When it comes time to build that dream registry, it can be overwhelming to decide to picks big and small. Whether you’re talking kitchen gadgets or throw pillows, there’s so many choices but that’s where our editors come in. They’ve assembled their favorite items from their own real-life registries, and are spilling the beans. Believe me, you’ll want to scan these pretties with a registry gun, pronto!
I can just about guarantee this the cutest thing you’ll see all week, and it has everything to do with a tiny pup named Bella. She tagged along for an anniversary shoot photographed by Jenny Soi, and if these images don’t turn your heart to mush I don’t know what will. Yep, this Monday just turned awesome.
From Jenny Soi…Anna and David two are the most adorable high school sweethearts and I was honored to celebrate their 8th anniversary together with a photo session that included their darling barely 5 lb dog-daughter, Bella who was adorned with a tiny hand-arranged rosemary herb garland.
Their session was a short and sweet pastel dream. As their photographer, I wanted to be unobtrusive and document their love as just “a day in the life of” their relationship while they take a stroll with each other against the tranquil backdrop of the Island of Alameda in California during a cloudy yet beautiful sunset.
To style their set, we stuck with all the little things they both loved – classic fashion, vintage books, and a Moscow mule inspired mini floral arrangement. I’m so happy to have captured their milestone of 8 sweet years together with each other and tiny Bella.
Photography: Jenny Soi | Floral Design: Thistle | Venue: Alameda California | Film Processing: Little Film Lab | Hat: Charlotte Russe | Ribbon: The Ribbonerie Inc. | Skirt: Forever 21
If there’s anyone who can rock bangs (and rock them well) it’s Jenny of Margo & Me. I love seeing her straight locks pop up in my feed, and today, she’s letting us in on how she perfects this go-to look with all the products you need to do it. Get more of Jenny’s killer style in our Instagram takeover right now!
From Jenny of Margo & Me… One of the most common questions I hear about my hair is how I style it. I’ve always been the wash, dry and go kind of girl so I rely on my products to work for me when it comes to quick styling. Working with bangs is far from low-maintenance, as you can probably imagine if you’ve never tried. And if you’ve tried, you know it’s pretty much a love-hate relationship. Even if I don’t wash my hair, I’m washing/drying my bangs every day and trimming them once a week (maybe don’t try this at home if you’re doing it for the first time). Below, I’ve listed the products and tools I use and the order I use them in to get my every day look.
Shampoo. I have to admit, I am not very loyal when it comes to my shampoo. I like to mix it up every few weeks. My shower looks like the shampoo section of your local beauty store. Currently I’m obsessed with this luxurious rinse though. It’s basically caviar for your hair and leaves it with a glossy and lustrous feel. I dont color my hair so I don’t use color treated shampoos but this is great because it is color and keratin treatment safe if you do.
Conditioner. When it comes to conditioner, I am weak for anything that smells heavenly. This bottle is basically the fountain of youth for your hair. What I love most about this line is that it’s formulated without parabens, sulfates or sodium chloride so it won’t dull your locks or leave buildup. I always leave conditioner on my ends for at least 5 minutes.
Leave in Conditioner. Ladies with long hair, if you haven’t discovered It’s a 10 yet, run to your closest drug store and buy it immediately. There is no false advertising on this bottle, it truly works miracles on the most teased and tangled hair. Smells delicious, too!
Volumizing Spray. Since my hair airs on the flatter side, I look for products that will give me a little extra lift. After I get out of the shower and towel dry my hair, I spray a few pumps of this onto my roots and massage it in. The result is fuller more style-able hair.
Blow Dry. The key to getting your bangs to cooperate is to dry them immediately. The minute they start to air dry, they set into their natural state and you’ll end up with a side-bang-cowlick…if your lucky. I use this dryer!
Round Brush. I use my small round brush with my dryer angled over my forehead and gently brush my bangs side to side in a downward motion. Once they are on the dryer side, brush them into place using the heat from the dryer. I will let my brush sit on my bangs in the position I want them until they cool. The cooling helps them to set in the place you want them to sit. Then gently round the edges under to give them a softer look.
Straighten. I learned a very valuable trick from my hairstylist recently, I would have never touched my bangs with a straightener before learning this. To rid of frizz, set your straightener on very low heat and instead of clamping down on your strands, set them gently between the iron and in a swift downward motion, go over the ends. I do this to my bangs and also to the ends of the rest of my hair to give it a more glossy look.
Texturizing Spray. To set everything in place, I don’t typically use a heavy hairspray, not even on my bangs. Instead I opt for texturizing spray because it creates more grip and body in my hair. It’s a bit on the pricer side but worth every penny in my opinion.
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Calligraphy: Lauren
We spent all day yesterday stalking Taylor Swift’s Instagram trying to get another peek of her as maid of honor at her childhood BFF Britany Maack’s wedding. It’s safe to say the super star’s gorgeous blush and gold chiffon Reem Acra gown will go down in SMP history as one of the best bridesmaids’ dresses ever. And if you put your girls in any one of the gowns below, they can make fashion history, too.
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This wedding and I, well, it was love at first sight. The Bride’s gorgeous Art Deco-inspired Jenny Packham gown. The pretty pink bouquet filled with proteas as a nod to the Bride’s South African roots. The beautiful geodes at each guest’s place setting to honor the Groom’s profession. All these details, and so much more, combined to make one stunning day. Fall in love, thanks to photos from Christie Graham Photography, in The Vault!
From Spread Love Events…Married at the regal The Vancouver Club, Caroline and Chad desired a beautiful city wedding, full of class and fun! A couple who loves entertaining and celebrating, they wanted to treat their guests to a intimate evening of fine wine, food, good company and dancing. A nod to her future husband’s profession, Caroline collected beautiful geodes which we styled at each guests place setting. And, in honour of her South African roots, beautiful protea florals took centre stage in her bridal bouquet. A touch bohemian meets Art Deco, we loved balancing fun details such as the geodes, protea florals and gold flatware, with the sophisticated timeless interior of The Vancouver Club. Caroline and Chad got the dance party started with a little help from Clear the floor and the sweetest first dance. They had great moves and so much love for each other.
Photography: Christie Graham Photography | Event Planning: Spread Love Events | Floral Design: Celsia Floral | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Bride's Shoes: Sergio Rossi | Makeup: Denise Elliot | Groom's Attire: Canali | Venue: The Vancouver Club
For all of you lovelies wishing for spring, here’s a little something to help you settle into winter just a tad bit longer. Crafted by a talented team of vendors, including florals by Inspired By Nature, paper goods by Laurel & Marie and design by Et Voila Events (just to name a few!), it’s an organic winter wonderland worthy of your every devotion. See it all captured by Natashia Nicole Photography in THE VAULT.
From Natashia Nicole Photography…Winter in the MidWest was the inspiration for this organic bridal inspiration. The vibrant greens of the pines against the crisp white of the snow became the color pallete and main theme for the shoot. Rustic, natural elements were mixed with small touches of elegance to add substance to the minimalist nature of the shoot. The beautiful bridal salon at SentryWorld Golf Course in Stevens Point, Wisconsin served as the indoor location, while the pristine, snow covered golf course provided the backdrop for the outdoor portion. A thick winter fog graced the majority of the shoot, lending an almost magical feel to the images.
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Photography: Natashia Nicole Photography | Event Design: Allison Feltz | Floral Design: Inspired By Nature | Wedding Dress: Elegant Occasions, Mori Lee | Wedding Dress: Borrowing Magnolia | Cake: Jenny's Cakes | Invitations: Laurel & Marie | Jewelry: Bling Jewelry | Makeup: Mai Chee Moua | Hair: Meghann Heindl | Venue: SentryWorld Golf Course
There is just something so incredibly special, so incredibly timeless about an English wedding. And it’s made all that much more darling when the couple infuses their personalities among the traditions, which is just what happened with this beauty captured by Sarah-Jane Ethan. Complete with gorgeous English gardens, beautifully classic gown and tweed a plenty, this gallery is English wedding gold.
From The Bride…Warren & I met in a bar in Tynemouth, our local village, at Christmas time but I was only home for a week as I was going back to uni in Leeds so we ended up chatting and swapping numbers but once I was back in Leeds nothing happened – I was a student and warren was working full time in Newcastle. It wasn’t until the following October where we bumped into each other again at a party when I was home for the weekend and we got back in touch and Warren came to visit me in Leeds for a weekend a few weeks later and that was that!
We were engaged over scrambled eggs! I was stood in our kitchen in my pajamas on a Saturday morning making us scrambled eggs for breakfast and Warren started following me round the kitchen looking a bit nervous and I told him (repeatedly) to get out of my way and I would shout when the eggs were ready. He then blurted out that I made the best scrambled eggs in the world…my response was thanks but seriously get out of my way and then he said “what I’m trying to say is I would like you to make these scrambled eggs for the rest of my life” whilst looking at me right in the eye and then it dawned on me…and I said “are you trying to ask me what I think you are trying to ask me as that’s the worst proposal ever and where’s the ring?!” Well yes he was asking me what I thought he was asking and there was no ring as apparently it just occurred to him at that moment when I was making him scrambled eggs! But I did get to choose my own very beautiful and unique engagement ring! Our friends and family still debate whether it’s the least romantic or most romantic proposal but we all agree it was very “us”.
We were engaged for 3 years before setting a date or doing any planning. We weren’t really in a hurry to get married but one day we were driving to Rothbury and decided to try and visit Brinkburn Priory, the English Heritage site on the way – my family had a caravan in Rothbury for a few years when I was younger and I spent lots of time there and I had told Warren about this interesting old Priory and we had tried to visit it twice before to get there and find it was closed so we thought third time lucky. It’s a beautiful venue in a lovely area of the Northumberland countryside 40 minutes drive from our home at the coast and we’ve always loved walking up there. Third time lucky in one sense as it was closed but there was a sign with an arrow giving directions to a wedding. When we got home I looked up Brinkburn Priory as a wedding venue remembering how lovely it was when I went as a child. We decided to go to their next open day and instantly knew it was perfect for us. It was November 2014 and a crisp autumn day and the colours of the trees and the river and beautiful forest seemed magical combined with the tipi and the lovely cottage. It had a really relaxed, fun, quirky and unique vibe which was just what we were looking for. We wanted to do something a little different but that matched our love of the outdoors and of Northumberland. We asked about dates and every weekend in 2015 was already booked apart from one Saturday…which was the day before Warren’s 40th birthday. This seemed perfect as many of our friends and family were beginning to ask after over 3 years of being engaged, were we ever going to get married and warren would always respond that he would definitely have to get married before he was 40…it seemed too funny to end up doing it the day before so we set about planning a weekend of celebrations rather than just one day. I decided I wanted to get married in the huge beautiful old Priory which is steeped in history and have the reception in the fun and very unique giant hat tipi which was adorned with fairy lights, comfy leather sofas with animal print throws and quirky barrel tables. The accommodation on site was also beautiful and sleeps 17 people so we thought it would be perfect to have close friends and family stay with us for the full weekend.
I chose the very first dress I tried on! I made a few appointments in Newcastle after an internet search, having no real idea where to start. I went to the first shop and the girls were amazing. One of them did a consultation with me asking what I was looking for. The only thing I knew I would like was a lot of lace and long sleeves. Danni picked a dress from the rail and I tried it on and loved it and said I will go for this one – I’m pretty good at making decisions and I knew I’m not the type of girl who would enjoy trying on 50 dresses in hot cramped changing rooms. My mom and Danni had to make me try on a couple more styles to make sure but I kept thinking about the first one. Danni wouldn’t let us buy it before going away and thinking about it as I think she wanted me to be really sure and was worried I had made a snap decision. We went for lunch and a cocktail and went back and bought the dress. As easy as that. My shoes were also pretty easy – I waited until about a month before the wedding and thought oh god I best buy some shoes! I spent way longer mulling over bridesmaid shoes than my own! I knew my shoes wouldn’t be visible under my dress so I went for comfort and a relatively cheap pair from debenhams which I’m really pleased about as I’ve never worn them since and they couldn’t be seen on the day. I didn’t go for any accessories other than a floor length veil which really complimented the dress. I wanted the dress to do all the talking.
Flowers were strangely harder than the dress for me as I just didn’t know where to start with colours and styles etc but the venue recommended a local florist who was amazing. I went to her house with my mom only 2 months before the wedding and I described the colour scheme and theme of the wedding – we were going nautical! And she instantly said burnt orange would look great with the midnight blue bridesmaid dresses. Not something I would have thought of but she was so right. I went for beautiful bright bouquets for the bridesmaids with lots of orange colour to compliment their dark dresses and a mixed bouquet of colour and ivory for mine. We didn’t go for any flowers in the Priory as we felt it didn’t need any as it’s such a grand building. I went for a wild and natural look for the flowers to compliment the countryside and autumnal feel and the men’s buttonholes had herbs and birch included in them.
I struggled with bridesmaid dresses more than anything! I had 6 bridesmaids plus my 4 year old niece as a flower girl and I basically left it too late to order any from most bridal shops or online suppliers – I was far too relaxed in the beginning! But i also knew I wanted navy or midnight blue and floor length and when I got my dress in March, all of the bridesmaid dresses were short and in summer colours which wouldn’t work for an October nautical themed wedding. I hedged my bets and waited until August when I knew high street retailers would be getting their autumn/winter stock in and my mom found the perfect dresses on monsoon’s website and I ordered one for my sister to try and she loved it and the other bridesmaids loved them too. The flower girl dress and jacket were also from monsoon. One of my bridesmaids works in fashion so I asked her to help me with the bridesmaid shoes and she found amazing and really unique silver shoes with a jeweled heel on asos which were comfortable too. I only wish I had ordered a pair for myself now as they still love wearing them.
The groom wanted to wear tweed – he loves tweed and we wanted to go a little different. We thought blue tweed look great in the countryside setting and keep the men warm and tie in with the nautical theme. Warren’s tweed 3 piece suit was bespoke, made by a tailor in Northumberland who is now in his 70s and has been making suits his whole life – John Blade. The groomsmen suits were also blue tweed and were from a very quirky shop called Most Suitable in Newcastle. We said on the invites that tweed for gents was encouraged but in no way mandatory and so many of our guests turned up in tweed which was amazing.
I chose Sarah-Jane Ethan as our photographer after a recommendation from one of my bridesmaids who had been at a wedding as a guest where you were photographer. She said SJ had been brilliant and got some amazing quirky and unique shots but just blended into the background but were really good fun too. She knew that warren and I were kind of dreading the photo side of things as we both hate having our photo taken! So SJ’s relaxed vibe sounded perfect. I checked out her website and immediately got in touch! The images are amazing, she captured every one of my favourite moments of the day – from the sublime to the ridiculous moments!The colours are captured so well – the colours of the trees etc and she caught some great natural, in the moment pictures of all of us just looking like we were having a really great fun time – which was my aim of the day :-)
Well I was very relaxed and was adamant I didn’t want the planning of the wedding to take over our lives or become a bridezilla! Although I probably did have my moments at times..mainly because we booked the venue with just under 11 months to go but I really didn’t do any planning until about 5 months before the big day – which sounded like more than enough time to me but it turned out it wasn’t really – not with both of us working busy jobs and having busy lives – it turns out planning a wedding is kind of like another full time job! But my advice would be to have as much fun as you can along the way as it should be a really happy time in your life and your relationship, not a stressful one. But be more organized than I was and don’t leave things till the last minute. Accept help from friends and family when they offer it and use the wedding planner book you were given as an engagement gift. Oh and stick to the budget you agreed on – sticking to a budget has never been a forte of mine but costs can quickly spiral out of control! And on the day, enjoy every minute of it, it will fly by but relax and know that after all the planning, the day will be just how you wanted it. I genuinely never stopped laughing all day! I would also recommend a photo booth – it made the evening!
Photography: Sarah-Jane Ethan | Wedding Dress: YAP Bridal | Cake: Marks And Spencer | Catering: Wilkins Fine Dining | Band: Grooveallstars | Venue: Brinkburn | Photo Booth: Snaparazzi
As much as I love the gorgeous gown, lovely flowers and all the other pretty details at this Georgia wedding, my favorite part of this day is that the Bride and Groom asked guests to unplug as they exchanged I Dos. Without the distraction of phones and cameras, everyone could focus on the most beautiful part of this whole day: the couple’s love. See all the pretty from Simply Sarah Photography in The Vault!
From The Bride… John and I met while in high school through a persistent mutual friend – turned matchmaker. Although I told this friend that the boy she kept telling me about was too young for me, she went on to tell that ninth-grade boy that we would be the perfect couple. Then, one day in 2007, as I logged onto MySpace I was greeted by a message that read, “Hi I’m John. I’m Courtney’s friend. I don’t know what to say so what’s up?” I almost didn’t respond because after all, I was in tenth-grade and had no desire of dating someone younger than me. That would have been the biggest mistake of my life. That fist message somehow sparked several weeks of online chatting and long home phone conversations (because neither of us had cell phones yet…or licenses for that matter). John asked me to be his girlfriend later that year and it has always been him ever since. Although we were at different schools, we got to experience high school together and the sweet memories that came along with after school hang outs, proms, graduations, and everything in between. After high school, we went on to different colleges and continued dating. The college years brought us new friendships, community, a new church to call home, road trips, hard times, Netflix binges, date nights, both choreographed and freestyle dances, and most importantly, stronger relationships with God.
John proposed on November 15, 2015 at Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee. It was a picture-perfect proposal planned so well by my “not a planner” fiancé. We were overlooking a large waterfall with romantic candles lit and a bouquet of my favorite flowers was prepared for the event. A photographer was hired to capture all the precious moments. I was serenaded by several of our closest friends to my favorite song, Yellow, while John spoke words of truth, encouragement, and endearing love to me right before he got down on one knee to ask, “Will you marry me?” I responded with an awkward hand gesture and said, “Of course I will!”
While we were dating, I dreamt of the perfect day when my best friend would become my husband. I prayed for this man, for this day, for years.
As our wedding day approached and the weather forecast predicted rain, I feared our day wouldn’t be “perfect.” Although rain came, it held off during the ceremony and we were still able to have a beautiful outdoor wedding. Curls fell and makeup ran, but I learned a lesson from our wedding – even when the situation is not “ideal,” it can still be something truly beautiful. October 3, 2015 was a perfect day because it was exactly what God planned for us and He was glorified. That is all John and I could ever ask for.
When John and I became engaged, we knew early on that we wanted to have a pretty large wedding. John has a big family and I have a lot of people who I consider family. Given our large guest list, we were forced to get creative with how we were going make our budget work.
We both agreed that we wanted the majority of our vendors to be ones who meant something to us and who we had personal relationships with. It made our day that much more special knowing that many of those involved in our wedding were people we had known for years. People who had invested in us, supported us, and loved us. One of the easiest decision during the wedding planning process was who we wanted to marry us. We asked my childhood pastor, who now leads a young adult Bible study that John and I are a part of. I may be biased, but it was the best wedding ceremony I have ever been to. John’s brother, Jack, along with a few of our close friends sang during the ceremony. Pastor Scott’s wife, Sandy, helped plan the wedding and worked alongside a long-time family friend, Cora with The Southern Bell’s, in decorating the venue. Our venue, The Inn at Oak Lawn Farms, is owned by my middle youth pastor. The bridal party’s attire all came from John’s family’s store, Prom USA, where I work as a manager. The bridal party’s hair was done by close family friends of over 15 years. John’s parents also own a catering company, A Taste to Remember, and they offered to prepare all the food. Our cake was made by a family friend, Don with Cuppalicious Gourmet Bakery, that we have known for years and who we go to church with. Our invitations were designed by a co-worker from my very first job, Sara from Sarabelle Designs. We even knew our photographers, Simply Sarah Photography, as I went to high school with both Sarah and her husband/second-shooter Will. It felt like one big family working together to make our big day happen. We met our other vendors through local bridal expos and we were so fortunate to find them. Allie with Bowman & Clark was able to completely re-create my “Bridal Blooms” Pinterest board. Flowers are a love language of mine and she nailed it. Our makeup artists, Vigilante Cosmetics, worked their magic on my bridal party and everyone looked stunning. John and I cannot say thank you enough to everyone who worked our wedding day. You guys are rockstars and we are so grateful!
For some DIY elements, John and a few of our family members and friends built 30 farmhouse tables. We were crazy and did not realize how big of an undertaking it was initially, but they were exactly what I had pictured. John knew I wanted them and he made it happen. I married a great man. We constructed a few wooden signs and had John’s siblings paint some of my favorite quotes on them to use for decor. We spray painted inexpensive frames that were purchased at thrift stores and The Dollar Tree and framed lyrics from some of our favorite songs and quotes from favorite books and poems and used those on the tables. My sister made 30 linen table runners that we used to anchor and unify all the reception tables. She even made us napkins with the leftover fabric that we were able to use this year for our first Thanksgiving as a married couple when we had the family over. My mom and I thrifted every now and then and found several brass, silver, and gold candlesticks that we also used for decor. I liked the idea of mixed metals.
For my bridal look, I wore a lace Ivory and Champagne mermaid gown by Allure Bridals for the ceremony and first dances. It was my dream dress. I chose a belt, also by Allure, to pair with the gown to add some sparkle and to accentuate the waistline. I ordered individual lace pieces that matched my wedding gown from Allure to have a custom veil made so there was no differentiation in the lace patterns. I always knew I wanted a mermaid gown, but I also loved the timeless look of long sleeves. When I found my wedding gown, I gave up on the idea of long sleeves…that is, until about two months before the wedding. John’s sister, Christina, and I were attending fashion shows during a buying trip for Prom USA. We were sitting in front row of the Jovani showroom and down walks a model wearing a beautiful, simple, lace long sleeved dress. Christina mentioned that the dress came in Ivory, so we ordered it shortly after to be my reception dress. It was form fitting and extremely comfortable. John and I love to dance and I knew I wouldn’t be able to move as much as I wanted to in my mermaid gown. The Jovani dress was the perfect choice for dancing the night away.
I wanted our wedding to be romantic, personal, and very natural. The bridesmaids wore a shade of taupe that was called “Mocha” by Allure Bridals. I was so in love with the bridesmaid color and how well it went along with my Ivory and Champagne wedding gown. The flowers consisted of soft ivory and blush tones and had lots of greenery to make everything feel natural and organic. The navy blue tuxes allowed us to stray from the norm a little bit and add a pop of color while stay remaining neutral. The music played as guests entered the ceremony was carefully selected. The playlist was made up of mostly acoustic covers of some of mine and John’s favorite songs. The paper I used to write my vows on was my dad’s old stationery from college. I love sentimentalism and the meaning behind all of the personal details from our wedding day.
Photography: Elizabeth Lanier Photography | Event Planning + Design: Southern Bells Events | Floral Design: Bowman & Clark | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Cake: Cuppalicious | Invitations: Sarabelle Designs | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Allure Bridal | Catering: A Taste To Remember | Hair + Makeup: Vigilante Cosmetics | Venue: The Inn At Oak Lawn Farms | Reception Dress: Jovani
What American girl doesn’t dream of falling madly in love with a dapper Englishman? That’s this Bride’s reality and they toasted their union with one uber romantic English garden celebration. CJK Visuals captured this fairytale come to life and with Planned for Perfection and Paula Rooney at the helm, it was a bash filled with beauty. Grace the Day said the magic words and with that, these two were husband and wife and the party continued, as seen throughout our Vault – start your week right here!
From CJK Visuals… Last August, I had the amazing opportunity to work with Jane Riddell of Planned for Perfection on a full day long styled shoot in the incredibly gorgeous Cotswolds in England! I had so much fun shooting with her and the rest of the talented, inspiring English vendors that I had to do everything I could to get back over there and shoot with them again! Well, fast forward a few months and I received an email from Jane about an American girl and Englishman getting married in Hampshire and they wanted me as their photographer! I couldn’t believe it! So just about one year after first meeting Jane, I was back in England and photographing this incredible wedding for Ryan and Michael!
I’m so happy to have met these two for their engagement session in London this past winter, and their summery English garden wedding couldn’t have been more perfect! We were all so happy that the infamous English rain skipped over this dreamy outdoor ceremony. I am forever thankful that they trusted me as a photographer flying across an entire ocean to shoot for them and will always remember this beautiful celebration!
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Photography: CJK Visuals | Event Planning: Planned for Perfection | Floral Design: Paula Rooney Weddings & Events | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: Lamplighter London | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Hair + Makeup: Gina Conway Prive | Groom's Attire: Lipman & Sons | Celebrant: Grace the Day | String Quartet: Niche Quartet | Venue: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Chair Rentals: Ballonique | Photo Booth: Say Fromage | Wedding Day Stationery: Judy Broad Calligraphy
Charis & Ryan’s wedding is a DIYer’s dream. A private woodland ceremony complete with a Stella York gown from Essense Of Australia and intimate details like tables handcrafted from reclaimed wood barn wood, to the arbor where the Bride’s dad married them, to the wildflower centerpieces, it’s the type of celebration you’re bound to love. Andrew Mark captured it all to share and it’s waiting in The Vault!
From Andrew Mark Photography…Charis & Ryan’s stunning wedding was a DIY wedding done right. Their private wedding ceremony in the woods was something to be truly coveted by any bride with any love for the outdoors. Their rustic theme carried through every facet of the event. From handmade harvest tables made from reclaimed barns from the area, to the arbour where the bride’s dad married them, to the wild flower centre pieces picked from the families private estate.
Nearly everything was made by Ryan himself and even the food from the event was grown on the families local farm.
Charis the Bride, a passionate horse ride, included a small session with her pride and joy. All photos were captured in or around the family property while guests enjoyed an intimate party in the valley near the woods.
A truly inspirational wedding from top to bottom and all DIY from the property or local vendors!
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Photography: Andrew Mark Photography | Floral Design: The Nodding Violet | Wedding Dress: Stella York | Cake: Anna Boekestyn | Stationery: Sarah Tigchelaar | Catering: Three Seared Catering | Groom’s Attire: Le Chateau | Officiant: Bride’s Dad – Victor Ratzlaff | Venue: At Home | Bridal Boutique: Essense Of Australia
You know that moment when you discover a new fashion blogger and get sucked into their blackhole of incredible style? That was me last year when I virtually met the beauty behind Margo & Me, Jenny. And today, that girl crush is being realized again as we dive into a day of her sophisticated style, from her spring wish list to a straight hair tutorial to the most fab 30th I’ve seen yet.
Photography: Freddie Cipoletti
Are you on the hunt for the perfect venue? Well, your search is about to be complete because when it comes to Cedar Lakes Estate, what’s not to love?! It’s the type of venue that is magical all on it’s own. For around ever corner of this enchanted estate lies beauty and thanks to Trent Bailey Studio we’ve got a peek of the pretty that awaits you. See it all below!
Stephanie and I (Lisa) are sisters. Our entrepreneurial (read: crazy) parents purchased this 600-acre former summer camp before we were born and it was the most fun place in the world to grow up. It was any child’s dream– white Christmases, fresh mountain air and lazy lakeside summer days made up the fabric of our childhood. We fell in love with the peace and tranquility of this special place; so despite where our lives took us, we always found our way back. After I graduated from Culinary School and Stephanie mastered the art of event planning in NYC, we decided to build a business where we could foster our love for food, event planning, and affection for our childhood home. Now as Cedar Lakes’ Co-Founders, we work each day to share our combined passions with our guests.
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” -Walt Disney
I am totally cheating on this one and sneaking in 6 words:
Authentic + Nostalgic
Natural + Bucolic
Rustic yet Elegant
Family, Pasta, Our dogs
Travel has always been a huge part of our lives. We have collectively been to 48 states, 18 countries, and 5 continents. To us, nothing is more inspiring than learning about different cultures first hand.
We are the Snapchat queens! It’s definitely the most fun form of social media, plus I like how it’s a little less public and a little more real.
The freakin ceremony!!! It’s so crazy but it’s almost always the lowest priority for couples. Call me old fashioned, but I think this should be the most thought-out and perfect part of the day. After all, aren’t the “I do’s” the reason we have weddings in the first place?
We think it’s so important to vibe well with your venue and the people running it. It’s not just about the day itself, it’s also about the process. You will be spending a very special year (or more) working with these people all the time, so you want that experience to be fun and stress-free. Make sure their vision and values align with yours, so that you have a flawless experience from beginning to end.
Nothing makes us more proud than a glowing review from a client. Hearing things like “we went above and beyond to exceed their expectations,” gave them and their loved ones “the most memorable experience of their lives” or that they will “cherish the experience forever” – is priceless.
We are truly obsessed with finding the best places to eat in every city we go to, including NYC where we live. We are everyone’s go-to for restaurant suggestions!
Photography: Trent Bailey Studio | Cake: Sweet Love & Cake | Catering: Cedar Lakes Estate | Venue: Cedar Lakes Estate | Event Styling + Florals: That Time Events | Vintage Rentals: Octavia Brown
Just because you weren’t born blessed with Brooke Shields-esque eyebrows doesn’t mean that you can’t rock a full brow PRONTO! So if you’re in the market for a fresh framing look, press play because we’ve got the deets from the mega talented Mar of TEAM Hair & Makeup below where she’s sharing her favorite tips on how to up the volume on those beautiful brows!
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Inspired? Click the slideshow below for even more bridal beauty!
We hear that Spring is on its way and for most of us, it can’t come soon enough. Until then, why not drown your cold weather sorrows in this whiskey meets fruity cocktail crafted by the gang at Drizly? They know a thing or two about yummy aperitifs and with the help of this Snow Day Sling, soon enough we’ll be toasting to Spring.
From Drizly… At first glance this drink may not seem like a snow day sipper, but trust us it is. The Irish whiskey flavor and clove aroma combine with fresh fruit juices to deliver a cocktail that will cure even the worst case of winter blues and frozen fingers.
| prep time 5 Minute/s | cook time | total time 5 Minute/s |
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Spiced Orange and Rosemary Bourbon | Winter Moscow Mule | Traditional Irish Coffee
While it’s no surprise that music plays a huge part in your special day, from your walk down the aisle to the last dance, it’s the times in between that can be easily forgotten – yet their potential impact is outstanding. Elevated Pulse Productions is here to share not only the value in selecting songs for when you open that gorgeous reception space to your lucky guests, but they’re also giving us the goods with a playlist to get inspired by! Tis the time to convey love and fun – and share any personal favs – and get your guests ready for the evening ahead – so start in on some Justin and let’s get the party started!
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“Take Back the Night” by Justin Timberlake
“Another Day” by Jamie Lidell
“Dear Future Husband” by Meghan Trainor
“On My Mind” by Ellie Goulding
“Free” by Donavon Frankenreiter
“You Called Me” by Mayer Hawthorne
“Finally Falling” by Mayer Hawthorne
“OK It’s Alright With Me” by Eric Hutchinson
“Australia” by The Shins
“Happiness” by Sam Sparro
“Love That Girl” by Raphael Saadiq
“Butterfly” by Jason Mraz
“Rum ‘n’ CocaCola” by Tim Tim
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Playlist: Elevated Pulse Productions | Cover Image Photography: Jana Williams Photography
Taylor Swift has rocked a lot of gorgeous dresses on the Red Carpet over the years (including her bright Versace ensemble at the Grammys where she won Album of the Year), but her best look yet? The gorgeous blush and gold chiffon Reem Acra gown she wore as Maid of Honor for BFF Britany Maack’s Pennsylvania wedding. And the only look that can top it was the Bride’s own hand-embroidered silk taffeta ballgown complete with a matching hand-embroidered cathedral veil. Here comes the Bride and one very stylish (and famous) bridesmaid! (P.S. Shop Taylor’s bridesmaid’s look here!)
I met her when I was 10 days old, and him in kindergarten. Now they’re married and I’m the happiest maid of honor ever. Congratulations @britmaack and Ben! A photo posted by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on
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I’ve always loved the idea of a sip & see, but this one just feels so incredibly special. Jenna Elliott and her hubby were able to celebrate their adopted little angel, James, surrounded by friends and family – not to mention great decor thanks to their friends, Marlan Willardson & Laurén LaRocca of Twink + Sis. It was a day that was darling in every sense of the word, and there is even more waiting for you here.
We were inspired by Jenna’s only request for the theme — the book James and the Giant Peach (which her best friend’s grandfather wrote). In looking at the James and the Giant Peach artwork, three things stood out: peaches, birds and the ocean. So we used those as the guideposts for the Sip and See decor.
For peaches, we used giant balloons, with green crepe paper leaves (that we cut out free-hand), to give the effect of peaches floating overhead. Dessert carried the theme through with peach donuts and the incredible peach marzipan cake topper by Whisk and Whittle.
Gold birds nested atop the cake stand and candy dishes from Target and little white ceramic birds decorated the place settings. We also incorporated Sugarfina’s Apollo Kumquats to serve as “egg” candies.
For the ocean, we tore pieces of fabric in blue, green and white and then tied them to twine to create the fabric garland runner. West Elm has some incredible agate pieces so we used the coasters on the place settings and bookends to adorn the cake stand.
We also loved the idea of using spheres as a nod to the peach, and to the earth in general, so we incorporated wood and metal spheres throughout the length of the table.
Photography: One Eleven Photography | Event Design: Twink + Sis | Floral Design: Twink + Sis | Agate: West Elm | Baby Bug Pants: Mary Says Sew | Baby Peach Hat: Karen Fudge Baby Love | Bird Dessert Stand & Candy Dishes: Target | Cake & Donuts: Whisk And Whittle | Candy: Sugarfina | Ceramic Birds: Amazon | Food & Drinks: Hostesses: Jeanie Sigal, Clover Fiandaca, Erin Moore & Emily Hughes | Napkins: Meri Meri Toot Sweet | Park: Arlington Garden | Photography - Assistance: Red Anchor Photo | Plastic Wine Glasses: Cruvina | Round Wood Platters: West Elm | Spheres: West Elm | Vases: West Elm
If ever there was a wedding fairy godmother, it would be Mar from TEAM Hair & Makeup and TEAM Bridal Extensions. From romantic waves and classic updos to flawless wedding day skin and perfectly kissable lips, Mar works beauty magic. And today she’s sharing that magic with beautiful brides like you so that on the one day you can get away with wearing a veil, it look absolutely fabulous!
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Less is more! A single tiered veil which flows to the floor or past your train will make for a more elegant photo and a silhouette of your body will come through and look timeless. If you want to go for a shorter veil, be sure your veil hits below your bum. If the veil stops at your waist and lands above your bum, this could attract some unwanted attention to your derriere!
All hairstyles can be worn with a veil. But, placement is key to achieving the look you want—from modern to romantic . For example, a high bun with a veil placed in front will look romantic. If you are wearing your hair all down, place your veil on the upper back of your head to look more modern.
From a birdcage veil to cathedral length, styles can vary so there are no rules! That said, there’s something very romantic about seeing the intricacy of a hairstyle peeking through the tulle of a veil. If you are wanting a vintage look, you could wear your hair up in a finger wave or let your hair down in a 40’s wave, tucking one side behind your ear with a decorative hair piece. Complete the look with a shorter veil. Long ‘dos or half up styles look great with a longer veil. Fancy updos look great with fingertip or church length veils.
Criss cross applesauce! Use Sally Beauty Supply bobbi pins, they are the best! Ask your stylist to criss cross your bobbi pins when placing the veil. First, take a bobbi pin and weave into the comb and pin to the head. Second, take another bobbi pin and attach in a “X” position onto the first pin. This will prevent your veil from slipping out! You can also sew tiny magnets into the edge of your veil to weigh it down in case there’s wind at an outdoor wedding. If you wear a church-length veil (one that goes to the floor) or your cathedral-length veil (one that extends past the train of your dress) has embellishment, this may be heavy enough for the veil to stay put!
You don’t have to, but if you have an excuse to wear TWO hairstyles at your wedding, do it! So many of my brides wear a veil with one hairstyle down the aisle and then remove the veil and change the hairstyle up for the reception. Most veils are easy to remove, however, you will need a little help to ensure the hairstyle isn’t pulled too much while removing.
Steam your veil—a wrinkled veil is a tacky veil! If you don’t have a steamer or a stylist who can steam it, then place your veil in the bathroom, hanging from the shower curtain rod and run the shower on hot water and let it sit for about 15 minutes in the steam. At the very least, let your veil “breathe” overnight by laying it out flat to prevent wrinkles.
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Reformation is rolling out its new bridal collection for Spring 2016 on Monday, February 22, and let me tell you, we’re fangirling. Hard. Not only is every single piece completely beautiful—think flowy silhouettes, pretty colors and darling details—but, every gorgeous piece is less than $500. Yes, really. Whether you’re shopping for your own bridal gown or dresses your bridesmaids will love, Reformation is your new (super chic) one-stop shop for all things fabulous wedding fashion.
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Photography: Reformation | Dress: Reformation
You could say we’ve been in the beauty zone for the last 24 hours. Yesterday, we added this sweet daytime hairdo to our arsenal, got a peek inside this chic makeup studio and finished the day off with our editor’s favorite beauty splurges. And today, we’re keeping the fun going with The Stripe and Grace’s most-loved lip products! Happy weekend, beauties! xx
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Photography + Styling: The Stripe
