We had a lot of guesses last week & Shari gave a great challenging photo.  Charity was the first to guess Emerald Bay.  Congrats Charity!  Drop Shari and email & she’ll get your 8×10 print to you.  Hopefully you all will find this week’s photo just as challenging.

I took this photo back in 1992.  My daughter, Victoria, was about seven months old.  In fact she cut her first tooth while visiting here.  So here are the clues:

1. It’s an island
2. A famous author was born here
3. They have snow in the winter

Good luck & have fun!  Who knows, there might be a give away this week too.

Fall weddings can be so beautiful with the vibrant oranges, reds, yellows and even browns.  So this week is all about fall weddings.  And we especially wanted to focus on finding inspiration from weddings in New Hampshire, Vermont & Maine.  Think fresh red apples, brillant orange pumpkins and golden brown maple syrup.

1.  The reception, can be elegant but rustic……a chic harvest.  Photo from The Knot
2. I think in the fall why not go with a dramatic, chocolate brown gown from Jason Wu. 
3. Simple earrings from Barney’s.
4. Love this bold cake.  Photo from The Knot.
5. Simple, modern invitations in a striking chocolate brown.  Photo from The Knot.
6. Gorgeous Stuart Weitzman shoes.
7. Brilliant orange calle lilies.  Photo from The Knot.
8. And this beautiful Devi Kroell evening bag to hold a few miscellaneous items.

I’ve been wanting to highlight Ian Prosser and his team at Botanica for a while since I really, really love his work.  Based out of Florida, they travel internationally, creating beautiful wedding and event floral designs.  So if you’re looking for a unique, elegant floral designer give their site a visit.  And to see a recent real wedding, visit their blog.  Happy Friday!!

Modeled after a chateau in the Loire Valley, Chateau Marmont in the Hollywood Hills is rich with history and excitement. 

Famous for hosting celebrities, the hotel pampers and offers privacy.  Their garden view rooms start at $370./ night but the amenities are endless. 

 And since they’re in the heart of West Hollywood, you’re close to nightlife, restaurants and shopping.  Or if you prefer, hang out by the pool, schedule a horseback ride or take a hike in Runyon Canyon.  It’s in a great location and if you dream of having a hollywood honeymoon, Chateau Marmont is the place.

If you dream of your wedding have the flair of an old Clark Gable and Carole Lombard movie, then the one destination spot meant for your event is the The Roosevelt Hotel Hollywood. 

The historic hotel is in the heart of Hollywood and hosted the very first Academy Awards on May 19, 1929.  And yes, even Clark & Carole use to stay in the hotel suite for $5./ night!  But if you can’t make it to Hollywood, here are a few other venue ideas:

• Fox Theatre, Atlanta
• The Majestic, Dallas
• The Chicago Theatre, Chicago
• Colonial Theatre, Boston

But a classic Hollywood inspired wedding is so much more than just the venue.  It’s refined, dramatic style is from a day gone by and I found so much inspiration that I had a hard time choosing what to share with you. 

 Gown by Claire Pettibone

Gown by Jenny Packham

Purse designed by Leigh Ann Kline

A little groom inspiration too. Photo by Our Labor of Love

1948 Rolls Royce

Vintage floral design by Martha Stewart

Even consider finding a photographer you love who can give your photos that old hollywood style.  One that comes to mind is Elizabeth Messina.  Her work is stunning and glamorous!

And of course, make that first dance a romantic show stopper. 

Well, I guess I got everyone two weeks ago, this house is on Pine Island, Florida. It’s a cool little place that’s very old Florida. I have a wedding at the Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island in three weeks, can’t wait!

Matt was correct with last week’s photo - it was Vero Beach. I love that church.

Here are this week’s clues:

1. As I already said, it snows a lot here.

2. It’s in California.

3. It’s on a bay that’s named after a gemstone.

This photo was taken by Sean Haughey, of Shari Bare Photography.

This week we are going to feature weddings that have the feel of Hollywood glamour. It’s quite fitting for me to feature my best friend’s wedding in Wine Country, having just returned.

Lisa had a strong vision of her wedding. She is quite a glamorous girl, so a vintage glamour look fit her perfectly. She didn’t want the entire style of the wedding to be over-the-top Hollywood glamour. But she definitely wanted the three of us to be glamorous all the way.

As I mentioned, Lisa is already quite glamorous. A girly girl who has more make-up and accessories than anyone I know. Now Chris, the maid of honor, and I are another story altogether. Think two tomboys all the way. I’m lucky if I get my hair cut once a year, and Chris has that laid back J Crew look that she doesn’t realize is so appealing.

Enter amazing stylist, Tia. We were beyond transformed. When my fiancé, Sean, first saw me he was literally speechless with his mouth hanging open. I really owe Tia ☺

These are a few snaps from the wedding. A few taken by me (although I vowed to be as camera-free as possible), some taken by Sean, and others taken by whoever happened to have a camera at the time.

While I must admit that a large portion of the weddings I photograph have some part on the beach, that isn’t always the case. There are lots of beautiful venues away from the beach. One of my favorites in Naples is The Strand. It seems tailor-made for weddings. Lily, the wedding coordinator, is very experienced and will take great care of you.

I think it’s important to pick a venue that reflects who you are as a couple. This wonderful couple, Melanie and Mounir, are very classic and elegant. The Strand was a perfect choice for them.

And, of course, if you really love the beach but aren’t sure you want sand in your shoes on the day of your wedding, you can always go to the beach for you engagement shoot or day-after session

With Melanie and Mounir, we chose to do their engagement shoot in downtown Tampa, where they live. They knew their wedding would be very elegant, so we mixed it up and had some fun in an urban setting.

I really want to stay here! This place is amazing. I mean, you can fly a hawk in the School of Falconry! I’ve been to the area and it’s breathtaking. I know I use a lot of superlatives, like wonderful and gorgeous and fabulous to describe things, but Ireland really is beyond description. It truly gets in your soul.

I’m on vacation so I’m going to copy what they have to say from their website:

“It is our pleasure to welcome you to Ashford Castle, one of the most exclusive luxury hotels in the World. Standing over the shores of Lough Corrib, and hidden deep in over 350 acres of wooded parkland, this 13th Century Castle is a monument to a fascinating history of a bygone age. Once the estate of the Guinness Family, the Castle opened its doors as an exclusive hotel in 1939.

While staying with us you can enjoy a wide range of relaxing or exciting activities. Book a Spa treatment or Fly a Hawk in the School of Falconry, take a Picnic in the Walled Garden or catch Wild Trout or Salmon here, in one of the most famous fisheries in Ireland. Just 30 minutes from Galway city, and within easy driving distance of Shannon International Airport, Ashford Castle is perfectly situated to welcome all ages of visitors, from every corner of the globe.”

Since green is my favorite color, there’s nothing I can think of that would be more fun than some green details at your wedding. Here are some fun ideas:

From left to right, top to bottom.

1. Use the scenery as your green! This is Pelican Preserve, one of my favorite locations in Fort Myers, Florida.

2. Cute butterfly favors — or could be decorations.

3. Minty favors.

4. Umbrellas, guests will thank you in the hot sun.

5. A pretty green color for a bridesmaid’s dress, actually hard to find! Trust me, I know. I tried on like 500 a few months ago.

6. Place card holders. These are freaking cute.

7. Fresh green invitations.

8. I love these Chuck Taylor’s! They are unisex. This is what I’d have the whole bridal party wear, groomsmen and bridesmaids