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This Adorable Brunch Reception Will Have You Reconsidering Your Entire Wedding Theme

Here at SMP, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t have a soft spot in our hearts for brunch weddings 🥰  Espresso sans the martini, a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, sun-soaked ceremonies… it’s all just too sweet. Plus, an addition of the most beautiful floral bridesmaid dresses ever is the cherry on top! The soon-to-be Mom and Dad exchanged “I do’s” under a blooming arbor by Helen Olivia Flowers and celebrated with their loved ones under a tented reception, all planned by Pamela Barefoot Events. See all the sweetness at the full gallery from Astrid Photography!

From the couple… We (Emma & Tom) went to high school together and met during my sophomore year. We were both at school early for varsity preseason athletics. We maintained friends throughout the years in high school and after. It wasn’t until the beginning of Covid that we were both back in Alexandria and that is when our love blossomed into something neither of us had planned!

Our overall design theme was a brunch time garden wedding. We chose an outdoor venue with lots of flowers and a water view! Rather than a huge wedding, we opted for a more intimate gathering with our extended families and closest friends. Since Emma was pregnant, we chose to have a coffee bar open for the day with a variety of flavored syrups available. It was something delicious and unique that everyone enjoyed! We also served a peach mocktail named Lola, in honor of our daughter on the way!

My favorite parts of the day were the beautiful weather and how beautiful my wife looked. When I saw her being walked down the aisle with her father I had the absolute certainty I was the luckiest man in the world. That was the best feeling of my life.

We were able to relax and enjoy the day, which is what we both wanted overall. With Natalie’s assistance throughout the entire process we both felt so comfortable and didn’t have to worry!

From the planner… Emma and Tom both have family roots in Alexandria, Virginia. They attended the same high school together, however, it was not until the pandemic of 2020 that they reconnected and their love blossomed!

When I first spoke with Emma and Tom they were both very much in sync – their love was so palpable and truly inspiring! They wanted to do something in their hometown of Alexandria. Charming, intimate, outdoors, and brunch were a few words they used to describe the vision for their day. George Washington’s historic River Farm/Horticultural Society was the perfect venue for their garden brunch wedding.

The bride’s romantic eyelet lace dress and exciting pregnancy were two fun factors that guided the design and planning process. Leaning into River Farm’s landscape, Emma and Tom envisioned a clean yet whimsical vibe. White blooms, loads of greenery, and farm tables paired with chic upholstered chairs were a must! Organic white florals and colorful floral paper products paired beautifully under their gorgeously white-draped tent amidst the garden and scenic river views.

The couple had an epic brunch wedding and dessert table. As a fun twist, they named their specialty peach mocktail “Lola” in honor of their daughter on the way. And with the Groom’s love for coffee, they incorporated a coffee/espresso bar with a variety of fun flavored offerings.

We were able to find table runners that perfectly complemented the bride’s gorgeous dress. We paired this beautiful delicate floral china with these rattan chargers that were just the right amount of chic yet had a relaxed vibe with evergreen and sage paper, creating this beautiful earthy tablescape.

Emma and Tom’s garden wedding was full of charm and loads of love! All the guests were so happy and relaxed. It was the beautiful intimate celebration which they had both envisioned!

Photography: Astrid Photography | Event Planning: Pamela Barefoot Events | Floral Design: Helen Olivia Flowers | Wedding Dress: Love Shack Fancy | Invitations: Made by Victoria Laine | Reception Venue: River Farm | Catering: Occasions Caterers | Band: Sam Hill Entertainment | Rentals: Table Manners | Rentals: White Glove Rentals | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Pretty Little Wedding Co | Rentals: Select Event Group

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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A Romantic Summer Wedding in the Charming Foothills of the Smoky Mountains

The foothills of the Smoky Mountains set the scene for this stunning celebration. The day was done in a palette of blue and white expertly designed by Rachelle Youd Designs and filled with endlessly impressive blooms.  The imagery shot by Meredith Benton Photography will sweep you off your feet.  Visit the full gallery to fall in love.




From the Bride… Chandler and I attended Auburn University at the same time, but did not know each other except through mutual friends. Post college, I was living in Birmingham, AL working in interior design and Chandler was living in Nashville, TN working in management for commercial construction. My best friend ran into Chandler in a group setting and decided that he was the one for me. I will always be grateful for her thoughtful scheming in getting me and Chandler to the same city on the same weekend.



We were officially dating just one week later! We dated long distance for 8 months before both moving to Atlanta, GA for family and job opportunities. While on a family trip to Charleston, Chandler got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife! As we began looking for a wedding venue, we knew we wanted a destination wedding. Our photographer, Meredith Benton Photography, recommended that we look at RT Lodge. I loved the idea of being outdoors and have always dreamed of a very whimsical wedding.



When I found my wedding dress and we booked RT Lodge, our vision we worked from became “Ballgown in a Meadow.” That phrase really encompassed what I had envisioned. Classy and a little dramatic while still being whimsical and serene. One of our favorite parts of the wedding was the way our family and friends all were able to stay on property at RT Lodge. It made the whole weekend very intimate and the celebration never had to end!



Photography: Meredith Benton Photography | Cinematography: Easton Film Co | Event Design: Rachelle Youd Designs | Floral Design: Rachelle Youd Designs | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Blount County Bakery | Invitations: Rachelle Youd Designs | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Catering: RT Lodge | Wedding Venue: RT Lodge | Beauty: Hair & Makeup by Abby Moore

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Japanese Influenced Wedding Design Among the Redwoods at Ventana Big Sur

Middle school classmates turned husband and wife, from Tokyo to New York, Julie and Erik’s love story was written in the stars. Inspired by the venue’s dreamy locale, Big Sur and influenced by the bride’s Japanese heritage – their wedding planned by Jacqueline Hallgarth Events was the perfect blend of contemporary design and organic texture. Siren Floral Co. did what they do best, creating magic with unexpected floral pairings and complimentary hues to the idyllic autumnal setting. See all the pretty at the full gallery, all captured by Kurt Boomer!

From the bride… We originally met in middle school in Tokyo, Japan—we were classmates in the same grade from 6 th grade through senior year of high school at the American School in Japan. We didn’t date during middle or high school, and didn’t keep in touch after we graduated, but in June of 2018, after we had both graduated from law school (Erik from Harvard Law School and Julie from University of Michigan Law School) we matched on Bumble when we were both in New York City (Erik was studying for the bar exam there, Julie was working there). We both recognized each other and decided to grab drinks to catch up, and started dating soon after. We wanted to make sure to incorporate some Japanese elements into the ceremony and reception, and also wanted to incorporate some Japanese aesthetic elements by highlighting our natural surroundings and using clean, modern lines.

From the planner… At the start of the planning process, I was so inspired when Julie & Erik sent me pictures of Julie’s gorgeous country home in Japan. I knew Ventana was the idyllic setting for their wedding. The property has clean and contemporary architecture while being immersed in nature and iconic Big Sur redwoods – the most perfect dichotomy. It was important to Julie and Erik the wedding venue would have activities for their guests traveling from all over the globe such as hiking, yoga, and wellness treatments.

We wanted the guests to have an immersive experience true to the destination – Big Sur. Siren Floral Co provided stunning ceremony florals featuring garden-style floor arrangements compromised largely of golden ferns, interesting textural branch, and some natural elements such as rusty California buckwheat. We wanted the florals to speak true to Big Sur’s autumnal setting that time of year. We had an elevated wooden platform as the aisle runner. For the altar, Siren Floral Co provided an overgrowth surrounding the platform composed of autumnal foliage and textural elements with more height to where Julie and Erik stood at the ceremony.

The tabletop came from Theoni with Terra Linen charger plates, black Twiggy flatware, and Beckett Gold linens from La Tavola Linen. Our centerpieces were composed of delicate floral movements and interesting shapes. The vessels and votives were handmade ceramic bowls in our color palette. We had little Ikebana-style florals created with floral frogs and simple groupings of interesting shapes to bring the ikebana feel to the tables. Locally grown golden ferns accented the ceiling string lights. The dinner menu was quite extensive so Swell Press created a gorgeous menu booklet in slate grey to create a restaurant like experience for the guests. Julie’s family is from Japan, and we wanted to make sure that there were some Japanese elements incorporated into the wedding. Julie’s family knows 5 th generation lacquerware makers in Aomori prefecture, the Kimura family, who designed and made lacquerware cups that were used at the wedding. In traditional Japanese wedding ceremonies, the families of the bride and groom break a barrel of sake—the act of breaking open a sake barrel means the start of something new. The tradition is called “Kagami Biraki” and is over 300 years old. Once the barrel is broken, the guests all cheers and drink sake together. Each guest had their own lacquerware cup which they used for this tradition and which we also used as part of the table display (picture below).

Photography: Kurt Boomer | Floral Design: Siren Floral Co. | Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Cake: Jasmine Rae Cakes | Invitations: Swell Press | Lighting: McCune | DJ: Dart Collective | Accomodations: Alila Ventana Big Sur | Beauty: The Glamourist | Bridal Atelier: Maradee Wahl | Bridal Stylist: Gabrielle Hurwitz | Ceremony & Reception Venue: Alila Ventana Big Sur | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Planning & Design: Jacqueline Hallgarth Events | Rentals: Theoni Collection | Rentals: Chic Event Rentals

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
Unseen Moments From Bachelor Alumn Sydney Hightower and NFL Player Fred Warner’s Wedding

On a gorgeous, sun-soaked, Southern California day – Bachelor Alumn Sydney Hightower tied the knot to NFL player Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers at the exclusive Cal-a-Vie Health Spa! From the baby’s breath and orchid adorned floral arrangements by Eucharis Studio to the bride’s epic gowns, every inch of their day was truly breathtaking. It’s safe to say they scored big-time with Lavish & Co. who planned every thoughtful detail to perfection. Lucky for us, Amy Golding was there to capture every must-see moment, including a few familiar faces in Bachelor Nation – all at the full gallery.

From the planner, Lavish & Co.Sydney and Fred wanted a secluded, romantic, but unique venue to host their nuptials.

The minute they saw Cal-a-Vie they knew it was the top of their list, but truly fell in love when they saw the 400-year-old French chapel and intimate reception space accentuated by beautiful antique pieces at every turn.

To ensure we didn’t take away the beauty already present at the venue, Lavish worked with the Eucharis Studio team to choose florals and rentals that were elegant, timeless, and melted into each setting. 

Babies breath, candles, greenery, and orchids will truly never go out of style and the couple couldn’t be happier with the final design.

Photography: Amy Golding | Event Planning: Lavish Wed | Floral Design: Eucharis Studio | Cake: heritage dessert | Band: Republic Of Music | Ceremony Music: Tang Instrumentals | Venue: Cal-a-Vie Health Spa | Barber: Paradox Barbers | Bridal Hair and Makeup: David Rodriguez | Bridesmaids and Moms Hair and Makeup: Love P Calligraphy | Cold Sparklers: Party People SD | Phone Attendants: Yondr | Photobooth: Pixster | Rentals: Hire Elegance | Rentals: APR Event Rentals | Video: ENCOR STUDIO

Bride Hand Beads Her Own Gown And Shocks Guests With Helicopter Grand Entrance!

Prepare to be amazed, our bride can make an entrance! For her wedding day she spent countless hours hand-beading her own wedding gown from Revelle Bridal with thousands of sequins to make it one-of-a-kind.  If that wasn’t enough, she also arrived at her wedding venue by helicopter! Sinclair & Co. Design planned and designed a day that brought all of the couple’s wildest wedding dreams to life, and Stephanie Mason & Co. beautifully captured every picture-perfect moment in her elegant imagery.  Visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the wow!




From  Stephanie Mason & Co.Like many young girls growing up, Jenna always dreamed of her wedding day. Shen never missed an episode of any wedding dress show or movie and was constantly adding to her Pinterest boards. Shortly after getting engaged in late-October 2021, Jenna and Aaron went to visit Jenna’s dream venue, Stonefields Estate (the only venue they went to see). Aaron quickly fell in love (Jenna already had) only to be told that Saturdays were fully booked for the coming year (2022) and that 2023 would be opening soon. Disappointed, days later Jenna sent an email asking to be put on the 2023 email list for that block release. As luck would have it, they had just had a cancellation for a Saturday – May 28, 2022. They were in and out of service when that email came in, headed to their family cottage in Muskoka, Ontario. Jenna shrieked in the car with Aaron driving and immediately went into panic mode as the email stated that another couple, interested in that date, was coming that afternoon to visit the site and that they would have to act fast if they wanted it. The seconds ticked by as Jenna waited to be back in a cell service area on the drive. When she finally was, her reply, without hesitation, was in the form of an e-transfer for the deposit. There was no chancing missing out on this date! Like many other bride’s affected by COVID-19, Jenna’s older sister had just gotten married weeks prior after having postponed many dates. Aaron and Jenna were optimistic about May 2022 but decided to keep the date and deposit a surprise from everyone until they were more confident that it may actually happen. Weeks became months as Jenna and Aaron quietly secured vendors and planned the details of their wedding. Jenna’s Pinterest boards became a Google Slide PowerPoint presentation and she worked closely with Lauren from Sinclair & Co. Design to narrow down each element, bringing the vision boards to life. The overall look and feel consisted of a neutral colour palette, organic florals and lush greenery, soft and natural linen textures, and an elegant touch of gold. All of these elements amplified the already beautiful loft and surrounding grounds at Stonefields Estate.

Right after booking the cancellation date and compiling her vision board, the bride knew she had to find her dream dress ASAP – as they were only 7 months out! Thankfully having a strong idea of what she has always wanted, the bride went shopping alone to continue to keep the wedding a secret. This was a tough decision because of how close she is with her family. It took trying on only four dresses at Revelle Bridal for her to narrow down the one she wanted but something was still missing. She purchased the Scottie V2 Made With Love dress and MWL overskirt ‘rush’ because she also had plans to customize it herself over the coming months! Growing up, her mom taught her how to sew and the only missing element from her dream dress was some amazing sparkle. The dress arrived in just over a month and, in true Cinderella fashion, she spent nights locked away in a room bedazzling her dress in secret from her husband. Thousands of beads were added!! The bride spent over 150 hours hand-sewing a clear sequin and glass mirror bead onto every single large dot of the gown. The finished product was a sparkly customized gown unlike any other. Jenna never wanted a gown that anyone else could purchase so this added personal touch also brought the unique factor she was looking for and paired perfectly, for a true Cinderella moment with her high heels by Christian Louboutin. Her mom helped her get ready and was blown away by the hand-beaded dress – so much so that she almost couldn’t believe it was true. The final touch was a heartfelt emotional first look with the bridesmaids who had been waiting to finally see the much-anticipated gown. Up until moments before, nobody knew what it looked like though many had enjoyed guessing in the weeks leading up to the wedding. The couple truly loves a fun DIY project and the toughest part about all of the wedding ones was actually just keeping them hidden from visiting friends and family who didn’t know about the wedding yet!



By far the largest DIY Jenna and Aaron made was a natural wood backdrop for their ceremony space. Standing over 15 ft wide and almost 9 ft tall, beautifully styled by Sinclair & Co. Design With florals and greenery, it was a unique statement piece like none-other. Separated later into 4 pieces, it was reused inside the loft and on the terrace as smaller backdrops throughout the evening. A beautiful custom linen welcome sign and DIY confetti bar with mini ‘happy tears’ tissue boxes welcomed guests to the ceremony. The bride, a former piano player, created piano music sheet cones for guests to spoon in their desired dried-floral confetti, to be tossed in celebration as the newlyweds came back down the aisle. Accordingly, a live pianist and cello player set the mood for the ceremony space. The most anticipated moment, that only a few key vendors and the groom knew about was Jenna’s grand entrance. This element was kept a complete surprise from friends and family – the bride ended up only telling her parents and bridesmaids moments before. This surprise coincided perfectly with the bride and father’s first-look moment. Jenna quietly let her mom and dad know that the helicopter, flying overhead, was actually here for them. The smile on her dad’s face and disbelief from her mom was well worth the wait. The grand entrance of a lifetime, that the bride had always dreamed of was to arrive to Stonefields Estate by helicopter. Conveniently, there was a tiny airport across the street from the venue, therefore Jenna and her father quietly snuck across the street as guests began to arrive.

Moments before the ceremony began, they took a quick aerial tour above the venue and could see all of the closest loved ones as they were seated for the ceremony. Stephanie from Stephanie Mason & Co. And Chris from Peaking Zebra captured the shocked reactions from the guests. They quickly realized that the helicopter overhead was in fact the bride, landing onsite. While the moment was exhilarating and very exciting for all guests, the goosebumps on Jenna’s arms upon landing were for Aaron, finally seeing him for the first time that day standing up at the altar with tears in his eyes. After a beautiful, heartfelt ceremony, the couple were toasted with champagne and taken to the loft for their grand reveal of the reception. The reception reveal left the couple speechless and very emotional. “It was truly straight out of fairy-tale with the lush florals, beautiful décor, and romantic candle light. Sinclair & Co. Design  team delivered way beyond my wildest expectations. It was the most elegant, romantic wedding we could have ever imagined” says the bride. Personalized touches would be an overall theme the couple wanted to achieve throughout their day. An experience for their closest loved ones was constantly in mind when the bride was planning her details. The attention to detail was important and added to the overall uniqueness of the day. One of the most important details was worn by the groom. A blue ALS bracelet. The bracelet (in support of the ALS charity) was a very special way of honouring his late father, who had sadly passed away from ALS a few years back. The couple made a donation to ALS Canada in lieu of guest favours and Wayne was mentioned in many speeches, toasts and memories throughout the day. His spirit and love was felt by the couple and all guests attending the wedding. The couple wanted to share a few thoughts with those couples currently planning their big day. “Hire a core vendor team who has the same goal of making your day perfect. We couldn’t have pulled off what we did without our planner, Lauren (Sinclair & Co. Design). She made the month leading up to our wedding stress free and the entire day enjoyable. A photographer who takes the time to get to know you as a couple and your vibe is important. Stephanie was amazing and we are blown away with our images. Hiring Peaking Zebra, we knew we would have a video of our vows, the speeches, and those moments where we weren’t present for (you can only be in so many places at once!). This made it easier to relax and enjoy wherever we were without fear of missing anything in the blur of the day. Some of our favourite details throughout the day weren’t the most expensive or the bigger ticket items, it was the smaller moments or the hand-made items that reminded everyone of us, as a couple, and our love story. As time goes on and details fade from memory, I know those are the things that I’m going to remember for many years to come!”



From the bride… Aaron and Jenna ‘matched’ on Halloween of 2017. Both Aaron and Jenna went to OttawaU at the same time and while many of their sporty mutual friends overlap, they never met. Their instant connection was founded in their mutual love of family and strong passion for all things sports. Both of them knew right away that this was meant to be and that they had found their forever person. It didn’t take long for them to set down roots and build their forever home together before getting engaged in 2021. In October of 2021 Aaron had kept a diamond ring hidden while secretly planning the perfect proposal for over 6 months. Friday morning, Jenna woke up in their home to a rose petal path leading to a note, a bag and itinerary giving Jenna the day to pack and get her nails done. Aaron had rented a picturesque property in Prince Edward County for the weekend that had a private barn onsite. He hired a local team (Sajess Events) to decorate the barn, inspired by every fairy tale movie or final-rose engagement setup (Bachelor/ette), while they were having dinner at the Drake Devonshire in town. When they returned, Aaron suggested that they check out the barn. As the barn door swung open, their song and a video Aaron had made, documenting their love story, began to play. A photographer (Allison Hadley Photography) capture the emotional moment Aaron got down on one knee in front of a floral arbour surrounded by rose petals and candles lighting up the barn. Champagne was popped when she said yes and he even had a single red rose to give her, a nod to the show. A private vintage car pulled up the next morning and toured them around the wine county to celebrate their engagement.

Like many young girls growing up, Jenna always dreamed of her wedding day. Shen never missed an episode of any wedding dress show or movie and was constantly adding to her Pinterest boards. Shortly after getting engaged in late-October 2021, Jenna and Aaron went to visit Jenna’s dream venue, Stonefields Estate (the only venue they went to see). Aaron quickly fell in love (Jenna already had) only to be told that Saturdays were fully booked for the coming year (2022) and that 2023 would be opening soon. Disappointed, days later Jenna sent an email asking to be put on the 2023 email list for that block release. As luck would have it, they had just had a cancellation for a Saturday – May 28, 2022. They were in and out of service when that email came in, headed to their family cottage in Muskoka. Jenna shrieked in the car with Aaron driving and immediately went into panic mode as the email stated that another couple, interested in that date, was coming that afternoon to visit the site and that they would have to act fast if they wanted it. The seconds ticked by as Jenna waited to be back in a cell service area on the drive. When she finally was, her reply, without hesitation, was in the form of an e-transfer for the deposit. There was no chancing missing out on this date! Like many other bride’s affected by COVID-19, Jenna’s older sister Kyrie had just gotten married weeks prior after having postponed many dates. Aaron and Jenna were optimistic about May 2022 but decided to keep the date and deposit a surprise from everyone until they were surer that it might actually happen. Weeks became months as Jenna and Aaron quietly secured vendors and planned the details of their wedding. Jenna’s Pinterest boards became a Google Slide PowerPoint presentation and she worked closely with Lauren from Sinclair & Co. Design To narrow down each element, bringing the vision boards to life. The overall look and feel consisted of a neutral colour pallet, natural florals and lush greenery, soft and natural fabric tones and an elegant touch of gold. All of these elements amplified the already beautiful Loft beams and surrounding grounds at Stonefields. The couple loves a DIY project and the toughest part about all of the wedding ones was actually just keeping them hidden from visiting friends and family who didn’t know about the wedding yet! 



Photography: Stephanie Mason & Co. | Cinematography: Chris | Event Design: Sinclair & Co. Design | Event Planning: Sinclair & Co. Design | Floral Design: Sinclair & Co. Design | Wedding Dress: Revelle | Invitations: Letterland Studio | DJ: Oxygen Entertainment - DJ Ray Rae | Groom's Attire: Harry Rosen | Officiant: Angela Giles | Beauty: One Fine Beauty | Beauty: Showpony Hair | Location: The Design Co. | Rentals: Inspired Decor | Wedding Gown Designer: Made With Love Bridal

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These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
A Joyful, Southern Fête at the Bride’s Family Estate

This all white wedding will sweep you off of your feet.  Held at the bride’s family home, Southern Posies planned the prettiest of celebrations with romance at every turn.  Fabulous florals filled the day, from the ceremony surrounded by blooms that seemed to grow from the ground up to hanging flowers overhead at the reception.  Meredith Benton Photography beautifully captured the joy and love of the day in her artful imagery.  You can swoon over every last one in the full gallery.




From the Bride…. Collins and I met in our second semester of our first year of law school. I was instantly drawn to how kind and cute he was. Once we graduated from law school, we began working and living in two different cities. Not long after, I moved back to where he was and the rest is history. Collins proposed in Atlanta, Georgia, at the historic Swan House. A summer rain shower happened to pop up out of nowhere, and he was absolutely drenched. It is safe to say that I was completely shocked. We were surrounded by both of our families and close friends and it was the sweetest day.



Collins and I knew we wanted to get married in a place that was accessible to all of our guests and, the more we talked about our day, the more we knew that getting married in my hometown at my parent’s home was exactly what we wanted. My parent’s home was built by my grandmother and sits on land that has been in our family for years, so it made for an incredibly special location for our wedding. Not to mention, my sister got married there exactly 6 months prior to us. Walking out of our home with my dad and down the aisle to my groom was something I will never forget.



We knew we wanted the ceremony close to the water and a big, beautiful tent for all of our guests to enjoy the reception in. The vision was for our day to be Southern and traditional, but with some flare. Our wedding planners made sure to incorporate things that truly reflected who we were. For example, I LOVE pizza so they created a pizza bar where guests could select any type of pizza they wanted. Our day was everything and more than we could have ever dreamed.



Photography: Meredith Benton Photography | Cinematography: Al Weddings | Event Design: Southern Posies | Wedding Dress: Anne Barge | Cake: Sonshine Cakes | Invitations: Kara Anne Paper | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Catering: Jennie Weller Catering | Groom's Attire: Men's Warehouse | Beauty: Katie Gurley | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Location: Private Estate


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For membership information, click here
Bringing Bridgerton Romance to The Lowcountry at the Gaillard Center

As we eagerly await the release date of Bridgerton Season 3, we count ourselves lucky to have dreamy editorials like today’s to swoon over until then! Inspired by our favorite regency-era guilty pleasure, Intrigue Design & Events and Katherine & Tyler Photo + Video brought old English romance to the streets of Charleston. From hidden butterfly elements to elaborate florals by Violet Rose Floral, no detail was left unturned. The ton is abuzz over all the beauty to be seen in the full gallery!

From Katherine & Tyler Photo + Video… As you know it, Charleston is known for its breathtaking lowcountry scenery and historic architecture. Katherine with Katherine & Tyler Photo and Chelsye with Intrigue Design and Events are Charleston locals who co-founded The Styled Society, a workshop & retreat pursuit for photographers. They combined their passion & creativity together to bring something completely unique and never been done before to Charleston, which is what they strive to do at every workshop they host.

For this bridgerton inspired editorial, Katherine and Chelsye chose to use The Gaillard performing arts center as the “wedding venue” that would hopefully transport you to an old England chateau. With elaborate florals created by Violet Rose Floral and design elements that would take place in Bridgerton, the atmosphere was completely transformed.

One design element that was important to highlight throughout the editorial was butterflies in which you can see hidden intentionally on the head table. With beautifully handmade butterfly place cards and small realistic ones flying out of the centerpieces, this element tied in perfectly with the butterflies on the brides gown.

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Photography: Katherine and Tyler Photo and Video | Cinematography: Katherine and Tyler Photo and Video | Event Planning: Intrigue Design & Events | Floral Design: Violet Rose Floral | Wedding Dress: NT Events | Cake: Little Peanut Pastries | Invitations: Elephant Limbo | Reception Venue: Gaillard Center | Jewelry: Missy Girl Designs | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Groom's Attire: Jims Formal Wear | Officiant: Custom Vows By Casey | Beauty: Silhouette On Site | Host: The Styled Society | Lighting/Bar: Classic Planning and Design Co. | Linens: Nuage Linens | Live Painter: Label by Chloe | Music/Harpist: Peter Kiral | Rentals: Curated Events | Rentals: Eventworks

5 Trends From NYBFW Fall 2023 We Can’t Wait to See Take the Wedding World by Storm

For us, Autumn means a few of our favorite things – crisp air, colorful leaves, pumpkin spice everything and our favorite week of the year. Yup, you guessed it – New York Bridal Fashion Week! ✨ The SMP girls had an absolute blast galavanting around the city hopping from show to show, lattes in hand and a shoe swap in each purse 😉 Today, we’re breaking down the 5 hottest trends of the season that completely dominated the runway, and trust us when we tell you – the list may come as a surprise! To say we’re excited to see these styles grace our pages in 2023 real weddings is a serious understatement. Now, let’s get into all the pretty shall we!

 

1. Capes & Detachable Sleeves

The SuperBride look is here to stay, making waves in this season’s collections as it has in many BFW’s of previous years. But what we didn’t expect to see was the impossible to ignore rise of detachable sleeves! The versatility offered by these functional designs allows brides to bring a whole new vibe to their bridal look. Do we dare ask the question… are detachable sleeves the second dress of 2023? We can’t wait to find out! 😍

Credits in order: Anne Barge, Monique Lhuillier, The Atelier, Julie Vino, MADELINE

 

2. One-Shoulder Seduction

If you know us, you know we love a good one-shoulder moment. From high fashion to approachable, the one-shoulder statement gowns continued to stand out in the crowd throughout the entire week of events! Here’s a sneak peek at a few of our favorite looks that embraced this sophisticated trend.

Credits in order: Justin Alexander, Anne Barge, Ines Di Santo, Justin Alexander

 

3. Glitz, glam and glitter!

At almost every collection we were lucky enough to preview, simple took a backseat and SPARKLE took center stage! We mean it… like the more the merrier. We’re talking rhinestones, glitter, metallics, sequins… the whole enchilada! It was an eye-catching movement we truly never would have expected to see make such a huge splash across all designers’ collections, no matter the genre. It’s giving Carrie Bradshaw circa And Just Like That and we’re hereee for it.

Credits in order: Monique Lhuillier, The Atelier, LEGENDS Romona Keveza, Katherine Tash, Ines Di Santo

 

4. Unexpected Color

Daring shades from designers who typically stick to the classics had our hearts skipping a beat. This season, the runways were brought to life by unexpected palettes – from hot pinks and deep purples to everything in between. You name it, we saw it! And we can’t get enough.

Credits in order: The Atelier, Ines Di Santo, Monique Lhuillier, Badgley Mischka, Ines Di Santo

5. Volume, volume, volume!

Like we said, simple and understated were not the vibe of NYBFW Fall 2023. From princess ball gowns to sky high puff sleeves to supersized bows – volume was out in full force to see and be seen. To fully grasp the magnitude of it all, you’ll just have to see for yourself…

Credits in order: Julie VinoViktor and Rolf Mariage, The AtelierViktor and Rolf Mariage

Endless Elegance At This Château Saint Georges In The French Riviera

Come to the Château Saint Georges in the French Riviera with us for the ultimate in luxury destination weddings.  Guests traveled from all over the world to celebrate, and experience the incredible incredible day planned by Angels Bespoke Event.  Beautiful blooms by Wayne Riley Flowers add to the elegance, and imagery from Thomas Audiffren makes us feel as if we are right there with the happy couple.  Visit the full gallery for a closer look.




From the couple… In October of 2016, Olya and Brandon both decided to make a life changing decision and move cross country, Olya from NY to LA and Brandon from LA to NY. As luck would have it, just after Olya said her goodbyes to family and the city she loved, they were randomly sat next to each other in Delta Comfort +. It took Brandon 5 hours and 21 minutes but he finally mustered up enough courage to strike up a conversation. The next day, Olya agreed to meet Brandon for a “happy hour” drink, which then turned into dinner and a fun game of billiards. Even though Brandon was on a 30 day cleanse and ordered flavored water and gluten/diary free appetizers, Olya only made fun of him a little bit and the two had a wonderful time getting to know each other. They’ve been together ever since.



In June of 2021, as the global pandemic eased restrictions, Olya and Brandon decided to go on a three-week African safari adventure where they hiked in the forest with mountain gorillas, watched lion cubs playing in the early sunrise, and saw cheetahs hunt for their next meal. At the end of the trip, Brandon got down on one knee and proposed to Olya on the Seychelles Islands, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Olya thought they were just going out for one last dinner, but soon realized what was happening when she saw the romantic beach dinner set up and acoustic guitarist serenading them.



The newly engaged couple always dreamed of having a destination wedding where their family and friends from both sides could spend time getting know each other, and enjoy a beautiful location most had never been to. The Château Saint Geroges in the French Riviera was the perfect spot, providing luxury accommodations, and an elegant venue with historic charm and sweeping views of the mountains down to the Mediterranean. In total, 79 guests made the trip to the South of France from New York, Florida, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Italy, and Ukraine to be a part of Olya and Brandon’s special celebration.



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Photography: Thomas Audiffren | Cinematography: Arnaud Trapani | Event Planning: Life Events | Event Planning: Angels Bespoke Event | Florist: Wayne Riley Flowers | Ceremony Venue: Chateau Saint-Georges | Bride's shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Bride's gown: Vera Wang | Catering and cake: Traiteur Ruth Williams | Champagne: Krug | Champagne: Veuve Clicquot | Furniture & Tableware Hire: Maison options | Ice Cream Cart: Neron Glacier | Lighting & Sound: Mix and Light | Musicians & DJ for whole event: The Chain Du | Musicians for the ceremony: Lady's Orchestra | Photobooth Selfie Mirror: Selfie Mirror

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A Stylish, Sophisticated Summer Wedding at Flora Farms in Cabo

The second we found out this gorgeous wedding day planned by Martha Lomeli Weddings was actually in Cabo, we had to do a double take. Flora Farms is a lush garden venue you would never expect to find in this beautiful beach paradise – perfectly tucked away in the serene foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains. The couple fell in love with the farm to table atmosphere, picturesque fields of vegetables and open air feel. The two tied the knot under a blooming magenta floral arbor by Floweriize, and later dined al fresco under strings of twinkle lights! All the inspo you need is just a click away at the full gallery by Meredith Benton Photography!

From the Bride, Caroline… The statistics for a good blind date are probably pretty low, especially on a Monday night during a NYC blizzard. Jake and I met at Cibar near Gramercy Park. We had only seen photos of one another and were mostly going as a favor to our family members who set us up. We ended up closing the bar down, talking for hours, and knew that night that we had found our soul mates. Fast forward a year and a pandemic later, and Jake proposed in Rosemary Beach, Florida, surrounded by friends and family.

It was important to us to pick a destination that our guests would enjoy going to, and could make a vacation out of. We had people flying in from all over the country with most of Jake’s family coming from New York and mine from Texas, so Cabo made the most sense geographically. We originally fell in love with San Jose del Cabo on a trip we took together once travel bans were lifted. Jake and I left with a wedding venue secured at Flora Farms. To say we fell in love with the area would be an understatement. The farm to table atmosphere, along with the magical florals and beautiful fields of vegetables truly made it feel like a heavenly oasis in the middle of the desert.

From the Planner… Caroline & Jake wanted their wedding weekend to be low-key, but elevated. They chose Los Cabos as their destination, and Caroline was very involved in the design of the weekend. She fell in love with the natural elegance of Flora Farms and was inspired by the open air space, farm to table menu, and lush gardens on the property. The seated dinner was served family style, and homemade wood fired pizzas were passed near the dance floor as a surprise late night snack.

Included in their day were many special details like embroidered linen napkins with their initials, maracas with every guest’s name attached to find their assigned seats, a colorful invitation suite with hand lettering and illustrations, and breathtaking flowers by Floweriize.

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Photography: Meredith Benton Photography | Cinematography: Dave and a Camera | Event Planning: Martha Lomeli | Floral Design: Floweriize | Wedding Dress: Mira Zwillinger | Invitations: Cazadora Creative Co. | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Catering: Flora Farms | Entertainment: Kilometro | Wedding Venue: Flora Farms | Beauty: Los Cabos Makeup | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: JW Marriot Los Cabos

A Classic Black and White Wedding With Carefully Curated Details

This timeless black and white wedding is done oh-so right! Anne Claire Allen Planning & Design planned the stunning event and filled it with elegant little details we can’t get enough of.  Between the oversized bow on the back of our bride’sCarolina Herrera gown to the floral filled dance floor designed by Silks a Bloom, every inch of this special day is an absolute must-see.  The images artfully captured by Erin Wilson Photography and Films expertly capture all the joy and love, see it all inside the full gallery.




From Anne Claire Allen Planning & DesignWe loved Madie and Conor’s wedding with all their beautiful classic moments with a fun twist.



They chose black and white for their color scheme and we were blown away by the incredibly fun floral dance floor and band backdrop. The florals were dripping from the table and it was stunning!



My favorite part was Madie’s Carolina Herrera dress with that gorgeous big bow! Even the bridesmaids had bows on their dresses and tiny bow earrings.



Event Planning: Anne Claire Allen Planning & Design | Floral Design: Silks a Bloom | Dress: Arte Latica | Cake: Mickey's Cakes and Sweets | Invitations: By Invitation Only | Catering: Heritage Catering | Makeup: Lauren Benet | Hair: Kalie Huddleston Riley | Lighting: Central Arkansas Entertainment | Band: Funkytown | Wedding Venue: Legacy Acres | Dance Floor: The Dance Floor Man | Getaway Car: Rob Haynie | Musicians: Chamber Winds | Photography and Videography: Erin Wilson Photography | Rentals: Eventology


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A Destination Wedding In Greece That’s Overflowing With Elegance

Travel to Greece with us for a day carefully crafted by THE EVENT CO. that you won’t want to miss.  Floral design by Studio 7 is as romantic as it is inspirational, and every tender moment is artfully captured in imagery by George Liopetas Fine Art Photographs. Visit the full gallery to fall in love with every magical moment.




From George Liopetas Fine Art PhotographsHow about getting married in your mother country? How about getting married in Greece? This destination wedding will blow your eyes off. New York is such a city, but Greece and especially Achaia is an amazing place. Especially, if you combine some of the best pros in Greece. Anna Sourbati, owner and planner of THE EVENT CO., created some magic for A+K and their guests could not believe in their eyes. Be sure to check all the images and fell in love with A+K’s fairytale. This wedding is going to make you feel like Greece as Athena and Kostas, who are originally from Nafpaktos Greece, decided to tie the knot where their parents and grandparents did. Isn’t it so romantic? I think it is.



Being in the fashion industry and working for the most iconic fashion brands, our bride Athena was really such a beautiful bride! Where should we start from? From her amazing Vera Wang gown with this so chic external sleeve piece? From her Rene Caovilla tailor made heels? Ohhh yes, Rene especially made these heels for her and only for her!

From the bride, ‘We met for the first time briefly in New York City, back in the summer of 2013. We did not meet again until the summer of 2014, when we met in Nafpaktos. And that is where it all began! Nafpaktos is so special to the both of us’.



The beauty elements of the day were done by by Chrisanthos Smirneos, an amazing hair stylist, and Mary Rokkou, a well know make up artist. Both well known for their work in the fashion industry of Greece and not only, our magical bride left us speechless.

The wedding ceremony was held at ‘Saint Paraskevi’ church, in Nafpaktos downtown and the reception took place at the amazing Idilofon Venue. You should totally check the sunset behind the Rio-Antirio bridge… It was such a beauty.

 Last but not least, the fairytale would not be the same without the amazing team of Studio 7.  From the  amazing white peonies bouquet to he amazing white rose centerpieces to the this amazingly decorated table for two = THE BEST JULY WEDDING!



Photography: George Liopetas Fine Art Photographs | Cinematography: WEDCINEMATICS | Event Planning: The Event Company | Floral Design: Studio 7 | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Stationery: Papertree Studio | Reception Venue: Idilofon Venue | Catering: Dimitris Fakalos | Groom's Attire: Salvatore Ferragamo | Beauty: Chrisanthos Smirneos | Beauty: Mary Rokkou | Bridal Shoes: Rene Caovilla | Photobooth: Kibeli | Rentals: White Lilac | Rentals: Stylebox | Ring Boxes: Velweds

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Hockey Meets Secret Garden Wedding in Canada

If you’re wondering if a hockey themed wedding can be exceedingly chic, let this show stopper be your resounding YES! Johanna Leigh Events planned the carefully curated day with nods to our groom’s profession as a pro hockey player woven throughout the experience.  Flowers designed by The Little Shed Flower are incredibly beautiful, and every last image captured by Lace & Luce is a work of art.  See the full day unfold in the full gallery.




From Lace & LuceHannah works as the COO of Fancy Face, an amazing wedding HMUA company in Toronto, and Evan is a professional hockey player in Europe, so how did this pair combine their personalities and their long-distance relationship to create a perfect wedding theme? With a completely custom graphic, including images of places they have visited together, hockey motifs, and a few of their favorite places and things! They then used this as the main element to tie their entire wedding together (on their seating chart, Evan’s suit, their invites, menus, and on their tablescape).



You can’t often imagine a ‘hockey-themed’ wedding as being this beautiful but this wedding complimented both of the couple’s personalities perfectly and ended up so personalized and special to the couple. This wedding was filled with nods to hockey-a hockey graphic used on the invite, the seating chart, and on the tables and menus. As well as a clever ‘meet me at the ice’ sign covering the bar serving custom cocktails. This wedding was so unique even the wedding cake by Nadia & Co. included Hannah’s family heirloom cake topper, which has been used in weddings throughout her family for generations.



The final result is a luscious garden-themed wedding filled with nods for once to the groom with hockey motifs abounding in the Braestone Farm wedding venue. Hannah and Evan met at 18 and have been together literally since the night they met in 2014. They are a true testament to the term ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ as they have been doing on and off long distance for the last 8 years as Evan’s hockey career has taken him around the world. With Hannah working in the wedding industry she wanted a wedding that wasn’t just beautiful but unique and personalized to the two of them and the result truly was a dream wedding!



Photography: Lace & Luce | Event Planning: Johanna Leigh Events | Floral Design: The Little Shed Flower | Stationary: Olumis Calligraphy | Reception Venue: Braestone Farms | Cake and Sweets: Nadia & Co. | Custom Suit: TOLO Clothier | Custom Wedding Dress: Marianas Bridal | HMUA: Fancy Face Inc. | Rentals: Plate Occasions

This Couple Lost Their Home and Had a Comeback Wedding

This wedding is proof that love conquers all. Despite losing their home in the Colorado Marshall Fire, our couple persevered through wedding planning and the result is truly something worth celebrating. Kate Alexandra Events beautifully planned the elegant day and Callarose and Co filled it with endlessly romantic blooms.  The love and happiness of the day shines in imagery by Jacqueline Benét Photography, take a closer look inside the full gallery.




From Jacqueline Benét PhotographyI will never forget when my bride Stephanie reached out saying that she was sorry for the delay in getting back to me, and that they want to choose me as their photographer, but they just lost their home in the Colorado Marshall Fire. She said they lost everything, left the house with the clothes on their backs, their laptops, and their cat Holly Golightly. Not only did they lose their house and all that they own, but the groom’s father in the same neighborhood also lost his house as well. She wanted to still continue planning their wedding, but they needed some extra time to pick up the pieces and figure out what was next for them. I had chills reading their email, and cried for them at the thought of losing everything. I felt like their beautiful wedding day was their comeback story and made all the joy that much sweeter!



From the bride… Six months before their wedding, on December 30th, 2021, Stephanie and Chris lost their house in the Marshall Fire in Boulder, Colorado. They got out safely with nothing but their passports, computers, and their beloved cat. The following day, along with over 1,000 other neighbors, they learned that the wildfire had completely destroyed their home. Right away, we agreed that our wedding would remain our top priority. We continued to travel to Seattle to meet with vendors and for site visits at our venue, The Seattle Tennis Club, located on Lake Washington. The overall inspiration for the wedding was to create a feeling of relaxed luxury. A black-tie encouraged, al fresco reception with a large sailcloth tent, a mix of circular and rectangular tables, and lots and lots of flowers. I chose the Anne Barge La Femme dress from LWD Bridal shop in Denver. A strapless Chantilly lace ball gown with sequined appliques and a deep V-notched neckline with a matching veil. It was the 3rd or 4th dress I tried on, and was the easiest wedding planning decision I made. My favorite part of the gown was the sheerness of the skirt in the sunlight and how lightweight and easy to wear it was. 10/10! Choosing the flowers with our florist, Callarose and Co, was both the most fun and the most stressful pre-planning activity and the result, which drew on the colors of the wedding’s outdoor location, was spectacular. The color palette included the blues of Lake Washington, the greens of the tennis club grounds, pale yellows to complement, and a mix of whites to soften. A classic combination with a whimsical touch. I chose a beautiful sage-champagne color for the bridesmaid’s dresses that coordinated with the color scheme.



For our cake, we chose a 3-tier all-white lemon pound cake with blackberry filling as a nod to Washington state. One of my favorite details of the wedding was using my grandmother’s silver cutting knife and cake server to cut our cake as our Something Old. Another favorite detail was my wedding gift from Chris, a pair of blue topaz stud earrings that have special meaning. While Chris was sifting through the rubble after the fire, he miraculously found the gemstones from his late Mother’s blue topaz earrings. She passed in 2015 from cancer, and the earrings had become a family heirloom. He took the stones to Miro Jewelers in Denver, who also created our custom wedding rings. They were able to clean them up and reset the stones to create a new pair of stud earrings which Chris surprised me with the day before the wedding. A beautiful sentiment to have a piece of jewelry from Chris’s late mother and my Something Blue. My favorite moment of the wedding was doing the first look. It felt so special and beautiful and felt like time had stopped just for us. One piece of advice that we took to heart (and I would suggest to all brides-to-be) is to invest money in the best photographer you can find that fits your wedding day vision because that’s how you’ll remember and preserve your wedding day. They’ll know how to capture you (and your wedding) in the best way and will create a lasting memory of everything that happens throughout the wedding day.



Photography: Jacqueline Benét Photography | Event Planning: Kate Alexandra Events | Floral Design: Callarose and Co | Cake: Celebrity Cake Studio | Stationary: Minted | Ceremony Venue: Seattle Tennis Club | Shoes: Sarah Flint | Rings: Miro Jewelers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Shona Joy | Makeup Artist: Kayla Kollection Bridal Beauty Team | Hair Stylist: Zo and Co Styling | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Gown Boutique: Little White Dress Bridal Shop | Gown Designer: Anne Barge | Linen: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: CORT Party Rentals | Rentals: Happy Hour Bar Rentals | Rentals: Alexander Party Rentals | Rentals: Pedersen's Rentals | Seating Chart: Papier and Design

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Everything You Need To Know About Sustainable Engagement Rings

Engagement rings carry a lot of meaning. They mark the end of your single life and they represent the foundation upon which you will build your happily ever after, so it makes sense that you would want that foundation to be built on good vibes only…you know what we mean? That’s why it’s so important to invest in a diamond that’s been ethically sourced. If you haven’t thought about where your diamond comes from yet, no judgment, that’s what we’re here for. We talked to the experts at Grown Brilliance about ethics and sustainability when it comes to diamonds, and some of their answers surprised us. Here’s everything you need to know…

 

What Is The Most Ethical Way To Source Diamonds?

It seems that people have been fighting over these pretty rocks since the dawn of time, but we don’t need to anymore! It’s 2022 and we don’t need to find diamonds, we can make diamonds! Well, not us, but diamond labs like the ones used by Grown Brilliance. Lab grown diamonds are COMPLETELY CONFLICT-FREE because they are man-made in a controlled laboratory setting. And, to take it one step further, Grown Brilliance makes sure that all local labor laws are followed, including child labor laws, and the creation of their lab grown diamonds are free from funding violence, warlords, rebels, terror groups, corrupt governments, or other human rights abuses. 

 

But What Do They Look Like?

We know that doing the right thing is compelling, but the incomparable sparkle of the hardest substance on earth has a mesmerizing quality that would have even the most pious testing their morals. So, can lab grown diamonds hold a candle to their mined counterparts? The answer–a resounding HELL YEAH! In fact, because the manufacturing process is so precise, they’re able to get a quality product time after time. Lab grown diamonds have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds. 

 

More To Love

Lab grown diamonds may look the same as mined diamonds, but they’ve got another big decision-making factor in their corner–price. Because it requires significantly less labor to produce a lab grown diamond, they are much more affordable than other diamonds on the market. This means more bling for your buck! Plus, it’s no secret that mining for diamonds has a huge impact on the environment as well, including air pollution, water pollution, ecosystem loss and damage, and greenhouse gas emissions. Lab grown diamonds are grown above ground, in a controlled laboratory setting, minimizing impacts to natural resources. So, the choice is simple. When it comes to something as meaningful as your engagement ring, investing in a lab grown diamond is the only way to get all the sparkle your little heart desires and that good karma that you want for your marriage. 

 

Shop Grown Brilliance for your dream ring here and rest easy knowing that no matter which ring you fall in love with, your diamond was sustainably and ethically sourced. For more eye candy, give @grownbrilliance a follow on Instagram. 

Jewelry: Grown Brilliance

Amore & The Amalfi Coast: Elegant Romance in Ravello

The beauty of Italy comes alive at this Amalfi Coast wedding. Filled with special accents like fresh lemons, hand-drawn illustrations, and lots of love, Blooming Eventi planned a day we can’t get enough of.  Endlessly romantic floral design by Malafronte Fiori is an absolute must-see, and it’s all artfully captured in time in the exquisite imagery by Lace & Luce.  Visit the full gallery to take a trip to Italy.




From the bride… One of the most special things about our wedding to my husband and myself was where we got married. Years before we got engaged, we traveled to Ravello and fell in love with its charm, beauty, its genuineness, and on that trip, we fell more deeply in love with one another– we even ended up naming our dog Ravella. So when my husband proposed in 2019, there was no question about where we wanted our wedding to be. When it came time to plan, what was most important to us was to be able to share our favorite place with our favorite people. We aspired to do so with a timeless, elegant design that let the beauty of our venue- a traditional Italian villa perched at the top of Ravello’s cliffs- shine through. It was only through the support of our incredible vendor team that we were able to achieve just that. To get our guests excited to join us in Ravello, we used a custom, hand-drawn illustration of our venue on all of our wedding materials. Our save the dates, change the dates, invitation suites, welcome bags, guest welcome letters, limoncello favor tags, drink koozies, wedding signage and more all adorned the illustration.



Fast forward to the days leading up to our wedding… There was no greater feeling than being in our favorite place, halfway across the world from “home”, in this small, coastal Italian town and bumping into a best friend from college or my godmother or my dad on a rustic Italian street. It was indescribable and brought us so much joy getting to share this place that means so much to us with the people that mean even more to us. We also wanted to honor and celebrate with this town we love so dearly on the day of our wedding. So after our ceremony, my husband and I took a walk through the town and visited many of our favorite places: we danced in the town square, stopped by the ceramic shops, and even took a shot of limoncello with a local store owner. Not only were we on cloud nine, just getting done with our I Do’s, but it felt like Ravello was just as elated as we were, cheering with us, clapping, dancing. And that was why we fell in love with Ravello so many years prior. It was such a beautiful place with kind people, and the perfect setting for us to spend this special time in our lives.



A few additional special details from our wedding:

  • As a wedding gift, I surprised my husband with a vintage Alfa Romeo for him and his groomsmen to drive around and take pictures in on the day of the wedding.
  • I did two ‘first looks’; one with my bridesmaids and one with my dad. I’ll never forget their sweet reactions to seeing me in my wedding dress. That was the moment that it really hit me that I was a bride.
  • Right before our ceremony, my husband and I did a ‘no look first look’ where we stood back-to-back, read letters to each other, and exchanged gifts. Because we’d waited so long for our wedding, we wanted the first time we saw each other to be when I walked down the aisle. Getting to hear David’s voice one last time as my fiancé, overlooking our favorite place, was the perfect way to close our chapter of being engaged. It was so special to get to speak with each other before the ceremony and it made seeing each other at the end of the aisle that much sweeter.
  • I designed most of the items for the wedding myself, including our save the dates, change the dates, invitation suite, welcome bag playing cards, koozies, limoncello tags, bar menus, wedding signage, dinner menus, reception shoes, and I print-pressed each welcome bag by hand.

    Photography: Lace & Luce | Cinematography: Mirco e Anisa | Event Planning: Blooming Eventi | Floral Design: Malafronte Fiori | Wedding Dress: Retrofete | Wedding Dress: Calla Blanche | Cake: Villa Eva | Invitations: Double Trip Press | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Revelry | Catering: Villa Eva | Calligraphy: ELM Calligraphy | Groom's Attire: SuitShop | Groomsmen's Attire: SuitShop | Wedding Venue: Villa Eva | Beauty: Beauty Livery | Weddings Rings: Brilliant Earth | Weddings Rings: Hitched


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Southern Charm and a Pop of Color at Etre Farms!

An epic bridal sun hat, a dress to inspire your next wedding Pinterest board, and a classic white barn venue that can do no wrong – today’s inspiration is truly a Southern belle’s dream! With floral magic from Niloo Rosi DesignAnn Travis Events brought the team’s “luxury with a side of country” vision to life. To see all the pretty this styled shoot has to offer, a visit on over to the full gallery by Shanell Photography is an absolute must!

This beautiful luxury barn is a new venue in Saint Joseph Michigan. When looking for a location to host my next retreat, this venue caught my eye. With its beautiful all white structure and luxury yet country vibes, It spoke “southern” to me. 

Our goal for this retreat was to have a sense of southern charm, So this worked out beautifully. Adding a pop of color in the floral to stand out against the all white space, and compliment the gown was a must. The dress was our main focus and really set the tone for the whole design. 

A local dress designer, based in Detroit Michigan, took our vision and designed the gown. Having a local dress designer truly was such an amazing add on to this whole retreat. From the floral to dress, everything turned out pretty and truly had that southern refined charm we were hoping for. Having more than one dress has become such a fun trend and so with that we wanted to add that little extra special element with the shoot. Having the couple change and exit on a sailboat was the perfect ending to a beautiful day.

Photography: Shanell Photography | Event Planning: Ann Travis Events | florist: Niloo Rosi Design | cake: Milk And Honey | shoes: Bella Belle | rings: Coughlin Jewelers | hair and makeup: Vivian Hana Socials | Dress on sailboat: Monique Lhuillier | Flat lay styling: Meaghan Keck | Location: etre farms | Main dress: Sarah Kolis Couture Gowns | Rentals: Event Theory | earrings and hair pieces: Lindsay Marie Design | film lab: Rewind Film Lab | model: Taylor P | models: Arabella | paper goods: Ciarra Claire Fine Art | sail boat: new buffalo sailing | sailboat: new buffalo sailing

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Luxurious Lake Como Wedding With Lush White Blooms

On the fence about having a destination wedding? Let this luxurious Lake Como soiree help you make your mind up. Photographed by the ever-so-talented Duet Friday, every image looks like a piece of art.  The gorgeous day was expertly planned by Rachel Thering, and filled with lush white blooms by vertuani fiori.  Don’t miss a single moment inside the full gallery.




From Duet FridayDolce and Gabbana style for a wedding? Hot Italian summer. Full blossom of flowers and Italian style in fashion. Why not if you dream of the spices of Italy, the charm of lake Como with all its tones and shads, and that was the idea that Timothy and Rachel had in their heads and decided to put into life. For their wedding it was very important to have a whimsical garden look and feel. Villa Regina Teodolinda has a perfect view and position. Being close to the lake it boasts the best view and an ideal spot for a ceremony altogether with a wedding dinner to follow. The couple loved the fact that the villa was directly on the water and had such a cozy lived-through charm. Bright and with a grot of the centuries, that adds character and underlines the taste of any couple who put their feet in the location.



The lemons were a touch of Italy and the all-white flowers played into the traditional wedding touch. The arch created by vertuani fiori was symbolic in all senses – the entrance to a new life and the blessing. Flowers look like the foams on the waves of lake Como, which stopped their run just in front of the couple. The bride was so enthusiastic and overwhelmed by great ideas that she became a wedding planner herself for her magic wedding like the one from the Kingdom of far far away – styled and tailored with great taste and ideas. The atmosphere of the wedding can be easily felt through gorgeous photos by Duet Friday. These talented couple of photographers caught every single moment of the wedding day. Airy pics underline again and again the love and care that the bride wanted to show in all the elements of the complicated puzzle called wedding, when a little story turns into true emotions and real beauty. Like in a classical Hollywood fairy tale. No, even much better!



The bride walks down th aisle accompanied by her dad. Quick glance at her groom. Traditional “something blue” tunes in the bridesmaid’s dresses. “Something borrowed” – was Rachel mother’s blusher veil she wore to her wedding 45 years ago. Classy and timeless. Traditional Italian lace that has conquered epochs and brides. Rachel was not an exception. The couple wanted a very traditional wedding to be completely covered. Everything came from the bottom of their hearts. Simple and complicated. Overwhelmed with emotions and senses. The couple did not write their own vows as they kept it very religious. One of the best friends married them. Tears of joy and the kiss to sign the perfection in its simplicity. The most important element of the wedding was flowers and the floral team killed it. A wedding self-planned 100% proves that for anyone that can do a destination it’s absolutely worth it and totally takes the pressure off “one day” and turns it into a fun memorable weekend with your loved ones.



Photography: Duet Friday | Event Planning: Rachel Thering | Floral Design: vertuani fiori | Reception Venue: Villa Regina Teodolinda | Catering: Sunlake Catering | Beauty: BLBS Management

A French Inspired Fall Wedding at Moss Mountain Farm

From the bride’s ethereal blush pink gown, to the french inspired palette, to the unexpected locale – today’s wedding is every Autumn lovers dream. Captured by Erin Wilson Photography and Films, the full gallery is ripe with design inspiration and Fall foliage at every turn – all planned by Bella Baxter, with floral magic by Everbloom Designs.

From Erin Wilson Photography and Films… Marisa and Craig’s wedding was one of the dreamiest weddings I’ve ever photographed. The feeling of the entire day was straight out of a storybook. 

I know that Marisa was inspired by a French fall and the beautiful Moss Mountain was such a beautiful backdrop and space for their wedding. 

Marisa and Craig wanted to celebrate their guests by hosting an intimate event and spoiling them with a beautiful cocktail hour in the gardens with a harpist and by having several courses under beautiful lights in the fall evening.

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Photography: Erin Wilson Photography | Videography: Erin Wilson Photography | Event Planning: Bella Baxter | Florist: Everbloom Designs | Cake: The Flour Garden | Catering: Heritage Catering | Makeup: Lauren Benet | Hair: Lindsey Powers Huey | Groomsmen's Attire: Barakat Bespoke | Wedding Venue: Moss Mountain Farm | Alcohol: Olooneys Wine Liquor | Brides Dress: Needle & Thread | Exit Car: Arkansas Destinations | Lighting and Power: CWP Productions | Linens: Party Time Rentals College Station | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Music: Arkansas Capital String Quartet | Paper: Mrs. Post Stationery | Rentals: White Door Events | Rentals: Eventology | Wedding Artist: Kristen Hess Art

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Al Fresco Spring Wedding at Relais Villa Vittoria in Lake Como

They say good things come to those who wait, and for this darling couple – those words couldn’t be more true! After multiple years of postponements, Macy and Travis finally exchanged “I do’s” at the Lake Como wedding weekend of their dreams. Rebecca Rose Events left no detail unturned, while Figli Dei Fiori decorated their intimate celebration in timeless green and white blooms. The full gallery captured by Jillian Knight is all the destination wedding inspo you’ll need, just don’t forget to pin your fave moments! ;)

From Rebecca Rose Events… Macy and Travis originally planned their destination wedding in Italy for April 2020 and were forced to reschedule three times due to the pandemic, until the week finally arrived in May, 2022 when they could safely host their guests for two days of celebration at Relais Villa Vittoria on the beautiful shores of Lake Como. It was all worth the wait.

Guests arrived to a casual welcome reception at the villa and enjoyed cocktails, dinner, and conversation as the sun set behind the mountains. Each couple received a property welcome gift that included locally sourced bottled juices, hazelnuts, and Italian macarons, as well as a welcome packet of details and a custom watercolor illustration of the villa where they would enjoy two full days of luxury hospitality.

On the wedding day, we arranged a private wooden boat to take Macy and Travis out on the lake following their first look. The weather was so perfect it felt almost surreal to everyone, and there’s just nothing quite so exquisite as the vibrant blue of the water on a sunny day. Just before sunset, guests gathered for an intimate ceremony just in front of the pool on the villa’s lakefront terrace. With the decision to keep their guest list intimate, Macy and Travis opted against having a traditional wedding party of bridesmaids and groomsmen, so that their closest friends could enjoy the festivities simply as guests. The ceremony was heartfelt, emotional, and picture perfect.

After enjoying aperitivo on an upper terrace, everyone progressed down to the 40 foot estate dinner table set under the vine covered arbor for a leisurely formal plated dinner service and toasting.

The design for the wedding was inspired completely by the palette present in the surroundings. We incorporated the soft peach color of the villa’s exterior walls, the green from the lush gardens, and a hint of Lake Como’s blue. Nuage Designs created custom table linens for the occasion, which we paired with their white lace-trimmed napkins (a subtle nod to the lace on the train of Macy’s dress), and custom acrylic menus that featured watercolor artwork. Each chair was tied with a personalized place card. We created coloring books for the two children in attendance.

The evening ended after desserts and dancing into the wee hours.

Photography: Jillography Wedding Photography | Event Design: Rebecca Rose Events | Floral Design: Figli Dei Fiori | Catering: Relais Villa Vittoria | Hair and Makeup: Elena Panzeri | Officiant: Fabio Albonico | Venue: Relais Villa Vittoria | Linens: Nuage Designs | Musicians: Blunotte Eventi | Rentals: Latini | Stationery & Gifting: Rebecca Rose Events

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