When you’ve got a handful of handsome grooms that showcase their individual in unique ways, it’s enough cause for celebration. So, today (in honor of America’s Birthday) we’ve rounded up a few handsome men that prove to be even more intriguing than a firework. See a few of our favorite red, white, and blue inspired outfits below!

Fourth of July Groom Details

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Fourth of July Groom Details

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DIY confetti poppers perfect for the holiday!

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Patriotic Details | Fourth of July Cupcakes | DIY Strawberry Arrangement | Backyard Wedding

After deciding on a “wild, free party” destination wedding in Sayulita, Mexico, photographer Melissa Fuller and her husband Josh’s next order of business was deciding how much tequila they needed to buy! And with tequila, bright colors, festive designs, and a whole lot of love both the couple and their guests had a wedding of a lifetime. See it all from the most incredible talents (Laura Austin, Frank Harrington, Amanda Lopez, Trevor Traynor, John Lucarelli, and Grimace Films) in The Vault!

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From The Bride…Melissa Fuller, Little Black Book wedding photographer and her husband Josh, immediately fell in love with the vibe of Sayulita, Mexico after a long bout of indecision of where to host their very own wedding. “There is a slowness to the days in the charming town, situated just outside of Puerto Vallarta. When visiting you spend your days in a salty wash, getting in and out of the slow breaking longboard wave, shopping the beautiful local art, and eating fresh fish tacos,” writes the bride whose heart was an easy win.

When deciding what to do for our own wedding, the answers came easily once we established our theme. I’m not talking about colors and decor…I’m talking about the feel. And the theme we chose was literally marooning our closest friends and family in a tropical place and having the most wild free party we could manifest. We ended up making decisions on everything from that mantra. The next order of business was deciding how much tequila we needed to buy!

Pulling from the town, Josh and Mel decided to go with a neutral and white palette. With a destination wedding you are limited by the amount of things you can bring on an airplane. Writes Melissa, “One thing that was safe was knowing that white, cream and stone would all compliment the already beautiful gardens at the venue. We also wanted our guests to arrive and feel as if they had been taken away to a retreat. Guests were asked to wear white and shades of neutrals. I designed a tipi to serve as a natural wood cathedral that was built buy the local palapa builders and embellished by family with rope chandlers that I created. It was stunning. For decor, I spent my evenings leading up to the wedding doing a lot of DIY macrame and twine making with a cup of wine in hand. I knew that I could make a lot of twine flags and later make decisions about where they should go and just string them up around the property. All of the decorations fit into one large suitcase!”

They leaned heavy on their friends and family whose contributions came together, culminating in what become an epic party. One of their favorite memories is sitting in a beach house the day before the wedding with their friend, The Whooligan, covered in sand sipping on beers while putting together the playlist for the wedding at the final hour. “It all just came together like that. You do as much as you can before, but it was the moments of everyone coming together and splitting up into little groups for little adventures that we will always remember. We threw songs out there, cracked jokes, and got pumped for the big day laughing at each other’s suggestions. It was the best!” they share.

The couple also owns a company making re-useable stainless steel cups and being environmentally conscious is high on their list of priorities. They served a mix of specialty cocktails, hibiscus margaritas, local beer, and aqua fresca from the cups which doubled as gifts for their guests. Guests were also given wood veneer etched artwork from the folks at 5 Points Collective that matched a screen print the couple used in lieu of a traditional guestbook. “I wanted something that I would want out at our house not something that would tucked away and never be seen again and for our guests to take home something that wouldn’t end up in the trash or their nic-nacs drawer,” writes Melissa who found the artists while window shopping in Venice one day. The message on the print, “See the Unseen, Be the Unbeen,” was perfect and the art couldn’t have looked more like a scene from Sayulita.

Melissa used Squarespace to design the wedding website which aided in relaying ever-changing travel and accommodation information to their guests. She used the images on the home gallery page to tell people what they needed to know about the feel of the days to come. “It ended up being a huge success, one of my favorite pages I created was an RSVP page where I populated an image of our guests after they said they were coming. People had a lot of fun watching familiar faces pop up and it helped build the anticipation of the wedding and get folks to know each other who might not have met yet.”

For fare, Mel and Josh kept it simple and delicious. Everyone loves tacos. After the ceremony and before sunset guests milled the beach eating a mix of tamales, ham and pineapple tacos pastor, wood fired pizza and late night churros. To counteract the effects of the tequila bar they had a stack of fresh coconuts with straws prepped to keep partygoers hydrated.

It got sweaty, shirtless, and barefoot. “It was f*%#ing awesome!!” summarizes Josh who doesn’t dice his words.

We would like to say a huge thanks to the people who came together for our lives and this event. Laura Austin, Frank Harrington, John Lucarelli, Miguel the man with the plan, their parents and families, and Trev and Amanda, their friends who turned their Thanksgiving break into a wedding scouting mission. JJ & the folks at Pizzeria Rustica where they had their rehearsal dinner. To the talented Meghan Minillo for her lovely signage. And to Johannes and Anne who created a home so beautiful beyond imagination that our wildest wedding dreams came true.

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Photography: Laura Austin | Photography: Frank Harrington | Photography: Amanda Lopez | Photography: Melissa Fuller | Photography: Trevor Traynor | Photography: John Lucarelli | Cinematography: Grimace Films | Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven | Necklace: Child of Wild | Anklet: Free People | Custom Stainless Cups: Cupsco | Makeup: Jenni Tay | Ringbearer Box: Fleamarket find hand painted by Melissa |  Groomsmen Gifts: Boker | Kids Rompers: Viva Boho Kids | Vow Book painted by Melissa: Moleskine Notebooks | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Show Me Your MuMu | Kimono: Karen Thomas | DJ: The Whooligan | Venue: Teitiare Estates | Coordination: Miguel | Groomsmen Attire: Bonobos | Sign, Web, Paint + Design By the Bride: Melissa Gayle Fuller | Groom’s Shoes: Kenneth Cole | Robe: BHLDN | Floral Design: Chandra Petelin | Guest Poster + Art Gift: 5 Points Creative | Hair Accessories: Glimour of London | Hair: Hair My Heart | Bridal Boutique: The Dress Theory San Diego | Signage: Meghan Minillo | Jewelry: Bahgsu Jewels | Bride’s Gift Bull Skull: Evoke The Spirit | Hair: Tyler Gomez | Hair Boutique: The Dress Theory San Diego | Bride’s Gift Skull: Evoke the Spirit

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We’ve got a lot to celebrate today beginning with this stunner of a wedding from Brumley & Wells. For not only is this darling couple celebrating their one year anniversary (on America’s birthday, no less!) but see those napkin invitations? The Bride just so happens to be the brain and beauty CEO behind them. Join us as we toast this 4th of July celebration (and all the pretty it brings) via The Vault!

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From The Bride…Jake and I both grew up in Massachusetts but have fallen in love with the natural beauty of the west coast from visiting my brothers over the course of our relationship. After getting engaged, we took a trip to Sonoma, California to pick out the perfect wedding destination. After making a number of site visits to all the beautiful vineyards, we started the second leg of our journey to Portland. With only a tiny pocket of reception, we pulled over along side a windy road and sealed the deal. There we were on the phone with Belle Mer in Newport, Rhode Island. After thinking about what meant the most to us, we wanted our day to be where our family laid their roots and Newport was the perfect place for a Fourth of July wedding. It would be one of the best decisions kicking off planning the best day of our lives.

Newport, Rhode Island was not of significance to our relationship or our families before July fourth, but it was a place we were excited about making memories at in the next chapter of our lives. I had admired Belle Mer when it first opened 10 years ago. I was a 20-something just dreaming of my dream wedding. The modern and manicured design against the quintessential coastline of Narragansett Bay was perfect. To be able to bring everything we loved about Sonoma to Newport and then be surround by the love of our family and friends would be my dream.

We had exactly a year to plan and I was lucky to have a husband who wanted to be involved. We created “Wedding Wednesdays” to stay on track and enjoy the process with one another. The best advice we received was to make each wedding activity fun, so Wednesdays were dedicated to tackling our to-do’s over dates like coffee or wine and cheese.

I wanted our wedding to be an authentic representation of us and give our guests a great party. From our linen invitations to the beautiful blend of bridesmaids dresses, simple olive branches and homemade pies and ice cream, we chose the moments to be most thoughtful about without over doing the details.

After saying yes to Belle Mer, I knew my dress would help me establish the look and feel of the day. It ended up being the perfect blend of two designers. I chose a modern, timeless, chic silhouette by Nicole Miller from Lovely Bride in San Francisco and then added an unexpected, jeweled bolero by Hayley Paige. My something blue was my initials and our wedding date hand-stitched by my mom on the inside of my dress. My bridesmaids and mom wore a blend of tulle, lace and beaded silk from Monique Lhuillier and Adrianna Papell in shades of blush, taupe, and gray. Our two nieces wore simple tutus made by my mom and carried pennants that read “Team Cacci” and “Team Yee” written by Nashville hand-lettered Chelsea Petaja—my little surprise to Jake for his love for running and cycling.

I worked with Chelsea Petaja on all the hand-written elements to our wedding. Her bold fresh take on calligraphy complimented the simple design of our invite that I designed and had silk-screened on white linen. Each invitation was then finished the same way we make our Everyday Napkins and Handkerchiefs at my company, The Everyday Co. The rest of the invitation suite was beautifully letterpressed by my friends at Smudge Ink in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Our gifts to our bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents and siblings were our Everyday Handkerchiefs hand-stitched with everyones initials. They came in most handy during the ceremony!

It was important to included our family in as many moments of our wedding as possible. Jake and I knew we didn’t want to do a first look so instead, I did an unplanned first look with my dad and our photographer Jacob was there to capture the moment. With a tap on the shoulder as you would with your partner-to-be, I got to have the approval every little girl looks for from her dad. Needless to say, we both grabbed for his handkerchief! Our ceremony was laid out so that our family and friends were seated in a circle around us. Their presence and love was magical. After a cocktail hour of oysters (with crushed basil pineapple ice!), one of my twin brothers introduced us as Mr. & Mrs. while the other kicked off the night with a blessing and a toast. Our guests sat in an arrangement of long and round tables adorned with garden roses, peonies, blushing brides, café au laits, and hanging amaranths. Tall olive branches hung romantically over the rows of long tables as if they would in wine country. Together with our talented friend, Anastasia Francis of Orly Khon Floral, we created a warm, lush yet simple and effortlessly romantic aesthetic. Our head table comprised of our parents and siblings with glowing candles and a long lush green garland. Place settings had a white linen Everyday Dinner Napkin handmade by my mom for each guest as they enjoyed a colorful family-style meal paired with wines from California. Having our own Everyday Napkins meant we could share them with our guests and repurpose them for many meals together as a new family. We designed a rustic menu with custom side dishes recipes including ingredients and flavors inspired by Sonoma. For us, family-style represented a joyous celebration, tradition and coming together like one big family.

After dinner, we celebrated fourth of July with fireworks from Fort Adams, a summer variety of homemade pies by Cooks Orchard Farm from Vermont and ice cream from our friends at Richardson’s Farm in Middleton, Massachusetts. This was our nod to America’s Birthday and our way of thanking our guests for sharing the holiday with us. But the best part of dessert was the classic white two-tier wedding cake made by my brother and sister-in-law! The rest of the night was danced away to the impressive twelve-piece Motown band, Soul City.

What I loved most about our wedding was the love that filled Belle Mer that night. We wouldn’t change anything about the decisions we made or even the things we choose to leave out. We traveled 3,000 miles to realize the best destination was in your own back yard. If you’re thinking about having a destination wedding, consider who you want there and what means most to you. Choose your moments and think about the experience as a whole. Your wedding is only the first few pages of your next chapter. July fourth will forever be the day we remember as the best day of our lives.

A little background: We live in the South End, entrepreneurs, had know one another through very good mutual friends and lived around the corner from each other prior to dating but never knew it!

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Photography: Brumley & Wells | Event Design + Styling: The Everyday Co. | Floral Design: Anastasia Francis | Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller | Cake: Bride’s Brother + Sister-in-law | Invitation Design:The Everyday Co. | Letterpress: Smudge Ink, Inc. | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuiller | Makeup: Amanda McCarthy Beauty | Calligraphy: Chelsea Petaja | Lighting: Port Lighting | Band: Soul City | Groom’s Attire: The Black Tux | Venue: Belle Mer | Bridal Boutique: Lovely Bridal Shop | Bride’s Band: Ila Collection | Bride’s Bolero: Hayley Paige | Bride’s Bracelet: Flair Boston | Bride’s Hair: Christine Dopoulos | Bride’s Ring: E.B. Horn Jewelers | Bridesmaid’s Hair: Moselle Sath | Bridesmaids’ Dresses + Mother of Bride’s Dress: Adrianna Papell | Cloth Linen Napkins + Handkerchiefs: The Everyday Co. | Day-Of Styling: The Little Things | Film Processing: Mammum Film Lab | Flower Girl Dress: Bride’s Mom | Groom’s Ring: Long’s | Groom’s Wallet: Infinite Series | Groomsmen Shirts: Blank Label | Homemade Ice Cream: Richardson’s Farm | Pies: Cooks Orchard Farm | Rentals: New England Country Rentals| Rentals: Peterson Party Center

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Petit Bouquet

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We’re wishing all of our U.S. readers the happiest 4th of July holiday. Whether you are headed to the beach or a family style BBQ in your own backyard, here’s to hoping your festivities include lots of watermelon (and we mean lots), scrumptious cookouts, sunshine and all the fireworks too. Cheers from the SMP Living Crew xoxo

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Styling: SMP Living

What’s better than a wedding on the beach? Absolutely nothing. Just ask Andrew Mark Photography who captured this sweet seaside special celebration to share.a From the palm portraits to the adorable noisemakers you’re sure to love every bit of this celebration. See it all in The Vault!

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From Andrew Mark Photography…Beverlie & John’s destination wedding took place on a private beach club in the Maya Riviera! It was simply stunning and everything the couple wanted. Just them, their closest friends and family, and the sunset over the ocean.

Photography: Andrew Mark Photography | Cinematography: Indigo Wedding Videography | Wedding Dress: Mori Lee | Stationery: Melly Made | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Grand Coral Beach Club | DJ: Mood Events | Groom's Attire: RW & Co | Officiant: Guadalupe Hernandez Solano | Venue: Grand Coral Beach Club | Event Planning + Floral Design: Weddings Riviera Maya | Photo Booth: Quiroo Entertainment | Wedding Magazine Program: The Album Factory

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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If you love history (and even if you don’t), you’re in for a treat because today Trumpet & Horn is giving us the history of engagement rings. From the Victorian Era’s romanticism to the geometric lines of the Art Deco Era to the more-is-more mindset of modern times, your jewelry education starts now. If this isn’t the best history lesson you’ve ever been given, it will certainly be the prettiest!

The Victorian Era (1835-1900)

Named after the famous Queen Victoria, Victorian era jewelry were inspired by the trends of the time and the queen’s tastes in fashion and jewelry. Victorian era jewelry was extremely romantic, bold, and inspired by nature. Colored gemstones as well as diamonds such as black onyx, opal, sapphire, ruby, emerald, garnet and amethyst were very common, and the design of the ring settings were especially intricate and unique.
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The Edwardian Era (1900-1915)

Edward, Queen Victoria’s son, brought elegance and sophistication with him when he took the throne. During this era, platinum and white gold were being used for the first time in fine jewelry. Gemstones of choice reflected the colorful opulence of the times — sapphires, diamonds and pearls were most common in this era.
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Art Nouveau (1895-1915)

This era was artistry at it’s finest. The Art-Nouveau age is best remembered for its handcrafted and unique design basics. Moonstones, opals, pearl, enamel and agates were the most popular stones, though each ring could be customized and hand-crafted to anyone’s liking.
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Art Deco (1915-1935)

With the Roaring 20s in full swing, women were feeling more brave and confident than ever, which was reflected in jewelry design. For the first time, bold and geometric designs started to surface. Art Deco was a major ground-breaker for the jewelry industry with new and modernized technologies in production to support the new designs. Diamonds, onyx, coral, sapphires and emeralds were all extremely popular in this era.
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Retro (1935-1950)

Can you say Hollywood Glam? The Hollywood look in the 50s brought a desire for wealth and high-class beauty. The Retro period can be defined by its use of polished yellow and rose gold. More often than not, large colored gemstones were set within smaller diamonds. The Retro period saw the rise in popularity of Aquamarine, citrine and amethyst.
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Modern (1950-Present)

The time of new prosperity translated to diamonds, diamonds and more diamonds. Now, stones are mostly displayed in flashy and dramatic settings and no one is afraid to show their wealth on their finger. Today, we wear our diamonds loudly and proudly!

We devour gorgeous weddings on the daily thanks to the team of planners that have graced this blog over the years. But not often do we get to tour one of those planner’s homes! And this one, beautifully inhabited by Rebecca Chan Weddings & Events, her hubs and sweet pup has party central written all over it. Come along for the tour (and a cutie house warming soiree!), plus more in The Vault courtesy of Jessilynn Wong.

From Rebecca Chan… After a recent kitchen renovation, I threw a mini house-warming party for my friends. This styled shoot is part post-renovation home tour, and part at-home entertaining inspiration. For the reno, we tore down a wall that was between the dining area and kitchen, to allow for an open concept flow and to allow more natural light in from the backyard. We went white on white with marble textures for a modern and sophisticated look. Because the kitchen was small, we splurged on a premium marble herringbone backsplash, and complimented it with a marble-esque granite countertop. If it isn’t obvious enough, these are my favourite parts of the kitchen! We also created a custom wine rack in a space that couldn’t fit a full drawer. Above it, we asked our contractor to create custom sized shelves with antique brackets I sourced.

Around the kitchen, I decorated with a lot of items I already had at home. I love plants and succulents, and there was no shortage of those scattered around my countertops and shelves. My own gallery wall served as the backdrop to the sweets table. I always love cute details, and included some of my favourite nail polish colours in a sweet jewellery tray. In a white acrylic beverage tray, I put together an offering of sparkling water and champagne, with gold etched mini glasses and gold foil printed coasters (who doesn’t love cute details like these??).

As for the party, I wanted to keep it fun and lighthearted, with lots of sweets. The sweets table included blush coloured pastries for guests to enjoy, including mini donuts, cheesecake squares, macarons and sugar cookies. I set the sweets table on top of an ornate hutch that I had at home already. Popsicles are all the rage right now and I knew I had to have some at the party. To tie in the colours, ombre pops were offered in mango, strawberry and sangria flavours. They tasted as good as they looked! A mini cheese plate was put together for guests who wanted something not so sweet.

Since I am in the wedding business, I had to ensure the dining table was embellished with pretty place settings. I used brush gold flatware complimented by gold rimmed chargers and China. A simple floral arrangement in my favourite hues of lavender and pinks sat atop a soft fabric table runner. I love the combination of soft and romantic textures mixed with rustic. 

It was one fun party my husband and I hosted, and I hope you enjoyed the mini tour. My little pup Casey had a great time too!

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Photography: Jessilynn Wong | Flowers: Fete Boutique Floral + Events | Makeup: Velsie Mak | Hair: BlushPretty | Antique shelf brackets: Pied A Terre | Cheese platter calligrapher: Velsie Mak | Dining chairs and hutch: Homesense | Dinnerware, Flatware, Chargers, Napkins, Wood and Acrylic Platte: Chairman Mills | Dog: Casey the pooch | Fleur-De-Lys Juice Glass: Billy Ella | Floral dress: Vince Camuto | Ivory lace dress: BCBG | Map calligraphy print: Olive Branch And Co. | Planner + Stylist: Rebecca Chan Weddings & Events | Popsicles: Frozen Bogin | String lights, jewellery tray, cheese board, coasters, etched sh: Weddingstar Inc. | Sweets table: Truffle Toronto

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As if I didn’t love Sposto Photography already, they go an send over the sunniest, sweetest, loveliest engagement session I’ve ever laid eyes on. Complete with that oh-so-sought-after golden hour, this is one session you won’t want to miss. See it all for yourself in The Vault!

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From Sposto Photography…These love birds chose a gorgeous natural setting in the heart of Orange County, Southern California for their Engagement Session. The soft dusty rose color of her dress complimented the golden planes of this summer setting. Malia and Joe met on Halloween two years ago. He proposed during a photoshoot as Malia is a wedding and portrait photographer herself! Here’s a little blurb about their engagement story.

From The Bride…The sun was setting and the shoot was coming to an end. Joe suggested a pose where I was standing in front and facing away from him. After the camera went wild and the photographers’ eyes lit up, I knew something was happening. I looked back at Joe to find him on his knee holding a ring box with a grin from ear to ear. We spent the rest of our vacation in Big Bear on cloud nine and completely overjoyed to be engaged!

Photography: Sposto Photography | Location: Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park

Wedding registries can be overwhelming, for both the couple and the guest. You can always hit up our SMP Registry guide to walk you through step-by-step, but today we’re here to set the record straight on how much to spend once you set out shopping for that perfect gift. While there’s no exact science and certainly no “wrong” amount, we’ve laid out some helpful spending guidelines to clear up the confusion.

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How Much Should You Spend?

$75 to $100

• Your acquaintance whose invite has you asking, “Why on earth was I invited?”
• Your distant cousin who you only see once a year at the holidays
• Your parents’ best friend’s child that you’ve known for forever
• Your sorority sister you haven’t spoken to since graduation
• Your frenemy (you love her, you hate her, you know the drill)

$100 to $150

• Your co-worker, a.k.a. your work wife or work husband
• Your good friend whom you grab brunch with from time to time
• Your friend who’s getting lucky in love with marriage number two

$150 to $200

• Your best friend since when you thought boys had cooties
• Your best friend who you’d get matching tattoos with (if you were ever going to get a tattoo)

More than $200

• Your brother or sister (no matter how close you are)
• Your soulmate best friend (the Samantha, Miranda or Charlotte to your Carrie)

Kohl’s

Rain on the day of your Paris engagement session is not ideal. But, as Audrey (the fabulous talent behind Le Secret d’Audrey) said: “It is Paris — even plan B is beautiful.” And it was. From the beautiful and intimate apartment photos to the rainy adventures in the streets of Paris, this engagement session is making us say “Je t’aime.” See every reason why in The Vault!

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From the Bride to be…Both of us work in the same organization and we were introduced over a casual lunch on one of those usual workdays almost 7 years ago. Never did we thought that this brief lunch would blossom into a lifelong relationship.

One of the things that we like to do together is running. Since both of us have never been to Paris, we decided to sign up to run the Paris Marathon and to cover some unbeaten tracks around France.

The marathon was signed up a year in advance and between that time to the marathon, he proposed. I started to research about weddings in Paris and that is when I stumbled upon Audrey. I know immediately that this is the style that I want to be photographed in.

The search for the perfect dress for the photoshoot was a stressful one as I only started looking for one slightly less than 3 months before. From the start, I knew that I wanted a dress that has a non-conventional neckline that is elegant yet has a sexy aura to it. There are limited options in my city and I was almost going to resort to customizing my own, until I tried on this dress from Snow by Annasul Y. The dress was so unthinkably gorgeous when put on and I completely fell in love with the lace bodice and the sheer skirt where my legs are faintly visible especially in the reflection of light.

The weather on the day of our photo shoot was a depressing one as it was gloomy and drizzled pretty much the entire day. My idea to have Audrey to capture us in the evening light, just like those beautiful photos from her portfolio, was pretty much ruined, or at least I thought. Audrey was upbeat throughout however and reassured me that the photos would turn out fine, only with shiny floor.

I chose to wear the Annasul Y dress for the indoor session and a Lavish Alice short dress that I got from ASOS for the session at Louvre Museum and Eiffel Tower. Wearing the Lavish Alice dress was unplanned for, if not for the weather, however the dress stood out perfectly in the photos.

Audrey was exactly right, the photos are amazingly beautiful that I immediately fell in love with the moment I received them. I have to say that the dream team I had on that day, both Audrey and James, was the best ever.

Photography: Le Secret d'Audrey | Hair + Makeup: James Harold | Film Processing: Carmencita Film Lab | Location: Paris France | Long Dress: Annasul Y | Short Dress: Lavish Alice

Whoever said the classic pairing of black and white was boring clearly hasn’t seen Leilani and Danny’s chic Old Town engagement session. Because these two? Well, they’re anything but. Donning the chicest apperal complete with the sweetest sunlit kisses, Audra Wrisley captured their session to share and thankfully we’ve got it all waiting for you in The Vault!

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From Audra Wrisley… Leilani and Danny’s chic Old Town engagement session is the epitome of spring and romance! I couldn’t be more excited for these two and their beautiful wedding day coming up this Fall, and we loved spending the day capturing their laid back and fun-loving relationship. Leilani and Danny happen to be stunning and have killer style, and their chic black & white aesthetic was the perfect dramatic look for their city shoot in Old Town, Alexandria. Blending the city streets, southern brick & ivy nooks, a classic car and the historic waterfront, their shoot was such a beautiful mix of old Virginia and new.

Photography : Audra Wrisley Photography | Gown: Rent The Runway | Hair + Makeup: Lori Nansi | Suit: Michael Kors | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Shirt: Esther | Skirt: Zara

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Audra Wrisley Photography

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Looking to incorporate a few wedding traditions in a super stylish way? Why not take cue from Mary Corder and Josh’s Big Day have your Bridesmaids’ be your ‘something blue’? Complete with Alyssa Joy Photography behind the lens this is one celebration that you’re sure to love. See it all for yourself in The Vault!

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From Alyssa Joy Photography… There is so much to be learned from Mary Corder and Josh and the way they planned their big day. They thought through each and every detail and tradition to make the event most personal to them. The couple has one sibling each, so instead of a big bridal party, they knew they wanted only their siblings at the front, as the maid of honor and best man. To honor her girlfriends, Mary Corder invited her would-be bridesmaids to instead be her Something Blues. The “blues” got to wear any blue dress of their choice, spend time in the bridal loft on wedding day, and sit in reserved seating at the ceremony. This unique spin on the traditional wedding party is just one example of why this wedding was such a personalized day. Mary Corder and Josh were both so grateful for each of their wedding vendors and really chose people who not only were very talented but that they also really “clicked” with. From the very beginning of the wedding planning process, I felt so appreciated as their photographer but also felt like a friend! This connection really made the wedding day itself so wonderful, and I believe it really shows in their photographs.

From the Bride… We didn’t meet in a coffee shop or take a class together in college. We didn’t grow up together or meet through mutual friends. We met on the apparently not-so-silly dating app Tinder, and while I never thought that would be my story, I love to share it because it led me to Josh.

After a marathon of a first date – nearly 7 hours long, best friends and even a sibling (!) included – we promised each other we’d skip the games. We promised to be real and honest and not to wait 8 minutes to respond to text messages just for the sake of waiting.

Fast forward 13 months and Josh was on his knee in my parents’ home, shaking wildly and forgetting the majority of his proposal spiel. (Lucky for him, only one line really matters after all!)

It didn’t take us long to find the venue of our wildest dreams, and then I headed to New York with my mom and sister to find the dress. I had scheduled several appointments and only ended up going to one. I fell in love with Sarah Seven’s Lafayette gown in her flagship shop on Lafayette Street, and then Sarah herself showed up to my appointment. Needless to say, the dress felt totally meant to be.

Our wedding day was truly magical. Josh challenged me early on to really think through the checklist of wedding to do’s and traditions and opt only for the ones that felt personal to us. Our vision was for an intimate and incredibly personalized day, including handwritten vows, a guest list of under 100, a team of vendors who felt more like friends, and breaks in our wedding day timeline for us to just be together and soak it all in. (Perks of having your ceremony and reception in the same place, which we highly recommend when possible!)

I credit our florist, Rosemary and Finch, to making our day beautiful. Mary Love and I met for coffee when I was beginning the vendor hunt, and we immediately clicked. I just knew I had to work with her! I decided very early that I wanted our wedding florals to be wild, white and cream, with plenty of greenery. (What can I say – I just love neutrals!) Mary Love took my vision and ran with it in the most extraordinary way. One of my favorite moments of my wedding day was seeing my bouquet for the first time. I’ll never forget it.

My biggest piece of advice for couples would be to set time aside on the wedding day to be together, breathe, and take it all in. Our planner, Kasey, advised us to take a break from the hustle and bustle to eat together in the bridal loft alone after the ceremony while our guests enjoyed the cocktail hour. I’m so grateful for those first moments as husband and wife, and that I got to spend them with Josh and not buzzing around trying to greet guests or pose for photos.

Bottom line: your wedding should be about you and your spouse. Skip the traditions that don’t give you the feels, choose vendors you genuinely like having around, and take time to sit back and take it all in. Too often weddings are planned for the guests when really, it should be about you.

Photography: Alyssa Joy Photography | Cinematography: Evan Bruce | Event Planning: TOAST | Floral Design: Rosemary and Finch | Ceremony Venue: The Cordelle | Reception Venue: The Cordelle | Bride's Shoes: Seychelles "Would I Lie" Flat | Catering: The Chef And I | Hair + Makeup: Kelley Kirker | Calligraphy: Script Merchant Calligraphy | DJ: Russ Pollard | Groom's Suit: Hugo Boss | Bride's Dress: Sarah Seven | Cinematography Editor: Josh Harrell (The Groom) | Desserts: Flour & Yolk | Groom's Glasses: Warby Parker | Photography - Assistance: Kristen Fields | Rentals: Southern Events Party Rental & Vintage Prop Shoppe

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

Petit Bouquet

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It’s picnic season you all which means packing up and heading outdoors for a little sipping + a little nibbling + a lot of lounging and all with a great view. Whether park or seaside, we adore a great picnic; especially when it’s infused with gorgeous details. Check out 12 ways to up the ante on your alfresco picnicking and do so with a healthy does of chic.

Chic Picnic Essentials

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Chic Picnic Essentials

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More Picnic Inspiration right this way…

Fun & Bright Inspired Picnic
DIY Picnic Basket
Our Favorite Summer Rosé

As the presumptive Republican candidate for president, Donald Trump has been in the news a lot lately. But we’re not here to talk politics. Today, we’re talking diamonds — one diamond, in fact. The 7.45 carat Harry Winston rock that Trump proposed to Marla Maples with sold today at auction for $300,000 to a unknown buyer. Maples originally sold the ring at auction in 1999, where it fetched $110,000. You can’t give Donald Trump credit for much, but you have to give the man credit for having great taste in jewelry.

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The Most Beautiful Engagement Rings Money Can Buy

The Most Gorgeous, Glamorous, Envy-Inducing Engagement Rings Money Can Buy

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The Most Gorgeous, Glamorous, Envy-Inducing Engagement Rings Money Can Buy

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Whoever said eloping meant you had to forgo style clearly hasn’t met Angela & Zach. Because their City Hall celebration? Unbelievably chic. Thanks to the massively talented Meiwen Wang behind the lens, we’ve got their sweet ceremony to share and you can witness it all in The Vault!

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From Meiwen Wang… Angela & Zach met in Southern California while he was a student at Cal Tech. Malibu was a place they went to frequently to hike and hang out. We climbed up the side of this mountain that had a beautiful viewpoint of the city. After they had dated for a few years they moved up to SF and so they wanted a civil ceremony done at the beautiful SF city hall. I loved the quiet moments while we were waiting in anticipation for them to meet with the officiant. My favorite frames from that morning were the little details that tell the story of the whole day– 9:55am on the office clock before their 10a appt., them holding hands under the table while going over the license, and Angela straightening Zach’s suit coat for the photos. Afterwards we of course had to stop by Crissy Park to get some photos by the bridge. They are the sweetest!

Photography: Meiwen Wang | Wedding Venue: San Francisco City Hall | Hair + Makeup (engagement): Grace Lin | Hair + Makeup (wedding): Dreamcatcher Artistry | Photo Film Lab: PhotoVision Prints

Esmeralda Franco said it best, Saida and Andrew’s intimate wedding was utter perfection. Complete with the most incredible Grace Loves Lace gown and just about the sweetest couple ever, it’s a City Hall ceremony that proves that you definitely don’t have to sacrifice style when it comes to eloping. See for yourself in The Vault!

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From Esmeralda Franco…Saida and Andrew’s intimate wedding was utter perfection—and something that really epitomized all of their hopes and dreams for the start to their new life together. The couple wanted a cozy, intimate wedding and desired to share their first few moments as husband and wife with just 15 of their nearest and dearest friends and families. Natives to San Francisco, the majestic San Francisco City Hall was the perfect fit for their ceremony location! The SF City Hall is more like a palace, with gorgeous stairwells, ceiling details, and architecture everywhere you look. It has such regal vibes to it and is an elegant location for any elopement or intimate wedding, and it matched Saida and Andrew’s style completely! I love having the chance to photograph elopements and weddings in this incredible venue, and it actually was some of my photographs that I had posted on social media from the City Hall that connected me with the bride and groom!

A somewhat serendipitous meeting, Saida found me on Instagram by searching the hashtag #sfcityhallwedding. In fact, she found most of her vendors via Instagram (the beauty of social media, right?!) When we first spoke over the phone to discuss the details of their wedding day, Saida expressed that photography was really important to her and her fiance Andrew—a sentence every professional photographer dreams of hearing! Since they were having a small wedding but had many important people in their lives that wouldn’t attend, she knew she wanted to find the perfect photographer for their special day to not only be able to relive the memories but to also to be able to share their memories with those who wouldn’t be present on their wedding day. I feel grateful that they picked me to be able to capture these memories! 


Siada wore a stunning, backless lace dress by Grace Loves Lace, and Andrew wore a classic, tailored navy suit from J. Crew. Their apparel was complimented by the gorgeous bouquet by Church Street Flowers, with the clusters of anemones tying their outfits together effortlessly. They looked so sophisticated and elegant, surrounded by the beauty of City Hall. My heart fluttered when I saw them for the first time on their wedding day!

One thing that was re-confirmed to me by photographing this wedding was the idea that just because you’re having a small, City Hall wedding or elopement doesn’t mean that you cannot have gorgeous photos of your wedding day. Saida and Andrew will have these images for generations to come, but I learned the opposite lesson the hard way. My husband and I chose to have a small, City Hall wedding, and we did not hire a professional photographer. While our families took photos with their cell phones, as the years passed, cell phones were upgraded, and the images were lost.



Brides, I urge you—if you’re just planning an intimate wedding, please take advantage of not having all of the other expenses of hosting a traditional wedding and splurge on a photographer you love! Focus on some of the smaller details, like your bouquet and dress, and your photographer will be able to capture incredible images for you to cherish.

Photography: Esmeralda Franco | Floral Design: Church Street Flowers | Wedding Dress: Grace Loves Lace | Makeup: Linh-Esque | Hair: Shelly Cross | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Venue: City Hall | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab

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

Petit Bouquet

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Let me preface this by saying we’ve seen a lot of beautiful weddings with the 10 trends below, and when they’re done well, they’re done well. That said, their popularity means we’ve seen them in a lot of weddings. So, if you really want to wow your guests and have a uniquely gorgeous day, take note — these are the 10 wedding trends ready to retire and the 10 trends taking their place.

Wedding Trends to Lose + Love

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Wedding Trends to Lose + Love

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Now Trending in the World of Weddings

Pinterest’s Top Wedding Trends | 15 Trends You’ll Never Regret | The Biggest Wedding Dress Trends

You might remember Jenna of Visions of Vogue as the bride with the dress we’re still obsessing over. And today she’s back to share how in the world she pulled off that dream wedding and actually stuck to a budget. She’s getting into the nitty gritty numbers game along with the spreadsheet kept her on track. Brides, this post is one to bookmark and keep forever.

From Jenna… Wedding budgets are usually the last thing a bride wants to think about. Numbers? Yuck. Expenses and bills? Even worse. A budget has none of the glitz, none of the glamour, and most importantly, no pretty Pinterest photos. Coming off our wedding last year, my engaged friends have been asking me for budgeting tips – I loved the process (and even that might be an understatement)! So, I’m excited to share what helped me today!

*Download my budget template*

Get to know Microsoft Excel. I can hear the groans now but I promise it will be your best friend and do all the unpleasant math for you! You don’t need to be a pro – just get acquainted with it. Give it a little hello and just get started.

List out every single thing you think you might want on your wedding day (in column A). Things will change (be okay with that) but this doubles as a little to do list to keep you organized. It’s pretty fun to put all your dreamy ideas on paper too. The template has a sample list of items that we had for our big day but every wedding is unique so add and delete as needed!

Estimate costs (in column B). This was one of the most difficult things to stomach because you’re signing yourself up for some pretty big expenses! Don’t worry if your estimate isn’t exact – it will help you put things in perspective as you finalize pricing. It will also help you subconsciously stay on budget. If you overspend in one area, maybe underspend in another to offset. Once you’ve filled out your line items, don’t be alarmed at the total. Weddings are an investment but with these steps, it will be easier to manage!

Prioritize. Pick 3 items that are really important to you and your fiancé on your wedding day. Splurge on those and save on the rest. Ours were food, drinks, and DJ – the critical elements to throwing a great party! As a style blogger, my dress ranked a very close 4th!

Keep track of your payments (in column C). Each time you make a payment, add it in. This will help you and your vendors keep track of costs which makes for a much calmer bride! This may seem like a lot at first but I promise that as soon as you start to see the amount owed decrease (in column D which fills out automatically!), you will feel a sense of accomplishment.

Hopefully, these steps will help you as you plan your wedding day! Brides have enough things to stress about already and tracking your wedding budget shouldn’t be one of them. 

xoxo, Jenna

*Download my budget template*

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P.S. Why a Wedding Planner Should Be in Your Budget!

To say rosé is one of the great loves of my life might be an understatement. It’s pushing #1; especially during the Summer months. But really do you blame me when it provides thirst quenching party aperitifs and plays ever so nicely with other summer faves like pineapples and flamingo floats. Grab even more inspo for the best party summer has to offer from Liz Joy + Stephanie Elliott Photography.

Steph and I met when our now three year olds were just weeks old in a mommy & me yoga class. We bonded over long nights with little sleep and the wonder of being mothers to these precious new lives. Over time through various mommy and me classes we formed a circle of friends and have remained close since with 8 new babies joining the club!

We all appreciate a nice glass of wine and summer was just starting so we decided to throw a rose soirée to kick of the season by Steph’s pool. We went with a palms, pineapples and flamingos theme and used lots of local vendors to help make our little party come to life.

 We rarely see each other in anything but yoga pants and ponytails and it was awesome to put makeup on, wear summer dresses and be able to have conversations without any interruptions. We’re so lucky to have found each other, to support one another on this wild journey of motherhood and most importantly to have FUN together, and our rose soirée was perfect celebration of just that!

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More Summer Entertaining Ideas

How to be a Master Bartender at your next Shindig
5 Rules to Achieve Perfect Party Host Status
The Ultimate Wine Tasting Guide

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photographer: Stephanie Elliott Photography | bamboo tableware: Juliska | flamingo & pineapple cookies: Dimare Pastry Shop | life+style blogger: Liz Joy | paper: Pure Joy Paperie | pineapple flower arrangements: Nielsen’s Florist | rosé: Jolie Follie | vintage salt & pepper shakers: Kirby & Company

The number one rule of wedding dress shopping is don’t try on any dresses outside of your budget. Inevitably, you will fall in love, and then what are you going to do? Enter: Allure Bridals, where you don’t have to sacrifice style because of your wallet. With hundreds of gorgeous gowns at the perfect price point, Allure has a dream gown for every bride — we dare you not to find one you love!

Our Favorite Real Allure Bridals Brides

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Our Favorite Real Allure Bridals Brides

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What Your Bridal Stylist Wants You to Know

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More Savvy Bridal Style Secrets

SMP’s Veils 101 | How to Translate Your Personal Style | The 100 Most Iconic Dresses