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Park City Destination Wedding on Top of a Mountain

From the Bride… Greg and I did a lot of research in order to find the perfect venue for our wedding. It became clear during this process that a beach venue was a top priority, as we have so many friends and family members traveling in from out of town. The Del Mar Powerhouse in Del Mar, CA provided the perfect backdrop for our ceremony and reception. This venue provided our guests with all of the amenities of a traditional wedding, but in a setting that combined scenic beach and ocean views with the ambiance of a beautiful sunset.

The natural beauty of the venue provided a tremendous amount of flexibility with our decor, helping to keep expenses within our budget. Our florist, Diane Lopez of Exquisite Designs, did an excellent job of capturing a soft and romantic feel for our florals. The florals were stunning against the dark plum bridesmaid dresses and black tuxedos worn by the groomsmen, and complemented the rustic undertones of our decor.

One of the most important details to us was incorporating our American Mastiff, Moose, in our special day. We displayed photos of him alongside our engagement photos at the guest welcome table, and created specialty craft cocktails (Big Dog Blast and Mastiff Mojito) in honor of his memory.

Saying our vows that day in front of our closest family and friends is a moment neither of us will ever forget. Thankfully, we have beautiful photos to view and reflect back on all of the memories created during our wedding day.

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Paloma Blanca

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I’ll always love a beautiful blush wedding, but there’s something about fall weddings that just begs for jewel tones. And, this Park City destination wedding is proof why. Amidst the rich hues of Park City in the fall, this duo became husband and wife in the most beautiful day, including illustrated maps from Hilary K Designs Inc. and hand-painted invitations from Momental Designs, a stunning mountaintop setting, romantic florals and so much more! Don’t miss a single detail from Carla Boecklin and Haugen Creative in THE VAULT!

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Colorful Ontario Lighthouse Wedding with a Backyard Reception

From The Bride & Groom…The most important thing to us for our wedding was to throw a fun party where everyone who had travelled from afar would get a taste of the Utah we have grown to love over the years. We hosted our welcome party at the High West Distillery, our favorite place to grab drinks and food after a day on the slopes. We stuffed our welcome sacks with Park City-made trail mix and Utah honey. We served Utah trout as part of the dual entree for the wedding dinner. And we scheduled activities throughout the weekend that helped our guests experience Park City the way we would want to (Historical tour of Main Street, Group Hike through Deer Valley, mountain biking & yoga). So in a way we were acting as tour guides and also part advertising agency for the town we spend so much time in and see as our second home. And in part, we did a pretty good job because everyone wants to come back!

For the decor, we wanted to incorporate as many aspects of the mountain as possible, while also achieving a modern aesthetic. My top search words on Pinterest while looking for inspiration were “rustic” and “mountain” although we knew from the start that “rustic” was not exactly what we were going for. More specifically, we wanted to exhibit harmony with our surroundings while fully recognizing that we are New Yorkers throwing a wedding at a hotel in 2015. The ceremony was easy. The St. Regis Grand Lawn already had an unbeatable view. Our florist brought in lanterns and potted plants to line the aisles. All the plants were different, which we loved. For the reception, we opted for a clear tent because we wanted everyone to continue enjoying the beautiful mountain view until the sun went down, and going tent-less in September was too risky. We brought some vegetation into the tent (our florist wrapped the chandeliers with leaves she had foraged locally) so it blended with the mountain and trees outside.

We used low centerpiece in fall colors because on top of it reflecting the season, the colors brightened up the space just the right amount. We decided early on that we wanted to name the tables after our favorite ski runs in Park City. Finding vendors that could make the signs the way we wanted was a challenge, so with a wood burning kit and some ply wood, we made them ourselves! As we got in the arts and crafts mode,we decided to make the place cards ourselves too. After browsing for some ideas on Darby Smart, we bought 150 wood slices cut in half, applied a few coats of chalkboard paint, and wrote out the names of all our loved ones on custom place cards. We wrote our hashtag (#stylinskis) on the extra slices and strategically placed them around cocktail hour so people would get the word.

For food, we knew we were in good hands with the St. Regis’s catering team. On top of having an excellent tasting, we have dined at the J&G Grill in the hotel several times before. We went for a “dual protein” plated dinner because we wanted our guests to experience more variety. It also made printing the response cards lot easier. We only wish we had more time to enjoy our food on the big day!

Entertainment was a big priority for us. After checking them out at a rehearsal, we hired the New Soul Brigade, a talented young group of musicians that had just formed. The energy they brought to the party was unreal. During dinner hour, they played jazz standards in the background. After dinner, they had everyone on the dance floor the moment the speeches were done until the very end of the night. That was by far our favorite part of the wedding..seeing our friends vigorously dancing side by side with our parents, aunts, uncles and loved ones.

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Reem Acra

Spring 2015

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Joanna August

Babes of the Nile

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There’s nothing like a backyard wedding, except when that backyard wedding is right on the water and steps away from a picturesque lighthouse. With the scenic Point Abino playing host, this sweet couple said “I do” in a day full of DIY details and lots of love. From the toy glider wooden airplane escort cards (a nod to the Groom’s pilot profession) to the wildflower arrangements, this colorful day from A Brit & A Blonde and Ioan Films is magical. See it all in THE VAULT!

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Elegant European Villa Wedding Inspiration

From A Brit & A Blonde…Hands down the coolest most remote spot in Ontario – Scot & Mary said their I do’s at the very edge of Ontario on Lake Erie in a small place called Point Abino. Their big day took place at Scot’s mothers country home. She is literally steps away from an incredible lighthouse and of course right on the water. Scot is a pilot so for added fun factor Mary created the seating cards as little toy glider wooden airplanes – which she hand painted and they looked marvelous. Such a unique idea for guests to find their seats and a nice lil keepsake from the wedding. They also painted driftwood for the table numbers as well as other signage throughout. Mary along with her bridesmaids made the floral headpieces and also put together the floral displays at the flower farm – they were all wildflowers from the local area. Edison bulbs that were strung up lit things up in the evening. Friends and family all pitched in to help set up the table, chairs and all the decor.

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Amy Kuschel

2014

2013

The PEACE & LOVE Collection 2015

DECO to DISCO Collection 2016

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You know an inspo is going to be G-O-O-D when the photographer says they were inspired by marble, but better yet, the fact that this european inspired Villa is actually in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! Shocked? Well, get ready to see the gallery because the good doesn’t stop there. With Roots Of Life Photography behind the lens this is one gallery you won’t want to miss. See it all in THE VAULT!

From Roots Of Life Photography… For some time now, I have been dreaming up this editorial concept in my head. My initial inspiration came from all the marble I began seeing in home decor, photo backdrops on social media, and recently, making its way into wedding and event design. For this styled editorial shoot, I wanted to incorporate marble decor as well as varying shades of blue and grey. This palette would work beautifully for a fall or winter bride who is looking to incorporate a bolder color (sapphire, for example) while sticking to other lighter and more muted shades within the same color palette. We imagined a couple who may have traveled or studied abroad in Europe who want to incorporate those design aesthetics into their special day.

When I found Villa Terrace in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I KNEW it was the perfect venue for our shoot. The lush portico and sweeping vistas on the property are utter perfection. The atmosphere of the venue has an upscale, European feel. I wanted to bring out these elements in a refined and classic way, and I used a team of exceptional vendors to bring my vision to life.

Our beautiful model Sheyanne wore a simple but show-stopping Alyssa Kristin gown with the most perfect bluish-grey tulle skirt. Accessories from Left Bank Jewelry showcased the gown while adding a little oomph to the overall look. The engagement ring & diamond earrings by Susie Saltzman, displayed in a custom monogrammed blue velvet Mrs. Box, added another classic detail to our shoot.

The charcuterie table would offer wedding guests a European-style assortment of delicious meats, cheeses, bread & fruits to nosh on while waiting for the reception to begin. We wanted the presentation of this table to feel casual, elegant, and bountiful, so we used a marble Williams Sanoma platter and silver bowls, platters & stands from Nimble Well, filled to the brim with goodies. The dinner menu, written by Emily Rose Ink on a marble slab and displayed at this table, would provide a preview of the delicacies to come.

Our naturally designed tablescape complemented the space and showcased the blue and grey color palette. The grey BBJ linens & rustic Halls chairs set the tone for our look, and Vintage Place Settings contributed their “Blue Royale” china to outfit our table. The sapphire glass goblets from Nimble Well added a pop of color that highlighted the deep blue of the place settings, while place cards and calligraphy by Emily Rose Ink picked up on details from the china pattern. We wanted to provide a contrast to the classic, timeless feel of the vintage china and glassware by adding an unexpected modern detail for the table runner, so our event coordinator sourced marble shards from a local quarry for a stunning cracked marble table runner. Clusters of grapes and dried olives provided an effortless finishing touch.

The team wanted to further showcase the venue by utilizing the unique nooks & crannies throughout the property as vignettes for our wedding elements. One such vignette was the space we used for our “sweets table,” where we wanted to incorporate European-style desserts. Bennisons Bakery created a stunning ombre macaron tower and petit fours with chocolate fleur-de-lis seals, in addition to a gorgeous marble fondant cake decorated with olive branches and eucalyptus. We added marble candlesticks and an accent of artichokes and pears to complete this vignette.

I wanted to highlight the natural beauty of the venue by going with an organic, loosely designed approach to floral design. Lovely from May Floral provided us with incredible arrangements that complemented the theme and feel of the shoot. The neutral color palette and asymmetrical centerpieces elevated all the other details, from the tablescape and the sweets display to the bridal gown and stationery.

From Emily Rose Ink... Because I always like to design with a story in mind, I was really inspired by the vintage Blue Willow china set that we used for the table setting, which I imagined our bride might have inherited from her mother or grandmother. The china features two doves and beautiful flowers and foliage, so I took inspiration from the imagery on the plates to develop the design of the crest, pattern, and borders. I kept the design monochromatic and elegant to highlight the romantic, ethereal aesthetic of the shoot while still picking up the deeper blue of the china pattern. The blue garland pattern was woven throughout the day-of paper goods on the signature cocktail sign and the favor sign as well. I wrote the menu in silver calligraphy on a large slab of marble, which hopefully could serve as inspiration for brides looking for unique ways to display their wedding menu.”

Abby Giffin of Heirloom Event Co was integral to the shoot, executing my vision with gusto. She sourced the marble from the quarry, booked the venue, models and vendors, and kept us on schedule throughout the day. She has a gift for bringing clients’ visions to life and coordinating details with efficiency and a smile.

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Black Tie Downton Abbey Inspired Wedding

The final season of Downton Abbey is officially underway, so a wedding with a touch of that old world glamour and impeccable elegance is just the inspiration we need. Think grand, gilded decor and classic floral design, all thanks to Kyle Michelle Weddings, and a four-tier wedding cake fit for a queen. Pour a cup of tea, and join me for all of Judy Pak’s images in The Vault.

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From The Bride…After Hery and I got engaged on Christmas Day, we decided to jump right into the planning process. We knew a planner was essential – I was both working and attending graduate school full time – so we quickly set up a meeting with Kyle Michelle Weddings. Because Hery and I had a clear picture of what we wanted our wedding to look and feel like, it was crucial that our key vendors understood our aesthetic and personality. Kyle Michelle Weddings immediately impressed us with their style, professionalism, and enthusiasm, and we quickly brought them on board. These ladies encouraged my attention to detail and helped execute the weekend to perfection.

Our vision for the wedding day was a black tie, historically and traditionally inspired event. More than anything, I wanted our guests to be given a relaxing and indulgent escape for the weekend. I drew inspiration from the weddings of the Kennedy’s and the Cambridge’s, with hints from Downton Abbey and Jane Austen. I quickly chose a flowing ballgown with little a long train and little additional and paired it with Louboutin peep toe gold pumps, a cathedral length veil, and diamond drop earrings. My bridesmaids complimented me with full length, chiffon blush dresses, and the flower girl in a custom design that tied in several elements from my own look. Hery wore a Ludlow tuxedo from J. Crew with a shawl collar and accessorized with items from The Tie Bar and custom Broadland velvet smoking slippers. His groomsmen looked dashing in tuxes provided by The Black Tux.

Despite the intimidating winter weather, the limos smoothly transported us to Sharon Temple Seventh Day Adventist Church that Sunday morning. Hery and I chose not to see each other until I walked up the aisle, and the moment was especially emotional, as two of our dear friends sang an arrangement of “You Have Me” by Gungor as I walked toward my future husband. The Pastor of the boarding high school I attended performed the ceremony, and Hery and I shared our personalized vows, displayed beautifully in calligraphy. As we exited to the performance of a string trio, the room had nye a dry eye. It was truly an unforgettable day.

For the décor, we chose a blush neutrals color palate, inspired by the historic Golden Ballroom of Hotel du Pont, our reception venue, with its engraved, ivory walls and grand, golden chandeliers. We love the soft romance of candlelight, so we chose to adorn the tables, decked in ivory linen, with stately candelabras accented with clusters of soft ivory and blush flowers. The escort cards, displayed on vintage, golden vanity trays, furthered the gold accents. We opted for calligraphy details, such as signs reading “avere” and “tenere” on the back of our chairs and a guest book alternative to be framed and displayed in our future home. My matron of honor designed the stationery and adhered to traditional etiquette in wording and layout. The ladies at Kyle Michelle Weddings helped me put together our favors — individual glass bottles of herb infused olive oil. Throughout the reception, there were homages to my Italian heritage, including the olive oil, the tiramisu dessert, and the use of Italian in our stationery.

Cocktail hour featured butlered hors d’oeuvres with a pianist expertly setting the mood, and the reception consisted of a 3 course, plated meal. Our red velvet and Grand Marnier pound cake featured simple pearls around each tier to match the buttons on the back of my gown and was gorgeously arrayed with fresh blooms, tying in the centerpieces and my bouquet.

The reception contained several moments I will forever cherish. Hery and I danced to Chet Baker’s “I Married an Angel”, choreographed by my cousin, a professional dancer in NYC, and my father and I dance to Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly With Me”, referencing my dad’s career and passion for piloting. Instead of a bouquet and garter toss, we chose to gift these items to the longest married couple in the room – my paternal grandparents. The moment was especially sweet as Hery and I danced with them, a special moment, as my grandfather passed away just a few months later.

Photography was our highest priority when budgeting and planning for the wedding, and we knew we’d trust no one else than Judy Pak with capturing these precious memories. Hery and I both adore film photography, and Judy truly has mastered her art. Her photography characteristically captures light and airiness, and her eye and instinct for arranging a shot are unparalleled. We are always drawn to the story she tells in her photographs, and we were so very grateful for the opportunity to have her capture our love story.

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Petit Bouquet

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Donna Morgan

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Bridal

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Philippines Destination Wedding on a Private Island

The next best thing to having your very own private island? Getting married on one. And when you see this gorgeous couple’s island wedding (planned on just a $15,000 budget!), you’ll be packing your bags to follow in their footsteps. From the Bride’s beautiful Claire Pettibone gown to the breathtaking beach ceremony and reception, this day is the perfect start to happily ever after. See it all from Mimi Nguyen assisted by Kim Le Photography in THE VAULT!

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Romantic Destination Wedding on Block Island

From The Groom…Shortly after my wife and I started dating we began traveling. We fell in love abroad, we got engaged abroad, and so, naturally, we decided to get married abroad. I distinctly remember standing with my bare feet in the sand, on the other side of the world, looking into the eyes of my soon-to-be wife and thinking, “I can’t believe this is our wedding.” On November 26th, 2014, my wife and I got married in the Philippines on this tiny Island in the Palawan province called Cowrie.

Trang and I got engaged in the summer of 2013. With a small budget of fifteen thousand dollars, we weren’t surprised to learn that almost everything was out of our range. Disappointed, we started looking into different options. In the end, sticking to our initial budget was one of the best decisions we ever made. We were able to transform that 15k into a week-long celebration, that not only brought us closer to our family and friends, but it allowed us to share with them what we love most in life, traveling.

I wish I could take some credit for making our wedding what it was, but, other than choosing the location, it’s safe to say I did little to nothing to help plan the wedding. My wife was the driving force that made everything happen, and it didn’t happen instantly. It took her about 11 months to plan, and she did it in steps.

The first step was to find the place, and the second, to pick a date. Together we searched the earth for a place where our guests could best stretch their money. For this we had two requirements. One, to find a place our guests could spend as little as a thousand dollars for a week vacation which included their flight, food, and excursions (we covered the lodging and breakfast), and two, not to have our guests miss too many work or school days. After a few days, we settled on Thanksgiving week in three potential places: Bali, Vietnam, or the Philippines. Pro and cons considered, we went with the Philippines because of a tour guide named Omar Silva that I was lucky enough to meet on a previous visit. Every moment spent with him made a lasting impression on me and I knew I wanted this for our guests. With his help I was sure we could create a week long itinerary for everyone to enjoy. Through TripAdvisor we were able to find our lodging at Palo Alto Bed & Breakfast. More importantly it got us in touch with Pauline Ylaya, who not only runs the Palo Alto with her family, but she offered to be our wedding coordinator.

Over the course of the year we learned that a destination wedding can only be as successful as the trust you have in your coordinator. Being on the other side of the world we weren’t able to be hands-on. Pauline worked so hard for us, visiting countless places to find our perfect location. She did such an amazing job, finally leading us to Cowrie Island, and the thoughtful Rafols family that allowed us to have our wedding on their Island. They provided their island, food, and transportation for 50 guests, for a price that made me want to run screaming through the streets like a crazy person. From there it was easy handling the cake and flowers. For the cake, the city of Puerto Princesa only offered one option, so we went with La Patisserie French Cakes & Pastries. For the flowers it was almost as easy. After the first shop fell through, we went with the second shop that was recommended by our coordinator. We can honestly say we were so happy that we worked with Jacqs Floral Design! They did an incredible job recreating my wife’s vision for our wedding.

All that was left was the decorations and the capturing of our wedding. Thanks to two little known sites by the names of Style Me Pretty and Pinterest (I’m kidding, I know what Style Me Pretty and Pinterest are), my wife already knew what she wanted. Working with Pauline everything was either purchased or built on the island. As for capturing the wedding, we knew who we wanted, and we were just hoping that we could make it work. Leading up to our engagement, we had become fans, and eventually friends, with Mimi Nguyen. If you ever have the pleasure to see Mimi at work you’d be quick to notice how good she is with her clients. She has the amazing ability to work with anyone and quickly put them at ease. She’s so good, in fact, that I was convinced we were friends after our engagement photos, and I’m not that easy to warm up too! So we crossed our fingers and sent her an email asking if she was available to travel Thanksgiving week, and lucky for us, she was! Along with her second shooter, Kim Le Pham, we were extremely happy to have them on board. Things quickly went from great to unbelievable when we met Kim Le’s husband, Jason Huang, and we were able to work out a deal to have him be our videographer for the wedding.

The year flew by, and the day had finally come. As we boarded our flight to the Philippines with only a couple days before the wedding, all we had left to do was: meet our coordinator, check out the island, do a cake taste, do a food tasting, and set the menu, all while coordinating the safe arrival of our 40 guests…no sweat! As soon as we landed, we dropped off our bags and were taken straight to the island. It was beautiful. The island was so much more than we deserved or could have ever asked for. Working with owner/chef Rix Rafols to prep the island and set the menu was fun. We filled our stomachs with delicious seafood and traditional Filipino cuisine. All of which we couldn’t wait to have our guests eat.

With our first day coming to a close Trang and I were so happy with how everything was working out. The location was amazing, rain or shine, we were going to be getting married on an island closed off to the public and tourists, exclusively set aside for us and our guests!

The morning of the wedding I spent some time finishing up my vows. I had been working on them for a while now, so it was really just nailing down the final touches. I wore a beach friendly linen vest and pants outfit from JCrew, and Trang wore a beautiful dress from Claire Pettibone that matched her lacy, flowy style through and through. One of my oldest friends/board-line sister did Trang’s makeup. Trang looked perfect. I can say this because seeing her at our first look got the “feels” going. Feels that I didn’t expect to get until we did our vows. We made our way to the island holding our breath. Dark clouds from an arriving hurricane threaten the entire day. In some sort of miracle the clouds seemed to avoid our island completely as they drenched the rest of the surrounding areas. Score one for the wedding party!

The ceremony took place feet away from the shore, officiated by one of our best friends. We left it up to him to create the structure of the ceremony and surprise us on our wedding day. Not only did he do a great job, but he also brought us to tears. The vows were equally as emotional and had to be paused at one point because our guests were crying loud enough to make me lose my place. It was pretty funny. After we kissed the festivities began, and everyone settled in as the stars came out. Eating and dancing through the night, we couldn’t have asked for more.

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Claire Pettibone

Couture Bridal

Fall 2015 Romantique

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Allison and Derek’s was your typical New England affair, or in other words: perfect. It’s the ultimate Block Island celebration that’ll have you pinning the entire day away (and honestly, who can blame you). Ryon:Lockhart Photography was on hand capturing every moment of merriment and as luck would have it – we’ve got it all waiting in THE VAULT!

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Elegant Farmhouse Wedding in Tennessee

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From the Bride…My husband and I first visited block island a few years ago for a friend’s wedding. It quickly became one of our favorite places. On one of our trips, memorial day 2014, we hoped on a moped, grabbed some snacks, our favorite champagne and headed to a little picnic on a remote beach by a beautiful light house. To my complete shock after he popped the champagne he then popped the question. By that evening we knew that we’d be returning to this very island to get married – Block Island style.

The island was a perfect place for us. We have always liked the idea of a destination wedding but didn’t want to create too much of an obstacle for our guests. For most, Block Island is a mysterious destination but in reality it’s actually a very convenient option, especially since most of our family and friends were coming from Long Island, Brooklyn or Manhattan. It was very exciting for us to introduce this island to our guests as most had never been. The weekend really had that destination feel as if we were on vacation with 100 of your favorite people.

Block Island is a pretty tiny place, just 17 miles around, and that actually worked in our favor. Everybody seems to know everyone “on island” and you won’t have to go to far into your planning before you realize that all of your options will be decided between a few select vendors. We chose the Rose Farm Inn as our venue for its amazing antique character, its sprawling land and it’s rolling green hills. Our ceremony was held at the iconic Southeast Lighthouse. This picturesque location provided panoramic views of the ocean while also giving us the most quintessential and authentic block island backdrop.

Being that I’m a graphic designer the pressure was really on. I hit Pinterest hard. I wanted something rustic yet glamorous. I love the contrast between mixed metal mercury glass and raw weathered wood. Our palette was ivory, cream, soft blushes, raw neutrals and gold. Our flowers we’re unbelievable thanks to the super talented Melissa from Painted Rock Designs. My father in law was tasked with collecting wood palettes and making flower boxes. We crossed our fingers and let him run with this DIY project. Thankfully no fingers were lost and the end result was awesome.

Designing my invitations was a very special experience for me. I have gone through this process with many brides but never truly understood how personal it was. Once everything was designed I worked with Kon from Coeur Noir Specialty Printers. These guys are the best and the day I picked them up I actually cried. Wedding stationary sets the scene of an event and it really got our guests excited for the weekend.

On to our best decision. Our photographers! They rock! It’s that simple. Everything they do is amazing we felt especially grateful and honored to have Ryon:Lockhart photography document our wedding day. They definitely nailed all of the classic shots but what really impressed us were all of the small moments, nuances and expressions of ourselves and guests. They captured the feeling and essence of our wedding perfectly and exceeded any expectations that we could have imagined.

We laughed all day, we danced for hours, we got to celebrate with everyone we love and I got to marry my best friend. All in all it was the perfect day.

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Are you currently in the process of planning a dream backyard wedding? Well, get ready to take note from Erin and Adam’s celebration on how to achieve the perfect farmhouse celebration. Step one: ask Morgan Trinker to be your photographer. Steph two: Marry your sweetheart in a seriously sentimental ceremony. Step three: Share it with us at SMP so we can drool over every detail in THE VAULT!

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From the Bride… Once I began thinking about my wedding, I imagined an outdoor event at my parents’ home, where I grew up. I wanted it to feel farmhouse familiar, but with a modern, beautiful twist. We have an outdoor spring on the property, a horse barn, and my dad is a history buff- all elements we wanted to incorporate into our wedding. The day after Adam and I got engaged, I shared this vision with my father and he responded, “Well, I need to go home now and start working.” This statement turned out to be pretty true…he almost worked himself to death and ended up in the hospital a couple of days after the wedding (while we were honeymooning and my parents kept this secret from us and social media for two weeks!). Thankfully he was ok, just pure exhaustion.

We had so many helping hands, from Adam’s brother designing our invitations exactly as I envisioned, to my grandmother hand making our strawberry preserves for our favors, my uncle marrying us, and my brother and cousins shoveling horse manure on the day of the wedding (thanks guys!). My mother is a saint for handling my daily calls and running any and all local errands as I was doing all the planning from St. Petersburg, Florida. My wedding planner, Courtney who is a long time family friend, said this may be the first wedding she has ever planned completely over FaceTime.

The biggest sigh of relief came when the rain held off! This was my biggest worry during planning, especially getting closer to time as it rained every weekend in May and almost flooded our ceremony site. The week of the wedding, there was a 90% chance of rain on Saturday and it poured during our rehearsal, but when I woke up that morning the forecast read sunny with a ZERO percent chance of rain. I couldn’t have been happier. Adam had already text me saying, he couldn’t WAIT to marry me on this beautiful sunny day! It didn’t seem real.

I wanted our color palette to be soft, only blush and neutral tones, and everything natural and organic. Our flowers went along with this design theme with a variety of garden roses, peach peonies, silver dollar and seeded eucalyptus; very woodsy and whimsical arrangements. The florists also designed garlands for the tables of the same varieties. I love that so much had a personal touch to it. We were able to use mostly all local vendors from my very small hometown, every furniture piece came from inside our family home, and my dad built a small bridge and waterfall near our ceremony site. A friend commented that the waterfall was “so good” that the sound was slightly overbearing the ceremony (oops!).
For my gown, I ended up finding it only after a couple of appointments. I wanted something soft and with lace. I liked the illusion necklines and the idea of a statement in the back. When I first tried on my dress, it wasn’t a quick yes. I don’t know why, but this seemed like too big of a decision to make on the spot. My sister-in-law was there and pointed out that it was soft, all over beautiful lace, illusion neckline, and backless. If this wasn’t my dress, then what would be?? I didn’t have an answer for her so I got the dress and couldn’t have been happier. Adam told me it was similar to what he envisioned, but I threw him off with my hair in a braid. I told him I liked to be a little spontaneous. Once I chose the palette, I wanted the bridesmaids to choose dresses that they loved- expressing their own personal style. The guys’ suits were completely picked out by Adam! He travels weekly for work, which added to the difficulty of planning, and was running a little behind on picking these out. He called me one night while he was in NY and said he got a great deal and went ahead and bought them. Just glad he has great taste!

The details were what made our wedding uniquely us. We “gussied up” a friend’s arbor and used as our altar, we had champagne waiting on our guests as there ceremony ended with a sign that said- dinner and dancing up the hill! Fried green tomatoes, a biscuit bar, farm tables with brass candlesticks borrowed from my mom’s family and friends, chandeliers made out of buggy wheels my dad had collected over time, signature drinks and even fish food for the pond… all of these added to the day and atmosphere.

I had a hard time getting Adam to decide on a cake, (ok that’s not true… I had a hard time agreeing with a cake that Adam liked). He wanted a Reddit themed Auburn cake but I didn’t see a feasible way to pull this off. I kept suggesting other ideas that he didn’t want. About a week before the wedding, my planner pointed out we STILL hadn’t decided on a groom’s cake and it was (past) time. Adam showed me an American flag sheet cake, which looked like it could be at a 5 year old’s birthday party, and we ended up compromising on the round flag cake. He has a big heart for America. My planner AND the baker thought it was a joke but I told them that’s what he wanted and I was out of other options. It ended up being really cute with Courtney’s detailed touch of Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, popsicles in a cooler, American flag sunglasses, and many pictures of us dressed up in red, white, and blue.

My biggest piece of advice is to remember the bigger picture. Yes, you want your wedding day to be perfect, but preparing for your marriage is more important than what kind of groom’s cake you finally decide on (I promise). Adam said he’d be happy to marry me in the courthouse any day, any time; and on stressful days, I started to consider that option…. but I wouldn’t have changed a thing. It was our perfect day!

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These two have a contagious kind of love that’ll leave you with a swoon-y smile. As I laid out every happy-sprinkled image from Heidi Ryder Photography, I found myself embracing said ear-to-ear grin and sharing in their sweet celebration, even if only virtually. Every bow-tied detail, bloom and tree-hanging chandy is sure to fill your heart with joy. Visit the home of that joy, here in THE VAULT!

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A Very Golden First Birthday

From Heidi Ryder Photography… Jeff and Tim are classy gentlemen, so it was fitting that the details of their wedding give a nod to the bow tie – a classic symbol of refined masculinity. They wanted their wedding to reflect their personality, to be inclusive of their loved ones, and to be a lot of fun! Their ceremony was beautiful and touching, with words of advice shared from close family and friends—there truly wasn’t a dry eye in the house. In lieu of cake they hired a local ice cream truck to dispense sweet treats, and they made sure their DJ brought the dance party. This wedding was a perfect reflection of this classy, in-love and fun couple.

I think this party might be my design spirit animal. Party hats, gold everything and a delicious charcuterie and cheese spread. It’s definitely a celebration that speaks to all ages. Designed by Sitting In A Tree, along with florals by Hana Style Designs and photography by Emily Sacco, see even more of this very golden 1st birthday in the VAULT.

We put on this fete for my daughter. The party was in Colorado where all of our friends and family live and we found some amazing vendors to make it a reality! It was her golden birthday (she turned 1 on 12/1) + we wanted it to be bright + cheerful with lots of pinks and shiny details. Since she was only turning one, the party was *mostly* for the adults, but she loves music so we had a little diy tambourine station for the kids.

Photography: Emily Sacco | Event Design: Sitting In A Tree Events | Floral Design: Hana Style Designs | Calligraphy/invites: Type And Title

Nautical Inspired Montauk Yacht Club Wedding

What do you get when you take a nautical themed wedding and add in stunning Ceci New York stationery, gorge Twobirds Bridesmaid gowns, and a heavy dose of glamour? I’ll tell you – Lauren & Danny’s perfect day. With Images Life Media filming every moment of merriment, this is certainly one celebration worth sharing and thanks to captures by 4 Eyes Photography it’s all in THE VAULT!

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From the Bride…Daniel and I met four summers ago through mutual friends in Montauk, New York. We began spending time at all the local venues, such as Surf Lodge, Rushmeyer’s, and Navy Beach. His charismatic charm and sarcastic humor immediately drew me to him. Being that we both lived in Manhattan, our romance began to florish through the Fall. I woke up two years later to a surprise note on my nightstand saying to “pack a bag, we were going on a special trip”. We jumped in the car and ended up at Wolffer Vineyard in BridgeHampton, New York . After a little wine tasting, Daniel asked me to go for a walk in the Vineyard…I turned around to see him on one knee asking me to marry him, and to my surprise a photographer hidden in the bushes!! We spent the rest of the romantic weekend at Topping Rose House in Bridgehamtpon . Daniel and I immediately knew the Wedding had to be in Montauk, where we had spent the past three summers together. The next day we toured the Montauk Yacht Club, where my family had spent many summers boating. The wedding was immediately booked that day and the fun planning began!!!

Even though Daniel and I met in Montauk during the Summer time, the Fall has always been our favorite season. Pumpkins, fall leaves, drinking warm apple cider in front of a fire will always feel like home to us. Driving out to Montauk on Route 27 and passing farm stands were the inspiration behind their wedding. We looked for deep burnt orange, grays, pewter and copper. Dusty millers and succulents, gilded copper pumpkins, burnt orange calla lilies and dalhias all helped pull together the warm feel of the Fall out East. Daniel and I loved the cozy feel of candles and used white lanterns to bring in a nautical Montauk feel.

As they guests walked into the Ceremony, they were greeted by cartoon illustrations of our bridal party, including our Maltese puppy, Dolce. Small pins were set on a table, saying “Team Bride” and “Team Groom” for guests to wear as funny conversation starters. Personalized Mad libs were on each chair for guests to fill out as they waiting for the Bridal party to walk down the aisle. Satin and lace wands with small bells were also handed out for guests to wave as we walked back down the aisle as husband and wife.

The sun shinned throughout our special day and we wanted a sunset cocktail hour. Baskets were filled with ivory and charcoal gray pashmina’s to help keep the ladies warm. Soft blankets were laid on each of the couches outside for guests to wrap around them as they sipped on pumpkin spiced martini’s mixed by the Yacht Club’s Mixologist.

After we were announced as “Mr. and Mrs.” we immediately went into our first dance, “Running on Faith” by Eric Clapton. Although the more upbeat sounds by our DJ and guests waving their “Lauren and Daniel” glow sticks were memorable, we are most fond of our moment dancing for the first time as husband and wife. Speeches made by the two Matrons of Honor and the Groom’s Best Man, brought tears to both of our eyes and reminded us of how lucky we were to be surrounded by so much love and support from family and friends.

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Chocolate chip cookies are one of those things can either be a quick 15 minute task, or a 72 hour production. You can buy pre-made dough, prepackaged ingredients, or make your own, and chances are, if you’re making your own, you’ve sifted through 204832481 recipes claiming to be THE BEST EVER. Well, Boxwood Avenue is here with tips to actually have the best chocolate chip cookies (in the world).

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The Tips

Do I really need to chill?

If you can. I made these cookies over the course of a few days. Greg couldn’t wait the standard 24 hour chilling period, so my first batch was only chilled for a few hours. They turned out great, yet I noticed the batch that was chilled for 24+ hours was slightly more attractive.

Salted vs Unsalted Butter?

When I see recipes explicitly say “use unsalted butter”, I generally roll my eyes. As if the extra tiny bit of salt is going to cause your recipe to completely fall apart. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter what kind of butter you use, and if you’re worried about your recipe being overly salty (but all you have on hand is salted butter), just don’t add quite as much salt as the recipe calls for.

Do I have to sift?

I may roll my eyes at the butter debate, but I am a firm believer in sifting. Just make up your mind that you’re going to be a sifter, and it’s all down hill from there.

At what point can I add eggs?

Now this is important! Next time you make cookies stand by your mixer and watch the dough during the butter/sugar stage. There will be a point in time (about 2 minutes in) when you see the color and texture change – it will be considerably lighter, and look fluffy. At that time, you can add your eggs (one at a time), then watch again, you will see the color get even lighter, and the texture even fluffier. Once that happens, you’ll be ready to add the dry ingredients.

Other Tips

Use parchment paper—it’ll be your best friend, plus it’ll save you clean up time. Salt the top — I’m telling you: YUM! I like to use a giant ice cream scoop to get the perfect size (think the size of an apricot). Pull them out JUST when the edges start to look golden.

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DIY Ice Cream Sandwiches

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Desserts with a side of Chocolate Coma

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Desserts with a side of Chocolate Coma

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Modern Pink and Grey Girl’s Room

This little room featured on 100 Layer Cakelet manages to be both kid friendly and aesthetically pleasing for adults too. And as a mom to two very precocious toddlers, I know all too well the perils of ugly plastic toy decor. Using a modern pink and grey palette and filling it with whimsical details, moccasin crafter and super mom, Katerina of Lex & Liv, created a magical place for her little girl.

Wall color: Sherwin Williams “Repose Grey” SW 7015 | Star wall decals:Seeing Stars in Silver, Urban Walls | Toddler bed: Caravan divan in Raw, Kalon Studios | Dresser:Karisma dresser in Espresso, Romina Furniture | Glider: Luca glider in Charcoal/Stone, Monte Design | Side Table: Small stump, Kalon Studios | Rug: Half Shell Rug (Grey) from Land of Nod | Sheepskin Rug:Shorn Icelandic Sheepskin by Black Sheep (White Light) | Mirror: Captain’s Mirror, Target | Senegalese floor baskets: Land of Nod | Wall Shelves: Spice racks, Target | Lamp: Lilliput Lamp, Land of Nod | Canopy and floor cushion: Green ombre play home from Land of Nod | Crib Sheet: Rabbit Patch by Little Auggie | Toddler quilt and pillow: Oh So Sleepy pink coverlet and pillow, Blabla kids | Knitted Cushions:Blabla kids | Pink Knitted Blanket: Pointelle blanket in Blush, Blabla kids | Coral Blanket: Ferm Living Happy Harlequin (no longer available), similar one at Fawn & Forest | Rag doll: The Laundress doll, Jess Brown | Knitted dolls: Blabla Kids | Bunny: The Dear Ones, Oh Albatross | Mermaid doll: Studio Escargot | Handmade doll, DIY using Jess Brown’s book “The Making of a Rag Doll” | Doll Pram: Land of Nod | Wooden Dovetail Alpaca: Areaware, Design Life Kids (sold out but similar here) | Animal prints: The Animal Print Shop | Painting (above bed): DIY lunar eclipse gouache painting | Print frame hangers: Ferm Living Maple Frame (small), Fawn & Forest | Metal Bookends: Design Atelier Article | Decorative Hanger:Red Hand Gang, from Design Life Kids | Cloud Mobile: DIY

French-Inspired Wine Country Wedding at Geyserville Inn

Some of us love the glamorous brides, others the boho beauties… you know my favorite? The industry darlings. They’ve seen it all so they know their vision better than anyone and this Bride, founder and owner of L’Relyea Events knew what she was going for when she set out to create her own wedding wonderland. With Lori Paladino capturing every gorgeous EV Floral creation, atop all the lovely La Tavola linens – not to mention these cuties – it was a day made for our VAULT – see it all right here!

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Elegant Mountaintop Wedding in Winter Park, CO

From L’Relyea Events… Lindsey Relyea, owner and founder of L’Relyea Events, tied the knot to her long time love, Brandon, in a French-inspired wine country wedding. Lindsey wanted to incorporate her French heritage into the natural beauty that wine country and the Geyserville Inn had to offer. Through soft lavender and blush accents, lush florals and delicate decor, Lindsey and Brandon took their guests on a daydream escape to the countryside of France. Many people ask, “How does a wedding planner plan their own wedding when they’ve seen all the options and choices?” Lindsey knew one thing was true for her dream wedding: less is more. Her vision included simple pastel tones with heavy floral details. Don’t get us wrong, this wasn’t a quiet affair. Lindsey and Brandon wanted their guests to feel invited to all things “fun” for this weekend wedding. They did this by including lounge vignettes, a whiskey bar, lawn games, polaroid cameras throughout, a trolley for transportation, a rehearsal dinner at Francis Ford Coppola Winery and LOTS of dancing.

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After seeing this gorgeous couple’s wedding day, I can confidently say I believe in love at first sight. And, it’s all because of this photo captured by Annie Parish Photography. From there, I was hooked. From the Bride’s beautiful lace Amsale gown and the berry-hued bridesmaids’ bouquets to the Bride’s chairlift ride up the mountain with her parents and the couple’s sweet first look, I L-O-V-E everything about this day. See why in THE VAULT!

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Elegant Midcentury-Inspired Beach Elopement

From Annie Parish Photography…Tess and Patrick’s wedding was a delight to photograph from start to finish! Set in Winter Park, Colorado, the wedding and reception took place at the top of the mountain with the lightest silhouettes of the Rockies in the distance and the most lovely pines all around us.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Tess and Patrick for many years and love how at ease they are with one another. They are both quick to laugh and so genuinely in love that their relationship feels effortless. I didn’t have to direct or pose them in any way–I kind of stepped back and watched them do their thing. They were such naturals!

To top it all off, Tess has the most wonderful confidence when it comes to her personal style. She looks so chic in everything that she wears and this beautiful Amsale dress was no exception!

From The Bride…Even though we went to college together and had a major overlap of friends, we didn’t actually meet until Spring Break of our Senior year. A friend of his had a house in Florida, and so did a friend of mine. Both of those friends were in attendance at the wedding, 8 years later. :)

Patrick took me to gorgeous spot in a park near our apartment one day after work and surprised me. It was perfect, just the 2 of us. Afterwards, we walked home, got a fancy bottle of champagne and pepperoni pizza to celebrate!

We’ve only lived in Colorado for a few years, but we have really fallen in love with it. There’s a wonderful feeling you get when you’re in the mountains; it’s fresh and wild and beautiful. That inspired us. We wanted our guests to experience that feeling, and to just have a great time in a place we enjoy.

My dad surprised me by wearing a tie I had ‘designed’ for him as a father’s day present when I was just 9 years old. He had saved it all these years, I thought that was the sweetest thing. Our wedding was at the top of the mountain, so everyone had to take a chair lift to get up there. The lift was something that we really loved about our venue, and it made the day very special for both us and our guests. A little adventure getting to and from the event, that added fun and excitement to the day.

The entire day was absolutely perfect. Our first look before the ceremony was very special and sweet, definitely one of the best moments, The ceremony was outside, and the weather and scenery was incredible. It was warm, and calm. We were so happy all of our guests could experience the amazing view at the top of the mountain. The rest of the night was filled with laughter and dancing. Having everyone you love and care for in one place is overwhelmingly wonderful. We felt loved and excited, and most importantly, we had a lot of fun.

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Taking a cue from the iconic style of the 1960s, this German couple said “I Do” in a chic midcentury mod-inspired beach elopement. With the famous Hotel Neptun hosting the reception, the Bride’s YSL little white dress, a beautiful cake from Dilekerei and flowers in Pantone’s 2016 colors of the year, everything about this day is gorgeous. See it all from Katja Scherle Festtagsfotografien in THE VAULT!

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