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

The Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift Idea for Your Groom

Ladies, I know the idea of a boudoir session can be intimidating—I felt the same way. But thankfully I overcame my shyness and did a quick session on my wedding day before meeting my groom. And you know what? It made for THE sweetest (and sexiest) gift for my Mr. the following Valentine’s Day. Case in point? These alluring images from Lisa Blume, styled by Atrendy Wedding with beautiful blooms from Holly Heider Chapple. Let the full gallery convince you even more.

As much as we spend winter anticipating the new life of spring, a bride spends her morning anticipating the coming union with her groom. Years of dreaming, months of planning, the moment is finally almost here. Giving of yourself to someone for the rest of your life. That eager anticipation yet calm assurance was our inspiration for this shoot, shot in the gorgeous Goodstone Inn. Rather than designing details and props, we focused on the bride. Simple. Sensual. Natural. The greens in the room and the ivy outside inspired a neutral color palette. Soft lighting added a sense of elegance and grace. We chose lingerie and accessories that didn’t distract but enhanced the bride’s natural beauty and blended in to her surroundings.

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Makeup Artists

Amie Decker Beauty

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Let this Inspiration be your Guide for the Best Ever Brunch Party

Blending bright florals, modern prints and a yummy signature cocktail, this brunch party celebrated friendship, birthdays and really good food. Masterminded by Amber Weir along with blooms and corsages by Stella Bloom Designs and lots of gorgeous flower-filled shots courtesy of Lavender & Twine, get the low down on hosting your own perfectly brunchy soiree.

From Amber… As a Santa Barbara based Event Designer, I realized that I had never had the opportunity to sit down to a table that I had designed. Having an upcoming birthday, I decided to pull together an all star team of local vendors to treat my girlfriends to a decadent brunch, highlighting local food, drinks, and style.

I wanted my guests to feel pampered the moment they walked in, and gave each a chic floral corsage, Municipal Winemakes Sparkling Shiraz, and a Graperfuit Sage Cocktail. Seasons Catering put together a menu highlighting local farms and fresh seasonal ingredients – vibrant in taste and color.

We sat down to seasonal berry bowls with honey ricotta and homemade granola. We then brunched on a buffet of Grapefruite frisee salad, Dicken’s Bread toast with Pea Puree, frittata of mushrooms, leeks and goat cheese, asparagus with smoked salmon bundles, and rounded out by homemade muffins and scones with marmalade and whipped cream. The food was not only delicious but visually stunning.

For the overall design, I wanted to the space to feel fresh and modern with a balance of masculine and feminine details. I paired leather butterfly chairs with indigo mudcloth, geometrical print tablecloths with rich abundant pink tone florals. Copper, leather, and terra cotta elements rounded out the look.

My design would not have been complete without thanking my guests for their love and friendship. Thank you notes done in hand calligraphy were tucked in each napkin and individual place cards adorned each fork. The brunch was truly a celebration of love, friendship, and the city we call home!

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Best Brunch Cocktails

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Best Brunch Cocktails

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Elegant + Romantic Chinese New Year Affair

This couple celebrated the Chinese New Year with an epic wedding full of tradition and elegance! With flawless florals in all shades of red and pops of gold, the evening fully encompassed romance and love. Every single detail of the day of captured perfectly by Amalie Orrange Photography. Read their sweet love story below, told by the groom!

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From the groom… We first met in college at the University of Florida. I thought that Nicole was fun, outgoing, and beautiful. As they say, the rest is history. We lived together in downtown Orlando. I was starting a new job and Nicole was finishing up Physician Assistant school. Her dad, George, came to live with us for a while and brought Nicole’s childhood dog, Burrito, with him. We had a good era with George and decided to adopt Burrito. Now we have a 15 year old “savage” chihuahua.

When Nicole’s job took her to The Villages, we decided to move to Winter Garden to shorten her commute. We have settled into this charming old citrus town about 20 minutes outside Orlando, which has a nice downtown area in which we live. Nicole, Burrito, and I are a happy family! Our story started in the fall of 2015, when I knew I wanted to propose to Nicole. She had hinted about rings and what type she wanted, but I had kept saying “next year”, and we hadn’t actually been to the jewelry store.

At Thanksgiving, I spoke with George and asked for his blessing, which he gave. I talked to Jeff and Matt too, who were both excited. I planned to propose on Christmas Day when we were in Atlanta with my side of the family. On Christmas morning I was really nervous. Nicole kept asking me why I was acting weird, and I tried to brush that off. I had the ring wrapped up in a box, ready to go. I attached it to our dog, Burrito, and tried to get him to walk the ring over to Nicole. Burrito, of course, got scared and went to go hide in a corner. My family (who all knew what was happening) kept saying that Burrito had a gift for Nicole and then he finally made it over there. Nicole didn’t know it was coming, since we hadn’t actually looked at rings and that we had been talking about “next year”. When she opened the box, I took it from her, said some words, then got down on one knee and asked her to marry me.

My parents, G’Pa, Uncle Steve, and Aunt Laura were all there and had the champagne ready. We FaceTimed with Nicole’s family, and it was a beautiful day.

January 28th, 2017 is New Year’s Day on the lunar calendar. When we saw that Chinese New Year came on a Saturday in the window that we wanted to get married, we had to choose it as our wedding day. It is an auspicious day. We had a traditional Chinese tea ceremony with both of our families as well to tie into our heritage. We will be celebrating the year of the rooster. If you were born in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, or 2005 then you are a rooster!

A Castle Played Backdrop to their Fairytale Wedding

This wedding day…where do we even start? The castle setting, the gorgeous bride (who’s also a professional model) and the Pronovias gown made for a modern princess. Of course, our girl Julie Paisley brought her A-game behind the camera lens and the wedding gallery truly speaks for itself.

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From Julie Paisley… When the inquiry came in from Stephanie, all I saw was Oheka Castle and I immediately jumped up and down. This place is AMAZING. Hands down one of the most beautiful venues ever. Add in Stephanie and Chris who are drop dead gorgeous (Stephanie is a professional model in NYC and Chris is a Jimmy Fallon look-a-like – don’t you agree?) along with a beautiful day and I just couldn’t stop smiling.

I love Stephanie’s classic style, it was the perfect fit for such an impressive venue. Some of my favorite parts was the ceremony – I loved all the expressions and emotions, the family formals in the library – so incredibly classy and gorgeous and that Stephanie had her brothers as her “bridesmen”. It was definitely one for the books.

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Pronovias

ATELIER PRONOVIAS

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Dancing Lights, Cruise Collection

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Cue the Romance! All The Must Haves for the Perfect At Home Date Night!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and it has us feeling even more mushy gushy and lovey-dovey than usual! It’s time for romantic date nights – and our favorites are the ones that skip the crowded restaurants and take place in the comfort of our own home. And with all these essentials at your disposal, it’s guaranteed to be an evening of delicious cuisine and even better company – XOXO!

Register for the Ultimate Date Night

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Register for the Ultimate Date Night

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The Smart Bride + Groom’s Guide to Wedding Registries

SMP’s Wedding Registry ABCs | Unique Wedding Registry Ideas | 10 Must-Have Registry Items

Our Valentine’s Day Gift to You? This Gorgeous Inspiration Sesh!

Some girls wish for chocolates for Valentine’s Day, other for red roses and others for jewelry. Me? I wish I lived in this dreamy wonderland, with florals by Tulipina, wedding dresses by Kelly Faetanini, Francesca Miranda from Lace & Bustle and Floravere and lace robes from Girl With a Serious Dream. Thankfully, Rebecca Yale is letting me live out my fantasy with all her stunning photos in The Vault!

From Rebecca Yale Photography… This beautiful winter editorial dreamt up by the incredibly talented Kiana of Tulipina and her student Gabrielle Dillon is the perfect example of how to still incorporate bright and cheery color into your winter wedding and transition into Spring. Kiana created to large scale installations one reminiscent of a flower shop, and the other wild pink blossom branches. Either setup could be a beautiful altar or backdrop for an unconventional couple to say their I Do’s in front of.

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Photography

Rebecca Yale Photography

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The Cool New Metallic You Should Include in Your Valentine’s Bash

This celebration is equal parts champagne and flowers and we couldn’t love it more. From a floral backdrop to rose gold LOVE balloons and an array of metallic painted sweet treats, see how blogger Landyn Hutchinson + Flowers By Memma +Please Be Seated and Lindsey Grace Photography are celebrating Valentine’s Day. It’s all the inspiration you need to don some tulle, bust out the bubbly and cheers to love and friendship.

This beautiful Valentine’s Day inspired event if perfect for celebrating your favorite bride-to-be or planning an amazing all-girls get together for “Galentine’s Day”. Landyn Hutchinson of Living with Landyn teamed up with Please Be Seated in Nashville, TN, to bring you the perfect February fete. To keep things chic, fresh and modern, elements of black and rose gold were pulled into the decor along with everyone’s favorite color these days, blush pink.

Not every girl wants something ruffled and sweet so this party is on point for the gal who wants a bit of a sexier, edgier, more contemporary look at her party, while still paying homage to Valentine’s Day and the romance it embodies. Juanita from Dulce Desserts created beautiful hand-painted rose gold sugar cookies, cake pops and blush ombre cakes.

No Galentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day party is complete without a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose. Flowers by Memma kept the arrangements soft and romantic using various shades of pink and white, which brought warmth and contrast to the white marble-top tables and tonal modern accessories.

The black linen sofa, pink chairs and black and rose gold accent tables from Please Be Seated were mixed in to show versatility and provide a fun contrast to the subtle blush and white tones brought in through food, florals, and decor pieces. Many of the marble and gold décor accessories were curated by Landyn Hutchinson and can now be found in her custom home collection.

Creating a fun and flirty backdrop for the entire shoot is a custom white rose wall from Please Be Seated, with oversized rose gold balloons highlighting the theme for the month of February, “Love.” After all, you can never have too many roses when it comes to Valentine’s Day! Lindsey Whiddon of Lindsey Grace Photography, beautifully captured the entire stylized fete. So what are you waiting for? Pop the champs, and start planning the perfect Galentine’s celebration!

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10 Valentine’s Day Date Night Ideas that Aren’t Dinner + A Movie

Don’t get me wrong—I love dinner and a movie. But this Valentine’s Day, why not switch up the regular old date night routine a bit and do something a little outside of the box with your love? From a flower arranging class to recreating your first date, here are 10 sweet ways to spend the day with your darling.

Valentine's Date Ideas

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Valentine's Date Ideas

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A Unique Chinese Tea Ceremony For Two

Cultural traditions are what make weddings so incredibly meaningful. They tie the past to the present, and the traditional Chinese tea ceremony is the perfect example. Looking to put a new spin on that cultural sentiment, Jen Huang designed and photographed a morning scene of a bride and groom partaking in a quiet tea ceremony for two. And quite frankly, we couldn’t think of a better way to spend the beginning of your Big Day.

From Jen Huang… This is a shoot that features a more modern take on the Chinese tea ceremony. In essence, the Chinese tea ceremony is a way of showing respect, between family members. However, in this case it is between bride and groom rather than parents or siblings. It is more of a meditation the morning of their wedding rather than a public show, and it incorporates different aspects of making tea together and enjoying tea together.

Photography: Jen Huang Photography | Hair and Makeup: Chiali Meng | Kitchen Boards: Make & Stow | Kitchen Scene: Jen Huang Photography | Styling + Concept: Jen Huang Photography

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Photography

Jen Huang Photography

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Colorful Butterflies Create a Whole New World for this Ranch Wedding

When it came time for these two to say “I do”, they decided to recreate the magic of the Bride’s imagination filled childhood, complete with hundreds of colorful butterflies suspended from the tent’s ceiling, creating a whole new world for their guests. This sight alone has us absolutely awe struck to say the least; see it in all it’s glory thanks to Reel Eyes Media’s film right this way!

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From the Bride… Jace and I met through mutual friends when we were both undergrad students at Stanford University. We became close because we were the only two in our friend group who loved Battlestar Galactica so we got together every week to watch it and everyone made fun of us. We were friends for four years before we finally started dating after college.

Our wedding was held at my family’s ranch where I was born and raised. It was an absolutely magical childhood… I was an only child with an avid imagination and had all sorts of fairy friends down in the creek, was best friends with all the trees and wild animals and had long conversations with them, and held tea parties with butterflies and birds in the garden. I wanted to re-create that magic of the ranch of my childhood for everyone at the wedding, creating a day full of color, imagination, play, and innocence. There was no alcohol at our wedding to respect our families’ beliefs, so we had a mid-day wedding on the summer solstice with face painting, a fairy walk scavenger hunt through the creek, hula hooping, a human nest, boats on the pond, and fun crafts and activities for everyone.

Our favorite part of the wedding was our ceremony and vows. We wrote them ahead of time but many things were improvised on the day of. Our ceremony was so raw, emotional, but also hilarious and playful, it was completely us! We were also able to really include our whole community and we still feel so close to everyone who was there.

Your Guide to the Most Romantic Valentine’s Day Ever

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and if you’re planning on getting crazy romantic with the one you love, then we’ve got you covered. Because today we’re breaking down a list of must-have products to throw the ultimate dinner for two, all with the help of The Registry at Bloomingdale’s and kate spade new york. Scroll to get your Cupid on.

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Planning the most amazing meal ever to really, truly impress that special someone? Don’t stress, because The Registry at Bloomingdale’s is here to help with all of those tools you’ll need to channel your inner Martha Stewart. From kitchen must-haves to baking essentials to gorgeous attire, their lineup of fab products will have you rockin’ Valentine’s Day like you didn’t even know you could. Now throw kate spade new york into the mix and you’ve got a romantic evening that is equal parts sophisticated, chic AND colorful. The best way ever to celebrate you and your love? We think so.

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Visit The Registry at Bloomingdale’s today to begin planning that candlelit dinner for two. And don’t forget to ask about their awesome perks + benefits, including amazing Completion Offers, discounts on jewelry and attire, a Registry Checklist, a Thank You Manager and a mobile Big Brown App, which we sooo love.

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Image Credits: 1. Concept, Styling and Design: Glow Event Design 2. Photography: Melanie Duerkopp 3. Floral Design: Nancy Liu Chin Designs 4. La Tavola Fine Linen Rental

Registry Picks: 1. kate spade new york Confetti Dot Bluetooth Speaker 2. kate spade new york Polka Dot Apron 3. kate spade new york Library Library Lane Stemware 4. kate spade new york Pearl Place Rose Bowl 5. kate spade new york Melamine Dinner Plate, Black Stripe 6. kate spade new york Two of a Kind Ours Decanter 7. kate spade new york Percival Place Votive Holder 8. kate spade new york Abington Square Flatware

#SMPWedding101 – Mardi Gras Wedding Inspiration

With music, treats and dancing galore, could there be any better inspiration for your own wedding than the festive Mardi Gras celebrations of New Orleans (we think not!)? Sarah Hall of Joel Event Catering is sharing creative ways to infuse a little of that free-spirited fun into your own special day, from colorful cuisine to the best brass bands around!

Color (or “Cullah” as we like to say!)

The traditional colors for Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. Not your typical wedding palette, so we suggest recreating it with more subtle cues like purple floral arrangements, gorgeous gilded Venetian masks and green fabric accents (napkins, chair covers).

Creole Cuisine

Some of the best food in our region is associated with Mardi Gras celebrations – jambalaya, etoufee, gumbo and the muddy water favorite, crawfish. To be honest, none of these items make for a beautiful plate in their typical presentation, but this is where our Executive Chef Evan Benson shines – and where you too can be inspired. He elevates Creole dishes into fine dining fare like Blue Crab Beignets with Herb Emulsion, Jambalaya Cakes topped with New Orlean’s Style BBQ Shrimp, Fried Oysters with Merlot Jelly on Brioche Crouton and Truffled Quail Egg Finished with Pink Peppercorn.

Brass Bands + Banjos

While New Orleans literally has a brass band on every corner, it’s a music tradition that exists in most areas of the country. Search for a local brass band, or even a cajun band, that will bring a bit of the bayou sound to your dance floor. And don’t forget the Second Line – that usually takes place on the street between ceremony and reception, but these days it’s totally acceptable to parade around the reception space instead. Your guests will be talking about this experience for years to come.

Bring on the Lagniappe

When looking for those little memory-makers that your guests can take home, consider personalizing a handkerchief, a “lagniappe,” to be waved in the air during your Second Line and taken home as a lovely keepsake for family and friends. Depending on your budget, invest in some beautiful beads to be draped around the room and worn by guests.

Sweet Drinks + Sweet Desserts

You can’t have a Mardi Gras wedding without two things: the Hurricane cocktail and a sugar-dusted, doughy King Cake. Ask your catering team to create a Hurricane from fresh juices – it will make all the difference. And check with a local pastry shop for ideas on how to create a wedding King Cake.

Wedding Planning Secrets

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Wedding Planning Secrets

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ONGOING GIVEAWAYS + DISCOUNTS…

Williams Sonoma
Animoto
Ada Diamonds

We’re excited to share that Shine invitations is currently offering FREE SHIPPING on orders over $500 (US orders only) as well as a free sample kit featuring the invitation of your choice, color charts, paper samples, and an example Save the Date! Don’t miss out!

THIS WEEK’S DISCOUNTS…

For our California Brides… Discount from The Ranch at Laguna Beach and giveaway from Still Music!

For our New England Brides.. Discount from Long’s Jewelers and don’t miss The Wedding Day Expositions South Shore – Cape and Islands Bridal Show on February 12th!

For our Tri-state Brides… Discount from Femina Photo + Design, and giveaways from NST Pictures, OLLI STUDIO and Sole East Resort!

For our Southeast Brides… Discount from The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village

Event Advice: Joel Event Catering

The Best Ever Products for Full and Flawless Eyebrows

Eyebrows are everything but most of us aren’t gifted with that natural full brow that is so popular right now. If you’re dying for a flawless eyebrow look but have no clue how to get there, let this little list be your guide. Tucked inside are some of our favorite tried and true products that will fluff, fill and shape your eyebrows into gorgeous perfection. Stock up and get ready to up your brow game.

Best Eyebrow Products

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Best Eyebrow Products

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When it Downpours on Your Wedding Day (And It’s Still Perfect!)

As a lead designer for Munster Rose, Kelsey has worked behind the scenes on some pretty incredible weddings. So when it came time to plan her own big day, she knew just the dream team for the job. Pulling in awesome vendors like Paper Rock Scissor, Melissa Oholendt and of course the Munster Rose crew, they made the celebration one for remember. Some unexpected rain threatened to ruin the day, but Kelsey said, “It poured. Literally poured. And guess what? It was still perfect.”

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From the bride, Kelsey… As a lead designer for Munster Rose, I was overly excited to plan my own wedding. Working in the industry, I spend my days helping brides make their dream wedding vision come to life through floral and décor. But when it came to making decisions of my own – it proved to be a tougher task. I could envision my dream day, but for some reason, I struggled in conveying this dream into words and through decisions. Crazy – I know.

Luckily for me, I had full faith in my ‘dream team’ of vendors who I have worked with in the past, and in my opinion, could do no wrong. In describing the feel for my day, I wanted something sophisticated, elegant, but with a casual feel. My fiancé and I have always been those who you’d find at a popcorn and peanuts bar with live music, and I wanted our day to reflect our fun, easy demeanor.

In the planning process, all I truly was passionate about was the flowers (duh.). But I also wanted to give my coworkers creative freedom – because I knew they would use the best product/flowers that were available the week of my wedding. I gave them a color scheme, feel, must haves, and let them do the rest. To this day, I could still cry thinking about how much I loved my bouquet. And for someone who makes beautiful floral pieces weekly, this is saying a lot. A LOT.

Seeing weddings every weekend, I did want to try and incorporate things that were unique. We went with gray pillar candles instead of the standard ivory – luckily we found non-scented ones to not overwhelm our guests ;) We DIY’ed our escort card board starting with a light piece of wood, staining it, nailing 150 little gold nails and then binder clipping all escort cards. We were SO lucky to have an acquaintance with Woven + Wed who came and wrote the saying on the top. We rented the marquee BAR sign from Rudy’s Rustic Rentals. Paper Rock Scissor designed all of our amazing stationary and paper products; Kate perfectly executed my vision making the perfect pieces that were more beautiful than I could imagine.

Throughout the weeks leading up to my September wedding, all I remember saying was, “please, just do not rain” as the plan was to get married outside in the courtyard. It poured. Literally poured. And guess what? It was still perfect. It was romantic and I love everything about my wedding photos. Melissa was the photographer that I told my fiancé I had to have, and without her (who literally stood in the rain while we were under the bridge to get the perfect shot) I know I would have been disappointed after the fact with my images. Thank you, Melissa, for being SO good!

Wedding planning goes by so fast, and I still think about my wedding every day since. It still feels like a dream – and I cannot thank my vendors, family, husband, and friends enough for making it perfect!

Looking for the Perfect Bridal Session Spot? The Desert Is It.

It goes without saying that a wedding day can be overwhelming (in the most wonderful of ways). From intimate to grand, time crunches are expected, not always leaving ample time for a lengthy dedicated time for bridal portraits. The solution? Do a session with your photog beforehand. It’s exactly why we love inspiration shoots like this one from Alex Warschauer Photography. Desert dreamy all the way… leap into The Vault for more.

From Alex Warschauer Photography… The close of wedding season called for a styled-shoot. I teamed up with an insanely talented group of Los Angeles wedding professionals to embark on a journey to a far-away location for an elegant bridal editorial featuring Floravere gowns. There’s nothing better than collaborating with a team of creatives. This is where magical happens.

Having dreamt about the desert for months leading up to planning, we knew this would make the perfect location. Surrounded by miles of beautiful sand dunes, multi-colored mountains, and open-skies truly makes a dreamy environment. While it took several hours to travel to destination, it didn’t take long to spot its beauty. The desert can be so surreal. It’s beauty, and immensity of landscape, alone – is worth the drive.

Seat-belts were unbuckling right as we pulled up, and in unison, we hopped out of the car to feel the warm sun and cool breeze flowing off the mountain. I can’t describe how truly beautiful the day was.

Considering the long drive, and limited daylight, hair and makeup needed to start immediately. Dana (Cheek to Cheek Artistry and Britt Rafuson got down to business as we scouted the perfect location – not that it was difficult to find. Upon returning, we shuffled through the four Floravere gowns to determine the first look.

The gowns were complimented with vintage and gold accessories, which was inspired by the hues of the butter-soft sand. The ring and bouquet were perfectly complimented with deep and rich reds – the perfect reflection of autumn. One of my favorite floral designers, Inessa Nichols, crafted a whimsical and unique gold floral crown made of lunarias; and a bouquet filled with wild grasses, nigella pods, and ranunculus.

As the sun started to set behind purple and green speckled mountains we set up our tablescape. We kept the look cohesive with a minimalist approach. There was no shortage of warm candlelight, antique jewelry boxes, and gorgeous desert florals. We followed Britt across the sand, illuminating the darkening landscape with candle in-hand. We enjoyed the last few moments of cotton candy skies, thankful for the gorgeous landscape we were provided and for the incredible talent that collaborated to create such a beautiful story.

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Wedding Dresses

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Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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All out Glamour in the Desert

Blushing hues and desert views are just a few of the things that make up this glamorous wedding day. And with the most classic ballroom setting, take your breath away portraits and a team of rockstar vendors including design by Meagan Crain, florals by Silvia Diaz and Elyse Hall Photography, you can only imagine how gorgeous this vault of images is.

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Tyler and Ryan were married in Tyler’s hometown of Tucson, Arizona. They wanted to pay homage to her desert roots while keeping the wedding design itself classic and elegant. The ceremony was set against the beautiful backdrop of the Santa Catalina Mountains and desert landscape surrounding the Westin La Paloma. The ceremony was officiant by a dear friend of the groom. The ballroom was transformed with white drape and blush uplighting, soft and simple floral arrangements in white and blush and small gold embellishments. What really made this wedding was the people. The bride and groom’s number one priority was to really enjoy their family and friends. Their dear friend officiated the wedding; they fully embraced long, beautiful toasts by those that love them the most; their dance floor was packed until the very last moment. It was so clear how loved these two are and how excited their guests were to celebrate with them.

Extra Details:
Blush, champagne and rose gold wedding invitations
Personalized wedding logo/monogram that set the classic wedding tone and added some desert flare
Fan programs to keep guests cool in the warm Arizona fun

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Photography

Elyse Hall Photography

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Lucky Devils Band

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Why Italy’s Lake Como Makes an Incredible Wedding Location

Italy’s Lake Como is easily one of the most romantic places to get married in the world. The backdrop to countless celebrity weddings and celebrations, it’s easy to see why Melissa and Kevin felt the same. They packed up their California-based friends and family for an adventure across the world, and the result was a wedding made for the pages of Style Me Pretty. See more from Thecablookfotolab right this way!

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From the Bride… Famous composer Franz Listz wrote, “when you write the story of two happy lovers, let the story be set on the banks of Lake Como.” And so Kevin and I set our story here. We met in the San Francisco Bay Area and when we first started dating we both developed a love for traveling the world together. We discovered that we made fantastic travel partners! We packed as many vacations in as possible every a year and finally decided to explore Europe together. While in the South of France we got engaged in the ancient village of Eze, which is without a doubt a jewel in the French Riviera.

We searched high and low for a wedding venue in California but nothing compared to the majestic beauty of the Alps. We then realized a destination wedding would only be suitable for us. Our favorite food is Italian so we knew the majestic alps and a destination in Italy would be the only way to go! When we saw pictures of Lake Como we were absolutely stunned and when we saw pictures of Villa del Balbianello and found out it could only be reached by boat, we knew that we HAD to get married there. It is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Not speaking the language and having never been there we decided that having a local wedding planner help was absolutely necessary. We interviewed many wedding planners but when we FaceTimed with Anastasia with we fell in love! We had great chemistry and she understood our California style & wedding vision. We found our photographer from wedding blogs. We showed her work to Anastasia and turned out they work together all the time. Darya, with the Cab Look of Love is spectacular! Her photography spoke to our hearts. Darya’s style and her ability to shoot with real film in today’s digital world is why we picked her! We knew she would be the ONLY one to document our special day. Planning a long distance event was stressful at times but Anastasia always put us at ease and made everything very easy!

Heading to Italy with our families & friends we were a bit nervous. We were not quite sure what we were going to get or if the weather would cooperate. We soon found out Italians love weddings. And the locals we encountered around the lake were so wonderful and welcoming & even celebrated for us!

On the day of our wedding the lake glistened and the lush colors all around us were glowing. The air was clean. It was like the lake smiled knowing it was our wedding day. The day of the wedding was stress free and every detail was taken care of. The boat ride, food, prosecco, wine, flowers, music and everything was perfection. Our guests still talk about how our menu was the best wedding food, being SF foodies it’s a HUGE compliment. Our wedding day turned out to be perfect. For us, it still is the best day ever. Everything exceeded expectations and we were still in complete awe of the day. We owe so many thanks to all of our wonderful vendors that made our day so incredibly special. We couldn’t imagine a better place to have shared such a special moment with our family and friends. Lake Como is now our piece of paradise forever.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Wedding Dresses

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Bridal 2019

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Crazy Romantic Valentine’s Day Hair Tutorials

Today may be Friday (reason enough to celebrate) but with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we’re feeling extra special. But why limit the excitement – and the hearts, sweet treats and romance to just one day? Why not celebrate all weekend long? That’s just what we plan on doing – specifically, with these festive hair tutorials thanks to Face Time Beauty Concierge, captured by You Look Lovely Photography!

Half Back Heart Hairstyle

Begin with hair brushed out. Take two sections from either side of head and bring back into a pony. Secure with elastic.

Grab a small section of hair from left side (above ear) and pull towards elastic. Take the end of the section and fold into the center of secured hair and pull thru. Let end hang.

Repeat Step #2 on the right side of the head. This time, use a bobby pin to pin hair over elastic neatly. Place the bobby pin underside of hair so it is hidden.

Pump some hairspray into these hanging strands near the “heart” for texture and use a second elastic to secure new ponytail (the other elastic is hidden above).

Embellish and adorn with flowers or a pretty flower crown!

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Tousled French Twist

Start with beachy, textured waves for this look.

Take a section of hair aligning from the middle of the ear down to neck and firmly grasp. Twist the section from roots twice around and secure with bobby pins on underside of twists so the pins are hidden.

Take a larger section on the left hand side starting from above ear and twist three times and secure with elastic where both sections meet. Secure twists with bobby pins on this side as well.

Pump texturizing spray into air and use fingers to rub ends so the hair gains body and appears full.

Secure a flower comb into the twist or adorn with a pretty flower crown!

Photography: You Look Lovely Photography | Hair + Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Venue: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Flower Crowns: Crowns By Christy | Robes: Girl and A Serious Dream

Brides, We Just Found Your Dream Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Introducing Style Me Pretty + Weddington Way

UPDATE: Weddington Way has closed its doors and is no longer accepting orders. Instead, click here to see our Look Book filled with the prettiest of bridesmaids dresses!

You’ll be surrounded by a whole lot of pretty on your wedding day — from the flowers to the decor to the dress! So, why should your bridesmaids wear anything less than perfection? And when it comes to bridesmaid’s dress perfection, we’ve got you covered with the Style Me Pretty + Weddington Way, a capsule collection of six ultra-romantic styles perfect for any affair! And the best news of all? All six styles (available in 19 stunning colors!), are available for pre-order on Weddington Way now! What are you waiting for? Let’s get shopping!

This collection is all about dreamy, romantic, and sophisticated wedding attire all at an affordable price point. With an emphasis on construction — built-in bra cups, boning and pockets — and design details you’ll swoon over — picot edging, removable trains and floral appliqués — this new collection oozes romance, sophistication and just a touch of sexiness. In short, it’s full of details both you and your bridesmaids will love!

The Dresses

Juliette

A timeless design that flatters every shape, the Juliette marries style and comfort with a bra-friendly V-neck and braided design at the shoulders and waistline. Bonus – pockets included for extra convenience. The Juliette is available in sizes 0 to 18 and a part of the Style Me Pretty Collection, Weddington Way’s most romantic dress line to date.

Shop the Juliette!

Thea

The Thea gown was designed with a touch of unexpected whimsy. A front halter neckline and deep back exude classic elegance while the playful, waterfall train steals the show. Bra cups, boning and pockets are included for added support and convenience. The Thea is available in sized 0 to 18 and a part of the Style Me Pretty Collection, Weddington Way’s most romantic dress line to date.

Shop the Thea!

Hazel

A gown every girl will love, the Hazel takes design to the next level with spaghetti straps, a delicate picot edge at the neckline, and a removable back capelet. Bonus – bra cups, boning and pockets are included for added support and convenience. The Hazel is available in sizes 0 to 18 and a part of the Style Me Pretty Collection, Weddington Way’s most romantic dress line to date.

Shop the Hazel!

Everly

Classic-as-can-be, the Everly features a sweetheart neckline that will never go out of style. The removable back train with a chiffon floral embellishment add a unique twist and bra cups, boning, and pockets are included for added support and convenience. The Everly is available in sizes 0 to 18 and a part of the Style Me Pretty Collection, Weddington Way’s most romantic dress line to date.

Shop the Everly!

Willa

A gown made for the ultra chic, modern minimalist, the Willa features a scoop neckline and a fitted skirt topped off with a covered button closure. The Willa is available in sizes 0 to 18 and a part of the Style Me Pretty Collection, Weddington Way’s most romantic dress line to date.

Shop the Willa!

Florence

Perfect for the bridal party looking to infuse a subtle touch of shimmer and evoke a sense of glamour, the Florence features an elegant striped sequin design with a beautiful draped back. Bra cups and boning are included for extra support. The Florence is available in sizes 0 to 18 and a part of the Style Me Pretty Collection, Weddington Way’s most romantic dress line to date.

Shop the Florence!

Why Central Park is the Sweetest Place for a Vow Renewal

These two are major marriage goals. They were graced with THE most pristine day for their vow renewal in Central Park—can you even handle the dreamy sun-soaked images? This one has me all heart eyes. Sheradee Hurst Photography nailed every single image and The Vault is shinier today because of it.

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From Sheradee Hurst Photography… Michael and Amy enlisted Talia Morgan from Inspire Events to design and plan their vow renewal in the heart of NYC’s iconic Central Park. Amy wanted to have the experience of selecting her bouquet from the Floral District on the streets of NYC. So the day before the ceremony, Amy and her group of creatives that traveled with her walked the floral district selecting the freshest flowers NYC had to offer in shades of warm fall colors with subtle hints of citrus inspired shades. All floral was chosen the day prior to the ceremony from the Floral District. The bride hosted a “rehearsal dinner” at Tavern on the Green for family, friends, and creatives. The couple’s first look was a romantic vision in the middle of Central Park when a violinist started impromptu playing the wedding march right after their first look. The ceremony was a perfect reflection of their love for each other and how it’s grown over the years. Michael and Amy’s two sons were there to watch their parents big day. As a surprise to Amy, her original Maid of Honor from nineteen years ago even showed in Central Park wearing her original bridesmaid dress from Amy’s wedding. She had walked through the park and sat during the ceremony right by her side in the dress Amy selected at her first wedding. The couple’s first dance was overlooking the water and a small picnic Guests then enjoyed a lovely reception dinner at Lexington Brass.

From the Bride… It has been said that love finds you when you least expect it. I can’t think of a truer statement. Mike and I dated for 2 weeks before he said ” I’m going to marry you.” You just know when you know. Our love story started fast, but has stood the test of time. Being married for 19 years to your best friend makes life so much sweeter. Working in the wedding industry I meet young couples everyday. My advice to them would be, always choose to love each other. Life can be rough and always choosing love makes things easier. Be each others cheerleader and biggest encourager. I feel I am who I am today because of the strong man that stands by my side saying “You got this!” Keep dating each other and ALWAYS make time to spend together. I could go on forever but most important advice would be to forgive and be patient. I have learned all these things along our journey, so when we decided to renew our vows it was very emotional and meant so much more the second time. Standing up after doing life together as people who have grown together takes on a whole new wonderful feeling. I’m grateful for the love we have found together and our two beautiful boys. Having our sons witness our renewal was my favorite part of the day. I hope they will one day find their special someone and ALWAYS choose love.

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The Smart Bride + Groom’s Guide to Wedding Registries

Color (or “Cullah” as we like to say!)

Creole Cuisine

Brass Bands + Banjos

Bring on the Lagniappe

Sweet Drinks + Sweet Desserts

Half Back Heart Hairstyle

Tousled French Twist

The Dresses

Juliette

Shop the Juliette!

Thea

Shop the Thea!

Hazel

Shop the Hazel!

Everly

Shop the Everly!

Willa

Shop the Willa!

Florence

Shop the Florence!

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The Smart Bride + Groom’s Guide to Wedding Registries

Join The Conversation

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Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Color (or “Cullah” as we like to say!)

Creole Cuisine

Brass Bands + Banjos

Bring on the Lagniappe

Sweet Drinks + Sweet Desserts

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

Half Back Heart Hairstyle

Tousled French Twist

Join The Conversation

The Dresses

Juliette

Shop the Juliette!

Thea

Shop the Thea!

Hazel

Shop the Hazel!

Everly

Shop the Everly!

Willa

Shop the Willa!

Florence

Shop the Florence!

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation

From Our Partners

Little Black Book

Lookbook

International Weddings

US Weddings

Real Weddings

Inspiration Galleries

Explore

Archive

Magazine

Style Me Pretty