Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so the timing couldn’t be better for the Mervis Diamond Importers Roses and Rings Event from February 7-8, 2015. Not only will there be a large selection of designer rings to try on + experiment with different looks, but there’s discounts and special pricing as well! Something sparkly is calling my name…

Be sure to make some time to check out the Mervis Diamond Importers Roses and Rings Event — your fingers will thank you! Happy shopping, lovelies! xo

This just may be the most adorable – and delicious – engagement shoot I ever did see. Years ago and newly dating, this cute couple bonded over each of their family’s meatball recipes and this was the perfect inspiration for these photos, captured by Tara McMullen. Their love for one another is evident and if these pics are any clue to what their future holds, these two lovebirds will be happy and full.

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From The Bride…Our Italian grandmother’s, our first date, our tradition of Sunday Sundaes and our love of staying in for cozy evenings at home, inspired our photoshoot. We both have come from Italian backgrounds where a good tomato sauce is the cornerstone of any good meal. Neither of us had the chance to meet each other’s grandmother, but we believe that they had their hand in us finding each other. We grew up miles apart, Stephen in Boston, Mass and myself in Mississauga, Ontario – but we quickly learned that we almost use the identical meatball and tomato sauce recipe. It was fate ! We met on eharmony in January 2012, I moved in with Stephen in July of 2012 and in June of 2013 he proposed. Stephen had just moved to Toronto from New York, for work, in December of 2011, thinking that Toronto was the arctic, Stephen wore Sorrel boots on our first date at a formal restaurant. I am still not sure how he got a second one. When he proposed the ring was tucked into one of these boots. That is why we did a few shots with me wearing his Sorrel boots. We really wanted to capture our home and the items that reflect who we are, this includes Stephen’s vintage toy collection, our homemade Star Wars quilt (made by Stephen’s mom) and my candy drawer. Our tradition of Sunday Sundaes started when I moved in, in July of 2012 – it became something to look forward to at the end of the weekend. It also let us highlight my love of candy and the candy drawer that Stephen stocks for me on a weekly basis ! Often times you can find us dancing in our living room or bedroom to jazz or Ray Lamontagne. Our intention was a personal photo shoot and I think we succeeded with this.

Photography: Tara Mcmullen | Venue: Private Residence | Location: Tiff Bell Lightbox Condo | Pink Skirt & Black Blouse: Club Monaco

You know that when it comes to France, I’m obsessed on all levels. So, it’s no surprise that this stunning Chateau Des Barrenques affair from Gert Huygaerts Photography and Iris Decreus has got me in a Pinterest frenzy. Complete with lavender field kisses, freshly picked Il était Une Fleur  bouquets, and a balloon accented aisle, every detail from this gallery is daydream worthy.

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From Gert Huygaerts Photography…Deborah and Frederik met for the first time at work. Deborah office closed down and she was transferred to Frederik’s office… getting a desk right in front of him… from that moment on, they both knew there was more than work and friendship!

On a weekend at the seaside, after a few very heavy weeks at work, Frederik arranged breakfast in bed… together with an adorable engagement ring in the silver butter boat!

The lovely couple was on a holiday in Provence last year and once in a sudden there was the idea “why don’t we get married here?” The peace & quiet of the area, the lovely nature, the beautiful weather all was there to make it really the day of their lives!

Their friends, family, the lovely details and the adorable chateau made the party complete… a day to never forget! The ceremony also was important to Deborah & Frederik, because it made it possible to think back on their love for each other, together with their best friends and family.

Photography: Gert Huygaerts Photography | Event Planning: Iris Decreus | Floral Design: Il était Une Fleur | Wedding Dress: La Sposa | Reception Venue: Chateau Des Barrenques | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Photography - Assistance: Studio Fazett

This bride loves black so she added a sash to her gown. The groom is Irish, so they incorporated Celtic dancers at their reception. These personal touches are what I love most as I dive into each and every wedding-filled day here at SMP. Smitten & Hooked captured every unique detail and if these hydrangeas aren’t enough of a tease, you have my promise that there is plenty more where that came from.

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From Smitten & Hooked…This couple wanted fun and different and boy they got it!

Andrew is from Ireland and a huge part of the wedding was Irish, including the Irish Celtic dancers that performed during the reception and the bagpiper who led them to their favorite Irish bar as their exit.

Britt loves black but knew her mother would kill her if she wore a black dress so she picked out the most fabulous Amsale gown and had a small black sash added, custom black jewelry, and killer Badgley Mischka black pumps! At the reception she had a short sassy black dress she danced the night away in!

Their details at the reception were amazing. The head table top was covered with a mirror top and just drenched in hydrangeas and they were everywhere. The flowers were probably one of our favorite aspect of the gorgeous reception! They also had ghost chairs and lots of gorgeous linens and candles everywhere.

Photography: Smitten & Hooked | Videographer: Crown Alley Films | Event Planning: Come + Together Events | Floral Design: the bloom room | Wedding Gown: Amsale | Ceremony Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte | Reception Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte | Jewelry: Kristin Hayes Jewelry | Hair And Makeup: Who's The Fairest | DJ: Split Second Sound | String Quartet: Carolina Chamber Players | Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Rentals: Party Reflections

First Pick Planning captured the spirit of this adorable couple to a T for their summer celebration. From the frozen yogurt bar to their playful pooch, this wedding radiates the couple’s fun loving personality and after going through Cameron Leung‘s fabulous photos, I’m convinced these were some fun festivities as well. Taking a cue from this couple, I encourage you “treat yo self” and dive into these goodies below.

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From The Bride…Paul and I met in our Engineering Calculus class in college. We chatted often after class, spent hours talking over the phone, and played many games of pool together. We remained good friends throughout our college years, but as time wore on, we lost contact with each other. It wasn’t until after college and well into our careers that we met up again. It was over a sushi dinner with one of my sorority sisters, Susan, that Paul came into the picture. She asked me if I remembered him, which I did, and she pushed me to call him right then and plan a dinner date. “He’s available,” she insisted. We met up the following Friday, April 1st for a casual dinner as friends. We talked the night away, reminisced over our college days, and as they say, the rest is history.

We started planning our future together a few years ago. We dreamed of purchasing and renovating a house, tying the knot, and moving into our home after we were married. As our plans were developing and running their course, my father passed away. My family is very close and his death was unexpected. We put our plans on hold. Two years later, Paul and I revisited our plans, purchased and renovated our home, and continued dreaming together. He asked for my mom’s blessing and gave me a beautiful opal engagement ring he designed/customized on an AutoCAD and had created by our jeweler. It was perfect.

Our wedding was a culmination of our nine years together. We wanted a beautiful backdrop to the most epic day of our lives and Rancho Providencia delivered. We visited the venue during the day and at night. It was absolutely breathtaking and magical. Rancho Providencia truly fulfilled our vision of an outdoor garden wedding. Our wedding colors of coral, yellow, and gold complimented the venue perfectly. As a wedding photographer, selecting vendors I have known for many years, such as our photographers, Cameron and Tracy of Cameron Leung Photography, and our wedding planner, Jen of First Pick Planning, was a no-brainer. Seeing their beautiful faces on our wedding day was so awesome!

My little crafty heart sang throughout the wedding process and every detail was so fun to make. I started with the invitations and enlisted my sister, Sonia Mae, to help. I wanted the invitations to be unique and set the tone for our beautiful garden wedding. Sonia Mae illustrated the wedding logo and full invitation suite by hand. I loved how she drew the flowers and hearts! I also calligraphed our names and a couple of elements on the invitation as well for her to add to the design. I scoured estate sales for vintage handkerchiefs and postcards of Yosemite. Throughout my childhood, my family and I would spend many summers in Yosemite and it was the perfect touch to personalize our RSVP cards. I created a stamp of the invitation, RSVP card, and wedding logo and spent a couple of nights stamping and crafting the invitations piece by piece. I also ordered 5×7 invitation cards from Wedding Paper Divas with our wedding website written on them to hold everything together. My sister, Darah, and cousin, Dawnabelle, helped package and quality check everything. I’ll never forget all the work and help they provided to make our wedding so memorable. I loved getting the RSVP’s back in the mail! Some guests even RSVP’d over the phone instead so they could keep it!

I loved my wedding dress from the minute I saw it and it was the first dress I tried on. My wedding dress was designed by Monique Lhuillier and holds a special place in my heart as we are both from Cebu, Philippines. I wore my mom’s vintage diamond jewelry as my “something borrowed.” My mom and sisters wore bright coral dresses from J.Crew and gold Kate Spade clutches. My bouquet was wrapped in the same lace as my wedding dress and hung a locket with my dad’s picture on it. I loved how the coral rose and peony bouquets looked with the gold and white ribbons cascading from it. Everything matched perfectly with the colors of the wedding.

Along with the vision of a beautiful garden wedding, Paul and I wanted to keep our wedding simple and decided to forgo some of the traditions. We had a first look and it was so special to start the day off with him by my side. We kept our wedding party small – my two sisters were my maids of honor and Raven, our pup, was his best dog. Paul also walked down the aisle with Raven. Seeing them both as I walked down the aisle with my mom meant so much to me. Our ceremony was simple. We honored my father in the wedding script. Paul surprised me with a gorgeous wedding ring instead of a wedding band during our ring exchange. We also took time during the ceremony to thank everyone around us. It was such a beautiful ceremony.

From the “Let’s Do This” sign to our photobooth backdrop, we incorporated a little bit of our personalities in each detail of our wedding ceremony and reception. My mom’s famous rice krispie treats were individually wrapped with our logo tag attached and placed at each table setting. We danced to “You are the best thing” by Ray LaMontagne and ended the night with “Poison” by Bel Biv Devoe. We surprised our guests with our favorite date night treat and had Yogurtland catered. We cut into our tasty cake from Magnolia Bakery. I topped it off with a customized a vintage cake topper I inherited from my photographer’s parents. Our cake servers, knife, and forks were customized by my sorority sister, Lindsay Mills of Made by Mills. Similar to our wedding invitation, the cake server included my favorite quote from E.E. Cummings, “I carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart).”

It was bittersweet without my dad there but we were incredibly grateful to be surrounded with so much love and support as we committed our lives to each other. Those memories we will carry with us and remember fondly for years to come.

Photography: Cameron Leung Photography | Videographer: Herman Au Photography | Coordinator: First Pick Planning | Floral Design: Flower Blush | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Magnolia Bakery | Invitations: Lizzi Photography | Catering: DJ's Catering | Makeup: Melissa Abad Makeup | DJ: DJCarpeDM | Officiant: Officiant Eric | Ceremony & Reception Venue: Rancho Providencia | Dessert: Yogurtland | Personalized Silverware: Made By Mills | Rentals: DJ's Catering | Rentals: Sparkles And Vintage

Now this is how you celebrate true love: take one amazing love story (seriously), two stunning sweethearts and a backdrop like the ever-fabulous NYC.  Then add an elegant wonderland of wintery goodness and an amazing team of vendors (think Jenny Yoo, Blank Slate Events and Lion In The Sun) and, voila.  Awesome nuptials in one, two, three.  See it all captured beautifully by Karen Hill right here. 

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From Karen Hill… Alexander and Crista were married in November, 2013 in NYC. They met in Verbier, Switzerland in July 2009. Raised in London by an American mother and a Swedish father, Alexander grew up skiing in Verbier in the winter and attending the famous classical music festival during the summer. Crista, an American violist from New York was performing in the festival orchestra and on the memorable night she played in a production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, she also happened to meet a tall and handsome boy at Pub Mont Fort – the nightly post-concert festival hang out spot. Crista and Alexander enjoyed a few evenings together at the pub, not expecting much to come of anything since Alexander was due to return to work in Stockholm, Sweden while Crista was on her way back to New York to finish her Masters at Juilliard. Crista said goodbye, only to discover a few days later that the company Alexander was working for had declared bankruptcy and that he was looking to re-locate to New York to live with his brother. In early October, Alexander visited New York and took Crista for a long walk around the Central Park reservoir. Within a few days he had gotten a new job, and within a few weeks he had packed up his life in Stockholm and moved to New York city. The rest is history…

On their wedding day, it was most important to them to have an intimate event with their closest family and friends. Their ceremony was of central importance as they said their vows and entered into a lifelong covenant. The heart of their reception was a deliciously lengthy dinner where they enjoyed unforgettable speeches from their toastmaster, the bride’s brother, their parents and bridal party. Crista says, “the best moment of the day was sitting down to dinner as a newly married couple, surrounded by the people we love the most. Walking down Madison Avenue to our hotel in full wedding attire at the end of the night was also an unforgettable moment”.

Photography: Karen Hill Photography | Floral Design: Blank Slate Events | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Lady M Confections | Stationary: Lion in the Sun | Church: St Peter's Catholic Church | Reception Venue: The Lotos Club | Rings: Greenwich Jewelers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Makeup: Evy Drew | Hair: Nubest Salon | Band: Grand Central Sound | Ceremony Musicians: Julliard Music School | Ceremony Top: salaam bombay

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Combining Southern charm with crisp mountain air, this Pippin Hill Farm affair is dreamy beyond compare. The warm Southern Blooms By Pat’s Floral Designs accentuated the landscapes natural hues, while Shaking Hands captured a film that proved all eyes were on the lovely duo. Amanda Gray was behind the seamlessly coordinated day, while Adam Barnes captured every dreamy detail here.

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From Amanda Gray with Ashley Baber Weddings…. Rachel and Greg’s wedding was inspired by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, which served as the backdrop for their interfaith wedding at Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards.

Spring blossoms, french blue and peach and hand painted custom papers and wooden crafts were the focus of this April fete.

Both Bride and Groom wanted to honor religious traditions from each family, and had a Rabbi and Priest officiate. Both Jewish and Christian marriage traditions were celebrated. They also incorporated a unique tree watering ceremony to signify growing into their new lives as husband and wife.

The Bridesmaids’ wore french blue gowns by Jenny Yoo and carried pale peach and yellow bouquets perfectly gathered by Southern Blooms. The ceremony site adorned with Dogwood blossoms, the state tree of Virginia.

As a graphic designer, the brides mother knew the paper items had to be exquisite. Kristy Rice and the Momental Team designed a full paper suite, including the invitation with a hand painted rendering of Pippin Hill and gorgeous floral detail on the envelope liner. The brides mother designed coordinating tags for the welcome bags and signage. The brides cousin crafted the bride and groom chair signs and unique cake topper. To go along with the hand painted theme, Jenny from Paradox Pastry provided a beautiful hand painted three tier cake.

From the beautiful Bride…… We thought the day was perfect. We loved the interfaith ceremony that represented both of our families and spoke to us uniquely as a couple bringing both the Jewish and Catholic faith together for our new life as a family.

There was so many family members that traveled from so far for the wedding and the day just felt so full of love. The decorations were so romantic. They were simple and elegant which is really all Pippin Hill needed because it was such a beautiful backdrop for our wedding. Everything about the day was beautiful. The food and wine was amazing and the flow of the day was relaxed and perfect.

Photography: Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography | Cinematography: Shaking Hands Productions | Event Planning: Ashley Baber Weddings | Florals: Southern Blooms | Cake: Paradox Pastry | Stationery: Momental Designs | Hair & Makeup: Lora Kelley | Lighting: Blue Ridge AV & Lighting | Band: Six Stylez | Transportation: Albemarle Vintage Limousines | Wedding Venue: Pippin Hill Farm | Bridesmaids' Gowns: Jenny Yoo | Table Runner: BBJ La Tavola

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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I’m kind of obsessed with this engagement session. And when I say obsessed, I mean totally head over heels in love. This couple was not only lucky enough to have their engagement session in stunning Santorini, but they also had the amazingly talented team at Bubblerock behind the lens to capture all the magic – leaving us with a gallery that almost seems to good to be true. 

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Off on a tour of Europe before settling down in London for a few years, they happened to be in Santorini at the same time as we were so we booked in for an engagement session there. It made total sense.

From sunrise in Oia to sunset by a lost church at the end of a gravel road, we spent the day roaming the island in search of beautiful spots, screaming Santorini just as much as being far away from the obvious tourist locations. Their love for each other and the easy-going nature made for such a cool adventure in one of the cyclades’ most famous islands.

And no need for any styling when the location offers so much beauty already. Santorini is such a great place to come and visit but also a destination for weddings. We all fell in love with it.

Photography: bubblerock | Venue: Santorini | Film Lab: Carmencita Film Lab

We’re packing a punch today with this Naples garden goodness from Justin DeMutiis and Sarah Tucker Events. A punch of sassy hot pink, that is. It’s the delightful hue that splashes the ‘maids and their bouquets from Victoria Blooms, a hue that crawls in the form of petals up the walls of The Escalante and adorns the sugary naked cake. The entire gallery? It’ll plaster a grin across your face.

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From Sarah Tucker Events …Tricia and Tyler’s wedding day in Naples, FL was nothing short of perfect. The venue alone can make you feel like you’re walking into a garden in the med, but the gorgeous florals dripping everywhere, the personal touches throughout, and the love Tricia and Tyler share made the whole day pure magic.

From the beautiful Bride… Tyler and I live in Chicago, we are both from the same town in upstate NY, but Naples has always had a place in our hearts so deciding to have our wedding there made sense. Wedding planning is not small fete especially from a far but our wedding day was exactly what I had envisioned all those long nights planning with my Mom. Our venue, that my parents scouted, set the tone for our theme, a garden party. Next it was the details, I couldn’t have done it without a supportive fiance, great parents, amazing vendors and every other person who had a hand in it.

It was the best day, from getting ready with my Mom and sisters, to having a special first look first with my Dad, to walking hand and hand with my husband to finally dancing all night with our family and friends who had traveled near and far to celebrate with us. I am so grateful for these memories, I still tear up looking at pictures and feel like I am the luckiest. Can we do it again next weekend?

Photography: Justin DeMutiis Photography | Wedding Planning And Design: Sarah Tucker Events | Floral Design: Victoria Blooms | Wedding Dress: Sarah Janks | Invitations: Shannon Kirsten | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Calligraphy: Rachel Carl Co. | Entertainment: Joe Farren | Hotel: The Escalante | Bridesmaids' Dress Boutique: Susan Deborah Bridal | Linens: Nuage Designs | Rentals: Taylor Rental Naples | Wedding Dress Boutique : Lovely Bridal Shop

Patrick Moyer and gorgeous California weddings go hand-and-hand and this richly colored summer affair is certainly no exception. It’s a day dressed in the deep reds + soft pinks a la florals by Loop Flowers, and metallic colored accents thrown in for good measure. Events By Ashley W made sure things went off seamlessly, and you can see it all right over here.

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From The Bride…Our wedding, as most newlywed couples would likely say about their own, was more fun and more beautiful than we could have ever imagined.

During the planning process, there were certain elements I felt quite strongly about – a romantic, Spanish style venue, floral arrangements with richly colored pink and oxblood flowers coupled with native California grey-green foliage, and alencon lace details on my gown and veil! (My wedding veil was hand dyed and sewn by my talented mother, an heirloom piece for years to come.) Other details, like the atypical combination of dove grey table cloths with gold chiavari chairs, decorative wrought iron orbs and mercury colored bridesmaid dresses, were things I went out on a limb on and hoped would all come together.

Fortunately, I was filled with delight and surprise by how well my seemingly random tastes and preferences all came together on our big day. The event was rustic yet sophisticated at the same time, perfectly emulating the feel of historic Santa Barbara.

The ceremony was set in the lower courtyard of the SB Historical Museum against a romantic backdrop of white draped panels and a floral orb chandelier. We chose to repeat standard vows, but incorporated personalized elements that reflected who we are as a couple and individuals. For example, rather than biblical readings, I chose excerpts from a favorite philosopher (Reflections on the Art of Living by Joseph Campbell). Our priest also read personalized letters we’d written the night before out loud to our guests, which made for both moments of humor and tears.

We moved to a larger upper courtyard for the reception. Our plated dinner options ware elegant yet substantial, incorporating locally grown produce and seasonal dishes such as watermelon, feta and arugula salad. My husband was happily involved in selecting wines from the Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez Valley region.

The most memorable part of our wedding was definitely the dance party. All of our loved ones, young and old, crammed onto one tiny dance floor, dancing their hearts out! Maybe it was the open air courtyard set under romantic string bistro lights, or perhaps the open bar gave guests their dancing feet. Whatever it was, the reception was high energy from start to finish!

Photography: Pat Moyer Photography | Event Planning: Events By Ashley W | Floral Design: Loop Event Arts | Wedding Dress: Peter Langner | Cake: Wayne Kjar Cakes | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Catering: Catering Connection | Hair & Makeup: Carlyle Salon | DJ: Gavin Roy | Wedding Venue: Santa Barbara Historical Museum | Groom's Tuxedo: Ralph Lauren | Lighting And Drapery: Bella Vista Designs, Inc | Veil: Handmade By Bride's Mother

Beer and pretzels go together like the Patriots and a slightly deflated ball. I kid, I kid. But seriously the only thing better than a classic pretzel is this football shaped treat perfect for the upcoming Super Bowl game. It’s infused with beer and goes swimmingly with your favorite dipping sauce. ( Ahem these kicked up condiments will do the trick!) For even more, have a look at our Puppy Bowl inspired shindig.

Erin LepperdSalted Beer Football Pretzels

prep time 1 Hour/s 30 Minute/s

cook time 8 Minute/s

total time 1 Hour/s 38 Minute/s

Serves 12Ingredients

• 1 packet active yeast
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 5 cups flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 2 cups beer
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Sea salt for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Mix yeast, 1 tsp sugar, and warm water in a small bowl and let stand 5-10 minutes until foam.
2. Mix flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
3. Mix in olive oil, then yeast mixture. Mix for about 5 minutes.
4. Roll dough into a large ball, then place in mixing bowl covered with damp towel in a warm area until the dough has doubled in size.
5. Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
6. Form dough into a long log and use a pizza cutter or knife to cut out long skinny strips to form the pretzels. Each football pretzel needs 2 long strips for the football shape, one skinner long strip for the middle line, and three skinny bitty strips for the laces.
7. Mix baking soda and beer together in medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until it begins to bubble, then reduce heat to low.
8. Dip the pieces of dough for one football into beer mixture for about 20 seconds, then remove with a slotted spoon and let excess beer drain off. The dough should have puffed slightly.
9. Arrange the dough pieces in a football shape on the prepared baking tray. Start with the outer shape, then add the middle line and then the pieces for the laces, pinching together the dough at each meeting. Repeat for the remaining pretzels.
10. Bake for 7-8 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from oven, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sea salt.
11. Let cool slightly and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Recipe: SMP Living

If I know one thing after all these years in the world of weddings, it’s that the details are what makes an event truly special; from getting ready the morning of to the brides accessories, it’s all about the little things. And that, my dears, is why we’re seriously smitten with Doie Lounge robes and Sweet & Spark vintage costume jewelry, both of which add sweet touches to your big day!

You and your ladies want to feel gorgeous from the second you wake up on wedding day — and that’s where Doie Lounge comes in! Adding a glam touch to the big morning, these robes are not only beautiful, eco-friendly (made locally in LA) + comfortable (made of soft modal jersey with patterned silk), but they’re a great gift that will be worn over and over again! Flattering on all body types, these pretties come in a stunning selection of color + pattern combinations. Best of all, there’s a discount when you buy robes for all your bridesmaids (more about that here)! Be sure to take a peek at some of the featured real weddings (here) to get an idea of how gorgeous these robes are on real brides + their ladies and follow Doie Lounge on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for updates + inspiration.

We’ve got the morning of covered, but when it comes to accessorizing a bridal or bridesmaid’s look, we’re head-over-heels for vintage costume jewelry company Sweet & Spark. Offering one-of-a-kind original vintage pieces from the 40s-90s, Jillian, the lady behind Sweet & Spark, and her dad travel the country searching for the best pieces to help you celebrate all of your ladies’ individual personalities! Totally affordable, most of the collection is under $100. You can even curate your very own wedding collection featuring vintage rhinestones and feminine pearls — email jillian{at}sweetandspark.com for more info. For more information and tons of inspiration, be sure to follow Sweet & Spark on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter!

Between Doie Lounge + Sweet & Spark there’s more than enough pretty to go around. And lucky for you all, they’ve teamed up for an amazing giveaway!

The Prize:  A lucky winner will receive a robe for herself + one for one of her ladies as well as jewelry for herself + one of her ladies! Winner may choose any two robes and any pieces of jewelry she wants, depending on stock.

To Enter: Simply comment on this post with your two favorite Doie Lounge robes and your two favorite pieces of Sweet & Spark jewelry!

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

Terms & Conditions: Can all be found right here.  Good luck my dears! xoxo

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Photo Credits: Valorie Darling Photography  + Weddings by Scott and Dana + Jeff Tisman Photography + Dustin Soriano | Hair: Trace Hennigsen | Makeup: Artistry by Danika | Natalie Comstock

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Petit Bouquet

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Everyone knows the real star of a Super Bowl party is the munchies with the commercials being a close second. The line-up of apps is a much anticipated topic in our household and this year, Spicy Caramel Bacon Popcorn is the leading contender. Who doesn’t love bacon? And mixed with caramel and popcorn – it’s enough to make you rethink your current Super Bowl menu.

Erin LepperdSpicy Caramel Bacon Popcorn

prep time 20 Minute/s

cook time 25 Minute/s

total time 45 Minute/s

Serves 6Ingredients

• 5-6 slices of bacon
• 12 cups air-popped popcorn
• 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 (14oz) bag of Kraft caramels

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place bacon strips, side by side, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 15 minutes until crispy.
2. Remove bacon from oven and place on paper towels to cool, then chop bite-sized pieces.
3. Line another baking sheet with parchment paper. Pour the popcorn into a large mixing bowl and set aside.
4. Unwrap caramels and place the caramels, butter, water, and cayenne in a large saucepan. Cook on low heat until melted, stirring frequently.
5. Quickly fold the bacon into the caramel mixture, then pour onto the popcorn. Toss the popcorn like a salad until caramel is thoroughly mixed in.
6. Pour the popcorn onto prepared baking sheet, then flatten and break into clusters while the mixture is still warm. Let cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Recipe: SMP Living

You might have heard this couple’s amazing story, and today it’s all coming full circle. Following the surprise visit from her military fiance – plus 4 months and 6 rounds of chemotherapy later- this unbelievably courageous bride married her beloved with one of the loveliest weddings we’ve ever come across. Dressed in a tulle skirted Tara Keely, she managed to steal the show, and Lady & The Lens was on hand to capture every bit. Pay a visit to the gallery and don’t miss the film from Wholehearted Wedding.

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The following months were a struggle as I continued to plan my wedding and receive a total of 6 rounds of chemotherapy. Thankfully, the chemotherapy I was prescribed did not make me lose my hair. I was so ecstatic knowing that I would be able to have my “dream wedding look”.

The big day came and it really couldn’t have been more perfect. It was the Sunday of Labor Day weekend in my hometown of Valparaiso, IN which is a short drive from Chicago. I was feeling great physically as it was my “off” week for treatment. The weather was a perfect 80 degrees which was ideal for our short outdoor garden ceremony. The day started very early with hair and makeup at my parents house. We had to get an early start due to having 10 bridesmaids! 7 hours and a few mimosas later we were ready! The videographers (who generously donated their services ) arrived and it was time for my “first look” with my dad, Scott. I couldn’t have imagined a better reaction from my dad as the one I received that day and I feel so grateful to have that on camera to watch for years to come. It was raw emotion and lots of happy tears that I will never forget.

I chose a stunning Tara Keely by Lazaro gown. 3 years ago, I noticed a beautiful dress on Pinterest that converted into a short lace dress for the reception. I knew I had to have it as I have been a dancer since the age of 3 and I knew dancing at the reception in a huge ball gown would not go over well. I wanted to have the princess look with lots of tulle but still be able to dance/party at the reception. After an exhausting search, I finally located the designer and had it shipped to a store just outside of Chicago. The minute I stepped into the dress, I fell in love. At the reception, I decided I wanted to reveal my short dress in a fun, unique way. During the father-daughter dance, we stopped mid song, my bridesmaids surrounded me while I took off my tulle skirt and then started a choreographed dance with all 10 girls and my father to the song Brickhouse.

Aberdeen Manor was our venue of choice from the beginning. It has the charm and small town wedding feel that we were looking for. The venue has a small chapel on the property but we chose to have our ceremony in the garden which was right outside the reception hall.

The flowers and centerpieces were my favorite part of the entire wedding day look. I knew I wanted to chose a vendor that wasn’t your typical florist so I decided on hiring a local floral designer. We met several times before the wedding to ensure she knew exactly what I wanted. My vision was light neutral colors with hints of pink throughout. I requested her to use my favorite flowers which consist of hydrangeas, orchids, dahlias and roses. For all of the bouquets she traveled up to a dahlia farm in Michigan and handpicked them herself. Our bouquets complimented the floor length, champagne colored bridesmaid dresses perfectly. On our head table that seated 22, I knew I wanted something very romantic so we chose to have 70 lace wrapped candles at different heights to line the center of the long oval table with small hydrangea bouquets in mercury glass vases spread throughout. Our designer really took our vision to the next level and we couldn’t have been happier with the end result.

We decided to have cupcakes for our guests and a small cutting cake for the bride, groom and bridal party. Even though our cake was small, we had it suspended from the ceiling on a platform. Being that Drew is a lieutenant junior grade in the Navy, we cut our cake with his sword that he received when he commissioned as an officer in 2012.

The ceremony and reception was so magical from the minute it started to the minute it ended. The speeches from our matron of honor, best man and my father were the icing on the cake. The room was filled with so much love and happiness. The one thing that Drew and I cherish most from our wedding day is definitely our gifted video from the amazingly talented team at Wholehearted Wedding Film Co.

Even though Drew and I have been through very difficult times, we both feel it made our wedding day that much more unforgettable. In sickness and in health took on a whole new meaning and we really couldn’t be more blessed to have each other. I hope you enjoy our wedding photos and magical video as much as we do. :)

Photography: Lady And The Lens | Videography: Wholehearted Wedding Film Co | Floral Design: Kelly Lenard | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Designer Desserts | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Makeup: Krissy Vanderwoude | Hair: Center Of Attention | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Ballroom Reception: Aberdeen Manor | Bridal Jewelry: Kate Spade | Outdoor Ceremony: Aberdeen Manor

When it comes to Art Museum weddings, this one literally takes the Mondrian inspired cake. Pops of color were provided with vivid Organic Elements blooms, while bicycle bottle openers proved to be the perfect party favor. Each heart-warming moment captured by Petula Pea Photography is essentially a work of art, and we can watch it all unfold right over here.

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From Bliss Events…Juliana & Mark were married on the Sculpture Garden at the San Diego Museum of Art at dusk. The ceremony included 40 of their family members (a guest of honor was the groom’s daughter) and music played by the bride’s brothers, Andres & Robert. Afterwards, 150 of their friends gathered for a cocktail reception inside the rotunda of the museum where they enjoyed tray passed hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine and the “Painted Lady” signature cocktail, with melon liquor and passion fruit juices. Juliana and Mark were announced as a married couple for the first time as they descended down the grand staircase, while guests took pictures and cheered on the newlyweds.

Guests were then escorted into “vintage art elegance” for the reception and greeted by Juliana, Mark, both sets of parents, and a beautiful chandelier over the dance floor. When the guests were seated by a candlelit seating chart, they were each handed a favor: a hand-beaded bracelet by the bride’s aunts and a hand embroidered tote bag with the initials “J & M” that the brides Mom hand embroidered herself. The gentlemen enjoyed bicycle bottle openers with a note that read, “Let the adventure begin”! Mark & Juliana danced to their first dance to “Magic” by Coldplay.

A plated salad of Baby Organic Greens with Sliced Angria Poached Pear, Caramelized Pecans , Gorgonzola, Currants and Aged sherry Vinaigrette greeted the guests as they watched the couple dance. Guests then enjoyed dinner stations: Pistachio Crusted Butterfish, Amaranth, Farro & Quinoa with Medjool Date Parsley & Lemon Cumin Vinaigrette, Mustard Beurre Blanc & Grilled Squash and Grilled Kobe Skirt Steak with Garlic, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Olive Oil, Citrus Zest, Chili Flake & Garlic, Vegetables and Red Wine Rosemary Sauce. The guests could also accompany their entrees with Cavatappi Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash, Wild Mushroom, Roasted Yellow Bell Peppers, Chardonnay and Truffle Oil.

After dinner, guests were delighted to hear the kind words of the couple welcoming them and heartfelt thanks for attending their wedding celebration. The couple cut the Mondrian inspired cake (this was AMAZING and perfect for an art museum wedding!) and guests enjoyed a variety of flavored coffees. In the final hour of the reception, guests were surprised by a band of 15 musicians with instruments walking into the reception and through the guests playing some of the bride and grooms favorite songs. Guests sang and screeched with delight as the band performed and the bride and groom took center stage and danced the night away.

Photography: Petula Pea Photography | Coordinator: Bliss Events | Florist: Organic Elements | Wedding Gown: The White Flower Bridal Boutique | Cake: Sweet Lydia's | Caterer: Coast Catering | Hair & Makeup: Couture Makeup | Band: Top Shelf Band | Officiant: Rev. Judy Winkler | Museum: San Diego Museum Of Art | Paper Goods: Love Notes Stationery | Rentals: Concepts Event Design

We’re big fans of Koman Photography around these parts. Not only are Marlene and John an uber talented duo, but their love never ceases to shine through everything they capture, and the proof is in the pudding. Teaming up with Everly Events, California Floral Design and Found Vintage Rentals, they nailed this organic, jewel-toned styled perfection. Be wow-ed right here.

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From Everly Events…California is full of beautiful sunshine all year long, and even in the fall, we are fortunate to still have warm sunshine but with a touch of coolness that reminds us that we still have changing seasons. With that in mind, I wanted to incorporate both warm and cool tones into this beautiful fall styled shoot. The rich and dark purple and blue tones bring in the coolness of the season, and I wanted to accent those shades with soft blues and pinks that have been so popular and trending in many weddings this year. All of these colors were brought to life with the beautiful green backdrops that the Highland Springs Resort provided with their olive grove trees and lavender fields – it was the perfect combination! I wanted to create a modern, lush, and rich look with the dark hues but also pay homage to the popular trends of this year to tie it all together, and what better way to make it classy by pairing it all with gold accents and details? To complement the beautiful nature of the venue, I selected two gorgeous and romantic gowns that had lacey and beaded accents that really elevated the elegance of the shoot. The beautiful cake, desserts, and fun bar cart that I brought in were elements that I always imagined having at my own wedding, so the photo shoot seemed like the perfect opportunity to feature and showcase them!

Photography: Koman Photography | Event Planning: Everly Events | Floral Design: California Floral And Design | Wedding Dress: Bella Wedding Bridal | Hair And Makeup: Kohnur | Wedding Venue: Highland Springs Resort | Cake And Dessert: Sweet & Saucy Shop | Rentals: Found Rental Co.

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl gathering or even heading over to a friend’s with munchies in tow, this DIY should be a part of your goodie bag of tricks. It’s a glamorous version of an app display with a cute kitschy feel. Meet the DIY Football Field Tray. Your favorite lucite number will be a hit all dolled up for game day. For even more, catch our Puppy Bowl inspiration photographed by Ruth Eileen right here.

Clear lucite tray
Astroturf
Gold spraypaint
White duct tape
White number stickers (we found ours at Michaels)
Scissors
Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Cut the astroturf to snugly fit the bottom of the tray.

Spray paint the astroturf gold and let dry ½ hour. Place the astroturf in the tray.

Cut a strip of duct tape slightly longer than the width of the astroturf. Fold the duct tape in half lengthwise, so it is smooth on both sides. Then cut into strips about ¼” wide. Repeat until you have 5 (¼”) strips.

Lay out each of the 5 strips on the astroturf until they are evenly spaced, to form the yard lines. Hot glue in place.

Lay out the yard line number stickers. Place on either side of the yard line and both sides of the tray. You may need to hot glue in place if the stickers are not sticky enough.

Your tray is Super Bowl-ready! And when the big game is over, you can pop out the field and use the clear tray year-round.

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

You might recognize her as the voice behind A Dash of Details, but today Ali is joining the family as SMP’s newest Blogger Bride. She’ll be giving us an inside look into her wedding plans, and what better way to get started than a little intro from the Bride-to-be herself! Read her sweet story below, and be sure to visit the gallery of loveliness a la Elyse Hall Photography!

From Ali… Hi Pretty Brides! I’m Ali, the voice and face of A Dash of Details, a life and style blog that is inspired by the details of my daily life in Dallas, Texas. I have been dreaming about my wedding since I was a little girl (I mean what girl hasn’t!) so you can imagine I was over the moon excited when Style Me Pretty asked me to be their next Blogger Bride. I cannot wait to share all of my wedding details with y’all, but really there would be no wedding without my best friend and now fiancé Patrick.

So, I know you are all dying to hear “the how we met story”. Well, Patrick and I met a little over 7 years ago at the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk!) on the first day of Calculus 101. He happened to sit next to me. In my head I was squealing with excitement since he was by far the cutest guy in the class. I later found out from a friend that he had spotted me at a party earlier that week and knew I was going to be in the class. Needless to say the rest is history!

Well, there is a little more to the story I suppose. Patrick and I dated throughout college and then did a few years of long distance as both of us were following our dreams. After a few years apart, I finally decided to move to a small town in Ohio so we could be together. He is, without a doubt, my best friend and partner in crime.

Patrick and I spend a lot of time together. Especially when we were living in a small town, so being able to surprise me with an engagement was going to be difficult, or at least that is what I thought. Back in October, Patrick asked me to schedule a photographer to take pictures for our New Year’s card. Really, I should have thought something was up at that point, but without a hesitation or second thought I scheduled a friend to take our pictures for December 23, 2014. A few months later, we flew out to Arizona to spend the holidays with my family. We landed in Scottsdale and headed up to the Boulders to take our photos. After a few shot were taken, she asked us to turn around for a different angle and when I flipped towards Patrick he was on one knee asking me to spend the rest of our lives together. It was a moment in time I will cherish forever. After the engagement, I was surprised at dinner by both of our families and all of my friends! I felt like a princess and the night felt like a fairy tale I never wanted to end.

Like I said before, I am so excited to be sharing my wedding journey with all of you! I plan to take you inside all the details of planning process from how to get your dream wedding while still staying under budget, scouting for the best engagement shoot locations, wedding fashion and beauty, activities to do with your Bridesmaids’, getting in shape for the big day, easy DIY’s for all you crafty brides out there, to my very own wedding shower. With the help of a great wedding planner, friends and family, I cannot wait to create the wedding I always dreamed of in my hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona. If there is one thing to always remember it’s at the end of the day, I (and you) get to marry the sweetheart of your dreams, so let’s get started! xoxo

Photography: Elyse Hall Photography | Ring: Tivol Kansas City | Blogger: A Dash Of Details | Coffee Shop: Liberty Market | Heels: Steven by Steve Madden | Jeans: Frame Denim | Shirt: Elizabeth and James | Sunglasses: Celine | Sweater: J.Crew | Watch: Michele

An elegant fall wedding will forever capture my attention and with Terilyn & Koby Brown’s gorgeous pics, this one doesn’t disappoint. But what makes it even more amazing is that this was all planned in two months. Two months to create this show-stopper, complete with one of my favorite bouquets yet and one stunner of a cake. I’m in awe and I’ll be taking notes – and pinning pretty pics – for the rest of today.

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From Terilyn & Koby Brown… What a beautiful outdoor tented event on the bride’s family estate! Love the bride’s cascading bouquet, and the twinkle lights behind the cake made for dreamy images! Want to know how to get the single guys to really TRY to catch the garter?? Put it on a football!! Stephanie and James planned such a fun and elegant event in a very short timeframe. While I’m sure it was a challenge to get everything lined up in just a few short months, the plus side is they condensed all the wedding planning stress to those few months instead of extending it over a year.

From The Bride… James and I were ready to be married. We knew it was right, and wanted to start our life together. While I didn’t want to spend too much time obsessing over details, I still wanted a grand celebration with a lifetime of beautiful memories.

For me, it was very important to have the photographer and DJ that I wanted at the wedding. There was only one day in the relatively near term that both the photographer and DJ had available which set our date. The date we set gave us two months to prepare for our wedding.

Every article I read or checklist I downloaded recommended about a year of planning before the big day, so I was nervous about whether or not we could really pull it off in time. Everything really came together and started moving forward quickly once we had officially set the date and sent out invitations. The compressed timeline actually made it easier to finalize decisions… Once new details were determined it was time to move forward and focus on something else. Our compressed schedule, which didn’t allow the luxury of second guessing decisions, made the process less stressful. In the end, all of our service providers and vendors were amazing resources, and helped us to produce a wedding far more beautiful and fun than I could have ever imagined regardless of the amount time we had planning.

Photography: Koby Brown Photography | Floral Design: Flora & Eventi | Wedding Dress: Enzoani | Cake: Who Made The Cake! | Stationary: Invitation Solutions | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Caterer: Bailey Conner | Make Up And Hair: Makeup Texas | Venue: Family Estate | Tent: Houston Party & Tent | Day-of Coordinator: Soireebliss! Events | Music: Signature Eventx

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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I can’t even imagine the beauty of a Hawaiian wedding, let alone growing up on the island. Inspired by her childhood, this bride captured her love for the beach and nature perfectly. With Candice Benjamin behind the lens and Opihi Love’s florals and coordination, this celebration is picture perfect. Like a scene from a postcard, these pics have me longing for the sound of waves and floral leis.

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From The Bride… While planning the wedding and looking for some sort of theme I wanted to incorporate my love of the island/beach and Chris’ rustic/ natural side. I wanted to keep things simple and chic and let the beauty of Olowalu and Maui take the lead. I grew up on Maui so it was my dream to get married on the island and share it with all of our family and friends so that they could create the special memories that I have. While venue hunting I adamantly refused to even look at Olowalu because it is such a popular wedding venue and I felt as though every wedding was always set up the exact same way. After visiting with my parents, we fell in love with the feel of the property but were determined to do EVERYTHING differently! The ceremony was in a location it had never been in as well as our reception tables and although this made planning a bit tricky since we challenged ourselves as well as our vendors the results were magical. If there was one word that came to mind while planning this wedding it was ” unique.” From the hand stained table runners that my husband and I created, to the large lawn games that became a full family project to the hand sewn pillows made by my mom this wedding became a real team effort. It was so special to walk around and see all of the handmade touches and truly feel as though love from everyone of our family members and friends could been seen and felt in the details.

My favorite part of the day was walking down the aisle with my parents on either side of me and seeing Chris’ face as I made my way closer to him. I don’t remember seeing anything else except for his smile. I had two beautifully talented family friends who sang their own rendition of ” Somewhere over the Rainbow” and since I decided to charge down the aisle instead of leisurely walk the song ended up running longer than expected. I stood there being supported by my parents, looking ahead at my future husband, my amazing uncle who officiated and all of our bridal party and everyone spontaneously started clapping to the beat of the song.That moment shattered all of the nervous excitement that had built up in me and I remember looking around at everyone and thinking how lucky we were to be surrounded by such amazing people. It was such a fun moment and it really captured the spirit and enthusiasm of the day.

My advice to other couples would be to take a moment right after the ceremony for just you and your husband. As soon as we finished the ceremony we were able to take ten minutes to just relish finally being husband and wife. Our catering company had set out some appetizers and champagne for us and it was just a quiet moment before the party began to soak it all in! Everyone tells you to try and take it all in and slow down and once it starts that is impossible! You are so caught up in everything and time seems to speed forward faster than it ever has before. It is so special to have family and friends surrounding you on your big day but at the end of the day it truly is all about that moment when you become husband and wife.

Photography: Candice Benjamin Photography | Coordination: Opihi Love Wedding Planning and Design | Floral Design: Opihi Love Wedding Planning and Design | Ceremony Venue: Olowalu Plantation House | Catering: Sugar Beach Events | Hair And Makeup: Jean Muldoon | DJ: Clarity Entertainment Maui | Bridesmaids Hair: Liza Siminski | Bridesmaids Makeup: Cassandra Unciano | Cake Artist: Brianna Moore | Rentals: Pacific Isle Rentals | Shaved Ice Truck: Kona Shave Ice

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Event Planning

Opihi Love Wedding Planning and Design

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