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

You Would NEVER Believe Her Bouquet Was Made Entirely of Paper Flowers

When your vendor team includes all stars like Joel Serrato, Kathleen Deery Design and Laurie Arons Special Events – magic happens. Today’s beautiful bride and groom tied the knot in an intimate morning ceremony in the garden of the bride’s family home in Todos Santos, Mexico. They celebrated with a delicious brunch to follow and a late-night dance party that same night, how amazing is that?! (Kind of wishing I could go back and re-do my wedding day timeline exactly like that) See all the fun unfold at the full gallery, all planned by Kathleen Deery Design and captured by Joel Serrato!

From the Bride… Having the opportunity to host our nearest and dearest in one of our favorite places was a real privilege for Wyatt and I. We went back and forth about the type of wedding we might have, we landed on courthouse vows just the two of us and a celebration with ceremony and party in Todos Santos, Mexico, where my family has a home.

It is a special place where we felt folks could relax, play in the sun and be hosted. Friday night started with a party in town at La Morena with live music and killer cocktails. Saturday morning’s ceremony was soft and thoughtful under the sun in the garden at my parents’ home. We served brunch, played bocce and soaked in the love from those around us.

Saturday night was festive and fun, food stations, dancing and some late-night carts. Sunday morning we sat by the pool and relived the weekend, what a weekend it was! We were filled with gratitude for our friends and family. Kathleen Deery, a friend and designer, executed the look and feel for all events as well as my exquisite bouquet made entirely of paper flowers. The printed paper materials were designed by her team in collaboration with the ladies from Laurie Arons Special Events, a client and friend as well. We were very fortunate to have these industry friends who helped create a very memorable experience and even more so to have Joel Serrato behind the lens to capture it all.

photographer : Joel Serrato Film Photographer | floral & event design : Kathleen Deery Design | venue : family residence | paper goods: Laurie Arons Special Events

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Joel Serrato Film Photographer

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Laurie Arons Special Events

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A Dreamy Alfresco Birthday Dinner

Editor’s Note: We miss being with people — we’ll just hop right out and say it. But to brighten spirits and lift the day we thought we’d share a beautiful spread of al fresco dining to remind you that social days are just around the corner. So for now, we’ll sit in our loungewear and think about how we can take dinner outside this weekend, and we hope you do the same!

We are so excited to share with you all of the beautiful, vibrant details of this intimate 30th birthday celebration hosted at a private estate in Los Angeles. A delicious Mediterranean feast prepared by The Kitchen for Exploring Foods, stunning florals by Nancy Kaye of Mark’s Garden and stylish decor from Revelry Event Design, will have you swooning. Big thanks to Braedon Flynn for all of the beautiful photos.

The birthday girl’s nearest and dearest were seated at one long family-style table, amidst lush gardens with twinkling bistro lights hanging above. The tabletop decor was comprised of mix-matched handmade cream-colored pottery which sat atop a blush velvet placemat, rose gold flatware, vintage blush glassware topped with a custom stamped menu nestled in handmade napkin wraps. French tulips, white peonies, and blush garden roses made up just some of the amazing bouquets that were set upon the table. Accents of blush and gold could be found throughout the party; in our elegant glassware, unique back bar, throw pillows and coffee tables.

Before guests were seated for a decadent feast, they were treated to delicious passed hors-d’oeuvres while phenomenal cocktails were served at our botanical bar featuring fresh herb and edible floral ice cubes to elevate their look! Once it was time to dine alfresco, guests enjoyed a delicious family style mezze selection, made up of dolmas, zucchini fritters, tzatziki, hummus, tabouli and much more. Providing guests a place to lounge, Revelry Event Designers white woven furniture and ottomans with wooden frames were placed in the garden, further creating a summertime feel. Each guest was provided with a handwoven blanket so that partygoers were kept warm as the night wore on.

This 30th birthday party truly encapsulated the summertime celebration feel. Light, fresh colours were featured throughout, with the scents of freshly cut floral and delicious food, and the sounds of West Coast Music’s fabulous band’s filling the air. Guests sipped cocktails and nibbled on treats long into the night in celebration.

An Elegant, Garden Wedding With Gorgeous Sri Lankan Touches

We couldn’t be more obsessed with today’s gorgeous wedding from Details Darling at Rancho Las Lomas. The bride and groom tied the knot in a beautiful garden wedding, exchanged heartfelt vows and danced the night away with their nearest and dearest under a canopy of string lights. Our favorite part? They decided to incorporate meaningful touches to their day that represented the bride’s Sri Lankan heritage. From her bridesmaids wearing stunning traditional sarees to Sri Lankan dancers and performers leading the wedding party and family down the aisle – it’s all so special! See the magic unfold at the full gallery captured by Lorely Meza.

From Details Darling… Heshani + Adam’s wedding day was one of those unforgettable days where every single person there, vendors + guests included, could feel the tremendous love they had for one another and the love their families had for them. Not only was this evident during their vows when there was not a single dry eye in attendance, but again later in the evening when Heshani’s father gave his toast, we all found ourselves in tears once again!!

From the very beginning Heshani + Adam wanted their wedding to be very elegant with lots of wispy greenery and beautiful garden like florals. They wanted everything to complement their gorgeous venue that has so much foliage and breathtaking architecture already. We drew tremendously from this garden like inspiration at the ceremony arch which turned into a stunning back drop for the bride + grooms sweetheart table later in the evening.

The ceremony arch way was draped with gorgeous fabric and the most wispy greenery + floral combination. This garden like feel of course was most evident in the gorgeous florals but also translated into the invitation and day of signage. The invitation suite, table numbers, place cards + favors all had beautiful intricate floral patterns throughout. We were even very sly with the meal indicators on the escort cards attached to Found Rentals beautiful garden gates. Instead of a traditional chicken symbol or fish symbol, Twinkle and Toast created three different floral patterns on the place cards to signify different meal choices.

In addition to the beautiful, elegant, garden feel, Heshani’s Sri Lankan heritage was also a huge part of their wedding day. Heshani and her bridesmaids all wore traditional sarees. Keeping with Sri Lankan tradition, Heshani was decked out in the most gorgeous jewelry. Their wedding processional was a bit different than the norm, with Sri Lankan dancers and performers leading the wedding party and family down the aisle. During the course of the evening, guests were entertained with 3 different Sri Lankan dance routines. And even in the smallest details they tied in their Sri Lankan culture with dainty white boxes wrapped in ribbon, filled with traditional fruit cake at each place setting for each guest to enjoy.

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How One Couple Brought European Romance to Their Cliffside Bali Wedding

From their ceremony views to the bride’s knockout gown – this Bali affair had no shortage of “wow-worthy” moments. When the bride approached her planner with an idea of a “dolce vita” wedding in Bali – the talented team at Call Me Madame knew just how to make their wedding dreams a reality. Bloomz Fine Flowers created heavenly arrangements filled with pastel pink and white roses. Head on over to the full gallery, captured by Saya Photography, to see how it all came together.

How did you two meet?

From the Bride… My side of the story: It was Halloween of 2014. I had just moved to Hong Kong 3 weeks prior and was ready to go out and see what the city had in store for me. Halloween is the busiest and craziest night in Hong Kong’s bar/club scene and I was filled with excitement to see what the hype was all about. It took me 1 1/2 hours to get from the train station to the bar where I was supposed to meet up with some friends. For reference sake; on a normal day, it would take 2/3 minutes to get from the train station to the bar, so “crowded” is an understatement here. When I finally reached the bar, which felt like eternity, I hesitated on going in. It seemed like coming out that night was a complete mistake and I wasn’t ready for a whole night of squishy human sandwich party. My friend insisted I go in for a drink and unwillingly, I got dragged in. Upon entering the bar, I scanned the perimeter and found myself intrigued by a guy with a cute smile wearing a chequered dress shirt. This lame individual who didn’t even bother dressing up on Halloween is Jas (typical). At the time, he was inconveniently flirting (he claims it was just talking) with another girl. “Damn it” I thought. “I’ve come too late! The cute one’s gone!” Well, as it appears, I had come at just the right time because shortly after, Jas found himself chatting up with yours truly, and the rest, as we know it, is…history.

Jas’ side: At a Halloween party through a friend. I went up to her and introduced myself and started talking to her and she left the night with my number in her phone.

Tell us about the proposal!

We planned a trip to the Middle East and Dubai was our first stop. To set the backstory, let’s just say I’m the planner of the relationship and had planned the whole trip while Jas wasn’t even sure which cities we were going to. So when he told me he wanted to plan a romantic evening for the two of us in Dubai and packed his suit & dress shoes (when he’s usually always in t-shirts and jeans/sweats), my spidey senses told me something was up. Nonetheless, I didn’t know where exactly he was taking me. The car took us to a hotel on the Palm Island, where we had to hop on a golf cart that took us to the back side of the hotel, and I was greeted with an aisle of fired torches leading up to our private dinner at the beach. With a bouquet of roses in hand and the most romantic dinner setting, it was only a matter of polishing off our appetizers, mains, and desserts before finally popped the question and nervously opened the ring box, of which a beautiful ring sat; upside down.

Tell us about finding your dress!

I had gone to a few wedding dress shops in Hong Kong and was discouraged at the outrageous price tag attached to the dresses. Either the dresses weren’t my style and was at a reasonable price or were imported name brand ones that could put a hole in your wallet. My solution? I went to China and got a no branded dress that I loved at a fraction of the cost. Best decision ever!

Tell us about your wedding flowers!

I wanted something traditional, but a little rustic with muted colours that suited our wedding theme colours which were pastel pink, peach and green. I sent some images I liked and let the florist do her magic. I had no idea what it would look like until I saw it on the wedding day, and needless to say; I wasn’t disappointed!

What advice would you give to a couple planning their wedding?

Set a budget with your significant other, then make a list of the top things that are important to the both of you for this wedding. With that list, you can spend money according to both of your priorities. But honestly, the best advice I can give a couple planning their wedding is…to find a good wedding planner! Our wedding planner Alice from Call Me Madame and her team made our wedding the magical wonderland it was. If you have a good planner, the rest is easy.

Most memorable moment?

There were so many memorable moments, it’s hard to choose! From the ceremony of walking down the aisle, saying our vows, seeing our loved ones enjoying themselves celebrating our love, the toasts, the view, the crying, the laughing, the joy…it was truly the best day of our (Jas & I’s) lives.

Tell us a little bit about your honeymoon!

Technically we didn’t have one? Jas and I travel together quite frequently so I guess we’ll be honeymooning for the rest of our lives.

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A Dreamy Destination Wedding at the Hôtel Ritz Paris Every Francophile Needs to See

For this gorgeous couple, a late Fall wedding in Paris was the perfect recipe for their “I do’s”. Floraison Paris decorated their day in rich greens and blooms in a feminine color scheme of pinks, lavender, and soft hints of white. The results were breathtaking to say the least (just wait ’till you see the floral-filled grand staircase) Thanks to Loli Events, the festivities went off without a hitch! Head on over to the full gallery for all the garden wedding inspiration – captured by Oliver Fly Photography!

From Oliver Fly Photography… What began as a chance meeting on New Year’s Eve turned into the love of a lifetime for Meghan and Peter. As fate would have it, both New Yorkers made the trip to Aspen, Colorado for the same NYE event, and the rest, as they say, is history. Four years later, the couple returned to the spot where it all began for a mountaintop proposal, surrounded by dear friends and the perfect snowfall. As Meghan and Peter considered locations for their late fall wedding, Paris became the obvious choice. Thanks to a long-standing love of French food, fashion, art, and culture, the city had always held a special place in Meghan’s heart, and luckily Peter felt the very same.

As their wedding plans began to take shape, Meghan and Peter decided on a multi-day destination event set in their favorite city in the world and everything planned by the talented team of Loli Events. The iconic Hôtel Ritz Paris was selected as the ceremony backdrop thanks to its rich history and unparalleled beauty. Meghan had always dreamed of a Parisian garden wedding, and the Ritz courtyard was everything she’d envisioned. Set just minutes away, the couple chose Hotel Le Marois as their reception venue and loved the opportunity to enjoy multiple locations with their guests—many of whom had never previously visited Paris.

Thinking about the design moments of their day, Meghan and Peter chose to draw inspiration from their ceremony location with a color palette of rich greens, pinks, lavender, and soft hints of white. They also incorporated subtle nods to French historical icons, with touches of pale pinks a la Marie Antoinette, and a bee icon on the invitation suite as an homage to Napoleon.

Meghan and Peter knew fashion was going to play a significant role in their black-tie wedding, and their fashion selections didn’t disappoint. After searching showrooms all across New York, Meghan selected an A-line Reem Acra dress featuring asymmetrical embroidery, lace, tulle, and sequins for a couture yet timeless look. To complement their fashion-forward aesthetic, Peter donned a midnight blue tuxedo custom-made by Knot Standard.

The wedding weekend began with a private cruise along the Seine, where guests were able to catch sight of the Eiffel Tower and many famous landmarks throughout the city. The cruise served as the ultimate kickoff to their multi-day celebration and gave loved ones a glimpse into all the festivities ahead. Following the welcome event, Meghan and Peter held a Moroccan-inspired rehearsal dinner at Alcazar in the 6th, as they introduced guests to the vibrant Left Bank and built up excitement for the big day to follow. On the morning of their wedding, Meghan and Peter were greeted with a gorgeous autumn day and not a hint of rain in sight.

Their afternoon ceremony was not only incredibly picturesque but also beautifully heartfelt, as they exchanged handwritten vows in a ceremony officiated by two of their closest friends. Following the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed a cocktail hour and reception set at Hotel Le Marois, where their team of talented vendors made sure no detail went untouched. The evening featured a stunning array of design moments, including a floral-filled grand staircase as a continuation of the Parisian garden aesthetic. As day turned to night, Meghan and Peter’s guests were treated to a multi-course meal of traditional French cuisine and continued dining, dancing, and toasting to the happy couple well into the evening hours.

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This Might Just Be Our Favorite Spring 2020 Wedding Color Palette

Dreamy textures, lush greenery, and soft blues came together to create today’s stunning Spring wedding planned by Simply Lovely Events. Personalized details were sprinkled throughout the decor, from the wedding favors to the desserts, all captured by the ever so talented Lauren Fair Photography. When the bride spoke to Nicole Ha Design about the flowers for their day, she offered some of the best advice… “Forget the images that you see online. Let’s create something that you’ll truly love” – so simple yet so incredibly important to remember! We hope this gorgeous day leaves you feeling inspired, head on over to the full gallery to see all the magic unfold.

What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?

Before imagining what our wedding would look like, I focused on how we wanted to feel. The vision was to capture the essence of our love, so the inspiration was focused around how we wanted to feel before proceeding with the overall aesthetic. At its core, our relationship is simple, organic, natural, and romantic–all of which we wanted to have reflected throughout the big day!

What was your color palette and your style vision?

Our color palette consisted of soft blue, grey, and cream/beige hues. The natural landscape of the Colorado Mountains and Great Sand Dunes National Park offered us a dream engagement photoshoot, with a breathtaking combination of sand, blue skies, clouds, and mountains blending in the background. The gorgeous surroundings truly enhanced our experience and made expressing our love more effortless. This palette and rustic theme aligned perfectly with the emotions and decor that we wanted to include on our wedding day.

What unique elements or DIY details did you include?

We wanted to showcase the beauty of living in Northern California, which is well known for its golden rolling hills, wineries, and rich history. Nella Terra Cellars, nestled within the valley of Sunol, California, was the perfect representation of that. The reception was held in a soft elegant tent, centered perfectly in the middle of a lush vineyard. It offered a romantic escape from the Bay Area without having to travel too far from our home. Additionally, it was located only mere miles away from our ceremony location at Mission San Jose–a historic, Spanish influenced church from the 1700’s, and which also happened to be one of our favorite churches.

We relied on the details of our relationship to help paint the story of our love onto the decor and every detail. With the help of the talented Lorin Baeta from Letterly @letterly.signsandlettering, we created a timeline of our love, personalized names of our guests on agate stone, and a custom hand painted escort wall that greeted our guests. Our incredible graphic designer and personal close friend of ours, Sang Nguyen @sangleet, designed our wedding monogram and invitation suite. We were fortunate enough to win a contest on instagram hosted by Wedding Sparrow @weddingsparrow for gorgeous wax seals by Heirloom Seals @heirloomseals to incorporate with our monogram throughout our invitation suite and dinner menus.

Our floral designer, Nicole Ha, added floral arrangements that transformed our wedding into a dreamy fairytale with the perfect balance of soft textures and greenery.

What was your favorite moment? Your favorite crafted detail?

Favorite moment? I will never forget the moment I entered the church and how my eyes instantly met my husband’s. I was lost in his eyes in a room full of our loved ones and truly felt like I was walking into heaven with each step I took towards him. At that moment, my soul finally felt complete.

There are so many crafted details that we love! Each detail was an important puzzle piece needed to complete our overall vision. The best feeling was walking into the reception and seeing all of our ideas come to life. Our wedding planner, Simply Lovely Events, made our dreams into reality and it felt so rewarding to see the final product.

Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors, your cake, etc.

We were highly selective with each of our vendors. They were not only exceptionally talented beyond measure, but also connected with us as a couple. Having that genuine connection with everyone made our day so much more enjoyable and carefree, as they all felt like our friends and it was an honor to celebrate our special day with them.

Flowers – Nicole Ha @nicolehadesign. Nicole surprised us by thinking outside of the box, rather than relying on using Pinterest and images found online for inspiration. She told us, “Forget the images that you see online. Let’s create something that you’ll truly love.” Those are the words of a true artist. It was liberating to create something that was truly unique instead of imitating a photo.

My bouquet consisted of a lush, highly textured and romantic composition of garden roses, lisianthus, silver dollars, sweet peas, and seasonal flowers in ivory that were beautifully draped over foliage. Nicole took special care and drew inspiration from my wedding gown and bridesmaids’ dresses. She added height and texture throughout the reception tent with tall horizontal floral arrangements in towering metal stands and hanging glass bubbles to each structure. She alternated tables using floating candles in varying heights and greenery. It gave us that breathtaking wow factor, while exuding simplicity and elegance.

Gown – I instantly connected with Galia Lahav’s gowns. Her gowns were frequently favorited during my wedding research, and her GALA collection, in particular, had the modern/fashionable look with intricate details that I was looking for.

I brought the three most important women in my life – my mom, my 93 year-old grandmother, and my cousin to a Galia Lahav trunk show hosted by Kinsley James Couture Bridal in Walnut Creek, CA. Kinsley James provided such a wonderful experience for me and my family. It made selecting the gown into such a memorable day.

The gown I chose was GALA 1004 from Galia Lahav GALA Collection No. 5. It surprisingly fit me like a glove (minus the length), and I knew it was the one when I felt and heard the last snap of the button hook. When I walked out of the fitting room, the whole boutique felt my emotions – even the other brides and their guests felt like crying!
Once I said “yes to the dress,” my family (yes, including my grandma) shared a celebratory champagne toast to relish in the moment.

Signage and Favors – We used our love story to design the unique details to share with our guests. Lorin Baeta from Letterly customized everything from our escort wall, signage, and favors. Her signs consisted of cute and quirky sayings such as “Oh snap, there’s an app!” to instruct guests on how to use our file sharing app, a dessert table sign with “Suga, Suga how you get so fly” inspired from my husband’s favorite song in high school (over 12 years ago, wow), and a love journey timeline consisting of 6 pivotal milestones and dates in our relationship.
Outside of our reception tent, guests were drawn to a beautiful 12 foot, hand painted escort wall. It incorporated soft blue hues and our unique monogram in gold. Our guests’ names were handwritten on the acrylic signs and displayed against the towering backdrop. Nicole Ha placed a gorgeous array of flowers to tie in the romantic feeling.

Each of our guests were greeted with their names personalized in calligraphy on agate stone at their seats. The name plates also doubled as a party favor for them to take home. Lorin also wrote the lyrics of “At Last” by Etta James in calligraphy on tracing paper to use in the details shot for our wedding rings. My husband and I surprised our guests and serenaded them with the same song during our thank you speech.

Cake and Dessert Table – Our cake and dessert tables were designed by our friend Cindy Ngar @cindyslittlecakery. We gave her the creative freedom to design a cake based off of our color palette and theme. Our cake had soft blues, greys, and whites to create a luxurious marble finish in burnt almond flavor. Nicole Ha complimented our cake with flowers on top and around our cake table. We kept the cake small for ceremonial cutting and felt that our guests would enjoy the selection of an open dessert table.

Desserts were an array of favorites that my husband and I loved from Cindy: lavender, green tea cream puffs, and mango and strawberry mousse cups. Cookies were made by my friend Cathy @chloescookiebar, which we strongly believe are the best cookies on earth.

We also have an addiction to boba and knew that we wanted to share that with our guests. We chose Happy Lemon for our boba station and provided a selection of boba milk teas. The dessert and boba tables were devoured instantly. To this very day, I regret not saving a cookie for myself at the end of the night. Haha.

Photographers – We had the opportunity to have the amazing Lauren and Tim Fair @laurenfair capture our engagement and wedding. Our photographers and their eye for natural beauty inspired us to find the beauty of our surroundings. On our wedding day, they discovered a magical fairytale-like olive grove at the back of our church that was closed off from the public. With permission of the owners, we were able enter and capture some of our favorite moments of the day, frolicking within the forest. Lauren also captured the gorgeous sunset and golden glow of the hills during our reception. They are such a down to earth, genuine couple and it was easy to feel like ourselves in front of them while they captured all of our important moments and details. The dreamy, airy, ethereal photos were an extension of how we felt that day. We are immediately transported back to the immense love we felt on that day and cannot believe how lucky we are to have photos that evoke those exact feelings. They were incredible to work with.

Event Planner – Simply Lovely Events @simplylovely_events helped tie all the details together. They had a clear understanding of our vision and offered many resources and vendors to achieve our dream. Walking into our reception was like entering a fairy tale. We are still in disbelief that it was actually our own wedding – it was truly everything we dreamed of and so much more.

What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?

At the end of the day, being married to the love of your life is the absolute dream. While all the details of your wedding is an added bonus, it’s truly about you and your partner. The beauty in that surpasses everything else.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Lauren Fair Photography

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Mixing Old World Charm With Modern Femininity at The Ancient Spanish Monastery

Ever wonder how to mix modern touches with old world charm? Allow St. Germain Events to show you how it’s done. From a drop dead gorgeous Monique Lhuillier gown, to the bride’s beautiful natural locks, to the history of the venue – this editorial has inspiration sprinkled throughout every corner. Head on over to the full gallery, captured by Melissa Blythe to see it all!

From Melissa Blythe… History, architecture, fashion, florals, and natural beauty were the staple muses to bring this ideation to life.

HISTORY &ARCHITECTURE:

St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church, better known by Ancient Spanish Monastery is a luxury historic wedding venue among a tropical setting, located in Miami, FL. The Romanesque architecture is a rare find in the United States and was the main reason we were drawn to the space. After learning more of the Monastery’s history, we gained an even deep appreciation for the beauty and craftsmanship of this remarkable landmark. Originally built in Spain during the 12th century, it was dismantled and shipped by to America where it had been stored away in New York City until it made its way to Miami where it was reassembled and now serves as luxury wedding venue and an Episcopal church.

FASHION: The Truly gown by Monique Lhullier brought a soft, elegant, and feminine feel that we wanted to resonate throughout the final images. The optional lace-sleeved jacket along with the pink Gucci platforms added an unexpected fashion-forward touch. We specially chose non-traditional wedding shoes because we love the idea of brides being able to wear them again over time for date nights and such, keeping her wedding style alive and thriving even after the wedding day!

NATURAL BEAUTY & FLORALS: Racquel of St. Germain Design & Co.
We went for a soft, feminine floral style with lots of textures to compliment the detail of the gown. The flowers in the model’s hair accessorized the blush tones in the beautiful dress . We designed with roses, ranunculus tulips with soft accents of lilac and sweet pea. To add European flair to accent the architecture, we paired a vintage wooden table with French style round-back chairs which gave a nice contrast to the lush green tropical landscape.

Dreamy Blues, Giant Oak Trees and Velvet Details Make Up This Stunning Styled Shoot!

There is just something about giant oak trees that instantly make a wedding venue seem like a fairytale, just like Hidden Oaks Ranch where today’s inspiration shoot was photographed, by Catie Ann Photography. Then, you add in an array of candles, a dreamy floral arch by Tyler Speier Events and L & C Events, velvet linens and beautiful gold accents and there you have it…a dream come true! Take a look below and get your Pinterest boards ready….we think this one is worth saving!

From Catie Ann Photography…Who doesn’t love a modern twist on a classic?! When that twist also includes sweeping views of the California landscape, you really can’t go wrong. This inspirational shoot was designed by Tyler Speier (and assisted by L & C Events), who created the most beautiful wedding arch and tablescape at Hidden Oaks Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. The color palette was a modern, whimsical take on the classic white and green aesthetic. To add in contemporary whimsy, Tyler incorporated pops of muted blue and grey.

Inspired by the lush exterior of Hidden Oaks, Tyler’s vision incorporated a greenery arch nestled under a large oak tree. The candles lining the aisle brought an intimacy to the natural beauty that Hidden Oaks calls it’s own.

To create a luxurious seating area, The Tent Merchant supplied the beautiful, natural-toned lounge furniture, which popped against the green SoCal background. The tablescape is where the modern twist on a classic really stands out. The modern flatware and menu paired well with the classic floral design. The grey velvet table linens added a level of luxury that seamlessly fused the modern and classic elements together.

The Top Floral Trend Predictions for 2020 – From the Experts!

It’s 2020 and couples are upping their flower game. From living walls to eco-friendly arrangements, we chatted with a few floral experts to get you all the deets on this year’s bloom trends!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Kayla Barker Photography

FLORALS | Bow and Arrows Flowers

1. Warm Neutrals + Orange!

Look out for warm tones and a pop of color in 2020! Lori of Wild Green Yonder suggests accenting your neutral arrangements “with hits of orange, vibrant apricot, and even chartreuse” to keep your arrangements looking fresh.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Audra Wrisley Photography

FLORALS | Wild Green Yonder

2. Dried Ingredients

“Dried and preserved botanical ingredients are having a moment”, according to Lori Tran of Wild Green Yonder. “Incorporating dried seed pods and grasses in with fresh blooms lends lots of texture, movement, and seasonality to arrangements. It’s also a great way to achieve a more muted overall palette instead of using brighter green hues.”

PHOTOGRAPHY | Victoria Heer Photography

FLORALS | Wild Green Yonder

3. Natural Aesthetic

While 2020 wedding trends are shifting from minimalist to ornate, the florals are taking on a more organic, natural aesthetic. Couples can incorporate this trend by opting for “natural and dried materials. creating a sophisticated and natural and neutral palette,” says Brian Watson of Myrtie Blue. These natural colors will deliver a timeless look that you are sure to look back on and love for years to come, and they may save you a few bucks along the way.

Liza Roeser, “The Flower CEO,” Founder & CEO of FiftyFlowers agrees saying, “Brides will opt for hand-tied arrangements that are a bit looser, more free-flowing, and natural than tightly arranged bouquets. They will also opt for more greenery—not only in bouquets, but in place of flowers as stand-alone accents. Greenery like Italian Ruscus, silver dollar, seeded eucalyptus, and baby eucalyptus will be popular, as they add beautiful texture and dusty, beautiful natural color to any arrangement.”

PHOTOGRAPHY | Kerry Jeanne Photography

FLORALS | Gather Design Company

4. Ground-based Arrangements

Instead of towering pillars of flowers for the ceremony, couples are laying low–to the ground that is. Lining your aisle with florals is a great way to make a first impression on your guests. And, believe it or not, it’s budget-friendly (seriously!), according to Lori of Wild Green Yonder who says, “ground-based pieces can easily be repurposed for receptions–a ceremony aisle can become an accent for the sweetheart table or can surround the band.”

PHOTOGRAPHY | Angela Newton Roy

FLORALS | Wild Green Yonder

5. Foam Free

The sustainability movement is catching on in the wedding industry and couples are “asking for more eco-conscious design elements in their weddings.”, says Lori of Wild Green Yonder. Instead of using the toxic, non-biodegradable floral foam, florists are turning to sustainable structures like chicken wire to build the frames for their designs. Lori explains that using these techniques create designs that are “more open, airy, and minimalist – a sought after look for 2020 wedding flowers.” Brian Watson of Myrtie Blue says, “The lack of foam seems to create pieces that have a new sense of natural freedom and movement unattainable with floral foam.”

PHOTOGRAPHY | Angela Newton Roy Photography

FLORALS | Wild Green Yonder

6. Secret Meaning

Couples are diving deep in 2020 and hiding secret messages in their flowers. This is a tradition that dates back to the “Flower Language” of the Victorian era. Liza Roeser, “The Flower CEO,” Founder & CEO of FiftyFlowers, encourages couples to find “ways to add in meaning into their special day” by selecting “varieties, colors, breeds, or names that hold special significance to them as a couple.” Need help choosing just the right message for your big day, check out your favorite flowers in this guide to Flower Language to find out their secret meaning!

PHOTOGRAPHY | Jose Villa

FLORALS | Bow and Arrows Flowers

7. Living Walls

In 2020, couples are thinking more about their event space as a whole and incorporating their florals into every part of the wedding. Living walls make a great backdrop for a ceremony or to greet your guests as they enter the cocktail hour. They look amazing and they make for stunning photos–you’ll have a line of guests waiting to snap the perfect selfie! Think of living walls as this year’s photo booth alternative.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Studio Ohlala

FLORALS | Bloomz Fine Flowers

8. Enhanced and Tinted Flowers

PHOTOGRAPHY | Kelly Brown

FLORALS | Felisa Funes

9. Asymmetrical Floral Arches

Arches are a traditional element for a wedding ceremony, but more and more we are seeing asymmetrical takes on the traditional archway. Floral arches make a great backdrop for your wedding and ensure that your ceremony photos are just as frame-worthy as your portraits! The asymmetrical twist will lead the guests’ eyes around the entire space so they can take it all in.PHOTOGRAPHER | Lauren Fair Photography

FLORALS | Melissa Broadwell

10. Floral Installations

This is by far one of our favorite floral trends and we are thrilled to see more of it in 2020! Whether they’re adorning staircases or hanging over the aisle, floral installations add an over-the-top romantic element to any wedding. According to Sherene Hulugalle of Wisteria Lane, couples are choosing to forgo the traditional “voluminous” centerpieces of the past and using “statement pieces such as architectural and suspended installations” to add some drama and glamour to their big day. Not only are they stunning to look at but they make for great photos–whether it’s your professional wedding portraits or your guests’ instagrams!

FLORALS | Floressence Flowers

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Photography

Jose Villa Photography

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Lauren Fair Photography

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Bows and Arrows

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Photography

Audra Wrisley Photography

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Wisteria Lane

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This Bride Wore a Ruffled, Smoke Grey, Fiercely Feminine Wedding Dress and We’re Obsessed!

The minute we laid eyes on this intimate wedding at Half Mile Farm, we were convinced there’s no way a wedding this perfect could be real – it had to be a styled shoot! Nope. It’s real, and it’s unbelievably gorgeous. Where do we even begin? The knock-out smoke grey wedding dress? The 16-person guest list? The custom table runners and vintage china? There’s just too much to love. Host and Haven brought the couple’s intimate wedding dreams to life, while Vero Events wow’d us with their romantic floral creations. Live vicariously through the full gallery – captured by Sarah Ingram!

From Host and Haven… Hannah and Clark met in college in Charleston, South Carolina. The bride hails from the Midwest and the groom from Boston. Once they started a planning process, they knew they wanted something destination since everyone would have to travel regardless. While they loved their little beach town for everyday life, they wanted something a little more intimate for the wedding. The guest list was kept to immediate family only and the goal was for the weekend to feel inclusive and approachable.

They chose Half Mile Farm, which is a tranquil country Inn tucked back on private property in the village of Cashiers, North Carolina. The historic farmhouse nestles perfectly on a rolling hill overlooking Apple Lake. Immediately upon arrival, your pace slows down, and that’s exactly what Clark and Hannah wanted for their big day. Hannah chose The Kahlo dress by Vagabond. The smoke grey color is made through a mixture of blush, blue, and ivory tulle. It includes an extendable train for extra drama. The structured corset front creates modern lines with the layers of texture in the tulle for delicacy. The designer describes the dress as “fiercely feminine” and we couldn’t agree more. Since the weather was a bit on the chiller side, the bride also wore a cashmere blue sweater at moments.

Her statement earrings were made by Hyla Dewitt and clutch found at a local boutique. The ceremony was set facing a beautiful historic farmhouse on a hill. Guests sat on wooden benches and were offered pashminas in the chillier temperatures. The aisle was adorned with a seagrass runner and fresh ivory rose petals. The grooms’ brother acted as the officiant and her long-term friend as a bridesmaid. Cocktails & canapes were enjoyed on the back patio of the main house. Guest nibbled on Pumpkin and Chestnut, Forest Mushroom, Sunchoke- Parsley Root Soup Shooters, Truffle Potato Croquettes with Sour Cream and Sturgeon Caviar, and Lime and Juniper Roasted Venison Skewers with Baby Shiitake and Tupelo Honey.

Dinner was served in the inside ballroom for the sixteen guests. The base linens were a velvet duck egg tone and covered with horizontal custom table runners made from Schumacher. The plate ware was a gold-rimmed charger and the dinner plate was their inherited wedding china in Juliska Country Estate. The setting was made complete with silverware, clear cut glassware, chocolate linen napkins, and a gorgeous name tag and menu designed by Emily Baird Design. A nod to traditional prints and modern lettering. The floral and textured taper candles completed the look with a mix of local foliage and blooms. Floral varieties included black eye anemones, mustard and nude roses, hellebore, queen Anne’s lace, lilac, bunny tails, delphinium, copper beech, and blossom quince branches.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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How to Social Distance and Still Have the Best Time With Your Bridal Party

It’s a rough time right now, and with COVID-19 consuming our every thought, action, etc., it’s hard not to let the shiny, happy things in our life lose their luster. Yes, weddings certainly count as one of those. Regardless of whether or not your wedding was slated for 2020, if you have a sparkly new piece of jewelry on THAT finger and someone is calling you fiancé/fiancée, then, at the very least, you’re a bride planning during a pandemic. We’d wager a guess that it’s not exactly how you envisioned the engagement afterglow going when you were growing up. And who would, with something as unprecedented as this happening in the world?

Of course, our hearts go out to every bride and groom who had/have wedding dates this Spring (and even early Fall, as we still have little to no understanding of what the future holds for this virus). It was Harry, right? Who famously said “When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” It’s true, no one wants to delay the start of forever with their partner, especially when that start is a party that’s been in the works for so long on behalf of a love so big. That said, even if your wedding date isn’t on a collision course with the health crisis, in its current throes, the mere fact that you’re preparing for the best day ever, when things are so clearly on the other end of the spectrum, just straight up sucks. We’re just wishing and hoping and thinking and praying that things turn around ASAP.

But for the time being, if brides still have their people showing up for them (there’s so much value in the virtual), that 🔥 of excitement, fanfare, and anticipation around the wedding – however up in the air it may be right now – just won’t go out. It might take a little more creativity to make digital fetes a regular thing, but if there’s a [wedding] will, there’s a way. Especially if the way includes lots of wine. When you’re getting your social distancing on, know that we’re here for you: our collection of “I Do” details, gifts, and decor with Michaels can work just 👌 for you and your crew when you’re living your best #stayhomestaysafe lives, but they work even better to bring you all together for the bride/your best girl.

If you haven’t asked your girls yet…

This is a great time to send your group some mail. Seriously, everyone is at home, starting to climb the walls, so if you can break up the tedium with some surprise & delight, you are a queen. We love the idea of a care package stocked with the below and a notecard that reads something along the lines of “This virus is the worst, but you have always been one of my BEST. Please promise that you’ll stand beside me when this big day finally comes. I need you and love you, and we’ll get through this together!”

What to include (and a cute sentiment to Post-It on top of each):

Blush Mini Tissue Packs – To slide into the top of your dress and take out when you’re in tears at the altar (I already have my hanky to help me keep it together). This is not to be used as a substitute for toilet paper! 😉

Lovely Bridesmaid Mug – It might not be Starbucks or Dunkin’, but you CAN make your own lovely cup of coffee at home, for real, you can.

Pink Sleep Mask – Catch up on those eight hours now, diva, because when we come out on the other side of this, you’re going to miss those restful evenings. Then you’ll be mine – kisses xoxo

If you had to postpone, but want to keep your squad (this includes your vendors) smiling…

Some of you with March, April, May, even June weddings this year might have already postponed your days for later in 2020 or 2021, but that doesn’t mean that your mimosa-drinking morning getting glammed up with your girls is gone for good. In fact, we love the idea of sending your girls an impromptu gift with our floral makeup bag, a stemless wine glass, and a notecard that reads “I’m still looking forward to getting pretty with you. It’s just postponed for now (so, just keep that wine glass reserved for another time, you can Netflix and chill with something else)! I’ve even taken care of your makeup for the day, so, girl, start planning out your look! 😘.” If you haven’t thought of gifts for your bridesmaids yet, it’s always an amazing gesture to offer to pay for hair or makeup (or both, if it’s in your budget!).

Not to mention, with the current wedding cancellation climate, any vendor will SO appreciate your going in on gift cards or pre-paying for services (like hair and makeup) that you’ll be getting in the future – just to offset some of the financial upset ravaging the world right now.

If your bachelorette party has been moved from Tulum to Zoom.

We get it. It’s an awful thing if your bachelorette bash was on the horizon and now you have to hole up at home, but it can still be fun. Promise!! Your friends, family, or bridesmaids who couldn’t make it for a vacay or weekend away might now be able to pop in, so #blessingindisguise? Just a little bit!

We suggest putting the resident coordinator of chaos in your girl group in charge and letting them get all the goods to up your virtual hang game! Send out a link to the conference line or invite your guests via Google hangout, and make sure you note what everyone should have in-house to celebrate in style. Come up with a signature cocktail for everyone to sip on, get a playlist together to get the good vibes going, show up prepared with girls night photo props, and if you have to tweak any of the games you were going to play on your OG bachelorette itinerary to better fit our new COVID-19 cadences, then so be it! I.e. You may have had the bride drink every time she said her fiancé/fiancée’s name, now you just adapt for quarantine times. If he or she shows up in the background at any point in the night, then everyone gets to have a drink BUT the bride.

Party provisions for the Maid of Honor to pregame ahead of time:

Bridesmaid Headbands – if you can’t wear silly ‘status’ headbands with your soul sisters, then who can you wear them with? Either buy a pack and send one fitting headband to each bridesmaid or send each girl her own pack of 6 and let her ‘choose her own adventure’ for the night!

Again, these social distancing circumstances aren’t ideal, we totally understand. But there is something to be said about going into this wedding thing “for better or for worse…” If virtual bridal shower or bacheloretting or celebrating simple pleasures from the comfort of our own homes is the worst of it, then we can deal. Sure, we can!

Shop the Wedding Collection by Style Me Pretty exclusively at Michaels now for everything you need to make the most of these less-than-perfect times!

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.

A Romantic Luxury Wedding in Taormina at Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo

As we sit here and admire the beauty of today’s wedding in Taormina on the island of Sicily… we can’t help but think of everyone being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope this gorgeous wedding day brings you all a little bit of warmth, happiness and calm to your day – it’s truly something magical. Wedding Sicily left no detail unturned while Rossini Photography was there to capture every inspirational moment. Check out the full gallery for all the heavenly moments.

From the Bride… I really envisioned my day as romantic, sophisticated and elegant. Both my husband and I absolutely love Italy and we both wanted to do a destination wedding. Italy really encompasses the overall romantic vibe we wanted from the get-go. The food and the people are also fantastic– not to mention it is gorgeous!

My husband and I had never been to Sicily so we decided to take my parents recommendation and have our wedding at the gorgeous Belmond Grand Timeo in Taormina.

Taormina is truly one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Sicily. I planned everything with the help of the hotels event planner, Alessandra Marisca. My advice to future brides would be to enjoy the planning process and enjoy the moment because it really does go by very fast! Also, try to have a moment after you finish the ceremony to let it all sink in.

How To Create Calm at Home During These Crazy Times From the Experts at Pure Salt Interiors

Editor’s Note: Calm is something we’re all looking for during this crazy period of time, so when the gals from Pure Salt Interiors reached out with their AHmazing tips to bring that calm in to your own space, we said amen thank you the world needs to know this.

Read along and make your space work for you!

1. CHANGE YOUR LAYOUT

Chances are, you didn’t design your home with the intention of three kids doing home school and two parents working full time from home. Now is the time to look at your space with functionality being your number one priority. Give yourself permission to make some quick changes to get everyone focused and productive.

+ Create work/study hubs that are functional. Move tables, add lamps if need be.

+ If/where possible, create a space for kids and a separate space for working adults. Improvise. That extra folding table in the garage can now be a dedicated learning space.

2. CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN

As we navigate this uncertainty there is a desire to have control over something… Anything would feel like a small victory. So we are big proponents of control of what you can and it will give you a sense of calm and contentment.

+ Keep it clean. Creating visual calm can help create emotional calm. Make sure each family member participates and has a specific area of the home that they are responsible for keeping clean.

+ Refresh your space. Given that you are spending more time at home than you ever have before, why not give it a little refresh.

+ Swap out blankets and pillows, move plants and lamps to give each room a breath of newness. We are not suggesting buying new things – simply re-envisioning your space with what you’ve got in the next room. Swap and Shift things around. You’ll be surprised how good it feels.

3. CLEAN UP CLUTTER

We don’t know about you, but at Pure Salt we love a pure, clean, and simple space – it’s part of our ethos. Now that you are mandated to shelter in place, why not see this as an opportunity to do some organizing and decluttering.

+ Organize the pantry. There has never been a more important time to know what items you have on hand. Take an hour to organize the pantry and create some systems that make it easy for everyone to snack and eat around the clock.

+ Tidy up the kitchen and find a home for all of those appliances parked on the counters. Are you really using the slow juicer every day now? I think not! Put it away and voila, the kitchen looks better already. Create pretty displays.

+ Have a bunch of oranges and apples and bananas to snack on? Make them look pretty by peeling off the unsightly stickers, finding a beautiful bowl and placing them on the dining room table.

4. CREATE A CALMING SPACE

A lot of us still have the instinct to run off to the gym or head out to a yoga class only to remember two seconds later that sadly, it is not possible. We are missing that time alone and the calm our self-care brings. The positive feelings we get from yoga, a manicure, getting our hair done are not lost, we can create a dedicated space at home where we can sit, reflect, meditate or read a book.

+ The bathroom is your refuge. Finally you can utilize the beautiful tub with zero guilt.

+ Find a nook or spot in the house where you can create a small space for mindfulness. Include items like floor pillows, candles, books, and music to complete the space.

+ Forage outdoors (if possible) and grab some branches or spring flowers and create a little arrangement. At Pure Salt, we believe spaces are brought to life by nature.

Check out this gallery full of more gorgeous designs by Pure Salt Interiors!

Design: Pure Salt Interiors

How One Couple Perfectly Blended Their Indian and Chinese Heritages Into Their Wedding Ceremony

Handwritten vows, a blend of cultures and lots of laughs were all a part of today’s California wedding at the K2 Ranch. Designed and planned by Madix & Co, the day was full of the couple’s Indian and Chinese heritages, all tucked into sunny Sonoma with fall-inspired colors and matching blooms by Amanda Vidmar. The couple danced the night away with a choreographed first dance and even fled the scene in a Rolls Royce getaway car. Take a peek below and see the full gallery here by the wonderful Christina McNeil!

From Christina McNeill…Winita and Kumar chose K2 Ranch because it reminded them of a ranch they stayed at in the Argentinian countryside that they visited early on in their relationship.

During their ceremony, they had two officiants, one representing Kumar’s south-east Asian heritage, and the other a close friend and also bridesmaid to Winita-representing her western roots. They surprised one another and read each other’s personalized vows, sharing promises, inside jokes, and Kumar ending his with “I take you forever and ever and EVER” which left the guests in belly laughs.

Their wedding, planned and designed by Madix & Co included thoughtful details inspired by blending their Indian and Chinese heritages while remaining authentic to the surrounding Sonoma wine region and season. The color palette infused an array of autumnal tones including Winita’s favorite plum, lilac and lavender hues offset by terra cotta, yellows and lots of foliage. Overall the look was very organic, natural and romantic creating an intimate and warm setting for their gathering and celebration.

Winita, a semi-professional dancer, made sure that getting on the dance floor be an integral part of their day. For their first dance, they danced to a choreographed number. And, later in the evening, she surprised Kumar was a flash mob hip-hop dance to “Finesse” by Bruno Mars. The evening ended with a classic send-off in a vintage Rolls Royce.

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Madix & Co

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A Chic Blue Velvet & Magnolia Country Club Wedding

Today’s gorgeous country club wedding will give you all the southern vibes. From bouquets blooming with magnolia flowers to a vintage convertible ceremony send-off. Lauryn Prattes Styling and Events brought the bride’s dream of a timelessly southern yet fresh wedding to life. Guests dined at stunning blue velvet tables lit up with chic lampshades, a wedding lighting idea we’d love to see more of in 2020. Head on over to the full gallery captured by Audra Wrisley Photography to see all the pretty.

From Audra Wrisley Photography… Allison & Max tied the knot on a perfect October day, full of sunshine and joy. Designed with blue velvet and classic magnolia flowers at the heart of the inspiration, the bride’s vision of a classic, southern yet fresh wedding came to fruition through Lauryn Prattes’ design.

After getting ready at the bride’s home, Allie and her father drove in his vintage convertible to their church ceremony- greeted by a whole crew of flower girls & ring bearers! The couple wanted a fun, mingling reception and chose to have a cocktail hour style evening- which meant that the design focused on an incredible head table with blue velvet linens, blue & white china, and chic lampshades offset with black velvet chairs.

Their cocktail hour on the terrace featured an ‘apres ski’ vibe, as a nod to their current home in Vail, Colorado where Max is doing his fellowship at the prestigious ortho program. Dinner and dancing concluded with a late night treat of an apple ‘Seiter’ cart in honor of the groom’s last name, freshly rolled cigars and custom cocktail IV bags for guests to conclude the night on a high note.

From the Bride… We wanted timeless, elegant (but not stuffy) with whimsical + creative details! As a 10x bridesmaid, I knew a lot about what I did or didn’t want … lots of drinks and dancing, no seated dinner or matching bridesmaid dresses.
I tried on about 100+ dresses until I settled on the Vera Wang “Ava” dress at Carine’s Bridal, I added custom tulle wrap and sleeves. Personal touches were everything to us! I created a custom watercolor monogram that was applied to the save the date, velvet-backed invite, day-of-details like pillows, wedding program, napkins, etc.

We wanted to highlight all of the places that are special to us in some way – the bride from Maryland (Raw Bar, Maryland Seafood Station), groom from Texas (signature drink, Salt Lick BBQ late night), previous home in Miami where the groom did his residency (cigar roller), new home in Vail, CO (Colorado Chophouse station, outdoor Vail Lounge), “Sugar Magnolia” adorned wedding cake for the groom’s favorite band, Grateful Dead Apple “Seiter” Station to celebrate fall and the couple’s last name! I also commissioned my husband’s favorite concert poster artist for a custom print that served as the guest book!

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Photography

Audra Wrisley Photography

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Teaching Your Kids Empathy

Today we built houses with marshmallows and spaghetti then created a drawing of a house with the focus on empathy – so we built a home that a homeless person would find comforting! Here’s how you can take this lesson home with your kids.

Read the kids’ definition of what Empathy is:

“Empathy is the ability to understand how someone else is feeling or to understand the situation they are in. It is the ability to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes” and to understand the way a situation might make them feel. A full definition of empathy has two parts: shared emotion and seeing someone else’s point of view.” –Talking Tree Books

First, we built a house using toothpicks and marshmallows. This doesn’t have anything to do with empathy but it was fun, tasty and lead seamlessly into our next segment:

Empathy Architecture.

-I asked the kids to draw a house that someone who is homeless might love and appreciate and note all of the reasons why. My kids just fed the homeless in Copley a few weeks ago, thus this group was fresh on their minds. Sit with the little ones and draw for them as they talk it out.

-Have everyone go over their homes… Warm water for showers, a roof for shelter, a door for privacy, a table with two chairs for companionship. This was a neat way to see how their little brains process what homeless people are often missing… There were a lot of TV’s and X-boxes and ping pong tables thrown in as well.

-Discuss random acts of empathetic kindness. Meaning, random acts of kindness based on things that might be needed or wanted by someone.

CHALLENGE:

Have the kids perform a small random act of kindness for someone in the house.

Hint: Audrey cleaned up Thea’s playspace.

-Walk in Your Shoes Art. Find some art of a shoe. Have each child design a shoe for someone else. I designed for William. It had a chicken nugget dispenser, a space jumper and a gaming console. William designed for me. It had a built in foot massager and a hologram that helped me homeschool!

Photo Empathy Game.

Take pics of the kids making 5 different emotions. A polaroid would be very helpful here but we didn’t have any film. I just plopped them on a page and printed. Then print out the words of the emotions. Have the kids place each emotion on top of the face that fits.

A Regal Beverly Hills Wedding at Greystone Mansion Dripping in Orchids

If you’re a lover of orchids, then boy are you going to fall in love with this one. Today we’re sharing a stunning wedding that will take your breath away from start to finish at Greystone Mansion (aka every photographer’s dream venue.) The adorable pair exchanged vows under a floral arch that screams #ceremonygoals and danced the night away in the courtyard surrounded by tables dripping in orchids, roses and hydrangea from City Flower LA. Sona Lee planned their dream day to perfection while Caroline Tran was behind the lens capturing every can’t miss moment – see it all at the full gallery!

From Caroline Tran… Ed and Ellen’s wedding at Greystone Mansion looked like something out of a Hollywood movie. Everything felt regal, yet intimate and personal. Stylish touches were seen throughout the day, including a gorgeous floral arch that dripped with orchids, roses and hydrangeas… It was a true show stopper!

The couple incorporated their personal style with modern elements. Blush pink and white florals adorned the wedding/reception areas and were the perfect complement to the historic backdrop. Delicate cookies stamped with their names were a sweet and sophisticated way to make the dessert table unique and personal. The bride and groom soaked in every moment of their special day.

When asked what her favorite memory of the day was, the bride reminisced about their first dance and said “I found it hysterical whenever Ed (or was it me?) stepped on my dress. When Ed tried to take me for a spin and my shoes got caught in the dress, I fell back into his sure arms. I loved making mistakes with him. Stumbling together and laughing through our first dance was my favorite memory.”

The venue is a photographer’s dream. With so many beautiful and distinct backgrounds, the options felt endless. The bride and groom were so easy to work with and made it fun to explore all the areas of the estate. Ellen commented “Caroline is so more than a fantastic artist and great photographer. She is such a caring, thoughtful, and bright person. We absolutely love her! She made two people who are so otherwise awkward in front of the camera feel so comfortable. She also captured such intimate and beautiful moments during our wedding as well. We are so grateful and cannot wait for all the future moments Caroline will capture for our family.”

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How to Bring a Raw Loft Venue Space to Life!

If you’re wondering how you’re going to dress up your minimalistic venue – leave it to Blush & Bowties to inspire you with heavenly arrangements and organic decor. Their designs were inspired by the healing power of nature. Hunt and Gather Floral brought the outdoors into this stunning blank canvas of a venue and proved that all it takes to bring life to your venue is a little bit of blooms. Head on over to the full gallery to find all the inspiration you’ll need – taken by ARTIESE Studios.

From Blush and Bowties… I designed this shoot around the idea of earthy sensuality meeting delicate minimalism. This shoot is inspired by the healing power of nature set against a raw loft space and accented with modern details.

This shoot was very personal for me. I had been feeling a lack of connection to nature in my life during the time I came up with the concept for this shoot. My life was consumed with work and I felt a deep disconnection from peace and simplicity.

As it turned out, my husband and I moved out of the city to a century home in a small village. We began walking every morning as our home backs onto forest. I started to spend more time outside, in the fresh air, and I soon was overwhelmed with how nature can be healing, in a very raw and real way. That is where the concept from this shoot was born. Close to where I live there are natural badlands where the soil has turned a rich terracotta tone. I choose to use this for inspiration in terms of texture and colour.

Wait Until You See This Firework Finale At This Romantic, French Château Wedding!

Get ready for ALL of the feels for this romantic, French wedding at the Chateau De Santeny! With every single photo by Chymo & More Photography, you can feel the love between these two, from their heartfelt first look to their endless smiles. Dream Weddings Europe outdid themselves with subtle gold details and deep red and pink florals around every corner by Decorelle!….oh and the black and white photos are To. Die. For.

From Chymo & More Photography…Sarah & Jason’s summer wedding in Chateau de Santeny was an absolute real-life fairytale. Chateau de Santeny is located just outside Paris, with a sense of elegance and old-world charm. The couple had their first look in the main hall down the gorgeous staircases which set a perfect start of the day.

These two couldn’t stop giggling and kissing all day long, which made my job as a photographer super easy. Having family and friends over from Hong Kong and the U.K., they held a spectacular yet intimate celebration on this warm summer day. I could never forget Sarah’s tears during the vows and their tightly-held hands against the bright sky lit by fireworks.

From Dream Weddings Europe…As a main accent in the wedding design, we chose gorgeous peonies in a rich burgundy color with a combination of soft pink, ivory, peach, and golden touches. This color palette was applied to all elements of the wedding: from the round ceremony backdrop, the tidy bouquet with large flowers and minimal decorative small flowers, the 2-layer wedding cake with bold burgundy sugar flowers, and the long dining tables with soft peach tablecloths, burgundy napkins and beautiful low centerpieces with burgundy peonies.

An interview with the couple…

Q: What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?
A: I wanted my wedding ceremony in a garden and the reception in a cute little Châteauesque mansion, but not a castle because we wanted a small wedding with only our closest family and friends.

Q: What was your color palette and your style vision?
A: The theme color was burgundy, supplemented with blush and cream, and little dashes of gold. I wanted a classy and elegant wedding yet it should not scream over-the-top luxury.

Q: What unique elements or DIY details did you include?
A: With the small number of guests, we decided to use a “signing frame” instead of a guestbook. Our guests wrote messages on little wooden hearts tokens that went into the frame. It now sits in our living room next to our wedding photo.

Q: What was your favorite moment? Your favorite crafted detail?
A: My favorite moment was we said “I do” because it meant we are officially married. And it marked the start of celebration and the champagne flowing.

Q: Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors, your cake, etc.
A: Having chosen the color palette, I trusted my planner to communicate with the florist to pick the best seasonal flowers. And the flowers turned out to be perfect!

After trying on ten different dresses and not getting the right feeling, I started to get a bit frustrated. Then I went back to my Instagram for the very first dress I saved for inspiration. I hunted down the shop that had this dress in town. When I finally tried it on, I knew it was “the one”.

The cake was a 2-tier cake with simple edible floral decorations that echoed with my bouquet.

Q: What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?
A: On my wedding day, I was so nervous and tensed until the end of the ceremony. Don’t be like me. After months of hard work planning, you have got to relax and enjoy your big day.

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This Modern Inspiration Shoot Brought the Spirit of the Southwest to the Northeast!

Ombré blooms, warm hues, two ceremony designs and one EPIC dress – these are just a few things you can expect to be inspired by throughout today’s gorgeous styled shoot from A. Griffin Events at Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Modern brides, you’re going to LOVE this one. Head on over to the full gallery captured by Sarah Bradshaw to see all the pretty!

From A. Griffin Events… Moving from West to East – after years of living out West, Rachel (originally from California) and Tom (originally from Arizona) picked up and moved to Washington DC to pursue higher education where they met and fell in love. Two years and two degrees later, Tom proposed to Rachel and they immediately began planning the wedding of their dreams. They knew they wanted to pay homage to DC as the city that brought them together and what feels more Washington DC than a Smithsonian Museum? The Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian posed the perfect fusion of their two homes with its Rotunda design, reminiscent of the sunshine they missed back home.

Being such a stylish couple, we knew we had to design a wedding that would be equally as stylish while still including intentional touches of home. The color palette of warm tones included magentas, plums, oranges, and thoughtful touches of gold and copper and served as the perfect nod to the famous southwest sunsets. Because we were in a museum, we wanted to include pieces from their collection in the design so we intentionally designed around the stunning copper wall built by Hopi artist, Romona Sakiestewa. We chose a minimal and modern thin-framed copper frame for the chuppah custom built by Syzygy Events International to accent, rather than detract, from the copper wall. Sweet Root Village then enhanced the design by adding asymmetrical flowers in an ombre design, for added interest. With this design we paired a custom dress with a fitted silhouette from Carine’s Bridal Atelier, fully equipped with a modern tulle cape attachment that trailed and swayed effortlessly with every movement.

Rachel wore her custom engagement ring complete with a deep, magenta-toned ruby from Trumpet and Horn and dramatic, gold, sun flare statement earrings that popped against her sleek, slicked-back hairstyle and her plum + golden smokey eye from Red Carpet Ready Makeup. No wedding day is complete without designer shoes and these certainly took the cake – Rachel wore nude/white crystal embellished Jimmy Choo heels adorned with a white feather tassel for her stylish bridal look. To make Tom’s gorgeous blue eyes pop, we styled him in a plum shawl collar tuxedo jacket from The Black Tux and kept to clean lines for the rest of his styling. A petite boutonniere from Sweet Root Village was the perfect finishing touch to his attire. The second ceremony design centered around the incredible views from the rooftop, overlooking the Capitol Building and Washington Monument. Sweet Root Village kept the bold color palette as they designed, to pop against the bright blue sky.

Asymmetrical pedestal arrangements ensured that all focus would remain on the couple and the views around them. With this setting we paired a more romantic strapless A-line gown, with floral lace detailing, also from Carine’s Bridal Atelier. With a wedding at a museum must come a museum-worthy stylish reception design. We knew immediately we wanted to include an abundance of texture and color in the reception design and chose to design two separate but congruent tablescapes to add interest for guests. The Rosa Lucca rose gold linen and Wine velvet linen were the perfect backdrops for the golden chargers, all from BBJ Linen. For an added DC flair, we included natural wood wishbone chairs and handmade plates from Something Vintage Rentals with a white trim, to echo the chargers. Pops of pink could be found in the handmade salt cellars from Something Vintage and all place settings were topped with custom menus from Emily Baird Design, complete with color-corresponding tassels. Emily Baird also designed the invitation suite, a multi-layered colorful packet that sat neatly in a custom box for protection and added flair. All paper goods were styled on two handmade, custom-painted backdrops from Lindale Studios – one brighter and one darker for added interest. Lindale Studios also created a custom backdrop for the impeccably designed cake from Buttercream Bakeshop, which echoed the pink ombre tones of the florals from Sweet Root Village. The cake was layered with fondant texture, rather than flowers, to keep the look modern and fresh.