stunning photography by Jose Villa

This wedding was magic. Layers and layers and layers of magic. Lisa Vorce is always one of my favorite designers but for this particular affair, she completely outdid herself. She plans receptions as if they were rooms in her home being decked out for some really intimate, fabulous party. She uses materials that are so readily available, like thick silk ribbon and burlap runners, little brown bags filled with scraps of ribbon for confetti, oriental rugs that she finds at flea markets…and turns them into a space that is as romantic and elegant as it is completely chic. Lisa is basically a wedding God in my book and this particular affair, was high on my list of favorites for the year. Here is the rest of the perfect affair.

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Second, is the lovely, lovely, lovely wedding that we debuted on Martha Stewart then featured the entire gorgeous spread (including a cute DIY) right here. This Jackson Hole wedding was perfection. The blend of bridesmaids dresses, all in varying shades of blue, the pretty pretty flowers against the rustic feel of the burlap runners. The chic simplicity, the organic elegance. Every little bit of this wedding is so “me.” You can see the rest of the wedding right here.

all of the gorgeous photos were snapped by Carrie Patterson

Other weddings that I fell hard for this year…The ridiculously gorgeous, modern and completely intimate affair that Jennifer and Christian held for $10,000. Mary-Kevin and Patrick’s super cute DIY  affair. Sarah of Spruce’s lovely backyard wedding. And of course, Jessica Claire’s RIDICULOUSLY awesome wedding, filled to the brim with vintage gorgeousness.

That really doesn’t scratch the surface. As I was going through our archived real weddings, especially in the “casual elegance” and “traditional elegance” categories, I couldn’t believe how much goodness was tucked inside the pages. I love each and every wedding that I put up so choosing favorites was kind of like choosing my favorite kid. Whether it was that INSANE Monique Lhuillier dress in a wedding that you guys went nuts for, the absolutely perfect Jose Villa Santa Barbara wedding, Desiree and Ann’s gorgeous backyard affair, the incredible seaside wedding by Gia Canali and Yifat Oren or the millions of other perfect details, perfect photo shoots, perfect brides and grooms…I loved them all. Each and every one.

So, a HUGE thank you to all of the vendors, all of the artists and all of the readers who continually help to make SMP a place of total inspiration, of total magic. May 2010 be just as fun, just as inspiring, just as gorgeous. And may all your wedding dreams come true…

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 26 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Carrie Patterson, Favorites, Favorites 2009, Jose Villa, Lisa Vorce, Mindy Rice, Yellow Owl Workshop
Post categories: All Real Weddings, Real Weddings, Wedding Style

OK. So, I know that you guys have all registered for dinnerware and serving platters, crystal and silver. BUT, what about all of those little rooms outside of your kitchen! Having delicious bath towels, a set of gorgeous candles and some pretty accessories will SO help you to start or end your day beautifully.

1. I la-la-LOVE these Organic Turkish Bath Towels. They are purely yummy, SUPER plush and eco-friendly. An absolute must-have for any bride, particularly one who wants to impress her house guests!

2. I have been all about modern decor these days and the bamboo bath accessories above speak to my inner stylista. Love that they are so simple, so sleek. SO perfect.

3. Perfect candle holders are A MUST. I actually am building up a little collection so that I can change them out when the inspiration strikes. Set these beauties by the bath and you just might convince your hubby to join you! Did I just say that out loud??

4. Last, but certainly not least….a pretty bamboo topped candle set right beside the sink. It smells like fresh linen so it won’t overpower your newly lovely room.

Bottom line…don’t forget to register for the rooms that aren’t your kitchen!

Now it’s your turn! Name your newest favorite four products from Crate and Barrel below and you’ll be entered to win a set of the Organic Turkish Bath Towels (2 of each). And don’t forget to set up YOUR registry through SMP!!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 70 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Crate and Barrel, Favorites
Post categories: Contests

Before we announce, though, don’t forget to enter to win a $4000 shop card to Crate and Barrel by setting up your wedding registry through SMP! Just make sure your registry is authentic and active.

Thank you so much to all who entered. We LOVE gifting products that we really stand behind, and Crate and Barrel is filled to the brim with so many must-haves. So, without further ado, the winner is…Christy!

OOOH! A panini grill! What a fabulous idea! We’re always making sandwiches during the week since we’re always on the go. As for our top 4 registry items, we love cooking for each other and friends, so our registry if full of items that will help us entertain in style. 1. Lodge Cast Iron Skillet – I’m a burger fanatic and recently read an article about how these can help you create that “perfect” burger – my fiancée wants one to surprise me one day with his “unique” burger of love. 2. Calpalon Contemporary Stainless Flat-Bottomed Wok – I’ve never owned a wok but I have all these asian spices I want to try out! So this Wok if a MUST. 3. Tripoli Server – Every year for Easter, I throw a tea party for all my girlfriends. We dress up in nice hats, and I make tons of little sandwiches and snacks while everyone else brings types of tea to try. This would be perfect in displaying all my finger snacks. 4. Footed Cake Platter with Dome – My fiancé’s favorite cake is red velvet with cream cheese frosting. Every year for his birthday I make a 3 layer version for him. I’d love one of these to store it in (rather than my little plastic containers)

Not to worry if you didn’t win! We will be doing our next round of favorites on Monday!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Crate and Barrel, Favorites
Post categories: Contests

We have cozied up with Crate and Barrel (one of my all time favorite brands) to do an INCREDIBLE wedding registry giveaway worth $4,000.  All you have to do, is sign up through SMP for a Crate and Barrel registry (a legitimate, active registry) and you’ll be entered to win a shop card worth a high-kick inducing four grand. Along with this great new project, SMP is also gifting one of our favorite Crate and Barrel products every couple of weeks so that you can have loads of chances to win something fabulous.

Here are this week’s favorites, all about celebrating Summer!

1. The brilliant, must have Panini Grill. This little baby is absolutely awesomeness…allowing you to make those restaurant worthy sandwiches, complete with ooey gooey cheese and super crisp bread. The perfect meal for entertaining your friends without a lot of fuss.

2. LOVING these melamine plates. They are ideal for backyard parties and would look fabulous with a yummy panini set on top! The cute pattern is both casual and chic, so you don’t have to go overboard with your other decor. Love that.

3. A beverage jar. I swear, I am heading out to Crate and Barrel today to pick a few of these up as they are such a great accompaniment to a summer soiree. Fill them with lemonade for the kiddies and sangria for the adults and you have a really fun, help-yourself-way of serving cocktails!

4. To ensure that you are cranking out really good food, I am loving this panini cookbook. With tons of really good, casual and fancy recipes, there is something for every type of gathering.

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Bottom line, when you are stocking your registry, don’t forget about the entertaining part…the accessories and equipment that will make hosting a Summer party so fun and SO so easy.

So today, the big giveaway inspired by our favorites will be…the Panini Grill!! To enter, just list your four registry Must-Haves and we’ll gift one lucky reader the fabulous grill.

And if you haven’t already, click here to start your Crate and Barrel Registry process and enter to win a $4000 Crate and Barrel shop card!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 133 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Crate and Barrel, Favorites
Post categories: Contests

Well, because we have naturally become obsessed with all things C&B over the years, we thought it might be fun to give away a few of our favorites! So, every two weeks we will be announcing four of our favorite products from the Crate and Barrel collection and will be giving one of them to a lucky reader!

Pretty great, right!? Here are this week’s favs…

(clockwise from top left)

1. Reversible Double Griddle – I am obsessed with these babies. The flat griddle is PERFECT for pancakes, pressed sandwiches and even burgers. The grill is obviously great for grilled chicken, veggies and anything else that needs those pretty little grill marks. Honestly, a must have.

2. Lucerne Casseroles – I love, love, love these little casserole dishes. One pot meals are so cozy and you’re hubby will think that you spent all day in the kitchen. Plus, they go from the oven to the table looking gorgeous.

3. Footed Cake Platter with Dome – This little gem is every baker’s dream come true. Whether you want to carry your cake to your b/f’s dinner party and give her a run for her money, or you want to have your masterpiece sit as the shining star on your table, this cake stand is all about the pretty.

4. KitchenAid Mixer – If there is one thing that every bride MUST have, it’s the KitchenAid Mixer. It’s the first thing that I registered for and the one item that I would grab in a fire. Okay, maybe not. But seriously, it’s a staple. With its iconic design and sleek new silver color, I’ve fallen in love all over again.

Now that we’ve said our peace, we want to hear from YOU. List your four registry Must-Haves and we’ll gift one lucky reader that fabulous KitchenAid Mixer! Yup, you read it right…we are giving that baby away!

And if you haven’t already, click here to start your Crate and Barrel Registry process and enter to win a $4000 Crate and Barrel shop card!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 261 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Crate and Barrel, Favorites, Four Favorites, Giveaway
Post categories: Contests