Florida Weddings

Prepare yourselves, lovelies – your Monday morning is about to take one giant leap up in the pretty department.  And it’s all because of an uber-stunning Miami engagement session and one of the cutest duos you will ever have the privilege to meet.  It’s an ode to laid-back weekend mornings, totally adorable puppies and lazy days in bed with your honey – and it’s all wrapped up in perfect images by Nerissa Sparkman and some beyond glamorous moments that are all kinds of amazing.  Ready for a day of serious lovely?  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Nerissa Sparkman… Tommie Lee and Paul came to me because they wanted something different. Tommie Lee was bound and determined not to have a “normal” sort of engagement shoot and wanted something that reflected her and Paul’s personalities. They are both firefighters and have a very fun and playful relationship. Her first idea was to do almost a couples boudoir shoot because they definitely wanted to include their two French Bulldogs in the pictures. They wanted to be shot laying in bed, almost as if it were a Sunday morning — coffee in one hand, the paper in the other, with the dogs all snuggled up! Of course I loved the idea, and the shoot simply organically grew from that. I often have my clients create Pinterest boards in order to better communicate visually. I like to say, “You can tell me all you want about a picture, but it’s probably better if you show me. It’s like reading a book. You say, ‘pink’ I see hot pink, but you’re envisioning bubble gum.” Tommie and Paul were very drawn to a shoot that was in GQ recently of Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd, so I said, “Why not? Let’s use that as part of your inspiration and just go with it.” So that is how this particular engagement shoot came to be. I have to say, I may never get the feathers out of my studio, but it was totally worth it! 

Photography: Nerissa Sparkman / Bride’s Pink Pajamas: Cynthia Rowley / Bride’s Blue Pajamas: Ralph Lauren / Bride’s Black Dress: Forever 21 / Bride’s Shoes: LAMB / Makeup: Margo of Sephora in Pembroke Pines, Florida / Groom’s Suit: Hickey Freeman / Groom’s Shoes: John Varvatos

After the big day comes lots and lots of anniversaries with your sweetie and what better way to celebrate than with some sweet rooftop feting? Jennifer Blair Photography teamed up with Perfectly Taylor’d and Flowers by Shirley Page for a gorgeous skyline dinner built for two. Technically this is inspiration for a wedding but we thought it perfect for an anniversary shindig, maybe an uber romantic date night or incorporating friends and having an intimate dinner party under the stars. The blush colored sparkle mixed with succulents and just the right amount of twinkle lights; it makes for a party done so, so right. Catch it all right here.

From Jennifer Blair Photography… This session was birthed from my life-long love affair with my hometown, Jacksonville. The beautiful St. Johns River runs right through downtown and frames the blue skyline so well. For this session, I wanted to take advantage of my gorgeous city by creating a chic rooftop affair. I loved the idea of creating a soft, romantic feel in such an urban environment. Once I found the Badgley Mischka gown, I knew we were headed in the right direction. The fabulous, gold, sparkling gown was contrasted with green succulents, whites and soft tones. For the table, we incorporated neutrals, gold accents and simple floral designs to give a romantic feel. Over the table for two we built a canopy of hanging lights and flowing tulle. What could be more romantic than a dinner under string lights on a rooftop? (It is definitely a look that can be recreated by DIY-savvy brides! Plus, I was able to build it by myself.) As the sun began to drop, our couple danced the night away under the city lights. That beautiful dress sparkled even more as the sun began to fade. 

Photography: Jennifer Blair Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville, Florida / Floral Design: Flowers by Shirley Page / Event Design: Perfectly Taylor’d / Event Planning: Jennifer Blair / Cake: Christine Andreae / Invitations: Create Like Crazy Design Studio / Dress: Badgley Mischka / Hair: Kim of Salon 210 / Models: Jordan + Chris Brantley

Backyard weddings have a magical way of touching the soul – and this drop dead gorgeous fête captured by Sarah Ashley Peters Photography?  A heart stopping masterpiece.  Set against an intimate (+ breathtaking) backdrop of sky-high trees and rustic goodness every.which.way you turn, it’s burlap ring pillows meets beyond darling DIY details meets a laid back, yet elegant vibe we can’t get enough of. Oh, and did I mention some of the prettiest paper goods you ever did see by Rifle Paper Co.?  Settle in, lovelies.  You’re in for an entire weekend of pretty.  See it all here.

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Oh, and we’re not done yet.  We have a stunning film from Jesse Beecher to brighten your day even more.  Enjoy!

From the Bride… Landson and I were married about an hour outside of Orlando in Clermont, Florida, on April 29, 2012. Our beautiful outdoor wedding site was owned by family friends and is located behind acres of orange groves, literally in middle of nowhere — in a cow pasture. During our four-month engagement, Landson and my dad were out at “the ranch” (as we nicknamed it) scooping up cow piles, fixing the fence so no more cows could get in (although they almost always managed to), trimming overgrown bushes and trees and raking leaves nearly every weekend. Because of their hard work, our wedding was even more amazing then I could have possibly dreamed. I work in Winter Park, Florida, for Rifle Paper Company, and I had the pleasure of having my lovely boss, Anna Bond, illustrate our wedding invites. Then I had them letter pressed over at Mama Sauce, a print shop near by that Rifle is good friends with. The simplicity and classiness of the invite set the mood of the entire wedding.

I knew long before I was engaged that I wanted a gorgeous outdoor wedding in a place that made you feel like you were in the middle of nowhere. Guests had to take not only a longer drive to Clermont from Orlando, but once they arrived at the ranch, they had a 10-minute scenic drive through orange groves and cow pasture before arriving at the beautiful tucked-away venue that had it all: a little “screen room,” a poured slab of cement for a dance floor and a beautiful canopy of trees, ideal for an intimate ceremony free from the hot, Florida sun. Julie Arnold, owner of the charming Florida citrus shop “Showcase Citrus,” which sits on the edge of the property that hosted my wedding, is a collector of vintage things. One of her vintage items is an old Studebaker truck! She offered to let me borrow the truck for whatever we needed for the wedding, which we used for our engagement photos, and since it happened to be vintage blue and cream with accents of red (the exact colors of my wedding) I knew it was meant to be! We decided that since the property was so big, that my dad would drive the truck in for the ceremony with me sitting in the car, and my bridesmaids and ring bearer would sit in the bed of the truck on bails of hay. It was perfect way to enter and was a wonderful piece to be sitting in the background of my wedding for the rest of the event.

After Landson proposed, my mom assigned my dad to the job of finding us used china in his obsessive garage sale hunting. Sure enough, a few weeks later, my dad found us 80 sets of china to use. My mom also started to collect a massive assortment of red, white and blue fabrics to use for table cloths, couch cushions and, most importantly, the flags that decorated the trees of the venue. She made miles of banners, which we hung everywhere! Our ceremony was my favorite part. Of course, I had dreamed about it for years. I walked down the aisle to what I think’s the perfect song – “Forget me Not” by the Civil Wars, performed live by my best friend and two of Landson’s brothers. I have always had a love for hand-written notes, and since I work for one of the greatest stationery companies ever, there were naturally some cards and writing involved. Landson and I wrote our own vows, but rather than having them on a plain piece of paper, we picked two different cards from Rifle and wrote our vows on them. Now they are in our home for us to see daily. The day couldn’t have been any better. It was so full of laughter and love, and was more than I could have ever imagined. Everyone cried in the ceremony, laughed during the speeches and danced their hearts out at the reception. It was the perfect way to start the rest of my life with my favorite person.

Wedding Photography: Sarah Ashley Peters Photography / Wedding Venue: A Private Property in Clermont, Florida / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: DIY / Wedding Cinematography: Jesse Beecher / Wedding Invitations: Rifle Paper Co. / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Bride’s Belt: J.Crew

Basking in the glow of a seriously lovely Palm Beach engagement session.  That’s exactly how I plan to spend my Thursday morning – and I suggest you do the same.  That is, if you’re the kind of person that loves adorable duos, travel-inspired details and tons of L.O.V.E.  And since I know that just so happens to be every single one of you, you’ll be happy to know the gallery is literally overflowing with gorgeous images captured by Dillon Photo and enough happiness to last an eternity.  Join me there for more.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Dillon Photo… When Aja and Danny told us they were interested in an airport “travel-themed” engagement session, we immediately knew we were going to absolutely love working with them! The couple loves to travel and were so excited to try something a little different for their shoot — they even brought along some fun props like their new passports and a well-worn vintage suitcase that fit right in with the theme of the day. We had so much fun planning this shoot at the Airpark in Lantana, Florida — all of the old planes and hangars provided the perfect backdrop for the pictures. We even stumbled upon a vintage red plane that perfectly matched Aja’s cute polka dot dress! After getting a taste of their fun style and creativity with their e-shoot, we sure can’t wait for their wedding this fall!

Photography: Dillon Photo / Location: Palm Beach County Airpark in Lantana, Florida / Props: Couple’s Own

We’re totally loving this pretty cobalt blue infused beach fete and the beautiful beachfront ceremony and reception that go right along with it. It’s full of personality and charm, with loads of gorgeous flowers, not to mention one ah-mazing looking cake! K&K Photography, LLC captured all the magical moments from the bride to be reading a letter from her groom to the beyond amazing sunset that initiated the start of their lives together. Click here for so much more!

Don’t miss this fabulous little film by Voila Cinematic:

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Eric and I had such an unexpected meeting, but we knew there was something there almost instantly. Our journey to our wedding day is that of great sacrifice and beating all the odds to be with the one you love. Fate pulled us together on the evening of May 1, 2007. We were both vacationing in South Beach when our paths crossed one night.Our initial meeting was challenging to say the least. I wanted nothing to do with Eric, especially after finding out that he was two weeks away from deploying for a year! We talked some more and quickly realized that we had a very significant connection. We didn’t know what would come of this but we knew we were falling for each other. After some last minute trips around the country, we only saw each other for a total of two weeks in the first year we were together, but that never killed our spirit. We devoted a lot of travel and phone time and spent the first 3½ years of our relationship apart until we finally found ourselves in the same city in November of 2010. When Eric was stationed in North Carolina, we discovered our favorite beach town — Outer Banks — and that is where he proposed.

Taking the time to plan our wedding was so much fun. After being at many weddings ourselves, we wanted to find a casual, yet beautiful location that would capture our spirit and let us have fun. We found the Tampa Bay Watch, in Tierra Verde, Florida, right outside of Fort DeSoto National Park, which gave us the opportunity to personalize every detail of our wedding. For our beach ceremony, our amazing wedding planner put together a beautiful setup that provided us shade from the sun but still let us enjoy the beautiful white sand and blue waters of the Gulf Coast. For the aisle, I constructed the starfish flower balls out of silk hydrangeas (which didn’t wilt in the sun) as well as the straw fans so our guests could stay cool on the hot sand. In our centerpieces, we used vintage blue mason jars that reminded us of our favorite antique shops in the Outer Banks. We filled them with my favorite flowers – blue and white hydrangeas, which reminded me of my childhood because my mother always had fresh cut hydrangeas in our kitchen in the summertime. All other aspects of our centerpieces were beach theme to match our favorite beach and where we got engaged in the Outer Banks. The white picket fence and white Adirondack chairs remind us of watching the sunset in the sand dunes. In each Adirondack chair were the table numbers along with buoys, sand dollars, star fish and blue and white sea glass to match back to our wedding colors of royal blue, Carolina blue and white. 

Just as we had sent our last boxes to Florida for the wedding, Eric and I suffered our biggest scare yet: A mere three weeks before the big day,  Eric had an unexpected seizure on a flight to California, which forced us to make an emergency landing so he could be rushed to the hospital in Denver, Colorado.  We cannot say enough about the amazing care and love we received from the flight crew, the nurses, doctor and strangers who helped us on the plane, and the outstanding ER staff at the hospital in Denver. We made it back home safe and sound, only to be side-swiped by an inattentive driver the day we got off the plane! It was an incredibly scary couple of days, to say the least, so by the time we had arrived to Florida the week of the wedding, we were so relieved to be there in good health! As I mentioned earlier, our journey to our wedding day was very stressful at times, and we were so grateful to have each other. We were so happy to have made it to our day healthy and happy, surrounded by the most supportive family & friends that anyone could ever ask for. I believe this appreciation, happiness and gratefulness for each other is truly reflected in the images that Jeff and his team took for us. There was so much raw emotion, and there was not a dry eye during our ceremony. We feel that we are the luckiest two people in the world — once you have found the one, you will do everything in your power to be together and stay together forever. And there is no greater gift than that in this world. :)

Wedding Photography: K&K Photography, LLC / Ceremony: Beach Haven in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida / Reception: Tampa Bay Watch in Tierra Verde, Florida / Event Planning: Lisa Mohyla of Exquisite Events / Wedding Cinematography: Voila Cinematic / Catering: Olympia Catering / DJ: SG Mobile DJ / Wedding Programs, Menus, Place Card Holders, Card Box, Photo Booth Prop Box, “I Do” Sign + Other Details: DIY / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza / Bride’s Hair & Makeup + Bridesmaids’ Hair: Kara Sanchez of Fabulous Faces / Bridesmaids’ Makeup: Christine Wheaton of Femme Akoi Hair & Makeup

An intimate destination wedding on the sandy beaches of a Key West paradise… yep, we’re prettying up your Tuesday morning with one seriously amazing soiree.  One that is not only stop-you-in-your-tracks gorgeous, but is literally overflowing with beyond beautiful blooms by Mama Flowers, uber-stylish details and a bundle of heartwarming moments between a could-not-be-cuter Mr. and Mrs.  All captured in gorgeous images by 13:13 Photography, this is the kind of affair that will tug at your heart strings from the get-go.  See so much more right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We had a beautiful destination in Key West on June 2, 2012, at Casa Marina Resort. My husband (fiance at the time) and I knew that we wanted a very intimate and personal wedding when we started planning our big day. Around 45 of our closest family and friends traveled in from Georgia and Florida, and honestly, it was our dream day. My best friend Wayne was my best man, along with my stepdaughter, Jenna. My mom and dad walked me down the aisle where I met the man of my dreams, Javier. His best man is his cousin Oscar, who had just recently returned home from serving in Afghanistan. Javier and I wrote our own vows.

Before our ceremony, we held our cocktail hour, where we served appetizers such as empanadas with frozen daiquiris and pina coladas! We had someone playing the steel pans during that time. Our reception was amazing — we had an great band called The Coal Men. They traveled to Key West from their homes in Nashville, so we were so happy and honored to have them with us. Our first dance was “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison. Before everyone started dancing, we had dinner, which included whole roasted pig, mahi mahi, chimichurri steak along with gazpacho and plantains. Our wedding cake was to die for — coconut cake with buttercream frosting. Along with the cake, we also had mini key limes pies and flan. The night before our wedding, we took everyone on a private sunset cruise.

I found my dress from BHLDN only three weeks after getting engaged — it was the first and only dress that I tried on! I added a little color with my blue shoes and had a blue sash with crystals custom-made. It was important to me to not be so typical wedding matchy-matchy, so you can see that Jenna wore a striped sundress from Anthropologie and my mom is wearing an orange and white striped dress from Nordstrom. My dad made the table centerpieces out of reclaimed saw mill flooring, and they are branded with a heart with wings design that Javier created. I searched all over for the blue, vintage mason jars. Our decor for the ceremony was very minimalistic — some round glass vases from CB2 with simple flower stems. I wore a six pence that my mom also wore at her wedding, and our cake topper was from my parents’ wedding 39 years ago! Our photographers, Ashley and Philip of 1313 Photography, did an amazing job capturing all of our special moments.We are beyond thrilled with our photos. They are amazing partners — super-friendly and great to work with.

Wedding Photography: Ashley & Philip Colhouer of 13:13 Photography / Wedding Venue: Casa Marina Resort in Key West, Florida / Wedding Coordination: Reina Todd of Casa Marina Resort / Floral Design: Mama Flowers / Wedding Cake: Key West Cakes / Wedding Invitations: Paper Source / Band: The Coal Men / Wedding Dress: BHLDN / Bride’s Sash + Veil: Nicholas Kniel / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Jenna’s Dress: Anthropologie / Bride’s Gloves: BHLDN / Bride’s Garter: Mamie+James / Groom’s + Best Man’s Shirts: Guyabera

Labor Day.  An entire day to kick back, relax and soak in some pretty, pretty inspiration… aka, one of our all-time favorite holidays.  So, when we first laid our eyes on this gorgeous Vero Beach engagement session, well.  We knew it was the perfect way to kick off all of the festivities.  From the stunning soon-to-be married duo to the white sandy beaches to an entire gallery filled with devastatingly gorgeous images captured by Vitalic Photo, it’s one big dose of holiday lovely.  See so much more right here.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Vitalic Photo… Elizabeth and Eric are so adorable!  Their engagement session was the first time I met them, and I was so excited to see how amazing they were in front of the camera. Elizabeth expressed that she absolutely loved some of our sessions in our “secret field location,” so we of course had to use that as a spot, but since they are from Miami, we also chose to utilize the Gloria Estefan hotel here in Vero Beach where they were staying for the weekend. Her BCBG dress looked darling, and Eric’s blue shirt went perfectly with the soft green beach grasses and light-colored sand.  Here’s a bit about their engagement story!

From the Bride… It all started with an ice cube. Eric and I met during an ice breaker (literally) activity in our college public speaking course. We’re college sweethearts who still love cheering on our alma mater FIU (Go Panthers!). About five years after we first met in Professor Watson’s class, Eric popped the question.  Everyone expected Eric to propose on our Summer 2011 trip to Europe (and so did I) – false alarm. But later that year, he surprised me with a picturesque proposal in New York City’s Central Park. We must have walked the entire park before Eric found the perfect secluded spot to propose in (minus one eccentric gentleman photographing birds!).  I was shocked (although looking back now I realize there were so many signs). When he first asked, I said nothing. I just couldn’t believe it was finally happening. Although I had hoped for this day for quite some time, I was still caught completely by surprise – which is exactly what Eric wanted all along. It wasn’t until Eric pulled out my beautiful engagement ring (which he had duct-taped to the inside of this pocket) that I truly realized what was happening. Central Park was the perfect backdrop for Eric’s loving proposal, and I’ll never forget that day. Well wishes, champagne and anticipation filled the rest of our trip – we could not help feel excited that the best was yet to come.

Photography: Vitalic Photo / Location: A Field + Costa d’Este Beach Resort in Vero Beach, Florida / Bride’s Dress: BCBG

Take unabashed outdoor elegance laced with a cool Floridian vibe and let it all play out in front of the lens of Sam Gomez Photo and you get this. This ultra pretty Orlando affair seamlessly blending citrus details with pops of orange florals and a lovely backdrop like the Cypress Grove Estate House. It’s Florida done so, so right. Easy on the eyes, full on the love and all sitting pretty in the gallery. See so much more right here.

From the Bride… Carl and I met while we were both out with friends one night in Gainesville when he mistook me for another girl he knew. The sparks flew instantly, and the rest is history! We dated for two and a half years before he proposed, then another year and a half before we were married. Carl proposed to me on the night before my 23rd birthday around midnight. We were staying at his family’s beach house on a really stormy night. He insisted that we walk down to the beach in the rain and the wind… I really didn’t feel like it, but I went anyway. As soon as we got there he dropped down on one knee in the terrible weather and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. We had almost two years to plan our wedding! We tossed around a few ideas about where to get married since we live in Philadelphia now. In the end, the choice was easy and we decided that we should get married in Florida, where we both grew up and where we fell in love.

Our ceremony was officiated by Rev. Kevin Knox. We had a traditional ring ceremony in addition to a handfasting ceremony. We loved the idea that the ribbons that were used in our ceremony will be ours to keep. My sister performed the handfasting for us, and it was truly special. While we were planning the wedding we went back and forth over whether or not we wanted to see each other before the ceremony. I was into it because I thought I might be nervous, and no one can calm me quite like Carl. He is a lot more traditional than I am and was really into the idea of not seeing me until I walked down the aisle. In the end, we decided to have a moment together right before the ceremony but Carl would wear a blindfold. That ended up being one of my favorite parts of the whole day.

We didn’t have a set “style” per se. We just really wanted the event to be unique to us and for all of our guests to have a great time celebrating with us! We tried to incorporate elements that we thought were true to the venue’s “Old Florida” charm. All of our wedding paper was designed by Kristin Weight of Mountain Paper. She was with us from the very beginning and custom-made all of our invites, save-the-dates, programs and everything in between!  We had so many people come together and offer to help us make it our dream day. All of our florals and the ceremony decor were created by a good friend and colleague Judith Campbell of Campbell Studios. Judith and Kristin somehow figured out exactly what was in my head and created it, all the while making it look easy! I feel truly blessed to have had the team of vendors that we did for our wedding day.

Everything was exactly how we imagined it and just so perfect. As a florist, I knew that if I let myself, I would get caught up in all of the little details. Throughout the planning process, whenever I would get overwhelmed, Carl was right there to help in whatever way he could. He helped remind me that in the end, no matter what the place cards look like or how many seats there were per row, we would be married and that was all that mattered. I truly felt that way on my wedding day and I am so thankful to my vendors (and my handsome groom!) for adding to that feeling.

Wedding Photography: Sam Gomez Photo / Wedding Venue: Cypress Grove Estate House in Orlando, Florida / Floral Design: Judith Campbell of Campbell Studios / Wedding Coordination: Judith Campbell of Campbell Studios + Vanessa Santiago of Cypress Grove Estate House / Catering: Big City Catering / Wedding + Invitations + Paper Goods: Custom by Kristin Weight of Mountain Paper / Reception Music: The RiverTown Band / Hand-Carved Cake Toppers + Corn Hole Games: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Wedding Dress: Anne Barge via Solutions Bridal / Bride’s Jewelry: Family Heirlooms / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Flower Girl’s Dress: J.Crew / Men’s Tuxedos: Jos. A. Bank / Men’s Bow Ties: High Cotton Ties / Men’s Getting Ready Venue: Grand Bohemian Hotel

I’m pretty sure that this is my new favorite wedding, like in the whole.wide.world. I’m seriously obsessed with so many details of this wedding. For starters, can we talk about the bride’s gorgeous dress? Or the amazing ceremony site on the edge of the marsh? It’s like a vintage chic fairy tale only unbelievably real and the beautiful images by J. Layne Photography are all the proof you need. See it all right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From J. Layne Photography… Alan and Elizabeth’s wedding day was focused around their family and close friends. Elizabeth designed the ceremony and reception to be outside on the beautiful marsh at The Outpost at North Hampton in Amelia Island. This location isn’t typically used for weddings, but it was an absolutely perfect hidden gem. We like to describe their wedding as a “vintage, southern, DIY soiree.” She wore a beautiful, lace Lazaro gown that fit so perfectly into the elegant and handmade elements in their wedding. Everything was planned out and made by hand by close friends and family. Elizabeth’s grandmother played such an important role on her wedding day, and she was there for Elizabeth every second of the day. The day felt very much like a fun, relaxed, beautiful, close-knit party with the guests mingling, drinking, dancing and just having fun. By the end of the night, we felt like a part of their family!

There were many extra special moments about their wedding day — the lady the groom is hugging in the wheelchair is the groom’s step-mother, who passed away shortly after their wedding day due to her battle lost with Huntington’s disease. It was such a special moment as he hugged her goodbye, and as photographers, it was an emotional but beautiful moment we were able to catch on camera. The diamond in the bride’s ring is a family heirloom diamond. The groom’s great-grandfather traded three cars to get that diamond to give to the groom’s great-grandmother. DIY projects include the florals, which were from Publix and designed by Carol Garrity; the cupcake stand, cupcakes, and cake, which were all handmade by Stacy Ramponi; the thumbprint tree by the bride’s sister-in-law; and the invitations and program fan. The whole set-up came to life by the help of their family.

Elizabeth says her most memorable moment was walking down the aisle with her grandmother to see her groom. Her advice for new brides: “BREATHE! This is your most important day, and it goes by so fast. Just take it all in and smile. And at some point during your reception, pull your husband aside, and together, look at all of your friends and family having a great time. And know that all your hard work and time was worth it!”

Wedding Photography: J. Layne Photography / Wedding Venue: The Outpost at North Hampton on Amelia Island, Florida / Flowers: Designed by Carol Garrity via Publix / Officiant: Robert Goyette (www.info@livingwatersouthreach.org) / Catering: Bridgett Pettingil / Wedding Cake, Cupcakes + Cake Stand: Stacy Ramponi / Cake Topper: Vintage Green Limited / Wedding Stationery: Heather Young Dolinar of FLYoung Studio / Thumbprint Tree: DIY by the Bride’s Sister-in-Law / Wedding Dress: Lazaro via The White Magnolia Bridal Collection / Bride’s Sash: Jim Hjelm / Bride’s Jewelry + Hair Brooch: From the Her Grandmother / Hair + Makeup: Abby Rich of Images Salon /Bridesmaids’ Dresses: LulaKate (Their Choice in Sand Poly-Shantung) via Bella Bridesmaid / Groom’s Attire: Sean John via Men’s Wearhouse

Modern has found a happy companion in this beach-side fête captured by Sarah Bray Photography and it’s a mash-up of two of our favorites. White and Gold. You can’t go wrong with that combo especially when it’s paired with pretty ocean views and a casual elegance that finds a happy home in wedding gowns and gilded sandals. We adore that combo too. See every last pretty picture right here.

From Sarah Bray Photography… I had the pleasure of working with Elizabeth a few times prior to her wedding.  She definitely embodies what I would consider the modern bride — gorgeous, successful, and confident with an easygoing, positive attitude. When I arrived at the private residence where their wedding ceremony and reception were being held, I found Elizabeth and her bridesmaids, clad in adorable, monogrammed button-down shirts, all a-flutter with excitement and anticipation. Elizabeth wore a simple and beautiful J.Crew dress with gold Tory Burch flats and emerald tear-drop earrings. Sandy hues of linen and white were seen in the bridesmaids dresses, flowers and the groomsmen’s suits and ties. Before the ceremony, Adam and Elizabeth chose to do a first look, which was so sweet! After a few happy tears, they exchanged wedding gifts — a boudoir album for him and a beach cruiser bike for her! We also did all family and bridal party portraits before the ceremony. The shot of the groomsmen pulling the groom away was a special request from the bride — her mother had the same shot taken at her wedding! I would describe the overall vibe of their wedding as modern, elegant and sophisticated. They kept the simple color palette mostly neutral and monochromatic to complement, but not distract from, the natural beauty of the beach. They also had a few tasteful seaside touches — the cake was adorned with fondant sea grass and the guest table was decorated with a seashell card-holder and canvases from the couple’s beach-y engagement shoot.

Even though stormy skies threatened to move their ceremony indoors, Elizabeth’s smile never left her face and was met with a huge grin from her groom as she made her way down the aisle to meet him. The rain held off and resulted in some gorgeous, dramatic skies and colors.  We were thankfully able to capture some amazing sunset shots of the bride and groom before heading back to the villa for a champagne toast with their family and bridal party. One of the best parts of their venue was that they were able to spend the whole weekend there with their bridal party to relax and enjoy the beach before and after the wedding! Adam and Elizabeth were an absolute dream couple to work with, and their breezy, beachy wedding was one of my favorites!

Wedding Photography: Sarah Bray Photography / Wedding Venue: A Private Residence in Vero Beach, Florida / Wedding Coordination: Ki Fronterio of Weddings, Inc. / Floral Design: Vintage Vines Fine Florals (407-770-0855) / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Tory Burch

From the moment I laid my eyes on this gorgeous bride’s stunning Christina Wu masterpiece, I knew I was done for.  The sparkly bodice, dreamy vintage vibe and layers upon layers of flowing chiffon are like a sweet touch of wedding heaven… and when you add in one seriously amazing shindig under the stars, well.  That’s a combo that can’t be beat.  The ever-fabulous K and K Photography snapped up all of the lovely, including those gorgeous blooms by Fort Myers Express Floral and some of the coolest DIY projects you will ever see.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… From the day Brian and I got engaged, we knew we wanted to keep our wedding simple, yet personal and unique. It was most important to us to share this incredible day with our closest family and friends and make the day relaxed and extremely fun for everyone. We started planning the wedding about a year in advance, which was perfect for us because we had so many ideas we wanted to implement. Because Brian and I are very detail-oriented, we knew we needed to get some organization into our planning. So we created a “To Do” list that included everything down to the last-minute details. Our first item on the list was finding a venue and once we had that checked off, everything just fell into place.

The ceremony and reception took place outdoors at the Burroughs Home & Garden, a gorgeous southern-style home about two hours from our house. The idea was to have a shabby chic garden wedding with a slight vintage twist. Given we were on a tight budget, we did all of the decorations, favors, invitations, escort cards, table numbers, and even my jewelry, ourselves, which gave us a great opportunity to let our personalities shine. The last few weeks leading up to the wedding, we cleared out the stock of numerous items at Michaels to complete our projects. My absolute favorite pieces were the favors. To incorporate my heritage, my mom had brought 100 bars of my favorite chocolate from Germany, which we wrapped with postal paper and a lace ribbon the day before the wedding. It was very cute and incredibly delicious.

The one thing we definitely did not want to cut back on was the photography. Getting Jeff from K&K Photography was a no brainer for us. He was super fun to work with, and we are very honored to have had such an amazingly talented person capture our special day. The day ended with everyone dancing the night away under sparkling tree lights, including my parents who, in fact, I had never seen dance before! Our wedding couldn’t have been more beautiful and perfect, and we are extremely grateful for everyone who took part in it. The love and laughter that surrounded us that day will be remembered forever.

Wedding Photography: K and K Photography / Wedding Venue: Burroughs Home & Garden in Fort Myers, Florida / Floral Design: Fort Myers Express Floral / Catering: Centerplate / Wedding DJ: Chill Will DJs / Decor, Favors, Escort Cards, Table Numbers + Bride’s Jewelry: DIY / Wedding Dress: Christina Wu

You may want to take a deep breath because this wedding is about to knock your socks off with its gorgeous detail and creativity! And the images by Julie Paisley Photography? I could literally stare at them all.day.long. It took some serious discipline to not show you each and every image from this insanely gorgeous gallery. My absolute favorite part of this pretty day has to be the dessert spread of homemade cookies and milk. Beyond adorable. See that and so much more right here in the full gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Julie Paisley Photography… Kaitlyn and her mom put their heart and soul into planning this wedding. All the decor and flowers were handmade and crafted with love. Even several family members contributed to making their favorite cookies for the milk and cookie bar. Another cute and different aspect was that  Kaitlyn hates high heels so she had special made Keds for her and her bridesmaids. I never once heard anyone complain about their feet hurting that night! Kaitlyn and Justin are very strong in their faith, and her father, who is a minister, married them. So many heart-touching moments occurred during this wedding — I must admit, I cried a lot! The wedding took place on beautiful Amelia Island, Florida, at Walker’s Landing at The Omni Plantation. Beautiful couple and it was joy to photograph.

Wedding Photography: Julie Paisley Photography / Wedding Venue: Walker’s Landing at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort in Amelia Island, Florida / Wedding Decor: DIY / Cupcakes: Bliss Cupcakery & More / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Keds

We may be the only people on the planet that actually enjoy Mondays and that’s because we get to bring you gorgeous weddings like this one by Justin DeMutiis Photography. Just one look at this bride’s face and you know she’s the happiest.girl.ever. And why shouldn’t she be? She married the love of her life in a super beautiful and super personal way and we seriously can’t find anything that we don’t totally love about this day. See it all right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When I think about weddings, I get SO overly excited about every last detail! I guess that’s why I’m still swooning over my own. Every time I flip through the beautiful pictures Justin took, I find myself going back to that day and daydreaming. Daydreaming about how everything looked, how absolutely amazing my bridesmaids were, how I couldn’t stop laughing the entire day, how “us” it was, how he looked at me, how happy everyone was, and … how certain I was that I wanted to grow old with Brandon, the man of my dreams. Seeing how most of the day was more for me, I surprised him with our first dance. We had agreed on a song, but the night before I contacted the DJ and had him change it to “No One’s Gonna Love You More Than I Do” by Band Of Horses, which is the song he listened to over and over again after he met me. He was so surprised that it brought tears to his eyes.

We wanted to keep it as natural as possible and not over-do the decor because the location was so beautiful on its own, so we just added a few details to accent the surroundings. We couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out! It was such a perfect day, and there was nothing but happiness. Even though there were a few mishaps — he forgot the rings, the wrong song was played for the father-daughter dance, and the random guest choking and coughing while we had our bride and groom session, we didn’t let anything get to us. Our wedding was a perfect reflection of how we are.

Wedding Photography: Justin DeMutiis Photography / Wedding Venue: The Lange Farm in Dade City, Florida / Event Design + Planning: The Bride / Flowers, Pies, Wedding Invitations, Save-the-Dates, Tin Can Aisle Runners, Mrs. and Mrs. Sign, Card Box Decor, Chalkboard + Memory Album: DIY / Catering: Affordable Catering / Photo Booth: Fotobox / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Lace Heels: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Blue Boots: Goodwill / Jewelry: From the Bride’s Grandmother / Hair: Fiona Jacobs (A Friend)

Goodness this wedding is gorgeous. It’s sweet and personal, yet so luxe and chic. But the cute as the cutest of buttons couple trumps everything by miles. The way he looks at her is ridiculously sweet. The way she touches him feel so real and warm. And it was captured in the most perfect way we could imagine a wedding like this to be captured – in a fabulous highlight film from Diva Productions!

Photography courtesy of Rae Leytham Photography.

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From Diva Productions … This was, by far, one of our biggest events on the calendar this year. So, of course, mother nature had other plans for us and all the other vendors involved. Two days before the wedding Coastal Weddings by Victoria and her team went into Plan B and tented the entire event. So much changed at the last minute, but honestly, this still turned out to be one of the most gorgeous events we’ve filmed. A huge part of that was down to Christina Springfield of Events by Nouveau. Her event design totally transcended the circumstances we all found ourselves trying to adapt to.

Alys Beach in itself is an incredible venue. It looks like a little bit of the Mediterranean right here in the Florida panhandle.

Cinematography: Diva Productions / Photography: Rae Leytham Photography / Officiant: The Reverend Paul Medley / Event Coordinator: Coastal Weddings by Victoria / Event Designer and Florals: Nouveau Flowers / Make-up Artist: Two Fishes Artistry / Venue: Alys Beach / Catering: Townsend Catering / Cake: Confections on the Coast / Band: Loose Chain / Invitations: William Arthur / Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Bridal Gown: Rivini

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Um, we heart Jonathan Connolly Photography. In a big, big way. The way he captured this beyond gorgeous Florida Keys soiree is pure art. I mean, hang it up on my walls and admire for years kind of art. He took an already beautiful couple and multiplied the beauty. An already stunning wedding and turned it into fabulous memories we can ALL share. And he filled a gallery with the most beautiful images you’ve seen in a long time. Enjoy!

Click here to see the rest in the full image gallery!

From Jonathan Connolly Photography … This is one of the most beautiful and fun weddings we have ever been a part of! Jane and Greg are amazing people with such fun personalities so it was easy to forget we were there to work. They are from New York but planned a destination wedding in Marathon, FL. We were able to capture their rehearsal dinner the night before which is where we learned so much about them from their sweet family and friends. They were married in a beautiful Catholic church and their reception took place at a private estate on the water. The scenery was a perfect backdrop for this awesome wedding. We couldn’t believe how many hidden pathways there were that led to such amazing views on the property! We were so happy to be there to photograph this special event and wish the best for our amazing bride and groom! Congratulations Jane and Greg!

From the bride … Greg and I met in NYC on October 18th at the Royalton Hotel at a mutual friend’s birthday party.  As it turned out, our friends knew us better than we realized: we’ve been together since the night we met…definitely love at first sight!  After 3 1/2 years together, we decided to tie the knot.  The two most important things to us when envisioning our wedding: to have all of our favorite people with us and to have fun.  And on New Year’s Eve, we got a surprise!  My parents’ best friends offered us their house in the Florida Keys as a destination wedding venue.  There was just one catch: the wedding would have to take place this Summer since they were selling the house!  True to Greg’s and my personalities, we said ABSOLUTELY!  We set the date of June 9th.

With six months to plan a wedding (not to mention get the ring and get engaged – which we did in Puerto Rico on a remote beach!), we planned the wedding of our dreams.  The weekend was absolutely perfect, beginning with a casual and festive Rehearsal Dinner at Catch 53 (a great local spot on the water) hosted by Greg’s parents for all wedding attendees (85 people).  Our 15 closest friends gave wonderful toasts that made us laugh and cry, some at the same time!   On the wedding day, we lucked out…the sky was cloudless and sunny, and the setting at the house could not have been better.  As we hoped, the reception had a wonderfully intimate, tropical garden feel.  We kept things simple and elegant, featuring the beautiful and expansive gardens throughout the property and adding only peonies in different shades of pink and white throughout it.  

The night could not have been better…amazing food, tearful speeches, a beautiful setting and serious, serious dancing (!). At the end of the night, our closest friends and family jumped into the pool, which was definitely my favorite part of the night!  It was the best night of our lives so far…now we’re just looking forward to what comes next!

Photographer: Jonathan Connolly Photography / Coordinator: Peggy Russell, Destination Wedding Studio / Flowers: Floral Fantasy Weddings / Hair & Makeup: Infinity Spa & Glam Squad / Rentals: Key West Party Rentals / Brides Dress: Vera Wang / Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenni Kayne / Grooms Suit: Hugo Boss

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Floral Fantasy Weddings

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I’m in love. I’m so, so incredibly in love with every ounce of this wedding and the only solution I can find is to plaster about a million boards brimming with all the perfect details by Jessica + Michael Masi of JCG Events. Honestly I don’t know if I’ve ever come across such unique bits and bobbles. Parasols strung from the trees amongst twinkling cafe lights; a mix and match of crazy cool chairs; glamorous seating areas and protea-infused florals by Ines Naftali Floral & Event Design and a Bride and Groom that were made to be in the spotlight. Once Ozzy Garcia Photography aimed his camera at this wedding, there was no going back. See ever last moment of pure perfection right here in the full gallery.

And what would a current favorite wedding ever be without a behind the scenes film to wrap things up? Get cozy and enjoy this gem captured by Concept Lounge Creations.

From JCG Events… The part of weddings that I find so gratifying as a wedding planner is seeing the union of not only two people coming together but also of two families becoming one. This was especially true for Marlena and Michael, whose siblings were already married to each other. Can you imagine how fun it would be to be a part of this family for Thanksgiving dinner?

After the beautiful ceremony at St. Patrick’s church, during which Marlena walked down the aisle holding a single King Protea bouquet, guests were invited to join the reception at Villa 221. The front of the house has a private, lush garden, where guests were welcomed by a cèviche station and a mojito bar. Various vignettes of Indonesian, hand-crafted furniture and lanterns were in place to really give guests that inviting feeling. Following the cocktail hour, guests were escorted to the backyard of the property, where we had transformed it into a complete fantasy. We installed a black and white dance floor on the deck to give that retro Rat Pack/Miami feeling and large bulb café lights lined the trees. All of the tables were long wooden tables with a mix of three different chairs. Each table also had a different look designed by the talented Ines Naftali with her collection of vintage vases including mason jars, milk glasses and clear vases with an assortment of fresh garden roses, succulents, yellow crespedia and berries. Hanging from the trees above the tables were an assortment of all vintage umbrellas hand picked by the bride. To have them be accented at night we dropped an LED battery-operated light in each one to give off a glow. To keep with the relaxed celebratory feeling of the wedding, there was no assigned seating — guests were invited to take a seat where they felt most comfortable. Guests enjoyed food from the burger bar station, martini mash station and the interactive, made-to-order pasta station. Each station was prepared by Suzanne Michael’s Catering. The couple really enjoys drinking craft beer, and for this, we ordered a vintage green cooler from an Etsy vendor and filled it with various microbrews.

From the beginning, Marlena and Michael were eager to take on DIY projects for their wedding. As a planner, I love this. It adds to those personal touches and allows the couple to be a part of the planning process in a more intimate way. They created the custom signage for the stations, and created the “guest book,” which was was a board with olive green envelopes that invited guests to write a note to the couple. Marlena also crafted fabric spheres using different patterns of Marimekko fabric. These spheres then were hung with fishing wire on a custom white frame that was lined behind the wedding cake to create a cool backdrop. As a testament to the unique style and distinctiveness of this couple and wedding, even the guests had an unanticipated surprise for the couple. Toward the end of the evening, the guests performed a “flash dance,” surrounding the couple and creating another exceptional and memorable moment on this already amazing night. The wedding was a remarkable affair filled with so much joy and laughter, and Ozzy Garcia captured every moment so perfectly. The wedding was everything they had both dreamed it would be. This was truly a special wedding, and the team at JCG Events was excited to make Marlena and Michael’s vision a reality.

Wedding Photography: Ozzy Garcia Photography / Ceremony: St. Patrick Miami Beach in Miami Beach, Florida / Reception: Villa 221 in Miami, Florida / Wedding Planning, Design + Coordination: Jessica + Michael Masi of JCG Events / Floral Design: Ines Naftali Floral & Event Design / Wedding Cinematography: Concept Lounge Creations / Catering: Suzanne Michael Catering / Wedding Cake: Edda’s Cake Designs / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Band: Spam Allstars / DJ: Event Factor, Inc. / Rentals: Hitched Event Rentals + Brelex Party Rentals / Vintage Umbrellas: Bella Umbrella / Transportation: Meilan Limousines / Makeup: Gina Dearing / Getting Ready Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Miami

I’m pretty sure I’m in love with how casual, yet beautiful this picnic wedding is. It’s so simple but filled with the most perfect little details ever. And how about this bride and groom from Canada? I love how they decided to pop off their cruise ship, get married surrounded by close friends and family (and lavender!) and then hop back on board to cruise off into the sunset. Totally dreamlike and amazing! Don’t miss all the pretty by Amalie Orrange Photography right here in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Amalie Orrange Photography… Kevin and Leslie are a super cute couple from Canada that had quite an amazing wedding. Leslie contacted me about eight months ago to photograph her and Kevin’s wedding. She explained to me that they were coming to Florida via cruise ship, wanted to get married in a park in a picnic-style wedding the day they ported in Cocoa Beach. Leslie has impeccable taste — from letter pressed invites and customized drinks with the family name, to an amazing lace dress and floral wreath in her hair, she was simply stunning!  They had a beautiful ceremony that involved laying lavender around the couple for luck during the wedding ceremony. I had so much fun photographing all of the amazing details — this truly was a beautiful wedding.

Wedding Photography: Amalie Orrange Photography / Location: A Park in Cocoa Beach, Florida / Wedding Planning: Rachel Horan / Catering: Two Chicks and a Pot / Signs: Katie Daisy / Ring Plate: A Flea Market / Linens: IKEA / Wooden Spoons: Dacia Ray / Lavender Bouquets: Paula Jean’s Garden / Wedding Dress: Galina / Bride’s Earrings: Nest Pretty Things / Bride’s Hair Piece: Serenity Crystal / Bride’s Handkerchief: A Family Heirloom / Bride’s Bracelet: From the Bride’s Uncle / Bride’s Ring: Howard / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jacob + Donna Morgan / Groom’s Suit: Tommy Hilfiger / Groom’s Tie: J.Crew / Groom’s Tie Clip: Club Monaco / Groom’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Groom Ring: Jared

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times, but rain on your wedding day? Pretty much the best thing ever. The sense of warmth creates an ambiance of cozy love that is impossible to emulate. It brings the focus of the day on the closeness of the bond you’re building. And, if I may say so, it makes for some pretty darn amazing images. K&K Photography, LLC can attest to that. They were on hand at this pretty, rainy day wedding and the result was a gallery full of magic.

Click here to see the entire pretty wedding in the gallery!

Josh and I have known each other for nearly 20 years, since high school, but only reconnected 3 years ago. Since most of our family and friends still live in our hometown in Ohio, we knew that an Ohio-wedding would be much larger than what we were envisioning. We instead decided to celebrate with our closest family and friends in our current home state of Florida, knowing that our guests would appreciate the chance to soak up the Florida sun! We envisioned a romantic, candlelit evening wedding, where our guests could appreciate the beauty of the Gulf Coast at sunset, without being right on the beach. We fell in love with the Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota from the moment we laid eyes on it. The charm and character of this waterfront estate created such an intimate setting for our wedding. And the fact that the original estate owner was an Ohioan made it feel even more like a perfect fit.

All of the elements we incorporated into the wedding helped add to the ambiance of the evening, even the unexpected rain that day ended up creating a romantic backdrop during the ceremony! For all of the planning that led up to the wedding day, we still never expected just how touched and emotional we would be during the ceremony. Saying our vows in front of our family and friends, who had traveled so far to celebrate with us, was the best experience of our lives. We knew that the day would seem surreal, and we wanted to try and capture as much of the emotion and love of that day in our pictures. K&K Photography far exceeded our expectations, and has given us memories that we can look back on and re-live over the years. The day was filled with fun, love, and laughter, and we are so grateful to everyone that helped create such a special day for us.

Photography: K&K Photography, LLC / Flowers: Dana Dineen Floral Design / Event Planning: Beth Carrick, Flawless Occasions / Ceremony Location: Powel Crosley Estate / Reception Location: Powel Crosley Estate / Catering: Good Food Catering / Rentals: US Tent Rental / Audio Visual: The Production Crew AV Productions / Officiant: John from A Perfect Witness

There’s DIY weddings and then there’s this wedding. This super talented, not to mention, gorgeous bride literally did everything herself, with the help of a few close friends. Yup, that’s right: the invitations, flowers, escort cards, banners, spiced pecan favors, even a painting of the venue so she and her new hubby can remember their special day forever and ever. Whew! I’m tired just listing all the creative work she put into her big day! But I can certainly stare at the pretty images by Ricky Stern Photography all day long. Join me, won’t you?

 Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We had our wedding at the Peacock Garden Cafe in Coconut Grove, Florida. I fell in love with it because it has a beautiful outdoor patio that looks like a tropical garden. I never wanted to have a traditional ballroom wedding, so it was perfect. The owners and staff were wonderful and did everything they could to make my vision come true. The food at the cafe was incredible! The other reason the cafe was perfect was the location. We were across the street from Biscayne Bay (perfect for our first look) and Peacock Park, which was full of gorgeous tropical trees and plants that bloomed just in time. The cafe was also right next door to a hotel, so our guests didn’t need to walk far to get to the wedding. The ceremony was held in a grassy area behind the cafe. Originally we had thought we would get married outside under a tree, but it had been raining for two weeks (typical Miami summer!). The day before the wedding, my mom insisted on putting up a tent with a floor because the ground was so muddy.  Initially I was bummed out about having to use the tent because it wasn’t my original vision, but it actually ended up being amazing and adorable once it was decorated.

I have always been creative, so I wanted to do as much of our wedding myself as I could! The wedding was small, so I was able to personalize everything. My friend and I did all of our flowers, which came out so perfectly. I made all the invitations myself. I hand-painted flowers on cards for all the place settings, and I made the escort cards using formal names for our families and nicknames for our friends. I found fabric in the fabric stores in downtown Miami and made a fabric banner to hang in the tent to conceal a less-than-perfect view on one side. I brought in peacock feathers and hanging lights to decorate the tent. I also made a painting of the Peacock Garden Cafe so that we would always have it to remember the place where we had our wedding. For our favors, I made spiced pecans from a recipe that my mother-in-law gave me a few years ago. My mom and my friend made paper cranes to hang in the tent, which turned out beautifully. On the day of the wedding, my future husband, my family, friends and me all decorated the tent. When I went to get ready, they put the tables for the dinner together and put flowers all over the tent. When we walked in for the ceremony, it took my breath away! I couldn’t believe how gorgeous everything turned out.

My future husband played squash with his friends the day of the wedding. Right after, he met me for our first look pictures by the water, and it was so wonderful. I was so happy to be getting married to him. Afterward, we walked to the ceremony together. It was so nice to have my best friend with me as we entered to get married! The look of love and sweetness on my husband’s face during the ceremony is something I will never forget. The dinner was incredible, and afterward, we had key lime pie and wedding cake. Following dinner, I put on a red dress and we all hit the town in Coconut Grove for a very memorable night. After the wedding, we gave all our flowers to the restaurant since all of our guests were from out of town and could not bring them home. When we returned the next evening to pick up our things, the flowers were all our on the tables and the restaurant looked so pretty. I was so glad that other people got to enjoy them. We put the enclosed the paper cranes with the thank you notes so that everyone could have a piece of the wedding. We put a lot of work into planning the wedding, but it was all worth it! It was so beautiful and perfect, and all of our guests had a wonderful time. I was so touched by how much effort my friends and family put into it as well — it was a really beautiful experience.

Wedding Photography: Ricky Stern Photography / Wedding Venue: Peacock Garden Cafe in Coconut Grove, Florida / Event Design + Planning: The Bride / Flowers: Berkeley Florist Supply + Arranged by the Bride & A Friend / Wedding Invitations, Place Setting Flower Painting, Escort Cards, Fabric Banner + Venue Painting: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Diva Productions sent a film our way that so perfectly captures the feel of Florida. It’s the kind of elegance found in the backdrop of the  Ca’ d’Zan Mansion and the pitch perfect stylings of Keren Lifrak Weddings & Special Events that will leave you wanting to throw a glamorous party of your own. From the images by Vue Photography to the film that makes you want to dance, dance, dance, this is an old world glamour fest and you can see even more snapshots from the day right here!

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Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Diva Productions… There are few places in this world I truly consider magical, but the Ca’ d’Zan Mansion on the grounds of the Ringling Museum is one of them. I grew up in this part of Florida, and can remember visiting the Ringling compound as child. For a little girl with a wild imagination, it was heaven. I can’t tell you how thrilled we were when Keren Lifrak contacted us about filming Ashley and Jaime’s big day. For me, it was a dream come true. Jaime and Ashley are one of the kindest couples we’ve ever worked with. They were so excited about their big day, and the idea of combining their love of life with backdrop of the Ringling for their wedding film? Bliss.

Wedding Cinematography: Diva Productions / Wedding Photography: Vue Photography / Wedding Venue: Ca’ d’Zan Mansion at John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida / Event Design + Planning Keren Lifrak of Keren Lifrak Weddings & Special Events / Floral Design: Flourish Event & Floral Design / Officiant: Danny Bilyeu / Catering: Michael’s On East / Wedding Cake: Pastries by Design / Wedding Invitations + Program Design: Dragonfly Custom Design / Band: Clint Wiley’s None Other / Lighting: Bay Stage Lighting / Linens: Connie Duglin Linens / Photo Booth: Cat Pennenga Photography / Wedding Dress: Lazaro via The Collection / Bride’s Reception Dress: Stephen Yearick via The Collection / Hair: D. Cole Hair Design / Makeup: Andie Sleeman / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Wtoo / Men’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse