Florida Weddings

If you know me at all, you know that just saying the word summer puts a little skip in my step. I love it with all my being. And although the other seasons have their moments of glory, summer always steals the show. So it’s no surprise that I fell head over heels in love with shoot from Lauren Kinsey – it’s the perfect way to send summer on her stylish way, and you can see it all right here. Until next time, sweet summer…

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The dress Rayna is wearing is pure silk dress by Olivia and James. Hunter is wearing JCrew. My friend, Bonny, took us out on the coast early one morning to enjoy the beautiful breeze, and I was able to finally bring this vision to life and photograph some beautiful images of these two.

Dress: Olivia and James | Food: Dine by Design Catering | Hair & Makeup: Make Me Blush | Men's Attire: J.Crew | Sailing: Bonny Todd | Scanning & Developing: Indie Film Lab | Styling & Photography: Lauren Kinsey

This, my friends, is a wedding that is overflowing with perfection.  A wedding that is sooo stunning and sooo heartwarming, it deserves the description “jaw-droppingly gorgeous.”  And above all of the pretty, pretty details (I’m looking at you, seriously stunning tulips), it’s a wedding that showcases two of the most adorable people you’ll ever have the privilege to meet… and a proposal story that is all sorts of amazing. Dive into the full gallery captured by Jillian Tree Photography.  It’s sooo worth it.

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From the Bride… After over 2 years of dating, Kirk and I knew the rest of our lives would be best spent together. So my talented fiance set about the work of writing a song. He played, recorded, layered two guitars and a drum together, writing these words:

Just a few years back, I started talking with you.
I never had thought that you would like me too.
Now I get to see you almost every day.
You look so fine, and I have to say:
You’re so very special, truly one of a kind.
As a lifelong companion, I will claim you as mine.
You’re one in a million, truly one of a kind.
As a lifelong companion, I will claim you as mine.
For all of life’s journeys, we make a good team.
When I picture the future, you are in every scene.
Gazing at the night sky, the stars, they do not fade.
Let me be the man you vow never to trade.
I love you with all my heart.
And I’ll love you ’til from this life, we part.

With my dad’s blessing given, Kirk took me to the beach one night. On the way, he told me that he had heard a new song on the radio, but said he couldn’t remember the name. I asked about it, what artist? But I received no answers.

While walking along the shore, Kirk paused. He told me that he remembered the song and that he wanted to play it on his phone for me. He then played “One of a Kind,” while hugging me tight. After he got down on one knee and said, “Emily, will you marry me?” What he didn’t know is that the ring box he was holding out was upside down. I stared at that box trying to see the ring. I realize that Kirk was waiting for an answer! The ring didn’t matter. So I said yes!

Our wedding date was May 18th, 2013. Kirk is perfect for me. We compliment each other, by filling in what is lacking in each of us. This love is going to last forever.

Photography: Jillian Tree Photography | Ceremony Venue: First Baptist Church Of Cooper City | Music: Grace Coleman

Happy Wedding Wednesday SMPers! I think it’s time for a little spotlight, don’t you? We have our fair share of convo about gorgeous dresses, lovely blooms and the little details that make a wedding come together. But we don’t give the wedding dinner the love it truly deserves—what do you think fuels all that late night dancing?! So, we’ve brought in one of our talented caterers, Dine by Design to let us in on some of the tips that make weddings so tasty.

SMP: Tell us a bit about yourself. What is Dine by Design?

DBD: Over seven years ago, in March of 2006, I opened Dine by Design Catering in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Ever since, we’ve been happily catering from Pensacola to St. George Island, though most of our events take place along beautiful Scenic 30A, in south Walton County. At a “certain age”, my lifelong love affair with food led me to leave a successful career in the software biz and into culinary school in New York City. After graduating from The French Culinary Institute, I spent eighteen months in Paris completing an apprenticeship at a Michelin starred restaurant, before moving to Northwest Florida and opening Dine by Design Catering.

Dine by Design is a boutique catering company, which means that we don’t expect to be all things to all people. We are chef-owned, so our food is certainly a priority, and we cook everything from scratch. We have a passion for food and believe that it should be fun! That said, we take great pride in our customer service, and receive great reviews for that as well.

SMP: Favorite part of your job?

DBD: Menu creation! Our goal is to understand a client’s specific tastes, in order to be able to put together a menu that speaks to them personally. It’s always a challenge, but a fun one, and we get it right because we listen.

SMP: How early in advance should a couple meet with a caterer?

DBD: Our market is unique.The months of April through June, and September through October are very busy for weddings in this region. If a client is planning an event during those months, I’d recommend sealing the deal with your major vendors as soon as possible. There are also specific dates that book up quickly; for example if you were interested in 10-11-12, that’s the sort of date that you’d better hop on right away. In addition, the earlier you establish a relationship with your vendors, the longer you will have to develop a rapport with them; and a great rapport will a vendor will really help you during those final, dizzying, tense days!

SMP: What are some budget friendly ways to fancy-up a wedding meal?

DBD: In general, a buffet will be less expensive than a seated meal, simply because it requires less labor. However, if you stock your buffet with beef tenderloin and pretty grouper, it could end up being more expensive! Also, if you’re a foodie, and upscale food is important to you, you might want to consider scaling down the number of guests to serve the sort of meal you want. Another choice to consider is the number of dishes you serve. A caterer never ever wants to run out of food, so the greater the variety, the more expensive a buffet will be, because there are that many more dishes to “cover”.

SMP: What percent of a wedding budget do you recommend setting aside for catering?

DBD: The average is ten percent of your total wedding budget. Naturally that depends on tastes, however, so it’s possible that food just isn’t a big deal for you (gasp!), and you might be able to get away with a little less.

SMP: Any advice for Brides & Grooms on the big day?

DBD: BREATHE! Have fun! Take it all in, so that you remember the day well after it is over. If you choose vendors that you trust, they will handle everything for you and your special day.

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Catering: Dine by Design Catering

This is a wedding that is all about the romance.  Beautiful pink-hued romance with lush blooms from Emma’s Flowers and just a dash of vintage charm.  And if that weren’t enough to totally make your Wednesday (it sooo is), there’s a Jim and Pam-esque love story brimming just beyond the surface; a love at first sight meets totally adorable family kind of love story you won’t be able to get enough of (believe me). See it all captured by Amalie Orrange Photography right here in the full gallery.

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From Amalie Orrange Photography… Max and Ana are such a sweet couple and had the most amazing wedding! Max and Ana met a little over four years ago when they worked at a restaurant together; Ana said she knew immediately that he was the one. During that time, Max and Ana got to know each other very well and fell in love, and Ana had also fallen in love with his little boy. Max’s son played a big part in the wedding festivities, even helping Ana pick out THE dress. Ana and Max dated for the past four years and on a rainy evening Max proposed to Ana while taking their dog for a walk.

Ana and Max were married at The Porcher house in Cocoa Florida, a beautiful historic home built in 1916 and is now an amazing venue. The ten bedroom house is composed of native coquina rock, and finished in the interior with teak, oak, cedar and well the light coming through the giant windows in the house is beyond amazing.

Ana’s vision for their wedding was to incorporate tons of blush and ivory details as well as vintage elements, and I think she did an amazing job pulling it all together from the blush bridesmaids gowns, baby’s breath bouquets, and lace details all around.

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Photography: Amalie Orrange Photography | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals | Floral Design: Emma’s Flowers | Cake: Oleander Bakery | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Catering: Renaissance Catering | DJ: Tagas Event and Production Services | Men’s Attire: Express Men | Hair + Makeup: Marigold Scott | Wedding Venue: Porcher House

You’ve probably guessed by now that I am an uber-romantic.  That I’m the kind of girl that stays up until the wee hours of the morning watching Jane Eyre’s 100th showing, cry while reading greeting cards and count Pride & Prejudice as the greatest novel ever written.  You guessed right.  And on top of all of that total love of all things girly, I also happen to be the kind of gal that gets all kinds of excited for some e-session lovely.  An e-session, in fact, like this darling day captured by Jillian Tree Photography.  Because this, my friends, is romance and then some and you can see it all right here in the full gallery.

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From Jillian Tree Photography… Britnye & Phil wanted their engagement photos to be at the Jupiter Lighthouse since she lived really close by, so we started there and also headed to River Bend Park after an outfit change.

Photography: Jillian Tree Photography

If there is one thing you should know about me, it’s that I am obsessed with candy.  Sugary, fruity, chocolatey candy… the term “sweet tooth” and me go hand in hand.  So this candy-inspired masterpiece of a wedding captured by Ozzy Garcia Photography ?  Well, it has me smitten with its candy bouquet (YES), pink-filled blooms from Ocean Flowers and a never-ending sweets display.  Click here for all of the yummy details.  It’s beyond pretty.

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From the Bride… Yoav and I started by choosing a venue that could host our wedding outdoors, in the warm Miami air, a welcome reprieve from the blustery winters of Chicago and Amsterdam and a minimal climate change for our 30 family members that made the trek all the way from Israel. Our vision for the evening was casual comfort with a side of sugar and a couple of unexpected surprises along the way. Jessica Masi of JCG Events ensured that this vision came to life and Ozzy Garcia, of Ozzy Garcia Photography, artistically captured this vision and memorialized it.

We had Yoavs brother officiate a portion of the ceremony because we felt that when it came to incorporating personal details, who could tell our story better than someone who has been there from the beginning? We wanted this to set the precedent and tone for the wedding everyone in attendance, witnessing the first day of our lives as a couple, were all loving, integral characters in our story.

Love is sweet, my love for candy is even sweeter, and I knew all along that I wanted my bouquet to be made out of candy. Some people dry their bouquets, some people save them, I intended to eat mine. Thanks to the Donut Divas, I had a great late night snack on my wedding night! Some of my favorite sugar confections, marshmallows and m&ms, were artfully placed into a giant waffle cone. The benefit of having a wedding around the Easter holiday is that even the grass in the bouquet was edible.

In addition to my sugar addiction, I truly believe that there are few food items in this world that can make me as happy as a Publix Grocery store birthday cake. In order to share my love for this confection with others, Sweet Display made us different colored wooden cake stands, to which Ocean Flowers added some sparkle, and we had different flavors of 8-inch Publix cakes placed on the reception dinner tables. The plan was to remove the cakes after dinner and have them cut up for dessert, but our guests seated at these tables became so possessive over the cakes on their table that they would not let anyone touch them. Our guests dug into them with their forks, without even removing them from the cake stand!

Besides all of the fleeting sugar elements that went into our special day – the escort cards, the bouquet, the candy ring pops, the flower girl lollipops, the candy bar, the Publix cakes – I think one of our favorite keepsakes from the day came from Erin Una Chainani. I read about Erin online about 2 years ago after googling Miami portrait artist. I called Erin and asked her if she would be so inclined to attend our wedding and paint a scene. Not only was she willing, but she painted two scenes to boot! She captured one of the ceremony and one of our first dance as a couple.

When my new husband and I were comparing notes after the wedding, we both remarked that many people offered us this advice, cherish every second of this day because it goes so fast. And while the day did go quickly, we never felt that we missed any opportunities to take it all in. And thanks to Erin and Ozzy, we have mementos that will remind us of our wedding day forever.

Photography: Ozzy Garcia Photography | Event Planning + Design: Masi Events | Floral Design: Divine Design by Guerdy | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Wedding Cake: Elegant Temptations | Shoes: Mojo Moxy | Makeup: Rachel Blair Shapiro | Hair: Tanya Maquez | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Wedding Venue: The Palms Hotel & Spa | Cake Stands: Sweet Display | Cake Topper: That's My Topper | Cakes (small): Publix Bakery | Candy Bouquet: Donut Divas | Cigar Roller: Acope Cigars | Dress Sash: Blue Bird Studio | Earrings: Weddings 826 | Flower Girl Dresses: Pretty Flower Girl | Flower Girl Shoes: Toms | Portrait Artist: Erin Una Chainani

To say I love Kate Spade would be the understatement of the year. There isn’t a brand that makes me happier, so coming across this Kate Spade inspired shoot from Chelsey Boatwright Photography is like striking gold in my book. It’s filled to the brim with perfectly preppy details to brighten your day, complete with a cake from Sugar Fancies that is like a cherry on the top of all the fabulous. See it all here.

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Photography: Chelsey Boatwright Photography | Event Design and Styling: Blush and White Design House | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Cake: Sugar Fancies | Invitations: Llorente Design | Necklace: Kate Spade | Hair: Jessica Boatwright | Groom's Attire: Banana Republic | Wedding Venue: Vizcaya Museum Gardens | Necklace via: Rent The Runway

Have you heard?  Destination weddings in Delray are all the rage.  They’re breathtaking (read: beautiful ocean views), sun-filled and perfectly beach chic, with just enough sand-in-the-toes fun to be had for all of your friends and family.  Even better?  When you have the uber-awesome Sheila Camp Motley Events on hand to execute every amazing moment, Tom Mathieu to deliver some seriously stunning florals and Dillon Photo to capture every love-filled second, it’s a 100% dream come true day for you and your honey.  See it all right here in the full gallery.

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From Sheila Camp Motley Events… I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with Jessica and Peter via a referral from their friend’s wedding I had planned years ago in Virginia! Jessica lives in Atlanta and reached out to me with their interest in getting married in Delray, Florida. They knew they wanted a smaller intimate wedding where they could really spend time with all of their friends and family throughout the weekend. Once I saw the Beach Club at the Seagate Hotel I knew this would be the perfect space!

Jessica and Peter had a clear vision for their wedding and wanted to keep the colors bright and summery. Erin at Dillon Photography did a spectacular job capturing the beachside ceremony with Dr. Dolores Jacoby – we had post ceremony showers, but she managed to get the most special shots of Jessica and Peter rain or shine!

We worked with the floral dream team at Tom Mathieu and Co., who hit the flowers out of the park. The colors were stunning, and Jessica carried a bright bouquet of peonies, roses, calla lilies and parrot tulips. It was spectacular! Seagate Hotel produced a seasonal local menu of wonderful plates and a delectable cake. I even had the chance to play DJ – Jessica and Peter’s iPod playlist was such a hit I ended up manning the sound set-up and purchasing more songs there on the spot as their entire guest list was on the floor dancing all night long!

Photographer: Dillon Photo | Event Planner: Sheila Motley Events | Flowers: Tom Mathieu | Officiant: Dr. Dolores Jacoby | Ceremony Music: Tradewinds Music | Catering + Cake: Seagate Beach Club | Ceremony and Reception: Seagate Beach Club | Hair and Make-Up: Cosmo & Co

Lauren Kinsey has been sending us the most amazing Florida weddings; modern affairs that break away from the beach wedding mold. This particular Rosemary Beach shindig is the perfect example. Designed by Shelby Peaden Events with florals by Myrtie Blue, it is taking a classic black and white palette, adding some gorgeous greenery and hints of gold and honestly, we could stare at this sucker all day long. See the full gallery here.

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From Lauren Kinsey… Adrien & Jennifer were married at the Town Hall in Rosemary Beach, Florida on April 6, 2013. Jennifer and Adrien live in Amsterdam, but when it came to selecting a place to get married, Rosemary Beach was at the top of their list. Jennifer’s family relocated to Rosemary Beach when her parents retired, and they now own the bookstore in Rosemary. Jennifer was a premier ballerina in her teenage years, and moved to NYC to pursue a career in dance and fashion. She met Adrien there, where he was working in television and graphic design (?). Adrien’s job called for a move to Europe, and immediately following their engagement, the couple relocated to Amsterdam. Jennifer now works in an art gallery and Adrien works in television and broadcasting.

When it came to the wedding details, Jennifer wanted an English garden themed wedding, so Brian at Myrtie Blue floral and design incorporated natural elements of ivory and green, into a color palette of blush, red, and yellow. The softer, more feminine theme was also merged with more modern elements of black and white (Adrien’s style). The reception was held on the Eastern green of Rosemary Beach, with family style farmhouse tables and a plated dinner.

Photography: Lauren Kinsey | Coordination: Shelby Peaden Events | Florals: Myrtie Blue | Dress: J.Crew | Invitations: Bella Figura | Catering: Townsend Catering | Dessert Table: Confections On The Coast | Linens: BBJ La Tavola

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Shelby Peaden Events

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From start to finish, this wedding is all about heartwarming moments.  Happy, tear-inducing, magical moments between a beautiful bride and her dapper groom, as well as her loving friends and family (see the seriously epic Father-Daughter First Look below).  It’s also a tale of sweet southern elegance, with the planning experts at Desiree Dawn Events making sure every moment went off without a hitch, including the drop-dead gorgeous reception complete with yummy BBQ.  See it all captured by Jillian Tree right here.

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From Desiree Dawn Events… Britnye and Philip wanted a romantically sweet celebration for their wedding and they got just that. It was important to Britnye to have a candlelit ceremony so we had candles in jars down the aisle, lining the small stage, and string lights added to the warmth from up above. She collected gardenia candles and lots of vintage jars to use as decor along with antique lace and jute details. A favorite memory from their special day was the bride’s first look with her father followed by an even sweeter first look with her soon-to-be husband. They both wanted time to pray together before their vows, but Philip still wanted his first time seeing his bride to be while she was walking down the aisle. Their solution was to blindfold the groom and let them hug and hold hands for a bit. So sweet! They served delicious family style BBQ and cupcakes to their guests, enjoyed some dancing, then drove off in Philip’s grandfather’s sports car!

Photography: Jillian Tree Photography | Event Coordinator: Desiree Dawn Events | DJ: Traxx Entertainment | Wedding Venue: The Borland Center

The first time I ever stepped foot in the lovely little city known as St. Augustine, I knew it was the perfect place for a wedding.  Cobblestone streets lined with quaint shops, crazy cool historic locales and beautiful backdrops every which way you turn… it’s a wedding paradise made for saying “I do.”  So when you take everything wonderful about St. Augustine and add in this adorable duo, some sweet paper goods from Minted and one beautiful image after another captured by Stephanie W Photography, it makes for one seriously stellar gallery.  Join me there for more.

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From Stephanie W. Photography… Laura and Scott’s wedding day may have been rainy at some points but that didn’t damper the festivities, instead it added a feel of intimacy. Some of my favorite details of their day include: getting caught in the rain during our first look, Laura running through the rain without shoes on and Scott holding her dress and the umbrella for her. I couldn’t get enough of her stunning florals and the absolutely delicious, as well as beautiful, cake. I absolutely loved the DIY detail of the messages to them on their future anniversaries. Laura and Scott’s big day will always have a special spot in my heart as it’s also the day I turned 30-years-old. It was an amazing feeling knowing I am doing the one thing I’m meant to do on an important milestone in my life.

From the Bride… When Scott and I got engaged we knew right away we wanted to have a destination wedding.  We wanted our wedding to be an intimate, fun, and romantic celebration of our ten year relationship.  Our family and friends live all over the country and we are not able to get together very often. So it was fantastic to be surrounded by all of our closest family and friends to celebrate at such a charming venue like The White Room Loft and Rooftop in St. Augustine.

Even though it was a destination wedding, I was glad I was able to incorporate a few DIY items. Scott and I love to watch golf together. So we had guests sit at tables named after our favorite golfers. Also, we wanted to have a unique way for guests to sign a “guestbook.”  So we had our guests write us a little love note to read on future anniversaries. I don’t know how we are going to wait until year three to read any of them, but maybe we will sneak a peek at year one.  We wanted our family to be part of our wedding as much as possible.  Instead of having our DJ introduce us before our first dance we had two of my little sisters introduce us and the bridal party. It was so fun!

I was crossing my fingers that the afternoon Florida rain would skip over us on our wedding day.  But the rain on our wedding day made for some incredible memories. While we were taking our “first look” photos in the streets of St. Augustine it started POURING down rain! We ran for cover and ended up in a charming art gallery with the nicest owner.  She even let us borrow her umbrella! There was no sign of the rain ending anytime soon, so I kicked off my heels and we made a run for it. With no fear of getting wet my photographer took some of my favorite photos.  

The entire day was so beautiful! Our favorite moment was the ceremony. We had one of our best friends marry us. It was so incredible to have him standing right next to us as we celebrated such an amazing moment in our lives. Words cannot express how beautiful and heartfelt he made our ceremony. We are truly lucky to have such fantastic family and friends as a part of our lives.

Photography: Stephanie W Photography | Floral Design: The Conservatorie Floral & Event Design | Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Wedding Cake: Sweet 'n' Flour | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: The White Room | DJ: Hear Hear DJs | Groom's Attire: Vera Wang | Bridal Shop: Pure English Couture Bridal | Ceremony + Reception: The White Room | Hair Design: Simply Makeup | Jeweler: Jared | Paper Goods: Minted

Having spent the majority of my childhood + adulthood in the landlocked state of Montana, beach weddings (and the sunny blue skies that accompany them) have always been some of my favorites. Maybe that’s because attending one always feels like the best vacation ever, with family and friends joining forces with acres of sand and fabulous locales perfect for celebrating.  This is one of those awesome weddings.  A Key Largo affair with vibrant hues, gorgeous stylings and a bride and groom who couldn’t be more perfect.  See it all captured by Elle Golden right here.

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From Elle Golden Photography… When Kala contacted me about possibly photographing her Florida Keys wedding I almost fell out of my computer chair. A beach destination wedding with some of the world’s best sunsets as a backdrop? A stunning bride with an equally gorgeous bridal party who happened to be my friends? A love so strong Kala moved from one state to another just to be sure she wouldn’t miss out on it? Um… yes please! I knew a wedding hundreds of miles away would mean a lot of firsts for me (boarding a plane in Atlanta for a wedding with thousands of dollars worth of gear is some seriously nerve-racking stuff), but I was more than ready for the challenge. When the day finally arrived I couldn’t ask for a more perfect couple with whom to begin my official travels! Joe and Kala’s love radiates from within, making it oh so easy to capture in photographs. You’ll notice quickly how absolutely swoon-worthy Joe and Kala’s coral, mint, and sage colored beach nuptials were and then you’ll understand why I’m so lucky to document love.

Although they’re originally from Georgia, Joe and Kala are now Florida through and through. They were engaged and had their engagement session in St. Augustine. But when it came to their wedding they wanted something a little closer to home their home in Ft. Lauderdale yet a place that gave the feeling of being away from it all. Anyone who has visited the Keys knows it’s the perfect place to “get away.” Cue the Beach Boys’ “Kokomo!”

Kala opted to keep things simple by having a near all-inclusive wedding at the Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort. The pair wed under a simple seashell-adorned arbor with the ocean in the background. They then moved to the reception inside the hotel’s ballroom. The central location made it easy for all their guests who traveled hundreds of miles to enjoy the wedding weekend to its full potential. Which speaking of the guests, Joe and Kala were surrounded by amazing friends and family who are a reflection of the type of people this couple is. Their charismatic officiant made sure the happy couple took time to revel in the beauty of their wedding ceremony. The best men gave me a better ab workout during their speeches than I could ever get in a session of crossfit! Kala’s maid of honor, a mutual friend, almost brought me to tears with her moving speech on their lifelong friendship. Even chatting with Joe’s mother after a more funny than inconveniencing hotel-wide blackout near the end of the reception was a special treat! Joe and Kala added a few personal touches by having a fun photobooth at their reception and a hand-painted canvas guestbook made by a bridesmaid.

These two are truly blessed and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for them. I want to thank both Joe and Kala so much for being my first official destination wedding couple and throwing a wedding celebration as beautiful as their love!

Photography: Elle Golden Photography | Floral Design: Petals With Pizazz | Wedding Dress: Sottero And Midgley | Bridesmaid's Dresses: Dessy Collection By Vivian Diamond | Caterer: Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort | Makeup: Medusa's Mane | Entertainment: Vision DJs | Suits: Maggie Sottero | Hotel: Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort | Bridal Boutique: Maggie Sottero | Cake Artist: Cake Designs by Edda | Honeymoon: Thailand | Photobooth: Elle Golden Photography

Proposals are my happy place.  I am not kidding… I seriously live for these uber-awesome tales of love and commitment.  And this darling proposal captured perfectly by White in Revery?  It’s almost too amazing to believe with a memory-filled scavenger hunt, the cutest bride and groom-to-be EVER and a stunning baby’s breath-lined ending that will, put simply, take your breath away.  Press play to see every last moment of lovely.

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From White in Revery… This video is a scavenger hunt proposal for the lovely couple, Drew and Allysar! Drew surprised Allysar with a note the morning of the proposal letting her know that the day was going to be very special.

With her friend Shannon by her side, Allysar started on the scavenger hunt. After being sent to a salon for manis, they set off to their first big stop. It was at the very first place the couple had flirted – the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at the University of Florida. Drew left a note there with a hint and a map to the next stop.

He led her to Volta Coffee, a place that he taught her to love something new. She hadn’t really liked coffee until they started dating. After all of the wonderful coffee dates that they’ve had there and all of the great drinks they’ve made her, she’s really grown a love for great coffee.

From there, she was taken to Sarkara Sweets Shop. This is where she taught Drew to love something: desserts! They’ve spent so much time at this sweets shop playing games and getting to know each other.

Her next hint took her to a special park bench in Haile. This is the very first place that Drew said that he loved her.

Her final stop was at a farm that is owned by dear friends of theirs. Drew was waiting for her at the bottom of the hill under a beautiful tree! After a long embrace and many tears, Drew brought her to a small seat and washing bowl to wash her feet. How sweet right?! He wanted to start this new journey off right with an act of service towards her. He then kneeled down and asked Allysar to be his wife! She said yes, of course!

Some fun details…

-The song used in this video is by Drew’s band Hoyle! He is the drummer.
-Everything on the scavenger hunt was filmed as it was happening. We had several GoPros set up at the different shops to make sure that we were capturing her as she was going through the hunt!

Cinamatography: White In Revery | Location: Stephen O'Connell Center | Location: Volta Coffee | Location: Sarkara Sweets Shop | Music by: Hoyle

I’m a sucker for a good highlight film, which I always, always get from Sixpence Productions. But when said film takes place in such a beautiful locale with a couple who couldn’t be any cuter and a wedding that is absolutely breathtaking from Savoir Faire Weddings, I can’t help myself. I fall in love and I fall hard.

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The love birds. Jonathan and Logan met in College at Baylor University. They hung out in the same crowd (they were actually dating each other’s friends… shhh!) and always somehow seemed to be drawn to each other in a room. They stayed friends for a while until one day it became something more. They dated for four years until Jonathan popped the question. He took her to dinner on her birthday and when the waiter brought out dessert, it was a ring in the middle of strawberries with “Will you marry me?” written in chocolate. She cried and said “YES!.” They then went back to her parent’s house where family and friends surprised her.

The location. Logan grew up going to Seaside, Florida. Her great aunt has a house in Seaside and once Logan and Jonathan started dating, they visited every summer and he fell in love with it too. Once Jonathan proposed, Seaside was a natural decision for them. Logan grew up riding her bike past the Seaside chapel and thinking about how beautiful it was. She never knew that one day she would be a bride walking out of that chapel. V Seagrove was a suggestion by Logan’s great aunt that fit perfectly with their vision. It is a beautiful glass restaurant, facing the ocean. What could be more perfect?

The inspiration. The bridesmaid’s dresses ended up being the inspiration for their wedding, aside from the many nights on pinterest, wedding blogs, etc. Logan chose a beautiful chiffon, floor length dress and she couldn’t imagine it in any other color than blush! The rest of the wedding followed. Logan’s mom and sisters helped with the planning and her great aunt and grandma made decorations and kept us on track. Logan’s cousins made the invitations and their “logo”. It ended really bringing the family closer together.

A few special touches. The rehearsal dinner was at Logan’s great aunt & great uncle’s house off Seaside Avenue, everyone that came down for the wedding was invited. On the wedding day, Logan wore her grandmother’s pearl earrings, the lace handkerchief her Aunt Martha gave her, and a cutting of her mother’s wedding dress around her bouquet. Jonathan’s dad married the couple, he says it was one of the greatest honors in his life. Jonathan had a best man and four “groomsmaids,” which were his sisters. The couple decided to write their own vows, and were obviously very nervous because they dropped the rings… twice! Logan’s sister Chelsea sang Etta James’ “At Last” while the couple danced to their first song as a married couple. Logan and Jonathan each had a signature drink. Logan’s was “The Bride’s Mint to Be” (vodka, lime juice, syrup, mint, & tonic.. super delicious). Jonathan’s signature drink was “The Old Fashioned Groom” (bourbon, simple syrup, orange, cherry). They decided to do a balloon send-off, which turned out to be perfect for the reception site.

The memories. The couple says that it went by in such a beautiful blur. Jonathan says the wedding couldn’t have been any better, that it “was the best wedding ever.” Logan could not have been happier with her intimate, fun, and gorgeous day. Their favorite photo is the one of them kissing in front of the Seaside Chapel, (and of course all of the photos of their crazy friends and family dancing).

The people we owe it to. The vendors truly made this wedding possible. With Logan and Jonathan being from Texas, they hadn’t even met most of their vendors until the wedding day. Each vendor catered specifically to them and made their wedding day more than they could have ever asked for.

Photography: Mackenzie Rollins | Cinematographer: Sixpence Studios | Event Planning: Savoir Faire Weddings | Floral Designer: Fisher's Flowers | Wedding Dress: Watters | Cake: Sweet For Sirten | Ceremony Venue: Seaside Interfaith Chapel | Reception Venue: V Seagrove | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | DJ: Shane Keller | Bridesmaid's Dress Designer: Bill Levkoff | Photobooth: Tony Thagard | Second Photographer: Avant Images

What we have here is the definition of Florida cool juxtaposed with a romantic love that only is found in two people who have known each other forever. Captured Photography by Jenny was able to bottle up the love and I for one have just had my Thursday made. Want to see why?

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From the photographer… Carter and Steph’s story is a special one. The couple met in 8th grade in China! And even with their families moving three times (all of the world), they continued to end up living right next to each other. They attended High school proms together, and even kept in touch through college. It wasn’t long after that, the two decided to make it official and begin a relationship.

They had their ceremony and reception at the Ft. Lauderdale Yacht Club. Carter and Steph’s family helped put together their special day. From the beautiful center pieces, fabric flags and their screen print guestbook they made together during a screen printing class. Stephanie loves to make cupcakes, so they incorporated their “MYOC” (make your own cupcake) station for their guests.

Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny | Cake: Publix Bakery | Lighting: Designs by Christine | DJ: Bitton Events DJs, Lighting, & Entertainment | Wedding Venue: Ft. Lauderdale Yacht Club | Bouquet + Corsages: Bashful Daisy | Bridal Boutique: Boca Raton Bridal | Centerpieces: Groom's Mother | Day of Coordinator: Corrinne Weins

I love picking a wedding planner’s brain. They have such a vast perspective on the big picture. They’ve got their pretty little fingers in every aspect of the process, so, it’s no surprise that they get asked some of the top questions. Just ask Heather of Posh Parties, our latest expert! Heather’s letting us in on some of her most-asked questions. And if that’s not enough, you can Ask Posh Party Gal right on her site. What’s not to love about this gal?!

How can I make my wedding stand out from others?

Weddings can be very cookie-cutter. All weddings have the same ingredients—choose a venue, a band, a photographer, etc. However, there are several things you can and should do to make your wedding your own. First, think of fun ways to bring out you and your fiancé’s personality. Maybe it means having a fun brass jazz band play at your cocktail hour because you met in college in New Orleans. Second, add personalized touches along the way. For instance, creating a “theme” using a monogram, saying or icon on your cocktail napkins, menu cards and program—things that can be carried out through your entire event. Lastly, incorporating a DIY element. Maybe you love to bake and as something guests can take home with them you bake homemade cookies or small cakes and give them your recipe. Small touches like this will transform your standard wedding into one that really is all about you as a couple!

What are some ways of making our food fun?

I love the trend of food by the bite. Mini tuna tacos, pot pies on a stick, mini lobster rolls and rubens—there are so many options. Those are great for your cocktail hour and late night bites. I also think the idea of doing dance floor delights—passed bite sized desserts—makes your party fun and keeps your guests on the dance floor so they don’t have to go back to their table for another course. Think chocolate covered cheesecake lollipops, mini sorbet cones, s’mores on a stick. Not only will that allow you to have some of your food more fun, but small touches like this can really create a big wow factor!

Is incorporating fashion trends into your wedding style something that is appropriate?

I find that many wedding trends directly relate to the trends in fashion. For example, leather is a big trend and now I am seeing it on cocktail linens, custom bars and after party furniture. So do not hesitate to use your fashion magazines as inspiration for your wedding looks. It’s nice to incorporate something current in addition to classic, timeless elements you will always look back on and be happy you had.

If there is one thing I should splurge on what would it be?

There are many elements of a wedding that are important—music, food, location, etc. However, if I had to choose one thing, I would say spending on an amazing photographer and videographer is the worth the splurge. Your photos are what you have left after the wedding is over to be able to reflect on over your lifetime. You want to make sure you get a quality photographer who you trust to capture one of the most important days of your life. As far as video, this is a place some people like to cut from their budget. Keep in mind, the video is the only place you will be able to go back and listen to the toasts and hear the laughter, the cheering and the music.

Do I need a party favor?

This truly is personal preference. If you do choose to have a favor, make sure it is something useful or edible so it makes sense monetarily to do. You can also choose to make a donation in your guests honor to a favorite charity. If you are torn, another option is to serve your cake as “cake to go” in a box with a fun tag that says “love is sweet.”  This way you are serving two purposes. I also love the idea of having fresh donuts made as guests leave with a coffee bar. Something like that is interactive and fun and less of a traditional favor.

My color palette includes colors that are not typically in flowers, is that going to be a problem?

Not at all. There are so many ways to incorporate colors. Keeping your florals neutral, you can add pops of color through your printed items, through table linens and even through pillows on lounge settings. Those are some of the best ways to include your funky colors and metallics without sacrificing the look of your flowers.

What is the best way for me to get information about my wedding out to my guests without having to clutter my save the date?

Wedding websites are extremely useful and a great way to relay information to your guests throughout the wedding planning process. From accommodation information, travel and weekend events, to attire, golf outing and spa information, these websites are the perfect way to tell your guests important details without having to lay it all out on your save the date. Wedding apps that also have a website are becoming increasingly popular and are truly great ways for your guests stay in the know right on their smart phones.

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Event Planning: Posh Parties & Paper | Wedding Photography: Nancy Cohn Photography | Assistant Photographer: Lauren Ross Photo | Wedding Venue: Cypress Grove Estate House in Orlando, Florida | Floral Design: Xquisite Events | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra

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This is the kind of duo that is all about having a good time on their wedding day.  The kind of duo that flies to the South of Florida with their closest friends and family, kicks off their shoes and celebrates their drop-dead gorgeous nuptials with their toes planted firmly in the sand.  They are just that awesome.  And every last moment captured by BlueSpark Photography?  Second after second of pure joy literally bursting from your computer screen.  See it all right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… Craig and I met in 2005 during grad school at The Thirsty Ear Pub, an MIT campus bar known as “The Institution of the Institute.” We were both very focused on our careers and not interested in ever getting married. So, we went our own ways, me to Fort Worth, Texas and Craig to Chicago, Illinois. We were always friends and saw each other often. Actually, it was often unavoidable since my older sister was dating and later married one of our mutual friends. In 2010, I was in Chicago on business and called Craig to meet up. A friend who saw us together politely (and figuratively) smacked me upside the head. The rest, as they say, is history.

We did the long distance thing for way too long. We hated being apart for weeks at a time and realized we would be stuck together if we were married… in a good way, of course. I work with my hands, so I really only wear flat rings that are unlikely to get caught in machinery. In lieu of a traditional engagement ring, Craig appropriately gave me a ring pop, which I wore for a solid 5 minutes.

We wanted a very small, intimate ceremony. Craig and I flew to Miami separately from Chicago and Fort Worth. My parents arrived from Queens and my sister and her husband flew in from Albuquerque. Craig’s parents and his two brothers came from the DC area and his sister and her husband traveled from Salt Lake City. Our families met for the first time. We spent the weekend together and held our ceremony on the beach. Craig and I (with a little online cheating) wrote a Dr. Seuss themed script and Craig’s brother, Steve, officiated with, as he put it, “a little more Dr. Dre then Dr. Seuss.” Craig’s youngest brother, DJ Eric, took care of our musical requests, mixing Frankie Valli’s original Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You with Muse’s remake, for a very “us” first dance on the beach. Our sisters, Karen and Rene were our ring bearers and made sure our rings were securely attached to our bride and groom rubber duckies until Steve called them to his “Arch of Power.” It was a beautiful day and a hilarious ceremony. I finally moved to Chicago a month later and we absolutely love coming home to each other every day without an 800-mile commute.

Photographer: BlueSpark Photography | Coordinator: Forever In Love | Floral Design: Forever In Love | Wedding Dress: Ann Taylor | Jewelry + Rings: Tinahdee

With a floral design so pretty you almost have to close your eyes for a minute, the wedding to match Myrtie Blue’s design had to be top notch. And that it was, with Christina Gillon Events at the planning helm. Meg Baisden Photography captured a wedding steps away from the beach, yet in an entirely different, yet just as wonderful, world… the garden. And no garden party would be complete without a delish spread from Dine by Design Catering. It’s win-win-win, this wedding.

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From the photographer… The wedding day florals were really something. Christina Gillon was the extraordinary coordinator – and Brian Watson of Myrtie Blue did such a wonderful job with the design and florals. I’ve never seen such big beautiful peonies before – and they were everywhere! All of the touches of moss, wood, the mismatched chandeliers down tables, over sized lanterns, and the almost ‘gathered’ feel of the arrangements – I just thought the decor was really superb. And the fact that these two were the absolute sweetest with a great love story!

Photography: Meg Baisden Photography | Event Planning: Christina Gillon Events | Flowers: Myrtie Blue | Ceremony Location: Rosemary Beach™ | Reception Location: Rosemary Beach™ | Catering: Dine by Design Catering | Welcome Party/Rehearsal Dinner Location: Inlet Beach

When sweet vintage stylings and crazy cool modern details join forces in a breathtaking Key Biscayne wedding, we here at SMP call it “seriously awesome.”  And when that seriously awesome day is captured by Elaine Palladino Photography and features lush blooms from Flowers by Sandra and an Elegant Temptations masterpiece, we can’t think of a better way to kick off the work week.  Join us in the gallery for all of the pretty.

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My fiance (now husband!) and I wanted a fun and intimate “party” for our guests. It was important to us that we were married in church. We fell in love with the beautiful Plymouth Church. We also felt it was important to hold the wedding in Miami,the city where we met and fell in love. We both have family from the Boston area and we thought our guests would enjoy some sunshine for Springtime wedding in Miami.

Vintage-Modern was the feel I was going for as I planned the day. I love vintage butI am also a very modern girl at heart. So I decided to incorporate the two. I loved the idea of a Spring wedding with the color palette of pretty peaches, pinks, nudes and ivories combined with soft florals and gorgeously soft lighting. We used metallics and mirrors to accent the light colors and bring a more modern, glamorous feel.

It felt impossible to properly “thank” everyone as the day seemed to quickly fly by. It was very important to us to do so, however. We took the time before dinner to greet every single guest. We walked table to table to hug and thank our family and friends. The groom’s favorite part of the day was the bridal party entrance as he choreographed it, incorporating the NBA Bull’s entrance, with the DJ. It was quite fun. I also loved joining our guests for the cocktail hour. While most brides and grooms are busy doing pictures (we had done the first look before the ceremony) we were able to enjoy extra time with our guests.

I am all about the little details. To me they make a big impression and make an occasion your own. Probably my favorite “detail” (and creative surprise) was that our friends made props of our heads to be used for the photo booth. They were a hit to say the least. Not only were they used in the photobooth- they were found later in the evening in floral arrangements and all over the dance floor.It was fun to see all the creative ways our friends celebrated with us, aka “our heads.” I also loved some of the more vintage touches, for example small kraft gift bags (with gorgeous white doilies) I had made for the bridemaids’ gifts and all the mirrored/metallic objects my mom and I had collected together over the year of planning. The truth is, all the little details were things I loved.

Late in the evening I changed into the dress my mom wore as her “going away” dress. This was special to me as my family is very close. For my sister and I, our parents are our everything. They have always loved us unconditionally and have always told us we could (and can!) accomplish anything we dreamed of. I know I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without the love of both of my parents. It was amazing to be wearing something I knew my mom wore the day she married my dad. I also used brooches on our ring pillow that belonged to my grandmother, who could not be present at the wedding due to travel. She is my idol and knowing she was there in more than just spirit was very special. I will always cherish those items and connect them with our marriage and wedding day.

I have a love for stationery and originally wanted to make thank you cards to put on the tables at each of the place settings. Then I thought about it. Although gorgeous for a picture or two, they will immediately get thrown away and I just didn’t like that idea. So instead of cards, I decided to make a thank you “mirror”using a vintage mirror I purchased and a chalk-pen. I used different fonts and got to be creative in spelling out our gratitude to our guests. The chalk pen washes off so the mirror can be used again. Less waste and more memories. I’ll take it. I also made personalized vintage compact mirrors for my bridesmaids with their names. I love the idea of practical things that can be used again well after the wedding, but with all the great memories and love that goes along with such a day.

Like everyone says the day goes by very quickly! But it really goes even faster than quickly. My advice for future brides and grooms?  Breathe, EAT (this is so hard when you are nervous/excited/etc), and take it all in. Definitely splurge, if you can, for a great video. A month after our wedding, on our “one month” anniversary we went back to the Rusty Pelican for a casual dinner and came home to our “highlight” video of our wedding day. It truly was like reliving the day. That video will never get old to us. I love it even more than I can describe. To see things you didn’t see that day and to see the live reactions and anticipation of the day.Pictures are a must, but I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy the video. I would highly recommend other brides squeeze this in to their day if they are at all questioning the idea.

Photographer: Elaine Palladino Photography | Videographer: Delight Media | Floral Design: Flowers by Sandra | Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani | Cake: Elegant Temptations | Invitations: Beacon Lane | Ceremony: Plymouth Church Miami | Ceremony Venue: Plymouth Church Miami | Reception: Rusty Pelican | Reception Venue: Rusty Pelican | Shoes: Vera Wang | Bridesmaids Dresses: Unique Bridal | DJ: DJ Cardi | Bridal Boutique: Couture Bridal Miami | Groom's Tux: Men's Wearhouse | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Sash: Pronovias | Veil: Couture Bridal Miami

This wedding has touched my heart in a way I can’t quite explain. Because when the unthinkable happened, the passing of the bride’s baby brother, this couple chose to let love and hope prevail in the most beautiful of ways — exchanging vows beneath the cross her brother had built for their day. Lauren Kinsey captured every moment of true, pure emotion, and you won’t leave this gallery with a dry eye. I promise you that.

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From Lauren Kinsey… Molly contacted me about 13 months ago and asked me to shoot her wedding. We instantly had this connection that I can’t really explain. I loved how she gushed about Josh and her sweet family. I felt like part of her family.

Then, the unthinkable happened. Molly’s baby brother, Doug, tragically passed. My heart was broken for her and for her family.

The day of the wedding was so emotionally charged and full of love. Molly’s mother prayed over Molly in the morning and she and the girls all did yoga on the lawn, in front of the cross that Molly’s brother Dwight made for the wedding, which served an an alter.

Molly wore an ivory alencon lace gown and a scalloped chapel train by Jim Hjelm, and was complemented by an heirloom cathedral veil that was worn by her sister, Emily, and her cousin Caroline. She carried a beautiful and textural bouquet created of blush and ivory hues including baubles, artemesia, foliage, succulent rossettes, tuberose, david austin roses in sand a creamy blush, pale peach ranunculus, pale blush garden roses and ivory vendella roses bound in old ivory hand dyed satin ribbon.

Emily Miller, Molly’s sister, stood as her Matron of Honor, and Emily wore a cream, silk gown and the flower girls wore cream heirloom handkerchief lace dresses from New Orleans, which is Josh and Molly’s favorite place to visit. All of the guests were asked to wear a cardinal pin, which also served as favors, in memory of Doug and other family members who had passed. During the reception, there was also a root bear float toast given by Molly and Josh, which was Doug’s favorite drink. Following the wedding, Josh surprised Molly with a surprise honeymoon to Bora Bora.

Molly graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Family and Consumer Sciences and for six years has worked at Texas Children’s Hospital as a Child Life Specialist in Houston, Texas. Josh is a a pediatric dentist at his own practice at Southeast Texas Children’s Dentistry.

Photography: Lauren Kinsey | Florals: Events by Nouveau Flowers | Gown: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Confections On The Coast | Catering: Cafe 30A | Entertainment: Jeff Butler Brock and Brew Band | Ceremony & Reception: Alys Beach | Paper & Invitations: Designers Fine Press | Rentals: H&M