Wedding Dress: Dolly Couture / Shoes: Target / Cocktail Ring + Black Dress + Clutch: Kate Spade / Sparklers: Tops Malibu via Mrs. Lilien

AAA-DORE, right? Dolly Couture is tops in our book as I’m sure you agree. These gowns are a dazzling combination of smart, sassy, short and sweet… and all with a vintage vibe.  Swoon.  Plus, with an amazing line of accessories, petticoats and headpieces to complete your style, you’re guaranteed a look that’s drop-dead gorgeous AND ultra-chic on your big day.  And who doesn’t love that?!?

So, here’s where it gets really awesome.  In celebration of our 2011 Best of Magazine, the fabulous team at Dolly Couture is giving one lucky reader a the to-die-for-darling dress pictured above OR a $495 credit to be used towards a dress.  I know. Amazing.

To Enter: Head on over to the Dolly Couture website and leave a comment below telling us which Dolly style is your favorite. (Example – The GORGEOUS Avila Bay)

To Win: The winner, chosen completely at random using a number generator, will be announced right here on SMP on Friday, February 17th.

A big thank you to Dolly Couture for bringing their fabulous style to our Wednesday!  Good luck, SMP-ers! xoxo

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 350 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Cocktail Dress, Dolly Couture, Fashion, Giveaway, Little White Dress, magazine, Pink, Vintage
Post categories: The Blog

I told Ken he would never be able to surprise me… with anything. I always figure things out! This declaration put his mind to work on a proposal that I will never forget.

As resident physicians at the Medical University of South Carolina, we do not get much time off. And on one average Friday afternoon, I was begrudgingly preparing OR 3 for an add-on emergency case – or so I thought. Ken popped into my room and I grumbled about the day. When I stopped to look at him, I noticed a worried but excited look on his face. His hands were shaking. Both are very unlike my usually calm and serious surgeon!

That’s when Ken grabbed my hands, said the sweetest words, and got down on one knee. As he pulled a blue velvet box from his scrub pocket, my eyes welled with tears. The next thing I knew, I had the most gorgeous ring on my finger. We exited the operating room to hear a hallway full of colleagues cheering and clapping for us. Surprise! There was no add-on case, and so we left the hospital to celebrate the beginning of our beautiful engagement.

Being originally from Alabama, I knew that I needed an expert to navigate the Charleston wedding scene. Katherine Miller Events was just that company. Immediately upon meeting with Katherine I knew that I had found someone super-reliable – with great taste – who I could completely count on to put together the romantic, stylish and Anthropologie-esque wedding celebration that I had in mind. Together, Katherine, Ken and I chose Bethel Methodist Church for the ceremony and the Historic Rice Mill building for our reception venue. Located waterfront on the Ashley River, we knew the spectacular sailboat and sunset views were the perfect backdrop for our Lowcountry wedding.

Having a fabulous photographer was high on my list of priorities, so Katherine introduced me to Charlotte Zacharkiw of Charlotte Elizabeth Photography almost immediately. Her personality jived with my own and her portfolio made me swoon. From our fun and intimate downtown Charleston engagement session to our colorful getaway photos in a classic Charleston Black Cab, Charlotte made every shot unique.

And while Ken and I wanted our unique personalities to show, I also wanted to incorporate one very important tradition: my grandmother’s wedding dress, worn again by my mother and aunt on their wedding days. The team at White on Daniel Island carefully applied the lace from this vintage dress onto my veil, sewing each stitch by hand. It complemented my all-lace gown perfectly! White was the first and only store that I visited as owner Jodi Moylan presented me with “the one” soon after I walked in. To complete my vintage ensemble, Ken purchased a gorgeous antique pearl and rhinestone bracelet from Out of Hand for my wedding gift.

We decided not to see each other before the ceremony, and I’m so glad we did. Instead, I had the pleasure of reading a hand-written note expressing his happiness for the day ahead. Then my bridesmaids surprised me! They coordinated a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride for our transportation to the church. It was such a great touch and special moment to ride through historic downtown Charleston with my favorite girls.

One of my favorite memories of our wedding was the moment I saw my bouquet. Whitney Randall of Branch Design Studio used soft pink and white ranunculus, dusty miller, copper beech leaves, café au lait dahlias, lisianthus, and scabiosa pods to create a masterpiece. Throughout the day, I was absolutely blown away by the beauty and complexity of the arrangements, bouquets, and especially the copper-charmed boutonnieres.

Our flowers were set on ivory, rose and gold colored linens at the Rice Mill. At my request, Katherine incorporated ivory lace in as many places as possible – including the cake table. Our red velvet and cream cheese wedding cake was designed and made by Ken’s close family friend, and needless to say it was devoured promptly after our champagne toast! Pastel-colored French macaroons were also a hit with our guests. I fell in love with The Macaroon Boutique during the engagement and couldn’t wait to set out a variety for my friends and family to try!

I must say that I was most excited to see the whimsical, hand-painted chandeliers Katherine and Whitney made and displayed on the tall oak trees outside the Rice Mill’s entrance. Our multicolored confetti send-off combined with the soft lighting of these chandeliers to create a beautiful final scene. Ken and I were in the clouds over our day, and we still can’t think of one single thing we would have changed! We wanted our guests to leave happy and full of great memories, and I think we achieved just that.

Event Design & Planning: Katherine Miller events / Photography: Charlotte Elizabeth Photographer / Flowers: Branch Design Studio / Boutonniere Tags: Etsy / Ceremony Location: Bethel Methodist Church / Reception Location: The Historic Rice Mill / Caterer: Good Food Catering / Dress: White / Veil: Family heirloom / Cake: Family friend / Macarons: Macaroon Boutique / Band: New South Players

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Post tags: Anthropologie, Bethel Methodist Church, Branch Design Studio, Charleston, Charlotte Elizabeth Photographer, Confetti, Copper, EastCoast Entertainment, Etsy, Flower Girs, Good Food Catering, Katherine Miller events, Lace Gown, Macaron Boutique, macarons, Neutral Color Palette, New South Players, Pastels, Roses, South Carolina, The Historic Rice Mill, Traditional Elegance, Vintage, Vintage Lace, Wedding Planners & Designers, White
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance

Meg & Dan | A Wedding at Elkhart Lake from I Do Films

Dan and I got married on the most perfect summer day in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin – the same location where we had met six years earlier before my freshman year at Cornell.

I had always dreamed of having a tent wedding, so it was easy to settle on the beautifully-trimmed lawn at Victorian Village as the location for our reception. Using the warm, friendly, and vintage aesthetics of this family-run and family-fun resort as the foundation for our inspiration, my mom and I infused a little “Father of the Bride” and a few homemade touches to create a romantic and unforgettable Midwestern bash.

We started the day at my family’s home on Elkhart Lake, where Dan and I had a “first look,” but a very different kind. We were surrounded by my whole family while I came down the stairs and my brothers, dad, and Dan saw me for the first time. It was so special to have my whole family with us for such an important moment. The ceremony took place at Holy Name of Jesus in Sheboygan, where Dan had grown up and gone to church as a child. Our priest, who flew in from my family’s home parish in Los Angeles, stole the show with an incredibly touching homily that made reference to our “path” around Elkhart Lake. After the ceremony Dan and I took photos at a friend’s barn while our guests sipped homemade vodka lemonades and munched on Wisconsin cheese and meatballs.

Our 242 guests found their seating assignments on frames hung from vintage glass door knobs that Dan helped me power-drill onto a salvaged barn door found at my favorite antique shop, The Red Rooster in Plymouth. Dinner proceeded in a 60’ x 100’ century tent that glowed with warm rosy uplighting, ivory rice paper lanterns, and string lights. The tables were adorned with fresh roses, hydrangeas, and plenty of candles found at a local craft store by our florist Silvana Cassia of Twig Flowers. An oversize slate found at an antique shop and framed chalkboards found on HerMajestysPug’s shop on Etsy served as the menus for dinner and cocktails. To finish the look, we invested in a black-and-white checkered dance floor that exuded a snappy, jazzy feel.

A Beatles cover band called The Cavern Beat played four sets and kept the dance floor packed with guests of all ages. My mom always told me, “Meg, all you need for a great party are the two B’s: booze and a band.” She was so right!

Dessert included chocolate ganache cake from the bakery at the local Piggly Wiggly adorned with hydrangeas, an ice cream bar, and my mom’s molasses, snickerdoodle, and chocolate-chip cookies served on a three-tier cookie tower created with the help of a local carpenter.

We absolutely loved working with Anna and Jonathan Wheeler of Anna Page Photography, as well as Matt Buckman and Élan Villamor of I Do Films. Their ability to go with the flow, their attention to detail, and their cat-like reflexes certainly did not go unnoticed! Dan and I are so grateful to both of them for documenting our memories in such a beautiful and unique way!

Photography:  Anna Page Photography / Cinematography: I Do Films / Tent: Canopies Events / Band: The Cavern Beat / Event Coordination: Laura Cooper, Cooper Consulting / Floral Design: Twig Flowers / Ceremony Location: Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church / Caterer & Reception Location: Victorian Village Resort / Invitations: Bella Figura / Bride’s Dress: Amsale via Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang / Bride’s Heels: Vince Camuto / Bride’s Flats: Aldo / Bride’s & Bridesmaid’s Earrings: Anthropologie / Bride’s Bracelet: J.Crew / Engagement Ring and Groom’s Ring: Steve Quick Jeweler / Floral Hair Clip: Sara Gabriel / Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse / Groom’s Bowtie and Groomsmen’s Ties: Brooks Brothers / Hair & Makeup: Aspira Spa, The Osthoff Resort / Guest Transportation: Discovery Coach / Wedding Party Transportation: Stargazer Limousine / DJ: Matt’s DJ Service/ String Quartet: Jubilate String Quartet, kayesara@hotmail.com (Sarah Oftedahl ) / Guest Photo Station: Beyond the Booth Photography / Candle Holders & Flower Bases: Hobby Lobby & Pier 1 Imports / Framed Blackboard Cocktail Signs: HerMajestysPug / Ice Cream Sign: The Back Porch Shoppe / Cake: Natalie’s Pastries, natalieblattner@hotmail.com / Ice Cream: Scoops Ice Cream Parlor

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aldo, Amsale, Anna Page Photography, Anthropologie, Aspira Spa, Bella Figura, Beyond the Booth Photography, Black Tie, Bowties, Brooks Brothers, Canopies Events, Chinese Lanterns, Cooper Consulting, Discover Coach, Elkhart Lake, Etsy, Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Inspired, HerMajestysPug, Hobby Lobby, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, I Do Films, Ice Cream, Invitations, J. Crew, Jubilate String Quartet, Matt's DJ Service, Men's Wearhouse, Natalie's Pastries, Neutral Color Palette, Outdoor Weddings, Pier 1 Imports, Piggly Wiggly, Rustic Chic, Sara Gabriel, Scoops Ice Cream Parlor, Sheboygen, Stargazer Limousine, Steve Quick Jeweler, Tented Reception, The Back Porch Shoppe, The Beatles, The Cavern Beat, The Osthoff Resort, Traditional Elegance, Twig Flowers, Vera Wang, Victorian Village Resort, Vince Camuto, Vintage, Wedding Cinematography, Wedding Stationery, White Color Palette, Wisconsin
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Cinematography

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride…  Zack is Jewish and I am Catholic, so we decided to forego a traditional, religious wedding in favor of a vintage-themed party with a Southern influence. Shortly following our engagement, Zack and I found Casa Feliz, a Mediterranean-style farmhouse built by James Gamble Rogers II during the Great Depression. Zack and I visited Casa Feliz once and were in awe of its Spanish tiled roof, whitewashed bricks, vaulted ceilings with huge, exposed beams, hand-carved, antique furniture, and immaculate landscaping intertwined with the old southern oaks. Without visiting any other venues, Zack and I decided Casa Feliz was the perfect location for our wedding. Once we established the venue, Zack and I wanted to personalize the space. When we started dating, Zack and I rode my parents’ vintage, tandem bike as often as we could. Because riding a tandem, especially one as heavy as my parents’, takes extreme teamwork, we figured it drew a great parallel to marriage and should be the focus of our theme. Additionally, Zack and I met on a camping trip, so we also wanted to incorporate rustic, outdoorsy details in the décor. I adore antiques – from Victorian to art deco to retro — I love everything vintage! Zack consented to including vintage details in our décor as long as he did not have to wear a stuffy tux, bow tie or suspenders; points I gladly conceded. From there, we based our color palette on our favorite colors, orange and purple; which happened to work really well with the season and Casa Feliz’ brick backdrop.  

Zack and I were intent on making our wedding as personal as possible. We wanted every detail to reflect who we are as a couple. We started with the invitations, which turned out to be a group effort: I designed our invitation suite by combining a variety of free clipart: an old tandem, art deco accents, and vintage fonts; Zack printed them on DIY invitation/response card paper; and my mom tied, stuffed, addressed, and mailed them for us. With my parents’ tandem on display, our wedding day turned out even better than we had hoped. For the ceremony, our guests sat in the garden facing the front of Casa Feliz and the wedding party stood beneath the balcony, which my sister, Jenn, decorated with an “M & Z” garland she’d made. The girls’ vintage-inspired, orange dresses complemented my wedding dress, an ivory ball gown with lace half-sleeves, an embroidered lace bodice and cathedral train, which was, of course, also vintage-inspired and made me feel like a princess and a proper bride. To accent my gown, I wore a tulle, birdcage veil I made, my great-great-grandma’s engagement ring, my grandma’s pearl and diamond earrings, and my maternal grandma’s wedding garter. In addition, Jonathan’s Flowers designed the most gorgeous bouquets for me and my bridesmaids, using Queen Anne’s Lace, lisianthus, bells of Ireland, blue thistle, and pincushion mums — flowers that remind me of my late grandma.  

After the ceremony, the staff at Casa Feliz and Arthur’s Catering arranged different food stations and high-top cocktail tables around the house to encourage mingling, as well as areas inside and out for those guests who preferred to sit. My mom and sister designed our rustic, outdoorsy centerpieces. For the cocktail tables, they bought a variety of lanterns from Ikea, which we filled with potpourri and tea lights. For the seated tables, Jenn ordered raw wood platters made from slices of logs that we sealed with polyurethane and topped with a trio of orange, green, and clear vases (also from Ikea), which our florist filled with seasonal wildflowers. Jenn also commissioned a friend to paint a canvas with two bikes leaning against a leafless tree for us to use as a guestbook. Instead of leaving their names and well wishes like in a typical guestbook, our guests were asked to “leaf” their fingerprints on the tree’s branches in orange and brown inks. For our toast, Zack and I used “Red-Neck Wine Glasses” (Mason jars mounted on champagne flute stems) as a semi-classy nod to the South. Zack designed our delicious wedding cake: a chocolate frosted cake with three topsy-turvy layers decorated with a tiny tandem bike that was made to look like it was riding up an autumn bike trail. Zack and I were thrilled with our wedding ceremony and reception, especially because our guests all seemed to have a lot of fun. What’s best though, is all the special details of our day were beautifully captured by our photographer, Amalie Orrange, so we can enjoy them for years to come.

Wedding Photography: Amalie Orrange Photography / Wedding Venue: Casa Feliz / Flowers: Jonathan’s Flowers / Officiant: Ron Rosenzweig / Caterer: Arthur’s Catering / Cake: Party Flavors Custom Cakes / DJ + Band: Thompson Entertainment, L.L.C. / Hair: Katie O’Brien, Bride’s Friend / Wedding Gown: White by Vera Wang for David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: B. Makowsky / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: ASOS / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Nine West / Groom’s Suit: Tommy Hilfiger  / Groom’s Tie: Vintage / Groomsmen Ties + Bow Ties: Vintage / Wedding Invitations: DIY, The Bride & Groom

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Post tags: Amalie Orrange Photography, Arthur's Catering, ASOS, B. Makowsky, Casa Feliz, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Florida, Jonathan's Flowers, Katie O'Brien, Nine West, Party Flovors Custom Cakes, Ron Rosenzweig, Thompson Entertainment LLC, Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Wang White, Vintage, Winter Park
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Florida Weddings, Orlando

I moved to Argentina after college to learn Spanish and gain some work experience abroad. Little did I know that I would meet my future husband there and about 4 years later be planning my wedding! Since Matias is from Argentina and I am from Chicago, the first thing we had to do was choose our wedding destination. We wanted to get married in a meaningful place for both of us, while making it an accessible destination for guests from all over the world. Choosing Indian Creek Country Club in Miami was perfect. Plus, it was especially meaningful since we had gotten engaged there the previous year on New Year’s Eve!

To say we took a big risk with the weather is an understatement. The ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner reception were all al-fresco which is not an easy task in Miami! The most important thing to us was to mix both of our cultures and traditions into the wedding. I said my vows in Spanish and Matías said his in English so that families and friends on both sides could feel as though they participated in and witnessed our commitment to each other. To incorporate the local Miami culture, for the cocktail hour we had a Mojito bar and for the dinner we chose to do Indian Creek’s famous Seafood Buffet chock full of sushi, lobster and Alaskan king crab claws. After dinner guests enjoyed a full dessert spread including a gelato bar for our Argentine guests. Everyone was bid “adios” with a little burlap bag stamped “Viva Los Novios” with an alfajor, a traditional Argentine cookie, inside.

Working for Style Me Pretty and being inspired daily by different weddings and talented vendors made choosing a theme and color palette seem impossible! First I found my dress from the incredible Australian designer Johanna Johnson and knew the moment I saw it that it was what I wanted. SO much so, that I ordered it from Australia without ever even trying it on! The dress ended up really setting the tone for how I wanted the wedding to feel. We knew that we wanted the wedding to be elegant yet relaxed, vintage yet not too theme-y. The paper suite included an art deco-inspired shell logo, which was incorporated in every detail. We ended up with a tropical palette using corals, peaches, and champagnes and Parrish Florists went above and beyond in executing our vision. The vibrant arrangements accented by candles, lanterns and mercury glass were definitely show-stoppers without being over the top.

Our photographers and friends Jonny and Michelle from Paper Antler are incredible. We never worried once about how our photos would turn out because we felt so totally comfortable with them the entire day. The photos have a nostalgic and natural feeling which is exactly what we wanted. Jonny and Michelle are not only talented photographers, they are a philanthropic team who have found a way use wedding photography to fight human trafficking. Beginning in 2012, the amazing duo will embark on The Fifty Nifty. They will hit the road for an entire year, photographing weddings in every state (plus stops in Canada and the Bahamas) aiming to raise $50,000 to support the non-profit organization She Dances. Future brides – look no further for your wedding photographer!

The most incredible part of the day was feeling all the love around us. We were truly humbled by our guests who flew from five different continents to share this special day with us.

Wedding Photography: Paper Antler / Event Coordination: Table 6 Productions / Floral Design: Parrish Designs / Wedding Videographer: Artistry Wedding Films / Hair + Make-up: Miriam Behar  / Graphic Design: Brittnye Rutherford / Wedding Dress + Headpiece + Veil: Johanna Johnson / Earrings: Tejani / Bracelet: Dreamcatcher Studio / Clutch: Moyna / Bridal Party Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar/ Ceremony Trio: Master Musicians / Band: Love Child / DJ: Ricky Vazquez

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 51 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Al Fresco, Artistry Wedding Films, Beach, Brittnye Rutherford, Dreamcatcher Studio, Florida, Johanna Johnson, Love Child, Master Musicians, Miami, Miriam Behar, Moyna, Outdoor, Paper Antler, Parrish Designs, Peonies, Pink, Plum Pretty Sugar, Ricky Vazquez, Table 6 Productions, Tejani, Vintage
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Vintage Chic

The rehearsal dinner – What an evolving concept full of creative potential. Usually held after the ceremony rehearsal and the night before the wedding, guests generally include the wedding party but may also include extended family and out-of-town guests. Consider this extension of the celebration a wonderful way to make the whole weekend thematic and full of inspiration.

Join us as we tell a tale of romantic meets bohemian. Set amidst the gardens of a 1924 mansion, the inspiration for this rehearsal dinner photo shoot (conceptualized by LVL Wedding & Events, Found Rentals, Inviting Occasion, and Hitching Post PR) incorporated a love for reading and for writing. Think, a la Shakespeare.

Create a place for guests to feel comfortable, like an inviting living room. Conversations will grow beneath these gold chandeliers and around the refurbished red velvet wingback chairs, gold armchairs with grain sack upholstery and rolled arm couches. Vintage books, glass candles embraced in novel pages, antique picture frames, worn-in leather luggage, and oversized pillar candles dotted with champagne cork flowers and strung wine corks adorn the mantel while a cascade of book pages and roses flow out of the fireplace.

Design a warm and welcoming dinner atmosphere where guests can eat, drink and be merry. The goal is to have the evening less formal and save more intricate designs for the following night, while still setting the mood and keeping with the feel of the weekend. A weathered cupboard door announces the oversized menu, replacing traditional individual menu cards. You and your love can take your seats in a navy blue wingback settee at the head of the table underneath the pergola. Iron and wood architectural doors designed with hanging books that spell out a love sonnet frame the backdrop for the picture perfect event. Centerpieces were created using a Remington typewriter, deconstructed books and pages, feathers, glass orbs and a variety of Roses, Hanging Amaranthus, Poppy and Scabiosa pods, Magnolia leaves, Dinner Plate and Pom Pom Dahlias, and berries. Family and friends gather on assorted antique wooden chairs around the grey farm table where they feast under the stars served family-style on bronze and pewter pieces.

Gathering guests in an intimate, less formal environment allows them to get to know each other and connect so that when the wedding day comes, the ice is broken and they can get down to business – celebrating you and your love.

Rentals, Décor, and Event Design: Found Rentals / Floral & Event Design: Inviting Occasion / Planning & Design: LVL Weddings & Events / Catering: Colette’s Catering Extraordinaire / Paper Goods: Sayeh Studios / Venue: Muckenthaler Mansion / Photography: Studio EMP / Video: Crescent Bay Films / Music: Denny White / Producer: Hitching Post Public Relations

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Books, Colette's Catering Extraordinaire, Color Palette Red Pink, Corks, Cresent Bay Films, Denny White, FOUND Rentals, Grapes, Hitching Post Public Relations, Inspiration Shoot, Inviting Occasion, Library, literary, LVL Weddings & Events, Muchenthaler Mansion, Outdoor, Rehearsal Dinner, Rustic, Sayeh Studios, Shakespeare, Studio EMP, Vintage, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Inspiration, Wedding Planners & Designers, Wine
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog

Click here to see all the images in the full gallery!

From the bride-to-be…The theme for our wedding is vintage travel because my fiance and I have traveled to a lot of fun places during our relationship and plan to do a lot more traveling after the wedding as well. Keeping with the theme, we decided to do our e-session at the Corona Flight School which had a variety of older airplanes, which we thought would be perfect! My fiance and I wanted the first part of the shoot to be more vintage, and then the 2nd half to be more modern, with our every day clothes. The 2nd part of the shoot took place behind the flight school in a field.

DIY Project: I created a pennant banner out of old maps and hand wrote our wedding date on the banner. I taped each triangle to a piece of twine to give it that vintage look. Unfortunately we only got the banner on 1 image because it was really windy that day, so the banner kept flipping over. Luckily Candice of Mark Brooke Photographers had the great idea of placing it on the floor so we were able to get 1 shot in. I plan on creating much more DIY projects for the wedding, but for the e-session I wanted to keep it simple. I also had some vintage luggages from the Philippines.

Photography: Mark Brooke Photographers / Make-up Artist: Rachelle Llanes / Hair Stylist: Hair by Oanh

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Mark Brooke Photographers, Travel Theme, Vintage
Post categories: Destination Weddings, engagement session

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Dreamlove Wedding Photography…Thanks for taking the time to look over this vintage-travel-inspired Vermont winter wedding. Shay incorporated all sorts of unique DIY details into her day, but she also incorporated some very old family traditions. She wore her great great grandmother’s gold bracelet, from 1847, and wrapped her gorgeous bouquet up with a vintage brooch from her grandmother. Shay also treated her bridesmaids like royalty! She gave them gorgeous silk robes and gave them each a vintage fur stole to keep warm during her brisk November wedding! Shay herself wore a vintage fur shoulder wrap and an adorable set of mittens! Seth proposed to Shay at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, so she also incorporated lots of French details into the decor. She decorated the chapel with live moss and twigs, and used vintage postcards for at the table names. Shay herself designed the seating cards as vintage-style luggage tags. To top off the evening, guests set wish lanterns into the night sky… it was so beautiful!

From The Bride…Seth proposed in Paris, at the Eiffel Tower, on my birthday. With such an amazing proposal, you’d think he’d planned it for months, but he decided to propose the week before while we were vacationing in Ireland with his family! He bought a simple band with a gold Celtic knot from a local goldsmith in Dingle, Ireland and of course, I said yes!

We decided on a fall wedding, my favorite season. November always brings warm feelings of family and friends, long walks in the crisp air and cozy afternoons warming by the fire. It seemed like the perfect time for a romantic, vintage wedding!  Even though we live in Colorado, both of our families are on the east coast so we decided on a “destination wedding” in Woodstock, Vermont – the quintessential quaint New England town, picture perfect, down to its covered bridges. Everything was within walking distance of the incredible Woodstock Inn, and their grand fireplace quickly became the spot to stop and chat with family and friends. 

We wanted our wedding to be elegant but rustic, vintage and romantic. It was so important to us to have the wedding truly be about our union and creating an evening for our closest family members and friends to celebrate. So, we created our own ceremony, wrote our own vows and had Seth’s brother officiate it for us. We had our guests bless our rings and after our unity candle, offer each other a sign of peace to bring the families together. The reception was held afterwards at The Woodstock Inn, decorated with old family photos, vintage elements and everything was accented with moss and candles. We ended the night sending up wish lanterns and watching them disappear into the starry night. 

Everything came together so fabulously with so much help from our fabulous family members and vendors. Anthologie Press did an unbelievable job creating our print materials and I can’t thank my parents enough for the endless crafting they did to bring this together. Dreamlove Photography documented our day more amazingly than I could have ever imagined and were such a breeze to work with.  It was a day we will never forget!

My advice to brides planning now… squeeze your fiancé and breathe. The day really will be worth it!

Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Simon Pearce / Ceremony Venue: The North Universalist Chapel / Reception Venue: The Woodstock Inn / Wedding Photography: Dreamlove Wedding Photography / Band: Sam Reid and the Riot Act / Floral Design: Valley Flower Company / Catering + Cake: The Woodstock Inn / Hair + Make-up: The Spa at The Woodstock Inn / All Paper Goods (Invitations, programs, escort cards, signage + stamps): Anthologie Press / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar Loungerie / Fur Stoles: Vintage / Bride’s Fur Shoulder Wrap: Vintage / Bride’s Earrings + Bracelet: Vintage, borrowed / Bride’s Ring: Cartier / Groom’s Ring: havalazar / Calligraphy Stamp: Angelique Ink / Hankies: Sheri Angell Creations / Seating Cards: Anthologie Press

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 18 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Angelique Ink, Anthologie Press, Brooks Brothers, Cartier, Dreamlove Wedding Photography, havalazar, J. Crew, Plum Pretty Sugar, Sam Reid and the Riot Act, Shay Ruggles, Sheri Angell Creations, Simon Pearce, The North Universalist Chapel, The Spa at The Woodstock Inn, The Woodstock Inn, Valley Flower Company, Vermont, Vintage, Woodstock
Post categories: The Blog, Vintage Chic