Florida Weddings

Perfectly elegant with a touch of glamour, this seaside soiree captured by Vitalic Photo is just as pretty as they come. With soft pinks complimenting the naturally gorgeous Florida surroundings and sweet touches that will stand the test of time – it’s a wedding that is perfect now, and will be perfect 100 years from now. See all the reasons why right here.

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From Vitalic Photo… Jenna and Derek were surrounded by their many friends and family at the exclusive Sea Ranch Beach Club in Launderdale-by-the-Sea.  Their ceremony took place on the lawn overlooking the peaceful ocean, a single palm tree and a pretty flower covered alter for them to share their vows.  I loved how Jenna’s vision of a soft and elegant coastal wedding with shiny gold accents came together at their tented reception on the beach.

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Wedding Photography: Vitalic Photo | Wedding Venue: Sea Ranch Lakes Beach Club in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida | Floral Design: Joy’s Florist | Wedding Cinematography: Lindsey Grace | Catering: Crystal Bay | Cake: Cake Designs by Edda | Stationery: Sorelle Paper & Prints | Wedding Dress: San Patrick

Sometimes a smile says it all. And this Bride’s smile says she feels like the luckiest girl in the world. Lucky that she gets to marry the boy of her dreams surrounded by the people she loves most, and do so in serious style. When you start scrolling through the gorgeous images from Gina Leigh Photography, It’s safe to say she has every right to feel that way. It’s a day that would make anyone smile, and you can see even last moment right here.

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From the Bride… Ricky and I shared a very similar vision of what we wanted our wedding day to be. More than anything, we wanted our day to be laid back and unhurried, but still elegant. Our hope was that our guests genuinely enjoyed themselves, and left knowing us a little better as a couple.

Our families are very important to us, and we incorporated a lot of little details to include them in our special day. Ricky’s uncle performed our ceremony, which was so personal and special to us, and my uncle said the blessing before dinner. We also used heirloom candlesticks, that were a wedding gift from my Great Aunt, to flank the floral arrangement that was the backdrop for our ceremony. Also, a family tradition on my side is to make an Italian cookie table. My hope was that we could create a dessert table that featured the cookies and our favorite cupcakes. We knew that we did not want a wedding cake, but instead opted for cupcakes from our favorite cupcake spot in downtown St. Petersburg. My aunts and uncles made family recipes, and we displayed them on beautiful cookie trays. We had something for everyone, and our guests filled to-go boxes full of treats to take home with them.

As a wedding day surprise for Ricky, I had our German Shepherd, Reno, brought to the venue for pictures. He is our favorite boy, and having him there was a highlight for both of us. Our wonderful photographer, Gina, captured all of the special moments and details that filled our day. Her style of photography perfectly reflected the soft color pallet I wanted, and made every image look so romantic. I loved seeing our wedding through her eyes. We could not be happier with the memories she captured for us.

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Wedding Photography: Gina Leigh Photography | Wedding Venue: Mirror Lake Lyceum in St. Petersburg, Florida | Floral Design: Delma’s The Flower Booth | Catering: Delectable’s Fine Catering | Cupcakes: The Cupcake Spot | Wedding Invitations: Blush Paperie | Wedding Dress: Anne Barge via Malindy Elene | Bride’s Sash: Haute Bridal via Malindy Elene | Bride’s Hair Pin: Percy Handmade | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids’ Attire: BCBG | Mother of the Bride’s Attire: Kate Spade | Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Indochino | Flower Girl Attire: David’s Bridal | Flower Girl Shoes: J.Crew

I think we can all agree that waking up to a torrential downpour on your wedding day is never a good thing.  Especially when your wedding happens to be a destination affair in Naples, Florida.  But, that’s exactly what happened to these two sweeties, who, along with their guests, were expecting a beachy, seaside affair and were greeted instead with flooded streets.  True story.  Luckily for them, the clouds parted and ONE HOUR before the festivities begin, the sun came out of hiding and allowed them to marry with their toes in the sand.  We call that meant to be.  See every last sun-filled moment captured by Audrey Snow in the full gallery.

And even more of this gorgeous day from Voila Cinematic.  Enjoy, lovelies.

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From the Bride… I will never forget the thought that ran through my head while getting ready for our wedding during a torrential Florida downpour, “we didn’t have 160 people come all the way down to Naples for a destination wedding to have it indoors!” Having met in college at Indiana University and being from two different parts of the country, we knew our guests would be traveling no matter where we decided to have the wedding. We thought nothing would be better than a destination wedding in Naples, Florida, a place that has become so special to us over the course of our relationship as we spend as many holidays as possible in the gorgeous beach town.

Our wedding day was filled with rain, and the words torrential downpour really don’t do it justice. It poured (flooded streets and all) up until an hour before our wedding. Our wedding planners had reluctantly told Pete and I that we would have to hold everything indoors. Then miraculously, an hour before the ceremony, the skies cleared and our amazing vendors rushed to move everything outside! In the end, we were almost thankful for the rain because it led to the most amazing sunset we had ever seen.

We chose the Port Royal Club for our wedding because we loved the “old Florida” feel the club gave as soon as you walked in the doors. We wanted a tropical and relaxed, yet elegant, feel to our wedding and I think our vendors executed it perfectly. From the bright tropical colors, touches of bamboo, to our amazing band, it was truly the wedding of our dreams.

The little details are what made the wedding our own. We asked the guests to “lose their shoes,” in a hammock as they walked onto the beach for the ceremony and then gave them brushes as they made their way to the pool for cocktail hour so they could brush the sand off their feet. A steel drum band played as our guests sipped cocktails by the pool and enjoyed the beautiful sunset. Our reception was filled with candlelight and the tables had three different flower arrangements that were spotlighted so they almost “glowed” in the darkness of the room. Our band was outstanding and had the dance floor packed all night long!

Planning a destination wedding from Manhattan was most definitely challenging and we couldn’t have done it without the help of my mother, mother-in-law, and our outstanding vendors. It’s so important to choose vendors who share a common vision with you and that you can trust when you can’t be there. We will never forget the feeling of knowing that all of those people came from so far just for us. We felt so loved and it was truly the most amazing weekend held in a place that is so special to us.

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Wedding Photography: Audrey Snow Photography | Wedding Venue: The Port Royal Club in Naples, Florida | Wedding Cinematography: Voila Cinematic | Floral Design: Botanicals on the Gulf | Wedding Coordinators: Blonde Events | Wedding Cake: The Port Royal Club | Band: VoxBlu | Steel Drum Band: Steel Cruzin’ | Rentals: Niche Event Rentals | Linens: BBJ Linen | Wedding Stationery: By Alice Boutique | Wedding Dress + Belt: Monique Lhuillier | Bride’s Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Amsale | Hair + Makeup: Philip Douglas Salon

I’ll be the first to tell you that I absolutely adore a couple who gets a little creative with their e-sessions. Crazy cool props, fab themes, unique settings?  I love it more than most.  But, sometimes all it takes is a breathtaking backdrop, two of the cutest sweeties you’ll ever lay your eyes upon and image after image of pure lovely and it’s more than enough.  And that’s exactly the sweet combo we have in this beautiful shoot from Daybreak Studios with its sooo in love duo, crystal blue waters and miles upon miles of St. Augustine pretty.  Click here for sooo much more.

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From Daybreak Studios… I met Katie and Jay at Cafe Eleven for our first consultation and after one minute of talking to these two, I felt like we’d known each other for years. They are so laid back, in love, and radiate with smiles from the moment you meet them. We had such a fun time shooting at the Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in St. Augustine, Florida. Gorgeous gardens, beautiful beach, and perfect weather! Congrats to these two genuinely lovely people.

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Wedding Photography: Daybreak Studios | Location: Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in St. Augustine, Florida

There is DIY, and there is DIY from this Bride, who happens to take do-it-yourselfing to a new sparkly level. It’s almost as if she waved a magic, talented wand over her beautiful Delray Beach day, and then wallah, crafty perfection. But anyone who’s planned a wedding knows better – and one peek at the pretty captured by 13:13 Photography in the full gallery and you know there was a lot of love that went into every touch. So our hats are off to this mini Martha of a Bride, her level of detail is one for the books. See them all here.

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From the Bride… Eric and I both live in Boston but decided to get married in sunny South Florida near where I grew up. We searched and searched for the perfect secret garden-like venue, and after looking for what felt like months, we finally found the Sundy House! It was perfect! Delray Beach is the cutest beach town! We knew our out of state guests would love it! Plus, it wasn’t too far for my family in Miami to drive up for the day!

I had so much fun planning the wedding. Being a graphic designer, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to tackle a lot for the wedding. I designed the save-the-dates, invitations, and all of the other paper goods used throughout the wedding. I also decided paper flowers would be a great way to showcase my love of paper. I planned to make my own bouquet, but a few months before the wedding I spotted a gorgeous one from BHLDN and purchased it! As beautiful as the bouquet was, something was missing. I wanted it fuller with more flowers, so I took apart the bouquet and created my own using both the flowers that were purchased and some of my own creation. My shoes were definitely a labor of love! I wanted blue sparkly peep toes with a thick heel, but could not find anything I liked. So I did what any bride in my position would do… I created my own dream pair (and all it took was a little glitter and paint)!

We got married in late October and wanted our wedding to reflect the fall season, which we both love! We wanted subtle details throughout the wedding to remind our guests that even though we were in a tropical setting, Halloween was just a few days away. We achieved this by using all different sized pumpkins and fun pops of orange, brown and teal. We even had a candy buffet with treat bags I designed that read “Trick-or-Treat Because Love is Sweet.” Everyone agreed, it was an enchanting evening! Eric and I could not have asked for a more perfect day! And we absolutely loved working with Ashley and Philip from 13:13 Photography!

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Wedding Photography: 13:13 Photography | Wedding Venue: Sundy House in Delray Beach, Florida | Floral Design: the bride | Bouquet: BHLDN + DIY by the Bride | Cupcakes: Cupcake Couture | DJ: DJ Innovations | Lanterns: Pier 1 Imports | Wedding Invitations + Stationery: The Bride | Wedding Dress: Allure |  Bride’s Shoes: DIY by the Bride | Headpiece: Nina | Bride’s Robe: Plum Pretty Sugar | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Bari Jay | Bridesmaids’ Robes: Webster for Target | Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: Dillard’s | Groom’s Attire: Alfani Red | Groom’s Shoes: Bruno Magli

It all started with the “Perfect Proposal.”  An awesome contest that awarded the winner of the most amazing proposal idea a live-televised engagement.  One that was aired on local news and was sure to surprise the lucky bride-to-be.  The winner?  This dapper groom, who asked the love of his life to marry him on the local news… and followed it all up with one seriously stellar wedding.  A wedding that boasted sweet yellow and orange hues, gorgeous images captured by Set Free Photography and an all caps LOVE as far as the eyes can see.  Fairytale beginning?  Yes, indeed.  Click here for all of the pretty.

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From Set Free Photography… Katie & Chase embody the very essence of what marriage is all about. Their commitment to becoming one and honoring God was evident throughout the day and illustrated by a blind prayer before the ceremony, breaking bread, the giving & receiving of communion, the washing of one another’s feet.  Their personally written vows consisted of love-motivated promises for the future.

Chase arrived to the waterfront ceremony by boat and made a breathtaking entrance as he tearfully walked the long pier leading up to the Historic Heitman House situated along the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida.  Katie’s father escorted her down the aisle, and confidently turned her hand over to Chase.  The fatherly approval, romance and love were so very tangible in that moment.

It is fun to note that Katie and Chase were the winners of the “Perfect Proposal,” a competition that Chase entered unbeknownst to Katie.  His proposal idea was the winner among hundreds of Florida applicants, and as a result, his proposal was televised and aired on local news stations.  Katie was entirely shocked and thrilled to have won a single carat diamond ring from Dunkin’s Diamonds, and proudly wears it today.

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Wedding Photography: Set Free Photography | Ceremony Venue: The Heitman House in Fort Myers, Florida | Reception Venue + Dinner Caterer: Paseo Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida | Event Planner: Jet Set Wed | Floral Design: Isn’t She Lovely Florals | Ceremony Caterer: Jamie and Jacob Catering | Wedding Cake: Lea McQuinn, Friend | DJ: A DJ With Class | Wedding Dress: Enzoani “Dakota” | Jewelry: Dunkin’s Diamonds | Groom’s Attire: Black Tie Formal Wear | Makeup: Hope Artistry

Fête champêtres. Thanks to this lovely Bride, I’ve learned this morning that beautiful phrase describes the most gorgeous (and decadent) of garden parties hostsed in the forests outside of Versailles. Which just sounds like heaven. And this lovely lady in white obviously shares my sentiments  She took that beautiful term and let it serve as her guidance in planning this elegant yet ethereal Miami affair at Villa Woodbine. And with the help of Kasey D Weddings and the gorgeous images from Mandy & Me Studio, we can pretend we were there, amongst the prettiness, in this full gallery of inspired images.

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From the Bride… When I first started planning our wedding, I had no idea where it would take place but I did know that it had to be outside. Some of the most fabulous weddings I’ve attended have all taken place outside and there is just something about being under the stars with all your dearest friends. The first decision that had to be made was also the hardest–in what city would we have our wedding? We live in New York but have family in Florida, California and Italy. Italy was my first choice but logistics made that hard (our dear friends would be getting married in Venice two months earlier–we felt bad having all our friends fly out twice in such a short time span) and my family was really pushing for Miami, my hometown. I flew down to Miami and was having a hard time finding a place that really fit my aesthetic. Everything I saw was dark, indoors and not my style . After almost giving up on Miami, a friend of my mother’s suggested Villa Woodbine in Coconut Grove and I automatically fell in love. It would allow me to have my rustic, romantic wedding, outdoors and in my hometown. Score! Before we knew it, we had all our friends and family excited for Miami in January. Escaping the rough winter would be a joy for everyone!

I had initially given myself a loose color palette and theme after falling in love with the idea of a Fête champêtres – an art history term coined during the Rococo period (I’m an art history major!) describing pastoral, elegant and lavish garden parties that used to happen in the forests outside of Versailles. This allowed me to work within impressionist colors but also did not restrict me too much. Although I knew exactly what I wanted, what was difficult for me was making it all come to life. That is where my amazing wedding planner, Kasey D, came into play. With her help, all of my little ideas came to life, from golden fruit to adorn the tables, to cute little signs that flanked the bars.

When our big day was finally here, I was surprisingly calm. I knew I was marrying the right man and I knew that what would be, would be and that it was best to enjoy every minute without getting to hung up on little details that may have gone awry. When all was said and done, our table cloths were the wrong color and our flowers were a bit off but none of that really mattered then and there. What was most exciting was that I was with everyone I love, the guy I’ve chosen as my partner, under the Miami moon. And that, I’ll remember forever.

If I could offer any advice to any future brides it would be to do what you want to do. Don’t let anyone convince you that this looks better or that everyone will like more. In the end, you’ll regret caving in. Also, do not sweat the small things on the day of. Something is bound to be off. Just make sure you’re enjoying every moment because you’ll never get them back!

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Wedding Photography: Mandy & Me Studio | Wedding Venue: Villa Woodbine in Coconut Grove, Florida | Wedding Coordinator: Kasey D Weddings | Floral Design: Nevot Floral Design | Caterer: Bill Hansen Catering | Wedding Cake: Bride’s Aunt | Band: Miami Nights | Chair Rental: Unearthed Vintage |Wedding Dess: the Bride + Rex Fabrics | Hair + Makeup: Jennifer Cruz Beauty

One thing we know for certain here at SMP Florida?  Boca Grande weddings are amazing.  And Boca Grande weddings featuring beautiful florals from Botanica International Design Studio and captured in stunning images by BinaryFlips Photography?  Even better.  Which is why we happen to be head over heels for this little gem of a day planned to perfection by One Fine Day Weddings & Events.  It’s everything we love about Boca Grande affairs, complete with a beyond beautiful couple, intimate setting and heartwarming moments aplenty.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… When Thomas proposed to me at The Breakers, Palm Beach, during the Spring I knew right away that an ocean-front wedding in Florida the following Spring would be the perfect fit for our big day. We searched quite a few locations along the West Coast of our beloved state, yet found all too quickly that many venues did not offer the intimacy we were looking for. Also, we wanted a backyard feel for our wedding instead of a beach ceremony, which cut our options down significantly. After a few months of searching it finally hit us. The intimate island of Boca Grande, where our families have spent so many years vacationing and where Thomas and I both love to fish. The moment we stepped foot onto the beautiful, wooden front porch of The Gasparilla Inn & Club, we were hooked. It offered the most beautiful setting for an elegant, Southern style, black tie affair while still keeping the relaxed feel of Florida that we love.

It was very important for me to keep our wedding intimate in every aspect possible. We opted for a circle ceremony instead of a traditional aisle ceremony so that our bridesmaids and groomsmen, standing behind us, were physically “backing us” in our union, while our family and friends encompassed us. Thomas’ uncle, a United Methodist Minister, officiated our ceremony and his sister, Martha, sang “Songbird” as we lit our unity candle. It was incredible to have our loved ones lead us into our future as husband and wife.

Our palette of pink, gold and ivory meshed seamlessly with our surroundings. Botanica International Design Studio created beautiful cherry blossom trees in antiqued planter boxes to define our aisle, as well as a gorgeous ring of blush colored rose petals to circle us during our vows. The absolutely breathtaking space they created under our reception tent was filled with cherry blossoms, tulips, peonies and roses in mercury glass containers. Lavish candles and crystal chandeliers lit our evening. I had explained my vision to Sarah Fairbairn of One Fine Day, Inc. and she put it together perfectly. We were so blessed to have found BinaryFlips Photography to document our extraordinary day. Their use of light and beautiful detail shots were exactly what we had dreamt of in wedding photography. As it rained an hour before our ceremony, Dennis and Tina captured the most wonderful shots and used the circumstances to their advantage. They were an absolute joy to work with.

The day of our wedding was indescribable. So many of our friends and family traveled to Boca Grande to celebrate our love and our next step in life together. The sense of harmony between everyone was incredible. We commemorated our loved ones that are no longer with us on programs created in classic Crane & Co. stationary, to match our invitations. After enjoying The Gasparilla Inn’s decadent dinner and signature Gaspartinis we danced the evening away to the sound of Phase5, our wonderful wedding band. Later, a firework show treated our guests with a beautiful ending to a memorable day. Thomas and I were sent off by an aisle of sparklers and picked up by a 1955 Bentley. We are so grateful to everyone that made our dream into a beautiful reality.

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Wedding Photography: BinaryFlips | Wedding Venue: The Gasparilla Inn & Club in Boca Grande, Florida | Event Design + Coordination: Sarah Fairbairn from One Fine Day Weddings & Events | Floral Design: Botanica International Design Studio | Catering + Wedding Cake: The Gasparilla Inn & Club | Groom’s Cake: Cakes by Ron | String Quartet: Sean O’neil from Musical Rendezvous | Band: Phase 5 | Wedding Stationery: Crane & Co. | Fireworks: Zambelli Fireworks | Wedding Dress + Veil: Anne Barge via Malindy Elene | Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Amsale | Flower Girl Attire: Katina Katoo

I’m totally in-love with this muted, ocean-themed Palm Beach stunner from 13:13 Photography and all of its beautiful details! The gorgeous bride + groom had their coastal celebration at The Sailfish Club and called on the talents of Desiree Dawn Events to create the wedding of their dreams. You won’t want to miss this one, my dears – see every last detail in the full gallery.

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From 13:13 Photography… Everything at Nicole and Jamie’s wedding was absolutely stunning. All of her details were breathtaking, from the ceremony at St. Edward Catholic church to the reception at the Sailfish Club, it was beautiful. To make it even better, Nicole and Jamie are one of the loveliest kind-hearted couples. It was such a treat to be a part of their lovely wedding day.

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Wedding Photography: 13:13 Photography | Ceremony Venue: St. Edward Catholic Church in Palm Beach, Florida | Reception Venue: The Sailfish Club in Palm Beach, Florida | Event Design + Planning: Desiree Oftedal from Desiree Dawn Events | Floral Design: Heaven and Earth Floral | Invitations: Ellen Write On | Day-of Paper Goods/Stationery: Make Merry!

You know who has the power to make an already uber-gorgeous inspiration shoot even more gorgeous?  Two real-life cuties.  That’s who. Two real-life cuties who happen to be this close to saying “I do” and smile as if the world is theirs in each and every photo.  (It sooo is.)  And when an adorable duo like that joins forces with the ever-fabulous Hemstitch Vintage Rentals and the crazy-wonderful Aislinn Kate Photography for a whole lot of “Message in a Bottle” pretty?  It makes for one magical Monday.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From Aislinn Kate Photography… This is a styled shoot. We started with the theme of “Message in a Bottle,” which was inspired by our choice of location (my Nana’s beach house). Every detail we used was inspired by our location, theme, and models (who are my real-life clients, getting married next year). Here is a breakdown of the details and how we developed them.

The aisle markers are giant sea glass bottles, filled with rolled parchment. Antique bottles appear in almost every set.

Fresh herbs, picked from garden (groom is a gardener and chef). The aisle was strewn with crushed rosemary and lavender (the ceremony smelled as good as it looked). Lavender and rosemary-infused lemonades. Favors were potted rosemary plants propagated from the groom’s backyard (favor tags feature the line from Hamlet: “Rosemary, that’s for remembrance…”).

Vintage lace was rapped around napkins, tying herbs onto lemonade jars, strung across the rusty grill for the escort cards to hang to with clothespins, to – most dramatically – created a luscious backdrop of a lace waterfall during the ceremony.

Reclaimed furniture, found in yard sales and relatives’ attics. The piano bench is my favorite piece (we used it as the altar piece, seating at the dining table, and as a display for the paper products). Paper products are handmade with natural material, such as cork and burlap, in addition to traditional cardstock.

Since our couple is very literary, we incorporated quotations from Shakespeare (the bride’s second true love!) onto everything. All the paper products are made using the same materials and color palette: invitations, save-the-dates, response cards, menu, escort cards, favor tags, signage.

The veil is a true heirloom, having been worn in the mother-in-law’s wedding and loaned to the bride as “something old.” We love how the lace on it coordinates with the vintage lace carried throughout the shoot!

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Wedding Photography: Aislinn Kate Photography | Wedding Venue: Private Beach Home in Santa Rosa Island, Florida | Floral + Event Design: Hemstitch Vintage Rentals | Wedding Dress: La Sposa via Pensacola Bridal Loft / Hair & Makeup: Rachel C. Nelson 

I’m just going to come out and say it, I am head over heels in love with this Florida fête at Villa Woodbine. Obsessed basically. It’s that elegant yet approachable yet timeless style that must be in my DNA somewhere, because the moment I come across a party like this one, I just know I am a goner. Today I have Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning to thank for bringing me my dose of fabulous, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be dancing the day away with the picture perfect images from Marlon Richardson right here, in the full gallery.

If you are anything like me, you simply don’t want to step away from this party. Well, the pretty party continues with their gorgeous film from Lovebug Productions…

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Wedding Photography: Marlon Richardson | Wedding Venue: Villa Woodbine in Miami, Florida | Event Design + Styling: Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning | Wedding Cinematography: Lovebug Productions | Floral Design: Petal Productions | Catering: Bill Hansen | Wedding Cake + Favors: Filled and Frosted | DJ: DJ Jam 1 | Dress: Romona Keveza via Chic Parisian | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair + Makeup: Makeup by Marz

There’s romance and then there’s the romance bursting from this beautiful Sarasota affair captured by Raquel Sergio Photography, which is like every love-filled detail you could ever imagine, all wrapped up in one magical gallery.  (Seriously.)  And the uber-adorable bride and groom?  Well, they happen to be all caps ROMANTIC, too with their office romance beginning, an at-home (+ heartwarming) proposal and, of course, one drop-dead gorgeous wedding.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… The roads traveled to find one another were long. Much longer for Victor as he is Brazilian, and journeyed to the United States to get his PhD. We eventually met in Tampa at the engineering consulting firm where we started working nearly three months apart from one another. Victor and I joined bowling leagues and beach volleyball leagues with other co-workers, so we spent a lot of time together outside of work.

Almost three years later, Victor kneeled on one knee beneath the open sky and the beautiful pergola that he and his father built in our backyard and asked that I be his wife. He made me a very happy woman on that very special evening.

From Raquel Sergio Photography… Stephanie and Victor were married at the selby gardens in Sarasota, Florida. I absolutely love selby gardens for the uniqueness it has to provide. The furniture and decor was very elegant, and added a gorgeous touch to the wedding day as well.

Their ceremony took place on underneath a banyon tree of the garden during sunset. Their cocktail hour followed by the beautiful and famous Floridian pinkish tone sunset sky. Their reception was held in the ballroom overlooking the the beautiful stars. Their flowers and centerpieces were simple and sweet. What a beautiful night full of the simplest emotion of love!

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Wedding Photography: Raquel Sergio Photography | Wedding Venue : Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida | Floral + Event Design: Bee Ridge | Catering: Harry’s Continental Kitchen | Wedding Dress: Olgas Bridal Shop

In keeping to her tight budget, this DIY-inspired bride took the decor + details for her big day into her own hands, creating hundreds of paper origami birds and other sweet personalized elements! The result? Sweet-as-can-be. Shannon Lee Miller Photography captured the whole love-filled day on film, and you can see it all right here!

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From Shannon Lee Miller…  Deanna and Nathan’s wedding was even more photogenic than I expected it to be. Deanna’s handmade touches made this a very personal affair. I’ve never been to a wedding where everyone was so relaxed and so focused on the most important thing, the couple’s love. It was so refreshing to be around them and capture the moments of their special day.

From the bride… Trying to plan a wedding on my own tight budget seemed like an impossible task. I spent weeks cutting and folding paper after paper to make over 400 origami birds. To go along with this paper theme, my wonderful mother made four unique paper bouquets. After months of anticipation, I will never forget arriving at the venue and seeing all of our hard work pay off. The decorations looked better than I imagined, and right then I knew the day was going to be flawless. My favorite moment was the few brief minutes before I walked down the aisle. Sidney, the best man, started playing La noyee by Yann Tiersen on the accordion, and my two older brothers were by my side ready to walk me down the aisle. This meant so much to me. As I walked down the aisle and saw all my friends and family in their seats and it brought me to the moment of “is this really real, is this happening?” And then I saw him. I saw my soon to be husband’s face full of excitement, nervousness, and pure love. In that moment I was beyond happy and in true bliss. I could not have been blessed with a more perfect day.

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Wedding Photography: Shannon Lee Miller | Venue: Birdsong Barn in Titusville, Florida | Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: Abbey Campbell | Wedding Dress: Eldas Bridal

A blending of culture, tradition and personal touches made every little detail of this winter wonderland themed Tampa wedding an absolute hit in my book. Captured to perfection by K&K Photography and beautifully styled by Ideal Design Events + Bay Bouquet, this stunner simply screams timeless romance. See the entire wedding right here!

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From the Bride… On a warm, sunny, Florida afternoon, I wanted us to step out of the norm and into a romantic and elegant winter wonderland where even with 150 guests, it still felt cozy, warm, intimate and inviting. The entire planning process felt overwhelming, but with the support of family, friends and a wonderful team of vendors, everything fell perfectly into place and the day turned out more magical than we expected!

We wanted the wedding to be something a little different that what would be expected, as my husband liked to go against the norm, starting with my nontraditional aquamarine engagement ring. Also, my family is Polish so I also wanted to incorporate certain traditions like a salt/bread and vodka/water greeting after the ceremony with our mothers and Polish music for the dance floor. An old Polish joke with the vodka/water was that whichever one of us selected the glass of vodka (we did not know which glass was filled with what) would be the boss of the house (I got the vodka!). We had the ceremony and reception in the same location so that guests could start the party as quickly as possible. One of our close friends officiated the ceremony; I chose my best friend and my cousin, who were both like sisters to me, as my matrons of honor; my husband chose his sister as his best ‘person’. As part of the ceremony, we included a candle lighting ceremony and a reading in Polish, followed by the English translation.

The day was full of many emotions – the most anxious part of the entire day being our ‘first look’ moment before the ceremony and one of the most emotional parts being when we read our own vows to each other. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing and the one piece of advice I’d offer to other couples would be to enjoy every single moment because it’s over in a flash. Each moment was perfect (captured beautifully by K&K Photography!), and was made more special by the love and support that surrounded us from our family and friends. To everyone that took part, we say, thank you, thank you, thank you!

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Wedding Photography: K&K Photography | Wedding Venue: Avila Golf & Country Club in Tampa, Florida | Wedding Coordinator: Ideal Design Events | Floral  Design + Décor: Bay Bouquet | Officiant: Joseph Bailey | Wedding Cake: Chantilly Cakes | String Quartet: String Divas | Photobooth: Fotobox | DJ: Grant Hemond | Stationery: Kristina Hanson | Car Service: Ambassador Limousine | Jewelry: Emelina’s Bridal & Boutique +  Tiffany & Co | Bridesmaids’ Attire: David’s Bridal | Groomsmen Attire: JoS A. Banks | Hair + Makeup: Femme Akoi

Can we just be honest and admit that Monday mornings can be a bit of a drag? As the start of a week comes all too soon, it can be easy to write it off as just a dud of a day. But fear not SMPers, because Monday morning just got a whole lot lovelier thanks to this modern Australian affair. Bursting with personality and an ample dose of colorful flair, it’s everything you need to start your week off right. Plus, there’s even more beautiful imagery by Stewart Leishman in the full gallery right here.

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From the bride…Brendon and I first met on the dance floor of a city nightclub just over eight years ago. Six years later during a holiday to America, Brendon popped the question in bed on Christmas Eve. Being a teacher I wanted to get married at the end of a school year so we could enjoy a long honeymoon, so we were married nearly two years later on the 15th of December. We chose the Stokehouse in St Kilda as our venue as we wanted to treat our guests to two of our favourite things, good food and wine. And with an amazing view out onto the bay, we couldn’t go past it.

For a day that was forecast for severe thunderstorms, our wedding day was absolutely perfect. The whole day ran so smoothly all thanks to a wonderful group of vendors recommended to us by our amazingly talented friends in Georgia and Cameron at Hello Blossoms Floristry. Taking their advice and booking all of the vendors was the best decision we made, as they all collaborated so well to pull off such a flawless day for Brendon and I.

Wedding stylist Laura Harvey from Weddings of Desire worked alongside Hello Blossoms to turn our request of a clean and simple palette of whites and greens into a creation that blew us both away. Samone and Janelle from Cake Ink were so patient with us when deciding on our stationary and wedding cake. Samone was effortlessly able to fuse our contrasting ideas together to develop an impeccable series of wedding stationary, all the way down to the hand written place cards. Janelle continued with the white and green palette to create an immaculate three tier wedding cake, which guests were able to take home and enjoy after the wedding, however, most probably did not last the taxi ride home. After our initial consultation with Stewart Leishman, Brendon and I immediately knew he had to photograph our special day. His shots say it all.

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Wedding Photography: Stewart Leishman | Venue: Stokehouse | Wedding Styling: Weddings of Desire | Floral Design: Hello Blossoms | Wedding Cake +  Stationery: Cake Ink | Wedding Dress + Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bernadette Pimenta | Groom’s Suit: Joe Black

This wedding is all about amazing moments.  Stop-you-in-your-tracks, jaw-droppingly gorgeous amazing moments.  Like when the world’s cutest ring bearer ran happily down the aisle with his “Here Comes the Bride” sign… or when the stunning Mr. and Mrs. laughed lovingly while saying their vows.  And then there’s the moment that the Father of the Bride surprises everyone with a fireworks show in honor of his daughter and new son-in-law, which is beyond awesome.  (Beyond.)  Even better?  Binaryflips Photography was on hand to capture every last love-filled memory and you can see them all in the full gallery.  Join me there for sooo much more.

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From the Bride… My husband, Kevin, and I are both from Chicago, so choosing Sarasota for our wedding may have seemed like an odd choice but we both have close connections to the city.  My parents moved from Chicago to escape the cold winters about three years ago and chose their new home in Sarasota at The Oaks Club.  Coincidentally, my husband’s parents have owned a winter home on a very nearby island called Casey Key for five years close to where Kevin’s Dad grew up and joined The Oaks not long after my parents.

The Oaks provided the perfect backdrop for our “destination” wedding.  Besides wanting the guaranteed warm and sunny Florida weather, we loved the plantation feel of the club, from the long driveway under the hanging moss, to the view of the clubhouse over the pond on the 18th hole.  We also were set on having a tented wedding because what’s the purpose of having a wedding in a warm climate if you can’t enjoy it!  We kept with the preppy, Southern theme by having our groomsmen dress in classic navy blazers with cream pants while the bridesmaids wore matching navy J.Crew dresses and gold sandals. Our two ring bearers looked adorable in seersucker jackets with matching shorts and finished their look with specially made bow ties that matched the groom’s tie.
 
Instead of tented place cards we decided to tie mini gold compasses to name tags to guests could “find their seat.”  When ushered into our tent, everyone moved past our wedding cake stand which displayed mini key lime tartlets.  As everyone sat down and my Dad and Mom welcomed the crowd, we all raised a mini-Pilsner glass filled with beer. Following was the most incredible, over-the-top, amazing moment of my life.  My Dad finished his award-winning speech (side note: he hates public speaking) with the words, “May your future be bright with hope, let the brightness begin and the sky light up.” All of a sudden, FIREWORKS shot up over our clear tent to Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”  I was in complete and utter shock… I was crying, laughing and overwhelmed by what was going on.  My parents had planned this amazing fireworks show and managed to keep this a surprise from everyone, including me.  There were even heart shaped fireworks and the show kept going on and on to amazing music.  My husband and I truly felt like the luckiest people alive and when my parents came over, we couldn’t find any words to explain how amazing it was.  That moment will stick with us for the rest of our lives!

The rest of the night went just as Kevin and I wanted.  We were surrounded by the best family and friends, the dance floor was packed all night, we drove a golf cart through the aisle of sparklers and then returned to our after-party where we made sure to eat our late night munchies and dance until we were the last people standing.  

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Wedding Photography: Binaryflips Photography | Wedding Venue: The Oaks Club in Sarasota, Florida | Wedding Design + Coordination: Maria Brady from Choreographed Events | Wedding Cinematography: Studio 26 Weddings | Floral Design: Tiger Lily Flowers | Lighting: Affairs in the Air | Linens: Linens by the Sea | Music: Jay Goodley Entertainment | Tent Rental: US Tent Rental | Invitations: Write On Sarasota | Fireworks Display: Pyrotecnico FX | Hair + Makeup: Ana Molinari

It’s official, lovelies.  St. Patrick’s Day weekend is upon us.  And even though we may be two whole days away from all of the green-hued festivities, we thought we’d kick it off a little early with the sweetest of St. Paddy’s Day weddings captured beautifully by Audrey Snow Photography.  A gorgeous ode to Irish heritage planned to perfection by Day Planners (think an Irish coffee bar, Bells of Ireland and a stunning green and white color palette), these two Longboat Key sweeties tied the knot in grand style with friends, family and a whole lot of March 17th happiness.  See it all here.

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From the Bride… The day was absolutely perfect. I never imagined exactly how it would turn out and I was completely overwhelmed with just how wonderful it truly was. It was a perfect reflection of my husband and I as a couple. Being we both come from an Irish background what better March day to celebrate than March 17th. To top it off my grandparents were married 60 years ago on that very day. We wanted to tie in the holiday but not in an overwhelming way, keeping it clean, simple and elegant was our overall goal. Anna Pohl from Day Planners was amazing in the planning process, as well as the overall execution of the day. Incorporating an Irish coffee bar, Bells of Ireland and James’ gave the gromsmen fabulous vineyard vine clover ties to pull in the holiday.

We found the beautiful house online and immediately knew that was where we would have the reception. We put a lot of time, thought and effort into making the day reflect us. Going to our favorite salvage yard to incorporate the new with the old and giving us a bit of vintage feel, the window seating charts, shutters and vintage boxes were among a few of the items used. I remember pausing for a moment and taking it all in and feeling utter joy and love byt being surrounded by so many friends and family that truly love us. In the end we wanted to celebrate “us” and wanted our friends and family to leave saying “WOW, that was a Blast!”

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Wedding Photography: Audrey Snow Photography | Ceremony Venue: The Longboat Island Chapel in Longboat Key, Florida | Reception Venue: Ragland Lewis Estate in Longboat Key, Florida | Event Planning + Design: Anna Pohl from Day Planners | Cinematography: Ryan LeBar | Floral Design: Jayne Giroux from I Do Floral Designs | Catering + Wedding Cake: Harry’s Continental Kitchens | Wedding Invitations: The Paper Tree | Decor: Sarasota Architectural Salvage | Lighting +Rentals: US Tent Rental | Violinist: Gabrielle Robinson from Jay Goodley Entertainment | Band: Shotgun Justice from Jay Goodley Entertainment | Wedding Dress: San Patrick via The Dressing Room | Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaid dresses: J.Crew | Hair + Makeup: Ana Molinari

This probably goes without saying, but I happen to think that any twosome that serves comfort food at their reception is awesome.  Awesome in that “we’re serving mac ‘n’ cheese” kind of way.  And these adorable lovebirds?  They fit the bill quite nicely with their chicken ‘n’ dumplings, corn casserole and, yes, mac ‘n’ cheese feast.  They also happen to know a thing or two about throwing a beautiful wedding, with one drop-dead gorgeous (+ love-filled) moment after another taking our breath away in the full gallery captured by Becca Borge.  Join me there for all of the pretty.

And a little somethin’ special from Take One Productions for an extra dose of awesome…

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From Becca Borge… This bride and groom (Tiffany and Don) married at the lovely Winterbourne Inn on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. Tiffany wanted a relaxed, intimate, and Southern feel which was accomplished through a cozy atmosphere, eclectic decor, games of ladder ball being played during cocktail hour, and of course – an amazing spread of the best homemade comfort food dishes around (mac ‘n’ cheese, chicken ‘n’ dumplings, corn casserole, etc.)

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Wedding Photography: Becca Borge | Wedding Venue: Winterbourne Inn in Orange Park, Florida | Wedding Cinematography: Take One Productions | Floral Design: Bold Blooms | Wedding Cake: Cupcake Girls | DJ: Disc Jockeys To Go | Wedding Dress: Mori Lee

Adorable duos.  We love ’em.  And adorable duos who DIY their Big Day with the help of devoted family and friends?  We love ’em even more.  Because there’s just something sooo amazing (+ heartwarming) about a handcrafted wedding, especially one that includes yummy cupcakes from grandma, handcrafted jewelry and pops of bright teal.  See every last crazy fun moment captured by Jessica Leigh right here.

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Oh, and we’re not done yet.  Check out this beautiful film from Alex Meissner for even more cuteness.  It’s awesome.

From the Bride… Jacob and I got married outside on the most perfect Sunday October afternoon. We wanted the ceremony to be outside among the pine trees, and the reception to be inside. To keep all of our 270 guests well fed we hired food trucks.

Jacob found an old Southern tradition of burying a bottle of bourbon upside-down a month before the wedding at the site of your wedding to bring good weather the day of the wedding. It worked!!!

I love creating and coming up with new crafty ideas, so my wedding was the perfect showcase for that. I started collecting trinkets from far and wide to spray paint the 2 shades of teal that I had purchased. Our colors were yellow and gray with pops of teal, and the pops came from my bridesmaids shoes and jewelry and the centerpieces at the reception.

Our wedding was such a team effort and we are very fortunate to have the friends and family that we do to help make it what we dreamt it to be. We asked our friends to sing, play guitar and violin for the ceremony and my coworkers and friends did hair and makeup for us. My friend made the necklaces for my bridesmaids, our friend made the cupcakes for our guests, and my grandma made cookies for dessert. Our friend’s band was our main source of entertainment and our friend DJ’d in between the band sets.

We used local food trucks for the cocktail hour (La Empanada) and main meal (Taco Bus) and a food cart (Big Bruno’s Bites) for snacks to grab on the way out of the reception. We were so lucky to have our friends with us every step of the way, including our friend Summer who helped plan and was our day-of coordinator. We couldn’t have done it without her.

We wanted the day to be fun for all with lots entertainment like a photobooth, beautiful setting, live band, a postcard style guestbook, many treats and food to choose from. We wanted everyone to dance, eat good food, take home any and all of the centerpieces. If I could describe my wedding i would say: fun, eclectic, crafty, tasty, and full of love.

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Wedding Photography: Jessica Leigh | Wedding Venue: Pines of Windermere in Windermere, Florida | Wedding Cinematography: Alex Meissner | Floral Design: Colonial Florist | Event Planning + Design: The Bride + Friends | Photobooth: Fotobox | Caterer: La Empanada + Taco Bus + Big Brunos Bites | Wedding Invitations: Brian Manley | Wedding Stationery: Hugo Giraud Jr. | Wedding Dress: Milanoo | Alterations: Hung’s Tailor’s (407.898.9907) | Cape: Karolin Felix Dream | Shoes: Vivienne Westwood + Miss L Fire | Ties + Bowtie: The Belle and the Beau

When you think of a Florida wedding, your mind might go straight to sandy shores and sunsets – but one mustn’t forget just how beautiful a ballroom wedding can be in that gorgeous state. Floridians have the ballroom wedding down, marrying the perfectly elegant with a more casual feel. A bit of sparkle on the shoreline, and you can see just such a wedding unfold in the gorgeous images from Vitalic Studio below. With a Bride in Oscar de la Renta, dreamy florals from Botanica and reception done to the nines thanks to A Flair for Affairs, this gallery is the perfect reminder of why ballroom weddings will always make us swoon. See it all here.

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From Vitalic Studio… Elizabeth and Frank’s elegant wedding started in downtown Orlando at the St. James Cathedral followed by an elegant reception that was dripping with white creamy orchids and whimsical branches.  The venue had a fabulous chandelier that was enhanced by the bride’s addition of market lights.  It was a nice touch that gave the fancy ballroom a more outdoorsy feel.

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Wedding Photography: Vitalic Studio | Ceremony Location: St. James Cathedral in Orlando, Florida | Reception Location: Isleworth in Windemere, Florida | Wedding Cinematography: Stoner Video | Event Planning: A Flair for Affairs | Floral Design: Botanica | Wedding Dress: Oscar de la Renta