Style Me Pretty's Best Weddings of 2011

2011

BEHIND THE SCREENOur Favorite Bloggers

Tie the Knot

A Year in Review ofStyle Me Pretty's Best

style me pretty magazine | bridal inspirations | volume two

Photo by Erin Hearts Court

page 66

page 129

page 17

page 105

someFAVORITEhighlights

2 | best of style me pretty 20112 | best of style me pretty 2011

letter from the editor

real weddings

little black book vendor highlightsa look at some of the very best vendors from around the world

TABLE CONTENTS

of

vibrant in los angeles

modern in miami

beyond beautiful down under

chattanooga charm

stunning in sonoma

rustic elegance

eclectic perfection

all out glamour in charlotte

modern whimsy in wine country

antique elegance in san diego

romance in australia

east coast chic

winter romance

modern glam in san francisco

seaside cool in malibu

alfresco chic in napa valley

sassy so-cal

destination mexico

vintage chic in oregon

midwest magic

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Your top 20 weddings for 2011

behind the screena trip down the aisle with some of our favorite bloggers

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local blog networkwhere wedding planning in your area is made so very easy

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best of style me pretty 2011 | 3 best of style me pretty 2011 | 3

4 | best of style me pretty 2011

best of style me pretty 2011 | 5

2011. the year of fabulous. In the 12 months that made up this crazy awesome year, we blogged over 3000 posts. We launched 10 new locally inspired blogs in 3 different countries. We welcomed hundreds of new Little Black Book members, 168 new main page advertisers, saw nearly 50,000 inspiration boards crafted, sifted through more than 15,000 real wedding submissions and watched our traffic soar to more than 13 million pageviews each month. We also collaborated on 1 beautiful invitation line with William Arthur, 1 amazing china collection with NewlyWish and Wedgwood. And oh! We scored 1 very-awesome, can't-wait-till-we-have-it-in-our-hands-because-it's-going-to-kick-some-serious-wedding-booty-book-deal.

And that wasn't all. We watched our friends, Jose Villa and Joel Serrato's e-sesh, get the most comments of all posts this year, Elsie Larson's wedding get the most shares and this Le Chic fete get the most favorites. We cried as we saw this groom propose to his soon-to-be, we laughed at this one's Bieber moves, and despite our best efforts, we dove head first into the royal wedding love fest. We saw our name up in lights on Huffington Post, in Glamour and InStyle mags, on Barney's The Window and on ProBlogger. And we got to watch ourselves, champagne in hand, on CBS Sunday Morning.

I know. It's been one of those years that we can hardly believe. One of those years that makes us fall to our knees and thank the world for all of the blessings that we've been given, all of the amazing artists and designers that allow us to become a canvas for their work, all of the business owners who put their faith into our brand. And all of the brides, who with their morning coffee, allow SMP to simply inspire them. To hold their hand through the adventures of planning that very, very big day.

But above all else, above all of the fun stats and great partnerships, 2011 brought us something much bigger. Weddings. It brought us hold-your-breath beautiful weddings that will forever change the way brides approach their wedding day style. Weddings so beautiful you find yourself laughing, crying and favoriting with one hand while calling your best friend with the other.

The weddings that we have chosen (and by "we," I mean ALL 1.2 million of us who took the time to write, comment on, favorite and share) represent the 20 most loved SMP weddings of 2011. They are the weddings that married pure style with pure joy and the result...was magic. We hope you love them as much as we do, though we secretly know that you totally will.

So here's to 2011. To the readers, to the vendors, to the artists and designers. To the editors, to the techies, to the girls who bend over backwards to create a space that celebrates weddings in all of their beauty. And to wedding lovelies all over the world who welcome SMP into their homes each and every day.

LETTER THE EDITOR

from

We raise our glass to you.

xoxo, Abby Larson

Founder + Editor


photography by

erin hearts court

VibrantIN LOS ANGELES


From the bride... Our ceremony and cocktail hour were held at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills,

tucked away from the city in a quiet garden. We had originally envisioned a modern wedding in an

industrial space, but as the planning process unfolded, that vision completely changed. My mother owned a

store that sold antique furniture when I was young, and images from that part of my life ended up guiding

the design. to see the full wedding, click here.


After the ceremony, we celebrated at the London West Hollywood Hotel, where hand-picked and hand-made

items were incorporated into the decor. Amir and my dad also helped by restoring old frames we picked up at

thrift shops to use in the escort card display. Our guests danced the night away and hammed it up at the photo

kiosk, which was an absolute hit! We had an unforgettable day and were beyond blessed to be surrounded by so

much love.


The photos, stellar, the bridesmaids dress colors, beautiful, the cake, stunning, the candy bar, so cute, and the entire wedding,

breathtaking!

~ Laura, reader


MODERN inMiamiphotography by kt merrry


From the bride... Felipe and I were married on November 20, 2010 in Miami, Florida. We were both

born and raised in Miami and decided we wanted a Miami modern/urban wedding filled with gor-

geous downtown Miami city views. After dating for nine years, I was ready to plan the wedding of our

dreams and loved getting involved in every detail. to see the full wedding, click here.


Most of all, what touched our hearts was the excitement, love and support of so many of our friends and

family during our special day! Special thanks to all who helped along the way including family, great

friends and our fun and trustworthy vendors. We enjoyed getting to know each one of you throughout this

life moment of ours!


Some of the special memories that were unforgettable during our wedding day were getting ready with my mother, bridesmaids and flower girls in the miami viceroy's party room which felt

perfectly fit for a bride or princess, our "first look" in a gorgeous white on white room, our first dances with dad, mom and our

first dance as husband and wife.

~ The Bride


DOWN UNDERBeyond beautiful

photography by

samm blake


From the bride... Our wedding was held at Voyager Estate in Margaret River. Beautiful wine region, amaz-

ing beaches and a favorite weekend getaway for Mark & me. It made for a pretty perfect wedding weekend.

I wanted my three bridesmaids (my younger sisters) to carry lavender bouquets but never envisioned lavender

coloured gowns for them too. Once we saw the dress though, we knew it was perfect, and lavender became our

accent colour for the wedding. We always knew we wanted an outdoor ceremony and the beauty of the Voyager

Estate gardens was the inspiration for the look and feel of the wedding. We wanted the day to be elegantly beau-

tiful with a vintage feel. to see the full wedding, click here.


One of the most important decisions surrounding the day was our photographer. We booked Samm almost two

and a half years in advance as we knew there was no one else for the job. She has captured the joy of the day in a

way even we had not expected. We knew she was good but we were literally floored when we got the proofs. I will

be forever grateful for her genius. She worked tirelessly all day but still made it so fun to hang out with her. If I

had one piece of advice for other brides it would be to pick the best photographer for your day. Oh, and to try,

try, try to take it all in because it really does fly by as fast as they say.


I am in love with the bridesmaids dresses! you guys did a great job threading the lavender throughout the entire wedding and reception -

the signature drink looks amazing!!!

~ Felecia, Tampa Weddings


ChattanoogaCharmphotography by

austin gros


From the bride... When I think of our wedding day, it plays over in my mind like an old black and white

movie like a rerun I must have watched a hundred times when I was growing up. I hear the song Home

by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros on repeat, with the lyrics Home is wherever Im with you ring-

ing like a bell over and over again. With my fianc at the time, now husband, being a musician, our home

was different every weekend depending on where he was playing that night. So as you can imagine, trying

to research, create, plan, and organize the perfect wedding for us was difficult yet rewarding for us all at the

same time. to see the full wedding, click here.


We wanted our guests to feel at home and comfortable, kind of like they were at a big family party or a picnic.

The look that we aimed for was simplistic, handmade, and whimsical. Following our short but sweet ceremo-

ny, our guests released butterflies as we walked back down the aisle, and then we paraded down the street with

our Just Married banner waving in the air all the way to the reception site where we greeted all our guests

before heading off to take pictures.


Wow! i love the bouquet!! so unique... stunning!

~Bead Flora, reader


W hat a beautiful wedding!! the pictures are just wonderful! i love all the decora-tions. so many won-derful ideas! and the bride is just beautiful!!

~Connie, reader


SonSTUNNING in omaphotography by tanja lippert


From the bride... Our wedding was a culmination of almost a year and half of planning. Looking back

now, I see what was meaningful and what was crazy-making. I had envisioned long farm tables and

globe lights and picked up other style ideas along the way. I love champagne and pretty things so that is

what I gravitated towards. to see the full wedding, click here.


Some things were incredibly meaningful, so I made them priorities even if no one else noticed. I made the jam

favors with local Portland raspberries and my Grandmas much-loved recipe. We also went for music that we

really listen to, which is how we ended up switching our first dance song to Atlantic City by The Band literally

two minutes before we started dancing! In the end, it was just a beautiful day that really was over so fast.


I look at this blog all the time and this wedding is by far

my favorite! gorgeous ... every detail.

~ Katie, reader


photographer tanja lippert photography | wedding hair & makeup tia reagan of freebird productions | wedding design & execution mary ellen murphy of off the beaten path weddings | officiant steve thrush | location winery in healdsburg, ca | catering peloton catering | wedding dress & hair flower amsale style calista | bridesmaid dresses varied | groomswear j.crew | wedding cupcakes karas cupcakes | invitations elum and paperwhite of petaluma, ca | flowers la belle fleur design | hotel the farmhouse inn | flower girl dress nastershum | potted succulents, chalkboard and chicken wire windows, escort cards, seat numbers, guest book, & jam the bride (and husband and family!)


Rustic Elegancephotography by

jose villa


From the bride... We wanted an outdoor event in a unique location with lots of personal touches. As a pho-

tographer, the visual aspect of every detail was the most important thing for me. Every decision was based on

how it would photograph the light and ambience. We were lucky enough to have one of my best friends and

bridesmaids, Ashlee, offer her ranch as the location for our reception. It was exactly what we were looking for

and set the perfect mood for the event. to see the full wedding, click here.


Family and friends played a huge role in the decor of the wedding. My bridesmaid Nicole created the runners

for all the tables, my aunt Terry created the signs that pointed to horseshoes, dancing and cocktails, my cousin

Sara found antique chandeliers and old doors that created tables over wine barrels. I also asked several mem-

bers of our families prior to the wedding to locate vintage plates in their area, and they served as the plates for

our table settings, each unique and decorated with a fresh gardenia.


B eing a wedding photographer, finding the perfect pho-tographer to capture our day was extremely important. jose villa couldn't have been a better fit for the type of wed-ding we wanted to have and how we wanted to remember it.

~The Bride


EclecticPERFECTION

by caroline tran photographer


From Caroline of Caroline Tran Photography Elizabeth is a designer, and Jamie is a writer. Tricia did an

AMAZING job personalizing the decor pages from old books to wrap the candles, flowers growing out of

vintage typewriter & sewing machines, old thread spools in the decor. Specific flowers were chosen to repre-

sent their background too cotton from North Carolina, thistle for his Scottish background, acorn from her

childhood. to see the full wedding, click here.


They brought the church to their ceremony by putting old church pews and old barn doors under a 200-year-

old sycamore tree. Details galore. The reception took place in a barn. All the tableware was vintage china.

There was a make your own pot of tea station, which I dont think has been done before all with real

vintage tea sets.


E lizabeth's mom hand-picked raw cotton

from north carolina for tricia to use in which she made a cot-ton wreath and incorporated them into the boutonnieres, to name a few. everything was

styled so beautifully and naturally.

~ Caroline Tran,photographer


photography by kristin vining

all out glamour in Charlott e60 | best of style me pretty 2011

From the bride... Our wedding was a reflection of how we are as a couple simple and full of love for

each other. We both allowed our raw emotions to show, and it made for a more special day between the

two of us. As for the wedding itself, we had an amazing band that definitely rocked the house! We wanted

people to enjoy the food, music and have tons of fun. to see the full wedding, click here.


My favorite part of the wedding was spending all day getting ready at the Westin Presidential Suite with our

family and wedding party. It was so much fun! We drank champagne, had a catered lunch and even danced!

We all had a blast! Scott and I had the opportunity to celebrate all day together.


Absolutely stunning! incredible inspiration for

a simple and classic wedding.

~ Jessica, reader


Modern Whimsy in wine countryphotography by carlie statsky


From Bliss Event Productions... Jess and Tim decided to host their wedding at the gorgeous Cornerstone

Sonoma property. Jess conveyed to me that she wanted a soft and sweet vintage feel that still incorporated a

wine country flavor. Tim has a background in architecture and wanted to incorporate a more modern look

with clean lines. We began with a soft color palette and to meet Tims want of modern, we kept all tables and

bars in the barn reception area square wood and absent of linens. to see the full wedding, click here.


Carlie Statsky captured the sheer beauty of the day, starting with the lovely couple and down to the details.

Overall, it was a great mix of details that personified Jess and Tims visions and personalities. A super sweet

and soft wedding for a modern and sweet couple!


I love this wedding so much. it's almost

like a virtual vacation looking at these

pictures ... so soft, relaxed, and lovely!

~ Heather, reader


Wow what an absolutely gorgeous wedding! her ring is stunning! i love the bridesmaid dress, all the florals, and the photography is perfect! love love love it!

~ Kris, reader


S A N D I E G OAntiqueElegance in

photography by

studio castillero


From Wynn Austin Jessica & JJ met in high school and knew of each other but had never really had the

opportunity to get to know each other. From JJs perspective, he always admired Jessica from a distance and

had always thought of her as the girl who was out of his league. It was about four years later when fate

brought them back together. to see the full wedding, click here.


The theme that they had for their wedding was My Whole Heart for My Whole Life. Their elegant, vintage-

inspired wedding took place at the Santaluz Country Club in San Diego. Jessica wanted a vintage, elegant

and romantic wedding infused with the down-to-earth textures of burlap and linen.


Love!! every detail from the flowers to the photography!!

~ Mer, reader


A-m-a-z-i-n-g!! these images are stunning. the couple is gorgeous

and the sentiment and details were captured perfectly!

seriously breathtaking.

~ Megan, reader


Romance in Australiaphotography by pobke photography


FromWhite Room Events... Alanna and Tim are the sweetest couple youll ever meet. Their love for each other

and for life is palpable, and they are giving and authentic. Styling the wedding turned out to be so much fun

as they are both incredibly creative. to see the full wedding, click here.


The ceremony took place underneath the 100-year-old elm trees. These were the perfect shelter and created

a sacred space for the couple to take their vows. All in all, this day was perfect, and most importantly this

couple are in LOVE. You can feel it in their presence. This makes for a very special wedding day, one that is

ceremonious and simply leaves you feeling blessed and happy.


A wall of envelopes stood tall behind a

beautiful vintage desk. on the desk were little

vintage postcards for the guests to write and post to the bride and groom.

~ Emily, White Room Events


EAST COAST CHICby jen huang photography


From the bride... We chose our venue because it was a crisp, clean palatte/blank canvas, unlike a lot of

places where you have to go with and work around an already established design theme. I loved that we

were able to create an atmosphere that reflected our style from this already fabulous space. to see the

full wedding, click here.


We thought it would be special to have our guests experience a new space, decorated and laid out in a new

and interesting way for each part of the evening. When starting the design process, I pictured a chic, very

crisp and clean feel for the ceremony. I wanted it to be about us, the beauty of the ocean and the sculpted

green grass with crushed white shells shaping the aisle and surrounding our guests and John and I as we

exchanged our own written vows to each other.


O nce dinner was over, i wanted to use the ele-ment of surprise not only by moving our guests

to the other side of the property but by showing them a completely different feel and atmosphere. i wanted everyone to step into that hot pink and black and white-striped sprawling room and think

now this is going to be a party! and it was!

~ The Bride


WinterRomancephotography by

leo patrone


From the bride... I have always been passionate about my family, friends and the mountains where I grew

up. When the love of my life asked me to be his wife, it didnt take us long to decide to tie the knot in my

hometown of Park City, Utah. Since we share a love of skiing and snowboarding, we thought a winter wed-

ding would be a perfect setting to bring our closest friends and family together to celebrate. to see the full

wedding, click here.


Since we live over 2,000 miles away in New York City, we knew we needed help bringing our Park City vi-

sion to life. Luckily, we found the fabulous Meredith Parsons of Bluebird Events who designed a wedding that

was perfectly us and took over the logistics so we could enjoy every second of the weekend with our families. I

got most of my inspiration from wedding blogs (especially SMP!) and knew I wanted dcor that had a warm,

organic wintery feel. Meredith and her team made this feeling a reality for Brian and me, and we couldnt

have been happier.


O ur wedding weekend was more

significant and more filled with love than brian and i ever imag-ined possible and we

feel so blessed.

~The Bride


photography by

augie chang

MODERNGLAM

IN SAN FRANCISCO


From Amaze Special Events... Karman and Jae's wedding was all about the details, details, details.

We found the perfect traditional San Francisco home updated inside with gorgeous, contemporary

touches. The whole event had a soft and romantic feel, grouped together with a modern edge. We really

kept to the soft palette of ballet pink and peach mixed with gray and earth tones. to see the full wedding, click here.


As guests arrived, the breath-taking view of the ceremony, as well as music, drinks and homemade cookie

treats awaited them. Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour inside while admiring the house, a dinner reception out-

side enclosed by drapery and bamboo trees with two different complimentary tabletop designs, and ended the

night with dancing and sweets.


Oh my gosh. i want to dive into

this wedding and stay there forever!

~ Amy, reader


Seaside Cool inMalibuvphotography by

shannon lee images


From the bride... When we first started planning, we knew we wanted to do a beach wedding, as it has

been a central part of our relationship. Weve shared so many happy evenings at the beach walking our

dog and enjoying the sunset.We contemplated a destination wedding but realized that there are so many

gorgeous beaches right here in Los Angeles, the same place that we know and love as home. to see the full wedding, click here.


One of the aspects of the venue itself that appealed to me is the nautical flair in its decor. I liked the classic

theme so much that I decided to use it for our wedding decorations as well. The navy color lends itself to

the nautical theme, plus I have always loved blues. We decided that rather than using solid navy, we would

introduce various navy and white patterns into the decorations. For the flowers, I wanted a color that was

both fun and unique, but would also compliment the navy. Our wedding coordinator suggested shades of

peach and coral, and I loved the idea.best of style me pretty 2011 | 109

W e were thrilled when we found sunset res-taurant. it is located on gorgeous zuma beach in malibu, the food is delicious, and the venue has a charming cape cod feel that is rare in

southern california. we knew immediately that this was the location for us.

~The Bride


Alfresco Chic IN NAPA VALLEY

photography by lisa lefkowitz


From Gloria Wong Design We decided to create a concept based on the idea that Beaulieu Garden was

Leslie and Jeff s summer home, to which theyve invited guests to spend an enchanting evening. Therefore,

we infused elements that you would normally find in Leslie and Jeff s apartment (i.e. modern lamps, gold

dishes with keys, newspapers, Leslies favorite Antipodes water from New Zealand, framed art, interesting

books, cashmere throws, comfy pillows, etc.). to see the full wedding, click here.


Leslie and jeff described their style as clean, classic modern. so we tried to present

their personal belongings in a neat, edited manner.

~Gloria Wong Design


Leslie also mentioned that she wanted her guests to feel as if they had woken from a summer reverie.

We felt that we could capture a dream-like quality with our use of tone on tone color. For a blended

look, we decided on infusing gradations of pink and aqua, two of Leslies favorite colors, wherever we

could. We neutralized the soft palette with whites, greys and beiges. For a touch of luxe, we threw in

some gold as an accent!


photography by kirsten ellis of

beaux arts photographie

Sassy So-Cal


From the bride... Its funny that I wrote about our wedding for nearly a year before it happened, and now

that its over, I can barely string a sentence together that will accurately capture, contain, or recreate the magic

of that September day. That said, Ill try my best to give you the long version, but the short version is this: it

was awesome! We knew from the start that we wanted a casual and fun outdoor wedding with good food,

good music, and good people. Basically we wanted to throw a really fun and extremely meaningful little

party, and call it a wedding. to see the full wedding, click here.


The community that rallied around our wedding was truly amazing. Our friends and family cleaned our house,

did our hair and make-up, hung lights and cranes in the trees, tended bar, DJd, and surrounded us with so

much love and support that I still get chills thinking about it! To be surrounded by so much LOVE is some rare

and strong magic, and while I still dont feel Ive done it justice, I hope youve been able to catch even a tiny

glimmer of it through these jumbled words and beautiful photos.


Wow! i love the bouquet!! so unique... stunning! ~Bead Flora


W hat a beautiful wedding!! the pictures are just wonderful! i love all the decora-tions. so many won-derful ideas! and the bride is just beautiful!!

~ Connie

I adore everything about your wedding, from the way it looks to your stories of how it felt. i am excitedly planning my own [wedding] and am feeling more inspired than ever thanks to the

inspiration you've shared! thank you!

~Kirsten, reader


Destinationmexico

photography by

sarah yates


From the bride... Margaritas, fish tacos and a vision of vintage Mexico inspired our Sayulita wedding.We

were in search of a town where time slowed and fishing boats, surfers and dogs littered the sand. Nothing too

perfect or pristine a Mexico that is still full of authentic charm, dirt roads, women making churros in the

town square, lush landscaping and not a tour bus in sight. to see the full wedding, click here.


Villa Amor was everything we wanted. It felt like a place lost in time villas nestled in hillsides, hidden

doors and winding staircases. Our ceremony was held under trees overlooking the ocean, followed by a cocktail

hour with mariachis and margaritas. A 200-step climb up the crumbling and twisting brick staircases led to

the reception a breathtaking cobblestone plateau overlooking all of Sayulita and the ocean.


W e fell in love with the idea of mexico

years ago on a trip for a friend's wedding and knew we would some-day be married there.

~ The Bride


OREGONVintageChic in

photography by

erich mcvey


From the bride... Brent and I have been friends since 7th grade, where we met somewhere between instant

messaging and middle school dances. In high school, we continued to stay friends as my best friends would

always hang out with his best friends on the weekends. Between multiple dances, dates and relationships

within various people in our crowds, the Brent-Liz love story never happened until nine years into

our friendship. to see the full wedding, click here.


Fast forward to February 2010 Brent told me he loved me (First girl Brent loved. First boy I loved and

last for both of us). Then came December 2010, and we were engaged and planning away! We are blessed with

amazing friends and family, and without those lovely little faces there, the wedding wouldnt have been as perfect

and memorable. Along with that, the thought and care that went into planning the Sara-table meant a lot to

me. Sara was one of my best friends, roommates and bridesmaids who passed away two months before the wed-

ding due to cancer. It (the Sara-table) was one of the ways I wanted to honor Sara since she was watching from

above, but not physically at our wedding.


O bsessed!love everything about this

wedding. love the neck-

laces, the lipstick, the veil,

the shoes, the lemons. the

groom is way handsome too.

gorgeous photos.

what's not to love?!

~ Karen, reader


M y favorite wedding this summer! love every detail ... and the bride's style is incredible. the

photographer captured the day perfectly.

~ Vanessa, reader


M agicmidwestphotography by

arrow and apple


From the bride... When Jeremy and I envisioned our wedding day, we wanted it to be really personal.

Im a designer and hes a song writer, so we spent a lot of time and energy on pretty visuals and our music

selection. I own a boutique, and we chose to host our ceremony on the third floor of our building, above

my shop. The space is open with huge windows and peeling wallpaper. We loved the idea of holding our

ceremony here because we knew wed be the first couple ever to get married in that spot! to see the full wedding, click here.


Our reception was styled with vintage lamps, lace and jewel tones. My favorite details were the raspberry

cupcakes and the hand painted holga cameras on the tables. We chose signature cocktails including a raspberry

mojito, and for dinner, we chose heart shaped pancakes. My favorite memory from the reception was when we

were dancing. I told Jeremy that I was so happy and he said, Im sad its almost over. I thought that was cute.

Always a good thing to hear from your husband after so many long months of wedding planning!


In our memoriesthe day has a warmglow about it. we

loved every moment!

~Elsie, the Bride


Elysium ProductionsDestination

CINEMATOGRAPHYPhoto Credit: Marisa Holmes

CelebrationsDestination

EVENT PLANNING

Blue NileDestinationJEWELRY

Hilary Miles FlowersInternational Canada

FLORALS


VENDOR SPOTLIGHTS

Moore PhotographyInternational Canada

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mediamorfosis Wedding CinematographyInternational MexicoCINEMATOGRAPHY

TEAM Hair and MakeupCaliforniaBEAUTY

Photo Credit: Jose Villa

Laura Hooper CalligraphyCalifornia

CALLIGRAPHYPhoto Credit: Steve Steinhardt


Just CakeCalifornia

CAKE

Contemporary Catering and Event ProductionCalifornia

CATERING

XOXO BrideCalifornia

EVENT PLANNINGPhoto Credit: Braedon Flynn

Amaze Special EventsCalifornia

EVENT PLANNINGPhoto Credit: Kim and NIki Photographers


VENDOR SPOTLIGHTS

Jessica Foster ConfectionsCalifornia

DESSERT FAVORSPhoto Credit: Kristen Johansen

Fleurs de FranceCalifornia

FLORALS AND EVENT DESIGNPhoto Credit: Brianna-Marie Photography

Waterlily Pond Florals and Event DesignCalifornia

FLORALS AND EVENT DESIGNPhoto Credit: Erin Beach Photography

The Langham Huntington, PasadenaCaliforniaVENUE


Frosted Pink WeddingsColorado

EVENT PLANNINGPhoto Credit: Zorn Photography

Villa Parker Cultural and Event CenterColoradoVENUE

Photo Credit: Tyler Jones Photography

Sixpence For Your ShoeConnecticut

EVENT PLANNINGPhoto Credit: e. broderick photography

Blooming FlowersFlorida

FLORALSPhoto Credit: Emily Harris Photography


VENDOR SPOTLIGHTS

Parrish DesignsFlorida

FLORALS AND EVENT DESIGN

MMD EventsFlorida

FLORALS AND EVENT DESIGNPhoto Credit: Limelight Photography

HBB PhotographyFlorida

PHOTOGRAPHY

Harwell PhotographyGeorgia

PHOTOGRAPHY


Lily Red StudioIllinois

INVITATIONS

Allison Barnhill DesignsMaryland

INVITATIONSPhoto Credit: Elizabeth Ryan

Delicious DessertsMassachusetts

CAKEPhoto Credit: Catch Light Images

Konditor MeisterMassachusetts

CAKE


VENDOR SPOTLIGHTS

EFD Creative Event Planning & DesignMassachusetts

EVENT PLANNINGPhoto Credit: Kristin Spencer Photography

Jess + Nate StudiosMichigan

PHOTOGRAPHY

Naakiti Floral DesignNevada

FLORALS AND EVENT DESIGN

Main Street Fine CateringNew JerseyCATERING


Images by BeritNew Jersey

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mr. Boddington StudioNew York

INVITATIONS

Gulnara Studio PhotographyNew York

PHOTOGRAPHY

Bald Head Island ClubNorth Carolina

VENUE


VENDOR SPOTLIGHTS

Luxe Event ProductionsOregon

EVENT PLANNING

Details With LoveRhode Island

EVENT PLANNINGPhoto Credit: Adeline & Grace Photography

Maggie Gillespie DesignsTexas

EVENT PLANNINGPhoto Credit: Jennifer Lindberg

Old Glory RanchTexas

VENUEPhoto Credit: Shawn Childress Photography


Dolce PartiesVirginia

EVENT PLANNINGPhoto Credit: Christian Oth

Geomyra Lewis Weddings & EventsVirginia

EVENT PLANNINGPhoto Credit: Tiana Simpson Photography

Atrendy WeddingWashington DC

EVENT PLANNINGPhoto Credit: Kate Headley

Pretty Plum Sugar LoungerieVirtual ServicesBRIDESMAID


VENDOR SPOTLIGHTS

Rosann Konieczny CalligrapherVirtual Servies

CALLIGRAPHY

Olivia LucaVirtual Services

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J LBehind the ScreenA trip down the aisle with some of our favorite bloggers

My favorite part was walking back down the aisle as husband and wife. We were clutching each other's hands, and I was in

tears (of course!); our friends jumped to their feet, and the music was "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes. I' d highly recommend choos-

ing an upbeat song for your recessional, instead of something slow and quiet you' ll be so giddy that it will match your

mood, and it will be a fun, exciting way to get the party started!~ Joanna

cup of jophoto by max wanger

To me planning a DIY wedding means that you are personally and intimately invested in the details of your celebration because you hope to throw a party that is meaningful to the two of you as a couple. But the thing is that even if you start with grand plans, it's okay to hire someone to execute them in the end, or to totally skip projects that are going to make the process more stressful than enjoyable. Ultimately, the goal is to thoroughly enjoy every moment of your wedding day with your husband. Do what you can up to a certain point, and then pop a bottle of champagne and start the celebration!~ Kristina

ioo layer cakephoto by michele m. waite

In all the craziness of planning the wedding, don't forget about the ceremony. It is easy to overlook that part of the day and defer to tradition, but the ceremony is kind of the point of the whole thing. Take time to choose readings and music that are meaningful to you. Our priest worked with us and got to know us, and the homily really spoke to our relationship. As over-the-top as our wedding was, the ceremony is the thing that we get the most compliments about to this day. Also, sparkle plenty. If your dream is to have, oh, say a Willy Wonka-themed wedding and wear a gold dress, then do it. If you don't who will?~ Bailey

peppermint blissphoto by aaron delesie



My wedding took place on November 10th, 2007, at a private home in Sayulita, MX. It was everything we imagined, intimate, casual and totally DIY. Everyone played a part in our wedding, which is the most memorable and touching part of our wedding experience. While it was what I dreamed, now that I run a blog and look at beautiful weddings

over and over, I wish I had sucked it up and hired a photographer. Hard to believe right? Our good friend took pics but he wasn't a wed-

ding photographer and you get what you pay for. Also, we didn't do tons of table decor. That's something I wish I had payed more attention to, but the great thing was we picked a breathtaking venue, which made

up for things that were lacking in the decor department. That's the best advice I'd give anyone planning a wedding on a budget. Make sure you pick a venue that has the vibe you are looking for and doesn't need a lot

of fluff to make it special. Good luck, and happy planning!~ Jillian

ruffledphoto by jess + nate studios

Looking back, my favorite memory has to be from our ceremony vows. It was such an emotional moment for us, more than we ever imagined it would be. Seeing each other as husband and wife for the first time was so much more than either of us had anticipated.

My advice is that it is A-OK if things do not go perfectly. It only makes your wedding day that much more memorable. Having a wedding in Michigan in the winter meant we were running the risk of having a snowy day, which could mean guests wouldn't be able to attend. Lo and behold, on the day of our wedding, we woke up to one of the worst blizzards they've had in a long while. By nightfall the snow got lighter and roads cleared a bit. We were so grateful and lucky to see that all of our guests came to celebrate the day with us, and we had a great story to tell to boot!~ Amanda

ioo layer cake



In picking a favorite memory when I look back at our wedding, there are two. The first was our first look. Just the two of us and a chance to see each other alone and talk about how excited we were that day. I can't describe it, but it was so amazing to finally see each other! Then we spent an hour walking around our venue (a nature preserve on a wooded hill above Lake Michigan) taking photos, talking and laughing. My very close second mo-ment was walking down the aisle. It was perfect under-neath hundreds of trees with my eyes only on Jason. ~ Jen

green wedding shoesphoto by anna page

Remember to enjoy your wedding day. It will go by in a flash!~ Emily

once wedphoto by solstice images

Brides often ask me my thoughts on first looks - basically, doesn't it ruin walking down the aisle? To me, the answer is no. Walking down the aisle was still amazing and one of my favor-ite moments ever! I recommend couples do what they want. But our first look, the hour after-wards with just the two of us (that is really the only time that day it is just the two of you), and walking down the aisle were some of my most favorite memories. And pick a song you love for your walk down the aisle! Whenever I hear our song (which isn't that often since it isn't very common) I'm transported back to that moment which I just love.~ Jen



I highly recommend a surprise wedding! I smile every time I remember the look of absolute shock on our guests' faces, the collective cheers, the explosion of pure joy that

surrounded us in that moment when we revealed to our guests that we were actually getting married right

then and there! It was a perfect moment we shall never forget.

~ Amy

eat drink chicphoto by jonathan ong

We were young and madly in love. We were best friends - we still are. Nine years later and I'm still smiling...

~ Mrs. Lilien

mrs. lilienstyling house

DIYing nearly our entire wedding could have been amazingly stressful, and it was pretty intimidating for a few months until we started thinking about it for what it was: a big happy party in our yard to celebrate our love with friends and family. Tak-ing the big "wedding" word out of it suddenly opened our eyes to more creative ideas and took the pressure off somehow. Just take the whole wedding planning thing one day at a time and feel free to call it a "party" if you're feeling overwhelmed by the "W" word!~ Sherry

young house lovephoto by todd wright


Destination WeddingsFrom seaside fetes to intimate

gatherings in the worldsmost beautiful cities.

California WeddingsFrom pretty in San Fran to laidback

and lovely on the vineyard. And everything in between.

Canada WeddingsFrom coast to gorgeous coast, SMP Canada

is a little something Canadian chic forevery style of bride.

From Manhattan fabulous toHudson Valley lovely.

New York Weddings

Massachuses WeddingsHome to our founders, these

lovely weddings are nothing if not new england perfection.

Florida WeddingsWarm and welcoming, fetes that

sparkle and shine in true Florida style.

Texas WeddingsLarge like their namesake to small

and perfectly intimate, all fabulouslyswoontastic.

Sweet as a peach, these celebrationsare Southern with total style.

Georgia Weddings

Chicago and beyond, weddings thatleave our hearts a-flutter.

Illinois Weddings

STYLEMEPRETTYS

LOCALBLOGNETWORK10uniqueblogscelebratingweddingsinYOURarea

Australia WeddingsBringing some of Australias loveliestof lovely weddings together into one

pretty, pretty place.


Destination WeddingsFrom seaside fetes to intimate

gatherings in the worldsmost beautiful cities.

California WeddingsFrom pretty in San Fran to laidback

and lovely on the vineyard. And everything in between.

Canada WeddingsFrom coast to gorgeous coast, SMP Canada

is a little something Canadian chic forevery style of bride.

From Manhattan fabulous toHudson Valley lovely.

New York Weddings

Massachuses WeddingsHome to our founders, these

lovely weddings are nothing if not new england perfection.

Florida WeddingsWarm and welcoming, fetes that

sparkle and shine in true Florida style.

Texas WeddingsLarge like their namesake to small

and perfectly intimate, all fabulouslyswoontastic.

Sweet as a peach, these celebrationsare Southern with total style.

Georgia Weddings

Chicago and beyond, weddings thatleave our hearts a-flutter.

Illinois Weddings

STYLEMEPRETTYS

LOCALBLOGNETWORK10uniqueblogscelebratingweddingsinYOURarea

Australia WeddingsBringing some of Australias loveliestof lovely weddings together into one

pretty, pretty place.ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA SUCHMAN JOFFREY ART DIRECTION BY SPITFIREGIRL DESIGN


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Style Me Pretty's Best Weddings of 2011