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

Expect The Unexpected At This Charmingly Eclectic English Wedding

When a stylish interior designer and talented architect come together to plan their wedding day, you know the results are about to leave you speechless. Lucy and Seamus opted for bold clashing colorways, lots of texture, and a mix of patterns that have us oohing and aahing. The delightfully out of the ordinary design and attention to detail is not to be missed. We dare you not to fall head over heels for this whimsical wedding full of personal touches in the full gallery, captured by Holly Clark Photography!

How did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?

From the Bride… I always knew it would involve a lot of colour! Whether it be wardrobe, work or wedding, I love bright clashing colourways, with plenty of texture, interest and an eclectic mix of pattern. The floral and stationary design was something that excited me the most and this is where I quickly immersed myself with colourful ideas and creations.

It had to be close to home, its one chance you have to bring your most loved friends and family together and show them a place that is sentimental to you and the day it will host.

I imagined a romantic candlelit dinner, in a building with great history, interest and architecture instead of in the garden. Autumn has always been my favourite season, so it was very well timed when Seamus proposed in October 2018, we did it almost to the day, 1 year later.

Like most, I had been pinning wedding inspiration well before my time and despite that, the style and ideas I had for the day never fell far from rich pops of reds, clashing pale pinks with the added twinkle of gyp and more delicate florals such as anemones (my favourite!). This was important as I didn’t want to be influenced by trends, I wanted to create something stylish, bold yet timeless to look back on in years to come.

Working in Interior Design, a lot of my inspiration came down to personal style. Venues I was attracted to had an element of surprise, out of the ordinary design and enchantment. From the riding house accommodation, the elegance of the main house through to the nightclub and speakeasy bar – there was no need to tone down the music nor our ideas.

Tell us a bit about the location!

Growing up, horses have always been our greatest love, my mum owns a local equestrian centre and I spent most of my childhood summers galloping across the New Forest. It was this part of the country that has always signified everything I love, home, countryside, horses and great sentiment. I knew instantly the New Forest is where my search would begin, until slightly further afield we stumbled across the hidden gem that is St. Giles House.

A house with great history, my love for interiors and Seamus, an architect, meant this was a building that struck a chord with us. Not to mention The Riding House, which mum proceeded to jump up and down with excitement when being shown around. This would host an intimate rehearsal dinner the eve of the wedding and would accommodate our bridal parties stay. It also had all the design hues of a member’s club and I knew would be the perfect hub for the two-day celebration.

The other place of great sentiment to us is Scotland. Seamus would take me on weekend trips multiple times a year due to the fond memories of university and close friends he has there. One summer meant this would not be a momentous obsession but a forever obsession and we made the bold move to buy our Scottish home. Kilts were plentiful on the day!

Other places that paved our journey made up the table names – Scotland, Amsterdam, Paris and Abu Dhabi.

What was your color palette and your style vision?

The colour palette was inspired by the romance of the day, on the one hand we had very whimsical, natural and organic tones and later on introduced the rich reds, pops of pinks and pastel greens.

Our wedding ended up having two themes to story tell. The first was organic, whimsical, natural, elegant tones for our church ceremony. This was very much inspired from the organza of my dress and the stylish lead of our stationary. I wanted this to be a fashion-forward take on the traditional formality of this part of the occasion. Lots of beautifully abundant foliage, full of texture and interest but in an unstructured ‘un-done’ style. This was really full of romance yet retained a ‘garden gathered’ look from the meadow that framed the aisle. The colour palette was luscious creams, peaches, blush, nudes, a total contrast to what we had styled for the wedding breakfast and evening party.

The wedding breakfast featured a maximalist style, feminine, textured, layered with the romantic colourways – pink tones with cream and red accents. We had a lot of fun with shapes, sizes, textures and simply creating a thrilling, unconventional mood.

What unique elements or DIY details did you include?

I commissioned a good friend to do an illustration for me, based on a photo taken of Seamus and I in Santorini. I had planned to gift this to Seamus as his wedding present, I wanted something really personal and unexpected. We love collecting art and prints for our home, so I was very excited by the idea. When I saw the finalised illustration, I realised it was the perfect personal touch to our day. I found heart shaped labels and had the illustration featured on our wedding favours. Continuing the romantic yet playful theme, I found glass heart ‘Love Potion’ bottles and tied the artwork to each individual bottle.

Then there were the invites. I got lost in ribbons at VV Rouleaux in Marylebone, it is heaven on earth for stylish trimmings, ribbons and textiles. I stayed up all evening hand-tying each bow which would hold our invite, RSVP and info card together. I loved our friends joy when they finally received them.

We filled favours full of Buckfast, made cushions from left over Liberty fabric and tied colourful ribbon to just about everything! Even our family dog, who is 16 years old, played a part in the DIY. Making use of the left-over ribbon we tied this to his collar to perform the ever-important role of the ring bearer.

Many sleepless nights were spent preparing for the wedding but Helen from What Peggy Did Next helped us make the day run seamlessly and we will be forever grateful we chose her to support us in the creation of our special day. The day was simply magical thanks to all the wonderful suppliers we had the pleasure of working with and we couldn’t have done it without them all.

Talk about your flowers, your gown, your favours, your cake, etc.

To begin the story and set the scene for surprises we delved into the stationary. Everything was to lead to the creative direction of the day and with our perfect venue secured, our invites would be the first part of the puzzle. Jennifer Grant, founder of Romeo & Jules Bespoke, ticked every box. Her illustrations are playful, colourful and very artistic. Our stationery suite combined a feminine palette – creams and gold for the main invite with bows and swirling fonts, sitting next to the pink and red scallop framed RSVP cards and the candy-striped Info card. The story continued with elegant order of services, printed place mats to feature the menu, pink heart name cards and candy stripe bar menus on the day. We created a crest with our initials in a poppy red with a scalloped frame. The femininity of the scallops played a feature throughout, with the romantic red, pink and cream colour-ways flattering our floral design direction.

The stylish tones Jennifer created for our main invite and order of service, were soft creams and golds. These softer tones transitioned into the floral design for the ceremony. The Church florals were softer more neutral subtle tones of creams, peach, blush pinks and nudes. A beautiful deconstructed arch was made to frame the ceremony area, taller on one side it was a beautiful rambling, naturalistic arch climbing a meta. We then created a garden meadow, growing garden scenes in a softer palette of florals placed between the upper pews, the look was purposely challenging different shapes and sizes, not uniform. It was something of my wildest dreams, I’ll never get bored of reminiscing over the florals that graced the aisle and seeing Seamus stood before it.

The style continued with the pinks, reds and creams of our wedding breakfast stationery complimenting the bold characterful blooms in abundance on our tables. My vision was to create a very full, colourful and romantic look featuring luscious, clashing red and pink roses, delicate anemones and playful gypsophila which was magical! We had 48 arrangements in total on long trestle tables. This was paired with clustered groupings of candles and tealights nestled in, for real atmosphere and storytelling. On the tables we had an eclectic mix of clear pressed glass candlesticks and tealight votives paired with green Ester and Erik taper dinner candles.

For my bouquet I wanted something really elegant and ironically less eclectic and loud. With such a special dress and detailed veil, I wanted something equally as delicate. It was very natural, as Jenni Bloom described a beautifully gathered/undone style with delicate interest. It was tied with a beautiful nude silk ribbon handmade in the UK.

The flower arch was reused to frame the entrance to our wedding breakfast, along with the garden meadows to sit beneath the seating plan and later on they created a feature by framing our wedding cake in the tapestry room. The meadows accompanied family portraits and later on a ‘photobooth’ opportunity with a rustic bench seat and spotlights. With all of these beautiful flowers the idea was to maximise their use as much as possible. Moving the meadows, the arch and urn displays to add to the drama of the drinks reception and wedding breakfast was the best decision we made. Later on, the same florals framed the dance-floor, simply adding large bunches of gyp for added drama and styling.

My dress was Halfpenny, a designer that shares the same obsession with organza, florals and a romantic modern style. I toyed with ideas such as peplum features, shoulder pads, organza and then came the Mayfair dress. As soon as I found the dress, or the dress found me, it became a huge influence on the styling of the day. Halfpenny altered the design to have a removable organza skirt, revealing a slinky party dress for the evening. Paired with the dandelion veil, it was everything and more, I had so much fun wearing it and am still staring at it hanging up in our home. My mum and maid of honour were the only people to see the dress before the day, I think their words were – it expressed ‘me’ perfectly and tears were shed!

The dress then inspired the beautiful four-tier cake made by Little Mallow. A simple white icing with delicate frill detailing inspired by the frills on the organza of my dress. Our cake was carrot cake and lemon drizzle – all sorts of deliciousness!

The styling alone wasn’t enough to create the ambience we craved, and this is where the food and entertainment was so central. Alongside the floral design and styling features to set the mood, we were adventurous with our menu and perhaps a little extra with our entertainment. My favourite moment of the day was the surprise I had planned for Seamus. I booked a local pipe band to burst through the doors during the cutting of our cake as a total surprise! Two pipers led the procession and all of our guests into the great dining room where cocktail hour went off. I was totally elated to have pulled this moment off and still to this day I grin from cheek to cheek thinking about it.

What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?

Keep the details of the day a surprise! From entertainment, florals and styling, to the reveal of the dress! I kept this all one big surprise, so each part of the day was unveiled to not only guests, but the bridal party and in my case…the groom!

It created magical moments that I will never forget. Sit back and soak in those moments, it is rare you will have another opportunity for your most loved friends and family to all come together for such a special celebration.

Testimonial

Holly Clark Photography – There were simply no words. Holly was incredible from start to finish, she made our day so enjoyable and was the most calming, professional, perfectionist, more so than we could have ever wished for. Her eye for detail and creative direction has no limits to capture each moment. We will be forever grateful that we were able to story tell our special day through Hollys magical, wonderful and breathtakingly beautiful work. We still can’t believe it is us in the pictures and feel so incredibly lucky to have found her. Photography is so personal, and it is the only thing you have to look back on the day for years to come. It is an heirloom to be treasured and Holly exceeded all expectations. We were speechless when it came to be receiving our final album. Thank you from the bottom of our heart, you have captured our most cherished moments flawlessly.

What Peggy Did Next – If you have big ideas and are planning a lot of it solo, hire What Peggy Did Next! A voice of reason and solution where needed, Helen became a great friend I could trust throughout. Helen has impeccable professionalism and second to none experience. We will be forever grateful we chose her to coordinate our special day, it ran seamlessly! Out of the many weddings I have been to, the brides have always found something didn’t go to plan, I had prepared myself for that but needn’t have thanks to Helens impeccable attention to detail. She helped plan a day I could have only dreamed of and I couldn’t have done it without her.

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This Pink Garden Wedding at Snoqualmie Falls Will Have You Craving All Things Summer

We know, we know it’s only January… but it’s about this time of year that we can’t help but dream of warmer days ahead. Luckily, we have today’s gorgeous summer wedding at Snoqualmie Fall to live vicariously through! It’s filled with bright pops of pink, garden roses galore and the sweetest bride and groom of all time. Valley & Company Events made their dream intimate outdoor wedding day a reality, leaving no detail left unturned. Don’t miss out on the full gallery of images – all captured by O’Malley Photographers!

From Valley & Company Events…Chao-Ching and John, a busy attorney and doctor, envisioned a romantic and intimate outdoor wedding to kick off their nuptials and summer, and were so delighted when we suggested Salish Lodge & Spa nestled atop Snoqualmie Falls.

The wedding was filled with summery elements like lupine, berry and cherry cocktails, garden roses, and touches of honey (nodding to the apiary on the property). Guests were whisked across the property through the different scenes: from the outdoor ceremony on the lawn with the roaring falls in the background to the terrace cocktails and dancing, each moment reflected their love and also the amazing backdrop.

Blush early summer blooms like pink and cream garden roses and peonies, blueberry branches, flowering oregano, colorful lupine, and rosemary painted the decadent garden scene, and guests were treated to artful cocktails that played off of the flower theme. Our ceremony altar was a triple garden arch that our team created out of countless roses and Southern greenery, and it was accented with big garden boxes filled with alpine lupine in poppy colors.

The petite sculpted cake from the Salish Lodge pastry team was filled with lemon cream and was nestled in green foliage in front of a floral-print backdrop we created from Grey & Cake’s motif. We used that botanical artwork throughout, on the handmade menus from Kelsey to the custom bar front panels, cheerful flowers were ever-present through this happy and bright celebration!

An Emerald Green Vineyard Wedding Complete With Meaningful Personal Touches at Every Turn

If you’re feeling stumped on ways to make your wedding feel more like you – allow this gorgeous vineyard wedding to inspire! With the help of Kate Phillips Events, this couple was able to personalize every nook and cranny of their special day – from the signature drinks to the floral arrangements, every detail was thoughtfully designed to represent a significant moment in the bride and groom’s lives. Not only was their wedding filled with sentimental touches, but it also looked absolutely stunning, too! We’re still not over their one of a kind ceremony decor adorned with blooms from Photosynthesis, bound to grace the pages of Pinterest for years to come. Head on over to the full gallery to see all the pretty – taken by Shannon Moffit Photography!

From the Bride… From the moment we started planning the wedding, we knew we wanted it to be authentically “us” in every way possible. My mother always told me growing up that “the love is in the details”, a mantra I repeated constantly throughout the planning process. As a result, all of the small touches had a tie to James and I as individuals, our relationship, and/or our families. Some of our favorite details were our signature cocktails, The Bitsy and The Gunner, lovingly named after our two dogs. While the Bitsy, a French 75, was served traditionally in a champagne coupe, the Gunner, a bourbon and ginger, was served in a glass flask with a custom label that James designed himself. In addition to these, we also had a fabulous champagne tower greeting guests as they entered the venue, which I always dreamed of as an avid champagne drinker.

Guests also saw small gold bunnies on each of the tables which were in homage to my beloved grandmother, who we affectionately call Bunny. The Irish flag, hanging next to the American flag outside of Upper Shirley, and the bagpiper greeting guests as they got off the bus, then eventually leading me to the altar and James and I back down the aisle as husband and wife were also in honor of Bunny and the Wright family’s Irish heritage, something that was very instrumental in my upbringing. Two touches I have to give all of the credit to James for are our live painter, Matt Lively, and our neon “Poole Party” sign. James searched through local Richmond Facebook groups, Reddit posts, and reached out to several friends all over Virginia when looking for a live painter to document our special day. He was finally able to find Matt Lively, and we feel so lucky! We asked Matt to paint our ceremony, as this was the most important part of our celebration, and he captured it beautifully- individually painting each and every guest. Our neon sign reflected our wedding hashtag “Poole Party” and came from a local store that deals primarily in store front signs and industrial projects. I’ll never forget the charm of walking into their offices in Richmond with James, and them telling us how fun and different the sign was for them to make and them trying to explain to us how to set it up on the big day- they don’t often work with clueless newlyweds!

In lieu of a traditional cake, James and I decided to cut an apple pie as neither of us care for cake. Ernie, the chef de cuisine at Upper Shirley, crafted the crust of the pie we cut into an image of the tree of life- one of the most spectacular things we’ve ever seen. The Tiffany and Co. Pie server we used was a gift from our friend Katie, a bridesmaid and the woman who introduced us. Guests were treated to mini apple and pecan pies in addition to cookies and cream milkshake shooters for dessert. Our outfits were also each accented with special touches. James’ tuxedo liner was a collage of cigar wrappers and this was carried through the outfit into his shoes, Stubbs and Wooton slippers, that had a cigar on one shoe and a glass of scotch on the other. If you couldn’t tell that James enjoys cigars, it could also be seen in our cigar and bourbon bar! This was a must-have for James and his father, who always enjoy a nice glass of bourbon and a cigar whenever they are together. James also wore his late Grandfather Jim’s watch, a gift that was given to James by his Grandmother Judy when he passed away. I wore my mother’s diamond earrings, and my Grandmother Bunny’s emerald and diamond bracelet on the day of. Apart from being my favorite gemstone and favorite color, the green emerald coordinated with all of the deep greens we used in our wedding. Last, but certainly not least, were the presence of tulips both in the wedding and in our invitations. Growing up, my father frequently traveled to Amsterdam and would always bring me back wooden tulips and tulip bulbs for my garden, solidifying them as my favorite flowers for life. James later asked me to marry him in the middle of a tulip field at the Kukenhoff Gardens in Amsterdam, when the tulips were in full bloom. He proposed with a ring that my beloved grandmother, Bunny, had given him for the occasion just one month before, and a book of letters written by our best friends and family congratulating us. James maintains that traveling internationally with a diamond ring is one of the scariest things he will ever do. We rented a house boat that was parked on a canal in downtown Amsterdam for this trip, and I had been in a sour mood the morning of the proposal because James had insisted on this lodging choice, while I wanted to be in a hotel. I quickly forgave him when we returned from the Kukenhoff Gardens, newly engaged, and the whole boat was decorated with tulips and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, my favorite champagne, that my 3 best friends had sent us, sat in an ice bucket. Needless to say, having tulips apart of the wedding, even in November, was essential!!

Favorite Moments:

Truth be told, our whole reason for having a wedding was to celebrate our union with those that we love most. When discussing what we saw in a wedding, James and I (very briefly) talked about eloping. This was quickly shut down, however, because we both knew part of the importance of professing our love to each other, would be professing it in front of our friends and family. This was echoed in our large bridal parties- each of us had 9 attendants that were a mixture of family and friends from every stage of our life, from kindergarten through graduate school. To avoid it looking like too much of a wall on either side of us, we opted to have our bridesmaids and groomsmen sit down, front row, during the ceremony while my maid of honor, my sister Cara, and James’ best man, his best friend Seth, stood next to us. It felt so great to have all of those special people have a perfect view as we said our vows. One thing James and I agreed upon immediately was that we wanted a live band. When we each pictured our wedding receptions, after the sanctity of the ceremony had concluded, we both envisioned a big party where we would be able to let loose with our nearest and dearest. Kustom Made quickly made all of these dreams come true for us and more. From the moment they played the first couple of notes, as they lead guests into the reception space from our cocktail hour, we knew we had made the right decision by hiring them. Their interaction with each other and the audience was unbeatable and I’ll never forget me and my bridesmaids being on stage singing “Proud Mary” after James and his groomsmen had been led in a fabulous rendition of “My Girl”. Their music selection made it so everyone, no matter their age, was able to get up and dance and this allowed for a spectacular moment where James, Bunny (my grandmother who is 92 years old), and I did a three way tango in the middle of the dance floor.

A Seaside Stunner That Will Steal Your Heart

Planning your special day? Then you definitely don’t want to miss this seaside celebration. It’s bursting with love, loose organic floral arrangements, and an oceanfront pampas grass accented ceremony arch that will get your heart pumping. Angela and Alexander’s Montauk wedding has all the dreamy details you’re going to want to incorporate into your wedding day. Head over to the full gallery for the not to be missed images by the always impeccable Betsi Ewing Studio.

From the bride… When we started searching for venues, we knew we wanted a fall wedding but were open for the type of venue. Picking Gurney’s Montauk was the obvious choice for us once we saw the place. The backdrop of the ocean was stunning and the inside was cozy with burning fireplaces.

We decided not to do a first look, so the most special moment of the day was seeing each other for the first time during the ceremony. You could feel the overwhelming love of all our family and friends.

Once we started planning the wedding, the details started falling into place and really represented who we are. We wanted lots of flowers, but also let the beautiful setting speak for itself. From the first moment seeing each other to the last dance, there was so much emotion and happiness, it’ll be a feeling to forever cherish.

Katie of The DC Darlings’ Glamorous Rosecliff Mansion Wedding

It goes without saying that beauty and fashion blogger Katie of The DC Darlings has style, so naturally, we couldn’t wait to see her wedding day. When she and fiancé Chris started planning their wedding they decided to dream up their own modern-day fairytale. Inspired by the royal weddings of Kate Middleton and Megan Markle, Katie opted for timeless elegance at every turn with a white and green color palette and plenty of special touches along the way. Visit the full gallery for an intimate look inside their special day.

From Urban Soiree… As they embarked on planning their wedding day, Katie and Chris knew Newport’s Rosecliff Mansion was the perfect choice. Katie envisioned an elegant day, with plenty of champagne, glitz, and glamour.

Thoughtful details filled the day from start to finish, like a custom-designed crest incorporated into the stationery elements throughout the event. The ceremony was a vision of a modern fairytale event designed with an impossibly romantic style.

They worked alongside a strong team of vendors to bring their vision to life, with thoughtful details like their incredibly stylish tablescapes leaving guests speechless. Katie’s Monique Lhuillier dress stunned bringing the fairytale aesthetic full circle.

The couple’s guests continued the evening inside the mansion for a night of dinner, dancing and celebration. Glowing candles were placed throughout the space for a warm and intimate atmosphere, with festivities carrying the excitement well into the early morning hours.

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Ask The Editor: Couch Shopping, How to Submit Home Tours & Letting Go of Old Stuff

We’re three weeks in to the Ask The Editor series and it’s slowly becoming one of our favorites. We want to know what you want to know!

Plus, we just think there’s a lost romance in getting to write to a semi-anonymous personal with hopes for an answer — and we’re suckers for romance.

From Brigid: Couch Shopping: Help!

Oh, girlfriend, we’ve been there. Heck, we’re still on the hunt for the perfect couch! Aside from a total remodel, purchasing a couch is by far one of your largest home investments. So it’s TOTALLY ok to take your time here. So as you shop, take into account these factors:

Couch Use: What kind of lifestyle do you live? Do you have pets? Kids? Friends over for movie marathons? Taking into account how your couch will most be used will help you to narrow down some styles.

– If you’ve got kids running around you might want to consider a low-to-the-ground couch that has plushy corners and not too many detachable pillows (you know, the ones that will end up on the ground in . 5 seconds)

– If you’re taking pets into consideration, keep in mind fabrics trap scent so maybe a leather couch is in order, but on that token a *durable leather that doesn’t show scratches from their paws

– Are you a couch napper? Make sure it’s long enough!

– If your shopping for a formal living room, you can go totally chic without too much consequence.

Cleanability: This goes hand in hand with how you use your couch. No one wants a dingy couch so how you’re able to maintain it’s sparkly clean appearance is of the utmost importance.

A GOOD leather is by far the easiest to clean and maintain, but keep in mind that can tip you over into spending literally thousands of dollars on a couch.

An economical way to keep your couch looking brand new is to by one with a slipcover. We can not recommend this enough! Having a slipcover helps you not sweat the little spills that are, for certain, going to happen. And, if you like to change up your style you can always purchase a new slipcover for a fraction of the price of purchasing a new couch!

Style: Once you’ve got the practical parts nailed down it helps you eliminate a lot of factors as you’re choosing your style! You can go modern, traditional, glam or all-American with your couch style, and not to add to much pressure but choosing the style can set the tone for the rest of your furniture!

But on the flip side, you can also get a classic, clean-lined couch and ramp up your style with accent chairs. So at the end of the day once you’ve determined how it functions and how you want it to look you take PLEOTHRA of couch options and widdle them down to ones that work for you!

From Melanie: “How do you let go of old stuff that takes up space”

An age-old question that is very, very tricky to answer. When you’re looking at the item, try and determine these three things.

1. Is it sentimental? Is this item attached to a memory? Passed down a few generations? The first “adult” purchase you feel like you made? Keep the things that mean the most, and toss, sell or donate the ones you don’t have feelings towards

2. Is it quality? What is the item made out of? Some things that you keep for memory sake aren’t actually in amazing condition and just sit and deteriorate over time. If you’re struggling to keep in in good condition, toss it.

3. Do you want to pass it down? Is it a legacy item that is taking up space but you want to keep so that your kids can have it? Ask them to come clear it out now! If they don’t want it, toss it and you have your answer!

When in doubt, “hide it” for a while, see if you miss it and if you don’t, toss it, donate it or sell it!

From Rachelle: “More home tours please!! It’s not really a question but I love them!”

We’re glad you asked! We are currently revamping our weddings submission page to accommodate and direct more home tour information! So, with that said, to all you interior designers, photographers, home DIYers and interior design enthusiasts, if you have a home tour under your belt just DYING to get some limelight, head on over to stymepretty.com/submissions and send it our way!

That’s all for this week! See ya next Friday, friends.

Xo,
SMP Editors

The Ultimate Guide to Getting Ready on Your Wedding Day

Planning out your wedding day morning? Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered with the ultimate guide to getting ready on your wedding day. From who should join you in your bridal suite to what bring so you’re the most prepared – keep on reading for our top tips!

Choose Your Getting Ready Room Wisely

For the best photos, choose a bridal suite with large windows, tons of space, and clean/neutral décor. For more of an in depth guide on choosing the right space, find my guide here. Do be sure that your room can fit you, your family, and bridesmaids who will need hair and makeup. Too tight of a space creates stress that you won’t want that morning!

Have Music to Play

Want a calm morning? Have a relaxing playlist at hand. Want more of an early party vibe? Throw on some top 40. Know your group and what music will provide your ideal getting ready experience! Bring or have someone bring a Bluetooth speaker for best results.

Bring or Order Food to Snack On

Hair and makeup for your entire bridal party could take up to 4-6 hours (or more if you have a large group). You are definitely going to need to eat during that time. It is NOT a good idea to skip food before your ceremony as passing out down the aisle is the last thing you want. Bring healthy snacks or if you’re in a hotel, order room service with high protein foods (no carb comas, please!).

Have Champagne or Rosé

Unless you’re worried your group will become too rowdy before it’s time for photos, stock the room with ingredients for mimosas or just have champagne or rosé. A mimosa or two over a few hours of getting ready, while remembering to snack, will help you relax and enjoy the morning.

Have a Timeline Timekeeper

Have your most trusted bridesmaid be your timekeeper. They should know the wedding day timeline inside and out so they can keep everyone on time. You don’t want to lose out on portrait time because you all lost track of time, so make sure someone is keeping up with what time everyone needs to leave the room for photos.

Have Your Photographer Present

Even if you don’t want tons of photos of your makeup and hair behind the scenes, photographers usually need to be present during getting ready to photograph at least your wedding details (invites, rings, etc.) This is their warm up time and a time for your bridesmaids to loosen up around the camera before portraits.

Once everyone’s hair and makeup are complete, have your photographer take a cute set of photos of you and your bridesmaids in your robes. These robe shots are so fun and a great way to kick off your official photos!

Photography: Cavin Elizabeth Photography

What Brides Need to Hear As They Begin Planning Their Best Day Ever

We won’t sugar coat it, weddings are gorgeous, they inspire us, they set our hearts on fire, but they’re also a whole lot of work. That’s precisely why you so often hear people say “make sure you soak up every bit of your ‘we just got engaged!’ excitement.” You’ll want to hold onto that cloud 9 high for as long as you can, because once “I Do” decision making kicks off, it can be pretty all-consuming. We chatted with former brides who recently traded their fiancée-ship for full-time wifey wings, and got some really honest feedback about wedding planning: the good, the bad, the happy and sad, and we wanted to share, because not so long ago, these ladies were figuring it all out, too.

Tip #1 – Keep It All About You.

When the decisions have been made, when your vision has been decided upon, when you have guided your wedding style to perfection… the curse of *buyer’s remorse* just might set in. After all, the constant influx of eye candy found simply by turning on your computer can be intoxicating and wildly addicting. But this, my lovelies, is the moment that really counts. This is the moment where you learn to trust yourself and your vision, where you go forth knowing that you are well equipped to not only plan a wedding… but to plan one with grace, with substance, and with adoration and respect for all things uniquely you. Print out those inspiration boards and hang them on your wall, keep the swatches of fabric that you carefully selected nearby. And plant a big fat reminder smooch on the one you love. Because it’s in that very kiss where you will always find what’s most important. ~ Abby

Our founder, Abby, says it best. You really can’t start planning a wedding before remembering that this day is about you two, first and foremost. Every detail should be stamped with the love you share.

Tip #2 – Get a binder.

One of the first things I ever got once I had my ring was my wedding planning binder and a HUGE blush pink and champagne-colored floral memory box from Michaels. I couldn’t wait to start filling up the pages and the box with everything that touched my wedding in some way. Truthfully, in the two years that I planned my wedding, if I was asked that age-old question of ‘if your house was on fire and you needed to save one thing, what would it be?’ I would have said “my wedding binder+box,” and that’s without hesitation. Everything stored inside was a relic of my relationship with my groom and our future special day. And I protected it fiercely! ~ Stephanie

Millennial brides, you might be a few decades older than your Trapper Keeper-loving selves , but you can still get down with a life-aligning binder of sorts ((especially one emblazoned with your new soon-to-be last name)). If it means keeping tabs – literally – on your wedding and everything that goes along with it.

This proud-to-be-a-bride portfolio will be your lifeblood throughout your engagement, where you can document all of your v. important things, from venue one-sheets to first impression notes on your vendors, contact information for everyone in your “I Do” dream team (wedding talent and bride tribe peeps) to calendar benchmarks for all the big deal days along the way. Show off that you’ve officially entered #weddingplanningmode by whipping out your binder and sprawling all of your novelty stickers out on the table. Caption your Gram post with your wedding date and a 🥂 emoji and live in this milestone for a minute. Ours has a 12-month calendar, a budget tracker, and ALL of the worksheets to write down everything about everyone (photo and music worksheets, dress and salon worksheets, cake and flower worksheets and rental worksheets, etc.). It’s so pretty, too, definitely something that has pass-down, heirloom potential.

SMP x Michaels Collection

Tip #3 – Lean on your love and prepare for tears.

I think one of the things I did, which probably wasn’t helpful, was that I kept expecting things to be a nightmare. It’s wedding planning, it HAS to be hard, right? Well, that’s not always true – sometimes you DO catch a break, sometimes you do have some down time to stop worrying and start chilling out. I tried to make things harder than they had to be, and should have lived moreso by the motto of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’

Meanwhile, when things were hard, I definitely leaned on my fiancé for support. He kind of helped me to realize that mini meltdowns are going to happen, so don’t try to hush them. Have your cry in the shower, scream into a pillow, let tears stream on your way into work, but once you’ve gotten it out. Once you’ve purged all of that emotion, move on and move forward. ~ Slava

No matter how the tears are rolling 😢😭😂, if you’re the one getting married, cry as much as you have to, but make it #bridalbawling. A cute stash of mini tissues, like these watercolor floral ones, are a great bag add!

SMP x Michaels Collection

Tip #4 – Establish a cadence with your crew well before saying “I Do.”

Also, don’t establish lax lines of communication early on, because it’ll come back to bite you. Our photographer wanted to start a dialogue with us well before the wedding, would email a lot and ask for feedback – and we kind of dropped the ball and let weeks / months go by without responding. Well, when it came time for our wedding, and we had questions/requests about the shot list, we couldn’t really get ahold of him. He was kind of MIA, but we were at fault, because at the outset we set up a seemingly ‘blasé’ way of back-and-forth. It definitely backfired. ~ Kim

Use that binder of yours for one! But also, make sure you use your consultations and vendor sessions as a sounding board. Talk about how you envision your wedding day, for sure, but also discuss ways that you’ll work together and collaboratively. Does email work better? Are texts during the day more your style? How about phone calls, are late-night calls a big oh-no-no? Get into a rhythm with your vendors as quickly as possible, so that you can avoid any pitfalls later. Communication is everything.

Tip #5 – Keep romance on your radar.

With so many items on your wedding to-do list, it gets so easy to become completely consumed by the entire planning process. Making big vendor decisions over dinner, answering wedding-related emails before bed, and worrying about the potential weather you may or may not have on your big day – it’s truly so much to handle, even with help! My best piece of advice would be to prioritize date nights, maybe once a week, where you go out or stay in, and promise each other NOT to talk about the wedding. Give yourself that time to decompress with your soon-to-be spouse and truly remember what this whole marriage thing is all about – a celebration of your beautiful love! You’d be surprised how much even just a few hours a week devoted to doing anything but thinking about the wedding can do – for both you and your partner! ~ Lauren

You might very well say that date nights will ALWAYS have a place in your planner, but when you’re trying to tie the knot, intimacy can be killed ((and it’s no one’s fault!)). That’s why we’re such ardent supporters of regular “time outs” throughout the engagement process. Whether it’s brunching in bed one or two Saturdays a month, going out for dinner after every vendor appointment, or simply committing to a new Netflix binge with your boo before bed at night, you’ve got to do it. You’ve got to make time for each other, outside of your regularly-scheduled pre-wedding programming.

Remember when we mentioned not popping champs without a particular wedding cause? Well, this is the only way we’ll relate anything wedding to your imbibing. And it’s because toasting out of gold-accented champagne coupes with ‘bride’ and ‘groom’ inscriptions can only manifest good things to come. Cheersing to you guys and your titles for the next year (or two), now, can ensure you’ll be toasting, in the best of spirits, on the big day!

SMP x Michaels Collection

Tip #6 – Do your dress justice.

One of my biggest wedding regrets was kind of forgetting about my wedding dress. I did the alterations, I transported it to my venue as delicately as possible, I had the perfect place to vignette my fashion for those getting-ready snaps, but I had NOTHING to hang my dress on. Huh?!?!! That’s right, I have an amazing picture of my fit-and-flare gown, in all its glory, hanging on a plastic hanger. That bad look, it’s forever burned in my brain, and it’s the worst! I really should have gotten one of those personalized hangers with my new last name, or at least a really pretty wooden or acrylic hanger to glam up the gown. But I didn’t. Sigh. ~ Danielle

Your dress isn’t the biggest part of your day, but it’s still super important. You’ve done your best to keep it protected, clean, primped and polished, so you’ll want to let it shine for all those detail shots.

Our simple wooden hangers aren’t overwhelming, they aren’t pretentious, they’re just really flippin’ cute, especially the silhouetted white dress! And even though he won’t be getting ready with a whole lot of fanfare, he still deserves to have his suite feel special. His entourage is high key important, too. Really, they can hang…

SMP x Michaels Collection

Whatever keeps you smiling on your way to the aisle, girl, you do you. We’ll help as much as we can!
Shop the Style Me Pretty Collection exclusively on site right now! And top off your delicious day with photos that celebrate your unique, one-of-a-kind kind of love.

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.

4th Birthday Ballerina Tea Party

This ballerina birthday party is what every little girl (and let’s be real, mom) dreams of! Every little detail is so precious and intentional. You can’t help but walk away from these photos feeling inspired.

This Ballet Tea Party is truly a little girl’s dream come true! Children’s Party Planner, Party Pickup, planned this birthday party for their client Jessica and her daughter, Elizabeth.

The lovely floral invitations from Dixie Design Collective, featuring artwork by Gina Langford, coordinated beautifully with Jessica’s vintage family china to pull the entire design of the party together.

Guests were greeted by a gorgeous pink balloon garland on the entry of Jessica’s home. The amazing florals from Wild Things brought the party to life, and the India Amory tablecloths were chosen to complete the look. A collection of antique napkins were used at the place settings and also for party decor. The balloon and honeycomb garlands in various shades of pink added a fun touch.

A tiered birthday cake from Olexas and custom tutu and teacup cookies by Hey Kat bakes were the perfect sweet treats for party guests.

The little ballerinas made mini floral arrangements to take home and had an absolute ball playing with tea cart station with tea party themed toys from Pottery Barn Kids. No detail was spared to achieve the sweetest pink and white, floral filled day. Wild Things used their signature garden style arrangements, with gerbera daisies, roses, ranunculus, dusty miller, tulips, seeded eucalyptus and hydrangea to set the tone for Elizabeth’s sweet dream-like party. Surrounded by ballet slippers, monograms, and balloons, the floral centerpieces added unique special touches for a memorable day. Wreaths added focal points to the environment, and small finishing touches like cake florals and tutu rack toppers made for a perfectly put-together party for little ballerinas. Savor Style created and styled the most gorgeous boards and grazes.

The ballerinas enjoyed traditional tea party fare, such as mini scones, quiche, tea sandwiches and Rose macarons, while the adults grazed on a custom Charcuterie board. The perfectly pink candy graze was a sugary delight to both adults and children – handmade heart-shaped dishes created by a local potter added a sweet touch. Festive sips included a Rosé bar with sparkling and still wine, mimosas, and Rosé iced tea with rose petal and candied citrus garnish.

The guests were given a mini dance lesson by a local talented ballerina and took home their very own pink tutu as a party favor. Elizabeth’s gorgeous birthday party was filled with memorable moments for family and tons of fun for all.

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Petit Bouquet

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Sometimes A Little Rain Is Exactly What You Didn’t Know You Wanted For Your Wedding Day!

You don’t always get what you ask for when it comes to your wedding day, especially sunshine – but sometimes what you didn’t ask for is exactly what you didn’t know you needed! For this bride and groom, some rain showers and clouds made their wedding day absolutely perfect with a moody and magical feel, from their stunning photos by Sarah Carpenter to dancing the night away with a storm blowing outside. When it came to the details, Sinclair and Moore, blew it out of the water with their intricate designs and elegant floral arrangements from the brides blooming bouquet to (my personal favorite,) the centerpieces! Take a peek below to see all of the magic and be sure to check out even the tiniest cuties who will melt your heart!

From Sinclair and Moore…Becca and Chris had a very beautiful wedding day at a private estate overlooking the Puget Sound. They went with a color palette of slate blue and white. The couple chose to have signature scents from Jo Malone for as a special detail for their date. Funny enough, they found out after choosing the scents that they are the same ones Prince Harry and Megan Markle use! Their ceremony was on the lawn under gorgeous Washington evergreens, and the reception was set up under a gorgeous sailcloth tent. Between the two events, cocktail hour spanned the lawn starting in a tent opposite the reception tent and allowing guests to chat with a view of the stunning Washington waterway. Sinclair and Moore designed this stunning wedding for them as well as doing all the floral design, bringing together elegance and romance as they always do. Becca moved gracefully in her flowing Sarah Seven gown from The Dress Theory and had her bridesmaids in slate blue, floor-length gowns. The flower girls wore white with lovely, delicate flower crowns situated on their heads. The day started out grey and rainy, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the day. By dinner, the sun was peeking out of the clouds in the most beautiful pre-sunset glow. Instead of a guest book, Chris and Becca had guests sign a giant bottle of wine that was gifted to them by one of their good friends.

From the Bride…

Our Venue: He loves the water, I love the mountains. Our Venue was an instant decision because it showcased both elements that we love: mountains and Puget Sound.

Our wedding Vision: Simple, natural, warm and inviting are the words we used to describe our dream wedding to Steve and Erika in our first meeting, and of course, they surpassed our wildest dreams.

More on our vision: The arches that Steve created are some of my favorite details. Our guests entered from the front door and were immediately greeted by our happy parents (of course) and with the fullest most beautiful flower arch I had ever seen.

Wedding day: Sunshine is what we hoped for, and rain and clouds are what we received. After all, is said and done, I would not change it for anything. The wind and clouds made our day feel magical and moody. It was fun to see the arch at the end of the aisle and the flags on top of the tent move with the wind. I’ll never forget dancing until late at night under the lights of the tent with a storm blowing outside – truly special memory.

Autumn Grass/California: Steve asked me if there was anything that reminded me of California that I wanted to incorporate into our wedding. I instantly responded with the “golden hills of Northern California”. On our wedding day, Steve surprised me with including Autumn Grass in all the flower arrangements – I love that there is a little piece of California hidden in the details of our wedding day.

Favorite memory: The speeches: our dads, my childhood best friend, and his brother and sister all gave speeches at our wedding. The speeches are something we will cherish the most. We laughed, we cried, and we reflected on the memories that we shared over the years and the memories that have yet to be made. We were reminded by how loved we both are and how blessed we are to have everyone we love in one place celebrating the life we were starting together.

I was blown away to find out that Chris’ sister had written me a letter the day that Chris first met me. She started with, “if you’re reading this, it is because I’m standing at your wedding right now and you are getting married to my wonderful brother, Chris. It’s May 28th, 2017 and I already know that you are the one for him (he does too)…” After that, the tears just flowed.

Our photographer: Sarah and her husband are the sweetest. I had the great opportunity to get to know Sarah before our wedding day, as we were working on a special surprise for Chris. Her ability to capture the small moments within the big moments is what grabbed my attention. We are so thankful for the photos she captured and will cherish them forever.

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Event Design

Sinclair & Moore

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The 2020 Wedding Fashion Trends – Which Ones to Embrace and Which to Avoid!

It’s the end of a decade and 2020 promises to be an interesting year in bridal fashion. We have two aesthetics challenging each other for their place in modern fashion history – excess and minimalism, and from the looks of it, excess is winning.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Tenth & Grace

GOWN | Marchesa

FASHION STYLIST | Cavin Elizabeth

1. Clean Lines

Before we dive into the extravagant embellishments awaiting us in 2020, let’s touch base with the minimalist trend. While it is no longer dominating the runways, these styles remain popular with brides all over the world. Gowns featuring clean lines and simple un-embellished fabrics, like crepe, bring bridal into a realm where most modern brides are comfortable – gowns that are cut and feel just like your favorite cocktail dress. There is something to be said about the timeless nature of a minimalist bridal look. If you’re stumped on how to give your minimalistic look a little upgrade – think dramatic, overtly bridal elements (trains, veils, etc.), that are sure to give you that “you’re a bride” feel.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Anna Peters

GOWN | BHLDN

2. Sleeves

Now we’re not talking tailored Princess Kate sleeves, we’re talking about, voluminous, “my face is up here” sleeves. We saw them a bit last year and now they’re popping up everywhere. Don’t get us wrong, we’re just as excited about sleeves as everyone else, but when a trend appears and immediately saturates your insta feed, that’s a sign that you should take caution before diving in headfirst.

Before you commit to big sleeves on your wedding gown, make sure that you like them for you and not just because you’ve seen them everywhere. If they don’t fit into your normal personal style, the chances of you regretting such a big style commitment, later on, are very high.

Most brands will make different variations of a similar design, one will be more editorial and one will be more commercial. Unless you normally dress like you’re going to be featured in the street-style section of Vogue (more power to you!), consider going with the paired down version of the trend. You’ll satisfy your desire to have a gown that stands out without the “What was I thinking?” moment later.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Michelle Beller

GOWN | Galia Lahav

3. Off-the-Shoulder

This trend is still going strong. Off-the-shoulder is the new strapless-sweetheart and we don’t see it going anywhere soon. It is a timeless look that is universally flattering; it also makes for great portrait shots. If you really want to embrace this trend, consider rocking off-the-shoulder sleeves.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Esmeralda Franco

GOWN | Elaya Vaughn for BHLDN

4. Color

We’re seeing less and less white and ivory on the runway, which is very refreshing! Many modern brides express the desire for something non-traditional, color is an easy way to accommodate that wish without having to sacrifice on style. Some brides are going full-throttle with marigold and black wedding gowns, while others, who want to push the envelope just slightly, opt for champagne or ivory with colorful embroidery.

As far as staying-power goes for this trend, we say, it’s safe to invest in a colorful gown if that’s something you’ve always wanted. If you need that big white dress to make you feel like a bride, there’s no harm in skipping this trend.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Sylvie Gil Photography

GOWN DESIGNER | Monique Lhuillier

5. 3-D Elements

Whether it’s silk petals, pleated tiers, or ornate beading, we are seeing a lot of three-dimensional elements on gowns. We love this trend because ornate embellishment really takes a look from gown to wedding gown. This trend goes hand-in-hand with the rise in colorful gowns. Brides often question whether their look will be bridal enough or if they will be outshined by their guests…not if you’ve got a dramatic train with silk petals and an ornately beaded bodice. If your gown is so over-the-top that it would be offensive for you to wear it to another person’s wedding, that’s how you know it’s a wedding gown–regardless of the color.

PHOTOGRAPHER | Anna Roussos

GOWN DESIGNER | Madebride by Antonea

6. Show a Little Leg

Skin used to be all about the neckline, but in 2020, it’s all about the legs – and it’s about time! We love this trend because not only do you get to show off the wedding bod you’ve been working so hard on, you also get to showcase your shoes (what’s not to love?). Depending on how daring you are, you can opt for a subtle high-low hem or a thigh-high slit, the choice is yours.

PHOTOGRAPHY | The Edges Wedding Photography

GOWN DESIGNER | Monique Lhuillier

7. Capes

We know capes are nothing new, but they’re finally starting to take hold in the bridal arena. Capes are a great alternative to veils and boleros for coverage and drama, and for these reasons we are all for them! When selecting a cape, proceed with caution as they can go from fashion statement to cosplay gone wrong all too quickly. Look for a cape that compliments the neckline of your gown instead of covering it. Consider asking your alterations specialist to make your cape detachable so that you can remove it after the ceremony. Your cape should be purposely short or longer than the train on your gown; if they are too close together in length it may look like an afterthought.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Hannah Mayson Photography

GOWN | Ines Di Santo

Just Wait Until You See This Bride’s Something Blue

Our favorite part of weddings? The perfect little details, and boy oh boy this Greengate Ranch & Vineyard wedding does not disappoint. It starts with chic Gucci heels as the bride’s something blue, and the exquisite attention to detail continues throughout the lavish affair. Just one look at the breathtaking farm tables, velvet runners, and champagne wall seating chart will have you swooning! Natalie Bray was there to beautifully capture all of the awe-inspiring moments of the day. Head to the full gallery for some serious inspiration.

From Natalie Bray… On a beautiful day in Spring among the rolling hills of the San Luis Obispo, Mika and Steve vowed their hearts and lives to each other. Their celebration embodied elegant barn chic. It started exquisitely with custom invitations created by the bride herself.

The bride chose to wear no veil during the first look and then change into a long veil during her ceremony to create a surprise as she walked down the aisle. Bridesmaids dressed in all white as Mika wanted everyone to feel as beautiful as she did.

Lush florals set the tone as well as elegant velvet linens, a champagne seating chart, and a live band. Guests had an incredible al fresco dining experience in the great outdoors.

It was a marvelous day, filled with elegance and love. The attention to detail translated to guest experience as many were overheard saying it was the best wedding ever.

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Natalie Bray Studios

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Greengate Ranch & Vineyard

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Intimate Destination Tuscany Wedding Bursting With Romance

This Tuscany wedding is our idea of destination wedding perfection! The outdoor affair filled with pops of green, white, and gold simply radiates beneath the Tuscan sun. The decor aesthetic of the day beautifully compliments the landscape of one of the world’s most beautiful locales. Les Anagnou exquisitely captured all the elegant details and touching romance of the day. See how it all came stunningly together in the full gallery.

From Les Anagnou… Tuscany is the ultimate destination for a romantic and refined wedding if you ask us! Priscila and Marcello’s wedding was a true Tuscan dream, with delicate florals and a wedding dress fit for a modern-day princess! The couple wanted a true fine art wedding. All the details were handpicked by the bride to fit the refined aesthetics!

The ceremony was held in a serene chapel in Tuscany. It was a heartfelt and romantic ceremony with close friends and family to congratulate the young couple and throw hundreds of rose petals and rice to celebrate their union!

After the ceremony an al fresco wedding dinner followed in the gardens of Villa Montanare amongst the olive groves. Merging the Tuscan landscape to the décor, the wedding table was set with elegant tableware and the most beautiful garland of vine leaves! Priscilla and Marcello’s wedding was a chic affair filled with love, laughter, and lots of dancing!

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Villa Montanare

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A Rehearsal Dinner So Good You’d Never Believe It Wasn’t Their Wedding

After seeing their gorgeous backyard wedding that literally took our breath away, it came as no surprise to see their rehearsal dinner was THIS pretty… so good it could easily pass for a wedding itself! Guests dined under a sprawling tent at banquet tables, decorated in ivory linen runners and sweet bud vase arrangements from Gather Design Company. We’re especially obsessed with this modern acrylic menu board they created in lieu of personal menus – adorable and eco-friendly! Double win. Head on over to the full gallery of images for some major rehearsal dinner inspo that’s sure to impress every guest – all captured by The Ganeys and planned by Callista & Company!

From Callista & Company… Kyle and Teale’s Rehearsal Dinner was held on Bainbridge Island at the Manor House at Pleasant Beach Village.

We wanted the rehearsal dinner design to feel cohesive with the wedding design, but with a distinct color palette and more approachable table setting to suit the family-style dinner service. The wedding featured pinks and french blue, so we kept the rehearsal dinner color palette to refined shades of grey and ivory.

The tables were set with an ivory linen runner, stone plates, grey napkins, and stemless glassware. A light grey flag with a guest’s first name in charcoal calligraphy was placed in a glass at each setting. In lieu of formal menus on the tables, we opted for a large contemporary acrylic menu board. Libby Tipton created a custom logo of driftwood covered in crawling vines and blooms, which was brought to life at the event by Gather Design Company, who used driftwood and flowers in glass bud vases along the center of each table. The Ganeys captured everything perfectly.

Their Parisian Proposal Set the Tone for Their Elegant Southern Wedding!

Can you even imagine a more amazing combo than this – Southern charm and Parisian elegance? Umm, yes please! Beckon Events brought the gorgeous bride and groom’s dream wedding day to life, dresses in soft lavender hues, dreamy textures and classic blooms from Kate Asire Flowers. Guests dined and danced under a canopy of drapery and candlelight galore, creating the most romantic reception scene ever. Lucky for us, Simply Sarah Photography was there to capture every inspiring detail, big and small, from the timeless stationery suite to the bride’s jaw-dropping gown. See it all at the full gallery!

From the planner and designer, Allie of Beckon Events… Having gotten engaged in Paris, what better way to tie in McKenna and Jackson’s start to forever than by incorporating French aspects throughout their celebration? Built on a foundation of soft lavender, pale grays, luxurious textiles like velvet and silk, and timeless script calligraphy, McKenna’s appreciation for romantic elegance was elevated and highlighted throughout the entire experience.

Kicking off the anticipation was the custom invitation suite each set of guests received. They were Letter-pressed with the perfect shade of purple and paired with a custom-designed watercolor crest which included nods to many facets of their relationship. All was then hand tied with a silk portobello-colored ribbon, along with sprigs of dried lavender. The faint aroma greeted the recipient as they opened the meticulously hand-calligraphed envelope. McKenna’s off the shoulder Martina Liana floral embellished gown and delicate Bella Belle heels were the perfect accessories to complement to the radiant glow she already sported that morning.

While the weather forecast had called for rain all day, the downpour held off until just after the conclusion of the ceremony, allowing the couple a stunning, intimate first look in front of the chapel before the wedding, as well as all portraits to be photographed outdoors. As a busy interior designer with a chic sense of style, the bride was all about the details. Nods to France were sprinkled throughout; the menu was filled with french cuisine, made deliciously by Larkin’s Catering & Events, complete with a sumptuous charcuterie and spreads display and stations of beef bourguignon with gougères, and savory crepes.

Dramatic draping and luxurious crystal chandelier lighting added the perfect touch to the venue by softening the entirety of the space, creating a romantic ambiance to the event. Twin lounges flanked either side of the diamond shaped dance floor, and featured the most perfect lavender velvet sofas. They made for the perfect party perch for those looking to enjoy the action on the dance floor, and provided a delightful, unexpected pop of color in an otherwise neutral seating area. The head table was set apart with a patterned La Tavola linen, featuring a subtle yet ornate pattern in the lavender woven design in addition to the formal gold flatware and gold rimmed glassware. Personal touches were added throughout the entire day. Delicately tied around the stems of her bouquet was lace taken from McKenna’s mother’s own wedding gown. After being introduced in the original invitation suite, the personal crest was also incorporated onto lounge pillows, and even called guests toward the libations—as the crest was featured on a cheery custom banner hung just atop the bar. The final cherry on top: the first impression as guests walked in was a welcoming lounge, anchored by a framed print from their engagement—complete with the Eiffel Tower tucked in the background. At the conclusion of the event, the newlywed couple was celebrated by their cheering guests through a grand sparkler exit and ushered into the father of the groom’s Porsche to be whisked away into the night.

Fairytale Like Feels For this Barcelona Wedding Held At None Other Than A Castle!

The fairytale-like features of the Castell de Sant Marcal in Barcelona will have you yearning to watch a Disney movie as soon as you start scrolling through this morning’s wedding, brought to you by Just Married Barcelona and captured by KC Chan Photography! The stunning castle as the backdrop to the ceremony to the bride’s multiple wedding gowns are everything! With subtle but beautiful florals by Phlox, the focus is on the venue and the couple and their love! Take a look below, and fall in love with fairytales!

From KC Chan Photography…Sharon and Samuel met eleven years ago and after nine years of being together, they tied the knot in beautiful Barcelona at the breathtaking Castell de Sant Marçal.

The wedding ceremony was held in the magnificent gardens of Castell de Sant Marcal. Regal yet genuine – just like how you imagine it out of the pages off of fairytale books. It was such a precious moment when Sharon and Samuel exchanged their vows by the pond, surrounded by lush greenery and their loved ones like family; with the beautiful rose-quartz colored castle of Sant Marcal as the backdrop to top it all off.

Every detail of this Barcelona wedding was personal yet timeless. From the bride’s classic and elegant wedding gown, down to the minimalist all-white floral design of the reception dinner. All the elements harmonized to create a dreamy, unforgettable picture-perfect wedding.

A Historic Castle Sets The Scene For This Elegant Styled Shoot In Greece

This inspiration shoot is like a scene right out of your very best dream! Set at the historic Melissourgos Tower, which dates back over 350 years, the setting added the perfect amount of old-world charm to the timelessly elegant design. We can’t get enough of the rose color palette, that plays perfectly with hints of ivory and beautifully harmonizes with the backdrop. For all of this beauty perfectly shot by Sotiris Tsakanikas, head over to the full gallery to swoon!

From Vicky Galata Weddings & Events… Having a ceremony and reception outdoors is what we love to have in our weddings, reminiscent of a stylish and chic countryside setting from the Renaissance. Always respecting the surrounding area, we introduced a wooden table and chairs, both for the wedding ceremony and reception to follow up.

The flower selection was that of pale rose and white blossoms dotted with greenery and dancing leaves pouring out of the installations and the wedding bouquet. The concept felt like the perfect blend of old and new set against the astounding venue of the medieval castle in Athens Riviera.

A sublime salmon runner went from the one side of the table to the other, on its route some florals, pairs of candles, porcelain plates and delicate gold cutlery met up, and soon our food board combined with them! The details in the transparent crystals in the setting were those of thin gold lines, which give a smooth sparkle to the images.

A total edible sweet creation among the other sweet treats was like another fabric hugging
the wedding cake. This was a styled shoot that felt like time traveling, like a colored gesture framed to inspire.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/383546981 600 338]

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Photography

Sotiris Tsakanikas

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Petit Bouquet

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A Wine Country Wedding With Rich Tones and Overflowing Florals

For this bride and groom, having the details from colors to florals fit their Wine Country venue at Calistoga Ranch was very important and boy, did they succeed! Along with Rue 29 Napa Valley, they planned their picture-perfect day with beautiful blooms by Nancy Liu Chin in a mix of soft and rich colors in the most stunning arrangements! Take a look below to see all of the details and decor and beautiful images of the happy couple in the vines, by Sabine Scherer Photography!

From Floral Designer, Nancy Liu Chin…For Melissa and Kerry, it was very important to have the wedding decor and flowers be reflective and inspired by the colors and mood of Wine Country. Overall, I would say the design was a balance between informal elegance and refined naturalism. The decor was inspired by the venue, Calistoga Ranch and its surroundings, which has this relaxed but luxurious feel. The colors were some of my favorites. Colors ranged from deeper tones like merlot, burgundy, plum and fig balanced with soft neutrals. Throw in copper/rose gold metallics and a pop of a deep blue and you have a really rich and luxurious palette.

The Ceremony started with neutral tones. Guests arrived at a vineyard where a four-post chuppah served as a focal point. The bride and groom stood under a lush and natural wood chuppah where seasonal foliages and vines like Southern Smilax, eucalyptus, honeysuckle, pittosporum twined up and down the front of the poles. Tucked into the greenery were large-headed roses, garden spray roses, dahlias and other seasonal flowers in neutral creamy hues that had pops of blush and light peach-pinks. Bay leaf and Eucalyptus greenery garlands decorated the aisle. Roses, spray roses, stock, dahlias were tucked amongst the garland and flagged each side of the center aisle. A clear acrylic welcome sign with a hand-painted navy background standing on a wooden beam designed by Blushtype served to welcome guests into the ceremony space.

After a lovely ceremony in the vineyards, guests were invited to the Lommel Lawn were a cocktail reception was held. Guests sipped Moscow Mules in copper mugs or a Signature Margarita while feasting on delicious hors d’oeuvre from Calistoga Ranch. As the weather cooled off, guests could wrap themselves in warm blankets that the couple thoughtful provided.

As guests walked past a row of boxwood hedges they found themselves entering a dinner reception where strung lights and crystal chandeliers were hungover long farm tables that were draped with custom deep blue gauze runners and decorated with lush blooms of flowers in dark ebony footed bowls. Figs and dark champagne grapes accented the tables along with copper stands with menu signs hanging. Laser-cut names were tied to napkins and placed on copper chargers from Encore Event Rentals. Melissa and Kerry chose a family-style dinner with wine pairings. Guests feasted on cheese + charcuterie boards, mushroom agnolotti, chevre ravioli, Sonoma fed short ribs, Mary’s organic chicken, heirloom potatoes. After dinner, guests were invited to the Calistoga Ranch wine cave where they danced the night away!

An interview with the Bride…

Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?

The design and feel of the wedding were inspired by the location of the wedding, Calistoga Ranch. Calistoga Ranch has a soft-romantic tranquil and elegant feel to it as it is cozied in majestic hills above the main street of Calistoga. There was no specific theme, style or color palette. It was all about delivering an experience to our guests. We incorporated colors into the design that enhanced the colors of the surrounding area to emanate that feeling throughout the wedding decor.

Let’s talk about wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?

The overall design concept was an elegant fall wine country wedding with hints of modern informality. Our color palette was inspired by timeless beauty with hints of fall. The ceremony took place in the vineyards and was accompanied by soothing nudes, light blushes, fall pinks, and peach-nude flowers around the Chuppa, within the garlands down the aisle, and in the bouquets. Guests were shuttled about .25 mile above the ceremony location to Lommel Lawn, which overlooks the valley and local lake for cocktails and canapés. The flowers at cocktail hour progressed to a more peach hue and the cocktail tables were covered in a rose gold fabric. The bar stood under an old oak tree on the lawn, where guests could order one of our signature cocktails: a margarita on the rocks with salt and edible flowers on top or a Moscow mule served in a copper mug. As the sun was setting, the guests made their way to dinner, passing through large hedges, grabbing a glass of champagne. They then walked into an open area consisting of rustic long farm tables which created an organic dance floor for our first dance. On the tables were dark blue flowy runners as well as small and large vases of flowers of soothing nudes, light blushes, fall pinks, and peach-nudes as well as richer colors such as plum, figs, wine, grape hues with actual figs and grapes on the table. There were small rose-gold and copper votives spread throughout and twinkle lights and crystal chandeliers suspended in the clear stary sky. The three-course family-style dinner menu was suspended on copper stands on each table. There were three different wine glasses at each setting for the wine pairing with dinner circling a copper charger and wooden laser cut place cards. After dinner, the guests moved from the lawn across a lantern-lit bridge into a wine cave for dancing. As the guests walked into the cave they were welcomed to romantic candle lights and pictures of the couple. The cave opened up to two elegant cream sofas, chairs, and rustic wooden coffee tables setup up on each side of the dance floor. A dessert buffet with the couple’s favorite sweets and a petite cake decorated with white and plum-colored flowers, figs, and grapes were the focal point of the room.

Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment, etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?

We added personal touches from the start of the wedding all the way to the end. We wanted our guests to feel like they recognized parts of us in every element of the wedding. The majority of our guests flew in from all over the U.S. and we even had a few from overseas. We wanted them to feel welcome to our wedding from the start. We put together hand-designed welcome bags which included: our wedding program, water from Calistoga Ranch, Altoids, Advil, Thatcher’s Gourmet Popcorn, and guides to Napa Valley. We had a Jewish ceremony and decided to sign the Ketubah during our ceremony so all our guests could bear witness to us signing the traditional Jewish marriage contract. During the cocktail hour, we had our guests sign a “Wine Dogs of California” book since we both love dogs. Our families are both foodies and appreciate great wine too. When in the Napa Valley, why not have a family-style meal and a wine pairing to go with it. We planned a three-course dinner with each course paired with a wine from the Napa Valley. One of those courses had to be pasta since we both love pasta. This course was not going to be family-style since we did not want to share this course with others. In the wine cave, we stocked the dessert bar with our favorite desserts: chocolate chip cookies and lemon bars. We also had tray-passed mini chocolate chip cupcakes that matched our cake. The DJ played our favorite hits from the 90s to today as we danced the night away. If for some reason, our guests were still hungry there were late-night munchies of sliders and fries.

A Floating Ceremony Oasis On The Water Is Just The Start Of This OMG Wedding

Hands up if you’re ready to be dazzled! From a ceremony structure designed to float on water to a jaw-dropping reception room with flowers blooming from every service, we’re swooning over every bit of this wedding. If you can believe it, that’s just the beginning. Julia Kaptelova artfully shot every detail, like the ballet performance guests were treated to and snow falling from the ceiling for the first dance! Prepare to be amazed and take a visit to the full gallery.

From About You Decor…Our design is a symbol of dawn and a distant endless horizon. Ahead is a long, happy life without any borders. An international couple, Pavel and Cherry, met in London and have been walking together for many years.

The wedding ceremony in the country club was an 8 meters long pier, going into the water, which we built and strengthened from the ground. Round mirror construction was attached to the main construction and designed with floral installations. A weightless glass arch and thin metal bars organically complemented the landscape, absorbed shades of sky and water, as if there were no borders between the two worlds. The ballroom was full of fresh flowers in colors of dawn sky. Installation above the table of the couple was designed with airy clouds, fluttering birds and sparkle of crystals.

From the Bride, Cherry… My husband and I we decided to have our summer wedding in Moscow because the city is where his roots are. As we knew we were going to have the other wedding ceremony in China, we wanted our Moscow one to be very personal and intimate. We’ve known each other since we were fourteen, together with many of our friends whom we’ve also known for a decade.

I didn’t want to walk down the aisle twice so the plausibility of my request quickly came into discussion. The open pontoon stage was constructed in order to facilitate the bridal entrance on water, although there were concerns about safety as the last thing we wanted was probably a drowned bride before she could get on stage, picture that! I have to say on that day it wasn’t easy to get on the pontoon stage from the boat, in my long gown and high heels. Luckily my bridesmaids still noticed even though they stood the furthest from me on the stage, and helped me out without prior rehearsal. My girls could just tell whenever I needed a hand or maybe they were just so used to my clumsiness. Who knows 😂

We all love our photographer Julia! She’s so talented and her style is so unique. Our beloved host Alex is exceptional who made everyone laugh and cry. It was truly a blessing to have so many kind and beautiful souls on our big day. Thank you all!

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This Luxurious Jewel Tone Wedding Will Make You Come To The Dark Side

If you ask us, there’s nothing dreamier then a destination wedding, except maybe when the celebration also happens to involve a burst of jewel-toned hues! With colors just as vibrant and full of life as the city itself, red, ruby, and burgundy made the perfect color palette for this Lisbon affair. We never cease to be amazed by the beauty and romance Les Anaganou captures behind the lens. Get lost in all the beautiful imagery in the full gallery.

From Les Anaganou… Lisbon is one of our favorite cities in the world for its personality and vibrant buzzing character! The Portugal capital was the perfect place for Stephanie and Garret to celebrate their wedding day and join their lives forever!

The ceremony was held overlooking a magnificent valley. Our couple said their vows under a beautiful arch consisting of dozens of jewel-toned flowers and no guest was left unmoved by their wedding promises. The aesthetic was moody and luxurious, filled with dark green linens and floral arrangements in burned red, pale pink and terracotta shades with pops of purple!

All the guests were amazed and had a perfect time as the sun was setting. Lisbon at night was truly magical and totally appropriate for Stephanie and Garret’s luxurious wedding celebration! We love unique couples that want sophisticated wedding days with character and style! We wish them all the best!