Spreading the holiday cheer Captiva, Sanibel, Naples, Ft Myers Wedding Venues & Vendors

This week we did our annual holiday cheer deliveries to a few of our favorite venues and vendors we worked with this year.
{This year we made gifts of a baby Rosemary Christmas tree, baguettes from Panera, Olive Oil & Balsalmic Vinegar, and a dipping bowl with a super cheesy holiday card I designed. I don't think Hallmark will be hiring me anytime soon}
Here we are at our first stop: Floral Artistry. Beth was gone for the day and Yanna was tied up on the phone. From there we headed out to South Seas. Kind of a drive- so we played a game of iphone Name that Tune. That Shazam app is so cool!
I thought, "You know what, maybe our clients and readers might like to see some of the people we're always talking about!" So here's the ones we were able to catch on camera:The Sales and Catering Team from South Seas Island Resort
Kathi & Sarah from Talent! The Agency of Choice

Lynn Alexander from LaPlaya Beach ResortThe Sales & Catering Team from Casa Ybel Resort
Rob & AnnMarie Epple of AMC Video

We also made deliveries at Grandezza (Sean Hynes), Miromar Beach Club (Lesley O'Quinn), Sanibel Harbour Resort (Kristin Lawrence)and the Ritz Carlton Naples Beach (Nicola Long)...but they were all tied up getting ready for weddings. Hope you're having fabulous ones!
A huge thank you to all of you for being part of another year of so many great weddings!

To those who made me cry today:Thank you

Writer bride and Ashley. Your words meant so much more than you could possibly imagine. I'd love to copy and paste them here, but I'm afraid I'd cry every time I logged on. So I'll just place your pictures here so everyone can see your pretty smiles :)

Venue Spotlight: MediterraA Place for a Grand Naples Wedding

"This is so beautiful", I think I said that about 43 times during our tour of this magnificent Naples property. Mediterra is a departure from our regular wedding venues because it's a country club; but this is not your run of the mill country club by any stretch of the imagination.
I had nothing but feelings of grand elegance from the moment I entered the gates to the Jasmine ivy growing throughout the porte cochere. Once inside we were greeted by Mary Ann Shea, the Events and Catering Manager who was gracious enough to give us the scoop on this beautiful venue.

I think the most jaw dropping spot was the ceremony location. Complete with a Romeo & Juliet balcony, long paved path, and fountain.
Unfortunately I was only able to get a couple of photos, but trust me- this is absolutely a place to put on your short list.

I'm really looking forward to planning a wedding out there. Here's a link to some video AMC took at a recent wedding they covered at Mediterra: Enjoy!

Create a back up plan that's as good as your fair weather plan

As much as I would love to live in the land of denial, sometimes it rains. Wedding planning 101 teaches: have a back up plan. Having an alternate ceremony location is not a back up plan. It's a big bold note at the top, yes. But that's it. Basically, your back up plan needs to be an exact duplicate of your fair weather plans, only with all the alternatives laid into place. There's more to it than where you'll ceremony will be if it's too hot & humid or cold and windy outside. A great back up plan is plans for a the wedding you would have loved to have inside. Not a compromise. Just a short list to get you thinking...

} Are you still able to have your formal photos in the same locations?
} Are the new locations going to cross paths with guests before the ceremony?
} Are you going to run into another wedding party?
} Are your guests going to get mixed up with another bride's guests?
} Is it going to take longer to transport all your guests, meaning that some elements will start later, and you'll need to extend end times?
} If it's too windy, will your amazing, totally unique, omg-I-can't-wait-to-see-it escort card display still work? And where will it go if it's inside?
} Do you have umbrellas ready to go? How will they be displayed and who's going to be responsible for them?
} Are the perfect apple green sheer overlays the same color inside the ballroom?
} Who will update all your vendors on all the changes?
} How will your guests know where to go to?
} How late can you order the heaters, and where do you want them placed?
} Does the rain plan cost more money? ick.

Back up plans are a puzzle - make sure yours has all the pieces in the box and they all fit together. Start with the flat edges, and work your way into the details! Gang, don't think for a minute this is a list of all the questions that need answered. Remember, its all about making sure there are no loop holes. That's what makes your wedding day smooth and seamless so that you have nothin' but love and fun celebrating the day away. If you invest the time into planning for ill weather, you can rest easy that you're having a fantastic wedding no matter what.
Oh, and do this way way way before wedding day. Better yet, call your planner and let her/him figure it all out, and don't think about it again.

Annie+Paulo=Style

I think it was Lance Armstrong who said "If you ever get a second chance in life for something, you've got to go all the way." Well, that's exactly what Paulo did when he got the opportunity to meet up with Annie again - a girl he just couldn't get out of his head, even though they hadn't seen each other in ages & the timing wasn't quite right when they originally met.

But the second time around, they made it happen. And on their wedding, their timing was perfect!

Some of our favs from this great day with an amazing couple.

Manolo Blahniks and Christian Louboutins? Gotta love a bride with that kind of shoe devotion :)



Annie. Striking.

Getting ready for the big day involved some extra-special gifts for all the bridesmaids!



Paulo's no shoe slouch himself - check out his gift to all the groomsmen.



The guys rocking the cigars, the shades, and the Nikes.



A little attitude from the stylin' wedding party.



Paulo was so psyched to get to the church & marry his girl! Love this fun page from their album.


Some of our favs from ceremony (& just the cutest little ring-bearer you could ever ask for!).







A gorgeous blue-sky day for the happy husband & wife!



Loved the florals - the warms browns & greens were perfect for a fall wedding.



Under the boardwalk.



Last shoe shot, I promise!

Beautiful details at the Westwood Plateau, all coordinated by the very wonderful & helpful AlannaV at A Sweet Beginning. Always-fun-to-work-with Bruce from CloudNineCreative rounded out the team and of course, it would not be the same without the amazing Edmond (the most dedicated makeup artist ever!)

Almost forgot all the lovely print work! Which tied the colours and themes together so seamlessly - gorgeous design by Vincent of Medium Print.



What better way to make a grand entrance than to do your first dance? Love the drama of this image.

Congratulations, Annie + Paulo!

More photos from Ashley Brockinton PhotographyWriter Bride's Wedding at South Seas Resort

And yes, this wedding really was this fun!




Ashley Brockinton Photography

Spotlight on Ashley Brockinton PhotographyBig Color Photography with edge

Today: The ceremony
Tomorrow: check back for guys & gals






Remember this summer I was working on this years showcase? Yeah, I really got behind on it because of our early fall weddings. Still, this was one of the finished pieces that came in and what better time to post it than now?
Photographed by Ashley Brockinton of course! The bride is Ashley Perkins and her planner was Mary Hines.


All photos from here down were taken by me, so yeah, they aren't so good because I am not a photographer who knows everything about lighting, angles, speed and all that stuff I find unfathomable to remember all at one time. But you get the point. To see better photos- always check out the photographers websites & blogs!

Yesterday I had a visit from Sam Brockinton from Ashley Brockinton Photography. He stopped by to drop off images from our most recent wedding together (Writer brides wedding at South Seas Resort) along with a cookie bouquet that was nearly too cute to eat. But we ate it anyway, and we ate the cookies on top of these super cute napkins Ashley made as well!
Sam had the cutest little helpers with him, Baby Olivia and her big sister Isabella. My little Emily (the one with the crazy hair that 100% matches her personality) was ecstatic to have a few visitors to the studio that were more interested in drawing on the floor than looking at wedding books and watching wedding videos.