By a show of hands, who has heard something along the lines of “the veil makes the bride” at some point in their wedding planning journey? Well, any of those silly little clichés, really, we’ll be as bold as to say that they’re all fake news. The only real sentiment we can get behind is that “it’s not a wedding, unless there’s cake…” (kidding, of course,  these days, more than EVER before, a wedding can be anything that the couple wants it to be, we’re just particularly hungry for the ones that have cake 😉🍰). Five concentric tiers and tantalizing from top to bottom? Three square levels of luscious, buttercream-frosted perfection? Maybe it’s a croquembouche or a cheesecake, a tower of cupcakes or a creative cookie cake display, perhaps? No matter the look, if it’s a pretty confection, enjoyed in the name of love, it’s a wedding cake and we’ll take it! 

Speaking of taking it, just a couple days ago, we were speaking to a vendor friend of ours who had her own microwedding last month, and she said that one of the highlights of their day was the wedding cake. It was a festive moment and one that brightened up the bitterness that could have befallen her COVID wedding, but didn’t. And we couldn’t agree more! Wedding cake lifts the mood and gives the couple and their guests a little sugar high on top of the wedding high that already accompanies the day. A slice of cake and a dollop of newlywed dust is iconic to the wedding experience, and it’s pretty universal – whether it’s a big wedding, small wedding, just with fam, just with friends, or just the two of you.

Our Style Me Pretty Collection wouldn’t be nearly as sweet without some special cake-related items. We have metallic serving sets, gold-wired toppers, the perfect stand, and the most stunning porcelain cake plate duo for the guests of honor, so there really is no reason you can’t commemorate the occasion #totalpieceofcake.

And some ideas to keep things sweet, if COVID’s done its best to make things sour.

If you’re “saving room” for later… And postponing your big day to another [hopefully safer] time, you can still celebrate your original date. Check in with your bakery to see if they can create a smaller version of the cake you would have enjoyed on your wedding day. Let them know that you have your own cake stand, and share the dimensions ahead of time, just so you can be sure the scaled-down delight fits!

All that’s left to do is to top it, and why not do it with the one word that’s been on your mind this whole time: LOVE!!! 

If you’re in the mood to make your own…

Throw on some aprons, pour yourselves a glass of postponed-wedding Prosecco, and have some fun in the kitchen (especially since you might have some brand-new wedding registry items that haven’t been broken out yet #standmixersfirstmoment). Your wedding cake doesn’t have to be perfect, either, as long as it’s baked with love. For extra points, document all of the DIY-ing and the delicious final product, sliced and served on your adorable porcelain cake plates, so that you can Polaroid the proof and stick it in your topper to impress your guests next year!

If you’ll be sending guests home with a slice or two to-go…

Have your photographer capture a few pics of the two of you cutting your cake (with your special serving set), and then allow a dedicated server to cut the remainder of the cake and carefully place slices in cute, mini take-home boxes with pre-packaged, disposable utensils. This way, the cake won’t be sitting out for hours and guests won’t have to worry about any extra germs floating around.

We actually have two serving options in our shop, a white and gold cake serving set and a silver ornate cake serving set, so if you’re having a small celebration now and a larger event later, you can make use of both! Designate one for cake at your microwedding / minimony, etc. and the other for cake at your post-COVID party, and then put each set into respective date-engraved shadow boxes, along with other wedding mementos from the events. Talk about a well-confectioned time capsule!

Shop everything for your cake cutting ceremony right now – and maybe put a little “Sugar Sugar” on in the background, too, you know, to candy-coat your purchase all the more!

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. 

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Whitney Heard Photography

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Hey y’all! We have some prettyyy exciting news to share! Get ready to pop some bubbly and get down to wedding planning business because our Ultimate Wedding Guides collection is finally here! Let’s be real, after the engagement highs wear off, it can be kind of daunting to start the whole wedding planning process – we completely understand. That’s why we’ve enlisted the help of our amazing community of Little Black Book vendors to create these educational, step-by-step guides to walk you through every moment of your wedding journey.

Each guide was specifically designed to take the guesswork out for you, equipping you with the knowledge and inspiration you’ll need to truly plan your dream wedding like a pro. Just consider our guides your perfect planning companions – here to provide you with support and guidance as you navigate this unique, complicated, yet incredibly beautiful time of planning your wedding. Keep on scrolling to learn more about each individual guide we’ve created for you and to find out where to purchase! We can’t wait to hear what you think!

The Stationery Guide

Wedding stationery is the first glimpse most of your guests will have of your wedding. Not only does it relay  the important details, such as the wedding date, time, and venue, it also clues them in to what the day itself will be like. A good wedding invitation will communicate the formality of the event, and through materials, embellishments, and the design itself, you’ll share SO much about you and your partner’s love story, values, and vibe. 

In this guide, we’ll take you through the wedding stationery process from start to finish, providing insight on everything: from how to find the right stationer for your budget and aesthetic, to tips on how to mail those  invitations. We’ll also drill down on invitation and addressing etiquette, invitation timelines, and how to incorporate it ALL on your wedding day. With information sourced directly from experienced stationers and calligraphers, including some of our coveted/beloved/esteemed Little Black Book vendors, consider this your one stop shop for all info regarding wedding stationery and calligraphy.

The Venue Guide

Congratulations,  you’re getting married! This is a time for joy, so definitely take it all in – pop some champagne, get all blissed out on your soon-to-be boo for life, and welcome everything that comes with him or her putting a ring on it, but get ready for some big decisions, too, starting first and foremost with a pretty big necessity: the venue.  In addition to being one of the biggest investments you’ll make while wedding planning, the venue also sets the tone for the entire event. We see it as the glue that holds all the elements of your wedding day together, from ceremony all the way to send off. Needless to say, choosing a venue is a big decision!

While this subject may seem intimidating , our all-inclusive guide will help walk you through the entire process of choosing and securing a venue, including things you need to consider before your search, different venue types, everything you need to know for venue tours, a comprehensive list of questions to ask while you’re going on your ‘go sees,’  and what elements to consider when finally choosing “The One”.

The Dress Guide

Though it is often romanticized (on TV, in movies, and in every bridal magazine you’ll get in your ‘just-engaged’ gift basket from friends), finding the perfect wedding gown isn’t always the blissful and full-of-rainbows process it’s depicted as. It is likely the most expensive garment you will ever buy, and for a lot  of women, it might even be their  first gown. But fear not! In this guide, we’re pulling back the curtain and taking you through the entire process, sharing our knowledge on everything from your dress timeline, to types of fabrics and silhouettes, how to research and prepare for appointments, what to expect from different stores and price points, all about alterations process, and so much more. Consider us your wedding dress shopping entourage, your supportive style squad, and because we’re walking you through it all, any intimidation can take a back seat so that you can focus on finding the dress that gives you ALL the heart eyes 😍.

The Floral Guide

When most of us think of flowers, our memories tend to be charming and innocent—we remember picking wildflowers in nature, strolling by a sidewalk floral shop, scavenging a  Sunday market to pick out a big bundle of farm fresh blooms, even just picking dandelions ((as if they were the most stunning, giftable flowers in life)) and giving them to our moms and dads. When planning florals for your wedding, though, stress often takes over, making it easy to forget the carefree, easy magic of flowers. 

Since stressed is the last place we want  you to be, we’ve put together this comprehensive floral guide, answering all of your flower-related questions! From how to identify your floral style and determine budget, all the way to finding the designer who will bring your vision to life, this guide will leave you free to enjoy the process and fully embrace the magic. Because that’s what flowers are, they’re living, breathing magic! 

The Beauty Guide

The post engagement glow is real. You’re about to marry the love of your life, you’ve got a brand new piece of jewelry on THAT finger ((plus, perpetually manicured nails, because the bling needs to look bangin’!)), everyone is celebrating, and life is good! But once the stress of wedding planning sets in, you may be looking for a little help to get that glow back. In this guide, we’re bringing all the tips and advice from our LBB industry experts, talking about beauty timelines, spa treatments, and how to manage hair, makeup, and all the other beauty aspects of wedding planning, so you can focus on tasting all the cake instead of worrying about when to get lash extensions or stressing about when that penultimate spray tan should be scheduled!

The Planning Guide

As exciting as it can be at times, wedding planning isn’t always easy or fun. While it’s incredibly rewarding when things come together, getting there can be a stressful journey. But with this guide, we’ll try to take the  confusion out of it all and walk you through the difference between planners, designers, and coordinators: really, just the overall benefits of hiring help for your most perfect day. Your wedding is a day you want to truly enjoy, and having a planner who can connect you with your ideal “I Do” dream team will make the process that much easier!

The Photography Guide

Choosing the person who will document your wedding day is an incredibly exciting decision, but it’s also pretty complicated. What you see in the perfect world of Instagram isn’t always what you get IRL. So how do you find the right photographer for you? In this guide, we’ll talk about different wedding photography styles as they relate to approach, guidance, prompting and overall aesthetic, pricing (seriously, there’s a reason that wedding photos are so stinkin’ expensive!), and suggesting a few of those “must-ask” questions for prospective wedding photographers. Once you’re through with reading, we hope that you’ll feel poised (and posed) to find this core member of your Wedding Dream Team —after all, this day is more than just a Kodak moment!

To shop our entire Ultimate Wedding Guides Collection, click here!

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Rebecca Yale Photography

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The Heritage Collection

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I dare you to host a Thanksgiving without pie. Jammed together in a tiny studio apartment in NYC circa 2019 or spaced 6 feet apart on a chilly patio in #2020, pie-less (read: joyless) tables does not a Thanksgiving make. Preferably, served toasty warm with an a la mode finish. So. What’s a girl to do when digging into said pie face first is no longer socially (or medically) acceptable!? Enter: The Hand Pie. Or the Muffin Tin Pie. Or Pie on a Stick. Or a p-icecream sandwich.  Join us as we take you on a little journey through the magical halls of tiny, tiny pies and take a deep, mask covered breath knowing that Thanksgivings everywhere are not totally ruined.

Photo & Recipe: By Pie-Eyed Girl

HAND PIES

Hand pies can be made ultra simple with store bought pie crust and filling or as complex and layered as you’d like, with from-scratch ingredients.

Photo & Recipe: By Judy Kim

QUICKIE HOW-TO. At a very high level, you’ll need dough, filling and an egg wash. Same ingredients you need for standard pie. The great part though, is that you can tweak just about any traditional pie recipe to suit a hand pie by simply changing up cooking times.

Recipe & Photo: By Sally’s Baking Addiction

Start by determining your shape. You can freehand or use cookie cutters. The larger they are, the more time they will need to bake and the more filling they can support. Place your cut dough on a parchment lined baking sheet and make sure your base pieces are at least an inch apart. Add your filling, leaving a border around the edge to seal them.

From here, you can have fun decorating them using fondant cutters to pinch out leaves and florals or you can create a more traditional lattice shape, a braided top or a full coverage pie topper. If you top with a full piece of pastry, you’ll want to make sure to cut steam holes in the top to let the air escape.

Photo & Recipe: By Samantha Chiu

Next, simply seal the edges, add an egg wash and a sprinkle of turbinado sugar. Most hand pies will successfully bake up in 20-25 minutes at around 375 but it’s best to keep a watchful eye on them and pull them out when they seem evenly golden brown. If you are nervous, find a great recipe online and use their sizing and baking ratio as a guide.

OUR FAVORITE HAND PIE RECIPES: Mini Apple Hand Pies | Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies | Vanilla Cardamom Pear Hand Pies | Pear & Cranberry Hand Pies

PIE BARS

A pie bar is the magical moment that happens when a pie marries a cookie. Usually with a shortbread or cookie base, the bars are layered with all of the traditional pie fixins.

Photo & Recipe: By The Recipe Critic

QUICK HOW-TO. Most recipes require a 9 x 13″ pan, fitted with parchment paper (which makes it really easy to lift out the bars so that you can get nice clean cuts). From there, you layer in your ingredients: cookie or shortbread dough, pie filling, nuts and crumbles on top. Bake like you would a blondie, let cool, then slice. For this little number, following a recipe is a must.

Photo & Recipe: By Choosing Chia

OUR FAVORITE PIE BAR RECIPES: Vegan Pumpkin Pie Bars | Pecan Pie Bars | Apple Caramel Cheesecake Bars | Sweet Potato Pie Bars

PIE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

I made my first pie ice cream sandwich (or as we call them in our house…picecream sandies) a few years back during a shoot for the 4th of July. They were filled with berries and placed on either side of a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Since then, we’ve made these for nearly every holiday because well…PIE + ICECREAM. Duh.

Photo & Recipe: By The Delicious Life

QUICK HOW-TO. Making picecream sandies is very simple. Just whip up a batch of tiny hand pies and let them cool completely. You can freeze them if you have particularly delicate designs. Get your ice cream reaaaaaallly soft because the pie is fragile and you don’t want to ruin your sweet little pie when you are adding the ice cream. Now, there are two ways to construct the sandwich:

1. Spread the ice cream out in a 9 x 12 dish and re-freeze it. You want it to be about 1-1.5″ high. Use a round cookie cutter, the same size as the one used on your pie, to cut out little ice cream rounds. Place in between your pies and freeze for an hour or so. While this yields the prettiest result, it’s also kind of a pain in the arse.
2. Alternatively, let the ice cream soften for 10-15 minutes on the counter. Scoop the ice cream straight out of the bucket, in a nice round scoop, then flatten it a bit on a piece of parchment paper. Place the flattened disk between your pie and freeze.

We wrap ours with a piece of parchment paper to keep them nice and fresh!

Photo & Recipe: By Hot For Food

OUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM + PIE COMBOS.

Salted Caramel Apple Pie with Vanilla Bean || Bourbon Pecan Pie with Jeni’s Darkest Chocolate Ice Cream || Caramelized Pear Pie with Three Twins Land of Milk & Honey Ice Cream || Pumpkin Pie with Ben & Jerry’s Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream || Sweet Potato Pie with Ben & Jerry’s Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream || Spiced Cranberry Pie with Ben & Jerry’s Urban Bourbon Ice Cream || Pecan Pie with Häagen-Dazs Butter Pecan Ice Cream || Blueberry Pie with Ben & Jerry’s Sweet Mascarpone Ice Cream || Apple Pie with McConnell’s Burnt Caramel Ice Cream || Custard Pie with Earl Gray & Butter Biscuit Ice Cream

PUSH-UP POP PIES!

Your guests will be charmed for days if you whip out a bowl filled with Push-Up Pop Pies!

Photo & Recipes: By What Should I Make For

QUICK HOW TO: All you need are the plastic push up pop containers, a pre-made pie and some whipped cream (or ice cream). Layer in scoops of pie with the cream and finish with a wooden fork + a ribbon tied around OR a pretty personalized label.

PIE ON A STICK

We are pretty sure that everything tastes better when eaten from a stick. Even pie. The bonus factor is that there are so many different ways to serve pie on a stick which means lots of “testing” that needs to happen in your mouth before you commit to a final recipe.

Photo & Recipe: By Montacometa

QUICK HOW TO: Using a silicone mold, layer pie crumble or pie crust, ice cream, filling and more crumble/crust. Repeat until you reach the top then insert a popsicle stick in and let set up in the freezer. Remove and devour.

Photo & Recipe: By Sarcastic Baker

QUICK HOW TO: Pie pops are actually really easy. You are just making tiny hand pies and tucking in a lollipop stick. The key is in putting the lollipop stick down first, before you add your filling (so pie dough, lollipop stick, filling, pie dough), then sealing the dough really tightly around the stick.

Photo & Recipe: By What Molly Made

For filling, choose anything from traditional pie flavors to more fun and whimsical versions like S’More or Chess Pie, just make sure that whatever is inside has already been cooked and softened (like fruits) as these won’t spend very long in the oven! Quick tip. Make sure to cook them well so that they aren’t flimsy when removed from the oven. Let them sit for a good hour before you attempt to transfer them.

Photo & Recipe: By Salt and Lavender

You can even make great use of your leftover pie (hahahaha, like there is ever leftover pie) by transforming them into breakfast pops layered with yogurt!?

SKILLET PIE

Perhaps my very favorite pick for a personal pie is…the miniature skillet tart. So simple, so gorgeous, so perfect with a scoop of ice cream melting into every nook and cranny.  

Photo & Recipe: by Sprinkle Bakes

We found these great 3.5″ (TINY!) skillets that you can buy in a pack of four which would make for absolutely darling mini pies. But if you want a little bit bigger, look for something in a 5-6″ range. To measure out your dough, you can flip the skillet over and trace the outline of the skillet. A little larger than you think is always a good bet. Once you have your rounds, just fit them inside the skillets, letting the excess dough hang over the side. Then fill ‘er up! Fold the excess dough over the top, add small pads of butter to the filling, brush the dough with an egg wash, then sprinkle with big, beautiful turbinado sugar. Depending on the size, you’ll bake for around half an hour. If you are worried about baking time, use one of the recipes below!

Photo & Recipe: by Lauren Conrad

OUR FAVORITE SKILLET PIE RECIPES: Easiest Ever Rustic Apple Tart | Individual Skillet Pecan Pie | Mini Pumpkin Pie Skillets

PIES & JARS … JAR PIES.

The mason jar just might be the best thing that has ever happened to desserts. Whether you bake them inside the jar and hand them out with a pretty spoon and a dollop of vanilla ice cream OR you use the lids as miniature pie tins, you can really let your pie-magination run wild with these babies.

Photo & Recipe: By Giggles Galore

Pies in a Mason Jar Lid. That is actually a thing. And we are here for it. Use your mason jar lid just as you would a larger pie, but cut the dough just larger than the lid and tuck inside so that the sides of the dough have a bit of a lip around the inside of the lid. Add your fillings, topper (more pie crust, egg wash + a sprinkle of sugar OR a crumble of some kind) and bake. Usually around 12-15 minutes at 375. You can serve these with ice cream or whipped cream on top, in the lid or popped out of the lid or just wrap them in 4 x 6″ clear bags and let the guests open themselves!

Photo by: Ethan Calabrese as seen on Delish.com

Pies in a Mason Jar. A pie in a mason jar can take on many forms. It can be cooked ahead of time, then layered in the jar. It can be built with dough and fillings and baked just as you would a pie. It can be tiny with just a pie topper and no dough inside or it can be large and overflowing with baked goodness.

For a slam dunk every time, we suggest either the layering of finished pie ingredients OR miniature pie topped jars. To make the minis, fill your jars nearly to the top with filling. Add a bit of egg wash to the rim of the jar and place your topper on – cut to just slightly larger than the jar, making sure there are steam holes. Cover with egg wash and a sprinkle of sugar and bake for 12-15 minutes.

MINIATURE PIES

Mini pies are essentially hand pies but they are formed in a small pie or muffin tin to retain their shape. What I love most about doing a series of mini pies is that you can vary the fillings and guests can get a taste of everything. Plus, the smaller they are, the more you can eat!

Photo & Recipe: By The Kitchen McCabe

FAVORITE MINI PIES + SUPPLIES. To create beautiful miniature pies, all you need are the right tools and supplies + a stellar recipe. Muffin Tins, Miniature Tart Pan, Mini Pie Tins all work beautifully. But so do brownie pans, popover pans, and mini loaf pans. There are SO many options for making tiny pies, just open your cabinet and see what you have!

Photo & Recipe: By Julie Jones

QUICK HOW-TO. Making mini pies is fairly straight forward if you set yourself up right from the beginning. Make sure to prepare your pan, treating every cavity like you would its own individual pie dish. Butter or grease them, line them with parchment paper, whatever your go-to method for prepping muffins is will work here.

Photo & Recipe: By Julie Jones

Because you are working with tiny bits of dough and likely warm hands, your dough might get soft quickly. Thus, you may need to refrigerate as you go. As the dough starts to soften, pop it back in the fridge to firm back up.

Photo & Recipe: By Inspired Chick

These little pies cook quickly, so make sure your fillings are pre-cooked or softened. Once you have your cups filled, and your tops topped, pop them into the fridge for an hour or the freezer for 10-15 minutes. They will hold their shape much better if they go into the oven cold. Most mini pies – depending on size – will cook in 20-30 minutes. When you take them out, let them sit in the pan for 10 minutes to set up a bit more

Photo & Recipe: By Lauren Conrad

OUR FAVORITE MUFFIN TIN & MINI PIE RECIPES (click links under photos for more!): Miniature Apple Pies | Miniature Pecan Pies | Miniature Pumpkin Pies | Miniature Cranberry Meringue Pies | Miniature Lemon Meringue Pies | Milk Chocolate Cream Pies |

PACKAGING

While you can certainly just have these little mini delights out for your guests to see, if you really want to button up those Covid practices, consider packaging them before you serve!

Photo by Heather Waraksa

Mini Pie Boxes. There are so many cute ones out there to choose from. We are partial to the ones with a peek-a-boo window at the top like these or these (tied with a pretty butcher’s twine + a disposable spork) but there are a million options out there. Just make sure you check your the size of your finished pie before buying! Oh and if you aren’t doing mini pies…how cute are THESE little individual pie boxes that we made a while back!?

Photo & Design: By Jenny Cookies

While Clear Bags and Boxes. A simple and inexpensive way to package up your pies. You can add a piece of scrapbooking card stock as well so that the pies have a pretty backdrop OR add a handwritten note of thanks that peeks through. If using a box, you can fill with sprinkles or paper shred to give your pie a little nest to sit upon.

Photo: By Rachel May as seen on Martha Stewart

A Finishing Touch... Include a gilded disposable fork or a bamboo spoon. Print your own labels or use a pretty stamp directly on the label paper to seal up your bag or box. Tie a chic ribbon around them that matches your color palette. You can really go all out with these and make them something so special, your guests hardly realize that it’s all in the name of safety.

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Petit Bouquet

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The secret weapon to effortless entertaining is keeping guests hydrated. Go above and beyond with a welcome cocktail waiting at the front door and you will win all things hosting. Promise. This Spiced Pear Cider courtesy of Daly Digs and Jacqui Cole is the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving festivities. Make a big batch before and set out as guests arrive, then watch them marvel.

Erin LepperdSpiced Pear Cocktail

prep time 5 Minute/s

cook time

total time 5 Minute/s

Serves 8Ingredients

• 24 oz Pear Nectar
• 12 oz Vodka
• Seeds of 1 vanilla bean
• Dash Cinnamon
• Pear for garnish

Instructions

1. Mix all Ingredients
2. Pour over ice
3. Garnish with slice of Pear

Photography: Jacqui Cole Photography | Styling: Becky of Daly Digs

Let’s just say if someone were to greet me at the door on Thanksgiving with one of these signature cocktails, I might never leave. It’s the best way to welcome your holiday guests and promises you get Most Amazing Hostess Ever Award. Or at least a happy camper. Save these three cocktail recipes dreamed up by Daly Digs and captured by Jacqui Cole for the yummiest Thanksgiving sips.

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Apple Rosemary Bourbon

Ingredients

3oz apple cider
1. 5 oz bourbon
1 teaspoon sugar
rosemary springs

Directions

1. Pour apple cider and bourbon over glass filled with ice and stir.
2. Garnish with rosemary sprig.

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Ginger Beet Cocktail

Ingredients

1. 5 oz vodka
2 oz beet juice 1/2 ounce vodka
. 5 oz lime juice
splash of ginger beer

Directions

1. Shake in shaker full of ice.
2. Strain into a coupe or martini glass.
3. Garnish with beet and sugared ginger.

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Pear Pomegranate Bellini

Ingredients

1 oz pear brandy
1. 5 oz pomegranate juice
Sparkling wine or champagne
1 pear, sliced

Directions

1. Pour brandy and pomegranate juice in champagne glass and top off with champagne.
2. Garnish with pear slice.

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Photography: Jacqui Cole Photography | Floral Design: Florist Fire | Invitations: Mellie Bellie Boutique, Etsy | Be Thankful Printable: DavidandLeanna, Etsy | Black Chair + Gold Charger Rentals: Kate Ryan Linens | Black Plates: Ikea | BoHo Menu: Oak House Designs, Etsy | Ceramic Plates: Crate & Barrel | Concept, Design and Styling: Becky of Daly Digs | Cookware: Le Creuset | Glass Plates: Crate & Barrel | Gold Flatware: Target | Linen Napkins: Pier 1 | Macramé runner: Fiber and Threads, Etsy | Peach Runner: Silk & Willow | Pink Dyed Menu with Gold Calligraphy: Sablewood Paper Co, Etsy | Ribbon: Silk & Willow

Who doesn’t love those dreamy golden hour hues… are we right?! Today’s inspiration from Charmed Events Group was inspired by the sheer romance of California sunsets. Flowergirl Em brought the overall vision to life with her organic arrangements in a happy palette of pale yellows paired with fresh cremes. The results couldn’t have been more breathtaking! To see all the details, including one of the most stunning barn venues ever – head on over to the full gallery captured to perfection by Jasmine Lee Photography for an extra dose of vitamin D.

From Charmed Events Group… We all need a little bit of sunshine in our lives during this season. We set out to create an intimate wedding inspired by the the golden hues of California and the romance of Golden Hour. 

We had a playful, light, and happy palette of pale yellows paired with fresh cremes, made complete with modern touches in style and detailing. One of our favorite aspects of this design were the overhead hanging lamps that we hung over the table. It gave this table such a modern, yet tailored take on what a romantic table could be. 

We also loved playing with different patterns and textures within our palette of soft yellows and cremes, by using a fun, patterned napkin, wicker chargers and mustard yellow tumblers for glassware. The setting was all made complete by the little cosmo that sat at each guest’s place setting. 

Cheers to love and a little sunshine in our lives as exemplified by this sweet couple!

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Photography: Jasmine Lee Photography | Wedding Dress: Winnie Couture | Cake: Pretty Please Bakeshop | Stationery: Blushtype Designs | Hair and Make Up: Aimee Makeup & Hair Design | Barn: The Barn at Green Valley | Floral : Flower Girl Em | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Napkins + Chargers: BBJ La Tavola | Planning and Design: Charmed Events Group, LLC

Alongside Thanksgiving – and the chance to break the yummiest of breads with those you love – sometimes comes a wee bit of stress. Because family isn’t always a walk in the park, amirite!? Thus, “Friendsgiving” was born. A day to relax entirely into the no-stress vibe of your friend-family and recharge your souls to gear up for the holiday season. Friendsgiving doesn’t have to be on Thanksgiving. It doesn’t even have to be in November. It just has to be about fun and food and laughing with the people that “get you” the best – and if we haven’t officially talked you into it? This Friendsgiving shoot from Taylor Bradford, Sugar Creek Event Rentals with photos by Rachel Elaine, will most certainly do the persuading.

From Taylor Bradford, Sugar Creek Event Rentals… Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, set aside time for your second family – your amazing collection of friends – and celebrate the treasured relationships you all share with a festive Friendsgiving!

Along with my beautiful collection of friends, we set out to craft a Friendsgiving that would allow us to appreciate and honor the importance of community…in all out style. Set at the ever-gorgeous Firefly Gardens, this cozy feast catered by Oliver’s Fine Foods features traditional Thanksgiving dishes with a modern twist.

Events by Jade collaborated with Taylor by refining the Fall setting with glowing, gorgeous florals from Vella Nest Floral Design, perfectly placed pumpkins, and fresh-from-the-farmhouse décor from Sugar Creek Event Rentals.

Details will always make the difference in your friendly gathering, like the stunning menus, invites and event signage by LaneLove Paper Co. And Taylor’s own signature cocktail – pumpkin pie moonshine!

A fun Friendsgiving would never be complete without the sweets! The London Baker’s eye-catching and superbly delicious sweets featured a mouth-watering Caramel Apple Pie, that brought to a close an amazing food experience.

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The true spirit of the evening was flawlessly captured by Rachel Elaine Photography perfectly highlighting the true meaning of friendship. Take time to break bread with your besties this holiday and organize your very own Friendsgiving ASAP!

Photographer: Rachel Elaine Photography | Planner: Events by Jade | Floral Design: Vella Nest | Catering: Oliver's Fine Foods | Venue: Firefly Gardens | Design+Styling+Rentals: Sugar Creek Event Rentals | HAMU: Wendy Zerrudo | HAMU: Lip Service Makeup | Paper Goods: Lane Love Paper Co. | Submission/Wedding PR: Something New For I Do | Sweets: The London Baker

The wedding industry, among others, has been hit pretty hard this year. Vendors such as florists, DJs, caterers and planners have been forced to pivot their businesses in new ways to support clients as well as generate income. In support of the industry, I’ve come up with 5 ways you can patronize your local wedding industry favs. We’re all in this together, right?

Photography by Cagdas Yoldas

1. Purchase gift cards for family and friends

Although you may only know a small percentage of people getting married, most services wedding vendors offer can be used by anyone. Know a family who just had a baby? A family looking to update their photo albums? Purchase a gift card from a local photographer to have their photos taken! Know a couple in need of a date night? Purchase them a gift card to your local wedding venue’s restaurant for a romantic night out on the town.

Photography by Cagdas Yoldas | Catering by Traiteur Brera

2. Order your weekend dinners from your local caterer

Saturday is usually take-out night for a lot of households. Support your local caterer by ordering a meal for the family or just for yourself once a week. Even though restaurants in your area may be closed for seating, you can always create “restaurant style” ambiance by adding small details to your table. It could be anything from napkins to candles or a nice floral arrangement.

3. Leave your vendors reviews and share their work

A short review can go a long way. On top of managing current clients, your wedding vendors would likely love to generate new business. How can you help? By spreading word of mouth and leaving a nice review. If you haven’t yet tied the knot but have been working with your planner on details – you can leave a review  based on your current experience in planning your big day. Reviews are a great way to get your favorite vendors recognized and help them drum up new business.

Photo by  The Pink Dream

4. Sign up for floral subscriptions

Signing up for weekly deliveries is a great way to brighten your space as well as support your local florist. Not a fan of flowers in your home? You can also purchase subscriptions for friends and family members too!

5. Order holiday and/or birthday cards from your local stationer

We’re taking it back to 2005 but who doesn’t love a personalized card? Ordering holiday or birthday cards with your own special flare is a good way to personalize gifts for your friends and loved ones. As well, these projects will help keep your stationer creative and may even help them generate new clients. It’s really a win-win!

Photography by Carlie Statsky 

The effects of COVID may last a while for the industry we all love. A concerted effort at supporting local businesses can really shift things for many business owners. Hopefully these tips can provide you with fun and cost effective ways to support your favourite local vendors.

We live out in the New England country, in a little town just outside of Boston. Where cars slow to let turkeys pass by (I actually did this today) and horses regularly trot down the side of the road with their owners. We are close enough to a city to experience all of the culinary goodness, but far enough to enjoy all of the farms and land and general loveliness. And around Thanksgiving that very combination gets oh so good.

I should preface this recipe to say that I’m not so much of a pie girl. Fruit + Dessert = not my thing. There is only one pie that ever temps me into sneaking down in the middle of the night and stealing the last slice.  Verrill Farm‘s pecan pie. Verrill Farm is this amazing little grocer + farm where fresh eggs and cheeses, produce and gorgeous meats are either harvested on property or sourced from like-minded nearby farms. And around Thanksgiving, people literally claim their pies months in advance.

So when I discovered that Verrill Farm actually shares my favorite of their pie recipes online, well, I was making it within the hour. The best part? It’s one of the easiest recipes on the face of the earth. So you can whip it up lickity split and your guests will think that you are a slave to the kitchen. And the best pie maker around.

AbbyBest Ever Pecan PieVerrill Farms' pecan pie recipe is the best in the entire world.

prep time 15 Minute/s

cook time 55 Minute/s

total time 1 Hour/s 10 Minute/s

Serves 8Ingredients

• 2 1/2 oz. melted butter
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup plus 2 Tbls dark corn syrup
• 1 heaping cup pecan halves

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425. Place pie dough into pie dish, poking holes in it to allow for ventilation. We used a pre-made pie dough but if you're making your own, go with this one (X). Place a piece of parchment paper over your pie crust and fill the bottom with un-cooked beans. Any variety will work. Par-bake your crust for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool.
2. Reduce oven heat to 350.
3. Once your pie crust has cooled, put pecans in the bottom of the pie shell.
4. Melt butter and set aside to cool.
5. Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl until well combined and add the cooled melted butter. If your butter is too hot, it will scramble the eggs.
6. Pour over the pecans in the pie shell and bake at 350°F until puffy around the edges and set, about 45-60 minutes until your filling is set. If your top becomes too dark, cover with aluminum foil.

For a couple who just couldn’t wait to marry each other, the details fell into place and their day was absolute magic! Molly Carr Photography snapped shot after shot of the couple in a bright yellow golf cart and against the classic Floridian cotton candy sky! From non-stop smiles to a stunning sunset, everything about their seaside day at the Boca Bay Pass Club was perfection, from colorful florals by Kaleidoscope Floral to ice cream for dessert by A Better Scoop Ice Cream. Take a scroll below and soak it all in!

From Molly Carr Photography…The charming Old-World Floridian island of Boca Grande, where Brian’s family has vacationed for the past half-century, played host to Paige and Brian’s beautiful destination wedding on the Gulf of Mexico. Over one-hundred of their closest friends and family traveled from as far as Australia to celebrate this incredible couple in-style, and from beginning to end it could not have been a more incredible weekend.

Paige and Brian have been together for years, and their love and chemistry is apparent within minutes of meeting the couple. Their relationship has such a relaxed, joyous quality that you can’t help but feel happier in their presence. Throughout the entire wedding planning process, Paige reiterated, over and over, how excited she was to finally be marrying Brian and really, that fact in itself was by far what was most important to her.

On their warm and sunny wedding day, Paige and Brian remained calm and happy, and when they finally saw each other for the first time as Paige walked down the aisle of Boca Grande’s charming and historic Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, not a dry eye remained amongst the entire congregation. After their ceremony, we headed off to Banyan Street (the couple on the most adorable yellow golf cart) to spend a few minutes taking their bride and groom portraits beneath the majestic Banyan trees. Realizing for the first time that they were finally husband and wife, Paige and Brian could not stop smiling, laughing, and kissing which made for the most beautiful photos. I simply stepped back and documented their love and connection unfold before my eyes.

From there, it was off to Boca Bay Pass Club for their oceanfront reception. The incredible Kaleidoscope Floral created a dreamscape under the billowing white tent, with stunningly-vibrant spring florals inspired by the muted shades of the famous Floridian sunsets. The couple and their guests enjoyed delicious seasonal meals, and as the sun began to wane we headed out onto the beach for photos. As the last bit of color lingered in the sky, Paige and Brian took a moment to gaze at their beautiful tent, filled with all of the people in the world who loved them most. Finally, it was back to the tent for an enchanted evening of cocktails and dancing.

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Photography: Molly Carr Photography | Floral Design: Kaleidoscope Floral | Wedding Dress: Tadashi Shoji | Invitations: Shine Wedding Invitations | Ceremony Venue: Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church | Reception Venue: Boca Bay Pass Club | Hair & Makeup: Kaizen Bridal | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Bridal Shoes: Harriet Wilde | Day of Paper Goods: Painted by Pippa | Dessert: A Better Scoop Ice Cream | Linens: Linens By The Sea | Rentals: US Tent Rental

Looking for a Tuscan escape a little closer to home?  Leave it to the talented team at Milk Events to bring all the romance of the Italian countryside to Shakespeare’s Club – a stunning Pasadena venue that recently opened up to the public for events! Wild Muse Florals created idyllic, pastel arrangements that perfectly complimented the Italianate Renaissance architecture of the venue and surrounding gardens. If you’re dreaming of a European destination wedding in COVID times, head on over to the full gallery from Ether and Smith to get inspired on how to bring those Euro feels to your very own backyard.

From Milk Events… What started as the excitement to honeymoon in the rolling hills of Tuscany quickly changed as plans were canceled due to the on-growing pandemic. With the trip postponed, I was constantly thinking about the olive orchards and vineyard tours and decided to channel that energy into something positive. 

Something colorful, cheerful, and romantic. The first step was finding the perfect venue. As a Pasadena native, The Villa at Shakespeare Club has always been close, but only recently did they open up to the public for events. It was perfect. 

The villa terrace and courtyard are stunning in its own right, but the wisteria arbor completely transports you. With the sunset shining from behind, Los Angeles couldn’t feel further away. When designing this shoot, there was a team I already had in mind. Bringing on Emma from Ether and Smith was key in making sure the beauty of the space was captured perfectly. 

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Morgan from Wild Muse Florals created the most beautiful arrangements, the perfect balance in colors. And Jinza Couture’s flowing gown paired seamlessly with our accessories from Sash & Veil and Vivi Embellish. I hope this shoot brings you a little bit of joy as it did to all of us.”

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Photographer: Ether & Smith | Videographer: Cotton Love Studios | Florist: Wild Muse Florals | Cake: Puffect Bakery Cafe | Stationery: Milk & Paper Co. | Hair & Makeup: Grace Lin | Venue: The Shakespeare Club | Garden Venue: The Shakespeare Club | Gowns: Jinza Couture Bridal | Headpiece & Jewelry: Vivi Embellish | Planning & Design: Milk Events | Rentals: MTB Event Rentals | Veils : Sash Veil

Jenna Sue doesn’t shy away from a tough project! Case in point: The Cottage. The blogger, turned print maker, turned designer, DIYer, and real estate investor (wow!) purchased the fixer upper and did a major overhaul on the California home. We caught up with Jenna Sue Design Co. to chat about the project and busy life!

Tell us a little about yourself and your business?

I started blogging in 2011 to document the renovation of my second home. A few months later I launched an Etsy shop selling custom art prints, which became a full time job later that year. I still have my Etsy shops (and sell prints directly on my website) but my focus is now mostly on design, DIY, investing in real estate and blogging about the process.

What’s a typical work day for you like?

The majority of it consists of either working on DIY projects or documenting/photographing/taking video/editing and blog writing. Both my husband and I work from home and our current renovations are within walking distance, so that has been super convenient. He’s able to DIY with me on evenings and weekends, and during the weekday is when I can focus on the content. Lately it has been non-stop as we’re trying to settle into a new house and prepare for the arrival of our first child next month.

How do you blend your love of interiors with photography?

I’ve slowly eased into photography since buying my first DSLR over a decade ago, and quickly learned how important it was for blogging (and communicating in general). Online, your design work is only as good as your photo, so you have to take the time to learn how to capture it properly. I still have a long way to go, but I enjoy the process and satisfaction of being able to evoke the right feeling through my lens.

Take us through the home, what was your vision when designing the space?

The cottage was very dark and outdated when I purchased it. I envisioned a clean, bright and open space that still retained the original character and highlighted its unique features and location in the woods. White walls, wood trim and black accents made it feel fresh and interesting, while natural textures, a soft palette and cozy layers kept it warm and inviting.

What is your favorite room in the house?

So much love went into all of them, but the upstairs bathroom has a special place in my heart. The brick floors, vintage clawfoot tub, the DIY vanity we built out of a desk and coffee table… to me, it’s pure heaven.

What, if any, were some of the challenges with bringing your vision to life?

I had a lot working against me. A tight budget and timeline, to start (the entire project was finished in around 5 months) but the biggest challenge was distance. I was living 3 ½ hours away in San Francisco at the time, commuting back and forth half the week and DIYing as much as I could in the few days I was there. I ran into issues with contractors, unexpected expenses, snowstorms and power outages that lasted for days. It was worth it in the end, but I vowed to never do a long-distance flip again.

For someone looking to revamp their home one room at a time, where would you start?

That’s a personal question that will be different for everyone, but I like to start somewhere that I spend the most time in, or on somewhere functional that would make life easier. Organization is very important to me, so having our bathroom vanity set up before moving in was crucial, as was having our kitchen cabinet storage systems in place. Apart from the basic needs and rooms that get the most use, it can be anywhere! I’ve always jumped around depending on what happened to be inspiring me lately.

What are a few design staples people should invest in?

This will also depend on individual needs and preferences. When it comes to quality, functional pieces are the most important (ie furniture—specifically couches, tables, chairs and beds) and you can usually take more risks with décor and other items.

What are your favorite places to shop for pieces?

I always look secondhand online first (Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, LetGo, Craigslist), and have been able to find almost all of my antique pieces at great prices. If I can’t find what I need there, Amazon has actually been my #1 go-to lately, followed by Wayfair, Target, Overstock, Lowe’s, IKEA—the more budget-friendly sources.

What’s on your home ‘wish list’ right now?

We’re still settling into a mostly empty house and there’s a lot to buy! I’m currently trying to hunt down the perfect sofa, chairs, living room rug, coffee table, armoire, dining chairs, canopy bed, master bedroom rug, living room curtains… the list goes on!

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Interior Design: Jenna Sue Design

French elegance, peonies aplenty, and a color scheme that will instantly brighten your day – these are just a few things you can expect to see from today’s gorgeous destination inspiration from Celebrate Weddings & Events. From the romantic “unfinished” arbor by Fleurs de Fée to the bride’s fashion-forward style, don’t miss out on the full gallery to watch the magic unfold – all taken by Mailys Fortune!

From Celebrate Weddings & Events… She is half-French half-Italian, he is French. Their names are Gabriela & Valentin. They met at a friend’s birthday party. They both value time spent with their loved ones and love to gather everyone very often for dinners and parties. 

They have a lot of friends in common, and go on holidays with them regularly. They are epicurean and aesthete, and enjoy all the little things in life. They love gastronomy and never say no to an al fresco cocktail night! 

They are bright personalities and wouldn’t have imagined their wedding without a pop of brightful colors, lively music, cocktails and an al fresco dinner. 

All of that in a beautiful place of charm and character, under the sun of the South of France.

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Photography: Maïlys Fortune Photography | Design: Celebrate Agency | Floral Design: Antoinette Martin | Wedding Dress: Clementine Iacono | Cake: Made In Cake | Stationery: Silent Word Studio | Wedding Venue: Chateau de Sannes | Bar and cocktails: D.N.A Bartending | Gin: Mistral Gin | Headpiece: Lena Rom | Heels: Gianvito Rossi | Make-up and Hair: Amélie Gouttenoire | Planning: Celebrate Agency | Rentals: Velvet Rendez Vous | Rentals: The Event Studio | Rentals: Options | Ring box: The Mrs Box | Vow Book: elmo Paperstories ltd.

Who knew there was a touch of European elegance right in the heart of Cincinnati?! Peterloon Estate is a hidden gem, that only hosts a few weddings a year, making it quite exclusive and KMC Weddings and Events and Odessa James put together the most beautiful inspiration shoot featuring real couples! Shot by Chelsey & Jordan Photography, the shoot was done all over the property, showcasing their stunning grounds! The Budding Florist and Floral V came together to create (dare I say,) epic floral arches, bouquets and centerpieces and the real couples love shone through. Check it all out below…and fingers crossed (for us) one of you readers has this venue booked!

From Chelsey & Jordan Photography…Karen, owner of KMC Weddings and Events wanted to plan and execute a wedding inspiration shoot at one of the most “hidden gems” in Cincinnati at Peterloon Estate. Peterloon is full of European elegance and well-manicured grounds. They host only a handful of weddings each year, making it one of the most exclusive spots for upcoming brides and grooms to host their nuptials at.

The most amazing team of vendors came together to create a display of European elegance, classic design, and garden romance to showcase a beautiful wedding inspiration editorial. Real couples were hand-picked to show their chemistry, and display true love. The garden vibes and lush florals all incorporate a soft summer palette and provide inspiration for brides who wish to have a destination wedding closer to home.

The property is on several acres of rolling hills, mature trees, and hidden gardens. Peterloon Estate is a European-inspired estate that hosts a handful of wedding celebrations each year and charity functions. It’s a stunning display of architecture, design, and luxury. The florists, Floral V and The Budding Florist came together to create stunning arches, flowing bouquets, and overflowing centerpieces that truly embody the floral-loving bride.

From the delicate garden-inspired tablescape overlooking the property, to the Rolls Royce adorned with a floral installation, to the french-blue cake with hand-created sugar flowers, each detail was perfectly curated for this editorial.

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Photography: Chelsey And Jordan Photography | Event Planning: Odessa James Photography | Florist: Floral V Designs | Florist: The Budding Florist | Invitations: Honey Bee Creative | Reception Venue: Peterloon Estate | Hair: Haley Garber | Bridal Boutique: White Wisteria | Bridal Designer: Carol Hannah | Cake and Macarons: Icon Cake Cincinnati | Furniture Rentals: All Occasions Event Rental | Groom Attire: Generation Tux | Ring Designer: Honey Design Jewelry | Vintage Furniture Rentals: Lost and Found Rentals | Wedding Designer: KMC Weddings

When COVID came knocking – today’s darling couple decided their marriage was more important than the big party they had planned. They decided to bring their ceremony closer to home at River Oaks in charming Charleston, with just their immediate family in attendance. And judging by the stunning, sun-soaked snaps from Amy Mulder Photography, the day couldn’t have been more special. Don’t miss out on the full gallery to get some major elopement inspiration!

From Amy Mulder Photography… When the coronavirus threatened all of the 2020 weddings this year, Jamie and Morgan made the decision that their marriage was more important than the party they had planned. Instead of cancelling, they relocated their wedding near their home in Charleston, SC and had immediate family only ceremony and reception. The day was full of laughter, love and celebration. For that day, the virus had not won. 

The family gathered together and spent time talking and relaxing along side the river at the picturesque location of River Oaks. Morgan and her father shared a first look, which was amazing to see. What a proud father he is. And what a delighted daughter he has. Their father/daughter relationship was so clearly a deep one. During their first look time together, Morgan gave her father a handkerchief with an embroidered note from her on it. Following their first look, Jamie anxiously awaited seeing his bride for the first time for their first look. 

As soon as they saw each other, their bodies were relaxed, they eyes were full of excitement and love for each other. It was such a beautiful ceremony. I tend to get teary eyed during weddings, but this was so different. With only a small group of people there, it was so intimate and so so so meaningful. It was clear everyone there was only attending to show their love and support for this beautiful couple. The guests were so excited and happy to be drinking in every moment of the wedding, and they could take in every moment since it was just them! 

A cocktail hour followed the ceremony. It was complete with fruit, veggie and meat charcuterie boards, champagne, and caviar. Toasts were given, memories shared of the bride and groom growing up, as well as hopes, dreams and prayers of what the families have for the newly wed couple. After cocktail hour they joined together in prayer and sat down for a seven course dinner. There was no rush to the dinner, just enjoyment the rest of the night.

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Photography: Amy Mulder Photography | Wedding Dress: Lea-Ann Belter Bridal Flagship Boutique | Jewelry: Josh Levkoff Private Jeweler | Hair and Make up: Gibson Hair And Makeup | Groom's Attire: M. Dumas & Sons | Wedding Venue: RiverOaks Charleston | Veil: Maddison Row South

Attention all NYC couples: In case you weren’t already aware, 620 Loft and Garden is an absolute must to consider for your big day in the Big Apple! With unbeatable views of the historic St. Patrick Church and Saks Fifth Avenue, this is a NYC rooftop locale unlike any other. Today’s gorgeous couple tied the knot under a lush “un-finished” arbor from Studio Imbue (we’re still obsessed with this trend) and later danced the night away inside the loft made beautiful by Blooming Wed’s timeless designs. To see it all come to life, check out the full gallery – taken by Allen Tsai Photography!

From Blooming Wed… After proposing under the Eiffel tower in Paris, Sissi and Feiran decided to get married at the city where they first met each other – New York City. When Sissi wanted me to help her plan and design their wedding, our team immediately got on board. After 10 months of preparation, the wedding turned out to be what the bride and groom have envisioned: romantic, elegant, and touching. The wedding venue is located at 620 loft and garden, the most beautiful rooftop venue in the heart of the city. When we designed the wedding for this couple, we took into consideration of the venue–its style, the surrounding buildings, the main color. The backdrop is the historical St. Patrick Church alongside Saks Fifth Avenue. The Saks building has clean and straight lines, so to make the ceremony décor look more cohesive, we didn’t choose traditional arch. 

Instead, we designed an asymmetrical altar arch with an unconnected top. The two lush and tall arrangements look like they’re growing directly from the ground. Guests can appreciate the stunning backdrop through the arch without any points blocking their view. The arch is composed of green foliage with light and airy blooms like distant drum garden roses, dahlia and Japanese anemone. We opted for white Chiavari chairs that echo the wedding color palette. The shape of the chair also mimics the clean lines and the windows of the Saks building. Considering the narrowness of the aisle, we placed the aisle runner decorations at the entrance. Like the ceremony altar, these flower arrangements look like they are growing from the ground, welcoming the bridal party and guests. The reception was held inside the loft. The extraordinary, yet classic interior loft is entirely customizable, brightened by wall-to-wall windows flooding the indoor space with natural light. As Sissi wanted a classic and timeless wedding, we designed the reception to reflect that aesthetic. 

The base color of the design is white. We had a medium-size pink centerpiece with two ikebana style arrangements to add a light and airy look to the table. We chose a pink color napkin to add a pop of color to the table and imbue it with romance. A gold-trimmed charger paired with gold flatware added elegance. Their custom menus also followed the NYC theme. We had a calligrapher from Ink and Honey write the guests’ names directly on the menu to add a personal and thoughtful touch. The table number has iconic NYC buildings on it. The name of the building and the table number are printed with dusty blue ink and held up by a marble card holder. Sissi’s bouquet was loosely arranged with wonderfully soft and feminine flowers such as Distant Drum garden roses, Pink Foxglove, Cafe au Lait Dahlia, Autumn Anemone, and Butterfly Ranunculus. They feature pinks and creamy whites, white snowberry, and clematis seed pods that add texture and dimension while jasmine vine created this beautiful wispy shape. 

At Blooming Wed, we believe a wedding is not only an event to celebrate a couple’s new beginning, but also a good chance for the guests to learn more about them. Sissi and Feiran have been together for over 5 years. After hearing their love story, I thought a love journey map with dates marking the important moments in their relationship would be a great way to showcase their love story. We like personalizing the wedding design to create unique and memorable experiences for the couple and guests. Everyone enjoyed the wedding. The bride shared some special memories with us. The first was giving thankfulness to the parents during the ceremony. Before exchanging the vows, the couple gave their parents a small bouquet and big hug which was a sweet surprise to the parents. Another sweet memory was created by the groom: he created a video of their love journey and showcased it as a surprise to Sissi and their guests who absolutely loved it.

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Photography: Allen Tsai Photography | videographer : Haseok Chung Studio | Event Design: Blooming Wed | Floral Design: Studio Imbue | Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Anntremet Cake | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Engagement ring : Tiffany & Co. | Catering: Creative Foods Caterings | Makeup Artist: Belinda Ni | Calligraphy: Ink & Honey | DJ: Top Sound Entertainment | Getting ready Hotel : New York Palace | Musician : Sweet Harmony | Rooftop: 620 LOFT AND GARDEN | Wedding designer and planner: Blooming Wed

We couldn’t be more honored to be able to share this influential editorial, dreamt up by Amy Marie Events – it embodies the immeasurable beauty that comes from true unity, something we ourselves are hoping to inspire and strengthen within the wedding community. Read on for Amy’s beautiful words about the heart behind the shoot – and don’t forget to check out the full gallery of inspiration, all captured by David and Tiffany Photography. This might just be one of our most special features yet here on SMP.

From Amy Marie Events… Moving to Richmond, Virginia from a small rural town in VA I expected to see a world of diversity, integration, and unity. I had dreams of finding a home where my love for people of all colors, race, way of life was embraced and encouraged, something completely the opposite of the small town I was leaving. As I began to network myself with vendors I quickly realized that the world I dreamed I would encounter in “the big city” was not much different than the world of segregation I had started my business in. 

As I looked through magazines, Instagram accounts, venue brochures, and all things events I quickly realized that there were the “black venues” and the “white venues”. The majority of what I saw around me caused my world to crash and me to grow sick to my stomach. I didn’t want to be blind to the prejudices all around me. So, on a cool spring day, I reached out to a black female friend of mine in the industry and asked her if I could ask her some candid questions. As we talked and discussed the culture in which we both worked it became very apparent that everything I was seeing was certainly not a part of my imagination but VERY VERY real. I began to share with her how I desired to start a change in our culture. I wanted to start having real conversations with real vendors, both black and white and help to bridge the gap and heal the prejudices that have plagued our society and city for far too long. 

I reached out to multiple venues and vendors to begin the conversations. I had a dream of creating a styled shoot that brought together vendors of different colors and backgrounds and style it at a venue that was predominantly geared toward a white demographic and see what happened. As I began to reach out and build relationships and connections the push back and red flags were blaring in my face. I knew this would be harder than I imagined. THEN, the death of George Floyd took place. The morning I woke up to see his death on my newsfeed all I could do was sob. Another innocent life taken. The country was no longer willing to be quiet, nor was I. 

At that moment the fire was lit even more. I COULD NOT BE QUIET, I was not taking no for an answer and needed for the cause to be known, no matter the cost.

In just a few weeks, after many hard conversations, we had vendors and a venue who were ready to stand with me in our city and open the door for racial reconciliation. I deliberated over the color palette and design, asking from input from each vendor and the decision was made, we would keep it classic, simple and yet make a powerful statement. The power of black and white has always made a bold statement. The two exist for one another and there is true beauty in their unity.

The date was set, the details designed and now it was time to bring it all to life. Xaneya and Clay met the day of the shoot and it was as if they truly were in love and getting married. Their genuine kindness and affection were contagious and it defined the shoot, Love is Color Blind. And while they are able to see the color of each other’s skin their heart of love shone so brightly. Every detail from the backdrop over the James River to the stone of the terrace, the wild Queen Anne’s Lace lining the wedding aisle, and the composition of the tablescape complimented one another and perfectly melded the vision of the Unity of Black and White. So, while I do personally believe that this shoot is balanced, with white space, detail shots galore, breathtaking views, the vision behind this shoot is truly what makes it all “STYLE ME PRETTY WORTHY.”

Photography: David and Tiffany Photography | Wedding Dress: Jenny Yoo | Cake: Fat Rabbit Cakes | Makeup: Holly Byrd Miller | Tux: Tiffany's Bridal | Event Design, Planning and Florals: Amy Marie Events | Invitation Suite & Calligraphy: Letterful RVA | Location: The Estate at River Run | Rentals: Rent Equip | Wedding Dress Shop: Urban Set Bride

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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If there is one word that has completely taken over the ‘I Do’ world this year, it would be microwedding. At first, and we’ll be very honest, we were a little shaken by the seismic scale down – but nowadays, the microwedding is the wedding mood to end all other moods. It has allowed couples who’ve dreamt of eloping from a “but can you imagine how much pressure we can take off ourselves?” perspective to do just that, but also bring family and friends into the fairytale wedding fold. And what more can you ask for on what’s to be one of the greatest days in your life than a memorable and meaningful occasion that’s all at once safe and secure for the most special souls in your social circles? 

With a microwedding you certainly don’t have to go overboard with all of the ‘extras:’ the simplicity in the setting, the ceremony, and the post-vow vibes is sublime enough, but you also don’t have to dial back the degree of details because your wedding has the prefix ‘micro’ in front of it. If anything, since the size of your celebration is smaller, with fewer distractions, your details and personal touches will probably be even more seen and appreciated. Not that a photographer is any less devoted to couples who plan bigger wedding events, but when tasked to shoot a microwedding or a minimony, he or she has a lot fewer ‘must-snap’ scenes to steal away for. And those curated, deeply-inspired and thoughtfully-designed items of the day become the real focal points (second, only, to the love shared and the promises made). 

Photo by Ashley Baumgartner

At Style Me Pretty, we’re always here for the little things that make a big impact. Our Shop collection was live well before COVID turned the world upside down, but recalling Abby’s point of view on our products, it’s hard to believe that the microwedding wasn’t a muse from the beginning ❤️. 

“Our Style Me Pretty collection is about you and the one you adore. It’s charm and style, wit and whimsy. It’s decidedly modern and yet forever rooted in tradition. It’s love, styled so very pretty.” 

Photo by Alicia Lacey Photography

Everything in our wedding decor category can easily be woven into a smaller soiree, but these particular items are the stuff of microwedding dreams. So, close your eyes and let us paint an oh-so-pretty picture for you… 

Oh! And just like the weddings themselves, we’re keeping things short and sweet… 

Wear something that just the two of you know about.

No matter how short the walk is that you take on your wedding day, it’ll be one you want to remember for a long time. Add these decals to your shoes to mark the special stroll that inevitably ends with “I Do.”

‘I Do,’ ‘Me Too’ Shoe Decals

Make cocktail hour festive with just a little sparkle.

Cocktail hours don’t have to come with a crowd, and if the party is a little smaller, that just means that the little things will shine a lot more. You don’t need to have a full-on bar, either – a table draped with beautiful linens, lit with tea light candles, and topped with a bucket of bubbly (and encouragement to ‘Cheers’) is all you need.

Photo by Sarah & Ben Photography

Pay tribute to your new titles.

No matter the size of your event, you’re still getting married (that means your bride or groom card is still in play!). So, style your fashions in your respective suites with Insta-worthy his and hers hangers, embrace the momentous milestone with chic matching chair signs, and keep your bride and groom-branded toasting coupes on hand from dawn till dusk.

Photo by Sarah & Ben Photography

Vibe with the VIPs who are there, but know that everyone else is thinking about you.

You should absolutely clink glasses with the favorites of yours, in attendance, but also don’t forget the rest of the crew who got you to this day. We love the idea of appointing someone in your bridal party to collect well wishes, advice, happy tidings from those who couldn’t be there (for a variety of reasons, including your ultimate decision to scale back the guest list) and then put them into our wedding guest book with cards and envelopes. The unexpected messages couldn’t be a sweeter surprise.

Photo by Katie Grant 

When it comes to a vineyard wedding, Portland, OR isn’t the first place that comes to mind, but after seeing today’s editorial, Villa Catalana Cellars will be at the top of your list! A diverse group of vendors came together to bring this styled shoot to life, working together to represent the BIPOC community, and have all of their voices heard on each and every detail! Photographed by Carlos Hernandez and planned by Indigo Event Design, you just have to keep scrolling to see it all, from the beautiful blooms by Jodi Iverson Florals to the romantic table design! Take a peek below and thank you ALL for this stunning editorial!

From Indigo Event Design…This inspirational shoot was birthed from a cry for more couples and wedding vendors of color, to be seen in the wedding industry. A cry for equal representation and a chance to be seen. It took place just outside of Portland which is unfortunately the whitest big city in America. While spouting liberal concepts, Portland‘s racist roots bear down hard on its minorities particularly BIPOC. Fueled by the black lives matter movement and the death of George Floyd; this diverse group of mostly vendors of color, came together wanting to push for representation, learn from each other, and provide a space to create beauty within our diversity. We worked collaboratively in almost every aspect of this styled shoot wanting to make sure that all of our voices were heard.

Our inspiration for the design of this shoot came from our mutual love of this breathtaking Vineyard, with its timeless elegance and old world charm. We wanted every detail from invitations to the floral to mimic it’s romantic, even ethereal, surroundings. We took our color cues from the Vineyard’s estate and gardens, using rich merlot, dusty travertine, pale peach, and cornflower blue. The perfect bridge between summer and fall. While these hues are an uncommon combination of both rich and light, muted and bright, we found this variation created great depth and interest.

The bride was crowned in full the beauty of her natural hair, and ever so lightly kissed with a touch of smoky taupe eye shadow, mauve lips, and flushed cheeks to add romance and tie in the warm accents in her bridal bouquet. The groom, sported a custom tailored gray suit with a bowtie that perfectly matched the brides bouquet ribbon.

We staged this small ceremony in front of the picturesque waterlily pond with the epic winery estate in the background. As they exchanged their vows the couple was perfectly framed by a foam-free, floral masterpiece. During the ceremony, we wanted to showcase different traditions, particularly African wedding traditions, starting with the tasting of the four elements. For couples not familiar with this tradition, it is a Yorùbá ritual where the couple gets a literal taste of the flavors that represent different stages within a marriage. Lemon represents sour, Cayenne represents spicy, vinegar represents bitter, and honey represents sweet. By tasting each of these flavors, the couple symbolically show their friends and family they’ll be able to stay together through it all… better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. At the end of the ceremony, the couple engaged in the jumping the broom tradition, which many take to be a symbol of sweeping away the old and welcoming the new.

The reception took place in arched walkway at the winery, with beautiful travertine stone columns. Natural light seeped in through the abundant grapevine greenery hanging from the wood beams above. The tablescape was set with a velvet cornflower blue tablecloth and a sheer sustainably harvested silk table runner. On each place setting had three mixed-matching porcelain plates with their own unique gold patterned accents. Also in mismatched fashion were the vintage gold candleholders and elegant gold pedestal vases. The stiletto thin glassware and flatware added just a hint of modernity to this primarily old-world classic tablescape. Each of the centerpieces appeared to almost float on the tablescape with it’s paper-thin Italian poppies, delicate sweet peas, cloud like cotinus branches, elegant lisianthus, stately garden roses, ocean pearls, and digitalis. While the centerpiece floral definitely gave off strong European vibes, 90% of these beauties were locally grown.

To finish off the night, was a decadent five tiered wedding cake with elaborate cascading floral made entirely out of hand-crafted editable sugar flowers. While COVID might limit the number of guests you can have, that doesn’t mean you can’t go big when it comes to your cake. After all, that just means more cake left over for you.

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Photography: Carlos Hernandez | Event Planning: Indigo Event Design | Floral Design: Jodi Iverson Florals | Wedding Dress: The White Dress PDX | Wedding Dress: The White Dress PDX | Cake: Zelia Rose Cakes | Stationery: Love, Kenedie | Jewelry: Amaree and Reese | Calligraphy: amandareiddesigns | Wedding Venue: Villa Catalana Cellars | Make-up & Hair: Shantilly Make-up Artistry | Model: Amber Nicotra | Model: Monty | Rentals: Great Jones NW

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

Petit Bouquet

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Birthday parties are all the more special when they’re beautifully personal. This gorgeous first birthday party combines all the gorgeous elements and details that give it an elevated feel while also featuring traditional family culture. The combination of the two came together perfectly and we hope you take away all of the inspiration!

From the stationery details to the way they’re displayed, the flawless use of color and typography is truly to die for.

Snackable foods make mingling easy and sociable during a party scene. This spread of savory and sweet options are pleasing to kids and adults alike.

The traditional Korean dress is the sweetest detail of the party! For mom and baby, it’s a sweet way to honor their heritage.

What’s a first birthday party without the cake? This smash didn’t disappoint.

Take a look at the full gallery and get inspired!

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Photography: Bashful Captures | Event Planning: Canas Miracle | Cake: Nine Cakes | Cookies: The Cookie Press | Location: Riverpark | Rentals: Big Mama's Party Rentals | Wooden Laser Cut signs: Sohn made

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

Petit Bouquet

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