This past season, I was honored to have been invited by the inimitable Annie Falk to join the luxuriously literary Daphne Nikolopoulos, the sassy and chic Victoria Amory, the ever-stylish Katherine Lande and the spiritual shutterbug Jerry Rabinowitz on a fantasy journey through Palm Beach’s hautest homes, yachts and gardens.

Co-authors Annie, Daphne and I put pen to paper (ok, fingertips to keyboard) to share inspiration from hearth and home while photographing some of the island’s savviest hosts and hostesses for “Palm Beach Entertaining: Creating Occasions to Remember.” Styling place settings, floral arrangements, food photography and portraits along the way, we had a ball!

And what’s more, in the spirit of Palm Beach philanthropy at its finest, sales of “Palm Beach Entertaining: Creating Occasions to Remember” benefit Children’s Home Society of Florida. Reserve your copy today on Amazon.com!

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By Lisa Leonard of Lisa Leonard Designs

Your wedding day is a celebration of two lives coming together, and there are three great ways to make sure your autumn wedding plans “fall” right into place this season! This year Mother Nature’s fall bounty can be found in weddings from coast to coast.

Autumn Color Selections: Let’s face it; selecting wedding colors can be tricky, but autumn wedding’s offer natural hints when it comes to the “color schemes” and selection. Rich, natural and earth tones are wildly popular choices when it comes to autumn weddings this year. Color schemes such as: orange and green, brown and orange or purple and green, are top contenders for 2012’s most popular picks. Plus, using natural and earthy décor such as wooden cake plates (that can often be found at thrift stores) and painted to match your special day are great ways to incorporate any color into your special day. Also consider using slices of tree bark for a rustic look.

Appreciation for the outdoors: Fall weather is often more temperate than summer and yet still warm enough to enjoy the outdoors. Why not think outside of the box for a personal and fun wedding venue? Is there a park nearby where you and your partner take walks? Getting married under a large oak tree with white lights and chairs arranged in rows can make for a magical celebration. Perhaps you know someone with a rustic barn or you’re lucky enough to live near the ocean. By adding in a few handmade signs with your own personal message, some warm candles and fresh flowers, a simple outdoor location can become a magical backdrop for your special day.

Fall Harvest & Food: Let the bounty of fall’s beauty influence your wedding from tabletop to bouquet. This autumn we’ll see bouquets and floral arrangements full of richly colored roses in hues from orange to burgundy. Succulents are the rage right now and add a modern look to fall bouquets and centerpieces. And don’t forget the men’s boutonnieres! Succulents, herbs and even a fiddlehead fern add the perfect autumn touch to your wedding. And for the finishing touch? Use fresh fall fruits, such as grapes, sugar apples and cranberries to bring fall’s natural beautify to each table setting.

About Lisa: Lisa Leonard is a popular blogger and designer of meaningful jewelry and gifts. She and her husband run their business, Lisa Leonard Designs on the central coast of California. Visit her blog at LisaLeonardOnline.com/blog and her shop at LisaLeonard.com.

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Danielle Tate, Founder and President of www.MissNowMrs.com

What she is obsessed with: Simplifying the name change hassle for newlyweds nationwide, down to the nitty gritty details.

What is so 2011: Hyphenated last names.

What’s the next big thing? Taking your maiden name as your middle name is a big trend, and Pinterest…LOVE it for planning weddings, showers, parties and life in general.

What should brides and grooms already know before contacting you? Know your name change options and the one that works best for you. You can take your spouse’s name, both of your last names, hyphenate both last names, take your maiden name as an additional middle name or replace your maiden name with your middle name.

What is your specialty? Making the transition from Miss to Mrs. a snap! We have every form you need for your situation in your state as well as notification letters for all of your banks, credit cards, insurance providers, investment accounts etc. We have name-change experts available via phone, email and live chat. No one comes close to our level of customer support!

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This warm color palette is sure to add a touch of Hollywood glamour to your spring wedding! We’re positively infatuated with these rich gold and rose gold metallics, soft pink peonies and bold graphic elements in sleek black. This wedding color combo is making us blush!

Ring via Buy Table settings via theweddingpost Shoes via Badgley Mischka Cake via tickled pink Dress via DK Floral Ties via Martha Stewart Weddings Pink Tux via OneWed Wedding Invitation via WeddingInvitations

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Spring is here and wedding season is in full swing. Monetary gifts are a go-to gift for wedding goers, and they’re perfect for traveling bridesmaids and groomsmen who partake in costly dress purchases, tuxedo rentals and hair & makeup appointments for your big day.

Gift Card Lab makes cash personal and practical. Create a completely customized Visa card with a favorite photo of the couple or note of encouragement. The receiver can spend where ever Visa cards are accepted on what they really need.

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Suzy Clement, photographer and author of Weddings: From Snapshots to Great Shots

What she’s obsessed with: The tagline for my business is “find beauty,” and I’m obsessed with that idea in photography and in life. When shooting a wedding, my passion is to record and reveal the moments, gestures and interactions that really capture a feeling and grab one’s heart. Of course, in some ways this is easy at a wedding because there is so much joy, love, and beauty everywhere you look.

I’m obsessed with the idea as a mantra for living life as well. I believe the real joy in life lies in staying present and attuned to those small, beautiful moments that happen every day. I’ve been thinking about this constantly lately and making a very deliberate effort to live this way.

What is so 2011: Wedding images processed with lots of crazy Photoshop actions to look like faded 70′s snapshots and the like. Those things are fun on Instagram, but when it comes to a wedding, we want to remember what things actually looked like! Beautiful, true, pure, clean, gorgeous color and crisp, rich, timeless black and white make my heart sing.

What’s the next big thing? Color, lots and lots of vibrant color. Demure white weddings are gorgeous and will always be in style, but I’m excited to see all the fresh pops of color that are cropping up for spring fashions, and I think this trend is finding its way to weddings as well. I’m so excited because I adore bright, colorful weddings and because it’s not a trend that limits couples – it helps them feel freer to express who they really are with their wedding decor and details.

What should brides and grooms already know before contacting you? The date is the first thing! And I hope they have spent some time on my website and blog. I want my clients to hire me because they feel a real connection to the work, and to me.

What sets you apart from others in your industry? My dedication to authenticity. My joy in photography lies with capturing that element of emotional truth in moments both large and small, from a sweeping vista to the softest, subtlest hand gesture and everything in between. That is what makes an image truly timeless. Without that element of authenticity, an image is merely eye candy, and wedding photography should be much more than that!

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As far as the It! Girls are concerned, daisies = happiness. What could be more purely joyful than this wonderfully white flower? But this is a go big or go home situation. The humble daisy is at its best when used en masse! We’re talking daisies bouquets, boutonnieres, hair pieces, kissing balls, on cakes — even garnishing hors d’oeuvres!

Flower Girl via Etsy Wedding Rings via Marianne Taylor Photography Big Daisy Floral Decorations via Heather’s Glen Blog Daisy Sticks via Martha Stewart Weddings Bridesmaids via The Wedding Chicks Wedding Dress via Wedding Bee Boutonniere via Seattle Flowers Bouquet via Bella Images by Sandra Cake via My Wedding Flower Ideas

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Check out this exquisite beach wedding captured by the fab crew at LaFrance Films! But first, a toast from the bride and groom:

Ceremony: Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park

Venue: Ocean Key Resort & Spa

Officiant: Rev. Eddie Rodriguez

Flowers: Rick Interian, Avant Gardens

Photographer: Susan Stripling

Videographer: Michael LaFrance, LaFrance Films

Ceremony Music: Key West Strings

Reception Entertainment: The Ruby Baker Band

Desserts: Cakes By Karol

Linen: BBJ Linen

Transportation: City View Trolleys & Key West Limo

After Party DJ: Jimmy V

After Party: The Loft at Rick’s

Wedding Coordinator: Simply You Weddings

Makeup and hair: Studio Marie-Pierre Key West

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Lisa Leonard, jewelry and gifts designer, Lisa Leonard Designs

What she is obsessed with: Current obsessions include red lipstick, French-press coffee with extra cream, taking pictures with my Nikon D5000, thrifting with my sister, watching Downton Abbey with my husband and snuggling with my boys.

What is so 2011: Cookie cutter weddings are over! Make it personal and make about YOU!

What’s the next big thing? Handmade is on the rise. Whether you make it yourself or support a handmade shop, handmade is easiest way to add charm and creativity to your special day.

What should brides and grooms already know before contacting you? Couples should have a general idea of a theme for their wedding day. Also, if they want to create custom necklaces for their bridesmaids and groomsmen, they should know how many attendants and the correct spelling of each person’s name.

What sets you apart from others in your industry? We create unique, hand-crafted jewelry, bouquet tokens and cake toppers you won’t find anywhere else!

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Pairing a bold shade of red with a more tranquil shade of aqua in your wedding color scheme makes an undeniable statement: This wedding is all about fabulosity! Whether you lean toward a more formal affair or prefer to go boho on the beach, this sassy wedding color combo lends itself to a myriad of styles.

Cake via Brides Table Setting via icbaweddings Bouquet via galpolish Hanging monograms via Martha Stewart Weddings Boutonniere via Bridal District Wedding Party via sash & bow Carnations via detailed wedding Table Number via Etsy Cupcakes via indulgy Van via The Perfect Palette

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