Florida Weddings

We love e-sessions around here because they are all so different and unique and just like the weddings we feature, they celebrate the couple and what makes them tick. This session just so happens to be super cute, stylish and fun, all wrapped into one by Kallima Photography. I’m loving the little popsicle stick signs, the red beach cruiser, and yes, the picnic session with beer on the field. Adorable! Click here for the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Kallima Photography…Kat + John had dreams of their engagement shoot for months and months after we booked them. The theme we wanted to emphasis was a very “Palm Beach” feel. Gorgeous dewy morning light, a few Etsy signs, imported beers, a beach cruiser, and perfectly picked colors and outfits made this shoot especially beautiful. We chose a grassy hill, a marina, and the Lake Trail on Palm Beach Island to bring our “palm beach” feel to life.

Make-up: Naomi Chapman / Beach Cruiser: Palm Beach Bicycle Trail Shop / Marina: Sailfish Marina Resort / Photography: Kallima Photography

What is it about the Florida light?  Maybe it’s Glass Jar Photography‘s exquisitely dreamy photographs in particular but it seems like every wedding from the sunshine state basks in a glorious glow.  A sweet, simple, maritime-themed wedding like this one just shines, like those adorable bridesmaid hair clips and sassy gold shoes, in that luminous light.  Check out all the lovely, laid back details in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Our theme was playful and easygoing, and we tried to focus more on hosting a great party for our family and friends than on having a traditional wedding. Mike is a true New Englander and grew up in Boston, so we wanted to blend our gorgeous Florida setting with traditional maritime elements.  We had our guests sign these great hand painted buoys and we served dark and stormies for the cocktail hour.  Our menu was casual and inspired by one of our favorite restaurants in New York, the Mermaid Inn (lobster rolls, crispy fries, and mac and cheese). My baby sister happens to be a genius baker and kindly baked us an entire bundt cake bar in lieu of a traditional wedding cake.  One of my favorite elements came as a gift from my dad’s family who live in Hawaii. They sent us stunning traditional Hawaiian wedding leis that we put on at the end of the ceremony and my dad, who grew up in Hawaii, gave a tender speech about their significance at the reception.

The party wouldn’t have been anything without the help of our great vendors and our families who were beyond amazing.  My mom tirelessly helped me make our programs, menus, and goody bags and my dad was up early on the wedding day stringing lights and planting flowers- it was a true family affair. Mike’s parents hosted a fantastic poolside bash the night before the wedding which really helped to set the tone for the  weekend.

Our florist/planner, Lara, coordinated everything seamlessly and helped us achieve the laid back, seaside vibe that we were going for. Our DJ, RJ Vida, was absolutely amazing and dealt with about a million last minute changes, but he still managed to have everyone on the dance floor the entire night. There wasn’t a dry shirt (or pant for that matter) in sight! And as you can see from the photos, Whitney and Bethany from Glass Jar Photography were incredible. They were so much fun to work with and they were really able to translate the entire wedding attitude into the photos.  They are an absolutely adorable married couple which doesn’t hurt either!

In the end, it was such an amazing weekend, made special by all of our family and friends who travelled to celebrate with us. We loved dancing, eating, and catching up with all our loved ones. It was the perfect way to start off our new life together!

Floral + Planning: Lara’s Theme / Reception: Sea Oaks Beach Club / DJ: RJ Vida / Wedding Photography: Glass Jar Photography

I can’t even begin to count the ways I am crushing on this Tampa wedding by Raquel Sergio Photography.  My love affair definitely started with the beyond beautiful bride and her sincerely sultry bouffant and birdcage veil.  It only escalated from there once I laid eyes on the voluptuous bouquets and wildflower centerpieces and all the adorable vintage and handmade details.  Check them all out in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Raquel Sergio Photography…Every detail of their day was knit together carefully, matching their vintage style perfectly.We loved every single part of the day spent with Jennifer and Cory. One of the most memorable parts of the day for us, was their grand entrance as Mr. and Mrs. they walking in dancing to Mrs. Robinson (Mr and Mrs Robinson are their newly wed name) every time I hear that song I remember how happy Jennifer and Cory were dancing to their entrance and their guests greeting them.) Jennifer and Cory are the perfect definition to Love, and I was so happy to be capturing such strong emotions on such a beautiful day.

Wedding Photography: Raquel Sergio Photography / Ceremony + Reception Venue: Ybor City Museum Garden / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alvina Valenta via Olga’s Bridal Boutique / Groom + Groomsmen Apparel: Banana Republic, Madras, Urban Outfitters + J.Crew / Wedding Rings: Liz Karas / Decoration: The Bride and Mother of the Bride / Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: Olympia Bakery

There is just something so incredibly glamourous about a black tie beach wedding – the surf, the sand, the suits, oh my. And those seaside soirees really don’t get more elegant than this pretty party by Chelsey Boatwright Photography. I am sure you’ll agree. And before I send you often to swoon the day away in the full gallery of images, how much do you just LOVE bridesmaids in white? Because I am crushing hard over that detail, please tell me I’m not alone…

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Chelsey Boatwright Photography…Lindsay and Dave met in April of 2002 when a mutual family friend suggested they should be introduced prior to starting Princeton together; it was a match from the start. After 9 years of dating and the adoption of a black lab, Bosco, Dave proposed and they decided that a wedding at Mizner Country Club in Delray Beach, Fl, where Lindsay’s mother lives, would be perfect.

The idea was to create a destination wedding for all guests who lived in New York City (where Lindsay works), Cambridge, Massachusetts (where Dave attends business school), and Philadelphia (where most of Lindsay and Dave’s family and family friends live) and to highlight the things they love—fun and sun, French décor, great music and dancing, family time, and Labrador retrievers.

Lindsay and her mother, Marlyn, worked as a team to incorporate all these desires and came up with one fantastic weekend. The rehearsal dinner was a BBQ with a DJ at Seagate Beach Club and quickly turned into a beachy dance party. The actual wedding was held at Mizner Country Club with a beautiful ceremony poolside under the palm trees and a reception inside with gorgeous decorations by Dailsmer & Atlas, killer music by De La Crème, and a phenomenal menu of food and wine menu designed by the bride’s mother’s boyfriend, Jay Wolmer. The Sunday Brunch was held at the couple’s favorite restaurant, Cut 432.

The family’s three Labrador retrievers escorted the bridal party down the aisle, Labrador ice sculptures during the cocktail hour, and donations made to the Seeing Eye, a nonprofit guide dog organization, in honor of all the guests. The wedding start to finish was an absolute blast and gave the couple a great excuse to fly their dog Bosco to Delray Beach to hang out with his cousins CJ and Harley for a two week Labrador vacation.

Wedding Photography: Chelsey Boatwright Photography / Wedding Planning + Coordination: Your Special Day by Joni / Wedding Dress: Amsale / Veil: Brides Head Revisted / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Hair: Valentine’s Salon / Make-up: Cindy Cohen / Suit: Custom / Groom’s Shoes: Salvatore Ferregamo / Bridesmaid Dresses: Boca Raton Bridal / Dog Collars: Dalsimer Atlas / Venue: Mizner Country Club / Wedding Cake: Sugar Chef / Band: Marcia Mitchell’s De La Creme / Floral Design: Dalsimer Atlas / Linens: Over the Top, Inc. / Officiant: Cantor Jessica Turnoff Ferrari / Wedding Invitations: Salutations

I don’t believe any wedding film has ever made me cry as much as this breathtaking piece of cinema by Ray Roman Films.  Seconds in and I was in some desperate need of a tissue.  From the beautiful shot of the bride’s stunning gown on the balcony (love) to the look on the groom’s face before his bride walks down the aisle, every moment is simply magical.  And with a soiree planned by The Zanadu Group, it’s a whole lot of gorgeous packed in to just under 3 minutes.  So, prepare yourself for some happy tears (seriously) and enjoy every lovely second.  It’s amazing.

Oh, we’re not done yet.  Here’s a few stunning images by Nancy Cohn Photography to send you happily into the weekend.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Ray Roman Films… When I least expect it, an amazing couple pops up out of nowhere and completely blows us away. I had never met Katie and Jared until their wedding day… in fact, I was hired just days before the big event. Who would of guessed these two lovebirds would end up becoming one of my favorite couples of the year. We had such a great time filming this wedding and what truly made it special was Katie & Jared’s love for one another, which was just one eye-candy shot after another. Special thanks to Cheryl Beitler of Zanadu Productions for her talents, as the wedding itself looked spectacular! I decided to slow down the pace for this film, so you could connect and feel the emotions from this amazing wedding. Grab a snack (and a tissue), kickback and enjoy this short film from Katie and Jared’s Wedding at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.

Wedding Cinematography: Ray Roman Films / Wedding Photography: Nancy Cohn Photography / Event Planner: The Zanadu Group / Officiant: Rabbi Sol Rothstein / Venue: The Mar-a-Lago Club / Music: Soul Survivors

If you are on the fence about doing an engagement session, I have a good feeling this post might make you jump right off that fence to call your photographer to get one on the books. It goes to show you don’t need a theme or a ton of props for the session to be absolutely adorable. Maria Glassford made sure each image was as fabulous as the first, and there is even more in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Maria Glassford Photography…This month starts the ending to Lauren and Lucas’ beginning. Both entering into their senior year at a small Christian college in Ohio (where they met), the two will marry next June down in Florida for a day that will truly be one to remember (and share!).  When they decided to to do their shoot at these old, rustic houses, my heart was so ecstatic. The location has a ridiculous amount of charm as you walk around the grounds- hanging moss, bamboo rustling with each blow of wind, wood paneled houses, a river, and the list goes on and on! It’s a definite must see place in Southwest Florida, whether it be for a tour, wedding or shoot!

Location: Koreshan State Park / Photography: g

So by now we all know that it’s super cool and practical to shop local for everything from groceries to wedding accessories so we figured we’d give you a jump start on the local front and introduce you to some of your talented neighbors who happen to have amazing goodies for your wedding on Etsy. You’ll find everything from invites to favors and they are all hand-made and unique.

Take these hand made burlap wedding invites by paperlemon in Ft. Myers for example. Super cute, right?

Looking to add a little whimsy to your day? Then you’ll definitely want to check out these adorable “cootie catcher” wedding programs from AlchemyHourDesigns in St. Pete’s.

Love everything that’s bright and fun and bold? If that sounds like you, you’ve got to check out stephlovesben in Tampa because this girl’s got a little something for everyone including these super adorable pom-poms.

Or these adorable welcome tags from theinspirednote in Royal Palm Beach:

And while you’re on Etsy, you’ve got to check out indobaytextiles in Orlando. She’s got the cutest little accessories from wooden conversation hearts to these adorable and modern wooden egg mementos.

And there you have it. A little round-up of some fabulous local vendors on Etsy. Happy shopping! xoxo

I didn’t realize how much of a modern bride I was until I saw these gorgeous Vero Beach nuptials and decided that I needed to have this exact wedding for my own big day.  From the vibrant coral and blue color scheme to the sleek and elegant centerpieces, you could say I am a tad bit obsessed with this beachy soiree.  And don’t even get me started on the bride’s stunning gown, which is all things awesome.  Christina Szczupak Photography was there to capture all of the pretty and, trust me, you don’t want to miss a single stunning image.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… We made choosing a venue for our wedding the very first decision we made for the wedding because we wanted to plan everything around the site. We knew we wanted something unique and beautiful and wanted to include only our very closest friends and family. After months (and months) of looking at places all around the country, we finally decided that the Beach Club would be a great place for a wedding. Scott’s grandparents live there and are members of Grand Harbor and we had visited them several times. Scott actually watched a wedding being set up once at the Beach Club and saw what a great setting it could be. We always knew that we wanted to be out in the beauty of nature for our wedding, so it was a perfect fit.

After we had the site nailed down, every thing else that we planned was based around the colors and feel of the club and the ocean and beach. We wanted lots of whites and neutrals with pops of bright coral and blue and green to mimic the natural environment. We also wanted to maintain a more modern look while still being inviting and comfortable. I had always wanted a sleek, streamlined dress and the one I found was perfect for the beach. We also decided on a navy suit for Scott instead of the traditional khaki that grooms wear at beach weddings because we wanted to have the colors stand out against the backdrop of the sand. I think the biggest take away from our wedding is that we wanted it to be beautiful, modern, embrace the natural surroundings and above all be a really awesome party with great food, great music and a great party for the people we care most about. I think we were successful since everyone is smiling in so many of the photos!

Wedding Photography: Christina Szczupak Photography / Venue: Grand Harbor Beach Club / Florist: Hutchinson’s Florist / Wedding Dress: BCBG / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groomsmen + Groom’s Ties: Brooks Brothers / Bride’s Shoes: Elie Tahari / Bride’s Earrings: Alexis Bittar / Vases: Ikea

For those of you out there looking for a way to make DIY look uber elegant, look no further than this gorgeous island affair by Wed Perfect at the beautiful Casa Ybel Resort. There is so much elegant inspiration to file away – for instance, I’m personally LOVING the message in a bottle programs. Genius. Or how about that in lieu of a guest book their guests left notes for them to read on their first anniversary? Adorable. I should also mention that the calligraphy by Xandra Zamora is making my heart quite happy on this Monday. Of course it doesn’t stop there – thanks to Denise Bovee Photography the gallery is full of fabulous images that are sure to make your heart happy too, so be sure to stop on by.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We cut all 500 white roses & arranged them and tied each vase with a velvet ribbon in either silver, mauve, or sage. Each place setting was marked with a sprig of lavender and handwritten place cards made by the most amazing calligrapher ever – Xandra Zemora.

I wanted everything to be white with little accents of color here and there, and I wanted a wedding on the beach that I’d grown up playing on, but not a “beachy” wedding. I wanted everything to feel laid back yet elegant. I only had 2 beach references (besides the beach – obviously). The first was a single sea shell I used as a paper weight on my guest sign in table (I didn’t do a guest book – because, well I just don’t really “get” guest books). I had blank cards & envelopes and asked guest to write Rodney & I a note to read on our 1 year anniversary.  I also made our programs a message in a bottle. I collected vintage looking glass soda bottles & stuck a program in each tied with a ribbon and some feathers.  I bought white shawls in Chinatown in NYC  for guests to take as a gift as well as to stay warm if it got chilly.

One of my favorite details was the table cloth on the cake table that my mom made out of lace from her wedding. She also made table cloths to go over each of the other tables. They were very subtle and made out of cream netting draped over the white linen table cloths that were already there & added a subtle beautiful texture to the room that I really loved.  My mom also wrapped votives in lace & those were my other favorite decoration.

The whole day was amazing!  The bouquets were done by Floral Artistry of Sanibel & I added long silk ribbons to both of them to add a little pop of color. We had a friend DJ during the reception, but for the ceremony & cocktail hour, we hired Bambi Fisher through Florida Talent Consultants & she was lovely.

Wedding Planner: Jennifer Dube of Wed Perfect / Venue: Casa Ybel Resort / Calligraphy: Xandra Zamora / Floral Design: Floral Artistry / Ceremony Music: Bambi Fisher via Florida Talent Consultants / Wedding Cake: Masons Bakery / Wedding Photography: Denise Bovee Photography

It’s raining cats and dogs this Monday morning, so a Boca Grande beauty by K and K Photography seems to be the perfect way to get lost for the day. It’s 100% beach chic, with it’s fabulous color palette, gorgeous bride and groom, and perfect seaside setting. Not to mention the bride’s engagement ring literally knocked my socks right off my feet. Although I guess being sock-less is a good thing for getting lost in this sandy soiree, because after looking through all the pretty images in the full gallery I can almost feel the sand between my toes…

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…When Oakley and I were engaged we both knew we didn’t want a huge wedding. As we are both from the same hometown, we knew it would be very hard to keep it intimate having the wedding there. So we moved it down to Boca Grande, FL, a place where we each spent time growing up with our families and a perfect setting for what we wanted. We chose the Gazebo at The Gasparilla Inn Golf Club for our ceremony, which was ideal for an outdoor wedding, but also because Oakley spent many spring days under the same roof waiting for a golf game. We tried to incorporate as much of the island as possible, opting for a local bakery shop to make all the key lime pies for dessert and listing all of our favorite locales on our weekend itinerary for our guests, including the names of local fishermen for our guests to reach out to…which they did! As a predominately New York based crowd, there was a huge effort made by all who came down for the weekend. It meant the world to us to see all of our favorite people in our favorite spot.

As for decor, the island itself is such a beautiful place that we wanted the wedding to fit within its surroundings, though keep a classic, not overly beachy feel. With my favorite colors being all shades of blue, it was fun to coordinate with the setting; a deep blue sky and turquoise waters. We opted for shades of blue paper lanterns, alternating blue and green bridesmaid dresses and striped groomsmen ties, blue table linens, sea glass and mason jars. As a present to his groomsmen, Oakley had needlepoint belts made with symbols of Boca Grande and each person’s initials, also in keeping with our color scheme. All of this, paired with the crisp whites of the peonies, linen napkins, bridesmaids’ earrings, groomsmens’ trousers, and a black and white dance floor created the perfect balance for which I had hoped.

Looking back, we would not have changed a thing. Being surrounded by our closest friends and family in Boca Grande certainly made it the best weekend we could have ever imagined.

Wedding Photography: K and K Photography, LLC / Event Coordination: Events by Maestro / Ceremony Venue: Gazebo at The Gasparilla Inn Golf Club / Reception Venue: The Boca Bay Pass Club / Florals: The Naked Florist / Ceremony + Reception Music: Tropics Entertainment / Reception Band: Libido / Tent, Chairs, Linens, Lanterns: US Tent Rental / Invitations, Place Cards, Programs: William Arthur Fine Stationery from Min Meg II

It’s a wonderful Friday morning here on Style Me Pretty Florida and we have just the wedding to fill your entire weekend with pretty.  These stunning Bonita Springs nuptials by Damon Tucci Photography have literally left me speechless from all of the gorgeous.  Not only do I absolutely adore the blue and white color palette, but those bridesmaid dresses have just moved to the top of my “when can I wear this” list.  And don’t even get me started on that breathtaking ceremony space.  Love.  All planned by Bon Soiree with decor by Planned Perfection, this traditional fete is an A+ in fabulous.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Damon Tucci Photography… Rachel and Jason’s wedding took place on February 12, 2011 in the tropical, outdoor setting of west coast of Florida. The lush green hedges of the Hyatt Bonita Springs provided the perfect backdrop for the ceremony and matched perfectly with the bride’s theme of old world French.

The vibrant Florida blue skies weaved seamlessly with the bride’s color palette of soft greens and blues. For the aisle of the garden ceremony the bride selected massive topiaries in textured urns and hydrangea.

In the reception room, Rachel’s minimalist style was translated through the use of tall branches and simple floral arrangements. Uplighting provided fun accent colors which added to the casual elegance of the atmosphere. Some of the most memorable details of the day were the photo booth, custom made guest signing book using the couple’s engagement photos from New Orleans and the sage advice cards that guests filled out during the reception.

Venue: Hyatt Bonita Springs / Wedding Planner: Pam Beckman of Bon Soiree / Decor: Eddie of Planned Perfection / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm / Bride’s Shoes: Cole Haan / Make-up + Hair: Dani Taverna of Spa Matters International + The Rok / Wedding Videography: Brett Culp / Wedding Invitations: Abby’s Printing / Wedding Photography: Damon Tucci Photography

The floral design in this wedding is legit to die for. I’m loving every petal I see from the white and black ranunculus in the bride’s bouquet to the fluffy hydrangeas that adorn the altar to the beyond beautiful raised displays of yellow and pink roses dripping with crystal beads. BinaryFlips Photography was there to capture all the pretty details and we couldn’t be happier! Click here for the full gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…When Peter and I first began the wedding planning process, we knew that we wanted it to be something that represented us as a couple with lots of personal details.  We began brainstorming with our planner, but it really didn’t come into fruition until we started interviewing photographers. When we first met Dennis from Binaryflips, we sat down in a café to discuss our vision.  While dating, Peter had introduced me to his favorite past time of bike riding.  After a visit to his native country of Holland, we decided to purchase typical Dutch bicycles.  That became the central theme of our wedding.  Dennis immediately became excited and we brainstormed ways to incorporate the bicycles into our engagement shoot.  The end result: Absolutely gorgeous shots in St. Augustine that had most people asking if we actually went to Holland for the shoot.  The moral of this story is make sure that not only you are excited about theme, but also your photographer that way the pictures appear like you are having a good time and very natural! The rest was history- we began incorporating the bicycle in different areas of the wedding such as the save the dates, the invitations and even the topper. It was important not to go overboard with the theme, but it was used just enough to keep the wedding theme cohesive throughout all of the different wedding events.

One of my most favorite wedding planning tools was Etsy.  There are so many talented people out there, why not put them to work for you.  For example, I was stuck on an idea for the favors.  We wanted to give something edible and I have always loved French Macarons.  I found someone on Etsy that was willing to not only make the delicious cookies from scratch, but also package them elegantly in the color scheme we were using for the wedding- not to mention, her prices were extremely reasonable.  What a time saver!  Other items I purchased on Etsy were the bridesmaids’ gifts, the cake topper, the flower in my hair, wedding programs and thank you notes.  Find sellers that are willing to work with you and brainstorm ideas to make your event personal!

On wedding day, with all the planning completed, I was pretty relaxed and just ready to be married.  Dennis came to the house while I was getting ready with my bridesmaids.  He and his team were able to capture the relaxed and laid back atmosphere before we headed off to the chapel.  He took pictures of all the little details like our rings, the veil and (my favorite) the shoes!   So many times these details get overlooked and now I have great pictures to remind me of what all of these accessories looked like.

Wedding Photography: BinaryFlips Photography / Ceremony Venue: Rollins Chapel / Reception Venue: Interlachen Country Club / Wedding Coordination: StyleHouse Weddings & Events / Floral Design: Fiora Tabletop Design / Wedding Cake: Bake Me a Cake / Furnitures: AFR Event Furnishings, Shannen Kykta / Chiavari Chairs: A Chair Affair

We have a packed day of wedding lovelies waiting in the wings so I hope you are bright eyed, bushy-tailed and fully caffeinated. And in hopes of not completely overwhelming you, we’re going to display just a snippet of each affair. To see the FULL wedding, simply click on the gallery.

We are going to start things off with a bang. And by bang I mean a really gorgeous wedding with the perfect mix of traditional elements and shabby chic details all captured by Shannon Mathis of Mi Amore Foto. Her pictures are beyond gorgeous and so worth a trip to the gallery for the FULL wedding!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…I love telling our story. My freshman year of college in Birmingham I was a nanny for a little girl. Aaron just so happened to be her preschool teacher. I picked her up three days a week, but Aaron never really talked to me about anything other than the little girl (so I assumed he wasn’t interested). Come to find out, he was interested all along and would wake the little girl up first every day to have her start eating snack in hopes that I would stay while she finished – but I always just had her pack up the snack and left. During Christmas break, Aaron decided to make it happen. Bad news was that the little girl’s mom left her job and no longer needed me to babysit and pick her up from preschool. But the Lord brought us together anyway. Right after I got back from Christmas break Aaron and I ran into each other at our college ministry. We had both been involved the entire year but since it was such a large ministry our paths had never crossed. I remember seeing him sit in front of me during the worship time. That was our connection – I realized that he loved the Lord as I watched him worship. Afterward we talked and ended up sitting together the next week, which was when he asked me out on a date. We had the best first date ever. A pizza parlor, a late night stroll through Mountain Brook, breaking into the Botanical Gardens, and talking for hours on what later became “our” bench. It was after this night that both of us could see ourselves marrying one another. Two and a half years later, Aaron proposed to me on our bench. The Lord has continued His faithfulness to us throughout our entire relationship, leading all the way up to our wedding weekend. Everything could not have been more perfect. The Lord was glorified in every aspect and we were so blessed to have had so much fun with our friends and family. It was an amazing way to start our marriage!

I wanted my wedding style to be simple, but very “shabby chic”. I was really excited about using baby’s breath. Along with the mason jars, burlap, different shabby chic fabrics for the place card boards, the suitcases for the cards, and the distressed books for the sign-in, the baby’s breath was the delicate touch that brought everything together. I was also really excited about my favors- I’m obsessed with chapstick. We found some yummy flavors and put song lyrics on the chapsticks from our favorite band, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. During the reception, Aaron and I were saying hello to the guests in the side room. This had been going on for some time while the wedding party was dancing in the main room. Our wedding party decided that it was time for us to join them so they dragged us into the main room and onto the dance floor. That was when the party really got started. The groomsmen decided that it would be a great idea to lift Aaron up into the air. Naturally, the bridesmaids followed the groomsmen’s example and lifted me up into the air as well. This was such a fun and exciting moment that captured the celebration that took place that night.

Wedding Dress: Casablanca Couture via Sweet Elegance / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Flower Girl Dresses: Strasburg / Groom’s + Groomsman Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Groom’s Tie: Tux and Tulle / Wedding Invitations: Sam Flax / Floral Design: Dalsimer / Wedding Cake: We Take the Cake / Groomsmen Ties: J.Crew / Bride’s Make-up: Terrisa Coleman (Family Friend) / Bride’s Hair: Erin of Wild Orchid Hair Salon / Wedding Photography: Mi Amore Foto

I think this gorgeous couple just wrote the book on romantic engagement sessions.  Not only did they spend their day at Fischer Island, where the soon-to-be groom proposed, but they capped it all off with a romantic dinner at The Vanderbilt Mansion, where they had dined the night of the proposal.  Say it with me.  Swoon.  Worthy.  Captured Photography by Jenny was there to turn their romantic story into some seriously stunning images.  Don’t miss a single one!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Captured Photography by Jenny… Andres and Candace met each other in high school, but sparks didn’t fly until years later when they saw each other again in Miami. They have been inseparable ever since. We decided to do their engagement session on Fischer Island (just off of Miami coastline). This is where Andres popped the question, so it had significant meaning to them. We spent some time on the beach that they go to often and then headed over to Vanderbilt Mansion. They had dinner there the night they were engaged.

Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny / Venue: Fischer Island + Vanderbilt Mansion

This super cool, creative couple totally knocked it out of the park with their modern Palm Springs nuptials!  I’m just wild about all the paper goods created by this gorgeous and talented bride and every detail put together by ARTISAN, Event · Floral · Décor, LLC.  Could there be a more perfect spot for a funky, modern fete than the Viceroy?  There is so much style tucked into each and every little corner and all that flair just sparkles with Amelia Lyon in front of the camera! See each and every crazy cool image in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From ARTISAN, Event · Floral · Décor, LLC… Sarah and Gabe had a unique style and wanted to work closely with the design of there wedding, creative and eclectic.  Sarah being an artist herself wanted to do everything paper.  No worries I love that.  The Viceroy was the setting for this amazing wedding, from the Regency Lawn to the Presidio Lawn, unique moments were created all the way through.  Flowers were super important to Sarah, I love that!  So we created amazing bouquets for all the girls, this doesn’t always come as a request, Sarah also created a little charm witch I attached to each bouquet…sweet touch.

From the Bride…As an artist it was inevitable that I happily obsessed over all the visual details of our March 5 wedding.  Designing all the paper products was one of my favorite parts of planning.  My husband and I wanted our paper products to reflect the fun celebratory vibe of the wedding day and the chic modern regency style of our rocking venue, The Viceroy Palm Springs.   The invitations introduced the event (and our wedding style) to our guests and it was important to us that they stand out from standard wedding invitations.  I played around with the idea of different shapes and unusual materials, but ultimately I fell in love with the idea of a long invitation that would be unfolded to finally reveal the invitation to our guests. I created simple patterns and elements of stripes, hearts, dots, and diamond eyes to add visual texture to all the pieces, which also included a mad-lib style RSVP card, an accommodations insert, and a hand drawn map penned by my husband. Everything was then neatly wrapped in a translucent envelope, sealed with silver twine and a label bearing the guests names.

Floral Design + Coordination: ARTISAN, Event · Floral · Décor, LLC / Wedding Photography: Amelia Lyon / Wedding Stationery: The Bride / DJ: Chris Paul / Venue + Catering: The Viceroy Hotel / Wedding Cake: Over The Rainbow / Wedding Videography: Digital Princess Productions / Hair + Make-up: Nicole Deanne

Black and white and FABULOUS all over, this wedding by Jenn Hopkins Photography is classic with a modern twist – which makes this little blogger pleased as punch. And how much do you just LOVE the fact that this stylish pair hosted their reception at The Abbey and The Mezz – a cabaret-style theater? Because I just think that is just the icing on this very pretty wedding cake (speaking of cake, how amazing is theirs?). So much to gush over and so little time, so be sure to check out the full gallery of images for even more!

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From the Bride…Although I’m more classic and traditional, I’m still not the cookie-cutter bride.  My husband and I are a really fun-loving couple and we don’t take ourselves too seriously; we like to be silly. We definitely wanted our wedding to incorporate that aspect of our personalities.  I wanted the wedding to be pretty and elegant, but I was not afraid to have a little fun and venture away from traditional with some of the details.  Still, while my husband would have enjoyed an intimate and casual beach wedding or an impulsive trip to the courthouse, I preferred a size-able and traditional church ceremony with a conventional ballroom reception.  We met somewhere in the middle, and that somewhere turned out even better than I could have imagined.

Our first planning goal was to find a “hip” reception site that would accommodate our 180 guests, and we were able to find exactly that at a new venue in downtown Orlando near beautiful Lake Eola.  Downstairs at “THE ABBEY,” a cabaret-style theater, we were able to provide our guests hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment from an acoustic guitarist.  From there, guests made their way upstairs for a dinner reception and dancing at “THE MEZZ,” a brand new urban event space, with an metropolitan/contemporary feel. We knew that The MEZZ was the perfect setting for our fun-loving, high-spirited, and lively group and would be a great backdrop for a classy, but unforgettable party.  A general theme had taken shape, simply based on the fabulous urban décor of THE ABBEY and THE MEZZ. Our goal was to merge the simple with the stylish, the classic with the modern, and the formal with the fun. Through all of our décor, we stuck to a fairly neutral palate of black, white/cream, and hints of silver.

We began our wedding day with a traditional Christian wedding ceremony in my family’s church, and I wore a fairly conventional ivory wedding dress, but not a ball gown.  I like to describe my wardrobe that day as the Modern Princess.  My traditional dress was updated with a statement-making crystal belt, large crystal and pearl earrings, a show-stopping crystal bracelet, and a cathedral-length veil.  One of my favorite memories was seeing my grandmother’s wedding dress, my mother’s dress, and my dress all displayed together beforehand – three generations of beautiful dresses and happy marriages.  After the ceremony, I transitioned for the modern reception and swapped the veil for a large embellished flower, and made my dress strapless.  I was ready to party and our DJ definitely kept the dance floor packed all night.

Wedding Photography: Jenn Hopkins Photography / Second Photographer: Abbey Saxton Guffey / Flowers: Dream Designs Florist / Ice Cream Catering: Pure Magic Ice Cream / Event Design + Planning: An Affair to Remember / Ceremony Location: St. Lukes Lutheran Church / Reception Location: The Abbey and The Mezz / DJ: Our DJ Rocks

Happy Monday to all our Florida brides-to-be! To kick off what promises to be another week full of gorgeous inspiration is this sweet, rustic wedding by Maria Glassford Photography. We are absolutely loving the burlap and metal table numbers, the brides bouquet complete with multi-colored ribbons, and the sweet-as-can-be mini mason jar honey favors. See even more here.

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From Maria Glassford Photography…A charming venue, a beautiful ceremony and endless detail to create this rustic garden themed wedding for the loveliest of couples. Kate and Rodney were married at the end of May and made certain to not leave any detail unturned. From the vintage typewriter and garden flower arrangements to the honey jars and burlap table numbers- everything about the day was perfectly put together.

Wedding Photography: Maria Glassford Photography / Wedding Cake: Sugar Island Cupcakes / Cake Topper: little addictions / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: Zara / Groom’s Wedding Pin: Bragging Bags / Ties: Amazon / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Hairpiece + Veil: Lo Boheme / Bride’s Shoes: Zappos / Bridesmaid Sash: SnowWhiteStudio / Bridesmaid Dresses: Kohl’s / Flower Girl’s Headband: girliebowtique / Bride’s Hair: Abbey Gilchrist, Red Salon & Spa / Maid of Honor’s Hair: Adrianne Tavarez, Hair to be Different / Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Verandah River House / Flowers: Fort Myers Florist / DJ: Ron Rutz / Wishing Tree: Bear Witness / Wishing Tree Tags: GreenAcresCottage / “I Do..” Thought Bubble: MaroDesign / Bonne Maman Honey Jar Favors + Escort Cards: Cudge.net

We love, love, love when we come across a gorgeous indoor wedding. With our inbox overflowing with one outdoor affair after another, sometimes the perfect ballroom fête is just what the doctor ordered. Aaron Bornfleth captured this Florida beauty and it’s positively bursting with an amazing combo of white florals and the perfect cobalt blue accents crafted by La Vie en Rose and coordination by Confetti Events + Weddings. Be sure to pop on over to the gallery for a whole lot more gorgeous!

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From Aaron Bornfleth…Sarah is the type of girl that entrusts red lips to her makeup artist only. And I get it, I do, bold red lips and fair skin is like playing a violin in public, it’s very obvious to everyone if you make a mistake. Everything Sarah planned was just like that, thoughtful, deliberate, and done-the-right-way-or-not-at-all.  That’s who she is. And then I met Chad.

Chad is a irreverent ride of laughs, dancing and drinking with friends, facial hair, and sudden and disarming congeniality. And he really, really loves Sarah. To see the two of them together is like watching a chemical reaction. Sarah lights ups, loosens up, and belly laughs with a raise of Chad’s eyebrow. I’ve never seen chemistry quite like it. It’s like they are each the one and only catalyst for the other, and it’s awesome to watch.

Sarah and Chad held a gorgeous indoor banquet table style feast. We were just smitten with the elegant centerpieces, and the chic loungers scattered near the bar for the guests to chill on. I couldn’t resist borrowing one for some dramatic evening photos.

Wedding Photography: Aaron Bornfleth / Design Concept + Production, Floral Design, Lighting + Lounge Pieces: La Vie en Rose / Wedding Planning + Day-of-Coordination: Jamie Billings of Confetti Events + Weddings / Hair: Holly Nazario of Collective Creations / Make-up: Jess Waldrop / Catering: Good Food Catering / Entertainment: Inspire Entertainment / Venue: Powel Crosley Estate 

There are so many great ideas packed into this sweet Winter Park wedding by Binaryflips Photography.  First of all the adorable theme, “Let Love Bloom” which is evident in the charming and playful watering cans that hosted the centerpiece flowers and even the bridesmaids’ bouquets.  Working with a limited budget, this innovative bride hosted a flower arranging class with her bridesmaids at a local floral shop in order to get some pointers for the big day.  The lessons obviously paid off!  See all the vibrant flowers and the rest of the pretty, pretty details in the full gallery!

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From the Bride…When Josh and I first started dating we found ourselves creating a new tradition. We called it the Sunday Barbecue Tour.  Every Sunday we would venture out and try a new barbecue joint around town.  As it turns out this little tradition of ours ended up being the inspiration for our entire wedding.

4 Rivers Smokehouse won first place in our BBQ competition and therefore won the vote for our wedding caterer.  Having chosen a caterer outside the known catering companies and hotels, along with already having a date set, we unintentionally narrowed down the list of reception sites.  The Winter Park Farmers Market is the old train station in the heart of downtown Winter Park, FL. It has a southern rustic feel to it when you walk in, with brick walls, concrete floors and an exposed ceiling strung with twinkle lights.  It matched our Barbecue inspired wedding perfectly. We then chose the Maitland Art Center for the ceremony site. Getting married next to a natural fountain under the shade of tall oak trees made it feel all the more romantic.

After booking the food and the venues everything else fell into place.  The theme of the day was “April Showers Bring May Flowers” meets “Let Love Bloom.”  We stumbled on a cache of watering cans on sale, which held the girl’s bouquets and the centerpieces.  Planning a wedding on a modest budget is quite a task and you have to forgo the all the nonessentials.  To get the flowers I wanted I was going to have to do them myself.  I bought the flowers wholesale and then hosted a flower arranging party with my bridesmaids at a local florist.  I supplied the flowers and she supplied the lesson along with a good time.  We made everything ourselves and the flowers turned out stunning, which made them all the more special. We rented a variety of china patterns and used mason jars for to give the night a more vintage yet elegant feel.

We opted out of the traditional wedding cake and went with something we both thought to be truly irresistible. Italian ice with frozen custard along with my mothers’ homemade Italian biscotti and pizzelles were our desserts of the night.  The line was out the door; literally they had an ice cream truck parked outside.  To top it off we hired a live band instead of a DJ to really make the party come alive.  We all danced the night way.Out of all the planning and money we spent on our perfect day, it was writing our own vows that left the biggest impact on us.  We talked all night about our beautiful words to each other. Putting the love and devotion we have for one another into our own words made the day all the more intimate and heartfelt.  In the end it is all about you and the person you love beginning your life together.

Wedding Photography: Binaryflips Photography / Ceremony Venue: Maitland Art Center / Reception: Winter Park Farmer’s Market / Catering: 4Rivers Smokehouse / Entertainment: Alex Seier Band / Barista: Kathy’s Bertotti Coffee / Dessert: Ritter’s Frozen Custard + R & G Italian Bakery / Rentals: Vintage Vines + Rent a Land / Day of Coordinator: Breanna Porter / Flowers + Watering Cans: The Bride + Bridesmaids.

I have to admit it, I am just a tad bit jealous of this stunning Clearwater couple.  I mean, not only is their wedding absolutely wonderful in every.single.way, but their getaway car, a vintage London taxi cab, is beyond awesome.  Can a day get any better than this?  I think not.  All designed to absolute perfection by URBANcoast, these traditional backyard nuptials are oh-so-gorgeous and oh-so-elegant.  And I am oh-so-in-love.  Corey Conroy Photography captured all of the pretty, so join me in the gallery for even more!

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From URBANcoast… The initial meeting with Stephanie and Blake was unforgettable. Their love and admiration for each other was radiating as they spoke about how they first met. Stephanie living on the East Coast of Florida and Blake on the West, happened to meet while vacationing in the Bahamas. After the trip ended, they kept in touch and their love grew. Until one trip to NY with a few friends. Blake had planned an amazing scavenger hunt through the city under the disguise of it being a boys vs. girls event. It wasn’t until the last clue directing Stephanie to the Central Park Boathouse where she realized that it was all for her! Blake proposed in front of the fountains and Stephanie could not have been more excited.

Stephanie and Blake married on a beautiful day in April at the groom’s family’s church. Over 100 years of tradition and surrounded by their family and friends Stephanie and Blake said their vows. The newlyweds left the church and arrived at the reception in style, in a vintage black London taxi cab! The reception venue could not have been more perfect.  The guest tables were placed under a three story oak tree at Blake’s family’s estate. It was a serene atmosphere, beautiful trees, unbelievable flowers, and vendors ready to make it into everything the couple had hoped for. The design of the wedding was centered around crystal chandeliers that were hung in the oak tree. The chandeliers were hung at different levels on random branches which provided the most romantic ambient light as the night went on. The wedding colors were a crisp white and silver with touches of purple (the bride’s favorite color). The chandeliers were designed in purple and were printed on the save the dates, place cards, and table numbers.  The linens were white with subtle silver lines running down them. The head table had a custom vintage white lace overlay. All the tables were adorned with the most exquisite floral arrangements featuring the very best in spring colors and flowers. Pillar candles and votives were aligned along the base of the flower arrangements and made the most beautiful light to accompany the chandeliers. Custom menus with a single purple Swarovski crystal were set at each place setting. The first dance took place atop a shimmer white dance floor with their custom “D” monogram.

The ever so thoughtful couple created special signs to hang from the guests rear view mirrors thanking them for celebrating and wishing them a safe drive home. The couples thoughtfulness and love of family completely inspired the wedding all the way from the location to the favors. The wedding proved to be a true testament of their love.

Wedding Ceremony Location: The Episcopal Church of the Ascension / Wedding Reception Venue: The Groom’s Family Estate / Event Styling & Design, Wedding Invitations + Printed Materials: URBANcoast / Catering: Carlouel Yacht Club / Wedding Photography: Corey Conroy Photography / Band: South Town Fever / Dance Floor Wrap + Monogram: Showorks Events / Tables + Chair Rentals: PKS Rentals / Wedding Cake: Celebration Cakes / Linens: Connie Duglin Linens + Nuage Designs / Wedding Videography: Trinity Wedding Video / Photobooth: Shutterbooth / Candy Table: Bella Event Creations / Lounge Furniture + Staging: IM Events / Lighting: Decorating Elves / Floral Design: Pat Meyer Florals / Glassware: Panache / Wedding Dress: Malindy Elene