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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

Hi! I’m Mackenzie from Design Darling and I’m excited to share pictures from our welcome party with you today. Will and I got married this past Labor Day weekend on Nantucket and had a welcome party in my parents’ backyard the night before our wedding. You can also check out pictures of our rehearsal dinner here!

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!

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!

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

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!

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.

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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

What’s better than luscious locks? How about gorgeous locks that smell incredible? We enlisted the help of Playa Natural Hair Care founder, Shelby Wild, to give us ladies the tips and tricks to keep our hair smelling fresh and oh-so-irresistible. Trust me, you will thank us later.

Prior to exercising, spritz your favorite dry shampoo on roots and put hair in a bun. The fragrance of the product will off set the scent of the gym and your cycling neighbor. Check out some of our favorite smelling dry shampoo products below!

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Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo – $23.00

Playa Pure Dry Shampoo – $26.00

Ouai Dry Shampoo – $24.00

Use a fragrant hair oil on the ends of your hair and braid before bed. Your hair will absorb the oils and the fragrance will remain on strands throughout the next day. Your split ends will thank you too!

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Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Oil – $20.00

Oribe Gold Lust – $38.00

Ouai Hair Oil – $28.00

Use salt spray all over strands during your day at the beach. The heat of the sun will activate the product and enhance the fragrance while mixing with the fresh smell of the ocean.

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R + Co Rockaway Salt Spray – $25.00

Playa Endless Summer Spray – $28.00

 

Wedding vendors are the heartbeat of Style Me Pretty. As planners, they bring your vision to life. As, floral designers, they spread smiles with blooms. As photographers, they capture that vision and forever freeze moments in time with beautiful imagery. As caterers, they fill bellies with delicious food and hearts with warmth. Just to name a few! As we celebrate 10 years of talent in our Little Black Book today, we’re virtually raising a glass to those vendors. And because we want YOU to enjoy every minute of your Big Day, we’re letting you in on five vendors you didn’t know you needed, until now.

Lady in waiting

When our editor, Christine, told me she had a “lady in waiting” for her wedding day, I was intrigued. What does said lady DO that your bridesmaids, mom or mother-in-law can’t help with?! Well, all sorts of things apparently. Take it from Christine, herself…

When my aunt and uncle surprised me with a lady in waiting for my wedding day, I wondered the very same thing! But she quickly proved herself absolutely indispensable! My lady in waiting steamed the dresses and tuxedos of the bridal party along with my gown and veil. She then cleaned my engagement ring and the wedding rings to get them photo ready and helped collect items for the photographer to use for those detail getting ready shots (invitations, jewelry, shoes, perfume, and accessories). She also dropped off all the bridesmaids’ and groomsmen’s belongings at the coat check of the hotel when we were done in the getting ready room so they could easily be retrieved after the night of festivities.

My lady in waiting had a nice little emergency kit on hand throughout the day for headaches, wardrobe malfunctions, hair and makeup touch ups, etc. It absolutely came in handy when a hook and eye closure popped on a bridesmaid’s dress and when I basically cried off my false eyelashes! She also had tissues, which I used about 100 of during said crying, and water bottles to keep us all hydrated throughout the photos. She held up my train and sheltered me with an umbrella when we were walking in the snow and slush (my wedding day was complete with a very ugly winter storm), and she expertly bustled my train for the reception.

Basically she was like having a personal assistant who remained by my side throughout the day while my wedding planners were focusing on the logistics of the event. My lady in waiting made sure I didn’t have to lift a finger, that everything went smoothly, and that we looked our best. It was so nice knowing my mom and bridesmaids could really relax and enjoy the day with me, and we could all spend time together instead of worrying about those little details!

Barber

The guys need a little love, too. Hire a barber for fresh shaves, trims and maybe some tweezing. Your groom will soon realize why you love spa days so much!

Bridal Stylist

Finding your dream dress can be quite the task, and then you’ve got to find accessories, jewelry and a veil to match! Not to mention, make style decisions for your entire bridal party and family members who are involved in the wedding. This is where a bridal stylist, like Trousseau Style, is SO worth it. Not only will they help you complete the vision of your beautiful Bride-self, but they’ll make sure that carries through to your Groom and bridal party.

Night of Nanny

Those wee ones sure do make for joyous wedding moments… the ring bearer baby who just learned to walk and the flower girls with their ridiculously adorable curls and smiles! But when dinner is done and the dancing begins, those sweet kiddos will need someone to put them to bed. Hiring a night of nanny will allow all of your guests, including those mamas and daddies, to cut a rug, too. A nanny can also be present during the ceremony and reception as well to keep an eye on all the kiddos and make sure they’re not getting into trouble!

Social Strategist

When it’s all over (wah!), you get to relive those moments through the gorgeous imagery your photographer captured for you. But, you might want to take it a step further and submit your wedding for publication. Your vendors might also approach you about this, so they can get their work featured! This process can be a bit confusing with so many vendors involved and possible publications to submit to. Hiring a PR agent or social strategist, like Maid of Social for example, can take all the stress out of that process!

On the search for more vendors? Head to our Little Black Book!

When it comes to nail polish, I’m a classic girl all the way. There’s nothing worse than putting on an outfit and realizing your coral nails clash with your blue top. That’s exactly why I like to keep a handful of neutrals on rotation, that pair beautifully with anything in my closet. Keep scrolling for my go-to hues below!

Dazzling Metallic

Deborah Lippmann Diamonds and Pearls is the perfect fancy neutral. It’s my go-to when I need an elevated neutral for events and especially around the holidays when a little extra sparkle is welcome.

The Everyday Nude

If I could wear only one nail color for the rest of my life, an everyday nude would be it. OPI’s Going My Way or Norway is such a pretty shade that I’ve found works year round, with or without a tan.

The Pink Nude

Looking for a beautiful pinky-nude? Burberry’s Nude Beige is where it’s at. This sweet hue can easily take you from a random Wednesday to a weekend wedding.

The Perfect White

White is my go-to for the summer months when my tan is on point and Essie’s Coconut Cove is just the ticket!

Beautiful in Black

This time of year is perfect for sporting a moody black. Chanel’s Celebrity is the perfect match for cozy sweater days of fall!

We’ve been seeing a lot of fruit-filled weddings lately, and we are uhb-sessed! Take a look at today’s affair planned by Luke Wilson Events to see why – vibrant persimmon, plums, and berries were an unexpected addition and absolutely popped against the deep green tones of the Bridesmaids’ dresses and stationery and the rich, autumnal hues of the table settings. Thinking of incorporating fruit in your own big day? Then you absolutely must check out this full gallery by Ashley Seawell Photography!

From Ashley Seawell Photography… Blair and Bill’s wedding was colorful and fun! The Bride and Groom decided to invite their guests to their hometown of Charleston for their wedding weekend. Luke Wilson Events assisted the busy couple with planning their dream wedding. The bright colors of persimmon and forest green complemented the hues in the William Aiken House. After a traditional ceremony, guests dined under a breathtaking tent. Tables were set with berries, roses, ranunculus, and tulips. Following dinner, guests danced the night away!

Photography: Ashley Seawell Photography | Cinematography: Hart to Heart Media | Event Planning + Design: Fleur - Luke Wilson Special Events | Stationery: Studio R | Ceremony Venue: Trinity United Methodist Church | Reception Venue: William Aiken House | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Dessy Collection By Vivian Diamond | Catering: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group | Hair + Makeup: Willow Salon | Bridal Boutique: Modern Trousseau

Flower lovers, this one’s for you. Tucked inside this classic Dallas affair is what can best be described as floral heaven designed by The Wildflowers with mountains of blooms by Bows and Arrows, elegant calligraphy by The Left Handed Calligrapher and the prettiest images captured by Stephanie Brazzle. From a troop of precious flower girls to a 15-person a cappella gospel choir and a sea of flora, get lost in this timeless celebration at Arlington Hall at Oak Lawn Park, right here. And speaking of celebrations and awesome vendors, we’re celebrating 10 years of our Little Black Book today. Cheers to a fabulous decade of LBB! Now on with the show…

Instead of an elaborate Pinterest board, Mary presented five adjectives that expressed her vision—among them “elegant,” “intimate,” “timeless,” “fun,” and “Glory to God.” As a designer, there is no better way to bring a new vision of what we are celebrating than with the inspiration of words, feelings, and the personal story of the couple. Getting to know Mary made creating a storied setting exceptionally easy. Immediately my mind went to Eau de Nil, Café Au Lait, toile patterns, garden stone, Songs and Sonnets of Springtime, curtains of silk, all coupled together for a delightfully intimate family feel. The ceremony was classical and heavenly, with Bows and Arrows taking cues from the surroundings to create a happy complement of greenery growing along the pillars. The infinite subtlety is what truly made it magical. With a resounding nod to Mary’s “Glory of God” vision, a 15-person a cappella gospel choir drew back the curtain to Mary’s entrance, singing “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah.”

Après-ceremony, guests were invited to walk along the gardens of the venue, Arlington Hall at Oak Lawn Park, with cocktails, charcuterie, and a trio of jazz musicians waiting for them at the end of the pathway. With the sound of ringing bells, guests were invited to dinner, greeted by tables of Mary’s family’s silver trays serving their escort cards. Upon entering the windowed dinner marquee, drapings of tea rose silk welcomed the guests into a cozy, intimate setting. After a treat of port poached pear salads, chicken saltimbocca with prosciutto, red wine-braised short rib, and heart-warming speeches, guests entered the Great Hall for dancing, donuts, and revelry. As the night grew darker, guests guided the bride and groom to their getaway car with lights of sparklers, signaling the end to a magical evening.

Photography: Stephanie Brazzle Photography | Floral Design: Bows and Arrows | Wedding Dress : Romona Keveza Legends | wedding cake: Panini Bakery | stationary: Yonder Design | Wedding Shoes : Manolo Blahnik | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Food Glorious Food | Hair and Makeup : Samantha Landis | Calligraphy: The Left Handed Calligrapher | LIGHTING: Absolute Entertainment | BAND: Absolute Entertainment | Grooms Attire: The Black Tux | Transportation: Premier Transportation | Wedding Venue: Arlington Hall at Oak Lawn Park | hotel: Crescent Hotel | tent: Mike Sandone Productions Inc | Design and Planning : The Wildflowers | Donuts : Hale Koa phineas Estate | Draping: Stage Works | Monogrammed Cookies: Bird Bakery | ceremony choir : Concord Church of Dallas Choir | grooms cake : cades cakes | rentals: Melody's Joy | rentals : Posh Couture Rentals | wedding dress boutique: Warren Barrón Bridal

One of the best ways to narrow your focus and make the most of your wedding budget is to make a list of the things you and partner care the most about, and then a list of what your guests care the most about. Items that aren’t on either of those lists are areas where you can afford to save a little money.

To help get you started, here are some things that I pay attention to the most as a wedding guest (besides obvious logistical things that make sure people are comfortable and taken care of).

The venue
The venue truly sets the tone for the entire wedding, and as a guest, I love experiencing beautiful places that are special to the couple. I also love getting to travel to a new place for a wedding, even if it’s not that far from where I live. It doesn’t have to be super fancy, I just appreciate beautiful surroundings and a comfortable setup where everyone can see and hear throughout the ceremony!

The bride’s dress
Obviously I love seeing what a bride chooses for her wedding dress! When she first comes down the aisle I can’t wait to see what she picked out and how beautiful she looks. I always predict what I think she’s going to wear beforehand and then see how far off or spot on I am based on what I know about her style. I also LOVE seeing the groom’s reaction when he sees her in her dress for the first time.

The Vows
Cue the tears because I pretty much always cry during the vows. How can you not when you’re watching the bride and groom stare at each other promising to love and cherish each other forever? No matter whether the vows are personal or traditional, the best ones are always short, heartfelt and sweet.

Décor + Flowers
I know not everyone cares about this, but I always appreciate the décor and flowers! I definitely don’t expect the couple to do something crazy expensive or over-the-top, but nice thoughtful touches to elevate the setting and keep it romantic doesn’t go unnoticed by me!

Food + Drinks
This is an obvious one right? No one wants to go hungry or thirsty at a wedding! I appreciate small hors d’oeuvres before dinner and I’m happy with different types of dining setups, as long as there is enough food for everyone and works with most peoples’ diet requirements. I really appreciate an open bar, but totally understand cutting people off at a certain point. However, in my experience, a good rule of thumb is the better the food + drink situation, the happier the guests and the better the dance party!

Reception party + entertainment
A great band or DJ is a must for guests to have a good time at the reception party! You need someone who can read the vibe of the wedding and know exactly what song to play at the right time to keep the party going. Some of my favorite wedding memories are surrounding the couple one the dancefloor, everyone smiling, screaming the words to a song like “Sweet Caroline” or “Don’t Stop Believing”.

Style Me Pretty Contributor – Julia Hurwitz is a freelance writer and Marketing Manager based in New York City. Her interests include travel, global craft, healthy baking, entertaining and exploring the outdoors.

Tropical greenery and Paris might not seem like the most likely of duos but as Fete in France explains, these two are no style strangers. And they work well together… really, really well. Need some visual proof? Look no further than this styled shoot created by Fete in France, with amazing florals by MADAME Artisan Fleuriste; Parisian elegance meets tropical chic and to say I’m obsessed would be an understatement. Sandra Aberg’s pics have it all and are my new go-to source to feel inspired – see for yourself right this way!

P.S. Happy 10th birthday to our Little Black Book! We love you so and your talents? Unbelievable. Case in point: this masterpiece right here…

From Fete in France… When you think of Paris, tropical greenery doesn’t immediately spring to mind. But Paris has a fascination with all things exotic, and if you know where to look, you’ll see that the tropical theme that’s having a moment right now was also all the rage in Paris – about 100 years ago. We picked two iconic places, the Luxembourg Garden and the Hôtel d’Evreux on the famed Place Vendôme, which offered the perfect backdrop of classic Parisian elegance mixed with the Parisian take on tropical decor.

​Feathery palms, romantic lilypads, bright kumquats, combined with lace and touches of gold are a great way to incorporate the tropical theme into a more elegant setting.

Photography: Sandra Aberg Photography | Videography: BKTFILMS | Event Design + Planning: Fete in France | Floral Design: MADAME Artisan Fleuriste | Wedding Dress: Rime Arodaky | Cake: Synies | Ring: Heirloom | Hair + Make Up: Trine Juel | Venue: Potel et Chabot | Earrings: Vintage 1950's Custom Jewelry | Model: Tout Talent | Paper Goods: Studio French Blue calligraphy + design | Rentals: Vaisselle Vintage | Rentals: Options

How many pup pictures in a home tour is too many? Asking for a friend. But in all honestly, from fur baby to dream kitchen, this San Francisco pad has a lot of goodies tucked inside. Masterminded by the genius designers MAS design and Simone Howell at Decorist, have a look at modern meets chic with a healthy dose of glam captured by Julia Sperling. Psst…take the full tour right here!

Online interior design service Decorist executed a gorgeous makeover on an early 1900’s home in San Francisco. Homeowner Lisa Hauswirth enlisted two Decorist Elite Designers, MAS design and Simone Howell, to guide her through a revamp that took the home from dark and heavy to bright and glam. As you can see from the before and after photos, the transformation is pretty drastic! What’s also cool about this project is that Lisa held several non-design positions at Decorist in the past. We love how she came full circle with Decorist and created the home of her dreams with them!

Photography: Julia Sperling | Location: Lisa Hauswirth's Home

We’re celebrating today at SMP – it’s the 10 year anniversary of our Little Black Book! And to kick off the festivities, we’ve got this amazing autumnal-hued shoot captured by one of our talented LBB members, Savan Photography. Surrounded by eucalyptus tress and bathed in the dreamiest lighting, this Bride and Groom will take your breath away, they look so beautiful. Add in the romantic dinner table draped in gauzy Wildflower Linens, yummy centerpieces by Floral by Isabelle, rich fall fruit, and expert styling by Debby Boh Events, and you’ve got everything needed for a gorgeous fall wedding.

From Savan Photography… There is a stunning park, dense with tall eucalyptus trees as far as the eye can and nestled in the middle of a quiet city. I knew this was perfect for an autumn wedding inspirational shoot, because eucalyptus trees love to show off their bark in the fall months while maintaining their greens leaves.

This was my first time working with Debby from Debby Boh Events, and it was like magic as we bounced ideas off of each outher about the color direction and mood of the shoot. I’ve worked with Isabelle a couple times before, and knew I needed her floral magic to bring this whole vision from good to great!

The trees surrounding the entire area made the shoot what is, and we didn’t want to take away from that, so we decided on a combination of muted and rich colors for the bouquet and centerpieces, and we incorporated fall fruit. The fall tones complemented the golden California light and added a bit of punch to this romantic woodland autumn wedding inspiration.

Photography: Savan Photography | Floral Design: Florals by Isabelle | Wedding Dress: Hayley Paige | Hair + Makeup: Beauty And The Beach | Calligraphy: Bijou Creative | Groom's Attire: Friar Tux | Accessories: Petal And Stones Accesories | Bridal Boutique: Mary Me Bridal | Event Coordination + Styling: Debby Boh Events | Furniture Rentals: Marnie Schnabel - Sweet Salvage Rentals | Linens: Wildflower Linen | Ribbon: Bellame Ribbon | Tableware Rentals: Via La Roche

One majorly important part of wedding planning is picking out your wedding stationery and invitations and there is nothing better than a gorgeously designed invitation suite to set the tone for your big day! And since you spend so much time deciding on the perfect wedding stationery, we are firm believers in having your photographer capture your invitation suite in a creative way! We’ve rounded up some of your favorite ways to do so below!

With the Rings

With the Boutonnieres

On a Tray

On the Veil

On a Patterned Backdrop

Held By the Bride or Groom

With Pretty Florals

With Ribbon

Just because your engagement shoot is outside doesn’t mean you have to go uber casual and rustic with your wear. We prefer a little juxtaposition; mountain views and dreamy dress… just like this one here. Tamara Gruner captured these cuties all dressed up for this e-shoot in Vail and it doesn’t get much sweeter – or chicer – than this. Even their second outfits, while a bit more relaxed, have a bit of flare to them (those earrings!). See both looks – and all the views – right this way!

From Tamara Gruner Photography… Sahar and Tyler both had the pleasure of attending The University of Houston, where they met working on the Delta Gamma/Pike Homecoming float in 2011. They quickly became friends, spending long nights studying at the Delta Gamma house. It didn’t take long for sparks to fly and they haven’t been apart since. Fast forward almost 5.5 years later, Tyler finally popped the question at The University of Houston, where their love story began. The rest is history, and the two are tying the knot on July 14, 2018 in Vail, Colorado – a special and beautiful destination that Sahar’s family has been visiting every summer for the last 15 years. These college sweethearts are truly soulmates and could not imagine going on life’s journey with anyone other then each other. Cheers to the future Mr & Mrs!

Photography: Tamara Gruner Photography | Event Planning: White Birch Weddings & Events | Dress: Lulu's | Hair + Makeup: Amy DaCosta | Blazer: Jos. A. Bank | Female Casual Outfit: Banana Republic | Female Watch: Burberry | Jeans, Shirts, Sweater: Ralph Lauren | Pearls: Tiffany & Co. | Scans: Richard Photo Lab