Behind the scenes at our weddings

Have you checked out our instagram feed?  Now that its online, you can see all our weddings behind the scenes, before and after. All from my perspective and bigger than on your iphone/smartphone.  You'll get a healthy dose of my crazy family and friends too (I love them all so much).  Here is a little peek I posted to instagram from this weekends weddings at Southern Waters in Ft Myers and LaPlaya in Naples, Florida:

 I honestly just want to never again use a banquet table for ceremony welcome again after this.

 Three cakes?  Sure, why not!

Sue at Signature Floral never ceases to amaze me.  The flowers for the ceremony and reception and all the little tables were so lovely.  I feel like she can read my mind sometimes.  Particularly when my mind is thinking of 8 different things wrapped into one.  Not too many people can do that!

No, you do not need to have your ballroom wedding looking stuffy. Kevin at Botanicals on the Gulf made the most wonderful centerpieces for these tables!  I loved that he was able to bring just the right amount of "soft" to the Navy and white striped linens we picked.

These images above and below are the real deal; What actually happens before the wedding ceremony.  Above breakdown:
1. Photographer Sam distracting baby FG#1 
2. Ashley Brockinton shooting bride and FOB as MOG approaches
3. MOH pulling splinter from FG#2 
4. MOB trying to rally FG#2-3-4 and probably wondering where FG#5 is
5. One of the best Nannys I have ever met, trying to bribe FG#3 with a tic tac that Photographer Sam brought.

Many more on the instagram feed so go check it out! Oh, and Clint Wiley from Wiley Entertainment also posted a video from the dance floor at the LaPlaya wedding:

 

Key:
FOB- Father of the bride
MOG- Mother of the groom
MOB- Mother of the bride
MOH- Maid/Matron of Honor
FG- Flower Girl

A Pretty little purple bridal shower luncheon

It doesn't get any more girly than this!  Lauren loved purple, every shade of it.  And she is also one of the girliest girls I have ever met. Putting this bridal shower &n luncheon together for her was so much fun for us.  Lauren & Joe's photographer, Ashley Brockinton came to snap these great photos of the pre-wedding celebration.When you're done be sure have a look at her wedding featured on the Every Last Detail Blog and watch the directors cut by AMC Video from her wedding a few months later at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples.

The beautiful centerpieces by Signature Floral were so perfect.  Using so many shade of purple helped to make sure that the flowers provided  the perfect contrast to the lavender tables and chairs.

 Lauren was becoming Mrs. Ciancimino - Italian!  Her future mother n law brought dozens and dozens of fresh homeade Italian cookies.

 How sweet is this petite cake cake topper on the polka dot cake?

Want to see the details from the wedding?

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

A Photographers Wedding Vol 3

And now for the reception. One thing I absolutely adored about this wedding was how intimate it was. Small weddings mean that you have more options for venues. A big bonus when you have less than 40 or so is that you can sometimes find a great restaurant or drinkery to hold your reception in. We had the best time at Mike & Audreys, here's the proof. 

After the wedding ceremony we headed deeper into historic downtown Ft Myers to a great local spot called Bacchus. It could not have made for a better evening with close friends, great music and sweet wedding cake.

I couldn't tell you what song it was that we were all singing and dancing to {because there were many}, but it was such a blast.

The florals on the chandeliers really defined this space as "wedding" and took it from a harsh spot to soft and romantic. 

Simple little boxes of lemon heads for the favors.  I was kind of addicted to the yellow.

Just a touch of lace to keep it southern. Love the Astilbe Sue put in the arrangements.

Thank you again to the amazing team who made this great affair one of the best celebrations ever.
Photography: Ashley Brockinton
Flowers: Signature Florals
Hair & Makeup: Hope Artistry
Music: Clint Wileys None Other
Cake: Ellas Cakes
Want to see more?  Great - You can see the entire series here and you can get Audreys perspective (and favorite photos) on her blog.  Actually, she did two posts; here's the 2nd one. Enjoy! Pin It

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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A Photographers Wedding Vol 1

When Audrey came to me to ask for my help with her wedding I was on board before she even got to the question part of the question. In the Ft Myers and Naples area all the wedding professionals are pretty friendly with each other since we're such a small community.  I'd been working with Mike & Audrey for years and so we were not only industry professionals, we were friends.   Two of our kids started kindergarten the same day, and we celebrate birthdays and attend the same holiday parties, so on and so on.  The great thing about planning a wedding with wedding photographers is that you know that you're going to have a phenomenal team to work with. Boy did we ever... Signature Floral, Hope Artistry, Ashley Brockinton, Clint Wiley of None Other and Ellas Cakes.

 

What does the bride & groom who usually photograph weddings decide to do when planning their own wedding?  Take as many photos before the wedding as possible so that they can enjoy the wedding day with their family & friends.  All the images in this post (there will be 3 posts) were taken in the days before the wedding (by Ashley Brockinton). Besides giving you more time for your wedding experience, it also allows you to have more fun with your pictures.  Like this portrait with tea cups. SO freaking cute.

Yeah, Mike & Audrey are always like this.  Ridiculously in love.  No staging required.

This is how excited they are at weddings too.  But their cameras are a bit more modern. I promise.

We couldn't past 30 images, so there are 2 more blog posts to come! Pin It