I’ve heard my fair share of love stories, but when they start with a chance meeting at age 11, you know it’s something special. Fast forward years later to a Central Park proposal and what follows is a classic New York wedding planned by DM Events that’ll make you stop and swoon. Press play on the film from Unique Visions Studios and get started!

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From The Bride & Groom…We met in a double-wide trailer classroom when we were eleven years old. Basically, we owe East Cobb Middle School’s horrible planning a big ‘thank you’ for bringing us together.

Before you say, “awww” – we didn’t know we were completely head over heels in love with each other until we both found ourselves in New York City. In fact, we were not even friends in high school and rarely saw each other outside of class. However, any acquaintance is a friend when you move to big bad New York, so I (Blair) got back in touch with Ron when I was looking for a place to live in the city. Ron sweetly offered to show me around town, but busy schedules kept it from happening. Finally, three months after my move to NYC, I took him up on his offer. Our connection was instant & it was clear I had either met my best friend or my soul mate. Turned out to be both! After running around town together for two straight nights, we decided to take our new friendship on a date. In particular, we went on a picnic in Central Park.

We went on a picnic for our first date in Central Park. Yes, it was awesome. I even turned down free tickets to a Yankee’s game to hang out with my new crush. Fast forward five years, to Ron’s 29th birthday. Since it fell on a Monday, we decided to keep it low key and re-do our picnic in the park. OBVIOUSLY, you can see where this is going. The thing is – I DIDN’T! Sunday night before his birthday, I couldn’t sleep. It was just one of those crazy nights where sleep doesn’t happen. Unfortunately for me, Ron woke up at 8:30 ready to go! He shot out of bed (very unlike him) and begged me to just get ready so we could go to the park. I kindly reminded him that you don’t picnic before 11AM, but he couldn’t calm down. So, FINE. Who am I to ruin a birthday? I got in the shower and slowly got dressed trying to slow down this train. While I showered, he packed our picnic and slipped the ring into the picnic bag. Lucky for him, I didn’t question his work and just allowed him to pack as he pleased! As Ron will tell you, I’m not very good at letting anyone plan anything, so this was quite out of the ordinary. I must have been exhausted. Of course I said “yes” and the rest is history!

Photography: mel barlow & co. | Cinematography: Unique Visions Studio | Cake: Nine Cakes | Stationery: Paperfinger | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Makeup & Hair: Erika Franco | Ceremony + Reception: Metropolitan Building | Planning + Floral Design: DM Events & Design

There’s no denying blush – and all airy pastels, for that matter – are having a major moment. But when it gets right down to it, jewel tones are what really send me swooning. From a rich emerald to a royal blue to berry hues of any shade, there’s a million ways to pull off a jewel tone in your wedding and we’re here to show you how. Get cozy SMPers…this pretty party is just getting started.

Jewel Tones Wedding Moments

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Jewel Tones Wedding Moments

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Sequin table linens = best invention ever. And that little splash of glam is so unexpected in this Montauk affair but blends beautifully with the seaside surroundings. Lobsters and summer sequins, weathered docks and a line-up of blush peonies from Flowers By Beth.  Now that is a shindig we can get behind. Pore over the gallery of images captured by Brklyn View Photography right here.

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From Brklyn View Photography…Their wedding is filled with wonderful fun details from the brides heart covered shoes, to gold glittered table cloths to the lobster themed corn holes.

Summer weddings out in Montauk are my absolutely favorite! The warm air, blue skies and all the flowers seem to be in bloom. For Annie and Sam, The Montauk Yacht Club was the perfect venue for their blush and gold inspired wedding in the Hamptons. Annie wore a breathtaking layered wedding dress from Lazzaro. Lots of layers of tulle with a lace bodice and removable lace straps fit her perfectly. The bride wore a small scissor pendant bracelet on her wedding day in loving memory of her grandmother who was a seamstress. Annie loves everything pink so it was only fitting to have pink accents throughout their entire wedding day. From her heart printed heels, pink invitations, floral printed bridesmaids dresses, and down to their pink signature cocktail, the happy couple left no detail to chance. Sam wore a tuxedo with a black and white polka dotted bow tie. The couple were married at St. Therese church in the heart of Montauk before heading over to the Montauk Yacht Club. Annie hand painted the lobster inspired corn hole games and lobster photobooth props. Their reception room was filled with a warm white glow to give a white wash effect inside the Farm Ballroom. Pink, coral and white centerpieces with mirrored vases decorated the two long tables. The couple loves the beach so it’s no surprise it was a big inspiration for their wedding day. Pieces of Beachwood were used as their table numbers and coral decorated their seating chart. I’m so honored I was part of Annie and Sam’s wonderful wedding day. There’s not doubt about it – He’s her lobster! Congratulations to the happy couple!!

Photography: Jainé Kershner Photography | Videography: Bellucci Films | Florist: Flowers By Beth | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Invitations: Eyes Wide Open | Ceremony Venue: St. Therese of Lisieux, Montauk NY | Reception Venue: Montauk Yacht Club | Brides Shoes: Sophia Webster | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bridal Garden | DJ: TBD Entertainment | Hair Salon: The Endz Salon Montauk | Rentals: Ultrapom

These soft, serene bridal portraits from Aga Jones Photography have my heart beating double-time today. Every ray of sunshine covering these two sweeties, every warm embrace and every romantic gaze. Set at the peaceful Pine Hills Lodge, the imagery paints a perfect picture of the joy and love that graced this day!

From Aga Jones Photography… The Julian venue was perfect for outdoor couple like Sarah & Chris. When I arrived there I could not believe how peaceful it was. Most wedding details were done DIY by the Bride, her sisters (who were also her beautiful bridesmaids), and her uncle who helped coordinate whole wedding day. The ceremony included their closest family and friends, they also jump the broom! The venue was the perfect background for bridal portraits and I am absolutely honored I was there to capture it and now share it with you.

Photography: Aga Jones Photography | Wedding Dress: Casablanca | Make Up: Evelyn Aguon | DJ: DJ Sushi Brown | Groom's Attire: Friar Tux | Wedding Venue: Pine Hills Lodge

By now, I’m sure you’ve all heard about the incredible Something Old, Something New, Something Blue Nile Pinterest Contest hosted by Blue Nile. But just in case you needed a little reminder, they’re giving away a $1000 gift card! See below for all the details and for entry information.

This contest simply cannot be missed, lovelies. So be sure to enter ASAP!

The Prize: A lucky winner will receive a $1000 gift card from Blue Nile!

To Enter: 1) Head over here, fill out the form + submit between July 29, 2014  and August 29, 2014 2) Follow Blue Nile on Pinterest. 3) Pin with inspiration from the “Something Old, Something New, Something Blue Nile” board curated with Style Me Pretty.

To Win: One winner will be selected at random and announced on September 5, 2014.

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

When we began this wild ride we call SMP Living, we had the pleasure of going behind the blog with the uber talented Caitlin Wilson. A couple of years and many, many, posts later, Caitlin has picked up, relocated, and added to her family. Her new home is chock full of vibrant shades and lovely details, and we’re about to get an insider peek! Oh, and there’s more right here, you know, in case you’re looking.

From Caitlin… One of the perks of having my own textile & rug line is that I get to switch out my pillows with every new collection! The Tribeca collection arrived right in time for me to brighten up my living room with bold pattern and punch! I am so inspired by color and pattern- these are my favorite hues for late summer…Bright berry, mint, coral, and navy.  It’s the perfect transition into Indian summer and early fall. I wanted my family room to feel bold even though the room itself is pretty simple. I did a simple stroke painting in deep navy to create a focal point because the ceilings are so tall. 

My coral spotted rug is so versatile. I keep moving it from room to room because it just works with everything and little spills from my kids blend in!  My rugs are handmade wool-tufted in India, so they are super plush and soft. 

My kitchen is one of my favorite spaces in the house.  It’s simple but the contrasting black and white give it a different look. It fits in perfectly with our new city of Portland.

I love having spaces to decorate in my kitchen. The bay window behind the sink allows for great light and gives me some space to accessorize!  The black windows and hardware give it a modern feel- which has been influential in my recent designs. I am loving dark navy and black accents everywhere! 

It’s so important to me that my home is comfortable and family friendly but I don’t have to sacrifice on style.  I tend to decorate my clients homes in the colors that they would wear and complement their coloring.  Whenever I am helping a client pick out an important piece of furniture, I think about whether they would want to wear the fabric that it’s upholstered in.  The same goes for my own sofa- upholstered in my favorite shade of light mint. I love my mint sofa…it is a perfect transitional piece to carry me through different seasons without being just a beige or grey.  I love that still has some personality while being pretty neutral.

Besides my studio that’s located in the upstairs of my home- I like to have a small desk in between the kitchen and family room area so I don’t have to go far when I need to sit down and work for a sec.  With my 2 (almost 3) kids- finding dedicated time to work is hard so it’s nice when it’s easily accessible. This is where I work out designs, colors, rug yarns, crunch numbers.  You can find me here late into the night once my littles are asleep. 

Olivia’s headboard is actually a slipcover so we swap it out all the time! I decided to give her room a little more of a grown up feel this summer as it is often used as a guest room and we’ve had a lot of visitors this summer.  I love it when a room can be transformed with just a few yards of fabric- and the Tribeca pattern definitely does the trick. 

All of my collections are created with easy pairing in mind so you can coordinate your pillows without all the stress of mixing and matching.  The Tribeca collection is an chic twist on the tribal trend- clean, and sophisticated but still loaded with personality.  The mint greek key is a classic and versatile while the navy spotted is bold and daring- bring them all together with the multicolor Tribeca and you’ve got the perfect trio! 

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PS – YOU CAN GET 15% OFF OF THEIR NEW TRIBECA COLLECTION BY ENTERING TRIBECA15 AT CHECKOUT! 

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LIVING ROOM/OFFICE:
Tribeca Pillow: Caitlin Wilson Textiles | Navy Spotted Pillow: Caitlin Wilson Textiles | Berry Deco Pillow: Caitlin Wilson Textiles | Mint Greek Key Pillow: Caitlin Wilson Textiles | Coral Spotted Rug: Caitlin Wilson Textiles | Sofa: Caitlin Wilson Textiles (coming soon!) | Bookshelf: West Elm Parsons Tower | Desk: Parsons Desk | Lamp: Lamps Plus | End Table: Target | Painting: DIY by yours truly | British Bouquet Rug: Caitlin Wilson Textiles | Mug: Anthropologie (no longer available) | Desk Chair: Vintage | Blue Drawers: Ikea Rast

KITCHEN:
Lights: Circa Hicks Pendant

LITTLE GIRL’S ROOM:
Nightstand: Ikea Rast | Headboard: Custom made with Caitlin Wilson Tribeca Fabric | Mint Greek Key Pillow: Caitlin Wilson Textiles | Navy Spotted Pillow: Caitlin Wilson Textiles | Berry Deco Pillow: Caitlin Wilson Textiles | Lamp: Target (no longer available)

Blackberry mason jar pies, sweet tea, cotton-dotted bouquets and burying the bourbon… a few of our favorite Southern wedding details and traditions! All wrapped up pretty in this lovely shoot from Twila’s Photography and Modern Vintage Events. And in true Southern hospitality, we’re all invited to the party, thanks to Sara Heilwagen‘s beautiful paper goods. Get lost in all the charm right here.

From Sara Heilwagen… Blackberry & Cotton is romance with Southern touches that evokes feelings of sweet tea, sweeping verandas and elegant charm. The natural colors and textures of the blackberries and cotton are reflected in the details. Soft white, textured paper with vivid, watercolor florals and blackberries appear throughout the invitations, menus and pie flags. The theme is continued on the program fans with the addition of a twist of grapevine for the handle. Kraft envelopes accented with golden liners and vintage stamps add a feel of nature.

The gorgeous mix of peonies, foxgloves, blackberries and greenery locally grown and arranged on a Tennessee flower farm create organic elegance in the bride’s bouquet and hair piece, groom’s boutonnière and centerpieces. Rich gold flatware and vintage china topped with cotton and lace place card handkerchiefs lend to the feeling of dining in celebration with family using Grandmother’s wedding china. The stunning, lace Aria bridal gown is a vision of traditional couture with modern sophistication. Soft make-up and a sweeping up-do show off every detail of the gown. The groom shines in a tan, single-breasted suit with a blackberry purple and white gingham dress shirt.

For dessert, there’s nothing sweeter and more Southern than pie. Mini blackberry pies are paired with blackberry vanilla macarons and a simply elegant fondant three-tiered wedding cake. The Southern romance of a warm, spring day and the scent of freshly baked pie is enhanced with the slow-sipping of a cocktail dotted with blackberry laden ice cubes from the bourbon bar. An evening of dancing under the lights in the 100 year old Maples Barn in the lush Tennessee countryside is the perfect start for a new life together as husband and wife. The cathedral ceiling and open atmosphere bring nature in to the party.

Love is spread with homemade jam favors in blackberry mint and blackberry bourbon blends for guests to enjoy when they return home. Burying the Bourbon is a charming, old Southern tradition where if a full, unopened bottle of bourbon is buried by the couple at the ceremony site exactly one month before the wedding, the day will be free of rain. Successful or not, un-burying the bourbon the next day at a casual brunch with family and the wedding party is a merry conclusion to the wedding festivities.

Photography: Twilas Photography | Wedding Planner: Modern Vintage Events | Florist: Basil & Bergamot Flower Farm | Stationery: Sara Heilwagen Paper + Photography | Make-Up: Amanda Morgan | Hair: Emily Jordan | Groom's Attire: Street Tuxedo | Wedding Venue: The Wrens Nest | Bridal Attire: Modern Trousseau | Cake Artist: Jay Qualls | China: Modern Magnolia | Rentals: Southern Events Party Rental & Vintage Prop Shoppe | Vintage Stamps: Verde Studio

This engagement shoot so perfectly captures the beauty of a summer day spent by the water. Fresh picked bouquets  by To La Lune Events and the prettiest watercolor save the date by Type And Title are the added bonus. We dream of days just like this – sunshine, love and a refreshing cocktail in hand. Have a look at the whole session captured by Jen Wojcik Photography and you’ll agree.

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From Jen Wojcik Photography…We wanted to capture a fresh take on a summer romance and Chirsty from To La Lune styled the concept perfectly. Incorporating freshly picked bunches of mock orange blossoms and kiss over the fence that just scream summer, we documented our couple on what we thought was the perfect summer evening. Rose and Seth sat sipping refreshing summer cocktails on the dock and as the sunlight disappeared over the hill they snuggled under a pom-pom fringed blanket for warmth. Don’t miss Rose’s flirty romper or her knee high socks with floral details! The darling Save the Dates with scallop details by Type and Title echoed the couple’s fresh and preppy vibe. I don’t know about you guys, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else other than dancing on that dock in the arms of my sweetheart on a summer evening!

Photography: Jen Wojcik Photography | Hair And Makeup: Beauty By Melina | Paper: Type And Title | Styling/Florals: To La Lune Events

A few days ago, I headed out on my lunch break to pick up an iced coffee. Much to my dismay, it was absolutely freezing (and by freezing I mean so. not. summery). There was an undeniable crispness in the air that simply couldn’t be denied. Fall is on it’s way, and I’m just not ready. Lucky, there are still a few summer weeks left , and I plan on taking advantage (starting with all of these watermelon recipes):

10 Ways to Eat Watermelon

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10 Ways to Eat Watermelon

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PS – ALL OUR SUMMER RECIPES IN ONE PLACE!

This wedding pulled at every single one of my heart strings. Every single one. It’s gorgeous, of course, and beautifully captured by Perry Vaile. The Flowers from Joel Houston and stationery from Elisabeth Connolly are completely pin-worthy, it’s true – but above all of that, this couple is just so special. And even though I don’t know them, I feel like I do after spending far too much time falling in love with this gallery. Join me here.

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From the Bride…Tyler and I met in 8th grade. My earliest memory of him was related to trying to get his middle school girlfriend out in dodgeball during PE class. We began dating towards the end of high school and continued all the way though college. Our relationship was built on a deep friendship we had with one another. We loved spending time together and quickly became each other’s best friend. Tyler proposed to me after we had been dating for 4 years on a lake we had spent lots of time on in high school. He made a video interviewing all of our closest friends and family about the news of us getting engaged and finished it off with a clip of himself telling me to turn around. On a dock, at sunset, with pictures and candles surrounding us, my now husband got down on one knee and asked me to spend forever with him. It was perfect.

Tyler and I both envisioned our wedding being casual and outdoors. We wanted it to be Christ-centered and for everyone attending to have lots of fun. We chose The Saratoga Springs as a plantation-type setting close to the city, with it only being 20 miles outside of Charlotte, NC. My girls wore lace-overlayed, blush dresses. His groomsmen wore tan pants, vests, and neutral ties. Tyler wore a green, textured tie and a full tan suit. We loved the personal touches to our wedding. His mom made my sash, I made many of the decorations, and his uncle married us. We also loved the garden feel that our wedding had. Perry Vaile Photography shoots so well in natural, outdoor settings. I think she truly did an amazing job shooting our wedding. My favorite part of the day was getting to exchange gifts and pray together before the ceremony, but without seeing one another. We got to hold hands, talk, and laugh with each other and it was a very special time. We loved our wedding day and love having these pictures to remember each moment.

Photography: Perry Vaile Photography | Flowers: Joel Houston | Cake: Icing On The Edge | Bridesmaids' Dresses: ModCloth | Hair And Makeup: Heather Bryson | Groomsmen Suits: Studio Suits | Venue: The Saratoga Springs | Hairpiece: Happily Ever BorroWED | Invitation And Signage: Elisabeth Rose

Half the fun of planning your big day is getting to brand the look + feel of every single element. One thing we can’t get enough of is a fabulous signature cocktail — especially when that specialty drink is delicious and nutritious! Enter: Suja Juice.

All of Suja’s Juices are certified Organic, Non-GMO & Kosher and are processed using cold pressure — and did I mention they taste amazing?! These delicious and easy recipes from Suja are perfect for serving at your big day (or engagement party or rehearsal dinner!). Brides-to-be can even order the juices at a wholesale discount when ordering for their wedding. YUM!

I don’t know about you all, but I’m ready to try each and every one of these amazing cocktail recipes! For more information on Suja Juice, head over here or email marketing{at}sujajuice.com.

Today darlings, we’re talking garters. Gorgeous garters from The Wedding Garter Co. that is. When they sent over their most recent collection which radiates a sultry, yet graceful style, we couldn’t help but dig for a little behind the scenes info about this handmade company from England. And when it comes to the imagery from Gooch & Gawler, we’re completely smitten. Peruse their lovely designs in the gallery!

SMP: Tell us a bit about The Wedding Garter Co.
TWGC: The Wedding Garter Co is an English maker of luxury wedding garters. We hand make every single element of our garters, no shortcuts. By selling online direct to our lovely brides we bring the quality of ‘handmade in England’ to the world at prices much lower than would be possible in stores. Thanks to the joy of air travel we offer free shipping to most of the world, including the USA, in just a few days.

SMP: How would you describe your newest garter designs?
TWGC: Our most recent additions to the collection are 6 lace bridal garters. We source our bridal lace from a bespoke lace maker in northern England who created the lace for the wedding gown of the Duchess of Cambridge when she married Prince William. Owned by the same family since 1848 their lace is of the finest quality available worldwide and it is a joy to create with!

SMP: What are some creative uses for garters?
TWGC: A garter can fulfill a few different parts of the wedding traditions. We have a ‘something blue’ collection of course but it can also be your ‘something new’. All our garters are designed as heirloom pieces to be passed on, even our boxes are super heavyweight to last decades, so at some point we hope they will be passed onto the children of our brides and become ‘something old’ too!

Photography: gooch&gawler | Wedding Garters: The Wedding Garter Co.

Intimate, lovely and filled with so much love you can feel it through the computer screen, this backyard beauty captured by Anna Page Photography warms my heart right up. It’s overflowing with too many darling DIY details to list, but thankfully you can devour every gorgeous moment of this stunning soiree right here.

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When we started planning, and figured out how expensive everything wedding-related is, we decided to seek out ways to do and provide a lot of things ourselves for the wedding. That started by choosing the wedding venue, which we decided would be in my parents backyard in my hometown of Urbana, IL. Gunnar and I are both very outdoorsy and family oriented, so this location was the perfect fit for us.

When planning the wedding, our number one goal was to have a party that brought all of our different friends and families together to have a good time. In order to accomplish that, we wanted to there to be plenty of things to do to enable a great celebration. We decided on having a bench filled with jars of jam to greet our guests as they walked in to the backyard; a whiskey and cigar bar for backyard socializing; a beer-garden inspired arrangement of two long tables where everyone sat to eat and chat for dinner; a dance floor under the tents to dance the night away; a station with madlibs, advice cards, and a Polaroid camera to allow our guests to personalize their page in our guest book; and later in the night, a bonfire with accompanying s’mores to round out the evening. Oh!, and my favorite installment, we converted my parents backyard cottage into a room dedicated to the many delicious deserts provided by our caterer and the delicious cake and cupcakes by Cream and Flutter.

Our DIY theme continued as Gunnar and I, with the help of many family and friends, started to tackle wedding-related projects. Gunnar is an avid homebrewer, and made two homebrewed beers for our wedding day. My friend (and bridesmaid), Ashley Benson, and I made the save-the-dates and wedding invitations by hand. Ashley also made all of the place card nametags and signage for each station as well as the escort board. My mom, with the help of her friend Patsy, made the beautiful blue napkins that would be at each place setting. To make the stations, we collected tables from around my parent’s house and bought vintage frames for the signage. The boxes used for the flower centerpieces at our tables were the drawers to my parent’s Chinese apocathery chest. My mom and her friends scoured Champaign-Urbana, and the surrounding towns, for the jams we would give out as favors, the lavender we would place at each place setting, as well as many other odds and ends. In the last week, every one pitched in to put together the s’mores bags and set up the backyard. We tried to put our special touch on everything that was part of our wedding day, and while it was quite the process, with many late nights of planning and crafting, it was well worth it in the end.

To complete our perfect day, we had amazing vendors that provided flowers, tents, and food. Getting ready, we had makeup done by the women from my mom’s cosmetics business and a family friend doing our hair. And, a spectacular photographer to document it all!

When we picked our wedding date of May 3rd, we knew it was a gamble weather-wise. In the Midwest, an early May day could be freezing cold and raining to scorching hot and humid. But when our day finally arrived, it could not have been more perfect. The weather was warm and breezy, the sun was shining, and the garden flowers were just starting to bloom. We had eighty of our closest family and friends together on a perfect May day. I tear up at the thought of how wonderful it truly was. It was the most amazing day for Gunnar and I to start our married life together.

Photography: Anna Page Photography | Floral Design: English Hedgerow | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Bride's Shoes: Nina | Bridesmaids Dresses: BHLDN | Catering: Classic Events Catering | Makeup: Hada Cosmetic Medicine | Groom's Suit: Brooks Brothers | Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Venue: Private Residence | Cake And Cupcakes: Cream And Flutter | Tents: Herriotts

When you start with a love story as adorable as this (read: elevator meet-cute) there’s a pretty good chance the wedding day will follow suit. And lucky for us SMPers, that’s exactly what happened. With a vendor team of Coriander Girl, Gladstone Hotel Toronto and Niv Shimshon the result is a whimsical wedding done oh-so-right, and you can click right here to see for yourself.

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From Niv Shimshon Photography… Jeff and Genevieve worked in the same building but never met until the fateful day they found themselves alone in the elevator on the way to the gym. Jeff awkwardly flirted with GP in the elevator. He asked her out for a drink. The rest is history. They dated for 7 years, bought a house together, got two cats, and traveled the world together. One beautiful day full of all the things they love, brunch, gym, walking around Toronto drinking coffee, Jeff asked Genevieve to spend their lives together. And she said yes.

From the Bride… After dating for 7 years we didn’t want to wait another year. We couldn’t wait to tie the knot! We knew we wanted a simple, casual wedding with delicious food, and fun. We each had lists of our must includes and our deal breakers and this guided our process. Many bridal magazines and websites were consulted in the planning but we decided to do it all on our own. GP plans press conferences and red carpets through her work as a publicist so knew they could oversee all the details. Jeff, as a creative director, has the eye for design and took care of all the printed pieces (invitations, seating charts). We both love planning games nights and dinner parties so we approached this as a much, much larger version of that.

Photography: Niv Shimshon Photography | Floral Design: Coriander Girl | Wedding Dress: Marilee's Bridal | Ceremony Venue: The Gladstone Hotel | Reception Venue: The Gladstone Hotel | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair And Makeup: Faces By Carla | DJ: Rhythm Force Productions | Groom's Attire: Sydney's | Bride's Rings: Tiffany & Co. | Groom's Ring: David Yurman

A fairytale in every sense of this word, this destination wedding captured by ShoeBox Photography and planned by Amore Weddings is what my dreams our made of. Not only is this couple step-out-of-a-magazine gorgeous, but every image sitting pretty in this gallery defines beach chic, making me one seriously happy blogger today. See it all here. 

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From The Bride…A wedding in New York City was never an option for me; I always imagined my toes in the sand with a beautiful tulle train flowing behind me. Most importantly I always imagined a weekend of fun activities, tanning, drinking, and eating with our closest family and friends. Once I got engaged that’s exactly what I planned for. My wedding weekend began with an arrival to Punta Cana or as I call it “The Mother Land”. We decided to host our wedding weekend at the Hard Rock Punta Cana and let me just say it was nothing short of a blast. The day before the wedding we welcomed our guest with a private white party by one of their breathtaking pools. As a token of our appreciation each guest received a welcome bag with some useful goodies, whether they drank too much, tanned too much, or ate too much we had them covered.

Choosing a wedding location was the hardest task; I knew a casual beach wedding just wasn’t for me. I wanted to create a formal wedding while still keeping my toes in the sand. I also knew I didn’t want limitations from a resort and I wanted to party all night long. Going offsite and getting married with an independent venue was the best decision I could’ve made. Huracan Café is a beautiful rustic café nestled right off the coast, once I found this hidden gem that had just hosted one wedding prior I emailed Natalia + Mayte. They are amazing wedding planners with hearts of gold. The email went something like this “ Hi, if you can give me a lighted chandelier on the beach the job is yours…” To my delight they gave me that and much more, how about five chandeliers on the beach. I cried in Natalia’s arms when I walked into my wedding, the magic they created I simply cannot put into words.

Our ceremony was simple, understated, and breathtakingly beautiful. The sun was setting and the ocean breeze would occasionally run through my hair. We didn’t realize this till it was over but we held hands throughout the whole ceremony, with 62 guest it still felt like it was just us two up there.

Chandeliers, sparkle, tulle, candles, and love are the ingredients I needed for an unforgettable wedding and that’s exactly what I got. Although the details of my day kept changing there was one thing I knew for sure, I wanted to feel romanced on the beach. Five lighted chandeliers on the beach, a beautifully draped ceremony arch, and candles galore lend themselves to be the perfect backdrop for the overflowing abundance of love my husband and I felt for each other and from our guests. Dancing under a beautiful chandelier with views of the stars, the ocean breeze through may hair, and my husband’s tears on my shoulder while “All of me” by John Legend played is a moment I’ll never forget.

We are so grateful for all the amazing vendors who played such huge roles in our special day. Now that it’s all over we feel so fortunate to have been able to work with all these amazing people who have become part of our family, especially our wedding planners. Natalia + Mayte transformed my emails into my dream day. The genuine love they have for their jobs poured out of every space and every detail. Our photographers captured, every tear, every smile, and every single ounce of love displayed that day. Our pictures are a magical reminder of our perfect day and a way to relive moments I missed. Everyday I look at my pictures and get to see my daughter who was also my flower girl, walk down the aisle with eyes filled with love and excitement.

Photography: Shoebox Photography | Event Design: Mayte Mari + Amore Weddings | Event Planning: Natalia - Amore Weddings | Wedding Dress: Katie May | Cake: Cake Studio Bavaro | Bride's Shoes: Louboutin | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Hair & Makeup: Anna Nuet | Grooms Attire: My Suit | Groomsmen's Attire: Zara | Wedding Venue: Huracan Cafe | Boutonnieres/Door Tags/Ring Pillow: Etsy | Bride's Ring: Marisa Perry | Flower Girl Dress: J.Crew | Flower Girls Shoes: Joyfolie | Groom's Ring: David Yurman | Resort Hotel: Hard Rock Palace Resorts Punta Cana | Welcome Bags: Wedding Chicks

A classic affair never fails to put me in my happy place. There is something about that timeless style that just seems to strike a cord, and this beauty from Sweet Monday is filled with all the reasons why. A royalty-worthy reception, a gorgeous couple, and too many pretty details to miss – perusing this gallery should be on the tippy top of your to-do list today. See more here. 

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Photography: Sweet Monday Photography | Floral Design: Cassandra Redel Special Events | Cake: Royal Icings | Catering: Mezze Catering + Events | Hair And Make Up: SEVEN salon.spa | Officiant: Grace Ceremonies | Ceremony And Reception: The Mount

I love the little personal touches infused into weddings. It’s those details that hit me the most. Take this Napa fete from Amazae Special Events and Jennifer Skog for instance. Not only did this adorable duo’s love blossom in the fourth grade, but on top of that they had the Groom’s brother officiate their ceremony, followed by the stowing away of their vows with a bottle of wine to be opened back up on their fifth anniversary. Now, how sweet is that? See the rest of this beautiful day right here.

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From the beautiful Bride… The two of us have known each other for over twenty years, having met as children in the fourth grade of elementary school. Fast forward through a friendship that lasted throughout middle school, high school and college, we went our separate ways as life led him to Palo Alto and me to San Diego, 500 miles apart. We reconnected years later and things never felt more right. After six years of dating, three of which were long distance before I relocated to Palo Alto, he proposed to me while overlooking the ocean on a weekend getaway to beautiful Carmel.

Our fantastic event designer and planner, Crystal Lequang, helped us narrow venues down until we came to The Carneros Inn. We were smitten with its intimate feel and perfect balance of modern luxury and California chic. As evidenced by the fruit trees and vegetable gardens on the grounds, The Carneros Inn’s restaurant, Farm, focuses on seasonal foods from the Napa Valley. Being lovers of our local markets and farms, this truly spoke to us and we were so excited to craft a memorable and delicious menu of our favorite foods and wines.

We dreamed of a personal, meaningful and classic wedding that wouldn’t be overly formal; romantic yet masculine with a touch of elegance and a hint of the outdoors. We wanted to be mindful of the things that would make our guests feel at ease and a part of a warm celebration of our love. Oh, and of course, we wanted it to be a fabulously great time! We dove right into the details and decided on a palette of soft blushes, champagne, ivory and gold to be carried throughout the day. And there was no shortage of inspiration as we pulled from sources such as the venue’s apple orchard, an extremely unique chair in the style of Louis XV that would become a part of the outdoor vignette, beautiful organically shaped gold charger plates, and even the details of my wedding gown.

Keeping in mind how we wished for the day to be personal and meaningful, we asked Toan’s brother to officiate for us and decided to write the ceremony together with stories of our childhood meeting and hopes for the future. We also chose to write our vows and read them to each other amid both laughter and tears. A wine box ceremony wrapped things up where our vows were stowed away with a bottle of wine to be read and enjoyed on our fifth anniversary. After sealing our commitment with a kiss, we walked back up the aisle to a joyous rendition of “It Had To Be You” and led our guests on a parade through the resort among the fruit trees and cottages and began the celebration.

I loved every single moment of the day, but if I had to choose some highlights I would include: reading my vows to my oldest, dearest friend; feeling overjoyed to be surrounded by our loved ones when we were all seated for dinner; the phenomenal same-day-edit video that was shown, and our first dance. Since I would be the first to admit to having two left feet, we decided to take lessons and had a simple choreographed routine to “Dream a Little Dream of Me” that was sweet and a little playful. Toan would be sure to add that some of his highlights were the awesome band that played covers of his favorite Journey songs, the Vespa that not only served up scoops of gelato but was the perfect photo op, and the very popular late night bites of sliders and grilled cheeses after all that dancing!

Our wedding day was full of happiness and the moments were sincerely us. We are thankful for our nearest and dearest who attended, and of course, our amazing team of vendors. They are all so exceedingly talented, completely genuine and brought so much heart to the day and helped us create extraordinary memories. Toan and I could not be more grateful.

Photography: Jennifer Skog | Videography: Burkhart Studios | Event Design: Amazae Special Events | Event Planning: Amazae Special Events | Florals: Cherries Flowers | Cake: Inticing Creations | Stationary: Marizette Paperie | Band: Live Wire | Ceremony Musicians: An Elegant Touch Of Strings | Flipbooth: The Laugh Box | Gelato Bar: Cafe Scooteria | Make-up / Hair: Professional Makeup Artistry | Resort: Carneros Resort and Spa

Every baby shower is special in its own right, but you can bet your bottom dollar that when the sweet Lexington And Co is at the helm it’s going to be perfect. A hint of whimsy, a little sparkle and a whole lot of baby adorableness all wrapped up in love.  Not to mention, a cake that’s borderline too pretty to eat! With photos from Kayla Rocca, there’s more over here! 

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As a party planner, I coordinated, designed and styled the baby shower to be inspired by Winnie the Pooh. I didn’t want the theme to be overbearing so I used soft blues, yellows, neutrals and gold but also mixed in soft summer tones to ensure the decor was tasteful – and didn’t become too colour coordinated.

The Sweet Table felt magical, and I wanted to design it so that Kelly felt like she had stepped into a Pinterest Page. From her reaction I think that it worked. There were blueberry scones, DIY Tim Hortons cake pops, mini vanilla cupcakes with buttercream icing, and lemon macarons. The Ffocal point of the sweet table was the chocolate cake with mint flavour fondant and adorable edible baby boy shoes. I thought it would be perfect to add in the “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” cake topper since it has always been a traditional favourite nursery rhyme.

The shower favours were sweet & salty popcorn ” She’s Gonna Pop” and a take-home mason jar of local honey ” Sweet as can Bee.” The honey did not only symbolize Winnie the Pooh himself, but my boyfriend’s father is a bee-keeper by passion, and made all the honey fresh from his hive in Kars, Ontario. I know the honey would have been Pooh approved!

Leah, Kelly’s best friend, took care of the afternoon snacks, games, prizes, invites and guest book. She is dynamic and exactly the girl you want to work with when planning a party. The games had us in stitches, and made our Sunday truly a Fun-day. One of the games was guessing how big Kelly’s belly was by using a string to measure… let’s just say a couple of us thought she was much bigger then she actually was. Oops!

The guestbook was a classic hardcopy Winnie the Pooh book that will fit perfectly on the nursery bookshelf. Each guest wrote a sweet love note to Baby Fozzy Bear – a keepsake i’m sure he will always treasure.

After some candid shots by the water, some gift opening, sangria and lemonade followed with coffee and tea we hugged our sweet mama to be knowing that the next time we see her she would be carrying Baby Fozzy Bear in hear arms instead of her belly.

Our goodbye’s have become increasingly harder over the years knowing that our Kelly leaves to go back to Europe for 8 months of the year for work. However, these are the occasions that are always worth celebrating, are always worth making beautiful , and are always worth making special- because these are the memories that we get to share forever.

Cheers to Baby Fozzyy Bear – Winnie the Pooh’s true competition!

Photography: Kayla Rocca Photography | Event Design: Lexington And Co | Event Planning: Lexington And Co | Cake: The Cake Baker | Stationary: Frou Frou House

It’s pretty much impossible to not get swept up in the romance of a wedding like this. Complete with flower crowns and flowing dresses, sprawling centerpieces and one charming inn, there’s a wealth of pretty moments and believe it or not, we’re just getting started. The Nichols told the whole story of the day, and it’s all waiting to unfold right here.

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From The Nichols… The Winfield Inn, an historic venue with grounds full of 100-year old live oak trees, was such a lovely setting for this stylish couple’s wedding day. Reneé and Hugh personalized their wedding through all of their thoughtful details; I loved the Kraft paper table runners paired with feminine florals and modern, numbered water bottles.

But I think we can all agree that Renee’s delicate dress, paired with her Chloe ballet slippers, stole the show. Stunning! I adore both Reneé and Hugh’s wedding day style. Such a fashion-forward couple!

From the Bride… The Winfield Inn in Kyle, Texas served as the backdrop to the commitment ceremony that Hugh and I dreamed of! We wanted our BIG DAY to incorporate some of the traditions of a wedding and fuse that with the more contemporary concepts of a commitment ceremony. To that end, I wore the most magnificent Jenny Packam Azalea dress with a sweet flower crown and joined my partner for life in the walk down the aisle to join 115 of our dearest friends and family to celebrate our love for one another. The ceremony was a testament to the values we share as Hugh and I wrote our entire ceremony, including our vows, and at the moment when we joined hands I knew this was the best decision I had ever made.

In planning our celebration our goal was to create a vintage, chic vibe that allowed our guests to enjoy the wonderful scenery the Winfield Inn had to offer. This look was achieved by mixing our own vintages pieces with some great find from Loot Vintage Rentals, and Stems Floral Design flower arrangements provided the perfect final touch. Our guests enjoyed the outdoor photo booth provided by Booth 66 and the custom backdrop by The Pink Pen and had an amazing night dancing to a variety of tunes DJ’ed by my brother Stuart.

The memories of this most amazing day were captured by the talented The Nichols and my dear friend Luke McKibben with Lukrative Visual Products. Hugh and I couldn’t have planned a better day and are in more in love today than yesterday!

Photography: Nichols Photographers | Floral Design: Stems Floral Design + Event Styling | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Cake: LoveBirds Sweets | Bride's Shoes: Chloe | Venue: The Winfield Inn | Donuts: Red Rabbit Co Op | Photo Booth: Booth66 | Photo Booth Design: The Pink Pen | Videographers: Lukrative Visual | Vintage Furniture: Loot Vintage Rentals

As much as I love long, beachy waves, a bride donning a beautiful bun wins me over every time. From the perfect top knot, to a sweet chignon, to a loose bohemian style bun-ch of curls, there’s a beauteous bun for every girl out there. And today, we’re sharing some of our absolute fave. Which one would you choose for your Big Day? We’d love to hear in the comments!

15 Best Bridal Buns

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15 Best Bridal Buns

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