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

When The Bride Is A Florist, You Know It’s Going To Be Good With A Colorful Fall Palette At Maxwell Mansion!

One of my favorite aspects of a wedding is florals. From dreamy bouquets to elaborate ceremony displays, they capture the feel of the day with colorful palettes and pairings you may not have thought of. For this couple, the bride being a florist herself certainly helped bring this magical floral display to life, created by her work-family, Fleur. The couple said I Do at Maxwell Mansion surrounded by their families and friends and planned by Estera Events. A day full of love, celebrations, and a beautiful tablescape, all captured by Clary Pfeiffer Photography! Take a look!

From the Bride…I proposed to Stephen in the middle of the hottest August day I’ve ever experienced while in New Orleans. I had a whole day planned that culminated with, what I thought would be, a romantic proposal under a 100-year-old live oak in City Park. It was 100 degrees outside with 70% humidity. The ground was so muddy I almost lost a shoe as I insisted we slog through the waterlogged grass to the lake edge so that we could sit on a secluded bench. Stephen knew something was up, but also knew not to complain about the heat and the walking and let me get whatever I had planned out of my system.

And it was perfect. The Singing Oak in City Park is strung with large, hidden wind chimes that create a soft, tinkling song when the breeze blows across Big Lake. I asked Stephen if he wanted to keep going on these kinds of adventures with me for the rest of our lives, and proposed with a custom gold band engraved with the first line from the original Legend of Zelda: “It’s dangerous to go alone.”

We were so focused on making our wedding day as fun as possible for our guests, planning the ceremony stayed on the back-burner for some time. If it had been up to Stephen, the ceremony itself would only have been 5 minutes long so as to not cut into the time people could be eating and drinking! I wrote my vows the morning before. In typical Stephen fashion, he had written his MONTHS in advance, with plenty of time to proofread and edit.

But what I’ve heard from our guests consistently over the past year was how much they loved our ceremony. That our vows were personal and raw, honest, and relatable. I had no idea that so many of our guests were crying through the entire thing. Our family and friends wanted to hear the truth about our seven-year relationship, about how we came to be standing in front of them, and how we were entering our marriage as a team who still wanted to work together on so many things.

OK BUT THE FLOWERS. My incredible friends and work-family from Fleur created one of the most ethereal, dreamy, altar set-ups I have ever seen. Their work floored me throughout the entire day: from my DREAM PALETTE Bridal bouquet, to the most festive, lush, boat-loads of flower centerpieces which made the tents look like “that dinner party scene from Chocolat” (direct quote from a guest). The texture and warmness of the flowers paired with the eclectic blue glassware and vintage chinoiserie plates created a feast for the eyes, set under intimate bistro lighting. We wanted our guests to feel like they were already all friends at long feasting tables, of course with plenty of wine easily within reach.

21 Decade Trends That Are Simmering Down and The 21 Trends That Are Replacing Them

If there’s one thing this decade brought to light, it’s a lens into our personal lives — and that includes the state of our homes. As a kid, you used to only be able to show off your ~super cute and trendy~ Lizzie McGuire inspired room during after-school hangouts and slumber parties. But now every insta story, snapchat or selfie can contain hints of your home decorating style.

Trends in and of themselves are a bit tricky when it comes to home decor. Sure, buying a velvet jacket to go with your NYE ensemble is tres chic, but you can get some SERIOUS over-analysis-paralysis when trying to pro-and-con a velvet couch. Both are in, both are indicators that you’ve got a grasp on the new “it” thing, but committing to a home decor trend is WAY bigger financial investment.

But here’s the best news — with the transparency of people’s style comes the fluidity of “style rules.” Now that anyone can hit “publish,” a lot of ideas, styles, and trends are emerging in a way that’s a lot less rigid.

Your trends can be inspired by nature! A history book! A Magazine! Your Great Aunt Merial’s Memphis home! The new Architectural Digest feature home!

So in this new decade, it’s less about saying “out with the old and in with the new” and more about watching what people are adding a little more of, and a little less of something else.

1. Less Catalog, More Storied

Ever since Ross Geller and Rachel Green came home with the same apothecary table, the glamor of buying a full set from a catalog really lost its luster. Brand new is fun and shiny, but there’s so much more fun in the hunt of tracking down the ~perfect~ piece from an antique fair with your mom. What’s cool about this trend is the emphasis on the process and time spent on the project rather than the ability to drop oodles of money to replicate exactly what you’re seeing.

2. Less White, More Color

Kitchens especially are seeing a huge surge of color. Don’t feel trapped by only using white. That’s not to say white is leaving. A classic white kitchen will never truly go away, it’s timeless. But people are opting to go big-time bold and add in some of their own color flair to projects.

3. Less Gray, More Cream

The gray color movement came about to be a stark opposition of the O.G. “good for resale tan” color. Because that tan/brown/putrid color skewed most things to look and feel dirty yellow, the next wave was to go so gray that everything almost felt cool and blue. The happy medium is now found in a cream color that brings warmth AND a neutral base.

4. Less Absolute, More Personalization

How many times do you remember hearing you shouldn’t mix metals? Now, how many times do you see that, in fact, you can mix metals and it looks pretty darn good? The thing about the old rules is that you should know them so you can break them intentionally and for impact and to make a space uniquely yours.

5. Less Sleek, More Texture

Shiny surfaces used to be the standard, but the need to include texture is becoming more and more important. The key here is to not lean exclusively towards just one or the other, but have elements of both sleek and texturized to give your whole space some balance.

6. Less Pink Neutral, More Colorful Neutrals

Millennial pink has a special place in our hearts, but we have room in our hearts to recognize that the softest lavender and palest blue can also dub as the “neutral” in a room. In this case, what’s considered neutral is where your eye is allowed to rest when taking in the whole scene.

7. A Lot Less Forced, a Lot More Accepted

One of our favorite things we’re seeing emerge is the idea of embracing the home’s natural character and style, and using it to influence the rest of your design choices. If you’ve got a classic mid-mod home, it’s really hard to make it feel French Provential. Taking cues from your location, your home’s natural style and history makes your space feel much more cohesive.

8. Less Horizontal, More Vertical

Don’t get us wrong, shiplap will always have a place in our home — but vertical lines are really coming in strong. We’re talking paneling, trim and wallpaper. Not everyone is #blessed with 10ft ceilings, but almost everyone wants to make their ceilings look taller, and one of the best ways to do that is by adding the optical illusion of long, tall lines.

9. Less Subway Tile, More Variety

Subway tile will never go away — good gracious it’s a classic. But we’re seeing people opt for more bold tile choices in their kitchen recently and honestly we kind of love it.

10. Less Emphasis on Cabinetry, More Emphasis on Styled Accessories

Open shelving has really changed the kitchen game. The quickest way to a refresh kitchen used to be re-painting the cabinets. But now you not only can re-paint them, but you can even rip those suckers out! And by doing that, you also shine a spotlight on other elements of the kitchen like the stove, your mixing bowls, cooking accessories and copper pans. The ripple effect now makes you pay attention to your kitchen tools to make sure they’re “pretty” enough to be displayed.

11. Less Desert, More Bahamas Meets a British Garden

The desert trend has had a STRONG influence on the past decade, and it’s run is for sure not over. But a new locationally based inspiration is making its way into our trend list and it’s fairly hard to describe so if you have a word for us, please slide it right through to our instagram DM’s because we need to know. Tight floral patterns with pastel colors featuring a heaping of woven elements is emerging and we can only describe it as Britain influenced Bahamas. It’s a completely elegant, a little boho and totally chic.

12. A Little Less Mid-Mod, A Little More #Grandmillenial

Mid-mod isn’t going away, but for a while it seemed like it was the only trendy choice. A new, completely opposite style is emerging and people are calling it #grandmillenial and we are HERE for it. Think embroidery, chinoiserie, English armed sofas and having a set of “nice china.”

13. Less Shiny, More Matte

So you go to pick paint and you think you’re done with the hard choices after FINALLY getting the right shade of white nailed down (hint, Dove White is a crowd-pleaser) ….and then you get to the sheen. High-gloss got some momentum there in the early 2010s for its cleanability in kitchens, but now we’re seeing a much less shiny option on cabinetry, and we have to say it makes our eyes much happier.

14. Less Perfect, More Wabi-Sabi

The idea of Wabi-Sabi was brought back to life in one of the recent Magnolia Journal issues, and it’s the idea of FULLY embracing imperfections and prioritizing them over a perfect form. We’re seeing this mantra embraced with transparency across our feeds and it’s good for the soul, honestly.

15. Less Hiding, More Highlighting

If our top-liked posts of 2019 indicates anything, it’s a love for a good laundry room. Utilitarian rooms like mudrooms, pantries and laundry rooms used to be fairly forgotten. They stored things and did their purpose, but that was about it. Now, however, they produce some of the MOST enviable (and liked) photos on instagram! We’ve moved past hiding these spaces and on to turning them into a highlight of our overall home style.

16. Less Museum, More Function

The perfect, most beautiful, most elegantly decorated house is all fine and dandy — but if there are too many things “off-limits” to touch than it’s a house, not a home. It used to be thought of as an either/or situation, but this decade is bringing new ways and technologies that allow you to make things equally pretty as they are functional. If you need proof, you can now purchase machine-washable rugs, my friends.

17. Less Defined Style, More Mixing Styles

There are so many different styles to adhere to. Are you Boho? Farmhouse? Coastal? Traditional? There are sections of stores devoted to denoting these types of styles, but now more than ever we’re seeing so many styles blend while STILL looking unified. It’s breaking down strict design parameters and opening up experimental combinations and the results are gorgeous.

18. Less Safe, More Bold

“Think about resale value” — a dwindling restriction. You.Do.You.

19. Less Polished Wood, More Natural Wood

Do you remember those dark brown cabinets of the 2012’s? Kind of tried to look like wood, but didn’t really look like wood. Now don’t think of those again. While they served their time well in creating a “regal” appeal, they’re now being traded for natural, light-gran REAL wood and less shiny colors.

20. A Little Less Airy, A Little More Moody

Bright white will always be timeless, but the moody tones are seriously making a convincing argument. They’re chic, sophisticated and some might dare say a neutral!

21. A Little Less Cluster, More Impact Pieces

Again, gallery walls aren’t going anywhere. If Hogwarts can have it for hundreds of years surely it will never truly go out of style. But if you’re looking for a change of scenery and a quick way to update a trend, swap out the cluster of photos and opt for one LARGE impactful art-piece. It’s tres chic and leaves a big impact.

At the end of the day, trend or not, if you want the velvet couch — get the velvet couch. Trends can only take the joy of your home so far, and when all is said and done the thing that matters most when it comes to the decor in your home is whether or not YOU like it.

So go hit publish on your newly discovered trends! We want to see them. Tag us along and we’ll continue to share the journey.

The Perfect Blueprint for Achieving the Feel of an Outdoor Wedding – Indoors!

Today’s heavenly styled shoot from Party Crush Studio brought the beauty of the outdoors in. Leaves, trees and blooms by Wild Club Design looked as if they were growing from the floor up the walls of the space – reminiscent of an autumn scene watercolor painting. All to prove whether it be inclement weather, COVID, or the desire for an intimate wedding… there’s no need to sacrifice that can’t-be-beat outdoor feeling. See how the all star vendor team achieved the look over at the full gallery – all captured by Amanda Wei Photography.

From Amanda Wei Photography… A chill in the air, the calm of falling leaves, a warm cozy sweater, no better moments to share with the one you are going to spend the rest of your life with. The inspiration behind this seasonal styled shoot.

Whether it is Covid or the desire to have an intimate wedding, you can take that romantic outdoor wedding and bring it magically inside. No element forgotten, pun intended, where the leaves and trees are showing their watercolors as the music brings the romance to life.

The warm and soulful sound of the cello matches the heart of the autumn season. This earthy floral installation brings the cold and crisp outdoor nature of autumn to a warm and tranquil indoor setting. Let’s cuddle up close and share a sip of champagne.

Looking for a Stateside Venue That Could Easily Be Mistaken for a Tuscan Villa? This Is It.

With so many couples’ dreams of tying the knot overseas coming to a screeching halt this year – vendors are finding creative ways to bring some major European magic to the States. Today’s styled shoot from Weddings by Susan Dunne will make you do a double take… is that a villa in the Tuscan countryside, you might ask? Nope, that’s just the stunning Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez. Add a romantic dress and décor with an old world feel and you’ve got yourself a timeless European-inspired fête! Check out the full gallery by Kristin Leanne Photography for all the details!

From Kristin Leanne Photography… With travel plans to Europe changed because of COVID-19 I wanted to plan an Editorial shoot that captured the beauty of Europe in our own backyard. Sunstone Winery gave us the beauty of Italy but within the United States.

Myself and Renee Lemaire Photography then decided to open up the shoot to other photographers to try and bring some joy and creativity to other photographers whose whole businesses were put on hold because of everything going on. We reached out to Susan of Weddings by Susan Dunne to bring the shoot to reality. Her attention to detail and design aesthetic fit perfectly with our vision.

From Weddings by Susan Dunne… For the design, my inspo was really about playing off of the venue’s charm and creating something warm and inviting… What I would envision south of France wedding to feel like… We hand-selected vendors who we knew would be able to carry out our vision.

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Elegant Wedding Inspiration at a Centuries-Old Château in the Outskirts of Paris

Today’s wedding inspiration is a tale as old as time. Two lovers tie the knot at a centuries-old château in the outskirts of Paris, built with grand balls in mind. It’s basically the elegant, understated version of a Disney princess wedding – and we’re obsessed. The design by Opaline Paris blends old-world European elements with modern spirit, leaving no detail left unturned. Step back in time and watch the fairytale unfold at the full gallery, captured to perfection by Kristin Sautter!

From Kristin Sautter… Set at the centuries-old Château de Baronville in the outskirts of Paris, this wedding editorial takes inspiration from French architecture, romance, and the grand soirées of a bygone age.

It is a timeless tale of d’amour with elegant inspiration for modern couples. Château de Baronville was built with grand balls in mind, and since the 17th century, it has welcomed a wealth of prestigious guests to celebrate under its soaring ceiling and sparkling chandeliers.

Leticia of Opaline Paris created this editorial as a homage to this rich history. This shoot tells a story of two lovers and their evening at a grand soirée—their own wedding, of course. With photography by Europe-based American photographer Kristin Sautter and florals by Floret, it blends old-world European elegance and soft hues with tender romance and a modern spirit.

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After COVID-19 Changed Literally Everything, This Couple Had A Perfect Lakeside Micro Wedding at A Private Lodge!

This couple started planning their dream wedding….and then, COVID hit, resulting in them changing everything, from their venue to their vendors. Deciding to say ‘I Do’ at a private lodge (where they first met) with their nearest and dearest of 40 guests ended up absolutely perfect, and Sarah Nichole Photography captured it all. Jackie Frontiero and Dana’s Floral Design brought the day to life and created the most stunning ceremony arch! Check it all out below…especially the couple’s portraits on the grooms plane!

From the Bride…Planning a wedding during a pandemic was stressful and at times felt heartbreaking. Every girl dreams of the day that she can wear a white dress and feel like the most special person in the room. I felt like some days my visions and dreams for the day were being stripped away. We had to cut our guest list by a lot, cancel our original venue, change locations, and find new vendors. Needless to say, we basically had to plan a new wedding due to COVID 19 restrictions in a short amount of time. As heartbreaking as it was to not allow some of our loved ones to be there, the day actually turned out to be perfect. The wedding was intimate, beautiful, and just… us! I felt so grateful to start the journey of marriage during such a chaotic time. It was truly a day that we will never forget.

From Sarah Nichole Photography…I think it’s fair to say this year has been unexpected and challenging for all of us, and as a photographer who shoots primarily weddings, back in May, I definitely wasn’t sure what the upcoming months would look like as quarantine and social distancing began. Most of my clients have adjusted their plans, whether that was pushing their wedding dates to 2021, choosing to elope instead, or having an outdoor wedding to allow for social distancing.

Needless to say, it’s been a season where we’ve all had to be flexible. Not exempt from these challenges were Sarah + Doug, who graciously had to change venues and decrease their guest count to 40 people. On top of these changes, this was the first wedding that our team shot both photo and video for, with myself shooting both film and digital photography and Robert shooting video for a highlight film, which added unique shifts to our typical wedding workflow.

In the end, though, the result of the day, the photos, and the video, are so worth everything and more. Sarah + Doug were married with their closest friends and family at a nearby luxury lodge where they first met. We shot some of their portraits with Doug’s plane near Sarah + Doug’s home. When Sarah requested this setting to take some photos, I jumped on the idea and couldn’t wait to get my film camera out there. The photos turned out to be nostalgic and deeply meaningful—something I desire for all of my clients.

Sarah’s contagious smile and the both her and Doug’s kindness were pure evidence of their love and happiness on their special day, despite everything going on. And having a ceremony and reception lakeside? Yes please!”

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Proof That a Vibrant Palette and a Blank Space Are a Match Made in Heaven

Looking for a way to make your wedding palette truly pop? Allow today’s gorgeous styled shoot from Amorette Events to inspire you in choosing a “black space” venue. Not only are crisp white walls a surefire way to make your wedding designs stand out, they’re also a wedding photographer’s dream (just think of the instagrammable moments!) The talented team at Siren Floral have truly outdone themselves with a peach and pink broken floral arch – earning its spot at the top of our favorite wedding arbors of 2020 list! To see all the pretty this day has to offer, don’t forget to check out the full gallery – all captured by Lucy Munoz!

From Lucy Munoz Photography… I had planned this shoot centered around the idea of a colorful micro wedding full of joy and love. After talking with Amorette Events we planned this editorial while discussing how we envisioned pivoting from a big wedding into the direction of a micro wedding with our nearest and dearest Our editorial was held at Building 177 in sunny San Diego, CA, for it’s clean white walls and simple black windows for a modern touch.

We teamed up with the amazing Rachael at Siren Floral Co., who completely transformed the space. For the ceremony, Rachael created a stunning broken arch out of branches that she foraged at a local park and complementing dahlias and we paired this with modern gold chairs from Folklore Rentals. The tablescape featured a garden-like centerpiece that ran across the table in hues of peach, light pink, and white.

For a modern touch, we used a clean, bare, white table and square peach velvet chairs. We also used cream ceramic plates, copper flatware, and modern glassware. Melissa of Epoch Design created minimal menu and name cards that fit perfectly with our rust napkins to keep with our summer vibe.

The bar, one of our favorite vignettes, came to fruition because Folklore had the perfect rust-colored bar, where our couple was able to enjoy a refreshing glass of rose together. We also created an intimate lounge area with the perfect velvet pieces to tie in with our reception chairs. All in all, we loved how this editorial came together and we hope it will provide inspiration to couples of how they can still have a beautiful wedding during these crazy times!

What Brides Need to Hear As They Start Planning Their Best Day Ever [After One of the Toughest Years]

We won’t sugar coat it, weddings are gorgeous, they inspire us, they set our hearts on fire, but they’re also a whole lot of work. That’s precisely why you so often hear people say “make sure you soak up every bit of your ‘we just got engaged!’ excitement.” You’ll want to hold onto that cloud 9 high for as long as you can, because once “I Do” decision making kicks in, it can be pretty all-consuming. We chatted with former brides who recently traded their fiancée-ship for full-time wifey wings, and got some really honest feedback about wedding planning: the good, the bad, the happy and sad, and we wanted to share, because not so long ago, these ladies were figuring it all out, too.

We know it hasn’t been a great year – in fact, it’s been pretty awful – but 2021 is just around the corner. If you need some extra help ‘figuring it out,’ you can find answers to all of your nuptials questions in our Ultimate Planning Guides! These digital downloads include inspiring images, wow-worthy designs, detailed timelines, and even advice from previous brides (notice a theme here?)! We’ve enlisted the help of our amazing community of Little Black Book vendors to create these educational, step-by-step wedding blueprints and we couldn’t be more excited that they’re now finally available for you to purchase.

Photo by Ana Lui Photography

Tip #1 – Keep It All About You.

When the decisions have been made, when your vision has been decided upon, when you have guided your wedding style to perfection… the curse of *buyer’s remorse* just might set in. After all, the constant influx of eye candy found simply by turning on your computer can be intoxicating and wildly addicting. But this, my lovelies, is the moment that really counts. This is the moment where you learn to trust yourself and your vision, where you go forth knowing that you are well equipped to not only plan a wedding… but to plan one with grace, with substance, and with adoration and respect for all things uniquely you. Print out those inspiration boards and hang them on your wall, keep the swatches of fabric that you carefully selected nearby. And plant a big fat reminder smooch on the one you love. Because it’s in that very kiss where you will always find what’s most important. ~ Abby

Our founder, Abby, says it best. You really can’t start planning a wedding before remembering that this day is about you two, first and foremost. Every detail should be stamped with the love you share.

Photo by Katka Koncal

Tip #2 – Get a binder.

One of the first things I ever got once I had my ring was my wedding planning binder and a HUGE blush pink and champagne-colored floral memory box from Michaels. I couldn’t wait to start filling up the pages and the box with everything that touched my wedding in some way. Truthfully, in the two years that I planned my wedding, if I was asked that age-old question of ‘if your house was on fire and you needed to save one thing, what would it be?’ I would have said “my wedding binder+box,” and that’s without hesitation. Everything stored inside was a relic of my relationship with my groom and our future special day. And I protected it fiercely! ~ Stephanie

Millennial brides, you might be a few decades older than your Trapper Keeper-loving selves , but you can still get down with a life-aligning binder of sorts (especially one emblazoned with your new soon-to-be last name). If it means keeping tabs – literally – on your wedding and everything that goes along with it.

This proud-to-be-a-bride portfolio will be your lifeblood throughout your engagement, where you can document all of your v. important things, from venue one-sheets to first impression notes on your vendors, contact information for everyone in your “I Do” dream team (wedding talent and bride tribe peeps) to calendar benchmarks for all the big deal days along the way. Show off that you’ve officially entered #weddingplanningmode by whipping out your binder and sprawling all of your novelty stickers out on the table. Caption your Gram post with your wedding date and a 🥂 emoji and live in this milestone for a minute. Ours has a 12-month calendar, a budget tracker, and ALL of the worksheets to write down everything about everyone (photo and music worksheets, dress and salon worksheets, cake and flower worksheets and rental worksheets, etc.). It’s so pretty, too, definitely something that has pass-down, heirloom potential.

Tip #3 – Lean on your love and prepare for tears.

I think one of the things I did, which probably wasn’t helpful, was that I kept expecting things to be a nightmare. It’s wedding planning, it HAS to be hard, right? Well, that’s not always true – sometimes you DO catch a break, sometimes you do have some down time to stop worrying and start chilling out. I tried to make things harder than they had to be, and should have lived moreso by the motto of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’

Meanwhile, when things were hard, I definitely leaned on my fiancé for support. He kind of helped me to realize that mini meltdowns are going to happen, so don’t try to hush them. Have your cry in the shower, scream into a pillow, let tears stream on your way into work, but once you’ve gotten it out. Once you’ve purged all of that emotion, move on and move forward. ~ Slava

No matter how the tears are rolling 😢😭😂, if you’re the one getting married, cry as much as you have to, but make it #bridalbawling. A cute stash of mini tissues, like these watercolor floral ones, are a great bag add!

Tip #4 – Establish a cadence with your crew well before saying “I Do.”

Also, don’t establish lax lines of communication early on, because it’ll come back to bite you. Our photographer wanted to start a dialogue with us well before the wedding, would email a lot and ask for feedback – and we kind of dropped the ball and let weeks / months go by without responding. Well, when it came time for our wedding, and we had questions/requests about the shot list, we couldn’t really get ahold of him. He was kind of MIA, but we were at fault, because at the outset we set up a seemingly ‘blasé’ way of back-and-forth. It definitely backfired. ~ Kim

Use that binder of yours for one! But also, make sure you use your consultations and vendor sessions as a sounding board. Talk about how you envision your wedding day, for sure, but also discuss ways that you’ll work together and collaboratively. Does email work better? Are texts during the day more your style? How about phone calls, are late-night calls a big oh-no-no? Get into a rhythm with your vendors as quickly as possible, so that you can avoid any pitfalls later. Communication is everything, it always has been, but this year made that fact crystal clear: a global pandemic completely changed the wedding planning game.

Deciding to postpone a day you’ve spent an infinite amount of time planning is pretty huge – so, it’s reasonable to want to put a pin in things and relax when you’ve handled all of the time-sensitive and imperative parts of your aisle adjournment. Definitely take a minute to regroup, but don’t retreat completely. Whether you’ll be keeping almost everything the same, just opting for a new day (that’s clear of coronavirus concerns) or scaling the size of your event down significantly (and embracing a more micro mood), you’ll still have to stay sharp and on your wedding planning game.

Keep your vendors in the loop on everything, transparency is key and your tying-the-knot team ultimately just wants to stay on the same page ON ALL THINGS. If you’ve signed or will be signing new contracts, make sure you save copies in your binder so you can cross reference quickly whenever you need!

Photo by Ethereal Photography

Tip #5 – Keep romance on your radar.

With so many items on your wedding to-do list, it gets so easy to become completely consumed by the entire planning process. Making big vendor decisions over dinner, answering wedding-related emails before bed, and having that constant worry in the back of your mind that your wedding might need a course change (COVID made typical wedding planning stress even more tedious) – it’s truly so much to handle, even with help! My best piece of advice would be to prioritize date nights, maybe once a week, where you go out or stay in, and promise each other NOT to talk about the wedding. Give yourself that time to decompress with your soon-to-be spouse and truly remember what this whole marriage thing is all about – a celebration of your beautiful love! You’d be surprised how much even just a few hours a week devoted to doing anything but thinking about the wedding can do – for both you and your partner! ~ Lauren

You might very well say that date nights will ALWAYS have a place in your planner, but when you’re trying to tie the knot, intimacy can be killed (and it’s no one’s fault!). That’s why we’re such ardent supporters of regular “time outs” throughout the engagement process. Whether it’s brunching in bed one or two Saturdays a month, going out for dinner after every vendor appointment, or simply committing to a new Netflix binge with your boo before bed at night, you’ve got to do it. You’ve got to make time for each other, outside of your regularly-scheduled pre-wedding programming.

As we say that, we’re reminded that so many of us have been quarantining with our fiancé/fiancées for the greater part of the last nine months anyway, so if time outs are best to do separately, then that’s fine too! Just make a pact to come back to the planning table refreshed and raring to go when you need to. Sipping out of gold-accented champagne coupes with ‘bride’ and ‘groom’ inscriptions can only manifest good things to come. So, cheers to you guys and your titles for the next year (or two) and await the day you’ll be toasting with all of your bests as newlyweds.

Tip #6 – Do your dress justice.

One of my biggest wedding regrets was kind of forgetting about my wedding dress. I did the alterations, I transported it to my venue as delicately as possible, I had the perfect place to vignette my fashion for those getting-ready snaps, but I had NOTHING to hang my dress on. Huh?!?!! That’s right, I have an amazing picture of my fit-and-flare gown, in all its glory, hanging on a plastic hanger. That bad look, it’s forever burned in my brain, and it’s the worst! I really should have gotten one of those personalized hangers with my new last name, or at least a really pretty wooden or acrylic hanger to glam up the gown. But I didn’t. Sigh. ~ Danielle

Your dress isn’t the biggest part of your day, but it’s still super important. You’ve done your best to keep it protected, clean, primped and polished, so you’ll want to let it shine for all those detail shots.

Our simple wooden hangers aren’t overwhelming, they aren’t pretentious, they’re just really flippin’ cute, especially the silhouetted white dress! And even though he won’t be getting ready with a whole lot of fanfare, he still deserves to have his suite feel special. His entourage is high key important, too. Really, they can hang…

Whatever keeps you smiling on your way to the aisle, girl, you do you. We’ll help as much as we can!
Shop the Style Me Pretty Collection exclusively on site right now! And top off your delicious day with photos that celebrate your unique, one-of-a-kind kind of love.

… They happen to look 👌 on single tier cakes, too… in case you have a micro wedding up your sleeve!

A Romantic Summer Wedding at White Sparrow Barn

Will we ever tire of romantic receptions amid the towering white walls and sparkling windows of the White Sparrow Barn? The answer is a resounding “neverrr!” Today’s summer wedding planned by Marissa Lothschutz is nothing short of a fairytale. The darling two wed in the Sparrow’s Landing, an enchanting setting in the trees where each aisle of chairs were adorned with roses, magnolias, and touches of pink and blush by Jubilee Floral Co. To see all the dreamy details, head on over to the full gallery – taken by Madeline Trent!

From Madeline Trent Photography… Lindsay and Scott’s romantic summer wedding was nothing short of a fairytale day full of heartfelt moments. After postponing their original wedding date from April 5th, due to Covid-19, Lindsay and Scott were married in Dallas, Texas at the White Sparrow Barn on June 14th.

The wedding design had a romantic and whimsical theme, which was highlighted in the growing aisle floral installation for the ceremony. The ceremony was held in the Sparrow’s Landing, a dreamy setting in the trees where each aisle of chairs was capped off with a floral arrangement of roses, magnolias, and touches of pink and blush by Jubilee Floral Co.

Scott’s reaction to Lindsay coming down the aisle was incredibly emotional, and watching her parents’ joy as their daughter was finally married was truly incredible. The couple chose a tiered cake table, with several flavors and textures of cake- along with take home packaging for each guest.

The cake table was nothing short of stunning! One of the sweetest details was the gift Lindsay gave each of her bridesmaids, a specialized “name tag” for each bouquet that had a quality she loved about each of them instead of their names- “present, kind, loyal, true”. It was a dreamy day to be a part of and one that I will never forget any time soon.

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Going From 200 Guests to 10 Didn’t Stop The Love at This Stunning La Jolla Wedding!

For this bride and groom, their wedding day at Estancia La Jolla didn’t go as originally planned, going from 200 guests down to 10, but was just as beautiful. With Tres Chic Affairs planning the day along with AHR Florals creating the most gorgeous arrangements from ceremony to reception and Pauline Conway capturing it all, the day was just as magical and proved that love does in fact win…always!

From Tres Chic Affairs…WOW! It takes a lot for us vendors to be impressed and we definitely were. I was fortunate enough to work with Lindsay & Brendan as they went from 200 guests to 10 closest family members and friends because yep you guessed it COVID.

Although this was not the wedding of their dreams it was still so magical. From the ceremony streaming online for all their guests all over the US to see, to the Best Man surprising the Groom with a video during toasts, and a group toast with of course Corona, it was truly something so special.

All of the vendors put their heart and soul into this mirco wedding and I am forever grateful! Their amazing hair team, Stephanie Wirkus to the makeup team, Taylor Haupt Makeup keeping them relaxed and calm to Ryan Hiller live singing Chris Stapleton as their first dance (yes it was as incredible as you could imagine!)

Arturo from AHR Florals draped florals over the cabana and Pauline Conway being a one woman team and captured it ALL, even when the Groom got emotional seeing his Bride walk down the aisle. They really reminded us all that LOVE really does WIN.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Pauline Conway Photography

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A Bright & Festive Holiday Table With DIY Christmas Crackers

From Erica of Twine Events:
Holiday celebrations will be smaller this year, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be festive with an intimate group. Support your local small business and rent or invest in tabletop pieces you could use this holiday and all year round even better. If you already have china you love to use, have fun with flowers or the little details. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with textiles and patterns! Pattern play has become a fun trend. It is festive and can still feel elevated.

As a planner, I love to be able to mix and match pieces and incorporate ways to make your loved ones feel seen. For example, consider what your conversation starter could be! The traditional UK Christmas Cracker is a DIY detail that serves as a decor piece and interactive element. Fill up with the traditional tiny toy/gift, paper crown, and maybe instead of a joke consider a sweet question that involves the people at your table. You can also never go wrong with whipping up a few cocktails and/or mocktails for the group. A simple gin and tonic has never looked so festive with a red bow on the stem! Glasses are another way to display a place card and they make for a great photo op for the guest. Overall, guests love personalized moments!

Beautiful Place Setting decor options:
– Christmas Cracker party favor
– A holiday die cut (I loved finding the wreath and bows on Etsy) with your guest’s name on them. Feeling fancy? Support your local calligrapher!
– Little Bag of goodies with the guest name attached (I had leftover velvet bags from my wedding I was happy to put to use!)
– A traditional option is to simply tie your napkin up with a name tag
– You don’t always have to put a name tag on the plate, mix it up and add to the glassware!
– In a rush, a piece of holiday green will do just the job!

Christmas Cracker Tips:
-If you’re feeling crafty and decide to embark on a Christmas Cracker adventure, here are some helpful tips! It’s a great at home project you can do during this time. YouTube tutorials are a great start. I decided to go the full cardboard rolls route (there are a few ways to make them)! I started saving toilet paper rolls and also cut up a paper towel roll to get 3. The more you do/practice, the less rolls you’ll need to make them besides the only one you need for the center.
-Make sure to use a thin/light wrapping paper, so they are able to tear. Otherwise, you can use a thicker one and they serve as just a great party favor to open.
– Double-sided tape is your friend!
– As for the accouterments inside, make them fun and sweet:
– Instead of a silly joke, maybe insert a thoughtful question/gesture/note.
– The paper crown is a must and you can easily make that out of tissue paper!
– Add a little toy or pieces of candy for fun!

Vendor IG list:
Photography: @anyakernes
Planning & Design: @twineevents
Studio: @simplethingsla
Tabletop Pieces: @thearkelements & @theark_
Beige Linen & Green Napkins: @thearkelements
Green Plaid Linen & Red Napkins: @heathertaylorhome
Flowers: @ellamah
Holiday Die Cuts: @etsy
Candles: @thefloralsociety
Calligraphy: @lisaholtzmancalligraphy
Bread & Cookies: @breadblok
Wrapping Paper: @papersource
Candy: @sugarfina
Dining Chairs: @organicmodernismfurniture

A Holiday Table and Mantle, Two Ways, in a Historic Home

We created two holiday tables and two mantle designs for the great room of a historic, Dutch colonial revival home in Northern California… Because sometimes you just can’t choose between two concepts! For our first concept, we put a modern take on a design concept using traditional greens.

Our modern take involved accents of charcoal and black by way of a striped ribbon to tie around the ends of our table garland as well as charcoal taper candles for mood. Our place setting involves a simple bunch of Christmas greens tied with twine, with holiday sayings on them.

We love our place setting accents as they also double as accents for gifting! For our second concept, we created a whimsical, pink and gold table for those of us who like to kick things up a notch. We included many notes of whimsy for our table, including mini wreaths with holiday sayings on scrolls and adding modern and fun ornaments (unicorns and stars!) to our table for whimsy.

We love getting traditional concepts a twist and the color pink, in itself, is a fabulous twist for the holidays!

Photography: Olivia Marshall Photography | Event Planning and Design: The Modern Romantics | Floral: Petite Petal | Rentals: Stuart Rentals

When a Pastel-Loving Florist Weds… Magic Happens!

When the bride is a florist herself, you know the blooms are going to be out of this world. The adorable couple tied the knot at the groom’s family farm in Pemberton, Canada in a dreamy summer wedding. Her best girls donned all-white dresses while their organic, pastel bouquets, created by Renata Floral Design and Within The Flowers, provided for the perfect color pop! To watch all the pretty unfold, check out the full gallery – all taken by Teryn Lee Photography!

From Teryn Lee Photography… This intimate wedding held on the groom’s family farm in Pemberton, BC was filled with beautiful florals. The bride, a florist herself from Within The Flowers, chose mixed pastels in her bouquet and centerpieces. With a hand in much of the floral styling and planning herself, she enlisted the help of Renata Floral Design to execute the rest of her floral vision day-of. The ceremony and reception were set against the natural greens of the surrounding fields and mountains of the Pemberton Valley. Her love of flowers was also accented by her Marchesa dress which featured floral appliques over the soft flowing fabric. Invites were sent to guests with dried, pressed flowers in the envelopes and dried flower petals showered the couple as they made their way back down the aisle for their recessional. A small and cozy reception followed at harvest tables adorned with beautiful blooms and twinkle lights above. Guests were served a family style dinner as the sun set behind the mountains.

From The Bride & Groom… Stefan and I met on Stefan’s sister, Laura’s, birthday. She had been going on for months and months to both of us how we would be perfect for one another, neither of us giving it much thought. Little did I know she was going to take it into her own hands taking me to a friends party where she knew he would be. It turns out she was right. We had our first date a couple of days later and I don’t think there has been a day since where we weren’t talking. He is my best friend, the person I want to do everything with and tell everything to. Right from the beginning we just fit. Fast forward two and a bit years, two Golden Retrievers and countless adventures (and hints), Stefan got down on one knee. He had a close friend custom make my rings with gold from his dad and grandmother’s wedding bands. We got married on our third year anniversary on his parents farm. I felt like it would be the perfect day for us to get married and so special that it was already our anniversary. Getting to our day came with some bumps in the road. Having most of my extended family living out of the country made it impossible to have everyone there but ultimately we just wanted to get married and were happy to just have our close friends and family there.

When we realized Covid was going to affect our day we tossed around so many ideas of how we could go about getting married or postponing or just signing the papers. Then we realized that we didn’t actually have to adjust our plans too much and could still go about having our dream wedding, it would just be a smaller guest list. When envisioning our wedding I hoped for two things, a day that was timeless and to include our dogs. I wanted to look back in 5, 10 ,30 years and still love every detail. When choosing each aspect of our day that was always the element I went back to. As for our dogs, Georgia our older dog made it in the photos but Frankie, who’s a year old decided to go swimming in a mud pile 5 minutes beforehand. With the color palette I wanted to ensure the flowers stood out. I kept everything very neutral choosing ivories, white, and muted blushes for the details such as bridesmaids dresses and place settings leaving room to play with color in the florals. Being a florist myself I am always looking at inspiration or creating for my own clients. For our day I dreamt of a very garden style theme which was fitting with having the wedding on my in-laws’ farm, I also grew a number of my own flowers so I drew inspiration from there. Picking flowers in hues of lilac, honey and buttercream complimented by peaches and blush. I included some of my favorites like sweet peas, stock and buttercup garden roses. When it came to my dress I had a very direct vision of what I thought I would wear, a satin ball gown and then through the dress shopping process found that would not be the dress.

I came across a one of a kind style gown by Marchesa at a&bé Bridal in Seattle that was the winner. The gown was so effortless being all tulle and flowed so easily as I moved around, the fact that it had little hand sewn flowers all over it was just simply me. We created so many details ourselves, as many brides do I had years of Pinterest pins to look back on and felt there was no reason I couldn’t create these beautiful, curated details myself and probably to my now husband’s dismay didn’t want to give up control of the vision I had. I found menus and placecards on Etsy that I printed and had the night before my bridesmaids help with hand punching before finishing them off with hand dyed silk ribbons. My husband built a beautiful bar that we used during cocktail hour and we borrowed the tables and benches that our friends built for their wedding last summer. Every detail was put together with so much love and time by our friends and family – every aspect became special. One of the most noteworthy diy’s was that my mom made my veil. She put so much time and effort into it and it will be something I cherish and hold on to, hopefully passing down to my own children. Looking back, my favorite moment from the whole day was our first look, it was something we flopped back and forth on doing and I am so happy we did. It was such a special moment between the two of us where we were able to take the time before our guest arrived and just have that moment. If I could give one piece of advice, especially as a Covid bride I would say focus on your partner. Ultimately the day is about the two of you becoming husband and wife and the future the two of you are going to share together. Everything will come together as it’s supposed to whether you have 200 people, as we were meant to, or 30 as we ended up with.

14 Last Minute Subscription Christmas Present Ideas for Procrastinators

Nobody means to procrastinate on purpose. You’re busy at work! You’re waiting to see what goes on sale! Your first option is now out of stock! You’ve been hunting for the PERFECT gift for weeks but nothing seems right and now it’s too late!

You’re way past crunch time and now you’re into full-time panic mode. Amazon can’t even help you now, and that’s saying something.

But here’s where you can think outside of gift cards and coupons for “quality time” and get you’re loved ones a gift that will “keep on giving, the whole year round” (Eddy, from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and if you haven’t watched that yet go ahead and add it to the queue)

Your saving grace: Subscriptions!

Depending on what you get, it’s like Christmas with every delivery throughout the year! And if you swing it right, you can pay for the whole year upfront and many times it’ll save you money. Here are a few options to get you out of the dog-house:

Magazines

You can find a magazine subscription to fit pretty much anyone. From wine enthusiasts, home decor aficionados and sports fans, you are sure to find something for even the toughest family member.

Pro-tip, many times you can purchase subscription “bundles” that will save you even more money and flood your loved one’s mailbox with oodles of inspiration every month.

Gift Boxes

There are SO many monthly subscription boxes that make every package feel like an extended Christmas.

FitFabFun for your fitness-obsessed and on-trend friend who always somehow knows what’s “in” right now.

Causebox is perfect for your ethically conscious cousin who always has the coolest, healthiest stuff.

Birchbox for your little sister who can contour better than you ever knew possible.

Harry’s for your brother as a helpful hint that maybe his scruff could use a little cleaning up from time to time?

Trade Coffee or Atlas Coffee Club for your brother-in-law who knows *exactly* what region of the world he prefers his coffee to come from.

BarkBox for your aunt who has a Westie that honestly and truly ~rules~ the house.

Winc for your cool older sister who knows how to pick a good wine with a technique other than just looking at how pretty the brand is.

Vinyl Me, Please for your cousin who plays his weekly sets at the coolest coffee shop you’ve ever been to.

Streaming services

Everyone and their mother shares a Netflix account (literally) but new streaming services are popping up left and right with all kinds of original content, and the world rejoices as our pocketbooks quiver. So, gifting a new option like Disney+ is actually a pretty affordable and thoughtful gift! Or, if you’re shopping for someone who’s more musically inclined — think of options like Apple Music or Spotify Premium! It’s an added bonus that every time your recipient uses that service, they’ll think of you and be grateful all year long.

If in doubt and in a monetary pinch, gift them a user profile on your own Netflix account and you really can’t go wrong.

Amazon Prime

If you’re really, really looking to pack a gracious punch — a great last-minute gift option is the gift of free shipping. It’s really hard to top that amongst all the other benefits of being a prime member, and your recipient will be very grateful.

So now all you have to do is make a cute little card informing them that you didn’t JUST get them a Christmas present, you got them a present every month of the year! You’ll win some major brownie points.

Photo: Fulcandles

A Winter Holiday Tablescape to Take You Through January!

If “set it and forget it” sounds like your ideal holiday decor situation, this holiday tablescape is for you! This table’s monochromatic all-white color palette was anything but vanilla with it’s eclectically curated, effortlessly chic details: dried florals in hand-painted vases, textured linens juxtaposing delicate gauzy runners, modern matte place settings combined with vintage-inspired crystal goblets, and soft touches of color through gold flatware and pops of wheat, sand, and olive tones in the floral arrangements.

This is the perfect inspiration for anyone looking to do a little “one-stop shopping” when it comes to decorating their home for the holidays. With low maintenance dried florals that you’ll never have to water or replace, and “holiday-neutral” decor that fits for any celebration, from Thanksgiving through the New Year, this tablescape fits all of your holiday decor needs to end 2020 on a beautiful note.

From the production team & floral design team at Be Inspired PR:

Creating a beautiful holiday tablescape with professional-level florals is easier than you may think! With a few helpful tips, you can recreate this look for your own holiday floral decor and impress anyone with your Instagram-worthy setup.

Step 1: Start with the color palette.

Just like any creative project, we recommend starting with the color palette. Pick one color that really speaks to you; for us that was a light beige. From there, pick two complementary colors that help elevate that first central color. These three colors should work in harmony with each other. Now that you have established your base three colors, think about correlating flowers that are naturally available in those hues. If you can’t find any that are the desired style and color, then head back to the drawing board until you land on the perfect trio of complementary colors! If you know you want a certain flower, or in our case, a dried flower, then fantastic! Just pull that color as your main color and find two complementary colors that elevate the overall design.

Step 2: Pick a combo of textures and sizes.

Now that you have a perfect trio of colors, it’s time for the fun stuff – actually picking out the flowers! Eeek! This is our favorite part of the process because this is when our creative juices really start flowing. Depending on the size of the arrangement you want and the overall look you are going for, we would recommend sticking to no more than 10 different variations of flowers. When it comes to table arrangements you want to take into consideration the height of the arrangements and the amount of vases you will need. For our table we went with taller vases than the traditional “long and low” table arrangement. We did this because we decided we only wanted to use dried flowers and the variety of dried florals are skinny and tall, not wide and large, which ultimately looks more natural in a taller vase. Keep in mind when choosing your flowers that you don’t want to get different variations of the exact same flower. For example, you don’t want to have similar shapes and textures because your design will ultimately start to blend together. Try to find one or two larger flower variations that really steal the show and the rest can fill the blank space with different textures.

Step 3: Keep flower strengths in mind.

Did you know that some flowers are stronger than others? Well just like variations of fruits, some flowers last longer than others, and it has to do with the strength of their stems. When deciding to DIY your arrangements you need to make sure you not only keep them fresh from the moment you get them, but also keep them fresh before, during and after your event. Thankfully, we have some tips on how to make sure your flowers are plump and well for as long as possible. Our first tip would be to cut the flowers when arranging them in your final vase at a 45 degree angle. This allows the flowers to drink more water! Now on that note, changing the flower water is ESSENTIAL. Think of this like a pet, and water is its food. It needs to be changed, or fed if you will, every single day. Yes, change the water every single day! Trust us, it is a necessary step to ensure the longest shelf life of your flowers.

Step 4: Choose varying vase sizes.

Have you ever seen a design that looked almost too perfect? Many people don’t think that too perfect or matching could be a problem, but it absolutely can! You have to remember that flowers are not man-made – they are natural and they deserve to be showcased in a way that feels, well, natural. To achieve this look we recommend avoiding packing your flowers too tight, and actually choosing fun and different sized vases. For this project, our team actually thrifted 7 totally different vintage vases and painted them white using the trash to terracotta technique trend! This resulted in different heights, shapes, and sizes of arrangements that all felt cohesive and effortless. You don’t necessarily have to break the bank to create a cohesive mood to your florals, you just have to get creative!

Instagram Handles:
Photography: @sanazphotography
Venue: @riggio. Co
Flowers: @fiftyflowers
Floral Design: @beinspiredpr
Stationery: @minted
Rentals: @lapinataparty
Tabletop: @lapinataparty
Linens: @bbjlinen
Catering: @colettescatering
Wine: @onehope

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

Petit Bouquet

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How One Couple Used Hundreds of Bistro Lights and Floral Installations to Transform Their Backyard Wedding

Today’s backyard wedding planned by Rachael Ellen Events puts Father of the Bride to shame. For the ceremony, the beautiful bride and groom exchanged vows beneath a sprawling arbor brought to life with hundreds of lush blooms. Later, guests dined and danced the night away under rows of bistro lights in the garden – trust us, it looks even more dreamy than it sounds! Check out the full gallery, captured by Mary Claire Photography to watch the magic unfold.

From Rachael Ellen Events… Lauren and Johnny had planned a large wedding before the pandemic hit but rather than waiting, they opted to cut back on their guest list host a celebration with just their bridal party and families. Even though they scaled back on their guest count, they opted to keep all of the details they had been planning for their day. Their color palette was focused around soft shades of blue paired with neutrals and rose pink.

We transformed the bride’s parents yard with hundreds of bistro lights, several large scale floral installations, and romantic rentals that elevated the space but created an inviting garden atmosphere. Ink & Press Co. Created the most stunning custom invitation suite complete with blue envelopes, a custom monogram, and vintage stamp set.

Lauren and Johnny were wed in an intimate ceremony under a lush floral arch in front of their family and friends. Guests were given a light blue paper fan to help with the summer heat and were serenaded by classic jazz music before and after. After the ceremony, guests were invited to a cocktail hour where Blended Table served pre-plated bite sized hors d’oeuvres so guests could enjoy appetizers in a more socially distanced way than a traditional passed hors d’oeuvres. After cocktail hour, guests were invited to the garden space to enjoy dinner and dancing. Instead of choosing one type of cuisine, the couple opted to serve all of their favorite foods. We had everything from sushi and noodles, to pasta and sliders! Dessert was an impressive 3-cake display and house made gelato – the perfect cool treat for a warm summer night. The guests enjoyed the night under the lights and they danced and celebrated as family.

The Bouq’s Is Giving Away #100Weddings To Let Love Bloom…And Here’s How To Enter!

It is no secret that 2020 hasn’t turned out how anyone expected it. From changing plans…and then changing them again, engaged couples have certainly had to bend when it came to their wedding plans and The Bouq’s is here to let love bloom by giving away 100 weddings! Yes, you heard right…100 of their Micro Wedding Collections to 100 lucky couples who have overcome all of the crazy that has been 2020. Plus, five Grand Prize Winners will receive some extra special goodies from their partners! Keep reading for all of the details, how to enter, and remember that even though 2020 wasn’t how we imagined, there is still so much love to give!

“2020 – a year that we hoped for vibrant red roses and ended up with a bunch of thorns. The year started out with such promise and high hopes but transformed into an array of unexpectedness. The global pandemic and lockdowns have forced us to change our homes into offices, trade in our lip glosses for face masks, and adapt to a whole new way of living and loving. Life as we knew it was paused indefinitely back in March, and it seems to be morphing into this new-normal of social distancing, Zoom gatherings, and endless restrictions. Not to mention catastrophic wildfires and hurricanes, nationwide civil unrest, and an election fit for reality TV. 2020 has certainly not gone as planned.”

As a part of their #100Weddings Sweepstakes, 100 couples will receive one of The Bouq’s Micro Wedding Collections which includes: two bridal bouquets, or one bouquet and one boutonniere or two boutonnieres, perfect for when you finally get to say “I Do!” The bridal bouquet consists of white roses, mini calla lilies and silver dollar greenery and the boutonniere made of a white rose and silver dollar greenery. Florals are farm-fresh and wedding-day-ready (silk ribbon not included!)

If that’s not enough to shake the 2020 blues, 5 lucky couples will receive The Bouq’s Grand Prize from some of their favorite partners including, David’s Bridal, Paper Source and Brilliant Earth! Gifts will include:

One $500 gift card to David’s Bridal, the one-stop-shop for hand-beaded gowns, customizable bridesmaid styles, stunning looks for Mom or sparkling accessories.
One $250 gift card to Paper Source, our preferred partner for personalized wedding invitations, thank you cards and all things paper
One $100 gift card to Brilliant Earth, the global leader in ethically sourced (and super beautiful) jewelry perfect for cherishing your big day for years to come.

Now, how to enter?…Head on over to your Instagram and follow @thebouqscoweddings, @davidsbridal, @psweddingshop and @brilliantearth then fill out this form and share your story about how 2020 has changed your wedding plans but your love persevered! Whether it was due to COVID-19 restrictions, bad weather or both, let’s hear it! Simple enough – fill out the form and follow for your chance to have your dream micro wedding!

Entries will be accepted from December 1 and December 30, 2020. Winners will be notified in January of 2021 via email. All entries, win or lose, will receive a special offer from The Bouq’s for their Micro Wedding Collection, as a part of their mission to help love bloom for all!

If you have any questions, please check out their complete sweepstakes rules and restrictions here.

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

Petit Bouquet

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5 Last Minute Gift Ideas the Bride-to-Be in Your Life Will Actually Love

Well folks, 2020 is finally coming to an end… and I think it’s safe to say we can all give ourselves a major pat on the back for getting through this undoubtedly disappointing and down right exhausting year. Considering all the additional stress surrounding this holiday season, it’s only natural to feel super behind on your Christmas to-do list – especially when it comes to shopping for everyone’s gifts! Don’t beat yourself up guys and gals… we’re all right there with you. That being said, today we’re sharing 5 simple, last minute gift ideas for the bride to be in your life. Whether she’s wedding planning obsessed or prefers to be pampered – we’ve got you covered! Consider your engaged bestie officially checked off your *must hurry up and get something for* list!

1. The SMP Ultimate Guides

Don’t mind us while we humble brag for a minute about our Ultimate Weddings Guides – just consider these babies every bride-to-be’s wedding planning bible. Our 9 Guide Bundle is jam-packed with knowledge and expert advice from industry pros to plan your dream wedding with ease. This bundle includes a downloadable PDF version of all of our extensive Guides – including the Photography Guide, Planning Guide, Venue Guide and Stationery Guide, Invitation Wording Guide, Envelope Guide, Beauty Guide, Dress Guide and Floral Guide. I mean… talk about a gift your bestie will be thankful for, are we right?! (You might be deemed the VIP of her planning posse after this one, just saying…)

2. Gift card to your local spa

This year especially, we can’t stress how important it is to shop local! Head on down to your neighborhood spa and grab a gift card for the blush bride-to-be in your life for a full day of pampering. After the amount of wedding planning that’s about to commence in a post-COVID (hopefully) world, y’all know she’s going to need it.

Ana Stanciu

3. Wine subscription

After a long day of designing wedding mood bards, finalizing the guest list or rallying her dream team of vendors – your girl is going to love you for signing her up for her very own wine subscription, so she can sit back, relax and unwind with a (big) glass of her fave bottle. There are countless wine subscription service, so do your research to find out which would be her perfect match. A few of our faves? Winc, Thrive Market, and The Sip!

Monika Hibbs

4. Holiday centerpiece

Since most of us will be celebrating the holiday season in much smaller groups this year due to the pandemic, missing the loved ones we can’t be with, an extra dose of Christmas spirit might be just what the doctor ordered. Especially for our newly engaged besties who won’t be able to share in the excitement with all of her nearest and dearest. To bring some extra joy to her Christmas table, send over a beautiful holiday arrangement from your local florist! They will appreciate the business after such a tough year, and she will love dressing up her décor with some gorgeous blooms!

5. Essential oil diffuser

If you ask us, this might just be one of the best gifts you can get your bride-to-be. Personally, this one helped me immensely during the most stressful moments of my wedding planning experience. On nights where it all just felt too overwhelming, getting cozy while diffusing your favorite stress-relieving oils is truly heaven sent. They not only make your house smell amazing, they’re scientifically proven to have a positive impact on your mood and health – what could be better?!

Vitruvi | Britney Gil

Not Your Typical Wedding Color Brought This Inspiration Shoot To Life At Cliffside Acres!

A pop of color like a deep blue or a bright pink we tend to see in wedding day details, but black isn’t one we see too often. Samantha Joy Events changed that with this inspiration shoot, with ceremony and reception chairs and Roots Floral Design with the floral arrangement vases. Giving the shoot a touch of elegance, I have to say I love the black mixed with the softer color palette, at Cliffside Acres. Add in a champagne wall and stunning hanging installations by Paige Makes and you have modern day magic all photographed by Chelsey and Jordan Photography.

From Chelsey and Jordan Photography…Cliffside Acres is a new, modern farmhouse located in central Ohio. Although, Cliffside has seen many couples through their doors already, the vendor team wanted to showcase how the farmhouse can be used in a more upscale, unique, and modern setting.

From Cliffside’s large window paned black doors, we pulled our first color inspiration. Touches of black can be seen throughout the chairs of the ceremony and reception as well as throughout the floral centerpiece vessels. Couples may fear this color, but black can give off a sense of luxury and clean lines.

With this being an early fall event, the rest of the color palette was warm and inviting. Red-ish, brown anthuriums were the highlight flower of the arrangements followed closely by the Cafe Latte and Coffee roses. The orchids, amaranthus, and anthuriums helped bring the modern aesthetic we wanted to achieve while the many rose varieties help soften the palette.

With thousands of weddings a year, we wanted to showcase a new and exciting way to elevate a ceremony or reception space. Paige Makes, an event installation designer, hand painted the acrylic pieces that were hung from the hanging ceremony installation and escort card display. These event decor installations aren’t seen often in the wedding world and we have seen clients looking to make their events more personal and unique.

With new education on flower and cakes- being that most flowers are poisonous and should not be used on cakes- we wanted to bring on Ohio’s newest cake designer, Icon Cakes, who specializes in sugar flowers and unique cake flavors. Realistic sugar flowers is becoming a trend and we hope it is here to stay!

An important element for engaged couples to consider is their guest experience. There are many areas throughout a wedding that can be elevated with flowers, paper goods, and design. From the love poem to welcome guests when they arrive, to an over-the-top champagne tower installation, couples should thoughtfully consider how paper goods and flowers can elevate these spaces! We loved how Victoria Fiaretti used her paper goods to bring in the couples personality and love story as well elevate these spaces.

Overall, the wedding designer, Samantha Joy, and the floral designer, Kaytee Stice from Roots Floral Design, wanted to bring a warm colorful palette together in a refined and modern way. The cohesive and unique design is meant to inspire brides looking for a more custom affair.

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Romantic Kestrel Park Wedding Inspiration in Muted Autumnal Hues

When we caught a glimpse of today’s stunning Autumnal editorial at Kestrel Park from Janna Brown Design Co and Charmed Events Group, we couldn’t help but swoon over every last detail. From the beautiful couple, to the creamy blooms, to the romantic gowns – everything about this day was picture perfect! Head on over to the full gallery to watch it unfold, all captured by Ashley Rae Photography!

From Janna Brown Design Co…Our editorial concept was inspired by the golden tones of the rolling hills at Kestrel Park, and the change of seasons as autumn slowly creeps upon us photographed by Ashley Rae Photography. We selected a barley linen paired with cream china, etched glassware, and wildly lettered menus by Shasta Bell Calligraphy. Atop the tables sat untamed floral arrangements in cream, blush and mauve tones, which complimented the bride’s bouquet.

Caitlin donned a whimsical gown by Marchesa, which floated behind her as she traipsed through the wild fields and garden. As the sun began its descent, the couple was set aglow in warm golden light as they set off in a classic Porsche Speedster, making for a picture-perfect getaway leaving a tender autumn breeze in their path…

From the photographer Ashley Rae Photography… Simplicity feels refreshing at times. Every detail was simplistic in nature and accented the location beautifully. With a palette of muted autumnal colors and Autumn breezes in the glowing sunset, our location was the bespoke setting for this graceful and enduring autumn wedding. Set in one-acre completely surrounded by a 12-foot high Hornbeam hedge, the Kitchen Garden within is only revealed after walking through a lush arched doorway.

Inside a fruit orchard including peach, pluot, plum, apricot, and nectarine as well as an heirloom apple and pear orchard and a large vegetable garden. A cutting garden with over 700 tall bearded irises, 300 David Austin roses (comprised of 60 different varieties), gladiolas, tuberose, daffodils, carnations and a lavender garden. The couple graced these gardens of the estate before heading to the open sun-kissed fields. The ceremony was settled within the Santa Ynez oak trees in an organic and simplistic setting. Letting the scenery of the rolling hills be the picturesque backdrop for the nuptials.