There’s nothing quite like a few weeks of chilly, post-holiday weather to really get you thinking about a destination wedding, but just in case you haven’t fully committed to “I do’s” in paradise, we’re here to tell you – just do it. Pack those bags, grab your nearest and dearest and head to the amazing Sandals Grande St. Lucian, a breathtaking locale that is equal parts dreamy AND fun. You definitely won’t regret it, loves.

We’re all about tying the knot at an island resort… and when that resort happens to be located on its very own peninsula, even better. Think the picturesque Rodney Bay, the crystal blue Atlantic Ocean and some of the most luxurious accommodations ever. It’s basically everything you’ve ever dreamed for your Big Day, all wrapped up in awe-inspiring views and top-notch service you can’t even begin to imagine. And don’t even get me started on the Overwater Serenity Wedding Chapel, a beautiful place to say “I do” with sea-inspired decor, a glass aisle and an open-air design. It’s sooo cool, you guys.

With a never-ending list of all-inclusive perks (hello, gourmet restaurants, premium drinks and butler service), amazing activities that will have you laughing + smiling during your entire vaca meets wedding weekend and a team of talented wedding planners just waiting to assist in your Big Day planning, Sandals Grande St. Lucian is truly the “picture-perfect postcard” you keep hearing about. Contact their awesome team today to start planning your celebration in paradise… and send US the first invite.

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Photography: Sandals | Wedding Venue: Sandals Grande St. Lucian | Ceremony Venue: Sandals Overwater Serenity Wedding Chapel

It’s Monday morning and we’d be lying to say we jumped out of bed with glee. Let’s get real; it’s a struggle but luckily we have the cure for those beginning of the week blues and it comes in shades of pretty pink. Whimsical, romantic and bursting with all the beauty that makes SMP sing, this outdoor wedding by Elizabeth Fogarty is all we need to add a spring to our step – all in our Vault right here!

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From the Bride… Caleb and I both wanted an outdoor wedding, near the water. We wanted to keep it intimate and just to our closest family and friends. I would say the theme of our wedding is romantic, whimsical and comfortable. The most important elements of our big day is having a beautiful ceremony and finding time to enjoy it/take it all in. We want to be able to enjoy each other’s company, as well as the company of our loved ones, but never lose sight that this is one of the most important, romantic steps in our relationship.

Caleb and his groomsmen wore light navy and my bridesmaids wore various shades of blush. The hardest thing about bringing our ideas to life was honestly budget – trying to make everything we wanted fit within the budget and prioritizing certain elements over others. Another small hiccup is trying to best accommodate family requests, but also staying true to what we want.

We met right after high school, through mutual friends at a party. Caleb broke the ice first and we started dating midway through freshmen year of college. We did 5+ years of long distance before he moved to NYC to join me in the working world. We’ve always known we’d end up together because we’re so similar (neat freaks, love being active, family oriented) but also challenge each other to be better every single day. Our families have been so welcoming and supportive since the beginning, and the engagement/wedding process has just brought us even closer. 

Photography: Elizabeth Fogarty | Floral Design: Amanda Burnette | Wedding Dress: Hayley Paige | Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Catering: Main Event Caterers | Make Up: Glam Bridal Beauty | Suit: Bonobos | Wedding Venue: River Farm | Calligraphy + Stationery Design: Joanna Hope Art

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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In my humble opinion, there’s no more romantic season to marry than in winter. And if this snowfall photograph from Emily and Kyle’s big day doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will. Set at the Chicago History Museum, the amazing LK Events brought the magic of the season to life through every detail and Tim Tab Studios didn’t miss a moment behind the camera. More pretty waiting in The Vault!

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From the Bride… Kyle and I met in Chicago – despite both being from St. Louis, we knew we wanted to share the city in which we met with our family and friends for our wedding. Kyle proposed on my birthday in December of 2015. At the time, we were dating long distance, and he flew in to celebrate my birthday, or so I thought. My parents were also in town visiting, allegedly for the same reason…but little did I know it was all orchestrated for the perfect proposal in front of the Chicago Water Tower on Michigan Avenue!

We knew we didn’t want too lengthy of an engagement, so a winter wedding in December 2016 was perfect timing. When planning our wedding, our top priorities were making sure the day felt true to us, as well as making the weekend an amazing time in the Windy City for our family and friends. We brought in Nicole Zenner from LK Events because I absolutely adored a prior wedding she had planned at our venue, the Chicago History Museum, and I also loved her personality and style! She then led us to a spectacular team of vendors, who all worked closely together to execute the wedding we had envisioned.

On the day itself, I felt so excited to celebrate our love and marriage, but also to have all of our family and friends in the city Kyle and I love so much. My favorite moment was our ceremony. Our officiant kept it true to us by incorporating both traditional and non-traditional elements, including reading excerpts from our favorite musical. We also added personal touches throughout the weekend, such as Garrett’s popcorn and St. Louis-style gooey butter cookies in our welcome bags to tie in the two cities we call home. After dancing the night away with our band, Time Chicago, guests left with a monogrammed matchbook with the date and location of our wedding as a final personalized memento.

One thing I wasn’t expecting that was so lovely was the snow that started falling just before our ceremony! Not only did it make for an especially cozy evening, but also it turned the reception into an even more festive setting for our awesome photographers, Tim and Bethany! Our florist, Allison of Stems, also had to work with the snowy conditions. She created a greenery bouquet for me the day-of since it was too cold to take my floral bouquet outside. Even though it wasn’t planned, the photos with the greenery bouquet are some of my favorites! Looking back, I’m so glad that we had the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in one place, as we could not have asked for a more seamless chain of (snowy) events!

Photography: Tim Tab Studios | Wedding Planning: LK Events | Floral Design: Stems, inc. | Wedding Dress: Aire Barcelona | Cake: Elysia Root | Invitations: Ellis Hill | Reception Venue: Chicago History Museum | Catering: Food For Thought | Makeup Artist: Shannon O'Brien MUA | Transportation: Trolley Car & Bus Co. | Hotel: Public Hotel | Bride and Bridesmaid's Wraps: Mark & Graham | Bride's Fur: Family Heirloom | Bride's Gown Sourced from: Mira Couture | Bridesmaid's Attire Sourced from: Bella Bridesmaid | Bridesmaid's Camis: Aritzia | Bridesmaid's Skirts: Bella Bridesmaid | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Groom and Groomsmen's Attire: Formally Modern Tuxedo | Hair Styling: Blowout Junkie | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Live Band: Time Chicago, in affiliation with BeatMix Music | Matchbox Favors: For Your Party | Watercolor Illustration of Bride's Dress and Chicago Skyline: Jenna Muscarella

We’ve long admired Leigh Pearce for her ability to infuse pretty into many a wedding. But today? We get to relish in the beauty of her very own Big Day. And boy are those details lovely—but she sure does steal the show. Don’t miss her story below and when you’re done, head to The Vault for the full gallery by Anna Paschal!

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From the Bride, Leigh Pearce Events… After tossing around some ideas about destination weddings, my high school sweetheart, Bryan, and I decided on a local wedding with a small guest list of only 65 of our closest family and friends. We chose the Weir-Jordan House in downtown Greensboro for our venue and set the date for October 22, two days after our 14 year dating anniversary. We loved everything about the Weir-Jordan from it’s Southern antebellum feel to it’s rich history (it is one of the oldest houses in Greensboro). It checked every box for us — an outdoor ceremony space, a spot for a tent, and an amazing in-house caterer.

Next step – select our bridal party! We ultimately decided not to have a large party — all of my girlfriends are married with children or pregnant so I wanted to make the day as relaxed and enjoyable for them as possible. We all got ready together and it was SO much fun. Surprisingly, my best friend from high school went into labor in the middle of the night before the wedding and obviously had to miss the wedding. I took my wedding dress and crashed her newborn session a few weeks later so we could have pictures together! My sister was my maid of honor and looked beautiful in her Jenny Yoo gown .. the fabric and layers of her dress tied in with mine perfectly. Bryan’s best man, in true Southern fashion, was his father. They looked so dapper in their black tuxedos! Some of my other favorite fashionable details were my pearl necklace and my shoes. My two favorite movies are Steel Magnolias and Father of the Bride. My mom, sister, sister-in-law, and best friend hosted a Steel Magnolias themed bridal shower for me, complete with red velvet armadillo cupcakes! As an homage to Father of the Bride, I was on a mission to find some cool sneakers and fell in love with these lace high tops from Anthropologie.

Funny enough, Bryan is the one that brought up the idea of a first look! I am wedding planner so in all my sharing about work, he must have picked up a thing or two. Their is an upstairs, private, Charleston-esque porch at our venue that was an ideal location for a first look. Although we decided not to give each other wedding gifts, I surprised Bryan during our first look with my dad’s gold cuff links. He passed away a few years ago and I thought it would be the perfect way to have him there in spirit. After our first look, we hopped in the car for photos at a favorite local spot, The Proximity Hotel. We really enjoyed having some alone time together before the craziness set it. We highly recommend it!

For our design, we kept everything elegant, timeless, and classic. Our florist, the Farmer’s Wife, has always been our family florist so it was a no brainer to work with Stacy on our wedding. She is truly like family and created floral magic for us! Maxie B’s made my wedding cake dreams come true with our stunning cake (and Bryan’s dream come true with a layer of Devil’s food cake!). One of my only major must haves was a clear top tent with big chandeliers and a black and white dance floor that I could twirl on. Mission accomplished!!

Our ceremony was absolutely perfect and by far, my favorite part of the day. I loved our music selections: an instrumental version of Rivers and Roads by The Head and The Heart for our parents and wedding party and an instrumental version of Amarillo by Morning by George Strait, my dad’s favorite song. We had two special readings. A scripture reading by one of our very best friends as well as poem read by Bryan’s sister. We walked back down the aisle to a mash up of Ants Marching and Ode to Joy.

After the ceremony, we sent our guests inside to warm up and for cocktail hour and dinner. Stacy with Savory Street Catering created an amazing custom menu for us! Some of the highlights were pulled pork and collard egg rolls with mango chutney, crab hush puppies with Cajun aioli, butternut squash ravioli, beef tenderloin with white cheddar grit cakes, and mini tomato pies.

After dinner, we danced the night away! Our first dance was “You & Me” by Dave Matthews Band. We have been to countless DMB concerts so it was only fitting that we danced to Dave. The chorus is also perfect for a few twirls! Later in the evening while cake was served, we offered a few more desserts. Bryan has a serious sweet tooth and is, hands down, the biggest Pepsi addict you will ever meet. We offered ice cream float shooters along with cake.. three kinds: Pepsi, Sundrop, and Cheerwine. So good!!

We ended the night with a glowing sparkler exit and hopped in a London taxi cab headed for O. Henry Hotel. It was the perfect day and we couldn’t be more grateful for the experience!

Photography: Anna Paschal Photography | Event Design: Leigh Pearce Events | Event Planning: Leigh Pearce Events | Floral Design: The Farmer's Wife | Wedding Dress: Southern Bride | Cake: Maxie B's | Catering: Savory Street | Hair + Makeup: Carla White | Mens Attire: Gordon's Menswear | Wedding Venue: Weir-Jordan House | Bride's Sneakers: Anthropologie | Bridesmaid Dress: Jenny Yoo | Rentals: Southern Event Rental | Rentals: Party Reflections

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Did someone say champagne brunch? This pretty party put together by GATHER Events is the perfect way to combat a chilly winter. Incorporating moody blues, shibori and batik prints and gilded touches, it adds a pretty layer to cold festivities. And what better way to celebrate than with all your best girlfriends? Take a cue from the images of Braedon Photography and plan a cheers-worthy get-together.

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To kick off our new west coast wide launch of Gather Events, we held a champagne brunch for our team in Seattle. We captured the elements of the Pacific Northwest using cool moody blues and greens offset by warm toned metals and organic textures for a winter worthy tablescape. We drew our first inspiration from the indigo fabrics of the Pacific, Japanese shibori and Hmong batik, then melded those deep blues of the runner and dip dyed menus with wood elements to create an inviting contrast. It wouldn’t be a ladies brunch without a bit of glitz, which we brought in through the brushed gold flatware and stemware. The lush wild floral (including foraged northwest native plants) was nestled among the vintage colored glassware and brass candlesticks for an eclectic organic chic table top that was all too apropos for our Gather girl team.

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Champagne Cocktails

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Champagne Cocktails

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Photography: Braedon Photography | Design: GATHER Events | Floral Design: Thatch Floral | Stationery: GATHER Events | Hair and Makeup: Erin Skipley | Venue: House Studios | Acacia Wood Chargers: Pottery Barn | Mirage Chairs, Flatware: Cort Party Rentals | Plates, Gold Brushed, Cutting Boards, Glassware: Anthropologie | Rug, Candles, Votives: West Elm | Table Runner: ROV Imports | Table, Amber Cut Glass, Candlesticks: Vintage Ambiance

Elena Wolfe snapped sooo many beautiful scenes during this Hudson Valley wedding day, but I just HAD to open with this beauty. Can you even handle it’s heirloom goodness? And this stunning Bride rocked it beautifully, along with her Katie May dress. Oh, and then there are captures like this that make me love logging on to Style Me Pretty every day. Thank you, Elena. There’s more right this way in The Vault and it’s all equally as dreamy.

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From Elena Wolfe… Jillian and Jordan picked a wedding venue nestled between the trees and valleys in Hudon Valley. With abundant and lush greens and dusty pinks, the day was surrounded by delicate blooms. The Groom and Groomsmen wore rich navy suits and the Bridesmaid’s mismatched pink dresses.

Photography: Elena Wolfe Photography | Floral Design: Floral Cottage Weddings | Wedding Dress: Katie May | Cake: Elliegant Cakes | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | DJ: Victor Vargas | Groom's Attire: Jos. A Banks | Wedding Venue: MountainView Manor | Crown: Avigail Adam | Dress Boutique: And Something Blue | Photobooth: Pfotobooth | Photography - Assistance: Colleen MacMillan | Wedding Ring: Lang Antiques

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Photography

Elena Wolfe Photography

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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!

Bridesmaids’ dresses often get a bad rep, but we’ve got exciting news that will change all of that! Style Me Pretty and Weddington Way came together to create the Style Me Pretty + Weddington Way Collection, a capsule collection featuring six fashion-forward styles for any and every wedding. The dresses, available next month on Weddington Way, are not only stylish and romantic, but they’re also totally affordable. Best bridesmaids’ dresses ever? We’re a little biased, but, duh! Get a sneak peek at the collection thanks to the gorgeous sketches below!

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Married in a private ceremony six years ago, it was finally time to celebrate with their loved ones and when they did so, these two pulled out all the stops. The most stylish of all? The wedding dress, custom designed by the Bride herself (a new career is calling Mrs.; it’s GORGEOUS). But it’s just one magical moment of many from this film by Zen Film Works that captivated my attention and never let go – enjoy!

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From the couple… If we had to tell you one thing about us, it would be that we are so thankful. Thankful that we’ve been brought together and that whatever obstacle that has been put in our way we have overcome together. As many of you know all too well, it’s been hard and difficult at times and we’d do it all over again if it brought us to this very moment. After six years of being married, we are so excited to finally have a wedding and to celebrate it with you all!

When Paul and I began to plan the wedding our first vision was France, history, Chateau Versailles and romance. So we planned a two week holiday traveling around France visiting various Chateaux all around the country – nine to be exact! We learned a lot in the process because we thought we wanted this pristine chateau just like Versailles, but the more chateaux we saw, the more we envisioned somewhere steeped in history. We wanted it to be in someone’s cherished home and not just a museum and we also wanted a local village to not feel so isolated with just having a chateau for our wedding. We felt that instantly when we saw Chateau de Saint-Loup in Saint-Loup-Lamaire. So much so that without even going into the actual chateau, Baharak began to cry because she just knew that this was where we were actually going to get married after all these years.

Now that our beautiful chateau was chosen we began to think about where we were having the ceremony and reception and this would play a huge part in the colour scheme and style of the wedding. We wanted the wedding to feel romantic, ethereal, simple and elegant on the general scheme. As we had a naturally beautiful Chateau with beautiful grounds and gardens to work with, it was easy to establish that theme throughout. We wanted to keep the colour palette light and airy, choosing mostly white, antique pinks and some speckled gold for the flowers and decor and into the night we wanted that romantic candlelight feeling as we were dining in the garden.
The most unique element to the wedding for us was that this really was a family wedding. Baharak wanted her family to play a huge part of our wedding as everyone lives so far apart and this was not only our wedding, but a huge family reunion for her. As her family had a broad range of skills, she asked many of her family to participate at her wedding. Her mother owns salons in the US with her two sisters, so her mother did her hair and her Aunt Barbod did her makeup. Baharak’s brother was her Man of Honour and her two cousins were standing beside her too. Her Uncle Patrick officiated the ceremony. Her mother and father walked her down the aisle and both gave her away. This was important because six years ago, only Baharak’s parents were present for our secret civil ceremony, nobody else. It meant a lot to them to give their daughter away amongst family and friends. During the reception Baharak’s other cousins belly danced and break danced for the guests.

Baharak and I included a lot of our own work and details into this wedding. The menus were created and made by us. All the signs at the wedding were handcrafted by Paul. The biggest handmade detail was that Baharak hand made both of her wedding dresses and her veil. She created both dresses in a month and half, and her veil was created the night before the wedding.

Another unique element, as we had nobody present at our civil ceremony, was that we wanted to have something showcased in our home always that reminded us of all the people that shared our big day. We therefore had a custom made wedding certificate hand painted with a picture of the Chateau and beautiful calligraphy, with space for every guest to sign it as witnesses of our marriage. This is now hanging proudly in our home.

My wedding gowns and veil were made by myself. I chose to make my dresses as I had tried on many gowns off-the-rack and had felt that these wouldn’t feel very special as someone else was wearing the same design! I wanted a one of a kind ‘Baharak Nekessa’ dress. I wanted the dress to be simple, elegant, timeless, but a little bit edgy. I did not want to put any embroidery, applique or anything that would deter from the draping on the dress, as that is my favourite thing to do. I decided I would highlight this with my veil which had unusual glittery speckled dots in ivory all over in tulle. My wedding dress was made in Silk Chiffon. A lot of people won’t have known that the entire top of the dress is one piece of fabric that carries on from the front, drapes to the back and comes back to the front and to the hem. The night before the wedding I sewed my veil together in half an hour. My second wedding dress, for the evening, was entirely sewn by hand! The beaded fabric was so delicate that on any machine the needle just kept breaking! I wanted to party so I designed a dress that was fun and sexy for the night.

My biggest piece of advice to a bride-to-be is not everything is going to go as you had planned. In the end it doesn’t really matter and only you will know when something isn’t right. Just have fun and enjoy the moment, because it really does go by so quickly!

Photography: Claire Morris | Cinematography: Zen Film Works | Event Planning: Chateaux Avenue | Floral Design: French Flower Style | Wedding Dress: Baharak Nekessa (bride) | Cake: Stephanie Guerin | Invitations: The Dandelion Patch | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Catering: Le petite France | Make up: Tanaz Salon | Hair: Tanaz Salon | Groom's Suit: Reiss | Venue: Chateau de Saint-Loup | Music: DJ Toma Toma

Cupcakes, sweet treats and sprinkles galore; is there any surer way to our hearts?! I think not and it’s only gets easier when you have all the must haves to create these sugary masterpieces. When it comes to registering for your wedding, these are not to be forgotten – with my sweet tooth, these items are considered major registry essentials! Ensure all future celebrations are complete with these baking tools from Food52, Macy’s and more – and may your delicious desserts be the icing on every cake!

Registry Essentials to Bake Up Something Delicious

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Registry Essentials to Bake Up Something Delicious

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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

Kohl’s
Macy’s
Food52
Bloomingdale’s

You get engaged and the questions start coming; it’s easy to lose yourself in the flurry of it all. But we can’t say it enough: savor this special time and make any opportunity a fun one, including your engagement pics! It’s the perfect time to practice those picture perfect smiles and show off your own style. But it can also be a bit daunting when deciding what to don so we checked in with Allison Koehler of AOK Style + Planning to get her advice – and don’t miss the special discount she’s offering right now!

Couples almost always ask their wedding photographers what they should wear for their engagement shoot. It makes sense; for your wedding, there is more or less a formula to the clothing you’ll be wearing. But for the engagement shoot, the possibilities are endless, which can be intimidating.

So, why should you work with a stylist for your engagement shoot?

Save Time

I constantly hear from clients that they’ve been scouring the web looking for that perfect coat, dress, what have you, and can’t find it anywhere. When we work together, you’ll leave the searching to me. I’ll do the scouring, and present you and your partner with 30-40 pieces that are uniquely you.

Save Money

For each session, we work within a budget, the goal being to come under that budget by purchasing pieces you love, and working with what you already own. If you have a pair of jeans that are perfect for you, wear them for the shoot! The goal is to capture you and your partner as you are, and using pieces you already own helps set the tone for an authentic shoot. When we have an in-home fitting, we’ll see which pieces work, and how to combine old and new pieces for the perfect look.

Treat Yourself

Trust me when I say, hiring a vendor who takes some stress away from wedding planning is worth it. If you love clothes but hate shopping, treat yourself to a unique experience so you can reap the reward of incredible photos. You’ll thank yourself!

** From now until Valentine’s Day, I’m offering a discount on my services to couples who were engaged over the holidays! I would absolutely love to work with you! **

Winter Engagement Outfit Inspiration

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Winter Engagement Outfit Inspiration

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ONGOING GIVEAWAYS + DISCOUNTS…  

Allure Bridals
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

For our New England Brides.. Discount from Long’s Jewelers

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

Style Advice : AOK Style + Planning

When this photographer-turned-bride set out to plan her own wedding day, inspiration struck from an unlikely spot. “We took the feel of our wedding day from one of our favorite days of the week – Sunday’s spent at Josh’s grandparents’ house for dinner.” Opting for homestyle foods and locally grown flowers, their farm wedding was thoughtfully designed from start to finish. See it through the lens of Julie Cate right this way.

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From the Bride… This being my own wedding, I’m quite excited to share our inspiration and everything that went into our special day.

Our inspiration began from the location Joshua, my fiancé proposed at. It was next to a river that we always go swimming at – the path there is full of ferns and the most beautiful sounds of the water flowing, and the birds and insects singing. We also took the feel of our wedding day from one of our favorite days of the week – Sunday’s spent at Josh’s grandparents’ house for dinner. We chose home-style foods that were all sourced locally.

Since I’m a photographer and florist in the wedding industry, photography and flowers were the most important things on my list to choose. I chose Julie Cate after looking through many photographers’ full albums of wedding days – something I would absolutely recommend when booking a photographer. Our florist was Local Color Flowers because their passion of locally grown flowers is just amazing. There is so much romance in each flower from our day because I know they were chosen and hand picked by people who have a passion for growing flowers in Maryland. We settled on a burnt orange, rust, brown-pink palette to compliment the season and to contrast the rest of our color palette which was cooler tones of blues and greys. We had ferns lining our ceremony aisle to relive the moment we decided to journey towards marriage at the river Josh proposed at.

We set the tone with our invites for our guests with the help from Julie Ha Calligraphy – we wanted to incorporate the natural feel of the florals and ferns, but also pull in a little of my husband’s love of antiques by making them feel as though they were old letters. Julie did such an incredible job of hand coloring the paper, tearing the edges and crafting such beautiful calligraphy.

Our venue we choose last minute in May after our original venue got shut down (sigh). It couldn’t have been more of a blessing though. Glen Ellen Farm was the most perfect venue for us, from the love of historic details (our cocktail hour was in barn ruins), the love of farming flowers (the owner is constantly keeping care of her flower plots that she hopes to continue growing), and just the peaceful sounds of birds, sights of deer and wildflower paths. Glen Ellen was the place that fully pulled everything together for us.

Photography: Julie Cate Photography | Floral Design: Local Color Flowers | Wedding Dress: Leanne Marshall | Invitations: Julie Ha Calligraphy | Venue: Glen Ellen Farm | Hair/makeup: JKW Beauty | Major Flower Farmer: Butterbee Farm | Veil: Love Veils

Remember when you were a kid and you used to collect birthday cards and movie stubs and pictures of your someday wedding and you’d store it all in an old shoebox that you decorated with puffy paint and stickers? Ladies, meet your childhood keepsake box’s bigger, WAY cooler sister (and if we’re being honest…the prettier one), Boombox. An uber gorgeous keepsake box filled with personalized, just-for-you notes, well wishes and gorgeous photographs (we love you, Jose Villa) from the people you love most in the world.

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GORGEOUS photos tucked inside the box by Jose Villa…not nearly as gorgeous photos snapped of the box itself by me, Abby Larson.

We don’t often post about products on SMP but this one, founded by the lovely and super smart #girlboss, Christina Geist, was just so perfect for you soon-to-be’s, we couldn’t resist.

Because Boombox is truly the PERFECT wedding gift and we didn’t think we could keep the find all to ourselves.

Just think..the sweet sentiments from your friends, the well-worn advice from your beloved grandparents, the nearly-naked-saggy-diaper-while-blowing-bubbles-in-your-backyard memories of you two gifted so generously from both sets of parents, all housed beautifully in a gorgeous keepsake box that would chic-up any coffee table or shelf, perched in such a way that you would actually open it. And show it off. And love it over and over again. Can you imagine?

Boombox brings all of those incredible memories – that I promise you will fly right by on your wedding day – together into one absolutely beautiful keepsake. And they make it SO easy for huge or small groups alike to contribute truly personalized, totally individualized notes and well wishes to celebrate what just might be the best day of your entire life.

Okay, we’ve done our job. The rest is on you. Pass this post on to your moms or dads or maids of honor and let them take over the heavy lifting. And if you need more convincing, just pop on over to Boombox and see for yourself!

xo, Abby

Taking a cue from the beauty of ancient Greece, this inspiration designed by Getting Married In Greece along with florals by Red Box Days and planning by La Fete will give you all the reason you need to plan a destination wedding to the Mediterranean. The backdrop of Athens mixed with an elegant tablescape, the prettiest olive branch details and a nature infused color palette is sure to inspire. Pore through the gallery of images by Sotiris Tsakanikas for even more.

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From the Photographer… The team of blog “Getting Married In Greece” and I, organized this fine art editorial shoot, inspired by Ancient Greek history. For the setting of the shoot we chose one of the most important archaeological sites of the Acropolis, the surrounding area of the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, which to this day stages plays and operas with excellent acoustics. According to mythology Goddess Athena gifted the first olive tree to the city of Athens on the Acropolis, so the tree’s unique color was combined with the white marble and defined our color palette. The stunning wedding dress was picked for its unadorned, clean line while the bridal style was completed by the flower crown made of olive twigs and white hypericum berries and the lace up sandals. The tabletop was composed of an aged linen tablecloth and soft grey towels while the modern oxide cutlery contrasted the classic china and matching glasses. The custom stationary line was created using calligraphy and olive tree details on a unique hand cut paper. The naked cake was created to complement the shoot concept and was decorated with fresh olive twigs and flowers. The florals of olive and various white summer flowers subtly completed the fine table decoration while the wedding bouquet was also similar in its hues.

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Photography: Sotiris Tsakanikas | Design: Getting Married In Greece | Event Planning: La Fete | Coordination: Getting Married In Greece | Floral Design: Red Box Days | Hair + Makeup: Marios Stavropoulos | Cutlery: Zara | Shoes: Femme Fanatique | Wedding Dress: Parthenis | Rentals: Zazoo | Cake: Pavlov’s Lab | Invitations: Atelier Invitations

Winter has a special place in the hearts of these two. They met in those chilliest of months, started dating, and even said “I do” at that time of year. So it was only fitting that they toast to three years of marriage in the same season! Designed and styled by Chloe+Mint and with a gorgeous calligraphed champagne bottle courtesy of Seniman Calligraphy, these two kissed and sipped and smiled – and Tenth & Grace captured it all. Cheers to the romance of winter and many more years of love for these two!

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From Tenth & Grace… Nicole and Austin celebrated their third wedding anniversary with a romantic anniversary shoot at the Sutro Baths in San Francisco. Designed by Chloe+Mint, the session featured a gorgeous winter-inspired bouquet by The Bloomery Co. and a personalized champagne bottle by Seniman Calligraphy. The wind and rain added to the romantic feel!

From Nicole… All of our major anniversaries fall within a one month period. We met, started officially dating, and got married in the winter months.

We kept our wedding very simple, and eloped on a secluded portion of the California coast. One of my very favorite parts of our day was feeling like a princess in the most beautiful dress, and getting to celebrate with my love. For our three year wedding/five years together anniversary, we wanted to have a shoot that felt a lot like the best parts of our wedding, so we could remember all our feelings so many years ago, and the commitment we made to each other. In that time, we’ve changed so much, but in a way, so much has stayed the same. This shoot was the perfect embodiment of that.

Tanya was able to bring the most romantic, elegant vision to life – one that even rivaled our wedding day. The vendors were unbelievable. I was spoiled with the most beautiful bouquet, a dress that was so delicate and perfect in every way, all wrapped up with the sweetest, personalized details, like champagne to toast our love on the rocky coast of the San Francisco Sutro Baths. It was like we were married all over again, I couldn’t have asked for a better anniversary.

Photography: Tanya Menoni | Event Design + Styling: Chloe+Mint | Floral Design: The Bloomery Co | Dress: Tatyana Merenyuk | Jewelry: Susie Saltzman | Makeup: Jessica Fernandez | Calligraphy: Seniman Calligraphy

Looking for a way to make your next dinner party sparkle? This shibori napkin DIY is the ticket. Crafted by Something Vintage Rentals, it’s a quick and easy refresh for your napkin situation that will add color and pattern and the loveliest hand-dyed quality to your tablescape. They’re breaking down the easy steps below and for more of this pretty party captured by Anne Robert, head to the vault!

The Something Vintage Rentals Team and La Fleur du Jour set out to style an intimate dinner honoring the guests of Restoratives Republic, a vodka bourbon distillery serving craft cocktails in the heart of DC. 

We began with a large, open industrial space, so adding warmth was imperative. It can be challenging to make elements like cement and steel seem cozy, but when paired with natural accents of leather and amber wood, the space took on a much warmer feel.

We furthered the casual intimacy with shibori napkins hand-dyed in indigo and a simple leather and walnut accent. Using one long row of farm tables really helped anchor the wide open space, and brought easy conversation between guests.

 Our Chief Inventory Curator, Tiffany created this DIY tutorial on how to make shibori napkins like we used at Restoratives Republic at home. Shibori is a Japanese technique of resist dyeing fabric resulting in unique shapes and patterns on the material. There are tons of different patterns you can make using this technique and we chose a triangle-inspired pattern for these napkins.

White cotton napkins or flour sack towels (make sure they are cotton)
Indigo dye kit
Rubber bands
Large bucket/pot

Start by mixing your bucket of indigo dye according to the package instructions.

Create the shibori pattern of your choice by folding the napkin then using the rubber bands to bind it in place. We chose to fold our napkins into a triangle, then used rubber bands on each of the corners. You can do it in a square, rectangle, or other shape—the possibilities are endless!

Dip the whole napkin in water to fully saturate it. 4. Next, dip the areas of the napkin you want to be indigo into the vat of dye. We chose to dip just the three sides of the towel, never fully submerging it, to get the design we wanted. You can experiment to see which look you prefer. A bucket of dye will make a million napkins!

Take the fabric out of the dye. It will have a green hue at first,, but after it is exposed to oxygen, it will turn dark blue.

When you open up your piece you’ll see the areas the dye was not able to penetrate and the amazing pattern it created!

Rinse the napkin in cold water until the water runs clear.

The result is a one-of-a-kind bold indigo and white piece of art! We cut our towels to make them a bit smaller, tied them with leather, and then we had the perfect napkin for our table!

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Party DIY's For Your Next Girly Get-together

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Party DIY's For Your Next Girly Get-together

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Photography: Anne Robert Photography | Styling: Something Vintage Rentals | Styling: La Fleur Du Jour | Floral Design: La Fleur Du Jour | Rentals: Something Vintage Rentals

Oh, Lauren Fair, you never cease to wow me with your gorgeous, gorgeous imagery. There’s not one detail of this day that I didn’t fall completely head over heels for—I spent far too much time poring over it in The Vault (can you blame me?). But the one thing I kept coming back to was THAT Rivini dress. #weddingdressgoals, I think so. Want more? It’s all right here.

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From Lauren Fair… Erika + Kyle’s south Florida wedding incorporated bright, bold, lush blooms and a lighthearted whimsical feel! The weather was absolutely perfect and we photographed their portraits around the lovely Addison in Boca Raton. As the sun dropped and dusk fell, guests gathered under a massive floral chandelier in the courtyard for their vow exchange, and danced the night away for hours afterwards!

From the Bride… The whole day was magical! I wasn’t stressed out at all so I could really enjoy the little moments like seeing Kyle for the first look and just gushing at how hot he looked, drinking champagne with my bridesmaids in the bridal suite, and dancing all night long as soon as the party music came on. We danced non-stop and I wish I could replay that night over and over! Advice for future brides: Try to do whatever you can to minimize your stress levels. I think leading up the big day you’re so worried about how all the details will come together, so having a planner is key to making sure things don’t slip through the cracks. But on the day of, there’s nothing you can do, so you might as well enjoy it. We got massages the night before. We started our wedding day off at Crossfit with a few of our friends, which was so fun! Then I had a big healthy green smoothie before hair and makeup arrived. Try to do whatever you can to feel “normal” by going through as much of your morning routine as possible, it really helps to curb the stress. Sit back and take mental snapshots of the special moments – it goes by SO fast!

Photography: Lauren Fair Photography | Cinematography: Willow Tree Films | Floral Design: Oleander Floral & Events | Wedding Dress: Rivini | Reception Venue: the Addison | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Beauty: Beauty By Renata | Desserts: Earth & Sugar

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Lauren Fair Photography

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Being a lover of all things white, this bit of beauty crafted by A Blush Moment and Rhythm Photography sings to my heart. Because when it comes to winter weddings, what’s more beautiful than a fresh canvas that lets you layer on the texture, intricacy, candlelight and metallics? Sounds like a cold-weather fete I’d raise my hand to attend. You too? Dive into The Vault for more.

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From A Blush Moment… The term less is more was definitely prominent in this creative shoot styled by owner and lead wedding planner Jeannie from A Blush Moment. Simplistic was key when it came to executing a minimalist theme with clean lines, gold accents and an almost monochromatic colour palette. Tucked away in the heart of the distillery district Airship 37 was the perfect venue for this minimalistic shoot. An open space area made it possible to style the shoot from the ground up. Everything from the modern Ikea dining table to the ghost chairs from Chairman Mills to the hanging gold geometric prisms from A Blush Moment were carefully chosen for the shoot. Every item had its place. White pillar candles, which ran along the length of the dinning table, replaced the flower centerpieces commonly seen in weddings. The place setting was kept to a minimal with accents from the gold cutlery. The touch of gold was carried through in the hairpieces and earrings provided by The Loved One.

The bride had her hair and makeup done by May from Muah Beauty before she slipped into two classic yet contemporary gowns provided by Elmwood Brides. The groom wore a custom grey suit from Wingmen Suits. A 5-tier cake created by the talented team at Sugar Tiers was the showstopper of the day. It definitely was too pretty to eat. This wedding shoot was captured beautifully by Anita from Rhythm Photography as well as Norris from Norris Films. Both photos and video showcased this timeless occasion for years to come.

Photography: Rhythm Photography | Cinematography: Norris Films | Cake: Sugar Tiers | Hair and Makeup: Muah Beauty | Suit: Wingmen Suits | Bridal Gowns: Elmwood Brides | Ceremony/Reception: Airship 37 | Chairs: Chairman Mills | Jewellery: The Loved One | Models: Orange Model Management | Wedding Planner and Stylist: A Blush Moment

Sometimes “getting there” is almost as fun as the destination itself and that sentiment certainly holds true in wedding planning. Just take this Minneapolis couple who took the “chore” out of invitation assembly by making it a full-blown party. Along with industry pros, Jill Elaine Designs, Rosann Konieczny, Maven and more, they rounded up drinks, donuts, and good friends to turn a tedious task into an evening to remember. See all the fun in the gallery captured by Lucas Botz and snag tips to host your own Invite Assembly Party from Park Place Planning & Events.

Make Sure You Have Adequate Space: A large table to spread out on is key so you have enough room for all of your suite pieces and space for assembly.

Set the Tone: Have some fun beverages and lite bites but keep them away from your pretty stationery. Upbeat music to keep the group going is key!

Have a Plan: Assemble a suite ahead of time so you know and can show your guests the proper steps and order of assembly. Consider setting up a cute diagram or list to help direct your friends.

Pick Up Your Stamps Ahead of Time: Just remember to get your suite weighed ahead of time at the post office you plan to mail from so you know exactly how much postage your suite requires.

HAVE FUN! This should be a fun part of your wedding planning experience!

From the Planner… As a wedding planner I want my couples to enjoy every minute of the process– from finding the perfect location to the last dance and everything in between; I want the whole experience to be memorable and as stress-free as possible. It’s easy to underestimate the amount of work required to assemble a wedding suite so when it came time to plan my sister’s wedding, I partnered with the talented Jill Elaine to surprise her with an assembly party. Putting the invitation together… together was not only more efficient, it was the perfect excuse to gather family and friends to celebrate another step in this beautiful journey. We spent the morning indulging in donuts and coffee and catching up on each other’s lives outside of wedding planning. We also succeeded in folding, stamping, stuffing, and sealing 80 invitations. I love being able to look back and see my sister and her fiancé’s smiles. I was honored to create and share this moment with them.

From the Bride… I know I shock no one when I say that weddings are a lot of work (even weddings where your maid of honor is a professional planner), so I was thrilled when I learned that Ty and I would have help putting together our beautifully designed but rather elaborately constructed invitations. I was even more excited when I learned that the day would also involve drinks and donuts as well as my family and friends. I highly recommend turning menial planning tasks into parties whenever possible; not only does it save you work, it allows you to spend quality time with those closest to you before things really get crazy.

From the Designer… As a custom stationery designer, I try to take the “chore” out of assembling the wedding invitation suite. It should be a fun part of the planning process– a time to get together with family and friends to celebrate your upcoming nuptials and check an item off your to-do list at the same time. I adore packaging, so many times my clients and I will dream up a beautiful way to present the wedding invitation suite to their guests. Unfortunately, assembling a beautifully packaged invitation usually involves a number of time-consuming steps. This was certainly the case with Anna and Ty. The invitation was packaged with a translucent vellum paper, tied with a gold string, and affixed with a wax seal. To simplify the process, we put together an assembly to-do list: seven steps that hung on the wall to serve as a how-to as well as an art piece. I’m very lucky to be studio neighbors with LAB Minneapolis, a light-filled, beautiful open space with large tables perfect for invitation assembly. But you could easily host an assembly party at your home, an artist’s studio, or a private room at your favorite restaurant or coffee shop. Turn the process into a get-together with food, cocktails, and good company, and celebrate sending out your first invitation together as a couple.

Photography: Lucas Botz Photography | Floral Design: Maven | Bakery: A Baker's Wife | Stationery: Jill Elaine Designs | Hair: River Jade | Attire: Hazel & Rose | Calligraphy + Silk Ribbon: Shasta Bell Calligraphy | Chair Rentals: The Seatery | Invitation Calligraphy: Rosann Konieczny Calligrapher | Invitation Illustration: Carrie DeBacker | Planning: Park Place Planning & Events | Rental Space: LAB MPLS | Rentals + Styling: Collected Rentals | Ring Box: The Mrs Box

If old-world glamour speaks to your wedding love language, this collection of images by Cadence Kennedy and film from BETSI EWING STUDIO will be just for you. Beginning with black and gold stationery by Momental Designs and ending with an epic sparklers send-off, there’s no better spot to kick off your Friday than the gallery right here.

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From the Bride… John and I met at a party in SOHO on my favorite day of the year; April 1st. As we laughed and danced to the band that was playing, I began to realize that this may be my April Fool! Our subsequent dates took us all over Manhattan, exploring restaurants and cityscapes with a relaxed vibe that came to define our relationship.

As we looked for a wedding venue, we both instantly fell in love with the easy elegance of the de Seversky Mansion on Long Island. It had the flair and history of a mansion built in the 1920’s with an intimacy in which our guests could unwind and have fun. Momental Designs captured its essence with hand-painted, gold accented invitations in the likeness of our venue’s grand foyer and chandelier. I found a gown by Berta Bridal with a scalloped, pearl design and deep V-neck, showcasing both old-world glamour and a modern, playful cut. The de Seversky staff did an amazing job accommodating a special timeline of events that lent itself to the type of evening we envisioned.

Following our church ceremony, we hosted a sprawling cocktail hour then gathered our guests for a formal sit-down dinner in the ballroom, with a pianist playing softly in the background so that our guests could enjoy each other’s company over a great meal, while we reveled in our first hours as husband and wife. After dinner, guests were welcomed into the glass garden room to enjoy our favorite band in the world, Atomic Funk Project, who brought down the house while interacting with the crowd for the rest of the night. The dance party spilled out onto the patio, where guests enjoyed fire pits and a cigar bar under the moonlight.

The whole day felt unreal, but Cadence Kennedy Photography proved it was with her magical imagery captured from start to finish. We knew that Cadence’s airy and whimsy photography style, teamed with Betsi Ewing Studio’s artistic videography would bring to life the special moments as we felt them; like we were in a dream! Our favorite photos reflect the greatest small moment of our special day when we snuck outside to witness the sunset and to take it all in.

We wound up practicing our first dance (that we made up only 3 nights prior!) and laughed through our stumbles. John and I spent most of our wedding night laughing and dancing to the band that was playing, which is exactly the way that we started, as April fools in love.

Photography: Cadence Kennedy Photography Collection | Videography: BETSI EWING WEDDINGS | Flowers: Petals Party & Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Berta Bridal | Wedding Cake: J’aime Les Bon Bons | Wedding Invitations: Momental Designs | Reception Venue: De Seversky Mansion | Shoes: Sergio Rossi | Makeup : Julissa Lopez | Hair : Jennifer Lyn | Calligraphy: Carmel French | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Wedding Band: Band- Atomic Funk Project

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BETSI EWING WEDDINGS

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It is safe to say that most people’s idea of a dream wedding includes a chateau in the French countryside. The scenery, the romance, the food… it’s the kind of destination that lends itself perfectly to a gorgeous celebration of love. And gorgeous is the key word. Think blooms upon blooms crafted by Lily Paloma, an intimate yet incredibly romantic designed by Fete in France and then there’s all the imagery by 2 Brides Photography. All in all, it’s a francophile or lover of travel’s dream.

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From Fete in France… College sweethearts, Ven and Adrian, knew they wanted a beautiful location in the French countryside that would be able to bring together the romance of France, their passion for gastronomy yet still be accessible for their international guests coming to their intimate destination wedding. With the help of Fête in France they were able to find the peaceful and bucolic Château de Bouelles. This chic retreat is surrounded by fields and cows, but also has a maze, a rose garden, a hunter’s cottage, and such creature comforts as a heated pool, sauna, fitness room and tennis courts. The weekend started with a rustic rehearsal dinner under the arches of 100-year-old trees on the property. Women were wearing flower-crowns and they ate a delicious local spit-roast suckling pig as the sunset and the candlelit flickered. The wedding day featured an outdoor ceremony under a floral arch full of unique rituals. One example is a vase filled with water by the bride and groom, then each guest adding a rose to make their special bouquet. Cocktails were then served in the formal gardens and dinner in the château. French touches included vintage candlesticks, porcelain and a beautiful table runner full of fresh greenery and flowers. We could describe this enchanting wedding in a million ways; talking about all details; flowers, gardens, ceremony, the table set-up, or even the gorgeous custom-made wedding dress by the bride’s mother, etc… but it is better to hear it directly from the bride. 

From the Bride…  A destination wedding was the best option for us as we had family and friends travelling from all over the globe. We chose the French countryside for the beautiful scenery, outdoor atmosphere, and access to exceptional food. Chateau de Bouelles was a perfect fit for us because we were truly able to enjoy the wedding weekend with our family and friends. The exquisite gardens won us over, as early on we easily envisioned incredible outdoor festivities. The setting and location of the chateau allowed our guests time to explore the region in between wedding events. We had a very dependable planner that understood our vision. Our wedding was absolutely stress free and enjoyable in every way imaginable, we couldn’t have executed it without her.

I had tried on many beautiful dresses, several which felt alright but none that were quite spot on. It needed to be classic but not stuffy. I wanted it fuss free and a dress I could move around in and not need help while walking. After months searching and not finding quite the dress, my mother offered to make my dress. It took lots of phone calls and several flights but it was a beautiful way to include her in both the plans and on the wedding day.

Photography: 2 Brides Photography | Event Planning: Fete in France | Floral Design: Lily Paloma | Wedding Dress: Mother of the bride | Stationery: The bride | Reception Venue: Chateau De Bouelles | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Entertainment: Jazz Around Midnight | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Groom's ring : Harry Winston | Groom's shoes: Georgio Armani | Hair & Make-up artist: Trine Juel | Rentals: Options | Rentals: Vaisselle Vintage | Ring box: The Mrs Box | Stationery printing : Sesame Letterpress | Veil : Twigs & Honey | Wine: Madame Wine

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Fete in France

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2 Brides Photography

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