When I look at Cindy & Hal’s wedding pictures done by Sweet Little Photographs, I can’t help but wish I had been there! Everyone looks so happy and genuinely having the best time. Fun, fun, party in the sun in Palm Springs at the Ace Hotel and the dress of course is a stunner! Cindy wore and found her dress “Elsa” by Watters here at Lovely LA and we are just smitten that we were able to help her find “The One” here. Now of course, “The One” is more profound as her now husband, Hal, and what a cutie! Congrats to Cindy & Hal and this new adventure they take together!

Now a few words from the bride herself…

Tell us about THE dress and what inspired your look.

I fell in love with this dress the first time I put it on.  It was everything I wanted.  When I imagined what I wanted my wedding dress to be I wanted a classy somewhat vintage look with lace and a fun, sexy back. I knew I was getting married in Palm Springs, so I wanted something comfortable and lightweight. I tried on a ton of dresses in every style imaginable but something changed when I put this one on at Lovely, everything just came together and I knew it was THE dress. I also started tearing up and got really giddy.

What were the most important details to pulling off your dream wedding?

It was all about location and finding the right venue for us.  We wanted everything to happen in the same place: the ceremony, reception and where our guests stay. We also didn’t want the night be cut short by an early curfew. The ACE hotel in Palm Springs provided all of that.  Most of our family and friends stayed at the hotel with us so it felt like we were surrounded by our loved ones and had a non-stop party the whole weekend! 

What was the most memorable moment?

There were so many amazing moments but there are two that really stand out.  Reciting our vows to each other during the ceremony and having all of our loved ones in tears around us. Then at the end of the night once the music stopped I starting running and jumped into the pool with my wedding dress on and then having everyone at the wedding jump into the pool, most of them with all of their clothes on! 

If you could give future brides any advice, what would it be?

Try not to stress out.  It all works out in the end and everything comes together even when you think it might not.  And when it comes to the day, really stop and look around and take it all in. Like everyone says it does go by so fast so just enjoy every second, take time to have moments with your bridesmaids and most importantly your groom and have the time of your life!

DESIGNER GOWN: Watters “Elsa” Gown/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Sweet Little Photographs/ FLORIST: Natalie Shaw (Friend)

See more gorgeous photos of Cindy & Hal right here!

What a charming couple!! Merritt is a Lovely Alumni and a proud new wife! Many WOOHOOS! and WOOT WOOTS! to our dear Merritt and her husband David on this exciting new chapter in life and love!

Tell us about THE dress and what inspired your look.

Lucky for me, I get to have Carol Hannah as one of my best friends. We met a few years ago at the Hamptons and really hit it off. Since then and after my move to NY, our friendship continued to flourish. I knew from the moment David and I decided to get married, she would be the one to design my dress.

We were actually working on a custom dress for me to wear to a wedding, the weekend I got engaged. Not only was she my wedding wizard, she was also a part of our engagement. Her sneaky self, made me believe we were headed for a ladies night out. Much to my surprise, she led me to a garden, where David was to purpose.

David and I set a NYE wedding date, leaving us only 5 months until our big day. CH and I had to get started crafting my dream dress. I knew I wanted something blush. I’ve always had a bit of a quirky and different style, so I knew white/ivory would be too traditional for me.

Working as a stylist at Lovely NY had been a TREMENDOUS help. I knew styles that I liked, didn’t care for as much, what looked good on my body type, and what definitely didn’t work. My sweet Lovely ladies had always told me I would be a ball gown girl. I was in denial-the bigger, the better.

I’ve always had an interest in fashion, and being able to be a part of the design process was an absolute dream. From sketches, to building the base, approving fabric and details, Carol Hannah let me be a part of the entire process. I provided instruction and my vision to her and she worked her magic and made it a reality. I knew I wanted scoop neck, drop waist, rouched bodice, with a very full skirt for the gown for my ceremony.

Since I was having a NYE wedding, I wanted a sparkly, fun reception dress with lots of rhinestones and an illusion neckline. Definitely a shorter hemline so I would have no problem dancing the night away.

What was the most memorable moment?

There were several memorable moments on the day of my wedding. Fun breakfast with the girls while getting ready, seeing David before the ceremony for some ‘us’ time, freezing outside for the photos, having my dad walk me down the isle, having people that were so close to us perform the ceremony, and seeing everyone have a great time at the wedding. But it was when David and I stepped back and just took a moment in that was so sweet to us. To see all the people that God had brought into our lives surround us to show us their support, and see the smiles on their faces as they were enjoying themselves-that was special.

If you could give future brides any advice, what would it be?

Don’t procrastinate. Go ahead and make as many decisions and finalize as many things as you can at the beginning. And then, when your special day is there, sit back and soak it all in. Take moments for yourself to just look around and appreciate what is happening.

DRESS DESIGNER:  Both dresses (ceremony and reception dress) and veil were custom Carol Hannah designs/ ACCESSORY DESIGNERS: Shoes were Badgley Mischka/ JEWELRY:Earrings worn with ceremony dress  were a Christmas Gift from my grandparents, they came from J.B. Lacher/ Earrings worn with reception dress were sapphire and diamond earrings borrowed from my mom./ Fur stole was a borrowed vintage stole from my aunt./ PHOTOGRAPHER: Nancee Lee Yearick and Mary McKittrick Campbell/ FLORIST: Mary at We Took To The Woods/ WEDDING PLANNER: Leigh Allison Kelley

To view even more heart warming photos of Merritt, David, and their loving family, please check out photographer, Mary McKittrick’s blog!  Thank you for sharing!!!

“That’s where Love happens.” Isn’t that beautiful? I have to say, when I read Kristin’s returned questionnaire, I teared up. I’ve become obsessed with the wedding industry and mainly in part because of that same love Kristin is talking about.

Kristin and David’s non-traditional wedding in New Hampshire was foggy, rainy, and beautiful. And from the sound of it, Kristin and David couldn’t be happier.

What were the most important details to pulling off your dream wedding?

Our friends and family. Plus a phenomenal location.

To say we were working on a micro-budget would be an understatement. People throw around the term DIY as an aesthetic choice but for us it was a necessity. Our motto in the days leading up to the wedding was “teamwork makes the dream work” and we were blessed with the most incredibly talented and generous friends and family you could ask for. From the food to the décor to the music, it was all them.

And it didn’t hurt that we had an AMAZING location. It rained for hours. It was super foggy. And even under those circumstances, the venue was holy-crap gorgeous. Nature, man. It’s the cheapest and most mind-blowing decoration you can have.

Tell us about THE dress and what inspired your look.

I knew we were going to be having a non-traditional wedding. It was going to be in a barn in the middle of nowhere. We were even reluctant to call it a “wedding” because we knew it set up certain expectations for our predominantly conservative family. So choosing a dress that reflected the overall spirit of the day was important.

I knew I wanted to get married in a short dress. I knew I wanted something lace and with a sweetheart neckline and nothing that read “princess.” I saw one picture of Ivy & Aster’s “Sweet Dreams” dress and nearly cried. There it was. Done. That was the dress. It was just a matter of finding a shop that carried it.

What was the most memorable moment?

Seeing my husband ugly-cry at the end of the aisle.

If you could give future brides any advice, what would it be?

Google Docs are your best friend! We planned our New Hampshire wedding all the way from Los Angeles. We’d have been in a tough spot without the internet.

Also, it’s your wedding. Or “wedding.” Or “big party where we tell everyone about how we’re wicked in love with each other.” Do whatever you want. Especially if you’re paying for it yourself.

And if you can, make it personal. More personal than a monogram.

Let people in. Write your own vows. Doesn’t matter how simple they are, EVERYBODY cries a little harder when you write them yourself.

And don’t worry about the whole thing being ‘perfect.’ Let people see the seams. That’s where Love happens.

DRESS DESIGNER: Ivy Aster “Sweet Dreams”/  NECKLACE: Betsy Johnson/ SHOES: Fergalicious/  PHOTOGRAPHER: Basirah Photography/ FLORIST: Trader Joes/ WEDDING PLANNER: Kristin! / The Barn at Moody Mountain Farm

“THANK YOU to the Livingstone and Fonseca family and every member of the small army that was our wedding party. “

So very excited to share with you Lovelies, a real bride of ours’ gorgeous backyard wedding! Dani and Jeremy had their wedding in Dani’s grandparent’s backyard in Calabasas, CA. It was a gorgeous setting and the perfect combination between elegance and easy going.

THE BRIDE ON HER DRESS:

I really didn’t know what I was looking for in a wedding dress. I didn’t see myself in a big poufy fairytale dress, although my Mother did! We decided to try everything to see what looked right for me. When I saw my dress on the hanger, I thought it was beautiful and elegant, but not sure how it would look on my body. Then I slipped it on… The moment I saw myself in this dress, I KNEW!

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:

Definitely seeing my Husband’s face when I was walking down the isle. When we were pronounced Husband and Wife, I was holding our daughter, and it felt like we had really solidified “our family”. Our kiss was awesome, and I remember feeling so much love from our friends and family. Everyone was so happy for us!

DECOR & DETAILS:

I just wanted the vibe to be right. I wanted a laid back, yet upscale and elegant backyard wedding. I had a lot of DIY aspects, and the most beautiful flowers I could imagine. 

ANY ADVICE?

RELAX and enjoy it! So many brides are stressed out the day of their wedding.. There has to come a time when you stop and realize; whatever is going to happen will happen, and this whole huge event is all about celebrating you and the person you love. 

Such a happy bride!! Congratulations Danielle, you looked amazing and we could not be more happy and excited for you!

{Dress: Nicole Miller found at Lovely Bride, Accessories: From Nordstrom, Photography: Joielala Photographie, Florist: Primary Petals, Wedding Planner: Heather Hoesch with LVL Events, Videography: Mission Visual – Full Service Event Cinema}

Photos linked back to WeddingChicks.