Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… When we first got engaged, hitting the blogs and creating my “vision” was clearly my first task. I’m very detail oriented (or OCD, as my husband says) and soon created a Powerpoint presentation, a Pinterest page and started the “Wedding” bookmark tab on my Macbook. But since then, I’ve learned two things: (1) my vision must really be our vision, and (2) despite any planning you do, whatever happens on that momentous day will be an exact reflection of the two of you … and it will be perfect. 

Our goal was to create an experience that was distinctively Californian as 80% of our guests were flying in for the event. We’re both from the Midwest (Chicago and Detroit), but we met in LA and fell in love in there.  A stunning ocean view coupled with the backdrop of the Malibu hills and canyons served as a perfect Southern Californian setting. Our charming little venue captured our fondness for wine country with vineyards and an olive orchard in the backyard. The farmhouse cottage where the ceremony was held topped the Malibu hills and married our enchanted-garden-meets-vintage-ranch vision seamlessly.  Although it was a sweltering day that had us practically melting, by the time the ceremony started, a cool breeze wafted through the ceremony space and I knew everything would be perfect.

Since this was mainly was a DIY event, I relied heavily on my friend/planner/visionary to execute my plans. Another dear friend designed our save the dates and yet another, the flowers. My mom sewed our burlap runners and wrote the most amazing and funny speech. Our photographers were outstanding. Justin picked the caterer (a work friend whose food rivaled 5-star restaurants), created the all-important drink menu and stocked the bar with his favorites.  He also handpicked every song outside of the dance section, so the music we love and live our lives to filled the day. Our dear friends played acoustic guitar and cello and sang our favorite songs during the procession, which ended with Big Star’s “I’m in Love with a Girl.” We wrote our own vows and cried and beamed through every word. As I slipped his grandfather’s ring on his finger, I looked out to the crowd and saw four generations of our family, sitting together in the shade and knew I would never forget this moment. Overall, I think we achieved the rustic California garden feel with little effort and minimal day-of stress. Since we both have insanely busy work lives, many of the ideas we originally brought to the table were cut from the show — but it simply didn’t matter. We were so thankful to have both of our families together at our sun-filled venue and to share our love and happiness with them that we didn’t notice the little things that fell through the cracks. And to hear from our guests, that it was the most beautiful wedding they had been to, with the best food and music, still makes us smile. After six years together, we thought getting married wouldn’t really change our day-to-day life, but it absolutely has. Marriage is truly utter bliss.

Wedding Photography: Erin Hearts Court / Wedding Venue: Rancho del Cielo in Malibu, California / Wedding Design + Coordination: Billy Burgess, Friend of the Couple (billy_burgess@sbcglobal.net) / Catering: Bruce’s Catering, Friend of the Groom (818-376-1288) / Wedding Invitations: Bella Figura / Wedding Dress: Legends by Romona Keveza via MaryLinn’s Bridal / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Shoes: Fendi / Hair: Mia Shin, Friend of Bride, of Anastasia Beverly Hills and B2V / Makeup: Vanessa Ceballos at Anastasia Beverly Hills / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew / Cake + Desserts: Magnolia Bakery / DJ: Paul Layton / Ceremony Music: Wendy Wang (Vocals and Guitar) + Gabe Noel (Cello), Friends of the Couple / Cake Toppers + Save and Date Cards: Christina Pierson, Friend of the Bride / Bouquets: Danielle Renee Thompson of Flowers Underground, Sister of a Friend of a the Couple

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Post tags: Al Fresco, Anastasia Beverly Hills, B2V, Bella Figura, Billy Burgess, Bruce's Gourmet Catering, California, Christina Pierson, Danielle Renee Thompson, Erin Heart's Court, Fendi, Flowers Underground, Gabe Noel, J. Crew, Legends by Romona Keveza, Magnolia Bakery, Malibu, MaryLinn's Bridal, Mia Shin, Outdoor, Paul Layton, Pink, Rancho del Cielo, Tan, Vanessa Ceballos, Wendy Wang, White
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

Meg & Dan | A Wedding at Elkhart Lake from I Do Films

Dan and I got married on the most perfect summer day in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin – the same location where we had met six years earlier before my freshman year at Cornell.

I had always dreamed of having a tent wedding, so it was easy to settle on the beautifully-trimmed lawn at Victorian Village as the location for our reception. Using the warm, friendly, and vintage aesthetics of this family-run and family-fun resort as the foundation for our inspiration, my mom and I infused a little “Father of the Bride” and a few homemade touches to create a romantic and unforgettable Midwestern bash.

We started the day at my family’s home on Elkhart Lake, where Dan and I had a “first look,” but a very different kind. We were surrounded by my whole family while I came down the stairs and my brothers, dad, and Dan saw me for the first time. It was so special to have my whole family with us for such an important moment. The ceremony took place at Holy Name of Jesus in Sheboygan, where Dan had grown up and gone to church as a child. Our priest, who flew in from my family’s home parish in Los Angeles, stole the show with an incredibly touching homily that made reference to our “path” around Elkhart Lake. After the ceremony Dan and I took photos at a friend’s barn while our guests sipped homemade vodka lemonades and munched on Wisconsin cheese and meatballs.

Our 242 guests found their seating assignments on frames hung from vintage glass door knobs that Dan helped me power-drill onto a salvaged barn door found at my favorite antique shop, The Red Rooster in Plymouth. Dinner proceeded in a 60’ x 100’ century tent that glowed with warm rosy uplighting, ivory rice paper lanterns, and string lights. The tables were adorned with fresh roses, hydrangeas, and plenty of candles found at a local craft store by our florist Silvana Cassia of Twig Flowers. An oversize slate found at an antique shop and framed chalkboards found on HerMajestysPug’s shop on Etsy served as the menus for dinner and cocktails. To finish the look, we invested in a black-and-white checkered dance floor that exuded a snappy, jazzy feel.

A Beatles cover band called The Cavern Beat played four sets and kept the dance floor packed with guests of all ages. My mom always told me, “Meg, all you need for a great party are the two B’s: booze and a band.” She was so right!

Dessert included chocolate ganache cake from the bakery at the local Piggly Wiggly adorned with hydrangeas, an ice cream bar, and my mom’s molasses, snickerdoodle, and chocolate-chip cookies served on a three-tier cookie tower created with the help of a local carpenter.

We absolutely loved working with Anna and Jonathan Wheeler of Anna Page Photography, as well as Matt Buckman and Élan Villamor of I Do Films. Their ability to go with the flow, their attention to detail, and their cat-like reflexes certainly did not go unnoticed! Dan and I are so grateful to both of them for documenting our memories in such a beautiful and unique way!

Photography:  Anna Page Photography / Cinematography: I Do Films / Tent: Canopies Events / Band: The Cavern Beat / Event Coordination: Laura Cooper, Cooper Consulting / Floral Design: Twig Flowers / Ceremony Location: Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church / Caterer & Reception Location: Victorian Village Resort / Invitations: Bella Figura / Bride’s Dress: Amsale via Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang / Bride’s Heels: Vince Camuto / Bride’s Flats: Aldo / Bride’s & Bridesmaid’s Earrings: Anthropologie / Bride’s Bracelet: J.Crew / Engagement Ring and Groom’s Ring: Steve Quick Jeweler / Floral Hair Clip: Sara Gabriel / Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse / Groom’s Bowtie and Groomsmen’s Ties: Brooks Brothers / Hair & Makeup: Aspira Spa, The Osthoff Resort / Guest Transportation: Discovery Coach / Wedding Party Transportation: Stargazer Limousine / DJ: Matt’s DJ Service/ String Quartet: Jubilate String Quartet, kayesara@hotmail.com (Sarah Oftedahl ) / Guest Photo Station: Beyond the Booth Photography / Candle Holders & Flower Bases: Hobby Lobby & Pier 1 Imports / Framed Blackboard Cocktail Signs: HerMajestysPug / Ice Cream Sign: The Back Porch Shoppe / Cake: Natalie’s Pastries, natalieblattner@hotmail.com / Ice Cream: Scoops Ice Cream Parlor

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Post tags: Aldo, Amsale, Anna Page Photography, Anthropologie, Aspira Spa, Bella Figura, Beyond the Booth Photography, Black Tie, Bowties, Brooks Brothers, Canopies Events, Chinese Lanterns, Cooper Consulting, Discover Coach, Elkhart Lake, Etsy, Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Inspired, HerMajestysPug, Hobby Lobby, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, I Do Films, Ice Cream, Invitations, J. Crew, Jubilate String Quartet, Matt's DJ Service, Men's Wearhouse, Natalie's Pastries, Neutral Color Palette, Outdoor Weddings, Pier 1 Imports, Piggly Wiggly, Rustic Chic, Sara Gabriel, Scoops Ice Cream Parlor, Sheboygen, Stargazer Limousine, Steve Quick Jeweler, Tented Reception, The Back Porch Shoppe, The Beatles, The Cavern Beat, The Osthoff Resort, Traditional Elegance, Twig Flowers, Vera Wang, Victorian Village Resort, Vince Camuto, Vintage, Wedding Cinematography, Wedding Stationery, White Color Palette, Wisconsin
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Cinematography

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From the bride… I wanted my wedding to be the fairy tale from my dreams when I was a little girl. I wanted the colors of my wedding to remind people of the holidays — rich jewel tones that create warmth. I tried to find a location that had these colors in the decor already. My colors were dark teal, champagne and silver and were inspired by the deep teal velvet fabrics the Ritz Carlton, Atlanta has. My dress was blush and I wanted to mirror that in as many places without it making it a standout color. The table clothes are a soft pale blush color and it really brought warmth to the cool bright colors of teal in the chargers. Candlelight was everywhere to make a soft glow.

There were some very special touches that made the day for me. My mother passed away three years before my wedding, and I wanted her in every moment. I had her locket with her wedding photos on my bouquet, I had a memory table with not only her but my other passed-away relatives, and we played her favorite music during the ceremony and reception. Ave Maria was the most important detail of the day and was to play during the ceremony. Our ceremony music messed up and kept playing while we were waiting at the altar, but Ave Maria still played loud and clear. It was my centering moment while I was looking at my soon-to-be husband. It was like she was telling me she was right there with me.

My invitation stationary was from Bella Figura and I thought it set the tone for the day. It was simple, unique, and classy. We DIY’d the rest of our paper goods (table numbers, menu, program) by replicating the design, buying card stock, and printing at home. As we did them, I really tried to pay attention to the fonts we used and I think it made them stand out. They looked great! Another favorite detail were my favors — because both the ceremony and reception were at the Ritz, I thought it would be nice to give a breakfast box for the guests as they left late at night.  There were seasonal flavors of donuts and scones, along with jam and cream cheese. Highland Bakery supplied both the cake and the breakfast box favor.

Photography: Harwell Photography / Flowers: Le Bonne Fleur / Event Design + Planning: Mary Whalen of Table 6 Productions / Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta / Invitations: Bella Figura / Shoes: Steve Madden / Dress: Lea Ann Belter / Cake + Breakfast Boxes: Highland Bakery

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Post tags: Atlanta, Bella Figura, Georgia, Highland Bakery, Lea-Ann Belter, Steve Madden, The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta
Post categories: Atlanta Weddings, Georgia Weddings

From the Bride… I love opposites. When jewelry making, I love to mix things that clash and don’t go together to create a big statement. When it comes to decorating my home, I love mixing antiques with modern furniture.  This style was reflected in our wedding.

Picking the venue was easy.  I wanted a historic venue that really showed the old Southern character and charm of Charleston. Lowndes Grove is a gorgeous mansion in downtown Charleston with breathtaking views of the Ashley River. Considering the majority of our guest list was out of town, I thought it was a great place for people to see the beauty of the city.

Decor wasn’t difficult, as well. Because we had a great historic venue, I wanted the decor to be super clean and modern. When you walk into the tent, I wanted it to be completely white with a pops of hot pink flowers.  Something I was very strong about was having minimalistic flower arrangements. Every table arrangement were bunches of the same flowers. There weren’t any arrangements that had mixed flowers in them. I think my favorite flower arrangements were the ones in the lounge area. A simple frost fast with one dahlia flower or one banana leaf  – clean and simple.

Being in the jewelry business, I love fashion. The dress had to be something unique and different. As soon as I saw the Diana dress by Vera Wang, it was love at first sight.  The skirt had a whimsical look to it that fit an outdoor setting. My favorite part of the dress was the belt. I had actually seen other brides in the dress before, but they looked like a completely different dress because no one ever wore the belt! It was the best part of the dress.

The bridesmaids all wore simple Shoshanna champagne colored dresses. I made unique necklaces for each bridesmaid, so they were a little different, but still looked like a collection. I wanted them to look like a runway show walking down the aisle!

My old and borrowed were an antique diamond broach from my grandmother and a pair of unique earrings from Bradley’s grandmother. My grandmother has passed and Bradley’s couldn’t travel for the occasion, so it was extremely important to me to wear something that represented them. With my antique jewelry, engagement ring and band and new modern wedding dress and shoes, i was ready to walk down the aisle.

Our ceremony was very special and romantic. We walked down the aisle to traditional wedding music and then left as a couple to “All You Need is Love” by the Beatles. Our chuppah was very simple. You don’t need much with the amazing backdrop of the river.

Having a seated dinner was really important to me because it made the wedding a lot more intimate. We had a total of 170 people and its safe to say that we love and care about all of them. It was really cool to see my friends and family mixed in with Bradley’s friends and family.

The most important thing throughout the wedding planning process was that the wedding had to represent us as a couple. And I think the whole night from the decor, to the guest list and music, we really hit home. It was truly a special night full of love and happiness.

Wedding Planning: Lindsey Shanks of Tiger Lily Weddings / Floral Design: Tiger Lily Weddings / Wedding Photography: Sean Money + Elizabeth Fay / Wedding Venue: Lowndes Grove / Catering: Fish / Wedding Ceremony Music: Peter Kiral with Charleston Virtuosi / Wedding Reception Band: Super T / Bridal Gown: Diana by Vera Wang / Bridesmaid Gowns: Shoshanna / Rentals: Snyder Rentals + Duvall + All Occassions / Wedding Invitations: Irving by Bella Figura

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Post tags: All Occassions, Bella Figura, Charleston, Charleston Virtuosi, Duvall, Elizabeth Fay + Sean Money, Fish, Lowndes Grove, Modern Wedding, Outdoor Wedding, Pink, Shoshanna, Snyder Rentals, South Carolina, Super T, Tiger Lily Weddings, Vera Wang
Post categories: Contemporary, The Blog

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From 13:13 Photography…Laurel and Blake’s elegant garden wedding held at the breathtaking Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Getting the chance to shoot in different surroundings and to see things new and for the first time is an opportunity we always jump at. So needless to say we’ve been anxiously awaiting this wedding to get here already!

The weeks leading up to the wedding we were in contact with Laurel’s mother, Hope. Every phone call or email from her was like tearing off a small piece of wrapping paper and getting a sneak peak at their vision for the wedding. Hope is an artist and that creativity and meticulous energy came through in every single beautiful detail.

We could not have asked for a more beautiful day, location, and couple. It was a real treat to be apart of it all and can’t thank them enough for choosing us!

Wedding Photography: 13:13 Photography / Venue + Catering: Callaway Gardens / Wedding Dress: Bridal Bliss / Wedding Coordinator: Sharon Jones of Callaway Gardens / Musicians: Paul Tallehany + Sally Chambliss / Reception Music: The Southern Gentlemen / Flowers: Denise Reynolds / Stationery: Bella Figura / Wedding Cake: Liz Justice / Bridal Hair + Make-up: Spa Prunifolia at Callaway Gardens / Pillbox Hat: Violet Bells

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 13:13 Photography, Bella Figura, Bridal Bliss, Callaway Gardens, Denise Reynolds, Georgia Wedding, Liz Justice, Paul Tallehany, Pine Mountain, Sally Chambliss, Spa Prunifolia, The Southern Gentlemen, Violet Bells
Post categories: Georgia Weddings, Vintage Chic

Now do you see why we love Bella Figura so much?! They are constantly ahead of the trend so whether it’s metallics, custom calligraphy, or bright neon colors you’re into, you’ll definitely find something so pretty you’ll just have to have it. Just a fair warning however, their website is so full of amazing letterpress designs that you may just lose an entire afternoon gazing at all the loveliness.

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Post tags: Bella Figura
Post categories: Wedding Invitations & Stationery

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Brian and I fell in love with our venue from the moment we visited it a year ago.  We knew we could get everything we wanted in our wedding by choosing this location.  Located on a bluff overlooking the vineyards with lush greenery and twinkle lights, a glass of wine and good company is all you need. We wanted a small, intimate and romantic wedding with lots of dim lighting, neutral colors, white rose petals and subtle hints of lavender and amethyst.  When I was planning my wedding, I knew I wanted a variety of white flowers in low vases as our centerpieces so our guests could talk easily with one another in a laid back atmosphere.  At the reception, a slideshow played which included pictures of Brian and I growing up, our relationship together, and pictures of our friends and family.  We then danced to Keith Urban’s “Making Memories of Us,” one of our favorite songs from a concert of his we went to so long ago.  As guests mingled throughout the night, they heard thunder and saw lightening in the distance from a storm that had threatened us all day.  Luckily we only caught the tail end as it began to sprinkle just as the dancing was coming to an end…

Some personal touches we added to make our day special:  My bridal bouquet was adorned with a brooch that belonged to my late grandmother.  Our aunts, uncle’s, and parent’s were given special corsages and boutonnieres as they arrived to the wedding.  And each person’s place card was hand written by me in the same printed paper that I used to line the envelopes for our wedding invitations.  My shoes were plain silver flats I found at Nordstrom that I had added a brooch too. Our wedding favors were vintage coca cola’s with brown wooden tags (painted by the groom) that said, “Michel & Brian – It’s the Real Thing.”  My amazing cake is a replica of one I saw and fell in love with on SMP!  I HAD to have this cake!

My favorite memory of our wedding was sitting down at the reception for the first time, as dinner is being served and the sun is going down looking at all our guests enjoy each others company at our wedding.  The twinkle lights became brighter and brighter as the sun went down and Sinatra began to play, what an amazing feeling being just married celebrating our love with our family and friends.

Wedding Photography: Ken Kienow Photography / Bouquets + Boutonnieres: Flowers by Denise / Wedding Venue: Castoro Cellars / Catering: Epic Weddings / Wedding Cake: The Cakery SLO / DJ: Haro Entertainment / Make-up: Kelli Munger / Invitations: Bella Figura / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal via Mia Bella / Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstrom / Groom’s Suit: Tallia / Ties: Burberry / Brooches: Fabulous Brooch

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Post tags: Allure Bridal, Bella Figura, burberry, California Weddings, Castoro Cellars, Epic Weddings, Fabulous Brooch, Flowers by Denise, Haro Entertainment, Kelli Munger, Ken Kienow, Mia Bella, Nordstrom, Tallia, Templeton, The Cakery SLO, Winery
Post categories: California Weddings, Casual Elegance

See the FULL wedding gallery here!

From the Bride and Groom… We wanted the wedding to be a reflection of who we are as a couple: simple and easy going. So when we first saw the amazing waves and the black sand beach at Alila Villas Soori, we knew right away that it was the place where we wanted to celebrate our wedding with our closest friends and family. The ceremony was held at sunset where four of our closest friends spoke about us before the vows and rings exchange. The dinner reception was held next to an infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean where guests enjoyed authentic Balinese cuisine. We couldn’t have asked for a better location and a better team of people to work with throughout the entire wedding planning process. Many thanks to Alison Mayfield Photography for capturing our special moments.

Photography: Alison Mayfield Photography Studio / Bride’s Dress: Junko Yoshioka / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman & Colin Stuart / Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Yachicko Masda / Groom’s Suit: Theory / Groom’s Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo / Men’s Ties: Hugo Boss / Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Bridesmaid & Mother of the Bride Hair & Makeup: Didin / Location, Cake, Decoration, Food & Beverages: Alila Villas Soori (Tabanan, Bali) / Wedding Invitations: Bella Figura / Sand Jars: My Wonder Jar / Crinkle Fans: BHLDN / Cookies: Infinite Delight / Cake topper: Lil Cake Toppers

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Post tags: Alila Villas Soori, Alison Mayfield Photography, Bali, Bella Figura, BHLDN, Destination Wedding, Jenny Yoo, Junko Yoshioka, Tabanan
Post categories: Destination, The Blog