There’s so much to love about this charming Vero Beach soiree, I am not even sure where to begin. For starters, there’s the ADORABLE newlyweds, who were set up by the Mother of the Groom. Yep, they are that adorable. Then there’s the breathtaking seaside location, gorgeous blooms by Hutchinson’s Floral, one very stunning wedding gown and a fabulous reception filled with comfort foods (including a grilled cheese station and taco bar). Seriously. Awesome. And when you add to the mix the beyond brilliant images by Angel Gray Photography, I can barely contain myself. Yes, I am most definitely head over heels for this lovely fête… and I am certain you will be, too. Join me in the gallery for even more!
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From the Bride… Derek and I met a few years ago after being set-up by an unusual matchmaker…his mom. After three years of dating long distance, we couldn’t have been more excited to get married. I am from a small town in East Texas and he grew up in Charlotte, N.C., but we knew we wanted to get married in Vero Beach, FL. Derek and I wanted to have a full weekend of celebrations and provide a mini beach vacation for all of our guests.
All of our guests would be traveling from all over the US to be a part of the wedding, so it was important for the wedding to have a “Florida” feel. Since the wedding was in July, we knew it would be too hot to have a beach wedding. I was so excited when we found The Moorings Club, the perfect venue that overlooked the water and a small beach. I worked with Lynn from Hutchinson’s Florist to create flower arrangements that would also bring the beach feel inside.
The photography and food were the most important details. To me, food really sets the tone for the wedding, so we did things a little differently. We decided on “comfort” food and all of Derek and my favorite foods (which is a lot). I chose the fresh fruit bar, seafood bar and build your own grilled cheese station. Derek wanted a nacho bar, slider station, mashed potato bar, and Sundae station. Derek loves ice cream and not a huge fan of cake, so it was only fitting that Derek have an ice cream sundae bar instead of the traditional groom’s cake. Thanks to the help of all of our fabulous vendors, the wedding was our perfect dream wedding. It was everything I had imagined it would be.
From Angel Gray Photography… What I really must do first is introduce you to Sarah and Derek. She was living in Charlotte and he was in Kentucky. She was coaching cheerleading on the side (her day job is in corporate events) and became friends with his mom -a teacher. He was working in venture capital but coming home to NC frequently to visit with his dad who was ill. His mom kept mentioning Sarah but he wasn’t really in the mood for a first date. But his mom wasn’t in the mood to give up. Before Derek’s dad passed away she had the chance to point Sarah out and say, “Wouldn’t she be great for Derek?” You see his mom fell in love with Sarah first. She’s that kind of girl.
So Derek asked Sarah out; they had pizza and talked. Then the restaurant began to close and they kept talking – and never looked back. About two years later he crashed her girls weekend in Austin TX in order to propose; of course the girls were in on it, he knew Sarah would enjoy celebrating among friends – he’s that kind of guy.
Wedding Photography: Angel Gray Photography / Wedding Reception Location: The Moorings Club / Prep Location: Costa d’Este / Wedding Cake: Sweet Creations / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm via Hayden Olivia Bridal Boutique / Wedding Invitations: Lynlee & Co / Wedding Band: City Lights / Floral Design: Hutchinson’s Floral