Florida Weddings

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Powder blue (in various shades) was the dominant color of the wedding colors, with lots of creams and whites with touches of toffee, blush, and golden tones in the florals.

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From SBS Weddings & Events: Hurricane Ian devasted Southwest Florida just three weeks before Brooke and Michael’s wedding date (October 22, 2022) and severely damaged their reception venue located on the beach. Most hotels and businesses lost all power for several weeks following the hurricane. We had such limited time and resources to try and find a new venue that could accommodate their hotel room blocks, welcome party, and reception for 200+ people. Naples Grande Beach Resort reopened on October 10th, and they graciously agreed to accept the wedding. In less than two weeks, we had to pivot and rework some of the major design elements, reconfigure the entire layout to fit the new space, finalize food and beverage, redesign florals, print new stationery, etc. A beautiful event never comes without challenges. Many vendors were still dealing with the aftermath, working without power and internet and juggling their own personal issues while attempting to serve others. What we witnessed from every vendor that weekend was truly impressive, and their efforts did not go unnoticed. Twenty different vendors rallied together and pulled out all the stops to make this wedding happen. When designing this wedding, we kept “relaxed elegance” at the forefront, which is most fitting to Brooke and Michael’s personal styles. Our goal was to create that perfect balance of classic meets modern and the feeling of luxurious yet inviting by incorporating elements like the two-toned flatware and matte chargers from Treasury Rentals and beautiful textured linens. Guests loved being able to relax on the lounge furniture with a front-row seat around the dance floor and a cocktail in hand.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]From the bride: Being the avid golfers we are, we couldn’t wait for a bucket list trip to play Pebble Beach in California for my birthday. After we finished the round on the 18th green, Michael dropped down to one knee and asked the important question with the picturesque views of the Monterey Peninsula and the ocean in the background. I loved that he was so thoughtful to do it during something that we mutually enjoy and in such a beautiful and iconic place – it was perfect![/field]
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From the bride: I didn’t really know what style of dress I wanted but knew because of the Florida heat and being near the beach I would not want sleeves or extra tulle on the bottom. My maid of honor walks by the Pronovias flagship store in NYC every day and said I needed to check it out. I would have never expected to choose a strapless dress, but the stylist brought it out and I loved the intricate details. Even the sample fit like a glove. We still went to other bridal shops, but I couldn’t stop thinking about my Pronovias dress and went back to get it that same day.

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From SBS Weddings & Events: Guest experience was a high priority for Brooke and Michael, with great food and statement bars being at the top of the list. Brooke and Michael were both collegiate golfers, so it’s only fitting that one of their featured signature drinks was The Transfusion aka “Golf’s Greatest Cocktail”. Guests were served a duet of filet and lobster then sipped on espresso martinis as a post-dinner treat before hitting the dance floor with None Other the rest of the night. The edible martini topper added a fun touch and was a huge crowd-pleaser! The bride and groom currently reside in New York City, which is also where they first met, so we chose to include all of their favorite NYC street foods at the after-party, complete with a hot dog bar, fresh pretzels with mustard and dipping sauces, and slices of pizza.

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From SBS Weddings & Events: We opted for all low centerpieces on the guest tables, using a mixture of round and long tables paired with two different chair styles to create variety and dimension in the room. Isn’t She Lovely Florals designed a canopy of loose greenery and florals over the head table and lined the full length of the table underneath with varying heights of pillar candles. The linens from Nuage Designs really inspired a lot of the design details including the cut of the menu cards which mimicked the white scalloped pattern. We were thrilled to debut the matte blue chargers and plates from Treasury Rentals, which were just a perfect match to the powder blue linens. Brooke was drawn to both silver and gold elements, so the two-toned flatware was also a natural choice. The gold handles on the flatware complimented the thin gold rim on the plate chargers without being over the top. The overall look exuded an effortless elegance, with thought and intention behind every detail.

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From SBS Weddings & Events: Brooke and Michael chose two flavors for their 4-tier wedding cake – pineapple cake with cream cheese icing and chocolate cake with raspberry mousse filling. The all-white cake was adorned with fresh florals and we chose a powder blue velvet linen to elevate the table.

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From SBS Weddings & Events: We collaborated with Coastal Event Decor and Luster Designs for the custom-wrapped dance floor, the three-panel escort display, and the statement bars. The dance floor included the gold palm tree monogram from the couple’s invitation suite, which we also carried through to the cocktail napkins and stir sticks. Sean from Coastal Event Decor built two, large custom bars (18 feet each) for the reception space, which served as a major focal point on each side of the room. Luster Designs created the blue pattern for the bar fronts that also replicated the linens.

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From SBS Weddings & Events: Guests were served champagne as they transitioned from cocktail hour on the terrace to the reception upstairs. Servers held acrylic trays that were lined with the same blue pattern used on the bar fronts. There were personal touches at every turn for the guests.

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]From SBS: The couple had a live event painter who captured their first dance. Guests loved being able to watch the progression of her painting throughout night. [/field]
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Photography: Hunter Ryan Photo | Cinematography: IheART Films | Event Planning: Side by Side | Floral Design: Isn't She Lovely Florals | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Sweetified Bakery | Invitations: Luster Designs on Paper | Ceremony Venue: St William Catholic Church | Reception Venue: The Naples Grande | Jewelry: Verstolo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Band: Wiley Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Indochino | After-Party Dress: Nadine Merabi | Beauty: Duality Artistry | Live Event Painter: Event Painting by Nancy | Rentals: Coastal Event Decor | Rentals: Trinity Special Events | Rentals: Swag Decor | Rentals: Party Time Rentals | Rentals: Vivant Rentals | Rentals: Treasury Rentals | Rentals: Nuage Designs | Weddings Rings: Albert's Fine Jewelry

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Hunter Ryan Photo

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[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Clean and Bright Whites, with small touches of green leaf accents. [/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Since the Bride was a true fashionista, we wanted to stay a little more classic in our choices for colors and decor so the overall look of the Wedding would remain relevant with passage of time, instead of being overly trendy. The vibe was Clean, Mod with Organic Elements of Baby’s Breath sprinkled in for texture.

Striking white lacquer tables and acrylic ghost chairs paired with smokey grey glassware and baby’s breath clouds proved to be a romantic, yet moody wedding Day for Alexa and Matt. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Alexa & Matt’s first date in June 2010 was High SchoolProm, and after their prom, they went out to the Hamptons, where they had an after-prom party and bonfire on the beach. After a long night, Matt took care of her and carried her up the dunes back to the house. Fast forward 10 years later, Matt proposed in the same spot on the beach at Gurney’s (a Hamptons Resort which was 100 yards from where he first carried her up the stairs).

On the day of the proposal, they went horseback riding, had a spa day, and then Matt brought Alexa back to a private spot that was decorated with old photos of the two of them, flowers, champagne and a photographer to capture the moment! It was absolutely perfect. Their parents met them the next day, and stayed overnight for a long weekend to share in the moment! [/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The Bride wore a sleek, Trumpet gown by designer, Monique Lhuiller. The dress had a tight bodice with a trumpet flare at the bottom, pearl buttons down the back, and a luxe train trailing behind- but the obvious standout detail were her fabulous statement sleeves. The puff ball sleeves brought back a retro style that we could not get enough of! [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The Bridesmaids each wore a slightly varied style of Jenny Yoo’s gowns. Their light sage color in satin sheen was an effortless look, that kept the overall Bridal Party as a perfect compliment to the Bride. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The gentlemen were dressed to the nines in black, Vera Wang tuxedos with matching black dress shoes. A small spring of hand-tied baby’s breath as a boutonniere and a white pocket square completed their look. [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Espresso Martinis and Tequila Shots for Signature Drinks at Cocktail Hour, Why Not? They paired their two favorite drinks as an unlikely but FUN offering right after guests left the ceremony.

Champagne is about as classic as they come when you are deciding on drinks, so as guests came up the stairs from cocktail hour, the Bride and Groom were on display – pouring champagne into the top of a stacked Coupe Tower. The staff from Club Pelican Bay were handing out the filled coupes to the arriving guests, so instead of hanging champagne pre-set on the tables, guests were able to partake in a fun “action station” of sorts, put on by the guests of honor.

Passed hors d’oeuvres at the Cocktail Party included Lobster Arancini, Ahi Tuna Wontons, Beef Satay, Crab Cakes, Spanakopita and Duck Spring Rolls. In addition to the passed bites was a Raw Bar Station with a MUST-HAVE for the couple – Oysters. Both Kumamoto and PEI oyster varieties were offered and displayed on a beautiful ice sculpture alongside cocktail shrimp.

Guests had the option of 10oz New York Strip Steak or Wild Isles Salmon for their entrees, both served with Potato Dauphinoise and Haricot Vert with a Carrot Ribbon. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The Custom Invitation from Grey & Cake truly set the tone for this Wedding Weekend. The sage letterpress invitations were wrapped in a lasercut “baby’s breath” printed wrap and tied together with a sage ribbon. The Duogram, Menus and even envelope liner had additional accents of the printed baby’s breath that carried through the reception details.

The white perimeter room drape, white vinyl dance floor, and white stage surround were all a big part of neutralizing the room – which gave us a blank slate to work with. Then we brought in sleek, long and square lacquer tables to bring the element of clean-lined furniture, which gives a more modern uplift to the space that linens don’t quite achieve.

We took advantage of the dining room’s built-in alcove (normally used for the Band’s stage) and created a cozy little bar lounge in the room. We opened the drape with gathered swags, that made for an inviting space to order your favorite cocktail.

In terms of the tablescape, we had three varieties of centerpieces for each of the table shapes mixed into the layout. Candelabras wrapped with baby’s breath garland, bud vases of baby’s breath and long rows of flickering candlelight on the king’s tables.

Without a doubt, the WOW moment in the room came from the ethereal Baby’s Breath clouds that were suspended from the ceiling. Kaleidoscope Florals arranged these beautiful clusters of delicate stems from random points in the room, and also focused a large statement piece hanging from the room’s central chandelier. You could not miss these pieces of art that seem to bring in some fun texture in such a stark white space[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The Wedding cake was understated, with white textured ruffle layers, and a runner of baby’s breath trailing down the right side of the cake. Sassy Cakes did a beautiful job adding the right amount of texture to the cake, while keeping it simple. Alexa & Matt cut into this vanilla and raspberry delight and proceeded to feed each other right off the knife.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]When you have been together for 10+ years, it makes it incredibly special to have someone that has watched your story evolve perform the ceremony. The Bride’s cousin, Lindsay, officiated the ceremony with a very heartfelt performance. The Bride and Groom wrote their own vows, that touched on so many meaningful moments in their history – that reduced the guests to tears.

Jade Strings provided a Violin & Cello duo for the ceremony, and Alexa walked down the aisle to “Thousand Years”. The Newlyweds exited with a more upbeat “Higher Love” as they skipped back down the aisle.

The Newlyweds danced their First Dance to “Dancing in the Moonlight”, performed by The Headliners Band, but surprised everyone with a more upbeat “2nd Dance” song (after dinner) to the infamous Dirty Dancing song, “Time of My Life” with a spinning lift and all! When the cold sparks went off for THAT moment of the song – the guests went wild!

Alexa and her Mother danced an emotional “Mother-Daughter” dance to Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me” and Matt danced with his Mom to Melissa Smith “Seems Like Yesterday”. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]We have definitely seen the Bride change into a “party dress” before, but this time around the Bride AND Groom had a Costume Change and swapped color schemes. Reversing the rolls, Alexa traded her white dress for a sheer, black sequin Dolce and Gabbana Dress with “Til Death Do Us Part” Tulle gloves. She even had the stylist stay to update her hair look, and add in a matching Tulle bow. Matt hung up his black tuxedo jacket and donned a White Dinner Jacket, accented with a black pocket square. Before they came back to the party for their “2nd First Dance”, they took a few minutes to do some high-fashion flash portraits, including some cozy ones in the venue’s elevator. This couple was HOT, HOT, HOT! [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Since the Dinner Reception was upstairs and the Afterparty was tucked away downstairs, we wanted to have a fun transition between the two spaces. We brought in some Hora Loca Dancers to join in on the Band’s last song – bursting into the room with high-energy dance moves and elaborate costumes. Once they caught all the guests’ attention, they led everyone out of the room (Bride and Groom out in front) and single file down the staircase- right into the afterparty! The party never lost it’s momentum – in fact, I think it had a second wind as they came into the Afterparty space and met a dancing Mirror Man face to face! DJ Dayve had the beats popping as guests arrived for the next part of the evening. [/field]
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Photography: Hunter Ryan Photo | Event Planning: Carrie Darling Events | Floral Design: Kaleidoscope Floral | Wedding Dress: Dolce & Gabanna | Wedding Dress: Tribut Ives Saint Laurent | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Sassy Cakes | Invitations: Grey and Cake | Lighting: Artistic Science | DJ: Jade Strings | Wedding Venue: Club Pelican Bay | Beauty: Duality Artistry | Day of Paper: Luster Designs on Paper | Rentals: Trinity Special Events | Rentals: A Different Look

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From the New England-style lobster and oyster shucking rehearsal dinner to the beautiful mix ‘n match bridesmaids’ dresses to the peek-a-boo dolphin at sunset, this Florida wedding is everything a Florida wedding should be and so much more! With Jacqui Cole Photography, Voilà Cinematic and Tracie Domino Events behind each and every gorgeous moment, this day is sure to bring a smile to your face!

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Photography: Jacqui Cole Photography | Videography: Voila Cinematic | Event Planning: Tracie Domino Events | Invitations: A&P Designs | Reception: Radisson Hotel At Star Plaza | Hair + Makeup: Rachel Reumann | Band: Tropics Entertainment | Bridal Boutique: Mark Ingram Atelier | Fashion Styling: The White Dress by the shore | Mixologists: The Grand Bevy | Welcome Gifts: A Signature Welcome | Welcome Party Oyster Shuckers: Oysters XO

Oscar De La Renta, you’ve done it again. You’ve designed a gown beyond my wildest wedding dreams and “obsessed” is an understatement. Luckily, we have the images from Hunter Ryan Photo to stare at forever, plus every perfect wedding detail designed by Anna Lucia Events. Let’s head to The Vault and let the pinning begin.

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From The Bride…Our marriage is a dream come true in every way, starting with the big day that was more than we could have ever imagined. Friends, family, Anna, Meghan, Noor (of Anna Lucia Events), Tiffany & Cody (of Hunter Ryan Photo) and David & Danny (of Salon Tease) helped make our dream into a reality.

We exchanged our wedding vows at Trinity By The Cove Episcopal Church in Naples, Fl. on Sept. 12, 2015. A black-tie reception of dining and dancing followed a Private Club in Naples. I selected an Oscar de la Renta silk mikado gown and an Homa silk organza veil, and wore my grandmother Shirley’s sapphire bangle.

We met in the fall of 2005 at Vanderbilt University. We remained friends for seven years, even though we always knew we’d found “the one”.  We began dating in 2012, when I soon moved from New York City to Dallas, and became engaged in October of 2014. We were married in September of the following year, and are so thrilled for life together forever.

Photography: Hunter Ryan Photo | Event Planning + Design: Anna Lucia Events | Floral Design: 50 Fifty Creative Services | Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Cake: Ella’s Cakes | Ceremony Venue: Trinity By The Cove Episcopal Church | Reception Venue: Private Club | Hair + Makeup: Salon Tease | Lighting: KC Tecs | Band: The Headliners Band | Ceremony Music: Encore Chamber Players | Transportation: Dolphin Transportation | Calligraphy + Stationery: Natalie Chang | Ceremony Floral: Grace Lakes Florist | Linen Rentals: La Tavola Fine Linens | Linen Rentals: Nuage Designs | Photo Booth: Bash Booths | Programs + Menu: Lolo Lincoln | Rentals: A Chair Affair | Rentals:Party Time Rentals | Veil: Homa Bridal | Wedding Logo: The Lettered Olive

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Sometimes you come across a wedding that is just so crazy beautiful, you’re not quite sure where to begin. This, loves, is one of those weddings… a breathtaking yacht club affair featuring one picture perfect detail after another and a fab team of vendors putting it all together. (I’m talking to you Carrie Darling Events, Duality Artistry and Isn’t She Lovely Florals.)  See it all captured brilliantly by Hunter Ryan Photo right here, then stay awhile in The Vault to peruse even more yacht club beauties.

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From Hunter Ryan Photo… Marissa & Alex had their destination wedding amidst the boat docks of the Naples Yacht Club. Not wanting to be over the top nautical, Marissa worked with Isn’t She Lovely Florals to design a tablescape that reflected a pretty neutral palatte but still embodied the soft seaside vibe.

Photography: Hunter Ryan Photo | Videography: Viral Media | Event Planning: Carrie Darling Events | Floral Design: Isn't She Lovely Florals | Wedding Gown: Robert Bullock | Cake: Ella's Cakes | Stationary: The Paper Merchant | Reception Venue: The Naples Yacht Club | Makeup: Duality Artistry | DJ: DJ Ceron | Rentals: Niche Event Rentals

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There are beach resorts in Florida, and then there is the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort; a Naples wonderland of drop-dead gorgeous accommodations, top-notch service and luxurious amenities at every turn.  Think seaside “I do’s” meets an elegant ballroom reception meets an entire weekend of lounging around with your sweetie.  Put simply, it’s amazing.

Whether you’re saying “I do” for the first time, renewing your vows or simply planning your honeymoon in paradise, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort is THE place where all of the above happens, and it happens perfectly.  From your choice of stunning venues (pristine beach + fab pool + breathtaking ballroom) to the team of professionals that will walk with you step by step through the planning process to your end of the night walks underneath a golden sunset.

Contact LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort today to start planning your dream wedding!

We’re packing a punch today with this Naples garden goodness from Justin DeMutiis and Sarah Tucker Events. A punch of sassy hot pink, that is. It’s the delightful hue that splashes the ‘maids and their bouquets from Victoria Blooms, a hue that crawls in the form of petals up the walls of The Escalante and adorns the sugary naked cake. The entire gallery? It’ll plaster a grin across your face.

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From Sarah Tucker Events …Tricia and Tyler’s wedding day in Naples, FL was nothing short of perfect. The venue alone can make you feel like you’re walking into a garden in the med, but the gorgeous florals dripping everywhere, the personal touches throughout, and the love Tricia and Tyler share made the whole day pure magic.

From the beautiful Bride… Tyler and I live in Chicago, we are both from the same town in upstate NY, but Naples has always had a place in our hearts so deciding to have our wedding there made sense. Wedding planning is not small fete especially from a far but our wedding day was exactly what I had envisioned all those long nights planning with my Mom. Our venue, that my parents scouted, set the tone for our theme, a garden party. Next it was the details, I couldn’t have done it without a supportive fiance, great parents, amazing vendors and every other person who had a hand in it.

It was the best day, from getting ready with my Mom and sisters, to having a special first look first with my Dad, to walking hand and hand with my husband to finally dancing all night with our family and friends who had traveled near and far to celebrate with us. I am so grateful for these memories, I still tear up looking at pictures and feel like I am the luckiest. Can we do it again next weekend?

Photography: Justin DeMutiis Photography | Wedding Planning And Design: Sarah Tucker Events | Floral Design: Victoria Blooms | Wedding Dress: Sarah Janks | Invitations: Shannon Kirsten | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Calligraphy: Rachel Carl Co. | Entertainment: Joe Farren | Hotel: The Escalante | Bridesmaids' Dress Boutique: Susan Deborah Bridal | Linens: Nuage Designs | Rentals: Taylor Rental Naples | Wedding Dress Boutique : Lovely Bridal Shop

Fact: LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort is the type of place that just makes your soul happy.  The perfect combo of luxury and elegance, it’s glistening beaches meets amazing accommodations meets that sweet Florida sun.  In other words?  It’s the ideal setting for your wedding, vow renewal or honeymoon.

Located against a stunning Gulf of Mexico backdrop, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort knows a thing or two about throwing a perfect party.  From that intimate vow renewal to that 200-person affair, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort has the venue just right for you and yours.  Think grand ballrooms, poolside spaces and sandy beaches that will wow you and your guests with their awesomeness.  Not to mention an amazing team of wedding professionals that will make sure each and every moment of your day is simply flawless.  Add all of that to the peace and tranquility of a Naples vacation and it’s the wedding of your dreams… and then some.

I’m pretty sure I let out a big fat squeal when I first laid eyes on this amazing Naples affair captured by Hunter Ryan Photo. Ok, let me be honest. I definitely squealed to high heavens. And you might find yourself doing the same. Because when you pair a perfectly pink palette with beautiful design and florals from Isn’t She Lovely Florals, you are sure to get a winner. And trust me, this one is a winner.

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Our colors were pale pink, cream, and touches of gold. I love soft, muted colors for weddings. I would say my style is fairly traditional, and I wanted the event to have an elegant, Southern, classic vibe, like something you would see in the lowcountry in Charleston or Savannah. Sean and I are both Catholic, but we had a non-denominational Christian ceremony. The ceremony was very important to me, and it was a very tough decision to choose an outdoor ceremony instead of a traditional church ceremony. Ultimately, we chose our ceremony venue because it is stunningly beautiful and we loved the idea of having all of the wedding events in one place. The lawn at La Playa is beautiful, and I think it really reflected our style.”

Special touches from Nicole’s day were: the inclusion of Sean’s 2 adorable sons as groomsmen with their big seersucker bowties! :) To complement to elegant theme she wanted – the event designer – Krissy, hung a beautiful chandelier in their wedding arch. Nicole really loved the soft palette for her wedding and wanted to add her own personal stamp on it – so she DIY’d all her paper goods like her menu & table numbers with her die-cut machine! She also had custom monogrammed robes for all of her maids, as well as Sean’s mother and her mother. :) During cocktail hour they had some passed hors d oeuvres, but added a super fun gorumet macaroni & cheese station with all types of delicious toppings – like Truffle Mac n Cheese! They ended the night on a sweet note – having guests fill their own goodie bags full of treats from Nicole’s custom candy bar.

Nicole & Seans honeymooned on the slopes of Vail, Colorado!

Photography: Hunter Ryan Photo | Event Design: Isn't She Lovely Florals | Floral Design: Isn't She Lovely Florals | Wedding Gown: Pronovias | Reception Venue: La Playa Beach Golf Resort | Hair & Makeup: Salon Tease | Ceremony Strings: Seaside Strings | Cocktail Hour Guitar/DJ: Wiley Entertainment

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KT Merry and glamorous beach weddings go together like sequins and tulle; quite the delicious combo. Now pair her images with florals and decor by 50Fifty Creative Services, and planning by LUCIA PAUL Weddings + Events, for a shindig that is the prettiest mingling of sand and glamour. And you would never guess that the weather forced this couple to go with plan C. See it right here.

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From Meghan Detweiler of LUCIA PAUL Weddings + Events… I was honored to be a part of Lindsay and Scott’s destination wedding in Naples, FL. From the very beginning, Lindsay had a very clear idea of what she wanted her wedding to look and feel like: clean and modern with a few small elements of Florida. Lindsay and Scott both really had their heart set on a beach ceremony however, due to beach renourishments and bad weather, we had to change the ceremony location three times within two months. But the third time was definitely the charm! With an amazing group of vendors and supportive parents, what was plan C was decided on and executed in a matter of days and felt Lindsay & Scott’s plan A. From the romantic draped ballroom ceremony all in white to the white and silvery blue reception space, it was definitely a night to remember for all!

From the Bride, Lindsay… Scott and I have dated for over 7 years. We live in Manhattan but have always shared a love of warm weather, sun and sand. When Scott finally popped the question, we both knew we wanted to celebrate our big weekend with a beachside ceremony in Naples, Florida. Naples is home for my parents and I have been enjoying the beautiful beaches there since I was a little girl. Our goal was to create a fun, destination weeding for our family and friends to enjoy a weekend away from the cold.

As we began planning, Style Me Pretty was a fantastic resource to research vendors and find style details that I wanted to incorporate into our overall aesthetic. I could not have been more pleased with the team that we put together (see all of our vendors below)! 50 Fifty Floral was able to completely transform my many, many mood boards into a capiz shell and orchid filled dream. We could not wait to see all of our family and friends gather on the beach at the Waldorf Astoria for our sunset ceremony. The day before our wedding, however, the unpredictable Florida weather took a turn for the worse. Rain was imminent, and we had to make a last minute decision to move our ceremony set up inside the hotel.

The last minute change in plans was stressful, but the end result was absolutely stunning. 50 Fifty was able to create a gorgeous, romantic setting inside the hotel. The room absolutely glowed! They even incorporated small details such as bringing sand into the room as part of the décor. Although inside, we were still “on the beach.” Fortunately, we had a break in weather and were able to shoot all of our first look photos on the beach. We were even lucky enough to have a rainbow in our background!

Photography: KT Merry Photography | Videographer: VHVIDEO.COM | Event Planning: Meghan Detweiler Of LUCIA PAUL Weddings + Events | Cake: Ella's Cakes | Stationary: Paper Presence | Wedding Invitations: Arabesque Of Naples | Ceremony Venue: Waldorf Astoria Naples | Reception Venue: Royal Poinciana Golf Club | Brides Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Makeup: Sarah's Garden | Hair: John Spencer | Lighting: KCTecs Pro Lighting & Sound | Ceremony Music: Vanderbilt Strings | Transportation: Dolphin Transportation | Bride's Gown: Saks Fifth Avenue | Ceremony Draping: Swag Decor | Cocktail Hour Linens: Over The Top Linens | Cocktail Hour Music: Resort Talent And Entertainment | Dessert: Kilwin's | Flowers And Decor: 50Fifty Creative Services | Photo Booth: Bash Booths | Reception Linens: Nuage Designs | Reception Music: Powerhouse

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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KT Merry Photography

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So technically this wedding is not all white… it’s champagne, gold, peach, and coral, but the overall white out effect is my absolute favorite. Nothing is better than a bright and cheery white wedding (at least in my book) and with Botanicals on the Gulf behind the stunning blooms, this wedding from Maria Angela Photography is tops. Absolute tops.

From the beautiful bride… After moving to DC for my first job as a Special Education Teacher, I decided to have a high school reunion at my apartment. My friend Megan attended and invited her college friend, Jeff, who unbeknownst to me lived less than a mile away. Jeff couldn’t decline an 8:1 girl to guy ratio party! Although it was great meeting him, my attention was on my girlfriends that I hadn’t seen in months. Two dozen roses were sent to my apartment the following week!

I thought I was gaining a great friendship but wasn’t interested in getting involved in a relationship. After a persistent Jeff tried for a month to get me to go out on a date with him, I finally agreed. After just a few dates, we were inseparable. Jeff was traveling for work consulting every Monday-Thursday, but that didn’t stop us. I would pick him up from the airport every Thursday night and we were together until his flight every Monday morning. In just a few short months we knew our relationship would be forever.

About a year later Jeff and I planned a wonderful vacation to Key West, Florida. After visiting Jeff’s parents in Naples, Florida, we hopped into the convertible and headed to beautiful Key West. On our first night there, we went on the Wind and Wine Sunset Sail amid the warm tropical Caribbean waters of the Florida Keys making the evening an unforgettable start to a memorable night! After the romantic Sunset Sail, Jeff guided me to the Sunset Pier where we walked to the end and he got down on one knee! It was the most magical night of our lives!

The beginning phases of planning were definitely not the easiest. Jeff and I moved to Atlanta, my parents live in New York, and Jeff’s parents live in Florida. To top it off we were planning an interfaith wedding on a budget for a summer date. While the tradition to wed where the bride was raised seemed natural, NY was our first stop. Extremely high summer rates and a picky bride and groom left us without an agreement. The search continued in Atlanta and finally while visiting Jeff’s parents in Naples, Florida the search ended. We looked at the beautiful Club at the Strand. The romantic Botanical Gardens were just one of the selling points for us! We knew we wanted to marry on site and this was perfect! The gold tones, helpful coordinators, and flexible packages were exactly what we were looking for!

Our day was picture perfect. As my good listening husband says, “Our wedding colors were champagne and gold with POPS of peach and coral.” I was looking for the clean and elegant look with a bit of vintage inspirations. We kept floral arrangements elegant and simple with Kevin from Botanicals on the Gulf who blew me away. The teacher in me got creative with some DIY projects. I created fan programs to match our invitations, place cards in wine corks, a guest photobook, and hangers with the bridal party’s names bent in wire. Some other special touches I included were hotel gift bags for our out of town guests (98% of the guests), pictures of our parents and grandparents on their wedding day, monogrammed block letters, a fun lantern for our cards, monogrammed golf balls for our favors, and my favorite, pictures of Jeff and I posing with wooden numbers that were mounted in wine corks in vintage candle holders for our table numbers.

There are so many amazing memories, from walking down the aisle, to our first kiss as Mr. and Mrs., and being completely surprised with a top matching wedding band during the exchange of rings, but one of my favorite memories was after the wedding, back at the suite. No, not what you’re thinking! It was drinking a bottle of champagne in our wedding attire lounging on our suite balcony just reminiscing and reflecting on how perfect our night was! Thanks to Maria Angela Photography we have amazing photographs to continue reminiscing for many years to come!

Photography: Maria Angela Photography | Florist: Botanicals On The Gulf | Cake: Mikkelsen's Bakery | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Makeup: Salon Tease | Hair: Salon Tease | DJ: DJ Ceron | Bridal Store: Loretta Bridal Boutique | Country Club: The Club At The Strand | Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero

I am obsessed with this wedding. First, I fell in love with this Bride’s Monique Lhuillier stunner of a gown. And then? Well, then I just fell head over heels with every thing else in this vintage yet elegant piece of wedding perfection. So perfect in fact, I want to reach through my computer screen and hug Margaret Events for bringing us such a beauty. It’s simply beyond from the first image snapped up by Trenholm Photography to the last, and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

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From Margaret... Jena and Brad’s wedding was an absolute dream. It was a lavish event combining ageless vintage and elegant modern touches with ease. The entire affair took place on the Bride’s Grandfather’s private Port Royal estate. The Groom and his Groomsmen readied themselves in the Guesthouse and the Bride and her attendants in the main house, all overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Being married in her Grandfather’s home was just the beginning of the small and intimate details that made this day so special.

The ceremony took place on a small island in the center of the property accessible only by an ornate red bridge. The entire wedding party crossed the bridge to stand under a beautiful archway built between two trees utilizing honeysuckle and grape vine with blush, white and green clusters and garlands of hydrangea, roses, orchids, astilbe, ranunculus with a beautiful crystal chandelier in the middle. The guests sat on farm chairs and benches interspersed with vintage wing backed chairs, assuring comfort for older family members during the exchanging of the vows. All watched from the shore under flowing fabric canopies holding delicate lace parasols and waving lace fans to keep cool and shade the sun.

The cocktail hour had the guests moving to the north side of the property where musicians played in the teahouse overlooking the koi ponds and aviaries. Games such as croquet, horseshoes and customized corn hole were played as the couples’ 165 guests watched the sun set over the Gulf and sipped signature drinks called ‘2200’created and named by Jena’s attendants at her bridal shower.

As dinner bells chimed, guests made their way to a 50′ by 120′ clear-sided tent complete with twelve crystal chandeliers to have an amazing meal served–  and dance the night away to a 9-piece band. Jena and Brad were very specific about the tables not all looking the same. They had 3 acrylic kings tables with paloma lace runners, half of the round tables had tulle underlay with ivory matte satin overlays and the other half of the round tables had ivory matte satin underlay with paloma lace overlays. Each setting had a Riedel crystal charger with a round menu underneath so the guests could read the menu after each course was cleared. On top of the charger was a customized place card containing a message from the bride and groom that they had made a donation in their guest’s honor to either St. Jude’s if the guest was from the USA or to POGO if the guest was from Canada. The centerpieces had crystal candelabras or candlesticks with ivory, blush and white flowers around Manzanita branches with draping pearls.

To add to the special touches the couple arranged for a sitting area outside of the tent filled with overstuffed couches and vintage wing back chairs where guests could spend time in a photo booth creating video messages to the bride and groom, or sit in comfort as they had custom cigars rolled by artisan’s hands complete with personalized wrappers.

Concern for their guests as they were leaving was evident as Jena and Brad offered “one for the road” with personalized mini bottles of tequila as favors and custom “hangover recovery kits”. Jena and Brad were the last to leave the property, hanging on and cherishing every last moment of their dream wedding.

From the Bride… The location and setting of our “somewhat” destination wedding truly brought our two worlds together, which had been a common denominator throughout our entire relationship. Brad and I had been living in Canada (where I am from) for the last four years, but before I dragged this Floridian to Canada, we met in Florida where I had been attending university. So, when we got engaged, it felt natural for us to have our wedding in Florida, and when my grandfather offered for us to be married at his estate in Naples we both felt like we were getting married “at home”. We were overwhelmed by the love of our family and friends who flew in from four countries and many states to share in our big day.

Being blessed with the beautiful scenery and landscape of my grandfather’s grounds allowed my vision to come alive; a vision of soft vintage elegance, with a modern twist. We were able to put a personal twist on so many traditional elements of a wedding ceremony, by having our ceremony on an island with guests looking on from across the pond, while Anna Wilson’s soulful voice sang, “Can I walk with you.” I entered from my secret doorway in my blush pink wedding dress, holding my bouquet embellished with my grandmother’s wedding necklace and brooches, my father walked me down the path, leading to the bridge, where Brad met us halfway.

While Brad and I snuck off to the pier to take photos, our guests enjoyed the Anna Wilson trio, played corn hole and ate designer donuts, while sipping on our completely personal and customized signature drink, which was created and named– 2200 (to signify the address of our wedding) by four close family and friends at my bridal shower.

It was so important for us to be able to turn our perfect day into a memorable event for all our family and friends and with the countless hours of assistance from our wedding planner, Margaret, I think my incessant need for detail paid off! Every element of our reception tent overlooking the Gulf of Mexico captured the vintage elegance I had envisioned. I kept referring to the elements as works of art and each vendor we used took my vision and words to heart and created just that; from the lace and pearl detail work on the cake, the specific placement of each flower and strand of pearls in the centerpieces to my favorite of all, the orchids encircling the chandeliers. Having the tent walls up created a welcoming outdoor space with a lounge filled with vintage furniture where guests could relax and smoke a hand rolled cigar, while still being able to enjoy the music by CTO High Voltage. [dotted]

Wedding Photography: Trenholm Photography | Wedding Venue: Private Estate, Port Royal, Florida | Event Planning + Coordination: Margaret Events | Floral Design: Grace Lakes Florist | Cinematography: Matt Steeves Photography | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier (Candy) | Wedding Day Paper: Luster Designs | Linens: Wildflower Linens (Ivory Matte Satin) and Nuage Designs (Paloma Lace) | Wedding Cake: Kakes by Karen | Catering: Chef Sebastian Mazzotta | Entertainment: Anna Wilson Trio and CTO High Voltage | Lighting: Artisitic Science | Rentals: Tentlogix and Party Time Rentals | Hair + Makeup: Hope Artistry | Staffing: RKF Staffing | Valet: 5 Star Valet | Invitations: The Paper Merchant

After reading this couple’s sweet little love story and pouring over the gorgeous pictures from Hunter Ryan Photo of their stunning big day in Naples at The Club at Mediterra, I’m pretty sure this couple couldn’t be cuter if they tried. They are just completely adorable, and their love shows in every picture perfect image. I can’t help but be smitten with them all, and you can join me in the awwww-fest right here in the full gallery of images.

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From Hunter Ryan… Kayla is one of the sweetest, most genuine girls you’ll ever meet and Justin truly completes her in every way. It is so evident in the in-between moments with them. Kayla’s famous scrunchy nose giggles when Justin lovingly teases her or the way Justin stares at her like he can’t believe she picked him! We loved sharing in their wedding because it was totally “them.” Held at the gorgeous Club at Mediterra – it was planned perfectly by Kehrin of Jet Set Wed to be elegant and so much fun! Their wedding was a beautiful day full of fun surprises and personal touches. Kayla had little sweet touches like remembrances to relatives, and being Italian – Kayla had Mediterra specially prepare her grandmother’s lasagna for their entrees, and she even had flip flops in assorted sizes on the dance floor so all her girls would be comfortable to dance the night away. That’s just the way Justin and Kayla are -thinking of others. Justin and Kayla surprised their guests by secretly taking salsa lessons so that halfway through their reception she changed into a gold sequined mini-dress and they jumped on the dance floor with an amazing salsa number! And…if you know Justin – you know he loves 3 things: Kayla, good Scotch and good cigars! Kayla and Justin had an amazing Scotch bar set up for their guests, but what good is a Scotch bar without a custom cigar roller? Justin’s amazing friends Colton, Milo and Glenn surprised them with a custom cigar roller during their reception. It was THE perfect gift to top off a perfect day!

Here is their love story (written on the back of the menu at their reception)… Once upon a time, there was a young kickballer who thought of nothing but kicking home runs and running around with his friends, oblivious about how his life would end up. Until one fateful evening whilst preparing to engage in the first game of his career, he noticed something out of the ordinary. A beautiful young player was somehow mysteriously on his team. He was taken by surprise by this newcomer and had to investigate. Thinking of no other idea, he approached this intriguing woman and offered her a drink from his prized possession… His bubba keg.

The plan didn’t go quite as smoothly as he thought because she politely rejected his offer and continued her conversation as if he wasn’t even there. Justin walked away rejected, but was determined not to give up. Thinking he would impress her, he played like he never played before, kicking, catching, and running as fast as he could… Yet this was not enough to gain the attention of his new teammate, so he thought anyway.

Unbeknownst to him, Kayla did take notice of this young goofy boy with a cute butt flailing himself around the field like a balloon caught in a wind storm. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of him, but she eventually started giving in to his numerous (albeit comical) advances. Over the course of that season the two of them became friends, and soon enough they became more.

Their friends happily watched as they both grew closer together. Although their relationship at first had its ups and downs, neither one of them let it get between them. Thankfully for Justin’s sake, Kayla was just as patient as she was smart, allowing him time to realize what an amazing woman Kayla really was (he can be pretty slow sometimes…).

After what seemed like an eternity (to Kayla anyway) Justin secretly planned a little surprise in the midst of Kayla’s 30th birthday celebration. He hired a local florist to decorate the hotel suite they had rented and had a close friend make a banner for him (in case he lost his train of thought). After a long relaxing day and a great dinner, Justin asked Kayla to be his wife. And you guys guessed correctly, she said yes.

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Wedding Photography: Hunter Ryan Photo | Wedding Venue: The Club at Mediterra | Officiant: Russ Winn  | Event Design + Planning: Jet Set Wed  | Floral Design: River District Florist  | Cinematography: Avid Designs | Cake + Cupcakes: Sassy Cakes | Stationery: DM Paper Designs | Rentals: Niche Event Rentals | Linens: Connie Duglin | Hair+Makeup: JA Makeup Artistry  | DJ: DJ Ceron 

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Hunter Ryan Photo

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I think we can all agree that waking up to a torrential downpour on your wedding day is never a good thing.  Especially when your wedding happens to be a destination affair in Naples, Florida.  But, that’s exactly what happened to these two sweeties, who, along with their guests, were expecting a beachy, seaside affair and were greeted instead with flooded streets.  True story.  Luckily for them, the clouds parted and ONE HOUR before the festivities begin, the sun came out of hiding and allowed them to marry with their toes in the sand.  We call that meant to be.  See every last sun-filled moment captured by Audrey Snow in the full gallery.

And even more of this gorgeous day from Voila Cinematic.  Enjoy, lovelies.

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From the Bride… I will never forget the thought that ran through my head while getting ready for our wedding during a torrential Florida downpour, “we didn’t have 160 people come all the way down to Naples for a destination wedding to have it indoors!” Having met in college at Indiana University and being from two different parts of the country, we knew our guests would be traveling no matter where we decided to have the wedding. We thought nothing would be better than a destination wedding in Naples, Florida, a place that has become so special to us over the course of our relationship as we spend as many holidays as possible in the gorgeous beach town.

Our wedding day was filled with rain, and the words torrential downpour really don’t do it justice. It poured (flooded streets and all) up until an hour before our wedding. Our wedding planners had reluctantly told Pete and I that we would have to hold everything indoors. Then miraculously, an hour before the ceremony, the skies cleared and our amazing vendors rushed to move everything outside! In the end, we were almost thankful for the rain because it led to the most amazing sunset we had ever seen.

We chose the Port Royal Club for our wedding because we loved the “old Florida” feel the club gave as soon as you walked in the doors. We wanted a tropical and relaxed, yet elegant, feel to our wedding and I think our vendors executed it perfectly. From the bright tropical colors, touches of bamboo, to our amazing band, it was truly the wedding of our dreams.

The little details are what made the wedding our own. We asked the guests to “lose their shoes,” in a hammock as they walked onto the beach for the ceremony and then gave them brushes as they made their way to the pool for cocktail hour so they could brush the sand off their feet. A steel drum band played as our guests sipped cocktails by the pool and enjoyed the beautiful sunset. Our reception was filled with candlelight and the tables had three different flower arrangements that were spotlighted so they almost “glowed” in the darkness of the room. Our band was outstanding and had the dance floor packed all night long!

Planning a destination wedding from Manhattan was most definitely challenging and we couldn’t have done it without the help of my mother, mother-in-law, and our outstanding vendors. It’s so important to choose vendors who share a common vision with you and that you can trust when you can’t be there. We will never forget the feeling of knowing that all of those people came from so far just for us. We felt so loved and it was truly the most amazing weekend held in a place that is so special to us.

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Wedding Photography: Audrey Snow Photography | Wedding Venue: The Port Royal Club in Naples, Florida | Wedding Cinematography: Voila Cinematic | Floral Design: Botanicals on the Gulf | Wedding Coordinators: Blonde Events | Wedding Cake: The Port Royal Club | Band: VoxBlu | Steel Drum Band: Steel Cruzin’ | Rentals: Niche Event Rentals | Linens: BBJ Linen | Wedding Stationery: By Alice Boutique | Wedding Dress + Belt: Monique Lhuillier | Bride’s Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Amsale | Hair + Makeup: Philip Douglas Salon

There are many, many reasons why I adore Florida weddings, but sunset ceremonies on the beach? They rank high atop my list.  As does this gorgeous Bonita Springs affair captured by Naomi Chokr, which happens to be boasting all of the aforementioned with a beyond stunning outdoor reception, as well.  It’s an intimate day filled with love, laughter, touches of pink (!) and heartwarming moments aplenty.  See sooo much more in the full gallery.

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From Naomi Chokr… Melissa & Kyle has a lovely story and both worked so hard to put this wedding together along with family and friends. The sunset immediately after the ceremony was almost like a gift to wish the happy couple well.

Melissa the bride booked me exactly a year before her wedding day. I was just starting out and she was the second bride to ever book me. She found me online and then contacted me to photograph her wedding. And we’ve been friends ever since. She’s seen my work grow and has been one of my biggest supporters from day one and I’m so grateful for her. So publishing her wedding is a little bittersweet for me because it means that there will be no more wedding for me to look forward as I have been for over a year.

I’m so excited that Melissa & Kyle are now Mr. & Mrs Crawford. These two are just meant to be together and being there to witness their special day as their photographer was just amazing. They rented a private beach house to host their ceremony and reception. It was very intimate and so beautiful. Melissa created and planned everything. Their family and friends pitched in and put everything together for her so she could enjoy and relax on her day. Melissa has a gorgeous voice and during the reception she surprised Kyle and sang “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds. 

Wedding Photography: Naomi Chokr / Wedding Venue: The Bonita Dolphin House Rental in Bonita Springs, Florida / Floral Design: A Flower Boutique / Wedding Cake: Perfectly Scrumptious / Cupcake Toppers: ClickityClack / Sign Decor: Duanes Workshop / Something Blue: Dana Marie Creations / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Makeup: Janea Soliven from J & A Makeup Artistry / Bowtie: SillyBuddy

Any day that sees us basking in some eco-friendly inspiration, we consider to be a very good day. Especially when that eco-friendly inspiration was oh-so-perfectly crafted by a dream team of Florida vendors.  That’s a good day and then some.  Add to the mix the fab stylings of Wed Perfect, serious beauty expertise of Hope Henderson Artistry + Salon Tease and some downright amazing images from Luminaire Foto and, well.  It’s a go green masterpiece.  See it all right here.

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Wed Perfect… Wed Perfect teamed up with the these Southwest Florida vendors to put on an eco-friendly photo shoot, featuring some amazing vendors who have eco policies in place, or who will work with eco-friendly packages. The goal of Wed Perfect is to provide full-service wedding and event planning to the eco-conscious bride, and to show that you can have an amazing “green” wedding without compromising style or vision. We chose the Naples Botanical Garden as our location, as they provide many organic and eco-friendly services to the community. The immense beauty of the location was ideal to create the perfect, natural backdrop for this shoot. In this photo shoot, we illustrated two looks for the modern bride. In one look, we showed a classic, eco-friendly look. This look featured natural colors such as white, ivory, sage green, pale pink and the like. This look is for that one might gravitate towards for a traditional green wedding. The second look was a modern, glamorous look. This look utilized the same white and ivory as before but was then complemented by a deep eggplant purple and various shades of green (from artichoke to acid). This look utilized most of the same materials and vendors as the first look, and was used to demonstrate that one can utilize all eco-friendly materials but still have a modern, high-style look to their wedding.

Photography: Luminaire Foto / Photo Shoot Venue: Naples Botanical Garden in Naples, Florida / Event Planning: Wed Perfect / Floral Design: Signature Florals / Cinematography: The Water’s Edge / Wedding Cake: Mason’s Bakery / Specialty Foods: Chocolate Dreams and Wishes / Invitations: Wiregrass Weddings / Lighting: O’Ryan Sound and Lighting / Linens + Coverings: Connie Duglin Specialty Linen & Chair Cover Rental / Equipment Rentals: Embellish High Style Party Rentals + Niche Event Rentals / Strapless Wedding Dress: Lazaro via Tie the Knot Bridal / Long-Sleeved Wedding Dress: Vintage via Love that Dress / Makeup: Hope Artistry + Salon Tease / Tuxedo + Men’s Attire: Charlotte Formal / Personal Styling: Jet Set Wed

It’s time to talk about adorable couples.  Adorable couples who tie the knot in uber-beautiful weddings planned and designed by Wed Perfect – to be exact.  Because today’s stunning Naples wedding?  Well, it happens to feature just such a couple, plus beautiful blooms from Signature Florals, vibrant paper lanterns and a whole lot of happy-filled romance.  The always amazing Audrey Snow Photography captured all of the pretty and it’s a glorious joining of cultures that will quickly move atop your favorites list.  See so much more right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Wed Perfect… The wedding of Yael and Ignatious (Iggy) Low took place on Sunday, September 30th, 2012 at the stunning Naples Botanical Garden here in Southwest Florida. From the moment I met Yael, my fabulous bride, almost a year ago, I knew this wedding was going to be a BLAST to plan and would be chock full of deeply personal details, amazing cultural significance and a deep respect for both the bride’s and groom’s family heritages and nature in itself. The bride is Egyptian and Jewish in religion, the groom is Asian, and it was important to them that we pulled both cultures into the wedding to celebrate and respect both sides. There are so many details and nods to each culture through every portion of the weddding: from the tea ceremony the couple did with their parents earlier in the day, the handmade chuppah, yarmulkes, Ketubah/Kiddish Cup and smashing of the glass, the hand-painted parasols, the hand fans for each guest favor, the abundance of red and white paper lanterns, and all of the fabulous pops of red in the floral through the design of the entire day. Also helped that every one of them was GORGEOUS! It was even a full moon that weekend, as well as the weekend of the Chinese Moon Festival, which the bride and groom respected by serving little “moon cakes” along with the wedding cake and giving a speech to explain it. The mix of cultures in this wedding is, in itself, just stunning, and the personal touches we designed for these clients really took the entire wedding to a new level. The bride’s deep love of nature is what brought us to the lush landscape of the Naples Botanical Garden and the overall DIY look of the reception design. During the planning and design process, I worked out with Yael that she wanted to really “extend” the look of the gardens through the design, which worked well with the fabulous florals designed with Sue at Signature Florals.

The ceremony took place on a beautiful lawn lakeside at the gardens. Guests then enjoyed cocktails and appetizers in the gardens structure called “The Labrynth,” which is a circular walkway that is meant to provide tranquility and answers to any longing questions of the heart. Just perfect for a wedding! After the cocktails, the guests made there way to the Asian-themed garden, where we had the rest of the reception. The escort card display was a favorite of mine. DM Paper Designs created cute cards with the same gorgeous bird pattern from the couple’s invitations. I utilized this amazing stone structure that the Asian Gardens has right at the entrance and strung up the cards within the structure using hemp twine and these adorable little clips the bride collected. Another of my favorite details was the handmade cake topper on the huge cupcake tower. The reception began with traditional introductions, first dances and toasts, and of course the hora, which every guest participated in … I’ve never seen a happier group dancing the hora before! Cater Masters provided a yummy meal that was Asian-inspired as well, and DJ Ceron kept things running so smoothly through dinner, before finally moving the entire party to one last area within the gardens to dance the night away!

This wedding was a super special one for everyone involved. I personally just fell in love with this couple, who have been together for so very long and support one another so well. Anyone who meets them can just tell they are going to be together forever. It is wonderful to have a couple that really “gets it” and focuses the planning on the true meaning of a wedding. It is about celebrating the true love between the couple getting married, with friends and family and truly coming together in an event that speaks to who you are as a couple. We managed to capture Yael and Iggy everywhere in the details of this wedding, and I am so pleased to have been a part of it!

Wedding Photography: Audrey Snow Photography / Wedding Venue: Naples Botanical Garden in Naples, Florida / Wedding Design + Planning: Jennifer Dube of Wed Perfect / Floral Design: Sue Bain of Signature Florals / Officiant: Rabbi Wolf, A Family Friend / Wedding Cinematography: Eric Lu, A Friend of the Bride & Groom / Catering: Cater Masters / Cupcakes: Grace & Shelly’s Cupcakes / Wedding Invitations, Table Numbers + Place Cards: DM Paper Designs / DJ: DJ Chris Ceron / Lighting: O’Ryan Lighting and Sound / Linens: Connie Duglin Specialty Linen & Chair Cover Rental / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals via For The Bride / Hair + Makeup: Sir Daniel + David Frohmberg of Faces by Frohmberg

A breathtaking Naples wedding, pretty pastel hues and devastatingly gorgeous images captured by Luminaire Foto… if this isn’t the PERFECT way to start a Thursday morning, then I don’t know what is. Add to all of those pretty, pretty ingredients a bride and groom who seriously could.not.be.cuter and one uber-stunning ceremony and, well.  We’re head over heels, totally smitten and seriously obsessed with every.last.detail.  See so much more right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… From the start, Dave and I knew that we wanted our wedding to be a celebration of our lives together before all our closest family and friends. We wanted a more intimate celebration, so a destination wedding to Naples, Florida, was a perfect location for us. Being from Michigan but living in Alabama at the time, we flew to Naples to check out La Playa Beach and Golf Resort and immediately knew it was the perfect place for us. Hiring Hilary from RSVParties was truly one of the best decisions we made. She helped us bring our vision to life. We knew we wanted our wedding to be simple and romantic with a touch of modern. It was important to us to be surrounded by the people we love, so we made the decision early on to ask my matron of honor’s twin sister to be our pastor — I have considered both of them family for most of our lives. We felt so blessed to be married by someone who knew and loved us.

Tropical storm Debby had just departed the state of Florida by the time our day had finally arrived, and we were left with the most beautiful weather for our ceremony. We could not have been luckier to have such perfect weather after the storm left. During cocktail hour, our guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres and wine while watching the sun set on the beach before heading into the reception. As our guests raved about the food, enjoyed the photo booth and danced the night away, I knew it was going to be a memorable night for both us and our guests. It was truly the perfect day, one we will never forget.

Wedding Photography: Luminaire Foto / Wedding Venue: La Playa Beach & Golf Resort in Naples, Florida / Event Planning: Hilary Feldman of RSVParties Inc. / Floral Design: Botanicals on the Gulf / Wedding Invitations: DM Paper Designs / Entertainment: Stereophonic DJs / Wedding Dress: Jane Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti / Bridesmaid + Flower Girl Bags: Wedding Chicks / Hair + Makeup: Salon Tease

Florida has a wedding style all its own. It’s a little bit preppy, a lot-a bit glam all infused with a beach ambiance that we could spend the rest of our days staring at and be total happy campers. Although it could be the lack of sunny Vitamin D in Boston that gets us foaming at the mouth the second a Floridian affair crosses our path, we have a feeling it’s more about the the sheer beauty of KT Merry’s photographs. She has a way of capturing the most beautiful of details along with the sweetest of moments all in one perfect package. See more of this Naples affair right here.

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From the Bride… When a wedding planner begins to plan HER wedding, she finds it’s not as easy as one would think. This bride has been an integral part of over 300 weddings and observed each and every detail with the hope of creating the perfect day for her own. That day was Saturday, October 22, 2011, in Naples, Florida. The vision was black tie with a twist! She and her fiancé wanted the guests formal, but playful, and they carried that idea through from the seersucker-inspired wedding invitations that read ‘colorful bowties requested’ to the custom linen bags that were delivered to each guest’s hotel room that said, ‘HOORAY’ and included a customized map of Naples hotels, restaurants, shopping, and the event sites drawn by her mother. This colorful “garden party” theme continued with the bridal party’s attire. The groom wore blue and white seersucker and a navy bow tie with Kelly green dots, the bride wore a blue pinky ring given to her by the groom the first Christmas after they met, her bouquet was surrounded by lace and buttons from her mother and grandmother’s wedding dresses, and the groomsmen wore navy suits with Kelly green and pink striped bow ties and pink pocket squares. The bridesmaids were in vibrant pink gowns with turquoise earrings, which were a wonderful find from a street vendor in New York.

The ceremony took place in a beautiful garden overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in the Port Royal neighborhood of Naples. After the guests were seated, the bride and her father were introduced by a choir soloist who sang “At Last.”  All the bride and groom’s friends and family found this to be a fitting song choice! They were married by her father’s college roommate, an Episcopal priest in Los Angeles who was once a writer for the hit show “M*A*S*H,” hence the comedy involved when exchanging their vows. After the ceremony, the guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while playing croquet with sets monogrammed with the bride and groom’s initials as they watched the sun set over the gulf. The tabletops contained antique tins filled with hot pink flowers similar to those carried by the bridesmaids.

The wedding party and guests were then transported by trolley to Café Lurcat, where the couple had their first date, a beautiful two story Mediterranean style building located on Fifth Avenue. As the guests entered, they were shown the seating chart, which was written on a large antique mirror, and ushered upstairs.  Soft blue lights cascaded over the hand-painted, domed ceiling, lush blue silk linens covered the tables, and thousands of candles and soft white florals placed in traditional silver and modern acrylic vases covered the tabletops. While enjoying dinner, an electric strings trio flown in from Philadelphia played, then a red velvet cake covered in white fondant cabbage roses was cut, and a special cake was presented to the bride’s father, who was also celebrating his 65th birthday. The guests were then asked to move downstairs for dancing. As they arrived, they were greeted by a cigar roller, whose presence was a gift from the bride to the groom. He loves a good cigar! The room was filled with amber light, imported crystal chandeliers, white and gold lounge furniture and a ten piece Motown band, who entertained the guests until they could dance no longer! It had all the elements of a modern day “Great Gatsby.”  It was the perfect day! 

Wedding Photography: KT Merry Photography / Ceremony: Cutlass Cove Beach Club in Naples, Florida / Reception: Cafe Lurcat in Naples, Florida / Wedding Planning: Betsy Tucker (The Bride) / Floral + Event Design: 50 Fifty Floral Art (239-649-3200) / Event Coordination: Lucia Paul Design / Cinematography: Utopia Video Productions / Wedding Cake: Ella’s Cakes / Band: CTO High Voltage / Chairs + Cocktail Lounge Furniture: Niche Event Rentals / Reception Furniture + Linens: Nuage Designs / Lighting: Bay Stage Lighting / Wedding Dress: Oscar de la Renta

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It doesn’t get much more romantic than a picnic on the beach and for this darling Naples duo, a sandy spot next to the Atlantic was the PERFECT locale to celebrate their engagement.  Yep, armed with just a picnic basket and cozy blanket, these two cuties spent the day snuggling and laughing over their favorite red wine and some yummy cheese.  And after a day spent soaking in these gorgeous images captured by Set Free Photography, you’ll be making seaside plans with your honey ASAP.  Click here for more.

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From Stacy of Set Free Photography… Tara and Tyler celebrated their engagement with a casual beach photo shoot that simply involved a love they share: the love of red wine. The set-up was complete with cheese, a baguette and a beach breeze that added a bit of movement to Tara’s hair, allowing me to truly capture a typical day at the beach for Tara and Tyler. In between bites of cheese and sips of wine, this couple of four years snuggled and whispered to one another like two people that just fell in love last week! They actually had a brief chance encounter back in 2005, when Tara was still in high school and Tyler was in college. They met through Tara’s cousin who, being a good and protective cousin, refused to give away Tara’s phone number, despite Tyler’s persistence. Time went by, and Tyler never forgot Tara. It’s a good thing that fate sometimes gives second chances — they met again three years later when Tyler unknowing walked into Tara’s workplace, and the rest is history.

Photography: Set Free Photography / Location: Delnor-Wiggins Pass Florida State Park in Naples, Florida