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

Lakeside Wedding Featuring A Pretty Pink Pastel Color Palette

As summer transitioned into fall, these two sweethearts tied the knot in scenic upstate New York. A color palette in shades of pink was chosen, to complement the lakeside location, pairing the blues and greens of the water with dusty rose and mauve. Free-flowing, organic blooms by Whitney Nichols created a feeling of relaxed elegance, and Moe & Kev perfectly captured the love shining through every moment in their artful imagery. You’ll fall head over heels over every darling detail in the full gallery.

From Moe & Kev… This stunning wedding took place in the heart of the finger lakes in upstate NY as summer faded into fall. The venue speaks for itself with its stunning lakeside views and elegant romantic atmosphere. Mary and Lea knew they wanted to be married by the water, and once they found the venue, everything else fell into place. They incorporated a beautiful pallet of different pink tones, including dusty rose and mauve, and accented it with sage to compliment the colors of the shoreline. One of the brides’ favorite moments was when they walked down the aisle together. They had a moment standing together as their escorts walked to their seats to look out at all of their guests and their guests stared back. It was a moment of gratitude, excitement, and love that they will never forget. One of the most extraordinary and anticipated wedding day moments was the first look. Lea and Mary had gone bridal dress shopping together outside of Boston. They both went with Pronovias gowns. The wedding was rescheduled from 2020 to 2021, making the first look even more exciting.

From the brides… We are both drawn to the water and knew we wanted to get married by the lake. Once we had a venue with a gorgeous lake view, we based everything else around it. We used a dusty rose, mauve, and sage color palette to complement the blues and greens of the water and shoreline. We didn’t have any specific cultural or religious traditions, but to keep with the lake theme we did a knot tying ceremony to physically represent our two lives becoming one in an unbreakable bond. We took a somewhat minimalist approach to decorating and let our venue mostly speak for itself. It had beautiful tent details, including elegant wooden beams and cloth, as well as a gorgeous view of the lake! We hired a florist to decorate our ceremony arch, which complemented the waterfront beautifully. We highlighted the reception area with canvas and wood photos, and candles. Some flowers were scattered across tables, placed in fountains, and arranged in glass vases or lanterns. Additionally, we recycled our ceremony arch flowers and used them as decor at the sweetheart table! We had live flowers decorating the ceremony arch that were also moved to decorate our sweetheart table during the reception. We also had live floral arrangements for our bridal and bridesmaids’ bouquets, and in wristlets/boutonnieres for our family. A few live flowers and petals were scattered in the fountains. We then chose to use Ling’s fabric flowers to decorate our reception tables, bar, and cake table. Q4: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding? We had a string quartet that played classical songs during our ceremony and fun pop songs during our happy hour. Otherwise, we again let the views of our venue and good company provide the rest of the entertainment. A favorite moment of ours was during the processional into the ceremony. We decided we wanted to walk down the aisle together, so we staged a moment where our escorts came together, leaving us to walk with each other. This setup allowed us to have a few minutes when our escorts walked to their seats. We stood hand in hand, looking out at all our guests as they stared back at us at the start of the aisle. It was a moment of gratitude, excitement, and love that we will never forget.

Since we decided we both wanted to wear dresses, we shopped together (although did keep our -fits a surprise until our wedding day). We made it a trip and took our moms and sister to Vows Bridal near Boston. Lea was stationed in a dressing room on one side of the store and Mary on the other so that everything could be kept a secret. We both found our dresses that day and have a great photo of us wearing blindfolds and standing together in our outfits. Lea wore an ivory A-line dress with elegant sheer lace making up the wide, almost off-the-shoulder, illusion neckline, ¾ length sleeves, and back. A full-coverage lace made up the dress from the sweetheart chest and through the mid-back to the waistline, where it stopped. Here, layers of soft and simple fabric fell to the floor, making a small train. Lea also wore a silver, garland-shaped belt, a long, sheer veil with lace around the bottom, and white, lacy flats. Mary wore an ivory fit and flare dress covered in elegant floral lace from top to bottom. The dress had a sweetheart chest with a sheer, lace, illusion neckline. The lace transitioned into floral straps that left the upper and mid-back open and met the body of the dress at the low back. From here the lacey dress hugged the upper thighs and then fell to the floor, making a small train with lace details throughout. Mary also wore a long, angled, sheer veil and simple, white, block heels. We both choose to wear our hair in low buns to show off our beautiful dresses. We first met in 2008 at a summer camp (fun fact: a bridesmaid introduced us). Then two years later, the friendship really began when we started working together at the same summer camp. After 4 more years, and at the end of summer 2015, we started dating! We did a lot of long-distance, which was tough, but solidified the fact that we wanted to be together. Our proposal story is unique in that we both planned it at the same time, unknowingly. We both had our suspicions, although we didn’t know any specifics. Mary was planning to propose to Lea during a weekend trip in Lake Placid, surrounded by a small group of Lea’s close family. She figured it was a perfect way to involve Lea’s family and there would be someone around to take pictures, which was a plus! Originally, her plan was to propose out on the frozen Mirror Lake, but when Lea mentioned wanting to take a gondola ride to the top of Little Whiteface Mountain she thought that would be an absolutely perfect spot for the proposal! It turns out Lea was thinking the same thing!!! Lea also planned to propose on the trip to Lake Placid and coordinated to have a family member act as a hidden photographer. While looking out at the beautiful view, Lea turned to Mary and asked her to marry her! After she popped the question, Mary pulled out her ring and did the same! Needless to say, we both said yes and we became happily engaged! Two of the most anticipated parts of our wedding were the first look and the first dance. The first look naturally created a lot of anticipation since we shopped for the dresses at the same time, but kept them a secret from each other. The wedding was originally going to be just over 1 year from the shopping trip, however, we rescheduled our wedding to the following year due to COVID-19, so there was a lot of time to leave things to the imagination. Both the first look and first dance seemed to happen in slow motion and although they were performed with a bit of an audience, it felt as though we were the only two people in the room. This was especially true during the first dance when everything else seemed to fade away and all I could focus on was enjoying my beautiful, new wife. When it comes to planning, don’t stress too much and enjoy it because it’s going to be a wonderful day regardless because you get to marry your person.

Escape to the Kohala Coast of Hawaii With This Citrus-Inspired Summer Wedding

With the Pacific as their backdrop, today’s bride and groom exchanged vows on the Big Island of Hawaii in front of their nearest and dearest. Grace Flowers Hawaii adorned their ceremony tree with the most beautiful tropical blooms and 1,001 origami paper cranes for longevity, love, health, and happiness. Their color palette drew on bright and cheerful citrus hues like tangerine, blush, coral,
and yellow, inspired by the sunset and local fruit of the island. To escape to paradise, check out the full gallery of details by Stephanie Brauer Photography and prepare to fall in love!

What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?

For our wedding, we chose a theme of relaxed whimsical romance meets bright and colorful sunset citrus. After holding a small civil ceremony on the East Coast due to the pandemic, we wanted our eventual larger ceremony to be a celebration of the coming together of our two families in a setting that was not only beautiful but meaningful. Having grown up in Hawaii, I couldn’t think of a better place to hold our delayed celebration and luckily it wasn’t that difficult to convince Francis that Hawaii was the perfect location. Holding the wedding in Hawaii also meant my 97-year-old grandparents were able to attend, which was incredibly important to both of us. Throughout the big day we aimed to interweave personal elements that were unique and true to us. Following our oceanside ceremony, we held our sunset cocktail hour overlooking the ocean before guests made their way to the reception. During our cocktail hour, we knew many of our guests wanted poke so we had a poke and sashimi bar, which was really fun! For the reception, we wanted a relaxed, yet romantic evening under the stars so we worked with Hawaii Island Events and our florist to install foliage-laden trellises with twinkling lights strung in all directions. Over the course of the wedding weekend, we also incorporated Korean and Japanese traditions–many of which highlight the unification not only of two individuals, but two families. Polly, our Fairmont Orchid wedding coordinator, helped in integrating all these various ceremonies and events into one seamless wedding weekend itinerary.

What was your color palette and your style vision?

The vision for our wedding was inspired by the Kohala Coast on the Island of Hawaii–the location of our wedding. Our color palette drew on bright and cheerful citrus hues like tangerine, blush, coral, and yellow inspired by the sunset and local fruit like lilikoi (passionfruit), guava, pineapple, mango, and papaya. Against this citrus palette, we incorporated undertones of light cerulean blue to mirror the Pacific Ocean backdrop. In many ways, I began my planning process by looking for a photographer whose style was soft, romantic, and captured light in ways that felt timeless and ethereal. Our incredibly talented photographer, Stephanie Brauer, shot our civil ceremony a year prior. We were so impressed by the way she captured not just our story as a couple, but the full sensorium of the location (an arboretum in Connecticut). We were thrilled when she agreed to make the long trek to Hawaii to shoot our wedding and just like in Connecticut, her photographs exceeded conventional wedding photographs with their attention to capturing the sense of place in Kohala.

What unique elements or DIY details did you include?

The DIY details involved the creativity and help of many of our family and friends. In the weeks leading up to the wedding, my family dining room transformed into an art studio every night as my family and I worked on various projects. My brother Colby painted watercolors of the dishes and custom drinks for the menus and cocktail signs. He even painted an adorable watercolor rendition of our maltipoo puppy, Pebbles, poised with a fork and knife at the bottom of the menu ready to eat! Other DIY projects included a rustic wooden welcome sign that my other brother Cameron helped stain before we finished it with calligraphy and hand-sketched monstera leaves. To counter the late afternoon heat during the ceremony, my maid of honor LiLi created ceremony programs that doubled as fans.

The DIY elements were the ideal way to interweave fun and quirky aspects to our big day. Since Francis is a physician, I created prescription pads where guests were asked to jot down a “prescription for a happy marriage.” And as a gesture to my own role as a professor, we displayed a framed poem by W.S. Merwin (one of my favorite poets) that I quoted as part of my vows.

Undertaking so many creative projects could at times be overwhelming. A few days prior to the wedding, I stayed up until 2am regretting my decision to hand-letter all the place cards in gold calligraphy. The hand-lettered cards were actually paper leaves my mom and I had cut out by hand to be pinned to clementines for each place setting.

While these projects were incredibly time-intensive, it was these elements (crafted with the help of my family and friends) that made the wedding weekend resonate with warmth and meaning everywhere we looked. Interweaving DIY elements not only helped to pare down costs, but allowed for a degree of customization and curation. By crafting components by hand, we were able to curate our aesthetic vision down to the minutiae of elements like paper texture, lettering style, or napkin linen weave. The end result was a highly personal celebration that not only captured our creative vision but also embodied who we are as individuals and as a couple.

What was your favorite moment?

We held a Korean ceremony (paebaek) the day before our wedding. During the paebaek ceremony, we express gratitude towards our elders and they offer their blessings and advice. However, two of my favorite moments from the wedding weekend was seeing the sheer joy on our parents’ and relatives’faces as they grabbed the largest handfuls of chestnuts and dates for Francis and I to catch. Depending on the number of dates (girls) or chestnuts (boys) we caught in the cloth we held up, would determine how many children we were to have. Both of our families have some skilled throwers since by the end we were predicted to have somewhere close to 96 children!

To conclude the ceremony, the groom has to carry the bride and then his mother on his back and run around the room. I remember holding on for dear life as Francis ran around the room and our guests cheered us on. Francis kept joking that he should have worked out to prepare for the paebaek, but in the end he didn’t drop either of us so he did well!

For our wedding reception the following day, we worked with our dance instructor to choreograph our first dance to “I love you always forever” by Betty Who. While our dance began with just Francis and I, the dance transitioned midway into a group number with our entire bridal party joining us on the floor for the rest of the routine.

Your favorite crafted detail?

The menus, which featured watercolor artwork by my brother and my own hand lettering.

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

FLOWERS:
Our florist Grace Flowers Hawaii incorporated ranunculus, larkspur, peonies, roses and other soft, romantic spring flowers with small accents of tropicals and a few in-season, local citrus fruits to accent the tables.

Our wedding ceremony took place at the Fairmont Orchid at “Turtle Pointe” (a grassy spot overlooking the ocean). While we initially intended to create an arch installation between two trees at Turtle Pointe, a bad storm a few months before the wedding left only one tree standing. However, this was almost a blessing in disguise as our floral team created a lush organic floral arrangement that started on the ground and crept up the trunk. From the tree branches, we hung garlands of florals and origami paper cranes to gesture to senbazuru or the Japanese tradition of folding 1,001 cranes for longevity, love, health, and happiness. In one of the most surreal moments, I remember saying our vows as the floral and origami crane strands shimmered and swayed around us.

Our florist also created puppy-safe flower lei for our two “flower pups” (our 17-year-old family dog Ollie and our maltipoo Pebbles). It’s a good thing they were made from puppy-safe florals since we caught Pebbles munching on his lei throughout the day (poor pup–he must have been hungry)!

GOWN:
My dress was designed by Rita Vineris as part of the Rivini collection. I went with my friend Monica to the Kleinfeld Bridal Sample sale just expecting to browse and one hour later I emerged with the gown and veil of my dreams. In a very quintessential COVID moment, I showed my mom my dress via FaceTime and the only two people to celebrate “saying yes to the dress” were the sales associate and my friend who accompanied me. Both the gown and cathedral veil featured delicate lace with classic lines. In order to dance, I later changed into a Self-Portrait guipure-lace midi dress.

FAVORS:
For our wedding favors, my mom generously offered to make jars of homemade guava jelly. For months leading up to the wedding, my mom continually harvested guava from our backyard tree in order to make the jars of jelly (using my 97-year-old grandma Jane’s recipe).

CAKE:
Since Francis and I share a love of dessert, we designed our reception layout around a white shiplap circular bar (custom made by Hawaii Island Events) to serve as the kind of bar we like best: a dessert bar! Our dessert bar included a “Manini Malasada & Island Floats” station where guests could sample taro, island vanilla, and cinnamon sugar malasadas (Portuguese donuts that are a favorite in Hawaii) dipped in chocolate lava, lilikoi (passionfruit), and Alae salt caramel. Our “Death by Chocolate” station featured chocolate turtles, chocolate salted caramel eclairs, chocolate macadamia nut clusters, and macadamia nut sticky tartlets, among other sweets. And if your guests weren’t already sick of
chocolate, there was also our wedding cake!

Our wedding cake featured a “Chocoholic” top tier of Midnight Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Mousse Filling, Fresh Raspberries, and Chambord Syrup with a “Passion Drop” bottom tier of Lilikoi Poppy Seed Chiffon Cake, Kalamansi Mousse, and Lilikoi Syrup. For the cake, we went with a simple cream frosting adorned with a few floral sprigs and a custom wooden cake topper by Lollipop Workshop.

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

In addition to the benefits of incorporating DIY elements into your big day, I would also encourage brides-to-be to look for inspiration in unexpected places (not just pinterest where at a certain point all the weddings start to look very similar). At various points, I drew on inspiration from places like the farmer’s market where I chose a color palette I saw reflected in local produce like papaya and lilikoi (passionfruit). I also looked to interior design or architecture blogs (rather than strictly bridal blogs) to find ideas for tablescapes or layered textured elements. And finally, it’s so important to find ways to incorporate yourself into your big day so that your wedding isn’t generic but feels curated to you and your partner.

HOW WE MET (OR ALMOST DIDN’T)

Francis and Courtney almost didn’t meet. They met each other just as they were both getting ready to leave New Haven. Courtney was frantically writing her dissertation and finishing up graduate school to head to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to begin her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard and Francis was busy with his intern year of training and getting ready to move to New York City to begin the next step of his residency at NYU. However, fate aligned and they both swiped right on Bumble. Courtney was brand new to the world of online dating and Francis was a seasoned pro, yet they immediately bonded over their love of 90s music (shoutout to Francis’s two older sisters for instilling in him a love of Savage Garden and Backstreet Boys from a tender age), travel (solo travel, especially), boardgames, Frank Sinatra, musicals, and boba.

FROM CONNECTICUT TO LONG DISTANCE
Courtney knew Francis was the one during one of their first dates when she changed the playlist to Savage Garden and Francis belted out the lyrics to Truly, Madly, Deeply without missing a beat. Francis knew Courtney was the one when he was unexpectedly called in to cover a night shift back at the hospital during their second date at a 5-star omakase sushi restaurant. In a mixed display of horror and amazement, Courtney watched Francis scarf down the entire 12 course meal before running out the door to work his unexpected overnight call at the hospital. The very next day, even though Francis was tired from a night of no sleep, he asked Courtney to go on a hike to Castle Craig in Connecticut. This hike was the site of their first kiss and would later on be the site of the proposal. Throughout that summer, they were inseparable as they went on countless hikes, road tripped to New Hampshire, went strawberry picking, and ate their way through the New Haven pizza scene. As their time in Connecticut drew to a close, they decided to give long distance a go. Racking up some costly debt but also a lot of frequent flier miles and Amtrak points, Courtney and Francis meticulously planned their trips to see each other over the course of the following year. The longest time they could stand to be apart was about three weeks and even that was a stretch.

QUARANTINING TOGETHER
When March 2020 hit and the pandemic broke out, Courtney and Francis were about to travel to Iceland for spring break. While they didn’t have the opportunity to take their trip as planned (the mud baths and glacier hiking will have to wait), Courtney ended up moving to New York as Harvard moved all of its classes online (so Courtney could teach remotely). Even as all of her friends fled the city to the suburbs, Courtney found herself moving to the city with the highest concentration of COVID cases about to move in with Francis who worked directly with COVID patients as part of his medical residency training. After stocking up on toilet paper, wine, and kale, they hunkered down in New York City. Francis still had to work as the hospitals were especially busy, but they found time to play a lot of Dominion and Chess (their favorite boardgames), cook together, and take socially distanced walks as they explored the city.

THE PROPOSAL
In July 2020, Francis and Courtney took a road trip back to New Haven to visit some of their old haunts and to hike Castle Craig. Castle Craig was the hike they took on their third date (second and a< half date actually since their second date came to an abrupt end). At the top of the summit, Francis recreated their date lending Courtney his jacket to keep warm. Courtney was puzzled because it was scorching July day and she also felt something bulky and square in the pocket (but didn’t say anything)! Finally, with some prompting from Francis she reached into the pocket and found the ring box. Francis proposed and Courtney said yes! Fun fact, the cute white and black dog in the engagement photos is Chili (a dog they happened to be watching that weekend through Rover). True to COVID times, Chili was the only witness of the proposal!

PANDEMIC PUPPY LOVE
In August 2020, Francis and Courtney made a bet on a Dominion game. If Courtney won, they could get a puppy. Francis had never (ever!) seen Courtney try so hard at any game. Luckily, Courtney won (or Francis let Courtney win?) so they began looking into getting a puppy. Taking care of their new maltipoo puppy, Pebbles, has been a whirlwind of excitement and exhaustion. Pebbles is often really naughty and way too smart for his own good, but pays his fair share of rent in cuteness and snuggles.

CIVIL CEREMONY
In October 2020, with the pandemic’s end nowhere in sight, Francis and Courtney decided to legally marry with a Justice of the Peace ceremony in Westport, Connecticut. Courtney’s mom, Faith, flew up from Hawaii to be part of the ceremony. Andrea, Courtney’s friend from college, also served as a witness (in addition to all the family and friends who tuned in via Zoom) to watch the intimate civil ceremony.

HOW WE LOST OUR ENGAGEMENT RING

Courtney and Francis live in Kips Bay, above NYU Tisch Hospital and frequently take the NYC Ferry across the East River to Long Island City. This past November (with two months until the wedding), they caught the NYC ferry to LIC in order to visit a tailor so Courtney could alter her wedding dress. As they got off the ferry and walked down the metal ramp at the dock, they heard a faint metal clang and looked at each other inquisitively. They weren’t sure what the sound was, but as Courtney was carrying a heavy wedding dress and they were in a hurry, they continued disembarking the platform. When they arrived at the tailor, after a 30-minute drive from LIC, Courtney looked down at her finger and panicked when she noticed her engagement ring was missing. It was then that they realized the metal clang must have been the ring. Francis dropped Courtney off and told her to go ahead and meet the tailor and that he would return to the ferry dock to find the ring. However, after a few minutes, Courtney decided the dress would have to wait and caught a Lyft back to the dock. When she arrived, Francis looked miserable as he scoured the metal slats in the NYC Ferry dock. He hadn’t been able to find the ring.

Courtney and Francis got down on all fours and crawled along the platform meticulously inspecting every inch of the ferry dock. At one point, several ferry workers helped only to say, “It’s probably in the East River” before telling Francis to contact the NYC Ferry Customer Service line. He sent a message to their online form. Courtney sent a tweet to the NYC Ferry. Then they waited. Courtney cried on the dock before they came to terms with the fact that it was most likely gone–lost in the East River, picked up by a stranger, or a whole gamut of other unknown possibilities. They headed home sans-ring and with a heavy (unaltered) wedding dress. Once home, they tried to occupy themselves with other distractions. Later that afternoon, Francis received an email from the NYC Ferry informing him that someone had turned in a ring. Francis replied and then they waited anxiously. The individual wrote back asking Francis to share photos to ensure that this was indeed the right ring. After sending photos, they were so relieved when they found out the ring matched! The family who found the ring lived in LIC but was heading out to dinner and wouldn’t be back in LIC until around 10pm that same evening. Courtney and Francis agreed to meet them wherever, whenever.

That evening, at close to 10pm under the Coca-Cola sign near the LIC Ferry Dock, Courtney and Francis waited anxiously in a light drizzle for the mystery family to arrive. A young couple toting a small cart with a toddler soon arrived. The family, Christine, David, and Elyse Park, of Astoria, NY,had found the ring earlier that morning. Their young daughter, Elyse, loves to hunt on the ground for interesting objects and leaves when she came across something that sparkled. After showing it to her father, David, he quickly picked it up realizing that it was a diamond ring and clearly had immense sentimental value to someone. They waited around for 40 minutes at the dock hoping the owners would return to look for the ring. When no one showed up, and their daughter was hungry, they left but decided to email the Ferry company. Francis and Courtney are incredibly grateful to the Park family for their honesty and this immense act of kindness that reaffirmed to them why NYC remains such a magical place full of people who do the right thing, especially when it comes to meaningful mementos of love. Now the Park family is part of Francis and Courtney’s love story. Whenever they pass by or glance at the Coca Cola sign, they’ll always remember the toddler who found something shiny on the ground.

Dusty Blue With a Vintage Touch at a French Inspired Chateau in Carmel Valley

Drawing inspiration from the French and Italian countrysides, today’s sweet SMP couple gravitated toward cream and dusty blue hues for their wedding color palette. After what felt like a never ending venue search, the two found their dream locale – Folktale winery, a french inspired chateau in Carmel Valley. From her fairytale dress to romantic arrangements by Gavita Flora, there’s just so much to love at the full gallery of inspiration, captured by Anya Kernes Photography with planning by By Your Side Events!

From the bride, Ashley… Tom and I got engaged on September 4th, 2021, during peak Covid times. Prior to Covid, I always dreamed of getting married at the Chicago Public Library, however, during Covid the city lost quite a bit of its charm that I grew up loving.

Tom and I went to the drawing board to figure out what our dream wedding looked like. As we searched, one thing became clear, we drew inspiration from both France and Italy, primarily the countryside. I gravitated towards creams and dusty blue with a vintage touch. As wine lovers, we knew we wanted wine to play a central role in our wedding. We knew we wanted a small, intimate wedding.

We realized it would be difficult if not impossible to have an overseas wedding during the time we wanted to get married, so we began to research beautiful areas within the US that gave us the same feel that we wanted. We landed in none other than wine country, Napa Valley. During our scouting time, unfortunately the Glass Fires hit and a few of our favorite venues were destroyed. By chance, after we had booked our Napa and Sonoma trip to visit around 6 venues, I was browsing the web to make sure there wasn’t anything else that really called to me… low and behold, I found Folktale. Folktale encompassed everything we wanted in a venue including a beautiful winery with gorgeous vines and a French inspired Chateau. I knew almost immediately that this was our spot, it just called to me. Folktale was a few hours south from Napa, towards Big Sur in Carmel Valley. We decided to add this onto the front of our trip and needed a place to stay. We found Carmel Valley Ranch which we immediately fell equally in love with. By the end of our first day, we knew we had found our special place to get married. We also knew we wanted to incorporate Carmel Valley Ranch into our big day. We ended up having our rehearsal dinner here and having a large room block for guests to enjoy. We loved the idea of a destination wedding since traveling is one of our favorite things to do together. We also knew we wanted a small, intimate wedding so we thought, why not! We absolutely HAD to have our wedding outside (we both love nature and being outdoors) so that limited where we could pick due to weather. We loved the idea of sharing a place that we adore with our guests and having them make it an incredible vacation. We spent a lot of time thoughtfully providing recommendations on our wedding website, hoping our guests would make a vacation out of it.

From the start we knew that we wanted our dog, Maya, a 2 year old fox red Labrador retriever to be at our wedding. We decided to have hints of Maya throughout our rehearsal dinner night, featuring hand drawn coozies, cocktail napkins, drink stirrers, and cookies all featuring our favorite girl. They were a huge hit. She was of course in attendance, getting all the pets.

For our rehearsal dinner, we wanted minimal décor outside of our Maya touches, with the focus to be on the beautiful Carmel Valley. We settled on an outdoor location, high up on the ‘Harvest Landing’ so we could take in all of the beauty of the valley. We incorporated creams and lavender down the middle of the long king’s tables, which smelled heavenly all night.

A few things that were absolute musts for us on our wedding day were a live band with a string trio or quartet for the ceremony, a unique and fantastic food and wine experience, and details such as the gorgeous wedding invitations and day of paper we designed with Erin.

The main themes of our wedding were timeless, romantic, with aspects of a fairytale. Tom and I got engaged in the pouring rain on the Boardwalk in Disney World so of course we needed fairytale aspects included in our wedding. We had small details such as ‘Be our Guest’ on top of our menus, a single rose in a glass dome, and a happily ever after sign surrounded by roses.

Being a true Gemini, I was stuck between two styles of wedding dress and couldn’t commit to just one. I quickly realized I wanted both the true bridal gown with a long train for my ceremony to feel like a princess but I also wanted a dress with an edge that spoke to my rock n roll side. After trying on around 100 wedding dresses, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to find just one and ending up finding the two most beautiful dresses which were just made for me!

I was inspired by long kings tables, with florals down the middle, candles everywhere, something truly romantic that would take your breath away. I wanted to have cream and white roses everywhere, something romantic and timeless. I wanted a simple 2-3 tier cake with buttercream frosting, decorated with flowers. I knew I wanted to incorporate light blue goblets as a pop of color on our dinner table. We searched for months to find the perfect glasses, although they were darker than I originally envisioned, it all came together so well!

One of my favorite things was our incredible cake flavors. I knew I wanted something less traditional that people don’t always have at weddings. We ended up having Honey Cardamom and Plum, Cardamom cake soaked with honey, vanilla bean buttercream, and plum as our first flavor and Pistachio-Apricot – white cake, pistachio buttercream, and apricot jam for our second flavor. Continuing on with our French inspiration, we added a variety of macaroons in Provence Lavender, Earl Grey Tea, Madagascar Vanilla, and Meyer Lemon which were such a hit!

A few of my favorite moments were watching Tom bring Maya to the father daughter dance floor and dancing with her. I also loved having a preview of our wedding space prior to guests entering. This was such a special experience to see everything I worked so hard on for a year come to life, uninterrupted before any of the guests. Tom and I also both loved our time after our salads to take our sunset photos. I was such a wonderful moment to be able to have some more private time together as newlyweds, just soaking up our happiness! We also loved our guest reactions to their welcome bags. Seeing our ceremony space, with the beautiful bell hung in the small structure was such a jaw drop moment for us both. I knew from the moment I saw the space, that is where I wanted to get married. I envisioned that space coming to life and it did not disappoint!

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Magical And Meaningful Lakeside Wedding In Idaho

Thousands of white blooms fill this stunning Whitetail Club wedding. Tyler Speier Events planned and designed a day centered around guest experience, as the couple was most excited about bringing all of their most beloved friends and family to their most beloved place. Vintage postcards of the town acting as a seating chart and whiskey hour replacing cocktail hour were just a few of the special touches in-store. Every meaningful moment was artfully captured in the imagery by Natalie Bray. Get swept away by all the love in the full gallery.

From Natalie Bray Studios… Darby and Max have the kindest hearts. They make you feel like best friends instantly. They wanted to create a meaningful wedding weekend that introduced their favorite people to one of their favorite places. An adorable lakeside town with epic mountain views, all the outdoor activities you could want or relaxing time by the water.

They had custom paper goods from Lotus & Ash with a warm, yet modern design. Their seating chart was vintage postcard images of the town, they had a whiskey hour instead of cocktail hour, Darby wore a fitted Monique Lhuillier gown, cathedral-length veil, and Bailey Jimmy Choo heels. She is a classic beauty. The guests were greeted with custom welcome bags with local Idaho goodies and a detailed itinerary for the weekend, which included hiking, boating, morning yoga, welcome drinks, wedding festivities, and more.

The flower incorporated local huckleberry branches and thousands of white blooms — playa blanca roses, astilbe, ranunculus, and hydrangea. The reception was in a barn transformed with greenery and candles. The soft blue weaved throughout the day was intentional. They had a live band, kids were running, people were dancing… It was magic! Due to covid, they had to postpone like most couples, so they had a small intimate ceremony and this was held on their one year anniversary to celebrate with everyone. It was really special.

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Plan Ahead For Your Big Day With This Custom Bridal Beauty Regimen–And You Gotta Start ASAP

They say you should start planning for your wedding at least a year in advance. You’ve already got the venue locked down and are working on the invite list, but have you started your bridal beauty regimen? Be it glowing skin or luscious locks, no matter what your goal, you’ll want to get an early start on your pre-wedding self-care routine. If you’re like most people, it can be difficult to know where to start, everyone’s hair and skin are so different that a quick tutorial or product post doesn’t quite cut it. Thankfully, there’s a revolutionary beauty brand on the market that’s combining nature and science to bring you a completely customized beauty routine for a fraction of the cost of pricey spa treatments and visits to your dermatologist. Meet Function of Beauty–they’re the leader in custom beauty, creating freshly-filled, custom hair, body, and skincare using a proprietary algorithm and high-quality, effective ingredients.

Great Hair, Don’t Care

How It Works

Before they make any recommendations, Function of Beauty likes to get to know you…or at least get to know your hair. You start by taking their hair quiz to build your hair profile. Not gonna lie, the quiz itself is pretty fun. Select your natural hair type. They cover everything from straight hair to coily and even break your hair down by curl pattern! Then select your hair structure and scalp moisture level. And that part just covers how your hair is now, but then Function of Beauty lets you set five hair goals. This is where you want to think about your wedding look. Are you planning on coloring for your big day? Then go with color protection. Trying to grow your hair out for that extra updo? Then you’re going to want to strengthen and replenish. You can even customize the ingredients in your hair care products. All of Function of Beauty’s formulas are formulated without sulfates, parabens, phthalates, or gluten. They do use top-of-the-line silicones that help smooth hair and protect from heat, but if you’d rather ditch the silicones for a more natural approach, that is always an option. Once your formula is being carefully crafted, it’s time to pick the fragrance. You can’t go wrong with any of their nature-inspired scents, but we especially like “go (c)oco”. If you’re sensitive to fragrances, they also have a fragrance-free option. Last but not least, you even get to choose the color of your haircare products and customize the bottle with your name, so like you, your shampoo and conditioner are one-of-a-kind.

The Products

We’ve touched on the (not so) basic shampoo and conditioner formulas that Function of Beauty has to offer, but you’ll need a few more tools in your beauty arsenal to get your hair wedding-ready.

Co-Wash-If you have coily, curly, or color-treated hair, make sure to invest in a co-wash. Use this in-between shampoos to soften and detangle without drying your hair out.
Purple Shampoo-If you’re rocking a blonde look or some highlights, use their purple shampoo formula to keep your shade on point and extend the life of your color.
Leave-in-It’s always great to have a good leave-in conditioner on hand and this one is at the top of our list. It smooths and detangles without weighing your hair down.
Hair-Mask-Did you know that like your face, your hair needs weekly mask treatments? This is what really helps lock in the moisture and heal any of the damage from the week.
Hair-Serum-If you style your hair regularly, then you need to invest in their hair serum. Not only does it reduce frizz, it protects hair from damage up to 400 degrees!

Glow Baby, Glow

How It Works

Function of Beauty also has a line of body and skin care and a similar quiz that helps you customize your routine so that you can glow big on your wedding day. First, you select your skin type, how much makeup you usually wear, and your skin’s level of sensitivity. Then you pick three skin goals so you can achieve peak dewy perfection on your big day. Then, just like the haircare products, you can customize the fragrance and put your name on the bottles.

The Products

As soon as you get engaged, you should start prepping your skin ASAP with a daily routine.While your beautiful face is certainly the focus on your big day, don’t forget about the remaining 95% of your body–you’ll want your arms and legs to be looking just as polished.

Cleanser– Remove dirt and oil and give your face a fresh start and a clean finish to the day.
Serum– Customized to achieve your bridal skin goals, use the serum to deliver concentrated nutrients and get glowing skin.
Moisturizer– Finish with a custom moisturizer to lock in the moisture and all those beautiful nutrients.
Body Wash– Your skin is just as unique as your hair, so treat it right every day with a custom body wash.
Body Lotion– Apply this lightweight daily body lotion to keep that moisture going strong all day long.

And Function of Beauty knows that life changes and so do you, so you need a hair and skin care routine that can adapt and change with you. Whether it’s a major life change like pregnancy or a shift in the seasons, they’ve got just the formula for you!

Guilt-Free Beauty

Function of Beauty doesn’t just make you look good, it’ll make you feel good too! They’re members of PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program, which means they don’t use any animal ingredients or by-products in their formulas and they NEVER test on animals. Their ethical promise also extends to Mother Earth. All of their containers are made from recycled materials and are 100% recyclable themselves…including the packaging!

Give @functionofbeauty a follow on Instagram to see results from real-life customers and get info on the latest product and fragrance drops.

Hair & Skin Care: Function of Beauty

Make a Bold, Sultry Statement with Grace Loves Lace’s New ‘Bisou Bisou’ Capsule Collection

For the bride that dares to stand out and make a statement … ‘Bisou Bisou’ – the latest capsule collection from Grace Loves Lace – is for you! Known as the ‘original bridal disruptor,’ Grace Loves Lace does it again and defies tradition with a collection that is the embodiment of ‘bold, soulful, and sexy.’ It’s a collection designed for the modern bride in mind and doesn’t skimp on style or sustainability as it includes renewable fabrication, eco-chic elements, and the Australian bridal house’s signature artisanal craftsmanship. The collection is a star-studded trio that includes two new signature gowns and an embellished veil that will be sure to turn heads as you walk down the aisle!

Carmen Gown

Romantic brides – rejoice! Carmen is a silk chiffon number that features intricate detailing, waterfall ruffles, and a flirty thigh-high slit that’ll have you swooning! Complete with a flattering square neckline and a figure-hugging bodice, this gown commands attention and has beautiful movement for when you dance the night away! This gown also features sustainable elements, including recycled lining, eyelash trim, and buttons.

Valentina Gown

Slinky, sensual, a staple for the effortlessly cool bride! Exude confidence in Valentina, a double-layer satin, bias cut gown that features a daring thigh-high slit and ruched bodice. This oh-so-chic gown is a timeless look and the perfect fit for the environmentally-conscious bride as it’s crafted from all-natural, renewable wood pulp!

Celestial Veil

Your ring isn’t the only bling you’ll be wearing on your wedding day! Sparkle and shine bright with this statement veil that features ivory tulle and 139 handsewn glass crystals! If you’re stuck on the age-old question, “Veil or no veil,” Celestine will have you saying ‘Yes’ to veils!

Your story is unique! Grace Loves Lace understands the modern couple and, with each collection, gives brides the freedom to break tradition and rewrite the rules when it comes to their special day. ‘Bisou Bisou’ is part of Grace Loves Lace’s Ready-to-Wear line, and each gown is available in sizes XS – 2X. The capsule collection is available exclusively at www.graceloveslace.com and in the brand’s 22 international showrooms!

Dare To Make A Bold Bridal Statement with Grace Loves Lace’s New ‘Bisou Bisou’ Capsule Collection!

For the bride that dares to stand out and make a statement … ‘Bisou Bisou’ – the latest capsule collection from Grace Loves Lace – is for you! Known as the ‘original bridal disruptor,’ Grace Loves Lace does it again and defies tradition with a collection that is the embodiment of ‘bold, soulful, and sexy.’ It’s a collection designed for the modern bride in mind and doesn’t skimp on style or sustainability as it includes renewable fabrication, eco-chic elements, and the Australian bridal house’s signature artisanal craftsmanship. The capsule collection is a star-studded trio that includes two new signature gowns and an embellished veil that will be sure to turn heads as you walk down the aisle!

Valentina Gown

Slinky, sensual, a staple for the effortlessly cool bride! Exude confidence in Valentina, a double-layer satin, bias cut gown that features a daring thigh-high slit and ruched bodice. This oh-so-chic gown is a timeless look and the perfect fit for the environmentally-conscious bride as it’s crafted from all-natural, renewable wood pulp!

Carmen Gown

Romantic brides – rejoice! Carmen is a silk chiffon number that features intricate detailing, waterfall ruffles, and a flirty thigh-high slit that’ll have you swooning! Complete with a flattering square neckline and a figure-hugging bodice, this gown commands attention and has beautiful movement for when you dance the night away! This gown also features sustainable elements, including recycled lining, eyelash trim, and buttons.

Celestial Veil

Your ring isn’t the only bling you’ll be wearing on your wedding day! Sparkle and shine bright with this statement veil that features ivory tulle and 139 hand-sewn glass crystals! If you’re stuck on the age-old question, “Veil or no veil,” Celestine will have you saying ‘Yes’ to veils!

Your story is unique! Grace Loves Lace understands the modern couple, and with each collection, gives brides the freedom to break tradition and rewrite the rules when it comes to their special day. You won’t just be a trendy bride in ‘Bisou Bisou’ but a trend-setting bride! The capsule collection is part of Grace Loves Lace’s Ready-to-Wear line, and each gown is available in sizes XS – 2X. It is available exclusively at www.graceloveslace.com and in the brand’s 22 international showrooms!

Burgundy In Full Bloom At This Sonoma Valley Wedding

Shades of beautiful burgundy take center stage at this Sonoma Valley wedding. Madix & Co set out to plan a day inspired by the natural beauty of Viansa Sonoma. Filled with eye-catching floral designs from Laura’s Floras, a modern aesthetic, and carefully curated details the wedding turned out to be everything a bride could wish for and then some. Every magical moment was artfully captured in time in the imagery by Yuliya Jul Photography. Fall in love with every inch of this special day in the full gallery.

From Madix & Co… Sammy and David met me with a vision for a romantic and formal yet contemporary wedding. The one provision was to include burgundy in the color palette.

To achieve this, I drew from the natural landscape of Viansa Sonoma – a collection of berry tones, burnt reds, pinks, and taupes. Abundant florals paired with contemporary tabletop, modern fonts, and twinkling lights set against the sunset set the stage for the dreamiest yet timeless outdoor fall affair.

It was a magical day filled with inspiration for the modern bride. With memories captured that will last a lifetime.

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Madix & Co

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This Italian-Inspired Elopement at Allegretto Winery Has the Perfect Spring Palette

The perfect complement to a springtime wedding? A purple and yellow palette! With tones reminiscent of limoncello and regal lavender hues, this bride’s cascading bouquet is the definition of Italian-inspired beauty. Keri from Always Yours Events created an ethereal elopement at the picture-perfect Allegretto Winery, a venue that mirrors the beauty of Italy with its rolling greens, olive groves, and lavender fields, Neutral elements and greenery were incorporated into the ceremony and reception to channel the serene feeling of Tuscany. Say “amore” and visit the full gallery, shot by the ever-talented Lauren Fair!

From Lauren Fair Photography… Inspired by an Italian elopement, we created an ethereal and intimate elopement at the chapel of Allegretto Winery beneath the lavender fields.

The elopement channels the soft colors, landscapes and golden light of the lavender, olive groves and rolling hills of the vineyard. The ceremony was held outside of the chapel surrounded by greenery, with florals to compliment our bride’s cascading purple and yellow bouquet.

An intimate dinner was held under the sunset surrounded by tapered candles and florals of neutrals and creams and greens, pulling from the colors of the Italian olive trees and neutral architecture. The table was laid with an embroidered linens, inspired by from the branches of the olive trees.

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BBJ La Tavola

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Lauren Fair Photography

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A Summer Ballroom Wedding At Scotland’s Hopetoun House

This elegant wedding, set on the outskirts of Edinburgh, is fit for a princess. Cara at Katrina Otter Weddings planned the divine day filled with timeless touches and tons of charms. Joseph Massie created magic with his floral installations, from a stunning ceremony to white blooms and lush greenery transforming the reception space into a magical meadow. Every incredible moment was artfully captured in the imagery by Jacob and Pauline Photography and Films. You can visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the lovely.

From Cara Ching at Katrina Otter Weddings… Doori and Conor’s August 2021 wedding was a romantic, timeless, and breathtakingly elegant affair, set against the enchanting and historical backdrop of Hopetoun House, Scotland’s finest stately home on the outskirts of Edinburgh. A timeless aesthetic and palette of whites and greens were interwoven throughout the day, which was expertly captured both by Jacob and Pauline Photography and Films and Zade Films.

Working alongside the team from Joseph Massie the décor and florals were light and whimsical, whilst still retaining an element of formality, the perfect accompaniment to Hopetoun’s neutral walls and hanging tapestries. Doori and Conor’s ceremony took place in The Stables, with a wildly romantic and highly stylized deconstructed arch of fluffy gypsophila, dainty British grown cosmos, and ammi majus forming the backdrop for their vows. Royal Scottish National Orchestra quartet accompanied Doori, in her Suzanne Neville gown, as she entered the room. Canapés and drinks were served under Hopetoun’s grand colonnades, with guests than making their way into the Adam Ballroom for an afternoon feast.

FromJoseph Massie… I honestly don’t know what gets me more: might it be the endless meadows adorning the tables, each bursting with garden roses, sweet peas, and hydrangeas? Maybe it’s the classical, verdant urn, spilling forth from the center of the room with exhaustingly long branches of green rosehip, cosmos, and gathered foliages? Is it the impeccable Georgian architecture of the space, providing the perfect almost-blank canvas, but with just a little character too? Or… maybe it’s a little bit of everything, brought together by the impeccable care and attention bestowed upon every aspect of this wedding – supplied by the ever-wonderful Cara at Katrina Otter Weddings. Following dinner, signature cocktails and dessert canapés were served, with an evening of show-stopping fireworks from 21CC Group, floor-filling Ceilidh from Rerr Terr via Entertainers Agency, and live music from Stereobeats (with a tear-jerking father-daughter dance).

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Stylish And Sophisticated Summer Wedding Inspiration At Allegretto Winery

Details shine like the sun in this endlessly romantic summer wedding inspiration shoot. Always Yours Events planned and designed the dreamy Allegretto Winery wedding that was inspired by the countryside of Italy. Free-flowing blooms designed by Bows & Arrows Flowers fill every inch of the day with romantic whimsy, and every magical moment was artfully captured in imagery by Lauren Fair Photography. You’ll fall wildly in love with each and every photo in the full gallery.

From Lauren Fair Photography… An elegant, floral-filled celebration channeling a destination celebration inspired by the countryside of Italy! The day was complete with fine stationery details, an olive grove ceremony, a courtyard intimate tablescape and plenty of hospitable fine details, including the most gorgeous wedding cake that sat atop green velvet and was covered in florals.

A custom, scalloped arch of florals stood as the ceremony backdrop within the olive grove as the beautiful couple said their vows. They were swept away after the ceremony through the olive grove, in a vintage green car, leading them to the lavender fields under the golden light.

Each guest was gifted a personal bottle of olive oil and the night was ended under the lights, by the glow of the personalized floral candles. It was a beautiful end to a magical evening.

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BBJ La Tavola

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Lauren Fair Photography

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Bows and Arrows

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Colorful Backyard Wedding In Little Rock Brimming With Style

This charming backyard wedding is sure to put a smile on your face. Audrey Hurst planned a day that’s classic with a whimsical twist, filling the day with sweet touches and jaw-dropping blooms by Luxe Floral and Event Styling. Bright and happy colors add to the joy of this special day all beautifully photographed by Erin Wilson Photography and Films. Enjoy every darling detail inside the full gallery.

From Erin Wilson Photography and Films… I would describe Mary Claire and Mitchell as classic, and fun. They wanted a beautiful classic wedding with southern touches like monograms, southern food, a fun southern band from Memphis, colorful florals and to be married in their church.

I loved that Mitchell wore a white dinner jacket and Mary Claire wore a gorgeous classic gown with subtle detail (she even had a fun reception dress with a super cute bow too). The two dazzled on their wedding day.

I loved that their wedding was at her family home with all their friends and family. All the best memories were happening right where the bride grew up. Very ‘Father of the Bride’ style!

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BBJ La Tavola

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Erin Wilson Photography

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Lady Whistledown Invites You to Read All About This Romantic Affair at Montalvo Arts Center!

Dearest reader – Delna & Patrick’s affair at the Montalvo Arts Center is a diamond that shines bright. Natalie Choi Events designed the epitome of effortless elegance with undeniable romantic touches, inspired by Bridgerton, a series beloved by the bride (and the team here at SMP)! The palette blended autumnal golden hues with dusty pink and the iconic Bridgerton blue. Lush blooms by Bloomwell & Co. and intricate accents, such as blue hand-painted bread plates, were balanced with organic and minimalist elements. You’ll be delighted by the charm of these nuptials, beautifully displayed in the full gallery by Meiwen Wang.

From Natalie Choi Events… When Delna & Patrick were first planning their wedding for spring of 2020, the world was in a different place and we had a different design planned for their wedding. A few design iterations later, Delna & Patrick were married in the fall of 2021, surrounded by their closest friends and family at the gorgeous estate of Villa Montalvo.

With the shift of season and the release of Bridgerton (which Delna loved), we landed on a palette that brought out the best of autumn in rich golds and dusty pinks, accented by a touch of blue a la Bridgerton. We wanted the overall design to feel romantic but effortless, blending seamlessly with the grand architecture of Villa Montalvo while maintaining a lighthearted atmosphere.

Delna & Patrick were married in the Italianate garden, entering through the cypress tree-lined aisle and married between vine-covered columns. Their cocktail hour was held in the Oval Garden and Spanish Courtyard, where guests were greeted with comfy lounge seating with velvet ottomans and cushions as well as lawn games. Dinner followed on the veranda, which was capped off with cake, gelato, and a champagne tower.

A floral palette of lush blooms in gold and mauve tones complemented by organic foliage was the central focus of our design, adding color to our neutral tablescape. Although we chose neutral tones for our tables, we created a palette rich in texture – whitewashed chairs, velvet tablecloths, gold-rimmed lacey glass chargers, sleek gold flatware, and the cutest hand-painted blue bread plates to complete our place settings. Our paper goods were also selected for organic texture: invitations on handmade paper, a hanging linen banner for our seating chart, and minimal menus with effortless calligraphy.

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BBJ La Tavola

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This French Countryside Wedding Pairs Provence’s Charm With Black And White Chic

What happens when you mix the French countryside with a chic black and white aesthetic? Wedding magic, of course! Elodie Villemus designed and planned a day in Provence that will take your breath away, and beautifully brought the couple’s love story to life with crisp white blooms. From a classic American vintage getaway car to a checkered dance floor every detail is brimming with elegance artfully captured in the imagery by Mailys Fortune. Visit the full gallery to get swept away in all the fun.

From Mailys Fortune… A super-sweet and romantic couple, a classic American vintage ride, a 12th-century church, a perfect Provence countryside house, not to mention a modern black and white color palette that is equal parts classic and chic are reasons enough to have you fall head over heels with this stylish wedding planner’s I do’s! Every insider of the wedding industry worth their salt has already been exposed to all kinds of weddings and all sorts of concepts, as well as every top brand the world around; they know what has been, what will be, and what will always be, and our bride Julie, wedding planner at the Provence agency of Elodie Villemus is an absolute dynamo! So when it came to saying I do to the love of her life, she knew how to be intentional and absolutely… Designful! Now you know what they say about real deal love; it finds you when you least expect it at the most unlikely place. That’s how it happened with Julie and Florent. Both avid unbelievers in dating apps, both were wishing to prove how these things never work, and yet when Julie found herself in his city for work, the phones “matched,” and they gave it a go for fun’s sake. Checkmate! During their holiday in Corsica Florent proposed and the rest is well… history.

It was an easy choice for Julie and Florent, deciding to marry closer to home. Not that it’s difficult to resist a wedding in the Provence-Alps-French Riviera region. They sought a venue that would feel delightful and relaxing, nonchalant, and authentic, true to their character. Meeting them, we knew exactly why these two are as caring and as genuine as it gets, and Le Mas Desluca (a Provence house, very characteristic of the region) was a perfect fit. Soaking up the lyrical landscapes, among fields of lavender and ancient olive groves, the shrubland-cloaked hills revealed the dream before her. The owners won Julie over during a work-related site inspection, and the deal was sealed. Julie’s love for the understated chic meant going for the most time-tested color palette. White on white against black was her choice. As for the details? A decidedly sophisticated meld of modern and preppy set alfresco framing the couple’s reception checkerboard dance floor. The ceremony took place in Notre-Dame-du-Lac, a 12th-century church of rare beauty at Le Thor, Provence. When Julie was all prepped up, she and her bridesmaids had a first look moment we adored (check out the photos to see why you should definitely have one with your best friends) as well as the first look with her dad that gave us all the fuzzy feels. Soon, her cathedral veil was skirting the marble floors, and Florent was looking at his wife-to-be approaching with a huge smile.

Following the ceremony, an ivory MG 1500 Roadster, 1957, waited outside for our couple’s portraits and newlywed ride across the sunny plains of Le Thor. We took our time capturing their beautiful portraits and loved how calm and harmonious each moment between them felt. Julie and Florent were so into the moment! As Julie later confided about her fondest memory, “Hard to say which moment I adored the most – I loved every moment and every step… What comes to my mind is this clear sky with stars, seeing people having fun, jumping, dancing, singing, and the joy in their eyes (after these two years of covid). We wanted our guests to have a great time with great food, a cocktail, and a warm, cozy atmosphere. I only wish I could do this again to have more time with them.” Her thoughts on what makes a wedding day perfect? Vet out a planner! Every detail counts. Don’t leave anything to chance. As for us, we couldn’t be more thankful to be Julie and Florent’s memory keepers. As they are now en route to discovering French Polynesia and the U. S., we can only wish them to be always as happy as they were on that day.

Modern Persian Wedding In Maui In Petal Pink And Peach Tones

Say “aloha” to island wedding bliss! White Orchid Weddings planned the picture-perfect petal pink and peach day, and Mandy Grace designed the most beautiful of blooms for the Big Day. The modern Persian island wedding was a beautiful blending of the bride and groom’s cultures, all artfully captured in time in imagery by Dmitri and Sandra Photography. You can see the full day unfold in the full gallery

From Dmitri and Sandra Photography… This sun-drenched, floral-filled wedding at the Four Seasons Maui couldn’t have been more perfect. Our chic bride chose a warm and vibrant color palette with hues of petal pink, blush, muted apricot, and creamy ivory. The modern, romantic wedding design with organic arrangements was put together beautifully by Kendall of White Orchid Weddings and florist Mandy Grace. Their ceremony contained a traditional Persian Sofreh Aghd where Julianne and Jonathan exchanged vows. Guests moved to the reception, greeted with a bright floral escort card wall. Above the dance floor hung a stunning floral installation with dried palms, orchids, and rattan lanterns, bringing the whole design together.

From Kendall Oreta of White Orchid Weddings… Julianne and Jonathan were a dream couple to work with. They trusted me with every recommendation, with every conversation, and with every suggestion offered. While creating their wedding day, we really worked to tie in elements that were a representation of “them” and a joining of their families. Originally from Maui, our island bride Julianne wanted to share her beautiful island home with their guests, her husband, and her new family. For Jonathan, it was important to introduce his Persian Heritage into the ceremony for all their family and friends to witness, which included the traditional Persian Aghd Ceremony. Julianne and Jonathan wanted to create a memorable event that showcased their love as a couple and all their desires together in creating a guest experience that was full of luxury, romance, and of course a tropical-modern twist. With full trust from Julianne and Jonathan, we were able to procure an event with the finest event vendors on Maui to bring their vision to life. Every detail was perfectly managed with the only missing piece of the puzzle being Roger their pet cat. See pictured on their wedding cake.

From the bride… We were so incredibly lucky to have so many of our loved ones with us to celebrate with us in a place that means so much to us. Given everything that has happened in the world before and since the wedding, we cannot overstate how grateful we are that we were able to safely gather and celebrate together. The sofreh aghd was really important to us as a way to honor and celebrate Jon’s Persian heritage. Jon’s mom spent months planning and collecting the items in the tablescape. Each item represented a hope for the marriage, like honey for a sweet life together, and the termeh (handwoven silk) for patience and sensitivity. Many of the items came from friends and family members, making the whole table a beautiful representation of our community and a reminder of all of the support that we have, something we deeply cherish. Having the wedding on Maui was also very important to us. I grew up in Upcounty and miss the island every day. Jon has also come to love Hawai’i and understands how much it has shaped who I am. It meant so much to finally share it with all of the people we love.

Our cat, Roger, is a very special member of our family, but he was unfortunately not going to make the trip out to Maui. I carried a small figurine of him in my pocket during the ceremony as a way of having him with us. I passed him off to my dear friend, Cindy, who nestled him in the flowers on the cake afterward. We loved all of the florals, but Mandy’s installation above the dance floor was particularly outstanding. Our wedding party was full of major dancers, so we were on board the second she proposed it. My dress was a custom combination of two different Amsale designs. I wanted something simple and modern, but also still in scale with the venue. It almost didn’t make it to Maui in time! Two of our heroic friends, Colin and Trevor drove out to FedEx the moment it arrived (the day before the wedding!) to pick up and hand-deliver.

Overall, Jon is a much better wedding planner than I am; the topiary walls were his idea, as were the fans and parasols that were made available during the ceremony. He’s very good with the little details! And we couldn’t have done any of it without the truly incredible, Kendall Oreta of White Orchid Weddings and the amazing, talented, creative team she assembled for us–Mandy Grace and Dmitri and Sandra Photography in particular were incredible to work with.

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Dmitri and Sandra Photography

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Why You Should Invest In Heirloom Pieces For Your Bridal Jewelry

When you’re planning your wedding look, a lot of thought goes into finding the gown, but what about your wedding jewelry? Your wedding gown you will likely only wear once, and let’s be real, your kids won’t want to wear it. But your jewelry, that you can pass down from generation to generation–no one says no to diamonds. So, before you pick up a pair of chandelier earrings from your local department store, consider investing in some heirloom pieces that will last you a lifetime and more. We know, planning a wedding costs a pretty penny and you probably don’t have a huge budget left for your wedding jewels, but quality doesn’t have to break the bank. Grown Brilliance has an incredible selection of fine jewelry in all of your favorite settings from yellow gold to platinum, all decked out in real diamonds for a fraction of the cost of what you would pay at some of the other leading fine jewelers. And just wait till you see these babies sparkle, you won’t want to take them off!

What Type Of Jewelry Do You Need For Your Big Day?

You definitely want to have your gown picked out before you start shopping for bridal jewelry. The style and neckline will dictate the rest of your wedding ensemble. For instance, if your gown has a high neck, go for a larger statement earring and skip the necklace. Or, if you’re going to rock a plunging neckline, layer a few longer necklaces to draw the eye to your stunning décolletage. In essence, figure out what parts of your body and your gown you would like to draw attention to and highlight those with a little bling.

Invest In Timeless Pieces

While trends can be fun to play with, the key to making sure your jewelry stands the test of time is to invest in timeless pieces. In addition to their fun fashion-forward options, Grown Brilliance has collections of earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and rings that will never go out of style. Here are a few of our fave classics that will remind you exactly why diamonds are a girl’s best friend.

Stately Studs

No matter what your gown looks like, you can’t go wrong with a classic pair of studs. Grown Brilliance has a bunch of solitaire options in a variety of shapes…plus, you get to choose the carat size! When it comes to diamonds, we always say, the bigger, the better. They also have halo options and multi-stone clusters that would add a wow factor to any look.

Drop and Dangle Earrings

Ranging from delicate dangles to straight-up stunners, Grown Brilliance has page after page of insanely beautiful earring options. If you’re going for that modern minimalist look, try a simple dangle. Or, if your gown is strapless and you want your jewelry to really make a statement, go for a drop earring with a big teardrop diamond finalé.

Tennis Bracelets and Necklaces

Simple and stunning, it’s no wonder that these babies never go out of style. You may think, if you’ve seen one tennis necklace, you’ve seen them all, but think again! Grown Brilliance offers tennis bracelets and necklaces in a variety of cuts and carats so you can find the set that complements your ring perfectly. If your gown is heavily beaded or you’re just not into super ornate jewelry but still want to sparkle, then the tennis collection is for you!

Pendant Necklaces

If you’re looking for something simple to add a little bit of bling to your look without stealing the show, then a pendant necklace is the way to go. Whether you’re drawn to a solitaire or a cluster pendant, go with the same cut and shape as your engagement ring to keep the look cohesive.

Well, there you have it, your grandkids can thank us later. Now all that’s left is to invest in that closet remodel you’ve been dreaming of and get a custom fit velvet-lined drawer for your heirloom pieces. For even more blindingly beautiful wedding jewelry inspo, be sure to give @grownbrilliance a follow on Instagram.

Jewelry: Grown Brilliance

This Fashion-Forward French Chateau Wedding Will Have You Tickled Pink!

The beauty of this Trisha & Jack’s Provençal wedding at Château de Tourreau will have you blushing! White Eden Weddings planned a haute-couture affair that seamlessly matched the splendor of the venue, where everything was ‘coming up roses’ with the stunning floral designs of Miss Rose by Perrine in a palette of pink shades. Yet, the showstopper of this magical day was the bride’s statement Rita Vinieris gown that turned heads with its plunging V-neckline and full skirt adorned with ruffled layers. The full gallery of this fairytale day, captured by Oliver Fly Photography, will leave you tickled pink!

From White Eden Weddings… Trisha & Jack and their guests flew from Chicago and spent a week at one of the most exclusive venues in Provence, the gorgeous Château de Tourreau. The ceremony took place in front of the main facade of the Château, highlighted by majestic drapes and local roses & florals which echoed the incredible venue’s rose gardens.

The ceremony design was a central focus of their wedding celebration, and this one of a kind design was the most beautiful backdrop for their meaningful religious ceremony.

Trisha’s statement dress was a great match to the grandiosity of the Château and the first look with her dad was a memorable and moving moment.

The dinner reception was held in the Chateau’s park. Textured linens with cream roses were displayed on tables under two bespoke pergolas and a fairy lights ceiling to frame this intimate dinner. Guests enjoyed a wonderful provençal gastronomic dinner before dancing under the stars until 4am!

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A Romantic Renault Winery Vineyard Wedding In Shades Of Blush

This Renault Winery wedding is overflowing with romance. AMV Weddings planned the day in a palette of pink and blush, and Pocket Full Of Posies filled it with swoon-worthy blooms. Every dreamlike moment was perfectly captured in time in the imagery by KSS Photography & Films. Visit the full gallery to watch the full day unfold.

From KSS Photography & Films… Ryan was a chef and Kate was looking for summer work as she was planning to eventually head to graduate school for occupational therapy. When you are in your late 20s staying for a shift drink after work definitely is doable. They would constantly conversate and enjoy each other’s company but nothing happened until a few months later when a fiesty Kate stole his Pilsner Urquell beer in hopes to get his attention a little more and she surely did and the rest was history!

They got engaged while vacationing in St. Lucia about three years later and made sure their ceremony vows reflected not only this sweet beginning to their love story but all that they have been through as a couple over the years. Fast forward to their big day and the weather was amazing! More sun than you could ask for, lush greenery vines in the fields, tons of laughter from friends and family, and an enormous amount of love and affection from the bride and groom. It’s been said that Renault is the number one destination in all of New Jersey to get married at and once you get to experience the charm of their staff, their tasty culinary skills, and impeccably manicured grounds; you can definitely agree with this notion too!

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AMV Weddings

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This Couple Got The Chance to Celebrate Their Love Twice

After the pandemic forced Amy and Pete to have an intimate family-only wedding, they got to celebrate their love a second time around in the wedding of their dreams at Valley Rock Inn and Mountain Club. Rebecca Rose Events brought the couple’s love story to life in the perfect setting for the two outdoor adventurers. The day was filled with lush blooms from a floral lined ceremony aisle to grounded flowers surrounding reception tables. Lance Nicoll Wedding Photography beautifully captured all of the magical moments in artful imagery, you can see it all in the full gallery.

From Rebecca Rose Events… When we started working with Amy and Pete, we set out to plan and design a large destination wedding somewhere in New York, preferably in the mountains. For these two outdoor adventurers, Valley Rock Inn and Mountain Club was the perfect choice! Once the venue selection was finalized we began crafting a beautiful design plan for a September 2020 wedding. Of course, the pandemic had other plans for all of us. With tremendous grace and patience, Amy and Pete determined they would have an intimate family-only wedding at her family’s home in Philadelphia and postpone the larger celebration to September 2021 in hopes that it would once again be safe to gather with all of their loved ones. It was worth the wait. This time around, they were able to have their full wedding party with all of the bridesmaids and groomsmen present. All guests were required to be vaccinated, which created an atmosphere of trust and safety so that everyone could truly savor the weekend in the fresh mountain air.

Though they were already wed, the couple chose to still have a formal ceremony and share commitment vows in honor of their first anniversary. It was such a special way to involve everyone in their lives as witnesses to their marriage, even though they weren’t able to be present at the start of it in 2020. The unity candle they lit was the same candle in 2020, now a precious family heirloom. The ceremony took place on one of the beautifully manicured lawns, surrounded by blooming hydrangea bushes. After the ceremony, guests were ushered into the “Shade Garden” for tray-passed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a full open bar. Here we first introduced a table linen that Amy fell head over heels in love with back in 2019 when we first began the design process: the “Navy Shelby” pattern from Nuage Designs’ Ceci New York collection.

That same pattern was then used for table runners on long dinner tables under a Sperry sailcloth tent for the reception. The fresh hydrangeas at Valley Rock are one of the features that sealed the deal when Amy and Pete laid eyes on the venue. The same hydrangeas grow in the garden beds at her family home, and they became an integral and intentional part of the overall wedding design. We included watercolor hydrangea artwork on the invitation suite and other paper details, in addition to acrylic cocktail stirrers. During the weekend of events, guests were delighted at every turn including personalized gift boxes set at their dinner place setting that contained Sugarfina champagne bubbles candies. We asked Amy and Pete what they would most want to remember about their grand celebration in 20 years. Their answer? “The people who were there, the smiles on their faces, and their ridiculous dance moves!” Judging by the ear-to-ear grins and packed dance floor, we’re confident they’ll have the memories they hoped for and then some, lasting well beyond 20 years.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Rebecca Rose Events

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Bridgerton Meets Grandmillennial In This Inspire Editorial

This Bridgerton meets grandmillennial-inspired wedding is beautiful enough for the Duke and Dutchess themselves. SRS Events planned and designed the pastel-filled day with carefully curated details like a chic Aperol Spritz Bar adorned with fresh oranges. Endlessly romantic florals designed by Love Bloom make every vignette magical, and every moment was artfully captured in the elegant imagery by Ashley Boyan Photography. You can take a closer look at all the lovely in the full gallery.

From SRS Events… This styled shoot marries Bridgerton-inspiration with Grand Millennial vibes! From the stately neo-classical architecture of the manor, to the pale blue chinoiserie wall paper in the sitting parlors, it is a beautiful locale inside and out. The invitation suite incorporated the pastel florals into the couple’s crest, and a hand-drawn illustration of the venue. The wallpaper was subtly infused into the envelope liner, as well as the petal toss cones. Hand calligraphy and a blue ribbon were the finishing touches on the invitation suite.

The couple selected a multi-tier wedding cake, along with individual cakelets at each guest’s place setting. A dawn blue linen with a floral design allowed the gold leaf charger plates and gorgeous floral runner to be the table showstoppers. The couple also added fun touches by welcoming guests with a champagne bubbles cart, Aperol spritz signature drinks, and a champagne tower. Their sweetheart table sat in front of the lush floral blooms on the fireplace mantle, and a sheer sequin overlay on their table glistened in the candlelight.

As a memento of their wedding day, they commissioned a live painter to draw them having their first kiss under the stunning arch. Colorful pastel spring blooms encompassed the floral design, including garden roses, ranunculus, sweet pea, spray roses, and lisianthus. A stunning floral arch served as the ceremony’s focal point, and then lush florals adorning the fireplace mantle, sweetheart table, and long guest table filled the room with lovely scents. Guests were welcomed to Annapolis, Maryland with a tote bag with the couple’s crest on it, lush hydrangeas, a mini bottle of Moet, rose’, lemon macarons, and a lavender candle, and chinoiserie designed cookies.

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