Hearing the story of how a couple fell in love is one of my favorite parts of working with weddings, and Michael and Nicole’s story is a sweet one. They were introduced by a mutual friend and that night Michael knew he had met “the one” but life had other plans and the two didn’t start dating till almost two years after their initial introduction! During a trip to Italy Michael popped the question and the rest is history! Here’s how he asked:

In June 2011, Michael’s family invited me to travel to Italy with them to meet their family. One of the first stops during our visit was to the small Tuscan town of Pitigliano, where Michael’s father grew up. While taking a walk through the town, Michael brought me to a small piazza called Piazza Della Forteza. It was here that he got down on one knee and asked to spend the rest of our lives together. He then told me that Piazza Della Forteza was where his paternal grandparents were married in 1949. We actually have matching photos of his grandparents and us in the piazza – them on the day of their wedding and us on the day of our engagement – 60 years apart! I can’t think of a better place to begin our little family than where his family’s roots started!

We love the setting that these pictures take place in, it almost looks like an abandoned pasture and they are the only two people there. The green fields and the overgrown trees, I love it all! Thanks so much Eric Kelley Photography for sending this gorgeous engagement shoot over to us!

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I love how a striking color palette gives a wedding a little something extra, and bright, lemony yellow is just so much fun for summer! This gorgeous Palm Springs wedding uses black and white, really allowing the accents of bold blues and yellows to pop. With the backdrop of blue skies and desert mountains, the Viceroy Palm Springs is a perfect venue for this beautiful couple’s big day. The bride is stunning in her Vera Wang frock and I truly die over her fun and unique veil-alternative hair bow!  Their adorable french bulldog even walked down the aisle!

Where would we all be without our mothers? They bring us into this world and center their life around giving us everything we need as we grow up. I’ve learned how to be a better woman and wife just from having an amazing mom in my life. Mother’s Day might designate one specific day to show our appreciation to that special woman, but we know any day of the year can be a good time too! And what better day is there than your wedding day! I’ve found some very special photos on Loverly with inspiration on how to seamlessly integrate tiny details or family heirlooms to pay homage to your mommy! Whether it be lace from your mother’s wedding dress used as a handkerchief or her broach pinned to your bouquet’s wrap, there are many ways to share how much she means to you on your big day!

I’m keeping my mom in my thoughts and prayers, I’m so thankful that she is still with us! And another Happy Mother’s day to the best Mother-in-Law in the world Ann Lewis! Love you both!

Be Prepared to Be Inspired…

{Your mom’s Wedding Gown} Photo by Jessica Watson via Inspired by This

{Mother’s Hankie} Photo by Ulmer Studios via Wedding Chicks

{Mother’s Embroidery} Via Grey Likes

{Your mom’s China} Photo by Elizabeth Messina via Kiss the Groom

{Vintage Wedding Gown} Photo by Angela Anderson via Inspired by This

{Grandmother’s and Grandfather’s Lockets and Old Photos} Photo by Anna Rozenblat via Inspired by This

{Grandmother’s Vintage Silverware} Photo by Beaux Arts Photography via Santa Barbara Chic

{Mother’s Garter and Jewelry} Photo by Beaux Arts Photography via Santa Barbara Chic

{Grandmother’s perfume bottle} Photo by Beaux Arts Photography via Santa Barbara Chic

{Vintage Wedding Gown} Photo by Kate Harrison via Snippet and Ink

{Old family photos of your mom and her vintage locket} Photo by Kyle Hale via Inspired by This

{Mother’s Cake Topper} Photo by Jagger Photo via Inspired by This

{mother’s Toasting Glasses} Photo by Katie Neal via Wedding Chicks

{Old Family photos including your moms wedding photos} Photo by Jessamyn Harris via Inspired by This

{Mother’s Perfume, Earrings, Necklace and a note to your mom} Photo by Justin and Mary via Heart Love Weddings

{Old family photos and keys} Photo by You Look Nice Today via Snippet and Ink

{A collection of your mother’s and grandmother’s favorite books} Photo by onelove Photography via Inspired by This

What’s better than getting out of town with your closest friends for one last hurrah before the wedding!?  Especially if you have friends spread throughout the nation, a weekend getaway is a great opportunity to meet up and spend some quality time together instead of just a couple of hours.  So that’s exactly what my friends Jenny and Michelle decided to do with my bridal shower!  This week is my two year anniversary and I love looking back and reminiscing about all the festivities that took place beforehand!  My girlfriends and I went up to the gorgeous Carneros Inn in Napa where Nancy Liu Chin created an amazing event with lots of sunny yellow and citrus accents.  I love lemons and they are such an easy decor piece whether it’s simply using the color or the actual fruit in vases, on tables, and everywhere in between!  The simple white florals with the gorgeous ranunculus and baby’s breath accenting the cheery yellow pops of color were fresh and beautiful and just perfect!  You can also see my inspiration for it and also the feature in Destination I Do!

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The trends this season, especially as we head into summer, seem to be all about color.  But sometimes, keeping it simple and clean can create an elegant, classic wedding!  This wedding we have today is the epitome of classic! I love all the whites, greys, and classic greenery used throughout.  They prove that you don’t need a lot of color to have a fun, fabulous wedding! After visiting the Gasparilla Inn many years before, the bride and groom decided on a destination wedding to Gasparilla Island, Florida and wanted to incorporate the island’s traditional Boca Grande style.  The lanterns and glass accents create a gorgeous seaside feel and the giant tent with indoor trees made for the perfect, relaxed setting!

Thank you so much KT Merry for sending this over to us!

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Remember this sweet Colorado Elopement?! Well, Anna Richardson of Lucia Paul Design had a baby! She had plenty of ideas in mind for a baby girl’s nursery, but had to start from scratch when she found out she was having a boy! Unsure of where to begin, Anna slowly started finding inspiration in her favorite blogs and designers. She finally found her ideal boyish color palette of navy, kelly green and sunny yellow from the bright look of Mrs. Lilien Styling House and signature Kate Spade colors. Next was the search for key furniture pieces, and luckily, one of Anna’s best friends found a vintage 1970′s dresser for a steal! They refinished it in a bright yellow and converted it to the perfect changing table. The room is a visual playground for baby Dennison, with whimsical patterns and fun colors. While this is currently a room decorated to perfection for a baby boy, Anna really wanted something that can grow and mold into a room for an older boy someday.

My husband and I didn’t want a nursery that was too themed out with woodland creatures or Disneyesque like characters (which are all cute), but instead something that Dennison could grow into over the years.  We wanted to incorporate “grown-up” pieces, but make them kid friendly. Everything that we incorporated into the room can work now and later.  However, I am sure in a few years time as Dennison grows up, the entire look and feel of the room will change…plus who knows, one day he may have an opinion too on how he wants his room designed!

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Personality is the key to a memorable engagement shoot, and Stewart and Jaclyn have the perfect amount! These two had the idea to shoot the whole day in black and white, and the result is stunning! They are such a gorgeous couple, and their fabulous style and fun relationship comes through so easily. I love each of Jaclyn’s adorable outfits, from her comfy cardigan to her rock and roll jean jacket, and we can’t forget Stewart in his stylish bow tie! Braedon Photography captured both quiet, intimate moments and quirky, playful moments between the couple. They don’t even mind getting a little wet in their exploding beer can fight!

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I’ve definitely got Mexico on the brain this week!  Between Cinco de Mayo on Saturday and Ashley heading off to Puerto Vallarta to celebrate her wedding anniversary, I’m definitely getting inspired by Mexican fiesta details right now!  When I think about having a destination wedding with a fiesta theme I immediately think of vibrant and bold colors with fun party elements.  Incorporating traditional elements like flags and mariachi bands is a must but adding personal details is what makes a wedding special!  Pick your favorite colorful horchata to serve or give out a favor that incorporates both of your favorite Mexican treat!  I’ve bundled all of my favorite images of fiesta weddings for your inspiration whether it’s for a wedding or hosting a Cinco de Mayo celebration this weekend!  You can head over to Loverly for even more great ideas and even create your own bundles!

We also are excited to announce the winner of our Luminous Portrait giveaway!  Congratulations to… Jennifer!  ”Elizabeth’s work just oozes gorgeousness. I would love to “ooh” and “aah” page after page and winning a SIGNED copy would be a dream come true!”  We will be emailing you later today!

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Photos by Aaron Delesie on Snippet and Ink

Photo by Beaux Arts Photography on Santa Barbara Chic

Photo by DVB Photography via Inspired by This

Photo by Jose Villa via Grey Likes Weddings

Photo by Jose Villa via Grey Likes Weddings

Photo by Sarah Yates via Inspired by This

Photo by Leigh Skaggs Photography via Bridal Musings

Photo by Sarah Yates via Inspired by This

Photo by Geneoh Pease via Grey Likes Weddings

Photo by PUO Photography via Inspired by This

I had so much fun helping produce this fabulous and fun yellow and mint wedding shoot inspired by the spring issue of Martha Stewart Weddings! There were so many talented people working on this inspiration shoot that it’s no wonder it turned out to be so adorable. We are loving the mod patterns included that were inspired by a classic June Cleaver style kitchen especially in the festive stationery by Azul Sahara and the amazing linens! The bright, happy yellow hued florals including daffodils, sweet peas, hyacinth, ranunculus and parrot tulips were styled one of our fav wedding floral designers JL Designs.  Contemporary Catering executed the amazingly styled food spread that tasted as good as it looked! Their 60′s inspired menu included: Tortuga Rum Infused Lemon-Lime Jello with Fresh Spearmint Leaf and Topped with Grape Poprocks, Classic Strawberry Pop-Tart Bite with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Infused Cool-Whip Served with a shot of Ovaltine on the Side,Pulled Pork on Classic Doritos, Classic Buffalo Wing – Prepared with Anchor Bar Way with Jidori Chicken, Point Reyes Bleu Cheese Dipping Sauce and Celery Stick, and Short Rib Beef Wellington with Mushroom Duxelle. Jesi Haack pulled everything together flawlessly along with Mr. Haack who captured it all. I’m getting ready to throw a bridal shower and I’m really getting inspired by these ideas!

 Be Prepared to Be Inspired…