Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Ely Fair Photography…I am in love with this Tulsa, Oklahoma wedding. Michael and Jill’s indoor/outdoor wedding is one of the most thought out and handmade that we have had the joy to photograph. The ceremony and reception took place at the Harwelden Mansion, a perfect venue for the charm of an older home, yet still personal and cozy. The bride and her maid of honor made almost everything- including pinwheel bouquets and boutonnieres, dying her bridesmaid dresses the perfect color yellow, hundreds of cut out bunting and folded paper cranes. The bride’s dress is vintage, ordered off of eBay and topped off with a sweet bird cage veil. But not to leave the groom unmentioned– he works at a screen printing company and majored in graphic design, so he designed and screen printed their save the date and invitations.

One of my favorite things about this wedding was their first sight. Most brides will timidly approach their groom. But not Jill. She walked right up to Michael, and tickled him. It was pretty fun. Michael and Jill have the cutest little girl together, and after their first sight, it was really fun to get to take some family photos of the three of them. Lots of love going on on that day.

Wedding Photography: Ely Fair Photography / Flowers: DIY by Maid of Honor / Ceremony + Reception Location: Harwelden Mansion / Invitations: The Groom / Wedding Cake: Merrit’s Bakery

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 23 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Ely Fair Photography, Harwelden Mansion, Merrits Bakery, Oklahoma, Tulsa
Post categories: Do-It-Yourself Inspired, The Blog

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…When we began planning our wedding, we knew we wanted it be very…us. When we first started looking for venues, we had trouble deciding because we wanted to have something very different without spending a ton of money. After dinner one night at Sam’s family home, it dawned on us that we could just use their barn, since it is gigantic!

Sam and I both wanted different styles, rustic and vintage. After much deliberation, we decided, why not combine the two? We used the barn as our biggest rustic feature and added vintage touches in the tables, flowers and attire. Every detail was considered in how it related to us as a couple. The books on the tables played on my (Rachel) degree in english and love of literature while the mason jars and other pieces were taken from our own decorations at home.

By the day of, we were a little nervous as to how it would all turn out. I had this image in my head of how we wanted to look but wasn’t sure it would actually translate. When I walked into the reception, I was blown away. I knew I had worked on all the details and been a part of all the work, but to see it all together was just wonderful. As much work as it was doing most of it DIY, it was totally worth it in the end. Plus, having amazing vendors makes it SO much better! We worked hard up until the day of, then they took over for us, so we didn’t have to do a thing except enjoy each other and our friends and family.

Wedding Photography: Andrea Murphy Photography / Flowers: Bridal Garden / Event Design: DIY / Invitations: Paper Girl / Wedding Dress: Bridal Palace / Entertainment: Zach Downing Entertainment / Make-up: Faccia Bella / Rentals: Dress My Event / Catering: Chefs on the Run / Bar: Blue Label

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 49 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Andrea Murphy Photography, Barn Wedding, Blue Label, Bridal Garden, Bridal Palace, Chefs on the Run, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Dress My Event, Faccia Bella, Oklahoma, Paper Girl, Tulsa, Zach Downing Entertainment
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog

Alan and I met while working at CVS.  We are both pharmacists and he was scheduled to pick up a shift at my store.  The first time we saw each other was through the glass of a drive through window.  He was coming by to get a copy of his work schedule (and just to meet me, I later found out).  His smile and big blue eyes made me blush instantly.

We love to travel so almost instantly we started planning trips with his best friend and his wife.  We probably take two or three trips with them every year, so it was nothing out of the ordinary for the four of us to be going on a trip to Mexico.  One night while we were there, we had a wonderful meal and Alan asked me to take a walk on the beach after dinner.  We kicked off our shoes and walked along the beach talking about life and our plans.  Alan then led me down a pier and we just looked out over the ocean holding each other and then he got down on one knee and I burst into tears.  He had such a lovely speech prepared and I am not sure if i heard all of it, but I did hear him ask me to grow old and wrinkly with him and managed to say YES once I stopped crying ten minutes later.

We definitely wanted an outdoor wedding with a rustic feel, so what better than a barn to house our wedding?  After much Googling, I found The Barn at Vive le Ranch through a photographers website.  We set a meeting to see The Barn and fell in love.  The entire area was just so beautiful we didn’t look anywhere else.  Besides the beauty of the area, The Barn just gave a feeling of love and warmth, which was perfect for our wedding.  We could already envision everyone laughing and dancing.  Kids running around and playing on the wooden swing!

We wanted our wedding to reflect us. The day needed to be relaxing and casual with simple but beautiful florals and a spring like essence.  The colors we used were lavender, buttercup, and heather grey.  The soft colors remind me of spring, plus I happened to find perfect bridesmaids dresses at J. Crew that had all these colors, so it was meant to be. We gave the colors and feel to Christina (our wedding planner and designer) and she came back with the perfect vision! She knew both of us wanted rustic, so thats where the haybales and flowers in mason jars came in.

During the ceremony, we decided to have a salt covenant, rather than a unity candle, etc.  The idea arose from biblical times when people would make commitments to each other using salts from each person.  The salts are combined and the covenant may only be broken when the individual grains of salt are separated from one another.  Alan and I each had a sachet of salt and combined them in a crystal bowl leant from my mom.

Our wedding day was perfect. Perfect to us. We wanted the day to represent everything that encompasses us as a couple, but also as individuals.  The day was a reflection of our pasts and our upbringing.  The family and friends witnessing our vows, are the people who have influenced our lives. They are responsible for creating the man and the woman we have become.  God planned for us to be together and our family and friends lit the path for us to find each other.  We are so grateful for our love and the love that has always supported us.

Photography: Candi Coffman Photography / Cinematography: Cherished Traditions / Flowers: Anne Marie Foy, The French Bouquet / Event Design: Christina Clayton, Zinke Design / Event Planning: Christina Clayton, Zinke Design / Ceremony Location: The Barn at Vive Le Ranch / Reception Location: The Barn at Vive Le Ranch / Invitations: Minted / Dress & Hair Flowers: Adele Wechsler, Unbridaled / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew and Nordstrom / Catering: The Chalkboard / Cake: Ludger’s Cakes / Registry: Honeyfund

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Adele Wechsler, Barn Weddings, Candi Coffman Photography, Casual Elegance, Chalkboards, Cherished Traditions, Color Palette Purple Yellow Gray, Cowboy Boots, DIY Projects, Farm Weddings, Hamburgers, haybales, Honeyfund, J. Crew, Ludger's Cakes, Minted, Nordstrom, Oklahoma, Outdoor Ceremony, Rustic, The Barn at Vive Le Rance, The Chalkboard, The French Bouquet, Tulsa, Unbridaled, Wedding Planners & Designers, Zinke Design
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

We are not quite done with all of the gorgeousness!  Check out this amazing video by Airloom Entertainment!

From Amanda Watson Photographers… Krystal and TJ’s wedding was nothing short of perfect! They had specifically chosen the first week in July so that the weather would be warm, but pleasant. Well, if anyone has ever been to Oklahoma…they know the weather is totally unpredictable so it was hot! The hottest day in the state so far, but that didn’t hinder their spirits! They each got ready at The Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa — what better place? Krystal’s bridesmaids slipped into their floor length, strapless navy gowns and headed off to the ceremony at Holy Family Cathedral. Krystal’s dress was waiting for her there and paired it off with a beautifully beaded bolero and cathedral veil.

The ceremony was early in the afternoon and we had quite a delay before the reception, so we took the bridal party around downtown to get some fun shots of them just having fun and getting to spend some time together. When we arrived at Southern Hills Country Club the bridal party was tucked away in a private room for a quick bite before cocktail hour and the bride and groom got to see their gorgeous room before the guests entered. Anne Marie of The French Bouquet did a fabulous job executing Krystal’s idea of the perfect reception: white and fluffy! Hydrangea’s covered the room and the acrylic chairs on the head table topped off the effect! The room simply glowed — as did Krystal when she got to see her wedding dreams come to fruition.

They danced the night away to the IJ Ganem band and at 10:00pm sliders were served for a quick pick-me-up for their guests! Their family and friends sent them off right; lighting wish lanterns which floated over the Tulsa night sky as they went off to their honeymoon in Hawaii!

Wedding Photography: Amanda Watson Photographers / Cinematography: Paul Boukadakis of Airloom Entertainment / Preparations: The Mayo Hotel / Wedding Ceremony Location: Holy Family Cathedral / Wedding Reception Location: Southern Hills Country Club / Floral Design: The French Bouquet / Wedding Stationary: The Inviting Place / Bride’s Hair: Kathy Lookout / Makeup: Glamor Artz / Transportation: Old Urban Trolley / Band: I.J. Ganem

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 21 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Amanda Watson Photographers, Glamor Arts, Holy Family Catherdral, IJ Ganem, Kathy Lookout, Oklahoma, Old Urban Trolley, Southern Hills Country Club, The French Bouquet, The Inviting Place, The Mayo Hotel, Traditional Elegance, Tulsa
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

It was still dark out, I was in a dead sleep, and I woke up to Tido barking uncontrollably.  I looked out my bedroom window and saw a white Range Rover parked in my driveway.  First thought – “Did I win some sweepstakes I had forgotten about?”  A few seconds later the doorbell rings.  I peep out the door and see two girls that I recognize, Christina Clayton (event planner and one of my precious TU Thetas a few years back) and Arin Zinke (owner of Zinke Design).  Still confused, I open the door and Christina hands me my usual starbucks order: a pumpkin spice latte and a coffee cake.  It’s at this point I decide to let them in.  Arin hands me a gorgeous tri-fold invitation in pink and gray (my two favorite colors) with a pink bow on it.  I open it and read the following: “Laina D. Riffe you are cordially invited on a journey of a lifetime.  You have 1 hour to pack your bags. Suggested items:  2 dressy, 2 casual, etc. Temperature: high 70s, low 50′s.”  It also tells me that arrangements have been made to take care of Tido which eases a little bit of my anxiety.

With yesterday’s mascara still under my eyes and in a state of complete shock, I say bye to Arin and Christina and run back to my closet to frantically start packing.  I’m pretty sure I stand there frozen for about 30 minutes because I end up just throwing a bunch of stuff in my carry-on suitcase at the last minute.  I am finally ready and packed and I am telling Tido bye when my doorbell rings at 7am sharp. This one I am expecting, as it is my ride.  I load up and settle in the car when the driver hands me a smaller version of the original pink and gray package.  I open this one and it says “Your journey begins at Tulsa International Airport.”  It also has a record locator printed on a page (the key to where I am going) but I decide not to look it up until I get to the airport.

I arrive at the airport and find out I am going to Washington DC – yea my favorite place!!  Its at this point that I realize that I forgot to pack any underwear – oh well I did my best in the time allowed.  I have flown a trillion flights this year (thank you long-distance relationship) but I’ve never felt more anxious on a flight in my entire life. The 45 minute trip to Dallas felt like 4 hours and the flight to DC felt like a lifetime.  I’m also pretty sure the flight attendant was judging me when I ordered the double bloody mary at 9am on a Thursday, but what’s a girl gonna do.  I finally arrive at DCA at 3pm EST.

I get to baggage claim and I see Tom’s friend Mike waiting for me with another gray and pink box.  Mike hands me the box and I open it to read “You have completed the first step of your journey.  If you wish to continue, please take this key and your driver will take you to the next destination.”

So we get in the car and he makes me put a blindfold on.  We drive for about 20 minutes and when we finally arrive at our destination, Tom opens my door and leads me (still blindfolded) up a few steps and through a door.  He tells me I can take my blindfold off and he is not only on one knee with the most beautiful ring, but he is also standing in the house of our dreams that he had put an offer on a few weeks back, but told me we didn’t get it!!!  After this, I have no idea what he said but it was wonderful!!!!   My new fiance then says “welcome home,” hands me a glass of champagne and, just as I have settled down and think I can relax, he hands me a small envelope.

Thinking its just a little personal card from him, I open it and I read “It’s now time to celebrate!  Grab your bag and your fiance and head to one of the romantic cities in the world…ROME!!!!!!!” Eek!!!!!!   Needless to say, I was freaking out!!   We had the most fabulous time in Rome and every single detail of our proposal was absolutely perfect.  I have dreamed of this day ever since I was a little girl and Tom definitely exceeded anything I could have ever dreamed of!!   I couldn’t be more excited to spend my life with this man.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Wiley Valentine…This is by far one of my favorite projects we have worked on to date! The story is completely out of a fairy tale. It’s the story of a surprise proposal, think custom letterpress pieces found inside custom fabric wrapped boxes…think surprise trip to Italy.  So romantic!

Custom Paper Items: Wiley Valentine / Coordination & Planning: Zinke Design / Paper Goods Photography: James Walton Photography

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 55 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Grey, Oklahoma, Pink, Proposal, Tulsa, Wiley Valentine, Zinke Designs
Post categories: California Weddings

Duston Todd is the genius behind the photographs, shooting the wedding entirely in film.  An approach that is incredibly (and sadly) rare these days but that yields results that nothing else can compare to. The images truly tell the story of the day, the joy behind every smile.

To see the rest of this amazing wedding, check out Duston’s blog. He has a million absolutely gorgeous images that will really give you a sense of just how lovely this affair was. Thanks so much Duston for sending it our way!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Duston Todd, Oklahoma, Tulsa
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

I love that they brought the indoors out…using beautiful rugs and antique furniture to create a warm and cozy outdoor environment. It’s so pretty, it actually makes me cry a little bit.

More in a bit from the FABULOUS Duston Todd!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Duston Todd, Oklahoma, Tulsa
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

But I think that what I love most, are the absolutely STUNNING, all film photographs. Photographs that are literally some of the most spectacular I’ve seen in a long time, that will give this gorgeous bride and groom the most incredible memories of their beautiful day.

Seriously? Obviously it isn’t realistic for all of us to look this perfect, but it’s totally realistic to have photographs that are this gorgeous, this emotional, this captivating. Duston is always surprising me with his work. Some of it is whimsical and full of personality, some of it is all about the style. And this wedding is by far one of his best. I can’t wait to show you the rest!!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Duston Todd, Oklahoma, Tulsa
Post categories: Traditional Elegance