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

A Summer Garden Party in the Mountains With a Sun Valley Aesthetic

Let’s go girls! Grab your boots and giddy up on over to the Idaho mountains for today’s stunning Sun Valley wedding. The bride described their aesthetic perfectly, “easygoing and simple, yet chic and timeless” – the dream combination if you ask us. Londyn & Grey Events brought the couple’s vision to life while Two Hands Floral created organic arrangements complimenting the natural beauty of the landscape. See it all at the full gallery, captured by Brie Thomason Photography!

From Brie Thomason Photography… Rebecca and Adam were married on July 16th in Sun Valley, Idaho, a place very special to the groom’s family. Rebecca is in her residency to become a physician working in a busy hospital in Manhattan. Adam works in finance. The two wanted to escape their busy city lifestyle for their wedding day and wanted their intimate guest list to get to experience the joy that the mountains of Idaho can bring. Rebecca was overwhelmed with helping with Covid in Manhattan, so their original plan for a September 2020 wedding needed to be pushed to 2021. You will notice the original invite was used for the detail shots because it was very special to Rebecca and Adam. The wedding was a garden themed wedding placed in the mountains, and I truly believe it was executed so well! There are several great little details like their dog on the invitation and signature drinks, organic florals lining the ceremony, a moss table escort cards, floral bridesmaids gowns, and more. The bride changed gowns for the reception into the gown she wore for her intimate Covid wedding last year. The guest list was on the intimate side with around 75 guests— all closest family and friends. The venue was a private residence, which was great because the party rented out the space and were able to do everything on scene, which kept things even more secluded.

From the bride, Rebecca… We wanted our wedding aesthetic and vibe to reflect that of Sun Valley – easygoing and simple, yet chic and timeless. Lucky for us, the scenery is breathtaking. Every detail was carefully selected to curate a day that complemented the natural beauty of the landscape and capitalized on the beautiful views. One of my favorite moments from the day was our first look, where we were surrounded by unobstructed mountains on a quiet trail. It was absolutely worth the trek, dirt and bugs.

I knew that I wanted a dress that was form fitting and elegant, but not over the top. I chose the Suzanne Neville Mayfair dress in a gorgeous silk pique fabric and fell in love with the buttons on the back. After trying on the dress, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It matched my personality perfectly. Adam wore a navy blue suit from Ralph Lauren Purple Label, while his groomsmen also worse navy blue suits. The bridesmaids each chose their own floral-patterned dress, which all came together so nicely.

The day was designed to allow the guests to appreciate the entire property. The ceremony was situated in the backyard with views of the mountains peeking through the aspen trees. Our florist lined our aisle with a variety of delicate wildflowers and grasses, many foraged nearby, as if they were picked from the side of the mountain. Guests donned parasols for sun protection and carried glasses of rose, which gave off a garden-party-in-the-mountains feel. After the ceremony, guests were taken to the front yard for cocktail hour. Our bartender crafted the most gorgeous (and delicious) cocktails. Our dog, who was perfectly illustrated on our stamps, was also included on the cocktail napkins and bar signs. We placed photos of our grandparents from their weddings in wooden frames on a table to remember our loved ones who were celebrating from afar or were there in spirit. We also can’t forget our guestbook, which was an edition of Extraordinary History of Sun Valley filled with sweet messages from our guests and now serves as the perfect coffee table book and a daily reminder of our special day.

For the reception, guests were escorted into a sailcloth tent, set on an open field adjacent to the mountains. At the entrance of the tent was a table covered in moss and chamomile flowers with wooden plaques inscribed with guests’ names and table numbers. Our planner helped us select beautiful neutral linens for our square tables and farm tables. Wildflower arrangements with bud vases and candles adorned the tables. Our planner chose to incorporate subtle pops of yellow for an extra element of fun. Each guest had a menu illustrated with wildflowers to tie it all together. Our fantastic caterer created an Idaho-style dinner of trout and prime rib (which guests are still raving about). We opted for homemade local pies in lieu of cake, which were devoured before we even had the chance to see them.

After taking our golden hour photos before the sun set behind the mountains, I changed into a satin Ulla Johnson dress to continue the party. I vividly remember standing at a distance admiring the sailcloth tent and celebration that commenced beneath it, simply in complete awe of the entire event. Our wedding day was the perfect blend of an intimate, joyous and wild party. One piece of advice I would give brides-to-be is to consider a smaller guest list. It was so wonderful watching strangers become friends, and we all danced and laughed the night away together.

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BBJ La Tavola

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Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment

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A Wyoming Summer Wedding With a James Bond Twist

Looking for inspo on how to pull off an upscale event in a rustic setting? Say no more. Calluna Events has got ya covered and then some. Today’s timeless black and white affair at a private residence in Wyoming is the definition of understated elegance. The classic floral arrangements by The Perfect Petal are just that, perfect. Check out the full gallery from James and Schulze and get ready to go on a major Pinning spree!

From The Bride… Jason and I met in Denver and connected over a love for Wyoming, golf, good music, and adventure. We both have a deep love for Wyoming and its beauty after i grew up there and took Jason to visit several times. It is where after many visits we fell in love! A few things we loved about the day – seeing our friends and family from so many places in this highly remote place and appreciating the beauty of the place we love so much. Seeing our highly unique vision of the juxtaposition of authentic, rugged Wyoming vs. An elegant, upscale black-tie event come together how we envisioned it.

The Dress

The Carolina dress epitomized the vintage elegance i wanted to wear within the Wyoming backdrop. Whilst the blue color hit was not incorporated as a theme for the event, that blue was perfectly me.

The Stationery

Easily one of my favorite parts. Sophie nailed the mix between western authenticity and upscale vintage classic and again, brought ideas that were new to the creative process instead of repurposing the same old thing. To think she hand tea-stained each save the date is incredible. Instead of an envelope for our invitations we used a “boxelope” that could tie in the story of our location to our guests whilst also having a very traditional, formal invitation within.

The Band and Speakeasy

Good gosh this was one of the most incredible moments of our lives (and we just were married hours before… Ha!) again with flipping templated weddings on the head, we wanted to incorporate our love for fun music that wasn’t your normal wedding band and throw an absolute blast of a night for everyone because doing that is one of our favorite things. We kept the reveal of the speakeasy a complete surprise to everyone in the wedding and although we had seen renderings of our design we didn’t step into the space before the actual reveal ourselves. There was a great moment well into the night when i found my dad having a cocktail at the end of the bar, watching the band bringing down the house within this incredibly svelte, moody speakeasy design and he said, “we’re in a hay meadow right now”. The whole concept was brilliantly done and perfectly executed alongside an incredibly talented funk band that had everyone smiling like they never had before. Your standout vendors – Jill, Sophie, James, Sperry, Fastlane, Calluna obvi!, The Perfect Petal although I didn’t focus on florals as much

Decor and Design

The whole event was about mixing authentic, rugged Wyoming with themes of vintage elegance to give off this incredibly private, unique, unexpected experience for ourselves and our friends. Many weddings follow basic templates and we threw most of that out whilst also keeping certain elements very traditional and it worked. Strings played, guests sipped on classic cocktails and enjoyed a black-tie sit down dinner, but yet were within this incredibly diverse Wyoming backdrop of mountains, streams, sandstone cliffs, and hayfields, culminating in this final reveal of yet another extraordinarily novel experience of a speakeasy that seemingly impossibly existed for only a few hours within this landscape. There was this unbelievably quiet feeling of secrecy mixed with incredibly fun, free funky music and dancing that made the event beyond memorable to all of us. Looking down from the cliff above you see the same old hay meadow by the stream … As if the memory of the event was created in your mind.

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Calluna Events

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A Vibrant Jewel-Toned Wedding On The Beaches Of Florida

With deep, bold, and rich hues this jewel-toned wedding is nothing short of wonderful. Albriana Shante Events brought this couple’s wedding day vision to life with a circular beach ceremony that will take your breath away. Filled with moody blues and purples, floral designs by Royal Events & Services add to the elegance. You can feel the love and joy of the day in the incredible imagery by Terrie Images, visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the chic details.

From Terrie Images… In the beautiful outdoors of The Current Hotel, a dream wedding was about to happen. The witnesses? The dearest families and friends of Stacy and Marvell, and the breathtaking Tampa bay. When the team and I got to the venue, the panoramic view stunned us. We were enthralled and speechless. Every detail was perfect! The overall inspiration for the wedding originated from Stacy’s love for rich jewel-toned colors. Similar to peacock colors but without the feathers. She loves the rich, deep purples and blues and those were a must for the wedding. Stacy wanted to memorialize her father so for the ceremony she draped one of his shirts on his seat as a way of saying, “I saved a seat for you Dad.” Stacy also loves candles. She had custom scented candles made for her guests as a wedding favor. Stacy’s guilty pleasure in between workout sessions is brewster cake batter ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. They served it to their guest as part of their late-night snack. The signature His and Her drinks were inspired by two of their loving dogs. When it came to cake tasting, they could not choose one flavor. So they had not one, not two, but three different mini cakes each with a different flavor. Each cake was named after three of their dogs.

From the bride… I had just arrived to my new duty station for the U.S. NAVY in Bahrain in 2014. It was my first day and I was walking around the facility to learn where I would be working. As I was about to leave the watch floor I got that feeling that someone was watching me. I turned around and that’s when I saw him. He was across the room amongst other co-workers and he was the one who was standing up and slow waving at me. I remember thinking is he waving at me? I looked around and saw no one else so I waved back said, “hey” and chuckled to myself as I walked out the door. Over the next few weeks, we would randomly see or talk to each other for a few minutes or we would talk at work. We had our first “hang out” date at a place we came to love called Healthy Calorie and I remember thinking to myself, ” I like him.” He had massive broad shoulders, deep brown eyes, and amazing lips. We always had great conversations and he always had a way of making me laugh. We ended up being great friends and I always looked forward to seeing him or talking to him. In fact, my day wasn’t complete until I got to see and talk to him. I didn’t realize it was really love until he and I went on leave back to the states and I didn’t get to be around him every day. He had become my everything. About a year later he invited me to visit him in California. I remember getting off the plane and being so excited to see him because it had been a few months since I had left Bahrain. As I was walking to the main lobby of the airport I saw him and my entire body LIT UP. I ran to him and he picked me up and hugged me. (I swear it looked like one of those chick flick moments). We had a great time in California and on one of our last nights there we ate at this delicious pier-side seafood restaurant. We walked on the pier after dinner and as I was watching the sunset I turned to see Marvell with a ring in his hand. My heart jumped a billion times as he asked me to marry him and a tear came to my eye as I said YES!!! I am so excited and blessed to be marrying my best friend. So many people never find their soul mate and I am so overjoyed and lucky to have found mine. You never know you are missing a part of yourself until you make this bond with someone you know that you can’t live without.

Three Engagement Rings For the Bridgerton Loving Millenial From Grown Brilliance

Dear Reader,

As you have no doubt heard, the Bridgerton family has made quite the stir once again and has the entire ton, nay, the world, in a frenzy. From fashion to home decor, it seems that they may be the most influential family since the Kardashians. So, it comes as no surprise to this author that we are seeing these Regency-era trends in jewelry as well, especially engagement rings! If you’re searching for the perfect ring to encapsulate your love for your partner and make the other ladies of the court positively green with envy, look no further. Grown Brilliance has a collection of stately pieces that are sure to impress.

SOME ROYAL INSPIRATION

It’s clear that when they set out to create their latest collection, the design team at Grown Brilliance looked to the Royal Family for some inspiration. Let’s start with Queen Charlotte herself. She was gifted a simple gold diamond band by her husband King George III on their wedding day. And while the fashions of the time would have required it, she never wore any other rings on that finger. The delicate pavé bands of the Grown Brilliance collection are no doubt a nod to this particularly treasured royal ring. Moving on to Queen Victoria, one of England’s most recognized Queens in her contribution to fashion. She sported the most unique engagement ring, a gold serpent featuring a pear-shaped emerald head and two ruby eyes. The pear shape is a very popular cut in the royal jewels and definitely makes an appearance in the Grown Brilliance collection. Queen Elizabeth II has a classic 3ct circular diamond set in platinum decoratively framed by smaller stones. Grown Brilliance has a very similar circular cut that is encircled by two intertwining pavé bands that mimic Queen Victoria’s serpent ring as well. And we couldn’t forget Princess Diana and Princess Kate’s shared oval-cut engagement ring, such a timeless cut that will never go out of style. And while she has currently renounced her royal title, Meghan Markle’s tri-stone engagement ring seems to have inspired one of the Grown Brilliance rings as well.

THESE VINTAGE CUTS ARE STILL THE TALK OF THE TON

In addition to pulling inspiration from the royals, Grown Brilliance was undoubtedly inspired by the fashions of the Regency era. Aren’t we all at the moment? During the Regency era, jewelry was not just ornamental, it was symbolic. Each stone, each cut meant something different. Pear, oval, hearts, and floral motifs were the most prevalent. Grown Brilliance touches upon each of these swoon-worthy cuts and created rings that would woo even the most discerning debutantes.

POPULAR METALS

Rose gold, yellow gold, and silver were the most popular metals of the time, with silver being the most common setting for diamonds as the color brings out the stone’s natural glow. We have since discovered white gold and platinum- more luxurious and resilient options that will provide the same look and are both offered by Grown Brilliance.

AN ETHICAL UPDATE TO VINTAGE CLASSICS

Though diamonds may never go out of style, some unsavory practices when it comes to acquiring these priceless gems certainly have. Thankfully, the “diamonds offered at Grown Brilliance are lab-grown and are completely conflict-free.” And, to those who would inquire, they are also responsibly made with all local labor laws being strictly followed. The great news is that “lab-grown diamonds are physically, chemically, and optically identical to natural diamonds.” So, you’re getting a higher quality stone at a fraction of the price with none of the guilt. It’s a win, win, win!

MODERN MEETS TIMELESS

While they admit to having taken inspiration from a time gone by, Grown Brilliance is always focused on creating timeless pieces that you will look at and love for a lifetime. They focus on “evergreen shapes” and update them with a modern setting to give freshness to some of your favorite vintage looks.

Catch the newest pamphlet from Lady Whistledown to stay abreast of the season’s most delectable gossip and follow @GrownBrilliance on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest trends in wedding jewelry.

Photography: Joe Tanis | Photography - Assistance: Mark Grgurich | Stylist: Sharon Ryan

An English Garden Overflowing With Elegance At The Seaside

You might want to pinch yourself because it doesn’t get dreamer than this coastal English garden-inspired soiree. Dear Lovers both photographed and styled an affair filled with all things pretty. Organic details, floral prints, and a soothingly soft color palette have us begging for more. Just wait till you see the floral design by ophelia floral co, who worked with natural paths of grass on the sand dunes to create an endlessly romantic aisle in the sand. You’re going to love every magical moment of this endlessly romantic day, see it all in the full gallery.

From Dear Lovers… My heart has always had a soft spot for English gardens with English heritage and growing up in New Zealand. Trailing roses along stone walls, glistening with the dew from the early morning mist. There is truly nothing more magical or peaceful. Mix that with a love for the seaside and we couldn’t have dreamed up a prettier day. Straying from the more typical nautical design for a seaside wedding, we wanted to bring the garden feeling to the water, so we incorporated lots of floral prints, muted colors, and organic elements into the design. A refined palette of cream, gold, and french blue leant to the soft garden aesthetic, blending ocean and garden seamlessly. The incredible Sae of ophelia floral co brought in actual white rose bushes to plant in the sand dunes. We worked with the natural paths made by the grasses scattered throughout the dunes to create a winding rose bush aisle that looked like it could have grown there, making for a spectacular organic walkway for our bride to meet her groom.

A vision in white, our sweet Dresden wore a Tulle-plissé corset gown with ruffle details at the neckline and oversized sleeves with button cuffs by the incredible Israeli designer Alon Livne. A pair of Loeffler Randall french blue heels were the perfect complement to the gown in matching tulle. We had a custom The Mrs. Box made with the same floral linens as we used for the tablescape, which tied together our bride’s getting-ready moments with their dinner reception. Michelle Renee Calligraphy designed an exquisite invitation suite, complete with custom floral wax seals. We lucked out with a rare foggy evening along the California coastline, perfectly bringing out English garden vision to life.

From Crowned Events… When our good friends Dear Lovers asked us to collaborate on a design concept in Morro Bay we were instantly inspired! The coastal setting surrounded by rolling sand dunes, natural grasses, and the iconic Morro Rock was the perfect space to create an intimate ceremony and dining space, nestled into the natural landscape. Ophelia floral co created the most incredible winding rose aisle that seamlessly blended into the dunes and pre-existing foliage. She also designed a classically elegant white and green garden bouquet for our bride as well as a lush and textural centerpiece composed of varying white blooms and wispy grasses to complete our tablescape. A mix of vintage-inspired tableware rentals from Catalog Atelier was beautifully complimented by Michelle Renee Calligraphy‘s hand-lettered tabletop paper goods containing rounded edges and floral textile accents.

Elevated Elegance At Auberge du Soleil In Napa

The heart of wine country provides the perfect backdrop for this beautiful wedding day. Filled with a classic color palette of crisp green and white, Parker Nichols Events and Design brought this couple’s wedding vision to life in the most wonderful of ways. Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin is as stunning as the scenery, and the love and joy of the day shine in the imagery captured by Anya Kernes Photography. You can visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the lovely.

From the bride… Tobi and I were so excited to plan our wedding, but we also knew that we did not have the time to plan a wedding that met both of our standards. So from the beginning of the planning process, we knew we would need a wedding planner. Tobi and I work in consulting/client service roles, and we are perfectionists. We knew that we wanted to have a smaller destination wedding, and we both agreed Napa was the perfect place! Napa was special to us because we went through a rough period while dating, and we took a trip to Napa to get back on the same page and focus on our relationship. It was the best trip we had as a couple before the wedding. We selected Auberge du Soleil because of the class, reputation, and breathtaking view. Frances’s statement to describe her personality is “overstated but understated,” and that is how we wanted the wedding to be—overstated in that it had a wow factor and understated in the classiness and simplicity of the decor. Auberge du Soleil had it all. An effortless breathtaking view and an exclusive romantic venue that we could design with a classic, feminine affair that was lux and romantic. We wanted things to feel sophisticated and effortlessly breathtaking.

On the wedding day, everything turned out better than we could imagine. We wanted a quality wedding, and we feel that everyone that knows us knows everything we do is well thought out and quality. Christina Nichols from Parker Nichols Events and Design helped us execute that vision, and I genuinely felt that the quality of the wedding reflected us as a couple. “The real deal,” no shortcuts. Christina Nichols went above and beyond to design a creative venue that exceeded our expectations. One of our favorite additions was the circular arch at the end of the aisle with a white floral installation. On the wedding day, Frances wore a satin, classic simple “understated” dress with a large bow at the back to give it that “overstated” look. Timeless, with straight cuts. Effortless, designed by Pnina Tornai. Frances paired her dress with a pair of crystal-studded Jimmy Choo sandals. Tobi wore a white satin Tom Ford tuxedo jacket paired with a bow tie, classic tuxedo pants, and black patent leather lace-up oxford shoes by Ermenegildo Zegna. The bridesmaids wore a blush dress with an elegant, classy, and effortless feel. The groomsmen wore a classic black tuxedo to align with the overall theme of the wedding (i.e., classic and sophisticated feel). One thing Tobi and I decided not to do was have a “first look.” We wanted the photos to catch our raw emotions when we walked down the aisle.

We wrote our vows which were so special. We went for original, sentimental, and funny vows. The best part of our wedding, outside of the emotions we felt when we walked down the aisle, were the speeches! The speeches by family and friends during the wedding reception were heartfelt, unique, and both tear-jerking and hilarious at the same time. An unforgettable special moment. We felt so loved during our speeches, and members of the staff even said that they see weddings every weekend, but there was truly something special about our wedding, which meant a lot to us! Additionally, the joy and energy in the room were incredible. Watching everyone genuinely have a great time is all a bride and groom wants for their wedding day! Our wedding day was the best day of our lives so far! The advice we have for couples currently planning a wedding is to hire a wedding planner (Christina is great), leave a cushion in your budget, and be sure to enjoy your wedding day and take it all in. It is truly a special time to have all of your close friends in one room, celebrating your love!

Timeless Romance At This Classic Green And White Wedding

This inspired classic green and white wedding will steal your heart. Ruffles and Tweed planned a day that dazzles, and Flowers By Brian filled every moment with lush, fresh blooms. Amy Rizzuto Photography captured all the romance in elegant imagery that is sure to stand the test of time. Visit the full gallery to fall in love.

From the bride… It was a beautiful summer day in 2011 and some mutual friends of ours were getting together to hang out in Central Park. Ryan was 16 and I was 15 years old. Once everyone in the group arrived and we were all mingling, Ryan and I both remember immediately sensing something special between us. The two of us trailed behind the pack for the rest of the day while talking and making each other laugh. From that moment on, we never stopped talking or laughing and got married the weekend of our 10 year anniversary. We love to travel and Ryan proposed that we go to Prague and Amsterdam during Christmas time in 2018. On our first night of the trip, in Prague, we had a late and delicious dinner. On the walk back to our hotel over the Charles Bridge Ryan suggested we pause to take in the view. We were the only ones there since it was late and 20 degrees. I had my back to Ryan and when I turned around he was on one knee. I was so surprised and felt the whole world stop. Ryan knew Prague was a special place to my parents and especially to my mom who we lost in 2017. It was such an emotional, yet joyous experience and a moment neither of us will ever forget. We spent the rest of the trip on cloud 9 celebrating.

My vision for the wedding day was timeless, elegant, and romantic. I loved getting ready in my grandparent’s house with my closest friends and family, the car ride to the church with my dad, our first dance, listening to the speeches, and seeing all of our friends and family happy and together.

If I had any advice for future brides, it would be to stay true to yourself and your wedding vision, treat your partner like your teammate always, but especially throughout the whole planning process, and be present on your wedding day.

Why You Need These REAL Booze-Free Cocktails From Curious Elixirs At Your Wedding

Now, more than ever before, couples are putting the emphasis on guest experience when planning their weddings. That means thinking through everything from travel and transportation and anticipating their guests’ wants and needs to ensure that everyone leaves with some incredible memories that they can cherish for years to come. Let’s face it, when you think of a good time, your mind immediately goes to good food, good company, and of course, good drinks. Chances are you have your wine list picked and your custom cocktails crafted by a renowned mixologist, but what do your booze-free options look like? If you were just planning on going with whatever soda comes with the open bar package, we’ve caught you just in time to prevent a terrible mistake. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. A lot of couples completely forget to consider their sober or “sober curious” friends when they are planning their bar menu. Or, perhaps, like a lot of people, you simply didn’t know there was an alternative to club soda and sparkling cider. Thankfully, there is a brand that crafts unique booze-free cocktails that all of your guests can enjoy, Curious Elixirs!

WHO’S IT FOR?

First, let’s talk about who these Curious Elixirs are for. There are a lot of different reasons that your guests may be opting to go booze-free at your wedding.

Designated Drivers

Some guests may be sober because of a lifestyle choice. But, another huge group that needs to be taken into consideration is the number of guests that have signed up to be DDs for the night. Not only will they feel more seen and appreciated by you offering a real cocktail that they can enjoy, they will be less tempted to stray from their responsibilities.

Sober & Sober Curious

As people learn more about their health and the negative effects of alcohol on the body, more and more people are turning to a sober lifestyle. Whether that means avoiding alcohol entirely or just limiting their weekly intake, it’s nice to have a sophisticated cocktail option to offer these guests so they can join in on the fun.

Pregnant Guests Or Guests With Other Medical Conditions

There are usually a few pregnant guests at every wedding, and for them, watching everyone enjoy their wine and cocktails and dance the night away can be hard. It’s easy for these guests to get FOMO. But, even though a drink isn’t alcoholic, doesn’t necessarily make it safe for pregnant people. Thankfully, Curious Elixirs has already thought of it all and they even have a list of which cocktails pregnant guests should avoid and which cocktails do not contain ingredients listed as foods to avoid while pregnant by the FDA.

SPARKLING CIDER AND CLUB SODA DON’T QUITE CUT IT

If you’ve ever had to say no to booze at a celebration, then you know the feeling of watching everyone else get their cute custom cocktails in their special glasses with their fun-shaped ice cubes and garnishes while you’re stuck sipping club soda from a water glass. Not so fun, right? There’s something about the ritual of having a real cocktail–the complex flavors that allow you to sip it slow, the pretty presentation. Just because your sober guests don’t want the booze doesn’t mean they want to be left out of the rest of the experience. Not only does Curious Elixirs offer cocktails with incredible unique flavors crafted by world-class bartenders, herbalists, and food scientists, each cocktail is infused with adaptogens that can help your guests get that chill vibe without the hangover the next day. So remember, when you’re stocking your bar, sparkling cider and club soda don’t quite cut it, make sure your sober guests can get in on the celebration with a real cocktail.

GARNISH AND GO

Not only will your guests thank you, your bartenders will love Curious Elixirs too! Each cocktail comes in stylish bottles or cans for a more laid-back cocktail hour presentation or can be poured into a cocktail glass and jazzed up with a garnish of your choice. Whatever presentation you decide on, these “garnish and go” cocktails will significantly cut your guests’ wait time at the bar and free up more time for the dancefloor!

A COCKTAIL THAT’S ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOU!

Oh, and did we mention that Curious Elixirs are not just booze-free, they’re actually good for you! Each cocktail is made with organic ingredients and has no refined sugars, so no post-wedding hangover (can you even?)! And the antigens that we mentioned before “bolster the body using the mysterious properties of plants–from an ancient botanical that increases serotonin and dopamine precursors, to another that increases circulation and was used in Mayan culture as an aphrodisiac.” Even if you aren’t planning on going booze-free on your wedding day, these babies are shelf-stable for up to one year, so keep the leftovers (if you have any) and sub them for your usual nightcap and wake feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.

A FEW OF OUR FAVES

All of the cocktails from Curious Elixirs have something special to bring to the table, but here are some of our favorites inspired by classic cocktails that are sure to be crowd-pleasers on your big day!

No. 1

When you’re ready to get the party started, it’s time to break out the rhodiola-infused No. 1 that’s a booze-free pomegranate twist on the classic Negroni. Serve in a cut crystal glass with a decorative orange peel garnish.

No. 4

The No.4 is a non-alcoholic riff on an Aperol Spritz. This refreshing cocktail is perfect for an outdoor cocktail hour on a steamy summer day! Serve over ice and garnish with an orange slice and you’re golden.

No. 3

The No. 3 is a booze-free cucumber collins that gives us some major Derby vibes. Have your bartender muddle some cucumber slices at the bottom of the glass and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Getting married now? It’s not too late, you can order cases directly through their website and they ship in 3-5 business days!

Follow @CuriousElixirs On Instagram For First Dibs On New Limited Releases

Photography: Brooke Nash Photography | Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Curious Elixirs

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Bourbon And Blush Intimate Wedding Inspiration

We love an intimate affair. A smaller wedding presents the opportunity to fill the day with special touches, and focus on what matters most- being surrounded by the people you love. For this inspiration shoot, Peninsula Events planned an idealized day for real-life couple Owen and Josh featuring lots of cute cameos from their oh-so-adorable son Leo. The couple’s favorite things from local custom bottles of bourbon to their love of the Lowcountry helped to shape the vision, and The Happy Bloom captured every meaningful moment perfectly in their elegant imagery. Sophisticated florals from Petaloso help to bring Owen and Josh’s love story to life. You’ll love every dapper detail inside the full gallery.

From The Happy Bloom… Over the past few years, intimate weddings have really been the heart of the wedding industry. And I really hope this “trend” is here to stay. Real-life married couple Owen and Josh (and their adorable son Leo) were the true inspiration behind this shoot. We sat back and thought – how would these two celebrate their wedding in 2022. Lowndes Grove – known for celebrating weddings of over 200 – was the backdrop but how would this space be utilized for a more intimate affair? By scaling down the numbers, we were able to create some incredible personable details for these two. Local custom bottles of bourbon create a wonderful takeaway for guests AND allow them to find their seat at the reception. While the usual reception space at the venue is a large tented area – this wedding was able to utilize the gorgeous lawn and the sweeping oak trees as their dinner backdrop; NOT a bad trade out! We really wanted to capture the essence of an intimate wedding by putting family at the forefront. Having Leo there – right in the middle – was a must!

From Peninsula Events… Very early on in the planning process, I always ask my clients to tell me about their everyday lives. From a slow, Sunday morning at home, to a wild night out on the town with friends, I ask them to describe the things in life that bring them the most joy, and from there, start building a design concept off of it. I always strive for my couples to feel like when they arrive at the venue on their wedding day, every detail (from the color palette to the vendor team) is an extension and a true reflection of themselves as individuals and also as part of a dynamic partnership. When it came to Josh and Owen, their love for one another, their families, and the Lowcountry became the foundation for their intimate celebration. We created custom wood tags for the local whiskey that served as both place cards and favors for guests to take home, and also drizzled their favorite local honey over their hors d’oeuvres. These small, yet important touches of local Charleston flair enhanced their event and overall guest experience! What more could you want in your big day!

No matter the size, all weddings really involve the same planning process from start to finish, so I think it is really important for couples to be on the same page from the very beginning when it comes to their event priorities – like guest count, location, budget, etc. With a more intimate gathering, it allows creative or logistical elements, that may not have fit in with a larger event, to take place. So be daring and think out of the box – as long as the details of the day are intentional and authentic to you and your partner, I say go for it!

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Escape to Summer in Napa Valley at This Chic Black Tie Affair

At this chic Napa Valley affair by Simone Lennon Events, Danielle and Garrett’s guests were greeted with lush gardens and bubbly libations as they languished in the balmy August wine country. The ceremony was abloom with roses in blush, cream, and deep maroon and Natalie Bowen Designs’ flower ceremony arch interwoven with enchanting wildflowers! Navy tones oozed classic sophistication while essences of art-deco and mid-century modern styles incorporated fresh modernity into Beaulieu Garden’s European charm! Kurt Boomer stylishly photographed this elegant escape to love, check out the full gallery here.

From the Bride… As a little girl, I always dreamed of getting married in Napa and wine country. My dad is very passionate about wine and owns a winery in Calistoga. We grew up going to Napa every summer for family trips and my dad would always teach us about wine. I started to get Garrett really into wine and we would book trips to Napa and go wine tasting. Garrett and I knew we wanted to get married in wine country and wanted a wedding that was outdoors. We also wanted something private and intimate, but spacious. We searched on Instagram and the internet to get an idea of the type of venue we were really drawn to. We kept finding that we really liked Beaulieu Garden (Garrett actually found this on Instagram), Black Swan Lake, and Meadowood. We told Simone that we are open to anything in wine country and similar looks and feels to the properties we mentioned above. When we did a weekend of site tours with Simone, Beaulieu Garden was the first property she brought us to. I will never forget driving down the driveway and I remember my mom, dad, Garrett and I all looking at each other with excitement. We were graciously greeted and took a tour of the property and it just got better and better. We were walking through the rose garden and I will never forget when Garrett whispered in my ear “I know we have more properties to see but I know this is the one –we are going to get married here.” I laughed at him and told him to keep an open mind because this was the first of a few properties we were touring, but deep down I knew it was the property too. We also found out later that my dad whispered to my mom the same thing Garrett whispered to me–that is when we knew the property was meant to be and we had to get married at Beaulieu Garden.

Classy, timeless, beautiful, intimate, elegant, memorable, formal, European influence. Beaulieu Garden is truly a magical piece of property– we feel so fortunate to have been able to have had our wedding at this venue.

Garrett and I asked my older brother, Eric, to be our officiant and we wrote the entire 30-minute ceremony together. We helped get Eric ordained online so he could be our Supreme Officiant/Officiant Supreme. Eric was living in Australia at the time so we would FaceTime once a week so he could understand our relationship on so many levels. We did exercises so Eric could help describe what our love is, what our love means (and will mean for eternity), and what we wanted everyone to witness at our wedding and ceremony. Garrett and I also wrote our own vows together for each other and ping-ponged them as we recited them for everyone at our ceremony to hear. Our ceremony was short—but very meaningful, special, unique, memorable, passionate, heartfelt, and comical. I could go on and on, but Garrett and I are very grateful that my brother agreed to get ordained and help write our entire ceremony. He absolutely killed it!!!

Even though Beaulieu Garden is in the Rutherford region of The Napa Valley, the private estate feels like a gateway to the South of France. Upon entering the property, guests experience a mile-long Birch tree lined road before being dropped just a few steps away from the gate of property’s Rose Garden. As guest stepped into the garden, Butlers with tray passed sparkling wine and minted iced tea greeted them. The Rose Garden is in full bloom in August and with several picturesque gravel pathways leading to the ceremony, most guests fully took advantage of the Instagram moment. As they made their way to The Sunken Garden for the ceremony, they were offered white parasols and ushered to their seats by bridal party Ushers. Ivory Tuscany chairs were configured around the garden’s water feature to bring attention to the landing ahead featuring the backdrop of the ceremony vows. Natalie of Natalie Bowen Designs installed a lush floral arch made up of several off-white garden rose varieties, vines, wispy wild flowers and Hydrangea. She also placed grand arrangements flanking the bridal party ensuring they intimately fit into the space. With the bridesmaids donning navy blue evening gowns carrying asymmetrical berry hued floral bouquets along with the groomsmen in tuxedos, they set an elegant and formal tone for the event while providing just enough contrast to the ceremony design.

The reception was full of good times, remarkable people, and exceptional food, wine, and drinks (open bar the entire time). My mom and dad had custom wine and bottles made for the wedding that they served during the cocktail hour and reception. We had spectacular DJ + 2 piece band members that kept people dancing the entire time. We also had a photo booth that was a huge hit because it made everyone look flawless–the entire day and night was magical.

The goal of the event design was to really capture the essence of the couple – stylish, modern, carefree yet totally timeless, formal and rich in family values. They also wanted to throw a party with high energy that could span all ages making the event memorable for a long time.

In choosing a color palette, we decided on using navy, berry tones and classic ivory.

For a day time wedding in August, we felt navy was the perfect color to anchor the formality of the event. We Infused it into our invitations, escort cards, cocktail linens and bridal party attire.

Danielle has a really eclectic style and gravitated towards a lot of art deco and mid-century modern elements in our mood boards so we decided to work in those vibes within our event furnishings. She also loves berry tones and lots of texture. Natalie Bowen, our floral designer, really nailed the entire vibe by creating asymmetrical treatments with pops of raspberry, currant, plum and blush.

The dinner reception featured long modern Kings tables mixing black ceramic, gold rimmed and etched glass elements with modern minimalist floral treatments enhanced with candlelight. Guests each found their name in handwritten script at the top of letterpress menus to designate their assigned seat.

The dance reception lounges that surrounded the dance floor were clusters of mid-century modern style furnishings that set the tone for the mashup of tunes performed by their favorite celebrity DJ, DJ Viceroy.

A Colorful California Soiree with Pops of Color and The Cutest Pups

If you’re looking for something bold, bright, and fun- look no further than this colorful California wedding. Brimming with whimsy, and two of the most adorable pups, Jenn Robirds Events designed a unique day filled with unexpected details. Lush free-flowing blooms in shades of citrus by Florals by Alana Marie beautifully bring the couple’s love story to life. The beauty and joy of the day radiate in the imagery by Ash Baumgartner, take a closer look at all the lovely in the full gallery.

From Ash Baumgartner… You, Me and the Dogs. What brought this California couple together in a classic meet-cute moment would ultimately become the foundation of their relationship. Their dogs. Blending their lives together and becoming a family with their two pups remained critical to both of them.

As Amy and Matt exchanged vows under The Maples’ iconic teal barn doors, with bridesmaids adorned in carefully curated gowns to match the beautiful backdrop, their pups not only accompanied their wedding party down the aisle but remained an important facet of their vows. Their vows they promised to each other, the life they were building and one they will continue to look forward to – “you, me and the dogs”.

From extravagant and bright florals to tropical reception tones supplemented with citrus accents and summery wishbone chairs, this al fresco evening designed by Jenn Robirds Events events was not one you’ll soon forget. Despite hot weather, Amy and Matt, alongside their pups Howie and Lola, became a family.

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Stunning 40 Person Lavender And Rose Wedding In Champagne, France

This intimate chateau wedding is everything we love about destination weddings. Filled with a lavender and rose color palette, and an epic champagne tower to pay homage to the Champagne region where the event took place, Before the Moon planned and designed this special day to perfection. Soft, colorful floral installations by Linda Champenois have us feeling like we’re walking through a fairytale. Sophie Epton Photography captured every elegant detail exquisitely in her imagery, take a closer look at all the lovely in the full gallery.

From the beautiful bride…Truth be told, we knew where we’d get married even before we were officially engaged. Champagne, France, holds a special place in our hearts because it’s where we actually went on our “second date.” I happened to be in Europe for a friend’s wedding and had planned a solo wine tasting trip to Champagne. Little did I know I’d meet my future husband just days before that trip – and that he’d spontaneously fly halfway across the world to join me for a life-changing weekend!

We got engaged during the pandemic and wanted to play it safe with a small wedding. And since it’d be small, we figured, why not make a whole destination weekend out of it? Chateau de Mairy has a really authentic, pseudo-bohemian-farmhouse vibe to it – even though the 17th century mansion is immaculately preserved. We wanted something old-world but not opulent – something elegant but endlessly intimate. It was important that we took the weekend to celebrate not only us, but all of the birthdays, milestones and moments that we had missed the past two years. It felt particularly poignant that each of our guests blessed our rings during the ceremony, as a symbol of our collective commitment to the life that we are building.

We knew we had to have a great, France-based planner, and Tatiana was the centerpiece of this journey. She understood the vision for our 3 day weekend immediately, and helped us orchestrate the mood from our pig-roast “sangeet” to the black tie reception. It ended up raining during our dinner, but that only added to the misty romance of the candlelight table arrangements. We were absolutely floored by the flowers, the food (oyster bar!), our band, and of course, the champagne tower. Each of our vendors felt like an extension of a dream-team and in doing so, allowed us to be fully present and enjoy each and every moment.

From Sophie Epton Photography… Our bride wanted a romantic wedding with lots of lavender touches, and Tatiana with Before the Moon planned and designed her vision to perfection for 40 of their closest friends flying in from all over the US, Canada, and Europe. Guests enjoyed a welcome bag that included local treats from villages nearby handpicked by the couple to kick off the weekend. On the morning of their wedding, the bride spent her time getting ready with her best friends and slipping on her amazing asymmetrical ruffled wedding dress while the groom spent a slow morning with family and enjoying a few sips of local wine of course! Their first look was so sweet and intimate, followed by a portrait session with all the smiles and laughs.

The ceremony was set with a gorgeous floral arch by Linda Champenois, with sweetheart chairs, lavender pillows, and ground florals that added a whimsical touch to this intimate wedding, followed by a petal recessional that only added joy to the “Just Married” energy! Guests enjoyed the champagne bar and fresh oysters during cocktail hour before the couple did their own “champagne tower” pour which was so much fun!

Before the Moon and Linda Champenois set up one long, gorgeous table in front of the chateau for dinner, full of soft colorful blooms, gold flatware, organic paper menus, and crystal glassware that added such a classic, romantic feel to the evening. While guests dined on their first and second courses, the unpredictable Champagne weather showed up with a downpour of rain, but E & C – our lovely bride and groom – took it in stride, eventually moving all of their guests inside for a cozy hour of cake and speeches. Dancing commenced under a tent outside, where the bride changed into her second crystal-embellished dress and danced the night away with her handsome groom and guests.

This Winter Wonderland Wedding Will Sweep You Off Your Feet

Let it snow! Trust us, it will make your winter wedding even more wow-worthy. With an all green and white color palette and a reception space filled with hanging greenery and wisteria, this special day planned and designed by Bello & Blue Events is not to be missed. Our favorite part? An outdoor photoshoot amongst the snow-frosted trees all elegantly captured by Sarah Porter Photography. One look at the full gallery and your heart just might be set on a winter wedding.

From Bello & Blue Events… Amber and Roland wanted to show their 75 guests a place that was near and dear to their hearts, so they hosted their guests, hailing primarily from Atlanta, GA, in snowy Vail, Colorado for a fabulous winter wedding weekend in December. Amber wore a beautiful backless Ines Di Santo gown with a detachable train, accessorized with a white fur stole. Roland wore a classic black tuxedo complete with a black and white polka dot pocket square, Salvatore Ferragamo cufflinks gifted by the bride, and velvet slippers. Their wedding party consisted of the siblings of the bride and groom, Amber’s sister served as her maid of honor, and Roland’s brother as the best man, and their children Hollin, Aubrey, Ayden & Stella stood next to them as bridesmaids, groomsman, and flower girl blending their family beautifully. Roland grew up visiting the Sonnenalp Hotel all of his life, and the couple enjoyed many trips to Vail staying at the charming hotel throughout their courtship so this was the natural location for the reception.

The ceremony took place across the street in the quaint Vail Interfaith Chapel. Amber walked down the aisle full of candles, garland, and white bows with her father to a string quartet playing contemporary love songs. Guests dressed in black tie attire sang Amazing Grace during the ceremony to honor Roland’s late parents. After the sentimental union, the couple exited the church and were led by a pair of horns playing joyously in second-line fashion as guests followed across the street to the reception. The reception space was designed with hanging greenery, wisteria, and white amaranthus garlands, textured linens, and timeless centerpieces full of white garden roses, orchids, and ranunculus surrounded by candlelight.

Their invitation suite featured laser engraved acrylic, die-cut, blind embossed sleeve with cut-out for a custom monogram, and their welcome boxes and day-of details were all designed to coordinate. A martini ice luge highlighting their monogram and a snowy mountainscape kept drinks frosty throughout the evening as guests danced to a 10 piece band and enjoyed white cake with fresh raspberries and buttercream.

The Bachelor’s Caila Quinn Burrello Shares Her Tips for Planning Your Dream Honeymoon!

Does planning your dream honeymoon sound more overwhelming than fun? Join the club. Lucky for us – Caila, from Ben Higgins’ season of The Bachelor, is here to share her tips for a stress-free honeymoon you’ll want to keep close. Take inspiration from her and her hubs’ Santorini escape, where they commemorated their newlywed chapter with a drop-dead gorgeous destination photoshoot, captured by Kostis Mouselimis. With cliffside views, volcanic beaches, and the island’s iconic white-washed buildings and blue domes, this mesmerizing island creates a magical setting to celebrate love and a new life together!

Where did you go for your honeymoon and how did you choose the destination(s)?

Travelers at heart, my husband and I booked a three-week-long honeymoon to Croatia and throughout Greece. We try to visit one new country a year as a couple and these bucket-list destinations had the ideal balance of romantic old city charm and breathtaking ocean views for us!

WEEK 1: We started our first week in Dubrovnik and spent our day’s hand and hand getting lost within its picturesque medieval limestone walls. After acclimating to the European time change & catching our breath after our 200 guest wedding, we were ready for adventure and headed to Athens for 5 days!

WEEK 2: Rich in culture, we loved staying in the heart of Athens with a view of the Acropolis from our balcony. Spending most days exploring by foot, Athens truly mesmerized us with its Greek pride and history. But the most impactful day in Athen was actually an excursion we booked outside of the city. Truly a bucket list item for us, we took a day trip to Meteora to see the monks that live in the sky. It still brings me to tears thinking about this honeymoon memory that imprinted on both of our hearts as a couple. You need to visit Meteora once in your life to see these mountain top monasteries! They will leave your soul in awe of their ability to live on a cliff overlooking the world, but never needing to be a part of it.

WEEK 3: Once we had our fill of history, my husband and I were ready to be romanced by the Greek islands! We spend our final 10 days in both Santorini and Mykonos. This is where we had the pleasure of meeting Konstantinos and capturing these breathtaking memories from our honeymoon to remember for decades to come!

While it may be fun at times, honeymoon planning can also be super stressful – any tips you’d be able to share for future newlyweds who don’t know where to begin?

I could not agree more, planning a honeymoon can be dreadful at times, especially while juggling planning a wedding! I would say, start by taking a deep breath. My biggest tip when planning a honeymoon would be to think about what kind of experience are you hoping to have? When you close your eyes, do you envision yourself… relaxing by the beach, adventuring in the jungle, restaurant hopping to try local foods, or romantically never leaving your hotel room? Let this be the seed of inspiration for your trip.

For Nick and I, we always envisioned our honeymoon being a jet-setting love affair with culture where we tried to check off as many bucket list items as we could. So from there, we wrote down some of our bucket list countries, and within those countries our bucket list activities. Croatia and Greece were the overlapping destinations calling us. And bucket list activities included: A Game of Thrones tour in Dubrovnik, Staying overnight in a Windmill on the cliffs Santorini, visiting the monks in the Meteora mountain-top monasteries near Athens, and lounging on the beaches of Mykonos with a local cocktail in hand. From there, the honeymoon kind of planned itself as we made these bucket list items the pillar days of our honeymoon with every travel day in between being relaxed & unplanned.

What were some of the most memorable moments from your trip?

One of the most memorable moments from our honeymoon was waking up in our own private windmill that we booked on Airbnb for 2 nights. Located on the cliffs of Santorini, our two-floor 200-year-old windmill faced the inner ocean crater with views of tip to toe of the entire island. The pink cloudy sunset sky lulled us to sleep as we relished in the romantic views with a full glass of wine in hand. It felt like it was only us in the world & heaven was under our feet – here, in the country of Greece. (All of the photos Konstantinos took are of this windmill and this feeling.)

Would you recommend booking a honeymoon session!? If so, what advice would you give to couples to get the most out of their shoot?

Yes, I would 100% recommend booking a honeymoon session when you travel. For us, we may never be able to visit Greece again, and what better way to frame our travels in our home than with professional photos of this dream destination. If you do book a session I would recommend only booking an hour and bringing 2 dresses/outfits. The benefit of booking a local photographer is they know the best locations & the best time to shoot for lighting, so you can make the most of your time. And if your partner isn’t convinced this is a good idea, tell them the shoot is a date activity that will be romantic. And if that doesn’t work bribe them with a special dinner after to make it worth their while, if you know what I mean.

Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back?

If I could do my honeymoon again, there is not a single thing I would change. Well… maybe one thing. I wish we were a little bit more organized with understanding the Covid Regulations of each country. We went on our honeymoon in June of 2021 and the regulations in Europe were changing on the daily, so I think having a document with a list of the Country Travel Forms we needed to fill out would have helped relieve a little travel stress. The only reason I say that is because we were stuck in Croatia an extra day on our way to Athens, Greece. The paperwork to enter Greece at the time was emailed to you 24 hours after you fill out their travel form. We thought we could fill out the form at the airport, which was our mistake. Not a big deal, but now we know for next time we travel in between countries in Europe.

English Garden Inspired Wedding Exuding Charm

This English garden-inspired wedding officially has us in the feels. With a classic ivory color palette made modern with hints of sage and blush, and incredible floral details at every turn by The Posh Posey it’s easy to see why. From the alfresco garden ceremony to the incredibly chic reception, Kristina Elyse planned a day that brought this couple’s Big Day dreams to life. You’ll fall in love with every image expertly captured in time by Liz Zimbelman, see the full day unfold in the full gallery.

From the bride… We met through mutual friends back in 2011 when we were in community college but neither of us made the first move. Fast forward to 2016, he was living in Colorado with his son and me in California. We reconnected via social media, had a long-distance relationship, and eventually, he asked me to move in with him. After two years of living together, he asked me to marry him. Our amazing wedding planner met with us to begin the process of a December 2020 wedding. We were so incredibly happy that we had Kristina Elyse, our wedding planner, in our corner and had hired her before the pandemic. When the world shut down she knew exactly what to do, almost as if this wasn’t her first time dealing with a worldwide pandemic! After we moved our date to summer 2021, she helped us redesign the entire wedding, from a winter wedding to a summer English garden-inspired wedding.

My mother is from England, and I grew up fascinated by Royal weddings: Grace Kelly, Princess Diana, Kate Middleton, Megan Markle. I knew that I wanted that traditional, royal, ethereal feel to our big day. It’s also what inspired my amazing Lily of the Valley bouquet. My florist actually made me two perfect bouquets; one for the photos and another for the ceremony! I knew I would wear ivory and I’d want my bridesmaids in ivory too (goes back to a very old tradition) so ivory was our main color. Ken wore a white jacket to contrast his groomsmen who wore traditional tuxedos. But to make it feel more ethereal and like you were in a summer English garden; we threw in hints of sage green and blush. Flowers are my love language, which is why I knew it would be our main decor/focus of our day. Our florist elevated the venue by hanging greenery from the chandeliers in the reception hall, flowers surrounding our cake table on the dance floor, and encompassing our sweetheart table with candles.

The heading on our seating chart was titled with our first dance song “Can’t Help falling in love” by Elvis Presley. The seating chart, menus, and invitations all included a wax seal. I opted for a beautiful sheath dress by Calla Blanche and added a customized overskirt for the ceremony. I added a 6-foot train with extra beading down the back for the skirt, then took it off for dancing and fun! After everything we had been through during the last two years of the pandemic, we could not thank our vendors enough for making this day so perfect and beautiful!

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Shimmer & Stain

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Liz Zimbelman Photography

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Head to Toe Outfit Inspo That’ll Have You Winning Best Dressed Wedding Guest at Every Spring 2022 Wedding

Sunshine Inspired Maui Wedding

Love radiates like the sun at this bright and beautiful Maui wedding. Ning and Zach worked with Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design to plan and design a day filled with a warm citrus color palette and an abundance of style. From the oceanfront ceremony arch to the alfresco reception, romantic blooms by Dellables help bring our couple’s love story to life. You can feel the joy shining through in the imagery by Dmitri & Sandra Photography, say ‘aloha’ to all the fun in the full gallery.

From Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design… Ning and Zach wanted an elegant and romantic oceanside Wedding on Maui. In choosing a private home on the Pacific, they were able to entertain their guests beneath hues of butter yellow and soft coral while hearing the waves crash along the shore. They wanted to honor their family traditions with both Chinese and Jewish nods, so they had their ceremony spoken partly in Mandarin and broke glass as is the Jewish tradition.

The most special part of their event surrounded the pre-wedding traffic, of all things! Just a couple of hours prior to the ceremony, there was a road blockage on the only road leading to the venue. While Ning had arrived early for pre-wedding photos, Zach was not scheduled to be there until shortly prior to the ceremony starting. Instead of leaving his beautiful bride-to-be waiting, Zach and his Dad hopped out of their rental car in the middle of the road and began the 2-mile trek to the wedding venue dressed in full suits in the warm Maui sunshine! They were honked at and applauded by other people waiting in the traffic, hopped a fence, journeyed through a cow pasture, and made it to the waiting Bride. Ning and Zach then enjoyed their first look, some pre-wedding cocktails, and some alone time prior to the rest of their guests arriving an hour late due to the blockade! If that doesn’t spell dedication, I don’t know what does!

From the couple… Ning is originally from Shanghai, China. She grew up just outside of the downtown area and came to the US at 21 for grad school. She went to Berkeley to study computer science for her PhD. After that, she moved to LA where she worked at Snap. Now she is an entrepreneur working on artificial intelligence. Zach is from the bay area and went to LA for College. He worked in a variety of business jobs in entertainment before eventually working for Google. We met online and had our first date at a coffee shop, Intelligentsia, in Venice CA. We’ve since recreated the date at least a few times each year! We always wanted a smaller fun wedding. From the beginning, we knew we wanted a destination wedding. We chose Maui as it’s our favorite Hawaiian island, and we really love it in Hawaii. It’s so relaxing, calm, and fun. We always have a great time, whether standup paddleboarding or just dunking in the water.

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Dmitri and Sandra Photography

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Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design

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Elegance At Sudeley Castle In England

Sarah and Brandon’s English fairytale wedding was worth the wait! After overcoming obstacles of lockdowns, travel restrictions, and guest limitations- true love prevailed for a picture-perfect wedding day. The couple worked with The W Studio to bring their vision to life, and the result is an abundance of style and elegance. Blooms by Vervain Flowers in ethereal white and crisp green make us feel as if we’ve wandered into the most spectacular of English gardens, and Jacob & Pauline Photography & Films exquisitely captured every magical moment in their imagery. Visit the full gallery to fall in love.

From The W Studio… Exquisitely captured by photographer and filmmaker, Jacob & Pauline Photography & Films and designed, planned, and styled by The W Studio, this English Castle Fairy-tale Wedding of Sarah and Brandon was a day to be remembered for its style, elegance, and love in abundance. Sarah and Brandon waited a long time for their English fairy tale wedding! Lockdowns, wedding guest limitations, and UK/US travel restrictions all contributed to postponement, a lengthy lead-up and multiple changes of plan. But with the travel corridor opening in late July, we made the firm decision to push forward with their wedding plans, and they finally married in August last year. As Americans living in the UK, the vast majority of Sarah and Brandon’s guests were traveling from the US to share the celebration of their marriage, and they wanted to give them a truly memorable ‘English experience’. Sudeley Castle, nestled in the breathtakingly beautiful landscape of The Cotswolds, provided the perfect quintessentially English backdrop for such an experience. Including personal touches in their design was imperative to ensure their day was not only distinctive but a true reflection of their story as a couple. Of great significance was a beautiful sketch drawn by Sarah’s Father, of St Mary’s Chapel – not only the place where Sarah and Brandon would say their vows, but also the resting place of Queen Katherine Parr, the last wife (and widow) of King Henry VIII. This sketch was incorporated into their invitations and onto their guest’s individual menus by Stationery designer, Ash, from Pale Press London. Their ceremony, set within this incredible building, was all the more special to them as it was led by Hubert, their dear friend, and Father of Brandon’s late best friend.

Sarah was exquisite in her intricately laced gown, with bold red lips and makeup by Sylwia Kunysz Bridal Make Up, surrounded by her beautiful bridesmaids, wearing chic slip dresses in champagne gold and all carrying delicate bouquets of white summer flowers with trailing silk ribbons. Brandon and his groomsmen looked fittingly dapper, dressed in classic, chic black-tie dinner suits with contrasting white floral boutonnières. In keeping with their English vision, we designed their day with stylish simplicity and refined elegance. An abundance of greenery and bountiful blooms of white from Vervain Flowers, provided a fresh, summery English garden aesthetic. Subtle accents of soft, pastel grey/blue completed their color palette with flowing chiffon table runners, linen napkins from Just 4 Linen, tall Ester and Erik dinner candles, and touches of bespoke calligraphy on their menus and hung fabric welcome signs. A true English experience would not be complete without a rain shower or two and The Cotswolds did not disappoint! Although not entirely what was hoped for, a last-minute change of location for their drinks reception did not dampen the spirits of their guests. As Sarah and Brandon were chauffeured through the castle grounds in a beautiful, classic English Bentley from Barringtons, their guests were led from the chapel to the Grand Banqueting Hall by the Viola player from The Hills Quartet. The indoor reception soon became a hub of lively chatter and laughter as friends from around the world were reunited to embark on an incredible evening of love and celebration. An English sit-down wedding breakfast was served in the glass-walled Pavilion of the Castle by Relish, with tables built from historical reclaimed floorboards paired with modern Philip Stark Ghost chairs, both from The W Collection, and elegant tableware and flatware provided by Duchess & Butler. Bountiful floral meadows from Vervain Flowers, lined the center of the tables and table ends, whilst garlands of foliage climbed the walls and cascaded informally from the ceiling. The setting was brought to life by an abundance of romantic candlelight, with tall, tapered candles from Ester and Erik.

A trio of wedding cakes from Anna Lewis Cake Design, took pride of place, displayed upon clear, acrylic plinths and set against a pure white, candlelit backdrop and an abundance of low-level floral meadows. With intermittent dry spells, dramatic skies, and multiple rainbows, guests explored the grounds of this amazing venue and soaked up the all-English experience before dancing the night away to the sounds of The Blue Lion Band.

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This Timeless Wedding Is the Epitome of ‘Understated Yet Elevated!’

Ashleigh and Jack’s intimate nuptials added a modern feel to a timeless wedding style! Events by Talissa blended classic wedding elements of soft blue hues and crystal glassware with contemporary details. Think streamlined flatware and minimalist tablescape accents. We can’t get over the beauty of Carla Kayes’ floral focus – lush white garden roses! These natural beauties were the perfect complement to the color palette and organic décor details. Catch a glimpse of this day in the full gallery by Dear Lovers and the heartfelt video by Black Shutter Media!

From Dear Lovers… Timeless with modern romantic elements – the perfect way to describe this wedding. When I initially met with Ashleigh and Jack, it was apparent they wanted an elegant but relaxed wedding surrounded by their loved ones and were really excited about the overall experience.

We went with a modern linen charger, streamlined flatware and added texture with cut crystal glassware & a linen hemstitch napkin for some softness. We tied it together with hand calligraphed name cards on vellum atop a beautiful menu.

White garden roses on both the tables and growing in the surrounding gardens leant to a organic and natural feel, as if the florals had just been hand picked from the venue.

The motto was: understated by elevated. A beautiful August day in San Diego with the loveliest family and couple. They were relaxed and happy throughout the day and it was truly a stunning and beautiful wedding.

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Classic And Carefree Santa Fe Wedding

Saddle up, you’re going to love this refined ranch wedding. Banks and Leaf planned a day filled with personalized touches, like including the bride’s grandmother’s 1940s saddle in the seating chart display! Floral designs by Floriography filled the day with crisp greenery and lush blooms for designs that delighted. Every incredible moment was impeccably captured in the imagery by Rachel Havel, you can see each and every dreamy detail in the full gallery.

From Rachel Havel… The wedding of Lauren and Ben took place in the bride’s hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico. While Santa Fe can draw a lot of southwest inspiration, it was important for the couple that their wedding reflect their classic and laid-back style.

Hints of blue were brought into the crisp white and green palette. Personalized illustrations reflecting the bride and groom were added to the invitations such as skis, chili peppers, and swim goggles.

The ranch they chose for their venue was the perfect location that offered a lot of space to create different experiences for guests to mingle and enjoy the beautiful weather.