Which is exactly what we are going to do with this PERFECT Lisa Vorce wedding.

photos by Megan Sorel

The easiest way to translate this wedding is through your color palette. Using layered shades of pink and orange, then letting natural greenery in your flowers bring in a bright green hue, your palette will have depth, dimension and total style. Bring in elements of rich wood to round out the palette and give it a gorgeous foundation and sophistication.

Next, really look at the details tucked inside this wedding. There are elements of whimsy, elements of charm, elements of total sophistication. Pick 2 or 3 and run with them…

1. Give candy take-aways instead of favors. Oversided lolipops (like these from Hammonds) and other whimsical goodies will leave your guests smiling. Use old wooden boxes (found at flea markets) to hold the candy which will give them even more charm.

2. Instead of giving pashminas or wraps to your female guests, just stack a few blankets near an outdoor seating area. Wrapped in pretty ribbon, this is SUCH a charming touch.

3. Bring a bit of organic style to your look with natural linen napkins, using a simple fold. Tie them with a pretty, rich pink ribbon and tuck a stem inside. Super easy, super beautiful.

4. Parasols can be found at pretty great prices through companies like Luna Bazaar. In a variety of colors, you’ll add even more texture to your wedding decor. Open a few of them up for even more of a pop!

5. Wrap mason jars with satin pink and orange ribbon then fill with one type of stem in a monochromatic hue. Carnations packed in tightly would even look pretty adorable and would save you a pretty penny.

6. Throw pillows. Toss some brightly colorful pillows on seating areas that you either made, or bought inexpensively through places like Target and IKEA. This will add instant warmth and style.

7. Ribbon, ribbon everywhere. You can buy ribbon in bulk from places like JKM Ribbon and Trim and it will go a long way in giving your look some serious pretty.

8. Cut your flower budget by alternating with wire baskets filled with tangerines or oranges. SO striking and guests won’t think that you were skimping.

9. Wire chandeliers are a genius touch and will add so much personality to your look. The great part is that they use candles so there isn’t really a lighting charge. Most of the wire chandeliers on the market are pricey but you could also get the same effect by using wire baskets that you hang from a chain and fill with candles like this one that I spotted over on Sunset. Birdcages spray-painted black would also be gorgeous.

10. Have your maids pick out their own little black dress to compliment your chic but effortless style. They’ll love your for it and will save THEM a lot of mula.

I know that we sometimes feature weddings that are outside of many of your budgets. BUT, it’s really the ideas that are tucked inside of these weddings that makes them special. Ideas and inspirations that can be translated into any affair, on any budget. With just a little bit of editing and creativity (and getting your hands a little dirty) a budget wedding can be JUST as beautiful as a luxury affair.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 23 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Barker Decor, La Tavola, Lisa Vorce, Megan Sorel, Mindy Rice, Oh How Charming
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Look for Less

More from Lisa…

For the dinner reception – the guests dined under the most extraordinary canopy of oak trees. Perfect rigging points for our bevy of chandeliers! In addition to the chandeliers – Mindy Rice provided stunning rustic wood shelves full of pillar candles for Barker Decor to hang in the distant trees. This created the most fantastic glow as the sun went down. We brought in comfy white couches, ottomans, and chairs and created a fabulous lounge in an abandoned barn structure close to the dinner reception. Additional lounge vignettes were positioned under oak trees along the perimeter of the dinner reception to provide cozy escapes.

For the table top, Mindy created fantastic displays using florals such as hot pink and orange garden roses, hydrangea, pincushion flowers, tulips, and cumquats. They were so stunning against Barker Decor’s wood tables. La Tavola provided the beautiful linen runners and chiavari chair cushions. So simple – but so perfect! We had an absolute blast with these clients. We miss y’all!!!

It seriously doesn’t get any better than this. Coming up next…a few more details and some ideas as to how you can translate this affair into your own perfect wedding!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Barker Decor, La Tavola, Lisa Vorce, Megan Sorel, Mindy Rice, Oh How Charming
Post categories: Casual Elegance

Well, this one…is basically as beautiful as you can possibly imagine. Planned by Lisa Vorce, it’s completely delicious. Oh and the photographs…Aaron Delesie. GORGEOUS.

From Lisa…

We immediately locked in The Hacienda San Angel in Puerto Vallarta as the venue. It is a small boutique hotel and it is beyond romantic. It is one of my favorite places on the planet. Upon Kara and Ray’s arrival – we had a beautiful welcome gift waiting for them with traditional Mexican sweets and a gorgeous bottle of Tequila.  Xandra from XYZ Ink did all of calligraphy for the event including the gorgeous note in the welcome gift.

SWOON. So much more to come!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Elopement, Lisa Vorce, Oh How Charming
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

All my weddings hold a dear place in my heart — but this one is extra special!! I was working in my studio one day and received a phone call from a potential client named Kara. She told me that she and her fiance were going to elope. All she really wanted was for me to design a special “table for two” for her elopement. I got so excited about being involved in an elopement and the thought of designing one very special table — that I kind of went a little out of control. I wanted to design the entire wedding!

I knew of the perfect little romantic hacienda in Mexico for Kara and Ray — and knew my amazing team would be on board to rock out an elopement (and not just a table for two!). I told Kara my thoughts and she was delighted! From that moment on — she let me do my thing and said “I trust you”. (Music to my ears!)

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Elopement, Oh How Charming
Post categories: Cultural Beauty, Traditional Elegance

A bit more from Lisa…

As the sun went down — the trees began to sparkle with all of our hanging candlelight. The lighting was magical. It was fun to step back and watch the party. It truly was a unique and elegant old world garden party! Patricia and Austin (and the whole family!) were a dream to work with. As with all our clients… we miss them!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Lisa Vorce, Oh How Charming
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

From Lisa…

For our color story — we went with a combination of creams and taupes, and added accents of charcoal and black. For florals – the amazingly talented Mindy Rice paired gorgeous peonies, garden roses, maidenhair fern and mood moss, in aged charcoal clay vessels with more structured boxwood spheres.

For added drama and height, I had Barker Decor build Magnolia trees that “grew” out of the center of our square tables. I also had Barker create a custom taupe dance floor that matched our taupe glass chargers from Tabella. The dance floor served as the most beautiful “centerpiece” to our dinner reception.

La Tavola provided the perfect taupe linen underlays and chair cushions. The taupe cushions paired with our black chiavari chairs were beyond striking! Mindy and I had cream overlay linens sewn…and for a little twist, we added a fringe border to the overlays. It was the perfect little unexpected detail! For a little more quirkiness — we hung hand carved wood birds in the Magnolia trees. They were absolutely beautiful.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, La Tavola, Lisa Vorce, Mindy Rice, Oh How Charming, Tabella
Post categories: The Blog

From Lisa…

Patricia wanted a garden wedding with a twist! It was important to her that the decor fit the venue, and that it didn’t look too forced or overdone. She wanted a simple and elegant affair with just the right amount of quirkiness. At our first site visit, I was instantly inspired by Patricia’s venue selection — the beautiful Athenaeum in Pasadena. Gorgeous mature trees, beautiful columns, old world architecture, rich brick walkways.  I knew it was going to be a dream to design around it.

We have so much more to come from Lisa and Aaron!

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Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Lisa Vorce, Oh How Charming
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

Lisa Vorce of Oh How Charming! is the voice behind the design and Aaron Delesie is the talent behind the photographs. And together, they are a match made in wedding heaven!

Here is a little teaser while I finish gathering the details…

So much more on the way!

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Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Lisa Vorce, Oh How Charming
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

The details…oh the details. Totally festive, shockingly pretty, each detail allows the gorgeousness to really shine. And, in a completely approachable way. Later this afternoon, I am going to feature an inspiration board for an affair like this on a budget, but for now, I just thought we could soak up the pure fun of the day.

Ahhhhh. Swoon. Stay tuned for so much more fun on the way. For one, we have the FABULOUSLY talented Curtis Heyne of Living Cinema stopping by to share a vignette of the rehearsal that he put together. And much later, we are going to announce the winner of the WedVert giveaway!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Lisa Vorce, Living Cinema, Oh How Charming, WedVert
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers

I said it the last time we featured a rehearsal dinner…one girl’s rehearsal is another girl’s wedding and this one, is filled to the brim with some of the most fun inspirations and ideas you’ve ever seen. From tissue flower pomanders to flowers tucked in old cans, the entire affair is eye candy.

Held at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, this rehearsal dinner is all about celebration. It’s a complete and total contrast to the organically beautiful wedding that the couple hosted, and yet it’s every bit as delicious. We have so much more to come!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Lisa Vorce, Oh How Charming, Rehearsal Dinner
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers

Who knew that tying a beautiful selection of ribbons to the back of a chair could add such an incredible sense of charm and style to an affair. A GREAT, budget happy way to bring a little whimsy to your style! We have so much more from this gorgeous dinner after the jump.

More to come from this little piece of heaven!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Lisa Vorce, Oh How Charming, Rehearsal Dinner
Post categories: The Blog, Wedding Decor, Wedding Details, Wedding Photography

But, it’s back to business (ha) here on SMP. And by business, I mean the most beautiful wedding you’ve ever seen shot by the brilliant Aaron Delesie. I honestly don’t have enough kind words to say for this husband and wife team so I’ll just say this…f you are lucky enough to hire them for your affair, you will be happier than you ever thought possible.

It’s no surprise that the genius behind this affair is the amazingly talented Lisa Vorce of Oh How Charming! I have a major girl crush on Lisa and would honestly kill to be as chic and stylish as she is. Plus she just might be the sweetest girl you’ve ever met.

From Lisa…

Alexandra and Chris were such a treat to work with! When I first met with Alexandra, I asked her to send me some tear sheets of things she loved. She is a brilliant artist, and is extremely visual, so the collection of images she sent back told a perfect story. It was clear she gravitated towards things that were crisp, clean and simple (think Nantucket!) — yet she also loved things with an old world European vibe (think South of France!). So — we decided we were going to do both! We threw caution to the wind on this one and designed a Nantucket inspired ceremony, and a French inspired dinner reception. Two very different looks, but both wonderful expressions of Alexandra and Chris.

The incredible flowers were done by another of our favorite Little Black Book members, Mindy Rice. And let me say this about Mindy. Any time Lisa sends me a wedding and my heart does a pitter patter for the flowers, Mindy is usually the talent behind them. Her work is absolutely, positively flawless and her eye for all things chic is completely unmatched.

More from Lisa at Oh How Charming!

After the ceremony and cocktail reception, guests made their way to the Montage grand ballroom, which we transformed into an amazing European garden dining experience. We carpeted the ballroom in sisal and brought in hedging to mask three sides of the ballroom to create a lush garden setting. We used our gorgeous dark wood French farm tables and laid them out in a horseshoe formation with our dark wood dance floor in the center. Barker Decor built a beautiful dark rustic wood structure over the horseshoe formation of the tables which allowed us to hang a very simple drape above the guests. Tabella provided wonderfully simple buttercup yellow runners for the tables, and Mindy Rice did the most beautiful floral arrangements (they reminded me of Dutch still life paintings!). We accented the ballroom with a series of spiral topiaries and single ball topiaries to add to the garden look. The lighting was soft and romantic. It was such an amazing site to step back and look at the reception. It was stunning!!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Barker Decor, Lisa Vorce, Mindy Rice, Montage, Oh How Charming, Tabella
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography

Ok. Continuing on with Aaron Delesie’s FABULOUS real wedding. I am so in love with this wedding. It’s pretty, it’s sweet, it’s utterly charming. Of course, designed by Lisa at Oh How Charming!, every detail is tended to, every touch is perfectly executed.

Pure deliciousness. Easy, breezy, beautiful. (I think that I am officially watching too much TV). The perfect parasols, the sweet daisies, the handwritten wishes for the couple. Every bit of this wedding is pretty enough to eat! And lucky for us, Lisa Vorce is here to share a few of the details!

From Lisa…

For our Nantucket inspired ceremony – we knew Alexandra would need a boardwalk as her aisle runner! Barker Decor built the most beautiful white wood “boardwalk” for us with gorgeous thick white rope to mark the aisle. Mindy Rice accented the boardwalk with sweet, simple bouquets of white daisies and ribbon. For the seating, we used a combination of white wood folding chairs, and crisp white benches. I had beautiful light blue cushions sewn for the benches and we accented them with soft yellow bolster pillows. The combination of the light blue and yellow fabrics with the crisp white wood was stunning. The event was held at the beautiful Montage Resort in Laguna Beach – so we also had the amazing backdrop of the Pacific Ocean which perfectly completed our look!

{To hear more about the ceremony, check out the update that we just added to our last post!}

Back in a bit with more! In the meantime, though, I thought that I would tease you guys with another hint about the upcoming giveaway…

The brand is one that you look to for its style, approachability and unbelievable quality. Think big black and white boxes with perfect presents tucked inside. Oh and did I say that its worth more than $1,000? I meant to say that it was more than $3,000. OH YEA!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Lisa Vorce, Oh How Charming
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography

I had the incredible pleasure of meeting Aaron and his darling wife, Jen, at a recent wedding. I was a guest, they were the photographers. And when I say that I was blown away, I am hardly doing this couple justice. Not only were they all over the place, getting the most insane pictures you’ve ever seen…they were also doing so with this cool, totally approachable style. I only wish that I lived in LA so that I could be their best friend!

We have so much more on the way, including a ridiculous giveaway that is literally going to make you stop everything you are doing and jump up and down for joy! Here’s a hint…it involves one of most bride-to-be’s favorite places and is worth well over $1000. Holy Cow!}

Oh and we wanted to say a HUGE thank you to the team at Brains on Fire who helped us design that was uniquely SMP. We are so proud of our new home.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Lisa Vorce, Oh How Charming
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers

More in just a bit!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Oh How Charming
Post categories: Traditional Elegance