Today’s wedding has so many lovely details and personal touches, I just knew you would enjoy it. Says Neela, the beautiful bride: “Planning our wedding was a unique experience coming from two different cultural backgrounds. My family is from Afghanistan, so we wanted to incorporate the cultural elements of a traditional Afghan wedding into a sort of fusion with the grand outdoor manor style weddings that I have loved since a little girl.”

And that’s just what they did!

The ceremony took place at the Love Temple on the grounds of Villa Montalvo.

Instead of one beautiful cake, Neela and Marshall had three! “Our cakes echoed antique Wedgwood patterns and Victorian cameos,” says the bride. Dessert also included pink Persian Rose macarons.

Neela shared all about the day with us:

Why did you choose this location?  Picking the venue was my favorite part. I wanted to find a mansion or a home that had large manicured gardens, like something from an E.M. Forster novel or the Great Gatsby. Villa Montalvo was such a beautiful location, with its gorgeous historical villa, with both a sprawling natural landscape and a manicured Italianate garden and great lawn, and a beautiful Spanish style courtyard with fountains. The theme for the wedding went from there.

Tell us about incorporating Afghan wedding traditions into the day.  Bringing in my culture and my family’s traditions was very important, but I was a little stumped at how to work things in seamlessly. Amy Nichols was wonderful with helping me solve this problem. She researched the cultural traditions and worked them into our timeline. We had a very memorable Afghan ceremony on the veranda that was elegant and touching. Part of this ceremony involves henna, so I thought it would be fun to have a henna artist on hand during the dancing portion of the event. It was a huge hit! She was wonderful and it was really great to have something else going on during the dancing that guests could occupy themselves with. Our caterers were also integral in working in all of the traditions and cultural elements. Our wedding occurred during Ramadan, so some guests were fasting. Global Gourmet made certain that they were not neglected and that they were served properly at exactly sundown. The menu that they created for our wedding was spectacular, and they were able to incorporate some Middle Eastern flavors. The guests had the most fun during the dancing. The DJs are friends of ours who know our taste in music very well, and they managed to track down a lot of very hard to find Afghan music as well. They were going to play it by ear, to see what people loved dancing to the most, and we were both surprised that everyone loved dancing to the Afghan music! It really brought both families and cultures together. It was so fun to see my family teaching my husband’s American family some of the Afghan dance moves.

Is there anything else that helps tell the story of the day?  Our wedding was a perfect marriage of two very different cultures, which represents my husband and me as people so well. We wouldn’t have been able to pull it off and make it look as beautiful without our all-star team of vendors. It’s so important to do your research in this regard. I couldn’t be more pleased with the results (especially the gorgeous photos by Cooper Carras).

Vendors

Photography: Cooper Carras / Venue: Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, California / Planner: Amy Nichols Special Events / Bride’s dress: Vera Wang / Bridesmaid dresses: BHLDN / Hair, makeup: Armando Sarabia / Flowers: Natalie Bowen Designs / Henna artist: Henna and Beyond / Cakes: Cake Coquette / Macarons: Chantal Guillon / Catering, rentals: Global Gourmet

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

Few things will make a bigger visual impact for your wedding than a stunning venue. The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse on North Carolina’s Outer Banks is just such a place, and it’s where Kristen and Danny opted to tie the knot.

Bridesmaids were asked to wear a little black dress of their choosing.

The couple’s favorite part of the day?  ”Right after the ceremony, as we walked back down the pier together,” says Kristen. “I remember looking at Danny and both of us breathing a sigh of relief and laughing together. The nerves build to such an extreme high throughout the day, and that moment of relaxing together really sealed the deal – it was finally time to party the night away, and start our new life together.”

Kristen and Danny wanted their wedding to have both a relaxed beach feel as well as a classic lounge vibe…

Kristen shared some details with us about the day…

Why did you choose this location for your wedding?  We have both vacationed in the Outer Banks for years with our families, and for the last five years together as a couple – it’s our favorite place to unwind and have a good time.

What inspired you when you were planning your wedding?  We wanted things to be personal and meaningful, so we were careful to spend our budget on things we cared about and cut corners on things that we felt we’d never remember years later. Mostly, we wanted people to kick off their shoes, celebrate and dance. I think we succeeded!

Do you have any budget tips for other brides?  Etsy should be your best friend! And don’t be shy about asking family members and friends to pitch in their time and skills - you’ll save money and save your sanity.  My grandmother made the table runners when we couldn’t find ones to rent in the right shade of blue, and she still beams from ear to ear when someone mentions how lovely they were.

Did you include any traditions in your wedding?  Not so much traditions as tributes. The groom’s family has roots in Wisconsin, so to honor his late grandparents we brought in varieties of Wisconsin cheeses for one of our appetizer stations. I wore my grandmother’s vintage Mikimoto pearl necklace. My father and I danced to “You Are So Beautiful To Me” by Joe Cocker as a tribute to my late grandmother, who was known for singing this to all her children and grandchildren.

What advice do you have for other brides?  It is truly just one day, so make sure you spend your time and money on things that really matter to you. Don’t be afraid to leave things out if you don’t care about them. Don’t be afraid to start your own traditions. One thing you should spend your money on? A fantastic, reputable photographer. At the end, you’ll have a new husband and hundreds of pictures that will become your memories, so choose your photographer wisely.

Vendors

Photography: Gabe Aceves / Planning: Platinum Party Planning / Ceremony venue: Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse in Manteo, North Carolina / Reception venue: 108 Budleigh / Bride’s dress: Moni’s Bridal Boutique / Bride’s necklace: vintage Mikimoto / Groom’s suit: Joseph Abboud / Flowers: Renee Landry / Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas / Rentals: Metro Rental

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

I’m so sorry for disappearing on Friday – I had a raging headache that was more interested in a dark, quiet room than in a link round-up. Which just means that this week’s Friday post will have more fun links than usual! But first, we have a week of beautiful posts, starting with this sneak peek from the latest issue of Southern Weddings…

Don’t you love it? You know I’m a sucker for gorgeous classic details. Check out the entire story in the fourth issue of Southern Weddings, available on stands tomorrow, or for purchase here. Oh, and keep an eye out for the “If I Had a Southern Wedding” story, which includes some of my dream Southern wedding details!

Vendors

Photography: Katie Stoops / Styling: Courtney Spencer of Merriment Events / Gown: “Arabella” by Christos / Programs: The Lettered Olive / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Calligraphy: Moya Minns of MM Ink / Custom wine label: Magpie Paper Works

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

There’s always something so lovely and intimate about a backyard wedding (and I love this bride’s unique style!)…

Andra’s mother handmade this unusual head piece with tarnished gold lace from the bride’s grandmother’s gown.

Instead of separate seating for the ceremony, guests were invited to sit at the dinner table and enjoy antipasti during the traditional Romanian Orthodox ceremony.

Andra shared some details about the day…

Why did you choose this for your wedding?  Our primary goal was to have a welcoming and elegant event that would also end up being a great party. As a result we focused more on the elements of a great party, and less on the trappings of traditional wedding. Once we decided to have the ceremony and the party at Chris’s grandfather’s home, then the design aspects seemed to come together. We took advantage of the glorious garden at the home, and hosted a rustic dinner-party with slight influences from the 1920’s.

What kind of music did you play?  We put together a personalized soundtrack for the entire event, starting with church choral music and bells for the ceremony. After the ceremony, we combined a variety of folkloric music from Romania, Italy, Ireland, and Eastern Europe to reflect our families’ backgrounds. We also mixed in jazz from the 1920’s-1940′s, French chansonnettes and Italian canzonette. For the dancing portion, we had a mixture of modern music with classic rock ‘n’ roll. Chris and I danced our first dance to Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me to the End of Love.”

Is there anything else that helps tell the story of the day? In keeping with our wish for a rustic dinner, all guests, family members, and members of the wedding party sat at one long dinner table. As an icebreaker, upon the guests’ arrival, we started out with large, country-style breads, cheeses, salami and other hors d’oeuvres shared at the dinner table. To maximize ease and comfort, guests were seated at this same table for ceremony, which took place under a large oak tree directly across from the dinner table. After the ceremony ended, the rest of the event focused on enjoying dinner and dancing together with our guests, so we left the afternoon to develop on its own without any set timetable.

Vendors

Photography: Julie Mikos / Venue: private home in Los Altos Hills, California / Bride’s dress: custom / Gold ballet shoes: Chloé / Point-toe shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Groom’s suit: Cesare Attolini / Groom’s shirt: Ermenegildo Zegna / Neck tie: Brioni / Cake: Cake Divas / Rentals: La Tavola Linen

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

It’s been quite the pretty day here at SMP if I do say so myself! And we saved this Fresno stunner by Megan Welker Photography for last because it’s just so…well, pretty! It’s romantic and elegant with just the right amount of craftiness and we couldn’t love it any more than we already do. See the rest here in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Megan Welker Photography…Alicia and Brook were married on a perfect, whimsical, rainy day in June. Just as Alicia had hoped. They got married in the beautiful St. Johns Cathedral and then celebrated and danced the night away at The Grand 1401. Their wedding was a perfect reflection of what Alicia had dreamed of, elegant and romantic. They couldn’t use real candles since they were on the 10th floor so Alicia made the bottle centerpieces and got light bulbs that mimicked the look of a candle flame. Brook’s family made all of the brownies for the “brownie cake” since Brook isn’t a fan of cake! I love how couples are doing things to fit their own personality as opposed to what is “traditional.”

Wedding Photography: Megan Welker Photography / Cinematography: Trail Leg Media / Floral Design: Fresh Cut Floral Design / Ceremony Location: St. Johns Cathedral / Reception Location: The Grand 1401 / Wedding Invitations: Brittany Wilbur Designs +  The Wedding Chicks / Bride’s Shoes: Pour La Victoire / Wedding Dress: Mia Bella Bridal Couture / Hair: Vanessa Rich, Renaissance Salon / Caterer: La Ryan Catering / DJ: Mobile Sound Productions / Jewelry: Tara Torinto Jewelry / Drapery: Media Solutions Inc.

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Post tags: Brittany Wilbur Designs, California Weddings, Fresh Cut Floral Design, Fresno, La Ryan Catering, Media Solutions Inc., Megan Welker Photography, Mia Bella Bridal Couture, Mobile Sound Productions, Pour La Victoire, Renaissance Salon, romantic, St. Johns Cathedral, Tara Torinto Jewelry, The Grand 1401, The Wedding Chicks, Traditional Elegance, Trial Leg Media
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

This article was originally posted onStyle Me Pretty.

There are so many fun, DIY details that make up this Los Angeles wedding, you are bound to get lost for hours. The couple, the homemade treats, the bright berry colored flowers and one heck of a gorgeous cake are just a few of the standouts. Ashley Photographer captured every awesome moment for you to enjoy so do just that…in the gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…I was five years old when my mom took me to see the movie Father of the Bride.  She knew she was in trouble when I said, “that movie gave me lots of good ideas for my wedding, Mommy!” From that day forward, I began planning my wedding. The plans evolved quite a bit from what I had envisioned as a five year old, but my love for weddings always remained. When I finally met the perfect guy, I was more than excited to finally make my wedding dreams come to life.

We were married in the Los Angeles LDS Temple and it couldn’t have been more perfect, even more so because Josh’s parents were married there as well. After the wedding, we headed to the reception, which was held in my parents backyard in Hacienda Heights. We are both relaxed, easy going people and we wanted to keep our reception exactly that while incorporating our love for Italian food, vintage furniture and DIY decor. Since my love of weddings runs deep I wanted to design and carry out the plans of everything I possibly could for the big day.

When it came to my attire for the wedding, I wanted fulfill the something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue philosophy, I wore my great grandmother’s necklace, my new custom made wedding dress, a pair of earrings borrowed from my aunt and then I had my toes painted blue.  The wedding was exactly as I had always imagined, even without the swans I originally wanted when I was five.

Wedding Photography: Ashley Photographer / Floral Design: Collins Flowers / Event Design: DIY / Ceremony Location: Los Angeles LDS Temple / Reception Location: Private Residence / Wedding Invitations: DIY / Music: Rouge / DJ: Chad Barnett / Hair & Makeup: Lauren Bradley / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Wedding Dress: Custom / Bridesmaid Dress: Banana Republic / Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals / Catering + Cake: Red Rooster Gourmet Foods & Catering / Italian Ice: Joe’s Italian Ice / Groom’s Ring: Fabuluster

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Post tags: Ashley Photographer, Backyard Wedding, Banana Republic, California, Chad Barnett, Collins Flowers, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Fabuluster, Found Vintage Rentals, Los Angeles, Los Angeles LDS Temple, Red Rooster Gourmet Foods & Catering, Rouge, Steve Madden
Post categories: Do-It-Yourself Inspired

This article was originally posted onStyle Me Pretty.

Well, after a beachy keen week of stunning nuptials, many of which took place near the sea, we figured it was fitting to continue the week with a super Super 8 Film from Blossom Productions on – you guessed it – a beach. This Cape May wedding was perfect in every way, and lucky for us, it was all captured in a way that will definitely make you smile, absolutely cause goose bumps, and probably bring a tear to your pretty little eye. We even have a few still shots of the day from Laura Eaton Photography, and their just as amazing as the film. Make sure to visit the gallery for all of them!

After that little sneak peak, I’m sure you’re dying to jump right in to the Super 8 from Blossom Productions. So here we go!

Chrissy & Joe: Cape May Wedding from Blossom Productions on Vimeo.

From Blossom Productions … Chrissy wanted the vintage, timeless look of film woven throughout her video because she not only loved how it looked but also because it created a feeling of nostalgia. As filmmakers, capturing the sights and sounds of the day are incredibly important. If we can also capture the actual emotion, then that is the icing on the cake.

Chrissy’s father passed away when she was a young girl and many memories of her father occurred in Cape May. She had a locket containing his photograph attached to her bouquet. As we were filming all of the significant, BIG moments, we made sure to capture the not-so-obvious, yet incredibly meaningful, small details. The locket was one of them. In some ways, her dad was with her every step of the way that day.

For all of the thought, energy, and time that went into making sure the day went as planned, these two were also about fun and spontaneity. It was a hot out and on the way to shooting formals on the beach, Chrissy and Joe shared a Slurpee. I don’t know many newly, married brides who’d be daring enough to drink a cherry (bright red!) frozen drink while wearing a white wedding dress!

Chrissy and Joe also understood that there’d be very few occasions in life when the people who meant the most to them would all be in the same room for celebratory occasion. Knowing Chrissy’s past, preserving these memories for her came with an even greater responsibility to do it all right-and for having that opportunity, we were honored.

Photography: Laura Eaton Photography / Cinematography: Blossom Productions / Flowers: Manic Botanic / Event Planning & Design: Proud to Plan / Ceremony Location: Our Lady Star of the Sea / Reception Location: The Grand Hotel / Cake & Desserts: Pink Cake Box / Wedding Gown Designer: Pronovias / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Bari Jay

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Post tags: Bari Jay, Beach Wedding, Blossom Productions, Cape May, Color Palette Purple Blue, Laura Eaton Photography, Manic Botanic, New Jersey, Our Lady Star Of The Sea, Pink Cake Box, Proud to Plan, Provonias, Summer Wedding, The Grand Hotel, Wedding Cinematography
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog

This article was originally posted onStyle Me Pretty.

So now that you had some time to fully enjoy the fabulous wedding video from I Do Films, we just had to share a few precious images of this seriously sweet event from the lovely Shira Weinberger. It would be a crime to keep them to ourselves. So enjoy this little afternoon pick me up and we’ll see you back here bright and early tomorrow morning!

Cinematography: I Do Films / Wedding Photography: Shira Weinberger / Wedding Ceremony Location: Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church / Wedding Reception Location: The Royalton at Roslyn Country Club / Hotel Accommodations: The Inn at Great Neck / Wedding Dress: La Sposa via Pronovias NYC / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Bride’s Handbag: Via Bella / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Tuxedo: Trussini via Boyds / Makeup: Anni Bruno of NYC Faces / Letterpress Invitations: Plume via Two Paper Dolls

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I’ve always been a fan of simplicity – some of my very favorite weddings have been the simplest. Nothing fussy or overdone, just love and loveliness. Julia and James had just such a wedding, and I love how they described it, “The whole evening felt intimate, warm and fun. It was the happiest blur of our lives.” Photos by Jonathan Ong.

Julia’s bridesmaids each wore the black dress of their choice – a surefire way to keep attendants happy!

Says Julia, “Our wedding was an incredibly personal celebration of our relationship – we wrote our own vows, were married by a longstanding and dear friend, and another friend wrote a beautiful poem as a reading for our ceremony.”

Thank you to Julia and James for answering some of our questions about the wedding…

Why did you choose this for your wedding? We wanted our wedding to feel warm, relaxed and more like a party than a formal event. We are very much urban dwellers, so the venue was chosen because of its location in the center of Melbourne’s central business district, and its commanding views of the cityscape.

What inspired you when you were planning your wedding? The streets where we live – the beautiful open spaces and street art that are a context for our lives. We also thought about the elements which would help to create the party atmosphere – for example, we had our photo’s taken before the wedding so that we could launch straight into the festivities after the ceremony, and we chose a band who appeals to everyone.

Did you include any traditions in your wedding? As the bride has a Polish background, we incorporated a few Polish touches in the wedding. We had a traditional Polish blessing after we were ‘presented’ to our loved ones, which involved sharing a taste of bread so that we will never go hungry, a sip of wine so that we will enjoy the sweetness in life, a pinch of salt so that we can overcome any bitterness in life and were given a silver coin so that we can be in good health and without financial stress. Vodka, specially flavoured by Julia’s father, brother and James, also flowed throughout the evening, along with many rounds of the traditional celebration song, ‘Sto Lat.’

Vendors

Photography: Jonathan Ong / Venue: Alto in Melbourne, Australia / Bride’s dress: Jane Hill / Groom’s suit: Filippa K / Groom’s tie: J.Lindeberg / Floral design: Cecilia Fox / Music: Mister featuring Stella Angelico / Catering: Damm Fine Food

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

At the beginning of the year we put together a series, This Year’s Biggest Weddings Part I and Part II, on the celeb engagements that would likely turn into mammoth weddings this year.  Of the 16 couples profiled, four have danced down the aisle.  Can you guess which couples?

Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge

With the exchange of vows taking place at Westminster Abbey, Prince William of Wales became the Duke of Cambridge and his bride Catherine Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge.  The fairy tale wedding was witnessed round the world and was so monumental it constituted a public holiday for Britain.  Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton fashioned the gown.

Wedding Date: April 29, 2011

Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth

The Oscar-winning actress wore a blush pink Monique Lhuillier gown to walk the aisle then later revealed another Lhuillier creation as she strolled into the reception wearing a white silk minidress with a party skirt.  The affair dazzled with a laid-back mix of Southern charm meets the 1920s of Reese’s own ranch estate.

Wedding Date: March 26, 2011

Michael Buble and Luisana Lopilato

Canadian crooner Michael Buble found wedded bliss three times with Argentine model, actress and singer Luisana Lopilato.  The couple first married in a civil ceremony on March 31, 2011.  Nuptial number two showcased Lopilato in a Sylvie Burstin dress in Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 2, 2011.  The last ceremony saw Lopilato donning a Jorge Ibanez gown on May 20, 2011 in Vancouver, Canada.

Wedding Date: March – May 2011

Leann Rimes and Eddie Cibrian

Decked out in a handmade Reem Acra gown accessorized with sparkling jewelry, Leann Rimes and Eddie Cibrian started off their big day by getting ready together and dancing around to Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back.”  Of course the bride slipped away to get in to her gown privately.

Wedding date: April 22, 2011

This article was originally posted onBridezilla.