{Click to enlarge!}

I guess the only way to begin this post is to say, a girl can dream, right? Let’s start with the location: the soft, deep green, rolling back lawn of a Hamptons estate, punctuated by an oversized pool. The weather? Perfect: warm and dry, blue skies as far as the eye can see. The bride arrives in a vintage Rolls, wearing a polka-dotted Melissa Sweet (my favorite!). The groom and male guests are in classic black tuxes, the attendants are all in white. Of course the hedges are in bloom, and they only add to the lush, loose arrangements on the tables dotted across the lawn. And the cake? A delicious multi-tiered confection by Sylvia Weinstock.

Sigh.

The Details
First: pool photo from Martha Stewart Living, reception photo by Aaron Delesie via Style Me Pretty, shingled house photo by Christian Oth via SMP

Second: all photos by Meg Smith

Third: cake photo by Aaron Delesie via SMP, bouquet photo by Meg Smith, first dance photo by Melissa Musgrove from Martha Stewart Weddings

Kind of loving these stripes, but especially the big hair and super wide, stretchy black headbands. What do you think — is this a look one could pull off in every day life? Something to ponder this weekend…

{via Black*Eiffel… love both pairs of glasses in the first image, too!}

{via flickr}

On the tidal mud, just before sunset,
dozens of starfishes
were creeping. It was
as though the mud were a sky
and enormous, imperfect stars
moved across it as slowly
as the actual stars cross heaven.
All at once they stopped,
and, as if they had simply
increased their receptivity
to gravity, they sank down
into the mud, faded down
into it and lay still, and by the time
pink of sunset broke across them
they were as invisible
as the true stars at daybreak.

–Galway Kinnell

I would live in dresses all summer if I had enough of them. No shorts, no jeans, no capris — I would forgo them all for a rack of breezy cotton sundresses. I just ordered three to try from Victoria’s Secret and am waiting for them to come in to decide which to keep (probably just one with my budget, sadly…).

I have yet to try on a shirt dress that has fit me well (and I’ve probably tried on 15 at this point). Yet I keep trying. I have high hopes for this one, though.

Promise I won’t wear it as scandalously as this model!

SO CUTE! Just between you and me, I’m pinning my hopes on this little number.

Which is your favorite? And do you have a great source for reasonably priced summer frocks?