Florida Weddings

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Florida Keys Beach Wedding at Drop Anchor Resort

From the beautiful Bride… My family was so involved in helping with our wedding! My mother (Libby Stout) made all the burlap and cloth table runners and she made the burlap flower cones that were on the aisle. I made the pinata and other various decorations. All of the china and other decor was purchased at Goodwills, garage sales and thrift stores.

One of our favorite moments was the actual ceremony. Kristi walked down the aisle to an acoustic version of Europe’s The Final Countdown, which we thought was awesome! The decorations that our florist (The Blonde Tulip) and my mother put together were beautiful!

Part of me is a little mad at Becca Borge for sending this Florida Keys beach wedding our way, but only because I’m beyond jealous of her and all the guests. Because a much, much bigger part of me is obsessed with this wedding – the colors that mimic a perfect Florida sunset, the outdoor locale in plain site of the water, the sweet couple, so in love, at the center… I’m absolutely obsessed!

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Fall Weddings

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Beach Weddings Destination

From the stunning bride… The Keys have always been a special place for us. It is where we vacation three weeks out of the summer, it is where Brian fly fishes, and where I spent many spring breaks and my college internship. As soon as we were engaged, we knew we would get married in Islamorada, and more specifically, at the Drop Anchor. The inspiration for the day was the beauty and history of the Keys and the old Florida style of the Drop Anchor. We wanted our decor to be an extension of the natural beauty surrounding us, so we created our own tablescapes that had multiple textures with the manzanita branches, sand colored burlap runners ,which we made, and ivory tablecloths, and we used rich colors in the loose flowers and succulents to continue the vibrant color palette the Drop Anchor provided as a backdrop. The bridesmaids gowns provide that “pop” of color to compliment the beauty of the ocean. The Keys, especially Isalmorada, also has a rich fishing history and with Brian being an avid saltwater angler, we wanted to incorporate an old nautical feel to the day. We used old lobster traps and netting on our cocktail table, brought in an old driftwood boat to display for drinks, and used copper and gold mercury glass lanterns and votive holders to give the tables a soft romantic feel.

For another layer of fun we our photobooth as another DIY element, where we incorporated a huge Polaroid cut out. My mother has always been a wonderful seamstress and made my birdcage veil and our flower girl’s dress. Brian made all the fishing flies for the boutonnieres.

We both grew up with our fathers owning and running small businesses and when we are at home we try to always support local small businesses, so in planning our wedding we wanted to continue that trend. Most of our vendors were small businesses, including our DJ, Videographer, Photographer, Rentals, Caterer, and the Drop Anchor. We brought in flowers and design elements from local Jacksonville Beach small businesses, Liz Stewart Floral Design and MOS. All of our invitations and programs, as well as the groomsmen’s suspenders and ties, and some of the bridesmaid jewelry, were ordered through Etsy.

If we had one element that was incredibly special to us, it would have been the In Memoriam table, where we honored some very special people that were missed greatly that day, including Brian’s father and my stepmother.

Vintage Islamorada Wedding Film

I’m not going to lie, I basically started tearing up during the opening credits of this stunning wedding captured in film by Bridges Cinema. It’s just beautiful in every sense of the word. From the obvious love this couple shares to the sweet moments throughout, this beauty is worth the watch…

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From Bridges Cinema …TISSUE ALERT!! This is such a beautiful wedding story and we were so honored to be a part of it. When Lindsey first contacted me and told me about her wedding, all the details and how important it was to be able to capture those little moments, we knew it would be special and were thrilled to be a part of this amazing day. Take a deep breath, enjoy the sights and see this story come together in beautiful Islamorada, Florida.

Photography: Chris Glenn Photography | Cinematography: Bridges Cinema | Cinematography: Bridges Cinema | Florist: Parrish Designs

Preppy Key West Beach Wedding

Obsessed is quickly becoming an understatement the more time I spend in the gallery of this ridiculously pretty wedding from 1313 Photography. The bride’s custom gown (which she designed herself!), the groom in seersucker, the ridiculous Key West beach… everything from to the hair & makeup by Marie-Pierre to the toes in the sand is calling me on this cold, cold February day!

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Fall Inspiration from Filda Konec Photography + Soiree Key West

From the stunning bride… Cody and I met through a mutual friend in college and dated for 5 years. The last two years of our relationship was long distance but it made our relationship so much stronger and our love grew so much in those last years.

Our wedding was perfect in my opinion and I wouldn’t change anything about it. It was simple, sweet and intimate, exactly what I wanted. We got married on Sunset Key in Key West. My family and I vacationed there when I was younger and when I was seven I told my parents that I was going to get married there one day, I don’t think they really believed me. I am so lucky and fortunate to actually have had my dream wedding in my dream location.

I wanted classic and elegant everything with pastels and of course bows! Our photographers captured the whole day and all the details so perfectly. Photos are so important to have because you truly forget about a lot that happens and having those means everything. Choosing great photographers to capture it all is tough but we were so lucky to have found the perfect match for us in 1313 Photography!

The whole day was just so relaxing. The men went fishing while all the ladies laid by the pool and beach, it was perfect and the most non-stressful way to do a wedding. I highly encourage a destination wedding to everyone, enjoy the special time with the closest friends and family, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Fall in Key West is a magical thing. It’s vibrant, colorful and chock-full of pretty. And on a day that we celebrate one of fall’s happiest holidays (it’s Halloween, lovelies!), we thought it only appropriate to also celebrate all of that aforementioned South Florida beauty. I’m talking lush blooms from Soiree Key West, crazy cool paper goods from Invites by Danette and a yummy + gorgeous cake from Key West Cakes. See it all captured by Filda Konec right here in the full gallery.

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Fall Weddings

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Outdoor Weddings

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Romantic

The ladies at Soiree Key West decided to take inspiration from Key West’s vibrant culture and mix it up with the city’s lush landscape for an organic, rustic vibe. The florals infuse fresh kale and citrus which compliment the beautiful gardens of Old Town Manor – perfect venue for intimate garden event. The colors are great for Halloween and the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays.

Key West Wedding from Lauren Kinsey

Here at SMP, we’re always on board for a good beach affair. And when it’s shot by the likes of Lauren Kinsey? Even better. Think coastal beauty meets modern design, with splashes of black, white and blush woven in for good measure. To see this wedding is to LOVE it, so let’s keep this pretty party going in the full gallery over here.

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Spring Weddings

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Key Largo Beach Wedding at Marriott Bay Resort from Elle Golden Photography

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Classic Weddings Modern

From Lauren Kinsey.. Claire and Adam’s wedding was held at the beautiful Casa Marina resort in Key West, Florida. I loved all the modern elements of this wedding, in a color palette of black and white, with a few touches of some blushes and mint.

Claire is a very talented interior designer based in the Atlanta area, and Adam is a private airplane pilot for a corporation. Because Claire is very serious about her design aesthetic, Claire hired
Peggy of Destination Wedding Studio and Peter Gran Bek of Milan Events to execute this wedding to perfection. Claire’s Aunt is also a jewelry designer and designed the couple’s rings as well as many of the pieces of jewelry that Claire accessorized her Kenneth Poole gown with.

From the Bride… Adam and I picked Key West because we went to The Casa Marina on our first trip together. He flew me down there himself in his teeny, tiny plane. While I have always loved Key West (it’s kooky like me), I fell in love with The Casa for its beautiful architecture, with it’s old world and new age feeling.

I’m an interior designer, which means I know exactly what I want all the time. So, I was very involved in every decision. Luckily, I had a team with not only the patience to guide me through the technical details, but also with the bevvy of talent necessary to execute my vision above what I could even imagine. From sketching the save the date, to making scaled models of every single paper good, to sourcing the shell pink runner at the ceremony, the buffalo check tablecloths and the Annabelle’s candy in guests’ welcome boxes – I put my hands in every single detail.

I also loved Reverend Eddie and how he matched his scarf (not the right word) to the runner – do you know he was on Million Dollar Listing!

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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Islamorada Wedding from Concept Photography

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Classic Weddings

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!

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Maggie Sottero

Savannah Collection

Serencia Collection

Amarosa Collection

Lisette Collection

Aracella Collection

Avery Collection

Cordelia Collection

Emerald Collection

Alistaire Collection

Maggie Sottero Fall 2019

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Dessy

Bridesmaid 2014

Women's Tuxedo

Tuxedo

Fall 2014

Spring 2015

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Islamorada is one of those places that’s always inching towards the top of my must-visit list. Between the sun and the sand, and that forever sense of beauty, it’s a place I’d like to sit and spend a nice, long week (or two!) Add a wildly gorgeous wedding to the mix, and this Florida gem is officially the ultimate place of pretty. Join me for a virtual vacay through Concept Photography’s captures right here.

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Beach Weddings Destination Hotels + Resorts Weddings Outdoor Weddings

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Florida Keys Wedding from Clau Photography

From the Bride…We wanted our wedding to reflect our personalities. We wanted it to be understated but still beautiful. We were in the keys, there is not much you have to do…Cheeca was the first venue we looked at for the wedding. We actually put planning on hold and 2 years after the fact decided it was perfect for what we were envisioning. We made the call and the rest was history. Vin and I made a pact that we were not going to stress about the wedding. We were both in agreement this was a celebration, and we wanted to enjoy every minute. That being said our most difficult challenge was the wedding was a destination, making it difficult at times to meet with our vendors. I could not have pictured a more beautiful wedding. From the flowers, to the tables, to our vintage splashes throughout, it was picture perfect. Our vendors did an incredible job! I do not think we really took into account how much work goes into a wedding lol. We had several DIY details. Our favorite being the welcome bags for our guests, enclosed with goodies and our favorite local spots. Being surrounded by so much love. I remember looking around and the smiles and laughter were simply priceless. We were fortunate to have several days of fun with our closest friends and family! Although our dearest friend Kyle circling the reception on a Schwin was a monumental moment for sure!

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The Florida Keys are a magical place; a sort of “time stands still” paradise made for marrying. It’s the kind of paradise where laid-back elegance and breathtaking backdrops reign supreme… and where darling duos such as these two sweeties tie the knot surrounded by lush blooms from Vivian Colls, a whole lot of happiness and light, airy hues. See it all captured by Clau Photography right here.

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Backyard Religious Institution

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Florida Wedding at the Morada Bay Beach Cafe from Jennie Andrews Photography

From the Bride… Since our wedding was going to take place in the Florida Keys I wanted to make sure to use bright summer colors and materials that would be light and airy so that people wouldn’t get hot. Also there is a Polish tradition to have the bridesmaids wear dresses in a color that is close to white so that bad spirits get confused and distracted from the bride! The decoration was inspired by Pinterest and Etsy and I fell I love with the rustic burlap, lace plus a laid back beach theme, so I combined them. For flowers, we went for a natural Miami look: Creme de la creme roses, white mini calla lilies, white hydrangeas, blush chablis spray roses, Dusty Miller, silver dollar eucalyptus and cream hypericum berries.

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Pronovias

ATELIER PRONOVIAS

PRONOVIAS

Dancing Lights, Cruise Collection

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Bari Jay

Spring 2015

Fall 2015

Bari Jay Sequins

Spring 2016

Fall 2016

Flower Girls Spring 2017

Spring 2017

Junior Bridesmaids Spring 2017

Fall 2017

Spring 2018

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What do you get when you combine a breathtaking Florida Keys backdrop, a fun-loving (+ uber-adorable) couple and a stunning al fresco reception literally on the beach? You get a crazy-gorgeous day that will most definitely go down in SMP history. One chock-full of amazing details from the likes of Floral Fantasy Weddings, Nicole Miller (hello, beautiful gown) and Morada Bay Beach Cafe. It’s vibrant hues meets homemade treats and it’s all sitting pretty in the full gallery captured perfectly by Jennie Andrews Photography. Join me there for every ounce of lovely.

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Islamorada Wedding from Concept Photography

From Jennie Andrews Photography… A gorgeous Florida Keys destination wedding of Jessica and Shea from November of 2012. Just love the carefree details in the chairs, plates, and mismatched bridesmaids dresses with the bride’s simple, but perfect Nicole Miller dress. The bride is an artist and hand-painted all of the different varieties of fish for the table numbers. And what a reception to finish off the day! They brought a live band with them all the way from Tennessee for the perfect party.

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Wedding Photography: Jennie Andrews Photography | Wedding Venue: Morada Bay Beach Cafe, Tina Kamenel – Special Event Liason | Officiant: Brian Thomas, Friend of the Groom | Floral Design: Deb at Floral Fantasy Weddings | Cookies: Homemade by Bride’s Damily, provided by Gloria of Bob’s Bunz | Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller | Band: The Trio, Nashville, Tennessee featuring Wes Bailey on Keyboards | Lighting: Paul at Keys Audio Productions

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Floral Fantasy Weddings

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Nicole Miller

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

Fall 2015

SPRING 2016

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Key West is the epitome of crazy cool, laid-back locales; a place where saying “I do” and getting your fun on go hand in hand. So when this darling duo decided on hosting a memorable vacation-style weekend for their friends and family, they turned to none other than The Caribbean Resort, a seaside beauty more than perfect for a joy-filled celebration. The result? A dance ’till you drop, toes in the sand, drop-dead gorgeous wedding planned to perfection by Just Save the Date and captured in mesmerizing images by Concept Photography. See it all right here.

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Beach Weddings Tented

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Islamorada Wedding from KT Merry + Bridges Cinema

From the Bride… We had always talked about having a laid-back wedding where people could just relax, unwind and have fun. We knew the Florida Keys would be the perfect place for this and that people could make a vacation out of it if they wanted.

The DIY details were one of my favorite parts of planning the wedding! Like a lot of people do, we designed our own koozies. I also made signs for the front of the resort and throughout the reception area. In keeping up with our nautical theme, we ordered starfish and made the seating cards for everyone (Pat was a huge help with this!). Also– on each of the tables, Pat made monkey fist nautical rope knots to hold the table numbers – I’m guessing people liked these because we only came home with 4 out of 16 of them! We also absolutely loved having the clear tent with the hanging lights, as well as the perimeter lighting for the dance floor. It looked absolutely amazing at night.

My favorite part of the day, though, was seeing each other for the first time on the dock when we did our first look photos. It was so nice to be able to kiss and hug him and let a lot of the nerves go by, seeing him for those two hours before the ceremony started.

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Floral Fantasy Weddings

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Something super special happens whenever KT Merry steps behind the camera. And whether it’s a swanky South Floria affair or an intimate Islamorada beach gathering like this, it’s the same result time and time again. Utter gorgeousness. So in that spirit of pretty, we’d like to kick off an unforgettable Wedding Wednesday. And guess what? Armed with eight pinch-me-perfect real weddings, we’re fully prepared to make it the best one yet. Get ready to pin like crazy and shed a happy tear or two because the film from Bridges Cinema and sun-soaked gallery is just that good. Won’t you join me?

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Winter Weddings

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Key West Wedding from Jessica Lorren

From the Bride…Jed and I patiently waited to find one another and when it finally came to planning our wedding we wanted an intimate celebration with a few family and friends and to highlight our love of food, wine and the ocean. We also felt (due to our age and personalities) we weren’t a “traditional” couple and decided to forego some things that tradition dictates you are “supposed” to do – like a wedding cake, a stereotypical reception or getting married on a Saturday. We knew it would be a stateside destination in which we’d enjoy a few days with our guests from across the country and leave them to the wonders of that area while we left for our honeymoon.

We booked Pierre’s off of a recommendation from my sister-in-law and knew we had made the right choice when we visited Islamorada and the location for the first time five months before our wedding date. The venue is beautiful with a gorgeous beach and classic plantation-style house with wrap around porch; it exudes southern charm (just like Jed). We got married on a Monday and used the weekend leading up to the day to spend time with family and friends. We had a family dinner at Wahoos, fishing with Robbie’s of Islamorada, an evening out with our friends at Lorelei’s and our rehearsal dinner at Marker 88. We thought we were geniuses to go about it in this fashion so that come the wedding day everyone knew other guests and it made for a fun, enjoyable evening for them and us.

We were engaged during a vacation to Napa and wanted to bring elements from that experience to the wedding by selecting wines we sampled during our winery tours. We chose Shramsberg Blanc de Blanc Brut, Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and Joseph Phelps Cabernet. My sister-in-law, her sister and I created all of the graphic design elements for the wedding. Jed and I created the table numbers from recycled wine bottles and the seating cardholders from recycled corks. We debated writing our own affirmations (we did traditional vows) and I am so glad that we did. I love the way our videographer incorporated them into the video and its one of my favorite moments from the day.

All of the vendors “killed it” (in a good way) with the final products. Our flowers were gorgeous, especially my bouquet, it was so fragrant I didn’t want to put it down. The staff at the Moorings Village was great to work with and accommodate our schedule for dressing, first look and family photos. The highlight real video perfectly captured the emotion of the day and was a great way to share our wedding with those who were unable to attend. KT and Chad were our on-point professionals directing us in a manner to capture the most creative, charming images we could have never imagined. The day was perfect and the weather was heaven sent with the most amazing sunset. Our wedding was exactly what we wanted and well worth waiting for.

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KT Merry Photography

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Jessica Lorren’s photography slays me. And that slaying happens each and every time I meet one of her weddings. I think it’s the mixture of dreamy Florida nuptials (Key West in this instance), an eye for just the right moments captured by her lens and of course all of said moments and that tropical backdrop wrapped up in the dreamiest film photography. It’s a slam dunk in our book of favorites and you can see all the pretty festivities seaside right here in the full gallery.

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Destination Weddings in Historical Venues

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DIY Inspired

From the Bride…When Ian and I were first engaged we decided the most important part of our wedding was that we get to spend quality time with everyone who is most special in our lives. The idea of a destination wedding where everyone could “check out” for the weekend was immediately at the top of our list. Unfortunately, the stress of organizing a vacation for 60 of our closest friends and family quickly became overwhelming and so we procrastinated for a little while.

Fast forward 3 years, and we finally started planning again. We still wanted a destination wedding but didn’t want the stress of not being able to see anything in person prior to the event so we chose Key West, FL which was only a few hours away from our home in Palm Beach. Key West has more than enough personality so we decided to keep everything simple and understated. We wanted to have an elegant wedding but still keep the casual Key West feel so we choose the Southernmost Mansion as our home for the weekend. We took our color inspiration from the pretty Victorian house and I made the invites and menu cards to match. I have a tendency to want to do everything myself and the wedding flowers were at the top of my list. Fortunately, my incredibly intelligent fiancé told me that I needed to hire a florist so that we could enjoy time with friends and family. It was one of the smartest decisions we made. We hired an amazing florist who went above and beyond with our tiny flower budget.

The day ended up being better than I could have ever asked for. After champagne breakfast with the girls we had our first look, which we originally had not planned on doing. Thankfully, with the advice of our wonderful photographer Jessica Lorren, it was the second best decision we made. As much as we wanted to spend time with our loved ones those two hours alone were irreplaceable. The ceremony was held at the Key West Lighthouse and we were back at the Mansion just in time for a beautiful pink sunset. Jessica captured all the details, even the ones I thought would go unnoticed, and I cannot thank her enough for the memories that she captured for us.

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Wedding Dresses

Enzoani

2014 Beautiful

2014 Blue

2014

2014 Love

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Florida Keys Wedding from Nancy Cohn Photography

Beach weddings? They’re amazing. A fun, laid-back and totally elegant kind of amazing. Which is why we happen to be quite smitten with this pretty little affair from Nancy Cohn, one we’re calling the epitome of beach wedding perfection with its breathtaking seaside ceremony, gorgeous tented reception and bride and groom who couldn’t be more in love. And The Islander setting? Gorg. Click here for sooo much more.

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Beach Weddings Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Islamorada Wedding from Thompson Photography Group

From the Bride… Justin and I met right after New Year’s 2010, while with mutual friends out on the town. He swung me around the dance floor and I was in love. We got engaged in June 2012 and, after realizing we just couldn’t elope (because we wanted to include as many friends and family as possible), we decided on the relaxed vibe of the Florida Keys. The wedding took place at The Islander in Islamorada, Florida just two hours away from us. Many of our guests live in South Florida. It’s well-known resort dating back to the 1950’s, with a huge sandy beach area.

During the afternoon, while the groom was lounging at the pool, I took a few “beach babe” shots with some close girlfriends. We chose not to have a bridal party so our friends could enjoy their weekend, stress free, but I am forever grateful to my girls for bouncing around in their bikinis with me.

The weather was perfect the entire weekend. We were blessed with a bright orange sunset… matched only by the color of my father’s shirt (a fishing shirt he insisted upon wearing)! My father made the chuppah, deciding to make a simple design after reading that it represents the beginning of the couple’s relationship who then “embellish” it throughout their marriage. Not to be left out, the mother of the groom made the chuppah cover. Champagne and sparkling water was poured for our guests as they arrived at the waterfront location.

We had a Ketubah signing just prior to the ceremony and then, led by our brothers, we were walked down the “aisle” by our parents, as a four piece string ensemble played Muse and Guns N Roses’ “Sweet Child O’Mine.” At the last minute, we decided to go barefoot throughout the ceremony. Justin put on his brother’s topsider to break the glass at the end!

The reception took place under a white tent on the sand. Centerpieces were simple, alternating between white lanterns, white and green hydrangeas and white lily and rose combinations. A simple burlap runner and white napkins and table cloths. Chairs were bamboo and wicker to pick up some of the natural tones. Guests place markers were mini-succulents which also doubled as gifts to take home! The DJ got his start over 20 years at a local Miami skating rink, so the guests shook their booties to some high-energy Miami bass music. We shared our first dance to Led Zeppelin’s “Thank you” and invited guests to join halfway through, so it was a marriage of old and new.

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Floral Fantasy Weddings

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Florida weddings always have this ethereal feel about them. A sort of floating above the sand vibe, rather than walking through it. And in the case of this sweet Islamorada affair, it’s heavenly and then some with a bride and groom who set about re-creating the night they met in the Florida Keys. An “epic beach party under the stars” set against the beautiful Postcard Inn, it’s the fab stylings of Kate Bentley Events meets oh-so-lovely vibrant hues meets a stunning Naeem Khan gown originally designed for the First Lady (seriously). See all of the pretty captured by Thompson Photography Group in the full gallery.

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Al Fresco Classic Weddings

From the Bride… We chose Islamorada because we wanted to bring our loved ones back to the place where we fell in love. We wanted our wedding to not just be a celebration of our union, but an opportunity for all the amazing people we have befriended through our many journeys in life to come together and experience the serenity of the Florida Keys.

We wanted our wedding to be reminiscent of the night in Key West when we met, so our priority was to deliver an epic beach dance party under the stars. The Postcard Inn was the perfect venue to provide the comforts of a resort where people could truly enjoy a sunny holiday and the most memorable beachside wedding of all time. Since we wanted to foster an environment that allowed our friends and family to mingle and meet, we wanted to ensure that our venue offered every amenity so guests didn’t feel the need to leave the property. In the end, it was truly sublime. As David said, “Everywhere I went at the Postcard Inn, I saw an old friend.” It gave us a once in a lifetime opportunity to host everyone we loved under one star lit roof.

We wanted to create a beach chic atmosphere that wove in natural elements to create a warm and lively setting. The driftwood, candles and grapevine balls were intertwined amongst long tables and lit up with tiki torches and festival lights, creating an elegant grace against the backdrop of the ocean which gave rise to the epic dance party.

The story of my dress is one of my favorite stories to share. I wanted to honor my Sri-Lankan culture and wear a Sari for the ceremony, but I wanted something more unique than a traditional wedding sari. Searching around online one night I found the most exquisite turquoise dress designed by Naeem Khan. The dress fit the vision I had in my mind for a sari that embodied the traditions of the east with the elegance of the west. It was beyond my price point, but one of my bridesmaids was determined to find a way for me to get the dress. She had a good friend who worked for the designer and reached out to see if there was any chance to get a sample sale version of the dress. Unfortunately, we were told that the dress was completely sold out. But literally a few hours later, we got a call. It was fate letting us know that Naeem had designed a version of the same dress in white for Michelle Obama and she had just returned the dress. It was mine… a dress custom made for the First Lady ended up being the wedding dress of my dreams.

The highlight of my wedding was my father’s welcome speech and toast to David and me. He captured the perfect balance of humor and emotion and ended by singing a Sri-Lankan lullaby about the love for a daughter. It was a speech that resonated not just with David and me, but touched every guest at our wedding. The story of his toast has traveled far and wide since our wedding, and every mention brings tears to eyes of the reciter.

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Key West Wedding at Casa Marina from Erin Jean Photography

When you are completely dedicated to adding a dose of personality to your big day, you’ll do just about anything. Like drive from Wisconsin to Key West in a great big van chock-full of meaningful details, just like these two sweeties. And then you’ll sprinkle those meaningful details and travel-inspired memorabilia throughout every last moment captured by the always amazing Erin Jean Photography… and the result? Pure, seaside magic with too much pretty to believe. See it all in the full gallery.

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Beach Weddings Religious Institution

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Al Fresco Casual

From Erin Jean Photography… This is an event that I just adore and really wanted to share it with you. A destination wedding placed in Key West, Florida. A location near and dear to Lisa and Adam’s heart.

They are a detail-orientated couple, so they drove a huge van from Wisconsin to the Keys filled with things that would make their wedding truly “theirs.” From boxes of vintage Key West memorabilia collected over the years to destination and travel objects galore, these two had it all.

A Key West wedding is something all in its own. It may be one of the most laid back places in the world. The breeze floats through the air and you find yourself just standing there and taking in a deep breath. What a better place to be wed?! The beach is white and the coral shore is something you will never forget. When 100 people travel from the midwest, it’s something special.

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Wedding Dresses

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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Islamorada Wedding from KT Merry Photography

I felt like the luckiest duck to have met the KT Merry in person last week. And guess what? The lady behind the lens is every bit as wonderful as you’d think. With the kind of work that makes us squeal, sigh, and wish we could do our wedding days all over again, there’s no doubt she’s officially one of our faves. But just when I thought my girl crush couldn’t get any bigger she sent us, dare I say, some of her best work yet. It’s an Islamorada, Florida affair designed by Parrish Designs and Caidal Events that can only be described as a little slice of wedding heaven. The full gallery is overflowing with inspiration, and the film from Voila Cinematic? Total perfection.

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