Florida Weddings

Gingham and Nantucket Reds and stripes – oh my! This is a prepster’s dream wedding. Did I mention the groomsmen in flip flops and a gorgeous seaside ceremony? Oh I didn’t? Well that happened too, making this beach beauty as seen through the lens of Dede Edwards Photography a must-favorite for sure. So be sure to take a little stroll through the full gallery of images today, because you can bet your wayfarers that it will be THE place to be this Friday!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Dede of Dede Edwards Photography… Louise and JP are from New York City, but chose the quiet, beach-side town of Watercolor to say their vows. Their week was full of fun filled festivities that was followed by a beautiful ceremony on the beach. 

Wedding Photography: Dede Edwards Photography / Ceremony: The Beach at WaterColor Inn & Resort in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida / Reception: The Lawn at WaterColor Inn & Resort in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida / Floral Design: Bella Flora / Event Design + Planning: WaterColor Inn & Resort / Wedding Invitations: The Green Kangaroo / Wedding Cake: Bake My Day / Wedding Dress: Watters via Lovely Bridal Shop / Hair: Rolland’s Beauty Bar / Makeup: Renee Armour of Two Fishes Artistry

There’s just something about a traditional ballroom affair that gets me every.single.time – and this pretty, pretty Tampa soiree most certainly has me head over heels.  The soft pink and blue color palette, the intimate setting, the beyond breathtaking blooms by Dana Dineen Floral Design… swoon, swoon, SWOON.  All captured brilliantly by K&K Photography, I’ll be spending my ENTIRE day soaking in every last glorious detail, including that STUNNING gown and those sparkly blue heels.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… From the moment I met Scott I knew I wanted to marry him, as cheesy as it sounds. We dated a little over a year before he popped the question on one knee in my kitchen on some random Thursday after work. I was completely surprised and overjoyed. Since Scott is still in pharmacy school, we decided to have a long engagement, which suited me quite well because I knew I’d be planning the wedding by myself. While we met and fell in love in Birmingham, we both knew we didn’t want a usual Birmingham wedding. We quickly decided a Tampa wedding would be perfect. My sister lives there with her family, and my parents live there part-time, so it would be a perfect excuse to visit while planning. After researching many different reception locations, we finally picked Avila Golf and Country Club. The old world architecture, intimate setting and helpful staff were a perfect fit.

Since I had about a year-and-a-half to plan, I tried to think of every little detail. After trying on countless dresses, I finally settled with one, which was featured on TLC’s “Say Yes To The Dress.”  I recruited my coworkers to help make paper flowers as the place cards. I made the favors, seating chart, coasters and the drink stirrers. To bring in the Tampa feel, we had a cigar roller during cocktail hour while my favorite drink, a bellini, was passed around. In addition to the band, a doo-wop group sang acapella to oldies as background music during dinner. The two most important things to me about the wedding were the flowers and the cake, which far exceeded my expectations. Scott’s groom cake, a surprise gift from his parents, was a hit. After dancing the night way, the guests threw confetti as Scott and I left to begin the rest of our lives together.

Wedding Photography: K&K Photography / Ceremony: Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Temple Terrace, Florida / Reception: Avila Golf & Country Club in Tampa, Florida / Floral Design: Dana Dineen of Dana Dineen Floral Design / Wedding Cake: Cakes Plus / Linens: Connie Duglin Linen / Chairs + Chargers: Signature Events by Design / Band + Cigar Rolling: Delite Entertainment / Doo-Wop Group: The Boomerz / Wedding Dress: Kenneth Poole via Bridals by Lori / Hair: Ian Hensley / Makeup: Melissa Brown / Groom’s Tuxedo: Jos. A. Bank / Bridesmaid Gowns: Priscilla of Boston / Bride’s Shoes: Nine West

There are elegant weddings and then there are elegant weddings – weddings worthy of a royal, soirees that set the bar. Well brace yourself for some serious beauty lovelies, because this is one. elegant. wedding. Brought to us in image form by Jessica Lorren Organic Photography, it’s easy to get lost in all the perfectly edited details and the style-savvy fashion of this fête – and we highly recommend doing so in the full gallery of gorgeous!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Kyle and I wanted something small and intimate that truly reflected our personalities. Creative elements but still simple and elegant.The Plymouth Congregational Church set the tone for the wedding and since I knew I wanted to incorporate elements from the book The Secret Garden, it was a match made in heaven as far as the vision for the wedding went. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to incorporate the subdued pastel colors of Parisian macarons for the brooch bouquets and for the bridesmaids’ dresses. I definitely wanted my bridesmaids to feel special and wear something that represented their own personal style. I gave each of them an inspiration booklet asking them to choose their own dress that they would wear to a party in the garden. Collecting the vintage brooches for the bouquets and the making the mossy murals was a labor of love.

Wedding Photography: Jessica Lorren Organic Photography / Wedding Venue: The Plymouth Congregational Church in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida / Floral Design: Susan Jones (A Family Friend) / Catering: Bill Hansen Catering / Wedding Cake: Filled & Frosted / DJ: Liquid DJs / Wedding Invitations + Guest Book: Paperoni Press / Strings: Encore Chamber Players / Transportation: Meilan Limousines & Antiques / Brooch Bouquets + Moss-Covered Signs: DIY by the Bride / Key Escort Cards + Calligraphy: Rachel Carl Co. / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang “Diana” / Bride’s Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender / Hair + Makeup: Gina Simone

Weddings at the beach are total swoon fests no matter what. But when a fab NYC planner (L’Atelier Rouge) gets married and brings a little Manhattan to the Florida Keys? There are no words. Seriously, no words. Just gorgeous photos from Cengiz Ozelsel of Adagion – which are each worth AT LEAST 1,000 words, thank goodness. Because this blogger is speechless. Make sure to join me in the gallery where we can admire our bootys off without saying a word!

Carlos and I had been together for over six years when he proposed on his favorite holiday – the Fourth of July! From the time of our engagement, we knew that we had to get married in the Florida Keys. We wanted not only to have a fun destination wedding that our friends would enjoy attending, but also to select a location that was meaningful for us both. Carlos’ family has a house at the Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada, Florida and he grew up traveling there every year. His parents were married there, we had spent vacations there, and we couldn’t imagine a better place to escape to in the middle of March!

Being a wedding planner myself, the pressure was on to create a wedding that really reflected who we are. While I love the beach, I knew I didn’t want my wedding to have an overtly tropical feeling. I wanted to take everything that I loved about the New York City weddings that I planned and translate this to Florida. I wanted it to feel like a city wedding that just happened to take place on the beach. We started with an aesthetic of Lucite, mirrors, crystal, candlelight, and all white flowers. I knew that I wanted to stick to a chic look that was slightly modern with a hint of classical elements.

For the ceremony, we went with angled arrangements of white roses accented with geometrical steel grass for a bit of a modern feeling designed in vases wrapped in silver mirrored finish at the top. These were placed as collections on a stage on top of Lucite pedestals.

The cocktail reception took place out on the beach with silvery linens and candlelight. My favorite piece was the mirrored escort card display that I had custom printed on mirrored lucite and displayed in a white baroque style frame purchased on Etsy. The names and table numbers were printed in an acqua shade that served as our pop of color against the white décor.

The dinner reception took place under a tent that we had draped with sheer white fabric and hung crystsal candelabras in to glam up the night. We alternated floral arrangements with candle centerpieces. We had half of the tables with modern floral arrangements of floating white roses and sculpted white calla lilies. The custom lucite boxes were placed on the other tables filled with white pillar candles accented with touches of crystal and ivory lace. We placed mirrors under each of the tables and then accented the flowers with crystal gems and white damask velvet printed votive candles for a nice glow.

I didn’t want it to feel like a cookie cutter wedding where everything looks the same. We alternated white crinkled taffeta linens with white silk dupioni linens to add a contrast of texture, and then place silver ballroom chairs with white cushions at the candle box tables and rented clear ghost chairs for the floral tables to add another touch of lucite. For the menus, I thought it would be different to have this printed in the acqua shade on lucite which not only looked beautiful against the white linens, but served as a keepsake.

As the sun set over the water, we continued dancing with guests throughout the evening, had a wonderful island inspired meal and treated guests to late-night ice cream from a local keys vendor. While it may have been stressful to plan on my own, I wouldn’t change anything about that day! The best advice I can give to brides is to take a deep breath and enjoy every second of the planning- even the crazy times, because it will go by so fast.

Planner: Holly Navarre (Bride), L’Atelier Rouge / Florals: L’Atelier Rouge / Linens: Nuage Design / Ghost Chairs: Nuage Design / Chairs & Tables: Panache / Tenting & Dance floor: Milemarker Party Rentals / Venue: Morada Bay, Islamorada Florida / Guest Hotel, Rehearsal Dinner, & Saturday Lunch: Cheeca Lodge  / Hair & Makeup: Stephany David, Damali NYC / Photography: Cengiz Ozelsel, Adagion / Ice Cream: Mr. C’s Gourmet Ice Cream / DJ: DJ Mike Kruz, Scratch Events / Mirrored Escort Card Display, Menus, & Placecards: A Milestone Paper Company / Bride’s Dress: Nicole Miller from Lovely Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Prada / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Priscilla of Boston / Groom’s Attire: Kleinfeld’s Mens / Groomsmen Attire: Jos A Banks / Men’s Ties: Thomas Pink / Rings: Zwicker and Zacher

There is a lot to love about this spirited engagement session by Thompson Photography Group. But you know what I love most? I love the fact you can just tell this couple laughed the entire time. Full body laughter, the type of giggling that makes for an engagement session that looks like LOADS of fun. The result is a completely fabulous full gallery, and completely gush-worthy feature.Thank you Thompson Photography, thank you so very much! See it all here!

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Cassidy of Thompson Photography Group… Ryan and Rochelle are a fun loving, vibrant couple. They put a lot of thought and creativity into this session. They both love photography and also wanted a little vintage flair. What you see in this session is 100% them! They are crazy, silly, goofy and, most importantly, head over heels in love with each other!

Photography: Thompson Photography Group / Location: Jupiter, Florida

Thank you, thank you Limelight Photography for sending over this beauty – you sure know how to make the day feel a bit more fancy!  This Florida fête, which happens to be seaside chic perfection, has that gush-worthy blend of casual yet elegant feel we love so much about beach weddings. It’s why they never, ever get old – and why we’ll be spending our days seaside dreaming in the full gallery of images!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Cody of Limelight Photography… The story of Theresa and Emory has several voices, but all versions end in the same big city, at the same random bar, where fate bet its hand on two special people. These two hit it off with a group of friends on a rainy New York City night on the east side at a little place known as Black and White. Theresa and Emory’s fate may have begun in New York City, but their incredible love shined bright as they celebrated their marriage with a destination wedding at The Lost Tree Club in North Palm Beach. This amazing wedding had a beautiful backdrop of the ocean, one beautiful couple, a custom corn hole game and a bride who performed to a live band at her own reception. If you were to ask Theresa why they love each other so much, she would say “Because he’s my perfect compliment and vice versa.” Kind of like the place it all began — black and white.

Wedding Photography: Limelight Photography / Wedding Venue: Lost Tree Club in North Palm Beach, Florida / Floral Design: Adrienne Nelson North Palm Beach Flowers / Wedding Cake: Publix / Wedding Invitations: William Arthur / Band: VoxBlu / Wedding Gown: Ulla-Maija Couture via Hayden Olivia Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Rachel Pally Twist Shoulder Dress in Navy / Hair + Makeup: Salon Tre’Lyn / Custom Cornhole: Style My Corntoss

Another week of 2012 has passed, and with Spring peeking through the azaleas, combined with the parade of pretty that has been waltzing by all week, we are giddy with love. But, as always, we’re here to up the giddy-ante, like we love to do. This week, we’ve scoured our LBB Photographer’s blogs to find the Prettiest of Pretty to make for the perfect end to a beautiful week, and let me just say, our beloved photographers are TALENTED. But when I popped over to BinaryFlips Photography‘s blog, I knew I had found a winner in Whitney & Thomas’ wedding. The perfect image to let us all live out our own little fairy tale for the weekend to come. Enjoy a love filled weekend, LBBers! xoxo

Congratulations BinaryFlips Photography on the Prettiest of Pretty!

All the fabulous soirees of the week, for your viewing pleasure:

a highlight fim from Kansas City, doubling your pleasure with a Chinese AND Western party
a cozy, rainy day wedding in beautiful Lake Placid with a beautiful couple to match
a gorgeous black tie affair straight from a sweet Connecticut home
a Pennsylvania soiree with unbelievable style, class, and the perfect amount of whimsy
a fête to celebrate the combined loves of a gorg couple in Lake Tahoe
a fusion Ottawa wedding that perfectly combines two fabulous people and their worlds
a ridiculously perfect New York City affair that has an amazing glam factor
a sunny Portland soiree which will undoubtedly put a smile on your face
a perfectly sweet Vermont barn wedding filled with the happiest light

a neon peep toe DIY, perfect for the modern affair via Green Wedding Shoes
an Easter egg roundup just in time for Spring via The Sweetest Occasion
a Scottish wedding to amp up the St. Patrick’s Day jig factor via Grey Likes Weddings

We are bidding adieu to another week of pretty here at SMP Florida but before we head off for the weekend we had to share this gorgeous, girly wedding by 1313 Photography.  Every single detail is super sweet to the max and the entire day is filled with romance from start to finish.  See it all unfold in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Phillip of 1313 Photography… Monica and Darren are a sweet and stylish couple with a beautiful little daughter. We met them at Eden Roc to capture their getting ready moments and their really sweet first look. They did such a great job with their ceremony and reception, transforming the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens into an intimate venue that was uniquely their own.

Wedding Photography: 1313 Photography / Wedding Venue: Miami Beach Botanical Garden in Miami, Florida / Getting Ready Hotel: Eden Roc Renaissance

In the mood for some fabulous DIY inspiration?  Well, look no further than this darling Miami State Park affair by Brittany Anderson Photography.  All crafted by the adorable bride and groom (with the help of some uber-talented friends and family) and boasting some of the sweetest eco-friendly details you ever did see, this is the kind of wedding that just makes you HAPPY.  Plus, when I tell you that the entire soiree was planned and orchestrated for a total of $4,100 (it’s true!) – you’ll be smiling from here to all eternity.  Don’t miss a minute of lovely – click here for SO MUCH MORE!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Our wedding day truly was the most magical day of my life thus far. I’m sure ALL brides say that, but there was not one single thing that went awry. It all flowed organically and pleasantly, and we ended up spending only $4,100. Everyone danced, laughed, ate and had a great time. When we chose our venue, Brian and I encountered a rascally band of raccoons, and we instantly both said, “I hope they crash our wedding!” Well, we got our wish! As we exchanged vows in front of that gorgeous lake, the raccoon family stood by to watch us say “I do.”

Wedding Photography: Brittany Anderson Photography / Wedding Venue: Greynolds Park Boathouse in Miami, Florida / Flowers: Purchased at Costco + Arranged by the Bride & Bridesmaids / Catering: Paellas R Us / Wedding Cakes: Mayu’s Cakes / Cupcakes + Cake Pops: Cristina Carmona of Tiny Treats / Band: Murphy’s Law / Christmas Tree Favors: Arbor Day Foundation / Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal via Brides of Florida / Hair: Kei Pucci / Makeup: Bridal Makeovers by Aradia / Groom’s Suit: Tommy Hillfiger / Groom’s Tie: Alexander Olch via Mr Porter

Captured Photography by Jenny did it yet again – she sent over the most adorable Florida engagement session so we can spend the start of the week in smiling from ear to ear. It’s so sweet I just want to reach out and give this adorable duo a big virtual squeeze. Does it get any more darling? I think not, and there is even more where that came from sitting pretty right here!

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Jenny of Captured Photography by Jenny … Alex and Liz met over a cup a coffee, and that first conversation lasted for hours! It wasn’t long before the two of them became inseparable. One of the the ways they love to spend their time together is snuggling (and what better way to do that then with a picnic). Alex also brings Liz flowers randomly, so we added some flowers he recently got her to the shots as well. We picked a giant banyan tree on Palm Beach for our picnic. It really is a beautiful area. Right next to that is the lake trail. And Alex and Liz love to go bike riding together. Alex even installed lights on their bikes so they can ride at night. The lake trail on the island is one of the prettiest places to bike ride. Cool story behind their bikes too: They got them from Jack the Bike Man. The organization restores donated bikes and uses them to impact low-income communities and families.

Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny / Location: Palm Beach, Florida / Bikes: Jack the Bike Man / Sign on Bike: Simple Sparrow Art

Well, SMPers.  It’s time to wrap up yet another fabulous week of inspiration here on SMP – and, oh, what a wonderful week it has truly been.  The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the flowers are all starting to bloom… Spring is most definitely in the air!  So, what better way to kick off your weekend festivities than with a dazzling Miami engagement session by the oh-so-amazing KT Merry?  With a too gorgeous for words Biscayne Bay backdrop, an uber-stunning bride and groom and a giant dose of Vitamin D, these two cute as can be sailors will leave you grinning until we meet again on Monday.  So, join us in the gallery for every last ounce of sweetness and then have yourselves a fabulous weekend, lovelies! xoxo

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From KT Merry… Anabelle and Jean Luc live in Port au Prince, Haiti and will marry there this Spring on a historic family property.  We spent a picturesque afternoon aboard this vintage sailboat in the Biscayne Bay of Miami.

Photography: KT Merry / Sailboat: Private Owner / Makeup: MAC Cosmetics

In case you missed any, here are all of the pretty posts from the week…

a gorgeous Garrison wedding
a sweet Calistoga soiree
a beautiful Santa Barbara affair
a stunning Denver wedding
a glamorous San Diego soiree
a breathtaking California affair
a glorious inspiration shoot
an entire day of seven gorgeous weddings
a fabulous Long Island City affair
a sweet Ojai photo shoot
an awe-inspiring Los Angeles affair

Some fabulous links from around the web…

yummy multigrain apple crisps via Smitten Kitchen
fun DIY paper flower cone bouquets via Oh Happy Day!
sweet lavender lemonade via Once Wed

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Little Black Book members…

Theilen Photography
Shannon Gail Weddings and Events
I Do Concepts
Chick Invitations
Taylor Films
Details Design Studio
Wild Bunch Studio
Stewart Leishman Photography
Miller Lash House
Bridal Beauty Mobile Artistry Group
Make Me Blush

And, last, but certainly not least… we have some winners to announce!

A winner has been selected for Doie Lounge’s giveaway of a Lilian robe. Congratulations to Olivia for winning this stunning robe!

Congratulations to Florida reader, Jennifer, for winning a free Engagement Story Film from Trinity Wedding Cinema!

Have a happy, happy weekend, lovelies!  See you back here Monday morning! xoxo

Bidding adieu to another week on SMP Florida is always bittersweet. Obviously the weekend is divine, but we absolutely LOVE the weekdays spent gushing over pretty Florida fêtes. So we decided to leave you with a wedding that, along with the full gallery, will keep you plenty busy until we meet again on Monday. Because this blue-hued beauty captured by Life and Love Studio has enough lovely to last all weekend long!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… The most important things to Rob and me was making our wedding a lot of fun for all of our guests and spending as much time with them as possible since we don’t get to see them often. Rob is from Charlotte and I’m from Miami, but we’ve lived all over, so no matter what city we chose for our wedding, it would have been a destination for the majority of the people. We knew we wanted to get married by the water, be in a walking friendly area, and, being from Florida, I’ve always loved St. Augustine. We also figured that most of our guests had never been there, so it would be a fun destination for everyone — and the weather was perfect, which never hurts! I don’t know how we overlooked it, but we got married during bike weekend in St. Augustine. Friday and all day Saturday we kept hearing the roar of bikes and joked we should take a picture with some bikers. In the middle of the ceremony a bike revved and my bridesmaids and I burst into giggles. No sooner had we left the church than one of my bridesmaids went in search of a bike to borrow so I could pose. The bike pictures turned out to be some of the best!

We chose our venue and then got a lot of vendor recommendations from the event coordinator at the venue. We did not have a wedding planner or our own coordinator, but things still worked out perfectly. I was fairly particular in wanting a laid back, simple, fun wedding. I knew I wanted the colors to be navy, fuschia and deep purple, and I knew I wanted the guys in tan suits to fit with the more relaxed feeling. We also knew we wanted to get married in a church, and we actually got married in the oldest Episcopalian church in the US. We were lucky that the church is so beautiful on its own that we didn’t need to decorate very much. Our priest from Baton Rouge, where we live now, actually came to help officiate the wedding, which was very meaningful to us since he actually knows us. My mom is Brazilian, so we had programs printed in English and Portuguese for our guests, which helped with some of the language barriers. We wanted to spend as much time with our guests as possible while getting as many pictures as possible. As a result, we provided transportation by trolley for guests from the church to the reception venue, and between the wedding and cocktail hour the guests took a trolley tour of the city. This gave us time to take pictures, kept the guests entertained and allowed us to still enjoy the cocktail hour with our friends and family.

We chose carrot cake, our favorite, for our wedding cake and then surrounded the cake with wedding cake, red velvet-flavored cake balls and brigadeiros — a popular Brazilian dessert. The layout of the bite-sized desserts around the cake is also a traditional Brazilian layout for dessert tables. I wanted to leave my dress on all night because I absolutely loved it, but I also wanted to dance and have fun! The train was about 5-6 feet long and it was heavy satin, so I did end up changing into my party dress and Havaianas flip flops. When it was time to leave, we all left on the trolleys together and continued the party. This was truly the best day of our lives, and I love looking back at the pictures and seeing how happy everyone looked and reliving the day and night.

Wedding Photography: Life and Love Studio / Ceremony: Trinity Episcopal Parish Church in St. Augustine, Floria / Reception: River House in St. Augustine, Florida / Floral Design: 57 Treasury Floral & Interior Design / Catering: Mai Oui Gourmet / Wedding Cake: Publix / Music: McGee Entertainment / Transportation: Old Town Trolley Tours / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Reception Dress: Calvin Klein / Hair: Small Indulgences / Makeup: A Touch Above San Marco (904-819-0924) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung / Groomsmen Ties: Vineyard Vines

There’s nothing quite like a sweet, sweet engagement session to brighten a Wednesday morning – and this darling Largo shoot is about as ADORABLE as it gets.  From the charming Pinellas County Heritage Village backdrop to the cute as can be lovebirds to the antique camera props, there isn’t a moment of vintage bliss that hasn’t completely stolen my heart.  Luckily, Raquel Sergio Photography was on hand to capture all of the lovely, because soaking in every last ounce of HAPPY is most definitely where I need to be.  Join me in the gallery for more!

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From the Bride… Alan and I first met at a beach but couldn’t pass up the wonderful opportunity to take our engagement photos at such a historic location in the heart of Florida. When our photographer first showed us pictures of this historic park, we instantly fell in love. The park is like a living history museum with natural pines, palmettos and historic buildings sprinkled throughout. It matched our style and our wedding theme perfectly. Some of the buildings date back to the 19th century, including a school, church, railroad depot, store and a variety of historic homes. We could have spent all day taking pictures there, but were unfortunately limited on our time.

For the details, my fiancé scoured the internet to find a nice vintage camera and video camera. They’re both from a later century than the buildings at the park, but we thought it fit the vintage theme well. For the “love” banner, we thought it was a cute and modern contrast to the park with its bright, colorful letters. Using chalkboard signs, we decided to write our messages ourselves, despite our horrible hand-writing! I think it gave a nice personal touch though.

We came at the perfect time of the year because we were able to take some pictures under mistletoe! It was actually our first time kissing under mistletoe, and we got it on camera! Our photographer Raquel found the perfect engagement shoot location for us. She has become very close to me and has been helping with our wedding day planning! How many people can say that about their photographer? Alan and I look forward to having her photograph our wedding where she’ll be there, not only as our photographer, but as our friend as well.

Photography: Raquel Sergio Photography / Venue: Pinellas County Heritage Village in Largo, Florida

Lovely. In a word, this wedding designed by SoCo Events just couldn’t be more lovely. Stop what you are doing lovely. Breath of fresh air lovely. The most perfect, understated, classic affair that has my heart singing from the rooftops – that kind of lovely. Best of all, BinaryFlips Photography captured every little moment in the most perfect of fashions – leaving us with a full gallery overflowing with the lovely we love most.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Jennifer of SoCo Events… Sarah and Ben met at a charity gala in Washington, DC, where they both reside.  The couple decided to marry at the bride’s county club, Mediterra, in her hometown of Naples, Florida. The bride wanted a Ralph Lauren style, blending classic and organic elements. We worked off of a neutral color palate of ivory, green, browns and coppers. Five stars became the logo of the wedding and could be found on the invitations, the welcome boxes, programs, cake, mirrored calligraphy menu, etc.  To the couple, these stars reflect a philosophy of life — “5 star” — that Sarah and Ben have developed and embraced from the time they first started dating over two years ago. To over-simplify, “5 star” is about getting the most out of each day, expanding your comfort zone and doing it all with the people you love. The weekend was modeled on this concept, with each day having a variety of different activities and events scheduled so that guests could create their own “5 star” experience.

The bride, a Vanderbilt University graduate, has a deep affinity for bourbon, and this lead served as the inspiration for a bourbon bar, which proved to be a huge hit with guests. Sarah and Ben wanted to pay close attention to details and and show their guests a great party.  After dinner, Sarah and Ben blew the crowd away by entering their first dance in character as Guns N Roses’ Axl and Slash to “Sweet Child of Mine”… air guitar and all. The crowd loved it, and no one left the dance floor all night!!

Wedding Photography: BinaryFlips Photography / Ceremony: St. Leo Catholic Church in Bonita Springs, Florida / Reception: Mediterra Country Club in Naples, Florida / Event Design + Planning: SoCo Events / Flowers: Planned Perfection / Bridal Bouquet: Le Printemps / Wedding Cinematography: AMC Video / Wedding Invitations + Calligraphy: Laura Hooper Calligraphy / Wedding Cake: Kakes by Karen / Wedding Dress: Rivini via Carine’s Bridal Atelier / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Hair: Sarah Barnes of The Rock for Hair and Nails / Makeup: Dani Taverna of Duality Artistry

Well folks, I have fallen in complete love with this couple and their adorable little family thanks to the pretty pictures by Nichole Burnett. The new Mr. & Mrs. are obviously head over heels for each other, and their little one? Well she is too cute for words. It’s DIY done in the most darling of ways making for this gorgeous family’s prettiest of big days, and you can see it all in the full gallery of images!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… This was a major DIY project for me! I spent 11 months gathering ideas from different blogs, trying to capture the exact “look” I wanted. In the end, I just went with my heart and chose a variety of different looks. The result was a perfect example of John and me. We both wanted something unique with a mixture of soft and bold, new and old. With the help of my beautiful bridesmaids and my parents, we made 60 individual succulent name tags, vintage book decorations, yarn chandeliers, chalkboard menu and drink boards, and a super cute, book-themed, postcard sign-in table. You name it, we probably made it. My step-dad married us, and halfway through the ceremony, he began to cry. It was so moving and sweet that literally every person there was crying tears of joy. Everything about that day was perfect. We really feel that our friends are our family, so we decided to have two kings tables that fit thirty people each so we could all sit close together. We sat under the stars in the yard and enjoyed delicious a Southern-Coastal cuisine of shrimp and grits, crab cakes and pecan-crusted chicken with homemade Southern sweet tea vodka to wash it down with. By the time dancing came, it turned into a true party. We all played DJ and had dance-offs with each other. The weather was breezy and beautiful, the guests were SO happy to see us finally tie the knot after seven years, and our darling daughter was the best flower girl ever. The wedding was a dream come true for us and a wonderful memory to look back on.

Wedding Photography: Nichole Burnett / Wedding Venue: Anna’s Veranda in Inlet Beach, Florida / Flowers + Tables: Belle Flora 30A / Catering: Emerald Coast Catering / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero “Annitson” via Simply Elegant / Bridesmaids Dresses: Jim Hjelm / Rings: Creative Gems

We’ve seen our fair share of charming love stories here on SMP, but this adorable duo and their sweet as can be romance just about takes the cake.  Yep, after knowing each other for THREE YEARS, these two lovebirds happened to sit side by side on a fateful bus ride… and one AMAZING proposal in Doak Campbell Stadium later, the rest is history.  Thankfully, RisingSky Productions, Inc. sent along this gorgeous e-sesson and darling Save-the-Date video for us to spend our day swooning over, because we just HAVE to share in all the L.O.V.E.  Click here for more!

Click here for the engagement session!

And now the cute as can be Save-the-Date video.  SOOOO sweet!

From Sophia and Brandon Hyde of RisingSky Productions, Inc.… Audrey and Riley started dating in February 2011. Riley was a senior at Florida State University and Audrey was a junior, but neither had ever been in a relationship before. It took them two months of “talking” before they were even willing put their guards down enough to open their hearts into a relationship. They both felt they were taking the biggest risk of their lives but knew it was right.

You see, they had known each other for three years because they had been attending the same church together but were each afraid of the other one. Audrey being the loud, rambunctious theater major seemed too much to handle for Riley. And Riley’s shyness left Audrey with the impression that the two would never be capable of carrying on a conversation. However, by accident they ended up sitting next to each other on a three-hour bus ride, both thinking, “Oh gosh, this is going to be awkward.” But that window of time was exactly what they needed to realize all their preconceived notions of each other were a little off. With the support of many friends around them they embarked into a relationship. Everyone who saw them interacting said it was much more like being around two best friends than it ever looked like a relationship.

While dating in Tallahassee, one of their regular traditions became long walks around campus just talking and catching up on the week’s events, often ending up at Doak Campbell Stadium, FSU’s football stadium. One night in November, after a stressful rehearsal of Audrey’s, the two met up to unwind and go on a stroll. To no surprise, they ended up at the stadium, but Riley had something up his sleeve. One of his brothers was standing at the entrance wearing a bow tie holding a letter. As they walked into the stadium there was a path of friends each holding a letter from Riley to Audrey describing the highlights of their relationship and love for one another. The path was a candlelit journey to the top of the stadium, where her two best friends were standing there holding the final letter which said “Will you marry me?” Riley dropped to one knee, and Audrey said yes. (And then they headed off to a dance party at Riley’s apartment with 30+ friends to celebrate.) When planning their save-the-date video, we wanted to include all the special quirks of their relationship. Throughout this film you will see many friends who have played a roll in their relationship, and you will certainly see their personalities come through.

Photography + Cinematography: Sophia and Brandon Hyde of RisingSky Productions, Inc. / Location: Tallahassee, Florida (Mostly on the FSU Campus)

White and sparkle. That might just be my new favorite color palette. And When a Bride describes her wedding colors in such a way, I think it’s safe to say you just know you are in for a treat.  With gorgeous layers of detail and delights, it’s classically chic in the best possible way. And thanks to all the pretty snapped up by Captured Photography by Jenny, we can spend our Monday morning devouring all the white and sparkle in the full gallery of images!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/37432231 601 338]

From the bride… My fiance, Erin, and I used to tell everyone that we were going to get married barefoot on the beach in t-shirts that said “bride” and “groom”.  Our recent wedding at the enchanting Vizcaya Museum & Gardens definitely required more elegant footwear, but still managed to keep many of the comfortable, casual elements that define who we are. Guests dressed in glamorous black tie sipped champagne and feasted on paella and peking duck stations before tucking into a main course of comfort food favorites, a “trio of mini burgers” — crab cakes, cheeseburgers and grilled chicken sandwiches — along with french fries and truffle mac & cheese. Next up was double scoops of chocolate, vanilla and mint chocolate chip, and lots of hot fudge at a “make your own sundae” ice cream bar.  The cherry on top? A stylish sweets table, featuring our favorite treats, from white chocolate covered gummy bears to Hershey kisses. Our most important goal of the night was for everyone to have fun! World renowned entertainer extraordinaire Greg Denard and his amazing band, GDO Soul, made sure guests were boogieing on every inch of the vintage-inspired black and white dance floor. And after the last bus had been boarded and the gates to Vizcaya finally closed, guests kept the party going well until the early morning hours at “Club 50,” the happening in-house nightclub at the wedding hotel, the Viceroy Miami. My wedding colors were “white and sparkle,” and they extended to everything from the rhinestone-encrusted white rose and calla lilly florals and the dining tables’ silver swirl overlays to the sparkling crystal pillar candle holders and my dress — a beaded lace Pnina Tornai gown paired with glittering silver Jimmy Choos! But I think the most important thing I wore that day was a huge smile, knowing I was truly happy to be marrying my best friend. It wouldn’t have mattered whether we were in tuxes or t-shirts, in this stately mansion or on the sand — what truly made the wedding so magical was knowing that Erin and I were starting our lives together, surrounded by family and friends from around the world. From the groom… After an amazing rehearsal dinner of tacos and tequila, I woke up Saturday for the most beautiful sight of my life: my adorable bride walking down the aisle. I know she went to the store where they film “Say Yes to the Dress” and “yes,” they picked the perfect dress. She was smiling so big that I wanted to take a picture. After we kissed and I broke the glass (I was nervous about messing up both) we got to hold hands and walk together to the most amazing party any of us will ever attend. We danced like dorks, sang along to every song, and shared the night with our friends and family. Every time I looked at my gorgeous new wife and this wedding from a fairy tale, I realized I am the luckiest man in the world…

Wedding Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny / Wedding Venue: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami, Florida / Event Coordinator: Jill Spear at Spearhead Events / Cinematography: Captivated Films / Catering: Eggwhites Catering / Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair: Karen Rubens / Makeup: Amy Palma of South Beach Makeup Studio / Band: Greg Denard and GDO Soul of GDO Entertainment

Oh Florida, you sure do know how to throw a breathtaking beach bash. With miles and miles of gorgeous sandy shores, it shouldn’t be a surprise you master all things seaside, yet I always have to pick my jaw off the floor when I see a soiree like this one by Margot Landen Weddings. I’m in total wedding love. Florida, you’ve done it yet again and I have a feeling this won’t be the last time. Click here for more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… The day we got engaged, Matt and I decided to get married in Key West, Florida. We love Key West for its unique and eclectic history. The Cuban influence, culture of acceptance and Caribbean flavor all intertwine to make the Southernmost one of our most treasured places to visit. It was only appropriate that we got married in the most charming island town. The Southernmost House provided the perfect spot. As the boutique hotel was once a private home used for recreation by the Key West elite, it holds a history that truly captures the Ernest Hemingway charm of the city. We are both Florida natives transplanted to San Francisco, and needless to say, planning a wedding 3,000 miles away had some challenging moments. I quickly realized that my all my “DIY” decoration aspirations would have to be bubbled wrapped and shipped across the county, but the end result was more than I could have ever dreamed of. We wanted the wedding to reflect the history of Key West.

Our wedding day was relaxing, as any day in a tropical paradise should be. The Southernmost House has so much beauty and charm that not a lot was needed to transform it for our special night. Our wedding ceremony was simple. We laid a burlap runner down what used to be a helicopter-landing pad and set up chairs on a diagonal, letting the serenity and beauty of the water be the focal point. Our siblings stood beside us as we got married. For the reception, I was lucky to have some amazingly gifted friends take the huge shipments of flowers I ordered from Publix and turn them into perfect centerpieces for the tables, along with the Ikea lanterns we had shipped to the hotel. Because the Southernmost Hotel is vibrantly colorful, I went with a white color scheme. I ordered almost every variety of white flower that was available in Key West in June. The flowers were all placed in bottles, jars and tins we collected and saved for the wedding. The tables we lined with burlap that I purchased from Joann’s fabric store, along with the pale green floral linen I used to make the napkins. The head table was draped with lace left from Matt’s late grandmother, which was an especially personal touch.

The wedding turned out to be more that we had ever imagined. It completely captured the vintage Caribbean feel we were hoping for. But the most special moment of the day, and the weekend, was when Matt played a song he had written for our wedding day during the reception. It left me, and all of our guests, weeping. It was the most romantic and beautiful gift he could have ever given me.

Wedding Photography: Margot Landen Weddings / Wedding Venue: The Southernmost House in Key West, Florida / Event Planning: Swankey Events / Table Flowers: Publix / Bouquets: Liza Chung STYLE (904-294-5216) / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Shoes: Tootsies / Food: Great Events Catering / Dessert: Croissants de France / Music: The Prime Movers of Mile Zero Entertainment

Black tie on a Florida beach? Yes please! This fabulous soiree, captured by the lovely Pure Sugar Studios, is phenomenally classic with an oh-so-chic air that we love. Forget the to-die-for cake, or the stunning flowers, or even the gorgeous Jacksonville Beach (okay not really – we die over ALL of those deets) – but the couple at the center is our favorite part. A beautiful love is the most stunning accessory one can wear on the big day. Click here for the full image gallery!

From Pure Sugar Studios … Elegant Pink, green and black wedding at the historic Casa Marina in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Beautiful florals, that used a mix of berries, and textures to create vibrant bouquets and decor.  The perfect mix of traditional with a pop of “wow”. And Classic cakes made the yummiest cake designer- EVER! This couple was amazingly fun, and enjoyed every minute of their wedding day!

Photography: Pure Sugar Studios / Ceremony Venue: Casa Marina / Reception Venue: Casa Marina / Bridal Gown: Park Avenue Bridal / Bridesmaids Gowns: BCBG / Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Wear: Michael’s Formalwear / Makeup: Kimtasha Armstrong / Hair: Amanda Smith / Flowers: Tiffany from Floriade / Invitations: Pineapple Post / Ceremony Music: DJ Jeff Bell / Reception Music: D’Land Entertainment / Bride’s Ring: Tacori from Beard’s Jewelry / Groom’s Wedding Ring: Beard’s Jewelry / Coordinator: Becky, Casa Marina / Caterer: Casa Marina / Cake Designer: Classic Cakes / Officiant: Reverend Peyton Hopkins

There’s just something about a fab seaside soiree that gets me every.single.time… saying your “I Do’s” with the sound of the ocean waves crashing in the background, the sun setting on the horizon and warm sand in your toes – does it get any more romantic?!?  Needless to say, this breathtaking Marco Island affair captured by Narrative Image Photography has a hold on my heart like never before.  Plus, with beautiful blooms by Signature Florals and the gorgeous stylings of the talented bride and Fabulously Chic Wedding Planning & Design, I predict a Monday of full of sweet swooning time for me and you.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I knew I did not want to go with the usual beach/island decor. Typically I like to stray from the norm and go with something that expresses more of my style. In general, I love the idea of vintage — the concept of reusing things that served a previous purpose or had a previous life. It’s nice to know that things can be reused and that whole concept of someone else’s trash being another’s treasure.

For the wine crate centerpieces, I was initially thinking of going with all vintage vases. I wanted them set-up in smaller clusters, which I had seen on wedding sites when searching for vintage decor. But of course I got to thinking and I wanted something a bit more different then that. I could only think of old wooden flower boxes or soda boxes, but then I realized that wine crates would be such a great idea. I had already decided to use the wine corks as the escort card holders and I figured the wine crates would be a great way to tie in the centerpieces. Plus, we initially wanted to have the wedding in Napa. Since we decided to have the wedding in Florida, I figured the wine crates and corks would bring Napa to us, in a way. Plus the boxes and corks were free/donated to me from my sister who works for a wine broker. Again, back to that whole concept of re-using things that had a previous purpose/life.

As for how I described the flowers I wanted to Sue, I wish I had some clever answer. But I don’t — it was all Sue. I more or less told her what colors and types of flowers I like — poofy flowers with some green, and she went with it. My dress designer was Galina, purchased from David’s Bridal. I saw it online and knew it was exactly what I wanted. It was the only dress I tried on, and I was in and out of the store in 20 minutes! We gave out Garrett Popcorn for our favors. This is a staple from Chicago. Most of our guests are originally from Chicago but no longer live there (similar to Andrew and me). We had fellow Chicagoans from Boston, New York, California, Seoul Korea, London — all over!  I wanted to bring something from home/Chicago that they could enjoy.

Wedding Photography: Narrative Image Photography / Wedding Venue: Marco Beach Ocean Resort on Marco Island, Florida / Flowers: Sue of Signature Florals / Event Design: The Bride + Courtney Shaw of Fabulously Chic Wedding Planning & Design / Event Planning: Courtney Shaw of Fabulously Chic Wedding Planning & Design / Wedding Dress: Galina for David’s Bridal / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Various Watters Dresses (Fabric: Crinkle Chiffon, Color: Falcon) / Hair + Makeup: Destino y Luz (Makeup_Priscilla@yahoo.com) / Cupcakes: Simply Cupcakes / Wedding Cake: Ella’s Cakes / Cakes Stands + Vases: Vintage / Favors: Garrett Popcorn / Mothers’ Dresses: Hanboks Custom-Made in Korea