We have such a beauty to share with you this morning thanks to the talented team behind the lens at Care Studios! It’s the type of fête people flock to Florida for, and the lush backdrop of the island of Boca Grande (a place near and dear to the Groom and his family) provided the perfect place for the pretty to unfold. The Bride, a blogger on Huffington Post Weddings, was able to put all her talents to work leading up to this stylish soiree, and you can see it all come to life in the full gallery of images!
Click here for the FULL gallery!
From the Bride… Rob and I met at George’s at the Cove in La Jolla. We were both living in San Diego while completing our post-doctoral work. Two weeks after our first date, Rob found out he would be moving to Seattle in just a few short months for work. We both knew we’d found “The One.” Nothing was going to keep us apart! I quit my job and packed up to move with him to Seattle just *two months* after our first date! It was the best decision of my life. We became engaged eight months into our relationship, and the engagement lasted one year.
Boca Grande Island is the best-kept secret around. It is timeless beauty and tranquility. Rob has wonderful memories of growing up and vacationing in the area with his grandmother and grandfather. It meant the world to us to have our wedding on the most beautiful island imaginable with all of the people we love. Our family and friends came from all corners of the US to be with us, and we will cherish the memories forever. This was a destination wedding, and we chose to have a romantic, simple and classic theme. The grounds of the Gasparilla Inn are stunning. We didn’t want to distract from the natural beauty of our surroundings; the crisp green of the golf course, the gorgeous water, the views from the gazebo. Rob and I wanted to have our wedding to reflect a timelessness and ease that embodies the island.
As for advice, I also have a wedding blog on Huffington Post where I discuss weddings and relationship issues. As a psychologist, I combine my love for weddings and my love for romance in my work with pre-marital couples. You can check it out here. Do know that all of the planning (and stress!) is so totally worth it. Just remember to plan a wedding in a place that is meaningful for you, and do plan to take your honeymoon right away! Our wedding was the best week of my life, hands down. It brought my husband and I even closer together and far exceeded my expectations.
Wedding Photography: Bob and Mariela of Care Studios / Ceremony: The Golf Course at The Gasparilla Inn & Club in Boca Grande, Florida / Reception: The Gazebo at The Gasparilla Inn & Club in Boca Grande, Florida / Officiant: Pastor Brian Brightly of The Lighthouse United Methodist Church of Boca Grande / Catering + Wedding Cake: The Gasparilla Inn & Club / Wedding Invitations: The American Wedding / Ceremony Violin: Leah Rothe / Reception Music: Black Tie DJs / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals via Bellevue Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Shoes: Nordstrom / Hair + Makeup: The Gasparilla Inn & Club / Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein