Do yourself a little favor this lovely Tuesday and allow some time in your day to get a little lost in these dreamy images from Key West by Mi Amore Foto. Close your office door or turn your computer ever so slightly in your cubical so you can really soak up all the loveliness. The setting of this wedding will have you swooning, the flower girls will have you ready to pinch cheeks and the engagement ring will have you oohing and ahhing. There is oh so much more in the full gallery, so keep that door closed and dive on in.
From Mi Amore Foto…Karli and Jonathan are some of the warmest people I have ever met. As a destination wedding photographer, you are pretty much going into the situation blind. I mean, you have phone conversations, an occasional Skype, but you don’t usually meet face to face until the wedding day. So, you always wonder what the couple will really be like, nerves and all. From the moment I walked into the beautiful cottage house, at the Westin, until the moment I left, Karli and Jonathan made me feel like a guest at their wedding. I couldn’t have felt more like family.
There were many beautiful moments, from everyone in prayer circles before the wedding, to Karli’s father crying the whole ceremony (I’m a sucker for dad’s crying). There were even a group of ladies who made their own hats saying,”THIS is the Royal wedding!” It was a really warm day in the Keys, but not as warm as the energy you felt around this couple and their loved ones.
It was also neat because this was the first wedding that the Westin, Sunset Key, was setting up a large tent for the wedding. They did an outstanding job and everything went flawlessly.
The biggest complaint from couples about their wedding day is that it all goes by too quickly. Well, how about an entire week full of amazing activities in Islamorada? Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it? Well, that’s exactly what this super cute Miami couple planned for their nuptial festivities. Full of unique details, like the unique bridesmaids dresses specifically designed for the event by a friend, the actual day is full of romance and whimsy. Click here to see even more in the full gallery!
Be a part of this magically day with this sweet film by Benoit Rousseau!
From the Bride… For Romain and I, who have lived in so many different places, our wedding was an extremely important day since it was our only chance to gather all our dearest friends and family around us at once. That is the reason why a wedding in France was not an option. We wanted to spend some quality time with our guests since we hardly ever see them. A day or a weekend would have flown by too quickly. That’s how we decided to do a destination wedding: One complete week of great activities, discoveries, emotions and laughter.
When Romain and I moved to Miami in 2009 and fell in love with Islamorada and its beautiful sunsets, we knew that it was the perfect place to celebrate our union with our loved ones. I promised my guests that all they had to worry about was buying their flights… and that once in Miami I would take care of everything. People flew in from Sweden, England, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Denmark, NYC… I spent a whole year planning these ten days that none of us will ever forget: from the catamaran trips, the hotel reservations, the dinner parties, sunset cocktails, BBQs, full moon dinners, fishing trips, snorkeling trips, the limo rides, photo shoots, the pool parties, etc. Romain and I both worked in the Events and Hospitality industry in Miami so we had a lot of connections which we could never thank enough. I also wanted to add a few sweet touches such as the Welcome Bags which I placed in each bedroom with personalized sunscreens, Aloe Vera, caffeine pills, headache tables, a pair of flashy Rayban sunglasses, an individually signed welcome card and a full program with each activity of the week detailed and other important touristic information and tips on Miami and Islamorada.
After visiting various venues in Islamorada, we decided to rent a gorgeous private villa which was located right next to the beautiful Ocean Dawn hotel. The hotel has eight beautiful suites which were all occupied by our guests who could come to our villa by simply walking through the beach. This was perfect as it made our wedding venue very intimate.
My friend’s help before and during the wedding meant the world to me. Everyone cried when my friend Rebecca starting singing when I was walking down the aisle. I received a ton of compliments on the bridesmaids’ dresses, which were designed and hand made by Stephanie. Claire did an amazing job at styling my hair and Jill designed my oh-so-chic menus. Finally, our friend Ben made us the best gift one married couple could ever expect: He immortalized our day with his camera. The video is really touching and shows what a talented cinematographer he is.
Thanks to a lot of blogs like Style Me Pretty, I created a moodboard and opted for a sweet, charming, casual and yet very romantic atmosphere. I used seeded paper cards that say “Share and Blossom” as escort cards so people could keep them and grow flowers once back at home… a little reminder of our vacations together. For the centerpieces, I found an assortment of beautiful clear and blue old mason jars and small blue vases, which I decorated with lace and filled with simple flowers: yellow daisies, hydrangeas and billy balls. I placed the name cards and food descriptions in lemons on the tables and buffet. Blue and white paper lanterns were hanging from the tent and bouncing in the wind. Paper umbrellas and sandalwood fans were available for our guests to keep cool and lavender buds and bubble gels were distributed before the ceremony. The dress code was “rock that bow tie” for the gents and “hair accessory” for the ladies. It was simple, fun, romantic and chic. Perfect for a beach wedding.
Wedding Photography: Robert Rios Photography / Cinematography: Benoit Rousseau, Friend of the Bride & Groom / Flowers: DIY, The Bride + The Flower Bazaar / Event Planning: DIY, The Bride / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Southern Diversion (Private Estate Rental) / Wedding Invitations: DIY, The Bride / Menu Design: A2 Studio / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Michael Kors / Bridesmaid Dresses: Designed by Stephanie, Friend of the Bride / Hair: Friend of the Bride / Accommodations: Ocean Dawn Suites
Oh destination weddings, why do you tease us so? You combine two of our most favorite things – absolutely FAB weddings and exotic locales. A double whammy that leaves us in a wedding and vacation induced haze. Thank goodness we have our Destination Blog, filled to the brim with destination weddings just like this. The couple wed in sunny Key Largo, in an amazing, fresh, fun filled wedding weekend, planned and executed by Pineapple Productions – so you know it was just as good as the photos from Lynne Brubaker Photography let on. Take a holiday and visit the gallery for more!
From Allison of Pineapple Productions … In keeping with their free spirited and generous natures, Laura and Greg dreamed of a fun, informal wedding celebration that would leave their guests feeling as if they had just experienced a wonderful vacation. They settled on a destination wedding at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida – a wonderful resort Laura had grown up going to with her family.
For the wedding ceremony, guests were invited to a hedged garden overlooking the resort’s marina. Besides the beautiful Florida Keys sunshine and water backdrop, the ceremony featured a very lush cherry blossom arch highlighting the spring season and serving as a subtle reminder of the Laura’s Washington, DC roots. Coral rose petals carpeted the grass aisle, and staked torches pointed guests in the direction of the ceremony seating.
A calypso band played for the ceremony and concluded on an upbeat island note with Bob Marley’s “One Love” as the recessional piece. Following the steel drum player, Laura and Greg led the wedding party and wedding guests through the garden, alongside the marina path to the cocktail reception.
In the ballroom, rectangular and round tables were dressed in sand colored natural linen tablecloths. The table design incorporated other natural touches like dark brown wicker chargers, white coral, black fan coral and nautilus shells. White peonies and phalaeonopsis orchids, mixed with coral mokara orchids and garden roses, were incorporated into the tablescapes. Different blown glass pieces – sea urchin cups, coral shaped candlesticks, pillars of varying heights and oversized fishbowls – were utilized throughout.
Overall, the wedding weekend – its subtly exotic decorative elements and its low-key, fun vibe – celebrated the wondrous natural environment and relaxed entertaining style of the Florida Keys. Laura and Greg, their friends and families left the Ocean Reef Club with fabulous wedding and vacation memories! Everything a destination wedding is meant to do.
This next little number just might be the inspiration for my wedding re-do. You know, the wedding that I wished I’d had on some remote island with only my hubs, a gorgeous gown and a beautiful ocean blue backdrop. Well, the fabulous KT Merry just might have been thinking the same thing when she helped to craft this INSANE seaside inspiration shoot. Complete with peonies, a show-stoppingly gorgeous dress and jewels that literally make my heart palpitate, this shoot is simply beyond. With the help of Parrish Designs who is responsible for the the stunning tablescape and fashions by David Fittin, we have fallen in love over and over and over again. And make sure to check out KT Merry’s brand spanking new blog and site for more goodness! Click here to see the gallery.
From KT Merry… This editorial shoot was inspired by coastal chic details and the beautiful and secluded Moorings Village where it was shot. The Moorings is very close to my heart, one of my favorite locations, and one the best kept secrets of the Florida Keys. The shoot was all about casual elegance, I like to think of it as “black tie meets the beach.” The contrast between the sand and fabrics is amazing and the mellow tones of the palm trees and water bring out the classic beauty of the dresses. The styling was done by a longtime friend and talented stylist David Fittin who brought together all the looks flawlessly with gowns from Miami’s Ever After salon.
The table scape was created by Parrish Designs out of Miami and features a stunning driftwood table that looks straight out of an Anthropologie catalog! Parrish paired lanterns filled with sand and candles with driftwood, lanterns, black sea fans, and peonies for a perfect combination of muted beach tones and natural beauty. The ocean served as a perfect backdrop for the table and provided soft and warm tones to compliment the colors of the arrangements. The rickety driftwood chairs resemble something you might find while dining on a deserted island and were complete with sea fans for decoration and pillows for comfort.
Matt & Enna Grazier, two of Style Me Pretty’s fabulous destination photographers, captured this idyllic wedding at The Moorings Village ‘in the heart of Islamorada’ in the Florida Keys last October. We’re just sharing a smidge of the weekend celebration. The Grazier’s have two features on their blog with many, many, many more shots from the festivities ~ Sunrise At The Moorings and The Wedding.
Rachel and Aaron live and work in Boston MA. During their engagement they traveled to visit relatives in Florida and while there they took a road trip to the Keys. They fell in love with the beauty of the Moorings Village and the amazing food at Pierre’s restaurant on Islamorada. They invited roughly 60 of their family and friends to join them for a weekend on the Keys. The couple stayed at The Moorings Village which is a picturesque beachfront resort with gorgeous palms reaching out over the water. The sun rises on the Moorings beach, so on the morning of the wedding Rachel and Aaron woke early to watch the sun rise together from the hammock at the end of the pier. {See the Grazier’s full sunrise blog feature here}
Pierre’s restaurant hosted the ceremony and reception and is located directly across the street from The Moorings. Pierre’s beach allows a perfect view of the sunset, so Rachel and Aaron planned the ceremony so that cocktail hour could be spent admiring the sunset from the balconies at Pierre’s. Rachel and Aaron are major foodies, so the meal was a big deal and Pierre’s certainly delivered! The morning after they hosted a brunch at a nearby beach front home, and at the end of the brunch they sailed off on a small hobbie craft.
I loved this wedding the moment I saw it. But when I really got in there and got my hands dirty formatting it for this very feature…I fell madly in love. The elegance, the pure joy, the simple and yet totally luxe style. I’m obsessed. Beyond obsessed. And I’ve decided that I really, really, really want my whole life to look just like this wedding. From the bride’s restrained but stunning style to the all white totally opulent style and the sweet, simple moments caught so beautifully by photographer KT Merry. It’s simply beyond. Click here to see so much more.
Ariel and Andrea wanted a carefree and genuine, yet chic affair for their family and friends. The Miami residents were looking for casual comfort and achieved this by creating lounging nooks both inside and outside of the Pierre’s oceanfront venue. Crisp white lounge furniture groupings were accentuated by their accent colors of navy blue and yellow for that “nautical chic” look. The dining room at Pierre’s was transformed with elegant and clean designs featuring white french tulips along with breakaway vases cascading across the table showcasing white hydrangeas, polo white roses and white irises. The final touch of class came from an extravagant amount of multi-level candles which created the perfect romantic feel. The couple shared their first dance in the sand surrounded by guests holding sparklers.
I don’t know where you live…but where I am, it’s raining and gross outside. And it’s gray. Which I hate. So I thought we could brighten everyone’s day by sharing a wedding that is anything but gray. It’s sunny, and vibrant and full of the most gorgeous colors I think I have ever seen. All captured beautifully by the wonderfully talented KT Merry. Whose work has literally added a little ray of sunshine to my day. To see lots more images of this oh-so-lovely wedding, click here.
We never wanted a traditional wedding, but instead an elegant yet laid back beach wedding with details to be remembered forever! From the invites, to the flowers, to the jewelry, and the guys ties it couldn’t have been more perfect for us!
Everything started with the Save the Date and Invitations…it’s always exciting to open fun mail! Since the homes in the Florida Keys and especially Pierre’s restaurant have colorful shutters the save the dates just gave a glimpse of a blue shutter (just like Pierre’s) to create suspense as to what the invitation would look like. The invites were letter pressed with a sketch of Pierre’s and the shutters pressed in the blue! I love them!
Next, came the dresses, the jewelry and the ties! I love bold colors so the blue and plum colors were perfect! Luckily…especially since I am not a shopper, I found my dress in 5 minutes…it was beachy, elegant, was the same material as my bridesmaids and it fit! We were able to find the perfect tie for the groom…plum with blue flowers which blended perfect with the dresses and I loved the little flowers! We wanted the groomsmen to be a little different and were able to find plum and blue stripes…all in all when I saw the pictures I couldn’t believe how great everything looked together!
One of my favorite details of the wedding was the jewelry! My grandmother passed away the May before the wedding and always loved jewelry! I had no idea what type of jewelry I wanted to wear for the wedding, and was just going to settle for earrings! The next time I was at my grandparents house I sorted through grandmas jewelry and found the amazing vintage necklace I wore for the wedding!
A passion of mine is the statement flowers and candlelight can make at a wedding! The bold colors of my bouquet and how it tied into the bridesmaids was unreal! Gorgeous garland created the aisle on the beach and lanterns, blue votives, and mercury glass created a romantic feel at Pierre’s!
So the day came and went so fast, but my favorite memory was seeing Ryan for the first time on the beach before the ceremony! It was really exciting then, but is still exciting because the photographs capturing that first moment are absolutely unbelievable!
I loved these pics that the talented KT Merry sent me from a wedding that she recently shot in Key Largo. The cute bride was obsessed with all things J Crew and with simple, perfect details. I just wanted to feature a little tidbit from the affair, as I thought the colors and the light, airy feeling was wonderfully SMP.
To me, this wedding looks like an ad for J Crew, an inspiration board that I would design, an absolutely gorgeous affair straight off the cover of a glossy. Plus, I love a bride that rocks a baby’s breath bouquet. So, super chic. To see the wedding in its entirety, head over to KT Merry’s blog.
