I can’t tell you how much we love these sweet moments that Richard captured …

And … I can’t tell you how much we love this place!

Christy and  Rodney were married at the historic William Aiken house.

(We featured Alice & Jeff’s wedding here a few weeks ago and each time we see it, we fall in love with the venue all over again!)

When asked why they chose to marry at this particular spot, Christy said,“Charleston is only 3 hours from Charlotte and offers great restaurants, shopping and the beach—our perfect getaway spot. We wanted to share this city with our friends and family and make a weekend of our special day! We evaluated many places but agreed that the William Aiken House was exactly what we wanted.”

more from Christy …

Modern Vintage/Glam sort of evolved—I never had a planned vision leading up to the process—I was actually very unprepared for once in my life! I’ve always loved mixing modern and vintage—I fell in love with damask early in the process and wanted to incorporate my favorite color yellow (which, to me, is very modern). When talking about it with the wedding planner, she suggested an invitation that really set the stage. It was perfect—yellow damask border with a pewter modern font and letterpressed! I also really wanted to incorporate vintage/glam elements such as mercury glass and brooches. The vintage brooches were an important theme of the wedding —on the bouquet wrap, chair ties, bridesmaid’s necklaces, and **mother’s corsages.

**note from the editor (Abby’s mom) … I’ve seen 3 daughters walk down the aisle and I have to say that I personally don’t love corsages. BUT ~ this corsage ~ I DO LOVE!

Aren’t the pewter gowns and pearl necklaces gorgeous?

Jewelry for the ladies?  Gray pearl necklaces with vintage brooches—necklaces designed with each girl in mind by Designs by Krissy (brooches selected by Christy). LOVE ‘em!

The fantastic team of wedding designers and coordinators at A Charleston Bride outdid themselves for Christy & Rodney’s wedding! You can read more about Melissa, Carrie, Leigh and Jonie on their website. A Charleston Bride does all floral design in-house (sooooo beautiful, Jonie!).

Christy told us, “My bouquet was all white  blooms—white tulips, calla lilies and sweet peas. The tulips and callas tied into the wedding décor—sweet peas were added since that was my dad’s pet name for me when I was growing up!”

Not to leave Rodney out of the story, here is a bit from him about the proposal …

I was nervous because I wanted it to be perfect. I knew she was the one for me, so I was also excited to move into the next phase of our lives. I told Christy that we really needed a getaway weekend, but it was not the weekend I would propose, and she took me at 100% face value. We went to a great resort in Georgia with a great spa. After her spa treatment, she was so relaxed that she suggested not even going to dinner and just having room service and champagne out on our balcony. I had arranged for a private dinner out by the lake – some of the tables were less intimate but I arranged for the most private—we were literally surrounded by woods on the lake. In the end, the evening turned out perfectly.

Something old: vintage brooch from grandmother
Something new: attire
Something borrowed: diamond necklace
Something blue: Christian Louboutin heels in sapphire
Sixpence in shoe: doublesided tape concealed the six-pence in the bow of the shoe!
Attire: Hayden Olivia Bridal, Priscilla of Boston
Accessories: Custom clutch by Up Style (*on etsy), Russian tulle cage veil by Kristina Eaton

SO LOVELY! Congratulations Christy and Rodney!

Thanks to Richard Israel for sharing your awesome images and to A Charleston Bride for another great wedding!!

Christy’s dress is from one of our newest Little Black Book members, Hayden Olivia Bridal in Charlotte NC. They have all sorts of great “gown guidance” and wedding trend tips on their blog (girl talk) … and a schedule of their fall trunk shows lined up for Modern Trousseau, Kenneth Pool, and Christos to name just a few.

You can also browse through these wedding dress designers’ newest collections on Style Me Pretty’s Look Book (links above).

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 28 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: A Charleston Bride, Birdcage Veil, Brooches, Charleston, Christian Louboutin, Designs by Krissy, Hayden Olivia Bridal, Look Book, Priscilla of Boston, Richard Israel, Upstyle, William Aiken House
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Vintage Chic, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers

photography courtesy of Karyn Iserman

From the bride, Carrie…

Our color palette was very classic and timeless: black, various shades of green, cream, and silver. As for bridesmaids, I wanted them to look just as fabulous as me and not cookie-cutter. I searched for an interesting designer black dress for my maids for months, but unfortunately I was looking in the wrong season. I ended up finding Jenny Yoo’s bridesmaids collection at The Gown Boutique of Charleston and fell in love with the versatility in the styles and was in love with the fabric. I took my sister and my two best friends to try them on (all with different body types) and they all looked fabulous – SOLD! I had Heather Key Tiller from Filigree custom design necklaces for each attendant. Heather used vintage chains and belts and attached beautiful crystals at the end. Each necklace unique and versatile- I LOVED THEM. I also gave each of my girls a vintage hankie to tote with them down the aisle.

All of the men wore a tux from Jos. A. Bank including my precious nephew who was our ring bearer, but Charlie decided they should all wear a vintage skinny black tie with the exception of himself in a traditional bow-tie.

My dress was a gorgeous silk gown by Amy Kuschel which I purchased at The Gown Boutique of Charleston. I loved my dress – it felt like butter on and gave me an awesome hour-glass shape. Very vintage-chic. I wore a birdcage veil and vintage crystal earrings, bracelets and a borrowed diamond band from my mother. I had fabulous silver Delman peep tow sling backs…LOVE them. I changed into a Lela Rose short shift dress that had embroidered silver circles in the fabric…LOVE LOVE.

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Post tags: A Charleston Bride, Amy Kuschel, Birdcage Veil, Color Palette Black White Green, Jenny Yoo, Karyn Iserman, Lela Rose, The Gown Boutique of Charleston, Vintage
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Wedding Planners & Designers

With that said, it was one of the easiest weddings in the world to feature because it is so, SO lovely.

photography courtesy of Karyn Iserman

The event was held in Charleston, SC and was designed by one of our favorite event groups, A Charleston Bride. We got some notes from Carrie about her big day through a questionnaire that her AMAZING wedding coordinators/designers, Carrie & Leigh (who we adore here on SMP) had her fill out…

Even though we shared the same hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee our relationship began in Charleston. While we would have had a ball with all of our friends and family in Tennessee, we wanted to keep the focus on us as a couple first and foremost. Also, Charleston is so incredibly beautiful and an ideal spot for a wedding. We knew our friends and family would have no problem taking a trip to Charleston to do some celebrating.

I was the queen of inspiration-in a bad way! Although exhausting, I had so much fun exploring all the different styles I could go with in regards to my wedding. There were some standout weddings based in California featured on SMP that ultimately inspired my direction for my own wedding. The overall theme was modern-vintage. I wanted a mix of old and new, with a twist.

We have a TON of gorgeousness on the way from Carrie’s Big Day. In the meantime, I just want to give her a HUGE e-hug and let her know that all of us at SMP love that she is on our team and that we all wish her a very happy day.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 23 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: A Charleston Bride, Amy Kuschel, Birdcage Veil, Carrie, Charleston, Delman, J. Crew Crewcuts, Karyn Iserman, South Carolina, Wedding Bouquet, Wickliffe House
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Wedding Planners & Designers

One of our newest Little Black Book photographers, Wayne Yuan sent us Susan and Erich’s beautiful spring wedding.  Enjoy!

From Wayne …

Susan and Erich’s wedding was not too big, not too small, and absolutely fabulous! With 80 of their closest family and friends, they celebrated their wedding during Memorial Day Weekend in the beautiful Napa Valley. Guests all stayed in various villas and quaint bed and breakfasts around the area, welcomed by friendly hosts and bottles of wine. The Bride and Groom rented a huge villa at the top of a mountain overlooking all of Napa Valley. The views were breathtaking—we were 1500 feet above ground and we could see miles and miles across the vineyards. Most of the wedding party and close friends stayed there with them.

The wedding day began at 5am for the ladies. They got ready at the Bride’s family villa (that had its own tiny vineyard in front!) with makeup artist Aimee Lam. Susan’s dress was a gorgeous ivory Vera Wang gown, feminine puff sleeves and layers of tulle gathered at the bottom for a tulip feel. Her birdcage veil and pearl drop earrings added a stylish touch to the ensemble. Her hair was left down in light waves, but pinned back slightly.

The day before the wedding, guests were invited to a wine tasting reception at the Villagio Inn & Spa where they enjoyed whites, reds, and a good reunion with old friends. One of Susan’s close friends even made decadent sugar cookies for the occasion, flown in all the way from London! The rehearsal dinner followed at the Uva Trattoria where we were serenaded by a live jazz band and listened to heartfelt words from the father of the groom.

The ceremony was held at one of the most popular locations for weddings in Napa Valley—simply because the ceremony site is on an outdoor patio overlooking all of Napa, one of the most beautiful views in the area Auberge du Soleil . Lush baby-pink peonies and blue ribbons graced the aisles leading to the patio where the bride and groom would recite their vows. Susan and Erich first saw one another during a “first-look” session before the ceremony. His first remark was “That dress is so you!”

As Susan and the bridesmaids headed back inside to freshen up for the ceremony, a flute and classical guitar welcomed the wedding guests, and then the wedding party as they came down the aisle. One of the favorite moments was the ring bearer, in his adorable tuxedo shorts, running towards his father for his sweet reward (a lollipop was awarded if he walked down the aisle properly). With “ooh”s and “ahh”s, Susan met her groom at the patio edge, and with tears and laughter, they became mister and misses.

The fabulous Nancy Liu Chin designed the stunning floral decor. And don’t you just LOVE the way the soft folds of the cake by Patisserie Angelica mimic the design of the Susan’s gown (and bouquet)!

I really can’t tell you how much I LOVE her dress!!

A BEAUTIFUL parting shot …

Congratulations to Susan and Erich … and a huge thank-you to Wayne for sending their wedding our way!

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Post tags: Aimee Lam, Auberge du Soleil, Birdcage Veil, California, Nancy Liu Chin, Napa, Patisserie Angelica, Rutherford, Uva Trattoria, Vera Wang, Villagio Inn & Spa, Wayne Yuan
Post categories: Bouquets, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography

So, when the wonderfully talented Alice Hu sent me photos from a recent shoot that she did for Dolly Couture, I swooned a little bit…

Adorable, aren’t they? And the leapard pumps…well, perfection. Here are a few details from Alice…

This shoot was shot at the amazing Pacific Edge Villa in Laguna Beach.  Both of these dresses are brand new styles from Dolly Couture.  Dolly Couture specializes in 50’s inspired vintage gowns that are fully customizable.  The cute vintage inspired leopard print pumps are from Ellie Shoes.  They match with the style and feel of the dress perfectly.  The birdcage veil is made from vintage lace, flowers, and veil.

SO cute. Hair and make-up was done by Lisa Pilgrim + Kacee Geoffroy, the hair accessory is by Be Something New and the bouquet is by Fantasy Floral Design. Thank you to Alice Hu for providing us with such great inspiration!

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Post tags: alice hu, Birdcage Veil, Dolly Couture, Ellie Shoes, Fantasy Floral, short wedding dresses, Vintage, Wedding Dresses
Post categories: Shoes, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Fashion

from Laura …

Katie & Blake’s wedding was held at the Safari Texas Ranch in Sugar Land, Texas. The facility has many different venues to choose from and they chose the rustic simplicity of the lodge there. It had a great big veranda out back that they held the ceremony on and then the reception was inside the lodge afterwards. The grounds of the Safari Ranch have some livestock and exotic animals on site. There were goats and deer and I have heard there is a giraffe, although we did not see it. The most visible were the peacocks running free along the grounds. They provided much comic relief during the ceremony with their mating calls!

Katie’s invitations and wedding paper pieces were designed by her very talented sister, Courtney Albright.

I love this shot with the bridal party in the background!

Laura really captured the spirit of this vintage-styled and lively Texas party! Congratulations Katie & Blake!!

Next up … the Dominican Republic from today’s featured Little Black Book photographer, Laura Burlton and D. Jones Photography …

* * *

{ps… if you look on the map, the actual venue looks like it’s in Sugar Land, but the physical address is Richmond. Sorry about that!}

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 25 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Birdcage Veil, Converse, Courtney Albright, D. Jones Photography, Hairpiece, Houston, Peacock, Richmond, Safari Texas Ranch, Shoes, Sparklers, Sugar Land, Vintage
Post categories: Accessories, Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Vintage Chic, Wedding Photography

Beth ~ this gorgeous bride … Chris ~ a McDreamy kind of groom … four fabulous maids … a to-die-for-dress … and Kristin Vining ~ their sensational photographer! Doesn’t get any better than this.

from the lovely bride, Beth …

Our wedding was truly a celebration about our love for each other, our family and our friends. We tried to put a personal touch on every aspect. We didn’t care about what was traditional or expected.

Chris and I love the outdoors and knew right away we wanted to have an outdoor wedding. We found the perfect location at the Lake Lure Inn. It had everything we wanted … small town charm, the mountains, a lake, and the ability to have all of our guests stay in one place. One of our best friends was our minister! There were guests traveling from nine different states so that was really important to us. We had an intimate guest list of 78, wedding party included, meaning we truly got to spend quality time with each and every one of our guests.

One of my bridesmaids sang “We Are Man And Wife” during our sand ceremony. Karaoke was involved in our reception so that our minister, our bridesmaids and Chris could all sing. They were ALL amazing. This was a huge hit with our guests.

All in all, when Chris and I look back on the weekend, all we can say is … it was perfect! It genuinely represented us as a couple, and we wouldn’t change a thing.

Kristin asked Beth, “What was the best thing about your wedding day?”

Beth answered, “How natural it felt. I was never nervous, it just felt right. Chris said the same thing. We were truly at ease knowing we finally got to commit our lives to each other.”

As we said early on in this post  … it just doesn’t get any better than this!

To:  Beth and Chris ~ Super wedding! We wish you all the best!!

To: Kristin Vining Photography ~ Thank you SO much for allowing us to spotlight their wedding today!

To: Our Readers ~ There are so many more great photos from the day over on Kristin’s Blog {click here}!

And … a quick p.s. ~~~  just in case you’re new to SMP’s list of Little Black Book VIP’s, Kristin is also the creative genious behind a very talented team of top-notch professional wedding planners at Weddings And The City, based in Charlotte NC.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 20 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Birdcage Veil, Charlotte, Color Palette Green Blue, Hydrangeas, Jessica McClintock, Kristin Vining Photography, Lake Lure Inn, North Carolina, Weddings And The City
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Vintage Chic, Wedding Photography, Whimsical

from Gia …

What I love about this wedding, and what I think SMP readers might find really inspiring is how budget-friendly / d.i.y. friendly this wedding was. Terri and Joe have such great taste – and they managed to pull off a really gorgeous, very personal wedding in an urban / wedding-industry-saturated area on a decent budget.

They chose a venue with lots of natural beauty, so little adornment was necessary. Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club was built in 1904, and is classically Arts and Crafts Style. We loved the funky architecture. Even though it’s right “in town,” there are redwoods growing on the property. The flowers growing all over the property are native to the area. Coreopsis is the only one I know – those are the striking orange ones, but there were also lacy pink ones, small white ones, etc.

Again, from Gia …

The redwoods provided a natural visual focal point for the (otherwise undecorated) ceremony. The ceremony was super emotional. I remember that Joe cried through most of it … They had a florist (who was also a friend), Rima Zegarra, to create the bouquets and boutonnieres, but had (non-professional) friends use locally grown flowers to make loose arrangements in mason jars for the centerpieces. The sunflowers were the attention-grabbers, but there were also dahlias, delphiniums and snapdragons.

The table numbers were made from photographs Terri had taken on her travels. They also made their own programs.

Her french veil was from Unveiled Bridal Designs

This was Terri’s “something borrowed.”

A friend, Colin Kennedy, catered the whole event. The food was beautiful and delicious. Cupcakes were by Kara’s Cupcakes, . I still dream about them … (I’m not kidding). We love that Kara’s uses local, natural ingredients in their cupcakes.

Terri bought her dress at a sample sale and I absolutely loved it, but I don’t think she ever told me who the designer was. Joe’s suit was a slim modern fit – it looked great, too!

In addition to being a fabulous photographer, Gia also hosts a blog that rivals any other when it comes to tips and tricks for planning and capturing your wedding day to the utmost! Her blog ~ Pursuing the Picture Perfect Wedding ~ is truly one of the best. It’s really different. Instead of just reliving beautiful wedding days, Gia uses her own photographs from the weddings she shoots to educate, inform and inspire her readers. It’s not often that you will hear us tell you that. The fact that she so aptly puts into words, what her images show is the mark of a remarkable talent.

Congratulations, Terri & Joe from all of us here at SMP! And thanks  soooooooo much to Gia Canali for sharing another of your wonderful weddings with us. Remember, everyone who is in pursuit of a picture perfect wedding, you simply have to bookmark Gia’s blog for step-by-step instructions for achieving just that … from one of the industry’s best!

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Post tags: Birdcage Veil, French Veil, Gia Canali, Kara's Cupcakes, Mason Jars, Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club, Unveiled Bridal Designs
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Photography

By the way, the shoes were actually bought on the fly from a clearance rack at DSW! Again, SO the kind of girl that I want to be friends with!

From the FABULOUS photographer that sent us these images, Kate Triano…

There was no official timeline, no formal shot list, nothing rigid. They wanted everyone they loved to show up, relax, have fun, and PARTY! Ashley is a hair stylist, and altogether the most stylish person I know. I was so anxious to see what wedding gown she chose. I knew it would be simply beautiful. There were no big princess gowns for this bride! When I finally saw the dress, blue shoes, and the amazing birdcage veil I was elated! She looked so amazing. Her girlfriends who work in the beauty industry as well did her hair and make-up on their private porch that was attached to the guestroom.

So much more to come!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Birdcage Veil, Kate Triano
Post categories: Vintage Chic, Whimsical

from Heather: The ceremony was in Rittenhouse Town, part of the Wissahickon woods. We could only invite immediate family and a handful of our oldest friends. To see every one’s smiles after the ceremony was the best part of the day!

My stepfather, Paul, drove me up to the ceremony in a 1932 Ford pickup he built himself from pieces. I was so proud to ride in it and loved that it matched the time period. He started building it while my mother was still alive and she never got to take a ride, so getting into it for the first time on my wedding day was an emotional roller coaster, so happy, but also sad. We were both bawling when I arrived to the sounds of the bagpiper playing “Here comes the bride.”

Did I mention everyone was crying at the ceremony!? My best friend Sarah read a passage from the Velveteen Rabbit about what is “real”. Jason, Shawn’s brother, read the last paragraph from “The Road” by Cormick McCarthy. After the ceremony Jason said a beautiful toast about how I have always been a part of the family, but it was good now to make it “official” and again I cried!

The reception was at the Sedgwick Theatre on Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy. It is an art deco movie theatre built in 1928. I love the fashion and styles of that period so it was really important to me to have “vintage” hair and a cocktail dress.

The reception was a blast! I did not want a formal wedding reception, just a big party. It was a representation of us and our loved ones. We had a pool table and games for the kids. I also had a dress up photo booth for guests to take their own photos. On the center stage, there was a slide show running of my photographs from the past 14 years of our friends and family. The kids had fun jumping around on the stage and dancing in front of the photos! There was theatrical lighting to add to the ambiance. We had an Irish trio play at the cocktail hour who actually knew my mother, she played traditional fiddle in her life time. I also had the redware pottery she made put out on the tables. After cocktails the dj took over with a great assortment of country, indie rock, 80’s music videos played on the screen, hip hop and lots of dance music from our generation. It was overwhelming seeing every person I know and love in one room, all there just for us! I am so lucky to have met Shawn 14 years ago and gained so many friends and family.

These fabulous photos were taken by Sarah Miller, her friend and frequent second-shooter. For more of Sarah’s work, check out her website and blog!

LOVE the vintage-styled wedding touches that Heather executed flawlessly! Isn’t she totally gorgeous!!?

Heather has written about her wedding on her own blog and has provided a list of recommended vendors. It’s a really comprehensive list with great comments about each one. She’s also included the sources for her veil, shawl, dress, etc… There are a few photos taken by other photography friends of Heather’s and their names are also credited on her blog.

True vintage glamour ~~~

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Art Deco, Bagpipes, Birdcage Veil, Hair Accessories, Heather Fowler Photography, Mt. Airy, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Photo Booth, Sarah Miller Photography, Vintage Hairstyle, Vintage Style
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Vintage Chic

all photos by Docuvitae (more on this incredible photography studio in a bit)

From Lisa…

And our main focal point…the two amazing white swans in the center pool. Sara absolutely had to have white swans at her wedding…so thanks to Bob Dunn’s Animal Service…we delivered two stunning white swans who performed beautifully!

* * *

There is just a chic sensibility behind this pair…the birdcage veil, the fabulous jewels, the simple but beautiful bouquet. The McDreamy. It’s as if they were made for this day. We have so much more to come from this beautiful Lisa Vorce wedding.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 25 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Birdcage Veil, Docuvitae, Oh How Charming
Post categories: Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance

I am going to let the bride, Heather, give you a bit of detail…

From the time we were engaged, Kevin and I envisioned a casual, yet stylish, FUN backyard wedding.  Being extremely family oriented, we wanted a day not only to celebrate our love, but also our relationships with those closest to us. The ceremony was held in a quaint, little old church just outside of Kevin’s hometown, and the reception followed at his family residence, in Pleasanton, California.
 
My cocktail length dress, embellished with raw-edged fabric and tulle flower appliqués (BCBG Maxazria), together with yellow & white polka dot peep toes (Delicious) and old-fashioned birdcage veil (www.myweddingveil.com) completed the stylish vintage feel I was going for. Our wedding party, made up of only our siblings, wore J.Crew, Banana Republic, and Vans. 

So much more to come!
 

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Banana Republic, Birdcage Veil, California, J. Crew, My Wedding Veil, Pleasanton, Polka Dots, Vans
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Real Weddings, The Blog, Vintage Chic