Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog

Bridesmaid Gifts Round-Up

Abby Larson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:00:39 +0000

I hope that everyone had a great weekend and a spook-tacular Halloween (lame, I know)! You can read all about our crazy weekend over on BACKSTAGE. Let’s just say that I am so glad to be at home, blogging about all things beautiful rather than being stuck in an airport hotel with a cranky, cranky baby! Today is a good day!

It’s time for our weekly round-up that our fabulous editor, Carrie, put together especially for SMP readers. This week, we are tackling bridesmaids gifts…gits that are as thoughtful as they are chic, as wearable as they are completely and totally special.

* * *

During our Bridesmaids Jewelry Round Up, one of our savvy readers was looking for a bridesmaid’s gift that was a little more personal than the often-anticipated earrings or necklace. I loved this question, particularly because it speaks so appropriately to the role we ask these ladies to play. Naturally, determined to find some good gift inspiration, I began to scour the web for all things, personal, practical and bit playful in the world of bridal party gifts. This first set is all about a modern take on the classic monogram, which is a brilliant choice if you want your memento to be perfectly customized to each of your maids.

Row One: A touch of gold and delicate silver, gives Anne Kiel’s gilded necklace just the right amount of modern sophistication. It is no secret that the silhouette has made a huge comeback, and the pendent by Le Papier Studio is a clever way to capture your maids personal style. The monogrammed envelope necklace, found on Etsy, makes it easy to tell your ladies how much they mean to you-not to mention the tiny letter inside the envelope is absolutely adorable.

Row Two: By far the sweetest little mirror I have ever seen, Anthropologie’s pocket mirror is a lovely memento to any bridesmaids gift. This delicate coffee mug will remind your ladies of your special day, everyday, and can double as a place-setting for the bridesmaids luncheon. Fill it with coffee beans and tuck a starbucks giftcard inside for even more charm. West Elm’s keepsake boxes are ideal for displaying a classic monogram and a great item to store jewels from the wedding day.

Row Three: I love monogrammed vintage hankies and it just so happens they are the best thing to have in hand while the bride and groom say their “I do’s.” I am so excited to have found this Etsy shop full of colorful renditions customized on vintage china. This gift is truly one-of-a-kind. Everyone can use a nice set of personalized stationary. Hello! Lucky has several delightful themes in a spectrum of bold colors.

So much more coming up in just a bit!

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Post tags: Anthropologie, Bridesmaid Gifts, Bridesmaids Gifts, Etsy, Hello! Lucky, jewelery, Monogram, vintage hankies, West Elm
Post categories: Bridal Party, Jewelry, Round-Ups, Wedding Favors & Gifts

DIY Wedding in Memphis

Abby Larson — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:08:04 +0000

You guys are going to find so many steal worthy ideas tucked inside this wedding. It’s funny, just as I was editing this post, I got an email from the bride thanking me for featuring her big day. She said, “I was such an avid reader of your blog when I was planning our wedding and found endless amounts of inspiration in your lovely posts. I hope that my wedding can serve as the same inspiration for other brides looking to make their wedding beautiful and unique…”

And you know what. It SO will.

Heidi Ryder is the incredibly photographer behind the affair and she has been sweet enough to share some of the details!

What I loved about this wedding is Dorie and John weren’t afraid to do things their way. They didn’t follow any traditions unless they wanted to, and in fact, they even made up their own. The details of the wedding were a lovely arrangement of vintage elements mixed with beautifully-crafted DIY projects. Needless to say, this wedding was a dream to photograph.

In addition to etsy-purchased vintage jewelry, Dorie wore three strands of pearls – each of them handed down from a different woman in her family. The only fresh flowers used at this wedding were for Dorie and her Maid of Honor’s bouquets. That’s it. The boutonnieres were made out of folded maps and were purchased from Hope and Joy Studios on Etsy. I thought this was an amazing idea and the lack of fresh flowers phased absolutely no one. But, the fresh flower bouquets were quite gorgeous in their own right. They were provided by Gesture Gifts in Memphis. A vintage brooch from Dorie’s mother was pinned to her bouquet.

In love. Madly in love. We have so much more from this delightful wedding, including the full resource list, on the way! Thank you so much to Heidi Ryder for sending such a treat our way!

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Post tags: Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Etsy, Heidi Ryder
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

Eco-Chic, Vintage Wedding by The Nichols II

Elaine — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:00:58 +0000

When Abby asked me if I could do today’s feature, I was really excited, and I’m not going to lie, a little nervous… but she made it pretty easy for me. This wedding is right up my alley. I am head over heels for this couple’s sweet, quirky style. Plus, I love the eco-friendly approach to their day.

Now, about their awesome wedding day attire… To honor the bride’s late father, the groom wore the suit Holley’s dad wore at her parent’s wedding in 1979. I mean come-on, how completely adorable is that?!?! Yep, the groom can rock that “something old” too. Holley chose a handmade dress from Etsy, built with a recycled corset and slip. I was already a HUGE fan of Etsy, but I think they just got a few more points in my book… this dress is utterly delightful!

Photography by The Nichols.

From the bride…

Our number one goal for the wedding and reception was for all of our friends and family to come together in the ultimate party. That’s why we tried to set up different areas for people to have fun in: dance floor, digital photobooth, dessert display with photos taken by Jason’s sister, and one of my favorite projects, a line of Polaroids of Jason and me throughout the years, strung up with mini clothespins. The theme and colors were pretty loose, but roughly we wanted to create an English garden feel for the wedding and reception: that’s how we chose pale pink and cream garden roses, antique hydrangea, and pale gray and green accents. I had so much fun ordering mismatched teacups off of Ebay for guests to drink out of–they were a big hit! We also created homemade, edible favors for our guests: boxes of chocolate truffles, inked with pale florals and test tubes filled with all natural, locally made honey.

Photography by The Nichols.

We tried to keep our wedding as sustainable as possible. One of the many reasons we chose our venue, Barr Mansion, is because it is the only certified organic wedding venue in the United States. All of the delicious food was organic. Barr Mansion recycles everything that can possibly be recycled, and they try to use local flowers and foods whenever possible. We made sure the favors were edible and not things that guests would just throw away. Having the ceremony and reception at the same site helped save gas, too. Instead of renting a vintage Mustang (which I totally would’ve done), we borrowed my mom’s Prius to use as our getaway car.

This wedding is so simple, so lovely and still FULL of personality. The rustic little details, the pine, the favors, the mason jars, add such charm to the day. I really can’t get enough. And, let’s not forget those teacups… absolutely perfect. A huge thank you to The Nichols for sharing this beautiful wedding with us! Congratulations to Holley and Jason!

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Post tags: Barr Mansion, Etsy, Texas, The Nichols, Vintage
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog, Vintage Chic

Eco-Chic, Vintage Wedding by The Nichols

Elaine — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:30:58 +0000

Sooo, Abby and Tait are on their way to a wedding in Colorado right now so I have the pleasure of sharing today’s beautiful wedding with you… and let me tell you, you’re in for a treat. Amazing husband and wife team, The Nichols, completely captured this couple’s whimsical, romantic style.

From the photographer…

Holley and Jason wanted to do their best to plan a green wedding, so Barr Mansion in Austin, Texas fit perfectly into their vision. Barr Mansion is the only certified organic wedding venue in the U.S. and it’s vintage, rustic charm was the perfect setting for their English Garden-styled wedding.

From the bride, Holley…

After a seemingly endless drought in Austin, the skies opened up on our wedding weekend, turning what was supposed to be a garden ceremony into a barn wedding. We went with the flow, and everyone said the rain trickling down the large wall of windows really added to the atmosphere.

I couldn’t agree more. The rain even makes the whole scene feel more English and charming… plus, it doesn’t hurt that the bride and groom are COMPLETELY adorable.

More to come in just a bit!

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Post tags: Etsy, Texas, The Nichols
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Vintage Chic, Wedding Dresses

Vintage Short Wedding Dress!

Abby Larson — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:45:33 +0000

One of our FABULOUS Style Circle Gurus, Robin, found this amazing dress over on etsy that I had to share with you guys. It’s so darling, perfect for a 50’s inspired affair. Pair it with some red lips and a pair of sky high heels and you basically have perfection…perfect for a wedding like this one.

The dress is by Timeless Vixen and if you aren’t afraid of jumping out of your chair into full on spirit sprinkles, you should definitely check her work out!

And although they aren’t exactly wedding dresses, I am la-la-loving these babies…

Thanks for the tip, Robin! For those of you that are looking for some really great inspirations, check out Robin’s Style Circle Blog!

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Post tags: Etsy, Short Wedding Dress, Style Circle, Timeless Vixen, wedding dress
Post categories: Wedding Dresses, Wedding Fashion

Table 6 Productions: Whimsical Wedding At The CFAC

Eddye — Tue, 19 May 2009 03:47:22 +0000

Little Black Book Event Planner, Table 6 Productions, sent us today’s wonderfully whimsical and warm wedding! Tracy & Paul were married in the Loo Family Wing of the Colorado Fine Arts Center. Between Tracy’s creativity, Table 6’s expertise and Otto Schulze’s fantastic photography, we think you’re going to go ga- ga over the details!

from the lovely ladies at Table 6 Productions …

Since the ceremony took place in the “Loo Family Wing” AKA the Art Gallery of the Colorado Fine Arts Center, we were unable to bring in any flowers or décor because of the surrounding artwork of this room. Therefore, we decided that Tracy would walk down the aisle with a button bouquet, purchased from Etsy’s RBK Creations.

. . .

Their son, Myles, escorted his mom down the aisle {… so sweet} …

Tracy LOVES to surprise people and so when a friend of their’s wound up marrying them … everyone was …. well … surprised!

Paul is from South Africa and Tracy from Colorado Springs. They are avid bikers, so it was especially important to them to include lots of bicycle and “South African” details (think Protea flowers on the “cake centerpieces”) throughout the wedding!

more from Table 6 …

To incorporate the button theme throughout the wedding, we put buttons on top of the programs and made button table numbers as well. Their officiant {and close friend}, even made a “wheel of objection” that he spun prior to them saying their vows! Luckily, it did not land on “objection”! They read their own version of Dr. Seuss vows and even had their son read from “The Owl and The Pussy Cat”.

Reception floral design was by Little Black Book member Delilah’s Flowers of Denver.

Wedding Cake by Elegant Bakery, Catering by Garden of the Gods Gourmet.

LOVE the images from Otto Schulze Photographers!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Ashley & Heather at Table 6 Productions for sharing Tracy & Paul’s SO cute wedding!

Update ... a few more production details from Ashley @ Table 6 Productions …

Following the Ceremony guests were lead down the hall for cocktail hour which began with a surprise Flamenco performance. Their Reception tables were two long banquet tables, each seating 30 people. Their escort cards hung from a bicycle wheel and the reception tables had “cake centerpieces” , which was a request from the Bride who didn’t even want to see the cakes until the day of! I had to design 6 cake centerpieces and their wedding cake, so that this would be…what else but a surprise on their wedding day! Their table numbers (made from buttons) were displayed from iron bicycles that I discovered at a local craft store. Their guestbook was a large white blank canvas where they wanted guests to write and draw their well wishes so that they could hang the canvas in their living room. At the end of the night, guests were sent home with cookies (from their favorite local bakery) and milk that had a sticker on the milk carrier that said “we hope you had a wheelie good time” love Paul and Tracy!

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Post tags: Art Gallery, Delilah's Flowers of Denver, Elegant Bakery, Etsy, Garden of the Gods Gourmet, Otto Schulze Photographers, RBK Productions, Table 6 Productions, Themed Weddings
Post categories: Bouquets, Casual Elegance, Contemporary, Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Planners & Designers, Whimsical

Wedding Details by Rae Dunn

Abby Larson — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:45:30 +0000

I spotted these little gems over on Shop Friends and fell in love. I have been a long time fan of all things Rae Dunn, but her new work really takes the cake!

From the customizable eggs to the personalized wedding plates and napkin rings, every piece is absolutely lovely. Charming, without being too craftsy. Organic, while still seeming elegant. Rae has tons of absolutely gorgeous work on her site and her etsy shop, so definitely take a peek!

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Post tags: Ceramics, Etsy, Rae Dunn
Post categories: Wedding Details, Wedding Favors & Gifts

SMP Loves…Amanda Archer!

Abby Larson — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:43:42 +0000

And her ridiculously adorable line of dresses on Etsy. They are absolutely perfect for rehearsal dinners, brunches, showers, any of those millions of parties where you really want to look cute. You can purchase her little frocks on etsy, but she also has custom wedding dresses that are pretty great on her personal website. Definitely worth a visit!

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Post tags: Amanda Archer, dresses, Etsy
Post categories: Featured

SMP Loves…Modern Romance!

Abby Larson — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:16:52 +0000

And their brand new line of absolutely gorgeous wedding accoutrements, like this FAB silk wrap. The flower is actually a brooch, so you can pin it wherever you like. Christine, the designer behind the collection, hand crafts all of her wares…from the lovely birdcage veils to the hand tied pearl necklaces, with each piece being more beautiful than the next!

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Post tags: Etsy, modern romance
Post categories: Featured

SMP Loves…Red Light Studio

Abby Larson — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:28:53 +0000

And their ridiculously adorable custom cake toppers! I’ve seen some cute toppers along the way, but these are just too much. Handcrafted and hand painted just for you, these adorable little accoutrements would add the perfect touch of whimsy to an otherwise traditional cake. So super cute.

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Post tags: Cake Topper, Etsy, Red Light Studio
Post categories: Featured

Inspiration Board, XII

Abby Larson — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:56:49 +0000

Hope everyone had a great weekend! We are continuing on with our Shabby Chic Inspiration Board Contest today, so let’s get right to it. Our next five boards (!) were designed by Caroline. The first is called Rustic Raspberry…

Aisle Marker: photo by Union Photography on Project Wedding / Centerpiece: photo by Jennifer Kloss on Project Wedding / Figs: photo from Algarve Buzz / Cherry Basket: photo by Elizabeth Messina Photography on Project Wedding / Maggy LondonA Silk Halter Dress at Macy’s

Next is Peony Pretty…

Flowers: Waterlily Pond /Soaps: French Garden House / Invitation: Papel Vivo / Cork Escort Card Display: photo by Union Photography on The Knot / Dress: Watters

Next is Shabby Pink…

Flowers: Trinity Flowers / Cake: I Do Wedding Cakes / Escort Cards: photo by Union Photography on The Knot, Seating: Jose Villa Photography / Dresses: Meghan Park

Next is Flirty Frills…

Hatbox: French Garden House / Lanterns: Jamali Garden / Necklace: French Garden House / Sign: Funki Folk Art on etsy / Dress: Ann Louise Roswald

Lastly, we have Raspberry Zinger…

Vintage Auction Paddles: French Garden House / Bouquet: photo by Jennifer Kloss on Project Wedding / Invitation: ‘Wine Country’ invitation in ‘Cabernet’ by Wedding Paper Divas / Dress: Lee Klabin

If you’d like to vote for any of these boards, please refer to them by their name (ie…peony pretty, raspberry zinger, etc).

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Post tags: Algarve Buzz, Ann Louis Roswald, Elizabeth Messina, Etsy, French Garden House, I Do Wedding Cakes, Jamali Garden, Jennifer Kloss, Jose Villa, Lee Klabin, Maggy London, Meghan Park, Papel Vivo, Project Wedding, The Knot, Trinity Flowers, Union Photography, Waterlily Pond, Watters, Wedding Paper Divas
Post categories: Contests, Inspiration Boards

SMP Loves…Bridal Emunique!

Abby Larson — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:26:05 +0000

The funky, twist-on-traditional jewelry that Bridal Emunique is featuring in their etsy shop right now is…ummm, fabulous! Crocheted and hand twisted 14 ct gold paired with the timeless sensibility of a fresh water pearl, every piece is more interesting than the next. I am loving every little bit of her current collection!

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Post tags: Bridal Emunique, Etsy
Post categories: Featured

SMP Loves…Gleenashop

Abby Larson — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:53:42 +0000

I spotted this gorgeous china by Gleenashop over on the Etsy Wedding Blog and fell in love. Each piece is so delicate, so beautifully crafted in a perfect rustic, chic style. I am tempted to buy each and every piece, though if I had to pick a favorite, it would be the organic serving set with the perfect butterfly detail.

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Post tags: China, Etsy, Etsy Blog, Gleenashop
Post categories: Featured

Little Black Dress Day 2, XII

Abby Larson — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:30:45 +0000

This next board is so incredibly chic, in that really classic, understated way!

Eudoxia Dress by Ted Baker / Embellished Heeled Shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti via Net a Porter /
Black Aves Tea Cup and Saucer by Royal Crown Derby via Liberty / Black and White Wedding Cake by Iced-Online / Portia Mini Bridal Combs by Glitznglory via Etsy / Vintage lace mantle card with ivory ribbon by Two by Two Weddings

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Post tags: Bridesmaid Dresses, Color Palette Black White, Etsy, Giuseppe Zanotti, Iced Online, Inspiration Boards, Ted Baker, Two by Two Weddings
Post categories: Color Palettes, Contests, Inspiration Boards

Little Black Dress, IX

Abby Larson — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:00:49 +0000

Can you believe how many really gorgeous boards we have for this Little Black Dress contest! I was floored by all of the entries…absolutely gorgeous!

Black Dress- gap.com / Flower girl dress- Erica dress by Little Flowers (by Odyssey) / Coral Necklace- by Etsy vendor VeeVee79 / Cake- by Kay Cabrera (on brides.com) / Table Setting- brides.com / Bold Food Setting- by Restaurant Associates (featured on brides.com)

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Post tags: Brides.com, Etsy, Gap, Inspiration Board Contest, Little Black Dress, Little Flowers, Restaurant Associates, VeeVee79
Post categories: Color Palettes, Contests, Inspiration Boards