Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog

Los Angeles Wedding by Sweet Monday Photography

2009-11-20T22:17:51Z

Shot by the incredibly talented ladies of Sweet Monday Photography, this wedding in downtown Los Angeles is truly a jaw-dropper. Beautiful flowers, an AH-mazing venue, and a couple that will make your heart melt. It’s the whole package…

From Sweet Monday…

Melissa & Chris were married at Café Pinot in Downtown Los Angeles, which was so perfect because they live in NYC. Melissa grew up in SoCal and most of her family lives here, so it worked out great for them to get married close to home but still have the urban vibe that really represents them as a couple. We just loved this wedding so much, not just because of the cool location, amazing light, awesome dress, etc. but these are just the nicest people you’ll ever meet and they are so much in love and I think it really shows in the photos.

I am beyond amazed by Café Pinot. Such a stunning location and the decor could not have been more perfect for a warm California evening. Seriously, so gorgeous. I also kind of have a love-affair with city weddings. Something about the modern backdrop and the timeless beauty of the couple is just so breath-taking. Look at these two, aww…

Credits: Coordinators: Cori Sponagle at Corinne Sponagle Wedding & Event Planning and Cynthia White at The Patina Group, Dress by Pronovias, Suit by Sean John, Flowers: Mr. B’s Flowers, Cake by Crumbs Cupcakes, Rentals (linens, chairs, stage, lighting, etc…) from Signature Party Rentals, Music by High Rize, DeBois Entertainment

If you’re dying to see even more of these unbelievable photos head on over to Sweet Monday’s blog to take it all in. Thank you very much to April and Lindsey from Sweet Monday Photography and a great big congratulations to Melissa & Chris on their marriage.

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Post tags: Cafe Pinot, City, City Wedding, Lanterns, Los Angeles, Orhcids, Sweet Monday
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog

McCormick Home Ranch Wedding by Sandra Pan

2009-11-20T20:08:48Z

This wedding is SO Style Me Pretty. It’s simple, subtle, totally elegant. The color palette is soft and muted, the flowers are off the charts gorgeous and the bride and groom, well…probably should be models. Sandra Pan snapped the lovely photographs and you can tell that she put her heart and soul into each image. It’s pretty obvious that she fell madly in love with this couple and wanted to really show the pure joy behind the day.

Kristin and Joe tied the knot this past September at McCormick Ranch in Southern California. Here is a cute little note from the Sandra, the photographer, that gives you a window into this couple’s life…

Kristin and Joe hold strong values and have close knit family and friends and it showed throughout the wedding.. I love this wedding particularly because Kristin and Joe wanted to make every guest feel extra special by using vintage plates purchased through ebay, swap meets, flee markets.. Kristin and her mom and aunt took 2 montths trying to find these plates..they bought over 200 + plates! Click here to see Sandra’s Blog posts and the gorgeous vintage plates.

The Vendors: Venue at McCormick Ranch / Photography by Sandra Pan / Band by Stellar Band / Cake by Melissa Boothe / Flowers by Yamaguchi Flowers, 805) 525-9268 / Coordination by Star Quality Events / Catering by Epicure Catering / Bridesmaid’s Dresses by Jenny Yoo / Hair by Hair Grove Salon / Make-up by Hair Grove Salon / Dress by Vera Wang / Shoes by Liz Claiborne

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Post categories: The Blog

From Inspiration to Reality Winner!

2009-11-20T18:43:15Z

It’s time to announce our fourth From Inspiration to Reality Challenge winner and I am SO. STINKING. EXCITED. I am completely and totally obsessed with the idea of transforming your gorgeous boards into a real life photo shoot and I am even more excited to see this one brought to life. Designed by Becky, this board is all about that picture perfect, Farm inspired wedding that is full of super chic details.

Credits: Rochelle Mort, Blooms by Martha Andrews, Twin Lens (3), Back Bay Flower Co. (2), Karen Wise, Jen Huang, Andrea Polito Photography, Inc., Carla Ten Eyck

So…our super talented vendors are going to be hard at work, making this a little piece of inspiration that you can take with you during your wedding planning. I can’t wait to see what they come up with! Here are the vendors that are heading up the shoot…

Vendors: Meagan Gilpatrick of Maine Seasons Event Planning, Sara Fitzgerald O’Brien of Griffin-vites, photography by Brea McDonald Photography, Videography by Meg Simone and Flowers by Dawn Kelly of Soiree Floral.

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Post categories: Contests, From Inspiration to Reality

Farm Inspired Wedding Shoot

2009-11-20T13:40:25Z

You are going to fall hard for this next feature. Guaranteed. Especially if you love the farm inspired weddings that we’ve featured on SMP in the past (this one and this one are my two favs). It was sent to us by the incredible pair at Henry & Masci Photography and is a complete study in all things gorgeous. From the fashion to the detailing, every little bit of this shoot is Fall perfection.

So. The reason I love photo shoots like this is simply because of the insane inspiration that can be found within. From the adorable plaid dress, which would look so cute at a laid back rehearsal dinner, to the table settings, the color palette, the textures, the details. The photographers behind the affair wanted to capture that warm, cozy, rustic vibe that sets in right as Fall comes with an outdoor affair that is as homegrown as it is completely elegant.

And although not all photo shoots are scalable for a huge wedding, there are little tokens of gorgeousness that anyone can steal. The lace overlays (which would add texture and charm on top of standard white linens) the flea market style, mismatched glassware. The baby’s breath, the homemade pies, the glamorous wedding gown. You get the drift. Okay, so there was an incredible team of vendors that took part in this shoot. Here’s the run down…

Vendors: Photography by Henry & Masci Photography / Makeup by Jessica Taylor / Veils by Brenda’s Bridal Veils / Wedding Dress by BCBG / Dessert Plates and glassware by Anthropologie / Pie was Homemade (yum!)

To see the entire shoot, including some absolutely incredible details, click right here! Thank you so much to Henry & Masci Photography for sharing this incredible spread with us. We are in love!

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Post tags: BCBG, Casual, Fall, farm, Henry & Masci Photography
Post categories: Wedding Decor, Wedding Photography

Southern Wedding by Simply Bloom Photography

2009-11-20T14:49:48Z

I always really love when the duo at Simply Bloom Photography sends me their latest and greatest. Their vintage inspired photography always blows me away and they generally score some pretty amazing affairs…so you kind of just KNOW it’s going to be good. Well, this one. Is better than good. Aside from the incredible details and gorgeous color palette, the bride is actually rocking out a purple wedding dress. And it looks beyond gorgeous. So, although I could blab on an on about this one, I’ll just get right to the pictures.

From the gorgeous bride…

True New Yorkers at heart, Jonathan and I still grew up in small towns, which means for us that family and tradition are highly prevalent in our lives. He’s a Yankee from upstate New York and I’m a Southern Belle from the Deep South. Our lives crossed paths one day at Starbucks and since then we’ve been inseparable. Being Southern is a huge part of who I am and also played a huge role in what made Jonathan fall in love with me, so I wanted to make sure this heritage was spread throughout the Wedding. From the cuisine all the way down to the boutonnières we made sure this theme was in the details. The ceremony and reception were held in the Huntsville Roundhouse, which is an old converted train depot. The building was perfectly Southern and vintage all in one.

One of the very most important details of the day was my dress, as it is with most Brides, however being a Fashion Designer and co-owner of my own line it was of the utmost importance. I’ve always loved to place my own spin on tradition and so a white wedding dress just wouldn’t do. I choose to go with mine and my Grandmother’s favorite color of dark purple. My business partner and I then added all our touches using silk taffeta and organza as the main fabrics, and the lining was a pale pink to match the lining we use in all our clothing. The buttons were vintage antique and all the zippers used inside the dress were blue to symbolize the something blue.

I wanted more than just my dress to be special and felt that my Bridesmaids and dearest friends should have the same. Kiley, my maid of honor, was head designer of evening wear at Kay Unger and went to work designing some of the most beautiful Bridesmaid dresses I’ve ever scene. The girls held wooden fans with bows attached to match the Wedding dress, which was a true Southern detail.

We couldn’t leave the men out of being “dressed for the occasion” and so my company had ties made in the same fabric as the Bridesmaid dresses, which was also a gift to the groomsmen. Stacey, the groomswoman, wore a Sara Claire & Esther (my company) dress created specially for her to match the tuxes. The boutonnières and corsages were made by hand using feathers my Father, a hunter, had saved for me.

During the ceremony friends and family enjoyed looking through the vintage books that were recreated into the programs by using a book cover and pages I designed and pasted inside. Near the end of the ceremony one of my close friends stood up to recite a poem for the special moment that she’d written just for us. Very few flowers were used, but hydrangea and willow branches were incorporated into the alter where we stood.

The food itself was all Southern fair with the Grits station being the most important, especially for all the Yankees whom were visiting. The Wedding cake was made from my Great Grandmother’s special Charlotte cake recipe and topped with blackberries and homemade whipped cream. The groom’s cake was 3 tiers of glazed a doughnuts – a true favorite of his. A special addition to the food was the coffee lounge that was a surprise created by our Wedding Planners. Since we’d met at Starbucks this was one of the evening’s highlights. The lounge included homemade biscotti, coffee, and mint julep sweet tea.

Thank you so very much to Vania and Christine of Simply Bloom Photography for sharing this GORGEOUS wedding with you. It’s such a fun departure from your standard wedding and yet it’s still filled to the brim with such beauty. Definitely spend some time on Simply Bloom’s blog as it’s a candy store of wedding inspirations.

OH! And the amazing purple gown…it’s for sale. It’s $3900 and you can email mail{at}saraclaireandesther{dot}com for more info.

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Post tags: Purple, Purple Wedding Dress, simply bloom photography
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Vintage Chic, Whimsical

Wine Country Wedding by Amy Nichols

2009-11-19T21:53:06Z

Today is a day of Napa inspired goodness. There are so many styles and ideas that you can take from a Napa wedding and apply to just about any style…the laid back elegance, the warm color palettes, the intimate ambiance. Flowers that are a little bit tailored, a little bit fresh from the garden. Food that is organic and seasonal. Styling that isn’t stuffy or overdesigned. The Napa Valley vibe is all about effortless elegance. Creating a warm and totally personal environment.

And this wedding, that Amy Nichols (who we love here at SMP) sent us…is all of that, and so much more. The photographer, Andy Berry of PurkinjeBlue did an incredible job at really capturing the spirit of the day…telling the story to perfection.

The wedding was held at the Miraval in Glen Ellen and was actually only the second wedding to have taken place at this gorgeous venue. Miraval is a destination home that is available for things like weddings and events…and on a clear day you can actually see all the way to San Francisco. Kind of stunning actually.

There are two things that I love about this day. The color palette…and the RIDICULOUSLY gorgeous flowers. Table after table after table of the most beautiful flowers I’ve every seen. Designed by Taste Catering, the style is romantic and utterly delicious. Add to that a color palette of warm pinks, greens and yellows along with homemade charm in the chalk boards and you basically have perfection in my book.

Thank you so much to Amy Nichols and to PurkinjeBlue for sharing this incredible wedding with us. It’s completely ideal for all of our Spring and Summer 2010 brides. And it’s kind of perfect for me too.

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Post tags: Amy Nichols, Miraval, Napa Valley, Purkinje Blue, Sonoma
Post categories: Casual Elegance

Mad Men Inspired Engagement Session by Studio Foto

2009-11-19T17:47:50Z

So, I have to confess, I haven’t seen Mad Men yet, but after this awesome e-session by Studio Foto, I think it might be time for me to check it out. We’ve seen some amazing inspiration come out of the show lately, most recently this fabulous vintage Tennesse wedding. But this shoot at the Wang Theatre in Boston was all about fashion, drama and, of course, a whole lot of love.

From Studio Foto…

A little while ago we met Ash and Kaitlin in Boston for their Love Shoot. Krystal and I were super excited because we knew that we were going to shoot in the Wang Theatre. What we didn’t know was what Ash and Kaitlin had up their sleeves. Just as we arrived we heard from Kaitlin that they decided to theme their shoot after their favorite TV show MAD MEN. Many of you know that we don’t really watch TV, so I quickly googled MAD MEN. Who wouldn’t want to shoot a theme based around that show! And the surprises didn’t stop there. When we were introduced to the theatre manager, we were told we could use the entire theater- yes, indeed- the stage, the dressing rooms- all of it! We were pumped needless to say!

Ash and Kaitlin rocked this photo shoot. It’s provocative, sexy, and really, really fun. The Wang is an awesome theatre and could not have been more perfect for this couple’s engagement session. What a place to let yourself really fall into character!?!

These two were fantastic. They totally worked their outfits (love her hot shoes, by the way!) and the Mad Men-esque attitude for this shoot…the results could not have been better. Click here to see even more of the fabulous e-session on Studio Foto’s blog. Thanks to Paul and Krystal for sharing this kiler e-session with us and congratulations to Ash an Kaitlin on their engagement!

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Post tags: Boston, Engagement Shoots, Mad Men, Studio Foto, Vintage E-Session, Wang Theatre
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog

Napa Valley Wedding by Kate Webber

2009-11-19T19:25:57Z

I first fell in love with Kate Webber’s work when we featured Erin and Ted’s incredible wedding right here on SMP. Her style is clean, crisp and utterly gorgeous. So when she sent me this particular Napa Valley affair, I swooned. Kiera and Axel tied the knot in an unbelievably elegant wedding with a celebration to follow that was as understated as it was completely warm and intimate. And completely gorgeous.

From the gorgeous bride…

When Axel and I got engaged we knew, right away, that the celebration would have to be in wine country. Our favorite trips have always been in Napa, so we decided it was the perfect location for a Texas girl and New York boy to say I do. While we searched for a location, we knew it had to be unique and private. Our favorite thing about Napa is the understated elegance that you can find throughout the valley. It has a casual, but sophisticated feel. This is the overall feeling we wanted to convey at our wedding and the way we want to live our lives. We live in NYC, but have a lake house in Virginia. Whether it be a hot night in the city or a casual boat ride to the local watering hole at the Lake – we love both sides of our life. This is what Napa offers on a daily basis. In order to ensure our guests had the same experience, we created booklets in lieu of welcome gifts that acted a guide book for the way we see Napa. This booklet included our favorite vineyards, restaurants, activities, maps and was designed by our friend Kristi Head (vendor links below).

Napa’s understated elegance translated to a beautiful ceremony that just had to be near the vines on the property. We wanted the full view of the valley and we found the most perfect spot right in front of the cabernet vines. We also made sure that we incorporated our favorite beverage by having a wine ceremony in lieu of a unity candle. We also incorporated his family’s Jewish heritage by standing under a gorgeous chuppah (thanks to Jennifer French at Lush Floral) and partaking in the ceremonious breaking of the glass. But, my favorite part was the non-traditional decision of walking into the vines instead of back down the aisle once the ceremony was over. This gave us some time to reflect on an amazing moment and have a delicious glass of our favorite wine!

While we were enjoying our moment, our guests were enjoying a chilled martini as our signature cocktail. This martini comes from a family recipe that is dear to
us as my Great Uncle passed it down before he passed away. During the time, the guests were also able to view old wedding photos of family members that were displayed on a reclaimed wood frame that was created by my wedding planner, Joellen Pope.

When deciding what kind of wedding we wanted, we focused on 3 things: the location, the food, and the wine. And, we were lucky enough to get to work with Paula Le Duc Catering. They helped us choose a fabulous menu that included our favorite element, truffles – the pasta course was to die for! Plus they passed late night snacks of truffled fries along with some sweet treats that were amazing.

It was important to us to have a seating arrangement that included everyone instead of breaking guests up into tables. As a result we went with Kings tables and had 2 long tables. Each section was labeled (so guests could find their seat) as names of places we visited in Ireland where he proposed. We sat in the section called the Scilly Walk which is an area in Kinsale where Axel popped the question. A hand written note was placed on each guest’s chair.

In order to highlight my Texas roots, we had to have a country band! Our guests loved this element and even got to take home a straw cowboy hat to remember the event. Most of them even learned how to 2-step!

Vendor List: Catering by Paula Le Duc Fine Catering / Coordination by Pronupto / Flowers by Lush  Floral / Beauty by It’s a Date / Officiant Kimberly Thompson  / Dessert by Karaʼs Cupcakes / Eco-friendly, Letterpress Invitations by Julie Holcomb / Guest Guide to Napa booklet design by Kristi Head

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Post tags: It's a Date, Julie Holcomb, Kara's Cupcakes, Kate Webber, Kimberly Thompson, Kristi head, Lush Floral, Napa Valley, Paula Le Duc Fine Catering, Pronupto
Post categories: Casual Elegance

Los Angeles Wedding by Beth Helmstetter

2009-11-19T12:53:31Z

For anyone that has ever spent time in Napa Valley, you know that it’s basically like a little piece of heaven. There is just something about the organic elegance of the town, something that screams sophistication and warm, approachable style. So today, I have two really pretty Napa-esque weddings to share that I know you are going to love. And the best part about each one is that they have details that anyone can replicate…on any budget, with any weddings style.

The first wedding that Beth Helmstetter designed, actually took place in Los Angeles and yet it captures the vibe of Napa Valley to perfection…from the color palette to the elegant, but understated details. The gorgeous photographs were captured by B & G Photography.

Beth Helmstetter is one of those designers that approaches each event, each couple as if it’s her very first wedding. She puts her heart and soul into the affair so that the day reflects that unique couple to perfection…whether it’s a chic Cultural inspired dinner or an elegant, rustic celebration. I love Beth and everything that she does.

From Beth…

Susie and Curtis were the most amazing couple! They have been to their share of weddings and knew what they didn’t like as much as what they did which meant leaving out many things such as an uber long photo shoots that left guests hungry and bored, a forced dance floor for a group that wasn’t that into dancing and a stuffy and uncomfortable dinner where guests can’t relax. The end result was a really comfortable and approachable wedding that I was proud to be a part of.

Her vision for the day was rustic and vintage which I definitely think we accomplished. The ceremony took place literally in a forest at the Descanso Gardens and for the decor we let the environment do most of the talking. Adding leaves for the aisle and stumps with candle light and doilies seemed to be all we needed for the heavenly location.

For cocktail hour, Susie is all about cheese, so we served an artisan cheese board and mini grilled cheese sandwiches in the rose garden of the venue. Guests were greeted with Kir Royals which happens to be Susie’s favorite champagne cocktail. For dinner, they wanted the entire evening to resemble a slightly larger version of a dinner party in their home. We worked with the caterer to customize the menu with comfort foods such as Pot Roast, Herb Roasted Chicken and Maple Glazed Squash. The guests dined at ultra long feasting tables and were kept close to encourage intimacy and conversation. For entertainment, we had a small band that played tunes from the Rat Pack all night long which allowed those who wanted to dance the ability but didn’t force the dance floor onto anyone who would rather chat the night away.

Holly Flora did an amazing job with the mismatched, Anthropologie inspired table scape which included everything from vintage pressed glass to sugared plums. For dessert, we had homemade pies which guests helped themselves to and the cake was from SusieCakes here in LA. SusieCakes specializes in cakes that are just like grandma used to make so they were the perfect ending to the down home meal. For the favors, Susie and Curtis gave the guests some of their favorite brownies boxed up in the sweetest packaging complete with a Laura Hooper seal to boot.

Vendor List: Photography by B&G Photography / Calligraphy by Laura Hooper Calligraphy / Florals by Holly Flora /Catering by Patina / Linens by La Tavola / Venue Descanso Gardens / Custom Runners & Pillows The Sewing Lounge / Cakes by SusieCakes

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Post tags: B & G Photography, Beth Helmstetter, Descanso, Holly Flora, La Tavola, Laura Hooper Calligraphy, Los Angeles, Napa Valley, Patina, SusieCakes
Post categories: Casual Elegance

From Inspiration to Reality Challenge!

2009-11-19T14:15:21Z

Guess what! It’s time for another From Inspiration to Reality Challenge. We have vendors lined up from now until March who are so excited to turn your inspiration boards into a real life photo shoot, complete with stealable ideas for your own big day. I love this feature, completely and hopelessly, and really can’t wait to see some of these amazing boards come to life. For those of you that have entered and are curious as to when your shoot will be brought to life, it generally takes 3-4 weeks for the shoot to happen and for the photographs to be edited. So, we are going to keep the challenges coming and as soon as we get the first images, we’ll start debuting the photo shoots!

Our next featured team is headed up by Meagan Gilpatrick of Maine Seasons Event Planning and will include custom stationery by Sara Fitzgerald O’Brien of Griffin-vites, photography by Brea McDonald Photography, Videography by Meg Simone and Flowers by Dawn Kelly of Soiree Floral.

Credits: martha stewart (3), presents, Boutonniere, Favors (3), duet-weddings, Decoration, shannon fricke, Flowers, Candy Buffet

Inspiration Board designed by Pinga Amor

Here’s how to enter…

Head on over to the Style Circle where our Inspiration Board Builder lives. If you don’t have a Style Circle account, sign up is super easy and you can start designing boards right away. You can design your inspiration board based on any theme that you want…from a modern loft wedding to a backyard celebration (and anything in between). Make sure to title your board INSPIRATION CHALLENGE #4 to be considered an entry.

Meagan and crew will be choosing their winning board tomorrow afternoon so the pressure is on! We are SO excited to see what you come up with!

You can click right here to read about the original feature that inspired this incredible new SMP adventure!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Brea McDonald, Griffin-vites, Maine Seasons Events, Meg Simone, Soiree Floral, Style Circle
Post categories: From Inspiration to Reality

Shabby Chic Wedding

2009-11-18T20:08:50Z

This next feature is for all of you shabby chic brides out there that are desperate for your daily fix. It’s SO pretty and the bride, who along with her husband just happens to be a pretty incredible photographer, is well… drop dead freaking gorgeous. Photographed by Jasmine Star, this particular wedding is jam packed with so many pretty details, so many approachable and yet completely charming details. Held at the DC Ranch Country Club, you ladies will love this affair.

From the lovely and talented Jasmine Star…

Throughout the course of Stephanie and Stephen’s wedding day at DC Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona, Stephen was so accutely tuned into what Stephanie wanted, needed, or wished for, it appeared they’d been married for fifty years. At least. The way they looked at each other was as if they hadn’t seen each other for years and the love they shared could, quite literally, be felt throughout the venue. From a photographer’s perspective, there are some things that just come together, like two puzzle pieces interlocking at the right time. I was extraordinarily blessed to document the series of moments as they strung together to create a beautiful and memorable wedding day.

From Stephanie Fay, the bride…

We had SO much fun planning this wedding and every little detail had meaning. I searched through thrift stores to find tea cups, bird cages, chandeliers and chairs of all sorts to decorate our venue with. Details can get quite expensive while trying to plan a wedding on a budget, so being creative is the trick. It took a lot of work and a lot of ideas. Wedding blogs definitely helped get the ideas flowing! Style me pretty was my favorite of course.

The moss chair was a DIY project. It was an old chair that we found at an antique store. My Aunt Mary and I personally covered and designed the chair in moss along with the sign on it that says “He loves me, He loves me not, He loves me…We tied the knot.”

My dress was by Jim Hjelm, shoes by Kate Spade. I wore a vintage lace shrug that was custom made by Holly Stalder on Etsy. She made it to fit the design of my dress and I was so impressed with how quickly she worked. She’s amazing! We hired Tamara from AZ Petal Pushers who did an amazing job on the flowers for the entire event. The La Tavola Linen s were a leek lace overlay and set the vintage tone for the entire reception. I absolutely loved the look we got from these linen overlays. Our invitations and paper goods were designed by Dina Remi. She has such a creative eye in design and is full of ideas.

I actually bargained shopped for many of my decor items. I bought the birdcages from TJ Max believe it or not. Found all the China at antique and thrift stores. Our cake topper was a 100 yr. old antique china cup that I found at an antique store for $1. The menus, programs, and paperweights were all designed by my talented cousin Dina at www.dinaremi.com. She has such a creative eye in design and is full of ideas.

You can see even more of this gorgeous wedding right here. Thank you so much to Stephanie Fay, the incredible bride behind the day. You will definitely find TONS of eye candy on Stephanie’s gorgeous blog.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 61 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Jasmine Star, shabby chic, Stephanie Fay, Stephen and Stephanie
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Traditional Elegance

Carmel Valley Wedding by Alison Hotchkiss

2009-11-18T17:59:11Z

I just wrote a little post over on BACKSTAGE about blogging burnout. You know, that pressure to get the latest and greatest, to give each wedding its deserved recognition, to remember that you LOVE weddings and that’s why you do what you do. Well, I’ve had a little bit of blogging burnout lately, so I have been making it even more of a point than usual to find weddings that inspire me, that get me really excited about this industry and the insanely fun weddings that people are designing.

And this one, that Kelsey Sheofsky of Alison Events designed, is sure to bring a big smile to your faces. It’s easy going, laid back and it’s fun. Which is what I love. The incredible photographs were captured by Adi Nevo.

From Kelsey…

Laura and David were all set to be married at a venue in Santa Cruz when they had some problems with the on site wedding planner and decided to pull out at the last minute. They hired Alison Events to find them a new venue and basically start the planning process from scratch, all within four months of their chosen wedding date. Thankfully Holly Farm, an extremely eclectic, groovy venue in Carmel Valley, CA had a cancellation on the chosen date and as soon as Laura and David saw it, they were sold.

The great thing about Holly Farm is that it sleeps 22 people so all of Laura and David’s closest friends stayed on property in a collection of small bungalows through the entire weekend. Other friends and family rented homes in Carmel Valley or stayed at various hotels in the area but came by Holly Farm during the day to play bocce ball and spend time with the wedding party. The venue is the epitome of laid back cool and the guests enjoyed a less structured free-flowing wedding weekend.

Laura loved the idea of using light yellow, cream, grey, and touches of blue and green in the decor. The ceremony took place under a huge oak tree which was adorned with festive tissue paper puff balls in shades of butter yellow and ivory. During cocktail hour the guests enjoyed white wine sangria, and a variety of made to order bites at the Mediterranean griddle station. For the dinner, rustic wood tables were adorned with light grey linen runners and pops of yellow and green flowers down the middle. Mercury glass votives added a warm glow to the space along with the cafe lights strung overhead. After dinner the guests danced into the night in the carriage house and explored the different nooks around property. Guests enjoyed wedding cake baked by a friend of the bride and a cigar and port lounge set up in the garden.

LOVE. Make sure to check out Alison’s awesome Destination Weddings book…a MUST for anyone planning a destination wedding!

RECEPTION VENUE: Holly Farm / CATERING: Grapes of Wrath / BAR: Bottles n’ Bins Liquors / PHOTOGRAPHY: Adi Nevo / FLORAL DESIGNER: Natalie Bowen Designs / INVITATIONS: Hello Lucky / RENTALS: Classic Party Rentals / LINEN RENTAL: La Tavola Linen

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Adi Nevo, Alison Hotchkiss, Carmel Valley, Destination Wedding, Holly Farm
Post categories: Casual Elegance

Vintage Wedding by Carla Ten Eyck

2009-11-18T15:56:11Z

We’ve been on an absolute roll lately with the gorgeous fall weddings… but how can you blame us!?!? With stunning affairs like this how can we go wrong?! Sent to us by the always fabulous Carla Ten Eyck, this vintage inspired Connecticut wedding is full of sophistication, classic touches, and a whole lot of romance…

From the beautiful bride, Marissa…

Michael and I got married at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, CT by Rev. Gary Miller. I walked down the extremely long isle in a gorgeous dress by Anne Barge and a cathedral length veil with 4 inches of antique lace. My dress has pockets… need I say more?!?! I wanted a very vintage look as you’ll see in our choice of the 1956 Cadillac from Black Swam Limousine and my antique fur stole. The ceremony was beautiful but flew by so quickly, which is why we are so happy we chose the BEST photographer in all of CT and we’re 99% sure she’s the best in the world…Carla Ten Eyck and her crew took some amazing pictures that will remind us of just how happy and loved we are.

I’m completely enamored with the bride’s accessories. The fur stole and the antique jewelry are sensible but still so elegant and add just the right amount of vintage-glam to her classic style.

We went to the City Hall in Hartford to take some unbelievable pictures (I’d like to take credit for how truly unbelievable they are but it was the work of Carla and her photographers along with a building that takes your breath away). Next stop was the reception at The Hartford Society Room. The food was amazing, the building is exquisite, and the band (Clarke Eno Orchestra) had everyone dancing the night away with their mix of the old (Sinatra) and new (Black Eyed Peas).

Michael and I could not have asked for a better way to begin our lives together. Everything ran smoothly and there is not one thing either of us would change except to do it all over again! A special thanks to Carla Ten Eyck and her photographers, Clarke Eno Orchestra, Dana Montanari at The Society Room, and Shear Artistry in Avon for an awesome job styling the bridal party!

Carla’s style really adds to the vintage quality of the whole day. She completely captured the drama of each location and the pure joy of the couple. Congratulations to Marissa and Michael and a big thank you to Carla Ten Eyck for sending her always beautiful photographs our way!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Carla Ten Eyck, Connecticut, Hartford Society Room, Vintage
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog

Puerto Rico Wedding by Elysium

2009-11-18T14:21:39Z

You guys probably saw this wedding in InStyle Weddings…it’s the celebration of Roselyn Sanchez and Eric Winter. Roselyn is an incredibly well known actress both in Puerto Rico and the states and just might be one of the most gorgeous women I have ever seen in my life. She’s most well known for her role in Without a Trace. And you guys definitely know Eric, as he is the dreamy actor in shows like Brothers & Sisters and movies like The Ugly Truth. They are a ridiculously gorgeous couple and lucky for us, one of our own Little Black Book members, Elysium was there to capture the day in film…

Is that not the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? And you know what…it isn’t the least bit surprising coming from a studio like Elysium. I had the sheer pleasure of seeing Julie and team in action at one of our dear friend’s wedding and when I say their work was amazing, I am hardly doing them justice.

We reached out to the photographer behind the event, Aaron Delesie…who also happens to be a friend of ours and a MAJOR style me pretty love…to share some of the pics with us. You can also click right here to see InStyle’s gallery of images and get more information about the affair.

Thank you so much to Elysium and to Aaron Delesie for sharing this ridiculously gorgeous wedding with us. It’s one of those weddings that just a dream, a purely gorgeous dream.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 29 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Elysium, Puerto Rico
Post categories: Cultural Beauty, Traditional Elegance

Newport Wedding by Corbin Gurkin, II

2009-11-18T14:09:03Z

The wedding that we are featuring today is CRAZY beautiful. It’s shockingly simple and yet every detail completely gives me butterflies…from the sweet favors that add depth and dimension to the room, to the tote bags and perfect centerpieces. I love every bit of it. Photographed by Corbin Gurkin, I am completely blown away by this stunning wedding.

From Corbin…

Wendy and Mike were really great sports – it absolutely poured buckets on their wedding day. I’ve never seen so much rain in my life!! They benefited from it being a midday wedding in a very well lit venue so in spite of the rain, I was still able to achieve the light and airy shots that I was after. Luckily (for both of us!), they are having a reception in Hawaii in January where we’ll get to do another photo session and make up for the rain. When the weather acts up, I always encourage my clients to plan a “day after” session or throw the dress back on after the honeymoon. It’s worth getting those portraits after the fact if the wedding day weather just doesn’t cooperate.

This wedding is complete eye candy and although I am not normally a fan of overly matchy matchy weddings…I heart this palette in a big way. The blanket of white from the space just creates the perfect canvas for little pops of color. The clean lines, the sheer draping, the chic logo threaded through every part of the wedding. It’s a completely edited approach to wedding design and it resonates in a big way with my own sense of style.

And the details that I mentioned earlier…well, just look at how cute they are!

Corbin has blown it out of the park with this wedding and I just can’t thank her enough. It’s pure inspiration and will definitely be used in style boards from now until forever. Make sure to check out Corbin’s fab blog that is overflowing with eye candy.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 20 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Corbin Gurkin, Newport, Orange and White, Rhode Island
Post categories: Casual Elegance