It’s weddings like this that make me wish I could get married all over again. Complete with beautiful blooms and the ultimate outdoor ceremony, Brushfire Photography has snapped it all to share and you’re sure to fall madly in love with each and every detail. See it all in The Vault!

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From Brushfire Photography…Lea & Jack’s Outdoor Desert Wedding was such a beautiful display. Working with Ashley Gain Weddings to bring their vision to life was the perfect fit for their day. Lea loves floral and wanted to incorporate as much as possible. The outdoor setting was perfect for a spring wedding in Arizona with a warm sunny day finished with a nice cool evening. Paradise Valley Country Club has some stunning views of the desert mountains as well as lots of nice greens. Add in all the lovely blooms and the place came to life! The tent was designed to give an intimate space for dinner without taking away from the evening views of the mountains. So it was an open tent with drapery allowing for some nice hanging decor and greens to accent the head table.

Photography: Brushfire Photography LLC | Cinematography: Everly Films | Event Design: Ashley Gain Weddings and Events | Floral Design: The Flower Studio | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: Celebrations in Paper | Venue: Paradise Valley Country Club | Drapery: Quest Drape | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Photography - Assistance: Marisa Belle | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals Phoenix | Rentals: Event Rents- Phoenix

Any wedding that begins with this colored stone ring is certain to be stunning. And no surprise, it beautifully set the stage for a backyard wedding filled with homey charm and Brianna Wilbur Photography + Matt Stambaugh Media didn’t miss a single beat. Lots more this way!

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From Brianna Wilbur…There’s no better way to celebrate marriage then to be with all your friends and family, in the evening summer air, beneath twinkling market lights and a sky of stars. This Pennsylvania backyard, navy infused, farm wedding has down home charm with a touch of whimsical, colorful florals. The picnic style farm tables & benches fostered such a relational, loving reception. Her ring will make any vintage, colored gemstone loving gal’s heart just sing!

Photography: Brianna Wilbur Photography | Cinematography: Matt Stambaugh Media | Coordination: Susan Moran And Cindy Snow | Floral Design: Fosters Flowers | Wedding Dress: Casablanca | Cake: Central Manor Bakery | Invitations: Persnickety Invitation Studio | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: David's Bridal | Catering: Artistic Foods LLC | Makeup: The Bonafide Ginger | Hair: Joanne Colyer | DJ: Klock Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Venue: At Home | Bridal Boutique: Renaissance Bridals | Draping + Lighting: Shumaker PDT | Rentals: Weir Event Rentals | Vintage Rentals: Swoon Vintage Rentals

Although Celeste and Chris hail from Brooklyn, they chose to swap sand for skyscrapers and wed in paradise (and honestly – can we blame them?). Inviting Jamie Mercurio along to capture every Caribbean detail, it’s tropical meets timeless and we’ve got it all in The Vault!

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From Jamie Mercurio…As I sit down to write a bit about this incredible island wedding, I am (as usual) struggling to find words to describe how truly amazing this day was. The colors! The views of Mount Nevis and St. Kitts! The gorgeous family and friends that surrounded Celeste and Chris…The love! So, so much love.

Celeste and Chris hail from Brooklyn, New York, but Celeste’s father is from Nevis, so she grew up traveling to the gorgeous Island and her family has a home there. The two decided to hold their wedding celebration on the island, and it was simply magical. Their ceremony was held at at Cottle Church – a gorgeously historic church built in the early 1800s with dramatic views of Mount Nevis in the background. The wedding was officiated by Celeste’s father, with beautiful spoken pieces woven in by other family members – but I think my favorite part was watching Chris watch Celeste walk down the aisle. These two have so much love for each other.

After the ceremony, we took some portraits with the sun setting behind Mount Nevis, and headed to Paradise Beach for an incredible party. Dreamy twinkle lights surrounded tables and a dance floor was set up in the sand beside the bright blue Caribbean ocean. Guests toasted the couple with heartfelt speeches, enjoyed a beautiful dinner, and danced the night away to the most fun band I’ve ever seen. Beach bonfires and late-night swimming were the perfect way to cap the perfect night.

Photography: Jamie Mercurio | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Ceremony Venue: Cottle Church | Reception Venue: Paradise Beach Nevis | Catering: Cottle Church | Makeup: Fache Beauty | Hair: Stylist Marina | Band: Green House Band | Event Planning + Decor: Dianne Brisbane Design

When it comes to sentimental wedding details, we like to think that a venue reigns supreme. And for this darling duo? Well, let’s just say that where they chose to wed held a lot of happy memories for the bride. From childhood sandcastles to one sweet ceremony, Dash Photography captured every sweet detail to share and it’s all waiting in The Vault!

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From Dash Photography…The bride, Grace, grew up on the beaches of Carillon at her grandparent’s beach house. She has memory after memory with her family in the little community, and was set on getting married there. James, Grace’s groom, fell in love with the quaint little beach community as well. Grace’s now 94 year old grandfather, along with her grandmother, welcomed friends and family to Carillon for a weekend of festivities. Grace and James said “I Do” with handwritten vows under a beautiful floral canopy on the same beach Grace built sandcastles on, then shut down the main street for dinner and dancing under palm trees and twinkle lights. It was such a sweet way for Grace to start her own family with James at a place so dear to her and the rest of her family.

Photography: Dash Photography | Event Planning: Carillon Beach Weddings | Floral Design: Fisher's Flowers | Wedding Dress: Willowby-Watters | Cake: Cakes By Tanis | Ceremony Venue: Carillon Village Green | Reception Venue: Carillon Beach Main Street | Bride's Shoes: Chinese Laundry | Jewelry: Kendra Scott Jewelry | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Tulle And Chantilly | Catering: Signature Catering of 30A | Hair + Makeup: Tania Crawford | DJ: GTS Weddings | Groom's Attire: Express | Bridal Dress Purchase: The White Magnolia | Bridal Tanks: Gnarly Grail | Bridesmaids' Jewelry: Cloverpost via Honey and Hazel Boutique | Flash Tattoss: Daydream Prints | Groom's Shoes: Vans | Linens: Destin Wedding Linens | Music and Photobooth: Gulf Talent Services | Rentals: H&M

You made it to Friday, in the dog days of summer no less, so I declare a necessary celebration. And so I present to you a wedding full of rustic, glam details – starting with this Berta Bridal dress. The intricate lace – from the stunning v-neck to those elegant long sleeves – have me rethinking all my wedding dress dreams. Tamara Gruner captured the whole look and more – including this bouquet from Fionna Floral that I predict will be all over Pinterest within hours. See it all starting now!

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From the Bride… We were living in California when we got engaged, but knew we wanted to get married in our hometown of Chicago with all of our family and friends. We both grew up in the Chicagoland area, and went to college and lived in the city, so we knew we wanted to have our ceremony in the city. Holy Name Cathedral has always been a special church for me growing up, with its beautiful architecture and long history in Chicago.

We wanted an intimate and romantic space for the reception, and we found the perfect room at Concorde Banquets. The big windows overlooking the grounds, the soft lighting, and delicious food made the entire evening magical.

I have always had a picture in my mind of what my gown would look like – anything but ordinary. My style is very simple but detail oriented. The silhouette of the dress is very elegant, but the lace adds a layer of romance I knew would blow Daniel away. The dress struck the right balance between modesty and sexy. While I didn’t initially look for a long-sleeved dress, my mother’s wedding dress was also long-sleeved – so when I tried it on, and it fit like a glove – I knew it was meant to be.

It was very important to both Daniel and I to bring our California life into the wedding. The colors we chose – dusty blues, muted jade greens, ivory and slate gray with a touch of blush – were inspired by the colors of the Pacific ocean. The soft gold in the chairs, votives and decor brought the warmth of the California sun. My former boss and good friends from Fionna Floral in Santa Cruz flew the flowers and herself from California and provided the lush, intimate, romantic setting that evoked the sunsets off of the Pacific Coast Highway that we cherish.

Our theme phrase was “Love in a Mist”, reminiscent of our days at the beach in California. The flowers in the long, cascade bridal bouquet were white and blue veronica, dusty blue hydrangea, tillandsia, garden roses in ivory tones, tulips, green hanging amaranthus, dusty miller, eucalyptus, passion vine, air plants, and some olive leaves and berries. The boutonnieres were white roses, lilac, olive/bay leaves and berries.

We wanted our guests to have a piece of our wedding that lasted longer than the night, so we bought baby succulents from California with little white pails for them to take home as a reminder that love continues to grow with the proper care.

Photography: Tamara Gruner Photography | Floral Design: Fionna Floral | Wedding Dress: Berta | Cake: Central Continental Bakery | Ceremony Venue: Holy Name Cathedral | Reception Venue: Concorde Banquets | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Rings: Cartier | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Catering: Concorde Banquets | DJ: DJ Leon | Groom's Attire: Prada | Bride's Handbag: Prada | Earrings: Helmut Lang from FarFetch | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Groom's Ring: Benchmark

It’s a well know fact that every SMP girl loves a little sparkle, and this beautiful bride? Well she’s certainly no different. Planning an elegant outdoor affair complete with a handmade pergola (that her father made for the ceremony!), it’s sweet meets sentimental and thankfully Amy Arrington Photography captured it all to share in The Vault!

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From the Bride…Will and I met at a UGA tailgate with mutual friends and went on our first date the next weekend. We fell in love so quickly, and only 5 months later we got engaged on a vacation together in St. Lucia!

We wanted our wedding to have a rustic/glam feel. We both love a beautiful setting and loved the idea of getting married outside. When we toured Foxhall, we both immediately agreed we didn’t want to look anywhere else. We chose the last weekend in August, because it was the last weekend before SEC football started. If you know anything about UGA fans, every game is important to them. Because August is so hot, we wanted a quick ceremony that could be followed by an indoor reception. This made Foxhall’s Legacy Lookout the perfect combination.

The biggest thing that we wanted for our wedding weekend was for everyone to have a stress free time all together. We rented homes on the property for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to stay in, and it was the best decision we made. It made it so easy to get dressed and spend the day together with your best friends.

As far as the look of the wedding I wanted all the sparkle to be in the dresses. I actually found my bridesmaid’s dresses before I found my wedding gown! There is a boutique in London called River Island that carried this dress, and the girls were able to get them off of Asos without the shipping delay. All of the girls looked stunning! As for my dress, I didn’t want the traditional wedding gown. Sisters know best! My sister actually picked out my wedding dress after hours of trying on dresses and not finding “the one”. I was putting my clothes back on to leave the bridal store, when she walked in my dressing room with this beautiful Maggie Sottero gown. As soon as I put it on I knew it was exactly what I wanted. The champagne dress with the ivory overlay and beading was perfection. I let my bridal party be the “sparkle” at the wedding and kept everything else mostly monochromatic. I love simple beauty. We had a mixture of greenery and white florals, with hints of gold. We also made sure to have farm tables to use for our buffet tables as well as our head table. I love the look of a farm table with greenery as a runner. Amberly with Wrennwood Design took my vision and made it a reality.

Three special memories, stories, or details from your wedding day?

My dad loves to build things as a hobby. He wanted to make something for my wedding day, and took on the task of making the Pergola we were married under. He spent months building this in a way that it could be taken apart and transported from our family farm in South Georgia to our wedding site. It completely made the wedding. It was so gorgeous and more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. The draping and flowers made it even more beautiful. Walking out and seeing it for the first time was breathtaking. It was such a special wedding gift made with love from my father, and now is something we have in our back yard that we can remember as being part of our wedding day.

Seeing Will for the first time at our first look was an amazing memory I will never forget. I’m so glad we decided to do a first look. It is such an intimate moment that you get to share together. I can’t describe the feeling of seeing him all dressed up and nervous at the end of that bridge. His face seeing me was priceless and filled with love.

My great grandmother was such an important part of my life. She passed away the summer before our wedding. Her handkerchief was my original something blue before my sweet husband surprised me with a beautiful aquamarine ring. Her handkerchief was pinned around my bouquet. A small piece of her with us on my wedding day.

If I could offer one piece of wisdom to couples currently planning a wedding, I would tell them that everything will work out. Just remember that you are getting married! No one will notice the small things that don’t go right. Keep your focus off of the small imperfections and on the fact that you are marrying the love of your life. It will be the most amazing day; I promise.

Photography: Amy Arrington Photography | Cinematography: Pursuit Productions | Event Planning: Wrennwood Design | Floral Design: Wrennwood Design | Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero | Cake: Lulu's Oven | Stationery: Wrennwood Design | Catering: Simply Catering | Makeup: Flawless Beauty Atlanta Alicia | Band: EastCoast Entertainment | Venue: Foxhall Resort And Sporting Club | Rentals: Blue Eyed Yonder

It’s pretty much a guarantee that anything Chrissy McDonald of Harlowe James is gramming, we’re going to double tap. She has a crazy chic sense of style and it so carries through to her bedroom design. She crafted a space that not only doesn’t break the bank but is infused with massive design savvy. And guess who already bought that headboard? muah. It’s only $130, do you blame me?

I spend a lot of time in my room, so it was important to create a clean, inviting environment. I am a huge fan of natural light, but this room only has one small window, so i painted the walls a pretty white (chantilly lace by benjamin moore). This immediately helped lighten the space.

However, I did not want a sea of white so i painted the ceiling a soft grey (grey owl by benjamin moore) for balance. My bedroom also serves as my office, so my boyfriend built a custom desk and shelves in an open alcove. This has made such a difference and helped a lot with storage. I don’t have much closet space, so the shelves above my desk now serve as a display for some of my shoes and design books.

My bed is my sanctuary and I love all white linens. Occasionally I throw on some colorful throw pillows to brighten up the space, but overall i like a clean aesthetic.

 For as long as I can remember I have had a fascination with John F. Kennedy so needless to say my favorite piece in the room is the framed photograph of him above my bed. It serves as the focal point of my room and is definitely a conversation starter whenever someone sees it.

Sources

Headboard: Overstock | JFK Print: Art.com | Bedding: Anthropologie | Throw Pillows: Target, Anthropologie | Desk Lamp: Target | Bedside Lamp: Target | Mirror: Anthropologie | Desk Chair: World Market | Ring Dish: The Paris Market | Art: collected from all over, audrey hepburn print from paris, hand drawn alfred hitchcock | Throw Blankets: Anthropologie (old)

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Best Ever Bedroom DIY's

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Best Ever Bedroom DIY's

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Design and Styling: Chrissy McDonald

I don’t know about you, but this intimate NYC wedding is giving me all the feels. Captured by Caroline Yoon Fine Art Photography, it;s an artist inspired ceremony that’s sure to surprise. From the minimal details, to the turkish towel favors, we’ve got it all waiting for you to favorite via The Vault!

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From Caroline Yoon Fine Art Photography…Bernadette and Andrew are both artists who reside in Brooklyn. They made the decision to have a romantic elopement in Houston, Texas with just their families and throw a reception party in NYC to celebrate with their friends. The party was a great reflection of their style. Bernadette had a clear vision for her party to be minimal, classic, and cool. She had a jazz band, signature cocktails, turkish towels as favors for the guests, and a cake table with three elegant cakes. Fox Fodder Farm provided the stunning florals, and the sprig of jasmine upon each place card and napkin was a lovely touch. It was a joy to photograph this intimate reception and all the beautiful details.

Photography: Caroline Yoon Fine Art Photography | Floral Design: Fox Fodder Farm | Wedding Dress: Alexander McQueen | Bride's Shoes: Celine | Catering: Narcissa | Venue: The Standard East Village

Now this is what we call a wedding inspiration! Combining ethereal watercolor hues with contrasting urban elements, Luna de Mare Photography has captured it all to share. From the Seniman Calligraphy, to the high fashion details, we’ve got it all waiting in The Vault!

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From Luna de Mare Photography…The inspiration and concept were drawn from the watercolor Ink skirt created by the designer. We wanted to incorporate the tones and moodiness of the Gown and use it in contrast with the softness and tones of the florals in season, and build a traditional table scape in an industrial space. We then decided to use an intricate set with a floral installation as a backdrop to juxtapose against the stark loft which offered a blank canvas to play with. Creating movement and playfulness was key in order to produce a high fashion modern look, while still maintaining a soft aesthetic.

Tones were played off each other, rather than trying to keep it all cohesive. Peaches and pinks were used against hues of Indigo. The textures of concrete, marble and linen were used in combination with food and florals, and used to soften and compliment. Industrial meets High Fashion with a relatable flair.

Photography: Luna de Mare Photography | Wedding Dress: Sweet Caroline | Ring: Susie Saltzman | Hair + Makeup: Chiali Meng | Calligraphy: Seniman Calligraphy | Venue: Private Loft | Agency: Kevin Challinor | Creative Direction: Luna de Mare Photography | Floral Design, Creative Direction + Design: Jenn Sanchez Design | Model: Kevin Challinor | Ribbon + Runner: Silk and Willow

Pack your bags dear readers because we’re headed to California. Specifically, Carmel Valley so we can revel in the pretty that is this inspiration from Samantha Kirk Photography. From the Gavita Flora blooms, to the lovely La Tavola Fine Linen Rental, to the fabulous Bright Event Rentals, we’ve got a preview of the pretty waiting for you to pin in The Vault!

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From Gavita Flora…The backdrop of our shoot is the beautiful garden of Bernardus Lodge, which is nestled in the scenic rolling hills of Carmel Valley. Inspired by the natural beauty of the rose garden, as well as the luxurious interiors of the lodge, we wanted to create a design that felt romantic, elegant, and dreamy. Velvet linens in the prettiest shades of lavender gray and lilac, lush florals in mauvey pinks and creams, and hints of gold and burgundy accents are some of the details that make this shoot simply charming.

Photography: Samantha Kirk Photography | Wedding Dress: Willow by Watters | Cake: Freedom Bakery And Confections | Hair + Makeup: Julie Dy | Calligraphy + Invitations: Kelsey Malie Calligraphy | Suit: Tuxedo Wearhouse | Wedding Venue: Bernardus Lodge | Bouquet Ribbon: Silk and Willow | Bridal Salon: Epiphany Boutique | Event Design + Floral Design: Gavita Flora | Lab: Pro Photo Irvine | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Male Model: Mitchell Lujan | Model: Iryna Korolenko | Modeling Agency: HM Models | Rentals: Bright Event Rentals | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Silk Table Runner: The Poetry of Silk

Once you’ve found the perfect wedding dress — now, it’s time to find the perfect underpinnings for the big day, big night and beyond! And the best place to find all your pretty lingerie? Journelle, the one-stop shop for fashion-forward luxury lingerie from all your favorite designers. From stylish shapewear to slinky chemises, Journelle has lingerie for every step of your wedding and newlywed bliss.

Lingerie for Every Bride

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Lingerie for Every Bride

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I’m officially taking the plunge with a room we’re renovating in our home and going all white, all the way. And as blah as that might seem, I’m super excited about the design opportunities white brings with it. From going bold with the decor to playing with texture, white is a boundless ‘color’ with endless possibilities. See how you can take your all-white room to the next level with these 13 tips!

13 Ways To Dress Up an All-White Painted Room

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13 Ways To Dress Up an All-White Painted Room

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I like unique branding. Stand out from the crowd, make something really, truly your own. So it didn’t take long (we’re talking seconds) of seeing Larissa Cleveland’s pics of this Pebble Beach wedding and the ah-mazing octopus logo to fall head over heels for this celebration. From stationery to the epic dance floor, our 8-legged friend makes one stylish appearance after another. See it all in our Vault this way!

From the Bride… Wow, we were so lucky to have the wedding of our dreams! Brad and I probably had been to over 40 weddings combined before we had the opportunity to plan our own. They were all gorgeous and special in their own way.

After we had basked in the happiness of our engagement (which lasted about 24 hours before the rapid fire of question began), Brad and I knew one thing about our wedding – it would take place at my parents’ home in Pebble Beach, California. My younger sister had the most gorgeous wedding there just a month prior to our engagement and my older sister had been married there over 15 years ago. Their weddings were perfect and both so different, each matching their beautiful personalities.

Like every bride, I began combing through magazines, websites, Pinterest… and I started to get overwhelmed. I had received advice from my wedding planner, Katie Crow, and Heath Alan Ray from Jackson Durham Events to think more about interior design spaces. After this advice, everything clicked!

My mother and I have both shared a great passion for interior design – we love colors, patterns, mix matching, bright, happy spaces that both reflect tradition and modern designs. We had a blast pulling together the fun ikats, the bright colors, the layers of pillows, the draping blankets, the contrasting water glasses and mixed up tablecloths. We were certain we did not want it to look like any other wedding.

Brad and I love entertaining at our home in Richmond, Virginia and we were so fortunate to have our family and friends at my parents’ home in Pebble Beach, California. We wanted our wedding to reflect the two of us and our life together. We picked pieces and elements that reflected entertaining at home – from the whicker placemats, the linen napkins, the easy, bright florals, the blue and white vases and plates. These are all the things we use to entertain with.

Food and wine – those were the most important especially when thinking of entertaining at home. Brad loves wine and there was lots of pressure that we would have some fun wines to serve our guests. Brad picked all our favorite wines through Kent at the Cheese Shop. They were local California wines that showcased the region. We also worked with Paradise Catering to pick out a fun at home menu. All the ingredients came from the Carmel Valley and needless to say, it was delicious.

Through the weekend we carried the theme of an octopus, which culminated with the octopus on the dance floor. In college I was an studio art major and did a whole series on octopus and currently in our home we have a large octopus triptych – Lord Bodner to be specific. This was just another way we were able to tie our home into the weekend.

Our wedding was perfect. It represented our home, our family, and our love of food and wine. Thank you to all the wonderful vendors who helped make it possible!

Photography: Larissa Cleveland Photography | Coordination: Katie McCann Crow | Floral Design: Jackson Durham Events | Wedding Dress: Carolina Herrera | Cake: Layers Sensational Cakes | Invitations: Ellis Hill | Ceremony Venue: Church In The Forest | Reception Venue: Private Estate | Catering: Paradise Catering | Makeup: Maitee Miles | Calligraphy: Laurie Harper | Beverage Services: The Cheese Shop | Pre-ceremony Location: Pebble Beach Resorts | Rentals: Chic Event Rentals

If there’s one thing that brightens my day, it’s without fail a beautiful bunch of blooms. As wedding and lifestyle editors, we’ve naturally become somewhat of flower connoisseurs around these parts. And we’ve also come to know and adore their pretty names, which happen to make for some uber lovely baby girl names as well! From Fleur to Aster to Calla, take your pick (no pun intended!) right here.

50 Beautiful Baby Girl Names Inspired by Flowers

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50 Beautiful Baby Girl Names Inspired by Flowers

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Paper Wisteria Backdrop DIY for a Flower-Inspired Shower

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See our full baby name archives here!

When Jessica and Evan began planning their downtown Richmond, Virgina wedding they knew exactly the vibe they were going for – modern and urban yet thoughtful and intimate. They chose a color palette of blush, burgundy, and champagne to anchor their design, including the groom’s custom suit that fit the day to a T. Photographed by Shannon Moffit and filmed by Tristan Means, we’re pretty certain your Thursday just got infinitely prettier. Pssst: more in The Vault!

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From Shannon Moffit Photography…Jessica and Evan’s wedding day was a perfect reflection of their relationship and style; urban bohemian meets modern romance. Out of town guests got a great taste of Richmond; we started the day at the gorgeously renovated Quirk Hotel, attended an intimate ceremony at St. Joseph’s Villa, and concluded the day with reception festivities at The Boathouse at Rockett’s Landing downtown. The color palette include classically romantic blush and champagne with a fun pop of burgundy. Overall, this wedding was a unique and lovely experience!

From The Bride…After living in Houston, TX for over a year, I decided that I was ready to be closer to friends and family. I packed up everything and relocated to Richmond, VA. During this time, I decided that I really wanted to focus on my career and experience true Richmond culture. To do that, I chose a restored apartment building, in the downtown area close to several restaurants. I had a very structured routine. Work. Gym. Dinner. Repeat. And then it happened serendipitously…three weeks into my routine I came home, changed into workout gear and made my way down to the gym.

In my head, I remember thinking today is going to be my cardio day so I’ll do some interval training on treadmill. While walking to the gym I passed through our residential common area that consisted of the usual recreational activities (pool table, billiards, etc.) and noticed that there was someone new shooting pool. That’s when Evan caught my eye. He must have noticed, or maybe it was just mutual because he came up and approached me to start a conversation. Nearly 30 minutes later we exchanged numbers and returned to our separate lives. I headed to the gym and he and his buddy resumed shooting Pool. Over the next couple of days we constantly ran into each other and decided that we should hang out.

Neither one of us was from the Richmond area so companionship was something we both craved. For our first date, we walked for hours downtown along the canal and then concluded on the steps of the Richmond, VA capital building. We both knew early on that this would be something different for us. Though the chemistry and attraction were undeniable, we also genuinely liked and had a mutual respect for the other person. Though we were both initially hesitant about the prospect of dating one another because we lived in the same apartment building, and as we all know that can either turn out to be really good or really….awkward. We figured that the consequence of not trying would fully outweigh the risk of trying and it not working.

Evan and I were dating for a year and a half before he proposed on Valentine’s Day 2015. About two months leading up to Valentine’s Day I remember Evan saying that we had to do something special this year. We drove downtown and he pulled up to the capitol (the site of our first unofficial date) and parked. I remember thinking, ok sir….well-played. Everyone loves a walk down memory lane. So we hopped out of the car and began walking. I remember the wind ferociously blowing in my face and thinking what is so important that we have to be out in the cold right now. And then it hit me. Butterflies. Sweaty palms. All of it at once. And I remember thinking to myself, “Jess, maybe he’s about to propose. Is this what it feels like for a woman before she gets proposed to?” And then I remember thinking to myself, “Nope, Jess that’s not it. It’s a holiday and he said he’d never propose on a holiday.”

He started talking and reminiscing on our first date at the capitol and how this was the place where he came to think after work months ago and realized that he was so in love with me and how today this place wouldn’t be the place of our first date or how he realized he was love in love with me but rather the place where he decided he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. As soon as we climbed the top of the stairs, he reached in his coat, got down on one knee and proposed. With sweaty palms and joyfully misty eyes, I accepted his proposal and jumped into his arms so excited to spend forever with my love and best friend. On the way back to his car, I couldn’t help but turn around and catch another glimpse at the stairs of the capitol building. The capitol has always held a special place for us.

Because most of our wedding guests were traveling to Richmond from other cities and states we really wanted to give them a taste of Richmond. For guest hotels we opted for Quirk Hotel which is a new rendition of the 1916 upscale department store and then the Courtyard Marriott located in historic Shockoe Bottom. For our ceremony we wanted to choose a location that would reflect our spirituality while also reflect our love of giving back to the community. The church at St. Joseph’s Villa seemed like the natural choice. Once a former orphanage, St. Joseph’s Villa now serves the Richmond area as a leading nonprofit by providing support and housing to those suffering with intellectual developmental disabilities, mental health challenges and homelessness. All proceeds from the church go to support their efforts. Lastly, we needed to secure a place for the reception. Here in Richmond, the James River flows aimlessly and effortlessly throughout the city. We wanted our friends and family to have an urban experience and a view of Richmond’s best landmarks so choosing to have our Reception at the Boathouse at Rockett’s Landing was the obvious choice. Nestled on the River, The Boathouse offered violet and pink sunsets, city skylines and river breezes. Finally our venues were done.

Our wedding color palette reflects our personalities: Blush, burgundy, and champagne. Evan opted for a custom made burgundy suit and I landed my ivory Casablanca dress from a boutique here in Richmond, Sealed with a Kiss Bridal. The bridesmaids wore blush with pops of burgundy detailed on lips, nails and bouquets. Similarly, the moms were champagne with pops of burgundy as well. Now that we had our attire we had to ensure that we selected the right person to capture images and to tell our love story. We met with and interviewed with quite a few photographers and once we met Shannon we knew she would be perfect. She has exceeded every single expectation and worked seamlessly with our videographer Tristan Means.

I was lucky enough to work with my future sister-in-law, Tomeisha Dean. Evan and I seriously couldn’t have pulled this off without her. She worked as our day-of wedding coordinator and worked with us during the months leading up to the wedding to discuss our wedding details and ensure that everything flowed seamlessly. She’s planned a number of events and her experience and at times wedding planning can be so overwhelming and it’s important to connect with your partner. Dates with non-wedding talk and quality time with friends and family really helped to keep us grounded and sane throughout our wedding process. Once our wedding day came, it was so AMAZING to see how everything came together and how our vision of a modern, urban, and intimate wedding came together!

Photography: Shannon Moffit Photography | Cinematography: Tristan Means | Event Planning: Tomeisha Dean | Floral Design: Black Creek Flowers & Sweets | Wedding Dress: Sealed With A Kiss | Cake: Couture Cakes by Melissa | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Ceremony Venue: St. Joseph's Villa | Reception Venue: The Boathouse At Rocketts Landing | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Makeup: Holly Byrd Miller | Hair: Kadouri | Groom's Attire: Calvin Klein | Bridal Boutique: Sealed With A Kiss | Getting Ready Venue: Quirk Hotel

With a vision of “a glamorous garden party with the nostalgia of Palm Springs,” this all-star team of creatives dreamt up this tropical bridal shower editorial we want to dive right into. Palm leaves and pineapples, bright colors and signature cocktails — this shoot from Charla Storey Photography, The Southern Table, Southern Fried Paper, Bella Acento, Layered Bake Shop and Natalia Issa is a summer dream.

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From Charla Storey…Our vision was to combine a glamorous garden party with the nostalgia of Palm Springs. Graphic elements of palm leaves, pineapples and whimsical flamingos are featured throughout the party accessories designed by Southern Fried Paper.

“Our team was thinking what we would all love for a summer bash and we kept coming back to gold pineapples and palm leaves. We wanted to make these special details that are so Pin-worthy easily available for every celebration, no matter the size. We just launched our Tropical collection on etsy, which features all of the paper and party accessories from this adorable editorial like laser cut drink stirrers, napkins and invitations. Our favorite is the laser cut palm invitation folder. It adds a unique wow factor for any tropical event!”

The Southern Table brought the vibrant colors of summer with a garden twist. “We combined tropical elements like ginger, palm leaves and citrus with our garden favorites of coral charm peonies, poppies and sweet pea.”

Natalia Issa styled Amanda in side-swept perfection with a headpiece of freesias and ferns. Her coral tone lip accented the look perfectly. Our chic bride-to-be opted for a modern blush jumpsuit perfect for a poolside party.

Charla Storey Photography captured the lightness and vibrancy of our editorial collaboration. When you have a team this talented, the only thing left to do is celebrate the beauty! And our signature cocktail is the perfect recipe for this summer soiree!

Cocktail recipe: Mango Sunrise: Champagne, grenadine and mango, layered for a festive ombre cocktail.

Photography: Charla Storey Photography | Cake: Layered Bake Shop | Hair + Makeup: Natalia Issa | Floral Design + Styling: Max Owens Design | Invitations + Design: Southern Fried Paper | Location: Jefferson Tower | Modeling Agency: Molli With Callidus Agency | Rentals: Bella Acento

You know what every engagement shoot needs?  A cute puppy.  Well, that AND a breathtaking backdrop like the enchanting streets of Italy.  Together with this stunning duo, it’s a combo that makes for some pretty amazing captures from Marta Guenzi.  Fall in love with every moment (sweet pup included) right here in THE VAULT.

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From Marta Guenzi Photographer… Engagement shoots are one of the most creative parts of my job. They let me explore the territory to scout the perfect location trying to imagine a scenario, then they get me in touch with wonderful people that are the true inspiration for every picture I take.

Carolina and Nicolò received this engagement shoot as a gift. While being very happy and excited they were a little embarrassed about the idea of being photographed through the lanes in Orta San Giulio, that in a spring afternoon, could have been crowded by tourists. So we decided to start at the Sacro Monte di Orta, where among the greenery of the park and the colonnades of the chapels we had the necessary intimacy to start to break the ice. At that point, together with their puppy Ira, we headed for a walk along the paved road that leads from the hill to the center of Orta San Giulio. Once in town, thanks to the windy and not sunny day, we found very few people around the streets and the perfect atmosphere.

A heartfelt thanks to Lizzy, the flower designer of Petalo & Sepalo, who composed the flower crown for Carolina, and to the owner of the Enoteca al Boeuc, a delicious wine bar just behind Piazza Motta, who let us take some super romantic pictures sitting at one of its tables!

Photography: Marta Guenzi Photographer | Floral Design: Petalo & Sepalo | Dress: John Zack | Flat Sandals: Steve Madden | Heels: Dsquared2 | Location: Enoteca al Boeuc | Location: Orta San Giulio, Italy

We all know and love the movie ‘Lady and the Tramp’, so it’s no big surprise that we are completely uhb-sessed with this Bella Notte inspiration from Vanessa Velez. Complete with Anthology Co. Floristry and super sweet details (like those delectable desserts!), we’ve got it all waiting for in The Vault!

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From Oh My Occasions…“Side by side with your loved one, you’ll find enchantment here”. You’ll find it here in our Lady and the Tramp inspired shoot. Bella Notte highlights an unconventional romance, illustrating that opposites do attract. With a soft watercolor ambiance, with burst of deep reds brought together beautifully by Anthology Co. and inspired by the classic Disney movie takes a dreamy, more tender, spin on puppy love. Vintro Hotel provides a quasi-authentic Italian café atmosphere. Complete with bistro lighting, delicate floral centerpieces, a wine barrel table, and some delectable desserts to share, the mood was set for a night between a scruffy gentleman and his stylish lady. Unlike the meant-to-be fairytales or love stories you read about, the Bella Notte vignette showcases the contemporary affection between two dissimilar beings that had to defy the norms to be together and their impromptu adventures together and an intimate bond that forever unites their hearts. The couple always remembers to enjoy the little things in life: playful dollops of frosting on each others’ nose, hiding behind their parasol to steal a private kiss.

Photography: Vanessa Velez | Styling: Vanessa Velez | Floral Design: Anthology Co. | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Stationery: Blushed Design | Makeup: Makeup and the City | Hair: Visions by Daili | Venue: Vintro Hotel & Kitchen | Cake + Desserts: Sucrette Tailored Confections | Event Planning + Styling: Oh my Occasions | Film Processing: The Find Lab | Hair Accessories: Eva Guadalupe | Laser Cut Names + Picnic Basket: Melissa Candy Bars in Miami | Personalized Forks: Sarge & Monkeys | Rentals: MiVintage

I dream of escaping to the English coast, tucking into a seaside cabin and soaking up all the magic it has to offer. But until that dream becomes a reality, I’ll be making myself quite comfortable in this Vault gallery from Lucy Davenport. Created by Katrina Otter Weddings and Coco Wedding Venues, these scenes (yes, more than one!) are soft and subtly stunning; exactly like those coastal village wishes in my head. Roost Film Co captured the action live – see it and more right this way!

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From Coco Wedding Venues and Katrina Otter Weddings… We’re very much drawn to the rugged coastlines that we’re so fortunate to have in the UK. Whether it’s the tall swaying grass of the dunes in Sussex, the dramatic cliffs of Dorset or the stretches of sand in Northumberland – we love them all. So when we discovered Clovelly Village in Devon with it’s own pebble beach and stunning quay vista we knew this would be the perfect place for a sea-inspired shoot. This enchanting village has a timeless quality with its cliffs, gardens, pretty Manor House and cobbled streets.

With the venue chosen it was time to send the invitations to our guests. We had a custom stationery suite created by Calligraphy for Weddings with soft washed script on acetate and a beautifully blue envelope with vintage stamp.

Blue was an obvious choice for the coastal theme and to complement, we opted for a palette of lilac grey and rose quartz.

To highlight how couples can interpret a palette we decided to create two tablescapes – one muted and one bold – this light and dark thread followed us throughout the shoot.

The blossom orchard provided a soft and romantic setting for our first alfresco scene. Delicate blush chargers from Duchess and Butler and antique silver cutlery from Helene Millot were framed by a simple silk tulle runner from Kate Cullen. Atop the runner sat an array of succulents, grasses, seashells and white pillar candles.

Our florist, Garden and Wild, created the main centerpiece around a large Tillandsia Xerographica air plant; a mix of succulents, smaller air plants, varieties of asparagus ferns as foliage and white ranunculus flowers and hellebores. Our cool blue coastal tones came through in the star shaped cluster flowers called amsonia. To complete the look, we had green sea glass place names for our bride and groom.

To stop everything from looking and feeling too ‘pretty’ our furnishings from Virgina’s Vintage Hire added a contrasting rawness. Stripped wooden chairs with unexpected pops of traditional seaside colours were a unique choice.

To reflect this first muted palette our bride wore a delicate peachy-pink beaded halter neck top and full tulle skirt from Flossy and Willow. A bespoke veil in the softest pink, made by Britten, worked perfectly with a plaited halo and soft loose tendrils. The divine bouquet, one of three created by Claire and Tami, completed the look. Dicentra Alba (White Bleeding Hearts), Blush Foxgloves, Panicum grass, hellebores, grevillia foliage, eucalyptus nicholli foliage and foraged grasses were used to create this pageant bouquet.

Our second tablescape shows that bold is most definitely beautiful – the deep Parisian blue hemstitch tablecloth and Cassis Rose napkins by The Linen Works and the elaborate driftwood candelabra centerpiece by Nordic House were on loan from the lovely folks at Prezola. To continue the drama, we added in golden cutlery, pearl chargers, oyster shell candles from The Oyster Candle Co. and chunky wooden benches.

To anchor both tablescapes Kate Burt Cakes created this inspired grey marble-washed 3-tier cake with accompanying taster cakes brushed with gold. Delicately placed on billowing silk chiffon we added a simple urn of fresh greenery to frame. The golden seaweed, pink pearls and sugar urchin details were divine and would be sure to wow your guests.

Our second bridal look was an incredible Anna Campbell gown from Perfect Day Bride. The gorgeous pearls and beading reflected the cobbles of Clovelly’s winding streets whilst the scalloped design added a Mermaid-esque vibe. Once again we added a coloured veil and this time Britten chose blue to work against the ivory dress. This blue was mirrored in the silk ribbons adorning the bride’s incredible bouquet.

A large Allium was once again the focus and Claire threaded other flowers and foliage throughout, such as bear grass, coral fern, tillandsia xerographica, white ranunculus and eucalyptus.

Texture was key for this look and the sea breeze added a mesmerizing movement to the fabrics and florals.

For the final look we wanted to channel something slinky and a little bit sexy; this metallic hued silk bridesmaid gown by Jenny Yoo at Coco and Kate stole the show. The cold-shoulder trend ticked the fashion box whilst the silvery fabric made our model look like she was emerging from the sea. We wanted to show two bridesmaid accessory options; first was this delicate crown by Feather and Coal with matching gemstones and feathery tulle detailing, followed by a traditional flower crown and bouquet.

For the crown Claire used a Spray rose called ‘blanchette’, Nigella buds (love in the mist), eucalyptus parvifolia foliage, thyme foliage, hellebores and grasses. The bouquet mirrored this beautifully with the addition of grevillia, amsonia, succulents, air plants and silver senicio foliage.

Capturing the day was our wildly talented duo – Lucy Davenport Photography and ROOST Film Co. Their combined softness and attention to detail is dreamy and we’re so pleased with how they interpreted our vision.

Photography: Lucy Davenport | Cinematography: Roost Film Co | Event Planning: Katrina Otter Weddings | Creative Consultants: Coco & Kat | Creative Direction: Coco Wedding Venues | Floral Design: Garden & Wild | Wedding Dress: Flossy & Willow (Willowby by Watters) | Wedding Dress: Anna Campbell | Wedding Dress: Coco & Kate (Jenny Yoo Collection) | Stationery:Calligraphy For Weddings | Bride’s Shoes: Emmy London | Jewelry: Sarah Brown Jewellery | Hair + Makeup: The Hair And Makeup Atelier | Venue: Clovelly Village Weddings North Devon | Bridal Boutique: Flossy & Willow (Willowby by Watters) | Bridal Boutique: Anna Campbell | Bridal Boutique:Coco & Kate (Jenny Yoo Collection) | Cake Table: Kate Burt Cakes | Cutlery: Helene Millot | Furniture Rentals: Virginia’s Vintage Hire | Hair Accessories: Feather & Coal | Lifestyle Pieces: Prezola | Model Agency: SKIN London | Oyster Candles: Oyster Candle Co. | Ribbons + Runner: Kate Cullen | Tableware: Duchess & Butler | Veils:Britten

When your Mama is an event planner for a living, beautiful birthday bashes are bound to be in the cards for life. And when said Mama happens to be Katie of Laurie Arons Special Events, you get out-of-this-world adorable details like these from her daughter’s ‘Camp Campbell’ birthday. Complete with s’mores cupcakes, a cutie logo from Amber Moon Design, a canoe ride and this genius tent cake, Leo Patrone Photography captured all of the fun—see more in The Vault!

From Katie of Laurie Arons Special Events… Campbell decided she wanted a camping party to celebrate her 4th birthday, when she realized her name was spelled “camp-bell”. That and the fact that camping includes s’mores! The cabin in mill valley, California made for the perfect camp site, complete with a rustic cabin, picnic tables and a mini redwood grove for our tent village.

Shelter co. Canvas huckleberry tents were just the right size for our pint-size campers. As campbell’s friends arrived, they picked up their ‘camping supplies’ – a canvas backpack stenciled with the camp campbell logo, and filled with essentials like a custom canteen, toy binoculars, flashlights and compasses.

Amber moon designed the logo for camp campbell featuring canoe paddles, so birthday girl and her dad made their way down stream to the party in a vintage canoe. The hand-crafted canoe then became a fun place to practice paddling on land for the rest of the party. Amber also created canoe paddle stir sticks for the adults’ beverages. Canoe-shaped pb&js along with homemade granola bars, trail mix & watermelon served as our snacks.

Campers gathered round the campfire for a sing-a-long by a local children’s musician. Afterward, it was s’mores time. Because fire and four-year-olds don’t always mix, we opted for s’mores cupcakes with toasted marshmallow frosting, instead of the old-fashioned version. Campbell’s friends then sang happy birthday around a tent-shaped cake.

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Photography: Leo Patrone Photography | Event Planning: Katie & Laurie of Laurie Arons Special Events | Graphic Design: Amber Moon Design | Camping Stools: Teak & Lace | Campfire Singer: Megan Schoenbohm of Mini-Music | Venue: The Cabin | Tents: Shelter Co | Vintage Canoe: Canoe Jack | Invitations: Paper by Paperless Post

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