Ripped from the pages of Brides magazine

I still read wedding magazines.  Don't get me wrong, I love blogs and pinterest and photographers websites, but there is something to be said for what is in print.  If you haven't picked up an issue of Brides magazine since its relaunch this spring ... it is time.

Word down the aisle is that the already spiffy website may be getting some upgrades later this year too.

Here is one of my favorite pages.  It's the wedding style page created by Cyd Converse over at The Sweetest Occasion.  Hello Style. Cyd has a garden wedding down like nobodys business. One of each please.

Another thing about print to consider; often the editors will save their favorite weddings exclusively for the print issue and then release it to the online world later. In other words, you haven't seen what is in print 40 times already.  It is fresh and new and fabulous.

How to have a Florida wedding that isn't about seashells

Most of the destination weddings we conceptualize and plan are at tropical and or beach locations. However, its quite often that our clients want their guests to enjoy what the islands and beaches offer, but they don't want the aesthetic of their wedding to reflect that.  At least not at every event.  Rather, they're looking for something that is true to them and their personal style.  Nicole & Steve's wedding is a perfect example of this.  I'm so excited to share these videos with you & showcase this pretty wedding at Hyatt Coconut Point.  This was one of those weddings where everything just fit perfectly...

Thank you iheART films for sharing this trailer you produced. It brought back so many memories and I love that I got to see things that I didn't get to see that day.
You may have noticed that I said videos in the last paragraph. That's because we have a foto video produced by Luminaire Foto (who took amazing photos too)! You'll notice right off the bat that foto video is really different than traditional wedding films.  Its made from individual photographs, so it doesn't incorporate the sounds of the day.  Its unlike anything I've ever seen.  This is my first time being able to share one of their foto videos and I have been anxiously awaiting! I can't wait to hear your reaction, so be sure to leave a comment.

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 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)...