Nautical chic is a popular choice along the beautiful Florida coast and, if the gorgeous seaside soirees we’ve seen on SMP Florida are any indication, the look won’t be going out of style any time soon. Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning is one of my favorite vendors to come out of the sunshine state and I love their twist on this already lovable look. It’s a glamorously modern underwater fairytale with chic metallic touches and fun florals with tillandsia and succulents tucked in. Click here to see all the details!
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From Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning…When the South Florida based creative trio of Becca Borge Photography, Hide and Seek Floral Design and Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning came together (at Starbucks, of course!), we decided to try a fresh approach to the wedding inspiration shoot. Our idea was to take the classic South Florida beachfront hotel wedding and give it a modern and chic twist. The theme became ‘Ocean Glamour,’ with a focus on stormy ocean hues, shimmery metallics and florals that evoked the textures of an underwater garden.
Our beautiful “bride” and her handsome “groom” were a recently married couple who are clearly head-over-heels for each other. You could feel the love oozing into the room as they stared into each other’s eyes! We chose an amazing dress from Ivy and Aster; the sweet eyelet fabric gave it a ‘beachy’ vibe while the glamorous neckline and floral accessories took the look beyond the sand. The bride’s already amazing eyes were enhanced with smoky purples and the rest of her face was lightly bronzed, her hair gently waved to reflect an evening after the beach. The groom kept it casual but chic with a simple black suit and white shirt, open at the collar.
We had originally planned to do most of the photo shoot outside in the gorgeous waterfront garden of The Pillars, a boutique hotel in Fort Lauderdale. Unfortunately it rained (a lot!) that day, but it became a good lesson in choosing the right venue and making things work despite Mother Nature. The hotel has a lovely little interior lounge area, both modern and glam at the same time, and it became the main backdrop for the shoot. Rain is an obstacle that every bride who dreams of a garden wedding must plan for (especially in tropical South Florida) and this shows how important having a “Plan B” and picking a venue whose interior is compatible to the wedding style can be.
The clean white accents, upholstered furniture and romantic lighting lent themselves well to the ‘Ocean Glamour’ theme. The fireplace and mantle became a fantastic backdrop for the wedding cake, an ombre fondant confection accented with a variety of succulents, evoking a garland of sea anemones. Candlelight and mercury glass added evening-appropriate sparkle, while several sea urchin accents provided a literal ‘under the sea’ reference. Hide and Seek did an amazing job of developing the concept that succulents and air plants could create a coral reef type feeling and further complimented the look by adding pops of color and texture with florals that evoked the feeling of sea life, including red protea, purple thistle and red kangaroo’s paw. The ‘You are My Sunshine’ bride and groom chair hangings became a playful nod to the stormy weather outside, while Ocean Glamour brought a warm glow to the cozy Pillars lounge.
Wedding Dress + Accessories: Sasha’s Bridal Boutique / Linens + Chargers: Contempo Linen / Venue: The Pillars / Floral Design: Hide and Seek Design / Photography: Becca Borge Photography / Event Design and Coordination: Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning / Stationery (Invitations + Menu): Minted / Chair Signs + Placecards: Little Laws Prints / Hair + Make-up: Nilla from Academy of Glam / Wedding Cake: Creative Cake Factory + Hide and Seek Design