We’ve been following along with Erin Heimstra of Apartment 34’s SF victorian remodel and this small glimpse into her guest bedroom is everything beautiful we’ve been envisioning. Working with Decorist, she combined the beauty of Parisian inspiration with a cool modern and minimal aesthetic. The result is deserving of all the heart eye emojies. Take the grand tour shot by Carol Vaziri right here.

After an extensive remodel of her San Francisco Victorian home, Erin Hiemstra founder and creator of Apartment 34, needed design help for her guest room. Having heard about Decorist she was eager to give it a try. With a toddler and a busy career writing her daily blog, Erin needed design help that was fast and easy.

 Erin was looking for a Parisian-inspired guest room with minimalist elements and a deconstructed look. She didn’t want it to be too feminine and needed it to double as a functional home office.

Decorist head of design, Ashley Redmond, worked with Erin and selected the industrial desk and wire chair from Lostine, the luxe fur from The Line, the gray upholstered bed from Room and Board paired with white linen bedding and hmong pillows from Well Made Home.

The moody print from Tappan over the bed helps set the gender neutral tone for the space along with the photography from Alicia Bock. To make use of the high ceilings Ashley chose a minimal looking sconce with a long pivoting arm. The pendant from Lamps Plus with brass accents adds a hint of drama to the room and the rug, side table, chair and dresser were all selected from ATGStores.

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SHOP This Room:

Brass Hexagon Mirror | Pythagoras Pendant Light | Brandywine Desk | Cylinder Sconce | Antlers and Crystal Photography | Biscayne Armchair | Black Sheep Rug | Brian Merriam Awash Artwork | Black Ash Log Stool | Klum Chair | Felix Desk Lamp | Chunky Woven Cable Area Rug | Walnut 6-Drawer Cabinet | Wood Accent Table | Shibori Lumbar Pillow | Batik Lumbar Pillow

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Photography: Carol Vaziri | Interior Design: Decorist

When it comes to celebrity homes, we don’t have to look to MTV Cribs anymore—and marvel at the 8 bathrooms with jet spa tubs or the bajillion cars in their driveway. Celeb homes are so much more approachable now (at least the ones we’re eyeing) and it’s not all that hard to get the look. These five spaces are proof that these celebs did it just right.

Design Trends to Copy from These Celebrity Homes

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Design Trends to Copy from These Celebrity Homes

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Who said wedding details couldn’t be delicious (literally)? Thankfully, A Very Beloved Wedding just so happens to share our mindset because this incredibly chic celebration is filled with fruit, veggies, and even a few sugary sweets sprinkled in. It’s sentimental and seriously stunning and thanks to Ashley Ludaescher Photography we’ve got it all waiting for you to dish up in The Vault!

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From A Very Beloved Wedding…Sabine and Jacob met almost ten years ago due to a common interest: Shisha. Always interested in the foreign, in the fun and in a free life, they are happy, light and freewheeling. Their passions in life are food, all kinds of flavors, traveling and having fun time with the people they love.

The wedding inspiration theme is “The flavor of life”, and the Keywords are flavors, tastes, fragrance, natural, nature, romance, happy, free, curious, relaxed, mixed, fun, enjoying the moment, and enjoying life.

We included a lot of flavors, colors and fragrances in the decoration, in the flowers and food. We had different food islands, with diverse flavors and colors. Those islands were displayed as market stands: fruits, salads, sides, herbs and spices, meat, vegetarian food, cheese, charcuterie. We had herbs, greens, inviting smells, fruits, nature, diverse colorful foods, colors of nature, great tastes, in order to create a feeling of long lasting moments in mouth. We presented this in a dreamy and romantic atmosphere.

Photography: Ashley Ludaescher Photography | Cinematography: Redsheep Photo X Cinema | Event Design: A Very Beloved Wedding | Event Planning: A Very Beloved Wedding | Floral Design: A Very Beloved Bloom | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Das Tortenstudio | Stationery: Milia Ink | Rings: Nowak | Catering: Theuer und Punzet | Hair + Makeup: Strahlkraft | DJ: Face II Face | Venue: Nikitsch Castle | Bridal Shop: Fine Dress | Decoration Rentals: A Very Beloved Wedding | Furniture Rentals: Rotfuchs | Ice Cream: Hoxton and Hill | Market Stands Rentals: Party Rent | Shisha Lounge Rentals: Föhr

When the time came time to plan their Big Day, Seattleites Elise and Dan had one place in mind for their “I do’s”… New Hampshire. It’s the pretty little locale where their love story began, so it only made sense that they travel across the country and celebrate with their nearest and dearest against a gorgeous New England backdrop. The results? A rustic meets romantic love-fest coordinated to perfection by The Little Things. See it all captured by Lindsey Ocker in THE VAULT right here.

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From The Little Things… Elise and Dan were married on a perfect New England summer day at the charming Kitz Farm in Strafford, New Hampshire. Though they now live in Seattle, these two met at UNH and have been inseparable ever since – so it was fitting that they invited their nearest and dearest to celebrate their marriage with them in the place where their love story began!

The couple said their I Do’s under an arch hand-built by the Father of the Bride and then led their guests into a charming 1950’s barn to feast on food and craft beer from a nearby brewery, play lawn games, and dance the night away under a canopy of bistro lights and 90’s and early 2000’s tunes. It was perfectly elegant, perfectly New England, perfectly… them.

Photography: Lindsey Ocker Photography | Coordination: The Little Things | Floral Design: Sweet Annie Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: 7th Settlement | Hair + Makeup: Arcadya Salon and Spa | DJ: Sowa Entertainment | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Venue: Kitz Farm | Bridal Boutique: Something Blue Bridal Boutique | Rentals: Special Events Of New England

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

Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Ever wonder if the desert can be romantic? Could weddings actually work there? Look no further than this shoot by Koman Photography, planned and designed by Ilana Ashley Events. Edgy, whimsical and oh so fun, the cacti are chic and this Bride is uber stylish. See it all in our Vault gallery right here!

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From Ilana Ashley Events… Entranced by the soft tones and the lush textures of cacti, we infused a desert garden with eclectic vintage furniture and rose gold elegance to create an inspired styled shoot that was both edgy and whimsical.

The shapes and colors of the cacti were treated playfully throughout the design and were captured beautifully by Koman Photography. To echo the tall saguaro cacti, we chose an unstructured lace dress with gorgeous natural draping. The rose gold crystal-encrusted ovals of the bride’s headband mirrored the round pads of the prickly pear cactus. And the deep greens of the plants added depth and dimension to the groom’s charcoal gray suit.

The charming invitation suite, soaked in rose gold, minty greens and pale pinks, beautifully foreshadowed the bridal bouquet and the table florals. A modern mix of texture-rich succulents and mini cacti play well with a softer, exotic selection of pink-petaled blossoms – all consciously selected to withstand the desert garden. Place settings were a curated mix of matte and metallic, and fabulous iron peacock chairs, sourced from the Versace Mansion in Miami, flanked the farmhouse table. Vintage wooden chairs and luxuriant velvet chairs added to the eclectic look, while the hand-lettered escort cards resting in rose-colored artichokes added unparalleled glamour.

To highlight the lightheartedness and sophistication of cactus-themed wedding décor, we styled a modern lounge with a soft Moroccan rug, vintage wicker chairs, and a midcentury modern gold-accented coffee table perfect for XOXO Tic-Tac-Toe. The ceremony altar was purposefully understated, allowing the desert surroundings to mirror the couple’s natural beauty. Two mini naked cakes, dripping with rose quartz and rose gold frosting, accompanied a larger two-tiered cake adorned with a detailed hand-molded sugar cactus. The same intricate design was skillfully hand-painted onto the bride’s nails. Of course, there is no classier exit than being ferried away in a 1983 Rolls Royce Corniche Convertible, festively draped in a garland of succulents and leafy greens.

Our Desert Garden shoot showcased a more expansive idea of beauty. We incorporated a plant that is usually seen as hard, prickly and untouchable with unexpected details and a unique color palette of rose gold and brilliant greens. By transforming this plant into a soft and whimsical element, this styled shoot became perfect for the imaginative and modern-day bride and groom.

Photography: Koman Photography | Event Planning + Design: Ilana Ashley Events | Floral Design: La Petite Gardenia | Wedding Dress: Rue De Seine | Cake: Frost It Cakery | Invitations: Marissa Allie Designs | Hair + Makeup: Kohnur | Calligraphy: Joanne Day Calligraphy | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Vintage Car: Classy Chassis Rentals | Venue: South Coast Botanic Gardens | Bridal Boutique: Lovely Bridal Shop | Bride's Ring: XIV Karats | Cleaning + Gown Preservation: Margaret's, The Couture Cleaner | Female Model: Cherub Moore | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Groom's Ring: Pearls Plus | Hair Accessories: Styled By Twos Company | Male Model: Ben Bateman | Nail Art: esNail | Vintage Rentals: Sundrop Vintage

From velvet to bell sleeves, there’s a whole lot to love about this season’s fashion trends but incorporating a few of your favorites without splurging can be hard. Consider this crop of beauties the perfect dip in the trend pond and all are totally affordable. So grab that plaid coat you’ve been eying or that classic as can be turtleneck and work it into your current lineup without breaking the bank.

Budget Finds for this Season's Fashion Trends

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Budget Finds for this Season's Fashion Trends

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What’s black, white, gold, and all kinds of chic? This Miami wedding set at The Raleigh Hotel. It doesn’t hurt that Karl Lagerfeld once chose their venue to host a Chanel fashion show, and Carly and Devin carried that same sense of old school glamour throughout their day. With amazing vendors like JCG Events, Ines Naftali Floral & Event Design and Merari Photography, it’s no wonder we’re thoroughly obsessed with every image in the gallery.

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From the Bride…Devin and I met in October 2011 at the University of Florida, introduced by mutual friends at a tailgate for a football game. A few years later, we found ourselves in Santorini, Greece where Devin proposed. We were in our hotel room with flowers and champagne and I was in so much shock that I kept asking him if he was joking!

I hated the idea of having the wedding in a traditional ballroom but our options were limited with such a large head count. I’ve always loved The Raleigh, so it was one of the first venues we looked at. It’s a landmark hotel in South beach – the epitome of “old Miami” (Karl Lagerfeld has even used the iconic pool as the runway for a Chanel fashion show!) We looked at a few more venues but we just couldn’t imagine having the wedding anywhere else.

Our vision for the wedding was for it to be timeless and romantic. We chose a black, white and gold color scheme in a garden style. We chose to have a non-denominational ceremony although we incorporated a couple of Jewish traditions. We married under a wood chuppah lined with soft sheer white draping and flowers. Devin’s late father’s best friend is a well-known contemporary poet so we asked him to officiate the ceremony. It was a beautiful way to honor his father’s memory.

The reception was held in the back of the hotel garden. The focal point of the reception was the icicle light installation overhead. Originally the reception was designed to be al fresco, and the lights were to hang freely in the shape of a tent, but Miami’s unpredictable weather had other plans. We ended up with an actual clear tent behind the lights which actually reflected all the string lights and made it look even more beautiful than originally planned. We chose smaller garden-style centerpieces with mismatched vases, assorted white and gold candles and flowers in white and black accents, dusty miller and eucalyptus to tie into the bridesmaid dresses.

If I could offer one piece of wisdom to future brides and grooms is to make sure you are 100% comfortable with your rain back-up. We chose the driest possible date and it still ended up pouring the night of the wedding. In the end, I loved the look of the clear tent over the reception and the rain made it memorable and romantic. Also, do yourself a favor and choose comfortable shoes! Learned that the hard way.

Photography: Merari Photography | Event Planning: Masi Events | Floral Design: Ines Naftali Floral & Event Design | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Cloud 9 Bakery | Invitations: Sarah Hawkins Designs | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu | Hair + Makeup: Art Of Hair By Claudia | DJ: A Prime Event | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Venue: The Raleigh Hotel | Bridal Boutique - Bridesmaids' Dresses: Studio Fitzroy | Photo Booth: ShutterBarn

If you thought planning a wedding set smack dab in the middle of the holiday season was impressive, just you wait. Because this couple did that with only 55 days to make it happen. Thanks to the DM Events, along with 74 Events and Trent Bailey Studio behind the camera, you’ll see how just the right vendors helped bring together the New Year’s wedding of their dreams. Oh and this year? These two will now be celebrating as a sweet family of three.

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From the Bride…Chris and I met in 2009 when we both worked at a large law firm in New York City. Our transition from colleagues to friends to dating took a brief four and a half years, but when we finally got together in August of 2013 it was clear to me that it had been him all along. Our relationship moved quickly after that, and on a chilly night in January of 2015 Chris proposed to me on the streets of Manhattan with the Chrysler Building as a backdrop.

Soon after, we started considering wedding options. I knew the exact feel I wanted for our wedding – an intimate, outdoor summer affair, full of soft light and natural, organic details. I spent hours browsing Style Me Pretty for inspiration images of peony-filled bouquets and soft-hued bridesmaid dresses. But that all changed in late October, when we unexpectedly found out that I would likely have some infertility issues. Our doctor told us that in order to have the best chance of conceiving naturally, we should move our family planning up as much as possible. Chris and I didn’t hesitate. We knew that having children was something we both wanted dearly, so I got to work.

We decided on a New Year’s Eve Wedding, which gave us exactly 55 days to plan. We couldn’t believe our luck when we found out that The Wythe Hotel, a venue we had previously toured and fell in love with, was available. We booked it immediately and everything started to fall into place. I eschewed the soft, organic details I had planned on for a color palette that was moody and romantic. The deep burgundy accents and pops of gold were a perfect complement to the industrial setting and already celebratory night. As the clock neared midnight, our friends and family all joined us on the dance floor to say farewell to 2015 and usher in 2016 in the most amazing way possible.

My favorite moment came when we had our first dance. We chose ‘It Had To Be You,’ – a song we picked from ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ which always somehow felt like our story – two friends, living on the Upper West Side, who eventually realize they were meant for each other all along. In those moments, time seemed to stop and for the first time that day it was just Chris and I, dancing to our story and enjoying everything that was taking place around us.

While our wedding looked nothing like what I had imagined, it turned out to be exactly what we needed. We were so lucky to have had the most incredible day and to start our lives together surrounded by our closest family and friends. Chris and I are now expecting a little girl in November, and we could not be more excited to celebrate this coming New Year’s Eve as a family of three.

Photography: Trent Bailey Studio | Event Planning: DM Events & Design | Floral Design: DM Events & Design | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar | Stationery: Lion in the Sun | Hair + Makeup: Glamsquad | DJ: 74 Events | Venue: Wythe Hotel

If you’re the kind of bride who prefers a bit of “edge” to your everyday look, or the cool girl who’s not afraid to pair a leather jacket with a girly dress, this post is for you. Featuring our Blogger Bride Lauryn of The Skinny Confidential and her soon-to-be, Michael, it’s wedding inspiration built around the idea of Modern Gothic Romance that breaks the rules in all the best ways. Major kudos to RMBO Collective + Rebecca Yale for bringing on the drama, big time.

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From RMBO Collective…Our Modern Gothic Romance design concept was heavily inspired by Lauryn of The Skinny Confidential. Combing The Skinny Confidential blog for design ideas and inspiration, we noticed a strong palette of black and white with soft hints of blush and lavender. We were especially influenced by the style of the condo Lauryn shares with her fiancé Michael, who happens to be our groom model for the shoot. It has a sleek, clean and modern aesthetic with bold artful statements throughout. Lauryn had mentioned that her own wedding would be deep and moody, the complete opposite of a traditional, sweet white wedding. Having seen the Goth trend all over the Fall 2016 runways, we knew it would be the perfect touch of badass needed to capture Lauryn’s style and create the high fashion editorial look we were envisioning. With that, our Modern Gothic Romance concept was born and absolutely came alive through the lens of Rebecca Yale Photography.

The gorgeous white marble interior space of Vibiana, formerly LA’s first Archdiocese Catholic Cathedral, was the perfect backdrop for a dramatic ceremony and dinner scene. The venue’s former confessional booths served the lounge space well.

Fashion stylist extraordinaire, Annie Cavallo, chose the most glamorous dramatic nude Inbal Dror gown with flowing train to grace the ceremony scene. To add a hint of rebel, we paired it with a daring, yet sweet Alice and Olivia leather jacket. We love the embroidered back detail!

A moody black Galia Lahav gown with plunging back and cape added high drama to the dinner scene. The playful white Inbal Dror dress would be the perfect choice for dancing the night away. Michael’s classy Tom Ford tux complemented Lauryn’s three dramatic looks beautifully. Suzie Moldavon nailed the modern goth look, first with a deep oxblood lip and sleek ponytail and then softening to a lighter mauve lip and sleek all down hair and finally creating a relaxed party look with a boho braid.

Emblem Flowers created romantic arrangements in the moodiest of hues. Deep tones of oxblood and plum were contrasted with mauve and dusty rose with hints of gold. The ceremony scene was overgrown with lush greenery and a dramatic statement piece in the altar’s alcove.

Vintage furniture from Found Rentals provided the perfect contrast with modern tabletop selections from Casa de Perrin. The dining scene was heightened with gorgeous marble and floral menus from Yonder Design.

Yonder Design’s dramatic invitation suite featured a pressed flower suspended in plexi and wrapped in leather and velvet. Additional details like The Mrs. Box velvet ring box and Silk and Willow linens added a luxe feel throughout.

On the menu, Superfine Bakery served up a collection of delightfully moody tiered cakes with hand created sugar flowers. Redbird’s pastry chef, Kasra Ajdari, whipped up delicious mini pistachio pavlovas and salted caramel and orange blossom mini donuts. Redbird’s bar director, Tobin Shea, created cocktails that fit the mood of the shoot.

This dramatic and moody interpretation of a wedding fit Lauryn and Michael’s personalities and brand to a T. We can’t wait to see how their real wedding comes alive!

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Event Design: RMBO Collective | Event Planning: RMBO Collective | Floral Design: Emblem Floral Design Studio | Cake: Superfine Bakery | Hair + Makeup: Suzie Moldavon | Groom's Attire: Tom Ford | Venue: Vibiana | Bridal Boutique: Panache Bridal | Furniture Rentals: Found Rental Co. | Groom's Bow Tie: Barney's New York | Invitations + Signage: Yonder Design | Leather Jacket: Alice & Olivia | Linen Rentals: Silk and Willow | Mini Desserts: Neal Frasier | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Specialty Cocktails: Neal Frasier | Stylist: Annie Cavallo | Tabletop Rentals: Casa de Perrin | Wedding Dress (Black): Galia Lahav | Wedding Dresses (Nude and Short White): Inbal Dror

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

Photography

Rebecca Yale Photography

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Danielle and Ben might just be the sweetest couple to have ever graced our pages because their New Orleans anniversary session captured by Julian N. Photography? Well, it’s downright dreamy. Celebrating six splendid years together, this darling pair set out to the Frech quarter and the rest you can see for yourself in The Vault!

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From Julian N. Photography… Danielle and Ben are Los Angeles residents but split their time between LA and New Orleans where Danielle is from. I posted that i was going to be in Nola for a few days, and through the power of the internet, a mutual friend connected us, talk about the right place and the right time! When Danielle got in touch and told me their story i know i wanted to style up their shoot a bit, so the day before the shoot I went to a local flower market in the french quarter and used my DIY skills to make a small loose organic bouquet for the session, i got all neutral colored florals not knowing exactly what color she was going to wear, finally I finished it off with a ribbon from Silk and Willow. Danielle brought a lot of options for the shoot, but when she pulled out her grandmother’s vintage dress I knew that it was going to be perfect. Knowing that Danielle grew up in New Orleans she knew where all the amazing places were, it was also great to shoot in places she used to go when she was younger. We started the shoot at a private residence, and then we went to the New Orleans city park, with so many amazing Spanish moss trees, finishing the shoot in the french quarter.

From the Bride-to-be… Ben and I decided to celebrate our 6 year wedding anniversary with whimsical a photo shoot in New Orleans, where we got engaged 7 years ago to the day! Ben and I met in college. We were the classic best friend story. I dated other guys and Ben would listen to me talk about the bad dates, sit with me when I cried over bad breakups, I always could count on him, no matter what was going on. Our Senior year of college came, and in a whirlwind of a weekend, Ben realized that he never wanted to lose me to another guy or never see me again after college was over! So we started dating!! We were engaged a few months later in the oak-lined streets of New Orleans, where I grew up. Shortly after getting engaged, Ben went away for three months for a mission in the Army and we could not speak at all during that team. So re-living the day we got engaged with this photoshoot was so memorable and romantic! I also got to wear my grandmother’s handmade vintage dress that she wore to a Mardi Gras ball in New Orleans when she was my age! We also got to have our boxer, Lucy, come along for a few pictures! We are so grateful to have these pictures. Young love is naive but magical, but “old love” is even better

Photography: Julian N. Photography | Floral Design: Julian N. Photography | Dress: Vintage | Suit : Nordstrom | Film Lab: PhotoVision Prints | Ribbon : Silk and Willow

Fellow moms, mamas-to-be and future mothers, this one is 100% worth a read or a pin for safekeeping. Not only is this family shoot from Brumley & Wells absolutely breathtaking, but the words from mama Ashley Summers of Ashley Nicole Events will tap into the depths of your heart. As beautiful as motherhood is and as much as we hear about ‘the glow’, the reality can be a whole lot harsher at times and it’s easy to get down on ourselves. Read on for Ashley’s inspiring and encouraging words and for a few tips of our own on how to fully embrace the journey that is motherhood!

From Ashley Nicole Events… When I had my Daughter, Storey, 5 years ago, I never wanted my picture taken. I felt horrible about myself and when I had her newborn photo shoot, I gave the photographer specific instructions on “not taking any photos of myself”. Looking back, I was suffering from postpartum and was extremely depressed. Of course I loved my Daughter and loved being a Mom, but personally, I was not myself. I never looked in the mirror and it took me a long time to see myself as “beautiful”. It honestly wasn’t until a year or two after Storey was born, that I actually “snapped” out of it. I started to realize that I was a beautiful Mother. And the better that I felt about myself, the better Mother, Wife and Friend I was.

So when I was pregnant with Philip, I wanted to really embrace my beauty as a Mother. I was determined to not focus on the negative feelings about myself and instead see the beauty in me as a Mom and really see the beauty in my family! I scheduled his newborn photo shoot weeks before his delivery and now seeing the photos, I’m so grateful that I actually went through with it. Being a Mom is hard, especially when you’re a working Mother, but the reward is my family and actually taking the time to have photo shoots like this, its important. I want to continue to capture these moments with my children. Life gets crazy and hectic but its important to remember these days and to see the beauty in yourself and your children every single day. This is something that I’m still learning… every day.

Communication + Your Partner

Becoming a mother is a true expression and symbol of the love that you and your partner have built. But truthfully, it can be challenging (or nearly impossible) for your partner to fully understand what pregnancy and motherhood is or feels like, down to the core. So, it takes a bit of thoughtful communication on your part to make sure you’re expressing what you need or what you might be struggling with. It is wonderful when your partner can take cues with little explanation, but don’t expect them to read your mind. Talk, talk, talk and talk some more if you need.

Don’t Say Sorry.

Stand tall mamas. Are you someone who finds yourself saying sorry to others for things that really need no apology? All the time? Throw that out the door as quickly as possible. Sure, motherhood might make you confident in a way that you’ve never felt before, but a bit insecure in other ways. You will have bad days, your kiddos will do things in public that make people stare and you will feel judgement in choices you make. None of those reasons ever mean you need to apologize to others for how they react to you. Keep this in mind: it’s none of your business what other people think about how you live your life and the choices you make!

Make Time for YOU.

You can never love your family too hard or too much, but you can forget to love yourself too much. It’s so, so important to take time for ourselves to do our best in every aspect of life, but especially when it comes to motherhood! Make it a priority to plan alone time, a day for yourself or with friends, or simply a few moments to be alone at home. Seriously, mark it on your calendar and stick to it. Mamas need to recharge too.

The Beauty of Motherhood.

Wrinkles? They’re proof that you’ve lived a life of joy and laughter. Stretch marks? Proof that you’ve passed on that same beauty of life to another little human being. No matter what physical changes you encounter through pregnancy, always remember that you’re being too hard on yourself. Plain and simple. Your body might never be the same again, but your heart won’t either. Motherhood will make you take a good hard look at what your own definition of beauty is and you might find that to be the biggest lesson of all.

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8 Ways To Bond with Your Baby Bump During Pregnancy

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8 Ways To Bond with Your Baby Bump During Pregnancy

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Photography: Brumley & Wells | Dress: Free People | Home: Private Home, Colorado Springs | Lace Robe: BHLDN

Rushing off to Greece to say “I do” is one thing, but rushing off to Greece to say “I do” in a seaside glam-filled wedding is another story completely. And Dana and Shadi agree. Which is why they enlisted the help of the talented Rock Paper Scissors Events to host a sophisticated soiree that was one part destination do and one part luxurious wedding.  See it all captured in beautiful images by Elias Kordelakos in THE VAULT right this way.

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From Rock Paper Scissors Events… Dana and Shadi’s friends arrived in Greece a few days before the wedding. We arranged a three day program for them by organizing a boat cruise to the nearby islands, a Greek themed pre-wedding dinner with a stunning view of the Acropolis and of course a truly romantic ceremony and dinner in Athens Riviera. Words fail us when we have to say for this couple’s beauty and elegance. But what astonished us even more was their kindness along all the way and particularly the bride’s taste and elegance.

We tried to please her all the way and designed a wedding with a minimal and elegant beach style with peach and blush tones. Guests found their seating in a lovely stand with polaroids taken during their entrance, a jazz band played some laid out music and when everyone heard the “I do’s” white balloons were released to the sky. It was a really emotional party full of friends and family speeches, lots of dancing and a show from three fire dancers to “Set the Night on Fire”.

From the Bride… We got married in Athens, Greece. We wanted a beach destination wedding in a country we love, where all our guests can have easy access to all our guests who flew from US, Canada, Australia, Kuwait, Dubai and Lebanon. The best decision I made was hiring the wedding planner who turned out to be amazing and help us with every step of the way which made our lives easier. The most memorable moment for us was after we finished our vows and all our guests flew white balloons into the sky while the jazz band played the song “ What a Wonderful World”. Also, the first dance was so beautiful with us on the beach and everyone gathered around us.

Photography: Elias Kordelakos | Cinematography: Alex Stabasopoulos | Event Planning: ROCK PAPER SCISSORS EVENTS | Floral Design: ROCK PAPER SCISSORS EVENTS | Wedding Dress: Labourjoisie | Cake: Pavlov's Lab | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Jewelry: Zoughaib Jewellery | Makeup: Theocharis Katerina | Hair: ioanna karkadelou | Groom's Attire: Armani | Venue: Septem | Table Rentals: White Lilac

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

Petit Bouquet

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None of us want our homes to feeling boring or outdated, but rather, fresh and timeless. It might be why we latch onto new design trends to spice up our spaces. And the best kind of trends? Are the ones that stand the test of time and that you can’t ever imagine letting go of. Here are a few of our current faves that probably aren’t going anywhere anytime soon!

15 Interior Design Trends that Aren't Going Anywhere

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15 Interior Design Trends that Aren't Going Anywhere

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This Bride wanted her love for greenery to shine at her celebration and Something Styled Events delivered. And let’s just say, we’re on board. From the ceremony to the epic staircase leading the newlyweds to their reception, lush greenery and white florals inspires and excites. Tamara Gruner captured it all (and their engagement too!) – see it all in our Vault right this way!

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From Something Styled Events… Caroline and Avak contacted me eager to make their wedding come to life from the photos they saw from Instagram and Pinterest. At our consultation Caroline made it clear she wanted an elegant yet romantic setting to parallel the beauty of Cielo at Castle Pines. No detail was overlooked! From the ceremony to the reception lush greenery with gorgeous white blooms covered the venue. Handmade cedar wood boxes lined the aisle to depict a garden setting for the bride as she walked down the aisle in her Berta gown to her Prince Charming in a dapper navy suit. We draped garland on the staircase with greenery, hydrangea, and candles to create a romantic grand entrance for the bride and groom. The antique bar cart was draped with garland and the cake with flowers that matched the bride’s bouquet. Lanterns, garland, and floral were used to design the sweetheart table in front of the floor to ceiling fireplace that was the staple of the reception hall. Caroline and Avak sat in front of the fireplace overlooking their closest friends and family. Caroline stated “I love greenery and the elegance of its movement and how it looks in film photos… so please design the wedding with as much greenery as possible!” And that we did. Whether it was the gorgeous bridal gown, the beautiful updo, the hand died silk ribbon cascading from the bride’s bouquet, or the small touches throughout the venue to make, we made sure to bring their love story to life through our floral design and attention to detail.

Recipe of flowers: Snowberry, Variegated pitt, Mums, Dusty Miller, Seeded Eucalyptus, Hellebores, Gardenia, Delphinium, Ranunculus, Hypericum Berries, Astilbe, Feather Willow, Spray Roses, California Garden Roses, Hydrangea, Leather Leaf, Israeli Ruscus, Olive Branch, Lisianthus (main white flower in bride’s bouquet), Scabiosa, Garlands

Photography: Tamara Gruner Photography | Cinematography: AdamFusion Films | Event Planning: Something Styled, Inc. | Floral Design: Something Styled, Inc. | Wedding Dress: Berta | Bride's Shoes: Steve Madden | Catering: Three Tomatoes | Hair + Makeup: Megan Cary | DJ: Elite DJ | Venue: Cielo At Castle Pines | Bridal Boutique: anna be bridal boutique | Bridesmaids' Skirts: Space 46 Boutique | Bridesmaids' Tops: Express | Linen Rentals + Rentals: Event Rents | Reception Music: Cloud 9 Music | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Silk: Silk and Willow

Just when I thought we’d seen it all, Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography sends along this stunner of a celebration that totally redefines modern glamour. An effortless orchestrated soiree by Grit and Grace Inc., it’s one of the sweetest ceremonies we’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing, and thankfully we’ve got it all waiting for you to fall in love with too via The Vault!

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What is the story of how you met?

Eddie was the president of a LGBT tennis club in DC (Capital Tennis Association). Michael was a new member and they met at a holiday social. Michael introduced himself as a new member and they spent the night talking about movies and tennis and found a fun connection. Eddie followed up with a Facebook friend request and that led to a first date!

Who popped the question and how?

Michael popped the question at Christmas of 2014. He gift wrapped a set of bespoke cufflinks of two grooms and asked the question as we opened up Christmas gifts.

Favorite part of your wedding day?

Being able to spend time with all of friends and family. We were blessed to share the day with so many friends at such a beautiful location. The toasts from our close friends over the years were incredibly special and heartfelt and captured our relationship, personalities and friendships with so many.

What were your connection to Friday’s location and officiant?

Joe was the first openly gay federal judge appointed by President Clinton in 1996. We met Joe a few years back at wedding of another friend that he officiated. We got to know Joe the year better leading up to the wedding and found him to be such a loving, charming and generous person. He loves marrying people and was so gracious in offering his time and chambers for the ceremony for our direct family members.

Did you wear anything specific or meaningful on your wedding day?

We had a couple of special items for our wedding day. Our suits were designed by Jill Lynn from Trunk Club and we had some fun details in the suits like “I do” embroidered underneath our collars and the date of the ceremony embroidered inside the jacket. Jill also helped design custom matching vests and ties for both the ceremony and the reception. Lastly, my cousins Staci and Alex had “equal” sign tie tacks made special for the day as a wedding gift using pieces of my grandmothers wedding ring. They were such a surprise and such a lovely gift.

Photography: Abby Jiu Photography | Event Planning + Design: Grit & Grace Inc | Floral Design: Sweet Root Village | Invitations: Minted | Catering: Occasions Caterers | DJ: Shea Van Horn | Venue: D C Carnegie Library | Custom Bar: Revolution Event Design And Production | Getting Ready Venue: St. Regis, Washington, DC

Planning your Big Day?  Take it from us, finding the right locale is key. It’s the one decision that can take your wedding from stunning to STUNNING, which is why we’re hosting a little meet ‘n’ greet with Updike Farmstead Weddings. Think one part 18th century farmhouse and one part rustic barn pretty. Get to know them, and their awesome wedding packages from Kristin Rockhill Design, below.

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“As the Wedding Director and on-site coordinator, I will assist you in planning & designing a stunningly styled wedding at Updike Farmstead Weddings!
” – Kristin Rockhill

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Nestled on six breathtaking acres mere minutes from downtown Princeton, Updike Farmstead Weddings’ restored farmhouse and renovated barn is seriously everything you’ve ever wanted in your Big Day venue… and so much more. From the expansive back porch overlooking the stunning landscape + serene farmland to the towering trees lining the property to the French country vibe bursting from every moment, Updike Farmstead Weddings is THE perfect locale for those laid-back romantics that want to say “I do” in the coolest way possible.  And don’t even get me started on their Signature Standard Package designed by Kristin Rockhill Design. Think beautifully styled farm tables, lush florals, a vintage trunk cake table display, a vintage writing desk, a tufted sofa and a welcome drink station + bar cart. It’s perfection, loves.

Whether you’re hosting a larger affair for 100 or a small, intimate get-together, Updike Farmstead Weddings will transport you and yours to that place you’ve always dreamed of. Contact them NOW to start planning your luxurious day chock-full of whimsy. Trust us… it’s going to be awesome.

Photography: Jackie Averill | Event Planning: Luxury Barn Weddings by Kristin Rockhill | Florist: Luxury Barn Weddings by Kristin Rockhill | Gown: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Pink Cake Box | Stationery: April Lynn Designs | Makeup: Make Me Glam | Hair: Val Hairstyles | Barn : Updike Farmstead Weddings | Gowns: BHLDN | Lounge Furniture: Mazz Entertainment | Rentals: Newtown Rental | Stylist: Luxury Barn Weddings by Kristin Rockhill

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

Petit Bouquet

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When Pantone first announced rose quartz and serenity blue as the “it” colors of the year, we showed how pretty it could play out. And this real wedding planned by Charmed Events Group took that Pantone inspiration and totally ran with it. The color pairing made for an incredibly elegant celebration and even the couple’s pug, Charlie took part in the day. Jasmine Lee photographed and there’s more to see right this way.

From Charmed Events Group…Our New York bride and groom decided to have their destination wedding at the groom’s alma mater, Stanford University. It was important for them to get married at the church and have a venue that was convenient for guests to get to so they chose the Stanford Faculty Club for their location. The couple wanted the wedding and reception to be elegantly appointed in everyone’s favorite Pantone palette of the year, dusty blue and blush but most importantly, they wanted to incorporate the most important figure in the lives, which is their pug, Charlie.

We dedicated the cocktail hour to their love for Charlie as well as their love for taking long walks in the park and created an escort wall with Charlie’s silhouette on it and the phrase” Everyday with you is like a walk in the park”. We livened the escort wall with large balloons and escort cards framed by foliage. We added a pink lounge for guests to relax and mingle at.

For the reception, we really wanted to transform the space in its entirety so we brought in lots of drape to create an elegant feel and Nicole Ha created the most magical floral chandelier to anchor the front of the room, which was centered around the beautifully patterned, dusty blue cake that Pretty Please created. Guests dined on tables beautifully adorned with lush flowers, crystal cut glasses, french white china, rose gold flatware and personalized escort cards with the couple’s signature wax seal, created by Written Word Calligraphy. Guests were then treated to a magnificent dessert spread and a special station of Humphreys Slocombe Ice cream.

Photography: Jasmine Lee Photography | Event Planning + Design: Charmed Events Group, LLC | Floral Design: Nicole Ha Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Stationery: Charmed Events Group, LLC | Ceremony Venue: Cardinal Calypso | Reception Venue: Stanford Faculty Club | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Hair + Makeup: Makeup By Quis | Cake + Desserts: Pretty Please Bakeshop | Chair Covers: Wildflower Linen | Chair Rentals: Standard Party Rentals | Gold Foil + Letterpress: Aerialist Press | Ice Cream: Humphreys Slocombe | Lighting + Drapes: JL Imagination | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Lounge Furniture: One True Love Vintage Rentals | Rentals: Bright Event Rentals | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Ring Boxes: The Mrs Box | Table Top Rentals: Frances Lane | Wax Seal: Written Word Calligraphy

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More Pantone Wedding Love!

Pantone 2016 Wedding Inspo

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Pantone 2016 Wedding Inspo

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

Written Word Calligraphy

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When we first saw this shoot featured in Flutter Magazine it literally gave us chills (of the good variety). Because quite frankly it just doesn’t get any better than Jose Villa, Kelly Oshiro, Lauren Conrad, and  Maura Oehm all combined into one lovelier than lovely shoot. From the prettiest Paper Crown gowns to the chicest cake + champagne combo, every detail is all sorts of stunning. See the entire cover-worthy celebration in The Vault!

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From Kelly Oshiro…It was so much fun styling and producing this cover shoot for Flutter Magazine featuring taste makers, Lauren Conrad and Maura Oehm of Paper Crown. As part of Flutter’s ongoing fashion to table series, I had the honor of translating their personal styles into a chic wine and dessert pairing party. Photographed by the one and only Jose Villa, I scouted a stunning rose farm in Santa Ynez to serve as the backdrop for this chic shoot. Planned in about 10 days, it was a tight production schedule but thankfully it all came together. I tapped some of my favorite local business for the desserts, including handmade chocolates truffles from Jessica Foster Confections, paired with port, homemade apple pie from Merci to Go paired with pinot noir, and petite cakes and cupcakes from Enjoy Cupcakes paired with chardonnay.

Photography: Jose Villa Photography | Floral Design: Coco Rose Design | Cake: Enjoy Cupcakes | Makeup: Kristin Ess of The Beauty Department | Hair: Kristin Ess of The Beauty Department | Calligraphy: Susan Silverberg | Chocolate: Jessica Foster Confections | Dresses: Paper Crown | Event Styling + Decor: Kelly Oshiro | Location: Ranch Roses | Napkins: Hudson Grace | Pie: Merci to Go | Rentals: The Tent Merchant | Vintage Rentals: Embellish

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P.S. Click Here to Find out Lauren Conrad’s Wedding Guest Style Dos and Don’ts

As much as we love a crisp Fall day or a fresh blanket of snow, the cold weather also brings with it a variety of not so fun beauty situations. Don’t let insanely dry skin, wind chapped cheeks or brittle hair + nails get you down. We’ve rounded up 20 items to add to your beauty arsenal that will combat chilly-time ailments with glowing (and we mean glowing) results.

Cold Weather Beauty Essentials

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Cold Weather Beauty Essentials

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More Beauty Inspo Right This Way…

Fashion Essentials to Battle Cold Weather Stylishly
The Ultimate Guide to Using Beauty Oils
How To Find the Perfect Pink Lipstick for You

There’s nothing quite like a summer wedding in Chicago. Especially if said wedding is captured by Tim Tab Studios and features a plethora of stunning white + gold-hued details and a team of talented vendors making it all happen (here’s looking at you Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists). Add in a seriously adorable duo (we heart you, Caitlin and Joe) and a “White Wedding” orchestra entrance and THE VAULT most definitely deserves your full attention. See you there, my friends.

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From the Bride… Since we live in Los Angeles, we always thought we would get married near the beach. However, after checking out all of the venues along the coast of Southern California, we kept coming back to Chicago, which is where I am originally from. There is no better place than Chicago in the summer!

Since our guests were coming in from all over the United States, some to Chicago for the first time, we really wanted to choose venues unique to Chicago. Saint James Chapel is in the heart of the Gold Coast and has so much history. The Langham hotel is in an iconic Mies Van der Rohe building on the river, The Art Institute of Chicago is such a Chicago landmark, and we couldn’t wait to share the experience of the Modern Wing with our guests. During our cocktail hour overlooking Millennium Park on a perfect summer night, we looked at each other and both agreed that we could not have picked a better city — or venues — for our wedding.

A few of the parts of our day that were my favorite: my twin brother was my “man of honor” — I couldn’t imagine anyone else standing beside me and fulfilling that role. My walk down the aisle with my dad — we were both crying! During the cocktail hour, we stopped in front of one of my favorite paintings, Sky Above Clouds by Georgia O’Keefe. The amazing Becca Kaufman orchestra played “White Wedding” for our entrance into the reception. White is my maiden name and our decor theme was all white, so it was fitting.

Photography: Tim Tab Studios | Event Planning: Liven It Up Events | Floral Design: Kehoe Designs | Wedding Dress: Matthew Christopher | Cake: Three Tarts Bakery | Ceremony Venue: St. James Quigley Chapel | Reception Venue: The Art Institute of Chicago | Rings: XIV Karats | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Joanna August | Hair + Makeup: Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists | Band: Becca Kauffman Orchestra | Groom's Attire: Ralph Lauren Black Label | Decor: Kehoe Designs