Style Me Pretty: Wedding Blog for the Style-Obsessed Bride

First Anniversaries Call For Lush Bouquets + Sweet Kisses Galore

I believe love stories are to be honored. And love stories that start in high school and continue to grow stronger day by day? Well they deserve full on celebrations and that’s exactly what these two lovebirds did when they hit their one year of marriage mark. Natalie Bray and Simply Elegant Weddings collaborated to create the scene before us and Natalie captured all the sweet love for us to peruse in our Vault as well, leaving us feeling inspired and giddy. What can we say, we love love.

From Natalie Bray… I hope this love story brings you joy. When two souls meet as high school sweethearts and finally marry… it is fantastic! But why stop there. Why not celebrate with a romantic One Year Anniversary session.

That is just what Jenny and Matt did. The inspiration for this session was romantic minimalism. The bride’s elegant dress from Sarah Seven with romantic open back accented her look beautifully. Now, pair that with Catalina Neal’s cascading florals full of greens, white, and oatmeal adding to the romance and the bride shined. Her hair and make-up focused on a more natural aesthetic with romantic pops of light pink and a simple chignon. She looked stunning. Matt sweetly helped get Jenny ready. What a wonderful connection and moment to have your husband help button your gown or put on your shoes. Just lovely!

The couple wanted to say their vows to each other as a way to relive the day and the words they spoke from the heart a year ago. A reminder of their love and commitment. The ceremony site was draped with olive leaves and gorgeous florals. Such a sweet and heartfelt occasion; therefore, we wanted the couple to stand out, but feel as if there was a canopy of nature surrounding them. The Bradford Ranch did just that. The Ranch was also where Jenny and Matt became husband and wife, so this location was perfect to celebrate. As they repeated their vows, smiles lit up their faces and was such a joy to be a witness to.

A refreshing rose water mojito was prepared for them to enjoy afterward.

The colors and concept continue into the tablescape design. With a Silk and Willow hand dyed table runner and florals filled with white ranunculus and peonies.

It was a beautiful way to celebrate such a special anniversary.

More anniversary inspiration here!

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Natalie Bray Studios

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Sarah Seven

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Bring the Barn Vibe Indoors with These Sliding Doors

On any given day, you can find me trying to convince my husband that we need patterned tile somewhere in our home, a bigger entryway or an in-home movie theater in our unfinished attic space. And the latest design lust? Sliding barn doors. I blame it on Fixer Upper and of course, this stunner home tour we shared earlier today from Megan Papworth and Dawn Terry of E.Interiors. More right this way!

Bring the Barn Vibe Indoors with These Sliding Doors

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Bring the Barn Vibe Indoors with These Sliding Doors

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More ways to pretty up your home…

20 Pin-Worthy Color Stories To Steal for Your Home
10 Statement-Making Home Updates for Less Than $50
10 Unique Ways to Add Paint to Your Home

After He Proposed, They Literally Sailed Off Into the Sunset

It’s a little ironic that a wedding nearly ruined this Groom’s proposal. Originally planning on taking his Bride for a walk out to a scenic lighthouse, he was forced to stall his plan when the path to the lighthouse was obstructed by a wedding. As soon as it ended, though, the plan was back on and he led his future bride to the lighthouse where he got down on one knee before they literally sailed off into the sunset. See every sweet moment, captured by Sheradee Hurst Photography, in The Vault!

From The Bride…Although Kevin and I had several mutual friends, our paths never crossed until two summers ago. He was interning with a friend of mine at an oil company when they came across my Facebook page. He became very adamant about getting my Snapchat name. She, knowing that I was not interested in a relationship, denied him the information. He decided to take matters into his own hands. He eventually found my username and added me immediately. We began snapchatting, the newest form of communication at the time. After weeks of sending pictures of our daily lives, we decided to go to a movie. We continued to hang out, after all, there were only a few more weeks of summer and life would soon go back to normal. Those few weeks ended, but we weren’t ready to. Going to rival schools, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, we parted ways for the school year, meeting up on weekends, having daily Skype dates, and very quickly falling for each other. This past year I graduated and began teaching third grade, and impatiently waited for him to get down on one knee, something I had been dreaming of since the very beginning.

As spring break approached, I became very suspicious. I just knew he was going to propose that Friday. Everything was lining up perfectly, until he showed up in sweatpants. I was so disappointed. If it didn’t happen Friday, I couldn’t figure out when it was going to. It was definitely not the following night due to a double date we had planned. Once we arrived to our planned double date, Kevin began walking in the complete opposite direction of the restaurant. Evidently he had no intentions of actually going inside. I insisted that we go check in for our reservation and he finally obliged. After listing every possible name that the reservations could be under, with a line forming behind me, we left. Our friends were running late, but that was nothing out of the ordinary. Kevin decided that we should go walk around the lake to the lighthouse while we waited on them. To his surprise, there was a wedding going on, altering his entire plan. We began aimlessly walking in circles and he became glued to his phone, trying to figure out a quick backup plan. Eventually, the wedding ended and we made our way down the to the lighthouse where he asked me marry him, making me the absolute happiest girl in the world. Just when I thought the moment could not get any better, he pointed across the cove of the lake where a sailboat stood, awaiting us. We sailed around the lake on what could have easily been the coldest and windiest day of the year, drinking champagne, cuddled up in blankets. I could not have asked for a more perfect day in the world.

Kevin is currently finishing up school at Oklahoma State University and will be getting degrees in both mechanical and aerospace engineering. We plan on moving to Edmond, Oklahoma and are ready for whatever life brings. June 10th, 2017 cannot come soon enough!

Photography: Sheradee Hurst Photography | Location: Lake Hefner

See How This Couple Brought the French Glamour to Shanghai

At first glance I would’ve sworn this couple married in the South of France, but then to my delight I learned that they managed to bring the je ne sais quoi of my favorite European country to Shanghai! Proving that elegance isn’t only about location, Jada Poon Photography captured this stunner of a celebration and we’ve got it all in The Vault!

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From Jada Poon Photography…When I first met Sonia, we instantly clicked on what we love about weddings and all the wedding details and visions. It was always such a joy to chat about her wedding planning and her decisions on all the wedding details. Shanghai is not the most common choice for a western destination wedding, and Sonia’s wedding planning and vision show how it is so important to know what you want and how cohesively the wedding decor and details tie in together. In the end, Shanghai turned out to be the perfect place to realise her wedding vision and address their respective family’s preferences. It was a lot of fun photographing Sonia and Horace’s wedding, as it was the perfect combination of beautiful and elegant details, and heartwarming and fun moments.

From The Bride…I have always had a clear vision about our wedding- a classic, elegant and intimate affair. It is also important to make sure that our guests have a blast. We wanted a destination wedding, and after considering many options decided to settle for Shanghai as a good balance of everyone’s interest- a place where the venue has a touch of colonial flair but close to home (Hong Kong) for grandma and our friends. Photography to me was most important – I wanted to find someone whose vision aligns with mine so they can capture our wedding story and all the moments and details that I may miss on the day.

When we first started planning our wedding, I didn’t realize how much details and effort go into planning a wedding until you are actually on it. As I am very particular about the style and mood of everything, on top of that we had to manage remotely from Hong Kong, there were moments when I felt very stressed. Funnily enough, on the wedding day, I was so relaxed about everything and enjoying myself so much with all the people closest to us in our lives that I didn’t care whether everything turned out exactly how I had envisioned. In the end, everything was perfect.

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Jenny Packham

Bridal 2016 Catwalk

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Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

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Sara Gabriel

The 2016 Accessories Collection

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See Why This Wedding Wins the Award for Most Unique Venue, Ever

When it comes to unique venues, we’re confident in proclaiming that this stunning celebration takes the cake. Because honestly, when you choose a greenhouse inspired Horticulture Center as your space, you’re guaranteed uniquely you results. Complete with the majorly talented Mary Dougherty Photography behind the lens capturing it all, we’ve got it waiting in The Vault!

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Modern

From The Bride…After getting engaged, I was excited to start wedding planning but wasn’t sure where to begin. I had no idea what I wanted for the color scheme, decor, venue or any of the major elements that go into a wedding. So after many bridal magazines, and hours spent on Pinterest and Style Me Pretty I finally began to create a vision for our wedding.

Sean and I started by touring wedding venues in Philadelphia. We are both from Maryland but have called Philly home for the past 4 years and knew it was the perfect place. It was an easy decision for us to book the Horticulture Center in Fairmount Park. We loved the outdoor feel of the greenhouse venue and how magical it looked at night with all the hanging lights and candles. A huge plus for us was that their exclusive caterer was Starr Events, since we were familiar with their numerous restaurants around Philadelphia.

Sean and I found Uncommon Events through a recommendation at our Venue and are so happy we did. We used them for planning, design & floral decor. Their creative vision and planning helped to create such an amazing day. I was blown away by the flowers and decor and seeing all the ideas we had come to life. They did such a fantastic job.

Since we were getting married in April, we knew the weather would be unpredictable. We ended up getting really lucky with it raining in the morning then suddenly clearing up right before heading outside to do pictures. The cherry blossoms outside the Horticulture Center also bloomed earlier than normal so we had a gorgeous background for our pictures.

From the beginning of our day getting ready at the Monaco to ending the night with a packed dance floor (thanks to our band!) our wedding was like a dream and one of the best days of our lives. It was absolutely perfect and we’re so thankful that Mary Dougherty and Cinemacake were able to capture all of these memories in such an amazing way!

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Plum Pretty Sugar

Castelbel & Trumpet

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Lilli Tru

PomPon

Plum Pretty Sugar for BHLDN

PPS Couture

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Getting Married in an Train Museum Has Never Looked So Good

Who knew that getting married at a train museum could be so incredibly chic?! I’ll tell you who, Piper + Trey did, and boy did they pull out all the stops. From the lush bouquets to the seriously sweet captures from The Happy Bloom, this is one celebration that we’re going to have and to hold for-e-v-e-r. See it all in The Vault!

From The Happy Bloom… Love can be found in the strangest of places. And on this special day, love was found in a tiki bar. Piper heard that “that cute med school boy” would be there and suddenly she found herself sipping a fruity cocktail listening to a local band. And there playing on stage….was cute bed school boy. Med school boy introduced himself afterward and the rest is history.

They say rain on your wedding day is good luck. And we believe in that wholeheartedly. Piper + Trey’s wedding day was on a grey, misty Friday here in Savannah, Georgia. But even the grey skies couldn’t damper this incredible classic black & white wedding day.

Piper’s girls wore neutral dresses letting their lush bouquets shine. Piper gifted her girls all a ring, each coming in a golden shell case. These rings symbolized their friendship and gratitude Piper felt for her girls on her big day.

Trey and his guys wore classic tuxes and bowties making this wedding day a sophisticated affair.

Trey’s father passed away three years ago but his dad was there every single second of this incredible day. Trey wore his father’s ring ensuring that his presence would be there from the very beginning all the way until the excited sparkler sendoff.

Right before their first look, Trey opened a gift from Piper. It was a handkerchief with the sweetest words from Piper: “Trey, in all the world there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world there is no love for you like mine. I do love you. – Piper” What an incredible prelude to a romantic first look in Savannah’s Forsyth Park.

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Emerald Empire Band

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This Kitchen Checks Every Box on Our Dream Wish List

We are always on the hunt for our next great kitchen love affair and this home designed by Megan Papworth and Dawn Terry of E.Interiors is offering up a winner. Two things: killer (and we mean killer) lighting and a navy barn door. Those lovelies mixed with an all white kitchen and colorful rugs make for showstopping goodness. Tour the full space shot by Megan Papworth in the VAULT.

Megan and Dawn worked with The Browns to help turn this semi-custom home into a light, bright, modern showpiece. This project took over a year to come to fruition, but it truly is everything that the Brown’s and E. Interiors hoped it would be.

Megan and Dawn helped the Brown’s select all of their finishes and furnishings; everything to the flooring, surfaces, fixtures, and hardware was lovingly selected to go with Kelly’s modern aesthetic.

The trim work and the lighting were the two showpieces of the house and a huge investment in time, energy and money was put into making sure that every fixture and trim detailing was perfect for the space and matched Megan and Dawn’s vision for the home.

All interior doors were painted dark with gold hardware to pop against the all white walls. The client had impeccable taste and style and was a true joy to work with.

Since she had a more modern design aesthetic Megan sourced products for some of their favorite vendors: West Elm, Urban Outfitters, Caitlin Wilson, Lulu and Georgia, Anthropologie, Wayfair, The Cement Tile Shop, and many more.

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More statement making lighting this way…

8 Statement Pendants That Look Killer Over a Kitchen Island

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8 Statement Pendants That Look Killer Over a Kitchen Island

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Photography: E. Interiors | Construction: Blandford Homes | Interior Design: E. Interiors

The Ultimate Saint Regis Hotel Hotel Wedding

Let’s face it, the Saint Regis Hotel is what wedding dreams are made of. Case in point? This stunner of a celebration captured by Justin & Mary and Tweed Video. Overflowing with classic details and cultural influence, this is one celebration that you’ll want to bookmark pronto. See it all in The Vault!

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Spring Weddings

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Classic Weddings Multicultural

From the Bride… Matthew and Asha were married March 19, 2016. Asha has mixed heritage and is half Indian, so the couple decided to fuse traditions and invite guests to a two day celebration in New York City where they reside.The first event was Friday March 18, an Indian Sangeet at Ph-d rooftop lounge at the Dream Downtown. The location was significant to them as three years prior, they had met and were stuck in an elevator in that very hotel! The couple wanted to return to the ‘scene of the crime’ to celebrate with friends and family.

The couple opted for minimal decor – just vibrant petals and colorful votive candles to contrast the sweeping skyline views and amazing lighting at the venue. Guests feasted on Indian food and then the festivities began. Accompanied by a dhol player (traditional Indian drum) the bridal party performed dances choreographed by the bride and her friend (both former dancers, the bride a former Radio City Rockette.) The night ended with a raucous dance party.

The color palette inspiration was shades of rosé and gold. The bride’s dress was Marchesa with intricate crystal and pearl detail on the décolletage. The bridesmaids dresses were sequins in alternating shades, each dress with a unique detail to make it their own. The florals were in the same palette, roses, hydrangeas, vintage yet modern. The bouquets were all studded with crystals for an extra sparkle.The groom opted for a navy blue tux and his groomsmen wore black. The groom loves to wear red socks, so he incorporated touches of red into his custom suit supply tux – embroidery on the shirt and under jacket collar, and lining of the jacket. The bride’s nephews also wore red socks to match the groom during the ceremony.The girls got ready in the glamorous Tiffany suite. The matron of honor (bride’s sister) conducted a ‘burn ceremony’ in which each bridesmaid made a wish for the couple and threw it in the fire.

The ceremony was interfaith, drawing on Christian & Indian traditions, designed by the couple and officiant Lisa Traina. In addition to Christian readings, there was the hindu ‘7 steps’ and a rose ceremony for the bride’s late mother. The rose ceremony was conceived by the bride and a tribute to their shared love of the ballet, and when the ballerina pulls a rose out of her bouquet for her partner. During the ceremony, the bride pulled a rose from her bouquet in honor of her mother.During the reception, the couple continued the themes of ‘old New York’ and travel through their first dance to Frank Sinatra’s ‘Come Fly with Me.’ The dip and groom’s moves surprised guests! The couple and guests dance the night away…

Guests left with a luxury scented candle designed by the bride who works for a global fragrance house. She worked with a perfumer to make a custom scent that reflected Matthew & herself – Indian sandalwood, American Cedarwood, to represent their roots, and a touch of coconut as a nod to their family name. Named Wanderlove, the candle represented two individuals coming together, filled with wanderlust and love.

30 Cute ‘Boyish’ Girl Names Inspired by Audrina Patridge’s New Baby

Audrina Patridge might’ve been one of the cutest pregnant ladies I’ve ever seen. Riiight? But we’ll be saying goodbye to that sweetie baby bump and hello to her brand new baby girl, Kirra Max, who arrived on Friday. I LOVE the boyish twist on her name and can’t wait to see a peek of her on Audrina’s insta. Do you love the name too? Find more boyish baby girl name inspo this way!

'Boyish' Baby Girl Names

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'Boyish' Baby Girl Names

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It’s going to be weird not having a belly soon or feeling little kicks punches and hiccups allll the time, I’m so used to it now and am loving it. I’ve had a pretty good pregnancy so I’m very thankful for that and also for good genes…. Just gotta get her to flip!! I’ll post a prego update blog for all my fellow prego girls out there:)!

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Petit Bouquet

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15 Delicious Reasons to Spike Your Slushy this Summer

There are few greater joys in life than sipping a frosty adult beverage when it’s hot as blazes outside. Here’s 15 options that will take your cocktail to frozen slushy paradise in no time. The options are endless so get that blender loaded and ready to rumble because you have some slushies to sip. And for more summer cocktail ideas, click right here.

The Yummiest Boozy Slushies

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The Yummiest Boozy Slushies

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More Summer Treat Ideas…

DIY Ice Cream Sandwiches
Tips for Throwing Your own Ice Cream Social
Even more Boozy Ice Cream Treats

Find Your Wedding Dream Team with our new Vendor Guide

We all know that behind every pretty wedding is a team of vendors who made it happen. They’re the visionaries who take your wildest dreams and bring it to life, and now it’s never, EVER been easier to find them. Introducing our new SMP Vendor Guide designed to connect you with vendors from our amazing Little Black Book and beyond, anywhere in the world. Let us show you how it works!

Gone are the days of endless Googling your way to vendor websites, only to grow overwhelmed and uninspired. Instead, our gorgeous new Vendor Guide allows you to find every single vendor whose work has ever graced our pages and pour through their curated portfolios designed with real brides in mind. Find a vendor you absolutely love? Go ahead and “favorite” them using the heart icon. Or, instantly connect by messaging, and find like-minded vendors for every aspect of your wedding to lock down that dream team in one fell swoop.

We’re pretty certain you’re going to fall in love with our Vendor Guide, so get started NOW and tell us what you think. We cannot wait to connect you with the vendors of your dreams.

xoxo, The SMP Team

How to Match Your Signature Cocktail to Your Wedding Style

Every wedding guest loves an open bar. But before the bartenders break out the shot glasses, it’s nice to ease into the evening with a signature cocktail (or two) that reflects both you as a couple and your vision for the big day. So pop the bubbly, because now that you’ve determined your wedding style, we’ve determined the perfect signature drink for the big day. Cheers, dears!

Find Your Signature Cocktail

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Find Your Signature Cocktail

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How Not to Screw Up a Wedding Toast

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Want More Cocktail Recipes? Head Over to SMP Living!

Why I Asked My Best Guy Friend to Be My Bridesman

From SMP Blogger Bride, LivvyLand… Flashback to 11pm on a Saturday night in year 2010. I’m in college at the University of Texas and hanging out at a friend’s house. Wicked’s “Defying Gravity” is blaring in the background and right as it’s about to hit that final, harmonizing moment, we make eye contact and decide it’s time for our signature finale dance move. I make a run for it, he catches me and suddenly I’m lifted up in the air…we’ve done it again! Within moments, we fall to the floor laughing and resting in that state of utter bliss and happiness amongst best friends. This is pretty much the epitome of our relationship. Dancing, laughter, and trust.

Ben and I met as teenagers through a mutual friend. We were theater rivals at competing high schools, yet supportive friends – with a common love for musicals, Celine Dion and late night trips to Dairy Queen for chocolate dipped ice cream cones. Immediately upon meeting, there was an instant bond. Ben is kind, smart, genuine and hilarious – a truly magnetic human.

When we were 20 years old, he transferred from UT to NYU. He pursued his dream career in fashion and photography, met his now-husband the week he moved to New York City, and has continued to remain a dear friend who has set a beautiful example of what it is to be in a happy and healthy relationship and marriage. Throughout our long distance friendship in college and beyond, we’d schedule pajama coffee dates and video catch-up sessions, chat about the ups and downs navigating corporate America, share failures and accomplishments with one another, make trips to and from Austin and NYC to visit each other – and overall, always be there to support, challenge and uplift one another.

When I got engaged and asked Ben to be a part of my bridal party, there wasn’t a second thought in my mind. He is a brother and a sister to me – he is one of my very best friends. As I started the wedding planning process over a year ago, I immediately realized that weddings these days are so much more indicative of the couple and less about tradition. Some rules are meant to be broken – and the one-gender bridal party is one of them. The people that stand beside me on my wedding day are my best friends and family, and above all, they’re the people I respect and admire most – whether male or female or anything in between. My bridesmaids and ‘bridesman’ are a part of my history and my future – I am thankful for their relationships and grateful to have them stand beside me on this monumental day in my life.

xoxo, Olivia

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Olivia Watson

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Get Your Daily Dose of Sunshine From this Colorful Editorial

Sure it may be raining outside, but this sunny little inspo? It’s all the forecast you’ll need. Complete with saturated hues of radiant yellow, Jen Rodriguez captured it all to share and let me tell you – it’s nothing short of spring perfection. Busting with bright punchy colors and one chic couple, we’ve got it all waiting for you to soak up via The Vault

From Jen Rodriguez…I wanted to style and photograph an editorial shoot, based off of all of the gorgeous colors and tones that you think of when you envision spring, and combine it with that cheerful and warm feeling that you have while soaking up the sunshine. Our starting point for this shoot was that gorgeous sunshine yellow skirt that I stumbled upon. As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be perfect! From there, I felt that a few thoughtful details would make a world of difference in crafting a session that would feel unique and special. My go to in the detail department is always hands down going to be, flowers! I wanted to bring in bright and beautiful colors that could hold their own next to that lovely sunshine yellow hue. April Flowers is a genius when it comes to creating beautiful bouquets that don’t shy away from color or textures. This bouquet is more than I could have dreamed! It was sunny springtime perfection in flower form!!! We could have stopped there, but I thought one more detail to really drive home that carefree feeling of spring would be ideal. I came across the most lovely blue vintage bike from Embellish Vintage Rentals and I knew our search was over. The charming bike, with a basket filled with fresh flowers, was the perfect finishing touch to our Cheerful Springtime shoot.

DIY Citronella Candles for the Outdoor Party Win

When hosting a Summer party like this Crab Boil packed with pretty we dreamed up with the Chinet ® brand, planning for the elements is a huge necessity. Don’t let pesky bugs ruin your pretty party when there is a simple DIY that will totally save the outdoor festivities. These Citronella Candles are crazy easy and have that cute factor we so love.

Materials

Soy wax flakes
Citronella oil
3.5″ wicks
Wax melting pot
Mini terracotta pots
Blue & white poster paint
Plastic cups
Floral clay
Scissors
Wooden skewers

Cut 3 plastic cups to be slightly shorter in height than the terracotta pots. Fill cup A halfway with blue paint mixed with a splash of water. Fill cup B 3/4 high with white paint mixed with a splash of water. Fill cup C 3/4 high with about half water and half white paint.

Dip each terracotta pot in Cup C and swirl around to get a thin coat of white most of the way up the pot. Place on a piece of newspaper or cardboard to let dry 5 minutes.

Dip each terracotta pot in Cup B and swirl around to get an opaque coat of white halfway up the pot. Place on a piece of newspaper or cardboard to let dry 1/2 hour.

Dip each terracotta pot in Cup A to get a thin coat of blue on the bottom of the pot. Place on a piece of newspaper or cardboard to let dry 1 hour.

Fill the melting pot 1/3 full with wax flakes. Fill a saucepan halfway with water and place the melting pot in it over medium heat. Let the wax melt for about 15 minutes until clear and liquid.

Meanwhile, place a small chunk of floral clay in the hole at the bottom of each pot, then press in a wick. Add 12-13 drops of citronella oil to the melting wax flakes.

Pour in the melted wax into each terracotta pot, about 95% full. Position the wick in the center, and use a wooden skewer or two to keep it in place.

Let candles cool at room temperature for several hours. If they cool too quickly, you may see a small well develop around the wick. If that happens, you can just melt a pinch more wax and pour right over to make the top of the candle level. Trim the wicks short with scissors, and voila!

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Plates: Chinet | DIY Candles: SMP Living

The Scottish Prove That Real Men Wear Kilts

I’ve yet to visit Scotland, but this gallery? It tells me everything I need to know. For starters: real men wear kilts. An ode to heritage sure, but surprisingly chic? You betcha. Which is exactly why we’ve rounded up a few handsome husbands that not only pull of the look, but they’ll have your hunny considering a tartan for your himself on the big day. See it all below!

Grooms in Kilts

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Grooms in Kilts

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See more Groom inspiration on Pinterest!

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Get Your Groom Psyched For Planning | Groom’s Cakes | Dash of Color for The Groom

9 Foods That Are Proven to Boost Your Mood

Growing up in a family-owned restaurant where fresh out of the oven pizzas and brownie sundaes were aplenty, my version of mood-boosting foods was no where near what it is today. I’ve learned more about nutrition in the last year than I have in the span of my life, and the biggest lesson? Healthy does equal happy. And that makes those well-deserved cheat moments sooo much better. Are you incorporating these 9 mood-boosting foods into your nutrition routine?

9 Foods That Are Proven to Boost Your Mood

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9 Foods That Are Proven to Boost Your Mood

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The ultimate ‘cheat’ mood boosting food!

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More Mindful Eating Inspiration this way…

The Weekly Meal Planning Guide that Will Change Your Life
20 Infused Water ‘Recipes’
The Perfect Pink Smoothie To Kick Some Monday Booty

Learn How to Craft the Prettiest Summer Crab Boil with Chinet

Pretty and Crab Boil aren’t typically synonymous but this gorgeous party is about to flip that theory on its head. Think peonies and alfresco dining with the ease of Chinet ® Classic White™ products for effortless entertaining. We’re going to show you just how to pull off such a party. With a few key decor ingredients, delicious food and a simple DIY, you’ll be well on your way to Crab Boilin!

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On the Menu

For this Crab Boil packed with pretty we kept the main focus on the food. On the menu was that delicious traditional one pot meal coupled with homemade mini pie ice cream sandwiches for a sweet ending. To accent this casual get-together, we paired subtle blue and white stripes with lush, feminine blooms that give it that pop of pink we so adore. The end result is classic, casual with a fresh twist.

Keeping things Fuss Free

This is easy yet chic summer entertaining at its finest! To keep things fuss free, we opted for a simple newspaper runner (no serveware required at this shindig) and durable Chinet ® Classic White™ plates that make cleanup a snap. That’s every hostesses dream, right? Pretty decor and little to no cleanup allowing you to enjoy the festivities with your guests.

Adding a Personal Touch

Simple decor additions are an easy way to let your personality shine through. To give our floral centerpieces a lovely upgrade, we went for the look of vintage tin cans as vases but without spending a small fortune. Instead we bought vintage can labels on Etsy for a fraction of the cost and taped them around inexpensive cans from the grocery store.

We also added a personal touch by packing up each placesetting into a mini bucket labeled with each guest’s name in paint marker. Another easy addition? DIY citronella candles which anyone can make. An we mean anyone. We have a simple DIY for those coming up in just a bit!

And there you have it. Summer is the perfect time to take your party outside, enjoy the warm weather with friends and family and throw a classic, fuss-free get-together. And with the help of Chinet ® brand products, that party will be as effortless as they come. Let the Crab Boil festivities begin!

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Elysium Productions

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The Sweetest Spanish Wedding We’ve Ever Seen

And just like that I’m ready to get married all over again, but this time? I’d jetset off to Barcelona with just my sweetie and recreate this stunner of an inspo. Overflowing with elegant amber hues and fab florals, Muravnik Photography captured it all to share and believe me – it’s gooood. See it all for yourself in The Vault!

From Muravnik Photography … Preparing the shoot for Muravnik photography Barcelona workshop we decided to work with a real couple – Lisa and Claudio, getting inspiration from their story. Lightness of flowing silks and buff masonry walls of a Spanish manor of the 16th century, noble shine of gold and magical gardens of the Renaissance, blinding glow of diamonds, frozen in the color of burnt sugar, luxurious floral arrangements of orchids, ranunculus, roses, peonies and jasmine, caressed by copper rays of the setting sun – Our story breathes the air of a languid late afternoon in Spain. The story, created under the notes of pale golden Chardonnay, retained aristocratic elegance and refined luxury, all tied up by the sweetness of a vanilla Spanish sky.

Lisa’s morning began in the garden of a Spanish manor writing a letter to her beloved Claudio, tracing calligraphic monograms on handmade paper. A cream dessert colored boudoir lingerie made of natural silk, soft hair, a slight touch of make-up to emphasize the natural beauty of the bride created a gentle romantic image.
The bride’s vanity table was decorated with a composition of garden flowers, with noble accents of peony-roses and peonies, which complemented a vintage perfume bottle containing the bride’s favorite honey aroma.

Oneness with nature and harmony is felt in every detail, starting with the weightless style of bridal gown in contrast with the groom’s more classic looks, finishing with sophisticated orchids decorating the backs of forged iron chairs. The emerald-green landscape of the Santa Clotilde Gardens in Cataluniya, boasting classic sculptures, old staircases covered with wild ivy, mesmerizing views of the sea create a powerful equilibrium between luxury and finesse, the beauty of the moment frozen in time, under the rays of a setting sun.

Antique silverware was chosen for the table, classic patinated gold plates, decorated with 24-carat gold ornaments, crystal glassware and bronze chandeliers on a silk tablecloth. Plated steel vase with floral arrangements of orchids, peony-roses, peonies, jasmine and other garden flowers. The gentle sounds of classical music and the light of the candles top off the wedding dinner with a dreamy, romantic atmosphere.

When we created the wedding story of Lisa and Claudio, our main reference point was harmony, a combination of elegance and luxury in every detail while retaining a sense of proportion to emphasize our couple, their feelings and emotions of the moment. Love, romance, tenderness are some of the most recurrent themes in the fine-arts. Our classical approach to the art of wedding composition makes it so each one of the stories we create are filled with beauty, elegance and pure feelings.

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Copy this Bride’s Soft Natural Waves below!

23 Striped Style Finds to Wear this Fourth of July

When it comes to Fourth of July fashion, I think we can all agree that looking like a flag is a no-go. But a hint of classic stripes? Not only do I love to don them on Independence Day, but they’re a go-to on any given summer day. From cute suits to breezy dresses, get your stripe on right here, right now.

23 Striped Style Finds to Wear this Fourth of July

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23 Striped Style Finds to Wear this Fourth of July

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