There’s nothing quite like the breathtaking crystal blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico to set the stage for your Big Day… well, that and the oh-so-talented team at URBANcoast. Together they make one VERY fabulous combination of wedding goodness – and this gorgeous Clearwater soiree is the perfect example of what I am talking about. A beautiful blue and green color palette, a stunning ceremony setting and seaside chic every which way you turn. Paul Johnson Photography captured all of the love-filled moments… and the gallery? Chock-full of amazing. Join me there for more.
From the Bride… We gravitated to each other through a series of events that can only be described as serendipitous. Tyler and I both attended Florida State University and had mutual friends but never were never aware of each others’ future importance to our lives. Fate, otherwise known as my best friend Kristen, brought us back together a few years later when I was in nursing school at the University of Florida. Shortly after we started dating, Tyler’s job required him to take a six-month stint in London. In the midst of his time overseas, he told me couldn’t stand to be away from me any longer and decided to fly me to Europe. We spent a week jet-setting between London, Paris and the Netherlands for my birthday. Sipping Bordeaux in front of the Eiffel tower with the man of my dreams was one of the most romantic moments of my life — that is, until we locked eyes on our wedding day.
I wanted to capture our personality in our wedding style and was able to successfully do that with the help of Soosie and Brittany’s team at URBANcoast. After a year of planning and countless meetings, URBANcoast and my florist Dana Dineen brought my lifelong vision to life. The end result was absolutely flawless. The ceremony took place on a grassy area surrounded by sand dunes and palm trees. Our altar piece was a piece of furniture from our home, and its shelves were filled with large coral pieces, finger sponges, and oyster shell votives — a very thoughtful wedding gift from the girls at URBANcoast. The entry to our aisle was framed with custom-made stands and shabby-chic lanterns adorned with coral and spider mums. Our reception was illuminated with aqua back-lighting and the soft glow of candlelight. Atop the tables were floating votives over submerged coral branches and sea fans. The centerpieces were without a doubt the most unique piece of our wedding. Dana’s team custom-made distressed wooden risers that created the perfect base for our coral reef creation. Small floating votives hid beneath the driftwood and sea life. The dessert table was one of my favorite things, as we are avid macaron lovers. The cake had alternating tiers of key lime and banana bread cake and was supported by white chocolate sand dollars, all of which were surrounded by plates overflowing with our favorite macarons. Glass orbs filled with sea grass and flowers hung from all of the chandeliers, which were covered with sea grape leaves and sea fans.
After the ceremony, Paul and Mecheal Johnson took us out to the beach for some post-ceremony photographs. It was our first moment “alone” as a married couple, and it couldn’t have been more serene. The sun was beginning to set, the sea breeze was gently blowing through the sea oats and dunes, and we were able to take in everything after our whirlwind of a day. When we were walking through the dunes, I stepped, barefoot, in a sand spur patch. I was rendered defenseless and couldn’t move without stepping on more spurs. Without hesitation, my chivalrous husband whisked me up and carried me through the sand dunes. Paul captured the moment perfectly.
Wedding Photography: Paul Johnson Photography / Wedding Venue: Carlouel Yacht Club in Clearwater, Florida / Event Planning + Paper Goods: URBANcoast / Floral Design: Dana Dineen Floral Design / Wedding Cake: A Better Cheesecake / Macarons: Cake City / Ceremony Music: Classern String Quartet / Reception Music: Sultans of Swing / Lighting: Bay Stage Lighting / Tableware: Panache / Photo Booth: Shutterbooth / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Hairpiece + Large Shell Mirror: Custom by Heather Kendall / Hair: Michael Angelo Hair Studio / Makeup: Shirley Gregory / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: LulaKate via Bella Bridesmaid / Men’s Attire: JoS. A. Bank