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

Revelry Just Launched an All-Velvet Bridesmaid Dress Collection and We’re SO Here for It.

Raise your hand if velvet bridesmaids dresses make you swooooon. (HELLO, over here!!) Then Revelry’s brand new collection is tailor made for you. The line includes 13 new timeless styles in 12 heavenly colors – think earthy tones and rosey ombre’s from terracotta to royal blue, perfectly fitting for any wedding palette. In case you thought it couldn’t get any better, they’re also introducing midi styles to complete the collection – that’s right brides, now your ‘maids can be looking chic while feeling ultra comfortable wearing velvet at any time of year. Our favorite part? Every style is available in sizes 0-32 and can be shipped straight to your door for an at-home try on sesh. Ready to shop? Click through the collection to find your dream bridesmaid fit!

Revelry Just Launched an All-Velvet Bridesmaids Dress Collection and We're SO Here for It.

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Revelry Just Launched an All-Velvet Bridesmaids Dress Collection and We're SO Here for It.

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Photography: Ruét Photo | Floral Design: Clementine Botanical Art | Hair and Makeup: Lola Beauty | Venue: The Ivory Oak | Jewels: Olive + Piper

This Bride’s Bouquet Filled With Ranunculus, Pansies, and Surreal Hellebores Is an Instant Mood Booster

From the bride’s beautiful natural look, to the knockout gowns, to Siren Floral Co.’s insanely gorgeous floral creations – this styled shoot from Natalie Bray Studios has so much inspiration to offer. Trust us, you’re going to want to spend some extra time on today’s full gallery.

From Natalie Bray Studios… With purple tones and Spring on the horizon we set out to create new and unique inspiration for the use of this color. Giving it a modern and romantic twist. The bouquets and centerpieces were filled amazing ranunculus, adorable pansy’s, and surreal hellebores to brighten anyones day. Evenmore, this purpose of this inspiration was truly a chance to inspire creative souls and bring joy.

There are two of everything to showcase unique perspectives and looks for our audience. Siren floral co. Impeccably designed and styled this inspiration shoot. She chose beautiful silhouettes from the Dress Theory San Diego. One with stunning split sleeve detail and high neck for an elegant fashion forward moment. Then, a lovely flowy two-piece gown that stunned on our model for a more romantic feel. We hope this brought a smile and a new way of thinking your event.

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Natalie Bray Studios

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Why Luce Loft is a Modern Couple’s Dream Venue!

When it comes to planning your wedding, all you want is exactly what you want…is that so much to ask? In the search for the perfect wedding venue, it can seem like you have to make one compromise after the other. Well, compromise no longer–we’ve found the perfect venue for the modern couple that allows you to turn your vision into a reality, whatever it may be!

The founders of Luce Loft, located in San Diego’s East Village neighborhood, transformed the historic Qualitee Dairy Warehouse into one of the city’s first raw event spaces. This venue’s laid-back vibe and minimalist architecture make it the perfect blank canvas for you to create your dream wedding. Oh, and did we mention, it’s super affordable with the rental rates ranging from $5,000 to as low as $2,000 (depending on the day)! Here are five more reasons why Luce Loft is every modern couple’s dream venue.

Photography by Amanda Noel Photos

1. Stunning Architectural Details

It is no secret that the key to a beautiful wedding is a venue is good bones. While Luce Loft may be a “raw” space, it is far from your average bare-bones loft. Born out of a repurposed dairy warehouse, Luce Loft features stunning architectural details like a high arched barrel roof and polished concrete floors that have an almost iridescent quality about them. When it comes to ceremony backdrops, there are so many different options to choose from like their iconic wooden chevron door or their loft staircase. These elements create the perfect setting for your dream wedding whether your vibe is modern minimalist or upscale bohemian.

Photography by Alyssa Brooke Photography

2. Perfect for Intimate Weddings

Whether you always planned on a smaller wedding or if you’ve had to dial back your guest list due to Covid-19, Luce Loft is the perfect size for an intimate wedding–though it can accommodate up to 150 guests (in case you get more RSVPs than you were expecting). There is a furnished bridal suite with a private restroom and shower on-site where couples can relax and get ready before they say, “I do”.

Photography by Kami Olavarria Photography

3. LGBTQ Friendly

Luce Loft is a proud friend of the LGBTQ community! Since opening their doors in late 2011, they have had the honor of hosting many same-sex weddings.

Photography by Carlie Miya Photography

4. Location, Location, Location!

Nestled in the heart of San Diego’s Historic Warehouse District, Luce Loft couldn’t be more perfectly positioned for a wedding venue. With other unique warehouses and original brick buildings just steps away, the surrounding architecture provides a stunning backdrop for photos. Oh…and it’s also walking distance from the Bay and the restaurants and speakeasies in the famed Gaslamp District, giving you and your guests easy access to some epic after-party destinations!

Photography by Katie Edwards Photography

5. Design Your Own Experience

Luce Loft is all for letting couples design their own experience–meaning that you get to decide exactly what your wedding looks like from the furnishings down to the flatware so that no two weddings are alike! With Luce Loft’s open vendor policy, couples select their own vendors, so you can get the food you want on the plates you want, every little detail is up to you. But don’t worry, you’re not on your own; if you need help making selections, Luce Loft has an amazing list of vendor recommendations to choose from!

Photography by Carmen Lopez Photography

We know what you’re thinking, and yep, the open vendor policy means Luce Loft is BYOB–couples can bring in their own alcohol! So, that wine you tried on your first anniversary, or your dad’s favorite whiskey–yep, you can have it all!

There is one more customizable experience that can’t go without mentioning…Luce Loft is food truck friendly! Picture this, you and your guests have been dancing your heart out for the past few hours, you’ve burned off your dinner (if you had time to eat it), and you’re ravenous…what could be better than having your favorite go-to food truck waiting for you just outside?

Guess what?!

Luce Loft is opening up another location in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood called LUCE on Kettner! The gorgeous, light-filled warehouse can host a max of 300 guests and has a wide open 2021 calendar. Ready to book a tour? You’re in luck. LUCE on Kettner is now offering socially distanced tours! Head on over to their website to learn more.

Photography by Gantes.co| Rentals by TBD San Diego

Wedding Venue: Luce Loft

When Vintage Finds meet Playful Fun in an NYC suburban Colonial

Editor’s Note: The minute this submission hit our portal we were IN LOVE. It’s colorful and playful and all things fun while being super sophisticated and chic. Just wait until you see the AHdorable playroom!

This Dutch colonial home in the suburbs of NYC combines a unique blend of classic with playful and unexpected touches. This home is an ever-evolving canvas for Linda Pordon – photographer behind Linda Pordon Photography, her husband, and their three sons. Pairing her love of photography, styling, and interior design, this home is layered with a classic elegance as well as whimsical spaces for play and creativity for their small boys. Linda features all these rooms and more in her interior design portfolio https://www. Lindapordon. Com/interior-design

From Linda: I like the adult spaces to be relaxing and pretty minimal. The formal living room has layers of neutrals with subdued blues. It’s the room I sit in when I need to have space to think and relax…and try to have a cup of tea in solitude when I can sneak away!

The formal dining room has a pop of moodier blue to be a bolder complement to the adjoining living space. Our painter questioned us so many times if we were SURE we wanted to do this lacquered Benjamin Moore Downpour Blue on the walls – and I don’t regret it at all! It’s such a nice contrast to the white trim and I love the classic red, white and blue accents throughout the room. This table was a vintage find off Craigslist that my father-in-law restored back to life.

My favorite nook in this room is the corner filled with gorgeous art, sculptures, and books featuring women. From the vintage art deco bust to these watercolor prints…living with 4 men, it is no wonder I get joy filling this little corner of my home with all women. My husband actually picked out the Ralph Lauren chandelier here and I love the contrast of its modern look but traditional shape over the oval wooden table.

The bedroom is done in my favorite monochromatic white and black color palette with gold accents. I love the drama of the large gold vintage mirror and the oversized chandelier with the white walls and bedding. It’s soothing but not lacking drama.

For the kids’ spaces, we went with color upon color but still wanted to keep a clean and minimal feel. The nursery is done in a warm woodland theme of oranges and yellows, with foxes and forest creatures featured throughout. These camping bears are still a favorite for the baby’s older brothers to play with.

The shared kids’ room incorporates sports items from our children’s grandparents and father, which makes it even more special to see these items on display. Our boys really wanted to share a room and it’s been such a sweet experience hearing them tell stories and laugh together as they fall asleep.

The playroom was designed to be durable and wipeable! From the chalkboard walls to craft paper spools – this room is meant to inspire creativity. I love these soft tiles on the floor that are completely washable and give me peace of mind that painting and markers wont’ last forever.

SOURCES
Dining Room
Ralph Lauren chandelier

Prints by Clare Elsaesser

Bedroom
Desk – Williams Sonoma

Belgium Linen Bed – Restoration Hardware

Nursery
Babyletto Hudson Crib

Campfire Set – Crate & Kids

Serena & Lily Dip Dyed Stools

Hazel Village Stuffed Animal – Owen Fox

Sports Room

Twin Piper Beds – McGee & Co

Dash & Albert Tartan Rug

“No Fighting” Pillow

Playroom

Bow Tie Decorative Pillow

Paper Roll Holder

Soft Floor Tiles

Photography: Linda Pordon Photography | Interior Design: Linda Pordon Photography

Heavy Rain on the Wedding Day Solved by Next Day Sunrise Shoot!

When Amy Mulder Photography realized the 100% chance of rain forecast would prevent the gorgeous couple from getting the creamy film wedding photos they were so excited for – she came up with a genius plan! She proposed they stay the night and take photos at sunrise the next morning in their wedding day attire (talk about a dream wedding photographer), and the results were better than they ever could have imagined. Head on over to the full gallery to see every mesmerizing portrait, with steamy rolling hills as their romantic, storybook-worthy setting.

From Amy Mulder Photography… From the first contact with Amanda over email, I knew I would love her. When we skyped with them we were so excited to have them become an AMP couple! They cared so much about their photos, that was one thing that was always very clear, and we loved hearing it!! Film photography was something that was important to them, as they loved the aesthetic of it. (Which I completely agree with!!) :)

They were so excited to not just have a wedding, but to have a marriage. Their day was about celebrating with those they loved. When we arrived at their venue it was raining, and had 100% chance of rain for the rest of the day! Their venue was so beautiful and with the colorful trees, it would have been so amazing for outside portraits. Knowing how much their portraits meant to them, and how much Amanda loved the film images, we knew we needed to make them happen. We shared an idea with Ryan when we first arrived. After our scheduled portrait time with them, we proposed our idea of staying the night and doing a sunrise shoot the following morning when the sun was going to be out. The relief that was seen on her face was worth it.

There was not a cloud in the sky that next morning. There was, however, steam rising up from the ground and steam rolling off the trees. And it was magical! Even though the conditions were not ideal, it did not keep them from enjoying each other and savoring every moment. Their friends and family were amazing at making their entire day together a party! The excitement and joy for Ryan and Amanda radiated from every single person there. It was easy to see the genuineness of every one we encountered. It was an incredible day to be a part of.

This Couple Said “I Do” Under a 25′ Art Installation at Their Celestial Inspired Wedding

This wedding day is out of this world… no, really… their design was inspired by celestial references, metallic finishes and ethereal vibes. Lovestruck Events turn this couple’s dream mythological wedding into a reality, leaving no detail unturned. The full gallery captured by Jessica Blex Photography Design is an absolute MUST – if not just for the unreal floral arrangements by the talented flower wizards at Bouquet.

From Lovestruck Events… Brooke and Harrison were married at a private property in September. Their wedding was inspired by an art installation at the wedding site – a 25′ tall stainless steel tree entitled Dada by Supodh Gupta. Brooke knew she wanted to be married at the base of the tree, so we designed their wedding celebration to complement the hyper-reflective and mythological qualities of the art piece. The wedding design combined metallic finishes, celestial references, and design elements that felt both organic and etherial. The wedding invitations featured lunar illustrations printed on vellum paper with subtle iridescent flecks.

Matte silver foil printing on grey paper added tonal modernity and elegance to the suite. Brooke wore a custom Hayley Paige gown with a lavender-grey Dori skirt and appliqué Pascal top. For the reception, she wore a simplistic Rebecca Schoneveld gown with an Alexandra Grecco cape accented with delicate celestial beadwork. Harrison wore a textured black and charcoal suit. The bridesmaids wore Amsale Eden gowns in Dove to complement Brooke’s voluminous skirt. The color palette was a surprising combination of warm autumnal tones including taupe, mauve, and rust mixed with pastel cool tones to tie in the etherial qualities of Brooke’s wedding gown. The wedding flowers included koko loko garden roses, butterfly ranunculus, and lisianthus in the warm tones with pops of periwinkle scabiosa and lavender delphinium, Japanese anemone and toad lily. Painted dried palms were incorporated into the placed floral to add angular radial shapes, reminiscent of stars, to the soft-bloomed flower mix.

For the ceremony, Brooke processed down a natural walkway of lush grapevines before joining Harrison at the base of the Dada Tree. The ceremony design was kept simple to allow the art installation to shine. Acrylic cane chairs and an acrylic officiant podium were accented with artful floral arrangements. During cocktail hour, guests were offered passed wine and signature moscow mules along with an assortment of savory bites. Passed items were served on petrified wood and capiz shell trays to reference the Dada Tree. Servers wore lavender linen aprons embellished with star pins. We helped the mother of the bride coordinate a surprise for the couple. While the couple was off taking post-ceremony photos, we lined up the guests in the tall grasses leading to the tent and handed out wire mesh wands with the guests’ seating assignments wrapped around the wand handles. When they returned from photos, Brooke and Harrison lead the way to dinner under a tunnel of glowing light. Guests were welcomed into the sailcloth dinner tent by a floral arch featuring lunar-inspired painted discs and handmade wire mesh flowers.

Thirty woven wire pendant lights swirled with whimsical baby’s breath clouds were suspended over the dance floor and created a focal point inside the tent. Guest Tables were layered with metallic silver linens with a birch bark pattern. Matte grey ceramic chargers stacked with hand-painted glass plates added depth to the place settings along with two-toned gold flatware and letterpress menus. Centerpieces included the unique mix of wedding blooms and were arranged with artful flower offshoots for a “shooting star” effect. Dinner was served as the sun was setting. Dessert included mini sour cream pound cake with lemon mascarpone cakelets wrapped with white chocolate and edible silver leaf. The individual desserts were served on hand-painted acrylic discs. French macarons splattered with metallic paint served as favors and were wrapped in printed vellum secured with an embossed silver seal. The favors were packaged in custom letterpress boxes with a velvet ribbon pull. As the evening drew to a close, Brooke and Harrison surprised their guests with McDonald’s cheeseburgers served in hawking trays customized with the well-known jingle from the fast food chain. Guests danced under the mesh pendants and sung along to their favorite songs until the event’s joyful conclusion.

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How to Transform Your Reception Decor With Epic Lighting and Hanging Installations

Once your vows are exchanged and you’ve gotten through all your portraits and the inevitable round robin of guest hugs and kisses, you can saunter into your reception feeling much more at ease. The pressure lightens up a lot. The thing is, your reception isn’t just the place where you can raise your glasses, dance the night away, and eat to your heart’s content – it’s also the place where you’ll spend the greatest night (or afternoon, love us a good brunch wedding!) of your lives with the people who bring you the most joy. So! You’ll want those photos to look festive, like you’re all gathering for THE most special occasion.

Granted, every venue has its own dose of charm – be it its romantic space for the ceremony, its incredibly picturesque grounds for pics, or its built-in beauty, which ends up being the talk of everyone on your guest list. But you can amplify all the 😍 over your aesthetic just by turning up the decor in your reception. Some imaginative lighting and some playful hanging installations do so much to really bring life and energy into the reception room, and if that’s not what we all need after all this COVID-19 craziness, then we don’t know what is!

Since we’re all still doing our part and staying home to drive out this virus and its devastation, we thought we’d play a fun look & find game (those of us who have kids were feeling particularly inspired). After you take a peek at the below pictures, take a guess at what we’re loving the most – these are focal points that will not, and we repeat, will not go unnoticed.

Our exclusive Style Me Pretty shop is teeming with a ton of items that’ll match some of these vibes expressly. So, happy shopping!

Buy More, Save More!

Save big on pretty lighting with our brand new promo: 20% off 1, 30% off 2, 40% off 3 or more of the same item. Shop lighting now!

So what draws your 👀 first?

Survey says – An open air, rustic venue will always get the attention, but so will a beautiful, poetic banner blowing in the wind. Especially when it can be used as an epic photo backdrop.

Get the look (and in this case, it’s the ACTUAL look) with our backdrop banner.

Purewhite Photography
Survey says – Those hanging glass terrarium lights, for sure, but we’d also accept those gorgeous gold votive holders. Not only do they pop atop that delicate, blonde wood table, but their color just creates this warm, inviting glow.

Get the look with our Gold Metal Tealight Holders

Natalie Schutt Photography
Survey says – Pampas grass will always pique interest, as will a layering of textured statement rugs (outdoors, too, so…), but our favorite thing to shine in this shot is the custom neon sign illuminating the couples’ last name. It’s so good!

Get the look with any of our fun neon light up signs. And hang them anywhere that makes the most sense 💡. Above the sweetheart table, above your bars, etc. Take your pick!

Tenth & Grace Photography
Survey says – Escort card displays confectioned with vintage rentals are a major win. And this one right here, is gorgeously adorned with drawers overflowing with florals and a stunning garland of greenery.

Get the look with our ribbon or bead and tassel garland draped above or woven through your botanicals.

Marit Williams Photography
Survey says – A timeless display of tapers in blissful blush tones.

Get the look with our two-tone blush taper candles that go with every kind of tabletop setup and photograph flawlessly.

Perry Vaile Photography

Get the look with our hanging round chandelier in gold (if your palette is soft and romantic with blushes and champagnes) or our hanging chandelier in black (if your palette is more modern glam with ivories, platinums, and/or lucite looks).

Shop with us now for everything your wedding reception needs to glow. Floating, flower-filled chandeliers above a few of your reception tables or overhead in a lounge at cocktail hour are totally on that list!

It Rained, Then It Rainbowed: Check Out This European Inspired Wedding at Oxon Hill Manor

In case you’re not one of those people who believe rain on your wedding day actually does mean good luck, then allow this gorgeous wedding to remind you of another thing that rain might bring – a beautiful sparkling rainbow! That’s right, can you think of anything more romantic than saying your “I do’s” under a gorgeous rainbow – ’cause we sure can’t! Beside from that, there are so many other incredible moments from today’s Oxon Hill Manor wedding planned by Legendary Events. Don’t miss out on all the pretty at the full gallery, captured by du soleil photographie!

From du soleil photographie… Macey, the Bride, together with her sister-in-law, Taryn Schumacher, created the invitation suite which included an illustration of the venue and a personalized crest, as well as a vellum overlay emblazoned with their favorite engagement photo. Speaking about their wedding details, Macey shared, “My shoes were another favorite accessory. I randomly came across them online the day I got my wedding dress and ended up ordering them the same day. I loved the Tiffany-blue accent on the bottom and the gorgeous satin and bead detailing; they went perfectly with my gown.”

Her wedding gown was exclusively designed for the boutique she purchased it from, so it was truly one of a kind. “I fell in love with the hand-crafted beading and the statement the dress made, overall,” Macey says. “I had never seen something so elegant and timeless, modern, yet classic—with just the perfect amount of drama. The way Macey came across this gown sounded like something that was meant to be: She just happened to walk in the boutique on the only day that the dress was in the shop before it got transported to trunk shows for the following six months! “My incredible stylist Maria had pulled it for me, and it was the one dress I tried on that made my Mom cry.”

For the ceremony, Macey chose to have two large floral urns on ivory columns. She and her Mom had painted the columns themselves to create an European feel for the space. Macey shared, “The formal English gardens made it feel like you were swept away in some European fairytale,”

The bride was accompanied down the aisle with both of her parents. It was an extremely emotional moment as both the bride and groom started tearing up as she approached the ceremony. Shortly after the ceremony started, a storm started sweeping through. However, the inclement weather didn’t stop the bride and groom from saying their vows to each other. They were committed to giving each other their personal vows regardless of the downpour. The bride shares, “It started raining while we were reading our personal vows and our officiant stopped us at one point to see if we wanted to go inside. I peered out into the crowd and was very nonchalantly like, ‘I’m good if you all are!'”

For the reception, the family all worked together to create the beautiful details. Macey’s father created the calligraphy on the welcome sign – an antique mirror curated and painted by the bride and her mother. The marble table numbers were another family DIY: Macey and her mom teamed up again to source the marble and paint the gold table numbers. During the reception, besides the traditional father-daughter, mother-son dances, the guests were all moved by Macey’s emotional dance with her mom. “I’m extremely close with my mom and it was really important that we had a special dance together. She picked out this song and it was incredible to be able to have that moment with her,” Macey says.

How Joshua asked Macey to be his girlfriend:

From the Bride… So one Sunday in April of 2016 without me knowing, Joshua drove 7 hours roundtrip from Liberty University to Northern, VA to take my Mom out to dinner and share where his heart was at with wanting to pursue me and asking her permission for us to date (my heart still melts knowing that he did all of this to just date me, and this is the same man I now get to marry)!! And just a week after that on April 16, 2016 Joshua planned a whole day for us in Washington, D. C. That started out with visiting Buredo and eating our sushi roles outside the Air and Space Museum. We then walked and sat on the back lawn of the National Monument facing the Lincoln Memorial where we talked about our friendship and shared the first time we knew we loved each other. Then Joshua had us walk to the Lincoln Memorial and right in front of the biggest oak tree he told me to turn around for a few seconds as he rummaged through his backpack to pull something out. When I turned back around he handed me a small treasure chest he had painted white and then wrote our initials “J&M” separated in-between by a sunflower (my favorite flower) on. He then told me that the box was a physical representation of our potentially new dating relationship, and that in the box were rocks that had different words on them, and the ones that I didn’t want to be in our relationship I should toss out into the reflecting pool. As I foraged through the box, one by one I began to throw out all of the rocks, for I noticed that they all had words like “lust, selfishness, pride” etc., all things I obviously didn’t want to have in a relationship. Once I was finally done emptying out the box I stood there somewhat confused about what would happen next. But quickly he began to pull out rocks in his jacket pocket that had words like “love, respect, leadership, Christ-centered” etc. On them that as he placed into my empty box, he promised to carry out and fulfill in our relationship. Tears began streaming down my face and when he put the final rock in the box, he asked me to be his girlfriend. So excited and overjoyed, I couldn’t stop smiling to the point where when he asked if he could kiss me (we decided not to kiss or hold hands until we started dating), I was still cheesing so hard that he kissed my teeth!! HAHA talk about an awkward first kiss, but it’s seriously my favorite and we still laugh about it today. He then took my hand and we sat under that big oak tree and prayed over our relationship…

Proposal Story:

After spending nearly a perfect week in LA, Joshua and I were approaching our last full day of our trip. Throughout our time, he had been very adamant about the fact that he had a surprise day planned for us on May 29, and that I had to wear something that I felt really cute and comfortable in. So of course the morning of I made sure to take the time to really do my hair and makeup. I figured that regardless of what he had planned we would definitely be taking pictures of my outfit for my Instagram and blog. We spent the beginning of the morning eating at an adorable new spot we had passed a few times that we were really eager to try. Then we hopped in the car and drove to Trader Joe’s where Joshua revealed that we’d be having a light little picnic on a beach in Malibu, and encouraged me to pick out anything that looked/sounded good to eat, in addition to any bouquet of flowers that I really loved. Fast forward to when we finally got settled on the beach and started snacking on the little treats we had picked up, Joshua began asking me about some of my favorite moments from out trip so far and what I was excited for about our future together. In the process of sharing what I loved about our trip this time around, I had a wave of panic and anxiousness hit me like a bag of bricks. The reality that we would not only have to continue doing distance, but be 10 hours a part from each other with no foreseeable end made me so upset that I began to cry. And I’m not talking about a few tears, I mean REALLY cry to the point where it was turning into sobbing and I started just becoming overwhelmed with everything that was going on in the moment…

Here we were on a beach with a lot of other people (including girls in thong bikinis getting professional pics taken), which is not at all what we both envisioned. I knew that Joshua was trying to re-create the experience of when we first went to Malibu and had the most perfect day on a secluded beach with just the two of us laughing at nothing, talking about anything and everything, and soaking up the sun. But this just wasn’t that. But ALSO, here I was complaining about the smallest most insignificant details of the day when my best friend was taking the time to try and bless me. I felt like I was completely ruining the moment and couldn’t get out of this bad attitude I trapped myself in. But throughout this sudden mental and emotional breakdown that I was going through, Joshua held me and continued to remind me that not only was everything going to be okay, but that he loved me unconditionally regardless of how I was feeling in the moment. With such a drastic and dramatic turn of events (and a sudden need to pee really bad), I quickly trekked up to the top of the beach to relieve myself and take a moment to breath. By the time I got back, Joshua was standing there smiling really big and directed me to just sit on the blanket he had laid out and take a few minutes to just enjoy the ocean, and after a few minutes he would return. I sat there, closed my eyes, and just prayed that God would give me peace and help me relax and enjoy the rest of the day with my best friend. It was so perfect to just take a moment to myself with the sound of waves crashing in the background and enjoying the stillness of the beach. When Joshua came back he giddily handed me his headphones and told me to to watch the video on his phone in it’s entirety before turning around…At this point I was excited but definitely skeptical of what was happening, and the moment I put those headphones in and started the video which began with pictures of us over the last few years with our favorite songs playing in the background, I knew what was going on. As the video continued, each of Joshua’s family members in separate videos shared how much they loved me, loved us, and how they were so ecstatic to welcome me (officially) into their family. I’m a pretty emotional person (if you haven’t already been able to tell HAHA), but when Joshua’s Dad began promising me how he’d fight for me and love me like his own daughter, I really lost it and started crying SO hard. The last video in the sequence was of my Mom, and after she told me about how much she loved Joshua and was so proud of me for finding such an incredible man, she told me that I should turn around now…

And there on one knee was my best friend.

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[post_vendors]

This VoluSpa Candle Inspired Their Signature Scent for This Couple’s Hawaiian Wedding Weekend

From beginning to end, this tropical Maui wedding weekend planned by Couture Events is filled with rich traditions and thoughtful details. The bride and groom decided to celebrate their unique cultures, Italian and Filipino, throughout their day with meaningful touches – like delicious cold brew upon guest’s arrival and an all-Italian dinner menu. Mandy Grace Designs brought the tropical Hawaiian vibes to the floral design perfectly while Dmitri and Sandra Photography captured every can’t-miss moment. Head on over to the full gallery to see all the inspo!

From Eric Goldsmith, Couture Events… Veronica and Andrew flew across the country to celebrate their wedding with about 80 of their closest friends and family. This east coast couple (from Massachusetts) thought of every little detail for their guests. It was nice to work with a couple that was so thoughtful with their guest’s experience in mind every step of the way.

Scent

We thought, why not create an entire experience for them, keeping all five senses in mind?! Their signature wedding scent was VoluSpa’s Mokara and a candle was given to every guest in their welcome bag. The scent was tied into the reception where guests danced the night away amongst candles and tropical florals. It smelled wonderful! Now, every time they burn that candle, they will be reminded of their wedding night on Maui.

Taste

Coming from Italian (groom) and Filipino (bride) backgrounds, naturally, food and drink were very important elements. Veronica and Andrew both have a thing for coffee so guests were greeted with homemade cold brew (and POG- they were in Maui, after all) upon arrival. An Italian style dinner was served under a beautiful Sperry Tent overlooking the ocean and late night snacks of chicken and waffles were devoured! Did we mention that the entire menu was gluten and dairy free?!

Sight

The couple wanted to incorporate as many local elements as possible so naturally, tropical was the direction of the design. A custom cane bar was made for this event by Inspiration Event Rentals. Florals were important to the couple and so was family style service so we incorporated “risers” to elevate the food platters so the floral design was not compromised. Mandy Grace Designs created an abundance of florals and tropical fruits spilling out from under the platters and in between. We loved how it turned out- it created a dimensional look that was really fun.

Touch

Veronica and Andrew wanted guests to feel comfortable. We created many lounge areas for guests to escape to for a moment of relaxation. Some of the lounge pieces were handmade by local artisan, Jonas of Artisan Events Maui. He hand makes all of his furniture and it is stunning!

Sound

A live tropical foliage DJ booth was created in the original altar area of the Steeple House at Kapalua, so naturally, DJ Boomshot became “Reverend Boomshot” for the evening. OTHER SPECIAL DETAILS:
– Veronica graciously agreed to share some of her bridal boudoir images in addition to her welcome reception photos for this submission.
– He’s Italian and she’s filipino so naturally, food was important to them. They had an Italian grazing-style family dinner that was entirely gluten and dairy free under a sperry tent overlooking the ocean.
– Filipino traditions included a long veil, a custom made infinity cord (made with Hawaiian ti leaf) to illustrate their unity, coins (symbolic offering from the groom to the bride), and a money dance at the end of the night.
– To appeal to all 5 senses and improve the guest experience they chose VoluSpa Candle Mokara as their signature wedding scent. These candles filled the reception area and were given to guests in welcome bags so they had a scent that reminded them of their night in Maui.
– Their seating chart was displayed on their favorite wine bottles

From the Groom… Our wedding felt day so effortless – it was so important but it also managed to be so laid back, on island time, without a worry in the world. I just knew at the end of the day I was marrying my soul mate, and our families got to witness it. None of it felt rushed – slow, peaceful bliss all day, then energy and fun chaos at night. One thing that we managed to create was this atmosphere in which guests could feel like hosts – having different seating arrangements, and a prolonged dinner gave the opportunity for people to invite others to their “section”, to come into their conversation, to share their joys and observations, to pour each other wine or other offerings. This series of hosting and mingling provided an unparalleled opportunity for our families, separated by oceans and continents, to really feel a deep familiarity and connection to each other. Our planning process was rigorous, no doubt. We had to live up to the standard that our grandmothers, the matriarchs of our families, created – to try to satisfy everyone’s needs in excess until they feel completely pampered. For our family, this meant food, food, and more food. And of course, none of it would have been possible without Erica from Couture Events!

From the Bride… Working with Erica made planning feel effortless especially compared to family and friends who did not have a planner from the very beginning. We felt so lucky to have Couture Events! From long distance planning, our first visit in February, and to our 10 days in Maui for the wedding, we felt so taken care of, and that our vision was truly understood. Plus, she was generous and organized! She made our lives easier. We were able to achieve the “feel” of our wedding perfectly. Originally, it was inspired by photos of Andrew’s grandparents wedding in Italy – there are images of wine bottles on the table, people enjoying their food. There was movement and life captured in the still images – we wanted that. There’s an incredible photo of his grandmother and grandfather walking from the church to reception with their guests trailing behind. I wanted to recreate that in some way, so we took a group shot right after the ceremony, and it’s one of my favorite images of the wedding. Overall, it felt breezy, beautiful, and bespoke! We both wanted an elevated backyard wedding, and that’s exactly what we got. Our focus on good food is a choice we will never, ever regret. We still talk about our incredible wedding meal, and we wish we could re-create Chef Brian’s taro gnocchi and maple bourbon chicken & waffle bites. I loved that aspects of our wedding really bucked tradition. We went with a unique timeline – dinner before cocktail hour was so great. I loved that people could enjoy sunset with a glass in hand. We didn’t do much of the traditional aspects of weddings like a bouquet toss or even saying “I do” in our vows, and I’m so happy we went with what felt right to us because looking back, this wedding truly felt like ours. As the bride, I am so glad we use our photographers so much – the welcome luau, my boudoir shoot, and the wedding. Our photos have such good cohesiveness because the photographers worked with us on multiple occasions. If only, I could have them do my maternity shoot! A videographer is a must, in my opinion. It will be irreplaceable to be able to hear my dad’s voice wishing us love and happiness 30 years from now. If I could do it all again, I don’t think I would change anything – except maybe to get third helpings of the food! From having a signature wedding scent to having multiple events with our family and friends, it couldn’t have been better. Maui is pure magic. It will always be one of our sacred places, and I’m so excited for the day we can go back!

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Dmitri and Sandra Photography

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How to Transform a Moody Color Palette With Soft Floral Designs

When today’s gorgeous bride told her planner, Jenn Robirds Events, she wanted a navy and burgundy color combo for her wedding while still keeping it romantic – Jenn knew exactly how to turn a moody, almost collegiate color scheme into an elegant, romantic look. How you might ask? With dreamy soft blooms from Blossoms By Lisa of course! Keep on scrolling and check out the full gallery captured by Weddings By Scott And Dana to see how it all came together.

From Jenn Robirds Events... Haley knew she wanted the colors navy and burgundy but wanted her wedding to feel romantic. While navy and burgundy are gorgeous colors, together they can be heavy and even look collegiate if not done right. To achieve a soft look, we proposed keeping her flowers white with hints of mauve and blush. While Haley noted she did not like “pink” we were able to show her there is a very real difference between taupe blush and pink. The bridesmaids were in burgundy dresses, but we opted to dress the tables in navy velvet from La Tavola. For more neutrals, we chose a hemstitch tan linen napkin and long ivory cheesecloth runners for the wooden farm tables. Burgundy menus with white printing and calligraphy name tags added the perfect pop of color to the setting without feeling heavy.

A favorite element of the day was the stationery details. We had the stationer draw some iconic details from the venue including the entry gate and pool house so that guests got a fun glimpse into the venue before even stepping foot on property. We tied the renderings into several elements of the day including the escort display and menus. With respect to the actual event experience, guests dined in a huge clear top tent that we created a lit path to it from cocktail hour. Guided by overhead bistro lighting, guests walked into the candlelit tent (with comfortable forced heat!). For dinner, they noshed on a fun taco bar. To keep things still formal gourmet salads were served tableside. At the center of the tent was the couple’s wedding cake, a perfect focal point to the gorgeous evening. Haley and Ryan were big on late-night snacks, so we had the caterer serve up gourmet pizza. Alongside the wedding cake, spicy hot chocolate and freshly fried churros were served. The day had everything that our couple loved, and guests loved the playful menu!

From Haley, the bride:

How Ryan and I met……

The most basic way to describe how Ryan and I met is that we started hanging out with our friends who got married (my best friend from high school Kristyn married Ryan’s good friend from high school Tyler). They had been dating since 2011, but Ryan & my paths had never crossed because we both moved away from home for our undergrad and graduate programs – so we didn’t meet throughout the time Kristyn and Tyler were initially dating. We believe the first time we actually met was at Kristyn & Tyler’s wedding in October 2016 – however I had a few too many glasses of wine and so I don’t particularly remember meeting Ryan (whoops)! Shortly after their wedding, we started hanging out more often in a group with all of our joint friends – and one thing led to another and we started dating in the middle of 2017!

BUT…we should have met long before all of this – so I’ll give you some back story:
My mom grew up in the small town/city of Redding, California…and when Ryan and I first started talking/dating, I found out that his dad also grew up in Redding. But my mom is about 3 years older than Ryan’s dad, so they didn’t know each other. One day I was trying to show Ryan a picture of my parents’ dog on Facebook, and he noticed that my mom’s maiden name was Grover. He said “wait…is your mom related to Kent Grover?” And I said “um, yes…that’s my uncle who lives in Orange County!” It turns out that my uncle is the same age as Ryan’s dad, and have been good friends since they were in high school! So that was one of the first major “small world” connections we found out about!

Around the same time, we also realized that Ryan & I both grew up in the VERY small country town of Wilton. We attended the same tiny elementary school, however, I am 6 months older than Ryan, and so he was in the grade below me throughout school. So we may have played together during recess, but we did not knowingly meet. We even went to the same high school for one year but didn’t meet there either!

We truly feel that God always had planned for us to be together – He just had to work a little extra hard to get us to meet in the first place!

Our Proposal…..

Ryan and I both grew up in Sacramento and have come to love our city after leaving for college, then returning to be close to family and for our careers – and later finding one another. Ryan proposed in front of the State Capitol building in Downtown Sacramento with its annual 65-foot-tall decorated Christmas tree in the background. It was the perfect spot to represent the city that made us who we are, which happened to be perfect for one another.

Our Wedding…..

Our main goal was for everyone, including ourselves, to have a GOOD TIME. We wanted our wedding to feel elegant yet relaxed, traditional yet lighthearted, and ceremonial yet fun.

We opted out of the bouquet and garter toss as we did not want anyone to feel “singled out” as “single”. Most of our friends and family members are married or close to it anyways, and from my experience as a guest at a wedding – the bouquet and garter toss always felt a bit awkward and forced. Our wedding was a group-focused celebration, and we wanted it to feel that way throughout the entire day. Plus, it would have taken time away from everyone on the dance floor together and put a pause on the partying, and we didn’t want that!

I came across photos of The Maples, our venue, long before I even met Ryan. I always thought it was beautiful — but never thought we would get married outside of the city. After visiting a few other venues that I thought were going to be “the one”, nothing was giving us the right vibes and I started to think that we were going to have to settle on something that didn’t feel right. Luckily, I remembered the picturesque images I had seen years ago, and we decided to tour The Maples.

Immediately when we stepped foot onto The Maples property, I could visualize our wedding day. The grounds are whimsical and elegant and serene. So many different areas of the property are gorgeous and luckily we were able to utilize almost all of them for various portions of our wedding day: wedding party photos on the olive-tree lined driveway, ceremony under the beautiful Chinese Pistach tree with its leaves changing colors, family photos in the courtyard next to an 80-year-old Gingko tree, cocktail hour by the outdoor stone fireplace behind the pool house, and dinner on the luscious lawn under a chandelier-lit clear top tent. I honestly wish I could live at The Maples.

Favorite Moment of the Wedding Day…..

Undoubtedly, both Ryan and my favorite moment of our wedding day was our first look at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel where we had all gotten ready. The anticipation to see each other had been killing both of us, and we both wanted and needed our sense of comfort – which we happen to get from one another. The first look is the only time in the entire day that you get to be one-on-one as a couple, so it was incredible to be able to soak up that moment together. Plus, Ryan is my best friend…and I couldn’t stand spending a minute longer without him by my side!

Our Favorite Design Elements….

Looking back on our wedding day, it is hard for me to choose my favorite elements because everything felt so perfect. But I think what stands out to me the most when it comes to design were our stationary, florals, and table layout. Each individual aspect was purposeful, yet all together the details were cohesive – which made the whole experience feel personal and flow with ease.

What you think you want may not end up being what is best for the overall design, so keep an open mind and listen to your wedding planner. He/she is the best at tying everything together so you can focus on tying the knot!

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Shimmer & Stain

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How to Incorporate Pantone’s Color of the Year Into Your Wedding

If you’re like us, you wait with bated breath every December for Pantone to name their color of the year. Each year, Pantone’s color trend experts predict which color is going to dominate the world of art and design (and weddings too, of course!) for the coming year. Sometimes the color is super obscure, like 2014’s Radiant Orchid, which is undoubtedly pretty but difficult to incorporate in your everyday life. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the 2020 color, Classic Blue! It is vibrant and subtle at the same time. Here are ten simple ways to feature this year’s Pantone Color of the Year in your big day!

PHOTOGRAPHY | 2 Brides Photography

1. Bridesmaid Dresses

Normally, we would recommend incorporating the color of the year in more subtle ways (like not head-to-toe) but because this year’s color is so approachable, go for it. Not only will it look good on every skin tone, but it will also look good hanging on your wall at home.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Luna de Mare Photography

2. Men’s Suiting

This is another rare suggestion. Traditionally it’s safer to opt for a neutral when it comes to the men’s suiting, but in this case, “Classic Blue” is so close to navy that it is practically a neutral. There are a surprising amount of suiting options in this dapper color, including tuxes like this one!

PHOTOGRAPHY | 2 Brides Photography

3. Shoes

Incorporating your “something blue” into your shoes is a trend that goes back decades by now. This year you can kill two birds with one stone (so to speak) and incorporate your wedding colors into your shoes as well.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Jonathan Scott Studio

4. Jewelry

Blue is always a beautiful accent color for wedding jewelry and it is an easy way to incorporate your wedding colors without them being too in your face. Blue sapphires are the perfect match for Pantone’s “Classic Blue”.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Jimena Roquero

5. Ties

Ties are always a safe way to incorporate your wedding colors, whether it is a small accent in a print or in this case, the whole tie.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Mike Larson

6. Flowers

Finding a naturally occurring blue flower is difficult, especially in this shade. Anemones do have a naturally blue center which is a great way to bring the color into your bouquet. There are artificially dyed floral options as well if you really want that “Classic Blue” to pop! If blue flowers are out-of-season, don’t panic–you can always incorporate your wedding colors by using it for your bouquet ribbons.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Pat Moyer Photography

7. Decor

Using “Classic Blue” in your tabletop accessories like linens, candles, or even dinnerware is a great way to bring out the elegant color in your decor.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Gianny Campos Photography

8. Printed Materials

From invitations to menus, printed materials offer you the most flexibility with colors, so make sure you use these to your advantage. Consider a “Classic Blue” envelope or calligraphy.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Sposto Photography

9. Wedding Cake

A “Classic Blue” wedding cake is a bold move, but we’re all about it! Check out this delicious looking tribute to this year’s color.

PHOTOGRAPHY| Rachel Solomon Photography

10. Seating

Renting vintage seating is another great way to incorporate your wedding colors. Thankfully, there are a lot of options when it comes to vintage furniture and “Classic Blue”. You can use these rentals for your sweetheart table or just as a photo-op for your guests.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Sarah Kate Photo

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Sposto Photography

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How to Assemble Your Wedding Invitations Properly and in Style

This year has completely changed the game for weddings, and, as a community (wedding pros and the pairs getting married), we’re adapting as best we can (actually doing better than we imagined, tbh!). That being said, no matter the format of the affair, we’re still hopelessly devoted to standout stationery and correspondence that makes a serious first impression. We’d even say that it’s especially important to go splashy with your wedding invitation once you’ve landed on a future date and time that feels great.

We’ve already touched on the importance of personalizing your “Please join us” prose, along with some helpful hints for ways to ‘change the date’ if COVID caused you to, but today we thought we’d cover a few ways to put it all together. Quite literally, too, with invitation embellishments and bundling options from our very own Style Me Pretty Shop! From suede and cotton cording to endlessly-spooling ribbons, you can tie it all together in fun and stunning ways, while also adding some playful texture and 3D detail to all of your styled big-day flatlays.

Photography by Elizabeth DeLuca Photography

One of the things we love about our stationery samples is that you can customize and pick and choose whichever pieces you’d like to add to your final+full invitation suite. Of course, we recommend assembling a suite that includes an invitation, an all-purpose card (even if it just mentions a prompt to where your guests can go – a reference to your wedding website – for more information), and a response card – but it’s all up to you. If you’ve already had to postpone and just want to send a simple invitation out for round two, then you can certainly omit the response card and have guests RSVP via your website or another guest management platform.

We’d be lying, though, if we said that a gorgeous wrap to hold all of your wedding who, whats, whens, wheres, and whys (#love) wasn’t a sweet finishing touch. Whether you tie it in a bow or in a knot, you can layer your custom look with a much-loved dose of character and charm.

Photography by Larissa Cleveland Photography

The vibe with:

Cording. The simplest of our embellishments, but the overall look is clean, modern, and crisp. We have a few color and texture varieties that go very well with certain nuptial styles (the tan suede, for instance, floats a very rustic aesthetic; whereas the black and white cotton cording have a distinctly modern, almost editorial, high-fashion feel).

Black Cotton Cord

Ribbon. Just as it decorates a birthday or Christmas present, an invitation cinched with a bow made out of ribbon feels festive and fete-worthy. Our shop has tiered ribbon options, nylon and silk; both are beautiful, but the former is decidedly more price conscious!

Dusty Blue Nylon Ribbon

Vellum Belly Band. A final option is our vellum belly band, which is a classic wedding stationery staple. We love when it’s finished with a wax seal or complementary cording (mixed media detailing is the best!)!

Pink Cotton Cord

Go ahead, tie the knot before you tie the knot – start shopping now for your unique and statement way to stack!

Danielle Halibey is a writer, editor, and publicist living in New Jersey. She has been immersed in the world of weddings since planning her own whimsical, romantic affair in 2014. And isn’t that what they always say, “those who can’t do, teach?” Well, once her nuptials were over, she still had stuff in the ‘I Do’ industry to do. She writes regularly for top wedding blogs including Style Me Pretty and Wedding Chicks, and has garnered millions of press impressions for brands in the wedding space: fashion, beauty, wedding talent+tastemakers and more.

Safe 4th of July Activities

This weekend we’re celebrating all things America in the most unusual of ways, but this kind of restraint fosters opportunity for creativity that makes it unique all on its own. This holiday is all about spending time with those you love doing anything from back yard barbeques to parades to pie contests and fairs. Some people spend the 4th on the water, some spend it in the middle of a big ‘ol field shooting off fireworks like there’s no tomorrow.

Whatever your style is, adapting it to meet the times that we’re living in is a challenge, but that’s no reason to give up celebrating! Here are a few ways to safely make the most of this holiday!

1. Backyard cookouts are still a-go-go!

Here’s the great news, if you’re style is backyard hot dogs and sparklers — you’re in luck! Not much changes for you here. Go for a traditional spread of all things red white and blue and grab a handful of sparklers for the whole family.

2. Reverse Parade

No parade, no problem. Take that same concentration of decorated efforts and put them into your front yard or display your carriage of choice in the front lawn! Play some patriotic music while you decorate and the result is like a reverse parade — you stay stationary while the onlookers move and drive-by!

3. Family Cooking Contest

Pie, cake, and cookie contests don’t have to fall short this year — maybe this is the perfect time to try out that crazy recipe you’ve been a little timid to enter but now you ‘ve got your family to test it out on first before sending it to the judges! Get the whole fam involved and make some crazy delicious goods.

4. S’mores + Fireworks

While many cities have canceled their firework shows, some are opting to live stream last year’s event! Take this opportunity to fully embrace the comfort from your backyard with a projector and some smores! Be careful, you may end up liking this tradition even better.

5. Backyard Drive-In Movie

Speaking of a backyard projector — this festive holiday is a great opportunity to host your own patriotic movie marathon! You can’t go wrong with National Treasures. They just SCREAM patriotism that the whole family will enjoy.

6. Water Works

While we will never be able to fully replace a beach or boating experience, we CAN make a mini oasis in our own back yards! Grab a tiny inflatable pool or sprinklers and make your own tiny water park. The sea breeze won’t necessarily be in your hair, but it will still be a good, good time.

Whatever you do this holiday — make it special! We’ll look back on these crazy times and remember all that they brought on us, so make the most of it and have a safe and very, very happy 4th of July Holiday!

Every Pastel-Loving Bride Will Fall Head Over Heels for This Whimsical Wedding Inspiration

“I would advise brides to not be afraid to use a little colour and textures to bring their design concept to life. Do what is true to both of you as a couple – you won’t regret it later!” Those are some wise words from Whitney Heard Photography if you ask us! In a playful palette of powder blue, pale peach and soft lavender hues, today’s editorial celebrates all things pastel. Narelle Janine Events left no detail unturned – from two insanely gorgeous gowns to gold metals and fun velvet linens. Get your pinning fingers ready because the full gallery is inspiration overload.

From Narelle, Narelle Janine Events... I’ve been researching a trip to France for sometime now, somewhere I have always wanted to go. Specifically, the small towns filled so much history and stories, hidden gems. There is something about the cobblestone floors, greenery growing on the raw concrete walls and pastel coloured doors and refined ballrooms that overflow with romance, bliss and elegance.

When conceptualizing and designing this shoot, I created a colour theory filled with pastel coloured tones and lots of different textures. Our primary colour palette was powder blue, pale peach and a soft lavender. I’ve been dreaming about these colours and how to tell their story together. We wanted to mix fun textures in as well, gold metals and velvet linens. We also added some fun details as my brides are always looking for something different and fun for their guests to experience, we had some custom flavored popsicles made – to match the colour palette for each guest. Pastel, but make it fashion!

We wanted a whimsical dress, with lots of layers, very playful and fun! Our second dress has a delicate lace pattern on it, to top it off we added some dainty and textured jewelry to emulate that fairytale look. For the tablescape, we draped a pink velvet tablecloth, we added walnut charger plates, gold rim wine glasses and blue water goblets. We also added gold metal taper and tealight candle holders to elevate the table look. The unstructured centerpieces were filled with pastel hues that amplified the design concept and inspiration from the quaint towns in france. This cake is dressed in small intricate flowers, with our muted colour palette and gold flakes – swoonworthy. I would advise brides to not be afraid to use a little colour and textures to bring their design concept to life. Do what is true to both of you as a couple – you won’t regret it later!

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This Stunning Destination Wedding in Ravello Was Planned in Just 45 Days!

A modern fairytale wedding set at a villa in Ravello? Ummm… yes please! Until we’re able to travel to Italy again, we’ll be living vicariously through the gorgeous imagery from today’s wedding at Villa Eva, captured by Lace and Luce with planning from Amalfi Soiree. Kuts Flowers decorated their day with delphinium, roses, hydrangeas and anthurium in delicate pink and pastel blue tones – perfectly matching the enchanted garden vibes. Don’t miss out on the full gallery for more!

From Monica of Amalfi Soiree… What bride wouldn’t want something magical for her wedding? When Onome contacted Amalfi Soirée only 45 days before the wedding date, she had only one certainty: what she wanted was a fabulous evening, that was memorable, engaging and classy. The feeling with this lovely Nigerian-Canadian couple was that we were a perfect fit from the very first moments: I was waiting all weekend and super excited to see the proposal for the wedding theme & the bride wrote to me after I had suggested the idea of a romantic wedding inspired by the magic in the woods, fairy-tale setting and sanctuary of the soul as connecting element between earth and sky. “It seems like you were in my thoughts – you have beautifully translated everything I have wished for!”

From the bride… “We met thanks to a mutual friend”, Onome said, “but we were only friends for about a year, until we realized that ours was more than a friendship”. “We got engaged in February of 2018 and the proposal was done at a private restaurant with close friends and family. “It was a complete surprise because I thought it was my friend’s birthday party. Efe’s plan was to go to Banff, in Alberta, but it snowed so much that day that I suggested to rearrange the plans: I told my friend we would go some other time and then I decided to pick a place where we could do something for her birthday in the city… I even went the extra mile to pick up a cake for her, and I didn’t know I was planning my engagement party!” “When we got there, I saw that most of her friends were not around, while Efe was so well-dressed for the event. I didn’t think too much about it but, all of a sudden, he started talking about how far we had come. Then he went on his knees to ask me to spend the rest of my life with him. You know my answer!”

A year later, Onome and Efe flew to Italy for a touching sea view wedding. On the wedding day, while the groom, in his Umberto Custom Tailor suit, strolled with his groomsmens along the picturesque streets of Ravello, Onome got ready wearing a gorgeous dress by Pallas Couture, and the jewelled shoes by Bella Belle. A sophisticated hairstyle was created by Papa Chichi Style while Bimpe Onakoya took care of the bridal makeup. The symbolic ceremony, celebrated by Blessings from Italy, took place on the panoramic terrace of Villa Eva and included the exciting release of a cloud of white butterflies, a symbol of love and purity. The enchanted garden of delphinium, roses, hydrangeas and anthurium created by Kuts Flowers in delicate pink and pastel blue tones was the setting for this modern fairy tale, while the notes of “Nothing else matters” by Metallica in the classic version by Pino Rispoli, tore tears of joy from the delighted guests. After the ceremony the party moved into the lush park of the villa where salted snacks and assorted canapes were served. A 5-meter wall covered with moss to create an impressive Prosecco Wall where everyone could stock up on the favourite Italian drink.

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A Classic Wedding in Neutral Pink Hues at The Admiral’s House in Seattle

Seattle brides – if you haven’t already heard of The Admiral House, then boy do we have a treat for you! This gorgeous colonial home, built in 1944 for the Navy’s commanding admiral and his family, is complete with sweeping views of Elliott Bay, the Seattle skyline, and Mount Rainier – I mean, it just doesn’t get more Seattle than that. Today’s wedding planned by Perfectly Posh Events is the epitome of classic. The couple exchanged vows under a blooming arbor created by Kaleb Norman James Design, and later danced the night away under a greenery adorned tent. Head on over to the full gallery to see all the details – taken by Amanda K Photography!

From Amanda K Photography… Both hailing from the Seattle neighborhood of Magnolia, Emily + Brett knew they wanted to celebrate their union in the neighborhood that raised them. The Admiral’s House’s history + architecture mixed with its killer views had everything Emily + Brett envisioned for their day. They wanted a classic, timeless, and elevated celebration with all of their loved ones surrounding them to eat, drink, and be married. For those that are unfamiliar with The Admiral’s House, it is a colonial-style home built in 1944 for the Navy’s commanding admiral and his family and sits atop a hill in Magnolia. With its sweeping views overlooking Elliott Bay, the Seattle skyline, and Mount Rainier, the view is picturesque, and the perfect place to say “I Do!”

With the Elliott Bay Marina just down below [and visible!] from the Admiral’s House, a yacht moored in the marina was the only fitting option for Brett + his groomsmen to hang out in before the festivities! They shared whiskey, gifts, words of wisdom, and a few laughs! Emily wore a stunning Sarah Nouri gown, the softest pink Chanel shoes, and a timeless, low-set knot bun. With such a sophisticated look, it was only right for her to travel in style— a vintage, white Rolls Royce! Brett met Emily on the docks of the Marina for their captivating first look. If you look closely in the background of one of their shots, you’ll see the Admiral’s House standing proudly atop its perch, and their tent in all its glory, getting dolled up for the big day.

In keeping with their Magnolia roots, they wanted their bridal party photos to be taken atop of Magnolia Boulevard, the main street, and hub of the neighborhood. The bridesmaids were in gorgeous neutral pink gowns and the men in bowties. To top it off was the surprise mini-concert provided by a little boy and his guitar who happened to be playing for claps and cheers in the neighborhood! They were sure to get a photo op with the star. The ceremony was nestled in the west lawn of the Admiral’s House which offers an intimate garden retreat. Their amazingly talented florist, Kaleb Norman James fashioned the most exquisite blooming arch as the ceremony’s focal point, with flowering aisle markers framing it on either side. Emily wanted petals down the aisle.

In keeping it personal to Emily + Brett, they opted to have their favorite Coldplay song turned into an acoustic string quartet rendition for Emily’s walk down the aisle. They also asked their good friend to marry them in lieu of a formal officiant and asked another friend to share an excerpt of the Supreme Court’s ruling for same-sex marriage, as it reminded them that love is universal and open to all. Cheers and whistles erupted at the conclusion of their union. Cocktail hour ensued on a perfect summer evening, and eventually dinner + dancing under the stars. The breathtaking reception tent that was erected on the front lawn of The Admiral’s House, overlooking Elliott Bay and would be where E+B and their guests would spend the rest of their evening. They ate, drank, and were merry, just as Emily + Brett wanted. They shared laughs over the meal and toasts, and the band played their first dance just as the sun was setting, and the lights in the tent began to twinkle—it was magical. Thoughtfulness and attention went into all of the details. From having the same chandelier that hung in their home hang above the dance floor, their His + Her Signature cocktails, the gorgeous cream striped napkins, and the mismatched blue plates that offered a pop of color against their otherwise timeless color palette. They even commissioned a custom crest for their newly shared last name to include magnolia tree flowers in the design as a nod to their home. They used the crest in their invitations, signage, paper goods, and so much more. And don’t forget the macaron tower! Emily + Brett shared a memory of eating macarons in Paris and wanted to bring a bit of Paris to Seattle. This wedding was beautiful from every angle, and represented the bride + groom perfectly!

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Quarantine Cactus Backyard Party

Editor’s Note: Taking the time to make intentional efforts for celebration goes a long way in normal circumstances, but today in the climate that we’re in, it’s especially extraordinary. This AHdorable cactus party is the perfect example of how to take the confines of our situation and make the best of it!

It’s been a pretty wild time we’re all going through. Emotions are high. My niece is only 6. She understands everything but not exactly. She tries to and she was ok with not having a party this year. That didn’t sit well with me. This little girl has been pulled out of school and had her entire world turned upside down…I had to find a way to celebrate her. Lea loves cacti. She loves the round ones. I wanted to focus on a feminine cactus that maintained a modern feel.

I love the pairing of the terra cotta with almost anything but especially with sage and pink. The beautiful plates cam from the little artist and were the inspiration for the whole look of the lunch. Thre’s nothing that makes me happier than a pretty tablescape so I focused on details. cactus shot glasses, pink Himalayan salt shot glasses, sage drinking glasses, terra cotta bows.

The florals from Paval Floral were absolutely stunning and fit the vision perfectly. I couldn’t have dreamt it up better. Sharp balloons provided the amazing balloon cactus.

The food from Heirloom was delicious and on theme. Janice wong never disappoints me with her desserts. She made the cutest cactus macaroons and rose gold drip cake. I had two slices.

At the end fo the day, my niece was smiling. She was happy. She felt celebrated and that’s all I wanted. Hope this inspires you to have a little backyard birthday. We all need a little love.

Think Ranch Wedding Venues Are Too Rustic? Think Again.

There’s always one thing about every wedding we publish on SMP that stops us in our tracks and makes us go “woah… that’s AMAZING.” For today’s wedding – it’s the gorgeous black and blush barn reception. Everything about it is breathtaking – the greenery adorned chandeliers, Rachael Ellen Events’ soft, feminine blooms, not to mention that insane CAKE. We don’t about you, but this day made us completely rethink what styles were possible at a ranch venue. Head on over to the full gallery to see all the inspiring details – beautifully captured by Sophie Kaye Photography!

From Rachael Ellen Events… Lauren and Johnny were married on a gorgeous October day in the mountains of Midway, Utah. Their gorgeous venue, River Bottoms Ranch, stands tall in the valley of the gorgeous mountain ranch property amidst fields of grass, sprawling views of the mountains, and a quaint pond. Lauren describes herself as someone with classic and feminine style. Johnny, on the other hand, prefers a look with a bit more edge and grit. We were eager to find a way to cohesively combine these two styles into something that was totally unique to the two of them and their love.

Lauren wore a gorgeous long sleeve beaded gown – perfect for the chilly fall mountain temperature. Her gorgeous dark hair was worn in a classic chignon for her ceremony and changed into a glam center part for her reception. Johnny wore a custom burgundy suit and a sleek black tie – the perfect look for their chic, Autumn wedding. Lauren’s bridesmaids wore gorgeous blush dresses and the groomsmen were in sleek black suits and skinny black ties. The paper goods were the starting point for their wedding look. We opted for black paper for their invitations – black being the perfect marriage of chic and gritty. The gold foil added an elevated sense while the old-world monogram gave the look a bit of a moody spin.

We opted for details such as gold wax seals and scrolled name cards to create a romantic combination between the two looks. The florals were inspired by Lauren’s sweet and soft personality while also maintaining an autumnal feel. We focused on feminine blooms such as Quicksand roses, local Dahlia, and Majolica spray roses. Paired with fall foliage and a few touches of dark burgundy, the overall look was romantic yet moody. Most of the product for the floral staircase and ceremony install was forged from the surrounding Utah mountains and sprinkled with patches of garden roses to keep with the romantic feel.

The table decor was another area where we knew we needed to create the perfect balance between their two styles. The foundation for our design was a black velvet linen – this felt both chic and elevated while also contributing to the darker mood that Johnny loves. We paired these with gold and ivory petal chargers to bring in a feminine edge, modern flatware and glassware, and dusty lavender taper candles. These more modern elements balanced the feminine, garden inspired feel of the florals. One of our favorite details from the evening were the two custom neon signs that we had made for the couple. The one above the fireplace and lounge area read “I was made for loving you, baby” while the other above their bar area read “The Whites.” Another favorite design detail was the escort display which was gold shelving filled with glasses of bubbly topped with name tag scrolls. Each guest grabbed a glass before heading to their seat to enjoy dinner and toasts. The guests enjoyed a lovely Autumnal dinner, live jazz music, and heartfelt toasts before Lauren and Johnny cut into their custom black wedding cake complete with sugar flowers created to match our floral arrangements. After the cake cutting, Lauren and Johnny shared a dance before the rest of the group joined them. They danced into the late hours of the night before ending with a sparkler sendoff.

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A Breathtaking Garden Wedding Inspired by a Butterfly & Floral Monique Lhuillier Gown

When we say this might be one of the most gorgeous, inspiring weddings that’s ever graced the pages of SMP, please know we truly could not be more serious. I mean, just one look at the full gallery captured by Luna de Mare Photography and you’ll understand why. With planning from Green Ribbon Parties, the design for today’s garden fête was inspired by the bride’s beautiful butterfly and floral Monique Lhuillier gown. Lilacs, Dogwood, Hellebores, Roses and Sweet Peas were used to create jaw-dropping floral arrangements by The Loved Co. Trust us, it’s even more stunning than it sounds.

From Luna de Mare Photography… Raina & Salih had the quintessential cute meet. She frequented the Tea Garden Cafe that his Uncle owned in Los Angeles, and on one of those occasions, she walked out as he was walking in; only they didn’t collide. As she walked out, she opened what she thought was a tin candle she’d just purchased to smell and out came loose tea leaves spilling everywhere. You can imagine the rest of this decade long blossoming romance. The Wedding Venue was incredibly meaningful to the couple who chose to exchange vows at the private Estate of that very Uncle who owned the Cafe.

Their Guest list was intimate, capping off at 55 of their closest family and friends. A Fashion Stylist and Personal Shopper, Raina chose a Monique Lhuillier Paris Collection Floral & Butterfly print Gown in lieu of the traditional all-white. The gown was the design inspiration, incorporating tones in Lavender-Blush-Green, and the use of Lilacs for florals and butterflies on their Custom Paper Goods (designed by her Maid of Honor). In addition to Lilacs, Dogwood, Hellebores, Roses and Sweet Peas were used to create textural and organic floral elements, installations and centerpieces.

The Paper Goods consisted of the full invitation suite, and multiple signs; Table Seating, Table Numbers (with personal details about the couple), Seating placeholders for the Bridal party during the ceremony, and one honoring Raina’s Father who passed. As another tribute to him, they also chose a Jazz quartet during the Ceremony & cocktail hour, as it was his favorite genre of music. Salih’s Uncle officiated, recounting their love story and personal memories, while the couple chose to write their own vows as well as plant a Unity Tree as a symbol of their Foundation & Growth.

The Reception tables consisted of two family style rows flanking the Koi pond with textured Cane back chairs, organic and romantic florals, timeless china and vintage brass candlesticks. As a nod to where they first met, each guest was given a Vintage tea cup for Tea Service after dinner, doubling as a favor, collected especially for the occasion.

The mood was that reminiscent of a Kennedy Garden Party. Guest experience was high on their list, and after an evening of dinner, drinks (Madly in Love Mojito + Perfect Match Margarita), tea service and late night ice cream as a treat, they danced until they ended the evening with a Sparkler send off and a Classic car waiting to whisk them away.

Sunset on the Seine by Claude Monet Inspired This Spring Wedding Editorial’s Color Palette

Spring is a period of rebirth and awakening, a time where everything that was once barren turns to buds and brand new life – it was the perfect inspiration behind today’s stunning editorial. For the color palette, Lisa Silva Photography and Champagne Pop Events were particularly influenced by Claude Monet’s Sunset on the Seine – the mix of warm and cool pastel tones played out so beautifully in Moonstruck Florals’ arrangements. After scrolling through and pinning every picture, don’t forget to head on over to the full gallery to see every last detail of this mesmerizing Spring day!

From Lisa Silva Photography… Spring has always been my favorite season. After a dreary and gray stretch of winter, everything begins to come alive again in the spring. Fresh growth appears transforming the barren winter landscape into something lush and new. Caterpillars turn into butterflies, flowers burst into bloom and bring color back into our lives. This magical season of new life was the inspiration behind our shoot. We wanted to create something that captured the essence of spring and inspired brides and grooms to incorporate the gifts of the season into their own weddings.

When choosing our color palette we were inspired by Impressionism, specifically the iconic Sunset on the Seine by Claude Monet. Impressionism is my personal favorite movement in art history and much like spring, was a period of rebirth and awakening. We created three separate bridal looks with gowns from Claire Pettibone’s new spring line, Evolution. Caroline of Moonstruck Florals designed the lush all-floral bouquets with blooms in the pretty pastel hues and combinations of warm and cool tones used in Monet’s painting.

Our makeup and hair artists gave our models a fresh and romantic look with soft makeup and loose braids and curls. SoDough Baking Co. Created a beautiful dessert spread adorned with fruit and florals. For our venue, we chose Goodwood Museum and Gardens in Tallahassee for its lush grounds and gardens. Goodwood is an amazing venue with many options for ceremonies and receptions, but to keep our look organic we focused on shooting in the gardens. The main table and dessert table were placed between flowering camellia trees and a sitting area also adorned in florals was placed under a sprawling live oak. The locations were important to the overall design of the enchanted garden look and we loved the whimsical mood of it all. I am in love with the painterly feeling of this shoot and all of the beautiful elements of spring that we incorporated. We hope that it inspires couples to embrace the natural romance of the season when planning for their own weddings. Especially in today’s world, the promise of new life and reawakening should be something that guides us all.

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4. Location, Location, Location!

5. Design Your Own Experience

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Touch

Sound

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