It’s almost as if Pabelona Studio was reading our wedding obsessed minds when they created this vintage inspired photo shoot. With a jaw-dropping and authentic vintage wedding dress at the center of the inspiration, they crafted a gorgeous day complete with subtle ombre details, lush florals, and gorgeous layers of lace. We can’t help ourselves, we’ve been in the full gallery all morning long, but really, can you blame us?
Make sure you take a minute or two to watch this photo shoot come to life in this film by Pabelona Studio:
From Celia of Pabelona Studio… My love for all things vintage is endless. Every time I lay eyes on some gem that has endured the passing of time, my heart beats faster and I am flushed with excitement. That is precisely what happened when I first saw the beautiful vintage wedding dress that we used for this shoot; it is simple but breathtaking with its sequined back and sleeves. I was so moved at that moment that I knew I wanted to coordinate a photo shoot, and all the details started to quickly come into focus. Having been obsessed with the ombré look for several months, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to combine the two and give a modern twist to this vintage shoot. Our goal was to keep it classic and romantic. We used soft but lively colors such as lavender, silver and hints of mint throughout all the pieces. We incorporated ombré details with lush flowers arrangements, crisp stationery and dash of DIY with the lace table runner, crochet backdrop and the groom’s socks. One of my favorite aspects of the shoot was the dinner table. I loved the contrast between the lavender lace runner against the farmhouse wooden table, the beautiful flowers in the vintage silver tea set, the ombré menu design. the vintage silverware and china and gorgeous silver chargers. The romanticism that we wanted to portray became all the more convincing with the help of our lovely models. They are a real-life couple, engaged and very much in love. It was the icing on the cake.
This romantic couple proves that it’s never too late to get amazing images of you and your hubby. Nearly three years after their wedding this couple hit the road and met up with Hunter Ryan Photo for a styled e-session and wedding photo re-do and the results are a fabulous. Think Ivy league meets Southwest Florida with a traditional color palette of red, white and blue. See it all right here!
From Hunter Ryan Photo… When Joel and Kristen contacted us about shooting and styling their engagement photos, as well as shooting an inspired wedding — we were so excited! They have actually been married for three years and never had swoon-worthy photos taken of them, so they were ready for an amazing “do-over.” They came all the way down from North Carolina to sunny Fort Myers, Florida, for the shoots, and we wanted to make sure they were blown away by their “new” wedding photos. We enlisted the help of Kehrin Hassan of JetSetWed to style every last detail. From the minute Kehrin saw Joel’s red hair, she envisioned a Tommy Hilfiger-esque shoot. So it all started with Joel’s red hair and developed into an Ivy League meets Southwest Florida styled shoot combo.
We wanted to keep the color palette the same for both the engagement and wedding photos. To keep with the Hilfiger theme, we chose rich red, navy and earth tones with some pops of silver glitz and fun for the bridal shoot. The engagement shoot started at sunrise with a theme of traveling together through the beautiful Florida woods for a lazy day by the Orange River. The setting was gorgeous — oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, paths of tall grass and an old dock to snuggle up along. Vintage suitcases, a collection of vintage books, an old hunting rifle, a few canoes and their dog, Sadie, rounded out their sweet riverside engagement.
Their sunset-inspired bridal shoot was nothing short of magical. We love how they even did a “first look” with one another. It was just really sweet to see how blown away Joel was by his beautiful bride of three years. She’d gotten dolled up all afternoon, and when he first saw her, his smile said a thousand words. What really warmed our hearts the most was just how happy they were with all the doting over them that they really “got into” the shoot and it totally showed in their images. The inspiration for their shoot piggybacked off of their engagement theme. We took the Ivy League theme and gave it a socialite wedding twist. The setup was simple — a backdrop of beautiful mossy oaks. A chic sweetheart table featured cream-colored, vintage highback chairs and an elegant tablescape with vintage goblets and a silver deer’s head adorned with florals and tiny red berries. Their cake was elegant and simple in white with a small pop of color and a little whimsy from an antler. It was such a blessing to work with Joel and Kristen. To give a couple new, beautiful images where they just shine from the inside out makes us smile.
Photography: Hunter Ryan Photo / Engagement Location: Along the Orange River in Horse Creek Estates in Fort Myers, Florida / Reception Location: A Lakeside Field in Horse Creek Estates in Fort Myers, Florida / Event Design, Styling + Planning: Kehrin Hassan of Jet Set Wed / Floral Design: Sue Bain of Signature Florals / Rentals: Sweet Southern Charm / Wedding Dress + Shoes: Vintage / Hair + Makeup: Carol Heitz of Salon International
You know it’s going to be a good day when a lovely wedding like this Gulf Coast soiree pops up on your computer screen. It’s what I call an absolute guarantee. And when that lovely wedding happens to be a blue and white love-fest held at the Seaside Interfaith Chapel followed by an al fresco reception complete with lawn games (my fave), it’s pretty much the best day of the week. Something Pretty Photography captured every gorgeous moment and it’s all just waiting to be adored in the full gallery. Join me there for sooo much more.
From Something Pretty Photography… Raven and Stuart both live in Atlanta but wanted a more intimate, destination wedding. They decided to get married in Seaside, Florida, which couldn’t be a more beautiful charming place to get married. The mix of the beach and the aquatic regal theme of the wedding made for a truly beautiful, unique day. The church over in Seaside is a simple white church that is filled with light and was a gorgeous place for the ceremony. For the reception, there were lots of sofas, cozy chairs and blankets for people to mingle on, and they even brought her grandmother’s couch down that they had reupholstered for the wedding. They had a crest made, which was printed on many of the paper goods, as well as sea creatures with crowns, tridents, and other regalia. Blue and white china that her mother had collected for years was used for table settings and mixed with orchids and greenery around the reception area. There were parlor games out on the lawn, and the food was one the best spreads that I have ever seen, featuring tons of fresh seafood, shrimp and oysters. There was a simple but elegant lemon cake and an awesome groom’s cake that was a button up dress shirt. The day was perfect, and it really was a beautiful, elegant and relaxed wedding that we were truly thrilled to be part of.
My favorite kind of wedding is one deeply rooted in tradition. Where the details are not only stop-in-your-tracks gorgeous, but they also have a story behind them. And this Sanibel Island wedding at Traders Cafe & Store from Set Free Photography did just that. From the “roots & wings” theme and the quilt guest book to bride’s veil which incorporated pieces of fabric from both her aunt and sister’s veils, this beautiful celebration just may pull a bit at your heartstrings. See the rest right here.
From Set Free Photography… Melissa and Andrew are a Tampa-based couple who were married on Sanibel Island in Florida. They chose the theme “Roots & Wings,” symbolized by birds and family trees throughout their decor, letter press invitations, save-the-dates and cake topper. Deep family relationships were highlighted throughout the wedding by family trees and portraits displayed throughout the reception, and guests were asked to write a note to the bride and groom on fabric strips that will be made into a quilt. The church in which Andrew and Melissa were married was long attended by Melissa’s grandmother, who passed away only months before the wedding. It gave her great joy to know that Melissa and Andrew would stand on a familiar altar and pledge their lives to one another. Andrew and Melissa opted to donate to the American Cancer Society in lieu of party favors, and they also kept their wedding as “green” as possible with attention and care to not waste or misuse local resources. The “M” on Melissa’s bouquet was from her grandmother, and Melissa’s veil was fashioned using lace from her aunt’s wedding veil, as well as tulle from her sister’s veil. Melissa’s wedding band belonged to Orlaida Salce, mother of the groom, and Andrew’s wedding band belonged to John Ariss, father of the bride.
This is the kind of wedding that will never go out of style. The kind that will still be relevant and beautiful in 50+ years and without a doubt, grandkids will be begging to wear that perfectly classic lace dress! Laura Yang Photography captured this Victorian-inspired soiree beautifully and the gallery is filled to the brim with even more! See the rest right here.
From Laura Yang Photography… Every little detail about this wedding reflected the character of the bride and groom, from their early 20th century-built venue and the soft color palette to the menu, which featured shrimp and grits (the bride’s favorite) and miniature grilled cheese sandwiches (the groom’s favorite). The bride wanted to created a vintage-Victorian feel at her wedding — and she absolutely succeeded, with elegant, old-fashioned touches such as her grandparents’ silver champagne goblets, eyelet table linens and an understated, all-white white cake. Her hard work planning this wedding with her mother resulted in one of the most lovely weddings I’ve ever seen, and even the details they couldn’t plan were perfect — a gorgeous fall day and a golden sunset that illuminated the bride and groom during their lakeside portraits. It was a beautiful wedding for a couple who deserved nothing less!
I love Florida weddings – and today I am shouting it from the rooftops. Because this drop-dead gorgeous Rosemary Beach affair is exactly the reason why. An elegant soiree boasting the beautiful stylings of Celestine’s Special Occasions and a stop-you-in-your-tracks gown from Jim Hjelm, it’s everything (and I mean everything) I adore about the Sunshine State with a sophisticated simplicity that had me at the word hello. Dede Edwards captured all of the lovely and you’ll be dreaming of sandy beaches and crystal blue waters in no time at all. Click here for so much more.
Oh, and we’re not done yet. We have an amazing film from Josh Kidd Films for even more breathtaking inspiration. Enjoy!
From Dede Edwards… Ginny and I are so excited to share Marcy and Tommy’s Florida wedding with you! There was no large bridal party, just family, which we think is always the sweetest! It was a perfect day for joining two families together on the beautiful gulf coast at Rosemary Beach.
We first fell in love with this darling duo back in September when we featured their beyond gorgeous e-session – and from the moment we spotted their sunny dispositions and sooo in love faces, we knew we would absolutely ADORE their wedding. We were right. Sent to us from the uber-talented Vitalic Photo, this is a day that is chock-full of traditional lovely, including a take-your-breath-away ceremony at Church of the Little Flower and a show-stopping Comber Hall reception. Can’t wait for the anniversary party? We hear you. See so much more of the day right here.
From Vitalic Photo… Elizabeth and Eric’s south Florida wedding was at The Church of the Little Flower with their reception next door at Comber Hall. They both got ready at the Biltmore Hotel, which of course always makes for a beautiful photography backdrop. Even though the Biltmore is very close to the church, I love that they still chose to have a vintage Rolls Royce drop off the bride and her dad. It was great for photos after the ceremony too — there’s nothing more romantic than a “Just Married” couple in the back of a vintage Rolls.
This is one of those weddings that is so full laughter and life that I can’t help but smile. And I definitely can’t help but fall in love with these two lovebirds – their love is contagious. Captured in a way only Diva Productions could, it’s a little sneak peak into their gorgeous wedding – and we are head over heels!
Our romance began two and a half years ago, through a mutual friend introduction in Chicago on St. Patricks Day. Out celebrating the holiday in true Chicago fashion. . . Micah’s famous last words were, “who is your friend?” Cassidy moved to Chicago three months later and we’ve been together ever since.
Micah is originally from Florida and grew up going to Amelia Island as a kid. Upon looking at the Ritz-Carlton there, we fell in love with the location! We loved the idea of all of our friends and family traveling to an island for our wedding weekend.
We are both very traditional and love the classic sort of style in addition to incorporating an “old Hollywood” vibe into the flowers and decor. We had draped crystals hanging over our Chupah, which turned out very beautiful.
Micah planned a surprise get away after the reception, which included a 1964 Rolls Royce that swept us away. We also wanted to include our favorite Jewish traditions, which included the breaking of the glass and the chair dance, amongst others. I absolutely loved my surprise at the end of the night! That was one of my favorite moments in the sneak peak. I also loved our entrance into the reception and having everyone join us on the dance floor to get the party started.
Sometimes, I look through a gallery and I have to do a double take. I’ve got to start all over because the first time around, it was just too rich in prettiness that I know I had only skimmed the surface. As was the case with this beauty from Becca Borge Photography, because the first time around, I could only focus on one thing. This bride’s gorgeous, brilliant eyes that radiate with the glimmer and glow of all of the excitement and joy within her on this wedding day. But there’s a lot more where that came from, like The Ocean Club and those beautiful florals from Flowers by Carol. So get ready to get lost in the beautiful depths of this gallery, lovelies, because it’s a real good one and it’s all right here.
From the Bride… My husband, Omar, and I were married on June 16, 2012, in Key Biscayne, Florida. From the get-go, we knew that we wanted a simple but elegant day that represented each of our personalities. My background in interior design and my husband’s experience in production played a big role in our venue selection and willingness to take on several DIY projects. We literally visited 18 sites across the state before finally discovering The Ocean Club, a gorgeously-manicured location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Immediately after booking The Ocean Club, we knew that our personal touches needed to be equally as memorable as the site. So we spent the next ten months tackling the details that would make the day feel like our own. My mother and I revitalized her original wedding veil so that it would be my “something old.” We designed and printed all of our invitations, menus, table numbers, and programs so that they would all coordinate and contain an element of interest, such as quote from our vows. We created a framed guest book “tree” out of cardstock, which now hangs as an original art piece in our home. Our biggest hit was probably the homemade photo props, signature drinks and glow sticks that were passed out throughout the night. But even while being surround by all of these personal touches, as a bride, I would have to say that my most memorable moment was when my brothers opened the doors to the ceremony site and I locked eyes with Omar for the first time while in my wedding dress. The amount of emotion in that single moment is really overwhelming and indescribable. As a result of all the hard work and sometime exhausted tears, we were able to create a truly magical day that embodied who we are as a couple. It was the most amazing and memorable day of my life so far.
When you decide to have your wedding at one of Florida’s earliest tourist destinations, you’re already way ahead of the game in terms of gorgeous, natural beauty that just can’t be duplicated. This pretty party was sent into us by our fab friends at Vitalic Photo and when we say that we seriously can’t get enough of its soft peach tones and romantic feel, we mean that we’ve been glued to this gallery all morning long.
From Vitalic Photo… Anne and Attila’s wedding took place at one of Florida’s earliest tourist attractions, the McKee Botanical Garden. This unique jungle oasis has so much natural beauty and character that Anne’s subtle peach, navy and gray color scheme tied in perfectly. Also on the property is an old rustic wooden building known as the Hall of Giants, which is where the reception took place. Inside the first thing you notice is the amazing mahogany table, which was long enough to fit almost all of the wedding guests.
The moment I laid my eyes on this uber-stunning Gulf Coast bride, I knew I was going to love this wedding. I knew I’d fall head over heels for every last detail, every last bloom crafted by Events by Nouveau Flowers and every last moment captured so beautifully by Weddings by Christopher & Nancy. Because any bride that rocks a statement necklace like this green Rae Ann Creations number is guaranteed to throw a fantastically fun + crazy gorgeous soiree. It’s a science, really. So, prepare yourselves for some serious seaside perfection and click here for sooo much more.
From the Bride… Coming from the south, I told myself that once it was my time to walk down the aisle, I was not competing with football! Well, with a February engagement, my vision was not holding unless we had a winter wedding. Jarrett and I are not winter people and were really compromising our big day because of it. Our idea of an intimate, fun affair with our nearest and dearest and our love for the beach and warm weather put a beach-side wedding on the radar rather quickly! Finding V Seagrove and a house right across the street named A Shore Thing made it apparent our decisions were meant to be.
Our wedding week went off without a hitch! Our family and friends started arriving throughout the week and each night was a new celebration! The week included low country shrimp boils, beach-side bonfires and after-parties. The house, A Shore Thing, accommodated my wedding party, had beach access for the ceremony and a pool area to host sunset cocktails while we took our first photos as husband and wife. We made it official by signing the marriage license in front of guests and then led them across the street to the reception. V Seagrove’s contemporary design gave us the perfect lighting, water features, patio dancing and delicious food our guests are still talking about, especially the groom’s “cake” — bacon brownies served in small, cast iron skillets! Christina of Nouveau Flowers shared our vision and created the perfect look and feel for the beach ceremony, poolside cocktails and the reception.
So many small details brought thoughts of family and made our wedding uniquely ours — Adirondack “guestbook” chairs, my grandmothers’ pins on my bouquet, a family Bible and my grandfather’s fountain pens. Our wedding and the activities leading up to the celebration were memories we will never forget! We could not have asked for better vendors to take care of us, display our vision and capture our moments for us to view for years to come.
We’re all about this gorgeous beach soiree sent into us by the super talented Shelby Peaden Events. The bride and groom, engaged in Europe, really wanted to infuse their big day with that same chic, European feel. And Rosemary Beach was the perfect balance between Florida and Europe. Think cobblestone streets, mercury glass and a relaxed yet elegant sit down dinner. There’s nothing not to love and there’s a gallery full of pretty, pretty images by Ariel Renae Photography for your viewing pleasure.
From Shelby Peaden Events… Amanda and Philip wanted an intimate beach ceremony followed by elegant and relaxed reception. Since the bride and groom got engaged in Europe and wanted a European feel to their wedding, Rosemary Beach, Florida, with its cobblestone streets and stucco buildings, was the perfect fit for their summer nuptials. Using Amanda’s vision, her mother did most of the planning and organizing, and she did a beautiful job. She wanted white-on-white with touches of slate gray. For the decor, she wanted an elegant space filled with candle light, antique lanterns and mercury glass. For a fun addition to the cocktail hour, they served delicious “adult” slushies. Complete with a beautiful, catered, sit-down dinner and a handful of meaningful toasts, it was a truly lovely evening. We finished the night off when Amanda and Philip wanted to jump in the ocean for a few moonlit photos in their full wedding attire.
An intimate beach wedding never EVER fails to make me swoon, so when this pretty little Islamorada affair came our way, let’s just say I got all kinds of excited. Set against a stunning seaside backdrop and boasting the sweetest of blooms by Floral Fantasy Weddings, it’s everything I love about a sandy wedding day – a light-filled ceremony and a casual meets elegant vibe that is crazy gorgeous. All styled to absolute perfection by Sheila Camp Motley Event Design and Management (the bride!) and captured in amazing images by Anna Eli Photography, this, my friends, is PERFECTION. Click here for more.
From the Bride, Owner of Sheila Camp Motley Event Design and Management… Mat and I had been engaged for almost two years and were waiting for the perfect time when things calmed down with our schedules to plan a small wedding with family and friends. Mat is British, and his parents scheduled a visit for August of this year. It seemed like the perfect time to tie the knot while they were in the US and could be included. I am an event planner, and Mat a chef, so we were pretty comfortable knowing what details we wanted. We live in Wellington, Florida, and wanted to find a location that was casual and laid-back but represented a celebration for us. My dad has always loved fishing in Islamorada and Cheeca Lodge, so we booked rooms there sight unseen! Likewise with our florist and catering — no demos or tastings! We had visited Pierre’s Restaurant and Morada Bay just across the road and knew they had the feeling we wanted for both our rehearsal dinner and wedding evening dinner. We kept the guest list small with just our immediate family, son and best friends.
Mat and I love that we were able to keep all the details close to heart. Mat made the cake. My best friend owns the Badgley Mischka store in Palm Beach, Florida, so we worked together to find the perfect dress and jewelry for my something borrowed. She even did my hair and makeup! Instead of a wedding band, Mat gave me an eternity necklace. Mat’s father wrote and officiated the ceremony, his brother provided cinematography, and we wrote our own vows. It was so special to have our 10-month-old son there and be able to recess down the aisle with him in our arms — our family as one. Having such a small group there really let us enjoy every moment with each and every one of them.
We hope you pretty SMPers had the most fabulous of weeks and have a lovely Saturday planned. But before you head out that door, latte in tow, we simply must introduce you to a place that will send your brain into a tizzy of destination dreaming while you go about your day – Alys Beach. As someone who personally got hitched along a sandy shore, I definitely understand the appeal – and when that sandy shore looks as lovely as Alys Beach? You don’t even need convincing that it is THE place to say I do. Just take a little looksee at the pretty below, and I am sure you’ll agree…
About Alys Beach… Located on the Gulf of Mexico in the heart of the Emerald Coast, Alys Beach is the perfect location for your destination wedding. Stunning architecture, sugar fine translucent sand, and crystal clear waters make an amazing backdrop for celebrating with family and friends. Find out why an Alys Beach wedding will be the beach wedding of your dreams by emailing events@alysbeach.com or calling 866.481.8391 for more information. View a short video of weddings in Alys Beach.
Welcome to the family! We are thrilled to have you! xoxo
We’re closing out another fabulous week with quite the gorgeous bang if I do say so myself. This wedding is one part pink, two parts DIY and all sorts of pretty! Lucky for us all the fabulous details were captured perfectly by Amalie Orrange Photography, like the pick your own shade of coral bridesmaid dresses and some of the prettiest flowers and table numbers we ever laid eyes on. See even more right here.
From the Bride… Andrew and I wanted to have our wedding in a place we had ties to and meant something to us. Andrew grew up in Hobe Sound and attended the church we got married in. We got engaged on the beach there and we have so many special memories over the past five years that have taken place in Hobe Sound. We wanted to share this small beach town with lots of character with all of our guests.
Andrew and I wanted to incorporate things we love and love to do in our wedding to make it uniquely ours. Some ideas and items we incorporated included a sundae party, having a bonfire, having our reception on the water, serving our favorite cocktails, having a dessert table with all of our favorite desserts instead of a big wedding cake, donating to charity in lieu of favors, making our save-the-dates, and giving guests goody bags when they check into the hotel with our favorite snacks and a list of our favorite places to visit and things to do in Hobe Sound.
We wanted to have our wedding theme be rustic elegance with natural materials, lace details, candlelight and gorgeous flowers. The guys wore gray, and the girls wore wear different dresses in shades of coral. We wanted everyone to be comfortable and have fun.
Sometimes a pretty, little wedding comes along and just sweeps you right off your feet and this, my friends, is that wedding. Full of sweet touches like baby’s breath bouquets and all white flowers, it’s fresh, it’s clean and it’s oh so pretty! Stephanie A Smith Photography captured each and every beautiful detail and there’s lots more to see right here!
From Stephanie A Smith Photography… I loved this wedding. I loved this couple. I loved it all! Lets first begin with Kristin and her bridesmaids getting ready in the penthouse of the Hyatt. What a beautiful view of downtown Sarasota, and hanging her dress up from the ceiling lights made it feel like it was floating in the clouds. I loved the color of her bridesmaids dresses. The light gray/lavender went perfectly with the baby’s breath bouquets. I really loved Kristin and Kevin’s first look. Her face is priceless. Kristin is just so full of happiness and smiles, especially when Kevin is around. This was an amazing day filled with beautiful details and moments. I felt so fortunate to have been a part of it.
From Stephanie A Smith Photography… This day was filled with lots of laughs, hugs, warmth and fun. It began at Jenna’s parents home, where all the bridesmaids and Jack (the adorable puppy dog) gathered. From there, the adventures continued at First Presbyterian church in Tampa. The most memorable moment from the church was when Jenna and Trey did their twist on a “first look.” Rather than meeting face to face, they held hands with a door in between them. They wanted to wait to see each other at the altar but thought a hello and hand-holding session would be nice. It was so sweet. The reception was amazing. The florals, the food and the band were all top-notch. The light was gorgeous outside, and I loved capturing the two of them in their element. It was an amazing day with an amazing couple.
Calling all casual chic loving brides! This wedding is totally up your alley and filled to the brim with gorgeous, little touches. Captured by the obviously talented Robert Max Photography, this wedding is all about simple and sweet details. A little lace here, a touch of burlap there and pops of pretty flowers everywhere. See it all right here in the full gallery!
From the Bride… Casey and I met while I was in graduate school and Army ROTC at Florida State University, and he was in Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He came down to FSU for a football game, and by the time he returned to go back to training, I was hooked! We continued talking, and I ended up making the three hour trip to Georgia with a friend for Halloween weekend, when we officially started dating. The year that followed consisted of six-hour round-trip car drives to visit one another on weekends, and stints of not being able to talk due to training (both his and mine). Long-distance relationships are HARD, y’all, and throw in the Army and it seems to be almost impossible! During last summer we had about three months of no communication other than letters, as my hero was off being at rockstar at Ranger School, and I then had to go to my ROTC training in order to commission the following school year. That summer was full of loneliness and letters, yet it was what made us both realize that we never wanted to be apart. Casey, who by then had made the cross country move to Washington state, decided to propose (in dress blues at the airport!) on 11/11/11! Thus began the wedding planning madness…
My groom lived almost 3,000 miles away, my family (and where our wedding was going to be held) was 200 miles away, and I was in my last year of graduate school and ROTC — it was a recipe for disaster! However, thanks to sites like SMP and Pinterest and an obsessive need for organization, I was able to make it all happen without a wedding coordinator or even a groom to help. In fact, my lovely groom wasn’t there or even able to talk to me while I was making decisions thanks to a three-hour time difference and a very busy work schedule! Bless his heart though, on the weekends I cried to him about how I didn’t know how this would all work and how we should just elope, during which he calmly reassured me that I was a rockstar and what a great job I was doing, and how it would be the perfect day I had always dreamed of. And it was, it really was! I knew I wanted a southern, yet chic “theme” for my wedding with lots of DIY touches since our budget was only $10,000. Unfortunately, the Army and grad school got in the way of a lot of my DIY ideas, meaning I turned to the next best thing: Etsy. The week before my wedding, my three bridesmaids all flew in from out of town to help get ready and celebrate my special week (yes, I had a wedding week, full of tanning at the beach, mimosas, brunches, spa time, family dinners, rehearsals and crafting), and we assembled the centerpieces for the outdoor tables, cut the burlap for the table runners, painted wooden letters for photo props and organized/placed photos of Casey and I on twine to be strung up on the inside fireplace mantle.
Our ceremony was perfect — held outside on the patio, with views of the marsh and Amelia River in the background. A pastor and family friend of Casey, who has known him since birth, officiated our ceremony. Following our ceremony, we had a cocktail hour with passed appetizers of crab cakes, bacon wrapped scallops, and chicken satay. Casey and I then were introduced for the first time as a married couple while dancing to Rascal Flatts “Bless the Broken Road.” The reception portion featured our Southern-style buffet. After eating, all the regular wedding activities went down, with the father/daughter and mother/son dances, bouquet and garter tosses, and cake cutting. We actually decided to have cupcakes, as well as a red velvet cake that was made by one of my closest friends from college, Megan McGaughey. Not only did Megan make the most delicious and beautiful cake I had ever seen, she also hand made the topper from wood that she had laser cut and hand-decorated. The end of our wedding came too quickly, as we departed the yacht club to a bubble fanfare and boarded the ferry to go back to the downtown harbor. Our friends and family all said it was the best wedding they had ever been to, and I have to agree! The night was over, but our life together had just begun. I was, and am, truly the luckiest woman in the world to be married to my best friend.
Fact. Engagement sessions are awesome. Beyond awesome. Especially when that engagement session is a seriously stunning Palm Coast shoot with two adorable lovebirds and a sweet picnic in a wooded wonderland… that’s awesome times one million. Add in the fab stylings and images of Hey, I love you Photography and a gallery literally overflowing with one heartwarming moment after another and, well. Say hello to an entire day of PRETTY. See so much more right here.
From Hey, I love you Photography… When Ellen and Andrew contacted me about shooting their engagement photos, I was so excited! Over the last couple of years, I have seen their relationship grow into something beautiful and have become great friends with both of them, so I knew I wanted to create something special for them. They are incredibly beautiful inside and out, and I knew I wanted that to show in the photos. The color palette was kept simple with whites and greens and little hints of color here and there. It was a picnic scene with an elegant side. Ellen is a painter so we set up an easel, and I just let them do their thing and captured each beautiful moment that they created.
This cute couple planned their day around their love of writing and used the ampersand and old typewriters to pay homage to their love of the craft. And can I just say that we are totally loving all the personal touches! It’s easy breezy beautiful beach perfection. K&K Photography, LLC captured all the gorgeous details and there’s so much more to see right here.
From the Bride… Creating the wedding of your dreams can be a challenge when neither of you spent much of your life dreaming of your wedding. My husband and I wanted simple but elegant. We liked vintage but also loved modern. We changed our minds every day. That is until we saw Honeymoon Island. Its rustic beaches reminded us of a Florida from another era, and we loved the idea that we can always return to its beaches. Since we’re both writers, we used an ampersand symbol and a typewriter theme to represent our union on invitations, decorations and even the groom’s cufflinks. The abundance of fresh flowers contained the favorites of our mothers and grandmothers, while the lace around my bouquet was from my mother’s wedding dress. I have always loved hearing my father play Spanish guitar, and so that’s what we welcomed guests with and what we walked down the aisle to. The weather was horribly windy and rainy all day long, but we decided to keep the ceremony on the beach, and somehow a few minutes before we started, the rain stopped. Then like a scene out of a movie, the clouds parted and the sun’s rays came down just as my father and I walked down the aisle. Even though we went indoors for the reception, we choose Bon Appetit for its stunning views of the harbor and decorated it with nautical, botanical and handmade accents to keep nature all around us. We made sailor knots to hold the table cards and gave away individually-planted succulents as favors.
We couldn’t have done it without all the amazing vendors we worked with, especially the florist and photographers. They took our vision, added so much to it and captured our memories even better than we could’ve hoped for. Our friends and family made it ours, but it was really everyone’s help along the way that made it unforgettable.
