Florida Weddings

Black and white stripes ALWAYS up the ante for any soiree and this oceanside wedding is no exception. It’s a chic throwback to the good ole stylish days of yesteryear and we’re loving every pic that Abby Sweet captured of this Floridian fete. See them all in our Vault right this way!

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From the Bride… Classic, white peonies, the Emerald Coast, and the most perfect Hayley Paige gown is just the start of this modern, oceanside rooftop wedding on scenic route 30-a -Rosemary Beach, Florida.

As guests were arriving in Rosemary Beach, they were quickly greeted with perfect, spring Florida weather, the laughter and happy conversations between tourists from all over the country, and the European architecture lining the streets of scenic route 30-a. The smell of saltwater and the feel of the ocean breeze guided the guests down the cobblestone street to the doors of The Pearl Hotel. There they were met with champagne and guided upstairs to the Havana rooftop deck. From the black and white striped awnings above the balconies of the suites, to the lace of my oh-so-favorite Hayley Paige gown, to my future husband’s brother’s band playing our first dance song, the day could not have gone any better.

We watched the sun set over the ocean, while drinking champagne and dancing the night away with people we love most in this world.

Photography: Abby Sweet Photography | Styling: Styles by the C | Floral Design: Events by Nouveau Flowers | Wedding Dress: Hayley Paige | Catering: The Pearl | Band: Big Night Dynamite | Venue: The Pearl Hotel | Bridal Boutique: Ivory & White Bridal Boutique | Cake Design: Confections On The Coast | Day Of Coordination: Shelby Peaden Events

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Take an English-inspired wedding design to Rosemary Beach, Florida and this is what you get. A day anchored in classic design with regal touches for that Downton Abbey vibe the bride sought to capture. Of course, her vendor crew including, Myrtie Blue and Shelby Peaden Events worked their magic behind the scenes and Lauren Kinsey didn’t miss a single moment.

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When your bride describes her vision for her wedding as “‘Downton Abbey’ meets Rosemary Beach”, you know it’s going to be lovely. And when your bride and groom are as wonderful as Sara Kell and James, it’s even more lovely.

Sara Kell and James came to Rosemary Beach seeking a paired down version of what they imagined as a classic, English inspired wedding. From the creeping vines and other greenery foraged by Myrtie Blue to the classic Rolls Royce getaway car, every element of the day was thoughtfully planned and executed to perfection!

Photography: Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Weddings | Event Planning: Shelby Peaden Events | Floral Design: Myrtie Blue | Cake: Sweet For Sirten | Catering: Townsend Catering | Venue: Rosemary Beach™ | Beauty: Deana Kale

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I’ve never stepped foot in Rosemary Beach, yet feel as if I visited there a hundred times thanks to all of the stunning weddings we’ve feature in this locale. It boasts the whitest sands and an adorable little town hall—making it kind of the perfect spot for a seaside soiree like this one planned by Shelby Peaden Events. Blooms from Myrtie Blue served as the perfect contrast for the white backdrop. Convinced this is your spot? See even more from Shannon Griffin Photography in The Vault.

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From the Bride… As a little girl I often envisioned my wedding as the typical princess fairy tale…lavish, large, and complete with my own Prince Charming. When it came time to actually plan my wedding at thirty, my idea of the perfect wedding had entirely shifted. I had already found my best friend and the love of my life in my fiancé and now hoped to have a wedding that would be a personal celebration of our love and commitment surrounded by our closest friends and family. Size and grandeur were replaced by a focus on intimacy and individual style.

With that in mind we searched for a venue in a place that would also serve as a vacation spot for our sixty or so traveling guests. Enter Rosemary Beach, Florida, a beautiful seaside town with quaint cottage rentals, cobblestone roads and a old-world imbibing Town Hall which could double as a ceremony and reception location. The adjacent outdoor grass courtyard was an added bonus and proved to be the perfect spot for a cocktail hour.

With our venue selected we began to focus on the experience and details of the day. I’ve always valued personal style and decor design and I wanted our wedding to be no exception to that. I envisioned romance, candles, and an elegantly mature bohemian feel. I pictured loads of gorgeous greenery, vibrant peonies and a mix of modern and more traditional elements. On all of these items and much more, Brian at Myrtie Blue delivered.

Food and drink was also at the top of our priority list. Based on recommendations and reviews we selected Townsend Catering, and we were so happy we did. We wanted to serve a hearty meal to our guests, part coastal and part southern comfort so we ended up choosing options like braised short rib with mashed potatoes, pan-seared grouper and jumbo lump crab meat with cheese grits and appetizers including bacon wrapped dates and grilled cheese tomato shooters. We also wanted to personalize our drink options so we opted for a selection of locally brewed beer from the panhandle and where my husband grew up, and a few signature cocktails including my favorite, appropriately named the Rosemary.

The last detail we nailed down was a biggie. We needed to select a photographer who would be able to capture the day in a beautiful, organic and artistic way. Sure we wanted some of the traditional posed photos, but we were more interested in the elusive candid moments, the meaningful glances and unprompted smiles, the details of the day that we could later draw upon to remember how we felt at that instance in time. Shannon was exactly that photographer. She managed to not only capture those aspects but to do so while making us feel entirely comfortable during the process.

There is truly not a single thing I would have changed about that day. Our personal style and touches were reflected in nearly every detail. In focusing on our commitment to one another and how we wanted to share and celebrate that with our closest friends and family we were able avoid the often production type feel weddings can sometimes generate, and we wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Photography: Shannon Griffin | Event Planning: Shelby Peaden Events | Floral Design: Myrtie Blue | Wedding Dress: Lea-Ann Belter Bridal Flagship Boutique | Invitations: Minted | Ceremony Venue: Rosemary Beach™ | Reception Venue: Rosemary Beach™ | Catering: Townsend Catering | Groom's Attire: Vera Wang

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Fair warning, your Pinterest boards are about to get a lot prettier and it’s all thanks to Lauren Kinsey and this stunner of a Rosemary Beach wedding. Because when you’ve married the talented vision of Shelby Peaden Events with the flourishes of Plume Calligraphy you’re guaranteed magic, but even more? The Bride (who is a singer/songwriter in Nashville) surprised her husband with a ballad she’d recorded for him as their first dance – how sweet is that!? See that all and more below and in The Vault!

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From the Bride… Ever since I was little I’ve wanted to get married on the beach. Inlet Beach, Florida has always been dear to my heart. My great grandfather and grandfather built one of the very first little cottages in the area, and we’ve been vacationing there since I was born. My grandfather even proposed to my grandmother there. After looking into several more glamorous venues in the area, we just didn’t feel right about any of them. We wanted a lot of creative freedom, and like any engaged couple, we wanted our wedding to feel unique and reflect who we are as a couple. I knew I wanted a simple beach ceremony, followed by a reception on a pretty green lawn by the ocean. After chatting it through with my mom and fiancé, we realized we already had that…right outside our little family cottage! We just needed help making our dream a reality. So we enlisted Shelby Peaden with Shelby Peaden Events. We knew we couldn’t plan this thing on our own, especially from Nashville, Tennessee.

The challenge initially for us was style. Jess and I are pretty modern in taste, but I also wanted an organic, rustic element that felt true to our environment. I loved the idea of using greenery that was native to Inlet Beach, so we brought in Milk and Honey Flowers. Rosemary grows wild in the area, and I loved how they incorporated that into our place settings. My mother bravely tackled the DIY project of making concrete candle holders for our community table, and it was a success! We used Big Day Rentals for our ceremony and reception. They helped us mix modern and rustic by providing ghost chairs to go with their grey wooden community table at the reception, and we loved the idea of using white benches on the beach instead of folding chairs. Jess and I like to keep things fairly minimal and classic, so white, ivory, and grey mixed with lots of greenery were our colors of choice. My dress was Monique Lhuillier, and my bridesmaids wore long ivory dresses in different styles made by Dessy. The groom and groomsmen all wore custom grey suits made by our friend Jonny at J&HP in Nashville.

We could not have asked for better weather that day. The ocean was like a lake, and the sunset even turned from pink to a fiery red towards the end of our ceremony. We brought in a friend to DJ our ceremony from Nashville, and we danced the night away under stringed lights on the lawn. I’m a songwriter in Nashville by profession, so I surprised my husband with a song I had written and recorded for him for our first dance. He was incredibly surprised, and there wasn’t a dry eye around. Our wedding was truly perfect, and it was so special to share it with friends and family at Inlet Beach…a place so rich in family history and so dear to our hearts.

Photography: Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Weddings | Event Planning: Shelby Peaden Events | Event Planning: Merren Events | Floral Design: Flowers By Milk & Honey | Cake: Bake My Day | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Dessy Collection By Vivian Diamond | Catering: Paradise Catering | Invitations + Calligraphy: Plume Calligraphy | DJ: Jesse Gregg | Venue: Private Home, Rosemary Beach, FL | Bridal Gown: Monique Lhuillier | First Dance: Mark & Kelly Wonderlin | First Dance Song: Producer And Co-writer, Matthew Bronleewe | Hair Artist: Deana Kale | Rentals: The Big Day Event Rentals

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You know her as one half of the A Piece of Toast duo and went Behind the Blog on SMP Living, but today Sally is stepping in the role of bride-to be with her stunning beach engagement session. Photographed by the crazy talented Leslee Mitchell, it’s love captured in the sweetest form with each soft, dreamy image somehow more beautiful than the last. Refill that coffee mug and prepare to swoon.

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From Sally of A Piece Of Toast… I really cannot sing the praises of Leslee Mitchell enough. Her talent as a photographer, master at styling, and amazing person with a killer personality has made me all but obsessed with her. Back in June when my fiancé and I got engaged, one of the first things I did was research a photographer…

I have long admired and fawned over wedding photography – always drawn to the work of photographers who have a way of capturing those “in between” and candid moments that really give meaning to a wedding and a family, and really just life in general. When my fiance and I decided on a destination wedding, I first researched local photographers in the area, and then hit the endless archives of Style Me Pretty – a site that can literally draw me in for hours. What I love about Style Me Pretty is how you can search by just about anything to find a wedding or weddings that might match what you may be looking for. In my case, I used it to find weddings that were in the same area where mine will be. So glad I did this because I may never have come across all the Nashville-bred glory that is Leslee.

While she is not necessarily local to where we will be married (though she shoots in the area enough that she may as well be) she travels around the world to capture weddings. I fell in love with her beautiful work and knew I would do anything within my budget to make it so she could capture our day. Lucky for me, she was available!

Keep in mind that all of this happened 5 prior to this shoot. After booking Leslee for the big wedding day (spring 2015) my fiancé and I decided that since we were going to be in our wedding location in October, that we should see if Leslee was available to fly down and shoot some engagement pictures. I had been so busy with moving across the country and starting a new job that I really had not put much thought into these photos or many of the details until oh, days before. And I knew Leslee was good, because that’s why we hired her, but I really didn’t know just how good until meeting her and seeing her in action.

The girl’s got dedication (shooting digital and film), is a perfectionist (making sure her subjects and the surrounding elements are equally photo-ready), and has an eye for beauty and detail unlike any other. She can remember the details of any inspiring photo she has ever seen and truly knows what it takes to create a beautiful image and a lasting moment. She spend countless hours on her own scoping out the best spots to shoot so that my fiancé I could enjoy the process (along with a bottle of champagne she gave to us) and just be in the moment. One afternoon spent racing the clock set by the sunset and we ended with wayy more than we could have ever asked from her: gorgeous, personal, and special engagement photos.

It’s safe to say that meeting Leslee and getting to spend time with her has been kind of a game changer for me. She’s one of those magnetic and creative people that you just know you’ve met for a reason. The excitement of seeing the engagement photos made me that much more excited for the wedding and the thought of having Leslee there to capture our day and our moments makes me giddy. But really, I just want to hang with our new-found friend again over a cocktail or two.

Photography: Leslee Mitchell | Hair And Makeup: Blush Beauty Lounge | Beach: Rosemary Beach™ | Blog: A Piece of Toast | Bride: Sally Miller | Mexican Embroidered Blouse: Mi Golondrina | Town: Alys Beach

I love a classic wedding filled with love, and it is safe to say this beauty captured by Leslee Mitchell  has classical romance written all over it. It’s elegance at its best with the sweetest Rosemary Beach Town Hall ceremony and a reception complete with a few furry friends for good measure. Have a look at the full gallery for so much more!

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From the beautiful Bride… Christopher and I first met in high school when we both signed up for the same summer course. We became friends, and later reconnected our freshman year at The University of Alabama. We often ran into each other around campus, and our friendship later blossomed into something more. We were soon inseparable, and began dating the second half of our sophomore year. After almost four years of dating, Christopher proposed in late June. He surprised me with an entire day spent doing all of my favorite things, and then took me for a sunset stroll in Seaside where he proposed on the beach. Afterwards, we celebrated with dinner at one of my all time favorite restaurants, Café Thirty-A.

Planning my wedding was something that I had looked forward to ever since I was a little girl. My parents even have my old photos from wedding magazines I used to save. I wanted my wedding to have a very timeless, romantic feel to it. I wanted to be able to look back through the pictures when it was all over and see something very elegant and classic. I envisioned soft, delicate champagnes and blushes, beautiful furniture and décor, and a sophisticated menu. It was also really important for me to add lots of personal details to make it my own.

When it came to choosing the location, we knew the beach would be the perfect setting. For both Christopher’s family and my own, the beach has always been a very special place. I remember right after we got engaged, my mother’s family was reminiscing over all of our wonderful memories at the beach, and I began thinking how memorable and special a wedding at the beach would be. We looked at several different venues, but after visiting Rosemary Beach, we knew we had found what we were looking for. Rosemary has such a beautiful, dreamy atmosphere, with gorgeous white houses and quaint cobblestone streets. Our ceremony took place in Rosemary’s Town Hall. It has such a beautiful, clean elegance to it with soft white walls, stone floors, and gorgeous wooden rafters with iron chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. It also has an adjoining courtyard that was the perfect spot for our reception!

Photography: Leslee Mitchell | Videography: Holloway Productions | Cake: Confections On The Coast | Invitations: Amberly Shelton | Hair & Makeup: Celine Russell | Band: Moon Dance | Tuxedo: Mr. Burch Formal Wear | Wedding Venue: Rosemary Beach™ | Bride's Dress: La Sposa | Bridesmaid's Monogrammed Bags: Southeastern Salvage Birmingham | Bridesmaids' Robes: Singing Slowly | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale | Bridesmaids’ Gift Boxes: The Paper Source | Champagne Tags + Program + Food Signage: Annabelle's | Confetti: The Confetti Bar | Coordination & Design: M. Elizabeth Events | Crystal Toasting Flutes: Bromberg's | Earrings: Ivory & White Bridal Boutique | Floral Design & Lighting: Events by Nouveau Flowers | Groomsmen's Gift: Bromberg's | MOB & MOG Dresses: Clothes Tree By Deborah | Monogram: Allison R. Banks Designs | Mr. & Mrs. Hangers: BHLDN | Stoned Belt + Sash: Justin Alexander | Wax Seal & Monogram Stamp: Nostalgic Impressions

Rosemary Beach is quickly becoming a favorite destination of mine… and I’ve never actually been there. Every time I come across a wedding at this Floridan venue, I’m awe struck. And sure enough, with this gorgeous blush and gold soiree planned by Christina Gillon, I’m mesmerized with the romance and beauty, captured by Leslie Hollingsworth. See why I’m so obsessed right this way.

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From The Bride… Our wedding day was everything I had dreamed of and so much more. From the perfect wedding day weather (after a few very cold days!) to dancing and laughing with our closest family and friends all weekend – it was a dream.

Richard & I had discussed a Caribbean destination wedding but we couldn’t find anything that quite fit. We also knew with three sets of grandparents they would not be keen to the idea of flying. Therefore we settled on finding something within driving distance from our home in Jacksonville Beach and the rest of our family in central Florida – and the hunt began!

I envisioned an indoor ceremony with an outdoor tented reception overlooking the beach since the beginning. I stumbled upon Rosemary Beach (on SMP where else!) and it was beyond ideal. We drove the six hours from Jacksonville two days later and fell in love. After seeing the sprawling green lawns overlooking the picture perfect white sand beach, roaming the idyllic town and visiting the quaint town hall we were sold.

I had an idea in my head of a palette filled with blush and gold, lush flowers and vintage touches. It all came together when I bought my glitzy gatsby-esque Modern Trousseau gown and started working with my amazingly talented coordinator Christina and Designer/Florist Brian of Myrtie Blue. Brian helped bring my vision to life and created the most spectacular yet intimate layout for our reception filled with three tents, a romantic sequined sweetheart table, glimmering bulb lighting over an open air dance floor, vintage lounge furniture, delicate sheer table runners, lush centerpieces and the most gorgeous entrance complete with draped curtains and wooden lamp posts. Seeing the finished product after a year of planning and dreaming I felt like the luckiest girl in the world and was completely blown away.

My vendors created a paramount atmosphere for the day. Townsend Catering delivered the most delicious meal I have ever devoured as well as above and beyond service. Bay Kings Band played just about every song on my request list, had everyone on the dance floor until the last song and my guests are STILL talking about how amazing they were. My photographer Leslie was there to capture it all in the most breathtaking photos and even there to bustle my gown! Of course my coordinator Christina was one step ahead of me from beginning to end and I can not possibly rave about her enough.

One of my favorite details from the reception was our escort display. While discussing how to show off our seating arrangements many ideas were thrown around until we settled on a large mirror. This was a fete for 200 guests but Brian more than delivered! I fell in love with the mirror concept and was dying to use more. I ended up using mirrors from our home for additional displays. My favorite was my late grandmother’s mirror used to display our cupcake flavors!

I tried to personalize as many details as possible. We wrapped my bouquet with a blessed rosary from my aunts, my great grandmother’s brooch and the first piece of jewelry Richard ever bought me, a small heart necklace. At the reception we used my mother-in-law’s cake stands, displayed our grandparents wedding photos next to the guest book and brought in a local band as well as brews from Jacksonville. My creative mother-in-law also made our invitations. She created a stunning shadow box masterpiece that blew every lucky recipient away. She also designed and printed our programs and menus AND made my bridesmaids sparkly belts!

There are more unforgettable memories from our wedding day than I could possibly recount. I will never forget watching the setup take place from the balcony at my mother-in-laws rental cottage overlooking the green and getting a glimpse at some surprises Brian had in store for me, I think I squealed! The look on Richard’s face when he saw me in my gown for the first time and realizing I was more nervous than him! Seeing my ten stunning bridesmaids lined up before the ceremony looking more beautiful than I could have imagined in their pale pink Jenny Yoo gowns. Laughing uncontrollably during the speeches when my maid of honor tripped over her words and described me as “the perfect friend for her man” and Richard’s brother closed his best man speech with a quote from ‘Bridesmaids.’ Dancing with my dad to a song he wrote and recorded just for our special moment.

Our wedding was the pinnacle of our 11 years relationship. A true manifestation of the love we have for each other and everyone in our lives through the most incredible celebration filled with enough laughs, love and pretty to last a lifetime.

Photography: Leslie Hollingsworth | Event Planning: Christina Gillon Events | Floral Design: Myrtie Blue | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau | Cake: Sweet For Sirten | Ceremony Venue: Rosemary Beach™ | Reception Venue: Rosemary Beach™ | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Catering: Townsend Catering | Band: Bay Kings Band | Rentals: Myrtie Blue

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A seaside wedding never grows old. It’s that whole carefree, toes in the sand, sun on the shoulders atmosphere that people adore. And Florida is one of the reigning Queens of beach weddings. Why? Because there’s sunshine in the Fall and miles and miles of oceanfront land to fete on. Just have a look at this blue infused day planned by Savoir-Faire Weddings with photography by Anna K + a full gallery for proof.

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Rosemary Beach has always held a special place in Chris and Ashley’s heart so when the time came for their wedding they knew where it needed to be! These two have been dating since Ashley was 14, Chris 15 and they’ve dreamed about this day for so long! They’ve waited patiently and prepared for their marriage in all of the best ways possible and in October the big day finally arrived. All of their friends and family made the trip from Atlanta, GA to Florida to celebrate! Everything about the weather was perfect that day and everyone radiated happiness!

Rosemary Beach is a gorgeous little gem located on the Gulf of Florida. The cobblestone streets are lined with Colonial Caribbean style condos, shops and homes creating a truly unique wedding backdrop. Wooden paths connect all of the areas to the town center and these two have so many fun memories here together. Fisher, their lab, was included in all parts of the day and he loved it! It’s amazing how well behaved some dogs are and this guy thought he was one of the groomsmen! Ashley has an impeccable eye for detail, but the thing that stood out most about their day was the pure joy that filled every moment.

Photography: Anna Shackleford | Wedding Planner: Savoir Faire Weddings | Florist: Celestines Special Occasions | Wedding Dress: Casablanca | Invitations: La Vita Allegra | Ceremony: Rosemary Beach™ | Reception: Rosemary Beach™ | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Celestines Special Occasions | Band: Gulf Talent Services | Cake Artist: Cakes by Kim | Hair Artist: Make Me Blush

I’m convinced that Rosemary Beach is one of the sweetest seaside towns to wed. Take it from the beautiful bride and groom who just happen to be locals, with a family-owned bookstore downtown! With Sixpence Productions and Paul Johnson Photography there to capture every lovely detail, falling in love with this quaint locale is an easy feat.

Grab the tissues, my loves, because you’ll need them after this one!

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From the beautiful Bride… I had just graduated with a degree in art from Dallas Baptist University in Texas and was ready to live at the beach! What better place to be than in an art gallery in Rosemary? My family and I opened The Hidden Lantern Bookstore and Gallery in May 2011. Only a short time later, Steve, who was stationed on the base in Panama City Beach, found his way into the bookstore. After seeing me, he came into the gallery and asked me out.

Our first date was the following day at Wild Olives. After that we spent most of our time in Rosemary. We would meet at the parks with my dog Rhodie, go for walks on the beach, enjoy the restaurants in town, and take rides on his motorcycle along 30A. We couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else. Many of our guests where people who lived and/or worked in Rosemary. We felt so much a part of the town. Town Hall will always be special to us as an icon of Rosemary but also it is where we attended church together.

For our engagement, Steve surprised me with a trip to San Francisco where he took me to the Palace of Fine Arts (one of our favorite places). There he sat me down on a bench and played a video off his Iphone that he made of our relationship. At the end of the video, he got down on one knee and proposed.

Our inspiration for the wedding style was beachy, clean, and elegant. Blues, whites, and pearls were our wedding colors. I have always loved white bare trees so they were used as the center pieces. One of my favorite moments of that day was praying with my husband-to-be outside my parents’ house. He didn’t get to see me but I got to see him before the big moment. It was our own time together before all the festivities began. It was also special to have my 12 year old, black Labrador Rhodie by my side as I got ready. She wore a beautiful collar that matched the colors of the wedding.

I would also like to add how amazing and professional our vendors were the days leading up to the event and the big day. They made everything so easy. Steve and I even had to move up the wedding date four months due to a deployment and our vendors adapted with such ease and grace. I could not have asked for better businesses and individuals to have been there on our wedding day!

Cinematographer: Sixpence Studios | Floral Design: Florals By The Sea | Invitations: Bella Figura | Ceremony Venue: Rosemary Beach™ | Reception Venue: Rosemary Beach™ | Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Angelo | Catering: Townsend Catering | Hair + Makeup: Vivo Spa Salon | DJ: B-Boy Productions | Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Event Designer/Coordinator: It's A Shore Thing Wedding and Event Planning | Photograher: Paul Johnson Photography

Tying the knot seaside has always been a not-so-secret dream of mine, because, fear of all things ocean-related aside (true story), there’s just no place as serenely beautiful as the beach.  Count the cool ocean air, acres of sand and crystal blue skies as reason enough to love beach weddings, but when you add in this gorgeous affair captured by Amanda Suanne, the perfection just can’t be denied.  See it all here.

From the Bride… This was hands down, the best day of my life. It was a gorgeous sunny day in June. Not too hot, with a slight breeze. We were all ready to go. All of the guests were properly seated. The Groomsmen were lined up in the sand, and my bridesmaids were making silly faces at me to make sure I wasn’t nervous. I stood with my dad behind some tall bushes to make sure Jon couldn’t see me until the moment I walked towards him. (We chose not to see each other before the ceremony.) I heard my song, “Air” by Bach begin to play and my dad simply said, “Ready?”  I’ll never forget the moment I saw Jon, waiting for me to become his wife. My dad slowly walked me down the boardwalk steps, telling me a joke until our feet hit the sand. I held on tight to his arm, carrying my pink peony bouquet in the other. It was so comforting to see Jon standing next to his father, who married us. The ceremony was short and sweet, which was followed by an hour of pictures while the guests enjoyed their cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

The reception flew by with delicious food, cake, champagne toasts, and dancing. We danced to “Hey Pretty Girl” By Kip Moore. I danced with my father to “Little Miss Magic” by Jimmy Buffett, and Jon danced with is mother to “A Song for My Son” by Mikki Viereck. Our wedding party and Jon and I were all introduced to the song, “How You Like Me Now” by The Heavy. We had our guests sign the back of pictures that I had printed on card stock that we used as our guest book. We used mason jars with the labels that we wrote the guests names and table numbers for them to use as escort cards. We had “His” and “Hers” specially cocktail drinks that they could use their mason jars to fill with on their own. The table numbers related to something in our lives, for example: Table 4, The Number of times Whitney and Jon have been to Rosemary Beach together. The guests especially loved doing the Limbo under several suspenders that were tied together! Our exit was special as our guests waved handmade ribbon sticks that my mother worked so hard on. I think that was her favorite moment! Jon drove us off in our groomsmen decorated golf cart.

I look at these pictures on a daily basis to remind myself how lucky we were for the perfect setting on the most perfect day.

Jon and I met because we shared a class at the University of Tennessee. However, I was not aware of that until we were introduced by two mutual friends. He said, “You know we have two classes together, right?” Well, I didn’t know, because I sat in the front, and he in the back. After that, we only became friends… until one day (three months later), I realized I couldn’t wait to see him all the time. I suddenly looked forward to our co-ed softball games that we played together, even though I was a terrible player. I loved every moment we spent together in and between our two classes. He made me laugh, every time we were together. And one day, as we were walking around campus, he picked a flower out of the ground and gave it to me. That is when I knew he was the one. It didn’t take long before we were completely inseparable.

Nearly four years later, actually four days before our anniversary, Jon flew me to my favorite place on earth, New York City. He took me to Central Park, where I desperately wanted to go for a row boat ride in the pond. We were barely too late and the rental hut was closed. Without a back up plan, we began to walk back towards the beautiful Bethesda fountain, where he said,” I’m so sorry the boat rental was closed, but I think this will cheer you up.” That is when he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. We celebrated with friends who were close by and were able to take pictures of our special moment.

We decided on a summer destination wedding at the beach as we hoped our guests would enjoy a fun vacation. The only beach we had been to together was Rosemary Beach on 30A in FLorida. We spent a little over a year planning our perfect day. And boy was it worth the wait. I can’t imagine getting married anywhere else. The sand is clean and white, the ocean is a beautiful blue, and the quaint little ocean side town makes you feel right at home. It was hands down, the Best Day of My Life.

Photography: Amanda Suanne | Event Planning: It's A Shore Thing Wedding and Event Planning | Floral Design: Events by Nouveau Flowers | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Wedding Cake: Confections On The Coast | Invitations: Gourmet Invitations | Ceremony Venue: Rosemary Beach™ | Reception Venue: Rosemary Beach™ | Brides Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids Dresses: Weddington Way | Catering: Townsend Catering | Make Up: Make Me Blush | Hair: The Grove At Grayton Hair Salon | DJ: Beachside DJ | Ceremony Music: Wedding Music Plus | Decor: Pressed Cotton | Golf Cart: Peddlers

There’s something so light and romantic about the way Leslee Mitchell shoots a wedding. Her captures tells a story, and turn the “everyday” into art. So whenever see sends her work our way, squeals are naturally bound to follow. *Enter* this Rosemary Beach beauty. It’s winter wedding perfection with planning by Savoir Flair Weddings and blooms (pink peonies in December, my friends!) from Nouveau Flowers. We’ve got a gorgeous spread ahead, but it’s only scratching the surface. Find every sweet capture sitting pretty right here.

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From the Bride… My husband is my best friend’s (since I was 11) older brother. I knew him growing up, but he was 5 years older and left for college when I was 13. We started dating almost 2 years ago, after I flew from a meeting in Dallas to Memphis (where he was living at the time) for my sister’s graduation from graduate school in Oxford, Mississippi that weekend. He knew I would be in town for the night so he took me on a date, and we have been together ever since!

It was very sweet and thoughtful, just like him. We were at Ross Bridge Resort in Birmingham, so he told me that morning that he got me a facial, manicure, and pedicure at the spa as a surprise. While I was at the spa he had two dozen roses delivered, prepared champagne, and candles. He had saved mementos from our first date like a piece of paper he jotted my phone number on after his phone went dead, and tickets to an event we went to after dinner. He had also saved little notes I would leave him when I left Memphis to go home (I lived in Mobile, Alabama at the time). He said some very sweet things he would kill me if I disclosed publicly, and asked me to be his wife. I said yes of course!

My dress was the one I always thought I wanted. I often admired it online. I always said if it looked good on me I was getting it! I tried it on, and loved it immediately! Vera Wang has a way of cutting her gowns to flatter any woman’s shape to perfection. It took me about 30 minutes to decide and one stop to Ivory and White. The owner, Brooke, is amazing. She can literally look at you, and pull the perfect dress. She pulled Gemma before I even told her it was my favorite! I added a beautiful, yet subtle sparkly belt that tied in the back. I also wore some fabulous gold Jimmy Choos that I loved! Since I had some bling from my belt, I opted to wear some soft diamond drop earrings, and simple jewelry. I wore my hair half back with a simple, wispy, veil.

I just wanted everything about the wedding to be happy, elegant, and soft. I chose creams and golds. Lighting was very important to me. My florist, Christina, of Nouveau Flowers was so talented. She hung striped gold and cream drapes at the tent entrance with bistro lights. Linens were cream, and chandeliers hung inside the tent. The bridesmaids carried cream hydrangeas; and I had pink peonies, which I always wanted (and my florist pulled off despite it being December).

The day felt like my own personal fairytale. It was beautiful that morning, and unseasonably about 72 degrees. It did start to rain for about two hours, during the middle of the day. I somehow knew it would stop and didn’t get upset. Thankfully the rain cleared, and made the sky so beautiful. The sunset was amazing, and made the sky pink. I prayed for good weather, and God made it perfect and even gave me a little rain for good luck!

Photography: Leslee Mitchell | Event Planning: Savoir Flair Weddings | Flowers: Events by Nouveau Flowers | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Catering: Cafe Thirty-A | Makeup: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Hair: Jonathan Doria | Beach: Rosemary Beach™ | Bride's Dress: Ivory & White Bridal Boutique | Ceremony & Reception Location: Rosemary Beach™ | Rentals: Elegant Tents & Events | Wedding Dress Designer: Vera Wang

With a floral design so pretty you almost have to close your eyes for a minute, the wedding to match Myrtie Blue’s design had to be top notch. And that it was, with Christina Gillon Events at the planning helm. Meg Baisden Photography captured a wedding steps away from the beach, yet in an entirely different, yet just as wonderful, world… the garden. And no garden party would be complete without a delish spread from Dine by Design Catering. It’s win-win-win, this wedding.

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From the photographer… The wedding day florals were really something. Christina Gillon was the extraordinary coordinator – and Brian Watson of Myrtie Blue did such a wonderful job with the design and florals. I’ve never seen such big beautiful peonies before – and they were everywhere! All of the touches of moss, wood, the mismatched chandeliers down tables, over sized lanterns, and the almost ‘gathered’ feel of the arrangements – I just thought the decor was really superb. And the fact that these two were the absolute sweetest with a great love story!

Photography: Meg Baisden Photography | Event Planning: Christina Gillon Events | Flowers: Myrtie Blue | Ceremony Location: Rosemary Beach™ | Reception Location: Rosemary Beach™ | Catering: Dine by Design Catering | Welcome Party/Rehearsal Dinner Location: Inlet Beach

This wedding is out to prove that a beach ceremony and reception can fit hand in hand with classic detailing and a glamourous approach to the big day. Sand and twinkling chandeliers are such a good combo and when they meet the likes of a monochromatic shindig planned by Savoire Faire Weddings, floraled by Florals by the Sea and photographed by Lauren Kinsey, the result is a breath of pretty, pretty ocean air. See even more right here.

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From Lauren Kinsey… This sweet couple hails from the New Orleans area and came to Rosemary Beach for their beautiful destination wedding. Lane wanted to have touches of New Orleans flair injected into elements of her beach wedding, so she hired Jubilation Band from NOLA to come and lead a second line from the beach to her reception on the St. Augustine lawn. The wedding had an interesting color palette of kelly green, ivory, and mustard. Lane also had a very southern elegant feel to her wedding, by incorporating the couple’s monogram onto the runner on the cake table, and having special brewed beer from Lane’s home state of Louisiana and Jonathan’s home state of Georgia. The couple closed the night down with a hot dog cart to treat their guests to a late night snack!

Photography: Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Weddings | Florals: Florals By The Sea | Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel | Cake: Cakes by Kim | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Officiant: Revered Kenneth Taylor | Ceremony Music: Fran Bullock | Wedding Venue: St. Augustine Green | Event Design and Coordination: Savoir Faire Weddings | Hotdog Cart: Dog Man Du | Monogrammed Runner and Banners: DIY by Mother of the Bride | Second Line and Band: Jubilation Band | Tent, Chairs, Tables: H&M

I think we can all agree this Rosemary Beach wedding is the definition of romance. And with Mariée Ami Wedding Planning Studio behind every ounce of lovely, it’s no wonder this whitewashed beach affair managed to marry elegance and style in the prettiest of ways. Add in the photo taking talents of A Bryan Photo, and we’ve got a gallery that absolutely, positively can’t be missed. Get your morning swoon on right over here.

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From Mariée Ami Wedding Planning Studio…Fran and Thomas were one of the goofiest couples we have worked with.  As soon as Fran got engaged she called and said she would be having a beach wedding and the rest would be up to Mariée Ami! Thomas proposed at Fran’s family beach house in Alys Beach, so it was an easy decision of where it would take place. The design was a mix Fran’s Anthropologie-like style with the beach’s clean and nautical setting. Fran also loves pattern so we incorporated yellow chevron stripes that showed up in her paper suite, and yellow large-scale floral linens into her reception. Succulents, terrariums with greenery, and luscious white flowers mixed with crisp gray and white made this noon wedding work! And since Fran and Thomas are always the life of every party we needed that “fun” signature element. We gave out sunglasses with tags reading “Our future’s so bright, You’ve got to wear shades.” It was a huge hit!

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Wedding Photography: A Bryan Photo | Floral Design: Events by Nouveau Flowers, Inc. | Event Planning: Mariée Ami Wedding Planning Studio | Ceremony Location: St. Rita Catholic Church | Reception Location: Rosemary Town Hall | Catering: Townsend Catering | Cake: Confections on the Coast | Wedding Dress: Ivory & White | Bridesmaid Dresses: Lula Kate via Bella Bridesmaids | Bride’s Shoes: Nina via Nordstrom

This wedding from Dear Wesleyann Photography is filled with my favorite detail of all – heart. Yes, it’s also swimming with sweet touches like cookies cooked by Mema, flowers whipped up by the mother of the Bride and stationery designed by the Bride herself – but above all the sweet, sentimental touches it’s the love that circles this family (old and new), that is truly the most special detail of all. See it all here.

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From the Bride… Kyle and I both grew up in Tennessee and met each other during our college days at the University of Memphis where Kyle played baseball. We are beach kind of people; our first trip together was a week of sun on the sandy beaches of the Florida panhandle. I knew from the very beginning that I was going to marry this guy and dreamed of a destination wedding, and that is exactly what we did.

On the cold morning of February 24th 2012 Kyle begged me to go walk on the beach with him to see how the water felt. I was confused but went along with it. As I stood there cold and ready to head to our favorite breakfast spot (Hibiscus), Kyle grabbed me and started saying the something with the words “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” The next thing I knew he was down on one knee and I said YES! We immediately went to the beautiful town of Rosemary and started planning our dream wedding! We both knew we wanted to be married at the beach, but not ON the beach. The Town Hall at Rosemary was perfect for us! We wanted a small intimate wedding with our closest friends and family celebrating with us.

One week before the big day we drove down to Rosemary with SUV’s full of “Katie and Kyle” wedding gear. The days leading up were spent relaxing on the beautiful white sand beaches and finalizing some last minute details with vendors. Wednesday before the wedding we had a casual welcome party for our guests were they received there handmade welcome bags full of wedding gear, official corn hole game rules, snacks and local Rosemary finds. My Pepa Gale and dad were grilling up some delicious burgers as everyone lounged around the grounds.

We had a wonderful rehearsal that Thursday at the Town Hall where our amazing friend Sherene Katzman ran the show. She was there to make sure all we planned went off without a hitch. We then went over to Café Thirty A for a wonderful dinner and a walk down memory lane. The party continued on to Kyle’s carriage house and ended the night packing for the honeymoon that Kyle had planned for us. He kept everything a secret until we got to the airport!

The morning of our big day was perfect. The weather was amazing and I was surrounded with my wonderful sisters and best friends. We got ready together at the house in Rosemary. We sipped on mimosas while doing hair and makeup and counting down the minutes. My bridesmaids all wore different dresses that they choose from J Crew and the groomsmen wore khaki suits from Joseph A Banks. We wanted a very natural and neutral color scheme and the attire was perfect. The bridesmaids wore pumps from BCBG and handmade earrings from Pamela Mills of Lil Happy’s. My jewelry was made by Catherine Butler, who I found on Etsy after hours and hours of searching for the perfect “Something New.” I absolutely loved it! Bagdley Mischka shoes were my wedding day saviors and the sash, handmade by mother, completed my look for the most special day of my life. The broach I wore in my hair was my Great Aunt’s. When we were little, my sisters and I always loved playing dress up with her beautiful jewelry and this brooch was my “Something Old.” My beautiful rose gold eternity band that Kyle picked out for me was not ready in time for the wedding so our jeweler sent him one with a loaner band which ended up being my “Something Borrowed,” and it worked out nicely because somehow I managed to forget my “Something Borrowed.” Things just have a way of working out!

Our officiant was my brother-in-law, Jake. He and my sister, Kinsey, have such a wonderful example of a Godly marriage — we look to them for guidance, always. He sent us questions that were kept secret until the ceremony. It was so special; we laughed, we cried, we were inspired by the love that was all around us! Kyle and I both want Christ to be the center of our marriage. Using branches from trees in my parents’ backyard, a special branch cross was made to represent just that. My parents and I had a nice afternoon making this one of a kind piece for our ceremony.

Townsend Catering is simply the best and they made everything happen. We worked together over several months to come up with a custom menu for our special day and it was perfect. They incorporated all of our favorite things and helped me surprise Kyle with his all time favorite, wings! He was so surprised and loved it. They cover every detail and made sure our guests were always taken care of. The staff was so friendly and helpful I felt like they were family.

Live Music for the reception was a must, and after much research the decision was made to hire EMERGE! That was one of the best decisions! I love to dance (Kyle, not so much), but much to my shock Kyle was out there getting’ down. It was one of the best memories of our wedding. Vernon and his team made sure that everyone (and I mean everyone) was on their feet and moving to the music. Rosemary heard a new sound that night and according to guests and venders, this is a sound that needs to be around more!

Details are everything to me and our wedding was full of them. We were all about DIY! Here is the scoop on all the little things that made our day so special and one of a kind…
-My talented Mema Faye was the artist behind the wonderful Rosemary Beach Town Hall sketch. The original was framed and used at the wedding. Prints were made and given to guests in their welcome bags.
-My Mema Joy baked 750 sugar cookies that were used as favors for guests as they left the wedding. We stuffed the boxes with cookies and then put in burlap totes for a quick grab on the way out.
-The bouquets and boutonnieres were designed and created by my mother. I love succulents and wanted them used throughout the wedding so my mother and I started purchasing and growing many varieties to be used on the special day. Rosemary, seed pods, Texas sage, roses, hydrangeas, eucalyptus, wild baby’s breath, dusty miller and variegated greenery were partnered with the succulents to bring just the right combinations. The succulents were all saved and continue to be reminders of the special day throughout our home.
-Our precious seven weeks new nephew was our Ring Bearer. He needed a special little pillow to house Kyle’s ring and my Great Grandmother’s handkerchief was made for the job. Baby Gray had an important job and boy did he deliver!
-We used photos of us when we were little for the Men’s and Women’s signage. My photo was captured as I was attempting to create just the perfect makeup look! The one of Kyle was my favorite of him as a kid.
-Since flip flops are my shoe of choice, we placed flip flops in old wooden crates around the dance floor to make sure all the girls were ready to dance the night away in comfort.
-Hand-stamped hankies were handed out to our guests as they arrived at the ceremony. They were displayed at the front of the Town Hall in old suitcases with the hand-painted barn board sign “In Case of a Tear.”
-For our guest book, guests signed in on pages of a Rosemary Beach book that tells the history and unique facts about the wonderful town of Rosemary. We now use this special reminder as a coffee table book and look through it often to remember how truly special Rosemary is to us.
-Stationery: I love typography and design so I wanted to create all of our stationery and invitations myself. I designed everything on my handy-dandy Mac and had them printed at our local print shop in town. We used the same K+K logo for all things wedding and really love how everything turned out.
-Kyle and I are the proud parents of two droopy, slobbery basset hounds, Piper and Otis. I would have preferred that they were there with us, but since that wasn’t an option for us we had them with us in spirit. On my bouquet was a blue dog tag with their names engraved on one side and our wedding date on the other.
-Custom Corn Hole Boards were painted and created by myself, Brennon and Kamille. My mother made custom corn hole bags with our logo on them as well. She is something else! My family is truly amazing and helped make everything happen for us. We could not have done it without them.
-We had a special table just for us with “Mr. and Mrs.” signs made with old barn boards. Even though we spent very little time sitting it was so nice to have a place to sit as husband and wife and take it all in. It was all so perfect for us.
-My soon-to-be-brother-in-law, Brennon Martin helped us with our music selections. He’s extremely talented and my go-to-music man! He played the guitar as guests were seated and sang a solo during the ceremony. The song always brings tears to my eyes, “I Will Not Take My Love Away,” by Matt Wertz.

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Wedding Photography: Dear Wesleyann Photography | Wedding Venue: Rosemary Beach Town Hall | Catering: Townsend Catering | Cakes: Sugarlilly Sweet Shop, Santa Rosa Beach + Publix Bakery (Red Velvet) + Homemade Lemon Cake by Bride’s Mother | Floral Design: Bride + Bride’s Mother | Stationery: Bride | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Sash: Handmade by the Bride’s Mother | Bride’s Jewelry: The Catherine Butler Collection |Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew | Bridesmaids’ Shoes: BCBG | Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Lil Happies | Men’s Attire: Jos A. Banks |Band: Emerge

No matter where you are joining us from today we’re going to start your February morning with a ray of sunshine. This sweet Florida soiree is filled with gorgeous florals and playful details, but most importantly at the heart of it is one completely-in-love couple. These two are literally bouncing down the aisle, a moment of many, captured perfectly by Diva Productions. Their wedding film is charm-central, so if you’re in the mood for a vibrant beach bash you’ve come to the right place. And for even more of their cute as can be wedding check out all the images from Candice K Photography in the gallery.

Now, for your viewing pleasure, the adorable film from Diva Productions…

From Diva Productions… Okay, so how many brides do you know that would be cool with turning their wedding cake into a homage to her groom’s passion for comic book characters? That’s Jenny. We couldn’t believe it when we got to the set up for the reception and saw what appeared to be a Superman “S” on the front of the cake. Then we looked around the back of the cake and we laughed even harder. An assortment of fondant superheros climbed up and down the back. 

From the Bride…  Jesse and I used to work together at The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead. The gentleman who was the Director of Food and Beverage left the hotel to be the GM of a new restaurant in Atlanta, Davio’s. The wife of one of the groomsmen also worked there along with another gentlemen we worked with at the hotel. Because of these connections, the restaurant is a sentimental favorite (plus they have great food!…we love to eat!). It also happens that this restaurant is directly across from the hotel where we met which also makes it special. Jesse said that Tuesday that we hadn’t been on a date in a while, and that we should go out to Davio’s on Friday night. He knew I would say we needed to save money so he made up a white lie that his boss had given him a gift certificate to the restaurant for doing well at something at work. When we arrived, they took us to the table then a server brought out champagne; Jesse said some very nice things about wanting to grow old together then got down on one knee and proposed. He then said he wanted to take pictures and led me to the back private dining room. We opened the door and our families and friends were there…even his brother and his wife from New York, a friend from Seattle, and 2 who were supposed to be in Florida. Jesse and I have a long running joke that when Jesse says “I love you”, I would ask why and he would never tell me. So for the proposal he had typed up the 33 reasons why he loves me and had it blown up and framed. He had dinner catered and set up pictures on all of the tables of trips we have gone on. We also collect Christmas ornaments so he had purchased a Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead Christmas ornament and written the date of our engagement on it which he had sitting out…it was a very special night with all of the people we love.

Cinematography: Diva Productions / Song: “Brighter than the Sun” by Colbie Caillat licensed through SongFreedom / Photography: Candice K Photography / Event Designer & Coordination: Jennifer Warwick-Lewis + Jennifer Fisher for It’s a Shore Thing / Venue: Rosemary Beach / Officiant: Michael Young / Catering: Townsend Catering / Pastry Chef: Yascha Becker, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa / Floral Design: Brian Watson for Myrtie Blue

I love Florida weddings – and today I am shouting it from the rooftops.  Because this drop-dead gorgeous Rosemary Beach affair is exactly the reason why.  An elegant soiree boasting the beautiful stylings of Celestine’s Special Occasions and a stop-you-in-your-tracks gown from Jim Hjelm, it’s everything (and I mean everything) I adore about the Sunshine State with a sophisticated simplicity that had me at the word hello.  Dede Edwards captured all of the lovely and you’ll be dreaming of sandy beaches and crystal blue waters in no time at all.  Click here for so much more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

Oh, and we’re not done yet.  We have an amazing film from Josh Kidd Films for even more breathtaking inspiration. Enjoy!

From Dede Edwards… Ginny and I are so excited to share Marcy and Tommy’s Florida wedding with you! There was no large bridal party, just family, which we think is always the sweetest! It was a perfect day for joining two families together on the beautiful gulf coast at Rosemary Beach.

Wedding Photography: Dede Edwards / Ceremony: Rosemary Beach, Florida / Reception: The Western Green at Rosemary Beach, Florida / Event Planning: It’s a Shore Thing / Floral + Event Design: Celestine’s Special Occasions / Wedding Cake: Confections on the Coast / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm / Makeup: Yvette Nation of The Perfect Makeup / Cinematography: Josh Kidd Films

We’re all about this gorgeous beach soiree sent into us by the super talented Shelby Peaden Events. The bride and groom, engaged in Europe, really wanted to infuse their big day with that same chic, European feel. And Rosemary Beach was the perfect balance between Florida and Europe. Think cobblestone streets, mercury glass and a relaxed yet elegant sit down dinner. There’s nothing not to love and there’s a gallery full of pretty, pretty images by Ariel Renae Photography for your viewing pleasure.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Shelby Peaden Events… Amanda and Philip wanted an intimate beach ceremony followed by elegant and relaxed reception. Since the bride and groom got engaged in Europe and wanted a European feel to their wedding, Rosemary Beach, Florida, with its cobblestone streets and stucco buildings, was the perfect fit for their summer nuptials. Using Amanda’s vision, her mother did most of the planning and organizing, and she did a beautiful job. She wanted white-on-white with touches of slate gray. For the decor, she wanted an elegant space filled with candle light, antique lanterns and mercury glass. For a fun addition to the cocktail hour, they served delicious “adult” slushies. Complete with a beautiful, catered, sit-down dinner and a handful of meaningful toasts, it was a truly lovely evening. We finished the night off when Amanda and Philip wanted to jump in the ocean for a few moonlit photos in their full wedding attire.

Wedding Photography: Ariel Renae Photography / Ceremony: Rosemary Beach, Florida / Reception: The Town Hall at Rosemary Beach, Florida / Event Planning: Shelby Peaden Events / Floral Design: Florals by the Sea / Catering: Dine by Design Catering / Wedding Cake: Bake My Day / Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Shelby Peaden Events

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I had the hardest time putting this wedding together for you today. Why? Because it’s TOO beautiful. The soft pretty colors paired with pops of gorgeous. The photographs by KT Merry that are subtle and yet heartbreakingly sweet and lovely. So beautiful that I secretly want to order a few for myself despite the fact that I’ve never met the bride or groom. And the details. Oh the details. Just so pretty, so organically beautiful. I simply couldn’t figure out a way to do this stunning wedding justice. So please, please, pretty please, make sure you check out the full gallery so that you can really see the celebration in its entirety. It’s SO worth it.

From the Bride… Justin and I met while attending Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. I remember thinking he had really cute shoes and lovely brown eyes. :) We became fast friends, and over the course of a year and half, we became best friends. In 2005, we both finally had the guts to admit to each other that we were both incredibly in love. I remember the exact moment we decided to be together — it felt like I had just made the most important decision of my life, and I was completely and totally, happy. We supported each other through three HUGE moves back and forth across the country. Supporting each others’ hopes and dreams, failures and accomplishments. Then, finally deciding after six years together to make things official, Justin proposed to me on a beach in Seattle on Feb. 25, 2011, with our German Shepherd, Charlie, and my mother and sister looking on. It was perfect. Justin is my absolute best friend, confidant and soul mate. He makes me laugh every day and brings absolute joy and happiness to my life. I’m so incandescently happy to now be his wife.

Wedding Photography: KT Merry Photography / Wedding Venue: Eastern Green in Rosemary Beach, Florida / Wedding Planning: Christina Gillon of Fete Weddings & Events / Floral Design: Events by Nouveau Flowers / Officiant: Rev. June Watkins / Catering: Townsend Catering Company / Wedding Cake: Sugarlilly Sweet Shop / Wedding Invitations: Rifle Paper Co. / Programs, Tags + Place Setting Tags: DIY by the Bride with Materials via Paper Source / Bagpiping: Joseph MacKenzie / DJ: Gulf Talent Services / Welcome Bags: Atlas Hearts / Wedding Dress: Ivy & Aster via Anna Be Salon / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Hair: Vivo Spa Salon / Makeup: Jamie Gummere of Paint Me Pretty / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Moms, Maids and More / Groom’s Suit + Tie: J.Crew / Groomsmen’s Suits: Black Tie Formalwear / Rings: Green Lake Jewelry Works + Kay Jewelers

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

KT Merry Photography

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This gorgeous beach wedding proves that even if mother nature decides to pull a fast one on you on your wedding day, you can still pull off a to-die-for pretty wedding, and get some super cool umbrella shots of you and your new hubby in the rain, to boot! Woodland Fields Photography captured all the amazing details. Our faves? Those stripe laden ties, beyond beautiful peonies, and all that mercury glass! Find your fav detail right here in the full gallery!

Don’t miss this gorgeous film by Josh Kidd Films!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I’ve always pictured myself getting married on the beach, and lucky for me, my husband was excited about the idea of a beach destination wedding. Rosemary Beach, Florida, was the perfect location to host all our friends and family for our wedding weekend. It’s an amazing coastal town with a beautiful white sand beach. We decided on a beach ceremony followed by a reception at the Rosemary Beach Town Hall. We focused on creating a wedding that was personal, while also being a great weekend getaway for our guests. The weekend kicked off with a welcome party Thursday night, followed by a low country boil rehearsal dinner on Friday, complete with karaoke. For the wedding details, I envisioned a soft, coastal, slightly preppy vibe. We selected long, white benches and a birch altar with white draping for the ceremony. Reception details included mercury glass centerpieces, soft white and pink flowers, cabana stripe linens and a menu with all our favorite foods, including sliders and fish tacos.

The week of the wedding I obsessively checked the weather forecast. By the Tuesday before the wedding, we knew there was a fairly high chance of rain for our wedding day but held out hope for a rain-free day. We ordered a back-up tent just to be on the safe side.  We woke up the morning of the wedding with a forecast of 100% chance of soaking rain at 6 p.m. (ceremony time). My dad and I barely got down the aisle before the rain hit. The day of our wedding had the second highest rainfall amount in Rosemary Beach history. If rain on your wedding day is good luck, we’ve got enough to last a lifetime!

Even though the dream beach wedding didn’t happen as planned, I wouldn’t change a thing. As we stood under the tent with the rain beating down, my step-dad playing “Calico Skies,” I remember looking around at all our friends and family. You could literally feel all the love in that tent. Everyone was there to celebrate with us, rain or shine. In the end, we created a wedding that was very “us,” and our guests are still talking about what a great time they had. So, to all those outdoor brides: just remember your guests are there for you, not the weather. By the end of the day you’ll still be married! We have to thank all our amazing vendors, who worked like crazy to rearrange to accommodate the rain. We should especially thank our photography and cinematography teams. Taking pictures in the rain definitely requires creativity, and they sacrificed their umbrellas all day to make sure we stayed dry. 

Wedding Photography: Woodland Fields Photography / Ceremony: Rosemary Beach, Florida / Reception: Rosemary Beach Town Hall in Rosemary Beach, Florida / Event Planning: Savoir Faire Weddings / Floral + Event Design: Florals by the Sea / Wedding Cinematography: Josh Kidd Films / Catering: Paradise Cuisine Catering / Wedding Invitations: bySWP / Wedding Dress: Robert Bullock / Bride’s Shoes: Tory Burch