How to have the greatest destination wedding in Naples, Florida

Do this:
Hire Liz Banfield to capture every last detail so that you can soak up the weekend in real life.
Then...

1. Invite a couple hundred of your favorite people to Florida

2. Give them awesome sea inspired welcome bags

3. A couple days before the big wedding, have a small private ceremony with only your most immediate family and then have a nice "just married" lunch

4. Take some incredible photos around town and at the Naples Pier. Then head over to your Parisian rehearsal dinner at Le Lafayette

5. Invite all the over ladies for a retro and vintage inspired bridal luncheon, complete with a silhouette artist and glass bottle cokes

6. Welcome everyone to Florida and set the tone for the weekend with a Tommy Bahama style sunset bash at The Naples Beach Hotel

7. Before the big wedding, remind everyone how much fun the beach is with a beach bbq complete with all the beach games

8. Get pretty with all your besties, take your bridal portrait and then meet your groom for some pre-wedding photos before going over to Port Royal to have your big ceremony under the shade of a pretty sailcloth tent

9. Have cocktail hour in the sand, and have a bagpiper signal the sunset and the call for dinner & dancing

10. Get a big incredible high energy you-just-cant-sit-down wedding band

11. Do a dine-around so that if anyone can break away from the dance floor they can eat at any time, and almost any kind of food. Have a gigantic Ice Sculpture between the Beer & Bourbon bar and the late night DJ

12. Make sure your cakes fit the mood...by the sea inspired for you and Masters blazer for him

13. Have more fun than you could have ever imagined because this is the best night ever

Making it happen: Dr Dan Lamey, Kakes by Karen, St Ann's, Botanicals on the Gulf, Le Lafayette, Jim Hjelm, Monique Lhuillier, Salon Tease, Liz Banfield, A Bryan Photo (video), Garden District (Bridal Luncheon Floral & Saturday wedding), Silhouettes by Kathryn, Naples Beach Hotel, Port Royal Club, Sperry Tents, Party Time Rentals, Aria Dresses, J Crew, Taylor Rental Naples, Jim McWilliams, Island Events Rentals, Talent Entertainment, Elan Artists, Stereophonic DJs, Weddings by Socialites

You can see more images in the inaugrual issue of Coastal Living Weddings, currently on newsstands.

A Black Tie Wedding Affair in Naples, Florida

Some weddings are just grander than others in the most wonderful ways.  Not that any wedding is better than the next of course!  The aesthetic at this wedding was simply STUNNING.  Lori & her mom wanted a beautiful blush pink sophisticated, elegant and wow wedding ceremony and reception, and that's what they got.   

Lori and Jason's letterpress wedding invitations, with lavender accents.  Can't help but love the rings too.

 All of the out of town guests were given welcome bags with letter-pressed welcome tags 

 Lori hung her breathtaking wedding dress on her personalized hanger for this bridal gown portrait.

 Lace, lace, and more lace! The bride wore a bright white dress with a strapless sweetheart neckline for her big day.  We love that Aaron took this traditional pre-ceremony portrait of Lori with her bouquet.

 The gorgeous bridal bouquet was blush pink peonies with crystal accents.

 At a Jewish wedding, the bride and groom sip from the wedding Kiddush cup of wine.

This sanctifies the joy and abundance of the Jewish wedding ceremony.

 The Ketubah is a special type of prenuptial agreement. It is considered a integral part of any traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride. This beauty is laser cut and one of the  most beautiful and delicate I have ever seen.

 Jason, you may kiss your bride! The draped chuppah above the bride, groom and their parents was covered with white hydrangea flowers.

 The cold sea food display table had a beautiful monogrammed iced carving.  As usual, it was devoured in minutes.  Everyone loves a great seafood display with shrimp, crab, oysters and lobster.

 Each place setting included a dinner menu tucked into the napkin atop of the gold beaded charger and a monogrammed chocolate confection.

 The head table was covered in lush centerpieces of peonies, roses, hydrangea, calla lilies and vibernum with rose petals.

Gorgeous blush roses in between each of the 5 tiers of this incredible wedding cake.

This masterpiece is the work of none other than the fabulous Kakes by Karen! 

 These photos symbolize the four generations of Lori and Jason's families, which was displayed at the wedding reception in honor of their parents, grandparents, and great grandparents! 

 Hello gorgeous! This reception decor is perfect for a black tie wedding.

 The design included gold chivari chairs with gold satin pads, sheer blush chair jackets & twirl ruffle sashes! 

You can see the happiness in the room during this traditional Jewish dance, the Hora, which was captured beautifully by Aaron Lockwood! Aaron did such a great job photographing this wedding, that you can see more of this wedding over at Weddings Illustrated.