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A Gold Beaded Gown Set the Stage for a Glam Puerto Rican Wedding

It’s always a given that the bride steals the show on her wedding day. But when she wears a gold beaded gown THIS pretty? It’s stealing the show on a whole other level. With Maria A Lugo and Akua Event Design Group making the couple’s wedding dreams come true, it’s easy to see why their day captured by Enuel Viera went off without a hitch. More in The Vault!

From Akua Event Design GroupDestination weddings in Puerto Rico are intimate and provide an opportunity for guests to relax and enjoy the Caribbean. Plus the bride and groom get to have all of their friends and family at one place, to participate in different activities before the wedding.

We were very excited to design the wedding of Kelly Zerbini and Jesse Gottlieb. Especially, because the lovely bride is an interior designer in New York City and with great tastes. She gave us a clear idea of what she wanted for her special day, but she trusted our design and exhorted to use her board as inspiration. Her vision and ours came together flawlessly.

The design included many natural and rustic elements like wood and glass vases for the floral arrangements, drift wood and clementines which added a special magical touch. For the floral design we used white roses, eucalyptus, wax flowers, succulents and freesias. When you walked into the Salón Martorell you felt an air of sophistication, the color scheme and design meshed wonderfully.

Photography: Enuel Viera | Event Design: Akua Event Design Group | Event Planning: Maria A Lugo | Wedding Dress: Lovely Bridal Shop | Cake: C+M Cakes | Invitations: Small Printer | Ceremony Venue: Plaza La Rogativa | Reception Venue: Hotel El Convento | Hair + Makeup: Brides by Tatiana | Calligraphy: The Beeze Knees | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Groom's Attire: ASOS | Rentals: The Lounge Events Furniture Rental | Veil: Toni Federici

Super Chic South Florida Engagement Shoot

This chic couple deserved a chic e-shoot to match their personalities and style and that’s exactly what Still55 Photography gave them. From their on point clothing choices as they strolled St. Augustine (seriously, this dress!? I need!) to their relaxed romance on the beach at dusk – it captures them oh so perfectly. Get fashionably inspired in our Vault right this way!

From Still55 Photography… Skye and Ankur both live in South Florida and are plaining a chic wedding at the Four Seasons with the help of Whitney Carillon Weddings and Laure Clavette at the Four Seasons Orlando. Skye works for Christian Louboutin and has a love for fashion. Once we got a sense of who Skye and Ankur were we knew what to go for. We began developing locations that would present a chic European look inspired by rich cinematic textures and iconic fashion. St. Augustine provided the European palette we needed and the nostalgic coast we wanted. The idea was to have them end their day on the shores of the Atlantic at dusk. Photographing the unexpected portraitures all of our clients are after. With soft focus and grainy textures we ended our time leaving everyone wanting more. We love working with couples that want the “editorial look;” these images showcase everything we love about portraiture. We are thrilled with Skye and Ankur and can’t wait to work with them again along side some of Florida’s elite planners like Whitney Carillon Weddings and premier venues like the Four Seasons.

Photography: Joseph Rogero | Event Planning: Très Chic Southern Weddings & Events | Styling: Joseph Rogero | Hair + Makeup: About Face Design Team | Blazer: Oscar De La Renta | Groom's Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction | Nude Heels: Stuart Weitzman | Off the Shoulder Dress: ASOS | Sandals: Ivanka Trump Heels | Watch: Breitling | White Lace Dress: Self Portrait Studio - Azaelea Red Dress

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Florals Almost Stole The Show at this Garden Estate Wedding…

The coral, pink and cream flowers at this garden estate wedding are guaranteed to make your Pinterest boards bloom. But they aren’t the only pieces of this pretty puzzle that are giving us major heart eyes. From the lining of the invitations with a sketch of the balcony that the Groom proposed on in Barcelona (props to A+P Design Co.) to the al fresco feast for the eyes designed and coordinated by Honeycomb Affair; it’s all so, so good. Kristina Adams captured it all and our Vault is where the beauty begins!

From Honeycomb Affair…. It was such an incredible honor and joy to work with Genevieve and Thomas to create an extraordinary wedding day that they called perfect! I met Genevieve and Thomas almost nine years ago while we were attending Loyola Marymount University. I have had the privilege to witness the wonder of their love story unfolding over the years.

Genevieve and Thomas had a vision to create a timeless and elegant garden soiree that was both fun and memorable for their guests. The ceremony was held at Holy Family Catholic Church in South Pasadena and the reception took place at a private estate in Sherman Oaks, California. The Bride wore a beautiful Watters Gown and the Groom was in a custom Franc Milton Tux, which included their wedding date sewn into the jacket lining.

From the time Thomas proposed in Barcelona to the wedding day, the couple was mindful of all the details that went into creating this celebration. The couple arrived at the reception in a classic red 1964 Cadillac, that belonged to the Bride’s grandfather. The lining of their invitation suite included a sketch of the balcony that the Groom proposed on in Barcelona. The Groom built custom wood signs that were adorned with delicate calligraphy by Alley and Co., and the couple built a wood bench that they had guests sign for their new home!

However, the most important part of the couple’s wedding day was sharing it with family and friends. The couple wanted to create a space that invited their guests to enjoy warm conversation and a night of dancing! We created an intimate space with twinkling market lights, candlelight and garden inspired floral arrangements. The couple selected a soft color palette of whites, blush and greens with subtle gold accents. The night included a live band, heart felt toasts, a special father-daughter dance and ended with lots of dancing. It was a delight to work with Genevieve and Thomas throughout this process and to have Kristina Adams Photography there to capture the many special moments.

Photography: Kristina Adams Photography | Coordination: Honeycomb Affair | Event Design: Honeycomb Affair | Floral Design: Honeycomb Affair | Wedding Dress: Watters | Invitations: A&P Designs | Ceremony Venue: Holy Family Catholic Church In Pasadena | Reception Venue: At Home | Makeup: Kat Laskey | Hair: Jamie Gonzales | Calligraphy: Alley & Co. | DJ: Allyance Entertainment | Band: Lounge-o-rama | Groom's Attire: Franc Milton | Bridal Boutique: Lovely Bridal Shop | Bridesmaid's Pajamas: Plum Pretty Sugar | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Premiere Party Rents | Valet: Hollywood Hills Valet

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
This Might Be the Coolest Office Space We’ve Ever Seen. No, it Is

Can we live here? Please? Giving the Create + Cultivate Head Quarters a cool, luxurious vibe is one way to make sure people are paying attention to your mission. And it’s a mission worth paying attention to. Inspired by the brand’s work and their ability to understand beauty, Veronica Valencia hand-crafted a creative mecca for a business that empowers female entrepreneurs. We like it. A lot. See all the beautiful wallpaper and brass moments captured by Love Ala  right here in the VAULT.

I have been a friend of Jaclyn Johnson and the Create + Cultivate ladies for quite a few years and when Jackie approached me to design their new headquarters it was an immediate YES! I have always been such an admirer of their company.

Their mission is such an inspiring movement for female entrepreneurs. So when given the opportunity to give back through creating an inspiring space for these kick ass women, it was a no brainer!

For starters, Create + Cultivate understands the importance of creating instagrammable moments. When pulling inspiration, I reflected on the events they put on throughout the year and looked to the imagery they had captured to build an idea of how to approach the project.

 

 Finding the perfect bold wallpaper was key! I have been wanting to use the moody floral paper from Ellie Cashman for quite some time and I was extremely pleased with how everything turned out. Their space in Atwater has incredible lighting, it’s a 3 story industrial loft with a large roof top.

 Making the headquarters feel inviting for guests was important to the C + C team. Between all of the vendors and partners Jaclyn and myself brought on board, I am extremely pleased with the final product.

In regards to the spaces I designed, I was responsible for the main office, Jacyln’s office, the Guest Room (for out of towners) and the rooftop for parties and events.

 Incorporating live plants was INTEGRAL for the design of the loft. With such a large space, incorporating oversized palms and cacti, especially in such a modern industrial setting, truly helped soften the edges in the space.

All of our furniture was from CB2, Shop Candelabra and High Fashion Home, keeping them all modern and in the same color palette, with black, white and brass accents was also important. Especially when the backdrop of the room was as bold as we went with the wallpaper from Ellie Cashman and Anewall.

In office spaces, I love to use dining and living room furniture. Office furniture can sometimes be a bit small in scale for these areas. Using larger pieces that could be carried into other rooms was an extra bonus. For example, instead of a desk, I used a dining room table, her guest chairs are dining room chairs and her office storage is a entertainment console.

Your office environment is so important, especially when you are a creative. Being able to bring in elements that would provide that extra push was important. The cherry on top of the cake was all of the oversized prints from Artfully Walls and Framebridge of various women we hung throughout the loft. I felt it was a perfect way to capture what the company has set out to do… Promote women on a large scale.

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Photographer: Love Ala | Art Work Prints: Artfully Walls | Black + Brass Dining Chairs: Candelabra | Brass Dining Room Fixture: Parkstudio LA | Client - Create + Cultivate: Create + Cultivate HQ | Create + Cultivate: Create + Cultivate HQ | Dark Floral Wallpaper: Ellie Cashman Design | Founder of Create + Cultivate: Jaclyn Johnson | Framing: Framebridge | Guest Room Linens: Parachute Home | Interior Designer: Veronica Valencia | Marble Dining Table: High Fashion Home | Pillows & Ottomans: Fragments Identity | Tropical Moody Office Wallpaper: Anewall | Tropical Office Furniture: CB2

Utterly Romantic Ballroom Wedding at the St. Regis

Eleni and Brett’s 12-year love story deserved a wedding day of epic proportions. And thanks to a vendor crew including A. Dominick Events and Edge Flowers, that’s exactly what they got. Bonnie Sen photographed their perfectly classic celebration at the St. Regis and the bride’s most memorable moment of the evening included asking her new husband how much time they had left of the perfect day. “Without pause, he replied, all the time in the world.”

 

“I turned to my husband and asked how much time do we have left?

Without pause, he replied, all the time in the world.

-Eleni, The Bride

 

From the Bride…When you’ve been together with someone for twelve years, marrying your best friend and planing your dream wedding is pretty easy and really fun.

Our wedding day was exactly what we wanted and hoped it would be. The love, kindness, and company of our family and close friends made the weekend truly special and unforgettable. We started the wedding celebrations with an intimate rehearsal dinner at a Greek restaurant followed by a roof deck welcome cocktail party for all of the out of town guests. We cherished every moment of that weekend including getting to spend as much time as possible with the people we love. Our guests made the trip from all over the country; the farthest distance traveled was my family from Greece. My Godfather, who traveled from Patras, Greece, married us. We were the first couple that he ever married and didn’t rehearse a single line with him. His script and performance were both charming and heartfelt.

While most of the month was unusually rainy, our wedding day had pristine weather. Luckily we were able to enjoy the hotel’s beautiful courtyard for our wedding ceremony which was perfect for our adorable flower girl, Olive, who ran down the ceremony isle barefoot wearing a flower crown. Our Dad’s and my brother gave beautiful wedding toasts that left guests in tears. Family and friends danced the night away to our favorite tunes taking breaks to pose for the photo booth and snacking on passed donuts and treats from the candy bar.

At the last minute we decided to do a sweetheart table so that we could share our first meal as husband and wife, but also so that we could cherish a room filled with those we love the most. Time truly flies on your wedding day.

My most memorable moment of the wedding was when we were sitting at our sweetheart table sometime after dinner and before dancing. I turned to my husband, Brett, and asked how much time do we have left? Without pause, he replied, all the time in the world.

Photography: Bonnie Sen | Event Planning: A. Dominick Events | Floral Design: Edge Flowers | Wedding Dress: Carine's Bridal Atelier | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Hair + Makeup: Carola Myers Makeup & Hair Artists | Groom's Attire: Bloomingdales | Venue: St. Regis, Washington, DC | Bridal Boutique: Carine's Bridal Atelier

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
A Glamping Inspo Sesh with a Sweet Side of Boho

There’s glamping… and then there’s this glamping inspiration sesh with a big ol’ side of wedding.  Think a talented team of vendors, a totally unique + unbelievable pretty theme and boho details aplenty and you are sooo on the right track.  From the stunning Firelight Camps locale to the beautiful blooms from Stacy K Floral to gorgeous captures from Alexandra Elise Photography, you’ll be pinning your hearts out (trust us) right here in THE VAULT.

From Stacy K Floral… What a gem that the Finger Lakes has a wonderful location in the heart of Ithaca. This Firelight Camps styled shoot was shot entirely on medium format film which helps to give it that dreamy enchanting look by Alexandra Elise Photography. The creative collaboration was inspired by the hand painted silk scarves and skirts designed by Louelle Design Studio. The color and patterns custom created for the bride and bridesmaids inspired the color scheme.

Firelight Camps was the perfect setting for the organic feel we were striving for to highlight these skirt designs. The invitations rested perfectly upon the Petunia Rose china. Coral peonies, king proteas,and textural greens and blooms helped highlight all of the other amazing creations. The final piece to really bring it all together was the New Mexican turquoise heirloom jewelry.

We started our shoot with an intimate tablescape off the back deck with gorgeous natural light illuminating the entire area. Then we walked out back to the Buttermilk Falls trail to continue our shoot in the lush greenery. There is such a sense of calm at Firelight with the crackling of the fire and the birds chirping. What better way to celebrate your wedding than at a glamping destination in the Finger Lakes where you can have your ceremony & reception right on-site– minutes from Buttermilk Falls– and also have your closest family and friends stay on site to continue the celebration!

Photography: Alexandra Elise Photography | Floral Design: Stacy K Floral | Wedding Dress: Rue De Seine | Hair + Makeup: Special Occasions Hair & Design | Venue: Firelight Camps | Bridal Boutique: Lovely Bridal Shop | Bridesmaids' Skirts + Bride's Scarf: Louelle Design Studio | China + Glassware: Petunia Rose | Linen Rentals: Hank Parker's Tent & Event Rentals | Nails + Spray Tan: Sunless 2 go | Stationery + Invitations: Louelle Design Studio

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Proof That the Desert Is the New It Wedding Venue

In the name of love, how incredibly GOOD is this desert wedding? I mean, it shouldn’t come as any real surprise seeing as it’s straight from the talented lens of Rachel Solomon, but factor in one crazy chic couple *hello – just look at this gown* and some La Tavola Fine Linen Rental and you’ve got yourself one b-e-a-u-tiful party. See it all in The Vault!

Colors
Styles
Rustic

From The Bride…Caleb and I met when I started working at the hospital he had worked at for about seven years. Caleb led the tour of the hospital during orientation and if I’m being honest, I paid more attention to how cute Caleb was than the various stops along the tour. About five months later, Caleb and I started dating and we both quickly knew that we’d found the person we were going to marry.

Caleb and I actually picked the venue and date for our wedding before we were engaged. As someone who plans events for a living, I knew that wedding venues book quickly and I didn’t want to waste any time. After looking at a few venues, Caleb and I happened upon Desert Foothills while looking at The Knot’s “Real Weddings.” I immediately made an appointment for Caleb and I to see the space and upon walking into the completely bare barn that is Desert Foothills, I knew this was where we were going to get married.

Because Desert Foothills is a completely open space in which you can pretty much do anything, I knew we would need a lot of help! Caleb and I chose to work with Rachael Dufresne of Imoni Events to plan our wedding and it was by far the best decision we made during the entire wedding planning process. Rachael had an amazing ability to take all our ideas and turn them into reality. Rachael took our love of wine and created a winery themed wedding that took me right to our favorite wineries in Napa. I truly felt as though Caleb and I had our dream wedding and I can’t be more grateful to Rachael and our long list of vendors for their hard work and creativity to make us feel so special.

One thing I learned during the wedding planning process was the power of meeting with vendors before choosing to work with them. I fell in love with two photographers solely based on the work on their websites. After meeting with both photographers in person, I knew that Rachel Solomon would be the photographer for our wedding. I absolutely loved her work but most importantly I “clicked” with her and felt comfortable with her capturing the most important day of my life. After learning this lesson with picking our photographer, I kept that in mind as we continued to choose other vendors for our wedding.

The day of our wedding came faster and faster as each month and week passed by. It was a beautiful morning and I couldn’t have been happier when I woke up to blue skies and sunshine. However, as the bridesmaids and I were getting our hair and makeup done by Emily Hughes and Brenna Heater, gray clouds started rolling in. As Caleb and I began to do our First Look, the wind picked up and little droplets of rain began to fall on my shoulders. This certainly could have taken a turn for the worse but I actually grew to love this wind and rain. To me, this signified that we could withstand the rough winds that will inevitably come our way throughout our life together. Although it sounds cheesy, I like to think that those were the first rough winds of our marriage, probably the easiest winds we will experience, but we did it. And, not to mention those winds made for some amazing pictures!

After taking pictures outside the venue, Caleb and I walked into the barn for the first time and I was completely awe struck by how beautifully everything had come together. Our colors, gold, blush, cream and a hint of navy, blended beautifully from the navy ribbon on the bridesmaids’ bouquets to the cream and blush flowers draping over the wine barrels at the front of the aisle. Randi of Carte Blanche Floral took what little vision I had for our flowers and created a beautiful backdrop for our wedding. Randi even built a cross for the altar and a wine rack that we will place in the foyer of our first home. The linens from La Tavola brought the room together while the round Kings tables kept that rustic and elegant atmosphere we were wanting to share with our families and friends.

Our wedding featured delicious food from Dennis at Cater Phoenix. Dennis worked with Caleb and I to create stations with some of our favorite foods: mac and cheese, tacos, and onion rings! Our cake from Heartsweet Cakes was devoured in minutes and I can certainly understand why as Hayley’s bourbon chocolate cake is something you only get once in a lifetime!

Finally, the beauty is in the small details and I couldn’t have been more amazed by the work of Jacki from Foil and Ink and Jesse Jo Stanton at Freed Hands for creating our invitations and day of paper products respectively. Jacki certainly had Caleb’s stamp of approval as she was able to include the one thing he wanted most, a wax seal. He was more than happy to help address invitations if it meant being able to use the wax seal!

Looking back, I can truly say that our wedding was so much more than we had envisioned. I am overcome with a sense of immense gratitude for the vendors, family and friends that put in so much work and love to make this day special for Caleb and I. We certainly could not have done this alone and they truly deserve all the credit.

Photography: Rachel Solomon Photography | Cinematography: Something New Media | Event Planning: Imoni Events | Floral Design: Carte Blanche Design | Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca | Cake: Heartsweet Cakes | Invitations: Foil And Ink | Catering: Cater Phoenix | Makeup: Brenna Heater | Hair: Emily Hughes | Band: Sapphire Sky | Transportation: Ollie The Trolley | Venue: Desert Foothills | Beer Burro: Haul N Ass Productions | Bridal Boutique: Schaffers Bridal | Draping: Quest Drape | Hand Lettering + Signage: Freed Hands | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Mariachi: Mariachi Fiesta Valle del Sol | Rentals: Glamour And Woods

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
She Wrote a Year-Long Journal to Surprise Her Groom on Their Wedding Day

Every day for a year Valerie wrote a letter for her love, Michael. Come wedding day he got the romantic surprise of his life with a leather bound journal containing 365 pages filled with beautiful words from his bride. Luckily Pat Moyer came along to photograph and we’re thanking our lucky stars to share their incredible love story on our pages.

 

“My goal was for it to be a source and constant reminder of

why I love him so that even on our hard days he will always

have 365 reasons why I love the man who he is.”

-Valerie, The Bride

 

From Patrick Moyer PhotographyOne year before the wedding. Valerie began writing a journal for Michael to open on their wedding day. For each day of the year leading up to the big day, Valerie wrote one page for him to read and had it bound with his initials burnt into the leather.

From The Bride…After Five years dating, Michael took me on a surprise “birthday trip” to Belize. While on the beach he asked me to be forever his.

In each new entry I wrote about a reason I love him, my hopes for the future, I documented the milestones in our engagement, and reflected on marriage and scripture passages. My goal was for it to be a source and constant reminder of why I love him so that even on our hard days he will always have 365 reasons why I love the man who he is.

Photography: Pat Moyer Photography | Coordination: Bash Please | Floral Design: Twig & Twine | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: Brown Linen Design | Engagement Ring: Tiffany & Co. | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Joanna August | Catering: Whoa Nelly | Hair + Makeup: TEAM Hair and Makeup | DJ: Vox DJs | Band: Jason Sulkin | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Venue: Malibu Rocky Oaks | Beverage Services: Pharmacie | Rentals: borrowed BLU | Rentals: Found Rental Co. | Rentals: Town And Country | Veil: Erin Cole

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
10 Tools You Need for a Perfect Pizza + Ice Cream Date Night

If you ask me, there’s no better food combo than pizza and ice cream. Pizza is one of my husband and I’s favorite meals to make together during the summer and is actually pretty easy to master once you get the hang of it and have the right gadgets. But the pièce de résistance? Is the ice cream (or in our household, gelato) that follows. Find the recipes and all the tools you need from Macy’s to conquer this winning combo below!

Whether you and the new hubs want to enjoy a romantic date night alone at home chef-ing it up together or you decide to host your closest friend for a weekend gathering, this BBQ Short Rib Pizza from Abby is where it’s at. You only need to equip your kitchen with a few simple tools from the Macy’s Registry to enjoy this meal time and again.

BBQ Short Rib Pizza Recipe

 
ingredients

Sweet Tomato BBQ Sauce
BBQ Short Ribs
Store bought pizza dough
1 russet potato per pizza
Buffalo mozzarella
Salt and pepper
Extra virgin olive oil
½ stick of butter
¼ cup of flour
1½ cups of warmed whole milk
¾ cups shredded smoked gouda

instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°
  2. Mix up your Sweet Tomato BBQ Sauce and spread a thin layer on your rolled out pizza dough.
  3. Cook your potatoes about halfway through so they are a bit tender. This will allow you to easily slice your potatoes into thin slices. Season your slices with salt and pepper.
  4. Start topping your pizza, first with your potato slices.
  5. Layer on slices of buffalo mozzarella.
  6. Layer on your pulled BBQ Short Ribs
  7. Season your assembled pizza with salt and pepper and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
  8. Depending on the thickness of your crust, you’ll want to cook your pizza anywhere from 10–20 minutes. Less time for thinner crusts and a bit more time for thicker crusts.
  9. While your pizza is cooking, prepare your smoked gouda cream sauce that you’ll drizzle over the pizza when it’s done.
  10. Melt a ½ stick of butter and add in a ¼ cup of flour, stirring for 1 minute.
  11. Add 1½ cups of warmed whole milk, stirring continuously.
  12. Add ¾ cups shredded smoked gouda, stirring until totally melty and delicious.
  13. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  14. Remove your pizza from the oven, drizzle with smoked gouda cream sauce and serve!

Martha Stewart Collection Two-Tone Paddle BoardOXO Pizza WheelMartha Stewart Collection Mercer DinnerwareVera Wang Wedgwood Polished Gold 5 Piece Place SettingPyrex Bake, Prep + Store SetCuisinart 8-Cup Food ProcessorCalphalon Classic SharpIN Self Sharpening 15-Pc. CutleryAll-Clad 3 Piece Pizza Stone Set

Coconut Gelato with Sea Salt Caramel Popcorn

ingredients

2½ cups whole milk
1 cup coconut milk
¾ cup cream of coconut
½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
½ cup coconut sugar
1 tsp coconut extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp cornstarch
¼ tsp salt

instructions

  1. Combine milk, coconut milk, coconut sugar and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a low boil, but be careful not to scorch. Combine corn starch and cream of coconut and add to saucepan.
  2. Cook on low and whisk often so that clumps do not form. The mixture is cooked when you can run a line on the back of a spoon without the mixture coming back together.
  3. Pour mixture in a glass dish and let sit until at room temperature. Once it has cooled, chill in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
  4. Add mixture to an ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Half way through, slowly add the coconut flakes. Transfer to a container and freeze until desired firmness.
  5. Serve topped with Ava’s sea salt caramel popcorn and enjoy!

 

Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet & Ice Cream MakerOXO Ice Cream Scoop

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Get inspired with the full Outdoor Entertaining 101 right here!

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Photography: Leila Brewster Photography | Video: Elysium Productions

A Whimsical Wedding With The Coolest Ceremony Backdrop

In the event that you didn’t know exactly how we feel about whimsical weddings, allow me to clarify. They. are. everything. And this pretty little party captured by Aga Jones? Why it’s all that and more. Complete with lush The Bloom of Time and Dash Entertainment beats, we’ve got the entire celebration waiting for you in The Vault!

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[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/158073659 600 338]

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Al Fresco

A play based on one of C.S. Lewis’ novels,

that’s how Jason and I met

The Bride

From The Bride…The Magicians Nephew, a play based on one of the classic C.S. Lewis novels, that’s how Jason and I met. We were high school sweethearts starting our relationship when I was only 14 years old, and he 16. This was a high school theatre production where most of the cast consisted of plants and animals, so the fact that Jason played a raccoon and I a tree became the backbone of our relationship. Every year on our anniversary, we’d drive up to the forest in Arizona and just simply BE. It only seemed fitting that, 8 years later, we’d get engaged in that same forest we had visited every year before we moved to California.

For our wedding, we knew we wanted our guests to feel the journey that we’ve had together, where our relationship began, and how far we have come. That was our inspiration. Therefore, we found a cute little hidden gem in Topanga Canyon, CA that just felt a lot like home. The trees, the two-story building, the hanging lights, the sound of animals in the distance; it was the perfect outdoor woodsy/romantic location we dreamed of.

Jason (bless him!) and I made so much of our decor. The photobooth backdrop, the ring box, all of the signage, and our gold and berry candle-luminaries, but our biggest accomplishment is our ceremony backdrop. We sanded, stained, put together, created the typography, and painted the lettering onto the 8 ft X 8 ft boards.

On our wedding day, we decided to write pre-ceremony notes to each other, and I surprised Jason with a pair of gold fox cufflinks because I wanted to make sure there was a way we could have our puppy, who we call our little fox, with us on our big day.

Our ceremony was officiated by our high school teacher, who over the many years we have been together, has gotten to watch our relationship grow and become what it is today. She has been like another mom to us, so it was very special that she was able to marry us.

For our unity ceremony, we utilized a glass box. Inside, lay a foundation of stones. The stones represent moments that we had already shared in the nine years that we have been together. We wrote notes to each other and rolled them up and placed on top of the stones, representing the most important moment that we have shared thus far being held up by the perfect little ones that had gotten us there. On our one year anniversary, we will open up the box and read each other the notes, remembering how we felt in that exact moment.

The red heart earring on my bouquet was a little surprise for Jason. That was the first gift he every got me, about a month into dating. He didn’t even know I still had them.

My bridesmaids each received a basket with a personalized hanger, a ring dish that best fits them individually, a different piece of jewelry fitting their personality, earrings, a picture frame with us at some point during the wedding planning process with the coordinates of where we first met engraved onto it, a bottle of wine, and a notebook with each chapter titled with an inside joke and a note to them in the front. The groomsmen each got a DOPP bag with a bow tie, a different pair of socks based on personality, pocket knife, and a flask with a mixed drink Jason made called The Blood Brother.

We choreographed our first dance ourselves, starting only about a month before our wedding. We lost so many hours of sleep staying in the studio of our apartment complex until 2:00 AM practicing, changing the steps, and practicing again. It was all so worth it in the end though!

I’ll never forget during dinner outside in the lawn hearing the frogs croak in the stream of water right behind us. Jason and I moved to California because he got a job doing visual effects for film and I started an internship with Disney. We both looked at each other and smiled because we were thinking the exact same thing; it felt like we were in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. He pulled me in close wrapping his arm around me, just like he does when we are on the ride. It was so peaceful and whimsical.

One of my absolute favorite moments of the day I became a wife was the Backstreet Boys moment. Everyone who knows me, knows I love the Backstreet Boys, and it wouldn’t be my wedding if they didn’t make some kind of appearance. So, it was my bridesmaids’ duty to make sure they went up to our guests during the day and told them to be prepared to “belt it out” when they hear “I Want it That Way” play. Towards the end of our reception, the song began, and everyone started making their way towards us in the center of the dance floor, and we sang our hearts out! There is a video!

Photography: Aga Jones Photography | Cinematography: Shutter and Sound | Event Planning: Christine V. Tran | Floral Design: The Bloom Of Time | Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia | Invitations: Paper Peach Shop | Bride's Shoes: Klub Nico | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Mori Lee | Catering: Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ | Hair + Makeup: Be.NYLA | DJ: Dash Weddings | Venue: The 1909 | Beverage Services: Goose On The Rocks | Bridal Boutique: Blush Bridal Couture | Bridal Boutique - Bridesmaids' Dresses: The Wedding Day | Cake + Desserts: Sweet & Saucy Shop | Designer/DIY: Destiny (Bride) | Photo Booth: Pixster Photo Booths | Rentals: Baker Party Rentals | Rentals: Archive Rentals

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15 Fabulous Outfits to Wear to Any Wedding This Fall

Everyone loves Fall for its crisp air, changing leaves and snuggly sweaters. But the layers of sweaters, jackets and booties you love in your everyday life don’t really work when you’re a guest at an autumn wedding. So, how do you dress for the changing seasons and the celebration? We’ve got you covered with outfit ideas for every wedding on your social calendar. Take a peek — you can thank us later!

Fall Wedding Guest Outfit Ideas
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Fall Wedding Guest Outfit Ideas
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Heading to a Wedding? Read These First!

Common Guest Etiquette Mistakes | Decode the Dress Code8 Things Never to Wear to a Wedding

This Stunning Austin Affair is BEYOND Pin-Worthy

Modern lines. Lush, organic details. A jaw-dropping location.  This stunning Austin affair?  Just might be the prettiest day I have ever seen.  From the magical bouquets from Clementine Botanical Art(read: they’re gorgeous) to the exquisite details so carefully crafted by Uptown Events to the breathtaking captures from Ashley Bosnick, every.last.moment is, well… absolutely steal-worthy. Start pinning your hearts out in THE VAULT. (Immediately.)

Colors
Styles
Al Fresco

From the Bride… We visited countless venues in the Austin Hill Country and the Greenhouse was our last stop, because we chose to look no further. Saving the best for last definitely fit here! We were absolutely stunned by the property, the people and the history of the home that was shared with us. The Greenhouse is magical and we felt honored to share our vows in a place where time seemed to slow down.

During the planning process, I was super intentional with the team I built. It was less about people’s previous experience, but more about the connection I felt with them. I am so incredibly grateful to have collaborated with such amazing people who are passionate about the work they do. I felt inspired by each and every vendor while making decisions and I attribute the beauty of the wedding to their creativity!

The natural color palette and overall aesthetic was inspired by the organic beauty of the venue. I wanted my choices in floral, linens and table arrangements to complement the established greenery that was authentic to the Greenhouse with mixtures of blush, ivory, gray and sage. Each bouquet and table arrangement was handpicked by Clementine’s Christin Armstrong, with a mixture of fragile blooms and strong succulent varieties. My bridesmaids’ blush printed and solid dresses were as unique and romantic as the bouquets they picked to carry. The months of decision making contributed to a seamless and intimate day.

The day of is a whirlwind of beautiful moments delicately strung together that are so vivid in my mind. I remember standing under the tent while the catering company set up with my parents and a couple of my best gals. One dear friend presented me with a small box from Tyler. I wore the beautiful earrings he gifted me down the aisle, but the note he wrote me was the icing on the carrot cake!

We felt so much love for each other on our day and this love continues to grow; being married is fun! We hope your process is filled with as many special moments as our experience was during this amazing time!

From Uptown Events… The Greenhouse at Driftwood is a stunning home-turned-venue with two indoor greenhouses connected to the house itself. It was a dream of mine to work there, and I was over the moon when Jordan and Tyler chose me to coordinate their special day at the extraordinary venue.

Jordan and Tyler were kind, organized and excited about their big day which made them a joy to work with. As the day got closer, I spent more time talking with Jordan and really felt connected to her vision for their wedding day. Earth tones, heavy greenery, and modern lines made up their design, matching up perfectly with the Greenhouse’s relaxed, yet elegant, vibe. Tyler and Jordan were married on the back deck of the house under a large tree and surrounded by their closest friends and family. Their cocktail hour took place on a lush lawn allowing guests to walk around the property and through the greenhouses. The couple and their loved ones danced the night away under a tent filled with sparkling lights and departed for their honeymoon to Costa Rica right after! This wedding was an absolute delight to coordinate, all because of Tyler and Jordan.

Photography: Ashley Bosnick Photography | Event Planning: Uptown Events & Travel | Floral Design: Clementine Botanical Art | Wedding Dress: De Ma Fille Bridal | Invitations: By Invitation Only Designs | Bride's Shoes: BHLDN | Rings: Bova Diamonds | Catering: 34th Street Caterer | Makeup: Pearl Austin | Hair + Makeup | DJ: Toast Entertainment | Venue: The Greenhouse At Driftwood | Tent Rentals: Whim Hospitality

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This Inspiration Shoot in Thailand is as Fabulous as the Celebs Who Vacay There

Not only can Iniala Beach House brag about hosting celebs like Kim Kardashian, but now it can brag about this gorgeous inspiration session from Darin Limsuansub. With stunning wedding dresses, gorgeous florals from IAMFLOWER, beauty from Elite Hair and Makeup Phuket and pretty details from The Bridal Planner Thailand, it doesn’t get any better than this. See it all in The Vault!


From The Bridal Planner ThailandThis luxury seaside retreat in Phuket, Thailand favored by Kim Kardashian and other notables. 

Featured in this shoot are:

• Altar, place settings, centerpieces, and stationary styled by The Bridal Planner. Of particular note is the handcrafted bamboo altar inspired by the local longboats that traverse the islands. The arches are bedecked with soft ivory O’Hara roses nestled in eucalyptus greens. Airy interior rattan accents complement this theme of sun, sea and sand.
• Engagement ring featuring a 1.57 carat oval diamond in halo setting on a French pave diamond band, South Sea pearl dangle earrings, delicate diamond bangle, and “leaves & pure dew” diamond earrings in keeping with the beach setting and décor.
• Hand-beaded ball gown bridal dress embellished with taffeta petals throughout and featuring a structured sweetheart bodice, silk organza underskirt and sweep train. Button accents add to the intricacy of this design without making it too ornate.
• Column-style bridal dress of tulle featuring a shimmering hand-beaded bodice with sweetheart neckline and a natural waist. A sheer one-shoulder sash and satin belt lends softness to this look.

Photography: Darin Limsuansub | Event Planning + Design: The Bridal Planner Phuket | Floral Design: IAMFLOWER | Wedding Dress: Daughter of Eve Boutique | Cake: Joob Joob | Jewelry: Verda and Floren | Hair + Makeup: Elite Hair and Makeup Phuket | Location: Iniala Beach House

10 Pretty Prints to Hang in Your Babe’s Nursery

Once you’ve picked out the perfect paint color and sweet crib that your babe will rest his or her head in, it’s time to add the frosting. You know, the little bits of pretty that make your wee one’s nursery one-of-a-kind. And with all the cutie print selections out there today, there’s something for every theme or nursery style. Find ten of our favorites here!

10 Pretty Prints to Hang in Your Babe's Nursery
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10 Pretty Prints to Hang in Your Babe's Nursery
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Make fabric wallpaper panels for the nursery!

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See all Nursery Inspiration right this way…

A Truly Moving Lovestory Complete with the Sweetest Ceremony

If you’re all about the love story, then I’d like you to meet this seriously sweet pair. Because their journey down the aisle? Undeniably moving. And the love the share? It’s the real deal. And their wedding day? Well you bet it was a reflection of everything the value. Complete with Thorne & Thistle blooms, Simply Sarah Photography has captured it all to share in The Vault!

Little did I know I would marry a man

on that football fieldThe Bride   

From The Bride…As a child, my father made sure that our family of 4 attended every single at home Auburn football game. We sat in section 42 and cheered on our Auburn Tigers for over 10 years together. Little did I know as a child, sitting beside the first man I loved the most, that the man I would marry would be a man that years down would be a player on that football field.

Andrew and I met at an Auburn vs LSU football game in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Our friends introduced us not really expecting that we would hit it off immediately…but we did! We spent the next 8 years together very happily until tragedy and sadness struck both of our families.

On December 9th, 2014 our beautiful niece was born very healthy and a huge head full of black hair. Soon after, my sister suffered from an Amniotic Fluid Embolism that eventually took her life on March 24th, 2015. I write that as part of my love story because without the love and support of my husband I would be one lost soul. He loved me before then, loved me during when I was at my lowest, and loves me now. And I know that.

We were engaged on June 12th, 2015 in his hometown of Hinsdale, IL. He asked me to marry him under a dogwood tree that shadowed over his parents patio. He started his proposal by telling me how he and his father had planted that tree when he was a young boy and how was amazed how much it had grown. I realized this was a symbol of what we would be…and in some ways already were.

When I first began the process of planning our wedding, I knew I wanted a natural elegant wedding surrounded by the cathedral of God given nature. We were married on April 9th at Springhouse in my small hometown of Alabama made famous my beautiful Lake Martin. My heart and soul. Our day was filled with people we love, overflowing ranunculus, weather better that I could have even imagined.

The one thing I have to say about our special day is that I would do it all over again and in the exact same way. Obviously, there were chairs there that I would have liked to have been filled and a spot of green lawn specifically marked for my sister to stand beside me. On the other side of me, however, I had a man that dedicated his life to our marriage and our life together. In my eyes, he has been my husband since I met him.

Photography: Elizabeth Lanier Photography | Floral Design: Thorne and Thistle Designs | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Teresa's Cakes | Invitations: Marked | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair + Makeup: Danielle Ivy | Band: Ty Reynold's Band | Groom's Attire: The Locker Room | Venue: Springhouse at Crossroads | Rentals: The Event Group

 

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Rain Has Never Looked So Good

Life happens, the good, the bad, the messy, and all the beautiful bits in between. It’s easy to let dreams fall by the wayside but this married couple refused to let go on their plans to visit Paris. And when they did, Peter and Veronika joined in to photograph what they thought would be warm, sun drenched snaps. But Mother Nature has the final say and in came rain… much to the camera lens’ luck. Rain looks good on these two and these pics,and this story, are officially my new, inspired #relationshipgoals.

From the Bride…  Since we just got married, it has been my dream to travel to Paris for our five year anniversary. Five years went by and the trip just didn’t seem realistic. We just had our second baby, bought our first home and I was really sick earlier that year so traveling across the globe was not even in the conversation. But the desire in my heart was still there, quietly tugging at me.

One night after a conversation with a close friend, I decided that unless I took some sort of action towards making this travel dream a reality, it was always going to be just a dream. So I started a little savings envelope towards that trip and put money aside every chance I got, skipping nail appointments and passing up the opportunity to buy new clothes. Almost two years later, we finally had enough to comfortably travel Europe for close to three weeks and so we set off on our anniversary adventure.

This trip was so special to us! We both were ready to slip away from reality and everyday busyness and focus on each other and invest in our friendship. It was really refreshing to be able to leave the kids and go adventure together, just the two of us. Stay out late, ride bicycles, and do other normal activities that get a little complicated to enjoy once you have two babes at your hip.

This trip was so special to us! We both were ready to slip away from reality and everyday busyness and focus on each other and invest in our friendship. It was really refreshing to be able to leave the kids and go adventure together, just the two of us. Stay out late, ride bicycles, and do other normal activities that get a little complicated to enjoy once you have two babes at your hip.

Paris was everything I had imagined. It stole my heart, just like I knew it would. I fell madly in love with the old, charming city. Being a photographer myself, I couldn’t imagine being in Paris and not taking the opportunity to to get our photos taken to save these memories forever. The shoot was not at all what we had anticipated. The weather changed dramatically before the shoot. I imagined warm, golden photos but in the end it turned out way more romantic than we could ever imagine.

I was really concerned with how we’d look on photos being totally soaked in the pouring rain. My hair literally looked like I just stepped out of the shower! But the photos turned out beautiful. The best part of the shoot (aside from the fact that our photographer was down for anything!) was that we had SO MUCH FUN! The rain seriously didn’t bother us one bit. My husband and I really enjoyed just being together, holding hands, kissing, and running around in the rain. I felt young and free. That was the best thing.

The photos turned out wonderful but the experience of running around in the rain with my love, after being married for seven years and having two kids, it was unforgettable. Life gets so busy sometimes and it’s so easy to get carried away with everyday tasks that we forget to enjoy those simple moments and to just let lose and be wild with the one you love.


Photography: Peter & Veronika | Jewelry: Nordstrom | Blazer: Banana Republic | Blue Dress: Lulu's | Pants: Nordstrom | White Top: Bristol And Bull

See The Love Story That Started in an Elevator

If you’re looking for the sweetest meet cute in the whole wide world, then I’d like to introduce you to the dynamic duo that is Steven and Fiona. For their love story? It started in an elevator, and the aftermath? It’s nothing short of stu-hun-ing. From the perfectly pink florals to the shockingly beautiful ceremony, Bethany Erin and Brad & Monica have captured it all to share both below and in The Vault!

 

“They got on the same elevator. On the ride up,

Steve overcame his nervousness and

talked to the prettiest girl in the world”

 

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From the Groom…It was December 2011, Fiona was assisting with an audit and Steve was working hard on the 10th floor. They both wanted the free lunch offered by the building management to get in the mood for Christmas. They both got on the same elevator going down and up. On the ride up, Steve overcame his nervousness and talked to the prettiest girl in the world. They kept in touch after that fateful free lunch, and at one point they lived one block away from each other in Addison. After Steve and Fiona both worked their hardest to get the timing right, they finally started dating in 2014. It started with Steve overcoming his nervousness once again and bought Fiona a dozen roses from the only florist open on a Sunday afternoon. Life has been very easy for both Fiona and Steve since then.

From the Bride…Steve and I started to plan for our wedding since the beginning of 2016. We picked May 15, 2016 which is a Chinese lucky date for our marriage. With our busy schedule at work we managed to pick the perfect venue at Marty Leonard Chapel and Fort Worth Club in early February. Planning was slow before I met Bethany; she’s a talented photographer and super nice person. I liked her immediately after the first meeting. She gave me so many vendor recommendations and style suggestions, which helped my wedding planning go much more smoothly. I booked our florist and wedding coordinator shortly after I booked Bethany. With the help of Katie, my wedding coordinator, Steve and I got a really good deal for DJ service. During the whole planning process I enjoyed looking at Pinterest and found my inspiration there. The venues we picked were beautiful even without wedding decorations so I thought that would be less stressful. However, two days before the wedding I was so stressed out because I realized I forgot to count some flower decorations. I reached out to my florist, Lauren of The Backyard Bouquet, and asked her if she could do more flower decorations and a garland for the wedding car. Despite it being a last minute request Lauren finished everything perfectly! Katie and Bethany worked very closely to ensure that Steve and I would have an executable timeline for the wedding day. Thanks to their hard work everything went smoothly on the day of. I didn’t need to worry about a single thing, and just got to be happy and pretty. Our wedding day was filled with best wishes, happiness and laughter, but I remembered that when I was waiting outside of the Chapel to go down the aisle with my dad, I suddenly felt nervous but once the door opened and I saw Steve’s grinning face the nervousness went away. Another moment I remembered was when Steve and I were standing at the altar and listening to our minister announce us as couple, I was so touched by the meaning of marriage. I know that life will have ups and downs, but together we will conquer everything and live a wonderful life.

Photography: Bethany Erin Photography | Cinematography: Brad & Monica Wedding Films | Event Planning: Katie Frost Weddings | Floral Design: The Backyard Bouquet | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Ceremony Venue: Marty Leonard Chapel | Reception Venue: The Fort Worth Club | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Mengmilan | Hair + Makeup: Ewald Wang | DJ: Le Force Entertainment | Officiant: Rev. Brian | Ceremony Music: Jenny Glass

1950’s Style Wedding Every Vintage Bride Will Love

At first glance, you might assume this wedding is from decades past. But sure enough, it’s a modern day affair inspired by 1950’s, Mad Men style charm. The bride opted for a nontraditional silhouette paired with the prettiest hat veil and nailed the vintage chic look to a T. See it all in The Vault from L&L Style Photo.

From The Bride…What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?

We definitely wanted a more intimate wedding and something that reflected our values as a couple. We chose a forager’s theme because we first met at a foraging event. We shared a little bit of our world on that special evening – from the food, which was vegetarian and vegan to the instax photos, which shared our love for all things analog and old-school.

What was your color palette and your style vision?

For the color, we chose lots of green with splashes of white and crimson flowers. The white and green complimented the venue, which had a 1950s, mad-men era charm to it. In terms of style, we wanted something alternative but classic at the same time. We didn’t want to spend too much energy with the minute details that others were convincing us were absolutely necessary but weren’t important to us.

What unique elements or DIY details did you include?

Our DIY scattered fruits and nuts arrangements (consistent with the forager’s theme) by my maid-of-honor and our playful, culturally themed children’s table.

What was your favorite moment? Your favorite crafted detail?

I wanted to create a signature scent for my wedding. We used 20 Diptyque Baies candles and it was definitely worth the splurge. When we entered the dining room, guests were greeted with the smell of Baies – it was truly amazing.

Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors, your cake, etc.

Our flowers were sourced by our floral designer, Colie Colleen of Flowerscout – she’s so talented! She works with local flower farms in the Hudson Valley to offer an array of locally sourced seasonal flowers for all her clients. I have an aversion to big clusters of flowers and she was able to create these amazing arrangements that were truly organic and represented the natural greenery of a garden. My gown was self-designed after it was purchased from Net-a-Porter. I worked closely with Ignacio, my tailor, to create the classic 1950s silhouette. He’s the industry’s best kept secret and has done alteration work for Chanel for years now. I don’t like traditional veils, so I went with a hat instead. Shoes – I’m all about comfort and moving around, so I had to switch to sneakers in the middle of the night (totally unplanned). I’ve had those sneakers for years and they’re over-worn, but they’re super comfortable and perfect for dancing away in the night. We didn’t have wedding favors, but guests were encouraged to take home the Baie candles.

What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?

I was all about everything being perfect, but one thing I would do differently is to relax and just enjoy the process. Everything planned and unplanned will be awesome in the end. AND…don’t forget to ask your local talent (friends, family, etc.) for help.

Photography: L&L Style Photo | Floral Design: Flower Scout | Wedding Dress: Preen by Thornton Bregazzi | Cake: Brenda Lee | Stationery: John Derian | Stationery: Smythson | Bride's Shoes: Cole Haan | Bride's Shoes: Converse | Rings: Doyle And Doyle | Catering: Twisted Soul | Hair + Makeup: Sierra Min & Justin Min | Groom's Attire: Paul Smith | Venue: Alumnae House, Vassar College | Emcee: Eugene Park | Groom's Accessories: Hermes | Groom's Shoes: Brave Gentelman | Hair Accessories: Pamela Barsky | Hat: Suzanne's Couture Millinery | Reception Music: Vasssar College Jazz | Table Design: Dorothy Walter

A Sun + Sky Wedding Palette You’ll Be Obsessed With

When a few of the biggest names in the industry – looking at you, Jose Villa, Joy Proctor Design, Kelly Kaufman, and TEAM – come together for a wedding really, REALLY good things happen. Just take a peek at this gallery and you’ll see exactly what I mean. Sunset shades with a hint of light sky blue made for an unexpected fall color palette that you’ll 100% want to steal for yourself.

From Joy Proctor DesignIt was a pleasure to help Paola and Jon plan and design their beautiful Sunstone Wedding. Paola was inspired by the natural beauty of the Sunstone Villa and chose a color palette of warm sunset tones of peach and light blue to compliment it. Guests were greeted with refreshing herbed water as they sat for the ceremony officiated by the couple’s longtime friend. After the vows, guests made their way to the Villa courtyard for cocktails and appetizers. A large wooden board with light blue seating charts greeted guests as they made their way into the reception on the lawn. Guests sat at wooden tables covered in lush floral arrangements with beautiful hand dyed sea foam runners. The couple thanked their guests for coming as the sun set, and danced into the night.

Photography: Jose Villa Photography | Event Planning: Joy Proctor Design | Floral Design: Kelly Kaufman | Invitations: Written Word Calligraphy | Catering: Duo Catering & Events | Hair + Makeup: TEAM Hair and Makeup | DJ: Gavin Roy | Venue: Sunstone Winery & Villa | Rentals: The Tent Merchant

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A Truly Chic Tented Ceremony That You Won’t Believe

If there was one wedding that would convince me to pack up everything and move to California, this would be it. Captured by Gagewood, it’s a celebration brimming with seriously elegant style and a few Bella Figura flourishes for good measure. It’s classic with a modern twist and we’ve got it all waiting for you to fall in love with via The Vault!

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From The Bride…All it took was a game night setup, lots of wine, and great friends for Bret and I to see that there was something truly special between us. Our relationship was instantaneous from that first night and every year that passed thereafter seemed to fly by faster and faster. Before I knew it we had been together over three years and Bret was proposing to me at his family’s ranch in Northern Nevada. High on excitement and love, coupled with the excitement of our family and friends, it didn’t take long to start planning our nuptials.

We had three mains that were nonnegotiable when we started wedding planning. First was we had to have great food. Bret is an insanely talented ‘amateur’ chef so great food was a must. Secondly was location, we wanted something that was true to our style and to the area we grew up in. Northern Nevada is so incredibly beautiful and we truly have the splendor of all four seasons here. The both of us have grown up spending all seasons outside, doing some type of activity in the Lake Tahoe basin and we wanted to share our love of this area with all of our guests. The last thing, and probably our most cherished looking back, we wanted a resort where our family and friends could stay to enjoy in all the weekend festivities with us. With all of those in mind we selected one of the most stunning contemporary mountainside resorts, The Ritz-Carlton at Lake Tahoe.

From there we enlisted the help of Danielle from Elise Events to tie all our ideas together. She was, by far, one of the best decisions we made. We were able to vocalize all of our ideas, loves, hates and concerns and she took all of them in and delivered way above and beyond anything we could have imagined. With her in tow she brought our wedding style of organic understated romance to life. We wanted everyone to feel cozy and wrapped in the love that, the both us have for each other, and for our families and friends. Because of this, Bret and I pushed to keep our guest list limited and it made for a very intimate celebration.

Leading up to our wedding weekend we had beautiful sunny weather and then that Thursday a big storm rolled in. It started raining Thursday and it kept going all the way till about ten minutes before our ceremony. Determined to have my ceremony and pictures outside we made the decision to bring in a tent for our outdoor ceremony and I still cry thinking about how beautiful that tent was. It made for the most romantic and intimate ceremony we could have imagined. That tent may have been one of my most favorite things from our wedding. Funny how that works out!

It was the work of our florist that helped to create that gorgeous tent and the overall vision of our organic understated romance. Floral for me was one of the most important things and B & B delivered by leaps and bounds. Everything from my bouquet, to the table pieces, the flower crowns and the hanging greenery in our tent it was just beyond. She worked so closely with our wedding coordinator to bring this vision to life and oh my god was it gorgeous.

As we spent the night dancing away it started snowing heavily outside making for the most beautiful and serene evening. I only wish the night could have lasted longer. All of our vendors did an amazing job and we couldn’t be more grateful for their hard work every step of the way.

The best advice I received was to remember that this day is about you and your love and at the end of the day the only thing that matters is that the two of you are together, healthy and happy. Everything else will fall into place. Oh, one more, remember to have fun and enjoy every step because everything goes by so fast!

Photography: Gagewood | Cinematography: Dax Victorino Films | Event Planning + Design: Elise Events | Floral Design: BandB Designs | Invitations: Bella Figura | Stationery: Forever Heyday | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Jewelry: Jenny Packham | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Joanna August | Makeup: Jackie Trombley | Hair: Greco Rose Beauty | Calligraphy: Chloe Mackintosh At Boxwood Avenue | DJ: Moonlight Mobile DJ | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Venue: Vera Wang Papers | Bridal Boutique: Swoon Bridal | Hair Accessories: jennifer behr | Rentals: Celebrations Party Rentals | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Theoni Collection | Sash: Sara Gabriel | Veil: Paris By Debra Moreland | Wedding Dress One: JLM Couture, Inc | Wedding Dress Two: Willowby by Watters

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