Florida Weddings

You know what I really love? A bride who isn’t afraid to get her hands a little dirty. A bride who’ll hunt for those perfect vintage pieces and craft her sweet heart out into the wee hours of the night. Those are the weddings that just stand out. And this Miami soiree is the aforementioned to a T. With a bride who happens to be beauty behind A Love For Detail, there’s no question every moment was carefully crafted from the inside out. Shea Christine snapped up all the pretty, and if you’re still left longing for more — you can find it right here.

From the Bride…When planning our wedding, we wanted a venue that reflected our style, and where we could have our ceremony outside, and dinner and dancing inside, all at one location. There are so many beautiful beach venues in Miami, but none felt perfect until we saw the rustic Cooper Estate in Florida’s Redlands farm district. We decided on a “modern vintage” style wedding. I wanted the feeling of the wedding to be intimate, romantic, and warm. Milk glass vases, dessert stands, and lace runners were all carefully picked, and I even started to learn what pieces were rare finds! A lot of the milk glass came from Pennsylvania, where Christian and his family are from. Evenings were spent handcrafting seating cards, “Mr. & Mrs” signs, my garter, conversation starter cards for guests, and even building a frame for our Instagram (#SipCipHorray) chalkboard. It truly was a labor of love. I scoured Etsy for all the perfect details, from the wedding signs and table numbers, to the plush “love” fruit on the table.

Amazing floral designs by Julia Rohdes added our peach, orange, and grey colors all with an air of romance. The floral textures were unique and elegant. This planner could not run her own wedding, so I hired a wonderful Day-Of Coordinator, Better Half Weddings, and all the details, love, and fun were beautifully captured by photographer Shea Christine. It was a small, intimate wedding of 85 of our closest family and friends. Our bridal party consisted of my two very best friends, who are so different from each other, that I thought they should both wear different colors and style of dress. The best man is Christian’s best friend from college. The flower girl is my adorable niece whose mother hand crafted the flowers on her dress, and my brother officiated the wedding. A few days before the wedding the weather reports said there would be rain, I was so worried, but decided that we would just have to deal if it were to rain. I went out and bought two stylish umbrellas, but still hoped for the best. The day of the wedding, which was also my late Grandmothers birthday, turned out to be sunny and unseasonably cool for Miami. We got lucky, and I like to think it was my Grandmothers doing. On my bouquet I had small frames with their pictures and my “something blue” was my Great Grandmother’s’ handkerchief. Our wedding day was one of the best and happiest days of my life. I got to marry my best friend, dance, celebrate with my family and friends and wear a fabulous dress and veil while doing it! I wish we could do it all over again!

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Photography: Shea Christine | Month-Of + Day-Of Coordination: Better Half Weddings | Wedding Design + Planning: A Love For Detail | Floral Design: Julia Rohde Designs | Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Cooper Estate | Invitations: Minted | Catering: Bill Hansen Catering | Hair + Makeup: Tony Lucha | Desserts: Sucrette | Wedding Dress: Legends by Romona Keveza  via Chic Parisien | Jewelry: Nadri | Shoes: Enzo Angiolini | Bridesmaid Dresses: Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids + J.Crew | Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers | Groom + Best Man’s Ties: Original Penguin

Florida weather is notoriously unpredictable (I’ve learned as much in my several vacations to the Sunshine State), and while I personally love the off and on rain, it doesn’t always bode well for your wedding day.  So when these two sweeties encountered a little drizzle, and missed their chance at some crazy fun portraits, they decided a re-do was most definitely in order.  The result?  A drop-dead gorgeous day of beautiful images captured by Kt Crabb Photography.  Join me in the gallery for all of the pretty.

From Kt Crabb Photography… Becky and Kyle met in their college years and said their “I do”s a few months ago. Florida weather likes to bring a little surprise to each day and this was no different. Sunny one moment and raining the next, we didn’t manage to get any fun portraits of the two on their wedding day. They decided to visit Vizcaya and take another chance with the weather. I’d say they made a great choice and example of options to take if it rains on your wedding day. Who wouldn’t want to get dressed up in their wedding attire again?!

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Photography: Kt Crabb Photography

The first word that comes to mind when diving into this gorgeous post-wedding Romance Shoot?  Magical. But that’s kind of what happens when you pair up one of the most beautiful couples you will ever lay your eyes upon with the fab stylings (+ amazing florals) of Ever After Wed, a beyond stunning Pronovias gown and the talents of Vanessa Velez Photography.  Pure, unadulterated magic.  And the gallery overflowing with love-filled moments?  The perfect way to spend your Monday.  Join me there for sooo much more.

From Ever After Wed… I’m not sure I have words to adequately introduce this crazy in love, can’t live without you couple, Christine and Jeremy. I had the honor of coordinating their destination wedding in the Encanted Island of Puerto Rico back in 2012. What started as a wedding planner helping a beautiful couple grew into an amazing friendship. So, a year later, I’ve had once again the privilege to recreate those moments but this time on our home turf.

Because of their Cuban-American romance we wanted something that had some history and romance, they had considered Vizcaya for their wedding when they first started planning so they knew the beauty of the place and once I mentioned it they where all in with me on the idea. There is an Old World feeling to it familiar to how their wedding felt in the Colonial city of Old San Juan. So having that reminiscent feeling in Miami was just perfect.

There’s nothing better than a perfectly laid -back after wedding session, specially when we have the most talented photographer I know to capture those images that they will treasure forever. We are madly in love with the amazing pictures.

This may be, hands-down, one of the most emotion-filled + heart-stoppingly romantic weddings I’ve planned to date and this Day After Session was, without a doubt, perfection.

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Photography: Vanessa Velez Photography | Styling + Planning + Floral Design: Ever After Wed | Headpiece: Doloris Petunia | Wedding Dress + Veil: Pronovias | Bride’s Shoes: Nina | Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein

After a heartfelt engagement on a cruise to the Bahamas, these two Miami sweeties set about creating a day that honored their overwhelming love for each other, as well as their awesome devotion to their sweet friends and family.  A day that not only celebrated their passion for vintage details, romantic touches and tea party pretty, but was a serious (+ oh-so-amazing) labor of love, from the beautiful ceremonial arch to the sweet invitation wording (written by their adorable daughter!) to the beyond stunning bouquets.  A DIY masterpiece?  Indeed.  See every last moment captured by Robert Rios in the full gallery.

From the Bride… The first memorable event of 2012 was winning a cruise to the Bahamas. I didn’t think it was possible to top such luck until I saw Jorge kneeling on the top deck of the ship with a ring he had made himself. He is not a jewelry maker and it meant the world to me to find out the time he took to make it and how perfect it was. My beloved engagement ring set the tone of our wedding. It was a DIY affair full of vintage details. We envisioned a small, warm and welcoming wedding where we could feel comfortable sharing our deepest feelings for each other.

Jorge loves classic English cinema and I love tea and anything floral so we were inspired by our likes and decided to have a romantic floral garden tea party wedding. Throughout the year, I collected vintage teapots, tea cups, vases and any floral-inspired decor. On one of my many trips to the thrift store, I spotted two wicker heart-shaped chairs; like a cartoon character with bulging hearts for eyes, I fell in love with them immediately! They were so perfect for our wedding. I later found out, via Pinterest, that Kate Moss had the exact same chairs at her wedding! Made me love our chairs even more.

We truly love all of our guests and since it was a relatively small wedding we were able to add special touches to make them feel loved. One of my favorites was the spool place card holders. Jorge’s dad cut about 80 spools by hand! I then had my lovely bridesmaids help me stain them and finally wrap them with mint colored lace. Our guests loved to see their names displayed in such a cute way. We also found some awesome cardboard teaspoons online that we used as escort cards. Each of them had a fun trivia question on the back to strike up a conversation. As favors, we gave each guest tea bags so they could go by our tea station and pick their favorite flavored loose tea to take home.

The details of our wedding were crafted with a lot love and care thanks to the help of our wonderful friends and family. My mom used her skilled hands to lovingly crochet holders for our teacups’ flower arrangements that hung from our wedding aisle chairs. She also made me two beautiful crochet garters, one to give to a lucky bride-to-be and another one that I’ll cherish forever. We had a tight budget and we couldn’t afford a florist. I was worried about timing and how little I knew about flowers but I did my homework and a lot of planning. With the help of my favorite ladies we created all the flower arrangements one day before the wedding, I was surprised how little time it took us! We had a wonderful time helping each other out and felt proud of our masterpieces.

Jorge and I tackled many DIY projects as well. He built our ceremonial arch and I put together the laced embroidered hoops that we used as a backdrop for our ceremony. He also constructed the wooden directional signs and our big chalkboard welcome sign on which I, for the very first time, enthusiastically employed my chalk calligraphy skills.

It was important to us for our invitations to be lighthearted and touching. The sweetest person we know, our 8-year-old daughter Luna, worded them. We also implemented a whimsical family portrait (including our kitty Musa) illustrated by Dairy Sketches from Etsy. I digitized the illustration and gave it a personalized look. I also designed the rest of our stationery pieces carrying the same floral look. Being a career Graphic Designer helped a lot!

Everything was going as planned until I broke my ankle one week before the wedding! Needless to say, I was devastated. I didn’t know what hurt the most, my ankle or the fact that I wasn’t going to be able to walk the day of my wedding. I dreaded the idea of using crutches or a wheel chair. But my dear love saved the day. He put wheels on a throne-like chair, so my mom could push me down the aisle, it was genius idea! and it made our wedding so much more special.

Our wedding was definitely an act of love from the very beginning. We were also extremely lucky to have the most amazing vendors to help out with every detail and make it memorable beyond our wildest expectations. I was so happy to see all the hard work displayed when I arrived. My ladies looked gorgeous with their handmade bouquets and the headpieces I made for them. Our daughter looked precious with her one-of-kind vintage dress and her pretty smile. But as my mom pushed me down the aisle in my “royalty” chair, I could only focus on my love’s twinkly eyes. I was finally marrying my best friend and that’s all that mattered at that moment.

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Wedding Photography: Robert Rios Photography | Wedding Venue: Cauley Square | Day of Coordinator: Better Half Weddings | Wedding Cake: Gigi-Mamma Cakes | Wedding Cinematography: Michael Burgos Films | Stationery Design: Celia’s Design | Portrait Illustration: Diary Sketches | Wedding Dress: French Juliet Tailor | Bride’s Shoes: Seychelles | Photobooth: Sideshow Booth | Decor + Props: Las Celias + Unearthed Vintage + Llorente Design

Getting married where your love story began is always an adorable idea, and when you met in South Beach, Miami – it also happens to be a gorgeous idea too. This stylish duo brought their nearest and dearest to the place near and dear to their hearts to say I do, all while the talented Blink of an Eye Photography snapped up every chic moment…which ultimately leaves us with a gallery too fabulous to pass up. See it all here.

From Blink of an Eye Photography… Kellie and Shawn were married in Miami, Florida at the luxury boutique Epic Hotel with their closest friends and family. The two wanted a destination wedding where they met in South Beach and true to Miami fashion, it was unforgettable. With Shawn being an accessories buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue, we knew the details would be killer and of course Kellie and Shawn were both adorned with the utmost fashionable accessories from Kellie’s dazzling David Yurman jewelry to Shawn’s navy velvet loafers. It was a classy black tie affair that wasn’t hindered by the overwhelming wind that made the altar come tumbling over right as the bride took her place at the end of the aisle ( Don’t worry, no one was hurt!). You may notice two young men holding it up in the photos to keep it from blowing over again! The reception continued the elegance with the beautiful bulb ceiling of the Epic Hotel and dramatic uplighting. The floor to ceiling windows offered colorful views of the Miami Tower. There were entertaining moments throughout the night from Kellie’s brother blowing off the scripted speech Kellie gave him to Shawn tricking Kellie when he went for the garter and instead pulled out a pair of big “granny panties!” The guests delighted, dined, and danced the night away making memories to cherish for a lifetime.

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Wedding Photography: Katie from Blink of an Eye Photography | Wedding Venue: Epic Hotel in Miami, Florida | Officiant: Marvin Lue | Event Planning: Yadi Rose Events | Floral Design: Petal Productions| Catering: Area 31 | Wedding Cake: Ana Paz Cakes | Ceremony Music: Dacapo String Ensemble | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bride’s Jewelry: David Yurman | Hair: South Beach Makeup Studio

Justin DeMutiis is making my heart sing this morning, and it’s all because of the way he captured this drop dead gorgeous Miami wedding. With a splash of glamour  mixing and mingling with pops of the pretty color (hello fabulous shoes and stunning florals by Ines Naftali), it’s layer after layer of gorgeous wedding goodness. Add some perfect Florida light and a mariachi band, and this fête is officially on my favorites list. See it all here.

From the Bride… David and I want our wedding to be engaging for our guests, comfortable, and beautiful. We’re having a friend of ours officiate the wedding. Since beginning the wedding planning process we have been using Pinterest, Style Me Pretty, and Martha Stewart Weddings for inspiration. We also draw inspiration from our environment, from delicious restaurants in Brooklyn, to vintage cocktail bars, to the natural vibrancy of Miami tropical colors: bright pink, orange, yellow, and fuschia.

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Wedding Photography: Justin DeMutiis | Wedding Venue: Coral Gables Country Club in Miami, Florida | Floral Design: Ines Naftali | Wedding Cake: Elegant Temptations | DJ: Liquid DJs Inc | Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal | Makeup: Josie Miller

This is the perfect example of taking a simple color palette and turning it into all out glamor. Editing down that rainbow of hues to a select combination that pops is key: a deep red, in this instance, paired with white and pale pink. It’s total classic meets gorgeous crafted by Luxe Fete. Now throw in a dress by Reem Acra that any one of us would give our right arm to wear and breathtaking photography by Ozzy Garcia and we have the makings for quite the pretty party. See even more right here!

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From Luxe Fete Event Planning and Design Studio…The sweet fragrant air of lush peonies. The magic glow of the pale moonlight. The Universe pulled out all the stops and then some for Kristin and Bobby’s love in bloom.  Their backyard wedding at Kristin’s family home was a dream to plan and design. Kristin and Bobby envisioned something part rustic, part enchanting and one hundred percent intimate. Nothing says “Welcome dear friends,” like hosting your wedding in your childhood home. We learned during her best friend’s speech that the home was the site of many birthday parties, the prom after party, countless college parties and now the celebration of Kristin and Bobby’s union.

The first element that found us was the color scheme: dusty rose and deep Bordeaux. Kristin texted me a photo of some peonies in a bucket at Whole Foods that she spotted just before check out, “What do you think of this? I love the contrast.” It created a perfect balance of sophistication and romance and we were so excited to pair it with rustic elements.

We called my friends at Unearthed Vintage and discovered they had beautiful 100-year-old reclaimed wood farmhouse tables and fabulous vintage furniture – perfect for their part rustic, part enchanting and intimate evening. Dinner, curated by Ken-Rose Catering, was perfection. All would agree, however, the pièce de résistance of the evening was Kristin’s Reem Acra gown. It featured delicate roses which seemed to blossom from the dress itself. Effortlessly romantic and chic.

I always tell my clients that the most important part of the wedding is the ceremony. It is the heart and soul of everything. During Kristin and Bobby’s ceremony, they gathered sand from places all over the world that held special meaning to them: Exuma, where they met and fell in love, Islamorada, where Bobby grew up and proposed to Kristin; the beach at Kristin’s family home where they were to wed; and South Africa, Kristin’s mother’s beloved country and a place very near to their hearts. Just before the sand ceremony, Reverend Repp asked the couple to “Be still. Listen to the water. Listen to the wind. And listen their hearts.” It was their love in bloom.

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Wedding Photography: Ozzy Garcia Photography | Event Planning + Design: Luxe Fete Event Planning and Design Studio | Catering: Ken-Rose Catering | Production: Anne-Marie Shaffer of Blooming Events International | Lighting: Rays of Light | Rentals: Unearthed Vintage  + Decor for a Day | Officiant: Fr. Christopher Repp | Cinematography: Michael Atwood | Wedding Favors: Claus Porto Soaps | Make Up: Judith Prince | Hair: Jenny Berger | Entertainment: None Other | Invitation: Ten Lines Pica | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Tuxedo: Hugo Boss | Flower Girl Dresses: Katina Katoo

Hawaiian vacations are always, always a wonderful thing, but when you happen to meet the love of your life while soaking in the sun and strolling along those pristine beaches?  That’s a vacation of a lifetime, if you ask me.  Which is exactly what happened with these two cuties, who met amidst the breathtaking landscape of Oahu and began a long-distance relationship (Australia to the States!) that would span two years, six trips, a fab engagement and a whole lot of Skyping.  See their beautiful e-session captured by Cristobal Ceron in the full gallery.

From the Bride-to-Be… We met in Waikiki Beach, Oahu, while Seth was in college and I was visiting from Australia – It was love at first sight! We decided that this was definitely something worth pursuing, so we spent the next two years saving every penny we had, and taking turns traveling between Australia and the United States to see one another (about six trips in total!). The happiest day of our lives was in December of 2011, when Seth asked me to marry him with a handmade engagement ring, designed and made by a family friend who has known Seth since he was a boy, in his hometown of Lake Chelan, Washington – everything was perfect! I then returned to Australia, to start planning our new life in the US together and our gorgeous dream wedding… all over Skype of course!

By the time these engagement photos were taken, we had not seen each other for a little over 10 months (i.e our entire engagement!) as we were not allowed any visits while I had a fiance Visa processing. These pictures were not only special to us because we were finally together, but because they were taken where we now live in Coral Gables, Florida, around the neighborhood of our first home, and provide a backdrop to a very happy time in our lives.

Our photographer, Cristobal Ceron, is a dear friend based in Miami, who has a particular aesthetic that we both admire and love – he allowed us to simply mess around and be ourselves, and in turn, was able to capture the most amazing moments without anything looking posed or set up. Everything was completely natural and beautiful! We are so happy with how everything turned out and had a blast during the shoot.

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Photography: Cristobal Ceron Photography | Location: Coral Gables, Florida | Stationery Supplies: Paper Source + Anthropologie | Bride’s Shirt: American Apparel | Bride’s Shorts, Necklace + Cocktail Ring: Forever 21 | Bride’s Shoes: Lanvin | Groom’s Shirt: Banana Republic | Groom’s Pants: Zara | Groom’s Belt: Cole Haan | Groom’s Shoes: Allen Edmonds | Hair: Anton Acero Beauty Studio | Makeup: Chanel

Let’s face it, saying goodbye to the week here at SMP isn’t always easy.  That’s what happens when your job includes gazing at lovely weddings day in and day out – you don’t necessarily need those two days off. But making up for the Saturday and Sunday sans pretty?  This beautiful Miami affair from 13:13 Photography, which is sooo full of sweetness (here’s looking at you, DIY details), it was well worth the wait.  Start your week off right in the full gallery of pretty.

From the Bride… A little bit of a rustic, vintage country feel while also wanting an ocean breeze was a vision I thought unattainable until I googled endlessly one night. I came across the photos and website of our photographers, turned friends, that turned my dreams into reality. We would soon be married under that gorgeous oak tree at Matheson Hammock Park and what other venue besides the amazing Red Fish Grill would be more perfect to host our special day. My dream wedding along with my details and DIY projects began unfolding.

Our bridal party consisted of my sister Tara, matron of honor; two nieces, Rayna and Rachel, junior bridesmaid and flower girl. The groomsmen were my husband’s brother Tom, father Joe and soon to be stepson, Nick. My uncle Rick escorted me down the aisle along with my adorable ring bearer, Benjamin, the son of our officiant, my cousin and best friend, Pastor Michael Porter.

Although I’ve always loved the paper lantern look, I wanted to hang something else from the tree so with the assistance of a couple dedicated friends, Simi and Danielle, we created some really cool DIY balloon yarn chandeliers. At the ceremony little sprigs of baby’s breath were tucked in them to add an extra touch that tied them into my theme.  Vintage galvanized buckets which were filled with the baby’s breath lined the aisle.  My dress and veil were from Alegria’s in Coral Gables and shoes were Badgley Mischka in a seafoam color that paired with our overall color palette of the wedding. My accessories were quite simple including my grandmother’s vintage bracelet and a classic set of pearl earrings.

The atmosphere of Red Fish Grill is romantic and needed minimal décor, however just for an extra touch to the dinner tables my stepmom, Reba, and I wrapped tea light candleholders in different styles of lace. The centerpieces were weathered wooden boxes that included our magnificent floral arrangements; between them was my favorite Volcano candle from Anthropologie. The traditional escort card was replaced with our “giveaway” CD including songs from our wedding and a few that just had meaning to my husband and I. On the CD’s, which were wrapped with jute, was a thank you message and an attached leaf with the guest’s name and table number on it. There are a multitude of other little details that captured our vision such as our photo table with vintage typewriter, a rustic bird cage to hold guest’s wedding cards and our fingerprint tree sign-in canvas (which hangs in our living room), that I utterly adored.  We truly had the wedding of our dreams and will cherish the memories of that day forever. Thankfully we had the 13:13 family there to capture every moment and every detail. They are by far the most genuine talented people to work with and know. We were blessed to have found them.

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Photography: 13:13 Photography | Getting Ready Location: Grove Isle Hotel & Spa | Ceremony Venue: Matheson Hammock Park in Miami, Florida | Reception Venue: Red Fish Grill in Miami, Florida | Floral Design: Ines Naftali Floral and Event Design | Wedding Cake: Todo Dulce | Cake Topper: Milk Teaby Bthanari | Ceremony Music: Austin Flores | DJ: DJ Supersede from Scratch Weddings | Wedding Invitations: Minted | Ring Bearers Pillow: My Swedish Farmhouse | CD Sleeves: Kraft and Jute | Tree Sign-In Board: Oh My Good | Transportation: Maylin Limousine Co. | Cigar Roller: On-Site Cigars Entertainment | Wedding Dress: Alegria’s | Bridesmaids’ Attire: J.Crew | Grooms Attire: Hugo Boss | Makeup: Makeup Artistry by Jessie

Looking for a way to let your guests know that they are in for the wedding of the century?  Have your bridal party walk down the aisle to the Vitamin String Orchestra’s version of “Bad Romance,” just like these two sweeties did.  Because I guarantee that from the very moment that pretty little tune hit the airwaves, friends and family alike knew that they were in for one stellar (+ beautiful) party.  A party that was not only filled with dance-till-you-drop Lady Gaga tunes, but a whole host of amazing planned by The Ideal Day Planners and captured in one seriously stunning Ever Clear Productions film.  Press play to soak it all in.

From the Bride….This day was everything that I dreamed it to be. Juan and I wanted it to be classy and romantic and for all the details to be true to who we are. I am a huge Lady Gaga fan so have the bridal party walk down the aisle to the Vitamin String Orchestra’s version of “Bad Romance” was perfect in every way. We had our day captured by the most amazing videographers, Ever Clear Productions and a talented photographer, Robert Rios Photography. Thanks to Vision DJ’s we got to dance the night away with our guests.

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Wedding Cinemagraphy: Ever Clear Productions | Wedding Photography: Robert Rios Photography | Wedding Venue: Doral Park Country Club in Doral, Florida | Wedding Coordinators: The Ideal Day Planners | Floral Design: Gladys Flowers | DJ + Uplighting: Vision DJs | Linens + Chairs: Elements and Accents Event Rentals | Wedding Dress + Bridesmaids’ Attire: Alfred Angelo | Makeup: Makeup By Elvi

Fête champêtres. Thanks to this lovely Bride, I’ve learned this morning that beautiful phrase describes the most gorgeous (and decadent) of garden parties hostsed in the forests outside of Versailles. Which just sounds like heaven. And this lovely lady in white obviously shares my sentiments  She took that beautiful term and let it serve as her guidance in planning this elegant yet ethereal Miami affair at Villa Woodbine. And with the help of Kasey D Weddings and the gorgeous images from Mandy & Me Studio, we can pretend we were there, amongst the prettiness, in this full gallery of inspired images.

From the Bride… When I first started planning our wedding, I had no idea where it would take place but I did know that it had to be outside. Some of the most fabulous weddings I’ve attended have all taken place outside and there is just something about being under the stars with all your dearest friends. The first decision that had to be made was also the hardest–in what city would we have our wedding? We live in New York but have family in Florida, California and Italy. Italy was my first choice but logistics made that hard (our dear friends would be getting married in Venice two months earlier–we felt bad having all our friends fly out twice in such a short time span) and my family was really pushing for Miami, my hometown. I flew down to Miami and was having a hard time finding a place that really fit my aesthetic. Everything I saw was dark, indoors and not my style . After almost giving up on Miami, a friend of my mother’s suggested Villa Woodbine in Coconut Grove and I automatically fell in love. It would allow me to have my rustic, romantic wedding, outdoors and in my hometown. Score! Before we knew it, we had all our friends and family excited for Miami in January. Escaping the rough winter would be a joy for everyone!

I had initially given myself a loose color palette and theme after falling in love with the idea of a Fête champêtres – an art history term coined during the Rococo period (I’m an art history major!) describing pastoral, elegant and lavish garden parties that used to happen in the forests outside of Versailles. This allowed me to work within impressionist colors but also did not restrict me too much. Although I knew exactly what I wanted, what was difficult for me was making it all come to life. That is where my amazing wedding planner, Kasey D, came into play. With her help, all of my little ideas came to life, from golden fruit to adorn the tables, to cute little signs that flanked the bars.

When our big day was finally here, I was surprisingly calm. I knew I was marrying the right man and I knew that what would be, would be and that it was best to enjoy every minute without getting to hung up on little details that may have gone awry. When all was said and done, our table cloths were the wrong color and our flowers were a bit off but none of that really mattered then and there. What was most exciting was that I was with everyone I love, the guy I’ve chosen as my partner, under the Miami moon. And that, I’ll remember forever.

If I could offer any advice to any future brides it would be to do what you want to do. Don’t let anyone convince you that this looks better or that everyone will like more. In the end, you’ll regret caving in. Also, do not sweat the small things on the day of. Something is bound to be off. Just make sure you’re enjoying every moment because you’ll never get them back!

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Wedding Photography: Mandy & Me Studio | Wedding Venue: Villa Woodbine in Coconut Grove, Florida | Wedding Coordinator: Kasey D Weddings | Floral Design: Nevot Floral Design | Caterer: Bill Hansen Catering | Wedding Cake: Bride’s Aunt | Band: Miami Nights | Chair Rental: Unearthed Vintage |Wedding Dess: the Bride + Rex Fabrics | Hair + Makeup: Jennifer Cruz Beauty

 

I’m just going to come out and say it, I am head over heels in love with this Florida fête at Villa Woodbine. Obsessed basically. It’s that elegant yet approachable yet timeless style that must be in my DNA somewhere, because the moment I come across a party like this one, I just know I am a goner. Today I have Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning to thank for bringing me my dose of fabulous, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be dancing the day away with the picture perfect images from Marlon Richardson right here, in the full gallery.

If you are anything like me, you simply don’t want to step away from this party. Well, the pretty party continues with their gorgeous film from Lovebug Productions…

From Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning… From the moment the bride told me that her wedding would be at Villa Woodbine in Coconut Grove, I knew we were going to have so much fun putting together her dream day.  Huge oak trees, weathered coral stone architecture, a resident peacock—Villa Woodbine is such a special place!  The design was classic romance all the way; a chandelier (that served at the center of the ceremony and hung over the bride and groom’s dinner seats!), white, blush and cream florals in mercury glass containers, ivory dupioni linens, tons of flickering candlelight, champagne flute escort cards and a special lotus flower arrangement just for the groom.  Twinkling lights and a gorgeous chandelier provided a soft glow for outdoor dining, adding to the romantic ambiance.

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Wedding Photography: Marlon Richardson | Wedding Venue: Villa Woodbine in Miami, Florida | Event Design + Styling: Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning | Wedding Cinematography: Lovebug Productions | Floral Design: Petal Productions | Catering: Bill Hansen | Wedding Cake + Favors: Filled and Frosted | DJ: DJ Jam 1 | Dress: Romona Keveza via Chic Parisian | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair + Makeup: Makeup by Marz

I love this wedding.  I love that the bride and groom described it as “gypsy-like in design” where “nothing matches, but everything feels right.”  I love that the entire day was held in their breathtaking private villa in Coconut Grove, aka, one of the prettiest backdrops I have ever seen.  And I also love that it was literally infused with one moment after another of personality-filled details, from the Mediterranean feast of olives and hummus to the Turkish coffee and baklava served to each guest at the end of the evening.  See it all in the full gallery captured by Daniel Lateulade.  It’s a beauty.

From Daniel Lateulade… Kat & Edvin are graphic designers who were married on 12/1/12 at their villa in Coconut Grove, Florida, and everything was designed to be a direct reflection of their personalities.

When Kat wrote me to describe her wedding day, she said “The main theme of the wedding is love, family, travel and a celebration of cultures. The decor of the wedding is a mashup, inspired from the bride & groom’s love of Moroccan/Indian/Spanish/French lifestyle. Very gypsy-like in design. Nothing matches, but everything feels right.”

Their Hindu Fire Ceremony was inspired by the bride’s yogic tradition, and was followed by a Mediterranean family style dinner of olives, hummus, pita, grilled lamb and babganoush. In honor of the groom’s Bosnian heritage (and in homage to the couple’s tradition of making coffee together every morning), Kat & Edvin personally made and served Turkish coffee and baklava to their guests before leaving for their honeymoon in Marrakech.

Wedding Photography: Daniel Lateulade / Venue: Private Villa in Miami, Florida / Wedding Coordinator + Event Styling: Lauren Buck Design & Events / Catering: Lenore Nolan Ryan / Wedding Dress: Temperley of London / Groom’s Attire: Ermenegildo Zegna / Hair + Makeup: Josie Miller

When one thinks of Miami, usually beaches spring in to mind along with bright colored, flowing sundresses. Never would I believe that there was a secret italian-inspired garden tucked into the very heart of this sunny city. Elaine Palladino explored these renaissance gardens and found iconic spaces to create such romantic photographs of the bride and groom. There are so, SO many details of this wedding that I absolutely adore, especially the french-inspired patisserie complete with white chocolate and macaroons! You are sure to get lost in the gallery for hours, but it’s okay to indulge just this once…

From the Bride… We’d heard numerous times from couples that they didn’t get to fully enjoy their wedding as much as their guests did. We felt strongly that we wanted this day to be about us and not have to miss out on dinner or interacting with our guests. We decided that to achieve this we needed to have an intimate wedding, and although we broke many hearts we decided to have the presence of only our immediate family and closest friends.  There’s something special about an intimate wedding when everyone knows each other and gets along. 

 I envisioned something romantic, yet modern. Since our honeymoon destination was Paris we decided to go with a Parisian theme wedding with a vintage-modern style. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens fit perfectly into the romantic setting I dreamed of; while Fifty at the Viceroy Hotel had the panoramic views and the modern style I desired. The most memorable moment for me was when I first glanced at Ricky walking down the aisle. His eyes were teary and he looked so happy. I immediately felt full of emotions it was difficult to look at him in the eyes without wanting to cry out of happiness.

All of the details were very important to me; from the lace to the crystal chandeliers to tie together with the wedding theme. However, my favorite detail would have to be the wedding guest book which I had hand-made from someone I found on Etsy. Since this would be one of the few memories I would keep, I wanted something that would remind me of the theme, the people and the mood of our wedding day. I really wanted to have the dessert table as a focal point and something I had put together myself. I found the cake stands in stores like Home Goods and Marshalls and had the patisserie sign hand-made. I purchased Paris theme scrapbook paper and lace and made the favor cones and dessert labels which were also handwritten. As far as traditions, I made sure I had something new, something blue, and something borrowed. My cousin’s wife lent me her beautiful mantilla lace veil which complemented my dress beautifully. My advice to future bride/grooms is to never forget to truly make it about the both of you. Put yourselves, your love and interests before all others.

Wedding Photography: Elaine Palladino Photography / Ceremony Venue: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami, Florida / Reception Venue: Fifty at the Viceroy Hotel Miami in Miami, Florida / Floral Design: Eudely Escobar of Events on a Budget / Wedding Cake: Mighty Fine Cakes / Wedding Invitations: Samantha Jade Designs / Linens: Gables Linen / Wedding Dress: Simone Carvalli / Bride’s Shoes: Fendi / Veil: Borrowed from Family Member / Bride’s Earrings: Indira by Elizabeth Cole / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Daisy Tarsi / Flower Girl Dress: Juju’s Tutus / Groom + Groomsmen’s Tuxes: Manny’s Formal Wear / Groom’s Shoes: Steve Madden

After falling in “can’t eat, can’t sleep, fully infatuated love” five years ago (seriously cute, no?), this Washington D.C. duo jetted off to Southern Florida to celebrate their nuptials with a destination shindig at the ever-amazing Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.  And, oh, what a shindig it was with drop-dead gorgeous florals from Parrish Designs, a Pnina Tornai (for Kleinfeld Bridal) gown and one moment after another of pure, unadulterated love captured by Fandango Studios… and that’s just the beginning.  Click play for every last minute.

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From the Bride… Eddie and I fell in can’t eat, can’t sleep, fully infatuated love almost five years ago. I knew he was it for me from the moment that he revealed his true feelings, which changed the course of our friendship to love forever. On July 25, 2010, while cruising on the Atlantic and watching the sunset, Eddie proposed with the most perfect canary diamond ring. We are DC based, but there is something that for several years has drawn us to the heat of South Florida. We wanted our wedding to be a vacation from reality – an opportunity to escape for a weekend and celebrate our love, so it was official: we were having a destination wedding. Our “vision” for our wedding was going to be a challenge, and we both accepted this right off the bat. I have been working in the bridal fashion/wedding industry for four years, so I have seen a lot of weddings. I wanted to ensure that ours would be unique with a purpose, that every detail was thought-through so that it was irrefutably a representation of us. When we first saw the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, we knew without hesitation that the Spanish architecture would provide the perfect canvas for our wedding. We wanted our guests to know from the beginning that this wedding was going to be out of the ordinary. To set the stage, we decided that a video save-the-date filmed in Miami by the sensational Fandango Studios was perfect. The storyline was a romanticized version of how Eddie and my relationship unfurled, and our made waves among our guests and got everyone excited.

Our wedding teaser is visual art. Ram Hernadez of Fandango Studios captured the love that was palpable to all of our guests, the close bond that I share with my dad and the overwhelming joy that was exuded by both of us, which was contagiously spread .Our “Big, Fat, Greco-Filipino Wedding” was a fusion of our cultures, our friendships and families. Most brides say they have dreamed of their wedding day their entire life – but despite my career path, that was not the case for me. What I did dream about were the words shared on that day – more specifically those spoken professions of love that Eddie and I composed to one another and vowed to each other in front of our friends and family. I also dreamed of those words that my dad would say to us as a newly-married couple and how this would signify the “passing” of undivided dedication from father to husband. My father’s words were captured eloquently and truthfully on our wedding teaser video, and it is these words that I will forever refer back to throughout our marriage as advice to live by.

Wedding Photography: Unique Design Studios / Wedding Venue: The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida / Event Coordination: Jennifer J Events / Floral Design: Parrish Designs / Officiant: Wedding by Frank / Wedding Cinematography: Fandango Studios / Wedding Cake: Ana Paz Cakes / Push-Cake Pops: Sprinkles / Gelato Cart: Dolci Peccati Gelato / Guitar Musician: AA Musicians / DJ: Visions DJ / Event Decor: Nuage Designs / Cigar Roller: CC Shows / Wedding Dress: Custom Pnina Tornai for Kleinfeld Bridal / Bride’s Head Piece + Veil: Custom via Bridal Styles Boutique / Makeup: Josie Miller Makeup and Hair / Bride’s + Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Lela Rose Bridesmaid / Groom’s + Groomsmen’s Suits: Custom via Donovan England / Groom’s Shoes: Prada

Now this is a Miami wedding. It’s absolutely perfect from the bride’s vintage pearls to the gorgeous al fresco reception. Each and every detail was carefully planned by the bride along with help from the fab ladies at Liz & Lex Events. Join us as we live vicariously through these pretty images from Rubber Boots Photography in the full gallery!

From Rubber Boots Photography… Audrey and Pete’s wedding was absolutely beautiful and memorable. It was full of personal touches from the bride and groom, and full of love thanks to all the family and friends that traveled from all over the world to be there on their special day. Audrey and Pete chose to host their wedding at the Thalatta Estate, which is a beautiful outdoor location in the heart of Miami. That morning, looming clouds were making everyone nervous, but just as we arrived to the venue, the sun came out, and the rest of the day was absolutely beautiful!

Audrey’s jewelry was a collection of her mother’s vintage pearls. Each strand was slightly different and collected over the years. She wore a beautiful ballgown and a birdcage veil to go with her outside-vintage theme. When we asked Pete how he wanted to look on the big day, he replied by saying, “James Bond!”

The ceremony was held over looking the ocean and officiated by a family friend. Each chair had a river stone placed on it with words such as “Love,” “Family” or “Trust.” The guests were asked to make a wish on their stone for Audrey and Pete, then throw the stone into the ocean after the ceremony. The decor for the reception was one of our favorite parts of the wedding. It was held on the estate’s terrace under a string of lights and surrounded by the amazing trees that you only find in the heart of Miami. The centerpieces were a vignette of pink roses and white hydrangeas, strings of pearls, and vintage vases and books that were collected by Audrey over several months during visits to flea markets and estate sales. There was so much love and happiness for Pete and Audrey on their wedding day. Family and friends traveled from all over the world to be there, and we were so honored to be there as well!

Wedding Photography: Rubber Boots Photography / Wedding Venue: Thalatta Estate in Palmetto Bay, Florida / Event Planning: Liz & Lex Events / Floral Design: Pink Pussycat Flower Shop / Catering: PCS Events / DJ: Rockin’ Roy Mobile DJ / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Audrey Brooke / Hairs: The Bride’s Sister / Makeup: Lady Kellett Makeup Artistry / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal

When choosing the perfect place to capture your engagement session, it just doesn’t get much better than the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.  All vintage fabulous and drop-dead gorgeous, this Miami location is a literal wonderland of pretty picture taking –  and this stunning shoot snapped up by Peachy Keen Photography is all the proof we need.  It’s a beyond gorgeous couple meets bundles of oh-so-chic style meets a fun-filled picnic in the gardens – and it’s all sitting pretty in the full gallery.  Join me there for more.

Click here for the FULL engagement!

From Peachy Keen Photography… Jason popped the question to Jessica at the beautiful Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. They are tying the knot January 2013 at an old schoolhouse in Davie, Florida, and are going for a vintage feel, so, they thought it fit to inject a vintage flair to their engagement session and to have it at Vizcaya, where they got engaged.

Photography: Peachy Keen Photography / Venue: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, Florida

We first fell in love with this darling duo back in September when we featured their beyond gorgeous e-session – and from the moment we spotted their sunny dispositions and sooo in love faces, we knew we would absolutely ADORE their wedding.  We were right.  Sent to us from the uber-talented Vitalic Photo, this is a day that is chock-full of traditional lovely, including a take-your-breath-away ceremony at Church of the Little Flower and a show-stopping Comber Hall reception.  Can’t wait for the anniversary party?  We hear you.  See so much more of the day right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Vitalic Photo… Elizabeth and Eric’s south Florida wedding was at The Church of the Little Flower with their reception next door at Comber Hall. They both got ready at the Biltmore Hotel, which of course always makes for a beautiful photography backdrop. Even though the Biltmore is very close to the church, I love that they still chose to have a vintage Rolls Royce drop off the bride and her dad. It was great for photos after the ceremony too — there’s nothing more romantic than a “Just Married” couple in the back of a vintage Rolls. 

Wedding Photography: Vitalic Photo / Ceremony: Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables, Florida / Reception: Comber Hall in Coral Gables, Florida / Wedding Planning: The Bride / Wedding Coordination: Sylvia Viyella of Comber Hall /  Floral Design: Sylvia’s Weddings of Distinction via Comber Hall / Wedding Cinematography: Captivated Films / DJ: Ubi’s Music Productions via Comber Hall / Transportation: Meilan Limousines via Comber Hall / Accommodations: The Biltmore Miami-Coral Gables / Wedding Dress: Saison Blanche / Bridesmaid’s Dress: Bari Jay / Makeup: Makeup Artistry By Jessie

Sometimes, I look through a gallery and I have to do a double take. I’ve got to start all over because the first time around, it was just too rich in prettiness that I know I had only skimmed the surface. As was the case with this beauty from Becca Borge Photography, because the first time around, I could only focus on one thing. This bride’s gorgeous, brilliant eyes that radiate with the glimmer and glow of all of the excitement and joy within her on this wedding day. But there’s a lot more where that came from, like The Ocean Club and those beautiful florals from Flowers by Carol. So get ready to get lost in the beautiful depths of this gallery, lovelies, because it’s a real good one and it’s all right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… My husband, Omar, and I were married on June 16, 2012, in Key Biscayne, Florida. From the get-go, we knew that we wanted a simple but elegant day that represented each of our personalities. My background in interior design and my husband’s experience in production played a big role in our venue selection and willingness to take on several DIY projects. We literally visited 18 sites across the state before finally discovering The Ocean Club, a gorgeously-manicured location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Immediately after booking The Ocean Club, we knew that our personal touches needed to be equally as memorable as the site. So we spent the next ten months tackling the details that would make the day feel like our own. My mother and I revitalized her original wedding veil so that it would be my “something old.” We designed and printed all of our invitations, menus, table numbers, and programs so that they would all coordinate and contain an element of interest, such as quote from our vows. We created a framed guest book “tree” out of cardstock, which now hangs as an original art piece in our home. Our biggest hit was probably the homemade photo props, signature drinks and glow sticks that were passed out throughout the night. But even while being surround by all of these personal touches, as a bride, I would have to say that my most memorable moment was when my brothers opened the doors to the ceremony site and I locked eyes with Omar for the first time while in my wedding dress. The amount of emotion in that single moment is really overwhelming and indescribable. As a result of all the hard work and sometime exhausted tears, we were able to create a truly magical day that embodied who we are as a couple. It was the most amazing and memorable day of my life so far.

Wedding Photography: Becca Borge Photography / Wedding Venue: The Ocean Club in Key Biscayne, Florida / Floral Design: Carol Matos of Flowers by Carol / Wedding Cake: Sweet Art by Lucila / Wedding Invitations: Designed + Printed by the Bride / DJ: Jammin Express Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Jasmine Bridal via Solutions Bridal / Hair + Makeup: Amanda Lynn & Co. Salon

A whole lot of love.  That’s what I am feeling for this stunning Miami soiree and, believe you me, once you lay your eyes on the breathtaking images captured by Maggie Stolzberg Photography, you’ll be feeling the exact.same.way.  Because this is the kind of wedding that is chock-full of mesmerizing moments, bundles of vintage inspired details and a bride and groom who are the epitome of stunning. Seriously.  All planned to absolute perfection by Simply Couture Weddings, you’ll want to spend your ENTIRE morning swooning in the gallery.  Guaranteed.  Join me there for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Our wedding reminded me of a movie — set in the ’30s while Bing Crosby played in the background. It was all about vintage glamour. We got ready at the Mayfair Hotel in Coconut Grove 20 years after my parents stayed there for their honeymoon. It rained like cats and dogs until an hour or so before the outdoor ceremony, then 1922 Ford Phaeton arrived, ready to bring us to our ceremony. Wildflowers, queen ann’s lace and daisies were the perfect touch to my bouquet. The conservative Jewish ceremony featured a chuppah designed by Field of Flowers. It was made of twigs, curly twigs, moss, butterflies and my husband’s late father’s talus to cover the top. Rabbi Eliot Pearlson conducted the ceremony, keeping us smiling and laughing, knowing we had made the perfect choice — each other, that is. My dress was exactly how I had envisioned — classic, vintage lace created by La Sposa. Jennette Sandifer created a hairstyle for me that was very “vintage ’30s chic” and made me feel like a movie star. The groom and his groomsmen wore sand-colored linen suits by Calvin Klein and bow ties.

We married under giant banyan trees right outside the reception venue at the Historic Women’s Club of Coconut Grove. The reception featured of hundreds of candles, strategically placed for a subtle glow. The flower centerpieces included vintage copper teapots handpicked by the bride and groom, which held wildflowers in colors of blush, ivory and orange. The interior of the room resembled the Kennedy’s living room, including a baby grand and a gorgeous fireplace which my planner, Teresa Fernandez, filled with ivory candles that flickered all night long. A gorgeous chandelier was added for an extra bit of glam. We provided a vintage typewriter, film projector and black and white photographs of family. Guests dined on kosher food provided by Majestic Caterers of Miami Beach. The menu featured blackened snapper with parsnip mash, lemon chicken with three potatoes, a grilled vegetable tower, butternut squash ravioli and endless amounts of petite pastries. The party danced to the sounds of a live band playing songs from artists such as Nat King Cole, Elvis, Sam Cooke, Perry Como and Frank Sinatra. Pure classic. Our first dance was “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” It was almost as if we had been transported to another time, which was exactly what I wanted. Classic, vintage, elegant, perfect.

Wedding Photography: Maggie Stolzberg Photography / Wedding Venue: The Historic Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove in Miami, Florida / Event Planning: Teresa Fernandez of Simply Couture Weddings / Floral Design: Field of Flowers / Officiant: Rabbi Eliot Pearlson / Wedding Cinematography: David Sutta / Catering: Majestic Caterers of Miami Beach (305-933-8886) / Wedding Invitations: SweetCookie / Wedding Dress: La Sposa / Shoes: Vintage / Hair: Jennifer Sandifer / Men’s Suits: Calvin Klein