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

This Glamorous Greece Wedding Is So Good You’ll Get Goosebumps

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!

18 Do’s and Don’ts of Decorating Your Mantel

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!

You’ll Love Every Detail Of This Coastal-Cool Maine Wedding

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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Lighting And Sound

Griffin & Griffin

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You Have to See This Romantic French Chateau Wedding Dripping in Strings of Fairy Lights

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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This Couple Discovered The Secret To A Fun Wedding Reception

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.

Watch The Outdoors Come Inside At This New York Botanical Garden Wedding

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.

Entertaining with Abby: Cake Decorating Party

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!

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Elysium Productions

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Expert Engagement Party Advice Plus 6 Must-Haves from Michaels for an Epic Fête!

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.

SMP x Michaels Collection

… 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!

How to Update Any Piece of Furniture Starting With Your IKEA Cabinets

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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Petit Bouquet

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This Breathtaking Bali Destination Wedding Will Blow You Away

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.

This Stunning “En Plein Air” French Countryside Elopement Is for the Romantics

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.

A modern, gardenesque-twist on the classic fall color palette (one that doesn’t scream pumpkin spice) inspired the flowers and stationery details. Jenny Rae of Flowerwell says, “I’ve found that in several years of fall weddings, brides are nervous to open their wedding to fall foliage. I think when most people think of fall foliage, the instantly go to bright orange (say it ain’t so!). But no, fall foliage can be amazing and rich, perfect earthy tones of reds, apricots, golden yellows, and fading greens.”

Maureen of Stone Fruit Studio created a laser-etched artist’s palette that served as a cheese board for our picnic. This custom cheese board not only marked the occasion splendidly but will serve as a special keepsake. Including hand-painted watercolors and lots of beautiful textures in the paper goods was important to creating an invitation that two artists would send. The wedding announcement, created on handmade paper, is designed with little artist’s details in watercolor and an organic wax seal.

The scene is set on Flowewell Farm’s land and we styled the picnic with vintage finds from her farmhouse collection. Warehouse 127 completed the picnic with the most incredible French vintage picnic baskets. The bride wears a Marchesa Notte gown from Silk Bridal Boutique and a sinamay saucer hat embellished with hand-dyed silk ribbon and a distant drum rose from the garden. The Marchesa gown had the perfect French-inspired feel with a horizontal striped texture, little bow, and flutter sleeves. Special Occasion Hair Design styled the bride in warm, natural, romantic makeup and an effortless updo. Her groom is dapper in a burgundy suit and a beard à la Monet himself. Alexandra Elise Photography captured the whole day beautifully on medium format film. It’s such a joy to see what Ali sees through her lens. Our lovely models are a couple in love who will pose for Alexandra Elise Photography again this December when she captures their real wedding. This editorial shoot was an opportunity for a few wedding pros to truly collaborate. The day was relaxed and every element came together to achieve the goal of creating an elegant and inviting example of our most creative work.

This Bride’s Wedding Dress Is Named After A Real-Life Princess!

Like most little girls, Jaimee dreamt of feeling like a princess on her wedding day. When she married her college sweetheart Justin, she got just that and more complete with a wedding gown named after a real-life princess! Jaimee donned a Hayley Paige design aptly named the “Markle Gown” as she waltzed down the ceremony aisle to her prince charming and a floral arch that will take your breath away. Christine Skari Photography exquisitely captured all the details of this fairytale come to life. Take a look inside this beautiful love story in the full gallery.

From the bride… Our venue Rancho Las Lomas already has a fairytale feel to it, so we didn’t have to do much to get that magic we were looking for! Justin and I both agreed on a summery, pastel color scheme that would complement the venue.

Justin and I wrote our own vows but decided to read them to each other privately after the ceremony. We loved having a moment alone together and it was so special to hear the vows we’d written for each other.

We wanted our decor elements to be natural but unique like guests were stepping into a real-life fairytale! We love the way it all came together to create a magical experience.

For our last song of the night, we decided on “Shallow” from A Star is Born. When the song started playing, we noticed that there was some kind of audio playing over the song – it took us a minute, but we realized that it was actually our vows. Our DJ had recorded them during the ceremony and played them over the intro of the song. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room! It was such a special moment and a beautiful surprise.

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Intertwined Events

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This Might Just Be Our New Fave Barn Wedding Venue in the Northwest!

“I’ll love you as long as the river runs and the mountains still stand”… a quote so beautiful and so fitting provided by Kaity Brawley Photography for today’s beautiful Jackson Hole wedding. From beginning to end, this day exudes natural beauty. We’re absolutely LIVING for the brides long sleeve lace gown, her cape absolutely took our breath away. Hitched coordinated every thoughtful detail flawlessy while Flowers by Chloe created simple yet stunning arrangements that perfectly complimented the natural beauty of their surroundings. See it all unfold at the full gallery!

From Kaity Brawley Photography… Meghan and Matt said their vows along the bank of the Snake River surrounded by the Tetons and their closest family and friends. Vacationing to Jackson Hole in the summers as a child Meghan always knew it was where she wanted to one day get married.

Meghan and Matt are both in the event industry and knew they wanted their destination wedding to be a unique immersive weekend for their guests, planning every detail with their experience in mind. Starting with custom welcome boxes upon arrival, to a river rafting rehearsal dinner, to dancing under a meteor shower at their reception.

Their ceremony design was simple to let the natural landscape really shine. Wooden benches, green aisle pieces, and some vintage rugs were all it needed. The Tetons provided the perfect backdrop behind the bride and groom.

At their reception they chose florals to echo the colors of the landscape and horn napkin rings to pay homage to Snake River Ranch.

Long dining tables provided the perfect amount of intimacy for their plated dinner under the shadow of the rugged Teton mountain range.

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Diamond Empire Band

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See All the Photos from Sports Illustrated Model Brooks Nader’s New Orleans Winter Wedding!

This past weekend, the gorgeous Brooks Nader and her handsome hub tied the knot in a stunning winter wedding filled with traditional elegance and New Orleans southern charm! From her chic strapless gown, to their towering 6-tier cake, to the living reception lush with greenery and white blooms from Billy Heromans… there’s just so much to fall in love with. Their lovely planner, Leslie Campbell, truly left no detail unturned. SO, without any further ado, we couldn’t be more excited to share the full gallery of exclusive images – all taken by Jenn Ocken Photography.

Before you dive in, you NEED to see this beautiful film of their wedding day, captured perfectly by Nathan Willis Wedding Films!

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From the Bride, Brooks… We exchanged vows at an elegant, gorgeous winter wedding in the heart of New Orleans’ French quarter!

The ceremony was very traditional as it was in a stunning Catholic Church. The bride walked down the aisle to the same hymn Kate Middleton did, it was very regal and fitting of the venue.

The 320 guests were later escorted through the gardens at Ursuline convent with a 10 person brass band welcoming them on the balcony. The reception was filled with good southern food and cocktails and ice sculptures, Hermes blankets, and TONS of flowers.

The couples custom crest can be found throughout the entire evening, from the photo booth to the cocktail cups and koozies for the beers.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Wedding Under a Sprawling Silk White Tent – This Day Is a Total MUST See!

From the bride’s romantic Hayley Paige dress, to the veil made by her grandmother, to the reception dripping with crystals and greenery – today’s wedding is filled with endless beauty at every turn. Tami Winn Events planned the sweet couple’s dream wedding day to perfection, leaving no detail left unturned, while Stephanie Brazzle Photography was there to capture every breathtaking moment. Head on over to the full gallery of images to see all the inspiration, including some of the most beautiful baby blue bridesmaids dresses we’ve ever seen.

From the Bride… Kyle and I met 2 ½ years ago at Texas A&M University. He was finishing up his last semester of college, and I was a junior. We were in the same class together, and Kyle asked if I would be his partner for a group project after the professor said “Pick someone you don’t know very well.” At the end of the semester he asked me to his last date party of college. I did not think much of it since he was graduating, but after a summer spent a part because of my internship in New York City, we were head over heels for each other. Kyle is from Austin and moved back to his hometown after he graduated.

It was not until last October (2017) that we were in the same city and got engaged all in the same month! Picking where we wanted the wedding to be was an easy decision. We were going to make Fort Worth our home together, and TX Whiskey is a Fort Worth staple. We got to tour their new venue, Whiskey Ranch, before it even opened. It was built on a beautiful golf course that overlooked Fort Worth. The downtown skyline made it perfect for a dreamy reception. The owners even came out to greet us while we were there, and we just knew it would be special to showcase such a unique place as one of their first weddings! I had always pictured myself getting married in a silk white tent, and dancing underneath the stars.

When we booked our venue for July, I wanted to capture that classic, midsummer night’s dream look. This inspiration was reflected in our décor, from the flowers to the linens to the stage and bar facades. The streaming crystals and cascading greenery were more than anything I could imagine! I wanted to create an atmosphere that overflowed with romance while keeping it botanical and timeless. There were also a couple elements we added because it was important to us for our guests to have a blast! We decided to add a couple pops of gold glitter for the champagne wall and dance floor. We brought in a liquid nitrogen ice cream machine so people could have boozy refreshments and cool off from the heat, and we were also really intentional about picking a fantastic band. At the end of the night, we brought in light up cowboy hats and honey butter chicken biscuits made by our amazing caterer. The dance floor was full of people and energy the entire night! One of the most fun appointments was designing the groom’s cake. I wanted it to reflect who Kyle was as a person, so I got a little crazy with it. Kyle is the perfect combination of a musician who loves all thing sports and food. From the sushi to the stickers on the guitar case, all of the 3D objects on the cake were representations of things Kyle loves. We even included an Italian flag because we traveled together to Italy with his family, and that was where he told me he loved me for the very first time.

Shopping for my wedding dress was really special for me! Before I even met Kyle, I had spotted a Hayley Paige ad in a wedding magazine with a dress that I could not get out of my head. Once I got engaged, I had a wonderful day of dress shopping with my sister, mom, and bridesmaids, but as soon as I tried that dress on for the first time I realized I had always known this would be my dress I would wear on my wedding day. It was also special because I got to wear the veil that my great grandmother had made for my sister – in – law when she married my brother. My sister also got to wear it for her wedding. We were all very close to her, so it meant so much to have a piece of my great grandmother with me that day. My wedding planner had the great idea of incorporating the lace from my dress into details of the wedding too. The wedding invitation, the cake, and bar facades were all designed to reflect my wedding dress! When the wedding day came it was a complete dream. I still look back and wish I could relive every second. The best moments were seeing the little details that probably no one else noticed come alive. From Kyle singing and recording our first dance song to writing our own vows, for us it was about celebrating our journey that brought us to this day. I will never forget the many appointments with my mom, the dance lessons with my dad, and planning those minute but meaningful details, such as picking out scripture readings with Kyle. Looking back on the day, I hope our wedding was a testament of what a loving God we have; and I hope it was a celebration-to-be-remembered for those who poured their time and energy into helping Kyle and me become the couple we are today.

An Elegant Seaside Wedding With A Family Heirloom You’ll Just Have to Read About!

Classic, Elegant and Stylized are the three words that Evelyn Francesca Events and Design used to sum up this sunny San Diego wedding at L’Auberge Del Mar! With coastal details and slate blue velvet linens, you will see exactly that in the details! Natalie Bray Studio’s captured the day beautifully, including gorgeous flowers throughout by Splendid Sentiments including that ceremony arch! Take a look below and be sure to read all about the family heirloom that has carried on for 9 weddings!

From the bride…

PROPOSAL:
Although we met in high school, we weren’t exactly “high school sweethearts”. Our love story began years later when we moved back home to Nashville after college. After dating for a couple of years, we decided to move across the country to San Diego to start a new adventure together.

About a year after we moved to California, we went on a wine tasting trip to Temecula during the gloomiest, coldest weekend of the year. Daniel wanted to propose on the trip but the weather was terrible. When the sun finally came out, and Daniel proclaimed that we had to get a photo in front of the vineyards. He grabbed the bellboy at the hotel *who was in on the surprise* to take the picture, then he got down on one knee!

INSPIRATION:

The ocean. “Classic Coastal”.

We love our new home/city/San Diego and we wanted to share it with our closest family and friends. When we drove by L’auberge Del Mar for the first time we knew its where we wanted to get married. The venue captured the essence of everything we love about living here— with an outdoor ceremony and reception space to enjoy our San Diego weather and views of the Southern California coastline that we love so much. It was also the perfect (intimate) venue to host our out-of-state guests and we loved being able to socialize/spend time with everyone throughout the wedding weekend

ADVICE/FAVORITE MOMENT:

We highly recommend scheduling some “alone time” on your itinerary. Breaking away from the crowd to practice our first dance was one of our favorite moments. It was an intimate time for us to regroup, talk about everything that was going on, and it made our actual first dance less stressful.

We’re so glad we invested in a planner— hiring a full planner (the Evelyn Francesca team) was by far the best money we spent on our wedding. Everything went so smoothly on our wedding day, and if something went wrong, I didn’t know about it.

Our other best investments were our photographer and videographer. We were able to share the video and photos with grandparents and family that couldn’t travel to celebrate with us and we can relive our day over and over again. My family still raves about our photographer, videographer, and planner and how talented and important they were.

TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS:

We were the 9th couple to use our cake topper that has been in Daniel’s family since his grandparents first used it on their wedding day in 1943. We surrounded the cake with photos of Daniels family members using the topper, as well as photos of my parents and grandparents on their wedding day.

From the Evelyn Francesca Events and Design…

Tyler and Daniel came to me with a very large Pinterest board of all things from coastal to boho to classic and it was a fun journey to get to know them and what would really speak to them as a couple. Designing this wedding I really narrowed down what it was they wanted their guests to feel when they were at their wedding. They explained it as classic, elegant and stylized, so I ran with that. I kept things classic with the steel blue throughout but added in the soft velvet linens at the guest tables and patterned linens at cocktail hour. We kept the place settings classic with the clear and gold-rimmed but made sure it had texture to add another layer to the design. We wanted guests to feel like they came to a beautiful dinner party that was intimate and detailed. Each element of the wedding was thought out and important.

We also included their family photos at the dessert table along with the cake topper that was passed down through generations. They were the 9th couple to use the cake topper that has been in Daniel’s family since his grandparents first used it on their wedding day in 1943. They surrounded the cake with photos of Daniels family members using the topper, as well as photos of Tyler’s parents and grandparents on their wedding day.

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Natalie Bray Studios

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Lucky Devils Band

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Petit Bouquet

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The Perfect Winter Pasta Recipe

Winter is my favorite season for eating. Yes the summer is overflowing with fresh vegetables, but the winter if filled to the brim with recipes that warm you up from the outside in (and make you thankful for bulky sweaters). I’ve been looking for a too-good-to-be-true winter pasta recipe for some time now, and it looks like my search is officially over thanks to The Woks Of Life!

From The Woks Of Life…Sometimes, I’ll build an entire recipe around a single ingredient, deliberating idea after idea for how to showcase that one ingredient in its best light. This time around, it was a $6 bag of “farfalloni,” which a quick Google search has just told me are just a slightly bigger version of your regular everyday bow tie pasta.

I blame TJ Maxx.

There isn’t a store on earth that can ensnare me quite so easily as a TJ Maxx (or its brethren, Marshalls and Homegoods). Where else can you buy a designer sweater, a jar of your favorite marinara sauce, and bottle of fancy dog shampoo––all in the same store? I swear I’m not being paid to say these things. I just have an unhealthy obsession with off-price retail, apparently.

Weeks ago, I found myself in said establishment, and I was snaking my way through the kitchen supplies area when I happened upon a section of imported pastas from Italy. I grabbed this bag of especially fancy bow ties, justifying the purchase with the idea that I’d create a recipe for the blog.

It took a while, but I’ve come up with a winner. I wanted to create a pasta recipe that’s perfect for cold weather days and features the two herbs that are still chugging on in our garden––thyme and sage. With sausage meatballs, toasted walnuts, caramelized mushrooms, shaved parmesan, and a touch of cream, this is THE perfect winter pasta recipe to take you through the next few months. Here’s how to make it!

Winter Pasta Recipe

prep time

cook time

total time

Ingredients

8 oz. sweet Italian sausage
extra virgin olive oil
8 oz. dried short cut pasta, such as farfalle or rigatoni
1/4 cup fresh sage leaves
2 tablespoons butter
1 lb mushrooms, such as cremini, shiitake, oyster, or chanterelles
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
3 cloves garlic, chopped
salt and pepper
1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream
½ cup toasted walnuts
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
shaved parmesan or romano cheese

Instructions

Remove the sausage from the casings, and form into small meatballs. In a skillet, add a tablespoon of olive oil and fry the meatballs until browned, crisp, and cooked through. Remove the meatballs with a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta and cook according to package instructions, undercooking the pasta by 1-2 minutes. Drain, reserving about a cup of the cooking liquid.
Meanwhile, add another tablespoon olive oil to the skillet and add the sage. Once the sage is crisp, remove from the pan and set aside on a plate. Add 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet and cook the mushrooms until caramelized, along with the fresh thyme. Add the garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 3 minutes.
Add the half and half, along with the pasta, meatballs, and parsley. If the sauce needs to be loosened up a bit, add a bit of the reserved pasta water until you reach the desired consistency. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the crispy sage, walnuts, and cheese.
Serve!

Photography: The Woks Of Life | Recipe: The Woks Of Life

Feel The Sunshine At This Bright And Beautiful California Garden Wedding

What’s not to love about a summertime celebration? The warm sun overhead, bright pops of color, dining under the stars, talk about a dream wedding! When Brian and Annie set out to plan their special day, they knew they wanted to take advantage of all the beauty of the season. They chose Meadowood as the perfect place to celebrate with friends and family who would be coming from across the country. Annie’s dancing background lead the overall vision for the day, with soft and delicate details beautifully designed and coordinated by LVL Weddings & Events. Visit the full gallery for more of this ultra-romantic summer soirée.

From LVL Weddings & Events… The selection for Brian and Annie’s wedding venue Meadowood was a rather easy one. The private olive tree-lined drive that winds you back into the redwood trees where a beautiful resort awaits, felt like the perfect place to celebrate their love.

This warm, summertime wedding was brought to life with pops of color and a garden-like ambiance. Annie is a dancer and her love of soft, delicate design was a definite inspiration for the wedding.

The reception was the perfect alfresco dining environment with twinkling candlelight on a beautiful summer night. Following dinner, the couple and their guests danced the night away under the stars.

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Our Top 10 Photos of 2019

We don’t know how it happened, but somehow 2019 is coming to a close and 2020 is upon us! As we go into the year of perfect vision (seriously, big time metaphors are available in the upcoming year. No pressure.) we want to take a look back at some of our best moments of 2019 on Instagram!

This is a platform we work to curate, collect and make the best it can absolutely be because of many reasons, but ultimately because it’s where we feel our core is. And we have YOU to thank for that! So in celebration of a year of hard work, we’re rounding up our top 10 posts of 2019! Let’s take a walk down memory lane.

10. Chic Black Bunkbeds

9. Reading Nook Under the Stairs

8. Sultry Green Laundry Room

7. Pink + White Bunkbeds

6. Pup in the Laundry Room

5. The Most Amazing Walk-in Shower

4. Mint Green Laundry Room

3. Dreamy Farmhouse Bunkbeds

2. Sweet Pink Cocktail

1. Kitchen with a view

Thank you to everyone who makes this website what it is. From the interior designers making killer homes, all the baristas out there making jaw-dropping cocktails, and to you, our readers, we say an earnest and sincere thank you!

Now let’s make 2020 EVEN better!

This Old World Italian Hotel Is Transformed Into Wedding Magic

Visiting The Badia, whose origins make it qualify as the oldest hotel in Italy, is like taking a walk back in time. With just one look at the ancient abbey, spacious park, and hills covered in olive trees and rows of grapevines, Nik and Jen knew it was the perfect place for their special day. They decided to celebrate their mutual love of traveling with a destination wedding and invited 38 of their nearest and dearest to join them. Guests were delighted by the age-old ruins set against trend-forward wedding decor elements like a round wedding arch made of pampas grass! Anna Roussos was there to capture each breathtaking moment. Get transported to the Italian countryside in the full gallery.

From the bride… We chose Italy because of the beautiful landscapes and architecture, and of course, the amazing food. Once we visited the wedding venue, we knew that we picked the perfect spot for us and could not stop high-fiving each other!

By having the venue in Italy, we could cut our guest list down to a very intimate 38 guests and allowed us to spend quality time with every single guest. This gave us an extra opportunity to spend time with our guests who traveled halfway around the world to celebrate with us.

The beautiful scenery made it all the more special to soak up all the love from family and friends! We couldn’t have asked for a more magical experience or celebration of our love.

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