Maryland Weddings

No words, just lots and lots of sighing over this next beauty. The photography from Jocelyn Mathewes and Mindy Best are so beyond. They completely capture all of the love and romance swirling around this Maryland backyard wedding. And the Bride seemed to have a hand in nearly every element down to her gorgeous dress that she handmade from curtains. Curtains! Some people have so much talent it hurts. See the full day and so many more thoughtful details in the gallery.

so stinking gorgeous…see the rest here!

From Jocelyn Mathewes…

Iain and Natalia were the surprise clients of my life. Booking from across the Atlantic ocean far, far in advance without even seeing me in person, they put their faith in me for what turned into a most exquisite event. I have to say that I’ve been impressed with all of my brides’ unique tastes, flair for details, and the like, but Natalia–a fashion designer and seamstress–really dove in head first, and created nearly all the details herself. But down to the story. Mindy, my assistant for the day, started with Iain, as he donned his traditional Scottish attire. Check out that belt buckle–fashioned with the couples’ initials! Oh, and Natalia made him a fabric boutonniere to match her bouquet. Natalia made her dress from the curtains of her bachelorette apartment, with accents of antique French lace–they don’t make it anymore!!!

One of the things that made Natalia and Iain’s day very unique was that they planned a block of three hours to drive around Hagerstown and take portraits in locations they found beautiful and meaningful. It made for quite a hilarious and lovely time; the weather was perfect (if a bit windy), and Mindy and I managed to catch some fabulous moments. The rings were passed around to guests for warming, and the priest–Natalia’s godfather–wrapped their hands with his stole to bless the exchange of rings. After a joyous kiss, they planted a sapling in the garden to symbolize their unity, and then greeted all the happy guests with a wonderful, beautiful party. As the toasts and speech punctuated the dinner, the party became even more lively, and everyone celebrated with the sweet taste of cake and dancing.

Lead Photographer: Jocelyn Mathewes / Second Photographer: Mindy Best / Venue: private home / Cake: family friend / Dress, Bouquet, Boutonniers, Bunting, Event Design: the bride / Catering: A Cut Above Catering (Frederick, MD)

We are going full on weekend warrior status in the SMP clan and we are so glad you are along for the ride. So cozy up in your Sunday best because we have a few weddings to share and each one is just as delightful as the last. I am particularly smitten with this next wedding, photographed by Lindsay MacDonald, because it is a complete ode to individuality and really making your wedding day unique. Abby, the Bride, wasn’t a traditional wedding dress kind of gal so she turned to Jill Andrews Gowns to make her wedding dreams come to fruition. And that they did! Not only is Abby’s gown unique and gorgeous but it also happens to be made of upcycled materials. Love it. You can see more of the pretty dress and of course, the beautiful celebration, in the gallery.

see the full wedding here!

From Jill Andrews Gowns:

There are few times in your life where so much importance is placed on one article of clothing. For many brides, the wedding gown is the most important thing next to selecting a groom! But what is a girl to do when her dream has never included a traditional wedding dress? After shopping for a gown in the regular bridal shops, Abby Maloney was disappointed in how she felt when she put on sample dresses. She turned to us at Jill Andrews Gowns to create a one-of-a-kind custom gown that was true to her personality. We first met Abby in February of 2010 and started working on a custom design that would be perfect for her and her wedding. After talking for about an hour, we felt like Abby was an old friend coming over for a cocktail! She told us that she really likes eclectic designs, that she is vegan and an activist who works hard to make Baltimore a better place to live. We love Abby! Having a custom gown fit her desire to buy locally and reduce her impact on the environment by using upcycled materials.

Jill didn’t take long to conceive of the perfect dress for Abby. She immediately thought of all of the beautiful fabrics left over from twenty years of making wedding gowns that she has kept for no particular reason – until now! She envisioned a flowing, ethereal dress full of interest with layers, applique, pleating and soft colors. The wedding was at Red Emma’s 2630 Space, a beautiful deconstructed church in Baltimore city that now functions as community space. We added subtle frayed seams to pay homage to the setting and topped it all off with a 100 year old velvet ribbon at the waist.

Abby and Brian were married on June 16, 2010 on a gorgeous day in Baltimore! Their photographer, Lindsay MacDonald, took amazing pictures in several locations including the Baltimore Museum of Art, Wyman Park and of course, the church. Lindsay captured just how in love these two are in every picture she took. The vegan menu was catered by Dionysus’ Kitchen and the cake by a friend of the couple. Fleur de Lis provided beautiful flowers that were simple and elegant. And, perhaps the best part for many was the traditional Irish music by The Magic Square! The pictures tell the tale the great party and a fabulous couple who are a testament to the fact that you should always keep true to yourself and each other.

Photography: Lindsay MacDonald Weddings / Second Photographer: Jacqueline Schlossman / Dress: Jill Andrews Gowns / Venue: Red Emma’s 2640 Space / Catering: Dionysus’ Kitchen / Cake by a friend of the couple, Lanie Thomas / Flowers: Fleur de Lis / Musicians: The Magic Square

This next little number is DIY done SO right. And the couple is one of those pairs that you know you would want to be friends with just by looking at them. Photographed by the always wonderful Kristen Marie, this wedding is the epitome of a perfect day…where the pure love and the unabashed joy took center stage. I only wish I had been there to get in on all of the fun! Click here to see even more.

{click here to see the full wedding}

Meredith and Tommy met in grade school and once they were engaged in Paris, Meredith started planning with the help of bridal blogs. She actually found me through a feature on SMP! Her dress was custom made, with many jcrew details. The venue was at a small country golf house outside of Baltimore, MD, built in the 20s, where Meredith walked downt he aisle to “Penelope’s Theme” from The Brother’s Bloom (edited by their friends Matt and Tim). All DIY details, the centerpiece flower boxes hand made by Meredith and her father. Flowers put together by Mother and Tommy’s aunt, and included paper flowers in the arrangement as well. Thrifted vases and bottles, and vintage display pieces.  Gifts were placed in wheelbarrows covered in old quilts.

As an added bonus, Monachetti captured the day on film…

Wedding Photography: Kristen Marie / Wedding Video: Monachetti / Dress: Lex Bridal. Annapolis, MD / Sash:  J.Crew / Jewelry: Earrings from JcPenny,  Bracelet was a gift from grandfather / Shoes: J.Crew / Suits: Groom, Hugo Boss. Groomsmen, own finds / Flowers: DIY by Tommy’s mother and aunt / Venue: Sherwood Forest Clubhouse / Centerpieces: Wooden flower boxes made by Meredith and her father + Tissue flowers, real flowers, vintage bottles and vases  / Catering: Paul’s Homewood Cafe / Cake: Fiona’s Cakes

If ever there was the most PERFECT wedding to see us all into a blissful holiday weekend, this would be it. Photographed by the insanely talented Michael Smith of Ash Imagery, this wedding screams chic American style. We’re talking Madras accents, a locally grown menu and a bonfire complete with do it yourself s’mores. Yep, it’s America at its finest and oh, did I mention that the gorgeous bride is also a fighter pilot? Making her just about the coolest girl on the planet. And the perfect person to help us celebrate Monday’s Memorial Day. So SMP-ers…feast your eyes on this!

{click here to see ALL of the insanely gorgeous images}

Leif and I were married May 1st at The Brome Howard Inn in St. Mary’s City, Maryland. It was built in 1840 by a doctor for his new bride, and we found that the romance of that gift has survived the years. When we started to discuss our dream weddings, we found that our ideal days could not be more different. I wanted a very small ceremony and reception on the beach, while Leif had a traditional church service and black tie affair in mind. What our many compromises and concessions finally resulted in was a preppy, chic, and relaxing event that represented our love and our values better than we could have planned for.

We both spent our mornings with our closest friends. My girls and I took a walk through the wooded trails along the river, while Leif and the groomsmen enjoyed a hearty breakfast together. Leif and the guys wore simple tuxedos, while our fathers and brothers wore madras plaid ties, ordered online from All About You Design. The bridesmaids wore navy blue dresses from J Crew with madras plaid sashes (handmade by the Maid of Honor). I walked down the aisle in a Marisa gown purchased at Hannelore’s of Old Town, in Alexandria, Virginia (I originally wore this gown for her debutante ball at the age of 16). Following the ceremony, and a brief session with our visionary photographer, Michael Smith, I changed into my mother’s wedding dress, which she had shortened. I happily traded my usual black boots (I am a F/A-18F Super Hornet WSO) for a pair of blue Christian Louboutins, but by the end of the evening, myself and the girls donned the hot pink galoshes bought in case of rain.

Our small wedding allowed us to spend quality time with each of our 45 guests. It also made it much easier to personalize many aspects of our special day. We hand-made the invitations, table décor, and escort cards, and were even able to leave personal notes and welcome bags for our out of town guests. We were so happy to sit with our parents during our delicious meal featuring local products, thoughtfully prepared by the staff at the Brome Howard Inn. Our traditional, no-frills white wedding cake simply decorated with fresh fruit was prepared by Isabelle Williams and Lisa Kelley. At the end of the evening, after the guests had departed, Leif and I sat together by the bonfire where guests had taken a break from dancing to make s’mores. We talked about how much we, and our guests, had enjoyed the evening, and decided to get married again soon…to each other of course!

Photography: Ash Imagery / Dress: Hannelore’s / Cake: Isabelle Williams and Lisa Kelly (Lisa owns the inn) / The wedding was planned by Joss, Lorie (mother of the bride), and Lisa / Venue and catering: Brome Howard Inn, St Mary’s City, MD

Our first wedding today ~ from the fabulous designers at Romance of Flowers, was held at an amazing art museum ~ The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. According to Victoria, it was a designer’s dream come true! We think, it was a magnificent melding of modern + romantic, sleek + sassy, somber + playful. Take a look and tell us what you think!

We have tons of gorgeous shots from the day. We’ve combined the beautiful images from Holger Thoss Photography along with some great detail shots from Kakki at Romance of Flowers.  We’ve combined all of the photos in their photo gallery. Enjoy the “romance” of the day!

from the bride …

Although we live in New York City, both of us grew up in Baltimore, where most of our family still lives, so having our wedding in our beloved hometown proper was a no-brainer. We decided to have our wedding at the American Visionary Art Museum because it is such a unique place in Baltimore.

The look and feel of our wedding was an amalgamation of different sources. We wanted a whimsical yet elegant feel for our wedding. For the color palette, we took inspiration from the groom’s collection of vintage Hawaiian shirts to reflect his love of color. We paired the colors tangerine orange with fuchsia based on an Indian sari of mine. Finally, the mirrored garlands and accents came from the AVAM itself, which has a mosaic made of pieces of mirrors and mirrored garlands outside the museum.

From Victoria at Romance of Flowers …

We loved, loved loved working on this wedding! All of the ingredients were there for a very special event! The venue, the amazing American Visionary Art Museum, provided an intriguing background. There are only a couple of museums in the world like this, a place where the fresh looks of self taught artists imbue the space with sheer delight, a perfect spot for a celebration of love.

Add to this an adorable couple who wanted to share this special place with their family and friends and also wanted the elements of their wedding to celebrate the unique vision of the museum. Wow, does it get any better for a floral designer? We were able to let our creative juices run.

The ceremony site was in a two-story high exhibit space that houses oversized and highly decorated peddle cars, a hot air balloon, a suspended bi-plane and replicas of the Baltimore row house. We wanted the trees that defined the ceremony space to be appropriate for a wedding but to also reflect the spirit of the room. The orchid covered branches were then festooned with garlands of crystals and mirrored glass. The bride’s bouquet was a cascading group of mostly purple orchids adorned with pearls and silver grass. The bridesmaids’ orange and purple bouquets were seated in cones covered in beads and orange string. And the groom? His bit of bling came from his crutches. He broke his ankle playing rugby during his bachelor party (wasn’t there a movie about that?)!

Like the artists in the museum, we wanted to do the unexpected for the reception. The very talented Chef’s Expressions prepared a masterpiece which rivaled the art in the gallery. When you look at the containers for the table arrangements your eyes are not fooling you, that is galvanized duct work dressed up with silver wire bent to resemble handles or feet to create these unusual tureens. Others containers are that slinky-looking stuff that is used to vent dryers. Home Depot is there when you need them! Instead of an escort table, we had an escort wall where brightly colored letters dangled from the ceiling with seat assignments attached. Ribbon streamers, lines of Gerber daisies, votives, garlands of crystals, and strings of miniature disco balls hung from the ceiling for a festive feeling. And of course we couldn’t resist a disco ball (actually a big ball and a dozen others connected by mirrored garlands) over the dance floor.

Wow! Talk about creativity. Romance of Flowers ~ amazing! See all the photos here!

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Our thanks to Holger Thoss Photography and Romance of Flowers for sharing these moments with us!

More incredible vendors from the day …

Ceremony and Reception Venue: American Visionary Art Museum, Event design and flowers: Romance of Flowers, Photography: Holger Thoss, Caterer: Chef’s Expressions, Lighting: Perkins Event Productions, String Quartet: St. Charles Quartet, Makeup: Debbie Federico, Hair: Padma Salon, Dress: Jenny Packham, Groom’s Attire: Brooks Brothers, Bridesmaid Dresses: Anthropologie, Veil: Bridal Veil Falls, NYC, Invitations: Cheree Berry Stationery, Rentals: Party Rentals, Additional detail photos: Kakki at Romance of Flowers

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Another wedding from Romance of Flowers coming up!

This wedding is all about the pretty. It’s East Coast style done to perfection with a little bit of prep, a little bit of pure elegance and an incredibly lovely understated style. Planned and designed by the forever fab Elizabeth Bailey Weddings and photographed by one of the best, Arthur Remanjon, all of you East Coasters are totally going to fall for this perfectly pretty affair.

We are so sad to say that the photographer behind this beautiful day, Arthur Remanjon, passed away shortly after the wedding. We hope that this feature speaks for itself as to just how talented, just how lovely he was. We are so honored to be able to brag about him here today.

This cute couple was all about personality. Little things, like the steel band for cocktail hour and the blue crab lollipops that served as escort cards, made the wedding that much more charming. They went for a laid back preppy style inspired by the fantastic color palette of the sea and the grounds. With green paper lanterns decorating the ceremony aisle, ring bearer pillows made of bright green flowers, blue sea glass chargers and a collection of antique silver vases and pitchers used as centerpieces…the wedding married the seaside theme with a sense of understated elegance. As for bride’s favorite detail…the monogrammed “L” for her new last name that was threaded through different elements, from the moss monogram hanging in the tree to the linen monogram dinner napkins that were given as gifts after the wedding.

Wedding Day Vendors: The Gibson Island Yacht Club – site of the ceremony and reception / Elizabeth Bailey Weddings – wedding planner / Arthur Remanjon – wedding photographer / MyDeeJay – reception music / The Calvert Duo – ceremony music / The Mellowtones Steel Band – cocktail hour music / Karen’s Flower Market– florist / Graul’s Market in Annapolis – the wedding cake / Party Rental Ltd. – chairs and tabletop rentals / Karen Schoelkopf – calligraphy / The Pleasure of Your Company – invitations and table name cards

We know that MANY of you don’t have the luxury of outdoor weddings … or backyard garden receptions … and so today’s featured wedding might be … ummm … also hard to accomplish. But it’s SO cool! And Laura’s photographs are SO beautiful!

Laura Olson at In His Grace Photography shared Beth & Markus’ Maryland wedding with us and OH-IS-IT-PRETTY!

Markus & Beth were married one year ago (Happy Anniversary!) at Sacred Heart Parish of Glyndon, Maryland in the original Little Old Stone Chapel.

Their reception followed at ~ where else but a horse farm! Maryland’s Stallion Station to be exact.

Beth is an avid rider, thus the inspiration was born!

Such an amazing reception site … FANTASTIC photography, Laura!

“Lucky In Love” …

We thank ALL of you for sharing!

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Laura has a beautiful website with SO many gorgeous images …

In His Grace ~ Slideshows“whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is pure …”

In His Grace ~ Real Weddings

In His Grace ~ Menageries

In His Grace ~ Distant Lands

Today’s featured Little Black Book members are the Regeti’s! You are not going to believe the vibrancy of this wedding!

Donna, the stunning bride, was all about the details! She didn’t leave one stone unturned when it came to planning her magnificent July wedding.  An outdoor wedding in July? It takes a brave soul to attempt that … but Donna had everything planned to perfection!

Donna & Eric were married at Oxon Hill Manor in Maryland. The Manor sits high on a hill with a view of the Potomac River. There are formal English gardens, rose bushes surrounding a reflecting pool, and a large brick patio. Inside, are exquisite rooms with crystal chandeliers, wooden floors and fireplaces.

The Regeti’s expertly captured the brilliant splashes of color that were woven throughout the entire day in a blaze of glory!

Ohhhh my gosh … how cute is this little guy?

You see, as we said in the beginning … Donna & Eric were prepared for their high noon ceremony! And what a pretty picture that sea of umbrellas makes!

Donna ~ looking all calm and serene as she puts on the finishing touches before the big moment.

Her inner joy truly shines through …

… and so does Eric’s!

Love the little ring bearer! He looks like he could be just a wee bit mischievous if he felt so inclined!

The father-daughter dance, always such a sentimental moment …

But the flowers … oh my, the flowers … LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

The ultra-rich colors of the floral decor paired with the brightly colored linens added such a sense of welcome and warmth! In my mind, these rich reds, oranges, pinks and vibrant yellows scream JOY and HAPPINESS and give a clear indication that one heck of a celebration is about to begin!

Oh my! Donna & Eric’s wedding is just stunning! Our thanks to Regeti’s Photography and associate Ryan Harris for sharing! For more photographs from Donna & Eric’s wedding … be sure and visit their blog and website.

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La Shawn Lancaster with A Gracious Occasion did a FABULOUS jog helping Donna orchestrate this beautiful wedding and the amazing floral design was by Exquisite! Design Studio.

Anne and Bill Holland of Holland Photo Arts sent us today’s featured wedding because they know we love all things pretty AND because the beautiful bride, Erin, “found” them thru our Little Black Book. We LOVE it when we hear that!

Erin and Steve’s wedding was held on the grounds of Johns Hopkins’ Evergreen Museum and Library. What an amazing venue for a springtime wedding!

After the ceremony, they slipped away for a few of the Holland’s stunning signature portrait shots …

The wedding reception was held at the Carriage House, where “library cards” were laid out in neat little rows, each card with a particular guest’s name. (One of the Holland’s “fab finds” !) On the back was a note stating that ‘in lieu of favors, a donation was being made in their guests’ name toward Reading is Fundamental. You can see more photos of these on the Holland’s blog.

These lovely wedding flowers were designed by Radebaugh Florists.

How sweet are these gingham ribbons on the wedding programs? This wedding is a such a great example of how to infuse real personality and fun into an otherwise formal and elegant affair!

VERY cute groom’s attire!

We really thank Holland Photo Arts for these fantastic photographs of Erin and Steve’s glorious wedding day! You’ve managed to capture the festive mood as well as the seriousness of the moments in one fell swoop!! Although we know you don’t need to be “found” … we hope that many, many, many more brides “find” you via Style Me Pretty!!

to see the full gallery, click here!

Congratulations, Erin & Steve from all of us here at SMP!!

Love, love, love all of the girly details that this bride infused into her day. Her color palette of Tiffany Blue and White is so crisp…sophisticated with a hint of prep. Super cute.

all photography by Jonathan Hanson

From Laya, the lovely bride…

I made one of a kind clutches for my bridesmaids – each one was different using various fabrics for the lining, as well as the details in the pleats, etc. I also made the hairclips worn by the flower girls.

Etsy was my main source for stationery and other decorations. My wedding invitations were designed and printed by Jennifer from Pink Lily Press. I also worked with Ashley Bowen, the designer/owner of 2BirdStone to create digital designs for map/direction inserts, table numbers, thank you cards and favor inserts/tags, inspired by my invitations – this gave me the opportunity to shop around for a printing company in my neighborhood to save money. The ring pillow was created by Rainsend, the Cake Topper by DK Designs, and my hairpiece was custom designed by LoBoheme. I had our photo guestbook custom designed by Amanda from Paperlust, and instead of seating cards, we had Giselle from GE Designs create a seating chart that matched our stationery. The chairback decorations were created by Maria from St Jude’s Creations using crepe paper.

Our wedding was everything I’d hoped for and more. Despite the weather channel’s predictions for rain, there was not a single dro pof rain all day and the sky was as clear as it could have been. The day really was filled with all the vintage charm the town of Havre de Grace could offer, with love and laughter, a whole lot of dancing, great music and amazing food!!!

Today, we are featuring the prettiest wedding sent to us by one of our readers. Which I love by the way. There is no reason for me to blab on and on when the gorgeous bride is here to share all of the deets!

Photography by Jonathan Hanson

From Laya…

My wedding colors were Tiffany blue, Ivory, and silver. My dress is by Watters – I loved the simple and flirty silhouette of the dress, especially the ruffles. The beaded sash added just enough sparkle to the ensemble. The bridesmaids’ and Flower Girls’ dresses were from J.Crew’s spring Wedding Collection. I love and live for J.Crew. I really wanted my attendants to be able to choose a dress that they felt most comfortable in. I also bought an after party wedding dress from J.Crew (I got it on sale for $70!) so I can continue the celebration in style.

As for the flowers, I knew I wanted white hydrangeas and peonies. The bouquets, boutonnieres and ceremony decorations were done by Amanda’s Florist. To save money, I only had Amanda incorporate peonies into my bouquet. I asked her to include pale pink peonies to add a touch of unexpected color and to make it super feminine. Amanda was always there when I had questions and was willing to do anything for my to fit my budget.

To save money, I arranged the centerpieces with a help of a friend. I had always loved flower arrangements in antique mason jars and galvanized buckets – I really got lucky and walked into one of the antique stores in Havre de Grace and got 15 antique blue mason jars for $1 each!  Each flower arrangement was accompanied by vintage lace doilies and tea light candles. I ordered 80 stems of white hydrangeas from Fifty Flowers – which we ended up only getting 40 2 days before the wedding…turned out to be a blessing in disguise because 40 hydrangeas were more than enough and arranged then 2 nights before the big day. We ended up having extra hyrangeas which Chasi placed everywhere. We used ribbons in different colors and width as accents.

More to come!

We are finally wrapping up our Cayman Island trip and although I am sad to leave, I am ready to get back home and see my little girl! Plus, it’s all rainy here so it’s the perfect day to leave!

Today, I wanted to share this adorable wedding that came through our office from a pretty devoted SMP reader. She has taken a lot of time to give us all of the fabulous details (which I love) so I am just going to get right to it!

From Laya…

We were married May 9, 2009 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and Vandiver Inn, Havre de Grace, MD. I love anything vintage-inspired. I’ve always pictured my wedding to be in a garden, or in an old mansion, maybe at a vineyard, or in a barn. A wedding that is intimate, with charming, shabby-chic details that are one of a kind. I didn’t want an event that was too formal – I wanted our guests to feel like they were at a backyard wedding reception. I really wanted a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

Photography by Jonathan Hanson

The Vandiver Inn, an old, Victorian B&B in Havre de Grace, Maryland, gave us everything I wanted in a wedding and more. The interior of the mansion was decorated with antique furniture and accents that I literally swooned when I first walked in the mansion. The pavilion out back, where we had our reception, was simply adorned with twinkle lights and chandeliers on the ceiling and the sides with white curtains. The pavilion had just enough decoration, giving me enough room to create a space that I wanted. We also booked all the rooms in the main mansion and in the two adjacent houses – total of 18 rooms for our closest friends and family, to make it a weekend long celebration. John and Susan, the owners of the mansion (and Susan is also the ONLY chef – exquisite food!) and Chasi, their wedding coordinator, made the planning process so easy and flawless. Chasi was there for me throughout the plannig process and on the day of the wedding, she really was like a Fair Godmother – what ever I needed/wanted, she was there to take care of me.

So much more to come!

If you’re just joining us, today, a quick recap …

Mikel and David’s wedding in Maryland was one of pure joy for their families. Amy & Srinu Regeti have shared many stunning photographs of the day, but for the full effect, we really wish you would view the slideshow on their site {Regeti’s Photography}.  Although the words true love may sound cliché in this day and age, the term so perfectly describes the looks on Mikel and David’s faces throughout the entire event

Needless to say, the photography is absolutely brilliant!

And what an absolutely awesome family they have now!

According to Amy Regeti, Mikel left nothing out when planning her wedding … down to the tiniest details!

Thank you so much to the Regeti’s for sharing their fabulous photos with us.

And a huge Congratulations from all of us at Style Me Pretty to Mikel, David and family!

Mikel and her lovely ladies … David and his dashing men … the stage is set for a very special day.

From behind the scenes, this is what the Regeti’s, their photographers shared with us about Mikel and David’s wedding …

“As we arrived at this private residence in St. Micheals, Maryland, we were greeted by Amaryllis’ beautiful arrangements perched upon the entrance columns sending chills down our spine with suspense that something wonderful was going to take place, very soon. We pulled up to the house as Rick’s team was very busily making final preparations within this tiny beautiful Chapel that had been constructed in every perfect way possible from the lighting to location.

Mikel and I hit it off almost immediately over the phone and needless to say we are certainly happy that she and David decided to use us as their wedding photographers. We love being part of events that are so real. Real in the sense that the couple never loses touch with what truly matters and that, is family.

It was unmistakable to see how in love these two truly are… as Mikel looks up to David and has this joyous and inebriated “in love” look about her. David’s love for her shows through his touch and with each glimpse of her. Their love is contagious to everyone around them.”

These stunning centerpieces were provided by Amaryllis Flowers, a highly acclaimed floral and event design studio in Washington,DC.

There are SO many ways to describe high-end, elegant affairs, but it usually comes out sounding rather stuffy. Mikel & David’s celebration looks anything but stuffy! Refined elegance. Simple sophistication. Posh, but not showy. Family-friendly. Joyful. Overflowing with ambience. Put this all together and it totals up to a wedding celebration that any of us would love to have attended!

We have a few more photos from this lovely celebration of love, so check back in a bit…

Have you ever heard a song, and you just knew you were in the right place at the right time? A song that instantly takes you back to a remarkable place and time in your life that was filled with new and amazing experiences?

That’s how I felt today when I went over to the Regeti’s Photography website.  Amy and Srinu Regeti are two of our premier Little Black Book photographers, and honestly, I LOVE their site. I’m no expert on websites, so I’m not going to be very good at describing why it’s so cool, but … it’s very DYNAMIC. Their featured weddings are dropped into and out of the maze of images in rhythm with the haunting melody that first captured my attention, and it’s SO unbelievably mesmerizing … seriously. I was spellbound.

One of the weddings, in particular, caught my eye, because they had sent it to us awhile back. And this is where it gets tricky. While I absolutely want to show it to you here on Style Me Pretty … it is WAY more powerful seeing it set to music on the Regeti’s website.

Please check it out on their website, first. Then come back and we’ll share the behind the scenes story of Mikel and David’s Wedding as told to us by Amy Regeti.

Okay, now this next set of pink inspired flowers is about as vivid as it gets…bright shots of pink for all of you brides out there that crave color! Goes to show that pink definitely doesn’t have to be soft and timid!

Top Row by Romance of Flowers / Center Row by Modern Day Design / Bottom Left by Verbena / Bottom Right by Modern Day Design

We have an oh-my-gosh big giveaway coming so stay tuned!

Honestly, the most stylish part of this wedding was the fashions and the flowers. Each dress, each centerpieces, each bouquet complimented one another to perfection…all without seeming overly matched or coordinated.

First, the fashion…the girls wore butter yellow dresses from Simple Silhouette, with the maid of honor simply tying a navy ribbon around her waist. The boys were in classic black tuxes. I will see if Samantha will give us the full run down of vendors when she is back from her honeymoon.

The bride had on a very simple, but incredibly elegant mermaid style gown. It was SPECTACULAR.

On to the flowers…Sam and Ryan went for that “fresh from the garden” look…with peonies, lilies, roses and a slew of other varieties. They managed to pull of a garden style with a sweet sophistication that is incredibly difficult to achieve. The centerpieces all used vases of varying shapes, heights and sizes and were filled in creative ways with green beans, brussels sprouts and banana leaves. The end result was gorgeous.

The bouquet…

The centerpieces…

All in all, the wedding was beautiful. I will say that with or without the perfect details, the wedding would still have been just as lovely. It is incredible how stylish good friends and a loving family can be.