Style Me Pretty: Wedding Blog for the Style-Obsessed Bride

A Floral-Forward Backyard Wedding at the Bride’s Family Home

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]French blue and white as far as stationery. All white flowers and ribbons at church, bridesmaids and groomsmen were in black. Bridesmaids wore varying styles of black maxi dresses and groomsmen wore tuxes. We had a world of colors and flowers when we arrived at home for the party! Most of the color was seen in the florals, but we also had cocktail napkins with fun facts about George and me.
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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Our wedding planner was Jonathan Parkey and I cannot say enough wonderful things about him and the process of planning our day. One of my favorite aspects of planning the wedding was bouncing creative ideas back and forth with Jonathan. We were always on the same page.

Prior to the wedding, I kept finding myself piecing all of the little snippets of projects together, but nothing compared to the feeling of seeing all of our plans, wishes, and people in one place! A lot of the inspiration has been around flowers. Flowers have always resonated with me always and it’s been incredible seeing them as a through-line for all of my “life moments.” My very first job was working in a flower shop in high school. I love to wear florals, Spring is my favorite season, and I now work in a women’s clothing store called Tulips. When I had my small business, Scribbles by Sav, flowers were always my favorite to scribble. When studying in London in 2014 I discovered my favorite store in the world, Liberty London. Flowers greet you when you walk up to Liberty, and right in front of those flowers is the very place where George asked me to marry him in June 2022. I couldn’t ever imagine my wedding day without flowers being the source of inspiration.

I’ve always been a little bit of a “paper princess”…I admire the high-quality letterpress, thick invitations, and liners that look like artwork. Always have, always will. Working with Erin at By Invitation Only was one of my favorite aspects of the design process because, “paper sets the tone” Jonathan reiterated. With the save the dates being entirely designed by me, I knew I needed quality paper for the floral outlined, handwritten text save the dates. I didn’t want this to look like a little home craft project gone wrong! The save the dates were the first introduction to our celebration, and I think they set the tone perfectly for our day. I knew I wanted a floral border, and then after I found my dress, I decided to use those florals as inspiration for my scribbles! The florals from my dress were scribbled all around the border. It was a really neat way for people to have a taste of what was to come, but nobody guessed that it was inspired by my dress. The same floral scribbles from the save the date were printed in a tile pattern on the dance floor at the reception, and I loved the way that the scribbly lines looked under my feet as we danced all night! The invitations were a dream to pick out and I am just tickled that they turned out even more beautiful than I could have ever imagined![/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]On June 23, 2022, I said yes to forever to my George for the first official time ever; right outside of my favorite store in the world, Liberty London in London, England. Liberty has the most charming entrance ever, a flower shop that has an assortment of blooms displayed in galvanized buckets layered up to make it feel like the flowers are a permanent fixture on the facade of the storefront, but the blooms disappear as purchased and change daily. I’ve loved this place since 2014, but never knew how much inspiration and meaning it would have to my life forever. The flower shop of Liberty and the site of our engagement was the inspiration to the entrance of our wedding reception! [/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]As someone who sells dresses and pretty much primarily wears dresses, I knew my wedding dress was going to be really special. I had so many different ideas of what I thought I might like, and THE dress was everything I never knew that I wanted!

I have always said that I knew I didn’t want strapless and then…of course, the unexpected was delightful! The Monique Lhuillier strapless ball gown has a draped bodice and a straight across neckline with a bold in color, but romantically light and airy floral design on silk. The dancing florals continue into the gown’s flowy skirt full of delicate organza layers and a hidden slit.

I have gotten to know Betsy, the owner of Unveiled, by helping her select dresses at Tulips, so it was fun to switch places and have her help in her shop for my wedding dress! I knew that I was most excited to try on the dress that I chose and strategically saved the best for last when trying it on! Delayed gratification always wins in my book![/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]My bridesmaids all wore black Show Me Your Mumu dresses. I wanted everyone to look somewhat uniform but wanted them all to select their own silhouettes. All of my Bridesmaids and ladies in the family had blue floral Liberty London handkerchiefs. I always keep them tied around my purse, and they’re from the place of our engagement, Liberty London. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]George and his groomsmen wore tuxes. George had a handkerchief that I had given him at our first look from Liberty. It was part of the “something blue” and it matched ones that the bridesmaids and all the ladies carried![/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]The catering was from Woods Place in Camden. My parents have been friends with James, the owner for such a long time and Mama has played Pokeno one Monday a month for years and years with his wife. One Saturday my dad walked out and found James sitting on the patio drinking coffee and envisioning the space. He said, “I think this is going to just be great!”

At the wedding we had a variety of cheeses, sausage, salmon, pork loin, different types of sliders, Italian pinwheels, dips, crackers, and the crowd favorite, chicken and cheese quesadillas. I wanted all of the food to feel like it was fresh from a garden or a market in Europe. Woods Place executed the presentation wonderfully![/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Pretty much every vendor that we used has a story attached, like most things in my life! For florists, we used two. One at church and one at home. At church, Four Seasons in Camden did the flowers for the ceremony. Everything at the church was white. This was Jonathan’s idea to have all ribbons and flowers white, even more so confirmed after I showed him my dress! Frank Wietecha, the owner of Four Seasons, was the florist for my parents’ wedding. It was so special to meet with him and have him be a part of our day! He created an intricate sketch of his vision for the altar with little notes on it. He didn’t mean for it to be a keepsake, but it is a masterpiece! I am looking so forward to having that framed and a part of our home forever!

The florist for the reception is David Goodman, who owns Mary and Martha’s in Arkadelphia. His daughter is my sister-in-law, and I can’t imagine his creativity and vision not being a part of my wedding! All along I was bringing inspiration from Pinterest, and Instagram and carrying in floral books with cut-up pieces of post-it notes that said what I liked and didn’t like about certain arrangements. I had a lineup of specific flowers that I loved and wanted to incorporate. A lot of these were in the variety of gathered vessels of varying heights and shapes along the king tables. I wanted it to feel like we had just gathered up flowers from a garden. I didn’t want too much structure and wanted each arrangement to feel similar but tell a different story.

The round tables in the center all had blue and white chinoiserie vases from Mama and Mimi’s houses. And the little bitty vases on the king tables and head table were so magical to see flowers dancing with the glow of candlelight. The florals were the best surprise and were everything and more than I had envisioned!! David perfectly executed my wildest dreams, especially with the Liberty London flower front entrance that was inspired by the site of our engagement which welcomed our guests into the reception at home![/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Tucked away in a little brick alleyway just steps away from Columbia Road Flower Market is a little twinkly place called Lily Vanilli Bakery. I’m not sure how I first discovered them, but I have followed them for years on Instagram and have watched their vintage-inspired creations bloom out of icing enough to make it feel like I was the cake decorator. When living in London in 2014, I knew that I had to visit while at the flower market on Sunday and it totally lived up to all of its hype. Nearly a decade later and it was no question what I wanted our wedding cake to look like. I took all of my favorite swirls and twirls from years of admiring their cakes and scribbled those elements into the little dream of a wedding cake that George and I would cut with the same cake knife that Mama and Daddy used for their wedding, and the one that Mimi had at her wedding with her initials engraved in the handle. As far as the maker of the cake, I wanted Ann’s cake to be at our wedding. @cosmos_cookies makes my very favorite cake and she’s from Camden! Ann came over one day when I was home and we looked through tons of pictures and took notes at the breakfast room table until we had our plan! It was so fabulously made and tasted like heaven! George and I are already looking forward to pulling the cake out of the freezer next March![/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]A string quartet from the South Arkansas Symphony played a variety of classical music while guests were arriving.
Seating of the families was quartet only, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Bridesmaids Processional, quartet only was Lakme: Flower Duet.
Brides processional, organ only Clarke: Trumpet Voluntary
Recessional- Handel: Air alla Hornpipe from Watermusic Suite.

All of these songs were hand selected!

Be Thou My Vision was sung by the entire congregation. During the hymn, George and I were able to really look at everyone who was there and take a moment to soak it all in and remember it all. This very moment was one of the most precious moments of the entire day. I had to retreat to my handkerchief in my dress pocket for the rest of the ceremony. It was so overwhelming that all of the people that we had known came all the way to Camden, Arkansas to celebrate the beginning of our forever.

Reception

For a few weeks, George and I laughed about doing our first dance to “You Make Me Feel So Young” by Frank Sinatra. Hilarious because it’s a subtle nod to the fact that I’m older than George. And then our decision was made – that HAD to be our song. One of George’s only requests for the wedding was to take dance lessons for our first dance.

Our last dance ties into one of the most special moments. Bruce Springsteen is George’s absolute favorite musician and we knew we wanted to incorporate that into our day somehow. “She’s the One” by Bruce Springsteen was the very last song that our band, Fly By Radio, played and the very last dance of the night. We were the only ones left in the tent and spent the second half of the song spotting different things around the tent. We spied candle sticks that were slowly inching closer to the table, chairs that were left facing the floor, blinking rings that were left behind, and flashbacks from the night when we talked to different people. Then we walked out and were waved goodbye by all of our people with ribbons and tiny bells.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The first weekend in March was an entire weekend filled to the brim of being so overwhelmed by the time and effort from everyone who had a part in our day and every single one of our sweet people that showed up to celebrate the start of our forever with us. The added bonus of our wedding: being at home in Camden was just a sweetness overload that had me happy-weeping all weekend. From the first look on, my Liberty handkerchief was working overtime and conveniently living in my dress pocket! It only seemed fitting for the newest chapter to begin in this very place that is the foundation of who makes me, me. So, the chapter of becoming Mrs. Sellers began when I pulled up on March 1st and said to Mama and Daddy, “I’m home to get married!”

Our furthest travelers were my friend Tiffany and her husband Robin. They traveled all the way from Sydney, Australia. The last time that I saw them in person was in 2019 when I was in their wedding in Sydney! Tiffany and I met at London College of Fashion in 2014 and frequented Liberty London! George’s Aunt Lyn and her family traveled from London. They were the very first ones that saw us after we were engaged since we were staying with them at their house in London![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The big scribble on the dance floor that was drawn by me, the bride, and was the same as the save-the-dates. It was inspired by my dress took a lot of effort!

We used a lot of Mama and Mimi’s blue and white chinoiserie ginger jars on the round tables at the reception. I love the idea of bringing the inside out, and having pieces that are so familiar to me (at home) filled with flowers and on the tables at the reception was just so special to incorporate! Brass candlesticks, lanterns, and glass hurricanes were all borrowed from friends.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]I loved having our dog Hattie in pictures!! She is my soon to be eight-year-old Imperial Shihtzu that looks just like the dog emoji, and she is my shadow! She is usually in a t-shirt or a turtleneck, so she of course had to have a little pink dress with embroidered flowers for our wedding day!

The bridesmaids’ earrings and my earrings were made by Susan Standeffer. I had so much fun sending sketches back and forth of what I wanted the earrings to look like. A floral component married a statement earring that all of my girls could wear again and again was something that I wanted to create for them as a gift! I wanted my earrings to be similar, but not entirely the same. The mother-of-pearl zig-zagged edge was so playful and whimsical and the tiny gold ball detail in the center was the perfect finishing touch. My earrings were a two-tiered version with slightly thicker mother-of-pearl flowers. They were exactly what my dress filled with flowers called for!

My little ring box is a vintage red leather ring box that George bought from someone in England! I definitely wanted to have that in our detailed shots! [/field]
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A Timeless Green and White Al Fresco Wedding Amidst Colorado’s Natural Beauty

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The wedding colors were neutral tones of tan, white, cream and green.

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At a private residence located outside Boulder, Colorado, which could easily be mistaken for a tucked away villa in Tuscany lies Burning Sky Farm, a truly special property. Once Rachel and Collin saw the property, they knew it was where they would say I do. They wanted to lean into the Tuscan vibe and we helped them create an al fresco wedding experience for their guests – fit for the Tuscan countryside.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Collin’s lured Rachel out to the North Fork of Long Island, known for its picturesque beaches and amazing local wineries under the guise of a work conference that he had to attend. Once there, after a few glasses of wine, Collin led Rachel into the vineyard and dropped to one knee and she of course, said YES!

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Rachel, who lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan knew she wanted to get her dress from the infamous Kleinfeld Bridal. She found the most perfect Rita Vinieris fitted gown with beautiful lace detailing and corset bodice.

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We enlisted the help of Blackbelly Catering to create a custom menu that could be found in a small cafe in the hills of Tuscany. From a summer heirloom tomato pasta as the starter to Tuscan red wine braised beef and Roman chicken cacciatore – guests were transported to Italy with flavors reminiscent of the Tuscan countryside. They sipped on a selection of hand selected Tuscan wines and spritz before making their way to the Gelato Cart, complete with flavors synonymous with Italy like pistachio, cannoli and stracciatella.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Rachel and Collin wanted to keep their flowers and decor classic and timeless and opted for a palette of mostly white florals with pops of green that came through in olive leaves on the table and in the centerpieces. Plum Sage Flowers brought their vision to life in every aspect and truly created a warm and inviting environment. The area was complete with cozy lounge groupings from Hazel Grove.

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The wedding cake was tiramisu cheesecake and flourless chocolate torte bite with raspberry coulis topped with house whipped cream.

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Rachel and Colin had a choreographed first dance that was fit for Dancing with the Stars! They snuck away after they shared special dances with their parents in their wedding gown and tuxedo to change into something that was more fit for one of the most epic first dances we’ve ever seen. When the DJ announced them back into the room, they took the dance floor and foxtrotted their way across the dance floor! Their guests went wild and it was truly one of the most memorable parts of the evening.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]To keep with the Tuscan theme, we enlisted the help of Gelato & Co. to bring in a gelato cart for a fun little late night snack! We had traditional flavors like pistachio and stracciatella and mixed in some fun flavors like limoncello and raspberry! Guests loved such a sweet surprise to end the night! [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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Calluna Events

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Florals

Plum Sage Flowers

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Petit Bouquet

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Seaside Romance in San Diego That Celebrates Texture!

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]White, Creams, Shades of Blue, Pop of orange [/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Seaside Boho, Textured, pop of color [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Ryan took us on a scavenger hunt of our love story stopping at significant places during the day. Started in San Francisco & worked our way to Lake Tahoe where he proposed at Emerald Bay during sunset with the final clue being “December 4th, 2021 the day we decided to spend the rest of our lives together”[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The Bride felt like this dress fit the beach venue vibe. It fit well and loved the pop of fun lace on the back[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]We loved this brides vision of mix and match dresses! The color blue truly mimics the seaside ocean backdrop! [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Margaritas & Aperol Spritz with tray passed mini apps and an Espresso Martini welcome drink! [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Florals done by the incredible Modern Bouquet, with a mix of mini arrangements on the head table and bus vases scattered on the others these centerpieces were the perfect touch for this seaside wedding! Not to mention the Bride’s bouquet was truly a stunner! [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Simple buttercream wedding cake with added hand made florals from the bride! [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]The wedding party enjoyed a mix of live music during cocktail hour and then during dancing with our saxophone artist while the DJ played everyone’s favorite mixes! They both had the party going all night! [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]we both went to the same college (Mizzou) but didn’t know each other then. Met post-grad working at the same company in California![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]96% of the wedding guest had to fly in from 18 different states. Our grandparents had to get on multiple planes for the 1st time in 20+ years![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Ryan had a shot named after him (from his d1 basketball star days) “The Bossburg” at a popular bar on campus, so one of our signature wedding cocktails was named The Bossburg[/field]
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Fun Excursions for You and Your Guests to Replace Your Destination Welcome Party!

As friends and family get more spread out, destination weddings are becoming more and more popular. But, planning a destination wedding is more than just planning a wedding, it is essentially planning a mini-vacay for all of your guests. Most guests will arrive 1-2 days before the actual event, and you’ll want to make sure that you have some fun activities on the schedule for them so they can make the most out of their getaway while you and your wedding party continue to prep for the big day. Traditionally, destination weddings involve some kind of welcome party where guests from out of town all get together and meet before the rest of the wedding festivities. Instead of a traditional party in a hotel banquet hall or a restaurant, consider a fun excursion for you and your guests. Here are ten unexpected excursions that will keep your guests talking about your wedding for years to come!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Les Anagnou photographers

1. Pub Crawl/Tour

While your guests are on vacation, they will likely want to take in the sights as well as a cocktail (or a few!). A pub crawl/city tour is a great way to show off your destination city while quenching their thirst for relaxation. Most pub crawls are walking tours, but every now and then, you’ll find one that is in a party bus or even a group bike cart where you and your guests can workout as you sip your beverage of choice. If you do decide to go this route, make sure that things don’t get too out of hand, you don’t want everyone hungover in your wedding photos (LOL).

PHOTOGRAPHY | OatStudio

2. Architecture Boat Tour

Most cities love to show off their skylines and the best way to do that is usually at a distance and…on a boat (how fun!). Whether you’re on a lake or a river, if your destination city has a body of water, you’ll be able to find an architecture boat tour in the area. These types of tours usually last 1-2 hours and typically don’t come with food or beverage service. You may be able to request a private tour and arrange to have food and beverage provided for you and your guests. If this isn’t an option, you can always continue the party at a restaurant or cocktail bar after the tour is over.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Greg Finck Photography

3. Spa Day

Now, this is what takes a destination wedding and turns it into a vacation! Treating your guests to a spa day is a lovely way to thank them for coming to your wedding. This works best for a very intimate wedding at a resort that has a large spa with showers, pools, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, etc. If it’s too pricey to do it for all of your guests, consider doing this just for your immediate family members. Most resorts will have a fee for entering the spa and some will include spa entrance for free with the purchase of a service like a facial or a massage. Keep in mind, if you do decide to go this route, that the idea of a welcome party is for your guests to be greeted by you and your fiance(é). Consider ordering a few bottles of champagne before or after your spa appointments that you can share at one of the outdoor pools where everyone can talk freely and celebrate together.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Jesse Chamberlin

4. Farm to Table Dinner

A fun new destination wedding trend is renting out a villa that has a farm on it. This is great because it allows most, if not all of the wedding guests to stay on-property and truly become immersed in the culture of the destination. Some of these villas have chefs that they work with that can prepare a meal with fresh ingredients from the farm. You can start the welcome excursion with a tour of the property and the farm where your guests can learn the history of the location and take some obligatory photos for their insta stories. After the tour, you can conclude the evening with a dinner prepared with ingredients sourced fresh from the farm they just toured. We guarantee that it will be one of the most memorable meals they’ve ever had on vacation.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Lauren Fair Photography

5. Cooking Class

A cooking class is a great way to entertain your guests and feed them too! Pretty much every city has a cooking class available. Consider booking one that involves a local specialty, like a pasta-making class if you are in Italy. Most cooking classes provide beer or wine or at least allow you to bring your own. After the class, your guests will get to eat what they’ve prepared and get to know the rest of the wedding attendees.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Kate Ignatowski Photography

6. Vineyard or Brewery Tour

Let’s be real, the two things people look forward most to at a destination wedding is a comfy hotel stay and the booze! Anyone can throw a cocktail party, but to truly immerse your guests in your destination, go for a local vineyard or brewery instead. Most vineyards and breweries offer tours of the facilities complete with tastings (of course!). If you have a lot of guests, consider calling ahead and letting them know how many people to expect. Some places may even offer a lunch or dinner package, and food is always a good option when there’s alcohol involved. Also, make sure that you provide transportation for your guests to and from the hotel to keep everyone safe and sound for your wedding weekend.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Nathalie Cheng Photography

7. Dinner Cruise

If your destination city is near the coast, chances are, you will be able to find a dinner cruise. This is a great way for you to greet your guests and show off the location. Dinner cruises usually range from 2-4 hours in length and depart a bit before guests are seated so that they have time to grab a drink, mingle, and take in the sights before their meal. There’s nothing more romantic than a sunset on the water to kick-off your wedding weekend!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Les Anagnou photographers

8. Dinner at an Amusement Park

Now, this one is very dependent on the destination, because not all cities have an amusement park, but if your destination city does, take advantage of it! Whether you want to get your guests tickets to the park (which can get pricey) or just meet up at a restaurant that’s on-property but doesn’t require a ticket like Disney Springs or Universal’s City Walk.

PHOTOGRAPHER | Kati Rosado Photography

9. Painting or Pottery Class

Art classes of all kinds can be found in just about every destination city around the world. This is a fun way for your guests to loosen up and get creative…it also functions as a great ice-breaker for mixing your friend groups. Most of these classes offer wine or beer to guests or allow you to bring your own. Because tickets are often limited, we recommend booking the class for your group a few months in advance to make sure there is enough room and supplies for everyone.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Alexandra Elise Photography

10. History/Ghost Tour

This may seem to be a bit of an odd choice for a wedding activity, but trust us, they’re actually really fun, especially the ghost tours! Most cities offer some kind of history or ghost tour that is either on foot or in a trolley or bus of some kind. It’s a great way to see your destination city and learn some fun facts about the town and its history. Some tours stop at bars and allow for drinks along the way–which is always a plus!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Axioo Bali

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Lauren Fair Photography

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This Gorgeous Summer Wedding Looks Straight Out of the English Countryside

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]White, French blue, warm beige[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]With a history of hospitality dating back decades and graciously outfitted with French and English decor, the Inn’s historic cottages provided quintessential Hunt country estate vibes for this romantic tented celebration. Under the tent and for cocktail hour, the leather and velvet lounges, carefully-curated collections on the bar backs, and gorgeous floor-to-ceiling mirrored seating charts drew inspiration from the couple’s time in Colorado at Hotel Jerome, one of their favorite escapes in Aspen. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The bride looked lovely in a classic white sheath dress from Mikaella Bridal.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Bridesmaids wore French blue chiffon dresses from David’s Bridal, perfect for this romantic outdoor celebration.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]After the ceremony, guests retreated to the cool shade of Goodstone Inn’s pergola for cocktail hour poolside, where they enjoyed refreshing custom cocktails – a Middleburg Mule served in a custom crystal glass, echoed in a hand-drawn custom bar sign by Alexandra Williams Design (and a nod to nearby Middleburg, Virginia), champagne and local farm-to table inspired hors d’oeuvres passed on vintage trays from Bella Villa Vintage Rentals[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Goodstone Inn’s uniquely romantic ivy wall set the stage as guests were welcomed and invited to be seated for the ceremony. Stepping to the peaceful strumming of the violin & guitar, the bridal party processed down a white flower-flanked aisle beautifully set by Floral & Bloom, with E & R joining hands under the eaves of ivy to say their vows. Later, pastoral views of the surrounding countryside provided the perfect backdrop for their beautiful sailcloth tented reception provided by SugarPlum Tents, featuring elegant furniture and bar rentals from Something Vintage, tabletop rentals from Emerson James and specialty decor from Bella Villa Vintage Rentals. Entering under a canopy of flowers graced by a sea of lanterns on either side, guests stepped into the sailcloth tent featuring french blue velvet BBJ La Tavola linens and on to a gorgeous wood-plank floor.Wedding design inspiration was drawn from the couple’s past and present. Bespoke invitations featured hand drawn renderings of Goodstone Inn, Washington D.C. (where the couple resides in Capitol Hill) and their beloved pup, Zuni in a toile pattern. A custom crest married their names on gift tags and cocktail napkins, while Zuni’s likeness graced cocktail stirrers. Under the tent and for cocktail hour, the leather and velvet lounges, carefully-curated collections on the bar backs, and gorgeous floor-to-ceiling mirrored seating charts drew inspiration from the couple’s time in Colorado at Hotel Jerome, one of their favorite escapes in Aspen. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The couple’s delectable carrot cake came from a little bakery near the bride’s home, covered in rich cream cheese frosting, donned with fresh flowers and a custom cake topper.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Stepping to the peaceful strumming of the violin & guitar, the bridal party processed down a white flower-flanked aisle, with E & R joining hands under the eaves of ivy to say their vows.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Wedding design inspiration was drawn from the couple’s past and present. Bespoke invitations featured hand drawn renderings by Alexandra Williams Design of Goodstone Inn, Washington D.C. (where the couple resides in Capitol Hill) and their beloved pup, Zuni in a toile pattern.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]A custom crest married their names on gift tags and cocktail napkins, while Zuni’s likeness graced cocktail stirrers.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Under the tent and for cocktail hour, the leather and velvet lounges, carefully-curated collections on the bar backs, and gorgeous floor-to-ceiling mirrored seating charts drew inspiration from the couple’s time in Colorado at Hotel Jerome, one of their favorite escapes in Aspen. [/field]
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A Classic Garden Wedding at Goodstone Inn

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]white, pink and gold[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The wedding was designed with Emily’s favorite things in mind: Adam, their dog (Charlie), champagne and pink! The vibe was classic but not stuffy. Emily and Adam envisioned a tented wedding from the beginning and they wanted their guests to be comfortable that were coming in from all over the country. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Their love story begins back in March of 2014. Emily and Adam met at Miami University. Adam attended Miami and Emily was visiting one of her best friends and now maid of honor, the night they met. They met at a party and hit it off immediately. After the weekend was over Emily returned home and Adam finished his senior year, but that is not where the story ends.

Luckily Adam knew he couldn’t let Emily slip away. A few months later, Adam reached out to Emily and they went on their first date. They knew it was off to a great start when they played an intense game of pool basketball, where Emily took the win! Over the next six years, they created wonderful memories filled with laughter and love, that included a move to Baltimore, many adventures and vacations, and the addition of Charlie, their dog, into their family.

In 2020, Adam finally popped the question in Washington DC. Adam planned a picnic at the National Mall, but before they enjoyed the picnic, he took Emily to the Smithsonian Gardens and got down on one knee! He had a photographer hiding in the bushes to take pictures of the proposal and surprised Emily with an impromptu engagement photoshoot . Afterward, they enjoyed a lovely picnic with lots of champagne. When they got back home, both of their family and friends were there waiting to surprise them and celebrate their engagement. It was absolutely perfect! [/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Emily found her dress in DC at a bridal boutique called Lovely Bride. She chose a Sara Seven dress in the style Prosecco (how perfect!). [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]With Emily’s bridesmaids being all over the country, we suggested ordering them from Bella Bridesmaids so that the bridesmaids could go to a store near them to get fitted and measured. Emily ended up choosing mismatch styles in the Amsale designer collection, all in the same shade of pink.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The groom ordered a custom Ralph Lauren suit. The groomsmen wore matching black tuxes from The Black Tux. [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Emily and Adam opted for a formal plated dinner of beef tenderloin and lobster. They also had a signature drink named after their dog called, The Charlie which was a Moscow mule. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Emily knew from the beginning that she wanted an all peony bouquet and very little to none greenery throughout the whole design. We had so much fun dreaming up her design with Victoria! Victoria and her team brought Emily and Adam’s vision to life and more. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Another one of Emily’s favorite things is pearls. She wanted a pearl accented cake with Charlie popping out of the bottom as a cute surprise! Their flavors were Strawberry Shortcake and Nostalgia, which is similar to funfetti. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]One of the many special touches to their ceremony was their officiants. Their officiants were Emily’s twin uncles, James and Jason. Their first dance song played by the band Rhythm 6 from the Washington Talent Agency was: Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Charlie! He made his first appearance as the wax seal on their Save the Dates by mlc designs. We knew from day one that he was going to be a large part of their special day. We ended up adding him on the invites, custom drink stirrer for the signature drinks, cocktail napkins and the cake. He also was there on the day of the wedding while the guys were getting ready and he joined Emily and Adam for some family photos. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Champagne! Emily absolutely loves champagne. Every chance we had, we added it as a special touch for the day. The ladies started their morning with mimosas and popping champagne in their cute matching pjs. We created their seating chart entirely around champagne. We had a custom champagne wall made so that all guests could grab a glass of bubbly on their way into the tent, like the sign said “…but first champagne”. In the middle of the champagne walls the guests found out which table they were sitting at. They also had a private moment in the tent and popped champagne together for a champagne tower. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]The Gold’s! It was only fitting to incorporate gold into the wedding as Emily’s new last name would be Gold. Their hashtag was #thegolds. We also incorporated their last name into the wedding when we could. The band backdrop was a perfect place for that as they enjoyed a private moment in the tent before the guests came in to pour their champagne tower. It was also at the top of all the guests custom dinner menus made by mlc designs. [/field]
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BBJ La Tavola

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Nouvelle Weddings

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Petit Bouquet

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Vibrant Villa Ephrussi De Rothschild Wedding On The French Riviera

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”The Inspiration”]

Photographer Alessia Angelotti born in Florence, Italy, appreciated the cultural mix between French sophistication and the magnificence of the Florentine Renaissance found in the architectural elements of the Italian garden staircase. The continuous cultural and artistic references and the full and vibrant colors have transported us into an atmosphere of enchantment and wonder.

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The wedding colors were orange, dusty pink, yellow, and lilac with a touch of mauve.

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[field title=”The Venue”]

NKT Events chose the splendid terrace surrounded by gardens of Villa Ephrussi De Rothschild as the location for the spectacular ceremony with a view facing the port of Villefranche-sur-Mer. This villa is one of the most beautiful mansions on the Cote d’Azur in France.

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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

Dylan Parienty Paris is a French Couture bridal house. The house’s inspirations showcase mostly Couture gowns with the most magnificent patterns and embroidery, voluminous and fitted couture gowns, melodramatic trains, and as always a lot of tulle. NKT Events chose two gorgeous outfits, the first with mermaid skirt and sleeves, covered in delicate floral embroidery, and a second dress with a long, fluffy train that envelops the bride in a romantic cloud, characterized from a sculpted neckline and a short skirt in the front.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

The inspiration for the florals was carefully curated by Laly Rose decoration, who beautifully blended spring florals to bring the palette to life. They brought together hues of orange, purples, pinks and greens to highlight and enhance the beauty of the VIlla and gardens of VIlla Ephrussi.For The tabletop, NKT Events designed with spring in mind with colorful accents and candles that tied in together perfectly with a sage green linen, making it the perfect combination of fun and sophistication. Ruth from Ceniman Calligraphy designed the stationary also with a Spring approach of a double sided menu, with a a range of different floral motifs on the back and then a modern touch to the menu with script on the back.

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[field title=”Favorite Design Element”][/field]
[field title=”Tips To Pull Off The Look”]

Never be afraid to mix colors! The beautiful juxtaposed combination of the purples, oranges, greens from florals and accessories, together with the golds of the tabletop, melded perfectly together to create a fun and vibrant tablescape.

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[field title=”DIY Moments”][/field]
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The Epitome of ‘California Cool’ in Shades of Blush and Blue

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Shades of blush
Light blue
Light yellow

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]While life and work has pulled Mike and I around the country and around the world, we both feel a grounding attachment to where our relationship began years earlier – San Diego, CA. For Mike and I, the experience of our guests was paramount and drove most decisions. We wanted our beloved friends and family to leave after our wedding weekend understanding how and why we feel coastal San Diego is the special place that it is. We also wanted to host a long Labor Day weekend which provided a desperately needed escape from the pandemic induced hardships of the prior 18 months. As the world began opening back up, we wanted to foster a design and vibe which would act as a memorable escape and a reminder of what we could all look forward to returning to. We wanted to help everyone return to life, with a bang! In emphasizing fun for our guests, we also hoped our design and vibe would magnify the party energy!

Fortunately, San Diego and La Jolla do a lot of the work for you. Consequently, our foundational driving vision was to amplify the stunning natural backdrop of the cliffs of La Jolla and the surrounding Pacific Ocean. We chose our event venues to compliment such.

We kicked off our weekend with a Rehearsal Dinner and Welcome Party at “The Old Pink Lady” on La Jolla Cove, The La Valencia Hotel. Family and friends were provided sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding cliffs, crashing waves, and moving waters. Fortunately the weather cooperated and we were treated to a glowing sunset.

Saturday morning our wedding party got ready, had lunch, and took pictures on site at La Valencia. Shortly thereafter, we held our late-afternoon ceremony on the newly renovated and spacious roof at the La Jolla Cove Inn and Suites. Directly above the waters of La Jolla cove, guests were able to see as far North as Torrey Pines. Our ceremony was briefly interrupted by laughter after an unusually loud barking session from the seals which reside on the surrounding cliffs. It was great. Immediately following the ceremony we hosted a brief open bar on-site and allowed guests to enjoy the roof deck views, take pictures, and get the party kicked off.

Following the ceremony, we provided transportation north to The Lodge at Torrey Pines, and our wedding party traveled in a classic old San Diego trolley car. My vision for cocktail hour and dinner was to host a whimsical garden feel that embodied the dream-like feeling of sunset and Amorology brought it to life for us! Cocktail hour was held on the Lodge’s back deck, and dinner on the lawn. Both settings benefited from ocean views, and an outrageously beautiful orange-turned-purple-turned-blue sunset over the Pacific and infamous Torrey Pines golf course. Our party continued into the night on the Lodge’s decks and in an adjacent ballroom.
Overall, we wanted to embody the classic casual modern elegance of California. We also wanted to compliment the California Craftsman style of the Lodge at Torrey Pines. As such, guests dined at exposed wood dining tables, with wood chargers and a wood veranda structure above the head table, etc. And as a ballet dancer, I love shades of pinks. I used a variety of pink shades in the bridesmaid dresses and corresponding bouquets. Our ceremony arch, cocktail hour tables, dining tables, dance floor, etc., were all adorned with shades of pink flowers. It made for a lovely contrast to the deep blue ocean and groomsmen blue suits.

We also sought to weave our meeting story throughout the weekend. A particularly random and miraculous confluence of unexpected events resulted in a blind-notebook offering of a few beers and a boat ride as the hook for a subsequent date. Mike grew up in San Diego, owned the world’s best/worst small motorboat, and is a former Naval Officer. Our design team, Amorology helped us subtly work these themes into the decor to personalize the design details in the most unique and prettiest of ways. With the help of Backup they created a boat house structure for our head table to be nestled under which served as the focal point of our reception. It was accented with lush hops from Native Poppy to give another nod to the boats and beers in our story . Additionally, our guests found their names and seats on a rope and knot wall tied delicately with calligraphed ribbons and table numbers were calligraphed on to varying small wooden sailboats curated by Amorology. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]After 7 years of dating across 4 different cities, cross-country moves, and cross-country (and cross-world!) long-distance, we were happily engaged in the summer of 2019. Mike planned a getaway to the Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod to celebrate the end of our time living in Boston, before moving to Washington, DC. The area was a favorite spot for us and we had long coveted an opportunity to stay at Chatham Bars Inn. As we completed the 3-hour drive, Mike casually mentioned he had booked me a massage at the hotel. (I later learned this was not entirely altruistic, he needed time to secretly set everything up for the proposal). When I got out of the massage, he texted me a beautiful poem summarizing our 7 years together, and excitement over the future. It concluded with instructions to meet him on a nearby dock for a boat departure at 2PM sharp, to head to a TBD destination.

We took the boat across the sound to a desolate and deserted sandbar. We walked along the sand and to my surprise came upon a prepared picnic basket lunch, with a beautiful lunch spread and champagne. As boats sailed past us in the background (and a few honked!), he got down on one knee, described our shared vision for the future, and asked me to marry him. He used an old family heirloom ring box. The privacy of the setting amplified the intimate feel. A very hungry Mike was subsequently excited to put his nerves away and to eat lunch. We eventually crossed the sound back to the hotel, celebrated at the poolside bar, and enjoyed a wonderful meal in town. I thought the boat surprises were done, but the next morning he surprised me with a ferry ride to Nantucket for a night getaway. [/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]I wore an Alon Livne, “Anastasia” gown with a ballet-inspired bodice, with an A-line skirt and Cathedral-length train. As a professional ballet dancer, the structure in bodice, beading, and fine detail all felt like the perfect fit and combination. I wanted something unique, delicate, and timeless. I fell in love with the embroidered flowers on the skirt. To me, this felt bridal! I found it locally![/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]My bridesmaids wore Jenny Yoo dresses. I picked out 4 shades of blush and let each bridesmaid pick out the style of their dress. They all desired a different style, which made for fun variation, each complimenting the individual bridesmaid. The blend of the colors worked brilliantly, and the girls looked gorgeous. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Mike’s groomsmen all wore Navy suits from different companies. In the sun, they all looked pretty identical, and they paired wonderfully next to the blush dresses. Mike wore a lighter Navy/ Royal blue custom fit 2-button suit.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Our Friday welcome party included a fun San Diego / Mexican fish taco + margaritas dinner for the wedding party and family, and snacks and open bar for all guests. We also had live music, a gelato station, a venue for speeches, etc. We provided fun welcome bags, custom pint glasses, etc. Live music was provided by infamous San Diego guitarist, Michael Gonzales.

Immediately following the ceremony we provided beer, wine, and champagne as guests enjoyed the views. The natural setting was so stunning that we didn’t want to rush everyone off to the subsequent reception.

Upon arrival at the reception, guests were welcomed with trays of Champagne, Aperol Spritzes, and Espresso Martinis, alongside tray passed appetizers. For dinner, we had a California influenced menu from the Lodge at Torrey Pines. It started with a watermelon/feta/mint salad, followed by Paella, Short Rib or Halibut, and an assortment of desserts. Alongside the open bar, our signature drinks were a “Hot Girl Summer” Margarita and “Just About Thyme” Old Fashioned. Towards the end of the evening, we had late night snacks including sliders, pizza, fries, and ice cream. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Our overall designer, Amorology, was brilliant at delivering our vision. They constructed a perfect whimsical California/nautical feel with an absolutely stunning garden dinner. Heather subtly tied in the theme of “boats and beers” (from our notebook meeting story) throughout the decor. Table settings, dishware, and accouterments were all impeccably executed. Heather helped build a gorgeous custom wooden structure veranda over the head dining table, custom designed table identification sailboats, and even strung hops throughout the setting.

Our florals were brilliantly and stunningly crafted by Native Poppy. Natalie, our florist, is a former ballet dancer and was a perfect match for my vision. Native Poppy exceeded my every hope and dream with the use of color on the lush open arch, ceremony flowers, table scape, and bouquet! The flowers truly turned the lawn at The Lodge at Torrey Pines into a magical garden. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The frosting on our cake was subtly designed to look like the sail on a sailboat. It was accented with flowers. It was layers of carrot cake and almond berry. I cut the cake using a traditional ceremonial Navy sword. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]For our ceremony program, our officiant (a childhood friend) wove together our backstory, the influence of special friends and family, unknown commentary from our friends and family, descriptions of the bride and groom which Mike and I had provided, and made special note of those who could only attend in spirit. Mike and I also exchanged our take on vows, which centered on reflections on our past, motivation behind our marriage, and promises on the future.

We included two readings, a traditional Irish Blessing, and a piece on love by James Kavanaugh.

Ceremony music was provided by Eliana Strings, an absolutely fantastic San Diego string quartet. They played before, during, and after the ceremony on the rooftop at The La Jolla Cove Inn and Suites, as well as during cocktail hour at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. They were wonderful to work with, and offered an extensive set list of options, or ability to play custom songs.

Our wedding processional included 3 pieces: The Navy Hymn, Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen (bridal party), and Cannon in D Minor by Pachabel for arrival of the bride. For our recessional, we used Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles.

For our reception, we hired the best in the business from Encore. For our first dance and throughout dinner, a three piece band played. Our first dance was an acoustic Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty. For our dance party, we had an electric 7 piece, high energy band, from Encore play hours worth of beyond incredible covers, while guests danced in a ballroom and on surrounding outdoor decks at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Meeting story and an explanation of where the details of “boats and beers” came from:

Mike and I met in an obscure and serendipitous way, and the story still befuddles us to this day. We were single 20-somethings not at all intent on trying to meet someone. I was new to San Diego, having recently taken a job dancing for a professional ballet company. At the time, I was largely looking to make friends and develop a social scene. Mike is a San Diego native, and was in and out of town a lot for work, and spent most of his weekends on the water with his friends in their world’s best/worst small boat.

As a largely non-memorable weekend wound down, Mike met with two friends to catch up at a cocktail bar/restaurant in Little Italy. A signature element of the restaurant/bar is that when time to pay your bill, they provide it folded up inside a moleskin notebook. In addition to paying your bill, people can write or draw whatever they wish.

When Mike was in the bathroom, his two girlfriends settled the bill, and without telling him before or after, wrote his name and number in the notebook, drew a picture of a boat, and offered “Call Mike for Boats and Beers.” Mike had no idea this transpired. He said goodbye and walked home to get ready for work the next morning.

Only a few months into living in San Diego, I was still exploring the city. On the weekend in question, my best friend from growing up was visiting. That same Sunday night, the two of us happened to go to dinner at the same Little Italy cocktail bar. Despite dozens of available notebooks and thousands of notebook pages, when we went to pay our bill, it happened to be folded up inside the same page Mike’s friends had earlier decorated. My friend noted that clearly “Mike” hadn’t written this, due to the flowery handwriting and hearts above the boat. For strictly entertainment value, and with a little liquid courage, she suggested we text the number.

Mike answered the text, despite having no context or awareness of what was going on. I inquired about a boat ride with beers. He played along and we eventually asked who on earth was on the other end of the text exchange. Some limited diligence into the true existence of the person on the other end ensued.

3 days later, on Valentines Day, I made plans to return to the same cocktail bar with my girlfriend. I asked Mike if he wanted to meet. He was a touch skeptical that there was a ballerina looking to meet people on the other line, but he scrambled, found a wing-man, and showed up. The rest is history.
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[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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Event Planning

CROWN WEDDINGS AND EVENTS LLC

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BBJ La Tavola

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Event Planning

Amorology

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A Glamorous 5-Day Wedding in Portugal That’s Nothing Short of Epic!

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]White, green, gold, silver, champagne.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Ryan’s mother is from the Azores, a group of beautiful Portuguese islands about 1,000 miles west from the landscape of Sintra. Brittany’s mother is also from Europe – specifically Prague in the Czech Republic – which is about the same distance north east of Sintra. Getting married on European soil paid tribute to both of the families of the bride & groom while indulging in the couple’s knack for adventure and travel.

Sintra – where we chose to get married – has a striking similarity to San Francisco, the city where Ryan and Brittany met and spent most of their relationship together. Sintra is a perfect combination of family heritage and nostalgia for the city where Britany & Ryan first fell in love.

In addition to wanting a destination wedding in Portugal, the most important element in choosing our venue and vibe was the ability to host our guests on site. Palacio Tivoli de Seteais in Sintra is a breathtaking venue and we fell in love with the palace upon our first visit. But just as important as the magical 18th century frescoes and palatial architecture was the welcoming & hospitable hotel staff & accommodations. We were able to host the majority of our wedding guests at the Seteais Palace, with other guests staying within a stone’s throw away in the cultural landscape of Sintra in nearby hotels, resorts, palaces, and quintas. This hyperlocal experience in a far away destination added to the overall experience, bringing people closer together as they explored the estate and surrounding area.

Brittany & Ryan like to party and dance the night away, so they knew they a venue that was not only regal but one that also supported an absolute ripper. The couple didn’t like the idea of getting “kicked out of their own party,” so they searched far and wide for a royal party palace that let them do what they wanted, respectfully of course. Plus, who doesn’t want to have an epic dance party until the wee hours of the morning in an all glass vintage greenhouse!

The theme throughout was “make it glam but fun,” which was also reflected in the “creative black tie” dress code. Because of the glamour of the location and venue, they wanted to continue to pull in sophisticated and classic details to keep the look consistent. All the guests loved that they felt they were attending a royal affair. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Brittany & Ryan moved from San Francisco to South Florida during the pandemic, where Brittany grew up and much of her family resided. Not knowing how long they’d be in Florida for, they rented the “COVID Compound” – a house with Brittany’s sister, brother-in-law and their 2 kids, including a newborn. They all lived together for 2 years and considered themselves the newest Brady Bunch Family!

For the engagement, with the whole world shut down, Ryan couldn’t wait any longer for travel to resume to propose. He also wanted to do something symbolic in the area Brittany grew up in and to include her family, which was now just as much his family.

What Brittany thought was a fancy dinner with her family in Palm Beach turned into a surprise engagement in front of the Worth Avenue Clock Tower with a champagne-infused picnic on the beach to follow. The coquina limestone clock tower is symbolic as a quintessential Palm Beach landmark that also set the framework that it was “time for Brittany & Ryan to take their relationship to the next level.” Brittany was so surprised in so many ways, especially when she noticed Ryan holding her dream ring – a huge shock considering every store had been closed for months during lockdown. She still has no idea how he was able to pull that off.[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Brittany wanted to wear a dress that she felt like herself in. The angel on one shoulder wanted a classic look, and the devil on the other wanted something mega DRAMATIC – both fashion elements that are very contradictory when it comes to wedding attire. This paradox stuck with Brittany through every decision.

There were so many dresses that she loved, but nothing satisfied the “classic drama” look and feel that she was looking for more than a faille high-low ball gown by Oscar de la Renta. Brittany kept joking that the dress had so much personality that it could get married all by itself. It was absolutely perfect and Brittany couldn’t imagine herself in any other dress. Britt’s advice is to wear a dress that makes you want to twirl and scream and say “I’M GETTING MARRIED!” (which her bridesmaids will tell you she did a lot of throughout the day).

For accessories, Brittany was fortunate to borrow a family heirloom bracelet. Ryan gifted Britt with custom matching earrings on the day of the wedding. For shoes, Britt went with the Manolo Lurums, which were a main feature of the dress given the high-low. She also went with a raw edge cut cathedral veil with a blusher for the ceremony.

Brittany also had the honor of wearing her mother’s 40-year-old wedding dress for her first dance with Ryan, and for her father-daughter dance which was an absolute highlight of the evening (more on this later). Due to the dress’s delicate nature, Brittany changed into a one-shoulder after-party gown with a structured bow from the Bronx and Banco bridal line with epic sparkly Rene Caovilla shoes.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bridesmaids all wore faille gowns in a champagne color. They were able to pick their own styles and customize them as they wished. The golden hue color palette and classic style was a perfect fit for the royal palace. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Ryan also went with three fully custom looks made by As You Are – a friend’s luxury menswear line that we highly recommend! For the ceremony and reception Ryan wore a cream dinner jacket with black tuxedo pants and “all gold everything” for his accessories – laser-etched cufflinks with Britany & Ryan’s wedding logo, pearl studs, albert thurston suspenders, and a gold Rolex Daytona, all to match his new 12mm gold wedding band. Ryan changed into a deep green tuxedo velvet jacket for the after party. Picking custom looks gave Ryan the opportunity to have just as much fun as Brittany did to express himself for the different events across the Rehearsal High Tea, Welcome Dinner, Ceremony, and After Party.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Being foodies, Brittany and Ryan searched for a catering company that could provide an experience for dinner. The geniuses behind the Mad Kitchen couldn’t have prepared a more fantastic food and drinks presentation for our guests. The meal was 7 courses with a wine pairing and included a pallet cleanser that was made of a gin and tonic ball that exploded in your mouth. Every course held a surprise![/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]For the wedding ceremony, the Bride and the Groom wanted elegant and classic details that tied in well with the heritage feel of Palacio Seteais, so they went for whites, greens, golds.

For the reception in the vintage glass greenhouse, the couple opted for mega opulent table settings with gold details. They also had touches of green velvet, custom made mirror bars, and the band was decked out in head to toe Swarovski crystal including every last detail of their instruments.

During the rehearsal Queens’s High Tea, the florals matched the 18th century fresco walls and the china was original to the palace. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]We went with a crystal flute champagne tower instead of a wedding cake which we accidentally knocked down while pouring the champagne! This really exaggerated the moment! Britt and Ryan ended up “clinking” their magnum champagne bottles and sipped from their bottles instead. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Brittany & Ryan both spent a ton of time working with their officiant, Brittany’s uncle, to curate a perfect ceremony that included meaningful songs to the bride & groom played by a string quartet for every moment.

To start, Ryan set the tone by walking down the aisle with his parents to the Game of Thrones theme song. As this was played by a string quartet, the ceremony was kicked off with Ryan’s dramatic entrance (plus Ryan got to geek out, holding back a grin during his procession). The bridal party walked out to “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles, and finally, Brittany walked down the aisle across the main lawn of the Palace to “Rain Song” by Led Zeppelin. The kiss and walkout song was “Faith” by George Michaels.

Instead of doing traditional readings, Brittany & Ryan both took the time to recite thank you’s to their parents & families during the ceremony for being such an instrumental part of their lives. They also wrote and recited their own vows to each other. Additionally, Brittany & Ryan invited their guests to participate in agreeing to support them in our commitment by saying “We Do” as vows were exchanged. This involvement brought everyone together in the moment and helped the bride & groom be present, supported by the friends & family around them. Since their ceremony was interactive with their guests, it truly felt as if they were supporting the couple in this lifelong commitment to each other. Being surrounded by loved ones, thanking everyone for being a part of their lives, sharing appreciation with family, and committing to one another in front of everyone is a feeling that Brittany & Ryan will never ever forget. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Given how much Brittany & Ryan love to dance, they knew they wanted their first dance to be a main feature of their wedding, especially since dancing is what brought them together on their first date. Brittany & Ryan spent over 40 hours learning a routine together to show off to family and friends during the reception…and Brittany got to perform their Dancing with the Stars-style routine wearing her mother’s wedding gown, made from prayer shawls and flowing silks.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Where to begin! It was all so epic. First of all, Brittany & Ryan’s wedding was a 5-day long adventure in Ryan’s home country, Portugal, which was a dream in itself. Spending quality time over the week with the couple’s nearest and dearest was nothing short of amazing. Everyday held a surprise that outdid the next, but the ceremony was and always will be, without a doubt, the highlight of Brittany & Ryan’s lives. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]In addition to wanting a destination wedding in Portugal, the most important element in choosing our venue was the ability to host our guests on site. Palacio Tivoli de Seteais in Sintra is a breathtaking venue and we fell in love with the palace upon our first visit. But just as important as the magical 18th century frescoes and palatial architecture was the welcoming & hospitable hotel staff & accommodations. We were able to host the majority of our wedding guests at the Seteais Palace, with other guests staying within a stone’s throw away in the cultural landscape of Sintra in nearby hotels, resorts, palaces, and quintas. This hyperlocal experience in a far away destination added to the overall experience, bringing people closer together as they explored the estate and surrounding area.[/field]
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Stylish Midwest Wedding Features Classic Southern Charm

This stylish wedding at our bride’s family farm is southern charm at it’s finest. With a strong emphasis on family, the event brimmed with personalized touches that showcased the couple’s love and appreciation for their loved ones and each other. Sara Reddick Events planned and designed the romantic day, weaving a tapestry of vibrant colors and carefully curated touches that set the stage for a truly magical celebration. Every cherished moment of the day was exquisitely captured by the oh-so-talented Justine Wright Photography, preserving the beauty and emotion for generations to come. Visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the fun.

Lauren and Bryan’s enchanting outdoor wedding was held at the picturesque bride’s family farm in Ursa, Illinois on July 30, 2022. The couple’s sentimental touches and nods to their individual styles and upbringings made the day truly unforgettable. Lauren’s dress was Anne Barge from House of White Bridal Boutique in Newburgh, IN. Her pearls were her late grandmother Nancy’s that she wore and her veil was her sister’s. As many of their guests traveled to Ursa for the occasion, Lauren was determined to showcase her love for her family and their charming Midwest home. “I am a very sentimental person and every detail of our wedding showed just that. Marrying a farmer from Kentucky, I know I am going to live there forever so I wanted everyone in our lives to see where I’m from. Having the wedding at the farm was perfect and the tent had a view of my childhood home that my great grandparents built” Lauren fondly recounted. The invitation suite, masterfully created by Invited by LamaWorks, featured shades of blue and the couple’s highlighted flower, blue hydrangeas. Their personalized watercolor crest, skillfully crafted by Simply Jessica Marie, was used throughout the wedding design and could be seen on the couple’s invitations, welcome drink, bartender’s aprons, and bourbon bar placemats. Lauren and Bryan’s traditional floral arrangements had subtle pops of color and texture, with blue hydrangeas taking center stage. This stunning summer flower was a perfect choice for the couple’s Midwest summer day.

After the ceremony at Quincy University Chapel, Lauren’s father surprised her with her Grandma Nona’s 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk as their getaway car. This deeply sentimental gesture made the couple’s day both exciting and emotional. “When Bryan and I exited the church, I was shocked to see Nona’s Golden Hawk sitting there for Bryan and me to ride in… Nona was an important figure in my life and lost her battle with cancer in June. She was so excited for our wedding, and although she wasn’t there, I know Bryan and I had her blessing.” Lauren said. Two hundred of Lauren and Bryan’s nearest and dearest enjoyed a cocktail hour and reception on the beautiful lawn overlooking the family farm. The layout included a magnificent tent, personalized bars, a charming seating area, and nostalgic views. During cocktail hour, guests were treated to a refreshing lemonade adorned with Lauren and Bryan’s customized crest. This welcome drink was the epitome of hospitality and an excellent way to introduce guests to their enchanting reception. Dulcimer guitar music enjoyed throughout cocktail hour was a tribute to the bride’s late grandmother Nancy, who used to play the instrument. Lauren explained that “the music made me feel like she was there.”

The signature cocktails were named after the couple’s beloved dogs, Louie and Luna. Lauren’s cocktail, a margarita, was garnished with a pink ribbon tied into a feminine bow at the stem of the glass. Bryan’s Jamison and ginger beer was completed with custom corn branded drink stirrers. The bartenders wore light blue bow ties and branded aprons featuring their watercolor crest. While guests mingled and sipped their cocktails, a live painter, Florelle Rodenberg, captured the scene to perfection. Honoring the bride’s family’s midwest seed business, Lauren and Bryan’s wedding included a subtle theme of corn throughout. While remaining elegant and charming, touches of corn were included in the couple’s custom crest, drink stirrers, and bourbon tasting bar. Bourbon – a whiskey distilled predominately from corn – holds a distinctive sweet flavor and is a favorite beverage of Bryan’s. Guests were invited to sample Basal Hayden, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses Small Batch and Weller on custom tasting placemats. The Illini moment with my grandpa Larry was so special. He was part of the marching Illini at the university of Illinois where I also attended (and my dad and sister) so we had him sing the Illinois school song “hail to the orange” for everyone as the guests all joined in and swayed around him. Upon entering the magnificent tent for the dinner reception, guests were greeted by a stunning display of multiple textured blue and white linens, exquisitely arranged to create the perfect foundation for their place settings. The grand five-tier wedding cake, adorned with Lauren and Bryan’s custom crest, stood proudly in the center of the dance floor, commanding attention and awe from all in attendance. Guests were presented with a delectable array of blackberry almond, red velvet, and vanilla tea cake flavors. As the night progressed, family and friends raised flutes elegantly accented with blue chiffon bows, and joyously danced the night away, surrounded by the warm, flickering glow of candlelight.

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BBJ La Tavola

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Petit Bouquet

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An Efflorescent, French-Chateau Wedding With a Downton-Abbey Feel

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Blush, beige, ivory, green & gold accents[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Our original plan was to get married in Brooklyn – but when we really thought about it, we were having French food and French wine – so we decided, why not just get married in France? We wanted a small wedding, so it was the perfect opportunity for a destination wedding. People always ask what the connection is to France – do we have family over there, are we French – and we say no, we just like French food and wine.

Having our wedding 2 years after the start of the pandemic, it was really the first time since 2020 that many of our guests had traveled – so everyone was so excited to be able to come and stay in this incredible chateau.

We looked at so many venues, but what stood out to us about Château de Varennes was that it was family owned and operated. Sonia, the owner, was the one that took our interview over FaceTime. It was very personal – showing us the family tree and telling us small facts about the house. It was important to us that all of the guests were able to stay at the venue.

It goes without saying that the venue is breathtaking. All of the decor is owned by the family, so it feels like a home. You felt like you went back in time. We also were appreciative of the vendor relations they had – it made it so much easier being foreigners planning a wedding overseas. It felt like everyone that helped make our wedding unforgettable truly cared.

We wanted a big vacation/sleepover with our closest family and friends, and during one of the nights together, we all get dressed up and have a wedding.

We wanted it to feel opulent but not over the top. Not Great Gatsby, but Downton Abbey. Timeless, classic, but with modern twists.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]We met online and our first date was on February 27th 2019. We decided to meet at a bar in Brooklyn called Blueprint. We clicked instantly and spent most of the night talking about our favorite movie, Die Hard. We both ended up using references from the movie in our vows. Sara worked with an artist a few years ago to gift Jon a cartoon version of their first date, which now hangs in their house.

Jon proposed on October 10th 2020 at Sara’s family’s house in Maine. We had taken our first official trip as a couple to that house together, it’s where Sara’s dad’s ashes were scattered, and it’s where we plan to build a summer house. It’s a very special place for Sara, and now, for both of us.

Jon made us manhattans to drink on the porch and watch the sunset, and when he went to put the drinks down he got down on one knee and proposed. Sara’s dad had recently passed away in June of 2020 after a long illness. Prior to his death, Jon asked for his blessing during his final days, and Sara’s dad just made him promise that he would “make her happy”. It was difficult for Sara to not have her dad present for her engagement and wedding, but knowing he loved Jon and trusted he would make her happy was very special.[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Sara spent 4 long days in New York looking for a wedding dress with her Mother and Grandmother. She wanted a dress that felt like it could be on the red carpet – not a typical wedding dress. The 4 days went by and there was no dress – nothing felt special enough, or timeless enough. Having a dress that felt timeless was key.

She made an appointment at Vivienne Westwood and went one day during lunch while at work. By herself. She tried on two dresses, and knew the second one was her wedding dress. Elegant, timeless, and able to be brought as a carry on (for the plane ride to the wedding) – it checked all the boxes. It’s not the typical wedding dress story of all her female family and friends standing around crying saying “it’s the one” but that’s not really Sara’s style. Her mom did join her for the final fitting.

For jewelry she kept it simple – her grandmother’s pearl earrings and gold ring – outside of her engagement ring. [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Sara had no bridesmaids.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Jon had an Alan David custom double breasted tuxedo and opted for Louboutin velvet slippers.

He wore a watch and a custom signet ring that Sara had made for him. [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Here are some of canapés & appetizers we had during the cocktail hour: scallop pops, squid Chorizo and spiced aioli, ceviche of sea bass, shredded duck confit, roasted aubergine, creamed crottin of goat cheese crostini, mackerel rillettes, poached lobster.

Our main course was a darne of wild sea trout and we had a lemon and elderflower tartlet for dessert.

We had 4 different wines:
– Rully 1er Cru “Les Cloux, Paul et Marie Jacqueson” (red wine)
– St. Aubin 1er Cru “Les Murger des dents de chiens” (white wine)
– Rimauresq cru classé 2020 (rosé)
– The Bollinger Special Cuvée or the Pol Roger (champagne)

[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]We did not have groomsmen or bridesmaids – so the flowers were the color. We wanted it to feel “overgrown” – lots of dark greenery on the tables and in/on the tent. Like a secret garden. For the flowers, blush, beige, ivory, light pink – very neutral and subtle. We were very fortunate with our florist, she was amazing. We had requested flowers that were out of the norm, that would make people ask “what kind of flower is that” – and she delivered! The flowers had so much texture and dimension. A fan favorite were the toffee roses, we had never seen them before! Sara has requested a dozen for each anniversary :)

Other than white and black – we requested gold accents, which were present in the place settings and stationary. The stationery fit the color scheme as well – with handmade emerald green and gold wax seals.

The inspiration was ‘Downton Abbey’ – early 1900’s in a way that did not feel costume-y, but elegant and classic. Think English secret garden – but in France. The venue did a lot of the work for us in terms of setting the scene – we just added our own touches. It was important to have a vintage feel with modern touches. Our wedding stylist worked so hard on making our vision come true – her and her mother even sewed custom tablecloths themselves when they could not find ones they liked!

We had antique furniture on the lawn for cocktail hour which was a beautiful touch.
[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]We opted for no wedding cake, and had a seated dessert instead. We had a lemon and elderflower tart. We also had a macaron tower for people to snack on at the reception.

We never eat the cake at other weddings, so we opted for something else! [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]We chose a string quartet to play during the ceremony & cocktail hour, but requested that they only play covers of pop/rock songs. When all the guests were seated in the chapel – we had them play “Be our guest” from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” which was a huge hit.

Sara walked down the aisle to “Something in the way she moves” by James Taylor and we exited the ceremony to “Don’t stop me now” by Queen – both performed by the quartet.

Jon’s best friends from childhood (Blake and Brian – twin brothers) were the officiants. They had us each choose three readings that they recited, and after each one, we explained why we had chosen them. We have listed the readings below. After those, we recited our vows, which we had written ourselves.

Sara’s reading choices:
– Rupi Kaur poem
– excerpt from “A man called ove”
– excerpt from TS Eliot

Jons reading choices:
– Raymond Chandler excerpt “The big sleep”
– Earnest Hemingway excerpt from “A farewell to arms”
– James Joyce short story excerpt “Araby”

Jon went to music school – so he was in charge of the playlist for the reception (we had a DJ). We spent hours putting it together – making sure we had songs from our favorite artists. We had four playlists made: rehearsal dinner, wedding dinner, reception, and after hours. We still put them on all the time around the house or when we’re driving.

For our first dance, we wanted a song that fit with the theme – older, classic, but wanted a modern twist. We chose a cover of “Baby I’m yours” by Arctic Monkeys – one of Sara’s favorite bands. We even took dance classes before the wedding.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The crest is our new family crest – it combines the crest for Keenan (Jon’s family name), the crest of Château de Varennes, and instead of a fleur de lys, it’s a small bee (Jon’s nickname for Sara is “bee”) – which we refer to as a fleur de bee :)[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The fact that we spent 5 days together in this incredible venue with our closest family and friends made our wedding unforgettable. We especially loved seeing everyone meet and build friendships with each other. You would look around at the pool or at dinner and Jon’s aunt would be laughing with Sara’s college roommate, or Sara’s 93 year old grandma would be in the garden telling Jon’s childhood friends old family stories. Everyone got along so well and had so many laughs in a truly unreal setting. We would be drinking rose in the pool during the day and inevitably someone would stop and be like “Wait can you guys believe this is our life right now?”
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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]We requested a champagne tower which was so fun! We love that memory. It takes way more champagne to fill those than we had anticipated. We kept pouring, bottle after bottle wondering when all the glasses would be filled. We laugh at that memory all the time.[/field]
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Petit Bouquet

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A Wedding Planner’s Modern Romantic Wedding in Napa Valley

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The wedding colors were black, white, dusty rose, mauve, blush, taupe, and burgundy.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

For years and years I had saved inspiration photos and watched my style and aesthetic grow and evolve. As a lover of all things black, I knew I wanted to incorporate the color in a grand way without taking away from the lightness of the day. I am forever inspired by the contrast of light and dark, the natural beauty of the outdoors with a Tuscan influence, and modern elements with a romantic touch. I worked closely on curating every detail to flow cohesively and loved bringing in some moody elements with the modern details, and added some blush, dusty rose, mauve and burgundy to tie in the romantic feeling which felt forever timeless. We wanted the day to feel intentional, and even with 140 of our closest loved ones, we wanted an intimate experience where we all got to be together and share every moment with one another.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Matt and I could not have been luckier for how our love story unfolded. Over 7 years ago, I moved to the Bay Area to pursue a career in wedding planning, and along the way have met other vendors that have become friends. One of those friends is Michelle, the owner of Olivia Grace Events. During the summer of the pandemic, we had a picnic together for an accountability group we were in, and she mentioned setting me up with her step-brother, and for the 3 weeks that followed, she persistently brought it up in her meetings, and I finally thought “Wow, you really think I’m good enough to be with someone you love. Okay then, let’s do it!”. After our first date, the rest was history. 2 months later we moved in together, and 6 months after that we were engaged, all thanks to this incredible wedding industry! Matt planning a surprise proposal at a local park in Danville, CA, the town where his family lives, and what I thought was just a casual walk in the park before dinner plans, turned out to be the most special moment of my life. With shaky hands, Matt asked me to be his wife, and my best friend, Olivia Marshall Photography, was there hiding behind a tree to capture it all. Afterwards, he surprised me with a small family get together at his parents home, with decorations and treats, and custom shirts worn by our 7 nieces and nephew saying “she said yes!”.

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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

I found my dream dress on Instagram long before I ever knew an engagement would be coming so soon with Matt and I. I loved the Lovers society Nolan Gown so much, the sleek silhouette and crepe material, with the nod of romance with the lace highlight in the middle section. As a curvier bride, I was so nervous to try on wedding gowns, let along a form fitting one, but the moment I stepped into the Nolan dress, I felt like I was already walking down the aisle to marry the man of my dreams. It was a no-brainer, done deal! My two grandmother’s names are Rose and Pearl, and we included special details to honor them as well. I wore a cape down the aisle covered in pearls, that made me feel like my Grandma Pearl was hugging me the entire way, since she couldn’t join us from New York. I had matching pearl heels from Dolce Vita as well.

[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]With a big bridal party, it was important to me that they felt uniform while still sticking true to themselves. I let me bridesmaids choose their own dresses as long as they were black, and loved the combination of different styles they ended up with – some with bows, velvet textures, one shoulder straps, and so forth. Everyone got dresses they can wear again for other occasions![/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The groom wore loafers with a rose embellishment on them, the same symbol we had on our invitations in the form of a wax seal, to honor my Grandma Rose who is no longer with us. He, along with his groomsmen, all wore sleek black suits.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]

Our signage included quotes from our favorite songs, like “Greatest Love Story” by Lanco which we incorporated in the vellum overlay for our Save the Dates, and as our Signature Drink names. Our dog, Saint, was our non-alcoholic signature drink for our nieces and nephews to enjoy, running around all day talking about drinking “The Sainty”, a virgin Shirley temple! And our catering team at Tre Posti Events & Catering helped us customize our menu where we curated a meal of all our favorite dishes. Guests were made to feel like they were in Tuscany, walking amongst the vineyards and cypress trees, sipping an aperol spritz, dining on delicious caesar and caprese salads with the incredibly fresh and juicy tomatoes, followed by chicken parmigiana and gnocchi with pesto sauce, all under the bistro lights and the fading sunset in the distance. What was so important to us was creating a welcoming environment for our guests and celebrating with them all weekend long. Half of our guests traveled in from the East Coast and we couldn’t wait for them to get to experience Napa Valley and the fresh farm to table food, and see what our life is like that we’ve built out here while we celebrated together all night long.

[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Since I can remember, I’ve always been inspired by Bloomwell & Co.‘s work. Throughout our time in the industry together, Allie became not only a colleague, but a friend. She was well was in that accountability group with Michelle and I, and present at the picnic where Michelle mentioned setting me up with her step brother. After Matt and I’s first date, I called Allie to tell her all the details, so naturally when it was time to begin wedding planning, Allie was one of my first calls! Having a friend as a vendor was so special, she could read my mind, take my personal style and translate that into her beautiful craft of floristry, and exceed all of my wildest dreams! We used a lot of black ceramic vessels and bud vases to bring in modern elements, but the blooms themselves were so romantic, accented by sandstone colored candles. Fountains were filled with Gardenias to bring a fresh and beautiful scent to the day, and rose buds floated away in our champagne tower because I must have flowers anywhere and everywhere!

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

I always dreamed of having a wedding full of food and dessert, and loved working with Natty Cakes on 3 different wedding cake designs! Our main cake was a two tiered white buttercream cake, floating in a floral bed, and our accent cakes were each 1 tier, 1 of them was a full black ganache coated cake on a super modern grey and black marble cake stand from CB2, and the other cake was blush ombre on a white marble cake stand with gold accents. Guests were able to indulge in any of the 4 flavors, berries and buttercream, chocolate peanut butter, chocolate salted caramel, or DF/GF chocolate raspberry. Along with our cake, we brought in dessert bites from my favorite local bakery, Sift Dessert Bar, which were set out on a display created by Shimmer & Stain with lyrics from my favorite Dave Matthews Band song “Sweet like candy to my soul, sweet you rock and sweet you roll”.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

Right before I moved to the Bay Area, I had been freelancing on a non-profit event in NYC and had a moment where I questioned if moving from New York to California, away from all my family and friends, would be the right thing. A colleague convinced me to give it a shot, just as a beautiful song began to play on the speakers, “My Best Friend” by Hollywood Anderson. The moment felt surreal and I still remember it to this day, because I told myself while listening to that song, streams of tears falling down my face, that I would one day walk down the aisle at my own wedding to it. And on my wedding day, with my brother by my side, representing my Father who could not attend due to medical reasons, the song played and my heart did a million cartwheels as I saw Matthew watching me, and waiting for me to come stand by his side, where I forever plan to be.. Little did I know, he had a little secret planned for me too, after reading his own vows, he surprised me with vows written to me by our dog, who Matthew had for 2 years before we met. After our rings were exchanged and we were officially married, we embraced each other and walked back down the aisle hand in hand to “When You Know, You Know” by Tim and The Glory Boys. It was a perfect moment, we danced and sang and kissed and loved with our whole hearts, while everyone looked on and cheered. I couldn’t help myself but turn around to all of our people and sing at the top of my lungs during the exact moment when the chorus broke and sang “When you know, you know!”.

[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Our Officiant, Don, played such an important role in not only our wedding day, but in the lives of the groom and his entire family. Don previously officiated the wedding of the groom’s father and step-mother, followed by officiating the weddings of the groom’s two older brothers. It was a full circle moment to have him then officiate our wedding, after watching Matthew grow up over the past 25+ years and officiating 3 other Wondolowski family weddings.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]

Music has always been something that bonded us together, and played a big roll in we made our day feel special to the two of us between elements in our save the dates, names of our signature drinks, the title to our seating chart, and our dessert display. Our seating chart by Shimmer and Stain was such a fun backdrop moment for photos, with the title “Welcome to the Good Life” after our grand entrance song.

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

When thinking about our vendor team, I had some favorites in mind who I had always dreamed of being a part of our wedding. We could not be more grateful for the way our vendors showed up for us, especially our photographer, Ellie Koleen, florist, Allie of Bloomwell and Co., and beauty stylist, Marisa Perel. And lastly, but most importantly, Bree and Irene with Eat Cake, Dance Often have been freelancing with me on weddings for years, when they decided to start their own wedding coordination and planning business. It only made sense to have the two of them run and coordinate my wedding day for me, as they had my full trust and knew me in and out! Curating my dream team of vendors for our special day was so much fun, and being the bride gave me a whole new perspective on how I approach wedding planning for my couples as well.

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BBJ La Tavola

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Shimmer & Stain

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Petit Bouquet

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Coastal Elegance in Cape Cod at Wychmere Beach Club

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

Blue, White, Green, and touches of pink!

[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The overall design vision for the wedding was coastal elegance, inspired by the beauty and charm of Cape Cod and its iconic hydrangeas. The wedding took place at an extraordinary and beautiful oceanfront setting in New England, providing a picturesque backdrop, Wychmere Beach Club.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The bride’s dress was a special-ordered Oscar de la Renta gown called the Luvi, which featured an extended train and hand-painted flowers.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bridesmaid’s wore light blue dresses from birdie Grey that matched the cape cod hydrangea’s[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]The reception tables each featured a sign of meaningful locations that the couple had shared together, and there was a memory table to honor loved ones who were unable to attend. Every guest had a custom menu to identify their seat placement and individual meal choice, and each menu card featured a special starfish bottle opener as a token of appreciation. A specialty drink called “The Ausland” was served at the reception, complete with custom photo stir sticks and printed napkins.
[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”] One of the favorite design details on the wedding day was the 8’x10’ fresh floral hydrangea wall that served as a stunning backdrop for guests and displayed custom last name signage and table assignments. This wall was designed by Beach Plum Florist and added a beautiful and unique touch to the wedding. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Another highlight was the custom 10-tier cake from Montilio’s Bakery, which was adorned with fresh flowers, floral cylinder filled dividers, hand-detailed fondant lace, and pearls. The cake was surrounded by custom hydrangea cupcakes by Little Miss Cupcape, her sister, creating a stunning display for the reception[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]The two had their first dance sung by famous performer Jermaine Paul (the voice season 2 winner) singing “Imagine” by Ben Platt
[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]For their guests, the couple provided handmade canvas welcome bags filled with Cape Cod favorites, as well as lobster claw wine bags from SeaBags filled with local wine and embellishment.. Additionally, they sent a custom-designed map of Cape Cod, highlighting their favorite local spots, to all of their guests in advance of the wedding.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The bride also commissioned custom jewelry for her bridesmaids from Imperial Dynasty in Saint Thomas, the Virgin Islands, including earrings and bracelets. The store owner, Raj, also created the bride’s engagement ring, wedding bands, and the earrings she wore on the big day.
[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″] One special inclusion was the couple’s 4-year old Bernedoodle, Ausland, who played a part in the special day. The bride’s younger sister, Avery, sang “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley during the ceremony, accompanied by her younger brother, Rhyees, on the piano. The bride’s mother and bridesmaids surprised everyone with a performance of “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips. The getting ready champagne luncheon was attended by not only the bridesmaids but also close family members were everyone wore matching Kate Spade PJ’s.[/field]
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You’ll Never Believe This Breathtaking Museum Venue is in Oklahoma!

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[field title=”The Inspiration”]

Inspired by the Mediterranean influences of The Philbrook Museum of Art, texture and color, this bold editorial designed by Aisle Be With You, LLC channeled the undeniable beauty of this historic venue and the splendor of lush, overflowing florals.

[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Whimsical magenta hues accompanied by terracotta accents set the stage for an unforgettable day, while the groom’s classic tux black provided a glamorous, timeless feel.[/field]
[field title=”The Venue”]

The Philbrook Museum of Art, also known “the most beautiful place in Oklahoma”, is a unique and romantic setting for weddings. Last year the venue garnered attention as it was home to the spectacular wedding day of Actor and producer Sophia Bush.

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Featuring floaty, ethereal gowns from Stanley Korshak Bridal Salon, our model looked like a painterly dream.

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Am abundance of lavish, brightly colored florals by Max Owens Design stood out against the neutral hues of the museum, and brightened up this overcast day. The sailcloth tent with the most eye-catching “tentrance” I’ve ever seen was the icing on the cake!

[/field]
[field title=”Favorite Design Element”]My favorite design element was the unique square cake, complimented perfectly by the brightly colored climbing florals.[/field]
[field title=”Tips To Pull Off The Look”]

To pull of the look, the tables also featured terracotta bud vases which helped accent the striking hues of the flowers, and tied in the warm neutral hues of the Philbrook museum.

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Quite Luxury Style at Airelles’ La Bastide de Gordes

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]We used a soft colour palette – mainly shades of white, yellow and light orange, with a hint of red. White for its timeless elegance and warm colours for the Mediterranean vibe we were looking for achieving our Dolce Vita vision.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

When we started thinking about the location, it was easy to decide on the South of France as we love it and have always been spending a chunk of our summers there with Michael’s family. However, we had never visited Gordes before, but then we found Airelles’ La Bastide de Gordes and we were sold from the get go. It had all of the things we were looking for and more – elegance, the simple luxury feel and the pinch-me views over a gorgeous valley. One of the first things I did when we decided that we would have our wedding a year from the proposal was to create a presentation that included visual mood boards for each aspect of the wedding from the location, the drivers for each event, the stationery, the flowers and photography all the way to details about our own as well as our families’ attires. The overall keywords were: intimate, timeless, effortless & chic with a fresh touch of the la dolce vita vibe. When I went over this with our incredible wedding planner, Aurelie, and our talented floral designer, Elise, they immediately understood our vision and were fully aligned. They embraced and embellished all of our ideas and brought them to life through gentle chic and playful floral arrangements for the aisle set up, the ceremony arch, cocktail bar, the tables setting, and made sure everything worked in harmony with the chairs, the plates, the glasses and all of the other details.

[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Michael proposed on August 12, 2020, in Chianti, Tuscany,
Just between the two Covid waves, we were able to get out of London and went to spend a month in the sunny South of France followed by a week in Tuscany.
After a few days of exploring Firenze, we went to the Chianti region and Michael had arranged for us to stay at what I found, when we arrived, one of the most beautiful and serene places. It was set right in the heart of Chianti, overlooking endless vineyards and the city of Siena.
On our last evening there, we went down for aperitivo and after being extremely particular about where we should sit, Michael asked if I wanted to go for a walk to take some pictures of the sunset over the hills. As I was walking behind him, all of a sudden, he stopped and went down on one knee holding an engagement ring box and started reciting this beautiful speech that I made him repeat after because I was too shocked to hear anything the first time.
It was just so natural and perfect. Just the two of us and a magnificent sunset setting over the vineyards and olive groves of the Tuscan hills.[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The main words I constantly used to search for inspiration or describe what I wanted for my wedding dress were: modern but classic, simple but sophisticated and with some sort of subtle statement details. Not very straightforward, right?
I thought I knew what I wanted but I ended up going to four different bridal stores that had the designers I was interested in. I had gone back for second visits two times as I thought I had found my dress, twice, but I was not fully head over heels either time.
I then analysed what those two dresses that I thought were “THE dress” had, and found that the first was very simple but had quite pompous sleeves that I loved and the second had a very elegant cut and a fabulous, quite heavy silk fabric. That’s what I wanted and I thought I would have to alter either the first or the second to combine them somehow but then, as a miracle,I found Danielle Frankel and specifically the Ruby dress… I was so in love with it from the second I saw it.
I had to order it online as none of the London stores had their dresses at the time and going to NYC to see and try it on was impossible because of Covid but that did not bother me as I knew it was the dress for me. The Danielle Frankel team was very helpful throughout the process also.
The moment I tried on the dress, even though it was not the right size, I remember I was ecstatic and started swirling around and bouncing the sleeves up and down, thinking “this is so me”.
I then paired it with a simple, golden pair of Manolo Blahnik sandals which were made to order; a bespoke mesh veil that covered half of my face and that was twisted around a low bun; gold tone triple pearl studs from Jennifer Behr and I finished my look off with a scent that I found perfect for the occasion, Gentle Fluidity from Maison Francis Kurkdijan. [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]For our mothers, I envisioned soft tones but wanted them to feel beautiful and comfortable so they were free to choose.They both chose similar powder rose shades. My mother wore a flowing silk sleeved dress that had a similar detail to my sleeved tulle.

I had my best friend as my maid of honour and my younger sister as my bridesmaid. Their moodboard illustrated warm yellows, soft blues, peach and light pink tones and the text said “La dolce vita chic – light and summery fabrics” but I left the style open to each one of them as I also wanted them to feel confident. My sister chose a tiered floral print dress from Needle & Thread and wore it with a pair of dainty earrings I had gifted her on the day and my best friend wore an elegant, one shoulder soft blue gown with pearl drop earrings,similar to mine, also gifted on the day. They both wore identical gold slim necklaces I had gifted them before the wedding as well.
My sister’s dress perfectly tied in together, colour wise, the dresses of our mothers, my bestfriend and my sister in law. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Michael wore a black, classic Tom Ford tuxedo that had subtle wool silk details. He paired it with a simple black silk bow tie and shoes from TF also. To finish his look, I gifted him a pair of round pearl detail cufflinks from Lanvin on the day.
Both our fathers, Michael’s brother and his groomsmen had also worn black tuxedos that they paired with individually personalised cufflinks Michael had gifted them.
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]The Bride and Groom had local hors d’oeuvre, Champagne and signature cocktails inspired by their story upon the cocktail reception, followed by a 4-course dinner prepared by La Bastide de Gordes Chef.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]To give our guests a feel for what our wedding would be like beforehand, I designed a website which included useful information and had illustrative touches of lemons and olive branches that went in line with my vision for the bespoke invitation suite and the overall fresh wedding look & feel. All of the stationery was realised with the help of the very talented Christelle from Creme de Papier.
Together we created a small, minimalistic three fold booklet as part of our welcome pack in which a beautiful watercolour illustration of Gordes created by Christelle highlighted the three relevant wedding events locations as well as other attraction recommendations we had prepared for our guests. It was one of the many details I really loved.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Instead of a wedding cake, Luiza and Michael had a French croquembouche prepared by the pastry Chef of La Bastide de Gordes[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]2. We chose one of Michael’s closest friends, who quickly became one of my closest friends too when Michael and I started dating, as our celebrant. He was there when we first met and he knew us both very well. He slipped into his speech that at the time we met Michael had said to him “I am going to marry that girl” right after we spoke which was, of course, a very sweet detail.
3. We wanted to give our mothers a chance to share their excitement for our day so we asked if they would like to speak instead of my/our fathers.
They were both thrilled and gave the sweetest,most beautiful speeches with light fun moments that made our evening even more special than it already was. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]I had little gifts and handwritten letters for Michael, my parents, my sister and best friend that I handed on the wedding day to express my love and appreciation for them.
I did not know, however, that Michael also had a small handwritten letter which he had sent me through my bestfriend on the day. It was such a special way to share everything we felt just between the two of us, aside from the vows we were going to share in front of our family & friends. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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Petit Bouquet

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The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Dress Codes

Planning a wedding means that there are a million decisions to make, and little details to iron out. One detail that often gets overlooked is the wedding dress code. Sure, you’ve thought about what you and your partner will wear, but what about your guests? We know, the idea of assigning a dress code may seem a little outdated, but trust us, it’s not! Dress codes not only ensure that your wedding guests look cohesive with the event as a whole, but it also helps your guests be confident and comfortable in the ensemble they decide to wear. There are dress codes available for any and every occasion – but for weddings, here are the dress codes you need to know:

Helpful Tip: When choosing your dress code, it is best to have a venue booked first, this way you can adjust the dress code to fit the venue accordingly.

1. White-tie

White-tie is the most formal option and not very common–think royal ball. Men are required to wear tuxedos with tails, or a tailcoat, and of course–a white bow tie. Women are required to wear a floor-length ball gown-a gown that is fitted through the bodice and then flares out from the waist into a bell-shape. Some white-tie functions also request that the women wear long gloves, past the elbow. For a wedding guest, it would be acceptable for a woman to wear a floor-length evening gown with a little less fullness–it would be in poor taste for a guest’s gown to be more voluminous than the bride’s. That being said, if you are a bride and you are hosting a white-tie affair, be sure to go big! We’re talking princess-level ballgown with the dramatic train and cathedral veil complete with children to carry it.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Zosia Zacharia Photography

2. Black-tie

Though not the most formal dress code, black-tie is still a formal affair. Men are expected to wear tuxedos but may choose a more modern design (without the tails). Black ties are a must. Some sources will tell you that it needs to be a bow tie, but these days a black necktie will do just as well. Women are expected to wear a formal floor-length gown, there are no requirements on color or silhouette. If you are hosting a black-tie wedding make sure that you, your partner, and your bridal party adhere to the dress code as well: meaning, the men are in tuxes and the women are all in floor-length gowns.

PHOTOGRAPHY| Luna de Mare Photography

3. Black-tie Optional or Formal

If you don’t feel the need to be super strict with your dress code, consider this option. Black-tie optional, or sometimes referred to as “Formal”, is a very considerate way to host a formal event without requiring your guests to purchase or rent an ensemble just for your wedding. It allows men to wear either a tuxedo or a dark suit. It is recommended that men wear a white shirt with their dark suit to mimic the look of a tuxedo. Women are encouraged to wear floor-length evening gowns or formal cocktail dresses. For a black-tie optional event, we would recommend that women opting to wear a cocktail dress go for a midi-length hem. For couples that are hosting a black-tie optional wedding, we recommend that you follow the black-tie dress code to ensure that you have the most formal looks at the wedding.

PHOTOGRAPHER | Oliver Fly Photography

4. Semi-formal or Cocktail

Semi-formal is currently the most popular dress code for weddings. Men can wear a suit and tie ensemble or a sport coat. For women, it’s super easy, just wear a cocktail dress! The hem of the cocktail dress can range from midi to just above the knee. For formal events, in general, try to wear a dress with a hem that falls at your fingertips or below. Women may also wear formal pantsuits and separates. Men in the bridal party and the groom(s) should wear a suit while women in the bridal party wear a cocktail dress or a slightly less formal floor-length gown. Brides that are hosting a semiformal wedding can still wear a formal wedding gown or they can opt for something playful, like a gown with a high-low hem or a midi-length dress.

PHOTOGRAPHY| O’Malley Photographers

5. Dressy Casual

This dress code is a great option if you are hosting an outdoor wedding but still want it to feel like a formal affair. For a dressy casual wedding, men should wear a sport coat or blazer with khakis or slacks; no tie required. It is still expected that men wear dress shoes or loafers. Women can wear separates or dresses at any hem length and in more casual materials like cotton or linen. For shoes, women should wear heels, wedges, or dressy flats. It is still expected that the bridal party will be the most formal, so the groom(s) and any men in the bridal party may still wear a suit. Bridesmaids can wear anything from a sundress to a less formal floor-length dress. The bride(s) may still wear a formal wedding gown, though some silhouettes lend themselves better to a dressy-casual wedding like A-line and mermaid. Brides hosting a dressy casual wedding may also choose to go with a less formal/traditional look like a pantsuit, jumpsuit, or a cocktail dress.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Jose Villa Photography

6. Casual

A casual dress code can get a little tricky because it truly depends on how casual you want to go. If you are hosting the wedding, it’s a good idea to outline the specifics of the dress code for your guests so they aren’t stressing about being over or underdressed. Typically, a casual dress code means that men don’t need jackets, a nice button-down shirt and khakis or slacks is perfect. If you are getting married outside, maybe on the beach, and you would like to give men the option to wear shorts, make sure to specify that on your invitation. The same goes for sandals. Women can wear separates or sundresses. If you are hosting a casual wedding, linen is always a good look for the men, depending on the season, of course. The women in the bridal party can wear sundresses or casual maxi dresses. A couple hosting a casual wedding may dress a little more formal, with the groom(s) wearing a casual linen suit or sport coat and pants, while the bride still wears a traditional wedding gown with a slim silhouette. Brides hosting a casual wedding may also choose to wear a pantsuit, shorter cocktail dress, or sundress.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Joel Serrato Film Photographer

Whatever dress code you and your partner decide to go with remember to outline as much as you can for your guests. It’s not necessary to put it all on the invite, just state the dress code and you can dive into more detail on your wedding website. It’s also a good idea to consult with your wedding planner on this topic. They will have a lot of great advice about which dress codes would coordinate best with your venue and how to word it properly for your guests.

Now that we’ve laid out all of the rules, we just wanted to take a second to remind you that at the end of the day, your wedding is a party–try not to be too much of a stickler when it comes to enforcing the dress code. Just trust your guests to do their best and enjoy the day; it goes by so fast!

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Photography

Jose Villa Photography

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Joel Serrato Film Photographer

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Plan a Gilmore Girls-Inspired Bachelorette Weekend!

Everyone’s favorite mother-daughter duo is getting some well-deserved attention of late with Millennials and Gen-Zers both binging Gilmore Girls. And all that binging got us thinking…what would a bachelorette weekend in Stars Hollow look like? Well, there are some obvious must-haves–good food, good coffee, and loads of small-town charm. Here are the key ingredients to making your own Gilmore Girls weekend one to remember.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Pop Sugar

1. Channel Your Inner Paris Geller

Map out an itinerary for the weekend with a cute template like this to include with the invites (you don’t have to line them in pearls, but a little winsome formality never hurt anyone). You can emulate Lane’s free spirit when the weekend rolls around, but a well-planned weekend promises plenty of time for fun.

PHOTOGRAPHY/INVITES | Northern Wind Events

2. Find Your Own Stars Hollow

Wherever you live, an adorable small town is probably within driving distance. Or maybe you are lucky enough to live in one! Either way, escape from the hustle and bustle and fully immerse yourself in a Stars Hollow-type experience. Bonus points if it’s a town festival weekend!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Belisia Rodriguez

3. Check-In At The Local Inn

Take a note from the Dragonfly Inn and stay at a local inn. Not only will you support a local business, but you’ll enjoy a hometown vibe that can’t be found at a hotel chain.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Katie Charlotte Fielder

4. Keep Caffeinated

Keep yourself caffeinated with coffee. The weekend should start and end with the most essential beverage of the Gilmore Girls!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Mary O Photo

5. Don’t Forget The Books

Relax with a good read. Rory’s bound to have packed at least one (if not multiple) books, so take a moment to sit down with a great book. Or, if you’re more of a Lorelai, grab several of the latest magazines.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Amanda Aho

6. Pack The Swag Bags

Surprise your bridesmaids with a perfectly Gilmore gift bag like this adorable tote. Pack it with a few fun surprises like a T-shirt from Luke’s Diner, coffee and a mug (need we say more?), snacks for sustenance, and a cute planner to keep track of all of the wedding events!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Sweet As Honey Tees

7. Embrace A Girls’ Night In

Skip the “girls’ night out” and have a “girls’ night in.” It’s Lorelai and Rory’s favorite thing to do. There are over 400 movies referenced in Gilmore Girls, so you have a nice library to pick from. Even better? All of the Gilmore Girls seasons are on Netflix! Settle in for a night of binge-watching.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Pop Sugar

8. Eat Like You Mean It

Food! We can’t forget the Gilmore Girls’ favorite activity. Place an order for your favorite pizza, Chinese food, and probably some burgers and fries. Throw in a healthy dose of Mallomars, Red Vines, popcorn, and other tasty snacks. If you have a Sookie in your group, transform the typical Pop-Tarts into a gourmet treat!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Cloudy Kitchen

9. Indulge In “Pattie’s Punch”

Coffee will sustain us, but a fruity drink à la Miss Patty’s Founders Day Punch will entertain us.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Sugar and Charm

10. Top It Off With Pancakes

The weekend wouldn’t be complete without pancakes! Take advantage of the inn’s breakfast in the morning, or scoot out and find a diner like Luke’s. A delicious breakfast and cups of warm coffee are the best way to wrap up a perfect “Gilmore Girls” bachelorette weekend!

PHOTOGRAPHY | The Speckled Palate

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Petit Bouquet

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Private Country Estate Wedding Amidst The Dreamy Gardens

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The wedding colors were dusty blue, champagne, gold, and burgundy.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

This wonderful couple wanted their wedding to be a beautiful representation of who they are as individuals as well as who they are becoming as a married couple. Their hope was to honor their cultures while creating a fun, spring inspired celebration.

[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Irene and Zach’s love story started like most great modern day stories do…Tinder! Like many couples getting married this year, Tinder opened the door to what quickly became the best date night of their life! Their timing worked out perfectly because they happened to “match” around the time they both had just moved back home from school. After a few failed attempts at making plans, Irene and Zach finally met for what was supposed to be a casual drink after work at Rye Bar in San Francisco. What was supposed to be a one drink night turned into a 5+ drinks and 3 bars! That very same week, they had their 2nd and 3rd dates! You could say the rest was history for them! Zach surprised Irene and popped the question on New Years day in 2022! While Zach and Irene’s San Francisco home was being completely remodeled, Zach set up a pre-lit Christmas tree and tucked a stuffed puppy with a ring tied around its neck underneath. Irene, being a lover of all things Christmas, always hoped for a puppy under the tree. Zach knew it was the closest he could get to fulfilling her childhood dream at the time. Of course Irene said yes and was beyond excited! Don’t worry the real puppy came soon after!

The wedding gown was Rivini Reagan (purchased on www.stillwhite.com).

[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

The bridesmaids were dressed in varying styles of beautiful dusty blue dresses from Birdy Grey. They all chose styles that fit their personality and shape best! Irene’s three maid of honors were wearing stunning blue floral dresses to set them apart!

[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]

All of the groomsmen were fitted in traditional white and black suites from The Black Tux. Zach, the groom, chose to wear an all black suite from The Black Tux as well.

The appetizers and entrees were catered by the Park Winters in house catering and included a variety of fresh poultry and vegetables. Zach and Irene chose to have custom His and Her cocktails served at their cocktail hour that included a custom wood stir stick with their adorable pup Apple on it!

[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Their beautiful florals designed by Dixon Florist, were the perfect pop to Zach and Irene’s Park Winters wedding day. Irene’s bouquet was filled with white and blush florals with a fun pop of burgundy. The bridesmaids all carried a single white rose for their bouquets.

[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Zach and Irene veered away from the traditional wedding cake and surprised their guests with a delicious custom ice cream cart during their reception! Guests were able to choose from multiple flavors including an espresso covered ice cream cup![/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

Irene and Zach’s stunning spring wedding day at Park Winters was the perfect combination of joy, unity and love. Their beautiful day featured three incredible ceremonies. They started with a traditional ceremony which her sister and maid of honor officiated for them. After, they had a quick wardrobe change and began their Korean Paebaek ceremony followed by a Malaysian candle lighting. Incorporating each of their families cultures was so important to both Zach and Irene and it was a beautiful representation of their unity moving forward.

[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The couples Paekbaek ceremony was an amazing part of their day and a perfect way to honor the bride’s family.
During a Paekbaek ceremony, the bride and groom bows to the parents and relatives as a sign of reverence and devotion to their new family.After each bowing, the couple will serve tea (or rice wine) to each set of elders. Then the elders will throw dates and chestnuts for the bride and groom to catch in an apron which symbolize the number of healthy offspring the couple will have. Dates represent sons and chestnuts symbolize daughters. Finally, the groom piggybacks his bride on his back around the table twice as a show of strength. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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The Epitome of an English Garden Wedding Come to Life

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Different hues of blue mixed with floral patterns. From the bride, “While planning my wedding, I struggled to find a color that stood out to me, so I started out by finding a linen pattern that could be used as an accent and went from there. I ended up finding a light pink floral that created an entire vision for the day and was supported by blue dresses by my bridesmaids.”[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The bride had a vision for an English garden wedding and she delivered! Their day was overflowing with gorgeous blooms and had an elevated elegance to it. We loved all the personal touches like the airplane place cards, which were a nod to her time in the Air Force. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]From the bride…”The proposal was in true “Collin Fashion!” He got the ring from Kesslers in Wisconsin and had the ring shipped down to Orlando, FL… where we were living at the time! He tracked the Delivery Truck throughout Orlando because he was worried that he was going to miss the delivery. That night, he suggested we go out to Sushi (which was abnormal!) and he was absolutely beaming with excitement. Nothing happened that night but it was so cute. That weekend, we were waking up slowly on Saturday reminiscing and taking some special time together. It was that moment he reached into his nightstand and pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him. Nothing fancy, no one surrounding us, just a special & calm moment between the two of us! The rest of the day we celebrated at our two favorite restaurants in Orlando!”[/field]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Bride: “I had a vision for my dress and was so thankful that I found exactly what I was looking for. I found a beautiful gown from the designer Pronovios, with floral appliqué on the sleeves and back of the dress. Coupled with a veil and a large bow, I followed the same details from my Mother’s wedding dress. With both parents have passed, having details from their wedding and marriage was most special to me. When my mom went shopping, my dad told her “I don’t care what you wear but it must have a bow!” … And as I tried on the wedding dress, my mom and I’s favorite song came on (Ain’t no mountain high enough) and that later because my siblings dance song, in place of the traditional father daughter dance.”[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bride let her maids select dresses from all over. The result was a mixed palette of blues and different floral patterns. It was gorgeous! [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The Black Tux – classic black tuxedos![/field]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]A traditional dinner was served but we served my husband and I’s favorite food – Hand-tossed wings and Chips/Salsa for appetizers![/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Clean whites with greenery – farmhouse chairs and warm wood tones made the space feel homey!

[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]A gorgeous pink cake tied with a big accent bow to accent the bride’s wedding dress. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Unsure[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Since I served in the Air Force, we wanted to remember how that challenged and built our relationship stronger so we made our Escort Board with paper planes.
[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Lots of angels were in the presence of our wedding (Including my parents) so we had all guest lit a candle during dinner to remember them![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Dueling Pianos for cocktail hour (supposed to be at welcome drinks but was canceled due to weather).[/field]
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Jessica Bedore Photography

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Petit Bouquet

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Chic And Colorful Destination Wedding Celebrating Indian Culture In Sarasota

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

From the bride… I’ve always gravitated towards softer and lighter colors but I wanted to add a pop which we did with the red roses in the Mandap. I also love gold accents.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

The bride and groom envisioned fun and floral patterns but also wanted to include their Indian culture through out the details and design of their wedding day. They wanted the mandap and monogram dance floor to be focal points. The custom designed A+A monogram was featured throughout the wedding weekend, printed on the welcome bag cookies, programs, cocktail napkins and petal cones.

[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Akash proposed to Anisha with a foam cocktail drink that said “will you marry me” in it. See below how they incorporated that into their wedding day.

From the bride… The dress was found Khajana Boutique in Iselin, NJ. I wanted to go with a more traditional Indian Outfit for the wedding ceremony. I fell in love with it right away. The details and patterns were so intricate and beautiful! It was also one of a kind so it was special to know that there was a custom touch to it. The reception dress was from Anita Dongre in NYC. Since I went with a more traditional outfit for the ceremony I wanted to do something light and delicate for the reception. I loved the soft colors. It had a very enchanting and angelic feel to it.

[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Bridesmaid and Groomsmen attire were custom made in India through a local business in Florida. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]

The groom’s tux was Armani Exchange from Neiman Marcus.

[/field]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]Food was very important to our family and we wanted to provide a lot of options for our guests throughout the weekend. We had several stations such as an Indian street Food (Chaat) station, taco station and pasta station along with a North and South Indian buffet.

The custom foam drink with our monogram in it was inspired by how Akash proposed to me. He proposed with a foam cocktail drink that said “will you marry me” in it.

For late night snacks they incorporated snacks named after our favorite spots at Syracuse University, which is where we met (Home of the Dome Cheese Pizza for example). [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

The florals were filled with lots of color! They wanted the mandap and monogram dance floor to be focal points.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

The wedding cake was made by The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

Dhol Players welcomed the groom and groomsmen as they arrived to the wedding ceremony. A guitarist played Latin music during the Welcome Fiesta and there was a steel drum band during the wedding cocktail hour. The bridesmaids and groomsmen both performed dances for the guests during the reception.

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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

The bar sign “Open Bhar” – a nod to the grooms last name being Bharwani.

[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Since Akash was born and raised in Chile we wanted to have a Latin American touch along with the Indian traditions which is why we did a Welcome Fiesta on Friday night. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

Since the wedding was in Florida and right on Sarasota bay, it was the perfect opportunity to incorporate it into Akash’s Baraat entrance by boat.

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