Florida Weddings

When an adorable duo like this one ties the knot, you know it’s going to be good.  You just know. Especially when that adorable duo happens to love sweet rustic details, bundles of baby’s breath and fun-filled shindigs on the family farm.  Then you REALLY know.  And when that fun-filled shindig is styled to perfection by Francis Event Designs and snapped up in pretty, pretty images by Cheryl Dawn Photography, Inc.?  Well, that’s what we call a Monday of nothing, but pretty.  Click here for more.

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From Cheryl Dawn Photography, Inc.… Perfectly elegant and memorable! The wedding was family to the core. Family heirlooms were used as decorations, and even the seating was done “family style” on long, beautifully-done white tables. Then wedding took place on the bride’s grandparents’ farm in Wellborn, Florida, where she grew up spending a lot of her childhood with their horses. The weather and sweetness all around couldn’t have been more beautiful! I loved the unique touch of “tying the knot” at the hitching post during the ceremony. The rope they tied, a forever memory. 

Wedding Photography: Cheryl Dawn Photography, Inc. / Wedding Venue: The Bride’s Grandparents’ Farm in Wellborn, Florida / Event Design + Planning: Amy Francis of Francis Event Designs /  Floral Design: CC’s Flowers / Wedding Invitations: Amy Francis of Francis Event Designs / Wedding Dress: Wtoo via Solutions Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: DSW

What do you get when you combine a breathtaking Miami Beach location, beyond beautiful blooms from Petal Productions and a fab vintage meets rustic chic vibe that is all sorts of crazy gorgeous?  Well, lovelies… you get this stop-you-in-your-tracks Fisher Island Club wedding from the geniuses at 13:13 Photography – and, oh my goodness, is it amazing.  Yep –  this is the kind of affair that is literally overflowing with warm your heart moments and one pretty, pretty detail after another… and you can see every ounce of lovely right here.

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From the Bride… We wanted something with Great-Gatsby-meets-rustic-meets-old-Miami style. We chose the Fisher Island Club on Fisher Island as the perfect location and venue for the vision. There is a charming ferry that is the only transportation on and off the island. As far as a design direction, we were aiming for classic simplicity, utilizing lots of lanterns, flowers and natural elements such as the gorgeous banyan tree that we were married in front of. Because this was a destination wedding for most of our guests, we wanted to be thoughtful about them having a good time and creating a party atmosphere, so we shortened the time sitting at the table by eliminating appetizers and added a cocktail hour instead. And who doesn’t appreciate to a sweet, late-night snack? So we included a dessert bar, and towards the end of the night, we had an additional ice cream sundae bar when everybody was dancing and hungry again.

My favorite details of the day were Ellie (our pup!), lanterns (on table and around pool), video cameras for the guests to use to videotape (and photograph) for us, a Polaroid camera for guest book and our best friend from college as our officiant. I wore a bracelet that my great-grandmother, grandmother and mom wore, and we provided flip flops on the dance floor so the girls could dance the night away.

Wedding Photography: 13:13 Photography / Wedding Venue: Fisher Island Club in Miami Beach, Florida / Floral Design: Petal Productions / Wedding Cake: Rosie Cunill of Elegant Temptations / DJ: The DJ Connection / Dog’s Flower Collar, Seating Chart + Flip Flop Basket: DIY / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Makeup: Josie Miller Makeup & Hair

This couple is awesome.  So very, very awesome.  Because, not only did they throw one seriously breathtaking wedding, they turned the greatest day of their lives into an ENTIRE week of fun-filled festivities.  Yep, that’s right.  SEVEN whole days of love and laughter with 40 of their closest friends and family.  How fabulous is that?  And their stunning Alys Beach affair?  Beyond amazing with devastatingly gorgeous images captured by HBB Photography and bright pops of pink every.which.way you turn. Click here for so much more.

Ready for even more heartwarming inspiration?  Check out the breathtaking film from Josh Kidd Films below!

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From the Bride… Our wedding was actually a wedding week. We had a total of 40 guests, including our wedding party. We rented several different houses at Alys Beach. The parents decided to stay off-site, but all of our other guests stayed at Alys Beach because of this we wanted to have events every day and night. On Wednesday night, most people were arriving, so those who had made it in went out to dinner, and we met everyone else at the house after dinner for a little fiesta. Thursday was beach and bonfire day! We rented chairs and paddle boards and spent the day soaking up the sun and enjoying everyone. On Friday, we decided to take it easy because it was the day before the wedding. 

Saturday was the wedding day! The weather was perfect and everything/everyone was calm. The ceremony took place at 5:00 p.m. on the Gulf Green at Alys Beach. It was beautiful with an aisle of white flower pedals and white chairs. We decided not to see each other before the wedding because we are very traditional. We wanted to take some photos before the ceremony, however, so we decided to stand on each side of a large door (where we couldn’t see each other), but we could speak and hold hands. We each wrote each other a funny note and exchanged the notes while separated by the door. It was my favorite part of the entire day because the purpose was to make each other laugh and get each other excited for what was about to happen. My father is one of my best friends, so I was very excited to walk down the aisle with him. I wanted to enjoy every single step with him, let him know how important he is to me and how much this moment meant to me. I walked down the aisle as everyone, including Curt, cried. I was the only one who didn’t cry because I was smiling too big to even think of crying. Immediately following the ceremony, cocktail hour began at the Central Park in Alys Beach while Curt and I took some beach photos. This was an amazing part of the day as well because it was just Curt and me on the beach.

We wanted our reception to feel pretty yet comfortable, intimate and very in tune with nature. Formal enough to feel like an event, yet casual enough to kick off your shoes and dance. “Classy Wedding, Casual Fun Reception” was what we were going for. There were string lights hung over the dining area and around the dance floor. Each table was covered in a light gray cloth and topped with various floral arrangements, as well as tall cylinder candles. There were four cocktail tables covered in a sky blue cloth, a small lantern and rose petals. The dance floor was a natural wooden color and surrounded by cream and brown outdoor furniture. Immediately following the last dance, our friends and family sent us off with a tunnel of sparklers. It was more than I could’ve ever asked for and I wouldn’t change one thing. It was flawless in my eyes.

Wedding Photography: Shawn + Hannah Brown of HBB Photography / Wedding Location: Alys Beach, Florida / Floral Design: Events by Nouveau Flowers / Wedding Coordination: Jayne Bubis Events / Officiant: Devin Warner / Wedding Cinematography: Josh Kidd Films / Catering: Townsend Catering / Wedding Cake: Yascha Becker / DJ: Kyle Lamonica / Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal / Bride’s Ring: Her Grandmother’s / Hair: Adrianne Brackett / Makeup: Jamie Gummere of Paint Me Pretty

Oh, how we love a DIY bride.  Especially when that DIY bride happens to throw a stop-you-in-your-tracks affair like this stunning Sanibel soiree.  Then we LOVE her in an all caps kind of way.  Because this is the kind of affair that leaves you grinning from ear to ear with its laid back meets elegant vibe, seriously sweet details and beyond stunning natural hues.  And the gallery chock-full of heartwarming images captured by Austin Trenholm Photography?  Sooo good.  See them all right here.

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From the Bride… After dating for 10 years, it was time to finally get married. We decided on Sanibel, Florida as our wedding location because that is where I grew up and we both love the beach. I knew I wanted a simple yet elegant wedding. In addition, I knew that I wanted to do as much as I could myself. I followed some wedding traditional things but also chose to disregard some traditions as well — we emailed out our save-the-date, which was a cute little love story of our life together and introduced our 10 years of dating to our guests.

We wanted the venue and reception to be at the same place to make it easier on our guests. That way the party never stopped, which was important to the both of us! We wanted everyone to always be having a good time! Our wedding celebration was a four-day party, starting with my 29th birthday two days before the wedding ceremony. On the day of the rehearsal, we got to hang out with our dearest friends, who traveled to come celebrate with us, followed by a buffet-style rehearsal dinner and slide show of us that was made by my twin sister.

On the wedding day, I got ready with my six closest girlfriends as we all giggled about life and how I was getting married! The ceremony was done by a dear family friend, and our wedding planners were also family friends. I was a very lucky bride to have so many wonderful people helping me. We got really lucky with the weather as it rained about 30 minutes right before the ceremony was to start.  We were about to move it indoors. But fate was on our side the rain stopped right before the ceremony began, leaving us with a beautiful sky that I will never forget! Our reception was buffet-style as well with a huge dessert table of cupcakes, as well as cheesecakes and truffles made myself and twin sister. All the decorations on the tables were also done by me and my family. Everything turned out perfectly.  It truly was the happiest day of our lives. We danced the night away, and the next day, we had a brunch at my parents house to continue the celebration. I was able to share how I made my centerpieces, the desserts and much more on my blog. The whole time we were surrounded by family and our closest friends.

Wedding Photography: Austin of Austin Trenholm Photography / Wedding Location: Sundial Beach & Golf Resort in Sanibel, Florida / Wedding Planning: Happily Ever After Wedding and Party Planners / Floral Design: Libby’s Flower Shop / Decorations: DIY by the Bride, Family & Friends / DJ: Sean Corey Productions / Cupcakes: Chef Brooke’s Natural Cafe / Cheesecakes + Chocolate Truffles: DIY by the Bride + Her Twin Sister / Wedding Dress: Galina

When it comes to choosing the perfect date to throw a stop-you-in-your-tracks soiree, New Year’s Eve never EVER fails to deliver the fun (+ glamour) in every.which.way.  I mean, what’s better than celebrating your newly minted married status with fab fireworks, party hats and hundreds of your closest friends and family?  And this stunning Fort Lauderdale affair?  Well, this is what we call seriously amazing with crazy beautiful blooms by Ocean Flowers, dazzling traditional details and one breathtaking image after another by Sara Kauss Photography.  See them all right here.

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Ready for even more pretty?  Check out this gorgeous film from Reinhardt Productions.  Amazing.

From the Bride… We met just before leaving for Cornell University, and we were introduced by Carlos’ parents, who already knew me. We spent the first two years of school as best friends, along with our two best men, Alex Ross and Jeff Reinstein. As most would say, we FINALLY started dating in May of 2005 and have been together ever since. While dating, we lived in Madrid and New York during our studies, Los Angeles after graduation, and we moved back home to Miami just before our wedding. After six wonderful years together, Carlos proposed at home on my birthday, amidst flickering candlelight, rose petals and a photo album chronicling our life together thus far.

When looking for wedding locations and dates we knew we had some criteria: good food and service, in or near Miami and a great party. The New Year’s Eve idea was first to come and our first reaction was: AMAZING! New Year’s is our favorite holiday, and we loved the idea that everyone around the world would be celebrating with us, plus the added benefit of fireworks on every anniversary to come. However, South Beach on that crazy night just didn’t scream “classy black tie wedding affair.” So we looked north and fell in love with The Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale’s ballroom and its sparkly chandelier. I’ve planned a few weddings on the side, so I had a pretty detailed picture of how it would look. Black and white colors, non-traditional florals and a retro, candy-filled after party were some of the details that brought it all together.

The night turned out amazing. Our ceremony set before a changing sunset to moonlit night was spectacular. Our big band orchestra rocked out Sinatra and Miami Sound Machine all night. The food was great and the service sublime; the Ritz-Carlton really executed flawlessly. It turned out to be an all-out bash, capped off by a spirited New Years countdown, complete with props and fireworks out on the beach for everyone to enjoy.

Wedding Photography: Sara Kauss Photography / Wedding Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale in Fort Lauderdale, Florida / Floral Design: Guerdy of Ocean Flowers / Wedding Day Planning: Divine Design by Guerdy / Officiant: Pastor Al LaCour / Wedding Cinematography: Reinhardt Productions / Catering: The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale / Printing of Programs, Menus, Place Cards + Escort Cards: Psalmody by Francie (A Friend of the Groom’s Family) / Ceremony Cello + Flute: Rebecca Coy + Fausto Miro (UCF Students) / Band: Dave Damiani of No Vacancy Entertainment / Favors: Mini Chocolate Chip Dockside Cakes from Key West / Photobooth: Rob Zuckerberg of Shutterbox / Dance Lessons: Dance Moves by Danny / Wedding Dress: Legends by Romona Keveza / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Bride’s Earrings: Her Mother’s via Maurice’s Jewelers / Bride’s Hair Pin + Bracelet: Twinkle Twinkle / Rings: David K. Jewelers / Hair + Makeup: Jennette Sandifer of Beauty Couture / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew

I think you know by now that we have a serious obsession with all things Captured Photography by Jenny.  And that serious obsession grows deeper and deeper with each magical soiree she sends our way.  So, when we first laid our eyes on this stunning Palm Beach affair, well… we knew without a doubt it would be stop-you-in-your-tracks amazing.  From the breathtaking Four Seasons setting to a bride and groom who are the epitome of stunning to a wow-inducing Vera Wang, this, my friends, is a traditional masterpiece with a serious side of lovely.  See so much more right here.

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From the Bride… Jonathan and I vacationed in Italy to celebrate his graduation from business school. In Venice, during summer solstice, Jonathan proposed on a gondola. After our vacation, we moved from Miami to New York City to embark on a new chapter in our lives where we would build our careers and home together. Palm Beach would be a beautiful destination wedding as we both grew up nearby. We chose the Four Seasons Palm Beach as the hotel has a California contemporary feel. I am an interior designer and wanted the feel of the hotel and ballroom to reflect the decor of the wedding. When I found my romantic Vera Wang gown, everything fell into place. I wanted to create a whimsical and elegant environment with an edgy modern flair.

Our florist strung white orchids over large acrylic columns to create a floating chuppah. The top was covered in ivory, white and champagne roses to add a touch of romanticism. We hung chandeliers from the ceiling of the ballroom to add sparkle. Our event planner handmade pinwheels with our names written on them for the guests to wave in the air after we kissed. My sister wore a Monique Lhuillier clip in her hair at her wedding, so I placed this on my bouquet to continue the family tradition. We had the Heatwave band keep everyone moving all night. Jenny from Captured and Senderey Video preserved all of our memories through photos and video. It was a magical evening!

Wedding Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny / Wedding Venue: Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach in Palm Beach, Florida / Floral Design: Xquisite Events / Event Coordination: Syril Karel / Wedding Cinematography: Senderey Video / Band: Heatwave / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Makeup: Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: twobirds bridesmaid / Groom’s Tuxedo: Armani / Groom’s Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo

If this wedding had a nickname it would be, the prettiest wedding of all time. Too long? Okay how about totally ah-mazing, gorgeous, breathtaking and oh-so-elegant? Okay, I’ll admit, I’m out of control swooning over this wedding but you really can’t blame me at all. The images by Katie Lopez Photography are simply stunning as are each and every detail of this color neutral wedding. I’m obsessed and I’m not ashamed one bit. Join me in the gallery for a full on swoon session, won’t you?

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From the Bride… Neither of us were expecting to meet our future spouse the night we met in September 2008, but clearly God had other plans. Matt and I are convinced our finding each other in a city as big as New York was not an accident. Matt grew up in Miami, Florida, and I went to school in Palm Beach, so when he proposed last summer, we were set on having a Florida wedding. While studying in Palm Beach, I had always dreamed of getting married at the gorgeous Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, and it ended up being our main source of inspiration. We loved the classic and stunning elegance of the ballroom with its almost “Great Gatsby” feel.  It was the perfect backdrop for our neutral color scheme of gold, ivory, beige, and gray. We also wanted to create an organic and natural feel, so we used all-white flowers, cherry blossoms and mercury glass. I asked my bridesmaids to find long dresses in shades of gold, beige, or gray. Their style is so impeccable, so I knew their dresses would all flow together nicely. My good friend, Heather Davis of Paper Please Studio, helped me design the paper products with our color palette in mind.

Creating an intimate, God-honoring ceremony was the most important part of the planning for us. We used the same vows my parents recited to each other over 30 years ago at their wedding and planned a beautiful outdoor ceremony on the inner coastal, but God had other plans. It was a perfect, sunny day but minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to start, a huge storm rolled in and we ended up moving inside the chapel. Such a great reminder of the meaning of our special day and that God was indeed present as we were committing our lives to one another before Him and our loved ones. As you can see, our photographer and friend, Katie Lopez, captured the greatest day of our lives so perfectly. I couldn’t possibly be happier.

Wedding Photography: Katie Lopez Photography / Ceremony: Royal Poinciana Chapel in Palm Beach, Florida / Reception: Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida / Wedding Planning: Ginger Mokher of Celebrations by Design / Floral Design: Emmy of Xquisite Events / Catering: Bill Hansen Catering / Wedding Cake: Filled and Frosted / Wedding Paper Goods: Paper Please Studio / Place Card Calligraphy: Rachel Carl & Co. / DJ + Ceremony Music: Kenny Mondo of Kenny Mondo Productions / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino

A breathtaking Naples wedding, pretty pastel hues and devastatingly gorgeous images captured by Luminaire Foto… if this isn’t the PERFECT way to start a Thursday morning, then I don’t know what is. Add to all of those pretty, pretty ingredients a bride and groom who seriously could.not.be.cuter and one uber-stunning ceremony and, well.  We’re head over heels, totally smitten and seriously obsessed with every.last.detail.  See so much more right here.

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From the Bride… From the start, Dave and I knew that we wanted our wedding to be a celebration of our lives together before all our closest family and friends. We wanted a more intimate celebration, so a destination wedding to Naples, Florida, was a perfect location for us. Being from Michigan but living in Alabama at the time, we flew to Naples to check out La Playa Beach and Golf Resort and immediately knew it was the perfect place for us. Hiring Hilary from RSVParties was truly one of the best decisions we made. She helped us bring our vision to life. We knew we wanted our wedding to be simple and romantic with a touch of modern. It was important to us to be surrounded by the people we love, so we made the decision early on to ask my matron of honor’s twin sister to be our pastor — I have considered both of them family for most of our lives. We felt so blessed to be married by someone who knew and loved us.

Tropical storm Debby had just departed the state of Florida by the time our day had finally arrived, and we were left with the most beautiful weather for our ceremony. We could not have been luckier to have such perfect weather after the storm left. During cocktail hour, our guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres and wine while watching the sun set on the beach before heading into the reception. As our guests raved about the food, enjoyed the photo booth and danced the night away, I knew it was going to be a memorable night for both us and our guests. It was truly the perfect day, one we will never forget.

Wedding Photography: Luminaire Foto / Wedding Venue: La Playa Beach & Golf Resort in Naples, Florida / Event Planning: Hilary Feldman of RSVParties Inc. / Floral Design: Botanicals on the Gulf / Wedding Invitations: DM Paper Designs / Entertainment: Stereophonic DJs / Wedding Dress: Jane Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti / Bridesmaid + Flower Girl Bags: Wedding Chicks / Hair + Makeup: Salon Tease

If you were to look up the word “happy” in the dictionary, I am fairly certain you would find a photo of this darling Lakeland duo, smiling from ear to ear in total love-filled bliss right there on the pages of Webster’s Dictionary.  And, if not?  Well, that lovely photo needs to be added ASAP, because these are the kind of sweethearts that live and breathe some serious HAPPY.  Case in point?  This take-your-breath-away e-shoot captured by Andi Mans Photography, aka, a sunshiny afternoon with the perfect dose of L.O.V.E.  Grin your heart out in the full gallery.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Andi Mans Photography… What a special couple! Ashleydawn and Brandon are perfect for each other! I was thrilled to find out Ashley was engaged and jumped on the opportunity to photograph this special moment in their lives. The session was FILLED with tons of laughter, love and sweetness! I love how they met: Ashley had been sitting next to Brandon’s grandparents in church for three years until they sweetly asked her if she had “The Facebook” so they could have their grandson and Ashley connect online! Brandon was in Ohio and Ashley was in Florida, and to make long story short, they met and the love story began! I just am amazed to hear God’s faithful workings on two beautiful people! 

Photography: Andi Mans Photography / Location: Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland, Florida

This gorgeous beach wedding proves that even if mother nature decides to pull a fast one on you on your wedding day, you can still pull off a to-die-for pretty wedding, and get some super cool umbrella shots of you and your new hubby in the rain, to boot! Woodland Fields Photography captured all the amazing details. Our faves? Those stripe laden ties, beyond beautiful peonies, and all that mercury glass! Find your fav detail right here in the full gallery!

Don’t miss this gorgeous film by Josh Kidd Films!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I’ve always pictured myself getting married on the beach, and lucky for me, my husband was excited about the idea of a beach destination wedding. Rosemary Beach, Florida, was the perfect location to host all our friends and family for our wedding weekend. It’s an amazing coastal town with a beautiful white sand beach. We decided on a beach ceremony followed by a reception at the Rosemary Beach Town Hall. We focused on creating a wedding that was personal, while also being a great weekend getaway for our guests. The weekend kicked off with a welcome party Thursday night, followed by a low country boil rehearsal dinner on Friday, complete with karaoke. For the wedding details, I envisioned a soft, coastal, slightly preppy vibe. We selected long, white benches and a birch altar with white draping for the ceremony. Reception details included mercury glass centerpieces, soft white and pink flowers, cabana stripe linens and a menu with all our favorite foods, including sliders and fish tacos.

The week of the wedding I obsessively checked the weather forecast. By the Tuesday before the wedding, we knew there was a fairly high chance of rain for our wedding day but held out hope for a rain-free day. We ordered a back-up tent just to be on the safe side.  We woke up the morning of the wedding with a forecast of 100% chance of soaking rain at 6 p.m. (ceremony time). My dad and I barely got down the aisle before the rain hit. The day of our wedding had the second highest rainfall amount in Rosemary Beach history. If rain on your wedding day is good luck, we’ve got enough to last a lifetime!

Even though the dream beach wedding didn’t happen as planned, I wouldn’t change a thing. As we stood under the tent with the rain beating down, my step-dad playing “Calico Skies,” I remember looking around at all our friends and family. You could literally feel all the love in that tent. Everyone was there to celebrate with us, rain or shine. In the end, we created a wedding that was very “us,” and our guests are still talking about what a great time they had. So, to all those outdoor brides: just remember your guests are there for you, not the weather. By the end of the day you’ll still be married! We have to thank all our amazing vendors, who worked like crazy to rearrange to accommodate the rain. We should especially thank our photography and cinematography teams. Taking pictures in the rain definitely requires creativity, and they sacrificed their umbrellas all day to make sure we stayed dry. 

Wedding Photography: Woodland Fields Photography / Ceremony: Rosemary Beach, Florida / Reception: Rosemary Beach Town Hall in Rosemary Beach, Florida / Event Planning: Savoir Faire Weddings / Floral + Event Design: Florals by the Sea / Wedding Cinematography: Josh Kidd Films / Catering: Paradise Cuisine Catering / Wedding Invitations: bySWP / Wedding Dress: Robert Bullock / Bride’s Shoes: Tory Burch

If you’re a lover of all things pretty, floral and feminine, you’re about to be jumping up and down out of your seat because we’ve got the prettiest of weddings to share with you which is guaranteed to make your Monday morning oh-so- fabulous! This is just the type of wedding that we love around here. It’s flirty, sophisticated and totally chic. Captured brilliantly by Divine Light Photography, there’s no detail not to love. See it all right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Having both grown up in Florida, it was an easy decision to choose an outdoor ceremony. When we found Innsibrook Golf Resort, we knew we had a perfect match for our dream wedding. Our ceremony took place beneath a large oak tree in front of a lake on a golf course. My husband, being a die hard golfer, suddenly became much more interested in wedding planning. Though I had dreamed of my wedding since I was a girl, I never had a color theme that I could imagine. However, when my sister tried on a blush Amsale dress, I knew I had found the perfect accent to my clean, white, modern design scheme. I was extremely fortunate to have wedding planning pros in family as the youngest of three girls and the third to get married. My sister/maid of honor, who also happens to be a graphic designer, was my saving grace and made the monogram logo used throughout the wedding, invitations, a card box, thank you note fans, table names and place cards. Our florist La Vie en Rose had very similar taste to our own and created elegant arrangements, including a white peony bridal bouquet; pink rose and white hydrangea bridesmaids’ bouquets; a white flower petal scroll aisle design; trees centerpieces with crystals, crystal globes and rose petals; and orchids in water with floating candles, all in white. This wedding could never have been possible without the support and help from all our friends and family.

Wedding Photography: Divine Light Photography / Wedding Venue + Cake: Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida / Floral Design: La Vie en Rose Design / Graphic Design + Wedding Invitations: Modernize Design and Marketing (The Bride’s Sister — modernizedesignhq@gmail.com) / DJ + Lighting: Doug Decker / Chiavari Chairs: First Class Rentals of Tampa Bay / Wedding Dress: Kenneth Pool via Bridals by Lori / Bride’s Shoes: Gianni Bini / Hair + Makeup: Victoria Marino of Salon Island Estates / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale via Bella Bridesmaids

Imagine you’re engaged and you get the gift of complete and total wedding planning by Gerilyn Gianna Event & Floral Design from a close friend. Amazing right?! Well that’s exactly what happened to this lucky bride and her groom. They wasted no time at all searching for the perfect spot and planning the vintage inspired wedding they’d always dreamed of. And the result is one fabulous, old Florida styled wedding perfection and you can see it all right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Gerilyn Gianna Event & Floral Design… When Sarah and Louie first met, they had one thing in common: music. They met college in the music department of Florida Atlantic University. Sarah was a vocal and music performance major and Louie was a music management major. Louie would visit Sarah and her band from time to time at different clubs. As their friendship grew over time, Louie fell deeply in love with Sarah. Her voice inspired him, and her heart captured him. And so the engagement happened. 

One of our great joys is staying in touch with clients from our past. A past client and friend of ours decided to give our planning services as a gift to Sarah and Louie for their wedding. And what a gift it was because little did anyone know the details that were to follow. When we first met with them, boy, were they ever a vibrant couple. They had visions of 1940’s lounges and singers. They also saw what was to be an a old Florida vintage look and venue. Small details were Sarah’s thing. Nothing could be uniform or the same. And it all started with her dress and veil. It almost seemed as though the entire wedding was designed from the dress. When we found the location, she instantly fell in love with its old Florida charm. Wood windows, wood beamed ceilings and that Henry Flagler look. She combined yellow and purple flowers with crystal centerpieces. At night time, the candles were lit in the crystal to provide a warm ambiance to the room. 

As the ceremony started, Sarah’s little pug led the processional down the aisle with a flower and bow tie. With Sarah and Louie surrounded by their closest friends and family, Sarah pulled up in her limo with her bridesmaids right behind her. As she got out of the limo, she stunned the crowd, looking like she was ready to sing in front of hundreds. And with her beautiful voice, she could have. But this day was about all things Sarah. When Sarah emerged and the guests stood on their feet, she was a sight to see with her vintage dress and bouquet made from ranunculus, lisianthus, spray roses and hydrangea. Sarah’s father gave her away to Louie, and the rest of the night was history. 

After the ceremony and cocktails, the guests headed to the main reception room to greet Sarah and Louie as newlywed couple. When they entered the room, their eyes lit up with joy from seeing so many of those who’ve loved and supported them. They were greeted with tall crystal centerpieces lit with candles on each table. Even the guests’ tables had so much little detail, down to the handmade place cards and table location. As the sun set, dinner, dancing and toasts seemed to give way to what was the wedding of their dreams.  As the night ended, everyone went downstairs to give Sarah and Louie a final farewell as they got into their limo and drove off to the start of their new lives together.

Wedding Photography: Dillon Photo / Wedding Venue: Boynton Beach Woman’s Club in Boynton Beach, Florida / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: Gerilyn Gianna Event & Floral Design / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero via Mariolka’s Bridal Boutique

I love this bride and groom.  LOVE them.  Because, not only are they seriously stylish and all kinds of crazy cool, they also happen to have thrown one of my favorite weddings of all time, complete with the fab stylings of Toss Catering, beautiful blooms from Flowers by Vivian Colls and drop-dead gorgeous images captured by Churchill’s Photography.  Oh, and the dashing groom?  Well, he convinced Shake Shack to cater the wedding and that’s just, well… AWESOME.  See so much more right here.

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From the Bride… I never thought my first meal as a married woman would be a cheeseburger! Yet somehow this silly idea became the centerpiece we planned our wedding around. Let’s start at the beginning… my husband’s absolute favorite food is a cheeseburger (go figure for a guy raised vegetarian). If you ask him what he wants his last meal to be, that would be it. On our annual Christmas trip to NYC, we discovered the holy grail of cheeseburgers at Shake Shack NYC.

After getting engaged, I even agreed to have Shake Shack at our wedding, although I must admit in the beginning I thought this was far-fetched — I had already researched the company and discovered they didn’t cater. So the challenge for my then husband began. I told him that if he could get them to cater the wedding we would do whatever it took to make it happen. Approximately eight hours later, he had sent the COO of Shake Shack this video, and only minutes after the email was sent, we got a response! They had never done a wedding before but worked with us to make it happen. Having them agree to cater set the tone for the type of wedding we always wanted — casual and fun but still elegant with great food, good music and our close friends and family.

We made sure to add as many fun elements to the wedding as possible, one of my favorites being the funky socks all the groomsmen wore. It was practically impossible to get them to keep their shoes on. Toss Catering and their partner vendors were amazing in designing and executing the perfect reception. They also provided amazing additional food options for our guests. Our photographers were out of this world perfect — which we knew they would be after discussing our mutual love of Shake Shack during our first Skype meeting. Every moment of our day was perfectly captured by them. In the end, we had the perfect day accompanied by a perfect first meal as husband and wife.

Wedding Photography: Churchill’s Photography / Ceremony: St. Jude Catholic Church in Miami, Florida / Reception: Neo Vertika in Miami, Florida / Floral Design: Flowers by Vivian Colls / Event Design: Toss Catering / Catering: Shake Shack + Toss Catering / Coffee Bar: Aroma Espresso / Bar: Premier Beverage Catering / Wedding Invitations, Menus + Guest Book Poster: Designed by Groom / DJ: DJ Rico / Linens: Contempo Linen / Rentals: Panache / Wedding Dress: Mikaella Bridal / Makeup: Makeup by J.Lynn / Men’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse / Men’s Socks: Urban Outfitters

A fab group of Florida’s finest vendors, an oh-so-fun Pinterest contest and an uber-chic Miami Beach location – a stellar combination that makes for one seriously amazing e-shoot, don’t you agree?  And when the world’s most stunning duo happens to be the lucky (+ creative) winners, Lara Rios Fine Art Photography snaps up every glorious moment and Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning + Runway Bride by Sandra are the style masters behind the whole shebang, well.  It’s an all caps kind of AMAZING.  See SOO much more right here.

From Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning… I teamed up with a group of talented South Florida vendors to create a Pinterest engagement session contest. Brides created Pinterest boards that described their dream engagement shoot, and we chose a winner based on style and creativity. Stephanie and Alex were the winners and opted for old Miami glam, inspired by Stephanie’s father’s vintage Corvette and the new television show “Magic City,” which is filled with glamorous early ’60s style and Miami heat.

The National Hotel was the perfect location for the concept; a Miami icon with lots of retro charm and graphic punch. We imagined the day in three stages: taking the Corvette out for a spin on the way to the hotel, followed by an afternoon in a pool-side cabana and then a glamorous evening out in South Beach. Sandra Ferrin did a beautiful job of putting together three looks that had a soft, vintage vibe without looking costume-y. Stephanie was even able to wear black satin dress of her mother’s — a gift from her father in the ’70s!  Maritza and Claudia styled Stephanie to glamorous perfection, tailoring her hair and makeup to each look.

After speaking with the couple, I learned that Alex is a copywriter and used to help Stephanie with her graduate school papers, so we incorporated a few fun typographic elements to help personalize the shoot. Lara Rios captured every detail of the romantic afternoon, and the results are totally Pin-worthy!  

Photography: Lara Rios Fine Art Photography / Venue: National Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida / Event Styling + Coordination: Miranda Estes of Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning / Fashion Styling: Sandra Ferrin of Runway Bride by Sandra / Black Dress: Vintage from the Bride’s Mother / Other Clothing: Nordstrom / Jewelry: Maria Elena Headpieces / Hair: Claudia Cuevas of Art of Hair by Claudia / Makeup: Maritza Valle of Marz Makeup and Hair

Get ready SMPers, because we’ve got one seriously stunning wedding coming at you this morning! Sent into us by the uber talented Kt Crabb Photography, this wedding is guaranteed to inspire you for days. It’s simple, it’s elegant, and it’s got the prettiest florals we ever did see! Oh, and did we mention their super sweet (pun intended!) favors? LOVE it! See all the rest right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… Joe and I met at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Louisiana State University. I was on the swim team and Joe was on the football team. The Lord opened the door for our paths to cross, and after dating for four years, we knew we were to spend forever together. While visiting Joe in Virginia, where he worked after graduation, he proposed on a surprise romantic dinner cruise on the Potomac River. After graduating from LSU, I moved back to Sarasota, Florida, to work and plan the wedding of my dreams. We knew we wanted to have the ceremony at Sarasota Baptist Church, and after living in Louisiana the past four years, I wanted a venue that reminded me of the many beautiful plantation homes. After searching almost every venue available, my dad suggested we look at The Field Club, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The former winter home of the Fields (of Marshall Fields retail stores) proved to be the setting I was looking for. With its 18th century Spanish villa style, front gatehouse, lush landscaped grounds and setting on Sarasota Bay, the venue was more than I could have dreamed of.

Joe and I wanted a ” first look” in order to pray together and have a quiet moment with just the two of us before the day began. The courtyard of the Field Club was the perfect setting for this! When entering the church, the guests were asked to “sign” the guest book by leaving a fingerprint on our fingerprint tree. I had printed and tied our program booklets together with satin ribbon that matched the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen ties. The church was decorated with soft florals, draped pews, a photo display, candlelit lanterns and a beautifully elegant floral-covered arch.

The Field Club is known for its amazing food, and we knew after one meeting we were in good hands. Along with the club’s specialties, we included Cajun dishes of jambalaya and Cajun chicken pasta to our menu. We had a buffet dinner so that our guests could mingle and socialize throughout the night. The timing was perfectly orchestrated by The Field Club staff, and the food was delicious. After our cake tasting with Thompson Cakes, we couldn’t narrow it down to just one flavor, so each layer of our wedding cake was a different delicious flavor. I surprised Joe with a chocolate LSU groom’s cake and display, which included his helmet, senior game football and various pictures of him in his uniform. We also had a dessert bar and ice cream sundae station. Who doesn’t love cake and ice cream!? Our favors were one of my favorite DIY details of the wedding. We filled small jars with fresh Florida orange blossom honey and decorated them with burlap, twine and a small message tag to guests.

As the reception and dancing came to an end our guests were escorted to The Field Club’s dock located on Sarasota Bay. We were showered with rose petals and well wishes as we made our way to the get-away boat. It was a romantic moonlit boat ride to the Ritz, where we spent our first night as husband and wife before leaving for our dream honeymoon in Bora Bora. Being surrounded by our closest friends and family on our special day was such an incredible blessing! I couldn’t have imagined the day being any sweeter. Kt Crabb, our photographer, was excellent in capturing the beauty of the location, the mood of the day and the wonderful details!

Wedding Photography: Kt Crabb Photography / Second Shooter: Molliner Photography / Ceremony: First Baptist Church of Sarasota in Sarasota, Florida / Reception: The Field Club in Sarasota, Florida / Floral Design: Bee Ridge Florist / Wedding Day Coordination: Stoney Dvornik / Wedding Cinematography: Corey Woosley / Wedding Cake: Thompson Cakes / Wedding Invitations: Write-On Sarasota / Ceremony Décor: Artistry in Elegance / DJ: Kelly Shires / Transportation: Bee Ridge Limo / Wedding Dress: Mikaella Bridal via The White Closet Co. / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jasmine Bridal via Something Blue Bridal Boutique / Men’s Attire: Sacino’s Formalwear

Every image from this stunner by Justin DeMutiis Photography and Olivier Events is take-you-breath-away gorgeous. I mean it, every.single.one is overflowing with perfect light, color and L.O.V.E. The uber-romantic florals by Events in Bloom are almost as swoon-worthy as the bride’s custom, blush Peter Langner gown and YSL heels. And the floating parasols filled with the prettiest petals? I can’t get enough! Meet me in the full gallery for the rest!

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From Ashly Olivier of Olivier Events… Amy and Joel’s intimate wedding ceremony took place at their vacation home in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The bride wore a custom, blush, Peter Langner gown, and the groom wore a dark navy suit. Amy and Joel’s three daughters served as bridesmaids and wore champagne organza dresses. Amy and Joel’s wedding colors were blush pink, pale peach, white and green. The intimate ceremony took place in front of the living room fireplace. The mantle was covered in flowers such as peonies, garden roses, hydrangea, dahlias, tulips, ranunculus and hanging amaranthus. Following the ceremony, the couple’s home was opened up for guests to mingle and enjoy the refreshments provided by Puff N Stuff Catering. The floating umbrella pool arrangements added a unique and gorgeous touch of décor to the quaint patio area. An antique trolley transported guests to the dinner reception, which took place at the Sandpearl Resort. The night ended with an amazing firework display over the Gulf Coast.

Wedding Photography: Justin DeMutiis Photography / Ceremony: The Vacation Home of the Bride & Groom in Clearwater Beach, Florida / Reception: Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida / Wedding Coordination + Décor: Ashly Olivier of Olivier Events / Floral Design: Jana Stall of Events in Bloom / Catering: Puff N Stuff Catering / Wedding Cake: Cakes Plus Tampa / DJ: Eric Harding of Grant Hemond and Associates / Wedding Dress: Peter Langner / Bride’s Shoes: Yves Saint Laurent / Makeup: Lindsay MacConnell of Lindsay Does Makeup

This drop dead gorgeous wedding is just one of the millions of reasons why we love our jobs here at SMP. Where else can you start off your Monday morning with so many layers of pretty? It’s this kind of pretty that gets us up in the morning and keeps us swooning all.day.long. And this Rosemary Beach wedding has us especially giddy today thanks to all the unbelievably beautiful details starting with the bride’s fabulous dress. And it just keeps getting better! Lauren Kinsey Photography snapped up all the goodness and there’s so much more to see right here!

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From the Bride… Our love story began back in March 2010 when we met at two of our good friends’ engagement party. A few weeks later, I went on the best date of my life with the most amazing man. I actually came home the night of our first date and wrote in my journal that I was going to marry him. I just knew it!  A year later Jason asked me to be his wife, and of course I said YES. I couldn’t wait to get started planning our wedding. Jason and I took a trip with my parents down to Florida and fell in love with Rosemary Beach. We knew this is where we wanted to get married. The beautiful beaches, the quaint town with shops and restaurants, an all-white town hall to say our vows and the green to have the reception at. My dream has always been to have a long weekend of celebrations with family and friends, and this was the perfect place to have it. Once we found the venue, everything started falling into place. My mom and I spent many hours on every detail of the wedding. We both have design backgrounds, so this was such a fun experience to have together. 

One of the best days was the day I found my dress. My mom and I were just out running errands for the wedding, and I had no intentions of looking for a dress, but we ended up driving past a bridal store so we decided to stop in and just browse. When I walked in, I saw the most amazing dress displayed inside the store. I had to try it on. Immediately once I put the dress on, I knew this was it. It was in that moment when I first saw myself in the dress that everything became very real. I felt like a beautiful bride, and I couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle to Jason. A couple weeks after I found my dress I was going through old boxes and found a page I had torn out of a magazine back in middle school. It was an Estee Lauder ad with Elizabeth Hurley in a wedding dress that was identical to my dress. I couldn’t believe that 17 years later I picked the same dress! My mom surprised me and had my favorite scripture verse embroidered on a piece of her wedding dress, and we had it sewn into my dress. She also recreated her veil for me to wear.

Everything about the wedding day was perfect. Jason and I added so many little touches that had significance to us. We had our guests sign rocks as our guest book because we wanted something we could display in our house for forever, and we also had cocktail napkins made with song lyrics on them that were meaningful to us. My favorite part of the wedding was when the church doors opened. Amazing Grace was playing, and I started walking toward Jason. 

Wedding Photography: Lauren Kinsey Photography / Wedding Venue: Rosemary Beach Town Hall in Rosemary Beach, Florida / Event Design: Christina Gillon + Kim Nicolalde of Fete Weddings & Events / Floral Design + Lighting: Christina Springfield of Events by Nouveau Flowers / Catering: Kim Pitchford of Dine by Design Catering / Wedding Cake: Confections on the Coast / Band: Second Coming Band / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Hair + Makeup: Renee Armour of Two Fishes Artistry / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew

How’s this for the perfect Friday morning?  A breathtaking all-white affair with hints of lovely lavender, the oh-so-fabulous stylings of Weddings Unique and breathtaking blooms by Botanica International Design Studio filling every last inch of gorgeous space.  Sounds amazing, no?  Well, consider this your lucky day, because the gallery is a literal wonderland of monochromatic elegance all captured in beautiful images by Liga Photography.  Ready for a morning of all caps PRETTY?  Click here for more.

Wedding Photography: Abby Liga of Liga Photography / Wedding Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Orlando in Orlando, Florida / Event Design + Planning: Weddings Unique / Floral Design: Botanica International Design Studio / Officiant: Rabbi Robert Lefkowitz / Decor: Raining Roses / Wedding Day Paper Goods: 5 Thirteen Designs / Harp: Christine MacPhail / DJ: Liquid Entertainment / Lighting: Kaleidoscope Event Lighting / Linens: BBJ Linen / Chiavari Chairs: A Chair Affair / Favors: The Cookie Cousins / Wedding Dress: Reem Acra / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka + TOMS / Hair + Makeup: Lejeune Hair & Makeup Artistry

When I see The Breakers, I think luxury, elegance, and those iconic, beautiful hallways that remind me a lot of the castles I would dream about when I was young. This wedding from Stacey Brandon Photography & Design is exactly that, plus a few doses of charming and adorable thrown in for good measure. And when you’ve got names like Monique Lhuillier, Amsale, and Jimmy Choo dressing this bridal party you know you’re in for a good one. Visit the gallery to see the whole wedding right here.

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From the Bride… I went into the wedding planning process with a  blank slate. I looked at as many blogs and magazines that I could and flagged whatever I liked for inspiration before focusing in, and I found myself being drawn to outdoor, romantic and intimate weddings with a lot of vintage details. Knowing that we were going to have a large wedding (225 people) inside such a historic, glamorous venue, I wanted to capture the essence of being invited to an intimate dinner party and melded details such as wooden boxes, twigs and succulents with wine-colored roses and mercury glass. There were three shapes of dining tables, and each featured a different style of centerpiece that together felt eclectic yet cohesive.

Fishing with my dad on his boat has always been a great way for us to talk and catch up, starting from when I was a little girl. Anytime we were out in the ocean, I would point to The Breakers in the distance and jokingly tease, “That’s where I’m going to get married!” I thought it was the most glamorous place in the world and assumed it was completely out of reach. When my parents asked Greg and me if we wanted to get married there, our jaws dropped. We were thinking of getting married in many different locations around the U.S., but decided that The Breakers was the perfect mix of a “destination wedding” for all of our out-of-town friends and family, while also being 30 minutes from where I grew up. It was an amazing dream to have almost all of our guests stay there and enjoy such a beautiful resort together. Even the local guests got rooms and made it a “staycation!”

I really wanted to incorporate keepsakes to be used during the wedding that I would be able to hold onto forever, so we included a pewter heart wall hanging with our names and date that we used on the ring bearer’s pillow, which we now have hanging in our home. The mercury glass candle pillars that were used for the unity candle now sit on our fireplace mantle. We also had customized engraved forks that said “happy” and “together,” which we used to eat our wedding cake. Seeing all our family and friends together in one room and having so much fun together was truly a magical, once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was everything we dreamed of and more. We had to keep looking back at the photos to believe that it actually happened.

Wedding Photography: Stacey Brandon Photography & Design / Wedding Venue: The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida / Floral + Event Design: The Breakers Design Studio / Wedding Cinematography: Well Spun Weddings / Band: Powerhouse / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Earrings: Tejani / Makeup: Pretty Suite Inc. / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Groomsmen’s Suits: J.Crew

One thing that always, ALWAYS makes me happy?  Drop-dead gorgeous wedding inspiration.  Add in a fabulous Dr. Seuss quote, a talented team of Florida’s finest vendors and a downright gorgeous setting and, well.  That’s a joy that can’t be described in words.  Emily Grace Design styled this dream-like wonderland to absolute perfection with bundles of vibrant hues and beautiful blooms by Taylormade Wedding & Event Flowers that will seriously rock.your.world.  Oh, and the gallery chock-full of images captured by Kt Crabb Photography?  Beyond lovely.  Join me there for more.

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

Prepare yourselves, lovelies.  We’re not done yet.  We have one very stunning film from Shutter Life Productions to share with you.  Enjoy!

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From Kt Crabb Photography… This photo shoot was inspired by the Dr. Seuss quote, “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” It’s way to easy to take the little things for granted. The ability to hold a beloved’s hand, pass along a smile and share in laughter all seem commonplace after married life begins to run it’s course. It’s hard to embrace those delights when disagreements steal the moments from our grasp and leave a silent barrier. But love surely conquers all and reminds us that even though we are faced with many trials, life is certainly better shared.

Our hope for the movie piece was to show a simple disagreement that can come with any relationship. We then contrasted that of the dream the bride has that resemble moments of her wedding day. They day they officially committed to share their lives together, through thick and thin. When she returns to normal life, she is reminded of that commitment by her sweet husband’s actions and forgiveness soon follows.

Emily designed our brilliant areas with a constant theme of vibrant colors easily found through out nature in the early summer months. With a “dream” as our inspiration, Emily ran with the wonderful idea of an overall softness throughout every detail. From the baby’s breath in the bride’s hair to the fluffy white feathers on the bed, she did a marvelous job carrying the theme all the way through!

Photography: Kt Crabb Photography / Photo Shoot Location: Lake Runnymede Conservation Area in St. Cloud, Florida / Design: Emily Grace Design / Floral Design: Taylormade Wedding & Event Flowers / Cinematography: Shutter Life Productions / Music in Film: “Look Out for You” by Amy Stroup (Licensed through The Music Bed) / Makeup: Simply Makeup by Cristina