Backyard weddings will forever be held to the standards of Father of the Bride. You just can’t beat swans and tents, Steve Martin and the magic of a family style affair. That is until this sweet day came along. It’s gorgeous, romantic, elegant and all held in the Bride’s childhood home; a spot where many a night was spent playing basketball and chatting under the stars. Now if that isn’t the living version of our favorite wedding movie, then we don’t know what is. Get cozy with this beautiful day coordinated by Cera Singley and all photographed by Jessica Kay right here.

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Both with a strong sense of family, these two high school sweethearts wanted their wedding day to be filled with love and family. They exchanged wedding vows in their family church surrounded by their most loved ones. After, the celebration continued in the backyard garden of the bride’s childhood home where they couple shared so many wonderful memories. They danced the night on the patio away under strings of cafe lights where they had gotten to know each other playing basketball, talking and growing.

Coordination: Cera Singley Events | florist: Forget Me Not Flowers | Cake: Le Gateau Elegant | photograhper: Jessica Kay

Mixing anything – cultures, styles, colors – can be a tricky science but when it works, it’s pretty fabulous. And there’s no better proof than these perfect pics by Stephanie Brazzle. This stunning multi-cultural wedding in Dallas, complete with a beautiful Bride, handsome Groom and florals by Bows and Arrows are all making our hearts beat a bit faster this morning. But enough with the babbling… hop on over to our Vault and see it all for yourself!

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From the Bride… William and I are total opposites. We’re from different cultural, religious and political backgrounds. When we first started dating, we didn’t have much in common and there were lots of boundaries. It wouldn’t be until much later we’d realize that love has no boundaries and our love for one another would trump all of our differences. We wanted our wedding to be a juxtaposition of two different backgrounds fusing together to create something beautiful.

For the ceremony, instead of traditional vows, William and I wrote seven promises to each other representing the seven traditional vows Indian grooms and brides make to each other. Our officiant, my cousin, also wrote four earnest wishes for our future, modeled after the four circles couples make around a sacred fire. Though I walked down the aisle in a Gatsby style Justin Alexander white dress with a gorgeous detailed back, I danced the night away in a royal blue lehnga accented with a hot pink chunni, or scarf, and beautiful traditional Indian jewelry. My wrists were adorned with dozens of magenta, royal blue and gold choodies, or bangles. The palms of my hands were embellished with intricate henna and my late father’s name was written across my wrist in Hindi.

Our reception was beautiful. Our colors were blushes, mauves and gold. Indian weddings always have beautiful gold accents as well as a plethora of gold jewelry traditionally given to the bride on her wedding day. The tables were adorned with stunning garden-style centerpieces in terracotta vases from Bows and Arrows. My stunning bouquet of dahlia, hellebores, champagne roses, scabiosa, blushing bride, and memory lane roses were wrapped in Frou Frou Chic ribbon which was later displayed on our gold sequenced sweetheart table.

I did not think it was possible for two people from completely different upbringings, traditions and beliefs to forge a life together that somehow makes sense. To be able to get married exactly how we wanted was a dream come true.

Photography: Stephanie Brazzle Photography | Cinematography: Tall Productions | Event Planning + Design: Ivory & Vine Event Co. | Floral Design: Bows and Arrows | Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander | Cake: Sugar Bee Sweets | Stationery: Scribbles And Swirls | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Catering: Cn Catering | DJ: It's Your Night Entertainment | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Wedding Venue: The Room On Main | Bridal Boutique: La Reve Couture | Hair + Makeup Artist: Shilpa Koshky | Mehndi: Uzma Mehndi | Photo Booth: Le Force Entertainment | Rentals: Propmaker Event Rentals

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Florals

Bows and Arrows

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Key Largo is one of those tropical hidden gems without the international flight and it served as the perfect backdrop for Arthur and Danielle’s “I do” designed by Destination Wedding Studio. They created a lush escape for each one of the couple’s guests, including an outdoor meal to remember by Bill Hansen Luxury Catering. Take a peek at the photos from Lauren Kinsey for a virtual escape guaranteed to make this weekday so much sweeter.

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Arthur and Danielle ventured all the way down to the Florida Keys from New York City for their intimate destination wedding. The beautiful Largo Resort was the perfect backdrop for such an affair- serene bungalows for their family and friends, lush foliage that made you feel as though you had stepped into an exotic destination, and crystal clear waters.

Peggy Russell from Destination Wedding Studio was at the helm of styling this event, and created an outdoor dinner experience under the palms that provided the perfect ambiance for the low-key, laid back Florida Keys affair.

Photography: Lauren Kinsey | Event Design: Destination Wedding Studio | Cake: Misha's Cupcakes | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Catering: Bill Hansen Luxury Catering and Event Production | Makeup + Hair: Beauty Boutique | DJ: DJ Gunz (Matthew Fox) | Venue: Largo Resort

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From the bride… Drew and I met while students at the University of Richmond – we had the same groups of friends and went to the same parties, despite the two year age difference. It wasn’t until after I graduated that we ran into one another at Homecoming and we spent the whole weekend getting to know one another again. Drew was living in Washington DC and I had just moved to New York City. We made it 5 months of long distance dating until Drew made the move up to New York. The rest is history!

After we got engaged (5am sunrise on the beach!), we tried to enjoy “just being engaged” for a couple weeks but quickly jumped into wedding planning. We both wanted to get married in the summer because of the warm weather in New England, everything is very green and lush, and it was most convenient timing with our jobs. We partnered with Lea Ann Miller to help us plan everything and anything – she is a dream come true for any bride and helped with every decision!

Due to the heat in July, we had decided to hold our reception indoors at Greenwich Country Club – air conditioning! And thank goodness we did that because it was a heatwave that weekend! However, I had seen many photos of romantic enchanted gardens and that’s how I wanted to recreate our reception room. We wanted to embrace the natural greens, whites, and touches of soft grays and purples. Katherine from KDJ Botanica immediately shared our vision for how we could transform a traditional “ballroom” into a midsummer’s garden. I trusted her completely with ideas to incorporate large branches and trees throughout the room and on the tables, with tea lights hanging from the branches. We brought in drapery for the walls and ceilings to make it feel as if we were outside under the stars. I wanted everything to feel very natural and simple yet magical. I cried when I walked into the room after our cocktail hour.

Drew and I each spent the morning of our wedding with our closest friends and siblings until we saw one another for our “first look”. I am so glad we decided to see each other before the ceremony – not only did it subdue some of our nerves, but it was the only moment where it was only the two of us all day long (except for our short getaway ride in my dad’s Triumph from the 70s!) It was so special sharing that moment with him and even though our friends and family were just around the corner, we felt like we were the only two people for miles! That was definitely one of the most exciting and enjoyable moments of the day.

The reception was amazing – Pete Saunders and his band had everyone dancing all night long. The speech from my father made everyone shed some tears while the maids of honor and best men had everyone crying from laughing so hard. I know that many brides and grooms feel a burden to have to say hello to each and every single guest however Drew and I loved stopping by every guest for hugs and well wishes – it made our 275 wedding feel like an intimate dinner party because we truly loved every single person who was there for us.

Photography: Melani Lust Photography | Videography: Joseph Edwards Films | Floral + Event Design: KD&J Botanica | Wedding Coordination: Lee Ann Miller | Stationery: Jpapers | Ceremony Venue: Stanwich Congregational Church | Reception Venue: Greenwich Country Club | Shoes: Aquazzura | Engagement Ring: Ken & Dana Design | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Hair + Makeup: Truly Happy Beauty | Lighting: Social Decor | Favors: Momofuku Milk Bar | Mens Attire: Mr. Ned | Officiant: Rev. Chuck Davis | Transportation: J&R Tours | Accommodations: The Del La Mar Hotel | Accommodations: The J House Greenwich | Bridal Boutique: The Plumed Serpent Bridal Salon | Bridal Boutique: The Wedding Library | Catering + Cake: Greenwich Country Club | Earrings: Jennifer Miller | First Look & Portraits: Private Home in Greenwich | Music: Hank Lane Music | Rentals: Smith Party Rentals | Sports Car: Triumph TR 6 | Wedding Dress + Veil: Monique Lhuillier | Wedding Rings: A E Betteridge Jewelers

Inspired by a french garden soirée, this elegant celebration is bringing that same floral-filled beauty to the Sunshine Coast. Peonies are front and center for this day crafted by Lovebird Weddings along with all the flowers we could possibly dream of by Mondo Floral Designs and image after wildly gorgeous image by Studio Impressions. Get cozy with the full day right here.

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Kylee and James sophisticated wedding day was a glamourous French Country inspired celebration hosted in the hinterland of the beautiful Sunshine Coast. Kylee had a focus on flowers and styling for her beautiful day. A warm rich and opulent colour palette was chosen to accent their style, and their floral concept was an integral part of the vision for their celebrations.

Kylee dreamt of peonies for her gorgeous day, and with her date being just 1 week shy of the start of the Australian peony season, timing led us to import burgundy peonies from overseas to accent the marsala tones in the floral concept. The opulent fluffy peony blooms were the star of the styling show! The darker marsala tones were accented with vintage cream, blush pink and pale pink blooms, and the floral concept consisted of peonies, David Austin roses, ranunculus, snapdragons, cluster roses, hydrangea, in combination with lush and cascading green foliages. Slightly unstructured bouquet designs were created with darker tones featuring in a heavier capacity through the bridal bouquet and the paler colour palette more prominent in the bridesmaids designs to accessorise their burgundy dresses.

From the stunning ceremony space to the sophisticated reception styling the floral concept for this beautiful day was a glamorous reflection of the couple’s love for the finer things in life! The oversized Grecian urns greeted the bride, the fabric canopy was also adorned with florals and gardenesque greenery accents. On the library deck the overhead chandeliers were dressed with glamorous blooms and created the most incredible floral chandeliers delicately hanging from above the tablescapes of crystal vase designs featuring all of those beautiful blooms! The bridal table featured a lush garland design with pretty blooms. 

Photography: Studio Impressions Photography | Floral Design: Mondo Floral Designs | Cake: Cake Designs | Stationery: Lenny Sundays | Brides Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Make Up: Chanel Brisbane | Hair : Hunt Hair | Venue: Spicers Clovelly Estate | Bridal Gown : Brides Desire By Wendy Sullivan | Bridesmiads Gowns : Sheike | Event Planning + Styling: Lovebird Weddings | Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Wil Valor

Color palettes full of soft hues and neutrals have taken over the wedding scene in the past few years. And while beautiful in every way, this day rich with vivid jewel tones feels like such a breath of fresh air. No surprise, the vendors behind it include some of our favorite people like Bella Figura, Face Time Beauty, Gabriella New York and Jarrell Entertainment, just to name a few. The incredible Heather Waraksa shot this city celebration and LOVE in PROGRESS captured the film clip below!

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From the bride… Mark proposed on a beautiful spring day inside Gramercy Park, the only private park in Manhattan that actually requires a key to get in! We live down the street but had never been inside until Mark creatively secured a key for the big question.

We knew we wanted our wedding to be an intimate affair for our closest friends and family, ideally close to home. The Gramercy Park Hotel was undeniably the perfect choice. The historic hotel is classic New York while also being stylish and unique. Mark and I can see the magical glowing lights inside the GPH’s rooftop terrace from our apartment window, and we had always imagined what it would be like to have our wedding there. Getting married in our neighborhood allowed us to share the part of New York that we love so much with our friends and family.

The venue was an urban garden rooftop with views of the NYC skyline. I was inspired by the rich colors and fabrics of the hotel’s decor. We picked a date in late November and I immediately had a vision of dark burgundy, lavender and ivory flowers to complement the lush greenery of the terrace. Our floral designer, Denise Fasanello, made this come to life with organic arrangements of peonies, garden roses, and anemones. To make the setting even more romantic, she added long tapered candles to enhance the lanterns, votives and fairy lights that were already strewn throughout the venue.

I found my dress during my first and only shopping trip at a trunk show at Gabriella New York! The warm ivory color was perfect for fall and the hand-sewn 3D floral detailing was on trend and suited to the aesthetic of the ivy-wrapped terrace. My search for shoes took much longer but once I discovered this pair of velvet burgundy Gianvito Rossi heels, I knew they were mine.

We added personal touches that were meaningful to us, including our family’s adorable Boston terrier in our wedding photos, wrapping my bridal bouquet with my great-grandmother’s antique handkerchief, and topping our wedding cake with a retro cake topper from my parents’ wedding.

It was important to us that our wedding to be relaxed and fun, yet refined and tasteful. We achieved this by selecting vendors who not only reflected our style but were also warm and easy to be around. Capturing the memories was extremely important and we knew we could trust our photographer, Heather Waraksa, to provide us with beautiful, editorial style images that we will cherish for years to come. Having great chemistry with the team we hired to carry out our vision was invaluable. We couldn’t have been happier working with Kay Chittiappa, the coordinator at the GPH, who helped flawlessly execute our dream wedding.

We were so lucky that the weather was sixty degrees and sunny – a perfect fall day in the city. The autumn colors of the leaves in the park added to the vibrancy of the day. Our guests arrived to music by a live jazz trio, and the catering by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group was incredible. Our favorite moments included taking photos throughout our neighborhood, sharing our handwritten vows during the candlelit ceremony, and dancing the night away to DJ MKL’s amazing playlist.

Photography: Heather Waraksa | Cinematography: LOVE in PROGRESS video productions | Floral Design: Denise Fasanello Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Cake: Empire Cake | Stationery: Bella Figura | Bride's Shoes: Gianvito Rossi | Engagement Ring: Josh Fishman | Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Makeup: Lauren & Vanessa | Hair Stylist: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Calligraphy: Little Flower Calligraphy | DJ: Jarrell Entertainment | Grooms Attire: Hugo Boss | Groomsmen Suits: Jos A. Bank Rentals | Officiant: Honorable Elizabeth D. Pessala | Wedding Venue: Gramercy Park Hotel | Bride's wedding band: Doyle And Doyle | Dance Floor: Jarrell Entertainment | Groom's wedding band: Tiffany & Co. | Hair Accessory: Jenny Packham | Jazz Trio: Jarrell Entertainment | Veil: Sara Gabriel

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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In all honesty, tackling that bridal party style isn’t always an easy task… especially if you want your besties and their unique personalities to shine. We totally get that, and so does Allure Bridesmaids. Which is why their Spring 2017 Collection is perfect for creating that chic ensemble of mix and match styles that look seriously stunning, without being overdone. Scroll for a look you AND your maids will love.

Playing with traditional silhouettes and modern textures, Allure Bridesmaids and their new Spring 2017 Collection is all about making sure your ladies look and feel just as gorgeous as you on the Big Day with a never-ending lineup of beautiful gowns that are as easy to wear as they are show-stopping. From the silky smooth fabrics to the fab color options to the intricate details that will make your guests stop and notice, each gown is a total masterpiece that your besties will LOVE to rock. Not to mention that their options in interchangeable skirts and tops will have you creating a custom look in no time at all. #bridalpartygoals

Ready to tackle that bridal party style with gowns that will leave each one of your favorite friends looking fab AND totally happy? Take a gander at all of these beautiful images from Brumley & Wells right here, then find your nearest Allure Bridesmaids retailer to get your bridesmaid style on.

Photography: Brumley & Wells | Floral Design: Ponderosa & Thyme | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Allure Bridal | Photography - Assistance: Howard Film Co. | Photography - Assistance: Charles Newmyer

After searching high and low for just the right venue all over the South (where these two currently reside) and all over California wine country (where they first slipped that sparkler on her finger), they settled on Ramekins in Sonoma and everything fell into place. Add in jaw dropping florals from Laura Miller Design and it’s simply perfection. Ether & Smith captured the blooms and much, much more – see all in our Vault right this way!

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From the Bride… Chris and I met the summer before my senior year of college at a BBQ. Our parents were friends but we had not met until then. We began dating and shortly after, Chris moved to Mississippi to begin a work contract. After a year of long distance, too many flights to count, and many tearful goodbyes, he flew to San Francisco where I was living, surprised me, and proposed at my favorite spot in the whole city – The Palace of Fine Arts. A few months later, I moved to Mississippi to be closer to him and we began planning our wedding.

We thought a destination wedding in the South would be fun and convenient for us to plan. Maybe New Orleans? Charleston? But as we visited the venues in the South it just didn’t feel like us. So we flew out to California a few times and did what I called “marathon venue shopping”! We started to get nervous after we weren’t set on a venue the first few trips, but after visiting Ramekins in Sonoma we knew that’s where we wanted to be married. Our hearts felt at home and it encompassed everything we missed about wine country and California.

Once we had a venue picked, I was very particular about the design feel of the wedding. Both of us wanted something sophisticated, ethereal, and romantic with neutral tones, but still very “California wine country”. Ali of Ali DiLuvio Events helped us design, plan, and coordinate our day. She and our team of vendors executed our design vision perfectly. Our floral designer Laura of Laura Miller Design, and the rest of our design vendors exceeded our expectations and made all of our ideas come to life!

The day of the wedding was perfection and sheer joy. We had booked all the rooms at Ramekins and had use of the entire upstairs area for the bridal party, groomsmen and family to get ready. Chris and I opted for a first look, which really helped calm my nerves and gave us a few moments together before the ceremony. My father walked me down the aisle while Pachelbel’s Canon in D echoed from the string duo. Chris and I exchanged both vows we had written and the traditional Christian vows under a vine covered trellis on the property. We had cocktail hour and dinner outside in the Tuscan-inspired cobblestone courtyard that had been framed with soft, neutral draping and chandeliers. Ramekins served the most delicious 3-course, California-inspired, farm to table dinner. Some of our favorite parts of the day were our heartfelt vows, the speeches our families gave at dinner, our sunset photo shoot with the hilarious, energetic, and creative Ether & Smith team, and our first dance to Hozier’s “From Eden”. Our DJ was amazing and had everyone on the dance floor with both our favorite party songs as well as my family’s traditional Armenian and Middle Eastern music. Both Chris and I didn’t want the night to end! Being surrounded by our closest family and friends, dancing in a dreamy wedding gown with the love of my life by my side, was the most beautiful and joy filled experience of my life!

Photography: Ether & Smith | Cinematography: Swoon Films | Event Planning: Ali DiLuvio Events | Floral Design: Laura Miller Design | Wedding Dress: Trudy’s Bridal | Cake: Sweetie Pies | Invitations: Thimblepress | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Makeup: Ashley Bias | DJ: AMS Entertainment | Favors: The Cravory | Groom's Attire: Vera Wang | Ceremony Music: Skyline Ensemble | Wedding Venue: Ramekins Sonoma | Alterations: Le Caprice | Bride's Hair: Andrea Alejandrino of Beauty By Dre | Bridesmaids' Hair: The Powder Room | Chairs: Chameleon Chairs | Custom Signs + Calligraphy: Cristina Leis Calligraphy | Lighting + Draping: The Lux Productions | Rentals: Encore, Classic Party Napa

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Petit Bouquet

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I’m convinced Alys Beach is one of the prettiest places you can marry here in the states. A little gem tucked away on the Florida Panhandle, it’s backdrop to this charming wedding with must-see floral moments (hello, lush greenery!) designed by Myrtie Blue. No surprise, Lauren Kinsey captured in her signature fine art fashion and the film from Joshua Kidd is the cherry on top of this perfect cake.

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Photography: Lauren Kinsey | Cinematography: Joshua Kidd Films | Event Planning: Heather Archdeacon Williams | Floral Design: Myrtie Blue | Wedding Dress: Anna Maier | Cake: Bake My Day | Invitations: Mia Maria Design | Ceremony Venue: Alys Beach | Catering: Townsend Catering | Band: Big Night Dynamite | Favors: Alys Beach | Beauty: Brittany Massey

Turning a space with old oak cabinets and vinyl flooring into a thing of beauty? That takes some serious renovation skills. The result is a marble and subway tile sea of goodness crafted by Kylie Martin with a little pop of peony for good measure. Tour this bright white dream kitchen with even more in the vault.

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We recently purchased our first home. I have a love for all things pretty and my husband has a knack for renovating, so this little 80’s home was the perfect project for us. Initially our kitchen was enclosed with old oak cabinets and vinyl flooring. The whole kitchen was dark and cramped. Since the space is smaller we opted for an open layout with white cabinets, subway tile and weathered oak flooring. We wanted the kitchen to be inviting and full of light so using a neutral color palette helped emphasize the space. I absolutely adore our new kitchen and am so appreciative of all the work that went into it. Since we did all the work ourselves it took a little bit longer but it was well worth the wait. My tip for anyone looking at renovating is to shop around for everything, we found our cast iron sink online for fifty percent off the store price. It’s amazing how much you can save if you are willing to do a little bargain hunting. I hope our little kitchen inspires you as much as it inspires me.

Photography: Kylie Martin Photography | Dining Chairs: Wayfair | Dining Table: Joss & Main | Dining rug: Home Goods | Fiddle Fig Leaf Vase: Target | Grey and pink storage containers: Target | Island Barstools: Target | Kitchen rug: Be There in Five | Mixer: KitchenAid | Mixing bowls: The Little Market | Over sink light: Wayfair | Paint: Sherwin Williams "Passive" | Pendant Lights: Martha Stewart | Sign : Tails to Tell Studio

SMP blogger bride, Whitney Bischoff… From the start of my wedding planning, I knew I wanted my day to be nontraditional. During our initial design consultation, I told our wedding planner, Keri Ketterer of Always Yours Events that I did NOT want a cookie cutter wedding. Of course, that’s easier said than done but today I’m sharing a few key ways we’re planning to break away from the norm by incorporating unique and unexpected touches.

Make it Personal

First and foremost, I want my wedding day to be personal. As I plan our wedding, my goal is to keep it feeling as intimate as possible, as well as to keep our love story the focus of the day; including our past, what brought us to the present, as well as our hopes for the future. At the same time, like any bride I want our guests to be in awe of our celebration from the moment I walk down the aisle until the last song is played. I’ve noticed that weddings can easily become mundane and ordinary if you aren’t careful. The key for us has been to focus on our unique love story and work with our vendors closely to incorporate elements of it throughout our wedding design.

Play With Color

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, originally our color palette featured two romantic and soft muted shades, but after giving it a bit more thought, I decided I wanted to be a bit more original. While I think an all blush wedding is so unbelievably beautiful, I wanted to incorporate a few more shades that created a more distinctive palette. After chatting with Shawna at the Wild Dahlia, we had the idea of adding an unexpected pop of color – whether that be greenery or a bright bloom. When incorporated correctly, color can still be so romantic.

Focus on the Details

One of the hardest design decisions I had was selecting our stationery. That was until I had the pleasure of being introduced to Amanda Day Rose, who is one of the most talented stationers I have ever encountered. My favorite part about our invitations is the personal crest Amanda created for us. Another sweet touch is every invitation will feature a keepsake enclosure with lyrics from our first dance song. Essentially everyone’s invitation suite will be slightly different, in keeping with the unique theme of our big day.

Curate the Playlist

Music is something that is very important to us. Not only does Ricky come from a very musically inclined family, but we enjoy music as a hobby. I personally love the way music takes me back to a time and place and the memories that accompany certain songs. With that being said, music is going to play a major role on our wedding day. The songs we chose are definitely not “wedding themed,” but rather songs that mean something to us as a couple.

Assemble Your Squad

Ricky and I decided to make the bridal party a family affair. My maid of honor- my sister, my bridesmaid- Ricky’s sister, Ricky’s best man- his brother and our officiant-my brother in law. But I do also believe that friends can be family and I don’t want to eliminate my true blues from sharing in my day. Ricky and I each chose two of our closest friends to be our “guests of honor.” Many of you may be confused on that terminology, and quite frankly, we kind of made it up, but again, we are breaking away from the norm! (PS: Don’t think for a second our doggie daughter, Lillie will not be in attendance!)

Tweak Traditions

The formalities – or the “traditions” – are those wedding staples like formal dances, cake cutting, speeches, and the garter toss. Which traditions you chose to include is such a personal decision; it’s YOUR day, so you do you, girl. While I’m all about breaking free from the norm, there are some traditions we want to include. While the cake cutting and garter toss just aren’t my thing, formal dances and speeches are two traditions we’ll definitely preserve.

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For all the lovely brides out there whose big days are approaching, I’d love to hear what unique details you’re incorporating. Share your fun plans in the comments below!

Until next time,

–Whit B

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Photography: Carly Michelle Photography | Cinematography: Brighter Lights Media | Floral Design: The Wild Dahlia | Stationery : Amanda Day Rose | Blogger Bride: Whitney Bischoff | Event Planning, Design + Styling: Always Yours Events | Hair Artistry: Jennifer Tawa | Makeup Artistry: Natalie Lelless | Rentals: Kadeema Rentals

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The Wild Dahlia

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Petit Bouquet

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Spring has sprung, and that means wedding season has begun! It’s no secret we at Style Me Pretty love wedding season, but if you’re a wedding guest, wedding season can cause a little “What am I going to wear?” panic. Well, loves, take a deep breath, and grab your wallets, because we have 15 fabulous outfit ideas for every wedding this season!

What to Wear to Every Spring Wedding

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What to Wear to Every Spring Wedding

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Black-tie events are synonymous with grand ballrooms but this gem is flipping that notion upside down… or taking it outside.  Tucked in the gorgeous surrounds of Rancho Santa Fe, this tented celebration coordinated by Weddings by Design has all the elements of a super swanky affair, including overflowing florals by Anahita Events, and twinkling candlelight in the open air. It’s gorgeous and will completely make you fall hard for all things al fresco. Pore through all the pretty captured by Erica Schneider + a stunning film by Elysium below.

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We wanted our wedding to be as much about the two of us and a celebration of all of those who helped us get through the previous ten years and who will be by our sides through the next 10! We looked at many different venues in San Diego but ultimately decided at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, which is not far from where I grew up. I knew from the beginning I wanted a black-tie “tent” wedding and we focused on finding a place that allowed us to have a tent.

The Inn is romantic, quaint, and it just felt like us. I right away saw how my tent-wedding dream could come to life. When I told my mom and planner, I wanted a tent wedding, I really meant that I wanted an outdoor, open-air wedding with some structure in place to make the area feel defined. I knew I wanted as many green hedges as possible to enclose an open-air space. I took several elements from other events I had seen on the internet to make my own vision and that was how my dream was formed.

When we picked the band, we had one major criterion. They had to be able to play Bruce Springsteen, Mike’s favorite artist. We chose Soulville, and I am so glad we did! They took the time to get to know us both and our music preferences, and absolutely nailed it the night of our wedding. They were terrific and played music that appealed to all of our guests and at one point there wasn’t a single person not on the dance floor, which is exactly what we wished for.

My advice to brides planning now would be to do research in advance about the type of wedding they want before picking a venue. Pinterest can be overwhelming, but it helped me figure out quickly what I liked and didn’t like. We put a lot of personal touches in our wedding, from the custom corn-hole boards to the table numbers that featured our dog. I loved mixing upscale features with custom finishes like these – it just felt more like us! We now look back on our wedding day and night, and can only smile. It was simply the most amazing day of our lives and we are so grateful to all those who helped make it a reality.

Photography: Erica Schneider Photography | Cinematography: Elysium Productions | Event Coordinator: Weddings By Design | Floral Design: Anahita Events | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Hey There, Cupcake! | Stationery: Stacey Himmel Stationery | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Nicole Miller | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Hair and Makeup: A New Twist 4 U | Lighting: Excellent Entertainment | Band: Soulville Band | Groom's Attire: Ralph Lauren | Groomsmen's Attire: Ralph Lauren | Groomsmen's Attire: J.Crew | Ceremony Music: Caprice Strings | Wedding Venue: The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Blizzards: Dairy Queen | Challah: Charlie's Best Breads | Food Truck: Grater Grilled Cheese | Rentals: Abbey Party Rents | Rentals: Raphaels | Sheet Cakes: VG Donut & Bakery | Wine: Pampelmousse Grille

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Cinematography

Elysium Productions

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