Florida Weddings

Nestled on a sprawling lawn overlooking the bayou, this at-home wedding was one for the books. The 30-person wedding party arrived by boat and guests were treated to handcrafted cocktails and a locally-sourced menu any foodie would love. Justin DeMutiis photographed and a visit to the gallery is an absolute must.

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Custom watercolor invitations were handcrafted by Karli Strohschein. Grant and Alex worked directly with Karli to create a custom crest which included aspects of the couple’s personalities.  The crest reappeared throughout the wedding and was later displayed on the dinner menus.

Upon arrival, golf carts escorted guests to the pool house where they awaited the 30-person wedding party as they arrived by boat. As the wedding party entered the ceremony from the dock, the bride, escorted by her mother and father, and wearing the veil of the Groom’s mother, walked down the hill under a canopy of live oaks.

The ceremony was written by the bride and groom and officiated by Pastor Marty Martin, a lifelong family friend. Both mothers led a prayer at the end of the ceremony before the band played The Beatles “All You Need is Love” as the wedding party exited.

Following the ceremony, the guests continued to visit poolside as signature cocktails were served. A spin-off of the French 75, the Thyme Spent on I-75 cocktail contained Sparkling Wine, Old St. Pete Gin, Ocala Blueberries, Thyme, and Indian River Grapefruit, all locally grown and sourced. A 12-foot cypress plank, cut from Grant’s family farm was prepared with charcuterie, Georgia olives, and fresh bread. Guests were also served raw gulf oysters during the post-ceremony cocktail hour. After the cocktail hour, guests danced their way to the front yard for dinner as they were led by a horn and tambourine procession of “The Saints Go Marching In”.

Both Alex and Grant have a strong passion for food and wine. They were thrilled to work with Chef Chris Infinger from G. Foley’s Restaurant in Panama City. Chef Chris locally sources all of his ingredients and worked with Grant and Alex to create a seasonal menu served family style for their guests. The meal started with Florida Corn and Anson Mills muffins and an heirloom tomato salad. The main course was pan seared gulf caught black grouper, cheese yogurt, whipped Florida gold potatoes, and roasted turnips. Guests sat at farm tables and listened to the bride and groom’s custom playlist which included songs from The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and James Taylor.

After dinner, the procession of horns and tambourines led guests to the back patio of the home for an evening full of dancing and live music.

Photography: Justin DeMutiis Photography | Videography: Brandon Kari Productions | Event Planning + Design: Rachelle Youd Designs | Floral Design: Rachelle Youd Designs | Invitations: Karli Strohschein | Catering: Chef Christ Infinger | Venue: Groom's Family Home | Bar: Carousel Liquors-Dock Haney | Landscape Design: Jennifer Goodwiller and Leake Landscape | Music: Moon Dance | Rentals + Lighting: H&M

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Fellow sun-chasers this one is for you, a daily dose of Vitamin D(reamy) that has us packing our virtual bags e-scaping the winter chill for warmer temps at Alys Beach! It’s the ultimate sunny celebration in Florida snapped up by Pure7 Studios that is awash with romance. It’s a gallery you’re going to want to bask in, and we’ve got it all in THE VAULT!

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From The Bride…Jason and I started dating the beginning of 2011. When we first met, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to be with him for forever. While we were dating, I went on a girl’s beach trip to Rosemary Beach. That’s when I discovered Alys Beach, and I absolutely fell in love with Alys when I saw it. I knew right then Alys was where I wanted to get married.

Jason and I have a little girl Brady Rae and we take her everywhere with us, so when he was planning the proposal, he knew I would know something was up if he did something “special” with her. We have season tickets to the Memphis Grizzlies and while I was getting ready I heard Jason tell Brady to take something to me. She came in our room and handed me a box. I told her to open the box because I thought they were my pearl earrings Jason had fixed for me. Brady opened it and my mouth dropped and Brady told me it was hers! It was nothing extravagant, but Brady being a part of it meant everything and he knew that! I was honestly surprised!

We always knew we didn’t want a big wedding. All of our friends had destination weddings and we didn’t want the typical destination type wedding. We wanted it more traditional, but still beachy. Jason’s parents own a couple of condos in Destin and he had never even seen Alys Beach. I booked it without him even seeing it, and he loved it! Meghan Kelly, the Alys Beach wedding coordinator, helped me with everything. I seriously wouldn’t have been able to do anything without her. I didn’t want the stress of having to deal with a lot and she was amazing!

I debated a lot about actually having the wedding on the beach, but when we sat down with our designer/florist, Grove Fisher of Fisher’s Flowers, she had this vision and I loved it. We wanted small intimate and she did just that! I can’t actually describe how beautiful Alys really is…you have to see with your own actual eyes and be there in person. Everything is white, white, white! It’s absolutely stunning! We ended up having the ceremony and reception all in one place at Fonville Press. It was perfect. Our photographer/videographers at Pure7 Studios were fantastic and captured everything perfectly. All of our guests still talk about how perfect and laid back our wedding was. I couldn’t have pictured our wedding anymore perfect than it was.

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See even more Florida weddings in THE VAULT! 

Photography: Pure 7 Studios | Videography: Pure 7 Studios | Coordination: Alys Beach | Floral Design: Fisher's Flowers | Catering: Caliza | Band: Kyle LaMonica | Venue: Alys Beach

Simple, sweet weddings make me happy. Especially in a dress like this one. Simple, sweet weddings where the lovely Melissa Joan Hart is accompanying all of the lovely? Happiness times ten. As the gorgeous bride’s sister in law, Melissa was simply one amazing aspect of this beautiful day, where a glowing bride got to marry her prince charming. And crafted a wedding that was as understated as it was gorgeous. More here!

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From The Bride…As a little girl, I’ve always dreamed of being Cinderella or at least part of a Disney fairytale. In fact, I’ve always been planning my wedding (actually found a wedding magazine from 1994 for inspiration…needless to say it was a bit dated). Like any great fairy tale, I’ve been on the look out for prince charming. I waited, waited, waited and then I got tired of waiting and waited some more. When I finally found the man of my dreams, he was also attached the Army (which means he’s not really all mine, he belongs to the US Government). This means that you can plan your dream day, but the Army has the last say with TDY, deployment and time off. I also realized at the age of 38 years old, most of what I wanted in a Wedding Day had changed. It wasn’t about how many people could come or the perfect dress, or the location; it was that I was getting to marry my Prince Charming. We had found each other!

WHAT??!! This coming from a girl that watches romantic comedies over and over again, a girl who loves fashion, sparkles, hair and makeup, a girl with a pinterest wedding that oozes gorgeous impractical things such as tulle, sequins and lace? Yes, yes, yes! Don’t get me wrong, I wanted a beautiful wedding but it was more about the moment, the man of my dreams and joining our wonderful families together to celebrate with God had blessed us with: each other.

We planned our intimate family wedding for Easter weekend, which gave our out of town family members an extended weekend to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Since I lived in the area before moving to Texas, I used a lot of my friends to help plan this special weekend. The wedding was held at my parent’s new home in The Origins of Watersound. Right behind their home is the most gorgeous green space that ended up being the perfect spot for our wooden archway draped in white sheers. A wooded path that leads to the open space was perfect for a natural isle to walk towards my groom. I’m a yoga girl, so I love the natural organic connection with nature.

My wedding day was absolutely wonderful! Did I mention it was raining….no worries it cleared away and made room for an gorgeous day and a perfect 71 degree temperature. The day started with a 75 minute vinyasa flow at Balance Health Studio (best yoga studio and where I completed my yoga teacher training). The practice gave me such a peaceful spirit, open heart and restful mind. My friend and yogi sister Mindy Norris who is a local stylist arrived at 11:30AM to start the hair & makeup process. SHE IS BRILLANT. She’s booked almost every weekend on the coast doing weddings, so lucky to have her friendship and talent. My bridesmaids were my sister Holly Cole and my sister-in-law Melissa Joan Hart (yes, Sabrina the Teenage Witch). They each picked their own style bridesmaids dress that complemented the color palette of the wedding. We asked for natural beachy waves and I can honestly say that I’ve never loved my hair more than I did on my wedding day. My two flower girls were Scott’s daughters Trinity and Eden Kruse. They wore beautiful crowns of baby’s breath in their hair and wore simply sweet Jayne Copeland cream dress with sewn pink & cream flowers at the waist and shoulders (Dillards).

The groom wore a custom Italian charcoal grey suit with a white textured button front shirt, and champagne Micheal Kors tie. His groomsmen were his brother, Ben Kruse and his father William Kruse. Scott’s sons Noah and Ezekiel Kruse were also part of the wedding partying and stood beside him during the ceremony.

The dress , the dress, the dress: My dress was everything I wanted. Honestly, I just wanted to feel pretty. I had never tried on a wedding dress, but knew that I wanted to sparkle…but in my own way. Not your typical bride way. I had bought this Adrianna Papell dress for my engagement party, but when we had to change some of our wedding plans, I decided it was what I wanted for my wedding dress. My wedding palette was blush/neutral/sparkle/sequins (my husband was thrilled). My dress was a spaghetti strap beaded blouson gown in champagne with sheer overlay and brilliant rows of beaded detail. It has a 20’s, Gatsby feel with breathtaking softness. My earrings were by Rada (BHLDN). The Giallo Chandeliers were made up of soft, pastel hues and sparkle (they were inspired by fairy tales). I wore Grecian lace up ballet shoes from Capezio (this is what happens when you are the daughter of a ballet dancer).

Most of the afternoon was spent drinking mimosa, laughing with the girls and preparing for our 5PM nuptials. My photographer, the marvelous Amy Riley Photography, arrived at 2PM to start capturing our memories. After the prepping process, we headed over to my parents to put the final touches on our wedding looks.

What really made this day special:
My brother, a musician and Grammy nominated songwriter played the acoustic guitar for our music. Over the Rainbow, Hallelujah, Canon in D
My 6-year-old nephew pretending to be our wedding photographer and capturing some pretty funny moments
My brother-in-law singing the Lord’s prayer a cappella
My pastor and family friend Dr. Bill Montgomery performing our wedding ceremony. He baptized my siblings and me, and also wed all three of us too.
An intimate family wedding full of love, happiness and God’s blessings
The gratitude I felt standing in front of my soon to be husband for being more than I could’ve ever imagined in a man, father and husband

After our sweet ceremony, we had our reception at my parent’s home. Catered by Cahall’s in Panama City Beach, FL . We also had the amazing Chick-fil-a trays (which any good southern girl will understand). Heavy hors d’oeuvres consisting of crab cakes, bbq meatballs, spinach & artichoke dip, chicken salad croissants, fruit & veggies trays.

The grooms cake was a Chocolate with Chocolate Buttercream from Edgars Bakery in Birmingham, AL. The wedding cake was a sour cream pound cake with buttercream icing made by Michelle Martin Thompson in Enterprise, AL. Both cakes were incredibly delicious.

We spent our wedding night overlooking the Gulf of Mexico at The Pearl in Rosemary Beach, FL (a gift from my wonderful brother and sister-in-law). This is officially my favorite hotel of all time, absolutely stunning (so much so that I’m painting our bedroom the same color as our room).

Photography: Amy Riley Photography | Florist: Beach House Florist | Wedding Dress: Adrianna Papell | Catering: Cahalls Deli | Hair & Makeup: Mindy Norris | Ceremony & Reception: WaterSound Origins | Earrings : BHLDN | Groom's Tie: Michael Kors

After first meeting as kids in their hometown church, these two sweeties we’re destined for love. Fast forward to their first date as teenagers plus nine years + one proposal later, and you get this oceanside wedding captured by Lauren Kinsey and Pure 7 Studios. Pretty moments are tucked in every last detail thanks to Christina Gillon Events, and we can’t think of any better way to start your week.

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From The Bride…Josh and I met when we were just kids in our hometown church. It was not until we were teenagers that we decided to give dating a chance. Since then, the rest is history. We were even lucky enough to be married by the pastor that still continues to lead that same church and has known us from the beginning. We got married 9 years to the day after we began dating!

Josh proposed in November during our family vacation. We took an amazing trip that started in Chicago and ended in San Francisco. He carried “the ring” in planes, trains and automobiles. When we finally arrived to the Fairmont in foggy San Francisco, he could not wait any longer. Even though he planned a romantic outing, he popped the question in our hotel room within moments of arriving. But, it was so personal and could not have been more perfect for us.

While planning the wedding, I wanted to keep a clear vision that incorporated both our styles. We wanted to keep things timeless. My style tends to be more feminine, so Josh allowed me to also have some pretty touches throughout. We kept a fresh palette that did not interfere with the gorgeous location.

We were most looking forward to seeing all our family and friends together in one place. Because we chose such a special date that signified our commitment to each other over nine years ago, we were just excited to start our lives together with some beautiful memories.

Photography: Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Weddings | Videography: Pure 7 Studios | Event Planning: Christina Gillon Events | Floral Design: Fisher's Flowers | Cake: Sweet For Sirten | Ceremony Venue: Alys Beach | Catering: Townsend Catering | Hair And Makeup: Eulanna Bloodworth | Ceremony Musicians: Gulf Talent Services | Photobooth: Facetime Photobooth | Rentals: Elegant Tents & Events

I know it’s going to be a good day when we have a film from Sixpence Productions on the schedule. They nail it every. single. time. And this beachside soiree is no exception. The Bride’s adorable anticipation, the Groom’s excited smile as he watches her make her way down the aisle… it’s a heart-warmer darlings. Press play to see all the sweet love and don’t miss the gallery from Paul Johnson!

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From Sixpence Productions…We get the sweetest couples from all over the country. Jennifer and Chad were from Iowa and showed us just how much fun and incredibly kind people from the Hawkeye state are. I knew they were the perfect clients for us when Jen told us about Chad’s proposal. It was at her Dad’s farm at Mother’s Day weekend and all the family was over for a “grill out” in the backyard under the stars. Beyond that all she could remember were the tears and giggles when Chad proposed. Tears and giggles. What more could a girl want?!?

From the beautiful Bride…I guess you could say that we met in an operating room. I am a physician assistant and Chad, at the time, was a rad tech that I was introduced to by one of his friends. I was astonished that I had never noticed that amazing smile before and I was hooked after that first introduction. Our relationship has endured a move from Iowa to Austin and then back, due to a job for me and for Chad’s acceptance into dental school. An engagement, therefore, sort of took a back seat due to all of these life changes. But, when we did get engaged, we decided early on to go away for the wedding. Florida was our state of choice and the second we saw Carillon Beach and The Meeting House we knew it was the place we would say some very special words to each other. We also loved the idea of an outdoor reception, and The Village Green was perfect. Not to mention Avis was sweet as pie, and made us feel right at home. She was there for us through the entire process, and we are forever grateful for that.

The inspiration for our wedding style and colors was fairly simple, we both wanted to keep it fresh, clean, and crisp. My favorite color is green, so we just kind of ran with it from there. We used the olive branch for its symbolism, and incorporated it throughout the day. Those July days in Florida can get a bit muggy, so we wanted to keep things nice and light. We wanted to make sure that all of our guests who made the trip felt welcome and relaxed. I was pretty laid back about the details, and it all came together better than we could have imagined, thanks to Christina from Events by Nouveau Flowers, and no thanks to rain all morning.

We made a pact with each other to experience our day together because we both wanted to see what the other was seeing. We were always by each other’s side and wanted to be in that place for our first day of married life. We are so glad we did! Although, I think we have more pictures of us smooching than not, oh well!!

We were also able to incorporate some old and new into the day. We were given beautiful Irish Waterford toasting flutes, we had a local printer design and print a Quaker-style wedding certificate that we used in place of a traditional guest book, each of the bouquets were wrapped in my Grandmother’s scarves, and my bouquet had the rosary given to me by my Grandparents for my First Communion. I also had my monogram in blue sewn into my dress along with some “Irish luck” from my mom.

We did have a fun time deciding on favors for our guest. We came up with using champagne flutes as our escort cards. Thank goodness for Avis! I had very vague idea and she made it come to life! She came up with a cute little saying to pull it all together. We also decided on koozies, with custom art work of the Meeting House and our wedding date. They turned out perfectly!

We had quite a few friends tell us how much they couldn’t remember about their own wedding day, and many of them said if they could do it all over again they would have it filmed. This became a priority for us and when we started do some research on it, we were blown away by the work of Sixpence Productions. I would sit and watch other couples’ sneak peek films, and I felt like I was actually there. Joanna and Rob were incredible! We have guests to this day who see our film and tell us that they didn’t even realize they were there filming. It means everything to us to have this very special day and the special moments on film for us to forever enjoy!

Every time I watch the sneak peek footage (which I’m not sure if I should admit how many times I’ve replayed it), it’s so special for me to see Chad’s reaction to seeing me as the doors of the Meeting House opened. We decided not to see each other before the ceremony; I am so glad we waited because is this one of my most favorite moments. Had it not been caught on film, I would have never truly understood how he was feeling.

Having beautiful photographs to complement our film was also at the top of our priority list. Paul Johnson Photography truly gave us timeless photographs to cherish for a lifetime. Paul and Mecheal were wonderful! Their work tells a story of the day. I can see what Chad was doing at the exact time I was doing what brides do, and vice versa. What a priceless gift!

Photography: Paul Johnson Photography | Cinematography: Sixpence Studios | Wedding Planner: Carillon Weddings | Floral Design: Events by Nouveau Flowers | Wedding Gown: Amsale | Cake: Confections On The Coast | Invitations: RSVP | Ceremony Venue: Carillon Village Green | Reception Venue: Carillon Village Green | Bridesmaids' Dresses: After Six | Catering: Townsend Catering | Hair: Jasmine Rizzuto | DJ: Gulf Talent Services | Make Up Artist: Robin Klag Makeup- Artist | Marriage Certficate/Guest Book: Elizabeth Munger At The Paper Nest | Robe: Plum Pretty Sugar

When a wedding is this sophisticated, it kind of blows my mind.  And not only because of its breathtaking beauty and glamorous details.  No, it’s that downright amazing feeling that is bursting from every last moment; that all-around fabulousness that just can’t be replicated elsewhere.  Throw in an oh-so-chic green and white color palette, beautiful blooms by Events by Nouveau and a breathtaking collection of images from Candice K Photography and I’m spending my entire day soaking it up in the full gallery. Join me there for all of the pretty.

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From Candice K Photography… Bethany and Jason are from Columbus Georgia and chose Alys Beach, Florida for their incredible destination wedding experience. Bethany envisioned a tented ceremony and reception in an all white and green color palette. The couple’s guests enjoyed the lavish homes in Alys Beach for several days before the wedding which put everyone in a very relaxed mood for the big day. Bethany’s style is best described as timeless and classic and her dress set the tone.

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Wedding Photography: Candice K Photography | Floral Design: Events by Nouveau | Event Planning: It’s a Shore Thing Weddings and Events | Wedding Venue: Alys Beach