Call me a hopeless romantic, but a wedding set in Provence – in the iconic lavender fields, no less – is an absolute dream come to life. Pair that setting with the floral design of Laetitia C. – fleurs d’atelier and you’ve got a gallery photographed by Cody Hunter that’s nothing shy of destination “I Do” perfection.

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From the Bride and Groom…Overall, we wanted our wedding day to feel effortless and intimate. We love Provence and were excited to be sharing this place with our closest friends and family. Our wedding was a weekend of events – a welcome cocktail event, the wedding, and a farewell/poolside brunch the day after. We had always envisioned spending the entire weekend with our guests, and were so thrilled that it came true! So much of Provence was a part of our day as the ceremony took place outside with lavender fields beside us as we got married, and the venue had a garden where all the veggies served for dinner were grown. Provence is such a stunning region, and we wanted the natural beauty to really shine through! Our colors were neutrals with soft pinks and natural greenery. The lavender fields became quite the center piece as well.

Photography: Hunter Ryan Photo | Floral Design: Laetitia C. - fleurs d'atelier | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Bride's Shoes: Sophia Webster | Rings: Tiffany & Co. | Makeup: Ylva Langenskiold | Hair: Agnes | DJ: Thomas Dusseune | Groom's Attire: Mark Greenfield | Venue: Mas De La Rose | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Groom's Shoes: Sid Mashburn

If you’re toying with the idea of an intimate elopement, then let this modern inspiration be the push you towards making it happen. For all you need is a team of talented vendors (like Kelly Oshiro and La Tavola Fine Linen Rental) and you’ve got yourself the making of magic. So, what are you waiting for? We’ll let Booth Photographics captures in The Vault convince you of the rest.

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THE COUPLE

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THE VENUE

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THE STYLE

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THE STATIONERY

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THE FLORALS

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THE RECEPTION

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THE CAKE

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From Kelly Oshiro…Inspired by a modern couple, who loves both mid-century design and old world elegance, I created this contemporary wedding shoot for photographers Booth Photographics. For the bride, I pulled an elegant Delphine Manivet wedding pantsuit from Solstice Bride paired with handmade modernist jewelry from VLM Jewelry, and a sleek ponytail by Studio MMB. For our groom, a timeless white dinner jacket were paired with velvet loafers, all from The Black Tux. I also pulled designers sunglasses from Gogosha Optique for a few sleek and modern wedding portraits.

Ceremony was envisioned as an intimate elopement, held in front of the fireplace at Feynes Mansion, with understated ferns and geometric lanterns decorating the space. Dinner was setup on the beautiful balcony of the turn of the century mansion. Modern black and tan bentwood chairs from Yeah Rentals! Were paired with a gray velvet linen from La Tavola and the place setting was decidedly modern with marble plates from the Ark and a plated fig salad. Twig and Twine created a loose, organic arrangement in moody fall colors with smoke bush, chocolate cosmos and garden roses. Simple gold taper holders from CB2 held traditional bee’s wax candles. A simple tiered cake from Lele Patisserie was decorated with fall foliage and individual hyacinth blooms.

Photography: Booth Photographics | Event Design: Yvonne Xue | Floral Design: Twig & Twine | Wedding Dress: Delphine Manivet | Cake: Lele's Patisserie | Invitations: Written Word Calligraphy | Jewelry: VLM Jewelry | Hair + Makeup: Studio MM&B | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Venue: Feynes Mansion | Bridal Boutique: Solstice Bride | Chair Rentals: YEAH! Rentals | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Models: Brittany | Rentals: The Tent Merchant | Stylist + Producer: Kelly Oshiro | Sunglasses: Gogosha Optique | Tabletop Rentals: The Ark Event Rentals

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

Written Word Calligraphy

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We’ve talked about the importance of feeling confident and beautiful during a boudoir session and this bride-to-be? Well, she embodies that idea to perfection. Of course, it helps when you’ve got THE Jose Villa behind the lens capturing images that you and your love will forever cherish. See more this way!

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Photography: Jose Villa Photography | Hair + Makeup: Amy Clarke | Location: Sunstone Winery & Villa | Robe + Lingerie: GirlandaSeriousDream

We fell in love with this moody, glam dinner party dreamed up by Ragan Wallake of Beauty in the Bite and Molly Schoneveld of This Yuppie Life as part of their ongoing dinner series. But that love reached new heights the second we caught wind of a tasty little dessert loaded with chocolate. The Dark Chocolate Rose Tart is equal parts pretty and delicious. Plus it makes for the sweetest ending. For more dessert ideas, click here.

Dark Chocolate Rose Tart

Serves 10-12

Ingredients

For the Tart:

2 cups chocolate flavored cookies or crackers, ground
1/3 cup cane sugar
11⁄2 sticks melted butter
11⁄4 cups heavy cream
10 oz bittersweet chocolate (75% cocoa) I prefer Ghirardelli chips
2 large eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons rose water (or rose water simple syrup)
dried rosebuds for garnish

For the Ganache:

4 tablespoons heavy cream
31⁄2 oz bittersweet chocolate (75% Cacao)
Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Directions

For the Tart:

1. 1. In a medium bowl, stir together the ground cookies or crackers, sugar, and melted butter until completely combined.
2. 2. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 10” tart pan and press evenly up the sides.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.

4. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

5. Bring the 11⁄4 cups cream to a boil in a saucepan over medium to high heat.

6. Remove from the heat, add 10oz of chocolate, and stir until smooth.

7. Add the eggs and 1 tablespoon of hibiscus syrup and vigorously stir until completely combined.

8. Pour the chocolate mix into the tart shell and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.

9. Remove and cool completely.

For the Ganache:

1. To make the ganache, bring the cream to a boil.

2. Remove from the heat and add the remaining chocolate.

3. Stir until smooth then add the remaining 2 tablespoons hibiscus syrup and continue to stir until completely combined.

4. Pour the ganache over the tart and allow to set.

5. Plate each piece with a dried rosebud on top.

Tip:

I also grind a few into a pink powder and dust the top of the tart- an angular design like this one looks modern and stylish!

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Desserts with a side of Chocolate Coma

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Desserts with a side of Chocolate Coma

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Photographer: Carla Choy | Food: Ragan Wallake | Black Plates: World Market | Decor: Molly Schoneveld | Flatware: Classic Party Rentals | Menu: A Modern Soiree

Lindsay and Eddie really, really know how to host a wedding. They took inspiration from their Paris engagement, a perfect European-esque locale right outside of Chicago (hello, Armour House) and enlisted a dream team of vendors to make their fairy tale vision happen. The results? A romantic affair with vintage-inspired details styled by Estera Events and a sweet pup stealing a whole lot of picture perfect moments. See it all captured by Jody Savage in THE VAULT.

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From Jody Savage Photography… Every once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale. Such was truly the case for Lindsay and Eddie on July 30th, 2016 as they exchanged their vows and began their journey of everlasting love at the stunning Armour House. It was the most perfect backdrop for a one of a kind romantic, timeless wedding for the most deserving couple.

From the Bride… After Eddie and I were engaged in Paris last spring, we were on a journey to find a venue fitting of our love story. Let’s just say finding a European mansion in the heart of the midwest is no small task. And then we found Armour House. We knew it was the one before we even had our visit, and to find such a place just 30 miles away from our home in downtown Chicago was serendipitous. With rooms made of Italian marble, breathtaking gardens, and the longest aisle in Chicago – this venue is what dreams are made of.

With the help of dear friends, incredible family, superhero bridesmaids, and day-of support from the acclaimed team at Estera Events, we had our magical, fairy tale wedding on a perfect mid-summer day. Romantic, ethereal, intimate, timeless, yet authentically us is what we strived to accomplish in every detail; from the candlelit dinner to the “Party Animal” escort cards.

After losing my Mom four years ago, I dreaded, as much as I looked forward to, planning one of the biggest days in my life. I can say without a shadow of a doubt my angel Mama helped in surrounding us with a dream team of vendors who helped fill not only the physical void, but also the matters of the heart. These are wedding vendors that have not only become friends, but family, and I cannot sing their praises enough. From our treasure of a photographer Jody Savage, to the incredibly talented Vale of Enna floral team, to our wonderful Pastor Mike Lonchar, thank you for all you did to create a one-of-a kind authentic experience for each and every guest.

With the sun shining, and tears of joy flowing alongside tequila cocktails, champagne, and more, I only wish we could re-live every intimate, magical moment. One of the best decisions was hiring the rockstar team from Amor in Motion to capture every bit of our fairy tale which will be on sweet repeat until this time next year.

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Photography: Jody Savage Photography | Event Planning: Estera Events | Floral Design: Vale Of Enna | Wedding Dress: Alon Livne | Cake: Deerfield's Bakery | Hair + Makeup: Arch Apothecary | Venue: Armour House | Bridal Boutique: Bella Bianca

Holiday shopping can be bittersweet. Sure, it’s fun to play Santa and get in a festive mood, but the budgeting part? Can be a bit daunting at times. Though, it doesn’t have to be! From DIY options to gift boxes to planning ahead, arm yourself with these 11 tips on how to save and stay on budget this holiday season. Merry, merry!

Easy Ways to Save + Budget for Holiday Shopping

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Easy Ways to Save + Budget for Holiday Shopping

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Eager to beat the Washington DC summer crowds, these two lovebirds – and Shannon Moffit in tow – started bright and early, visiting the Lincoln Memorial and the beautiful reflecting pool. Decked out in chic ensembles, engagement pics were captured and special memories were made – see them all in our Vault gallery right this way!

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From Shannon Moffit Photography… Rachel and Vince live a true city lifestyle, so it was only fitting for us to meet in the heart of Washington DC for their engagement session. If you have ever been to Washington DC in the summer, you know that it can get crowded, so we decided to start bright and early as the sun crept across the reflecting pool and up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was quite the peaceful experience! Rachel looked stunning, first wearing a deep blue cocktail dress with bow, and second wearing a pink cap-sleeve dress. A gold chunky necklace, earrings, gold band engagement ring, and nude pumps completed her classically elegant look! Vince’s suit also looked sharp and made Rachel’s outfits pop. These two are getting married in Charlottesville next spring!

From the Bride-to-be… Vince and I camped and hiked in the proposal spot two years ago. We wanted to recreate that trip because the view at the top of the mountain is so beautiful. The top is basically a saddle and grassy meadow with a 360 view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We got to the top and he acted like he had to get something out of his first aid kit for a blister. I was snapping pictures and wasn’t paying him any attention. Once I sat down beside him (again, not paying him any attention), he asked me to stand up and then said the most beautiful things about us and our lives together. It was the sweetest thing and I continue to tear up as I think about it.

Photography: Shannon Moffit Photography | Dress: Rent The Runway | Hair + Makeup: Makeup by Ana B | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints

We’re hedging our bets and declaring that this Derby day celebration in on track to win every wedding award in the book. It’s a long-distance love story come full circle and thankfully Cassidy Carson Photography was on hand to capture it all to share. From their stunning outdoor ceremony (complete with Jenny Yoo gowns), to the romantic indoor reception, we’ve got every first place detail waiting for you in The Vault!

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From the Bride…Ryan and I met in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. It was apparent right away that somebody incredibly special had just walked into my life. I know Ryan felt the same way because about an hour later he proposed (for the first time) and uttered the words “I love you.” I laughed it off at the time but a week later, our long distance, whirlwind love story really began.

Over the next year we spent all of our weekends back and forth from Washington D. C. To Denver or meeting in various cities across the country. We even made it to Alaska, biked the Golden Gate Bridge and Ryan proposed (for real this time) atop beautiful Aspen Mountain. Our biggest adventure thus far arrived at 12:29 pm on December 22, 2014 in the form of a squishy baby boy named Beckett. Becoming parents opened our hearts to a whole new kind of love and happiness.

Every single cliche feeling people tell you about becoming a parent is true. Our sweet little family was bursting with joy so we knew we wanted our wedding day to reflect that. Ryan and I are blessed with the most incredible family and friends on earth so we wanted our wedding to not only be a celebration of our love, but also of the wonderful people we have in our lives.

To bring things full circle, we hosted our rehearsal dinner on Broadway in Nashville to kick things off. Our ceremony and reception took place at Mint Springs Farm and the whole day could not have been more calm or perfect. The birds were chirping and the breeze was just right as we exchanged our personal vows and said our I Do’s. The reception ‘Derby Day’ details were simple and subtle, and our Edison bulb chandelier tied the whole feel of the evening together. We danced the night way to our favorite local band, Burning Las Vegas and celebrated all the love we have been so fortunate to share.

Photography: Cassidy Carson Photography | Cinematography: Lynn Productions | Floral Design: Mint Springs Farm | Wedding Dress: Lela Rose | Cake: Signature Cakes by Vicki | Invitations: Rock Paper Scissors TN | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: The Chef And I | Calligraphy: Claire Cohen Lettering | Band: Burning Las Vegas | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Venue: Mint Springs Farm | Groom's Bow Tie: Brackish Bowties | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

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

Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Tally and Sam weren’t about to plan a cookie-cutter wedding day. Instead, they chose the location, cast the vision, and let Sylvie Gil, Shannon Leahy, Julie Morgan, Bright Event Rentals and the entire vendor crew work their magic. The result was a fall affair with a decidedly bohemian vibe, and there are details galore just waiting in the gallery.

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From the Bride…Sam and I decided very early on that we wouldn’t make a wedding decision based on what is customary. We really wanted to have a destination wedding. We narrowed it down to a few places, Charleston, Tahoe, or Napa. Sam and I love the Bay Area and we knew were going to get to visit a few times. We landed on Napa – amazing food, wine, weather…what more can you ask for? Our wedding wouldn’t have been possible without our “dream team.” We had the most amazing wedding planner, caterer, florist, photographers, DJ, make-up artist, band, videographers…Sam and I really relied on everybody’s expertise. Of course we had a vision for what we wanted, but we deferred to the experts. Everybody’s combined efforts made our wedding special, unique, stress-free, and fun!

Photography: Sylvie Gil Photography | Cinematography: Lovespun Films | Event Planning: Shannon Leahy Events | Floral Design: Shotgun Floral Studio | Invitations: Tiny Pine Press | Bride's Shoes: David's Bridal | Catering: Jessica Lasky | Lighting: The Lux Productions | DJ: Dart DJ | Groom's Attire: Black Lapel | Ceremony Music: The Easy Leaves | Beauty: Julie Morgan Hair + Makeup | Bride's Ceremony Dress: Sarah Janks | Bride's Reception Dress: Ivy And Aster | Dessert: Jessica Lasky | Dreamcatcher: Tahoe Mack | Groom's Shoes: Tommy Bahama | Linen Rentals + Rentals: Bright Event Rentals

When you think of late fall, you probably think of the typical radiant reds and oranges, but this shoot by Isabelle Kline Design dares you think differently. With pretty pops of yellow and lots and lots of greenery, it’s a fresh take on fall that we’re loving with every new image from Tamara Gruner we come upon. See it all and start your own Pinterest party in our Vault right this way!

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From Isabelle Kline Design… This beautifully romantic shoot combines the beauty that Colorado landscape has to offer with a Tuscan feel. Lush florals and a touch of sun kissed yellow fall colors played into creating the mood for this stylish photo shoot. Our real life couple that recently married this year were the picture perfect pair that undeniably made this photo shoot a realistic romantic inspiration. This amazing new venue Stonewall Farm is a premier intimate Tuscan exceptional estate right on the heels of the Rocky Mountains national park in the city of Berthoud.

With beautiful open fields, large and lush oak tree as a ceremony backdrop, custom stonewall with wood burning fireplace, we could not resist providing natural touches to accentuate this venue. We wanted the oak tree to stand with a beautiful lush cascade of florals spilling unto the grounds designed by Nature Grace Garden, adorned by lanterns from Candlelight Ambiance.

The dinner setting was perfectly orchestrated by Isabelle Kline Design who coordinated the shoot but also provided the rentals for the table and designed the florals and table space. Inspired by the Tuscan feel and sun kissed yellow there was the undeniable touches of vines, wined grapes as napkin rings and a beautiful laced table runner by Luxe Linen. Yellow is such an extraordinary color for florals but Isabelle Kline wanted to provide some depth and with that we added the hint of gray with the table setting by Anthropologie and the cake by Sweet B’s Bakery. Brushed golds and ivories were also implemented to bring the whole look elegantly all together.

Photography: Tamara Gruner Photography | Event Planning: Isabelle Kline Design | Floral Design: Isabelle Kline Design | Cake: Sweet B Bakery | Invitations: Foil And Ink | Bride's Shoes: Dolce & Gabbana | Makeup: Reese Travis Of Matthew Morris Salon | Hair: Mishka Taulman | Venue: Stonewall Farm | Candles: Candlelight Ambiance | Chair Rentals: Charming Chairs | Dishware + Glassware: Anthropologie | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Floral Design For Ceremony: Nature's Grace Design | Lace Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone | Macarons: Honey B's Macarons | Silk Ribbon: Silk and Willow | Table Linen Rentals: Luxe Linen | Two Piece Wedding Dress: Moonlight Bridal

In recent years weddings have become such personalized affairs so it only makes sense to include your fur baby in the fun. From a walk down the aisle to front-and-center at the ceremony, we love these creative ideas (big and small) to make your pup a part of the big day. But fair warning – they’ll probably steal the show.

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1. A Pup’s First Look

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2. Wedding Branding Gone Canine

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3. Sealed With a Kiss

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4. “Dog Treat” Favors

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5. Stars of the Portrait Session

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6. Pug Silhouette Place Cards

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7. The Well-Dressed Wedding Crasher

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8. Prime Ceremony Seating

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9. Diva of the Bridal Suite

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10. A Smooch With the Bride

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Pin More Pet-Friendly Wedding Inspiration!

Are you in the midst of planning a beach wedding? Then we suggest you peek the pretty that is this inspiration from 2 Brides Photography to help plan your big day. It’s ethereal, elegant and totally chic, and thankfully we’ve got every beautiful bit waiting for your to fall in love with via The Vault!

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From 2 Brides Photography…These shoots were both inspired by the unique landscape of rocks on this famous island of Fårö, where Ingmar Bergman well renowned film director, lived and worked. Fårö’s unique light has attracted artist, painters and film makers throughout the years. Fårö is a small, 113 km-square, island in the Baltic Sea, linked by ferry to its larger neighbor, Gotland. Its landscape is distinctive: the entire island is made up of limestone rock, with areas of agricultural land interspersed with areas of scrubland. Ingmar Bergman about Fårö: “If one wished to be solemn, it could be said that I had found my landscape, my real home; if one wished to be funny, one could talk about love at first sight.

We did the sessions on 2 separate occasions. Day one we let the light and the colors of the early morning inspire us with it’s shades of brown, blue and grey. Day two we were embedded by the mist and late evening lavender light and had that lead our way.

From Elins Art Studio about the blue, “Diva Maris” shoot…Picking out items for styling is often how the idea of the styling concepts unfolds for me. The delicacy of the porcelain hair accessories like the clay flowers reminded me of seashells from the ocean. So an ocean setting seemed necessary and our photographer Isabelle from 2 Brides Photography knew the perfect one. I chose a deep heavy petrol color to illustrate the foaming ocean on the printed goods and on the table wear. Accompanied by florals in light purple and blue, the color palette was set. And when choosing to just have an elopement just you and your groom, you need to make the wedding dinner memorable, and dine in a way you probably never will again.

About the yellow, “Golden Island Light” shoot…Being inspired by the ocean is such a wide concept and we have such marvelous colors on the beach! In this styling we decides on the brownish and yellow colors from the seaweed, clams, and the lichen on the raukar. And the golden sun came out to cooperate with us. A fierce goddess of a woman, standing tall and strong as the stone pillars surrounding her. The dresses fitting her perfectly and flattered her feminine curves. The headpieces reminding me of coral fern and the printed suite resembles sandy beaches.

Photography: 2 Brides Photography | Event Design: Elins Art Studio | Floral Design: The Wild Rose | Wedding Dress: Truvelle | Invitations: Elins Art Studio | Hair Accessories: The Wild Rose Accessories | Model: Filippa Jarnebratt | Rentals: Grönbergs Interiör | Skirt: SensibleM | Top: Deviyani Cockcroft

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

Photography

2 Brides Photography

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In most of our homes, our kitchens are the epicenter—a revolving space that needs to be efficient for everyone in the family. So for good reason, it’s usually one of the first rooms we put importance on when it comes to the renovation priority list. But it can also be the most challenging to tackle. From backsplashes and countertops to a fresh coat of paint and new lighting for the island, here are a handful of items to consider upgrading for a fresh new look!

Essentials for Any Kitchen Makeover

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Essentials for Any Kitchen Makeover

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Tanya and Ed’s wedding day is one that you’re going to want to pin like crazy. Because when you’ve got the incredibly talented Dana Cubbage Weddings behind the lens snapping up such moments like these, well then you know you’re in for a world of pretty. So what are you waiting for? Have at it in The Vault!

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From Dana Cubbage Weddings…When I think of Tanya and Ed’s wedding day, I can’t help but smile. I knew it was going to be an amazing day, but it was honestly so much better than I ever could have imagined. There was just so much JOY throughout the day and I love how Tanya + Ed just let it show!

Tanya and Ed envisioned a classic, elegant Southern soiree with a laid back feel and a focus on their guests’ comfort. Tanya said that most of their decisions were made with their guests in mind, including their donut bar – fresh Krispy Kreme donuts surrounded their traditional wedding cake on the dessert table…A fun touch for sure!

Tanya and Ed opted to share a First Look in historic downtown Charleston before their ceremony. Their bridal party met us downtown for some group photos before we all headed out to the Creek Club at I’On for their beautiful ceremony overlooking Hobcaw Creek. Mother Nature blessed us with an amazing evening and a show-stopping sunset. It was a day I’ll never forget for so many reasons.

I love how they honored the military throughout the day, with Ed (a Captain in the Marine Corps) and Tanya’s dad (a Lieutenant General in the Marine Corps) wearing their dress uniforms, the groom and groomsmen all wore American flag socks, being introduced into their reception with a ceremonial sword arch, cutting the cake with Ed’s military sword, and having their guests wave mini American flags as they exited through sparklers at the end of the night. It was the perfect blend of classic, elegant and patriotic!

Photography: Dana Cubbage Weddings | Cinematography: I Thee Film | Event Planning: Southern Chic Weddings, LLC | Floral Design: Branch Design Studio | Wedding Dress: Enzoani | Cake: Wildflour Pastry | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Catering: Creek Club At Ion | Hair + Makeup: Lashes And Lace Charleston | DJ: DJ Mahanes | Venue: Creek Club At Ion | Bridal Boutique: Fabulous Frocks of Alexandria | Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals

The best part about the holidays? Celebrating with the ones you love. And when you’re a newlywed, that means creating a whole host of new traditions that you can return to year after fabulous year. Need help? Our friends at The Registry at Bloomingdale’s have you totally covered with some expert advice on making the holidays your very own. Scroll for hosting, baking and date night greatness below.

Host Your First Annual Friendsgiving

Fact: you can’t have the holidays without partying it up with your besties for a little Friendsgiving celebration. Think all of the fun of regular Thanksgiving with a big ol’ side of laid-back coziness and a BYO dessert bar that will make your tummies happy. Enter The Registry at Bloomingdale’s with their lineup of entertaining products that will kick your hosting skills up a notch, plus a talented Personal Registry Consultant that can walk you step by step throughout the entire process. Say goodbye to forgetting those champagne flutes and hello to throwing a party like only Martha Stewart can.

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Put a Spin on Grandma’s Cookies

Nothing says a snowy December day quite like fresh baked cookies straight from the oven.  And even though you’ve been leaving that up to grandma all of these years (she’s so good at it), now that you’re a newlywed, it’s time to bake up a storm with the help of The Registry at Bloomingdale’s. From their amazing choices in baking must-haves to their awesome Completion Offer (10-20% off!) to their Registry Checklist and Big Brown Mobile App, you’ll be ready to tackle that kitchen in no time at all and put a spin on those choco chip masterpieces you so, sooo love

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Don’t Forget Date Night

With all of the hoopla of the holidays seemingly taking over every moment of your life (it’s a busy time y’all!), it’s easy to put that ME + YOU time aside. Which is why we fully embrace a date night with your newly betrothed to really soak in the holiday warm and fuzzies. We suggest a fabulous dinner, followed by an amazing show. Just don’t forget that The Registry at Bloomingdale’s offers exclusive savings on dresses, intimates, fine jewelry, men’s suiting and men’s formal wear. I’m talking 20% off (in store) on that fancy attire that is really, really going to make you feel amazing while you hit the town with your love.

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Celebrating those first holidays together? Creating those special moments that are YOURS is key. Visit The Registry at Bloomingdale’s to help get those newlywed traditions going… and be sure to ask your Personal Registry Consultant all about their amazing list of benefits + perks, like honeymoon packages, bridal event invites and that fab Thank You Manager. This will be the best holiday season yet.

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Friendsgiving: 1. Vera Wang for Wedgwood “Blanc Sur Blanc” 5 Piece Place Setting 2. John Robshaw Embroidered Napkins, Set of Four 3. Kikkerland Vintage Copper Bottle Opener 4. kate spade new york Orleans Square Gold Wine Glasses 5. Caravan Hexagon Cheeseboard 6. Michael Aram Molten Candle Sticks 7. Oake Windowpane Throw 8. Villeroy & Boch La Classica Gold 5-Piece Place Setting 9. Mikasa Siena Footed Compote

Grandma’s Cookies: 1. KitchenAid Artisan Design Stand Mixer 2. Mauviel 5-Quart Beating Bowl 3. Bormioli Rocco Fido Square Copper Metallic Lid Jar 4. Sparrow & Wren Measuring Cups, Set of 4 5. Marcato Biscuit Maker/Cookie Press 6. Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin Plus, Multi 7. All-Clad Stainless Steel 14″ x 17″ Roasting Sheet Gourmet Ovenware 8. Meri Meri Santa & Reindeer Cookie Cutters 9. Tovolo Flexcore Wood Spatula 10. Juliska Berry & Thread Whitewash Cookie Jar

Date Night: 1. Basler Tweed Glitter Dress 2. Tory Burch Robinson Convertible Shoulder Bag 3. kate spade new york Shine On Drop Earrings 4. Ted Baker Avia Metallic Bow Leather Gloves 5. HOBBS LONDON Daena Reversible Coat 6. SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker Phantom Metallic d’Orsay Pumps

I’m a firm believer that everyday life deserves a bit of pretty. It’s why I still add a few curls to my hair and blush on my cheeks even though I work from home. Because those moments of effort shouldn’t just be left for a fancy Friday date night or a wedding, but on the casual days too, when the only agenda is the farmer’s market or coffee with a friend. These three hairstyles from LULA Hair & Makeup fit that bill and can even go beyond. Get the steps below and see more captured by Nancy Ray in The Vault!

From LULA Hair & Makeup… Everyday life is beautiful, and the most simple moments are sacred. I wanted to capture that in the looks and scenes we created with these girls. I love doing hair and makeup for weddings, and have been creating bridal looks for about seven years through my business, LULA Hair + Makeup. Recently I was struck to create some looks for a more casual context, something to align more to everyday life while still highlighting soft, beautiful hair and makeup. I wanted to create inspiration for women who, like myself, are not in a bridal season, but might want to play with a different hairstyle or lip color just for fun and to try something different. I pictured activities I enjoy like going to the farmers market and drinking a great cup of coffee, and created soft looks around each of those themes.

Curly-haired wild and free updo

On Kristen, we did a wild and free hair and a pop of lip color for a flower run to the farmer’s market.

Softly twisted half-up hair

On Hannah Grace, we did a soft half-up hair and simple makeup for a quiet cup of coffee.

Soft knotted updo

On Katie, we did a soft knotted updo and a buffed out eye for something different than the usual day-to-day look. This would also be a great look for attending a wedding or special event.

1. Spray hair through with a medium hold hairspray (try Kenra Professional Platinum Working Spray 14, $22, ulta.com)
2. Tease hair at the crown of the head.  We recommend a rattail comb (Sally #20 Black Professional, $2.49, sally.com).  Spray to set, and comb over to smooth the bump.
3. Lightly brush all hair back, and fasten into a low ponytail with a small black elastic at the nape of the neck.
4. Pull ponytail up, the weave back down through the hair just above the elastic creating a twist.
5. Separate ponytail into two sections, and knot.  Pin to secure, leaving the rest of the hair out.
6. Knot hair again, and pin under and slightly to one side of the first knot.  Pin remaining ends under.
7. Lightly pull some strands to frame the face.
8. Spray to set (try Kenra Professional Platinum Finishing Spray 26, $22, ulta.com)

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Photography: Nancy Ray Photography | Floral Design: Wylde Flowers | Hair and Makeup: LULA Hair & Makeup | Venue: Mim's House | Creative Direction + Styling: LULA Hair & Makeup | Film Processing: Indie Film Lab

You might recall this lovely couple from their engagement session, and if you thought that was good just wait until you see the wedding day that followed. A chateaux celebration in France that’ll have you falling head over heels. From the sweet church ceremony to the romantic alfresco reception, Oliver Fly Photography has got it all to share in The Vault!

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From the Bride… Our vision of our wedding was Romantic and Outdoors, we wanted to have a garden reception, a church wedding, and a place where our family could bond over several days. We looked at a great number of chateaux in France and fell in love with the natural beauty and gorgeous chateau of St Julien L’Ars near from the city of Poitiers.

We are living in New York City and planning a French wedding from the US was not so easy, but with the help of in-laws and the chateau coordinator, we were able to find everyone locally. All of the vendors were incredibly generous and excited for the wedding.

We worked with the French Chef Julien Tartre to cook for 3 days, he did an amazing job, with french delicacies and local specialties.

75 guests came for our wedding from France, the US, Israel, Dubai and Hong Kong. The chateau was in such a great location for our guests to come for the weekend or an extended vacation.

We choose the stunning Château St. Julien as our wedding venue because it had everything we were looking for, beautiful gardens, place for 50 of our family members and wedding party to stay together for 5 days, a church, and the chateau was close to Paris by train.

We kept the floral arrangements understated, because of the extensive outdoor gardens. The chateau and grounds served as an inspiration to plan our wedding flowers and colors in a pale rose.

The flowers in the outdoor trellis were highlighted by fairy-lights and white lace bunting.

The bridal bouquet and bridesmaids bouquets were tied with silk ribbons with White Peonies, Vendella roses, White O’hara, and Dahlia flowers. Small berries and other foliage were woven in to give a bit of whimsy and natural look to the bouquets.

A garland was placed down the center of each table with flowers to match the bridal bouquet. The large dahlia flowers were stunning !

We had so much fun planning every detail, from the hand water-colored door hangers to carefully planning the menu and wine selection. The chateau wedding and a French wedding allowed us to make the best selections for our guests and really make our wedding day as we wished – this unique day was full of magic.

Photography: Oliver Fly Photography | Coordination: Chateaux Avenue | Floral Design: French Flower Style | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Julien Tartre | Makeup: Victoria Nannini | Hair: Jérome Joubert | Venue: Chateau St Julien | Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Earrings: Anton Heunis | Rentals: Mathieu Location | Silk Ribbons: Frou Frou Chic | Wedding Gown Name: Sailor by Modern Trousseau

Welcome to a light and bright space that isn’t afraid to get cozy with greenery or pops of color. And then there’s the simple ikea hack dreamed up by Shawna Underwood that’s perfect for anyone with a big collection of books and no where to display them. Get the full tour of this master bedroom revamp captured by Edward Underwood Photography in the vault.

My name is Shawna Underwood, Principal and Interior Designer of Shawna Underwood Interior Design. My photographer husband and I recently revamped our master bedroom. We wanted our bedroom to be bright and calming after a long day of work.

We also wanted the space to be inspiring and a reflection of our creative minds. The room includes some of our favorite things, books, artwork and photos of our kids.

Two of the unique items in the room that I am absolutely in love with is the graffiti pattern lumbar pillow and the blush high gloss nightstand that I painted myself. I also love how my Ikea hack of 3 media stands made an extra long low profile bookcase.

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Best Ever Home DIYs and Design Hacks

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Best Ever Home DIYs and Design Hacks

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Photography: Edward Underwood Photography | Interior Design: Shawna Underwood Interior Design

From the chic golden hour shots in the canyons of Malibu (complete with one fluffy pup) to sweet splashes in the ocean, Rebecca Yale captured it all. The love between these two radiates from every single one of these photos and our Vault gallery is glowing with it all – join in the love fest right this way!

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From Rebecca Yale Photography… Jackie and Zach had the quintessential perfect CA engagement session featuring golden light filled canyons and a gorgeous sunset on the beach in Malibu. Jackie styled the engagement session to perfection with a beautiful wine-colored gown from Reformation that paired perfectly with Zach’s blue suit and stood out against the golden landscape of the rolling hills of Malibu. Their puppy, Sansa, even joined in for a few snuggles before the sun dipped below the mountains. We ended the evening at a nearby beach and had a fun surprise of high tide, leaving almost no beach to walk on, but some very fun photos of Jackie and Zach getting a little soaked as the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.

From the Bride-to-be… I was told I would be meeting Zach for cocktails at Shutters while we watched the sunset over the ocean in Santa Monica. However, as soon as I arrived I was met by one of Zach’s best friends who had flown in from Toronto. He was driving a pedi-cab and presented me with a puzzle piece with a picture of the first day Zach and I had met. He then informed me we were late to meet Zach, and to get into the cab. We started down the boardwalk and were quickly met by another one of our friends, with another puzzle piece, this one from the second year we were dating. This continued down the boardwalk totaling 11 family and friends, and 11 puzzle pieces, one for every year we had been dating. Zach was waiting at the end on one knee and with the 12th and last puzzle piece, which read, “Will you marry me?”

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Bride's Dress: Reformation

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This here celebration goes to show that incorporating tradition doesn’t *necessarily* have to be something expected. Take Ashley for example, the bride that managed to infuse her style with a fresh take on tradition by making her BFFs (aka the lovely ladies by her side) act as her ‘something blue’. It’s totally sweet and the best part is that we’ve got every beautiful bit captured by Mariel Hannah sitting pretty in The Vault!

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From Vanessa Noel Events…Ashley is a traditional romantic and wanted a wedding day to reflect her style, love for Disney princesses and her, and fiancé Steven’s big Italian families. We went to work with a color palette of muted Cinderella blue to set the tone for a soft, feminine June wedding. We brought the blue in with vintage glassware, muted linen napkins, custom stationery, and the beautiful dessert display. To break up the country club ballroom, we mixed together wood farm tables and round tables with linen and alternated white and wooden chairs. This also helped to maximize the space–did I mention they’re both from huge Italian families?!

One of Ashley’s non-negotiables was the use of Disney-inspired details, but in a way that was chic and not too overt. We opted for custom signage with some of Ashley’s favorite Disney quotes and placed them throughout the reception. My personal favorite was the one we hung over Ashley and Steven at the head table, accented by trailing and wandering vines for a striking focal point.

There were so many personal details threaded through Ashley and Steven’s day from his sister’s beautiful rendition of Ave Maria at the ceremony, to the wine that was served courtesy of a friend’s private label. The most romantic, however, was the time the two spent exchanging gifts. Ashley shared with Steven a journal she’d been keeping their entire relationship and then surprised him with a trip they’d be taking to Italy to celebrate their mutual heritage.

From the Bride…So much heart and soul went into planning our wedding. We wanted it to be personal, soft, elegant and (being a wedding photographer myself)…picture perfect. All of which I believe we accomplished well.

Planning was not stress free by any means but with the help of our amazing coordinator, it was much smoother! My favorite part of planning (aside from trying on dresses) was picking out the flowers and Steven and I together loved tasting the food (we ARE Italian, after all. Food is in our blood)

Our wedding day was everything. It went by in the blink of an eye but every moment was captured beautifully by Mariel Hannah and Evermoore Films. I don’t know if I can pick a favorite moment but a big stand out was when we exchanged letters prior to the ceremony. We did not see each other but took a moment to read letters we had written each other, hold hands, and just be. Our wedding day will always feel like it was yesterday, every moment was beyond my picture perfect dream, especially since I married the man of my dreams.

Photography: Mariel Hannah | Cinematography: Evermoore Films | Event Planning + Design: Vanessa Noel Events | Floral Design: House Of Flowers | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Invitations: Matinae Design Studio | Stationery: Prim & Pixie | Ceremony Venue: Our Lady of Perpetual Help | Reception Venue: Bakersfield Country Club | Bride's Shoes: Bella Belle | DJ: FreeStyle Entertainment | Groom's Attire: AJ's Tuxedo | Desserts: De Coeur Bake Shop | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Walker Lewis Rents | Ribbons: Frou Frou Chic