What girl doesn’t dream of a boat house wedding?! Thankfully this lovely celebration from CLY BY MATTHEW has made all of our daydreams come true, and we’ve got every bit of it waiting for you pine over in The Vault!

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From The Bride…We met for the first time in organic chemistry lab class at Columbia University in New York City. We instantaneously became best friends and spent endless hours studying together in the library, both studying engineering while aspiring to become doctors. After all that time spent together as friends, David started falling for me and wanted to be more than just friends. I initially resisted him as I did not want to lose our friendship; yet it didn’t take long for me to see something more than just a friend in David too.

After we started dating, we soon started our long-distance relationship across the country: David staying in New Jersey for his medical school, and me moving to Los Angeles, California for my medical school. Our relationship strengthened even more through 4 years of many transcontinental flights and face time conversations. I finally moved back to the East Coast for my surgical residency while David started his internal medicine residency in the Bronx, and 2 years into our residency, on our vacation to Newport, RI, David got down on his knees by this beautiful light house at the sunset time. He proposed with a book of handwritten letters with pictures all the way from the beginning of our relationship.

We always knew that we wanted a wedding in New York City where we first met. As soon as I saw the picture of the Boathouse at Prospect Park, I could picture our perfect wedding in it with the ceremony by the water and the reception to be followed in this beautiful Beaux-Art building. Once the venue was set, the rest of the wedding planning was pretty straight forward, especially when my very own sister is a custom wedding dress designer, Olivia Hwang, who has already offered to make my wedding dresses as soon as I was engaged. She designed a gorgeous formfitting dress with French lace for the ceremony with every detail I wanted in it. For the reception, she designed more light, free flowing, sequin dress with sparkly details so I could dance in it all night long. Another important factor in my wedding was about photography which will capture all the memories for me. I had hard time choosing a photographer for my event but as soon as I found out of Matthew Ree of CLY BY MATTHEW, it was instant decision making process. It’s so great to have such artistic and genuine approach of the photographer in my wedding and he captured more than the memory of our event!

Photography: CLY BY MATTHEW | Floral Design: The Flower | Wedding Dress: Olivia Hwang | Invitations: Big Smiles Design | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Engagement Ring: Marisa Perry | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: The Moveable Feast Catering | Hair + Makeup: Ombre By E.J. Makeup Studio | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Venue: Prospect Park Boathouse | Earrings: Arte Latica | Hair Accessories + Veil: Olivia Hwang

I love a classic wedding that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and David and Melissa’s Houston affair is the perfect example. A traditional church ceremony followed by an elegant yet entirely fun reception complete with a live Latin band, this celebration was dream for Dana Fernandez to photograph and Monroe Wedding Videography to film. Scroll on for all the above plus so much more.

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Upon meeting David and Melissa, we knew that they would be amazing to work with. They had some of the best chemistry to the point, where barely had to direct them during their engagements and wedding day because the love they shared was electric.

In addition to their amazing connection, their wedding day did not disappoint. From the designs put together by Danyett from Two Be Wed to their personal florals from Blush and Vine, everything was absolutely beautiful to photograph. The couple had their reception at one of our favorite venues, The Bell Tower on 34th, which is pretty much a photographer’s dream to be able to photograph. The entire floor was covered in lush greenery as well as neutral florals with pops of color everywhere.

They had an amazing reception filled with fun music from their band, Yelba’s Latin Fire, where the guests danced the night away. Their wedding was definitely one of our favorites and everything was absolutely amazing to be a part of and especially to be able to capture!

Photography: Josh & Dana Fernandez | Videography: Monroe Wedding Videography | Cakes: Edible Designs By Jessie | Ceremony: St. Anne's | Reception Venue: The Bell Tower On 34th | Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo | Hair and Makeup: Sunkissed And Made Up | Calligraphy: Artful Designs By Rachel Nieman | Band: Yelba's Latin Fire | Groom's Suit: Calvin Klien | Ceremony Music: Third Floor Strings | Bouquets and Boutonnieres: Blush and Vine | Bouquets, Boutonnieres, and Ceremony Florals: Blush and Vine | Bridal Boutique: Brickhouse Bridal | Film Lab: The Find Lab | Gown Designer: Ellis | Linens: House Of Hough | Photobooth: The Houston Photobooth | Planning and Design: Two Be Wed | Reception Florals: Floral Events

Art lovers, prepare to swoon because this wedding takes places at the Legion of Honor, part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Elena Graham Photography and Amor In Motion captured the day including incredible Rodin sculptures at every turn, and it’s a classic wedding fairy-tale.

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From The Bride…Two elements defined my vision for my wedding day – the venue and my dress. Once we visited the Legion of Honor, we both fell in love with the idea of being married in the court, walking down the aisle through columns, and dining among Rodin sculptures. It felt like fate when we were also able to secure September 12th – the 7th anniversary of our first date. I had a similar love at first sight experience with my dress when I glanced up at it in the window of Jin Wang. I could picture myself at the Legion of Honor when I tried on the ever-so-slightly blue gown that Jin told me was inspired by 1960’s Dior couture. From there, I knew I wanted to keep the rest of the color palette simple (grays, silvers and pale pinks) so that my dress could stand out.

A few of my favorite details from the day were the vintage elements like the framed signs, mirrored trays and vintage postcard guest book. We spent the months leading up to the big day collecting vintage postcards from locations that were important to us, and had guests sign the backs. The dinner table was another important detail to me, especially since we kept our wedding small, I wanted to gather everyone around one table with a dramatic display of mercury glass votives and vases filled with pale pink and white flowers with dusty miller accents throughout. The placecards were one of my favorite elements – we spent an afternoon picking out the rose quartz and citrine crystals to hold the watercolor-painted cards. We both love food and wanted to have our dinner to be delicious and feel more like a restaurant than “wedding food”. We also had fun incorporating some of our favorite treats from around the city – pastel Chantal Guillon macarons, chocolate chip cookies from Anthony’s Cookies and a tiered coconut cake topped with flowers from SusieCakes.

All in all, some things will end up better than you could have expected and some things won’t go according to plan – after a week of warm sunny weather, our day was chilly and foggy –atypical for September, which is usually the warmest month in San Francisco. Despite a few chilly moments, it ended up photographing and filming beautifully. In the end, any little imperfections don’t really matter – the love and emotion takes over and it will be a beautiful blur.

Photography: Elena Graham Photography | Cinematography: Amor In Motion | Coordination: Dreams on a Dime Events & Weddings | Floral Design: McCalls Catering & Events | Cake: SusieCakes | Catering: McCalls Catering & Events | Lighting: Magical Lighting | DJ: Spinheads | Officiant: Michael Wright | Venue: Legion of Honor | Cookies: Anthony's Cookies | Macarons: Chantal Guillon | Photo Booth: Magnolia Photo Booth Co.

A 200-year-old Mogul Indian Palace in the Cotswold countryside, lace-covered overalls and romantic florals from Fiona Perry take this inspiration session from pretty to OMG amazing. Of course, the photos from Lucy Davenport Photography and details designed by Kerry Poulter Weddings & Events are a major part of the wow factor. Head to The Vault to see — and pin — all the pretty!

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Photography: Lucy Davenport | Floral Design: Fiona Perry | Wedding Dress: Sophia Kokosalaki | Wedding Dress: Suzanne Harward | Cake: Princess Patisserie | Stationery : Oh Wonder Calligraphy | Shoes: Emmy London | Hair + Makeup: Louise Seymour | Bridal Boutique: Suzanne Harward from LA Bespoke | Crockery & Glassware : Summerill & Bishop | Cutlery : Amara | Event Planning, Coordination & Styling : Kerry Poulter Weddings & Events | Film Processing: Carmencita Film Lab | Floral Lace Dungarees & Heritage Jersey Top : Needle & Thread | Furniture: Wedhead | Jewellery: Sarie Joynes | Location: Sezincote House | Meringues : The Meringue Girls | Model: Kirsty-Anne Tritton | Silk Ribbon & Runner : Kate Cullen | Sneakers: Florence | Sparkling de Léoube: Daylesford | Table Linen : Table To Dine For

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I happen to believe that the unforgettable Mr. Calvin Harris said it best with his rendition of “Summer,” because honestly that’s pretty much I feel inside as we begin to bid adieu to summer and say HELLO to sudden seasonal changes. Thankfully, we’ve got the ultimate farewell to our favorite season captured by Savan Photography to help us ease into it all. See it in The Vault!

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From Savan Photography…The white sand, the beach grass, the wide open coast line and of course the Haystack Rock were all inspiration for our Oregon Coast Summer light Bridal/Wedding Inspirational shoot. Our vision was simple and fresh. To achieve that vision, we gathered elements from the landscape and local farms for our florals. We kept the colors of the florals fresh and light keeping it in line with the pale ocean blue hues and the local greenery. All of which complimented the stunning landscape.

In regard to the table setting, we looked to the ocean and sky for our inspiration and settled with classic blue plates. Also wanting to add a little sparkle, we brought in colors of gold seen on the bottom of our champagne glasses, while still drawing the eye to the surrounding landscape. Linen napkins, beach grass and drift wood we added for a pretty and organic table setting.

Incorporating fresh greenery of white, green and yellow hues and florals forged from a local farm, brilliantly designed by Metal and Moss, took this bridal session to the next level. Crafted with so much attention to detail, it didn’t matter which way the bride held the bouquet; each bloom and greenery fell perfectly into place and was stunning from every angle. The floral table arrangement was just as gorgeous with its design, organic and effortless feel.

We also extended those ocean hues to the invitation suite that was made by Pirouette Paper. The script was perfected crafted on fine Italian paper with rich royal blue ink.

The vision was not to overlook Cannon Beach, or Haystack Rock of the Oregon’s Coast; it was to highlight it with minimal and clean design in mind.

Photography: Savan Photography | Coordination: Petite Abeille Design | Design: Petite Abeille Design | Floral Design: Metal and Moss | Wedding Dress: Stephanie Dong | Hair + Makeup: Kelli Thomsen Skin Care Makeup Artistry | Calligraphy: Pirouette Paper | Film Processing: Alpine Film Lab | Hair Accessories: Petals And Stones | Model: Option Model and Media

When in need of a festive libation, popping the cork on a bottle of champagne usually does the trick. But why not take it up a fancy notch? The ladies of Laura Hooper Calligraphy are sharing a classic champagne punch plus all the bits needed to throw together one heck of a cocktail hour. So go ahead and make friday’s drinks fancy, fancy. Plus, find more cocktail hour favorites right this way.

We decided to have a fun afternoon in the studio creating our favorite champagne punch for an easy afternoon treat.

This version from All Recipes is so easy & we’ve been making it for our Old Town studio calligraphy workshops since we started holding them in our class!

Alicia from Love Knot Photo came by to help us document the simple celebration. It’s seriously so easy and it can easily be doubled or tripled as needed for parties.

Shop the look:

Drink dispenser {we spray painted our stand gold} | Best Ever Coasters | Napkins | Stir Sticks

Erin LepperdClassic Champagne Punch

prep time 4 Minute/s

cook time

total time 4 Minute/s

Serves 0Ingredients

• 1. 5 bottles of chilled champagne
• 1 bottle of ginger ale {2 liters}
• 2 small packages of frozen strawberries {when we make this for multiple classes we just get a larger bag}

Instructions

1. Combine all three ingredients, stir and serve.

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Champagne Cocktails

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Champagne Cocktails

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Photography: Anne Kim | Photography: Love Knot Photo | Products & Calligraphy: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Products & Styling: Laura Hooper Calligraphy

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If there was ever a wedding to convert me to become a blue loving babe, it would be said celebration from Jake Anderson. Add in some seasonal sand and one stunning couple and I’m pretty much a convert. Complete with luxe hues of ultramarine, we’ve got it all waiting for you to pin via The Vault!

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From Jake Anderson…Tara and Peter belong to each other. It is as simple as that. Their humor, their philosophies on life, and their easygoing demeanors all compliment the relationship in such a caring, and truly beautiful way.

They chose Lewes, Delaware as their wedding location as it is a location Tara’s family would spend their summers at, and of course, for it’s charm! In our discussions prior the wedding, it became clear Tara wanted a wedding which felt timeless and classic, but still exuded the natural character of the location. She choose florals which complimented and gave a wonderful nautical sense, but in an understated fashion, which allowed fluidity and cohesion to the other details found throughout the day.

Photography: Jake Anderson | Floral Design: David's Flowers | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Bridesmaids' Dresses: UWdress | Groom's Attire: Van Heusen | Venue: Irish Eyes | Hair Accessories: Francesca's

It should be recognized that Ellie and Mark planned an incredible wedding. Said wedding? Well, it just so happened to take place on the magical island of Ibiza. Need we say more? Captured by the massively talented Ana Lui Photography, we’ve got it all waiting for you in The Vault!

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From Ana Lui Photography…As soon as I met Ellie and Mark I knew their wedding will be simply amazing. They are such a lovely couple! Laid back, full of love and appreciation for our little island of Ibiza. They chose to get married on Ibiza because they feel like home in here. As much as they enjoy the sun and the sea, they also love the wild and rural countryside and Ibiza’s Mediterranean vibe.

And their wedding location was just that, wonderful countryside agroturistic hotel in quiet little village of San Mateo. Ellie and Mark chose Hotel Astarte because of it’s fab grounds. Stoney walls, wooden ceiling beams, almond and carob trees. They said” I do” surrounded by the family and closest friends at the top terrace garden of Astarte.

Lucy from Mambo Weddings, their wedding planner, made sure everything run smoothly. Decor and flowers matched the mood of the wedding day, with freshly cut rosemary, gorgeous succulent mini plant pots and overflowing bouquet made with love by amazing Kristin at Flowers Ibiza. Throughout the wedding day I always follow the natural light. For Elle’s and Mark’s couple shoot I’ve decided to shoot around on of the hotels fields, few meters away from sheep wondering around. The light was perfect. The sun started to set behind the olive and almond trees, we caught the last rays just in time. Ellie swapped her head piece for beautiful flower crown. And after the dinner all the guests joined the young couple by the pool with life music and cheese cake!

From The Bride…Why did you choose to get married in the Mediterranean?

Ibiza is such a stunning island and the perfect place for our guests to enjoy a holiday around the big day. Traveling abroad for a wedding allows people to properly relax and escape the hustle and bustle of home. It also meant that we were lucky enough to extend the celebrations, visiting one of our favorite restaurants, La Bodega, for tapas in Ibiza town the night before the wedding and welcoming people back to Rural Astarte for a pool party the day after to reminisce the day previous. It worked out perfectly.

How did you find the venue and your wedding coordinator (if applicable)?

We were recommended Lucy Dyer at Mambo Weddings through a friend of a friend who got married on the island the previous year. Having spent a January weekend looking at a number of venues last January, Lucy promised us that Rural Astarte was worth seeing. We hadn’t heard much about it, but totally fell in love with it’s beautiful natural setting in the peaceful Sant Mateo valley.

Did you incorporate anything handmade or DIY in your wedding?

We created a website to incorporate RSVPs, best places to stay, best airfares, photos and general information about the day. We also painted wooden signs to help guide guests throughout the day.

What advice would you give brides to be regarding organizing a destination wedding?

No matter how important small details feel in the lead up, it’s amazing how on the day none of it matters. You are surrounded by your favorite people in the world and, as long as you feel great and relax then everything falls in to place. That’s not to say planning an overseas wedding comes without it’s stresses. If you, like us, feel guilty about the cost implications for others, then try and give people as much notice as possible. Our save the dates went out over a year before the wedding and we were so lucky and overwhelmed by the number of people that joined us. If possible, make a few visits before the big day, it’ll put your mind at ease and is also incredibly special and fun.

What was your best idea?

Getting married abroad!

Photography: Ana Lui Photography | Event Planning: Mambo Weddings | Floral Design: El Ramo De Flores | Wedding Dress: Laure De Sagazan | Bride's Shoes: Zara | Bridesmaids' Dresses: ASOS | Hair + Makeup: Smack Ibiza | Groom's Attire: Reiss | Venue: Astarte Ibiza

Incase you were wondering, intimate Southern weddings are my JAM! Thankfully the ever so talented Rachel May Photography and Ooh! Events have totally delivered and made my dream come true in the form of Amy and Jason’s special day. See it all firsthand in The Vault!

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From Rachel May Photography…Jason and Amy’s April 6, 2016 wedding at Magnolia Plantation in Charleston South Carolina was all you would hope for from an intimate southern wedding. Magnolia Plantation was the perfect setting for the culmination of their love story. The details around the garden, and even a friendly peacock, served as a dynamic backdrop for this lovely couple.

From The Bride…This wedding was intimate and honestly barely more than an elopement with lots of pretty details, and I love that. Really traditional elements like a big wedding cake and a long veil mixed with lots of garden inspiration. It’s just magical there.

Photography: Rachel May Photography | Cinematography: Still Co. (Roxanne Still) | Coordination: The Burlap Elephant | Floral Design: Fern Studio | Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander | Cake: Sky's The Limit Bridal Sweets | Invitations: Smitten on Paper | Bride's Shoes: Aldo | Catering: Home Team BBQ | Hair + Makeup: Carla White | Calligraphy: Graceline Art | DJ: Ascend Entertainment | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | String Quartet: Classical Charleston | Venue: Magnolia Plantation Carriage House | Event Design + Production: Ooh! EventHaus | Hair Accessories + Veil: Twigs & Honey | Maid of Honor + Mom's Dresses: Alfred Angelo | Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals

While most people think of fall in shades of vibrant reds and oranges, this shoot by Andy Barnhart has us reconsidering old ways; blue and gold may just be the most underrated fall color combo yet. With the gorgeous Flying Diamond Ranch as a backdrop, we’re swept away with new wedding wishes – from the Little White Dress Bridal Shop’s Claire Pettibone gown to the sweetest flower girls we ever did see. Hop over to our Vault for more!

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From Andy Barnhart Photography… A group of vendors came together for a “blue and gold fall shoot” at Flying Diamond Ranch in Steamboat Springs, CO. It was a crisp, gorgeous fall day with the Aspen trees just starting to turn gold. The touches of soft blue and gray complemented the gold so well. Our model, Sara Eck, looked beautiful in a Claire Pettibone wedding dress, delivered to us by Little White Dress Bridal Shop in Denver, CO. Everything was perfect, the weather, rainbow, the bright blue lake on the property, etc. I even snuck my two daughters in for a few shots. I was honored to work with such a talented team of vendors and hope brides will be inspired by the contributions of this team!

Photography: Andy Barnhart Photography | Styling: Tammy Adams + Emily Barnhart | Floral Design: Tall Tulips Flower Shop | Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone | Cake: Cupcake Mini Bar | Invitations: Chaos Ink | Makeup: Apothecari | Hair: Alicia Ellson | Bridal Boutique: Little White Dress Bridal Shop | Location: Flying Diamond Ranch | Macarons: Honey B's Macarons | Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Table Rentals: Colorado Event Rentals

We adore Elsie and Emma of A Beautiful Mess and know without fail everything they touch is going to be pure gold. That headboard is proof. Meet the coolest guest bedroom dolled up by Elsie and Emma with the help of Joss & Main plus grab tips for making the ultimate retreat for all your overnight guests. But beware, they might not want to leave. Psst… shop the look right here.

Tell us about your respective styles. In what ways do they differ?

We definitely have similarities in our styles and pretty much always have. That made it easy to steal clothes from each other growing up. But our homes do feel different in that I (Emma) tend to lean more toward rustic mixed with modern/minimal vibes while Elise tends to lean towards more clean, mid-century/modern with bright pops of color. So we have plenty of things that we both love but I think our overall designs tend to feel different because of some of these differences. But since we love many of the same things, making over my guest bedroom together was super easy and fun!

If you could use three words to describe each other’s style, what would they be?

Emma: Rustic meets Modern and Minimal
Elsie: Clean and Fresh meets Vintage-Inspired

Walk us through the process of designing this space. It’s Emma’s guest room—but Elsie spends a lot of time here—so how much input did you each have?

As with any room makeover we started by identifying our needs and what wasn’t working in the room. Elsie had been in the space plenty before but I texted her a couple cell phone pics as we started discussing. Basically we wanted the room to feel more intentional and less cluttered so there’s room to roll suitcases into the space without feeling cramped. We also identified a few problems that needed to be fixed, like I didn’t have any curtains hung and the last time Elsie and Jeremy stayed there they had trouble sleeping because it was too bright in the room (the window faces out to our street). After that we started finding things on Joss & Main that fit our needs and the colors scheme/vibe we had settled on. We mainly utilized the Idea Board feature on the site so we could see each other’s picks quickly and easily.

Speaking of working together, your blog is just one of the many ventures you collaborate on. Together, you’ve also co-authored two books, curated a line of apparel, and opened a boutique. How does your dynamic differ from project to project?

Yes, we love working together and we (clearly) have too many interests. :) I think we are able to accomplish so much together for two main reasons. First, we are good at getting out of each other’s way. Ha! But really, we both have different strengths and weaknesses and we work together rather than trying to compete all the time. The second thing as since we are family, we both have an added incentive to help the other succeed. We never feel like we are working for just ourselves, we are working hard to help our sister succeed too and I think that helps push us to keep working hard.

Tell us about your favorite pieces in the room.

We both immediately fell in love with the Rattan headboard and chair. They are SO pretty and give the room a really laid back vibe while also feeling natural. One item that doesn’t get as noticed in the photos but made the room feel SO much more cozy is the textured white rug. And one more super cozy element was the Juno Coverlet Set on the bed. We love the texture it adds to the space and it makes getting a restful nights sleep a breeze.

Your in-laws call—they’re coming tomorrow. What’s the first thing you do to the guest room?

Make sure the bed has fresh sheets. I usually remember to remove the sheets and wash after guests leave, but I don’t always put sheets back on until I know someone will be using the room, so that’s the first thing I always check.

Guest room aside, how do you prep the rest of your house for guests?

I usually make sure I have some kind of shareable snacks and also a few beverages. We don’t always buy snack-type foods, since I will eat them all way to0 quickly. :) We mostly keep our pantry stocked with items to make meals with. So if I know guests are going to be around for a weekend or even longer I try to make sure I have some chips and salsa, chocolate, fresh fruit, and good bottle of wine to share should the need arise.

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Best Ever Bedroom DIY's

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Best Ever Bedroom DIY's

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Photography: Janae Hardy | Photography: A Beautiful Mess | Blogger and Designer: A Beautiful Mess | Decor and Accessories: Joss & Main

Secretly wishing to have a smaller wedding with just your closest friends and family? Take cues from blogger-turned-bride, Amanda of A Glam Lifestyle and her beau who headed to Napa Valley to make their intimate wedding come to life. Think a glamorous Beaulieu Garden party with crystal chandeliers and a sweetheart table decked out in white and blush blooms. Jana Williams captured and UHB-sessed is an understatement.

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From the Bride… I was never the little girl who dreamed about her wedding growing up. But, when I met Matt I fell into a real life fairy tale. We worked at the same company at the time. I’d been there nearly a decade and he was there almost five years. Yet, our paths hadn’t crossed. Turns out, he’d been asking around about me. He just hadn’t had the courage to approach me and introduce himself. I can remember his face so clearly that day he came to say hi. It was his boyish smile that made me fall for him. A few weeks later, we knew we were serious when on our second or third date – we were already talking about wedding plans!

I confided that I wanted a small, intimate wedding. Matt had to warm up to the idea a bit, but after we took a trip to Napa Valley a few months into dating and did some wine tasting, he was hooked. And that’s when we first said I love you. A year passed and after a picturesque engagement in Santorini, we came back to Napa to scout wedding venues. I had come across Beaulieu Garden on Instagram and was immediately in love, just like I was with Matt. We started planning our “bohemian glam” themed event and enlisted the help of a stellar planner who ensured it all came together. Our wedding day, although overwhelmingly hot at almost 100 degrees, couldn’t have gone better.

The day was romantic, timeless and chic. The mirrored furniture and lounges, coupled with the crystal chandeliers, gold accents, and white florals with hints of blush truly created a secret garden for our affair. Even the bridesmaid dresses matched the landscape perfectly with their watercolor floral pattern! The bridesmaids and I were able to get ready onsite at the venue in the gorgeous bridal suite. While I was waiting to get ready, I walked around the property and watched it all being set up. It hit me then that 45 of our closest friends and family had made the trip out for our special day. I was about to marry the love of my life. Our wedding planner stopped by and she commented that I was the calmest bride she’d seen! It was true. I wasn’t nervous at all. The words just came out of my mouth and I said, “This is the easiest decision I’ve ever made.”

Matt and I are taking a few months to enjoy newlywed life and then we’ll be off to honeymoon in Bora Bora and New Zealand in November! When it comes to life, we’re definitely lucky in love.

Photography: Jana Williams Photography | Cinematography: Daniel Gruen | Event Planning: LVL Weddings & Events | Floral Design: Rion Designs | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Sweet on Cake | Invitations: Prim & Pixie | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering & Events | Lighting : Got Light | Venue: Beaulieu Garden | Hairpiece: jennifer behr | Ring Box: The Mrs Box

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Jenny Yoo

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These college sweethearts’ adventures were only getting started when they first met at UCLA. Life took them to Seattle and then across the pond to England, but before they continued any farther, a classic, elegant winter wedding was put on the books. Kay English and Salt Water Studios were there to capture all the action live and the results (here in our Vault) are nothing short than stunning, thanks to the perfect planning of Mary Bradley Events. See it all this way!

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From Mary Bradley Events… Ryan and Andy met at UCLA, where they were introduced by Ryan’s sister (and eventual Maid of Honor). The college sweethearts’ adventure truly began after graduation, with a move to Seattle for Andy’s career in professional soccer. They only called Seattle home for three years, before soccer would them send them across the pond to England (immediately following the wedding, no less!)… but Seattle is where Ryan and Andy got engaged and began planning their dream wedding.

With Ryan’s east coast roots and Andy hailing from England, Ryan’s hometown of Princeton, New Jersey seemed like the perfect central meeting spot for friends and family to share in the celebration. And it certainly didn’t hurt that Princeton University and downtown Nassau Street provided the perfect mix of classic beauty and timeless charm. This is where the bride drew much of her inspiration for the day and the entire wedding weekend.

January 2nd, 2016 turned out to be a warm winter Saturday with plenty of golden hour light, perfect for outdoor photos. Ryan wanted the reception to be classic, romantic, and elegant, but comfortable enough for the two families’ love to be the focal point.

Flowers have always been Ryan’s favorite piece of decor, so the bouquets and tables were overflowing with white hydrangeas, lush greenery, and pops of garden roses. To highlight the elegant floral, the tables were adorned with beautiful crystal candle holders and mercury glass votives, and floor to ceiling twinkle lights illuminated the gorgeous venue. The bridesmaids wore Jenny Yoo gowns in two shades of a soft blue to complement the neutral palette.

This Princeton wedding was everything the couple had dreamed of and more… refined, elegant, filled with lots of beautiful lighting, classic whites and neutrals, and the most wonderful celebration of love!

Check out the bride’s blog, Cheers From The Roses, to see the wedding highlight film as well as proposal and engagement photos… and to follow along on their newlywed adventures living abroad!

Photography: Kay English Photography | Cinematography: Saltwater Studios | Event Planning: Mary Bradley Events | Floral Design: Dahlia Florals | Ceremony Venue: Saint Paul Roman Catholic Church Princeton NJ | Reception Venue: TPC Sawgrass | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Hair + Makeup: Salon Pure Princeton | Lighting: Fennelli Design | DJ: Sound Choice (Dave Hoeffel) | Band: Franklin Alison Orchestra | Officiant: Father Joe Healey | Transportation: A 1 Limo | Hotel: Nassau Inn | Bridal Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Draping: Janet Rosann Terman

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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When I think of a perfectly fashionable fall outfit, skinny jeans, sweaters and beautiful booties come to mind. The bootie being the seasonal differentiator that stylishly brings us from late summer to early autumn. And if you like to change up your look every year like me? It’s key to find on budget booties! Enter these ten chic finds that’ll have you ready to walk on all the crunchy leaves.

Fabulous Fall Booties Under $100

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Fabulous Fall Booties Under $100

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More Fashion & Beauty Inspiration Right this way!

As a mama-to-be with a new baby bump in the works, I’ve already learned how tough it can be to style an ever growing belly. Especially for events like weddings, showers and maternity sessions, where dresses are the usual. But thankfully today’s maternity fashion is on point and there are plenty of pretties to pick from. Click to see a few of my favorites below!

10 Gorgeous Maternity Dresses for the Mama-to-be Bump

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10 Gorgeous Maternity Dresses for the Mama-to-be Bump

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Try this sweet DIY for a baby shower!

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If you happen to love a modern, sleek city wedding and don’t shy away from a bright pop of color, this wedding day just might be your new best friend. Coral charm peonies stole the floral design show and perfectly offset the all-white loft space for both the ceremony and reception. High fives to Kelly Kollar for a stunning gallery that’s all at your fingertips inside The Vault.

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From the couple… We live in the East Village/Alphabet City in New York and we got engaged down the street from our apartment in a community garden where the groom is a volunteer member. When it came time to research venues and pick a date, we loved the idea of a springtime celebration in the city – we hoped that our friends and family would be shedding their winter coats, loosening up into spring, and feeling festive and ready to party!

We held our ceremony and reception in mid-April at Studio 450, an all-white loft space with glossy floors, walls of windows, and great views of the city. We didn’t have a specific theme in mind, but in retrospect, the wedding turned out to be somewhat garden-inspired. We wanted the wedding to be simple and elegant with a festive dose of formality to reflect the city setting, but also relaxed and fun. I looked at lots of photos online for inspiration, but ultimately our main wedding planning strategy was to pick great vendors, trust their advice, and let them do what they do best.

Each and every one of our vendors did an incredible job, especially the incomparable Yen and Gary of Real Food Catering who not only took care of all of the fabulous food but also seamlessly pulled the entire day together. Our wedding day was perfect and we are so thankful to our fabulous photographer, Kelly Kollar, for capturing the mood and energy of the day.

We ended up getting gorgeous weather – it was warm and sunny and almost 70 degrees. The “getting ready” part of the day at the Eventi Hotel was laid-back and fun. We did a “first look” at Studio 450 and took photos before the ceremony. The ceremony was short but pretty emotional. We were surrounded by cherry blossom branches,the space was flooded with light, and it felt totally ethereal. One of our favorite details of the day was the flowers (especially all the coral charm peonies!) by our amazing floral designer, Doan Ly. We also particularly loved the calligraphy by Julia Bez for our invitation envelopes, table numbers, place cards, day-of signs, and of course the large mirror at Studio 450 with hand painted guest names and table assignments.

Our cocktail hour took place outside on the terrace as the sun was setting, and we had dinner and dancing downstairs in the space where the ceremony had taken place. We absolutely loved the Silver Arrow Band. At one point, while the band performed “At Last” by Etta James, we looked around the dance floor and noticed that some people had actually stopped dancing to face the stage concert-style and just watch the vocalists sing.

Ultimately, however, the best part of our wedding was simply being surrounded by our family and friends. Thanks to our wonderful vendors, we were truly able to savor the experience and enjoy the day.

Photography: Kelly Kollar Photography | Floral Design: A.p. Bio | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar | Invitations: Sesame Letterpress | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Rings: Marisa Perry | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Alice & Olivia | Make Up: Sally Duvall | Hair: Patty Mocarski | Calligraphy: Julia Bez | Band: Silver Arrow Band | Hotel: Eventi Hotel | Bridal Boutique: Saks Fifth Avenue | Catering and Coordination : Real Food Catering | Ceremony & Reception: Studio 450 | Groom's Tux: Ralph Lauren Black Label | Paper Productions: Minted | Photobooth: Fresh Pressed Photo Booth | Pipe and Drape: Universal Light And Sound | Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals

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

Silver Arrow Band

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OH San Diego, how I love thee. For not only do you provide the best weather to date, but you’re also giving us crazy beautiful engagement sessions on top of it all. Take this Matoli Keely Photography as example, because quite frankly we’re obsessed. See it all in The Vault!

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From Matoli Keely Photography…Renee & Jackson came all the way from China to be able to experience and have their pre wedding photographs captured in beautiful San Diego. Renee has exquisite style and wanted a mix of both gorgeous nature and the ambience and feel of salt water at her feet.

Balboa Park and La Jolla Shores in San Diego California was able to provide the aesthetic that Renee envisioned and as this session shows, these elements perfectly showcased the love between Renee & Jackson.

Photography: Matoli Keely Photography | Floral Design: Tess Fresh Flowers | Hair + Makeup: Beauty By Stacey | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Location: Balboa Park | Location: Scripps Park La Jolla

This wedding is stunning. So, so, sooo stunning. But you know what I love most of all? It just looks FUN. Like that kind of kick off your shoes and dance the night away with the coolest people you know kind of fun, all set against one of the most awesome locales EVER. Throw in some DIY details (those bouquets, though), a VAULT full of captures from Jenn Emerling and a fab film from SparkStory Cinema and it’s basically the perfect Saturday. Dive in NOW.

[iframe https://player.vimeo.com/video/179380286?color=575757&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0 600 338]

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From the Bride… I was never the little girl or young woman who daydreamed about her wedding, but the moment I got engaged, it was all I could think about! From the start, I knew what we had to work with—a limited budget, a large guest list and an amazing selection of vendors—and I knew what we lacked. To work within our budget, I quickly realized that we needed a venue with built-in personality to limit the need for rentals to build our own space. Fortunately for us, the perfect venue was somewhere we used to spend A LOT of time in our early days of dating. With its patterned tile floors, indoor and outdoor space, chic design aesthetic and ample space to hold 200+ people, Palihouse West Hollywood was our dream venue come true.

I knew I wanted an emphasis on little details, the ability to blend DIY elements with professional design and an overarching vibe that represented us as a couple. Palihouse embodied this vision, so I took their aesthetic and ran with it. I love the mixture of different styles and sought out to avoid anything matchy-matchy. I mixed neutrals, soft pinks and metallics with the deep blue walls and rich, dark furniture. Edgier materials like glass and metal were paired with organic components like wood and eucalyptus. Chalkboards, mason jars and kraft paper provided a subtle rustic undertone. It all sounds a little crazy, but it worked so well together!

To keep costs down and as a fun way to stay connected throughout the craziness of wedding planning, my mom and I combed through thrift stores once a month and found materials to DIY anything possible. We got beautiful silver serving trays, ornate candlesticks, lanterns, hurricanes of all sizes, vintage suitcases and more. A little spray paint and glue goes a long way… we made the platters on the dessert table purely from thrift store finds! My parents made the escort card display board from an example on Pinterest using a pre-stretched canvas, cork and beautiful fabric overlay. My family saved every wine bottle, beer bottle and glass jar for 6 months (and painstakingly removed the labels!) to use as floral vases. I designed our invitation suite, programs, menus and thank you cards, and I got very resourceful at the Target $1 bin to source many of the signs. My amazing calligrapher, Jasmine at Inkwell LA, made them look like a million bucks!

My signage had a bit of a rustic feel, so to carry that through to the reception, we chose exposed wood tables with eucalyptus garland runners. Using greens over floral centerpieces helped us to save while still having the tables look lush and pretty. My amazing friend Rachel worked at a greens farm, Continental Floral Greens, and helped me every step of the way from choosing the right types of eucalyptus to mix, to sizing, sourcing and even building the garlands by hand. My mom does floral designs as a hobby, so we decided to tackle flowers ourselves. The LA Flower Market is a bride’s best friend – the vendors at CF Greens and Holland Flower Market special ordered King White Proteas, lush peonies, ranunculus and garden roses for the bouquets, chuppah and vases. My family and squad of bridesmaids spent the few days leading up to the wedding at my house putting together some of the most beautiful bouquets I have ever seen… I just might be a little biased, but I could not have been happier with the flowers.

The only things better than the flowers were the donuts. While the guests were on the dance floor, our coordinator, Katie, from Best Day Ever LA, reset the welcome table as the donut table. Guests were very pleasantly surprised with plates full of delicious donuts from Kettle Glazed Donuts. I probably ate 10 of them!

From the donuts at the end of the night to the first sip of coffee the morning of our wedding, it really was the best day of our lives. Every moment from the wedding was my favorite – it’s impossible to pick just one. Some things stand out above the rest, like the fact that our best friend officiated our wedding, that our only living grandparent (who is 91) flew in from FL to be there and that my best friend from childhood came from Amsterdam with her two month old baby. But what I remember most and am the happiest about is the amount of love in the room from start to finish. The feeling of being surrounded by the people you love the most, who have all shown up to support you as a couple, is indescribable. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel when you’re mired in planning details and you think you won’t get through it. You will, and it’s worth it. Enjoy every moment!!

Photography: Jennifer Emerling | Cinematography: SparkStory | Coordination: Best Day Ever LA | Floral Design: Continental Greens | Flowers: Holland Flower Market | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Invitations: Paperless Post | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Catering: Pailhouse | Makeup: Suzie Moldavon | Hair: Sarah Tevis | Calligraphy: Inkwell LA | DJ: THE FLASHDANCE | Groom's Attire: Mark Pomerantz | Officiant: Friend of Couple | Venue: Palihouse | Bride's Robe: BHLDN | Bridesmaids' Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Donuts: Kettle Glazed Donuts | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

This time of year Spring seems like a lifetime away, but one peek at this wedding from Kate Ignatowski Photography and it officially can’t come soon enough. Between the cherry blossom blooms and the ‘maids dressed in soft pink gowns by Joanna August, it’s a joyful ode to the Springtime season and there’s lots more this way.

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From Kate Ignatowski Photography…Margalit was thoughtful about every detail. She worked with a handful of select artists and then applied her expertise from working in the advertising industry to perfectly pull everything together. The result was a seamless, beautiful event that was a dream to photograph. On top of all the pretty, Margalit and Zach are an absolute joy to be around. Their happiness and excitement is contagious, and I love how they are beaming in every capture.

Photography: Kate Ignatowski Photography | Floral Design: Pedestals Floral Decorators | Wedding Dress: Sareh Nouri | Invitations: The Bride | Bride's Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Joanna August | Makeup: Anny Chow | Hair: Andy Tseng | Calligraphy: Carolyn Jane | Band: Nafshenu Orchestra | Band: Faze 4 Orchestras | Venue: The Sephardic Temple | Bridal Boutique: Kleinfeld Bridal | Bride's Earrings: Adam Marc Jewels | Photography - Assistance: Kristy Timms | Photography - Assistance: Elena Wolfe Photography | Programs: Christen Ruble | Rehearsal Dinner Cards: Paperless Post | Wedding Programs Watercolor Artist: Quinn Luu

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

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Elena Wolfe Photography

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I’m pretty sure that the very best birthday parties happen at Abby’s house. Every year I’m in awe of the super duper cutie parties she throws for her kiddos, and this year’s Pancakes and Pajamas party she threw for Audrey? Takes the cake. Well, pancake cake that is—the perfect birthday cake for this all-out-fun theme. Grab the recipe below and go ahead, sneak some frosting in the meantime!

2 Boxed White Cake Mixes, prepared per instructions
8-9″ round pans (we used disposable pie pans)
Parchment paper and/or spray
5 sticks butter, unsalted and softened
6-7 cups confectioners sugar
3 tbsp milk
1 tbsp vanilla
Confetti sprinkles

Preheat your oven per the instructions on your cake mix. Make the boxed cake mix. We used Betty Crocker and combined both mixes into one bowl. Prepare your pans by either lining with parchment paper, spraying well with cooking spray (what we did) or using oil and flour to coat the bottom and sides.

You should get about 6 “pancake” cake layers with each box so a total of about 12 layers. We scooped approximately 2/3 cup of batter into the base of the cake pan and made sure that it completely covered the bottom. The amount you use, will depend on the size of the pan you have. There is no exact science and if you need reassurance, remember that no two pancakes are exactly alike so it’s totally fine if your layers are a little uneven.

Bake for 1/2 the time noted on your boxed mix. Ours baked up in about 8-10 minutes. When your cake begins to brown and pull away from the sides, it’s ready to go. Let them sit in the pan for another 10 minutes, then flip them out onto a cooling rack or a paper towel to completely cool.

Meanwhile, make your frosting. You need A LOT of frosting because you’ll also adding a big layer of “whipped cream” to the top. Not whipped cream at all, just a big ol’ blob of buttercream.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with your paddle attachment, whip up your softened butter on medium until it’s light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Turn your mixer to very low and slowly add your confectioners sugar, about 1 cup at a time until totally incorporated. Add your milk and vanilla, stirring to combine, then crank that baby up a bit and whip the frosting for another couple of minutes.

*Would be nice to add maple syrup to your frosting. Yum!

Prepare Your Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk

Stir to combine then set aside.

Construct Your Cake

Each cake needs to be completely level, so trip the rounded top off of each layer. It won’t be much cake but it will help the cake to sit tall and even. You can discard or devour the scraps.

Place a small blob of frosting on your pedestal or on a cake round. We constructed ours directly on the pedestal. Add your first layer of cake. Then, using an ice cream scoop, spoon about a scoop and a half of frosting onto your cake. Spread around very carefully, taking time to avoid pulling up any crumbs if you can. You want to go completely to the edges of the cake.

Add your second layer of cake and repeat with the frosting. Repeat this process until your cake is as high as you want. We did about 8 layers without needing additional support. If you are going to go higher, place 4 straws (cut to the height of the cake) into your cake and top them with a cardboard cake round about halfway through.

When you’ve reached the top, add your glaze, spreading it to the edges so that it spills over the sides of the cake. Let sit until it’s set up completely, about 30 minutes. Pop it in the fridge for a faster experience.

Add the “Whipped Cream”

For our topping, you could most definitely use real whipped cream. But we wanted to use a sturdier buttercream so we used the last of our buttercream and a piping bag to create a whipped cream effect.

Place about 1—1.5 cups of buttercream in a pastry bag fitted with a star shaped tip. Sizing here doesn’t really matter but we used a Wilton 21. Pipe a completely filled circle about 4″ in diameter. Then, starting on the inside of the circle and working your way out, pipe an ice cream inspired cone of frosting. Perfection is not necessary. Top with sprinkles!

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Event Design: Abby Larson