The historic venue, the romantic gardens, her breathtaking Oscar De La Renta gown, the timeless hues… this wedding is a nothing short of a fairytale from start to finish. We don’t know about you, but Filoli Estate is quickly becoming one of our all time favorite venues. I mean… after seeing this wedding, how can you blame us! Harlin & Sparrow Events brought the couple’s “1920’s formal garden party atmosphere” to life, while Max Gill blew us away with his effortlessly beautiful arrangements! The bride and groom incorporated personal touches at every turn, from their ceremony to their drink stirrers, that celebrated their unique personalities and cultures. Don’t miss out on the full gallery captured by Sylvie Gil Photography for some major garden wedding inspo.

From the Bride… Kushal and I are both from the Bay Area and met while working together in San Francisco. We were living in Boston when we got engaged but Kushal wanted to propose somewhere special to us. He proposed one weekend when we were back visiting San Francisco at Chrissy Fields, which is a beach in the city where we’ve brought our dogs for years. Kushal’s proposal was such a special moment and he surprised me again when we got back to our hotel and our family and friends were waiting to congratulate us. We spent the night celebrating at Tonga Room, which is a hilarious tiki bar that we love in the city.

We knew we wanted to have the wedding weekend in the Bay Area. For the Rehearsal Dinner and Friday night reception, we rented out Park Tavern, which is a great restaurant that we love in the city. For the wedding day, Kushal’s mom suggested we check out Filoli in Woodside, which had just started having weddings. Kushal’s family lives in Palo Alto and his mother goes to Filoli every year to celebrate Mother’s Day.

I’ve always loved beautiful historic buildings and gardens and knew I wanted to get married outdoors. When I visited Filoli it was so beautiful and beyond what I could have imagined. The venue became the inspiration for our wedding, which had a 1920’s formal garden party atmosphere. With our venue set, we started looking for vendors that could make our dream wedding come to life. We loved working with people who had a distinctive style that matched ours and everyone was truly fantastic to work with.

Our ceremony was held in the garden at a spot called the wedding place, which was built for the wedding of the owner’s daughter 80 years ago. I loved the romantic symbolism of that and the entire design for the ceremony was meant to emphasize the natural beauty of the space. Our wedding ceremony incorporated our dogs and both of our parents walked each of us down the aisle. The ceremony also included both Christian and Hindu elements to reflect both mine and Kushal’s heritage. My grandmother gave a reading and my grandfather officiated our wedding. It meant the world to us to have them in our wedding and for my grandfather to be the one to pronounce us husband and wife.

We wanted the dinner and reception to be more fun and celebratory and to reflect both Kushal and my personalities. My childhood nickname was Panda and Kushal grew up loving Jurassic Park so when we moved to Boston, my parents threw us a pandas and dinosaurs-themed going away party. The theme stuck and for our wedding we found panda and dinosaur drink stirrers, which people loved and wore in their lapels throughout the night. Some of our favorite memories were dancing with each other and with our parents in the beautiful ballroom at Filoli. For dancing, we were thrilled that we had Tainted Love, an amazing 80s cover band that we’ve seen half a dozen times in the city, as our band. One of my favorite moments of the night was dancing onstage with my mom to ‘How Will I Know’ by Whitney Houston. The entire weekend was a dream and we couldn’t have imagined a more perfect way to celebrate the beginnIng of our married life together.

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Photography: Sylvie Gil Photography | Event Planning: Harlin & Sparrow Events | flowers: Max Gill | Gown : Oscar De La Renta | Catering : Taste Catering and Event Planning | Make up: Sherrie Long Makeup Hair & Effects | Venue: Filoli Garden | Linens : BBJ La Tavola | Rentals : Hensley Event Resources | Rentals : Bright Event Rentals | bridal shop : jinwang

A magical farmhouse in Tuscany sets the stage for the ultimate fall wedding inspiration shoot. The enchanting Villa Montanare overlooks breathtaking panoramic views of the Val d’Esse and Val di Chiana Valley making for a sight to behold. Surrounded by a plethora of fruit trees, rosemary bushes, lavender, cacti, time-worn olive terraces and stone walls Weddings By Silke created a love story inspired by the natural beauty of the area. Lucy Munoz Photography captured each well thought out and exquisitely designed detail. Fall in love with the bursts of orange and yellow as you explore the Tuscan countryside in the full gallery.

From Lucy Munoz Photography… We were so excited to be shooting in a magical place like Tuscany. We decided we wanted color and a bit of dreaminess that only Italy could provide.

Our shoot had love at the forefront as well as a bit of glamour. For the wedding dress, we chose Carol Hannah because we wanted something feminine with a touch of sparkle. This gown had everything we were looking for and then some!

Weddings By Silke designed the most beautiful ceremony and reception site that took in the most perfect Tuscan views without being too overly complicated. This editorial left us feeling so inspired by the power of love!

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Photography: Lucy Munoz | Floral Design: Copihue Floral Studio | Wedding Gown: Carol Hannah | Ceremony Venue: Villa Montanare | Shoes : Bella Belle | Hair and Makeup: Romina Pashollari | venue: Villa Montanare | Invitation suite: Plume Calligraphy | Olivewood bowls: Nika Arts | Silk Ribbon: CFleurs Design | Styling board: Locust Collection | Wedding Ring: Delbrenna | Wedding and event Planner: Weddings by Silke | head piece: Nea Milano | model : Colette Alexia | styling dishes: By Priscilla Lee

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Villa Montanare

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Want to put a fresh spin on wedding color favorite blush? Simply pair it with burgundy, and prepare to be amazed. When Grace and Aaron started planning their wedding, they knew it was the perfect palette to elevate their elegant ranch celebration. The fall pairing is equal parts chic and romantic, making for rustic details that were full of charm and sophistication. Just take one look at their walnut farm tables dripping in candles and fruit accented florals! Kristine Herman Photography perfectly captured all the special moments of the day. Revel in the magic of this love story come to life in the full gallery.

From Kristine Herman Photography… Grace and Aaron fell in love with the charm of the little farming town of Winters, California. When they stumbled upon Field and Pond, which is on Lake Berryessa and features a historic barn adorned with Restoration Hardware chandeliers, they knew it was where they wanted to plan their intimate fall wedding.

Jenn Robirds Events partnered with stationer Little Bird Paper Company to create the most beautiful rendering of the iconic ceremony oak tree and historic barn. The design was lovingly letter-pressed into the invitation suites and menus.

Shimmer and Stain created an incredible acrylic escort display that featured Little Bird’s venue renderings and wax seals that perfectly matched the color palette. Florals from Violette Fleurs showcased stunning garden roses and fresh fruit including grapes as a subtle nod to the family’s wine business.

As the perfect parting gift, guests took home personalized bottles of the family wine they enjoyed that night making for a wedding favor we’re pretty sure everyone will use! Guests danced the night away and had the most incredible time celebrating Grace and Aaron’s love.

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Photography: Kristine Herman Photography | videography: Lens Of Lenox | Floral Design: Violette Fleurs | stationary: Little Bird Paper Company | stationery: Shimmer & Stain | Reception Venue: Field and Pond | Catering: Farm To Table Catering | Hair and Makeup: Lea Buehler | DJ: Eli Freshmode | officiant: Tan Weddings & Events | String Quartet: Camellia String Quartet | transportation: Neumann Enterprise Limo | Cake and Desserts: Brandy West | Event Design and coordination: Jenn Robirds Events | Late Night Pretzels : Freeport Bakery | Photobooth: Penny And Co Rentals | linens: BBJ La Tavola | rentals: Celebration Party Rentals | rentals: Its all in the Details | sweets: Freeport Bakery

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Shimmer & Stain

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Nothing quite like a new year to kick you into ~finally~ setting up your home office! The catch is that, typically, a perfect place in your home for an office doesn’t always jump out immediately.

The dream would be to have a fully flushed out room with gorgeous built-ins for all of your important documents, a center-standing desk with the cords somehow perfectly hidden, and the desk styled and organized to perfection with a comfy yet chic chair that makes you feel like a queen.

While you might not have a full room for an office, or the room you have has an odd layout and the desk never seems to make sense — the beauty of a home office is the ability to get funky with it to match your needs.

To get you started we rounded up some guidelines, tips and tricks of the trade and inspiration to send you on your way

1. Keep It Inspiring

What inspires you? To some it’s gorgeous colors and bright wallpapers, to others it’s perfect organization, some people work best surrounded by beautiful art, and there is a whole group of people who just swell with inspiration looking at a display of books. Take notes on what gets you jazzed and fill your office with it. Many times a home office can double as a sanctuary of your hobbies — be it reading, chess, or interior design inspo boards — filling your office with these details is sure to set it off on the right start.

2. You Can Make Organization Pretty

Some people think better with a messy desk, and if that’s you own it! But there are others who NEED everything to be in its place and for every place to have its thing. But there is no need to settle for boring organization! You can get beautiful baskets, glamourous letter trays and chic pen cups — and even if you’re on a budget you can take pretty paper and wrap up those inexpensive cardboard filling boxes to give them a custom, elegant finish.

3. Don’t Forget About The Chairs!

The throne. A luxury of the home office is the ability to think outside of the standard office chair. In your office at home, you really have the opportunity to use whatever chair you want — ballroom, wingback, velvet, leather, animal print, you name it! This goes for the chairs across the desk as well. You can get really funky with your decor in a home office, so make it fun!

4. Make Nooks Work For You

You don’t need a WHOLE room to make one heck of a chic office space. This office is tucked under the wasted space of a set of stiars and it’s just brilliant. The other office doubles as a side table and this double purpose comes in so handy when you have a brilliant midnight idea.

5. Keep In Mind Who All In The Home Will Use The Home Office

Is your office just for you? Do your kids use this space for homework? Are you sharing with your spouse? Keeping frequently used items in handy places (like the pair of scissors that you can never manage to find when you need them) makes you space useful for all members of the family. Even if the office is all yours, chances are it will house things like mail, bills, pens, tape and everything inbetween, so keeping these types of things easy to locate prevents digging.

6. Make it Cozy + Personalized

Stark offices don’t help anybody. Cozy up your space with plants, curtains, and good lighting. And you get the bonus of literally doing whatever you want here, so take advantage of it! If you want a giant photo of your family, do it! If you want to go with the boldest (read: *coolest) wallpaper option, slap it up! If you want to go bold with color, this is the place.

7. Cords Really Do Suck

There’s no way around it in this digital age. Chances are you’re going to need to plug in a computer on your desk, but after working SO hard to make the space look so elegant and inviting, the last thing you want are cords hanging out everywhere. You can avoid this in a couple of ways.

Placing your desk against a wall ensures the cords have direct access to a plug without seeing the cords.

Purchasing a desk that has those convenient holes for cords always helps hide them efficiently.

If your desk is in the center of the room, utilize a power strip to plug all of your excess cords in, and then run that single cord down the leg of your desk, cut a small (like really small) hole in your rug and run your cord to the nearest plug. Where there is a will, there is a way!

8. Making It A “Home Base”

Some of the best home office setups are actually utilized as more of a “home base” where all tools are held. These are frequently found in kitchens or even in the laundry room. When you make your office double as a homebase, you have the advantage of keeping all important documents, tools and certificates in one handy, locatable location. No more stuffing documents in the back of your closet hoping you’ll remember it when you need it.

9. Add A Way To Hide It

The tricky part of a home office can be losing the ability to turn a blind eye to a pile work and focus on family. Sometimes in order to get re-inspired, you need to be able to shut the door (or curtains!) and take a minute to walk away. Adding a hidable element, whether that’s a physical door, shut cabinets or curtain, helps you dictate your own timing and balance.

The key with a home office is to make it conducive to getting work done. That’s it’s function, so start all of you’re decision making from there. But be open with it! If you think that dark green walls will keep you inspired then dadgummit you make those walls green. Throw out the rules, make it work for you.

1. : Right: CDB Interiors, Left: KC Design Co | 2. : Lola Interiors | 3. : Right: Monica Hibbs, Left: Lark Interiors | 4. : Right: Marie Flannigan Interiors, Left: KC Design Co | 5. : Brooke Wagner Design | 6. : Right: Park and Oak Design, Left: Studio McGee | 7. : Right: Studio McGee, Left: Bria Hammel Interiors | 8.: Marie Flanigan | 9.: Right: Bria Hammel Interiors, Left: Marie Flanigan Interiors

Newly engaged? Starting to brainstorm locations to say ‘I Do?’ Well, before you make your final decision OR if you are already daydreaming of the California Coast, you may just want to consider tying the knot in Big Sur! Our friend (and expert wedding planner) Callista, of Callista & Co. has shared with us her top 10 tips for hosting your wedding in one of her favorite locations. From creating a wedding weekend experience for your guests to hiring an expert to help guide you through the process – she outlines it all for you! Take a peek at the beauty of Big Sur below and get ready to check your wedding location off your list!

From Callista & Co…Anyone who knows me knows that Big Sur is my favorite destination, and after years of planning events in the area (including my own wedding), I have a bit of advice to share…

1. Create an exceptional and inclusive wedding weekend experience for your guests. Big Sur is a true destination wedding experience, even for guests coming from California, so ensure that guests are treated to at least a couple of events and that they aren’t left out from more intimate rehearsal dinners and brunches. That being said, pre and post-wedding events in Big Sur don’t need to be stuffy. Consider a welcome party with a barbecue and live music, or desserts and stargazing – Or plan a post-wedding brunch with grab-and-go boxes for guests to take on their choice of activity that day.

2. Encourage guests to stay in Big Sur. Have a home base hotel (ideally your wedding venue), but also be sure to contract an alternative room block for your guests at an accessible price point. Keep in mind that hotels in Big Sur tend to require a room block contract when booking multiple rooms for the same group or event, and a pre or post-event held on the property may be required as well.

3. Provide transportation. Encourage guests to drive along the beautiful coastline en route to your wedding festivities in Big Sur, but then book reliable transportation to and from all your events so that no one has to worry about driving once they arrive.

4. Give your guests an abundance of travel advice. Set your guests up for success, and provide more information than expected on your wedding website. Suggest tanking up with gas and running any errands before entering Big Sur. Remind everyone of the spotty cell service so that they can put on an out-of-office if needed and download driving and hiking maps in advance. Recommend driving during daylight to take advantage of the world-famous coastline views, and suggest leaving lots of travel time to pull over and take detours as desired. Encourage bringing a little cash for park admission fees and the occasional off-the-grid establishment.

5. Print a welcome note with important timing and wedding weekend information. While your website will be the go-to for comprehensive advice and itineraries, cell phone service can be sparse at some hotels, so it’s a nice touch to print a well-designed paper itinerary for reference throughout the weekend. Consider a petite booklet that guests can bring with them on hikes and outings.

6. Gift your guests all the necessities. The closest large grocery stores and name brand creature comforts are a ways away, so give a functional wedding welcome gift to kick off the weekend with thoughtful essentials like a water bottle, Carmel Valley wine, cold brew coffee, and snacks from Big Sur Bakery. Consider offering a curated “in case you forgot it” grab box at your home base hotel with an assortment of odds and ends that guests may find helpful (toothbrushes, socks, a bow tie, sewing kits, cell phone chargers, snacks and sweets, mini toiletries, hangover helpers, bug spray, shawls or blankets for chilly evenings, and more).

7. Let your decor enhance but not obstruct the surrounding landscape. The beauty of Big Sur is showstopping on its own, so let your tenting, floral decor, and tablescapes elevate your venue with an elegant design that doesn’t block any views or overshadow your surroundings.

8. Showcase the best of California coastal cuisine. Take advantage of the incredible culinary scene in Big Sur and rethink your typical wedding menu. Consult with the chef at your venue to select local and seasonal ingredients, and give them creative freedom in creating your menu. Avoid advance guest choice of a main course whenever possible by offering tableside selection, a family-style meal, or a tasting menu with a multitude of options for every palate.

9. Have an expert on your side. Your vendor team doesn’t have to be entirely local to Big Sur or even Central or Northern California for that matter, but be sure to lean on an expert who knows all the ins-and-outs of hosting an upscale event in the area. They will know what questions to ask, will be prepared for the logistical challenges that may arise, will provide guidance on what has worked well in the past, and they will ensure that your planning process is smooth and that your guest experience is exceptional.

10. Suggest extended trips and activities for your guests. Make the travel to Big Sur worth it for those coming from afar, by encouraging guests to save a little extra vacation time to extend their trips beyond just the wedding festivities. Offer local outdoor activity suggestions in Big Sur, as well as suggested pre/post-trip itineraries in Napa, San Francisco, or Santa Barbara.

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Photography: Lacie Hansen | Floral Design: Studio Mondine | Wedding Venue: Alila Ventana Big Sur | Wedding Venue: Post Ranch Inn | Wedding Venue: Big Sur Bakery | Wedding Venue: glen oaks motel | Wedding Venue: glen oaks motel | Beauty: Kenney Duy Of Fellini Salon | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Planning & Design: Callista & Company

This is the backyard wedding to end all backyard weddings. When Kyle and Teale started planning their special day, they knew the bride’s family home on Bainbridge Island would be the perfect place for the celebration. With the help of Callista & Company, they began transforming Kyle’s family home into a wedding oasis perfectly captured by The Ganeys. Guests marveled at the poolside ceremony, featuring an abundance of floating flowers and a ceremony arch in full bloom. The reception was a tented affair, overlooking the water, and filled with elegance. Head to the full gallery for all the special moments and well thought out details.

From Callista & Company… Designing with a sense of place was of utmost importance to us, as a majority of guests traveled to Bainbridge Island for the wedding, and we wanted to showcase the bride’s beautiful family home on the south end of the island. The incredible flowers from Gather Design Company were showstopping, lush, and perfectly suited to the Pacific Northwest surroundings.

A fun and unexpected color palette of soft pink and french blue was carried throughout the design, and this wedding was all about a cheerful combination of romantic and contemporary details. A light blush invitation box from Libby Tipton was filled with tonal pressed papers, an acrylic invitation card, dried wildflowers, and custom floral + driftwood logos to set the scene for the wedding weekend.

Guests followed a bagpiper from cocktail hour in the garden to a classic sailcloth tent on the waterfront. The tent featured a statement floral entrance, a grand circular bar in the center, and sleek brass chandeliers overhead.

For the reception, an abundance of flowers in contemporary white boxes lined the center of each long dinner table. Everyone danced the night away and said they were in awe of the magic that is Bainbridge Island.

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Photography: The Ganeys | Floral Design: Gather Design Company | Wedding Gown: Ines Di Santo | Cake: Honey Crumb Cake Studio | Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Catering: Lisa Dupar Catering | Hair & Makeup: Ever Good Kelby Von Kaufman | Lighting: Lightsmiths | Band: Phil & Jessica Long | Bagpiper: Matt Fleek | Bridal Salon: anna be bridal boutique | DJ + Horns: Dart Collective | Planning & Design: Callista & Company | Rentals: Cort Party Rentals | Rentals: Happy Hour Bar Rentals | Rentals: Fanciful Rentals | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Shuttles & Valet: Butler Valet | Stationery & Graphic Design: Libby Tipton

You might recognize this beautiful bride, Reagan Charleston, from Bravo TV’s Southern Charm New Orleans! Today we’re lucky enough to share exclusive photos from her utterly romantic New Orleans wedding, planned by Amanda Price Events and designed by Wink Design & Events. Prepare to fall head over heels in love with their outdoor ceremony, covered in white flowers, greenery and endless candlelight – it’s like something out of a fairytale! Our favorite part? The gorgeous couple decided to incorporate their gender reveal into the ceremony – is that not the cutest thing you’ve ever heard or what?! Keep on reading for a few words from the bride herself and don’t forget to check out the full gallery captured by Mateo & Company for all the can’t-miss magic!

From the Bride, Reagan… Reece & I reunited after nearly a decade apart after dating in college. We planned to get married within the year, and shortly after found out we were expecting. We wanted a non-traditional wedding that was still very southern and classic in spirit. I reached out to Wink Design & Events to help me plan an elegant and glamorous winter wedding. I knew I wanted candles and flowers absolutely everywhere with an ivory and gold palette with touches of natural greenery. My expectations were exceeded and I couldn’t believe how stunning the thousands of white flowers and hundreds of candles were that circled our custom wrapped dance floor emblazoned with our new monogram. 

Both the reception area and ceremony area were ladened with gorgeous florals and candles. The champagne wall greeted guests as they came in. We were married by fellow Southern Charm New Orleans cast member Justin Reese’s father, Judge Kern Reese, who I met during my first year of law school. Given that we were having all of our friends and family in town for the occasion, we decided to incorporate our gender reveal into the ceremony (here comes the non-traditional!).

Our baker, Chef Shane Gorringe of Zoe’s Bakery, was the only one to know the sex of our baby in the weeks leading up to the wedding and was in charge of making sure the correct confetti canons were chosen, which were given to my sister and Reece’s brother, to shoot as soon as we cut in to our five tier magnolia adorned cake, of which the interior was dyed to reveal the baby’s gender. The excitement around the reveal was absolutely magical, and everyone was thrilled to see pink confetti erupt from the confetti canons. It was truly one of the most special moments of my life! 

Guests dined on traditional New Orleans cuisine that included all of the classics, including seafood gumbo, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice, beignets, and bananas foster. Our grooms cake was perfectly inspired by our thoroughbred race horse, Silver Dove. The entire wedding party accessorized with jewelry from my namesake jewelry line. I wore sunburst Sun King earrings and a sunburst Sun King cocktail ring from my Royals Collection, my bridesmaids wore custom pearl necklaces from my signature Leone Collection, and Reece’s groomsmen all wore gold Leone lapel pins and Constellation Collection Cufflinks. Reece adorned his custom Fellow Tuxedo Leone Cufflinks and a thoroughbred race horse lapel pin I designed for him especially for the occasion (a nod to his profession as a race horse trainer). My dress was a custom Pedram Couture nude gown with a royal cathedral length train. My bridesmaids all wore ivory off the shoulder gowns. Vegas Cola performed and entertained the guests, who danced the night away, while Kelly Boyett completed a live action painting of the occasion.

Guests were treated to freshly hand rolled cigars that they enjoyed in the candlelit courtyard. We danced the night away until our grand exit through a sparkler lit arcade of the New Orleans Board of Trade. Bravo TV, Mateo & Company wedding photographers, and Chad Dyle Films were there to capture all of the magic. The craziness of the day that included not only the normal wedding day preparations, but also filming for a television show with several film crews, was perfectly managed by Amanda Price. Our venue was absolutely stunning and Wink found the most amazing rentals to perfect the exact aesthetic we hoped to achieve. From start to finish, top to bottom, our wedding day felt like a fairytale. I honestly didn’t want to leave the venue!! I could have stayed forever!

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Photography: Mateo And Co | Videographer: Dyle Films | Coordination: Amanda Price Events | Design: Wink Design and Events | Floral Design: Herbivore Floral Design | Cake: Zoe's Bakery | Ceremony Venue: New Orleans Board of Trade | Reception Venue: New Orleans Board of Trade | Jewelry: Reagan Charleston | Catering: Pigeon Caterers | Hair Stylist: Amber Buxton | Lighting: Calfee Productions | Band: Vegas Cola Band | Groom's Attire: Fellow Menswear | Officiant: Judge Kern Reese | Ceremony Music: Rachel VanVorhees | Venue: New Orleans Board of Trade | "It Was Always You" Sign: Narwall | Cigar Station: New Orleans Cigar Factory | Dance Floor: AD Event Group | Decor/Candles: Luminous Events | Drapery/China: Event Rental | Invitations/Monogram: InvitoBella, LLC | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Live Painter: Kelly Boyett Art | Makeup Stylist: Makeup By Meggan | Rentals: Just Ask Rental | Wedding Dress Designer: Pedram Couture

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Petit Bouquet

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Every wedding day is perfect, because at the end of the day, you’re marrying the love of your life. That being said, if you polled recently-wed brides about any wedding regrets they had, we’d expect at least half to say that “the little things” could have been planned more intentionally. Those seemingly small wedding details can be overlooked when considering all of the other major I Do to-dos. Wedding planners will always have those peripherals covered for you, but if you’re handling your own best day ever with little more than an expert planning binder for backup, it’s you that has to be on your toes with those tiny tidbits. Have a special ring box for that all-important engagement+wedding ring photo? Have your gown steamed, fluffed, and hung up on a sturdy, yet decorative hanger in your dressing room? The list goes on! Luckily, with our brand new must-haves from Michaels you can make all those last-minute details a piece of cake. Literally and figuratively.  

No bride ever wants to look back on her special day and feel disappointed that the details weren’t spot-on styled. So, before you start prepping that shot list for your photographer, it’s in the “1 month to go” sheet in that binder of yours, enlist one or more of your bridesmaids for a shopping trip out to Michaels and make sure you have all vignettes – from getting-ready to procession, cocktail hour to reception – locked and loaded. If they bring their A-game, which they will, because #bestfriendsforever, you can promise them a pretty present at the end of it! We recommend a personalized wine tumbler, but that’s just our opinion ;) 

For your littles!

You don’t want to be approaching the aisle with nothing for him to carry the rings on or her to hold her flowers in. Not to mention, photoshopping pouts and tantrums out of pre-ceremony captures hasn’t been perfected yet. That’s why we say keep those tinies smiling with his and hers props – a precious pillow for your boy with the baubles and a beautiful basket for your girl with the petals! 

For your happy tears, Kleenex just won’t cut it.

It’s all about a hankie when those tears start streaming – and they will, just embrace it, babe! But when your photographer is taking pics of you opening up your wedding gift and reading the note from your fiancé or getting ready for your father-daughter first look, you won’t want to be reaching for a tissue to dab away those teardrops. Instead, have one of our completely customizable handkerchiefs at the ready or entrust your best girl to hold onto it for safekeeping.

For your guests, the golden rule always applies.

… And by that, we mean gold metallic motifs always and forever. We love the look of our gilded-edge place cards, especially when they’re teamed with our equally-stylish holders. The clear design almost creates an illusion that the cards are floating, so when you add flowers and metallic votives around the rest of the table, the effect is mesmerizing at every angle!

For the newly-minted couple, you’ll want to remember the first time you saw Mr. & Mrs. 

Now, you’ll obviously be opening plenty of gifts and cards addressed to the new Mr. & Mrs. X, but before you start tearing through that cute card box of yours, you’ll sit down at a sweetheart table reserved just for you. Gold Mr. & Mrs. wired chair signs are great accents to this setup, and they’ll look amazing for those shots from behind. When you’re listening to your Maid of Honor and Best Man speeches, holding hands, or sneaking just-married kisses between sips and bites.    

For the dessert table, sweetness can be stacked in more ways than one.

A bubbly, sweet-themed ballad is playing in the background, and you and your partner in crime are getting ready to cut the first piece of your buttercream-frosted confection. Hopefully it’s happening right in front of a quote backdrop banner that perfectly complements your smiling silhouettes, because your photographer has already snapped closeups of your special occasion servingware. If it’s a three or four-tiered beauty, it probably has its own staging ((by way of your baker or florist)), but for something simpler and semi-naked, you’ll still want a decadent cake display to do it justice.

Don’t get us wrong, there are so many things to account for when your wedding plans are down to the wire, but those little things add up in a big way – and you’ll want the pretty pictures to remember it all by. So, grab the girls and get shopping the Wedding Collection by Style Me Pretty exclusively at Michaels now. You won’t regret it!  

When the birthday girl is a wedding photographer, it’s a given that her party is going to be one for the books. This intimate dinner with friends is a bohemian masterpiece filled with cozy conversation spots, macrame galore and a winning combo of cocktails + s’mores pots. Pore through the full celebration crafted by Couture Confidante, Mack Floral Design and all captured by Custock Photography. And really, who needs chairs when you can have a sea of poufs?

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With a wedding photographer as the birthday girl, this intimate bohemian outdoor dinner party was bound to be beautiful down to the last detail. From hand dyed napkins to macrame chandeliers, the entire vendor team poured their heart into this event, making the end result the birthday dinner of Jenny’s dreams. Jenny’s friends and family enjoyed cocktail hour out in the yard, enjoying the lounge areas, charcuterie board, and bar. With rentals from Found Vintage Rentals and macrame chandeliers from UrbannNest, the dual lounge areas became the focal areas of laughs and conversation. The party then moved to the dining area for toasts and a beautiful birthday dinner complete with prosciutto wrapped Beef Wellington and roasted carrots and kale. The tablescape included rentals by The Revelry Co, gorgeous florals from Mack Floral Design, linens by UrbannNest, as well as calligraphed leather placards by Sandelin Designs. Lastly, the party moved inside to play cards and enjoy the dessert bar, stacked with Monday Bakery’s creations, including creme brûlée, caramel apples, and brown butter bourbon pecan hand pies. Couture Confidante is thrilled to have worked with so many amazing vendors on this event, we could not have done it without all on board!

Photography: Custock Photography | Event Planning & Design : Couture Confidante Event Planning & Design | Floral Design: Mack Floral | Invitations : Shutterfly | Calligraphy & Signage : Sandelin Designs | Desserts : Monday Bakery | Linens & Macrame : UrbannNest | Macrame : Knottery Art | Ranch Home : The Colonial Estate | Rentals : Found Rental Co. | Tabletop and Table Rentals : The Revelry Co

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Petit Bouquet

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When it comes to dream destination weddings, Greece is at the top of the list. How do you make it even more fabulous? Fill it with beautiful blooms, crystal accents, and two white-tie grooms! For their wedding celebration, Brian and Joseph invited their nearest and dearest to the south coast of Athens for a weekend filled with fun. Guests marveled at the land and seascapes, incredible food, and stylish touches at every turn. The couple’s beloved dog Moby even got to join in on the festivities! Beautifully shot by Anna Roussos, the entire day is a true celebration of love. Get transported to Greece in the full gallery.

From the Groom, Brian… When we first got engaged, we both knew that we wanted a destination wedding. We decided to send ballots to our guests with three dream destination options and sent them to about 40 of the guests on our list. We revealed our destination at our engagement party, which featured a beauty pageant-style contest with 3 of our good friends representing each destination. At the end of the party, our emcee announced Greece as the winner with about 80% of the votes!

We knew that the main event simply had to be an all-white affair, for grooms, the wedding party, and guests alike, which looked like a total dream when it all came to fruition. We got our wedding apparel from Enzo Custom in Washington DC; they designed our bespoke suits with gorgeous Loro Piana fabric and turned my “short suit” reception outfit dream into a reality.

We cared a lot about the floral arrangements and lighting, two décor aspects that we’d seen make or break a wedding. The 12 Events brought our vision to life with pastel blooms, crystal chandeliers, sparkling golds and of course whites.

The best advice I received is when a friend recommended that I step back from all of the craziness and take a few mental snapshots during the ceremony and reception. Those specific moments where I paused to take it all in stick out in my mind. The wedding goes by so quickly, and soon all you’ll have are the memories – and the amazing photos and videos, of course!

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Photographer: Anna Roussos | Florals : The Twelve Events | Invitations : Minted | Rings : Tiffany & Co. | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Reformation | Catering : Dipnosofistirion | Groomsmen's Attire: Perry Ellis | Wedding Venue: Island Art & Taste | Fireworks : Nanos | Groom's Shoes : Louis Vuitton | Groom's Shoes : Tod's | Groom's suits : Enzo Custom | Guitarist : Konstantinos Kidonakis | Live Band : Fabba Girls | MUA: Margetina Neofytou | Sound and Light : Loud And Clear Entertainment | Wedding designer & planner : The Twelve Events

There are so many different types of mantels, and each presents a different decoration opportunity. It’s kind of an intimidating blank slate when you start from scratch, but a few tried and true tricks will help you get off to the right start.

1. DO: Use Your Home’s Style as The Starting Point

The absolute best way to start when decorating is to take a nod from the style of your home. If you have a chic, log cabin home with a stone fireplace, use that as your baseline for decorating your mantel. You can absolutely choose styles outside of your home’s natural decor, but taking it into account helps you choose complementary decor.

2. DO: Consider The Type of Mantel You’re Working With

Are you working with a rustic beam with its own curves, knicks and gorgeous texture? You might want to consider adding in some more polished features. On the other hand, if you’re working with a sleek, trimmed-out all white mantel you might want to add in some more textured art or figurines. Take note of what kind of mantel you’re working with as you choose the different surfaces to add in as decor.

3. DO: Incorporate Reflective Surfaces

You can literally never go wrong with a mirror on your mantel. Reflective surfaces are magic. They make your home feel light, bright and bigger. If you don’t want to commit to something as directly reflective as a mirror, add in some shiny metals or glass pieces that still bounce off light.

4. DON’T: Be Afraid to Layer

Don’t feel like everything has to line up in a row and be seen perfect and clearly. The dimension of having layers go from front to back gives your mantel a loved and lived-in feeling. For the indecisive, you can get by with more than one piece of artwork!

5. DON’T: Be Afraid To Keep It Simple

Sometimes simplicity is best! You can even go so far as to let the mantel speak for itself, all on it’s own, no decoration needed. As seen above.

6. DO: Add-In Some Greenery

Interior Design rule of thumb: You’re never wrong to add in greenery. There’s something about adding some flowers or leafy greens that immediately takes a space from feeling stark and bare to ~homey~

7. DO: Utilize Neutrals

Another good place to start is with picking your neutrals. For example, candlesticks are always at home on a mantel, and picking out some sturdy black metal candlesticks will look good year-round — including Christmas!

8. But DON’T: Be Afraid of Color

On the other hand, don’t be afraid of going bold with color here. After all, the mantel is typically the focal point of the living room, so adding some pops of color helps to draw the eye AND keep the eye on your focal point.

9. DO: Add Texture

Mix and match the types of surfaces to bring in some texture to your display. Play around with metals, clays, wood grains, glass and cloth elements. The combo of a few different textures immediately ups your look.

10. DO: Add Height Variation

Be sure to mix up the different height combo’s you’re working with. Combining some short elements with tall elements or staggered pieces helps to make each element stand out, but in a cohesive way.

11: DO: Go Big

Don’t be afraid to make it BOLD. A large mirror or work of art makes a big impact and minimizes the other elements you need to add in.

12: DO: Add Storied Figurines

The best things to show off in your home have stories associated with them. It can be from a trip you went on with your husband, an heirloom from your great grandmother or even a stellar score from Homegoods — it’s just more fun to display things with a story.

13: DO: Light it Up

Adding light to your mantel can look like anything from matching sconces next to artwork or a flickering candle. The fireplace itself will do a lot of the lighting, but adding in a few other elements helps keep the whole look balanced.

14: DO: Scavenger

Aspiring for original artwork above a mantel sounds expensive, but if you’re not afraid to do some hunting you can find really cool, unique pieces for pretty dadgum cheap. Same goes for figurines, candlesticks or really anything you want to add in. Go for a hunt! Original doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.

15: DO: Use Symmetry to Your Advantage

Mantels are a pinnacle place to showcase complementary elements that match perfectly. There is something about seeing a mantel with matching figurines, greenery or vases on each side that just does the soul some good.

16: But DON’T: Be Afraid to Go Asymmetrical

On the other hand, don’t be afraid to mix it up! Go for the ‘ol one big and one little on one side, and a medium on the other. The key is intentionality.

17: DO: Thank Your Lucky Stars for Such a Great Home Feature

If you’ve got a mantel, flaunt that bad boy! It’s such a cool home feature and you shouldn’t be afraid to REALLY play it up!

18: DON’T: Let It Get You Down if You Don’t Have one

If you don’t have a mantel, don’t sweat it! These same principles can be applied to decorating a dresser, buffet table, entry table, credenza or mid-height armoire. You can make part of your home function like a mantel like a piece of cake.

At the end of the day, the key is to play up your natural design and take your time in the process. You won’t nail it right away, you might try something and absolutely hate it but that’s all part of the process!

1. : Amber Interiors | 10.: Kate Marker Interiors | 11. : Rinfret, Ltd. | 12.: Emily Henderson | 13.: LIsa Tharp | 14.: Lulu & Georgia | 15.: Caitlin Wilson | 16.: Caitlin Wilson | 16. : Ashley Gilbreath | 17. : Bria Hammel Interiors | 18.: Amber Interiors | 2. : Sita Montgomery Interiors | 3.: Studio McGee | 4.: Bria Hammel Interiors | 5. : Amber Interiors | 6. : Studio McGee | 7. : Remodalista | 8.: Jessie Randall | 9. : Emily Henderson

Cool girls take note, this is the wedding you need to see. As a photographer and videographer team, Amanda and Cole built their careers documenting love stories. When it came time to plan their own special day, they were overflowing with inspiration. Natural elements like driftwood, mussel shells and pampas grass led the design aesthetic. Laid-back and surrounded by love, the plans for their coastal celebration started to come to life. Careful thought went into planning the overall experience of the day, from the horseshoe-shaped ceremony to the decision to forgo a sit-down dinner and instead fill the entire night with dancing. Each enchanting element was exquisitely captured by Mary Claire Photography. See all of this heartfelt celebration in the full gallery.

From the bride… As a photographer/videographer team we had a unique perspective when planning our wedding. We had seen so much and been inspired by all our past and present couples. To make it uniquely ours, we put thought into every little detail. We made sure the day was full of heart, meaning, and love.

We wanted to do the ceremony a little differently. Guests sat in the shape of a horseshoe so we could be surrounded by our people, the wedding party was invited to be seated during the ceremony to enjoy the moment, and our parents sat on the opposite side of us so they could see our faces during the ceremony.

Our inspiration was a coastal romantic vision using elements of driftwood, pampas grass, mussel shells, and lots of dusty blue hues paired with pops of pink & yellow. We wanted an experience and details that were truly a representation of who we are as a couple.

Having our whole wedding party, parents, and significant others all in one location all weekend long was the best gift we could have asked for. We are so grateful for all of our incredible vendors, family, and friends who made all our dreams come true. We will never forget the magic that happened.

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Photographer: Mary Claire Photography | Videographer: Happy Camper Films | Florist: Field | Invitations: Designed by Bride | Shoes: Bella Belle | Catering: 111 Maine Catering | Makeup: Mackenzie Lamoureux (MOH) | Lighting: Griffin & Griffin | Groom: A Fogarty Photography | Groom's Suit: Perry Ellis | Officiant: A Sweet Start | Transportation: Northeast Charter & Tour Co. | Venue: Portside Manor | Bathroom: Grand Event Rental | Bridal PJs: Blossom Syrup | Bridal Shop: Kleinfeld Bridal | Bride: A Fogarty Photography | Bride's Ring: Scott Spurling Gems | Dress Designer: Maison Signore | Earrings: BHLDN | Groom & Groomsman Ties: DAZI | Music (Ceremony/Cocktail): The Hill Bros | Music (DJ): Luke Lanigan of The Music Man DJ Service | Planning: Pinch Me Planning | Reception/Ceremony: Portside Manor | Rentals (Lounge Set/Bars & More): Heartwood Essentials | Rentals (Tablecloths): Marshall Rental | Rentals (Tent & Others): One Stop Event Rentals | Slippers: Birdies | Veil: Pancsofar's Bridal Boutique | Vow Book: LiuMy | Welcome Bag Cookies: Suga Suga

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Lighting And Sound

Griffin & Griffin

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The mesmerizing Château de Robernier, the ceiling of string lights above the courtyard reception, the bride’s barely-there makeup look… there’s just too much to love about today’s wedding from White Eden Weddings. If you’re secretly a francophile like us, then prepare to fall in love with every detail of this day, all captured beautifully by ARTIESE Studios! Check out the full gallery to see all the memorable moments, including the three sweetest flower girls of all time.

From White Eden Weddings… Jenny & Mike’s wedding was a Provencal dream. They got married in the small village of Cotignac in Provence in the beautiful & fairy Chateau de Robernier. They wanted their wedding to be warm, timeless, welcoming, laidback and to have a great atmosphere for guests coming from overseas. 

Jenny & Mike hosted a welcome dinner for all their guests the night before the wedding on the village main square for everyone to mingle and catch up before the big day. The wedding day was a perfect warm & sunny Summer day. 

The ceremony took place in front of the Chateau, facing an open view and a round wooden arch. After this heartfelt & moving ceremony, guests enjoyed a fun cocktail hour to the sound of a jazz band, along with signature cocktails, canapés and live cooking shows. 

At sunset, everyone headed to the Chateau’s courtyard for dinner, hosted under a ceiling of fairy lights. The feast featured typical and local provencal flavors topped with a naked cake, and dinner was punctuated with speeches from J&M’s dearest and closest guests. 

The reception’s last highlight was definitely the party. The live band rocked their first dance to “You are the reason” by Calum Scott and then rocked the party, Jenny even took the mic and sang!

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Photography: ARTIESE Studios | Event Planning: White Eden Weddings | Floral Design: SB Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Rita Vinieris | Wedding bands: Cartier | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Park and Fifth Co. | Caterer: La Truffe Noire | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Officiant: Peter Madan | Chateau: Chateau De Robernier | Hair & make up: Trine Juel | Jazz band: Lizzy & The Gentlemen | Live band: Brightlights | Rentals: Options | Video: Denee Motion Boutique Wedding Cinema | Wedding day signs: Silent Word Studio

The secret to a super fun wedding reception? Annie and John will tell you it’s daring to be different! For their wedding reception, they decided to forego tradition and bring on the fun! Instead of a welcome cocktail, guests were greeted with strawberry-margarita push-pops. Traditional reception seating was replaced with lounge furniture for a more intimate feel. To end the night instead of wedding cake, Annie and John served a variety of cookies ornately displayed on golden shelves. Rach Loves Troy beautifully captured all the whimsical details. Expect the unexpected in the full gallery.

From The Graceful Host… The couple wanted to do something different than what their friends and family might have seen at past weddings. The wedding ceremony took place at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Uptown Charlotte, followed by a reception at the Mint Museum Uptown, a modern art museum with breathtaking views of the city.

The color palette was bright and cheerful, with tones of pink and lavender accented with greenery. We included ivy into the floral recipe as a nod to the couple’s former home of Chicago, and their mutual love of Wrigley Field and their favorite baseball team, the Cubs.

Annie and John wanted to have a wedding day that felt blissful, yet silly. They wanted to keep it fun and focused on what the day was about: celebrating their love.

Photography: Rach Loves Troy | Videography: Shamus Coneys Films | Flowers: Melanie Branam | Ceremony Venue: St. Peter's Catholic Church | Ceremony Venue: St. Peter's Catholic Church | Reception Venue: Mint Museum Uptown | Catering: Something Classic | Hair + Makeup: Be Pretty Charlotte | Lighting: Wink Lighting | DJ: Split Second Sound | Cookies: SugarBomb Sweets by Alice | Linens: Party Tables | Paper Goods: Girl Tribe Creative | Planning + Design: The Graceful Host | Rentals: Old South Vintage Rentals | Rentals: Party Reflections

Hidden away in one of the world’s largest cities sits The New York Botanical Gardens, an urban oasis filled with lush flowers and greenery. Deanna and Matthew knew it was the perfect place to celebrate their love as it was right across the street from where they first met. For their elegant reception, they brought the outdoors in and transformed the ballroom into a luxurious garden beautifully photographed by Bashful Captures. Natural and wild floral arrangements took life on tables, while the dance floor itself was wrapped in golden vines. The full gallery is a must-see for all the pretty little details.

From the bride… We got married in the Fordham University Church. Fordham will forever hold a special place in our hearts. It’s the place where we first met almost ten years ago, and the place where we became husband and wife.

Matt proposed to me in a garden, so it was only fitting that our reception, too, took place in a garden. The New York Botanical Garden sits across the street from Fordham University – a sanctuary of flowers and greenery in the middle of the Bronx.

We wanted the reception ballroom to be an extension of the surrounding garden: our dance floor was wrapped in gold vines, and our flower arrangements were natural and wild, comprised of trailing greenery, garden roses, ranunculus, anemone, and pampas grass. Our wedding day was the best day of our lives.

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Photography: Bashful Captures | Videography: Joseph Minasi Weddings | Videography: The Candi Project | Coordination: Vision Entertainment | Floral Design: One Flower by L | Wedding Dress: Marchesa | Cake: Lulu Cake Boutique | Invitations: Minted | Ceremony Venue: Fordham University Church | Reception Venue: New York Botanical Garden | Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Bridesmaid dresses: Dessy Collection By Vivian Diamond | Band: Sterling Band | Groom's Attire: Enzo Custom | Dress Shop: Mark Ingram Atelier | Hair & Make up: Face the Day NY: Makeup and Hair Services

Here’s the thing with entertaining—it’s often WAY easier to pull together a successful gathering if you have a bit of a “theme.” Whether it’s as simple as “black and white” to help make decor buying a cinch OR something like this Cake Decorating Party where the activity takes center stage, a theme just makes things easier. Now don’t be fooled by bloggers who tell you that entertaining is easy (we’ve done it). It takes some time and a good bit of work. BUT, I think the payoff in the end is so #worthit and we’ve laid out everything you need to host this fabulous cake decorating party with a film from Elysium Creative Studios and pretty pictures from Victor Sizemore.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED
(for a party of 8)

Recipe for Chocolate Fudge Cake (we just bought boxed cake mix)
Recipe for Chocolate Frosting (the one in the tub works too)
Recipe for Chocolate Ganache
Recipe for Yellow or White Cake (you’ll need 2 batches)
Recipe for Vanilla Buttercream (or tubs)
Fresh Flowers + Flower Tape
8″ Cake Rounds
Pastry Bags + Tips (tips are optional—you can just snip a hole at the end of the bag)
Twine
Small bud vases
5-8 cake stands, cupcake stands or tall glass candle holders
5-8 pretty bowls to hold toppings
8 Offset Spatula’s
8 Bakery Boxes
1 roll of parchment paper
Toppings: Crystalized Ginger, Dark Chocolate Shavings, Blackberries, Raspberries, or anything else you can imagine!
Really good playlist
Something yummy to drink…champagne usually does the trick! Don’t forget glasses!

**ps…we totally cheated and bought boxed cake mixes!

1-2 WEEKS AHEAD

1. Order any supplies you don’t have already like baking boxes, twine, parchment paper, etc.
2. Invite your girlfriends (ideally two weeks ahead and since this is a casual get together, an e-invite, a phone call or a text is totally appropriate)

TWO DAYS AHEAD

1. Make your playlist!
2. Hit up the grocery and the craft store for the rest of your supplies and ingredients. Make sure to check your pantry first as you probably have quite a few of the must haves like eggs, butter, etc. And don’t forget to look around the house for other ways to achieve a similar look. You can even put dinner plates on top of candlestick holders to get the look of a cake stand without having to buy. Main thing? Create levels.

ONE DAY AHEAD

1. Make the chocolate cakeletts. We used a mini cake pan, cutting each 3″ cake in half and filling the center with chocolate frosting, then topping each with a spoonful or two of chocolate ganache (optional). These will keep overnight in the fridge. Just pull out about one hour before your party. And you can also use a cupcake pan!
2. Make your 6″ cakes + buttercream. Let cool completely. Then cut each cake in half with a serrated knife.
3. Assemble your cakes by stacking one 6″ layer on your cake round, followed by a layer of buttercream, followed by the top cake placed upside down on the frosting (so that the flat part of the cake is on top). These can be refrigerated if you have room or covered in saran wrap at room temp.
4. Assemble your bakery boxes and cut your pieces of twine so that they are ready to hold the cakes that your guests create!

DAY OF PARTY

1. Pick up fresh flowers and store in water. Depending on how large your table is, you’ll likely need two bouquets.
2. Set four large pieces of parchment paper width wise across the table at each placesetting.
3. Cut your flowers to the height of your cakeletts, wrap them with floral tape and insert one or two blooms into each cake.
4. Fill your pastry bags with frosting.
5. Place your toppings into pretty bowls.
6. Place any extra flowers into bud vases.

1-2 HOURS BEFORE GUESTS ARRIVE

1. Chill your cocktails.
2. Set your table. Start with the parchment paper set horizontally across the table. Then your glass cake stands. Place your cakeletts out on the glass stands and fill in with your bud vases filled with flowers. You can add candles if you want!
3. Set the individual placesettings: one cake, one offset spatula and one pastry bag filled with frosting
4. Sprinkle in the bowls of toppings around the table. Guests can share and pass the bowls…that’s part of the fun!

30 MINUTES BEFORE GUESTS ARRIVE

1. Wipe down bathroom counters, add a fresh hand towel and light some candles.
2. Turn your music on.
3. Take a deep breath and get ready to have some fun!

CHEATS + SHORTCUTS

• Skip the homemade cakes! Go with a boxed mix and you’ll save yourself time in the kitchen. Make the buttercream though because homemade buttercream is SO worth it.

• Cakes can all be made and frozen a week ahead of time. Just wrap in a double saran wrap layer and remember to defrost in the fridge the night before.

• Tag team the party with a friend—and cut your baking time in half!

• Don’t forget to have an easy trash solution for guests, a clean hand-washing station and plenty of cocktails and you’ll have a FAIL FREE party on your hands!

Photography: Victor Sizemore Photography | Videography: Elysium Productions | Event Planning: Pottery Barn | Event Planning: Amazon | Decor: Save On Crafts | Vendor: BRP Box Shop

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Elysium Productions

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Anyone wake up this morning with a new piece of jewelry on THAT finger; perhaps that much anticipated midnight kiss of yours got a sparkling upgrade? 💍 Well, congratulations!! We’re so excited for you, and we can’t wait to help you get started on those wedding plans. We love a NYE proposal, but more than that we just love engagements happening at the end of the year – because January is a great time to kick the nuptials groundwork into high gear. Whether you got engaged around Turkey Day, had a very merry gift under the Christmas tree, or rang in the New Year with some bright and shiny bling, you can welcome the new millennium as your own, personal “Year of the Bride.” Your nearest and dearest will want to shower you and your spouse-to-be with all the love and support from the get-go, so throwing an engagement party is a solid way to bring your MVPs together. Even if you don’t play host (parents, siblings, best friends can certainly emcee the event), you’ll want to have some inspiration to pass along – that’s why we’ve partnered with Michaels to bring a whole lot of pretty to the fête prep.

Keep whatever champagne you didn’t uncork for New Years and invest in your first all-white outfit, because this engagement party is the first occasion to show off your wedding style. Make it count with decorations, signage, and props from our perfectly-curated collection at Michaels. Oh! And since 2020 is now here, we’re going to treat these tips like resolutions, vows if you will… 

At our engagement party, we promise to: 

Take more pictures.

Yes, every engagement should start off with a stellar selfie, but that’s just the beginning! An engagement brings with it so many more special occasions, chances for bonding with friends and family, and innumerable moments to grow closer as a couple, and they should all be captured with pictures. Not only do we love these LOVE wire frame letters for ambiance purposes, to display engagement photos and memories of your relationship over the years, we also love them in tandem with our photo booth props. What better way to commemorate the engagement party than to invite partygoers to pick up a Polaroid, snap some fun pictures (with oh-so-appropriate props #hereforthewine), pose with the guests of honor, and freeze these exciting moments in time, and then have them place the photos in the letters as a keepsake from the night? The props aren’t one-trick ponies, either! They can be purchased for the engagement party and used for other pre-wedding events: bridal shower, bachelorette, etc. 

… We’ve already dished on the best ways to ask your bride tribe to stand by your side, but the engagement party is a fun venue+venture for asking the crew, too! Hand out our super cute bridesmaid headbands as each of your prospectives joins the party – and give some extra sparkle to their ensem for the rest of the night. Who knows? The girl who’s sporting “single” might just find her own happily ever after once she’s been crowned…

Enjoy the little things in life.

There are very few times in a person’s life where he or she can fully embrace being the center of attention. Being engaged and getting the bride or groom title is one of those times. So, for your engagement party, graciously slide into that chair that’s reserved just for you, indulge in the toasts in your honor, and enjoy the “she’s not bossy, she’s the bride” privileges that come with your soon-to-be-Mrs. X status. That goes along with always saying “YES” to a bubbly glass of champagne, especially one that’s been poured from a cooly-chilled bottle. Bonus points for gold champagne buckets floating frozen floral ice cubes – we love this kind of tailored touch!

Say “I love you” more.

SMP x Michaels Collection

Planning a wedding is sometimes just as stressful as it is joyful, that’s why it’s so important not to lose sight of the reason for the season – LOVE – your love! Now, obviously just hanging up a metallic banner with the words “Cheers to Love” isn’t enough, but it’s a great way to remind everyone about the momentous milestone you’re celebrating and to keep romance on your radar. Not to mention, it’s really pretty and totally festive! Find a place for it overhanging the bar, above the dessert table, or near your guestbook – and while you’re at it, use your engagement party as the place to test out your wedding hashtag for the first time! The sooner you start using your signature social media stamp, the better, as you’ll want a whole lot of wedding snaps saved to stalk once the I Dos are all said and done.

An engagement party isn’t a prerequisite for everyone, but it’s certainly a fun way to embark on that road to the altar. Get a guest list ready, order those invites, and start shopping the Wedding Collection by Style Me Pretty exclusively at Michaels now! 

A new year calls for a fresh start and that can be applied to tired, old furniture too. If your space is need of a refresh, have a look at six designer tips for giving your decor an easy overhaul. It all starts with Sarah Sherman Samuel’s cool collab with Semihandmade for uplifting your IKEA cabinets. Read up on the fun new line below plus tips from our favorite designers for jumping on the Refresh Bandwagon!

Interior designer Sarah Sherman Samuel and Semihandmade, the go-to cabinet door company have teamed up to offer a new collection of original doors that can pair with Ikea cabinet boxes giving consumers the perfect way to personalize their kitchens cabinets, credenza and consoles.

From John McDonald, founder of Semihandmade…We met Sarah in 2013 when she was remodeling her Venice bungalow. At the time, she was transitioning from product design to interiors and Semihandmade was a five-man shop.

All we did was make her cabinet doors. Sarah painted them, installed the cabinets, styled the room and shot the photos. Sarah’s traditional yet contemporary kitchen – Ikea cabinets with copper and brass accents framing two-tone Shaker doors – went viral. We still get at least one email a week mentioning it as inspiration.

A lot has changed for Sarah and Semihandmade in the last five years. We’re both better at what we do. This partnership is proof. Semihandmade couldn’t have picked a better person to launch our first signature line of doors with, and we’re thrilled to share them with the world.

6 Ways to Give Your Furniture a Refresh

Change out the doors! Choose pre-finished doors from Semihandmade to switch out your Ikea cabinet or Ikea console doors. You can transform standard cabinet boxes into something completely new and totally stylized. – Sarah Sherman Samuel

Cover a sofa with a vintage Kantha quilt to switch up the look for a new season, Kanthas are reversible – so with one quilt you can get two different looks for your sofa. Shop our Jungalow favorites here! – Justina Blakeney

Applying removable wallpaper to the door fronts of a cabinet is an easy and inexpensive way to add a custom touch of color and pattern to your console—plus it’s low commitment, since you can switch the wallpaper up on a whim when you’re ready for a new look! – Anne Sage

Paint is one of the most transformative (and affordable) ways to update any piece of furniture. If the shape and style is good, but the finish isn’t your favorite or doesn’t go with your current scheme then throw a coat of paint on it and all the sudden you’ve got a brand new piece. I recently did this to our entry console and I love how different it looks in the space. The color isn’t quite right yet, but already it is looking so much better. – Emily Henderson

When it comes to apartment living – double duty furniture is key. When I redid my bedroom I searched high and low for the perfect place for my TV but couldn’t seem to find something that really worked and as much as I love TV there is nothing worse than seeing a big black box on the wall. To combat the problem I ended up finding a vintage hutch (typically used in a dining room) and retrofit it by removing the shelf in the top portion to hold my TV, which I could tuck behind the doors when not in use, and then still have room in the drawers below for some clothes. – Brady Tolbert

Utilizing a mirror as the focal point on the wall above a console adds light, height and dimension and can dress up any area. By layering a grouping of objects – greenery is always a great idea! In front of the reflection you’ll get a double effect, making the overall space feel larger, lush and really pulled together. – Jenn Feldman

IG: Semihandmade IG | Photo: Tessa Neustadt | Photo of Sarah: Lou Mora | Product : Semihandmade | Sarah Sherman Samuel: Sarah Sherman Samuel

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They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and in the case of Ali and Clara, that’s absolutely true. The two were in a long-distance relationship for the first four months of their courtship, so when it came time to tie the knot only a far off destination would do! The Four Seasons Sayan set the scene for the intimate celebration attended by the immediate family. Surrounded by lush tropics and waterfalls, the couple exchanged vows and danced the night away. Gusmank Wedding Photography was there to beautifully capture all the special moments of the day. Pack your bags for Bali and check out all the beautiful details in the full gallery.

From the bride… We met at a coffee shop in Utah, in July of 2016. My friend thought he was cute and called him over to talk. He thought I was cute, and ended up getting my number! Two weeks later I moved to Lithuania to teach English, and we did long distance for the first four months of our relationship! It was nice to get to know each other through conversation!

Ali proposed in my mom’s backyard in October 2017. There was a violinist, vintage fabrics draped on the walls, and a fire pit. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was absolutely perfect.

The vibe of our day was very intimate and relaxed, exactly how we wanted to be. It was super fun and memorable, we felt so lucky to celebrate in such an incredible destination with our family.

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Photography: Gusmank Wedding Photography | Event Planning: Bali VIP Weddings | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture | Cake: Butter Bali | Shoes: Rene Caovilla | Wedding Venue: Four Season Ubud | Furniture: Bali Event Hire | Tableware: Bali Table Top

A chic bridal hat, a knockout gown and breathtaking florals from Flowerwell– we’re in heaven over here admiring this gorgeous shoot designed by Stone Fruit. It’s elopement inspiration like this that makes me rethink my entire wedding and why in the world I didn’t just elope somewhere dreamy in the French Countryside, at least there’s always vow renewals, right? ;) Head on over to the full gallery captured by Alexandra Elise Photography to see all the details. Trust us when we say every image is S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G!

From Alexandra Elise Photography… Monet, Manet, Renoir, Matisse and Seurat all painted picnics on the lawn and we, too, as wedding artists found inspiration for our French elopement editorial “en plein air.”

For this early Autumn wedding, Maureen of Stone Fruit envisioned two artists eloping in the French countryside and celebrating with a picnic on the lawn, the groom marking the occasion with a painting of his bride. Elegant and welcoming are the two words we hear so many of our clients use to describe the feeling of their wedding, and the vision of a couple dressed in their wedding best enjoying cheese, fruit, and champagne outside on a blanket fully captured this feeling.