Not only do I want to pin this entire gallery from Stepan Vrzala, but it’s one of those weddings you just know was fabulous to attend. From being greeted with homemade lemonade to witnessing the stunning sunlit ceremony to the beautiful candlelit barn reception, every moment of this boho soiree was planned to perfection by the team at The White Agency. And they nailed it. See more right here.

From The White Agency…Martina & Chris’s wedding was every wedding planner’s dream come true. It was a perfect cocktail of Italian passion, Canadian humor and the best of Czech. Martina & Chris are from Canada, with roots in Italy and the Czech Republic. Nearly 90 weddings guests flew in for their June wedding from around the world.

Since Martina & Chris have both strong connections with the Czech Republic, having their wedding here was a natural choice. They knew they wanted a luxury barn wedding not far from Prague and The Stork’s nest farm we recommended met all their requirements. Personally, we love this venue so much, that we secretly want to move there. As the farm’s logo says, it truly is “A place with a special spirit”.

The theme of the wedding was a Country chic elegance and colours were white, pale pink, peachy and “eucalyptus” green shades with golden and silver accessories. There was lot of wood, beautiful lace, vintage frames, succulents and a gorgeous lighting. Both natural (just look at the photos) and artificial. Vintage glowing chandelier floating above the sweethearts dinner was such a perfect touch.

A special spirit was with us since the early morning when Martina started her wedding day with a bit yoga by the lake. Watching Martina from the distance calmly breathing and performing the most incredible yoga poses (Martina is a yoga teacher) it felt like the buzz of the wedding preparations has stopped for a minute.

It was a hot summer day and the guests were refreshed by home made lemonades before the ceremony. Everyone walking together to the ceremony spot with the groom holding his parents hands leading the procession was one of our favorite moments of the day.

The ceremony spot underneath a tree was magical. Martina, looking oh-so-pretty in her boho wedding dress and flowy hairstyle walked down to a Rolling Stones song “She’s a rainbow” sang by a live band. Well, there is another moment of the day that will stick with us for a while.

Martina & Chris are not only a stunning couple but they obviously know how to throw a party. One of the best wedding idea ever is to start off the wedding reception with dancing. Why to wait till the end of the meal! The dance with all the guests (A little party never killed nobody) kicked the party off in a style. Despite the reception tables in the barn looked amazing decorated with eucalyptus wreaths and mix of flowers with peonies being the dominant flower, the newlyweds did not want for their guests to be sitting for too long.

We loved everything about this truly boho wedding. The dances, the little favours for the guests (personalized home made local honey and strong Czech liqueur Slivovice), guests having so much fun taking pictures in a photo booth, the cake (oh my, the cake!). the amazing sun-set light. The Johnny Cash song the band played during the ceremony. The Groomsmen matching socks. Cute home-made mascarpone jars for the sweetbar. The fact that this amazing group of people met during several pre-wedding events to enjoy more time together- one of them taking place in a Prague vineyard. Most of all we loved that the Bride and Groom looked really really happy on their wedding day.

Photography: Stepan Vrzala Photography | Wedding Planning And Design: White - Prague Wedding Agency | Floral Design: Inspirito | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Bride's Headpiece: Erica Elizabeth Design | Brides' Dress: Custom Made By Stefania Orlando Haute Couture | Ceremony And Cocktail Hour Band: Lo Dost | Wedding Cake And Sweetbar: Punkrock Cakes

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Erica Elizabeth Design

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Nestled in the heart of Washington DC, the coliseum-like architecture of the Franciscan Monastery was inspiration for THE MOST STUNNING Grecian style shoot by Matoli Keely Photography. Throw in that Badgley Mischka dress, those Alexis Bittar earrings, and hair + makeup by Jordan K Winn, and, well, you have one b-e-a-utiful gallery. Check. It. Out.

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From Matoli Keely Photography…Everything about this shoot, from the gold accented column dress, seaglass earrings, breathtaking florals, and coliseum like architecture of the monastery was just exquisite. As a photographer, location is extremely important, and most often the source of inspiration. From the moment I drove by the Franciscan Monastery in Washington DC, its architecture, sheer beauty, and the pure grandeur of this location in the middle of a metropolitan city such as DC, instantly caught me eye. Built in 1898 in the monastic style of the late Romanesque, this location was the perfect backdrop and inspiration for a Grecian styled shoot.

The hair and makeup artist Jordan Winn created long flowing soft curls with braids pinned perfectly in the back, creating a romantic textured look, full of body and movement, perfectly paired with a beautiful makeup look including a golden smokey eye and soft pink nude lip. Tying everything together were amazing florals by Violet Gardens Floral Designs, first with a gorgeous peach rose garden accented with wild flowers headpiece worthy of a goddess, and secondly a bouquet full of ambrosial charm with the perfect balance of white anemones and succulents!

Photography: Matoli Keely Photography | Floral Design: Violet Gardens Floral Designs | Dress: Rent The Runway | Bracelet: Rent The Runway | Hair And Makeup: JKW Beauty | Earings: Rent The Runway | Model: Rachel Gearhart

Shades of pink… that is our love language. And these bright, blushing centerpieces by Fujii Florist are speaking right to our classic loving souls. They are wrapped up in a day so timeless and perfect with a Bride in a Reem Acra gown worthy of a good old-fashioned swoonfest and photographs that only Tanja Lippert could capture so perfectly. Catch all the pink, all the sparkly, all the love right here.

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From The Groom…Lauren and I met in high school in California when we were both sixteen – me at an all-boys Catholic prep and she at the all-girl sister school. We shared a love of the outdoors, politics, and dinners at Pasta Pomodoro. Four proms, a long-distance college relationship, and one cross-country move later, our taste in restaurants has improved but the interests, good times, and respect for one another that initially brought us together remains the same.

Although we now call Atlanta home, we’re both Californians at heart so we knew the wedding would be back in the Bay Area, near many of our friends and family. Neither Lauren nor I consider ourselves sentimental people, but we couldn’t help but appreciate the beauty of choosing Stanford’s church as our ceremony venue – in addition to being Lauren’s alma mater (and home to my favorite college football team), her parents had gotten married there on the same date in August 37 years earlier.

The rest of our wedding planning followed naturally. We wanted the day to be beautiful and timeless, but also to really focus on the things that Lauren and I cared about most: friends and family, drinks and dancing, and amazing food! We were planning from afar so we made most of our decisions during a weeklong, whirlwind wedding trip during the winter holidays (and had lots of help from some amazing people). Our reception venue was a beautiful private home and garden, just minutes from the church, that had exactly the comfortable elegance we were looking for. Since we both seriously lack any artistic talent, we found other ways to add our own personal touches to the reception: a shuck-to order oyster bar (hands down my favorite food), personalized appetizers (fish n’ chips and crabcakes, reminiscent of our many trips to Barbara’s Fishtrap in nearby Half Moon Bay), a string quartet to play during the cocktail hours (one of our first dates was at the San Francisco Symphony), and his and her signature cocktails (Lauren’s classic French 75 and my dirty martini). Our flowers were done by a florist Lauren’s family has known since she was a child. We met with them six weeks before the wedding, described our color scheme and gave them free-reign with the design and were amazed at how perfectly everything turned out.

The wedding day itself was warm, sunny and like the past ten years we’d spent together (and hopefully the next 50 to come) was filled with more love and laughter than we ever could have dreamed. Lauren was stunningly beautiful and her smile and grace made me fall in love all over again. It was perfect.

Photography: Tanja Lippert Photography | Floral Design: Fujii Florist | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Studio Cake | Cupcakes: Sprinkles Cupcakes | Stationary: Swiss Cottage Designs | Stationary: Aerialist Press | Ceremony Venue: Standford Memorial Church | Reception Venue: Twelve Oaks Estate | Catering: Cardel Catering | Hotel: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale | Bridesmaids’ Dressing Gowns: Plum Pretty Sugar | Bride’s Hair: Karen Quisol | Bride’s Shoes: Valentino | Groomsmens’ Bowties: Southern Proper | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Make-up + Bridal Party Hair: Tia Reagan | Oyster Bar: The Oyster Girls | Photography Assistant: Karen Rustin | Rentals: Hartmann

This wedding has it all. Gorgeous images form Jade And Matthew Take Pictures, the sweetest of settings, the cutest little bridal party members and heartfelt details coming out of every nook and cranny – it’s easy to see why we fell in love with this fête. Top it all off with a couple that just can’t be more in love, and ladies and gents, we have a winner. 

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Photography: Jade + Matthew Take Pictures | Florist: Lisa Saylor And Mercedes Hueyo | Catering: Anuscha's Kitchen | Makeup: Jackie Friel + Jennifer Filippone | Hair: Jennifer Filippone | DJ: Sean Saylor | Band: The Bluffton Project | Baker: Jen Welper | City: Bluffton,sc

Shabby chic meets LA modern and the results are absolutely lust-worthy. When celebrity yoga instructor, Danielle Cuccio, invited us into her home not long ago we knew we’d be in for a treat. But never in our wildest dreams could we have imagined it’d be as lovely as this! Sun-filled, flower-filled, lovely-filled goodness that we simply can’t get enough of. With photos from Kimberly Genevieve, can you blame us? 

From Danielle… My living room is the first room you see when you walk in the front door. It’s definitely inviting. The exposed beams have actual artwork from the 20’s and I love that old, rustic vibe of the house with it’s new modern touches. Interior Designer, Rachel Ashwell, is a big inspiration to me, so my home is very Shabby Chic without going overboard!

I absolutely love my kitchen. I love white and marble together, giving you that extra clean look. The exposed shelves gives it a very easy feel, and makes it easy to grab things when you need dishes fast or serving friends!

My dining room has become my office! I love being in this open room while I work. We also host our Thanksgivings in this room, so it reminds me of formal get togethers with family and friends.

My backyard is my escape when I am running in between yoga clients, classes, meetings and writing for hours on my blog. It gives me that perfect dose of fresh air when I need it. We love hosting dinner parties and turning on the stringed lights when the weather calls for it. There’s nothing like some LA nights surrounded by good friends!

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Photography: Kimberly Genevieve | Design: Danielle Cuccio

We’re a bunch of beauty junkies on this little corner of the blogosphere (see our Makeup & Beauty Pinterest board), so when pros like Shena Cox offer to impart some wisdom, we happily oblige. It’s a step-by-step tutorial to recreate this soft, ultra romantic look yourself with flawless film images from Tina Boyd & Co. Grab your makeup goodies and let’s get started!

From Tina Boyd & Co…. I partnered up with Shena Cox and we wanted to show how to get a romantic look, even if the bride has to do it herself. From a soft romantic blush color to the perfect bun, everything you need to match that vintage lace dress. Bridal makeup is all about emphasizing your best features. It’s not about demonstrating how well you apply your makeup. So keep it soft and simple. Sometimes minimal is key. Even though wedding makeup is usually very simple and neutral, it’s one of the most difficult makeup looks to create, since it has to be PERFECT. After all, it is your special day! I will show you how easy it can be.

FOR THE SKIN

• First apply MAC’s strobe cream to the entire face to brighten, clarify and illuminate the skin.
• Next, apply my staple eye product when doing makeup on brides – fast response eye cream – which is a caffeinated eye cream with instant effects. It de-puffs, erases the look of dark circles, firms, soothes and softens the skin around the eye.
• Lastly, I apply a primer to ensure that skin will look smooth and your makeup will last all day. I used Make Up For Ever’s HD Primer on our model.
• I began with a “prime makeup look” which includes foundation, concealer, and enhanced brows. (I used Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Radiant Rose, MAC Brunette Brow Pencil)

FOR THE EYES

• Start off with an eye shadow base or primer. I used MAC’s Paint Pot in Layin’ Low. Apply a thin layer of primer beginning at your lid blending evenly up to the arch of your brow. I find that using a flat concealer brush similar to MAC’s #252 brush works best for applying your primer.
• Using a fluffy blending brush apply a taupe, medium brown toned, satin textures eye shadow to your crease to blending the shadow in a wind-shield wiper motion back and forth. This will accentuate the shape of your eye and define your crease. I used MAC’s #224 Blending brush and eye shadow in “Soba”
• Next, using a smaller, more tapered fluff brush, apply a small amount of a peachy brown eye shadow to your crease and lash line creating a side ways V and blend. I used MAC’s eye shadow in “Texture”
• Brush on a golden bronze color to your lid and inner corners of your eyes to really open them up. I used Urban Decay’s eye shadow in“Half Baked” and MAC’s 252 Brush.
• Apply a warm matte chestnut brown shadow along your lash line using a precision shading pencil brush. I used MAC’s eye shadow in “Brown Script” and MAC’s 219 Pencil Brush.
• Apply a light, frosted, golden peach shadow to highlight the arch of the brow. I used MAC’s eye shadow in “Motif”
• Using a cleaned fluffy blending brush blend all of the colors together to create a blended, seamless eye look.
• Finish off your look by applying a black gel liner and mascara.

FOR THE CHEEKS + LIPS

• To complete the look, apply a soft peach matte blush, a highlighter to illuminate her cheekbones and a soft peach lip. I used MAC’s blush in “Melba”, Mac’s highlighter in “Whisper of Guilt”
• On the lips I used MAC’s lip pencil in “Hover”, MAC’s “Kinda Sexy” Lipstick and MAC’s Cremesheen gloss in “Richer Lusher”

Photography: Tina Boyd Co | Event Planning: Merren Events | Event Planning: Sephora | Make Up & Hair: Shena Cox | Beauty: MAC Cosmetics | Beauty: Stacy With Urban Decay | Bridal Dress: Augusta Jones | Bridal Gowns: Bustle

As a Bride-to-be with a military fiancé myself, this wedding from Heidi-O-Photo hit my heart in just the right spot. With their venue chosen and deposit made, these two lovebirds got the news that the Groom would be deploying a mere two weeks before their set date, but they didn’t let that stop them. They whipped up this absolutely gorgeous day in just five months—it’s heartwarming, to say the least.

From Heidi-O-Photo…Sarah & Bud recently moved from the East Coast to San Diego and chose the Darlington House for their wedding. All their friends and family traveled to California for the wedding.

Sarah chose the wedding colors to go well with the Darlington House and it’s decor.

From the beautiful Bride…We came very close to having an entirely different wedding. So close in fact that we had made a deposit at a vineyard in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and started planning our wedding in our hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. That is, until Bud checked into his duty station at Camp Pendleton and was informed that he would be deployed to Afghanistan two weeks before our scheduled wedding. After weighing all our options, we decided it was most important to us that we were married before he deployed and that we would be able to share that day with our friends and families. That left us a five month window to plan an event in a place we had only lived for a matter of weeks.

The Darlington House was the only venue we toured in San Diego. We were immediately attracted to the history and intimate feel, and could not help but feel at home in a place that still felt very foreign. As essentially all of our guests were coming in from out of town, we wanted a space that would allow us to visit with them personally and that would showcase the unique style of Southern California. We also decided to include a few reminders of home, like the collection of family wedding photos to honor everywhere we’ve come from, and the selection of pies it could not be a real Southern party without. We relied very heavily on recommendations from our vendors to build a wonderfully experienced team that made our wedding feel both like us and iconically Southern Californian.

Many of our friends and family took our wedding as an opportunity to vacation in San Diego for the week, but due to their military obligations, Bud’s friends could not and the last of his friends did not arrive until 1 AM the morning of the wedding. Finally having everyone there was this immense feeling of relief and set an amazing tone of celebration and reunion for the event the next day. It was very important to Bud that we incorporate some military traditions into our wedding, such as the sword arch and cutting of the cake with his mameluke, the Marine Corps officers’ sword. Like the traditional vows we made, said by our parents and grandparents before us, these traditions have been a special connection to the larger Marine Corps family we have both decided to join, through good times and bad.

Photography: heidi-o-photo | Florist: Whole Foods Market Preston | Bakery: Sugar And Scribe | Invitations: Made In Brockton Village | Bride's Shoes: Banana Republic | Catering: The Abbey | Makeup & Hair: Tiffany Monday | DJ: DJ Daniel Peterson | Officiant: Reverend Mark Bray | Venue: The Darlington House | Bride's Dress: Saja | Save-the-dates: Starboard Press

We’ve swam with elephants in Thailand, marvelled at the Amalfi Coast and explored Iceland. We’ve pored over the beauty in Morocco and lusted over Balinese beaches. But today? Today we’re stepping foot in our own backyard: Cape Cod. There’s no shortage of wonderful things to do in this amazing place, and Rebecca Yale Photography and Wall + Crown are sharing some of their favourites!

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CAPE COD MINI-GUIDE

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WHERE TO GO | Harbor Lounge in Provincetown for a drink, North Beach in Chatham for a secluded beach day, and shopping in Chatham – especially All Points Beautiful Boutique

WHERE TO STAY | Whalewalk Inn in Eastham is a historical Whaling Captain’s home, has a friendly staff, and a yummy breakfast

WHAT TO WEAR | Keep it casual on the Cape with wall + crown tees. Perfect for anything from a beach day to sunset cocktails and dinner

WHAT TO EAT | Wellfleet Oysters from Mac’s Shack are pulled from the water 500 yards from the Shack

WHERE TO EAT | Our favorites are Sunbird Food truck and Blackfish, both feature local seafood and ingredients

MUSN’T MISS | Body Surfing at Nauset Beach and seal spotting at Chatham Pier

MUST SEE | Sunset at Rock Harbor- grab a bottle of wine or beer from Main Street Wine & Gourmet in Orleans

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Hotel: The Whalewalk Inn And Spa | Venue: The Harbor Lounge | Boutique: All Points Beautiful | Restaurant: Mac's Shack | Restaurant: Bird In The Sun | Shirts: Wall Crown | Store: Main Street Wine And Gourmet

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Rebecca Yale Photography

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Seattle has always held a special place in my heart and this quirky, cool, winter wedding was the breath of fresh Pacific Northwest air I’ve been craving. Kirk Mastin perfectly captured this couple’s carefree style and laid-back city soirée. These two are clearly head over heals for each other and their joy is pretty darn contagious. You can join in the fun right here in the gallery.

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Over the next year we moved 3 more times, added a new state to our address, found new jobs and planned a wedding we think reflects us.

Seattle seemed the perfect choice for a location; it’s where we met and most of our family/friends are there. We had no idea where to go from there. Have you ever googled “wedding venue”? Sensory overload. Chris found Skillet Street Food, burgers and fries, perfect! We drove up to Seattle one weekend and ate lunch at their restaurant – yummy. From there we found Melrose Market Studios from the preferred vendor list on Skillet’s website. Here was THE venue, we didn’t need to look at a another one. Both of us loved the exposed brick, concrete floor and how we could have both ceremony and reception in one place.

“OK” I’m thinking “we got this.” 8 months ’til the big day and we have the basics covered. Chris’s brother Nick would be the Best Man and my brother Jimmy would be the Man of honor. Perfect. Except people kept asking about colors and my dress and concept. What? Uh… Earth tones?

I have never planned a wedding, not even as a little girl, in my imagination. Nope.

I decided on pinecones for a theme. They are super cute, earth toned, and in the Pacific Northwest you can find all different shapes and sizes. My mom has boxes of old canning jars that were my grandmothers. Candles in mason jars and gold glittered pine cones, white table cloths with brown butcher paper runners, yes! Kat, my sister in sarcasm and an amazing chef offer to make our cake – chocolate with mocha frosting, drool!

I found my dress after a full day in bridal boutiques and vintage store, when I was about to give up someone suggested The English Department. There I found Elizabeth Dye and her perfect mix of classic lines built for real people! And it wasn’t white!

We found our photographer kind of haphazardly, but like everything else, he turned out to be perfect. My only request was to have at least one photo at Pike Place Market. Growing up in Seattle it holds so many memories and it’s just a really fun place. Kirk took this request to the next level. First look was on the lower landing, we went to Socio’s where we used to do all our produce shopping, and of course in front of the sign. He also suggested a big mural on Capital Hill, where 3 years earlier Chris had taken my photo when we were first dating. Like I said, perfect.

Fast forward to 6 weeks before the wedding. Things we don’t have: rings, suits for Chris and his brother (my brother wore a suit he already owned), officiate, flowers, music, hotel room, dog sitter, marriage license. Yikes! What we did have was amazing family and friends.

On January 5, 2014, a freakishly sunny dry day, surrounded by love so strong you could feel it, we were married.

Quite honestly this wedding planned itself. Everything just fell together, at the last possible moment. It was warm, inviting, filled with laughter, and a little quirky – just like us.

Photography: Mastin Studio | Floral Design: LaVasser | Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Dye | Ceremony Venue: Melrose Market Studios | Catering: Skillet Street Food | Grooms Attire: Collier | Groomsmen Attire: Collier | Accomodations: Inn At The Market | Location: McMenamins Edgefield | Location: Socio's

It’s a well-known fact, Plum Pretty Sugar can do no wrong. My current obsession? Their brand-new Fall collection exclusively for BHLDN. The collection is filled to the brim with gorgeous new styles all done in stunning new floral prints. I’ll take one of each, please!

From classic robes to fab new two-piece lounge outfits to boyfriend shirts, I truly couldn’t pick out my favorite piece. And the prints? Soft, romantic and sweet-as-can-be, all the things that Plum Pretty Sugar has become known for! Perfect as gifts to your ladies for getting ready on your wedding day (and well after!) or as gifts to yourself for the big honeymoon, this collection is as good as it gets.

Be sure to pop over here to see the full collection and to start shopping! Oh, and don’t forget to enter the amazing giveaway below!

The Prize: One lucky reader will win a set of four Boyfriend Shirts from Plum Pretty Sugar!

To Enter: Head over to Plum Pretty Sugar and swoon over the Fall collection for BHLDN, then come back here and comment on this post with your favorite new style + print!

To Win: One winner will be selected at random and announced on WIUP on Friday, October 3, 2014

Terms & Conditions: Can all be found right here.  Good luck my dears! xoxo

A rainy day wedding sometimes calls for plan B and can make an otherwise calm, cool and collected Bride a bit frazzled. But we promise, it can be gorgeous. Those gray skies make the green garlands by Botanica Events By Audrey Chaney pop a little brighter. And who doesn’t love the perfect kissing shot under an umbrella? A quick peek at this backyard affair so perfectly captured by Milou & Olin and you’ll agree.

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From The Bride…Al swept me off my feet from day one and just a year after we first met I was thrilled to say “yes” when he asked me to marry him! As two busy entrepreneurs however, we both knew we needed to find someone extraordinary who could worry about the details for us while staying in line with our specific vision, and still manage to keep us a part of the process. After meeting wedding planner Lorena Molina we knew she was the fairy godmother to our Cinderella story.

We scoured the state for wedding locations, but as we walked the grounds of my parent’s home one sunny afternoon we realized that getting married there – surrounded by so many wonderful memories of time spent with family and friends –was the perfect place to commit to one another and begin our life together.

My good friend Liza at Bride’s by Liza took my wedding dress inspiration – a photo of dress worn by an SMP bride from Australia – and turned it into reality with flowing chiffon, French lace, and delicate beading. After weeks of fittings it was perfect. I couldn’t wait for my soon-to-be husband to see it. Al had his suit custom made by his suit maker, Jonathan Behr in Los Angeles. There was something about having bespoke clothing made for our wedding day that made it an extra special experience as we watched our vision take shape (literally!) before our eyes.

We’re foodies at heart and from the start envisioned a farm to table dinner party where locally sourced ingredients could take center stage. The family style meal was the result of the talented hands behind Magpie Catering who whipping up some of the most scrumptious fare we had ever tasted. Wine from our favorite local vineyard just a stone’s throw away from the venue was flowing all night along with locally brewed Ale and IPA.

On the day of the wedding we couldn’t stop smiling – or kissing! We were so in love and beyond excited to spend the rest of our lives together. A string quartet played Pachelbel’s Cannon as I walked down the aisle. I could see the tears welling up in Al’s eyes as he watched me walk towards him – I fell in love with him all over again in that moment. We chose to use the beautiful, old wedding vows found in the Book of Common Prayer dating back to the 16th century and one of my mentors, Bob Litchfield, performed the ceremony.

Great live music was a must for us and the Speakeasies from San Francisco hit it out of the park with their boisterous renditions of classic big band era jazz. The guests were dancing to the tunes of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole into the wee hours of the night.

We were blown away by the beautiful images captured by the Milou + Olin team – they were such a pleasure to work with! Securing an amazing photographer was without a doubt one of the best decisions we made throughout the planning process!

Overall the weekend was extraordinary; our team of vendors executed a flawless event complete with amazing food, lively music, natural beauty, and an abundance of elegance. Our guests felt cared for and the entire weekend was effortless. We so enjoyed spending time with our family and friends who traveled from far and near to celebrate with us – we love you all!

Photography: Milou + Olin Photography | Coordination: Lorena Molina | Floral Design: Botanica Specialty Rentals | Wedding Dress: Brides By Liza | Catering: Magpie Catering | Hair & Makeup: Susie Cee Premiere Hair & Makeup | Band: The Speakeasies | Groom's Suit: Jonathan Behr | Officiant: Robert Litchfield | Wedding Venue: Private Residence | Tent: Zephyr Tents | Beer: Knee Deep Brewery | Bride & Groom Rings: Moein Zandi | Bride's Jewelery: Cartier | Cake Topper: Better Off Wed | Linen Rental: BBJ La Tavola | Paper Design: Carol Hung | Paper Goods + Calligraphy: Betsy Dunlap | Rentals: All About Events | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Shuttle & Valet: ENC Valet | Wine: Mt Vernon Winery

I seem to fall head over heels in love with everything Jordan Brittley captures, but this shoot beautifully planned by Abby Mitchell Events? It’s next level pretty. From the gorgeous Ella Weiss gown to the drool-worthy florals from He Loves Me Flowers and everything in between – this gallery has me singing a super sweet tune today. See why here.

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From Abby Mitchell Event Planning & Design… My inspiration came as I was watching Olympic figure skating this winter. I fell in love with a chartreuse shimmer costume and knew that it was time to take a fun little risk with color. I love mixing lights with darks so after seeing Rifle Paper Co. and Garance Dore partner up creating lovely blush, black, and chartreuse stationery I was sold on a color palette. I hope to inspire brides to seek creative vendors and to allow their creativity to blossom. My wish for them is also to allow their minds to be inspired by out of the box things and then have the courage to pursue them.

My favorite memory of a shoot is always right when I am able to see someone understand the vision after it is all set up together. I love watching vendors arrive and see how their little piece of the puzzle fits and makes all of our ideas stand out.

This shoot was intended to have a free spirited and feminine feel with touches of spunk! Details like a fashion portrait on the cake, high gloss black chargers, and a bold chartreuse overlay brought the funky vibe while blush florals, grey chiffon bridesmaids, and natural-dyed tulle details gave it a soft edge. Some of my favorite elements were the sheer and crystal pennants over the beverage cart chalkboard, the hand sewn linen napkins with blush edges, the monogrammed flower girl sash, and the ribbon tied corsages en lieu of bouquets for the bridesmaids! OH and that stunning bridal gown back! You can’t go wrong with lace applique on an illusion back – gorgeous.

Photography: Jordan Brittley | Videographer: Selby Films | Event Planning: Abby Mitchell Events | Event Styling: Abby Mitchell Events | Floral Designer: He Loves Me Flowers | Wedding Gown: Ella Weiss | Cake: Style By The Slice | Bridesmaids Dresses: Ella Weiss | Hair Stylist: National Avenue Hair Salon | Chair/Linen Rental: Ellees Rental Boutique | Location: Miss Gilmores Carriage House | Make-Up Artist: Melissa Britt | Musicians: Twenty Strings Ensemble | Paper Products: Abby Mitchell Events | Place Setting Rentals: Eventful Rental | Specialty Illustrations: Garance Dore | Specialty Illustrations: Rifle Paper Co. | Specialty Linen Overlays And Napkins: Abby Mitchell Events | Vintage Furniture Rentals: Mix And Mingle

When this is your engagement session, your wedding is obviously going to be the stuff dreams are made of. The beautiful Montenegrin light made a second appearance for this lucky couple, this time smiling all over their dreamy wedding day. Dreamy might just be an understatement, if these stunning images from Sonya Khegay have anything to say about the matter. (They do!)

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Photography: Sonya Khegay | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Ceremony Venue: Stari Mlini

Perfectly lovely and filled to the brim with sweet rustic details that will leave you more than inspired, this Green Door Gourmet wedding as seen from the lens of John And Lindsey Bamber is the definition of a perfect SMP wedding. With love being the greatest detail of all, this gallery is sure to make your heart swell. See it all here.

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Keeping family and friends in mind, we asked our siblings and their significant others to serve in our bridal party. Jon’s 19-month old twin niece and nephew were our Flower Girl and Ring Bearer, and four of his closest friends were Ushers for the event. We chose to hold our wedding at Green Door Gourmet – a beautiful organic farm minutes from downtown Nashville with picturesque plots of vegetables and herbs, a quaint farm store and charming barn. Holding both our ceremony and reception on site helped create a comforting and relaxed environment where guests were allowed to roam the grounds and truly enjoy the company.

I wanted the décor and details of the event to highlight the rustic setting while adding refinement and sophistication. Minimal embellishments at the ceremony site allowed the surrounding nature to take focus, while a soft and inviting color palate with metallic accents played off the warm wood of the reception barn. Terry White of English Garden really personified understated elegance with his flower arrangements and even lent his personal collection of mercury glass to add reflective elements at each dinner table.

As a native of New Orleans and having roots in Nashville, both food and music were important elements to our wedding. Kristen Winston Catering not only produced dishes of superb quality but ones that hinted at my southern ties, including miniature muffalettas, cheese beignets, and jambalaya. Holding our event in Music City meant there would be no shortage of amazing musicians and bands to choose from. We wanted the music to help set the ambiance for each event, so we started with a string quartet for the ceremony, transitioned to a blue grass duo for cocktails, and ended with an extremely talented nine-piece band called Live Revival for our reception.

Planning our wedding was an unbelievably joyful experience. It certainly helped to have a clear vision of what I wanted going into the process, but it was no doubt eased by the dedication and professionalism of those I worked with. Many thanks to Jayne Bubis and Debbie Lundy for helping plan and execute our special day and to John and Lindsey Bamber, as well as Cardboard Films, for capturing every detail. I hope every couple feels the happiness we do when reflecting on their own wedding!

Photography: Bamber Photography | Videographer: Cardboard Films | Event Planner: Jayne Bubis Events | Floral Designer: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Invitations: Buchanan Ink | Ceremony Venue: Green Door Gourmet | Reception Venue: Green Door Gourmet | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Catering: Kristen Winston Catering | Cake Designer: Dessert Designs | Musicians: Live Revival

When the Groom-to-be works in the wine industry and the Bride-to-be has a tattoo of a wine glass, it’s no surprise they chose to have their engagement session at the beautiful Robert Mondavi Winery. Plus, what’s more romantic than sipping on some vino while strolling through gorgeous vineyards? See the full session from Pezz Photo over here in the gallery!

From Pezz Photo… Juan works in the wine industry, and Molly has a wine glass tattoo on her ankle so, needless to say, they wanted to incorporate the wine country into their images.

Of the wineries they visited on Molly’s first trip to California, the Robert Mondavi Winery was one of her favorites, and so they chose it for the setting of their engagement session. On that first trip to California, at the start of their relationship, Juan picked her up at the airport wearing a red clown nose! They brought the noses for the session and also incorporated them into the wedding reception.

Photography: Pezz Photo | Venue: Robert Mondavi Winery

Banana bread cake treated like a layer cake had been dancing around my mind for a while now. For some reason I wanted to turn a well known homey treat into a birthday extravaganza. I figured dulce di leche would be a great addition and that a layer of chocolate ganache would pull it all together in true birthday fashion. I am happy to report that it turned out to the be a very decadent and surprising birthday surprise.

Giulia DoyleChocolate Banana Bread Cake with Dulce de Leche

prep time

cook time

total time

Serves 8Ingredients

• FOR THE DULCE DE LECHE
• (Feel free to use store-bought dulce de leche)
• 2 cans (about 395g) of sweetened condensed milk
• FOR THE BANANA BREAD CAKE (makes 3 nine inch layers)
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
• 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 3 cups unbleached flour
• 2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cup mashed very ripe bananas (about 4 medium bananas)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• FOR THE CHOCOLATE GANACHE
• 280g (10oz) good quality chocolate (I chose 70% Lindt)
• 400ml (14fl) oz double cream

Instructions

1. FOR THE DULCE DE LECHE
2. Preheat oven to 425°F. Place the condensed milk in an ovenproof baking dish. Press a piece of parchment paper on top of the condensed milk. Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Place the baking dish in a larger deep-sided baking tray and fill with boiling water until it reaches two thirds of the way up the sides of the dish.
3. Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes or until caramel in colour. Spoon the caramel into a bowl and whisk until smooth. Spoon into sterilized glass jars. Keep in the fridge for up to 1 month. Makes 2 cups.
4. FOR THE BANANA BREAD
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 3 nine (9) inch cake pans and add a piece of cut-to-size parchment paper at the bottom of each pan; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat until combined.
6. In a medium bowl, quickly mix together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture, and stir until just combined. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; mix to combine. Fold in chocolate chips, and pour into prepared pans.
7. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.
8. Once cooled, place one layer of banana cake on plate. Smear with about 1/4 - 1/3 cup of dulce di lece. Add second layer. Top with more dulce di lece and cover with last layer of cake. Since the caramel is slippery, you might want to add a skewer to avoid layers sliding around. Avoid having caramel drip onto the sides of the cake since the chocolate ganache won't adhere very well.
9. Once assembled, follow ganache instructions below and pour the icing onto the middle of the cake. Gently spread it over the top and sides of the cake and let it set. You might want use half of your chocolate for a thin coat and then add a second coat once the first coat sets. This will result in less waste of ganache and a thicker coating.
10. FOR THE CHOCOLATE GANACHE
11. Break the chocolate into pieces. Heat the cream until very hot but not boiling, remove from heat and add the chocolate. Stir until the chocolate has melted, then cool a bit until you have coating consistency. Pour the icing on to the centre of the cake. Spread it gently over the top and down the sides, and leave to set.

Photography: Audrey's | Recipe: Audrey's

Any time an Emily Steffen wedding comes our way, I brace myself for pure gorgeousness. She’s got a way with the camera and attracts some of the coolest clients around, so when she sent over Casi and Ben’s hipster-chic nuptials in NYC…well, I knew we’d happened upon something really good. It’s a day filled with quiet springtime romance, and in case you want more it’s all sitting right here.

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The decor was a touch of spring meets romance. Spring bloomed cherry blossoms complimented the ceremony alter while romantic candles were sprinkled at Casi and Ben’s feet as they exchanged vows! Glowing candles and succulents were perfect for the tables at the reception as they were displayed on purple table runners to soften up the wooden picnic-type-tables! Large bulb lights and greenery finished off the romance of the reception space while guests enjoyed their WI beer and sausage for the night!

It was a casual night that was filled with laughing, shared stories and new friendships…I don’t think Casi and Ben would have imagined anything better! The city lights escorted them to their car as they drove away into the city to adventure together as Mr and Mrs!

Photography: Emily Steffen Photography | Flowers: Lulamoss | Reception Venue: Radegast | Brides Shoes: Free People | Bridesmaids Dresses: Free People | Design And Coordination: Lizie Anne | Dessert: Kam Fook Restaurant | Dress Designer: Kam Fook Restaurant

As the first ever wedding held at the Merrimon-Wynne House, this southern soiree by Gather Together Events set the style bar pretty high for future brides looking to wed there. The groomsmen were dapper in white, the maids looked polished in a metallic print, and it was all tied together with the prettiest pastel florals. Check it out for yourself in Inkspot Crow’s video below AND in the gallery by Kristin Moore!

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Photography: Kristin Moore Photo | Videography: Inkspot Crow Films | Event Coordination: Gather Together | Floral Design: Greg Warren Florals | Cake: Sweet Memories Bakery | Ceremony: St Mary's Church | Reception: The Merrimon Wynne House | Catering: Beau Catering | Hair: Parlor Dry Bar | Paper & Printing: Paper Buzz | Rentals: Party Reflections

“Chic” doesn’t even begin to describe this NYC love affair, and with Firefly Events behind the pretty, it comes as no surprise. They helped bring Ilana and Tim’s cozy winter wedding vision to life and thanks to Ro of Les Loups we have it ALL at our fingertips. Join me in the gallery right here.

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Instead of a traditional sit down dinner, the bride and groom opted for a cocktail style reception. This meant that we could really mix things up when it came to the food! We worked with Creative Edge to transform one of the rooms into a foodie heaven, reminiscent to one of the gourmet food fairs that we’ve all become addicted to, here in New York City. Stations included, tacos, Middle Eastern fare, pasta, and civiche. Not surprisingly, this was a huge hit with guests, who had a chance to sample each selection while chatting with friends and listening to one of the best DJ’s in town, Kenan from Les Loups.

Poppies and Posies was on hand to create beautiful seasonal florals throughout The Foundry, as well as constructing the stunning chuppah AND one of our favorite details from the night, a glowing installation wall of terrariums and candles. As if working with this amazing team was not enough, Mother Nature pitched in for the best detail of all- snow!! Ilana + Tim’s wedding happened to fall on the first snowstorm of the season and it couldn’t have been more picture perfect.

Photography: Kenan From Les Loups | Cinematography: Hello Super Studios | Florals: Poppies And Posies | Invitations: Alpine Creative Group | Makeup: Jason Ascher | Lighting: Universal Light And Sound | DJ: Kenan From Les Loups | Rabbi: Rabbi Roger Ross | Wedding Venue: The Foundry | Brides Dress Wedding Atelier: Wedding Atelier | Cake Nine Cakes: Nine Cakes | Catering Creative Edge: Creative Edge Parties | Ceremony + Cocktail Musicians Elan Artists: Elan Artists | Grooms Suit Brooklyn Tailors: Brooklyn Tailors | Hair Christopher Lospalluto: Chris Lospalluto | Photo Booth Sweet Booths: Sweet Booths | Planning + Design: Firefly Events | Props + Rugs The Trove: The Trove by Poppies and Posies | Vintage Furniture Rentals: Patina

Wedding pros, gather ’round. Because our friends behind Oh So Inspired are giving away a free spot to this year’s amazing retreat and you – yes, YOU – have a chance to win big. I’m talking three days of intimate, hands-on learning with fellow creatives all across the country, not to mention the setting in California’s wine country. Ready to enter? Read on for details below!

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About the retreat… Set in the heart of beautiful California Wine Country, Oh So Inspired will be held at the Luxurious Ramekins of Sonoma. We have planned a 3 day gathering, after which you’ll walk away with a wealth of knowledge having participated in a variety of interactive lessons that you’ll be able to implement in your business. We’ll take you through a floral class, sketch lesson, calligraphy tutorial, culinary cooking experience, and you’ll also get to partake in a styled photoshoot ( at a secret location ) alongside one of the Nation’s top photographer. In addition to all the education, you’ll get a chance to hear stories of inspiration and humble beginnings from successful entrepreneurs, as well as bond over fire-side chat. Sounds like your cup of tea? Cozy up with us this November and indulge in learning, renewal, and honest to goodness growth; take your business to a whole new level and create life-long connections.

THE PRIZE:  One ticket to the 2014 Oh So Inspired retreat in Sonoma, California. (Travel and accommodations not included)

TO ENTER: Follow Pinterest board instructions above.

TO WIN: Winner will be chosen 10/10/14 and contacted via email.