Florida Weddings

The most beautiful blending of styles often comes from marrying a personality-filled venue with just the right details—like today’s editorial from Natalie Broach Photography. The backdrop, Ellie’s Garden, sets the stage for garden industrial romance to flourish, with blooms from Lina Bosque and beauty by Jessica Rowe. Soak up the peachy, coral and burgundy palette in the full gallery!

From Natalie Broach… As a wedding photographer, I get the amazing opportunity to work with real couples by photographing them on one of the biggest days of their lives! My light and airy style is also combined with capturing real emotion by getting my couples to feel comfortable in front of the camera. Though weddings keep me very busy, I always love pushing myself and tapping into my creative side through other types of photoshoots. After doing a fun styled shoot last year with some creative vendor friends of mine Jessica Rowe Hair and Makeup Styling and Verdure Florals, I knew It was time we all came together again to share ideas for something that would be unique and beautiful. We all can agree we love a good black tux and white lace wedding gown, but we knew in order to truly create something that would stand out, we were going to have to go beyond what we are all used to seeing.

It all started with finding a beautiful couple and we did just that! Though they may not have been a real couple, Nina and Devante sure fooled us with their beautiful chemistry in front of my lens! I was able to give them direction just as if they were a real couple and I love how they responded to it. Having the groom whisper something sweet or funny into his bride’s ear to get that little burst of laughter is the perfect way to capture instant joy. Asking the bride to slowly lift her eyes to his or to have her softly touch his arm as he sweetly tucks her hair behind her ear, are all little ways of getting these incredible and authentic looking images.

Picking an amazing location was next on our list. As soon as we saw Ellie’s Garden we completely fell in love and were so excited they were on board with our photoshoot. Located in the heart of Jacksonville, in Historic San Jose, Ellie’s Garden and Warehouse offers a space unlike any other. The strength of industry meets the romantic backdrop of nature. The perfect balance of yin and yang, and the ever changing garden and grounds offer a look that suits any season and event. The garden and exterior grounds are 16,000 sq. ft., while the warehouse is 4,300 sq. ft.. This provides so many different layouts that every affair is special and unique unto itself. The location instantly gave us major secret garden vibes with a touch of glamour. With large antique metal gates to set the mood when entering the garden to the colorful landscape featuring Florida native plants, this venue was absolutely perfect.

When it came to florals, Lina from Verdure Florals wanted the flowers to have a romantic and whimsical feel for the shoot. She used beautiful garden roses, ranunculus, carnations, sweet pea, lisianthus, and some grasses to add texture. Her favorite part about this beautiful bouquet was that all of the greenery you see is from her own backyard. This gave it that romantic, secret garden, hand tied bouquet look that is just stunning.

Selecting the perfect dress and suit can be very challenging when you have so many amazing options to choose from. My favorite local bridal boutique, Love a Bridal Boutique, were so kind to lend us a dress. We originally had a different dress selected but the week of our styled shoot, the ladies at Love Bridal received a new dress and when they sent me an image I knew that was the dress for our shoot! The other dress we had originally selected was beautiful as well but this one by Jack Sullivan completely knocked the other dress out of the picture.The Carrie gown by Jack Sullivan Bridal features a lace bodice, complete with a strapless sweet heart neckline. The skirt is a soft a-line that highlights three tiers of Chantilly lace trimmed layers. We paired this with a pair of gorgeous earrings by a.b.ellie that Love Bridal Boutique offer. The Coryn earrings feature organza tuffs with rhinestone accents and gold hoop detailing. They absolutely completed the look and added a more glamorous feel.

When it came to picking the Groom’s suit we knew that it needed to compliment the colors of the florals as well as our location. As soon as we began the process of looking at different colors, we quickly landed on this skinny fit burgundy suit by New Look, purchased at Asos. We paired it with a New Look White dress shirt, Cole Hann brown shoes and decided to leave out the tie for a more modern approach.

For the hair and makeup, Jessica, from Jessica Rowe Hair and Makeup Styling, wanted to create a very natural and soft glam look. She did a golden and bronze light smoky eye using different shades of browns that paired beautifully with a soft pink lip shade. She kept the natural texture of the model’s hair for extra volume and added loose curls for a low up do. She pulled pieces to frame her face to go along with the natural and whimsical look for the shoot.

For the stationary, Ashley, from P+Co Design Studio, wanted there to be a balance of boldness and delicacy, romance and modernization. The negative space causes the eye to stop and focus on the content. It creates a boldness but the layout, thinness of the letterforms, illustrations, and color palette point back to the delicate look of the shoot. Ryan from M.C. Pressure, absoulutely nailed it with the color and paper selections. The paper is thick and textured and perfectly blends a modern look with a handmade feel. The color palette of the stationery is romantic but still modern.

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Photography: Natalie Broach Photography | Floral Design: Lina Bosque | Wedding Dress: Love Bridal Boutique | Groom's Attire: Next | Venue: Ellies Garden | Earrings: a.b.Ellie | Hair&Makeup: Jessica Flores | Invitation Design: Ashley Purser | Letterpress: Ryan Tempro | Wedding Dress Designer: Jack Sullivan

From the DIY invites (painted by the bride!) and gorgeous garden bouquets to the Groom’s classic Navy uniform and gorgeous photos from The Ganeys, this Florida wedding day is all kinds of pretty. And the passed hors d’oeuvres instead of a sit-down dinner make it all kinds of fun, too. See it all in The Vault!

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From The Ganeys…Every aspect of Tommy and Rachel’s wedding day left a smile on my face. There was a special romance that lingered through the air, and it was truly magical to watch the day move along.

To set the tone for this gorgeous garden wedding, Rachel meticulously painted her own invitations and welcome map – as well as other signage for the wedding.

Rachel opted to get ready at her parent’s condo along the river. The natural light poured into the room. Rachel and her bridesmaids wore matching robes and enjoyed sipping on their coffee and popping champagne while Studio Bride worked along on their up-do’s and flawless makeup. Rachel’s mom and Natalie, her maid of honor and sister-in-law, helped put Rachel into her gorgeous beaded, illusion back gown. Rachel wore her grandmother’s stud earrings and Natalie’s drop pearl earrings.

The bridesmaids donned their mismatched blush dresses. I loved the variety and how they all complemented each other so well! They all carried beautiful, lush, organic bouquets flowing with greenery and garden roses made by Anything with Plants.

The ceremony took place right along the St. John’s River at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. Guests found their seats as they were serenaded by Alex Peramas, a musician that Tommy and Rachel had stumbled upon twice – in two different cities! The first night they heard him play was the night they exchanged their first “I love you’s,” so when they recognized him a second time, they knew it was meant to be and they asked him to play at their wedding.

The ceremony was short and sweet, led by Rachel’s uncle. Tommy was so excited to see Rachel for the first time – it was just adorable! Tommy wore his grandfather’s watch and wedding band. The band was previously engraved with his grandparent’s names and wedding date. There was just enough room to squeeze in “R&T 2016″ to symbolize the second marriage that it would fulfill and represent.

To honor Tommy’s service in the Navy, Rachel and Tommy walked through a sword arch presented by other members of the US Navy, US Air Force, and Australian Air Force during the recessional.

Rachel and Tommy’s wedding was timeless and classic with a gorgeous, neutral color scheme. Pops of blush and gold added interest and glam to their decor. Instead of a traditional sit down dinner, the guests enjoyed endless heavy hors d’oeuvres such as mini sliders and hot dogs, crepes and tomato soup shooters, and Chinese takeout. To top it off, they had a dessert table fit for a king and queen. Guests mingled in the museum while enjoying the art and others enjoyed dining al fresco under the cafe lighting (be still my heart) and tiled dance floor.

At the end of the night, Rachel changed into her honeymoon romper, and she and Tommy exited through a cloud of bubbles onto their getaway tandem bicycle! So adorable!

Photography: The Ganeys | Floral Design: Anything With Plants And Flowers | Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo | Cake: Alleycakes Bakery | Bride's Shoes: Pour La Victorie | Catering: Chef's Garden Catering And Events | Hair + Makeup: Studio Bride Artistry | Band: Radio Love | Ceremony Music: Alex Peramas | Venue: The Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Framed Calligraphy Print: Shannon Kirsten Illustration | Invitations + Signage: Creative Freedom Design | Robes: Sandy Waters Store

As someone who grew up in the south, that part of the country will always hold a special place in my heart. So when I see a shoot like this beautiful work of art from E. M. Anderson Photography, I get nostalgic in the best possible way. With stunning florals from Milk & Honey, gorgeous stationery from CEW Calligraphy, and one ridiculously beautiful model – this gallery is southern perfection.

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From E.M. Anderson Photography…Set against the backdrop of the historical Florida home of author Harriet Beecher Stowe, this shoot was inspired by the concept of a Southern tomboy all grown up. Simple styling, family heirlooms and truly southern sweets all worked together to create a relaxed and elegant mood.

The beautiful calligraphy lent an even more handmade and personal feel, and the floral design was natural and a little wild, incorporating southern icons like magnolias and peaches. All the silver and place settings were my own great grandmothers and I was so pleased to incorporate a sense of tradition by including them.

Overall, we wanted to inspire brides that their wedding design doesn’t need to be glamorous or extravagant to be beautiful, but that there is inherent confidence and elegance in humble, simple things. I think the legendary Coco Chanel said it best, “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.”

Photography: E.M. Anderson Photography | Styling: Blair Brown | Florals: Flowers By Milk & Honey | Wedding Gown: Rent The Runway | Hair and Makeup:: Hopcraft Collective | Venue: Home Of Harriet Beecher Stowe | Calligraphy And Stationery: CEW Calligraphy | Furniture and Decor Rentals: Wish Vintage Rentals | Model: Tyrah W.

This is one of those weddings where you think you’ve picked a favorite part, and then a couple pics later and that part has some competition. I was loving these colorful, succulent splattered bouquets, but then had a good look at the Bride’s blossom in her hair and I just can’t decide what’s better. Or how about the antique plates? Or the look on this Groom’s face when he saw his blushing Bride? See what I mean? Lucky for us, Julie Paisley captured them all and this gallery is full of these goodies for us to Pin away!

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From Julie Paisley… Sometimes it rains on your wedding day and you have to go to the back up plan, but that didn’t take away the joy from this day. The ceremony was all set up under the big oak tree but Florida in the spring can have a mind of it’s own. In spite of the last minute change of moving the ceremony inside, the wedding still went on with smiles from all.

I really loved Bekah’s style. The different colors of the wedding dresses, the floral print ties on the groomsmen and the mix-matched china place settings tied in her rustic/vintage theme. Beautiful venue and beautiful details tied it all together giving us a fresh alternative from the traditional blush/pink rustic style. Bekah’s heritage is Irish, in fact, the majority of the guests made the trip to FL from Ireland for the wedding and her grandfather officiated the wedding. It was pure joy to shoot this wedding, beauty for the eye and the love of family for the soul.

Photography: Julie Paisley Photography | Wedding Planning: The Wedding Assistant | Floral Design: Blossoms And Accents | Cake: Irma Kay's Cakes | Catering: D'vine Cuisine | Makeup: Paulina Perez | Hair: Hues Hair Salon And Color Bar | Venue: Bowing Oaks Plantation

Maybe as a former ballet dancer myself I’m a little partial, but I knew this wedding would be making my favorites list upon first glance at these chic shoes. I didn’t even need to see this stunning Bride’s dress (the back details!), the elegant gold chargers or even this too-cute-for-words pup… but believe me, these all added up to one amazing affair, captured for our lucky eyes by Lauren Peele. See it all right this way!

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From Lauren Peele… Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, Jennifer (Efstathion) Colvin, made the most stunning bride. The bride and groom met through a bridesmaid and fellow cheerleader three years ago and have been living happily in Dallas since.

The two were wed in Jen’s home town of Jacksonville, FL, at a venue her family built for her wedding. A majestic tree draped in flowers made for a romantic backdrop as they said their vows surrounded by family and friends.

Jen’s love of dance shaped her wedding into an elegant affair in neutral shades of grey and pale blue. She wore a Hayley Paige dress that was made to move, complete with ballet flats. Her maids were dressed in perfectly mismatched dresses and all held natural cream bouquets.

A candlelit reception set the mood for a romantic evening filled with dancing. The tables were adorned in ivory linens surrounded by lots of greenery keeping with the elegant yet organic tone of the day.

From the Bride… What are the MOST important aspects of our wedding day… What are our make-it-or-break-it things? This was the first topic we tackled when we started our wedding planning journey, and it wasn’t a very long conversation before we came up with our answer. Wedding success equaled: 1) being surrounded by our family and friends + 2) FUN (which obviously involves a lengthy dance party) + 3) having an amazing photographer to capture every moment. Being on the same page about our wedding priorities made the rest of our decisions a piece of cake :)

The venue, Bowing Oaks Plantation, was simply breathtaking. It gave our wedding that laidback, celebratory vibe that makes everyone feel right at home. We had the ceremony under the shade of a beautiful, giant oak tree draped in flower garland. Our officiant, Ted, is an extra special guy because he was the best man in my mom and dad’s wedding (42 years ago and counting!) and also performed the ceremony for my sister’s wedding. Ted’s words definitely made our ceremony feel more personal. However… the BEST part of the ceremony was when Ryan got a little tongue-tied saying our vows! He was a little caught up in the moment and repeated that he would take me as his “waffle wedded wife.” We totally lost it laughing, and everyone joined right in with us! So funny and so adorable :)

Of course, for any Florida wedding… outside…. in the spring… weather is a concern. So we partook in a little tradition to ward off the rain! Southern folklore says that “burying an unopened bottle of bourbon one month before the wedding, at the exact time of the wedding, at the site of the wedding, ensures good weather on the day of the event.” I’m not particularly superstitious, but we did have pretty perfect weather! The second part of the tradition gets even better. After dinner, everyone went outside and circled around as we dug up the bottle and passed it around to kick off the reception!

One of my favorite moments of the night was the father-daughter dance. My super talented groom played guitar and sang “Brown Eyed Girl” while Dad and I showed off our dance moves. This was just the beginning of the dance party highlights – all made possible by my amazingly perfect wedding dress! I loved my Hayley Paige dress even more than I could have imagined. The bodice and delicate straps reminded me so much of the ballet costumes I grew up wearing, and I immediately knew it was the one. I was also confident that I would be able bust out any moves I wanted to in this gown (which came in handy when it was time to do the kickline with my fellow Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders – a game day AND wedding reception tradition!) Likewise, I needed my feet feeling good too, so ballet shoes were an obvious fun and comfortable choice!

Our wedding day was everything we could have hoped for and more. The first morning we were back in Dallas, I made my HUSBAND breakfast-in-bed. Waffles, of course! With a little sticky note… “Love, your waffle wedded wife.”

Photography: Lauren Peele | Videography: Take One Productions | Event Coordination: First Coast Weddings and Events, Inc. | Event Design: Jessica Colvin Styling | Floral Design: Celebrated Occasions | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Invitations: Celebrated Occasions | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Joanna August | Bridesmaids' Dresses: WToo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Stardust Celebrations | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Lela Rose | Catering: 4 Rivers Smokehouse | Hair & Makeup: Zinc Beauty, Peggy Segundo | Groom's Attire: Vera Wang | Venue: Bowing Oaks Plantation | Alterations: Altered For The Altar | Bridal Bouquet & Flower Crown: Jessica Colvin Styling | Bridal Boutique: The White Magnolia | Bridal Party Hair: Coastal Beauty | Bride's Robe: BHLDN | Bridesmaids' Boutique: Bella Bridesmaid | Cigar Bar: Southern Charm | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals and Design | Signage: BB Designs

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Not only is this fête the perfect blend of sentimental details, but it’s also the perfect example that true love is worth waiting for. After holding onto a cherished alexandrite for 12 years, this Groom finally found his long distance love. So, when it came time to plan their Big Day they chose the talented Joey Kennedy Photography to capture every lucky-in-love moment.

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Form the beautiful Bride… The night I met Chaz I had no idea that he would be the man I would spend the rest of my life with. Fortunately he knew almost right away and pursued me from that day forward. I lived in Jacksonville, Florida and Chaz lived in Orlando, Florida. For roughly 4 months he drove to Jacksonville every weekend to see me. While we denied we were in a relationship for a long time, our family and friends knew better. I was always someone who never wanted to get married or have children. I was perfectly happy on my own and so was Chaz. But falling in love with him was the greatest adventure of my life. Charles is my game changer and will forever be the most wonderful surprise.

When we first got engaged, Chaz did not have a ring. He told me that he had cut a stone years ago (12 to be exact) and that he had always envisioned setting this stone for his future wife; however, he wanted to confirm that I did not have my heart set on a diamond. I was so incredibly happy that he proposed that I forgot a ring is typically involved. The fact that Charles had something so valuable and special to him all these years and decided I was worthy of receiving it took my breath away. A few months later I received my ring and it was well worth the wait! A one-carat alexandrite set in diamonds. I receive compliments all the time regarding how beautiful and unique my ring is and it just makes me smile. Charles has so many talents and gifts that this is just another example of one.

We were engaged for 2 years and while some thought that was a long time, it could not have been more perfect for us! Shortly after we got engaged we moved to Dallas, Texas and lived together for the first time.

Photography: Joey Kennedy Photography | Floral Design: Lee Hamby Design | Cake: Metro Custom Cakes | Invitations: Charles Forster Design | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Catering: Chef's Garden Catering And Events | Makeup: Jill Stonier | Hair: Once Upon A Stylist | Lighting: Mark Grandin Events | DJ: McGee Entertainment | Officiant: Sensational Ceremonies | Ceremony And Reception Venue: The Cummer Museum Of Art And Gardens | Day Of Coordinator: Dairing Events - Adair Currie | Gown/Veil/Earrings: The White Magnolia

These two southern sweethearts are proof that sometimes a blind date can result in happily ever after. They strolled through Jacksonville Treaty Oak Part for a love session documented by Stephanie W Photography, and the result is one adorable capture after another. Click here for so much more.

From the Bride and Groom-to-be… We met in Jacksonville, Florida through a mutual friend who was one of my sorority sisters and also his childhood friend. She set us up on a blind date, the first for both of us. We had dinner and drinks at a local restaurant in Atlantic Beach called Ragtime Tavern. Our first date lasted three hours long and we knew it would only be the first of many. Flash forward two years later, we took a trip to San Diego to visit friends who were relocated to the naval base there. He proposed at sunset in Temecula, California while we were wine tasting at Leonesse Winery. The proposal was absolutely perfect and I was so happy when he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.

We decided to go with the traditional southern chic look for our engagement session back in Jacksonville. We love the big oak tree surrounding Treaty Oak Park downtown and also the historic area and houses of San Marco. I chose to wear white and blush pink shades, keeping with our traditional southern look. I also wanted to incorporate wearing some lace in our engagement shoot, keeping with my style of my wedding dress. We were so comfortable with Stephanie and she really made the shoot memorable. We can’t wait to have her capture our special moments on our wedding day this October!

Photography: Stephanie W Photography | Dress: Nordstrom | Makeup: Paulina Perez | Hair: Aura Salon Kati Hogan | Earrings: Kate Spade | Shoes (gold Ballet Flats): Nordstrom | Shoes (neutral Pumps): Nine West

Sometimes we plan and God laughs. And guess what? It turns out even better than we hoped. Like this adorable duo who planned to have their e-session shot in a canoe on the St. John’s River. But thanks to some rough waters, they had to settle for a little 50’s inspired, oh so sexy goodness in the gardens and the result? Was all. out. romance. Click here for more from Flora + Fauna.

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Jade & Ben knew they wanted a canoe for their engagement session. After weeks and weeks of searching for the perfect canoe, they finally found one. On the day of their shoot, we launched the canoe into the Saint John’s River. Only to find out, the water was too rough! We turned foiled plans into amazing photos. …And I’m actually pretty happy the water was too rough because I adore these photos! Oh, and they brought along their adorably pudgy English Bulldog. I fell in love at first sight!

Photography: Flora + Fauna | Cinematography: Fauna Films | Park: Alpine Groves Park

Want to know what the easiest way to find your wedding style on budget is? Create a wedding brand. Whether it’s a monogram or an icon or a distinct color palette, find an element that you can weave easily through your details. Like this Florida duo who used a tandem bicycle to take center stage from their engagement pictures through the I Do’s. Make sure to click here for more from Love Flora and Fauna!

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Jenny + Harley are avid bikers, not the Harley kind! Fixed gear bikes. They’re huge advocates for making Jacksonville a safer place for bikers, which we truly need here. With that said, their wedding couldn’t have gone on without the appearance of bicycles! One of their friends brought a yellow vintage Schwinn tandem bike to their wedding as a gift, so we obviously needed to use it in photos!

Photography: Flora + Fauna | Wedding Venue: San Marco Preservation Hall

So this is what happens when an uber-stylish duo joins forces with a seriously talented team of photogs and frolics around the gorgeous Jacksonville countryside… pure magic.  A day of drop-dead gorgeous magic, to be exact, complete with towering Spanish Moss trees and one totally adorable puppy.  It’s what we’re calling a love-fest to the extreme and you can see every last glamorous moment captured by J. Layne Photography right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… My fiance, Michael and I just recently relocated to Florida from New England. Not long after we moved he popped the question on a gorgeous August morning on Atlantic Beach.  He had made engraved dog tags that he secretly placed our our dog’s collar with all of the reasons he wanted to marry me. I just about died!

After MAJOR research we came across the most amazing photographers, Chelsi and Justin, the couple that make up J. Layne Photography. We didn’t get the chance to meet until the night of our engagement photos but within minutes we were all laughing and joking like old friends. I’ve always wanted a “woodsy” feel for our engagement photos with a hint of glam and I knew I wanted to incorporate the amazing Spanish Moss trees in Florida as we don’t have anything even close to that in New England. Chelsi and Justin suggested the most amazing park in our new hometown to shoot and it was exactly what I had pictured!

I was then on the hunt for the perfect outfits as fashion is something we both love. Once I found an amazing black Free People dress I knew that Mike’s slim fit suit, J. Crew buffalo check tie and suspenders would make for the perfect glam fest in the woods! We then (well, I really) shopped for a more casual outfit to tie in some spring colors, as our wedding will be in May of next year. After realizing I had the perfect bright orange skirt in my closet already I went on a hunt for an outfit for Mike to match. Oso, our sharpei/pug mix had to be a part of this special day so we found him an adorable plaid bow tie to wear to complete the look.

We started off walking all through the park and posing in different area’s under the beautiful Spanish moss trees. Towards the end of the session we broke out the Veuve clicquot, and had a little picnic shoot under the fading sun on a pale blue blanket and cozy pillows. We then finished off the champagne with our new friends, Chelsi and Justin and shared stories until the sun went down.

Photography: J. Layne Photography | Makeup: Paulina Perez | Hair: Frangipani Hair Studio | Engagement Session: Rivertown Riverfront Park, FL

Classically perfect, this wedding at the Timuquana Country Club from Agnes Lopez is the type of soiree that will stand the test of time. And the pictures are proof that a little rain won’t damper your day, it might just make it all that much more lovely. See what I mean right here.

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Photography: Agnes Lopez Photography | Cinematography: Scenecrafters | Event Designer: Ann Evans | Event Planner: Nancy Padgett | Ceremony: St. Mark's Episcopal Church | Reception: Timuquana Country Club | Makeup: Maureen Riley | Lighting: Mark Grandin Events | Band: EastCoast Entertainment | Bridesmaid Hair: Saskia Penland | Hair (Bride + Mother): Antoinette Merchan

This is the kind of wedding you dream about.  An elegant + sophisticated day that weaves traditional details with a downright glamour that can’t be replicated elsewhere.  A day that mixes soft pink hues with lush, flowing florals from Wilson’s Limited, a breathtaking TPC Sawgrass setting and all kinds of mesmerizing images from mak photography.  Soak it all in right here, right now in the full gallery.

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From mak photography… This is a wedding I photographed at TPC Sawgrass in Jacksonville, Florida. It was SUPER DUPER stylin’. The bride left no detail untouched and the overall effect just oozed timeless elegance, with a little touch of southern (monogrammed cornhole boards during the cocktail hour – so fun!). I loved it because they elevated the traditional church / ballroom wedding to something spectacular. They had a “Cheers, Darling!” theme since the groom’s last name is Darling, white dinner jackets for the guys, and the place itself was beyond picturesque for a total “Jacksonville” style wedding.

From the Bride… Michael and I met in high school and it was one of those instant connections that we often didn’t know what to do with, but eventually realized it was something big. After many, many years we made it official and could not wait to celebrate our wedding with friends and family. We knew we wanted to get married in Jacksonville and have a wedding that was timeless and elegant, and every bit a celebration of our relationship and the town where it blossomed.

It was pretty easy making all the decisions for the wedding. For our ceremony we chose Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in downtown. Being one of the oldest Catholic church’s in north Florida, it has an ornate altar and stunning stained glass windows that were the perfect setting for the classic wedding we wanted. We paid homage to our family history and got married on the same day, same time, and same church that Michael’s parents were married in more than 25 years before. Since we had a summer wedding and had many out of town guests, we decided to take the reception out to the beach to the famed TPC Sawgrass. Their Mediterranean style clubhouse is a perfect blend of old world elegance and modern luxury upscale. It sits right on the 18th green of the famed Stadium Course where THE PLAYERS Championship ends so it is about as Jacksonville as it comes and as classic as the wedding I had always dreamed of. (Michael sometimes makes fun of me because I always talk about how simple things were before and how great it would have been to live in the 50’s.)

From the classic Rolls Royce to the Motown band, everything just seemed to fall into place with our vision. My dress was by Rivini and had French tulle and a French Chantilly lace blouse for a more traditional look. My veil had a matching lace trim and I wore a blusher for my walk down the aisle, while also carrying a prayer book that has been in my mother’s family since 1896. My gold sparkly Jimmy Choos were a little punch of modern. My bridal party wore soft blush Monique Lhullier gowns in different styles and I gave them coordinating jewelry by Sonya Renee. All of our florals were creams and whites. Our reception space and church florals were peonies, garden roses and hydrangeas and accented by candlelight in different style containers and hand lettered number signs on the dinner tables. The overall effect was so glamorous, but simple and elegant. We had an artist create a custom illustrated map of our wedding weekend that also incorporated significant places in our lives, like where we went to school, where we are honeymooning, etc. It was included in our welcome pack, but also on display at our guest book table. Even the name change found a place in the wedding! I would soon be taking the last name Darling, and so we decided to play that up at the wedding and incorporate a “Cheers, Darling!” theme, which lent itself perfectly to the day.

We were overwhelmed with the amount of love and support from our family and friends on our special day. It was the perfect day to kick start our new life together!

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Photography: mak photography | Wedding Dress: Rivini | Floral Design: Wilson’s Limited | Reception Venue: TPC Sawgrass | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Event Planner: Christina Kreations | Hair: Grazyna Mercado | Band: The Voltage Brothers | Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Sonya Renee | Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Vince Camuto | Church: Immaculate Conception Catholoic Church | Illustrations: Sarah Hanna | Makeup: Carrie Wilson | Place Cards + Table Numbers: Addressing Ink | Welcome Packet + Program + Menus: Pearl Beach Paperie

Weddings can do a number on my mood, always in the positive direction. They can make me happy, giddy, so in love, romantic… the list goes on. But weddings like this one from Agnes Lopez Photography make me sigh. And smile. It’s like a mini vacation (fitting, since this Jacksonville locale is beyond beautiful) to get me through my afternoon. The whole gallery is, simply, refreshing.

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From the photographer… Margaret and Chris were married at Timuquana Country Club in an outdoor ceremony by the water with a lovely view of downtown Jacksonville.

I knew they were a fun loving couple from the time I spent with them for their engagement shoot, and I loved watching Chris make Margaret laugh through out the night.

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Photography: Agnes Lopez Photography | Ceremony & Reception: Timuquana Country Club | Wedding Planner: Nancy Padgett | Flowers: Arlene’s Designs | Hair: Saskia Penland | Makeup: Kimtasha | Cake: For the Love of Cake | Ceremony Music: Wehner Weddings | Reception Music: The Faze Band | Video: First Beach Productions

I love surprises… and I happen to consider myself a master at keeping said surprises secret.  But, a surprise wedding?  That’s a whole new level of secret keeping.  One that these two Jacksonville sweeties managed to pull off with flying colors, and the help of some behind-the-scenes friends and family.  The result?  A day that was chock-full of pretty (see: beautiful blooms from Shea Hopely Flowers + a plethora of gorgeous images from Alex Michele Photography) and one shocked face after another.  Oh, and did I mention that even their engagement was a secret?  Awesome.  Join me in the gallery for more.

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From the Bride… My inspiration for our wedding came from our relationship – we have always been a very romantic “lovey-dovey,” but yet private couple and I wanted our wedding to reflect that. So, we decided to have a “surprise” wedding. The only people who knew were my mom and Adam’s brother (who officiated), so unlike most brides I didn’t have a lot of people to rely on. But since our wedding was also very small, it was actually really easy to plan. The hardest part was choosing the details because there are so many options since the invention of Pinterest. Our small group of (behind the scenes) helpers and vendors were amazing though. The night before the wedding we were all working on the final details together, and it was so much fun seeing it come together with them. Although having a surprise wedding is unconventional to most, we ended up doing it because we didn’t want the fuss and stress that usually comes along with planning a traditional wedding. And we got just that!

We decided to get married in our brand new home we just purchased together. The front yard was absolutely perfect! It has this GORGEOUS, classic Florida old oak tree with sweeping branches. How much more romantic could you be? We even incorporated that into our “thumb print guest book” as the artist painted our tree exactly how it was. The flowers were my favorite expression of that romantic feeling. Shea Hopely Florals has amazing taste and made the most beautiful arrangements I’ve ever seen. She really understood the “modern romantic” feeling that I wanted to convey and she executed it perfectly. We also decided to include our precious puppies in the pictures. They are like our kids and we knew we wanted them to be as much a part of the day as our guests were! Adam and I opted for doing a first look, so that all of our pictures were finished before our special guests arrive. The ceremony set-up was in our home so when our “guests” arrived they really had no idea until they actually saw us! In fact, no one even knew we were engaged! I hadn’t worn my ring this entire time. When our “guests” arrived, they thought they were coming for a housewarming party and to witness Adam’s proposal to me. Everyone was so happy though when they opened the door seeing us in our bridal gear – they all knew we would do something unique and totally unconventional like this. It ended up working out great! Our photographer was on point capturing all the candid moments, as that was so important to us, since after all it was so different that a usual wedding.

My favorite part of our wedding was getting to marry the love of my life! As far as the details are concerned, having only 20 guests who were our closest family was very warm and intimate, and it made the whole day so enjoyable and fun. I couldn’t imagine any other way to get married – it was perfect for us. And the best part was that it was executed perfectly without stress and strict timelines.

My advice for brides is to do what makes you happy. Your wedding day is not about pleasing your guests or throwing the best party in the world – it’s about celebrating your relationship and the love you have for each other. If your wedding is a reflection of that then it will be perfect.

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Wedding Photography: Alex Michele Photography | Wedding Venue: Family Home in Jacksonville, Florida | Floral Design: Shea Hopely Flowers | Officiant: Groom’s Brother | Catering: Catering by Liz | Wedding Cake + Dessert: Publix | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau via The White Magnolia | Bride’s Shoes: Nine West | Groom’s Attire: Banana Republic | Groom’s Shoes: Rockport | Hair: Hair by Christian

After the big day comes lots and lots of anniversaries with your sweetie and what better way to celebrate than with some sweet rooftop feting? Jennifer Blair Photography teamed up with Perfectly Taylor’d and Flowers by Shirley Page for a gorgeous skyline dinner built for two. Technically this is inspiration for a wedding but we thought it perfect for an anniversary shindig, maybe an uber romantic date night or incorporating friends and having an intimate dinner party under the stars. The blush colored sparkle mixed with succulents and just the right amount of twinkle lights; it makes for a party done so, so right. Catch it all right here.

From Jennifer Blair Photography… This session was birthed from my life-long love affair with my hometown, Jacksonville. The beautiful St. Johns River runs right through downtown and frames the blue skyline so well. For this session, I wanted to take advantage of my gorgeous city by creating a chic rooftop affair. I loved the idea of creating a soft, romantic feel in such an urban environment. Once I found the Badgley Mischka gown, I knew we were headed in the right direction. The fabulous, gold, sparkling gown was contrasted with green succulents, whites and soft tones. For the table, we incorporated neutrals, gold accents and simple floral designs to give a romantic feel. Over the table for two we built a canopy of hanging lights and flowing tulle. What could be more romantic than a dinner under string lights on a rooftop? (It is definitely a look that can be recreated by DIY-savvy brides! Plus, I was able to build it by myself.) As the sun began to drop, our couple danced the night away under the city lights. That beautiful dress sparkled even more as the sun began to fade. 

Photography: Jennifer Blair Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville, Florida / Floral Design: Flowers by Shirley Page / Event Design: Perfectly Taylor’d / Event Planning: Jennifer Blair / Cake: Christine Andreae / Invitations: Create Like Crazy Design Studio / Dress: Badgley Mischka / Hair: Kim of Salon 210 / Models: Jordan + Chris Brantley

You may want to take a deep breath because this wedding is about to knock your socks off with its gorgeous detail and creativity! And the images by Julie Paisley Photography? I could literally stare at them all.day.long. It took some serious discipline to not show you each and every image from this insanely gorgeous gallery. My absolute favorite part of this pretty day has to be the dessert spread of homemade cookies and milk. Beyond adorable. See that and so much more right here in the full gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Julie Paisley Photography… Kaitlyn and her mom put their heart and soul into planning this wedding. All the decor and flowers were handmade and crafted with love. Even several family members contributed to making their favorite cookies for the milk and cookie bar. Another cute and different aspect was that  Kaitlyn hates high heels so she had special made Keds for her and her bridesmaids. I never once heard anyone complain about their feet hurting that night! Kaitlyn and Justin are very strong in their faith, and her father, who is a minister, married them. So many heart-touching moments occurred during this wedding — I must admit, I cried a lot! The wedding took place on beautiful Amelia Island, Florida, at Walker’s Landing at The Omni Plantation. Beautiful couple and it was joy to photograph.

Wedding Photography: Julie Paisley Photography / Wedding Venue: Walker’s Landing at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort in Amelia Island, Florida / Wedding Decor: DIY / Cupcakes: Bliss Cupcakery & More / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Keds

This blue and white wedding is so fresh and pretty, I could stare at it all.day.long. I love how it’s traditional yet playful, and there’s just a hint of whimsy, which, in my opinion, every wedding totally needs. Szarmack Photography captured all the lovely details down to the fun striped ribbon on the bride’s bouquet. Want to see more? I don’t blame you one bit! Click right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Alex and I got engaged in May 2011. Having met in law school in Tallahassee, Florida, we knew we wanted to be married in northern Florida. The Ribault Club was an easy choice as it was my dream wedding venue. I love the plantation feel and also liked that we were able to get married in a state park and historical destination. We also chose Fort George Island because of its proximity to Jacksonville. I have a lot of out-of-town family and friends, and we wanted it to be easy for them to travel to the wedding. Additionally, Alex is from Atlantic Beach and his family (and grandparents) lives there, so it was nice to have people familiar with the city during the planning process.

Alex was the best groom a girl could ask for and was helpful and involved in every decision. He even thought up a very special and unique idea for our table numbers. During our first year of dating (about a year before we got engaged), we traveled to Germany and Poland together. We both adore traveling, and Alex came up with the idea of taking a “proposal photo” in every city we visited together as a fun memory from our travels. I collected various white frames to hold the photos, and we named each table after the city in the photo. Some of the cities were: Nashville, Gainesville, Krakow, Berlin, Seaside, and Vail. It was actually hard to narrow it down to 11 photos because we had so many more from our travels!

I have always dreamed of planning my wedding day, and knew I wanted to be highly involved in the design and decision-making, so we hired a day-of coordinator at our venue to run the show and make sure everything went smoothly. We were really happy with this decision because while we still felt in charge of the look of our wedding, we didn’t have to worry about a thing on the big day! Since we were on a budget, I did a lot of DIY projects for decorations and recruited my wonderful friends and bridesmaids for help! We made sure that all of our details were the same color scheme and style to stay cohesive. We worked really hard to choose vendors that we felt were talented and fit our style, but were affordable because we had to stay on our budget. One way we saved money was by working with the florist to come up with creative options to reuse flowers from the ceremony to the reception. I also found lanterns that I filled and surrounded with candles for some of the table centerpieces. Another way we saved money was by purchasing all of our invitations online, rather than at a stationery shop. We also found our band at a bar in Jacksonville Beach on my birthday. By not hiring a “wedding band” we saved thousands of dollars and had an incredible band that our guests loved.

Finding the looks for ourselves and the wedding party was a cinch! We knew we wanted the groomsmen to wear navy blue and the bridesmaids to wear seersucker dresses in the classic seersucker blue color. I found two lines of bridesmaid dresses that could be made in seersucker and chose the one my bridesmaids liked best. I let them choose the neckline and skirt of the dresses so they’d feel comfortable. We then found a perfectly matching seersucker pattern at The Tie Bar and bought all the bow ties, pocket squares, and ties for our dads and grandfather. Alex also found complementary-colored argyle socks for his groomsmen, while I had my bridesmaids accessorize with pearls to look similar to me.

Wedding Photography: Adam Szarmack of Szarmack Photography / Wedding Venue: The Ribault Club in Fort George Island, Florida / Floral Design: Lynette Self of Rose of Sharon / Wedding Day Coordination: Lorna Meehan + Chrissy Sladek of The Ribault Club / Officiant: Rev. Gabe Goodman / Wedding Cinematography: Pure Life Videos / Catering: Rachel Deremer of The Perfect Pear Catering Co. / Wedding Cake: Angie Roberts of Angie’s Cakes / Groom’s Cake: Mindy Stover of Stover’s Custom Cakes / Ceremony Music: Jordan Mixson + Brittany Maroney / Reception Music: Cloud Nine / Mr. and Mr. Signs, “Eat Cake and Be Married” Bunting, Moss Monogram, Programs, Cocktail & Bathroom Napkin Embossing, Thank You Photo + Outside Table Decor: DIY / Dance Floor + Cake Stand: Beachview Event Rentals & Design / Lighting: Wayne McCoy / Transportation: Tommy Entenza / Wedding Dress: Christos via CC’s Boutique / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: LulaKate via Bella Bridesmaid / Groomsmen’s Tuxedos: Black Tie Formals / Men’s Ties, Bow Ties + Pocket Squares: The Tie Bar

I’m a serious lover of all things rustic chic – and when you throw a fabulous barn into the mix, I’ve been known to go a little crazy.  So, when I first spotted this drop dead gorgeous Jacksonville wedding, well… I fell head over heels in 5 seconds flat.  The glorious DIY details, stunning Monique Lhuillier and pretty blue hues are all kinds of fabulous… and the beautiful images snapped up by Jamie Fender Photography? Swoon, swoon, swoon.  See so much more of the day right here.

From the Bride… Our ceremony and reception took place at The Keeler Property in Jacksonville, Florida. It was the very first (and last) venue we visited, and I knew within the first few minutes that it would be the perfect place for a wedding full of rustic elegance. I come from a crafty family who loves DIY projects, so we added as many handmade personal touches as we could. Some of my favorites: my mom and I jarred our homemade strawberry jam while a wonderful family friend made and jarred his famous blueberry BBQ sauce, which we offered as wedding favors. My Dad hand-crafted planters for foliage that were dispersed throughout the property, as well as cake and pie stands for the dessert table. We even brewed our very own beer for the wedding. The brewing sessions were an engagement gift from a group of close friends and family members. The process of brewing, bottling and labeling was one of the highlights of the planning process leading up to the wedding.

A very dear, long-time family friend helped us exchange vows on the covered bridge where fresh herbs and mason jars lined the window frames. White blossoms and crisp greenery truly complemented the natural beauty of the day. The different shades of blue were gorgeous on the girls, and the boys looked dapper in their khaki linen suits. The cool colors and the flowing fabrics fit our laid-back lifestyle, as well as the rustic outdoorsy setting. After the ceremony, a short stroll across the bridge led to the barn, the band kicked off the party, and the guests had their first chance to sample our home brew and feast on a buffet of mouthwatering BBQ. It was the perfect night, and we truly could not have asked for anything more.

Wedding Photography: Jamie Fender Photography / Wedding Venue: The Keeler Property in Jacksonville, Florida / Floral Design: Floriade Florist / Catering: Blue Water Bay / Wedding Cake: Publix / Band: Freudian Slip / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Hair + Makeup: Heather Linero + Vanessa Bennett / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Groom’s Suit: Calvin Klein

Well, if this isn’t the prettiest little wedding I’ve seen all day! Cheery sunflowers, mix-matched bridesmaids in tones of grey and a bride and groom so utterly in love make for one simply gorgeous event as seen through the lens of JulieCate Photography.  Be sure to read this adorable bride’s heartfelt wedding day story after you’ve taken a good long stroll through the full gallery!

From the Bride… A little after 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th, the love of my life married me. In front of our family and friends, we cried, laughed, prayed, said some words that are now our vows, and BEST of all — kissed. It was the best day of my life. The day started with me and my gals getting ready and joking about funny memories over a few cocktails. On the other side of town, there was a group of men who stumbled into an Irish bar and after awhile, one of the me, decided it was time for him to get married. One trolley ride later, that man was waiting inside a church wondering where a certain girl was and what she was doing. Me, the certain girl, was doing the finishing touches of my makeup and hugging my dad, awaiting my walk down the aisle. Finally, I made it down the aisle and stood next to my fiance. Twenty three minutes later, I was standing next to my husband. Then, the church bell rang, and then the fun really began! Our guests took a ride in a trolley while listening to an amazing fiddle player, and then they arrived at The Florida House Inn. The night was followed with A LOT of dancing, good food and great drinks. At one point in the night, I was standing on the stage, while our band’s fiddler played “Devil Went Down to Georgia” with his fiddle in between my legs.  If this sounds crazy to you — you had to be there! At the end of the night, my husband and I left the reception with all of our friends and family cheering as we drove away. The rest of our life then began — which of course started with us eating everything in sight — because we were, by that time, completely starving. All the advice we received before the wedding about taking time to eat at our reception was clearly a fail. Honestly, I don’t even remember being hungry that day — until I finally sat down in our hotel. Anyway, at the end of everything, I wouldn’t have changed a thing — my wedding really was my fairytale that came true. And everyday since continues to be the best day of my life. :)

Wedding Photography: JulieCate Photography / Ceremony: First Presbyterian Church in Fernandina Beach, Florida / Reception + Floral Design: The Florida House Inn in Fernandina Beach, Florida / Transportation: Amelia Island Trolleys / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza / Bride’s Shoes: Elehandmade / Hair: Anjeza Durollari / Makeup: Simply Makeup Artists / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale

You know what’s better than a sunny Monday morning?  A sunny Monday morning spent swooning over bundles upon bundles of beyond gorgeous inspiration, all courtesy of the ever-amazing Flora + Fauna and Forever Sacred Events.  Yep, that’s right.  An entire day of styled session goodness lies before us and we have a fab vintage vibe and downright beautiful blooms by The Floral Emporium II to thank.  A warm summer day, clear blue skies and PRETTY as far as the eye can see?  Yes, please.  Click here for more.

From Flora + Fauna… The Museum, which was previously known as the Koger Gallery, was an art gallery from the mid-1960s until 2001. Sadly, in 2001, The Koger Gallery was abandoned and stood alone for over ten years. However, it was recently renovated and opened to the public. The Museum is filled with amazing architecture and accented with local artwork from Florida. We appreciate that this new wedding venue has history; we absolutely loved photographing this styled session in The Museum.

Photography: Jenn + Derrek Sullivan of Flora + Fauna / Photo Shoot Venue: The Museum in Jacksonville, Florida / Event Planning + Design: Cheryl Abbott of Forever Sacred Events / Floral Design: The Floral Emporium II / Cupcakes: CamiCakes / Wedding Cake: The Cake Shop of San Jose / Wardrobe Styling: Michael McDaniel / Wedding Dresses: Ruche Bridal / Bride’s Hair Accessory: Southern Crossing Antique Mall / Hair: Natalie Restrepo of Makeup by Paulina Perez / Makeup: Cathee Molina of Hello Cathee + Makeup by Paulina Perez