After dating Miss Katie Woodard for about two years I was thinking it is time to ask her to marry me. We started dating near the end of college and neither of us had any expectations for our relationship. We quickly realized though, that we were falling in love. After I graduated college I started a job in Oklahoma City, while Katie was working in St. Louis. She was trying to find a job in OKC about the time that I decided I was going to propose. I kept leading her on that I only wanted to get married when I was 30 or older so she thought that it was going to take forever. So when I planned a trip to Europe she had no clue about what I had planned for her.

We first flew into Liverpool from Oklahoma City. Our second day we went to the beloved Paris. She wanted to go for quite some time now, so I thought it was the perfect romantic time to take her. We strolled along the Eiffel tower at night, the Louvre during the day and had an amazing time exploring the city together. The next day we were going to Switzerland and this is when I started to get nervous.

After arriving in Geneva, Switzerland we took a scenic and very beautiful train ride to Vevey, Switzerland. The train ride curved throughout the mountains surrounding Lake Geneva. We stayed in the small quaint town of Vevey and strolled along the lake and had a great dinner overlooking the lake and the mountains. Now, since I had been leading Katie on for quite some time about not getting married until we were 30, I decided I should drop some hints before I asked her (the next day). So I brought it up somehow and then said well it might be sooner than you expect, which I thought was a huge hint but I guess she never got it.

The next morning we took a train to a small town of Chateau d’eau and tried to find the little hot air balloon house. We arrived and got all set up for a ride at 2 o’ clock. The whole trip was very beautiful, blue skies, and about 65 degrees throughout England, Paris, and Switzerland. This day was no exception. We ate a meal outside right before the balloon ride. While Katie was inside looking at the place I took the ring out of the bag I had been carrying as quickly as I could and put it in my pocket.

So we drove to the take off site and started to fill the balloon up to take off. We both jumped in the balloon and it started to ascend above the ground. This is when I started to not think about the proposal so much but I was thinking about how high I was and how I could die if I happened to fall out (scared of heights syndrome). Now my mind was going crazy. I was nervous about the heights and extra nervous about what I should say. We had a private reservation in the balloon so it was just me and Katie, plus our balloon expert who didn’t speak much english. I figured that we should enjoy the ride before I decided to ask her to marry me.

The Alps were truly stunning. I will never forget being 3000 meters in the sky and looking across to the Alps, Lake Geneva, and the beautiful green Switzerland. We were pointing out the sites and mostly in awe of what we were seeing. It was quite an adventure. So while we were at the top of our flight I decided it was time to ask her. I was ghostly pale and Katie kept looking at me and laughing. She was making fun of me because she thought I was scared of the ride and being that far up in the sky. While part of that was very true, I was more nervous about whipping the ring out and falling on one knee. So that is exactly what I did.

I wasn’t sure what to say, all I could think of was I love you and I want to spend my whole life with you. So I said that while going down on one knee. After doing all this I could very well see that she was in complete shock. All she could say was “ohhhh my gossshhhhh, are you kidding, NOOOO, are you serious?” This happened for about five minutes while I on the other hand was sweating up a storm and wasn’t sure if that was a yes or a maybe or a I don’t know. After the complete shock reaction I received I was thinking to myself that maybe I should have done this different. Maybe an easy going talk three months before the proposal about getting married should have taken place, and maybe we should have gone ring shopping together, and maybe I should have planned it better. The shock reaction was not convincing. Katie spend the rest of the ride convincing me that she would have married me a year ago!

This whole time we started our decent to a field below the mountains. So we finally landed and then had champagne while sitting in this beautiful scenery. Afterwards we talked for hours about everything that had happened while spending two more days in Switzerland. Looking back on it, it is sufficient to say that the surprise was everything I wanted it to be in the end. The balloon ride symbolizes our marriage to come; romantic, fun, and adventurous.

Photographer: Hawes Photography / Floral Designer: Sisters Flowers / Event Designer & Planner: Erin Schulte, Exclusive Events / Invitation Designer: Ellie Snow / Cake: Jilly’s Cupcake Bar / Wedding Gown Designer: Enzoani / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: J.Crew / Ceremony + Reception Location: The Gardens of Malmaison / Shoes: Cole Haan / Menswear: Express Men

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Post tags: Cole Haan, Ellie Snow, Enzoani, Exclusive Events, Express Men, Hawes Photography, J. Crew, Jilly's Cupcake Bar, Lanterns, Missouri, Outdoor Wedding, Ring Bearers, Sisters Flowers, St. Louis, Tented Ceremony, Tented Reception, The Gardens of Malmasion, Wedding Photography
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Photography

With the timing of the wedding at the very beginning of fall, we took inspiration from the idea of an Indian Summer. We were also inspired by Marrakesh (cultural inspiration) which led us to use the lanterns and votive holders seen throughout the event. Last but not least, we wanted to celebrate the occasion and have FUN!

We wanted the night to be filled with color and achieved this by using jewel tones of some of our favorite colors – teal, orange, pink and gold. The gray bridesmaids dresses were selected for the sophisticated look that would also work well with our colors.

We wanted the rooms to feel warm to give the night a more intimate feel – which is why we went with low flower arrangements for the tables – so talking and laughing was easy for our esteemed guests.

We also wanted our guests to dance the night away – so the band was a difficult decision but we definitely chose well as the dance floor was packed all night!

For us, our wedding was absolutely perfect! We had the most incredible time – from the personal and emotional ceremony to the touching speeches from family and friends, to the stunning decor that encapsulated us and our guests, to the fun, high-energy band that kept us on our feet – we wish the night could go on forever.

Photography: Shira Weinberger / Wedding Planner: Amy Shey Jacobs, Chandelier Events / Flowers & Decor: StoneKelly / Music: Vali Entertainment / Photobooth: We Love Photobooths / Video: Anna Davis of Open Eye Media / Venue & Catering: Tarrytown House Estate / Dessert Bar: Baked / Cake: Oreos / Ketubah: Rachel Warschawski / Lights: Levy Lighting / Favors: Donation to the Wounded Warrior Project / Stationery: East Six

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Post tags: Baked, Chandelier Events, Cultural Beauty, East Six, Indian Wedding, Jewel Tones, Jewish Wedding, Lanterns, Levy Lighting, New York, Open Eye Media, Oreos, Rachel Warschawski, Shira Weinberger, StoneKelly, Tarrytown House Estate, Vali Entertainment, Vibrant Color Palette, We Love Photobooths, Wedding Planners & Designers, Wedding Stationery, Wounded Warrior Project
Post categories: Cultural Beauty, Little Black Book Blog

And just a little more eye candy from Black Label Event Films…

Real Wedding | Bridal Portrait | Sauvie Island Historical Farm from Black Label Films on Vimeo.

From Luxe Event Productions … After months and months of anticipation, a bride’s wedding day comes and goes in the blink of an eye. Before you know it, there is a barrage of flowers, ribbon, rushing bridesmaids, flashing photographers, cake, toasts and dancing uncles. Even the most observant and existential couple can find themselves wishing they had more time to take it all in. A pre-wedding bridal shoot is something that any bride can take advantage of. Use the dress – don’t abuse the dress! Forget “trashing” the dress, instead rock the dress with your own fashion shoot. With the help of a wedding coordinator, it’s possible to do anything from a stressless day with a photographer taking photos in your wedding dress to a whole new theme, bouquet, dress, etc. The aim is simple: Get the most out of your wedding bliss with a relaxing and chic photo shoot.

Produced and Styled: Luxe Event Productions / Photography: Mosca Photo / Videography: Black Label Event Films / Dress & Accessories: Charolette’s Weddings and More / Hair: Yen Nguyen / Makeup: Kimmie Nguyen / Location: Sauvie Island / Floral: Zest Floral and Event Design

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Post tags: Barn Wedding, Black Label Event Films, Charloette's Weddings and More, Cowboy Boots, Field, Inspiration Shoot, Kimmie Nguyen, Lanterns, Luxe Event Productions, Mosca Photo, Oregon, Outdoor Wedding, Photo Shoot, pies, Portland, Sauvie Island, Wedding Inspiration, Yen Nguyen, Zest Floral and Event Design
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Photo Shoot

Tim and I were introduced by mutual friends in New York City where we live.  We wanted the wedding to feel like part of nature away from the hustle and bustle of the city.  Our venue search took us to every corner of Connecticut (where I grew up) before we discovered Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park and fell in love.  When we visited there was a terrible storm.  Even in the torrential downpour it was breathtaking.  Eolia is a magical place that had all the elements we wanted for our special day.  A gorgeous mansion with a show stopping view of the water and the most beautiful gardens you can imagine.  The grounds are lovingly and meticulously cared for.

It was important to us that the wedding reflect Tim and I as a couple.  I wanted to design the ceremony music and readings to reflect our interests, personalities and values.  The wonderful harpist Sharon Rondeau arranged “The Dog Days Are Over” for the bridesmaid’s entrance and learned “Clocks” for our recessional.  I felt that we created a ‘Midsummer’s Night Dream’ romantic atmosphere.  I always wanted mostly white and silver for the colors and once I saw the mansion I thought that purple and white flowers with lots of greenery would add to the ‘secret garden’ feel.  Our florist Ganims Garden Center and Florist was unbelievable.  I gave her photos and pictures of my dreams (from Style Me Pretty) and she managed to exceed my expectations.  I wanted the centerpieces, bouquets and archway to fit in with the lush canopies and vines of the gardens.  We used Lily of the Valley in memory of my father and gardenias in memory of Tim’s grandmother.

All of my bridesmaids have such different and wild personalities, I could not even consider putting them in the same dress.  I loved each of the Amsale dresses they chose in the violet crinkle chiffon.  I used Etsy to find the Original Pear who did a great job on our programs.  They had a drawing of an oak tree similar to the one at the mansion with our initials carved in a heart on the trunk.  Our eco-friendly Oak Tree favors came expertly packaged from the Magnolia Company.  To incorporate Tim’s love of skiing, we used wooden skis from his parents basement for our guest book.  To incorporate my love of yoga (I’m a yoga teacher) I created the escort cards with drawings of yoga poses instead of numbers to help people find their table.  Even though we wanted our guests to feel like part of nature we also wanted them to feel glamorous so I added crystal candelabras and touches of sparkle inside the mansion.  The cake was the best of both worlds.   A lotus flower sitting atop a tier designed to match the shimmering crystals and pearls of my dress.  All of the details were expertly managed by Josh Chalmers, my knight in shining armor.  Because of him, I did not have a worry in the world on the big day.

We had a first look which I would highly recommend.  Tim and I were able to have a special moment together, just the two of us before the ceremony.  Our photographers Rob and Kathleen were amazing at taking our nerves away and putting us in a calm state of mind.  Also, we were both happy not to miss a moment of the party.  Its so rare that you have everyone that you love all in one place.

My favorite memories of the day are all on the dance floor, especially our first dance.  Tim was a good sport and learned to salsa!  Our band, Brick Park, tore the house down.  No words, photos, or video could ever do this band justice.  Thank goodness for our videographer Ian Meltzer of Revery Media who captured my adorable three year old flower girl Abby dancing to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with her dad, because I missed it.

Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Bridal Gown: Ines Di Santo / Bride’s Shoes:  Miu Miu / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Flowers: Ganim’s Florist / Ceremony Location: Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park / Reception Location: Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park / Event Planner: Josh Chalmers / Band:  Brick Park Entertainment / Hair: Angela Dubreuil from Naomi Martinez Salon / Make-up: Javier Rosa / Cake: Felicia’s Sweetface Pastry Shoppe / Caterer: Grand Gourmet / Table Cards: Yoga Poses, a nod to the bride’s profession as a yoga instructor

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Post tags: Amsale, Bowties, Brick Park Entertainment, Color Palette Purple, Connecticut, Eolia Mansion, Felicia's Sweetface Pastry Shoppe, Flower girls, Ganim's Florist, Grand Gourmet, Harkness Memorial State Park, Ines Di Santo, Javier Rosa, Josh Chalmers, Lanterns, Miu Miu, Naomi Martinez Salon, Outdoor Ceremony, Robert & Kathleen Photographers, Summer Wedding, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photographers, Windsor, Yoga
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance

We wanted a natural/rustic atmosphere and Devils thumb is the perfect place for this.  All the decorations added to the natural beauty of the venue.  We chose all different shades of purple and green because we love those colors together.  We didn’t want to have a cookie cutter wedding so there were many different shades of these colors being worn by the wedding party and in the decor so that we could add a lot of color to the day.

We completely created our ceremony from scratch, incorporating four themes of what marriage really means to us.  These themes included Trust, Friendship, Inexplicably Intertwined and Support of Family and Friends.  These were expressed through readings that we chose.  The most special part of the ceremony was when Mike himself stood up with a close friend and played a song for the guests.  The song was chosen to represent the importance of the support we would need from our friends and family along the way.  We are who we are today because of the people closest to us who have helped shape our lives.  The song they played was “Strange Design” by Phish and really added a personal touch to the ceremony.

The entire soundtrack from the wedding was completely designed by us.  From the Friday night dinner rehearsal to the very last song the DJ played, it was the music we wanted to hear on our special day.  We uploaded the album to a shared site where friends and family could download it later and re-listen to the  music they heard all weekend long.  We also had personalized pint glasses filled with chocolate kisses for each guest.

Photography: Jenni Maroney Photographers / Venue: Devil’s Thumb Ranch / Florist: Pick Me! Floral and Events

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Birch, Casual Elegance, Color Palette Purple Green, Colorado, Devil's Thumb Ranch, Dogs, Jenni Maroney Photographers, Lanterns, mountains, Outdoor Ceremony, Pick Me! Floral and Events, Ranch Wedding, Wedding Flowers
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog

Grahm and I met during our Junior year at East Carolina University when I was running for Student Body Vice President. Grahm helped me campaign and it wasn’t until we graduated that we decided it was time to take our friendship to next level and begin dating.

We got engaged on July 4, 2010 and since I work in politics I decided to hold off on any planning until after the November 2010 election. Planning a wedding in six months proved to be much harder than anticipated!

Luckily with the help of our family and some incredible vendors we pulled of a wedding that we will never forget. The Highgrove Estate was the perfect “Southern” venue and allowed us the flexibility to customize our ceremony/reception and make it perfect for the two of us.

During the whole planning process I “stalked” SMP for ideas and focused on reception details. My mom is very crafty and helped with all of the diy projects from the flower balls hanging from the altar, the drink stirrers, moss monogram and sinage. These diy projects really helped us add a personal touch while staying on budget!

I was the bride that was most looking forward to celebrating at the reception and at the end of the day, the ceremony was the most magical and memorable aspect of the entire day. We were so fortunate to have my Uncle John preform the ceremony. He is an amazing speaker and very close to Grahm and I. The ceremony was incredibly personal and told stories of our childhood and the strength of marriage in our families.  It was very important to Grahm and I to include our guests so we decided to have a “blessing stone” ceremony where we gave each of our guests a stone to keep with them during the ceremony. As our guests held them they were infused with loved and then placed into a glass jar before the reception began. We now have a wonderful keepsake from our wedding and the rocks are proudly displayed on our mantle.

The entire day was a dream. From the mason jars, mini bbq sandwiches and sweet tea, the reception was just as “southern” as I imagined. After heartfelt toasts we dined “family style” and then danced the night away with our friends and family.

We are so grateful for each other and our amazing families that helped us during the process. Our wonderful vendors brought our vision to life and we cannot thank them enough. We can’t wait for the next chapter of our lives to begin!

Photography: Brent and Amanda Holloman, Millie Holloman Photography / Flowers: Suzanne Page / Event Planning & Design: DIY / Ceremony Location: Highgrove Estate / Reception Location: Highgrove Estate / Invitations: Envelopme / Shoes: Nina / Dress: Paloma Blanca / Reception Hair Piece: Etsy

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Birdcages, Chandeliers, Color Palette Navy Pink Green, DIY Projects, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Etsy, Evelopme, Fuquay Varina, Higrove Estate, Lanterns, Millie Holloman Photoraphy, Nina, North Carolina, Paloma Blanca, pies, Southern Weddings, Sparklers, Stripes, Suzanne Page, Wedding Photography
Post categories: Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Little Black Book Blog

Matt and I met as teachers in the South Dakota corps of Teach for America.  We worked on two different Reservations, but most of our first dates were in Rapid City or the gorgeous Black Hills.  The SD corps has a taste for camping, so we spent many weekends out under the mountain stars.  Sylvan Lake was the first place we said “I love you.”  When it came time to choose a wedding venue, even though Matt is from Iowa and I’m from Nebraska, so South Dakota was a destination for most of our guests, we knew it had to be there.  We organized a weekend of adventures, including a hike up Harney Peak and a welcome campfire on Friday night.  Getting to see our friends from all different points in our lives bonding together over the weekend was one of the greatest parts, and for that reason, I’d highly recommend a destination wedding to any other bride.

If you asked me to describe our wedding going into it, I would have said “classy folksy.”  We wanted big vases of curly willow and greenery, little mason jars stuffed with wildflowers, typewriters and cowboy boots, beautiful hard-bound books, handkerchiefs, baskets of petals, and a campfire.  Matt is a librarian and I just got my law degree, so we took the law & libraries theme and set it in a cabin in the woods.  Laura from Letter Box Ink couldn’t have captured our vision more perfectly than she did in our invitations; she created a book for us, titled “Lawyer Meets Librarian” with eight pages of information for our guests, and an RSVP styled like the library return card tucked in the back.  Our florist, Cynthia with Bent Willow Designs, gave us exactly the style we’d envisioned, with vases overflowing with wildflowers and willow.

We pursued the theme in a number of do it yourself projects, too: we typed the ceremony programs on our typewriter, themed like court orders and officially sealed with a wax stamp.  The escort cards were a library card catalogue; guests looked up their names to find their table.  Each table was an actual Dewey Decimal number (who knew that the Dewey Decimal system included category 0.21: “Library Relationships” ?!).  Matt’s mom hand-stamped bookmarks, which we paired with sea salt caramels (from Giggle Sweets on Etsy) as favors for our guests.  Our guest book was the typewriter, and our incredibly talented friend Dan drew us a tree for guests to fingerprint and sign.  I made paper cones for everyone to fill with petals out of the pages of my Civil Procedure book, which was, I’ll admit, incredibly satisfying to tear to pieces.  We set up my camera in the corner with a box full of costumes and chalkboards, which resulted in some of my favorite photos of the night.

Coming out of the wedding, though, if you asked me to describe it now, I wouldn’t say “classy folksy”; instead, I’d say “joyful.”  All the little details, the pretty things, the DIY projects we spent hours on, fade away in comparison to the feeling of being surrounded by loved ones on such a special day.  Ultimately, what I’m going to cherish isn’t the flowers or the sea-salt caramels, but the memory of my grandfather giving us a benediction, wearing the necklace Matt’s grandfather gave his grandmother the day before their wedding, watching as our guests passed our rings along a ribbon and blessed them before we exchanged them, our TFA best friends surprising us with a choreographed song and dance routine … and then everyone in the room standing up to sing along.  I’ll remember dancing with Matt surrounded by a circle of everyone we love.  I’ll cherish our photos, taken by Mindy Myers, because they completely capture the joy we felt.  That joy, coming out of that love, is what a wedding is really about.

To future brides, I’d recommend: do things your own way!  Everyone on this blog says it, but it’s true.  Make your own traditions, and the day will be that much more special.  Matt and I had our parents walk us toward one another, then he and I shared the walk down the aisle together, and I loved the feeling of facing the ceremony together rather than being “given away” to him.  Instead of tossing the bouquet, we gave it to my grandparents, who had come all the way from Virginia to witness and bless our union.  Our friend Emily wrote us a song, and dancing to it as we entered the reception just felt right.  We had an amazingly delicious carrot cake.  We never chose colors, per se, and our sisters and brother looked fantastic in the outfits they’d picked out for themselves.  I couldn’t be happier that even the most romantic photos of the night seem to include buffalo hats or pirate eye patches.  Your wedding should reflect who you are, even if it’s unexpected.

Most of all, surround yourself with the amazing people in your life, because sharing the day with them is going to be what you end up cherishing the most.

Photography: Mindy Myers Photography / Flowers: Bent Willow Designs / Venue: Sylvan Lake Lodge / Bride’s dress: Marisa, Kleinfeld Bridal / Groom’s suit: Badower’s of Des Moines / Save the dates: Sunshine and Ravioli / Invitations: Letter Box Ink / Cake: Piece of Cake

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Badowers, Bent Willow Designs, Books, Card Catalog, DIY Projects, Etsy, Flower girls, Kleinfeld Bridal, Lanterns, Letter Box Ink, Library, Marisa, Mason Jars, Mindy Myers Photography, Mountain wedding, Outdoor Ceremony, Pearls, Piece of Cake, South Dakota, Sunshine and Ravioli, Sylvan Lake Lodge, typewriter, Vintage Chic, Wedding Photography
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Vintage Chic

From Unique Weddings by Alexis … This wedding felt elegant without being stuffy. It was a classy, yet had a fun and inviting atmosphere for the guests. The couple really took care to build the wedding around the natural surrounds of Quechee, Vermont.

Elegance and care of the guests were top priorities for this couple and you could see this in all aspects of the wedding. The fun color scheme of bright orange was refreshing and unique compared to the more traditional autumn colors at many September weddings.

And it was the details which really made this event unforgettable! They had custom designed CD favors at each place setting, Vermont-themed hotel welcome baskets for all of their guests, wooden signage for the wedding throughout the town, chalkboard setting charts, popcorn machine and the cutest restroom amenity baskets in their luxurious executive trailers!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: A to Z Cakes, Alternate Angles Photography, Blue Guava, Chalkboards, Color Palette Orange, Dave's Septic Service, horses, Junko Yoshioka, Katrina Hess, Lanterns, Quechee, Quechee Community Church, Rain of Shine Tent and Events Company, Rentals Unlimited, Ring Bearers, Sultans of Swing, Tent, The Quechee Club, Thread Bridesmaid, Unique Weddings by Alexis, Vermont, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers