A Palm Beach Wedding

Because my previous post on the Lilly Pulitzer bridal collection had me dreaming about pink palm trees, I have decided to gather some inspirational images for a Palm Beach wedding.  Enjoy!

Photo Credit: Dream Home Design USA

I love this beautiful home and ivy-colored entryway.  This would make the perfect background for bridal portraits.

Photo Credit: Olivet

I adore this invitation suite.  The bold colors set the tone for the beachy wedding!

Photo Credit: Ritz Carlton

This is the pool deck of the Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach.  Wouldn't this be the perfect place to toast champagne and dance the night away?

Photo Credit: Style Me Pretty

Pink bridesmaid dresses would be perfect for this wedding.  I love the blue and white striped ribbon holding the all-white bouquet together...sometimes the smallest details have the most surprising effect!

Photo Credit: Style Me Pretty

The groomsman's attire at this wedding is to die for!  The boutonnieres match the bridesmaid's bouquets with the white flower and blue and white striped ribbon.  And that tie?!?  Couldn't be more perfect for a preppy wedding like this!

Photo Credit: Style Me Pretty

I love the different vases and the various sized flower arrangements.  This formal reception is very elegant, but the pink monogram on the chairs are an added detail that helps keep the atmosphere from being stuffy.

Photo Credit: Style Me Pretty

These bright blue ribbons add the perfect pop of color to break up the all-white feel of this outdoor ceremony.  

Photo Credit:  Style Guide Australia

I love the navy, pink and white striped beach club theme of this wedding.  It is so preppy and perfect for Palm Beach.  The theme was carried out in everything from the flowers to the place settings, the chair backs to the programs, centerpieces and even the cake!

Lilly Pulitzer Does Bridal!

Is it a coincidence that right about the same time the warm air arrived, Lilly Pulitzer's Spring 2011 Catalogue showed up in my mailbox?  No way - I think it's a sign that it's time to go shopping?! :)

Did you know that Lilly Pulitzer now has a bridal collection?!  Along with a plethora of perfectly colorful bridesmaid dresses, Lilly now has a new line of "Little White Dresses" that make perfect bridal shower, rehearsal dinner or going-away outfits.  She also offers a selection of beautiful and elegant bridal gowns.  Her signature dreamy fabrics, patterns and textured details are incorporated into these pure white dresses, resulting in dresses that are preppy, chic and classy.

Photo Credit: Style Salad

Photo Credit: Maryland Pink & Green

Photos are credited to Lilly Pulitzer unless otherwise noted.

Creative Guestbooks

The guestbook is a special keepsake the bride & groom can keep to remember those who joined them in celebration on their wedding day.  Apart from the traditional guestbook, where each guest simply signed their name when they arrived, brides and grooms are now becoming more and more creative with ideas for their guests to leave special wishes, marriage advice or simply share their personal memories of the couple.  Below are some of the most creative ideas I have seen - from signing a wooden bench to taking Polaroids of each other.  I especially love the idea of each guest writing a special note and sealing it in a small envelope for the couple to read later - I even saw one idea where the guests left messages on postcards that were pre-addressed to the bride & groom...they would then be dropped in the mail and waiting in the happy couple's mailbox upon return from their honeymoon.  How sweet!

Photo Credit: Alexan Events

Photo Credit: The Knot

Photo Credit: Martha Stewart Weddings

Love Story

I happened upon this creative invitation suite on the lovely site, Two Paperdolls, and had to share.  This suite incorporates the couple's love story (and history - apparently the bride & groom met in kindergarten!) in a vintage-meets-western style that is sure to catch your eye.  With a pretty palette of colors, various textures and intricate details letter pressed onto a thick cardstock, the invitation suite for this Texas wedding is reminiscent of an old hatch show print and the wild, wild west.  Enjoy the pictures and visit Two Paperdolls for more beautiful invitations!

Image Credit: http://www.twopaperdolls.com/

Wedding Destination: The Ritz Carlton at Reynolds Plantation

The Ritz Carlton hotel at Reynolds Plantation in Georgia is a beautiful wedding destination.  Located just 45 minutes outside of Atlanta, this resort sits on the scenic Lake Oconee and boasts a state-of-the-art spa, pristine golf courses, a large pool, plenty of water activities and a fire pit (where s'mores are made, nightly).  There is something for everybody at Reynolds Plantation.

A team of highly-qualified wedding coordinators will help any bride achieve her dream wedding, regardless of size - even Carrie Underwood was married here last July!  With elopement packages starting at $5,999, the Ritz at Reynolds is a great place to host a destination wedding.

Photo Credit: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/

Photo Credit: http://www.golfworld.com/

Photo Credit: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/

Photo Credit: http://www.occasionsonline.com/

Included in their wedding packages are: catering, decor, flowers for decoration and for the entire wedding party, the cake, accommodations for the bride & groom, dressing rooms, a bottle of complimentary Ritz-Carlton champagne, equipment and rentals, linens and a Special Event Manager.  Ceremonies and receptions can be held lakefront, in the gardens or in the ballroom.  Lunch-time receptions start at $94/head and dinner receptions start at $150/head (including a one-hour cocktail reception and open bar).

If you have your wedding at Reynolds Plantation, all you need to bring is your dress!

Wedding Destinations: Sea Island

One of the most beautiful places to visit is the lovely Sea Island Resort off the coast of Georgia.  Located approximately an hour and a half south of Savannah, this quiet island is rich with southern charm.  With streets lined with live oaks dripping in Spanish moss, pristine green golf courses, panoramic ocean views, wide beaches that stretch for miles and soft, golden marshes, I can hardly think of a more romantic place to have a destination wedding. 

Sea Island has two gorgeous Mobil Five Star, AAA Five Diamond accredited hotels: The Cloister and The Lodge.  They have partnered with Exclusive Resorts and also offer cottage rentals and beachfront accommodations, which they refer to as their Beach Club Suites.  Sea Island offers two prestigious golf courses and three large pools for guests, as well as clay tennis courts, an equestrian center, a state-of-the-art spa, seven different restaurants and a plethora of children and family activities (including their famed Bingo games and various dinners and themed parties).  This luxury resort draws visitors from all over the world, and was the chosen spot for the G8 Summit in 2004.

Sea Island has an experienced team of wedding coordinators with resources to make any wedding dream come true.  They offer multiple locations for both ceremonies and receptions - including a non-denominational chapel.  They work diligently to make sure every detail is attended to.  They provide it all - the cake, the flowers, the catering, the set-up & tear-down, the decor, etc...

The following images are courtesy of Sea Island Photography and can be found here.

Cloister Clubroom (my favorite room in the entire resort!)

Cloister Lawn

Beach Club Lawn

Exiting from the Beach Club (the most grand exit I have ever seen, right outside my office window!)

The Cloister Wine Cellar

Whether you dream of a rustic, vintage wedding in the dunes, a preppy party on the manicured lawns, a garden fete, a beachfront ceremony or a glamourous black-tie afffair,  a Sea Island wedding is truly a fairy-tale wedding!  I worked at Sea Island as an event planner for four years, so I am partial to their fabulous-ness...but I think the pictures speak for themselves on how perfect a place it is to get married!  Not only is it breathtaking, but there is plenty for all of your guests to do throughout the course of their stay.

The following images were taken and edited by me:

Cloister Courtyard

Beach Club Pool

Back Entrance of the Cloister

Back Patio of the Cloister

Back Patio of the Cloister

Clositer Lobby

Rental Cottage - Oceanfront

Non-Denominational Christian Chapel

Spa

Inspiration Boards

I have created several wedding inspiration boards on Style Me Pretty.  Click here to find them.

Black Tie Affair

Seaside Romance

Vintage Glam

Elegant Fete

*The above images and the images on the inspiration boards are all courtesy of Style Me Pretty.

Smock.

Smock Paper has got to be my favorite paper source of all!  They create everything from everyday cards and notes to wedding invitations and gift wrap.  Anything and everything you could ever need to fulfill your paperie dreams.  Smock does an absolutely fabulous job.  Based in Syracuse, NY, Smock is an eco-conscious company that uses antique, cast-iron presses and prints on luxury bamboo paper (they are the only company in the US to do this).  They have the prettiest fonts and calligraphy I have ever seen.

Haddington by Smock.

Double-Sided gift wrap by Smock comes in a plethora of colors and patterns.

Chiffon boxed letterpress Thank You notes.

Is there anything more glamorous than letterpress?  I absolutely adore it.  I could post a thousand images of Smock Paper's work - it is just so pretty.  Take a look at their collections on their website by clicking here.

Letterpress Love

When shopping around for wedding invitations, I came across The Lettered Olive and fell in L.O.V.E.  These gorgeous letterpress invitation suites are to die for!  They are so elegant and classy.  Lovely fonts pressed onto a thick, sturdy paper make for such an incredible impression and set the tone for your whole wedding.  It is pure gorgeousness in an envelope!

The Middleton Collection

The Cannon Collection

The Lomboll Collection

Free Wedding Downloads

I love these free printables from the Wedding Chicks.  With 20+ colors to choose from, you can spend time customizing each item to your wedding theme or color scheme.  They offer Save the Dates, Invitation Suites, Will You Be My cards, Wedding Lables/Signs and Custom Monograms.  All you have to do is save the image to your computer...and print!

The Wedding Chicks will even give you dimensions and sizes for getting best results while printing.

To find these free printabels, visit the Wedding Chicks website by clicking here, then click the link for DIY & DOWNLOADS.