Florida Weddings

Valentine’s Day 10-Year Anniversary Shoot

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Outdoor Weddings

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Casual

From Merari Photography… Rafael and Alicia wanted to laid-back family picnic style wedding and that’s exactly what they got. Everything was a family affair. The details were crafted or hand-picked by Alicia, Rafael and their family members. Alicia’s bouquet was made by her aunt, the vintage furniture pieces were bought through Craigslist and refurbished by Rafael. The food was potluck style with delicious things from Alicia’s Cuban heritage and Rafael’s Dominican family traditions. Even the flower vases were flown in from Cuba from Alicia’s great-grandmother’s home.

Despite some rain on their wedding day, Rafael and Alicia were the happiest of couples. Their happiness was contagious s as they said personal vows to each other. The wedding and couple were the biggest joy to photograph.

I don’t know about you lovelies, but I can’t think of a better way to celebrate your 10-year anniversary than with a drop-dead gorgeous photo shoot on Valentine’s Day. And not just any photo shoot, a photo shoot from the talented team of Ever After Wed (the happy couple!), Vanessa Velez and Agape Makeup & Hair. It’s a non-stop day of pretty stylings, yummy treats and l.o.v.e. See it all in the full gallery.

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Backyard

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Preppy Key West Beach Wedding

From Vanessa Velez… When Soco from Ever After Wed realized she was celebrating her 10th year anniversary with her hubby this year she decided to go all out and plan a Valentine’s Weekend Inspirational Shoot and document it all. She called me up as she dazzled away at the kitchen creating some of her husband’s favorite foods and desserts. Being a lover of brunch, she knew that she wanted to have a little bit of everything sweet and yummy. We put together this sweet and romantic shoot to celebrate their ten years of hearts and kisses.

From Ever After Wed… I could live in a world of desserts and flowers, so when I decided to plan this weekend I started styling away in my head and thinking about all of the things we as a couple love and what to us is romance. My husband has always known that the way through my heart is through the kitchen. I prefer to have an amazing cooked meal then almost anything. To me it means so much. So when I thought about Valentine’s I immediately knew I wanted to take the dessert route and make a lot of sweet foods than I just knew he would love. Of course, once I started on it it turned into an amazing shoot that not only let us be together and plan for this special day but also let us be in front of the camera and laugh, cuddle and just be us. After ten years together it’s still amazing, inspiring and incredible to have such a bond with my husband and that is something that I never want to loose. So planning this day for us was just perfect. I want everyone to be inspired to have their own over the top Valentine’s meal and spend some time with the one you love. That is priceless.

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

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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Wedding

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Beach Weddings

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Casual

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

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

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

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

Any wedding that starts with a giant bouquet of bright pink pretties is bound to be a pin-worthy day. But when that same affair includes stunning modern design from Stonehouse Events, beautiful blooms by Elegant Designs Floral Art Studio, and every inch shot through the lens of Justin DeMutiis – well, you better get ready for a wedding swoon-fest like you’ve never seen before. Get started right here, m’dears!

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Parisian Glamour Inspiration Shoot

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Garden Weddings

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Modern

From the Bride… I met Ryan out one night while he was dressed up as, what looked to be like a member of Motley Crew, during a month not even remotely close to Halloween, so humor has been a large part of our relationship from the get-go. We wanted the wedding to really reflect us as a couple so we tried to get creative with a lot of custom details. We wanted a fun, yet elegant outdoor wedding on the water, which was slim pickings if we were to do it in my hometown in Ohio. We vacation in Sarasota every year, so we started to look at venues in the area. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens turned out to be the perfect spot!

We love to entertain, even in our tiny NYC apartment, and this wedding was no different. When else would we be able to throw this big of a party with all of our friends and family? For the ceremony, we went the non-traditional route and played upbeat oldies love songs to get everyone excited for the evening to come. I have no shame; Darlene Love’s “Today I Met The Boy I’m Gonna Marry” will never get old in my book. We had refreshments and fan programs to keep our guests hydrated and cool. We adored the idea of the Love Letter and Wine box ceremony as we are easily swayed to unwind at home with a bottle of wine after a stressful day.

Afterwards, guests moved to cocktail hour, which was overlooking the water so everyone could enjoy the sunset. Kitschy metallic silver lawn flamingos then lead our guests on a path through the garden to the great lawn where the reception was held. I desperately wanted mirrored tabletops, but they were not easy to come by in the area, so I opted for a mirrored escort table. We both love bubbly, so we used oversized champagne buckets instead of having a box for cards. In lieu of a guest book, we had marriage advice mad libs at each place setting on the tables.

The food from the Francis was absolutely amazing and they really went above and beyond for us in so many ways. We love dining out, so it was important to us to have a great menu, and not typical wedding food. The cake was gorgeous and all white, but we went with a fun rainbow surprise inside. A rainbow colored candy and dessert bar, complete with a favorite from home, Momofuku Milk Bar Birthday Cake Truffles, accompanied it. Since we have a love for food, favors were little jars of rosemary sea salt to remember our garden seaside wedding (Big thanks to Martha Stewart for this tidbit!)

We wanted to go with a DJ over a band because of the wide variety of music we had in mind for the whole night. We actually found Jay when we were out one night after dinner, the first time we came down to visit the venue. One of the best moments of the wedding night was when I looked around and noticed absolutely everyone had joined us on the dance floor after the parent dances were over. Not one person was left in their seats!

I didn’t realize some of the challenges we’d face doing a destination wedding at a venue where you had to bring in literally everything, but a lot of love went into this wedding from countless friends and family members who helped out. We couldn’t have done it without them or without our awesome vendors! Though we did the majority of planning ourselves, I highly recommend anyone doing a destination wedding to hire a wedding coordinator for at least the month of service, they will keep you sane when you need it most (or at least try)!

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Jenny Packham

Bridal 2016 Catwalk

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Every now and then you come across a post that needs no introduction. It’s so beyond-words pretty that the photos and the film more than speak for themselves. And when Michelle March, Michael Burgos, Julia Rohde and Sweetest Celebrations, sent over this Parisian shoot, I knew we were in for one those posts. Simply allow me to lead you straight to the goodies right over here.

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Spring Weddings

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Garden Weddings

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Romantic Wedding in Historic St. Augustine

From Blush and White Design House… Ah, Paris, the city of love and romance, the city that inspires poets and love stories the world round. One cannot think of Paris without thinking of elegance, glamour, and true romance. This is the city I have visited time and time again, and never tired of its effortless beauty and charisma. The city’s charm always stays with me long after I return home, and it is Paris that inspires me in endless ways.

Just a few miles outside Paris lies the enchanting Palace of Versailles, the epitome of glamour and decadence, with its gilded gates and crystal chandeliers. It is the perfect example of Parisian glamour and luxury at its best. With this in mind, I envisioned a beautiful afternoon wedding in a lovely outdoor setting reminiscent of the French countryside, to juxtapose a design full of typical Parisian glamour. I fell in love with the Ancient Spanish Monastery because of its lovely grounds, as well as its architecture and history.

It was only fitting that this shoot come to life with a group of vendors that shared an affinity and passion for all things Parisian and that drew inspiration from that as well. Michelle March and I had both been to Paris recently, and shared stories of our trips one afternoon as we browsed through the lovely collection of gowns at Sasha’s Bridal Boutique. We both fell in love with a gown that was fitted and lace, and paired it with a lace beaded cape and cathedral veil for a look that was just perfect for my Parisian inspired shoot. The gown became the inspiration for the overall styled shoot, and for many of the elements that followed.

Vintage furniture pieces from Love in Vintage — originally from France — set the mood, and served as the perfect setting for this Parisian vision. Specialty sweets created by Sugar Fancies, included a pink and gold French macaron tower with a sugar ribbon emblazoned with the phrase “je t’aime toujours” (I love you always) handwritten in script. Sugar flowers adorned the macaron tower and the tiered cake, which was perfect atop a gold platter accented with delicate crystals.

Julia Rohde created a dreamy floral design, with a bridal bouquet that speaks volumes in muted pinks and ivories, with a few anemones for just the right touch of modern luxury. The sweetheart table needed little decor, with its gilded finish and carved design, and featured soft florals in vintage candleholders and petite gold vases. The table is set with vintage china and gold flatware, and the ‘place cards’ are fancy sugar cookies with the bride and groom’s names “Isabelle & Jacques” hand written in script.

The bride was glamorous yet demure all at once, with her hair elegantly arranged in a soft updo. In true Parisian style, the day was interrupted by a series of rain showers, so the groom appears only briefly in the romantic video created by the creative talent of Michael Burgos Films. He is elegant in a sharp tuxedo by Vera Wang, and the bride and groom throw all cares to the wind as they toast in gold-rimmed champagne flutes!

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Wedding Dresses

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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If I could, I would give Jennifer Blair the biggest of hugs for sending this beauty our way. Because it is, in a word, stunning. The images are perfection, the styling is perfection, the colors are perfection – basically everything in this gallery is, well, perfection. So trust me when I say you’ll want to spend some serious time getting lost in all the lovely today she sent our way right here.

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Lakeside

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Beach Wedding at Capt. Hiram’s Resort

From Jennifer Blair Photography…There’s something about St. Augustine that captures my heart every time I visit. Maybe it’s the cobble stone streets, the beautiful architecture or that it has my favorite ice-cream place in the world. It is a city of romance and an absolutely perfect place to wed the love of your life. When I met Sarah last year I knew this was going to be such a sweet and gorgeous day! I wasn’t wrong! I loved getting to know Sarah and Scott’s sweet families as the day progressed. The first thing I photographed was her stunning gold-edged invitations. It was the perfect compliment for the delicate gold and soft pink reception decor. The lush topiaries were a show stopper, as was the cake with flowers edged in gold. The whole room was nothing short of ballroom elegance. To top it all off, the venue had a gorgeous river view. Sarah was bridal perfection. She was a vision in her delicate lace gown with jeweled belt. The lush florals, sweet flower crowns and crisp black tuxes were the perfect compliment to her look.

Last year, Scott proposed in St. Augustine, so it seemed so fitting that they were married there as well. It is such a sweet engagement story. Sarah and Scott were headed to breakfast in around the St. Augustine area, but Scott took the long route and stopped at the beach. They had been through a lot with the recent death of Scott’s Dad. Sarah was helped plan the service for him. Once they arrived at the beach Scott said, “I have a present for all you’ve done for our family. He always gave her presents, so it wasn’t too out of the ordinary. She opened the package to find an antique jewelry box with a tri-fold photo frame. One image held an old dating image and the next said, “Will you marry me?” The final photo was reserved for a wedding photo. Sarah said she was a little distracted during his sweet proposal because of the gorgeous ring in the box. I don’t blame her! It’s a stunner! Their wedding day has only been a continuation of their beautiful story! I’m sure they will have many more wonderful chapters to come.

For all of you cold-weather lovelies dreaming of sunny days and sandy beaches, this gorgeous seaside soiree captured by Thompson Photography Group is for you. A destination shindig with a casual, yet elegant vibe, it’s DIY goodness meets pretty bouquets from Petals and a whole lot of fun-filled moments at every turn. See every beautiful moment right here.

And a sweet little something from Key Moment Films…

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Destination Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Mediterranean Wedding Inspiration

From the Bride… We’ve always dreamt of a beach wedding, so when we found Capt. Hiram’s we knew it was the place. Besides, the small Georgia town we live in is actually called Hiram – it was fate.

For a destination wedding, we were surrounded by 90 of our closest family and friends – along with a couple dozen angels!! Our special gift for the wedding was having Ryan’s mother there. Rox was extremely ill for months leading up to the wedding and we were not sure how it would turn out. She believed that the wedding coming up was what gave her the strength to get better. We especially loved spending four fun-filled days with our guests instead of the customary day for most weddings.

Driftwood from the shores of Lake Michigan was collected by my parents and painted with sayings; there were cookies designed by Door County Custom Cakes and Cookies specially for our reception. The blue mason jars we dug out of the cellar at home. The necklace I wore was made from add-a-pearls collected as I was growing up and the diamonds were from my grandmother’s ring. My wedding/engagement rings were diamonds from rings of both sets of parents and were designed by Samara Jewelers in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Pieces of lace from my mother’s wedding dress was used in my bouquet and draped over the arch at the ceremony. We even brought our own champagne from Stone’s Throw Winery in Door County, Wisconsin called Angelique – our favorite family champagne – we love angels!

As you can see from our photos we couldn’t have been happier with our photographer, Thompson Photography Group . They were so easy to work with and accommodated us when we decided to change the venue. The videographer, Key Moment Films, were excellent and so fun, capturing the essence of our day!! All the vendors we contracted with in the Sebastian area were great to work with and very professional. Sharon at Capt. Hiram’s went above and beyond our wildest expectations. She was ever helpful with whatever we cooked up, having everything perfectly timed AND the food was excellent!!

We really wanted to keep things simple, so when we described our wishes to Susan at Wedding Belles she took over all the DIY preparations (lanterns, jars, drift wood, flowers, aisle runner) that were brought from home for the “day of” services and placed everything as if she had climbed into our dreams.

To be totally honest, I’ve drooled over this Mediterranean inspiration shoot way longer than I even care to admit. But can you blame me? We’re talking the most steal worthy swoonage from top-tier wedding pros like Beauty in the Making + Ozzy Garcia and you can join me in the gallery for soooooo much more.

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Estate Weddings

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Greenville Wedding at Honey Lake Plantation Resort and Spa

From Beauty in the Making… The Bath Club ideally hosts our Mediterranean dream. Elegantly cooling the hot kiss of the Floridian autumn’s air, and the echo of corridors fills our senses with intrigue and laughter of the festivities. To complement the scene, the Moorish arches and terra cotta tiles reveals the medieval Andalucia. The sunset beauty light reflects a timeless moment and spanish tunes usher the celebration.

The bride’s style is exquisite yet simple and regal. Floral fragrances discretely intoxicate us, and leads to an appetite for the feast that is awaiting. Silver platters with lush colorful joyful figs, grapes, and pomegranates, decorate the affair while lit by tall candelabras and soft daylight. A sense of fulfillment guides the sunset toward a wooden warm table filled with aromatic delicacies and opens the chapter of best wishes. The aged red wine tosses in celebration as the hearts dances the song of oneness. Sounds of unison clapping is the rhythm section that accompanies the exquisite moment of love.

Here’s the easiest thing you’ll do all Thursday: fall in love with this gorgeous wedding. A wedding that seamlessly merges rustic elegance with classic details in the prettiest of ways. It’s lush pink blooms from Elinor Doyle Florist meets the stunning setting that is Honey Lake Plantation Resort and Spa meets all kinds of beautiful imagery from Caroline Maxcy Photography. See it all here.

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Destination

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Naples Wedding at The Club at the Strand

From Caroline Maxcy Photography… Courtney and Dustin’s day and entire weekend was sweet and southern and love-filled through and through. You couldn’t have asked for a more naturally gorgeous location and a more genuine, laid-back and charming pair at the center of it all.

From the Bride… We chose a destination wedding because we wanted a small intimate ceremony. I wanted a location that had it ALL… meaning the chapel, reception, lodging, food and a wedding planner. I didn’t want our guest to need to leave the property at all. We only had to bring in our decorations, DJ, cake and photographer. Most of all, I just wanted it to be simple and beautiful. Honey Lake met ALL of those requirements, it actually exceeded our expectations in every possible way. We had approximately 85 guests total on the property (including the photographers and our preacher). Our wedding was absolute perfection!! Exactly what we wanted! The photographer and venue were the best two decisions we made about our wedding. I honestly wouldn’t have changed anything.

So technically this wedding is not all white… it’s champagne, gold, peach, and coral, but the overall white out effect is my absolute favorite. Nothing is better than a bright and cheery white wedding (at least in my book) and with Botanicals on the Gulf behind the stunning blooms, this wedding from Maria Angela Photography is tops. Absolute tops.

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Country Club

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Beach Elopement Wedding Inspiration

From the beautiful bride… After moving to DC for my first job as a Special Education Teacher, I decided to have a high school reunion at my apartment. My friend Megan attended and invited her college friend, Jeff, who unbeknownst to me lived less than a mile away. Jeff couldn’t decline an 8:1 girl to guy ratio party! Although it was great meeting him, my attention was on my girlfriends that I hadn’t seen in months. Two dozen roses were sent to my apartment the following week!

I thought I was gaining a great friendship but wasn’t interested in getting involved in a relationship. After a persistent Jeff tried for a month to get me to go out on a date with him, I finally agreed. After just a few dates, we were inseparable. Jeff was traveling for work consulting every Monday-Thursday, but that didn’t stop us. I would pick him up from the airport every Thursday night and we were together until his flight every Monday morning. In just a few short months we knew our relationship would be forever.

About a year later Jeff and I planned a wonderful vacation to Key West, Florida. After visiting Jeff’s parents in Naples, Florida, we hopped into the convertible and headed to beautiful Key West. On our first night there, we went on the Wind and Wine Sunset Sail amid the warm tropical Caribbean waters of the Florida Keys making the evening an unforgettable start to a memorable night! After the romantic Sunset Sail, Jeff guided me to the Sunset Pier where we walked to the end and he got down on one knee! It was the most magical night of our lives!

The beginning phases of planning were definitely not the easiest. Jeff and I moved to Atlanta, my parents live in New York, and Jeff’s parents live in Florida. To top it off we were planning an interfaith wedding on a budget for a summer date. While the tradition to wed where the bride was raised seemed natural, NY was our first stop. Extremely high summer rates and a picky bride and groom left us without an agreement. The search continued in Atlanta and finally while visiting Jeff’s parents in Naples, Florida the search ended. We looked at the beautiful Club at the Strand. The romantic Botanical Gardens were just one of the selling points for us! We knew we wanted to marry on site and this was perfect! The gold tones, helpful coordinators, and flexible packages were exactly what we were looking for!

Our day was picture perfect. As my good listening husband says, “Our wedding colors were champagne and gold with POPS of peach and coral.” I was looking for the clean and elegant look with a bit of vintage inspirations. We kept floral arrangements elegant and simple with Kevin from Botanicals on the Gulf who blew me away. The teacher in me got creative with some DIY projects. I created fan programs to match our invitations, place cards in wine corks, a guest photobook, and hangers with the bridal party’s names bent in wire. Some other special touches I included were hotel gift bags for our out of town guests (98% of the guests), pictures of our parents and grandparents on their wedding day, monogrammed block letters, a fun lantern for our cards, monogrammed golf balls for our favors, and my favorite, pictures of Jeff and I posing with wooden numbers that were mounted in wine corks in vintage candle holders for our table numbers.

There are so many amazing memories, from walking down the aisle, to our first kiss as Mr. and Mrs., and being completely surprised with a top matching wedding band during the exchange of rings, but one of my favorite memories was after the wedding, back at the suite. No, not what you’re thinking! It was drinking a bottle of champagne in our wedding attire lounging on our suite balcony just reminiscing and reflecting on how perfect our night was! Thanks to Maria Angela Photography we have amazing photographs to continue reminiscing for many years to come!

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Maggie Sottero

Savannah Collection

Serencia Collection

Amarosa Collection

Lisette Collection

Aracella Collection

Avery Collection

Cordelia Collection

Emerald Collection

Alistaire Collection

Maggie Sottero Fall 2019

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Every time a Lauren Kinsey email hits my inbox, I know a happy dance is right around the corner. And today, m’dears, is certainly no exception. She partnered with Alee Willis and Nathan Willis Wedding Films for a beach elopement inspiration shoot and the results left us flat-out speechless. Get ready to gush, because this gallery is what “SMP pretty” is all about.

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Double Wedding at Palazzo del Sol

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Beach Weddings

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Casual Classic Weddings

From Lauren Kinsey… Alee Willis, an incredible stylist, reached out to me a few weeks ago about collaborating on a styled shoot while she was vacationing in Grayton Beach. I loved the inspiration board Alee had created, a concept of a late summer elopement. We dreamt of a place where it felt like there were only 2 people in the whole world among a vast expanse of beach and sky. The color palette was incredible and Alee did an outstanding job on the florals and styling! The handlettering by Katie Hyatt was beautifully done and really completed the overall feel of the tablescape.

You know what’s better than one wedding on a sunny day in Florida? Two weddings. Two weddings with two beautiful (twin) sisters, both tying the knot to their handsome beaus in a beach chic extravaganza planned to perfection by Shelby Peaden Events. And if this special day doesn’t totally make your Friday (it’s super awesome, after all), I don’t know what will. See it all captured by Lauren Kinsey right here.

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Beach Weddings Estate Weddings

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Romantic Wedding Inspiration at The Belmont Center

From Lauren Kinsey… Rachel and Ashley are identical twins and are extremely close, so it was not a question that they would both get married on the same day! The twins wanted a color palette of teal and plum to match the backdrop of the beauty of the Florida gulf coast, and specifically, the Palazzo del Sol private home. The weather for the wedding day was an absolute perfect fall day, with a little breeze and a slight nip in the air. Both girls chose to see their spouses before the ceremony to allow plenty of time for portraits, and also because they were each serving as maid of honor in their sister’s wedding.

Rachel married her husband, Nick, first, on the lawn behind the home, and while the lawn was being converted for the joint reception, guests were invited to play cornhole and have drinks on the front lawn. Ashley and David were married later in the afternoon on the beach, and the two couples hosted a fabulous reception following both weddings.

Photography: Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Weddings | Event Coordination: Shelby Peaden Events | Catering: Celestines Special Occasions | Wedding Venue: Palazzo Del Sol | Floral Design & Decor: Celestines Special Occasions

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Shelby Peaden Events

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How’s this for the perfect start to your Tuesday? Uber-gorgeous details, the exposed brick walls of The Belmont Center and a BHLDN gown that will take your breath away. A pretty amazing combo, no? Well, that’s exactly what we have for you today… a romantic love-fest designed by Sara Gillianne Weddings & Events and captured in beautiful images by Jessi Field. See it all here.

And a crazy cool film from chrisdscott Photography? Yes, please.

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Rustic Weddings Urban Space

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Rustic Vintage

“Home is where our love resides; Four walls, two hearts.”

This started as just a vision in my head, as I imagine most do. It is special to me though because my inspiration comes from my own relationship. As a military family, our roots were wherever we planted our feet. That changes often in that situation. Home became wherever we ended up, so long as we were together. It’s that romantic notion that kept me grounded and is the same one that inspired this shoot. Sometimes, all you really do need is love (and four walls) to truly be “home.”

The team assembled for this shoot were nothing short of AMAZING. It was like stars aligned and everything was just as we had hoped for in the planning process.

This shoot really was a dream come true for me, and I love that I had the opportunity to showcase our local talent.

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BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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Whimsical Pastel Coral Gables Country Club Wedding

A truly handmade wedding, we’re talking dresses, paper flowers, hand stitched table numbers, personifies what a wedding is all about. It’s about showing the love you have for each other and sharing it. Laura Leslie Photography captured one of the most beautiful, handmade days we’ve ever seen, and it’s all sitting right here for you!

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Spring Weddings

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Country Club

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Classic Weddings Whimsical

From the beautiful bride… Three adjectives that describe your wedding day: Whimsical, Rustic, A Dream

Your wedding colors: Spring Colors (Pink, Lilac, Powder Blue, Mint Green and Peach)

Your favorite detail of the wedding: My handmade wedding dress

What details or traditions did you include in your celebration?
-Married in a Secret Garden at my Catholic Church
-Each Bridesmaid, Flower Girl, MOH and Mother of Bride dress was custom made by the Groom’s mother
-Guests had Wedding Wands to wave when we were announced “Man and Wife”
-Wedding Program Fans (To help with the Miami Heat!)
-Bouquet was made of real and paper flowers.
-Reception was held at CGCC Historical Atrium Room with a Wine Cellar
-Signature “His and Hers” drinks
-Custom Wooden Wedding Cake Toppers
-Each guest was given a wooden heart with their table numbers
-Tables Numbers were handstitched
–Candy Apples with a note about donation made for StandUp2Cancer for Bride’s grandfather
-Custom designed Wedding Invitations by Bride’s friend

My wedding dress was handmade with love by my mother in law. The dress was designed by me and the inspiration came from all the dreams I had about this day and how I imagine my dress to look like. The top of the dress was encrusted with pearls and crystals and the skirt was sprinkled with them too. With the help of my mother and mother in law we found the perfect fabric to create my dream dress. The dress was two pieces (corset and skirt), so I was able to change into a shorter skirt later in the evening in order to dance the night away! My dress was all mine and was more than just a dream…

My flowers were a mix of paper flowers and real flowers to signify our first Valentine’s Day together. Danny had given me a bouquet of flowers with a note stating “I will love you till the last flower wilts.” When I felt the flowers I found one paper flower.

Palm Beach Engagement

It doesn’t get more adorable than this couple and their squeal-worth engagement session snapped up by Captured Photography By Jenny. If you are looking for a way to add a little pep in your day, their proposal story is sure to do the trick, and you can top it all off with all the pretty in this gallery. It’s the recipe for a smile-filled day.

About the proposal…Christy went to school at PBAU with Meg who transferred to Regent, where she met her husband Jordan, who is best friends with Derrick. So when Meg and Jordan married in August 2011, Derrick walked Christy down the aisle. Little did they know they’d be doing this again!

About 2 years after Derrick and Christy met, they decided to get pedicures, which inspired a scheduled “best friend” Saturday. Christy woke up feeling awake and happy, which is not an every day occurrence, and was strangely inspired to work out, which is a never day occurrence. Working out for Christy means dancing around a room to music. In the middle of this activity, she received a text message from Derrick saying “How did you sleep? Did your pillow feel a little more lettery than usual?” Dazzled by his wit and charm (Derrick’s narration here), she ceased her dance work out and raced back to the bed upon which she had slept. She tossed pillow looking for said letter. No letter! Finally, she found it. (It had fallen behind the bed. She must have slept-punched it.) It contained many words of love and admiration. (Christy continues) She was overjoyed by the combination of hilarious and meaningful references as well as the specific declarations of appreciation and love from Derrick. It made her heart melt!

Speeding things along….She thought it might be the day, so she took time doing her hair and painting her nails.. But also had a moment with Jesus where she surrendered the day and timing of a proposal she knew was coming soon. Derrick picked her up with a packed picnic lunch and drove her to Krug park, the very first place they had (together) walked on a FROZEN POND! They ate the yummy food, drank the lemonade. Derrick wanted to wash the glasses in the pond, but Christy advised against. (Gross.) But he made her giggle and laugh walking down to the water and entering the Geese’s secret circle. (They had formed a circle on the rocks and literally looked like a council and so he squatted down next to them.. haha)

Next it was finally time for the pedicure, all the way in Kansas City. So they took the hour drive to the city joking and singing and laughing and loving all the way.The pedicure place was actually a really wonderful experience! They kept asking Derrick what color he wanted and he kept replying “just looking to get my feet scrubbed.” Christy laughed a lot! And realized that Derrick must actually be in love with her. Once their callouses were removed and their toes trimmed, they started to make their way back to St. Joseph.

Up until that point, the couple had been part of a project 52 which requires one creative art project per week. (They have since dropped out of this project… Since they are getting married. Why are they speaking in 3rd person.) Anyways, Derrick asked Christy to model in the photo he was hoping to do that week, which he wanted to take place in a park. They had seen a park off the highway on the way over, so they headed to the very spot. Now it should be noted that at this point, Christy had started to pent up some SERIOUS suspicions that this might actually be the day! But when Derrick asked for help on his project, she lost a little hope. When they reached the gate to the park, they found that it was closed. (Apparently it was a ball park only open during game hours.) They decided to investigate a possible back entrance. So they hopped back on the highway and exited where the back would be.. only to stumble onto a strange abandoned work space that reminded Christy of where shuttles take off at NASA. They turned the corner and saw two live wild turkeys that suddenly split directions. Have you ever seen a wild turkey run? Anyways, there was definitely not an entrance in the back.. seeing that Derrick was discouraged, Christy suggested they just go back to the real entrance, park the car and walk by foot to the playground.

After a quick water break (Derrick was feeling a little faint), they did just that. When they got to the playground, Christy waited for Derrick to direct her. He scoped the playground out and eventually asked her to sit on the top of the tube side, almost nestled in the corner. (He was looking for a place for shade, but of course she was thinking… this is going to be the strangest vantage point.. but she would give him space to impress her.) Derrick directed her to look up and over her right shoulder while he very very sneakily climbed up next to her carrying a laptop and said “Before we take the picture, I need you to watch this.” At that point, all the suspicions Christy had earlier flooded back in again. She knew. Derrick opened the laptop and pressed play. And the first line “This is where it all began” played. Then it stopped. Then Derrick’s heart stopped. Then it played again. And it stopped. About 5 times. Christy laughed nervously, while Derrick just stared at the screen pressing keys until finally it played! It was lovely!

A seven minute perfect myriad of sentiments, favorite quotes- including one on living as children which is what inspired the playground location for the proposal- hilariousness, cleverness, dancing, and even so many of the people Christy loves! She cried and cried. And her heart was bursting! Then Derrick said, “you have to stand up!” And without falling down the slide, she stood up. And he got down on one knee, pulled out the box, opened it and said “Will you marry me?” A few seconds and then. “Yes!” And then lots of hugging happened. It was happy! And that’s how he popped the question.

Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny

Romantic Glamour Inspiration Shoot at Maitland Art Center

The Monday after the holidays calls for extra pretty, and we are serving that up and then some thanks to this stunning shoot captured by Ly Sue of LH Photography. Styled beautifully by Siuleth of Eleven Note, it is literally packed to the gills with pretty. With florals from Rachel of Stems and Things that define gorgeous and a cake from The Pastry Studio that is as pin-worthy as they come, this gallery will have you jumping for joy. See it all here.

From Ly Sue of LH Photography…We were head over heels designing this shoot! We wanted to showcase the beautiful venue while at the same time create a contrast with the details. When thinking of an underlying theme for the shoot, we best described it as deconstructed nature mixed with touches of glam and romance! The color palette throughout encompassed both contrast and subtlety with citron, gold, and blush tonalities which created the perfect balance against the concrete backdrop of the venue.

The ceremony setting, composed of painted paper flowers and white branches, created a strong focal point with a romantic softness, while the layering of the gold trunks and candles gave it a touch of glimmer. We brought in details such as dip dyed citron baskets filled with blankets, fur, and textural fabrics to soften and give a sense of warmth and “feel” to the space. We let the architecture of the venue naturally dictate the location of each scene, for example the venue featured a carved stone opening that we felt was the perfect spot to best showcase the beautiful cake; it only needed a touch of softness against the gold surface of the cake, and the fur backdrop combined with the soft glow of candles, provided just that. For the escort card display, we hand painted natural stones to reflect the color story and framed it as an art piece.

We wanted the table setting to sum up all of the elements, as that is one of the areas in which guests spend most of their time, so it needed to “tell” the whole story. To create the table setting, we had fun playing with unconventional uses of different things such as the use of blankets as table covers, blush scarves as table runners, and necklaces to hold the table number; a detail we repeated on the escort card display. The elegant yet creative menus served both as a menu as well as place mats for the dinnerware, and were hand painted to give it a personal touch. The floral arrangement incorporated both natural and paper flowers arranged in an effortless organic way to follow the asymmetrical shape of the gold branch. The stunningly unique bridal bouquet was a reflection of the floral center piece; unconventional, beautiful, and free-form. From the layering of the tabletop and ceremony setting to the hand painted invitation suite and the unique floral designs, we were able to create a scene of romance, warmth, and elegance. We painted and upholstered the fur|gold barstools, and painted all the trunks and branches. The flowers attached to the branches were made of coffee filters and hand painted.

How to Make Perfect Tea

A 101 on Making Tea? Absolutely. A 101 on Making Tea + a beautiful space to boot? Um, hello gorgeous! This lovely spread was hosted at the Oxford Exchange and was gussied up to include a tea pairing and 2 yummy recipes, with a design from the fabulous Justin Demutiis, Courtney of Dishie Rentals, & Botanica International Design Studio. And the result is everything that SMP loves in a girl. Or a tea shop.

In just over a year of business, the Oxford Exchange has set the bar in Tampa. Their restaurant is booming for breakfast and lunch during the week, and might just be the most popular choice for brunch on the weekends. They also have the most fantastic shop, bookstore, offices, and coffee shop, but perhaps those will be saved for another SMP Living post. On the weekends, between 3-5 they offer Afternoon Tea. We decided to take it up a notch and add whimsical mismatched vintage plates and glassware, a touch of florals.

The Salted Caramel Latte and Lavender Fog are two of our most popular drinks at Tebella Tea Company and they are both simple and easy to replicate at home. Here are the simple DIY steps:

SALTED CARAMEL LATTE

Begin by mixing 3 teaspoons of our Caramel Black tea with 3 teaspoons of German rock sugar and steep them together in 16 oz of water for 3 minutes. Strain the leaves before adding a dash of steamed milk, 2 teaspoons of caramel syrup and a pinch of sea salt. Top off the mixture with foam and caramel topping (and a sprinkling of extra sea salt if you’d like), and you’ve got a decadent treat for any time of day!

LAVENDER FOG

Our Lavender Fog is a delightful variation on the London Fog, a tea drink that was invented by an unknown barista in Vancouver, British Columbia. While a traditional London Fog is made with Earl Grey, we use our Earl Grey Lavender for a modern twist. Steep 3 teaspoons of the tea with 3 teaspoons of German rock sugar for 3 minutes in 8 oz of warmed milk and 8 oz of boiling water. Strain the fog mixture into a teapot and add 2 teaspoons of vanilla syrup. Top it off with foam and enjoy the creamy combo of lavender, bergamot and vanilla—perfect for a rainy day.

Florals: Botanica International Design Studio | Reception Venue: Oxford Exchange | Plates And Glassware: Dishie Rentals | Sweet And Savory Bites: Oxford Exchange | Tea: Tebella Tea Company

John’s Island Club Wedding

You know how we like to celebrate the very last day of 2013? With a lovely little gem of a day like this one captured by Amalie Orrange Photography. A day that is al about the soft romantic touches and traditional details, and features one of the lovelies duos you will ever have the privilege to virtually meet. See every last beautiful moment (and there are a lot of them) right here in the full gallery.

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Sarasota, FL Wedding at Ca’ d’Zan Mansion

From Amalie Orrange Photography… Kayln & William were married at the gorgeous John’s Island club in Vero Beach, Florida. Kayln & William had a destination wedding escaping the cold weather of Chicago. William grew up going to John’s Island every year with his family and he knew this would be the perfect place to be married. And perfect it was, the day before was raining and 25 mph winds and the skies cleared on their wedding day. They got married on the lawn facing the ocean with 165 of their closest friends and family members witnessing. Kayln chose a beautiful palette with soft grey and hints of pearl throughout the bridesmaids dresses and decor.

From the Bride… We met in the summer of 2010 at a friends house in Chicago who was having a party for the Sheffield Garden Walk. One of my best girlfriends from college went abroad with his best guy friends during their junior year and somehow we never crossed paths until this particular party. After being introduced during our friends party, we bumped into each other again later that night at a bar. We were friends for several months before we officially started dating and the rest is history!

We had been planning on proposing during a weekend trip to NYC but after the epic snowstorm Nemo hit the East Coast, our flights got cancelled. Instead, we decided to go out to dinner for an early valentines day at North Pond and after dinner back at his apartment, he got down on one knee and proposed!

Honestly, I can’t think of a single thing in this wedding from Katie Lopez I’m not absolutely obsessed with. Not a one. I first fell in love with this couples’ engagement last year, so I shouldn’t be surprised that their wedding is off-the-charts fabulous, but here I am, completely floored. From her lovely Jenny Packham gown to the pin-worthy reception planned to perfection by Sarah Tucker Events (complete with a perfume bar) and every love-filled moment in between, this beauty moved right up to the tippy top of my favorites list. See why here.

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From Katie Lopez Photography…This was one of my favorite weddings this year so I just had to share with you! You might remember the bride and groom. Their sailboat engagement was featured on SMP Florida last year and it’s hard to forget Alison’s contagious smile! The inspiration behind their wedding- “old school charm with a dash of glamour”. You’ll see right away that Alison’s vintage-inspired Jenny Packham gown and faux bob set the stage for the rest of this vintage-meets-glamour wedding day. From the perfume bar to the old church pews, it all came together perfectly against the backdrop of the Ca’ d’ Zan mansion at the Ringling Museum.

From the Bride..Ryan grew up just a short distance from Sarasota as a child. He used to tell me stories about going to the Ringling Museum with his family every year. After he proposed we began to put together a venue wish list; beautiful water views, old school charm, with a dash of glamour. After visiting the Ringling we realized that our wish list was an actual venue! I remember Ryan joking that if someone had told him at seven years old that he would be saying ‘I do’ there years later; he would’ve thought they had lost their mind.

We decided to keep the wedding in line with the overall ambiance of the venue. I chose my Jenny Packham gown for its vintage feel and amazing lace detailing in the back. We rented antique furniture for lounge areas and had old church pews brought in for an outdoor ceremony. Our amazing florist created a cloud of Hydrangeas for the seating chart which really looked as if it was floating in mid-air, it was also one of my favorite details from the wedding.

From the start the most important thing to us was to ensure that our guests had fun and that the night would be as memorable for us as it was for them. Between a DIY perfume bar for the ladies and a cigar station for the men we really wanted our guests to know how much we appreciated them being there. We spent the night surrounded by our closest friends and family which was all we could have asked for. The night flew by and we wouldn’t change a thing. It was such a memorable evening for us and we are so thankful to all those who attended and stood by our side throughout the process.

Boca Raton Wedding

From the crazy gorgeous ceremony to the stunning bride and groom to an al fresco reception overflowing with beautiful blooms from Boca By Design, this is a wedding that simply screams romance. The kind of fairytale that comes to life right smack dab in the middle of The Addison and is planned to absolute perfection by Sugar(ed) Event Design & Planning. In other words, it’s a dream come true and you can see every last beautiful moment captured by Soul Echo Studios right here in the full gallery.

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