Florida Weddings

An intimate beach wedding never EVER fails to make me swoon, so when this pretty little Islamorada affair came our way, let’s just say I got all kinds of excited.  Set against a stunning seaside backdrop and boasting the sweetest of blooms by Floral Fantasy Weddings, it’s everything I love about a sandy wedding day – a light-filled ceremony and a casual meets elegant vibe that is crazy gorgeous.  All styled to absolute perfection by Sheila Camp Motley Event Design and Management (the bride!) and captured in amazing images by Anna Eli Photography, this, my friends, is PERFECTION.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride, Owner of Sheila Camp Motley Event Design and Management… Mat and I had been engaged for almost two years and were waiting for the perfect time when things calmed down with our schedules to plan a small wedding with family and friends. Mat is British, and his parents scheduled a visit for August of this year. It seemed like the perfect time to tie the knot while they were in the US and could be included. I am an event planner, and Mat a chef, so we were pretty comfortable knowing what details we wanted. We live in Wellington, Florida, and wanted to find a location that was casual and laid-back but represented a celebration for us. My dad has always loved fishing in Islamorada and Cheeca Lodge, so we booked rooms there sight unseen! Likewise with our florist and catering — no demos or tastings! We had visited Pierre’s Restaurant and Morada Bay just across the road and knew they had the feeling we wanted for both our rehearsal dinner and wedding evening dinner. We kept the guest list small with just our immediate family, son and best friends.

Mat and I love that we were able to keep all the details close to heart. Mat made the cake. My best friend owns the Badgley Mischka store in Palm Beach, Florida, so we worked together to find the perfect dress and jewelry for my something borrowed. She even did my hair and makeup! Instead of a wedding band, Mat gave me an eternity necklace. Mat’s father wrote and officiated the ceremony, his brother provided cinematography, and we wrote our own vows. It was so special to have our 10-month-old son there and be able to recess down the aisle with him in our arms — our family as one. Having such a small group there really let us enjoy every moment with each and every one of them.

Wedding Photography: Anna Eli Photography / Wedding Venue: Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada, Florida / Event Design: Sheila Camp Motley Event Design and Management (The Bride) / Floral Design: Floral Fantasy Weddings / Officiant: The Groom’s Father / Wedding Cinematography: The Groom’s Brother / Wedding Cake: DIY by the Groom / Wedding Dress: Badgley Mischka in Palm Beach (561-655-0721)

When tying the knot in Florida, it really doesn’t get any better than The Keys. Gorgeous, tropical waters and vistas so beautiful you’d think they are fake make for the ultimate backdrop for your I Do’s. And this cute couple knew right away that Islamorada would make for one unforgettable day. Jensen Larson Photography captured all the pretty, pretty details of their day and there’s a whole lot more right here in the full gallery.

Don’t miss this amazing film by Sea Glass Productions!

Orlando couple Jaimie and Dennis made several trips to the Florida Keys throughout their relationship, and each time they visited, they felt a deeper connection to the islands. With its amazing views and beautiful grounds, where orchids literally grow on trees, The Caribbean Resort in Islamorada, made the perfect setting for their oceanfront March wedding. Not wanting to compete with the natural beauty of the location, the couple chose a simple palette of primarily black and white. Kelly Fowler the wedding planner and floral designer used all white flowers (roses, hydrangeas and carnations) for both the ceremony and reception. To tie in the vivid color of the surrounding waters, splashes of teal were added. Darcy Sang of Pearl Beach Paperie created a custom symbol incorporating that color scheme and the couple’s initials, which was used on the save-the-dates, invitations and programs. The symbol was even extended to the hand-painted baggo boards played on near the pool throughout the weekend.

Jaimie’s mother contributed her creative talents on many details. She made the numerous signs that were used around the property to help guests find their way. She also constructed the ribbon wands that were used to celebrate as the bride, groom and wedding party recessed. A really special gift to Jaimie was her practice bouquet, which her mother assembled with hair ribbons Jaimie wore as a child, ribbon from her parents’ wedding album, bows from her sister’s wedding, her brother’s wedding and her bridal shower.

Two signature drinks were developed to be passed during cocktail hour. The groom’s signature cocktail, the “Alligator Reef,” was named for its greenish hue and incorporated key lime juice.  The bride’s signature drink was a delicious martini dubbed the “Aisle-a-morada.” The bar also offered striped paper straws and DIY drink flags. Since the couple is commonly referred to as “JaimDen” by their closest friends, and because the groom’s favorite beer is Heineken, the bride devised a clever way to pay homage to both with the “Jaimden” koozies that were given. Perhaps the most impressive offering in the bar area was the cigar roller, who hand-rolled cigars for guests throughout the evening. It was a perfect fit for the tropical location.

The jewelry worn at the wedding told many stories. Jaimie was given a cameo and pearls, which were wrapped around her bouquet as she walked down the aisle. The  cameo belonged to Jaimie’s grandmother and has been worn by each of her granddaughters on their wedding day. The pearls were Dennis’ grandmother’s, and at Jaimie’s bridal shower, Dennis’ mom gave them to Jaimie. The bride wore the diamond earrings given to her by the groom that morning and he wore the Islamorada map cuff links she gave to him. The photo booth was constructed with fabric by Jaimie’s mother and hung between two palm trees.

The couple, who met at the University of Central Florida (UCF), rounded up their fellow alumni who attended the reception for a group shot signing the UCF letters to be submitted to their alumni association. The UCF connection also came into play with the groom’s cake, which Jaimie had made by friend and fellow alumni, Kyle Rivera of Happy Eatings.  

Wedding Photography: Jensen Larson Photography / Wedding Venue: The Caribbean Resort in Islamorada, Florida / Wedding Planning: Kelly Fowler of Just Save The Date / Floral Design + Decor: Just Save The Date / Wedding Cinematography: Sea Glass Productions / Catering + Cigar Rolling: Hugh’s Catering / Wedding Cake: Publix / Groom’s Cake: Happy Eatings / Wedding Invitations + Programs: Darcy Sang of Pearl Beach Paperie / Ceremony Music: Sir Cedrick / Reception Music: MB Entertainment / Lighting + Rentals: Florida Keys Party Rentals / Photo Booth Props: Party Goodies / Wedding Dress: Rivini “Almata” via Solutions Bridal / Makeup: Beauty Boutique and The Glam Squad / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ Belt: DIY by the Bride / Groom’s Cufflinks: Tomato Made / Men’s Shoes: Kino Sandal Factory

Beach weddings.  The perfect fusion of elegant details, stunning ocean views and sunny blue skies – a sweet combo that never fails to leave us breathless.  And this sparkling Islamorada affair is most certainly of the take-your-breath-away kind with its beautiful blooms by Floral Fantasy Weddings, uber-gorgeous couple and beyond lovely blush hues.  Claudia Oliver Photography snapped up all of the pretty and, trust me when I tell you, seaside fêtes don’t get any better than this.  See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… It was really important to both Braden and I that the vibe of our wedding day be relaxed and fun with a lovely ambiance. Although we met in Chicago, and had spent years together getting to know the big city, there was something in both our spirits that was longing for a beach wedding. When we came across Pierre’s Restaurant in Islamorada while planning our wedding, we immediately fell in love with it. It featured first class cuisine and embodied a picture-perfect, cool — almost Caribbean — vibe, while remaining intimate. We chose light pinks and navy to accent the day, which added a touch of romance. It was also important to us to have many small personal touches on the day, some of which included writing our own vows and custom made jewelry for each bridesmaid. For decorations, we wanted to accentuate the unique charm and beauty of Pierre’s. We kept it simple with many candles and soft pink and white flowers in the dining area to create the ambiance we were looking for. But it was truly all of our close family and friends that were able to attend that made the day so special — the whole event nothing less than the perfect party. Amazing weather helped too! We were also so grateful to our photographer, Claudia Oliver, for her interpretation of the day through her photography. The way she was able to capture the day perfectly will make all the memories that much more special! The way everything came together, it truly was the wedding of our dreams!

Wedding Photography: Claudia Oliver Photography / Wedding Venue: Pierre’s Restaurant in Islamorada, Florida / Floral Design: Floral Fantasy Weddings / Wedding Cake: Bob’s Bunz / DJ: EMS Entertainment / Lodging + Preparations: Cheeca Lodge & Spa / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely / Jewelry: Kiki Designs / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amy Wong Micucci of Swoon

I am full on convinced that rain on your wedding day brings out not only the best in couples but also makes for some fabulous photos. And when those photos are from Vitalic Photo, it’s a fab-photo guarantee. A little sprinkle didn’t phase this completely in love duo, if anything I think the grey skies added to this already lovely Key West soiree – and the full gallery is all the proof you need that this wedding was as fun as it was fabulous!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When my husband and I first talked about our wedding, there was little doubt where we wanted to tie the knot. We both love the ocean and knew that Islamorada – the tiny island in the Florida Keys where I spent my childhood summers – was the perfect place for the fun and laid back beach wedding we envisioned. We rented out The Drop Anchor Resort, a small 1960s-era motel on the beach, as our wedding location and took to calling it our “Love Shack.” I worked with my friend Lisa, a designer, to create a theme inspired by Mexican folk art. She created a logo of our initials inside a papel picado (Mexican paper flag).  We used orange and fuchsia as the primary colors to create a sense of vibrancy and used black as an accent for some added drama. A custom mad lib with our fuchsia logo was at every place setting at dinner and I created black tin can luminaries with our initials hand-punched into them for the tables. Flowers in the Keys were hard to come by without costing a fortune, so I rented potted succulents from a local landscaping company. My husband created the wedding program fans that carried on our theme, and we gave our guests orange maracas made in Mexico as wedding favors.

We planned all of the details down to a “T,” but Mother Nature is one thing that just can’t be planned. The day of our wedding saw torrential downpours (the start of a five-day stretch that would set a Florida record) and our caterer urged us to move our wedding to a nearby restaurant and give up the dream of a beach front wedding. My husband looked at me with calm eyes and assured me it would be okay. I allowed myself five minutes of panic and no more. I was marrying my best friend, so it was going to be one of the happiest days of my life, regardless of the weather. We decided to carry on with our original plan, with the addition of a tent and a lot of umbrellas. Guests sat at communal tables under the tent for our ceremony while the rain poured around us. As soon as the ceremony concluded, the rain let up for the first time all day. Guests mingled on the beach for a cocktail reception, followed by a buffet-style Caribbean dinner. After dinner, with the rain still letting up, we gave guests sparklers and asked them to get into a circle to the tune of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” We then surprised them with a performance from a local fire dancer. My husband and I were even treated to a surprise as fireworks went off over the ocean as the song ended.

The rest of the night saw more rain but by that point we didn’t care — we danced our butts off and ended the evening with an impromptu pool party under the cloudy sky. The day was more amazing than I could have ever imagined. They say rain on your wedding day is good luck, and I truly believe it made our wedding day even better. It made everyone remember why we were together — the food, the drinks and the details are nice, but we were there to be surrounded by and celebrating love. I’m so grateful to our vendors, who helped make the event wonderful, and to our amazing friends and family, who showed us that no storm can dampen their ability to have a really great time.

Wedding Photography: Vitalic Photo / Wedding Venue: Drop Anchor Resort & Marina in Islamorada, Florida / Wedding Coordination: Danielle Pierog of Caribbean Catering / Bouquet: Floral Fantasy Weddings / Table Succulent Rentals: The Banyan Tree / Catering: Caribbean Catering / Baking: Elegant Temptations / Music: Scott Youngberg / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller

Weddings at the beach are total swoon fests no matter what. But when a fab NYC planner (L’Atelier Rouge) gets married and brings a little Manhattan to the Florida Keys? There are no words. Seriously, no words. Just gorgeous photos from Cengiz Ozelsel of Adagion – which are each worth AT LEAST 1,000 words, thank goodness. Because this blogger is speechless. Make sure to join me in the gallery where we can admire our bootys off without saying a word!

Carlos and I had been together for over six years when he proposed on his favorite holiday – the Fourth of July! From the time of our engagement, we knew that we had to get married in the Florida Keys. We wanted not only to have a fun destination wedding that our friends would enjoy attending, but also to select a location that was meaningful for us both. Carlos’ family has a house at the Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada, Florida and he grew up traveling there every year. His parents were married there, we had spent vacations there, and we couldn’t imagine a better place to escape to in the middle of March!

Being a wedding planner myself, the pressure was on to create a wedding that really reflected who we are. While I love the beach, I knew I didn’t want my wedding to have an overtly tropical feeling. I wanted to take everything that I loved about the New York City weddings that I planned and translate this to Florida. I wanted it to feel like a city wedding that just happened to take place on the beach. We started with an aesthetic of Lucite, mirrors, crystal, candlelight, and all white flowers. I knew that I wanted to stick to a chic look that was slightly modern with a hint of classical elements.

For the ceremony, we went with angled arrangements of white roses accented with geometrical steel grass for a bit of a modern feeling designed in vases wrapped in silver mirrored finish at the top. These were placed as collections on a stage on top of Lucite pedestals.

The cocktail reception took place out on the beach with silvery linens and candlelight. My favorite piece was the mirrored escort card display that I had custom printed on mirrored lucite and displayed in a white baroque style frame purchased on Etsy. The names and table numbers were printed in an acqua shade that served as our pop of color against the white décor.

The dinner reception took place under a tent that we had draped with sheer white fabric and hung crystsal candelabras in to glam up the night. We alternated floral arrangements with candle centerpieces. We had half of the tables with modern floral arrangements of floating white roses and sculpted white calla lilies. The custom lucite boxes were placed on the other tables filled with white pillar candles accented with touches of crystal and ivory lace. We placed mirrors under each of the tables and then accented the flowers with crystal gems and white damask velvet printed votive candles for a nice glow.

I didn’t want it to feel like a cookie cutter wedding where everything looks the same. We alternated white crinkled taffeta linens with white silk dupioni linens to add a contrast of texture, and then place silver ballroom chairs with white cushions at the candle box tables and rented clear ghost chairs for the floral tables to add another touch of lucite. For the menus, I thought it would be different to have this printed in the acqua shade on lucite which not only looked beautiful against the white linens, but served as a keepsake.

As the sun set over the water, we continued dancing with guests throughout the evening, had a wonderful island inspired meal and treated guests to late-night ice cream from a local keys vendor. While it may have been stressful to plan on my own, I wouldn’t change anything about that day! The best advice I can give to brides is to take a deep breath and enjoy every second of the planning- even the crazy times, because it will go by so fast.

Planner: Holly Navarre (Bride), L’Atelier Rouge / Florals: L’Atelier Rouge / Linens: Nuage Design / Ghost Chairs: Nuage Design / Chairs & Tables: Panache / Tenting & Dance floor: Milemarker Party Rentals / Venue: Morada Bay, Islamorada Florida / Guest Hotel, Rehearsal Dinner, & Saturday Lunch: Cheeca Lodge  / Hair & Makeup: Stephany David, Damali NYC / Photography: Cengiz Ozelsel, Adagion / Ice Cream: Mr. C’s Gourmet Ice Cream / DJ: DJ Mike Kruz, Scratch Events / Mirrored Escort Card Display, Menus, & Placecards: A Milestone Paper Company / Bride’s Dress: Nicole Miller from Lovely Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Prada / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Priscilla of Boston / Groom’s Attire: Kleinfeld’s Mens / Groomsmen Attire: Jos A Banks / Men’s Ties: Thomas Pink / Rings: Zwicker and Zacher

This next little number just might be the inspiration for my wedding re-do. You know, the wedding that I wished I’d had on some remote island with only my hubs, a gorgeous gown and a beautiful ocean blue backdrop. Well, the fabulous KT Merry just might have been thinking the same thing when she helped to craft this INSANE seaside inspiration shoot. Complete with peonies, a show-stoppingly gorgeous dress and jewels that literally make my heart palpitate, this shoot is simply beyond. With the help of Parrish Designs who is responsible for the the stunning tablescape and fashions by David Fittin, we have fallen in love over and over and over again. And make sure to check out KT Merry’s brand spanking new blog and site for more goodness! Click here to see the gallery.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From KT Merry… This editorial shoot was inspired by coastal chic details and the beautiful and secluded Moorings Village where it was shot.  The Moorings is very close to my heart, one of my favorite locations,  and one the best kept secrets of the Florida Keys.  The shoot was all about casual elegance, I like to think of it as “black tie meets the beach.”  The contrast between the sand and fabrics is amazing and the mellow tones of the palm trees and water bring out the classic beauty of the dresses. The styling was done by a longtime friend and talented stylist David Fittin who brought together all the looks flawlessly with gowns from Miami’s Ever After salon.

The table scape was created by Parrish Designs out of Miami and features a stunning driftwood table that looks straight out of an Anthropologie catalog! Parrish paired lanterns filled with sand and candles with driftwood, lanterns, black sea fans, and peonies for a perfect combination of muted beach tones and natural beauty. The ocean served as a perfect backdrop for the table and provided soft and warm tones to compliment the colors of the arrangements. The rickety driftwood chairs resemble something you might find while dining on a deserted island and were complete with sea fans for decoration and pillows for comfort.

Photography: KT Merry / Styling: David Fittin / Flowers: Parrish Designs / Location: The Moorings Village / Hair & Makeup: Lori Clearly / Wedding Gowns: Douglas Hannant via Ever After Miami + Oscar de la Renta via Ever After Miami / Bride’s Earrings & Bracelet: Cheryl Lynn Jewelry / Bride’s Necklace: Lanvin via Bal Harbour Shops / Groom’s Attire: Tom Ford (Shirt) + Ralph Lauren (Jacket) + Giorgio Armani (Tuxedo Shirt) + Yves Saint Laurent via Bal Harbour Shops (Vest, Jacket & Pants) + Gucci (Pants) / Groom’s Bow Ties: Lanvin via Neiman Marcus + Stephen Sprouse (Vintage) via C. Madeleine’s / Groom’s Pocket Squares: Yves Saint Laurent via Bal Harbour Shops + Tom Ford / Groom’s Cumberbund: Tom Ford / Groom’s Shoes: Duckie Brown via Saks Fifth Avenue + Hugo Boss

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

KT Merry Photography

View Portfolio

Matt & Enna Grazier, two of Style Me Pretty’s fabulous destination photographers, captured this idyllic wedding at The Moorings Village ‘in the heart of Islamorada’ in the Florida Keys last October. We’re just sharing a smidge of the weekend celebration. The Grazier’s have two  features on their blog with many, many, many more shots from the festivities ~ Sunrise At The Moorings and The Wedding.

Rachel and Aaron live and work in Boston MA. During their engagement they traveled to visit relatives in Florida and while there they took a road trip to the Keys. They fell in love with the beauty of the Moorings Village and the amazing food at Pierre’s restaurant on Islamorada. They invited roughly 60 of their family and friends to join them for a weekend on the Keys. The couple stayed at The Moorings Village which is a picturesque beachfront resort with gorgeous palms reaching out over the water. The sun rises on the Moorings beach, so on the morning of the wedding Rachel and Aaron woke early to watch the sun rise together from the hammock at the end of the pier. {See the Grazier’s full sunrise blog feature here}

Pierre’s restaurant hosted the ceremony and reception and is located directly across the street from The Moorings. Pierre’s beach allows a perfect view of the sunset, so Rachel and Aaron planned the ceremony so that cocktail hour could be spent admiring the sunset from the balconies at Pierre’s. Rachel and Aaron are major foodies, so the meal was a big deal and Pierre’s certainly delivered! The morning after they hosted a brunch at a nearby beach front home, and at the end of the brunch they sailed off on a small hobbie craft.

For more of the details and the amazing scenery from this Florida Keys destination wedding, head on over to Grazier Photography’s second feature of Aaron and Rachel’s wedding!

Photography: Grazier Photography / Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone/ Musicians: Carlos Abanto / DJ: Mike Berrios, MB Entertainment / Invitations: Heather Jeany / Programs and menus created by Bride and Groom/ Flowers: Petals With Pizazz / Hair: Ciao Bella Salon/ Groom’s Attire: Perry Ellis / Ceremony and reception at Pierre’s / Beach cottage & portrait location: The Moorings Village / Officiate: Debbi Ballard

I loved this wedding the moment I saw it. But when I really got in there and got my hands dirty formatting it for this very feature…I fell madly in love. The elegance, the pure joy, the simple and yet totally luxe style. I’m obsessed. Beyond obsessed. And I’ve decided that I really, really, really want my whole life to look just like this wedding. From the bride’s restrained but stunning style to the all white totally opulent style and the sweet, simple moments caught so beautifully by photographer KT Merry. It’s simply beyond. Click here to see so much more.

click here to see the full spread of gorgeousness!

Ariel and Andrea wanted a carefree and genuine, yet chic affair for their family and friends.  The Miami residents were looking for casual comfort and achieved this by creating lounging nooks both inside and outside of the Pierre’s oceanfront venue. Crisp white lounge furniture groupings were accentuated by their accent colors of navy blue and yellow for that “nautical chic” look. The dining room at Pierre’s was transformed with elegant and clean designs featuring white french tulips along with breakaway vases cascading across the table showcasing white hydrangeas, polo white roses and white irises.  The final touch of class came from an extravagant amount of multi-level candles which created the perfect romantic feel. The couple shared their first dance in the sand surrounded by guests holding sparklers.

Photography: KT Merry / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Event Planning: Divine Design by Guerdy / Floral + Decor: Ocean Flowers / Venue: Pierre’s, Islamorada / Make-up + Hair: Sobe Studios, Amy Palma / Officiant: Joaquin Perea / Cake: Ana Paz / Linens: Panache Party Rental

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

KT Merry Photography

View Portfolio