If you envision your celebration as romantic and modern, take a look at this It! Inspiration and bring on the preppy. Navy exudes elegance and contrasts with the femininity of the pink hues. Let navy be the anchor of your color palette and play with different pink shades (think rose, magenta, and even coral). To bring these elements into the menu, a dessert bar is perfect to have little pink and blue candies spread across a white linen table. Almost every flower has a pink variation and right now  we love dahlias, hydrangeas and sweet peas. So put on your pink dancing shoes and dance away into the cool navy sky!

navy bridesmaid dress via Pinterest; Invitations via Just Add Ginger; candy bar via HWTM; basket of programs via The Perfect Palette; bridal party via Platinum Touch Events; cake via The Knot; table display via Calligraphy by Jennifer; groomsmen via Sheffield School;

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Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue! Holly Golightly would be proud of this Tiffany Blue inspiration. And we are just crazy about it too, darling! From your invites to your shoes, you’ll be singing the sweet hues of blues (not to be confused with the mean reds). Drive up to your venue in an aqua vintage car, as your guests anxiously wait for your arrival. (With a guaranteed grin on your face, there will be no question about how divinely and utterly happy you two are). As attendees find their seats, have them slip cards into a giant Tiffany box tower and fill out a “My Advice for the Bride & Groom” keepsake for your wedding scrapbook. Your linens will be dressed with the cool colors of the sky, to give your table a fresh and, oh, so fabulous finish. Everyone will nibble on mini-cakes shaped like little boxes of jewelry joy.  One thing to always remember, “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” – Audrey Hepburn.

Ring from Tiffany & Co.; bride and bridesmaids photo from Pinterest; “My Advice for the Bride & Groom” available on BHLDN.com; shoes via Elisabeth Anne Designs; mini cakes from Pinterest; aqua vintage car from Ruffled; bride & groom photo from Heart Love Weddings; ruffle cake from Style Me Pretty; table setting from Pinterest; dress invitation available on InvitationBox.com; tiffany box tower from Project Wedding.

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It! Girls LOVE lace. It’s such a feminine element and can be incorporated in everything from the gown and table linens to stationery and accessories. Burlap is often seen as more rustic than elegant, but when you pair them together, magic happens! For an outside ceremony, adorn chairs with pretty lace bows and make adorable burlap banners for the wedding party photos. Voila: rustic chic!

Table setting by Elizabeth Anne Designs; Kate Middleton dress from Alexander McQueen; Lace envelope via Pinterest; Lace cake topper by Etsy; Burlap banner via Style Me Pretty; Dessert table from Jenny Cookies; Lace bow via Kiddo’s Photos; Flatware roll-ups from Pinterest.

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Start the New Year with a clean slate. Let the romance flow with these ethereal shades. This It! Inspiration brings pale pink center stage. The soft hues are delicate, elegant and sure to make you stand out. Play up the pink with lighting surrounded by tinted drapes and flowers. Add a simple, girlie touch to the cake with beautiful pink peonies draped on a pristine white buttercream tower. Dress your bridesmaids in pale pink for an angelic picture composition. Tie satin ribbons to candle holders for a classy pop of color. Playful, flowing chiffon ruffles put a spell on stationary chairs and spark the dancing. Let your guests be entranced in a charming setting whether inside or under the pearly moonlight. A pale palette inspires magic and romance, taking the party to an enchanting far away land. Bring your childhood fairytale to life on the night you marry your prince charming.

Table setting by Samuel Lippke Studios; Chairs by Memento-Designs; pink reception via Pinterest; tall centerpiece from Bridal Guide; bridesmaid dresses by Loverly; bridesmaids from Pinterest; wedding altar from Style Me Pretty; wedding cake by Simply Peachy; floating candles from Google; chair cover via Pinterest.

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Love is brewing, and this It! Inspiration is the perfect blend of bold and tasteful. Espresso yourself by sending invites in a burlap envelope, containing directions to your chic coffee-shop reception. The sweet taste and sight of powdered-sugar donuts, a vanilla-bean wedding cake, and creamy florals is the perfect way to flavor up your intimate celebration. Hot off the press- a personal Latte Tribune for guests to flip through; complete with a tear-jerking story on how you two met, a couple crossword, and bride & groom breaking news. Sprinkle coffee beans on dining tables and make your own coffee candles to keep the aroma of love surrounding you. And of course, with all the espresso flowing, the party will last all night!  Livin la vida mocha!

Latte Tribune from Wedding Chicks; bouquet from Wedding Chicks; cake from Pinterest; candles from Buzzfeed; Love is Brewing invites available on Brooklyn Limestone; bride in coffee shop from Silver Charm Events; bridesmaids from Wedding by Color; coffee & donuts photo courtesy of Harwelll Photography; heart coffee from Pinterest; coffee shop photo from Brown Dress With White Dots.

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Sara Kauss, Owner/Photographer of Sara Kauss Photography

What she is obsessed with: Capturing emotion.  Creating a feeling from a photograph that tells a story, makes you feel like you were right there in that moment!

What is so 2011: Wait!  It’s not 2011 now?  Time flies.  Every year offers new friendships made, new exciting events and growth…in photography, I’ve noticed a huge shift to people really wanting photojournalism more and more in their photos, less of the “fake photojournalism” requests.  Fake PJ is when clients “say” they want you to only capture the day as it unfolds as a fly on the wall.  But, REAL PJ requests have been happening, where the bride trusts her photographer to truly do their thing!  No shot lists, no special requests, just really giving the photographer reign to capture their wedding day as it should be told!  Love this trend.

What’s the next big thing? Well, it’s my 30th birthday this month!  To be a great wedding photographer you have to stay fresh!  And yet create timeless images.  I think the next big thing is couples really looking for the fresh, yet timeless look and I see photographers offering this more and more, it makes me happy!  The old, over edited, over photo-shopped, heavy contrasty, images are being replaced by simple, clean, color and black and white images.  I think the next big thing is actual reverting back to the simple photography concept of capturing an image in a unique way “in-camera.”  In this day and age, we are all knowledgeable in photoshop, but photographers of 2012 are spending more time creating poignant images and less time in front of the computer.

What should brides and grooms already know before contacting you? Before contacting your photographer, you should have an idea of the style of wedding photography you like.  Each photographer is unique, has their own style and their own personality, just like each wedding!  You should dig deep into their website, does the photographer show lots of details and candid photos, or do they show more posed, traditional photos?  Photographers’ websites are showcasing their very best work!  Do you like it?

Also, knowing your photography budget helps too.  Whoever you choose to capture your wedding day, please choose a professional that has a history of photographing weddings.  A great photographer can make an “okay” wedding look like a million-dollar wedding day!  You’re going to spend lots of money on your wedding day, hire a photographer that will create a memory of all those details you worked so hard for over a year to create that one special day!  At the end of your wedding, you want to look back at the photos and remember the sweet note your groom left you, or the expression on your fathers’ face as he walked you down the aisle.

What is your specialty? Wedding Photography and photographing Artist Album Covers and Live Concerts.

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Deep in the heart of Florida are some country roots that run from Jacksonville and Tallahassee down through Lake Okeechobee and on out to the ‘Glades. So for all our boot scootin’ brides, we collected some of our favorite down home country wedding pics. Whether you’re dressing up a barn with sparkling chandeliers and draping farm tables with sculptural floral runners or mixing wildflowers and mason jars with cowboy boots and honky tonk, this is a style that can tip the rustic-to-glam scale at either end with amazing results. Yee haw!

flower table runner via Style Me Pretty; tree stumps with wildflowers via Intimate Weddings; indoor barn reception via Vignette Designs; boots and heels via Pinterest; branches chandelier via Beyond Beyond;  bride and groom via Style Me Pretty; barrel table via Bliss Event Productions; boot with ring via Style Me Pretty; outdoor barn reception via Heart Love Weddings

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Summer in sunny Florida practically screams for bare feet, late summer sunsets, and sweet, sweet watermelons. So if you’re a card-carrying Lilly lover, take a cue from this sunset hue and incorporate watermelon into your floral arrangements (try ginger, carnations or ranunculus), linens, fashion accessories — and even your menu! Contrast colors like bright white and kelly green add a delicious touch of Palm Beach prep that we can’t get enough of. There are a million ways to soak in the juicy sweetness! What’s your favorite?

floating candle via Elizabeth Anne Designs; drink station via Belle the Magazine; falling flowers via Gabba Gabba Gorgeous; shirt and tie via Bows ‘N Ties; pink shoes via Elizabeth Anne Designs; bridal party via Wedding Gawker; table and chairs display via Homegoods; watermelon frosty via Lunch Box Bunch; ranunculus via Wedding by Color

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Could there be anything dreamier than an entire field of soft, wind-blown lavender? How about a rustic romantic wedding incorporating the aromatic herb into every aspect? From charming dried lavender letterpress invitations to striking sweet-smelling bouquets (and a champagne cocktail garnished with a sprig of fresh lavender in between), the heavenly scent and cool color palette create a perfectly peaceful atmosphere for saying “I do.”

Cake photo courtesy of Ossai Bridal Accessories; Flower girl photo via Tulle and Teacups; Escort cards from Brides.com; Bride and Bridesmaids photos from Style me pretty; Champagne photo via Brides.com; Lavender letterpress invitation available on Etsy; Heels via Heels Fan.

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If you and your guests have it in you to rise and shine well before the sun, you will be rewarded with a beautiful backdrop courtesy of mother nature to set the scene for your special day. Just don’t forget the coffee (along with the mimosas and bloody marys!) to help make sure everyone is bright eyed and bushytailed for the festivities. There are a ton of fun and inventive spins to put on traditional breakfast foods (who doesn’t love donuts!). Oh, and an added bonus: Your unique morning reception will save you a bundle! Food and beverage costs, venue fee, and even entertainment can be up to half off for a day time affair, freeing up more funds for that extended exotic honeymoon you’ve been dreaming of! Just one more reason to ride off into the sunset with a smile!

Mini pancakes via Best Destination Wedding; Bloody Mary bar by The Symmetric Swan; Mimosa bar by The Party Dress; Cave wedding photo via Offbeat Bride; Guests with lanterns courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings; Donut truck photos by Terra Dawn; Coffee favor photos via Green Wedding Shoes.

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