Santa Barbara is sort of my happy place. Though I've never been there. But sitting in my chilly, snowed-in Boston office, Santa Barbara just seems like warmth and happiness and everything beautiful in the world. And I'm pretty sure that if the universe is listening, it will pick up my house and move it right plop in the center of this little slice of heaven. Hmm, you're probably right. Next best thing? Living vicariously through a Santa Barbara wedding as pretty as this one and the inspiring...
Every single day at SMP is a good one. I can't deny that in the slightest. But on those days when I get to dive head first into a wedding crafted by some of my most favorite people in the whole world? Those are the days that I cherish. That I thank my lucky stars I get to call this my job. So to Jose Villa and Kate of Flowerwild...
Classic romance, it never fails me. It's the one element that I am drawn to time and again. And though that classic can take many, many forms there are a few key details that seem to be woven into my long list of much loved affairs. A blushing Bride, a dress so pretty it hurts, reception details that are all at once fresh and beautifully timeless. And these details come at the hands of a team of wildly talented vendors including design by...
I'm a Texas girl. Through and through. And while at dinner with a friend who had recently moved to Texas, I realized that my Texas and the Texas that people might think about when they hear the state mentioned, are two entirely different places. The Texas that I love is made of gorgeous, locally grown food. And perfect sunsets. And al fresco everything. It's warm and inviting and welcoming and this shoot by our great friends - photographer...
We can spot a Beth Helmstetter celebration from a mile away. A little bit because we've been semi-stalkers of hers for a while now and tend to love everything that her group touches, but mostly because of the simply beauty behind every last detail. The way that she seemlessly integrates the most beautiful colors, textures and moments into the backdrop of the space so it seems as if they've been there forever and ever. So when we spotted...
I knew this was a KT Merry photographed wedding the moment I laid eyes on it. It's the soft, pretty colors. The dreamy, absurdly beautiful imagery. The general sense of gorgeousness that seems to permeate each and every photograph. It has KT written all over it and I couldn't be happier that we get to share all of the lovely with you here today. Plus, when you layer on the style genius of...
If ever there was a wedding to which you copied every last perfect detail this one might be it. Probably having something to do with the fact that the couple is flat out stunning, the English countryside backdrop is straight out of a movie and the details are simultaneously romantic and utterly effortless. Although I also suspect that photographer Polly Alexandre has a bit to do with why I can't seem to tear myself away as well with...
There are so many things to be thankful for today. 2012 was an enormous, exciting, fun, challenging, crazy, wild, beautiful year for all of us at SMP. There was The Book of course, all shiny and new and filled with such prettiness from real brides who love reading our blog. There was...
Despite the fact that I rarely stay awake long enough to watch the ball drop (lame), New Year's Eve is one of my favorite days of the year. The sparkle, the bubbly, the all out fabulous. But more so, because 11 New Year's Eves ago...I met that guy. The one that I would spend the rest of my life with. And even before we stepped out of the cab at nearly the exact same moment, I just knew that something great was coming my way. Doning the sparkliest, prettiest (maybe shortest) little dress I could...
I'm not sure I've ever loved a photoshoot quite as much as I love this one. When I first saw it, I literally emailed the lovely Erin and squealed. Out loud. It not only checks all of the SMP = Love boxes (gold, glitter, gorgeous calligraphy, I could go on and on), it ups the style ante to game changer status. It's the bride's glamorous but Boho fabulous vibe. The sparkle infused into every corner, the gown, the color palette, the stationery from...
And here we go, on to Part III of the amazing wedding that gave our first Style Me Pretty Weddings book life and took it from an idea to an oh-my-gosh, I'm holding it in my hands today moment. The perfect real wedding that Jose Villa and Joy Thigpen sent our way many moons ago, that literally helped turn our book into something real. Because it was so beautiful, we had to find...
You know, we are lucky. Like really lucky. Because our job is to write about beautiful moments. The kind of moments that people remember forever and ever. And if we're being really honest, it feels a little unfair. As dozens of moms and dads are lost in grief right now and as parents, we find it incredibly hard to continue with the prettiness, when some people are dealing with such ugliness. While this isn't at all enough, we wanted to let you know that we're donating all proceeds from today's...
It's here! The day our pretty little book hits stands. The day that we've been nervous/happy/excited about for more than an entire year! The day has come and we are literally bursting on the insides with pure and total glee. So today we wanted to do something really special. We got permission from our publisher to give SMP readers an exclusive first look at the wedding that started it all. The picture...
I knew this was a Tara Guerard wedding the minute I laid eyes on it. It just has that stamp of something Tara-fabulous. And when we first spotted it in Southern Weddings, well, we were dog-earring pages left and right because it's one huge piece of total eye candy. Well what you didn't see in the mag was perhaps even more special. If that's even possible. Because it was crafted by...
Sometimes it's the simplest of projects that lend the most amount of fun. And these little gems are about as good as it gets. DIY crayons where your children's imagination can take center stage. We opted for fun alphabet letters because our 4 year old is learning to spell but you could really do anything...hearts, stars, x's and o's. All you need is a batch of old crayons in your favorite colors and a few...
We're celebrating the littlest holiday go-ers today on SMP today and this next treat is one of those projects that you will bookmark and use for years and years to come. We're officially transforming those icky plastic toys that your kids seem to collect into a timeless treasure that children large and small will love. It also makes sort of an awesome (read: adorable + cheap) holiday gift. This was...
Amidst all of the toys and joys that your little one finds during the holidays, isn't it often more fun to go back to the basics? To make and craft and create. To build memories with your smallest friends with a little bit of glue and a whole lot of love? Making your own toys teaches your kids to have fun with the simple, to the value the handmade and to love the process. All without batteries. Felt in various colors - white, ivory, black, dark brown, brown, tan, burnt orange...
I think that in some past life, I was the bride in this wedding. It feels oddly close to home, with a palette of soft but beautiful pinks and creams and grays. A romantic and yet utterly chic approach to design and a hello beautiful gown. And don't even get me started on the goodness of that Jenny Packham gown that I literally want to steal right out of the bride's closet. It's like everything that I ever wanted in the whole world wrapped up into one flawless piece of gorgeousness. And thank...
Just when you though this elopement couldn't possibly get more gorgeous, that nothing could possibly top those shoes, that dress, their love - the next group of breathtaking images from my dear friend Jose Villa just might make you fall out of your chair. It's a scene set by...
An elopement is a magical thing. It's a wildly romantic and utterly intimate way to say I do. Just you and the love of your life pledging your never-ending love for each other, how can it get more storybook worthy? Well it definitely takes the romance level up a notch when you have Kristeen LaBrot ensuring everything goes off in the prettiest way possible, and ...
