friday favorites

Often times, event designers and photographers collaborate with other industry professionals to create an inspiration shoot. These shoots showcase the vendors' talents, while allowing them to make all the decisions, rather than consulting a bride first. This inspiration shoot is unbelievably elegant and every detail has been thought out. The bride's vintage dress reminds me of a modern twist on my mother's gown that she wore 31 years ago! So feast your eyes on this stunning shoot and keep cozy this chilly December weekend.

Ruffled Blog

Gift Giving Guide

I've put together some gift ideas for you slackers (like me!) who haven't gotten around to Christmas shopping yet.

For Mom:

This gorgeous tray would be the perfect gift for mommy-dearest.  It is so modern & chic, while also being totally multifunctional. 

For Dad:

Typically, I get my dad a t-shirt, a book, or some sort of food product (and it looks like that's what I'll be getting for him again-- sorry, Dad!), but last year Lisa and I got him this. I can honestly say it was my Dad's favorite gift that year. It is an iPad case that also stands the iPad up to any height, perfect for using on the go! It can only be found online, so if interested, check out their site. 

For your sis:

I wear my Michael Kors tortoise shell watch everyday, and a wrist full of stacked bangles nearly every time I go out, so this bracelet is totally something I would buy for myself. And anything I would buy for myself I end up getting my sister so I can borrow it, of course!

For the bestie:

I love this sassy envelope clutch from JCrew. It's a perfect statement piece for any winter outfit and I'm pretty sure my bestie would love it.

For your man (just kidding, I hate when people say that):

No matter how hot a guy is, throw these bad boys on him and he'll be even more irresistible. Somehow, Ray Ban Wayfarers manage to be timeless and trendy at the same time, and fit almost everyone (other than myself-- I look ridiculous in them). 

I hope I was able to give you some inspiration for your Christmas shopping! Happy Holidays, my lovely readers! 

dear santa

 

I know you all are just dying to know what's on my Christmas list, so I'm going to share a few things I've asked Santa (a.k.a my parents) for:

Last year I bought myself a pair of really cute Tory Burch rain boots, but those things let the first drop of snow seep in so I need something a bit more practical. Joules is a dependable wellies and riding boot brand out of the UK, and seriously, how amazing are these? My mom is a tad hesitant to buy anything abroad after Lisa bought (blackmarket) Uggs from China. The poor girl wonders why everyone questions her common sense.  

Want to know a secret? These bad boys are $70 from Target and are identical to the Frye version. I have a pair of heeled brown boots from JCrew that I love (and wear way too much), but I needed a pair of flat ones that wouldn't break the bank. Lucky for me, Target read my mind, as usual!

My current Kate Spade iPhone cover is all stretched out and my phone literally falls out of it, so it's time I ask for a new one! I spotted this case on Lauren Conrad's twitter (my style icon--don't judge) and loved it.

My mom has Lisa and me writing "stocking lists" now because when we used to head back to college, she'd find a bunch of the stocking stuffers left behind. Terrible, I know, but now she can be sure we'll use each and every thing in that giant sock. Of course, I requested my favorite bronzer by Too Faced. Not too orange and it even smells like coco! Can't get much better than that!

My sister has a pair of these Champion for Target running capris and I steal them from her all the time. They are so comfortable and great for running in any weather, so I figured it was time for me to get a pair (or two) of my own.

No Christmas is complete without a stocking full of candy. Haribo gummy bears are a definite favorite of mine! 

Flutter & Sparkle

And last but not least, OPI's Rainbow Connection from the Muppet Line. I paint my nails at least twice a week and have an embarrassingly large collection of polish, but that doesn't stop me from adding to it every other week. What can I say? It's just one of my quirks.

friday favorites

I am so excited to be showing you this wedding for my friday favorite. This event is brilliant, especially all of the amazing light fixtures, and the bean bag seats for the kids. How darling! I have a weak spot for mercury glass, chandeliers, and a hot pink, turquoise, and grey color combo (so bold!), so this wedding is certainly my cup of tea. I almost feel like the yellow accents are a bit unnecessary, so eliminate that and we've got ourselves a winner!

Style Me Pretty

besties

Choosing the bridesmaid dresses for your wedding can be one of the most stressful decisions you make during the planning process. Not only do you have to find a dress that pleases everyone's tastes, but it also has to fit in their budgets. You also have to decide whether you want them to match, or choose their own, which can be even more stressful (at least to me!). Then you decide short or long, same shoes or not, and how to accessorize. Decisions, decisions!

Want to know my personal opinion on the dresses? Probably not, but oh well! I think if you're going to do mismatched, you need to trust these ladies 100% on their style choices, give them a specific color palette, and go for short. Asking them to find their own long dresses can be much more difficult. If you want to have them all match, I typically like long dresses like this one from JCrew. If you choose matching short dresses, I definitely recommend matching shoes as well. I actually worked a wedding where the bridemaids' gifts were matching hot pink Louboutins. I loved this idea, minus dropping $800+ on the shoes. A simple pair of Steve Maddens would be just as great, and it's one less decision for your girls to have to make! My fave place to find these frocks? JCrew, Thread, Dessy, Jenny Yoo, and of course, Amsale.

Pinterest