This gem is about to throw all preconceived notions of Hawaiian weddings right out the window. Mixing the bride’s Sicilian roots with the beauty of an olive farm, this celebration is in a category all its own. We’ll call it tropical upcountry without a beach insight. Or gorgeous. That works too. Planned by Belle Destination Weddings & Events, with vibrant florals by Mandy Grace Designs and images by Dmitri & Sandra, get cozy with this pretty olive grove affair.

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From the Bride, Anna…Tyler and I met five years ago on a summer evening in Sacramento. We happened to sit by each other at an otherwise empty dive bar on a Friday evening – I was waiting for my friends and he happened to be walking by and decided to stop in. We both felt very unlucky and fed up with the dating pool at the time, but when we struck up a conversation instincts told us we wouldn’t have to look any further for our soulmate. We exchanged numbers and he called and asked me out on a date the very next day. Two years later we moved to Oregon together where we built a home (literally and figuratively – he’s a contractor!) and a year and a half after moving Tyler proposed to me. It was very low key – he simply asked me after I came home one day and took me to a romantic French dinner in Portland. For us, it was perfect.

We had recently been to Maui and I asked Tyler if that is where he’d like to get married because he grew up there. He shot it down at first! He used to make and sell leis at Mama’s Fish House to newlyweds and wedding guests on the beach and thought a Maui wedding could only be that one style. I thought it would be the perfect place though – Maui is gorgeous and it has so much history for him and his family. I found pictures of an upcountry wedding and immediately knew that was what we would do, and when I suggested the upcountry idea to Tyler his whole outlook changed. When our event planner, Lena of Belle Destination Events, shared her personal wedding venue of Calasa Olive Farm in Kula we fell in love. I have Sicilian heritage so it was a perfect representation of the two of us.

Our vision for the day was for it to be outdoor, romantic, and colorful. Sicilian tiles, the color of the venue and the natural beauty of Maui were the big inspirations for me in terms of the colors. I wanted the colors to be saturated to capture the heat of the summer and the lush surroundings. We wanted the furniture materials to be organic – a lot of wood, stone and metal because that’s what Tyler works with everyday. We bought tiles online used them as name settings and coasters. Tyler liked the tiles so much he used them for our invitations, which he designed himself. Mandy from Mandy Grace Designs did a wonderful job of bringing our vision of flowers to life. We were married during Dahlia season and I told her to go wild with the Dahlias – they’re my favorite flower. The deep red flowers are a particular favorite and were the inspiration for the accent color throughout the floral and table arrangements. I was especially enamored with the hanging installation over our dance floor, which was something I wanted from day one.

My dress is Yolan Cris and is two layers of hand made Spanish lace with a silk shell underneath. It is gorgeous and I’m still in awe of it. The train is reminiscent of my grandmother’s dress when she was married in the 1920’s – my sisters remarked that I did pictures “Adele style” when I wrapped my train in front of me. I grew up adoring my grandmother’s wedding dress from their wedding photo so that was a very special feeling for me that day. I had unfortunately sprained my ankle badly a month before my wedding so although I couldn’t wear the high heels I had originally planned, I wore beautiful embroidered sandals instead. My bridesmaids dresses are Show Me Your Mumu. I gave everyone their choice of dress design and the option of a print or solid. Everyone chose the print! I was super excited about that. I love colors and patterns and it was awesome that my girlfriends naturally gravitated towards the pattern.

Photography: Dmitri and Sandra Photography | Coordination: Moana Belle Events | Floral Design: Mandy Grace Floral & Event Design | Gown : Yolan Cris Haute Couture | Ceremony Venue: The Villa at Calasa Olive Farm | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu | Catering: Sugar Beach Events | Hair + Makeup : Maui Makeup Artistry | Calligraphy : Miss B Calligraphy | Entertainment : DJ Del Sol | Officiant : Pia Aluli | Ceremony Reception : The Villa at Calasa Olive Farm | Cocktail Service : Garnish Craft Cocktail Catering | Pies : Sugar Beach Cake Shop | Rentals: Signature Boutique Event Rentals | Tabletop Rentals : Set Collections | runners, napkins, ribbon, silk fabric for ceremony backdrop: Adorn Company

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The royal engagement news is all anyone here at SMP can talk about and – ohmygosh – we can’t wait to see THE dress. We’re putting our money on a classic with a twist style gown that will completely wow, just like the breathtaking designs from the geniuses at Rebecca Ingram. From figure-flattering silhouettes to stunning embellishments, we’re counting down nine of our faves below. And, bonus: they’re also budget friendly.

Dresses Shown (Clockwise, Top to Bottom): Olivia, Helena, Kaitlyn

Dress: Olivia 

Why We Love It: Guess what? You don’t need to find a real-life prince to have that fairytale wedding of your dreams, and the Olivia is proving that point whole-heartedly. From the illusion bateau neckline to the flowing layers of tulle, you’ll be channeling your inner Grace Kelly in no time at all.

Dress: Helena

Why We Love It: We’re never one to argue with the comfort of a spaghetti strap design and the Helena makes it so, so easy to dance the night away in absolute style. We can’t decide what we adore more – the crystal, pearl and bead accents, the gorgeous lace trim or the ruching detail that is sooo flattering. We’re going to go with all of the above on this one.

Dress: Kaitlyn

Why We Love It: You know it’s all in the details and the lace appliqués on the Kaitlyn are most definitely a stand-out feature. We’re also loving the keyhole back, the off-the-shoulder neckline and covered buttons. This one definitely screams princess.

Dresses Shown (Clockwise, Top to Bottom): Bernice, Carrie, Hope

Dress: Bernice

Why We Love It: When it comes to show-stopping ballgowns, it honestly doesn’t get much prettier than Bernice. Think a voluminous tulle skirt, a strapless neckline and a Swarovski crystal belt. This one is a show-stopper for sure.

Dress: Carrie

Why We Love It: We can always count on Rebecca Ingram to deliver the romance. Case in point? The Carrie gown. With a lace bodice and ball gown skirt, it’s all about the amour.

Dress: Hope

Why We Love It: Fact: you don’t have to rock a ball gown to look like a princess… sometimes a fit-and-flare in allover-lace will do the trick. We’re obsessed with Hope for its double-keyhole back and scalloped edging. It’s a little bit fairytale, a little bit vintage and all sorts of gorgeous.

Dresses Shown (Clockwise, Top to Bottom): Juniper, Debbie, Nancy

Dress: Juniper

Why We Love It: Soft and simple, the Juniper seamlessly combines sweet AND sexy. From the Aria Chiffon skirt to the beaded lace top, it’s perfect for a garden wedding or an “I do” in your neighborhood church. We love, love, LOVE it.

Dress: Debbie

Why We Love It: Did we mention that we can’t get enough of spaghetti straps? The Debbie rocks one of our fave necklines, plus textured tulle, lace motifs and covered buttons down the back. Oh, and there’s a detachable train. So awesome.

Dress: Nancy

Why We Love It: You know we love ourselves a sleeved gown, especially when it comes to the Nancy. This cap-sleeved beauty also boasts an illusion scoop back and a fit-and-flare silhouette that will show off all of your curves in all of the right places. Plus, it shimmers, you guys. It shimmers.

You don’t have to compromise style or quality to find that classic dream gown. Just head to Rebecca Ingram to find a retailer near you to peruse all of the lovely designs in one of their three collections – Olivia, Kaitlyn and Juniper. “The One” is waiting.

Like many other engaged couples, my fiancé and I want our wedding to be unique. More specifically, we want it to be unique to us. Our hope for our wedding (aside from cooperative weather, of course) is that our relationship and love for each other shine through in a way that is so clearly us.

However, bringing that vision to life can be baffling at first. We found ourselves asking exactly how we could create a wedding all our own. It can be easy to fall into loving what’s popular now instead of staying true to your heart and designing a day around your blended styles. Trends are trends, well – because they’re popular. It’s tough to find what you truly love without getting swept up in what everyone else is doing.

Here’s how we’re ditching what we like to call the “traditional” wedding with a few simple changes.

The ceremony

Rather than hiring an officiant based on reviews and word of mouth, we’re opting for a more personal feel for our ceremony. We both thought we’d feel more comfortable with someone we know officiating, so we asked my little sister to officiate. Not only do we feel more comfortable, we also have the opportunity to include my sister in the ceremony in a special way.

Nixing the traditions

Neither my fiancé nor I have the desire to partake in the typical garter toss tradition, so we’re nixing that from the wedding day schedule, amongst a few other typical wedding day traditions.

No Maid of Honor or Best Man

You heard that right, we opted to not choose a Maid of Honor or Best Man. Quite frankly, we don’t want two of our friends (in particular) to feel stressed in any way about our big day. I’ve been a maid of honor once and it wasn’t the easiest walk in the park. We simply want our wedding party to have fun with the planning!

Incorporating our friends

We’re so lucky to know some folks who work in the wedding industry, which means that we get to hire some of our very talented friends! What that means for us is that we don’t have to worry one bit that the food won’t be up to par or that the photographer will miss important pieces of the day. We know and trust our friends’ talents and can’t wait to have them join in on the wedding festivities!

Hello, Atlanta

We’re planning an upside down destination wedding – if that makes any sense. Most of our friends and family are back home in Massachusetts, but we moved to Atlanta this summer. We’ve loved the city for years (Tim even lived here back in 2014!) and are using our wedding weekend as a grand opportunity to show everyone why we love it so much. In fact, we love the city so much that we had a full afternoon shoot with photographer, Kelley Raye, (featured here!) before Tim moved back to Boston in 2015 to capture moments in our favorite Atlanta spots. Long story short, while it’s not a destination wedding for us, it is for the majority of our guests. More on this later, all.

Adults Only

Another way we’re changing things up is by hosting an adults-only ceremony and reception – don’t worry, we’ll be setting up childcare options for our guests! We’ve also got a few more surprises up our sleeves, but don’t want to spoil it for our guests, so hopefully, you’ll stay tuned to see what we come up with!

Fellow brides-to-be, how are you putting your own spin on your big day?

With the Puerto Rican sun shining bright, these two said “I do” in front of friends and family and got ready to dance the night away. Their smiles never faded and Love & Light Photographs captured every beautiful moment, from the Bride and her merry maids getting ready earlier in the day to endless sweet moments between the new Mr. and Mrs. Let’s kick off the week in a wonderful way with this gorgeous gallery and you can thank me later for that grin that just won’t go away.

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From the Bride… After my husband and I got engaged in Greece, we didn’t really have an idea as to where we wanted to get married; all we knew was that we wanted to plan the best party to celebrate our love with our favorite people. Finding the ‘perfect’ venue was probably that hardest part, and after endless searching, my husband was actually the one who suggested we go back to our favorite courtyard in Puerto Rico, which was at the Hotel El Convento. And then just like that Puerto Rico seemed the obvious choice for many reasons but the main reason was that it was the first place we traveled to together, fell more in love with each other, and fell in love with the island. Old San Juan was the perfect place to encapsulate our vision for our wedding which was: timeless, romantic, and a day you’ll never forget!

There was so much love that went around all weekend, between our friends and our family. From the ceremony at La Rogativa – my mom walking me down the aisle while my cousin sang the acoustic version of Empire of the Sun’s, “Walking on a Dream” (it was so hard to hold back tears); Will and I sharing our own written vows, to the reception at El Convento – both of us sharing special dances with our moms; Will’s family belting out the German toast, Ein Prosit, every hour; everyone letting loose and ripping up the dance floor; being thrown up in the air more times than I can count; surprising everyone with a five person Puerto Rican band called, Pleneros, to liven up the party, and the vejigantes to dance the evil spirits away, AND last but not least everyone belting out Bohemian Rhapsody (from memory) even after the DJ was gone! It was a complete whirlwind and we both wish we could re-live it again and again. Puerto Rico will always have a special place in our hearts!

More recently it’s hard to look back without crying because of the devastation Hurricane Maria caused to everyone on the island, including our friends and family. We ask that everyone please help our fellow Americans by donating in any way possible.

Photography: Jessa Schifilliti, Photographer | Floral Design: Angel Vasquez Vega | Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero | Invitations: Marlie Vodofsky | Hair + Makeup: Unik Stuio | Band: In-Sync Wedding DJ Cuquitin | Wedding Venue: Hotel El Convento

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What does it take to create an alluring, Provence inspired elopement without leaving the States? A delicate Truvelle gown with a hint of lace, foraged florals expertly arranged by Finding Flora, Melanie Osorio Photography behind the lens, and the keen vision of HauteFêtes Fine Weddings and Design. See that certain je ne sais quoi for yourself – it’s all in the Vault.

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From HauteFêtes Fine Weddings and Design… Provence is one of those places that, when visited, captures the heart and mind and never fully leaves the soul. The light, the dusty colors, the time-worn patina of its architecture, even the food has a way of staying with you long after the last morsel. For our elopement, we were inspired by the simple, rustic elegance of Provence which we brought to southern California. Melanie Osorio Photography has such an authentic way of capturing beauty that we transported our bride and groom to a French bastide on a late summer afternoon to start a new life as a couple. The rose lined driveway and wisteria clad walls of Bastide de Bonheur made for a beautiful backdrop for our intimate affair. Our wonderfully talented florist, Finding Flora, used a combination of hops and branches foraged from the gardens, and the vine motif became a central design element for our stationery suite with By Priscilla Lee’s beautiful, French-inspired calligraphy.

For our color story, a dusty fall palette of rose, ochre, and persimmon were complemented by warm wood and brass tones. Handmade dishes, simple wine, water goblets, gold flatware, vintage brass candleholders, and stone-washed linen from La Tavola completed our French farm table top. No elopement would be complete without some kind of French pastry – a decadent croquembouche, perfectly imagined by The Crimson Cake and accented with tiny flowers, was really hard to resist. The cream walls provided the perfect canvas for our vision as all the pretty details came to life.

Styling the couple, we knew we wanted a youthful, romantic look, which Jess Steingard so wonderfully captured. A chiffon and lace dress from La Truvelle was the perfect balance of the effortless elegance and allure the French are so well known for. We completed her look with Bella Belle shoes, her hair casually swept up in a romantic chignon, loose tendrils escaping in the wind, and a sprig of flowers gently tucked in.

This shoot was incredibly easy, relaxed, and fun to create. We laughed so much – it shows in our real couple’s faces. It was so lovely to spend a day with likeminded creatives, playing with design, walking through the garden, and taking beautiful pictures. I hope these images show how much we enjoyed putting it together!

Photography: Melanie Osorio Photography | Event Design: HauteFetes | Event Planning: HauteFetes | Floral Design: Finding Flora | Wedding Dress: Truvelle | Invitations: By Priscilla Lee | Ceremony Venue: Bastide De Bonheur | Shoes: Bella Belle | Hair + Makeup: Jess Steingard | Candles: Creative Candles | Dessert: The Crimson Cake | Dishes: Crate & Barrel | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Silverware: West Elm

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A one-year wedding anniversary is a special time when you can relive the big day. Get your spouse a gift that will bring fun, relaxation, and a dash of memories as you look back on the vows you made to each other. Here are 10 one year wedding anniversary ideas!

For Her:
Spa Day
This is the perfect gift for a day of relaxation and rejuvenation. Go together and get a relaxing couples massage, or let her go to enjoy a few hours of peace and quiet before an evening out on the town together. This is a great way to show your appreciation and give her a chance to happily reflect on the first year you’ve spent as a married couple.

Down Comforter
Is there anything more magical than making your bed the coziest place on earth?! It’s the place where you spend about half your time so you’ll want to make it as comfortable as possible. Spruce it up with a new down comforter. You may find yourself spending extra time in bed… but what’s wrong with that?

Photobooks
There are so many companies that have gorgeous custom made photo albums. You can choose everything down to the gold foil on the cover. Order one with photos of your first year as a married couple, or if you’re a mega procrastinator like me, pick out 50 of your favorite wedding photos and buy it as a wedding photo album.

Weekend Getaway
A trip up north or along the coast may be the perfect little getaway you need to relax and celebrate your first year as a married couple. Spend two nights somewhere where you can go wine tasting or antiquing. Enjoy a quiet day together and then spend the evening out to enjoy a fun dinner together. It will give you time to reconnect and reminisce about your wedding day.

A Puppy!
Okay, hear me out! I understand that not everyone has a lifestyle that would allow them to get a dog. Totally understandable. But if you’re trying to get rid of baby fever, or find yourself wanting a dog to play with and take care of together, a puppy could be so fun. If you are in a lifestyle where it makes sense, surprise her with a puppy and a bow on your anniversary or go together to adopt one!

For Him:
Rayban Sunglasses
I have yet to find a guy who would turn down a nice pair of sunglasses. It’s one of those things that they may not buy for themselves, but would LOVE to get as a gift. In my experience, Rayban sunglasses are of great quality and last through camping, beach trips, everyday life, and misplacing them in your car. Treat your guy after one year of marriage.

Concert Tickets
Concerts are such a blast. Turn it into a fun date night and go see the band that you danced to at your wedding. It will be a perfect way to reminisce about your wedding day and first dance as a married couple. Spend the night out on the town. Check out a new restaurant, maybe stay at a hotel, and enjoy the concert together.

Google Home
The first year of marriage can typically involve a lot of saving, and learning to budget as a new married couple. Perhaps you completely decorated your place when you got married or maybe you’ve slowly been doing it throughout the year. A Google Home is a great gift that can tie any home together and make it your own. If you’re guy has a techy side, this is the perfect gift for him… and your place.

Craft Beer Tasting
While similar to a wine tasting, but yet totally unique and different, a beer tasting can be a blast. Go to a local brewery and try a flight of their top beers. Or find a brewery that does tours of the facility and tastings on site. Even if you’re not a beer drinker but just he is, there are tons of flavors and options that appeal to everyone’s pallet.

Boudoir Photo Album
I’ve seen this trend done many times when brides give this to their grooms on the wedding day. This is also a cute idea for your one year wedding anniversary. The nice thing about this is you can make it your own. If you want to be in a sexy black dress, or if you want to throw caution to the wind and go completely undressed – you can customize the style of the shoot however you want. This is a sexy gift that adds another wave of zest after the first year.

Your one year wedding anniversary is such a special time to relive your wedding day. No matter what you do, make sure you take time to relax and reflect on the most magical day of your life.

Style Me Pretty Contributor – Kylie Thompson is a freelance writer, blogger and marketing professional from Grand Rapids Michigan, where she resides with her husband and golden retriever. When she isn’t working, you will find her exploring Grand Rapids’ newest culinary establishments with her husband, or traveling up and down Lake Michigan’s coast.

It’s no secret that planning a wedding is a lot of work that involves shelling out a lot of cash! But after spending months creating a perfect day and trying to please everyone around you, don’t you think you and your new husband deserve a magical honeymoon? Instead of breaking the bank on a costly getaway, here are some ideas for cost-effective honeymoons to help you recharge and celebrate your new nuptials!

Thailand
A classic tourist destination, and for good reason, Thailand is a stunning destination for any couples hoping to soak in another culture and explore nature. The weather in Thailand is fairly warm year-round, despite the rainy season, which varies between regions but occurs between May/June to October. Typically, flights tend to be cheaper in the winter months (November-March), and conveniently, this lines up with the best weather in Thailand, with temperatures lingering in the 80s. This will still feel hot to most visitors, however, these are the coldest months in the country. Look into common destinations like Bangkok and Phuket to visit temples and museums, as well as islands such as Koh Samui, Koh Samet, and Ko Phi Phi to have your relaxing, beach experience!

Tulum, Mexico
Mexico is well-known for being a more affordable honeymoon destination, as it’s so close to home, and Tulum is perfect if you’re trying to avoid getting swept up by all the spring-breakers. It is full of fun, affordable activities such as snorkeling and swimming in some of their spectacular beaches. Choose a smaller, boutique hotel as opposed to a larger resort, as they can charge upwards of $500 a night. If you’re looking for somewhere to de-stress from your wedding planning and give your bank balance a break, Mexico may be the spot for you!

Iceland
If you’re a well-versed traveler, you know that it’s always cheaper to travel during the off-peak season. Often, this means that you’ve ended up in Europe in the middle of winter because you got a great deal on flights. But in some cases, this can really work out! Iceland, for example, is one of those destinations where the colder is better, so you may want to go in the middle of February! Flights will be far less expensive than if you were to go in June, when most people travel and most honeymoons occur. In Iceland, you’re sure to get some amazing photos and experience some otherworldly scenic views. Plus, the colder it is, the more you get to snuggle with your honey, right?

Big Sur California
Keep it low-key, and definitely cost-effective, and take a road trip to Big Sur! This beautiful location is perfect for easy-going couples who want to camp for their honeymoon! Campsites in Big Sur are typically around $20 a night, far less expensive than any Air BNB or hotel will get you. Take a few days to explore the town, lounge on the beach, hike, or any other of the numerous activities the location can offer. This could be a great option for a mini-moon immediately after the wedding as well, while you take some time to save up for a bigger vacation!

Style Me Pretty Contributor – Goli Parvinian is a bridal enthusiast and masters student living in Melbourne, Australia. Over the past few years, she has worked for bridal brands in her hometown of Chicago, New Zealand and New York City. You can typically find her in a cafe, face-timing her nieces or out on a long run.

Dreaming of a destination wedding in Italy, Lindsay and Mike stumbled upon The Hummingbird Nest Ranch just outside of Los Angeles and never looked back. With its mature olive trees, cobblestone patio, gorgeous fountains, and Spanish architecture, Hummingbird Nest embodies that romantic, Mediterranean vibe. Finished off with glam arrangements by Unique Floral Designs, this al fresco wedding captured by Love by J. Tori Photography and Triptych Weddings is bellisimo!

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From the Groom… On my way to a lacrosse game, I stopped in the Cal State Fullerton school cafeteria to grab a quick bite. On my way back to the bus, I had no idea I just met the love of my life. While on our way to the game I couldn’t stop talking to my teammates about the girl I had just met. Later that night, Lindsay and a couple of her friends came over to our house where we instantly hit it off. I’m not one to believe in sayings but “being in the right place at the right time” couldn’t have worked out better in this case. Through the next year, I would slowly realize I was dating the women I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

From the Bride… When I saw Mike walk into the Cal State Fullerton school cafeteria, all I could think was, “Wow, what a cutie!” I instantly knew I wanted to get to know him better. Mike and I had several mutual friends, and as he walked over to our table, I had butterflies in my stomach. He started talking about his lacrosse game. I knew absolutely nothing about lacrosse at the time, but I was eager to talk to him, so I blurted out, “Oh, is that the game with the horses?” thinking it was polo. He smiled and invited me to an upcoming game. Obviously, I had a lot to learn. That same night, Mike and his friends had a party to celebrate the game they just won, and I knew I had to go. Mike and I talked for hours that night, and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. From that moment, I knew I had met the love of my life…and now I’m a lacrosse professional.

Six years later and we could not be more excited for our wedding day – the day we would begin our lives as husband and wife! I woke up that morning surprisingly feeling stress-free and relaxed. Mike and I had put all of our time and energy for the past eight months into planning our dream wedding; we just wanted to focus on the day ahead of us and not let one moment pass us by. I told myself that I didn’t want to cry, but I may have broken that rule around 100 times! I just couldn’t hold back the tears when I saw the look on my mom’s and bridesmaids’ faces when I finished putting on my dress and veil. I completely lost it when my dad saw me for the first time and could only mouth the word, “Wow.” I cried again when I saw the gorgeous reception area, lit up by chandeliers and hundreds of candles, with crystals hanging from the trees, gorgeous lavender and pink flowers, and lush garlands. I could have stayed in that spot for hours. And the moment I’ll never forget, when I tapped Mike on the shoulder and he turned around to see me at our first look. He looked at me the same way he looked at me the night we met, as if it was love at first sight, but when we embraced, it was the most intimate hug we ever had. There was so much love between us, I will never forget the feeling I had in that moment!

The Hummingbird Nest Ranch was a dream. The inspiration for our wedding was to create a glamorous but extremely romantic vibe, as I believe these styles represent us as who we are as a couple. We were considering a destination wedding in Italy, because what could be more romantic than Italy? But when we saw the Hummingbird Nest Ranch, with the mature trees and cobble stone steps, it felt like we could have an Italian wedding right in California… Romantico!

Although the venue is already beautiful, Unique Floral Designs took it to a whole new level! There were countless rose petals as I walked down the aisle, and the ceremony arch was straight out of a fairy tale with lush garland and gorgeous florals. The bouquets my bridesmaids carried looked so gorgeous against their sequined rose gold Jenny Yoo dresses. My girls looked absolutely stunning – they made the ceremony even more gorgeous as they stood up there with me at the altar! Everywhere I looked, there were florals, and they really completed the romantic feeling we were going for.

During the first hour or so of the reception, it started to lightly drizzle – my biggest fear throughout the whole wedding planning process. Rain + outdoor venue = Bride’s worst nightmare! Luckily, what could have been a major downer turned into something magical. The rain caught onto the trees, barely hitting the ground, and creating a beautiful mist that made the night even more fairy tale worthy. Mike and I, with our friends and family, danced for hours under the drizzle – it was romantic and dreamy, yet it was also the most fun party we had ever been to! It truly was the wedding of our dreams!

Photography: Love By J.Tori | Cinematography: Triptych Weddings | Coordination: A Blissful Soirée | Event Planning: Bride and Mother of the Bride | Floral Design: Unique Floral Designs | Wedding Dress: Marisa Bridals | Cake: Skiff's Cakes | Invitations: test | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bracelet: Nadri | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Command Performance Catering | Makeup: Hair & Makeup by Naz | Hair: Sydney Felix - Hair and Makeup by Sydney | Calligraphy: test | DJ: DJ Kamayo Entertainment | Ceremony Music: Atlantic String Trio | Venue: Hummingbird Nest Ranch | Bridal Boutique: Panache Bridal | Bridesmaids' Pajama Sets: Plum Pretty Sugar | Earrings: Nadri | Flower Wall: Wonderwall Paper Flowers | Place Cards: UrbanFarmhouseTampa | Rentals: A Rental Connection | Seating Chart: Houzz | Signage: From Kelly With Love

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The bride is from Chile and is Catholic. The groom is from Australia and is Jewish. They met in South America and now call New York home. Brilliant Event Planning – along with a fantastic team including Face Time Beauty Concierge, Alicia Swedenborg, and Generation Events – brought all those influences together, and the result is this bright and beautiful, totally personalized botanic garden wedding! Before checking out the full gallery, be sure to read all the details below – there are so many thoughtful touches you won’t want to miss!

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From Brilliant Event Planning… Romina and Alexander wanted their wedding to feel happy and to be a celebration with their family and friends, many of whom had to travel from around the world to be with them. They merged Alexander’s Australian and Jewish heritage with Romina’s Chilean and Catholic roots, and the result is this bright, colorful wedding that is packed with personal touches!

The day started with Romina getting ready with her family and Alexander with his at his parent’s home. Our favorite detail from the morning is their invitation suite by Ellen Weldon. It was done completely in hand calligraphy and paired with a hand-drawn map of NYC containing little icons for all of the places important to the wedding weekend! As soon as everyone was dressed, they headed to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for photos. They lucked out – the weather that day was incredible!

After a teary first look and lots of pictures in the garden, it was time for the ceremony. A cello and piano duo played as Romina made her entrance. During the ceremony, the couple merged Jewish and Catholic traditions. There was a chuppah and, of course, breaking glass at the end of the ceremony, as well as a unity candle. The ceremony was completely bilingual and officiated by two of their closest friends. Romina really wanted the flowers to be bright and colorful, but still elegant. Denise Fasanello, the florist, couldn’t have gotten this more perfectly!

Romina designed and created a massive escort display to represent Chile, which is not only where she is from, but it’s also where she met Alexander. Each guest received a card that placed them at a table named after a different city in Chile. The display was accented with custom NYC taxi cabs, a nod to the city Romina and Alexander call home. Each cab had their names and wedding date, written in hand-calligraphy. Later in the evening, the couple surprised their guests with a sala performance! After a standing ovation, their DJ, Jason of Generation Events, took over the dance floor with a hybrid music performance – a DJ paired with drums and a sax. The trio kept the dance floor on fire until 1am! At the end of the night, guests gave Romina and Alexander a sparkler send-off, and the newlyweds drove off to the Brooklyn Bridge in a vintage NYC checker cab.

Photography: Alicia Swedenborg | Cinematography: Kiss The Bride Films | Event Planning: Brilliant Event Planning | Floral Design: Denise Fasanello Floral Design | Invitations: ellen weldon | Hair + Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge | DJ: Generation Events | Wedding Venue: Brooklyn Botanic Garden | Photo Booth: Hipstr Photobooth | Salsa: Casa Brazilia

A medieval castle in Florence, Italy is really all the introduction this wedding needs to fulfill princess dreams. But then you add in the fact that every angle of the Bride’s lace dress is pure perfection or the fact that Castello di Vincigliata was draped in handwritten poetry and it becomes clear, this is a real life fairytale. With design by SposiamoVi, florals by La Rosa Canina and all captured by Taylor & Porter, pore through every last detail of this romantic Italian celebration.

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Sweethearts Mike & Celine chose to marry in the sensational European city of Florence, Italy. Flying in from Jakarta, Indonesia they exchanged vows in the grounds of the stunning Castello di Vincigliata followed by a cocktail reception and dinner within the castle itself. There were so many thoughtful and stylish touches throughout their wedding weekend, like guide books to Florence, thoughtfully designed by the couple with their Stationer and presented to guests in beautiful leather purses, to welcome goodie bags containing some delicious Italian treats to eat and drink. The weekend’s celebrations started with dinner at B-Roof in Grand Hotel Baglioni in central Florence followed by a morning at The Westin Excelsior Florence before heading to the Castello for their ceremony. Oodles of beautiful florals and some extra special styling and design elements followed including a backdrop covered in handwritten poetry and a water colour artist on site to capture miniature pictures of guests. During dinner the surprises continued with a performance by an Italian Operatic Tenor in between courses. Truly a sensational moment as his incredible voice echoed around the ancient castle walls. A fun party followed with performances by another surprise guest, Indonesian Musician Sandy Sandhoro.

Photography: Taylor and Porter | Videography: Velare | Floral designer: La Rosa Canina | Wedding Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Venue: Castello Di Vincigliata | Accommodation: Westin Excelsior Florence | Accomodations: Westin Excelsior Florence | After Party Shoes: Mui Mui | Bridal hair and makeup: Phalapa Bakti | Catering company: Galateo Ricevimenti | Ceremony & Reception: Castello Di Vincigliata | Ceremony Dress: Biyan | Favours & Gifts: Made By The Bride | Goodie Bag: Amaru Indonesia | Grooms Formalwear: Canali | Lighting, music, sound and setups: Alma Project 24/7 | Party Dress: Sapto Djojokartiko | Stationery & Calligraphy: Veronica Halim Calligraphy | Watercolor Artist: Shhh My Darling | Wedding planning, design and styling: Sposiamovi Italian Wedding Planners

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Selecting your wedding stationery is an exciting time because it means you’ve set a date and have your venue booked; now it’s time to invite those guests! First things first, you’ll want to choose a style that fits YOU and the vision for your Big Day. Next, layer on the luxe. It’s the little details that count, which is why we love the custom designs from The Wedding Shop by Shutterfly so much. Keep reading for our tips on how to make your invitations shine for your dream wedding!

Get Glam with Foil.

There’s no better way to make your wedding stationery shine than with real foil layered on your personalized design. The Wedding Shop has a wide variety of styles that pair beautifully with foil in gold, rose gold and silver to match your custom selected colors across all pieces—from your invitations to the RSVP to enclosure cards—taking your entire suite to the next level. You can also use the custom color palette on select designs to take your personalization even further, allowing you to match your stationery with your wedding colors.

The Ultramodern Brushstrokes design (shown here) is one of our favorites with foil layered atop pretty watercolor and hand-lettered names to boot.

Save Time, In Style.

The Wedding Shop’s custom address labels and addressing service for both recipient and return address are both stylish and time saving—the best. perk. ever. when you have a million other wedding to dos. Take it from this veteran Bride, it’s a life saver. Simply select your design, customize, pop in your address list and when your envelopes arrive, they’re already done. No addressing marathons, hand cramps or cringing when you mess up. All you need to do is stuff those pretty envelopes and send away!

Creating a Beautiful Experience.

The Wedding Shop’s cohesive designs allow you to create a beautiful experience for your guests. The Opulent Lines design (shown here) looks absolutely stunning with real foil and it boasts the loveliest envelope liners—another way to crank up the volume on your invitation suite. Incorporate a matching RSVP and an enclosure card so your guests are equipped with all of the necessary info. Not only will your guests notice these little details, but they’ll make for a pretty suite for your photographer to style and capture, too.

Fancy Up Your Photos

Foil isn’t the only way to make those invites glow. Attention-grabbing glitter options are available, too and look stunning layered on engagement photos. For example, the Sparkling Moment design (shown below) beautifully frames your photo with a halo of glitter and will delight your guests as they open the envelope, without a mess!

The Wedding Shop really is your one stop shop for the complete wedding stationery experience, from coordinating designs with luxe extras that fit into your Big Day vision to the ease of ordering and assembly, saving you precious time and all the while wow-ing your guests. In our opinion, these luxe little extras are best experienced in person. The Wedding Shop offers a free sample kit, shipped to you at no cost so you can feel the beauty in-hand and order in confidence. Incredible right? Head here for more info!

Beautiful blooms? Check. Gorgeous gown? Check, check. Stunning venue? Yup, all set. Cute couple? The most adorable ever. We’ve basically got the perfect engagement package right here, thanks to Kati Rosado and this darling duo. Captured at both San Fran’s City Hall and the lush Conservatory of Flowers, it’s an e-shoot that’s full of feel good vibes and this gallery of goodness is the pretty place to be today. Enjoy!

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From the Bride-to-be… Will and I have spent the majority of our relationship in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a place that holds a lot of special memories for us and where we grew significantly as individuals and as a couple. So when it came to picking locations for our engagement shoot, we wanted settings that were quintessential San Francisco but with soft and romantic elements for the occasion. We love the elegance and amazing architecture at City Hall. And we wanted a blend of outdoor and lushness from the Conservatory of Flowers.

I was originally born in Taipei, Taiwan and moved to the states when my mom decided to pursue her Masters and Ph.D; I was 10. As a result of her studies and career, we moved around the country quite a bit. One of the friends I made was during the one year I lived in Missouri. This friend later moved to Seattle for work and where my family eventually settled. While in Seattle, she met Will at a party. I then met Will through her at a burger joint. I originally didn’t pay much attention to Will since he’s naturally a quiet guy. He is what I call, ‘a slow boil’; it takes time to get to know him but it totally pays off when he lets you in. We didn’t go on our first date until almost a year and half after we first met.

When Will and I started dating, he was in the process of leaving Seattle. He planned to backpack in SE Asia for several month and move to the Bay Area afterwards. Despite knowing he was leaving, we were inseparable once we started to spend time together and fell in love. When he moved away from Seattle and started his trip, we decided it would be best to go our separate ways. I was later surprised to find that while traveling abroad, Will always found ways to keep in touch with me. I would hear from him even when he is passing through a small town in the middle of nowhere, just because he was able to find a wifi signal strong enough to make a phone call. Will and I eventually made plans to met up in Taipei for NYE and got back together after spending a week with each other. I, myself, have always wanted to move to the Bay Area. We then moved to the San Francisco Bay Area a year after he came back from his trip. We’ve gown so much since we’ve first got together six years ago. I feel so lucky to have someone who is as patient and loving as him and who’s always trying to get to know me better. He is my best friend and I can’t wait to marry him!

Photography: Kati Rosado Photography | Floral Design: Ampersand | Dress: BHLDN | Ring: Davidson & Licht | Hair + Makeup: Triple Twists Mei Zhou | Suit: Ermeneglildo Zegna | Blazer: Topman | Location: San Francisco City Hall | Location: Conservatory Of Flowers

From classic tunes to today’s hottest hits, choosing a first dance song can be a challenging task, because, well, there are so many amazing songs out there it can seem impossible to pick only one. Need some help? We checked in with some of the best in the wedding entertainment world to see what made their most-requested song lists this year and here’s what we found out!

It’s no secret that Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” was a top choice for a first dance song in 2017. It also was the most requested for wedding DJs Jason Fioto of Generation Events and Mary Nisi of Toast and Jam DJs. But for DJ Ray Jarrell of Jarrell Entertainment, Ed Sheehan’s “Perfect” was the song his couples wanted to hear. Shout out to Ed for creating such romantic music!

Some other popular picks this year included “How Long Will I Love You” by Ellie Goudling, “Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur, and “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne. For Michael Tinio of Behind the DJ Booth, it was the bachata version of Ben E. King’s timeless track “Stand by Me” by Prince Royce, which is a newer song but fused with tradition.

But while these chart-topping songs made the cut, the classics are here to stay too. Traditional choices like “At Last” by Etta James and “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong still remained most requested for wedding band Roman Street.

Top 25 first dance songs of 2017

​​​​​Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

Perfect – Ed Sheeran

How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding

Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur

At Last – Etta James

You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne

Stand by Me – Prince Royce

What A Wonderful Life – Louis Armstrong

In My Arms – Johnnyswim

Coming Home – Leon Bridges

Electric Love – BØRNS

God Only Knows – The Beach Boys

I Found You – Alabama Shakes

Stay With You – John Legend

Come and Get Your Love – Redbone

Always and Forever – Heatwave

Till There Was You – The Beatles

My Girl – Temptations

Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You – Lauryn Hill

Have I Told You Lately How Much I Love You – Van Morrison

I and Love and You – the Avett Brothers

Forever – Ben Harper

Wildflowers – Tom Petty

Sugar Dumpling – Sam Cooke

You’re All I Need To Get By – Marvin Gaye

​​​​​Style Me Pretty Contributor – Heather Hall Galle is a freelance writer, content creator, and PR consultant splitting time between NYC & Fairhope, AL. When she isn’t traveling, planning an event, or scouring wedding trends on social media you can find her practicing yoga by the beach, discovering new music, and enjoying time with her family and friends.

Let’s take a moment to talk about this dress. The subtle sweetheart neckline. The hand crafted floral details. The body skimming silhouette. The endless texture. The grand romance. Oscar de la Renta never ceases to make us swoon. And on top of all of that sartorial gorgeousness is an equally stunning wedding editorial, created by Chloe + Mint and captured by Tenth + Grace.

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Classic romance never goes out of style, and this shoot designed by Chloe+Mint proves just that. Our setting is an estate nestled in the hills of Santa Ynez, where classic romanticism combined with a touch of whimsy for an unforgettable day. The main showstopper was the amazing Oscar de la Renta gown, which was painstakingly crafted by hand with the most beautiful result. Stylists from 805 Makeup and Mane Vibes kept the bridal look subtle, with glowing makeup and a classic updo. The reception tablescapes benefited from a unique color pairing that infused some freshness into the setting. Chloe+Mint utilized pops of burgundy in the floral arrangements set against the light blue of the table linens for an unexpected color pairing that can be used in many different seasons.

Photography: Tanya Menoni | Event Design and Styling: Chloe+Mint | Floral Design: Chloe+Mint | Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Rings: Single Stone | Makeup: 805 Makeup | Hair: Mane Vibes | Groom's Attire: Stich & Tie | Wedding Venue: Kestrel Park | Paper Suite: Owl Post Calligraphy | Rentals: A Rental Connection | Silk: Silk and Willow | Tabletop: borrowed BLU

Holiday homes are my favorite indulgence. I love a good tour any old time of year, but when you add in festive decor, sparkling trees and gussied up mantels, it takes that space to a whole new level. Emily Jackson of Ivory Lane is inviting us in to her gorgeous space and it will 100% get you in the mood to deck the halls. Bring on the garlands, the eggnog and the fa la la la la with the full tour captured by Lindsay Salazar.

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The holiday season is my favorite! I always look forward to decorating my home for Christmas and I wanted wanted to add pops of red to bring in more of the holiday spirit!! Gatehouse No. 1 came once again to deck our halls and decorate and I’m obsessed with how everything turned out (you can see my home decorated last year here)! I got my tree, ornaments, garland and ribbon all from Tai Pan. They have the best holiday decor so run and grab some before it’s all gone! I cannot wait for Christmas morning when Capri & Cannon are sitting under our beautiful tree, all lit up, with all of their presents! And maybe even two brand new babes! We are already looking forward to what Christmas will bring this year!

Photography: Lindsay Salazar | Styling: Gatehouse | Decorations: Tai Pan Trading | Home of: Emily Jackson | Treats: Cakebites from The Sweet Tooth Fairy

First comes love, then comes ENGAGEMENT, then comes marriage, you sillies! That oh so important step can not be forgotten! Your engagement is a special time and we love to commemorate it around these parts with shoots and celebrations. And this past year we’ve seen some gems. And while all may be beautiful, the ones below stood out and leave us feeling extra inspired and excited. So pop the bottles and let’s get toasting; we’ve got stunning style and sweet kisses galore!

Smooth Sailing

The sparkling sea and these cuties aboard one absolutely stunning sailboat. Does it get much better than this? We don’t think so.

Photography: Christine Doneé

Dramatic Dunes

A gorgeous landscape and a beautiful couple. When you have a combo like that – and Jose Villa behind the lens – you don’t need much more. Simply put, we’re speechless.

Photography: Jose Villa

Chic + Cozy

We’re all for trips to pretty places but real relationships are built over cups of coffee and conversations on the couch. And that’s why this e-shoot made our list. It’s beautiful and cozy and radiates a warmth that’s as authentic as they come.

Photography: Alicia Swedenborg

Bikes + Blooms

Nantucket is an extra special island and one look through these pics and its magic shines through. Not to mention the beautiful blooms and adorable bike; we’ve got a home run on our hands here folks.

Photography: Meredith Jane Photography

Dior Dreams

Just take one look at this dress. You’re speechless too, right? Our jaws dropped the moment we saw it but we must admit that the love affair continued with every pretty pic that followed. The gorgeous gown may have pulled us in but this whole Parisian romp kept us entranced.

Photography: Greg Finck

From Fourth Grade to Forever

While this darling duo fell in love as teenagers, they first met for the very first time in fourth grade, so if you ever doubted fate, just hang out with these two and you’ll be all set.

Photography: Michael and Carina

SMP Goes Cute + Country

Just because you’re at a farm doesn’t mean you throw fashion to the wayside. Quite the opposite. These two bounced around with the birds and looked mighty fine doing it. We’re sold.

Photography: Amanda K. Photoart

Intimate Inspiration

This engagement graced our pages just the other day and I’m oh so glad it did. It was instantly added to my “stop and stare” collection. Simple and fresh, no fluff, no unnecessary extras. Just an intimate peek into the pure love between two people. Some serious feel good vibes here.

Photography: Sally Pinera

Rustic Romance

Rustic mountain views and gorgeous gown. The whole “opposites attract” thing is really working here and we’re digging it. But even when this bride-to-be dropped the dress and went with a more casual look, the shoot still sparkled and shined thanks to Tamara Gruner’s talent.

Photography: Tamara Gruner

Wonderful Wanderlusting

From the architecture to the cultural influence, this engagement shoot inspires us to step outside the box because the results? Beyond beautiful.

Photography: Czar Goss

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Fun fact: I spent my undergrad days as the fine jewelry intern at a fashion magazine in New York, so needless to say, I’m full on obsessed with anything sparkly. Luckily for me, I still get to look at the most gorgeous rings out there every single day. As 2017 is coming to a close, we’re taking a look back at our favorite engagement rings of the year. From diamond to topaz, rose gold to platinum, marquise to trillion – each one of these special gems will sweep you off your feet.

Unforgettable Trillion Cut

Trillion cut side stones make this Boone and Sons Jewelers ring as unforgettable as the classic navy and gold wedding it was a part of.

Photography: Elizabeth Fogarty

Dark + Moody Black Diamond

Who says your diamond has to be white? This sophisticated rose gold and black diamond engagement ring belongs to perhaps the most stylish bride ever.

Photography: Jose Villa Photography

Mixing It Up With Marquise

We did a double take when we first saw this marquise diamond with its mixed, rose and white gold setting. Officially obsessed with this combo.

Photography: Emma Rose

3x the Emerald Cut Brilliance

An emerald cut diamond gives off some serious sparkle, flanked with two equally gorgeous stones for a modern twist.

Photography: Michelle Beller Photography

Rose Gold Romance

Can’t stop, won’t stop loving rose gold, and this opulent engagement ring and intricate wedding band pair by !Xam Diamonds is the perfect blend of old and new.

Photography: Corina V. Photography

Gatsby Vibes With Twin Stones

There’s something extra romantic about choosing an antique engagement ring with its own story to tell, and this glam option from L Priori Jewelry brings back all the glitz and romance of the roaring ’20s.

Photography: Emily Wren Photography

Striking Pear Solitaire

The simple band keeps all the attention on the stunning, pear-shaped center stone of this Susie Saltzman ring– an impactful combination for a colorful Moroccan wedding inspiration session.

Photography: Sophie Epton

Beachy Hampton Blue Topaz

Perfect for a wedding by the sea, the blue green hues of this statement David Yurman number is making waves.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography

Victorian Bohemian

The bride who wore this calls her style “victorian bohemian” – which is exactly how we’d describe her family heirloom quality ring. Can’t you just imagine her future grandchild inheriting this gorgeous piece!?

Photography: Jose Villa Photography

Delicate, Elegant, Timeless

Because an elegant solitaire diamond and a trio of delicate infinity bands never go out of style, and we’re in love with the subtle twist on this set: an oval cut center stone and complementing – but not matching – bands.

Photography: Simply Sarah

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While there’s no denying that this entire celebration is stunning with a capital S, it’s the little details that stand out the most in Tamara Gruner’s gorgeous pics. The feather grass, the fabulous Jimmy Choo shoes, the insanely dreamy dress… all coming together for a wedding in Beaver Creek, Colorado that is far from rustic. It’s no surprise then that Calluna Events orchestrated it all, with The Perfect Petal lending their floral expertise and La Tavola making sure even the linens were lovely. When you have that many amazing individual pieces, it’s only expected that the finished puzzle will be wonderful.. and this one is pretty near perfect. See it all right this way!

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From Tamara Gruner… Jessica and Max got married on a beautiful summer day at the Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Their wedding planner, Heather from Calluna Events, went all out to create a feathery dream wedding for them. We simply love the classic feather grass, which turned the venue into a dreamy location. Jessica looked like a goddess in her stunning Galia Lahav dress, which was complemented by her cute feather Jimmy Choo shoes.

From the Bride… Max and I worked together for three years without ever speaking. In fact, the only thing I used to hear was that he accused me of using his luffa in the company showers after working out or that I spent too much money on silly marketing swag.

We didn’t have much to talk about until a fateful night at The Pub in late 2013. I had spent the day with my friend Tori packing for a relocation to Dallas, TX. We decided to take a break and went out to The Pub for a drink where I spotted Max. Since we had never spoken (and I was pretty sure he still didn’t know my name after three years of working together), I told Tori that I was just going to say hello real quick… quite a while later Tori came looking for me. Much to my surprise, Max was Mr. Talkative for the first time ever… I later found out I was a decoy for the two chatty blondes next to him.

The next week at work Max signed for some more of my expensive marketing grub, and the stuff somehow got lost. I was very upset and worried about explaining it to my boss. At the time, we could not locate the boxes anywhere, but he did offer to buy me a beer that evening to help ease my anxiety.

We met up a few times before my relocation to TX. After that we kept up via text and phone calls until I talked Max into coming to Steamboat, CO for a ski trip with me and a group of my friends (I figured I would invite him since we were staying at his cousin’s place). We still disagree on if I signaled Max to sit next to me by the fireside in Steamboat or if I was just stretching my neck, but the truth is that we’ve been inseparable ever since.

I think Max lost the boxes on purpose… we did end up finding them just weeks before the wedding… three years after loosing them.

Photography: Tamara Gruner Photography | Videography: Elysium Productions | Event Planning: Calluna Events | Floral Design: The Perfect Petal | Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav | Cake: Megan Joy Cakes | Stationery: The Paper Merchant | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Makeup: Alchemy Face Bar | Hair: Jacqui Jolly | Lighting: PSAV | Band: SoulX | Wedding Venue: The Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa Avon, Vail Valley | Decor: Eclectic Hive | Decor: Yonder Floral And Decor House | Linen: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Charming Chairs

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We’re officially in the thick of planning! Let’s just say I had no idea what I was getting myself into by planning a wedding in 5 months. By far the most exciting parts have been wedding dress shopping and asking my bridesmaids to be a part of our big day. My bridal party consists of four close friends and my two sisters.

After my first dress appointment, I took half the gals (the others weren’t able to make it) to lunch to pop the big question. I recently found Label with Love on Etsy and knew I needed custom labels to outfit each gal’s favorite wine. The labels can be turned around pretty quickly which is awesome if you’re in a time crunch and they have tons of designs to go with your wedding vibe.

I opted for the cactus style since we’re getting married in Mexico! The great part is that they can go on any bottle, including sparkling apple cider which worked out perfectly for my 15 yr old sister.

I’ve always wanted to build a Boxfox for my future bridesmaids and they had the perfect products to create a customized box for my gals. They were a hit!

In my Bridesmaids custom Boxfox:

Rifle Paper Co. Passport Notebooks – After all, it’s a destination wedding!
2 hot pink Le Pens – The best pens out there!
Sugarfina Champagne gummies – C’mon, you know they’re SO good.
Compartes California Dark Chocolate – We’re all Cali girls!
Herbivore Rose misting spray – Perfect for travel and one of my faves.

Boxfox also makes it super easy with two curated Bridesmaid boxes in case you’re looking for something already made. You can also ship them straight to your gals which is great for out of town bridesmaids! I did it for one of mine that lives in San Francisco. I’m so happy to have these babes standing by my side at our upcoming wedding in March!

In case you missed it, I chatted wedding budget on EDP a few weeks ago as that’s been one of the biggest hurdles for us as a couple. Personally, I’m going back and forth on a few dresses and need to pull the trigger here soon since time is of the essence.

Stay tuned, can’t wait to share more as we prepare for #APLUSABIGDAY.

Photography: Marie Buck Photography | Ashley's Dress: TheStylist LA | Bridesmaids' Boxes: BOXFOX | Wine Labels: Labels With Love

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Thinking of saying “I do” in South Beach? Then let this gorgeous wedding (and couple) be your guide. Literally everything about their day screams total glamour – from the decor to the dance ’til your drop reception to the luxurious W South Beach locale. Find out so much more about throwing your very own dream wedding below.

Miami is made for marrying. And the W South Beach? They know how to get it done. From your very first moments of planning to your last sip of champagne, their team of wedding professionals will help you create that wedding you’ve always wanted, just like this gorgeous couple’s Big Day. They definitely took advantage of the amazing views from the oceanfront locale, awesome venue choices (indoor AND outdoor) and customizable menus. We love the way they transformed the Great Room into an ultra-luxe Miami party, and are especially smitten with The Grove for an al fresco reception up to 150 and the Cabana at WET for an intimate celebration if you’re looking for something a bit different. And don’t even get us started on the gorgeous rooms, guest amenities and fun activities. We love the WOW factor.

Whether you plan on saying “I do” with just a few close friends and family or want to throw the celebration of the century like this stunning duo, the W South Beach can make it all happen… and beautifully. From their amazing staff to their Whatever/Whenever® service (they’ll truly bend over backwards) to their awesome wedding packages, you honestly can’t go wrong. For site tours and booking, contact Marina Serret at 305.938.3028 to get your Miami party started.

Contact the W South Beach to ask about SAYING “I DO” IN STYLE

• Complimentary in-suite couples massage for bride and groom during the wedding weekend
• 1 -Year-Anniversary complimentary room night with breakfast in bed
• Cabana for the day after the wedding with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot
• Complimentary 1 Hour of Wonderful Bar
• Special pricing for Rehearsal Dinner and Wedding Brunch available
• Minimum revenue applies

Photography : Max Photo | Wedding Dress: Stephen Yearick | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Makeup: Veronica Gonzalez | DJ: DJ Xio | Officiant: South Florida Officiant | Monogram, escort cards, welcome sign, & welcome bag stationary: Siuleth of Eleven Note | Bridal Robes: Etsy | Cake and Dessert Bar: Elegant Temptations | Ceremony and Reception Venue: W South Beach | Floral Design and Decor: Nellie Matos | Here Comes the Bride Sign: The Ritzy Rose | Programs: Infinity Paper | Reserved Sign: Etsy