Weekend Update - 12/17/2012

{cocktail hour at Mar-a-Lago}

Back from a long weekend in Florida for what I can honestly say was one of the most amazing weddings I've ever been to in my life (tied with the one in Italy this summer). Everything from the hotel (The Breakers Palm Beach), the wedding venue (Mar-a-Lago club), the music at the ceremony (Groom walked down to Bob Dylan's Shelter from The Storm, flower girls to I Want Candy, and back down the aisle to Pete Townshend's Let My Love Open The Door), and the food everywhere you turned...all incredible. Here are some pictures I took with my good camera. If you follow my instagram (@shanele), you know that I like to document pretty much every moment of my life or every bite that goes in my mouth so I put all of them from this weekend into a post earlier this morning here. Hope you all had a great weekend...8 days till Christmas!

{the lobby at The Breakers Palm Beach}

{rehearsal dinner place settings}

{rehearsal dessert: coconut gelato, bananas foster and macarons}

{wedding dinner place settings}

{outside Mar-a-Lago during the cocktail reception}}

{one of 5 food stands at the cocktail hour: chicken, veal & Italian meatballs}

{the sushi stand}

{fresh baked cookies}

{the after party decorated in gold}

{s'more bites}

{one last shot of The Breakers lobby...because it was incredible}

{and one last Breakers ballroom...you would think you were at Versailles}

Weekend in Instagrams

{dinner outside at Carpaccio's overlooking these poinsettia trees}

{an amazing McQueen dress at Bal Harbor} 

{a beautiful start to Friday (before the rain moved in)}

{maybe the most adorable little two piece ever}

{spinach/arugula/goat cheese/berries/candied pecan salad at the beach}

{The Breakers for the rehearsal dinner that night}

{just your standard 250 person rehearsal dinner}

{one of the many Breakers chandeliers}

{Iris Apfel at the rehearsal dinner}

{yet another gorgeous lobby at The Breakers}

{headed to the beach at The Breakers}

{a casual game of croquette in front of Mar-a-Lago}

{The Don greeting people to the wedding}

{more Mar-a-Lago beauty}

{outside Mar-a-Lago}

{right before the ceremony}

{The Don & Meliana fashionably late to the wedding}

{the gorgeous couple}

{father of the bride}

{post-ceremony cocktail hour}

{Iris Apfel at the reception}

{wedding place settings}

{the cutest neon signs behind the bar}

{the crew}

{love}

{off to a different building for the after party}

{the after party candy table I got to know intimately well}

{late night food trucks}

{a night cap at The Seafood Bar}

{overcast Sunday=(}

{but it didn't stop Rudy (Giuliani) from puffing his stogie outside the hotel}

{bye bye Breakers...until next time (if there ever is a next time)}

{last night in Miami}

Happy Friday

Landed in Miami yesterday in enough time to snap a picture of me looking perfect on the beach. In my dreams, is right. But I actually am in Florida for a wedding this weekend...and to soak up as much Vitamin D as humanly possible. The original plan is to OD on it after that week long gray/mist/rain crap we had in NYC. Have a great weekend, folks!

4 Company Cocktail Party Dresses

 

Black Halo Jackie O Dress

Amanda Uprichard Sheath Dress

 

Juicy Couture Lace Sleeve Dress

 

Derek Lam Leather Sleeve Dress

In the event you haven't had your Company holiday party yet, here are a couple dresses I wouldn't mind having in my closet to wear to mine. Some classics (like this Jackie O one and this lace-sleeved one) or those with an edge (like leather sleeved ones here and here). Pair with these heels or booties like these and get ready to rock the night away.

Weekend Update - 12/10/2012

{re-using the DIY 'Cheers' sign from last years party}

My word...am I sorry for the much-longer-than-anticipated interruption (Mary Jo). Work, holiday parties, guests in town have all consumed my life as we round out the rest of 2013.  This weekend I had a group of friends visiting from Illinois so started with my 2nd Annual Christmas party Friday night, Saturday wandered around Brooklyn and Sunday brunch in the West Village. Now another busy week with a day trip to Charlotte tomorrow and off to Miami Thursday for a wedding. Hope you all had a great weekend!

{much more fun using Christmas lights instead of regular lights} 

{Christmas lights reflecting off the gallery wall I'm finally near finishing}

{sheepskin rugs and a tutu to add texture around my room}

{hats & scarves adorning the walls so as not to take up any additional space}

{my midget tree that fits nicely inside the built in book cases and thus doesn't take up any other space}