When Jen Huang and Ginny Au join forces, magic enviably happens. The kind of magic that sits with you for days, and leaves your heart in a happier place. And this stunning, light-filled engagement session at a dreamy french chateau is the perfect example of that kind of beauty coming to life on screen. So make sure to take some time to spend some time in this gallery of images, every moment will be worth it.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Jen Huang…For this engagement shoot outside beautiful Paris, the bride paired a loose, burnt orange tee-shirt dress with the groom’s clean, navy suit. Even a simple dress like this exuded elegance and romance, especially with a tailored suit. The dilapidated greenhouse, which was already on site at the Chateau was the perfect place to climb and explore.

Photography: Jen Huang Photography | Styling: Ginny Au | Hair + Makeup: Chiali Meng | Venue: Chateau Bouthonvilliers

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

Photography

Jen Huang Photography

View Portfolio

Fresh homemade bread stuffed with nutella… surely that qualifies as heaven. The second I spotted this Braided Nutella Bread from Lark & Linen I could think of nothing else. It’s the yummiest stuff all coming together in a simple 6 ingredient recipe. One that I have at the top of my to-do list for this Sunday. Now my only question is, can this yummy nutella goodness be made into french toast? Too much? Never!

From Jacquelyn… Did you know that you’re just 6 ingredients away from your own braided nutella bread? I know. And I’m sorry. But I’m also totally not. Because becoming keenly aware of this little tidbit of information has been so good, and terribly bad. It means that I can indulge in a slice of this magic at any given moment. And that, my friends, is a ridiculously dangerous, but equally amazing thing.

Erin LepperdBraided Nutella Bread

prep time 2 Hour/s

cook time 30 Minute/s

total time 2 Hour/s 30 Minute/s

Serves 15Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup lukewarm water
• 2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast
• 2 tsp. granulated sugar
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp. Salt
• 6 Tbsp. nutella

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, mix together water, yeast and sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes until mixture starts to bubble.
2. In the bowl of your stand mixer (or a separate bowl), fitted with the dough hook, mix together the flour and salt. Pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture and mix until combined.
3. Knead the dough on medium speed for 5 minutes, or by hand for 8-10 minutes.
4. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and let it rise for 1 hour (it should double in size)
5. On a gently floured surface, roll out the dough until its 10" x 20" and spread nutella evenly, all over
6. Roll into a cylinder, cut in half and twist both halves together.
7. Place in a parchment lined baking sheet and let sit and rise in a warm place for 45 minutes
8. Preheat oven to 350 degrees C and bake for 30 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and crispy on the outside
9. Let cool on a wire rack, slice and enjoy.

Photography: Lark & Linen | Recipe And Styling: Lark & Linen

Here at SMP, we’re alllll about the sparkle.  A touch of glitter here, a dash of bling there and, of course, the newest in Minted’s Foil-Pressed Wedding Collection, a lineup of fabulous paper goods you just have to see.  Think 150+ NEW designs and day-of pieces that will add just the right amount of bling to your festivities.  Celebrating in style has never been so easy… or so pretty.

Minted’s 2016 Foil-Pressed Wedding Collection is, well… awesome.  Which is sort of what happens when an independent community of artists comes together with a plethora of truly one-of-a-kind invites and paper goods. From gorgeous Save the Dates to stunning invitations to amazing programs, place cards, menus and sooo much more, Minted adds just the right dose of style and beauty to your Big Day… from start to finish. Not to mention the FREE guest addressing on envelopes and name printing on table numbers and place cards.  We absolutely love them.

Completely unique, totally gorgeous and fully customizable (until it’s perfect), Minted’s new 2016 Foil-Pressed Wedding Collection is everything you’ve ever dreamed of… and more.  Head to Minted TODAY to begin perusing the (very) pretty options, loves.  We can’t wait to see which one you choose.

Minted Wedding Top Model: The team at Minted is inviting customers, fans and photographers to submit their engagement and Save the Date photos for a chance to be showcased in their upcoming wedding stationery!  A variety of photographs will be selected, so be sure to show off your creativity as a couple! Head to Minted for more info!

Use code MARCHSMP15 to receive 15% off your first Minted wedding order!  Offer expires May 1, 2016.

The sparkly cake topper at our wedding, proclaiming “You’re My Greatest Adventure” may have been petite, but it holds a special place in my heart. I had such fun choosing just the right one and this little detail brought me much joy. But toppers are just one way to make your cake truly yours; Dilekerei is sharing plenty more ideas to make that cake personal and extra pretty – see below for all the tasty tips!

1. Cake Toppers

Sometimes they are perceived as rather old-fashioned and boring, but lately cake toppers are available in innovative forms. Contemporary cake toppers look gorgeous on any kind of wedding cake, adding elegance. From names written in a romantic font to initialing, there are countless designs to crown your wedding cake.

2. Monograms

Putting edible monograms on your wedding cake is another personalization option. There are many ways of doing this such as hand painting or piping edible monograms with a beautiful border on the top or the side of the cake. It’s a chic, timeless way to personalize your cake.

3. Flowers

Frequently we use fresh flowers to match your cake to the entire wedding floral arrangement, including your bouquet. If you are not keen on having fresh flowers on your cake, we handcraft sugar flowers in the form of your floral arrangements and decorate your wedding cake with these. The best thing about using personalized sugar flowers is that you can keep these unique pieces forever, providing you with a lasting memory of your wedding day.

4. Colors

You can personalize your cake by decorating it in your favorite color or your wedding day’s color palette. Although white and cream colored cakes are the most popular (a timeless style), we absolutely love to color our wedding cakes! It’s a significant trend that we are seeing this season, so go for it!

5. Brooches and Other Special Jewelry

Some of our customers love to add a very personal touch to their wedding cake by using an old brooch or symbolic heirloom. They like them to be a part of their special day, so in these cases, we create an edible version of the brooch as part of the wedding cake.

6. Favorite Sweets or Fruits

Wedding cakes used to be more traditional, but nowadays they can be a more casual affair. So if your favorite pastry is doughnuts, brownies or cupcakes, include them on your wedding cake table! You can either create a combination of all of your beloved pastries or go for a super modern doughnut or brownie tower, decorated with fresh fruits, sweets or even dripping chocolate! Yummy, beautiful and fun for sure!

7. Paintings

Another pretty way to personalize your wedding cake is by having hand painted elements such as patterns or ornaments taken from your invitation, or your names, painted directly on your cake. You can also have your entire cake hand painted in the colors and patterns of your choosing. It almost becomes an edible painting.

8. Hand Piped Embroidery

One of my favorite ways to put a personal touch on your wedding cake is to pipe the pattern of your wedding gown onto the cake itself. This can be lace pattern, pearls, etc. This way you’ll have a cake that perfectly matches your dress!

100 Wedding Cakes to Love

View Slideshow

100 Wedding Cakes to Love

View Slideshow

ONGOING GIVEAWAYS + DISCOUNTS…  

Nambe
Zola
Casper
Jennifer Behr
Allure Bridals Ultimate Sweepstakes

THIS WEEK’S DISCOUNTS…

For our California Brides… Discounts from The Ranch at Laguna Beach, Weddings by Susan Dunne, Brideside, and giveaway for The Luxe Bridal Show!

For our Tri-state Brides… Discounts from Femina Photo + Design and Brideside!

For our Destination Brides… Discount from Hitch’d Weddings & Events and promotion from Round Hill!

For our Southeast Brides… Discount from Cassidy Carson Photography and don’t miss the upcoming Outer Banks Wedding Showcase at Sanderling Resort!

For our Midwest Brides… Giveaway for Jstyle Weddings Bridal Event

OUR WINNERS:

Congratulations to our Bari Jay giveaway winner Anna!

Congratulations to our Outer Banks Wedding Showcase giveaway winner Kristen!

And congratulations to our SMP Living Anniversary winners Sarah Catherine, Jennifer Kelley and Christy Harder!

Cake Advice: dilekerei

Hey there, do you sense it too? That growing feeling that spring is just around the corner, inching its way closer and closer? Maybe it was the heat wave we had this week or maybe it’s all these pretty pastel pics that are surrounding us here at SMP, but either way, I’m lovin’ it. From dresses I want to wear daily, to a cake that’s (almost) too perfect to eat, we’ve got a whole lotta lovely right here, thanks to our fabulous LBBers. So cheers to the sunshine continuing all weekend long (fingers crossed!)!

Must-See LBB Moments

View Slideshow

Must-See LBB Moments

View Slideshow

[dotted]

Start planning your wedding with The Little Black Book!

[dotted]

Featured Members: Photography: Joel Serrato | Cake + Desserts: The Butter End Cakery | Linen Rentals: La Tavola Linen | Photography: Matt Lien Photography | Floral Design: Munster Rose | Photography: Jon Cu | Place Settings: Borrowed Blu | Photography: Brett Heidebrecht |Event Planning: Love This Day Events | Linen Rentals: Wildflower Linens | Photography: Milton Photography | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Photography: Gabrielle For Style Me Pretty | Floral Design: Winston Flowers | Baked Goods: Mayflour Confections

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

Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

View Portfolio

Cinematography

Joel Serrato Film Photographer

View Portfolio

Lane Dittoe, you’ve done it again. You’ve photographed a wedding so impossibly chic, it’s hard to believe it’s actually real. You see, when this Bride and Groom traveled through France not only did they come home engaged, but completely inspired for the design of their Big Day. Believe me, your afternoon just got infinitely sweeter. More inside The Vault and don’t miss REB6studios‘ beautiful film below!

[iframe https://mediazilla.com/vo3vugbS8?autoplay=0 600 338]

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From The Bride…Christophe proposed to me on a trip to France that he had planned as a birthday gift. I was looking forward to three weeks of food, wine and French country life, and had no idea that this would really be our engagement trip! We were staying in a small town in the south of France and he told me the hotel had a special bottle of champagne to give to us before dinner. It was a beautiful setting – a small balcony with room only for two chairs and a table overlooking the Mediterranean as the sun set. He gave me a photo book he had made of all of our travels together. I can’t imagine the anticipation he must have been feeling as I slowly looked through each page; the last page of the book asked me to marry him! When I got there, he got down on a knee with the ring and a violinist appeared and began to play. It was the most magical and happy moment of my life.

As we travelled through France, which included meeting some of Christophe’s family who live there, we began to think about what type of wedding we would have. We loved the villas we visited in Provence and Burgundy and we hoped to incorporate those memories into our wedding. We wanted a destination wedding, but a destination closer to home (San Diego) so that all of our family and friends would be able to come. We took several trips to northern California, looking for a venue that would feel like a private European villa where we could hold all of our events and host our family. When we found Stonepine estate, I knew it was perfect.

We spent many months planning ever detail of the wedding with our wedding coordinator Thomas and Bonnie. We wanted the wedding events to last several days and for it be a vacation for all of our guests to celebrate love and romance. We included an al fresco family-style dinner at a local restaurant, a day of wine-tasting at nearby vineyards in Carmel Valley, horseback riding and hiking. Instead of the traditional rehearsal dinner, we held a western-style welcome dinner at the estate’s equestrian center for all of our guests. It was so fun putting on our cowboy boots and hats! The morning of the wedding, I went on a hike with my girlfriends and Christophe and I each wrote letters to each other to read before I walked down the aisle.

Photography: lane Dittoe fine art wedding photographs | Cinematography: REB6studios | Event Planning + Design: Thomas Bui Lifestyle | Floral Design: Flower Divas | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Parker Lusseau | Stationery: Whimsique | Jewelry: Justine M Couture Accessory | Makeup Artist: James Overstreet | Hair Stylist: Brooke Hasslemann Of Studio Savvy | Entertainment: Scott Cummings Music | Entertainment: Kelly Productions | Groom's Attire: Armani | Venue: Stone Pine Estate | Bridal Salon: M Bride | Linen Rentals: Concepts Event Design | Linen Rentals: Luxe Linen | Live Artist: Nataliya Tyaglo Live Artist | Macaron Tower: Parker Lusseau | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Rentals: Luxe Linen

No matter the age, a great sleepover with your best girlfriends never goes out of style. And with a few key ingredients, it’s sure to be one killer slumber party. We’re talking all things girly get together with two ladies who know their way around a great party. Read up as Tallulah and Bellamy Novogratz of The Novogratz design dynasty give us a quick list of slumber party musts.

We love inviting our friends over for slumber parties. Sometimes there a big hit and sometimes they’re low-key. Whatever the vibe, there are always a few things you can do to make sure your friends have a good time.

[dotted]

Essentials for a great slumber party

[dotted]

1. Food

Whether you’re following a new recipe with a few of your best friends or baking brownies for all your pals, food is the easiest way to make your friends feel at home.

2. Music

Don’t just stick to your Spotify playlist; chances are a few of your friends sing or play an instrument. Turn your sleepover into a jam session.

3. Games

Any interactive game that gets people chatting makes a sleepover fun. Charades never fails to make everybody laugh.

4. 80’s Movies

If you don’t have Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles in your DVD collection, do yourself and your friends a favor and order them today. These movies never get old.

5. Spa Night

Instead of spending the money going to a salon, tell your friends to bring their favorite nail polish and makeup and pamper yourselves in the comfort of your house.

At the end of the day, you want your friends to feel at home. Have a few extras of the important things like toothbrushes, warm blankets and plush pillows. Give off the vibe you want your slumber party to have: inclusive and laid-back. The most important thing is to make your friends feel welcomed so that they’ll want to come back to watch more epic 80’s movies.

[dotted]

Photography: Ally Twitchell | Design and Styling: The Shift Creative | Story: The Novogratzes

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

Petit Bouquet

View Portfolio

Ashley may be an all-star producer on our favorite celebrity TV show The Voice, but today she and her husband Anthony are the only two in our spotlight. For their wedding day is one we’re endlessly in love with. A sweet ceremony complete with rustic details, it’s classic California meets vineyard merriment and we’re feeling every single second of it captured by Ken Kienow Wedding Photography in The Vault!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/133572291 600 338]

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Ken Kienow Wedding Photography… Finding a wedding location for a die-hard New Yorker and a born and bred Cali girl can be a challenge. These two started in New York and moved west until they found a magical corner of the world in Paso Robles called “HammerSky Vineyard”

From the Bride… I was never the girl that dreamt about her wedding day from the age of 9 and had all the details in mind ahead of time. However once I met Anthony, all of that shifted.

Anthony and I met and got engaged 7 years later and he surprised me with a trip to Italy to celebrate the engagement. When it came to planning our wedding I wanted to transport our guests to that same romantic, rustic and blissful feel of Italy.

Looking for our wedding location was a bit of a challenge. Anthony and I are both Television producers so we had the blessing and curse of knowing exactly what we were looking for, and after scouting too many locations to count, both on the East and West Coast, we pulled up to HammerSky Vineyard in Paso Robles and both immediately knew that this place was special.

We did not have a particular “theme” for our wedding, however my husband is a East Coaster whose favorite city abroad is Spain, I am a West Coast girl whose happy place is anywhere in Italy, so we wanted to bring out the taste and feel of all four places on our special day.

Our goal was for our meal was to feel informal, and reminiscent of a “big Sunday family dinner” so we chose to do buffet style and had everyone seated at long farm tables. Tracy from Field to Table exceeded our every expectation and our friends and family are still talking and drooling over “that paella” he made.

The barn, where we held the reception was transformed into a romantic and delicate space. Our incredible florist Laurel White from Adornments Flowers & Finery, created a “living chandelier”, and placed 50 biscotti candles lining the inside of the barn, to create a memory via scent. Our dessert was also placed in this area, a naked vanilla bean and chocolate cake with blackberry jam and buttercream; created by Annie Farrell of Just Baked Slo, it was as beautiful as it was delicious and was placed on a slice of wood sent from Kauai, HI where my brother lives. A thirty-foot cloth with an OM Symbol silkscreened onto it, a labor of love that a friend of mine so graciously sewed by hand, represented my brother who could not be present, hung from the tree where our vows took place.

The “man bar” was a work in progress for about six moths prior to our wedding. My husband doesn’t do anything halfway, so he saved special liquor that was collected from his travels as well as cigars gathered from around the world in order to share with our guests. He was proud to share his collection, and the goods went quickly!

We are so grateful for all of the vendors that came together to make our day so incredible. The owner of The Vineyard, Kim Hauck is an angel and unparalleled with her support for us. Our photographer Ken, from Ken Kienow Photography captured moments that can never be reproduced and when looking at our photos you feel every ounce of emotion, elation and sweetness of that day. Our videographers, Jeremy and Ashley Mitchell, captured the entire day with grace and ease virtually undetected.

Looking back on planning our wedding, it was more overwhelming than I could have ever anticipated because of all the emotion involved; it is more than planning a nice big party for your closest family and friends, you are putting together a “moment” for all the people you love to cherish forever. My advice to any bride planning her wedding is to make sure you put as much of yourselves; your interests and mementoes of your journey to each other into your day… guests may not understand or even see each of these small details but it will make things that much richer and more meaningful. Also, let go and breathe… something may (and will) not go according to plan, but the essence of why you are there will never change.

Anthony and I were able to start our journey together in the most magical and special way imaginable…. I am grateful that our “always & forever” began at HammerSky. Looking back on this moment in time, the pure adrenaline, the happy tears and inevitable “hiccups”….. I would not change a single thing.

Photography: Ken Kienow Wedding Photography | Cinematography: We Are The Mitchells | Coordination: Danae Grace Events | Floral Design: ADORNMENTS flowers + finery | Wedding Dress: Enzoani | Cake: Just Baked SLO | Ceremony: HammerSky Vineyards | Reception: HammerSky Vineyards | Bride's Shoes: Rene Caovilla | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Catering: Field To Table Events | Hair and Makeup: Rhyan Townsend | Men's Ties: Chanel | Men's Attire: Loren Spratt | Bride's Exit Dress: For Love And Lemons | Bride's Veil: Carolina Herrera | Groom's Shoes: Mezlan | Vendor: Heidi Gutman/NBC

I love a good balloon moment. It truly never gets old. I mean, this love affair with the balloon and moi has been going strong for 30+ years so you can imagine my excitement over spotting some fab new updates to this party classic. From confetti, to watercolor, gold paint and calligraphy, check out these 20 crazy cool ideas for jazzing up regular old balloons.

Party Ready Balloon Upgrades

View Slideshow

Party Ready Balloon Upgrades

View Slideshow

For more party inspiration, check out…

Best Ever Party DIYs | Make Your Own Confetti Poppers | Fringed Letter Backdrop</p

It’s finally warming up here on the East Coast, but seeing sunny photos, like these beauties from Koman Photography, make me question why I ever left California. Thankfully, this New York-based couple’s romantic engagement session in beautiful Palos Verdes is taking me home and filling me with those happy California vibes. Get your daily dose of Vitamin D—and pretty—in The Vault!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride-to-Be…Chan and I met in an elevator our first week of college at New York University. Oddly enough, I have no recollection of this first encounter, nor do I remember our second encounter at a Thanksgiving potluck a year later. Two whole years after the elevator incident, I confidently introduced myself to Chan at a church barbecue, at which point he informed me that we had met twice before. Though terribly embarrassed, I laughed it off and we bonded over a mutual interest in cooking. Over the next couple of years, Chan and I grew to know each other first as friends and then more intimately when we started dating in 2014. He was passionate and driven, yet gentle and incredibly kind, so naturally I wanted him to be mine forever. Lucky for me, things worked out in my favor!

Chan and I both get a bit claustrophobic living in New York City now, so for our engagement session we wanted to be near the open ocean in Southern California, where I grew up. We had a location in mind, but John and Marlene of Koman Photography had an even better suggestion and we’re so glad we listened to them. The day of our photoshoot, I visited the talented Marie Tran of Luna Bella Beauty to have my hair and makeup done before heading over to Flat Rock Point in Palos Verdes, CA. We were both nervous to be photographed but John and Marlene made us feel completely comfortable and we ended up having a blast! We are so happy with our photos and we are more excited than ever for our wedding day!

Photography: Koman Photography | Hair + Makeup: Luna Bella Beauty | Venue: Palos Verdes | Blanket: Michaels | Her Attire: Abercrombie | Her Attire: Nordstrom | Her Beach Attire: Free People | His Attire: Hugo Boss

Julie and Tom’s elegant ballroom wedding is filled with enough pretty that it’ll surely fill your Pinterest boards, but more than that? It’s a sweet celebration of boy meets girl that’s both organically chic and elegantly urban at the same time. With the talented averyhouse behind the lens this is one gallery that is sure to turn ballroom weddings up a notch, and we’ve got it all waiting in The Vault!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From averyhouse… Still running off the good vibes from Julie + Tom’s Nature Boardwalk Engagement Session we couldn’t believe it was already time for their wedding at the W City Center! A country girl at heart, we were thrilled to hear to hear that Julie was planning a romantic & elegant wedding that was the perfect mix of city chic all the while maintaining an organic spirit. Both Julie and her husband to be got ready at the W’s City Center and with it’s centralized location we were able to easily make our way over to the Art Institute’s South Garden for their first look. With it’s stunningly beautiful locust trees in full bloom we took advantage of the gorgeous weather for portraits of their blush and burgundy clad wedding party. Guests of the ceremony were literally taken aback by the stunning beauty of the gold chandeliers and flickering candlelight that lined Julie + tom’s aisle. And as Julie took her first steps towards becoming a wife you can see the excitement beaming from her huge smile. The enchanted garden theme carried through from the luxurious escort card table topped with moss, oak, and ivy to their extravagant reception. Looking for a fun way to tie in unique details to your wedding day? These adorable gold horses that held guests escort cards were a cute nod to Julie’s horseback riding days. After Tom’s emotional speech to his new wife everyone hit the dance floor HARD and the party continued until well into the evening. We think this wedding is pure magic!

Photography: averyhouse | Cinematography: Leap Weddings | Event Planning: Shannon Gail Weddings and Events | Event Planning: Merren Events | Floral + Event Design: Kehoe Designs | Stationary: Little Arrow | Catering: W Chicago City Center | Makeup Artist: Epoch Salon | Hair Stylist: Epoch Salon | Band: Chris Sarlas Orchestra | Transportation: Via Limo | Venue: W Chicago City Center | Linens: BBJ La Tavola

Want runway ready cheekbones without all the backstage fuss? How about elegantly defined wedding day makeup in just a few minutes flat? Enter Mar of TEAM Hair and Makeup because today she’ll be showing us how to get a perfectly contoured cheek in no time at all. Press play to learn more!

Bridal Hair & Makeup Ideas

View Slideshow

Bridal Hair & Makeup Ideas

View Slideshow

[dotted]

See even more head-turning looks below!

Celebrity Hair + Makeup Looks to Steal for Your Wedding | Hair Adornments | Modern Wedding Hair | 100 Drop-Dead-Gorgeous Hairstyles | Best Hairstyles of 2015

Traditional and classic with gorgeous blush hues, this elegant wedding captured by Matoli Keely Photography has SMP written all over it. We’ve fallen head over heels for every image sitting pretty in this gallery, and you can join us in the swoon-fest right here in the VAULT.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/139616977 600 338]

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From The Bride…A simple summer wedding in Haymarket, VA with elegant blush pink bridesmaid dresses and bouquets. We had a beautiful candle lit church and I wanted nothing more than a true genuine gathering of all the people we love and that’s exactly what we got.

The breathtaking view of Haymarket allowed us to take pictures outside. The food at Piedmont Country Club was more than Amazing. Our Officiant touched so many souls during our ceremony.

On that hot summery Sunday morning, I vowed to be married to Ramy. Everything went more than perfect. His mom sang us a beautiful song, and my parents read from the good book.

We danced until sunset and then we took off to Antigua aka Heaven on earth.

Photography: Matoli Keely Photography | Cinematography: Simon Cook Films | Floral Design: Violet Gardens Floral Designs | Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca | Cake: Wanda Cakes | Ceremony Venue: Shepherd Of The Hills | Reception Venue: Piedmont Club | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Officiant: Mitchel Lee

I’m convinced the word breathtaking was invented to describe Greece—the bright blue water, the crisp white buildings and the stunning panoramas will quite literally take your breath away. And this wedding is no different.  With flowers foraged from neighboring fields and DIY décor from the Bride’s best friend, every detail of this day will make your heart skip a beat. See it all from Genevieve Fundaro Photography in The Vault!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/154315769 600 338]

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Genevieve Fundaro Photography…There is so much I could say about this wedding, I could write a long story about how beautiful it was, how amazing Greece is and how the experience of shooting an international wedding was something that changed me right down to my soul. I found my breath again in Greece, I found my creative heart beat and I found many new wonderful friends. I loved it, and I am so blessed to have been apart of Stacey and Mike’s adventure and call them friends

This casual, barefoot kinda come-home feeling wedding is filled with sentimental charm and exudes DIY at its best. All the decor was done DIY by the bride’s best friend in South Africa, the flowers were foraged from the fields around the reception venue, and make up and hair was done by family and friends.

Stacey and Mike have big hearts, that draw you in, and they are centered around relationships with family and friends. This inspired their wedding to be in Stacey’s home land of Greece, and of course that meant on a gorgeous greek island. Days up to the wedding were spent exploring the little towns of Paros Island, relaxing at the pool and learning greek dancing lessons on the roof of a hotel.

Photography: Genevieve Fundaro Photography | Cinematography: Christian Wolf | Venue: Siparos | Getting Ready Venue: Paliomylos

Based on the fact that these two met as children is enough to tell you that their wedding is filled with serendipitous romance. The type of sweet details that’ll make even the most cynical believe in love and thanks to the endearing captures from Jonathan Young we’ve got a gallery in The Vault to prove it. Read on for their love story and don’t miss out on the cinematography magic from Valerie Barnes below!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/144650083 600 338]

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride… I met Patrick as a young child and although we don’t remember meeting, our parents remember him chasing me around and saying he would marry me one day. Patrick’s parents moved away and all that was left were a few photos of our childhood friendship. It wasn’t until twenty-something years later that we would serendipitously meet again on Christmas! We bonded over our love for skiing, and Patrick would bring me to his family vacation home near Stratton Mountain in Vermont.

After spending many long weekends in the area, we wanted our friends and family to experience our love for Vermont. On our very first day of venue searching, we immediately and completely fell in love with Hildene, Robert Todd Lincoln’s summer estate. The rest fell into place and it was only fitting that we held our ceremony at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Manchester, as we had met as little kids at our local St. Paul’s in New York.

We both wanted the process to be fun and as relaxed as possible, so we made sure we had ample time for planning. Not too long thereafter, we received the terrifying news that Patrick was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma. That year was the scariest time of our lives and the last thing on my mind was planning a wedding, but Patrick insisted on not pushing back our wedding date. He proved time and time again to be my emotional rock and it made me love him more fiercely. We are incredibly blessed to announce that he is cancer-free and in remission!

Throughout the entire planning process, we focused on one goal: to share a memorable celebration with the people who mean the world to us, and who fill our lives with their love, support, and happiness. We wanted the mood of our wedding to be romantic and playful, with handmade touches we put together with our family and friends: golden animal drink stirrers and magnets to hold the escort cards, floral bases for our centerpieces, and watercolor menus and table names. Jonathan Young and Elisabeth Millay perfectly captured this feeling through their stunning photography. And we loved how Valerie Barnes swept us off our feet with her artistic, creative filmmaking. Our day would not have been the same without them and all of our amazing vendors.

They say weddings never go exactly as planned, and with so many little details ours was no exception. But it was without a doubt the best day of our lives. The wedding was everything we envisioned – intimate, beautiful, a celebration of our everlasting bond, and the best dance party we could hope for!

Photography: Millay & Young Photography | Cinematography: Valerie Barnes Film | Floral Design: The Lily of the Valley | Wedding Dresses: Casablanca and Modeca | Invitations: Designs By Robin | Ceremony Venue: St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church | Reception: Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home | Bride's Shoes: Louboutin | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Etsy | Catering: Pangaea | Makeup: Flawless Cosmetic Design | Hair: Patty Bassett | Groom's Attire: Theory | Groomsmen's Attire: The Black Tux | DJ + Photo Booth: SuperSounds | Flower Girl's Dress: Pink Princess | Groom's Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo | Groom's Watch: Frederique Constant | Ice Cream Stand: Ben & Jerry

This is one of those beyond beautiful weddings. The sort of wedding that starts and ends with gorgeous details and is filled to the brim with moments that will make you smile.  But beyond the lush blooms, breathtaking backdrop and stunning gown is the inspiring story of love, loss, hope and happiness… and family coming together to celebrate what marriage is really all about.  See it all captured brilliantly by Julia Wade in THE VAULT.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Julia Wade… I will never forget this day. It truly was the highlight of my 2015, so I’m really grateful to see it on the pages of SMP. My sweet bride Catherine had lost her mother Summer 2014 to cancer, and had a quiet wedding weeks before she passed. Their original wedding date of 5/2/15 affectionately became their “renup”. The bond between Catherine and Brooks was tangible and Bald Head Island shined for them. I will always cherish the photographs we made at the shoals at sunset.. something incredible happened with the light and the birds and between to the two of them. It was a gift to photograph..I am so grateful for clients that will let me in and truly tell their story. Enjoy.

Photography: Julia Wade Photography | Floral Design: Kim Fisher Designs | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Shoals Club | Hair + Makeup: Pure Hair | DJ: Active DJ Entertainment | Venue: Shoals Club | Photography - Assistance: JJ Horton Photography

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

Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

View Portfolio

I connected with this Bride immediately. You see, her and I are kindred spirits, having both fallen in love with a certain F. Scott Fitzgerald years ago. So it’s no surprise that she drew on the Great Gatsby’s style for her spring wedding, full of gorgeous bouquets courtesy of Fionna Floral and infused with the perfect vintage chic touches, from her Juliette veil to the classic champagne tower – and Aga Jones captured it all. See more in our Vault this way!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride… Roberto and I met thirteen years ago at Washington High School. Since then we have grown up together and our relationship has grown up too; we have gone from carefree high school sweethearts to husband and wife over the course of the past decade. Around the same time I was falling in love with Roberto, I was also falling in love with my favorite book The Great Gatsby. Since then I’d always dreamt of hosting an event worthy of the timeless glamour that this book exudes and I knew our wedding would be the perfect setting.

We chose the beautiful Vizcaya as our location because it offered a romantic and elegant atmosphere that fit our style completely. I began incorporating details that reinforced the vintage theme long before the actual wedding day: mix and match art deco invitations, embossed escort cards, and a wax seal with our custom monogram. The hints of gold and pink added a touch of romance to the classic black and white color palette.

I have long admired the caliber of photography that is featured on Style Me Pretty, and so when it came time to book a photographer I searched Style Me Pretty’s blog features in California and came across Aga Jones. Her photos are amazing and we were so happy to work with her for our engagement and wedding photography!

My bridesmaids looked beautiful in long beaded Adrianna Papell dresses and I wore an Essence of Australia gown that I saw online and tracked down to a local bridal boutique because I knew it would be perfect! To add a personal touch, I added a back necklace made from the most beautiful crystals and a Juliette veil which was a common style worn by brides in the nineteen twenties. My “something blue” was a vintage ring from the era with an aquamarine gemstone center.

The Vizcaya’s garden backdrop for our ceremony spoke for itself so I opted to add only a bit of ivory tulle around the gazebo to add a touch of romance. The bridal party walked in to a string quartet version of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida”, a song by Roberto’s favorite band. We were lucky enough to have my brother-in-law officiate our wedding; bringing an extra special personal touch of love, and laughter from our guests when he added his own contribution to the end of our vows!

The best part of the day was sneaking outside after dinner, just the two of us. That quiet moment alone together looking in on all of our family and friends in one room together to celebrate the two of us is something I will never forget!

The day was a whirlwind and the reception went by so quickly! In true Gatsby fashion we poured a champagne tower and served Sidecars and French 75’s as our signature libations of the night. We loved laughing and dancing all night with our friends and family. When they weren’t on the dance floor, our guests were enjoying the delicious dessert bar with our favorite treats from Sweet Cakes by Rebecca. We finished off the night with a grand exit while our guests lit the way with sparklers.

We wanted our wedding day to be filled with love and laughter; the day to be romantic and classic, full of our favorite people and all of our favorite things. In the end, that is exactly what it was and every detail was captured perfectly by our amazing photographer, Aga.

[dotted]

More Gatsby inspiration this way!

Photography: Aga Jones Photography | Floral Design: Fionna Floral | Wedding Dress: Janene's Bridal | Cake: Sweet Cakes By Rebecca | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Venue: Vizcaya | Bridal Boutique: Janene's Bridal

As much as I love a good nude heel, there’s something so much sexier about a pair of black beauties that take any date night (or girls night!) to the next level. From dressing up a simple jeans and tee look to a hot-damn-she-looks-fine kind of dress, any of these picks earn my vote for a night on the town.

10 Irresistible Black Heels for Date Night

View Slideshow

10 Irresistible Black Heels for Date Night

View Slideshow

[dotted]

Photography: Sally Pinera | Shoes Shown: Gianvito Rossi

Turning one is kind of a big deal, and this little lady knew exactly how to celebrate. Don’t you wish we could all do this on our birthdays? But seriously, her sweet soiree is filled to the brim with so much goodness thanks to Anastasia Haqq, Lilia Flower Boutique, Farina Bakeshop and team. See more from Meg Cooper Photography this way in The Vault!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

To capture Ava’s curious and adventurous spirit we wanted to throw her a 1st birthday that was filled with creation, play and discovery. We decided to throw a fun gold and pastel themed DIY soiree. Guests were invited to an afternoon of bubbly, light-bites, cake and plenty of fun DIY projects. The party took place at Labmpls, a creative workshop space in downtown Minneapolis. The white lofted space with large windows overlooking Loring Park provided the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of play and creativity. Guests noshed on brunch bites of yogurt parfaits, mini quiches, scones, caramel rolls, and macaroons. There was a make your own mimosa- “bubbly bar” with plenty of mixers and non-alcoholic options for the little ones. A fun play area with a tepee, plenty of plush animals and toys was the perfect spot for children to play. Guests made silly faces and used playful props in the pastel themed photo booth. Each table had a DIY art supply station complete with pretty pastel art supplies. Adults and children spent the afternoon painting and creating birdhouses, succulent planters and original pieces of art. We wrapped up the special day with a pretty pastel and gold cake…complete with a mini smash cake for little Ms. Ava.

Photography: Meg Cooper Photography | Floral Design: Lilia Flower Boutique | Invitations: Minted | Catering: Farina Bakeshop | Paper Flowers: Paper Source | Photobooth: Time Into Pixels Photo Booth | Tissue Garland And Photo Banner: Anastasia Haqq

It’s official, this Bride-to-be (who also happens to be the real life Collins from The Blind Side!!) had the best bachelorette party ever. Because honestly, what’s better than a cozy getaway with your favorite girlfriends? That’s right, nothing. Unless said getaway included a mountain escape, flannel theme, and of course endless bubbly. Sorella Muse captured it all so pin the pretty and see it in The Vault!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Sorella Muse… When Collins got in touch with me about the idea of documenting a bachelorette party, my first thought was of bandage dresses and clubbing and one too many drinks. So when she explained that what she had in mind was actually a relaxing mountain getaway in the snow-capped mountains of Deer Valley, Utah, complete with matching plaid pajamas, snow tubing, games, mimosas, brunch, and curling up beside the fireplace with hot chocolate, I was immediately in! I loved that she chose spending quality time with her bridesmaids by planning an alternative weekend to the typical bachelorette. And as I quickly learned, whenever and wherever you get a group of sorority girls from Ole Miss together, it’s always a party!

From the Bride-to-Be… When thinking about places to have your bachelorette weekend, it is assumed it will be in a party city like Vegas, or on a beach somewhere like Miami. Since we all had already attended quite a few beach bachelorettes I wanted to do something different…and since I also wanted to include a bit of relaxation we decided on a snowy mountain getaway. My fiance’s family vacation home in Deer Valley, Utah seemed like the perfect place. We are all Southern girls, so the change of scenery to the beautiful snow-capped mountains right outside of Park City was a welcomed idea.

Setting the weekend itinerary was easy as we all had one goal, to spend quality time with each other. Most of my 18 bridesmaids live in different states across the country; Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, North Carolina, New York, and California. We know our time together is precious, and really wanted to take advantage of this long weekend to simply enjoy being together. I wanted a theme that was fun, would set the tone, and would make people think of the mountains. We started with the buffalo plaid pattern. We then wanted to bring in the snow aspect so we used this vintage snowy mountain paper, and brought that into the theme. I love all things sparkly so we threw in gold glitter details to be the final touch.

I wanted to keep the gift bags in line with our snowy weekend, so I included all the mountain getaway essentials. I found buffalo plaid bags at Abercrombie and Fitch, and loaded them up with fun goodies. You have to have slippers around the house because its so cold outside, so I found fuzzy slippers at Five Below, as well as the EOS eggs lip balm, and the tech touch gloves. I found the lotion and the buffalo plaid pajamas at Target. The black coffee mugs were from the Dollar Store, but my bridesmaid Kimber added a special touch by adding everyone’s monogram in gold. The buffalo plaid gloves were from Urban Outfitters and my maid of honor Catherine Ann provided the t-shirts.

Most of the girls arrived late Wednesday night, so we decided to keep Thursday low key. We had a delicious brunch at Zoom (Robert Redford’s restaurant on Main Street in Park City) walked around, shopped, and went back to the house to enjoy some wine and the beautiful views. We regrouped at dinner and went all the way up the mountain to Burgers and Bourbon at the Montage. I really encourage eating bad and drinking too much on your bachelorette. We were the last ones at the restaurant and finished off the dinner with bourbon filled milkshakes and lots of laughs!

Going with the relaxing stress free weekend theme my mom surprised us and booked a chef for breakfast Friday and Saturday morning. If you can swing this I would heavily recommend it. It was such treat to be able to wake up to the smell of bacon, and walk out to a fully prepared meal that we could all sit down and enjoy together. Friday afternoon we put our ski gear on (which was a reality tv episode in itself with all the parts and pieces) and headed out to snow tube. By far the best decision of the weekend! We played in the snow, flew down the mountain on tubes, and obviously acted like we were five years old for two hours. Being able to get out in the snow (and yes it was actually snowing the day we went) laugh at each other and tube was just the amount of silly we needed.

For dinner we went in to Park City and ate at River Horse on Main Street. The food was fabulous and the entertainment was just as good. There was an awesome acoustic guitar player who we loved so much we booked him to fly in for our post wedding dinner entertainment this coming April! After dinner we went to Downstairs Club and danced the night away. After our big night we needed a relaxing Saturday so we had masseuses come to the house and everyone laid around in their PJ’s and got massages. We ended the weekend with a fun dinner in town at Fletchers then headed over to Rocken Rileys for post dinner drinks. One of my favorite memories of the weekend was definitely the dance battle that ensued here between one of my bridesmaids and another vacationer. It was all in good fun but lets get serious…. obviously my bridesmaid won! Sunday we woke up, all said our good byes, and swore we would all be back the same time next year for a reunion weekend. It was a magical time and I am so thankful to have such special friends to share this fun season of life with!!

Photography: imdb | Photography: Sorella Muse | Event Planning: Merren Events | Venue: Private Residence: Deer Valley, Utah | Coordination + Styling: Anne Claire Allen Planning & Design | Custom Desserts: Whimsy Cookie Company | Paper Goods + T-shirts​: Hi Y'all