Elegant, Sophisticated Stylish Beach Wedding found Vol. 2

Yesterday I opened my mailbox and found a dvd inside from Alys dad. He actually took the time to compile a slideshow format movie of the wedding weekend with all the pictures they collected from their guests. What a great idea and I can not wait to watch it tonight. In the meantime, here are more pictures from Concept and a few bits of insight into what was truly one of the best weekends I've ever had the pleasure of planning.

Color goes a very long way at beach weddings because your environments are usually every "un-color" imaginable. If you don't infuse some color; go heavy on texture.

Aly & Mike had a Beatles inspired ceremony.  I can't wait to see the video because the toast the Aly's dear friend made was hands down the best tie into a ceremony I have ever heard.

 Got 5 more minutes of light before you head into cocktail hour? Practice your 1st dance!

 I will forever love market lighting and clear tents.

 I still have visions of this engagement ring running through my head. STUNNING.

Yes, she forgot the bouquet.  But really, do you think she could have been any happier?  I have to admit, I kind of love the excited hand wave!

We could have removed all the seats after dinner because nobody sat down again once the band got going.

 Brown eyed girl with the best lashes ever.

How sweet are the petals on this dress? I adore Monique Lhuillier

 I will forever love long tables at weddings. Why?

1. Because people love to sit at them so much more than round tables. You can easily talk to multiple people, not just the person to your left or right.

2. Because the centerpieces fill the entire table (I kind of love flowers and so does Floral Artistry).

3. They take up less space.

Get hair & makeup. You will not regret it so long as you hire REAL professionals who use quality products. Doing this will ensure that you look great pre-ceremony until the band unplugs.

Pad your wedding day prep time so that there is time to just sit and enjoy the people around you.  It's such a nice part of the experience of your wedding day.  Drink some champagne, plug in the ipod and giggle.

 The fun photos are the ones you'll cherish the most.  Key reason to LOVE your photographers so that you are totally comfortable being yourself.  When I say love, I mean like you want to have lunch with them and then drink martini's and friend them on facebook love.

A good officiant means everything.  He's the guy who will guide you through the most powerful words you'll ever speak to someone.  I kind of wish this picture was in color, the vow book I designed for Aly & Mike was so pretty.

 Details! From top left:
White Hydrangea, white roses and phalaenopsis orchids
Custom wine bottle table numbers I designed blended right into the table (I'm not a big fan of table numbers)
The blue runners and napkins allowed the flowers take center stage during the day when there was so much light.  In the evening the candlelight took on this duty.
The rock candy was Aly's super cute idea.  The tags said' "You Rock!" Thanks for coming.  This was a small hint to the blue candy bar we had later in the evening.

I wanted to keep the tables less cluttered so we made these framed chalkboards for the menu and table assignments.
The cake. YUM and gorgeous.  Who doesn't love a bunch of pretty ruffles? 

 Rush matting aisle runner. Keep it natural on the beach folks.

 Look really close...the champagne glass says Mr. (Aly's says Mrs a few photos up)

 This dress was made for this twirl.

The end. {insert giggle}
Vol 1 is here
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Elegant, Sophisticated Stylish Beach Wedding found Vol.1

Not every destination wedding has seashells and starfish (thank goodness). Aly & Mike's wedding is the perfect example of how to pull off a destination wedding at the beach while keeping with the natural Florida island (tropical) environment without it being beach themed.

 I want to start off this series with a big thanks to Concept photography.  They were wonderful to work with and took just took stunning images for all of us to drool over.
Staying true to the destination wedding weekend, Aly & Mike hosted a welcome reception and a rehearsal dinner for all their guests. South Seas was the perfect location because the resort offers to many sites to choose from when you're hosting pre and post wedding day parties.

The toasts are pretty much always my favorite part of the pre wedding parties.  I always suggest having a microphone on hand if you think you'll have some good ones.  And my usual scream:  GET VIDEO.

How can you not love a good paper lantern?  They don't always provide adequate lighting, so go for festival lighting as well if you can.

Its always important to remember that your design concept works day to night when you're planning anything that starts before sunset.

Smores. Yum. Enough said.
Stay tuned for more volumes...I'm sure you'd like to see the wedding, right?
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A sea glass inspired wedding {photographed by Audrey Snow}

It's a rare occasion when I post a wedding we've done so quickly, but I have to admit, I'm just a little excited because it was one of those weddings where it could have been a disaster because of rain. But because we had a design plan for indoors and outdoors and didn't wait until the last minute...it was,

"the best rained in ceremony ever." -Kim Smith, Sea Glass Bride

This was supposed to be a ceremony on the beach, Instead it was a most intimate candle lit exchange of vows.

 

Kim made all these cute little message in a bottle escort cards. I laid them on a bed of sea glass and scattered a few starfish.

 

The very sea themed cake from Kakes by Karen and a gorgeous DIY wedding program Kim and her friend made.

 

I have never been so excited about an aisle treatment. It was the collection of the custom runner, petal lined aisle along with the sea glass and sand hurricanes that made the space "finished".
After watching Kim Kardashians wedding last night on E!, I am even more convinced that a runner really does make a huge statement.
On the right photo is one of our custom reader or vow books.  Just another one of those details that we like to include.

 

The signature drink was certainly a big hit. In this instance we offered it instead of a champagne toast which often doesn't get finished. Did you ever notice that?  That everyone literally takes a sip and the rest goes to waste? Something to think about...

Some rooms have empty space that could really use a little something. I found this project on Pinterest and I think it turned out wonderfully!

 

Beautiful flowers by Signature Florals were set mostly in sea glass colored vases I collected from Ikea, my studio and of course, Homegoods. I absolutely love that so many different kinds of flowers and berries were used.

There's just something so beachy about a simple burlap runner on a crisp white tablecloth.

Note that day to evening, the look still works. This is so important to think about! 

 

P.S. Don't you love that it can be pouring in Florida and still this cheerful?

P.S.S. In true Florida style, there's always a short break in the rain...

 
Thank you Audrey!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Captiva Island, Florida

Something Blue

Just a little Saturday happiness.

Something Blue.

Destination Wedding Invitations by a deux

Bespoke bridal paper.  Sounds pretty doesn't it?  These stationery suites are even more luscious than they sound.Stunning does not even come close to describing. I was fortunate enough to meet the owner and designer, Kelli Parker at a recent luxury wedding summit and was enamored with her style and passion for her craft.  Here are just a few images from her website below.  I would highly recommend that you browse her website to see all the loveliness she has created.

 When it comes to your wedding invitations, consider that this is the first insight into what your guests will be experiencing at your wedding celebration.  If you received one of these beauties from a deux bespoke bridal paper, what would your reaction be?