I think most women I know are obsessed to some degree with the glamour of the French. And this real Santa Barbara bride from French Canada has that certain jen ne sais quoi in spades. I love the pearl accents and the black bow makes this dress ever so chic.

Throw in a classic car, a doggie in a bow tie (!) and a beautiful white bouquet and you’ve got one elegant and timeless look. Would you go with a French vibe for your wedding day?

I love, love muscari, and this variety in white is so feminine and delicate. Here, I styled them in my old pointe shoes…

Of course, they also look pretty good in an old golf trophy I picked up an antique store. I like the idea of a table design of different trophies filled with simple blooms, what do you think?

You can never go wrong with a pair of pink Manolo Blahniks shoes with a bit of bling.

I’m a big fan of a hosting a large rehearsal dinner. And this one, is well, awesome. Held at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum the understated fiesta vibe, is elegant, and oh so fun.

A muted palatte of taupes and creams is given a distinctive fiesta flair with shots of turquoise and bolsa wood flowers that are a twist on the colorful paper flowers usually used for this kind of look.

Of course, if you’re going to throw a proper fiesta, you need a really good mariachi band to set the mood. Add in a menu of delicious tacos and churros and you’ve got the makings of one successful party.

Did I mention, the churro situation? I’ll take one!

TGIF! I’m making a game plan because I’m driving down to my beloved hometown (Long Beach) this weekend to celebrate Mother’s Day and my mom’s birthday-don’t worry Mom, I won’t mention what birthday it is…but it is definitely cause for celebration J

St. Germain has become my all-time favorite ingredient to add to cocktails. This elderflower liquor is powerfully delicious in taste and I simply adore its beautiful bottle… You can pretty much add it to anything for a punch of delectable flavor. For this weekend, we will definitely be drinking our fair share of champagne and since this recipe is such a crowd-pleaser, I think it will be what I’ll be mixing up for the fam. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Small splash of St. Germain (a little bit goes a long way)

Splash of pear juice

Fill with chilled Champagne (I prefer Prosecco)

Cheers!

XOXO,

Melissa

Costa Rica is the perfect tropical destination for romance…and one of my ultra-favorite destinations in the world. Vibrant colors, serene beaches…everything you could ever want in a love-filled getaway.

The beach itself feels visceral and authentic…a place to recollect yourself among the sometimes rocky shore of life. Pause for moments of reflection on your recent wedding or anniversary…or simply laugh the day away with your lover, favorite cocktails in hand.

The architectural detail is Victorian meets Neo-classical…transporting your heart and soul to a time when the simplicity of running water was the song that connected one to another. It’s pure perfection.

For your own Costa Rican journey, here are the best places to sleep/eat/see:

Sleep: Villa Caletas…located in the central coast, this luxury boutique resort offers everything you’re looking for in a romance-filled getaway: tropical rainforests, intimate accommodations, and un-paralled views. Stay in one of the property standard rooms, or splurge and indulge in the awe-inspiring superior suite…complete with separate living room and private plunge pool. Either way, you’re sure to enjoy endless hours of one-on-one time in the lap of luxury.

Eat: Kiantis…a local favorite, Kiantis (located in San Antonio de Belen) offers the best in reasonably priced tropical cuisine in everything from seafood to steak. The staff is friendly and the cocktails are divine. Be sure to try our faves…the Arroz con Pollo or Sea Bass.

See: Manuel Antonio National Park…the one destination you can’t miss, this park is both rainforest and beach. Here you can experience everything from snorkeling, fishing and white water rafting, to horseback riding and hiking. It’s quintessential floral and fauna, and the perfect escape for couples of all tastes.

As much as I love color, sometimes white on white design can be so fresh and clean looking. If you choose this palette, you’ll need to create interest by layering textures in order to create depth and interest. A mix of white woods, perhaps eyelet and white milk glass containers holding white peonies could be so very pretty… Would you consider white on white for your home or wedding?

You guys know how much I love a short wedding dress, and this dress is quite simply adorable.

Paired with a cute bob and head band (how sweet is that!) and the prettiest shoes, I would say this is one look I would steal in a heartbeat.

So last week we made a headdress with the gorgeous clematis flower. This week I’m making a matching bouquet inspired by some fun plaid ribbon I found at a fabric store. You will need:

Flowers:

-2 bunches of light pink sweet pea

-1 bunch of liliac

-1 bunch hot pink ranunculus

-1 bunch cappuncino ranunuclus

-1 bunch geranium

Tools:

-flower tape

- floral pick or wire

-ribbon (2 yards of each, mine are from Michael Levine)

-pearl headed pins

Begin by cleaning your flowers and taking off leaves. Trim you flowers and let them hydrate and open for a day. Use pruning shears to cut a trim the lilac and cut a slit in the bottom to allow for water uptake. Once your ready to arrange wire the ranunuclus as needed (the heads tend to be floppy and sometimes need additional support).

Start by gathering a handful of flowers, rotating as you add stems and place flowers at different heights for texture. Its helpful to use a mirror to ensure your bouquet looks good from all sides. Use floral tape to hold your bouquet together. Then over the tape, use your colorful ribbon and wind it around the bouquet. Finish by pinning the ribbon to the bouquet. Here, I added two additional trailing pieces of hand-died silk ribbon for additional color.

Cut your ribbon, and keep it long if you like that trailing look. Put on your clematis headdress and you’ve got a very colorful, and slightly bohemian, wedding day look.

How about some modern and strappy footwear for your wedding day?