So, these two are adorable.  That kind of adorable that is reserved for sweeter than sweet duos that were set up by their parents and spend their e-session frolicking around the great outdoors, pups in tow.  Oh, and they’ll also throw caution to the wind and jump head first into a lake, just because.  In other words? You’re going to love them.  See their sweet e-sesh captured by Robyn Van Dyke right here.

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From Robyn Van Dyke Photography… Jamie and Wes were set up by their parents, and it actually worked! They are now engaged to be married and they are head over heels in love with each other, the outdoors, and their doggies! Riley (the Golden Retriever) was a gift to Jamie from Wes, and one of their favorite things to do is taking their dogs on walks together! In fact, Wes proposed to Jamie at the exact spot where they had their first date while they were out walking their pups! So they, of course, had to incorporate their adorable doggies into their engagement session as well as their love for the outdoors! I love that they brought a canoe along for their engagement session and even jumped into the lake at the end!

Photography: Robyn Van Dyke Photography

Let’s face it, any wedding with Ruth Eileen behind the lens is destined for perfection. Beginning with the Bride’s dove grey gown, to the astilbe accented Beach Plum Floral bouquets, to the paper cranes, and antique finds, it’s all of these perfectly styled elements that steal the show. The result is a gallery worth revisiting time and time again, here!

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From the beautiful Bride… Jason and I got engaged on our favorite part of Cape Cod. We’d been going to Wellfleet for about five years and it became very special to us. The beautiful houses, history, antique shops, the old drive in and great food was always worth the trip from NY. Even if it were a few days we always fit it in to our year. We both knew we wanted to get married there. Since it’s such a small area it was hard to find a space that worked. I didn’t want a standard venue, as a designer I always pictured something more personable that I could decorate and stage myself. One night after searching the internet Jay came across the Holden Inn. We reached out right away and on a whim we booked it. We visited about a month later and fell in love. The beautiful old white cape style was a perfect back drop. There was enough space to hold our desired amount of one hundred guests. I also loved that majority of our out of town friends could all stay at the inn. Other friends choose to rent houses close by which was perfect.

After our trip back in MA, my imagination ran. I grew up in Plymouth and one of my favorite activities to do with my mom was to walk around down town and antique. My grandmothers house was always full of beautiful treasures, blue, milk and carnival glass crammed from shelve to table. I wanted to incorporate old pieces I think if she was still around she would have liked.

My antique finds throughout the year ended up being, various cake stands, mixed vintage plates for dinner, a beautiful paint chipped chair which weirdly enough incorporated our wedding colors. Also a chandelier I ended up refurbishing, an adorable chess set, and an old cabinet which we placed the cake pops in. The ultimate prize a vintage moss green couch from craigslist a steal for 75 bucks which was fantastic for photos. I could see it all coming into play.

We took a lot of other tasks on ourselves, I wanted to design our invitation suite, something I enjoyed as an illustrator at heart. I purchased my paper from paper presentation, printed them at home and then hand painted them individually. My best friends and I spent numerous wine filled nights folding paper cranes, some even took it upon themselves to take blocks of paper home to fold them through out the year. I loved the symbol of the crane, happiness, good luck, peace and honor. Although we didn’t get close to the 1,000 I had wanted they looked beautiful hanging from our arbor, as table numbers and as a chandelier hanging from a high tree.

I picked out my fabric from a store in the garment district of NYC, the perfect combination of matte gold sequins which was married against a charcoal grey and mixed in matched through out the various tables. My girlfriend a dear and sweet friend of mine sewed all the runners. The wedding tables would have been way to plain without her help. Another great friend of mine spent a whole day helping me sew various pillows in blush, powder blue and grey burlap. I planned to disperse them out boho style under a bench I rented from new england country rentals. My friend a talented make up artist who I met post college did my make up and bridal parties that day. It showed up so nicely in photos, she’s always been my favorite MUA. Lastly my work out buddy beautified my hair. I always tell her her work is very precious literally spending tedious time making every curl fell perfectly. I wouldn’t have made it through this year without the love and support of my mini “NY family”.

Everything came together so beautifully that day, the weather was perfect, sunny and just warm enough. Our wedding was perfect for us and there’s nothing like being surrounded by friend and family from different stages of our life. The love we felt that day was indescribable. I wish we could do it all again. This whole year inspired me to pursue my passion as an event planner. I can’t wait to see what the years have in store for us as a married couple. The best is yet to come as they say.

Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Floral Design: Beach Plum Floral | Wedding Dress: Carol Hannah | Bride's Shoes: Ava & Alden | Rings: Liloveve Inc | Catering: Clambakes, etc. | Groomsmen's Attire: Egara | Wedding Venue: The Holden Inn | Bride's Hairpiece: Amanda Judge | Bride's Jewelry: Suzanna Dai | Cake Pops: Cake Face | Desserts: Blue Blinds Bakery | Invitation Suite: Avocado Change | Make Up Artist: Kevyn Aucoin | Rental Of Farm Bench, Arbor, Galvanized Tub: New England Country Rentals | Rentals: American Tent & Table, Inc | Week Of Coordination: KG Events & Design

This elegant wedding caught my eye for two main reasons. First, while it’s a fall celebration, it doesn’t come across as themey…and that’s probably because, secondly, the bride herself is one talented florist. Having crafted beautiful blooms for 20 other lucky ladies while she planned her own nuptials, she didn’t run out of steam, and Sweet Tea Photography has all the proof with these pretty pics here.

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From The Bride… We met the first day of school at St. Mary’s College in MD. We were in the same orientation group, and were good friends all through school until we started dating senior year. We didn’t have a first date in the traditional sense, but we did spend a lot of time enjoying the beautiful campus (and sunsets!) at St. Mary’s. We dated for 15 years before we were engaged. Can you believe it? Robb asked me to take a trip back to school for the annual Governor’s Cup yacht race, an event close to my heart after I spent three summers in school working on it. We enjoyed an afternoon of walking the dogs around campus and through historic St. Mary’s City, and Robb proposed near our old dorms.

What attracted me to my husband was his warmth, kindness, creativity, and he can make me laugh like no one else.

We knew we wanted our wedding to feel “fall,” but not too themey, so we tried to pick a palette with some more muted fall tones and some warm jewel tones. We hoped to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that worked well with the Antrim 1844; romantic florals, candlelight, a roaring fire and tables full of delicious food. While I enjoyed working on the flowers, I really loved so many of the details, it’s hard to pick one: the groom’s cake my aunt made (in the likeness of our Lakeland Terrier, Guinness) melted my heart; my mom pulled together an amazing cookie bar (complete with a hand-painted sign!) and Robb brought our love of live music to the event with the place cards (designed to look like ticket stubs) and the table numbers (gig posters from our favorite shows/venues).

When we were all seated for dinner, it felt like an early Thanksgiving for us, all of our friends and family together (the weekend before the holiday). We loved all of our vendors and are so happy to have the most beautiful photos as memories of our special day! Lisa Marie of Sweet Tea Photography shot our engagement session and we knew she would be an excellent fit after that. We also happened to work on quite a few weddings together over the months before our wedding day. Lisa Marie shot primarily with film which was something we were really attracted to.

My biggest challenge in wedding planning was working both a 9-5 job and creating florals for 20 weddings through the whole planning process. Trying to find time for planning my own wedding was hard to do. But the outpouring of offers to help from family and friends made our day so special, and as stress-free as possible. I would recommend future bride’s to just enjoy planning the event, be patient with your partner, and plan your budget according to what’s important to you both (which hopefully includes flowers :)

Photography: Lisa Blume Photography | Floral Design: Highway To Hill | Wedding Dress: Robinson's Bridal | Cake : Snickerdoodle Bakery Coffee House | Ceremony Venue: Church Of Evangelical Faith | Reception Venue: Antrim 1844 | Rings : Tiny Jewel Box | DJ: MyDeejay | Beauty : Updos For I Dos | Cake Design : Charm City Cakes | Photography - Assistance: Leah Puttkammer | Pies : Dangerously Delicious Pies | Pre-Ceremony Cocktail : Antrim 1844

Kicking off a new week is often easier said than done, but this Monday just got a whole lot better with Ryan Ray wedding goodness from morning ’til night. I’m talking a four-part feature set in the Dominican Republic, starting with this gorgeous rehearsal dinner designed in the hands of Stefanie Miles. She pulled together a celebration chock-full of bold color, beautiful textures and cultural nods to their tropical setting. Get started in the gallery and sit tight for wedding day part one coming up next.

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From Stefanie Miles…Our aim was to create a first impression experience for the guests that embraced the culture and the country, with special emphasis on togetherness and family. We were inspired by the warmth of the local earthenware and coffee grinders during our site visit, and put them to use as floral vessels. Michelle and Geoff’s thoughtfulness of their guests allowed us to use the space in such a way that we gave every guest a view of the ocean from their seat, and the groom personally hand-twisted the wire placecards for each guest. The bride’s beautiful silk gown held special meaning for them, as the gown she wore during their their stateside ceremony. The result was a perfect blend of color, texture, and floral that reflected the excitement and anticipation of the following day’s celebration.

From The Bride…For our Welcome Dinner, I had given Stefanie total control of the planning and she far exceeded my expectations. As soon as my eyes caught a glimpse of that long, luscious table overlooking the ocean I knew that I was going to be speechless. It felt like effortless beauty, as if we had stumbled upon a secret garden where all of the loveliest native foliage and flowers had been growing together naturally. The whole scene was simple enough to compliment the natural beauty of our surroundings, yet had the perfect special touches that made us feel how it had been thoughtfully created just for us. Our vendors had created an atmosphere where all of our guests could meet and truly feel the magic of our reality…that we were in the Dominican Republic living a once in a lifetime experience together! It brought me so much joy seeing all of our most treasured friends and family members instantly connecting with each other in such a beautiful setting.

Photography: Ryan Ray Photography | Videography: Candlelight Films | Florals: Bows and Arrows | Dress: Badgley Mischka | Hair & Makeup: Amy Clarke | Design, Planning & Production: Stefanie Miles Events | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Paper & Calligraphy: Ladyfingers Letterpress | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Flor De Cabrera | Venue Coordination & Production Assistance: Felicita Garcia

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

Bows and Arrows

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Flor De Cabrera

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Gather around ombre and chambray lovers (I’m pretty sure that includes everyone), because this shoot is packed to the gills with the kind of inspiration that will dance around in your head for days. I mean, can we talk about how stylish those maids look? Perfection. Pile on stunning florals and styling by HANALULU CO., stationery from Katie Fischer Design and one gorgeous cake from Nine Cakes, and it goes without saying – these images from Charlie Juliet are beyond.

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We knew right off the bat that The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture was the perfect setting for this pretty ombré + chambray combo. Its lush grounds and the building’s stunning architecture was tied into the wedding invitations, beautifully illustrated and painted by Katie Fischer Design.

Our hearts skipped a beat when we laid eyes on our bride in the gorgeous De Marseille gown from Carol Hannah’s recent collection. It was the perfect fit with our groom’s handsome blue suit and the bridesmaids’ pretty ensemble — a bit of chambray with a splash of sparkle.

We dreamt of a mix of silver and blue accents for the tablescape, and with Octavia & Brown’s help, our vision was brought to life with their fun rentals. Aren’t the sets of blue and white china lovely? The braided chambray runner combined with the heart topiaries, candelabras, and florals create such a charming look.

We wanted to be playful yet elegant, and create an ethereal setting for our amazing photographer, CJ Isaac from Charlie Juliet, to capture!

Photography: Charlie Juliet | Cakes: Nine Cakes | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Wedding Venue: Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture | Event Design + Floral Design: HANALULU CO. | Hair & Make-up: Sissi Chan | Invitations And Day-of Stationery: Katie Fischer Design | Rentals: Octavia & Brown | Wedding Dress & Hair Accessories: Carol Hannah

Today, I’m packing up my e-suitcase and heading west. And this sparkling fete? It’s the perfect sunny destination. With rustic glam accents, this Holman Ranch affair is filled with glitter and gold in the form of Sweet Lauren Cakes and colorful Asiel Design blooms. From personal vows, to the altar crafted from strips of the Bride’s grandmother’s wedding dress, every detail snapped up by This Love Of Yours is what wedding dreams are made of, more here!

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From the beautiful Bride… Our vision for our wedding was “Rustic Glam”. Holman Ranch took care of the rustic part, so I wanted to incorporate lots of glitter and gold to glam it up. You can never have enough of either in my opinion!

Our vows were the most memorable part of our entire day, they were so personal and just so us! The altar was created with strips of my grandmother’s wedding dress. Getting married under the custom made alter was really special, it was a beautiful way to incorporate her.

We loved Holman Ranch because it is so versatile. It’s a beautiful canvas for any style or design. The grand oak “Tree”! I remember a special moment very vividly. Matt and I were by ourselves for the first time all day, taking photos with our photographers out in the green fields by the tree and it was so perfect! It was the most relaxed I felt all day- simply being surrounded by nature all glammed up with my new husband.

If I had one piece of advice for planning, it would be to make it about you and your husband! Make sure you really connect with your vendors and create the dream team, they make the day!
Enjoy the process and the day since it goes by fast!

Photography: This Love of Yours Photography | Videography: Black Dog Enterprises | Event Design: DIY By Bride | Floral Design: Asiel Design | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Reception Venue: Holman Ranch | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Rings: Joe Escobar Diamonds | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Donna Morgan | Hair & Makeup: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Groom's Attire: Calvin Klein | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Bride's Belt: Live Adorned | Bridesmaids' Jewelry: Derng- Gatsby Gold | Cake Pop: Sweet Lauren Cakes | Catering & Event Coordination: Culinary Eye Catering and Events | Cufflinks: White Truffle | Earrings: Haute Bride | Groom's Socks: GroomSocks | Grooms Bow Tie: Mrs. Bow Tie | Groomsmen's BowTie: The Tie Bar | Guitar: Mark Banks | Headpiece: Haute Bride | Linens: The Linen Bar | Photobooth: Night Owl Photo Booth | Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Veil: Haute Bride

When I think of Palm Springs, this wedding is exactly what I imagine… and exactly why I’m so eager to take a getaway there. Retro styles and bright colors transported guests back to the era of “Mad Men,” complete with classy cocktails and one glam pool party. Marissa Maharaj captured every inch of that festive spirit for all of us; it’s still the weekend so let’s pop a bottle and enjoy the party!

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From Marissa Maharaj… Linnea and Evan chose the gorgeous Frederick Loewe Estate for their wedding, a mid-century modern dream in the Little Tuscany neighborhood of Palm Springs. Their day felt like a glamorous pool party, complete with delicious cocktails and a killer view. Linnea wore two amazing dresses, and their guests channeled Mad Men mixed with springtime attire.

VIDEO LINK from Sharkpig: https://sharkpig.wistia.com/projects/jnvwmk209a
(Parts I & II)

From The Bride… Early on when Evan and I were dating, we realized that Palm Springs was where we wanted to get married one day. It was far enough away from Los Angeles to feel like a vacation to our friends, an easy place for family to fly to, and close enough for us to plan it. We really wanted to create an experience for our guests. When we first laid eyes on the Frederick Loewe Estate, we knew that we were going to get married there. For us, it was the perfect combination of mid-century modern and an incredible outdoor space to enjoy what Palm Springs has to offer.

So many of our friends are super-talented, and for us, we really wanted to incorporate them into our special day. In retrospect they are what made our weekend so unique and special to us. From invitations, hair and makeup to flowers, the bar, the DJ and Jason Mesches, who married us, our friends made up the team that helped make our day and weekend a success!

During the ceremony, Jason Mesches, our friend who married us, shared what each of us had said about the other. In that moment, time slowed down, the excitement and love of our friends and family only became background noise and we’re able to focus on each other and realized that our lives were forever changed. We didn’t know what the other person wrote and it was pretty emotional moment for us.

I would also have to say that Evan singing a cappella with all his friends was another incredible highlight! Evan had sung in a cappella groups growing up in Illinois and in college at USC. Friends from all over the country joined him to serenade the crowd with the songs: At Last and Stand By Me. There are no words to really explain how unforgettable that moment was!

As cliché as it sounds, your wedding is a blur! If you can swing it, we definitely suggest doing a brunch/breakfast the next day. We planned a breakfast taco party at the Ace Swim Club. We were able to spend more time with guests and family in a more relaxed environment and hear about their stories from the wedding night. Looking around the pool, seeing everyone we love relaxing in the sun was incredible and exactly the reason why we continue to love Palm Springs! We are so thrilled we got to share that with friends and family.

Photography: Marissa Maharaj | Videographer: Sharkpig | Event Planner: The Walk Down The Aisle | Floral Design: Doris Drive Design | Invitations: Alexander Barrett | Catering: Katherine King | Hair & Makeup: Carsen LaBella | DJ: Steve Page | Groom's Attire: Jimmy Au's | Cocktails: The Whaling Club | Long Wedding Dress: Watters Bella Dress | Private Estate: Frederick Loewe Estate | Rentals: YEAH! Rentals | Short Wedding Dress: BHLDN

We’ve been faced with a record-setting winter here at SMP HQ, so we couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday than California dreaming with a few of the gorgeous warm-weather weddings we have on queue. Starting with this picture perfect wedding from This Love Of Yours Photography. The light is so gorgeous we can almost feel it through the screen, which is why we’ll be spending our morning here.

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Photography: This Love of Yours Photography | Videographer: Max Video Productions | Event Planning: Jessica Lynn Events | Floral Design: Angels Petals | Wedding Dress: Haute Bride | Cake: SusieCakes | Ceremony Venue: Estate Wedding And Events | Reception Venue: Estate Wedding And Events | Jewelry: Haute Bride | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Weddington Way | Makeup: Sarah Dean | Hair: Whitney Warfield | Groomsmen's Attire: Perry Ellis | Planning: Estate Wedding And Events

Most of us spend a good chunk of our day in the kitchen: cooking, cocktailing, snacking, eating and unfortunately cleaning. But what if we told you, with 10 basic ingredients, that cleaning would not only be a cinch but super green. Have a look at this round-up of environmentally friendly cleaners from Hello Natural that can all be made with 10 simple ingredients.

Kitchen Cleaning Essentials

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Kitchen Cleaning Essentials

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To make it even easier, we put together a shopping list of everything you need to make them. You probably already have at least half the ingredients on hand!

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10 BASIC INGREDIENTS TO NATURALLY CLEAN YOUR KITCHEN

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citrus (orange, grapefruit and lemon)
vinegar
baking soda
castile soap
salt
super washing soda
dish soap
water
essential oil (tea tree, citrus or lavender recommended)
citric acid (only needed for making your own dishwasher tablets)

Donut bars are mighty popular and goodness knows we are mega-fans of those tasty treats ( the evidence here, here, here and here) but want to see something that is equally as cute and so easy to whip up? Welcome to the bagel bar. It’s a simple breakfast party idea crafted by the talented ladies of 100 Layer Cakelet and can be used for everything from a kid’s birthday party to a brunch get together.

From 100 Layer Cakelet… Cream cheese can come in all kinds of flavors, but we love the basic cream cheese flavor and added drops of food coloring to create the color of our choice! Kids will love it! And a variety of toppings are a must!

Chances are you have all of these ingredients at home right now, yes? We did, so we put our own little spin on the popular donut bar. Of course we love donuts, but we wanted to think of a unique breakfast party idea that would be easy enough to throw together for a small and intimate gathering of close family and friends, or a larger birthday bash. 

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Photography:  Scott Clark Photo | Concept & Styling: 100 Layer Cakelet | Paper party supplies: Meri Meri at Urbanic  | Cake Topper: Alexis Mattox Design | Photoshoot location: Land Yacht Studio

There is nothing better than waking up to a plate full of fluffy pancakes on a Saturday morning. Pancakes are a staple in our household, but every-so-often need a little flavor upgrade. Enter: Ricotta given a little extra kick with maple-bourbon whipped cream — be still our hearts! Contributor Domesticate Me gives us this drool-worthy recipe making our weekend a little better.

Abigail SilvermanRicotta Pancakes with Maple-Bourbon Whipped CreamThese fluffy pancakes are sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

prep time 15 Minute/s

cook time 5 Minute/s

total time 20 Minute/s

Serves 4Ingredients

• ¾ cup flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 cup whole milk ricotta
• ½ teaspoon lemon zest
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup whole milk
• Butter or coconut oil for cooking the pancakes
• Maple-Bourbon Whipped Cream:
• ¾ cup heavy cream, chilled
• 1 teaspoon good quality maple syrup (If you like a really sweet whipped cream, add an extra ½ teaspoon syrup)
• 1 teaspoon bourbon

Instructions

1. Let’s start with the whipped cream. Place a mason jar (with the lid on) in the freezer. When cold, add the heavy cream, maple syrup and bourbon to the mason jar. Screw the lid on tightly and shake for about 5 minutes until the cream gets gloriously fluffy. When it’s ready, it will stop making a sloshing sound in the jar. If you’re not sure whether it’s done (or you need a break), feel free to open the jar and take a look. Refrigerate your whipped cream until ready to use.
2. Moving on to the pancakes! In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in the sugar.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, eggs and milk until well combined.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk until just combined. Please don’t over-mix, people.
5. Pre-heat a a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. When hot, melt a tablespoon or so of butter or coconut oil so that the surface is well coated. For each pancake, pour about ¼ cup of batter onto the griddle/skillet. (Right after pouring the batter, I like to use the back of a spoon to smooth the batter into a nice circular shape.)
6. Cook for about a minute until small bubbles appear on the surface and the underside is golden brown. Flip and cook for another minute or so until the second side is golden brown.
7. Serve pancakes warmed topped with Maple-Bourbon Whipped Cream and maple syrup.

Hands down, the worst part about planning a wedding is collecting all of your guest addresses. It takes forever, always involves chasing down a handful of people and adds a ton of stress to your plate! My dears, thank your lucky stars that Postable exists. They’ve created an easy-to-use website that collects all the addresses for you — and did  I mention it’s free!

Really, it couldn’t be any easier. Postable gives you a personal link that you email to your guests, they click it, fill out a quick form + viola! You have a flawless, private address book that you can use online or export to print labels or even send to a calligrapher! Not to mention, it’s also super convenient to have for holiday cards or if you ever lose your phone!

Not only does Postable collect your addresses, but when it comes time to send your save the dates, invitations + thank you notes, they’ll take care of that too! With an amazing collection of cards from top stationery designers such as Rifle Paper Co. and One Canoe Two, Postable lets your write your notes on the site and then the’ll print and mail everything for you! Talk about convenient.

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Now’s the time to sign up because Postable is giving one lucky reader the chance to win $250 in free stationery! Simply sign up for Postable by Thursday, February 26, 2015, and you’ll be entered for your chance to win. Winner will be announced in the Social Hour post on Friday, February 27, 2014. Good luck!

Some weddings I just adore but struggle to explain preciously why. It’s details like these oh so pretty florals by Grass Roots combined with a love that radiates, and this celebration is a prime example. Koman Photography captured what I’m stumbling to say and Karl Stelter Wedding Films made it even clearer. A photo is worth a thousand words so you can see exactly what I mean right here.

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From Koman Photography… We were so happy to have been given the chance to document Marussya and Jon’s exquisite Santa Barbara wedding. The wedding took place at Rincon Beach Club and their beautiful ceremony was full of love and support from their family and friends. Marussya and Jon are perfect together – there is never a dull moment with these two! There is so much we can say about this stunning couple and wedding, but we think the photos will do a lot more justice.

From The Bride… I met my husband one hot summer day at a pool party in Houston, TX. We made eye contact but never actually exchanged words until our first date two weeks later that was set up by our friends who evidently felt the vibe between us!

Three years later Jon proposed in my favorite cozy restaurant in Los Angeles.

I always had a vision of a romantic garden wedding, but we also both loved traditional church ceremonies, and really wanted a wedding near the ocean. We thought getting married in Santa Barbara with its luscious greens, cute little streets, and breathtaking backdrop of mountains would be perfect. We chose the beautiful First United Methodist Church for the ceremony, the first church we went to. I knew it was the place I wanted to get married in when I had goose bumps as soon as I entered it.

We also fell in love with Rincon Beach Club, where we had our reception. Beautiful garden, big outside fireplace, lanterns and cabana with chandeliers… we could not ask for a better place to celebrate our love.

We wanted everything to have a natural, romantic feel, with a little bit of rustic touch. We tried to also bring personal touches like a hand sewn quilt as a guest book, entrance ceremony with traditional Russian Caraway, and childhood pictures of both me and my husband that we put on each table. We decided to use a color palette of peaches, light pinks, and gold to compliment garden greens surrounding the location. Our wonderful planners from Rincon decorated the place with beautiful flowers and hanging crystals, which made the place absolutely enchanting. Our photographers Marlene and John Koman did an amazing job capturing the romantic feel of the whole day.

What really made our day special was having our friends and family by our side the entire time. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect wedding!

Photography: Koman Photography | Cinematography: Karl Stelter | Floral Design: Grass Roots | Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Ceremony Venue: First United Methodist Church | Bride's Shoes: Betsey Johnson | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Wtoo | DJ: Vox DJs | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Wedding Venue: Rincon Beach Club | Bride's Dress: Lovella Bridal | Hair And Make-up: Dreamcatcher Artistry | Photo Booth: Vox DJs

Cocktails always seem a bit more fun and festive when they come in the prettiest shade of pink and this version from Jacquelyn at Lark and Linen is infused with a medley of yummy flavors. Blackberry syrup, thyme and bubbly make this a sparkling cocktail that should most certainly be on the menu this weekend, don’t you think?

Abigail SilvermanBlackberry Thyme Champagne CocktailA little sweet, a little bubbly, it makes for the most delicious celebratory cocktail.

prep time 10 Minute/s

cook time 5 Minute/s

total time 15 Minute/s

Serves 4Ingredients

• FOR THE BLACKBERRY SYRUP
• 1/3 cup blackberries, plus 8 more for garnish
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup sugar
• FOR THE COCKTAIL
• 1 bottle of Prosecco or champagne
• FOR THE GARNISH
• 4 sprigs of thyme

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, bring the blackberried, water and sugar to a boil. Turn to low and let simmer for 10 minutes. Strain blackberries and let syrup cool.
2. Add 2 tbsp. of syrup to the bottom of each glass. Top with champagne and add in a sprig of thyme and 2 blackberries!

The biggest night in film is almost here! And while Hollywood’s starlets are sure to bring on the Oscars style, we like to think our best dressed brides here at SMP could give them a little run for their money. From embellishments to sequins, peplum to tulle, we’re looking back at our Oscar-worthy wedding dresses styled to red carpet perfection.

Gowns We'd Wear on the Red Carpet

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Gowns We'd Wear on the Red Carpet

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Looking for even more Oscars inspiration, we’ve got oscar-worthy cocktails, style ballots and more!

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A Must Have for Watching the Oscars

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Oscar Worthy Party Details

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Oscar Worthy Party Details

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This wedding looks like soooo much fun.  You know what I am talking about – one of those fabulous destination affairs that is awesome from the word go.  Think an intimate ceremony on the beach, followed by a non-stop dance party.  In other words?  It’s everything a destination wedding should be.  See it all captured by Dustin Cantrell in the full gallery.

And a sweet film captured by Las Caletas… 

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From the Bride… Meeting in Puerto Rico and getting engaged in Cabo, it only felt natural to get married on a beach. Mexico offered an ideal middle ground that could bring together both my side (most from her home state of TX) and Brian’s side (most from his home state of CA). In addition to accessibility, the most important thing for us was to make sure our friends and family would have a fun time and enjoy the party spirit!

Brian always had a soft spot for Puerto Vallarta’s quaint town with a local flair, and it fit my criteria for a beach, warm weather, and laid back ambiance, so there we had it! Up until our arrival the week of the wedding, all research, wedding planning and reservations were done from California. And in the end, even though we didn’t have time to take a pre-wedding vacation to visit the venue or to taste the menu (or cocktails!), immediately upon arriving, we knew we had made the right choice. Mexico greeted us with sunny weather, tequila was pouring throughout the weekend, food was oh so delicious, and baby dolphins even happened to swim along our boat to the wedding venue! Everything exceeded our expectations!

It was a particularly special occasion for me, as my father passed away less than a year prior. To have our closest friends and family fly from all over the US to join us in a joyous occasion was an overwhelming feeling. The guest size was big enough to feel like a party, yet still small enough to feel intimate. With smiles all around, we felt the immense love and support that evening. HUGE thanks to Blanca Ramirez, our venue coordinator who seamlessly coordinated every aspect of the wedding, Kelly Kahrhoff, who coordinated every other detailed aspect of our week there, and also Dustin Cantrell, our amazing photographer who not only was a one-man show capturing every special moment, but also was so fun and became one of the gang!

If we could do it all over again, we wouldn’t change a thing. We had a blast hosting our friends throughout the weekend. Time’s a precious thing, and it was amazing to have so many people come together for our special wedding weekend.

From Dustin Cantrell Photography… Hoan-My and Brian picked Las Caletas in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for their destination wedding venue. Las Caletas is only accessible by boat and you have your own private beach for the entire wedding. The day started with Hoan-My, her bridesmaids, and mother taking a private boat to the Las Caletas. They spent the day relaxing, getting massages, eating, and hanging out in the jacuzzi in bridal suite.  As the ceremony approached Brian and the guests arrived by boat just in time for the ceremony.

The coordinator and staff did an amazing job. The flow of the entire evening was timed perfectly and not one detail was overlooked. The ceremony took place on the private beach right as the sun was setting. After the first kiss the couple and bridal party turned and threw on their custom sunglasses with the couples initials. The amazing rock formations and trees made for stunning for photos during the perfect light. After the toasts and dinner on the patio with views of the stunning beach, the couple was called out to the dance floor, which is located right on the beach. Family and guests watched from the patio. Following the first dance the guests were allowed to come down to the dance floor. After a bit of dance floor action the couple was surprised by fire dancers and fire breathers.

Between the dance floor action and the endless tequila shots the guests couldn’t have a bad time if they wanted to. And, if the guests weren’t into dancing and drinking the night away the fire pits and s’mores kept them satisfied. At the end of the night the wedding party including guests leave on the same party boat and the dancing action continues on until the boat docks.

Photography: Dustin Cantrell | Coordination: Adventure Weddings | Event Design: Adventure Weddings | Floral Design: Adventure Weddings | Wedding Dress: Casablanca | Ceremony Venue: Adventure Weddings | Reception Venue: Adventure Weddings | DJ: Adventure Weddings | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Accomodations: Sheraton

In a stunning waterfront fete (mere steps away from where their love began), these third generation sailors became life-long first mates. Between their Australian Shepherd acting as flower girl, to gifting guests jars of moonshine pickles, to a vintage getaway car, every detail captured by Scobey Photography was meaningful, and it’s all right here!

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From Sara D Harper For Scobey Photography… Camden and Gavin’s families crossed paths over 30 years ago. They continued to see each other throughout their childhood at various sailing competitions. Little did they know, a courtship would blossom in the summer of 2008 and continue to grow in the coming years.

From the beautiful Bride… Little did our parents know that their meeting over 30 years ago would eventually spark a romance between Gavin and I. Throughout the years we had brief encounters at sailing events as we both traveled around the southeast to compete and continue the family tradition of racing sailboats. Not until memorial weekend 2008 did something change…a slightly older, very funny sailor caught my attention…and it was apparent I had clearly caught his as well. A few spins on the dance floor later, we migrated to a dock under the moonlight and stayed up laughing and talking until 2 am. The weekend closed with Gavin asking if I’d come back to Atlanta in a few weeks to sail with him. Unforeseen to me, 6 years later I’d get to marry the man who had become by best friend.

After the engagement we started discussing the type of wedding we wanted. It was clear our sailing heritage had to play into the theme as not only were we both third generation sailors but it was what brought us together. We then started to plan a rustic nautical-infused outdoor wedding just steps from the dock where it all began. Immediately we knew there was no other option than to say I do waterfront at the Atlanta Yacht Club in front of Gavin’s parent’s cabin.

From the very beginning I knew I wanted a romantic look using neutrals, navy, and burlap. But what was most important was that our wedding day truly represented Gavin and I as a couple and gave us a chance to share our love story. Throughout the entire weekend we included personal touches to truly make the occasion memorable. Between wearing my grandmother’s vintage watch, our Australian Shepherd rescue, Coco, as our flower girl, and gifting the guests a jar of our family’s moonshine pickles. I was most touched by my father driving me to the ceremony site in his restored 1952 MG TD.

After reading personal letters to each other, we exchanged traditional vows, shed a few tears, and shared a first kiss as husband and wife. Before joining friends and family at the reception to enjoy delicious southern cuisine and dancing late into the night, we shared our favorite moment as just the two of us on the dock amongst the setting sun.

The whole day was truly indescribably perfect, from getting ready with my mother and closest friends to dancing the night away with my husband. Our guests are still talking about what a beautiful and fun weekend we shared. To Gavin and I, it was “our” day, the best day of our lives, and the dream wedding we never could have imagined.

Photography: Scobey Photography | Event Coordinator: Lettie Nicole Events | Florist: Amanda Jewel Floral + Design | Band: The Adrian Duke Project | Atlanta Yacht Club: Atlanta Yacht Club | Bride's Hair: Jillian Rae | Cake And Tarts: Miss Mamie's Cupcakes | Paper: Paper Daisies Stationery | Ring Bearer’s Suspenders & Bowties: Sweet N Swag

It goes without saying that we’re in the throes of a very frigid and snowy winter. So, cozy affairs like this beauty from Rebecca Yale Photography are a must-have to warm up our hearts until spring arrives. Featuring one seriously stunning gown from Lovely Bridal Shop, dazzling jewels from Anna Sheffield and a candlelit setting at the Lafayette, it will warm you to the core.

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From Rebecca Yale Photography… Sam and Matt’s story started in New York City. First meeting as co-workers and graduate students at NYU, where they shared a mutual interest in urban policy, they became quick friends with their love of the City, music, and food. Three years later, Matt proposed under a blooming cherry blossom tree in Central Park. Five months later, they were married by a close friend’s father at a French restaurant called Lafayette in the East Village.

The ceremony and reception took place in a candlelit room dripping with romance. From flowers in gem tones, candles in every corner, bottles of wine lining the walls, and the occasional rumble of a passing subway train, the room glowed with old New York glamour.

The ceremony was a celebration of the friends and family that had traveled all over the world to be part of this special occasion. The ceremony started with the Groom’s best friend playing Bach’s Prelude to Suite No. 3 and then the Bride walked down the aisle with her father to an excerpt from Bach’s Suite No. 4 Bourree II . Then two friends and the Groom’s sister and husband did readings that the Bride and Groom selected. Under a floral arch, the officiant then presented his reflections on marriage that was a perfect representation of what the Bride and Groom want to build together as partners. Friends and family wept and laughed through the entire ceremony; there was an abundance of love and joy in the room.

A quartet of drums, piano, bass, and saxophone then played jazz through the remainder of the evening. The dinner included delicious appetizers and entrees from grilled prawns to black macaroni with rock shrimp to dry aged steak with béarnaise butter. At every place setting, the Bride and Groom left handwritten notes for each guest thanking them for being part of their lives and this special night. After dinner nearly every guest was dancing. The magical evening ended at Lafayette with macaroons, Canneles, and a lot of love.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Floral Design: Mount Tabor Park | Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller | Wedding Dress: Lovely Bridal Shop | Invitations: Antiquaria | Reception: Lafayette | Rings: Anna Sheffield Bridal | Hair And Makeup: Antoine Brechu | Calligraphy: Lauren Saylor From A Fabulous Fete | Groom's Suit: Proper Suit | Hotel: The Bowery Hotel

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What happens when you pair organic minimalism and the rich shades of autumn? This Dallas affair captured through the lens of Nicole Berrett – that’s what. Complete with DIYed centerpieces, a quirky-cool backdrop and beautiful textured centerpieces by Dirt Design Studio, it’s a modern bride’s dream come true and every last bit is waiting right here.

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From The Bride…The simplicity and beauty of fall florals is what inspired our wedding. I’ve always loved the color of fall portrayed in flowers. Fall colors and flowers are really beautiful just on their own, so having them be the main theme/decoration was easy because they don’t need anything but themselves to stand out.

Our colors were all based on fall flowers. We wanted to embrace the colors of fall in with deep reds to whimsical Texas wildflowers. To incorporate the fall colors we used a backdrop for the ceremony for Yeti and the Beast that had beautiful bunting with fresh garland and florals. For the reception we used potted plants as the centerpiece and Dirt Design added vintage bottles with stemmed flowers around it for a little added touch.

I was surprised by how little we had to DIY for the wedding because we kept the florals and centerpieces simple. We dip-dyed all of our wooden forks to add a little pop of color to the dining ware.

The centerpieces were the most difficult decision for me because I didn’t want to spend a fortune on flowers that I can’t use or put to use after the wedding. So, thanks to Pinterest, I got inspiration to use potted plants for the centerpieces so my husband and I could make a garden after the wedding. The week of the weeding the bridesmaids and I went shopping for herbs, succulents and potted plants at Home Depot and potted them the day before the wedding to ensure they were fresh and healthy!

My favorite part of the day was right after the ceremony. Noe and I got the holding room all to ourselves for just a few moments. It was so peaceful and refreshing to just have some time together, uninterrupted to celebrate our marriage before anyone else came in. It is also a feeling like none other to know that all of your dearest family and friends are all in one place to celebrate you and your husband! I kept thinking, “everyone is here, EVERYONE!” It was such a sweet feeling!!

Photography: Nicole Berrett Photography | Florist: Dirt Flowers | Bride's Shoes: Urban Outfitters | Hair & Makeup: Osgood Oneil Salon | DJ: Le Force Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Express | Brides Dress: David's Bridal | Cake Topper: Etsy | Cakes And Pies: Zenzero Bakery | Ceremony & Reception: Lofty Spaces | Glassware: Anthropologie | Paper Goods: Yeti & The Beast | Wedding Backdrop: Yeti & The Beast

I am such a dinner party fan. Really and truly, you’d be hard-pressed to find a person who appreciates a perfectly executed yet intimate affair more than this little lady right here. So this beautiful occasion captured by Jordan Brittley and designed by Stellar Staging And Design is so up my alley. I’d be willing to bet their guests are still talking about it today, and you can see why here.

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There were 50 people invited to this event! It was very important to us that it feel “personal” and that each volunteer knew specifically how his or her contribution was valuable. Instead of place cards, a team crafted handwritten notes that added a beautifully personal touch!

Tips for hosting a large event: Clean the floors AFTER the event! I know this might sound crazy, but hear me out… We did a fair share of prep work. I had tables and chairs delivered Thursday night. We set the tables and styled the space on Friday. Saturday was just finishing touches before the event that evening. Sure, I did bathroom checks and wiped things down, but I didn’t want to stress too much about floors that would be messy again in just hours or little things that didn’t matter! I really wanted to enjoy the evening as well as the entire process of preparing for the event!

Another thing that helps (and makes it more fun!) is to recruit help! Let others serve where they are naturally gifted. A volunteer who owns a local craft shoppe took care of the handwritten notes. We asked the church to cater. I had some guys bring chairs and tables to my house. I didn’t take it all on myself!

This event was very special to me and my husband because we have been heavily involved in this ministry since the beginning of it all. We’ve seen lives changed for the better and we’ve seen the value of COMMUNITY! We believe it is so important for people to find a community and invest in it! We had 50 people in our living room. Looking around that night, it really hit me that my community is deep and it is wide. It’s a safe place. It’s loving, authentic, and we’re real with one another. We don’t try to pretend we’ve got it all together, because we know that truthfully, none of us do! We love and accept one another, serving together, week after week. We celebrate something much larger than ourselves, and that evening was such a tangible picture of this beautiful thing the Lord has built. I think it should probably become a new tradition!

Photography: Jordan Brittley | Design And Decor: Stellar Staging And Design