For all you ocean-loving gals planning your nuptials with a touch of the nautical this seaside inspiration shoot by BellaFotografica is definitely for you. Whether you’re going for a little vintage, a bit modern or a more classic look there is so much inspiration to be found in this stunning sandy celebration. I LOVE that they combined a casual vibe with an elegant table setting and incorporated oodles of fun, DIY touches. I don’t think I can pick a favorite detail, can you? See them all in the full gallery!
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The inspiration for this shoot came from the gorgeous Sea Glass Estate of Crystal Beach, Texas. The area was known for its beautiful vacation homes and was a weekend hangout for many Southeast Texas residents. In September 2008, Hurricane Ike hit the coast and caused catastrophic damage to the community. Many thought that Crystal Beach would never recover, but after three years of restoration, the area is booming again. It was the perfect setting for our beach-inspired wedding. Our color scheme of white with hints of yellow and blue blended seamlessly against the beach. During the design process (lead by Stephanie Do of La Belle Fleur Designs and Events and Glenda Little of Dressy Designs), we knew that we really wanted to be hands-on, and we created many of the pieces ourselves. After a trip to local merchants at the beach, we acquired a large collection of various seashells for our DIY projects. Taking cues from the name of the venue, sea glass was incorporated throughout the shoot — from the beautiful sea glass jewelry that Leigh Ann Smithy-Brittain of Ooh-La-Leigh’s hand-made to the unique wedding cake that Dawneen of Artistic Confections created. Allen Ayres and Marius Lardizabal of BellaFotografica captured the beautiful images of the day.
Wedding programs printed with a watercolor image of the Sea Glass Estate were displayed on the greeting table. Even with the strong winds that day, we were able to set up a chiffon-draped canopy that swayed gracefully with the wind. For our shoot, we chose two knee length diamond white dresses for our bridesmaids. They coordinated perfectly with the Maggie Sottero bridal gown that Suki’s Bridal of Orange, Texas provided. Erica Strazz of Salon Status provided the makeup for our ladies, and Katie Killebrew of Salon Elle was our hair stylist. The bride and bridesmaids held bouquets that were accented with seashells.
No wedding is complete without delicious food and wedding cake — we prepared bountiful dishes of local seafood from the area. The colors of the blue crab and shrimp against the sandy beach were mesmerizing. The table served as a foundation for Artistic Confections’ wedding cake that was decked with “sea glass.” Jars of white pearlized candies were displayed, in addition to seashell-shaped chocolate candies. We served banana pudding inside the cavity of some beautiful natural shells that we acquired and they were irresistible. Vanilla cupcakes topped off with white chocolate sand dollar were also displayed on our sweet bar. When dusk was approaching, our bride wore a gown that made a statement on its own with its contemporary ruffles and design. What bride wouldn’t enjoy playing dress-up on her wedding day? To end the evening, we created “donut shooters” as a late night snack for the guests. Served in shot glasses with cold milk, this snack is a fun and easy-to-prepare addition to any wedding. The donuts were held together by custom-made “Sweet Dreams” flags that invited the guests to grab one before they headed out for the night. The snack tray was created by using a framed mirror that was covered by the shells that we had collected from the local merchants. This wedding was so much fun to design and execute for all of the involved wedding artists. We hope that it will inspire any bride who is planning a seaside nuptial.
Wedding Photography: Allen Ayres + Marius Lardizabal of BellaFotografica / Wedding Venue: Sea Glass Estate in Crystal Beach, Texas / Floral + Event Design: Stephanie Do of La Belle Fleur Wedding Designs and Events / Wedding Stationery + Event Planning: Glenda Little of Dressy Designs / Wedding Cake: Dawneen Hebert of Artistic Confections / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero via Suki’s Bridals / Jewelry: Leigh Ann Smithy-Brittain of Ooh-la-leigh’s / Hair: Kati Killebrew of Salon Elle / Makeup: Erica Strazz of Salon Status