Style Me Pretty: Wedding Blog for the Style-Obsessed Bride

Strawberry Ice Cream Wreath

From the beautiful Bride… Our day was magical and turned out exactly as we had envisioned. It was amazing because we discussed later that as the day played out we both kept thinking to ourselves that it was exactly how we had pictured. While we wanted a laid back outdoor vibe our theme was beachy Moroccan style and Shore Club had the perfect backdrop for this. We added in tons of lanterns, candles, string lights on the trees, and the most gorgeous colorful bouquets with garden roses, succulents, ranunculus, etc. The wedding colors of coral, peach, white, and gold played perfectly against the navy blue groomsmen suits and the yellows, greens and blues of the Shore Club pots. Our DIY projects included the table themes of cities we had been to which included a photo of us in that city at each table; homemade gift bags for each hotel guest with Advil, sunglasses, Utz Chips, Hershey Kisses (both Pennsylvania snacks for Kate’s home state), customized match books, and Perrier water as well as a note with the schedule for the week; and the special pre-wedding mix CD that Ron created and sent out a week prior to the wedding so people could get excited while traveling to and hanging out before the wedding. The theme of the event was #READY and all guests were asked to Instagram photos to a special hashtag with our initials, the wedding date and the word “ready” in it. Also our save the date was a short video set to a song “Are You Ready?” created by Ron of me getting ready in our room while he is on his way home to get me and at the end of the video he asks if I am ready and I say I’m ready. Other things that made our day so special were the food (a whole pig at the Cuban themed dinner was a huge hit); the personalized ceremony (they did a traditional Filipino rope ceremony; four friends each picked a reading which they presented; and Ron surprised Kate by singing a song he wrote for her!); and lanterns which were released on the beach at the end. As gifts bridesmaids each received a beautiful flowered robe in either mint, turquoise or coral and the bride wore one in white. The groomsmen each received a cigar box with a tie, tie bar, pocket square, cigar and Wu Tang Clan tshirt (9 groomsmen and 9 wu tang members).

From Beca C Photography…Six years ago when we met, Kate was living in Philadelphia and Ron in New York. Kate was visiting NY one weekend to see a close friend from college who was dating Ron’s best friend. Kate and Ron instantly hit it off but Ron had to leave early that night because he got sick. He ended up asking Kate’s friend for her email address and since then they kept in touch and gradually Ron started making the visit to Philadelphia every now and then to take Kate to dinner. These trips got more frequent and eventually they were exclusive. After a year of long distance dating Kate made the move to NY and by the time they got engaged they had lived together almost three years. Ron’s friend is no longer with Kate’s friend but we thank them for being our unofficial matchmakers! When Ron proposed on 2/23/13 they were visiting Philadelphia for Kate’s best friend’s birthday. After brunch the two of them decided to walk by Kate’s old apartment. As Kate was posing for a photo in front of it that Ron was taking, Kate’s friend came running over to her from the coffee shop next store. As Kate was distracted by this, Ron was getting down on one knee with the ring. Kate’s friend was all ready to snap photos as he asked Kate to marry him. After Kate said yes Ron suggested they go grab a drink at the same bar they had gone on their first official date, Buffalo Billiards, and when they walked in, both of their families were there to surprise Kate and celebrate with them for the first of the day by playing darts, pool, and ski ball and drinking beer. Ron had coordinated this entire day for months and got their entire families to travel here without Kate having a clue. It was extra special since their families had never met so they finally had the chance to spend some quality time together.

I am absolutely loving this concept. Picture this: a massive family style dinner party – plates are casually passed around, wine is abundant, and laughter is aplenty. Once the meal has been cleared, imagine bringing out a massive dish or, heck, arranging Have A Yummy Day‘s incredible ice cream wreath right there, in the center of the table. Very Alinea of you. Hand out a whack of spoons and go to town! Delicious, delicious, town.

Strawberry Ice Cream Wreath

prep time
2 Hour/s

cook time
1 Hour/s

total time
3 Hour/s

Ingredients

FOR THE ICE CREAM
1 vanilla pod
1 ⅓ cup milk
1 ⅔ cup heavy cream
7 egg yolks
¾ cups cane sugar
1 cup strawberry purée (blended and sifted strawberries)
FOR THE RASPBERRY MERINGUE
2 egg whites
½ cup caster sugar
½ teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice
1 ½ tablespoon raspberry purée
Red food dye
AS GARNISH
1 litre strawberries
1 litre raspberries
10 oat cookies

Instructions

FOR THE ICE CREAM
Cut open and scrape the vanilla pod. Boil milk, cream, vanilla pod and seeds in a stainless steel saucepan. Whisk the yolks and sugar fluffy Pour the hot cream mixture over the yolks and pour everything back into the saucepan and stir. Simmer the mixture to 185˚C or until it starts to thicken from heavy whisking. Take off the heat, do not let it boil. Pour the mass into a bowl and let it cool in an ice water bath. Sift the mass, add strawberry purée and use it in an ice cream machine. Put the ice cream in the freezer for 1-2 hours.
FOR THE RASPBERRY MERINGUE
Set the oven to 210˚F. Whisk egg whites, sugar and vinegar in a stainless bowl. Put the bowl over a warm water bath and keep whisking until the paste is around 130˚F. Take the bowl off the heat and keep whisking until the meringue cools. Add raspberry purée and dye. Fill the meringue into a piping bag with a star shaped nozzle and pipe pieces of meringue onto a baking tray covered with baking paper. Bake in the middle of the oven for about 1 h. When the pieces of meringue are loose from the baking paper and their bottoms are dry, they are done. Otherwise, you can turn off the oven and let the pieces be in the remaining heat for about 10 minutes. Let the meringue cool. Store in an airtight jar in room temperature.
TO ASSEMBLE
Put strawberries, raspberries, roughly chopped meringue, chopped oat cookies and strawberry ice cream in a circle on a big serving plate or a tray.

Photography: Have A Yummy Day | Recipe: Have A Yummy Day

Jacquelyn Clark

Colorful Wedding Cake Inspiration

I’ve always been one to stay in the “keep it classic” camp when it came to wedding cakes. But that, m’dears, was before I laid eyes on Dreamin Desserts’ work-of-art confections that changed my mind in three seconds flat. From bold designs to rich colors, they’re the kind of cakes that could steal the show, and in case you want more (of course you do!) Marina Koslow snapped a whole gallery right here.

From Tracy of Dreamin Desserts… To take you on the journey of my sweet beginning, we need to travel to Zurich Switzerland where I worked as a dental hygienist. There I enjoyed travel and what Europe had to offer in the sweet world, but American desserts brought me closer to home. After baking for friends in Zurich, I wanted to take my hobby into a profession, which lead me back to my hometown Bend Oregon and to the International School of Baking, owned by world renowned Chef Marda Stoliar.

I returned to Zurich after my training with Marda and opened Sugars, an American bakery where I wholesaled American Cheesecakes, wedding, birthday cakes and cupcakes thru out Switzerland. After 13 years in Zurich, I felt that it was time to come home back to Bend working as a dental hygienist part-time and a pastry assistant at the International School of Baking to further my craft and assist students following their baking dreams. I now want to take that passion of desserts and make wedding dreams come true.

Photography: Marina Koslow Photography | Flowers: Donner Flowers | Wedding Dress: Bella Brides Bend | Cakes: Dreamin Desserts

Hayley Paige Trunk Show at JLM Couture Boutique

I’m having a serious I-wish-I-was-a-bride moment right now since hearing about the Hayley Paige Designer Trunk Show taking place at West Hollywood, California’s incredible JLM Couture Boutique. From August 22-24th, brides can feast their eyes — and try on! — gowns from the Spring and Fall 2014 collections. Mark your calendars, my dears!

Known for her fresh, lively and feminine designs featuring incredible detail + texture, each Hayley Paige dress is more stunning than the last. At the upcoming trunk show, brides will get the chance to meet the uber talented designer as she helps brides find the gowns of their dreams!

To make an appointment at JLM Couture Boutique for the Hayley Paige Trunk Show, call 424.249.3909 or head over here. Happy dress shopping, lovelies!

Rustic Romance at Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose is dripping in old world elegance; the kind of place that easily lends itself to a romantic affair. And this inspiration crafted by Without Wax, Katy, Mayhar Design and Taylor Lord Photography knows what’s up. With rambling hand-written stationery by The Left Handed Calligrapher and the prettiest pastel color palette, this photo shoot has romance by the bucketful.

From Without Wax, Katy & Mayhar Design…When we decided to jointly collaborate on a photo shoot, we were unanimous in our desire to create something that was authentic and timeless and above all, honored and enhanced the original beauty of the environment. Our hearts fell immediately in love with the breathtaking backdrop of San Antonio’s Mission San Jose. After an initial site visit, we quickly set to planning, basing all color and design direction around the color palette and detailing of the mission itself. We quickly brought on a team of local artisans that we dearly admired and are so thrilled with the gifts and talent that each person brought to the table!

It is always our ultimate goal to create a product that is elegant and honest and that portrays a genuine beauty. We cannot thank our amazing team of collaborators enough and hope that you enjoy what we came up with!

Elegant Ontario Wedding

This is a day that starts out with a pair of gorgeous glittery gold peep toes and just never stops being fabulous. From the stunning fuchsia dotted blooms from Flowers Talk to the exquisite stylings of Dahlia Decor to the non-stop awesomeness captured by Joel Bedford Photography, it’s a wedding that perfectly mixes traditional details with rustic stylings and everything in between. See it all here.

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Elegant Midwest Wedding at the Oklahoma History Center

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Classic Weddings Rustic

From The Bride… Saeed and I got married on the first day of the most beautiful summer. I have to say I’m a little biased… and even though our wedding has come and gone, I truly feel as though it will always remain our “best day ever.”

During the initial stages of planning, we knew a few things for certain: Who we wanted to photograph our wedding, and where we wanted to have it. The rest fell into place over the next year of planning (and countless hours on pinterest..duh!)

My main inspiration for the wedding came from our trip to Cinque Terre, Italy, where Saeed had proposed a year earlier. The colors, the smells, the people, the history…everything about cinque terre was a surreal dream. I wanted to bring a little bit of that back and pay homage to it on our special day. Our dessert table was reflective of this. I gave Lidia of Petite Event Co and Catherine of Catherine’s cakery my vision and they brought it to life!

Our wedding incorporated a little bit of our cultures, and since Saeed and I grew up in Canada, we wanted to modernize it as well as include parts of our traditions that we felt represented us. The Persian table ceremony (sofreh Aghd) took place on the roof overlooking the beautiful chateau laurier and the canal. The design and execution of the ceremony table was the most challenging aspect of planning our wedding, mainly because I had to educate myself on the custom, source all supplies, and of course, make it my own!

We designed and printed our own invitations, this I have to credit to Saeed for the endless hours he spent creating them. The invitations sparked our love for blackboards which we used quite a bit at the wedding! (Despite our parents telling us they looked like invitations to a funeral.) We further personalized them by adding our own envelope liners. There were a lot of DIY elements to our wedding as well. The centerpiece birch boxes with gold glitter, the gold vases on the buffet table, the place cards and personalized thank you cards were all made with love. Instead of a sign-in book for the guests, we wanted to do something a little different, something that represents our love for travel. We had our guests sign a beautiful map of the world which we framed in a frame we hand painted gold to match our color scheme. This would serve as piece we could include in our home as a beautiful memory of our friends and family. In and around as well as outside our tent, on cruiser tables and orchard boxes, we also had several frames with our favorite love quotes. I chose quotes that best signified my feelings for Saeed.

We wanted to make sure our guests were going to have an unforgettable night, as well. We did this with some of our favorite things. First, we hired a sushi chef to make sushi on the spot for our guests during cocktail hour; this is how Saeed and I met… you could say we love sushi, A LOT. Second, we rented an old school carnival popcorn machine. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but put a bag of popcorn in front of me, and I will devour it! Lastly, we hired a caricature artist. It was completely unexpected, and people had so much fun with it! Not to mention, they each received a unique keepsake that they took home at the end of the night.

There were so many incredible moments during our day. Saeed and I had our first look earlier on, along with only our photographers and two best friends. I wouldn’t change this for the world! I managed to get most of my messy crying out of the way (Phew!!!). It was also important for me to have a first look with my dad, and I’m grateful for the moment we had together when it seemed like no one was watching.

Our first dance was emotional, but it was the last dance that really made me realize just how crazy lucky we were. At that point most of the guests had gone home, and the only people left were our closest and bestest friends. Saeed and I were slow dancing to Aladdin’s “A Whole New World”… obviously our favorite movie. Before I knew it our friends were all dancing in a closed circle around us singing a whole new world to us in sync and yet so out of tune. It was truly the most amazing moment of the night!!!

The day could not have gone so perfectly without our incredibly talented vendors, some of which went above and beyond what was asked for, and we will forever be grateful to them! Joel and Justyna of Joel Bedford Photography are a mind-blowingly talented team that has a way of making you feel so comfortable even when you’re out of your element. We had SO much fun with them taking pictures that I didn’t care that my dress got so dirty before I even walked down the aisle! Lidia of Petite Event Co. masterfully created our beautiful dessert table, as well as some other décor aspects of our wedding. She is so talented, yet remains so humble. My hair and makeup team were superstars!

Everyone came together that day to help out in any way they could. You truly feel like the luckiest person. One of the best feelings in the world (besides eating a huge bucket of popcorn) is to be surrounded by people who are willing to travel near and far to be by your side, to watch you commit to the love of your life. We are so darn lucky!

Elegant yet comfortable, stylish yet packed with personality this Oklahoma beauty planned to perfection by Leslie Herring Events and captured beautifully by Brett Heidebrecht is one for the SMP hall of fame. It’s absolutely stunning from start to finish, and you can see just what I mean here.

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Vintage Inspired Backyard Wedding

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Museum

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Classic Weddings

From Leslie Herring Events…When meeting Scott and Christine, it’s apparent that they behold a one-of-a-kind, lasting relationship. Through the entire planning process, they never lost focus of the significance of their wedding—each other. We knew that their genuine friendship and personalities had to shine through in every aspect of their wedding, and we constantly swoon over the gorgeous memories captured by Brett Heidebrecht Photography. The Oklahoma History Center’s natural light was the ideal venue for the couple’s simplistic, yet sophisticated reception. We began planning around the neutral, earth-toned color palette and added metallic accents. Blends of ivory, white and slate paired perfectly with the bridesmaids’ blush gowns and groomsmen’ navy suits. Thoughtful floral concepts by Juniper Design added a whimsical flair, using friendly anemones, dahlias, peonies and an assortment of greenery. Romantic, amber uplighting by Innovative Event Solutions paired with festive marquee lights set the mood for the evening. Thanks to Glorious Day Films, we can relive this magical evening over and over again.

Photography: Brett Heidebrecht Photography | Videography: Glorious Day Films | Event Planning: Leslie Herring Events | Floral Design: Juniper Designs | Venue: Oklahoma History Center

Ever since the day I first saw Annie Banks walk down the aisle to “Canon in D” I’ve held a very special place in my heart for backyard weddings. So to say that this sweeter than sweet homespun affair has captured my very being is sort of an understatement. The perfect combo of simple + elegant with just a dash of vintage goodness, it’s pure perfection. See it all captured by Mustard Seed Photography here.

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Autumn Atlanta Wedding at Cherokee Town Club

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Backyard

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Classic Weddings Vintage

From the Bride… We chose my parents home, because it is a special place for our family and such a beautiful location. My mom is a master gardener and does most of the gardening herself. We both share a hobby for gardening and decorating together and it made it so special to use the gardens she has worked so hard to grow as the back drop! I wanted the wedding to be “homey.” I wanted to flowers to look as though you went into the backyard, picked a bunch of things and threw them in a vase. I wanted the cake to taste homemade. I also added in a vintage flare. We had the place cards mounted on an antique hat stand littered with hats that belonged to both of our grandmothers. I added as much milk glass as I could find! We had a vintage chandelier hanging from the tent. I chose the vintage theme not only because I love the look, but also because it pays homage to a time when weddings were much more simple. A time when weddings in the backyard were common and it was treated as not only a celebration of a couple’s love, but a celebration of the support and community their family and friends have provided throughout their lives! I wanted our wedding to serve as a thank you to our guests for their support over the years! Thus, my goal was to create an environment where all could have a great time and enjoy the scenery!

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

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Jenny Yoo

Spring 2014 Maternity

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BHLDN

Bridal 2016

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Let me just start off by saying Odalys Mendez captured this wedding in a way that makes my heart sing. And it’s sure to do the same for you. It doesn’t hurt, of course, that this gorgeous fall fête is basically as lovely as they come, making every image in this gallery completely frame worthy.

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Event Venue Religious Institution

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Classic Weddings

From Odalys Mendez…A palette of orange and red brought warmth to this cool autumn day, in which Temple and John chose to join their lives together in marriage. Choosing a traditional chapel in the regal area of Buckhead in Atlanta, Temple marched down the aisle to the melodies of a gospel singer, escorted by her father and her nieces dressed in whimsical fairy-like gowns and soft bud tiaras. The bride chose simplicity and feminine elegance in her lace Ravinia gown that she had customized with delicate lace cap sleeves. A bouquet of white orchids complimented the daintiness of the gown.

After a meaningful christian ceremony, the couple and their loved ones celebrated the union at the elegant Cherokee Town Club in Buckhead. Crystal chandeliers and towering florals amongst candlelight set the mood for a lavish dinner accented by the lively tunes of Rupert’s Orchestra. Heartfelt speeches were shared by the couple’s parents and closest friends as the group relaxed throughout the night with great food and fine wine.

Elegant Island Yacht Club Wedding

Can we talk about this veil for a sec? I’m in love. Not only is it complete lace perfection, but it just so happens to be the Bride’s sweet Grandmother’s veil. Heirloom loveliness. Isn’t it gorg? And the entire day floats on that same elegant, classic style thanks to Salt Harbor Designs. A groom in tailored navy, ivory blooms in every corner and a candlelit reception… Anne Liles is behind every pretty bit—and don’t miss the film from Life Stage Films!

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Spring Weddings

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Yacht Club

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Romantic Pastel Military Wedding

From Anne Liles Photography… This was a lovely interfaith ceremony. The bride, Addison and the groom, Jason have been sweethearts since high school so combining the two faiths was the perfect way to represent each family. They were a very comfortable group—you could tell that their relationships had been going strong for years. A chuppah of cream linen tied with roses was constructed for them to be married under and a custom calligraphy Ketuba was created for Addison and Jason to sign in joint affirmation.

Addison chose a very crisp cream to accent her day, the tables were draped in cream linens and flowers and the maids wore long and flowing lavender dresses with bouquets made from antique cream roses. Addison carried cream peonies and Jason and his groomsmen wore boutonnieres made of peonies as well. Addison wore her grandmother’s veil and was married with her ring—a lovely vintage touch.

Many little traditions came together to create one beautiful day. A basket of yamakas was placed with the programs if guests wanted to cover their heads for the ceremony. After the ceremony Jason dug up a bottle of bourbon. This is a southern tradition—the bottle must be full and buried upside down in the location of the ceremony one month before the wedding to ensure beautiful weather on the wedding day. Then the wedding party and family partake of it together. The bride’s grandmother was the first to sip from the bottle after the bride and groom—A lovely Figure 8 Island wedding!

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Donna Morgan

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Mother of the Bride

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DIY Flower Ice Cubes

Thank goodness for Ice Cream Week in August! We figured we’d share a fun DIY to add a little floral love to your cool evening summer snacks. What better way to dress up that after dinner drink than a flower filled cube of ice to keep it cool and refreshing?! Pour a heavy hand of Bailey’s overtop to enjoy alongside your evening dish of ice cream. Summer bliss!

Materials Water
Edible flowers and/or petals
Ice cube tray

Fill the ice cube tray half way with water.

Add your desired blooms to the tray

Let freeze for 3 hours

Add the rest of the water to the tray and let it freeze overnight.

Photography: Hello Love Photography

Y’all know we go weak at the knees for a good military wedding, but when it happens to include a stunning blush palette, bouquets by Karma Flowers and was all planned in just four months? Well, that’s cause for celebration. The amazing Michelle Lange captured the day to perfection, and you can get the pin-party started in the gallery right here.

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Spring Weddings

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Classic 1920’s Inspired Australian Wedding at the Simmer On The Bay

From the Bride… Stephen and I met about seven years ago in high school. It started out as a little friendly chat online, until eventually meeting in person. Sounds strange I know, but it ended up working out. For about a year, Stephen and I were friends, and ended up building a best friends type of friendship. We were both with other people at the time, so a friendship was all we needed from each other. As time went on and we separated from our past significant others, the stars aligned and we started dating. It’s been history ever since.

We survived the early college days, and it was when Stephen was a sophomore at Rutgers University that he decided to become an Officer in the Marine Corps. This meant 2 summers away for 6 weeks at a time with limited communication, and no visitation. As hard as it was then, looking back on it, six weeks seems like a piece of cake. After he graduated, Stephen commissioned as an Officer, and a year later went off to The Basic School Training in Quantico Virginia for six months. After that came Combat Engineer School in North Carolina. We soon learned how challenging a long distance relationship could be, as well as how strengthening it can be for a relationship.

Stephen and I traveled to Long Beach Island, New Jersey one day at the end of September. Stephen was home for the weekend, and LBI was a really special place for the both of us, but especially Stephen. It was where he grew up going every summer with his family. LBI was a second home for him, and I was able to experience the love for the island over the summers of us dating. We enjoyed some favorite pizza of ours, and then hit the beach for some shell searching. We walked and talked, and found some shells, and eventually it was time to leave. I turned around, and received a big kiss from Stephen, would turned into him getting down on one knee. Stephen proposed on the beach in front of his beach house rental, the same place we had gone every summer. There was no one around, it was just the two of us. But at the moment, no one else mattered. The man I loved so much asked me to marry him, and be to by his side forever. It was romantic, personal, and filled with so much love, just like every proposal should be. I have the honor every day of wearing the family diamond in my engagement ring.

Stephen was in training, and I was in my last semester of undergrad. But a wedding had to be planned. I had always dreamt of a not so cookie cutter wedding. I didn’t want “wedding factory” venue, as I like to call them. I wanted something with character, something that was different. With a few bumps in the road, and a really short amount of time, along with some luck, we chose Lake Mohawk Golf Club as our wedding venue. We decided from the start a church wedding would be important, and Saint Matthews The Apostle Parish was a perfect fit. Venue and church, check. Now photographer, flowers, cake, dress, and everything else needed to be done.

People say that the photographer and flowers are the two most expensive things you will pay for in a wedding, aside from the venue. I knew exactly what I wanted when looking for a photographer. I couldn’t explain what kind of style I wanted when people asked, but I knew it when I saw it. I searched through about twenty different photographers who obviously didn’t work out for a reason. Then, I found Michelle Lange. I found her through accidentally finding her blog. I saw her photos and said out loud “I need this photographer.” Much to my luck, Michelle was local, and was available.

Planning a wedding was so fun and exciting, but there were moments when it was extremely difficult. There were tears, lots of them to be exact, brought along with frustrations, worries, and the list goes on. Now, lets not forget to mention we planned this wedding in about four and a half months. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help of my parents, Stephen, and the bridesmaids.

Our wedding was perfect. I am sure every bride says that, but it was the perfect wedding for us. I had my best friends by my side, and the most important people watch two people solidify their love through the ceremony of Marriage. And we had a pretty kick ass reception too. It was so amazing to see everything we planned come together. When you’re planning, everything is a visual in your head. But the day of, it’s right in front of you. Its such an amazing feeling that all your hard work really paid off, and it turned out to be exactly what you envisioned.

Some have asked what my favorite part of my wedding day was, and I don’t know if I can pick a favorite. Yes, officially being able to call Stephen my husband that day was pretty fantastic, but the whole day was my favorite. I got to be a bride, and I had the greatest Groom by my side. The most important people surrounded us that day in our lives, people who only wanted love and happiness and nothing but the best for us. There is no better feeling than that.

There is a lot to love about this sweet soiree captured by Tealily Photography. And I mean A LOT. Beautifully decorated with flowers from Plumbago and furniture by Decorative Events And Exhibitions and ‘LOVE’ lights by EventHaus, this 1920′s inspired fête is inspiration overload in the best possible way, and you can get inspired right here.

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Romantic White Santorini Wedding

From Tealily Photography…Chloe and Nathan had an amazing wedding and despite the summer heat, they had a day to remember surrounded by their families and closest friends. They chose vendors that helped them create a classic wedding with a twist of the 1920’s – a pastel palette with splashes of gold. To top off the fun, Chloe and Nathan had a photo booth set up with a custom golden backdrop.

When it comes to destination weddings, I will forever have a love affair with Santorini. It’s majestic caldera views and open blue waters embracing the whitest of whites, leave you feeling surrounded by pure romance. So is true in this gorgeous seaside soiree from Anna Roussos Photography. With guests donning only white, a seriously beautiful Bride and a breathtaking backdrop, this gallery is a destination dream come true. Don’t miss the film from Xavier Roussos below!

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Villa

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Carnival Inspired Wedding full of Color

From the beautiful Bride… We dreamed of a very intimate affair and decided to have our wedding some place unique. We knew that Santorini was beyond romantic and that the beauty of this island would match the love we had for one another. So with twelve of our immediate family members we began our journey as husband and wife and it was a trip of a lifetime filled with laughs, tears, and smiles.

From Anna Roussos Photography… Catherine and Matt flew all the way from USA to get married in beautiful Santorini Island. They had very few guests, just immediate family, so it was very friendly and intimate affair. They also have planned a bigger celebration with all the friends and rest of the family when back home. But this lovely day in Santoirni was dedicated just to the closest ones in their lives. What can be more romantic than getting married “on top of the world”? That exactly how it feels when you are exchange your vows facing breathtaking Caldera View of Santorini.

Absolutely everyone was dressed in white and it created an amazing feel, very pure and romantic. I just loved this idea and it worked very well with the colors of Santorini. Catherine was stunning in her Nicole Miller dress and Matt looked very handsome in white Calvin Klein suit. It was pleasure to be part of this great celebration and I hope you will get inspired going through the photographs of their special day.

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Nicole Miller

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Sometimes a theme isn’t shouted, but instead is more of a whisper. This carnival themed affair crafted by Shannon Leahy Events and Cherries Flowers is understated, letting the vibrant color palette of pink and aqua hues and small touches really set the stage. But maybe the best detail of all? That would be the edible cotton candy escort cards. Genius, and so beautifully photographed by Ryan Ray. See it here.

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Mini Hot Fudge Sundae Cakes

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Academic Venue Settings

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Whimsical

From Shannon Leahy Events…For Kassandra & Michael, St. Vincent’s in San Rafael was the perfect location for their fun-filled carnival-themed wedding. Filled with vibrant colors and classic carnival elements, this beautiful wedding was an affair to remember for all of their guests.

The papers for the wedding included whimsical and light details based off of the architecture of the space. Kassandra and Miles’s light-hearted personalities were revealed in individual cotton candy escort cards and carnival games for their guests to enjoy during cocktail hour. Arriving in a vintage bride car, Kassandra looked stunning in a beautiful empire gown with floral details, while Michael looked handsome and collected in hues of blue.

If there’s anything that can give our banana split cake a run for its money, it’s these mini hot fudge sundae cakes. Tiny cakes topped with a cornucopia of deliciousness, all stuffed into the most delicious waffle bowl there ever was. These babies are the perfect thing to line your ice cream social table as they’re made to look like ice cream sundaes, without the melty-mess!

Mini Hot Fudge Sundae Cakes

prep time
1 Hour/s

cook time
35 Minute/s

total time
1 Hour/s 35 Minute/s

Ingredients

Cake:
Waffle bowls
1 box devil’s food cake mix
3 eggs
⅓ cup canola oil
Circle cookie cutter
Ganache:
1 cup heavy cream
9oz dark chocolate chips
Whipped Cream:
1 cup heavy cream
2 tbs sugar
Dash vanilla extract
Toppings:
Maraschino cherries
Sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 13”x9” pan. Place a metal mixing bowl in the freezer.
Prepare the cake mix and bake according to the mix directions. Let cool 30 minutes on a wire rack.
Use the size circle cookie cutter that just fits inside the waffle bowl, and cut out 4 circles of cake. Place the cake circles in the waffle bowls.
Place the chocolate chips in another mixing bowl. Bring 1 cup heavy cream to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, then immediately pour over the chocolate chips. Stir or whisk briskly until all the chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Allow to cool slightly, then pour ganache over cake tops.
Remove metal mixing bowl from the freezer and pour in heavy cream, vanilla extract, & sugar. Whip together on high speed until stiff peaks form.
Scoop whipped cream into a frosting bag with a star tip and swirl on top of ganache. Top with sprinkles and a maraschino cherry.

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Recipe & Styling: SMP Living

Jacquelyn Clark

Blogger Bride Caitlin Moran’s Engagement Session

From her engagement party, to the bridesmaid brunch, mini-moon guide and more, we’ve gotten a front row seat to Caitlin’s wedding planning adventures but today might be my favorite post yet. Along with her beau and Abby Jiu behind the len, she planned a park-set photo sesh and the results are what engagement dreams are made of. PS: Keep an eye on our Instagram as Caitlin shares a peeks into her last month of wedding planning. Let the countdown begin!

Colors

Seasons

Colorful DIY San Luis Obispo Wedding

Settings

Outdoor Weddings

Styles

Casual

From Caitlin… Hello beautiful brides, Caitlin here from Glitter Guide! It’s been a little while since I shared a Blogger Bride post because I’ve been working like crazy on all of the last minute details for our wedding! We’re almost a month away and I’m definitely feeling the pressure!

I was undecided about taking engagement photos for the longest time, but after speaking with our incredible photographer, Abby Jiu I knew we had to do them! I’m pretty comfortable in front of the camera, (being a style blogger and all) but my fiance Austin isn’t a fan. Abby encouraged us to use this practice round in front of the lens to get comfortable with each other and her. I’m so glad we did it — and now we have these stunning images that include our dog, Sullivan who won’t be at the wedding!

After coming up with several different ideas for our shoot – and a few re-schedules due to weather we ended up shooting them at a hidden park right around the corner from our house! The light was perfect and the scenery really spoke for it’s self. My friend Anne from Charleston Stems happened to be in town that day and quickly put together this dreamy bouquet that fit the color palette perfectly!

Again, if you’re on the fence about doing engagement photos – I highly suggest it. I never thought I would and now we have beautiful, professional photos not in our wedding attire that we can cherish forever.

Photography: Abby Jiu Photography | Styling: Caitlin Moran | Florals: Charleston Stems | Dress: ASOS | Makeup: Bare Escentuals

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Caitlin Moran

Without fail, a good ol’ family gathering tugs at my heart strings like no other. And when it comes in the form of this intimate celebration captured by Mirelle Carmichael, the imagery becomes wedding-candy for the soul. Complete with a handmade dress passed down from the Bride’s mother, darling DIY details for days and so much love to go around, I’m betting this gallery will warm your heart right up!

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Colors

Seasons

Settings

Rustic Weddings

Styles