Their morning coffee was made monumental when this Groom got down on one knee, and with family and friends in attendance the wedding that followed was marvelous. Details With Love was behind the wildly elegant day filling tables with Stoneblossom Floral & Event Design blooms, while Steve DePino snapped up every sweet moment right here!

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From Steve DePino… Kurt and Alex met on February 27, 2010 at Elizabeth in SoHo (now called The Musket Room). Kurt was attending his roommate’s going away party and Alex was there for a former co-worker’s half-marathon fundraiser. In the whirlwind of people that night, they somehow started talking and realized that not only did they work in the same industry, but also knew several people in common. The time flew by and suddenly it was time to leave their respective parties. While Kurt tried to convince Alex to leave her friends and join his party for the rest of the evening, she declined and he settled for her phone number instead. The following Monday, Alex received a text from Kurt asking her to meet up for a drink later that Wednesday. Alex wanted to accept the invitation, but was embarrassed that she couldn’t even recall his name, only pieces of their conversation. Alex decided that if she could figure out a way to properly internet stalk Kurt on Facebook, then she would accept the date. After scanning through nearly 600 Facebook friends of one of the friends they had discovered they had in common Alex spotted Kurt’s smile and decided that, now that she knew his name, she would go out with him. Alex arrived 15 minutes late (per usual) for their date that Wednesday at Cibar in Gramercy Park and Kurt already had a drink waiting for her (smart man!). The chemistry was immediate as the conversation, jokes and banter flowed very naturally. The night ended with Kurt and Alex’s first kiss and the start to one of their very first inside jokes.

Alex and Kurt knew that they would get married very early in their relationship, but wanted to wait until the moment was right to get engaged. Alex had always told Kurt that she wanted to be surprised when he popped the question, although at the same time she was getting a little anxious about when he would finally ask. With her radar on, Alex was pretty sure there was no way she would be surprised but alas Kurt found the one time, when all her guard was down, to ask her to be his wife. It was a typical Sunday morning; Kurt ran out to get their morning coffee at Le Pain Quotidian while Alex watched Fareed Zakaria GPS. When Kurt came back with the coffee he cracked a few jokes and before she knew it Kurt had put a ring on her finger. (Alex likes to remind Kurt that he didn’t actually ask, and her father says the same thing about when Kurt asked him for Alex’s hand!). Together they called all of their friends and family and went to ABC Cocina to celebrate.

Some of our favorite moments of the wedding were when Kurt’s dad threw Alex’s dad a box of tissues mid-speech because it showed how well our families get along and how we all share the same fun-loving sense of humor.

Alex smiling and giggling the whole way down the aisle because she was so excited to marry Kurt and because she was so happy to have all the most important people in our lives there to celebrate this wonderful occasion with them. It was really nice that almost everyone in attendance really knew both of us as individuals and as a couple.

Looking around and seeing all of their wonderful family and friends out on the dance floor having a ball including the Bride’s 92 year-old great Aunt (Alex’s paternal grandmother’s sister)! Alex’s paternal grandparents are no longer with us, but she is certain that the wedding was a party they would have loved and that they were toasting us with martinis from heaven. Looking around at how beautiful Champ Soleil looked. It is such a special place and we are eternally grateful to Alex’s uncles Kenny & Josh for offering their home to us for the occasion.

Welcoming Alex’s dad into the “sleeveless tuxedo club” despite the objections of some in attendance.

The sun that poked through the ominous storm clouds as we said our vows.

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Photography: Steve DePino | Event Planner + Designer: Details With Love | Photography – Assistance: Lauren Ann Isleib | Photography – Assistance: Paul McNerney | Floral Design: Stoneblossom Floral & Event Design | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Confectionery Designs | Reception Venue: Champ Soleil | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bracelet: Mikimoto | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Blackstone Catering | Tux: Sean Vokshoor, Zohreh Inc | Earrings: Crislu 

I’m eager for an invite to a destination wedding, to attend a celebration like this one here, combining classic elegance with fantastic local flavors. Wedding Venues in Spain took the groom’s heritage and creatively incorporated it with his bride’s stylish eye, and what we get is perfection. Agata Jensen captured it all and I’ll be adding Andalucia to my wanderlust list purely from these photos right here.

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From The Bride… Paul and I met while working together in San Diego. After a year of crossing paths we began dating in 2007. One of the things we love doing most is to travel. We often spent time in Spain to visit Paul’s family as he was born there. On our fourth trip back, Paul surprised me with an excursion to Ronda and a stay at the famous Parador hotel. He walked me out on the balcony and began showing me a video he had made of all of our trips over the last six years, it was absolutely amazing. At the end of the video, he got down on one knee and proposed overlooking the Tajo Bridge. I still get chills just thinking about it!

Paul had suggested I look at wedding venues on this trip as we had discussed a potential wedding in Spain before. Coincidentally I had scheduled an appointment to visit the amazing Cortijo Pedro Jimenez the day after he proposed. Paul and I met with Rachel, walked the grounds and fell in love! Fifteen months later we were lucky enough to have all of our family and friends travel from the states to Spain to have the wedding week of a lifetime. For us it was a picture-perfect location for an intimate reunion and wedding. We were able to enjoy breakfast together, pool parties with our entire guest list, and dinner each night under the stars. With the help of all of the vendors everyday was unique and special. We feel so fortunate to have had our wedding in such an intimate and stunning setting with everyone we love.

From Rachel Rose Weddings… Being a part of Ashley and Paul’s wedding was such a pleasure, they are both such friendly and beautiful people and I was very excited to be planning another long distance Californian wedding in Spain. Ashley’s stunning dress was a light blush colour so we opted with neutrals for the florals with accents of gold which featured in vintage frames for the seating plan and other signage. In honour of Paul’s heritage we decided to bring in some traditional Spanish wedding features such as a sherry pourer and a jamon carver and then some more fun elements were added in the form of the cute little white and gold bull shaped escort cards by Nulki Nulks and the mini bottles of Tio Pepe sherry that were given to the wedding guests as favors.

Photography: Agata Jensen Photography | Event Planning: Cortijo Rosa Blanca | Floral Design: Flor Valentin | Cake: Sweet Things by Fi | Venue: Cortijo Rosa Blanca

Who doesn’t love a yummy cheese plate? They are the perfect kick-off to any dinner party, girl’s night, or just because! We all have our favorites (can you say brie?), but building the perfect cheeseboard is remarkably simple and is guaranteed to please. With the help of the lovely Chassity from Look Linger Love, you can impress your guests with a beautiful and tasty spread!

Sheep’s milk cheese. We used Brebirousse from France.
Cow’s milk cheese. We used Cornish Yarg from Great Britain.
Goat’s milk cheese. We used Cacittona from Italy.
Blue cheese. We used Fourme d’Ambert from France.
Salami or pepperoni.
Candied nuts.
Seasonal dried fruits.
Crackers or sliced bread.

1. Choose 3-5 cheeses of varying types and flavors, along with accents like dried fruits and nuts.
2. Arrange the cheeses on your plate with a knife for each. If you’d like, label each cheese for reference!
3. Spread accent ingredients throughout the dish, making it easy for guests to choose their favorites.
4. Serve and enjoy!

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I’m not one to use to use the term “wildly romantic” very often, but describe this enchanting engagement session any other way and you’d be lying.  Because this is the type e-shoot that takes one of the world’s most stunning twosomes (seriously) and pairs them with breathtaking scenery and the uber talents of White Ash Photography.  See every beautiful moment right here.

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From White Ash Photography… Colette and Jonathan are a lovely couple with an edgy sense of style. The clifftop for this engagement session was the perfect location to host their wild and romantic affair. Colette’s lovely 3 carat raw black diamond ring set the tone for the styling; and her George dress was the right choice, especially considering it was such a windy afternoon.

We wanted a lovely polished look for this session, because their engagement party turned into a surprise wedding for their guests! This afternoon of just the two of them was how they wanted to capture their love for one another, so at the engagement party/wedding, they could relax with their family and friends. A perfect idea for such a beautiful, spontaneous couple!

Photography: White Ash Photography | Dress: George | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab

Nothing – and I mean nothing – makes my heart happier than two people who are madly in love. Enter this gorgeous duo, and my heart? Well, it’s basically jumping for joy. Majesta Patterson captured every one of their seaside smooches, stunning looks, and not to mention, their undeniably darling love for one another. Take a stroll through the full gallery for more.

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From Majesta Patterson…H & S greeted me enthusiastically in a coffee shop a few months ago and I knew we were meant to be ;) The warmth and excitement I felt from them when I first met them transcended into our time together during their engagement session. It was SO FUN! Just like long lost friends! We started shooting at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove and made our way to Carmel by the Sea. In town we visited a few places that were special to H&S, like where they had their first date and where they’ve celebrated birthdays. H chose the perfect dresses from Lulu’s to create romantic and sophisticated engagement pictures.

Photography: Majesta Patterson | Dresses: Lulu's

With the perfect amount of elegance yet a wonderfully casual vibe, this Italian soiree has the best of everything. Each stunning image from Lisa O’Dwyer captures a couple completely in love on a day that couldn’t be more charming if it tried. See every gorgeous moment here.

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To make our celebrations even more special, we were able to get married in the Church in Rome City, St. Isidore’s, where two of Eoin’s uncles had studied during their training as Franciscan priests many years ago and we were delighted when one of these uncles, Fr. Tom Russell O.F.M., agreed to marry us. Our next priority was booking the photographer. I had seen Lisa O’ Dwyer’s work before and I loved that she used film photography so even though I researched almost 40 photographers, we knew that Lisa would be the perfect choice for us and we were thrilled that she could shoot our wedding!

Our wedding ended up as a bit of a global affair as I was based in Luxembourg, Eoin was in Dublin and our wedding party came from Dublin, Boston, Sydney, Auckland, London and Chiang Mai in Thailand, so there were lots of skyping and sending of pictures and ideas on a daily basis!

Eoin and I travelled to Italy a few days before our wedding to relax and prepare and during this time we met up with Lisa for our engagement shoot in Rome. We are not really ‘camera people’ but it was great fun and Lisa was fantastic at making us feel relaxed in front of the camera and giving gentle direction. It really helped us to relax on our wedding day and we didn’t notice Lisa at all.

Our wedding celebrations were more than we could have hoped for. We wanted to have a relaxed, fun and informal wedding celebration and were delighted that 90 of our closest friends and family could travel to Rome to help us celebrate! The weather was perfect and the sun shone brightly each day. The day before our wedding, our guests all arrived at the Borgo to a light lunch and some bubbly. Later on that evening, Eoin and I hosted a welcome BBQ, with lots of delicious Italian food and wine.

Our ceremony was very personal, led by Fr. Tom and Fr. Michael MacCraith, the curate of St. Isidore’s. My sister-in-law sang at the wedding and Eoin’s brother played the Irish low whistle (similar to the tin whistle), supported by an Italian duo on the cello and flute. The four of them only had an hour to rehearse before the ceremony but they played and sang beautifully.

Instead of having a guest book, we did an old Irish tradition of the ‘warming of the rings’. This is where each of the guests say a blessing or a wish over the wedding bands before they are blessed as part of the ceremony. I love that we get to carry their good wishes and blessings with us every day. We had chosen to have an unplugged ceremony where we had kindly asked our guests to not take any pictures during the ceremony and I have wonderful memories of walking up to aisle on the arm of my baby brother (sadly, my father passed away several years ago), surrounded by happy smiling faces. Afterwards, we had a short drinks reception in the beautiful cloisters of the Church before we returned to the Borgo for our wedding reception. We really embraced the idea of a traditional Italian wedding reception and we had a delicious drinks and canapé reception that lasted for a couple of hours. Just before dinner, both my Mum and Eoin’s father said a short toast and then Eoin and I cut the Italian wedding cake….it was the biggest cake we had even seen! Once I tossed my bouquet, it was time to sit down to a wonderful italian feast. After dinner, we had a dessert table outdoors and then it was time for us and our guests to set our Chinese lanterns into the sky. This was great fun and we have wonderful pictures of our guests setting them alight and floating them into the moonlit sky.

After this, it was time for the band to start….they were fantastic and everybody was up dancing ’til the wee hours. They were very interactive with the people on the dance floor and they really put on a show! We were having such a great time that we didn’t want the day to end so after the band finished, we set up our own music and continued the party until the sun came up!

The next day was very low key and most of the guests relaxed in their rooms or at the pool. That evening, Eoin and I hosted a farewell meal which included a pig on a spit and a traditional Irish wedding cake that my very good friend had made and brought all the way from Ireland! After dinner, we had the wonderful Mikey Martin play in the bar…he was fantastic and everybody seemed to get a second wind. My Mum even sang, which was a surprise bonus! Again, we didn’t want the day to end so after Mikey finished, Eoin’s brother Mark got out his tin whistle and we had a good old Irish sing song, which was the perfect way to end a magical three days.

Photography: Lisa O'Dwyer Photography | Event Planning: Linda McAllorum | Flowers: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Wedding Dress: De Stafford Couture | Makeup Artist: Janita Helova | Venue: Borgo Di Tragliata | Church Ceremony: San Isidoro, Via Degli Artisti, Rome | Hair Jewelery: Jules Bridal Jewellery & Hair Adornments

These two sweeties? Who, by the way, have turned me to mush with their cuteness. Well, they’ve got the right idea if you ask me. They planned their engagement sesh right at their wedding venue, Clifton Inn, giving them a little preview and a whole lot of excitement for their Big Day. Rachel May Photography followed their every adorable move and the resulting gallery is for lovers.

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From the beautiful Bride…Luke and I first met in the spring of 2009 through a mutual friend one night in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I had lived in Manhattan for two years attending college and had never ventured into Brooklyn before that night. Looking back on it, I am so thankful for my decision to try something new. Upon being introduced to one another, we briefly spoke a few times as the night went on. As the weeks passed I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Our connection manifested in modern day fashion… after I found him on Facebook and we arranged to meet up again.

Our first date was under an oak tree shading the perfect spot in Central Park’s Sheep’s Meadow. Luke and I sat in the park for hours talking and completely lost track of time as we got to know each other. It was this date that started our love story.

Although we dated for over five years, Luke tells everyone he knew all along I was the one. By December 2013, Luke selected an engagement ring and asked his brother to hold onto it for safe keeping until the timing was perfect. The time was six months later when we took a last minute vacation to the Dominican Republic. Luke was so nervous that he wasted no time in popping the question as we relaxed on the beach looking over the ocean. I was so excited and surprised, so much so that I completely forgot to say yes at first. Luke slipped the ring on my finger and we finished our vacation celebrating the beginning to this new chapter in our lives.

Luke, our adorable Chiweenie puppy and I, currently reside together in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, just two blocks from where we first met. Luke recently joined New York University in their athletics department as a Facility and Events Manager and I am the Communications and Events Manager at Dylan’s Candy Bar. While Luke and I love living and working in New York City, we are always eager to go on weekend trips to explore and create memories together. Most of these trips include hiking, skiing and visiting family and friends. We discovered our wedding location, Charlottesville, Virginia, on one of these trips together. I fell in love with the absolute beauty of the area and knew this was the location I would pick when I got married. Charlottesville also happens to be the perfect mid-point between both of our families, mine mostly residing in North Carolina and his in Pennsylvania.

This engagement session was photographed by Rachel May Photography, at the Clifton Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia, on the same grounds that we will be getting married this August. Rachel was able to make Luke and I feel so comfortable being ourselves behind the camera and I believe that the images truly show both of our personalities and the love that we have within our relationship. The time that we spent during this shoot at the Clifton Inn, made us even more excited to bring together our family and friends to such a stunning destination for our wedding later this year.

Photography: Rachel May Photography | Wedding Venue: The Clifton Inn

When The Shift Creative sent us this party we were instantly smitten; a modern take on love day festivities filled with unique DIY’s and a classic black and white palette infused with pops of color thanks to Lavenders Flowers. Plus anyone who uses rad as a part of their love-isms is alright in our book. See the full gallery shot by To Wander And Seek right here as well as the DIY’s here, here, here and here!

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From Alexis of The Shift Creative… This modern take on Valentine’s Day is filled with fun patterns, textures, vibrant florals, TONS of DIY, and of course some seriously yummy treats. When designing the party, I wanted to present a different take on the red and pink hearted Valentine’s day decor, while still staying true to the holiday’s flirty spirit. 

Each place setting has a hand painted black and white placemat, and yarn wrapped embellishments that offer encouragement and reminders such as, “you’re rad, you’re sweet, and you’re hot.” The centerpiece is made of a slab of white peg board, and champagne spray painted pipes that overflow with magenta, peach, and red florals – to say that this piece is dramatic is an understatement! Each guest received their own hand painted goodie bags filled with some yummies to take home!

Speaking of yummy things- let’s talk desserts! Rock candy cupcakes, homemade watercolor marshmallows, mini donuts, and chocolate strawberry crostini’s (my mouth is watering just reminiscing about it all!) My friend, Cakes and Cuties, outdid herself as always! Over at the coffee bar, we made affagatos with butter pecan ice cream, and heaping chunks of red velvet cake, all soaked in Lift Coffee Roasters piping hot coffee! Hung over head is the phrase ‘Love like Whoa,’ which made for an easy way to dress up a white wall.

What party is complete without a photo backdrop? This one is a stunner, Janelle from Lavenders Flowers and myself teamed up to make something that would be unique, and cause pause! We created a mandala of our own out of petals, flower heads, and leaves that really brought the natural elements of outside, indoors. Continuing with the hand painted theme, I made some easy sconces for the wall, filled with organic bouquets from Lavenders Flowers (she’s awesome!), and adorned with poms. I wasn’t lying when I said that this party was filled with DIY’s! I hope these images from To Wander and Seek really inspire you to think outside the box this Valentines Day!

Photography: To Wander And Seek | Flowers: Lavenders Flowers | Coffee: Lift Coffee Roasters | Creative Direction/Design: The Shift Creative | Desserts: Cakes And Cuties

If you’ve ever wondered what black and gold glamour looks like brought outdoors, this little wedding is for you. It’s a mashup of black tie elegance and rustic al fresco charm all set amongst the rolling vineyards of David Hill Winery. Anna Mara Flowers brought in a punch of color with red, peach and blush colored florals, and Clary Pfeiffer Photography snapped up every bit. More right here!

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From The Bride…We hosted our romantic outdoor garden wedding in Forest Grove, Oregon. Although Portland is known for it’s rainfall we were married on one of the driest, most beautiful days the Pacific Northwest had to offer. We choose to host our wedding 30 miles outside of Portland, Oregon at the David Hill Winery. Although John is from Seattle and Abigail from Upstate New York, we met in Portland 4 years ago and call it home. The Pacific Northwest is home to a lot of natural Beauty and we enjoy spending our free time enjoy the outdoors. Our vacations and weekends are spent hiking and exploring the Northwest with our dog Hudson. So having our wedding outdoors (with our dog in attendance) seemed a natural choice. Nestled into a picturesque hillside surrounded by the winery, we said our “ I do’s” under a canopy of trees. The ceremony was handcrafted with a friend (a published poet) who also performed the ceremony.

The winery is composed of a small butter colored farmhouse which serves as the tasting room. Many of the vendors were chosen because of personal connections. Abigail met her make-up artist/hair stylist Nicole Wanger while running for the same club in Portland. The lead floral designer for Anna Marra Flowers (Anna Jorgensen), Abigail met when first moving to Portland. We were smitten with German cake-artist Jutta Bach from La Joconde cakes when we initially went cake tasting. Abigail is a designer and conceived and produced many small styling details herself.

We incorporated other special touches into our big day such as a small spray of blue flowers in the Abigail’s bouquet for her “something blue”. John’s boutonniere was wrapped in a scrap of silk from the bride’s wedding dress alterations. We also included framed photos of 3 generations of family members on their wedding day. In lieu of a guest book we choose instead to do a group portrait of everyone attending the wedding. The groom roasted 50 pounds of rosemary almonds for the favors. Guests dined on traditional northwest fare of salmon and farm fresh vegetables, and a mixed greens salad topped with Oregon berries and Oregon hazelnut. Abigail and John took dance lesson for months crafting a traditional waltz. The evening ended on the dance floor surrounded by family and friends.

Photography: Clary Pfeiffer Photography | Coordination: J29 Events | Floral Design: Anna Mara Flowers | Wedding Dress: The Dress Theory | Cake: La Joconde | Catering: Vibrant Table Catering & Events | Officiant: Tiah Lindher | Ceremony And Reception Venue: David Hill Winery | Hair And Make-Up: Powder Inc. | Rentals: Classic Vintage Rentals

I’ve had a long time love affair with JCPenney, from clothes to shoes to home goods and pretty much everything in between. So to say that I am all sorts of obsessed with their amazing wedding registry is sort of an understatement. Because this is a collection of everything you need for your new life together with some of the coolest products you will ever lay your eyes upon.

Registering at JCPenney means access to easy-to-use tools (read: an app that helps you manage your registry from anywhere), expert advice (they are JCPenney, after all) and fabulous products (think everything from crazy cool tableware to drop-dead gorgeous bedding). And that’s just the beginning. Plus, your guests will love the convenience of shopping at JCPenney either online or in one of their 1,000 stores located nationwide… and they’ll also love receiving 20% off their registry purchases (with a complimentary announcement card) when they make a purchase of $50 or more in store!  I heart them.

So, what are you waiting for, loves? Visit The Registry at JCPenney ASAP to get started!  You can thank us later.

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1. KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt Stand Mixer 2. Epicurious 11-Pc Cookware Set 3. Oneida Tibet 45-Pc Flatware Set 4. Cuisinart Chrome Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor 5. Rachael Ray Cucina 4 1.4-Qt Casserole Dish 6. Luigi Bormioli Magnifico Wine Decanter 7. Royal Velvet Signature Soft Bath Towels

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Pretties, get ready to take notes or better—pin this one for safe keeping, because we’re talking about the ‘glow’. That perfect bridal glow that we all want on our Big Day and its recipe for success. With seven incredibly helpful tips on how to get your skin in prime shape, Artistry By Danika is letting us in on all her secrets.

From Artistry By Danika… A lot of brides completely forget about their skin when it comes to their wedding. They’ve booked the photographer, the planner, even the hair and makeup, but their skin has been left out. By prepping the skin ahead of time (at least six months before the big day) you will have that radiant bridal “glow” BEFORE the makeup even go’s on. I know makeup and trust me, even the most talented makeup artists out there can’t hide a raised and inflamed acne breakout. When your skin looks great, your makeup will look EVEN better.

Ban Blah Skin. For anyone feeling dull and lackluster, try taking Omega 3’s (such as fish oil or flax oil) to moisturize the skin from within. Omega’s are so beneficial for several reasons, but when it comes to the skin they supply an incredible amount of natural moisture to the body which makes the skin look and feel more radiant and plump.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate! Get your H2O. Now you think this would be a staple in most peoples daily diet, but it isn’t. I can’t tell you how much I hear “I forget and by the end of the day I haven’t had any water”. I know some of you out there are avid H2o drinkers, but for those of you who are not, TRY to at least get in a few glasses every day. Being hydrated is so crucial for the skin to look fresh. When a person is dehydrated the fine lines began to look like deep wrinkles. So drink up! I keep this water bottle called the Hydro Flask with me when I’m working on weddings. It’s kind of a magic little bottle that keeps your water ice cold for up to 24 hours.

Reveal New Skin. Exfoliate. Gently slough off that dead superficial layer of skin 1-3 times per week (depending on your skin type and product being used). There are many great exfoliants out there, but one of my all time favorites uses fruit enzymes and cinnamon. It’s called Exfolikate by Kate Somerville.

Wash Your Makeup Brushes. Your skin will thank you once you get into the routine of cleaning your makeup brushes! Not doing so will clog your skin and cause breakouts overtime. My favorite thing to wash my brushes with is Dr. Bronners Peppermint Castile Liquid Soap. It’s strong enough to get them clean without being harsh…plus it has the most amazing minty fresh smell from the natural peppermint.

Pamper Your Peepers. Vow to invest in a good quality eye cream and use it day and night. The area around the eyes has the thinnest and most delicate skin on your face. Because of this it’s much more vulnerable to aging and shows the first signs of dehydration (not exactly what you want on your wedding day). Use your ring finger to gently press the eye cream into the skin. One to try is Peter Thomas Roth Mega Rich Intensive Anti-Aging Cellular Eye Cream.

Toss Out Old Makeup and Skincare. Make it a routine to go through your makeup bag/drawer every six months. There is a reason your face cream has that little open jar symbol on it. It’s to remind you that you need to get rid of it 6 months to a year (depending on the product) after you have opened it. Throw out mascara after three months and anything that has been sitting around for more than a year. Makeup builds up harmful bacteria and it’s just not worth risking an eye infection (or worse) by holding onto old products.

Treat Yourself to a Professional Facial. There is no substitute for a facial done by a skincare expert. Ask around, read reviews and find yourself a pro. I suggest monthly facials starting six months prior to your wedding day. A facial that is tailored to your skin type is one of the best things you can do for yourself before your big day. Once your friends start complimenting you on how amazing your skin looks, you will be hooked! If you are in the LA area, try a Dermal Quench Facial at the Kate Somerville Clinic. This is an AMAZING facial for anyone that has a special event (hello brides). The combination of hyperbaric oxygen and powerful antioxidants will plump and make your skin look and feel red-carpet ready. Go the extra notch by adding on the red dermalucent light at the end. Your skin will look as if it has been photoshopped…no joke. IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure your last facial is about 10 days before the wedding. This will ensure a camera-ready face come your wedding day.

Photography: Braedon Photography | Event Planning: Merren Events | Makeup Artist / Skincare Expert: Artistry by Danika

Categorize this duo under soulmates, because their love story reads like a romance novel. After meeting at midnight on NYE, this darling duo began their whirlwind romance and in three short months (you read that right!) planned their Big Day – complete with downloaded Etsy menus, online dress shopping, and paper airplanes – Angela & Evan were behind the lens capturing every sweet moment right here.

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From the beautiful Bride…Danny and I met in Thailand on New Years Eve last year. We hadn’t known each other long before deciding to get married, but almost instantly upon meeting him I knew I wanted to spend my life with him.

Wedding planning started off as things usually do: Ideas began small, and continued to get more elaborate as time went on. We thought about doing a courthouse wedding, then decided on a small gathering with immediate family, then agreed to do a larger party to celebrate. When we found out a good amount of Danny’s family and friends would be coming from all over the world, we knew we wanted to have a real wedding, but we also knew we wanted it to remain small and intimate. Danny’s best man flew in from India, and his groomsmen came from New Zealand (just a quick 19-hour flight). His sister and dad traveled from London, and his mom (mum!) and stepdad traveled from Croatia. We had around 20 out-of-town guests make it from six different countries.

Because Danny was immigrating from England, we didn’t have long to plan. We had about three months in total, two of which he was still living in the UK, so needless to say we had to cut some corners and make quick decisions. But that’s what downloadable menus on Etsy is for, and online bridal dress shopping, and friends that are willing to frantically finish folding paper airplanes three hours before the ceremony. We focused on the important stuff (like the perfect cake!), and knew whatever was done was done, and whatever we didn’t get to, it didn’t matter.

We chose The Court in the Square as our ceremony and reception venue for the cozy factor, and the fact that it feels like an outdoor venue when it’s really in the middle of February. It’s already such a beautiful space that it didn’t require much decorating.

We couldn’t resist adding in some sort of travel elements. Instead of table numbers, we did table cities that represented the places Danny and I have been together. We had our (very talented) friend sketch landmarks of each city for the tables, and had a big poster board seating chart with names next to each landmark. We folded paper airplanes for place cards and adorned them with washi tape. We wanted everyone to sit together in a sense, so we did one long table that wrapped around the venue. That table, and being able to look out on everyone who had come to celebrate with us, was one of our most favorite and cherished things. Our guest book was a vintage globe we had everyone sign that now doubles as one of our favorite decor items in our house.

This last year has been hard – long distance is hard, but that’s what made our wedding day so incredibly special. Danny was finally in America, and we were able to start our life together. The day was full of love, you could absolutely feel it.

Photography: Angela and Evan Photography | Event Design: Aria Style | Wedding Dress: Shopbop | Cake: Kerissa Bakes | Invitations: Minted | Ceremony Venue: Mount Tabor Park | Reception Venue: Mount Tabor Park | Entertainment: Michael Benson Band | Bridesmaids' Dress: Aritzia | Bridesmaids' Dress: ASOS | Cake Topper: BHLDN | Programs: Lorelle Paperie & Co. | Rentals: AA Party Rentals

Striking the perfect blend of Southern elegance and rustic charm, this Pippin Hill affair is wedding perfection. For one, the beauty-filled backdrop is unbeatable, but when it’s accentuated with Southern Blooms By Pat’s Floral Design, it’s simply breathtaking. Secondly, how adorable are those flower girls?! Josh Gruetzmacher has captured every moment and it’s ready for the picking, here.

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From The Bride… We were inspired by the natural beauty of our venue, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards. We wanted to compliment the space in every way by going for an overall fresh and natural look. We felt that this also mirrored our relationship together and how natural we’ve always felt as a couple.

We focused on choosing elements that reflected our personalities and our every day life. If something wasn’t what we would put in our home, then we wouldn’t include it in our wedding. We took advice from family and friends, but made all of the major decisions together.

We included special details to pay homage to each of our families and really attached meaning to every aspect of the day and the décor.

At the very end of the night, we asked our band to play a song that both reminded us of the very beginning of our relationship, almost 8 years ago. Hearing it on our wedding night and being able to dance together knowing how things had come full circle, was very special to us. Although there were many people still around at that point we both felt like we were the only ones in the room.

Our advice would be to take your time and really focus on the details even if you think they are things no one else will notice. The small things that our closest family and friends mentioned to us were the most heartwarming. At the end of the day, what matters most is the marriage not the wedding!

We’d like to thank all of our family, friends and vendors who played a huge part in making our day so special. On such an emotional day, it was helpful to have such a large support network there to make us both feel calm and comfortable.

Photography: Josh Gruetzmacher Photography | Floral Design: Southern Blooms | Cake: Albemarle Baking Company | Invitations: Ruffled Ink Designs | Hair And Makeup: Avenue 42 | Groom's Attire: Jean Yves | Wedding Venue: Pippin Hill Farm | Bride's Dress: Sarah Seven | Ceremony Musicians: Perfect Harmony Strings | Reception Band: ANDY KUSHNER ENTERTAINMENT | Rehearsal Dinner: C&O Restaurant | Shuttle Service: Albemarle Vintage Limousines | Sound And Lighting: Blue Ridge AV & Lighting

If a room full of romantic lighting, lush Urban Chateau Florals, and the softest of color palettes sounds ideal to you, then look no further than this Red Cliff Ranch affair. For this LA couple, their Big Day proved to be the perfect ode to their proposal, and with Heather Nan Photography behind the lens every image is original and organic. See the entire day bloom right here!

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From Michelle Leo Events…Katie and Brian were such a fun, sweet, and appreciative couple to work with. I loved their desire to infuse their personal story into their wedding. One of the reasons they chose the beautiful back drop of Red Cliff Ranch in Utah as their destination location is because Brian proposed to Katie at a dude ranch in Wyoming.

This LA couple brought class and sophistication to every design element I assisted them in executing. Katie envisioned a room full of romantic lighting, lush florals and the softest of color palettes. Her love for beautiful florals excited me, too and it was such a joy to help her bring this pretty vision to life.

The ceremony was designed to be a comfortable, organic setting nestled in front of the beautiful Red Cliffs as a backdrop for the simple birch alter. Guests sat upon hay bales covered in burlap coffee sacks while the grassy aisle was lined with galvanized buckets overflowing with big white hydrangeas. The pop of color was provided in the way of fashion as the wedding party attendants dazzled in a variety of pretty purple hues and sophisticated grey suites.

Cocktail hour was as glamorous as it was rustic with high boys decked out in sparkling gold sequin linens that shimmered in the afternoon sunlight. Gold vessels atop the tables hosted a variety of beautiful blush blooms, soft in texture and lush in petal count.

Inside the ranch, farmhouse tables were positioned end-to-end to form one long dining table presented under a sea of romantic bistro lighting. Ambrose chandeliers complete with flickering candles and greenery. On the tables, textured linens lined the center of the table scape and the space was filled with glass candlestick holders, taper candles, lush garden-style centerpieces, and the loveliest of paper suites- a letterpress menu highlighting the simple backdrop of the Heber Red Cliffs.

Under a pavilion overlooking a 360 degree view of Utah’s beautiful Rocky Mountains, guests danced away the night to the sounds of a live band while munching on tasty treats such as wedding cake and home-made s’mores. Hay bales and wood furniture vignettes surrounded fire pits as guests enjoyed conversation and the tastes of Utah.

Overall, this was such a delightful wedding to plan and design. I loved every second of working with Katie and Brian and I think the beauty of their relationship is very evident in the gorgeous photos of their big day.

Photography: Heather Nan Photography | Videography: Kale Fitch Films | Event Design & Planning: Michelle Leo Events | Floral Design: Urban Chateau Floral | Cake: Cake-a-licious | Catering: Culinary Crafts | Makeup: Kristen Packard | Hair: Kali Chris | Calligraphy: Curlicue Designs Calligraphy | Ceremony Music: HeartStrings Productions | Event Rentals: Diamond Rental | Paper Suite: Aerialist Press | Photo Booth: Smile Now PhotoBooths | Ranch: Red Cliff Ranch | Reception Entertainment: The Salamanders | Save The Dates: The Pink Orange

I’ll admit it.  As much as I love being a bridesmaid (and, oh, do I love it), trekking to bridal shop after bridal shop to try on gowns is, well, seriously tiring.  Which is why I am all sorts of obsessed with Brideside, the online retailer that brings the bridal shop to YOU by letting you browse bridesmaid dresses online and then try them on in the comfort of your very own home. Say it with me, loves: awesome.

With Brideside, you can choose from a plethora of style choices and colors, all with the help of an amazing stylist who works with you every step of the way to guarantee a fabulous (+ chic) bridal party. Just chat with the stylist about your dream wedding and vision, then let them take over and guide your besties through an array of different designers on Brideside’s online store.  They’ll even provide instructional videos on measuring and selecting the best dress types for your body!  And when every last dress is chosen, they’ll ship the samples to your home, so you can have that girl’s day with mimosas and cozy yoga pants.  Soooo comfortable and soooo fun.

Ready to get started?  Visit the Brideside website ASAP or, if you live in Chicago, make an appointment with a stylist here. And don’t forget this exclusive discount for SMP readers: When you buy your bridesmaid dress in February, the first $20 is on Brideside!  Use discount code “SMP20” at checkout. (Terms & Conditions: Cannot be combined with any past or future promotions. Readers must purchase bridesmaid dress at full price on or before 2/28/15. Offer does not apply to the following designers: Joanna August, Donna Morgan, Jenny Yoo.)

Don’t tell my family and friends, but this wedding right here might as well be a sneak peek at my own upcoming nuptials. I love everything, from the bride’s gorgeous look to the beautiful ceremony signage. Oak & Myrrh worked their magic behind the lens and Maple Tree Films made me want to be friends with this adorable couple. Let’s dive right in and have a full pinning party with all of the pretty right here.

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From Oak & Myrrh Photography… Emily & Justin had a lovely, elegant, rustic wedding in the beautiful Tralee Wedding Facility. The wedding had a romantic feel, with deep emotion. Emily had her sisters stand with her, and Justin, his brothers. They added little pieces to the wedding to make the wedding more personalized: she designed and made the invitations, wore a bracelet given to her by her grandmother, jetted out of the ceremony in Justin’s dream car, both wore something blue, and Emily had a special cake made for her groom representing his favorite sports team – the Toronto Blue Jays!

Photography: Oak Myrrh Photography | Videography: Maple Tree Films | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Cake: Quest For Cakes | Hair: Lindsay Dagenais | Wedding Venue: Tralee Wedding Facility | Floral: Final Touches Floral Design

Having attended a Greek wedding, I’m well aware of how amazing and special they are, from the ceremony and vows, to the traditions and dances. And this elegant summer celebration is all that and more. Sarah DiCicco snapped every picture perfect moment and CinemaCake Filmmakers didn’t miss a second of the soiree. Sit back and soak up all the love and laughter right this way!

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From The Bride… I had been waiting for Matt my whole life. Our story began with a long walk at the Jersey shore. It was November and Matt and I had just started our clerkships with New Jersey judges following our graduation from law school. Two years later, Matt proposed and the next year and a half leading up to the wedding was a whirlwind. From our engagement party to the wedding, Matt quickly learned that Greeks know how to throw a fun party.

I really enjoyed wedding planning. Throughout the process, we worked to strike a balance between incorporating traditional and modern elements. For example, we had a band to play Greek music and a DJ to play American music. Our favors were bottles of olive oil from my family olive orchard in Greece.

In order to assemble my “dream team” of vendors, it became clear that I needed help from someone with knowledge of the industry. I found that in wedding planner Gina Sole. With her help we found photographer Sarah DiCicco and videographer Cinema Cake. As it turns out, they were two of the most important parts of the entire process. They both did such a beautiful job. CinemaCake sent us a “trailer” video days after the wedding which was amazing to see because the day felt like such a blur. Our florist, Passions, is owned by my uncle, so I was lucky enough to create our floral arrangements with people whom I have known my entire life.

We chose The Merion as our reception venue not only because of its beautiful ballrooms, but because of the incredible food selection. It was very important to us to provide delicious varieties of food—and lots of it. The Merion delivered and exceeded our expectations. We also knew that The Merion could successfully handle a wedding of our size (we invited 450 people).

Overall, our wedding day was like a fairy tale. We were able to seamlessly blend the traditional and modern and I could not have imagined a more perfect day.

Cinematography: CinemaCake Filmmakers | Photography: Sarah DiCicco Photography | Wedding Planner: Gina Sole | Floral Design: Passions Florist | Wedding Dress: Anna Maier – Ulla Maija Couture | Stationery: Mia Lane Design | Ceremony Venue: The Greek Orthodox Church Of St. Thomas | Reception Venue: The Merion | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: After Six And Dessy Collection | Catering: The Merion | DJ: Center Stage Entertainment | Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss | Greek Band: Syn-Phonia | Groom Preparation Location: The Westin Mount Laurel

The telltale sign of an incredible photographer is someone who can tell your love story through a camera lens. And when I set eyes on the gorgeous work of Lynne Reznick Photography, I saw just that. Recognizing that each couple has their own love story, Lynne captures beautiful images that are a fresh perspective for your classic love story.

With a passion for wedding photography that’s stemmed from her very own love story, Lynne Reznick Photography captures not only details and emotions of a wedding day, but also the unique personalities and relationships of each and every one of her couples. From family portraits to the first kiss and everything in between, Lynne captures the fleeting moments and powerful emotions that make each wedding unique. In business since 2011, Boston-based Lynne Reznick Photography has photographed weddings all over New England and New York — though no distance is too far for her to travel for a big day!

Before the big day, Lynne suggests booking an engagement session as a wonderful way to not only get some gorgeous pics, but to get to know your photographer and feel comfortable in front of the lens! And get this – Lynne Reznick Photography is giving away an on-location one-hour engagement session to one lucky couple!

The Prize: A lucky couple will win an on-location one-hour engagement session from Lynne Reznick Photography!

To Enter: Comment on this post with how you and your honey fell in love or how he/she popped the question!

To Win: One winner will be selected and announced in WIUP on Friday, February 13, 2015.

Terms & Conditions: Session must take place in Boston and will include an online gallery for viewing and purchasing prints with a minimum of 35 fully edited images from the session, one digital image of the couple’s choice with personal printing rights, and one 8×10 print of the couple’s choice. The session must be scheduled for this calendar year.

How is it already February? I’m finally getting my mind wrapped around resolutions and fresh starts and now I have to add valentines and sweet treats to the list. But not before we have one last hoorah with all the glory of a New Year’s Eve wedding, complete with festive balloons and confetti. Marrow By Glass Jar Photography captured the countdown and I’ll be reliving all of this fun until next year.

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From MARROW By Glass Jar Photography… Mal and Brett had a super silver & gold New Year celebration for a wedding with loads of fun details and events.

Their first look was meeting in the courtyard with silver and gold balloons to cover their faces, then having silver and gold for design all around the wedding ceremony and reception including a confetti first kiss/ceremony exit, and a colored balloon send off at 12am!

Photography: Glass Jar Photography | Wedding Venue: Le Meridien

I’m pretty sure Gabriel Navas stepped into a fantasy world when he photographed this destination celebration; the views along are breathtaking. Caprichia Weddings & Occasions took Marbella’s natural beauty and added the perfect rustic touches, allowing Herz Films to capture a work of art for us to enjoy. While we all may not be able to escape to Spain, these treats below might be the next best thing.

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From The Bride… Oliver and I met in Marbella while I had been visiting my parents during a university holiday break eight years ago. Ever since, we have been coming back to Spain several times a year and Marbella quickly became our “special place” which now almost feels like a home away from home. So we didn’t have to think twice when it came to picking our wedding location. With its perfect climate, beautiful nature, and given our very special personal history, Marbella was the ideal place for our summer destination wedding. We wanted an alfresco ceremony and celebration and simply loved the idea of spending some quality time at the beach with all our closest friends and family prior to the big day.

For the wedding itself we envisioned an intimate and elegant affair with great music and lots of amazing food. Having a great & memorable night with all our friends was the number one priority. So we were looking for a venue offering enough privacy and allowing us to dance under the stars until the early morning hours. When our wedding planner Lucia first showed us around the Finca we were blown away by the breathtaking views and landscape. It was the most perfect backdrop and more than we had dreamt of.

We kept the décor very classic and chic and added just a few rustic touches to incorporate the natural surroundings of the venue. The reception was set amidst gorgeous olive trees, decorated with hanging fairy lights and chandeliers. We chose a soft white and nude palette with hints of green, as we wanted everything to look very organic and natural against the background of the dramatic mountain panorama and olive tree groves.

We flew in the most amazing band from Berlin, who kept our multicultural German-Russian-Jewish crowd dancing all night long. Our caterer created an incredibly delicious wedding menu including show cooking stations and the most insane dessert buffet featuring all kinds of cakes, chocolates, mousses and macarons you could possibly imagine. Thanks to Lucia and her incredibly talented team, every little detail of the day was perfectly planned and put together with so much taste and elegance. Everyone worked so hard to turn our vision and ideas into the best and most beautiful day of our lives. Looking back it still feels like the most amazing dream and we are so happy to have shared this memory with so many of our friends and family members.

Photography: Gabriel Navas | Videography: Herz Film | Bride's Shoes: Valentino | Band: Klas Band | Bride's Dress: La Sposa | Groom's Tuxedo: Patrick Hellmann | Invitations & Stationery: Valentina, Cut & Paste Lab | Stationery Printer: Letterjazz | Styling, Planning & Local Vendors: Caprichia Weddings & Occasions