It’s not surprising that summer and fall are almost tied when it comes to favorite season, making this time of year quite bittersweet for most of us—especially the party-throwers who enjoy a comfy al fresco soiree. I’m betting most of you fall into that category if you’ve come this far. If so, you’ve come to the right place because Nastia Liukin and Back Bay Bride are giving us the recipe for THE cutest end-of-summer shindig, complete with loads of lobsters. Does it get anymore end-of-summery than that? Ruth Eileen snapped up all of the goodness for your feasting pleasure, right here in the full gallery.

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From Ruth Eileen… American sweetheart and new New England resident Nastia Liukin and her fiancé Matt Lombardi hosted the perfect backyard dinner party to celebrate the season and make use of their brand new patio! Designed by Kelsey of Back Bay Bride, the gathering was created to be the ultimate al fresco dining experience. Bright and colorful tones of green and blue made for a vibrant and summery tablescape perfect for a seasonal meal. Navy and white striped linens provided a hint of classic coastal vibes to compliment the seafood menu. Pops of yellow in the floral arrangements and a lemon motif on the paper goods by POPPYjack Shop were a fresh and fun accent. Beverages included a refreshing Prosecco and Limoncello cocktail, a nod to the couple’s upcoming trip to Positano! For dinner, the group dined on lobster, mussels and corn on the cob to celebrate this Texas gal’s first New England summer!

Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Event Design: Kelsey Kneeland | Paper Goods, Drink Stirrers, Menus: Poppyjack Shop | Patio Furniture: Joss & Main | Table Runner: Williams Sonoma | Table Top Decor: Crate & Barrel

The vision for this inspiration shoot? A thoughtfully planned proposal set on Figueroa Mountain. It begins with a handwritten letter plus a dreamy custom dress and ends with a picnic celebration and a champagne toast. Of course, it takes an incredible stylist like Kelly Oshiro to pull off this kind of pretty and we’re thanking our lucky stars Koman Photography captured every bit. Just forward this link to your significant other and consider it a gentle *hint hint* for your dream proposal brought to life.

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From Kelly Oshiro… Who doesn’t love a good proposal story? For this inspiration shoot. I imagined an elaborate and personalized proposal on the top of Figueroa Mountain in Santa Ynez. First, the bride-to-be finds a gorgeous custom dress by Musat enclosed with a beautiful calligraphed love letter by Susan Silverberg. The letter directs her to meet him at “their spot” at the top of Figueroa Mountain and to wear the dress. They meet under their favorite oak tree, and it’s here he drops to one knee and pops the question with a stunning ring from 33 Jewels. Then, they enjoy an intimate picnic with lavender lemonade, a cheese plate, and of course champagne!

Photography: Koman Photography | Dress: Musat Bridal | Jewelry: 33 Jewels | Hair + Makeup: Chateau Belle | Male Wardrobe : The Black Tux | Paper: Susan Silverberg | Photo Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Props + Bracelet: Porch | Stylist + Production : Kelly Oshiro

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Choosing a hairstyle without your dress is nearly impossible. Maybe you’ve always envisioned an updo for your Big Day, but your dress of choice might pair even more beautifully with beachy waves. So, we’ve put together five stunner combos that complement each other to a T, from an undone bun and button-back to swoon-worthy side swept and long sleeves.

Laced Button-Back

If ever there were a time to do an updo, it’s with a gorgeous dress back. Let those buttons be seen with a low, undone bun.

Long-sleeved Loveliness

Lengthy sleeves pair beautifully with a lengthy curls. Sweep your hair to one side to show off your dress’ shoulder detailing.

Sweet + Strappy

With a simple strap dress, try going a bit more dramatic with your hairstyle. This side braid adorned with a shiny floral headband brings this two-piece dress to life.

Pretty in Pants

Sure, this one’s not a dress, but it’s just as stunning! For a pantsuit bride, try a clean bun or chignon for a crisp, clean look.

Off-the-Shoulder

Boho beach waves and off-the-shoulders were just meant to be. There’s nothing quite as romantic as soft curls gracing a bride’s bare shoulders.

We’ve unofficially deemed today a celebration of NYC. Beginning with this morning’s real wedding set in Central Park South and ending with an inspiration shoot at the Four Seasons downtown, we’re deep-diving this modern take on a hotel affair all designed by Classic Events NYC. Think clean lines, garden blooms, and moments of quiet romance amongst the bustling city captured by the incomparable Judy Pak. Get your city wedding fix with even more this way in the gallery.

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From Classic Events NYC… When the venerable Four Seasons Hotel opened its new downtown location, we just knew it was a perfect match for our classic and timeless style. Our vision for this shoot was to complement the venue, featuring a modern garden-inspired table setting.

We called in expert floral designer, Belle Fleur NY, to create a floral-scape of dreamy whites and crisp fresh greens with soft delicate accents of pale periwinkle that softened the look of the contemporary ballroom and celebrated the beautiful spring season. The table design incorporated formal footed crystal vessels with potted Myrtle topiaries and faceted tumblers with a bevy of mixed florals including fluttering Sweetpea, Muscari, Patience Garden Roses, button Ranunculus, white Lilac, Parrot Tulips, and Hellebores.

Although the look felt very much as if we cut from the most exquisite European garden, we stayed true to a more refined and controlled silhouette to embrace the juxtaposition of a city-country style.

Photography: Judy Pak Studio | Event Design: Classic Events NYC | Floral Design: Belle Fleur | Wedding Dress: Marchesa | Cake: Ron Ben-Israel Cakes | Invitations: Fourteen-Forty | Reception Venue: Four Seasons New York Downtown | Bride's Shoes: Valentino | Hair + Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Groom's Attire: Sene | Bridal Salon : Gabriella New York Bridal Salon

Your wedding day is an indescribably exciting day, but it is often a marathon, not a sprint, especially for the ladies. It’s important that the celebrations begin with good food and a few libations to both get some nourishment in the system and kick off the party!

Sean Cook Wedding Photography

As the bride, the last thing you want to do is burden yourself with another time-consuming task on the big day, but it is understandable to want everything about your morning to feel special, including breakfast. Send this to your planner or MOH for a little wedding morning magic!

Build Your Own Bagel Buffet
Whether it’s everything or cinnamon swirl, sesame seed or asiago cheese, it is hard to find a lady who doesn’t love a good bagel. The famous carb can also be the centerpiece for an amazing spread on your wedding morning. Not only can you cater a variety of bagels, there are endless spreads and toppings to be offered so that your bridal party can build their own personalized breakfast! Start with the carbs, then add pairings until your heart is content- plain and flavored cream cheeses, jams, peanut butter, Nutella, sliced berries and even sprinkles! No topping left behind makes for an epic bagel buffet that will start your big day off right.

Caroline Tran Photography

Yummy Yogurt Parfait Station
Food stations have become the go-to for unique, laid back wedding receptions, but are also the perfect solution for feeding you and your squad while you’re getting all gussied up on the big day. While yogurt doesn’t have much appeal on it’s own, it’s a shining brunch star when paired with bowls of granolas, berries and honey for a make your own yogurt parfait station. The prep and set up are super simple- picking up a few flavors or yogurt, toppings and cute bowls and spoons is a cinch- but the end result is fancy, delicious and easy to enjoy in between primping.

Fanciful Fruit Skewers
Fruit is a common component of breakfast, especially on wedding morning while getting dolled up with all the girls. Yet, it often just gets tossed together in a bowl or placed on a platter. Rather than serve up your fruit in salad form, choose skewers or kebobs- fruit on a stick is easy to pick up and enjoy while having your hair done or socializing with the bride tribe. Plus, the cute combinations are endless! Various colorful fruits can be stacked on one stick or you can pair berries, apples and grapes with cheeses for a more substantial snack in kebob form. You can even create an especially sweet treat by alternating strawberries and sugared donut holes! Cut into heart shapes or combined with other favorite foods, skewers definitely give your breakfast fruit a fancier feel.

Gemini Photography Ontario

Delightfully Whimsical Donuts
Ladies, donuts have always been delicious, but over the last couple years they have gotten seriously gourmet with Instagram-worthy decorations and fabulous flavor combinations. As such, a dozen donuts has become the ticket to easily turning your wedding morning hair and makeup session into a party. With creative flavors from s’mores to roasted peach and basil and whimsical decorations ranging from edible glitter and multi-colored marbled frosting to donuts made to look like unicorns, our favorite childhood pastry is ready for the party.

Lorely

Bubbles
Sure, snacks are super important the morning of the big day, but sips are an exciting part of the wedding morning too- it is the start of a much-anticipated celebration after all! Mimosas and champagne are often the staple, but why not spruce these traditional drinks up a bit? Making morning mimosas picture-worthy can be as simple as serving your orange juice out of a glass dispenser and placing your champs bottles in a container filled with edible flower ice cubes.

The main rule for wedding morning- keep it simple. Fancy and delicious don’t have to be complicated if you look at traditional staples in a new way. Here’s to starting your big day off right with all the festive and none of the hassle!

Style Me Pretty Contributor – Katie Patton is a merchant and freelance writer from Ohio, currently residing in Celebration, Florida with her fiancé. When she isn’t working you can find her sipping and snacking on a patio, traveling to see her friends and family, endlessly scrolling Instagram or Pinterest and, of course, planning her own upcoming wedding!

You put a lot of thought into your engagement photos: where to go, what to wear, who your photographer will be. And for most couples, this photo session is the first time you’re having a professional portrait done of you and your to-be. Engagement photos give you a chance to feel comfortable in front of the camera, to feel confident in your wedding photographer, and they give you beautiful pictures to treasure.

Here’s how to showcase them for years to come.

O’Malley Photographers

Create a holiday card
Post-wedding, you will probably opt for a wedding photo to display on your holiday card. But if your wedding falls after the holidays, or you want to mix it up, using your engagement photos here is a great way to showcase them to your family and friends. Plus, having a picture of the two of you up on their refrigerator is a surefire way to get them excited for your “I do’s.”

Make a coffee table book
There’s truly nothing like having a tangible photo album for you and your guests to flip through. You’re likely to create an album with wedding photos, so for your engagement photos, put them together in a smaller-sized book (you can even do it yourself on sites like Shutterfly). It will be a nice memento for future generations to look at.

Jose Villa Photography

Display them at your wedding
“There are lots of great way to showcase your engagement photos on the day of your wedding,” says Adam Gilbert, creative director for Blueberry Creative. “My personal favorite is to use the images to create a custom guestbook that your friends and family can flip through and write sweet messages to the two of you. I’m a big proponent of all-things-tangible, so to have an additional wedding album coupled with the loving words of your wedding guests is a win-win!”

Tamara Gruner Photography

Gift them to your parents & grandparents
While everyone is sure to love your engagement photos, it’s your parents and grandparents who will treasure them the most. Consider creating a photo album for them or printing out their favorite and framing it in a beautiful frame. You can also use these as gifts for the actual wedding day!

Use them as home decor
Your home is a great place to showcase your favorite photos. Frame a few around your house or get creative: “Other great options for highlighting your engagement photos include gallery wrap canvases and matted fine art prints to display in your home,” says Adam Gilbert.

Hello Blue Photo

Style Me Pretty Contributor – Jessica Tzikas is a freelance writer, editor, and content manager from South Florida, who recently moved back to the sunshine state after living in Philadelphia for the past few years. When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading by the beach, practicing yoga, and exploring nearby towns with her new husband.

This couple fell in love with Litchfield driving down the road leading to the plantation lined with oak trees, and while the house is admittedly gorgeous, it was that drive that made them choose Litchfield as their venue. When it ended up raining for their wedding day, planned by Gigi Noelle Events, they quickly came up with a graceful and creative solution to ensure they had portraits amidst those enchanting oaks –  a day after session with Magnolia Photography! Scroll on to see some of our faves from the wedding and the day after session below, then don’t forget to press play on the video by Light Cannon Films!

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From Light Cannon Films… You know you’ve found your soulmate when your wedding day doesn’t go exactly as planned, and it’s still a beautiful celebration of love filled with dancing, laughter, and the best of memories. These unexpected changes of course may have rattled some Brides, but Susan remained the picture of grace, radiance, and joy. What a day! And while their course will be ever-changing and not always easy, Susan and Charlie will always have each other, and it’s obvious that they’re all they need.

From the Bride… Charlie and I have known of each other since we high school. We always considered each other acquaintances, but not really close friends. We had actually never had a conversation between just the two of us until one night after we had been out with friends around four years ago and found ourselves hanging out on a back porch together, talking about everything under the sun. It was the same night that we shared our first kiss, and we both instantly knew that we were definitely more than just acquaintances.

The things I love and remember most about our wedding day are the family heirlooms I was able to incorporate into our wedding. I wore my mom’s veil from her wedding in 1973 for my something old, and I wore a snowflake burst antique ring that my grandmother was given by my grandfather as my something borrowed. I also had a piece of my other grandfather’s blue shirt sewn into my dress so that a piece of him could be with me the whole day as my something blue. Charlie’s favorite part of our wedding day was the first look. We had texted and spoken on the phone that morning, so we were both really anxious to finally see each other before the ceremony. Another of his favorite moments was when he dipped me a little too low, and I fell to the ground in front of our entire wedding party and a few guests during pictures. That moment is definitely one we’ll be telling stories about for years.

Charlie and I chose Litchfield Plantation as our venue because of its southern, low-country charm. We absolutely loved the grounds, and the house was beautiful on the inside and out. We knew before we had even seen the house that it was the venue for us as we were driving down the avenue of oak trees in awe.

Photography: Magnolia Photography Nc Sc Destination | Cinematography: Light Cannon Films | Event Planning: Gigi Noelle Events | Floral Design: J. Cody Design | Cake: Incredible Edibles | Invitations: Reaves Engraving | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu | Catering: Creative Catering | Makeup: Beautiful Salon & Spa | Hair: Beautiful Salon & Spa | Lighting: MC Lighting And Sound | DJ: DJ Scott & Company | Harpist: Becky Nissen | Vintage Car: Carolina Limousine | Venue: Litchfield Plantation | Bridal Boutique: The Little White Dress | Live Painting: Anitta Martin | Rentals: Hotz Event Rentals

Imagine a day filled with the prettiest of flowers, the dreamiest of dresses and a love story to make Disney princesses jealous. Before you know it though, it’s gone in a flash with only the fresh memories remaining. But not to fret, for Hoo Films was on site to capture it all right then and there and not only did they film from start to finish, but they put together a same day film to enjoy at the end of the actual wedding day – so you can relive the goodness immediately. That’s one fairytale ending if we do say so ourselves!

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From Hoo Films… Tessa and Kevin enjoyed the dreamiest, intimate wedding at the gorgeous Malibu Rocky Oaks! Enjoy this Same Day Film we put together and shared with the family and friends at the end of the evening!

Photography: Love & You Studios | Cinematography: Hoo Films | Event Planning: The Elegant Ninja | Floral Design: Poppy Design Co. | Catering: Made By Meg | Entertainment: Vox DJs | Menus: Cecile's Paper Co. | Rentals: Premiere Party Rents

Sure, wedding planning is time-consuming, but don’t let all of those other all-too-important events fall to the wayside. Your bridal shower, bachelorette party and honeymoon are meant to be awesome, and that means throwing on your best heels and finding a space that will totally accommodate you and the ones you love. Get inspired (and find the perfect locale) below.

Finding the ultimate spot to host all of those “other” events may seem a little daunting, but The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center makes it sooo easy with oversized rooms that are totally luxurious AND undergoing a fab renovation that will be completed in 2018. Yep, your fave hotel in Crown Center will be even better, with plenty of space for hosting that bridal shower or bachelorette party. We’re obsessed with their convenient locale for any last-minute shopping and their easy access to airport travel. Not to mention their Bridal Suites are perfect for morning-of festivities, so you can relax with your besties before you walk down the aisle. (Champagne optional.)

When it comes to making it simple for you and your guests, The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center most definitely delivers. Host your entire wedding weekend at the hotel, or set aside room blocks for your off-site celebration. Trust us, you’ll love the beautiful rooms (we mentioned they were renovated, right?) and easy access to dining, shopping and nightlife. Oh, and don’t forget your honeymoon and check out the romantic suites with stunning views.

Contact The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center today to guarantee that every last part of your celebration is in place.

It’s always an extra special treat when the wedding planner becomes the Bride-to-be, and this engagement session photographed by Jacqui Cole is no different! Jennifer of Jennifer Fox Weddings spends her days making Brides’ dreams of French fetês come true, so when it came time to capture her own love story, she knew she wanted to highlight Paris’s iconic locations yet still choose spots meaningful to her and her love. Every single image is overflowing with romance in this can’t-miss gallery!

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From the Bride, Jennifer of Jennifer Fox Weddings… I am a wedding planner in Paris and the owner of Avec Weddings & Events, a wedding and design agency specializing in luxury celebrations in France. Usually, I’m helping couples plan their dream wedding in France. This time, however, I am on the other side of the planning process as the Bride-to-be! My fiancé, Sébastien, and I celebrated our recent engagement with a gorgeous engagement session with Jacqui Cole Photography. Since we live in Paris, we wanted to choose locations that are iconic but also meaningful to us. Strolling hand in hand around the romantic Jardin des Tuileries, dancing around the luxury shops in the Place Vendôme, and laughing in the company of the Musée du Louvre, Jacqui captured our love for the city and our carefree, gentle love for one another.

Our love story began in the summer of 2013 at a quaint Paris café. After a 4-hour dinner (with delicious French wine and a ton of laughs) we quickly learned that despite having grown up in different countries with different cultures, we share the same values, sense of humor, taste in wine, love of good food, and value of our family and friends. From that day, we have shared laughs, tears, jokes, and travels and have made countless memories together. This past April, as we were getting ready to leave to visit his family, Sébastien got down on one knee in our home and asked me to be his wife. We will be married next June in Burgundy, France.

Photography: Jacqui Cole Photography | Event Planning: Jennifer Fox Weddings | Photo Processing: Richard Photo Lab

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Can we all agree that greenhouses are the coolest wedding venues we’ve seen in a long time? One look through this gallery by Feather & Twine and I have no doubt you’ll be on board. The Greenhouse at Driftwood was the beautiful backdrop for this Texas wedding and it only gets more gorgeous with every glimpse. See it all in our gallery right this way!

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From the Bride… Growing up, I had always imagined my wedding day to be magical (probably because Disney was the main staple of my youth). So when it came time to plan the big day I wanted to honor that perspective. I wanted the day to feel timeless, romantic and whimsical. The overall feel I wanted for Andrew, our family and friends was to be a celebration of love and life! Having this in mind, when Andrew and I toured The Greenhouse at Driftwood, I knew it was the place. It’s lush, and unlike any place I had ever seen in the hill country. I drew most of my inspiration from the Greenhouse itself. My color palette reflected the antique pastels that much of the vegetation carried, and my florals (by Color Theory Collective) were unique and soft, like much of the wild flowers that scattered the grounds. My mom and sister helped me paint all of our signage weeks before the big day. A simple DIY project, that really made for extra bits of sweetness as we saw them on our wedding day. My “something borrowed, something blue, etc.” all came from my sweet groom. He had read about the tradition in a groom’s guide and asked to make those his project – which ended up being so meaningful and precious. The handkerchief = something new, blue sapphire heart-shaped earrings = something blue, the tin trinket box = something old, the porcelain brooch = his grandmother’s that she let us borrow, and the key = was “the key to his heart”.

My favorite moment of the day was locking eyes with Andrew. We went back and forth on the idea of a first look, and had opted to wait for the aisle. Which looking back I’m really glad we did. There was so much excitement and adrenaline running through me and a wave of calm washed over me when I saw him.

My favorite details were in our desserts. My first trip to his family’s home, he snuck me outside to carve our initials into their backyard tree. To remember that sweet moment I had Sweet Treats Bakery include iced cookies with the image. Also, by STB, and the talk of the party, was Andrew’s groom’s cake. It was a replica of his yeti ice-chest with a Red Fish and his guitar – probably his two favorite activities! (Andrew has grown up fishing his entire life – his bachelor trip was actually a weekend fishing trip down to their family’s favorite spot of off the Texas Coast). The guitar was spot on too! He was completely blown away!

The biggest piece of advice I’d like to give to future brides – which I didn’t find until months into planning – is when in doubt, keep it simple, and make the choices for you and your groom. There can be lots of opinions and expectations on how your day should be, but after all, the day is a celebration of you and your groom finding happiness and love. So fill your day with details and touches that you both will be filled with joy to see on your big day!

Photography: Ruét Photo | Videography: Photohouse Films | Event Planning: Modern Whimsy Events | Floral Design: Color Theory Collective | Wedding Dress: Serendipity Bridal | Cake: Sweet Treets Bakery | Ceremony Venue: The Greenhouse At Driftwood | Catering: Verdes Catering | Hair + Makeup: Lola Beauty | Tent Rental: Whim Hospitality | Photobooth: Vannagram & Co. | Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals

There’s no doubt that Atlanta’s wedding game is strong, especially if you’re looking to take your celebration a little north to the uptown district of Buckhead. But if you find yourself waffling on just where to say “I do” in this historic locale, no worries. We’re counting down four of our faves to help you out.

Photo Courtesy Of: The Westin Buckhead Atlanta 

THE WESTIN BUCKHEAD ATLANTA

Why we love it: With over 30,000 square feet of event space, The Westin Buckhead Atlanta always delivers when it comes to hosting magazine-worthy celebrations. And their talented weddings team, culinary expertise and proximity to all of that fab Buckhead shopping is key to any awesome wedding week or weekend. Plus, we absolutely adore those luxe accommodations. It’s just what you need after dancing the night away with your loved ones.

What you can’t miss: Their reception options. With over 20 venues woven throughout their property, you can celebrate your newlywed status in everything from a grand ballroom to a garden terrace. Urban vibe meets serene green space never looked so awesome.

Photography: Amy Arrington

ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN

Why we love it: You know we love a good garden ceremony, and if you’re looking to say “I do” surrounded by lush florals or just steps away from a picturesque pond, you’ve found your winner in the Atlanta Botanical Garden. We’re especially fond of the Alston Overlook with its Midtown skyline views and intimate setting for just 60 of your nearest and dearest. Now that’s romantic.

What you can’t miss: The Rose Garden. It features over 21 varieties of your fave flower and it’s amazing.

Photography: Justin DeMutiis 

THE SWAN HOUSE

Why we love it: Put simply, ceremonies at The Swan House are quintessential southern affairs. They’re grand, they’re classic and they’re all sorts of take your breath away dreamy. So are we obsessed? You betcha. And those gorgeous staircases are literally are everything.

What you can’t miss: The museum tours. Guests aren’t allowed to party inside the mansion, but you can offer them tours of all of the beauty before you say your “I do’s.” We absolutely love that.

Photography: Carla Gates

THE ESTATE

Why we love it: Centered in the heart of Buckhead, once you enter the grounds of The Estate, you’ll feel like you’ve literally into another time and place. That’s because these three acres smack-dab in the center of the city are surrounded by tall trees that cocoon you from all of the outside activities. And with outdoor ceremony options that include a beautiful fountain, you’ll be giving your Big Day that historic charm you wanted.

What you can’t miss: The charm and history. This sweet locale won The Buckhead Beautification Award for a reason.

If you’re ready to tie the knot in Buckhead, be sure to visit each of these amazing locales for more information. And don’t forget to contact The Westin Buckhead Atlanta for all of your reception and accommodation needs for an event that is fabulous from start to finish.

We’re all guilty—going weeks (or dare I say months) without washing your makeup brushes, forgetting to rotate the mattress, neglecting to wash the windows… these little tasks aren’t necessarily fun ones, but they are necessary. Take a peek below, which ones are you due for?

Rotate Mattress

How Often You Should: Rotate every few months. Beginning or end of each season is always a great reminder!

Wash Bed Sheets

How Often You Should: Every 7-10 days.

Wash Windows

How Often You Should: Every 2-3 months or seasonally.

Toss Kitchen Sponges

How Often You Should: Replace every couple of weeks and make sure to never let your sponges sit in dirty water!

Replace Water Filters

How Often You Should: First and foremost, go by what the manufacturer packaging states. Usually this is every 3-6 months!

Clean Oven

How Often You Should: Clean the interior monthly and wipe down the door weekly.

Wash or Dry Clean Seasonal Gear + Linens

How Often You Should: Frequently worn jackets should be dry cleaned or washed every season or more if you’re wearing the same outerwear daily. Items like seasonal blankets and throws or pillows should be dry cleaned every 6 months or less.

Refresh Towels

How Often You Should: Wash every 3-4 uses. Depending on how many sets you’re rotating, towels usually need replacing between 2-5 years for ultimate fluffiness.

Clean Makeup Brushes

How Often You Should: Ideally, daily! A spray cleaner and old towel are perfect for daily cleanings. Then, once a week, those babies deserve a good washing.

Replace Your Toothbrush

How Often You Should: The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3-4 months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed.

Replace Hair Brush

How Often You Should: A dirty hair brush could actually be the cause of one too many bad hair days. Build up like product residue, dust and even yeast are the culprit. Aim to wash every month, replace every 6-12 months or sooner if the bristles are bent or missing the rounded plastic capping.

Replace Razors

How Often You Should: This will vary depending on how often you shave, how thick your hair is and how much of your body that you shave! Think about it like this—every use creates more bacteria build up on your blades, which can lead to irritated skin or red itchy bumps. That kind of defeats the purpose of shaving for silky, smooth skin right? So, aim to replace every 1-2 weeks or at the first sign of dullness or rusting.

I think a little part of every bride longs to feel like a princess. Whether her style leans modern, boho, rustic or classic, there’s something about the Cinderella moment that makes all our hearts skip a beat and today we’re seeing how this bride pulled it off. Kristin married her love Kevin in a jaw-dropping Pronovias gown with hair and makeup magic by Face Time Beauty and her ‘maids outfitted in Jenny Yoo. The entire day, including invites by Laura Hooper, is a New York dream and we’ve got it all from the lens of Rebecca Yale.

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Kristin and Kevin were married in the most classic of NYC venues, at the historic Essex House Hotel, right on Central Park. The day began with both of them getting ready at the hotel with their friends and families before meeting at a bridge in Central Park for a romantic first look moment. As if it were straight out of any NYC rom-com musicians popped in under the bridge to serenade them and a group of tourists gathered on the other side of the bridge to watch their love story unfold. We walked around the Southern part of the park taking a few portraits before being joined by their wedding party for photos amidst the lush green trees of the park in June. Kristin’s bridesmaids sported mismatched Jenny Yoo dresses in both solid and patterned pink shades and were the perfect helpers with her gorgeous ball gown as we walked through the park. They each carried large lush bouquets created by Poppies and Posies. On the way back from portraits it began to drizzle and everyone huddled under the NY Athletic Club awning next door which made for a cute photo moment.

After portraits, everyone headed inside for some much-needed air conditioning on the humid summer day and we captured some family portraits in the beautiful ballroom, including some adorable moments with the bride and groom’s nieces and nephews who made some of the cutest flower girls I’ve ever seen! The couple said their I Do’s in the ballroom followed by cocktails next door before returning to the ballroom for an evening of dinner and dancing with their friends and families. The bride and groom have a very sweet dachshund named Georgia, who was included in their engagement session, and they decided to honor her on the wedding day by including her in their cake topper as a gold silhouette with them atop their cake.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Videography: Kiss The Bride Films | Floral Design: Poppies & Posies | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Invitations: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Rings: Tiffany & Co. | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Hair + Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Band: Hank Lane Music | Venue: JW Marriott Essex House | Bride's Purse: Furla | Flower Girl Dresses: David's Bridal

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Rebecca Yale Photography

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Can’t afford to take a multi-week international honeymoon or anniversary trip? You can still escape for a few days right here at home!

U.S. News & World Report released their 2017 rankings of the best cheap romantic getaways. From accommodations to attractions and dining, here’s where you can have a romantic long weekend on a budget.

Harwell Photography

Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is a perfect minimoon for east coast couples looking for a little R&R—and a lot of delicious southern food—after their big day.

Fidelio Photography

Portland, Maine
Indulge your preppy side in this quaint, scenic New England city. Lobster rolls for two? Yes, please!

Amy Leah

Sedona, Arizona
Sedona would be picture-perfect for a winter newlywed couple looking to escape the cold and snow!

Savan Photography

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Celebrate a special anniversary in a coastal cabin near this scenic west coast spot. Don’t forget to snap a selfie in front of Haystack Rock!

Anagram Photos

Asheville, North Carolina
An artsy mountain getaway, Asheville is the ideal romantic spot for the history-loving couple.

Style Me Pretty Contributor

I’ve been wedding blogging long enough to know that when really amazing vendors come together, really amazing weddings tend to follow. In this case study of pretty, we’re seeing that magic first-hand thanks to elevee events, Michael & Carina Photographers, Inkspot Crow Films, and a whole host of talented pros. They brought Molly and Dan’s beach nuptials to life including amazing floral moments like you wouldn’t believe. Head this way for even more and don’t miss a peek at the couple’s darling pup, Winne.

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Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Cinematography: Inkspot Crow Films | Event Planning + Design: elevee events | Floral Design: Fresh Designs Florist | Wedding Dress: Mira Zwillinger | Shoes: Badgley Mishka | Jewelry: BHLDN | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering : Fork and Flask | Hair + Makeup: Lauren Stefan | Band: Gazze | Groom's Attire: Enzo Custom | Venue: Brandywine Creek State Park | Tent : Dover Rental- Tents and Events | Desserts: Desserts By Rita | Dress Boutique : Mark Ingram Atelier | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Hair Pins: Davie & Chiyo | Paper Goods: Lucky Penny Paperie | Rentals: Party Rental LTD

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

Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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After months of planning, partying and perhaps a bit of stress, it’s time to sit back and get married! Thank the ladies (and possibly fellas) in your bridal party who kept you sane through it all with gifts that are anything but basic!

The best part? All the items featured here are sold by women (and many donate proceeds to women’s groups as well). Go ahead, shop away.

5 Bridesmaid Gifts That Support Other Women

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5 Bridesmaid Gifts That Support Other Women

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Style Me Pretty Contributor – Ximena N. Larkin is a writer and publicist. She lives in Chicago with her husband and dog. More at ximenabeltran.com.

Music is so important for this couple, who lovingly tracked down the jazz guitarist who played at the wedding of the Bride’s parents and selected songs that significant family members had used in their own nuptials. However, the most special choice of all was their first dance song,”This Must Be the Place” by Talking Heads, a representation of the couple’s light-hearted love story. The song became an unofficial theme for the day – you’ll catch the lyrics everywhere captured by onelove photography, including the welcome sign by Poppyjack Shop and prints tucked amongst the florals by The Bloom of Time.

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From the Bride… We had a short-but-sweet ceremony and chose a cocktail-style reception with unassigned seating because we wanted our friends and families to have ample opportunity to mix, mingle, and dance should anything strike their fancy! Music is also huge for us, so we hand-picked the majority of the songs for the evening and gave a mixed list to the DJ for them to play when they knew the time was right. The crystal chandeliers and after-dark candlelit mood was huge, too! In our minds, the best things in life are great friends and family, food and drinks, music, and perfect ambiance. I think we nailed all of these categories on our big day, and we are so pleased with how everything came together to tell our story and share a little bit of ourselves with our loved ones.

I designed every single detail by hand and even made a few things myself. I’m a huge crafty DIY-er, but I forced myself to outsource in an effort to avoid overwhelming myself with too many projects. I was determined to keep from going (completely) crazy. Our first dance was to “This Must Be the Place [Naive Melody]” by Talking Heads. I feel like the quirky, sweet vibe of that song is a great representation of our light-hearted love story, so I carried out the theme of the song by using the title phrase in our “welcome” sign. I also printed lyrics from the song and framed them as part of our cocktail table decor.

My dad had the idea of getting the same jazz guitarist who played at my parent’s wedding to play at ours. Somehow, he managed to locate this guy, who actually still plays events, and we were able to have him play during our cocktail hour. That was a pretty cool moment. I also had my first dance with my dad to “Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison. My dad’s family is from Tupelo, and that song has always had a soft place in our hearts. Come to find out, my aunt had her first dance with my grandpa to that same song! Another important music moment was the processional, as I walked down to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” – the same song as my mom did at her wedding 32 years ago. As you can see, music really is huge for us!

As an interior designer, I couldn’t have my wedding without a hand-picked lounge furniture setting and sweetheart table, and I am so pleased with the gorgeous rentals we got from Archive Rentals. The balloons were quite an ordeal, because try as I might, I couldn’t get our wedding party to conceptualize how large a 36″ balloon really is (i.e. most doorways are only 30″, guys0. We had all the Groomsmen at Party City at around noon that day, calling me to say they couldn’t fit the three balloons in the Groom’s M3. I had a bit of a bridezilla moment when I told them, “I’m sorry but I tried to explain this – I guess you’ll need to call an Uber XL for the balloons.” Thankfully the Best Man saved the day when he crossed their path in the parking lot, and he and his wife walked a mile back to the hotel carrying two of the giant balloons!

Brady’s mom passed away a few years ago, so we framed our parents’ wedding photos for our photo guestbook table to represent her presence. We also used my grandparents’ wedding cake topper in homage to my grandmother who passed away. I found out that day that both of my aunts had used that same cake topper on their wedding cakes, and my grandpa was super excited to see it make an appearance. I even used my grandmother’s cake plate and my mother’s crystal cake knife from her wedding. It was nice having pieces to represent those very important women there with us on that day! 

Everything was a highlight! It really was the most amazing day ever. We couldn’t sleep at all that night and were both on a total high for days afterward. We had the father of one of my bridesmaids officiate, which was a fun personal touch. Our private cake-cutting was also a fun moment for us to be our goofy, dorky selves without everyone watching us.

We only wished the night could have been longer and that we had spent more time together! We were both so busy running around visiting with all our friends and family, we hardly had any time to soak things up just the two of us. I am so glad we did a first look and completed our wedding party photos prior to the ceremony – that allowed for some couple’s portrait time post-ceremony where we got to have a bit more time together.

What I learned was that no matter what you do, it’s hard not to go crazy while planning your wedding – especially if you are a control-freak perfectionist doing everything on your own, like I did! But at the end of the day, it’s worth it to relinquish some control and let your amazing Bridesmaids and mother help out. After all, they are most likely women after your own heart.. There’s a reason why you love them so much!

Photography: onelove photography | Coordination: Pop The Champagne Events | Floral Design: The Bloom Of Time | Wedding Dress: Marisa Bridals | Cake: Jay's Catering | Stationery: Paperless Post | Stationery: Minted | Shoes: Steve Madden | Jewelry: ILioniti | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Badgley Mischka | Catering: Jay's Catering | Makeup: Brittany Paige | Hair: Amanda Masson | DJ: Dart Collective | Groom's Attire: Grooms Grotto | Groomsmen's Attire: Generation Tux | Officiant: Tom Onsrud | Groom's Accessories: The Tie Bar | Rentals: Archive Rentals | Signage: Poppyjack Shop | Veil + Accessories: Panache Bridal

We know that planning a wedding in a far-off dreamland may seem like a daunting task, but take it from these sweeties: it’s easier than it looks. All you need is a vision and a sweet spot in paradise like the Dreams Resorts & Spas. From Tulum to the Riviera Cancun, check out two celebrations that will most definitely have you thinking “destination” below.

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So how do you even begin to tackle a destination do? Take the lead from Dennis and Mallary and turn to a team of professionals like the ones at Dreams Resorts & Spas. Because a wedding with Dreams Resorts & Spas isn’t just a celebration of your nuptials… it’s an amazing vacay, too. And we’re all for their gourmet restaurants, luxe pools + spas and fab accommodations that both you and your guests will enjoy. Plus, their talented team of wedding experts will make sure your every moment is taken care of AND their Unlimited Luxury® experience will give you that 24-hour room + concierge service you need and the top-shelf liquor for those tasty libations you’ll be sipping on the beach.

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If you dream of saying “I do” with a side of non-stop pampering like Julie and Matt, contact a wedding coordinator at Dreams Resorts & Spas today to discuss their beautiful locales and breathtaking wedding venue options. Their excellent service and amenities will guarantee a fabulous celebration, all with the stress-free planning you want. Then be sure to check out more of these beautiful days here and here to get the inspiration flowing for your seaside celebration.

Photography: Elizabeth Medina Photographic Artisans | Photography: del Sol Photography

From friends you grew up with, to college besties, work wives and family members, bachelorette parties are perfect bonding opportunities.

However with such a big group, staying in a hotel isn’t always ideal, as it can be cost prohibitive to rent so many rooms. Plus, there’s less private communal space for group gatherings and activities. That’s why so many bachelorette parties these days are choosing to rent an amazing vacation home on sites like Airbnb or VRBO!

With your own house, you can decorate how you please, cook group meals, and have plenty of space to celebrate and with fun group activities! We’ve rounded up 10 perfect bachelorette party rentals in top destinations so you can have the best weekend with your girls ever!

10 Jaw-Dropping Bachelorette Party Vacation Home Rentals

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10 Jaw-Dropping Bachelorette Party Vacation Home Rentals

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Style Me Pretty Contributor – Julia Hurwitz is a freelance writer and Marketing Manager based in New York City. Her interests include travel, global craft, healthy baking, entertaining and exploring the outdoors.