Just looking at the absolutely stunning images of this Amelia Island wedding from Agnes Lopez Photography makes me want to break out my fancy pants. The bold colors, glamorous setting, drool-worthy shoes, blingy bridal bouquet, stunning floral design – need I go on? Oh wait, I didn’t even bring up the wedding cake. You will need to see the gorgeous image to believe it. We love when we get a wedding from Agnes Lopez, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. Be sure to check out all of the glamorous pictures in the gallery.

click here for the full wedding gallery!

As I walked down the aisle, the weather was absolutely perfect, and the sun was shining perfectly on our ceremony site…I saw Nathaniel waiting for me under the canopy, and on either side of him were our siblings and our closet friends, all eight bridesmaids and fourteen groomsmen (I know that sounds absurd!)…I was looking him dead in the eyes, but somehow I was able to see the faces of our most cherished friends, and it was perfect. We have known each other since I became great friends with his younger sister when I was in the ninth grade ( he was a junior). I have an older sister Nathaniel’s age (Meredith), and he has a younger brother (Daniel) a year older than me, and a younger sister (Anna) a year younger than me, so we have all been friends for a very long time. When I was a sophomore in high school, all five of us were actually there at the same time, each in a different grade! Our friendship grew and we were absolutely best friends by the time I was about 16 or 17. We went to different colleges, but whenever we would find ourselves back in Huntsville Nathaniel and I would spend all our time together, along with his brother Daniel, and our other two closest friends, Ben and Jonathan. We kept in touch of course while we were at school, through letters, phone calls, and surprise visits when one, two, three, or all four of them would apear on my front porch in Chapel Hill, NC. We were inseparable, the five of us, and they were my life as far as friends were concerned. I didn’t have a boyfriend; in fact, I had never had a boyfriend, and I felt completely safe and comfortable with them, especially Nathaniel. Shortly after I graduated from college, Nathaniel and I started dating. We knew that that decision would drastically effect our friendship, but we decided that it was worth the risk because of the amazing potential of how great things might be! And eight years later, the day before my 30th birthday, he asked me to marry him. I adore him in everyway, and I cannot imagine my life without him.

From Agnes Lopez, the talent behind the lens…Mandee and Nathaniel were married in an afternoon ceremony on the lawn of the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island. The families and most of the friends were from Huntsville, Alabama, and they made a weekend out of the perfect early fall weather on the coast of Northeast Florida. The event managed to be glamorous but also incorporated DIY elements, like the programs and the crystal cake stand, which were made by the mother of the bride. The cake itself was adorned with brooches and the bouquet was made of a mix of new and vintage brooches, assembled by the bride. There was a pink-themed candy table for guests, who were also able to imbibe a series of signature martinis poured through the ice bar, which was transported from Alabama.

Can you believe our favorite day of the week is already here?  The day we get to double up on pretty posts and share even more wonderful weddings with you!  If you needed a little extra boost to get you through the work week then today’s lineup will certainly do the trick and help you make it all the way to the weekend!  Don’t forget, you can see even more of each wedding by checking out the full galleries!

A Nantucket wedding just wouldn’t be complete without a little nautical thrown in!  Zofia Photography captured this superb sea town wedding filled with history, loads of handmade details and precious vintage pieces.  I’m absolutely in love with the flags on top of the cake (made by the mother of the groom) and the Christmas cracker favors (a New England must have).  It’s hard to have a bad time with a paper crown on your head!  There are even more fun photos from this East Coast island party in the full gallery!

Click here for more inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

Jason and I dated for ten years – we were high school sweethearts.  I’m from Colorado, he’s from New Jersey and now we live in Boston.  He’s in his residency at Tufts Hospital and I started my job a week after we got engaged in January.  Between work and wedding planning, it was a busy nine months!   When we were deciding on a location for our wedding, we had two obvious choices – Nantucket, where Jason’s parents retired some years back, or my hometown of Aspen, Colorado.   We chose Nantucket because it was closer to where we live, the East Coast was where most guests would be coming from and, of course, it is a beautiful place for a wedding — a destination that feels worlds away but was not too far for most of our guests to travel.   Jason and I love the history and feel of the island – Moby Dick, the cedar houses, and the beautiful bleakness that can come over the place.   In designing the wedding, I wanted to have a vintage Nantucket feel and look that was not overtly nautical.  We also wanted to throw a great party!  I took a lot of inspiration from my mother, who passed away in 2006.  She threw wonderful parties that always managed to bring out the kid in even the most staid adult.

Since we were splurging on the location, DIY projects, which I already love, became a focus.  With the help of family and friends, we made all the paper goods, the cake topper, the guestbook, the favors, the directional sign and the escort card flowers.  My mother in law made the cake, the linen pew flowers, embroidered the gift bags and made the table runner and tablecloth under the escort card flowers.  She’s a champion.  I made all the paper goods – invitations, menus, programs – with the amazing design assistance of my sister, Rye, who is a talented artist and graphic designer (and who also spent almost as much time as I did wedding planning!).   She found among my grandfather’s things a dance card from a dance a relative attended in 1881 in Leadville, Colorado as well as a 1930s hand-drawn vintage postcard from Aspen.  These gave us some great elements to work with, and let me bring in, in a small way, my family’s long history in Colorado.  I used vintage postage stamps, which was a lot of fun.  We brought in lots of authors, boats and state-themed stamps to make things more personal – I’ve actually bought stamps since the wedding, for myself.  They’re little pieces of art!  I noticed that while women commented on the invitation itself, the men commented on the stamps.  Something for everyone.

I also made the seating cards, which were by far the most labor-intensive project.  I ordered copper tags from an electrical supply wholesaler, bought a metal hand-stamping kit, and stamped each attendee’s name on a copper tag when I had free time over the course of several months.  With the help of my bridesmaids, I tied each tag to sola flowers, feathers and dried flowers, each of which corresponded to a particular table.  As the favors, I made sea salt caramels.  They were wrapped in Christmas-cracker style poppers with exploding snaps, and each contained the candy and a paper hat I made in our wedding colors.  Guests also took home photos from our photo booth.There were lots of small personal elements.  Jason and I met in an English class.  The books on the table were books we read in that class or by authors we read together. We share a love of classical music, and chose as the processional song Nulla in Mundo by Vivaldi, a piece we’ve listened to together hundreds of times over the years.   For his wedding ring, I gave Jason my grandfather’s ring.  On my bouquet, I tied my grandmother’s locket, which is engraved to her from her father and contains photos of the two of them.  We love food and cooking, so when we had the chance to have a raw bar, we took it!  More than anything, we knew our guests were travelling to be with us, so we wanted to show them a great time.   We had croquet and a beanbag throw during the cocktail hour, which was a lot of fun, and assembled gift bags with Cape Cod potato chips, lobster gummies, information on the island and luggage tags that I made myself.

Many have said it before, but I will say it again – the photo booth was the hit of the party.  Inspired by my mother’s love of costumes and dress up, I gathered a lot of fun costumes.  Early on in the night I put on a cowboy hat and hit the dance floor, and after that, there were more costumes on the dance floor than there were by the photo booth.  Certain hats never came off certain guests – it made for great photos and a really silly, fun night.

Wedding Photographer: Zofia Photography / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Ceremony Venue: St Paul’s Church / Reception Venue: Great Harbor Yacht Club / Florist : Joyce Jaskula / Bridal Hair: Tresses and the Day Spa / Photo Booth: Nantucket Photo Booth / Music: DJ Phil Taylor

An apple orchard wedding in wine country? Just reading that sentence, you know this one is going to be darling, and it sure doesn’t disappoint. There is also pie, lots of pie – but I digress. The fabulous photographers behind the lens on this darling day, Lisa and James of Elle Jae Weddings, were there to capture all the endearing details. I am personally loving the couple’s creative spin on the standard guest book, and I am pretty sure you will too. You won’t want to miss any of the delicious images (including all the pies) in the gallery, so don’t forget to stop on by.

click here for the full wedding gallery!

From Lisa and James of Elle Jae Weddings … Apple Farm-Vineyard Splendor, with French-Italian sensibilities and a Live Life attitude made Siobhan and Luca our absolute favorite wedding of the year. Partnering with our studio mate, wedding designer, Lisa Blake from Bellissima Vita, James and I were able to see the wedding come to life from the brainstorming session with the couple to load-in on wedding day. This was our ideal wedding, with the ideal couple and the ideal team. We called it “Lisa, Lisa and the James Jam.”

The first impression of Siobhan and Luca is two people totally in love…with each other, with good food and wine and with life. When the idea of the wine bottle “Time Capsule Guestbook” was created in a brainstorming session, I became tear-eyed, because I know they will be breaking that 25year bottle, together, one day.

I loved the antique photo wall. James did an amazing job building it and I was thrilled to use my antique French country bedside table for the prop table. Somehow making the props,mustaches and the wall made us even more apart of the wedding. We were so excited to see their day come to life and we were truly honored to share in their celebration.

From Lisa of Bellissima Vita Weddings – I loved Siobhan and Luca from the moment I met them.  When we started discussing their wedding I knew that this “wine country apple orchard” wedding was just up my alley.  I wanted to stay true to the wedding venue (an apple farm), to the geographical location (Sonoma wine country), and to both Italian and French influences (heritages).  The bride and groom wanted it to be most importantly special to them and of course memorable to their guests.  We were able to incorporate to special touches like using a San Francisco florist named Cherries (who supplied Luca with flowers for Siobhan throughout their courtship) and their love of Straus Family Creamery Ice Cream.

One of my favorite elements?  An antique French riddling rack which we filled with 10 numbered wine bottles labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30.  Guests left notes in the bottle of their choice and on the year that corresponded to the bottle Siobhan and Luca will crack it open and enjoy their unique “guestbook” for years to come!

Florist: Cherries Flowers / Pies: Butter Love Bakeshop / Ice Cream: Straus Family Creamery / Catering: Elaine Bell / Live Band: Keith Johnson All Stars / Venue: Vine Hill House / Officiants: Good friends of the bride and groom / Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Photographer: Lisa and James of Elle Jae Weddings / Wedding Designer and Coordinator: Bellissima Vita Weddings / Bride’s Make-Up: Audrey Crandell, Glowing Bridal

From the gorgeous hand crafted wedding gown AND reception dress to a full blown cake parade (including 14 sculptural confectionery delights), this Georgia wedding is boasting way too many adorable details to count. But we’re pretty sure the flip book favors containing an elaborate handshake between the bride and groom are one of the coolest things we’ve seen to date.  See the rest of this pretty day captured by Gayle Brooker in the gallery.

see the rest of this Southern soiree here!

Kevin proposed last year, before we moved from Charleston, SC, to Vashon Island, WA which rests just off the coast of Seattle. Life is pretty quiet here on this misty NW island, so I had plenty of time to pour my heart into crafting many of the elements in our Southern/eclectic wedding. I made my wedding gown and my reception dress, the flower girl’s ensemble (made from a sequined vintage ice skating skirt!), as well as the ring bearers’ vests. I designed the 1888 book safe that carried our rings (as well as streamers cut from the removed pages of the book, and paper boutonniere flowers), table numbers made from extra invitations, origami place cards, cast bronze Maid of Honor necklaces, and much more. We also handmade our “favors,” which were little flip books that showed Kevin and I performing an elaborate handshake. I shot the film, printed them locally, and then bound the books.

Our wedding was truly a labor of love, and totally worth it! My crafty approach really helped keep costs down, and at the same time allowed our celebration to remain unique and memorable. The biggest hit of the night was our Cake Parade. Instead of the traditional cake route, we had family and friend make us sculptural cakes in many flavors. We had 14 in all! After dinner, the bakers gathered, lit sparklers, and paraded the cakes out of the house and through the tent! It was quite magical and all of our guest were so thrilled and surprised! It was a cake feast! The Marie Antoinette in me was very satisfied!

Photography: Gayle Brooker / Delicious Southern catering: Chinaberry  / Flowers: Erica Mehan from the Gardner’s Cottage in Asheville, NC  / Invites: printed by Olive Argyle / Bridal Party Jewelry: All Things Bec / Our rings were both heirlooms. And, a fun fact, our bartender was the Mayor of Thomson!

Chances are, if you are perusing the lovely pages of Style Me Pretty, it probably means you are in the throws of wedding planning (yipee!) but even if you’ve already skipped down the aisle and are currently in the process of building your perfect love nest, this post is right up your alley. We are delving into the land of wedding registries and have cozied up to our friends at Crate and Barrel for some of our favorite, can’t live without items from their vast collection of housewares. Whether you are looking to build the perfect kitchen for cooking up your favorite meals or have your sights set on must have pieces for entertaining friends and family, these items will have you scanning your heart out.

1. French Kitchen Table / 2. Vienna White Barstool / 3. Nespresso Machine / 4. Set of Parker Bowls / 5. Porcelain Measuring Spoons / 6. Clark Flatware / 7. Pick Me Up Mugs w/ Tray / 8. Dining Table / 9. Baking Dish Towel

And believe us, we understand that registering can be a bit overwhelming. Sometimes there are just too many great things in the wide world of Crate and Barrel lovelies to pore through. It can be hard to know where to begin. Sooo, here are some great tips to keep in mind before you jump into the land of registering:

• Crate and Barrel has put together the perfect registry checklist to help you get started on building each and every room in your new abode. No must-have will be forgotten with this curated list.

• They have dedicated Registry Consultants for any and every question you might have in the realm of house goods as well as fabulous Wedding Party Events where you get the whole store to yourselves, can consult with registry experts and meet other brides and grooms all while building your dream registry

• After the big day, receive 10% off any unfulfilled items on your list – even furniture!

With so many great items from the cutest little cocktail napkins to the biggest, coziest sofas and all of the delightful housewares in between, Crate and Barrel is the absolute perfect spot to get started on stocking your dream home today!

For all the brides in the midst of wedding planning for their upcoming autumn nuptials, this next shoot has inspiration written all over it!  It’s no secret that we love paper at Style Me Pretty and this invitation suite, created by the ever so talented Jenelle of PinkPolka Wedding Design, perfectly sets the lovely (jewel) tone of the entire shoot. The suite is the perfect compliment to the stunning photography by Julie of JDS Photography who chose the unconventional shoot location of an empty parking garage – which, along with the stunning decor from Elegant Touches, ultimately created the perfect blend of urban and modern for a different spin on a traditional autumn wedding. You’ll want to stash this feature in your inspiration folder and there are even more images worthy of that fabulous folder in the gallery.

click here for the full gallery!

From Rebecca of High Culture: Weddings & Special Events…While most Fall décor is inspired by deep browns and accents of reds, yellows, and oranges, I decided to create my own vision of Autumn for this purple-inspired photo shoot. This past wedding season was filled with an abundance of purple weddings and I wanted to exemplify that purple, with its dramatic, rich, and luxurious nature, can be an equally strong colour for Autumn décor. By doing so, I wanted to express that a Fall event does not have to suit a typical harvest theme nor is it necessary to conform to such a location. Instead, through the use of a deep eggplant purple and accents of gold, along with an avant-garde setting I created a new definition of Fall warmth!

To help me achieve my vision I collaborated with some extraordinary local vendors. The rich satin linens in gold and eggplant purple were provided by Elegant Touches, who always offer nothing but luxury and perfection. The satin linens acted as our foundation while a beautifully textured overlay and gold leaves were used in the centerpiece for the final touches of exquisiteness. Jenelle of PinkPolka Wedding Design created coordinating stationery which perfectly compliments the rich colours and Fall textures. Julie of JDS Photography captured my vision with her artful compositions and unique vision. I am thrilled with how each single photograph from this photo shoot has the ability to stand alone as a piece of art, even when the subject is as simple as a plate of pears!

Gloria of The Art of Cake created sweet treats for our eclectic dessert table which featured a classic wedding cake surrounded by other delectable sweets. These sweets are so beautiful that they could pass as works of art! The wedding cake is absolutely fabulous with hand-sculpted white chocolate roses making the entire cake edible. Rather than a Fall harvest with desserts represented solely by fruit-filled pies, Gloria created other chic and exquisite scrumptious sweets such as cinnamon apple crème brulée, sugared pears, chocolate petite fours, and chocolate dipped ginger snap biscuits. Harvest inspiration was used in the colouring and ingredients of the desserts – the rich brown tones and the presence of fruit turned the table into a captivating Autumn warmth. One of my personal favourites for an Autumn day – the steaming espresso with a piece of biscotti served so elegantly in a crystal shot glass.

While the Canadian prairies can lend a perfect setting for an Autumn event, I decided to convey that tradition can coexist with modern. Edmonton is one of Canada’s largest metropolitan cities with a combination of urban and natural landscapes. I wanted a location that pushed boundaries instead of creating a typical Albertan prairie setting. Wanting a setting that was urban and New York inspired, Julie suggested an empty parkade and it was love at first sight! I think the setting for this photo shoot lent the perfect backdrop for the entire concept. Not only would a parkade be a fabulous location to host an event, but it was the ultimate location for a photo shoot with its glaring natural light!  I am particularly fond of the results of the harmony of the urban and modern with the addition of rich colours and traditional design, which translates into something elegant while pushing conventional boundaries.

Event Design & Styling: High Culture: Weddings & Special Events / Photography: James Design Studio / Stationery Design: PinkPolka Wedding Design / Cake Design (cake & other sweets): The Art of Cake / Décor: Elegant Touches / Models: Cassandra de Grasse, Rebecca Fisher-Swarbrooke, Dominika Koziak / Makeup: Estée Lauder & Merle Norman

Passion, vibrant colors, Mexican culture.  These are characterizing elements of celebrated artist Frida Kahlo’s work and the artists behind this photo shoot – like Celebrations of Joy + Isabel Lawrence Photography – created a sensational, fiery wedding with Frida in mind.  Nestled in Palm Springs’ Korakia Pensione, romance abounds with rich textures, intense colors and perfectly styled vintage and Mexican pieces.  It’s no wonder the models (who met first at the shoot) caught the passion bug and have been dating ever since!  The full gallery is absolutely loaded with more vivacious and festive inspiration!

Click here for more inspiration in the full gallery!

Inspired by the beauty and color of Frida Kahlo’s Mexico, and the exotic local of Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs, we brought together an amazing team to create an elaborate wedding inspiration photo shoot.  The Moroccan details of the resort informed our design direction; flowing bougainvillea, colorful tile work, artistic corners (Winston Churchill used to paint there), and we played with the themes Freida loved – color, detail, romance – to create our shoot.  We featured a charming couple, our “bride”, was the sister of the floral designer, and the “groom” a friend of a local chef.  They didn’t know each other before they started shooting, but their chemistry was so magnetic that by the end of the day they were (and still are) dating! Escort cards were designed using Frida Kahlo paintings and hung from an antique iron door; mini Patron Tequila bottles were guest favors; colorful linens and antique dishes dressed the tables.  Mini lemon meringue pies were the featured dessert along with a dahlia adorned cake.

Event Designer: Celebrations of Joy / Floral Designer: Arrangements Floral Design / Photographer: Isabel Lawrence Photography / Linens: T. Eitzinger Couture Linens / Table Top: Small Masterpieces / Venue: Korakia Pensione / Tuxedo: Helmut Lang Archive Collection (designed by Thomas Eitzenger owner of T. Eitzinger Couture Linens) / Bridal Gowns: Signature Bridal Collection / Cake: Juliette’s Bakery / Desserts: Sherman’s Deli and Bakery / Wedding Favors: Patron Tequila

What happens when a super talented photographer artist like Max Wanger captures a wedding held at one of the coolest venues in Los Angeles with style bursting from every nook and cranny thanks to the ladies of Bash, Please? This take your breath away, almost too perfect to be real, marvelous specimen of a wedding happens. A soiree that is at once organic and super style-savvy, laid-back and ever so dreamy. In other words, it is BANANAS and there are even more fabulous photos to go crazy over right here.

see all of the wonderment in the gallery!

From Bash, Please… Kristen + John are the most down to earth, organic people. They love to surf, hike, and garden. Their tastes were very organic and they came to us with the idea to get married somewhere earthy, in the desert or on the beach. In typical wedding planning form, her family wanted her to have the wedding in Los Angeles so it would be more accessible to their guests. We met with her to understand her design sense and really tried to bring that natural feel she wanted to the wedding. They chose Marvimon for it’s indoor/outdoor lush, rustic feel. When we asked her what her favorite texture was, she said burlap. We were giddy, as we love it too. We made custom table runners out of burlap, ruffle, and lace to bring some formal femininity to the rugged burlap. We kept the color palette subdued in browns, creams, greens, and rust. Along the tables we tucked in fabric flowers in natural linen and cream colors, with mason jars and vintage bottles filled with wheat, astilbe, kangaroo paw, seeded eucalyptus, sage leaf, scabiosa pods, dried lipidium and the bride’s favorite – cat tails. Her bouquet was made of all-natural, dried ingredients like balsa wood flowers, dried scabiosa pods, rosewood flowers and wheat. The arrangements were boxes of succulents, balsa wood, dahlias, astilbe, kangaroo paw, and magnolia leaves. We chose to incorporate loving typography by stenciling words on the wooden box planters for added surprise at the dinner tables. We also used a mix of mason jars with sand and candles to bring in the beach, copper containers for the table numbers, cactus wood to bring in the desert, mini white pumpkins, and lots of candlelight. Heirloom LA did the catering, and their menu is such a yummy farm to table spread, that we wanted to showcase that on mini clipboards for the guests to read. We created a jute and wire sign that read “JUST HITCHED” that hung from K + J’s dinner chairs keeping them “tied” together all night. Favors were created by packaging wildflower seed bombs from Commonstudio and gocco’ing a pony on the pouch. (John calls Kristen his little pony, so we thought it cute to incorporate that design). She and John built the chuppah themselves with bamboo and burlap and we added bunting and fabric flowers to beautify it. We hung custom made bunting of squares and strips of fabrics, laces, ruffles, burlap, and linen above the dinner tables and above the guest book.

Photography: Max Wanger / Design, Florals, and Coordination: Bash, Please / Videography: Shark Pig / Music: The Flashdance / Catering and Bar: Heirloom LA / Venue: Marvimon / Cake and Sweets: Cake Monkey / Pie Pops: My Sweet and Saucy / Photo Booth: The Traveling Photo Booth / Fabric Flowers: Ashley Meaders and Stella Alberti / Wedding dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bunting and table runners: Roberta Maran -323-463-0014 / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Officiant: Family Rabbi / Valet: Jeffrey Valet / Security: TACT / Shoes: Kate Spade / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Hairpiece: Whichgoose

Buon Giorno! We are starting off this magical Monday with a romantic beauty all the way from Florence, Italy.  Marisa Holmes’ photographs, which are like little fairytales themselves, are more whimsical than ever with Italy as their dreamy backdrop.  The rest of the details pretty much sum up exactly how I imagine an enchanted European wedding to be, in a true life castle no less.  The full gallery is bursting with more elegant and exquisite inspiration!

Click here for more inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

Just when we were feeling like this whole Italian affair was another one of our wedding fantasies, Elysium dropped in with this gorgeous film to give us a little virtual pinch. Yes, this beauty is a dream come true.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/14598074?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0 600 338]

When Mike and I started our wedding planning adventure, the one thing we knew was that we wanted to get married in a location that resembled “us”. We wanted a location where we could turn our celebration into a weekend, or even weeklong event. We visited San Francisco, across the bay to Napa Valley, east to Lake Tahoe, and all around home in San Diego, but nothing made us want to sign up. We jokingly started looking into a destination wedding, and to our pleasure, found out it was actually doable and fell in love with the idea of a wedding in Firenze, Italy (aka Florence). Given we both love to travel and his Italian heritage ( his last name is Firenze), it only seemed fitting for the Firenzes to get married in Firenze. After many hours of online research and phone interviews with wedding planners in Italy, we chose Sonia Gallina from Wedding Italy to plan our big day (and week of celebration and various wedding events)! We chose the Castello di Vincigliata, a beautiful castle set amidst the hills of Fiesole with spectacular views of Florence, for our wedding location.

Given it was so inconvenient to communicate via phone, our sole mode of communication was email. That being said, I wanted to make sure my ideas and aspirations were communicated correctly. Unfortunately, I am not blessed with a creative eye, so SMP was a huge source of inspiration for the wedding. Since I was not able to communicate my ideas to my wedding planner in person, I created an inspiration book where I cut and paste images and ideas from magazines , Elysium Production’s Blog, and many from SMP.

Our vision was to create a Tuscan themed wedding. There were also a variety of elements we wanted to include from my Peruvian heritage, so we served authentic Peruvian cocktails  (Pisco Sours)  during cocktail hour and filled the welcome bags with Peruvian beer and snacks.  Some of my other favorite details were dinner served on long rectangular tables in the courtyard, gold candelabras, doves released during the ceremony  (one laid an egg during the ceremony) , personal love letters during the ceremony, honoring our parents during the ceremony with thank you letters,  the first dance ending with a fireworks show , cigar bar, and lots of dancing to house music Also, instead of having escort cards, we set place cards at each table setting that duplicated as thank you cards; we handwrote personal messages to all 82 of our guests –  thanking them for making the long journey to Italy to be part of our special day.  It wouldn’t have been the same without each and every one of those guests!

Overall, we couldn’t be happier with our decision to proceed with a destination wedding. We had 82 of our closest family and friends joining us for four nights of wedding events, including a welcome party in the famous Piazza Signoria, wine tasting through the hills of Tuscany, rehearsal dinner at a restaurant adjacent to the Ponte Vecchio, and our wedding set in a castle. Wedding Italy went above and beyond their wedding planning duties,  which included organizing the entire week of events, hotels/flights, and my husband’s bachelor party on the Italian coast. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience.

Wedding Photographer: Marisa Holmes / Wedding Cinematographer:  Elysium Productions / Wedding Coordinator: Wedding Italy / Venue:  Castelo di Vincigliata / Catering & Rentals: Galateo / Hair Stylist: Din Hair / Make-Up Artist: Azzurra / Floral Designer: Floralia / Officiant: Jim Cascino / Music: DJ Till / Dress:  Lazaro / Shoes:  Jimmy Choo / Invitations and Paper Goods: Love at First Invite

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We just love this next wedding by Robert & Kathleen Photographers. LOVE. For one, it’s absolutely breathtaking – perfectly styled by the lovely Candice of Jubilee Events. Oh but the talent doesn’t stop there, no no, the expertise behind this gorgeous 4th of July affair is chock full of some of our favorite vendors – flowers by Blush Floral Design, attire by the fabulous White Dress by the Shore and scrumptious bites by Jordan Caterers – this wedding was destine for perfection from the beginning. Add an absolutely adorable couple – and ladies and gentlemen – you get a gallery of perfect images.

click here for the full wedding gallery!

From the ever so talented Robert & Kathleen…Sometimes you see a couple that were so clearly meant to find one another it makes it clear that fate really must exist. There really is no other way to explain just how remarkable it is that Saryn and Dave found each other despite quite literally living across the country from one another. It’s remarkable not just because of the distance, but because there is no way that either of them could have found anyone so clearly perfect for them even among the millions of people living in their respective cities of New York (Saryn) and LA (Dave). Because in one another they have found someone that truly understands the importance of making the perfect playlist filled with obscure 80’s hits, who will gladly spend the afternoon watching classic comedies from the ’80’s and ’90’s and promptly quote them for weeks, and who isn’t afraid to make a fool of themselves if it’ll make the other one laugh. Even more, in one another they have found what they didn’t think existed before. In Dave, Saryn found a man who still holds the door for her, sends her flowers “just because” and makes her smile every single day. In Saryn, Dave has found a woman who is not only gorgeous and intelligent, but can keep him completely captivated in conversation and make him laugh easier than anyone he’s ever known.

Together, they have a connection that is visible. When they’re together it’s almost as if they are communicating in a language all their own. When they are laughing and joking together, you can’t help but smile even if you have no idea what they’re laughing about. When they are holding hands or looking at one another, their connection is so intimate you almost feel like you’re intruding simply by standing nearby. It goes without saying that on their wedding day they were connected in an even deeper way. And you could tell that everyone in attendance could feel it too. Because for that day they were getting a glimpse into the incredible bond between Saryn and Dave. As they read their vows to one another, there was complete silence from the guests, moved by the opportunity to see what true love really looks like. It wasn’t the only time they would see it that day, of course. You could see it any time they were side-by-side, the way Dave held on to the small in Saryn’s back or how she reached for his hand. Even when they were in separate parts of the room during the reception, they would share a look or a smile here and there. And all night you could feel the energy in the room. Everyone so happy that they couldn’t help but let go and dance the night away. Celebrating not only for Saryn and Dave, but also at acknowledgment that they had seen something truly amazing that day: proof that fate and true love really do exist. And if that’s not a reason to celebrate, I don’t know what is.

Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Venue: Guilford Yacht Club in Guilford, CT / Event Design: Candice Coppola of Jubilee Events / Caterer: LBB members Jordan Caterers / Bridal Gown: Melissa Sweet / Bridal Shop: White Dress by the Shore in Clinton, CT / Bridesmaid Gowns: Jenny Yoo / Shoes: Nina / Flowers: Blush Floral Design / Hair & Make-Up: Dana Bartone & Company

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Good Morning lovelies! We have some really great weddings coming up in just a bit but before we hightail it to la la wedding land we wanted to take a minute to share the fabulousness that is SimpleRegistry. As you start down the registry road, you’ll probably find yourself with a wish list of your favorite items from SEVERAL different stores and lets face it, managing multiple registry lists can be time consuming and down right difficult for you AND your guests. Our answer? SimpleRegistry: the one stop shop for a manageable registry list where you can add any item from any store and it all resides in one simple place. This is music to our wedding planning ears.

SimpleRegistry is such a great option for the couple that wants to create a unique, personalized wish list that isn’t limited by the available items at one given store. And adding these items couldn’t be easier. Not only do they have the SimpleAdder tool which allows you to add an item from any website with one simple click (fabulous!) but they now have an AMAZING mobile application. This beauty enables members to snap a picture or scan a barcode from anywhere in the world and instantly add it to their registry page. And if you have your sights set on any big ticket items, SimpleRegistry allows you to divide the costs of these pieces into manageable gift amounts. So that $1800 sofa of your dreams can be broken up into ten separate gifts of $180.

Do you see why we are such mega-fans of SimpleRegistry? These smarties have thought of EVERYTHING. Whether you are eyeing a gorgeous piece of art at a local studio or have some pretty handmade items from Etsy on your list, they have you covered…even a honeymoon excursion fits in the realm of possibilities. So if you are in the market for a unique registry that allows your creativity to run wild, be sure to head over to SimpleRegistry today. The sky is seriously the limit!

Once a month (and twice this month…YAY!), we take a time-out to say a huge and sincere welcome to our newest advertisers. We are always so excited about the brands that we partner up with that we can’t help but spread the good news. This month, we’ve got some pretty amazing companies in our lineup that will hopefully provide tons of inspiration and ideas for our loyal readers!

Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could find a fabulous bridesmaid dress that you could ACTUALLY wear again?  If you are looking for a collection of dresses that says “I have good taste and I care about my friends,” then look no further.  The Joanna August line of dresses is just. for. you!

The main goal of Joanna August is to help stylish brides achieve perfection on their wedding day.  And let’s face it, we know that SMP readers want taste and personality throughout their entire wedding.  In a variety of unique and flattering styles, available in an array of whimsical and elegant colors, 100 to be exact, Joanna August dresses are simply stunning.  One thing you definitely don’t want to miss is the series of trunk shows that Joanna August is featuring this month and next month.  It’s an amazing chance to save between 10-15% on all purchases.  For more details, check out www.joannaaugust.com.

We are constantly on the lookout for new and hip on-line boutiques.  We have eyes everywhere! Launched in 2010, Harabu House is an online heaven for stylish and eco-friendly solutions to everyday living.

Owner, Shilpa lyer, has hand-selected unusual home accessories that are the perfect blend of modern design with a touch of global flair. The endless range of accessories, including eco-friendly finds, make Harabu House perfect for gift-giving!  It is so easy to get lost on the pages of Harabu House…thankfully, SMP readers can use the code: Style10 for a 10% discount! (Offer is valid through January 20)

The brilliant minds behind NewlyWish, an on-line registry and gifting service, are helping to-be-weds create the registry of their dreams. NewlyWish provides access to a network of the finest shops all in one elegant, easy-to-use online platform that gives you the choice, convenience, and personalization that you’re looking for at such an important time in your life.

NewlyWish offers an amazing array of gifts from top-of-the line traditional items such as kitchenware, tabletop, bedding, and home décor, as well as experiences and services like dancing lessons, personal training sessions and museum memberships.  All you have to do is create an account and then start browsing.  It’s really that simple!  To kick off the New Year, NewlyWish is offering one lucky couple who creates a registry in the month of January a $200 gift certificate to use at NewlyWish partner, B Moore Home.  Head on over to NewlyWish for all of the details and to get started creating a registry you LOVE.  Plus if you want to stay informed on all of their other fantastic offers, you can also sign up for their newsletter. Happy registering!

Finding the perfect bridesmaid dress is probably one of the biggest challenges when planning your wedding.  I mean, these are your girls and you want them to look fab!  Based on the concept of customization, AriaDress features the most flattering silhouettes and colors.

We are still swooning over the newest additions to their Spring Collection.  First, the Short Trumpet Skirt is going to blow your mind! This new and irresistible silhouette, is GLAM-or-ous times 100!  The Trumpet Skirt is also interchangeable with any of AriaDress necklines making it totally customizable! Next, the Ruffled Collection is SO romantic.  It’s fun, flirty and completely beautiful.  From one-shoulder designs to vintage looks, the AriaDress collection has totally changed the face of  modern bridesmaid dresses.  Finally!

Okay, so asking for money is usually a huge, wedding no-no.  Unless…you have created a wedding registry on Zankyou!  Zankyou is a cash wedding registry.  Let’s face it, some couples are already living together.  That is where a website like Zankyou makes PERFECT sense!

Couples can register for absolutely anything.  Zankyou even enables you to upload links and photos to the items of your choice.  Hello! How simple and user-friendly is that?!   Another pretty amazing feature…Zankyou is available in six different languages.  6!  Guests can view the site in their language and contribute in their currency – a great feature for international couples or those with foreign guests. Zankyou couples also have access to a free wedding website that is loaded with great features such as unlimited photos, an RSVP option and seating chart tool!  Europe’s #1 wedding registry has arrived in the United States…and we couldn’t be more thrilled!

We’ve all oohed and aahed over the adorable flower girls (and ring bearers) that have been featured on the pages of SMP.  Finally, we have found a website that offers quality flower girl dresses at affordable prices!  Nancy August is a truly spectacular online resource for affordable and ridiculous cute children’s formalwear.

Currently hosting a BIG dress sale with dresses that are up to 70% off, Nancy August hand-picks their entire selection.  The experienced staff at Nancy August has developed a great relationship with their manufacturers and, in turn, are the first to hear about new styles and collections.  Not only does Nancy August offer hundreds of flower girl dresses, fancy baby dresses and boys tuxedos but they also guarantee that they have the lowest prices around.  Throw in free standard shipping on orders of $75 or more and you’ve hit the formalwear jackpot. Yahoo!

Ruby Plaza is an exciting new e-commerce website that features a wide-range of items including collectibles, fashion and jewelry and items for your new home.  Designed to bring buyers and sellers together, Ruby Plaza has created a process that is easy and convenient to use.  It’s truly a one-stop shop!

We first fell hard for their sister site, Ruby Lane.  Now, we are completely swooning over Ruby Plaza’s wider selection of unique items! Ruby Plaza features over 800 shops and over 160,000 unique items in a variety of categories including fashion, home decor, lighting…you name and Ruby Plaza has it! Whether you are a buyer or a seller, you must check out Ruby Plaza.  You are sure to find something for yourself, your home or your favorite loved-one!

So…a HUGE welcome to all of our new vendors.  We are thrilled to have you on-board. Welcome to SMP!

This week has been such an amazing start to the New Year. Not only did we kick off 2011 with a bang in the form of some really gorgeous weddings but we also got to reveal the first ever SMP Magazine. Yep, a pretty big week indeed. I believe we are all still reeling with excitement over the wonderful reception of our little E-Glossy. Thank you so, so much for all of the sweet comments, emails, tweets, etc. Every single one meant the world to us! And of course, we are already starting to think about the next magazine and would love to know what you, the READERS, are dying to see in the next issue. Are you perfectly content with weddings galore or maybe you fancy some fun DIY projects? Our ears are open and we would love to hear your ideas so fire away!

Enjoy these pretty posts and we look forward to seeing you on Monday!

a romantic, Southern charmer on Sapelo Island
this Maine wedding has off the charts gorgeous details
a Newport wedding that is almost too pretty to be real
Joy de Vivre brought the lovely with this Santa Barbara wedding
a modern rooftop wedding FULL of succulents
an inspiring Fall affair in Louisiana
all day gorgeous with SEVEN delightful weddings
a true RUSTIC BEAUTY from South Carolina
a Florida destination wedding that turned our beach fantasies into a total reality
a whimsical California wedding complete with heart balloons
San Francisco wedding FULL of personality and some really gorgeous images

Fun links from around the web:

our friends at Milkmaid Press are offering 10% their Luxury for Less line through the month of January
gorgeous frocks from Monique Lhuillier that would be perfect for a bold bride via Lovely Bridal
add a little sparkle to your kicks with these fab DIY projects here and here via Rebecca June and You are My Fave
we majorly heart this talented lady and her toolbox via design*sponge

We’d also like to extend a very warm welcome to our newest Little Black Book Members…

I am completely head over heels, smitten beyond belief with this next wedding. First of all, You Look Nice Today Photography might have the best name in the biz. Second, just check out all the vintage vignettes and crafty little details that the couple designed and styled with absolute brilliance. Washington State might not come to mind when you think destination wedding but after seeing those mountain views I can see why this sweet bride and groom would want to marry there. Head on over to the full wedding gallery to get your vintage on.

Click here for more vintage inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

Austin and I live in Indianapolis, IN but I am originally from Seattle and my parents live in Puyallup, WA. We really love the outdoors and especially the northwest! When we got engaged we decided we wanted a relaxed, outdoor mountainside wedding in Washington state. My parents were extremely helpful in the planning process and my dad and brother were the ones who actually found our venue, since I was in Indiana! We decided on a Sunday wedding because many of our guests were going to be traveling from Indianapolis and had never had the chance to experience how beautiful the northwest is and we wanted them to enjoy the weekend and celebrate with us on Sunday. We really wanted the whole weekend to be a relaxed getaway for all of our guests and we spent a lot of our time hiking, fishing, and relaxing in cabins for the weekend. We also wanted our wedding to reflect us as a couple and were going for a rustic elegance with an eclectic and vintage style that also showcased Washington and the nature that we both enjoy so much!

I was so blessed to be able to wear my grandmother’s dress and to have her be there to see me wear it! My mom had flown to Indiana to help me search for a dress and after looking for a day and describing what I wanted it dawned on her that I may like her mother’s dress. We called her up and asked if she still had it and what condition it was in. She said it had a small tear in the tulle but that I was welcome to try it out…so I tried it on and fell in love!! I had a seamstress fix the tear and change a few details of the dress and it was perfect. I also wore her pearls that my grandfather gave her a month before they were married 55 years ago and carried the same bible that my grandmother and my mother carried down the aisle. I attached a broach to my bouquet from my other grandmother to remember her as she couldn’t be there to celebrate with us.

We did almost everything ourselves, from the invitations to the bouquets. We really had a great time designing the wedding and also making a lot of the little details! People kept asking me what my color scheme was and I never quite had an answer except, lots of colors, it’s going to be a bit eclectic. My mother so graciously divulged my biggest wish for the wedding by diligently scouring thrift stores and garage sales all summer looking for the mismatched, eclectic chairs I wanted and they were so perfect! We tied mason jars on the inside aisles with twine and filled them with wildflowers!  We collected mismatched plates, silverware, glasses, tea cups and saucers and also antique mismatched white to tan napkins for our place settings. We found antique butter dishes and creamers/sugar bowls to set the tables as well. Our table settings were so elegant and antique and fit so perfectly in such a beautiful outdoor location. We are also huge wine lovers and made our name cards to rest on wine corks and served Washington wines with dinner. My grandmother, mother, aunt and mother-in-law also baked the most delicious pies to serve for dessert which we displayed on antique pie stands on a picnic table lined with a lace table runner.

We tried to incorporate a lot of details that reflected us as a couple. Austin loves cameras and everybody knows it. He absolutely loves film and we decided to buy a bunch of old 35mm cameras for our guests to use to photograph moments throughout our day. We loaded them all up with film and placed them in an antique suitcase as you were walking into the ceremony. We tied a tag with the name of the couple as well as which table the couple would be sitting at during the reception on the cameras and left a note with instructions. Austin and I also both love hot tea, especially in the winter! We spent a lot of time when we first met wandering around in the snow drinking hot tea and one of my favorite tea shops in Indy makes all of her own loose leaf tea. For our favors we had our own special blend made and we collected mismatched jars to put them in. We topped the jars with vintage fabrics tied with twine and a handwritten tea-died tag with the name of our tea and our wedding date.   I also had a special grooms cake made for Austin to look like a Rolleiflex camera. My aunt Judy made our wedding cake and our groom’s cake and they were both so impressive and exactly what I wanted!

We had a friend of the family take Polaroids of all of our guests by an old hollowed out tree for our guest book. We used my grandfather’s antique end table to place the guest book on for our guests to sign. We also had some old 8mm video cameras and wanted some footage of the day so our friend, Michell took on the task! We are still waiting to get the film back developed and are anxious to see it!  We used an antique dresser from the lodge to display photos of family member’s weddings including a photo of my grandmother wearing the wedding dress.  We placed blankets in an old trunk for people to keep warm for our outdoor reception.

One of the highlights for me was when everyone gathered around the campfire after dinner when all the kerosene lamps were glowing and the stars were exceptionally bright and our friend, Fred, played guitar and sang as everyone got cozy under their blankets and just relaxed together. As we were all sitting there by the fire taking it all in we looked up at the northwest sky just in time to see a shooting star. It was such a perfect and intimate celebration. We realized after the wedding how truly blessed we are to have such incredible friends and felt so blessed to be able to share such an important day with our closest friends and family.

Wedding Photographer: You Look Nice Today Photography / Wedding Venue:  Rainier Mountain Lodge / Caterer: Simply Delicious Catering / DJ: Melody Music / Hair: Halo Salon / Flowers: DIY from Vue Flower Farm / Bride’s Dress: Vintage (from grandmother) / Invitations: DIY

I have to admit I am a tad bit jealous when it comes to our next bride and groom. Not only are they completely style-savvy but they also seem to have more glamour in their pinky fingers then I have EVER had in my entire life and one glance at their Connecticut wedding is living proof. Sixpence For Your Shoe lent their keen eye for design and whipped up a perfectly styled event to match this adorable couple and all of it was captured by one of our favorite photographers, Jonathan Canlas who has sooo many more gorgeous images in the gallery. Definitely worth a look!

see the FULL wedding here!

Shade Tree Films shot the perfect little number to finish up this Connecticut beauty and give you a little insight into such a lovely day. So, without further ado…

Receiving the phone call from California based wedding photographer, Brian Khang, with a request to help him, and his long time love Helen, plan their Connecticut wedding was music to my ears. We have admired Brian’s work, dating back to his roots in Connecticut before moving West to make it big, and that he did. We met in person on one of their few East Coast trips and formed great bonds from the beginning. Brian has an incredible eye, a keen sense of design, and a love of beautiful things. This made planning with him and with Helen an exciting challenge! Every decision made, every component incorporated, every design element selected was carefully thought out with the aesthetics through a photographer’s eye and lens in mind. The color palette was selected early on. A vibrant mix of aqua and teal, lilac and plum, with accents of silver and cream, all feminine and sweet, set the stage for a gorgeous contrast off the rich masculinity of the interior of the Branford House Mansion, in Groton, Connecticut. A bit of preppy and a bit of whimsy, balanced with vintage nods to create a sophisticated and polished event that was down right current and fun. Honoring Helen’s Chinese heritage, the formalities began with a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony at the Griswold Inn, in Essex, Connecticut. During this ceremony, it is tradition, that Helen is formally introduced to Brian’s family, and tea is exchanged as a symbol of respect. Helen wore a stunning plum colored, peacock inspired Chinese Wedding Dress, known as a Chi Pao, Brian was quite dapper in a Teal and Gold Chinese 2 button jacket, custom made at J. Crew.

Attire was one large detail, not to go unattended. Helen wore three gowns throughout the day, her jaw dropping wedding gown, Sabelle, by Maggie Sottero, her ultra feminine Chinese Wedding Dress, and her flirty one shouldered frock for dancing. The maids kept it modern and preppy in one shouldered short dresses with floral embellishment on the trim from the Limited. Brian, known for his love of ties, especially bow ties, and vests, wore not one but two outfits as well. In addition to his Chinese Jacket, he wore a well fitting three piece suit from J.Crew, a fun bow tie from Brooks Brothers and argyle socks! The guys kept it cool in matching gray vests and pants, and various neck ties from Burberry. They kept in tune with Brian, with matching argyle socks as well! At the Branford House, guests were greeted to the seaside ceremony location, overlooking the expansive lawn and exposed rock behind the mansion. Two large garden inspired arrangements flanked the front of the ceremony space, and the rear row of chairs was dressed with ribbons, blowing in the breeze. Always fashion forward, Helen wanted the ladies to be dressed to the nines, right down to their toes, so the maids, in gorgeous heels from Aldo, stood on slices of tree stump, stained to match the Walnut chairs selected for the ceremony. The cocktail hour was fun and festive, casual and cool. Guests enjoyed American favorites both stationary and passed, while they mingled the grounds, gathered around the photobooth, and selected their escort cards, strung amidst images from Brian and Helen’s engagement session.

Inside the mansion, round tables doned rich aqua linens, topped with scalloped china, amethyst goblets, Victorian lilac lamour napkins, and modern styled silverware and chopsticks greeted guests. Two styles of centerpieces, incorporating lilacs, roses, peonies and greens, added height and variety to the grand space. Individual menus detailed the traditional eight course Chinese meal, guests were about to receive. Warm uplighting and a purple ceiling wash finished the look. As the evening progressed, guests danced away, delighted in assorted Tazo Teas, and snacked on delectable treats from a fabulous dessert buffet. Brian and Helen bid farewell to a sparkler send-off and rode off in a vintage Roadster Porsche. A spectacular end to a spectacular wedding!

Vendor Credits: Jonathan Canlas Photography / Cinematography: Shade Tree Films / Flowers: Stems Floral Design / Event Design, Planning and Coordination: Sixpence For Your Shoe / Ceremony and Reception Location: Branford House /  Mansion Caterer: American – A Thyme To Cook, Chinese – Victor Huynh / Invitations and Stationery: Papeterie / Bride’s Wedding Attire: Maggie Sottero, Chi Pao, Badgley Mischka / Groom’s Wedding Attire: J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, Cole Haan / Beauty: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library / DJ: Rob Waldron, Standing Ovations / Lighting: Shindig Lighting / Rentals: Party Rental, LTD., BBJ Linen, Linen Hero / Custom Wedding Dress Designer:  L’ATELIER / Classic Car Rental: Classic Cars and Byways / Officiant: Sara Carson, CT Justice of the Peace

Pinkies up everyone! Because this fairy tale-esque wedding, by the ever so talented Aaron of Aaron Snow Photography, will have you ready to start serving the crust-less cucumber sandwiches and cheers with your grandmother’s old tea set. Styled to perfection with gorgeous images to prove it, this wedding is every little girl’s dream. It just might be every big girl’s dream too. So break out your breakfast blend or earl grey this Friday morning and join the entire tea party in the gallery.

click here for even more tea partying!

September 27th is a pretty significant day for Stephen and I. It was the first day we said “I Love You” to each other. Then exactly a year later, Stephen proposed in his parents’ backyard under a purgola his father built, surrounded by candles and lanterns that Stephen made from his grandmother’s old jam jars. We decided to get married one year later on the famous September 27th (even though it was a Monday!). In fact, we got married one year later in the exact spot where Stephen proposed. We planned the entire wedding during our senior year of college and I would not recommend that to anyone. But somehow everything just seemed to work out.

It was during winter break that Stephen suggested a Tea Party theme for our backyard wedding. We were snowed in and my fiance had no where to hide from the wedding planning! The trees in the backyard were covered in ice and we all watched and waited for the branches to start breaking but luckily there was little damage. In the spring, Stephen’s parents had the backyard landscaped and worked all summer, through the Oklahoma heat to keep everything green. We knew the backyard would not be able to fit a large crowd so we worked on inviting just family and close friends.

I spent months collecting all shapes, shades and sizes of tea cups and old hankies. And Mason jars. And tea pots. And old sugar bowls and cream dishes! I went to flea markets, antique stores and spent countless hours on Etsy searching for the perfect details at the perfect price. It was all so much fun. Every time I got a new hankie or tea cup, I would play around mixing and matching. The night before the wedding we had the tea cups all over the kitchen and we were putting the clean hankies in the cups and even Stephen’s young cousins wanted to help. His cousin Grant is 8 years old and he asked, “Are those napkins? Those are some good lookin’ napkins!” It was so funny. And our family was such an enormous help the days before the wedding and the day of. They were all in the wedding zone and they just got everything done.

My favorite part of the wedding was probably the vows. I was so stressed about writing our own vows and not working on them together. Were mine going to be too comical and his overly sappy? Or were his going to be really quick and mine as long as a novel. But they were perfect! They turned out to be so funny and so sweet and so personal. The wedding was a wonderful experience but it was also so quick. I made sure to really soak it all in before it was all over. We left to go out to the mountains right after the reception to have our photo shoot with Aaron. It was really important to us to get some great pictures and the weather was perfect. I could not have asked for a more perfect day!

Photography: Aaron Snow Photography / Dress: Casablanca Couture from Bella Rose Bridal / Suit: J Crew / Floral Designs: Scott’s House of Flowers / Cake: Amy Cakes / Make up: Joyce Miranda Aesthetics /Hair: Joanna Joiner of Fringe / Rentals: OKC Party Tent and Event

This first week in 2011 has brought so many more wonderful examples of just how fantastic this wedding world is! We have an over-abundance of occasions to share with you this year … don’t even know how to fit them all in! We’re also going to be including lots and lots of wedding films. What better way to immerse yourself in the love and romance of the day! We’re very proud to bring you our first 2011 wedding film feature from Naomi Raiselle and Generations cinemastories.

From the beautiful bride … The entire day was a dream from beginning to end. We started out on Derby Wharf in Salem, where our photographers, Tara and Ben (who were the best!) from Hitched Studios took pictures of the entire bridal party with five HUGE paddle balloons. My mom has her own balloon business, Balloon Creations, and supplied us with the balloons. Then we all headed via Salem Trolley to the church. The minister, who is not only good friends with Judd, but Judd is also the god father of one of his children, performed a wonderful, worshipful, and funny wedding service. Then we went right down the street to the Peabody Essex Museum to eat, drink, and dance! Every single detail was captured by Generations cinemastories. They were everywhere, documenting everything. Not only are they fantastic at what they do, they are very special people whom we just love! It was by far a night to remember and we couldn’t have done any of it without the help of our family and friends.

Jana & Judd Wedding Trailer from GENERATIONS cinemastories on Vimeo.

From Naomi at  Generations cinemastories … The clip we feature here is the trailer we just sent to Jana and Judd. We opted to give a retro look to the piece in response to the retro influences in the wedding and chose to film with different types of cameras in order to accomplish this look. The grain and texture of certain scenes are an intentional departure from the crisp, bright look of much of the DSLR footage we’ve been seeing recently – even though we shot a fair amount of the wedding with DSLR cameras and special lenses.

Jana and Judd met on a blind date in Salem MA. Jana is an artist and Judd is an history buff, so their choice of the Essex Peabody Museum in Salem as a reception venue for their December 11 wedding was perfect. The reception was held in the East India Marine Hall (the same room seen in the movie, Bride Wars). The couple held their ceremony in the United Methodist Church with plenty of parking, also in Salem, a wonderful, warm circular church with graded seating – offering each guest a perfect view of the ceremony and great sound.

Jana’s dress was gorgeous. And with a birdcage veil anchored by a white maribou feather, and an antique mink stole, this bride was everything right about retro. The dress was a trophy from Filene’s Basement’s Running of The Brides.

There were also tiny notes of brilliant cobalt blue throughout the décor, beginning with Jana’s fabulous blue suede high-heeled pumps and continuing through the blue cobalt water goblets on the black and white tables in the reception.

Jana, her mom, and Judd hand-created Christmas ornaments of clear balls with peacock feathers and decorated the tables as a gift to each of her guests. Each ornament included a note telling of a donation in the guest’s name to Starfish Africa, (founded by one of the groomsmen) which helps put Kenyan youth through high school.

In Jana’s own words:
“This past summer I, along with a few killer- athlete girlfriends, my mom AND dad (he’s a champion) met me downtown Boston in the wee hours of the morning prepared and ready to attack! We had a plan that went out the window the second they opened the doors. It took us 29minutes flat to find ‘the dress’ and to wind up interviewed about our exciting experience on TV.

Judd’s mom, Sandy, was in charge of the wedding plans and coordination, leaving the artistic design up to me. The palette for the wedding suddenly emerged after our first tasting with Capers Catering. They fed us a red beet salad with fresh goat cheese, garnish and a purple & white orchid. I loved the flowers and colors so much they became the inspiration for everything moving forward. I wanted the girls to look unique and love their dresses. All the bridesmaid’s dresses were different shades and styles and most came from Nordstrom and Lord and Taylor. My mother wore an eggplant dress from Nordstrom and my mother-in-law wore an eggplant dress from Ultimate Bride in Milwaukee.

The invitations, that I drew myself, had the orchid motif as well.

Judd’s college friends came from all over to be his groomsmen and ushers. With eleven groomsmen, four ushers and one best man (Judd’s dad), coming from around the country, the Men’s Wearhouse was a great solution for well-fitting, formal tuxes that looked modern and young. I loved the way the light grey and purple played off the colors of the bridal party. The bridal party also picked up the groomsmen’s light grey in their matching grey suede pumps.

Peter Barter Florist, (my uncle) special ordered flowers from Holland. For the centerpieces I wanted simple arrangements, classy but elegant -and something that made a statement. I knew exactly what I wanted: curly willow in tall 18″ glass vases with white orchids cascading down the sides. (They were BEAUTIFUL.) As for the bouquets I wanted simple straight up astilbe.

My uncle called me two days before the wedding and told me they looked breathtaking. Then he called me one day before the wedding (almost in tears) and told me they ALL turned brown overnight. Enter, simple, but very elegant, roses.

The food, created by Capers Catering, was outstanding. Then we all danced the night away to music, by our fabulous DJ from NuImage Entertainment. The DJ was off the hook awesome. The night ended with family and friends circled around Judd and me as we danced.

We come across A LOT of pretty weddings on a daily basis and what we’ve come to realize is the ones that stick out, that really leave a lasting impression on us are the weddings that have character. The ones that truly reflect the personalities and love of a couple. For me, this San Francisco wedding is just that. It has a whole lot of heart that is just bursting from every single pretty detail, from the AWESOME maple bacon donuts, from the super relaxed yet oh so lovely atmosphere. You know where else it is bursting from? The perfect images from First Comes Love Photography by Alison Bank. Yes, we are majorly hearting this eclectic affair. See the rest of the day in the gallery.

see the FULL wedding here!

The venue selection came sort of naturally. I am a graduate student at San Francisco Art Institute and that’s how I ended up in San Francisco. Cam and I met in Philadelphia. After finishing his doctorate in Philly, he moved to San Francisco to live with me and he got a job as an English professor at SFAI. The first time I visited the school, I fell in love with the gorgeous architecture. It’s a Spanish style mission adjacent to a modern, minimalist addition from the 1960s. The joining of the traditional and the contemporary is a beautiful metaphor for starting a new life together, joining of 2 lives, etc. We didn’t have a specific theme. We just wanted a casual and very intimate affair with our immediate family and close friends. With the venue selected, I envisioned an urban, garden party.

When it came to choosing a photographer for my wedding, I knew I was going to be tough to please. Alison Bank of First Comes Love absolutely exceeded my expectations. As an artist and former stylist, I knew I wanted my wedding photos to be unique, artistic, and timeless. And after spending plenty of time checking out adorable wedding blogs, I had a pretty clear vision of what I wanted our photos to capture. After a recommendation from a friend of a friend, I took a look at Alison’s web portfolio and fell in love. The moment my husband and I met Alison in person, I felt completely at ease. She was so personable and comforting. We clicked right away. Alison really took the time to get to know us and our style. She managed to capture every wonderful moment of the day. She got all the great shots without ever making us feel like we were posing for pictures. I can’t say enough great things about working with Alison. She’s been a complete delight to work with.

Some of my favorite moments: Because we are both writers, we wrote our vows and included a part where the members of our families were asked to stand and join hands and promise to nurture and support the marriage. For us, the ceremony meant more than committing our lives to each other. It was about the joining of two families. These are the people who have supported us each individually throughout our lives, and here they were promising to support us together. Very touching. Also. the rug we stood on during the ceremony is the rug from our front entryway to our home. It made the space feel so comforting and relaxing to me.

My favorite moment of the reception was watching my Mom and Dad dance together. I surprised them with their “song.” They thought they were going to dance to something traditional (“The Long and Winding Road” from the Beatles) But, I secretly knew there song was “Rockaria” by E.L.O. They were shocked and I think loved every second of it. I loved watching them together. I wore 4 generations of jewelry from our families, the oldest piece was my Mother’s Grandmother’s bracelet, given to her as a gift from her husband in 1914. Because this was a destination wedding for a majority of the guests, the day before the wedding, we rented a bus and took all the guests to the Alexander Valley to go wine tasting. We brought a picnic lunch for everyone. It was a great way for out of towners to see all that San Francisco has to offer and for everyone to mingle and get to each other before the big day.

Photography: First Comes Love Photography by Alison Bank / Venue: San Francisco Art Institute in Russian Hill / Pig Roast: SOL Catering, Oakland, CA / Donuts: Dynamo Donuts, San Francisco, CA / Florals and Event Planning: friend and event planner Maggie Wilson: maggiegalagher@gmail.com / Gown: WTOO from Novella Bridal / Groom’s suit: J.Crew / Matron of Honor dress: J.Crew / Hair: Clifford Hashimoto / Makeup: Bride

This California wedding from Catherine Cindy Leo and Youkeun Oh Photography is so packed with picture-perfect details that I don’t even know where to start!  Maybe the super fun heart-shaped balloon release or the adorable cake wrapped in black and white stripes?  The hilarious prescription bottle themed guest book and favor table is pretty awesome too but so are the cute drink stirrers and the love bird theme carried throughout the decor!  I’ll let you just peruse the full gallery and pick out your favorite part!

Click here for more inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

and better yet, there’s a beyond adorable film of the day from Peter Chang of Studio 205 Films to send you off into whimsical wedding bliss…

Jennifer and Daniel’s rustic-elegant wedding in Walnut Grove was just the beginning to their journey. Their wedding consisted of 240 of their closest friends and family to witness their marriage in a field of walnut trees. The morning of the wedding was nerve wrecking for the bride as it had rained, yet by the time of the ceremony, the sun had shined and the weather could not have been any more perfect. We incorporated the style, love and personality of the couple into the wedding with the casual setting. Two love birds were the glue that kept the wedding cohesive. These two birds actually came from the cake topper they purchased online from Etsy. Using the idea of the two love birds, the couple had the design on their invitation, menus, escort cards and even restroom signs.

The soft and neutral colors of pink and ivory were the accents to the brown wood that surrounded the venue and used on the linens. It was a very eventful day with many surprised for the guests, including a heart balloon release in the field. Each guest were given a balloon to release with a wish for the newlyweds! Guests enjoyed specialty cocktails which were favorites to the couple: “John Daly” and Ginger Ale Vanilla Vodka, and later dined on organic and locally grown-seasonal dishes prepared by the amazing Command Performance Catering. The hit of the evening may have been the custom dessert station with Beard Papa’s cream puffs, mango ice milk berry and green tea and vanilla ice cream.

The wedding was a story of their love, and each and every guests surely embraced their love as they watched their story unfold that day.

Sit down, relax and take a moment to enjoy this calming Florida destination wedding on Rosemary Beach from VUE Photography.  It’s hard to feel stressed out with a soothing ocean setting and a gorgeous, vibrant couple in front of you.  Not to mention the luscious flowers and precious details!  This wedding brings laid-back, seaside romance to a whole new level!  The meditation session isn’t over yet!  There is more in the full gallery!

Click here for more inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

Kate and Will, a couple from Dallas, TX, decided to have a Rosemary Beach Wedding after Kate grew up vacationing in the area.  Their September 25, 2010 wedding took place in the sugary white sand all to the sounds of a gospel choir which the bride had as a surprise for the groom.  The newly married couple exited as the choir sang “Higher and Higher.”

The couple’s carefree and full of life personalities shinned through not only through out their day but also in their images!  It’s A Shore Thing and Events by Nouveau Flowers brought their classic and natural, breathtaking vision to light with their use of browns and different shades of green.  Another surprise Kate had for Will, was a groom’s cake with a block of swiss cheese…all in honor or his nickname, “cheese monster”.  The cake turned out beyond precious…Rhonda from Confections on the Coast never ceases to amaze us!

As you can tell, the couple was full of surprises!!  One of the cutest surprises ended up being turned around on each other!  Kate and Will love the Avett Brothers, so Kate and some of the groomsmen wanted to surprise Will by singing “January Wedding.”  Well, Will wanted to surprise Kate, and got on stage with the groomsmen and sang the same song!  They obviously were meant to be!!  Towards the end of the night, the couple snuck off to exchange gifts by candlelight with a glass of wine as the guests danced as the band Meet the Press played classic favorites.  The couple ended the night with guests tossing Rosemary seeds as they made their get-away.

Wedding Photography: VUE photography / Wedding Coordinator: It’s A Shore Thing / Florist: Events by Nouveau Flower / Catering: Townsend Catering / Wedding Cake: Confections on the Coast / Band: Meet the Press / Hair and Make-up: Solace Day Spa and Salon- AVEDA