Lush

We're back! I've got lots of catching up to do, but I wanted to share a little bit of tropical greenery (and one gorgeous pair of shoes!) while I'm unpacking, sorting through emails and finding my footing back in San Francisco! 

Tell me, what have you been up to this past week? I can't wait to hear all about it! 

Image by Christina Szczupak Photography, and there's lots more of this gorgeous Playa del Carmen wedding to enjoy on Style Me Pretty!

Out of Office

Warm sand, frozen drinks and a world without wifi are calling.

Image by Style Art Life.

Sufficient Champagne

"Three be the things I shall never attain: envy, content, and sufficient Champagne"

Dorothy Parker


Since I frequently share cocktail recipes that include sparklers, and the stuff is pretty divine to drink all on its own, I thought I'd share some of my favorite bottles of bubbly. From Cava to Californian, it's not always about Champagne!


German Gilabert is my house sparkler of choice; this Cava is always delicious, and the branding can't be beat. It can be a little tough to find from time to time, so Avinyó and Segura Viudas are strong second choices, especially for low-key celebrations.

Like my favorite Cava, grower produced Champange can be more difficult to find, but worth the work, in my opinion (look for the RM, which stands for Récoltant-Manipulant on the label). Big Champagne houses produce the same (stellar) product year after year, but grower Champagne is endlessly variable, since the finished product will depend on the terroir and vintage. Another bonus? They're usually less expensive, since they don't have the marketing budgets of the big boys. 

That said, sometimes you just want to be able to dash into the liquor store and grab a bottle of something sparkling to celebrate. For a long time, John was devoted to Moët & Chandon, I to Perrier-Jouët, but at a recent Champange tasting, I was taken with a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Blue Label Brut, which I thought truly did taste like the stars!

They might revoke my California driver's license if I didn't mention our state's sparklers, and there's plenty of talk about. Schramsberg's non-vintage second label, Mirabelle, was a desperate pre-party grab from the cold case, and is one of my favorites these days, along with Scharffenberger Brut and Domaine Carneros Brut and Brut Rosé.


Tell me, what are you favorite sparklers? Do you drink them to celebrate, or do you pull out the Champagne along with the good china for Chinese food? 


Image by Flory Photo.

Saying Thanks

It's wedding season, which means invitations are flying and gifts are being exchanged. There's nothing better than celebrating the happiness of your nearest and dearest, but if you're anything like me, an etiquette misstep can spoil some of the fun. My biggest pet peeves? Invites addressed to"& Guest", registry information printed just below "First Presbyterian Church", and no-show thank you notes. But the good news is that these errors are easy to avoid! I've rounded up my best advice on sending your thanks, and I hope it serves you well this wedding season!

Cards made to match your wedding invitation are darling, but I've rounded up a collection of chic thank you cards from Wedding Paper Divas that are perfect for sending your thanks from the announcement of your engagement to your first married Christmas!

 Ever Arrow

Who? 

Anyone who sends a wedding gift gets a thank you note, of course, but the list doesn't end there! Well-wishers who send presents in celebration of your engagement or attend your bridal shower should also receive thank you notes, as well as the sweet friends or family members who host these celebrations or help you during the planning process. There's no need to flood your best friend's mailbox for every favor she helps you fashion, of course, but letting people know how much you appreciate their generosity is always in good taste.

 

 Elegantly Entitled 

What?

Anatomy of a thank you note: 

Thank the giver for the specific gift, whether it's the chrome KitchenAid mixer you registered for, or the coffee table book on Monet (don't let on if you prefer Miró).

Explain how you'll make use of the gift, particularly if it's a cash donation. Your aunt will love to know that her check went to a beautiful dinner on the beach–and if it doesn't delay sending out your thanks, why not include a photo? 

Include a personal line or two. Maybe you're looking forward to seeing them at your family's Fourth of July picnic, or grabbing lunch once you've shaken the sand out of your carry on.

 Standing Together

When?

Maybe you've heard that you have your first newlywed year to send out thank you notes for wedding gifts, or just three months. But here's the real reason to send your thanks sooner rather than later–your guests want to know that you got their gift! Packages go missing in the mail, your baby sister might have left a wedding present behind at the end of the night, and when your guests don't hear from you, they worry that something's gone wrong. 

Etiquette isn't just for nitpicking Type A's–it's a code of conduct that lets the people are us know how much we respect them. After all, who do you appreciate more than the friends and family who celebrate your happiness, and shower you with presents? 

Tell me, what are your best tips for writing thank you notes, or your biggest etiquette pet peeve?

Ashley and Thomas

 

 

 

This Iowa bride and Jersey boy were both living in Manhattan, and when mutual friends set them up on a blind date in Manhattan, the attraction was instantaneous. After their Central Park engagement, Ashley and her groom-to-be set off to plan a wedding that would honor her home state and delight their East Coast guests with a celebration that was laid-back and elegant!

The couple chose the Iowa State Memorial Union for their big day, and brought in Iowa-based event coordinators Down to Details to make sure everything ran smoothly. The bride, with her degree in design, wanted to have a strong hand in the visual elements of the day–she made the programs, menus, printed signage and lace votives, but put her trust in Pistachio Press for the invitations and Dancing Pen & Press with the calligraphy. Ashley designs neckware for Ralph Lauren, so it's no surprise that the bridal party is so sharply dressed; Thomas wore a Ralph Lauren Black Label tuxedo, and those darling polka dot bow ties were custom made as a gift to the groomsmen. Bridesmaids wore black dressed from 57 Grand, but if you're anything like me, it's the bride's gorgeous gown you can't stop thinking about! She found her Vera Wang stunner, the Gwendolyn, after visiting more than a dozen of Manhattan's best bridal shops–but saved the best for last. Ashley paired the gown, just days off the runway, with a pile of jeweled bangles from Chamak by Priya Kakkar and a pair of sparkling Miu Miu sandals.

After the traditional ceremony at the Collegiate United Methodist Church, guests made their way to the stately but welcoming Memorial Union for dinner and dancing. Table arrangements in shades of ivory, peach and pink by Mary Kay's Flowers echoed the bouquets and boutonnieres worn earlier, and the Art Deco-inspired menus featured the newlywed's first email exchange on the back. Dinner and those darling cakes were the work of the Iowa State Catering and Bakery teams–don't you just adore that bow-topped beauty?

As always, a huge thank you to Molly of m three studio for sharing her spectacular work; these photos are nothing short of a dream! 

Tell me, what's your favorite detail?

Lace

This photo, and the Valentino peep toes that star in it, were the inspiration for this entire week of black tie beauty. Isn't it funny how one small detail can bring an entire event to life? 

What details do you find truly inspiring?

Image by Kristin Vining Photography, Peep-Toe Lace Couture d'Orsay Pumps by Valentino.

Peaceful

John was out of town this weekend, leaving me to my own devices. There was a time when I would have scrambled to fill up every moment, but instead I made what felt like a powerful decision–I would take the weekend for myself, not just be alone, but truly savor and indulge in time to myself. And the best part?

It was heavenly. 

I slipped out of the office on Friday afternoon long before my usual quittin' time with a bag of lime and a handful of perfectly ripe avocados; I munched on guacamole and sipped a margarita while my very wise (and very dear) friend Rhi of Hey Gorgeous Events gave me some invaluable advice about saying no–it wasn't until later that I found out she was dispensing wisdom half naked, but I won't argue with the guru's methods! Later, I rented a girly flick John would never even entertain watching, and fell asleep before the credits rolled.

I woke up on Saturday, grabbed a book and curled up in an armchair, watching the previous evening's fog slowly disperse. Toast, berries and a cup of tea was the perfect little meal around eleven, and then I got dressed and headed out to explore Fillmore Street, a little shopping district where I once worked but haven't set foot in in more than year! I strolled up and down, popping into shops I loved and getting lost in a newsstand chock full of international fashion glossies. After whiling away the afternoon, I headed home to devour all my favorite blogs and get a head start on the week to come. Finally my growling stomach told me it was time for dinner, and I walked to Outerlands, a local treat that's all too well known! It took more than 30 minutes to secure a single seat at the bar, but the wait was well worth it–zucchini soup warmed me up after waiting in the sea breeze, and the beef tenderloin and duck fat new potatoes were delicious, especially with a glass of gamay. I strolled home after the sun had set but before the sky darkened (arguably my favorite thing about summer) and curled up with the first season of Downton Abbey–John can't stand period dramas, so I'd never seen so much as an episode!

Instead of lazing around on Sunday morning, I pulled on some clothes and took a walk down to our local grocery for orange juice, chives and gruyère; Barbara Walter's scrambled eggs were heavenly with a few new potatoes and a strong cup of tea. I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon reading, blogging and cleaning–some of my favorite things–then turned my attention to my yoga mat. After my navasanas, I took a quick shower and headed to the movie theater to catch a late-afternoon showing of To Rome With Love. Of course, after so much Italian cooking and eating, you couldn't blame me for craving pasta and prosecco–or reenacting that Barilla pasta ad, although I was belting Bellini instead!


Tell me, when was the last time you indulged in some time to yourself?

Image by Hannah Persson Photo.

Sparkling Strawberry Sangria

When I think about my childhood summers, the things that stand out are foods–fresh basil pesto, Silver Queen corn from the farm around the corner, and the berries, still warm from the sun. So if you can stand to wait, why not add strawberries to your next batch of sangria? 

Sparkling Strawberry Sangria 

1 bottle sparkling wine 

2 lemons, thinly sliced

strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced 

4 oz strawberry syrup

2 oz orange liquor

Strawberry syrup

Combine equal parts water, sugar and hulled, sliced strawberries in small saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, until berries are soft and liquid is pink. Strain strawberries and reserve for sangria.

Place 1 sliced lemon and strawberries at the bottom of a pitched; add strawberry syrup and orange liquor, then gently muddle. Add sparkling wine, stir and serve immediately. Garnish with strawberries and a wheel of lemon. 

Notes: Most sangria recipes suggest that you steep the fruit overnight, but who can wait that long? Using Cava, Prosecco or another sparkler demands that this sangria be drunk on the spot–and if you're serving anyone who abstains from alcohol, it's easy to mix up a batch using sparkling lemon or orange soda in place of the curacao and bubbly! Cheers!

Image by Ashley O'Dell Photography.

Coco

"A woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting."

-Christian Dior

What do you think your perfume (or handwriting, for that matter!) says about you? Mine, a unisex Bulgari scent, belies how much the summer we spent in Italy had a stylistic impact on me, and my handwriting says, "Practice makes perfect!"

Image by A Simple Photograph.

Amber and Greg

Sometimes "pretty" just seems so insufficient, doesn't it? 

Amber and Greg nixed a destination beach celebration in favor of a local celebration at the gorgeous Concannon Vineyard, complete with a lemony yellow Victorian home, a vineyard and a barrel room. The couple wanted their day to feel romantic and personal, so they worked with event planner Maggie Wise to craft a celebration that was equal parts rustic and traditional. 

Amber wore a lace Enzoani gown and crystal belt, paired with a gorgeous embroidered veil by Malis-Henderson, nude platform peep toes from Enzo Angiolini and crystal drop earrings, while her bridesmaids wore navy Jim Hjelm gowns. Bouquets by The Petal Pusher, full of peonies, garden roses, ranunculus, lisianthus and sage green foliage, perfectly complimented the gainsboro gray suits worn by the gentlemen. After a cloudy morning, the skies parted just in time for the newlywed's vows, and following the outdoor ceremony, guests dined al fresco on California cuisine from Alex's Catering. The barrel room was the perfect setting for sweets, with a four tier buttercream confection from Cake Delight as the centerpiece, and dancing, with Rob from Amos Productions providing the music.

And as always, few credits are quite as important is the photographer, in this case the incredible Tanja Lippert, whose work lets us continue to enjoy these beautiful moments long after the cake is eaten and the chairs cleared away. An enormous thanks to Tanja, for sharing her stunning photos with us!

What's your favorite detail from this gorgeous fête?