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

A Celebrity Stylist’s Whimsical & Romantic California Wedding

When a celebrity stylist gets married you know you’re in for endless inspiration. Our bride worked with Details Details to bring her whimsical wedding wishlist to life, and Eucharis Studio filled the fantastic day with wildly romantic florals. Jana Williams Photography was there to artfully capture every carefully curated detail in her elegant imagery, see the full gallery for a closer look.

From the bride… We met the old fashion way, in a bar in New York City at 4am. He told me I was beautiful, and I told him I liked his long hair. He was traveling for work and I was there for fashion week. We happened to live 5 blocks away from each other in Los Angeles. We were dating for 5 years before he proposed. However, we were engaged in December 2019. A much longer engagement than we had anticipated.

There is nothing I love more than pajamas and in a close second I love matching with the people closest to me. A few weeks before Christmas I was supposed to go out to dinner with friends, but they canceled. I have to say, I was hot on Colt’s trail about proposing. It felt suspicious my friends had canceled and conveniently my hair and makeup was done. Anyway, Colt asked if I wanted to open an early Christmas present, and of course I said yes. It was matching pajamas for Colt and I which is always exciting. He went into our bedroom to change and we have two dogs. They both proceed to come out of the bedroom in the same print pajamas. In my head it all clicked, I was like omg it is happening. Before he got out here I felt both of their little bodies thinking they were wearing the engagement ring, they certainly were not. I thought to myself, wow! What a missed opportunity. We turn the TV on and start looking for a movie for 10 minutes. Colt finally asks me to check one of the dogs pajamas because it seemed too tight, which it clearly wasn’t. I flipped him over to check and on the chest of his pajamas it said “Will you marry me” Colt then proceeded to pull out the box and it was all happening. Then he said I needed to put on a blind fold and we were going to a second location and to not change out of our pajamas. We ended up at one of my friend’s houses and there was a surprise party with our family and friends. Truly, one of the best nights ever.

We knew we wanted somewhere that was close to LA and had a hotel attached. That way it was like adult summer camp, the wedding weekend running into all of the people you love most. We only looked at Calamigos Ranch, once we saw that big tree with hanging lights, it was on. The venue is beyond whimsical which really lends itself to my overall aesthetic.

The aesthetic was whimsical, romantic, and fun with pops of color throughout. It really was all about the details. I knew I had to have black and white check dance floor, at each table we had golden animals that were hidden throughout the table with the tons of candles. Mixed with colored glass vintage dishware which every single piece was different. The search for “THE DRESS” was a unique one because I did not want to wear all white, but I wanted to still look like a bride. Monique Lhuillier has always had my heart, so going in to try on dresses was a surreal experience, and big love to Mary from Monique who made this so seamless for myself and my mother! I hate to say it, well maybe I love it but my vision from being 5 to 32 did not waiver. I always knew I wanted a dress so big that it would stand on its own with a traditional corset top. This was a hard ask seeing as this would typically fall under a traditional bridal dress. I fell in love with the pattern on Jardin dress but still felt like I was going to miss out on my tulle moment. Funny enough, I committed to my veil prior to picking out the gown, I loved the hand embroidery of the similar print on the Jardin Dress; it was everything I was looking for. On my second fitting with the ever so patient Mary, with a ray of shining light on it I see the dress, The Westwood. However, It has red, blue, pink, and black floral beading on it. I knew this was my silhouette and was told we could make it custom with the same embroidery from veil but in a smaller scale on the dress. The dress came in a few months later shockingly white with these gorgeous hand embroidered pieces to place all over the dress. Over the course of 3 fittings, multiple opinions, we perfectly hand placed every single piece you see on the dress. We created dimension by going on different layers throughout the dress. I couldn’t have been more happy with how this dress turned out. There was so much love and thoughtfulness poured into this dress. It is something I will cherish forever.

Given the pandemic and all the date changes I found myself waiting for each new collection at Galia Lahav for my reception dress. I knew this would always be my party. I ended up choosing the Mel gown which embodied pure romance. I knew it was my dress from the moment I laid eyes on it. Funny enough, the sample was not even in stores yet and I ordered it based on the photos. Thankfully, I got the dress and it was even more gorgeous in person. I knew I wanted my after party dress to be romantic with a touch of sexy. The skirt was sheer with a bodysuit underneath to give it a slightly more revealing look. The off the shoulder puff sleeves make any girl feel like a princess, especially on your wedding day. I am a huge fan of vintage and estate pieces. My engagement ring is from Victor Barbone Jewelry and is from the 1930’s with a gorgeous old mine cut diamond surrounded by emeralds. My wedding gift from Colt was a gorgeous estate ring from the 1950’s with these insane baguettes that we got at Platt Boutique. Given how sparkly my fingers already were, I opted for a classic gold band as my wedding band which is inscribed with a note and our wedding date. Being a stylist picking jewelry is always the icing on the cake, thankfully my mother has an incredible collection of jewelry as did both of my Grandmothers. I knew I wanted something classic and elegant in my ears that had just enough sparkle without being distracting, so I wore her big pearl and diamond wreath earrings which were perfect. I also wore a piece of jewelry from both of my grandmothers, who are no longer with us which was really important to me to have them represented and with me on my wedding day. I had a vintage diamond watch and vintage diamond cuff which completed the look. I really just trusted my team for the day to execute whatever vision they had for this gown while still looking like myself. No one does a blowout like Dave Stanwell, for years I watched him create gorgeous hair on my clients that I knew I didn’t need to tell him a thing. The only brief I had to give him was that I wanted to add length, which length is what we had. He is such a visionary that seeing the dress he just came up with the look. Which was a gorgeous blow out with a bit of a bend. He tucked the hair behind both ears and we were done. The same goes for Alexis Oakley I said I just wanted to look like an elevated version of myself. We stuck to peachy bronze tones which turned out gorgeous. Let me tell you my hair and makeup was intact through the next morning. I am beyond thankful for these two on my wedding day.

I always knew I wanted something non traditional for the ceremony. Colt entered to “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve. I walked down the aisle with my Dad to “Sussudio” by Phil Collins. I wanted to start the vibe of the wedding off strong and I knew Phil would do the job as it was the soundtrack to my childhood. We did not have any of our bridal party walk down the aisle, but we had all of our nieces and nephews grace the aisle with their presence. My 3 month old niece was pushed down the aisle in a vintage 1950’s bunny stroller that I found on charish. It was darling! My incredible friend and healer Iris Tanz was our officiant, we knew we wanted it quick, sweet, and very us. Iris did an incredible job at really tailoring the ceremony to what we wanted. We really wanted to incorporate something we would be able to keep forever and show our kids that’s when Iris came up with us doing a “Handfasting” which is is an ancient Celtic ritual in which the hands are tied together to symbolize the binding of two lives. We have a gorgeous rope that we are currently having framed in an acrylic box that we will hang in our house.

The guests found their seats by walking up to a wall covered in a Monique Lhuillier printed Duvet (that matched the hand embroidery I had added to my dress ) to find Maraca’s with their names on them to direct them to their seats. Again, I knew we wanted something non traditional and to maximize the dancing. We had an incredible 12 piece band, West Coast Music – Midnight Special. When Colt and I walked in we had them play a classic, “Everybody” Backstreet Boys to which we invited everyone up to dance for about 30 minutes before any food was served. It was beyond fun and really kept the energy up. We served a grilled little gem caesar salad, Yuzu Seabass or Filet, with a late night treat of happy meals that included original beanie baby toys from the 90’s. Our wedding cake was 5 layers and piped with buttercream, I always admired my parents’ wedding cake growing up, so we recreated it!

Colt’s Best Friend flew in to surprise him from Australia and gave his best man speech. My two older brothers are my best friends, so they did the honors too. I loved sitting at our table looking around and being surrounded by the people we loved most, it is such a special moment that is rarely replicated. I loved walking in to see our vision being executed perfectly. But overall I think the dancing between courses with the live band really kept the momentum up and it truly felt like a big party!

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BBJ La Tavola

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Jana Williams Photography

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Beautiful Bold Burst Of Color California Wedding

This bold and beautiful wedding is overflowing with fun. Done in a burst of vivid blue and orange Lally Events planned and designed a day that spoke to the couple’s heritage and unique love story. Florals by Revel Floral are a feast for the eyes, and imagery by the oh-so-talented Carlie Statsky is sure to stand the test of time. See it all inside the full gallery.

From the bride… Our day was 10 years in the making, and was a beautiful celebration of our love. As we thought about how we wanted our wedding to look and feel, we knew it had to be an illustration of who are as a couple and as individuals. From my dress (which was a nod to my Israeli heritage), to the pins of the number 33 the groomsmen wore in honor of Patrick’s late aunt: it all felt uniquely us.

It included elements that tied to our Mexican roots, like the mariachi band that played while the guests arrived and the agua frescas we served following the ceremony. For the ceremony, we wrote our own vows and included our family in the rituals of the ceremony. The chuppah was placed on a small dock that was placed on the edge of the water. I walked down the aisle to “Sabor a Mi” by Luis Miguel, a song that my Oma and Opa (grandparents) would play for me. Our vows took the form of a letter that we read to one another.

We danced the night away, closing the night with a collection of our favorite dance music from the 10 years we’ve been together. Each song was curated by Patrick, marking different milestones in our relationship. We showcased a fun blend of Latin dance songs with our favorite electronic songs all under the twinkling lights over the dance floor. Everyone partied extra hard to stay warm, and brought the energy. It was the day of our dreams.

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BBJ La Tavola

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Found Rental Co.

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Petit Bouquet

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A Woodland Fairytale Wedding at Nestldown Designed by the Bride Herself!

Happy Halloween, witches and warlocks 🎃 Today we’re sharing a hauntingly creative wedding that’s sure to surprise at every turn! A lover of all things whimsical and out-of-the-box, the bride knew she wanted to do something unexpected when it came to her wedding design. After falling in love with Nestldown, the couple landed on a “woodland fairytale” wedding theme. Let’s just say Lord of The Rings fanatics are about to be obsessed – we’re talking bridesmaids dressed as elves, the officiant dressed as Gandalf, cocktails with a side of treasure hunting, an enchanting candlelit reception, and all sorts of magical treats along the way! We love a bride who has a vision and isn’t afraid to run with it. To see all the epic moments from their day, the full gallery by Stella Yang Photography awaits!

From the Bride… “Yifei, Before you, I never truly believed in ‘one true love.’ But I was so lucky to meet you at the age of 18 and marry you at the age of 28. Looking back, the most romantic thing I can think of is never the beautiful roses or precious gifts. But, still, your everlasting support and companionship.” – I said to my husband at the wedding ceremony.

My husband and I met and fell in love with each other in undergrad school in China. After graduating, we came to the United States together for grad school and finally settled in the San Francisco Bay Area. Although we had to deal with a long-distance relationship for over four years, our relationship has always been stable.

A comedian, Mike Vecchione, said, “The marriages (relationships) that last are a combination of two types of people: One person who is boring, another who is crazy.” We loved this joke and thought this was precisely the description of us! I must be the crazy one. My mind is always filled with exciting and whimsical ideas. I would be super excited about every design opportunity, and my wedding is definitely on the top list. So as you can imagine, I was the one that brought this fantastic idea of “holding a fairy wedding,” and my “boring” husband had “no objection.”

The Venue – Nestldown

Nestldown in our mind is “a wonderland hidden in the forest .” The venue was quite spacious and broad, with a solemn and stately redwood forest as the ceremony area, a lawn next to a Koi pond as the banquet area, a lane entangled by vines as the cocktail area, and a wooden house with a crystal chandelier as the dancing area.

What fascinated us was the magical garden in a medieval style. The wooden house, the sand sculptures of dragons and castles, the vintage chess boards, and the fairy lights around the trees all aligned perfectly with what we had in mind for a woodland fairy wedding. We immediately knew that this would be the place for our celebration after the first visit.

The Event Design

With no professional help, I planned and designed the wedding all by myself as a bride. I had a clear vision of the wedding – a woodland fairy-themed celebration with a combination of elegant and rustic touches. The idea is based on a fairytale I pictured in my head – a royal wedding for a princess elf who lives in the woods. To achieve this, I had the couple dressed as prince and princess, bridesmaids dressed as elves, the officiant dressed as a magician, and I also invited the guests to dress like woodland creatures.

The Floral Design

I imagined that the flower decorations in my wedding would be elegant, colorful, yet wild, and whimsical. All kinds of flowers would be scattered around mosses, creating a scene where woodland elves live. With this unique vision, I met Anna, a very talented floral designer. The floral she designed for me is just as beautiful as I pictured.

In Anna’s words – “The floral design and color inspiration comes from Alice in Wonderland fairytale’s wedding theme. Along with the magical redwood forest background, we incorporate contrast colors – vintage red, copper, peach, and almond paired with light blue, steel blue, and violet, to make each color pop. Various wildflowers, and greeneries with moss-covered centerpieces, paired with vintage candles, bring harmony to the forest background and create this magical fairytale atmosphere. For the flower selection, we chose garden roses, orchids, hydrangea, calla lily, and peony and tropical greeneries to give everyone a whimsical, romantic feeling.”

The Wedding Gown

I have been looking for a unique wedding dress, which must be studded with pearls and crystals without making people feel it is too tacky or luxurious. Also, that very dress must be elegant and vintage while maintaining a touch of cuteness and agility, which would make me feel like an elf and a princess at the same time. It took me a year to visit those bridal shops along the west coast, including regular dress rental shops and high-end customization brands. It was not until I randomly saw the picture online for this wedding gown that I decided that it would fulfill all my imagination.

The wedding dress is breathtakingly beautiful. It is in ivory color, which sets a great vintage tone. The laces on the shoulder girdles are just like twinkling wings. Thousands of shining crystals constitute the elegant patterns on the chest and extend to the long tails on the back. It is such a great combination of elegance and cuteness.

Magician and Elves

My lovely bridesmaids are dressed in the costume of elves. I tried quite a few dresses of different styles and finally set my heart on a single-shoulder emerald dress with long silk ribbons on the back, which, as I saw it, made me think of a retro-styled woodland elf immediately. As for their headwear, I chose emeralds entwined on vines that matched the color of their dresses and added to the overall forestry feel. With the elf ears, they all look like real elves coming from the woods!

To match the theme of the wedding ceremony, I prepared the Gandalf costume and wand for my wedding officiant. So he could deliver his “magical blessing” to us that day.

The Bride Entrance of the Ceremony

What particularly attracted me to Nestledown was the long and twisted steps to the ceremony area. Those rustic steps traversed across the redwoods from the high end. Walking down from the top of the steps, you could overlook the entire ceremony area, hear the beats of the music and smell the aroma of soil and vegetation. It is such a long walk that it could help you prepare before the big moment. I chose the orchestral version of Merry-go-round of Life as the background music for my entrance. It came from Howl’s Moving Castle, my favorite animation, which never fails to make my eyes fill with tears.

The Cocktail Hour Activity – Treasure Hunting

When the ceremony ended, there was a special cocktail reception, for which I designed a game called “Hunting for the Golden Feather.” Every guest was given a piece of old craft paper printed with a treasure map (I made a hand-drawn fantasy map for Nestldown). 5 places of treasures are marked on the map. Guests could follow the map to find the golden feathers. Those who found all the treasure would be rewarded with a special gift.

The Reception by Koi Pond

The evening party was held on the lawn near the koi pond. The guests could find wooden boards engraved with their names on vintage oak tables decorated with flowers and mosses.

I switched to a princess-styled off-the-shoulder blue dress when we entered for dinner. It is lighter than my wedding gown, so I can sit down and enjoy my dinner.

The food from Wylder space is terrific and tasty. My favorite one is the salad they brought rainbow beet napoleon layered with goat cheese, drizzled in the balsamic reduction sauce, and garnished with arugula microgreens. It brings a feeling of dining in the woods.

The Wedding Cake

After dinner, we moved on to the sweetest session of that day, cutting our wedding cake, which Trizia designed. The two-layer cake featured a fresh and elegant taste of earl gray tea. On top of the ivory cream surface were mosses, butterflies, and flowers made of sweets, creating an intoxicating atmosphere of forests and fairy tales while bringing the highlight for the ceremony.

The First Dance

The first dance was the most exciting session of the ceremony. We chose La Valse De L’Amour, the Waltz to which Cinderella and the prince danced when they first met. Neither of us knew anything about dancing, so it took us nearly three months to learn it. Every night after returning home from work, we watched the video and practiced once and once again. Constant discussions and explorations granted us tiny progress bit by bit. What an unforgettable memory!

The Grand Exit

For the grand exit, We prepared fairy-lights-decorated transparent balloons for each guest. Then, surrounded by lights and crowds, my husband and I walked onto a vintage car and bid farewell to my guests, bringing the wedding we had planned and expected for a year to a beautiful end.

These Crystal Pieces From Waterford Are Absolute Registry Musts

These days, people are getting married later in life, and (don’t let your grandma read this) most couples live together way before saying, “I do”. So, it makes sense that registries are changing with the times. It used to be that you registered for what you needed for your new life as a married couple, but now, since you’ve already been adulting for a while, you get to register for what you want (lucky you!). But with so much on your plate it can be hard to know exactly what you want so we’re here to help. There’s one thing that should be on every couple’s registry–crystal. And when it comes to crystal, it doesn’t get better than Waterford.

Why Crystal?

What makes Waterford crystal a registry must? Well, first of all, it’s gorgeous. But the most important reason is that it’s an investment–quality crystal like Waterford will last you forever! Think of it as investing in a designer piece instead of disposable fast fashion. In a world where we are leaning into sustainability, the key is investing in quality pieces that can withstand the test of time, be it clothing, home furnishings, tableware, or even decor. And what better way to lock down some staple pieces than to put them on your wedding registry? Fact: everyone loves giving crystal and everyone loves getting crystal. It’s a win-win!

SHOP THIS LOOK | Lismore Clock

What To Register For

When you think Waterford crystal, the first thing to come to mind is probably champagne flutes or wine glasses, but there are so many other ways to use Waterford crystal–and not just in the kitchen. Here are some of our favorite ways to use crystal throughout your home…

Kitchen

Let’s start with the obvious, the kitchen. From glasses to decanters there is no shortage of ways to use Waterford crystal in your kitchen. And while it may feel like you should only break it out for special occasions because it’s so pretty, that’s simply not true. First of all, crystal is stronger than glass, so crystal glasses are actually less likely to break. Also, life is short so why not live every moment beautifully? Break out your crystal champagne flutes for brunch with your besties and serve your favorite go-to wine out of a crystal decanter into matching stemless crystal wine glasses. Give your store-bought cake a glow-up by popping it onto a crystal cake plate for every birthday. And last, but not least, every counter needs a Waterford crystal fruit bowl, even if you fill it with your favorite non-fruit munchies (no judgment here).

SHOP THIS LOOK | Ice Bucket, Whiskey Glasses & Decanter

Bathroom

We spend so much of our time in the bathroom getting ready, so why not level up your bathroom decor game with some beautiful yet functional pieces? Before you start your skincare routine, pop your rings onto a crystal ring dish for safekeeping. Then, brushing your teeth will never be the same after you pour yourself a glass of purified water from your crystal pitcher into a matching crystal tumbler. It’s the small things that make all the difference and if those pretty little items boost your serotonin even a little bit before you head off to work, then they have done their job.

SHOP THIS LOOK | Lismore Perfume Bottle & Ring Dish

Dining Room

You don’t need a physical room anymore to call it a dining room, this is just wherever you eat your meals, be it an eat-in kitchen or a bartop table. And how you decorate said table is the ultimate sign of adulting. Ditch the salt and pepper shakers you’ve had since college and invest in a beautiful Waterford crystal set. And think of how impressed your friends will be after they crash at your place and wake up to your favorite go-to hangover cure and a giant cup of coffee served with a stunning Waterford crystal cream and sugar set. So chic, so grown.

SHOP THIS LOOK | Lismore Black Vase & Lismore Black Bowl

Living Room

When it comes to crystal pieces, the living room is all about entertaining and decor. Every living room needs a Waterford crystal vase (or two) for a fresh flower arrangement (and yes, babe, get yourself the flowers even if you’re not entertaining). A tall vase is great for on a mantle and a low vase looks perfect on a side or coffee table. Now it’s time to stock the bar cart. You’ll need an ice bucket, cocktail shaker, whiskey glasses, and a few decanters for your favorite liquors.

SHOP THIS LOOK | Whiskey Glasses & Decanter

Follow @waterford on Instagram for even more registry inspo and to see process pics of how these beautiful pieces are made and the artisans that bring them to life.

Registry Items: Waterford

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Petit Bouquet

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Modern Day Fall Garden Party in Central Texas

Bring on the blooms, this garden-inspired fall wedding is endlessly romantic. Simply XO Events brought the couple’s Big Day vision to life in the most wondrous of ways, and floral design by Truth and Blooms is nothing short of sensational. You’ll love every elegant image artfully shot by The Crakes, visit the full gallery for a closer look.

From The Crakes… Shelby and Sam got married as Texas starts to transition into fall in mid-Texas, meaning the sun was still shining down on their intimate garden-inspired wedding day.

They chose tones to accent the colors of the beautiful new venue in town. Shelby chose the bistro chairs to go along with the whimsical garden theme.

The candles in the reception hall stayed on all night to create an intimate party where they shared wine and ate dinner together at the long communal tables.

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Royal Dukes Band

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Petit Bouquet

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Elevated Elegance At Santa Lucia Preserve

It’s elevated elegance all the way at this Carmel Valley wedding. Carefully curated details planned by Allison Weddings added to the natural beauty of Santa Lucia Preserve, and flowers designed by Barefoot Floral are beyond beautiful. Each artfully captured image shot by Carlie Statsky is more incredible than the last, see them all inside the full gallery.

From the bride… After waiting more than a year from our original wedding date and a few postponements, it was a surreal experience to finally celebrate with all of our dear family and friends. The Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel, California has been such a special place for us and our families, so we were thrilled to share it with our guests. Teeming with untouched, natural beauty, the Preserve was such a perfect place to host the people we love most! Everyone tells you the weekend moves fast, but you have no idea just how fast until things get underway! We kicked off the weekend with an outdoor pizza oven on Thursday at my family’s home and it zoomed by from there! We wanted our friends to soak up the Preserve’s beautiful surroundings, so Friday’s activities were all outdoor and involved golfing, hiking (led by none other than the mother-of-the-bride!) and pickleball.

That evening, guests joined us at Folktale Vineyards, one of Carmel’s most charming wineries and a personal favorite, for our Welcome Party. With over 500 wine barrels stacked from floor to ceiling, the Barrel Room was a perfect introduction to Carmel Valley. Our dress code was “California Chic” and our guests did not disappoint! In honor of my dad’s birthday, we even served a local favorite, Revival Ice Cream, for dessert which was topped with torched marshmallow fluff. The day of the wedding was a whirlwind of pure joy and excitement. For the ceremony, we shared vows in what my family calls the “Redwood Chapel.” The 800 year-old redwood grove was the most blissful and sacred setting, especially with the chuppah of our dreams, designed by Barefoot Floral. After getting married in 2020 with only a few family members, it was so special to finally share our commitment to one another with all of our family members and friends by our sides. Our officiant reminded us that, although Redwood trees stand alone, it’s their closeness, shared canopy and co-mingled roots which provide support and allow them to hold the water they need for life.

After the ceremony, our guests gathered on the beautiful Hacienda lawn for hors d’oeuvres and carnitas street tacos, the groom’s favorite! As the sun began to set, our amazing photographers whisked us away for sunset photos atop a gorgeous vista that we will treasure forever. And then the party really started as guests danced the night away in the 100 year-old barn. We brought in the Pop Rocks from San Francisco and their unreal disco moves and many outfit changes knocked the socks off of our guests. We kicked off dancing with the mother-of-the-bride and father-of-the-groom’s favorite song, Hotel California, and it felt like the fun never stopped! We wrapped up the night with late night churros and In-N-Out inspired burgers before the sweetest farewell. The next morning, we said our goodbyes at our farewell brunch at Quail Lodge over breakfast burritos and much needed coffee. A few of our favorite pups joined too! Although the celebrations went too fast, the weekend was beyond our wildest dreams. Special thanks to the vendors and team that made it happen!

5 Brands You’ll Want to Know While Wedding Planning

Like every other industry, weddings are evolving and new brands are popping up left and right that we all wish were around when we were wedding planning! From cool new guest book alternatives and sustainable shopping to revolutionary teeth whitening, we did a deep dive so you don’t have to. Here are five new brands that will make your wedding planning easier and, of course, (SM)Prettier. You’re welcome ;-)

Trousso

These days, weddings are no longer a single event, and brides want to look picture-perfect at each celebration (think bachelorette, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, and afterparty). But it’s agonizing to buy new, expensive outfits you’ll only wear once. Well, have you checked out Trousso? Trousso is the resale platform making upscale bridal fashion financially accessible and environmentally sustainable for the next generation of brides. With Trousso, you can search by wedding event and find designer outfits from brands like Retrofête, Cult Gaia, Jimmy Choo, and Zimmermann. Every transaction on their platform helps one bride earn back money on outfits worn once and taking up space in their closet, while helping another bride access a high-quality ensemble at 20-80% off retail! What’s not to love?

After The Tone

Every wedding needs a guest book and why settle for a traditional “book” when you could have something fun, interactive, and something you will truly cherish for the rest of your lives? Introducing After The Tone. They ship you a real vintage rotary phone and record voicemails you want to keep from all of your favorite people. Regardless of the package you choose, you’ll receive your voicemails digitally. You also have the option to put them on Vinyl record or USB. Their phones don’t require wall plugins, extension cords, or wifi! This makes it easy for the phone to be transported throughout your event (from pre-ceremony and cocktail hour to the reception, and even the after-party!) They currently ship Nationwide to the US & Canada. Just set it up and let your guests leave messages throughout the night. Then, break out the recordings on special occasions and anniversaries for a sentimental moment or a good laugh.

Bride Brite

You’ve got your hair and makeup trial scheduled, your bridal skincare routine is on-lock, but what about your smile? You want that baby to sparkle! And with so many whitening brands on the market, it’s hard to know where to start. Some are too harsh and some don’t work at all. Well, we’ve found the perfect brand. Designed by a dentist for his bride, BrideBrite guarantees noticeably whiter teeth after using their kit for 10 minutes for 10 days. Best of all, it’s enamel-safe and SENSITIVITY FREE! You can purchase the Bride Brite or Groom Glow Advanced Teeth Whitening Kits on their own or you can bundle and save by choosing two kits of your choice and checking out as a Couple’s Bundle. These kits, in addition to their on-the-go products (BlingBRITE and StayBRITE) make incredible gifts as well. Each Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit features 3 brush-on-whitening pens for precise application (65+ uses), a wireless LED mouthpiece to accelerate the whitening process, a 3D shade guide to mark your progress, and a bonus desensitizing gel to ensure that you don’t experience any sensitivity.

Using the discount code “STYLEMEPRETTY” you can invest in your Wedding White Teeth for $89.97 and get 40% off sitewide + free shipping!

Swoon Bridal Consulting

You’ve heard people vent about how stressful wedding planning can be. It’s easy to get caught up in all of the little details and forget to take care of yourself or nurture the relationship that you’re supposed to be celebrating. For some people, it’s also their first time leading a creative team, which brings about its own set of challenges. Well, now there’s a brand that’s taking a unique approach to coaching female leaders of tomorrow through wedding planning. Swoon Bridal Consulting is the first of its kind bridal leadership coaching. Neuroscientifically based for holistic wellness and personal growth during the wedding planning process. They teach interpersonal skill development and meditation techniques to provide brides with a set of tools that can better manage the social pressures of wedding planning, and reduce stress along their marriage journey. With both in-person and online workshops, Swoon fortifies an individual bride’s sense of leadership so she can gracefully navigate everything from the meaningful blending of family rituals to the potential interpersonal clashes among bridesmaids. They’re launching workshops in January 2023 and taking individual coaching clients now, so book today!

Swoon is offering SMP readers a $150 discount when you use code SMP2023 at checkout. This code can be used thru 11:59pm on November 10th, 2022 on Workshops and retreats (items over $500).

The Sip

Now that you’ve said yes, it’s your turn to pop the question. And what better way is there to do that than with a beautiful bottle (or three) of the world’s best bubbly? The Sip curates luxe gift boxes that are perfect for every occasion because your besties deserve the best! Make sure to look into their bulk gifting to get the most bubbly for your buck. Plus, The Sip is a brand you can feel good investing in. Not only are they a Black women-owned business, but a portion of every purchase goes to funding clean drinking water for women and children in need (5,500 gallons so far)! While you’re at it, go ahead and sign yourself up for a subscription because between all the celebrating and late-night Pinterest seshes, you’re gonna need it!

Bridal Consultant: Swoon Bridal Consulting | Bridal Fashion: Trousso | Gifts: The Sip | Guest Book: after the tone | Teeth Whitening: Bride Brite

Old World Italian Wedding Inspiration on Lake Como at Villa Sola Cabiati

Today’s wedding inspiration is for the hopeless romantic at heart. The bride who dreams of old world elegance, timeless design and classic Italian flair. If that perfectly depicts your wedding style to a T, then boy are you in a for a treat – all thanks to the ever talented Janna Brown Design Co! See the full gallery captured by Janna to see find all the inspo you’ll need to pull off your dream destination wedding.

From Janna Brown Design Co… Perched on the shores of Tremezzo, Villa Sola Cabiati reigns as one of the most exquisite properties on all of LAKE COMO.

As one of the most sought after wedding destinations in the world, Lake Como is no stranger to weddings, from luxurious, intimate elopements to extravagant multi-day celebrations, couples travel near and far to say their vows in this iconic setting.

When designing for such an opulent wedding venue, we drew inspiration from its Neoclassical style and Italian gardens, opting for a classic palette of creams and organic greens, incorporating luxurious linens and gold accents. Each detail was carefully curated to create a timeless design as an extension of the decadence of this magnificent Italian wonderland.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Sugared Fig Paperie

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East Meets West Napa Valley Wedding

This fabulous fusion wedding is bursting with fun. From a ceremony surrounded by cherry blossom trees to a gift of gold chopsticks at the sit down dinner, Charmed Events Group, LLC planned and designed a day that dazzles. Flowergirl Em filled the day with the most beautiful of blooms, and Amanda Callaway Photography elegantly captured every moment in impeccable photography. Visit the full gallery to fall in love.

From Charmed Events Group, LLC… East meets West is the theme of this wedding. Our New York bride really wanted to honor and share her heritage with family and friends and had a particular love and affinity for cherry blossoms to shine at her wedding. The couple chose Napa to get married at because it’s a destination that was important to their relationship. Being that all their family and guests are from the East Coast, she wanted the wedding to reflect East meets West in heritage, as well as East Coast meets West Coast in vibe. We focused on an Asian heritage theme for the ceremony, bringing in lots and lots of cherry blossom trees as the bride had a special love and affinity for them.

It created the most stunning and magical setting for our couple to say their vows out. We also used the cherry blossom trees as a motif for their escort display as guests joyfully found their seats. The couple hired the main singer form Crazy, Rich Asians to sing her chinese version of Yellow by Coldplay for our bride as she walked down the aisle. Guests were also later treated to a small performance set during the reception as well. For the reception, the couple wanted to share their stylish, modern and polished East Coast vibe so we transitioned the design to be reflective of a New York vibe.

While we used blush and whites for the ceremony, we transitioned our color palette to be whites, cremes and soft golds for the reception. Hundreds and hundreds of candles used were used to evoke feelings of a NY affair and the couple paired their Pan Asian inspired dinner with a gift of gold chopsticks for each guest. Guests then migrated to the estate’s barrel room where they were treated their guests to the most epic first dance by the couple. And in true NY fashionista fashion, the bride changed her dress two times, each filled with Tulle goodness dance the night away.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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BBJ La Tavola

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Petit Bouquet

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This Classic Seaside Elegance Wedding Was Worth The Wait

This destination Hawaii wedding is as heartfelt as it is filled with stylish inspiration. Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design made the couple’s 2.5 year wait, after a postponement due to Covid, more than worth it. From the seaside ceremony to the outdoor tented reception, every inch of this day is dripping with pretty. Blooms by Dellables are endlessly romantic, and each magical moment is artfully captured in imagery by Dmitri and Sandra Photography. Head to the full gallery for a closer look at all the fun.

From Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design… Anna and Aaron are both Business Managers from BC, Canada. While they had planned their Destination Maui Wedding for March 2020, Covid had other plans for them. A mere 4-days before their wedding was scheduled to take place that year, Hawaii closed it’s doors to incoming travelers and Anna and Aaron were forced to postpone their Wedding. Nearly 2.5 years later, the couple traveled to Maui with their closest family members and friends, and the newest addition to their family, their son, Cohen!

“The favorite part of our Wedding was our Arch–Taryn’s sweet surprise for us, absolutely stunning!” says Anna. “I highly recommend hiring Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design and her team for your big day! We had the most amazing experience!”

“It was really important to me to honor the couple in a sizable way, both literally and figuratively! They had waited too long for this special moment,” says Founder and Principal Planner of Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design, Taryn. “We are blessed to partner with some truly incredible vendors on our Hawaii-based Events. I called Jonas + Tasha, owners of Artisan Event Rentals Maui, before the Wedding and begged them to build me a massive arch for Anna + Aaron. Without question, they immediately agreed! I then purchased a stunning candelabra-style golden chandelier for the middle of the structure, and Dellables Floral Design then pulled out the stops in the arch décor and voila! We had a dream come true!” Following their seaside ceremony, guests were led to a stunning, flowing white sperry tent dripping with tailored chandeliers and a twinkle canopy.

“The couple was committed to classic elegance within a breathtaking, oceanfront space on Maui. We didn’t want to compete with our surroundings, so we worked carefully to bring their vision to life in hues of whites, ivory, golds, and neutrals. The hope was to create luxe, classic elegance,” says Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design.

“We know it is cliché to say every part was our favorite,” say Anna and Aaron, “but it was just because we had waited so long for this day, everything was absolutely perfect! But if we had to say our favorite, it definitely had to be all the sweet speeches that were given to us.”

Dinner and speeches were followed by group games, bouquet, garter tosses, and fun-filled dancing. All in all, it was apparent that this celebration was definitely worth the wait!

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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BBJ La Tavola

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Dmitri and Sandra Photography

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Modern Romantic Garden Wedding at Deane House

A summer palette of coral, blush and sage set the scene for this Calgary wedding. Kaity Body Photography captured the endlessly romantic details perfectly in her artful photography, and Jacqueline Rae Weddings planned and designed the day to perfection. Floral design by Meadow & Vine is nothing short of spectacular, see it all inside the full gallery.

From Kaity Body Photography… Jen & Ian’s garden wedding brought a perfect mix of history, modern design, and the wild west all together during the week of the world renowned Calgary Stamped! It was Jen and Ian’s dream to have their family enjoy the Calgary Stampede, especially as Ian’s family would be travelling such long distances to attend their big day. Jen also celebrated her Bachelorette with her closest friends in Nashville, a perfect way to begin their final wedding preparations. The Wild West was checked at the door for one day, as the historical downtown venue, the Deane House, turned into a modern, romantic garden fairy-tale. Walking into Jen and Ian’s home, hair and makeup was almost complete by the talented team at Top Knot Brides, adding the final touches to Jen’s long angelic Hollywood styled hair. Her bright blue eyes full of excitement, ready to pop some champagne and slip into her shimmering floral Galia Lahav gown, complete with long white bows on each shoulder. You would swear it was made for her – it had the beauty and drama Jen was looking for in her dream wedding gown.

She was even gifted the perfect earring set from Ian for this memorable occasion, a pair of delicate diamond studded flowers from Calgary Jewellery. Jen also gifted Ian an Omega Seamaster watch from the same Jeweller for his wedding gift. Jen’s bridal hair piece, as well as all of the bridesmaids jewelry was from shop owner Lindsay of Cinder & Sage, one of Jen’s bridesmaids! The gems were hues of coral, blush, and sage to accent the soft gradient of bridesmaids dresses. Ian departed from the Fairmont Palliser Hotel to eagerly await his stunning bride, for a private moment together. Luxurious transportation from Ambassador Limousine brought Jen to the riverside park, and when Ian turned to see his Bride, his expression was not hard to read. After a moment of excitement and tears, their beloved dog Gus joined the happy couple in his wedding attire. This would be the last time they would see their sweet Gus until they returned from their Honeymoon in Italy. After a romantic walk through the towering trees and some fun with their full bridal party, they were off to the floral filled gardens of the Deane House as their guests found their seats. Jen and Ian were surrounded by a cascade of coral, blush and ivory florals by Meadow & Vine, that appeared to be suspended by sunlight. Their vows brought tears and laughter to the air, and then it was finally official! As guests went to enjoy custom cocktails at Gus’ Gin bar, the now Mr. & Mrs. Were off to see their reception dreams become a reality with the stunning design by Jacqueline Rae Weddings.

Jen’s vision was fully realized with black contrasting accents added to the evening reception, to add a more moody and luxe vibe. The clouds of baby’s breath above, as well as encased below the assortment of intricately made desserts by Whippt Kitchen, created that dream like ambiance for the evening. Guests searched for their names on the arched statement seating chart, and for their table numbers on the beautifully custom designed stationery by Pink Umbrella Designs and Ynot Digital. The delicious meal and emotion filled speeches from friends and family were memorable to say the least. After the cake was cut, the champagne tower was poured, and the couples sparkler lit first dance was had, Pez Productions ensured everyone was on their feet, until the fireworks at the Stampede Grand Stand show lit up the night sky. With the promise of a life full of love, and a rodeo to get to in a few short hours in lieu of a farewell brunch, Jen & Ian’s marriage was off to the races.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Petit Bouquet

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Black And White Wedding At The Iconic Beverly Hills Hotel

This stylish black and white wedding at the Beverly Hills Hotel is as iconic as the venue it was held at. Melissa Andre Events planned a day filled with dreamy details, and Tic Tock Couture Florals and Event Styling filled it with a sea of lush white blooms. Every heartfelt and impossibly chic moment is beautifully captured in imagery by Amanda Watson Photography. You can see it all inside the full gallery.

From Amanda Watson Photography…. Karla & Vince chose an opulent affair at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel. Save the Dates in the form of custom ground coffee were sent out with a special note to inform guests of their upcoming nuptials. They continued their all black & white with personalized invitations for each guest complimented by a shiny black wax seal and their House of Ricci crest. Guests arrived on the red carpet of the Beverly Hills and were asked to wear all black. They understood the assignment!

A birds eye view of the ceremony showed a sea of guests in all black with the highlight of the bride as she walked down the aisle. To commemorate the passing of the groom’s parents, they released doves during a moment of remembrance. It was touching and some tears were shed. The bride wore a Monique Lhuillier gown for the ceremony with an Anne Barge veil custom embroidered with “faith” by Michael Costello. Michael Costello also created Karla’s two reception looks – a form fitting corseted gown for cake cutting and dancing and a chic cross neck gown with peep detailing for the couple’s first dance.

This gown was created in 3 days to accommodate for the bride’s movement during the couple’s choreographed first dance! Guests entered an all white, candlelit ballroom to the sounds of Eli’s Band and danced the night away until a late night snack of burgers & fries were passed.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Petit Bouquet

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Brand Association and Brand Equity for your Wedding Business

Having a solid brand is key to running a successful business. Your branding is the first thing your clients will think of when they assess your offering. It determines how you message your products, how customers will perceive your and how likely they will be to purchase. How and why this happens is based on a theory called brand association.

So, what does brand association even mean?

Brand association is the psychology of how a consumer thinks about a brand, based on tangible and intangible things alike. When discovering a new brand, customers subconsciously categorize them based on things like the emotion they feel, the images they see, and what connections that brand has to others they may more closely recognize. Even at the very early stages of discovery, when thinking of a brand they are aware of, they immediately and subconsciously recall these categorizations and predetermine their opinion of said brand.

Did you know it takes consumers, on average, .05 seconds to determine if they like a website enough to stay, according to Bright Local Study? In addition, consumers spend nearly 6 seconds looking at a website’s main image, in contrast to spending almost equal time reading a website’s written content. We were not surprised to read these, as collated by Tonic Site Shop, as it confirms that visuals are so important to your brand.

What you want for your wedding business: Potential customers to associate positive feelings towards your company and offering, have a clear understanding of what to expect when hiring you, and recognize value that justifies the prices for your services/products.

Pillars of brand association

Visuals/design

“Unlike sound or tactile cues, visual elements can be applied across a multitude of platforms and formats, allowing them to be present at every brand touchpoint.” — Latana
The look of your brand. This includes your logo, website design, email interface, business cards, sales materials, and yes for sure the actual aesthetic of your work.
Visual representation is one of the first, and most impactful ways that a customer makes immediate assumptions about a brand.

Language

“Brand language is the body of terms, phrases, and words that a company uses to describe both themselves and their products. It is a marketing strategy used to help consumers identify and strike connections between specific words and a given product. “ — OnDemandCMO
The examples that this article use are specific coined terms like “Magic Kingdom”, “15%”, and “Just do it.” — can you think of the respective brands immediately? Yep. Disney, Geico, and Nike.
The language you use helps gives life to the visuals you put out there. Language also starts to paint the story of a brand, giving it longevity, and personality. When tweaking your wedding business language, perhaps you can consider phrases and words that a) are natural to you and b) convey feelings of happiness, luxury, celebration, and timelessness. All emotions/values that are crucial on a wedding day.

Once you’ve built your brand, and succeeded in positive brand association – it’s time to think about brand equity. Brand equity is the value of being a well-known, recognized or respected brand and, in having high brand equity, being able to generate more revenue than your competitors because of this status.

Cashing in on Your Brand Equity

As a wedding vendor, there’s a number of ways you can increase your brand equity – by working with other well-known and respected vendors or venues, by producing wow-worthy content that is naturally viral and by partnering with publications who have large followings that closely match the type of client you aspire to reach.

Here at Style Me Pretty, we call this – being in good company and here are a few ways partnering with Style Me Pretty amps up your brand equity.

Venues

Regularly show off your work that took place at your ideal venues (hot tip: or create work at these ideal venues!). Constantly put your business in the same lens as your ideal locations – this subconsciously reinforces the idea that you can create work that aligns with this venue.

Fellow vendors

Regularly show off work that you’ve done alongside other vendors that fall within your ideal range and share images/events with the aesthetic you’re aiming for.

Memberships

Part of SMP’s job is to reach out and give your brand a hug as your potential client is walking by (or cruising the internet or the ‘gram). This reinforces credibility and aesthestic alignment (you’re connected with SMP who has a strong brand identity as well in romantic, classic, and elevated weddings). The other vendors in the directory also elevate your brand’s credibility.

We’d love to really dive into this topic with all of you so please feel free to reach out either in our DMs (via @smplittleblackbook on IG) or at membership@stylemepretty.com!

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

Petit Bouquet

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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!

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

BBJ La Tavola

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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!

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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).

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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BBJ La Tavola

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Jacqueline Hallgarth Events

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Petit Bouquet

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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.

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!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/723343720 600 338]

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Stephanie Mason & Co.

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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.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/734018751 600 338]

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BBJ La Tavola

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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.

[iframe https://player.vimeo.com/video/757764041 600 338]

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Petit Bouquet

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