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

A Christmas Decor Secret Weapon — The Tiny Wreath

When taking inventory of your Christmas decor you’re sure to pay attention to your tree, add new bits and bobbles to your mantel and go all out on garland. But there’s one little tool that can be easily overlooked, but when executed properly makes a HUGE impact — the tiny wreath.

This little Christmas decor power tool is tiny but mighty when you start to strategically pepper it throughout your home. It’s versatile, cost-effective and timeless. If you’re deciding where to spend an extra decor dollar, you really can’t go wrong here. Greenery is always the right answer, but when it comes in packs and for a smaller dollar it is weeeelllll worth the splurge.

What qualifies a tiny wreath? Size, shape, branch and use all vary, but the constant rule of thumb is this — if it’s not a focal point by itself, or if it’s too small to hang on your front door then it’s a tiny wreath. Here are a couple of examples for how to apply it to your own home!

1. Back of Chairs

This is a tried and true method of bringing in some festivity to areas that are traditionally overlooked. Adding this merry pop of greenery behind even the most neutral of chairs can totally elevate your Christmas decor.

2. Inside Windows

When you hang a wreath against a window this tiny little over-achiever is working double time. It’s not only adding festivity to your living room, kitchen or bedroom — it’s also making the OUTSIDE of your home nice and merry.

3. Tied up with ribbon

The best way to hand these little guys is with some festive ribbon. Get a basic set of tiny wreaths that are just greenery, and then every year you can change up your ribbon to your liking! No commitment fear here!

4. In the kitchen

The kitchen is by far one of the HARDEST locations to decorate when it comes to the holidays. While you want to be merry, you also need to be practical and sometimes seasonal decor can get in the way of that. But these little guys are here to let you know you don’t have to completely forgo festivity in this room! Add some tiny wreaths! They’re low impact when it comes to disruption of normalcy but high impact when it comes to visually helping the room.

5. Table Setting

Major rule of thumb when it comes to decorating a table — you can almost always benefit from some greenery. These tiny little versatile bundles of joy can really make your Christmas dinner plates *pop!* (and you can purchase this set of tiny wreaths here! this set also just happens to come with its own ribbon so win-win)

6. *Any place with a hook*

If there’s a tiny ledge, hook or nob — hang a tiny wreath! Because they’re so lightweight and low impact you can literally hang them virtually anywhere. By the door! In a bathroom! (also a hard place to decorate) A mudroom! Kids rooms! Around a candle! As a setting for figurines! The possibilities are endless.

So the moral of the story is you can never go wrong with a grabbing a bundle or two of tiny-wreaths. Chances are you’ll always find a place to utilize them!

You might also enjoy

SMP Round Up: 12 Christmas Mantels We Love

Christmas Decor Trend Report: Citrus!

Back of the Kitchen Chair : Jaclyn Mari | Double Door Entryway: The Leslie Style | Dropping Down with the Drapes: Lark Interiors | In the window — pink settee: Wit And Delight | Kitchen Window with Red Ribbon: Inspired By Charm | Multi Wreaths in the kitchen windows: Jean Stoffer Design | On the Coat Rack : Moore House Interiors | On the Table: Style Me Pretty Shop | Reading Nook with red bow: Rachel Parcell | Square Wreath: Anastasia Casey | Tiny Wreath in the Bathroom: Gwen Driscoll | Tiny Wreath in the Shelves: Brooke & Lou

This Bride Thought of the CUTEST Way to Include Her Grandparents in the Design of Her Wedding

Today’s gorgeous wedding highlights the stunning natural beauty of the Colorado Rockies. With help from Ivory and Vine Event Co., the adorable couple combined their love for Vail, CO with tons of personalized details to create the most beautiful western inspired wedding. A few things we’re obsessed with? The boozy escort display, the soaring ceremony views, and the bride’s TOO CUTE grandparents!! Dive right into the full gallery to experience it for yourself – all taken by Stephanie Brazzle!

From the Bride… Matthew and I met in July of 2013 through mutual friends one summer, while we were living on campus attending TCU. I was working for a wedding planner in Dallas at the time, and he had an internship. After four years of dating, Matthew asked me to marry him and I happily said yes!

For our wedding we chose to invite our nearest and dearest friends and family members to escape to Vail, Colorado – the state where I was born and raised, and the place where we one day hope to raise our family. This little town is nestled in the stunning Rocky Mountain Range, full of wildflowers, calm streams and gorgeous mountain peaks.

We wanted to immerse our guests in the true Colorado experience; and began the weekend with a white water rafting trip, followed by an intimate rehearsal dinner set amongst the rolling hills on a working ranch in Vail. Adorned in our “Colorado Western” attire, we dined on a farm-to-table family style dinner complete with Rocky Mountain trout, seasonal vegetables and Colorado peach cobbler as we watched the sun set over the valley.

For the wedding day, we wanted the natural beauty of the Colorado landscape to be the showcase; and said our vows to each other in front of the beautiful Rocky Mountain range amongst the wildflowers. We wanted our reception to be elegant, but with a a laid- back feel that encouraged dancing and celebration. I drew my main inspiration from our surroundings; wanting to highlight Colorado’s natural beauty and juxtapose it with touches of modern, clean lines. Our color palette of muted grey tones paired perfectly with vivid, spring flowers to provide happy pops of color at every turn.

We chose a clear top tent to bring in the aesthetic of the surrounding town square, which pays homage to Swiss and German architecture; and danced the night away under Aspen branches and string lights.

We also chose to incorporate touches that were personal to us. For the rehearsal dinner, we shipped in barbecue sauce from one of Matthew’s favorite restaurants in his hometown, Kansas City Missouri. For the wedding, we incorporated touches from my grandparents into the paper goods & desserts. My grandpa has always been one of my closest friends since I was young; he is a retired art teacher and I spent countless afternoons doodling and drawing with him by my side. He drew gorgeous pencil sketches of the Colorado wildflowers which were incorporated into our stationery suite, and all other paper goods, including two large portraits which were hung over the dessert table, which showcased my grandma’s famous homemade pies.

We pulled inspiration from our travels together for not only the decor but the food and drink that was served at the reception as well. The menu was modeled after one of the best meals we’ve eaten in Florence, Italy, and the Aspen branches were meant to mirror the decor of one of our favorite restaurants in Positano. After changing into a white pantsuit, I finished the evening dancing the night away with with the love of my life, the starry Colorado sky shining through the roof of our tent!

If I were to give one piece of advice to other brides, it would be to never lose sight of what’s truly important: the one that you’ll be sharing the rest of your life with, and the fact that all of these people will never be together in the same place again. Take advantage of that time with loved ones.

This Couple Chose New Orleans To Tie The Knot Without Ever Visiting!

Imagine choosing the city where you will say I Do, without ever going there?! Well, this creative couple did (along with the help of their wedding planner Sapphire Events)…and the city of choice, New Orleans! What better city, for their guests from all over the world to come together to celebrate them and, what better venue than the New Orleans Museum of Art?! With stunning emerald green and ivory floral arrangements by Bella Blooms, the ceremony and reception arrangements were stunning and Lance Nicoll Wedding Photography captured them beautifully, along with every magical moment and fun elements like dancing the night away with the sounds of NOLA! Take a peek below to see it all come to life!

From the Bride…Since we’re an international couple (I’m originally from New Jersey and Rene is from Germany, yet we met in London) we had friends coming from all over for the celebration. We chose New Orleans because it is such a fun city and knew it is such a unique place yet easy to get to. We chose New Orleans without having visited…

We were our wedding planner’s couple that chose the city without having previously visited. After we decided on the location, I flew out two weeks later and looked at eight venues and knew immediately the Marigny Opera House and the New Orleans Museum of Art was so special.

One thing we loved would be the band because we had such an eclectic audience (wide age range, people from all over) and we wanted a party band that could reflect New Orleans and play to the diverse audience. Many New Orleans bands are Jazz bands so we did a lot of research to find a great party band, which ended up being the Manhattan Party Band from Houston.

Flowers. They were beautiful but the expense was much greater than we initially anticipated; partially because we had four different venues to decorate (ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner table, and reception). Our color palette was emerald green and gold. We were drawn to jewel tones to match the vibrancy of New Orleans and thought emerald green would look great with crisp white flowers. We had a creative friend hand-make soaps, we ordered postcards online, found local pralines, and had a family member with a products company order the custom made favor bag.

My one piece of advice would be Don’t forget to pinch yourself and to take in all the love on your big day!! Something may go wrong but you have to be able to brush it off and enjoy the moment :-)

Floral Obsessed Brides Need to See This Romantic Garden Wedding Inspiration

A floral adorned harp, a breathtaking blooming arbor, a cascading bouquet – this editorial planned by Fabulously Chic Weddings is every botanist’s dream wedding inspiration. Jump right in to the lavender and blush hues of the full gallery captured beautifully by Set Free Photography for all the enchanted garden vibes. Floral Symphony – we’re simply in awe! Oh, and one more thing… THE. CAKE… let’s just say it’s confection perfection. Keep on reading and get those Pinning fingers ready!

From Fabulously Chic Weddings… La Casa Toscana, formerly a private estate only hosting family affairs, was recently opened to the public and as a wedding designer, I was ecstatic to get my hands on it! We partnered with an amazing team of creatives, specifically Floral Symphony, to create the overall design, and So Staged, Script Me Pretty and Sweetified to bring the concept to life through other decor details. La Casa Toscana is a stunning, and very unexpected, Mediterranean inspired home in Southwest Florida.

The venue itself is so beautiful and inspiring; we wanted to bring out the garden feel of it and present it in a soft color scheme, without just sticking to the “go to” of just blush. We couldn’t not include our fan favorite shade of blush, but we loved mixing in soft purple tones and mauves to give the color scheme some depth, while keeping the soft, feminine look that we desired. We loved styling the bride and groom with two very different looks. A second dress for brides has been popular for many years, but more recently, grooms are starting to do a second look too!

The groom’s first jacket was a fun, yet sophisticated mauve jacket. We paired it with a tulle skirt Wtoo gown with a nude underlay. The moody tones worked so beautifully together. The second tux was a more classic black tux look, but with a paisley print. We paired with with a sexy, yet sophisticated gown by Made with Love Bridal, adorned with soft and airy floral appliques galore! For the ceremony, the venue often uses a permanent arch structure for the backdrop, but we really wanted to do something different, and show the versatility of this property (so many options for ceremony spots). So, we used the gorgeous home as a backdrop instead.

We wanted the space covered in florals and greenery, and Floral Symphony did not disappoint. They cleverly utilized the beautiful structures that were already in place as an entrance to the aisle, and created a natural, free flowing arch structure at the altar. We used So Staged’s natural wood King Louis chairs for guest seating, and they were the perfect addition to the natural and flowy, yet polished, look that we created for the ceremony. For the tablescape, we combined the lush texture of the BBJ gray velvet linen with soft wood tones of the charger plates, napkin rings and King Louis chairs to convey the sophisticated garden look that we desired. Script Me Pretty beautifully accented the details with a gorgeous menu and place cards in blush ink. Sweetified bakery created a gorgeous cake with a gray toned background accented by sugar flowers and appliques in all of the pink and purple shades we used. We staged it on asoft wood accent table from So Staged, adding a flowy soft purple chiffon to further bring out the tones and create some beautiful movement. All of the details really came together perfectly to create a shoot that wowed everyone that was present!

These High School Sweethearts Said I Do At A Picture-Perfect Romantic Estate!

It doesn’t get much sweeter than high school sweethearts and Stephen and Alexa might be the sweetest, along with their dreamy, romantic wedding at Carinwood Estate. With classic details and overflowing florals by Carl Alan Florist, the venue was transformed and a fairytale was had! Lauren Fair Photography captured the bride who looked like a princess and all of the special moments like dancing the night away! Check it out below and be sure to watch the day unfold in their meaningful video by our friends, NST Pictures!

From NST Pictures…Stephen and Alexa met in high school when Alexa was 14 and Stephen was 17. They shared a first kiss and became friends before they started dating two years later. They both attended college at the University of Delaware. Throughout the years they have traveled to many exciting places, made great friends together, and shared countless, unforgettable memories.

Before hearing more, let’s watch their fun & captivating video by NST Pictures!

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August 8, 2018, on a trip to France, Stephen proposed to Alexa at the Jardin de Tuileries in Paris. It was like a fairytale, as you can imagine just by looking at these stunning images!

The couple’s advice to couples planning their wedding: “Take your time, enjoy the process, stay organized.”

Regarding having a wedding videographer: “I’m so excited to have a video to look back on such a special day!”

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Lauren Fair Photography

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This Is the Ultimate Wedding Weekend Itinerary for a Hot, Desert Wedding!

Kicking off with a vibrant pink pool party and ending with an epic dance party under a canopy of café lights – this is everything a wedding weekend in the desert should be and more! Imoni Events made the couple the happiest bride and groom ever by bringing their Arizona inspired wedding to life, while the lovely Rebecca Yale Photography captured every can’t miss moment. Head on over to the full gallery to see all the sweetness this weekend has to offer – including an adorable dessert cart that’s about to blow up Pinterest!

From Rebecca Yale Photography… The story goes like this.. It all started in Pullman, Washington home of the Washington State Cougars (and home of Steven and Brittany at the time). Both business majors in similar circles, it’s a wonder it took 4 years for the pair to meet. It finally happened one fateful (and chilly) night at an apartment party 3 months before graduation. Steve was talking to one of Brittany’s friends when she introduced the pair. Steve spent the whole night cracking jokes until Brittany’s cheeks hurt. Steve offered to walk Brittany home, and they quickly realized they had lived nearly across the street from each other their entire college careers.

The following evening, Steve spotted Brittany at “Mikes”, the infamous bar in town. He saw her buying a round of drinks for another guy and kept his distance; he was unsure if the connection he’d felt the night before was a figment of his imagination. His friend asked why he wouldn’t go talk to the girl who he had seen Steve hit it off with the night prior.“I don’t think she’s interested – she’s been buying that GUY drinks all night.” Steve replied. Much to Steve’s surprise, his friend laughed and told him it was her triplet brother – Chris. Steve bought both Brittany and Chris drinks and proceeded to make them both laugh the night away with his witty (and often cheesy) jokes.

They both knew they had chemistry – but with college coming to a close both were certain of one thing: Neither wanted to start a relationship, least of all with someone who’d be living in a different city. Saying what they both pretended would be their final goodbyes, they left Pullman wondering what could have been had they met earlier or stayed longer. But we all know this isn’t where the story ends. It only took a few weeks for Steve to ask Brittany if he could come to visit. They decided that while they never envisioned a long-distance relationship, they liked each other enough to try. Like grew to love. A year and a half later, Brittany moved to Seattle. A year after that, they moved in together, and six months after they got a dog they adore (Samson). On September 2nd, 2018, Steve proposed and Brittany said yes.

After falling in love with each other, Brittany and Steven also fell in love with Arizona. The desert brought good memories, sunny weather, and incredible scenery. Hailing from Seattle, the two of them were excited for an opportunity to show their friends and family a place they both held dear to their hearts. Given their love for the sun, Brittany and Steven kicked off their wedding weekend with a bright and vibrant pool party at Hotel Adeline. Fuschia pinks and lemony yellows dawned the retro pool as the bride and groom to be showed up in matching yellow-striped swimsuits. It was a perfect way to kick off such a fun-filled weekend.

As they woke the next morning, wedding bells were in the air and venue set up was underway. Brittany and Steven had envisioned a wedding that screamed romance and played off the natural architecture of Silverleaf Club. With the help of their wedding designer, Jenni from Imoni Events, they were able to curate the perfect collection of flowers, soft seating and rental items so their guest felt wrapped up in casual elegance with a touch of Brittnay’s girlie personality and graceful style.

Touches of blue accented the main color palette of mauve, blush, and silver. And since Arizona is known for its strong elements, we used residential wood tables, metal chairs and soft cotton seating with custom bows and monogrammed pillows. And thanks to their talented photographer Rebecca Yale, the details of perfectly matched vow books and carefully designed paper suite by Victoria York were essential to the overall look. The effect was a perfect setting for Brittany and Steven’s love story to continue. So as they walked through the day, the sweetest first look, their emotional vows, the hilarious Father-Daughter dance, and a cake-cutting that ended with a bang (surprise fireworks show for all their guests)

Brittany and Steven were on cloud nine (or 11 as she kept saying.) The moments might have been imagined, but the memories were organic and heartfelt. It’s no wonder the photos and video scream of love and laughter.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Rebecca Yale Photography

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For These Seattle Natives, Home Is Where The I Do’s Are!

These Seattle natives wanted to show off everything there is about their hometown to all of their friends and family, so tying the knot at The Seattle Tennis Club was an easy yes when it came to venue choice! With beautiful water and mountain views, the couple had a dreamy first look photographed by Blue Rose Photography and a classic yet fun party afterward with blooming centerpieces by Flora Nova Designs and even a champagne tower! Take a look below to see all that Occasions Wedding and Event Planning got to put together for a romantic, sunny Seattle day!

An Interview with the Bride…

When and where did you meet?

Charlie and I met in high school, and both grew up in Seattle. One of the things that we prioritized from the outset of our planning was having the wedding in the city – we wanted to show our friends and family from out of town (most of Charlie’s family is in the midwest and most of mine is in California) the city that we grew up in and all the places that are meaningful to us and our relationship.

You both went to UW correct?

Charlie is a UW graduate! I went to UCLA for undergrad, and am currently in law school at UW (so we both became Huskies eventually!).

Where did you get your dress and bridesmaids dresses from?

My dress was by Anny Lin (it was originally a one-shoulder gown that I had customized to be strapless). The bridesmaid dresses were by Jenny Yoo – I went to visit my bridesmaids in Los Angeles to go shopping for bridesmaid dresses, and they completely fell in love with the embroidery on these dresses.

Inspiration for the style and feel for your wedding?

Family is incredibly important to both of us, so it was a big priority to involve our family members – we had a total of 7 flower girls and ring bearers because all our little cousins wanted to be involved (which was pretty overwhelming at the rehearsal, but went perfectly during the actual ceremony). We also wanted to make sure to showcase the location – we had our welcome dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Pioneer Square, a historic neighborhood in Seattle, but then our ceremony took place on the shore of Lake Washington with Mount Rainier in the background, highlighting the natural beauty of the city! We also wanted the party to feel fun and authentic to us – we had oysters and Aperol Spritzes as a specialty drink during cocktail hour (two of our favorite treats) and my siblings pulled out “money guns” which shot out fake dollar bills on the dance floor to get the party started.

What advice do you have for other brides planning their weddings?

The thing that most helped me in planning my wedding was having a solid team helping me, and clear roles for each person. It can get overwhelming when there are so many details to work out, vendors to call, decisions to make, etc., so Charle, our moms, our wonderful wedding planner and I would work to divvy up the project (and I made sure to take on the things that were most important to me!). This made the planning process a lot more manageable and fun, and brought our families even closer ahead of the wedding – by the time the big day came around, it really felt like a joint effort that we were all personally proud of.

I would also recommend creative thinking in terms of making your dreams a reality – with the internet, it’s easier than ever to take inspiration from wedding magazines or Pinterest and figure out how to make it happen. For instance, I really wanted a vintage convertible as our “getaway car” and was able to find someone in our area on Vinty.com with a red, vintage VW Beetle convertible who was willing to chauffeur us away, which was absolutely perfect. I also really wanted a custom watercolor monogram for our invitation suite, so was able to find an artist in Croatia on Etsy who had the exact style I was looking for.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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A Romantic Emerald Green Editorial Inspired by the Scottish Highlands (Complete with Wreath-Adorned Sheep!)

Yup, you read that right – wreath. adorned. sheep. And we thought puppies at weddings were cute! One look at this stunning wedding inspiration planned by Marae Event Management and you’d never guess it wasn’t shot in the Scottish Highlands. Every detail of this day perfectly represented Scottish heritage – from the sounds of bagpipes at the ceremony to the elegant paper details. The romantic and timeless color scheme of emerald and rust couldn’t have been a more beautiful pair (just wait ’till you see the bridesmaid dresses!) Yup, a visit to the full gallery captured by D’Arcy Benincosa is an absolute MUST. Major inspo ahead.

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So much of a wedding day depends on the couple’s history with the location. You take two wild mountain hearted people who crave only their closest friends surrounded by only the biggest mountains and you have the perfect intimate celebration.

With the gorgeous neutrals and colors of the earth, this wedding focused on elegant and timeless romance–long cathedral veil, white and earthy florals, the perfect sweeping updo, and classic touches of emerald and rust to echo the mountain colors.

With a Scottish groom it was important to have the sounds of bagpipes echoing in the hills and the ranch is known for its cranes, horses, and a set of local Utah sheep made the space feel even more like the highlands.

From the paper details and vow books down to the cocktails and champagne fountain, we wanted every detail to be reflective of Scottish heritage and stunning landscape. The photographer ended the shoot by recreating an epic dinner scene inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

Art meets Romance meets the Mountains.

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

River Bottoms Ranch

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Gingerbread & Royal Frosting Recipe

GINGERBREAD

1 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup molasses
4 1/2- 5 cups flour
1 tbs ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking powder

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add sugar & molasses, stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat & cool.

In a large bowl, sift 4 1/2 cups of flour, then add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix together. Form a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the warm butter mixture. Blend well, until dough is too stiff to stir. If the dough feels too soft, add the remaining 1/2 cup flour.

Knead dough with hands into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to rest for at least one hour.

Preheat the oven to 350º. Roll the ball of dough out on an un-greased cookie sheet to about 1/4″ thick. Lay out the cookie cutters on the surface to make sure you can fit 2 of each shape on the sheet, but don’t cut yet.

Bake for 12-15 minutes. Cut out the gingerbread house shapes with the cookie cutters. Let cool on sheet for 2 minutes, then use a large spatula to move to a cooling rack.

ROYAL ICING
2 egg whites
2 tbs lemon juice
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
1/8 tsp salt
3 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp salt

Place 2 egg whites in a large bowl. Sift in 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, add the cream of tartar & salt.

Beat slowly on low speed until the mixture is smooth & creamy. Stir in lemon juice until the mixture is the consistency of whipped cream. If the icing is too thin, add in more powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.

This icing hardens quickly, making it perfect for assembling the house, but it should be put in a sealed container quickly to prevent premature hardening.

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Assemble house according to the instructions here.

Photography: SMP Living | Recipe: SMP Living

You Won’t Believe This Modern White Barn Venue Is Located in the Heart of Hollywood

Today’s beautiful couple tied the knot at The Lombardi House, aka the hidden gem of Hollywood, and celebrated their newlywed status with their closest family and friends at an intimate indoor reception. Guests dined under rows of string lights at long tables adorned with bud vases and adorable succulents from Twigs and Twine. Marisa Nicole Events planned and executed every detail to perfection, allowing the brides to relax and soak in every second of their special day. See all the magic unfold at the full gallery – taken by Birds of a Feather!

From Marissa Nicole Events… Ginny and Jaime’s big day was truly one to remember. We brought their mid-west, desert, and coastal hometown roots to Hollywood, and it combined flawlessly! These lovebird’s wedding festivities took place at the Lombardi House in Hollywood, CA.

From the moment they saw the barn, mixing something so quintessential Americana smack in the middle of the excitement of Hollywood, the gals were in love. Natural green tones were complemented by vibrant pops of blues, greens, and pinks.

Since families traveled from around the country for this destination wedding, it was important to Ginny and Jaime that the evening feel like one big dinner party for their nearest and dearest. We paired textured light linens with wooden vineyard chairs to evoke both the modern and rustic feels.

The tables were decorated with a mixture of soft, open blooms and potted cacti and each setting included foxy patterned china and textured glassware. These touches, along with strung bistro lights, created an elevated, comfortable affair.

Check out a memorable cake cutting (think: feather military sword meets cake cutting utensil) and more in the full gallery!

You Won’t Believe This Chic Private Home Wedding Was Planned in Just 3 Weeks!

There is so much heart in this sweet, intimate wedding planned in just 3 weeks by the couple, their loving family and friends who all chipped in, and Maggie Francisco who led the way! The gorgeous couple (no seriously they could be models they’re so beautiful) decided to tie the knot at the bride’s parents’ newly finished home decorated with minimalist greenery and neutral colors. The bride’s son and daughter looked beyond adorable as their ring bearer and flower girl (heart melting!!) Head on over to the full gallery to see all the natural beauty of this day captured by Jennefer Wilson!

From Meggie Franciso Events… When a woman with four sisters meets a man with four brothers, it’s easy to suspect that fate might be at play. That’s exactly what happened when Meghan McFarland and Jacob Nelan were finally introduced by Meghan’s father. It wasn’t long before the couple knew they were meant to be, and after Jacob asked for Meghan’s hand in marriage, they had no hesitation in planning the wedding!

Meghan’s parents were in the process of building a beautiful new home, and the couple envisioned a small, intimate ceremony there – in three weeks. In a pinch for time, the bride made a miraculous find with a knockout off-the-rack Monique Lhullier gown at Dallas bridal salon Warren Barron. She also contacted family friend Allison Lockett of Equally Yolked Events right away for help with the catering. Several talented family members stepped in to handle floral, cake, and officiating. During in-depth consultations with the couple’s beloved photographer, Jennefer Wilson, Meghan and Jacob began to realize that even with such a strong team on board, they needed more help. Their small wedding vision had ballooned into a much larger affair with over 100 guests! Jennefer suggested they bring in destination wedding planner Meggie Francisco to work her magic on the event.

With fresh leadership on board, the concept came together effortlessly. A seating chart quickly brought much-needed organization to the event, and Francisco provided expert guidance to create a smooth flow throughout the home. As guests arrived, they enjoyed a refreshing spa water station and gathered in the backyard for the private ceremony. During the processional, the couple’s siblings walked around the sparkling pool to join up and take a seat beside the covered gazebo. The bride took her time, stepping with her dad down a beautiful oak wood staircase. As “I Get to Love You” by Ruelle came to a crescendo, a set of floor-to-ceiling glass windows opened for her grand entrance.

After the couple celebrated their vows with their first kiss, guests socialized in the beautiful front courtyard of the home. They enjoyed light bites from a charcuterie display and mingled over fresh sparkling mock-tails garnished with rosemary and thyme. Meanwhile, the couple escaped for a private photo session in a romantic nook of the neighborhood. They wandered through any idyllic field of tall grasses surrounded by cypress trees; the scene could have been plucked right out of Tuscany!

When it came time for dinner, guests gathered together at three long tables set with pure white linens, elegant white taper candles, and modern place cards. Delicate greenery hung from the chandeliers above the tables and wandered down the centers of the tables. Equally Yolked served up a delectable buffet of the couple’s favorite Greek food, and the meal ended sweetly with decadent cake baked personally by family member Allison Fox. After dinner, everyone went outside for a dance party beside -and inside! – the glowing pool. The new Mr. And Mrs. Nelan were sent off by their closest loved ones under a canopy of sparklers.

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Social Media Etiquette Guide: Honeymoon Edition! Here’s What You Should and Shouldn’t Share

You’re probably very excited to embark on your honeymoon and also eager to share the photos with friends and family on social media. You usually only have one honeymoon, so why not make these photos the best you’ve ever taken! Wondering how and what to share from your trip? Read below for tips in the honeymoon edition of our social media guide!

Safety on Social Media

Ok, this totally isn’t a tip you might have expected. Always be mindful that when you’re posting on social media from a vacation, everyone seeing your posts knows you’re not home. Unfortunately, some people will take that opportunity to break into your home while you’re gone.

You could wait until you return home to share honeymoon photos or post during your honeymoon and ensure you have enough home security just in case. And I don’t mean to say this to scare you, but rather encourage you to simply be aware of safety in our modern world!

Do You Actually Need a Fancy Camera?

Nope! There’s a huge misconception that nicer cameras always take better photos. That’s totally false as technology continues to improve and even the most basic phones do a great job with photos. I’ve taken some bad photos on very expensive gear and gorgeous photos from my iPhone. It’s all about how you use it rather than what you’re using.

That said, I totally recommend buying, borrowing, or renting something like a GoPro if you want underwater photos. I wouldn’t risk my iPhone with water even though Apple says I could!

What to Photograph

Although you might be super excited to share very specific kinds of photos on social media (i.e. selfies or photos only of the two of you), don’t forget to document all aspects of your honeymoon for your own memories. Take images of wildlife, nature, your hotel room, landscapes, food, and anything else that stands out to you.

Editing Your Images

When I post an iPhone image to Instagram, I make very few edits. Keeping my images clean and timeless is important to me, so I always skip filters. I normally only brighten my image, adjust its contrast, and make sure it’s straightened. This gives the image just a little pop without going overboard.

On the note of editing your own appearance, less or none is usually more. Slight and subtle skin smoothing is usually a nice enhancement that doesn’t look too “photoshopped.” You’re beautiful the way you are and that’s how everyone sees you, so try not to be tempted into crazy slimming, airbrushing, or anything else that unrealistically distorts your already gorgeous look!

Pacing Your Social Sharing

Frequent daily Instagram feed posts might be too much for your followers to absorb. I recommend posting to your feed with at least a few hours between posts. Additionally, you can always make use of Instagram’s carousel feature to share multiple images in one post.

For stories, I think you can easily post more often and share tons of behind the scenes images and videos that don’t need to be as “polished” as your permanent feed posts.

Do ensure that although you’re capturing tons of beautiful memories, you’re also living in the moment. When you see a beautiful landmark, soak it up with your actual eyes and not just a screen. While traveling, I’ve seen many people make their spouse take 50+ photos of them in different poses and that’s all they did for their entire visit to that site. Don’t forget to actually enjoy your honeymoon’s location and offerings!

Hiring a Honeymoon Photographer

If you adore the idea of having professional images captured of the two of you, hire a honeymoon photographer! If you have the budget, fly your wedding photographer or someone else you admire to your honeymoon destination for a half day shoot. My husband and I had our portraits taken in Paris and loved how they turned out!

You can also find someone local to your destination, though do be aware that resort-provided photographers in rural areas can be risky. Their portfolio might be comprised of multiple photographers’ work and it might not be the aesthetic you want. I recommend searching local hashtags on Instagram a few months before your trip to find a photographer whose style you love!

Cavin Elizabeth is a wedding film photographer based in San Diego, California. Her wedding work has taken her all over the United States and abroad. In addition to being a photographer, Cavin is an educator and an avid blogger of wedding planning tips for brides and grooms. She authored the book A Bride’s Guide to a Picture Perfect Wedding, which teaches couples how to make wedding plans that are best for photography.

Holiday Greenery 101: Where to add Christmas Garland in your Home

If You’re Having A Multi-Cultural Wedding, Tirtha Uluwatu in Bali May Be The Venue For You

When it comes to a multi-cultural affair, Tirtha Uluwatu in Bali has got you covered! From a versatile mix of diverse celebrations, the husband and wife team pride themselves on creating any style of multi-cultural wedding. With breathtaking views, the architectural masterpiece of a venue sits on 1.5 acres of land surrounded by clifftops in Southern Bali. Steps away sits The Stone House, a picturesque setting for cocktail hour or rehearsal dinner!

Just recently, Tirtha added two new locations to their growing portfolio; The Glass House, a private retreat and the Dining Pavilion within Tirtha Uluwatu, giving couples even more luxurious options to consider for their Bali wedding! If that wasn’t enough, the team at Tirtha can provide full planning services from floral design to hair and makeup styling! Read below on how they craft the perfect multi-cultural wedding day, and everything included!

Love has no boundaries and so when a cross-cultural couple from different parts of the world decide to embark on a journey of shared destiny, they deserve a magical wedding day that represents them both.

At Tirtha, we understand the importance of honoring traditions, religious values, national pride, and ethnic heritage. Therefore, we offer a versatile collection of multi-cultural celebrations and distinctive venues to anticipate the needs of bridal couples from diverse backgrounds in addition to our usual Christian and Commitment (non-religious) ceremonies.

From ceremonies and ritual blessings to stylish receptions and vibrant after-parties, we meticulously craft events featuring a fusion of elements and customs from both sides of the aisle. Our service involves detailed research so that we get every last detail including décor, food, and choice of music just right.

Mixed couple Christian from the Philippines and Kat who has Indian heritage recently invited family and friends to be part of their love story with a Bollywood themed welcome dinner. Hosted at The Stone House, it was a superb evening with all the energy of a colorful Indian festival. Similarly, Fisca and Ming chose to have a traditional Javanese Akad ceremony at The Glass Stage. This also involved the age-old Javanese custom Sungkeman with both the bride and groom kneeling before their parents as an expression of gratitude for nurturing them from birth to adulthood.

A symbolic Buddhist Blessing at Tirtha Uluwatu Chapel was how Melia and Suwandi chose to seal their union in accordance to their faith. The couple bowed down before a golden statue of the Buddha where they promised to water the seeds of love and support each other on the path to enlightenment.

The grandeur of a time-honored Indian wedding was on full display when Keya and Aditya sealed their love at Tirtha Uluwatu. A small gathering of traditionally costumed family members participated in a ceremonial procession to escort the bride to her groom. Several symbolic rites, including a Holy Fire Ritual, were performed throughout the course of the afternoon.

Meanwhile, America and Iranian couple Jesse and Mahsa enjoyed the splendor of a Sofreh Aghd ceremony at The Stone House. This Persian wedding custom included a lavish wedding spread set out on a decorated table. It featured an array of edible items believed to tie the newlyweds together and bring them love, happiness, health, and good fortune.

Sho and Vanda also recently exchanged vows with a unique Japanese and Javanese ceremony. It was conducted in the elegant ambiance of the Plumeria Room of the Glass House decorated with Japanese touch where hundreds of white origami cranes were suspended from the ceiling. The groom wore a Hakama with respect to his Japanese background and the bride looked radiant in a lace Javanese attire and matching veil.

Supported by a team of professional event organizers, designers, florists, and culinary experts, any style of a multi-cultural wedding celebration is more than expected at Tirtha.

Christmas Decor Trend Report: Citrus!

Do you remember getting an orange in your stocking at Christmas as a kid? It was almost always followed with a story about appreciating the humble luxuries, and during the Great Depression, our great grandparents looked at the gift of an orange as if it was actual gold!

Citrus around Christmas has been a longstanding tradition, but lately it’s been coming in STRONG as not just a gift but also as a decorative element! This trend has many benefits. The colors stand strong on their own if you’re opting for a brighter festive color palette, but they also complement traditional green and red as well. Incorporating citrus in your standard decoration adds some earthy dimension to your garland, much like ornaments do, but in a lot more organic way. And, most importantly, it smells FABULOUS.

We gathered up a round up of some of our favorite uses of citrus in Christmas decor!

Citrus in Wreaths

The delicate wreaths on the back of rattan barstools are SLAYING it. It’s bright, festive and just plain gorgeous. Top it all off with the elegant blue bow and what you have right here is what we like to call a “scroll stopper.”

photo by Christina Dandar from The Potted Boxwood
styled by Heather Chadduck Hillegas and Buffy Harget Miller, photo by Laurey Glenn
photo from Better Homes and Gardens

Citrus in Garland

As it turns out, citrus garland and our favorite color (blush, duh) go hand in hand. Citrus decorations thrive in this color palette and we are here for it. You can also opt to include just one fruit, like the lemon garland, and make a BOLD statement.

photo from Country Living
photo from Magnolia
photo by Hector Manuel Sanchez, styling by Lilt Floral Design

Dried Citrus Accents

Now here’s where Christmas Citrus REALLY packs a punch — dried. When you dry your citrus for decor it has a two-step effect. It’s beautiful to look at and positively delicious to smell. Take the afternoon and make drying your citrus a new family tradition! The results are well worth the effort.

Whether you incorporate citrus decorations in your own home or add a sweet tangerine in the foot of your stocking, take a minute to appreciate what the tradition means and how fortunate we are for getting to partake in such a prized luxury! Great-grandma would be real proud.

For more holiday decor inspiration check out:

SMP Christmas Tree Roundup — Our 10 Favorite Christmas Trees

Decorating For Your First Holiday in Your Own Home — Three Christmas Decorating Basics

When a Wedding Planner with a Love of Color Ties the Knot in Lowcountry – Magic Happens!

Get ready, folks… ’cause this is a good one. First of all, this might be one of our favorite “how they met” stories of all time. She was the wedding planner, he was a guest at the wedding, he asked the bride for her number… and the rest is history. I mean is that not a real life rom-com or what!? Folie A Deux brought the bride’s colorful vision to life, with bright florals from Gray Harper adorning every corner. Lucky for us, The Happy Bloom was there to capture every can’t miss moment – including the sweetest surprise bridesmaid ever! See the full gallery for more!

From The Happy Bloom… What happens when a wedding planner with a love of color plans her own destination wedding in the lowcountry state of South Carolina? Magic! Joanna, owner of Square Mile Events in New Jersey, set her eyes on the state of South Carolina for her big day.

With a love for details and passion for family, she began to design the perfect destination weekend for her closes friends and family. At first glance – we saw Joanna joined by her 7 bridesmaids starting hair and makeup early in the AM. But upon closer inspection, we discovered that their pup (French Bulldog, Ellie) donned her own honorary bridesmaid attire during the getting ready process of the day. Guests were treated to Southern cuisine, an incredible view of the ocean and tequila shots that acted both as a refreshing cocktail hour started AND an escort card to help a guest find their seat.

From Bride, Joanna… It is only fitting that Eric and I met at a wedding where I happened to be the bride’s wedding planner. He asked the bride for my number after her big day and we have been together ever since. We knew we wanted to host a destination wedding to give our guests an opportunity to unwind and relax over the course of a weekend. Joanna’s family has had a vacation home in Hilton Head for over ten years and after the first site visit to Sea Pines Resort we both knew the venue was perfect for our big day. The kindest compliment we received about our wedding was that we made a large wedding with 200 guests feel intimate and personal.

Joanna included a handful of wedding details as a nod to her Scandinavian heritage including leading guests in a traditional Swedish toast and escort card margarita straws with “Skål!” printed on the flags. Our florist attached Joanna’s grandfather’s medal from when he was knighted in Finland in 1939 to her bouquet to keep a piece of him with her for the day. We included our beloved French Bulldog Ellie in our ceremony processional as well as her silhouette in various decor elements including our custom crest and French Bulldog topiaries framing our tent. Our close friend served as our officiant and we recited personal vows under the iconic Liberty Oak tree at Harbour Town. We loved our bright blooms and our florist donated all of our flowers to Savannah Hospice the day after our wedding so others could enjoy them as we had the night before.

This Wedding Is So Full Of Charleston Charm That It Will Make You An Instant Southern Belle

Attention all Southern brides: this is the wedding you need to drop everything and see. Southerners are known for their hospitality and style, and this wedding shot by Aaron and Jillian Photography pulls out all the stops. From a greenery adorned bed swing perfect for taking in waterfront views to a bloom-forward reception space straight out of a fairytale, Amanda and Matt’s wedding will have you booking a plane ticket down south ASAP! See all of the swoon-worthy wedding superbly planned by Pure Luxe Bride in the full gallery.

From Pure Luxe Bride… The focal point of the ceremony was a gorgeous oak tree, spilling with lush florals and greenery with the beautiful Ashley River as their backdrop. To take in the waterfront views, guests could sit on the bed swing adorned with greenery, fluffy pillows, and a beaded chandelier hanging overhead.

Amanda and Matt’s gorgeous Lowndes Grove wedding was packed full of decor inspiration and flowers galore! Their design showcased a neutral palette of whites, blush, and mauve with soft wooden accents and dusty rose velvet linens.

For the reception, we opted for bloom forward, garden-style arrangements with greenery accents and neutral decor pieces. Handtorn calligraphed menus, pink show plates, and airy runners brought texture and movement to the tablescape settings.

There was a large statement floral piece with lounge seating near the bar for guests to break away from dancing as the perfect place to rest their feet after partying the night away. From beginning to end every detail came together to create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.

These Ultra Romantic Vow Renewal Ideas Will Steal Your Heart

Looking for a vow renewal bursting with romance? Look no further than this magical California garden event, a vision in the making for the past 10 years since the couple first said, “I Do.” The day is filled with unique and heartfelt touches you won’t want to miss, from the ceremony backdrop printed with a favorite love quote to the natural and airy florals by April Baytan Designs. The love and happiness practically bursts out of every picture beautifully captured by Honey Gem Creative. See it all unfold in the full gallery.

From the bride… We wanted a venue that could provide beautiful lush gardens with minimal distractions. Park Winters was the first and only venue we visited because it had everything we were looking for.

Our ceremony backdrop was a beautiful hand-drawn calligraphy quote by our sweet friend Shelby Libretch. “I’d chose you in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds,” was framed with dreamy blooms and it quickly became one of my favorite pieces.

My husband is from Brooklyn, NY and I grew up in California. We knew that we wanted to incorporate a little bit of our past, and when I found the Ink Press & Co. city skyline of Brooklyn, our escort display began to take shape. Shimmer and Stain and I worked very closely to create what I had envisioned, something I hadn’t yet seen done in the industry.

The details from the tablescape to the dining chairs were intentional, I wanted to give my guests an elevated experience. Florals were one of the most important aspects of the design, April Baytan Designs has this unique style of putting together delicate blooms with beautiful lush texture and greenery, she created that lush garden atmosphere we were looking for.

My favorite part of our wedding day was being able to include our two amazing children Jenna (10) and Kyle (7). Seeing my daughter smile during our vows and my son dance the night away, I knew in my heart that this was how our life was meant to unfold.

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SMP Christmas Tree Roundup — Our 10 Favorite Christmas Trees

One of our ABSOLUTE favorite elements of the holiday season is decorating the Christmas trees. Think about it – love, attention, and design happens *specifically* to celebrate a month-long holiday celebration and people go all out for it. Like ALL out for it. We’re talking 10 feet of decor commitment in some cases. So in celebration of all of that design effort, we’re rounding up a few of our favorites we’ve come across this season, and we hope it inspires to go all out on your own Christmas tree this year.

by: Jackie Hempel with Finding Lovely

1. Three Tree Setting

Classic and timeless, this is a good tall and lean shape with a metallic color scheme. But what takes this setting over the top is the inclusion of ACCENT TREES. Yes, two beautifully adorned trees flank the sides of the center tree giving it a grand presence. And any time you put a tree in front of a window like this one it not only makes your setting beautiful, but it adds to your outdoor Christmas decor as well. Win win.

2. Lucious Velvet

This stunner is making a good case for color coordinating your decorating efforts — especially when velvet is involved! The deep colors paired with shiny silver details make this tree truly fabulous.

3. Sweet, Simple and Nostalgic

You know what we love about this tree? We can actually SEE the green branches. Instead of ribbon, she opted for beaded garland and we are here for it. And don’t get us started on the dogs + Christmas tree combo. #slay

4. Glam Neutral

Do you love Christmas but are scared to commit to bold reds and greens? Well, this tree is here to tell you that NEUTRALS ARE FESTIVE TOO. There is no lack of Christmas spirit here, and this lush, glamours tree is seriously making us consider opting for a gold palette this year.

5. Tall, Sleek, and Designer chic

This tree is here to say loud and clear that a dark, moody color palette is not only elegant and chic, but just plain SHARP. The thing that this tree does SO well is balance with its surroundings. The colors are festive but align well with the design of the home and the overall effect is so easy on the eyes. This is also another “tall and skinny” and we are really about this size because it makes a grand statement without taking away valuable square footage.

6. Sweet Nursery Pink

Do you put a tree in your kid’s room? Do you want to now? This delicate pink tree is making a strong case for adding a little festive holiday decor to all of the spaces in your home. Your kids might not *appreciate* it as much as you do, but this is also a time where you can go extremely whimsical or themey with your decor and totally get away with it. Are you seeing that tree topper? Gold.

7. Frame it Up!

This tree is gorgeous on its own, but when you frame it with dramatic garland — it STEALS the show. The tree itself is pretty simple — ornament dominant, lights and a subtle blue color palette — but when framed by this garland it is a festive showstopper.

8. Festive Moody Blues

Navy blue never looked so festive! This tree is cool, chic, and moody. Pair it with the gorgeous trim work right behind it, we’re in love. Going with a tree color palette like this takes some serious commitment, but that’s why we are always in support of two trees in the home. One for design and the other for all the memory ornaments.

9. Flocked Winter Wonderland

This all-white ensemble is DREAMY. The flocked tree, white beads, crips “snow” ornaments and (let’s not forget) that luscious tree skirt all come together to create what Micheal Buble could only describe as a ~Winter Wonderland.~

10. Pretty in Pastels

And, finally, PASTELS! This color palette is all things whimsical, delicate and dainty and we love it. The ornaments are fantastical, the sweet ribbon tied up and dangling down are almost more than we can handle.

Happy decorating, friends! Be sure to tag #mysmphome to show off all of your decorating efforts this season!

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A Classic Wedding With Touches of Glam Including Luxurious Velvet Linens!

The modern London Hotel in West Hollywood is the picture-perfect venue in Los Angeles mixing modern vibes and the most beautiful views of the city! For this bride and groom, it was the perfect location for their rooftop wedding with touches of glamour including luxurious velvet linens by La Tavola and a stunning head table full of florals by Lovestruck Blooms. With special touches like rice cake escort cards, a note to their Korean heritage, Master Plans Events & Design had no shortage in details to plan! Take a look below and see all of the glam and gorgeous reception decor that Ether & Smith photographed!

From Ether & Smith…The couple’s wedding day was set among Hollywood’s lush rolling hills and palm trees. They exchanged vows in a beautiful church and celebrated the start of their marriage at the gorgeous London West Hollywood. The venue had a great mix of classic and glam and their reception took it up a notch with a dusty purple color palette and textures of velvet.

A stand-out piece was the long farm table with candles and florals from end to end for the couple and their wedding party. Guests enjoyed dinner and dancing with the most beautiful sunset and seamless views of Hollywood.

From Master Plans Events & Design…Margaret and James’ wedding day exuded romantic and soft delicate details. Being that the London Hotel is a very modern venue, a lot of the colors and textures brought to the space had to counter that to ensure it presented the vision that the couple wanted. Going from sunset to night, all the soft candlelight glows made for even more of an intimate ambiance.

The couple wanted to represent their Korean heritage. By adding personalized rice cakes that doubled escort cards it also served as a favor for the guests. At the end of the evening, to ensure guests went home with a fully satisfying meal, Chick-fil-a was catered to the rooftop alongside sweet bites.