Rain, rain go away….while this beautiful Bride may have been singing this tune at first, summer showers couldn’t keep smiles away as she said “I do” to her high school sweetheart. Jacqui Cole’s too-pretty-for-words pics are all in our Vault right this way and while these photos will have you occupied for hours, do not miss this Bride’s wise words at the end; they might be some of my favorite bits of advice to date.
From Jacqui Cole Photography… I love this wedding I’m sharing with you today. From the brightly lit getting ready bridal portraits to the perfect romantic reception details it’s not one to be missed.
Katherine and Michael wed at Southern Hills Plantation Club. The club itself sits grandly at the top of the hill and overlooks an incredible view. While Katherine had her heart set on an outdoor wedding ceremony on the golf course, Tampa had other plans. We got hit with some of the worst flooding the city has ever seen. But rest assured, no amount of rain could dampen this bride’s’ spirits! The club swiftly and effectively switched the ceremony site to the wrap around style porch. They wed under a flower arch as the rain fell in the background.
The weather gave a break just in time for portraits! The beautiful extended ribbons on the bouquets blew in the wind so elegantly. I especially loved Katherine’s flower crown! The reception was highlighted with elements of blush, ivory and gold accents. The perfect backdrop for Katherine and Michael’s plantation wedding.
From The Bride…Michael and I started dating when we were sophomores in high school and have been inseparable ever since, through the end of high school, through Florida State University, and now on to our (semi) adult lives. In high school, every grade was in charge of putting on a dance and skit to compete in the high school pep rally. Michael and I were thrown together as partners in the dance. After the Homecoming pep rally, Michael made up excuses to text me on the weekends, and we quickly became good friends.
On December 30th, 2008, we went and saw the movie, “Seven Pounds.” Being the crafty person he is, Michael set up a plan to ask me to be his girlfriend. He knew I would ask to play with his phone, so he set up a banner on the front screen that said, “Will you be my girlfriend?” After talking through the movie and missing the entire plot, sure enough, I asked Michael if I could see his phone. He handed it to me, and I read the message. Obviously, I said yes to being his girlfriend, and six years later, I said yes to being his wife. He proposed to me in beautiful Santorini, Greece the day before my birthday.
We searched all over Tampa Bay for a venue, but I couldn’t find anything that was effortless, romantic, and beautiful without lots of decorations. Finally, I stumbled across Southern Hills Plantation Club, and the moment we drove the gate, I knew we would get married there.
When we picked vendors, we really loved the people who focused on our relationship and our upcoming marriage, not people who just threw packages and price tags at us. The vendors who really asked about what we were looking for and wanted to know more about who we are as a couple – those were the vendors we ultimately went with. It meant a lot to me that they understood our personalities and styles instead of trying to fit us into one of their packages or proposals.
Style-wise, I knew I was looking for very specific things. I didn’t want anything formal, stuffy, or very traditional. I wanted everything to be romantic and elegant with an organic feel. That was one of the main reasons we chose Jacqui Cole, our photographer, who was such a key part of our entire experience. Greens, soft pinks, and whites were what really stood out to me as I flipped through magazine after magazine after blog ( including Style Me Pretty :) ).
There were so many surreal, beautiful moments throughout the day. One was during the reception afterwards when we were all dancing. It just hit me that all of our closest friends and family were here for us, to celebrate us, and it was amazing to have them all in one room. Another one of my favorite memories is looking at Michael when we were exchanging our vows. It was so crazy that a day we had talked about since we were 16 years old was finally here. I think my absolute favorite memory was when we were in the limo by ourselves after everything was over. It finally sunk in that our wedding was over, and we could really start our marriage, which was what we were looking forward to the most.
My biggest piece of advice to brides is to remember this is all about you and your husband. Yes, it’s about your family and friends, but you’re marrying the man of your dreams. Try to focus on what he wants, and not what your mom, or your in-laws, or your friends want from your wedding. Make your decisions as a couple, and your wedding planning will be a breeze.
Photography: Jacqui Cole Photography | Event Planning: Premier Style Events | Floral Design: Westover Flowers | Wedding Dress: Bill Levkoff | Cake: Publix Bakery | Invitations: Minted | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair And Makeup: Heather Linero | DJ: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Venue: Southern Hills Plantation Club | Bridal Boutique: The White Magnolia | Rentals: Elegant Events
