And all in the bride’s very own words …

My husband and I were married at the historic North Chapel, a recently restored naval chapel that is now open for public use. In the 1940’s the chapel was part of the Naval Training Center in San Diego, where 40,000 plus recruits were housed during WWII. My family has a long history of military service (father, brother, both sets of grandparents ~ grandmothers and grandfathers, and a great-grandfather) so I thought it would be special to be married there in a way to honor my family. With our wedding site in a historic chapel and groom and groomsmen in kilts to honor our Scottish heritage, we thought it would be nice to have our paper designs have a “vintage feel” and Sarah definitely accomplished that in her designs.

About a year and a half before I was married, I contacted Sarah with Fuzzynk Designs to see if she was interested in doing some custom paper designs for my wedding. There were a few things I had in mind from the beginning of the design process and knew Sarah would be able to deliver!

I wanted a cohesive design throughout the process ~ from our engagement announcements to the save-the-dates to the wedding invitations to the wedding signage. I wanted each wedding paper item sent out to follow the theme and to get the guests excited about the upcoming event.

Since Scott and I are both of Scottish descent, it was important for us to incorporate the colors from my husband’s family tartan into our “wedding colors” of navy blue, sage green, and ivory since he would be wearing that kilt on our wedding day. I found a picture of a Scottish luckenbooth ~ one of the most romantic of Scottish symbols since the 1700’s.  Luckenbooth pendants were traditionally exchanged between lovers at the time of betrothal.

I sent it to Sarah to incorporate into my wedding designs. Sarah’s talented husband hand drew a version of a Luckenbooth surrounded by our initials E&S which became a “wedding logo” for us and was included in everything we sent out to the guests. The best part of the luckenbooth design was included on our wedding invitations; a small paragraph explained to our guests the meaning of the luckenbooth symbol that they had seen in every design.

My husband, his family and many of his friends are from the East Coast. I was born and grew up in San Diego. My husband and I met in the Midwest at the University of Michigan (Go Blue!), so when it came to our wedding guests, we definitely had people from all over the country. At the rehearsal dinner, my mother-in-law put up a map so that people could pin where they are from in the country. It was amazing to see how many people had traveled so far to be with us on our special day. The finished map was then put on display at the reception.

FIRST LOOK ~ We had our first look at the Point Loma Lighthouse because some of the cliffs and open areas up by the lighthouse reminded us of Scotland and made for some really pretty pictures …

Haydee De La Cruz with Haydee’s Creative Flowers did all of the florals for my wedding. I knew that I wanted primarily white and green flowers with touches of thistle (the national flower of Scotland) as a nod to our heritage. Haydee took creative control from that point on and my wedding flowers were absolutely gorgeous ~ who would have thought orchids, peonies and thistles would look so good together?

Since we were going for the whole Scottish theme, when it came to transportation, I knew I wanted a classic British double-decker bus. A limo wouldn’t feel right for a bunch of men in kilts! All kidding aside, we did our bridal party pictures before the ceremony and the open-air seating on top was a great way for the bridal party to relax and take in the sights of San Diego before the wedding.

It was fun getting my husband’s groomsmen to wear full Scottish attire for the wedding. The groomsmen wore the kilts for the ceremony and pictures. As part of their groomsmen gift, we bought them matching ties to wear with a dark suit to change into for the reception. I think the guys had fun wearing the kilts, it was definitely a “once in a lifetime” experience for most of them.

Cake by Sumi’s Oven in San Diego. It was a beautiful and simple four-tier white fondant cake decorated with flowers from Haydee’s.

All photos are courtesy of our photographer John Schnack with Schnack Studios. He and his second shooter were amazing throughout the day. My husband and I felt very comfortable with him since we had done an engagement session with him a month prior. I feel he really captured the feelings and the special moments of the day and the shots never felt forced or contrived.

Thank you, Erin & Scott for sharing the details and the images from your absolutely lovely wedding!

And thanks to Sarah at Fuzzynk Design Studio for sending it our way! You can see more of Sarah’s incredible designs on her website and blog!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 28 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: California, Fuzzynk Design Studio, Haydee's Creative Flowers, Kilt, Luckenbooth, Military, Navy, North Chapel, Point Loma Linda Lighthouse, San Diego, Schnack Studios, Scottish Traditions, Sumi's Oven
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog

Between the stunning bride, the fabulous flowers and green, green, green …. LOVE.

Anasa and Jordan were married at Paradise Point in San Diego on Mission Bay on a brilliant day in May …

Her lovely gown was designed by the very talented Janelle Berté.

Isn’t this gorgeous green and orange color palette so unbelievable “joyful”?

Each photo just gets better and better …

Such vivid images … just dazzling! A HUGE thank-you to Jennifer Dery, Anasa and Jordan for sharing!!

Other wedding vendors for this terrific wedding include Ever After Events, White Wedding Day Events, and You By Design.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: California, Calla Lillies, Color Palette Green Orange, Ever After Events, Janell Berte, Jennifer Dery Photography, Mission Bay, Paradise Point Resort & Spa, San Diego, White Wedding Day Events, You By Design
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography

Today, we’re featuring one of Leigh’s most recent weddings … it’s SO fabulous, it’s so chic, and it’s captured so brilliantly, you’re going to keel over with envy! But first, the couple’s  engagement shoot!

Here’s their story from Leigh …

Tim surprised Mindy by secretly renting a theatre, asking his and her family to join them there. He then began playing a movie of the two of them through the years. As it ended, he dropped to one knee and popped the question! WOW … so romantic.

So for their engagement session, where else would we head but to that very same theatre!

I love this last shot the best. No fancy props, no special scenery … just Tim and Mindy. Their faces even fit together perfectly!

Fabulous work from Leigh Miller Photography. Thanks SO much for sharing!

On to their wedding in just a bit …

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: California, Engagement Shoot, Kansas, Kansas City, Leigh Miller Photography, Proposal Story, San Diego
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Photography

And just to give her a little more SMP luv, we thought it would be fun to show you just a bit of her own wedding!

Sarah fell in love with all-things-wedding when she was planning her April 2007 marriage to Rudy … and what resulted was a terrific wedding at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

Her wedding was featured in the San Diego Wedding Magazine, but since it’s been awhile … and because we love to feature our Little Black Book vendors’ own weddings … we wanted to show you again!

Leigh Miller, their fabulous photographer, said this on her blog …

What a fabulous wedding it was. And what made it even more fabulous was that Sarah and Rudy designed so many of their details – from the table cards, to the clay cake topper of themselves, and their own logo. So many awesome personal touches. And I can honestly say every single person they had working on their wedding did a great job  ~ ~~  Melissa from I Do….Weddings did a spectacular job keeping everything going, despite about 2,000 people at the Wild Animal Park!

The ceremony was beautiful and in their vows they said something that I thought is really important to remember,

“I promise to care more about your feelings than about being right.”

I must admit there was some serious laughter when they each said that.

Leigh shared some of Sarah & Rudy’s Engagement shots, from the San Diego Zoo with us, too!

As Abby would say, “Soooo stinkin’ cute!”

Thanks SO much to Leigh Miller Photography, Sarah {Fuzzynk}, and Melissa Barrad {I Do….Weddings} for being part of our illustrious Little Black Book!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: California, Fuzzynk, I Do...Weddings!, Leigh Miller Photography, San Diego, San Diego Wild Animal Park, San Diego Zoo, Shoes
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Photography, Whimsical

It’s a little known fact that small, intimate destination affairs are actually a better budget option than a homegrown wedding…with so few guests, you have more wiggle room on your decor, on making the experience all about luxury and romance. Although not practical for everyone (read: my huge Irish Catholic family would never let me get away with this), for the right bride and groom…it’s a dream!

photographs by the wonderfully talented Shannon Lott

Thank you so much to Karen Tran for sending us today’s wedding! When I say that it was beautiful, I am hardly doing it justice. Karen’s work is always a perfect combination of chic style and approachable elegance. If you are lucky enough to hire her, you can sleep easy knowing that your affair will be drop. dead. gorgeous.

We have another wedding coming up!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beach, Christy and Kirk, Karen Tran, San Diego
Post categories: Casual Elegance

Christy and Kirk were married this past April in San Diego at the Hotel Del Cornado. They wanted a dreamy, but chic style with a subtle Nantucket flair. Since they had a grand total of 8 guests, they were able to splurge a bit with the flowers and decor. And in a word, it was stunning. The planning was done by the hugely talented Emily Smiley.

All of the amazing photographs were shot by Shannon Lott…who seemed to capture the sophisticated, fabulously chic style to perfection. Love, love, love everything about this wedding. And the reception, well. Let’s just say that it only gets better from here!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beach, Hotel Cornado, Karen Tran, San Diego, Seaside, Shannon Lott
Post categories: Casual Elegance

Jason’s mother is from Puerto Rico and wanted a Latin flair for her son’s rehearsal dinner in San Diego, California. The location was the Loews Coronado Bay Resort on Coronado Island, with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and the Coronado Bridge as a backdrop!

Instead of a normal guest book, guests took pictures with a Polaroid camera, filled in information about where they had traveled from to be with the couple, cute stories about the bride or groom and advice for the couple.

One touch that was special to the groom was using his late grandmother’s Puerto Rican recipes for some of the items on the menu. She would spoil her grandchildren with her cooking and as a surprise Sarah was able to give the chef at the Loews the grandmother’s recipes. The groom said, “It was like she was here with us, and the food tasted just like hers, made with love.”

All these beautiful images were provided by Bouchér Photography. Floral Design by Kathy Wright and Company. Invitations by Simply Personal.

Kristin, Angie and Sarah added so many festive touches throughout the affair. From Kristin, “We also incorporated a specialty drink to fit the theme of the event and they were styled with cute stir sticks. The stir sticks were imprinted with the name of the specialty drink. One of our favorite sites to get stir sticks, napkins, coasters and other items to personalize your event is For Your Party.”

We have a few more photos and details from Kristin coming up … so check back in a few minutes!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: AK Event Design, Boucher Photography, California, For Your Party, Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Puerto Rico, San Diego, Specialty Drinks
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Planners & Designers

The wedding colors revolved around orange and apple green.

Combined with the natural hues of the sand and sea, a wondrously beautiful landscape evolved.

The wedding reception was held in the ballroom of the Hotel del Coronado , San Diego, California.

How utterly romantic is this decor! The ‘Del’ is well-known for it’s ‘Crown’ chandeliers. Hanging crystals, floating candles, a seamless GOLD dance floor and burnt-copper colored pillows on the lounge chairs completed the overall feeling of warmth, excitement and love.

Photography by Tim Otto. Wedding coordination by Emily Smiley. Custom dance floor from Platinum Pro.

Tyler and Matthew … Congratulations from all of us at Style Me Pretty!  And to Tyler’s Mom (”from one mom to another” …)  fabulous.

Karen and her dedicated team are solely responsible for creating THE most amazing wedding and floral designs for San Diego and Orange County brides. All you have to do is take one look at her own blog to see the most incredulous creations you’ve ever seen. Karen says she owes her talents to her father’s green thumb! Those in the wedding industry wholeheartedly say “thank-you, Mr. Tom!”

Karen’s blog is filled with extraordinary design ideas from past weddings and future brides …

Peacock inspired wedding flowers (photography by Rippee Photography)

Ladies slippers and anemones …

And perhaps the quintessential of all … Karen’s own wedding …

Photography by Darin Fong. Event coordination by Emily Smiley.

You simply must go to Karen’s blog to see more photos of her unique and incredible floral designs … as well as more photos from her own exquisite wedding!

And …  if that’s not enough, she has another site filled with even more wedding eye candy: San Diego Weddings.

She is one amazing lady!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beach, Color Palette Orange Green, Hotel del Coronado, Karen Tran, Orange County, Parasols, Platinum Pro, San Diego, Sand Ceremony, Smiley, Tim Otto
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Style

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 1 comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Flowers, Karen Tran, San Diego
Post categories: Featured

A few more details from the bride, Ashley…

My mom did all of the centerpieces. The tables were all named after some of our favorite singers from the 40’s and 50’s. We even bought the chargers off another bride and made the black cloth’s to go under the flowers to tie it all together. Our food was vegetarian (as I am).

We had Phil Shane, a local legend of an Elvis Impersonator, perform and he had everyone up and dancing!

And we had a photo booth which doubled as favors for our guests and we asked them to take one set to put in our guest book!

All in all, it sounds like a pretty incredible day!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Phil Shane, San Diego, Stephanie James
Post categories: Real Weddings, Vintage Chic

From Ashley…

We got married on May 17, 2008 in Rancho Santa Fe, California (outside of San Diego). I grew up in the area and although I have been living in Los Angeles for 10 years, I wanted to return to have our wedding at my favorite place in the world. The home of Eleanor “Bita” Dean, who is like my grandmother and was my nanny growing up. Her home was built in the 1930’s and is so elegant and filled with vintage class and flare. I spent much of my childhood at her home, from the age of 3 months! It was absolutely perfect for us and had the perfect mix of sentimentality, class and sass, just our style!

My dress was a Stephanie James which I had her put black polka dot tulle underneath because our wedding colors were black and white (and I love polka dots!), and our wedding had a clear vintage rockabilly theme throughout.

We were on a budget for the entire event, so I found a photographer through a friend of mine that was only $900! AMAZING! Her name is Pamela Marie and she has since relocated to Pennsylvania, but she was incredible to work with and I thought the photos were unbelievable. I did the invitations myself, and my mother did the flowers.

We wanted to infuse our personalities into the day as much as possible…so, I walked down the aisle to Jonny Cash! It’s a Scandinavian wedding tradition for a newly married couple to saw a log together so we did just that! I wanted our flower girls to have dresses that were fun and could be worn again, just like the bridesmaids. Their mother picked these out and they were perfect! And, I asked all my bridemaids to pick dresses that they loved and felt good in, as well as could be worn again.

More to come!!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: San Diego, Stephanie James
Post categories: Real Weddings, Vintage Chic