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

An Italian Affair in the Heart of Charleston! How One Couple Infused European Flair to Their Stateside Wedding

If you ask us, the only city in American that can compare to the charming streets of Europe is situated sweetly in Lowcountry – Charleston, South Carolina! When this couple’s dream of tying the knot in Italy didn’t work out, they decided to infuse elements of Italy, from olive leaves to a live pasta maker, throughout their beautiful day planned and designed by Ellis Event Design. The result? Absolute perfection! See all the heavenly details at the full gallery, captured by Willett Photography!

From Willett Photography… Laura and Luke’s initial wedding plans involved a cliff in Italy, but due to life changes, they landed on a destination wedding in the beautiful city of Charleston.

Refusing to give up the idea of an Italian affair, they infused their day with beautiful European details including a live pasta maker, limoncello and olive leaves galore.

It was an intimate, calm and family focused day celebrating their love! The streets of Charleston provided the most incredible backdrop for their photos and the setting sun left everyone feeling warm, welcome and joyful!

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Here’s How To Add Color To A Neutral Color Palette Perfectly

Trends come and go but timeless is forever. When Bashful Captures set out to create the ultimate New York City inspired wedding shoot, they came up with the most beautiful use of colors. From the marriage of the always popular neutral scheme and the recent rush of bright and bold colors, comes this artfully elegant muted decor with a splash of the unexpected. Designs by Ahn played with the textural elements of dried flowers and foliage to bring the entire concept full circle. Head to the full gallery for a closer look at all the beyond chic inspiration.

From Bashful Captures… As a New York City Photographer, I’ve always wanted to create a shoot that felt very chic, simple, modern and that felt very New York. Pops of colors seem to be the trend for 2020, but instead, I wanted to go more neutral with a subtle splash of colors.

I knew that Amsale dresses would be the perfect fit for our bride. The gowns were simple, elegant and timeless. We wanted the bride to look glam but not overly done. With simple slicked back hair and very clean and natural makeup.

For a chic, modern-minimalist ending, Nine Cakes created a beautiful masterpiece with a textural flower. The elements of the shoot all came together to create the perfect compilation of all that is New York City style.

This Spectacular South Of France Wedding Is Not To Be Missed

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what we call style! Our jaws officially fell on the floor when we spotted this South of France celebration. With two dashing grooms and elegance in every single decor element, you’re going to want to scroll through this one very slowly. Sea Bride and Sun created a celebration of love that shines from the sunset poolside cocktail hour to the tented reception filled with soft organic florals. The timeless photos were taken by Yoan Mollemeyer. Take a closer look at all the love in the full gallery.

From Sea Bride and Sun… Olivier and Bradley chose the South of France to celebrate their love. Guests traveled from around the world to attend this fabulous wedding weekend.

The romantic ceremony was filled with a lot of emotion, love, and happiness. It included a beautiful view of the village and heartfelt vows that had guests in tears.

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a long cocktail hour at sunset around the swimming pool. The reception decor was modern, refined, and included the perfect touch of blue. It was a celebration of love that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Ask The Editor: White Paint, Kid’s Toys, Furniture and Art Sizing

Spring is in the air and we’re feeling particularly optimistic this Friday morning. Sunshine and warmer temperatures do good for the soul! This edition of Ask The Editor touches base on some of the basics, so we couldn’t be more excited to round these up and answer them!

“what’s a good white paint color that’s not actually blue or yellow”

This is SO tricky. Speaking from lots of experience, picking the right white color is so hard. Even paint colors that are named “white” sometimes turn out a different color (like “Dutch White,” for example, is pink…..a grave mistake)

A safe one we frequently reference is “Dove White” because it’s not too stark, but it doesn’t give off another color tone which is what you’re looking for in a pure white color!

For more white paint color tips, check out this blog!

“how do I keep our kid’s toys organized?! they sprawl out everywhere!”

Kid’s toys have a way of leaking out into the rest of the house. You don’t want to stifle the play, because it’s fun….but you also don’t want to sacrifice your WHOLE house to toys! We recommend two things here:

1. Simplify the toy offering: as they grow older they naturally outgrow toys. As part of your routine, take notes of toys that are no longer in heavy rotation and create donate piles! The more you’re on top of riding your home of unused toys, the more piles are less likely to accumulate.

2. Baskets! We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — a contained mess is an approachable mess! We can not recommend baskets more. They are the single most versatile home organization hack. Keep baskets in rooms that are prone to collect toys and use them to both corral, and then transport toys back to their original home :)

“How to choose the right size furniture/wall for art”

This is a GOOD question! It’s always tricky to pick the right size and it’s totally dependent on the space you’re working with — so proportions are your best friend. The real risk is actually going too small. You’ll be really tempted to make the space feel “bigger” by adding in more blank space, but actually smaller furniture can make it feel like you don’t have enough space.

For furniture, the best thing to do is pick the core (couch, big cushy reading chair, bed, table….ect!) and go full size with it. Then depending on what space you’re working with, build off from there. So if you’re working with a small living room, get a good-sized couch and then some smaller side tables.

For art — go big! You are almost never wrong to go with bigger art than you think. If you don’t love one larger piece, group together some smaller pieces. There are places where you can go small intentionally, but as a general rule of thumb, you’re never wrong to go big with your art!

That’s all we’ve got for today! Tune in to our insta stories Sunday to submit your questions!

8 Necessities to Have On Hand for an Epic Bachelorette Weekend!

It’s March (yay!!), and that means we’ve officially entered bridal shower and bachelorette season – for anyone getting married in late spring/early summer. If you’ll be going on a girls trip, count us jealous! But even if you aren’t jet-setting somewhere off the grid, you can have the most amazing weekend with your besties – all you need to do is get serious about creating a mood: one that’s festive, fiercely nostalgic #fullofthrowbacks, and just plain fun. As the bride, you’ve certainly earned yourself a pass on all the planning, but that’s not to say that you can’t have some tricks up your sleeve to surprise your sisters – the ones by birth, the ones by choice, and the ones you’ll call fam in just a few short months – and make them feel special.

No bachelorette ever has to feel basic, but there are definitely some highlights worth having, whether you’ve booked a bungalow on the beach, reserved an Airbnb upstate, gone glamping somewhere you can bring your own fancy, or just plan on slumming it slumbering old-school style with a PJ party to end all PJ parties. From group uniforms to personalized sippy cups, a playlist that puts all those DJ pool party soundtracks to shame to all the morning-after hangover provisions needed to make sure no party foul goes too far, the perfect bachelorette might start with team bride tribe tats and end with the real thing… #wedontjudge!

Thankfully, we’ve been on enough bachelorette weekends to know which necessities can’t be overlooked, as well as those that just make such a difference. We’ve stocked our Style Me Pretty shop site with everything for your last fling before the ring – and don’t worry, there’s not a NSFW thing in sight! 😉

Sippy Cups That Come to Play.

So, the TSA hasn’t made it easy for squads to get into the spirit on their flights out – but once you’re off the plane and safely checked into your place for the weekend, then all bets are off! We suggest our “Wedding Party Cup” Tumblers for energetic spa waters (for morning yoga sessions) and mixed drinks by the pool in the afternoon, and then our pink “Let’s Bridal Party” stainless steel travel cup for wind-down wine time before bed, once you’re in for the night, changed into pajamas, and watching Love Is Blind on Netflix.

Bach In Progress Decor.

Lots of hotels will decorate your door if you’re honeymooning or celebrating a birthday, but if a bachelorette isn’t on the staff’s radar, then it’s just up to the MOH to pull some strings and have the room/suite/etc. all decked out when the bride and her queens arrive. That means photo collages of the bride and groom all over the place, cute photo props with her mister’s face on them, towels and pool floats for the beach or cabanas, drama balloons with lots of tassels, and mylar magic in no short supply. 100P That Bach, Bach & Boujee, Pop the Champagne She’s Changing Her Last Name, take your pick!

Extra points if neon signage makes an appearance at the in-suite bar. Don’t go thirsty will be an anthem for the weekend, after all…

Going Out: Game On.

The best thing about going out when you’re on your bachelorette is that you can dress the part and not have to feel extra about it. You can be wearing bride / squad bathing suits, super cute tanks, or rocking a tried-and-true black and white dress code, and everyone in public will dig it, because you’re getting married, and everyone wants to celebrate you, strangers included!

You can absolutely make your own shirts or bedazzle something sassy on a jean jacket with cowboy boots if you’re spending time in Nashville or Austin. But if you don’t have anything set in stone, then bring along some stylish accessories.

Our bride-to-be sash is so good, plus it comes with a matching crown, because the guest of honor deserves ALL the queen treatment on her night(s) out.

Our bridesmaid headbands in pink and gold glitter are just the right things to differentiate the maids from their soon-to-be missus. If the headband fits, then wear it #overit

And of course, photo booth memories can’t be made without cute props. Whether you’re here for the wine or simply sooo single, be proud of your status lady! You never know, your single might switch to taken come the end of the weekend… +1 anyone??!

A Stylish S.O.S.

Remember when Priyanka Chopra took her entourage to Amsterdam pre-wedding to Nick? Well, she posted pics and stories that had all of us dying to be one of the J Sisters, but she was also straight-up about her struggles after all was said and done! Hungover, tired, hashtag all of us. Sleep masks are a must, must, must, as are mugs to sip ALL the coffee from when the ‘but first, drinks’ sign turns off and ‘but first, coffee’ is going off like sirens in your head.

If you can on-demand some massages the morning after and pop some Tylenol before the touch therapy commences, then your hangover might not stand a chance!

We’ve even seen girl groups start really sweet traditions wherein the first girl who gets married in the group gets a hat, a sash, a pair of sunglasses, maybe even a booty veil (hey! If the bride didn’t have a veil attached to some article of clothing, did the bach even happen?!), and then passes it on to the next bride in line. A “sisterhood of the traveling pants” sort of scenario. It makes for some adorable photos, especially if the gang comes up with a killer hashtag for documenting all the bachelorette fêting over the years…

Shop with us now for everything you need to go all out on your bachelorette party. Your Maid of Honor might want to take a peek too!

Danielle Halibey is a writer, editor, and publicist living in New Jersey. She has been immersed in the world of weddings since planning her own whimsical, romantic affair in 2014. And isn’t that what they always say, “those who can’t do, teach?” Well, once her nuptials were over, she still had stuff in the ‘I Do’ industry to do. She writes regularly for top wedding blogs including Style Me Pretty and Wedding Chicks, and has garnered millions of press impressions for brands in the wedding space: fashion, beauty, wedding talent+tastemakers and more.

A Wedding Florist’s Sophisticated Boho Celebration at a Big White Barn in Wine Country

When the bride is a floral designer herself – you know the wedding blooms are going to be epic! Today’s sophisticated celebration at The Barn at Tyge Williams Cellars brought the colors of Fall to Northern California. Dried elements and earthy autumn tones filled each centerpiece and looked stunning against the warm, golden table linens at their indoor reception. E Events Co. planned the entire day to perfection while Taralynn Lawton Photography was there to capture every breathtaking moment. See it all at the full gallery!

From Taralynn Lawton Photography… Justine, a floral designer from Santa Cruz, CA met her husband, Hank at a concert in San Francisco in 2013. They are a fun loving couple and wanted their wedding to reflect their love of art, nature, and wine country!

Justine always wanted to get married overlooking vineyards and have the reception held in a big white barn, so Tyge Williams Cellars in Sonoma was the absolute perfect venue! As a floral designer, Justine always dreamed of doing the flowers for her own wedding.

Her and Hank decided on a fall theme with a mixture of dried elements and blush-y earth tones to set the stage for a day filled with texture and warmth. With visions of a beautiful autumn palette for the centerpieces, Justine gathered a combination of dried fennel, foraged wild oat weeds, dried baby’s breath, fire dragon grass, brown lisianthus, lunaria, dried bunny grass, peach ranunculus, Grace Rose Farm garden roses, queen anne’s lace and gomphrena.

For the Ceremony, she tied in many of these same centerpiece elements with dried cut palm leaves to create a semi-circle installation, enveloping her and Hank as they exchanged their vows.

It was important for Justine to be involved in every aspect of the planning process from helping design the handmade seating chart picture frames by Designs in Bloom, to choosing the gorgeous tamarind velvet linens from La Tavola, and creating custom dried flower place card settings.

With the help of planner, Eileen Lacey from E Events Co, they set forth creating a fun California boho-chic wedding.

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Ethereal Romance On The Steps At Cottesloe Civic Centre

You won’t want to miss this incredibly romantic shoot on the Australian coast! Set at Cottesloe Civic Centre every detail of this editorial says old-world elegance, from the dramatic limestone staircases to the beautifully manicured lawns and garden. The ethereal design elements were expertly planned out by Aravella Event Design, and Wildwood Floral added to the sophisticated aesthetic with overflowing floral designs in neutral tones. From a less is more ceremony setup to a swoon-worthy reception table, snaps by Katie Grant Photography will make you stop and stare! Take a closer look at the endless amount of lovely in the full gallery.

From Aravella Event Design… We were inspired by the delicate lace gown by Harriette Gordon with its puffed lantern sleeves and tiered French lace skirt. Each element was intentionally chosen to reflect the same romantic style as the gown, from the neutral color palette, the whimsy unstructured florals, hand-calligraphed details, and the limestone staircases at Cottesloe Civic Centre.

The large limestone staircase offered a dramatic backdrop for our ceremony and only needed a few simple styling touches to complete the look. We incorporated a hand-calligraphed linen sign and old-style urns overflowing with rambling garden roses, wild branches and banksia roses in the same soft neutral tones of the limestone.

For the tablescape, we paired a light natural stone-colored linen with French linen chairs, handmade organic plates, antique cutlery, hand-calligraphed details by Michaela McBride Calligraphy and bronze candlesticks.

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Wedding Gift Ideas Every Couple Will LOVE

Shopping for the perfect wedding gift can be hard, especially if you’re on a tight budget or waited a little too long and all of the good stuff on their registry has already been taken. No need to panic, we’ve got you! Here are some unexpectedly thoughtful wedding gifts that every couple will LOVE!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Kenzie Victory

1. Anything From Their Registry

It goes without saying that getting something from their registry is the easiest and safest way to go when it comes to choosing the right wedding gift. After all, that’s why registries were invented. This all sounds simple, but in reality, all of the stars have to align just right for you to snag the perfect gift off the registry. If you don’t commit right away you risk being left with the dregs of the registry like napkin holders or $500 designer pillow shams–we’ve all been there! And while the happy couple will certainly appreciate anything you contribute to their new home together you may wind up feeling unsatisfied with your options. If you find yourself in this situation where only the big-ticket items are left, check and see if their registry has a group gifting option. This allows you and other guests to chip in together to purchase some of the pricier items; which is perfect if you are attending the wedding as part of a group, like friends or office-mates.

Now let’s think outside the registry and cover some fun unexpected gifts that any couple will be thrilled with!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Weddings By Scott And Dana

2. Experiences and Excursions

These days, it’s not uncommon for couples to live together before they get married and most already have a lot of the basics needed to outfit their house or apartment. Thankfully registries are starting to think outside the box and allow couples to register for experiences rather than just household goods. Some registries have cash funds that guests can contribute to; they also offer guests the ability to purchase individual, specific experiences. If the couple you are shopping for isn’t registered at one of these places, find a fun experience in their home town that you think they would enjoy. Just make sure that it is a recurring event so that the couple can book their experience on a date that works for them. It will give them something fun to do on a rainy day and remind them of you!

PHOTOGRAPHY | KT Merry Photography

3. Cake Stand

If you know that the couple loves to entertain, a cake stand is always a great gift! Most couples remember to register for the basics (plates, glasses, etc.), but fun accessories, like dessert displays are often forgotten. Chances are they’ll want to host an event soon after their wedding to put all of their new crockery and stemware to good use. They’ll think of you when they bring it out for a party or on an anniversary down the road.

CAKE STAND | Style Me Pretty Shop

4. Photo Printing and Framing

Photos are one of the biggest investments a couple makes for their wedding. Most couples remember to hire the photographer, but so many forget to register for frames or photo albums. It’s always a safe bet to purchase a frame or frames from the place they registered, but some retailers are easier to navigate than others. If their wedding registry store has too many options, you can always opt for a gift card to a framing and printing company like Artifact Uprising–this way they can pick out the exact frame that they want–what’s not to love?! Another great thing about this site is that they offer photo album printing as well, so the couple can use your gift to have all of their photos printed in one beautiful book. Household goods go in and out of style but photos are forever!

PHOTO & FRAME | Artifact Uprising

5. Meal-kit Delivery Service

Everyone’s gotta eat, why not make it fun? Give the gift of a meal-kit delivery service! This will save the couple time and money when it comes to their weekly grocery trips and give them something fun to cook together. It seems like there is a new meal service popping up all the time, some of our favorites are Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, and Daily Harvest (for the vegan couple).

PHOTOGRAPHY | Katie Parra Photography

CHEF | Megan Doherty

6. Spa Day

Who doesn’t like to relax and get pampered, especially after planning a wedding? Getting a spa gift card for a couple is always a great idea for a wedding gift! If you know where they will be spending their honeymoon, you can get them a gift card for a spa in their destination city, or you can always get them one for their hometown. They’ll love it–we promise!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Thecablookfotolab

7. Hotel Gift Card

If you know which hotel the couple will be staying at for their wedding night or for their honeymoon, you can get them a gift card for that hotel. This allows them to splurge on the fun extras that a hotel offers like room service, cabana rentals, or spa treatments.

PHOTOGRAPHER | Rossini Photography

PHOTOGRAPHY | Gina Purcell Photography

8. Ring Dish

If you need something little to add to your gift or you don’t know the couple very well, a ring dish is just the thing! Most couples don’t register for one, but if you’ve got a ring, a ring dish is a must-have!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Brancoprata

9. Custom Luggage Tags

Most couples will be traveling for their honeymoon and custom luggage tags with their monogram on them are a fun and unexpected gift that they can use right away. Choose a neutral color like black or tan that can complement any color of luggage.

PHOTO & LUGGAGE TAG | Love and Luxe Handmade

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KT Merry Photography

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A Global-Themed Wedding With so Much Personality and a Steal-Worthy Escort Display

The talented team at Amorology never ceases to amaze us with their insane creativity and viral-worthy designs, we can always tell just by the photos when a wedding has been designed and planned by them. Today’s gorgeous wedding at Prospect House is every modern bride’s dream who isn’t afraid of a little pop of color. Don’t miss out on the full gallery captured by Sophie Epton Photography to see every last detail of their day, including an hourglass escort display that’s so cute we can’t even handle it.

Tell us how you and your spouse met!

From the Bride… We met each other 10 years ago when I sat next to him on the first day of our macroeconomics class. I arrived fashionably late to class, and the only seat available was next to him in the front row! A few years into our relationship, I decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of joining the Peace Corps. I packed my bags and moved to a remote village in Cameroon. He supported me every step of the way with daily phone calls and monthly care packages. It was during this period of our lives when both of us realized how much we love and appreciate each other. In the middle of my service, he took me on a trip around Europe that ended in a picture-perfect proposal in front of Trevi Fountain.

What inspired your wedding concept and style?

After 10 years, it feels like we’ve lived 100 lifetimes together. This feeling set the tone for the day, which was filled with personal details such as juju hats, woven baskets, ceramic water pitchers, and delicate watercolored details. With the help of the brilliant team at Amorology and our amazing photographer, Sophie Epton, the entire day was a dream.

Invitation suite:

A ton of thought went into our invitations! We wanted an invitation suite that was fun, unique, and personal. After Caroline from Lovely Paper Things learned about the juju hats hanging in our living room from my time in the Peace Corps, she came up with a brilliant idea of a “juju hat” invitation suite. When it laid flat, it was an invitation with all our important information, but guests could turn it into their own juju hat art piece by fluffing the ends.

The trifold itself was a beautiful, personal work of art. Inspired by our theme of “100 lifetimes together” and African mudcloth, each box represents a different part of our relationship (past, present, and our hopes for the future). There are tacos and limes from our first “date” when we drove to Mexico in the middle of the night, a deconstructed golden gate bridge for our time in San Francisco, and symbolism for our hopes for the future (happiness, love, growth, and wisdom). The envelope liner contained beautiful watercolored images with more personal details (“bug” is the groom’s nickname for the bride, and the flower is a symbol found on a popular print in West Africa ironically called “fleur de marriage” or wedding flowers.) The juju hat sat inside the trifold which was reminiscent of opening a care package.

Since writing letters and notes was always an important part of our relationship, we enclosed a well wishes card for guests to share their thoughts, favorite memories, and advice. By providing the cards in advance, we hoped it would encourage more sentimental, heartfelt notes, which it fortunately did! When they arrived, guests were asked to place cards in a ceramic water pitcher.

Escort Cards:

For our escort, guests found their seats from different shaped hourglasses tied with small calligraphed tags with guests’ names and table numbers which sat on brass and wood trays and stands. They were placed upon a modern wood table under gold vinyl on the wall reading “I’d choose you in a hundred lifetimes.” They were so popular with our guests, we didn’t have any leftovers!

Special touches:

Our wedding was a three-day event to allow more time with our friends and family. The night before we invited guests for “coffee and cocktails” at the coffee shop that we used to frequent in college. The day after the wedding we hosted a casual brunch at our Airbnb.

We had an intimate wedding ceremony which was limited to immediate family. In the months leading up to the wedding, we wrote our mutual wedding vows that we recited together. In fact, we had three sets of vows: one mutual, and vows to each other. Following our ceremony, we had a private picnic where we read our personal vows to each other, and I gave him his wedding present: a children’s book of our story illustrated by Loren at Four Things Paper. (We collect children’s books every time we visit a new country or place).

There were nods to Cameroon, a country that I hold dear in my heart: five juju hats adorned the walls behind the head table and a mixture of kola nuts and cinnamon sticks were placed on each guest’s plate to welcome them. During times of celebration in Cameroon, families and friends dress in outfits cut from the same cloth, called pagne, as a way of expressing support and solidarity. We loved this idea, so Caroline designed beautiful custom scarves and pocket squares as gifts for our ceremony guests. Even our wedding cake was designed in full mudcloth with the symbols specifically chosen to represent our favorite adventures together (camping next to the Nyiragongo volcano in the DRC, Christmas in Cameroon, and our waterfall adventures).

In addition to the custom fabric, Caroline from Lovely Paper Things beautifully carried the personalized design from our invitations into the programs, menus, signs, and a watercolored map. The groom’s favorite detail from the wedding was his “aioli bar” – complete with a dozen aiolis and a calligraphed sign of a popular quote from the groom: “Can I sample all the aoilis?”

We are forever grateful to the amazing design and planning team at Amorology. They were with us from the very beginning and saw every detail through to the very end – We can’t thank them enough for all their help finding us the best vendors and executing the design perfectly on the wedding day.

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Event Planning

Amorology

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An Inviting Autumn Inspired Shoot At The Inn At Burklyn

Personalized details and inspired design have us swooning over this autumn editorial shoot. Shot at the expansive Inn at Burklyn, the warm color palette and inviting vibe are everything a fall bride could ask for. Perfectly complementing the beauty of the location, The Prism House created a romantic vision that is not to be missed with breathtaking floral design by Apotheca. Rodeo & Co. Photography beautifully captured the elegance in every detail. Don’t miss the full gallery for a closer look.

From Rodeo & Co. Photography… The Inn at Burklyn is an exciting venue in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The new owners have poured their hearts into bringing it back to its former glory and did an incredible job at doing so.

The extensive grounds and gardens spread out over 86 acres with several unforgettable settings for weddings. Our design elements complimented the beauty of the day perfectly to tell a unique love story.

The magnificent, unforgettable setting for this shoot made the perfect backdrop for an autumn-inspired editorial. Every detail was carefully curated to create a romantic vision.

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Rodeo & Co.

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LA Beachfront Office Tour

Fun fact! The SMP team all works remotely across the world (yes, the world!) But if we DID have an office, you better believe we’d be taking some serious inspo from this office tour! We believe that it’s important to work in a space where you’re inspired, and this LA office is just dreamy!

We’ve been in this office for about 7 years, and it’s been through many iterations over that time! This modern meets beachy aesthetic definitely paints an accurate picture of where we’re at now.

We’re just 1 block from the beach, so our location was a huge influence in our decor. Beach and palm tree prints hang on almost every wall! Interspersed with prints are photos from events and shoots we’ve produced over the years. When we redecorated, we chose all new prints from the past few years, and the new photos remind us of our favorite moments and keep us inspired to always be creating something new.

Each team member had input on their desk design, and I think you can really get a feel for each of our personalities from the decor! Two of our favorite wall moments are the neon sign in the front office and the brand new black and white gallery wall in the back. The neon sign reads “Live Well, Be Well, Do Well” and it reminds us every day to live with purpose. Weon Light custom created the sign for our Inspired by Wellness event earlier this year, and we couldn’t resist making it a permanent piece of our office decor!

The gallery wall was a project we worked on with Minted, and it really pops against the faux brick wallpaper from Rocky Mountain Decals. The prints from Minted are a mix of inspirational quotes and black and white beach shots that tie in the rest of our beachy decor.

The last design piece that really tied this renovation together are the blush pink velvet chairs in the conference room. Pink has always been one of our key brand colors, and this dusty hue really felt like a perfect fit for us. The space is mostly white, so it needed a warm focal point! We ordered these chairs from Amazon

Photography: Angelica Marie Photography | Gallery Wall: Minted | Neon Sign: Weon | Office: Be Inspired PR | Wallpaper: Rocky Mountain Decals

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Angelica Marie Photography

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This Couple Brought Old-World European Inspiration to Tropical Maui For The Most Beautiful Day!

For a couple who loves to travel, incorporating some old-world, European charm into their Maui wedding day was at the top of their list of importance and made for a beautiful event! Put together by Maui’s Angels Weddings, the day was full of soft tones, lush florals by Teresa Sena Designs and of course a tropical backdrop! Christine Clark photographed the magic at The Olowalu Plantation House and I have to say those images of the couple by the water are giving me some serious heart eyes! Take a peek below to see it all!

From Maui’s Angels Weddings…As lovers of travel, a destination wedding made perfect sense for Misha and Garin. Having taken engagement photos in Paris, as well as having traveled throughout Europe they wanted a classic, old-world feel on the wedding day.

Vintage style chandeliers, ivory fabric draped canopies, and lush greenery helped bring their vision to life. Following a heartfelt ceremony performed by a close friend, the bride and groom enjoyed tropical cocktails with their guests and captured a few images with the vintage 1957 ivory Porsche replica on display for the event.

Before dinner, the couple shared their first dance, which was choreographed to perfection! Guests enjoyed an island-style meal followed by local desserts including Thai coconut cake pops, lilikoi mousse, and grapefruit basil tarts.

The festivities continued with dancing and after-dinner drinks and a wedding cake with some perfect love song lyrics enjoyed under the beautiful Maui stars!

A Secret Garden Wedding Surrounded By Surprises

Come step inside this exotic secret garden! The vibrant plants and bold colors are sure to live up to your wildest dreams. The magic was created by Ajur Wedding who more than lived up to the task of making this couple’s wedding the talk of the town. Incredible florals by Flowerbazar brought the space to life, and Julia Kaptelova Photography captured all the special moments perfectly. You’re sure to fall in love with this sensational celebration in the full gallery.

From Ajur Wedding… The idea of a secret garden that opens its doors only for a loving couple was masterfully represented in the decorations. With the help of sophisticated contrasts of flowers and textures, the secret garden under the night sky was created. It was populated by exotic birds, unusual flowers and plants.

The color palette of the celebration was created with pale pink and dark blue colors. Gorgeous decorations made of tropical plants, lush roses, geometrical and natural patterns as well as contrasts of glossy and matte surfaces, helped to represent the atmosphere of an outlandish garden.

The wedding day turned out to be unforgettable for the couple and all the guests. Many of them still keep that day in mind as the most gorgeous celebration of their lives where everything just went perfectly!

The Glamorous Pastel Baby Shower of GlamGlow Co-Founder, Shannon Dellimore

This baby shower is truly GLAM. It’s everything your pink and pastel loving heart could ever imagine, and no wonder when it’s in honor GlamGlow’s founder Shannon Dellimore and her soon-to-be-daughter with the cutest name ever — Sienna!

Take a look and don’t skip over any detail, you’ll regret it.

Shannon Dellimore is the co-founder and Creative Director of GlamGlow – Everyone’s favorite face mask brand!

Shannon’s baby shower was sophisticated yet still sweet and girly. The design started with inspiration drawn from the wallpaper in Shannon’s dining room. It had beautiful shades of lavender, lilac, soft blush, and iridescent details.

They created a fabric tent in the backyard and hung florals and parasols in shades of pink and lavender.

Hundreds of roses adorned long dining tables in ombre colors of the same palette.

A custom dessert backdrop, gourmet popsicles, and oversized acrylic baby blocks filled with balloons rounded out the fun design by A Good Affair.

A Fresh & Elegant Toronto Wedding Set in None Other Than A Glass Treehouse!

Who wouldn’t want to get married in a ‘glass treehouse,’ as this couple’s wedding planner, Karina Lemke Events, described this stunning venue The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto! With floor to ceiling windows and a mix of old and modern architecture, you feel like you are sitting in the trees as you celebrate your new last name. Add in an array of white and green florals by Cool, Green and Shady and you have yourself what I like to call a little bit of magic. Take a look below and see all that Corina V. Photography captured for these college sweethearts special day!

From the Bride…

How we met & The Proposal:
John and I were neighbors on a small street at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and we were both lucky enough to apply for and win student homes next to each other. I was 19 and John was 22 when we met. I lived with my girlfriends in the house and John lived with a bunch of his guy friends. One the first day of class in 2009, my housemates and I were hanging out on our front porch when John and some of his housemates noticed us and came over to introduce themselves and hang out. We all hung out a lot during that school year at each others’ homes. Our relationship started off as “just friends” but after a year realized that we cared about each other more deeply. We dated for 7+ years before John got a job offer in California in 2018. Shortly after he got the job offer, he organized a long weekend trip away to Paris. After we checked into the hotel, John suggested we go for a walk to the Eiffel Tower. It took almost 20 minutes to walk there, during which time we had talked about our relationship and reminisced about the places we’d traveled to together and the memorable experiences we had together. Once we got to the Champ de Mars, John found a quiet spot and got down on one knee and proposed to me! We spent the next few days celebrating in Paris!

We wanted our wedding to feel classic and elegant, and we knew we wanted to have it in the downtown Toronto area, to make it easily accessible to our Toronto-based guests and to give our out-of-town guests a great impression of the city. The weather in Toronto is variable, so we wanted to avoid the stress of worrying about bad weather. At the same time, we didn’t want to feel ‘boxed in’ at an indoor wedding venue. All of the details fell into place when we chose our venue, the Royal Conservatory of Music, with its blend of old and modern architecture including massive floor to ceiling windows, which brought in a ton of light and the greenery from the outside. The venue is stunning and dramatic by itself, and we wanted everything to feel cohesive in the space, which informed our choice of light and neutral decor including the chairs, linens, flowers, and greenery.

The best part of the day was by far having so many of our friends and family join us from all over Canada and the United States to celebrate our marriage in our home city of Toronto, the place where we spent so many years growing our relationship. Since moving to California, we feel very nostalgic for Toronto. On the day-of, we really ‘felt the love’ from the city walking around the busy streets to take photos around the many architectural sites in the area. The buzz of that Saturday afternoon was palpable, which made us so excited to greet our guests that evening. Lastly, reflecting on how the day went, we feel such joy and relief that everything went so smoothly. Stepping into the venue and hearing the classical musicians and seeing the ceremony and reception set-up was incredible. Any Wedding Planning stress was minimized because there was such an incredible team of vendors who gave us confidence that everything would work out and sure enough, the day was more perfect than we could have imagined in big part thanks to them.

From Karina Lemke Events…One of my personal favorite locations, the Royal Conservatory Of Music on Bloor Street was the venue that Ariane & John decided on for their Wedding – I often describe it to clients as ‘getting married in a perfect, glass treehouse.’ The floor to ceiling windows give the clean lines and contemporary feel that Ariane was drawn to, however, having the stunning tree canopy from Philosopher’s walk provide natures very own backdrop means that the venue remains pretty unaffected by weather. Quite simply, this is a location that is pretty light, bright and spectacular regardless of Mother Nature’s Mood.

The other little feature that sealed the deal was that the guest entry for this venue has little glass performance boxes where we can position a live musician to welcome arriving guests to the wedding. My favorite plan is to position a cellist and once suggested, Ariane’s face began to glow… I had no idea that she herself played cello! Music often factors heavily into weddings at this venue – it is after all the site of our country’s most important music school and the exquisite concert space, Koerner Hall .

If I had a favorite moment from this wedding, it would be Ariane confidently descending the magnificent staircase into her wedding to the hauntingly beautiful “Gabriel’s Oboe” – I do weddings each weekend and it is so special when they bring me to tears – this one certainly did.

Once we had the perfect location, we started to fill in the pieces. This is a location where less is more and it is truly most beautiful when you keep things clean, light and let the surroundings make the statement.

Ariane liked the idea of mixed metallics so we used a very naturally textured grey linen called Aluminium from Around the Table, to contrast it, we used a very contemporary flatware suite in brushed gold. We used the simple and clean-lined Sommelier Glassware, we used Gold band china and Gold Band Glass Chargers.

For Chairs, Ariane liked the natural look of the limewash farmhouse – we used these for the ceremony and then had the set moved to the dinner space so we only needed to rent in a single set. The chairs had a very natural look without it looking too country.

For a floor plan – we have the luxury of creating any floor plan that we might want. I suggested a combination of long and round tables to support the eclectic feel that we were going for. The mix of table styles works really well as the longer ones are a hit with the younger set, the older folks are more comfortable with a more traditional round dining table.

For flowers – we opted for greens and whites with lots of candles. Cool Green & Shady is one of my very favorite venues. They have lots of experience working at the RCM and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that they would be able to create a stunning tablescape using an eclectic mix or brushed gold and silver vessels and candles. The wedding design was a blend of clean contemporary lines and warm natural elements. Gold and Silver, Modern and vintage,

One of my other favorite little details that the couple chose was to select a simple, single-tier cake from their favorite Toronto Bakery (Delysees.) The couple now resides in California but when they lived in the city, this beautiful bakery was their usual go-to and it seemed only fitting to incorporate this detail into their wedding day plans. It was simple, clean-lined and perfectly ‘them’.

In my opinion, we eat with our eyes first, and I thought it was so important to serve a meal that was not only delicious but was artfully curated. Couture Cuisine did a wonderful job with the catering! Each canape, each course was a little work of art and complimented the day so well. The couple lives in California – food and wine are a bit of a religion and Couture, as they always do craft the most beautiful meal.

From Cool, Green & Shady…The florals were to have a light and airy feeling that portrayed a classic polished inner-city garden party. The bride loved the feel of bright florals in the venue space so we kept everything neutral with only white and green hues being used. The flowers consisted of local white ranunculus, lisianthus, and anemone paired with dark green viney smilax, imported Tibet white roses, astrantia, and touches of silver dollar eucalyptus.

From Corina V. Photography…Ariane & John have a natural elegance about them and I wanted to capture that and their personalities in their Wedding Photos. I made sure to have their First Look surrounded by nature along the Philosopher’s Walk path and also asked them to take a stroll along Bloor Street so we could capture the amazing architecture of the Royal Conservatory of Music as well as the modern style of the Royal Ontario Museum and then the Club Monaco store with their classical columns so we would get a beautiful variety of moods in their photos. The Planner and Floral Designer did an amazing job of selecting the perfect flowers and décor pieces to make the Reception look so timeless and fresh and with my natural-light style of photography it all really worked out splendidly. I love it when the Couple chooses a color scheme and the décor is consistent with it and really creates a lovely and cohesive feeling throughout the day. I asked Ariane if she could request a few loose flowers from her Floral Designer so that I could incorporate them into the flat-lays that I created with one of my styling boards for their wedding invitation suite and rings and other details. Overall it was a very special wedding to photograph and Ariane & John are a very special couple!

Look Up! You Won’t Believe The Ceiling At This Couple’s Ceremony

Have you ever walked into a room and felt like you’d fallen into a fairytale? That’s exactly what happened to this couple on their wedding day. A clear tent was transformed into the makings of their wildest dreams. With greenery, candlelight, and origami cranes bringing the ceiling of their ceremony to life! The magic was orchestrated by Clementine Custom Events, who went above and beyond to create a day the bride and groom would never forget. Each special moment was sweetly snapped by Emilia Jane Photography. Visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the jaw-dropping images.

From the bride… We met in college at Miami University of Ohio and started dating our senior year. After graduating college we both decided to move to Chicago and make it our home. The Chicago Illuminating Company could not have been a better space for our wedding. The venue had both the outside space and indoor space that we were looking for.

It is good luck in the Japanese culture to have 1,001 origami paper cranes on your wedding day. The paper cranes, each folded with love, were displayed throughout the ceremony and reception varying in shades of cream and gold. Every guest also received a crane at their place setting.

Our wedding planner Julissa, at Clementine Custom Events, was the most wonderful person to work with and made sure that every detail was perfect. We wish we could do it all again!

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13 Ways To Make Your Home Feel Like Spring

While we still have some mid-March chills and April showers to look forward to before heading into full-fledge spring, we’ve still got the fever and we’ve got it BAD.

The good news is that while waiting for your flowers to bloom, you can still do some things inside your home to get those spring vibes full and strong! Here are 13 ways to make your home feel like spring this season.

1. Change Up Your Table Setting

If you immediately thought of your mom here, she trained you well! Switching up some of the fun elements on your table can instantly set the tone for the season! After all, seasonal plates are the MOST fun.

2. Bring the Florals Inside

Even if your tulips aren’t popping out of the ground yet, you can still get those springy feelings inside your home! They make shockingly realistic fake stems these days, and while we’re always partial to the real deal, it’s reeeaaall nice not to have to water these faux stems, and you can get them year-round!

3. Put Your Produce on Display

Every season brings a new set of produce, so display them! Putting those lemons, fresh carrots and other garden goodies out in the open makes you feel like you could have plucked them from your own, perfectly manicured, garden.

4. Swap in Some Lighter Linens

While winter is all about heave fabrics like wool and flannel, spring comes in breezy with fabrics like linen and cotton. Making these simple swaps wherever it makes the most sense can lighted the overall look of any bedroom or linen closet.

5. Brighten Up your Accent Pillows

We are HUGE believers that accent pillows per season are perfectly acceptable and could and should be swapped out as frequently as the weather changes. Accent pillows are SO great at being subtle seasonal indicators without going overboard. Simply switching from a cable-knit pillow to a linen pillow is a simple way to make a nod to the changing season.

6. Bring in a Springy Scent

Whether you prefer candles, diffusers or essential oils — swapping out your scent for a more of a fruity, floral variety is, quite literally, a breath of fresh air after all of the heavy scents of winter and fall. Make it extra fun and go for a candle with a pretty jar :)

7. Add in Some More Greenery

Adding greenery is never, we repeat, NEVER the wrong answer. It’s always a good idea, but especially around springtime! Little extra elements of greenery not only make it feel like warm weather inside, but they just make you all-around happy. And like we said with florals — no judgement for faux greenery. They get the job done in a low-maintenance way and you just can’t argue against that.

8. Up Your Cleaning Products

We are big fans of the new cleaning products out on the market. There are so many options for choosing safe, effective and delicious smelling cleaning products. Use the spring season as an excuse to make some good-smelling upgrades to your daily routine.

9. Brighten Up Your Space With Lamps

A key characteristic of the spring season that often take longer than we wish is the extra extension of light. When you’re still stuck in dreary days, it’s hard to remember that the sun does come out to make those flower blooms. In lieu of the missing light, add in some lamps! They will by no means replace the real D vitamin deal, but it’ll help you through those gloomier days.

10. Get a Head Start on Your Spring Cleaning + Organization

Another key characteristic of spring is the idea of “Spring Cleaning” and the fresh start that comes with it. A well cleaned and organized home can be your gift to yourself this pre-spring to get you prepare for warmer days. Plus, you’ll go into those warmer days free to go to the park without the pull to clean tugging at you.

11. Add in Some Woven Elements

Think wicker, rattan, woven — you name it! These earthy textures tend to remind us of the beach, which is why we’re so drawn to them when the weather gets warmer. You might have these baskets year-round, but when the spring fever starts to set in, bring those bad boys front and center!

12. Bring in Some Bright Accessories

We’re talking vases, little accent bowls, bunny figurines, lemon plants — you name it! Small little reminders of the season do wonders in your house for making you feel like you’re actually observing the season.

13. Spruce Up The Front Door

Nothing says “hey, the season has changed” quite like a wreath on the front door and a festive entry mat. And while Christmas wreaths get all the glory, we are particularly partial to spring wreaths. Like how much prettier can you get than a gorgeous green get-up with colo popping in?

Colorful California Wedding Filled With Carefully Curated Details

They say it’s all in the details, and this California wedding is just overflowing with special touches. With her own calligraphy business, With Love She Wrote, the bride infused personal touches into every element of the celebration. From the vibrant seating chart display inspired by the couple’s favorite places to a milk and cookies swing bar, you’ll find charm at every turn. The couple worked with Feathered Arrow Events to create an experience that left guests feeling loved, honored, and like an important part of their special day. Every magical moment was perfectly captured by Dear Lovers Photography. Head on over to the full gallery for a closer look at all the carefully curated details.

From the bride… We dreamed of a relaxed summer afternoon wedding with evening garden party vibes, full of warm lighting and vibrant romantic tones. Thanks to the incredible team of kindhearted and extremely gifted vendors I found alongside Kari of Feathered Arrow Events, we managed to find a balance between understated elegance and bright creativity for the evening’s scenery.

Each lovely bridesmaid wore a different jewel tone, rounding out all of my favorite colors and only adding to the vibrancy of the day! I was thrilled that Annie at Best Day Ever Floral Design leaned into my crazy idea of giving each girl a color-blocked bouquet of their very own, each as different as their velvet, chiffon, and tulle gowns.

Our guests enjoyed a family-style dinner by candlelight under the most colorful sunset we had ever seen, with warm bistro lights only adding to the magic above. We also wanted to incorporate a mix of vintage rentals into the decor that brightly represented the joy we felt in having all those we loved with us on our special day.

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3 Steps To Picking The Perfect Wedding Venue

One of the first things on your wedding to-do list is picking the right venue, but where to begin? From the overall look and feel to the impact on guest experience, your venue plays an important part in your special day. We’re sharing three steps to picking a venue that will feel just right, alongside this beautiful engagement shoot at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. Taryn Grey Photography artfully shot this engagement session at a location that she says, “perfectly complimented the couple’s chic, sophisticated sense of style.” Read on to find your perfect venue match, and don’t forget to head to the full gallery for the rest of the beautiful imagery.

1. Think big picture.

If you’ve always dreamt of a formal wedding then a ballroom might better suit you than the beach. Think of the overall theme you are going for, and how your venue can help you tell the overarching story you are trying to create.

2. Consider your guest list.

Think of yourself as goldilocks. You don’t want a venue that is too big or too small for your guest list, you want one that is just right. Save yourself some trouble by having an estimate of the number of people that will be attending before you consider a space.

3. Stay true to yourself.

If you’ve always dreamt of getting married in the woods, don’t push that thought to the side. Remember this is your Big Day, your way. Do what feels right for both of you as a couple, and the rest will all fall into place seamlessly.

From Taryn Grey Photography… This chic, fashion forward engagement session had to be one of my absolute favorites. In my initial consults with my clients, it is always important for to me to get to know and understand my couple’s aesthetic on a deeper level. Rachel and Tayo lightheartedly admitted that for their engagement session, they didn’t see themselves frolicking through a field or on a beach, and wanted something more refined and fashion forward. After reviewing a couple of their inspiration photos of Harry & Megan’s engagement, I knew we needed to go with a location that would showcase their sense of style and sophistication. Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hill was my first choice, as there are very few locations that so perfectly blend classic, refined architecture with gorgeous natural elements.

The very moment I saw Rachel step out of the car with her gorgeous Swiss dot Zimmermann gown & Tayo in his custom suit, I knew we had found the perfect location. I feel the property perfectly complimented this couple’s chic, sophisticated sense of style.

Photography: Taryn Grey Photography | Gown : Zimmermann | Venue: Greystone Mansion

This Is the Ultimate Weekend Itinerary for a Destination Wedding in Puglia

Just when we thought we couldn’t be more in love with the whitewashed hill towns and charming farmlands of Italy’s beautiful region of Puglia, this wedding comes through and takes our breath away. Complete with a can’t-be-beat Italian wedding weekend itinerary from cooking classes to beach clubs, planned by Impression Villas & Weddings, we can’t help but live vicariously through Nastia Vesna Photography’s stunning imagery. Check out the full gallery for a one-way ticket to Italy’s most romantic wedding locale!

From Impression Villas & Weddings… Blush and gold inspired wedding in Puglia with a rustic feel. A beautiful couple Katie and Tom from Florida decided to get married in Puglia at the very end of September. Due to their work commitments, they could not come to Puglia in advance to pick the right venues to they relied entirely on their wedding planner and sister, who travelled to Puglia on her own to look at venues and choose the best place for them to get married.

Initially, they planned a wedding for a smaller number of guests but ended up had around 70 guests. Their first out of the four events was a fun cooking class at a nearby rustic masseria with pasta making and wine tasting. The next day was an evening welcome event with cocktails and buffet of local delicacies at a beautiful beach club, where despite late autumn it was very warm and sunny.

The third day was the wedding itself with a symbolic ceremony in a typical olive grove of Puglia with amazing olive trees. The maid of honour of Katie was her sister and the best man of Tom was his father. The processional and recessional song was played by an all ladies string quartet. Katie and Tom exchanged vows and rings, sealed their union with a kiss, and lead all the guests to aperitivo featuring his and her signature drinks (Aperol Spritz for Katie and Manhattan for Tom).

Aperitivo was followed by a rich local buffet of starters. Soon after Katie and Tom had their first dance played by an amazing upbeat and vibrant live band from the UK – Jam Hot Band with 4 lead singers. The dinner was served on two long tables decorated with rich greenery garlands with blush blossoms. Ivory, blush, pale pink colors were seen throughout the whole wedding floral decor, which looked very beautifully with golden tableware and small square bottles of olive oil. The cake cutting was followed but surprise fireworks.