Our take on the beautiful new dresses is coming soon. In the meantime, see them for yourself below!
Cymbeline Forever Wedding Dresses Spring 2017View Slideshow
Photography: Courtesy Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week | Wedding Dress: Cymbeline Paris
Our take on the beautiful new dresses is coming soon. In the meantime, see them for yourself below!
David Tutera for Mon Cheri Spring 2017 Wedding DressesView Slideshow
Wedding Dress: Mon Cherie
Our take on the beautiful new dresses is coming soon. In the meantime, see them for yourself below!
Enchanting by Mon Cheri Spring 2017 Wedding DressesView Slideshow
Wedding Dress: Mon Cherie
Our take on the beautiful new dresses is coming soon. In the meantime, see them for yourself below!
Sophia Tolli Spring 2017 Wedding DressesView Slideshow
Wedding Dress: Mon Cherie
Cinco de Mayo is high on the list of favorite holidays and it has a little something to do with the fact that I would eat salsa, guac, and tacos for each and every meal if I could. And this celebration from The House that Lars Built + Joss & Main is inspiring us to up our Cinco game. Check out the 5 genius ideas we’re stealing for our next fiesta. Psst… find more fun party ideas right here.
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Papel Picado Decor
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Take your fiesta decor to the next level with a few DIY’s that put a fun twist on papel picado
DIY Papel Picado Drink Flags
DIY Papel Picado Placemats
DIY Papel Picado Bunting
DIY Papel Picado Coasters
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A Killer Menu
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A scrumptious Cinco de Mayo menu starts with the best ever guacamole and salsa and for sure needs to have tacos too. Grab some of our favorite recipes for your party…
Best Ever Guacamole
Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
Pulled Pork Tortillas with Lime
Homemade Tortillas
Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes
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The Best Ever Margarita
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We love a good cocktail and margaritas definitely high on that favorites list. Have a peek at this roundup of faves
The Ultimate Margarita Roundup
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Bright and Festive Decor
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Bright and festive is the name of this game. Get the look from this fiesta on Joss & Main. Plus try a few of these DIY’s to add some colorful flair.
Fringe Fiesta Bowls
DIY Margarita Party Favors
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Easy Peasy Centerpieces
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This might be the easiest and cutest centerpiece ever. And the best part? You probably have those cans sitting in your kitchen right now. Try popping store bought blooms in them and voila! Here’s a few more centerpiece ideas to steal…
Bougainvillea Centerpieces
DIY Paper Flowers
Potted Cactus
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Another festive DIY to add to your celebration
Photography : The House that Lars Built | Styling: The House that Lars Built | Decor: Joss & Main
As I went perusing through this past week’s beauties, it quickly became clear that I was crushing hard on all the pretty place settings. From glam to modern, we got all the styles covered and with our LBBers planning, designing and providing some fab rentals, these tables are set to a tee. So I zeroed in on the best of the best to share with you all; may they inspire you to host once delightful dinner party pronto!
Must-See LBB MomentsView Slideshow
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Start planning your wedding with the Little Black Book!
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Featured Members: Photography: Sylvie Gil Photography | Event Planning + Design: Bustle Events | Photography: Eva Lin Photography | Event Design: The Event Group | Photography: Kevin Chin Photography + Cinema | Event Planning: A Savvy Event | Floral Design: Nancy Liu Chin Designs | Photography: Elizabeth Messina| Wedding Planning + Design:Tessa Lyn Events | Venue: Bel Air Bay Club | Photography: Docuvitae | Event Design: Gather Events | Rentals (Tabletop): Casa de Perrin
These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
For membership information, click here
Finding your wedding style is no easy task, so we’re looking to the stars for help — the Hollywood stars, that is. Because no one does a wedding quite like your favorite celebrities. Are you a classic Bride like Kate Middleton? All about the bling like Sofia Vergara? Or rustic chic like Lauren Conrad? Take this fun quiz and find out which celebrity nuptials should inspire your own dream wedding!
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Celebrity wedding dress predictions
Celebrity Wedding Dress PredictionsView Slideshow
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More celebrity weddings to get lost in
Get the Royal Wedding Look | Steal Celebs’ Bridal Style | 2015’s Biggest Celeb Weddings
In case you missed the memo, we’re card-carrying members of the Pronovias fan club. And today, we are so excited to bring you the Spanish design house’s 2017 collection live from Barcelona! Because if you can’t be front row to see the gorgeous gowns in person, the next best thing is to have them brought to you thanks to this livestream! Watch the entire show below!
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Plus, don’t miss the beautiful dresses from last year!
Pronovias Barcelona Spring 2016View Slideshow
Joanna and Stephen met at a wedding, so it’s only fitting that their day dreamed up by JNS Events sets the standard high. For starters, their cake matches the linens. If that doesn’t steal your design loving heart right from the get-go then I don’t know what will. Oh, perhaps these adorbs desserts from Paula LeDuc Fine Catering will do the trick. See it all from Lori Paladino Photography in The Vault!
From The Bride…Steve and I had an international courtship, meeting in London at a mutual friends’ wedding. He was living in Hong Kong and I was based in the UK so after the sparks initially flew we did long distance for almost a year before Steve convinced me to move to Asia. After a whirlwind few months, he proposed on our veranda on New Years Eve. Giddy with excitement, we started planning our wedding and decided on San Francisco as the perfect destination because it was half way between Europe and Asia. We travelled to San Francisco a few times to pick the venues, do tastings and finalize details and we had the most amazing wedding planner, Jenny Schneider of JNS Events, guide us along the way. With a sixteen hour time change from Hong Kong to San Francisco, we put all of our faith in Jenny, and she did not disappoint.
I knew I wanted something traditional in terms of a church service and formal black tie sit down dinner. We ended up getting married at St Patrick’s Catholic Church and had our reception at the Asian Art Museum. The church was dreamy, with a boys choir singing throughout the service and I still remember the smell of the flowers walking down the aisle, thanks to Kathleen Deery. The Asian Art Museum was the perfect venue for us, and every detail was taken care of.
We mainly went with creams and golds, starting with our save the dates and continuing through to the wedding cake. We wanted something traditional and elegant.
On our invitations we had a gold seal of the Golden Gate Bridge which sealed it closed…..we got a lot of attention from that. I also cherish my wedding photo album. Lori Paladino captured every moment of the day to absolute perfection.
I have so many. I loved getting dressed and doing the hair and makeup surrounded by friends and family. I remember being a little shaky with nerves getting out of the car but then seeing Steve at the altar and just enjoying every moment, forgetting about being nervous. I adored Steve’s speech and our first dance was amazing.
Our flowers were mainly shades of cream. Kathleen Deery did an outstanding job with our center pieces which were mainly orchids. My dress was designed by Jin Wang. I wanted something ‘old school’ and Jin created a magical dress with a full skirt and lace bodice with long sleeves. The veil was lace trimmed.
Photography: Lori Paladino Photography | Cinematography: Thomas Hughes Films | Event Planning: Jenny Schneider Events | Floral Design: Kathleen Deery Design | Wedding Dress: jinwang | Cake: Perfect Endings | Ceremony Venue: St. Patrick's Cathedral, San Francisco, CA | Reception Venue: Asian Art Museum | Catering: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering & Events | Hair + Makeup: Jasmine Chan | Band: Notorious
My week-wear consists of yoga pants, jeans and white tees—a work-at-home blogger perk that’s undeniably awesome. That said, I have to admit that I miss dressing up! So, I count on dinner parties and weekend gatherings to satisfy my fashion play. And if you’re a 9-5er wanting to break free of your workwear? Dinner parties are your time to shine too, lovelies. Be inspired by the 10 outfit ideas below!
What to Wear to a Dinner PartyView Slideshow
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More Style Inspiration This Way!
5 Staple Denim Pieces To Carry You Through the Seasons
Discover Your Perfect Sunglasses Style by Face Shape
15 Shoes Every Woman Should Have in Her Closet
Sally Pinera has done it again. For this truly talented artist has way with a camera lens that transports you, and today? We’re headed to San Francisco, the Legions of Honor to be exact. A hidden gem in a bustling city, Janice and Chris shared sweet moments while surrounded by stunning architecture. Overall it’s timeless meets tradition and we’ve got it all waiting for you to pin in The Vault!
From Sally Pinera… Janice and Chris’s engagement session was timeless, classic and so sweet. Tucked away in San Francisco, Legions of Honor was the perfect location for their engagement. Surrounded by beautiful architecture, wearing outfits adorned with lace, Janice and Chris had their sweet engagement.
Photography: Sally Pinera | Hair + Makeup: Skyla Arts Makeup & Hair
Even though this gorgeous Bride and Groom wed in her hometown in Ohio, for the 90 percent of their guests traveling from out of state, their day was a destination wedding. And with a little help from incredible vendors like Bliss Events, Jenny Yoo, Orchard Lane Flowers and Amanda Julca, their day turned out to be an absolute dream. Don’t miss any of it in The Vault!
From The Bride…Having a day with all the people you love in one space is both incredible and overwhelming. During the planning, my husband and I decided the most important aspect of our day was to have fun and be part of the wedding not to be on the sidelines. We were the couple that never left the dance floor, laughed, drank, and had a beautiful night. We wanted a classic, casual natural feel, which brought us to a soft blush, neutral palette with accents of gold.
Our worlds connected later in our 20s and early 30s, we both grew up and lived in different parts of the country. So deciding on a location proved to be a bit tricky. We decided to tie the knot in my hometown of Ohio. With 90% of our guests traveling from outside of Ohio this ended up being a “destination” wedding for most.
Our wedding day festivities began with a bus ride from downtown Columbus, where most stayed, to the quaint town of Granville, Ohio.
The wedding was hosted on a 52-acre historic estate. It’s rich history and beautiful green landscape hosted 110 of our closest friends and family. Our guests were greeted in the garden of the estate where we said “I Do” with champagne, lemonade, and fans to keep cool on the warm August day.
What made our ceremony so special were our bridesmaids and groomsmen standing by our side, our dog Chloe leading the procession, the adorable flower girls, the ring bearer running around, and a string trio playing “Somewhere over the Rainbow” followed by “Canon in D”. Most importantly, our ceremony was composed of a service both Kris and I wrote together. It was a beautiful yet simple exchange of our vows.
From the ceremony we left the garden and ventured to the front patio of the mansion. While playing classic yard games, including corn hole (which was clearly the crowd favorite), we enjoyed refreshing cocktails, delicious mini grilled cheeses and BBQ chicken. We toured the historic home filled with our family pictures.
Dinner and dancing took place in the back of a mansion underneath a white tent dripped with globe lights and evergreens. The tables were an eclectic mix of restored barn wood tables and pink and cream textured linens. We made our day a family affair by inviting kids and creating a kids table filled with crafts and activities. We gave thanks, dined, and laughed with all of our loved ones.
We definitely didn’t have a shortage of sweets to end the night. From our classic vanilla buttercream wedding cake, to our make-your-own s’mores bar. The highlight of the dessert spread was the 1,000 cookie spread my great aunts, aunts, mother, brother in law and cousins all handmade. From lady locks, to chocolate chips, to pizzelles the guests indulged and left with custom cookie bags filled with delicious homemade goodies.
Everyone told me the day would fly by and they were right. I am so blessed to have beautiful photos, funny stories and the memory of laughter and love to last forever.
A key to making this experience memorable was we truly enjoyed the process and preparation leading up to our wedding. When you spend months planning for one day, you need to have fun along the way. By selecting vendors that clearly align with your personality, values and aesthetic creativity was important to us. These creative partners made the details and our vision come to life. From our print designer, to the florist to the DJ and the photographer. The print designer created everything from the name cards, menus, signage and surprised us with a custom seating chart that she mounted and engraved our initials on a rustic piece of wood. We worked closely with our floral designer who mixed citrus accents with flowers intertwined with herbs and eucalyptus to pull together the entire look seamlessly in the various areas of the celebration, and throughout the bridal party’s arrangements and flower crowns. My husband designed a custom playlist for the cocktail hour & the reception that celebrated specific years and music of importance with our DJ. My hair and makeup was done by my sister, Mindy Thomas, who is a freelance make-up artist and hair stylist. She did a hair change between the cocktail hour and reception, to provide a new look and keep me cool on the warm summer night. The process was just as beautiful as the day.
Photography: Amanda Julca | Floral Design: Orchard Lane Flowers | Wedding Dress: Theia | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Made From Scratch | Ceremony Music: Flute Cocktail | Venue: Bryn Du Mansion | Event Planning + Coordination: Bliss Wedding & Event Design | Invitations + Paper Goods: Darling And Pearl
These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
For membership information, click here
When I think of a light pink wedding, I think of something soft and feminine, not modern and cool. But with a rooftop venue like this, Jamie and Chris transformed the sweet pink, adding in hints of gray and a whole lot of style. And with the Bride’s not one, not two, but three wedding dresses (my dream!), this day is major #weddinggoals. See it all from Sarah Vaughan Photography in The Vault!
From The Bride…We had a beautiful ceremony surrounded by our closest friends and family on the rooftop at Ralph Klein Park (Education Center & man-made Wetland). The weather could not have been more perfect. The sky was clear and it was a hot mid summer day! The ceremony was followed by a traditional Chinese tea ceremony for our families. We also had an evening dinner reception and dance at Blue Devil Golf Club. Chris and I love the modern outdoor setting at Ralph Klein Park; and are both keen golfers which is why we chose Blue Devil Golf Club that backs onto one of the most beautiful public parks in Calgary, Fish Creek Park.
A modern wedding with grey and light dusty pink for wedding colors. We wanted our wedding to reflect our personal style and the soft colors were perfect for a beautiful summer day.
From Sarah Vaughan Photography…Jamie + Chris’ wedding had so much style. Jamie’s dress was a White Vera Wang dress that fit her perfectly. Chris’ blue suit and white bow tie had amazing style! And he even changed his shirt for the reception! Jamie wore a Chinese dress at the beginning of the reception. Then she changed back into her wedding dress. Then for the dance she wore a short reception dress.
Photography: Sarah Vaughan Photography | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Venue: Baker Park Sun Bowl
These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
For membership information, click here
And just like that I’m off to Bali just so I can recreate this enchanting engagement session. Complete with THREE gowns, a monkey, AND one adorable couple it’s almost too much to bear! But bear it we will, for we’re completely smitten with this gallery from Megan W Photography. From the heartachingly beautiful Flora Botanica Designs bouquet, to the seriously how is this real scenery, it’s all in The Vault!
From Flora Botanica Designs…The word Bali screams the beautiful sandy beach and the coastal lines, but besides its breathtaking scenery, it’s truly called the Island of God. With hundreds of temples in the Island, the Balinese takes ceremonies and worshipping very seriously and impart this as part of their daily living.
The Balinese have a distinct and inspiring arts and architecture. Their walls and reliefs, along with the deep orange and mix with grey are magnetic. We were so lucky to have this inspirational shoot happened at a neighborhood temple’s yard and along the edge of beautiful rice terraces.
This couple is not a professional model, they are real couple who are truly in love can’t take their eyes off of each other. So everything was real and natural; their smile, the chemistry and even the set where these amazing shots take place was never properly manicured to its perfection. Everything was just the way it is.
Megan of Megan W Photography successfully captured beautiful images of the set, the couple’s chemistry and everything that is here delights the senses. Her supreme accomplishment is having created great photographs that are unforced and casual.
Tania of Flora Botanica Designs help to set the set with some casual affairs of her hand bouquet, large, lush, airy with a tropical look. She chose some subtle colors to highlight the strong features of the environment. We have to let the nature wins!
Photography: Megan W Photography | Floral Design: Flora Botanica Designs | Makeup: Make Up By Paul | Venue: Ubud Bali | Cutleries + Silver: Lumbung Catering | Event Rental: Bali Sewa Sewa
This may be a Halloween wedding, but the only thing scary is how scary beautiful it is. Without cheesy jack-o-lanterns or an overwhelming presence of orange and black décor, Chill Weddings created a sophisticated affair with a romantic fall color palette, warm candlelight and a dessert bar meant for Trick-Or-Treating. See it all from Emily Wren Photography in The Vault!
From The Bride…When we first began planning our big day we didn’t have a particular location or venue in mind, but knew we wanted to find an untraditional, intimate setting that reflected our personality and aesthetic taste — a venue that was elegant-rustic, romantic and cozy. We chose POMME in Radnor, Pennsylvania, near where Jodi grew up. The venue is secluded in a beautiful, lush and landscaped setting, and for a Halloween wedding, created the perfect, colorful backdrop for capturing our special day.
The ceremony was set in the round under a suspended floral arrangement creating a very personal setting for Jodi and Graham to be married by their best friend from childhood and college, Lizzy Ott. Following, a rustic, indoor/outdoor gazebo offered an ideal setting for cocktail hour, and allowed our guests to enjoy the romantic pond with a nesting family of swans. The focal point of the reception space was a decorative fireplace, which helped inspire the overall vision. We chose a soft and romantic color pallet of pale pinks, sage greens and whites/creams with a slight pop of navy/purple, to contrast the dark, rich seasonal colors outside. The room’s intimacy made it easy to decorate with warm and personal touches like copper candlelight, picture frames, marquee lights, and varying floral decor at each table. Our floral designer Papertini really understood our vision from day one — from the beautiful, hanging floral arrangement that served as a centerpiece for our ceremony, and loosely-shaped organic bouquets, to surprising accents like an antique, industrial bar and salvaged wooden doors which displayed the guests’ tablecards — every element was carefully considered.
Another important aspect of the wedding was the menu. We wanted to create something different from the traditional wedding fare, and a menu that reflected our favorite cuisine. We worked with the Chef from Peachtree & Ward to develop a Mexican-inspired offering that combined a surf & turf plated dinner with family style sides like Mexican street corn and fried yucca tots, producing a fun and casual atmosphere.
The final element for us was ensuring our guests were on the dance floor all night long! Our brand EBE’s Barcelona, created a lively, party atmosphere and overall, an unforgettable evening.
Photography: Emily Wren Photography | Event Planning: cHill Weddings, LLC | Floral Design: Papertini | Cake: Cake Art Studio | Invitations: Invitation Shop At Gladwyne Pharmacy | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Catering: Peachtree & Ward | Makeup: Rosemary Grove | Hair: Noel Sy Salon | Band: Ebe Amsterdam | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Venue: Pomme | Bridal Boutique: Mark Ingram Atelier | Rentals: Maggpie Vintage Rentals
These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
For membership information, click here
What’s blush, copper, and coastal all over? Why, this stunning Rebecca Arthurs wedding is my dear. With Inkspot Crow Films capturing every cinematic moment, like those pretty Gus and Ruby Letterpress paper goods and a Wilson Stevens Productions dance party, we’ve got it all waiting for you to peruse in The Vault!
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From Rebecca Arthurs… Liz and Dan were married this past August on a quintessential New England summer day, at a gorgeous seaside venue right next door to where the Groom’s family lives.
This celebration was classic New England with a romantic and feminine flair – nautical details like a raw bar, an anchor guest book, and oyster shell escort cards were softened with blush, peach, and cream florals, gold flatware, and copper accents galore. It was a beautiful day both in the details and the emotion – the Bride’s father served as the officiant and composed beautiful words of advice for the couple, who exchanged vows under a driftwood chuppah built by the Groom’s father and uncles, out of driftwood the couple collected from the very beach where they said their I do’s.
After a sunset dinner on the deck, guests moved into the boathouse where they enjoyed a dessert spread from the famous PB Boulangerie, had fun in the Photo Booth, and danced the night away until it was time for a sparkler exit – under a super moon, to boot!
Photography: Rebecca Arthurs | Cinematography: Inkspot Crow Films | Coordination: The Little Things | Floral Design: Sweet Annie Floral Design | Stationery: Gus & Ruby Letterpress | Catering: The Casual Gourmet | Hair + Makeup: B Lovely Beauty | Calligraphy: Lettering By Liz | Lighting: Ryan Designs | Band: Wilson Stevens | Transportation: Cape Destinations | Venue: Chequessett Yacht And Country Club | Desserts: PB Boulangerie | Photobooth: New England Photobooth | Rentals: New England Country Rentals
Three words: Cotton candy bar. If that doesn’t hook you, then these flamingo inspired details are sure to do the trick. Whatever the winning wedding detail may be, you’re sure to fall head over heels for this wedding captured by Alyssa Marie. Brimming with incredibly chic vignettes (thanks to Found Vintage Rentals), we’ve got it all waiting for you in The Vault!
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From the Bride… My fiancé and I got married this past September in Palm Springs, California. A spot that is very special to us and a place that I wanted reflected in our wedding style. Being an event designer, I felt so lucky to have some of my best friends in the industry be a part and help create such a special day in our lives.
Apart from the ceremony, the event décor and feel of our wedding weekend was the most important to me. I wanted the décor to be classic and elegant, while also modern. I wanted our guests to feel the style of our wedding from the moment they received the save-the-date, cocktail recipe included. From our welcome party on Friday evening to the pool party on Sunday, we were focused on our guest’s enjoyment on their mini-getaway to the desert. We rented an estate for the weekend so all of our events could be held in one place. My goal was finding a spot that was going to let me create whatever I wanted and not be limited by a traditional venue. We wanted to play up all that our location had to offer without looking like it had a theme. We went with an all-white color palette, to contrast the lush greenery and had our pops of color in our floral décor. I wanted as many elements to be custom as possible and took on many DIY projects, most of them including lots of gold foil, another theme running throughout. My dad built all of our oversized wood signage, our bar façade and the altar where we got married, something that was very special to me. I collected vintage cocktail glasses for months to be used during our reception and had a polka dot dance floor with a chandelier hanging from a Palm Tree. All of the details made the reception feel more personal and reflective of our style.
We wanted to include special touches throughout the ceremony and reception that felt unique to our guests. My favorite of all was our confetti cannons that went off as we had our first kiss. Only our vendors and bridal party knew, so the reaction as it went off couldn’t have been more amazing. Another detail I had to have was Bonpuf. She was one of the first details I locked down when I began planning. The cotton candy was such a hit at cocktail hour!
Style Me Pretty has been such a place of inspiration to me and I love the weddings you choose to recognize. It is an amazing resource to me to go to when I am searching for creativity with other weddings I plan and was so helpful with planning my own.
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Peruse more Palm Spring soirees here!
Photography: Alyssa Marie Photography | Videography: Visioneer Media | Event Design: Samantha Dapper Event Design | Floral Design: Shindig Chic | Wedding Dress: The White Dress | Cake: The Sweetest Couple | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Makeup: Tara Buenrostro | Hair: Jen Plus Colour | DJ: Hilo Productions | Tuxedo: Friar Tux | Wedding Venue: The Cree Estate | Confetti Canon: Confetti Unlimited | Cotton Candy: Bon Puf | Furniture Rentals: Found Rental Co. | Getting Ready Venue: Avalon Hotel Palm Springs | Photo Booth: Classic Photo Booths Palm Springs | Rentals: Signature Party Rentals
These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
For membership information, click here
These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
For membership information, click here
Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner – mini Patrón favors, anyone? – so this pretty inspiration shoot from Ivy Robinson Events seemed perfectly appropriate. She’s showing you how to turn this fun day into the ultimate fiesta theme from engagement party to bridal shower, bachelorette weekend and beyond. Allison Kuhn photographed, and we’ll happily browse The Vault for even more inspiration.
FromIvy Robinson Events… What better way is there to celebrate your engagement than a Cinco de Mayo-themed engagement party? This pool-side fiesta was filled with tequila, chips, salsa and bold decor. This bride was set to celebrate her big news in the most fun way. Ivy Robinson created a festive lounge area near the pool to enhance the Cinco de Mayo vibes. Colorful pillows filled the seating area.
The overall feel was fun and energetic. Sabrina Laine styled the bride in white outfits with poppy accessories. The engagement invite designed by Bohemian Ink was enclosed in a gold-glittered box with a small tequila bottle with a hand drawn tag “Drink Me” to invite guests to this this party and get them in the fiesta spirit! Every element was designed to be fun, modern and stylish.
Photography: Allison Kuhn Photography | Styling: Sabrina Laine | Invitations: Bohemian Ink | Hair & Makeup : Lindsey Regan Thorne | Planning/Design: Ivy Robinson Weddings & Events
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P.S. 12 Margarita Recipes For Your Party!
12 Must-Try Margaritas for Your Cinco De Mayo FiestaView Slideshow
Sometimes bigger is better. Usually that applies to candy stashes and shoe collections and once in awhile… dinner parties. Whether you have 4 guests or 40, there are a certain tricks of the trade that will have you entertaining with ease. Lauren Kelp promise it’s doable and if her pop up dinner party hosted with Ashley Cooper in Nashville is any indication, her tips will have you mastering the art of a large dinner party. See even more captured by Josh Ulmer in the VAULT.
Whether you are hosting a party for 2 of 200, setting the table and creating a space that allows your guests to feel relaxed and comfortable is key. Today we are going to show you how to set the perfect table for a big dinner party. What makes me an expert on this? Well, every few months the fabulous fashion illustrator & graphic designer Ashley Cooper and I pick a new city and host about 40 people – creatives, local influencers, photographers, designers, you name it – who are doing something interesting in their city for a big, fantastic, heartwarming dinner party.
We call these dinner parties Tablemakers (http://laurenkelp.com/tablemakers/) where we are creating an event where everyone can eat great food, drink delicious wine, make new friends, and celebrate community.
Sounds fun, right? It is! Big dinner parties are my favorite & they are much easier than many people think. So call up your favorite caterer (or, heck, try it yourself!), invite 40 of your favorite people over, and let’s have a party!
STEP ONE: Picking the Perfect Place
I am a huge proponent of throwing dinner parties that feel intimate no matter the head count. Backyards, porches, dining rooms that spill into living rooms, front yards – whatever allows your guests to relax, feel comfortable, and stay awhile is the perfect place to throw a party in my book!
Entertaining rules are mostly there as guidelines, in my opinion, so it’s okay to tweak them depending on the situation. Is your living room larger than your dining room? Flip them! Push the sofas against the wall and move the harvest tables in so you can seat more people. Don’t worry, your friends will help you move the sofas back!
Don’t be afraid to play with different seating options. Once you’ve got the place picked out, now it’s time for a little logistics. Determine how many guests you want at your fabulous get-together so you can accurately configure seating. Maybe you have multiple long tables with benches instead of chairs or perhaps you’ve got several open seating options so people and eat and mingle as they see fit.
For our latest gathering, we hosted our guests in a historic home turned flower shop in the heart of East Nashville. We sat 40 new friends at harvest tables encircled around fresh flowers in the shops store front. It was intimate, but it allowed our guests to stay awhile & celebrate that community ambiance we hold dear.
STEP TWO: Setting the Table
Unless you are hosting a formal gathering, there is no need to set a full place setting. I say ditch the bread plates and think family style!
Whenever I host a large dinner party, I try to keep the place settings as minimal as possible so I have a ton of space in the middle of the table. This allows me to place the family style dishes, carafes of water, wine decanters, and bread baskets down the table so guests can serve themselves, grab seconds, and get to know their neighbors by serving them. Plus, it creates a relaxed ambiance & saves time on cleanup (and who doesn’t love that?)
Grab your favorite plates, mix and match your stemware, and have some fun with it!
STEP THREE: It’s All in the Details!
With the amount of large dinner parties we have thrown the best ones are always the gatherings that have a few extra little details. Set your dinner party apart by going a little bit above and showing your guests how thrilled you are they spent the evening at your party.
Set the tone to your dinner by placing the evening’s menu on top of the dinner plate – this makes for a lovely table decor as well. Go for something extra personal and write a fun fact about each guest on a small note card, place a note card in front of each place setting, & use them as ice-breakers. This is especially fun for parties where guests don’t know each other.
Send your guests off with a piece of the decor – like a mini potted plant or a small bouquet of flowers. Each little detail helps impact the dinner as a whole and creates a night your guests will not forget.
Above all else, remember to have fun! This is your night to celebrate with your friends & your community, so relax, have an extra glass of wine, and give yourself a pat on the back – you did it!
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We’ve got another entertaining secret and we’re spilling the beans right here…
Photographer: Josh Ulmer | Stationary : Hester & Cook | Candles: Paddywax | Chef: Tony Galzin | Chef: Dan Forberg | Co-Host & Graphics Designer: Ashley Cooper | Co-Host & Wine: Kendall-Jackson | Dessert: Tea-rriffic! | Flower Shop: FLWR Shop | Furniture & Table Decor: 12th Table | Host & Founder: Lauren Kelp | Venue & Florals: FLWR Shop
Five years ago we huddled around our televisions at 4 a.m.wide-eyed and giddily awaiting the Royal Wedding. Worth it? You bet. From Kate’s long-sleeve lace Alexander McQueen gown, to Pippa’s figure flaunting dress, to the newlyweds spontaneous double kiss on the balcony (!!) – it was, and still remains, the wedding of the century. Why? Because every single detail was fit for royalty!
As we celebrate Will and Kate’s anniversary we can’t help but think just how perfect their marriage has been, especially now that they’ve welcomed two adorable children: Prince George and Princess Charlotte (our latest royal obsessions—have you seen Prince George meeting Obama?)! So, today, we’re breaking out the bubbly and indulging our royal obsession to celebrate half a decade of Will and Kate. Cheers!
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Get the Royal Wedding Look for Your Big Day
Get the Royal Wedding LookView Slideshow
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Plus, The Wedding Cake of the Century
