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

Romantic Vintage Inspired Wedding

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From The Bride…Josh and I are both very close with our families and we knew having them intimately involved with our special day, along with our closest friends, was of the utmost importance. Their participation in our journey to becoming “husband and wife” began in the summer of 2012 on the night we got engaged. Josh and I flew home to Chicago for what I thought was a birthday celebration weekend for my grandmother…little did I know so much more was in store. Unbeknownst to me Josh had also flown his family in to Chicago on an earlier flight so that they too could celebrate in the occasion with us (and also help my grandmother celebrate her 92nd birthday!). This theme of deep family involvement continued during the planning process, into the ceremony and throughout the reception. Family members joined me for wedding dress fittings, walked us down the aisle, read passages that held special meaning to Josh and me and gave old, traditional Italian toasts during the reception. It truly was a family affair.

My parents first learned of Josh during my stepfather’s birthday dinner in 2011… just weeks after Josh and I met! Josh knew they were in town for a weekend visit and knew that I was taking them out for a birthday dinner so he called the restaurant and had a bottle of champagne sent to our table as we sat down. Little did I know I’d be forced into disclosing this “relationship” to my parents so soon after it had begun…at this point Josh and I had only been out a handful of times! Needless to say, my parents were totally on board… so long as Josh promised to continue sending bottles of champagne!

Our choice for venue was primarily driven by the warm and intimate setting provided by the Waldorf’s banquet room where the ceremony and reception were to be held. Both of us immediately knew this was the place and we booked on the spot. Although the hotel is not small, per se, it is able to maintain the boutique-ish feel which we both desired. Each and every employee truly made us feel as if the hotel was ours right from the start of the planning process.

Without a doubt, I think the most poignant description of the night was summed up by one of our guests who told us “the room was filled with love and that’s something you cannot buy.”

Can we just talk about how seriously gorgeous this Anna Campbell wedding gown is for a moment, please? Like, really take a moment to soak in its incredible beauty? Because this isn’t just any gown… it’s a drop-dead gorgeous stunner that perfectly compliments the breathtaking bride and her amazing romantic meets vintage wedding. See every fabulous DIY (!) moment captured by Joel Bedford right here.

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Sweet and Romantic Texas Hill Country Wedding

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Romantic Vintage

From the Bride… With a year of long-distance planning from Australia, and a lot of help from family, friends and vendors, we were able to pull off our perfect wedding day! As Peter’s family were travelling from Perth Australia, and mine from all over Canada, we wanted to make sure our day was filled with love, laughter, tasty food, and lots of dancing. I think we pulled it off!

Our theme for our wedding day was vintage, romantic elegance, with a soft colour palette of mint, peach and gold. Our ceremony and reception took place in the stunning Restaurant Des-Beaux Arts in the National Gallery of Canada. The venue is perfectly situated in downtown Ottawa and looks out onto the Ottawa river, Nepean Point and Parliament Hill. It was an ideal location to show off my home town to our out-of-town guests.

From start to finish our wedding day went off without a hitch. Our photographers, Joel & Justyna, were amazing! They coordinated all sorts of shots, as we had no clue where to go in Ottawa. They also helped two very camera shy people become relaxed in front of the camera.

Our food caterer, Thyme and Again, were incredibly accommodating and made us feel well looked after. Their food was excellent and their wait staff were attentive. We had arranged to have Pavlova as our dessert (something for the Aussie’s). Not only did Bridget, the Catering Coordinator, provide us with a yummy dessert, she remembered me mentioning, in one of our meetings, that I love dark chocolate and added a truffle onto each plate. It was a small gesture that put a big smile on my face.

The wedding DJ, DJ Mellow Dee, was highly recommended by two friends. He did not disappoint. Days after our wedding guests were still talking about how amazing he was.

To keep our wedding budget down, we really wanted to try and do as much DIY stuff as possible and also get help from our talented family members. My brilliant cousin created our floral arrangements for our tables. For table numbers, we collected vintage themed postcards from all the different cities Peter and I have visited.

My brother is excellent with a camera and was our videographer for the day (only one of his many roles). He captured each special moment on film and two days after the wedding he had already edited and posted our video for all our friends and family to see. It also was something we could easily share with the family members who were unable to attend the wedding.

My graphic design savvy friends helped create the programs, place cards and wedding signage. I also found several free downloadable signs online and used Vistaprint for printing.

My brother-in-law’s family tap their own maple syrup, so they supplied us with eight gallons of syrup for our wedding favours. We never realized how much work goes into bottling maple syrup. The hard work paid off though, as they turned out beautifully! Also, the Australians were thrilled to take a bottle back home.

Peter gave me full creative freedom for our big day. He trusted my vision and put up with my crazy little details. The one and only stipulation he had was he wanted our wedding cake to be his family’s traditional fruit cake. My Mom took on that challenge and made this family favourite recipe. In case people didn’t want fruit cake, we had three additional smaller cakes (vanilla, chocolate and red velvet) from a local bakery. I then found the ‘Mr & Mrs’ cake topper on Etsy from Paper Treats.

We can’t say the lead up to the day wasn’t without any stress; two weeks before our wedding, we received the news that my mother might not make it to our wedding. She has been battling cancer for years and had recently taken a turn for the worse. With unbelievable support from family and friends, we made it through and so did she. One of our favourite wedding moments was seeing my mother on the dance floor dancing late into the night.

We are so very grateful for all the love and support we received from all those around us. We will cherish this day forever.

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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Anna Campbell

Forever Entwined 2014

Spirit Collection 2016

Gossamer Collection 2015

Jewelry 2017

Accessories 2017

Eternal Heart Collection 2018

Ceremony Collection 2017

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If you’re looking for a wedding that hits deep in the heart of Texas, you’re in the right spot! This Texas Hill Country wedding is seriously stunning. A good chunk of inspiration came from the famed Texas anthem (note: the constellation table runners) making every detail very classy and very Texas. Check out Katherine O’Brien Photography’s photos for more good-looking good times.

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Fall Weddings

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Chic Parisian Elopement Shoot

From Katherine O’Brien Photography...Madison & James’s wedding was even more stylish than their engagement (since they both grew up as children of architects, that’s not surprising!) With a venue like Three Points Ranch in the Texas Hill Country we wanted it to feel very Texan but to be honest, we spend far more time in the heart of Downtown Dallas than out in the country so a full-on boots and rustic feel would have been disingenuous. Instead we used “The Stars at Night are Big and Bright, Deep in the Heart of Texas” as the underlying theme. I was betting on a clear night which would mean a deep, dark blue sky and giant stars. So the bridesmaids wore midnight blue and the groomsmen wore navy. We found an image of the night sky’s constellations and printed it as the runners for the tables. I explained our vision to Stems and together we picked flowers and succulents that had slight starry shapes and Billy Buttons were the pops of starlight in many of the bouquets and arrangements. The strung lights and homemade ‘chandeliers’ over the tables were an additional star motif in the night. Madison choose a skirt and bustier from BHLDN for their wedding under the Big Oak Tree at Three Points Ranch and wore a mint green mini skirt for the reception with colorful floral JCREW heels ! The couple also made touches like the anniversary wish bottles and a mix of cakes and pies and BBQ , a bonfire and Smores- a perfect way to celebrate their Texas marriage with family and friends!

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BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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My lovely little sister is currently in the midst of planning her very own Parisian elopement and let me tell you, loves, I am more than just a tad bit jealous. Especially since I have been spending my morning gazing at this bundle of gorgeous inspiration from Vanessa & Caroline – Créatrices de Mariages and Rebecca Yale Photography. Because this, my friends, is a Paris “I do” at its absolute finest. See soooo much more right here.

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Autumn Wedding In The Appalachian Foothills

From Vanessa & Caroline – Créatrices de Mariages… Rebecca and I came together to create a beautiful inspiration editorial for a chic Parisian elopement. Even though we live and work in Paris we don’t have a lot of opportunities to do a typical Parisian shoot. Paris is an endless source of inspiration. The city is so magical and romantic, we are never tired of seeing the Eiffel Tower or the streets of Montmartre. Everything in Paris from the cafés to the streets and buildings has a romantic touch everywhere you look. We wanted to style this elopement as a romantic escape in Paris: rose poudré, French roses, croquembouche from the famous Angelina, the streets of Montmarte – all the ingredients to a perfect and glamorous elopement in Paris. With this in mind, it made perfect sense start our day at the Eiffel Tower which is a stunning backdrop and takes our breath away every time. There is nothing quite as iconic as La Tour Eiffel and is the perfect spot to say intimate “I do’s.”

The second Parisian place we absolutely wanted to take pictures at was Angelina’s. Perfectly located on the Rue de Rivoli with its grand arches, this famous French pastry boutique and tea room is an institution in Paris, the symbol of the Parisian “art de vivre” for more than a century. It was Coco Chanel’s favorite place for her morning cappuccino. She used to come to Angelina every day while she was living at Le Meurice next door and sit at the same table. Angelina is launching a new collection of French wedding cakes and the chef created a masterpiece for us – the gorgeous and classic croquembouche. Next we took a stroll in Montmartre strolling down the cobblestone streets, perfect for lovers who want to take a quiet moment and discover Paris. Michaël Leal created a classic French bridal bouquet with French roses (Pierre de Ronsard), whites and blush pinks for a romantic touch. He also staged the croquembouche from Angelina’s, showing how classic Parisian flowers can add another layer of elegance to a dessert table. The delicacy and softness of the flowers added a classical yet lovely touch to the cake. The gorgeous bride with her elaborate and romantic updo wore a lovely couture wedding dress by Parisian designer Christophe-Alexandre Docquin paired with stunning Chanel earrings as another nod to classic Parisian elegance and grace. In true Parisian style we combined a classic Parisian designer with a fabulous new one for a romantic and grand wedding getaway in Paris.

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Rebecca Yale Photography

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There’s nothing prettier than the Appalachian foothills in the fall (seriously, if you haven’t see it, you must!) And this Georgia wedding at The Ruins At Kellum Valley Farm fits right in with the foliage. The flowers from Flowers By Diane and even the cake from Cynthia’s Cakes And Cookies fit the mood perfectly. Just take a peek at the gallery of gorgeous by CWF Photography.

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From The Bride…To have our wedding in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains was always our dream. Fazal and I love the outdoors and are very close with our families, so the intimate, outdoor setting of the Ruins at Kellum Valley Farm was the perfect place for us. The Farm has breathtaking views and these magnificent school house ruins in the back of the property. The ruins look like a hidden secret and are unbelievable romantic with candlelight. We wanted to keep the wedding small, so we could focus on the family and friends that had been with us throughout our relationship. Fazal and I grew up in the same hometown of Loganville, Georgia, but come from very different backgrounds. I moved to the South from Illinois when I was in elementary school and learned to love all things southern over the years. Fazal’s family moved to Loganville from Vietnam before he was born, and he was lucky enough to grow up on the same street as all of his family. He spent a lot of his youth in the woods with his cousins and helping on his Grandfather’s halal farm. Our vision for the wedding was for it to feel like an intimate dinner party in our back yard in Atlanta. The reception was held outside, under the stars, with dinner and dancing inside of the ruins. We used lots of candles, bistro lights and deep fall colors to make everyone feel relaxed and comfortable. Our signature cocktail was our favorite libation – whiskey :) and we had rock candy stirrers for guests. We gave out hand warmers and vintage blankets for the guests to keep cozy through the night. Planning for our wedding was truly a family affair. My parents made the hand warmers that we gave out at the reception, my sister hand wrote all of the signage, my brother set up the photo booth, and Fazal carved the candlesticks that were at the head table. I loved looking around and seeing our families in every little detail. It was truly one amazing day.

Sweet Southern Maryland Wedding at Sotterly Plantation

It doesn’t get any sweeter than a Bride who dons her grandmother’s wedding dress. The dress she’s fawned over for years, and dreamt about wearing. When her day came, the dress wasn’t the only perfect piece of her day – every single thing this Bride dreamed of came true and then some, making this gallery from Krista Jones not only beautiful, but oh-so-special.

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Rustic Local Dinner Party

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From the Bride…Korey and I first met in high school. We were friends and that friendship followed us to our separate colleges. Sophomore year of college our friendship turned into more and we decided to give dating a try. 6 years later he is my best friend and we are now husband and wife.

I have lived in many places and seen many beautiful landscapes, but the beauty of St. Mary’s County has my heart and I wanted to showcase this beautiful place to our family and friends. We decided to hold the wedding at Sotterley Plantation. With its view of the stunning Patuxent River, beautiful up kept gardens, a large rustic barn, and a rich history behind it, it was the perfect spot to dedicate our lives to one another surrounded by our favorite people. Some of our family members drove from down the street to be at our wedding, while others flew in from different countries. They all made it a priority to be there for us on our special day, and we cannot express how much we appreciate each one of them.

Every girl dreams of their perfect wedding dress, lucky for me the one I dreamed of was the same one I tried on many times as a little girl while playing dress up with my twin sister. I was blessed to have the opportunity to wear my mother and grandmother’s wedding dress on my wedding day. With the help of Janice Martin, I designed a wedding dress that fit my personality and our time period while also showcasing the beautiful 1950’s lace wedding dress worn by two important women in my life. My grandmother bought the dress in 1950 for 75.00 dollars and she wore it on June 24, 1950 when she married my grandfather. Then 34 years later my mother wore the dress when she married my father on February 11, 1984. They preserved the dress and on May 17, 2014 I wore the slightly different version of this antique beauty.

Family and friends mean a lot to Korey and I, so we were very excited to include them as much as possible in our big day. Korey’s father and mother had a huge part in helping to create our beautiful rustic wedding – from our 32 flower boxes to the hand painted wine and beer signs, to the antique milk cart and the cast iron drink tubs. They worked tirelessly to find and make anything and everything we imagined to complete our vision for the wedding. Though my parents are both living abroad and couldn’t be with us for all of our hands on preparation, we could not have had the wedding of our dreams without all they contributed. They listened to our ideas through late night phone calls and skype sessions and helped us execute the perfect day. Not only do we have amazing family, Korey and I are blessed to have very helpful, kind, and loving friends. This is seen partly through our very large wedding party. Eleven on each side seems a bit much but Korey and I both agree that you can never have too many friends. Our wedding showcased a lot of our talented friends, from our first dance singers, to my hair and makeup stylists, to the band and the bartenders and our amazing wedding cake baker, Deanna Pinno. Our wedding coordinator, Jeannae Pinno, was also a good friend along with our Pastor Matt Hall.

Looking through our beautiful wedding pictures, done by the wonderful Krista Jones, we cannot take the smiles off our faces. Krista captured the feeling of our night perfectly, family, friends, love and laughter in the calm serene countryside. Everything was perfect, we would not change a thing. The perfect beginning to our Happily Ever After.

I can’t think of a better way to enjoy the summer than with a gorgeous al fresco dinner made of the most delicious local foods around! Threaded Together Photography created an organic setting in a rustic barn using mismatched vintage pieces, dyed linen runners, and seasonal flowers from Barbie’s Blooms. Paired with a tasty bounty from Tasteful Temptations using fresh ingredients from local farmers, this dinner is one for the books!

From Threaded Together Photography: I’ve always wanted to do a dinner party in a barn that was both elegant and relaxed with fresh locally sourced dishes. When I came across the Horse Stamp Inn and chatted with its kind owner, Tom Hutcheson, I knew I finally found a place to make the vision come to life. I pulled classic pieces from my vintage rental collection like my farm tables as well as a unique chair table that features both a slate board center and pull out drawers. The slate center was the perfect base for the cheese wheel tower which included locally produced cheeses and was accompanied by North Florida made palmetto honey and berry compote.

The table was laid with hand made runners. I wanted a pale blue gauzy runner and couldn’t find the right fit so I dyed some white linen fabric woven with silver metallic threads (great texture) and left the edges frayed and imperfect. Basic white square plates served as a base for vintage blue appetizer plates, classic white napkins and silver twig flatware. The place settings were topped with a menu card designed in collaboration with Katie Hoffman Ink featuring a custom barn graphic. Katie also designed an invitation suite with bespoke crest and used a botanical stamp.

For the menu I wanted beautiful dishes full of locally sourced ingredients harvested in the season by area farms. To start guests sipped on a mixed berry seltzer with a vodka base. The salad consisted of fresh greens, candied pecans, goat cheese and grilled peaches topped with a raspberry coulis. A dose of the South was served up in the main dish of sweet tea brined pork with vidalia onions. Sides were a simple assortment of grilled then chilled vegetables and seasoned potato slices. With blueberries in full bloom, a desert of fresh blueberry tart garnished with cream, lemon and mint was the ultimate seasonal sweet treat.

Mismatched chairs, seasonal blooms in simple white vases, and candles added softness and warmth to the space. For the florals I collaborated with Barbie’s Blooms to create a palette of green and white with pops of berry. Sticking to a color palette while using only flowers and greenery in season kept the look cohesive and organic. Freesia, garden roses and genestra gave off a sweet fragrance. Curtains with floral tie backs framed the barn entrance. Guests concluded the evening by feeding the resident horse carrots and greens. May this encourage you to shop local and inspire your upcoming dinner parties, whether in a barn or your own backyard.

Farm Partners:
Sea Island Farmer’s Market
Amelia Island Farmer’s Market
Riverside Arts Market
Cabbage Creek Farm
Bacon Select Produce
Pastor Prime Farm
Harriet’s Bluff Organic Blueberry Farm
Bland Farms

Modern NYC Loft Wedding

The modern design lover in me is geeking out and it has everything to do with this Manhattan “I do” captured by Robert And Kathleen Photographers. Of course, the pretty comes as no surprise when the Bride happens to be the floral genius behind The Mini Rose Company. She brought on Mary Bradley Events to help design the day, and results are a gallery of clean lines and minimalist perfection.

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Winter Weddings

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From Robert & Kathleen Photographers… Thinking about how weddings should look is something that comes naturally to Samantha. An incredibly talented floral designer, she knows weddings inside and out. They are, quite often, her job. But knowing how they should look and experiencing how they feel for the bride and groom are two very different things. A complete Type A personality, Samantha thought of every detail and made sure everything was in the best hands with event coordinator Mary Bradley, so that, once she was in her gown, she could stop planning the details and start living in the moments.

When the final buttons we fastened on her gown, Samantha stood still, looking radiant bathed in the light of the large loft windows. A stillness came over the room for a few seconds, an acknowledgement of the significance of the day that was about to unfold. Then, there were some tears and a few excited hugs from her very best friends. All that was left to do now, was wait. Wait for the man who had changed Samantha’s life simply by becoming a part of it, the man who made her happier than she ever could have imagined. The man who, in a short time, would become her husband. She was placed in a seat of honor and with the women she held dearest in her heart by her side, and she waited for him. The room filled up with friends and family greeting her and holding her hand as she offered them blessings.

When the music shifted, she knew it was time. She heard the singing first, the sound of men’s voices together in song getting louder as they got closer. They were in a circle, surrounding Myles. When they were nearest to her, the circle opened. There he was. In keeping in tradition, Samantha and Myles had not seen each other for a week before this day, and the looks on each of their faces said that the wait was well worth it. Myles was speechless, gazing with wonder at the gorgeous woman before him. Samantha was beaming, the joy and excitement radiating from her face. The room grew quiet as Myles walked over to her. He whispered in her ear and, ever so gently, placed her veil over her face. She held back the tears as she looked up at him smiling, knowing that in just a few short minutes she would see him again at the front of the aisle.

Throughout the ceremony and reception that followed, one thing was made unmistakably, undoubtedly clear: if there is one thing Samantha is even better at than floral design, it’s picking a husband. And that’s saying something. As you’ll see from the stunning arrangements of vivid blooms, flowering branches, and soft candlelight, Samantha knows how to make a wedding beautiful. But what’s even more evident when you see the way she and Myles look at one another, is that Samantha knew just how she wanted to feel on her wedding day – the way she does every day when she’s with Myles.

Romantic Farm Wedding

This wedding is what I would call overflowing with pretty. But beyond all of the gorgeous details (and, believe me, there are a lot of them) is a day that is allll about the happy. From the (obviously awesome) friends and family laughing the day away to a bride and groom who are literally beaming with joy, it’s a true blue love fest from start to finish. See every gleeful moment captured by Luke Simon right here.

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Romantic Speakeasy Wedding at Marvimon

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Rustic Weddings

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Romantic Rustic

From the Bride… It may be hard to believe, but our plan for the wedding day started out as a throwing a simple but big party to celebrate with all our our wonderful family and friends. Angus would joke along the way that all we needed was a bowl of chips, beers and some good South Australian red for later in the night to keep most of our guests happy!

Somehow the ‘simple wedding’ part got lost along the way, but we would not change it for the world. What we ended up with was the most incredible day put together by some amazing suppliers, but mostly by some serious imagination and hard yakka from our family and friends. We simply had the best day.

Having just relocated to Sydney at the time, we were very reliant on family and friends to help turn a paddock on the family farm into a wedding venue, which was no small feat, but the challenge made the day all the more rewarding.

Sharing good local food and wine are incredibly important to us both and we chose to serve all courses as share platters to give the sense of being at a big family dinner at the farm. The fare that was served up by Stuart Oldfield and his team from Handmade Catering (from a very makeshift paddock kitchen) was simply incredible and the food was paired perfectly with beautiful SA wines made by my uncle, Tim Gramp Wines.

There are far too many special moments to mention but here are a few: having the aptly named ‘The Bridal Express’, my grandfather’s cherished and beautifully restored 1934 Diamond T bus, as wedding party transport (the only hiccup was it getting stuck it first gear but made for some entertaining photos of the groomsmen pushing it out of a tight spot) and Angus’ Granny doing a special reading, the same reading she read at Angus’ parents’ wedding.

Not even the unseasonably cold weather could dampen the party spirit evidenced by the prowess on the d-floor until the early hours of the morning.

The photos really do speak for themselves, an incredible day captured by the most incredible (and the coolest to boot) photographer, Luke Simon. We only wish we could do it all again!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Anna Campbell

Forever Entwined 2014

Spirit Collection 2016

Gossamer Collection 2015

Jewelry 2017

Accessories 2017

Eternal Heart Collection 2018

Ceremony Collection 2017

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Take a timeless twenties style, mix it up with a fresh peach, green and sunshine yellow combo and my dears, we’ve got ourselves a sassy speakeasy soiree (say that ten times fast!) that’s packed with a whole lotta punch. Designed, planned and coordinated with love by Nicole Alexandra Designs, it’s no wonder the gallery from Sun & Sparrow Photography is the definition of happy.

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Rustic Bonny Doon Wedding with Scandinavian Traditions

From Nicole Alexandra Designs… Sherry & Daniel’s wedding was inspired by their love of prohibition inspired cocktails. This set the tone for the elegant and vintage touches found throughout their spectacular wedding day which took place at the Marvimon in downtown Los Angeles! The day started early as the Bride and Groom celebrated their cultures in a traditional tea ceremony. Following the tea ceremony, the Bride was whisked away to the venue where she changed into her second look for the evening wedding festivities. She looked stunning in a Katie May gown and 1920’s inspired hair, make-up, and accessories, while the handsome groom donned a chic Dolce & Gabbana Tuxedo. The bouquet and boutonniere from Twig & Twine completed their lovely looks. Inside, the reception was filled with elegance and a romantic ambiance. Cut glass bud vases filled with a colorful array of garden roses, ranunculus, and anemones, lined the long wooden tables, while incredible hand selected vintage plates and gold flatware from Dish Wish completed each place setting. Guests found their seats after finding their hand-painted names on a vintage window paned door. Food was catered by Heirloom LA and was served family style. Cocktails were hand-crafted by Julian from Mixology, and included 3 signature drinks. Draped in pearls and garden roses, the wedding cake touched on the 1920’s theme – it was almost too pretty to eat! After some serious dancing, guests were treated with some late night tacos from the Mexicali Food Truck. The entire day was beautiful and filled with fun loving moments. The love shared between Sherry & Daniel was palpable and reminded us all of what true love looks like!

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Katie May

Bridal

La Vie en Rose

Katie May

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We’re all for family traditions. The more the merrier in our opinion. They are the ultimate personalization – taking a wedding like this rustic affair and weaving it with unique details that are both meaningful and heartfelt. For this Bride and Groom those traditions are of Scandinavian flavor and add to an already gorgeous day captured by Onelove Photography. See so much more right here.

From the Bride…We dreamed of having an outdoor wedding. We wanted our wedding to have a quiet, simple elegance and an intimate feel, and we wanted it to reflect the natural and harmonious beauty of the outdoors. We got married on a private property that my grandfather and great-grandfather worked on and knew well. It was special to get married in this setting–it felt like the closest we could get to having them there. We loved how this property held sentimental value for us, but we also loved the natural setting. The ceremony was in an open meadow surrounded by redwood forest and we chose a clear tent for our reception so while we were inside we could still see the stars and the silhouette of the trees against the sky at night.

I wanted chandeliers at our reception, but didn’t want to pay the steep rental prices. I found a rustic wrought iron chandelier at a flea market and found two more I could borrow. The chandeliers were meant to hold candles, but of course we weren’t allowed to have the open flames. We drilled holes in wax candles so we could insert little flameless candles into each of the wax candles. From the ground, the candles looked like they were actually lit!

Seeing each other for the first time as I walked down the aisle was a memory neither of us will forget. The entire ceremony was meaningful, but reading our vows to each other our in front of our dearest friends and family was incredibly special. My eyes teared up. We felt surrounded by so much love and support.

Our friends Andreas and Alexander from Denmark flew out for our wedding to play the violin and piano. These two play all over the world and for the Danish royalty. We felt so honored to have them there. Their music is incredible–and it made the day especially memorable.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Customize Your Dream Wedding Invitations with Wedding Paper Divas

The true beauty of a wedding comes in the personalized details; those moments that really capture the spirit of a couple. The same rings true for wedding stationery and Wedding Paper Divas is making it easier than ever to let your personality shine bright. With their customization service, the options are endless letting your style and story come to life. And what better way to showcase this than to dive into paper planning with a real life Bride and Groom. So without further ado, meet Megan and Sasha.

These cuties wanted an invitation suite that was all at once modern and elegant. Something that captured the essence of their upcoming Modern Bohemian Barn nuptials. Wedding Paper Divas rolled up their sleeves and got to work crafting an invitation unique to Megan and Sasha and so wildly beautiful. It’s a modern typography version of this gem with a golden sparkle that Megan adores.

With a huge array of gorgeous and affordable options, Wedding Paper Divas is making it easier than ever to find just the right fit. And by personalizing colors, fonts and trims — it makes it yours down to every last detail. Here are just a few features that offer the ability to really personalize your wedding stationery:

Multiple color options, including custom color matching
Option to upload your own designs
A variety of trim options for most designs
Unique and customizable back layouts
Multiple font options
Photo filters

But the beauty of customization doesn’t end with the invitation. Not even close. Think everything from belly bands, colored envelopes and ribbons to day of details, favor packages and thank you’s. The Wedding Paper Divas world is your oyster, my friends, and a pretty one at that. Start perusing their collection of goodies to see just how you and your love are going to add your style stamp.

In the Fun Lane Home Tour

A sprinkle of pink, a hint of whimsy and a heavy dose of pure pretty is what you can expect the moment you walk through Holly’s doors. Earlier today, we went behind the blog with In the Fun Lane, and now we’re back to not-so-subtly stalk her gorgeous digs. With photos from Jacqueline Elizabeth, you’re going to want to read on. Oh, and you can totally find more over here!

From Holly… We are definitely ‘fireplace people’. We have long cold winters up here in Alberta and we use our fireplace all Winter long so we wanted it to be the focal point, even though we also watch TV in here.

The kitchen is my favourite room in our whole house. We put so much time and effort into transforming it and truly enjoy spending time in here and entertaining with friends in here. To get the look we wanted we even hunted down our appliances on Kijiji, and ended up finding them for $3000 at a show home that was being sold. We love that our friends feel so at home in our kitchen that they know where to find anything and even help with the cooking when they come over!

When we renovated the kitchen two years ago and made the decision to give up the kitchen eating nook to make the cabinet layout flow better. This meant that we would be using our formal dining room as our eating area every day and we are so happy with that decision. I’m not sure it would get used much otherwise, and we love all the extra space in the kitchen!

The living room is the most formal room in the house, but we still wanted it to have a certain light hearted whimsy to it. Besides the sofa and bench on the wall all the furniture came from thrift stores and auctions and we just painted or slipcovered them to fit in better.

This area is still ‘under construction’ and like most renovators, my own home tends to come last on my to-do list. We have new railings and wood stairs being installed this Summer, but I was so impatient to get the old carpet out that I ripped it up before having a plan (roughly 3 years ago!).

Wren’s room is definitely the most colourful room in the house! I love that it has evolved with her since she was a baby and we just add and move things around as needed. Her room is entirely made up of garage sale and antique market finds.

LIVING ROOM:
Bench: Ikea | Sofa: Urban Barn | Bird Pillow: Anthropologie | ‘Hell Yeah’ framed tea towel: Rachel Castle | Rug: Ikea

KITCHEN:
Cabinets: Martha Stewart through Home Depot | Range: Thermador | Hood vent: Elica | Fridge: SubZero | Stools: Target

FAMILY ROOM:
Sofa: Ikea | Rug: Urban Outfitters | Coffee table: was a dining room table we cut down and painted | Patterned Chair: HomeSense

WREN’S ROOM:
Heart decals: Urban Walls

Photography: Jacqueline Elizabeth Photography | Event Planning: Urban Outfitters | Cakes: Homesense | Home: Holly Baker | Vendor: Urban Barn

Jacquelyn Clark

Elegant Provence Chateau Wedding

There’s nothing quite like the romance-filled air at a chateau wedding in Provence. And when you’ve got Lavender & Rose behind all the pretty planning? It’s bound to be flawless. From Laetita C‘s sweet blooms to the pop-of-pink macaron box favors and all the gorgeous portraits from Caught The Light, you can get your swoon on right here.

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Classic Weddings Romantic

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Estate Weddings

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From the beautiful Bride… How did you meet? We got introduced by a friend at a birthday party in Miami.

Why did you choose to marry in France? Omer proposed to me on a beautiful swing in front of a lake near lavender fields in Provence. We fell in love with the area and immediately decided to get married there. We did a lot of research on the internet, as we don’t live in France. Right after seeing some pictures of Chateau du Martinet online, it became my first choice. We spoke to our wedding planners and they highly recommended the chateau, we then immediately scheduled a visit to make the final decision. When we saw it, we knew it was the place.

As soon as I entered the venue the first time, I was breath-taken: it was better than what I had always dreamed of. The chateau was decorated very elegantly and effortlessly French-chic inside and out. We knew we would have good wine, and amazing food with exceptionally good value!

The ceremony area was so magical; a long aisle lined with huge cypress trees on each side. Walking down the aisle was my most memorable moment, seeing the excitement on the faces of our family and friends. We had to hold the legal ceremony in our country of birth, so we had a humorous symbolic ceremony in France where the celebrant was groom’s brother in law. We wanted it to be romantic, elegant. We also wanted it to be very natural, so our guests to feel very warm, welcomed and loved. We chose a colour palette of light pink, green, cantaloupe, white. We wanted a soft, natural cosy look. In order to create a romantic feel with our flowers, we used light colored roses and hydrangeas. I love peonies, but it wasn’t the right season for them, so my lovely florist recommended David Austin roses that looked very similar to peonies. I wanted the nature and the big trees of the courtyard to be reflected at the tables, that’s why we used dark green leaves and boxwood trees. My bouquet was made up of lily of the valley, David Austin roses and white bouvardia.

Our timing was perfect for the ceremony and evening and the sun set exactly after the grand entrance. We were also very happy that the layout of the tables we drew and planned worked out perfectly and exactly as we had envisioned. Our florist and caterers were brilliant and recommended to us by our wedding planners, Lavender & Rose.

We love bicycle riding as a couple. Our save the dates had 2 bicycles printed and Jennifer, one of our wedding planners, had the idea of getting a vintage bike just for photos, she found one in an antique market in France. I sourced our escort fans from a calligrapher in Istanbul and had them printed at a local printing house in Istanbul. Guests used them to cool down and to find their seat too.

We selected each and every detail on the table, starting from chairs, tablecloth, glasses, cutlery, plates and our florist supplied all the candles and vases based on our taste. I created the design of the Menus, and had it printed in a local printing store, which was a bargain. We dined on lobster tail with honey lavender sauce, asparagus risotto with truffles, Herb crusted lamb chops, followed by a fantastic French Dessert Buffet. For wedding favours, we had macaroon boxes, which had to be shipped from United States to Turkey.

We had an extravagant photo-booth backdrop completely from fresh pink roses and props for our guests to hold. The photo-booth printed 2 photos of the same picture, 1 to be kept and the other to be put in our wedding notebook, where guests signed and wrote their wishes to us. It was a huge success, definitely recommended and provided by Alban Pichon. We had asked for the hallway to be filled with black and white round balloons, and our guests loved them and carried them to the reception area and of course to the dance floor.

If you are having a wedding abroad, make sure to organize a dinner or an activity, on each day of the weekend for your guests. Give them a welcome hand-book with details, and timeline of the weekend. The best thing about our weekend was traveling together with family and friends, enjoying and celebrating our marriage the whole weekend.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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DIY Mint Julep Favors

On a warm summer day, there’s nothing quite like a chilled cocktail. The ever so classic Mint Julep fits that profile to a T. And what better beverage to offer up for a summer wedding? Better yet, give your guests the gift of the Julep with these cute as can be favors crafted by our resident DIY goddess, Jess, and photographed by Ruth Eileen. Read below for instructions. Spoiler Alert: They’re crazy simple!

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Materials Glass bottles with corks
Liquid gilding
Paint brush
White twine
Fresh mint
Sugar
Bourbon
Gold glitter tape
Scissors
Label paper
Labels

Paint a circle of liquid gilding on the backside of the glass bottle. Make sure the gilding is an even, opaque layer, then let dry 30 minutes. Repeat with remaining bottles.

Fill one bottle with bourbon and cork it. Fill the other bottle with homemade mint simple syrup (here’s an easy recipe) and a few fresh mint leaves for garnish. Repeat with remaining bottles.

Download and print out the bourbon & mint labels. Cut out along the gray lines and apply to the front of each bottle. Add a bit of gold glitter tape to each label.

Wrap the neck of each bottle with twine and mint leaf garnish and hand out to guests! They have everything they need to whip up an awesome mint julep at home.

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Photography: Ruth Eileen

Behind the Blog with In the Fun Lane

In the Fun Lane is well loved around these parts, and for very good reason. She’s sweet, she regularly chats all things home design, and she’s all sorts of adorable. I dare you to flip through her blog and not fall instantly in love. And today we’re counting our lucky stars as we get to learn a littttle bit more. With photos from Jacqueline Elizabeth there’s more lovely where this came from, and it’s all in the gallery.

SMP: Tell us a little about In the Fun Lane!
In the Fun Lane is my happy place! It is where I can talk endlessly about whatever I am passionate about. I would describe it as a blend between lifestyle blog and the diary of a crazy renovator lady.

SMP: What made you decide to start a blog?
My original intentions in started a blog were to document our new house, and my first post was the day we moved in six years ago! I had so many ideas floating around for the long renovation journey we were embarking on and I had no other outlet at the time, but over time it has grown to include much more than inspiration and more of my personal journey into a career in flipping everything from furniture in the early days to houses now.

SMP: What’s one thing you’ve learnt along the way?
I’ve learned that you cannot put a price on your readers! My readers have encouraged me to follow my dreams and I feel so grateful for the push they have given me time and again. I can promise you I would not have realized so many of my dreams (or even thought about pursuing them!) had it not been for my readers. That is the primary reason I made the conscious choice years ago to steer clear of things like sponsored posts and product reviews. My blog is not how I earn most of my income, but because of my blog I have found my calling and true career path.

SMP: If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?
I honestly would not choose to do anything differently on my blog. I respect my readers and the connection we have and that means I share what I can, when I can. The only I wish I have is that I had more time to dedicate to my blog, with a young child and my own business it can be a tough juggling act. But my readers are amazing in that they would rather see one or two posts a week with interesting content than have me pump out a post a day with shopping guides or other various filler posts. I prefer to be genuine and only post things I am actually doing, seeing, buying.

SMP: One piece of advice you’d give to a blogger just starting out?
Be yourself, find your own voice and don’t feel pressure to compare your blog or content to any of the most established blogs. Trying to keep up with blogs that have full teams of contributors will not only wear you out but it won’t show your true personality. Readers want a connection, not more content!

SMP: Your most embarrassing blog moment?
Jumping on the link party bandwagon back in the day. It just wasn’t me and when I kept forgetting to post on the right day I had to give in and let it go. I am not one to quit easily so it was embarrassing to go back and tell my readers that the weekly link up was over.

SMP: What was the tipping point in your business that made you feel your blog was going to thrive?
When I started having people tell me that they looked forward to my posts or missed when I didn’t post I felt like I was doing something right. I never really looked at my blog as my job, but as my outlet for what I was pursuing at the time and to hear from readers that I encouraged them to pursue something in their life was more than I could have ever hoped to achieve with my blog.

SMP: What color do you think will stand the test of time?
White. I know it is so ‘in’ right now, but as someone who sees a LOT of houses both old and new I can tell you that it is pretty much the only colour that doesn’t immediately date a house. It is a blank canvas to whatever personality you want to inject in a space, or the fact that it is a blank canvas can be your look. I love how freeing and unlimited the possibilities are.

SMP: One thing you simply can’t live with out?
My camera. I didn’t even know I like photography until my husband bought me a DSLR about 6 years ago and I’ve had so much fun learning how to take good photographs and capturing special moments or even just daily life in a creative way.

SMP: Three things every stylish homeowner should have?
One or two nice candles, a piece of original art that speaks to who they are, and at least one plant or fresh flowers in a room.

SMP: Your favourite online design resource?
I love reading blogs for my inspiration! As much as I love magazines and books, I prefer to see home from regular people who are trying to make their space stylish on a real budget. It is incredible what you can accomplish with a smaller budget and some creativity!

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Photography: Jacqueline Elizabeth | Home: Holly Baker

Jacquelyn Clark

Santa Barbara Day After Shoot

All couples considering day after shoots — look no further. Just look at these photos from Chelsea Mitchell — you get a abundant sampling of the prettiness, but there’s a sharper focus on the bride and groom with none of the stress of squeezing it in on your wedding day. Besides, it’d be a shame not to capture this bride’s stunning Vera Wang gown and florals from Trace Robinson, right?

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Seasons

Classic Weddings Romantic

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Beach Weddings

Styles

From the Bride… When Chelsea Mitchell said yes to shooting our day after wedding shoot we could not have been more excited! We absolutely love her use of film and her artistic eye! Ryan and I originally met on this same beach playing volleyball seven years ago. We thought it would be fun to revisit the location where we first met to take our first newlywed photos. Our goal with these photos was to to capture our long lasting love in artistic portraits that we could frame and keep on our walls for many years to come.

Photography: Chelsea Mitchell | Floral Design: Trace Robinson | Wedding Gown: Vera Wang | Groom's Attire: Nordstrom | Santa Barbara Beach: Santa Barbara

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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Classic Raleigh Wedding at Angus Barn

I might be a little bit biased, but I wholeheartedly believe this is one of the sweetest weddings you’ll ever come across. As a guest I can tell you that as stunning as the images from Nancy Ray are – and trust me, they’re ridiculously stunning – they capture a mere faction of joy felt on that day. From Anna’s heirloom veil, to the bluegrass band that played through the night, it’s Southern tradition with a twist and you can click right here to see for yourself.

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Religious Institution Rustic Weddings

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Classic Weddings Rustic

From Nancy Ray… I am thrilled to share Anna and Ben’s Raleigh wedding with you. If I can summarize this wedding with one word, it would be “sweet!” The first look, the groom’s unending tears, the heirloom veil from the mother of the bride, the unique dress that fit Anna’s personality perfectly, the pickle mason-jar favors, the beautiful floral printed stationery, the photos on display from weddings gone by, and hands down, the best father-daughter first look I’ve ever photographed – there was a sweetness to this wedding that is hard to put into words. Even the milk glass and the lacy toms (worn by the bride) were perfect examples of the vintage charm that Anna and Ben love. I’ll never forget this couple, their precious families, and the sweet atmosphere of their wedding day. Anna and Ben sure have friends and family who treasure them individually, and now, as a couple. What a sweet, sweet day!

Elegant Indoor Montana Wedding at Butte Masonic Lodge

I’m pretty sure an audible squeal was let out all over the SMP offices when we opened this gorgeous wedding from Cluney Photo at the Butte Masonic Lodge – because it has SMP written all over it. From the beautiful blush color palette to the gorgeous florals, it’s safe to say we are in love with every image sitting in this gallery, and it’s really not hard to see why.

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Lodge

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