped in these two. I can’t even begin to explain the love and respect I have for my grandparents, and I won’t try (otherwise I won’t be able to type through my tears)! I love them, and am so thankful God blessed me so greatly!

I have been wanting to do a styled shoot with them, and treat them like my 20 year old engaged couples! Even a floral head crown and bow tie!!! They were up for it, of course…did I mention they usually go along with all my crazy ideas?! All items that are special to my grandparents were set to make the perfect scene. The record of “Misty” is their favorite song, the dolls were their wedding cake toppers, the bronze shoe was my grandma’s baby bootie, they also brought their wedding album, and framed photos from their wedding day.

Parisian Baby Shower

I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday than with an intimate gathering celebrating a mama to be. And if it looks anything like this one, designed by Galas By Gerry, you can bet your bottom dollar I’d be one very happy camper. Not only is this Parisian inspired party pretty as a peach, but it boast a crepe bar, mimosa bar and then some! With photos from LMarie, there’s more right here.

From Lisa… The inspiration behind Tara’s shower for baby girl Isla was a vintage Parisian flower market. Tara wanted the day to be beautiful and feminine, so Tara’s mom worked closely with Tara’s good friend and maid of honor Gerry (Owner, Galas by Gerry) to keep the decor somewhat soft and understated. They envisioned pale pinks, all white flowers, and pretty gold details. Oversized balloons would add to the whimsical feel. It was a perfect day, held in Tara and her husband Matt’s backyard in Los Angeles, California. Guests were treated to delicious crepes and sipped on a variety of mimosas.

Jacquelyn Clark

Wedding Open House at The Nixon Library

Any day when I’m introduced to a fabulous + unique wedding venue is a seriously good day in my book. And today? I can’t stop swooning over The Nixon Library. Located in Orange County, the incredible space sits on nine lush acres, and boasts the area’s largest public Rose Garden. And coming up on October 12, 2014, brides-to-be will have the chance to check it all out during the Wedding Open House!

Whether you’re hosting an intimate affair or a celebration for hundreds, The Nixon Library is a one-of-a kind venue, that oozes timeless elegance, tranquility and rich history. The venue features a replica of the White House East Room, decorated with three large dazzling crystal chandeliers, four marble fireplaces and gorgeous wooden terrazzo floors with 20-foot ceilings as well as a Rose Garden with 1,400 rose bushes — talk about a stunning spot to say “I do!” The Nixon Library offers couples a private Bridal Room + Groom’s Room, sound system, choices from a high-end preferred catering list as well as complimentary parking. Without a doubt, your guests will be swooning over this magical wedding day setting.

To make sure your big day goes off without a hitch, The Nixon Library has event specialists to assist you every step of the way! To check it all out for yourself, be sure to mark your calendars for October 12, 2014 for the Wedding Open House! To register, head over here. Happy planning, my dears!

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Photo Credits: The Youngrens |

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Vintage Rustic Wedding in the Ozarks

Somehow this wedding was able to combine all of my favorite design elements into one big, beautiful day while infusing it with a breath of fresh air, ensuring that it was both stunning and timeless. The vintage charm was complimented by rustic details and the entire wedding was veiled in the prettiest, most colorful palette I’ve seen in a while. The gallery from Climer Photography is one you absolutely won’t want to miss!

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Beachside Wedding in Cabo San Lucas

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From Climer Photography… This was a true old-fashioned, spring, garden wedding, right in the heart of Old Southern Hills subdivision in the Missouri Ozarks. The Australian Groom and Ozarkian Bride had lived on two separate continents for the better part of two years, and on the Groom’s last trip home, merely 30 days prior to the wedding, the two decided to tie the knot! With the help of the Bride’s family, with event and day of planner Rebekah Covay of Seamless Events (Chicago, IL), and day of coordinating from Stephanie Weiss of Ella Weiss (Springfield, MO), a flawless, Aussie-Ozarkian garden party, complete with a special feast with smoker, trailered in by the Mother of the Bride’s Cousin, from West Virginia, set the southern-vintage-chic backyard-BBQ.

Handpicked florals assembled by a local florist, Ron, from The Thicket, adorned vintage dressed tables with mismatched china thrifted and collected by the Bride, which complimented the hand painted table numbers from local St. Louis artist, Karen Bult, while trailing tree moss sprawled the vintage pieces, holding photographic memories and goodies alike. The bridal path was lined with specially crafted wood columns, selected, chopped and sized by the Groom, held candle luminaries for the romantic evening wedding, while honeysuckle and fresh flowers were in full bloom around the property.

A lone white swan circled the lake as the guests witnessed the Aussie Groom and Ozark’s bride say their intimate, heart-felt, hand written vows, as the Bride’s ordained father officiated the ceremony. On lookers sipped fruit infused water from mason jars and the small congregation of guests on the Bride’s parent’s lake front lawn dabbed teary eyes to the couple’s romantic ceremony. As the sun dipped below the tall trees and guests made their way past the vintage truck (found at a local tire shop), with it’s bed filled with several fruit infused waters and gifts for the couple, they made their way to the tent under the stars. The day was perfectly soundtracked with two separate bands serenading the party, local talents, Bella Donna and Triple Play, made the festivities playlist with original gypsy jazz and Beatle’s favorites, which set the tune for the clear big top party that lasted into the night and wee hours of the morning. At the event’s conclusion, guests left with beautifully assembled favors of mexican wedding cakes, made with love from the Bride’s family friend.

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Nicole Miller

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

Fall 2015

SPRING 2016

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A last minute change in plans to exchange vows in Cabo as opposed to a country club back home proved to be the BEST decision ever. Spending 5 days beachside at Sunset Da Mona Lisa with their loved ones in tow, this couple had the wedding of their wildest dreams. Crafted by Florenta Flower Design and captured by Amanda Lloyd, you can catch all the details of their romantic getaway in the gallery here.

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Beach Weddings Destination

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From the Bride… When we were first planning our wedding, we were planning for a beautiful country club that overlooked the Seattle skyline. We had sat down with the venue, had everything planned, contracts drawn and then a few days later, out of the blue, I asked my husband, “What do you think of Cabo? Let’s get married there!” Few weeks later after research, we decided on Cabo, told our families and started planning. We figured that with the amount of money that would be spent on a local wedding, we might as well spend it on a once in a lifetime trip with our family and closest friends.

Due to the beautiful setting of Sunset da Mona Lisa, we kept the ceremony decor very simple with just rose petals scattered along the aisle as well as a memorial vase and sign at the guest book table. The reception decor was more than I’d ever envisioned. I’d spent countless hours looking on various online sites and pieced together elements I liked about so many different set ups. I also ordered many things from Etsy and handmade many other things. Some of the most sentimental details were: My younger sister was my Maid of Honor and she made our cake toppers, my hair piece and sewed the blue heart onto my dress. I also had a locket tied to my bouquet of my late Grandfather who had passed 3 years earlier. The ring tied as well was the ring that my Dad first gave my Mom when they got married 33 years ago which had been a silver ring that my Dad spray painted gold at the time because they couldn’t afford a gold band. Lastly, I wore on my right hand a peridot ring that was my great-grandparents. My great grandfather gave it to my great grandmother when they were dating 60 years ago and my Mom passed it down to me on my wedding day.

There were several moments of the day that stand out the most. After being widowed 7 years prior, remarrying was a big leap into a new start at life. When we were planning our wedding, we were having a hard time deciding who we could have perform the ceremony. We asked one of my best friends, a fellow military widow and founder of a non-profit for military widows, to get ordained and marry us. Having someone that has been apart of my life for 6 years and then apart of my ‘new’ life from the beginning marry us, was the most amazing feeling! I had 3 of my fellow military widows there with us to celebrate, who have been my closest friends through the past near decade.

Another moment was right before my dad walked me down the aisle. We were standing there all alone, he looked at me and said, “You ready for this?” with a big smile. Gave me a huge hug and we walked down the aisle for him to ‘give me away’. Another was during the reception, when both my older two children gave toasts to us. My 12 year old son, who was the co-Best Man, had fought me for months that he couldn’t speak at the dinner because he was too shy. He had worked with my younger brother that day to come up with a few jokes to say and it meant so much that he did that for us. My 10 year old daughter spoke very sweet words and made nearly everyone in attendance tear up.

Out of all the amazing memories we have now, I think one that stands out on a daily basis was our choice in photographers. Being a wedding photographer myself, my husband knew that photography was one of the most important details about the whole wedding. Having an amazing photographer capture our special day exactly like it was and also being privileged to call her one of my best friends, it doesn’t get better than that.

When looking back on everything, we truly had the most amazing wedding that we could’ve ever had and we wouldn’t change anything at all. When you think about it, how many people can say that they spent 5 days in a tropical location with their closest friends and family?

Romantic + Simple Mansion Wedding Inspiration

I’m of the mind that love is the most beautiful accessory that can adorn your big day. Sweet and simple decor, beautiful garb, and a knock out bouquet compliment that ever so powerful show stopper in this Colorado inspiration shoot from Julie Cate and it’s more than enough to make me want to grab my own sweetie, throw on a fab pair of shoes, and celebrate our love in the gorgeous setting sun!

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Pink San Diego Botanic Garden Wedding

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From Julie Cate… When the weather warmed in Colorado the light became warm and soft and it was a lovely time to pull together a simple and romantic shoot. The location was a historic neoclassical mansion in downtown Denver called the Grant-Humphreys. The mansion is popular for weddings and events and the exterior has grand pillars and winding steps.

My amazing bride, Emily, who also works as a flower designer for The Perfect Petal, created a simple bouquet that popped against the soft background. The bouquet consisted of burgundy dahlias, ranunculus, anemone, darcey garden roses, andromeda and bits of wax flower. The dress was a backless dream gown from Katie May. The simplistic silhouette was just perfect and the bare back with tastefully romantic. I had Emily do her own hair and throw it up as she would on a normal day. But we did add a little bit of fancy with a crystal hairpiece from Untamed Petals.

Emily’s Groom, Joe, looked handsome as well in a dark grey suit and matching boutonniere. We spent a early evening walking around in the spring breeze and loving the warm light. A simple romantic wedding like this would have dinner under the pergola. Simple linen table clothes and napkins tied with strands of eucalyptus. A small wine decanter for every guest is a gift that can be used during dinner and then taken home. The perfect setting for a simple romantic evening for close friends and family.

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Wedding Dresses

Katie May

Bridal

La Vie en Rose

Katie May

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This wedding had me at pink. And then the palms, the happy blooms from Lovely Stems Floral, the dresses (all of them) and the smiles? Well lets just say it all swept me right off my feet. Heidi-O-Photo told the beautiful story of this garden soiree through her lens and you can find it all here in the gallery.

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Outdoor Brooklyn Wedding with the New York Skyline

From the beautiful Bride…After Joey and I got engaged in the midst of a sweltering summer season, I knew that I wanted to plan an early spring wedding. This is my favorite time of the year because plants begin to bloom and the weather warms up. Spring is also the same time of the year when Joey and I went on our first date. He planned a simple date hiking up Palomar Mountain. On this day, the mountain side was sprinkled with yellow and orange wild flowers, and wispy green grass. It was this image and many more similar memories with Joey that inspired my wedding style. Joey and I wanted an informal, garden wedding with bright colors. We wanted to share our love for the outdoors with our friends and family. We picked the San Diego Botanic Gardens as our venue for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. It provided the perfect backdrop for a garden inspired wedding with flower, bird, and wood details. Since gardens are filled with various flora, I chose the color coral to broaden the color scheme. Décor and flowers ranged from pink to orange, with hits of blue to add contrast.

When it comes to ceremony backdrops, the New York City skyline pretty much tops the list. It’s completely iconic yet wildly romantic, and this Brooklyn lovefest is the pretty little proof. The couple built their wedding on modern design with classic sensibilities, and 13:13 Photography snapped up every last bit. Click here to see for yourself.

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Summer Garden Wedding at River Farm

From The Bride…I met my husband, Ahmet, in Istanbul. I was teaching there for a summer, and we fell in love. Shortly after I returned to the states, he relocated here as well. Our first year together was an adventure, to say the least, and we came through it with a fantastic bond and love for each other. We originally married in September 2011 in a small NYC CIty Hall ceremony with family, but held off on wedding receptions until the summer of 2013. Waiting to celebrate was a great idea, as we were able to have a fantastic ceremony and reception, my husband was able to use the English he had mastered over the past couple of years, his family was able to join us in New York from Turkey (and my family joined us in Turkey as well for our 3rd — and final — wedding celebration, but that’s another story!) and everything came together fabulously.

Our day was really very special. We wanted something that was celebratory & beautiful, that blended both of our cultures, and most of all, that was fun. We incorporated details from Turkish culture (“Turkish delight” favors, Turkish music and folk dance) while still maintaining a traditional American wedding ceremony and reception. The Turkish folk dancing was a big hit with all of our guests!

I also DIYed many of the details: my headpiece, the glass pedestal bowls for the centerpieces, invitations, programs and menus, and favors. I love crafting and our wedding was the perfect excuse to put it into practice. 1 year later, we are so incredibly happy and grateful to be spending our lives together, and we are expecting our first child! We are very, very excited to start our family.

An al fresco affair at River Farm guarantees one thing for sure: an oh-so lovely landscape. As the headquarters for the American Horticultural Society, the gorgeous gardens are a built-in bonus. Throw in a dash of Dogwood Events, like this Bride right here, and your wedding day florals get a double dose of pretty. Take some time to take that all in, and pop in the gallery by Sweet Tea Photography.

From the Bride… Adam and I met while we were students at Auburn University. We actually met while we were out with friends on Toomer’s Corner (which if you know SEC football, you know the spot)! We began spending almost every day together. On October 26, 2009, Adam asked me to be his girlfriend after I decided to make a lovely home cooked meal for us to enjoy…burnt chicken (luckily, he saw past that culinary calamity). He had brought a bottle of wine to my apartment that night which he later gave me the cork that had 10-26-09 written on it (we still have it).

We were married on May 25th at River Farm, in Alexandria, Virginia. I can’t say enough good things about our wedding venue. River Farm was once the home to George Washington but now serves as the headquarters for the American Horticultural Society. I loved the history behind the property and the landscape is stunning. I’ve always envisioned myself getting married somewhere beautiful outdoors in Virginia, so the gardens at River Farm were perfect. I wanted the event to be inviting, romantic and intimate, which I think we certainly accomplished.

I worked hard putting all the little crafty details together because I just had so much fun doing it! We went antiquing on multiple occasions to find unique items for centerpieces and decorations. One day, I got the idea to have old sewing machine drawers holding assorted glass jars with flowers for our centerpieces. We found a bunch of these drawers at antique stores but also used some from the old sewing machine that my grandmother made her wedding dress with, so that was special. Second to the centerpieces, my favorite element was our cupcake bar. I found mismatched cake stands, crates for height, rustic decorations and created cute names for each of the delicious cupcakes then wrote out descriptions on a chalkboard sign. I displayed our seating chart on window panes; we had customized koozies as favors, a Memorial Day display, and an assortment of unique elements that pulled it all together. I told you I didn’t think I could choose!

My most favorite moment of the day was during our ceremony. The actual exchanging of vows seems to be a part that guests forget about, but to us, that moment was so meaningful. We had written our vows and given them to each other to read the morning of the wedding. During the ceremony, we put those written vows in a box. What is even more special is that we decided that for each anniversary we have, we will write a letter to each other to put in that box. The love notes and stories we will have written to each other throughout our life will be a great treasure for us to look back on.

I was in love with my veil. Originally I didn’t even want one but the second I saw myself in that veil, I truly felt like a bride. As it turns out, I wore it the whole night (even to the hotel bar after the reception)!

I would tell future brides to be yourself in the planning process and stick with your vision. Don’t DIY your entire wedding…pick and choose several projects you want to take on and make them unique to your style. Truly live in the moment, savor every second with your family and friends, dance the night away, and take the opportunity to thank your parents. Also, hire a great group of vendors!http://robertsandcompanyblog.com

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Sarah Seven

Signature Bridal

Gold Label

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Little Girl’s First Birthday

On a scale from one to ten, how awkward is it if I model my 29th birthday after sweet Harlowe’s 1st? Be honest now… because though it might not exactly be age appropriate, it is so. stinkin’. adorable! Unsurprising, of course, what with Melissa Andre Events at the helm. Toss in photos from 5ive15ifteen Photo Company and you have what I’d consider a party slam dunk!

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From Melissa Andre… After having planned Harlowe Lake’s baby shower, Melissa Andre was extra excited to start planning and designing Harlowe’s 1st birthday party. With a beautiful twist on the classic blush pink little girl’s birthday, Melissa added in candy apple red and a seafoam turquoise to update the look.

Single bloom blush peonies lined the table and balance the specially sourced floral plates that finished off the place setting. With beautiful individual name tags on straws made by Paper and Poste, each little guest knew exactly where to sit!

The menu, wrapped around a beautiful blush lace napkin, brought in some fun with gingham and monograms to complement the individual name tags.

The sweet table finished off the event with kid friendly treats such as mini donuts, candy apple cookies and mini milk bottles all styled under a custom red, white and blue awning.

Photography: Style Me Pretty | Cake: Ps By Pretty Sweet | Stationery: Paper & Poste | Planning And Design: Melissa Andre Events | Sweets: Nadia & Co.

Jacquelyn Clark

Brooklyn Bridge New York Engagement

The Brooklyn Bridge never ceases to take my breath away… now add a perfect NYC summer day, one ridiculously sweet couple, and the ever amazing Yazy Jo and *poof* you have a stunning engagement session that will surely sweep you off your feet. It’s absolutely timeless and in true Yazy Jo style, effortlessly beautiful. Click here for the full gallery.

From the Bride… Don and I knew immediately that we wanted to have our engagement photos taken in Brooklyn Bridge Park. This is where we had our first date in New York City, sitting on a park bench eating Grimaldi’s pizza. We live in Brooklyn and this is still where we often go to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. And you can’t beat the view!

Photography: yazy jo | Anna's Dress: Gap | Don's Outfits: H&M | Location: Brooklyn Bridge Park

DIY Wedding at Coriole Vineyard

Is there anything sweeter than high school sweethearts? There’s definitely an added layer of charm when the wedding is for a twosome that has been together since their teens. Keeping with the cuteness, this couple involved family + friends in their Coriole Vineyard affair, with DIYs at every turn – invitations, florals, even the cake! Ooh and ahh over it all in the gallery by Lux Photography AND video by Taste Media!

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