This just might be one of the cooler weddings that I have seen in sometime, seriously!  There is an essence to the entire affair that I am completely mad about, Be Who You Are.  Laura Tarr & Andrew Brown of Bristol, UK have style in spades {as do their guests!} and made sure that their wedding day was a pure reflection of what they really loved.  Having a deep admiration for all things truly vintage & 1940′s, Laura along with the help from family and friends, endlessly searched for genuine items from the 40′s be it the clothing {all dresses are real vintage finds!} to the flatware and table setup.  Quirky touches such as crocheted cupcakes were presented to guests while more whimsical elements like knotted vintage scarves framed the ceremony space.  All in all I love the pure express of this couple imprinted onto their wedding day all beautifully captured by Charlene Morton Photography!  I totally am feeling the expression here, Brits do it better!  I adore how amazingly the bridal party got into the spirit along with guests who also dressed the part!  There is so very much to love but perhaps the most amazing part of all…… Llamas!  Yes thats right, there are llamas!

What Storyboard Likes…gives way to an awesome word from Charlie of Charlene Morton Photography!  {*Normally I would rant about why I love this wedding so much, but Charlie does such a beautiful job poetically stating her first hand account of the day, I’ll just shut it and let Charlie do the talking!}

The morning of the wedding began at Laura and Andrew’s Bristol home, where the bridal party preparations were well underway. Hair and make-up artists had set up camp in the kitchen with boxes of rollers, brushes pots and powders. As we arrived the bridesmaids had their hair set and were all in coloured hairnets which held their curled and pinned hair-dos in place. The bridesmaids dresses were all vintage, and had been painstakingly sourced by Laura. 4 long laced prom style dresses (some of which had been hand-dyed pastel tones) were all authentic vintage, absolutely beautiful and were as if they were made to suit each of the girls. The addition of handmade flower corsages tied the bridesmaids together seamlessly. Laura had also sourced matching colored vintage costume jewelry for each of her bridesmaids which were presented as gifts in dainty handbags she had hand sewn!

Laura’s 1940′s vintage dress had been sourced from America, and was found in a dusty trunk which had not been opened since the wartime, a really incredible find! The dress had been shipped to the UK and altered to reduce the skirt size to a more A-line shape to modernize slightly and fit Laura perfectly including the delicate long lace arms and  high laced neck.  The preparations were a wholly relaxed morning of fun, smiles and friends.

We headed off to Leigh Court ahead of the Bridal Party. Guests had arrived and convened on the entrance steps, framed against vast sandstone pillars, and soaked them selves in the sun awaiting the arrival of the bride.  The groom’s party arrived, each with flashes of 1940′s inspiration, from the quaffed fringes, to contrast brogues and black braces. Even the guests had joined in on the fun, with 1950′s style prom dresses, red lipstick and feathered hats. This wedding really was vintage done well.

Vintage cars transported the bridal party to Leigh Court and they were whisked away to an upstairs room to prepare for the ceremony. (Elements of the day like this created a really traditional feel to the proceedings, and including a greeting line after the ceremony) The sun was well and truly shining and remained bright well into the evening, allowing guests the pleasure of sitting outside and enjoying their Pimms – probably for the first time this year!

The details were magnificent and the 1940′s inspired theme ran throughout the day, with vintage silk scarves adorning the sweeping staircase in the main hall.  The long double staircase provided the perfect setting for the bridal entrance, with bridesmaids starting first, ascending the stairs gracefully in a staggered line, followed shortly after by Laura and her father, arm in arm.

After the ceremony we took the opportunity to line the guests up outside for the confetti throwing, the newlyweds walked through a long tunnel of their guests whilst being showered in pastel petals. Pimms was served on the back lawn, and we swept the bride groom and their nearest and dearest away for some group shots.  The group shots soon turned into a pose off, with the ushers and groom attempting to out pose the modelesque bride and her bridesmaids. The boys flashed their brogues, and emulated the suave gentlemen of the 1940′s era, whilst the girls undertook a very editorial look and showed the boys how its done!

Thanks to the Vintage China Hire, the dining room had been transformed into a tea party fit for a queen (and her king!). Delicate vintage teacups, mismatched with ornate teapots, floral doilies and china cake stands provided the basis of the table set up. It was the intricate details and personal touches which really made the difference, female guests were gifted with hand knitted cupcakes, created by Laura’s mother, whilst the male guests were treated to personalized handkerchiefs. Miniature crackers provided an ingenious icebreaker around the tables, and wild pastel toned seasonal flowers were scattered in glass vases.  High tea was served in a rush of tea leaves, miniature sandwiches and fresh cream cakes whilst a Rockabilly band set up in the adjoining room.

In order to dance the night away in style Laura slipped into something a little more comfortable, a shorter 1950′s vintage dress with sage green satin sash. With an abundance of petticoats and delicate lace sleeves she relaxed into her outfit change in order to enjoy the rest of her night. The sun shone for the entire evening allowing some beautiful shots with dreamlike sun-glare.

The entire day was a flawless blend of vintage and tradition, with family and close friends sharing the day together. The evening entertainment included a rockabilly band, and outside barbecue, a lovely relaxed evening to top off a perfect wedding day. Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Brown!

Novella of the Bride…

Myself and Andrew had been together for 9 years. Andrew is my best friend’s brother and I fell for him from the first time I saw him. He was the cool older brother and I was just his kid sister’s friend but I won him round eventually. We first really got together at a music festival as we both love music and the rest as they say is history.

We really wanted to go for a 1940′s theme, as I love all things vintage and the 40′s is my favourite decade. We found it very difficult to find clothing that was from the period so had to compromise a bit on that by buying items from the 1950′s and having them altered. I did manage to have my 1940′s champagne flutes for the toast though which I was super happy about.

Leigh court has the most amazing stair case. It was magical walking down it with my dad to the song that Andrew had picked for me to make my big entrance. Another great thing about Leigh court was that it had great outdoor and indoor space. If the weather hadn’t of been great we would have had just as good a time staying in doors. All the rooms flow really well in to each other. The band played in one room with a dance floor where people could have a bit of a bop around while in the connected room you could just sit and listen and take in the atmosphere.

My family have been really supportive. My mum made all the ladies table favours, they were the little crochet’d cupcakes that had scented disc’s popped in the bottom so they could be used as drawer scenters. One of my best friends, Siobhan, helped me make my save the date cards and came with me on numerous trips about the country in the search of the perfect wedding dress. My sister was a star of the day, making sure all the decorations were set up exactly how I had imagined and made sure I had the day to remember by taking over all the organisation to make sure everything went to plan.  I’d just like to thank everyone I’ve listed above. Without them my day wouldn’t have been the day I’d dreamed of. Everyone made my wedding perfect and the day I will remember for the rest of my life.

Bride’s Favorite Moment: “Seeing the smile on Andrew’s face. He was the happiest I have ever seen him. He didn’t have a huge involvement in the planning and organizing so most things were a bit of a surprise to him but I could genuinely tell he loved every bit and was chuffed with every bit. Other than that I can’t really pick any one time. Everything was just lovely and perfect and everyone that came really had a really great day.”

Vendor Love

Venue: Leigh Court  | Wedding Dress: Two 1950′s Vintage Dresses via Luxe Bridal & eBay | Bridesmaid Dresses: Vintage Dresses {1930′s, 1940′s & 1950′s} | Alterations: Susan Gilby  | Hair & Makeup Stylist: Isabel While  | Invitations: Hand made  | Transportation: Kens Cars  | Music: Pete Jackson and The Zodiacs  | Rentals: Vintage Crockery via The Vintage Hire | Florist: Greenfields Florist  | Caterer: Leigh Court | Photographer: Charlene Morton Photography

The more intimate and the more personal the better!  That was the motto Hayley Burney & Seth Butler kept in mind when creating their gorgeous wedding day all on  their own {along with help from family and friends of course!}  Hand selected unique furniture served in lieu of boring tables, personally drawn Save The Dates were used as well as a special note to greet guests upon their arrival,  even the wedding bouquets were even hand wrapped!  Each element had their stamp of personal touch to it making everything that much more special!  Hayley’s mother tirelessly altered, again by hand, a dress from J.Crew to tailor make the gown to her dreams.{Way to go mom!!}  Guests were treated to homemade banana nut and red velvet cakes, along with hot cocoa cups with marshmallows of course, each topped off with striped straws and message.  The entire affair is a wonderfully gorgeous refined fete with such a wonderful level of detail & style!

Novella of the Bride…

Since we both like attending weddings that have a lot of details that reflect the couples’ personalities and style, we wanted our wedding to be like that. We didn’t want it to look “store bought”, so we did a lot of things ourselves like designing and making our save the dates, our programs, and painting some of our furniture to use for the guestbook and program tables.  My grandmother’s milk glass collection was used in all the flower arrangements and centerpieces. My amazing mother worked tirelessly up until a few hours before the wedding (!) modifying a dress I had bought on sale from J. Crew to my design.

I have two favorite moments. The first was the moment, in the middle of the ceremony, that my sister/maid of honor realized she had forgotten Seth’s ring upstairs! She instead handed me her wedding band, which wouldn’t fit past Seth’s knuckle. The second was at the end of the night when everyone was singing “Purple Rain” at the top of their lungs. As we were dancing, our family and friends unexpectedly made a circle around us and bum-rushed us at the end of the song. It was a really fun and unforgettable moment.

All of our vendors including the staff at the Caldwell House, Don’s Custom Catering, Aaron Lane Entertainment, and of course Mark Eric Photography were absolutely incredible!

Vendor Love

Venue: Caldwell House | Dress: J.Crew | Caterer: Don’s Custom Catering | Music: Aaron Lane Entertainment | Photographer: Mark Eric Weddings

Sometimes restraint is the most powerful weapon in our arsenal.  Wanting nothing more then to keep things as natural as possible, today’s phenomenal Montreal team crafted a wonderfully fresh yet rustic world at the newly opened Les Chalets du Grand Duc.  Every chalet should have its princess, our chalet has a princess made of stylish beauty where sweet tattoos are embraced.  Not one for the classic definition of a princess, our gal has wonderfully tousled hair in a modern fishtail braid, perfectly kept in a crown of pearls.  Layers playfully float around in the form of tulle, fondant & china, while thick rough cut wood chargers take center stage.  With a few choice decor elements as well as bright colorful blooms, this chalet becomes a sophisticated style land for the rustic gal who craves more from fashion & design in her life!

What Storyboard Likes…

Total Fresh Bride Package- Fresh, Bright, Youthful, Princess With A Side of Style.  These are all words that run through my mind as I take in the gorgeous bridal beauty & styling.  The team did a tremendous job staying true with their goal on inception, keeping our sweet bride, fresh & natural.  They didn’t want to cover her up with heavy makeup, rather simply work to enhance her natural beauty, including her artful tattoos as well.  Her tattoos become as much a part of her stylish princess look as does the wonderfully done tousled textured fishtail braid.  Her hair is modern and wonderfully bridal with a slight bohemian edge to it, again, fresh.  What makes our princess however are her lovely headpieces in ribbon, pearl, buttons & more.  Finding the right headpiece for the right bridal style can change an entire look, creating ethereal bridal beauty!  Every little element to our bride reflects a natural yet sweetly enhanced look, from gorgeously tousled locks to delicately done makeup, even the sweet little bow ring in place of a wedding ring, each element crafts this stylish princess!

Layer It On- When layers are done right, they can be simply divine and this session has layers in spades!  Starting with the most obvious and certainly most amazing, the fondant ruffle layer cake is as heavenly as you can get!  Perfect ivory waving layers, each unique with its own attitude.  The overall effect of such amazing layers is almost ethereal and wonderfully complimented by the full bloomed sugar peonies!  Following in suit with the layer technique are the plate settings which mimic that of our cake, layering a thick rough cut wood charger, 3 pieces of china, all finished off with an elegant tea cup.  Excellent china layering if I have ever seen it, and look at that color harmony to boot!  Lastly our gal’s gown, gorgeously layered in rows of tulle and lace.  Softly tiered, this wedding dress plays on the frilly side yet walks the line of sophistication all the same.  Layering is always in trend and one that you can never go wrong with, esp when its done with a delicate hand!

Sweet Little Details-There truly are some lovely little details when it comes to the styling of this session.  The clock is almost majestic with the perfect touch of old, the use of a utterly lovely thick hardback novel with eloquently torn pages, & the choice of the petite floral china  is superb.  I adore the vintage reclaimed wood flower box that serves as our tables centerpiece and whats more, the raised aspect to it.  Kick things up a notch by elevating them!  My favorite of all the little details however, is a simple yet magical one for me, the old iron stags head, I could not love this thing more!!!  The stags head is AH-mazing and would love to have one for myself!! What a wonderful collection of decor elements, all tied together with a unifying touch, echoing their rustic surroundings!

Vendor Love

Venue: Les Chalets du Grand Duc | Dress Boutique: Boutique Natalia Exclusif | Veils & Headpieces: Letters to Jane | Jewelry: Bijoux Mohawki | Makeup Artist: Susan Morales | Cake Designer: Gât-o | Floral Designer: Les Petites Excuses | Event Designer: La Mariée Bohème | Photographer: Sonia Bourdon photography

First order of business, Happy Memorial Day!!  Hopefully your stopping in on your way to an amazing BBQ or perhaps you’ve munched just a tad too much for the day & need some down time, either way, you’re going to be super pleased that you did because baby’O'baby do we have a treat for you!!  My favorite Philadelphia crew {Remember the gorgeous softer side of steampunk shoot? Click Here for a refresher} dropped a gem into my inbox just recently & I have been quietly coveting it in the corner in the meantime!  Their inspiration this time…. Disney’s #1 villaness, Maleficent, specifically Angelina Jolie’s upcoming reprisal of her!  I adore this shoot for a billion of reasons most of which is the simple fact that they pulled inspiration from such an unlikely source.  You know how I love my creativity with an extra side of special!  The team provided me with quite a lengthy run down of all the magic that happened, so do be sure to read through how they crafted this phenomenal shoot.  Before I send you packing, I’ll laundry list my favorite bits! {You know… in the interest of getting you back out to that BBQ!}  Gorgeous model {honestly, she could not be MORE perfect for this shoot, oh and PS-SHE did the makeup!!}, love love love the silver to purple ombre dress…. I think I need it in my life, I cant get enough of the Petits Gâteaux {I wish it made better sense for small cakes at weddings, as I do love them so!}, wonderfully earthy dark yet bold styling in the floral & design department and I am dyyyyyyying over those completely trippy & incredibly cool tulips!!  Honestly I could seriously go on about the session as  whole, but I’ll let your eyes do the walking!  Much  love on this holiday day~ Xo! Jess

A note from the incredibly talented team:

Ever wonder what Maleficent would be as a bride? Well, wonder no more! In anticipation of Angelina Jolie’s “Maleficent“, BG Productions and Papertini teamed up with amazing group of creative and talented vendors and friends to bring Maleficent into her wedding fantasy!

The colors scheme we chose for our Maleficent are Green, Gold with a touch of Dark Purple and Red. Golden Silhouette did a great job interpreting the colors scheme and theme into the stationery suite. Gorgeous shimmery emerald pocket envelope for the invitation and vintage gold spinning wheel pattern hand-stamped on each paper product. The invitation, program book, and menu cards are accented with gold threads to complete their interpretation of the spinning wheel. Now that the invitations are out, we’re ready for the big day!

Our Maleficent represents a fearless and confident bride. She is elegant, sexy, bold and gorgeous with a touch of edge. Tiffany from Dina Alon Hair and Make Up Studio styled her hair by combining Victorian rolls and gorgeous curls (what a great interpretation of Maleficent’s horns!). Alexis, our model, not only she is drop dead gorgeous, but she is also an amazing make up artist and fashionista! Alexis chose to do a dramatic, intense deep purple eye make up and paired it with a sexy hot red lipstick. To complete the look, her nails were done in a two-toned, dark purple/black and dark red with glitter and she put on her sexy black shoes. Voila! We have a perfect, glamorous, and gorgeous Maleficent!

We chose three different black dresses for her because, why just stick with one if you can have three? Her ceremony dress was an elegant ball gown layered with lace and tulle that was beautifully hand-tailored by Jennifer Kohler Designs. Papertini complimented the look with a modern textural cascading bouquet consisting of mini callas, scabiosa pods, galax rosettes and tulip anthuriums.

For reception, she switched to this fun and sexy sparkly long dress from Page Six…it’s haute. She sure knows how to command the room with this dress! We made sure no details were overlooked for her reception at the amazing Woodlands Historic Mansion! Papertini styled the wall with gold paper doilies and textured round mats. They accented the fire mantle with antique lanterns and dark purple candles and filled the fireplace with a wild, textural floral arrangement with black pussy willows (these are natural!) as the center of the attention. For Maleficent’s sweetheart table, we used gold chargers with matching gold wares (how cool are those!) and goblets accented with dark purple dinner plates. We topped off the plate with emerald green napkins and Golden Silhouette’s elegant menu and place cards to complete the look.

For her cake display, Papertini created a dramatic set by enhancing a potted branch with agonis leaves and decorated the antique trunk with matching antique stands for the cake and candles. The gold cake, made by the one and only Ciao Bella Cakes, was subtly decorated and accented with a black feather as an homage to Maleficent’ crow. The cake was accompanied by two matching mini cakes (which, by the way, is a great idea for couple’s cakes or as alternative to cupcakes).

The hanging place cards were displayed on a gold spinning wheel (spray painted bicycle rim!). To add more pizzaz to the table, Papertini created interest points on the table using various vintage green vessels and an all green floral arrangement. As the guests walked in, they were treated with a glass of Kir Royale, our Maleficent’s signature drink. The drinks were displayed in a beautiful and ornate set of champagne glasses courtesy of Cathie and Al. After dinner, our Maleficent was ready to have some fun and switched to her dancing dress! We chose this fun and flirty short dress from Page Six…it’s haute and she rocked it! Thanks to Create the Moment for all the coordination so our Maleficent could truly enjoy her soiree!

A HUGE thanks goes to the one and only Cathie from BG Productions was there for our Maleficent capturing all her moments and preserving this glorious day forever. A special thanks goes to Al, from BG Productions, for filming our behind-the-scene, Rachel Odle for all her help and Primitive Dwellings for the amazing upholstery work done for the bench prop (with uber cute pillows to boot!)

Vendor Love

Venue: The Woodlands Historic Mansion, Cemetery, and Landscape | Dress Store: Bebe, Page Six..its’ haute | Dress Designer: Jennifer Kohler Designs | Hair Stylist: Dina Alon Salon | Cake Designer: Ciao Bella Cakes | Paper Props: Golden Silhouette | Event Planner: Create The Moment | Event Designer: Papertini, LLC | Furniture: Primitive Dwellings | Cinema and Video: BG Prodcutions | Photographer: BG Productions

There is so much to love about this beautifully glamorous wedding which ever so harmoniously blends a few different themes & design aspects into one!  Lauren Coalson Hardy & Chris Hardy are two very stylish, design loving folks, so it was only natural that a wedding with high design elements would do.  Enter the design whiz Juli Vaughn who ever so brilliantly blended together a rustic industrial feel with a soft feminine peach inspired color palette & various mixed elements which kept each table fresh & inspired.  From the unconventional florals to the completely adorable animal escort cards, its hard to escape an overall organic feel which only adds to this beautiful farmhouse fete.  Atlanta wedding photographer Jason Hales Photography, perfectly captured each and every detail as well as all the lovely little moments between Lauren & Chris, making this sweet southern stunner one of my top all time favorites!

What Storyboard Likes…

Peach As A Palette- The idea of working with an actual peach as a palette is superb!  There are some many gorgeous tones one can sample from peach skin, not to mention the earthy elements around where a peach grows.  Soft green leaves, yellow in bumble bees, & cream white blossoms.  When you think about it, its the perfect fruit for inspiration, giving off a strong feminine vibe while still firmly planted with a masculine touch.  I hope to see more couples & designers sampling from the beautiful palettes that mother nature comes stock with, just begging to be put to work!

The Prada In The Room- Let’s talk about the 800lb Prada in the room shall we!?  Seriously Lauren, I dont think I could love these shoes more & applaud you even harder for making them your wedding day kicks!  These lil beauties are so much fun, have so much spunk, & are all the while so incredibly classy, a complete home run for me!  While the Prada’s certainly steal center stage, Lauren &  Chris’s complete wedding day looks are perfection for me.  Each, from the trim cut Hugo Boss suit, to the flirty throw back Monique Lhuillier, our bride & groom look like that of modern perfection with the sweetest nod to old school.

Floral Lust- Juli Vaughn girl, you KILLED it in the floral department!!  Seriously I have major floral envy with pretty much every little aspect of this day.  Lauren’s absolutely breathtaking bouquet is just perfection.  Its equal parts whimsy, sophistication, & glam with the perfect balance of femininity!  However, lets get real here, the real show piece are the suspended swing centerpieces, AMAZING!!  I love the idea of really playing with an industrial space in this manner, not to mention giving guests another focal point level to enjoy.  When in a room with beautifully high or even vaulted ceilings, most certainly entertain taking your centerpieces off from the tables, lowering them from the sky and making them art in themselves!

Novella of the Bride…

Chris is a designer, and I am a marketing coordinator in the hospitality industry. We live in Atlanta with our dog/child Chloe. Chris & I originally met in when I was a sophomore in high school when I attended a homecoming for my boyfriend at the time’s school, and Chris, who was one of his best friends, was in our group. We shared a circle of friends, and I always had the biggest crush on him. During a college break, we randomly ran into one another and my heart jumped with excitement  but I was weary of getting involved since we lived in different states. After finishing school and moving back to Atlanta, I was determined to try to track him down. I asked every person I knew if they had his contact information since he wasn’t on Facebook. He played hard to get back at me for not going on a date with him over that college break two years prior. We spent the first year of our relationship dating long distance. Chris was getting his Masters in Design in Honk Kong. It was a big challenge, but it made us appreciate one another and made our relationship so strong. I felt like if we could make it through a year of living across the world from one another after falling in love, we could make it through anything. We have now been together 5 awesome years.

The feel we were going for was romantic, Southern-charm with a farmhouse chic theme. I love antiquing and Chris’s taste is very modern, so pairing the industrial design of the venue with the gathered, eclectic objects we used for table decor was a perfect marriage of our two styles.  We chose Summerour Studios because it was not only gorgeous but it reflected our taste and was located in our West Midtown neighborhood we love so much. The building is an old, refurbished leather shoe string factory that has the most gorgeous exterior courtyard, amazing wooden floors and wall –to-wall windows.

We are both Georgia peaches, so it made perfect sense to work from a peach color palette, mixed shades of peach mixed with jade, wheat and hints of gold & yellow. One of the coolest aspects, was the swinging benches hung from the ceiling above the tables that were decorated with coral Charm Peonies, Juliet Garden Roses, Campanella Garden Roses, Salmon Ranunculus, Billy Buttons , Sage Foliage, Wheat & even birds and bees to hint at the love in the air. Our event designer created a canopy above the dance floor using ombre peach ribbon and cafe lights. It was a dream come true to feel like we were dancing under a magical carousel.

We are beyond lucky to have such amazingly supportive family and friends. We wouldn’t have been able to go on our amazing honeymoon to Mexico without them giving us the gift of travel via our Traveler’s Joy registry. One of my closets friends did all of our makeup and a long time family friend styled our hair. I felt the most helpful thing of all was the love and support they gave us through out the  wedding planning process (often playing therapist). Not to be cheesy, but in the end, we wouldn’t be the people we are today without the help they give us everyday.

Favorite Moments: ‘That is a tough one! I think we both agree that the ceremony was the most special moment of the day. We incorporated the celtic tradtion of ‘tying the knot,’ which was very special. Aside from the ceremony , the toasts from our loved ones were so awesome, especially the speech given by my little sister who was my maid of honor. She caught me by surprise by brining up my completely embarrassing childhood imaginary clown friend. Our photographer, Jason, captured the sequence of the speech perfectly-from the look of shock on my face once I realized what she was saying to me trying to grab the microphone from her to laughing until I was in tears. ”

Vendor Love

Ceremony Venue: St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church  | Reception Venue: Summerour Studio  | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bari Jay  | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik & Prada  | Hair Stylist: The Hair Artist  | Makeup Artist: Kristen Phelps  | Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss  | Invitation Designer: Love vs Design  | Music: AMP’D Atlanta  | Rentals: Four Inch Fold & Bold American  | Florist: Juli Vaughn Designs | Caterer: Bold American  | Baker: Lush Cakery  | Wedding/Event Planner: Juli Vaughn Designs | Photographer: Jason Hales Photography