Florida Weddings

Captured Photography by Jenny did it yet again – she sent over the most adorable Florida engagement session so we can spend the start of the week in smiling from ear to ear. It’s so sweet I just want to reach out and give this adorable duo a big virtual squeeze. Does it get any more darling? I think not, and there is even more where that came from sitting pretty right here!

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Jenny of Captured Photography by Jenny … Alex and Liz met over a cup a coffee, and that first conversation lasted for hours! It wasn’t long before the two of them became inseparable. One of the the ways they love to spend their time together is snuggling (and what better way to do that then with a picnic). Alex also brings Liz flowers randomly, so we added some flowers he recently got her to the shots as well. We picked a giant banyan tree on Palm Beach for our picnic. It really is a beautiful area. Right next to that is the lake trail. And Alex and Liz love to go bike riding together. Alex even installed lights on their bikes so they can ride at night. The lake trail on the island is one of the prettiest places to bike ride. Cool story behind their bikes too: They got them from Jack the Bike Man. The organization restores donated bikes and uses them to impact low-income communities and families.

Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny / Location: Palm Beach, Florida / Bikes: Jack the Bike Man / Sign on Bike: Simple Sparrow Art

Oh how we love a good wedding film. We are the biggest fans of wedding cinematography over here at SMP, so we thought this gorgeous video by BlueShore Productions would be the perfect way to spend your Friday morning. A gorgeous couple, a gorgeous ceremony, a gorgeous reception – it all makes for one oh so gorgeous film. So close your office door, get comfy in your chair and don’t feel bad if at the end of this work of art you need to hit replay…we definitely did.

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From Jeremy of BlueShore Productions… The couple met at a Brazilian bar in Chile and from that moment, the rest was history. They decided on the historical Henry Flagler Museum in beautiful Palm Beach, Florida, to host their special day. They had a beautiful outdoor ceremony at sunset next to the waterway. The reception was held in the ballroom of the museum. It was absolutely stunning.

Wedding Cinematographer: Jeremy Nelson of BlueShore Productions / Photography: Lara Rios / Wedding Venue: Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida / DJ: Liquid DJs

Does it get any more gorgeous than a wedding at The Breakers Palm Beach? The beautiful venue is straight out of a fairytale, and this ballroom beauty captured by Lara Rios Fine Art Photography looks like a dream come true. Of course that is the just the beginning of what will leave you breathless in this gorgeous gala – the bride’s gown will make your heart skip a beat, the dapper groomsmen donned pink stripped bow ties, the Manolo Blahniks are fit for a princess and the ballroom reception surely left their guests gasping…it’s all enough to make you go gaga over this elegant fête! See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Erik and I choose The Breakers because the moment I walked into the hotel, I felt my heart start to race and a huge smile came across my face. Kym was showing me around and I could not tell you what she was saying because all I could think about was seeing Erik on the day of our wedding in the Mediterranean courtyard. I had gone to other venues and thought, hmmm, this could be pretty with flowers etc., but none of the venues lit me up like The Breakers. The architecture and attention to detail is obvious to anyone who has been to or seen this hotel. For me, it was how I felt when I walked in and saw the courtyard because for the first time, I could see Erik and I committing our lives to one another in that very place. When I saw the Mediterranean ballroom, there was not a single question in my mind that this was the room. The ceiling was inspiring and my jaw literally dropped when I saw pictures of this room decorated for a wedding. Little girls dream of magical wedding days and have fairy tale visions for how it will take place … Our wedding at The Breakers far exceeded anything I could have ever dreamed … It was as if I was finally not playing dress-up and pretending to be a princess. I actually was a princess for that day, and I felt like I was in my very own castle, far removed from reality. The Breakers creates this dream world where you forget you are at a hotel.

I was living in Ft. Lauderdale at the time and Erik was in Hoboken, NJ, where we live together now, so I was taking the first tour by myself. The day I took Erik there to see if he agreed it was the place, we stood in the courtyard holding hands, and just knew it was where we would have our wedding. We looked into each other’s eyes and there was not a moment of hesitation.

Also, Erik and I met at Cucina’s which is near the Breakers, so we liked the idea of having our wedding nearby. My family lives in the area so it was convenient and knowing the area was helpful.

Photography: Lara Rios Fine Art Photography / Wedding Planner: Zoe Gallina Event Styling + Coordination / Venue: The Breakers Palm Beach / Wedding Décor: Design Studio at The Breakers Palm Beach / Strings + Band: The Powerhouse Group / Videographer: Brewer Photo and Video / Invitations: Elle Ette Designs / Makeup: The Breakers Palm Beach / Hair: Torrie Tiernan (torrietiernan@yahoo.com) / Dress: Lazaro Couture via Kleinfeld Bridal / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

This wedding is a category all its own, the title of which has been deemed Palm Beach Pretty. Imagine layers upon layers of palm trees, the ocean mere steps away and peonies galore courtesy of Xquisite Events. Heaven, right? It’s classic meets the seashore and Captured Photography by Jenny was there to photograph all the loveliness unfold at the Four Seasons. Who, might I add, is a venue that really knows its way around a great wedding. The proof is in the pudding, or in this case, each and every gorgeous image. See it all here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…When Kyle and I got engaged in November 2010, we knew we wanted to get married the following fall, but a lot of other issues were up in the air.  We live in New York City and my father had recently been diagnosed with Leukemia. He was going to need to have a bone marrow transplant in February. Since the recovery from this procedure is very long and difficult, we decided to have the wedding in Palm Beach, Florida. My parents live near by and we could maximize the chance that he would be able to be with us that day.  I am thrilled to report that he was there to walk me down the aisle and do our father-daughter dance, which made the day that much more incredible.

As for the wedding itself, we decided on the Four Seasons in Palm Beach for both the ceremony and the reception, and I am so glad we did.  It was a great choice for a wedding of our size—100 people—which felt like a lively and fun party, but still quite intimate.  We both love the water, so being able to say our “I Dos” at sunset overlooking the ocean was perfect.  Our tastes both run fairly classic and clean, and I wanted our wedding to reflect that. So, we chose to keep the decorations very simple so that they would be tasteful and compliment, but not overwhelm, the stunning location.

I have always loved the color combination of pink and grey, so that was an easy choice. I adore J. Crew, so it was the natural choice for bridesmaids dresses. My dress was an Amsale sample which I had a tailor alter to make it original.  We lowered the belt a little, and took in some material around the hips to change it from an A-line to a trumpet shape.

The weather was gorgeous, and as the sun was setting the clouds glowed pink, grey, and blue, which perfectly complimented our color scheme.  I wish I could take credit for that one, but we just got really lucky!  As for the ballroom, the Four Seasons offers some complimentary gold dinnerware and tablecloths, so we decided to just run with that and compliment that color with the same pink we used in the ceremony.  I told Xquisite Events that I wanted a look that was modern, elegant, and romantic, with tons of candlelight, and I thought it ended up looking beautiful.   The whole day was so wonderful, it’s hard to pick any favorite moment, but I loved the way our colors ended up looking against the backdrop of the ocean and the sunset.  Walking down the aisle with my dad, seeing all of the people I love in the world smiling at me, and then seeing Kyle waiting for me at the altar was probably the best moment of my life.

Wedding Dress: Amsale / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Wedding Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny / Venue, Catering + Wedding Cake: Four Seasons Palm Beach / Floral Design: Xquisite Events / Band: Rhythm / Hair: Fairytale Beauty / Ceremony Musicians: Elegant Musicians / Make-up: Shadows Makeup Artistry

Wow. This film, this wedding – just wow. It’s breathtaking to the point I am speechless. Shot at the completely glamorous Breakers Hotel by Ray Roman Films, it is elegant, emotional, stylish and then some. If you thought Wednesdays were a bit dull, well you are about to get a beautiful awakening. It’s such a lovely way to start the day, and I highly recommend pairing your cup of coffee with this piece of cinematography this morning.

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From Ray Roman Films…You know it’s a special couple when everyone involved with the wedding seems to be waiting for this one special day. Well, the day finally arrived (in the most amazing way possible). Vanessa and Taylor had an UNBELIEVABLE wedding at my favorite venue on the planet, The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. Between the jaw-dropping architecture at the Breakers Hotel to stunning decor provided by the Breakers Design Studio, this wedding was just one eye-candy shot after another.

Vanessa & Taylor were truly one of the coolest couples we’ve ever had the pleasure of documenting. Their unique style, presence and personality just lit up the room and their love for each other most definitely took this film over the top. I hope you enjoy this film as much as we enjoyed documenting Vanessa & Taylor’s incredible wedding.

Wedding Cinematography: Ray Roman Films / Wedding Photography: Anthony Vasquez Photography / Event Planner: Sara Renee Events / Venue: The Breakers Hotel / Music: The Powerhouse Band / Make-up Artist: Ivette Gil / Decor: Breakers Design Studio

If seersucker and pretty frocks by Lilly Pulitzer are on your faves list then you are in the exact right place.  Jemma Coleman Photography sent us a photo shoot inspired by Palm Beach and all things preppy with a pretty factor that is seriously through the roof. Add to that a color palette that has our hearts all a flutter and bright, scrumptious florals by Touch of Paradise and we have ourselves a Florida affair not to be forgotten. Be sure to stop by the gallery for a whole lot more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Jemma Coleman Photography…A fashionable & tropical inspiration shoot set in the breezy beach town of Jupiter, FL – the theme is “Palm Beach Prep”. We were inspired by the classic preppy style of the ivy-league-ers and Nantucket northerners that call this place home in the colder months and who have therefore rubbed off on all we Southerners over the years so that we’ve come to embrace their style and sense of living and incorporate it into our own.

Starting with oh-so-preppy blue striped seersucker linens and white hemstitch napkins as a classic preppy base from Atlas Party Rentals, we added tropical & local florals by Touch of Paradise, bamboo furniture & napkin rings, traditional china, and delectable foods reminiscent of the northeast by Rockstar Catering. Rope silverware represents our connection to the ocean & sailing. Our delicious signature drink – aptly named the Nantucket Red featured southern grown blueberries and watermelon.

For attire, our priority was traditional preppy style with seaside flair! The groom wore Nantucket Red Polo Ralph Lauren trousers, a smart white shirt & vest from Nordstrom, Brooks Brothers bow tie (with adorable sea creatures!), and Johnston & Murphy deer-hide oxfords & belt. The bride modeled a gorgeous Amsale ballgown provided by Boca Raton Bridal, complete with useful pockets for a wonderfully classic look. The bridesmaids were decked out in Lilly Pulitzer (the original Palm Beach Prep!) dresses and shoes with eye-catching jewelry from fabulous Etsy artists. All three ladies had their hair “prepped” by amazing local hair stylist, Erin Frazee. Our adorable doggy modeled a Vineyard Vines leash and a collar by Etsy artist, Pecan Pie Puppies.

For dessert, our pastry chef, The Sugar Monkey, pulled off the most adorable assortment of treats and cookies featuring starfish & beautiful flowers made from sugar. The cake was a simple yet elegant piece of art bringing the theme inspiration together perfectly. We had an amazing paper suite designed for us by Make Merry featuring stripes and a coral motif all wrapped up in a bamboo paper belt and starfish to set it all off.

Shoot Styling + Photography: Jemma Coleman Photography / Linens, Tabletop, China, Glassware, Chairs + Utensils: Atlas Party Rental / Wedding Gown: Amsale via Boca Raton Bridal / Models: Wyatt Hoover, Lilly Marshall, Sarah McKenzie, Jessica Whitehead / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Sugar Monkey / Bridesmaid Dress + Shoes: Lilly Pulitzer / Florist + Table Decor: Touch of Paradise / Catering + Signature Drink: Rockstar Catering / Paper Suite: Make Merry / Hair + Make-up: Erin Frazee of Allagio Salon / Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, Johnston & Murphy + Nordstrom / Starfish Hair Clips, Starfish Garter, Starfish Headband: Sand’n’Surf Creations / Lobstah Bracelets: Joolz Hayworth / Bride’s Shell Earrings: Definitely Different / Hand-beaded Necklaces: Governor’s Daughter / Starfish Boutonniere: Landlocked Mermaid / Bow-tie Dog Collar: Pecan Pie Puppies / Sea Creatures Dog Leash: Vineyard Vines

The stunning husband and wife below experienced one of the worst nightmares a newly wedded couple can have.  The photographer for their wedding went out of business, never giving them their wedding photographs, and all of their wedding memories were lost.  Thank goodness for Kallima Photography!  Donning the (gorgeous) attire they wore two years earlier they took some seriously breathtaking photos in Palm Beach.  I would never have known that this wasn’t their wedding day.  There is so much love filling each ethereal image.  See them all in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Kallima Photography…Melissa + Claudio were married 2 years ago. Shortly after they were married, their photographer went out of business…and they have never seen or received any images from their wedding. When Melissa emailed and told me their story, I was heartbroken. I couldn’t imagine putting all that time and effort and love into a wedding day and not having any pictures to show for it.

We were so humbled that they now wanted US to re-create those wedding day portraits for them. So we put on her dress, and he put on his tux. I made her a bouquet similar to the one she held on her wedding day. We spent a few hours at the Breakers Hotel on Palm Beach just re-living some wedding day moments. After shooting some on Worth Avenue, we ended our time together at Paris Cafe drinking cappuccinos, which is one of their favorite things to do together.

Wedding Photography: Kallima Photography / Wedding Shoot: Breakers Hotel / Love Shoot: Paris Cafe / Florals: Whole Foods Florals / Floral Design: Rebekah Hood of Kallima Photography / Wedding Gown: Lazaro / Groom’s Watch: Nautica

There is a preppy chic fever going on here at Style Me Pretty Florida and it is all thanks to this awesome Palm Beach wedding.  This is a black tie affair bursting with personality and style.  I’m loving the green dresses, creamy florals and fun, beachy, preppy vibe.  My favorite Florida photographer – Laura Leslie Photography – was behind the lens capturing every delightful moment!  See them all in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Laura Leslie Photography…Joe & Kim had a Palm Beach destination wedding at the Royal Poinciana Chapel on Palm Beach Island with a reception following at the historical Harriet Himmel Theatre in West Palm Beach. They put a southern spin on their classic and elegant south Florida wedding to reflect their southern GA style and upbringings. Her green and ivory decor complimented the pastel hues of the Island.

To add to the fun of the reception, they had funky sunglasses for the guests to wear. At the end of the night, they exited the reception through an arch of fireworks and hopped into a vintage Rolls Royce.

Wedding Photography: Laura Leslie Photography / Floral Design: J Morgan Flowers / Wedding Cake: Sweet Tiers / Event Design: Ovations! / Ceremony Location: Royal Poinciana Chapel / Reception Location: Harriet Himmel Theatre / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero / Green Shoes: Cole Haan

We love e-sessions around here because they are all so different and unique and just like the weddings we feature, they celebrate the couple and what makes them tick. This session just so happens to be super cute, stylish and fun, all wrapped into one by Kallima Photography. I’m loving the little popsicle stick signs, the red beach cruiser, and yes, the picnic session with beer on the field. Adorable! Click here for the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Kallima Photography…Kat + John had dreams of their engagement shoot for months and months after we booked them. The theme we wanted to emphasis was a very “Palm Beach” feel. Gorgeous dewy morning light, a few Etsy signs, imported beers, a beach cruiser, and perfectly picked colors and outfits made this shoot especially beautiful. We chose a grassy hill, a marina, and the Lake Trail on Palm Beach Island to bring our “palm beach” feel to life.

Make-up: Naomi Chapman / Beach Cruiser: Palm Beach Bicycle Trail Shop / Marina: Sailfish Marina Resort / Photography: Kallima Photography

I don’t believe any wedding film has ever made me cry as much as this breathtaking piece of cinema by Ray Roman Films.  Seconds in and I was in some desperate need of a tissue.  From the beautiful shot of the bride’s stunning gown on the balcony (love) to the look on the groom’s face before his bride walks down the aisle, every moment is simply magical.  And with a soiree planned by The Zanadu Group, it’s a whole lot of gorgeous packed in to just under 3 minutes.  So, prepare yourself for some happy tears (seriously) and enjoy every lovely second.  It’s amazing.

Oh, we’re not done yet.  Here’s a few stunning images by Nancy Cohn Photography to send you happily into the weekend.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Ray Roman Films… When I least expect it, an amazing couple pops up out of nowhere and completely blows us away. I had never met Katie and Jared until their wedding day… in fact, I was hired just days before the big event. Who would of guessed these two lovebirds would end up becoming one of my favorite couples of the year. We had such a great time filming this wedding and what truly made it special was Katie & Jared’s love for one another, which was just one eye-candy shot after another. Special thanks to Cheryl Beitler of Zanadu Productions for her talents, as the wedding itself looked spectacular! I decided to slow down the pace for this film, so you could connect and feel the emotions from this amazing wedding. Grab a snack (and a tissue), kickback and enjoy this short film from Katie and Jared’s Wedding at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.

Wedding Cinematography: Ray Roman Films / Wedding Photography: Nancy Cohn Photography / Event Planner: The Zanadu Group / Officiant: Rabbi Sol Rothstein / Venue: The Mar-a-Lago Club / Music: Soul Survivors

This gorgeous Palm Beach wedding by Alexi Shields Photography has me happily daydreaming of all things yellow.  Buttercup yellow, to be exact.  It seems I have a new favorite color and I have this lovely soiree to thank.  From the bride’s stunning Monique Lhuillier gown to those fabulous table numbers, this wedding is the epitome of modern sophistication.  And did I mention the beachside location?  Gorgeous.  Yes, these nuptials are most definitely of the daydreaming kind.  So, join me in the gallery for even more beautiful details!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Alexi Shields Photography…It was a sunny morning on Palm Beach for this lovely southern belle bride. Jamie’s vision for a spring & beach infused wedding had come to life! Seashells, star fish & coral completed the cocktail hour’s decor, while the inside of the Ritz Carlton’s ballroom & pool side ceremony had been transformed into an elegant, buttercup yellow themed affair. They opted for a daytime wedding to ensure there was plenty of blue, cloudless skies for their wedding guests to enjoy. Plenty of delicious sweets were passed after their formal brunch, including chocolate covered strawberries, cake pops & mini-shakes (complete with swirly straws!). Michael and Jamie’s wedding can only be described as “Spring Elegance with a Coastal Flair,” and is definitely one for the books!

Wedding Photography: Alexi Shields Photography / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier via Chic Parisien / Bridesmaid Dresses: Cynthia Rowley / Bride’s Hair: The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach / Bride’s Make-up: The Bride / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Floral Design, Linens & Rentals: Blooming Design / DJ: Let’s Party DJ / Jewelry: Bloomingdale’s / Wedding Cake: The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach / Wedding Invitations: Paper Ink / Wedding Planner: Nadia Croner of The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach

I can think of at least one hundred and one reasons why I love these lovely nuptials captured by the amazing 13:13 Photography (the bride’s stunning gown, the magical location and the charming pink and green color palette to name just a few), but I am seriously crushing on one detail in particular.  Tulips.  I simply adore tulips and, thanks to Heaven & Earth Floral, they are popping up all over this gorgeous wedding.  From the bouquets to the centerpieces, this wedding is tulip-tastic.  And I am LOV-ING it.  So, be sure to join me in the gallery for some tulip adoration and even more amazing details!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From 13:13 Photography… Jill and Rich’s beautiful beach wedding held at the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa. They had perfect weather, a perfect timeline, complete with a “First-look” and pre-ceremony portraits.

Their ceremony site was very unique and unlike most beach-side ceremonies. It was masked under a canopy of mangroves which created soft beautiful light. Jill also accentuated the mangroves by adding paper lanterns along the path to the aisle. (Nice touch!) We were really impressed by the amount of effort, details and do-it-yourself goodness sprinkled throughout the entire day. The reception was no exception with DIY props for their Fauxto-booth, poloroid guest sign-in, candy-bar, and a whole host of other goodies!

Wedding Photography: 13:13 Photography / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa / Wedding Coordination: The Bride / Flowers: Heaven & Earth Floral / DJ: Mike Kontos / Lighting & Decor: Celebrations by Kathy / Wedding Cake: Sweet Tiers / Hair & Makeup: The Spa at Jupiter Beach Resort / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: Priscilla of Boston / Wedding Signs: Our Hobby to Your Home / Cake Topper: Milk Tea

The Breakers in Palm Beach is synonymous with luxurious weddings and after viewing this bash by Suna Photography it’s easy to see why.  With a massive design and planning team on your side you know the event will be off the charts exquisite.  The ocean-view terraces and ballrooms drip with fairy tale opulence.  Classic beauty is the name of the game here and it is done with huge amounts of pizzazz and splendor!  Click here to see even more in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Suna Photography… This was a special wedding to photograph, as the groom was first cousins with one of the Suna gals.  The wedding was small and intimate, as the couple live and work in the metro D.C. area.  The entire event was perfectly planned and orchestrated.

The beautiful navy bridesmaid dresses looked stunning with the flowers prepared by Richard Grille of the Breakers.  The purple orchids on top of purple hydrangeas were incredible, and the decor at the reception echoed the same care and attention to detail.  The men were dashingly handsome in their tuxedos and Burberry ties.

The wedding was held on the beautiful Ocean Terrace at the Breakers, overlooking the ocean.  The reception was indoors and out, at the Ocean Club below the terrace.  A toast by the best man via video in Iraq brought everyone to tears.  The Brett Foreman band was amazing, and the guests and happy couple danced the night away.

Wedding Photography: Suna Photography / Cinematography: Reinhardt Productions / Music: The Brett Foreman Band / Floral & Event Design: The Design Studio at The Breakers / Event Planning: Kym Bichon of The Breakers / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: The Breakers / Bride’s Shoes: Nine West / Wedding Dress: Rivini

Black, white and yellow is still a color palette that is going strong as we saw from yesterday’s wedding.  Alexi Shields and this team of talented Palm Beach vendors put together inspiration to show another way of using this bold, modern trio of hues.  It’s always interesting to me how a concept can change throughout the design process.  Same goes for planning a wedding.  Sometimes your original ideas and visions totally change course while you’re in the midst of plans and the outcome is even better than you imagined!  There is more from this vintage meets modern photo shoot in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Alexi Shields… The motivation behind the shoot was to really expand our creativity as wedding professionals and become more “trend setting,” if you will. Every wedding that I photograph is special, however I have always wanted the opportunity to “design” a wedding from beginning to end. I always have these great ideas for wedding themes and decided that a styled wedding photo shoot was a great way to make my visions come to life! A lot of very talented wedding professionals helped me with my vision of creating a modern twist on the “Great Gatsby” theme, but it really ended up becoming a more “modern honey bee” theme. The bride herself just channeled a “Great Gatsby” vibe with the look we styled for her…it just ended up flowing well with sunny decor.

The search was on for the perfect pieces to create this “faux” wedding inspiration. Everything from the place cards to the headpiece the bride wore was meticulously discussed and designed. I knew what I had in my head, but I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off by myself if it wasn’t for the amazing vendors involved. We got together one afternoon and just brainstormed the different details we could put into this shoot to really make it unique. We came across the Omphoy, Palm beach, which  gave off a sort of dark, modern mood with fabulous lighting and backgrounds to work with and we knew that would be the perfect venue for our Honey Bee inspirational shoot. I hope you enjoy!!

Venue: The Omphoy / Photography: Alexi Shields / Event Coordination: Brooke Craig of The Ultimate Event Planner, LLC. / Florals: Darines Castro of Simply Flowers / Makeup: Team Beauti / Hair: Kelly Miller / Cakes: Bertrand Joseph / Wedding Dress: Badgley Mischka / Stationery: Bell’Invito via Stationer on Sunrise / Favors & Bride’s Hair Piece: Alexi Shields + Brooke Craig of The Ultimate Event Planner, LLC. / Models: Hope Bautz + Jonathan Duerr / Set Design & Styling: Alexi Shields + Brooke Craig of The Ultimate Event Planner, LLC.

Abby and I have something important to say to you today. Seriously important, so listen up! There WILL be moments throughout your wedding weekend that you will remember forever. There will be MORE moments, though, that you wish you could hear again and again and again. When Abby got married, some of those moments were at her rehearsal dinner. SO many of her and Tait’s closest friends and family members got up and said some of THE most endearing things you’ve ever heard. Even her feisty nana put her two cents in. And of course her father … her always charming, always eloquent father brought everyone to tears! But we didn’t have our cinematographer there until the wedding day. So we don’t have those speeches and those funny moments to hear again. Take a tip from one mom (me) who really really wishes we had filmed the rehearsal dinner in addition to the wedding day. Take another tip from Adam at Pennylane Productions ~ as you’ll see in today’s featured Same Day Edit! The rehearsal dinner is an incredible time to capture once-in-a-lifetime memories …  don’t let the opportunity pass you by!

photography courtesy of Anthony Vazquez

Michelle and Justin | Wedding at The Breakers – Palm Beach, FL from Adam Forgione on Vimeo.

Michelle and Justin got married on February 26, 2011. We filmed their rehearsal dinner and were able to use some of the stories in our Same Day Edit. The cake ~ a mind blowing piece of art ~ was delivered, personally by Sylvia Weinstock. We were so excited to meet her!

This was the first time we’d filmed at The Breakers in Palm Beach ~ couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful weekend! Michelle and Justin had an incredible team of wedding vendors that made our part of the story a dream. And The Breakers? Utopia!  Our good friend, award-winning Anthony Vazquez shot this stunning wedding (he had just been honored with “THE NEXT” award at WPPI in Las Vegas).  You can see more of his amazing images on Justin and Michelle’s slideshow.

One really unique thing that Justin and Michelle had at their wedding reception was to have a live event artist, Agnes Russo. The Breakers Blog shows the incredible progression of her work AND the finished painting from their wedding!!

So ….. think about it. Don’t leave those special toasts and words of wisdom to your own memory ~ get them on film!

Our congratulations to Pennylane Productions for being honored, once again, as one of the TOP 25 Filmmakers by Event DV!  See more examples of their terrific films over on Pennylane Productions’ blog {+ see Michelle and Justin’s  champagne-slinging E*Shoot with Anthony Vazquez}.

Event Planner : Zanadu Group / Photography : Anthony Vazquez / Venue : The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida / Associate Director of Catering : Kym Bichon @ The Breakers / Event Decor : Kim Votaw + The Breakers Design Studio / Entertainment : Marcia Mitchell Band / Cake Design : Sylvia Weinstock / Live Event Artist : Agnes Russo

I hope everyone had a great weekend! We are starting the week off with THE most gorgeous series of weddings you’ve ever seen. Seriously, seriously gorgeous weddings. All photographed by the forever talented Aaron Delesie. Over the years, we’ve fallen pretty much head over heels in love with Aaron’s work as it’s possibly the most romantic, most ethereal, most gorgeous photography on the planet. Plus, Aaron and his lovely wife Jen, are hands down two of our favorite people in this industry. Which of course, makes us love them even more.

So when we recently heard the most awesome news about Aaron, we couldn’t contain ourselves. We’ll reveal all in our next post but for now, feast your eyes on this beautiful wedding that Aaron shot. So beautiful, you might even shed a tear or two. Oh and you can see the full wedding right here.

{there are so many more images, click here to see}

We did not hire a wedding planner/event coordinator hoping to save, which of course, made little difference to our budget. But I managed to personalize every single detail of the wedding without any help of a professional. I religiously studied and followed every blog posted on SMP for a whole year to help guide my wedding planning process. I became an avid SMP reader and found the most amazingly talented photographer on SMP while drooling over Day/Max and Ashley/Rob’s wedding photos. My heart stopped! Even though I had already booked a different photographer, I knew Aaron was the one for us!! The rest is history.

Once I’ve finalized my decor ideas (after changing everything 7 times) I specified every single décor and floral ideas to the Floral and Catering Dept at the Lodge at Pebble Beach . They were able to capture a vision of our dream wedding into a perfect reality. Despite having vacillated in my décor ideas, there was one thing I was sure about—our location. I’ve always known that I wanted to get married in Pebble Beach. There was no doubt our mind that we wanted to get married here. We love to golf, we love the ocean view, and we love Carmel . The outdoor ceremony was held at the historic Lodge at Pebble Beach which has the most breathtaking ocean view of the Carmel Bay. We felt that the Lodge has the warm and elegant embrace of romance and classic elegance setting. This magnificent location is adorned by the natural surrounds of sand, sea, and forest. It is a flawless and magical setting.

We wanted the style of our wedding to be classic elegance, intimate, sophisticated, personal, relaxed, and romantic. We had a total of 60 of our closest friends and families whom all spent the whole weekend going on wine tasting tours, dining and spending relaxing time together. We chose our colors palate for the ceremony to be a soft blend of white and green colors, mixing white phaleonopsis orchids hanging amaranthus, white and green hydrangea, and green cymbidiums. The reception is adorn with alternating tall and low  glass vases topped with a cascading arrangement of hot pink peonies, green viburnum white and green hydrangea, white phaleonopsis orchids, pale pink peonies and pink roses on each of the dining table. My main favorite flowers were phaleonopsis orchids and peonies.

I wore a custom designed wedding dresss by Armine Ohanessian, owner and designer of R-Mine in Studio City, CA. The dress is a silk mikado mermaid with a scooped sweetheart neckline that is finished with a silk gazar draping. The skirt is embellished with Italian silk gazar and mikado hand draped flowers. The headpiece is also designed by Armine. It is a silk fishnet. I changed into a pearl-gray, delicate chiffon gown with beaded cap sleeves made by Reem Acra for the reception.

Wedding Dress & Hairpiece: Custom-Designed by Armine Ohanessian, owner of R-Mine Bridal / Reception Dress: Reem Acra / Cake: Catering Dept at the Lodge at Pebble Beach Resorts, Inspired by The Cakegirls / Flowers: Floral Dept at the Lodge at Pebble Beach Resorts / Hair/Make-up: The Spa at Pebble Beach Resorts / Invitation: Carciofi Design / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Jewelry (earrings): Custom-Designed by Michael Barin / Wedding Rings: Brad Weber at Weber Goldsmith Gallery / Bridesmaid Dresses: Watters / Ceremony Music: Duo Serenade / Reception Music: Easy Street Band / Videography: Thomas Hughes Films /

If you read BACKSTAGE you know that I went on an on about the fabulous event that I recently attended at The Breakers, held by Claudia and Jennifer of The Wedding Library. Well, today I thought I’d share all of the goodness with you, as they have officially announced their upcoming New York show and I am dying to convince you to go! If the New York Party is anything like this last one…it’s a definite must-have.

French & American vintage jazz by Bon Musique.

The details tucked inside the event were total insanity. Cakes by Sylvia Weinstock, Invitations by Ceci New York, Bridesmaids Gifts by Bubbles and Beauties, Photography by Carlos Varela, Mel Barlow, and Allan Zepeda and Video by Open Eye, and Music by Elan Artists, rentals by Taylor Creative (amazing rentals by the way) and little nuggets of goodness like handmade bags of lavender to toss and perfectly crafted mini cheeseburgers to devour. They even had a donut station which was like a dream come true.

But I think that my favorite find of the evening would have to be, the adorableness that is Franklin and Gower. I don’t know where I’ve been without this awesome little company. Their custom groom and groomsmen attire is almost too perfect for words and Paco, co-founder and super cool dude, even made us a margarita so that we could enjoy the product that much more. Although I really didn’t need it, it was love at first site.

And the table designs that The Wedding Library crafted, with the help of the most awesome Taylor Creative props you’ve ever seen, welll…they were flawless. And I was pleasantly surprised to see how well “modern” fit the ornate backdrop of The Breakers. Good to know!

But for sure, the pièce de résistance of the day…was the Kleinfeld Fashion Show. Umm, heaven. Seriously, the dresses were total heaven.

Gown by Kenneth Pool for Amsale, Style #31775190

Gown by Pnina Tornai Exclusively for Kleinfeld, Style# 31800113

Gown by Badgley Mischka, Style: Yvonne

Gown by Elizabeth Fillmore, Style# 31800766

So there you have it kids. Pure wedding gorgeousness. And lucky for us, the fun isn’t over! The Wedding Party New York will be held on February 20th at the Palace and will include speaking appearances by the best in the biz (think Colin Cowie and Darcy Miller) as well as the most incredible vendor line up a girl could ever wish for. And the ideas tucked inside of the event are sure to be swoon-worthy. Without a doubt.

A HUGE thank you to Josh Friedman and the team at Elan Artists including Mel Barlow, Allan Zepeda and Carlos Varela for shooting the gorgeous images above. We spent an evening with Josh, Mel and team and when I tell you that they are great, I am hardly doing these pros justice. We’re even hoping to get Josh to guest blog on SMP one of these days! If you’re hungry for more you can see all the video of the event right here.

And lastly, another hearty thank you to Joan Bevers and the fabulous team at The Breakers for comping our stay. You guys made our stay so incredibly special and we can’t wait to come down again for Engage ‘10! We think we’ve officially fallen in love with your stomping ground!

January 17th, Style Me Pretty will be helping host an amazing bridal event, The Wedding Party, at The Breakers in Palm Beach. We’ve had lots of responses from you readers in the Palm Beach area who were super excited to check out this affair. It’s no surprise, with so many the fabulous wedding gurus in attendance… Darcy Miller of Martha Stewart Weddings, Randy Fenoli Kleinfeld Fashion Director, Mark Badgley & James Mischka, CECI New York, Sylvia Weinstock Cakes, and Thread, we can totally understand the buzz.

Well, we just made it a little easier for you to make a day of it…

We are going to be gifting our readers the following…

1. 10 free tickets to attend the event (one per reader).

2. VIP access to TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress, Randy Fenoli dress consultation (includes one free ticket to the event).

3. VIP access to a Guerlain makeup application and gift (includes one free ticket to the event).

4. VIP access to Sylvia Weinstock Cakes consultation (includes one free ticket to the event).

5. Free floral centerpiece from The Wedding Library (includes one free ticket to the event).

6. Private planning and budget consultation from The Wedding Library (includes one free ticket to the event). However, this can also take place over the phone or at the NYC Wedding Party.

7. If you aren’t in the Palm Beach area, we are also giving away 2 tickets to the event in NYC on February 21st.

* * *

All you need to tell us the best part about planning your wedding.  Shopping for the dress? Finding the perfect invites? What part could you do all over again? Just leave us a comment below and we’ll pick all our winners on Monday.

Before we jump into all our pretty weddings today, I just wanted to let you know that on January 17th, Style Me Pretty will be helping host a fabulous bridal event, The Wedding Party, at The Breakers in Palm Beach. Wedding superstars attending include, Darcy Miller of Martha Stewart Weddings, Randy Fenoli Kleinfeld Fashion Director, Mark Badgley & James Mischka and… our very own, Abby Larson. You got it, Abby will be there too. Chatting with brides, the who’s who in the industry, and taking in all that’s new in bridal style.

Some of the BEST vendors will be together under one (really gorgeous) roof sharing everything from fashion advice and floral arranging lessons to wine pairings and cake tastings. Soooo, if you’re in the Palm Beach area, planning a destination wedding or if you’re already tired of winter and desperately in need of a trip to the beach… it is going to be quite the event. More than worth the trip down to sunny Florida. For more info and tickets just click right here.

I normally don’t promote locally based wedding events…but this one was just too good to pass up. So good in fact, that I’ve decided to pack it up and head down to Florida myself so that I can devour all of the gorgeousness that is sure to happen. It’s called the Wedding Party Palm Beach and will be held by the amazing hotel, The Breakers of Palm Beach, along with the forever talented Claudia Hanlin of The Wedding Library. Co-hosting the event is yours truly, Martha Stewart Weddings and Kleinfeld Bridal. And yes, I feel insanely honored to be among this incredible group.

images from events past by Roey Yohai Photodocumentary

Here’s the deal. Some of the world’s BEST vendors are coming together to put on a boutique, luxury bridal event. You’ll be rubbing elbows with Randy Fenoli of Kleinfeld, Darcy Miller of Martha Stewart Weddings and many other completely famous, completely fabulous wedding professionals. The vendors that will be debuting their wares are the best of the best, they are the most innovative, the most forward thinking, the most design savvy vendors that a girl could ever want.

And they are all coming together to bring you the most comprehensive wedding experience on the face of the wedding planet. We’re talking cake tastings, floral arranging lessons, signature cocktail mixologist demonstrations, hors d’oeuvres, wine pairings and spa treatments with the best in the biz.

So, over the next month or so, there’s a pretty good chance that I am going to go on and on about this event and it just might include some pretty fabulous giveaways that will hopefully convince you that the Wedding Party Palm Beach is an absolute dream come true. Plus, it’s at The Breakers, which just happens to be the perfect way to celebrate your wedding with the man you love. So mark your calendars, ladies! I really want to see you there!

Click here to see more info and read the schedule of events. Here is a sneak peek at some of the vendors…

Design by The Wedding Library. Fashion by Thread, Amsale, Lela Rose, 2birds bridesmaid, Coren Moore, Lynn Lugo and Badgley Mischka.  Accessories by Bride’s Head Revisited, Dessy, Gifts for the Good Life. Stationery by Arak Kanofsky, Mr. Boddington’s Studio, CECI New York.