Have nothing to do this weekend? Here are a few options to get you out and about this beautiful weekend.

1. Why not add a little panache (aka swoon-worthy calligraphy) to your sweet teas and lemonades this season. Learn how HERE.

2. While your drinking, why don't you try THIS good looking cocktail?

3. Want to get the most out of this gorgeous weather? Try planting some annuals? HERE are some quick tips.

4. Need a little shopping pick-me-up with out spending mega bucks? Go check out the new flick about the famed Bergdorfs.

Happy Weekend lovelies!

Last week Casey and I had the pleasure of oo'ing and ahh'ing over the details and thoughtfulness that go into everything mStarr Event Styling + Design touches. As Emily defined what styling weddings really means to her, we began to grasp the reach of her incredible service. If you’re a bride who loves great accents (like we do), whether you need a little guidance or soup-to-nuts support, Em’s your gal. Check her website out here.

BI: How did you get your start?

MS: Frankly, I got married...isn’t that the only way? I’ve always had a creative outlet, and helping friends plan parties, showers, etc was just second nature to me.

BI: So what took you from bride to the full time plunge into the industry?

MS: I really became my own planner throughout my wedding. I found that when I got back from my honeymoon, and after the holidays, I was still browsing Style Me Pretty and connecting with the vendors I had cultivated relationships with. I just couldn’t shake it. So, I started a website, and the rest is history.

BI: What inspires you?

MS: What doesn’t inspire me?

BI: Touché Ms. Starr. Okay here’s a fun one, what three colors are your IT colors right now?

MS: teal, gold, mint.

BI: And just for good measure, if we bump into you in a coffee shop what will you always have by your side?

MS: My laptop with Illustrator, Photoshop, Evernote, and Bloglovin’ set up. And for my non-technological accompaniments I’ll have my Rifle notebook, a paper cutter and ribbon.

BI: Can you explain a little more about what styling entails?

MS: Styling to me is multifaceted---the design of a wedding takes shape when all of the details cohere and become more than the sum of their parts. It’s my job as a stylist to oversee those details.

BI: What is your favorite part of styling a wedding or event?

MS: I love the combination of personal and pretty. When I first meet a potential client I try to get their full story, how they met, how they fell in love, and with each memory I try to incorporate of little of them into each detail. I will always go the extra mile!

Images by Casey of Hello Love Photography and Instagram Pics by Em Herself...isn't she a Starr?

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have one dessert every day, what would it be? If the answer is not cake (and for most people, it's not), then skipping the wedding cake is a DO! I appreciate the tradition of a wedding cake, but there's no need to serve a dessert at your wedding that you don't actually love. There are so many options: pies! cupcakes! candy! macarons! Don't deny your guests a little something sweet, but do feel free to choose something that you love to eat!

At our wedding, we hired a gelato cart to come serve gelato to our guests. As ice cream lovers, we felt like it was the perfect finishing touch to our dinner. So, what's your favorite sweet? Are you considering a non-traditional dessert at your wedding?

It's been a rough week for our beloved city. It's been amazing to see how Boston has pulled together to help those in need, and I have no doubt that we will continue to do so. Let's all cross our fingers that Boston will be back to normal in the very near future, and keep those affected by the recent events in our hearts. Stay safe this weekend, Boston friends.

This past weekend my husband and I were in Vermont with friends for a site visit. Being that this particular wedding is to celebrate said friends, we got to tag along for a whole weekend of fun activities. Over our dinner Saturday night the bride-to-be posed an interesting question that sparked some good discourse. How to cordially ask guests to not post pictures on Facebook or Instagram during the wedding or even the week after? In this day and age, is it possible to limit the intimacy of a wedding to just the close family and friends who are present? A way to not invite our myriad other, digital "friends" into the sacred occasion?

It's a sensitive subject. But take solace in the fact that you are grappling with this issue alongside every other modern bride. If presented in the correct, respectful way, I think it's fine to be direct with your guests. This can be accomplished as they arrive with a sign, or maybe a note in the program simply stating something like, " We are here today to celebrate our union with our closest friends and family and would like to ask you to preserve and celebrate this moment without the use of social media."

I've wavered in thinking if this is a good idea or not, mostly because it feels a little funny to even mention these services at your wedding, but the truth is social media is a part of our lives now. Furthermore, because we are the first generation to use it, the nuances of social media etiquette aren't well defined or understood at this point. Thus, in order to achieve an intimate day without modern intrusions, you may have to be prepared with a little old-fashioned bluntness.

Hello Ladies!

Thanks!
Plus-One Perplexed

Dear Perplexed,

This is a great question - the "and guest" debate can get pretty heated! The standard etiquette is that spouses, fiances, and live-in partners should be invited to attend the wedding. From there, it is up to the discretion of the bride and groom. Long-term boyfriends or girlfriends are up to you, but it's usually a good idea to make one rule and stick with it to keep things fair.

Since it is your wedding (and your budget), you are definitely not being unfair by mentioning it to them. It's possible that they just didn't look closely at the invitation and didn't realize that they weren't asked to bring a date. Anna Post says in the famous Emily Post guidelines, "It's not okay for guests to ask you to make exceptions, so it won't be rude in the least to stand by your guest list." Of course you can do this as politely as possible, simply by letting them know that you wish you could accommodate their date, but your budget simply won't allow for it. As friends of yours, they should understand!

Best of luck!
Casey

P.S. It's not an official rule, but I always think it's kind to make an exception for someone who won't know anyone else at the wedding. Receptions can be lonely without a dance partner! :)

While receiving lines can be a bit long and tedious, I have to say that they are still a major DO. You may want to spend the time taking photos or doing something else, but it's important to remember that you are the host of your wedding and it is your responsibility to greet each guest and thank them for coming to celebrate with you. Guests may not remember the place card display or your first dance song, but they will remember the time they got to spend chatting with you on your big day. Some guests may have traveled from far away to attend the wedding, and it can be a disappointment to not have any time to speak with the bride and groom they came to see.

While you don't have to do a traditional receiving line after the ceremony, it can be the most efficient way to be sure to greet everyone. Some brides and grooms choose to do their rounds later in the night, but that can often lead to the happy couple missing their dinner. However you choose to do it, be sure to make room in your wedding day schedule to greet your lovely guests and thank them for showing their support!

Dear Becca and Casey,

I'm one of last of my friends to take the plunge, and it seems there are SO many more outlets now for inspiration even than just 3 years ago. Between my daily check-ins to SMP, Once Wed and Pinterest, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with details and projects. Do you know if this is something I can hire a planner to take care of?

Thanks, Detailed in Boston

Oh, not to fret Ms. Detailed in Boston,

As a recent bride myself, and being in the industry, I can remember clearly just how overwhelming the planning process can be. Do we have the right container for the iced lemonade with a cute enough saying on the label? Are the cocktail straws the right shade of grey to compliment the napkins? These little things can keep your head spinning in a details abyss if you're not careful!

Don't get me wrong, I love the unbelievable creativity that pours through my Pinterest feed every hour, but it's also super easy to lose track of what the wedding is all about in the first place.

If details get you in a tizzy, then I highly recommend two steps: 1. You do hire a planner to help you organize your details---there are plenty of planners and wedding stylists/designers in the area that specialize in organizing all the odds and ends. And 2. Start the tradition of iPhone and wedding-talk free date nights; full of romance and your daily sharing of stress free moments with your love. I truly believe that getting intimate about the details of you two while ditching the wedding for a night is key to remaining sane throughout the planning process. After all, it may be hard to see in the planning stages, but the marriage only begins once the wedding's over.

Best of Luck,
Becca

I don't know about you all, but I am DONE with cold weather. It seems to me that we may finally be out of the woods! It should be a perfect weekend to be outside - do you have wedding errands to run? Venues to visit, tents to choose, cakes to taste?

Hope you get to spend time outside this weekend! We'll be back next week with lots more wedding fun, including another interview with a great local vendor.

Until then, here is some spring inspiration. This is a photo I took of the magnolia trees along Commonwealth Avenue last year. Becca says they should be blooming again really soon - woo hoo!

What?! Were you thinking of clutching each other close for "Lady In Red"? I say do do do! Pick a song that's special to you as a couple but also that has a little spark to it. You don't need to show off for any of your guests, or feel pressure to pick a "hot" song, just be totally true to the nature of the two of you for your first dance. One of my favorites was my friend Lindsay and her husband Luke, last year when they danced to a Jack Johnson and Paula Fuga song, "Country Road". They swayed to every end of the dance floor, she jumped into his arms, they took "the dip" to a whole new level, and it was just SO them! Every guest was ready for a celebration after that! So, whether your song is NKOTB, CCR, or Marky Mark, seize the moment and set the tone for the party to follow!

photo by Stacey Hedman Photogrpahy

Dear Becca and Casey,

Cheers,
Engaged and Confused

Dear Engaged and Confused,

I get this question from pretty much every single one of my couples! Engagement photos are totally optional (at least with my packages they are - but some photographers include them with every package). Some couples want photos to use for their save-the-dates or for their wedding website, and some couples just want to have some nice photos of themselves dressed in non-wedding attire. All of those are great reasons to have engagement photos taken!

Personally, I think the best reason to take engagement photos is to get comfortable with having your photo taken. For most people, their wedding is the first time that they are being professionally photographed. Some people don't realize that it can be a little uncomfortable! Even I, as a photographer, can forget how strange it feels to look into a camera and smile. Engagement photos are a great, low-pressure way to get used to the idea of being posed and having your photo taken. It's a great chance to get more comfortable with your photographer as well, and to get to know the way they work and shoot. It can make all the difference on the wedding day!

Another thing to consider is that engagement photos can be a good opportunity to capture a place that is special to you two that you might not be able to access on the wedding day. I've done engagement shoots on boats, in parks, in coffee shops, and lots of other places that might not be easily accessible to a bride in a big white dress. You can also use engagement photos to capture a season you love (maybe you're getting married in July but you love fall in New England)!

Best of luck, and congratulations!

Casey

photo via
Dear Becca and Casey,

I'm writing in as the maid of honor to a bride. I live here in Boston, and she is all the way in St. Louis. I am having a hard time taking on the shower alone, however I fear that it is too burdensome to ask the other maids who live in St Louis to take over the planning. Am I thinking too much?

Thanks, Cross Country MOH

Dear Cross Country MOH,

When it comes to shower planning you should 100% ask for help. If I were to put myself in the position of the other maids as a local to a bride, I would happily step up to the plate to help host. According to Emily Post online, "Must the bridesmaids host a shower?
Contrary to popular belief, the maid/matron of honor and the bridesmaids are not required to host a shower as part of their official responsibilities, though they certainly can if they want to.​" So there, you heard it straight from the horses mouth, you're not even required to host, although it is a nice gesture to help in the process. Perhaps you can work on some of the decorating ideas and invitations from afar.

​I hope you feel at ease asking for help, because by all means, you should!

From time to time, we'd love to feature local vendors who we think are truly fantastic. We have worked with these people and believe in their brands. We thought it would be fun to bring you our collection of curated local vendors for your planning purposes! We want you to know that these are our personal opinions and these are not paid advertisers.

What began as an incredibly popular on-location wedding makeup service (they beautified 72 brides last year alone!) called Blush eventually grew into a brick-and-mortar skincare mecca called Tryst. When you first walk into Tryst, you feel immediately welcomed by the comfortable surroundings and the smiling faces that greet you. Crisp white walls displaying their makeup line shine with sun let in by the wall of windows. We met with the three lovely ladies of Tryst (owner Kelly, Corrie, and Caitlin) and asked them a few questions about how their business came to be.

When did your interest in makeup begin?
When I was 3! I had my father put a piece of plywood with lights in it and I had silver eyeliner. I had pictures of Farrah Fawcett... I have always loved it! Kevyn Aucoin was such an inspiration too - he is the master of transforming people into other people. I would stare at his books and drool, and he is who I aspired to be. I always loved makeup, but then I looked at a Kevyn Aucoin book at that was it for me.

What services do you offer?
Facials, precision brows because brows are super important to framing the eye (we do brow rehab all the time), lash extensions with Xtreme lash, makeup lessons, and a really fun service where we help women purge their makeup bags of unneccessary products.

What's your favorite thing about doing makeup?
The transformation! I never get tired of the transformation, and then seeing the look on somebody's face when they look in the mirror. Sometimes when a bride realizes that's how they'll look on their wedding day, they cry. Just the other day we did makeup on a woman with gold eyes and red lips, and I swear she turned into a completely new person! Her posture changed, she was posing in the mirror - those never get old.

How do you see the Pantone color of the year (emerald) being used in the makeup world?It's a great compliment to eggplant, so anyone wearing green can have a beautiful eggplant shadow. If you're going to use eggplant though, it has to be a really deep color. Green makeup can obviously be tricky, but it's possible to do it a pretty and subtle way.

Tell us about your makeup line!
I always knew I wanted to have a makeup line because there were things I couldn't find. I know the tricks, and I wanted to put those into your hands and make it one step instead of ten. We wanted to make something really customizable. Our palettes are user-friendly, more economic, and completely personal to every person. It was a labor of love, but it's so important to me.

What type of makeup is in your purse at all times?
Lip gloss! 10,000 different kinds.

Any tips for brides to get their skin in tip-top shape before their wedding?
I have a lot of tips! Never start a new regime the week of the wedding. No sun exposure right before the wedding either! Another doozy that we see is when brides grab a peel or dermabrasion from Groupon the week of their wedding and their skin reacts badly to it.

I recommend starting six months ahead. We offer a bridal package which includes four facials and a brow design. Brows are just as important as makeup! Everything is totally customized to each bride's skin type. That way, we can prepare that bride months in advance so that when they come in to have their makeup done it's a clean, dewy palette.

We can say from experience that coming to Tryst will leave you feeling glowy, relaxed, and happy. If you are still looking for makeup for your wedding day, check them out here!

image by Jenny Moloney
Many brides ask me about using mason jars for reception centerpiece vases. From my point of view as a floral designer, they're a don't. Hear me out.

In theory, mason jars are a convenient way to save some money and highlight the rustic chic wedding that has been so popular the past several seasons.

Here are the issues: 1. The jars are not necessarily a cost saver. Often times, if we are limited to mason jars for flowers we are compelled to arrange several vases per table which means more arrangements and more cost. 2. I love surprising designs, and mason jars are starting to give off a whiff of cliché. How about wrapping plants in burlap or a feed sack? Don't hesitate to push the envelope a little.

Granted, this is only my opinion, and I am considering wedding designs on a daily basis. If you're a bride who is dying to use mason jars, I'm not going to rain on your parade. By all means, use them happily and confidently. It's your wedding and you only get to do it once.

For a totally different topic...Do you want to get your start in the wedding industry? My girlfriends over at the coolest letterpress shop this side of the Mississipi are hiring for their store manager position. That's right! The elusive store manager position at Gus and Ruby Letterpress is accepting applicants, and it'd be silly to miss this narrow window of opportunity. If you get the job, mark my words, I will be jealous. Like severely jealous. Planted in thriving Portsmouth, Gus and Ruby's greatest asset is a team of fabulously talented, hilarious and super thoughtful ladies who all strike the perfect balance of work hard/play hard. Fill out your applications today.

Dear Becca and Casey,

Best,
Beachy Bride

Dear Beachy,

This is a really good question! I know lots of brides with destination weddings struggle with the same thing. There are lots of things to consider:

- Different vendors come with different considerations. For example, it might seem easier for a photographer to travel than for a floral designer to travel, but both can and do. Florists can find a flower market no matter where the wedding is located, and photographers can pack up their equipment and bring it along.
- Since you will be avoiding travel fees (which can add up), it makes the most financial sense to try to find vendors local to where your wedding will be. Shop around!
- I think it's important to support the community where your wedding is located, so it can be really great to work with local people. They will also know the area, will probably have worked at your venue before, and will be familiar with local resources (spots for photos, where to hook up their sound equipment, etc).
- One really important thing to consider is work permits. For weddings outside the US, you must do some research and see if the country requires your vendors to provide a work permit. Most do, and your vendors can get in some major trouble for working in another country without permission.

There really are pros and cons to both approaches. If you aren't finding anyone in the Dominican whose work you are attracted to, you should definitely consider flying someone out. Make sure to do some good research first, though - there are great vendors everywhere! And make sure NOT to forget to research permits for your vendors - you don't want them locked up in customs while your wedding is starting! :)

Best of luck,
Casey

Last night Case and I attended an amazing meet-up/networking event hosted by three incredibly talented women in the Boston area, Emily Starr Alfano (owner of MStarr Event and Design) , Sofi Madison (owner of Olives and Grace) and Kate Pokorny (owner of Pluck PR).

As women swapped stories and passions, I couldn't help but be inspired by the buzz. It was a great reminder of how important it is to surround yourself with positive people, energy and spirit. And I'm not just talking business here, I'm talking real life, the teams you build for your everyday, whether it's a business, your community, your wedding vendors, your running buddies, whatever the case may be, it's important!

So, what's this have to do with weddings? Well, Kate of Pluck PR, who I mentioned before, last night she introduced us all to Carats and Cake. Yup folks, not the kind you bite, the kind that bling. It's this amazing new site where both vendors and past brides can share their weddings and brides-to-be can ooohhh and aaaahhh as they plan their perfect day. Now head on over and check it out!

Happy Friday, y'all.

In this day and age, it is rare to receive a handwritten note. Email is used for everything from scheduling appointments to inviting friends to an event to sharing exciting news. However, wedding thank-you cards are one thing that should be left to snail mail. The guests at your wedding showed their support, celebrated with you, and maybe even gave you a gift. The least you can do is show your gratitude with a short note! Especially in this digital age, it is so nice to see a piece of "real" mail sitting in the mailbox.

The "official" etiquette rule is that you have until one year after the wedding to get your thank-you cards out. I'd shoot for somewhere closer to three months. I remember feeling overwhelmed by all the writing I had to do, but make a goal of writing five (or ten) cards a day, and they'll be done in no time! Your new husband should help out, too - there's no rule that the bride must do all the writing! :)

What are you up to this weekend? Hopefully you can stay inside with a warm drink and enjoy this winter snow through the windows. Spring is nearly upon us (looks like we might hit 50 on Tuesday!) but for now, I'm still enjoying hibernating.

So work on your invitation design, answer emails to your vendors, or do a little online shopping for some new honeymoon outfits. Spring will be here before we know it. Happy planning!

I'll leave you with some winter inspiration from a recent winter wedding in Vermont...
Photo by Hello Love Photography

Brace yourselves, romantics. For me? The cake cutting, the whole smooshy-face frosting thing? So over it. I say don't get into the public cake cutting rigmarole at all. In my opinion, it's a waste of precious dance floor time. Not only do you leave your gluten free guests high and dry, you also shame walk yourself through crushing cake into your beloved's face, and the thanks you get is buttercream in your hair. Awesome. At this point at best the tradition is played out, all that hullabaloo for one cliched album shot.

In no way am I suggesting skip dessert, in fact, sweets are pretty much essential. A great sweets solution I've seen is to offer a dessert bar of assorted treats including cake, but not strictly cake. That way guests can get their fix on their own time. Plus when you have a dessert table, there's an easy opportunity for you to offer goodies for many of the dietary restrictions so many of your guests might have!

photo credit: the ever-so talented Heidi of White Loft Studio

Dear Becca and Casey,

Cheers,
Laid-Back Bride

Dear Laid-Back Bride,

Thanks for writing! I definitely do not consider shot lists mandatory, and I do not specifically request them from my clients. Every photographer has a list in their head of the "don't-miss" shots (dress, shoes, standard family groupings, etc.), and they are careful to capture these moments.

What I do suggest is creating a short list of things that are unique to your wedding. If you spent weeks making a custom display of photos that will be in a corner of the reception, or if there is a scrap of fabric from your Grandma's dress sewn into the lining of yours, it can be helpful to give your photographer a heads-up. Likewise, if you have fifteen aunts and uncles and want photos taken with each of them, it can be helpful to make a list of family photos that we can cross off as we go.

A huge shot list can even be detrimental to your photographer, as it can limit the amount of time they have to take candid and creative shots of your wedding day. A brief one warning the photographer about out-of-the-ordinary shots should be all you need!

Best of luck!

Casey

>Photo by Hello Love Photography

Happy March 1st and happy Friday! This weekend I am inspired to do something creative, perhaps a little something sewn. Why don't you try that DIY for your wedding that you've been thinking about? After all, Spring is (almost) in the air. Please feel free to post your DIYs we would love to see what you're working on!

Photo credit: Michelle Wentworth

I've had several brides wear fur accessories for their engagement or wedding photos, and I always think it looks stunning. For a late fall or winter wedding, most couples would still like to do portraits outdoors but don't want to throw on a big black parka over their wedding dress. A fur coat can be a great way to stay really warm but still look formal, sophisticated, and super stylish. And I have to say, fur photographs beautifully.

The brides I've shot have all gotten their furs from older relatives or vintage shops, so ask your grandma if she might have one gathering dust in the attic. Of course, fur can be a controversial choice, and you can always choose a faux fur! That's the route I would go, and you would never be able to tell the difference in a photo.

What do you think? Would you wear fur to your wedding? Is it too old-fashioned for you?

Photo by Hello Love Photography

Dear Inspired,

My fiance and I would like to ask a family member from each side of our families to do a reading. I'm having the hardest time choosing between the many aunts and uncles in my extended family. I feel there are hurt feelings inevitably on the way. Any tips on sidestepping this ugly part of the process?

Thanks,
Family Matters

Dear Family Matters,

This is a tough one to learn, and I did the hard way, but I think hurt feelings, despite the best intentions, can be difficult to avoid in such an emotionally charged situation. Knowing, though, that they come with the territory, the best thing to do is talk openly with each family member and explain the situation. Be as transparent as possible. It takes courage, but that courage leads to growth, and that's what getting married is all about. You've gotta break eggs to make omelettes. Ultimately you will be happy the day of your wedding that you handled the topic with thoughtful and candid conversation.

Best of luck,
Becca

Peter Pan collars were a big trend this year, and I stumbled upon this lovely dress recently which showcases the trend so beautifully. I love feminine and vintage details and this dress seems to be the perfect balance of sophisticated and sweet.

What do you think? Too trendy? Perhaps I should renew my vows.... ;)

Elie Saab dress via Boutique1

Speaking from experience I can say with a full heart that I have no second thoughts about the choice to register for our honeymoon. My husband and I enjoyed so many fun activities throughout our Italian 'luna di miele'. Indulgent boat rides, nights out and afternoons poolside were accompanied by rich toasts to the close friends and family that made these opportunities possible. Furthermore, instead of the burden of lots of nice new things piling up in an apartment we didn't have, we simply felt celebrated. After the fact, our guests loved the stories we shared with them when we got back . They were proud that they personally shaped our adventures abroad. Registering for a memorable honeymoon = Never a bad decision.

Here are two sites I'd recommend using for your registry if you decide to take the plunge:
1. The Honeyfund
2. Honeymoon Wishes

Above is a photo of Mike and I on the top of Anacapri mid September 2010. My, how time flies.