I think my favorite way to unwind after a long day is with a face mask — bath and glass of wine optional. They make even the dullest of days feel luxurious. And as a busy girl myself, taking care of my skin (and finding time to actually relax) is high on my to-do list.

Thankfully, face masks are available in every budget and for every skin type. Now is the time to take your skin, and zen, to the next level.

7 Face Masks To Try Out ASAP

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7 Face Masks To Try Out ASAP

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Style Me Pretty Contributor – Briana Charlotte is a freelance writer residing in Brooklyn, New York. When she isn’t writing about all things bridal, she can be found on the dance floor at a wedding or bachelorette party or finally learning how to dance for her own upcoming nuptials.

I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember. My mom was a high school English teacher while I was growing up, so reading was her approach to literally everything in life.

Want to learn more about your favorite animal? Here’s a book called Meerkat Kingdom! True story; I was 5. And I probably read that book 200 times. You’re dying to go to Italy? First, you need to read Dante’s Divine Comedy. Also true, I was 14, and Inferno changed my life.

So naturally, when I met “The One,” my first instinct was to find the best books to make this relationship work. We’re long distance, so we needed all the help we could get!

After a lot of internet research, social media polls, and expert recommendations, here’s a condensed list of the 7 books you need to read with the love of your life:

Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus
If you’re living on planet Earth, you’ve heard of this book. Trust me – it’s worth the read. I couldn’t believe how many “facepalm” moments I had reading this guide to communicating and understanding the opposite sex.

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts
This book is the O.G. It’s been a bestseller for more than 25 years. Do yourself a favor and take the quiz with your significant other. Realizing, for instance, he feels more loved when you unload the dishwasher than when you write him a love letter will change your life.

For Men Only / For Women Only
These books pack a lot of punch. Based on surveys and scientific research, they break down in simple language: For men, what she wants you to know. For women, what he wants you to know. The best part? They have cheat sheets in the front of the book for those people (ahem, my boyfriend and brothers) with short attention spans.

Fun exercise: After reading your gender, swap with your significant other and read theirs. Chat about what you learned and where you thought the book was spot on!

I Do, Now What?: Secrets, Stories, and Advice from a Madly-in-Love Couple
TV stars Giuliana and Bill Rancic give an upbeat reality check on what it’s like to be newlyweds. It’s nice to see a glamorous couple have totally relatable issues – and work through them! Stars: they’re just like us.

The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
Money guru Dave Ramsey tackles everything from college debt, to marriage conflicts, when it comes to financial planning. Now’s a good time to have an honest conversation around budgets and spending – and what that will look like in your relationship.

The Meaning of Marriage
This is a bestseller and favorite among church-affiliated pre-marital counselors. Timothy Keller gives an honest and insightful breakdown of the whole point of this thing called marriage. Keep reading for the wedding china story – I wanted to high five to his wife for that one.

Whether or not you’re a self-proclaimed bookworm, you should take some time to read up before you walk down the aisle.

Style Me Pretty Contributor – Madeline Littrell is a corporate PR strategist and freelance writer. Born and raised in the South, she loves big hair, country music, and chicken fingers. Madeline lives in Dallas with her Sheltie puppy, Tennessee.

If there was one thing I wish I would have known after I got engaged, it would be that decision making would be the most important skill I would need for the next two years. What I realized after spending endless hours on Pinterest, there are three major to-do’s that every bride should consider crossing off the list first:

1. Find a wedding planner

2. Find a venue

3. Set the date.

Once these three tasks are complete, step four would be to work on your invitations!

With the endless choices in the early stages of wedding planning, I found that The Wedding Shop by Shutterfly was a great resource and one-stop shop for all paper goods. The range of products, personalization and great value makes The Wedding Shop a no-brainer when searching for your complete wedding stationery suite. Here are four things you should keep in mind when thinking about your suite:

SAVE THE DATE SETS THE TONE
Your save the date sets the tone for your wedding. If you are thinking of having a black tie wedding, create a save the date that fits the theme. The Wedding Shop has endless options to fit any budget and style, like these with gold foil, which immediately jazzes up your wedding announcement. Another favorite style is the magnet. Our fridge is full of our beautiful friends and it is a constant reminder of the upcoming events! Plus, everyone can always use another magnet. My favorite thing about The Wedding Shop’s selection of save the dates is the photo option. You can upload your favorite picture and view all of the cards with your favorite image. It makes the process so fun and easy!

CUSTOM IS KEY
Once you send out your save the dates, the next step is thinking about the rest of your invitation suite. The Wedding Shop by Shutterfly is your best resource for invitations, RSVP cards, enclosure cards, place cards and more. The pre-designed suites allow you to customize your colors to match your wedding theme without adding any additional cost. One of my favorite collections within The Wedding Shop is Wedding Paper Divas — the designs are beautiful and modern. My favorite part about the Sophisticated Glamour Wedding Suite was the custom watercolor design and my ability to customize the color and fonts. Also, the gold foil accent added an extra special touch. Another pro tip while customizing your invitations, change the fonts to match your aesthetic. Being able to choose from the endless list of fonts allows for one-of-a-kind invites, RSVP cards, and more.

STICK TO YOUR STYLE
The other design I found and fell in love with was the Tropical Herald. With greenery being such a hit this season, this invitation suite creates a streamlined wedding theme. Think: palm leaves, white peonies and modern fonts. This wedding suite is also a great option for a tropical destination wedding. Another bonus, you can customize the floral color to match your wedding flowers without any additional cost.

DON’T FORGET THE EXTRAS
A little piece of advice from a former bride-to-be, once you’ve created your invites, use Shutterfly’s addressing system. When I ordered my save the dates, I decided I wanted to hand letter all 300 invites. After endless hand cramps and a few mistakes, let’s just say, I cannot recommend this simple service enough! Trust me, you can have your fairytale wedding and the invitations of your dream without going over your budget. The options in the The Wedding Shop by Shutterfly allow you to create your wedding suite without sacrificing style or quality.

This post was written in partnership by Ali Shilling for Shutterfly on Style Me Pretty.

When I dreamed about my wedding, it was inside a huge venue filled with people I loved. But two small families joining together and the choice to host it in our adopted hometown, far from loved ones, meant that huge venue would have to be downsized and our guest list would shrink to 70.

At first, I was disheartened by the idea of having a small wedding. After all, dream weddings all over the world always feature a huge party and endless amounts of guests. But looking back, the size of our wedding is exactly what made it so special. Here are a few reasons why.

It was Intimate
As I stood at the end of the aisle before my big entrance, I couldn’t help but appreciate that everyone in the crowd was not only a familiar face, but the face of people I loved and admired. While I was waiting in the wings with my parents, I was shaking and unable to control my nerves, but as soon as I saw that the people who would witness me pledge my love to my best friend were my favorite people in the world, my nerves disappeared. Everyone there had their own special story of our relationship and it made the entire event feel like home.

It helped our budget
My now husband and I paid for our wedding on our own, and the smaller guest list allowed us to get other things we otherwise would of had to forgo. Knowing we wouldn’t have to spend too much on invitations and meals let us a splurge on things that ended up being the best parts of our wedding: We got our favorite photographers, were able to add in a videographer, and even planned a day-after sightseeing bus around the city for all our guests. All of these things would have been nixed had our guest list been bigger.

It lowered our stress levels
We had our wedding in Philadelphia, but the majority of our loved ones were coming from Florida. It just so happens that the week of our wedding, a major hurricane hit the Sunshine State and I spent the days leading up to the day rebooking flights and hotel rooms. While the situation was stressful, having less people to worry about helped our stress levels immensely. Plus, since our entire guest list was made up of close family and friends, no one had a problem with the added costs and worries that came with the last minute changes.

We were able to enjoy everyone
Many couples often note that the entire wedding was a blur and they don’t even remember seeing half the people who were there. While I can agree that our whole day definitely felt like a blur, I can wholeheartedly say that I spent time with each and every one of my guests. Being able to show my friends and family how much they mean to me on my wedding day is something I will always remember.

We look back at our pictures with adoration
When looking back on the wedding albums of my family members, I am constantly asking “who is that?” I know that with our wedding photos, we will be able to look back and remember every single person who was there. I look forward to the day our kids watch our wedding video and recognize every person in the crowd.

If you’re like me and your small guest list has you concerned, remember all the amazing things that come out of having a small, intimate wedding. For my husband and I, it was the best “mishap” that could have ever happened to us.

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.

Admittedly, I haven’t invested much time into my own style after having my first baby, and my closet is suffering from that neglect. In my search to revamp my style haven, I happened upon lifestyle guru and closet stylist, Shira Gill and her Closet Makeover Planner. Thank goodness, because bikinis and sweaters were finding themselves unhappily stacked together. Sound like you? Implement Shira’s four fab tips below and grab the full guide here!

Prep

Start by removing everything from your closet. It helps to organize clothing in stacks by specific categories, so you can take inventory. This will make it easier to see how much of each type you have and will also expedite the editing stage. This is your opportunity to start fresh, so make sure to wipe down any shelving, give the space a vacuum and relocate stray items that don’t belong in your closet.

Edit

A good edit is by far the most important step! Before you begin, think about what’s required for your typical week as well as what you need for workouts, hobbies, and travel or events. Since the contents of your closet will determine your style, this is also a great opportunity to become more intentional about how you present yourself each day. Just because something cost a lot of money or looks good on somebody else doesn’t mean that it is the right fit for you. Think about how you want to look and feel in your clothing and do your best to keep only what you actually use, wear, and love.

Stock Up

Favorite closet essentials include:

1. Uniform hangers. Use the same style and color for a streamlined look.

2. Open bins and baskets for storing scarves, seasonal items, and accessories.

3. Shelf dividers to keep stacks of folded jeans or sweaters from toppling over.

4. Sturdy hooks for handbags, necklaces, and handbags.

5. Wall mounted shelves to maximize your vertical space. Make sure to make a list before you shop and only invest in what you actually need for your closet makeover project.

Style

Now, for the fun part! In setting up your closet, take care to store items by frequency of use. Set up everyday essentials in prime real estate areas for visibility and easy access, with formal, seasonal, and occasional items in the back of the closet or in bins on a high shelf. Once you’re all set up, it’s nice to add some personal touches and décor to complete the transformation. You might try accessorizing with an accent rug, pretty lighting, framed pictures or a style inspiration board. Remember: You start and end each day in your closet. It’s worth it to invest a little added effort to ensure it feels inviting and lovely.

Shira is the founder of Shira Gill Home a boutique lifestyle brand with a “less is more” philosophy that offers full service home organization and styling as well as online resources and inspiration to help you design a clutter-free life. Head here to grab your free Closet Makeover Planner and follow along with @shiragill for more inspiration!

Photography: Vivian Johnson Photography | Styling + Tips: Shira Gill

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Have you been following along with blogger bride Ali Barshop of Love You, Mean It’s wedding plans.? From engagement session fashion to a monogrammed bridesmaid brunch, we just knew her celebration was going to be a good one. And this classic Southern wedding with a very fashionable twist does not disappoint. With a custom gown by Nardos Design, planning and florals by Lauren Chitwood Events, the most gorgeous imagery by Leslee Mitchell, and a film by When It Clicks, get lost in this romantic and charming Kentucky affair.

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Peek Back at Ali’s Wedding Journey

Meet Ali | Engagement Session | Bridesmaid Brunch

From the Bride… Oh my! It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am as I look back at these photos. I’m so happy that I finally get to share a glimpse into our wedding day with you all. When trying to describe this special day, I can’t seem to find a better word than “perfect,” because y’all, it was absolutely PERFECT! A day I’ve pictured forever became a reality and I married the man of my dreams!

The inspiration for our wedding day was to create a romantic and comfortable oasis with a touch of Kentucky charm. For many of our guests, it was their first time to visit the bluegrass state, so we wanted to showcase the beautiful landscape of my hometown. Besides the elements of green from the scenery and rustic accents from the barn, I wanted everything else to be white. Everything from the stunning Jenny Yoo bridesmaid dresses to the flowers falling from the ceiling fit perfectly into my vision. I wanted it to feel like you walked into a little slice of heaven.

For me, I had a clear vision for what I wanted our day to be. That being said, wedding planning still had its ups and downs. Planning an event for hundreds of people is no joke and there are a lot of moving parts. I’m so grateful I had the support of my amazing family, especially my mom, who was on the ground and acted as our eyes and ears as we planned the wedding from Texas. For those of you who are currently planning, my biggest piece of advice would be to continually remind yourself what this day is truly about. When you start to feel stressed or frustrated, remember the most important part of the day is that your surrounded by the people you love. Anything you hoped to do but can’t for one reason or another will not be noticed and everything that you can do is truly just icing on the cake!

It should come as no surprise that one of my favorite parts of wedding planning was designing and creating my dream dress alongside Nardos Design. After two full days of dress shopping I had found a few dresses I liked, but still didn’t have the feeling that I’d found the one. After just minutes of talking to Nardos, she sketched up my vision, combining my favorite aspects of the other dresses into one amazing dress that just felt right. The reason I loved my dress so much was that it was truly three dresses in one. With the detachable skirt, it could go from having the most stunning train to a bustled ball gown to the perfect little column dress to dance the night away. From sketching up the design to picking out the perfect fabric to match my bridesmaids’ dresses, the process was so fun and truly a once in a lifetime experience.

I remember waking up the morning of the wedding and feeling a calmness I can’t explain. The impending thunderstorms on the forecast couldn’t even break my mood. By noon, it was our final opportunity to decide if we’d move the ceremony inside the Keeneland clubhouse or take a chance with the weather and do the ceremony outside like I’d always imagined. We had to take our chances! Getting ready with all my girls at the home I grew up in was exactly what I had wanted for the morning of. We were relaxed and comfortable as we all got dolled up.

Mother Nature had our back because the morning rain cleared and it turned into the most beautiful sunny afternoon. The ceremony and reception were beautiful, fun, and all that we had imagined. But boy did it go by fast! That being said, Ben and I made a point during the reception to take a step back to take it all in and remember that while this night may have flown by, our love will last for the rest of our lives!

Photography: Leslee Mitchell | Videography: When It Clicks | Event Planning: Lauren Chitwood Events | Floral Design: Lauren Chitwood Events | Wedding Dress: Nardos Design, Dallas Texas | Cake: Martine's Pastries | Invitations: August Blume | Ceremony Venue: Keeneland Library | Reception Venue: Keeneland Library | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Hair & Makeup: Ana Crane | Band: Burning Las Vegas | Blogger: Ali Barshop | Bridesmaids' Robes: Piyama | Welcome Bags: To & From Gifts

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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In case you missed it, this week is the 10th birthday of our Little Black Book! Isn’t that incredible!? And we couldn’t think of a better way to keep the celebrations going all weekend long than to share this insanely beautiful Camp Lucy wedding, which shows the magic that happens when Little Black Book members like Jenna McElroy, Westcott Weddings, and Lovely come together. Trust us, you’ll be coming back to this swoon-worthy gallery all weekend long – just add bubbly, and we’ve got ourselves a proper celebration. Cheers to 10 years!

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From the Bride, Jerika… Harry and I met at Texas Tech University through a mutual friend. Although I had already heard of him, we did not get the chance to really get to know each other until my senior year of school. After we met officially, we hit it off! He had this genuine and confident demeanor that I was so intrigued by from the start. After school, Harry and I both ended up in Fort Worth, Texas (my hometown) and knew that it was the place we were going to start our family. After four years of dating, Harry surprised me and said we were going to dinner with friends, however we ended up in my parents’ backyard with a very romantic setting of glowing candles and white rose petals, and he proposed! It was perfect for us, and the best part was that he had both of our families and close friends there at my parents’ home ready to celebrate with us! There was champagne, toasts, dinner, dessert, and we had quite the night to remember.

When it came to planning our wedding, we knew we wanted something intimate and elegant yet still upscale. We also knew we wanted it to feel very personal to who we are as a couple and to incorporate unexpected details that were true to us. One of the most important things to us was our guests’ experience; we wanted to create a beautiful day not only for us, but also for our family and friends.

As a designer for a homebuilder, I spend much of my time on the details of beautiful spaces, so when it came to the planning process of our wedding, I really had my hand in every aspect and detail involved. With the help of my wedding planner, Ellen Westcott, and a whole list of amazing vendors, it truly became better than I could have imagined! It also could not have been possible without the help of my amazing mother, who helped me with every decision and was there with me through the whole journey. She is the absolute best person and partner in crime!

There were many things that helped make for a very special event, including great food, bar, entertainment, and company. However the details of the day really made it so special, including the welcome baskets that welcomed our guests to Camp Lucy, the urns at the ceremony that were from my mother, the acrylic table numbers at dinner that matched our custom crest, and the tulips placed at each plate at the head table. Plus all of the paper goods (which were so fun to design and had such a romantic feel!), including our custom watercolor crest which became the signature design of the day, our invitations with floral liners, and my FAVORITE – a watercolor on the napkins of our dog, Piper!

My bridesmaids and I started out the morning sipping on mimosas and hot tea in Camp Lucy’s’ Bridal Suite. It was such a relaxing morning leading up to the ceremony. We had stayed in the extremely elegant cabins on site at Camp Lucy since that Wednesday night leading up to the wedding, so it made that morning so much more anticipated. By the afternoon, I got changed into my dress. The gown was originally strapless, and we had a custom topper sewn onto the dress created by Nardos Design. It was everything I wanted – simple and classic yet with a feminine, couture look!

Later that evening, the ceremony started. The natural surroundings of the ceremony space of Sacred Oaks speak for themselves. It was like a fairy tale with the teak slatted chairs for the guests, the string quartet playing in the background, and the willowing branches with white delphinium florals hanging above us. Ceremony then flowed into cocktail hour on the terrace and lawn behind the pavilion of Sacred Oaks for guests to enjoy champagne, wine, the signature gin cocktail (which we named after our dog, Piper), and delicious hors d’oeuvres including petite black pepper biscuits with country ham and caramelized pear mustard, bacon wrapped quail breast drizzled with habanero nectar, and lump crab cakes with tarragon caper-aioli. The terrace and lawn felt like the perfect mix of elegant and natural with the green cypress and pops of pink floral in the vines hanging off the pavilion. It felt like a private Italian villa. Guests were then led to dinner under the sperry tent to the right of the lawn. After sunset, feasting on southern comfort cuisine, and sipping wine, everyone headed into the large pavilion where we danced and celebrated into the night!

There were so many memorable moments from the wedding, but I would have to say the moment that I keep going back to is our candlelit dinner under the sperry tent on the lawn. I wanted everyone to feel loved on and comfortable as if they were coming to our home for a lovely celebration. It was right after our ceremony, and not only was it absolutely STUNNING in the tent, but hearing the toasts and seeing all of the joy and laughter from our friends and family meant the world to both Harry and me. That was the moment I was looking most forward to, and that is the moment I will never forget! The night was such a perfect mixture of intimate and elegant.

It had been quite a journey for us during the planning process. Three months before the wedding, my dad passed away from a long fought battle with Leukemia. All of the details of planning this wedding melted away. My main focus became my family and the relationships with the people I love most. Everything gets put into perspective. Our family has always been extremely close, so my big brother walked me down the aisle. Something that was very special to me was the boutonniere my dad was supposed to wear. We had already ordered it, and I wanted to use it in a special way. So in the ceremony right next to the aisle, we had a table with a picture of my dad and me, a candle, and my dad’s Bible with the boutonniere he was to wear placed on top of the Bible. Although I knew my dad was already going to be with me on the day of, having those pieces there made me feel so comforted during the whole ceremony. I knew I wanted to do something for him in a special way, and this was perfect for me! I felt such a joy on the day of. It was truly unlike anything I can explain, the amount of pure joy and calmness I felt the entire day. I knew he was with me. My faith in the Lord got me through those three months, the day of, and ultimately every day since then.

One thing I learned during the whole planning process was the power of being present amidst the chaos, such as making an effort to be present at my bridal showers, my bachelorette party, and other events. I was reminded that people are the most important part of any season! For future bride, be present with your loved ones not only on the months and days leading up to your wedding, but also on the day of. Be present with your family, your best friends, and most importantly, your groom!

Photography: Jenna McElroy | Cinematography: Ryan Gerecke | Event Planning + Design: Westcott Weddings | Wedding Dress: Carol Hannah | Cake: Simon Lee Bakery | Stationery: The Inviting Pear | Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Hayley Paige | Hair + Makeup: Sarah Sallis | Lighting: Intelligent Lighting Design | Band: Ice House Band | Venue: Camp Lucy | Bridal Boutique: Lovely Bridal Shop | Bridesmaids' Dresses Boutique: Bella Bridesmaid | Catering + Floral Design: Whim Hospitality | Photo Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Photobooth: Oh Happy Day Booth | Rentals: Bee Lavish Vintage Rentals | Wedding Dress Overlay: Nardos Design, Dallas Texas

Chip and Joanna have captivated the nation during their soon-to-be five seasons of HGTV’s Fixer Upper, from their incredible home transformations to their completely endearing personalities. So a visit to Waco, Texas to see the duo’s Magnolia Market at the Silos – a marketplace where you can shop for home goods, play lawn games, unwind in an adorable garden, and nibble on one of Jo’s famous sweet treats – is on many a Fixer Upper fan’s bucket list! I recently took a long weekend trip down to Waco for the 3rd annual Silobration at Magnolia Market and can confirm – it lives up to every ounce of praise. That’s why when Cassie Conforti’s pics from her recent trip to Magnolia Market landed on the SMP Living desk, we knew we had to share. Get inspired by all the pretty at the Silos, plus Cassie shares her expert tips for making the most out of your visit!

We all love us some Chip and Jo, so you know I was excited to go on a girl’s trip to the Silo’s for their 3rd annual “Silobration” event. While we were there, we learned a few “Magnolia hacks” that we wanted to share with the world so that when YOU visit the Silos, you will be set to go!

Pack Light!

I visited with my mother and sister-in-law from Indiana, so we flew and only took a carry on bag, which meant we didn’t have much room to bring home ALL THE THINGS! (If you can drive, drive!) So I packed a pair of leggings, a t-shirt, some blush, and a toothbrush and called it a day, leaving lots of space for my shopping finds.

*If you find something amazing and it obviously won’t fit in your luggage, they have a FedEx shipping station in-store so you can send your purchases home. Yay! The lines do get long, though, so be prepared to wait.

Get a Cupcake (or a Cookie!)

The Silos Baking Co. is obviously one of the main parts of visiting the Silos, but the line can get long, especially when you are visiting on a weekend. Honestly I was just so happy to be at the Silos that the 15 minute wait was no big deal, but the nice thing is that the staff will only allow a certain number of people in the shop at once, so once you are in, it feels very intimate, and you can take your time looking and choosing from all the pastries. And once you have chosen, find a shady spot on the lawn (claim a striped beanbag if you can) and enjoy! The treats are amazing. My favorite was actually the “Classic Chocolate Chip” cookie – definitely one of the best I’ve ever had!

If the Bakery Line Is too Long…

There is a food truck in the back (in the form of an airstream) that has all of the same goodies as the bakery, but with a much shorter line.

Eat Lunch (and Dinner!) at the Silos

Joanna did a great job creating an experience where she wants you to stay a while. After your shopping is finished, there is a huge lawn area with games, lots of shade, and giant beanbags to sit, relax, and eat. While there were many temporary food trucks present for the Silobration, there are quite a few permanent ones at the Silos. My favorites were:

• Cheddar Box (Gourmet Grilled Cheese)
  Order THE BOSS. It’s gouda, bacon, and basil on sourdough. AMAZING!
• Common Grounds
  The iced coffee with the “special sauce” is crazy good!
• The Airstream Bakery
  Like I said, the Classic Chocolate Chip is amazing.

Even the Bathrooms Are Cute

And the cutest of all is the Bakery’s bathroom. If you watch Fixer Upper, you know there was pretty much a whole episode about that adorable bathroom, and it doesn’t disappoint.

If You Can Visit During the Silobration – Do It!

Anytime is a good time to visit the Silos and get some inspiration from our favorite girl, Jo, but the Silobration was really special. Every year in October, they celebrate the anniversary of opening the Silos, and 2017 was the third annual. For this event, they brought in 99 vendors all with the cutest stuff ever (think Joanna handpicking the best Etsy shops and bringing them to Waco, and that is the vendor lineup). Plus there was a two night concert event featuring Castro, Jon Foreman, and Johnnyswim, and an appearance by Chip and Jo themselves. Since we traveled pretty far, this made the two day trip worth it for sure!

Take the Free Trolley

There is a free trolley that picks up right outside of the Silos and does a trip around the downtown area of Waco. Once you are done at the Silos, get on the trolley and visit Spice Village. It’s a HUGE shopping area (air conditioned, which is important in Texas!) with tons of boutiques inside and wonderful food options. We ate at the Olive Branch for lunch, which prides itself on “homemade everything, even the salad dressing”. Our sandwiches on the homemade bread were incredible. There is also the Dr. Pepper Museum, Baylor University, and a food truck row down by the river all on the trolley route.

Sit in the Gardens

The Silos’ gardens are located in the back, near the Seed and Supply Shop, and they are pristine. When we were visiting, everything was perfectly in bloom, there were beautiful pumpkins (all muted whites, greens, and oranges) stacked everywhere we looked. There were a million places to stop for photo ops. It seemed people didn’t know it was back there because we had the place to ourselves.

Lastly, Don’t Forget to Visit Harp Co.

Fixer Upper fans, you know Clint Harp from the show. Well he has a small shop just around the corner from the Silos. Don’t forget to stop in and check out his beautiful wood working creations.

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Photography: Conforti Photography | Shop: Magnolia Market

When storms raged and made this couple’s Big Sur wedding literally impossible, they relied on each other to persevere and plan a new wedding in just weeks. And with incredible vendors like Hive Events, The Bloemist, and Field to Table, rallying around them, they were able to pull off an intimate gathering that was still all kinds of beautiful. Just look at Maria Lamb‘s photographs from the day – you won’t believe this wasn’t the plan all along. The bride explains it best, “While it might not have been the wedding we had dreamed of for years past, it’s safe to say it truly was the wedding of our dreams.”

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From the Bride… Kyle and I, both transplants to California, met on Match.com (before it was cool!). I so wish I had saved our first correspondence because our conversations were so unlike your typical “get to know you” questions that occur with online dating. They were funny, light-hearted, and the opposite of all the other generic messages. That actually is the main reason I agreed to go on our first date – I knew it would be an adventure. And it was. We had our first date on a Saturday afternoon hike, and we’ve been together ever since.

Working in the wedding industry for the past 10 years (I’m a wedding photographer), the time had finally come for me to play the role of bride. It was so exciting to plan the wedding – and surprisingly effortless. We decided to get married 8 years (and 1 day) after the day we first met. And since I’m a part of the industry, a big party was not on the agenda. Rather, we opted for an intimate, week-long celebration with our immediate family, joined by extended family and close friends towards the end of the week.

Our plan was to get married on the cliffs of Big Sur. The estate was booked, private chef hired, and all the other vendors had fallen into place nicely. Eight weeks before the big day, Mother Nature had another plan. Big Sur was struck with once in a century storms that led to landslides, road closures, and a collapsed bridge. Every hour on the hour, we were checking the Big Sur blog to see road closure updates. Six weeks out, there still was no passable road, and the wedding we had planned (for years in our dreams) was no longer an option. I went into problem solver mode. We needed a new venue, a new chef, and to further accommodate all the changes with our other vendors. This is the point of the story when I am SOOO THANKFUL to be a part of the wedding community that rallied for us and with us to create a beautiful day. To top things off, my custom dress arrived severely past its deadline date, which was just three weeks before the day only, to be four inches too short. Apparently, the gal measured me wrong! I couldn’t believe that yet another thing had gone awry. Thank goodness for BHLDN who saved the day with a gorgeous gown and overnight shipping!

Kyle, who works in the movie industry, and I had been told time and time again that we were living a movie script of all things that could go wrong with a wedding. We learned to laugh through the uncertainty and harness our strengths to pull it off. This wedding was the truest reflection my and Kyle’s relationship. Over many years of dating, both locally and from a distance, Kyle’s patience and my perseverance have gotten us through any challenges we might have faced. This time was no different. So as the weeks flew by, detail by detail, we were able to plan a new wedding. I was worried that come the day of, everything would have felt like a back up plan. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. Not only did the new vibe resonate with us, but it also accommodated the experience we wanted to provide to our families with ease. Our dinner was one of the best we’ve ever had, and I couldn’t have felt more happy and beautiful on that day. It was supremely special and blew away any expectations of what it would be. While it might not have been the wedding we had dreamed of for years past, it’s safe to say it truly was the wedding of our dreams.

Photography: Maria Lamb | Cinematography: McDuff Productions | Coordination: Hive Events SB | Floral Design: The Bloemist | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Invitations: Moo | Bride's Shoes: Steve Madden | Jewelry: Custom from Bride's Mother, Family Heirlooms | Catering: Field To Table Events | Hair + Makeup: LunaBella Make-up and Hair | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Venue: Biddle Ranch Vineyard | Beach: Montana de Oro State Beach | Custom Napkins: BAM Draping | Rentals: Party Pleasers | Romper: Plum Pretty Sugar | Table Paper Goods: Bash Calligraphy | Table Top Decor: Concrete Geometric | Tie: OTAA

Fun fact: I used to design wedding invitations before I was an editor for Style Me Pretty! They’ve always been one of my favorite details in the wedding process because they’re the guests’ first impression, but it can be a big challenge (and a lot of pressure) to decide on a design when there’s so much planning ahead. My advice? Focus on one aspect of your paper goods and go from there—something that makes your invites next level. From custom illustration to fabric-printed, here are a handful of details to inspire.

Monogram It

Nothing is more personal than a customized monogram, like this one from Seniman Calligraphy. The best part? You can take your monogram or ‘wedding logo’ beyond your paper goods and weave it throughout your wedding decor to carry your branding from start to finish.

Custom Illustration

We’ve been seeing custom couple’s portraits pop up in the wedding world and they’re pretty darn cute. What better way to tell the story of you than with a custom illustration of YOU!

Wax Seal

It’s not just what’s inside the envelope that counts—the packaging matters, too! DIY wax seals are such a fun touch and really elevate your guests’ experience of opening an invitation. This beauty designed by Seniman Calligraphy is oh so lovely.

Edging

Get creative with the edging of your invitations—from naturally torn to rounded to scalloped, the options are endless.

Print on Fabric

How gorgeous are these custom fabric printed invites from bride Kathryn of The Everyday Co.?! We love that she got creative with her material. An unexpected and fun twist on traditional paper and SO next level.

The Manny is off the market! Everyone’s favorite brother, This is Us star Justin Hartley—aka Kevin Pearson—aka The Manny—tied the knot with his longtime love Chrishell Stause in Malibu last weekend.

Get Mandy’ Moore’s This is Us wedding look here.

First things first: HER DRESS! Insert all the heart-eye emojis, right?!

We are just drooling over her Monique Lhuillier gown. The high-low hemline, the feathers (!!) the low back — it’s everything, loves.

A post shared by chrishell7 (@chrishell7) on Nov 2, 2017 at 11:28am PDT

Even better? It looks like most of the cast and crew of This is Us was invited. More tears. How’s that for work fam?

People Magazine has all the snaps including castmates like Mandy Moore and Sterling K. Brown.

A post shared by chrishell7 (@chrishell7) on Nov 1, 2017 at 11:19am PDT

A post shared by estrella (@estrellajustinh) on Nov 1, 2017 at 12:54pm PDT

Justin wore a black tux but changed into a white jacket for the reception. So glam and very Hollywood, if we do say so! Kevin Pearson would be proud! But the real star has got to be Chrishell’s feathered dress.

A post shared by Justin Hartley (@justinhartley) on Oct 30, 2017 at 10:20am PDT

Congratulations to the happy couple!

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Petit Bouquet

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For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in love with Monique Lhuillier‘s gorgeous wedding dresses — when I was a little girl dreaming of my future wedding dress, it was always a Monique Lhuillier masterpiece. And now that I’m all grown up, not much has changed because I want to wear each and every one of her Fall 2018 wedding dresses. Classic lace gowns paired with crazy cool bomber jackets and a slick tuxedo next to a fabulous feather skirt, the new collection has something for every bride’s perfect wedding day! Scroll on to see all the beautiful dresses photographed to perfection by Heather Waraksa!

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Photography: Heather Waraksa | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier

I can say from personal experience, Lake Sunapee is beautiful. Simply gorgeous. So to say your “I do’s” here can only mean good things. And this summer celebration, planned by By Emily B. Event Design and captured by Rodeo & Co. is all great things and much, much more. Sweet moments and super special, meaningful touches abound but enough with our chit chat – see it all in our gallery right this way and get ready to get inspired!

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From Rodeo & Co… Katie and Jeph grew up on Lake Sunapee, a pristine New Hampshire lake. They met at the Lake Sunapee Yacht Club during their early childhood years. Katie had a crush on Jeph early on and they reconnected later in life.

Their wedding ceremony and reception took place at Jeph’s grandparents house on Lake Sunapee; the same home Jeph’s Mother grew up in. The property and ceremony site included views of Herrick Cove Lighthouse, a lighthouse restored and dedicated in the name of Ginger Cross, Jeph’s Mother, who passed away in a skiing accident when Jeph and his brother were young. The true magic of the event transpired as Katie took a non-traditional route to the altar, arriving by boat just moments after passing the lighthouse in Ginger’s honor and walking up the dock towards the ceremony to meet Jeph at the altar.

Photography: Rodeo & Co. | Event Design: By Emily B. Event Design | Event Planning: By Emily B. Event Design | Floral Design: By Emily B. Event Design | Wedding Dress: Leanne Marshall | Cake: Tarte Cafe & Bakery | Invitations: Gus & Ruby Letterpress | Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Catering: A Catered Affair | Calligraphy: Lulu & Roo Design Boutique | Band: Sultans Of Swing | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Tent: Peak Event Services | Bridal Boutique: Ceremony | Ceremony Musicians: Todd Thibaud & Juliet Lambert Pratt | Day of Stationery: Lulu & Roo Design Boutique | Rentals: Reserve Modern Event Rentals | Save the Date: Lulu & Roo Design Boutique

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: trends come and go, but your wedding photos last forever. While we loved seeing all the trendy new dresses make their way down the Fall 2018 Bridal Week runways, we don’t blame you if all you want is a gorgeous wedding dress. And to make your life a little bit easier (we know how stressful wedding planning can be), we rounded up the prettiest of the prettiest dresses — all you have to do is grab a glass of bubbly and click through!

Fall 2018 Wedding Dresses that Wow

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Fall 2018 Wedding Dresses that Wow

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In the scheme of wedding planning, six weeks is but a blink of the eye. And while most couples are just beginning to settle on a date, these two planned one very chic wedding. New York City set the stage for this intimate gathering of family and friends designed by Bespoke Only, with florals and all the greenery by Peartree Flowers and images captured by James A. for Judy Pak Studio. Imagine the most stunning, chic, beautifully modern cocktail party you’ve ever been to and you get this perfect celebration.

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Planning a wedding takes a very long time, and Jodi and David love each other so much that they did not want to wait. After considering eloping, but realizing it was not for them, as they both wanted their families to be present, they did the next best thing- had a small wedding for immediate family 6 weeks after they got engaged and surprised everyone else by telling them in the save the date that they were married and now wanted to party with everyone. It was funny because people didn’t know if they were married already or first going to getting married. It was as if they did not know how to read the card. That said, they wanted an amazing party to friends, family, food, photos, dancing and more. To this end, they planned with Bespoke Only, a huge cocktail party on what turned out to be the most gorgeous NYC Sunday night in June. They enlisted to help of many vendors including Judy Pak, who captured the most incredible images. Their emotion, love and excitement was captured in every photo. They did a terrific job- so much so, that the photographers themselves felt like friends. Jodi and David wanted them to have as much fun as everyone at the party- and this shows in every image. What was so special was that Jodi and David were able to relive their wedding with all their friends and family through decorative elements such as calligraphed vows in a mirror, displaying items used in the ceremony, and wearing the same jewelry as a nod to those they love present and past for all to see. While yes Jodi and David’s wedding and celebration was somewhat unorthodox, it was perfect for them and their wanting to start their life as a unit immediately. And perhaps the biggest perk to come from it, like their website says, it allowed David to move into Jodi’a apartment sooner.

Photography: Judy Pak Studio | Florals: Peartree Flowers | Dress: Mark Ingram Atelier | Catering: Mauzone Main Event Caterers | Makeup and Hair: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Calligraphy : Ink Revival | DJ : Generation Events | Invitations + Paper Goods: Suite Paperie | Planning and Design: Bespoke Only | Rentals: Patina | Rentals : Party Rental LTD

Food truck, check! Sailboat-turned cooler, check! Best-dressed guests, check! You’re going to love every detail of our Blogger Bride Mackenzie’s Nantucket backyard wedding welcome party.

You might be asking why we had a welcome party and how that’s different from a rehearsal dinner. Since we had a destination wedding and nearly all of our guests were coming from off-island, many of them decided to make a mini vacation of their time on Nantucket and enjoy the long weekend there after our wedding. So in addition to our rehearsal dinner for our bridal party and closest family members on Thursday night, we decided to have a more casual welcome party on Friday night that would include all of our wedding guests.

It was so nice to see all of our family and friends the night before our wedding and welcome them to our favorite place — and it meant that we had no guilt spending our entire wedding reception on the dance floor because we’d already greeted everyone the night before!

The first thing we did after deciding to have a welcome party was book the food truck from Millie’s, one of our favorite restaurants on the island and a place many of my cousins and all of my siblings have worked in at one point or another. The Millie’s crew parked their truck in my parents’ driveway and guests lined up for fish tacos and steak quesadillas. We figured everyone loves Mexican food (and a good margarita!) and we knew it was the perfect way to welcome our family and friends to Nantucket.

My mom, my bridesmaids, and I collaborated on the welcome boxes that we handed out at the end of the party. Inside were two bottles of Nantucket Nectars half & half (my favorite!), two bags of Cape Cod potato chips, a packet of aspirin, a mini bottle of sunscreen, and a monogrammed cookie made by my mother-in-law Reggie of Highland Park Pie Lady.

I also decided to ask our guests to wear white, and I was thrilled that nearly all of them remembered to pack an all-white outfit! There was really no reason except that I knew it would make for amazing photos and all my married girlfriends are always looking for excuses to wear all the white dresses they’d worn at their own wedding events. It was fun to have a little theme to dress up for — everyone looked so chic!

After ordering half a dozen white dresses over the course of the summer, I fell in love with this Kate Spade New York dress a week before the event and knew it was the one. I had it overnighted to Nantucket and thankfully it was just as pretty as I’d hoped! I love the floral detail along the neckline and the T back.

I gave my feet a break between our rehearsal dinner and our wedding day and wore my everyday Jack Rogers sandals. They were perfect for standing and chatting with our guests all night long!

My favorite detail from our welcome party is the incredible sailboat my sister Reilly and her friend Andy built for us as a gift at my bridal shower earlier in the summer. We used it to house beers from Cisco Brewery during the party, but it is so beautifully made that I can’t wait to find a place to properly display it in our home. My sister is far and away the most thoughtful person I know and I cried when I saw that she’d incorporated the monogram from our wedding invitations. Such a special personal touch!

Sharing our welcome party means we’re one step closer to the main event: our wedding day! I couldn’t be more excited to relive all my favorite moments and share all our pictures in my next post!

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Petit Bouquet

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I’ll be honest; I’ve never seen an episode of Fixer Upper. But after soaking up this wedding – and I mean majorly staring, obsessing, and crushing hard on every single detail – all inspired by none other than Joanna Gaines… well, I know what’s on my tv lineup this weekend. From the beautiful Jenny Yoo bridesmaids’ dresses to the rustic elegant reception decor, Cassi Claire captured it all – and even some sweet moments with this four-legged friend. See them all in our gallery right this way!

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From Cassi Claire… I am so excited to share Lizz and Steve’s wedding day with ya’ll! Lizz captured my heart from her very first email when she described her wedding vision as “Joanna Gaines in wedding form.” Considering Joanna Gaines is everything I would like to be in life, I knew I HAD to work with this amazing couple! This wedding has all of my favorite things: relaxed elegance, an abundance of greenery, Jenny Yoo floral bridesmaids dresses, and the perfect sunset with a HORSE! On top of all that, we had the most perfect weather, a huge and hilarious wedding party, and the wine was flowing freely… it doesn’t get better than this!

Photography: Cassi Claire | Videography: Intrigue Wedding Films | Floral Design: Riverhead Flower Shop | Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller | Cake: Junda's Pastry | Invitations: Twelve Nineteen Design | Ceremony Venue: St. Patrick Chuch | Reception Venue: Martha Clara Vineyard | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Ross Schaudel Catering | Makeup Artist: Makeup By Adria | Hair Stylist: Natural Makeup Artist | Hair Stylist | Sally Biondo | Favors: Personalized Lazer Designs | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Bride's Shoe Designer: Stuart Weitzmen | Music - Cocktail Hour: Michael Duca | Music - Reception: LI Sound DJ

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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When the Bride-to-be owns her very own bridal boutique, you know her engagement shoot style is going to be on point. Kyle John captured this sartorial power couple during an afternoon in Copenhagen, and we don’t know what we’re more obsessed with – the romantic + boho dresses, the drool-worthy lighting, or the way these two look at each other.

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It wasn’t hard for photographer Kyle John to capture a day of adventure and love in Copenhagen with Zachary and Alexis. Alexis and Zach first crossed paths as teenagers in Vero beach Florida, forming a young friendship that would one day become a life partnership. Years later following Alexis’s move from New York City, she and Zach reconnected in Pittsburgh. The two found in each other the type of love and faith that people write novels about.

Inspired by the details and imagination put into planning her own wedding, Alexis launched her own bridal, resort, and occasion wear boutique in Pittsburgh – Lex & Lynne Bridal. Each look from Lex’s engagement photos were styled to feature a few of her favorite casual-chic bridal gowns. Between Copenhagen’s naturally romantic atmosphere and the soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Kappel’s captivating energy, there was nothing that could stop this adventurous couple from having the most stunning engagement shoot.

Everything seemed to come naturally for these two during their photo shoot. There was no detail that went unnoticed. The afternoon in Copenhagen was filled with photos of laughter and the so obvious connection between Zach and Alexis. These two remind us to always laugh and to find a new adventure everyday, and following their wedding, they have done just that as they launched their travel blog, Lex & Zach.

Photography: Kyle John Photography | Groom's Attire: RL2 | Groom's Attire: Eredi Pisano | Groom's Attire: Billy Reid | Bridal Boutique: Lex & Lynne Bridal | Grooms' Shoes: Artemis Design Co. | Grooms' Shoes: J Shoes

Fall brings with it apple season and there’s no better way to celebrate apple season than with some baking! An apple a day keeps the doctor away so you essentially have to make these recipes.

There’s an influx of apple recipes out there right now so we narrowed down our top five favorite apple desserts. They take a twist on the traditional apple recipes and elevate them in such a great way. These cozy fall desserts will not disappoint!

5 Favorite Apple Dessert Recipes For Fall

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5 Favorite Apple Dessert Recipes For Fall

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Style Me Pretty Contributor – Carly Robinson is a freelance writer and the gal behind The Cozy Curator, a blog that features all things life+ style. She lives in Hoboken, NJ with her husband. She considers herself a ‘modern hostess’ because she loves entertaining but doesn’t like all of the old school pressure that comes with it. Carly is a rookie wife, an ‘attainable fashion’ fan and a lover of food.

Elizabeth and Daniel have several incredible marriages to look up to as inspiration for their own – both their parents and Elizabeth’s grandparents have been happily married for 30, 40, and 70 years respectively! Fittingly, they chose to incorporate little items from each of these couples throughout their wedding day, from a handkerchief to the cake topper. The result was a timeless celebration of love and family, planned to perfection by Cynthia Ross Events and captured by A Day of Bliss Photography.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/196810633 600 338]

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From the Bride… Dan and I were married on September 24, 2016, the same month my parents had their 30th wedding anniversary and the same year my grandparents reached 70 years of marriage. Plus, Dan’s parents have been married for over 40 years – we are so lucky to have so many great examples of loving marriages to look to!

We choose to get married in New York because we began dating and ultimately fell in love here in this beautiful city. Plus, I’ll let you in on a little secret – I had been dreaming of getting married at St. Patrick’s Cathedral since I was a little girl, so it truly made our wedding a dream come true.

Because we have so many marriages to model ours off of, we wanted to include as many things from those as we could. The cake topper was used at my parents’ wedding, the handkerchief I carried was my grandmother’s, and Dan carried his grandfather’s ruby ring with him the entire day. These small things helped us incorporate our families into our wedding day.

Dan and I like to read every night before bed, so we couldn’t help but sneak away to get a few pictures in the Yale Club library! Afterwards we continued celebrating and dancing, so it was no bedtime ritual that night.

Photography: A Day of Bliss Photography Inc | Cinematography: Charltone Wedding Cinema | Event Planning: Cynthia Ross | Floral Design: Atlas Floral Decorators | Wedding Dress: Rosa Clara | Ceremony: St Patricks Cathedral | Reception Venue: The Yale Club Of New York City | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Hair and Makeup: Glamsquad | Band: The Touch Band | Groom's Attire: Brooks Brothers | Bridal Boutique: Wedding Atelier | Bride's Reception Shoes: Stubbs And Wootton | Veil: Pronovias