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

Rustic DIY Oakland Wedding

From the Bride… Our wedding day simply could not have been more perfect. It was incredibly rewarding to see four months of hard work and meticulous planning come together to create a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere to celebrate our love and start our life together.

We were blessed with the opportunity to say our vows at a truly unique, exquisite, and private home that exuded Southern elegance and timeless tradition, two themes that we carried forth into every detail of the wedding. The beauty of the home and its landscaping spoke for themselves, so we kept the ceremony décor simple. Sahara and cream rose petals lined the wedding aisle, leading to several oversized flower arrangements, which mimicked my bouquet. A springing fountain behind us created the illusion of an overhead altar, while its sounds added to the romantic and relaxed atmosphere.

The ceremony was short, sweet, and officiated by Danny’s Step-Father. Our vows were traditional in theme, yet modern and personal in diction. One of my favorite moments of the entire day was standing at the altar, watching my Danny trying to hold himself together, and realizing that I had never felt so relaxed and reassured in all of my life. It was gratifying to feel the confidence that I was bringing into marriage completely erase the stress that I brought into wedding planning.

Our reception was held in the grand ballroom of a local community center. The lighting of the chandeliers and the opulence of the large space added to our theme of timeless elegance. We added several personal touches to the traditional elements of our reception. Instead of sitting at the head table with our bridal party, Danny and I enjoyed a private candlelit dinner on a terrace overlooking the city lights. This was one of the most intimate moments of the entire day, as we were able to finally have a private moment to talk, laugh, and relish in the fact that we were officially a married couple.

The wedding cake was simply decorated with a pattern of hand-rolled, white chocolate pearls, while the back of the cake held a surprise. Baseball has always been one of the biggest aspects of Danny’s life, so I surprised him with a fondant baseball “smooshed” into the back of the cake. As another personal touch, we decided to forego traditional wedding favors and instead donated our wedding favor budget to a nonprofit called charity:water. Each guest was given a water bottle with a label designed to educate them on charity:water and the work they are doing to solve the world’s water crisis.

We (rather embarrassingly) danced the night away with our closest friends and family before ending the night to a song I had dedicated to my cousin, who tragically passed away just two years before. Driving off in a beautifully restored 1956 Chevy was the perfect moment to take it all in. At the end of it all, our wedding day served as a microcosm for how we hope to live the rest of our lives—surrounded by the ones we love, focused on our commitment to one another, dancing like fools, and laughing in stride at the “uh-oh’s” that life will undoubtedly throw at us.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Essense of Australia

EveryBody/EveryBride Fall 2017

Spring 2017

Fall 2017

View All Collections

I 100% get why this beautiful Bride said she couldn’t stop smiling and giggling on her wedding day. All it takes is the first minute into the film from Hit Maker Films to see why. And beyond that, there’s still plenty more from Jasmine Lee Photography to swoon over. With a rustic, vintage garden party feel, filled to the brim with DIYs, this day was not only graced by the sweetest love, but it was gorgeous to boot.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/104418353 600 338]

Colors

Seasons

Southern Secret Garden Inspiration Shoot

Settings

Rooftop

Styles

Rustic

From the beautiful Bride… The day was simply magic. I’m not really sure how this all came together, but I’m sure glad it did. After looking at several wedding venues, Joe and I were very happy to choose the Kaiser Roof Garden. I really wanted our wedding to be outdoors, full of green, and private. Kaiser Roof Garden was perfect as it met our most important needs, with me getting a garden and Joe having the city feel still surrounding us.

We were on a tight budget that just kept getting bigger, but I wanted this to be special, truly make it our own by adding our personal touches. To save anywhere, we tried to incorporate as many DIY’s as possible. Fortunately, I’ve always loved crafting, and scrapbooking was something I did with my free time; so the wedding was a perfect opportunity to make use of those skills. Also, I knew I liked the vintage, rustic and garden party look, and the color theme was obvious choices, our favorite colors: pink and green. I turned to Pinterest and wedding blogs for inspiration.

We pretty much designed, printed and trimmed all our invitations, place cards, programs, and favor tags using our personal laptop and printer. The guest and photo booth books were projects I had fun with. We were lucky enough to have friends with these large pine trees in their backyards that needed be cut down as well as the tools to do it. The wood was used to create much of the décor for our wedding; from the arch, centerpieces, table number displays, and branches were even used as part of the aisle. We also spray painted our beer bottles and stained the wooden crates to keep the same look and feel for the entire wedding. All the designs and details flowed together.

Now on to the big day – the best day ever! OMG I was so fluttered while getting ready and literally getting butterflies in my stomach. I knew I was excited and couldn’t wait to marry Joe, but I was getting extremely nervous from the thought of having to walk down the aisle, do my vows and first dance. I’m real shy when it comes to being the center of attention. What eased some of my anxiety was our first look together. I’m so glad we did it. Finally seeing him that day made me so happy because he was feeling just as nervous and we were both in this together. I’m so glad we had that moment together to ourselves. After our first look, walking down the aisle, saying my vows, and doing the first dance was a piece of cake. Actually, I was still a little embarrassed, but I was just so giddy and excited, it helped me feel more relaxed. It was just me and him. Literally, I couldn’t stop smiling and giggling – it was the happiest moment of my life.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

View All Collections

Watters

Willowby Fall 2014

Watters Maids Fall 2014

Wtoo Maids Fall 2014

C20 Mothers 2012 Part I

C20 Mothers 2012 Part II

C20 Mothers Spring 2013

C20 Mothers Fall 2012

Seahorse Spring 2013

Watters Brides Fall 2014

Watters Brides Spring 2013

Watters Brides Spring 2015

Wtoo Brides Spring 2015

Willowby Spring 2015

Watters Maids Spring 2015

Wtoo Maids Spring 2015

Encore Spring 2015

Watters Brides Spring 2016

Willowby Spring 2016

Wtoo Brides Fall 2015

Willowby Fall 2015

View All Collections

Looking to be inspired? This photo shoot, shot at an old historic manor in Virginia, defines southern romance: soft candle light, airy pastels, garden roses, vintage china. Styled by Floral & Bloom Designs and captured by Abby Grace Photography, this gallery is the perfect place to kick start your own ideas for a beautiful wedding day. Happy pinning!

Colors

Seasons

Garden Weddings Weddings in Historical Venues

Settings

From Floral and Bloom… “The Retreat” is an old historic federal style house built in 1799 that overlooks the Shenandoah River. The house is full of gorgeous fireplaces, patios, high ceilings and rooms with different lightly colored chipped painted walls that fit in perfectly with our Southern Secret Garden shoot. Our inspiration for the shoot was to pull in the old historic Southern vibe of “The Retreat” but also to tie in a touch of romance with lots of candles and light and airy pastels and hints of gold. The Southern Secret Garden shoot took place in late April when lots of gorgeous blooms were coming into season. You would never be able to tell it rained all day during our shoot but the dreary weather gave us the perfect lighting for this shoot. The main elements included a floral garland across the mantel, a gorgeous tablescape, lots and lots of candles, floral print vintage china, and even cocktails with little flowers in them to tie in the garden feel! The team of vendors truly brought this shoot to life and I couldn’t be more thankful! Abby of Abby Grace Photography captured every detail of this shoot absolutely perfectly. Her gorgeous images speak for themselves! Our “Bride & Groom” are actually engaged and are getting married in late September of this year so the shoot was a perfect chance for them to get ready for their big day!

Emily Maynard’s Surprise Wedding to Tyler Johnson

We all watched Emily Maynard’s search for love on The Bachelorette, but today it comes full circle. She found “the one” post-show and a surprise celebration only seemed fitting. With guests arriving at the Johnson family farm for what they believed to be an engagement party, a gorgeous wedding celebration ensued. It’s a day brimming with rustic elegance crafted by Ivy Robinson Events and the most gorgeous moments captured by Corbin Gurkin. Have a look at even more in the full gallery.

We also have a gorgeous peak behind the day shot by Heart Stone Films. You’ll want to press play on this beauty, trust me…

Colors

Seasons

Beautiful Backyard Cleveland Wedding

Settings

Rustic Weddings Tented

Styles

Classic Weddings Rustic

La La Lovely Home Tour

Welcome to the home of La La Lovely! Where kids and design collide into a wonderful, beautiful, magical place. Truth be told, Trina may be the only person in the world who can not only make her place fun and kid-friendly (indoor swings included), but also maintain the chic aesthetic we all know and love her for. With photos from Yazy Jo, let’s take a peek, shall we?

From Trina… The living room has always been a bit of a catchall for random pieces, but recently I decided it needed to really come together. It’s always been a tricky room for me in that the layout is very long (and spacious). A sectional sofa was the best way to fill the space and allow for a good amount of seating. The swing and the disco ball add an element of fun in a room that is supposed to be the most serious in the house. I love the juxtaposition.

This room is one of my favorites. Since this is my childhood home, this used to be my parent’s bedroom. It was part of addition they made to the home in the mid-90’s. My main goal was to make it look like my own and to have it be a relaxing retreat. I like to keep things as neutral as possible (light colored walls, white bedding) to a sense of calm and simplicity. The biggest change we made (and my favorite) was ripping out the carpet and putting in wood floors. I’ve always wanted white painted floors and this was the best place to try them. I love the way they turned out (even though my parents were not so sure, at first). We used a knotty pine and white porch paint.

It’s fun and wild decorating a room that used to be yours when you were a kid. It’s not a big room so bunk beds were the way to go for this shared space. I kept the color pattern simple with white paint (same as used throughout the house) and a chalkboard wall. Kids seem to like to draw on walls, so why not give them a place to do it. The favorite element of the room is the mouse hole that connects to another bedroom. The boys also love the floating shelves from IKEA where they like to display their favorite superheroes.

This room was originally the master bedroom of the house, (before the mid-90’s addition) I had the most fun decorating this space as I’m a girly girl at heart. I wanted to design a room that my daughter could grow with. The painting on the wall was inspired by a Julia Kostreva journal. The bed is an Ikea bed that is painted white.

The playroom is actually the dining room. The dining room wasn’t getting much use and having small children who always want to be close by, I thought it would be a fun idea to convert the room into a playroom. I left some of the main elements like the chandelier and the hutch (which now stores toys) so it’s an easy switch back. The main update is the light green paint that only cover three quarters of the wall and a few shelves for books. I love looking into that room and seeing the mix of toys and a crystal chandelier.

For years the master bath was covered in 90’s floral wallpaper. I knew I wanted to tone down the room with a neutral paint color and gray seemed like the right choice against the white cabinets. I found a chandelier in the basement storage that used to hang in the dining room and thought it would make such a great statement and be the focal point of the room.

I’m not sure how many different ways I’ve seen this room over the years (picture blue shag carpet or southwestern indian motif), but it has looked a lot of different ways. This room, unfortunately, does not get a lot of natural light, so it was my goal to brighten things up as much as possible. White paint and putting in wood floors was our best decision for this room. It gets a lot of traffic as it is the way out to the patio and pool and hardwoods have kept things looking more streamlined and clean.

[dotted]

Photography: Yazy Jo | Design: Lala Lovely Things

MASTER BATH
Rug: Lulu & Georgia Paint: Sherwin Williams ‘Requisite Gray’

Jacquelyn Clark

When it comes to backyard weddings, teaming up with amazing local vendors is key. After all, you’re starting from scratch! That’s exactly what this Bride + Groom did for their Big Day. Borrow Rentals was a huge helping hand in providing fabulous rentals and styling, including the addition of up-cycled wood from all around Cleveland, while Molly Taylor Designs sprinkled the day with beautifully foraged-looking florals. See the full gallery from Aster & Olive Photography for even more.

Colors

Seasons

Behind the Blog: La La Lovely

Settings

Outdoor Weddings

Styles

Modern

From Borrow Rentals… Therese + Matt are a couple that would warm anyone’s heart! They live in New York, but are both from Northeast Ohio and could not imagine their wedding anywhere else. They wanted their day to be bright, romantic, fun, industrial, and classic. We had such a fun time here at Borrow helping them style their event and Aster & Olive Photography could not have captured their special day any more beautifully.

Therese + Matt have may passions, but their dedication to showing off the best of what Cleveland has to offer with their vendor choices was un-parralelled. The beautiful veil was custom made for Therese by Miranda’s Vintage Bridal, a local designer and seamstress. The flowers and fruit was the design brainchild of the fabulous Molly Taylor Designs. All of their tables, bars + even their dance floor were made with up-cycled wood provided by local companies. They served local beer and wine.

One fun fact about all of their tables and bars- they were all stamped with the address of where the wood was recycled from in and around Cleveland! We loved working with Matt + Therese and wish them warm and wonderful years ahead!!

I’m convinced that Trina of La La Lovely is magical. I mean, it’s the only answer! To run one of the best design blogs around, freelance as a writer, art director and beyond, all while raising a brood of children is no easy feat. But this girl does it with style, class and so. much. grace. With photos from Yazy Jo, we’re going behind the blog, and it’s really really good.

SMP: Tell us a little about La La lovely!
La La Lovely is really my place to share my favorite finds and work out my words. I have a habit of looking for the lovely. Some days I find it in perfectly styled spaces, and other days i find it in the broken places. But simply put, La La Lovely is a lifestyle blog that offers inspiration in the areas of decor, design, style, littles and life.

SMP: What made you decide to start a blog?
I started blogging 6 years ago and I wasn’t even exactly sure what a blog was at that time (aside from my Xanga). I had been thumbing through Domino Magazine and read about a design blog called Absolutely Beautiful Things. I hopped online and was so inspired and excited about what I had stumbled upon. I knew I wanted to start one for myself. It seemed like the perfect place for me to write (which I love most about blogging) and a great way to share things that inspire me. Friends were always asking me where I got this or that or what I would suggest for gifts, etc. Also, it was a great way to digitally keep a file of all of my favorite decorating ideas and anything that was visually inspiring. Today, I blog for the same reason, I started, because I love to write and share inspiration and ideas.

SMP: What’s one thing you’ve learnt along the way?
Trust your gut. I’ve learned that just because an opportunity is there doesn’t always mean you should take it, even it appears to be a good one. When you’re a blogger you are a little bit of everything (especially in the early days), a designer, a photographer, a stylist, a writer, an salesperson, a business owner to name a few. As you get going you’ll find your voice, your style and your message. Once you find that, let it be a filter and guide as to what opportunities best align with you.

SMP: If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?
I don’t know that I would do that much differently It’s been a pretty organic process for me. I suppose I probably would have reached out and went after a few opportunities sooner. And, I would try to find a blogging schedule, earlier on, that didn’t require staying up until the wee hours of the morning. It catches up with you, eventually.

SMP: One piece of advice you’d give to a blogger just starting out?
My greatest advice is simple…..be yourself. Write about what you love and be true to your own voice. Don’t be concerned about what others are doing. Be concerned about what moves you. There are some basic principles that will work for everyone, like being consistent on how often you post and creating a consistent aesthetic, but I’ve found that if you are consistent with being yourself first, your style will develop and you will have created a brand naturally and authentically.

SMP: What was the tipping point in your business that made you feel your blog was going to thrive?
A few years ago, after I had re-designed my daughter’s room, The Land of Nod reached out to me to collaborate for an upcoming catalog. Three rooms in my home were featured as well as two rooms in a New York City apartment that I designed. It was so fun and extremely inspiring working with such a great brand and such fun and amazingly talented people. After that project I felt more confident and comfortable in my abilities to design spaces and to take on bigger projects and collaborations.

SMP: What color do you think will stand the test of time?
I’d have to say white. You just can’t go wrong with crisp white walls. And, pink. Some shade of pink always seems to be in style. Pink can be sweet, modern, neutral or punk rock.

SMP: One thing you simply can’t live with out?
My family. And, coffee. During this season of life, coffee seems like a means of survival.

SMP: Three things every stylish homeowner should have?
1- A favorite chair.
2- A breathtaking light fixture that makes you always look up (whether glamorous or modern).
3- Comfy Bedding.

SMP: Your favourite online design resource?
Pinterest. What can I say, It always seems to be where I start (online). I love getting lost on different rabbit trails that take me, somehow, to exactly where I need to be.

Jacquelyn Clark

Sophisticated Wedding at San Francisco City Hall

In the chicest of styles, this San Fran couple headed to City Hall to exchange vows, with The Mayor’s Balcony as the setting for the celebrating afterwards. In a short cream number, the stunning bride channeled Carrie Bradshaw herself, and you can check out the sophisticated look of it all in the gallery by Nudrat Owens.

Colors

Seasons

Settings

City Hall

Styles

Elegant Garden Wedding at the Grade School Where the Couple Met

From Nudrat Owens Photography… Lindsey and Adam’s summer wedding in San Francisco was done in Sex and the City Style.The ceremony was held at the SF City Hall. The couple reserved the Mayor’s Balcony for the event. The amazing view of the Balcony from across the hall was simply stunning. Lindsey and Adam shared some intimate moments while waiting in line for their marriage certificate near the city Clerk’s office and then headed to the balcony for the ceremony where their close friends and family awaited. They took the vows in front of their most loved ones. Champaign and cupcakes were the perfect way to cheer to a toast.

In contrast to traditional white gown, Lindsey chose a cream-beige-knee-length dress for her wedding. The dress was from Bloomingdales NY, NY. Loved the blue shoes on her. Adam matched his tie and socks with Lindsey’s shoes.

The reception was held at the Modernism Gallery in Foreign Cinema on Mission, SF. What a cool venue for a cozy reception! And the food was to die for! Lindsey’s bouquet was made of her Grandmother’s favorite flower “Pink Ice” Protea. The heirloom necklace from her Grandmother was passed on to Lindsey that she crowned her bouquet with. Clearly her grandmother was very near and dear to her heart. Gorgeous floral design by Natalie Bowen Designs were the jewels on every table at the reception hall. Adam, the groom, made all the table signs himself. He played with metal and a solder gun to create the “A-heart-L” sign for the head table too. Lindsey and her mom made Apricot Jam as favors for all guests. They had a very personal and beautiful story tied to that as well.

Back to back movies were played all night at the Modernism gallery. “Food and Film” was definitely the vibe going throughout the night. The couple share Italian heritage; “Mangia”, meaning “eat”, on the menu was totally appropriate.

This wedding was so elegantly styled. The couple’s simple yet sophisticated ideas were a perfect representation of their personalities. We don’t get to photograph such weddings everyday. It was totally “Sex and the City” of San Francisco.

Cute couple alert! These two met in 5th grade and the rest is history my friends. But the best part of this straight out of a movie story, is that they said “I Do” at the very school where they first locked eyes. It’s a Los Angeles garden affair, grade school style, crafted by Bash, Please with beautiful paper by Tiny Pine Press and image after gorgeous image shot by Max Wanger. See so much more in the full gallery.

Colors

Seasons

Academic Venue Settings Outdoor Weddings

Settings

Ashley and Matt currently live in Washington, DC, but both attended John Thomas Dye School and met/became friends there in fifth grade. They got married at the school and their former Headmaster, who will retire next year after 34 years at the school, attended the wedding as well. Most of the wedding party went to school with them and they got engaged at Harvard where they both attended college. The wedding was all outside and full of delicate attention to detail with beautiful covered lounge areas – one of which was a bourbon and cigar area for the guys. After the ceremony and during the cocktail hour, guests were able to enjoy tequila shots and guacamole prepared at guacamole stations as they listened to the gospel choir sing great Motown. As the evening transitioned to dinner and dancing, guests were able to enjoy great drinks and food including a burrata and fig salad and other delicious treats that accompanied the main course.

Modern Chicago Wedding at Ignite Glass Studios

One part classic and another part modern, this wedding speaks straight to my minimalist-loving heart. It’s crisp and clean with a nod to tradition (read: the bride’s heirloom lace veil) and lucky for us, we get to swoon Every. Last. Bit. See the gallery from Caili Helsper right here.

Colors

Seasons

Rustic Chic South African Warehouse Wedding at Blue Bird Garage

Settings

Urban Space

Styles

Modern

From Caili Helsper… Tyson and Jackie wanted their wedding to feel modern, clean and contemporary while infusing the things that are most important to them into their day. Pashminas were given to their guests upon arrival at the ceremony, to keep warm during their sunset vows on the rooftop of Ignite Glass Studios. They kept their ceremony decor minimal, letting the skyline serve as the backdrop as they said their handwritten vows. The chuppah frame was made by the bride’s father (and also used at her sisters wedding), and was adorned with lace made by Jackie’s cousin. The lace on her veil was her mother’s.

They chose neutral tones and lace trim to adorn the tables at the reception, using a custom silhouette logo to tie all of the details together – even the candies at their dessert table! Tyson and Jackie are from Chicago but currently live in Brooklyn. To pay homage to their two home cities, they served their guests their favorite Brooklyn pickles and late night Chicago donuts. Jackie’s dad made custom takeout boxes for their guests to take the donuts home. They really did make every aspect of the day feel special and unique to them.

Illumniate Photography described this wedding as a “big feast of Pinteresting loveliness”, and I do believe they hit the nail on the head with that description. Because I could (and probably will) pin every single image sitting in this gorgeous gallery. It’s sweet rustic touches mixed with a fabulous urban setting, and the result is pure perfection. See it all here.

Colors

Seasons

Fall Weddings

Settings

Industrial

Styles

Rustic

From Illumniate Photography…I love the simplicity of the look of this wedding, yet the careful thought that went into the detail. Keziah (the bride) is one of the most creative people I know, so as you can imagine her wedding was one big feast of Pinteresting loveliness! To name just a few of the cute quirks, she D.I.Yed hanging plants; used wooden school chairs to seat the guests; and used vintage newspapers as placemats. I also loved how involved Craig (the groom) was in the whole planning process.

Keziah and Craig chose to mix it up a bit by having their ceremony in the evening. They had a special “first look” in the forest with some close friends and family before the ceremony, and this was followed by some bridal party and couple pictures around the forest. It was so nice to know that there weren’t any guests waiting for us, meaning we could take our time.

The ceremony and Reception were both held at the Blue bird garage – a warehouse-like spot where a popular market takes place on Friday evenings which they converted into a perfect wedding venue!

Candles were lit and lights were strung and a most beautiful, spirit-filled atmosphere was in the room. What really stood out for me at the reception was the love that Craig and Kez have for their family and friends and people in general. What a beautiful thing.

Sweet Texas Wedding at Vista West Ranch

Sweet as they come and charming as all get out, this Vista West Ranch wedding is day maker for sure. Filled with gorgeous blooms by Petal Pushers and beautifully planned by Kurant Events, every gorgeous image from SMS Photography makes me smile from ear to ear, and you can see them all here.

Colors

Seasons

Romantic Engagement Shoot in The French Quarter

Settings

Rustic Weddings

Styles

Rustic

From SMS Photography…Elissa and Forrest said their I-Do’s at the gorgeous Vista West Ranch. They wanted a laid back affair that represented them both so perfectly. They opted for a first look to have extra time to take portraits and the light that day did not disappoint. A small wedding party and a guest count of under 125, let the couple relax and see everyone. Elissa wore a stunning and elegant dress that fit her personality and grace so wonderfully. Forrest looked very dashing in his custom suit with all the accessories. Just a perfect day full of lots of smiles and warm embraces.

This bride wanted the setting for her engagement shoot to mirror her relationship – the perfect blend of romance and excitement. Dressed in Badgley Mischka and a floral crown by Fat Cat Flowers, she and her fiance strolled the French Quarter for what turned out to be the sweetest e-session ever. See more from Marissa Lambert here.

From The Bride…Jon and I’s entire relationship has been fairytale status. After our first date, I woke up to a single red rose on my porch. Since then, he is constantly surprising me with sweet thoughts and knick knacks. He is a hard working man that will put a bow tie on for me. He lovingly agreed to take engagement pictures that were a little bit out of his comfort zone, and I am forever grateful. I love film, so there was only one person to ask to photograph our love. The sweet and talented Marissa Lambert. I had designed what I wanted in my head, and after just a few words with Marissa, she was able to take and create exactly what I wanted. We started at Race and Religious for a very romantic, intimate session. A beautiful flower crown by Fat Cat Flowers adorned my head, and I wore an elegant dress by Badgley Mischka. Jon completed his outfit with bow tie and suspenders… obsessed! Then we changed into a more casual outfit and graced the streets of the French Quarter. We were playful, walking down the streets holding hands, exchanging “I love yous”, and laughing every few steps. I love the ambiance of New Orleans… it was the perfect blend of romance and excitement. We are happy to share our love, and we hope to continue to create a truly romantic, Southern wedding this Fall.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Wedding Dresses

Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

View All Collections

Darling Summer New Hampshire Wedding at the Wolfeboro Inn

Filled with love and the prettiest details you ever did see, this gorgeous Wolfeboro Inn wedding (captured beautifully by Shane Godfrey Photography) is one for the books. It’s simply overflowing with pretty – so trust me when I say you’ll want to spend your entire day pouring over this gallery.

Colors

Seasons

Hotels + Resorts Weddings

Settings

Styles

Georgetown Summer Engagement Session

From Shane Godfrey… You may remember our Wolfeboro Inn Wedding from 2012 with my girlfriend Meg’s best friend Kristin and her now husband Mark. Well this year we were there again and this time it was Meg’s cousin’s wedding, Kaitlin, and her now husband Travers from Denver, Colorado. I said it last time I photographed close friends or family members and I’ll say it again, it just makes my job a easier than normal to know the couple personally before hand. Everyone already had the trust in me to do a good job and for the most part, let me do what do for the day. We had a gorgeous day in early August and Kaitlin got ready at her aunt’s house just a few streets away from the inn. Both the ceremony and reception were held on site at the Wolfeboro Inn and everything went off without a hitch! Thanks for having me photograph your big day!

The last hours of summer are slowly slipping away as we officially greet autumn tomorrow. As ready as I am for crunch leaves under my feet, summer will always own my heart. So naturally, this e-sesh from Natalie Franke was just what I needed to leave my favorite season until next year. And these two? They’re sooo in love and not to mention, stylish as ever. Plus, their a-dorable golden retriever pup, Beckett tagged along—he might just be the cutest thing you see all day.

From Natalie Franke… As if Kimmie and Andrew weren’t cute enough already (and lets be honest – these two could double as models in their spare time!) – these newly engaged sweethearts brought their lovable Golden Retriever puppy, Beckett, with them to their engagement session. Amidst the puppy kisses and playful cooing from every student at Georgetown University – we were able to sneak in some gorgeous photographs of this sweet ‘family’ of three!

Photography: Natalie Franke Photography

Whimsical Toronto Restaurant Wedding

Set on the very first day of summer, this wedding is a exactly the fun themed, flower-filled celebration you’d imagine. It’s sort of botanical chic meets casual whimsy, and the handmade herb potted favors are like icing on the cake. Flowers Time whipped together the gorgeous bloomage, and you can see it all from Olive Photography right here.

Colors

Seasons

Vibrant Raleigh Fiesta Wedding

Settings

Eatery

Styles

Whimsical

From the Bride… We chose June 21st as our wedding date because it’s the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. We love the summer months in Canada, especially when the sun stays out past 9pm, so the fact that the Solstice fell on a Saturday worked out perfectly. We wanted a theme that straddled spring and summer since it was going to be on a transitional day, so we decided on shabby chic because the muted but colourful palate let us have a lot of colours – blush, cream, mint, lavender, peach with gold accents – instead of the traditional two colour scheme. Shabby chic really reflects our personal style as well which is a mix of traditional/vintage with modern finishes, so we knew that all our attire and other details would work together.

We did a lot of DIY projects that incorporated our theme – the biggest undertaking was the potted herb favours that doubled as place cards. We white-washed the terracotta pots, found a large variety of herbs, potted them, added ribbons in our colour theme to each one and then topped them with scalloped flags with names hand-written by the mother of the bride. Not only did the favours double as place cards, but they also added even more greenery to the table to make it feel very summery. We also made our own table numbers that carried through the floral shabby chic theme. We love to go to antique markets so the last time we were at the Aberfoyle Antique Market we picked up some vintage botanical prints and popped them into some white frames and added numbers with a glass writing marker in an art deco font.

We knew that while we were putting together all these details that would bring the theme across once guests arrived, the invitation is the first piece that they get and that would really set the tone for what guests expect. We worked with a fantastic graphic designer and told her our vision and a lot about the wedding and she came up with a beautiful design for the invitations that we were able to carry through to all the stationary like the menus and the programs.

We decided early-on that the dance party for the reception was one of the most important parts for us – we really wanted to make sure that our family as well as our friends all had a great time – so finding the right DJ was really important and pretty difficult. Unless you see a DJ at a wedding, you don’t really have an idea of what they’re like. Reviews are helpful but everyone’s taste in music is different, so one person’s perfect DJ might be someone else’s dud. Our friend recommended our DJ and after meeting him, we realized he was perfect. The party lasted until the end of the night with people cheering for “One more song” at the end – which he complied with and played The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’ and made the perfect ending to the perfect day.

Top 5 Pieces of Advice to Engaged Couples Planning their Wedding:

1) First and foremost, start with a theme or an overall look and feel for your day. Everything else – venue, attire, decor, music, flowers – will flow out of having a strong overall vision for what you want your wedding to look like. Pinterest and wedding blogs are a great place to get inspiration for what you want and identify the things you’re not as into. They’re also a great place for finding vendors and venues – we found our venue and photographer from wedding blogs and we’re thrilled with how they worked out.

2) You don’t necessarily have to go through traditional wedding stores for every detail of the wedding. We did really well finding decor at Target and Staples, attire details online at places like The TieBar and Etsy, and finding the bridesmaid’s dresses at Urban Outfitters. It’s a great way to save on your budget and also make sure that you’re details are one of a kind. Finding a great vendor on Etsy is great if you want something a little different too because they’ll often work with you to create something custom. The groom and groomsmen’s pocket squares are a great example – I sent her a picture of the ties and bow tie and she sent me photos of fabric options to choose from. They turned out perfect and it was also nice to know that they’re a really special takeaway for the guys that they can’t get anywhere else.

3) Go with your gut. There were lots of traditional details we weren’t sure about like whether to have a bouquet toss or having the wedding party announced coming into the reception – neither of which we ended up doing. Every time we were asked about those details, we just went back to what we were picturing for the day and decided to do that, regardless of what the norm was. This is also true of decor and all the little details. I really wanted gold Chivari chairs to make the “gold” accent in our theme pop. The venue came with silver chairs and a lot of people thought I wouldn’t end up caring about the chairs but I stuck to my guns and I think they made the look of the whole dining room pop and tied the theme together. A bonus is that we were able to use them for the ceremony as well, so that looked great in pictures as well.

4) Do anything that you can do ahead of time as early as possible. I was really lucky to be able to take the week before the wedding off from work, and I don’t know how I would have got everything finished if I hadn’t. All the little things add up and it was a lot of late nights the week before getting everything done. We definitely would have tried to do more in the week’s leading up to the wedding instead of leaving it to the last week. Writing out a decor plan on how you want things set up on the day of the wedding will help to map out what needs to be done and makes it much easier to delegate tasks to your wedding party and family. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself through it all – play music, have a glass of wine, work outside if the weather’s nice – we enjoyed doing all the pieces because we had fun along the way.

5) Lastly, but probably most importantly, get a wedding day-of coordinator. Even if you’re doing the planning yourself, get someone to help you on the day-of. You want to be able to enjoy the day and a coordinator can set up your decor, make sure all your vendors arrive, ensure the venue is set up according to your floor plans and make sure everyone in your wedding parties arrive on time and are positioned properly. I work in Public Relations and plan and execute a lot of events, and I still couldn’t have pulled off the wedding without Fidan and her Designed Dream team running the show. The peace of mind is worth it but having the perfect wedding day is the cherry on top.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Watters

Willowby Fall 2014

Watters Maids Fall 2014

Wtoo Maids Fall 2014

C20 Mothers 2012 Part I

C20 Mothers 2012 Part II

C20 Mothers Spring 2013

C20 Mothers Fall 2012

Seahorse Spring 2013

Watters Brides Fall 2014

Watters Brides Spring 2013

Watters Brides Spring 2015

Wtoo Brides Spring 2015

Willowby Spring 2015

Watters Maids Spring 2015

Wtoo Maids Spring 2015

Encore Spring 2015

Watters Brides Spring 2016

Willowby Spring 2016

Wtoo Brides Fall 2015

Willowby Fall 2015

View All Collections

15 Fall Essentials

Whether we like it or not, Wednesday marks the official start to fall. And though I’m usually ready to embrace it with arms wide open, this year it’s taken me a little longer to hop on board. I’m happy to say that after pulling together this roundup of amazing fall essentials, I’m officially totally and completely there. Warm apple pie, riding boots, bottomless mugs of hot tea… bring it!

15 Fall Essentials

View Slideshow

15 Fall Essentials

View Slideshow

Jacquelyn Clark

With the most vibrant arrangements by Fresh Affairs, this wedding at The Sutherland was boho chic meets Mexican fiesta – and the result was one insanely beautiful party. From the stunning grounds to the eclectic decor, see how this couple celebrated in the happiest of styles in the gallery by Three Little Birds Studio.

Colors

Seasons

NYC Spring Cherry Blossom Elopement

Styles

Whimsical

From Three Little Bird Photography…This eclectic and colorful wedding combined class, boho chic, vintage glam, and a Mexican fiesta all in one! The bride wanted the wedding to encompass all themes and colors, and it resulted in a gorgeous day!

As soon as you enter the grounds to The Sutherland you can not help but be inspired! The perfectly trimmed bushes, the manicured gardens, and the stunning old plantation house tie together to create the perfect wedding day atmosphere.

The grooms found themselves enjoying a few drinks, and getting ready in an old building on the property that just oozed manliness with its antique wooden frame, and hunting inspired decor, while the ladies were primping themselves in the main house. Here the bright rooms filled each space with happy sunshine, and the colorful flower bouquets, that featured hand made paper flowers, could be spotted around the home, almost as happy reminders.

The ceremony was in the most peaceful alcove, with absolutely stunning light! It was just a dream to witness.

The reception was held at The Sutherlands new and awesome open-air pavilion. Hung from its rafters were twinkling bistro lights, and delicate paper banners that swayed in the breeze. Chandeliers hung elegantly above the head table, as well as from the giant tree…a whimsical nod to all things elegant. Each table setting had admixture of colorful plate settings, as well as a collection of various vibrant center pieces. Although there was no rhyme or reason for the colors and decor, it all tied together so perfectly, and resulted in a vibrant, fun and romantic flair.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Wedding Dresses

Lazaro

Spring 2016

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

View All Collections

Wedding Dresses

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

View All Collections

For all those brides who’ve ever wondered what a chic, New York City elopement could look like – this one is for you. It’s what happens when two madly-in-love sweethearts tie the knot at City Hall with Emilia Jane Photography by their side. Designs By Ahn whipped up the prettiest pink bouquet for the occasion, and there’s so much more in the gallery right here.

Colors

Seasons

Settings

City Hall Eatery

Styles