Florida Weddings

This chic couple deserved a chic e-shoot to match their personalities and style and that’s exactly what Still55 Photography gave them. From their on point clothing choices as they strolled St. Augustine (seriously, this dress!? I need!) to their relaxed romance on the beach at dusk – it captures them oh so perfectly. Get fashionably inspired in our Vault right this way!

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From Still55 Photography… Skye and Ankur both live in South Florida and are plaining a chic wedding at the Four Seasons with the help of Whitney Carillon Weddings and Laure Clavette at the Four Seasons Orlando. Skye works for Christian Louboutin and has a love for fashion. Once we got a sense of who Skye and Ankur were we knew what to go for. We began developing locations that would present a chic European look inspired by rich cinematic textures and iconic fashion. St. Augustine provided the European palette we needed and the nostalgic coast we wanted. The idea was to have them end their day on the shores of the Atlantic at dusk. Photographing the unexpected portraitures all of our clients are after. With soft focus and grainy textures we ended our time leaving everyone wanting more. We love working with couples that want the “editorial look;” these images showcase everything we love about portraiture. We are thrilled with Skye and Ankur and can’t wait to work with them again along side some of Florida’s elite planners like Whitney Carillon Weddings and premier venues like the Four Seasons.

Photography: Joseph Rogero | Event Planning: Très Chic Southern Weddings & Events | Styling: Joseph Rogero | Hair + Makeup: About Face Design Team | Blazer: Oscar De La Renta | Groom's Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction | Nude Heels: Stuart Weitzman | Off the Shoulder Dress: ASOS | Sandals: Ivanka Trump Heels | Watch: Breitling | White Lace Dress: Self Portrait Studio - Azaelea Red Dress

I’m sorry, but I just cannot get over how beautiful this Bride looks with her sleek low bun and simple yet stunning Amsale gown with its illusion back, covered buttons and a peplum! Add to that winning combination a bouquet of fluffy white peonies, an elegant Florida venue, a handsome Groom and photos from the incredible Still55 Photography for a wedding that is take-your-breath-away beautiful. See it all in The Vault!

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From the Bride… We got married in St. Augustine, FL, which is the oldest city in the US, so we aimed to capture the charm of the historic town, blending together the old and the new throughout our wedding weekend. The majority of our guests were coming from out of town, so we wanted to provide an easy, relaxing weekend surrounded by friends and family. As our wedding was just before Christmas, we wanted to create the classic, warm feeling of the holidays – a moment in time that you hope never ends.

We knew we wanted a formal wedding that felt classic, had modern, elegant touches, but was easy to execute. We decided on a color palette of black and white with gold accents. My dress followed suit; it was extremely simple from the front, but had a beautiful, unexpected modern back. Our invitations were black and white, incorporating a blind embossed print. Our flowers were mostly shades of whites, with hints of barely there blush. At the event itself, we outfitted the tables with black linens, gold flatware, and a sea of tapered candles to bring the simple, formal style to life.

Our old-meets-new theme extended into the fine details of the day, borrowing from and celebrating with the generations that came before us. My wedding rings were beautifully created from a pin given to Gordon by his grandmother. And during the wedding processional, my brother carried a tussie-mussie in memory of our mom, the same one she carried at his wedding. They were simple, personal remembrances of some of the most important people in our lives.

Two elements that were a huge hit with our guest were the photobooth and professionally shot slide show.  The photobooth was an open-air booth that catered to both couples and large groups. We opted not to have any props and kept the background a simple crisp white, so that the focus was on all our good looking guests. Everyone received an instant copy, a sweet personal memento of the night.

We also wanted to share the fun, joyous moments we had while getting ready, experiencing our first look, and celebrating throughout the day before the wedding ceremony. Our incredible photographers were able to pull together a gorgeous collection of photos in less than an hour, leaving our guests raving about every detail.

Everyone imagines being on stage singing with a live band at some point in their lives – we were lucky enough to do so while surrounded by all our favorite people. It was the moment we knew this was truly the best day of our lives. Looking over the sea of people dancing, smiling, and scream-singing Journey and Michael Jackson, we just took it all in, realizing how incredibly lucky we are to have each other and all our friends and family in one place.

One piece of advice for brides and grooms-to-be…  Prioritize. There are so many decisions you’re forced to make when planning a wedding, if you stick to what’s most important to you and your partner, everything will be that much easier. We made a top three list and stuck with it, deciding to spend most of our budget on those top things. This meant we avoided getting caught up in every single overwhelming detail and knew that our wedding would be the exact day we both wanted from day one.

From Still55 Photography…Elizabeth and Gordon live in Boston but have ties to the romantically historic city of St. Augustine. Elizabeth’s father still lives there and she knew St. Augustine was the place she wanted to celebrate their marriage.

With the help of a great supporting cast in St. Augustine, Elizabeth worked hand in hand with a team of superb Florida vendors to make her vision come to life. Leading the team was Sara Grace from the Big Event. Knowing Elizabeth’s desire for the day she found that the newly remodeled Treasury would provide the elegant charm that Elizabeth was after. The stately banquet room has eight towering columns, marble floors, and luxurious architectural details soaring overhead to the vaulted ceiling. It provides both the luxury of the modern conveniences, and also continues to embrace its past as a beautiful, elegant and historic landmark.

With the help of a great team Elizabeth’s vision came to life. She wore a timeless peplum gown from Amsale reminding us of the striking beauty that simplicity presents. Their reception had understated touches of romance. Small but thoughtful tablescapes adorned the old bank treating her guest to dinner by candle light. This black tie wedding was truly a beautiful reflection of the couple and their love for one another.

Photography: Joseph Rogero | Cinematography: Flora + Fauna | Event Planning: The BIG Event | Floral Design: Shea Hopely | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Cake: Creme De La Cocoa | Invitations: Goosefish Press | Ceremony Venue: Trinity Episcopal Church | Reception Venue: The Treasury On The Plaza | Bride's Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Catering: Purple Olive | Makeup: Hopcraft Collective | Hair: Casey Powell | Band: The Rivertown Band | Grooms Attire: Z by Zegna | Officiant: Father Ken Herzog | Bride Jewelry + Grooms Cufflinks: M. Flynn | Hotel (Bride & Groom Prep): Casa Monica Hotel | Photobooth: Joseph Rogero

This wedding has it all.  Lush, peach-hued florals from Jade Violet Wedding Florals, sweet details orchestrated by Coastal Celebrations and an adorable bride and groom who know everything there is to know about throwing an intimate + seriously awesome garden party. (Hint: There’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese.) Head to THE VAULT to soak in every moment captured by Still55 Photography.  It’s a must-see.

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From Still55 Photography… When we first met Sara, her smile immediately lit up the room! Sara & Dan have such warm spirits, and are so thoughtful and bright, just like their wedding day. They truly admire their friends and family. The style of the wedding reflected Sara’s love for Florida and the timeless warmth of her soul. With the expertise of Lindsay at Costal Celebrations, Sara drew inspiration from the spring season at hand and the state she loved most. Thoughtful touches of mint and peach adorned the historic venue in the heart of our nation’s oldest city. The Pena-Peck House in St. Augustine Florida was the perfect place for Sara’s intimate garden affair. Gorgeous lush floral arrangements transformed the already historically tranquil courtyard into the ideal outdoor garden wedding.

Following the ceremony, guests were treated to a private trolly tour of St. Augustine. Hand-crafted vintage oak whiskey barrels were placed throughout the garden as high top tables for guest to enjoy while sipping Sara and Dan’s signature cocktails. The tablescapes showcased their love for the Florida coast. Weathered lanterns were surrounded by understated arrangements that allowed guest to enjoy each other’s company from any vantage point of the table. Brimming colors, and carefully considered touches throughout her wedding welcomed guest in a way that will inspire any bride aiming for a colorful affair in the South. We can’t forget to mention the decadent dessert table! With seven cakes to try and fruity Starburst and Jolly Rancher candies, a sweet treat was absolutely irresistible.

From The Bride… From the historical sites and culture to the laid-back atmosphere of the pedestrian-only St. George Street, Dan and I love the warmth and history of St. Augustine. Both born and raised in New York, we were engaged in St. Augustine while on vacation. As soon as we began wedding planning, we knew we wanted to bring our closest family and friends back to the Old City to celebrate our marriage.

As a couple, Dan and I are low key, center-of-attention-avoiders who like to laugh and not take things so seriously. We prefer jeans and flip-flops to dresses and ties. It was important to us that we keep that sense of who we are on our big day.  So our vision was simple – an intimate day that embraced who we are as a couple and incorporated the city surrounding us. All printed materials, from the informal invitations and ceremony program fans to the menu (complete with southern staples like mac & cheese and collard greens) and craft paper placemats, were designed to give the wedding the laid-back, backyard get-together feel we were hoping to achieve.

To incorporate the City, the ceremony and reception took place in the garden of The Pena Peck House, directly on St. George Street. Guests enjoyed a trolley ride in between the ceremony and the reception where they toured the city and learned about the history. The wedding colors – peach, coral and mint – were reflective of the colors found on the old buildings throughout town and the “old Florida” feel we love about St. Augustine. Our favorite memory of the wedding was our sparkler exit onto St. George Street, where guests and random pedestrians gathered to cheer and shout well wishes as we departed on a pedi-cab.

In an effort to make the wedding reflective of our personalities, it was important to us that we vowed to love each other in our own words. We threw out traditions like a large bridal party and opted for a single Matron of Honor, Best Man and our nieces and nephew as flower girls and ring bearer. Instead of a tiered wedding cake with a formal cake cutting, we went with a number of cakes so guests could help themselves and choose their favorite flavor.

My favorite DIY element of our wedding was our seating placemats. Dan and I both work for civil engineering companies; it’s how we first met. To incorporate that important detail of our relationship into the day, Dan designed an engineering site plan “map” of St. Augustine with all of the important wedding locations as well as the tourist places we encouraged our guests to explore. We gave this map to our guests in their hotel welcome bags (tote bags printed with “Dan + Sara, Totes Gettin’ Married”) and also printed them on craft paper to use as seating placemats during the reception. It was a unique way to decorate the tables as well as incorporate the City and our relationship into the wedding.

My advice to brides-to-be is to never lose sight of who you and your fiancé are as a couple; don’t get caught up in all of the wedding traditions you think you should have. Not all couples (or brides) love to be the center of attention. Look at the reasons why you love each other and what you both feel comfortable with. Then incorporate those unique details into your planning. There are endless ways to make the day reflective of your own personalities.

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See more Garden weddings in THE VAULT!

Photography: Joseph Rogero | Event Planning: Lindsay Olin | Floral Design: Jade Violet Wedding Florals | Wedding Dress: Casablanca | Cake: Publix Bakery | Bride's Shoes: Michael Kors | Catering: Purple Olive | Makeup: Hopcraft Collective | Hair: Mon Petit Chou Boutique | Lighting: St. Johns Illuminations | Band: Oh No! | Officiant: Peggy Laroche | Transportation: Ripleys St Augustine | Venue: The Peña-Peck House | Ceremony Musician: Deron Baker | Groom & Groomsmen Attire: J.Crew | Pedicab: Pedicab of St Augustine

As I begin to finalize my own wedding, I’ll definitely be using this Bride’s sage advice as reference. Staying true to their relationship and vision, this darling duo planned a spectacular affair close to their hearts. An artistic day overflowing with bohemian glamour and rustic touches straight from the lens of Brooke Images, their garden affair is certainly one to share.

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From the beautiful Bride… From the get-go we never wanted to lose sight of what our wedding was all about: us as a couple, our love and the life long journey we are sharing together. While I coordinated with most of the vendors, Alain and I worked together to really make our dream a reality. He gave me his input on a lot of things and we did some soul searching to really understand what we wanted our day to be. As Alain calls it “Rustic Bohemian Magic” shared with our closest family and friends. Deciding on a “destination wedding” to St Augustine (being on the other coast of FL) solidified the vibe we were going for…. a magical bohemian feel in a charming little city. From there everything fell into place. Our vendors were nothing short of amazing, and often work together so I knew we were in good hands. Most of our vendors have even become friends, making our day that much more special.

We incorporated sweet little sayings and inside jokes into our vows, made signs that were placed around the reception that had meaning to us, Alain created our hilarious hashtag, #aboutJAMtime, referencing the fact that we have been dating for 8 years, we had artsy, bohemian pieces and lush greenery that just screamed j+a, and a cake table that was literally the “icing on the cake” to our special day.

Being an offbeat, laid-back couple, we wanted to do something different for the unity part of the ceremony so being lovers of graffiti, we painted a canvas. We outlined a heart with tape and blended our wedding colors together, symbolizing the start of a new journey together. Our friend who married us explained it perfectly during the ceremony: As two people join together in marriage, their souls become one. Much like when blending colors together, they are unable to be separated, bound for life. We peeled off the tape and now this work of art sits in our living room as a beautiful reminder of our magical day.

Tying in the artsy side of us, we did a lot of DIY projects and had friends design our save the dates and invitations. I even created our own wedding website using Sqaurespace. Since I work on creating websites for a living, it just made sense to have our site stand out. We wanted every part to be uniquely us. The DIY was a lot of fun because we both enjoyed working on projects together. Alain jokes that I took over his hobby of spray painting because I would be spray painting things almost every weekend for the last couple of months up until the wedding. But it was a fun memory and something we enjoyed doing together while planning our special day.

The whole day was like a magical dream… high on the love that surrounded us, we had to step back and just live in the moment while taking it all in. The day just radiated love. It was such an intense feeling of happiness and joy and everyone who attended could feel it and shared it. We we’re both blown away at how everything came together. It was more than we could have ever imagined thanks to the amazing people we worked with. There are so many moments that rush into my head when I think of sweet memories of our day…. I loved taking the bride + groom photos together, because it was our time together, exploring the streets of St Augustine with my love before the most important walk of our lives. Some of my other favorite moments included my first look with my dad, as I’m a total daddy’s girl. We both cried our eyes out with happy tears. The special moments with family and friends, especially when we did our bridal party photos… we had some big laughs doing those! Another moment and maybe the most special, was our first kiss as husband and wife, we sweetly kissed and the chorus of “Best Day Of My Life” started playing. The emotions were in full swing and I was just the happiest little girl in the world. The whole day, I just feel like we were just beaming with happiness.

The details is what makes it YOUR wedding, not A wedding and that’s what we wanted to focus on. We knew we wanted to look back on the day and say that was OUR wedding, with OUR friends and family. The moments captured by Brooke Images were amazing and I can still feel the emotions when I look at the photos.

Photography: Brooke Images | Wedding Dress: Malindy Elene | Invitations: Gallantandsuch | Ceremony Venue: The Llambias House | Reception Venue: The White Room | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | DJ: McGee Entertainment | Benches: Luxe Party Rentals | Cake And Dessert: Sweet 'n' Flour | Flowers and Table Rentals: The Conservatorie Floral & Event Design | Makeup/ Hair: Hopcraft Collective | Photobooth : Smiley Face Photo Booth | Veil: Melinda Rose Design

When I think of engagement sessions, I think of sweet kisses in romantic settings and this pretty little party by Brooke Images is the perfect example. I’ve bookmarked it as one of my favorites, and I’m pretty sure once you’ve peeked at this gallery of gorgeous, you’ll do the same. See it all here!

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From The Bride-to-be…It was a beautiful Fall day in St. Augustine Florida, just over a year out from our BIG DAY! It was the first time meeting our photographers, the amazing Brooke Images. We all hit if off so well, even running over our time limit because we were all having so much fun! Ashley and Greg made us feel so comfortable and captured every bit of us so well.

As an offbeat couple, we love to be a little different, yet still show the world who we are together. Lovers of Jack Johnson, we were inspired by his song “Better Together” because, honestly my fiancé, Alain, is my other half, my best friend, and we really are better together. After 7 amazing years together, this session was all about our quirky love story and how far we have come. It was a celebration of our love and one step closer to our biggest adventure yet! We wanted to include all of our family so we incorporated our little pomeranian, Tika, she was the happiest little pup on the planet since “mommy and daddy are getting married.” When we started planning for the shoot, we really just wanted to showcase our love, our personalities, the beautiful city we are getting married in, and the feel/colors of our wedding. It all just came together so flawlessly and was so much fun to plan together. We are a laid back couple who loves having fun and Brooke Images captured our love perfectly!

There’s a quote I feel is very fitting for our engagement shoot:
Piglet- “How do you spell ‘love’?”
Pooh: “You don’t spell it…you feel it.”
And you can definitely feel the love in our shoot.

Photography: Brooke Images | Make Up: Hopcraft Collective | Balloon: One Stylish Party | Location: Flagler College | Location: Downtown St. Augustine

Popping the question is cause for all sorts of celebration, and this morning we’re showcasing just that. I’m talking an engagement party styled to the nines, with Megan Martin Weddings, and Amber Veatch Designs behind every moment. From the modern flowers to decor, striped runners and more, they made certain no detail went unnoticed, and La Bella Imagery captured each bit. Hop to the gallery and don’t miss the film from Nick Leonard Creative.

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From La Bella Imagery…Today I bring to you a detailed engagement party celebrating the modern, sweet bride. I chose to use one of my real couples and decided to turn their engagement photo session into a complete celebration of their upcoming marriage in October 2014.

St. Augustine, FL was the perfect setting for our design, as the White Room incorporates the modern and sophisticated look we were going for. Every detail you see is handcrafted, designed or chosen by our vendors right down to the flowers, stationary, striped table runner, gorgeous glassware and classic detailed chargers. We’ve also included details in the bride’s clothing and accessories from one of our local boutiques in Jacksonville, FL.

Our idea was to show a classic, stylish party that incorporated fun colors and modern details. I didn’t need to say anymore, and my designers brought this vision to life! We hope you adore every detail of this fresh engagement soiree brought to you by some of the sweetest vendors in the Northeast Florida region!

From Megan Martin Weddings…Amber Veatch and I decided to join together and start a new company for stylish event rentals in South called Set Event Rentals & Design. And what do you do when you start a company? Make pretty things to celebrate of course! So we called our good friend Megan Hausmann of La Bella Imagery and decided to surprise one of her couples with an intimate engagement party. For the style, we wanted to keep the look fresh, bright and modern with crisp black and white stripes juxtaposed by bright and flirty florals in shades of corals, pinks and white. We love how The White Room’s clean and airy space made the party feel modern and really let the details shine. The best part of the night was watching how much fun the couple and their parents had getting dressed up and celebrating what we know will be a beautiful wedding and marriage to come and that’s why we do what we do!

Photography: La Bella Imagery | Videography: Nick Leonard Creative | Event Design & Styling: Amber Veatch Designs | Event Design & Styling: Megan Martin | Flowers: Amber Veatch Designs | Makeup: Paulina Perez | Venue: The White Room | Chairs & Linen Rentals: Luxe Party Rentals | Chargers, Glassware & Bar Cart Rentals: Set Event Rentals | Paper Goods: Set Event Rentals | Wardrobe: Ashlegryre

Kallima Photography is to thank for all the pretty filling your screen this morning, and she is doing so by way of this beautifully timeless St. Augustine soiree at the River House. It’s image after image filled with so much love and classic styling I could burst, and you can see what I am gushing about here. 

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Downtown St. Augustine is home to many bed and breakfasts and historic roads. The groom and his men got dressed for the day at the Peredes-Sequi-MacMillan House, a Historic 3 story Spanish Colonial. While the groomsmen smoked cigars and sported sunglasses for pictures, Chris made good use of Brooks Brother’s A Gentleman Walks Down the Aisle guide to tie his bow-tie. Meagan’s Ramona Keveza gown and Jimmy Choo flats fit the style of her classic fete, and partnered perfectly with Chris’ black tux and timeless bow-tie. Their welcome bags consisted of water, chocolate, a hangover kit and map to the area, as well as local Dat’l Do’it hot sauce.

The ceremony was nestled on the lawn of the River House, which is right on the Matanzas River in St. Augustine, Florida. Guests were treated to appetizers and drinks on the back porch of the grand house, and the reception moved them indoors for a night of dancing. While the men enjoyed cigars on the wrap around porch, the women were on the dance floor crowd surfing the cardboard cutout of the grooms military brother, who wasn’t able to attend the wedding but served as the best man.

Photography: Kallima Photography | Coordination: The BIG Event | Floral Design: 57 Treasury | Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza | Cake: Happy Cakes | Ceremony Venue: River House Events | Reception Venue: River House Events | Catering: The Perfect Pear | Makeup: Boheme Beauty | Groom's Attire: Brooks Brothers | Bride Shoe: Jimmy Choo

If I could, I would give Jennifer Blair the biggest of hugs for sending this beauty our way. Because it is, in a word, stunning. The images are perfection, the styling is perfection, the colors are perfection – basically everything in this gallery is, well, perfection. So trust me when I say you’ll want to spend some serious time getting lost in all the lovely today she sent our way right here.

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From Jennifer Blair Photography…There’s something about St. Augustine that captures my heart every time I visit. Maybe it’s the cobble stone streets, the beautiful architecture or that it has my favorite ice-cream place in the world. It is a city of romance and an absolutely perfect place to wed the love of your life. When I met Sarah last year I knew this was going to be such a sweet and gorgeous day! I wasn’t wrong! I loved getting to know Sarah and Scott’s sweet families as the day progressed. The first thing I photographed was her stunning gold-edged invitations. It was the perfect compliment for the delicate gold and soft pink reception decor. The lush topiaries were a show stopper, as was the cake with flowers edged in gold. The whole room was nothing short of ballroom elegance. To top it all off, the venue had a gorgeous river view. Sarah was bridal perfection. She was a vision in her delicate lace gown with jeweled belt. The lush florals, sweet flower crowns and crisp black tuxes were the perfect compliment to her look.

Last year, Scott proposed in St. Augustine, so it seemed so fitting that they were married there as well. It is such a sweet engagement story. Sarah and Scott were headed to breakfast in around the St. Augustine area, but Scott took the long route and stopped at the beach. They had been through a lot with the recent death of Scott’s Dad. Sarah was helped plan the service for him. Once they arrived at the beach Scott said, “I have a present for all you’ve done for our family. He always gave her presents, so it wasn’t too out of the ordinary. She opened the package to find an antique jewelry box with a tri-fold photo frame. One image held an old dating image and the next said, “Will you marry me?” The final photo was reserved for a wedding photo. Sarah said she was a little distracted during his sweet proposal because of the gorgeous ring in the box. I don’t blame her! It’s a stunner! Their wedding day has only been a continuation of their beautiful story! I’m sure they will have many more wonderful chapters to come.

Photography: Jennifer Blair Photography | Videography: Matt Johnson Videography | Floral Design: A Fantasy In Flowers | Wedding Dress: A Bridal Boutique For The Girls | Cake: Sweet Weddings | Ceremony Venue: Ancient City Baptist Church | Reception Venue: River House Events | Bridesmaids Dresses: A Bridal Boutique For The Girls | Catering: Executive Catering | Bride's Jewelry: Jewels By Peter B | Garlands & Wreaths: 1800 Cut Greens | Make-up & Hair: Simply Makeup

I love the rain.  Like love, love, love the rain.  It’s refreshing, romantic and cozy… and when it comes to Big Day celebrations, in my world, the more rain the better.  So the little downpour that occurred mid-ceremony in this sweet St. Augustine affair?  Pretty much perfect, and the kind of unexpected surprise that makes this day truly unique.  See so much more captured by Laura Yang in the full gallery.

From Laura Yang Photography… They came from out west, where it rarely rains, to the Sunshine State for a cozy wedding with just their closest family members. So, naturally, the skies opened and the heavens poured down on them right in the middle of their courtyard ceremony. They simply slipped under some umbrellas and ducked inside the Old City House Inn’s dining room, where they finished off their vows — with the restaurant’s guests to cheer them on.

In spite of the literal storms they had to face, this relaxed, intimate wedding was a dream of a day. From the skeleton key theme — taken from the couple’s first meeting, at a Lock and Key party — to the gorgeous stationery created by the bride’s sister, Eileen Tan, to the sweet father-daughter first look and the couple’s portraits around the puddled cobblestones of St. Augustine, everything fell perfectly into place in spite of the weather. They rolled with the punches and simply soaked in this special time as they brought their two families together, and started a new one of their own.

Photography: Laura Yang Photography | Videography: Adam Pressley Films | Flowers: Flowerworks | Gown: Winnie Couture | Cake: Publix Bakery | Stationery: Eileen Tan | Ceremony Venue: Old City House Inn | Reception Venue: La Pentola | Shoes: Nordstrom | Catering: La Pentola | Makeup: Elizabeth Johnson at Debbie's Day Spa and Salon | Officiant: Elegant Events | Hairstyling: Elizabeth Johnson at Debbie's Day Spa and Salon | Music: Richard Kuncicsky

This, my friends, is exactly the reason I love Julie Cate Photography.  The reason I swoon on a continual basis over her gorgeous work, and the bride and grooms she so effortlessly captures.  It’s an ethereal look into the celebration of two sweeties sooo in love and sooo full of joy, it’s palpable.  From the beautiful blooms from The Conservatorie Floral & Event Design to the perfectly perfect stationery from St. Augustine Paper Co..  See it all right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… When Dan and I envisioned our wedding, there was one thing we knew for certain–we wanted to have a fun, intimate, and relaxed day that reflected us. We chose the setting of our wedding to be in St. Augustine, FL, a place that has been special to us throughout our relationship, as well as Dan’s hometown. The Oldest House Garden provided the perfect backdrop for our ceremony with its simplistic beauty. Guests were greeted by songs played by our favorite local musician, Ricky Kendall. To further personalize our ceremony, our pastor had us write letters to each other, which he read aloud. I was initially reluctant to this idea, but I am so thankful that we went forward with it. It truly made the ceremony special. The reception was held across the street at the St. Francis Barracks. DIY elements were found throughout, consisting of a homemade photobooth, fabric pennants strung across the tent, a fabric strip banner behind the cake table, and Mr. & Mrs. signs for our chairs. My mom and sister helped tremendously in making all of this. Ricky Kendall graced our ears with more tunes played during dinner, followed by a night of dancing. Two of our friends put together a Spotify playlist, which was a huge success considering the dance floor was full all night long. Guests enjoyed cakes and popsicles provided by The Hyppo, a favorite local spot in St. Augustine owned by one of our groomsmen. The night ended with Dan and I exiting through a tunnel of sparklers.

Thinking back to our wedding day, there’s nothing Dan and I would change. The weather was perfect, the ceremony was beautiful, and the reception was truly a party. It was better than we could’ve imagined thanks to the support and help of our friends and family. We were blessed to work with amazing vendors as well, who made the whole day seamless.

Photography: Julie Cate Photography | Event Design: The Conservatorie Floral & Event Design | Flowers: The Conservatorie Floral & Event Design | Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia | Stationery: St Augustine Paper Co. | Ceremony Venue: The Llambias House | Reception Venue: Katie Deffke | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Caterer: Culinary Outfitters | Groom's Suit: Banana Republic | Cakes and Popsicles: The Hyppo | Make-up & Hair: Philosophie Salon & Apothecary

This gorgeous wedding started with a completely adorable love story that began way back in 8th grade. And now here they are on pages of SMP Florida thanks to the stunning set of images below by Christina Block Photography, with forever and ever in front of them. It leaves us with a wedding that is the perfect combination of stylish and sweet, making this gallery one you shouldn’t miss. Take a gander here.

Photography: Christina Block Photography | Florist: Lori Parker Floral Studios | Wedding Gown: The White Magnolia | Wedding Cake: Sweet 'n' Flour | Invitations: Smitten on Paper | Engagement Ring: Tiffany & Co. | Wedding Bands: The 58th Facet | Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Makeup: Andrea Koegler | Band: Gary Starling Jazz Band | Bow Ties: High Cotton Ties | Wedding Venue: The White Room | Assistant to Photographer: Autumn Paciorek | Bridal Gown Shop: The White Magnolia | Hair Design: Mac Hair Studio | Headpiece: Nicole Lee of Pink Underground | Shoes + Cake Cutter + Flutes: BHLDN

The first time I ever stepped foot in the lovely little city known as St. Augustine, I knew it was the perfect place for a wedding.  Cobblestone streets lined with quaint shops, crazy cool historic locales and beautiful backdrops every which way you turn… it’s a wedding paradise made for saying “I do.”  So when you take everything wonderful about St. Augustine and add in this adorable duo, some sweet paper goods from Minted and one beautiful image after another captured by Stephanie W Photography, it makes for one seriously stellar gallery.  Join me there for more.

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From Stephanie W. Photography… Laura and Scott’s wedding day may have been rainy at some points but that didn’t damper the festivities, instead it added a feel of intimacy. Some of my favorite details of their day include: getting caught in the rain during our first look, Laura running through the rain without shoes on and Scott holding her dress and the umbrella for her. I couldn’t get enough of her stunning florals and the absolutely delicious, as well as beautiful, cake. I absolutely loved the DIY detail of the messages to them on their future anniversaries. Laura and Scott’s big day will always have a special spot in my heart as it’s also the day I turned 30-years-old. It was an amazing feeling knowing I am doing the one thing I’m meant to do on an important milestone in my life.

From the Bride… When Scott and I got engaged we knew right away we wanted to have a destination wedding.  We wanted our wedding to be an intimate, fun, and romantic celebration of our ten year relationship.  Our family and friends live all over the country and we are not able to get together very often. So it was fantastic to be surrounded by all of our closest family and friends to celebrate at such a charming venue like The White Room Loft and Rooftop in St. Augustine.

Even though it was a destination wedding, I was glad I was able to incorporate a few DIY items. Scott and I love to watch golf together. So we had guests sit at tables named after our favorite golfers. Also, we wanted to have a unique way for guests to sign a “guestbook.”  So we had our guests write us a little love note to read on future anniversaries. I don’t know how we are going to wait until year three to read any of them, but maybe we will sneak a peek at year one.  We wanted our family to be part of our wedding as much as possible.  Instead of having our DJ introduce us before our first dance we had two of my little sisters introduce us and the bridal party. It was so fun!

I was crossing my fingers that the afternoon Florida rain would skip over us on our wedding day.  But the rain on our wedding day made for some incredible memories. While we were taking our “first look” photos in the streets of St. Augustine it started POURING down rain! We ran for cover and ended up in a charming art gallery with the nicest owner.  She even let us borrow her umbrella! There was no sign of the rain ending anytime soon, so I kicked off my heels and we made a run for it. With no fear of getting wet my photographer took some of my favorite photos.  

The entire day was so beautiful! Our favorite moment was the ceremony. We had one of our best friends marry us. It was so incredible to have him standing right next to us as we celebrated such an amazing moment in our lives. Words cannot express how beautiful and heartfelt he made our ceremony. We are truly lucky to have such fantastic family and friends as a part of our lives.

Photography: Stephanie W Photography | Floral Design: The Conservatorie Floral & Event Design | Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Wedding Cake: Sweet 'n' Flour | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: The White Room | DJ: Hear Hear DJs | Groom's Attire: Vera Wang | Bridal Shop: Pure English Couture Bridal | Ceremony + Reception: The White Room | Hair Design: Simply Makeup | Jeweler: Jared | Paper Goods: Minted

I’ve only ever visited the pretty little city of St. Augustine once in my lifetime, but that’s pretty much all it took to become seriously smitten.  It’s the kind of place where time stands still and classic meets romantic weddings go to be celebrated.  Weddings like this darling affair from Anna Shackleford, a stunning soiree with bundles of beautiful blooms from The Conservatorie, a rainbow palette of pastels and a breathtaking White Room setting.  Prepare to get your pretty on and join me in the gallery for sooo much more.

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From Anna K. Photography… Immediately following college Mary-Kate and Nick moved to Historical St. Augustine, Florida and fell completely in love. Nick works for the School for the Deaf and the Blind and Mary-Kate works in an art gallery nestled in the historic district. Their wedding day was filled with ethereal touches that seemed to just glow. The pastel colors, along with the gorgeous oak trees and the bright Florida sun truly set the tone for the day when they first saw each other on the campus of the School for the Deaf and Blind. Immediately following their ceremony everyone loaded up onto trolley’s and headed for the White Room located in the heart of the historical district, right next to the well known Fort.

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Photography: Anna Shackleford | Ceremony Venue: Chapel at the School for the Deaf and Blind | Reception Venue: The White Room | Officiant: Gardner Gordan | Wedding Coordination: Andrea Famiglietti of Coastal Celebrations | Floral Design: Amy Armstrong of The Conservatorie | Cake: Publix Bakery | DJ: James with McGee Entertainment | Hair + Makup: Debbie’s Spa and Salon | Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal | Bridesmaids Dresses: Susiewear on Etsy | Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | Paper Products: Gamage Print Shop

I seriously want to crawl inside this shoot and live forever.  Or maybe just set up a shop at the stunning Sanchez House in St. Augustine and have the talented vendors behind every last ounce of inspiration on hand to surround me with pretty.  Because beauty like this?  It’s breathtaking.  From the devastatingly gorgeous blooms from Shea Hopely Flowers to the fab paper goods from Chirp Paperie to the yummy treats from Small Bites and Sweet n’ Flour, it’s a non-stop day of lovely.  See it all captured perfectly by Andi Mans in the full gallery.

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From Andi Mans Photography… What a lovely collaboration with so many amazing wedding professionals! I had been chatting with Amber and Nicole for a while on the idea of styling and capturing a shoot together and I was so very excited to do so once we set a date! What’s cool about this collab, all the vendors are spread around from Orlando, St.Augustine, Jacksonville to Savannah! Florida meets Georgia, eh? I was completely swooning over the loveliness of details and take a look at the adorable treats and stunning floral! I want to thank The Sanchez House and all the amazing hard working ladies for creating a beautiful vision into reality. I love the European and Spanish influences and textures that this small town exudes. Enjoy!

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Photography: Andi Mans Photography | Venue: The Sanchez House, St. Augustine | Planning + Backdrop Arch: Simply Savannah Events | Floral Design: Shea Hopely Flowers | Table: Amber Veatch Designs | Dishes + Silverware + Plates + Goblets: Dishie Rentals | Chairs: Beach View Event Rentals | Cake + Large Cupcakes + Shortbread Cookies: Sweet n’ Flour | Macaroons + Mini Pies + Mini Cupcakes + Shooters: Small Bites | Invitation Suite: Chirp Paperie | Dress + Veil: Simply Bridal | Floral Crown + Necklace + Accessories: Adrienna McDermott | Hair + Makeup: Amanda Hopcraft

Give me a wedding that’s all parts sweet and southern, and I’ll give you one happy little blogger. So this St. Augustine affair? It’s sooo up my alley. With dash of darling and loads of charm, I’d go as far as to say it’s downright impossible not to love every image snapped up by Kristen Weaver Photography. Don’t believe me? Just spend some time swooning over this sweet-as-they-come gallery of images, you’ll be in love in no time. See it all here.

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From Kristen Weaver Photography…Southern and sweet, Amanda and Brad’s military wedding took place in the oldest city in Florida. I’m a huge fan of the White Room, a rustic loft-styled space with a rooftop ceremony venue overlooking amazing views of the water and bridge! Amanda choose a palette of mint and peach for her bridesmaids – using J.Crew bridesmaids gowns with chunky peach jewelry. The men wore dress blues, and although the Best Man was in-absentia (due to his tour of duty), he made a video-appearance for his speech and was toasted by all with his favorite – Dr. Pepper! The evening ended with sweet macaroons for the guests and a saber-cake-cutting.

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Photography: Kristen Weaver Photography | Floral Design: Conservatorie Floral and Event Design | Ceremony + Reception Venue: The White Room | Catering: OC Whites | Cake Design: Arlene Fores, Sweet Weddings | Macaroons: Bon Ami Confections | DJ: Scott from Party Express | Makeup: Philosophie Salon | Bridal Salon: Solutions Bridal House| Bridal Designer: Marisa | Bride’s Shoes + Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew

It never fails, when a bride-to-be finds out I’m a wedding blogger they automatically ask me for advice. They want to know everything there is to know about planning weddings like stylish little sponges. Two of the first words of wisdom to ever leave my mouth after such a conversation is one, to make sure to love your photographer and two, to make sure you do an engagement session. Because they not only give you beautiful images to treasure forever, the session will also allow you to get comfy in front of the camera. Just like this couple captured by Ariel Rose Photography – they might have gone in a bit on the nervous side, but from the looks at this gallery you’d never know it. See it all here.

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The first time I met this sweet couple at a coffee shop in Jacksonville I knew I was going to have a good time with them. They both immediately proclaimed themselves camera shy and were quite nervous about an engagement session. On the day of their shoot, with just a quick ride down to St. Augustine, any onlooker would have seen these two working the camera, whether they knew it or not. Christina was much more nervous than Barret. It was so sweet to see him calm and sooth her when the camera came too close. He would quickly make her laugh and she would relax instantly. Not a single photograph showed her nervousness.

WIth this job you meet a lot of couples. Without a doubt I can say this couple has “it”. They have that spark that every girl wants and that fun loving dynamic that every guy needs. Needless to say I am beyond excited for their wedding day!

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Photography: Ariel Rose Photography

I’ll be the first to tell you that I absolutely adore a couple who gets a little creative with their e-sessions. Crazy cool props, fab themes, unique settings?  I love it more than most.  But, sometimes all it takes is a breathtaking backdrop, two of the cutest sweeties you’ll ever lay your eyes upon and image after image of pure lovely and it’s more than enough.  And that’s exactly the sweet combo we have in this beautiful shoot from Daybreak Studios with its sooo in love duo, crystal blue waters and miles upon miles of St. Augustine pretty.  Click here for sooo much more.

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From Daybreak Studios… I met Katie and Jay at Cafe Eleven for our first consultation and after one minute of talking to these two, I felt like we’d known each other for years. They are so laid back, in love, and radiate with smiles from the moment you meet them. We had such a fun time shooting at the Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in St. Augustine, Florida. Gorgeous gardens, beautiful beach, and perfect weather! Congrats to these two genuinely lovely people.

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Wedding Photography: Daybreak Studios | Location: Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in St. Augustine, Florida

It’s kind of crazy just how much I love this darling St. Augustine duo.  Crazy, because even though I have never met them in person (unfortunately), I am pretty sure they are one of the most awesome couples that has ever existed.  And the gorgeous bride?  She NEEDS to be my new best friend.  Because anyone that can make me laugh, cry and swoon all within 10 minutes is someone I need to grab drinks with.  (Seriously.)  So, prepare to spend your day soaking in her beyond adorable description, the beautiful images captured by Mi Amore Foto and the sweet film from Life and Love Studio.  You’re going to love every last minute.

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From the Bride… In the summer of 2009, Aaron’s brother married my friend, Akiko. When the Best Man stood to give a speech, I thought to myself, “WHO. IS. THAT?” But I didn’t have the courage to ask him to dance so I did what any normal girl does… stare at a cute boy and believe my gaze will somehow communicate to him that I would like to dance and that I think he’s super cute.

I stayed at the wedding for a few hours, but never spoke with Aaron. I had to leave to my friend Jon’s graduation party so I said my goodbyes and headed for the car. Keys in hand, about to unlock the door, the bridal party came running out to decorate the getaway limo. I was invited to join by a groomsmen so I went along with the happy bunch! Suddenly, a tall, handsome and athletic boy smiled at me with the cutest dimples I had ever seen…it was the Best Man! This was my chance! But after talking for only a few minutes, I learned he was leaving for California and I was two weeks away from leaving to England for the summer.

We hugged goodbye without an exchange of numbers, or last names. I had just met such a fantastic guy but I had no clue if I was ever going to see him again. “Well, God, you will make it happen if it’s meant to be…” But as I walked away, I couldn’t help feel that I really was going to see him again.

I spent that summer frolicking through balmy England and Aaron spent the summer in California beating up other guys while training to be a pro boxer. We were worlds apart. After two months of meeting, he got a hold of me through Facebook and asked for my number. Sure enough, the weekend I got back from England, Aaron asked me out and drove from Jacksonville to take me to dinner. (I had no clue he was driving five hours to see me until he was actually on his way!) He stepped out of the car holding a bouquet of flowers and I melted.

I could fill this page with how God wrote our love story but I’ll just share what I told my sister after a date one night: ” I just have this feeling about Aaron… like I’m never going to have to say goodbye to him…”

Wedding Photography: Mi Amore Foto / Wedding Venue + Catering: The White Room in St. Augustine, Florida / Getting Ready Venue: Bella Bay Inn Bed and Breakfast in St. Augustine, Florida / Floral Design: Damaris Flowers / Wedding Cinematography: Life and Love Studio / Bride’s Bouquet: The Conservatorie / Wedding Cake: Sweet Weddings / DJ: Footloose Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids’ Attire: Custom made by Yolanda Gonzalez, Friend of the Bride / Groom’s + Groomsmen Attire: Stafford / Hair: M. Schaefer Hairdressing / Makeup: Kimtasha

Here’s why Florida is one of the coolest places ever to shoot an engagement session.  One minute you’re frolicking happily in the sand with the love of your life, the next minute you’re stealing kisses underneath a beautiful orange tree.  It’s magical.  And for this stunning St. Augustine duo, the magic is literally overflowing from every glorious image snapped up by Melissa Robinson Photography.  Because when two sweeties like this come together to celebrate their impending nuptials, it’s all sorts of crazy gorgeous, seriously stylish fun.  Click here to see it all.

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From Melissa Robinson Photography… Cate and Mike recently moved to Florida from New York City (he proposed on the road trip down!) and are planning their Wilmington, NC wedding for October. Washington Oaks State Park in St. Augustine, Florida was the perfect location for this sweet couple’s engagement session – gorgeous oak trees, a little orange grove, and a unique shoreline of coquina rock. The best part?  A little drizzle towards the end of the session gave way to a perfectly placed rainbow!

Wedding Photography: Melissa Robinson Photography / Location: Washington Oaks State Park in St. Augustine, Florida

Bridal sessions rock.  They just do.  I mean, what’s better than donning your finest in wedding apparel, frolicking throughout your favorite locations and capturing those emotions that can only be found in your soon-to-be Mrs. status?  Absolutely nothing.  And this gorgeous shoot captured by Jennifer Blair Photography?  It’s pure magic with a breathtaking St. Augustine setting and a bride who couldn’t be happier OR more beautiful.  Click here for soooo much more.

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From Jennifer Blair Photography… I have always dreamed of having a soundtrack to my life. I’ve wished many times that I could stand atop a hill with Schubert’s “Serenade” playing aloud and not just in my head. I suppose I’m a hopeless romantic in that regard. However, I never thought it would nearly come true for me. As I posed my bride, Jenessa, in front of the beautiful old stones of Castillo de San Marcos, it as if the images were singing. Jenessa was not afraid to let her emotions run freely. I felt as though I was watching a fairytale in real life. My heart could truly hear a sweet love song as she gazed of into the dusky blue waters, thinking of her man. I was transposed into another world. The 340-year-old fort could not have been a more perfect backdrop for this stunning bride. Every time I look at these images, my heart starts to sing like it did that day, so full of glorious emotion. I hope you can feel a little bit of it too.

Photography: Jennifer Blair Photography / Location: Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal (Style WG3120)