Homemade and heartfelt, this intimate brunch ceremony is without a doubt a dreamy. Overflowing with Splints & Daisies blooms, the sound of birds serenaded guests while they dinned family style filling vintage crockery with secret family recipes. While the newlyweds toasted over champagne and a stunning Bredenbeck’s Bakery sugar confection, With Love And Embers captured every detail here! 

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From With Love And Embers… Jenn & Jim’s weddings was hosted on the beautiful and lush ground of the Pearl S. Buck International Estate. Their day was nothing short of magical with the sounds of the birds serenading them and their guests for their intimate ceremony and brunch. They filled their reception with personal touches including family recipes, and Jenn’s own personal jam.

They hosted their reception as an intimate brunch for a few friends and family which made their wedding reception feel less like a reception and more like a family reunion. They enjoyed with their guests a family style served brunch, champagne and an assortment of desserts all over amazing conversation and plenty of laughter. Jenn is very much into flowers and her parents had grown peonies when she was younger, so it was a big part of their wedding day to have some of the most beautiful and creative flowers to welcome them and their guests with. The love they shared between the two of them and their guests that day was so heart warming and such an honor to be a part of and capture.

Photography: With Love & Embers | Coordination: Pastore Events | Florist: Splints & Daisies | Bakery: Bredenbeck's Bakery and Ice Cream Parlor | Catering: Joshua's Catering | Officiant: Rev. Larry Hall | Ceremony/Reception Venue: Pearl S Buck Int Estate | Hair/Makeup: Beautiful Brides Philly | Rentals: Maggpie Vintage Rentals

Award season is coming to an end with the grand finale this Sunday, the 87th Oscars. And we wanted to celebrate all the gorgeous fashion gracing the red carpet with a super fun printable. All the credit goes to Amy Atlas’s team for coming up with this beauty. We updated with some of our fave actresses for a fun fashion guessing game best paired with champagne cocktails or perhaps an Oscar Saki-Tini?

Gather your best girlfriends, some tasty sweet treats and bring your best guesses for Lupita’s bold color choices or J-Law’s designer of choice. Download the Oscar Fashion Ballot right here and catch a preview below.

And for more Oscar party ideas like twists on scrumptious snacks and cocktails worthy of an Oscar themselves, we’ve rounded up the perfect details to add to your Sunday night plans…

Oscar Worthy Party Details

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Oscar Worthy Party Details

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I’m hoping this couple’s positive spirit rubs off, because they sure know how to deal with an unexpected wedding day surprise. As torrential rain crashed their ceremony, umbrellas and smiles opened up, and improvisations were made, including a spontaneous beach photo shoot during a quick rain break. Emily Magers captured every moment, rain and shine, and these pics have me no longer fearing a few clouds.

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From Emily Magers Photography… Ashley & Michael are two of the most incredible souls I have ever encountered. Everything about their big day was beyond perfect, including the surprise torrential downpour! None the less, Maui was still perfect and everything about these two lovebirds was as well. Ashley got ready at The Andaz hotel on the beach and they got married on the Makenna Property near Big Beach in Maui, HI with the most beautiful outdoor ceremony and reception, all DIY by the bridal party. The area was filled with twinkle lights, mason jars, flowers, wood signs, and more, until the rain started. The ceremony was held at the venue site and even amongst pouring rain and soaking wet outfits, everyone had smiles on their faces and looked flawless! Due to the rain, after the ceremony we picked up and moved to a family friend’s house near by for the reception which was not the original plan, but still turned out perfect. On the drive to the house, Michael, Ashley, and I stopped the car and ran to the beach to catch the most incredible sunset!! There truly is a calm after the storm. It was the perfect touch for romantics after a rainy ceremony. I cannot get over how perfect everything about this destination wedding was or how passionately in love these two stunners are.

Photography: Emily Magers Photography | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Urban Outfitters | Location: Andaz Maui At Wailea

As a Chicago native and a full-blown wedding junkie, you can say I’m a tad bit smitten with the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. Take its pre-eminent address on Michigan Avenue, add in a seriously incredible Grand Ballroom + top it all off with top-notch service, and you’ve got what wedding dreams are made of. 

Offering couples their choice of gorgeous event spaces that can accommodate both large groups and more intimate functions, Four Seasons Hotel Chicago is the setting to some of the city’s most extraordinary events! From florals to cakes, ice carvings to linens + tabletop decor, the staff at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago are there to walk you through from “I will” to “I do!” Whether you’re planning a modern affair or a traditional soiree, the on-site catering managers and banquet teams will help bring your wedding day ideas into a seriously gorgeous reality.

For more information and to get started on planning your big day at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, head over here. Happy planning! xo

As beautiful as it is heartwarming, this backyard fete blends cultural touches and family tradition. Filled with Ixora Floral Studio ombre blooms, one sweet pug, and an invitation suite crafted by the Bride herself – every detail is meaningful. From the Chinese tea ceremony to the sweet pink hues, every image captured by Christine Choi proves that no matter where life brings you, home is where the heart is!

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From the beautiful Bride… Our wedding was filled to the brim with family traditions. Janak placed a family heirloom necklace around my neck during the wedding ceremony, an act that represents marriage in his Sri Lankan Buddhist culture. This particular necklace has been in his family for four generations, and, years ago, the necklace was divided into three separate chains, each chain earmarked for one of the three brothers to give to his future bride. My parents presented us with traditional jewelry during the Chinese tea ceremony. Our wedding cake, hand-made by my mother-in-law, featured the same wedding topper that was used in Janak’s parents’ own wedding decades ago. Janak wore the same tie his father wore to his own engagement many years ago.

I have absolutely no background in design, so I freely admit that my decision to design, letterpress, write calligraphy for, and watercolor my own invitations makes me certifiably insane. The process took me months, and even down to the final hour I was watercoloring tiny hearts on the letterpressed wedding maps. I scoured Google Image and vector websites to design the perfect wedding logo—my priority was to incorporate Chinese as well as Sri Lankan Buddhist elements (the character for “double happiness” and the lotus, respectively). After I finished my design in Adobe Illustrator, I ordered the plates from Boxcar Press. After a crash-course in letterpress, which included mixing thick rubber letterpress inks (my garage is still covered in ink splatters), I then printed two hundred-plus invitations using a cranky antique Kelsey cast-iron letterpress as well the much-easier, yet eminently less charming, modern L Letterpress. Finally, using Photoshop, I cut out a silhouette of my dog from an old photo and used the file to print out a tiny stamp at my local rubber stamp store. I used the silhouette and stamp of my beloved pug to add a whimsical unifying element to all of the wedding paper goods, from the save-the-dates, to the invitations, to the programs and menus.

From Christine Choi Photography… It has become a tradition for the groom’s family to have all their family weddings in his parents’ home. The Sunny and the Janak got ready in separate rooms in this gorgeous Pasadena home that resembled an art museum full of warmth and comfort. The ceremony took place in the front lawn under a huge overarching oak tree. The ethereal bride walked down an aisle strewn with hundreds of rose petals – pink, white, and red. After the ceremony, guests gathered in the side lawn to munch on mouth watering hors d’oeuvres. Everything was prepared on site with a full kitchen set up in the drive way. Then the guests were led to a beautifully decorated reception site with candle lit tables under a canopy of hundreds of pink and white paper lanterns. After a five-course meal, live music and a dance floor set up over the swimming pool enticed the guests to dance the night away with the happy couple.

Photography: Christine Choi Photography | Event Planning: Groom's Mom, Cherine Chandrasoma | Floral Design: Ixora Floral Studio | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Janak's Mom, Cherine Chandrasoma | Stationary: Bride | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Jewelry: Family Heirloom | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Ann Taylor | Catering: Kitchen for Exploring Foods | Hair & Makeup: Studio MM&B | Lighting: Kenny From Classic Party Rentals | Groom's Attire: Requisite Clothing | Groomsmen's Attire: Requisite Clothing | Bride's Veil: "Something Borrowed" Bride's Cousin Cynthia | Catering 1: Kitchen for Exploring Foods | Catering 2: Duck House | Ceremony And Reception: Groom's Parents' House | Music + MC: Mosco Rosco

With a total of 10 guests, this Nantucket wedding may be the epitome of intimate, but despite the small guest count, no detail was forgotten. With stunning, colorful flowers by Soiree Floral and Katie Kaizer snapping photos throughout the picturesque island, this was one stylish celebration. See the whole happy day, from the sparkling dress to the last kiss, right here.

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From The Bride… Everyone said that you will just know it when you meet the right person and they were right. Jeff swept me off my feet and I never looked back. A mutual friend had mentioned to each of us individually that she had “someone that she’d like us to meet”. She had mentioned this in passing once or twice, about two years prior to us actually meeting. It is funny how life works, but a number of things fell into place for each of us, both personally and professionally, and our friend and a little serendipity brought us to meet in person on April 2, 2013. We were engaged approximately eight and a half months later in Stowe, VT on December 20, 2013.

The first vacation Jeff and I ever took together was to Nantucket, where we attended the annual Wine Festival. Both of us had visited the island many times before and it is one of our most favorite places in the entire world to visit. Nantucket has an absolutely magical charm and beauty that anyone who has ever visited there just falls in love with. It is a very special place.
We wanted our wedding to be simple, elegant and intimate. We decided to keep it very small and just included our parents, our siblings and their significant others (a total of 10, including us). Our siblings were our attendants, Jeff’s sister, Tracy was the maid of honor and Erin’s brother, Michael was the best man. We rented a private home for a week and made a vacation out of the wedding week. We wanted our families to spend a week getting to know each other, sharing family stories, playing games and enjoying the island together. It turned out our families had a lot in common and really enjoyed their time together. Everyone arrived on a Saturday which enabled us to have a few days prior to the wedding to vacation and relax.

On the day of the wedding, we woke up to a foggy morning, however, just as we started to get ready for the ceremony, the sun came out and we experienced the most gorgeous bright blue skies with a light Nantucket breeze. The island provided such a tremendously beautiful backdrop for our photos. We ended up taking a variety of photos in various locations on the island such as Nantucket’s historic cobblestone Main Street and picturesque Siasconset. Everything was super blue and green and island flowers were in full bloom. The island provided a beautiful canvas for our wedding.

From a color scheme design perspective, I wanted to add pops of color. To incorporate these pops of color, I selected a coral Amsale bridesmaid dress for my maid of honor and for the floral arrangements I chose bright corals, soft peaches and greens. Dawn and Julie from Soiree Floral are so incredibly talented. Their work perfectly captured the vision of the wedding with stunning arrangements that fit with the overall theme of the wedding. Dawn and her team also designed the menu cards used for our place settings. I still wanted the wedding to have a nautical/preppy feel so I chose navy and white striped ties from Brooks Brothers to bring in the nautical look. The ties worked perfectly with Jeff’s custom suit which was light navy and the other guys’ suits which were a khaki/sand color. I chose a cathedral length veil to wear with my Martina Liana dress. The veil became such a special element in the wedding photos (especially with the lovely island breezes on the afternoon of the wedding). The veil literally floated in the wind for most of the pictures and our incredible photographer, Katie Kaizer was able to capture its ghostly magic.

The wedding ceremony was held at The First Congregational Church of Nantucket which is one of the most photographed historic churches on the island. We felt very welcomed by the church. Reverend Klingsporn took the time to get to know us as a couple and tailored the wedding ceremony to make it personal and special for the both of us.

The reception was held at the private residence where we vacationed for the week. The home boasts a beautiful expansive lawn. During the cocktail hour, we had two jazz guitarists play in the background as we sipped champagne and indulged in hors d’ oeuvres. The first dance, father/daughter and mother/son dances were held on the lawn as the warm afternoon sun shone over us.

Jeff and I are self-proclaimed foodies. Mark and Eithne Yelle from Nantucket Catering Company created an extensive and intricate gourmet menu of passed hors d’ oeuvres and a five course wedding dinner featuring local island faire such as oysters, sea scallops, locally made cheeses and produce from the local island farms with wine pairings. The wines we selected for the pairings included some of our favorites that we sipped on when we attended the Nantucket Wine Festival the previous year. To incorporate elements of Nantucket into the wedding, we chose a basket weave cake which resembled Nantucket lightship baskets. This custom two tier cake by Jodi Levesque of Jodi’s Cakes, had one layer of lemon cake with lemon buttercream frosting and a layer of toasted coconut and toasted coconut buttercream. It was amazing!

As Jeff and I have reflected on our wedding we smile every time we talk about it. The day was filled with emotion with lots of smiles, laughter and happy tears. It was the most relaxing day/week and we treasure the time spent with our closest family members where we built memories to last a lifetime.

Photography: Katie Kaizer Photography | Floral Design: Soiree Floral | Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia | Cake: Jodi's Cakes | Ceremony Venue: First Congregational Church Of Nantucket | Reception Venue: Private Residence | Catering: Nantucket Catering Company | Makeup: YG Makeup | Hair: RJ Miller | Ties: Brooks Brothers | Groom's Attire: David Morra Of Marc Allen Fine Clothiers | Transportation: Highland Drivers | Bridesmaids Dress: Amsale | Menu Design: Dawn Kelly Designs | Rentals: Jen Shepherd

It’s a question of what came first – the venue or the wedding style – but either way, these go together like bread and butter. With bright blooms, stunning stationery and plenty of pizazz, Estera Events made sure the presence of art was always close by for this Chicago celebration. Pen/Carlson captured every picture perfect moment and I’m declaring this gallery my main midweek source of inspiration.

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From Estera Events… Sarah lived in a building overlooking Chicago’s MCA for a few years. After making the move to Brooklyn with Stan, the MCA remained a special place for them. When deciding where to have their wedding, hosting it at the MCA was an easy decision for them! The lower patio and garden was transformed for their ceremony, which incorporated both Persian and American traditions. Guests sipped champagne while Sarah and Stan said their vows. Cocktail Hour took place on the upper terrace, with guests sipping cocktails, enjoying the photobooth, and ordering drinks from the bar covered in gold sequins. Once guests entered the MCA for dinner, they were greeted with an escort display of hanging ribbons and tassels with their escort cards attached. Dinner was served in the atrium of the MCA, with a unique table layout and enormous white balloons suspended overhead. For desert, five delicious cakes were flown in from Momofuku Milk Bar in New York, a favorite of Sarah and Stan’s. These gorgeous cakes were displayed on Nimblewell pieces. Dancing took place in the cafe, where Sarah and Stan had their first dance to Etta James “Teach Me Tonight”, and Sarah changed into the most gorgeous custom feather mini skirt!

Photography: Pen/Carlson | Videography: XO Pictures | Event Planning: Estera Events | Floral Design: Fleur Inc | Wedding Dress: Kathryn Conover | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar | Reception Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago | Catering: Wolfgang Puck Catering | Hair And Makeup: Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists | DJ: Toast and Jam | Balloons: Balloons By Tommy | Draping: Art of Imagination | Furniture Rentals: Bowery And Bash | Photobooth: Magnolia Photo Booth Co. | Vintage Rentals: Nimble Well

Intimate, personal, and nothing short of magical, this chic Chicago fete is the definition of fun. From the mini chicken and waffles served during cocktail hour, to the DIY paper cranes, to the couple’s dog posing as a paper cut out, every detail was planned to perfection. With touches like personal vows and the couple’s homemade sugar pie the sweetness is evident with every T&C Photographie image here!

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From the beautiful Bride… This love story began when the two of us met through a mutual friend. We hit it off immediately, and became fast friends. We spent the better part of the following year diving head first into best-friendship, but couldn’t deny that we were falling for each other. I told my parents and friends that I just knew I was going to marry him before we even started dating.

Matthew & I got married at Loft on Lake in Chicago, IL. We wanted to showcase the beauty of the Loft space itself by keeping decorations clean and minimal. We had our ceremony indoors, and moved to the front area for cocktail hour while the room was flipped for our reception. To start off the day, the Groomsmen and Dads joined Matt for a straight razor shave and haircut party at a local barber shop, while the Bridesmaids, Flower Girl, Moms and I got ready in the Presidential suite at our hotel. We had an incredible team of vendors to help pull off our vision, but we did all of the planning on our own! Matt & I did quite a bit of DIY to make the day feel more personal, and my family made an incredible paper crane piece that hung on the Loft’s brick wall from a birch branch.

We wanted to make sure our wedding felt extremely personal and the opposite of traditional. The day was intimate, personal, and nothing short of magical. We believe that definitely shows in our photos. August 30th, 2014 will be my favorite day forever!

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DIY paper crane escort cards
1 | Fold paper cranes in a variety of 3″ x 3″ paper patterns
2 | Affix twine between two standing objects
3 | Hang cranes with mini clothespins
4| Write names on front and table numbers on back of tags
5 | Tie name tags with ribbon
6 | Hang ribbon off cranes

DIY paper crane wall/backdrop
1 | Fold paper cranes in a variety of 6″ x 6″ solid colors
2 | Thread gold embroidery floss on a needle
3 | Use needle to thread cranes from the hole in the bottom through the top center
4 | Thread as many cranes as you’d like onto a single string (we liked them varying heights/numbers)
5 | Spread cranes out along the string
6 | Add dot/bead of hot glue underneath the bottom of each crane, and slide the crane just over the bead of glue
7 | Once dry, tie each string onto a birch branch (you could also use a dowel rod, or any other long object)
8 | We hung our birch branch and cranes up against the wall behind the head table. It also makes a fantastic backdrop for photos.

Photography: T&C Photographie | Floral Design: Flowers by Stem | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Bride's Shoes: BHLDN | Bridesmaids' Dresses: The Dainty Yard | Catering: Hearty Boys | Makeup: Shannon O'Brien MUA | Hair Stylist: Debra Petrielli Freelance Hairstylist | DJ: Style Matters DJs | Hotel: Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro | Bride's Earrings: BHLDN | Bride's Sash: BHLDN | Bridesmaid's Earrings: Bauble Bar | Ceremony & Reception: Loft on Lake | Ceremony Backdrop: Satin Chair Covers Rental | Confetti: BHLDN | Day Of Coordinator: Sarah Rhodes-Boyce | Groom & Groomsmen Shirts: Nordstrom | Groom & Groomsmen Suits: Jos. A. Bank | Groom & Groomsmen Ties/Suspenders: The Tie Bar | Groom's Shoes: Navy/Tan Sperry Topsiders | Groomsmen Shoes: Navy/Tan Sperry Topsiders | Pie Topper: BHLDN | Pizelles: Mark + Colette Evans | Shaving Party: Church Of Evangelical Faith | Sugar Pie: Mindy Segal

We are currently experiencing a record-breaking winter up here at SMP HQ, so this “Winter Onederland” birthday party couldn’t come at a better time. It’s so lovely and cozy, you can’t help but love every image Palette Of Light snapped up of this sweet little fête Mindy Kopald threw for her darling tutu-wearing cutey. It almost makes you forget about the cold for a bit, and there is even more adorable waiting for you here.

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I can’t believe my baby girl, born 7 weeks early at only 5 pounds 1 ounce, is already a walking babbling one year old. To celebrate my little miracle, I went big for her birthday party. As a mama with the mostess and DIY crafting queen, I decided to play party planner for this very important celebration. I got my glitter fix by hand making the invitations, food labels, and high chair banner.

Adeline was born on one of the coldest days of the year, and spent the longest 10 days of my life in the NICU, so I felt it was fitting to throw her a completely over the top elegant Winter Onederland birthday party at the YMCA Log Lodge in Rockford Illinois.

The Lodge’s traditional log cabin architecture (built by lumberjacks in 1947 without the use of nails) was the perfect venue. It boasts vaulted ceilings, enormous wrought iron chandeliers, a panoramic view of the Rock river, and two gigantic wood burning fireplaces. I choose to offset the rustic look of the venue with delicate gold chiavari chairs, shimmery pink billowing taffeta tablecloths sprinkled with metallic gold dot confetti, and gold mercury glass vases filled with tea roses. I arranged white, pink, and gold Christmas trees against a panoramic window overlooking the river. Dozens of candles and two crackling fires added a cozy feel to the room, and a huge antique red oriental rug was added to pull everything together.

We rewarded guests who ventured out into the frigid temperatures and blustering snow with a gourmet hot cocoa bar including homemade marshmallows, flavored whipped cream, and peppermint sticks. A beautiful dessert spread was served on antique pink depression glass. The Sweetery created a 2 tier strawberry champagne flavored cake fit for a snow queen, along with a matching smash cake just for the birthday girl, gold sugar dusted French macaroons and strawberry lemonade, orange dreamsicle, and banana caramel cake pops. Fluffy pink buttercream frosted cupcakes were brought in from Sweet Mandy B’s in Chicago.

The birthday girl was dressed to the nines in a tutu hand made from 10 yards of pink and champagne tulle, paired with a sequined cape, glittery tank top, and embellished star headband from Tutu Du Monde. Palette of Light captured all of the sparkle and shine. It truly was a magical day.

Photography: Palette Of Light | Cupcakes: Sweet Mandy B's | #1 Birthday Candles: Republic Of Party | Cake Pops, French Macaroons, Birthday Cake: The Sweetery | Chair Rental: Elegant Presentations | Outfit: Tutu Du Monde | Party Planner: Mindy Kopald | Party Venue: YMCA Log Lodge | Tablecloths: Wholesale Wedding Chair Covers | Vases: Save On Crafts

It’s no secret home is where the heart is. And today, we’re taking inspiration from one of our favorite Hollywood girls whose California casa played setting for her recent “I dos” to Benji Madden (we’re looking at you, Cameron D!). Indoor to outdoor, glam to handmade, we’ve gathered up some of our favorite ideas to show you just how fun an at-home affair can be.

At-Home Wedding Ideas

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At-Home Wedding Ideas

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If you missed our segment on the Meredith Vieira Show, you’re in luck my friends. Abby dished secrets on crafting a gorgeous space no matter what your budget. From perfectly kissable DIY art, to on-trend accessories and pieces so worthy of a splurge, we have all the Strapped, Settle and Splurge details below and all you have to do is hit play.

Dying to know where that gorgeous lamp is from or the steps for making that insanely cute striped pillow? We have all the details for recreating the Meredith Vieira Show look right here + DIY’s below.

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CHECK OUT ALL THE DIY’s FROM THE SHOW

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Strapped, Settle, Splurge!

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Strapped, Settle, Splurge!

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This beautiful wedding at Old Broadwater Farm has so much heart I can hardly contain my happiness. You can honestly feel the love coming through the screen thanks to the gorgeous images from Emma Pointon, and there is nothing better than that. There was so much love poured into each and every detail, and you can see what I mean right here.

Planning our wedding was the most fun. We loved the lead up to our day and were so excited to have our family and friends come together to celebrate with us. We would do it all again in a heartbeat as it truly was the most amazing day of our lives.

Old Broadwater Farm was the first (and only) venue we looked at. I had been doing some online searching for possible venues and came across Old Broadwater Farm (OBF). The farm was located in Busselton which is a town Mihai and I visit frequently. Deciding to go and check it out in person provided us with the perfect excuse for a weekend getaway. At the farm we met with Anna and we were just blown away with how beautiful the venue was. We knew in an instance that this is where we would get married and locked in the date of the 1st November 2014 with Anna. The style that we wanted for our wedding was ‘elegant and pretty’. Selecting Old Broadwater Farm as our venue allowed us to bring this vision to life.

After selecting our location our next priority was organising our photographer. I already had my heart set on Emma Pointon being the photographer at our wedding. I had admired her work for a number of years. Luckily for us, Emma was available and we were so excited that she would be the photographer at our wedding and create everlasting memories for us.

Holding our reception at OBF meant that we could bring in our own caterers and were able to supply our own beverages on the day. We worked with Cape Cellars in providing the beverages. They helped us with total quantities and what we would should serve to our 72 guests. They dropped off and set everything up for us on the day as well as supplying all our ice requirements. We also had the option of returning anything that we had purchased, that was not opened, after our wedding and being refunded for those items – this was fabulous!!! Goanna Gallery were our caterers. Mihai and I love going out for dinner and it was important to us that there would be plenty of gorgeous food available to our guests. Goanna Gallery served the most delicious canapés at our pre-reception and then served the most amazing dinner. Many of our guests had second servings and still rave about the food from the day. Goanna Gallery were so wonderful and professional to work with in the lead up to the wedding and the food was just stunning on the day, we could not have asked for more from them.

I am an avid baker and come from a family of avid bakers. I therefore made the decision to make our wedding cake. We ended up deciding to serve three individual cakes as part of a dessert bar that guests could help themselves to after dinner or choose to take some items home for a ‘midnight’ snack!!! The dessert bar included treats made by myself, Mihai and my mum. We made caramel slice, brandy slice, melting moments, fruitcake and individual lemon cheesecake and cookies and cream cheesecake. The three wedding cakes were chocolate mud, raspberry and hazelnut and a traditional fruitcake that was made by my mum. The fruitcake was the cake that Mihai and I cut and we have kept this cake to celebrate on our 1st anniversary. Mihai and I made sure we stole a little dessert for ourselves for breakfast the following day!!!

Our celebrant was the beautiful Di Moore who we also found online. Di spent the time to really get to know Mihai and I and put together the most beautiful ceremony. It was important to include our family and friends in our ceremony. Both sets of our parents jointly provided their blessing for our marriage and we also had two readings. One was performed by my mum and the other by a very close friend of both of ours. One of our favourite parts of the day was walking back down the aisle as husband and wife and being showered in rose petals by our guests. Mihai and I stole a small moment together before heading back to be congratulated by our family and friends.

We only had a small bridal party. My maid-of-honour was my sister and Mihai’s best man was one of his (our) best mates. Mihai and his best man both wore Hugo Boss on the day. My maid-of-honour wore a beautiful pale pink, Grecian style dress that was purchased and made locally. My sister was engaged shortly after Mihai and I were. This was perfect timing as we were able to go wedding dress shopping together with our mum. We ended up both purchasing our wedding dresses on the same day. I purchased my dress from Raffinato Bridal and absolutely loved it, I never wanted to take it off at the end of the day. It was ivory with beautiful lace and beading details. It had a full skirt and long train. I selected a chapel length, single tier veil that blended in with the skirt of my dress.

Mihai and I were very hands on with the styling of our wedding. We designed and printed all the stationery (invitations, menus and programs), sewed our own bunting, prepared the bomboniere (boxes of M&M’s, because both our names begin with ‘M’), prepared home-made punch for our guests and Mihai also made the sign that was displayed at the entry of our venue. We met with Bree Shine a few times in the lead up to our wedding. Bree set everything up for us on the day (with the exception of the flowers) and realised our vision for everything, we had planned, to perfection.

Sorella Flower Merchants (a sister team) provided all the floral arrangements for the day. I just love flowers and there were no shortage of blooms on the day!!! They decorated the aisle with petals and bunches of flowers in mason jars that hung from the chairs the guests sat in. There were bunches of flowers that lined the two long tables that our guests were seated at for the reception. The made the bouquets my sister and I carried along with a head piece that I wore during the reception. They added the special touch of setting up a flower wrapping table at our reception so at the end of the evening our guests could pick a bunch of flowers from the table, wrap them in brown paper and twine and take the flowers home with them.

A close friend was our MC for the night and my old boss allowed us the use of his car for the day and drove me with my dad and sister to the ceremony. A friend of my brother looked after the music at our ceremony and then played live acoustic guitar at our pre-reception which our guests thoroughly enjoyed. After speeches and cutting the cake our DJ provided the music so we could dance the night away.

Our wedding day was everything we could have hoped for and more. All our suppliers were so simply wonderful to deal with and were so professional at what they do. We enjoyed the whole lead up to the day and would do anything to be able to re-live the day in full if we could. It was the most stunning day filled with so much love and happiness, truly the most perfect start to spending the rest of our lives together!!!

Photography: Photography By Emma Pointon | Styling: Bree Shine | Floral Design: Sorella Flower Merchant | Wedding Dress: Raffinato Bridal | Ceremony Venue: Old Broadwater Farm | Reception Venue: Old Broadwater Farm | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Studio Collections | Catering: Goanna Gallery | Makeup: Brooke Carter | Hair: Raezors Hair Studio | Grooms Attire: Hugo Boss | Celebrant: Diane Moore | Beverages: Cape Cellars | Bride And Groom Wedding Bands: Thomas Meihofer Jewelery Design | Bride's Dress Alterations: Leisa's Dressmaking | Clutch: Ellen Vintage Boutique | Dessert Table: Bride & Mother-of-the-Bride | Gift Registry: Wedding List Co | Guest Signing: Yum Yum Emporium | Hangers: Heavenly Hangers | Invitations & Stationery: Bride | Music: Tom Day | Nails: Tip To Toe - House Of Polish | Wedding Cakes: Bride

This is a wedding that takes a breathtaking Secluded Garden Estate setting and weaves in some fabulous modern touches with an elegant color palette in rich shades of red and green… and let me tell you, loves, it’s amazing.  Think lush blooms from Memo’s Flowers meets bold black stripes meets the wonderful images of Candice Benjamin Photography.  See them all in the full gallery.  

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From The Bride… Chris and I have been together for ten years, and trying to pinpoint a place where we wanted to get married was difficult because we have had so many memories. We decided to think outside the box and chose Temecula. Our location is serene, yet unique. We wanted to incorporate our elegant color scheme of black and white with the rustic feel of the outdoor venue. Once we found the perfect place, all the details fell in to place. We wanted to keep everything clean, classic but with a touch of style.

Our vows were our favorite part of our wedding day. I have never felt so alone with Chris in my entire life. It was as if we were the only two people who existed. It was a special moment for the both of us. It was really special seeing all of our details come to life. Everything was magical.

Photography: Candice Benjamin Photography | Florals: Memo, Memo's Flowers | Wedding Dress: Lovely Bridal Shop | Cake: Cakes To Celebrate | Catering: Elliot, Gava D's BBQ | Makeup: Cole Lasher | Hair: Mount Tabor Park | DJ: Fisher Productions, Nawaf Fisher | Band: Delu Music - Joaquin | Officiant: Jared Powell | Bartender: Monika, Tenders | Ceremony And Reception: Secluded Garden Estate | Cigars And Cigar Roller: Bo's Cigar Lounge | Coordinaton: Jen Pizano, Sweet Love Events | Rental Chairs: Premier Party Rentals | Tables, Chair, Linen And Bar Rental: CMC Party Rental

First off, would you believe me if I told you this love sesh was set at the couple’s home? Yes. This is their gorgeous backyard, and if I’m being honest, I’m completely jellin’. At-home engagements always seem to have a relaxed feel about them, which makes me love them even more. Plus, when you have Greer G Photography behind the lens—the captures are sure to be jaw-dropping.

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From the beautiful Bride-to-be… Lee and I met in college through mutual friends and were engaged 7 years later. When we started planning our wedding, I immediately fell in love with Greer’s work and knew her talents would capture our personalities and the elegant simple look we were going for. We had several locations in mind to choose from, but we decided to have the session at our home where the sunlight was perfect that day. Being at home made us feel more relaxed and authentic in front of the camera. We were so happy to work with Greer and are looking forward to her capturing our wedding day!

Photography: Greer Gattuso

Time and again Laurie Arons’ gorgeously designed events have graced our pages and wowed us beyond belief. And when you team her up with some of the industry’s incredibly talented creatives, set amongst the breathtaking scenery of The Ranch at Rock Creek, the Wedding Planner Masterclass by Laurie Arons is born. Take a peek at one of our most-loved soirees by Laurie, captured by the amazing Jose Villa, and see more details on the Masterclass below!

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Ridiculously stunning, right?! We can’t wait to see the results of her Masterclass, taking place this April 20-24th, which will be beautifully snapped up by our dear friend Jose Villa and co-designed by Mindy Rice. Not to mention, Casa de Perrin will be sprinkling the tables with their pretties, Amber Moon Design will be providing graphic design goodies and Paula LeDuc Fine Catering of course, adding their delicious touch. And lucky us, we’ll be there to witness it all and provide some valuable tips on getting published! It’s a seriously amazing group, folks.

Dates: April 20th-24th, 2015

Location: The Ranch at Rock Creek

More details and reserve your spot here!

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From Laurie Arons Special Events… I was inspired to create the Wedding Planner Masterclass after my experience collaborating with friend and colleague Jose Villa on four of his photography workshops. Held in intimate, beautiful settings, his workshops are an opportunity for students to step away from daily life and focus on education and creativity in an inspiring environment. I found it incredibly rewarding getting to know the next generation of wedding photographers and help them develop their businesses. I also cherished the design process with such talented industry professionals, as we dreamed up unique wedding scapes in these spectacular locales.

I realized there is a need for something just like this in the planning world – a workshop for young wedding planners to gain practical industry knowledge, but also be inspired to take their work to the next level. The Wedding Planner Masterclass is a four day intensive workshop where I’ll share substantial advice, resources and secrets I’ve learned planning weddings for over 20 years. Students will also hear from industry leaders (Jose Villa, Mindy Rice Design and Style Me Pretty to name a few!) to gain unique perspective into their disciplines and build valuable relationships.

I chose to hold the Masterclass at the Ranch at Rock Creek as a luxurious escape from the daily stresses of event planning. This five-star ranch is visually spectacular and has outstanding service, so students can take a deep breath and open their minds to the experience. As we share meals and enjoy activities at the ranch, there will be countless opportunities for students to ask questions, share stories and make new friends. We’ve also planned some beautiful wedding designs and special surprises to make this a significant and memorable experience for all.

The Wedding Planner Masterclass will be held April 20th – 24th, 2015 at The Ranch at Rock Creek in Philipsburg, Montana. Space is limited, so visit lauriearons.com/masterclass to register. Email events@lauriearons.com for more details.

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Masterclass Host, Guest Speakers & Contributors… Masterclass: Laurie Arons Special Events | Photography: Jose Villa Photography | Venue: The Ranch at Rock Creek | Floral and Event Design: Mindy Rice Design | Filmmaker and Photographer: Joel Serrato | Rentals: Casa de Perrin | Catering: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering | Graphic Design: Amber Moon Design

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Wedding Credits… Photography: Jose Villa Photography | Planner: Laurie Arons Special Events | Floral Design and Furniture: Kathleen Deery Design | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Perfect Endings | Invitations: A Day In May Design | Hair And Makeup: Jim Avila | Calligraphy: Maybelle Isama-Stukuls | Lighting: Illusions Lighting | Flower Girl Dresses: Crewcuts | Rentals: Hartmann Studios | Tent: Zephyr Tents

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Photography

Jose Villa Photography

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Laurie Arons Special Events

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Take two sweethearts (a gorgeous former cheerleader + a handsome professional basketball player), a stunning Trump National Golf Club setting and a team of vendors that know a thing or two about throwing a fabulous party and the results are this: a breathtaking classic meets modern affair with some of the prettiest details you will ever see.  See it all captured by Cade Bowman right here. 

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Although I don’t consider myself a girly girl, I have been dreaming of my wedding day for my entire life. Those dreams varied between a tented outdoor event a la “Father of the Bride” to a lavish Italian destination wedding. The realities of a wedding budget and a large guest list made us really have to focus on what was important to us. I love the look and feel of outdoor weddings, but the fear of bad weather was too overpowering for us to commit to. Thankfully, we found Trump National Lakefront Ballroom, which, with its floor to ceiling windows overlooking scenic Lake Norman, gave us that feeling but kept the 200 person ceremony, cocktail hour and reception weatherproof.

My now husband did not have strong opinions about much. We discussed what he cared about at the beginning (venue, food, drinks, music and CAKE), and we made sure he was involved in all of those planning decisions. As for everything else, I ran with it!

When we first toured Trump, it was being completely renovated. It used to be a very rustic, elegant location with a lot of exposed wood beams, stone, etc. When Trump purchased, he brought the glitz and glam that he’s known for. This was not exactly my style, but I ran with it and made sure that our decor wouldn’t feel out of place. I decided on black, white, gold, pinks and corals for the color scheme. The venue already featured a lot of these colors, so I didn’t have to spend a lot of money bringing in linens or chairs. This was sort of the theme of the planning process for me: make it look amazing, but as affordably as possible. I did this by tackling several DIY projects and being resourceful when finding decor (the internet is your friend!).

Instead of huge floral centerpiece on every table, we focused on our head table, and used single bud vases, candlesticks and bridesmaid bouquets on the other tables. I took inspiration from our invitations and designed our place cards and programs myself, and collected coupons from Vista Print to get them printed. I have an obsession with animal decor (just ask my husband), so I bought hundreds of plastic jungle animals, put a slit in the back with a dremel, and spray painted them gold for place card holders.

We also tried to find interesting ways to interject our personalities. Brendan played four years of basketball at Davidson University, and I was a cheerleader for two at UNC-Chapel Hill. So I designed basketball jersey koozies as guest favors, and our friends and family sent us off with pom poms at the end of the night.

Overall, our wedding day was absolutely perfect. We were surrounded by loving family and friends, and everything turned out exactly as we had hoped. The only thing we wish we could’ve changed? Make the party last a bit longer!

Photography: Cade Bowman | Floral Design: Lily Greenthumb's Wedding & Event Design | Wedding Dress: Bridals By Lori | Invitations: Minted | Bridesmaid Dresses: ModCloth | DJ: All The Right Grooves | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Officiant: Reverend Rebecca Nagy | Venue: Trump National Golf Club Charlotte | Ceremony Musicians: The Knot | Linens: Fabulous Events | Photo Booth: Shoebox Photo Booth Rental | Photography - Assistance: Chris Kale

I have my own little Hudson but I promise my love for this room has nothing to do with the amazing name of this adorable little boy. It’s a universal wow moment; a modern striped nursery with flashes of chrome and a heard of fuzzy stuffed animals. A place where Hudson and his talented mama can play and read to their hearts content. See the full tour captured by Renée Hollingshead here!

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Mom and nursery designer, Christina Boschetti of Widell Designs, styled a rockstar modern nursery for her baby boy Hudson Sawyer. She incorporated a mix of modern items with a hint of vintage, creating the perfect nursery for the cutest little rockstar. The castle side table that you will see featured is a vintage toy shop display that was handed down to her son by her brother-in-law. They purchased it from the toy shop 25+ years ago and it is a statement piece displaying adorable toy animals. We love all the little details and especially that striped wall! Here is what she had to say about it:

My inspiration started with the diagonal striped wall. I wanted to put a twist on the classic stripe by making it bold using black and super wide stripes. Most people are scared to use black in the nursery whereas I was excited to see where it would take me! I figured whatever color I brought into the room later on would POP! My favorite part decorating the nursery was picking out all the counterparts piece by piece; either running to Homegoods once the new shipment came in to waiting patiently for that eBay sale to close! Everything just came together exactly how I envisioned it.

Photographer: Renee Hollingshead Photography | Area Rug: The Rug Company | Bedding: Pottery Barn | Changing Table: Babyletto | Chevron Changing Pad: Trendlab | Concept + Design: Widell Designs | Crib: Babyletto | Crib Mobile: Pottery Barn | Curtains: Ikea | Custom “Hudson” Wood Blocks: Ebay | Eco Cross Baby Blanket: Spearmint Love | Globe Lamp: Ikea | Grey Boxes: Ikea | H & S Letters: Michaels | Horse Hamper: H&M | Hudson's Onesie: Gap | Mustache Pacifier: Amazon | Never Grow Up Framed Art: Eulenschnitt | Rocker: Nursery Works | Shelves: Ikea | Silver Old School Car: Oskar And Catie | Silver Ottoman: Etsy | Silver Robot: Home Goods | Striped Baskets: The Container Store

Let’s face it, as much fun as registering can be, it can also be a little daunting.  From the who to the what to the where to the how, there are A LOT of questions you need answered.  Enter Zola, the online registry that says goodbye to all of that registry-induced panic and hello to a stylishly simple way of registering with a step by step guide to help keep you on the happy track to an awesome experience.

Believe you me, Zola’s registry checklist is the best thing to happen since, well… Zola.  Which is no surprise, really, since Zola is the only place where you can register for everything from products to services to crazy cool experiences from literally ANY store on the web.  Just sign up for your FREE account and create your sure-to-wow registry with these easy steps:

1. Personalize your registry!  Zola’s crazy beautiful registry pages make adding your special touch seriously easy-peasy.  Upload heartfelt messages, special collections, fun-filled photos and even a custom URL to make things truly yours.

2. Mix and match!  Create the home you’ve always dreamed of by mixing and matching Zola’s 200+ brands with amazing experiences (think cooking classes or hiking), Group Gifting (perfect for the pricier item you’ve had your eye on), honeymoon and cash funds or that special handmade item from your fave local boutique using the Bookmarklet Feature, which allows you to easily add items from anywhere online.

3. Get inspired! Need some help to get those creative registry juices flowing?  Zola has you covered with their fabulous Buying Guide, Starter Collections and Registry Concierge, which means you’ll have specially curated collections and an entire world of expert help right at your fingertips.  It’s that awesome.

4. Turn to technology! Just another way Zola is guaranteeing an amazing experience: with easy access day or night.  From their iPhone app that boasts a barcode scanner and mobile alerts to their Virtual Exchange, Send It Later option, and Gift Tracker, which makes writing those thanks you’s about a million times less stressful, Zola will do all of the hard work for you.

So now that you are completely obsessed with Zola and their simple to use, super stylish registries, you should also know that SMP readers will receive $25 in Zola credits when you create your Zola registry!  New registries must be started (but not necessarily published) between February 17, 2015 and May 17, 2015.  Credits will be placed into the couple’s Zola account 4 weeks after a couple’s registry is published live.

Head on over to Zola to get started and don’t forget to visit them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

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

Petit Bouquet

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I fell more and more in love with this wedding – and this couple – with every photo I went through. From their adorable pups at the ceremony (escorted by their best men no less) to the dapper suits and macaroon cake at the reception, this California celebration captured by heart. Abi Q didn’t miss a second of this stylish soiree planned by Going Lovely, and you can see the whole fantastic day right here.

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From Going Lovely… When Rich and Kiko first reached out to us and gave us a glimpse into their style along with the lowdown on their love story, we knew their big day was going to be epic. Then we met them in person and the love and energy between them was so evident as they finished each other’s sentences and were just oh so fun. Oh, and they had an impeccable sense of style in addition to being downright darling. They had already booked the modern and playful Barndiva for their big day and wanted our help organizing a festive and fun 4th of July weekend for all of their closest friends and family. They kicked off the weekend with a welcome dinner at the Hotel Healdsburg complete with a traditional Filipino pig roast, custom cocktails, lawn games and fireworks with all of their family and friends (including their sweet dogs Lucy and RJ).

We enlisted the oh so talented Abi Q Photography to capture their big day and she did so without a hitch. The theme was masculine and modern, and we used Succulence to incorporate their love of succulents throughout the decor.

Their ceremony was incredibly intimate and heartfelt. They were each walked down the aisle by their parents and even included their sweet Yorkies as well that were carried by their best men. As a homage to Kiko’s Filipino culture, the two wore the Barong Tagalog – the formal and traditional attire made from pineapple fibers. They both wrote their own vows and there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd!

Following the ceremony, they changed into incredibly stylish suits and were as handsome as can be. Guests enjoyed cocktail hour in the modern art gallery sipping on custom cocktails while taking Polaroids for the grooms to keep as an alternative wedding guest book.

We incorporated a masculine vintage lounge from One True Love Rentals- complete with a leather chesterfield sofa, which was well utilized throughout the night.

Dinner took place outdoors in an intimate garden setting under a canopy of string lights. To keep with the rustic and masculine theme, we incorporated lots of leafy greens amongst the succulent centerpieces, copper accents, amber medicine bottle bud vases and rustic antlers along with custom menus and navy linens. The ‘head’ table was in the center of the action on a large rustic farm table that we filled with extra large copper candle lanterns, which added the perfect amount of romantic and rustic lighting.

The fun continued throughout the night with a macaron tower ‘cake’, lots and lots of dancing, a photobooth and a late night delivery of In-n-Out burgers! It was an amazing weekend filled with lots of love, laughter and a great time had by all.

Photography: Abi Q Photography | Event Planning & Design: Going Lovely | Florals: Succulence | DJ: John Piazza | Grooms Attire: Ted Baker | Catering And Mini Desserts: Barndiva | Ceremony & Reception: Barndiva | Getting Ready: Healdsburg Modern Cottages | Grooms Shoes: Magnanni | Linens: Wine Country Party | Macaron Tower: Tout Sweet | Paper Goods: Hen & Co. | Vintage Rentals: One True Love Vintage Rentals | Wood Ceremony Pedestal Rentals: Wine Country Party

When we dreamed up the cutest Puppy Bowl Watching celebration ever, this DIY naturally came to fruition… the Tassel Dog Leash. Is it weird to make the leash before you have the dog? Because I don’t currently own a fur baby but sort of think it’s a must if its accoutrements are this dang cute. Read on for the easy steps all photographed by Ruth Eileen Photography.

10’ of white rope in thickness of your choice (we used ¼” for smaller dogs and ½” for larger dogs)
Brass snap hook (in one size larger than the thickness of the rope)
Leather or suede scraps
Leather lace
Fabric glue
Scissors

Cut the rope to the length you’d like, plus a little extra to form a loop for your hand and a loop for the hook.

Slip the brass snap hook onto one end of rope. Loosen the three strands of the rope at the cut end and splice them into the rope following the instructions here.

Create a loop on the other end of the leash for your hand and splice the rope together, following the same method as before.

Wrap the edges of the spliced rope sections in leather to bind them. Secure with fabric glue.

Create 5-6 leather tassels of varying lengths, following the instructions here.

String the tassels onto a length of leather lace and tie onto the brass snap hook of the leash.

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Design & Styling: SMP Living