Stylish Events

Images from Classic Bride

Here are the wedding blog awards for the week of 8/23/09-8/29/09:

The Most Inspiring Blog of the Week: Classic Bride

This blog is always on my must read list, but this week I was blown away by the blogs new design – which you also need to see. It’s beautiful! This week I loved the Treehouse Wedding, DIY Clutch, and Fall Bridesmaid Dresses.

The Most Creative DIY Project of the Week: The Bride’s Café – Snap Station

This idea is brilliant and another option for couple’s who need budget-friendly photography options. Consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony and setting up a DIY snap station at the reception for fun pictures.

The Most Useful Post/Article of the Week: Savvy Scoop – Minimize Family Drama

A professional photographer gives his advice on how to minimize family drama during post ceremony pictures. A must read if you have family members who don’t get along very well.

The Most Stunning Real Wedding of the Week: Green Wedding Shoes – Leah and Chris

This wedding caught my eye as soon as it appeared on my computer screen. The bride looks gorgeous in her asymmetrical gown with her hair loosely pulled into a side bun. I love the bouquets, the DIY touches, and the simple centerpieces.

The Best Budget-Friendly Idea of the Week: Hip Hostess – 10 Good Cheap Liquors

Are you having an at home wedding or able to provide your own alcohol? If so, this is a good list of 10 cheap liquors that taste good.

1 Comment | In: Wedding Blog Awards | tags: budget friendly wedding ideas, DIY projects, Real Weddings, wedding blog, Wedding Blog Awards. | #

Images from Brides

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Images from The Bride’s Cafe

I’m ending this month’s tip of the day theme {highlighted blogs} with The Bride’s Cafe, because it’s one of my favorites. This is the blog to go to if you want inspiration for your engagement pictures – there are some of the best engagement shoots I’ve seen on the this blog, and they’re posted on a regular basis. Of course, there are also beautiful real weddings as well. You really need to see the DIY section on The Bride’s Cafe {my favorite is the Snap Station}.

Tomorrow, I’ll be starting the new tip of the day theme for September – which is answering reader questions – so please send me your questions. Ask anything wedding related and I’ll try to answer!

No Comments | In: Tip of the Day | tags: the bride's cafe, wedding blog. | #

{Images} 1-2 Hugh Forte Photography  3-4 Brides  5-6 Once Wed  7 Martha Stewart

1 Comment | In: Wedding Planning | tags: inspiration board, rustic romance. | #

Images from Oh So Beautiful Paper

You know that feeling when you come across something so beautiful that goose bumps raise on your arms or you feel butterflies in your tummy? That’s how I felt when I found Oh So Beautiful Paper. This is the blog I subscribe to so I can “ohhhh” and “ahhhh” on a regular basis. It puts a smile on my face and inspires me constantly. It’s not a blog where you’re going to find all the wedding planning advice, support, and inspiration that you need while planning one of the biggest days of your life. BUT….and it’s a big BUT, it’s a blog that no bride-to-be should overlook. I’ve fallen in love with it, and I know you will too. I got tons of ideas for my stationery from this blog and continue to get ideas for my blog {hello, I’m wedding obsessed} on a regular basis.

No Comments | In: Tip of the Day | tags: oh so beautiful paper, wedding blog, wedding stationery. | #

Image from Utterly Engaged

Utterly Engaged is a wedding e-zine dedicated to helping couples plan a fabulous event. This issue all about the “forgotten details.” The real wedding of Tessa and Choon is a must see and it’s amazing to me that they were on a $20,000 budget. The DIY tutorial on the perfect package was my favorite feature of this issue.

1 Comment | In: Wedding Planning | tags: utterly engaged, wedding e-zine. | #

Images from the Pink Book Blog

The Pink Book Blog is another fabulous resource for brides especially if you live in a popular city, because there are individual blogs for over 15 cities! But the Pink Book Blog provides information for all brides on the latest trends. The Pink Ladies are even willing to answer all of your wedding-related questions. I love this blog, because the inspiration board-like posts are great to look at and come with helpful hints and advice. This is another blog you shouldn’t overlook in your wedding planning process.

No Comments | In: Tip of the Day | tags: pink book blog, wedding blog. | #

Dress: ModCloth $52.99

Necklace: Forever21 $4.80

Bracelet: Forever21 $7.80

Heels: Dillard’s $89.00

Related Posts:

Fashion Friday: Rehearsal Dinner Outfit

Fashion Friday: Rehearsal Dinner Outfit

Tip of the Day: Rehearsal Dinner Outfit

1 Comment | In: Fashion and Beauty, Rehearsal Dinner | tags: budget friendly outfit, Rehearsal Dinner, rehearsal dinner outfit. | #

How could I highlight wedding blogs for a month and not mention Style Me Pretty? It is one of the best. Abby and her husband, Tait, are adorable and seem to make a great team for this blog. She is the style guru and he is the tech guy – what a perfect match! Everyday Abby posts new real weddings for inspiration and she categorizes them, so they’re easily accessible to brides who are looking for DIY weddings, contemporary weddings, and more.

I love the DIY section and there is a new community section where brides can interact, ask questions, put together inspiration boards, and much more. Abby and Tait have put together an amazing resource for couples planning their wedding. If you haven’t checked out this wedding blog, I highly recommend that you do.

No Comments | In: Tip of the Day | tags: style me pretty, wedding blog. | #

Image from Martha Stewart Weddings

Make your engagement party fun by planning it around a theme. When you decide upon your theme, so many things will probably fall into place such as the favors, décor, and menu. Here are 5 engagement party theme ideas:

1. Cocktail Party: Cut the budget by having a cocktail party with fun drinks and light appetizers. Schedule the party around 4:00 or 5:00, so the guests aren’t expecting a full dinner – and specify on the invitation that it’s a cocktail party. Serve a couple of signature drinks and have a sign at the bar describing each drink. Put umbrellas or another fun embellishment in the drinks. You can host this engagement party at the couple’s favorite hangout or at someone’s home depending on the number of guests.

2. Backyard BBQ: If the couple is laid back and likes casual events, this is a great option. Pick up hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, ketchup, mustard, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, potato salad, cole slaw, and apple pie to have a budget-friendly, casual engagement party. Ask someone reliable to man the grill and put a couple large buckets of bottled drinks around the party area.

3. Costume Party: If you’re having the engagement party in October, consider making it a costume party. Have music playing when guests arrive and pass around appetizers during the late night bash. For entertainment, hold a costume contest and have guests vote on the best costume for a small prize.

4. Black and White Engagement Party: Send out black and white invitations and encourage guests to wear black and white attire. Decorate the party with black and white balloons and black and white pictures of the engaged couple. Set up a black and white dessert bar with brownies, sugar cookies, Hershey kisses, angel food cake, and chocolate chip cookies. Serve a signature white russian drink to guests as they enter.

5. Mexican Fiesta: This engagement party theme is also budget-friendly. Serve tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole for appetizers and margaritas for the signature drink. Decorate the party area with bright colors and have a piñata for entertainment. The adults will feel like kids again with this childhood favorite.

Related Posts:

8 Budget-Friendly Autumn Engagement Party Decorations

Engagement Shoot: Sara and Ryan

Announcing Your Engagement Guide

No Comments | In: Engagement | tags: budget-friendly engagement party, engagement party, engagement party themes. | #

Images from With This Ring

With This Ring is another fabulous wedding planning blog. On this blog you’ll find an ENTIRE DIY SECTION, beautiful real weddings, engagement picture inspiration, and affordable ideas. Check it out – you won’t be disappointed.

No Comments | In: Tip of the Day | tags: wedding blog, with this ring. | #

I’m really excited, because I have a gorgeous real wedding to share with you today. Everything about this wedding made me fall in love with it. I adore the bride’s dress, the romantic centerpieces, the flattering bridesmaids’ dresses, and the beautiful photography from Hugh Forte Photography.

Hugh answered a few of my questions, so we could get to know him better (thanks!):

When did you shoot your first wedding? I shot my first wedding in March 2008. I  had sort of stumbled my way into assisting for a few photographers during the previous summer, and found myself thinking, “Hey, I think I can do this…” All went well on that first wedding, but it was a bit of a shocker for me, none the less. It was just a little different than the usual cruising as an assistant that I was used to

How many weddings do you shoot a year? Well, I really only have 1 year under my belt, so my average might not be all that telling… but I shot 18 last year. My goal is to shoot about 30 next year. I’m aiming to keep the volume at a manageable level, while pushing the envelope on quality and creativity for the clients that I do take on.

What does a typical package include and cost? I don’t really rock set “packages” as they never seem to hit the mark with any given client. Full commissions start at $3,500 and include up to 8 hours of coverage along with all the color-corrected image files. Custom offering are, of course, available to each unique client from there.

Can you tell me about one of your favorite wedding locations to shoot? That’s a tough question. I might have to say that I haven’t shot at my favorite location yet. I’ve shot at some really cool places, but I’m most excited for a wedding when the location is new to me. That said, I had a really good time shooting at the Darlington House in La Jolla a few weeks ago, and I think there’s a lot more to take advantage of photographically next time I find myself there.

I want to give a huge thanks to Lacey and Brando for sharing their fabulous wedding and to Hugh Forte Photography for the stunning photography. Check out his website and blog for more wedding photography inspiration.

3 Comments | In: Real Weddings | tags: hugh forte photography, real wedding, romantic wedding, wedding pictures. | #

Images from Intimate Weddings Blog

Christina from the Intimate Weddings Blog posts amazing DIY projects, great advice for planning an intimate wedding, and free wedding templates. This wedding blog is a must read for me even though I’m having a wedding with 80-100 guests. Her blog is so fantastic that she got a book deal and now has a published book, Intimate Weddings. I love it, and I promise that you will too.

2 Comments | In: Tip of the Day | tags: intimate weddings, wedding blog. | #