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

Bright Colors and Botanical’s For This ‘Isle of Capri’ Cabo Wedding Day!

Unlike most brides, today’s knew exactly what she wanted for her wedding day and her vision never veered off course and boy do the results show! Planned by Del Cabo Weddings, this tropical-inspired wedding was full of bright botanicals, the couple’s family (and pooch) and even a couple of swings of the golf club! Bright pinks and blues filled the day along with handmade fans as the escort card display! Take a look below and see all of the magic that LA76 Photography captured AND all of the eye-catching, jaw-dropping natural backdrops!

From Del Cabo Weddings… This was the bride’s first wedding but the groom’s second: his 3 children and their beloved dog, Benji, were all in the wedding party, which made for an extra special day. The bride’s style was “The Isle of Capri,” a blend of beach colors, elegance, Mediterannean and, Italian. She never veered from that vision at all.

The bride’s color palette was hot pink, blue-white, and natural wood, bringing an extra brightness to the day. The bride’s gown was a Marchesa and her shoes were blue Manolo Blahniks. The bride’s florals were: Bouganvillias, Ranuncalos, Mini Roses, and Orchids in shades of deep pink & magenta with a lot of greenery.

Although the bride had no favors or DIY elements, she brought in gorgeous hand made fans from Columbia that had guests names and table numbers on them for the escort card display. The bride’s favorite moments were: the ceremony and reception, the roof florals, the surprise fireworks and the golf drives. Also, the culinary experience at Cabo Del Sol, where the chef prepared a magnificent Italian Dinner, served Italian family-style. He also hand made a special Italian Wedding cake, called a “Millefoglie Cream Cake” or “Cake of a thousand leaves.”

If the bride had one piece of advice it would probably be: Don’t change your mind or veer from your style vision, because that’s exactly how she herself operated, and the results speak for themselves!

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Event Planning

Del Cabo Weddings

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DIY Rope Ottomans

We vote this the prettiest use for an old tire ever in the history of tires. Dreamed up for Abby’s most recent Today Show appearance, it makes the perfect perch for your sunroom, patio or summer get-together. Literally all you need is rope, a tire, a few simple tools and time. A nice glass of rosé helps too. Find all the instructions, a.k.a. four simple steps below!

An old tire (check your local junkyard or auto shop if you don’t have one lying around!)
Sisal rope (about 150′ of 3/8″ thick rope, or 100′ of 1″ thick rope)
50′ of 3/8″ nylon rope
Hot glue gun & glue sticks
Scissors
Sealer & paintbrush (optional)

Wrap the tire around with nylon rope, so that the rope criss crosses in every direction and you form a nice, taut cover for the open sides of the tire. Tie the rope to itself to hold tightly in place.

step-2 Beginning at the edge of one side of the tire, wrap the sisal rope around the tire and hot glue to the nylon rope as you go. Keep wrapping until the entire sides of the tire are covered.

step-3 Continue wrapping when you reach the top of the tire, forming concentric circles across the nylon rope base. You’ll need to glue the sisal rope to itself as well as to the nylon rope as you go. When you reach the center of the top of the tire, trim the excess rope and glue the end in place.

step-4 You can paint the rope with a light coat of sealer if you’re planning on keeping your ottoman outside.’

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Photography & Design: SMP Living

The Dreamiest Of California Weddings At Calistoga Ranch

Get ready to fall in love! This Calistoga Ranch wedding perfectly captures the beauty of California. With a crisp white, green, and blue color palette and free-flowing florals, this celebration is sure to make your heart flutter. The couple’s unique vision was expertly brought to life by the ever-talented Callista & Company. The stunning snaps of the special day, by Caroline Yoon Fine Art Photography, are not to be missed. Head to the full gallery to get a closer look at all the dreamy details.

From the bride… I think what made our wedding meaningful and special to us was the smallest details that maybe were not obvious to all our guests. These details reminded us that this day is about us. For example, Nick’s mother who passed when he was young loved hydrangeas, and Laura’s Floras included dried hydrangeas in our arrangements.

As an inside joke, Nick has always insisted that splitting your green beans, while time-consuming is worthwhile for the way they better absorb its accompanying sauce, and as a small joke, we had the chef split just Nick’s green beans.

The idea for a croquembouche dessert originated as a playful joke in a passing conversation but ended up being another way to bring our personality, humor, and love of food to the celebration. The love and intimate details we infused into the day made it all the more special.

A Boho Desert Inspired Day With All of the Culture and Floral Elements You Could Ask For!

Dripping in flowers, from the escort cards to the favors and every detail in between, this culturally inspired wedding at the beautiful Rancho Las Lomas, will have you calling your own florist to add more to your own special day! For bride and groom, adding in their heritage to the details was a huge part of their day and they called upon A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production to perfectly plan it all. With gorgeous elements from Found Rentals and of course the florals around every corner by JL Designs & Events, you know the images are going to one in a million and boy did Sanaz Photography deliver! Take a peek below and get your florists number ready!

From A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production…Areanna and Orlando were such a unique couple that we had the pleasure of working with! Areanna’s Native American roots and Orlando’s Mexican background inspired us to bring elements of each culture into the wedding design. We wanted to create a Boho vibe and turn Rancho Las Lomas into a botanical earthly backdrop with a palette of dusty rose, desert blue, taupe, oatmeal, and gold. From the linens to the florals we incorporated so many unique details.

Dried pampas grass was the perfect touch for a textural desert boho feel. We designed and built a custom wall with the bride’s favorite wildflower seed packets for each guest’s escort card. For a unique photo opp, we dried bunny tail grass and dusted coordinating colors hanging in bundles from a copper stand. The wedding invitations featured a beautiful wildflower design with a vellum top wrapped with jute twine.

The cake was adorned with hundreds of dried floral blooms and crafted by Simply Sweet Cakery. Velvet linens in trendsetting hues really made the design pop under a canopy of bistro lighting and Papel Picado (a beautiful nod to Orlando’s Mexican heritage).

The bride loves medicinal teas and created favors for each place setting, which made for added table decor. Cocktail hour featured a colorful and beautiful lounge vignette from Found Rentals.

Areanna wore a traditional lace gown and added gorgeous heirloom native accessories including beaded moccasins and assorted jewelry that were sentimental for the ceremony.

How To Set The Most Colorful Easter Table

Easter is still a few weeks away but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a jump start on the planning! Whether you have long standing Easter traditions, or you are just looking for an excuse to have a festive gathering, this holiday is a great way to welcome in spring. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite tips from the entertaining masters to pull together the ultimate Easter table.

MAKE AHEAD

For a stress free morning, prep it all ahead of time. No one will no if you’ve set your table or done some baking the day before!

See more: Easter Brunch Celebration From Alea Lovely + Julie Blanner

ELEVATED MENUS

Adding custom menus to each place setting to make your brunch a little more extra! You can also drive the Easter theme home with specialty dishes like spaghetti squash ‘nests’ topped with eggs!

See more: Host the Best Ever Easter Brunch with this Watercolor Backdrop

SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS

We love this idea of creating a donut tower with little bunny toothpicks! A quick element that looks fancy while been super easy to throw together. Perfect for kids and adults!

See more: Whimsical Easter Table for the Kids

MIX IT UP

Your table doesn’t always have to be uniform in order to look great. Mixing eclectic dishes throughout each place setting adds something different for each guest. Plus how amazing are these egg nests?

See more: Eclectic Pastel Easter Tablescape

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Simple doesn’t mean dull! Pick up flowers, fruits, and breakfast treats from your local market. A line up of great food, fresh florals, family and friends, goes a long way.

See more: A Simple Easter Tablescape

OR TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Thinking of making Easter brunch an annual tradition? It might be time to invest in some Easter inspired decor! These bunny plates are almost too cute.

See more: A Blossoming Easter Tablescape

EMBRACE THE WILD

Looking for that wow factor? Go wild with your own floral arrangements – no vase needed! Do it yourself by mixing branches, greenery, and single stem flowers down the center of your table for a statement making meal!

See more: A Farm-to-Table Easter Tablescape That Will Wow Your Guests

BE BRIGHT

If color is your thing fill your table with bright hues! You can even set the bright tone in your invitation and continue with the color scheme throughout your table decor.

See more: This Unexpected Color Palette is Perfect for Your Easter Brunch

PARTY FAVORS

This spring gathering incorporated a little giveaway at each place setting with mini terra cotta flower pots, which also served as place settings.

See more: This Brunch Spread Will Have You Rethinking Your Easter Plans

How to Pull off the “Organic Glam” Look at Your Modern Wedding

We love a bride who isn’t afraid to go glam – from her sparkling Pnina Tornai gown to the chic courtyard reception decor, this couple nailed the organic glam look like no other. Wanderlust Wedding planned the entire day to perfection while Jeremy Ferrero was behind the lens, capturing every must-see moment the bride and groom are sure to remember forever. SB Floral Design absolutely blew us away with their inventive, baby’s breath adorned ceremony display that’s unlike anything we’ve laid eyes on – check it out, along with so many more inspiring details, at the full gallery!

Word from the bride… For my dress, I knew I wanted an A-line and I love glitter, so when I found the Pnina Tornai dress at Kleinfeld, there was no question. I loved it’s more classic cut & style but the sparkle added the extra glam that represents my style. We had custom alterations to have the skirt go all the way around and it was extremely nice to have the ability to remove the skirt for late-night dancing.

Our inspiration was Organic & Glam. We had lovely greenery and earth toned spaces and gardens at the chateau, to which we are added sparkly chandeliers, geometric gold arches and elevated clouds of baby’s breath for florals. Our colors were white, gold and black, as we’re not really the pastel type.

The octagon was a recurring element in our wedding (our wedding backdrop/arch, invitation and menu were all octagons) as it represents totality and infinity, and our wedding date was the 8th. Every detail in the event was purposeful; The date, June 8th (608), for instance, is the area code in which we met in (Madison, WI)! Though we can’t take credit for that, we only realized it after the fact, so I guess it’s just fate ;). We picked the Chateau de la Napoule because we knew we wanted to be on the water and upon hearing the romantic tale between Henry and Marie Clews, we knew it was the one. Not to mention, we visited the chateau when it was a gloomy, rainy day and we STILL decided it was the one.

We love the organic colors and moody tones, not to mention the Game of Thrones vibes. Lastly, we love the reveal that is created throughout the entire space; walking through the grounds feels like an adventure and you are never sure what will be around the corner, be it a beautiful garden or piece of art. It’s imperfect and has character, which we felt the other spaces we visited lacked. Put simply, and with no offense to others, we are not the pink villa type ;). We kept the florals white, green and simple, as the venue had a lot of natural greenery on its own. Baby’s breath and peonies were the main players, and baby’s breath is actually called “the Bride’s flower” in Romania, which is where the bride was born. Peonies were just a long-time favorite :)

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Event Planning

Wanderlust Wedding

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Breathtaking Florence Destination Wedding at Villa San Michele

One of the most romantic wedding destinations in the world, Florence, Italy sets the scene for this show-stopping celebration of love. Villa San Michele, a former monastery turned swoon-worthy luxury destination, perfectly captures the beauty of its location. With lushed woodland and terraced views, it’s impossible not to feel the magic of this couple’s special day. The floral design of the day was exquisitely put together by Paolettoni Fiori, resulting in stunning tablescapes you won’t want to miss. Julia Kaptelova Photography used an expert eye to create images that capture the overwhelming feeling of love that filled the day. Visit the full gallery for a look at all of the incredible imagery.

From Julia Kaptelova Photography… This was an amazing wedding of a lovely couple Laurence and Veronica, who came from the US to the heart of Tuscany, Florence to celebrate their special day with their closest family and friends.

A traditional Jewish ceremony took place at the Synagogue of Florence, right in the city center. and after everyone headed to the Villa San Michele where the dinner reception elegantly decorated by florist Paolettoni Fiori was held.

Based on a hill overlooking Florence, Villa San Michele, a former monastery founded in the 15th century with a facade attributed to Michelangelo, added a special atmosphere to the event. The night ended with a colorful fireworks display above the hills, which was the most amazing moment of the day, as it was a surprise for the newlyweds planned by the groom’s parents.

This Might Be The Most Pinterest Worthy Wedding Ever

Hold onto your seat! Every single inch of this Ohio wedding is overflowing with pretty. From a wow champagne wall to a custom pink dance floor- this is one wedding we can’t stop gushing over! A Charming Fete created thoughtful moments at every turn like pink wine key favors as a nod to the bride’s family owning local wine and spirits company Minotti’s. The charming details were perfectly captured by the all-talented Lauren Gabrielle Photography. Prepare to be amazed when you see all the epic images in the full gallery.

From A Charming Fete… The bride and groom, Leah and Oliver, are childhood sweethearts, first meeting in 5th grade! They dated on and off throughout high school prior to rekindling their love (for good) post-college.

There was no shortage of fun at this wedding, including a beautiful champagne wall welcoming guests to cocktail hour and pink wine key favors. Leah absolutely loves the color pink so we wanted to do something special to wow her. Designing from the ground up, we worked with a graphic designer to create the perfect pink and white tile design to be used as a custom dance floor at the heart of the room.

The pink cake with delicate, intricate sugar flowers was also quite special. Shades of pink were bountiful in the linens, florals and special details. Olive branches for (Oliver) were also incorporated as well as plush sage green velvet fabrics. What a wedding it was!

Find out What Venue This Top Photographer Calls “One of the Most Beautiful Settings in the US”

Our hearts are fluttering over every detail of this dreamy styled shoot at Sunstone Winery from Couture Events. A light, airy color scheme light pinks and creamy nudes complimented the beautiful sandstone walls of the venue, dancing through the feminine floral arrangements from Le Fleur Du Jour. If you’re a bride who craves those soft textures and romantic details, head on over to the full gallery, captured by Lauren Fair Photography, for a major dose of inspo.

From Lauren Fair Photography… Sunstone Winery is a dreamy winery venue set in the rolling hills of Santa Ynez, California, modeled after a gorgeous Italian villa.

Its light, textures, and surroundings are truly spectacular and it’s one of the most beautiful settings in all of the US.

This French inspired wedding editorial pulled in high fashion gowns, stunning blooms and textures to complement this beautiful setting!

Inspired by French elements like watered silk dress fabrics and soft, romantic colors, this day was a dream.

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Lauren Fair Photography

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Page Beauty

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Romantic East Coast Nuptials Complete With The Couple’s Favorite Guest Appearance!

With the happy couple’s adopted pup the center of their lives, it only made sense to have their favorite guest as the center of their wedding day! From the cake topper to speeches, Barkley made appearances left and right and Clary Pfeiffer Photography made sure to capture the photogenic pooch! Held at the Kimpton Taconic Hotel in Vermont, the bride, and groom said their I Do’s in a special place surrounded by their closest family and friends, gorgeous florals by Nancy Bishop Floral Design and AMAZING scenery! Check it out and be sure to watch their heartwarming video below, by Sixpence Productions.

From the Bride, Jackie… Ryan and I met in 2014 – we both work in the advertising industry, and were set up by an old mutual co-worker! We hit it off and stayed out until 2 am on our first date. Four years later, Ryan proposed on June 2nd, 2018. I thought we were going out to brunch, but on our way out of our apartment door, he got on one knee and proposed! It was perfectly us – romantic, but private in our home. He surprised me and had my parents drive in from Vermont; they were waiting with his family in the lobby of our building. We had a family dinner that night and then all our friends over to celebrate!

Before hearing more, let’s watch their romantic & heartfelt video by Sixpence Productions!

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What prompted the decision to have the wedding at this particular venue?

We loved the idea of a destination wedding but wanted to have all of our friends and family from NY and NJ there to celebrate. Vermont was the perfect option – only four hours away and somewhere super special to me. Growing up, my family would go to Vermont in the wintertime to ski and in the summer for vacation. My parents wound up retiring there, and have a lovely home in Manchester Center. We couldn’t think of a better place to be married and celebrate with the people we love most! The Kimpton Taconic was exactly what we wanted – rustic, but also a bit more modern. A venue and hotel that thought of every detail, had amazing food and beautiful outdoor space with a view of the mountains.

What was the ‘inspiration’ for your wedding style, wedding colors, etc. ?

My vision for the wedding was rustic but feminine. Colors were light pink and shades of blush. I spent a ton of time on Pinterest, but also chatting with our florist Nancy Bishop. We hit it off right away and she was able to help bring my vision to life through florals and things she had in her studio (ex. wooden boxes for centerpieces, custom frames from Manchester Woodcraft, etc.). Then the rest just fell into place working with Gloria and our other vendors!

Did you have any special touches/traditions that you incorporated into your ceremony/reception?

Our dog, Barkley is the center of our lives. We adopted him from True & Faithful Pet Rescue Mission when he was a puppy, and immediately he became our #1. No surprise, he was a big part of the ceremony and reception. He congratulated us right after the Ceremony at St. Paul’s Church, where he “helped” by taking photos with us. Barkley is a ham – he loves to have his picture taken and he is very photogenic.

At the reception, we placed a card on each guests’ place setting that said: “In Lieu of Favors Jackie & Ryan have chosen to make a Donation to True & Faithful Pet Rescue Mission, the organization that brought Barkley into their lives” (Attached is a photo of the card). Barkley was also part of our reception in the form of the Wedding Cake Topper – it was a miniature statue of Barks. The tag on his collar said, “I Do Too”. He was a focus of our best man Dan’s speech, his dog walker Gianna joined as a guest and the two of them (girl and pup!) attended our Post Wedding Brunch the next day; Barkley was the only one not hungover! He was happy to play on the green where the cocktail hour was held the night before. He got a lot of attention that morning from all the guests. They would pet him and tell him how cute he was, especially since he was wearing his bandanna that said: “I ‘Do Too”.

Instead of favors, we made a donation to True & Faithful Pet Rescue Mission – the rescue organization that brought us Barkley!

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Sixpence Studios

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Old & New Mix in a Chic Atlanta Townhouse

Any time a submission begins with “old and new” our heart skips a beat. It is quite possibly one of our favorite combos. Why? Because combining old and new means that there’s a level of intentionality and discovery inside, and it was a process to create.

10/10 times it’s a winning combination, and this Atlanta townhome was everything we hoped the title insinuated.

When we bought this classic Buckhead townhouse in October of 2018, the design hadn’t been touched since the neighborhood was built in the 80’s. I gave the house a fresh coat of white paint, with a high-gloss finish in the living areas to give it a luminous glow, and then gave the dining room a beautiful coat of pale blue-green (Clare’s “Headspace” color).

We had the old carpeting ripped out and I selected a durable luxury-vinyl plank flooring in a dark cool brown that’s completely waterproof, so perfect for extending into the kitchen and bathrooms. When it came time to select new furniture and decor, I worked with my mom to blend new and old for an elegant mix of periods that was still chic and feminine – a perfect reflection of her style!

The biggest statement in the house is the pink chinoiserie mural I selected for the entryway – appropriately named “Magnolia” from Anewall, it’s a removable wallpaper that was easy to put up and perfect for welcoming guests to the house. The living room featured soft reds and pops of blue, with spotted chairs making a fun seating area in the bay window.

I had custom pillows made for an old iron daybed to turn it into an inviting sofa across from the fireplace, and chose Scalamandre’s iconic Zebra pattern for the ottoman as a centerpiece for the space. In the dining room, I pulled the gorgeous blue-green from my mom’s antique dining chairs onto the walls and then balanced the heirlooms in the room with modern lighting and accents like an oversized abstract I painted to bring a calm, neutral foundation to the room.

A pop of red carries through the decor, from the dining chair fabric to the striped curtains and a splash in the painting. The kitchen was in dire need of a refresh, and just by painting the cabinetry and replacing the floors it instantly felt updated. I also added a standalone kitchen island to make better use of the space, and centered the Art Deco crystal chandelier above for a much-needed injection of glamour.

The powder bath was completely redone with a custom sink vanity built into an old dresser, paired with a mirror and an old piece of artwork from my highschool AP art concentration. A vintage green glass light fixture from my mom found its perfect home in here! The staircase was given a makeover with the help of sleek new baluster rods and durable black paint on the stair treads. I hung a modern pierced pendant above that makes the most beautiful pattern on the walls when its lit.

The bedrooms above for my sister and I reflected our personalities perfectly, with a combination of green and blue in my room and simple neutrals in my sister’s space. The master bedroom got a hotel-inspired makeover with fluffy white bedding, campaign-style nightstands, glass lamps, and a pair of mirrors for classic symmetry. The curtains were taken from a showhouse project I completed and worked perfectly in here to help emphasize height with their color-blocked design.

I turned the secondary bathroom area into a vanity room featuring one of my own rug designs from the Kevin Francis Design Labyrinth Collection and a petite desk with wicker caning on the drawers. The bathroom was renovated to include a double-vanity instead of a single, and the bathtub was turned into a modern walk-in shower with high contrast grout and a herringbone-patterned floor tile.

The deck was our outdoor escape, and I brought it to life with classic blue and white striped pillows that made the built-in bench into a dining banquette and infused the space with lots of plants that helped create lush barriers between the different areas. At the end outside of the dining room, our old patio fountain filled with plants made for a great view from inside the house.

Photography: Kevin Ogara | Interior Design: Kevin Ogara

The Rich And Luxurious Color Palette At This Devil’s Thumb Ranch Inspiration Shoot Is Everything

An inspirational shoot filled with rich colors, bold textures, and the most breathtaking panoramic views of 6,000 tree-filled acres?! Yes, please! Something Styled Co created a love story inspired by the natural beauty of Colorado that has our hearts pumping. Lauren Marks Photography artfully captured the day filled with luxurious details and an abundance of florals. Come for the warm color choices and stay for the circular ceremony arch that is guaranteed to leave you speechless. Head to the full gallery for endless amounts of awe-inspiring snaps!

From Lauren Marks Photography… Devil’s Thumb Ranch is the definition of luxury and has the award-winning spa, restaurant, and modern accommodations to prove it. This rustic, yet enchanting venue overlooks breathtaking panoramic views making it the perfect place to say ‘I do’.

Surrounded by a plethora of woodland, rolling hills, and wildflowers Something Styled Co created a love story inspired by the natural beauty of the area. Sarah brought bucket upon bucket of foraged foliage to create the amazing and magical circular wedding arch for the ceremony site and adorned tablescape.

Colorado gave us a mix of weather on the day of our shoot but everyone really worked together to set up and take-down, and then set up all over again between rain showers. It was all worth it in the end to create this rich and timeless inspired wedding!

A Wedding Overflowing With Elegance On The Côte d’Azur

If you’re thinking of a destination wedding, just take one look at this South of France stunner and your answer will be YES! A color palette of soft natural blush tones, set against a pink villa, sets the scene for this sweet celebration. The Wedding Planners Monaco sprinkled beauty and elegance into every aspect of the day, and the results have us breathless. The celebration was perfectly captured by Michelle Wever Photography. Take a trip to Nice in the full gallery for a look at all the lovely.

From the bride… We were inspired by the location of the beautiful Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. As the gardens and the building are so extraordinary, we wanted to keep it simple with the choice of colors of decorations and flowers, in order to complement the beauty around.

We wanted to use delicate roses as much as possible as this is our favorite flower. We even chose La Vie en Rose for the first dance!

Our wedding was all quite glamorous; men in smoking jackets, females in long dresses, French acoustic love songs, exclusive food such as truffles, caviar and all other spoils of life. It was a spectacular day we will never forget.

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How to Make Your Rental Feel Like Home

Gone are the days of lamenting over boring bare walls or a hideous color of paint that you would never in a million years pick out on your own. Because this DIY is a true renter’s dream. It’s as simple as picking out a gorgeous fabric and slapping it on your walls with liquid starch. Boom! Instant removable wallpaper at your fingertips. Check out this video for the how-to and for more home DIY’s click here.

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Looking to whip your rental into tip top shape? Try these!

Make Your Rental Feel Like Home

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Make Your Rental Feel Like Home

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And for more home inspired projects

10 Ways to Transform a Room for under $100

Best Ever Home DIY’s and Design Hacks

Quick Cleaning Solutions that Everyone Should Know

Insider Tips for Pulling off Your Best Ever Dinner Party

Rebecca Chan is an expert when it comes to pulling off a great party so who better to turn to when planning your own little shindig? She teamed up with Fete Boutique and ARTIESE Studios to bring you the 5 rules to throwing your best ever dinner party and doing so without breaking a sweat. From great sips to sweet endings, grab the insider tips for effortless dinner feting.

As an event and wedding planner, I love to plan parties and I love to host at home. When planning a dinner party of your own, follow some of my tips and tricks to make hosting a breeze (and look effortless while doing so!)

1. Beautiful details

If you want your party to be memorable, include beautiful details. I rented vintage place settings to complete my look and it made cleaning a breeze. It was beautiful and also functional. Creating your own stationary is also a fun way to give your party a personal touch. I extended the floral in the invitation into the labels for the mini champagne bottles, and they were a huge hit.

2. Flowers

Flowers will elevate every party. Dress up your dinner table with pretty centerpieces from your local florist to take your dinner party from drab to fab. My florist even sprayed some of the leaves a blush metallic pink for a pop of fun. Tapered candles between the floral arrangements gave it an extra touch of romance.

3. Welcome guests with drinks and snacks

Always have something ready for guests when they arrive. A cute drink station awaited guests at my party, along with fruit garnishes and punch. I included some gourmet marshmallows as a fun snack at the table.

4. Order in

If you have a lot on your plate already, order some ready-made food from a local caterer to give you a hand. Mix in catered food with a few side dishes of your own for a full feast. Guests won’t know the difference once they are plated and served!

5. Sweet endings

What party is complete without dessert? Always have something awesome ready for dessert to end off on a high note. I had a full sweets table at mine, but you can easily order a pretty cake and small treats for something simpler. For something cold, I also served ice cream cookie sandwiches too. Yum! Whether you want to impress your friends or have a cozy night in, there are always ways to elevate your party into something special.

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There Was Only One of This Bride’s Dream Floral Dress Left in the World – and She Got It!

If you like garden weddings, southern charm, and adorable pups – then boy do we have a treat for you. Today’s gorgeous wedding at the Gibbes Museum planned by Gregory Blake Sams has so much to swoon over, we’re having trouble deciding which part about it is our fave. But, if we had to choose, it would be the bride’s one-0f-a-kind garden inspired Monique Lhuillier gown – it will quite literally take your breath away. We LOVE a trend setting bride! See all this dreamy, floral-filled fête has to offer at the full gallery, captured perfectly by Hannah Alyssa!

From Hannah Alyssa… Due to its beautiful architecture, hidden outdoor courtyard and ideal location in the heart of downtown Charleston, the stunning Gibbes Museum was number one on Becky and Will’s venue wish list… not to mention factoring in the venue’s sentimental value. The groom’s mother’s worked at The Gibbes Museum in her twenties when she first met Will’s father!

“We wanted the reception to feel like an extension of a garden – natural and intimate,” shared the bride. Pulling inspiration from Becky’s mother’s Legare Street Charleston garden and Becky’s love for florals, Gregory Blake Sams incorporated soft blues, greens, creams and yellows to create a space that truly made guests feel as if they were walking into a secret garden. Solid, soft sage green linens provided the perfect background to a layered tablescape with blue and white canon china, antique silver and cut crystal.

Sara York Grimshaw combined garden cut flowers with potted plants through the space while overhead she installed large wild vines of smilax suspending grand Amanda Lindroth rattan lanterns, truly making for a magical moment! The bride fit right in to her garden-themed celebration with her unique Monique Lhuillier gown dawning delicate florals and butterflies throughout its design. “I always knew that an all-white gown was not right for me.

I found this specific Monique Lhuillier gown online and there was only one left in the world, so I tracked it down in Houston and had it shipped to Charleston!” Becky shared. The couple turned to Jim Smeal to create a vanilla cake with blueberries to represent Maine, where Becky went to college and Will spent time during the summers growing up, that replicated the design of the bride’s gown. Guests enjoyed a tailored, elevated menu by Cru Catering including both Southern and Northern favorites to represent the couple, such as tomato pies and lobster rolls, followed by late night dance floor snacks including cookies and milk, the groom’s favorite dessert, before sending the pair off into the night on a Charleston rickshaw post sparkler and lavender exit.

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Gregory Blake Sams Events

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Dreaming Of A Destination? You’re Going To Want To Add This Luxury Jamaican Venue To Your List!

You’ve said YES and there is a new addition to your left hand (that you can’t stop staring at!) Next up….a venue of your dreams, and look no further, as we have found it for you! Right on the edge of the Caribbean waters, Round Hill Hotels and Villas in Montego Bay, Jamaica is the quintessential romantic resort offering luxurious amenities, a variety of locations for all of your events, a top-notch planning team AND breathtaking views! With an on-site organic garden and Ralph Lauren designed oceanfront rooms, your searching will end here as you say YES to your next question and YES to Round Hill!

Round Hill Hotel and Villas is situated on a lush 110-acre peninsula just west of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Located 30 minutes away from the Sangster International Airport making this destination easy to get to for all of your guests! With 36 Ralph Lauren-designed oceanfront guest rooms, 90 luxurious villa rooms, and suites or a selection of 27 private 2 – 6 bedroom Villas – most with private pools; can accommodate up to 250 guests your only problem, will be NOT inviting everyone you know! A variety of dining options including open-air terrace dining and The Grill at Round Hill with an award-winning Executive Chef and the culinary team as well as award-winning family programs and the Elemis Spa located in a beautifully-restored 18th-century plantation house.

Round Hill Beach is sun-kissed with white sand creating an intimate, casual, natural setting for a rehearsal dinner, barefoot wedding ceremony, lively cocktail reception or fun wedding reception of up to 100 guests. The Infiniti Pool Sun Deck is a beautifully stoned deck with sprawling open space surrounded by rugged rocks and tropical foliage. The stunning sunsets make this location perfect for a ceremony or cocktail party of up to 60 guests. Throughout our package selection, are thoughtfully-crafted touches from beginning to end including the use of fresh vegetables and herbs from the on-site organic garden in your dinner menu, custom décor options utilizing the beautiful tropical flora around the property and professional photography and videography services to capture every moment.

Photographer: Concept Photography | Venue: Round Hill Hotel and Villas

3 Fun Ways to Pop the Question to Your Girl Squad with Help from the SMP Shop!

Wedding planning can be exhausting, ladies, you know that, right? Especially once the holiday season is over and you’ve got to get back into #bridebeastmode for orchestrating your best day ever. It doesn’t help when planning pressures coincide with the reality of winter blues: colder days, darker nights, and not a celebration in sight to warm your spirits until Valentine’s Day. Hold on, though! You’re getting married, sillies, and that means there are ALWAYS things to get excited for – including asking your friends and fam to join your “I’m tying the knot” tribe. It’s truly your turn to pop the question, and you can either go lowkey with your proposal or blow it out with bridesmaid bids that rival your actual proposal itself. Either way, we’re here for it – however you choose to do it, so much so that we wanted to share some fun ideas and inspiration from our SMP Shop! Because you can’t spell proposal without props… Yup, we said it!

Send some simple but sweet snail mail.

Listen, everyone’s already got their haul of holiday cards and New Year well wishes, so they’re not expecting much more than bills and junk mail in their boxes by the time 2020 officially rolls around. That’s why an unexpected piece of correspondence with a very affecting ask inside can be such a wonderful way to do it! Don’t just let the outside do the talking, instead be the sentimental scribe as you ask each one to stand by your side. Once the letters are licked and sealed up with care, stick on a special stamp that says a little something extra about you and your favorite people or your wedding in general. It’s good practice for those save the dates and wedding invitations to come!

Plan a party for your party.

We get it, a bride’s besties can be all over the map – literally and figuratively – so sometimes planning a get together can be next to impossible. That said, if you can give the group more than a few weeks’ heads up, putting together a surprise soiree can be SO GOOD. A private wine, paint & wedding planning session? Sounds lovely! Do it at home (with ALL the supplies you can buy from Michaels) or maybe even work with a studio that will allow you to choose a fun wedding-themed muse to make magic with. And don’t forget to outfit each artist’s station with appropriate aisle-related accoutrements, whether a bridesmaid tumbler, a wedding party cup, and some festive favor bags bursting with gummies, chocolate, popcorn, any snackable bite, really.

Wedding Party Cup

If you haven’t yet gotten to the “wine is a necessity” part of planning, you can trade the tipsy version of your time together for a lighter, brunchier fete. Do a continental-style spread with bagels, muffins, scones, and assorted toasts set up right next to an impromptu-but-so-inspired international coffee bar. Your posse of prospective bridal party members will love sipping their lattes, cappuccinos, americanos, and steamy teas from their very own “Lovely Bridesmaid” mugs. In fact, they’ll be proud to bring those home and into their respective offices the following week. Corporate coffee cup envy. It’s a thing, we swear!

Lovely Bridesmaid Mug

Issue a “committing to the wedding cause” challenge.

What’s saying “YES” to the “will you be my bridesmaid?” question in 2019-almost 2020 without a fun social media challenge? We think it’s a great call if you want to make survival boxes for your BFFs – complete with sleep masks, coffee mugs, makeup kits and a note card that asks each person your very important question. They’ll for sure need these items when they’ve accepted roles in your wedding: for the bachelorette, wedding weekend, and the duration of your engagement, so how cute would it be to send each friend/family member a box and pose a question like this: “should you choose to accept this role of a lifetime, snap a selfie with any of the included survival provisions and post, using my hashtag (whatever # you’re using for your wedding or your tribe tags works!), by 10PM on Friday, MONTH DAY YEAR! Then get ready for a wild ride, because you’re my OG ride or die!” Hopefully you have good sports in your squad and you’ll get your answers in a roundup of epic ‘in it to win it’ pics, which you can print and include in each bridesmaid’s thank you gift on your wedding morning or at the rehearsal dinner.

Floral Makeup Bag

Not saying that your bridesmaids should be bribed, of course! We just know the power of persuasion by way of pretty things…. Have so much fun assembling your bridal party and do it by shopping exclusively at our SMP Shop now!

Festive Favor Bags

This Couple Served It Up Big With Their LA Rooftop Lounge Inspired Wedding

This style-forward wedding is about to inspire your planning and then some! From the “summer transitioning into fall” color palette to the use of non-traditional flowers, this celebration has intrigue at every turn. The couple worked closely with Encore Event Rentals to create a cool lounge-like ambiance for their vineyard venue. Jordan Galindo Photography exquisitely captured the essence of the day. Come obsess over every bit of this beautiful affair in the full gallery.

From the bride… To reflect the timing of our wedding, our color scheme was “summer transitioning into fall”. To us, this meant a mix of dusty rose, antique peach, ivory, and pops of lavender. We asked Bewilder Floral to use a refreshing mix of non-traditional flowers that would complement the natural beauty of the vineyard venue.

We wanted our wedding to be modern and fun but still have timeless qualities. The overall aesthetic for the wedding was “wine country meets LA rooftop bar at sunset.”

We worked with Encore Event Rentals to design cabana lounges overlooking the vineyard at our gorgeous venue B.R. Cohn Winery. We also worked with Gatsby Entertainment Group to create a playlist of vibey songs that would make the guests feel like they were transported to a trendy rooftop bar.

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Bella Bridal Hair & Makeup

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It’s Official! ‘Southern Charm’s’ Eliza Limehouse Is Engaged and Her Ring Is Breathtaking

You may recognize this beautiful couple from a previous styled shoot we published on the blog in August, you know – the one with the ever so lovely Eliza Limehouse from Bravo TV’s ‘Southern Charm’. Well, as fate would have it, she fell in love with her future husband posing as the bride and groom on that momentous day of their lives. Today, on the day of love, we’re SO excited to share the news of their recent engagement! Lucky for us, Anne Rhett Photography was there to capture the adorable moment unfold between this stunning couple for us all to obsess over. Read on for more details on how they met, the proposal and that RING.

From Anne Rhett Photography… I asked Struthers when he knew he wanted to marry Eliza, and he said “Day one. When she came out in that wedding dress at the photo shoot, I knew I wanted her to be my bride.”

How They Met

From Eliza Limehouse… Struthers and I met when we were teenagers through family friends. We always had a thing for each other, but we were both always seriously dating other people until recently, when we reconnected– for a photo shoot that appeared on Style Me Pretty, actually! When photographer Anne Rhett called me to model for a styled shoot, she asked if I had a groom in mind. I was recently single, and since I didn’t have a boyfriend to model with me, she suggested I think of the cutest boy I knew and to ask him–the perfect excuse to hang out with a good looking boy! I immediately thought of Struthers, and when I found out he was single I thought, “Score!” I called him up right away. On the day of the shoot, sparks started flying immediately. After we wrapped, we left together and have not spent more than a day apart since then!

The Proposal Story

One morning he just got down on one knee while I was brushing my teeth! He didn’t even have the ring with him at that moment! I of course said yes, but told him that eventually he would have to formally propose to me, so he cooked up a little surprise. While we were doing a photo shoot for the upcoming launch of my new jewelry line, he got down on one knee again under the Spanish moss, this time WITH the ring. I said yes again! And we have the photos to remember it.

About the Ring

I am a jewelry designer, so Struthers put a lot of thought into my ring. He actually reached out to collaborate with my manufacturer to be sure he got it right! He considered ten different diamonds before he found the perfect one. The ring is a marquee diamond with a bubble halo and dramatic claw prongs in rose gold, and I love how it feels vintage. He also added his own special touch- a cute little diamond underneath that you can’t see, that is just for us. He had the ring for some time before he proposed, and it was burning a hole in his pocket! He kept taking photos of it with me when I wasn’t looking, just waiting for the right moment.

About the Proposal Location

Struthers proposed at the bride’s family home. He popped the question at the avenue of oaks leading into the property, which I loved. This entrance, to me, is magical with the old trees and Spanish moss. I still get tingles when I drive in. These trees have been here for so many years and seen so much, and I love that we will create more memories under them.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Anne Rhett Photography

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MAKE AHEAD

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KEEP IT SIMPLE

OR TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

EMBRACE THE WILD

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Looking to whip your rental into tip top shape? Try these!

And for more home inspired projects

Join The Conversation

1. Beautiful details

2. Flowers

3. Welcome guests with drinks and snacks

4. Order in

5. Sweet endings

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Send some simple but sweet snail mail.

Plan a party for your party.

Issue a “committing to the wedding cause” challenge.

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

How They Met

The Proposal Story

About the Ring

About the Proposal Location

Join The Conversation

From Our Partners

Little Black Book

Lookbook

International Weddings

US Weddings

Real Weddings

Inspiration Galleries

Explore

Archive

Magazine

Style Me Pretty