Absolutely, positively delicious. Jose and Joel have been together for more than seven lucky years. Jose proposed to Joel in Mazatlan Mexico. Joel proposed to Jose a year later in their home. They are the definition of love and to see it captured so beautifully by Elizabeth is, well, beyond comparison.

And on a personal note…I have to say a quick little something about these two men. There are few people who have helped to change the face of Style Me Pretty. Who have helped to cultivate a blog that is truly beautiful, overflowing with weddings that can make your heart stop, that can make you gasp out loud, that can inspire you in ways you never knew possible. People that we are lucky to call our friends, who support us by gifting gorgeous weddings to our readers, who share their unbelievable talents so freely…so that we can all pause for just a moment to soak up the beauty of a simple photograph or a perfect piece of cinema. Jose Villa and Joel Serrato are two of those people. Boys…we love you dearly and if this little glimpse into your lives is any indication of what’s ahead, we’re thinking you just might have hit the lottery.

Thank you so very much to Joel and Jose for sharing this moment with Style Me Pretty. And to Elizabeth Messina who gave us the opportunity to devour such beautiful photographs.

And thus concludes the total Jose Villa + Joel Serrato + Elizabeth Messina love fest.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 163 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: e-session, Elizabeth Messina, engagement session, Joel Serrato, Jose Villa, Kiss the Groom, Same Sex
Post categories: engagement session, The Blog, Wedding Photography

click here to see the full gallery!

My fiancee and I chose downtown NYC as the backdrop for our engagement session with CLY Creation because I grew up in the city and went to high school just behind the buildings that served as our backdrop.  Being in front of the skyline, something I grew up looking at, felt very homey, believe it or not!  I also liked the idea of juxtaposing the grandness of the skyscrapers against the tenderness between the two of us.

CLY Creation has a vintage look to its photographs, which I adore, and so I paired a pearl necklace and pearls on my ears with my vintage-y polka-dot silk shantung dress.  We also brought along our save-the-date:  bookmarks that we DIY-ed with custom illustration done by the Emmy Award-winning artist Seonna Hong, my fiancee’s sister!  All in all, the result, I think, was the perfect twist on a vintage-New York photoshoot!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: CLY Creation, e-session, New York City
Post categories: engagement session, New York City Weddings, New York Weddings, Wedding Photography

click here to see the whole shoot, including an adorable outfit not seen here!

From the stunning bride…When Amanda (our photographer) and I started discussing possible looks for our engagement shoot, we thought formal would be fun and beautiful. The one problem, I hadn’t owned a formal dress since my senior prom! So, we thought we would settle for a semi-formal look and call it good. I’m not a sewer, but I had a couple good ideas for easy to make dresses that didn’t take a lot of effort and still look beautiful. The white dress I made with just two pieces of fabric, sewn to a thick black elastic band. There are no zippers or buttons. It was also constructed by hand. I wrapped the top piece around my neck like a halter top, and pinned it to the black elastic band at the appropriate length. The skirt was easy as well. I sewed it to the bottom half of the elastic band, and wahla! A beautiful Grecian inspired gown for only $30 worth of fabric.

The black tulle was actually easier and cheaper. I first created a straight black skirt that was held up by a black fabric ribbon. I then started on one side and wrapped the material around the straight skirt. All the while pinning it in random spots to give it volume and an organic look. I kept circling the skirt and making puckers upon layers. The cost of the tulle was under $25. I wore a simple black strapless dress I already owned underneath.

It was so fun, and meaningful that I wore my own designs! I also made all of the hair accessories and bouquet the morning of the shoot. It really showed me that DIY can be easy and beautiful. I was scared that it would look “crafty” and not professional. But with the help of our very talented photographer, Amanda K, we were able to create something magical.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 26 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: amanda k, black tulle dress, e-session, engagement session, Fashion, formal, Photography, Tux
Post categories: Wedding Fashion, Wedding Photography

click here for the full gallery!

From Fleur… Brian & Pip will be celebrating their marriage this September.  But first we wanted to take some engagement photos to show off their personality.  Sassy, creative, warm and endearing.., these images capture their joy and love for each other.  The location was Videnovich Farm in Michigan where the couple shared a picnic, strummed their guitars, stole a few kisses and laughed in the rain.  A picnic table was set up as a mock up of their wedding flowers.., vintage glass vessels, blue mason jars and lush vintage-inspired arrangements.

Photography: Jaclyn Simpson and Jennifer Kathryn / Flowers and Event Design: Fleur, Chicago

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 21 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Chicago, e-session, engagement session, Fleur, Jaclyn Simpson, Jennifer Kathryn
Post categories: engagement session, Photo Shoot

click here to see the full engagement session!

Gina and Don are tying the knot this October and wanted to snap some pics to celebrate. The shoot took place at the Solvang Bakery in Southern Cali and is quite possibly the sweetest e-session I’ve ever seen. No pun intended (OK, totally intended but I couldn’t help myself). What I love most about this shoot (aside from the baked goods that have my stomach growling) is that it’s the perfect engagement combination…one party flirty, one part sexy and one part totally gorgeous. It really doesn’t get any better.

Thank you so much to Elizabeth for sending us this little piece of heaven. And so the sweetness never ends, Elizabeth is doing a chocolate truffles giveaway today on kiss the groom today…pure and total yumminess. And the model for the giveaway shoot…the bride from today’s e-session. Love that.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 18 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bakery, e-session, Elizabeth Messina, engagement session, Kiss the Groom
Post categories: engagement session, Wedding Photography

{click here to see more images from the shoot}

So cute, right? I am loving the sweet, kind of 50′s vibe of these images. Just makes me smile! Coming up next, a GORGEOUS photoshoot plus a couple of the prettiest real weddings EVER.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: e-session, engagement session, Tamar Levine
Post categories: Wedding Photography

Don’t fret, there is even more engagement goodness coming up in a bit.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: e-session, Kristen Marie Photography, Port Gamble, Vintage Engagement Session, Washington
Post categories: The Blog, Wedding Photography

Coming up next, even more girly, pretty, totally YUMMY inspiration!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 30 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: e-session, engagement session, Kim Le
Post categories: Wedding Photography