Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Nick and I met in our first year of graduate school at The University of Virginia. We attended most of the same classes, as we had both entered the same architecture program, so it was perhaps inevitable that we’d notice each other, and eventually we began dating. Upon graduation we decided to start fresh in a new city. We landed in Boulder, Colorado. After living there only a few months we knew it was the best decision we had made. The mountains, trails, skiing, snowboarding, and all of the adventurous activities in our new backyard proved to be our cup of tea. It was a no-brainer: We would be married in our new hometown…six years later!

I am not one of those girls who knew exactly what she wanted her wedding to be like since the age of 5 and it was a bit intimidating to start the planning process. I felt a pressure to make this one day the ultimate expression of us as a couple, as it would forever be captured in hundreds of photographs. Luckily I had no problems deciding on my dress. It was the third one I tried on and I was in love, though it made me a bit nervous to pick my dress without knowing our wedding venue. It wasn’t until a couple of months later that we had the church and reception venue secured, and upon this decision everything else seemed to simply fall into place. Now it was a lot easier to envision how the whole day would unfold.

Both of us are architects, so we knew that we were going to be designing the wedding ourselves from top to bottom. This strategy made all of the little design elements and details that much more personal and unique – but not without a bit of blood, sweat, and tears. I think we got the most enjoyment out of designing the invitations (5 times over!). This was done very early in the planning process and it really set a guideline and aesthetic tone for the design, decorations, and the day in general. We found old frames and fashioned them into large chalkboards – even today they are hanging in our house! Our aim was simplicity and thoughtfulness in décor, as our backyard reception venue was already well-appointed with some very strong red awnings. As a complement we chose white and gray to be our primary colors for a simple, classic look. In a bit of serendipity, our borrowed getaway truck (a classic 1964 International Harvester Scout 80) was nearly a perfect match for the orange-red door of the church!

We had help from Calluna Events to help pull the whole day together, and both of us could not be happier with the way things turned out. I never really expected to have THAT much fun at my own wedding – I thought there would be more stress or obligations to tend to that would get in the way – but it truly was the best time ever. 

Wedding Photography: J-Anderson Photography / Floral Design: European Flower Shop / Event Design: Calluna Events + Bride & Groom / Event Planning: Calluna Events /  Ceremony Location: First Congregational Church / Reception Location: Koenig Center at the CU Boulder / Invitations: Bride & Groom / Caterer: Catering by Design / Cakes: Indulge Bakery / Ceremony Music: Scott Martin / DJ: Mike of Pure Sounds Production / Hair: Sarah Robinson of Voodoo Hair Lounge / Make-up: Jill of MAC

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Boulder, Calluna Events, Catering-By Design, Colorado, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, European Flower Shop, Indulge Bakery, J-Anderson Photography, Koenig Center, Pure Sounds Productions, Scott Martin, The First Congregational Church, Voodoo Hair Lounge
Post categories: Casual Elegance

But rather than let that deter the so-so-so- happy couple … they chose to embrace the day!

Little Black Book member, Heather Dwight of Calluna Events in Boulder, Colorado coordinated Joanne & Jake’s  wedding. She’s written a great piece on her blog about ‘a day in the life of’ a wedding planner based upon Jake & Joanne’s wedding!  The point being … no matter how well organized you are, “stuff” happens. Think of a wedding coordinator as a fireman wearing many hats who puts out lots of little fires! Heather, you guys did a fantastic job!!

Jenna Walker Photographers … Jenna & Katie … are sisters, who each, in their own rights, are mega-talented photographers. They capture the emotions, the passions … and the FUN … that make this day, of all days, AMAZING!

from Jenna’s blog …

Joanne & Jake are the type of people you can’t help but admire. They are the creative types. Adventurers. Authentic, no holds barred. All with the sort of humility that many aspire to, but few attain. Joanne is a well-traveled, sharp-shooting architect. Jake – the Editor-in-Chief of Skiing Magazine: see also witty journalist guised as a ski bum. Put the two together, give them a map – and you’ve got a story worth listening to. Sit down. Grab a beer. They will make you laugh. Given this combination, it was with deep respect that the task of shooting their wedding would become. They know photography. They know clean lines and soft light and composition. But more than that, they understand what is real, what is true, what is them.

. . .

A family full of writers makes for a series of toasts worthy of publishing. Everyone had a go at the mic – even the littlest lady of the family put in her two cents. As a finale to a series of 4 or 5 speeches, Jake toasted Joanne in a laugh-till-you-cry speech.

The precious cupcake flags, table numbers and place cards pictured were made by LBB member, Bird Dog Press. Cupcakes by Tee and Cakes.

For a more complete list of wedding vendors, please see Jenna Walker Photographers and Calluna Events blogs …

And so … there are only a handful of the “best days of your life”. Your wedding day ranks WAY up there. I think Joanne & Jake got it right!!

A HUGE THANKS to Jenna & Katie, … Colby Brown … Joanne & Jake … for sharing this day!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bird Dog Press, Boulder, Calluna Events, Colorado, Cupcake Flags, Cupcakes, Denver, Jenna Walker Photographers, Place Cards, Table Numbers, Tee and Cakes
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers, Wedding Style

We have kind of a hodge podge of stuff for you today, which is sometimes the best way to do it. A little something for everyone. First up, some really simple, but gorgeous centerpiece ideas that Calluna Events put together…

There is something so organically beautiful about the simplicity of these flowers. They are gorgeous enough to suit any wedding style and they are easy enough to do yourself! Here are some tips from Heather at Calluna Events…

These centerpieces can be as inexpensive (think carnations) or expensive (think orchids) as you want to make them. The only other cost is your vase which you can usually rent from a florist or purchase from a craft store such as Michaels. Flowers can be purchase in bulk from your local florist ahead of time. Once you get the flowers you just need to “process” them which just means to trim the excess leaves, thorns and bad stems off, cut the flowers stems down to the size that looks best for vase and plop them in. This is typically called “chop & plop” in the floral world.

So fun, so pretty! Oh and check out the new Calluna Events blog…filled with eye candy!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Calluna Events, Centerpieces, Flowers, Wedding Centerpieces
Post categories: Wedding Flowers, Wedding Planners & Designers

After five years as a wedding & event planner in Colorado, I finally planned my own. Although I’m a wedding planner, I wanted Brandon to be very much a part of the process. It was important for me that our wedding be a reflection of us and our relationship. Neither one of us wanted to have a long engagement but juggling work schedules was difficult. We picked September 20th because it was my first available weekend without an event scheduled!  Although I’ve planned weddings in just a few weeks, I loved having nine months to enjoy being engaged and participate in the many events that my friends & family wanted to throw for us.

We picked tangerine and bright green for our wedding colors. I felt that these colors really embodied the modern meets organic look and feel that we were going for. We chose to write personal letters to each of our guests as their escort card. In each note we expressed why their presence at our wedding meant so much to us. Our tables were named after places we had traveled together. The table name was also handwritten on the outside of the envelope.

My gown was designed by Alvina Valenta. The day I found my dress I had made an appointment at the Bridal Collection in Denver, CO. I was with a friend and it turned out that Alvina Valenta was having a trunk show. I always recommend to my brides’ that they go to trunk shows because of the selection and the potential savings you might find on dresses. However, I was also able to meet the owner & designer of Alvina Valenta, Victoria, in person. To have her see me in a gown that she designed was incredible and made the experience that much more special for me. Also because Victoria was there I was able to make some minor changes to the dress. In a way I think I fell in love with my gown more because of the experience with Victoria.

The ceremony took place outside at our venue next to a pond and the Boulder Creek. We stood in front of a large tree and had our immediate family seated in front of us. We didn’t decorate the space much because the setting really spoke for itself and we wanted to let that come through. It did rain, fairly heavy but briefly, in the middle of our ceremony. I had brought orange & white paper umbrellas (actually in case of sun) but my coordinator was able to hand them out, without us knowing. In my business I’m constantly working with brides on their back up rain plan and I would say it’s one of the things that causes the most stress. I always tell them not to worry about it because in the end, even if we have to move inside, the most important part is why you are there in the first place…to get married to the love of your life. I was able to listen to my own advice during the rain on my wedding day. During the ceremony there was a point where it was raining so hard on both Brandon and me. I sort of looked up and saw the sun shining through the rain and smiled to Brandon. I just kept looking at him and he at me and really didn’t feel the rain at all. It was amazing how intently I was able to concentrate on Brandon, the words of our ceremony and our vows and not let the rain ruin my experience. And, incredibly, the rain stopped right at the end of our vows and the sun appeared right as we kissed.

My bouquet was supposed to be white anemones with black centers. I wanted it very different and modern with a feminine look. However anemones aren’t in season in September and we were chancing it with our order. The anemones that came in were in bad shape, so several days before the wedding we changed it up. My favorite flower is ranunculus so we chose white ranunculus with some white berries, white hydrangea and white heather. In Scotland it is good luck for a bride to carry white heather in their bouquet.

During the ceremony we performed a handfasting ceremony to honor my Scottish heritage. My mom was born and raised in Scotland and I had family in attendance from Scotland and England. Growing up, I visited my grandparents and family in Scotland so it was important for me to tie in different aspects of my heritage into our wedding.

It is a tradition during a Scottish wedding for the bride to be presented with a horseshoe by a little girl at the end of the ceremony before the couple walks back down the aisle. My cousin’s little girl presented me with a handmade horseshoe that was brought over from Scotland. We also had a bagpiper play our recessional songs. The bagpiper was a surprise for everyone, including our family. He waited in the front of the house until he was cued by my coordinator at the end of the ceremony and walked in playing the Flower of Scotland (which happens to be the flower Heather), followed by Scotland the Brave and then Amazing Grace (my Scottish Gran’s favorite song).

We served Clementine (orange) and Apple (green) alcoholic & non-alcoholic IZZE’s in the bottle with orange & green straws. IZZE’s are 100% fruit juice with sparking water and the company is based in Boulder, CO. We loved the look of people walking around, holding the bottles, drinking from the straws before the ceremony. We love great food and really wanted our guests to walk away having had an incredible dining experience. Working with one of my favorite caterers in Colorado, Catering by Design, we crafted a unique menu. We picked a 4 tiered cake with white fondant and handmade orange sugar ranunculus flowers. The cake was a dense banana cake with chocolate panache filling and espresso butter cream. It is sinful! Simply to die for.

In Scotland it is traditional to have a wedding fruitcake which is a dense cake with royal icing frosting. I actually made the cake myself a few days before the wedding. It was a surprise for my Mom and my family at the wedding from Scotland.  My Aunt Moira, who lives in Scotland, made homemade Scottish Highland Shortbread that we served with the Scottish wedding cake and the regular wedding cake.

We created our own guest book with our designer BirdDog Press (Little Black Book member). It was a bound book of orange & green envelopes. We set up a table near the pond so that guests could write a note to us on a piece of paper provided, place in the envelope and then provided a small green bowl of pennies where we asked guests to make their wish for us and throw the penny into the pond for the newlyweds.

Wow! What a fantastic wedding day! Thanks SO much, Heather for sharing all the details of the day.

As you can see, Calluna Events has the skill, the talent and first-hand experience planning sensational weddings!! Congratulations Heather & Brandon!!

VENDORS: CEREMONY/RECEPTION SITE: Private Residence, Boulder; PHOTOGRAPHY: Recherché Photography, Boulder; CONSULTANT: Calluna Events, Boulder; OFFICIANTS: Mary Monroe & Travis Brown, (friends of ours who are married), they live in Durango; GOWN: Alvina Valenta, The Bridal Collection, Denver; HAIR: Andy Mendoza, Boulder; MAKEUP: Jessica Shinyeda, The Face Lab, Boulder; VEIL: Winters & Rain, The Bridal Collection, Denver; SHOES: Gino Vaello, Scotland, U.K.; Wedding Rings – Walters & Hogsett Fine Jewelers, Boulder; BRANDON’S FORMALWEAR: Hugo Boss, Kinsley & Co. Boulder; INVITATIONS, ESCORT/PLACE CARDS, SIGN-IN BOOK: BirdDog Press, Lyons; PROGRAMS, MENU CARDS: The Envelope Please, Boulder; FLOWERS: European Flower Shop, Boulder; RENTAL EQUIPMENT: All Events Tent & Party Rentals, Longmont; DÉCOR COMPANY: Design Works, Denver; CATERING: Catering by Design, Denver; MUSIC Ceremony and Reception: Pure Sounds Productions, Loveland; OTHER ENTERTAINMENT: Colorado Bagpiper, Scott Beach, Denver; CAKE: Tee & Cakes, Boulder; OTHER DESSERTS: Highland Shortbread by Heather’s aunt, Traditional Scottish wedding fruitcake by Heather herself! TRANSPORTATION: Colorado Pearl Limousine, Denver.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Alvina Valenta, BirdDog Events, Boulder, Calluna Events, Color Palette Orange Green, Colorado, Recherche Photography, Scottish Traditions, The Envelope Please
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Planners & Designers

Anna told us, “I was able to think of a lot of words that described the weddings that I liked, but actually explaining what I meant by that would have been impossible without all the beautiful images I found on your site to show what that meant to me. Between those images, our great vendors, and talented friends and family, it all came together and we had a wonderful wedding full of happy people and beautiful things.”

Now that’s what makes our day!

As soon as we saw this wedding from Little Black Book member, Jamee Photography, we knew that Anna had achieved her dream day. Not only is the wedding just so darned picturesque, there is also an intangible free-and-easy spirit about the images that resonates true and absolute joy. Not to mention … all of the detail elements were spot on!

LOVE the natural beauty expressed every step of the way … tables (and some of the flowers) were done by family friends, master gardeners. Anna’s uncle built the huppah. Wedding flowers were by Little Black Book member, Bella Fiori.

Anna’s gown was by R0mona Keveza, the maids wore Vera.

Sam & Anna’s beautiful wedding took place at Beano’s Cabin on Beaver Creek Mountain, Colorado. Funny name for a resort! Their website says, “Not exactly roughing it.” A few more credits … Wedding Day Coordination by Little Black Book member Calluna Events; Cake by Mountain Flour; Photo booth from  A Custom Look; Reception paper pieces from The White Aisle.

Anna wrote to us after her wedding …

“I wanted to write and thank you for all the help I got planning my wedding from Style Me Pretty. From the very beginning, I downloaded a whole bunch of inspiration boards that I loved (like an embarrassing number), and took them with me to meet the florist, the cake person, our day of coordinator, everyone. I also purchased a lot of what we ended up using from your recommendations and vendors. You have featured such great vendors with creative and beautiful products. Our menus, place cards, and table numbers, our cake toppers (from Cotton Bird Designs), we registered at Bodanna, our guest books were from Yellow Owl Workshop. When we had a last minute printing need, Rebecca from The White Aisle came to the rescue and turned around some of our stationery in hours. Much of the event was inspired by things I found on your website, so I just wanted to thank you for helping to make planning so fun.”

Jamee, their photographer, is one of our Little Black Book, best of the best Colorado wedding photographers. A huge thanks for sending us Sam & Anna’s heart-warming wedding!

And to Anna, a huge thank-you for your kind words. At the end of some pretty long days, it’s just what we need to hear.

{to see the entire gallery, click here!}

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beano Cabin, Beano's Cabin, Beaver Creek, Bella Fiori, Bodanna, Calluna Events, Colorado, Cotton Bird Designs, Denver, Jamee Photography, Mountain flour, Romona Keveza, The White Aisle, Vera Wang, Yellow Owl Workshop
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Photography