And this one, that Kelsey Sheofsky of Alison Events designed, is sure to bring a big smile to your faces. It’s easy going, laid back and it’s fun. Which is what I love. The incredible photographs were captured by Adi Nevo.

From Kelsey…

Laura and David were all set to be married at a venue in Santa Cruz when they had some problems with the on site wedding planner and decided to pull out at the last minute.  They hired Alison Events to find them a new venue and basically start the planning process from scratch, all within four months of their chosen wedding date. Thankfully Holly Farm, an extremely eclectic, groovy venue in Carmel Valley, CA had a cancellation on the chosen date and as soon as Laura and David saw it, they were sold.

The great thing about Holly Farm is that it sleeps 22 people so all of Laura and David’s closest friends stayed on property in a collection of small bungalows through the entire weekend. Other friends and family rented homes in Carmel Valley or stayed at various hotels in the area but came by Holly Farm during the day to play bocce ball and spend time with the wedding party.  The venue is the epitome of laid back cool and the guests enjoyed a less structured free-flowing wedding weekend.

Laura loved the idea of using light yellow, cream, grey, and touches of blue and green in the decor. The ceremony took place under a huge oak tree which was adorned with festive tissue paper puff balls in shades of butter yellow and ivory. During cocktail hour the guests enjoyed white wine sangria, and a variety of made to order bites at the Mediterranean griddle station. For the dinner, rustic wood tables were adorned with light grey linen runners and pops of yellow and green flowers down the middle. Mercury glass votives added a warm glow to the space along with the cafe lights strung overhead. After dinner the guests danced into the night in the carriage house and explored the different nooks around property. Guests enjoyed wedding cake baked by a friend of the bride and a cigar and port lounge set up in the garden.

LOVE. Make sure to check out Alison’s awesome Destination Weddings book…a MUST for anyone planning a destination wedding!

RECEPTION VENUE: Holly Farm / CATERING: Grapes of Wrath / BAR: Bottles n’ Bins Liquors / PHOTOGRAPHY: Adi Nevo / FLORAL DESIGNER: Natalie Bowen Designs / INVITATIONS: Hello Lucky / RENTALS: Classic Party Rentals / LINEN RENTAL: La Tavola Linen

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Post tags: Adi Nevo, Alison Hotchkiss, Carmel Valley, Destination Wedding, Holly Farm
Post categories: Casual Elegance

The main thing to note when finding inspiration within this wedding is the natural elegance. They looked to the beach…the colors, the textures, the natural beauty…and translated that into each and every detail. Starting with the color palette. With a blend of whites, greens and natural hues the look just faded perfectly into the backdrop.

Next up, the details.

1. If you are getting married at a hotel on the beach, ask the hotel to borrow some of their lounge chairs. They always have extras on hand and although they might make you pay a rental fee, the look will be totally relaxed and chic.

2. Keep the details simple. Look to IKEA for accent pieces like these amazing floor cushions. A runner using plain muslin fabric. Branches instead of flowers to frame the aisle. Think organic, simple and refined. These adorable fans are a pretty affordable accent and your guests will love them.

3. Keep your flowers ultra simple and tidy. Wrap your bouquet in natural linen and twine or leather. With centerpieces, go for simple and low white flowers. Accent with big bowls of styrafome balls wrapped in twine (make your own based on these from Target). You can also fill in with artichokes and other pretty veggies without spending a ton of money.

4. Gift your boys a clean, casual white shirt that they can wear with khaki’s from their closet and a pair of brown flip-flops.

5. Finish off the look by creating wooden signs to mark each area of your wedding. The Ceremony…The Drinks…The Dinner…etc. You can even add in fun things like this couple did like a Jewelry Making station or Domino Dock. White paint on a sturdy wooden board will go a long way for making your affair seem a bit more homegrown, a bit more charming.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 25 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Destination Wedding, Gia Canali, Yifat Oren
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

The ridiculously stunning photographs that Gia Canali shot only make it that much sweeter.

A few details from Gia…

The couple held a simple, gorgeous, ceremony – the bride’s uncle co-officiated with a local officiant, who ended the ceremony by saying, “And now, not only by the laws of these islands, but also by the laws of your hearts, I declare you husband and wife.”   Then there was a blessing stone ceremony that everybody joined in!

Are you madly, madly in love yet? The dress on the beach, the lounge chairs, the effortlessness and total luxury placed side by side within every detail. We have more goodness coming up in just a bit!

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Post tags: Destination Wedding, Gia Canali, Yifat Oren
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

And I have to say…a ballroom gown on a beach has to be one of my favorite wedding luxuries. It’s impossibly gorgeous and will forever be a look that gives me butterflies. The gown in particular, by Monique of course, just might be as close to perfect as you can get, setting the tone for the ridiculously beautiful wedding to follow.

As for flowers, I love, love, love the concept that GD Designers put together for the affair. For a really expensive, absolutely luxurious affair, the flowers were a welcome, understated style.  They were muted, they were organic, they were simply stunning. And the invitations, designed by Jennifer at Tiny Pine Press. Ummm…hello gorgeous.

Here area a few deails from Gia Canali, the photographer behind these perfect images…

Jennifer Parsons of Tiny Pine Press designed gorgeous stationery across the board.  The save-the-dates were printed on wooden paper and a luscious handmade paper and wrapped in turquoise blue threads.  The invites were letterpressed on handmade paper and mounted on wooden paper (like the opposite of the save the dates) — with little turquoise waves stitched in at the top. The decor behind this wedding was perfect–simple, modern, earthy, and sweet.  Each event, from the beginning to end, was planned to be fun and meaningful — with good food and lots of time for friends.  There were surprises, too, like fireworks at midnight! Each groomsman’s boutonniere matched a bridesmaid’s bouquet, featuring a single (different) bloom.  My favorite boutonniere featured something that looked like asparagus.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 26 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Destination Wedding, GD Designers, Gia Canali, Parrot Cay, Tiny Pine Press, Yifat Oren
Post categories: Casual Elegance

The next affair for you to devour was a three day Destination wedding, planned and designed by celebrity wedding planner Yifat Oren and photographed by Gia Canali, who we love here on SMP. The bride and groom, who are from Grand Cayman and the UK, respectively, flew their closest friends and family to Parrot Cay for a wedding that would literally blow their socks off.  The result was a picture perfect weekend where very detail was perfectly designed and beautifully executed.

Here is a little peek at the beachside welcome party that the couple held…after all, one girl’s welcome party is another girl’s wedding!

From the photographer behind the day, Gia Canali…

The welcome party was a laid-back, beautiful event with great food and decor. We loved how it was all set up, dotted with fires for warmth and lanterns for mood. In addition to regular tables and poolside seating, Yifat’s crew made the beach an additional seating area.  They spread wicker seating cushions and bamboo mats and pillows from Ikea on the beach, along with the lanterns and fires for warmth.

It’s really essential that you make your guests comfortable at all the wedding events.  And destination weddings are no different than local ones, except that you might not be used to thinking about what those comfort issues are–heat, cold, sun, humidity, dehydration, mosquitoes the size of Rhode Island, etc.  (Another reason why wedding planners are worth their weight in gold).

The couple actually had a “bead bar” for the guests to make their own necklaces, bracelets, etc., if they wanted to.  The beads were divine and I saw some of the creations afterwards – great.  I think it’s always good to have something fun for the guests to do! There was also a domino hut set up if guests wanted to play dominoes — that’s a thing in the Caribbean.

The bride’s uncle made his special rum punch recipe (with the chefs from Parrot Cay) … I think it’s fantastic when couples incorporate beloved family recipes into the festivities.  Behind the scenes, I heard one of the chefs saying how fun it was to learn his recipe and “cook” with him.  But I’ve seen lots of variations of this (not all of which involve a caterer) — couples using favorite dessert recipes, for instance.

Wedding coming up next! And it’s so good…you’ll hardly believe it’s real.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Destination Wedding, Gia Canali, Parrot Cay, Welcome Party, Yifat Oren
Post categories: Casual Elegance

Tom was in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Hood. Carlie was finishing up her Civil Engineering Master’s degree. And as so often happens, their future together was put on hold several times in the next few years. After a year long tour in Iraq, Tom returned and they TRULY celebrated their reunion.

On Saturday, March 28, they were married at a Texas Hill Country vineyard, Grape Creek Vineyard in Fredericksburg. Carlie wore camo Manolo’s in honor of her groom and was led down the aisle by a bagpiper. The ceremony was held under huge oak trees and florist David Kurio Floral Designs surrounded the round platform with blue hydrangeas.

When their wedding had to be postponed (until Tom’s return from Iraq), Carlie had a full year to plan with the oh-so talented ladies at Caplan-Miller Events! She decided to let her family ties to London be her inspiration, and planned the event around a fun millinery theme. All the ladies donned custom-made hats!

Fredericksburg is a charming German town 70 miles north of San Antonio. Filled with Texas-primitive antique shops and quaint Bed & Breakfast lodgings, it was a refreshing destination wedding for all their guests!  

all photos courtesy of Juxtapose Photography

Carlie and Tom’s reception at the Hoffman Haus is next!

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Post tags: Caplan Miller Events, David Kurio Floral Designs, Destination Wedding, Fredericksburg, Grape Creek Vineyard, Hats, Manolo Blahnik, Texas
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Planners & Designers, Wedding Style

from Holley and Paul …

Monisha and Calvin commissioned Four Seasons Films to film their March wedding at the Westin Resort & Spa in Los Cabos, Mexico. Located at the tip of Baja, this exotic location boasts over 300 days of sunshine each year! The wedding guests enjoyed scenic adventure with horseback rides along the white sands and crashing surf and four wheel adventures across the bronze desert sands. Four Seasons Films travels worldwide to document both small, intimate weddings and large, extravagant events. We are the owners and exclusive cinematographers for our company and welcome the opportunity to bring new stories to life in fabulous detail for clientele who appreciate a higher standard. Four Seasons Films was thrilled to produce a breathtaking vignette for Monisha and Calvin to bring back their Mexico wedding to share with all of their family and friends stateside!

Monisha & Calvin — you guys were just stunning! And your vows were so very heart-warming. Congratulations from all of us at SMP!

A HUGE thank-you to Paul & Holley Jackson for sending us Monisha & Calvin’s extraordinary wedding film! As always, your work defines the highest quality in the industry.

UPDATE (April 13)

We heard from Calvin and Monisha over the weekend and wanted to share a little more of their story with you!

from Calvin & Monisha …

Monisha and I are from the east coast in Washington, DC – so the Mexican city of Cabo San Lucas would not be the typical choice for a destination wedding. You see Cabo is on the southern tip of the Baja of California in Mexico, and most easterners would choose the Caribbean (or the eastern part of Mexico) for a wedding event. But, Cabo was special to us. It was the first place that we visited together as a couple in August 2007, and (despite the once-in-a-decade hurricane that just happened to visit Cabo while we were there in 2007) we immediately fell in love with the area.

One year later, when we were engaged and considering wedding locations, Cabo quickly found itself at the top of the list. And, if we were going to Cabo, we naturally had to choose our host hotel from 2007, the Westin Spa and Resort in Los Cabos. We settled on a March 28, 2009 wedding date (the first full week of Spring) and anxiously prepared for our day. With such a beautiful location, we wanted to have the best. We had the best wedding planner (Lerkia Lee-Tidball of Savvy Soirées Event Management), the best photographer-“cousin” (Michael Clark) and THE BEST videographers (Paul & Holley Jackson of Four Seasons Films)! Even before we were engaged, Monisha had seen some of Paul and Holley’s work for other weddings around the world. Four Seasons Films has done large weddings, small weddings and everything in between. They have filmed celebrities and even in a castle. What an amazing treat it would be if they could film our wedding!

So, when our time came, Monisha checked to see if they were available. Fortunately for us, they were – and they had never filmed in Cabo before (lucky us)! Four Seasons Films captured our special day better than we could have even imagined it. This was not just some average wedding video – they captured the entire experience. The film quality and soundtrack belonged on a big screen, and Monisha and I were the stars. Friends that were not able to attend the wedding keep saying “I feel like I was there” when they see the video from Four Seasons Films. Even those in Cabo with us become emotional when they see our video (and I carry the video around on my IPod touch for all to see). For us, the wedding just would not have been the same without Paul and Holley of Four Seasons Films – and because of them, we have memories to last the rest of our lives!

From all of us here at Style Me Pretty … Congratulations on an absolutely stunning wedding!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Destination Wedding, Four Seasons Films, Los Angeles, Mexico, Westin Resort & Spa
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Cinematography, Wedding Style

If you’re just joining us, and you haven’t seen their actual wedding day … you have to take a look … start {here}, then {here} and then {here}. The awesome location, naturally saturated colors, the elegance and intensity of Angela’s photos … well, you just need to see it all!

Jennifer and Kevin’s closest friends and family … along with the amazing Angela Talley … joined them for their destination wedding. And when the next day dawned, the newlyweds were ready to crank it up a notch!

The perfect time for a photo shoot! What’s a little sand on your dress …

You gotta’ admit … it does look SO fun!

Pretty darned sexy …

Congratulations Kevin & Jennifer! SUCH a beautiful wedding!

And Angela … oh my gosh! As always, your photos have blown us away. Thanks SO much for sharing today’s wedding with us.

Angela Talley is based out of Indianapolis, but spends much of her time in Nashville … and will travel pretty much anywhere your little heart desires! She specializes in Wedding and Lifestyle Photography, Music Industry Portraits, Family & Child Portraits, as well as Editorial Photography. Angela’s website is filled with gorgeous examples of her work. If you want to see another of her weddings that was a little closer to home, and filled with hundreds of twinkling votives, check out her blog for Megan & Ryan’s Indianapolis wedding! And for all you Indiana Pacer’s fans … scroll down a little further and take a look at some of Dionna and Danny Granger’s wedding photos on her blog!

PS… Those gorgeous little girls in Jen & Kevin’s wedding are Angela’s! And her husband, Chris was second-shooter for this wedding. Must have been a fun wedding for her to shoot.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Angela Talley, Destination Wedding, Mexico, Playa Del Carmen, Trash The Dress
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Photography, Whimsical

Jessamyn’s clients encompass the whole spectrum of lovers … worldwide.  In her photos , you won’t just see the love between two people. You will see the realness of the day … the respect, the awe, the wonder, the sheer joy … an amazing sense of real life.  An  unpretentious, sincerity that represents the whole of the occasion. Not just images of dear friends and beloved family, but the innate sense of peace surrounding them all. Maybe it’s Jessamyn. Maybe it’s her gift to them for this one, very special day in their lives.

The rich bold colors and composition of these first photos from Erica and Chris’ wedding are way up there on my list of all-time favorites…

A little from Jessamyn about Erica and Chris’ wedding …

They got married at The Holly Farm in Carmel Valley, California. This venue was amazing – they took care of everything, including some of the guests’ accommodations and the food. The site did all of the coordination, and were so friendly, organized, and cool. I can’t rave enough about them! The Holly Farm has a funny little micro-climate – not too far from the ocean, but warm and sunny enough to have orchids, lilies, and a million tropical flowers everywhere… you feel like you’re in Hawaii, and they keep the party flowing throughout their meandering, beautiful grounds, which have lots of nooks and crannies and places to play (especially with photos!). You’ll see from the pictures that they have funky decorations like old surfboards, instruments, etc, and games like bocce ball, darts, ping pong, and more. The bride and groom and family or bridal party have these cool little cabanas to stay in, and the grounds are theirs for the whole weekend. The family who owns and runs the Holly Farm is great – and they only do a select amount of weddings per year, so they really know what they’re doing. You’ll see in the photos to come that it is just the best place for a wedding…

…..love …..love …..love …..

Pretty fun place!

Be right back with more from Chris and Erica’s wedding.

In the meantime … Take a look at a few other weddings we’ve featured from the so-so-so talented Jessamyn Harris!

~ Chris and Joelle: positively precious DIY inspired wedding at the Valencia Community Hall …very clever hand-stamped vases

~ Jacqueline and Gregory: at Moon Mountain … yummy-looking cakes

~ Alex and Rich: at the Villagio … one of SMP’s all-time favorite posts!  [Jessamyn's blog post about Alex and Rich's wedding]

Back in a bit with more of Erica & Chris’ wedding!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Amy Kuschel, Dessy, Destination Wedding, Hawaiian Inspired, Jessamyn Harris, The Holly Farm, Tropical Inspired
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Photography, Wedding Style

And last, but certainly not least, the details that made this event so lovely…

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cinematography, Destination, Destination Wedding, Mimmo + Naz
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography

Sitting amidst the freezing cold snow in Boston, this literally makes me want to cry. And book an airline ticket right now. It’s the Mayan Riviera for those of you that are checking expedia right now:)

So much more to come from the oh-so-talented team at Mimmo + Naz.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 1 comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Destination Wedding, Mayan Riviera, Mimmo + Naz
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography

Jaime and Carl were married in June 08 at the exclusive beach resort, the El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya, Mexico.  The El Dorado Royale is part of a collection of luxurious all-inclusive, adult-only resorts known for their exceptional hospitality, cuisine and amazing vacation experiences!

Aimee of A.Dominick Events, one of our fabulous Little Black Book wedding planners coordinated this lovely destination affair for Jaime and Carl. We’ll have lots more beautiful photos from Andrew Reilly Photography in just a bit…

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: A.Dominick Event Planning, Andrew Reilly Photography, Beach Wedding, Destination Wedding, El Dorado Royale, Mexico, Place Cards, Riviera Maya, Sand Dollars
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Planners & Designers

How much do you love the stationery? It was designed by MaybelleImasa-Stukuls…one of the most talented calligraphers out there.  Thank you so much to Lisa Lefkowitz for sharing these gorgeous images. And of course, to the oh-so-talented Amy Nichols for introducing us to this beautiful affair!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Amy Nichols, Destination Wedding, Lisa Lefkowitz, May+Bell Calligraphy and Design, Mexico
Post categories: All Real Weddings, Cultural Beauty, Real Weddings, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers

I have one more set coming, so stay tuned!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Amy Nichols, Destination Wedding, Lisa Lefkowitz, Mexico
Post categories: Cultural Beauty, Real Weddings, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Amy Nichols, Destination Wedding, Lisa Lefkowitz, Mexico, Photography
Post categories: All Real Weddings, Cultural Beauty, The Blog, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers