You might think the panic of an impending tornado would be enough to make a bride lose her cool – but not Kayla. She and her husband-to-be, Joe went with the flow and luck was certainly on their side. They enjoyed a wedding right at the perfect golden hour with their dearest ones along to celebrate. See how it all unfolded with captures from Brittany Jean Photography.

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From Brittany Jean Photography… You would never know that Kayla and Joe’s wedding day was welcomed by a tornado warning – Kayla was so at peace with the fact that by the end of this day, she would have her sweet husband by her side, so the weather didn’t shake her one bit! Thankfully, the bad weather moved through town more quickly than anticipated and as they shared their first kiss, the clouds parted and brought us an incredibly gorgeous golden hour!

This was my first time back at Vintage Villas since their recent renovation and I have to say, they completely blew me away! I love the openness the space has now – better than I could have ever imagined. Kayla and Joe love being on the water – they got engaged on a boat! It was only natural that they promised each other forever with beautiful views of the lake. I cannot begin to count how many times I saw Joe staring at his beautiful bride in complete adoration all day. You can see it in the way he holds her, looks at her, and kisses her with so much intention, that she is the most incredible woman he’s ever laid eyes on.

Photography: Brittany Jean Photography | Floral Design: Black Petal Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Brides By Elizabeth | Cake: Michelle’s Patiserie | Invitations: Shine Wedding Invitations | Ceremony Venue: Vintage Villas | Reception Venue: Vintage Villas | Catering: Vintage Villas | Makeup + Hair : Lola Beauty | DJ: Toast Entertainment | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Place Cards: Lithesome Lettering

For those of us who aren’t “morning people”, we hear about the morning wedding trend and scoff. We immediately think a morning wedding means we have to get up at 4:00 a.m. to start getting ready, but that’s completely untrue.

While a downside may be that you have to get up a tad earlier than normal, there are many upsides to morning weddings that will outweigh that whole “early” part.

Ashley Bosnick Photography

It’s Cost Effective
While the most common times to get married are in the evening within wedding season (May to October), they’re also the most expensive time to get married. This is one of the biggest and best advantages to having a morning wedding. Since the morning weddings aren’t as common, venues, and vendors have more availability which allows them to keep their costs lower.

Um, Hello, BRUNCH
In my mind brunch should be the only reason you need to have a morning wedding. The possibilities with the menu are literally endless. And can I just say these words: cinnamon roll wedding cake. Let that sink in for just a sec. After the ceremony, you could kick off the reception with a cocktail hour of Bellini’s, mimosas, and Bloody Marys! Then have a coffee bar, a scrumptious brunch buffet, and sweet treats consisting of pastries, donuts, scones, fruit and more!

Availability
One of the stressful parts of wedding planning is searching for the perfect venue and realizing they don’t have the date you’re looking for. Unless you’re planning a wedding years in advance, you’ll most likely have to weigh your priorities and let go of one of your plans for either the date or the location. Luckily, if you have a morning wedding, you won’t have to experience this. Since morning weddings aren’t common and overdone, venues typically have more availability which means less stress for your planning and every detail aligns to your heart’s desire.

Emily Steffen Photography

More Time to Relax
One of the things people don’t often tell you about an evening wedding is how exhausted you are at the end of the day. Even when you have an evening wedding, you’re up early dragging out the process of getting ready, the pictures, and more. There’s many parts to the day where you’re sitting and waiting but you’re still going through the motions of being a bride all day so by the time you run through your sparkler exit and get to the hotel, you’re exhausted. If you have a morning wedding, yes you get up earlier, but you leave your reception around 2 p.m. so you have more time to relax with your new spouse when you leave, and ultimately that’s the most important. Or, keep the party going with your nearest and dearest with some downtime at your hotel pool or other relaxing activity.

Bridal Attire Flexibility
Morning weddings are perfect for authentically customizing your look on your wedding day. Evening weddings can often dictate the material and silhouette of your wedding dress and overall bridal look. Morning weddings allow you to be as casual, dressy, or unique as you like. You could wear a dress in a beautiful pastel color or even a light watercolor floral print… or play with silhouettes and try a knee length dress, or midi wrap dress. The possibilities for your bridal look are endless and the morning wedding will compliment it beautifully.

Morning weddings overall are more cost effective, flexible, and (when you get down to the details), so fun! Look at the sample morning wedding timeline below and consider how beautiful and stress-free your brunch wedding will be.

onelove photography

Realistic Morning Wedding Timeline
7:00 a.m. – Wake up
7:30 a.m. – Get ready
9:00 a.m. – Take bridal party photos
10:00 a.m. – Ceremony begins
10:20 a.m. – Announcement of husband and wife
10:30 a.m. – Mimosa hour begins / bride & groom take photos
11:30 a.m. – Bridal party enters reception, buffet can begin
11:45 a.m. – Eating and toasts
12:30 p.m. – Dancing, mingling, and cake
1:30 p.m.– Exit!

Emily Steffen Photography

Style Me Pretty Contributor – Kylie Thompson is a freelance writer, blogger and marketing professional from Grand Rapids Michigan, where she resides with her husband. 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.

Think fancy dresses are only for weddings? Think again. The day you say I do isn’t the only day for twirling and fluffing layers of pretty, oh no, you’ve got anniversaries to look forward to my darlings. Just take a cue from this anni sesh in Germany captured by Michael and Carina. With beauty by Emily Artistry and a to. die. for. blush Reem Acra dress, these two got to release their inner bride and groom all over again.

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From Michael and Carina Photography… The Schlossresidenz in Ludwigsburg, Germany with its stunning architecture made for the most beautiful backdrop for this dreamy destination anniversary session for our wonderful fellow creative, Emily and her husband. They danced in the historic halls of the palace, it was like a fairy tale! With the entire palace to themselves, it was such a romantic atmosphere. Emily is wearing a blush gown by Reem Acra, which is accented by her soft loose curls. Die Kathe, a wonderful local florist, designed the perfect organic bouquet to go with the look.

Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Floral Design: Die Kathe | Jewelry: Suz Somersall | Hair and Makeup: Emily Artistry | Calligraphy: Corsivo Calligraphy | Mens Attire: J.Crew | Dress Designer: Reem Acra | Dress Salon: Gossamer | Event Venue: Schlossresidenz Ludwigsburg | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab

Hawaiian vacations have nothing on this stunning destination affair. It has the telltale beauty of a tropical getaway but with the heart-felt emotion of saying I Do in front of all your loved ones. And with Carmen Santorelli behind the lens, all of that emotion combined with elegant details and blooms by Before I Do Events + MartinRoberts Design are captured in the most gorgeous of ways.

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From the Bride… It is simply impossible to convey the intense love, joy and laughter that filled our hearts on our wedding day. Not only did our wedding feel like a real life fairytale but we were able to share it with so many of our friends and family.

As an Event Planner myself, I was naturally involved with every aspect of planning our big day. I loved every minute of it and was excited that it was finally our turn!

First things first – a venue! We knew we wanted a destination wedding. We did not have to think long and hard before the notion of Hawaii really rang true, and what better island than the untouched, rare and stunning coastline of Kauai. Kauai simply is us! Every element of the island. The charming beach towns, the tropical air, the effortless style of the day to day, the feel and the energy. We vacationed here as a couple and even got engaged atop the highest mountain peak in Kauai overlooking the breathtaking Na Pali Coast. Therefore making it the perfect place for us to get married because it truly embodies everything we love. Destination check!

The wedding was not just a day, it was a series of activity after activity over the course of four days. Whether it was the beachside welcome luau, the group hike, a stunning ocean side rehearsal dinner, or our post-wedding brunch and beach day – there was always something. We definitely kept our guests busy as we were excited to share the island that we love and for them to truly experience the island. All the events leading up to the big day were some of the best moments of my life but nothing could come close to competing with the wedding.

The wedding day started out with our beautiful wedding party. While the boys surfed us girls well, we “beautied”, we laughed, we cried, and held close to each minute that was already passing by. The nervous excitement was real and we were so honored to have our core with us by our side.

And, now it was time! We drove to our wedding location, Na Aina Kai which is a stunning 250 acre botanical garden and teak plantation. The ceremony, cocktail hour and reception had 3 different locations all showing off its own beauty and charm to the guests. The vibe of Na Aina Kai is straight magical. You feel like you are floating in a lush jungle surrounded by crystal blue waters and dramatic deep green mountains. One of my favorite moments of the day was when the conch blower blew the Pū (that’s the conch shell) before I walked down the aisle to mark the official beginning – THAT moment was straight out of a story book! When the Pū is blown, depending on how many times and in which direction it all has a complex set of sacred and blessed meanings to it. The excitement of that and the walk down with my Dad to my future husband totally captured my heart.

Every detail was simply stunning. We wanted the design to be naturally beautiful and fitting with Kauai. The oversized white tent against all the green palms, to our beautiful design elements and tablescapes that were a dreamy mix of whites, creams, golds and greens to the personalized Prosecco bottles at every guest table so that our guests could be “poppin’ bottles” throughout the entire night. Oh, and lets not forget the authentic Hawaiian family-style dinner that everyone shared, and the amazing dance PARTY with all of our favorite people! The emotional toasts, those were THE best, the most heartfelt, funny and beautiful speeches we’ve truly ever heard. It was a beautiful whirlwind!

Mike and I remember looking at each other and then out into the crowd multiple times throughout the evening and seeing so much love. The most love we’ve ever felt all at once.

Photography: Carmen Santorelli Photography | Cinematography: Enjet Media | Coordination: I Do Weddings Kauai | Design + Styling: Before I Do Events | Wedding Gown: Pronovias | Cakes: Kawaii Designs Hawaii | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu | Catering : Destination Events Hawaii | Hair + Makeup: Mia Moriguchi LLC | Lighting: ET Events Kauai | DJ: Kevin Miso | Groomsmen's Attire: The Black Tux | Transportation: North Shore Transportation, Kauai | Wedding Venue: Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens | Bridal Boutique: M Bride Salon | Bridesmaid Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Champagne Bags: To Be Designed | Floral + Design: MartinRoberts Design | Linen Rentals: Hostess Haven | Personalized Decor: To Be Designed | Print Work: Worboys Design | Rentals: Kauai Tent

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to pull out your passport for a destination wedding. In fact, New Yorkers, Megan and Will, chose to simply bring all their people down south for a lovefest in the French Quarter. The incredible Lance Nicoll photographed their 3-day celebration and come wedding day the NOLA Dukes kept guests partying well into the night. Congrats to Megan and Will!

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From Lance Nicoll… Megan and Will, New York City residents and avid travelers, brought their international crowd of family and friends to New Orleans for a 3-day event that culminated in their wedding celebration. Megan and Will began the day with a first look because they wanted to spend every minute possible together. The courtyard of the French Quarter home rental was where they first saw each other on their wedding day. A short but eventful walk led Megan and Will to their wedding party for beautiful family portraits on the steps of the New Orleans Courthouse, which sits across the street from their ceremony location.

At the conclusion of their joyous union, the newly married couple and guests marched with their very own brass band down the gorgeous Marche. Guests were then treated to an elegant sit-down dinner and proceeded to dance the night away.

Avid sailors, the couple had Bittersweet Confections create the cutest sailboat themed groom’s cake to accompany the wedding cake. Firefly Ambiance saw to it that the design work of Weddings By LuLu was perfectly accented. Floral design, which included a beautiful ceremony arch, was done by the talented Fat Cat Flowers. Megan’s elegant white and blush filled wedding day was filled with both joy and love.

Photography: Lance Nicoll Wedding Photography | Videography: Bella Productions | Floral Design: Fat Cat Flowers, LLC | Cake: Bittersweet Confections | Ceremony Venue: Brennan's | Reception Venue: Marche | Beauty: Verde Beauty Studio | Decor: Firefly Ambiance | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Music: NOLA Dukes Band | Planning + Design: Weddings By Lulu

In a few short days, my fiance and I will tie the knot at our alma mater. The place where we met and fell in love obviously holds an incredibly dear sport in our hearts. In fact, throughout the wedding process, we were brimming with ideas of how we could incorporate personal details, and details inspired by our wedding venue, into our big day. Still, I was cautious—I wanted the day to feel personal, but not like an over the top theme party.

Chances are, you also selected your venue because of the meaning it holds to you – whether it’s where you grew up, fell in love, or lived for a few years. Follow along for a few tips from the experts to create the perfectly personalized wedding day!

Start with your venue for inspiration.
You chose this gorgeous spot for a reason! Spend some time during the planning process taking it all in and looking in unexpected places for inspiration. For example, our chapel has an ornate and unique wood molding around the doors – we ended up using it as a border for our invitation suite! Julie Bunkley, Creative Director of Invision Events, also encourages couples to look for details locally, they can be incorporated as favors, welcome gifts, or decor (in the case of locally grown florals).

Mix it up.
How do you make sure you don’t go overboard with your theme? “Matchy-matchy is always a problem. Take your core design and bring in texture, pattern and colors,” says Julie.

For my fiance and I, we found it helpful to choose several motifs in complementary colors we could mix and match across our day, like dark green ivy and our pale grey monogram. We could play with versions of the images, and shades of the colors, to make each element feel special.

It’s all about the details.
The smallest details can often end up being the most striking, and the most touching. Don’t overlook elements like flowers or stationery—Julie stresses that a bride’s bouquet can end up being one of “the most personal elements of the entire wedding.” In addition to spending the time to research the flowers, “you can add family pieces like a broach, piece of jewelry, rosary, handkerchief, monogrammed ribbon” to bring a photogenic and meaningful detail to life.

We ended up working with an amazingly talented (and affordable) artist on Etsy to design our stationery suite, and she even designed a monogram logo for us that incorporated a pattern of bricks unique to our area of the country!

A family affair.
Your family is sure to be involved in the planning process (some members may even be going overboard here), so why not pick through their attics as well as their brains? What you find could make for a unique addition to your decor, and will be even more fun when there’s a story behind each piece. “I love when family silver collections are used in the table settings or collections of porcelain that are used with the flower arrangements,” says Julie.

Think outside the box
You should absolutely coordinate colors, themes, and decor with the natural backdrop your venue offers (don’t go for beachy boho-chic if you’re working with an overly ornate ballroom), but also don’t be afraid to get creative to highlight unexpected elements of your venue, says Julie. For my fiance and I, our ultimate reception spot wasn’t even a space typically used for weddings, but we loved the natural backdrops, so we asked and they were happy to put a tent there!

Customization doesn’t have to cost you.
Finally, don’t feel like a personalized day has to totally blow your budget. Julie points out that your menu is the “ultimate playground – whether you use food stations that speak to where you are from or places you and your groom traveled to together or even design a seated meal with menus that detail how your food speaks to you as a couple”.

You have to eat, so why not put the thoughts into the menu choices (and don’t forget—look local!) I’ll also add that our custom cocktail napkins were one of my favorite parts of the decor, and they were ultimately no more expensive than renting the linen ones the caterer offered.

Style Me Pretty Contributor – Chloe O’Sullivan is a freelance writer and sales director based in Washington DC (soon relocating to Northern New Hampshire). When she isn’t writing, she can be found trying new restaurants, planning her next trip, or hiking with her soon to be husband.

You’ve booked your destination wedding venue and are preparing the details to make everything wonderful. Your guests are excited to celebrate with you, and more than a few of them are turning that week into a mini vacation to make the most of their time off. Help them with a few ideas of what to do during the days before and after the wedding celebration with a DIY destination wedding activity map! It’s easy to do, fun to create, and a memento guests can use to explore the area you say “I do” in!

DIY Destination Wedding Maps

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DIY Destination Wedding Maps

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Style Me Pretty Contributor –  Jessica Koltun is a freelance hand letterer and graphic designer based in the San Francisco bay area.  When she isn’t sketching out fresh ideas, she can be found reading a good book with cup of tea in hand, spending time with family, or exploring the mountains with her photographer husband. 

Neutrals have dominated the wedding world over the past several years, and truth be told? We’re so ready for a bold dose of color. Luckily Angela and Nealon’s Chinese-American wedding is everything we’ve been waiting for, including an incredible use of red from start to finish. Kudos to Lovelyfest for bringing together the design elements and to Kelsea Holder for all the photos we have right at your fingertips.

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From Lovelyfest Events… Angela and Nealon, two San Francisco natives, looked far and wide for an intimate yet modern venue for their October nuptials. Instead of planning an extravagant Chinese-American wedding in the city, the two decided that Biddle Ranch Vineyard in the quaint town of San Luis Obispo would be the perfect spot to say “I Do”. They came to us at Lovelyfest with open minds and wanted to defer to us when it came to the design and feel of their wedding day. Angela told us she wanted the wedding to have a Grecian feel with a rich color palette and beautiful accents. It was important to her that all of their friends and family felt comfortable as they gathered around to celebrate the day. Bringing the indoors out was an integral part of the overall wedding design.The two wanted their outdoor wedding to feel as intimate as if their guests were in their living room. Angela’s deep connection to her Chinese heritage was another very important aspect she wanted to incorporate. And although they weren’t getting married in the city where they fell in love, they wanted to bring a part of San Francisco into their day as well.

With all of those factors in mind, we came up with a design using a color palette of bold lilac, rouge red and peach tones. Rich textures such as velvet, local figs and pomegranates, amethyst geodes and wood gave it a Grecian vibe, and the red symbolized her beloved Chinese heritage. We brought in Laurel at Adornments Florals to adorn the ceremony and reception with her lush florals. She added figs and pomegranates to the gorgeous red and peach arrangements and each arrangement was overflowing in an asymmetrical design. The ceremony was adorned with a red Oriental rug and heavy florals cascading down a faux mantle at the altar. This brought in the “living room” feeling Angela desired. We handmade the escort display with their beloved city in mind, a gold string art Golden Gate Bridge, the perfect symbol of San Francisco. Custom Minted escort cards lined the beautiful lilac velvet and wood table. Their alfresco dinner was an intimate gathering on the lawn complete with long oak tables, velvet runners, figs and fig leaves, candlesticks, amethysts and gold flatware. The florals were abundant and full of rich red and peach accents.

Trumpet Vine Catering curated multiple San Francisco inspired dishes for our couple, including their Red Curry and Sweet Potato soup. Everything was absolutely beautiful and delicious. A dessert table full of Paper Cake Event’s carefully crafted desserts was full of delicate macarons, a semi-naked gold leafed cake and an array of custom galettes and other sweet treats. It was a dream to style this table using our antique cake plates and platters on another beautifully soft lilac velvet linen from La Tavola Linens.

The night was full of love, fun, and beauty. Kelsea Holder Photography captured it all perfectly and guests were in awe over the details and lovely setting Biddle Ranch Vineyard brings. We are so happy to let the world see this beautiful day.

Photography: Kelsea Holder Photography | Event Design: Lovelyfest | Floral Design: ADORNMENTS flowers + finery | Dress: Allure Bridal | Cake: Paper Cake Events | Invitations: Nibby Press | Catering: Trumpet Vine Catering | Hair + Makeup: Danielle Roberts | DJ: Manuel Barba | Groom's Suit: Ralph Lauren | Groomsmen Suits: Black Tie Tuxedos | Officiant: Karekin Yarian | Venue: Biddle Ranch Vineyard | Brides Accessories: BHLDN | Bridesmaid Dress: Bill Levkoff | Groom's Bowtie and Braces: Ede and Ravenscroft | Groom's Shirt: Hugo Boss | Groom's Shoes: Cole Haan | Headpiece: Untamed Petals | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Paper Goods: For Your Party | Paper Goods: Minted | Rentals: All About Events | Veil: Blanca Veils | Vintage Furniture: Botanica Specialty Rentals

While planning a wedding as a whole can be quite the stress-filled undertaking in itself, one of the particularly daunting aspects of the process is determining your approach to catering. We all want our wedding guests to leave the party feeling full and happy, but it is just so easy to get bogged down in so many details when planning a menu. As many of us who have planned events in our lives know, there are a wealth of things to consider regarding food service – from service style, to cuisine type, to types of plates to use, to beverages to serve… And the list goes on! It’s no wonder that arranging your wedding catering can be one of the toughest tasks any Bride or Groom faces on the way to the altar.

Fortunately, there are ways to make sure that you aren’t facing too many headaches as you seek to wow your guest with your wedding menu. Kathryn Albarado, owner of Dagar’s Catering in Austin, Texas, provides three simple tips that will help guide you through this process in an organized and focused way. A catering expert in her own regard, Kathryn’s tips are sure to aid in making this part of your wedding planning process a straightforward and enjoyable one!

Know Your Style

To quote my favorite movie, The Notebook, you first have to ask yourself one thing: “What do you want?!” All joking aside, it is best to decide first and foremost what type of cuisine would represent your wedding vision best. Once you have an idea of what this might be, it is important to then consider the service style that could best suit this cuisine; from passed hors d’oeuvres and buffet service to food stations, plated meals, and family style options, most caterers are equipped to offer a number of service styles to best suit your needs. In making such a decision, it is important to remember that more labor-intensive service styles (like made-to-order stations or plated dinner service) tend to cost more as they require more staff. Once your caterer has a concise vision of what you want for cuisine and service styles, it will make it a lot easier to meet your expectations.

Know Your Guests

While your wedding is ultimately all about celebrating you and your spouse-to-be, it is important to consider your guests when making certain decisions with catering. Remember that this is your first hosted event as a married couple; part of that responsibility is to provide your guests with food and drink that they will enjoy. If you and your spouse-to-be absolutely love canned sardines, by all means serve canned sardines at your wedding if it will make your day a special one! However, do not forget that other guests may not share your unique tastes across the board, so it’s wise to also include more universally friendly items – at least in a portion of your menu offerings.

It is also considerate to inquire about major dietary restrictions present in some of your guests, notably regarding food allergies, vegetarianism/veganism, and gluten-free diets. Most caterers can accommodate these restrictions with ease, provided that your budget allows for it and you notify them in advance. Lastly, if you know kids will be present at your event, it doesn’t hurt to have a few kid-friendly food options and beverages – even in limited quantities.

Ultimately, you never want your guests to walk away from your wedding saying, “That was lovely, but I’m still hungry!” Your guests will stay and party with you all night if they are full and happy. On the other hand, they will be out the door faster if there isn’t enough food or drink that is enjoyable to them. Simply put, it’s smart to keep in mind your personal tastes alongside the wide range of tastes and dietary restrictions of your many guests, aiming somewhere for the middle-ground when planning your menu. It may sound like a daunting task, but this part of the process can also be a blast (food tastings!), so have fun with it!

Know Your Budget

It’s the word everyone dreads when seeking out catering quotes: “BUDGET.” Creating a unique and delicious menu can be exciting, but having to consider the reality of your budget after the fact can be a bit of a downer, especially once you first see your catering quote.

There are two ways to work around the sticker shock that tends to come with throwing all your dream menu ideas out to your caterer and getting back a high-end quote. The first is to identify the items on your dream menu that are must-haves, no matter what. I always ask my couples, “If there was one thing you couldn’t live without on this menu, what would it be?” It is a great help to start with these – the items you know you have to have on your menu – and build the menu out from there. Second, it helps to consider alternative and more cost-effective service options ahead of time that you might also be okay with. You may have had your heart set on a family-style dinner service initially, but if you are looking to trim your catering quote, perhaps moving over to a buffet service instead would help cut costs without taking away from your actual menu selections. If you can keep these points in mind and remain flexible in the quote process, your caterer will be set up to successfully help you realize a menu that is ultimately going to be perfect for your big day and easier on your wallet.

Once a Bride and Groom have found their ideal style, budget, and finalized guest list, the fun begins with planning the menu. Whether you’re in search of an oyster bar or a wedding cake shaped like a unicorn, the pre-planning makes the process of customizing the menu for that special day a much easier task. Sometimes finding those creative ways to cut costs, like opting for an interactive s’mores bar instead of an ice sculpture, adds a personalized touch to your wedding and creates a fun experience for guests. At the end of the day, the guests are there for the Bride and Groom and will appreciate any extra detail that highlights such a memorable event.

Photography: Taylor Lord Photography | Expert Advice: Dagar’s Catering of Austin

Many brides and grooms wish to incorporate wedding elements from their culture and family traditions as a way of honoring their past and their families. Cultural traditionss are meant to bless and honor the couple as they embark on their new journey together as man and wife!

Here’s a look at four unbelievably beautiful traditions from around the world.

Leah Kua

Chinese Tea Ceremony

The Chinese Tea ceremony is a pre-wedding celebration that is the most sacred ritual of Chinese nuptials. It serves as the bride’s symbolic introduction to the groom’s family. While the exact presentation can vary, the ceremony revolves around the serving of tea to both sets of families as a way of showing their acceptance of the marriage.

A complete tea set represents harmony and togetherness. Traditionally, the tea set was part of the bride’s dowry and became something she’d save for her own daughter’s ceremony one day. Sweet tea itself is believed to bring happiness to the couple and to help foster good relations between the bride and the groom’s parents. Legend has it that if you place lotus seeds and two red dates in the teapot, children will come into the marriage early on and ensure a lifetime of happiness.

Josh Gruetzmacher Photography

Indian Hindu Mehndi

Traditional Hindu weddings are often big and elaborate affairs filled with different festivities before, during and after the wedding. The pre-wedding painting of the hands and feet of the bride, called a mehndi, is both incredibly beautiful and also filled with tradition and meaning. Henna has been used for hundreds of years to increase the blessings to the couple. Traditional henna tattoos include dedications to Hindu gods and goddesses and depictions of sacred symbols, and modern day designs often hide the groom’s initials among the intricate patterns.

Elizabeth Nord Photography

Greek Wedding Crowns

For Greek Orthodox weddings, there are multiple traditional rituals that are performed throughout the ceremony, each full of profound symbolism and meaning, but the Crowning is the centerpiece. Signifying the nobility of marriage, the priest crowns the couple as queen and king of their home. The priest places the crowns on the couple’s heads while they face the altar, and then the crowns are swapped on the couple’s heads three times. Most rituals are performed three times each, to represent the Holy Trinity.

According to ancient custom, the crowns are to stay with the couple for life—some couples are even buried in them! Crowns are fashioned from any durable material, like garland wreaths, flowers, or semi-precious stones and are joined by a white ribbon to represent unity.

Sophie Kaye Photography

Celtic Claddagh Ring

The Claddagh ring is one of the most well-known Irish wedding traditions, but most people probably don’t realize the significance or symbolism behind them. The ring features a center heart, held in place by two hands with a crown on top, and are typically passed down from mother to daughter. They represent love, friendship, and loyalty.

The hand it is worn on, and the direction the heart is pointing, speaks to the bride’s marital status. Single ladies wear the ring on their right hand with the point of the heart facing downward. When in a relationship, the ring is turned around, symbolizing that her heart has been captured. And when the woman becomes engaged, the ring is moved over to her left hand, with the point of the heart facing the fingers, with it finally being flipped around at the wedding.

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.

These Brides had two priorities when planning their nuptials – a pretty, outdoor celebration and an incredible, live band. They got both – the simple elegance of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum provided the most gorgeous backdrop for their special day, in full bloom after the recent rain in Southern California, and the talented Lucky Devils Band kept their guests entertained long into the evening. Treebird Photography captured all the beauty, so scroll on to see some of our favorites and then head to the Vault for the rest!

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From the Brides… We met working together in 2009 in Downtown Los Angeles, and the friendship was immediate. Over the years, we became close friends, and in the summer of 2012 we found ourselves gradually falling in love, one adventure at a time! In 2013, Nikki moved to Venice Beach to be a boardwalk bike ride away from Alicia. We spent the next two years falling in love in the Southern California sun. Many days were spent bike riding through the side streets of Venice, exploring our eccentric beach community or sunbathing on the beach. In the fall of 2015, we packed up our bikes and long boards and moved an hour and a half north to Santa Barbara. Shortly after moving to Santa Barbara, Nikki proposed to Alicia on a weekend getaway in Downtown Los Angeles at Alicia’s favorite pizza place by writing, “Will You Marry Me” with pepperoni. Alicia’s love for pizza, and most importantly, Nikki, made it easy to say “YES!”

When we first sat down to discuss our future wedding, there were two things at the top of our “Must Have” list: an outdoor wedding and a band. We lived in Santa Barbara at the time of our engagement, and although we would be moving back to Los Angeles before the wedding, we knew we had have it in Santa Barbara once we found the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. Located in the historic district of downtown Santa Barbara, the museum showcases the early 19th century Spanish Mission Style often seen around California and widely in Santa Barbara.

When deciding on the decor for our wedding, we chose to embrace the natural beauty offered by the museum. Our amazing florist, Amy Pillar at BrightInc, was able to incorporate the simple elegance of the museum’s soft tones into our color palette by using a mix of cream, white, and green with an emphasis on silvery green foliage highlighted by blush and gold accents. As if the venue wasn’t beautiful enough to begin with, after all the rain we received in Southern California, the venue was in full bloom and even offered some unexpected buttercup flowers. The tables were a combination of round and ranchero rectangular tables, with the round tables draped with ivory linen and the ranchero tables exposed to show the dark cherry wood. We placed large centerpieces on the round tables, and draped the ranchero tables with garland and placed simple votives throughout the greenery.

Photography: Trinity Tolbert Of Treebird Photography | Event Planning: Amazing Days Events | Floral Design: Bright Inc. | Wedding Dresses: Alfred Angelo | Cake: Chooket by your Cake Baker | Invitations: Minted | Catering: El Zarape | Makeup: Leslie Zuniga | Makeup: Alison Cristofar | Hair: John Vance Hathaway | Lighting: Bella Vista Designs, Inc | Band: Lucky Devils Band | Venue: Santa Barbara Historical Museum

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Lucky Devils Band

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Steeped in Southern beauty, this simple yet elegant affair spans from a ceremony under the most majestic old tree to sunset portraits dockside and dancing under the stars. In other words, it’s gorgeous and all planned by Serene Occasions with photography by Sarah and Paul. Have a look here for even more.

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From the Photographer… Daniel and Hannah’s wedding was a simple but classic wedding. With help from close family and friends, they made simple details such as flowers and table settings something special. The Eden Gardens State Park plantation home made for a classic southern background. Saying their vows under the old-fashioned wedding tree with moss swaying in the wind made you feel as though you had traveled back in time. Hannah’s wedding dress was just perfect for the wedding, with just the right amount of tulle to make her look whimsical and classic all at the same time. Daniel sported a nice navy blue suit with a bow tie to bring it all together. Surround by their close friends and family, they tied the knot. Afterwards, Daniel and Hannah had their reception under the mossy trees with cafe lighting to light the night as they danced their first dance together. It was a modest reception with only the special details to make it stand out.

Photographer: Sarah And Paul Photography | Wedding planner: Serene Occasions | Floral Design: Bride & Family DIY | Wedding Dress: Mori Lee | Bakery: Whole Foods Market | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Weddington Way | Caterer: Chef Max Hornsby | Officiant: Kim Cannon | Ceremony Music: Michelle Adams | Eden Gardens State Park : Eden Gardens State Park | Event Rentals: Serene Occasions | Reception Music: Kyle LaMonica

It does not get any more luxurious than a palace wedding tucked amongst the beautiful tiles of Portugal. This destination beauty is infused with the elegance and sheer gorgeousness of Lisbon plus the design and floral expertise of The Wedding Company. Through the stunning images of Joseba Sandoval, you’ll be transported to an alfresco dinner covered in blooms and held amongst the hedge mazes of the Fronteira Palace.

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From the Photographer… As a wedding photographer in Lisbon this city is one of those capitals in the world, that is surrounded by a veil of mystery but once unveiled it is a shock of pleasure. Centuries of history manifested through its architecture, culture, gardens, art, music etc. Tiled paintings that exhibit themselves and stand the test of time on its walls at a touch of a finger.. The Fronteira Palace in Lisbon is certainly one of those. The noble Fronteira Palace stands majestic with its red facade and exhibits its splendour through the silence of its magnificent gardens, pond and the artistry of its tiled walls. For Fatima and Robb their luxury destination wedding in Lisbon became a dream come true. Jasmine Lazzari from The Wedding Company Portugal, was their wedding planner and she had the key to all those secret places and waits for the right couple to bring them alive. The perfectly cultivated garden, with its labyrinths provides the perfect backdrop for this refined luxury ceremony in Lisbon. As a film wedding photographer in Lisbon for me it is heaven!! It gives one a delightful sense of frenzy knowing there are so many photographs to be taken. Fronteira Palace offers an ideal location for a couple who wishes to share their love with their family and friends. Through the elegance and beauty of another time past. They are not only accompanied by their guests but also by tiled paintings, each one a reference to Lisbon’s history. The cultivated gardens, the decadent stone stairs etc. The classical elegance of the Palace allows the luxury wedding planner in Lisbon to continue to maintain the essence of the scenery by adding blue ceramic hand painted plates and light blue glasses on the tables. And to contrast the natural colours of the Palace and garden; red, greens and blues. The tables and verandas are adorned with rows of delicious pastel coloured flowers, that balance the strength of colour. Class, elegance with a touch of vintage are some of the elements in the planning and well reflected in the fine art photographs.

Photography: Romance Weddings by Joseba Sandoval Photography | Event Planning: The Wedding Company | Floral Design: The Wedding Company | Wedding Dress: Amato Haute Couture | Cake: Julie Deffense Artistry | Shoes: Rene Caovilla | Make up: Joana Moreira | Hair: Nuno Souto | Wedding Venue: Palace of the Marquises of Fronteira | Baskets: Companhia Das Cestas | Percussionist: Fadi

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Petit Bouquet

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This is how you mix colors and patterns! Bright colored floral arrangements, juicy popsicles, a pinstripe table runner, watercolor stationery, a vibrant signature drink, and floral patterned napkins come together for this rehearsal dinner, and the cheerful result epitomizes summer. Amy Nicole Photography captured this fresh and fun fête – get more inspiration for pairing colors and patterns in the Vault!

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From Amy Nicole Photography… Floral patterns have become a trend that is incorporated into more and more elements of weddings and wedding related events. With a bright, fun color palette, we knew that florals would be a main focus for this rehearsal dinner inspiration, but we wanted to incorporate them in a way that we haven’t seen before without being overly feminine. That’s when the floral napkins from Fine Pressed Linens became a must-use for this shoot. Mixing florals with other patterns provides such a unique design element to events, and with pinstripes coming back, we knew having a pinstripe runner would provide a subtle texture and mixture to the design. Bloom Charlottesville incorporated all the colors in the palette through the mixture of florals paired with simple white vases. The glassware and china from Festive Fare provided a modern touch to the tablescape with the classic calligraphy on the name cards from Bluestocking Calligraphy. We wanted to provide a relaxing atmosphere for the rehearsal dinner by using the bamboo chairs paired with family style seating at a farm table.

Located on the downtown mall, Old Metropolitan Hall was the perfect venue to show guests a peak into life in Charlottesville, VA. The tone of the weekend was set with the adorable welcome bags from The Detail Darling filled with local goodies and necessities. With the signature drink from Brasserie Salon, guests were reminded of the bright, colorful palette throughout the evening. Along with the signature drink, the bright colored popsicles from King of Pops were the perfect way to incorporate the summer theme to the rehearsal dinner. The classic gold and rose gold accessories from Kendra Scott paired perfectly with the off the shoulder, lace detailed “Oliver Dress” from Camilyn Beth. The suit jacket from Beecroft and Bull (a Virginia retailer) blended with the warm tones of the Bride’s accessories.

Photography: Amy Nicole Photography | Event Planning: Chancey Charm | Floral Design: Bloom Charlottesville | Jewelry: Kendra Scott Jewelry | Catering: Brasserie Saison | Makeup: Gohar Ayvazyan Makeup | Hair: Brianna B Adams | Calligraphy: Bluestocking Calligraphy | Groom's Attire: Beecroft & Bull | Linens: Pressed Fine Linens | Models: Shaina Koren | Popsicles: King Of Pops | Rehearsal Dinner: Old Metropolitan Hall | Rehearsal Dinner Dress: Camilyn Beth | Rentals: Festive Fare Event Rentals | Welcome Bags: The Detail Darling

While this architect-turned-bride admitted that wedding planning was one of the tallest tasks she’s ever taken on, I think we can all agree the payoff was pretty major. Luckily she brought on some of the best pros in the business, including Keestone Events to make sure the day went off without a hitch, and Bethany Erin captured the couple – not to mention the Dallas skyline and that Sugar Bee Sweets cake – to absolute perfection. Get your glam roof party wedding fix with even more in the gallery!

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Words from the bride… Wedding planning was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. I’m an architect — I’m used to working diligently to make intensely detailed projects come together as flawlessly as possible…so I thought planning a wedding would be a piece of cake. I was wrong. Planning and coordinating this one single day of events were quite possibly more complex and time-consuming than many of my past architecture projects! I was never that girl who knew since she was a kid what my wedding was going to look like, so I felt like I was pretty much starting with an empty canvas. However, when I got engaged, I did know I wanted an outdoor wedding with Southern charm in a historic architecture setting. Christopher and I originally planned to have our wedding in Charleston, SC. But a destination wedding in the second-most popular place to get married in America deemed near impossible within the coming year. Because we had been together for five years already, we were eager to seal the deal, and we soon decided to have the wedding in our hometown, Dallas, TX, instead.

At this point, four months into our engagement, I felt like I had to start all over with wedding planning. Which Dallas venue would provide that charming and historic southern feeling I envisioned? After lots of online searching, I stumbled across photos of the Venue at 400 North Ervay. It seemed to have everything I was looking for, and on top of that, the rooftop terrace had a bonus wow factor–I couldn’t wait to see the expressions on the guests’ faces when they walked off the elevator. This was it! Once we nailed down the Venue and wedding date, the rest of the planning seemed to fall into place. Planning a wedding is like running a marathon; you’ll become overwhelmed if you think about the 70,000 steps it’s going to take to complete it. Instead, you have to take it step by step knowing that, with time, you’ll eventually get to the finish line. I spent many nights staying up after work to find the right local vendors who, all together, would be able to help complete the look and ambiance I was going for. In the end, I lucked out with just about all of the vendors too, which, I hear, isn’t always the case.

Wedding planning seemed to be going well and time was flying; next thing I knew, I checked the calendar and noticed that we were just within the 15-day forecast window of April 1st. Little did I know, the next 15 days of my life would be the most stressful there ever were. Rain. Rain. Rain. For two weeks straight, the forecast for my wedding day was rain. I had always envisioned a beautiful outdoor wedding and now I was having to re-imagine it indoors. What about the party on the rooftop terrace? My biggest advice to any bride out there is to make sure that if you want an outdoor wedding, your Plan B will make you just as happy as your Plan An outdoor setting – otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for a potentially huge disappointment.

It was the day before my wedding, and I woke up to check the weather like a kid on Christmas morning. I still had hope. At this point, we were in the 48-hour window which allowed me to check the forecast hourly through the weekend. I thought I must have been a good kid this year because Santa had brought me “partly cloudy with a lesser chance of rain,” and I can tell you that’s the best gift I’ve ever received from Santa. Now with hope in the forecast, I was able to enjoy what turned out to be a pretty flawless wedding weekend. All the hard work was done, and I could now sit back and enjoy the best weekend of my life. I didn’t sleep much the night before the wedding; I remember the sun coming up and being so excited to get the day started. I enjoyed every minute getting ready at the Stoneleigh with my bridesmaids and my mom. We moved over to the Venue, and the ceremony was to begin at 4 pm. I’ll never forget the feeling of waiting behind the door with my bridesmaids and my dad before walking in down aisle. I heard the music I selected to have to play before and during the ceremony, and immediately it hit me, “This is really happening! I’m finally going to get to marry the man I’ve wanted to marry for years!” When the door opened and all the people there to support us on our special day stood up as my dad and I walked down the aisle, I had the most amazing and overwhelming feeling of excitement and happiness run through me. At the end of the aisle stood Christopher with a big smile and a bit of shock on his face. All the joyful feelings at that moment made all the time and stress of planning the day worth every minute.

Our entrance at the reception was another unforgettable moment. I was finally going to be able to (and very lucky to be able to) see the reception as I had envisioned it for the past six months–and it was more beautiful than I had ever expected. When the elevator doors opened, Christopher and I got to experience the wow factor of the rooftop. We were greeted by all the guests and, most importantly, our parents. One of my favorite moments of my night was getting to see all four of them, hug them, and thank them for helping this dream of a day come true. The rest of the evening flew by, and I’m so glad I have amazing photos and video footage so I can continue to relive the day now and in the future. And…the rain held off until AFTER the party on the roof top was over. I guess the only ones who were April fooled that day were us – by the weather! April 1st, 2017, will surely be a day we never forget.

Photography: Bethany Erin Photography | Videography: North Mark Films | Event Planning: Keestone Events | Florals: Forestwood Fine Florals | Cake: Sugar Bee Sweets | Stationery: Daphne Design | Hair + Makeup: Lashes And Lace Makeup and Hair | Lighting: Le Force Entertainment | DJ: DJ Davros | Venue: The Venue at 400 North Ervay | Butt Sketch Artist: Carol Marks Entertainment | Cocktail Hour Music: Eddie Healy | Getaway Car: Vintage Limos | Rentals: Top Tier | Shuttle : AJL International | Sweetheart Table Decor: Borrowed Treasures

We’ve all heard the phrase that “love knows no bounds” and for these two, that rings true in every sense. Jess, from Vancouver and Chris, from London are addicted to travel, which allowed them to find one another—and now, they’re addicted to each other. What better way to experience their sweet love than with a film from Hello Tomorrow.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/171009424 600 338]

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From Hello Tomorrow… We met Jess. We LOVED Jess. She told us we would love Chris (who was in London). We believed her. Fast forward to just before the wedding. We finally meet Chris. Jess did not lie. We do love Chris. Jess and Chris together are SO fun, super laid back and addicted to travel. They even incorporated travel into their wedding and came from their home in London to the little mountain town of Pemberton to get married (doesn’t matter that Jess is technically from Vancouver… ) As their love for travel and adventure is so apparent in all they do and the fact that BC blessed them with the best weather we’ve had to date this year – I think travel loves them too. We hope you enjoy their film!

Photography: Shari Mike Photographers | Cinematography: Hello Tomorrow Wedding Films | Event Design: Flock Events | Floral Design: Flowers And Jules | Band: Side One | Guestbook Photography: Adam And Kev Photography | Location: North Arm Farm

When you spend your days designing gorgeous weddings and events, it goes without saying that you are a purveyor of the pretty stuff. And for the owner of Blossoming Interiors, that pretty stuff included a home office redo captured by Evonne & Darren. Decked out in blush and gold and some bubbly too, see where Marie Luciano crafts the happiest ever afters.

From Marie Luciano of Blossoming Interiors… As the owner of Blossoming Interiors, full-time mom and wife, Marie Luciano is used to having to multitask for her wedding planning business and home life. Maintaining a work/life balance is no easy feat for a business owner, but having a home office definitely helps.

Romantic, Whimsey & Fun were just some of the words that came to mind when designing my brand and that is exactly how I want my office to feel. Since my office is in my home, I wanted to make it feel welcoming for my clients when they come in for consultations and design meetings. This was in the forefront of my mind when deciding every piece in my office.

 I also wanted a place that felt inspiring for myself and not a cluttered mess of nicknacks. At the end of the day I wanted you to step into my office and feel my brand. My clients should walk in and feel confident in my abilities to plan one of the biggest days of their lives, arguably the biggest day of their life. It was important that my office felt like an escape where I could get into the zone, an inspiration for my creative mindset.

My advice to those looking to start designing their home office is to be patient and stick to the plan. You should choose a piece which inspires you most and then build your design aesthetic around it. For me it had to be my lamp, which I came across in a local model home tour with my husband. I just knew I had to have it for my home office. 

 From their, the gold and white theme just made sense. I added hints of pink because it’s one of my happy colors, the color of my favorite flower, the Peony. I hope you enjoyed having a little preview into my home office and hopefully it inspires you to create your own favorite work space.

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Photography: Evonne & Darren Photography | Floral Design: LC Floral Design | Acrylic Nesting Table: Home Goods | Bow Throw Pillow: Kohl's | Candles: Agape Candles | Chair: Miadora | Desk: Target | Filing Cabinet: Home Goods | Floral Throw Pillow: Caitlin Wilson | Lamps: Ashley Home Furniture | Logo Throw Pillow: PCB Home | Love Seat: World Market | Magazine & Box: Emily Ley | Magazine Holder: Sugar Paper Los Angeles | Office: Blossoming Interiors | Office Sign with Logo: Ever Laser | Pearl Throw Pillow: Kohl's | Planning & Design: Blossoming Interiors | Rug: Target | Shelving: Target | Side Table: Home Goods | Utility Tote & Apron: Oatmeal Lace Design

It might feel strange to describe a wedding design as “sexy” but that’s exactly what this black and white Cabo celebration is. With vows on the beach followed by a reception on the rooftop, the incredible Hotel El Ganzo was exactly what Claire and Eric were looking for in their destination “I do.” Modern brides, consider this gallery by Emma Rose your new inspiration happy place.

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From Emma Rose… San Jose del Cabo has always been Claire and Eric’s favorite spot so when it came time to plan their own wedding, they couldn’t imagine a better location to bring all their closest family and friends to celebrate. Located in San José del Cabo, Hotel El Ganzo is unlike anything else you will find in the greater Cabo area. They have created a place that celebrates diversity, creativity, artistry, and sustainability. It’s a place where individual expression reigns and guests can indulge and enjoy Los Cabos like never before.

One of the things you will first notice about Hotel El Ganzo is a unique style. El Ganzo itself actually means “The Goose”, a nod to the property’s long, white, sinewy exterior alongside the catching work of collaborative artists led by Pablo Sanchez-Navarros, who created the space. The hotel blends a modernist style with rustic elements, with clean white architecture juxtaposing in eye-catching ways with warm wood tones and bright accents.

When my second shooter and I arrived, we knew that this was going to be one of the most beautiful and unique weddings we’d ever photograph in our careers.

From the bride… In order to not distract from the beauty of the venue, we wanted to keep our decor and everything else really clean and simple. Our color palette was black and white with some natural wood touches and a bit of gold sprinkled in here and there. Overall, our vision was we just wanted to all of our friends and family to have an amazing time so we focused more on ways we thought would enhance their experience instead of focusing on going overboard on decorations or other details.

Our ceremony was at the beach club at Hotel El Ganzo, on a palm tree lined grass strip that juts out into the ocean. When we saw the location for the first time, Eric and I fell in love with it. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Our guests all took boats out to the location and back which we thought was a fun extra touch.

Everyone took boats to and from the ceremony which was fun. We had beers and margaritas for our guests out on the grass for before and after the ceremony which people seemed to really enjoy. Eric’s dad officiated the ceremony which made it all the more special for us. When Eric walked down the aisle with his parents we had a Spanish guitarist playing his parents wedding song, and when I walked down with my dad they played my parents wedding song. I loved the little details like that!

The reception was on the rooftop at Hotel El Ganzo. The view from up there is incredible and we loved the drastic change from the ceremony being by the beach to the reception having a more modern vibe. Everyone got to the reception and took their seats right as the sun was setting, which was spectacular. Our coordinator did a wonderful job with the decor and everything was picture perfect.

My advice for other brides planning a destination wedding is to have fun with it and don’t stress the little details. As long as you’re in this beautiful location with your closest family and friends – that’s really all that matters!

Photography: Emma Rose | Videography: Mass Video Pro | Event Design: Emporio | Event Design: Diamante Events | Event Planning: Alejandra Niguyen | Floral Design: Sergio Farias | Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven | Makeup: Los Cabos Makeup | Hair and Makeup: Los Cabos Makeup | DJ: Ricardo Patino | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Venue: Hotel El Ganzo | Bridesmaids' Robes: Helena Quinn | Jewelry Designer: Kendra Scott Jewelry | Photography - Assistance: Kelsey Leigh Photography | Wood Sign: Jenna Davis Writes

When the Bride’s dress is named the “Cleopatra” and features elegant, draped beading at the back and a romantic, flowing skirt, you know she is going to look unique, strong, and beautiful. And the goodness doesn’t stop there! This Brooklyn wedding photographed by READYLUCK, epitomizing bohemian elegance with details from the warm color palette to the assortment of lanterns, can’t be missed!

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From the Bride… Before we ever started the planning process, we shared the vision that we wanted our wedding to be an event that would bring our friends and family together to eat delicious food, dance to great music, and celebrate love in all its many forms. We couldn’t have been happier with the end result!

My dress was “Cleopatra” by Amanda Wakeley – I knew I wanted something totally different, and I felt beautiful and strong in it. I wore a bracelet custom designed to match the dress, and my mother added extra beading from the dress to my grandmother’s brooch pin, which I wore in my hair. Steve wore a Hugo Boss tux with a custom shirt by Martin Greenfield Clothiers of Brooklyn, New York, and a gold wedding band by Rebecca Overmann.

We co-created our ceremony with our lovely officiant, Deborah Roth, who helped us weave together customs that were meaningful and genuine to us. We placed a “wishing stone” on each guest’s seat prior to the ceremony and had our friends and family imbue them with good wishes during the ceremony; they are all in a vase in our home now. Our favorite crafted detail was four scarves, one from each of our mothers and maternal grandmothers, woven together and used to bind our hands in an infinity circle for the handfasting part of our ceremony – one of the world’s oldest wedding customs and the likely origin of the term “tying the knot”! It was such a powerful way to honor the strong women in our lives who helped teach us how to love.

Because Liberty Warehouse provides such a beautiful blank slate, we wanted colors that would really pop off the tables and walls. We decided on a mix of greens and jewel tones that would be bright and colorful while also being warm and inviting. One of my best friends made our cake – an ode to our childhood days of making sweet treats together. All of the decor, flowers, and details were orchestrated by the talented Konstantinos Floral Design and Decor Group, who executed this organic, bohemian vibe that had the room dripping in flowers and lanterns. We had a table with pictures of our grandparents as a nod to “our beginning.” Pegasus Productions designed the lighting, including the outdoor ceremony area, which then become a lounge area for guests during the reception.

Our favorite DIY project was a mural of letters and cards that we constructed for the cocktail area. Three months into our relationship, I moved 3,000 miles across the country for a year and a half, and because of this we accumulated quite the collection of notes and letters. Along with some cards from close family and friends, we decided to display these on a beautiful wooden door that we found in a local Astoria recycling warehouse.

Our favors were also a special “NY” DIY project. We knew our reception would go late into the night (a pizza truck showed up at 1:00am), so we decided to send guests home with breakfast – a brown paper bag with two bagels from our beloved Brooklyn Bagel (cream cheese and plastic knife included), honey sticks, and a choice of our three favorite teas from our local tea shop, Tea & Milk. Guests told us this absolutely saved them from hangovers!

There were so many incredible moments – probably the most memorable, though, was the last dance to “I Will Wait” by Mumford and Sons, a song that had special meaning to us. Marcus Reid Band of Hank Lane Entertainment played an incredible version of the song that had us and every one of our guests wildly jumping up, throwing our hands in the air, and singing along to the chorus! It was such an amazing end to an evening of seriously some of the best music we’ve ever heard.

One piece of advice that I would give Brides-to-be is to focus on the big picture – for the night of and in the larger scheme. It’s easy to get stressed by the details and decisions, but ultimately you and your guests may not even notice small details. Your guests will however feel the vibe and tone that you set. Staying focused on the message about yourselves and your values will absolutely translate to your friends and family.

Photography: Readyluck | Floral Design: Konstantinos Design | Wedding Dress: Amanda Wakeley | Lighting: Pegasus Productions | DJ: Hank Lane Music | Groom's Attire: Martin Greenfield | Venue: The Liberty Warehouse

These days, the wedding celebrations start long before anyone even gets to the church to say “I Do,” inclusive of welcome parties, cocktail hours and rehearsal dinners.

Of all the events on your pre-wedding calendar, your rehearsal dinner should be a time for you and your hubby-to-be to relax, let loose and enjoy a pre-celebration with your family and closest friends. Here are three ideas for modern theme parties that center around delicious food, tasty beverages and, most importantly lots of fun!

Southern-Style BBQ
Backyard barbecues often bring to mind hot dogs, hamburgers and checkered tablecloth decor, but the food and the theme have a great deal of potential to bring both summer fun and southern sophistication to your rehearsal dinner. If you have managed to secure an outdoor venue with lots of open space, you are perfectly set up to host your bridal party, family and closest friends with southern eats and treats.

What To Eat: Think outside the hamburger box! If you have experts manning the grill, the possibilities are truly endless. Steak and BBQ chicken are an excellent place to start with the meats, while ribs are the epitome of BBQ and can be fixed to your liking on the grill or in a smoker. Choosing grilled romaine for the salad will surprise and delight and, as for the sides, corn on the cob and brussels sprouts can also be cooked over the coals. Everything on the menu is rooted in southern comfort, but steering clear of pulled meats and potato salads gives you a fancier feel; guest can sit down for a plated dinner after mingling during the preparation.

What To Drink: No matter your drink of choice, there are plenty of ways to up the ante in the beverage department. Set up a bourbon bar so your guests can sip swanky spirits as the grill masters go to work and offer signature libations and bottled beer from a local brewery. As for non-alcoholic drinks, have the bar mix up uniquely flavored lemonades, like strawberry rhubarb or blackberry basil, and offer sodas in old school glass bottles.

Decor Must Haves: Keep your decor simple and let the food and outdoor setting work their magic. Incorporate small elements that give a nod toward your theme, like placing chalkboard name cards at each seat or stocking tin bins with your glass bottle sodas.

Mexican Fiesta
Tacos aren’t just for trucks or Tuesdays, they are also the perfect food for a pre-wedding fiesta! With upscale ingredients, inventive recipes and more modern, tropical decor, tequilas and tacos are the new news in rehearsal festivities.

What To Eat: Tacos are a must at any fiesta, but for your pre-big day party serve them up with a twist. Whether you opt for a build your own taco bar, serve them family style at the table, or sit down for a plated meal, choose to fill your shells with creative combinations like steak, poblano peppers and mushrooms, blackened chicken and avocado, Baja fish with citrus slaw or sweet potato, blacks beans and goat cheese. While these scrumptious tacos are sure to steal the show, don’t forget about the guacamole and salsas for dipping. Offer an array of sweet and spicy salsas, like mango jalapeño, pineapple, or habanero lime, while getting inventive with the guac by serving a traditional version alongside a crab or pomegranate concoction.

What To Drink: Margaritas are as synonymous with a Mexican fiesta as the tacos themselves, but there is no need to stick to the original here either. Instead, infuse your unique party theme into your beverages by offering a margarita that matches back to your menu or decor. A pineapple, mango or pink pomegranate margarita add a special touch and are a delicious treat. In case not everyone is on the tequila train, stock the bar with a beer brewed in Mexico or fruit-infused sparkling water.

Decor Must Haves: For a fresh take on the fiesta, try incorporating gilded pineapples and palm leaves instead of cacti and sombreros. Also, for fun and flair, pick up a gold glittered letter piñata to display your soon-to-be new initial.

Woodfired Pizza Party
Friday night pizza night is getting an upgrade! Flatbreads from a brick oven are the centerpiece for an upscale, yet relaxed Italian soiree. Add in loads of deliciously themed sips and snacks and you and your guests will be celebrating your impending nuptials with Napoli’s finest offerings. Buona notte!

What To Eat: It’s a pizza party, so the main event is pizza, pizza and more pizza! However, your rehearsal dinner is the time to rent a brick oven and provide delectable, unexpected toppings for fanciful flatbreads. Set up a pizza bar, with pies as far as the eye can see and ingredients ranging from mushrooms and truffle oil to grilled pork belly and ricotta or lobster and brie. Take your Italian-inspired soiree to the next level by pairing your pizzas with infamous Italian appetizers, like marinated olives, artisan cheese boards, brussels and beets, mozzarella and tomato skewers or even wood-fired oysters.

What To Drink: Certain things are just meant for each other in life, like you and your soon-to-be husband or pizza and wine! Stock the bar with a variety of Italian wines that your guests can pair with their pizza or create a wine tasting station for pre-dinner sipping, snacking and chatting. Add in a classic Italian beer, like Peroni, and sparkling Pellegrino for a refreshing non-alcoholic option and your perfect pizza party bar is set.

Decor Must Haves: With tables full of pizzas and towering cheese boards, little decor is needed to finalize your Italian fete. Use cafe lights to invoke an Italian piazza. Simple votives and candles will give your venue that Venetian cafe-feel and soft ambiance.

Most importantly, remember to have fun with your rehearsal dinner and choose a theme or plan a party that is truly fitting for your personality, allowing you and your groom to have some fun with the people who mean the most!

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!