Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog

Jackson Hole Wedding

Abby Larson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:41 +0000

I am basically like a kid in a candy store right now. If you remember…last week, we announced our new blogging partnership with The Bride’s Guide (Martha Stewart Wedding’s blog) and we debuted one of our favorite weddings for all of Darcy’s readers. Well today, we get to reveal the GORGEOUS wedding in its entirety on SMP, including the most adorable DIY project you’ve ever seen.

When I first approached the bride from today’s affair about doing a double feature on our blog and on Darcy’s blog, she was beyond shocked. She couldn’t figure out why we chose her wedding for our launch feature. Well for us, it was a no brainer. This wedding is the epitome of all things chic, the epitome of effortless elegance. It’s a little bit organic, a little bit eclectic, a little bit fresh-from-the garden chic…and we heart every bit of it.

all of the gorgeous photos were snapped by Carrie Patterson

From the bride…

It was just a matter of days after getting engaged that we started planning our wedding. We decided to be married in Jackson Hole in the fall, our favorite time of year because most of the tourists have left and the leaves are changing colors. We chose Jackson because that’s where we met. We wanted our wedding to be as much about our guests as it was about us. If 80 people were going to have to travel, we wanted to make it a trip of a lifetime for them.

photos by Carrie Patterson

A more than 100-year-old crystal necklace and earring set inspired the look of my wedding. The set belonged to my great-grandmother on my mother’s side. My grandfather inherited the jewelry after his parents died, but the necklace clasp was broken. They were a big Catholic family with seven kids, and fixing the necklace was never in the budget. Still, my mom remembers pulling it out of her mother’s draw just to look at the necklace. Aside from a few vintage pocket watches, my mom said it was one of the most luxurious items in their house. My mom inherited the set after my grandmother passed away and had it fixed so all the granddaughters can be married in it. She’s worn the jewelry twice in 20 years, and I was the first granddaughter to wear it.

The jewelry helped us find the gown. I knew I had found my Monique Lhuillier when I put on the necklace, and my mom and I cried. They looked perfect together, and I had tried on what must have been 50 dresses. I actually had to go to San Francisco for the dress because there are not a lot of options for finding a gown in Wyoming. We don’t even have a dress shop in Jackson. I also chose San Francisco because that’s where Spencer’s parents live, and I wanted his mom to be involved.

photos by Carrie Patterson

I borrowed a veil from my college roommate, Whitney, who owns the cutest boutique. Whitney, who’s having twin girls, was one of the first of us to get married. She wants all of us to borrow her veil and plans to embroider every bride’s initials on it. So with the necklace, the veil and the dress, my attire really set the tone for the rest of the wedding. Together, they looked very vintage and “Anthropologie-esque” to me.

My bridesmaids chose their gowns. Since there was nowhere for me to look in Wyoming, my mom, sister and Whitney went shopping without me in Charlotte. It was important to me that each girl have a dress that she really loved and felt pretty in. The gals selected the three Jim Hjelm dresses and the colors. I didn’t see them until wedding day.

We have so much more goodness coming up for you from this gorgeous wedding.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Cara and Spencer, Carrie Patterson, Jackson Hole, Monique Lhuillier
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

Style Me Pretty’s Look Book!

Abby Larson — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:41:31 +0000

So. Remember last week when I mentioned that we’d be releasing a really awesome, completely chic fashion inspired tool? Well, we’ve finally put on the finishing touches, the bells and whistles, the touch of pretty to our new feature and we’re ready to shout it from the rooftops!

Introducing…Style Me Pretty’s brand spanking new fashion Look Book!

Top Row: Vera Wang, Amsale, Kenneth Pool / Middle Row: Caroline DeVillo, Modern Trousseau and Watters / Bottom Row: Monique Lhuillier, Lela Rose and Christos

We’ve cozied up with some of our very favorite designers to bring you gowns that will make you SWOON. With information on where to buy the gown, pricing (on many) and even a peek at collections that have just hit the runways, this is a completely beautiful way for you to do a little window shopping. We’ve even crafted this nifty little zoom tool where you can see the detailing on the gown in all it’s glory.

We are still working out a few details here and there (Safari isn’t working so well) so you can only expect it to get better from here…but for now, happy hunting!

Oh and I have to say a HUGE thank you to Tait, Jess and Ben for getting this baby up and running. It’s just fabulous, darlings!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Amsale, Caroline DeVillo, Christos, Designer Wedding Gowns, Kenneth Pool, Lela Rose, Look Book, Modern Trousseau, Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, Watters
Post categories: The Blog, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Fashion, Wedding Style

Chic, Beach Wedding by Details, Details, II

Abby Larson — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:50:45 +0000

So, if you haven’t already fallen head over heels in love with the wedding that we are featuring, this next post is sure to do you in. Designed and planned by the fabulous Shelly Wakefield of Details Details and photographed by our forever talented photographers at Sweet Monday, the wedding is a lesson in all things fabulous.

The wedding was held in Malibu at the Sunset Restaurant. And just as you would expect from a couple this chic, the wedding was all about style. The talented team at White Lilac made sure that every flower was perfect, every tablescape stunning. And, it’s this perfect balance of city sophistication and a relaxed beach vibe that I love so much. Bottom line, it’s total awesomeness.

To see even more from this wedding, check out Sweet Monday’s blog. Oh and that incredible cake? Who else but Vanilla Bakeshop! SUCH a fun day of fashion inspired posts. Loved every bit of it!

* * *

A quick note for those of you that applied for the open positions…we received literally hundreds of resumes, so it is going to take us a while to give the TLC that each one deserves. We’ll have an update to you by next friday!

Oh and we are keeping our fingers crossed that our new fashion tool will be out the door for you to use on Monday! Say a little prayer for us!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 28 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Details Details, Fashion, Meriah, Monique Lhuillier, Sweet Monday, Vanilla Bakeshop
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Whimsical

Chic, Beach Wedding by Details Details

Abby Larson — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:35:02 +0000

So today, we’ve been all about fashion. Weddings where fabulous fashion reigned queen and the bride and groom really put their style stamp on the clothing they chose. In my opinion, I’ve saved the best for last. You might have seen this incredible gown on other blogs, because lets face it…it’s ridiculously awesome and bloggers swooped it up the moment it went public. But, you probably haven’t seen the entire affair in all it’s glory!

Designed by the fabulous Shelly Wakefield at Details Details and photographed by Sweet Monday Photography, the wedding is pure and total fashion bliss.

So much more on the way!!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Details Details, Fashion, Meriah, Monique Lhuillier, Shelly Wakefield
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Wedding Fashion, Whimsical

Michele and Chick At The Harold Pratt House, New York

Eddye — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:00:31 +0000

You know, sometimes, when we look thru the photos of a wedding from one of our great Little Black Book members, something just jumps off the page. Sometimes it’s the beautiful setting, sometimes it’s the color palette, and pretty much everytime … it’s the emotions that they’ve captured. But the images from this wedding, from Lauren Rutten Photography … in addition to all of the above … exemplify the magnificence of traditional beauty.

First, the subtle but rich bundles of exquisite flowers amassed in elegant, old-world silver vessels. Followed closely by one single, simple bloom. A ‘catch your breath’ kind of moment …

… bunches of joy … simple love …

Lauren had this to say …

It is one of the great privileges that I am blessed with the opportunity to share very intimate moments of my couples’ lives. I mentioned to Michele that she reminds me of Ali McGraw in Love Story…such down to earth, graceful beauty …

She & Chick are the sort of true New Yorkers who love their city for all the old romance it continues to embody.

from the beautiful bride …

“The setting of our wedding was the Council on Foreign Relations ~ the Harold Pratt House ~ and we were lucky enough to have access to all of the wonderful rooms of this classic Park Avenue limestone mansion. The mansion represents old New York at its best, lots of mahogany, marble and understated elegance. I wanted guests at our wedding to feel as though they were guests at a very fancy dinner party, right out of an Edith Wharton novel. We loved being able to celebrate different portions of the evening in different rooms, ceremony in the drawing room, cocktails in the library, dinner in the ballroom, dancing in the study, dessert in the living room, etc. While our wedding was a very formal black-tie event, it was very intimate and cozy, with candles and fireplaces everywhere. There were tons of flowers, ranunculas, peonies, hydrangeas, roses, tulips, etc, no two arrangements were alike, and the goal of this late fall wedding was to incorporate as many rich jewel tones as possible. The food was delicious and included many local and seasonal ingredients. This evening surpassed all of our dreams and I really owe it all to my mom, who worked tirelessly to make everything absolutely perfect. And it was!

{from eddye … hooray for Michele’s mom!}

more from Lauren …

What resonates most with me as a photographer are the rituals of a ceremony, a couples’ body language, and how people find comfort within a space. Seeing Chick tear up at the first sight of Michele brought me to tears…and then again, under the Chuppah, the way in which Michele gently embraced Chick’s face just as they are about to kiss…this gesture I had seen before when we spent some time shooting their engagement photos. It tells me they are so at ease and gentle with each other. My preference in shooting is always to be in the midst of the goings ons…no long lens and off to the side for me. I want to feel immersed in the space & the emotion of what is happening. Often I find myself in very tight little spots in order to capture a truly unique perspective of what’s going on. I pride myself on being like a very stealth cat and not disturbing the setting…scooting in and out for just enough time to catch a few frames.

What else I remember of the day? How beautifully illuminated the rooms felt…the Chuppah appeared as though it was bathed in a lovely white glow…and the dinner in the ballroom had a sparkle of rich color everywhere.

from Lauren’s blog …

As I’ve look through the photographs during my editing process, what strikes me most are the joyful expressions on Michele and Chick’s faces. I could tell you all about how elegant everything was, how much fun everyone was having, how delicious the food was, but mostly I want to tell you about the smiles I saw radiating from this couple…

Presenting … Michele and Chick …

What a totally awesome couple!

And for a change, we’re going to give you each and every wedding vendor that we know of!

Catering: Abigail Kirsch Events; Event Designer: Frank Alexander, NYC (Flowers, Chuppah & Candles); Music: Hank Lane Productions; Lighting: GG Productions; Gown: Monique Lhuillier; Shoes: Rene Caovilla; Hair: Mahogany at Bergdorf Goodman; Makeup: Mercedes at Bergdorf Goodman; Gown Assistant/Dresser: Anna Tenorio from Kleinfeld ( she was truly wonderful!); Groom Tuxedo: Ermengildo Zegna custom made at Bergdorf Goodman; Stationary: Vera Wang; Cake- Carl Dean Heddon (designed it to look similar to Michele’s gown).

Thank you SO much Lauren & Michele and Chick for sharing all of these fantastic images from your phenomenal wedding day!!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 19 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Abigail Kirsch Events, Bergdorf Goodman, Carl Dean Heddon, Chuppah, Frank Alexander NYC, Hank Lane Productions, Harold Pratt House, Kleinfeld, Lauren Rutten Photography, Monique Lhuillier, New York, Rene Caovilla
Post categories: Centerpieces, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Photography

Real Wedding: Kim and Mel, II

Abby Larson — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:00:58 +0000

If you read Style Me Pretty, you are well aware of my complete and utter obsession with balloons. It’s kind of ridiculous really, as I will honestly jump for joy anytime I see a photograph where balloons take center stage. So obviously, when I spotted this wedding that Chenin Boutwell, one of our FAVORITE photographers, captured, I squealed with little girl glee.

There is just something so sweet about this affair. The pure joy that seems to be radiating from the photographs, the romantic style, the classic but fabulously chic details. It’s really, really easy to love. Oh and that last picture is definitely going into my all time favorites file, as it is total perfection. A stunning couple, a dress that will make you cry, balloons, confetti…um, hello.

Thank you SO very much to the hugely talented Chenin Boutwell for sharing this incredible wedding with us. And to the beautiful Kim and Mel…a big congratulations on you even bigger day!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Boutwell Studio, Chenin Boutwell, Kim and Mel, Monique Lhuillier
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Whimsical

Real Wedding: Kim and Mel

Abby Larson — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:44:20 +0000

Obsessed. That is the only word that can properly describe just how much I love this wedding. Spotted over on Chenin Boutwell’s blog, when I saw it, I nearly fell off my chair. It’s just that beautiful…with a touch of glam, a touch of vintage, a touch of all things fabulous. I am madly, madly in love.

The perfect balloons, the flowers that are as lovely as they are chic, and the dress…oh a dress. Have you ever seen anything quite so pretty? With ruffles that are complete perfection, I seriously could wear this dress every day of my life.

So much more to come from Boutwell Studio and this AMAZING affair!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 18 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Boutwell Studio, Chenin Boutwell, Kim and Mel, Monique Lhuillier
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Whimsical

Real Wedding: Erik and Melissa, II

Abby Larson — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:30:11 +0000

For those of you that don’t know about Fred Marcus Photography, it’s one of those studios where the focus is always on the couple, always on the emotion. Capturing the simple but innate beauty of the day.The perfect details and the absolute joy behind each image. And when I saw this wedding that they recently photographed, I think that I fell in love all over again.

All photographs by Brian Marcus

From the absolutely gorgeous (and by gorgeous I mean that I am a little jealous of her) bride…

We held the ceremony right in the middle of the vineyard which was such a breathtaking moment….right in the middle of the grapes! In the hours before the wedding, it poured and poured and poured, then right as I walked down the aisle the sun came out! Such a magical moment.

My gown was by Monique Lhuillier and had a beautiful ombre (gradation effect)… went from ivory to latte. An absolutely gorgeous dress. Erik wore a tux by John Varvatos, a tie by Ralph Lauren and a Vest by Duncan Quinn (who also made his cufflinks). Classic elegance.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Duncan Quinn, fred marcus, John Varvatos, Monique Lhuillier, Ralph Lauren
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Traditional Elegance

Dana & Bryan’s Wedding at Nemacolin Woodlands From 5Senses Events

Eddye — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:00:44 +0000

On one of my regular late-night forrays into our awesome Little Black Book member’s blogs, Dana & BJ’s wedding just about jumped off the page at me! The way the floral design and silk ribbons are intertwined throughout the elements of the day is EXACTLY the way to do it! We asked Simone at 5Senses Events to allow us to show it to you … see what YOU think …

Oh! And the feathers!! The feathers just added that extra special panache …

Dana was the essence of beauty …

the guys … just had to have their say in the day …

Perfect … isn’t it!?

These gorgeous photos are courtesy of Rebecca’s Place; the stunning floral design by Neubauer’s Flowers.

Dana & BJ’s wedding planner was, of course the sensational Simone, owner of Pittsburgh’s 5Senses Events! Thanks SO much for sharing. To see more of her stylish weddings, take a look at her website and blog.

We’re delighted that so many of our Little Black Book vendors have blogs of their own. Our cups runneth over with inspiration! For a complete list of all of our LBB Bloggers … click here! You’ll think you’ve gone to heaven.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 5Senses Events, Monique Lhuillier, Neubauer's Flowers, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Rebecca's Place, Shannon Britt
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Planners & Designers

Wedding Fashions by Shelly Kroeger Photography

Abby Larson — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:07:01 +0000

I just got these incredible fashion shots in my inbox and literally jumped for joy when I saw them. The amazing team over at Shelly Kroeger Photography shot the fashion story about a week ago for Gabriella’s Bridal Salon in Manhattan. The amazing Nam Vo did all of the make-up and beauty styling and the look is pure gorgeousness.

Monique Lhuillier (who else) is the designer behind the first set of gowns, with it’s perfect lace overlay and stunning silhouette. Sassy Holford designed the next set and it’s all girl. Love that! All of the head pieces were done by the AMAZING Sara Gabriel.

This could be the best dress that I have ever seen, with it’s vintage vibe and chic, totally fabulous feather detailing. I am madly, madly in love. Its by Angel Sanchez exclusively for Gabriella New York Bridal Salon, with a headpiece by Court and Plume in combination with a fabric flower by Sara Gabriel. Oh the options!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Gabriella's Bridal Salon, Monique Lhuillier, Nam Vo, Sassy Holford, Union Photography
Post categories: Accessories, The Blog, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Fashion

Real Wedding: Desiree and Ann

Abby Larson — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:48:47 +0000

We don’t feature many same sex weddings on Style Me Pretty…they simply don’t come across our desk very often. But, since our focus is on all things beautiful, any wedding is welcome as long as it’s gorgeous! So, when Sylvie Gil sent us today’s featured affair…I swooned.

From Sylvie…

Desiree and Ann had a beautiful wedding at Barndiva in Healdsburg. Desiree wore a Monique Lhuillier dress and Ann wore a Vera Wang. After several years together, they were both very ready for a commitment amongst their family and friends. The event was filled with sublime emotion and style.

So much more on the way!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 34 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Barndiva, Healdsburg, Monique Lhuillier, Same Sex, shabby chic, Vera Wang
Post categories: Real Weddings

SMP Loves…Monique Lhuillier

Abby Larson — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:14:26 +0000

Loving the ready to wear collection that Monique Lhuillier debuted with her Spring 2009 collection. I am an obvious admirer of all things Monique, but this season in particular just makes me happy. From the flirty yellow cocktail dresses to the stunning evening gowns, every piece is absolutely beautiful. My favorite just might be this particular dress that would make a gorgeous wedding gown!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Monique Lhuillier, Wedding Gowns
Post categories: Featured

Real Wedding: Anne and Dave, VI

Abby Larson — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:45:42 +0000

If you are just now popping in to SMP, we are featuring the most gorgeous wedding…complete with a stunning Indian Ceremony and a more traditionally Western reception. I love the blending of two cultures that allow us to have a beautiful glimpse into each half of the couple.

From the fabulous team at DollFace…

After a short ceremony outside the guests enjoyed cocktails before heading into the tent for dinner, dancing and toasts. While the cocktail hour was in full swing Darah and I took Anne and David all around the property as the sun was setting for their portraits. There were so many awesome details to this wedding, the paper lanterns in the tent, the tables that were each named after the bride and grooms favorite restaurants, off the hook cupcakes from one of the best bakeries in philly, her Monique Lhuillier wedding dress with bolero jacket, her Gucci heels….so much attention was put on everything and it really showed. One thing that everyone couldn’t help but notice was how much these two were in love…they had such a sense of calm about them when they were together and looked at each other with so much affection.

More to come!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Dollface, Gucii, Monique Lhuillier, Philadelphia
Post categories: Cultural Beauty, Traditional Elegance

Real Wedding: Anne and Dave, III

Abby Larson — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:00:26 +0000

Before I show you the pictures from today’s reception, you have to see how ridiculously gorgeous this bride and all of her accessories are. Makes me want to run out and buy that Monique Lhuillier capelet right now!

A really great little tidbit…as you know, the GORGEOUS photographs are by the fabulous DollFace in Philadelphia. Well, believe it or not, they also did all of the bride’s make-up! And the crazy part is…both the make-up and the photography are as good as they get. LOVE that, as photographers, they saw just how important bridal make-up is in taking beautiful images. Genius.

So much more to come!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Dollface, Monique Lhuillier, Philadelphia
Post categories: Cultural Beauty, Traditional Elegance

Philadelphia: Real Fairytale Wedding – Roseann & Paal, II

Eddye — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:38:38 +0000

Today’s fabulous wedding was sent to us by Kendall Brown of Eclatante and Donna O’Brien of Beautiful Blooms … two of Philadelphia’s wonder-women when it comes to chic, innovative, and forever-remembered wedding celebrations! We have so many images from Marie Labbancz, we seriously don’t know how we’re going to bring them all to you!

Roseann searched far and wide for the perfect locket to be attached to her bouquet that would contain photos of herself and her late father, so that, in this small way, he would truly be with her as she walked down the aisle.

This entire day was filled with so much love and so many exquisite touches! But as you all know, for each and every Plan A, there should always be a Plan B … and that is when the blissful newlyweds must roll with the punches, and allow the experts to step forward! On this particular day, it was simply rain. The planned post-wedding shoot was out, and Plan B implemented. You won’t believe where Kendall arranged for Roseann and Paal’s photo shoot.

Roseann & Paal’s luscious letterpress invitations were by the fabulous Elum. {If you’ve never actually felt one of Elum’s invitations, you should. To die for.)

We’ll be filling in more of the details and lots more photos from this amazing wedding in a bit …

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beautiful Blooms, Eclatante, Elum, Monique Lhuillier, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, St. Augustine's Catholic Church
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers