Nixing tradition has been a big bridal trend as of late, but quite possibly the biggest tradition we’re seeing left to the wayside is the schedule. Instead of seated dinners and timed speeches, brides and grooms are opting for something a bit more celebratory.

As couples look for new ways to celebrate their nuptials, we chat with Rebecca Steele of Andy Kushner Entertainment Design for some tips on how to keep the party going all night long.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
“For me, it’s all about creating an experience for your guests,” says Steele. “Choosing an entertainment team that listens and understands not only that you want a full-on party, but how to keep the guests involved on the dance floor, all the while maintaining the flow of the entire evening, is key!”

She also suggests talking with your entertainment team about what you’re looking for at the beginning stages of planning. “Since “party-style” means something different to everyone, I always begin with an extensive in-depth conversation with you (and your planner!) to fully understand the details of your wedding in order to craft a personalized experience,” she says.

OPT FOR BUFFET-STYLE
The easiest way to get your guests off the dance floor is by serving a sit-down meal. When you serve a meal, it has to be included in the schedule, and all your guests are instructed to eat at the exact same time. For many of those guests, once they sit down to eat, they may not get back up! Prevent this from happening by opting for buffet-style stations instead. This allows guests to eat on their own time, and keeps the food from getting cold for those who refuse to take off their dancing shoes.

NIX SOME TRADITION
You’re already getting rid of the biggest tradition (the schedule!), so why not take a few more off the list? “The bouquet toss and garter toss are two that tend to take the most time and be the least sentimental of the wedding traditions,” says Steele. “By omitting either or both of these, you can dedicate more time to your party.” Steele adds, “the cake cutting is another tradition that might simply be left out, or have a private cake cutting to allow the party to continue uninterrupted and still get great photos—don’t forget to tell the family so no one important misses it!”

HAVE A TON OF “DANCE TIME”
“A few elements that we see included to help in designing the “party-style” include tipping off your friends, family, and wedding party ahead of time to get on the dance floor right away,” says Steele. “Once everyone is dancing, keep people on the dance floor and standing when you introduce the wedding party and then invite them back halfway through, or after, the first dance, and continue the dancing for another ten or fifteen minutes to set the party tone for the evening. Include dancing between courses and minimize down time—we want to dance, dance, dance!”

Style Me Pretty Contributor – Jessica Tzikas is a freelance writer, editor, and content manager from South Florida, who recently moved back to the sunshine state after living in Philadelphia for the past few years. When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading by the beach, practicing yoga, and exploring nearby towns with her new husband.

Nestled in the French Riviera, Chateau Diter played host to the dreamiest destination wedding designed by Laly Rose with planning by AAVA Wedding. See the full gorgeous evening under the stars and twinkling chandeliers all captured by Love Story.

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From the Event Planner…Shula and I met a few years ago when I worked on her brother’s wedding that took place in Villefranche-Sur-Mer. Shula and her fiancée (at the time) were based in London but had fallen in love with the French Riviera. At the top of their agenda was a space that would cater for their 250 guests who would be arriving from all over the world. Shula had decided that she wanted her wedding to be curated with a sweet and romantic theme at the heart of it. Both modest people, Shula and Kenny wanted an elegant and sophisticated reception with no expense spared on the comfort and care of each and every one of their guests. The emphasis was put therefore on the finer details that would make for impeccable comfort and enjoyment for their guests at every point throughout the occasion. Besotted with each other, Shula and Kenny opened up their love to us and we were able to share in their magnificent and moving ceremony under the marquee in the gardens of the stunning Chateau Diter. The reception after was held in the secluded cloister gardens, followed by dinner below crystal chandeliers in the 400sq foot tent, which was designed exclusively for their wedding. Not even the clouds that had posed a gentle threat at the close of the ceremony could have disturbed the wonderful moments shared under the stars. This wedding, even with the weight of a very large logistical operation to manage and coordinate (with more than 120 staff involved) and militarily precise planning, ran exceptionally smoothly. This was a wonderful achievement that we were able to share with really beautiful people.

Photography: Love Story | Catering: David Guez | Wedding Venue: Chateau Diter | Decoration / Design: Laly Rose | Planning: AAVA WEDDING | Video: Love Story

These two may have toured Green Pastures while it was being renovated but they could feel the magic even then. And when it was all set to host their special day, it didn’t disappoint. It was the beautiful backdrop to this rustic elegant Texas wedding, full of burgundies, navy and gold and Pine and Blossom captured a gallery so gorgeous we can’t look away. Join us among all the goodness right this way!

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From the Bride… Kyle and I fell in love with our venue, Green Pastures, from the first day we toured it. We toured when it was under renovations, but believed in the vision and could feel the magic this place held in our city. We booked the very next day. The 19th century property has beautiful oak trees surrounding a Southern charm styled white house, is wonderfully landscaped, and even has peacocks on property. The bonus is that it is in the heart of Austin!

Since the venue brought so much charm and beauty, I wanted the wedding to complement it and not take away from the natural beauty. I envisioned a wedding that is simple and elegant. We had neutral tones, lots of natural greenery, gold picture frames and table decorations, and a pop of burgundy color in the flowers and bridesmaid dresses. The groomsmen wore navy suits with black ties and black shoes to help formalize the event without having them wear black tuxes!

The ceremony was on the front lawn surrounded by oak trees and a string quartet played traditional music as we walked down the aisle. The reception was filled with love and everyone had a great time on the dance floor! It was a perfect evening that my husband and I will never forget.

From Uptown Events & Travel… When Katie reached out to me about helping her with the coordination of her wedding day at Green Pastures, I was absolutely delighted. With such a special history at this venue, I was thrilled to see the place come to life with the beautiful renovations. It couldn’t have been more of a perfect setting for Katie and Kyle! It fit their style seamlessly – natural beauty, Southern charm and elegance. Katie’s centerpieces were simple yet stunning. The color palette showcased the Pantone color of the year – greenery and the pop of burgundy in the bridesmaid dresses and bouquets nicely accented the overall design. Adrien of Pine and Blossom Photography captured the details flawlessly!

Photography: Pine and Blossom Photography | Event Planning: Uptown Events & Travel | Floral Design: Wild Bunches | Cake: Michelle’s Patiserie | Stationery: Vera Wan For Papyrus | Bride's Shoes: Steve Madden | Bridesmaids' Dresses: David's Bridal | Makeup: Pearl Austin | Hair + Makeup | Makeup: Eleve Cosmetics | Hair: Blo Blow Dry Bar | DJ: Penguin Entertainment | Officiant: Bonnie McKinstry | Ceremony Music: Hill Country Strings | Wedding Venue: Green Pastures | Getaway Vehicle: Metrocycle Pedicabs | Ring Box: The Mrs Box

Two pilots move to Qatar for their careers, met, and fell in love, so including a few aviation inspired details in their wedding day was essential for Love & Tralala! From a bespoke airplane invitations suite to a shower of paper planes at dinner, from an aerobatic demo at the reception to a post-wedding brunch on the airfield where the bride first got her wings, every detail captured by Lauren Fair Photography of this romantic wedding will make your hearts soar.

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From the bride, Roxane… Pierre and I met in Qatar in 2012 as we both moved there to work as airline pilots. I moved to Qatar determined to be single after lots of failed relationships, and I decided I would only date if I found the right person. When I met Pierre, I understood the saying, “When you know, you know.” Pierre proposed on a hot air balloon flight in Auvergne, France.

I fell in love with Lauren Fair Photography’s work on Style Me Pretty even before we got engaged, and I knew that they would photograph our wedding! They were the first vendor I contacted. It’s safe to say it was one of the best decision we made. On top of being extremely talented, they are amazing people, and we felt like they were family. We knew we would get married in Belgium, where I’m from, and we decided to go to the South to be surrounded by the forest. We started by visiting venues, and we booked the first one we visited, La Ferme du Chateau – a beautifully renovated farm.

Most of our guests were traveling from far to be at our wedding, so we made a weekend out of it, starting with an “Arabic-themed” welcome party on Friday night (as we met in Qatar!), with hookas and costumes. The post-wedding brunch was held at the airfield where I fell in love with aviation, and a lot of guests went on glider discovery flights!

I immediately started looking for my dress, and I admit that the search gave me many sleepless nights! I tried around 30 dresses, and I liked them all. I didn’t get the “I found the one” feeling that I was expecting. I then discovered preownedweddingdresses.com, and I bought my two dresses second-hand. It’s an amazing opportunity to buy designer dresses (and maybe to be able to buy two!).

Our vision was a timeless look with some aviation touches. Our guestbook was a wooden propeller that guests signed, and it is now on the wall in our living room. The table numbers were spray-painted airplane models with calligraphed airline names and the name tags were laser-cut wooden propellers. I really enjoyed designing our invitations with Muriel Cornet. We wanted to do something special, and we did a P51 Mustang airplane that was laser-cut and could be assembled by the guests. The P51 Mustang was also on our save the dates, from the surprise flight I got Pierre for his birthday.

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE flowers, so I knew that was going to be an important part of the wedding. We heard of our florist, Elodie, from an article that my grandpa cut in the newspaper (thanks, Grandpa!). She is also a wedding planner, and she coordinated our wedding. She is such a gem, and she is now one of my friends! I teared up a little when I saw our beautiful reception space and my bouquet. She really went above my expectations and handled everything on the day of the wedding.

My girls and I got ready in a beautiful greenhouse while drinking mimosas and laughing. I bought silk ribbons for our bouquets, and Pierre surprised me by asking my friends to use a word to describe me, and he then embroidered the words on the ribbons. It made me so emotional! My gift to Pierre was an embroidered handkerchief with all our favorite movies and books.

One of my favorite part of the planning was preparing the ceremony. We loved our meetings with our priest and choosing the texts and songs. The gospel choir we hired created such a nice atmosphere in our beautiful church. We wrote our own vows, and we were both super emotional reading them. My grandparents celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year, and they are our “couple goals.” We couldn’t think of a better symbol than my grandmother bringing us the wedding bands! My wedding band belonged to my other grandmother who was so important in my life and who passed away.

After the ceremony, we went to a beautiful location that Lauren and Tim had found for our photos. We really enjoyed that moment where we really soaked everything in. Driving through the forest in our convertible Mercedes was surreal! During our cocktail hour, one of my mom’s friends surprised us with an aerobatic demo over our venue. It was magical. The dinner was filled with speeches, tears, laughter, and paper planes, thrown by our guest as the dinner was coming to an end. We then moved to the renovated barn for dessert and dancing. Our live band set the dance floor on fire, and the night continued until 0630 – we actually had to push guests away as our brunch was starting at noon!

We planned every little detail, thought about everything, but what we could never have planned is the amount of LOVE we received on our wedding. I can honestly say we never cried that much in our lives (and we’re both easy criers!). The speeches, the surprises, the little attentions, and most of all, having all the people you love united in one place celebrating your love, this is really why you get married. We will never be able to thank our families and friends enough for what they did for us.

We gave ourselves approximately 2 years to organize, and I would highly recommend it. Planning a wedding takes time, and it also makes everyone super excited for the wedding! I generally know what I want, but during the planning I started to doubt everything. I actually told my sister that the only thing I didn’t doubt was marrying Pierre (and she used that in her speech!). It’s normal to have doubts, just try to remember why you made those decisions. Everything turned out even better than we expected. I had read before that your vendors make your wedding, and this is so true. Surround yourself with vendors that inspire you and understand your vision, and then let them do their magic! Everyone will tell you this, it goes fast, enjoy every moment, from the planning to the wedding, and get a videographer to be able to relive your wedding anytime!

Photography: Lauren Fair Photography | Cinematography: La Corde au Couer | Event Planning: Elodie Wilmès, From Love & Tralala | Floral Design: Elodie Wilmès, From Love & Tralala | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture | Stationery: Minted | Reception Venue: La Ferme du Chateau | Shoes: Bella Belle | Shoes: Keds | Catering: Paulus | Hair + Makeup: Monica Jane Beauty Boudoir | Groom's Attire: Boggi Milan | Bridesmaid Dress: David's Bridal | Bridesmaid Dress: Adrianna Papell | Bridesmaid Dress: BHLDN | Bridesmaid Dress: Pronovias | Bridesmaid Dress: ASOS | Desserts: Cokoa | Music: Angel Band | Rentals: Ma Belle Vaissell | Ribbons: Frou Frou Chic | Second Wedding Dress: Watters | Signage: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Veil: Pronovias | Vow Books: Seniman Calligraphy

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I’ve said it before, and I have no doubt I’ll say it again, but there’s nothing better than a gorgeous wedding dress, and luckily for us, this past year was full of them. From an Haute Couture Elie Saab masterpiece to a traditional ballgown worthy of royalty (Meghan Markle, take note) to a daring, fashion-forward black velvet beauty, these are the 10 wedding dresses that took our breath away in 2017.

Four Words: Elie Saab Haute Couture

It was love at first sight when we first saw this custom Elie Saab Haute Couture wedding dress. With a 30-foot train and all-over hand beading, this gorgeous gown is truly one-of-a-kind and an absolute masterpiece!

Photography: Greg Finck

Beaded, Boho Beauty

We’ve never seen beading quite like this Rue de Seine’s tone-on-tone embellishment. Fluttery sleeves, an empire waist and a skirt that blows in the wind — this dress is fit for a goddess!

Photography: Lacie Hansen

Royal-Worthy Perfection

There’s just something about this dress that makes us think it belongs in a Disney fairytale — or maybe a royal wedding? From the scoop neckline to the full skirt to the delicate beading, this dress is an absolute dream!

Photography: Jemma Keech

High Low, Hello!

A subtle print, a high low skirt, the halter back, and the pockets(!), this dreamy Erin Grey Couture dress has everything a girl could ask for and so much more!

Photography: Allison Kuhn Photography

A Match Made in Fashion Heaven

What do we love about this gorgeous, colorful Zimaya creation? For starters, the way the floral embroidery on the Bride’s top carried onto the bottom half of her skirt and the trim of the Groom’s ensemble!

Photography: Erika Delgado Photography

Flirty, Fun + Fabulous

This bride is none other than the founder of Flutter Magazine, so it should come as no surprise that her custom Madeleine Fig dress is ah-mazing! Her vision? Something ‘bohemian couture’ complete with a wishlist of fun features: high-low structure, pockets (a must!), illusion layers, and lace!

Photography: Jose Villa

Calling All the Cool Brides

When it comes to fashion-forward, effortlessly cool bridal fashion, no one does it better than French designer Rime Arodaky. Case in point? This oh-so-fabulous lace bomber jacket and embellished skirt. Oh là là!

Photography: Greg Finck

Va-Va-Voom

Inspired by her black diamond engagement ring — not to mention her impeccable personal style — Merielle wore a black velvet wedding dress and landed herself a spot on our Best Wedding Dress list!

Photography: Jose Villa

Pretty in Pattern

Whimsical, playful and all kinds of gorgeous, this cherry blossom-printed Monique Lhuillier dress has us dreaming of springtime and sunshine! It’s not technically a wedding dress, but we support any fashion-forward bride rocking this on her big day!

Photography: Rebecca Yale

A Modern Take on Old Hollywood Glam

The classic lines of this Viktor & Rolf column gown evoke Old Hollywood glamour, but the statement cape and shoulder bow bring this beautiful dress to the modern day with all kinds of style and beauty!

Photography: KT Merry

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For the couple who loves the mountains (they hiked to Everest Base Camp together, so we’d say it’s serious), what better location to say “I do” than in the Bavarian Alps? And clearly the mountain air suits them because this bride in her long sleeve, Rue De Seine gown and this groom in his light blue, Tiger of Sweden suit look absolutely spectacular. In Love by Bina Terré was there to capture the rustic, elegant celebration and every picture takes our breath away.

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From In Love by Bina Terré… I wanted to submit a real wedding which took place in the mountains of Germany, in Bavaria. This couple was beyond gorgeous and so in love. They chose this place because they feel home in the mountains, fresh air, grass, and nature (They hiked to the base camp of Mount Everest already!). They planned an outdoor wedding on the grass with an amazing view of the mountains and celebrated their happy day with all their loved ones. It was such an amazing day, and I was so honored to be part of this wedding. 

Photography: Bina Terré | Floral Design: Petra Müller Blumen | Wedding Dress: Rue De Seine | Bride's Shoes: Buffalo | Hair + Makeup: Jessica Schletter | Band: The Swinging Sugar Tones | Groom's Attire: Tiger Of Sweden | Assistance: Arina Fix | Bridal Boutique: Hey Love Munich | Groom's Shoes: Floris van Bommel

Who says neutrals have to be boring? This Calistoga Ranch affair is Team Neutral, and we’re officially obsessed. Designed by Cole Drake Events, with all white florals by M Design, it layers natural, unfussy details with the elegant Napa Valley backdrop and the most beautiful nods to the Groom’s Persian culture. Add in stunning imagery by Sylvie Gil and a film by LoveSpun, and we have ourselves a pretty party au naturel.

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From the Photographer… Hilary & Darian’s intimate June wedding is filled with sweet, cozy accents and references to Darian’s Persian background. From cultural elements in the ceremony to Hilary’s white fur stole, everything about this wedding was sweet and romantic. Dark wood furniture, copper and bronze decor, and string lights blend seamlessly with the Napa Valley setting. Cream and white florals mixed with olive and eucalyptus branches fit together nicely with the surrounding vineyards. Parasols for each guest made for a cute (and practical!) ceremony look.

Photography: Sylvie Gil Photography | Cinematography: Lovespun Films | Floral Design: Meredith Law | Stationery: Lotus & Ash | Catering: Calistoga Ranch Resort | Hair + Makeup: Artists by Sherrie Long | Band: Downbeat La | Ceremony & Cocktail Music: Entire Productions | Ceremony & Reception: Calistoga Ranch Resort | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Planning & Design: Cole Drake Events | Sofreh: Fancy Little Details | Sound System: Entire Productions

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Let’s be honest – besties are awesome, but finding that perfect dress that makes them all happy isn’t always stress-free. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard brides say they’d like a way to streamline the entire process – making it more comfortable, convenient and less expensive. There is, you guys. And these brides know exactly how it turns out.

Photography (Top to Bottom): Jenavieve Belair Photography

I think we can all agree that renting your bridesmaid dresses is one of those genius ideas that makes your wedding planning life sooo much easier. And if you find the right company to work with, you’ll be wishing it could alllll be as simple. Vow To Be Chic is the only place to rent designer bridesmaid dresses, and they have the entire process down to a science, aka, four easy steps. Just browse their thousands of gorgeous dresses, curate your very own Bridal Suite, invite your bridal party to take a look + order and then track the progress, right down to the delivery. You can even book a consultation with a stylist to help you narrow down the right look for your girls. Take it from bride, Kimmie: “I’m biased, but everyone looked stunning. Every dress was so flattering and beautiful!” 

Photography (Top to Bottom): Ashley Porton Photography

Want to make things easier for you and your girls, but don’t want to miss out on that try-on experience? I get it… I love a fun day with my besties and bubbly, too. But just because you are ordering online doesn’t mean you can’t still have it all. Vow To Be Chic offers at-home try-ons, and they’ll ship the dresses to you for your very own bridal shop experience, yoga pants and Real Housewives included. But they also know that it isn’t always possible for everyone to host a try-on, with girls scattered all over the country and time zones. That’s why they ship two sizes out two weeks before the Big Day, so you can be sure it’s perfect well in advance – and will send out a replacement size if you run into issues. And, honestly, don’t worry – when I received my Vow To Be Chic gown, it couldn’t have fit better, not to mention it was the perfect length for my 6′ frame. Yes, tall and short girls everywhere rejoice – Vow To Be Chic has you covered in every way.

Photography (Top to Bottom): Michele Maloney Photography

Ready to save time, money and, you know, your sanity? Gather your girls and let them know you’ll be renting your dresses from Vow To Be Chic. With prices starting at just $69, you can save your besties around $200, plus they get to skip all of the alterations with two custom hem lengths and sizes ranging from 1-18. Take it from me and these beautiful brides – it’s a no-brainer.

Photography (Top to Bottom): Pierre Atelier

What: Enter to win free designer bridesmaid dresses for your entire bridal party!

How: To enter, Click Here

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Being a bride-to-be can be one of the most exciting, yet stressful times in any woman’s life. In preparation for all the stress any bride will face, she should surround herself with those that mean to the most to her- her bridesmaids.

There will be disagreements and “bridezilla” moments, but here are a few things every bride wants her ‘maids to remember.

You Were Picked for a Reason
You were not asked to be a bridesmaid because I thought you would look great in blush. You were asked because you have stood by my side through some of the best and worst moments in my life. It is unimaginable to not have you by my side on the very best day.

A Little Help is Always Welcome…
Whether it’s addressing envelopes or learning how to bustle my dress, your help is always appreciated. You may have organized my messy wedding binder or diffused a little family drama for me, and for that I am grateful in every way. I am grateful for you.

…but Don’t Try to Make This YOUR Dream Wedding
While I appreciate the help and the input, please don’t get mad at me when I choose to go with the dress that I loved, but you didn’t. I need your support, not your criticism. There are opinions flying at me from every direction, I need you to fall back on for the extra support.

I Want You All to be Friends
You are all some of the most important people in my life, and chances are, you will be seeing a lot more of each other through the various milestones we will all share together. It is my sincerest hope that all of you get along and become friends.

I Love You
I don’t say it enough. Not a day goes by that I am not thankful for our friendship, your love and your support. No matter how, why, or when our worlds collided, I am so very happy they did. I could not do this without you.

Style Me Pretty Contributor – Maureen Cromer is a wedding planner, blogger and public relations professional from Baltimore Maryland, where she lives with her fiancé and kitten. When she isn’t working, you will find her running through the scenic trails of Maryland or sailing around the Wye River with her water-loving family.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and if you’re anything like us, it’s festive everything from here on through the end of the year, so when this winter wonderland wedding captured by Justine Milton landed on our desk, you bet we were all kinds of giddy. Think rich shades of red, a beautiful bride in an elegant Watters gown, an enchanting castle in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and a fresh coat of snow. Yup – pretty much holiday wedding perfection.

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From the Bride… We based our wedding theme around the location and season. The Banff Springs Hotel speaks for itself – it is a timeless and traditional castle located in the breathtaking Canadian Rocky Mountains – and we knew we had to pay homage to that with an overall elegant theme with some rustic touches. We chose a winter wedding and picked warm, rich colours to complement that: golds and creams with some splashes of burgundy and French blue.

We met in high school, but we didn’t actually start dating until we reconnected at a bar in our hometown. We went on a couple of dates and the rest is history! We got engaged on a trip to Hong Kong – we were having a cocktail at a bar on the 118th floor of a high rise, and he completely surprised me when he got down on one knee as we were looking out at the spectacular cityscape. I couldn’t believe he flew all that way with the ring, but we both love traveling and it is something that brings us together, so it was perfect!

Photography: Justine Milton Photography | Event Planning: Lauren (bride) And Julie From Rocky Mountain Wedding | Floral Design: Forget-Me-Not Flowers | Wedding Dress: Watters | Cake: Cake Creations | Hair + Make Up: The Pretty Haus | Men's Attire: suits by curtis eliot | Venue: Fairmont Banff Springs | Bridal Boutique: Novelle Bridal Shop | Ring Dish: Marbella Dish

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The wonderfully preserved Mission San Juan Capistrano enchants us every time we lay eyes upon it, but this bridal editorial just took it over the top with its blend of old and new. Between the beaded, silvery perfection that is this vintage Gossamer gown, the soft blooms styled by Honeycomb Affair, and the always effortless looking photographs by Katina Patriquin Photography, it truly couldn’t get any better.

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From Katina Patriquin Photography… When you step through the doors of San Juan Capistrano Mission everything slows… It is almost as if you just walked through the gates of heaven. Butterflies float softly above your head and you immediately feel a sense of of calmness. When you pair that with the essence and grace of a beautiful bride, you have perfection. From the delicately beaded gown from Gossamer Vintage to the softly perfected flowers from Honeycomb Affair the day was perfect! As we moved throughout the mission, every corner and spot was stunning, and the peace followed us. This mentorship with Tenth & Grace was everything my heart desired, and the styling from Chloe and Mint added that special something that put it all together! My wish is for every bride to pair the old with the new and create a classic, elegant, and timeless look for her wedding day!

Matching their holiday decor to their preppy coastal style, the ladies of Palm Beach Lately added their signature spirit to this bright and happy party. Think garlands and wreaths meet fresh oranges and pops of pink cabana stripes. It’s bucking tradition (i.e. no red in site) and is giving us major Florida vibes instead. See even more of this pretty celebration captured by Thompson Photography Group right here.

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This holiday season, we incorporated our state fruit, the orange, into our holiday style because we love what it stands for – joy, happiness and hope. We always decorate our homes for the holidays with a variety of greenery like centerpieces, garland, trees and wreaths, so it was simple yet stunning to weave fresh oranges, lemons and limes throughout our usual decor. And because we love entertaining, we couldn’t wait to host a Christmas Brunch in true Florida style! For the brunch, Carla Tavolacci with The Event Group created the most beautiful floral and citrus centerpiece and citrus tree and also adorned our wreath by One Kings Lane and new pineapple sconces by Ballard Designs with florals, fresh fruit and greenery. We then set the table with straw placemats, bamboo chargers and gold silverware from our favorite tableware company, Juliska. And our tablescape wouldn’t be complete without our signature pink color, so we used whimsical pink and white plates from HomeGoods, pink cloth napkins, and pink wine glasses by Anthropologie! For a playful twist on the place setting, we included a menu card by Little Lovely Party and set a clementine and magnolia leaf on top. Our brunch menu featured yummy comfort foods, but the vanilla lemon cake with lemon buttercream icing that our good friend Jamie Fago of The Southern Bakery made stole the show!

Photography : Thompson Photograph Group | Styling : Palm Beach Lately | Floral Design : The Event Group Design and Decor | Cake : Southern Belles Cakery | Brass Palm Taper Candle : anthro | Gold Mirror: Frontgate | Menu Card : Lovely Little Party | Photo Editing: Iris Moore Photography | Pineapple Chandelier: Frontgate | Pineapple Sconces : Ballard Designs | Pink and White Plates : Home Goods | Pink and White Striped Awning : Hoover Architectural | Placemats, Bamboo Chargers and Silverware: Juliska | Wine: Notorious Pink | Wreath : One Kings Lane

Blurring the lines between outdoors and in, this downtown Austin wedding brings romantic garden vibes to the industrial loft backdrop of Brazos Hall. The result is a lush, greenery-filled garden reception masterminded by The Nouveau Romantics and beautifully captured by Ryan Ray, with a film by Filmstrong. It’s so pretty, you’ll forget it didn’t take place in the great wide open.

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From The Nouveau Romantics… From the very first meeting, Kathleen and Michael had their hearts set on an outdoor wedding, but as the bride’s hometown, with a significant amount of guests from out-of-town, they wanted to capitalize on a location that was convenient and minimized travel. Enter Brazes Hall, with our promise that we would do just that – bring the outdoors in to soften the industrial appeal of brick walls and upper deck’s modern styling. We developed a palette that was grounded in shades of green, with touches of white, cream, soft lemon yellow, and touches of lavender — the perfect compliment to the spring season of their May wedding. The day’s flow was an important consideration, as the late afternoon ceremony at the downtown St. Mary’s church linked into a cocktail hour on Brazos second floor open-air deck, downstairs for a lush, garden-inspired dinner, and then back upstairs for a enthusiastic dance party compliments to The Flashdance. Kathleen’s request for a lush, greenery-filled dinner experience in the indoor first floor came to life via dainty twinkle lights draped lightly across the wooden beams, greenery hanging atop the central Bridal party table, and an escort card “wall” of nude floor-length fabric surrounded by lanterns, florals, and even more greenery. Upstairs was designed around the idea of a “speak easy” and “living room” feel, as we surrounded the dance floor with 8 separate, unique, and coordinated seating vignettes from a variety of local Austin vendors that completely transformed the space. Adding in some 14’ draped curtains to the steel beams helped to create that intimate feel. The Flashdance delivered an epic dance party that was fueled by late night Whataburger snacks and a full-sized Amy’s Ice Cream sundae spread that guests are still talking about!

From the Bride, Kathleen… Originally from Austin, I had always wanted an Austin wedding and Michael was kind enough to agree! My dream had always been to dance underneath the Texas stars with our family and friends. As most of our guests were from out of town, we wanted them to experience Austin as we loved it. We picked St Mary Cathedral, across from the Capitol, for its gorgeous architecture. We later chose Brazos Hall, just a few blocks away, for the amazing rustic feel downstairs and upstairs rooftop. We wanted to have a the causal feel of Austin but with a touch of elegance. I fell in love with greens, ivory, and maudes because of their muted tones but wanted gold touches to add some elegance. Liz and the team somehow made everything come together with ease. We were so fortunate to have the most experienced and kind wedding planners, The Nouveau Romantics, who made our dreams come true. I had a unusual request of dancing on the rooftop patio (to accomplish that dream of dancing underneath the stars). Liz and the team made it the most gorgeous setting with lounge areas, candles, and lights to set a casual but elegant tone I was hoping for. They also had the best recommendations for vendors, which I think fulfilled the whole weekend. From the perfect weather in Austin during May, to our amazing photographer, videographer, DJ, and other vendors, we literally could not have asked for a more amazing day. The most wonderful part of the whole weekend was the love we felt from all of our guests. Our family and friends traveled all over the country to celebrate with us in Austin and we were so fortunate to be surrounded by such loving people. Its cheesy to day ‘it was the best day of our lives’, but it really was.

Photography: Ryan Ray Photography | Videography: FilmStrong Productions | Cake: Coco Paloma Desserts | Church: Saint Mary Cathedral Diocese Of Austin | Reception Venue: Brazos Hall | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Royal Fig Catering | Make-Up: Nisa Nicole Makeup Artistry | Hair: Janet St. Paul | Lighting: Ilios | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Groomsmen's Attire: The Black Tux | Transportation: Transportation Consultants | Bridal Gown: Anna Maier | Bridal Salon: Warren Barrón Bridal | Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mishka | Draping: Shelly Bounds | Event Planning, Event Design, Florals, Papergoods: The Nouveau Romantics | Getaway: Easy Rider Pedicab | Late-Night Snack: Amy's Ice Cream | Late-Night Snack: Whataburger | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Music - Dinner: Chris Story Band | Music - Reception: THE FLASHDANCE | Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals | Rentals: Whim Hospitality | Rentals: 10th Collections | Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals | Sound: The Big Sound House

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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When we heard Vow to be Chic was teaming up with Monique Lhuillier and one of our favorite brides-to-be, Rachel Lindsay from ABC’s The Bachelorette, to create an exclusive bridesmaid gown to rent – we were sold! The dress designed by Monique Lhuillier and carefully curated by Rachel is ultra elegant and feminine and let’s just say not your average bridesmaids’ dress! Oh, and did we mention we saw this beauty in person on Rachel herself? So, yeah we can attest! Browse more images of the Rachel gown below.

Call your gals and tell them you found a chic dress they can rent that comes in 8 different colors!

Photography: Grizz Lee | Bridesmaids' Dress: Vow To Be Chic

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Petit Bouquet

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Beautiful blues, gorgeous views and an equally stunning Bride. This is what we’re all about folks. Julie Livingston and Video Film Productions captured this seaside wedding on Seabrook Island and we’re ready to skip our to do list today to just spend some quality time in this gallery of pretty pics. Post Petals and Pearls outdid themselves with this one and we’re mighty glad they did because we just can’t get enough – see all the beauty right this way!

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From the Bride… After meeting at the SEC Championship in December of 2011, Court and I “courted” for just over five years when he surprised me in my hometown of Louisville, KY to pop the question in front of my parents and lifelong friends (also a surprise)! With Court’s parents having a residence in Seabrook Island, South Carolina, it wasn’t hard to make the choice to be wed there because it is our favorite destination both for a couple’s vacation and extremely special for our families.

Our engagement was just under six months, but I wouldn’t have it any other way, because I was forced to make decisions quickly and my amazing wedding planners at Posh, Petals & Pearls knew the best in the business. Court and I ended up getting married the weekend of June 3, 2017. We had a weekend full of activities, from a welcome party at Red’s Ice House in Bohicket Marina on Thursday, to a full day of golf for the guys and beach games on Friday followed by an amazing rehearsal dinner in downtown Charleston, to the main event on the stunning Ocean Terrace at Seabrook Island. The whole weekend was perfection and our photographer Julie Livingston captured the most stunning photos. We were surrounded by palm trees, the Atlantic Ocean and friends and family. We each had 11 attendants, but we each only had one other person on the altar – his sister was my MOH and his Dad served as the Best Man; everyone else was in the second row behind our parents. I told my bridesmaids to wear “shades of true blues” that could reflect the feel of the Atlantic Ocean, so they were happy to have the freedom to go baby blue, royal, navy, long short and/or slit!

Because Court and I both went to the University of Georgia, everyone had red and black pom-poms to shake for the exit to the 1965 Bentley, which was really special since we could not use sparklers due to them being a fire hazard. I also gave Court UGA cufflinks for my gift to him.

Our special day was truly a special weekend and as everyone says – the evening flew by and we couldn’t believe it was time to go when the band played “Shout” and the drinks stopped flowing. We had the time of our lives and would not change a thing…. Can we do this every year?! #LauraGoesToCourt

Photography: Julie Livingston Photography | Videography: Video Film Productions | Event Planning: Posh Petals and Pearls | Floral Design: Charleston Flower Market | Wedding Dress: Mikaella Bridal | Cake: Wild Flour | Makeup: Pamela Lesch Makeup | Hair: Hunter Gray | Venue: Seabrook Island Weddings | Bridal Boutique: The White Magnolia | Getaway Car - 1965 Bentley: Charleston Style Limo | Print Designer: Jaime McQuilkin | Shoes - Blue: Nina | Shoes - White: Ted Baker London | Weekend Schedule Calligraphy: Alexandra Green

Wanting to introduce their friends and family to the State they now call home, this couple – originally from New York City – chose the Merrimon-Wynne House for their North Carolina garden wedding. With the help of A Southern Soiree, they put on a truly beautiful, Southern affair. Both Twenty-One Films and Theo Milo Photography were there to capture the pretty as a peach day, so scroll on and then press play!

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From A Southern Soiree… Having recently moved to North Carolina from New York City, this sweet couple dreamed of a wedding day where their family and friends could enjoy a taste of the place they now call home and have grown to love. In search of southern history and charm, the Merrimon Wynne House proved to be the perfect location for Blair and Danny’s southern, garden chic vision to come to life. Beautiful blooms in a palette of dusty blue, peach, and ivory paired with luxurious furniture and linens enhanced the beauty of the Merrimon Wynne House, creating an intimately warm space for loved ones to celebrate. A custom removable sheer train enhanced the bride’s stunning Vera Wang gown and added the perfect amount of fluttering romance to a magical affair. A Chilean three legged pig, a sweet gesture of love and friendship, welcomed guests to their seats as they dined a la fresco under a sea of greenery and market lights. A locally inspired and sourced meal from the amazing team of Snap Pea Underground and Catering followed by an evening of live music and even more delicious treats left guests departing a night to remember with their stomachs and hearts full.

Photography: Theo Milo Photography | Cinematography: Twenty One Films | Event Planning + Design: A Southern Soirée | Floral Design: Meristem Floral | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Cinda's Creative Cakes | Invitations: Maria Scheel Invitations & More | Stationery: Paper Buzz | Ceremony Venue: Market hall | Reception Venue: The Merrimon Wynne House | Shoes: Gucci | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Snap Pea Catering | Hair + Makeup: The Makeup Culture | Band: The Voltage Brothers | Officiant: Perry Hardison | Ceremony Music: Triangle Strings Quartet | Transportation: Royal Parking | Transportation: Eco-Style Transportation | Bridesmaid Dress Boutique: Alexia's Bridal | Cocktail Hour Music: Gigmaster | Furniture, Chargers, Bars: Cottage Luxe | Linens, Chairs, Napkins: CE Rentals | Tent, Lighting, Staging: Party Reflections

Take it from brides who know: a lot of factors go into choosing your perfect wedding gown – from finding the right silhouette for your body type to choosing a style that will keep you feeling comfy all evening. (It’s a science, really.) But if you think that you can’t have glamour AND that cozy feeling, Paloma Blanca’s Spring 2018 Collection is here to prove that they can co-exist.

Guys, looking elegant and sophisticated on your wedding day doesn’t mean spending your entire night uncomfortable. You can definitely wear a dress that will make a statement and still have you dancing the night away. That’s because Paloma Blanca’s Spring 2018 Collection is known for their high-quality designs AND craftsmanship – with each of their gowns being made right in their Toronto home base. That means this family-owned company can be certain that their beautiful designs pass every quality control test and there’s absolutely no question as to how they were crafted. Not to mention that every design uses only the highest-quality fabrics and all of the those accents you love are hand-detailed and embroidered. And we all know that higher-quality everything means a better fit. And a better fit means a more comfortable wedding day.

Paloma Blanca’s Spring 2018 Collection is filled with gowns that are both stunning and easy to move in, which will def be your number one priority when the Big Day finally arrives. Trust us on this one, you’ll want to feel like YOU when it’s time to say those vows, cut that cake and take your first dance. But you’ll also want to feel like the princess you know you are. Paloma Blanca has that covered, too, with an entire collection of dresses that will show off your curves and showcase the latest trends with details that really stand out.

From beautiful lace appliqués to removable belts to figure-flattering silhouettes (you can even choose a gown with a colored lining!), Paloma Blanca’s Spring 2018 Collection has a little something for everyone. We’re obsessed with all of the modern, yet classic designs and can’t wait to see YOU, the real brides, wear these beauties well into 2018! Find a retailer here.

Your invites are the first impression of your wedding and the first thing people will see in regards to your nuptials. Picking out your design is the fun part, but there are few not-so-fun things that you can’t forget before sending out your invites.

RSVP INFORMATION
Your invites let your guests know all the details of your big day, but they also serve as your guide to the number of guests you are having. Plus, if you are planning a sit down meal, the invites will let you know what each guest is ordering for dinner—so don’t forget to add the RSVP information to your invites! A simple, separate RSVP card is the most popular way to go, but you can also lead guests to your website to RSVP to save on paper. If you do go the traditional route, though, just be sure you include a pre-stamped envelope as well.

POSTAGE
This one is so important! Go into the post office and weigh your envelope before adding any stamps. Different shapes and sizes will affect how many stamps you will need and if you don’t put the right amount of postage, the invites will be sent back to you with a ton of markings all over them, causing you to re-do the whole bunch.

HAND CANCELLING
Ever get a birthday card in the mail that is beautiful on the outside yet ruined by a ton of black stamps all over it? Prevent that from happening to your wedding invites by bringing them into the post office and asking them to hand cancel them for you. This is a free service that the post office will do for you—just ask nicely, especially if your guest count reaches into the 100’s!

HAVE EXTRA
Let’s face it: mail gets lost and the chances of one of your hundreds of invites getting misplaced in the mail is unfortunately quite high. Because of this, always keep extra invites on hand. Should a family member not receive theirs, or a friend moves without informing you, you will have extras ready to be sent as soon as they let you know.

PROOFREAD!
The last thing you want is to have 200 printed invites in that gorgeous gold foil only to find that they misspelled your mother’s name. Be sure to proofread the proof of the invite as many times as you can. It is also a good idea to send copies to your mother or maid of honor for review, too.

Style Me Pretty Contributor – Jessica Tzikas is a freelance writer, editor, and content manager from South Florida, who recently moved back to the sunshine state after living in Philadelphia for the past few years. When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading by the beach, practicing yoga, and exploring nearby towns with her new husband.

You can never go wrong with a destination wedding in Italy, so today’s sweet affair will undoubtedly pull you in with the charm of Borgo Petrognano, the beautiful lace and tulle gown, and the so-in-love couple captured by Rossini Photography while walking down the most quaint cobblestone streets. Head to the Vault to see the whole, lovely affair planned by Original Tuscan Wedding.

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From the bride… We visited Italy in 2013 and fell in love with Tuscany, so when Mark proposed, we knew instantly that we wanted to get married there. Having a destination wedding also meant we could have the small wedding that we always wanted. We started out the planning by writing our five most important elements of the wedding down. These included – the photography, food and wine, reception and ceremony venues, my dress, and the styling. We found our wedding planners, Original Tuscan Wedding, on the internet., and after a couple of phone calls, we knew they were the ones to help us plan our dream wedding. We couldn’t have wished for better planners – they helped us with every element and had the best suppliers that understood our vision.

We picked our photographers, Luca and Claudia of Rossini Photography, with the help of our planners. The photography was one of the most important elements of our day to us, so we picked very carefully. Luca and Claudia captured the relaxed nature of our day perfectly and were such fun to work with. They put us immediately at ease even though we are not naturals in front of the camera. And we couldn’t be happier with the final result!

We visited Italy twice before the big day to meet our planners, visit venues, and choose our food. We knew that we wanted all our friends and family to stay in one venue and have one big weekend party, so Borgo Petrognano was the perfect choice. We had the most amazing weekend. The day after the wedding, we had a big BBQ and spent time with our nearest and dearest by the pool.

I couldn’t decide on one color for our scheme, so decided to have a palette of pale nudes with a stand out burgundy color that Mark picked up with his bow tie. My dress was not what I had originally planned as so often is the case. I had intended to buy a slim line destination dress, but when I tried on this dress, I knew it was the one. The dress however was not so practical for dancing, so I had a cute short dress so I could dance the evening away.

We wanted the day to have a relaxed, Italian feel, which the flowers really captured with a loose hand tied bouquet for me and loose greenery bridesmaid bouquets. The long wedding table had a sumptuous garland which draped over both ends.

On the wedding day, we got married in the medieval hilltop town of Certaldo, which was like a dream. I walked down the aisle to Canon in D performed by a string duet. After the ceremony, we went on a walk with the photographers, and we were greeted with cheers and applause from the locals – it ended up being one of the favorite parts of the day. Once we returned to the venue, we joined our guests for aperitif hour by the pool where we were serenaded by our string duet. Our wedding breakfast of 5 delicious courses was on the terrace where we looked out on the Tuscan hills. One of the surprises for our guests included a gelato cart outside on the terrace during the dancing – a great way to end an amazing day.

Photography: Rossini Photography | Photography: Rossini Photography | Event Planning: Original Tuscan Wedding | Floral Design: Violamalva | Wedding Dress: House Of Mooski | Stationery: Seahorse Bend Press | Ceremony Venue: Certaldo Town Hall | Reception Venue: Borgo Petrognano | Rings: Goldsmiths | Catering: Class Ricevimenti | Hair + Makeup: Pamela Leti | Bow Tie: Mrs. Bow Tie | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Transportation: la vettura | Music + Lighting: Music & Co

It may seem like a minor detail… but I noticed. This Bride is wearing her hair up in a beautiful braid and I just love it (all you brides-to-be out there, take notice! It looks fab!). But this was just one pretty detail among many that make this classic wedding stand out. From start to finish, we have a story as sweet as can be and Bear Hands Media Group captured it all, from braids to blooms. Take a little break from all that holiday shopping and enjoy some love and laughter right this way!

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From Bear Hands Media Group… When Maggi was referred to us, we were already a fan of her art (maggidunwoodyart.com) and we were very excited about taking on the project of shooting her wedding day. We knew this was going to be an especially fun and creative couple. Maggi and Eric and everyone who surround them are so fun and funny, just so amazing to be around. We’re so lucky to have met them and we’re so grateful they chose us to be with them on their big day!

We started the day at a beautiful old church in Westheimer called Saint Anne where the ceremony was traditional, but had the occasional touches from the priest that kept their family and friends laughing. Then we all boarded busses back to Houston Country Club where, let us tell you, this group partied like no other. We have so much ridiculously awesome footage of the dance floor going nuts, we could have made an entire video of just that. Maggi and Eric danced with their guests all the way to the very end. They never stopped. It was such a blast. Maggi and Eric’s big day did not disappoint and will certainly go down in history as one of our favorites.

Cinematography: Bear Hands Media Group | Event Planning: Houston Country Club | Floral Design: Houston Country Club | Stationery: Papellerie | Ceremony Venue: Saint Anne | Reception Venue: Houston Country Club