Florida Weddings

Weddings truly are the joining of two lives: family, friends, hometowns, dish ware (just kidding..kind of). This beachfront wedding in represents that confluence beautifully, with all the charms of the south and the sophistication of New York to fit the bride and groom’s backgrounds. Ashley Poole took some lovely pictures and The Film Poets compiled this cute-as-can-be film of their special day and all of its lovey-dovey glory.

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From The Film Poets…This was a winter wedding in Seaside, FL with perfect weather. The bride’s family came in from New York and gave the most wonderful speeches (all in the video). The photo session took place right after the ceremony and was timed perfectly for sunset.

Photography: Ashley Poole | Cinematography: The Film Poets | Wedding Coordinator: Megan K. Events | Floral Design: Fisher's Flowers | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Sweet For Sirten | Ceremony Venue: Seaside Interfaith Chapel | Reception Venue: The Vue | Hair: Emerald Coast Bridal Hair | Band: WorryFree Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Black Tie Miami | Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Getaway Car: A Bride's Ride

If you’re looking for a love session recipe like no other, we’ve got you covered with this loveliness my dears. Mix one part Haring Photography, one part Vizcaya Museum And Gardens, two parts stylish bride & groom-to-be, top with sunshine and voila! A little shake here, a snap there and you’ve got a combo that will quench any love-craving. See it all here!

From Haring Photography… It was a beautiful day for Alisha + Rahim’s fine art vintage engagement session at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami Florida. The classic grounds set by water was a perfect place for their engagement session. Alisha and Rahim choose to wear casual and classic outfits that reflect their natural romantic style.

Photography: Haring Photography | Venue: Vizcaya Museum And Gardens | Cognac Strap Heels: Zara | Coral Top: Akira | Floral Crown: Akira | Ivory Skirt: Akira | White Lace Dress: Akira

If you want to up the romance ante on your destination wedding, there’s few places better than under the Tuscan-inspired arches at Bella Collina in Montverde, FL. Just look at this place! The whole gallery is brimming with warm colors, fieldstone facades, and pastel florals from RW Events. So keep scrolling and enjoy the lovely pictures courtesy of Jason Mize Photography.

From Jason Mize Photography…Destination wedding (bride and groom from England) filled with English tradition and English garden decor.

Photography: Jason Mize Photography | Videographer: Imprint Cinema | Event Planning: Blush by Brandee Gaar | Cake: Party Flavors | Makeup: Radiant Makeup | DJ: Our DJ Rocks | Officiant: Sensational Ceremonies | Wedding Venue: Bella Collina | Floral Design/ Stylist: RW Events | Vintage Dishes/ Flatware: Dishie Rentals

When I’m in need of a good dose of vibrant florals, I can always count on Kitanim. Take this stunning Bride’s coral + pink bouquet for instance… paired perfectly with the Miami palm trees and the ceremony petal pathway, how could you not feel instantly happy holding a colorful beauty like this? For even more, head to the gorgeous gallery from 13:13 Photography.

From Kitanim… Nicole and Marvin are a special couple with a lot of love, faith, and a commitment to one another. Nicole discovered the photo and flower vendors on Style Me Pretty and a great collaboration began. The bride chose bright hues of mandarin orange and salmon pinks to line her aisle walkway as well as her bouquets. Marvin’s son was a key player in the family photos—he was adorable and stole the show. The bride and groom lucked out at matheson hammock park on the water as they avoided a major rainstorm and enjoyed the beauty and serenity of a simple wedding on the water. The bride will tell you that the wind messed up her hair, but the pictures will tell you otherwise—she was radiant. Each guest enjoyed a hand made paper cone of petals as well as homemade cupcakes. Dinner took place at red fish grille.

Photography: 13 13 Photography | Floral Design: KITANIM, a floral design and event company | Wedding Dress: Alegria's Brides | Bride's Robe: Plum Pretty Sugar | Florida State Park: Matheson Hammock Park | Restaurant: Red Fish Grille | Weding Cake And Cupcakes: Sweeter Days Bakeshop

I’m pretty sure my move to the mid-Atlantic that brought out my inner monogram lover, so needless to say, I’m head-over-heels for everything by Vino Backyard Designs. Offering beautiful monogram return address stamps, wooden monograms, custom tags and even personalized leather journals, there’s not one thing in this online shop I don’t covet.

Vino Backyard Designs has items perfect as wedding + bridesmaid gifts. We’re loving the custom wooden tags as a creative way to ask your ladies to be part of your big day! Everything in the shop is beautifully made, with a focus on luxe materials and fabulous customer service. New to Vino Backyard Designs are the incredible, custom engraved leather journals — which just so happen to be at the top of my wish list.

 

Head over here to start shopping! And get this, Vino Backyard Designs is offering our SMP readers 15% off their purchase in the Etsy store! Simply enter code STYLEMEPRETTY2014 at checkout. Discount valid through December 30, 2014.

 

This Hong Kong fete right here? It’s everything a beach wedding should be. A laid back celebration on the sand, King Proteas for a pop of color and palm trees for days. Bliss Creations planned the soiree to perfection and with Derek Ko behind the lens, you can kick back in one lovely gallery!

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From Bliss Creations… Bride Noortje and Groom Rutger met while at university in the Netherlands, moved to South Africa for a few years when they were dating, and finally ended in Hong Kong as an engaged couple ready to celebrate their union. They wanted a wedding that “perfectly reflected their lives in Hong Kong” while still showing some of their history in other parts of the world.

The day started on a secluded beach on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, just steps away from the couple’s home. After an intimate ceremony and cocktails on the beach, the guests moved to a nearby beach lounge and had a sit down dinner on the lawn. A family style dinner, live guitarist and speeches from the parents of the couple gave a romantic atmosphere. “We lived in South Africa for a few years before moving to HK, and thus wanted to incorporate some of that into the wedding. We had a spitroast of lamb and King Protea flowers in the bridal bouquet and other arrangements. Also, we used South African wines and champagne,” says bride Noortje of incorporating the couple’s time abroad into the wedding.

After dinner the party moved onto two private boats which whisked everyone away to Central Hong Kong where guests partied until late in the night while overlooking the infamous Hong Kong skyline. “For the Hong Kong touch, we had a traditional lion dance when we got to the pier in Central,” she adds.

The couple wanted to ensure that it was a very special event incorporating their time together. “Being on the beach, seeing how beautiful everything and everyone looked was the most special part of the day. Having people from all our walks of life there to celebrate this day with us – we had 36 people flying in from all over the world. All these people, combined with the presence of our HK friends, made it truly special.” Guests commented that it was an amazing, unique day and reflected Noortje and Rutger’s lives perfectly.

The couple knew that they had a complex wedding, even though it looked effortless. “I loved the fact that there we so many components but it all felt very natural, I don’t think the guests realized how much could have gone wrong, so very it was a successful planning and execution from Bliss Creations. Guests commented on how everything was arranged into such details, they all felt pampered,” says Noortje.

The couple honeymooned in Phu Quoc, Vietnam for four days following the celebrations.

Photography: Derek Ko | Videographer: Derek Ko | Wedding Planner: Bliss Creations | Flowers: SAFE Flowers (Cape Town) | Wedding Dress: Hitched! | After Party: Pier 7 | Ceremony / Dinner Venue: Palm Beach | Groom Suit: Jantzen Tailor | Wedding Rings: Debeers

Here at SMP, we’re all about professing our love for Brideside, the amazing shop at-home online bridesmaid boutique! Offering you and your ladies an easy-to-use site and top-notch personal stylists, it’s easy to see just why we’re head over heels! Take a peek below at some of the stunning dresses we’re loving for summer and a fabulous real Brideside wedding!

I have this little place in my brain where I tuck away weddings I want to remember forever. Ones where if I ever had a wedding redo (to the same handsome hubby of course), I would want to steal every.single.detail. Well this beauty from Justin Demutiis Photography just moved to the front spot of that special place. Beautifully planned by Confetti Events + Weddings with florals so pretty I could cry by MMD Events, it goes without saying I’m swooning hard over this soiree. See it all here.

From Amanda with MMD Events…The unique venue set the stage for a lot of different centerpieces. Her style centered on lots of foliage – maiden hair ferns, plumosus, ruscus, eucalyptus, geranium, sage, rosemary, jasmine and thyme. For the color palette we went with soft peaches and blushes with lots of deep color accents. It’s a style we call “dutch master style.” The light tones are made more luscious with the implementation of dark jewel tones. The flowers we used were black and white anemone, white helleborous, Juliette garden roses, baronesse garden roses, white ranunculus, pale pink spray roses, white O’hara garden roses, queen annes lace, pink O’Hara garden roses, burgundy parrot tulips, scabiosa pods, and white scabiosa.

We created 4 types of arrangements…Head table- Elaborate garland heavily filled with garden roses, ranunculus, and anemones. The table was also accented with gold rimmed glasses and gold and silver mercury glass votives. Garden feasting tables – many small unpolished low brass containers filled to bursting with large blooms and trailing greenery. Terrarium Tables – Large glass containers filled with pillar candles, moss and small delicate blooms flanked with trailing greenery and mercury glass candles. Super long feasting tables 30’– we used long mixed foliage garland without flowers and used brass taper candle sticks to elevate dramatic single blooms and accented the whole piece with mercury glass votive candles.

Photography: Justin DeMutiis Photography | Event Planning: Confetti Events + Weddings | Floral Design: MMD Events | Cake: Chocolate pi | Ceremony Venue: The Academy Of The Holy Names Chapel | Reception Venue: Oxford Exchange | Makeup Artist: Jess Waldrop | Bridal Boutique: Malindy Elene

If you thought you were pumped for summer before, hold your hat for this beautiful Washington Oaks State Park wedding. Flora + Fauna did a lovely job capturing the nature-filled ceremony (both on film and in heart warming video below). With help from wedding coordinators at Flutter Fete, the day was filled with an abundance of sunshine, laughter, and most importantly love. Click here for more.

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From Flora + Fauna… Rachel and Brandon were married in Palm Coast, Florida in a state park. The state park is Washington Oaks State Park. The park has tons of coquina beaches, enormous live oaks covered in Spanish moss, rose gardens, and almost everything else you can dream of.

Rachel and Brandon chose to do a first look, but since they got married in a public park — we needed to find somewhere a little more private for their moment. We were able to get into one of the park greenhouses for their first look, which was just magical. These two have a beautiful love. And the video of the first look gets me every single time.

Photography: Flora + Fauna | Cinematography: Flora + Fauna | Wedding Coordinator: Flutter Fete | Wedding Venue: Washington Oaks State Park | Baker: Alleycakes Bakery | Bouquet: Second Cycle | Hair Pieces: Second Cycle

Anyone with an affinity for color will truly appreciate this gem planned by Kasey D Weddings + blooms crafted by Julia Rhode Designs. It’s infused with citrus hues and pretty pinks that pop against the lush green backdrop of  Villa Woodbine. And it makes a girl like me, who devours romantic weddings by the spoonful, happy, happy, happy. Have a look in the full gallery for even more imagery from Kat Braman’s lens as well as a film captured by Love Squared Weddings below.

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From the Bride… When my fiancee and I started thinking about our best day ever we knew we wanted it to be intimate, romantic, and fun. We found Villa Woodbine and fell in love with it immediately. It was the perfect setting for the type of wedding we wanted; open air courtyards, Spanish-style arches, beautiful gardens, and a romantic and quaint bridal suite. The excellent catering was also important to use. Dresses and suits were easily found, as we both knew what we wanted. When it came time to choosing the decorations, color scheme, cake and desserts, and all the other little, but very important details, I felt overwhelmed with all the choices. I started looking for a wedding planner, one that had the style, the good taste, but yet was able to incorporate the little details of a DIY wedding and make it fun, but also had the experience to pull it all together on our wedding day. When I found Kasey, from Kasey D Weddings, she was exactly what I was looking for. She was able to find vendors that were perfect for the style and vibe we wanted. I was able to actively participate in the whole process and always felt she cared about what we thought and wanted. It took us around nine months to plan everything, and I am so grateful for her help and advice because it truly was my dream come true. Our wedding day was just perfect and if I could turn back time I would not change a thing.

All the vendors that were part of our day were amazing, and among them I had Kat Braman as a photographer. Thanks to her I am able to have beautiful and amazing photos of all the big and small moments from our wedding day. I am able to look at our photos and just go back to that day and feel like crying!

Six months later I am more than happy for accepting the help and services from treat people I met during those long ten months of preparation. Not only because our wedding was our dream, but apart from that single event, the whole process was just unforgettable. We enjoyed every single thing, from meetings with Kasey and Kat to tastings, fittings, and all the other little events that happen. To enjoy and have fun planning your best day ever is my simple and quick advice for all brides!!

Photography: Kat Braman | Cinematography: Love Squared Weddings | Event Planning: Kasey D Weddings | Floral Design: Julia Rohde Designs | Wedding Dress: David's Bridal | Cake: Sugar Fancies | Ceremony Venue: Villa Woodbine | Reception Venue: Villa Woodbine | Bride's Shoes: BHLDN | Catering: Bill Hansen Luxury Catering and Event Production | Makeup: Susana Betancourt | Hair: Alejandro's | Grooms Attire: Saks Fifth Avenue | Bride's Hairpiece: J.Crew | Flower Girl Dress: BHLDN | Photobooth: Sideshow Booth | Rentals: Unearthed Vintage | Ringbear Attire: J.Crew

There’s something to be said for keeping things simple and romantic. This Coral Gables couple married in the family church and continued the bagpipe tradition all to a backdrop of smooth creams and blushes, which (keep scrolling) look stunning. The well-curated design remains second to the bright smiles and pure joy on everyone’s face. Julie Cate Photography was there to capture the lovely ceremony.

From the bride… Bobby and I met on a blind date set up by one of my best friends, Megan, who just happens to be Bobby’s sister! It was love at first date and though Bobby was currently living an hour and a half away in West Palm Beach, it wasn’t much longer until he moved back to Miami, our hometown. It was nearly two years of dating when Bobby proposed the Monday after Thanksgiving in our new apartment. I think our little story and the proposal is very telling of our wedding style – classic and romantic. We got married in Coral Gables, FL which is a beautiful Suburban neighborhood in Miami with lots of coral rock and Mediterranean influence; it is where I grew up and where we still live. Staying true to tradition, we got married in Plymouth Congregational Church, where my parents and my sister and brother-in-law were married. It is an old, coral rock church with lots of Scottish roots which made it very appropriate to have yet another family tradition of a Scottish bag piper. One of my favorite memories of the day was the fun ceremony. Bobby and I were like children giggling and laughing and as we all know, laughter is contagious! It was really neat to have all our guests smiling and laughing during the ceremony and as they clapped along to the bag piper while we were walked out. The color scheme was very romantic with lots of blush pink, ivory and gold. We decided to keep our bridal party small and simple. We went with classic tuxedos for the groomsmen and very romantic and whimsical blush pink dresses for the bridesmaids. My dress was a of course lace with a sweetheart neckline that I absolutely adored. Our reception was held at The Riviera Country Club which is down the street from my childhood home. It’s very “Old Florida” with lots of gold chandeliers and tropical wallpaper. The golf course has the historic Biltmore Hotel in the background that made for a gorgeous setting at cocktail hour. The décor of the reception was extremely romantic with draped curtains, lots of candle light and huge floral arrangements that reminded me of clouds. Though the setting was very romantic and classic, we made sure to have a rocking band who kept our guests dancing throughout the night – our guests even rallied for an encore! Probably one of the coolest moments during the reception is when Bobby surprised everyone when he got up with the band and played “Proud Mary”. Our wedding day was everything and more we could have dreamed of – classic, romantic and a ton of fun!

Photography: Julie Cate Photography | Videographer: Senderey | Florist: Trias Flowers | Wedding Dress: Chic Parisien | Cake: Edda’s Cake Designs | Church: Plymouth Congregational Church | Reception Venue: Riviera Country Club | Bridesmaids Dresses: Nordstrom | Makeup And Hair: Tatjana Terzic | Band: The Headliners Band | Favors: Le Macaron | Tuxedos: I & A Formal Wear | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Rolls Royce: Florians Classics

I can’t think of anything better to cool off with on a summer evening than fresh, cold-pressed juice mixed with a dash of liquor! Sarah Dyles and Erin, Executive Chef at the Oxford Exchange, are sharing not one but three brilliant cocktail recipes inspired by Chef Erin’s original cold-pressed juices. After looking at all the mouthwatering photos from Justin DeMutiis, I’m itching to try my hand at the Market Margarita, Asian Lemonade, & Cool as a Cucumber Cocktail!

Now for what you’ve been waiting for- the cocktail recipes! Each recipe uses a different cold-pressed juice as it’s base. The juices are made from local, fresh, organic ingredients and you can purchase them at the Oxford Exchange Market or try your hand at making your own version.

1.25 oz Tequila
2.5 oz Spicy Lemon (blend of fresh lemon juice, cayenne, agave, & water)
Sea salt + raw sugar blend for rim (50/50 ratio)
Small amount of simple syrup to rim glass

1. Shake ingredients well with ice.
2. Gently dip rim of glass into simple syrup, then sea salt + raw sugar blend.
3. Pour into glass, garnish with lime wedge.

1.25 oz Vodka
2.5 oz PH-G (blend of fresh lemon juice, ginger, & stevia)
4-5 Thai Basil Leaves
1 tsp Simple Syrup
Granulated candied ginger for rim
Additional simple syrup for rim

1. Gently muddle basil leaves and simple syrup to release natural oils and fragrance from the leaves.
2. Add vodka, juice and ice and shake ingredients well.
3. Gently dip rim of glass into simple syrup, then into candied ginger.
4. Pour ingredients into glass and garnish with a basil leaf.

1.25 oz Gin
1.25 oz Chillax (blend of fresh pineapple, cucumber, romaine lettuce, lemon juice & cilantro)
3 Cucumber Slices
2 lime wedges
Approximately 10 cilantro leaves

1. Crush cucumber, lime and cilantro with a muddler to release natural oils and juices.
2. Add ice, gin and Chillax and stir gently.
3. Top with sparkling water.

Photography: Justin DeMutiis Photography | Recipes: Chef Erin Sarah Dyles | Shop: Oxford Exchange

Elegance is a common thread that runs through so many of the weddings we feature on SMP. From rustic to classic, barn to beach, these beauties are constantly redefining what it means to be elegant. With this wedding elegant means a garden affair full of so much beauty with florals by Lee James Floral Design, planning by Blush by Brandee Gaar and a million and one pretty images captured By The Robinsons.  See them here.

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From the Bride… Our main inspiration for the day was our love of each other, family, friends, and Italy. We found the perfect venue to honor our italian roots in Bella Collina. We wanted to include as many personal touches as possible to make our guests feel loved and important. We welcomed them with baskets filled with goodies from Florida such as homemade orange marmalade, orange juice glasses, snacks, and a map of locations that were important to us and our story. My husband is from Connecticut and we had friends flying in from as far as Germany, so we wanted them to have a lay of the land. My grandmother was also from New England and instilled in me a love of Hydrangea. We had them on each table and scattered throughout our venue. Instead of doing just a guest book, we asked guests to sign a lock and place it on an antique wrought iron fence. This honored the tradition of couple who placed locks on the Ponte Vecchio sealing the fate of the loved ones who placed them there for eternity. We recognized the cities in Italy we love by naming the tables after each one. We personalized a drink menu based on our favorite drinks and featured food selections all based on our favorite things. We made homemade Limoncello from scratch, a process that took three months, and personalized bottles to place at the reception. We wanted our guests to have a chance to take pictures as gifts but not do the traditional photo booth. With the help of our photographers By The Robinsons and The chalk Shop’s Kim Mcfadden we created a backdrop in an open air booth that had all the guests excited to partake. Our wedding planner, Brandee Gaar, knew we wanted to wow our guests with things they hadn’t seen at other weddings… her suggestion of a chandelier suspended over our dance floor on the grand lawn, amazed everyone in attendance. The night ended with my father in law singing Sweet Caroline with our band. Coming from Connecticut, we all love the Boston Red sox, so he sings it at every family wedding. Overall, our day was all we wished and hoped it could be. It was Filled with all of our favorite people and things.. but best of all with each other.

Photography: By The Robinsons | Videographer: Jeffrey Stoner Videography | Coordinator: Blush by Brandee Gaar | Floral Design: Lee James | Wedding Cake: Party Flavors | Lighting: Kaleidoscope Event Lighting | Band: Z Street Band | Officiant: Sensational Ceremonies | Ceremony Music: Beautiful Music | Transportation: Southern Elegance Limousine | Transportation: EZ Time Transportation | Country Club: Bella Collina | Hair/Make up: LeJeune Hair & Makeup Artistry | Linens: Over The Top Linens | Rentals: A Chair Affair | Signs: Chalk Shop Events

I thought a New England Spring was pretty darn fabulous but a Floridian Spring? It might just take the cake. This inspiration crafted by Anthology Co. and Gianny Campos Photography is a colorful spread peppered with sparkle and the outdoor beauty of the South East. And whenever a naked cake is involved, like this beaut by Cloud 9 Bakery, we’re all in. Take a peak at the pretty gallery for even more.

With spring knocking on our door, I was eager to do a shoot which would embody a “Floridian Spring.” The shoot took place in February, and as all my fellow Floridians know, our winters are blessed with beautiful weather and flora. Our inspiration was sparked with some lively colorful dishes found at Anthropologie. The location, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens, was as well a source filled with Florida natives as well as an abundance of flowers and other exotic foliage. This location accomplished the more organic local approach we had envisioned.

We picked some leaves and blooms from our backyard such as begonias, bleeding heart, and bahama coffee which were put together with garden roses, blue thistle, orchids and more. Local fruits were also included in the mix like guava, star apple and passion fruit which we sourced from our local farmer Robert Is Here. Anthology Co.’s attention to detail truly made all the arrangements special while the Salvage Snob wowed us with their elegant yet unique multicolored array of seating choices.  How often is it you see three crystal draped chandeliers adorning a massive oak tree?

As we have constantly rising temperatures we decided to have the bride a little cooler and more comfortable. I’m sure all you Floridian brides can relate. The bride wore a short sleeve white oxford shirt coupled with a beautiful gold sequin skirt thus melding elegance and classic comfort. The groom, looking quite dapper, sported a glen plaid suit with a chambray shirt. Putting a fun spin on a still very classy look.

The naked cake made by Cloud 9 Bakery is a great example as to how keeping something simple can actually be more appealing than unnecessary elaborations. Embellishing the cake with some thistle, guava and some other fruits around that gorgeous pedestal base really tied it all in with our original theme. What is that original theme? Well, lets just say its a bit eclectic some rustic with a hint of elegance and a dash of class. All in time for spring.

Floral Design: Anthology Co. | Cake: Cloud 9 Bakery | Invitations: Chirp Paperie | Bride's Shoes: Moho Moxy | Jewelry: Anthropologie | Hair + Makeup: Makeup By Marz | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Venue: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden | Bridal Headpiece: Lacielle Roselle | Bride's Attire: Anthropologie | Dinnerware: Anthropologie | Fruits: Robert Is Here | Groom's Shoes: Banana Republic | Photography + Design: GCam Photography | Rentals: The Salvage Snob "unique salvage & vintage rentals"

We’ve pored over our fair share of large affairs, but the intimate ones, like this 20 person wedding, might just be our most favorite of all. The intimacy, the perfectly edited details by FH Weddings that add a layer of cozy to an already beautiful vintage design all prove that tiny weddings pack a big punch. Have a look at the full day captured by Zac Wolf Photography right here.

Sarah and Sebastien shared an intimate 20 guest affair in Sarah’s hometown of Maitland. They live together now in Toronto but decided to spend their big day basking in the warm glow of the Florida sun. They finally tied the knot after being together for over half their lives, the first 10 years of which were spent long distance. This intimate affair was nothing less than perfect, heartfelt words, a 2 person bridal party and a sibling officiant. All of my favorite things all only made better by the amazing event styling by FH Weddings and delicious food from Puff n Stuff.

Photography: Zac Wolf Photography | Event Design: FH Weddings & Events, LLC | Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone | Cake: The Sugar Suite | Reception Venue: Maitland Art Center | Catering: Puff 'n Stuff Catering | Hair: Bella Mia Salon | Grooms Attire: Stone House | Grooms Shoes: Steve Madden

Little did I know that on the third saturday of October each and every year, there falls the Sweetest Day. And what a perfect day for this heartfelt wedding. And the groom? Let’s just say his unbelievably sweet surprise to his Bride will move you to tears. Have a look at the film captured by Bridges Cinema to see just what that surprise entails…

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Did you know that the sweetest day is observed on the Third Saturday of October? This is the day that Andrea and Chad chose as their wedding day. Chad gave Andrea the sweetest surprise during his vows. But you must watch the highlight to see what it was!! Such a sweet memory and I’m glad we were there to be part of it and capture it for them to always remember.

Photography: The Big Day Wedding Photography | Cinematography: Bridges Cinema | Event Planning: Z Event Company | Floral Design: Z Event Company | Venue: Trump International Golf Club

Great Gatsby just might be the most influential piece of literature to ever grace the wedding world – and with good reason. The elegance of the gilded age is shining through in this affair captured by Pezz Photo, with planning by Events By Anna Pohl and florals by Elegant Designs Floral Art Studio . Have a look here for so much more as well as in the film by RisingSky Productions below.

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From the Bride… After getting engaged, Jeffrey and I talked about what was most important to each of us on our wedding day.  One thing we easily agreed upon is that we wanted to get married (and have the reception) outdoors.  Since we live in Brooklyn but were looking for a wedding venue in Florida, where I grew up, we worked closely with an amazing planner, Anna Pohl, to help bring our vision to life.  We fell in love with our venue as soon as we arrived on the grounds; we wanted our wedding to feel like an upscale picnic–whimsical Great Gatsby, meets old Florida, meets modern, understated elegance.  The Bay Preserve hit every note.

We got married the weekend that Hurricane Sandy was headed up the eastern seaboard, so although it was a very windy morning, as the ceremony began, the winds died down and the weather was balmy and serene for the rest of the night.  The whole day was incredibly special but not without some tough moments.  My mom passed away in 2010 so something that was very important to me was finding little ways to honor her and feel her presence throughout the day.  She left me beautiful diamond earrings specifically for my “wedding day” and as luck (or fate) would have it, they matched my wedding dress perfectly.  I also had a layer of her huge 1970’s style veil refashioned into a modern floor length veil that I wore down the aisle and my “something blue” was a teal ribbon, honoring ovarian cancer awareness, pinned into the inner lining of my dress.

The ceremony took place right before sunset and even with almost 200 guests, it retained an intimate feeling because the venue was so private and removed.  I had requested gardenias be placed in my bouquet as they had always grown outside the front door of my house growing up; with my dad walking me down the aisle, surrounded by Jeffrey, family, friends, and the smell of gardenias, I felt as though I was home.  It was a beautiful ceremony despite the appearance of an unwelcome guest: a rather large poisonous snake slithered up as the best man and maid of honor walked down the aisle.  Luckily I didn’t know a thing about it until long after!

Once we were officially hitched, our guests were greeted with spiked strawberry basil lemonade, bacon wrapped dates, and miniature lobster rolls.  1920’s style jazz played on the back porch of the house while guests ate, drank, and wandered onto the dock and down by the water for a stunning sunset.  The rest of the party took place al fresco on the sprawling lawn of the Bay Preserve.  We put up a tent frame strung with cafe lights so our guests could enjoy an unobstructed view of the water, the stars, and the almost full moon.

We are both particular with our food and music and, thus, spent a lot of time curating these two aspects of the evening.  For dinner, we carefully put together a menu that recreated dishes from some of our favorite restaurants in NYC and Brooklyn.  We tried to keep everything as fresh, seasonal, and local as possible down to the fact that the fish we served at the wedding was caught by my father and his friends on a fishing trip to the Florida Keys!  For music, we decided on a prohibition style jazz trio to play the ceremony and cocktail hour.  For the party, we were super fortunate that a close friend connected us with one of the resident dj’s from the Delano Hotel on South Beach.  We “imported” him to Sarasota for the evening and he honored our many musical requests while still making sure our guests danced all night!

Photography: Pezz Photo | Event Planning: Day Planners | Floral Design: Elegant Designs Floral Art Studio | Wedding Dress: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Cake: Pastries By Design | Invitations: Ruby The Fox | Bride's Shoes: Kate Spade | Catering: Michael's On East | Makeup & Hair: Rachel Reumann Of Bridalartistry | Groom's Attire: Ralph Lauren | Transportation: Srq Transportation | Ceremony And Reception: Bay Preserve | Ceremony Music + Cocktail Music: The Cook Trio | Ketubah: Ketubah | Memorial Candle Luminaries: The Papery Nook | Reception Music: DJ Danny Stern | Tie Clips: Love Out Loud Creations | Wedding Cinematography: RisingSky Productions

There is not one single detail of this romantic Southern affair that I’m not completely head over heels for. It is literally packed full of pretty. Sweet Southern Charm brought vintage gorgeousness to the table, Minted set the tone with a bit of sparkle and Libby’s Flowers added a softness to the day with stunning blooms. I could talk it up all afternoon but I’m sure you’d rather swoon over this goodness from Hunter Ryan Photo.

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From the beautiful Bride… For our wedding I had envisioned a soft and romantic southern wedding with a blush, mint and navy palette that was equally as beautiful as it was comfortable for all our guests. I was very drawn to vintage and garden wedding styles and when we found are venue; an old historic home directly located on the water with a sprawling lawn, everything just came together.

I was really fond of our menu that was centered around comfort foods. During the cocktail hour the guests were served macaroni and cheese with crab martinis, shrimp and grits in old champagne glasses, southern pot roast for dinner and of course our dessert bar featuring mini pies and cookies and milk.

In regards to other special details of the day, the presenting of a necklace and a family vow to my daughter, Isabella, our flower girl, signifying the important date of us becoming a family was very touching and special.

Apart from saying “I Do” being our favorite part of the day, we thoroughly enjoyed having so many of our family and friends together to celebrate and to watch and enjoy everyone’s joy and excitement of all the details and little touches that had been planned. Everything we had hoped for that evening had far surpassed any of our expectations and that is largely in part to our wonderful vendor team and our wedding planner moving everything along without a hitch.

Photography: Hunter Ryan Photo | Videography: IheART Films | Florals: Libbys Flowers | Cake: Yum Yum Cakes | Invitations: Minted | Bride's Shoes: Betsey Johnson | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Reuben's Catering | Suits: J.Crew | Bride's Dress: Essense of Australia | Bride's Second Dress: Jovani | Ceremony And Reception: White Orchid At Oasis | Ceremony Musician & DJ: Wiley Entertainment | Desserts: Show Me Love Cake Pops | Flower Girl Dress: Kids Dream | Hair Artist: Christine Rosa | Linens: Urquid Linen | Make Up Artist: Esthetics By Tracey Castiano | Menu Design: Dana Marino Design | Photo Booth: Bash Booths | Planning & Design: Fabulously Chic Weddings | Rentals: Caloosa Tent & Rental | Vintage Rentals: Sweet Southern Charm

This Palm Coast wedding is just about as gorgeous as you can get; taking a cue from classic (soft pastel palette and the perfect white tent), a nod from modern ( hello chevron table runners and boxed centerpieces) and that signature ocean view that Florida is known for. Have a look at all the prettiness captured by Jen Shannon Photography with florals by Cypress and coordination by Corrie Nichol Weddings & Events right here!

This beautiful wedding took place at the Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, FL. Hammock Beach Resort is one of the biggest tourist resorts in Palm Coast and is a very large property. The combination of traditional pastel flowers with modern touches of chevron really made it feel like a beautiful resort wedding. They used a combination of lanterns and flowers for some centerpieces, and then these beautiful wooden boxes filled with flowers and mason jars for others. They used numbers that you’d put on your house to show your address on blocks for their table numbers. They used a live band at their reception that was jut fantastic and even did a second line, a New Orleans tradition. For place cards, they used sand filled boxes since it was right on the beach. It was beautiful.

Photographer: Jen Shannon Photography | Coordinator: Corrie Nichol Weddings & Events | Florist: Ann Evans | Makeup: Hammock Beach Resort | Band: Str8 Up Jamz | Resort: Hammock Beach Resort

A seaside wedding never grows old. It’s that whole carefree, toes in the sand, sun on the shoulders atmosphere that people adore. And Florida is one of the reigning Queens of beach weddings. Why? Because there’s sunshine in the Fall and miles and miles of oceanfront land to fete on. Just have a look at this blue infused day planned by Savoir-Faire Weddings with photography by Anna K + a full gallery for proof.

Rosemary Beach has always held a special place in Chris and Ashley’s heart so when the time came for their wedding they knew where it needed to be! These two have been dating since Ashley was 14, Chris 15 and they’ve dreamed about this day for so long! They’ve waited patiently and prepared for their marriage in all of the best ways possible and in October the big day finally arrived. All of their friends and family made the trip from Atlanta, GA to Florida to celebrate! Everything about the weather was perfect that day and everyone radiated happiness!

Rosemary Beach is a gorgeous little gem located on the Gulf of Florida. The cobblestone streets are lined with Colonial Caribbean style condos, shops and homes creating a truly unique wedding backdrop. Wooden paths connect all of the areas to the town center and these two have so many fun memories here together. Fisher, their lab, was included in all parts of the day and he loved it! It’s amazing how well behaved some dogs are and this guy thought he was one of the groomsmen! Ashley has an impeccable eye for detail, but the thing that stood out most about their day was the pure joy that filled every moment.

Photography: Anna Shackleford | Wedding Planner: Savoir Faire Weddings | Florist: Celestines Special Occasions | Wedding Dress: Casablanca | Invitations: La Vita Allegra | Ceremony: Rosemary Beach™ | Reception: Rosemary Beach™ | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Celestines Special Occasions | Band: Gulf Talent Services | Cake Artist: Cakes by Kim | Hair Artist: Make Me Blush