Florida Weddings

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.

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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

It’s Friday morning, the sun is shining and we have an ENTIRE weekend ahead of us to soak in this gorgeous Haines City affair… oh, what a fabulous day this is going to be!  The breathtaking outdoor setting combined with the lovely vintage stylings of One Love Weddings is enough to make any wedding lover happy… and don’t even get me started on all of the darling DIY details handcrafted with love by the adorable bride and groom.  Seriously swoon.  Plus, with an entire gallery filled to the brim with brilliant images captured by Honey Lake Studio, there’s no end in sight to all of this lovely.  Click here for more.

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From Jen of Honey Lake Studio… Haley and Steven met and live in Brooklyn, New York.  However, they wanted to return to Haley’s small-town Florida roots to celebrate their wedding with friends and family!  Every detail of this wedding was DIY and budget friendly — from the handmade ceremony backdrop and the book paper ring garland above the dance floor to the cakes and pies made by family members and served on collected vintage plates. The wedding took place at the FFA Leadership Training Center in Haines City, Florida. Because of its remote location, friends and family were invited to stay in the cabins on site. This allowed for the party to continue late into the night, complete with bonfires and stargazing from the dock. At one point, guests could even look out into the lake and spot an alligator surfacing! How’s that for authentic? It was impossible not to notice the love for the couple from every person in attendance.

Wedding Photography: Honey Lake Studio / Wedding Venue: Future Farmers of America Leadership Training Center in Haines City, Florida / Wedding Planning + Decor: One Love Weddings / Flowers: Davidson-Cassell / Wedding Cakes + Pies: DIY by Family Members / Wedding Dress: Lazaro / Reception Dress: Vintage / Bride’s Shoes: Butter / Groom’s Suit: Ralph Lauren / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Urban Outfitters / Paper Ceremony Backdrop + Dance Floor Paper Chain: DIY

Oh sweet, sweet Haines City engagement session.  I adore you.  Your gorgeous rustic location and charming fishing theme has captured my heart in every.which.way… not to mention the uber-stunning bride and groom-to-be with their MAJOR cuteness and oh-so-chic fishing attire.  Seriously, how ADORABLE are they?!?  Thankfully, Papered Heart Photography was on hand to capture all of the romance, because an entire day wrapped up in this gorgeous gallery is exactly how I plan to spend my Wednesday.  Join me there for more!

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Erin of Papered Heart Photography… Our couple, Natasha and Cesar, have a love for the rustic outdoors and really wanted a unique experience for their engagement session! And we found the perfect place! Bannon’s Fish Camp in Haines City, Florida. It was an unusually cold day for Florida weather in January — down to 30 degrees that morning! But Natasha and Cesar had a great time anyway, fishing with an heirloom fishing rod and fish basket that we handmade ourselves by attaching a vintage belt to it. They didn’t catch any fish that day, but caught some love that definitely kept them warm! We really enjoyed capturing this fishing date and the love between these two as they nestled up together at the cabin we rented! What a gorgeous day and a beautifully playful couple!

Design + Photography: Papered Heart Photography / Venue: Bannon’s Fish Camp and Cabins in Haines City, Florida (863-422-1223) / Clothing: Urban Outfitters + Anthropologie

If you are looking for the PERFECT way to celebrate your bridesmaids-to-be, then look no further than this gorgeous inspiration shoot by the oh-so-amazing Erika Delgado Photography.  A twist on the typical Valentine’s Day party, this pretty “Will you be my maid?” soiree is all about the bride and her besties… and, well.  That’s just fabulous.  Plus, with So Darling Events designing every charming moment, from the sweet, rustic details to the lovely hand-tied bouquets, there’s just no better way to invite your nearest and dearest to stand beside you on your big day.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Erika of Erika Delgado Photography… I just love Valentines Day. Call me cheesy, but I just adore the romance and the idea of the entire holiday. I celebrate it every year and for a while now, I’ve had the idea of shooting something with this lovely holiday in mind. As I was browsing through Pinterest one afternoon, I was inspired! I began creating a board that entailed a wheat field, golden magic hour sunlight, bright red and glitter! I was totally and completely inspired by these few but very effective concepts. I love photographing a rustic look that has a “pop” and I saw the reds and golden metallics tying in beautifully with this idea. I knew I didn’t want this to be the typical and ordinary Valentine’s shoot you see every year. I wanted this to be unique and absolutely darling, which led me to call my dear friend Michelle Wilkie from So Darling Events to help me style the shoot around my simple ideas. Of course, she came in and perfectly completed my vision in the most darling way possible!

From Michelle of So Darling Events… The design inspiration for this shoot came from a very natural, organic place. Erika presented me with a concept of doing a Valentine’s-inspired shoot focusing on the natural elements of wheat, golden sunlight, pops of glitter and hints of reds. As soon as she explained her vision to me I knew that we had a wonderful opportunity for a DIY-inspired shoot with a rustic and organic feel. The shoot is a twist on the quintessential bridal Valentine’s shoot. Instead of focusing on a bride and her groom, we turned our attention to the bond between a bride and her bridesmaids in this heartfelt, rustic “Will you be my Maid?” soirée. At the same time, we wanted to showcase wedding design essentials that could be incorporated throughout a wedding or bridal shower as well.

The party includes elements such as a signature champagne cocktail, beautiful mismatched table settings using thrift store china, a delicious red velvet cake, and a DIY “Will You be my Maid?” box. The handmade bouquets and centerpieces were created using thrifted jars, twine, lavender, baby’s breath purchased from a local farmers’ market and delicate cut wheat from the field. The pops of glitter found on the cake topper, drink stirrers and golden pear are courtesy of the $1 section of the craft store, antique gold spray paint, and glitter. I love seeing indoor elements incorporated outside, so we finished the look with a wooden nightstand and rustic straw trunk.

Photography: Erika Delgado Photography / Event Design: So Darling Events / Photo Shoot Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida / Hair + Makeup: OMG Artistry / Cake: Gigi-Mamma Cakes / Dresses + Jewelry: Francesca’s Collections

I have to admit that a couple-crush for this bride and groom is going on in full effect over here!  They are fun, free-spirited and full of killer style that they incorporated into their adorable Key West wedding.  Fringe banners, oversized XO balloons and sweet, succulent centerpieces only scratches the surface of the personal details they created.  You will not want to miss all the confetti-filled fun captured by Aubrey Joy Photography so make sure you check out the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

McKenzie Miller Films shared their spectacular wedding film with us and we are so excited to share it with you!

From the bride… Alek and I really wanted our day to focus on things we felt were the most important: the emotion of the day and the personal touches that were uniquely “us.” We created a personal ceremony that felt really meaningful and was most definitely a tear-jerker. I think it can be really easy to get caught up in little details that don’t really have any meaning and just end up creating stress and draining your bank account! We decided not to decorate with a lot of flowers and instead use tissue paper as we were only going to be at the venue for four hours and didn’t want to throw away all those pretty flowers after such a short time. The succulent centerpieces were a nice compromise that the guests could take home with them. But all in the all, what sticks out most in my mind is the overwhelming feeling and emotion of the ceremony and the love from our friends and family. Because in the end, that’s really all the matters.

Wedding Photography: Aubrey Joy Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: The Casa Marina Resort in Key West, Florida / Bouquet: Love in Bloom Florist / Wedding Cake: Junior’s Cheesecake in Brooklyn, New York / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell / Bride’s Necklace: Norbu Bijoux / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew / Groom’s Watch: Braun / Bride’s Ring: Ray Griffiths / Groom’s Ring: Fitzgerald Jewelry Store / Announcements: Peter Kruty Editions / Music: George Aderhold / Cinematography: McKenzie Miller Films / Hair and Makeup: Studio Marie-Pierre /  Centerpieces, Tissue Paper Tassels, Swizzle Sticks, Cake Topper, Boutonniere, Invitation Design + Button Design: DIY / Buttons Purchased Through: Busy Beaver Buttons / Succulents Purchased Through: Succulents Galore / Wedding Video Song: “Perfect Day” by Holley Maher, Licensed Through The Music Bed

If you are a lover of romance, beautiful settings and all things pretty (and, really who isn’t?), then today is most definitely your lucky day, because this breathtaking Atlantic Beach affair is boasting all of the above and then some with a stunning seaside location and a bundle of uber-gorgeous details that will, put simply, make your heart swoon.  Believe me, you’ll spend your ENTIRE morning completely enthralled by these magical images captured by Julie Cate Photography… and I suspect your weekend, too.  Click here for more.

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From the Bride… Vince and I have known each other since high school and were best friends throughout college — despite the 1,100 mile distance between our schools. He proposed at a quaint bed and breakfast overlooking the Puget Sound in the heart of downtown Seattle. For our wedding, we both wanted to celebrate love, family, and cultural traditions with an intimate, stress-free fete. We initially considered a destination wedding in Cinque Terre or Paris, but decided to save Paris for our honeymoon. Our guests’ experience during our wedding weekend was our top priority. We wanted everyone to feel welcome, loved and relaxed. All our guests stayed at a resort on the same beach that the wedding ceremony took place on. We had a lot of fun putting together welcome baskets that included champagne, hand-made soaps, German gummy bears, Belgian beer and a variety of other things that highlighted special places throughout our relationship.  Because the majority of our guests came from out-of-state, we gave them a taste of Florida by treating them to a visit to the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine the day before the wedding. Afterwards, we had our rehearsal dinner outdoors on the water where we were able to watch the sunset as we enjoyed our meal.

Our wedding day was perfect. We were surrounded by a dozen of our closest friends and family for a quaint ceremony on the beach. I walked down the aisle as a string quartet played, and I completely surprised myself when tears began falling and blurred my vision — thank goodness I had my dad to help navigate me! There were so many special parts to that day … hearing Vince say his vows, sharing with my (step)dad that I planned to change my middle name to his family name, taking pictures in my Korean dress (han bok) with my sister and mom … the list could go on. One of the most special moments was when Vince and I planted a Magnolia bonsai to symbolically represent the beginning of our family tree as the quartet played “Married Life” from the Disney/Pixar movie “Up.”

The second priority for the wedding was to have it captured in photographs that we could treasure for the rest of our lives. We are so thankful to have had wonderful photographers in Julie and James. Every time I look at our photos, it brings me back to that day and I’m filled with the same giddy, care-free happiness.

Wedding Photography: Julie Cate Photography / Wedding Ceremony: One Ocean Resort and Spa in Atlantic Beach, Florida / Wedding Reception: Ruth’s Chris in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida / Flowers: Publix / Wedding Dress: Kenneth Pool via Solutions Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Vince Camuto / Hair: Cortello Salon / Makeup: Kimtasha / Groom’s Suit: Ralph Lauren / Music: Belle Fleur String Quartet / Wedding Cinematography: Siberian Pictures

There are some weddings that are so perfect that when looking through the images, I just can’t believe they are real – the light is stunning, the flowers have been perfectly picked, the bridesmaids are beauties and the details couldn’t be more darling. This my lovelies, is one of those weddings. The only thing that has me convinced that this beyond lovely Florida fête by Mi.Amore.Foto is of the real wedding variety is how the love this couple shares pours through each picture. It makes for the most perfect of posts, and you can see even more in the full gallery of images!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… As I began putting the pieces together for our big day, I began to feel very overwhelmed. I love so much about weddings that I actually had a very difficult time narrowing down which details I wanted to include. Ok, I admit … my Pinterest addiction didn’t help. I had so many ideas but no clue how to create a cohesive event. After fighting myself over cakes or cupcakes, salmon or beef, and centerpieces, I decided to take a step back. I decided to make our wedding about “us” and not “me.” After I changed my focus I began to create the wedding of our dreams. I knew from the beginning that we were not the traditional couple. Our first dance was going to be “When I’m Sixty-Four” by The Beatles and we didn’t play the Electric Slide or the Macarena. Our wedding was going to be about our love for each other and not a cookie-cutter event.

We wanted the feel of our wedding to be very old Florida. There was lots of  lace, oil lamps, cut-glass bowls and real Florida scenery in our wedding. Since both of our families are from small southern towns in the heart of Florida, it was very important to us that our wedding was about our families as well. We included pictures of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents at the seating card table. The gold rings I wore on my right hand belonged to my grandmother and great-grandmother. My shoes were vintage Salvatore Ferragamo pumps given to me by my aunt years ago. My childhood minister officiated the ceremony. Andrew’s father played guitar for the ceremony. Two of the songs used in the processional were written by Andrew. I was escorted down the aisle by both my father and mother. Needless to say, our wedding was all about us. As far as the details, we did a lot by ourselves. I made the boys’ bow ties, the ring bearer pillows, the “Here Comes the Bride” sign, the invitations, and even decorated the hanger for the picture of the dress. Friends and family helped with the invitations, the candy buffet and much, much more. I may have gotten a little carried away, but it was definitely all worth it in the end. It was all of the personal touches that made our wedding day so special.

We couldn’t have had a more fantastic day without Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club and Mi.Amore.Foto. Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club was just perfect. The view was spectacular, the dining room was impeccably Florida, and they had incredibly gracious staff. Not to mention they specially made us a guava-filled wedding cake even though it wasn’t on the menu. Other than the “I do’s,” the photography was the most important aspect of our wedding. We wanted a photographer that listened, was someone that we could trust and even collaborate with on our vision. Shannon Mathis of Mi.Amore.Foto was way beyond a wedding photographer. She made us feel so comfortable and truly captured our love. Our wedding day was incredibly personal and loving. As I look at our photos I am reminded of how lucky we are to have one another and our family and friends to support us. This day was only one day out of many in our marriage, but it stands out as the most beautiful start a couple could ask for.

Wedding Photography: Shannon Mathis of Mi.Amore.Foto / Wedding Venue, Catering + Cake: Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club in Palm City, Florida / Flowers: Harbour Bay Florist / Wedding Dress: San Patrick via Tamera’s Forever Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Vintage Salvatore Ferragamo / Bride’s Gold Rings: Family Heirlooms / Hair: Sara Lucas / Makeup: Shannon Mathis / DJ: Paragon Entertainment / Wedding Invitations, Bow Ties, Ring Bearer Pillows, “Here Comes the Bride” Sign, Dress Hanger + Candy Bar: DIY / Ceremony Music: The Groom’s Father

Joielala Photographie just gets us. They have an impeccable way of capturing a wedding. A way that speaks to a viewer’s heart and dazzles their design sensibilities. Each image from this Anna Maria Island Wedding is doing just that. It’s a punch of color, a dash of laid-back style, a layer of chic, sun-splashed details and so, so much more. It’s destination done RIGHT. See all the colors of this wedding rainbow right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… My hubby Tim and I met 12 years ago at college in Indiana. We were just friends though. Fast forward a decade and a little thing called Facebook brought us together. He was in San Diego and I was in L.A., and after I took a weekend trip down to SD to see my old friend and sparks surprisingly flew between us, I knew I was toast. We got engaged after alternately driving every single weekend to one another for almost two years. And when it came time to pick a destination, we instantly chose the white, sugar sand beaches of Anna Maria Island in Florida.  My family uprooted there when I was 16, and this charming little island community holds such a special place in my heart.

Living in LA and planning a wedding in Florida was a challenge, but a fun one.  First thing we did was find a local coordinator, who turned out to be AJ Latteri at The Loft 5.  For over a year, she listened carefully to my vision, which was beachy-meets-Anthropologie, and we lobbed pictures back and forth of inspiration from the web and others’ weddings. She recommended our wedding location, the Limefish House, a rental beach house whose owners graciously allow weddings to be held there. I really wanted every guest to feel they had stepped into a mini vacation for the long weekend, and I wanted them to leave loving Florida like we do. The beach house was totally transformed into a romantic, whimsical and tranquil beach spot, courtesy of AJ, her team and the geniuses behind a new local Island design and wedding planning firm called Enna/Anne. These three local 20-somethings — Kyle, Lenna and Jeanne — are floral and design phenoms. They did everything from designing my invites and creating our photo booth to painstakingly organizing our flowers and other design elements.

For the bridesmaids, I chose a different Rachel Pally dress for each (8 girls total!).  I wanted their dresses to look like colors you’d see in a Florida sunset. At the end of the night, a trolley picked up all the guests wanting to keep the party going and dropped us off at a bar at the end of the Island. We had pizzas delivered there, and everyone danced and mingled with locals for the rest of the night! If I could give brides advice, it would be be to start looking now for unique finds to incorporate on your big day. My mom scoured local Goodwill’s and thrift stores for a year, collecting various vases made of beach glass, which we peppered around the house. And don’t be afraid to mix and match different elements — i.e. beachy/rustic/modern/traditional.  It’ll all come together in the end and have a vibe that’s different and unique. 

The bride is one of the bloggers behind,  Covet Living.

Wedding Photography: Joielala Photographie / Wedding Venue: Limefish House on Anna Maria Island, Florida / DJ: DJ Chris Grumley / Wedding Flowers, Invitations, Makeup, Photo Booth + Event Design: Enna/Anne / Event Planning + Catering: A.J. Latteri and Fusion Cafe of The Loft 5 / Sushi: Ocean Star Sushi / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Brides Earrings: Rent the Runway / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Rachel Pally / Officiant: The Bride’s Uncle

In our eyes, a gorgeous rustic affair will never, EVER go out of style and we have a feeling we aren’t alone. So to you, fellow mason jar loving, bird-cage dawning Brides out there, we dedicate this Florida barn beauty by Shea Christine Photography. It’s casual yet packed with elegance and loads of homespun details that are sure to make their way into your wedding folders this very minute.  See it all right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… From the moment we got engaged, my husband and I knew we were not looking for the traditional wedding. We wanted it to be unique, which decided a lot of things right off the bat. First of all, it meant paying for it ourselves. We wanted our wedding to be entirely “us,” which meant making all the decisions on our own and not having to worry about offending the people footing the bill. And as that was the case, the second thing it meant was DIY. It really worked out perfectly since I love craft projects and homemade things. I had SO much fun (favorites include the boutonnieres, my cake topper, and the little hors d’oeuvres cones I made) and I even got my fiance in on some of it, which made it extra fun!

We found the perfect setting at Birdsong Barn — a sort of ready-made atmosphere, complete with a lawn for playing games, loads of already-hung white Christmas lights, and plenty of charm. We picked a giant oak tree for the actual ceremony and planned a mixture of traditional and non-traditional elements. Our vows were classic, but our wedding party was not. Since we wanted to keep it very small, it felt strange to have ten of our friends standing up front when there were only about 50 people total! Instead, we had them be part of the ceremony by constructing the arch. Each of the bridesmaids and the parents added flowers to the mason jar arch before sitting on the front row. Everyone in the bridal party picked their own clothes with very general guidelines — girls had to wear purple and guys had to wear suspenders.

Another key was using our friends for everything possible! From our bluegrass band, Springer Mountain, to SeaLillie, the company who designed and made all my jewelry (including earrings made from the extra buttons from my wedding dress for all my bridesmaids), we made sure to support our friends as much as possible in the process. Fortunately, I have a lot of talented friends! We figured if we had to pay someone, why shouldn’t it be people we already know and love? Both of our families were amazing too. Almost all the decorations that we brought to the barn were pieces that my mom has had lying around forever — books published in the early 1800s, vases, pitchers and vintage mason jars that have been passed down in our family, etc… We wanted everything to mean something! My mom and sister and I made batch after batch of pickles and apple butter and jam for the favors, and Jared’s family was a huge help too!

Wedding Photography: Shea Christine Photography / Wedding Venue: Birdsong Barn in Titusville, Florida / Band: Springer Mountain / Jewelry: SeaLillie / Cake Topper + Boutonnieres: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Cake: A Family Friend / Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander via Robyn Lynne Bridal / Veil: Penelope Koleos Williams / Wedding Flowers: Whole Blossoms / Wedding Signs: DIY + Birdsong Barn

Most people have to hop on planes, trains and automobiles to far off locales for a dreamy beach wedding while others are lucky enough to live in a gorgeous spot like Anna Maria Island; no travel plans required. Its palm tree laced views are straight out of a movie and this couples tropical infused wedding is right in keeping with all that Florida goodness. Click on the gallery for more of this seaside soiree all caught on film by the ever so talented Brooke Images.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Ashley of Brooke Images… Shawn and Logan’s wedding took place in their hometown of Anna Maria Island. The wedding was held at Roser Church, then followed by a reception at a local rental property. Shawn and Logan chose an ” Old Florida” theme for their wedding, which they accomplished in such an elegant way. The groom also provided the alcohol for the wedding by brewing his own beer. The guests were given a bottled beer, named “ball and chain” as a party favor. The couple honeymooned in Ireland.

Wedding Photography: Brooke Images / Ceremony: Roser Community Church on Anna Maria Island, Florida / Reception: The Shady Mango / Wedding Coordinator: Vicki Sack / Rolls Royce: Dale Powers, A Family Friend of the Couple / Wedding Cake: Slice of Heaven / DJ: Mike Sales of Mike Sales Presents / Wedding Dress + Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Catering: Manatee Technical Institute / Menu Selections: Jamie Gregorich, Maid of Honor, As Seen on Hell’s Kitchen / Flowers: The Island Florist / Boutonnieres: DIY by Bride / Old Florida Decor: DIY by the Bride + Family Members

Oh how we love a good wedding film. We are the biggest fans of wedding cinematography over here at SMP, so we thought this gorgeous video by BlueShore Productions would be the perfect way to spend your Friday morning. A gorgeous couple, a gorgeous ceremony, a gorgeous reception – it all makes for one oh so gorgeous film. So close your office door, get comfy in your chair and don’t feel bad if at the end of this work of art you need to hit replay…we definitely did.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/34618828 601 338]

From Jeremy of BlueShore Productions… The couple met at a Brazilian bar in Chile and from that moment, the rest was history. They decided on the historical Henry Flagler Museum in beautiful Palm Beach, Florida, to host their special day. They had a beautiful outdoor ceremony at sunset next to the waterway. The reception was held in the ballroom of the museum. It was absolutely stunning.

Wedding Cinematographer: Jeremy Nelson of BlueShore Productions / Photography: Lara Rios / Wedding Venue: Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida / DJ: Liquid DJs

It seems only appropriate to jump into February with an oh so gorgeous fête, so we are going to kick start this month of love with an elegant soiree by Kallima Photography that will have your head spinning from all the pretty! The brides ruffly Melissa Sweet gown is enough to make me go into a tizzy, and when you add sparkly Jimmy Choo‘s to the equation – I turn into wedding mush. It’s all in the full gallery for you to gush over, so chasse on over for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Rebekah of Kallima Photography… Laura and Jon’s classic and elegant wedding was held at the Country Club of Orlando, the most un-country club-like venue we have ever seen. The ballroom rivaled one at the Breakers Palm Beach, with extra high ceilings and gorgeous chandeliers, and we truly feel like this venue is a well-kept central Florida secret! Both living and thriving in New York City (bride works for Tori Burch, groom for 2(x)ist) Laura and Jon seated guests at tables named after their favorite areas of the city. The orchid, rose, and peony centerpieces were truly works of art, and Kilwin’s chocolates were given to each guest as favors. The ornate cream on cream-colored wedding cake was topped with gorgeous pink peonies. The live band literally kept EVERY guest on the floor ’till the bitter end, and the groom’s brother/best man serenaded the crowd on his ukulele as a special treat and tribute to Jon. The bridesmaids made a weekend out of the wedding, all staying in Laura’s huge family home right on the water in Orlando. Her one-of-a-kind Melissa Sweet gown was an absolute stunner and paired with gorgeous crystal embellished Jimmy Choos. Laura’s sister and maid of honor, Shelby, stayed close by her side most of the wedding day and had every guest crying during her toast. The sisters are very close. Truly a family-celebrated event, and an absolutely gorgeous one at that.

Wedding Photography: Rebekah + Ben Hood of Kallima Photography / Wedding Venue: Country Club of Orlando / Wedding Planning: Susie Weiss of Wonderful Weddings / Flowers + Décor: Brian Joyce of Flourish Floral Productions / Wedding Cake: Priscilla Lucas of Party Flavors / Hair: Kenny Mak of Salon Elysee / Makeup: DIY / Wedding Gown: Melissa Sweet for Priscilla of Boston / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Ceremony Music: Shannon Caine of Beautiful Music / Band: Wings of Sound

Winter is one of my favorite seasons and I anxiously await its arrival every single year.  But, I’ll be the first to admit it… I’ve grown a little weary of these cold, January days.  Thankfully, andi mans photography and design sent along this darling Daytona Beach engagement session, because the sun, sand, surf and uber-gorgeous couple are just what the doctor ordered for these pesky winter blues. Even better, with an entire Monday of gallery gazing ahead of me, I can already feel these stunning images brightening up my day.  Join me in the gallery for more.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Andi of andi mans photography and design… I always look forward to meeting a couple for their engagement shoot. It gives me a feel for their personalities and how they interact with each other. CJ is a friend of mine who contacted me first thing in the beginning of the new year to ask me if I wanted to photograph his beachside St. Petersburg wedding in April. (Yes! Cannot wait!) CJ’s fiancee Nija is gorgeous and seeing them together was not only adorable but so much fun to shoot. I look forward to capturing their big day in April, and I hope you enjoy this sweet couple as much as I did! These were shot in Daytona Beach, Florida, near the pier. The weather was perfect, the sun was going down, and the temperature was cool — a beautiful combination.

Photography: andi mans photography and design / Engagement Session Location: Daytona Beach, Florida

Pure 7 Studios sent this beach beauty our way and we were dazzled at first glance. It’s a bright, happy, shiny, cabana striped heaven full of summer yellows and gorgeous florals crafted by Events by Nouveau Flowers. With the ocean as a backdrop you really can’t go wrong but with the stylings of Carillon Weddings by Victoria, they got it so, so right. And now we’re left dreaming of warm, sunny weather and seaside affairs. See more of the day right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Since the day John and I got engaged, he pretty much gave me free rein over everything once we found our venue, Carillon Beach. Although both of us are from the Washington, D.C. area, a destination wedding fit us as a couple perfectly. This beach community, nestled along Florida’s Emerald Coast, was inviting, beautiful and layered with notes of authentic beach-like charm. It was the easiest decision we could make, and it set just the right tone for our wedding weekend. Once the setting was decided, capturing the “feeling” was a combination of taking the snapshots I was collecting in my head and listening to the expertise of the area vendors I was lucky enough to work with. A few things for me were sure: I wanted the day to be elegant without stuffy, stylish without “over the top,” more modern than traditional and full of special touches. All that said, creating a concept that reflected that in a setting that already sold itself, was a bit challenging. Luckily, our wedding planner, Victoria of Carillon Weddings by Victoria, expertly guided us. We soon met with Christina at Events by Nouveau Flowers who refreshingly organized my thoughts, reeling in my inspiration.

We kept the ceremony simple. Both John and I knew we wanted to get married with sand between our toes, so it was a given that the ceremony would be on the beach. I had always envisioned this for us, and I knew I wanted to keep the scene organic. Let the beauty of the backdrop speak for itself and make this moment all about “us.” The crepe myrtle trees with light fabric canopy were natural and breezy, framing the spot we would exchange our vows. This, coupled with the whitewashed benches and lone yellow tulips lining the aisle, painted the perfect picture. There was something so intimate about how it all came together with the waves crashing in the background. To this day, this setting is my most fond memory.

For our reception, playing off a yellow/gray color scheme, Christina helped to bring the vision to life arranging solids, stripes and patterns, monochromatic floral displays and an array of textural contrasts. I loved the three signature glass and steel chandeliers hung from our clear top tent set amongst the dome shade lamps, just one of the many unique touches throughout the space. Outside the tent, we offered our guests lounge areas, where textures from burlap and rope to linen and glass gave the modern space a vintage undertone. Everything else was all about the details. Those special touches I sometimes obsessed over. This was really a wedding weekend to us, so from the welcome totes filled with homemade Florida Key lime and pistachio cookies and postcards for home, to monogrammed throw pillows, flip flops for dancing, framed photos, after-dinner cigars for the guys and all the paper details, every part of the weekend was considered. I made an Etsy discovery with 2BSquared, whom I worked with to design all the paper details like itineraries, escort cards we pinned as tags on hanging vintage frames from nearby trees, signage (for our gelato station — yum!), fan programs and menu cards. Even my bridesmaids wore custom-made yellow and gray statement necklaces.

Wedding Photography: Pure 7 Studios / Wedding Cake: Confections on the Coast / Flowers: Events by Nouveau Flowers / Catering: Townsend Catering / Event Planning: Carillon Weddings by Victoria / Ceremony: Meeting House in Carillon Beach, Florida / Reception: The Village Green in Carillon Beach, Florida / Wedding Paper Goods: 2BSquared / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza / Bridesmaid Dresses: B2 by Jasmine Bridal / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: Ralph Lauren / Hair + Makeup: Solace Salon (Now Called Vivo Spa Salon) / Reception Music: Jones and Company

I love when couples not only marry each other but their cultures, styles and favorite things into one ship-shape, spectacular celebration.  This “Scottish meets American” Tallahassee wedding by Elizabeth Davis Photography blends two worlds and two personalities into a lovely and unique affair that seamlessly pairs tradition with style.  Plus how adorable is that flower girl!  Hop, skip and jump over to the full gallery to see the entire wedding!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Elizabeth of Elizabeth Davis Photography… Peter is a Scotsman and Elisabeth is an American. They met in Scotland, where Elisabeth studied in college. Their wedding was a seamless, unique blending of their two worlds — Traditional Scotland and Southern American Charm. The groom, groomsmen and many wedding guests wore traditional formal Scottish attire. Colors were red, green and blue. Goodwood Museums and Gardens offered a brilliant backdrop for an “old-south” wedding with its southern architecture and giant oak trees, and Catering Capers offered a menu of southern cooking, beginning with an appetizer of fried pickles. Centerpieces were comprised of Lucy & Leo’s flawless, decadent cupcakes; red and white wines; and the couple’s favorite books, which were used to identify and number each table.

Wedding Photography: Elizabeth Davis Photography / Ceremony: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church / Reception: Goodwood Museum and Gardens / Wedding Planning: Ricky Radford of John Gandy Events / Caterer: Catering Capers / Florist: Designs by Darin / Cupcakes: Lucy and Leo’s Cupcakery / Linens: Silver Lining Linens / Live Music: Loco Motives / Salon: Haute Headz / Bagpiper: Joe Ashcraft

This darling Casa Feliz wedding is all about the sweet, sweet details… and I don’t have to tell you just how much that makes me swoon. From the cute tandem bike to the vibrant purple and orange hues to the fabulous vintage vibe, every.single.moment has special meaning to the uber-adorable bride and groom.  And what better way to celebrate your big day than with a celebration of YOU?  Amalie Orrange Photography was on hand to capture all of the lovely, including that beyond gorgeous gown and the beautiful blooms by Jonathan’s Flowers.  Click here for more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride…  Zack is Jewish and I am Catholic, so we decided to forego a traditional, religious wedding in favor of a vintage-themed party with a Southern influence. Shortly following our engagement, Zack and I found Casa Feliz, a Mediterranean-style farmhouse built by James Gamble Rogers II during the Great Depression. Zack and I visited Casa Feliz once and were in awe of its Spanish tiled roof, whitewashed bricks, vaulted ceilings with huge, exposed beams, hand-carved, antique furniture, and immaculate landscaping intertwined with the old southern oaks. Without visiting any other venues, Zack and I decided Casa Feliz was the perfect location for our wedding. Once we established the venue, Zack and I wanted to personalize the space. When we started dating, Zack and I rode my parents’ vintage, tandem bike as often as we could. Because riding a tandem, especially one as heavy as my parents’, takes extreme teamwork, we figured it drew a great parallel to marriage and should be the focus of our theme. Additionally, Zack and I met on a camping trip, so we also wanted to incorporate rustic, outdoorsy details in the décor. I adore antiques – from Victorian to art deco to retro — I love everything vintage! Zack consented to including vintage details in our décor as long as he did not have to wear a stuffy tux, bow tie or suspenders; points I gladly conceded. From there, we based our color palette on our favorite colors, orange and purple; which happened to work really well with the season and Casa Feliz’ brick backdrop.  

Zack and I were intent on making our wedding as personal as possible. We wanted every detail to reflect who we are as a couple. We started with the invitations, which turned out to be a group effort: I designed our invitation suite by combining a variety of free clipart: an old tandem, art deco accents, and vintage fonts; Zack printed them on DIY invitation/response card paper; and my mom tied, stuffed, addressed, and mailed them for us. With my parents’ tandem on display, our wedding day turned out even better than we had hoped. For the ceremony, our guests sat in the garden facing the front of Casa Feliz and the wedding party stood beneath the balcony, which my sister, Jenn, decorated with an “M & Z” garland she’d made. The girls’ vintage-inspired, orange dresses complemented my wedding dress, an ivory ball gown with lace half-sleeves, an embroidered lace bodice and cathedral train, which was, of course, also vintage-inspired and made me feel like a princess and a proper bride. To accent my gown, I wore a tulle, birdcage veil I made, my great-great-grandma’s engagement ring, my grandma’s pearl and diamond earrings, and my maternal grandma’s wedding garter. In addition, Jonathan’s Flowers designed the most gorgeous bouquets for me and my bridesmaids, using Queen Anne’s Lace, lisianthus, bells of Ireland, blue thistle, and pincushion mums — flowers that remind me of my late grandma.  

After the ceremony, the staff at Casa Feliz and Arthur’s Catering arranged different food stations and high-top cocktail tables around the house to encourage mingling, as well as areas inside and out for those guests who preferred to sit. My mom and sister designed our rustic, outdoorsy centerpieces. For the cocktail tables, they bought a variety of lanterns from Ikea, which we filled with potpourri and tea lights. For the seated tables, Jenn ordered raw wood platters made from slices of logs that we sealed with polyurethane and topped with a trio of orange, green, and clear vases (also from Ikea), which our florist filled with seasonal wildflowers. Jenn also commissioned a friend to paint a canvas with two bikes leaning against a leafless tree for us to use as a guestbook. Instead of leaving their names and well wishes like in a typical guestbook, our guests were asked to “leaf” their fingerprints on the tree’s branches in orange and brown inks. For our toast, Zack and I used “Red-Neck Wine Glasses” (Mason jars mounted on champagne flute stems) as a semi-classy nod to the South. Zack designed our delicious wedding cake: a chocolate frosted cake with three topsy-turvy layers decorated with a tiny tandem bike that was made to look like it was riding up an autumn bike trail. Zack and I were thrilled with our wedding ceremony and reception, especially because our guests all seemed to have a lot of fun. What’s best though, is all the special details of our day were beautifully captured by our photographer, Amalie Orrange, so we can enjoy them for years to come.

Wedding Photography: Amalie Orrange Photography / Wedding Venue: Casa Feliz / Flowers: Jonathan’s Flowers / Officiant: Ron Rosenzweig / Caterer: Arthur’s Catering / Cake: Party Flavors Custom Cakes / DJ + Band: Thompson Entertainment, L.L.C. / Hair: Katie O’Brien, Bride’s Friend / Wedding Gown: White by Vera Wang for David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: B. Makowsky / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: ASOS / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Nine West / Groom’s Suit: Tommy Hilfiger  / Groom’s Tie: Vintage / Groomsmen Ties + Bow Ties: Vintage / Wedding Invitations: DIY, The Bride & Groom

There’s just something so magical about being in the middle of a forest. Maybe it’s the peace and quiet, maybe it’s just being so close to nature, but either way, it’s hard not to fall absolutely in love with the woods. Especially when those woods contain this gorgeous photo shoot by Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Photography. From chopping the wood to setting the rustic table, this talented team of vendors did it all! Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Lauren of Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Photography… For this shoot, the original inspiration came to me when I was making holiday cookies and the flour floated out of the bowl and filled the air like freshly-fallen snow. I pitched the idea of a winter-inspired editorial to Shannon Reeves, an amazing event designer, and knew that this collaboration would yield some truly beautiful results. With several ideas filling our minds, we quickly started dreaming up a woodland “elopement,” and before we knew it, we had invited the lovely Angela Haley of Hemstitch Vintage on board. Together, we were able to draw so much inspiration from each other. The results are those made of dreams, and we could not be happier with the results!

Photography: Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Photography / Styling: Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Photography + Shannon Reeves Events + Angela Haley of Hemstitch Vintage Rentals / Chairs, Table + Props: Hemstitch Vintage Rentals / Models: Katherine + Michael / Hair + Makeup: Jessica Miller of Make Me Blush / Wedding Dresses: Danielle Berg of D’Marie Couture / Hair Pieces: Julie Sherwood of Lucia Bella / Lavender Bouquet: Missy Gunnels Florals / Location: Behind the Photographer’s Home in Tallahassee, Florida

I hope you have some tissues handy because we are about to kick off the week here at SMP Florida with a real heart-string pulling, sweet-as-can-be, tearjerker.  This creative, crafty and cutie groom-to-be surprised his true love with a seaside proposal that has us all swooning.  He gains big points in our book for coordinating and setting up all the decor even arranging a beautiful pink bouquet of peonies!  Lucky for him, and lucky for us, she said yes and we get to witness this special moment captured by Karen Harrison Photography!  See the entire proposal in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL proposal!

From Karen of Karen Harrison Photography… On a windy yet beautiful day in October, Christopher Galis proposed to his girlfriend Kelsie. Chris had planned every last detail of the day — from flying in unbeknownst to Kelsie, to setting up the gorgeous scene on the beach, to hiring a photographer to capture it all unfold. Kelsie’s sister and family were recruited to get her to the beach under the guise of a family photo session. Upon Kelsie’s arrival, Chris stepped out from behind some seagrass and bushes, surprising Kelsie and popping the question. As you can see, the answer was a very excited YES!

Photography: Karen Harrison Photography / Location: Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin, Florida / Bamboo Arch: A Tailored Event

You are going to love these two. You are going to love them from the moment you watch this video. You’re going to love the cake, you’re going to love the decor, your going to love the beach ceremony. But you are going to capital LOVE this couple more than anything. Their infectious smiles, their extreme excitement, their tear stained vows. And you are going to love Paul Johnson Photography for capturing the day in beautiful stills, and Diva Productions for capturing it in a breathtaking video. You are going to love these two.

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A Water Color Wedding | Coming Soon: Missy & Lauren… from Diva Productions

Click here to see the full image gallery!

After dating for several months and realizing that I had absolutely met my best friend, it was clear that we meant to be together. Our plans were to be in WaterColor to celebrate the holidays with my father’s side of the family. Having such a special, amazing time in one of the most incomparably beautiful places, it seemed like this would be the perfect time to ask. Unfortunately, we still did not have a ring decided upon.

In WaterColor, there is a classic candy shop from your childhood with a bunch of stuffed animals and other small toys, amongst which is a big Hello Kitty section. Missy absolutely adores Hello Kitty. On the bottom shelf, thankfully tucked away from desperate eyes pointed at a huge stuffed Hello Kitty, was a rack of faux-antique rings with Hello Kitty jewels. While Missy sadly walked out without a big mushy feline friend, I rushed back and purchased one of the rings, thinking I had found perfection right there. I could barely contain my glee as I skipped outside, trying to look nonchalant while already trying to figure out the best place to ask Missy to be my wife.

Every evening in WaterColor, my family lines up beach chairs and watches the sun magically go down over the Gulf. This would clearly be the perfect place! However, being December, the coast was quite chilly and not everyone who grew up in Miami Beach wanted to stay out to watch, even when given the option of taking my fleece and gloves for warmth. Thus, “Plan A” was foiled. However, being Christmas the next morning there was another opportunity for a special and memorable moment. When we woke up, earlier than the family breakfast, I told Missy that I had gotten her a gift that week. “When? I was with you every minute!” Well, not every minute. I then reached into my coat pocket to get the pink princess Hello Kitty ring still waiting for a finger and got down on one knee in from of the bed. Looking up at the still just-waking Missy, I asked, “Will you marry me?” We then had the most smiling-est, jumping-est, teary-est morning ever.

After being engaged there, the decision to have the wedding at WaterColor was simple; we wanted a wedding where people who loved each other got to spend as much time as possible with one another. WaterColor is phenomenal for family get togethers, and we were excited to introduce so many people to the Emerald Coast.

The concept of a modern beach wedding was matched by the style of all of our fantastic vendors, who absolutely made the day. And we could not have had a better band than Rubik’s Groove. Missy and I both love 80s music, and these guys were the most amazing event band ever. No one sat for the entire night. Even when the delicious food was served, people wanted to be dancing, not eating! All we have seen in the pictures of the tent are empty chairs and a full dance floor!

Cinematography: Diva Productions / Photography: Paul Johnson Photography / Event Designer & Coordinator: Jennifer Warwick-Lewis + Jennifer Fisher for It’s a Shore Thing / Venue: WaterColor Inn & Resort / Venue Coordinator: Cheryl Walton for WaterColor / Cake: Confections on the Coast / Florals: Nouveau Flowers / Officiant: Rabbi Richard Baroff / Band: Rubik’s Groove / Makeup Artist: Yvette Nation / Hair Stylist: Ashley Carter / Ceremony Guitarist: Hunter Dawson