The best party accessory in my opinion? A glass of vino in my hand. I love nothing more than a crisp glass of rose on a warm evening, a glass of bubbly with oysters and a spicy red with a hearty Italian dish in the middle of winter. And half of enjoying them is getting to know what you love. Plus, it’s a great party trick if you love to entertain! Albariño, anyone? Learn the basics of wine tasting below!

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More Party Inspiration Right this way!

Abby’s Ultimate Entertaining Checklist | How To Open a Bottle of Bubbly | Rosé Tasting Party

I’m the kind of girl who’s always up for a movie night, but when we’re talking the sequel to one of my favorite rom-coms ever? You better count me in. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is hitting theaters March 25th, but we’ve got an EXCLUSIVE clip we’re sharing right here, right now. Grab your girls, pre-order those tickets, and let’s thank our lucky stars we get to relive this wedding classic all over again. Pssst: Got a big, crazy family of your own? Find fun (stress-free) ways to involve them in you Big Day below!

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P.S. How to Involve Family In Your Wedding

Imagine a place that is all about making bridesmaid dress shopping easy.  Think an amazing try-at-home program, hundreds of designer gowns AND a personal style consultant.  I’m talking about Brideside, the fabulous online boutique that makes choosing the right dress the simplest part of planning your wedding. Shopping from the comfort of your very own home with EVERY tool you need?  Yes. Please.

When it comes to wedding planning we could ALL use a personal assistant.  Which is why Brideside is so very, very awesome.  They take all of the guess work out of selecting those gowns for your besties and put it in the hands of a knowledgeable style consultant who knows everything there is to know about colors, fabrics, fit and ordering.  Which means that while you are busy deciding between the perfect hues and the most romantic florals, your personal style consultant can handle all of the questions from your nearest and dearest and let YOU sit back and relax with a glass of bubbly. We (obviously) love that.

Whether your besties live right next door, across town or in a different state completely, Brideside will simplify the buying process with over 1,000 sample dresses (in sizes 00-30) and a try-at-home program that is as fun as it sounds.  Think yoga pants, comfy couches and cocktails, plus some of the prettiest dresses you will ever lay your eyes upon, all delivered right to your doorstep.  And don’t even get me started on the recently announced Kelly Faetanini for Brideside Exclusive Collection, a lineup of six fabulous cocktail dresses and four long skirts that can take you from sassy to formal in an instant.  With Brideside, there is literally something for everyone.

Our advice?  Register with Brideside TODAY.  You’ll meet your personal style consultant, invite your bridal party to view your “closet” and start saving your faves from Brideside’s endless options.  And since most of their dresses are cut-to-order, you’ll most definitely want to get a head start… Brideside recommends at least five months from the wedding date to allow for alterations.  But no worries, you’ll personal style consultant will coordinate the whole process.  It’s awesome, isn’t it?

Brideside is offering $20 off dresses with code 20OFFSMPTRI!  Offer expires March 31st, 2016 and excludes Joanna August, Jenny Yoo, Donna Morgan and sale collections.

The second March 20 rolls around, I’m determined to move my party train outside. Spring is all about alfrescoing and this Phoenix Tablemakers party from Lauren Kelp has us dreaming of wine sipped open air style. She teamed up with Constance Higley + Ashley Cooper for a creative dinner series celebrating the best of the best in Phoenix. Start planning your next backyard get together with these pretty details.

Tablemakers embodies the belief that entertaining is supposed to be a celebration – a beautiful, wabi-sabi celebration of friendship and community. It is not about making things flawless or Pinterest-perfect, it is about inviting others into your sacred space – your home – and building community. My goal, throughout this whole series, is to inspire you to open your home and grow your community. To organize a happy hour, a lunch, or a dinner party for 12, whatever it is, it doesn’t have to be perfect – it just has to be honest & true.

With that belief in mind, we gathered 30 of Phoenix’s artists, makers, movers, & shakers and threw a dinner party for the books on a ranch in the middle of the desert. There was no agenda, no fuss, just good food, great wine, and even better conversation.

My passion for entertaining is centered around creating a space where everyone feels comfortable to relax, let their hair down, and hang out until the sun comes up. Our hope with these traveling dinner parties is to celebrate the ‘maker’ in all of us & create a community that encourages collaboration & camaraderie rather than competition.

With the backdrop of Tremaine Ranch, we set up long harvest tables (hand made by the owner!) and set an elegant farm inspired place setting (thanks to urbAna) with florals from Posies Floral along the center as a relaxed, unstructured runner. Between the delicious feast from Laurel Morley & the perfectly paired wine from Kendall-Jackson the night was unstoppable. As a fun surprise to our guests, we invited a local favorite dessert truck, Waffle Love, to stop by and treat everyone to the most unbelievable waffles (seriously, they are out of control).

 For some of the recipes behind this soiree check out…

Creamy Past with Sage Meatballs | Maple Sea Salt Roasted Almonds

Photography: Constance Higley | Florals: Posies Floral | Catering : Laurel Morley (Sweet Laurel) | Venue: Tremaine Ranch | Candles: Paddywax | Co-Host: Constance Higley | Graphic Design & Host: Ashley Cooper | Hostess & Dinner Founder: Lauren Kelp | Soap: Olivina | Table Decor: Urbana | Waffles: Waffle Love | Wine : Kendall Jackson

Call me biased (I am a Montana girl, after all), but this beautiful e-shoot is everything that is right in the wedding world.  Think a stunning duo meets a whole lot of adventuring meets my favorite national park as the always-breathtaking backdrop. It’s one awe-inspiring moment after another captured in brilliant images by the talented Katie DeLorme Photography.  See every last one in THE VAULT.

From Katie DeLorme Photography… Laura and Mac live in Montana and really wanted to take advantage of the gorgeous landscape. Additionally, they wanted to celebrate their engagement by doing an activity true to them. I always strive to find clients who want me to tell their story authentically – its always a bonus if they are adventurous spirits. We opted to hike through the woods and to canoe the choppy waters of Lake McDonald. Their lust for adventure became the cornerstone for this session and as such when the waves crashed against them and the chill in the air became bitter – the harder they laughed and the closer they became. This is just the epitome of love and enjoying life together.

This day was so special as the sun shined and they were able to explore with no time commitments or worries at all. The following day, which was their wedding, the heavens opened up but again, in their true form, they laughed it off and still insisted on an outdoor ceremony. Their hearts and love for this Earth is unyielding and truly inspiring.

Photography: Katie DeLorme Photography | Event Planning: Field: A Wedding Design Studio | Venue: Glacier National Park

She may be the brains (and brawn) behind the Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred, but one thing the fitness guru won’t be getting rid of any time soon? Her new engagement ring from fiancé Heidi Rhoades. Forgoing the traditional solitaire diamond, the star of “Just Jillian” is sporting what looks to be a sleek, emerald-cut eternity band. Safe to say, there’s no “Biggest Loser” around here.

Infused with the loveliest green hues and elegant styling throughout, this chic Chicago wedding at the Racquet Club Of Chicago is prettiest in its purest form. With  Two Birds Photography behind the lens to ensure every moment was captured in the most perfect of ways, we are all left with a gallery too gorgeous to ignore. See it all in the VAULT.

From The Bride…Waking up on a surprisingly sunny, 75 degree early May day in Chicago, Elizabeth and Ben knew their wedding day would be special from the start. Ben put the final touches on his groom’s speech at home, while Elizabeth had a quiet breakfast with her Mom who would preside at their ceremony.

The festivities kicked off with their first look in NoMi’s wine cellar at the Park Hyatt, where Ben proposed in a suite overlooking Lake Michigan 15 months before following a whirlwind engagement scavenger hunt.

Two Birds photography captured their favorite photos of the day with the wedding party at iconic Chicago landmarks before arriving at the church.

An intimate ceremony full of positive tears was exactly the family gathering they envisioned. Their Racquet Club reception was characterized by great food, a packed dance floor, and speeches that captured the authentic love and meaning of the day.

Elizabeth and Ben topped off their perfect day with a shared slice of wedding cake at 2am while reading through the guestbook well wishes of their best friends and family. What a day to #sayyestothehess.

My favorite moment was being serenaded with “Set Your Heart on the Higher Gifts” by an all-family choir during the ceremony.

Ben’s favorite moment was kissing Elizabeth as family and friends cheered his groom’s speech with a standing ovation.

Photography: Two Birds Photography | Coordination: Shannon Gail Weddings and Events | Floral Design: Stemline Creative | Wedding Dress: Mira Couture | Cake: Elysia Root | Invitations: Anna Kate Design | Ceremony Venue: Saint James Cathedral | Reception Venue: Racquet Club Of Chicago | Catering: Racquet Club Of Chicago | Hair + Makeup: Charles Ifergan Salon | Band: Entourage | Groom's Attire: Brooks Brothers | First Look Site: Nomi Restaurant

As Audrey Hepburn famously said, “Paris is always a good idea,” (especially for a romantic elopement). With a Bride and Groom as gorgeous as the city itself, a stunning Karen Willis Holmes wedding dress, a classic tuxedo, a DIY bouquet and the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop, this duo began their happily ever after in the chicest style. See all the pretty from French Grey Photography in The Vault!

From The Bride…After my fiance and I were engaged, we started talking about the kind of wedding that we would like to have. When we agreed to spend the rest of our lives together, we promised each other that we would embrace adventure, cultivate romance, and put our relationship/marriage first even if that meant taking an unconventional route at times. We desired a wedding that would personal, intimate, meaningful, and, honestly, not so stressful/caught up in the details that we missed the real meaning of the day. Having a small, intimate ceremony in Paris – the city of love – simply made sense. We’re pretty sure that left a part of our hearts in that city and we look forward to returning many times…someday with our children :)

I gravitate to the timeless and classy. When my now-husband went shopping for his tux, he asked me if I had any tips/requests. I said that if it looked like something Cary Grant would wear, I would approve. In the end, I think he looked more like James Bond in a tux and I wasn’t at all disappointed ;-) For my dress, I was looking for a timeless, classy piece that was both simple and glamorous. I kind of have a test for the “classy/timeless” – if the dress looks like something Grace Kelly could have worn and I could conceivably wear it again in 20 years, it’s golden. Indeed, the Anya definitely passed that test.

In addition to the classy/timeless/glamorous inspiration, I wanted the wedding to have important personal touches. This is why I opted to arrange my own bouquet (details below) rather than paying for one to be made. Wanting personal touches was also reflected in my choice of earrings, the only jewelry I wore. We also wrote our vows on hotel stationary the night before the wedding – I’m actually working now to find the perfect frame so that we can hang them in our bedroom.

My dress was by Karen Willis Holmes. I absolutely adore the designer! I bought the dress at the KWH bouquet in NYC and the staff were just as lovely as the dress. I had never worn a sequin or anything sparkly in my life, but I just fell in love with the elegance & timeless simplicity of the gown. My goal is to be able to wear it again in 20 years when we renew our vows :) In Paris, of course :) We’ll look you up!

My shoes were Steve Madden and I am happy to report that they have survived 6+ months without being eaten/torn apart by our dear 1 year old golden retriever, Charli :)

I opted to keep my jewelry simple & sentimental. I’m a “less is more” kind of girl, so I thought that the dress had enough sparkle on its own. As a result, I only wore earrings – no necklace or bracelet. The earrings were a gift from my darling sister – another reason why I chose to wear them. I’m all about the meaningful little details :)

I adore flowers – I always try to have fresh flowers in our home. So I was excited to be in a city like Paris that celebrates & appreciates beautiful fresh flowers. I had planned to go to little flower market to pick out flowers to arrange, but I admit that the streets of Paris drew me in on that first day and I completely lost track of time. It was after 10PM on the night before our wedding that I realized that I had forgotten to pick up flowers. My wonderful friend, Rebekah, tracked down a 24 hour flower shop and offered to pick up some flowers for me to arrange. Only in Paris would there be a flowers shop open 24 hours a day! I arranged the bouquet moments before we said I do. I absolutely adored it – simple, natural, classic. Peonies & lavender will always remind of that beautiful day in Paris.

Photography: French Grey Photography | Floral Design: Bride | Wedding Dress: Karen Willis Holmes | Bride's Shoes: Steve Madden | Hair + Makeup: James Harold | Venue: Square Du Vert Galant

Winter weddings seem to be full of seasonal magic, and this one has it in spades. I’m not just talking about the cozy, warm, and romantic vibe of the Cork Factory Hotel or the lush, wintery florals. It’s so much more than that, like that the Bride wore her mother’s veil and that the Groom walked down the aisle to a surprise performance of the “Game of Thrones” theme song. See all the pretty from Brianna Wilbur in The Vault!

From The Bride…To be perfectly honest, I had never pictured a winter wedding. But when my fiancé proposed at Christmas last year, I realized a one-year engagement brought us to my least favorite season. A quick Pinterest search was all it took to sell me on a fur stole, gorgeous winter florals, and some dark green long bridesmaids dresses.

Although I looked for him everywhere, I finally met The One on a dating website. I actually remember looking across the table at him on our first date thinking, “Could this be my husband?” Two and a half years later, he is. I think I love my now-husband about double what I did before the big day, if that’s possible.

We envisioned an elegant and classic affair, with very traditional details, from the invitations to the ceremony. I wanted to highlight winter while creating a cozy, warm, and romantic vibe. I imagined greens, creams, and blacks. The Cork Factory Hotel could not have been more perfect: once our guests arrived on Friday for the rehearsal, no one had to leave the hotel until after brunch on Sunday. The convenience for the guests was of utmost importance for us. The airy ballroom, chandeliers, and fireplace didn’t hurt, either.

It is so special to me that I wore my mom’s veil, which was perfectly preserved and absolutely gorgeous. The Silverwood Trio surprised my husband with the “Game of Thrones” theme song when he walked into the ceremony, making him laugh and diffusing some of his nerves. I cherish the memories I have of us reciting our personally written vows to each other and that special trip down the candle-lit aisle with my Dad.

The pinecone escort cards were one of my favorite details. Last summer we started collecting pinecones and glueing them to birch rounds. Painting each one and applying glitter was another endeavor entirely! We wanted little mementos of me and Ryan everywhere, from doors plastered with childhood photographs to our birdie guestbook and cake toppers. We made our wine-bottle table numbers and then gave them away in a musical-chairs-type game at the reception, a crowd favorite!

I didn’t even know I was a flower person until I found Sullivan Owen. It’s like lightning struck, and I became absolutely obsessed with her floral works of art. I can now spot one of her bouquets even before knowing it’s her design. I was bursting with excitement before they arrived on our wedding day, and when they did I was blown away. I will never forget those flowers.

My groom tapped my shoulder and said, “Can I steal you for a second?” He took me out to the terrace and slow danced with me, alone, away from the guests, to Nora Jones’s “Come Away with Me.” I will never forget resting my head on his chest, and feeling unbelievable, overwhelming love from friends, family, and my new husband. It is a perfect memory from a perfect day.

Photography: Brianna Wilbur Photography | Floral Design: Sullivan Owen | Wedding Dress: Casablanca | Cake: The Baker's Table at Cork Factory Hotel | Makeup: Allyson Brittany Aesthetics | Hair: Blush Style Studio | DJ: Central PA DJs | Venue: Cork Factory Hotel | Bridal Boutique: Bijou Bridal

There is no denying it, a wedding in Newport is always magic, but when it takes place at the stunning OceanCliff Hotel with EFD Creative – Event Planning & Design at the design helm and Allegro Photography behind the lens, everything just gets that much more special. Not a detail was missed during this elegant day, and it’s all waiting for you right here. See even more in the VAULT.

From EFD Creative – Event Planning & Design…It was an honor to be part of Sally and David’s Thanksgiving wedding weekend. The goal was to create a warm and intimate atmosphere, and the Ocean Cliff Inn was the perfect location. With the property privately tucked away from the road on one side, and the water views on the other, it was exactly what the couple wanted to create a home style personal environment.

For the overall design we wanted to take advantage of the beauty of the Inn and incorporate the couple’s personal touch on the day. Blues combined with golds and flowers to compliment, together it created an overall beauty that was highlighted throughout with candlelight.

When you entered the venue you had the experience of being in your own personal home and having this wedding on the Thanksgiving weekend – it truly made it feel like it was a home away from home.

From Allegro Photography…Sally and Dave chose to celebrate their wedding in Newport right after Thanksgiving with two days of spectacular events. The timing was perfect for their family and friends and everyone enjoyed gathering together in this beautiful locale.

As photographers, we figured there was no chance of us getting outside for photos at that time of year. But Sally and Dave had great luck- the weather on Friday (part 1 of their festivities) was gorgeous. We were able to do their first look outside overlooking the water as well as their couple portraits and family portraits. As the day turned to night, we were treated to even more beauty- from a spectacular sunset during their wedding vows to the warmth of candlelight for their reception.

Photography: Allegro Photography | Cinematography: readyset[film] | Event Planning + Design: EFD Creative - Event Planning & Design | Floral Design: Flowers By Semia | Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai | Cake: Something Different Cake Couture | Invitations: Invitations & Company | Makeup: Jane Sincere | Hair: Jude Supplice | Lighting: Suzanne B Lowell Lighting Design | Band: Night Shift Entertainment | Transportation: Rockstar Limo | Venue: Regatta Place | Rentals: Rentals Unlimited

She’s a little bit country. He’s a little bit classic. So, when it came time to plan their fall wedding, this Bride and Groom settled on a style they deemed “Southern Elegance.” With a ceremony on the veranda overlooking the golf course and a reception infused with rustic, wood touches, this couple’s sweet vision came to life. See it all (including bridesmaids’ dresses from Weddington Way) from Dori Elizabeth in The Vault!

From JL Designs…We were thrilled that Jennifer and Ryan were referred to us by a long time friend Nate Deaton. From the first time we met with Jennifer she knew what she wanted and was a pleasure to work with. Getting to know them though the process and having the opportunity to watch them join together as husband and wife was a blessing. One of the many joys of our profession is that we get to be apart of our clients lives not only for with weddings but keeping in touch after their big day. We recently caught back up with Jennifer as they welcomed a new baby boy in to their family and opened a new business just right across the street from us. Jennifer told us all about their relationship in a recent conversation that we had with her.

From The Bride…Ryan and I met through mutual friends in the summer of 2010. I remember thinking he was one of the funniest people I had ever known. I thought to myself, this guy has the strongest love for life! We were really young, and he is actually two years younger than myself. That being said…though I felt like a little girl with her first crush every time he was around, I never thought of anything serious involving the both of us. He went off to college, while I stayed here and we led two separate lives.

One year later, he came back home and we reconnected. Age didn’t matter so much to me at this point and crushing was an understatement. When they say “love at first sight” it seems cliche, right? Well, that’s what I always thought. I never believed in this kind of love before. I was actually smitten. On the night of Halloween at around 12:01 in the morning, we decided to make it official and I couldn’t stop the butterflies! I have truly been head over heels ever since.

A year later we brought a precious baby boy into this world. Though it may not have been the exact “time-line” we had always thought of to happen, Brennan was our biggest blessing. I never thought I could love Ryan more than I already did until I watched him love our baby. On the night of January 14th, Ryan got a family friend (who was pursuing photography) to call me and tell me that Ryan had set up a family photo session. I had been wanting to do that for months. Even though it was a little rainy, we got ready and went to our hometown park with the most beautiful little pond with the cutest little bridge. The photographer asked me if I wanted to walk over to the bridge for some pictures and as I was turning around to ask him what he thought about it, he was on one knee holding the ring of my dreams! That night I knew that I was going to live the rest of my life with the most perfect man, for me.

Our inspiration for our wedding was just to be us. I loved rustic and he loved classy. Needless to say, we aren’t very traditional people so right away we knew the wedding would be specific to us. The southern lifestyle is what we have always lived by. Not necessarily “country,” just southern. I love rustic southern charm and he loves golf clubs and such. As we put the two together, we came up with a “southern elegance” style wedding. He wasn’t much into the barn styled weddings (I think they’re beautiful) and I wasn’t too much into the ball room style, so as we merged together the two personalities, we came up with a country club wedding. We got married on the veranda at Cherokee Run Golf and Country Club in Conyers, Georgia. It had a little bit of what each of us loved. I was scared to be completely outdoors because of the fall showers so the covered veranda was the perfect choice for us. It had the most beautiful view over looking the golf course and the beautiful fall colored leaves on the trees. I had a vision in my mind of what I wanted it to look like and it soon became the wedding of my dreams. We had our reception inside the country club. It wasn’t as rustic as I originally wanted so JL Designs quickly created the most beautiful southern feel to our fancy country club reception.

Wedding planning was definitely a very trying experience for me. It was incredibly exciting and so much fun picking and choosing all of our favorite things and combining them into one perfect day. I took nine and a half months to plan. We composed a list of vendors that quickly became our favorites and that’s when our sweet and simple, southern wedding really started coming together. Along with the help of my husband, my maid of honor was the perfect help. She worked with me on every small detail to make sure I would have the wedding she knew I had always wanted. We spent many long nights prepping for decor and making favors. In the end, everything from our “sending s’more love your way” wedding favors to my breathtaking flower arrangements were totally and completely worth every sleepless night.

We got married on October 11, 2014. I catch myself reliving that day, constantly. I remember being so nervous that entire morning. I remember our photographer taking us down stairs, separately, to a column in the lobby of the hotel and her placing my hand into his so we could talk to each other and feel each other for the last time before we would be “husband and wife.” From the moment I felt his hand, I immediately felt an overwhelming calmness. The moment I finally got to walk down the aisle, I was reassured for the millionth time that Ryan was the one God had chosen just for me. Nothing else in this world mattered except for the love I had for him and the undeniable love he had for me.

Photography: Dori Elizabeth - Photographer | Coordination: Nate Deaton | Floral Design: JL Designs | Wedding Dress: Formally Yours | Cake: Sweet Afternoons | Bride's Shoes: David's Bridal | Rings: Van Adams Jewelers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Weddington Way | Makeup: Airbrush By Carrie | Hair: Jagged Edge Hair Studio | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Venue: Cherokee Run Golf Club

What happens when you take a lovely Canadian girl and an Irish gentleman and add in the magic of Vegas? One adventurous love story begins and we see it come to a peak with this sweet spring celebration, overflowing with pretty pinks and beautiful blues, from the Jenny Yoo dresses to the florals. Justine Milton captured this real life transatlantic love affair, making our Vault they place to be today.

From the Bride… Marcus and I met in Las Vegas in October 2010. I was on holiday with my best friend and Marcus was there with a group of friends on a school break. I met one of the girls in the group and she insisted on introducing me to someone, and that someone was Marcus. We stayed in touch when we each returned home to Canada and Ireland. That was the beginning of our adventure of a love story!

The first time Marcus brought me to Ireland, we stopped at an overlook on the side of the road and across the bay, he pointed out his family home. We took a photo of the two of us there and have continued to do so almost every time we are home. I spent Christmas 2013 with my parents in Canada and flew to Ireland on the 28th. The weather was awful with widespread flooding so there wasn’t much opportunity to get out for our photo. He said that my gift was arriving by mail any day, I was expecting a pink football jersey! December 30th was the first sunny day and suddenly I was told my gift had arrived! We jump in the car to go pick it up. Halfway to the post office he says that he forgot his ID to pick up the parcel. I laughed and teased him as we turned around and that is when he gave me his phone which had a video for me to watch. It was a video of him standing in our ‘spot’. I never saw him, just heard his voice and the first view I had of his home in 2010. He went on to say all the things he couldn’t say in person, and melted my heart. We then pulled into our spot, took our photo and he got down on one knee! Had anyone looked out of their houses across the bay they would have seen it all unfold but they were all in the dark. The great man he is, he asked my father’s permission. The smart man he is, he asked my best friend for advice on the ring!

It was very important to Marcus that we get married in Ireland. I knew it would be magical. We were joined by 150 of our family and friends, including 56 Canadians. I wanted a soft romantic theme with soft colors that would complement the green and old castle environment. I think our colors of gold, slate blue, blush and grey were just the right choice.

For the ceremony, we had Piano Express featuring Sean Treacy who accompanied a dear friend of ours. She is one of the most talented singers I know, and it was a privilege to walk down the aisle to beautiful voice. She also surprised us with “Hallelujah” during our ceremony, which is one of mine and Marcus favourite songs. For the reception, we had a live band named Royal Flush play. They actually learned our first song so that they could sing it live for us. What a magical moment! I will never forget Marcus holding me in his arms as they sang “Feel For Me” but Foy Vance.

Once again, we were blessed to have a very dear friend make fresh maple syrup candies as a representation of Canada, which she actually brought with her from Ontario! My mother-in-law, aunt, Maid of Honour and I made Baileys chocolate truffles which were presented together with the maple candies as a blend of Canada and Ireland.

A special treat for the groom was having the colors of his county sewn into the jacket! He stole the show during the first dance!

The groom’s gift was a one of a kind Guinness razor and brush made by Avalanche Artisans in Calgary Alberta.

Cake was made by my amazing mother-in-law Kitty McNally! This was a labour of love and delicious to boot! Marcus and I met in Las Vegas, so we had our cake topper made on Etsy. It was a gold heart that said “Viva Las Vegas”!

It was a magical day. From our first look, to having both my mom and dad walk me down the aisle and a full night of fun and dancing, our wedding day was easily the best day of our lives. It has given us so much to look forward too. A big thank you to Justine Milton from Milton Photography for capturing not only our special day but also our after party at Helen’s Pub. Memories more precious than can never be imagined.

We had a dream six week honeymoon that started in Venice. We spent two weeks driving across Croatia, celebrated my 30th birthday in Dubai with friends and topped things off with an amazing sailing trip in Greece and three romantic nights in Santorini. It was a honeymoon that dreams are made of!

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More destination weddings this way!

Photography: Justine Milton Photography | Floral Design: Breedas Flowers | Wedding Dress: Bonny Bridal | Cake: Kitty McNally | Ceremony Venue: Dawros Church | Reception Venue: Muckross Park Hotel | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Muckross Park Hotel | Makeup: Marianne Wiley | Hair: Kacey Brasnett | Band: Royal Flush | Groom's Attire: EPH Apparel | Groomsmen's Attire: Simply Suits | Ceremony Music: Piano Express Feat. Sean Treacy | Bridal Boutique: Cottonwood Bridal | Groom's Gift: Avalanche Artisans | Invitations, Programs + Stationery: Etsy | Vendor: Justine Milton Photography

You know what we love? When vendors take us on a visual journey. Take this piece of poetry dreamed up by Jon Cu. His inspiration? A lifestyle legend and her garden, proving that inspiration can be found anywhere. Capturing a palette of wintry whites coupled with classic motifs, witness this timeless love story comes to life with each and every image. Dreamy, no? See it all unfold in The Vault!

From Jon Cu… Inspired by the photo of Parterre from Carolyne Roehm’s new book Carolyne Roehm at Home in the Garden, this style shoot was taken place at Wattles Estate, a historic house and park in the Hollywood, CA. Showcasing this historical venue was truly an honor for all of the collaborators involved. From there, a palette of wintry brown and white with vintage yellow emerged. Ivory and gold tones were then incorporated to bring it all together. Pretty elements were coupled with classic pieces to tell a timeless love story and our concept of a Southern California Fall/Winter Romance was born.

We started by placing the table in the courtyard with intricate detailed Etienne chairs from Etablirshop, then draped it with a beautiful chiffon linen that spanned the entire table. To enhance the natural and romantic vibe, glass chargers and plates were used atop the table with mismatching patterns. Each setting was accented with crystal cut gold-rimmed glassware and vintage modern gold flatware from Borrowed Blue. To tie the tablescape together, the natural engraved place card paired with soft silk napkin were a perfect combination. Invitation suite created by Paperbirch Designs & Written Word Calligraphy, including a custom program illustrated the Wattles Mansion on the cover and personal love notes created by Paperbirch Designs added personal touches to the shoot.

In dressing our groom, we picked a classic black tuxedo for him. Our bride wore a delicate custom silk robe by Three Sunbeams for her getting ready in the morning and Isabella gown from Leanne Marshall as her wedding dress, adorned with bridal veil from Three Sunbeams and fine jewelries from Susie Saltzman. The bride’s hair and makeup was impeccably done by Jessie Wilcox. We created a romantic, low chignon hairstyle, which softly enhanced the natural beauty of our model and a hint of drama was added around her eyes.
The floral inspiration is organic yet elegant. We incorporate white/ yellow blooms and full of greenery for the perfect arrangement on the table. The added Teddy Bear Magnolia leaves gives a pop of brown that ties back to our colors. For the bridal bouquet, we used the same flowers in our centerpiece which includes roses and magnolia leaves was trimmed with soft silk ribbon from Silk and Willow.

For the cake, we knew we wanted a cake that looks elegant and natural. We opted for a “naked” cake, so the cake with added seasonal fruits such as pears and figs which tied back to our organic and elegant Fall/Winter look. As always, Sarie Cakes did a fabulous job in her execution. Next to the cake, we also included a bar cart which Champagnes were served in pressed glass goblets with berries on an elegant brass tray.

As we think of real couples who are getting married on their special day, we also include other details to tie our love story together that may become an inspiration to future bride and groom. For example, a handwritten love note together with a chic monogram hat box created by Trousseau & Co. with handpicked veil for the bride will be a perfect wedding gift for the bride on her big day.

Our event designer Yvonne Xue Design worked together with our lovely photographer Jon Cu to create the concepts, story line and color palettes for the shoot that would inspire fall/ winter brides and Jon Cu captured it all in gorgeous details. We had so much fun creating the look and the story before and on the day of the shoot. Thank you to our favorite vendors that made this shoot happen!

Photography: Jon Cu | Event Planning: Amazon | Cake: Sarie Cakes | Stationery: Paper Birch Designs | Jewelry: Susie Saltzman | Calligraphy: Written Word Calligraphy | Bridal Shop: Lovely Bridal Shop | Film Processing: Goodman Film Lab | Floral: Heirloom Design House | Hair & Make Up: Jess Wilcox | Hat Box: Trousseau & Co | Models: Aston Models | Photography - Assistance: Amy Cu | Place Settings: borrowed BLU | Rentals: Etablir Shop | Ribbons & Silk: Silk and Willow | Robe/Veil: Three Sunbeams | Vendor: Moments To Remember | Wattles Manison: Hollywood, CA | Wedding Designer & Stylist: Yvonne Xue

Party hair often times requires a little more effort than your go-to tousled bun. And don’t get us wrong, we partake in tousled bunning more than is probably deemed appropriate but this 5 minute (yes, 5 simple minutes) hairstyle will have you ditching your top knot and never looking back. Check out this perfect party hair tutorial from Lauren Kelp + Stylisted and you’ll be dazzling in 300 seconds flat.

Curl the Ends

For this effortless tousled look, it’s best to start by curling the ends of your hair. Ooh, if you thought we would make you spend 30 minutes in front of your mirror curling sections of your hair, you couldn’t be farther from the truth! We are all about quick, easy, and fabulous here at Lauren Kelp & this curling wand has changed our lives.

Star by pinning the front left and right section of your hair up (this will be the section we braid later). Grab medium size sections of hair (starting from the underside and working forward) and use the bubble wand to curl. It’s totally worth the trip to Target because this little guy perfectly curls hair in sections. No weird hand twisting or wonky curls – it’s super easy and crazy practical if you like the look.

Loosely Braid

Remember those front two sections we pinned up? Now it’s time to have some fun! Unpin the left section and start to loosely braid until you have about two inches of hair left. Pin across the back of the head & repeat with the right section.

PRO TIP: When you braid each section, instead of braiding down, pull the braid around the back of the head so it lays flat.

Once you are finished braiding, the braids should be sitting on top of each other. Grab the left (top) braid and tuck the end under the right (bottom) braid & pin. The goal is to have two braids sitting on top of each other & wrapped behind the crown of your head. Untuck the tails & let loose to create a full & effortless look.

For more party ready beauty ideas…

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Easy 5 Second Hair | The Ultimate Beauty Splurges | 8 Steps to Perfect Straight Hair

Photography: Lauren Kelp | Hair And Beauty: Stylisted | Source : Lauren Kelp

Let this next celebration illustrate the magic that is a NYE wedding. I mean, imagine ringing in the new year married to the one you love?! Pretty incredible, right? Just as this darling pair and they’ll tell you, planning a midnight celebration was one of the best decisions ever. Complete with loved ones and whimsical details, Love & Light Photographs captured it all to share in The Vault!

From the Bride… Even before we were engaged we talked about having a New Year’s Eve wedding. Bringing in the New Year with all of our closest friends and family by our side sounded like a perfect way to celebrate our vows. We wanted our wedding to feel like an escape without requiring any air travel for our guests. Corey and I are both from the Jersey Shore and would often take day trips out to places like New Hope, Princeton and Lambertville. When we came across the Lambertville Inn we knew it was perfect. The venue is situated right on the Delaware River across from New Hope, Pennsylvania which allowed our guests to explore both Lambertville and New Hope throughout the weekend.

While New Year’s Eve can be a pretty fancy evening, Corey and I are pretty casual people so we wanted the dress code and decor to fall somewhere in between. Our Navy and Grey color scheme was simple but classic. Our cream flowers brightened up the evening and succulents scattered throughout the bouquets and boutonnieres added in a touch of green. Our wedding coordinator, Lisa Manning of Kings Park, NY, added the perfect touches to our decor. She went with a clock theme for the New Year and scattered mercury glass votives and vases throughout the reception which added an element of elegance. Each noise maker was hand painted with silver glitter and there were giant decanters of New Year’s Eve beads, masks and horns. Lisa even had a “clock” wall built for our photo booth backdrop.

In the end, our wedding was everything we could have hoped for. We had great music provided by both a band and a DJ and our guests were on the dance floor for the majority of the evening. When the clock struck midnight, we all celebrated with a champagne toast and a pretty great rendition of Auld Lang Syne. One of the great things about a New Year’s Eve wedding is that we can always celebrate our anniversary with our friends and family for years to come.

Photography: Jessa Schifilliti, Photographer | Floral Design: Wallflowers | Wedding Dress: Watters | Invitations: Noon Design Shop | Bride's Shoes: BHLDN | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Donna Morgan | Band: Enjoy! | Wedding Venue: The Inn At Lambertville Station | Bride's Headpiece: BHLDN

True love means total trust in one another, right? Well, what better way to show that faith than taking your future hubby’s word that your wedding venue is wonderful, not stepping on site until the week of. That’s what this Bride right here did, and any worries she may have had quickly dissipated, because this Blue Ridge beauty is perfection. Perry Vaile captured the romance – and this stunner of a dress – and we’re all the happier for it. See it all work out, oh so well, in our Vault this way!

From Perry Vaile… A fog-laden chilly morning welcomed these two Miami natives to North Carolina for their January wedding day. The bride had never even seen her venue before she arrived the week of the wedding, trusting in her husband-to-be’s affirmation that it was something special. Jess and Ben faced the frigid temps and 100% rain forecast with a mindset that it’d work out regardless, and they weren’t disappointed. The rain held off, Jess’s choice of a vibrant aubergine palette paired beautifully with the natural tones of the scenery and they were able to host an unforgettable, eclectic mountain affair deep in the Blue Ridge mountains for 50 of their closest family and friends.

Jess wore flats by Manolo Blahnik, and a breathtaking gown by Hayley Paige through moss-covered stones and leaf-filled paths throughout her wedding day. The couple celebrated their marriage by enjoying a steaming wine before portraits and spent a few quiet moments together atop the mountain before heading into the reception.

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More Southern celebrations here!

Photography: Perry Vaile Photography | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Venue: Hawkesdene House

My very favorite weddings are typically classic as can be. I’m all about elegance and formality paired with family and tradition. Oh and if a Monique Lhuillier ballgown happens to be involved, you certainly won’t hear me complaining. So just imagine my excitement once I got my hands on these images from Jose Villa. True to form, he perfectly captured a celebration inspired by decades past, brought to life by Kehoe Designs and Reva Nathan. Follow me to The Vault for a glimpse into the moments that made up this day.

From The Bride…Our wedding was at our family home in the suburbs of Chicago. It was important to both of us to get married in an intimate setting where we could create the vision we had for the evening without a ton of constraints. We were inspired by images with lots of greenery and exuberant amounts of delicate flowers. With this in mind, we wanted to highlight the natural beauty of the venue and create an environment dripping in decadence. Our main goal was to try and create an over-the-top party inspired by decades past with elements of art deco and an abundance of gold – these juxtaposing ideas were executed flawlessy by our event team by utilizing a transparent tent and lining the tent was with trees. This gave the illusion that guest were dining al fresco while the tables had overflowing boxes of flowers and endless amounts of vintage pastel China lending to the air of luxury and extravagance.

Through the entire planning and execution of our special day we wanted our personalities to shine through and make a lasting impact on all who were in attendance. Since I am a Chef & Brian loves to eat, food was a huge part part of the puzzle for us and we added little surprises all along the way to pay homage to our other true love- some of the highlights included a sushi station by our favorite local restaurant (sushi dokku), an entire tent fashioned into a bakery named after my pastry company, Sweet Lyon, complete with a neon sign and all! The pastry tent was stocked with desserts from all of our favorite bakeries across Chicago and there was custom packaging branded for the day to send guests home with goodies. Late night we had a pancake food truck (Baby Cakes) and a portable wood burning oven making the most delicious pizzas for guests to take on the buses back to the city by The Nomad food company.

Photography: Jose Villa Photography | Cinematography: I Do Films | Event Design: Kehoe Designs | Event Planning: Reva Nathan | Floral Design: A New Leaf | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Amy Beck Cake Design | Stationery: Elizabeth Grace | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Rings: Tiffany & Co. | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Catering: Sushi Dokku | Catering: Bacco Ristorante | Catering: J And L Catering | Catering: The Nomad Food Company | Band: Chuck Wansley After Hours | Groom's Attire: Tom Ford | Officiant: Rev Dana Thomas | Ceremony Music: Pasquale Laurino | Transportation: AFSL Inc | Transportation: Cosmopolitan Custom Limousine | Venue: At Home | After Party Music: DJ Pat Valley | Dessert: Babycakes | Dessert: Glazed And Infused | Dessert: Floriole Cafe And Bakery | Dessert: Jennifer Clarke At The Peninsula Chicago | Photo Booth: Brooke Courtney Photography | Rentals: Halls Rental | Rentals: Frost Productions | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: The Festive Frog | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

A sunny tropical vacation sounds pretty perfect right about now. But the next best thing? This cocktail from Waiting on Martha. It’s sunshine and lazy beach days all wrapped up in one very yummy sip. Meet the Bailey’s Banana Colada Cocktail and get prepared to go wild for this tropical gem with a cool twist.

From Mandy Kellogg Rye…While paying homage to the original with just a few Waiting on Martha twists, our BBC cocktail recipe will no doubt become your new go-to tropical sip. And if you’re still wondering just what is a BBC cocktail, it stands for “Bailey’s Banana Colada” and it’d be hard to find a more perfect frozen drink when you’re beachside or poolside.

Photography: Rustic White Photography | Design And Styling: Waiting On Martha

You know we never turn down a reason to celebrate, so when Plum Pretty Sugar launched a plethora of beautiful new outwear pieces and collections, we grabbed the bubbly and dove straight into the pretty. Think chic cosmetic bags, long-sleeved PJ’s and more, all wrapped up in the luxe fabrics and stunning prints we can’t get enough of.  It’s a Plum Pretty Sugar kind of Tuesday, loves… and we’re ready to party.

With Plum Pretty Sugar, looking completely fabulous has never been easier, or more stunning.  From their gorgeous getting ready robes to their beautiful honeymoon attire to their amazing everyday wear, they have you totally covered on your Big Day… and beyond.  And now with the launch of even more breathtaking collections, the options are literally endless.  I’m talking everything from off the shoulder dresses and tops in signature + watercolor prints to the vibrant colors of the new She Must Have Flowers collection to the limited edition polka dot + green and blue patterns.  Not to mention the new hues added to the You Are Loved collection and the long-sleeve PJ shirts that we’ve alllll been waiting for. Oh, and for gifting, there’s the new cosmetic bags and eye masks.  Did we mention we love Plum Pretty Sugar??

Whether you’re looking for the perfect robe to wear the morning of your wedding or just a jaw-droppingly gorgeous outfit to wear out on the town with your besties (or both), Plum Pretty Sugar has something for YOU. Head there now to peruse the options… you have a lot of shopping to do.

When it comes to everyday updo’s I’m more of a topknot kind of girl, that is until I saw this mega chic side bun a la Jennie Kay Beauty. Because not only is this style easy to incorporate into your morning routine, but the fact that this look has also got the potential to carry me from coffee to cocktails? Win-win. Press play to learn how you can get the stylish look below!

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See even more head-turning hairstyles below!

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

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Videography: Elysium Productions | Photography: Leila Brewster | Hair: Jennie Kay Beauty