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

Smaller Scale Weddings Don’t Mean Smaller Details and This Parisian Inspired Editorial Will Give You All Of the Proof!

A little PSA for anyone out there planning a small wedding…a small wedding doesn’t have to mean small details! In fact, we think just the opposite – the smaller the wedding, the bigger the details, and today’s editorial shoot at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, planned and designed by K. Saw Weddings is about to give you ALL of the proof. Inspired by chic, Parisian styles, they delivered a small yet mighty wedding display featuring jaw-dropping florals by Le Bloomerie from the ceremony arch to the tablescape and not one but FOUR different gowns…even mixing in some colored dresses to the different setups! Check it out below to see all of Stella Yang Photography‘s stunning images!

From K Saw Weddings…Our vision for this shoot is dedicated to all the couples out there who are planning their weddings in a very creative way. Smaller-scale weddings are now a trend, but it does not mean you have to compromise your beautiful wedding vision. As a matter of fact, indulging with unique details to express your style as a couple is now the best opportunity to do so!

Creating this dream shoot very much represents me as a wedding designer and a stylist. I’ve always been in love with anything chic, fashion-forward with hints of elegance in all the right places. I call this editorial “A Chic Parisian Rendezvous” because I have always been inspired by Parisian styles where vintage meets modern which equals GLAM. The color palette I’ve chosen includes black and pink as my main color with a touch of blush and coral hues on our florals to neutralize and soften our palette. I’ve incorporated different types of textures from my velvet table linens to tulle gowns which all blended well together.

Gathering the perfect vendors to make my vision come to life is the first step in planning this editorial shoot. Collaborating with a talented photographer, Stella Yang who captured every little detail so perfectly, followed by Kyle of Studio Arcady who filmed this shoot creating the perfect vibe I was exactly looking for. It started raining the day we produced this editorial and the sky was gloomy but he pulled it off so beautifully as we selected upbeat music to lift the mood. It may rain and pour but the show must go on!

The first thing that inspired me was the Pink and black dresses designed by Millia London. I’ve always been in love with the Black and Pink Combo which reminds me of chic storefronts in Paris! I thought Fairmont Sonoma would be a perfect venue for this, with their blush buildings- a reminiscent of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in South of France. Because couples in California are unable to do destination weddings at this time, we learn to appreciate the beauty of what’s in front of us and that’s our very own wine country in California. Words from Fairmont Sonoma, “ Since first opening our doors, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa has set the stage for thousands of Happily-Ever-Afters. Nestled in the heart of wine country, we invite you to host a destination wedding your guests will not forget! Adorned with lush landscaping, and a variety of historic reception spaces, we can’t wait to bring your wedding vision to life.”

For our Ceremony Scene, Melissa of Le Bloomerie created a breathtaking arch full of garden roses. From Melissa, “ There is no better way to pair the romance of Paris but with the most elegant Garden roses, Eugenie with her feminine tulle like petals, Constance and her soft delicate petals that fade from the darkest pink to a light shade of cream, and the old world elegance of the Romantic Antique rose. The wedding arch was filled with an array of ombré garden roses, their ruffles, and fruity scents remind one of a stroll down Champs D’Elysees. The bridal bouquet captured the modern and chic flair of Paris with garden roses with and lace-like sweet peas.“

Our bride wore glamorous gowns by BERTA from one of the most sought-after bridal boutiques in San Francisco, SF Bridal Galleria. She wore an off-shoulder mermaid gown embroidered with florals and glittery patterns which added glam to her whole look. For the reception dress, she wore a sweetheart neck-lined gown with a floral bodice and tulle A-line with a jaw-dropping slit! Our beautiful bride was glammed up by one of the most talented HMUA based in San Francisco, Rachel Lusk. Words from Rachel, “ I wanted to keep Vanessa’s bridal look effortless and sophisticated, focusing on soft yet glamorous makeup and refined, polished hairstyles. Glowing skin, soft waves, and a chic chignon paired exquisitely with her Berta gowns!” We’ve collaborated with Lindsay Marie Designs by selecting her dainty little earrings to keep a softer bridal look. We’ve also featured Trumpet and Horn’s Edessa ring in Amethyst enclosed in dainty diamonds to add a hint of opulence to our design. Next to our bride is our groom looking dapper in his white Tux from The Black Tux rocking the European cut paired with his nice velvet slip-on shoes adding a rich texture to his outfit.

We’ve created a luxury picnic set up where our Bride wore my favorite Pink Tulle Dress from Millia London paired with Nikki Bootie from Bella Belle Shoes. Luxury Picnic by Cali Picnics in collaboration with tablescape rentals from Amore Society to complete the look. I’ve selected blush pink chargers with a lace pattern to infuse softness to the scene paired with chiffon napkins adorned with a matching menu by The Vintage Inkwell. Words from Molly of The Vintage Inkwell, “The menu and name card combo has a custom modern crest and a soft silk ribbon to complement the beautiful pink florals. “ We also collaborated with Lux Event Rentals who assisted me in designing our cocktail hour set up. Words from Nick of Luxe Event Rentals, “For cocktail hour, our couple enjoyed a glamorous custom lounge with sumptuous blush velvets, modern silhouettes, and sleek gold accents paired with marble high top tables and a classic statement bar.”

For our Reception Scene, I’ve incorporated the Black and Blush combo on my tablescape selection with a modern pattern in black and white on my tablescape with smoke goblets to pair with. I’ve selected mauve velvet linen and silk runners from Amore Society and deeper blush chairs from Lux Event Rentals for a glamorous vibe. To complete the look, we’ve added lush floral centerpieces designed by Le Bloomerie. From Melissa, “ The tablescape captivated the pleasure and fun-like journey that Paris often takes the traveler own with pops creamy peach ranunculus and pink ranunculus.”

For our stationery flat lay, we infused a hint of vintage yet a chic vibe on our design and color palette selection. Words from Molly, “ The Hampshire suite reflects classic vintage designs, but we wanted to add some modern touches with the bold type font and deep blue velvet ribbon and envelopes.” Stella Yang styled and photographed our flat lay so beautifully which summarized our whole theme.

For our Cake moment, I’ve collaborated with WhaT’s More Cake to create a stunning blush cake. Words from What’s More Cake, “ I believe that every woman had a pink dream when she was a girl. When it comes to the ultimate Chic cake, I wanted it to be in a color palette with different shades of pink. The flexibility and elasticity of fondant helped me to create a textured yet fluid canvas. I chose to use handmade wafer paper flowers to bring in some softness and elegance, while the whole structure of the cake feels modernism.”

To conclude our dream shoot, we incorporated another fashion-forward detail for our last scene as a cherry on top where our model wore a black tulle Millia London dress where she wore a headpiece specially curated by Melissa of Le Bloomerie, words from Melissa, “The headpiece captured the Avant-garde and couture world of old and new Paris alike with hellebores, garden roses, and sweet peas.” We added this detail as a unique bridal yet fashion-forward portrait to inspire brides to express themselves in their own unique way!

The Flamingo Nursery that’s Breaking Hearts Left and Right…It’s that Cute

Flamingos are having their moment in the spotlight and so to is wallpaper. Now mash each of those pretty details together and this Cole & Sons papered nursery is the result. Blending vintage finds and family heirlooms with modern accessories and whimsical pink flamingos, it’s a dream space perfect for little Poppy James. Tour every cute nook and cranny captured by Shanni Weilert in the vault.

This is the flamingo infused nursery of my daughter, Poppy James. Her room is a blend of new contemporary and vintage finds both from flea markets as well as items from my husband and I’s childhoods.

Nursery Sources

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Stocking the Nursery Bookshelves

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Stocking the Nursery Bookshelves

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Photography: Shanni Weilert

A Floral Adorned Oak Tree Was the Main Event at This Sunstone Winery Summer Wedding

Who wouldn’t dream of saying “I do” underneath a floral adorned oak tree surrounded by rolling vineyard hills… I mean, can you say dreamy?! Today’s gorgeous couple did just that at Sunstone Winery in front of 40 of their nearest and dearest. Forage Florals took inspiration from the natural landscape to beautify the wedding design with her gorgeous arrangements, while Santa Barbara Elopement had the day going off without a hitch. Lucky for us, Sposto Photography was there to capture every last detail so we can swoon over this full gallery for days to come.

From the Sposto Photography … This gorgeous intimate destination wedding included around 40 guests, all of which traveled from Canada to celebrate Stephanie and Cole’s union. The day was perfect and Stephanie and Cole are the kindest people with amazing chemistry in front of the camera. The ceremony took place in the vineyard under an ancient oak tree adorned with wedding florals.

Their cocktail party included a delicious wine tasting from Sunstone Winery, simple round table setups with pedestal floral arrangements, vineyard cross-back chairs matching the ceremony seating and blue velvet linens that aligned with the groom’s custom suit. I just love that this simple, stylish on-site cocktail reception at the Villa.

From the Bride… Cole and I had our first date at a wine bar, fell in love touring wineries in Portugal, and took a wine tasting course to learn a new skill together – so getting married at a vineyard felt like the perfect fit. Although we live in Toronto, Canada, we came across Sunstone Villa in our venue search and could not imagine a more beautiful place. We invited an intimate group of our closest friends and family to join us. We wanted our wedding to feel like a vacation for our guests. We started the afternoon with champagne in the vineyard, followed by the ceremony, then wine tasting in the villa courtyard (all accompanied by a string quartet, which we felt complemented the setting beautifully).

We finished the day enjoying craft cocktails over sunset on the rooftop of Kimpton Canary Hotel, then with dinner paired with wine we specially chose. Although planned in less than 8 months, from more than 4,000 kilometres away, thanks to our amazing team of carefully selected vendors, the day came together perfectly (the floral arch created by Forage Florals was the stuff of dreams!). We are so grateful for these memories, and to have been able to share this experience with our friends and family.

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Sposto Photography

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A Colorful California Winery Wedding Full Of European Inspired Touches

If a destination wedding isn’t in the cards this year, why not bring the destination to you? This couple filled their special day with European touches that have us feeling like we’re on vacation. The bride and groom collaborated with Sisti & Co. to create a meaningful day that felt fresh and fun. Carmen Santorelli Photography was there to capture the love of the day and all the dreamy little details. Check out the full gallery for all the inspiration.

From the bride… Our vision for an intimate wedding included a romantic, sunset ceremony surrounded by our nearest and dearest. European cities are always lined with window boxes full of flowers, and we thought that would be another way to add a European touch to the ceremony.

We wanted to have a private, dinner reception to follow and as many traditional wedding elements incorporated as possible. We wanted to make sure that we represented the winery authentically since the owners are Italian, so we thought using seasonal hops and heuchera (coral bells) would be a beautiful way to tie in the beginning of the harvest season (the winery was actually harvesting grapes that day), with the eventual fall colors of the heuchera.

The current climate of our world right now may make things seem hopeless, but remember to hold on to the important things you have, such as your significant other and loved ones. It can be devastating to have to reschedule a wedding or start from scratch, but what I have learned is that love transcends all obstacles. Everything will fall into place one way or another.

A 400-Person Spring Wedding Turned Intimate Fall Affair At Camp Lucy

Believe it or not, this wedding was actually the scaled down version of Sarah and Ben’s original vision. Highland Avenue Events and Bows And Arrows produced an event with textured warmth, through peachy candles, soft-hued bouquets, and a romantic arch to frame the chapel at Camp Lucy. With health and safety as their top priority, the pair celebrated their love with their closest friends and family. If you’re searching for the perfect spring color palette, you need to view the full gallery of images, curated lovingly by Kayla Barker — and be ready to give your Pinterest board a major refresh!

From Lindsey of Highland Avenue Events… Sarah & Ben were planning a wedding for the history books. They were set to marry on April 18, 2020 at Camp Lucy surrounded by 400 guests, each who truly mattered to them and their families. At their final walkthrough in early March, we discussed this new virus going around but were hopeful it was more media-hype than something genuinely concerning. Within a week things were looking grim with the virus and we had to select a course of action as final counts and payments were due.

Sarah & Ben chose safety above all else and decided to postpone the large celebration. While the big gathering would wait, their love simply couldn’t. And with that, they held an intimate family-only ceremony at her parent’s home outside of Houston, TX on their original wedding date. It was full of emotions and love, and captured on video to share at their future larger gathering.

As the months passed, Sarah and Ben decided the best course for their larger celebration was a scaled-down version of the original plan. We would still hold it at Camp Lucy, but our design needed to be tweaked. As much as we all loved the “waves” of floral and suspended tube lights we planned through the Sperry tent along with so many other show stopping details, it felt overly extravagant given the circumstances and the current world situation.

We kept the feeling of textured warmth but shifted the design to help guests feel simultaneously celebratory and safe. Bows and Arrows shifted the floral waves into beautiful rings around the tent polls and the most romantic and lush arch framing the Ian’s Chapel bell tower. Our layered place settings were swapped out for rolled flatware and covered glasses, and our favors shifted from custom bottle openers to monogrammed masks. Guests were welcomed with colored wristbands indicating their comfort with close contact from others. We kept it as open-air as possible and provided ample lounge areas where friends could cozy-up at a distance. It was a drastic change from the wedding we dreamed of initially, but it evolved into a beautiful, thoughtful and unforgettable day that allowed Sarah, Ben and their dearest friends to gather safely in celebration of marriage. While weddings may look a bit different now, with the right planning and adjustments, love is most definitely not cancelled.

Edited by Lauren Megerdichian and Carly Zumar

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Bows and Arrows

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You Have To See The Flowers At This Florist’s Wedding

With a wedding florist as the bride, you know this special day is going to be spectacular. Show-stopping florals, foliage, and color by Mulberry and Moss lead the design aesthetic for a California wedding filled with charm. The couple turned to their close friends at Weddings by Susan Dunne to create a day that made their wildest dreams come true. Every image by Sposto Photography is more beautiful than the last. Watch the love unfold is the full gallery.

From the bride… My two sisters and two closest girlfriends were my bridesmaids. Getting ready with this small group was one of my favorite memories of the day. We toasted with champagne as we took photos and waited for guests to arrive.

Being a florist and part of the wedding industry myself, one of the many things that made this day so special to me was to have close friends as our wedding vendors. Our planner Susan of Weddings by Susan Dunne, our photographer Shauntelle of Sposto Photography, Kelley & Paul of 618 Studios, and my entire floral team are all people who are so dear to me, and to see them working together and pouring so much into making our day special was something that can only be described as magic.

When it came to planning wedding day details, the most important thing to both Joey and I was for our wedding to have an intentional, smooth flow, and an elegant high-end experience for our guests. What we ended up with was an intimate wedding with our closest friends and family, with an open-air reception, and – although this was a few pivots from our original vision – we now couldn’t imagine it any other way.

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Page Beauty

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Weddings by Susan Dunne

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A Covid Friendly 40th Birthday Party

For most of us, not being able to hug our favorite people has been the hardest part of 2020. Having people over for an impromptu drink, meeting up for a bite to eat or any other of those little moments we took for granted in years past. But even harder, is celebrating huge milestones – birthdays, graduations, weddings, babies born and relatives lost – without the people we love. Which is why today, we are soaking up the lovely in a 40th birthday – celebrating the lovely Kristan at Cora Bella Events – that was crafted in a way that felt safe and meaningful. Doesn’t get any better than this. Photos by Rachel Howden.

As a wedding planner during COVID-19, I wasn’t sure I wanted to dive into party planning mode when social bubbles opened-up a month or so before my 40th birthday. Most of my wedding couples had been postponed to 2021 and I was in one of the worst burnouts of my career. I could tell my creativity was suffering, and I needed time to rest, recover and collect myself.

I talked myself into doing a nice dinner at home with my husband Paul and putting a celebration off until I could do the big, fun bash I had originally envisioned. Once I gave myself permission to skip celebrating my 40th I felt a wave of relief wash over me, and with that I found renewed creative capacity emerging.

I got to planning an intimate, micro-distanced picnic, where I could have up to 12 of my dearest friends and family . After postponing nearly all my 2020 weddings, safety was my highest priority, which dovetailed nicely into guest comfort and experience.

I wanted my friends and family to have a few hours respite from the COVID world, and I knew that started with them feeling safe. We set-up hand washing and hand sanitizing stations. We sat households 6’ apart and wore masks when moving about the backyard. Each guest had their own picnic basket with a personalized wine glass.

I had a bartender pour all beverages to minimize high touch points throughout the day. After that, it was on to décor. The caterer had curated boho décor items for their social bubble picnics, so it was up to me to put my unique spin on it.

The overarching theme was “Cheers to 40 Years,” as I am known for my proclivity of finding a way to pair champagne with any cuisine or occasion.

I then added in neutral-chic-glam touches through rentals, florals, custom printed goods and favors. One of my favorite touches was partnering with my 15-year-old cousin, Daisy of Daisy May Co., for custom stickers to put on the hand sanitizer favors. They were gold foiled and read “Spread Cheer not Germs.”

While I was not her first customer, I was her first custom order. Her mom, April of Penny Ann Designs, handled the custom paper goods, so it was a quaint family affair.

No party of mine would be complete without my 13 years-young malti-poo, Truffles Marie. She is always happy to play fetch, sit in laps and give kisses to anyone who is willing.

When my guests arrived, the COVID world faded away as they grabbed a glass of bubbly, smiled, and said, “oh this is very much Kristan, why am I not surprised?”

And, with that I knew I had fulfilled my own brief. We had a lovely afternoon and I cherish the memories of my 40th. It was more meaningful and intimate than the big bash I thought I wanted. Looking back I wouldn’t change a thing.

Sometimes Altering Your Wedding Plans Makes For the Dreamiest Southern California Backyard Wedding Day!

Sometimes the best advice given is to ‘just get married!’….and I have to say that may be my favorite piece of advice that I have heard from a COVID bride! For this couple, their elaborate dream venue wedding quickly changed once the pandemic hit and their vendors changed gears to an intimate, backyard wedding at the groom’s family home! With a beautiful table and multiple lounge areas overlooking the water, Intertwined Events transformed this backyard into the couples perfect wedding day. Full of overflowing floral installations by Lily Roden Floral Studio, and an adorable flower girl (pup,) Christine Skari had no shortage of photo op’s! Check it out below and remember….just get married.

From Lily Roden Floral Studio…Annmarie and Mike were great friends in high school… They even attended prom together. After college, they ran 5 marathons together, including the New York Marathon, and started traveling together, but they didn’t start dating until their late 20s. Mike relocated to Dallas after they started dating. Mike made it official when he popped the question in Carmel by the Sea, California.

With two very busy work schedules, Mike and Annmarie quickly set a wedding date with the help of Intertwined Events and chose their dream venue, Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel.

As preparations progressed the couple rode the ups and downs of planning a wedding during Covid-19. As numbers in California worsened, they made the difficult decision to downsize their lavish Ritz Carlton affair and instead tie the knot in an intimate church ceremony and celebrate at Mike’s family home.

All vendors quickly changed gears and began to design an epic backyard reception, which included multiple lounges overlooking the ocean and a show-stopping floral installation adorning the front door for all guests to enjoy. Annmarie and Mike didn’t want to sacrifice a single detail if they didn’t have to. Annmarie’s advice to any Covid bride is “just get married”… an intimate elopement can be just as romantic as a lavish bash!

On their wedding day, Southern California graced us with the most beautiful sunshiny day. Annmarie started the day by running 6 miles at sunrise while Mike relaxed at home with his groomsmen. The couple recalls one of their favorite things was actually getting to see and talk to their small group of wedding guests, which included their dog, flower girl Henley (who has since gone viral in her flower leash and collar on TikTok).

In the end, Annmarie and Mike wouldn’t have it any other day. The ceremony was intimate, private, and romantic! It included their original design and their closest family and friends… not a single detail was sacrificed!

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Intertwined Events

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A Field Of Whimsy Dinner That Celebrates Friendship in the Prettiest Way

Set in a wild field in Ontario, this editorial cherishes life’s most special moments. Since the pandemic has affected so many relationships, this shoot celebrates togetherness and friendship in the prettiest of ways. In whimsical and ethereal fashion, Little Bird Event Co designed a setup that is fresh, beautiful, and original. The table-length floral design in which The Bourbon Rose created is what we call the epitome of lush. From the softly lit candles to the bride’s fanciful Hannah Tikkanen gown, this is the shoot of our dreams. For more daydream worthy images, head to the full gallery, captured by the genius that is Vicki Bartel.

From Vicki Bartel… Inspired by the current times, an intimate gathering to celebrate the things we treasure most – love, friendship, togetherness, and of course a good meal.

Set in a wild field, full of all of our dreams, dining under an angelic sunset, friends broke bread and created memories to last a lifetime. Mixing vintage elements with new designs, it was pivotal to create a scene that spoke to our senses for a farm to table dining experience.

From the fresh florals adorning the table in our favorite palette of toffee, ivory, blush and dusty rose, to the meal served, every sense was captivated and revitalized.

Infusing seasonal goodness, including local fruits and vegetables, with the gorgeously curated paper good details, the table was set for the meal of our dreams.

Edited by Lauren Megerdichian and Carly Zumar

6 Rules in Designing a Practical Playroom with Pretty (Forever) Style

Having 3 kids who range in age from 6 to 12, I know that playroom chaos is real. There are so many toys, so much wear and tear. And so. much. mess. So building a space that is both functional for the kids (that they can easily clean themselves!) and pretty at the same time is a challenge. But with a few simple rules, it’s totally and completely doable. Need proof? Keep on reading! The darling playroom below is designed by With Mabel and photographed by Vicki Bartel.

While the playroom mess is inevitable, we do believe that there are a few tricks that can keep it from getting out of control, from the rugs you choose to the types of storage your install. First up? Pattern Play.

CONCEAL WITH PATTERNED RUGS. A good rug is the foundation, the starting point, to any successfully designed play space. While there are a lot of great wipeable flooring options on the market, they don’t always check the “pretty” box. If you want the kids to really be comfortable and play for hours (so that you can have that much needed coffee/wine/Bravo break), and you want to keep your style sanity, a soft multi-colored, pattered rug is just the ticket. The pattern and color will help disguise any spills and stains that happen over the years which will go a long way in helping to make sure the room doesn’t age and that it retains its original look.

OVERKILL ON STORAGE. Most playrooms don’t come with wall to wall built ins, so making your own storage solution is key. For my own playroom (not seen here) we actually bought 5 bottom kitchen cabinets with feet from IKEA. The center 3 were drawers, and the ends were cabinets with shelves. They fit perfectly against a long wall and provide more storage than we need. Well, so we thought, because as it turns out…I’m raising 3 hoarders. Bottom line? More storage than you need is KEY to ensuring that the kids have a spot for everything and can do much of the cleanup on their own.

CREATE DESIGNATED PLAY SPACES. We have a lego table, a place to watch TV, a grocery/kitchen space and a book nook. Creating specific areas designated to their favorite activities ensures that the mess stays contained into its own space. Each space should have storage for toys, markers, etc – even simply in the form of baskets, a good art cart or lego bins.

ADD SHELVING. Shelving is great for many reasons. For one, it can preserve anything that they make that might feel special. Wonderful art projects, complicated lego builds, special gifts that they don’t want damaged. It can also keep the more fragile toys away from the destructive hands of little siblings. Or, they can just be used to hold their favorite books, cover-side out, so that they add both a decor moments and a nice temptation to actually read the books!

EMBRACE COLOR. Not just in the carpet, but all over the space. The more you try to stick to a color palette, the messier the room will seem when toys are brought in that don’t fit the look. Embrace color from the very beginning – in the art, in the books, in the furniture – and the brightly colored toys that the kids love, will always seem like they have a place.

PURCHASE WITH MESS IN MIND. Whether you choose paint that you can easily wipe down – furniture covered in sunbrella fabric, tables that don’t soak up markers and paints and well, kid stuff – make your purchases with mess in mind. Will save you enormous cleaning headaches and will ensure that with a sponge and a spray, your space will be good as new. I say this as I stare at a wooden craft table that has glitter baked into each and every crevice.

There are so many wonderful ways to ensure that even the kids’ favorite spot in the house fits in with the greater home design and we hope that we have cracked the code on a few of them. And just because we full believe in your power to design pretty and yet practical spaces, here’s one last bonus tip to get you started.

Bonus Tip: WHEN ONE COMES IN, ONE GOES OUT. For every new toy that your kids bring in, they must donate an old one. Easier said than done, I know. But if you can start this rule when they are very little, you just might bypass any inclination to hold on to old toys that ultimately just clutter up your space and make it harder and harder to retain the adorable style that you started with.

Photography: Vicki Bartel | Design: With Mabel | Builder: Gray Development

A Breathtaking Pop Of Blue Wedding In Aspen

When Colorado natives Tyler and Lindsey got engaged, they knew Aspen was the place to make all of their wildest wedding dreams come true. The bride, owner of Bello & Blue Events, with the help of her team combined the spirit of the wild west with high-end glitz and glamor for a day guests won’t soon forget. Neutral tones mixed with pops of blue beautifully play with the majestic Rocky Mountains in the background. Every incredible inch was perfectly documented by Lauren Fair Photography. Don’t miss all the fabulous details in the full gallery.

From the bride… We loved the wood doors we had at the entrance of the meadow. Tyler and I picked those out at a warehouse sale and had them refurbished so they could stand alone in the meadow and create a special entrance with double doors as you might see in a beautiful church.

We chose ghost chairs for the ceremony seating so the setting could really shine, and accented the scene with lush floral along the back of the chairs, a lush rose petal “aisle runner”, and a lovely organic arch dripping in greenery, and our favorite flowers. It looked like it belonged in the setting, like it grew right out of the meadow, which is exactly what I was going for.

One of our favorite design details was our bar – We had a custom sketch of the ceremony view drawn and inlay into the bar front. Behind were shelves filled with beautiful glassware and an acrylic sign that had our monogram. The sketches and monogram hang in our house today as a special reminder of our favorite day.

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Elysium Productions

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Lauren Fair Photography

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A Jaw-Dropping Two Day Wedding In Lake Como With Persian and Lebanese Influence

Villa Balbiano is truly an awe-inspiring Italian jewel, so Sogol and Jad made the perfect decision to host their wedding at one of the most glamorous locations on Lake Como. As they come from two different backgrounds, The Lake Como Wedding Planner worked with the couple to uniquely plan and design this amazing event that embraced both their traditions. Ratti Flora worked her magic to display the most eye-catching purple wisteria which hung over the reception. One word to describe this celebration? Magical. Fall in love with the full gallery of images, captured amazingly by Manisol Wedding.

From Manisol Wedding… This is a two-day Wedding in Villa Balbiano, Lake Como. The couple, Sogol and Jad, live in Dubai but have Iranian and Lebanese heritage, respectively: therefore, they decided to have a two-day Persian-Lebanese Wedding (with a twist!) to embrace both their traditions. Rachel Birthistle and her team, The Lake Como Wedding Planner, took care of organizing and designing this amazing event in the perfect setting of Villa Balbiano. Built by the end of the Sixteenth Century, Villa Balbiano is the perfect venue for a large destination wedding, its garden is perfect for a big tensile-structure or open-air dinner! In this case, the couple used the symmetrical lakeside garden for the first part of the wedding (the traditional Sofreh), and the front of the villa for the second part (the Wedding ceremony called Zaffa). On the first day, Sogol and Jad had the Iranian ceremony of the Sofreh.

During the Sofreh, the bride and groom sit in front of a table filled with symbolic items and exchange their rings and vows, while their female best friends read love poems and thoughts to them. Sogol and Jad wanted something a little different here, so Rachel and her team designed a modern take on the traditional setup. Using monochrome colors and perspex plinths to display the items. Every item on the table has a specific meaning: the mirror represents bringing light and brightness to the couple’s future, the spices represent protection against bad luck, the almonds represent fertility and prosperity, and so on. The ceremony took place in the lake-facing garden of Villa Balbiano. All the guests, and the spouses, arrived there by water taxi and enjoyed an Italian-style aperitif afterward. In contrast to the decor of the evening, wedding guests were asked to wear light-colored dresses and suits; whilst Sogol wore a stunning Victoria Beckham white jumpsuit while Jad rocked a black and white suit. The day ended with a big pre-wedding party with DJs and live musicians in the halls of Villa Balbiano.

The second day was the actual wedding and seated reception. Sogol and Jad got ready in the amazing rooms of Villa Balbiano, while the team of The Lake Como Wedding planner and Rattiflora were preparing one of the most beautiful set-ups we had ever seen: three open-air imperial tables with small gazebos above that were filled with rich colored flowers and purple wisteria hanging over them. Which by night created the most beautiful glow above the guests. Sogol and Jad’s wedding ceremony followed the Lebanese tradition of the Zaffa. The Zaffa is an ancient wedding march in which the groom and his friends, accompanied by Arabic drummers and dancers, walk towards the wedding ceremony. It is somehow similar to the Indian Baarat. Jad had one – and it was really impressive and exciting! – walking into the backyard garden of Villa Balbiano. Once Sogol stepped out of the villa, holding hands with her mother and father, the music changed to violins and a romantic first kiss proclaimed them Husband and Wife. After the ceremony, we shot some couple pictures inside the halls of Villa Balbiano and then headed to the dining area. The dinner was accompanied by three Italian tenors singing and preceded by speeches served by the couple’s best friends. After the dinner and cutting cake in front of the lake, the party started: there were DJs, live music, and even a full casino (with S&J branded dollars!) to celebrate the night away. It was a stunning wedding that will always be in our hearts. Some words from the bride: “Magic was a word I so often heard but never encountered until I got to Lake Como. I decided that day if I were to ever get married this is where it had to be. A few years later I was back at lake Como celebrating my wedding. I so often go back to the pictures that my wonderful photographer took, capturing the essence of that weekend. The air was fresh, the lake sparkly and the music and laughter of my guests filled the space. I fell in love over and over again. My husband and I couldn’t have picked a better destination to celebrate our love or a more perfect and impeccable team behind us. Thank you Lake Como Wedding Planners for introducing us to the best teams out there️ – we cannot wait to have our anniversary there this time with our little boy Noah!

From the planners… We had such a wonderful time planning and designing this wedding with the mix of traditions that made it really special and unique to Sogol and Jad. We loved the fact that they were open to doing something a little less traditional to reflect their personal style. The glycine over the tables really reflected the local area which during spring becomes full of the stunning flowers cascading all around the lake. We love to bring all these elements together, the location, the traditions, and the tastes of the clients that really make a wedding unique.

From the Photographers and Videographers… Sogol and Jad’s wedding was simply amazing to witness. The love they share between each other and with their friends and families from all over the world filled the days with magic. Villa Balbiano is an amazing venue to shoot at and the whole mood of the wedding was the definition of Beauty. It is definitely one of the weddings we remember with the highest joy!

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Edited by Lauren Megerdichian and Carly Zumar

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ManiSol Wedding

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The Heritage Collection

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A Classic Home Tour Full of Gorgeous Pattern

I am all for pattern and color but often struggle with finding a way to make it seem cohesive and elegant. This home designed by Banner Day is a lesson in all of the above. From the moment you step through that high gloss black door, you’re met with stunning wallpaper, beautiful pops of color and pattern and insanely good lighting. And you best believe I’m tucking that sun room in my “Must Have Someday” folder. Tour the full space captured by Colin Price right here.

Well situated amongst the leafy lanes of Burlingame, sits a picturesque house on a lovely corner. Complete with a white picket fence, this house overflows in charm with all the details that matter, coved ceilings, arched doorways, and original hardware.

Using just a bit of effort, we transformed this house into a home. When husband and wife have different ideas of how to furnish a home it can be a challenge or an opportunity to introduce and implement new ideas.

Although the clients both loved the traditional aesthetic there were strong opinions on both sides regarding certain aspects of each room. We found compromise and collaboration, resulting in a stunning home.

Photography: Colin Price | Interior Design: Banner Day

Party Theme Idea: Al Fresco Flower Arranging

As the weather warms and yet we are still tethered to the rules of social distancing, we’re always looking for safe and fulfilling ways to gather with our friends and family. One look at this perfect Flower Arranging Party and we knew we had found our next get together! Designed by the lovely Darcy of Seascape Flowers, planned by E Events Co. and photographed by Carlie Statsky, this is proof that some pretty stems and great food are all you need for a wonderful Spring celebration!

From Darcy of Seascape Flowers…My mom and I own a boutique flower shop in Santa Cruz, where we specialize in everyday flower deliveries, weddings and events. We always love to get together with our wedding friends and I’ve been dreaming about doing something out at the farm ever since the day we signed on the dotted line.

I noticed that people had been struggling emotionally and I also know that flowers make people happy and spark joy. Thus, the seed was planted. Let’s have a social distancing flower workshop party with our friends! But what I realized after the date was selected and the invitations had been sent… it was also the day after my moms 60th birthday! So it was a win all the way around.

While a flower making party seems like something only a florist can pull off, think again! With a little creative thinking and some thoughtful planning, it’s a wonderful opportunity to bring friends together, to brighten everyone’s day and to leave guests with a beautiful way to infuse beauty into their home.

For our own get together, we started with a tour of the farm while drinking ice cold margaritas. We then sang happy birthday to my mom and dove right into our flower making adventures. After our guests were satisfied with their design, we ate fried chicken that we had pre-packed in individual containers, along with cake and other sweets and treats.

It was just perfect! Everyone left with a beautiful bouquet and a smile. Ever since, I’ve been planning the next workshop (behind my moms back) and I can’t wait to have everyone come out to our farm again!

Through this pandemic, I have learned that flowers are more important than to simply to grace someone’s event or home. Flowers make people feel good, they make people happy from the inside out. And if ever there was a need for a simple and easy way to capture happiness, now is the time.

Host a Flower Arranging Party of Your Own
Here is everything you need to pull off a seamless floral party from supplies to cocktails.

FLOWERS. If you host your party on a Sunday, you can hit up local farmers markets for inexpensive blooms. If not, don’t worry. Places like Trader Joe’s and local garden centers carry beautiful flowers that also don’t break the bank. And if that doesn’t work, hit up your local florist or garden center a week ahead of time, explain what you are doing and see if they can order you flowers in bulk from their wholesale market or can offer you a discount on stems themselves. Having larger blooms like Hydrangeas, will cut down on the amount needed per person. As will greenery clippings from your yard that can really help fill out the bouquets or arrangements.

Pro Tip. “When building your bloom bar, try to stay within a particular color palette. It will help your guests’ designs come together easily and makes for a beautiful display.”

STATIONS. Each person will need a place to craft their bouquets or arrangements. A few 6′ foldable tables covered with inexpensive fabric or table linens will do the trick. If you don’t have one, one of your friends just might. So do rental companies and they are often quite affordable.

TOOLS. Pruning shears, pretty ribbon, buckets for collecting stems, scissors.

Pro Tip. Be sure to have plenty of clippers for everyone! My favorite are these from ARS. They are light weight and hold an edge really well. Or, you can always go to your local hardware store and find them in their garden section.

SUPPLIES. Large floral buckets filled with water (or any vessel to hold the bulk flowers), Mason Jars / Vases (for arrangements) or Butcher Paper (cut in squares) for bouquets, pretty ribbon/twine (for securing bouquets), pitchers of water for guests to fill their vessel.

Pro Tip. If your guests are going to be bringing their own vase, make sure you have easy access to a water supply. I like having pre-filled watering cans on hand to make sure that everyone can jump right into designing!

FOOD & DRINKS. Seeing that we are still rocking the social distancing situation, having individually packed food and drinks is a must. I love the to-go packages of Fried Chicken that Darcy did in today’s party, though any easy to pack up food will do! Pretty sandwiches, bags of gourmet chips, mason jar salads, the sky is the limit. For drinks, stick to cans of champagne or rose, bottled limoncello, seltzer etc.

* * * * *

HOW TO. The how-to part of a flower party is totally straight forward. Place flowers – divided by type or color – into individual buckets for your guests to peruse. Make sure all supplies are already set at each work station prior to their arrival. Turn the music on and invite guests to grab a drink, some snacks or dive right into making their own arrangement!

Pro Tip. When teaching your guests how to build their bouquets, it’s always good to start with a good base of greenery. The greens and fillers become the glue that will hold your arrangement together as you start to add in your focal flowers and your more delicate dancing flowers.

If you want to crank up the pro-factor, invite your local florist to come speak and give your guests some fun tips on arranging and preserving their beautiful florals! It’s great advertisement for the florist and will give the attendees some fun info to take home with them!

This Chicago Rooftop Wedding Takes Love To New Heights

Romantic city views, a blush color palette, and chic black and white accents make this Chicago wedding a must-see. Jazmin and Alejandro teamed up with the incredibly talented Storybook Weddings Chicago to take their special day to new heights, including Mexican traditions to incorporate the couple’s culture. Fragrant Design filled the day with some of the most romantic blooms you’ll ever see. The love and happiness of the day pop in the imagery by Audra Wrisley Photography. Don’t miss every last detail in the full gallery.

From Audra Wrisley Photography… Jazmin and Alejandro fell in love when they met randomly in Jazmin’s family grocery store, nestled in their lively Chicago neighborhood. While working together and planning a wedding may come with some challenges, this sweet couple takes everything in stride and couldn’t let COVID postpone their plans to tie the knot!

They worked closely with Chicago planner Lisa with Storybook Weddings to keep their guests comfortable and safe and celebrated an amazing day toasting to their love and new life together. Adjusting their design scheme to include smaller tables and capitalize on their open-air cocktail hour, the evening was fun and festive and included a few surprises as well!

Featuring a blush pink palette with chic black and white accents, the dance floor was a focal point and centered the evening’s traditional Mexican style dancing. Each guest received a custom champagne bottle at their place setting, and toasted to the couple’s happiness!

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Photography

Audra Wrisley Photography

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bonphotage

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Sugared Fig Paperie

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How to Match Your Decor to Your Season and Totally Wow Your Guests In the Process

One of the first things you’ll do when you get engaged is start thinking about your future wedding date – the one that will represent a new anniversary in your love story. Maybe you want to keep up with tradition, and set a date for one that already has special meaning for you (the day you remember saying I Love You for the first time, perhaps), maybe you want to choose an entirely new time of year (so you can add yet another heart on your collective relationship-tracking calendar), or maybe you just the vibes and natural aesthetics of a particular season and you want to lean into the look A LOT for your wedding. At Style Me Pretty, we’re huge fans of seasonally-festive affairs: from the beginning, we’ve built seasonality into our site navigation to make it easy for couples to search for spring, summer, fall, and/or winter events, specifically. And when we say that each one has its certain kind of charm, we aren’t kidding.

Letting that fact inspire the overall design and curation of the products in our Style Me Pretty Shop, we’ve taken special care to make sure that all of the items in our Decor Shop are perfect for ALL seasons. They all have SMP’s signature dose of pretty and delight, but they’re buildable, too, to allow you to put your own stamp on your wedding. And for real, we love seeing how they’re styled!! So, if you’re thinking seriously about a spring or summer wedding, here are some thoughts – we promise that by the time your big day comes around, every single one of your guests will totally get your reason for the season. Enough for them to say “whoa, this floral-infused ice cube (in an equally-enviable champagne bucket) single-handedly made me a believer in the power of summertime soirees.” Yep!

Photo by Sarah & Ben Photography

Photo by Nancy Ray Photography

For your ceremony.

Ever the hype squad behind acrylic ceremony chairs, we love how seasonally-suited seating can totally level up your nuptials. Whether you’ll be exchanging vows indoors or al fresco, your guests are going to be emotional either way, so top off each of their chairs with colorful tissues that match your palette or a floral print that pays tribute to the natural pops of the season.

Photo by Dmitri & Sandra Photography

For your bar.

Not going to lie, for obvious reasons. guests will always be drawn to the bar at your wedding, but if you’re planning a very seasonally-forward day, you can make your setup all the more welcoming with some thematic touches. Apart from serving up sips that scream summer (a French 75 is 👌), you can hang up motivating metallic signage and then ask your florist if he or she can work some flower guy or girl magic on your spirits station. Cascading greenery and focal blooms are a big mood for any seasonal wedding, but especially spring and summer, so if you can find a place to plant them, then you have our full support!!

For your statement photo backdrop or install.

One of our absolute favorite items in the shop is our wedding backdrop banner. It’s been used at SO many different seasonal weddings (from a summer lakeside altar arbor to a fall tented reception entrance), and has such chameleon-like appeal, because truthfully, ‘together is a beautiful place to be,’ is appropriate for any season. Style with vase-stacked risers full of flowers for spring or among blanket-rolled hay bales for fall, OR try something entirely Insta-worthy for summer, like a vibrant farmers market motif with cartons of fresh fruit or veggies.

Photo by Ether & Smith

Is a specific season feeling ever-so-perfect for your wedding party? If it is, then you’ll find so many wonderful accents in our Style Me Pretty Shop to flex for your fête. Fingers crossed for exceptional weather, too, because that’s when these pretty pieces shine the brightest!

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Dmitri and Sandra Photography

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Take A Trip Back In Time With This Majestic Royal Wedding Inspiration

With a theme crafted from the pages of history, this royalty-inspired wedding shoot will sweep you off your feet. Rainbow Chan Weddings designed and planned a day that’s equal parts elegant and enchanting drawing inspiration from classical and historical themes. Organic florals by Atelier Josephine bring the concept to life. The beauty of the day shines in the imagery by Artiese Studios. Visit the full gallery for a trip back in time.

From Rainbow Chan Weddings… Employing an evocative palette of royal blue, neutral tones, and a soft beige finish, our stylist had crafted a style that’s undeniably graceful and inescapably breathtaking. Befitting of this regally drawn theme, our planner had specially selected Toronto’s ever-beautiful Omni King Edward Hotel as our styled-shoot space.

Drawing upon an organic and floral feel to set the mood, our stylists had aimed for an exquisite and elaborate, yet simply stated floral theme; with floral arrangements provided by Atelier Josephine.

A beautiful tablescape that spelled out an undeniably royal and regal theme would be essential to our styled shoot, with stemware and plates care-of Chairman Mills, Splendid Settings and Table Tales, and captivating custom-made stationery set by Olumis Calligraphy for each guest. Wedding guests are greeted with a welcome fit for kings and queens. Our style shoot is a celebration of various elements, color palettes, design choices, and essential themes that, when brought together, create a royal and majestic air out of an event space.

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Rainbow Chan Weddings

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A Soft and Welcoming Nursery Filled with Moments Old and New

We have featured a lot of nurseries on SMP Living. Some bold, some demure. Some modern, some vintage. But this nursery, is easily climbing to the top of our “oh-I-love-that-list.” With it’s soft color palette, it’s collected and treasured heirloom details, it’s modern meets beautifully worn sensibility, this little slice of nursery heaven is everything you could want for your little bundle of joy. With a wedding planner mama – Danielle of Elise Events – and Boxwood Avenue Interiors behind the design, we wouldn’t expect anything less! Photographs by Kari Henrichsen.

My husband and I found out we were pregnant in April of 2020, at the beginning of quarantine. I am a wedding planner and all of my projects came to a sudden halt. With our 2020 weddings postponed until 2021, our little girl’s nursery quickly became my one and only design project for the current year. As a designer, I have always dreamt of what our children’s nurseries would look like someday. I couldn’t have imagined it would have ended up being filled with so many sentimental touches.

We welcomed our sweet girl, Eva Blake, in January and brought her home to a nursery full of intentional design details, sentimental touches and a blush and sage color palette! We had a very clear vision of what we wanted the nursery to look like: muted pastel tones, lots of texture, meaningful details and sweet and sophisticate touches! To help bring everything together we worked with one of my dear friends Chloe, of Boxwood Avenue Interiors. Chloe has a phenomenal eye and impeccable taste. She helped us source items and complete Eva’s room with lots of finishing touches!

One of our most cherished details in the nursery are the baby highchair and cradle. These were given to me 30 years ago when I was a little girl, by my grandmother, who Eva is named after. We took on the perfect quarantine project and restored both the cradle and highchair. After a good sand job, fresh coats of paint and new cushions and pillows – these two pieces not only were the perfect fit for one of the nursery corners, but will give Eva endless playtime when she’s older!

Eva’s nursery will always be so special to us, the beautiful space to which we brought home our little girl. We cannot wait to watch her grow in this sweet and cozy room as she fills it with her favorite toys and creates forever memories. It’s been a relaxing, comfy haven to spend time nursing, rocking and playing together.

Popsicles Named After Puppies For This Outdoor Southern Wedding in the Gardens of Kaminski House!

From custom welcome drinks to popsicles named after their pups, this bride and groom had one heck of an elegant, Southern wedding at Kaminski House under the moss-covered trees in the gardens! Carrying the greenery over to their reception with a beautifully decorated tent by RSG Event Designs, it adorned the tables and draped from the tent walls, along with neutral-colored florals. Madeline Trent Photography captured it all from the bride’s classic Anne Barge wedding gown to the cutest dessert setup and you’ll just have to check it out below!

From Madeline Trent…Allie and Sam were married in a romantic, sunset ceremony under the Spanish moss-covered trees in the gardens of Kaminski House, in Georgetown, SC.

Their December wedding was full of intimate moments for guests to get to know the couple better, including custom welcome drinks and even popsicles named after their puppies!

Allie chose an elegant, southern theme for her reception which included a sailcloth tent in the Georgetown Marina Park. The tent was decked in greenery, neutral colors, and the cutest dessert setup!

The tent had cafe string lights and dripping Spanish moss from the top of the tent, giving guests an outdoor experience on the inside of the tent that was unforgettable as they danced the night away to delicious food and amazing live music with the Travis Allison Band.

Let’s Get Maui’d! Check Out This Vibrant and Elegant Wedding At Montage Kapalua Bay

Will you Maui me? The wedding of Anh and Josh was effortlessly steeped in natural beauty, surrounded by the breathtaking scenery and romantic atmosphere that Hawaii boasts. Inspired by the sunset hues and the deep blue color of the Pacific Ocean, the couple carefully worked with Moana Belle Events and Mandy Grace Designs to create a day with a matching color palette. One thing is for sure — we just can’t help but swoon over that whimsical circular arch, channeling unity and infinity. Dmitri & Sandra Photography captured each and every beautiful moment of this tropical love story, so head to the full gallery to get swept away.

From Moana Events… Once Anh and Josh made the decision to get married in Hawaii, they knew what they wanted from the very beginning. They envisioned a special celebration with their closest and dearest on the island of Maui where they could enjoy the atmosphere, ocean breeze and beautiful sunset.

The beauty of the island lured them in and it was actual sunset hues and the colors of the deep blue surrounding ocean that inspired the color palate for the wedding. Soft colors of apricot, buttery yellows, peaches and creams paired with an ocean blue was a perfect color palate for our backdrop. Anh and Josh exchanged vows at the Montage Kapalua Bay featuring stunning ocean views, pristine lawns and dramatic cliffs as their backdrop.

An impressive circular ring arch adorned with whimsical florals in the color story of the day created by Mandy Grace Designs framed the couple during the ceremony. The cocktail and dinner reception took place at Merriman’s Kapalua Restaurant which was just a short stroll on the ocean boardwalk across the bay. Both from Austin Texas, they made sure to include their Texas charm in all of their wedding signage like a welcome sign that read “Aloha Y’all”.

Anh and Josh also incorporated several personalized details in their stationery and menus including cute illustrations of themselves on their invitations, and their sweet pups on their cocktail napkins.