In case you hadn’t heard, Style Me Pretty recently partnered with some very generous wedding vendors to give away a FULLY DESIGNED WEDDING in Sanibel Island, FL to one couple who has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, today we’re beyond excited to share the wedding of our amazing giveaway winners. The bride works as a front-line nurse and the groom has been front-line in the military flying supplies amid the pandemic, two people who truly couldn’t have been more deserving of this special gift!
As if COVID changing their wedding plans wasn’t enough, it was the week of their wedding and their day was threatened once again – this time, by two hurricanes brewing in the Gulf. Thanks to their planner, Carrie Darling Events, and the rest of their extraordinary vendor team, the entire wedding was moved up a day on a 24 hour notice to make the couple’s dream wedding a reality. Together, they truly pulled off a miracle! Keep on scrolling to read more about how it all came together and don’t miss out on the full gallery – captured flawlessly by Hunter Ryan Photo!
From Corinne, The Bride… Mike and I were amongst so many couples who had to change their 2020 wedding plans due to COVID-19. Everything began to unfold around the beginning of March and our wedding was completely booked- photographer, venue, cake, band, catering, florals, planner, hair & makeup and transportation. Design was complete, payments were in and we were just ironing out small details. We came across many financial, logistically and emotional challenges after making the decision to postpone. I’m a nurse and was being called to serve more than ever and Mike was pulling 12+ hour days coordinating COVID relief. When we found out we were finalists, I personally screamed my head off. Mike thought it was too good to be true. We were both jumping for joy as this was the first good thing to happen to us since the pandemic began!
This incredible team of vendors gave us a stunning fully designed wedding that made all of our wedding dreams come true. We were married with our parents, siblings and closest friends attending and it was the sweetest day. Mike and I exchanged personal vows in the sand under a gorgeous garden trellis. The sip and mingle feel to our reception was a special element that created an interactive guest experience and made our day feel monumental and unique. Our guests are still talking about it! Sanibel island was a stunning location and even more meaningful to celebrate our day. I grew up near the sandy beaches of Naples, FL, so Southwest Florida is a special place for our family. My parents and grandparents used to pack chilled wines and cheese boards and take us down to the beach to watch the sunset almost every weekend. It was a family tradition to have fabulous cocktail parties along the beach and sharing this experience with our closest friends was very special. Throughout the day, I was reminded of the past but also looking forward to our new love story! Thank you to the entire Covid-19 Wedding Giveaway team for giving us the wedding of our dreams! You brought us joy during one of the most challenging times and it’s hard to put into words how thankful we are.
The planner Carrie Darling, florist Isn’t She Lovely Florals, and photographer Hunter Ryan Photo were all talking in mid March (just as Covid hit hard) and the florist had said how they wanted to give away florals to someone and bless them. That this week had been such a hard and heavy week – and instead of dwelling on that and all of the business that had cancelled – turn it around and focus on something good and positive and helping someone else. Within minutes – a simple idea of giving away florals to a bride blossomed into and entire wedding giveway! In 24 hours – an entire team of wedding vendors was assembled and on board to shine some hope and light to one deserving couple.
Corinne & Mike’s big day had been postponed from Covid, she works as a front-line nurse and he has been front-line in the military flying supplies in the Pandemic. They had lost deposits, and didn’t have time to really think about replanning their big day while work took the front seat. Then – they won the giveaway! It was so amazing too – because Corinne is originally from the Southwest Florida area – and she was elated to have a beautiful intimate wedding on the beach. The whole vendor was so excited for them! Enter – the week of their wedding, and now their beautiful wedding is threatened once again – but not by Covid, this time it’s 2 hurricanes building in the Gulf. Hurricane Laura was what was really posing the biggest threat to their day -planned for Monday August 24th. If we were to miss a direct hit(which we did) – the rain bands would still be at tropical storm levels. Carrie Darling, the planner, who has seen more than her fair share of crazy weather as a Florida wedding planner was keeping a close eye on the weather reports. On a 24 hour notice – she contacted every single vendor, and was able to pull off a miracle. The ENTIRE wedding was moved up by a day to Sunday August 23rd. Once she knew the vendors/venue – everyone could be there Sunday – she checked with the couple (whose guests were all already in town for the weekend on Sanibel) – and everyone – bride, groom, guests – were all a go too! It was truly crazy and miraculous! 24 hours later – Corinne and Mike had their dream day. Which also happened to be almost record high temps and one of the hottest days ever – but… We all were happy to have sun instead of rain. And – the next day – their original day – it POURED!
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Photography: Hunter Ryan Photo | Cinematography: IheART Films | Event Planning: Carrie Darling Events | Floral Design: Isn't She Lovely Florals | Cake: Sweetified Bakery | Invitations: Script Me Pretty | Reception Venue: Casa Ybel Resort | Wedding Shoes: Bella Belle | Champagne Sponsor: Pernod Ricard | Champagne Sponsor: Perrier-Jouët | Hair/Makeup: Duality Artistry | Linen Rentals: Nuage Designs | Rentals: Trinity Special Events | Strings: Jade Strings