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Provence Lavender Field Engagement

From Photography By Lyndsey…I can’t wait to share this beautiful outdoor farm wedding with you! The bride had every detail covered and used Etsy for a bunch of unique and personal touches to the wedding. Please read below for a recap of the day from the bride!

From the Bride…We knew right away that we wanted to do an outdoor wedding and when we found Lingrow Farm we fell in love. The beautiful gazebo by the pond was the perfect spot for our intimate ceremony and the barn provided indoor and outdoor space for the ceremony. We wanted the day to be relaxed and fun for us and everyone else!

My family stayed at the farmhouse on the property and my bridal party and I got there early the morning of the wedding. I wanted to use my regular hairdresser, Mia, for hair and makeup the day of and was thrilled when she said she would travel the hour out to the farm from her salon, Metamorphosis. The morning was a surprisingly relaxing with a mix of music and mimosas while we all got ready! The flowers arrived from Leechburg Floral Company and were exactly as I had pictured… a stunning mix of blue hydrangeas, green roses, and orchids wrapped with burlap at the stems.

As we stepped outside for our first photos we could only hope that the beautiful weather would last through the ceremony. As the bridesmaids were swept away my parents and I headed to the horse drawn carriage that would bring us to the gazebo. When we first got engaged Brian’s sister in law, Pam, joked about performing the ceremony. After at first laughing at the thought of it, we decided to actually have her do it and she set about getting ordained. It made it so much more personal to have someone who knew us standing up there with us at this very special moment. She was of course able to add some humor and personal antidotes as well!

After the ceremony the sun gave way to clouds just at the right time for photos to begin. The staff at Lingrow even brought us cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to enjoy while pictures were taken! Lyndsey and Mark from Photography by Lyndsey found so many amazing spots on the farm for photos and gave us so many beautiful memories of our day. They even made sure to get us over to the farmhouse for a quick photo shoot with our puppy, Dexter!

At the reception it was so exciting to see everything we had planned come to life. We strung the place cards by clothespins on twine outside of the barn. For the guestbook we wanted to have something that we would actually look at often to remember this day so we had each guest sign a piece of a puzzle that we would later assemble and frame. There were lights hanging throughout the barn and the tables were filled with white hydrangeas, blue mason jars, and floating candles.
The entire night was perfect. We cut our cake with the cake knife from my parent’s wedding which they had engraved with both of our wedding dates on it. Somehow my new husband and niece ended up with their faces completely smeared with cake! Everyone enjoyed the photo booth and props set up on the deck outside and we are so happy to have a photo album of all of those memories with messages from our friends and family. Guests took home the many jars of strawberry honey jam that my mom and I had made for favors and boxes of cookies from our cookie table!

We were so lucky to have such an amazing day to celebrate with all of our friends and family. We couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who was involved in making this day exactly what we wanted!

Some might say it’s a bit far to trek from Singapore to Provence for a engagement shoot with M&J Photography, but that’s probably before they’ve laid their eyes this gallery. It’s what happens when you take to the lavender fields of France in late June, and the photos have convinced me to book a trip myself. Congrats, lovlies!

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Sweet Backyard Wedding in Austin, Texas

From M&J Photography LTD…Singaporean couple John & Li Ping will get married this summer in their home city, but first they dreamed of having a pre-wedding engagement photo session in the lavender fields of Southern France. Late June in Provence was the perfect time!

The famous hill top town of Gordes was a stunning backdrop for some of the first shots of the day. Further photos were taken amongst the beautiful natural surroundings of the local area and the pretty pastel coloured towns that are like hidden gems in the Luberon Valley. As the sun went down, we had the most magical light just in time to finish off a perfect evening amongst the impossibly purple rows of lavender.

This must have been the most lovely day. Simple yet incredibly sweet, every gorgeous image from J. Bird Photography paints the picture of a simply perfect day. A day filled with so much love you know this couple and their guests will never stop talking about every magical moment, and you can see why here.

From J. Bird Photography…This wedding is probably one of my favorites to date with a precious couple, simple but gorgeous details, and a custom made wedding dress that was designed by the bride herself.

From The Bride…The inspiration behind our wedding came from a focus on things I have always loved and to keep things simple and natural. Our hope was to have a pretty day that centered around the celebration of our marriage and a great party with our friends and family, but no sweat over tons of details! Ryan and I love to be outside so having an outdoor ceremony was a no brainer. My parents backyard has always been a peaceful place to me and I couldn’t imagine anything sweeter than having the ceremony there. It is also located very close to a beautiful field that I spent much of life walking through to get to my favorite pool (Barton Springs) and stopping to enjoy the green and the trees with my sister as we grew up and have now shared it with Ryan. We just love it and that is where we took the pictures after the ceremony. My dad built the alter at our wedding which was so special and my friend Kortni (our florist) covered it with simple greenery and flowers. Potted flowers and herbs are some of my favorite things and I included those throughout the decor as well— and now they adorn our front porch! The reception was located at the Palm Door which I have always admired for it’s blank white wooden walls and wood floors. I already had a bunch of old vases and metal tins that we used for the flowers along with a few we borrowed from friends and family. My florist (Kortni) is a good friend of mine and we had so much fun dreaming up whites and greens and simple arrangements— the kind you might find on your kitchen table after going to the grocery store, nothing too over the top, but still simple and sweet. I love how light and airy the flowers were as well as the tiny greenery Kortni hung from the rafters— so perfect!

As for the dress and grooms attire, we had the same kind of theme. I didn’t want anything too fancy, but I still wanted it to feel wedding-like. Ryan wore a grey suit and his groomsmen wore different combinations of vests, ties, greys, navies, etc. We liked the casual look and it corresponded well with our bridesmaids attire. I told my bridesmaids they could pick whatever color dress they wanted as long as it was a soft color an they all ended up in pale pinks! Which turned out great— they all looked beautiful! I had my dress made by a talented lady here in Austin. I’ve always been the kind of person that has a picture in their head and can’t ever find it in real life, so I told her what I wanted and she executed it beautifully! I had gotten a dress at a garage sale and had fallen in love with the neckline so that’s where we started— the rest was in my head. I also liked the idea of having an off-white but not a ivory off-white so we went with a hint of dove-grey and a white lace bodice.

10 Acoustic First Dance Songs

Ah, the first dance. One of the sweetest, most intimate moments of a wedding night. But finding that perfect song? Isn’t always so easy. That’s where Bobby Jo Valentine comes in. He has serenaded sweeties time and again, and his acoustic versions are romantic-as-ever. So, accordingly we asked him for a few song recs, acoustic-style, and we think you might find one or two from his list that you’ll love. Bonus? See him in action below playing one of his picks! Might just be the cutest thing ever.

From Bobby Jo Valentine… Why I love Acoustic for the first dance: A wedding is a party, but it’s a party about a very strong, deep and wonderful love. While most of the wedding is full of explosive, celebratory, everyone-get-excited-and-go-crazy joy, what a wedding is really about is the depth of feeling you have for the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. That’s what makes the first dance so special.

Apart from the ceremony, it’s one of the only times that the bride and groom get to take a deep breath, look into each other’s eyes, and have the focus be on their love for each other. Having an intimate, acoustic performance of your favorite love song during the first dance can be the heart-stopping, memory-making moment that your wedding deserves to take it from classy to legendary. Having someone give a performance, just for you and your spouse, creates the kind of special, this-is-ours memory you and your family will enjoy for years to come!

Angel – Jack Johnson. Simple, short, beautiful. This is for those who want to just stand and gently sway in their partner’s arms.

I Want to Grow Old With You – Adam Sandler. Is it a silly song? Yes. But it’s also the sweetest, most complete summary of what a wedding means, and why you’re exchanging rings and saying ‘forever.’

All of Me – John Legend. A thoughtful, almost prayerful ballad by one of the modern kings of love songs, “All of Me” is a tender moment-maker.

Forever – Ben Harper. “Give me your forever…please, your forever. Not a day less will do, from you.” The lyrics speak for themselves, with a simple, lilting beat to dance to.

At Last – Etta James. A gentle, acoustic guitar version of this classic tune is magic. Your audience will be in tears. Oh, the feels.

Everything – Michael Buble. A peppy, fun, upbeat love song that will get everyone’s foot tapping. If you want to choreograph a dance, this is the tune to do it with!

The First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes. A friendly, cute song that has an authenticity to it that’s disarming and beautiful.

To Make You Feel My Love – Adele (Bob Dylan). When the rain is falling on your face/and the whole world is on your case/I would offer you a warm embrace/to make you feel my love. Enough said!

A Thousand Years – Christina Perri. Christina’s heartfelt lyrics and the 1-2-3-1-2-3 rhythm makes this a perfect first dance song.

Stand By Me – Ben E. King. This is a truly timeless classic. Everyone will be singing by the final chorus!

Listen to all of these songs on our new Spotify playlist created just for you!

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Photography: Jen Huang Photography | Entertainment and Acoustic Guitar: Bobby Jo Valentine

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Blushing Coastal Wedding at Belle Mer

I’m a major fan of Rhode Island and it’s for reasons like this chic affair. A seaside wedding that so embodies the classic beauty of New England along with a healthy dose of prep. It’s a combo that Rhodi does so, so well and with the help of Greenlion Design along with elegance folded into every blushing detail, this gallery captured by Melissa Robotti is where it’s at.

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From the Bride… We define our wedding theme as “simple, New York City prep” – the style marriage of two NYC professionals and their New England roots. It was important to us that this nautical elegance also included some more personal experiences, as the typical Newport wedding experience is a story already told. Our photographer, Melissa, took us to the daffodil fields on the Newport Cliffwalk for pictures (as opposed to the standard mansion and ocean shots). This field only blooms for about one week out of the year, so it’s not every day that other brides get these gorgeous shots. As for the reception details, personal touches like pylons were created by the bride’s parents (and of course with the help of our florist) to bring in the nautical feel to each table and carry through the simple elegance. What resulted was a beautiful uniqueness and fabulous day of celebration that we’ll have in our hearts forever!

Charleston Destination Wedding at Old Wide Awake Plantation

Charleston never fails to wow when it comes to weddings. With elegance and charm, they always seem to sweep me off my feet. Today, Loren Routhier is proving my point in the prettiest of ways, because this Charleston soiree is the definition of perfection, and you can see what I mean here.

From Loren Routhier…These Chicago-natives had a lovely destination soiree at Old Wide Awake Plantation. It was a classic black tie affair with southern style and charm. The bride wore a stunning gown with overflowing tulle, while the groom wore a classic black tux and black bow tie. They were married under the sweeping oaks of the plantation, just off the banks of the Ashley River.
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Completely Classic Scotland Estate Wedding

When you cross a classic-loving bride and a formal Scottish manor, you’ve got a wedding that could even give Kate Middleton a little run for her money. From the exchange of vows on the marble staircase, to the regal celebration that followed, Craig & Eva Sanders photographed the swoon-worthy moments, and it’s all waiting right here in the gallery.

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Country Garden Wedding in Byron Bay

From The Bride & Groom…Soon after we got engaged we always knew we wanted a spring wedding in Scotland. Our plans started out simple, we wanted a beautiful big house for our ceremony and reception. Half our guests would be traveling from England the other half from Scotland so it was really important to have the whole day in one place.

The ceremony was going to be an intimate one and the venue should be a place for our friends and family to relax and enjoy the day. Followed by good food, good wine and of course, a band with whom we could dance into the wee small hours of the night.

After being engaged for a few weeks, we booked the breattakingly beautiful Gosford House. The venue was everything we could have ever dreamt of and more, located near our home in East lothian, it was the perfect ‘Big House’ for our wedding day.

A traditional Scottish wedding day with little English touches, we choose the marble staircase and landing as the perfect setting for our intimate humanist ceremony. The light and space was perfect for our guests to enjoy the house and share in our own words what marriage meant to us as we had written the ceremony ourselves.

With colours of peaches and cream running through the marble and the light from the glass roof filling the room, we designed our seating to complement the flow of the stairs, we wanted each of our guests to have the best seat in the house, whatever seat they chose.

Our inspiration for décor was easy, Gosford house is decorated so beautifully, original paintings fitted with gold gilt picture frames and giant antique mirrors, and we simply complemented the house by adding in lots of pretty details.

Our flowers were inspired by the marble staircase – colours of coral, pink, peaches and cream. Keeping the overall look loose and unstructured, we wanted a relaxed regal feel!

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Nothing quite beats the charm and romantic feel of a garden wedding. There’s just something about saying “I Do” amongst the beauty of nature, you know? This wedding day is set against the greenery of Byron Bay with lawn games a plenty and a wedding that mirrors a really gorgeous dinner party but kicked up a few stunning notches by The French Petal. Sift through image after pretty image by Guy Evans Photography in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… While we didn’t have a set theme for the day it was important to us to capture a mood that was rustic and simple but also fitted with the country garden setting. The colours were fresh and garden-like to match this with a heavy focus on white with soft pinks, purples, apricots and a dark plum to bring it all together. We wanted it to feel simple and natural as the venue and Byron Bay are so beautiful in their own right, it was about fitting into the atmosphere of the area and letting the fun happen. Adding to a beautiful day were the incredible staff at Fig Tree who were so kind, friendly and accommodating.

The wedding day featured unique details including:
– A Floral chandelier hanging above the head table
– Post and pre-ceremony pool-side cocktail party featuring record player and vinyl that guests could select themselves
– Lawn games including; Crochet and lawn bowls for after the ceremony
– A local violin/guitar duet which provided music for the ceremony
– A midnight sparkler send-off at the end of the reception
– The most beautiful three tier chocolate mud, lemon and coconut wedding cake elegantly decorated with roses

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Behind the Scenes Bridal Fashion with Carolina Herrera

Whisper Carolina Herrera around these parts and you’ll hear our fashion-loving hearts racing double time from a mile away. Her elegant, sophisticated designs are complete bridal bliss—and her recent Spring preview as seen from the lovely lens of Betsi Ewing, is utter perfection. With an equally chic team of vendors at hand to make this runway dream a reality, the result is a wedding fashion show in gallery form, and it’s oh-so-good.

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Elegant Beach Wedding in Seaside, Florida

From Betsy Ewing Studio… Carolina Herrera celebrated the Spring 2015 bridal collection with the premiere wedding resources in LA on June 19. Partners included Betsi Ewing Studios, Bliss & Bone stationery, The Empty Vase florals, Neil Lane jewelry, and Carats & Cake to create the ultimate bridal destination. Brides-to-be sipped on champagne and enjoyed cake bites from Charm City Cakes West while models showcased the new bridal collection with hair by Sally Hershberger Salon and makeup by BE.NYLA.

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While we celebrate all sorts of styles and wedding personalities here at SMP, if we’re being honest…we fall the hardest for affairs that pay homage to the classics. Tradition with a hint of sparkle. Black tie with a glittery twist. And this wedding – photographed by Lauren Kinsey – is that, and so much more. Take a look here in the galleries too!

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Emily A Clark’s Home Tour

From Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Wedding Photography…Kelsey & Andrew are absolutely adorable together, and I loved photographing this beautiful wedding at Seaside, Florida.

Kelsey & Andrew moved to Japan almost immediately after the wedding, where Kelsey works as an English teacher for seventy five students from ages zero to thirteen in Tokushima, Japan.

From The Bride…Andrew and I went to the same Middle School, and most likely met in one of the classes we had together, though honestly we do not remember the first time we met each other. We love to go on long walks at night, so during one of our many walks, he stopped in front of a lake and told me to admire “how beautiful it was.” After that, he got down on one knee and proposed to me with a ring I had said I liked the most when we went ring “window-shopping” together around a month prior. I was so surprised and overjoyed! For the remainder of the walk I couldn’t wipe the grin off of my face!

We have a tradition of going to Seaside, Florida together every summer, so we thought a destination beach wedding would be the perfect venue to allow for maximum relaxation after the wedding, as well as would make a nice, nostalgic backdrop for our special day.

The thing I looked forward to the most was seeing my husband’s reaction to my dress! (And his reaction didn’t disappoint me; he was so moved that he cried!). I loved seeing my husband all done up and looking his best, I loved how our families and friends came together and were in such a good mood, I loved seeing all of our family members “get down” at the wedding after party and show us some of their best dance moves, I loved how random people cheered for us when they saw us make the walk back to our beach house together in our wedding attire, and I loved how the whole day seemed like a dream.

Remember when I told you that Emily A. Clark was one of the most talented bloggers I know? I’m about to prove to you exactly what I mean. With the help of Caroline Lima, sweet Emily has recently let us into her incredible home and the results? Well, you’re just going to have to see for yourself. Oh, and if you know us at all by now you know that there’s oh so much more where this came from in the gallery!

From Emily… Soon after moving in, we converted a dining room we knew we’d rarely use into my home office. I wanted it to have a library feel, so we had a wall of custom bookcases built. Instead of a desk, I went with a large farmhouse table that works great as a workspace but can double as a dining table if we ever need to pull out some extra chairs when we have company.

I knew I wanted our living room to have a lighter, brighter feel than our last house, so I went with neutrals and whites, adding color through accessories and artwork. The jute rug is a great option with kids and gives the room a lot of texture. I created a gallery wall around the TV from artwork I’ve found on Etsy, Ebay and at flea markets.

Since we have a pretty open floor plan, I separated our entryway from the rest of the house by painting bold stripes. We also maximized the space by putting our piano here. I had a lot of wall space to work with, so I framed pages from a botanical book for inexpensive artwork.

This is the first time we’ve had a white master bedroom, and I love the way it feels. I added color in fabrics and with a large painted piece of furniture. My favorite part of the room is the big gallery wall of our family pictures. It makes me happy to wake up and see that every morning.

The powder room was very traditional when we bought the house, covered in damask wallpaper. It was a labor of love, but I stripped the paper and painted it a dark color for a dramatic effect and added a bar cart for unexpected storage.

POWDER ROOM:
Wall color: Urbane Bronze by Sherwin Williams | Mirror: flea market | Asian silk artwork: Thrift Store | Small abstract art: Hillary Butler Fine Art | Bar Cart: Target (found at Goodwill)

Jacquelyn Clark

Tips For Stress-Free Bridesmaid Dress Shopping

Hello beautiful brides, Caitlin here again with a few tips on how to make bridesmaid dress shopping more enjoyable for your girls! I’ve had so many dramatic, tedious experiences selecting maid dresses for weddings and I knew I wanted something different for my ladies. It seems the options are now endless for your bridal party attire – which is both overwhelming and wonderful at the same time!

I decided to host a girls night and invited everyone over for a night of cocktails, snacks and dress shopping. I asked them to bring photos of dresses they liked so we could land on a dress that everyone felt confident and happy with!

We also took to the internet and browsed sites like J.Crew, Bella Bridesmaid and Vow To Be Chic — which rents dresses. We looked at non-traditonal places like Anthropologie and H&M for non-bridal dresses too. We all found this experience to be much more fun than spending time visiting bridal salons.

In the end we ended up renting our gowns from Vow To Be Chic –I let each girl pick a color and we all decided on a style together and it couldn’t have been easier!

TIPS FOR STRESS-FREE DRESS SHOPPING

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Communicate Expectations | Set parameters up front (or have your Maid of Honor) about cost and style.

Make it Fun | Host a night for your bridal party and make it fun, brainstorm together and share your vision for the wedding.

Get Creative | Think about using different styles of the same fabric, mixing different colors or allowing the girls to purchase their own dresses (with your approval!)

Photography: Krista A. Jones Photography | Photography: Caitlin Kruse

Caitlin Moran

Romantic Chicago River Wedding

A soiree layered with blush tones is inevitably bound to warm me up like a sweet, late summer sunset. And when it’s woven with classic details from La Belle Fleur Events like these Chicago I-do’s are? It’s all over. From the fluffy, pink cherry blossom portraits to the stunning Bride’s crown lace veil, Cristina G Photography snapped every inch of lovely up right here.

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Behind the Blog: Emily A Clark

From Cristina G Photography… Some weddings are so so so fun that you wish they’d last for weeks! And some clients are so sweet and so amazing to work with that when their wedding is over, you shed a tear cause you are going to miss them so much. That was Megan & Ray’s wedding! And the pictures are here to prove it. Plus I really love a wedding at Fulton’s on the River. A great venue, great location and great staff. Oh, did I mention, great food! Delish! And last, but definitely not least, this wedding had an incredible lineup of vendors. The very best of everything!

Lots of special, unique little details made this wedding an unforgettable one. The place cards were displayed on a bed of lavender in Megan’s parents antique drawers! They not only looked good, but smelled really amazing too! The head table was sprinkled with beautiful custom made coasters with sweet messages on them. The drinks had Happily Ever After flags in them and the decadent cake was decorated with fresh flowers and custom gold cake topper with the newlyweds names on it.

Sunset on the river for their outdoor cocktail hour, dancing the night away to the beats of some of the very best DJs in Chicago and dashing into the night through a tunnel of sparklers down the bridge… the elements of a truly amazing celebration. As unique and fun as Megan and Ray!

Her incredible design sense reels us in, and her intoxicating personality keeps us coming back for more. Not only does Emily A. Clark run one of the most popular design blogs around, she also makes you feel as if she’s your very best friend. And we love her all the more for it! We recently caught up with this incredibly talented woman, and thanks to Caroline Lima we have the stunning photos to prove it!

SMP: Tell us a little about Emily A. Clark!
Emily: I like to describe my blog as unintimidating, attainable inspiration for even the busiest girl (or guy). I want readers to feel like they can make their home a more beautiful place even if they don’t have the strongest DIY skills or biggest budget. Sometimes, the smallest changes can make the biggest impact!

SMP: What’s one change you made that really made your blog thrive?
Emily: From early on, I decided to be really real with my readers. I try to write like I’m talking to a good friend. You always hear how important authenticity is, and I think it’s 100% true. I hope that if a reader meets me in real life that they feel like they’re talking to the same exact person they read every day.

SMP: What piece of advice would you give to a blogger just starting out?
Emily: Think about what what you feel you uniquely have to offer readers and go from there. It’s great to study how other bloggers do things, but you have to find your own voice, your own style and be confident in it. I think it’s a combination of timing and luck that makes a blog “take off” or not. So, blog because you love it and blog as often as possible at first. And, write like you would talk. (The word “adorbs” has never come out of my mouth, so it won’t be on my blog. Ha!)

SMP: If you had the opportunity to get a message across to a large group of people, what would
your message be?
Emily: Be real! And, relax. Nothing is as it seems in the crazy, seemingly perfect, online world of blogs, Facebook and Pinterest that bombards us—especially women—on a daily basis. I would hate for any reader to leave my blog feeling less-than or overwhelmed by what they see.

SMP: If you could do it all over again, would you change anything?
Emily: I would’ve bought my domain name early on and started with WordPress so that I didn’t have such a big learning curve while I was incredibly busy with blogging.

SMP: Your most favorite item in your home?
Emily: I love the farmhouse table I use as my desk. I found it on Craigslist (right down the road from me!) and just love the character it gives to the space. I think it’s one of those pieces that I’ll keep forever and use in lots of different ways.

SMP: Three things every style savvy homeowner should have?
1. Great lighting. I think it can make or break a room.
2. Art that makes you happy. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but the right artwork can liven up a space.
3. An open mind. Don’t shop for a certain item to go in a certain spot. It can all look too arranged. Look for pieces that naturally catch your eye and buy what you really love instead of what you think you need.

SMP: What’s your best tip for balancing work and personal life?
Emily: Don’t sleep! Just kidding—although I do live by that plan for the most part. I’m trying to get better at it myself, but I think it’s important to completely step away from the computer once the kids get home from school, until they go to bed. It’s a tough one when the phone and computer are always so accessible. I’m working on it!

SMP: The best job you ever had?
Emily: This one, by far! I know it’s a unique opportunity to get to write about what I love from the comfort of my home, while still getting to be with my kids. I see it as a blessing and don’t take it for granted.

SMP: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Emily: Get over yourself! No one is looking at you or what you’re doing nearly as much as you think they are. Have fun, be silly, value time with friends over a boy and STOP getting spiral perms.

SMP: What’s your secret to success?
Emily: I’m not sure I have a secret. I work really hard and rarely sit still.

SMP: Why do you think Emily A. Clark has done so well?
Emily: I think part of it was due to the timing of it all. I started my blog just before Pinterest came on the scene and before design blogs really took off. I also like to think my blog has done well because I try to be real and considerate of my readers. If I won’t put a $200/yard fabric in my house, then it’s not something I’m going to share on my blog. I just want it to feel like you’re talking about your big (and small) decorating ideas with a friend over coffee.

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Photography: Caroline Lima Photography | Blogger: Emily A. Clark

Jacquelyn Clark

Elegant DIY Wedding at Temecula Creek Inn

Elegant garden weddings are pure magic to me. They just seem to blend everything I love most about weddings effortlessly into an evening I could stare at all day long. And when We Heart Photography is behind the lens, doing so is extra enjoyable. Join me here.

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Rustic

From The Bride…We were middle school acquaintances turned into high school and college sweethearts. To us, it was so unexpected, but God’s plan is perfect and wonderful. The minute we got engaged, Elias’s mom started buying me every wedding magazine on the stands within a 50 mile radius. I couldn’t even say how many pages of Martha Stewart Weddings that I have flipped through. I wanted something with a classic, yet garden feel. As soon as I chose our color pallet of black, white, and gold, the rest all fell into place.

The DIY projects were out of control (I blame, yet praise Pinterest). I made all of the signs around the venue, which was time-consuming, but so worth it. I created my own stencils with the chosen fonts of our wedding and used chalkboard markers on every piece. The ribbon wands took the most effort. After the idea was given to me by our wedding coordinator, Greg Sack, I decided to make them on my own. Over 100 white-painted dowels and black and gold sequin ribbon spools later, I had made the perfect take-home gift for guests and a unique way to exit the ceremony with my new husband. I also made the fabric garland that hung in front of the stonehouse. I made it the day before the wedding and was ready to throw it in the trash if it looked less than perfect, but it worked like a charm! If you asked my husband what DIY he remembers, he’ll remember bringing me endless Starbucks drinks as I sat on my living room floor jamming out project after project.

My favorite moment was seeing Elias at the end of the aisle. My heart could have beat right out of my chest. His adorable hands covered his face. Everyone watched, yet I felt like it was only us looking at each other. We decided not to text/call/Instagram anything from after the rehearsal dinner until to moment we saw each other down the aisle. My stomach was in knots all night. The moment we saw each other again was like being reunited with my best friend after missing him for what felt like months. All of the weeks of preparation were for this moment. God’s presence was so tangible to me, and it was the most incredible feeling to see my almost husband looking at me for the first time as his almost wife.

Advice…Don’t communicate the night before the wedding. My favorite moment of the best day of our lives was thanks to our decision to do this. It was so hard, but so incredibly worth it. Take the last night before your married and celebrate with your bridesmaids, sisters, mother, or family. It makes the night special in so many ways. Don’t sweat the small stuff. As easy as it is to be frustrated that the best man has drank enough for the entire bridal party, it’s not worth the stress and drama. Be flexible and in moments of anxiety, turn to your new husband. They tend to be wound a little less tightly on the Big Day, so they have wedding day advice gems (like Eli: ‘Chlo, today is all about us. They’re having a great time. That’s exactly what we wanted this night to be: fun). Cherish every moment. From the flower girl wearing the wrong color shoes to your best friend breaking out the Ray Bans for his rendition of ‘Gangnam Style’, you’ll want to soak it all in. As stressful as the day can be, let the stress melt into memories. When it comes down to it, the day is all about you and your brand new hubby. Kiss when you want to kiss. Dance together until the last song plays. Take a huge deep breath and look at the view around you, because it goes by all to quickly.

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

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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Allure

Allure Bridals Fall 2014

Allure Couture Fall 2014

Allure Romance Fall 2014

Allure Bridals Spring 2015

Allure Romance Spring 2015

Allure Couture Spring 2015

Allure Bridals Fall 2015

Allure Couture Fall 2015

Allure Romance Fall 2015

Allure Bridals Spring 2016

Allure Couture Spring 2016

Allure Romance Spring 2016

Allure Bridals Fall 2016

Allure Couture Fall 2016

Allure Romance Fall 2016

Allure Romance Spring 2017

Allure Couture Spring 2017

Allure Bridals Spring 2017

Allure Couture Fall 2017

Allure Fall 2017

Allure Romance Fall 2017

Wilderly Collection

Allure Bridals Spring 2018

Allure Romance Spring 2018

Wilderly Collection

Allure Couture Spring 2018

Wilderly Collection 2019

Allure Couture Spring 2019

Allure Bridals Spring 2019

Allure Romance Spring 2019

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Eclectic Chicago Loft Wedding

If you ask me, lofts are kind of the new barn. Take an old warehouse, pretty up those exposed beams + industrial windows and boom! You’ve got a killer venue to tie the knot. It’s exactly the route this Chicago couple went, and thanks to Jayne Weddings & Events, Art Of Imagination, Re:find Joy, Toast And Jam and others, the day was a complete and total hit. See here for yourself.

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Classic Chicago History Museum Wedding

Settings

Industrial

Styles

Whimsical

From The Bride…Although Dave is from Arizona and I am from Maryland, we met in Chicago and built our lives here, which is why we were sure this was the right place for us to get married. When we got engaged last spring, I knew I wanted our wedding to highlight our style and quirks, which is why I immediately contacted Katie Jayne from Jayne Weddings. Before we met for the first time, I had picked out a bunch of random images for our pinterest board – art that I liked and images I found interesting. When looking through everything that I had put together, there was one image of natural marble in pink and grey tones that really jumped out. Katie Jayne immediately ran with it and created the soft, yet edgy, color palette and introduced the idea of incorporating mirror prints in a few different ways to go along with the marble.

We decided to have the wedding at Loft on Lake because of the gorgeous exposed brick walls (which was the feature we loved most in our first home together) and the city vibe that went with it. We loved that you could hear the train sailing past our venue – a real nod to Chicago, where we met. About 80% of our guests traveled from out of town so we really wanted them to get a sense of how we see the city outside of the tourist areas downtown.

With the warmth of the venue set, we really had a blast finding ways to bring all of the patterns into the day. Megan at Ruby The Fox took our “inkblot” ideas and ran with them, creating the soft and modern pink invitations to go along with the custom mirror print pattern Katie Jayne created for the RSVP cards and the ceremony backdrop fabric. We found the marbled paper for the table runners at an art supply store. I hand crafted all of the paper flowers to spell out “A & D” out of crepe paper for the eye catching installation right when guests walked in the door. Of course, the pop of real flowers from Fleur helped too!

We had a blast working with Kelly Marie from Fleur to come up with the flowers for the tables using the marble paper as inspiration for colors and textures. We wanted it to look organic and flow, like the marble. The random assortment of brass vases and coups along with the pottery was exactly what we had envisioned!

Lastly, I had given my bridesmaids very lose direction on the dresses – metallic with texture. There was a bit of hesitation all around, but in the end I knew that all of their incredible styles would turn out perfectly all together. I could not have been happier with their choices – they all looked fabulous!

All in all, it was the best day of our lives and we loved every second of it. From having my Maid of Honor sing Sea of Love by Cat Power while my dad walked me down the aisle, to the heartfelt speeches, we couldn’t have asked for more. Seeing all of our guests of all ages smiling throughout the day was something neither of us will ever forget.

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

Pronovias

ATELIER PRONOVIAS

PRONOVIAS

Dancing Lights, Cruise Collection

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No matter how many times I scroll through the images by Momoko Photography, I can’t get enough of this classic-meets-modern love affair. And with a gold, pink and navy palette layered with prettiest blooms by Three Branches Floral Design, there’s a really good chance you’ll feel the same. Set at the stunning Chicago History Museum, the full gallery is the only place to be.

Colors

Seasons

Museum Religious Institution

Settings

Styles

Summerhill Winery Wedding in Kelowna, British Columbia

From the Bride… Both the bride and groom come from big families, so the challenge was to make every wedding guest feel special. From the beginning, guests were greeted with their own potted succulents (planted and potted by the mother of the bride) with hand rendered name tags(created by the bride, who also designed the invitations and liners).

Bridemaids wore different navy, long dresses, which added more texture and depth to the bridal party. Dinner, drinks and dancing to the amazing Chicago Catz Band made for a reception that won’t be forgotten. Gold and white details with hints of pinks and different shades of peonies and and navy added some glamour and sophistication to the classic Chicago History Museum venue.

From the Photographer… There are always many emotions involved in a wedding, almost always good. With the stress of preparation and the excitement of joining to two families together it can be overwhelming and each person can handle all these emotions differently. With that said, Maureen and Dave were kind and wonderful and did a fantastic job at simply enjoying the party they so laboriously planned.

Maureen is a graphic designer who knows exactly how she wanted her wedding to look like, but with the desire to have their guests feel special. In addition, Dave and Maureen are a lot of fun. As a photographer I try to get great dancing shots, but this wedding I found myself dancing along with the guests as well as get great dancing shots. I thoroughly enjoyed my time photographing for Maureen and Dave Curosh.

Major hair envy is just the beginning of the greatness wrapped up in this summer wedding. Held at a gorgeous winery overlooking the beauty of British Columbia, these images boast a serene setting, a beautiful Bride and Groom and an affair made even more gorgeous at the hands of Classic Creations and WhiteWood Studios. Have a look here for so much more.

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