An actual garden wedding in Florida Vol 3

Confession: I love wedding pictures.  I especially love portraits.  Why?  Because there's great thought put into them...and you can tell.  When they're done right - you can see the joy and love that is happening and the bonus is that who or what ever is being photographed ... looks perfected.

 Kate with all her sweet bridesmaids (they really were - Kate has amazing girlfriends) in their perfect green dresses.  Mint green is a great summer wedding color.

Okay.  Get ready. Super cute 1st look series of images coming R  I  G  H  T    N  O  W!

 And that is how a 1st look is done. LOVE IT.

Your photographer will take a portrait of your bouquet.  I know, it sounds silly, but trust me, you will look at it 80 times and be glad that she did.  And yes, those are those amazing yellow peonies in there.  But don't tell Signature Florals I told you so.  She'll kill me.

Another portrait you'll want? This one.  Kate's hair and makeup was done by the amazing David & Daniel at Salon Tease.

To make sure that we had some really perfect images before heading to Naples Botanical Garden & the summer heat, we planned out some portrait time (including the 1st look) with Ashley Brockinton at the host resort, the Marco Island Marriott

To see all three posts in the series, you'll want to click here.

An actual garden wedding in Florida Vol 2

An actual garden wedding in Florida Vol 1

But not just a wedding on a lawn "decorated" like a garden.  We planned & designed Kate & Ryans wedding at the Naples Botanical Garden.  Hands down one of the most stunning ceremony backdrops we have ever had.  Because there were so many stunning images, there will be 3 posts in this series, starting with the Reception:

As guests arrived by valet golf carts from the gardens, they walked down the palm tree lined path to this escort card table.  Each guest had a succulent with their name and table number in calligraphy.

Inside the ballroom we had the challenge of space.  We had to make sure that we  maximized what room we did have and that it felt as open as possible. So we used ghost chairs on Kings tables and light floral arrangements on the tablescapes.  White Phalaenopsis orchids are always the perfect flower for this (not to mention they're gorgeous).  We also opted against chargers (which I normally love).

 The dinner menu was delicious.  After a warm goat cheese salad, guests were treated to one of 3 entrees:

Tenderloin of Beef with Au Poirve Sauce

Grouper with Key Lime Sauce
Roasted Vegetable Ravioli with Mushroom Marsala Sauce

Before dancing the night away to None Other Band, everyone went crazy for this cake with some absolutely scrumptous cake:

Meyer Lemon with Guava Filling

Vanilla with Mocha Buttercream Filling

All of the above images are by Ashley Brockinton Photography, and we are so grateful that she shared them with us!  You can also see more images in the current issue of The Knot Florida magazine!

Wondering who else helped us make this another great wedding? Signature Florals, Kakes by Karen, Catermasters and None Other Band

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We had a few more photos taken by not professional photographers that showed off this beautiful room (in other words, don't judge us)...

A Photographers Wedding Vol 2

 

How beautiful is this custom headpiece Audrey wore? Proof that adding a little color (even/especially black) in your bridal ensemble can be stunning for your wedding.

The Wedding Day.  I think it had to be the hottest day in the history of Florida.  But let me say this...nobody cared.  It was just so wonderful being at this celebration that the heat and sweat were the last thing anyone was thinking about.

Since Audrey and Mile didn't have a wedding party, they opted to have one of their favorite poems on the ceremony program.

We decided to switch the processional and recessional to take advantage of the Heitman House as the backdrop.  So Pastor Hagmaier, Grant (Audreys little guy), Mike and Audrey appeared from the porch and walked towards the guests. At the end of the ceremony, they recessed towards the river.

This is one of my favorite bouquets ever.  I just loved the touch of feathers and gray mixed in with the Peonies, and Iris' and Roses.

I want to draw attention to this boutonniere.  Sue Bain sized it appropriately for Mike's stature and its the right colors for the suit. I can't tell you how big a difference this makes.  In other words- make certain that your florist knows what your groom and groomsmen are wearing and at a minimum your grooms height and stature.

This wedding was intimate and in a beautifully landscaped waterfront backyard, so we really didn't need to add too much.  Just a few arrangements hanging at the end of the 1st and last rows. The Queen Ann's Lace, cabbage, and lily stole the show.

Did you see vol 1?  Well by all means go visit.  And be sure to check back for vol 3 as well (the reception).

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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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