Classic Miami Wedding with a Modern Twist

Erin Lepperd
August 25, 2014
Categories: Real Weddings, The Blog, Traditional Elegance
Tags: Vault Stationery

In terms of modern seaside weddings, Miami sets the precedent. And with the crazy good art deco backdrop of the Royal Palm South Beach, this couple set out to craft a destination wedding that’s all at once classic but with a cool South Beach vibe. Who better to capture all the al fresco festivities than Jasmine Star? See all her gorgeous handiwork and a night spent dancing under the stars right here.

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From the Bride, Jenney… Miami holds a special place in our hearts. When we first began dating, we took a long weekend trip to Miami and during that trip, it became crystal clear to us both how very RIGHT it felt to be together. Soon after our engagement, we began casually talking about wedding plans and the idea of having a destination wedding in Miami just seemed to fit. We decided the same week of our engagement that Miami would be a perfect place to celebrate with all of our family and friends – and didn’t look back! We chose to have both the ceremony and reception on-site at The James so that we could spend as much time with our family and friends as possible. I loved the way we were able to drape the lanai of The James to transform the space for our cozy and intimate ceremony. The end result was gorgeous! We decided early on that we wanted someone who knew us to perform our ceremony and we were honored to have my brother, Chris, marry us. He invested a lot in making the wedding so touching by incorporating our story, values, a few laughs and our personal vows into the ceremony. Having my brother officiate the ceremony just made everything feel that much more intimate for our family and friends! Our personal vows were the highlight for both Chuck and I – my brother kept these totally secret from us until the big day and we were both so moved to hear them for the first time. We loved the idea of our guests dining and dancing under the stars in Miami – and that’s exactly what they did! We played up the natural elements of the outdoor space by creating two distinct dining spaces at the reception which framed the center of it all – the bistro lit, open air dance floor. Loved that this unique element brought everyone together – and kept everyone together – all night long! We also created several lounge spaces for guests to enjoy cocktails and cigars throughout the space – playing up the Miami vibe. I will be the first to say I did not think I would be a crazy bride – especially while shopping for a dress. But, after searching high and low for the perfect gown and not really loving anything, I decided to have my dress made by Diana Tran, a local dress-maker in Washington DC. Chuck and I both favored classic and simple silhouettes and I knew that Diana could help me achieve something spectacular yet classic – and something I could love and call my own! Diana and I decided on a classic shape modified from a column and mermaid shape combined, with a little flounce for the train. Using lightweight silk for the fabric kept things light and airy in the heat of Miami. I wanted the dress to speak for itself – without too much accessorizing – so we opted to focus attention on beautiful seaming details on the bodice and skirt (a nod to the mid century and art-deco details of South Beach and The James), adding a touch of softness with the details on the neckline, back and train. It was the perfect mix of classic and modern and the entire creation process was so fun!