Black - Beach Bride

Just Mauid: An Intimate Tropical Elopement in Maui

By Jenn

Does it get any more romantic than saying your vows in a beach setting, surrounded by the wonder of nature and a cool breeze? Kyra and Noah’s intimate tropical elopement in Maui was exactly like that! Simply Eloped made sure every detail was executed perfectly. From the sweet first look to the heart-melting ceremony and the picturesque shoots, this wedding was a dream! Kyra was classy on her flowing, one-shoulder gown, with intricate floral patches and a tan lining underneath. The groom was looking sharp on his emerald suit too! I love how this couple smartly swayed away from the usual white-black outfits tandem. The day was made even more special with only their closest guests around. A traditional Hawaiian practice, Reverend Kuya blew the conch shell to pronounce the two as now husband and wife. Now, enjoy scrolling through this set by Samantha Takes A Photo and feel the love radiating through the photos!

Associated Vendors

Family and Kid-Friendly Destination Weddings: 7 Things to Know

By Kacey Bradley

Brides spend months and even years planning the perfect destination wedding. It’s romantic to imagine traveling to a new location to get married in front of everyone you love, especially if it’s a place unlike any you’ve ever experienced. While you might dream of spending your wedding day with a glass of champagne and all your friends, some of your guests will probably bring their kids with them.

It isn’t always possible for people to leave their kids with family or friends before traveling to a wedding. It’s smart to include kids in your wedding planning so the destination is perfect for everyone. The problem is figuring out which things are most important to provide for families, especially if they’re extended family you don’t know too well.

Make your wedding planning easier by checking out these seven things to know about family and kid-friendly destination weddings. With the right preparation, your wedding will be a blast for every person who comes, no matter their age.

1. Include Easy-Access Amenities

It’s easy for you to jump in the car and drive to brunch with your friends, but getting around is a bit more difficult for families. Parents have to get their kids ready and strap them into carseats to get where they want to go, which takes a lot of time and energy.

While you’re checking out different destinations and hotels, remember to include easy-access amenities for the families coming to your wedding. In-house buffet breakfasts, pools and even fun things like gift shops are much more enjoyable for families when they’re within walking distance.

2. Serve Finger Food

It’s tempting to serve local cuisine at your destination wedding, especially if you love the recipes native to that area. Still, kids won’t know how to eat lobster if you choose that as your main course. Pick the adult foods you want to serve your guests, then include finger food options for kids. Chicken nuggets will go over well with kids while the adults eat food that leans closer to fine-dining.

3. Create an Activities List

Once you’ve chosen your destination, you should research the area and create an activities list. Send it out to families after they RSVP, so they know what kind of entertainment is around your venue and what they can do with their kids while they’re there.

4. Provide Space to Roam

Sometimes families can feel cramped while they’re on vacation, which is why it’s nice to provide space to roam. Host a beach wedding so families can explore the sand and surf in a place like Ocean City, New Jersey. When they’re not having fun in town, everyone can spread out on the beach and have a great time.

5. Choose a Family Resort

Another option is to choose a family resort that will go the extra mile to take care of the families at your wedding. They will have daily and weekly activities for kids of all ages, so tired parents don’t need to drive out to town when their kids get bored or restless.

6. Check the Calendar

You should also check the calendar when you plan the date for your wedding. If most of your guests have kids, it’ll be easier for them to attend if the children aren’t in school on your big day. Choose a day during a school break so traveling is easy for everyone.

7. Send Save-the-Dates Early

The most important thing you can do for families is to send save-the-dates extra early so they have time to plan their trip. Families will need to check the school calendar and the dates of their kids’ after-school activities, plus budget for traveling. If they have extra time to plan, it’ll be easier for them to attend.

Keep Communication Open

While you plan your destination wedding, keep communication open. Let families ask questions so you can help them out with planning. If you work together, everyone will enjoy your destination wedding.

Surprise Private Island Engagement

By Car

Every girl dreams of becoming a princess even once in her life, and today’s groom Jimmie just surprised her now future bride Nina with a fairytale beach engagement. And it was an absolute inspiration! Everything was surreal and the moment was perfect when Jimmie asked Nina to be her wife in an isolated island. Jimmie knew that his beautifully-planned proposal will be their once in a lifetime magical experience that they will forever cherish. And indeed they will! With the expertise of Bridget Magee Photography, their surprise engagement by the beach on Tampa Bay will forever be captured and remembered by these amazing photos.

We’re All About the Details!

Take this Advice

Ensure you find a photographer you trust who shares the same vision as you. If capturing the story of your day is vital, a photographer who takes a photojournalistic approach may be a good match. Are traditional photos more your style? Then a photographer who shares this traditional approach may be better. Work with your photographer to build a photography timeline that will capture the items of most importance to you. Be sure to mention anything that may be extra special that your photographer may not be aware of. For example, are those cufflinks your grandfather’s? This needs to be captured and included in your story! ~Bridget Magee/Photographer

About the Photographer
My name is Bridget, and I am the owner of Bridget Magee Photography, based out of Lakeland, Florida. I am a mother, wife, hopeless romantic, and photographer. While I have thoroughly enjoyed working in all photography markets, from capturing images of babies and families to real estate, I’ve found engagement and wedding photography the most satisfying and have realized this is where I am meant to be. For this reason, I have recently transitioned wedding and engagement photography to be my primary focus. I am very passionate about capturing not only the story of a couple’s wedding day but also to creatively capture the emotion felt. My goal is to produce images that will reconnect you back to your memories and your feelings, every time you turn a page in your album. Wedding collections which include full-day coverage begin at $1,400, for local events. I am also available to travel to your destination of choice. Please visit www.bridgetmagee.rocks to send a message and share your love story with me! I would love to chat and see if I may be the right fit for you.

Vendors

Photographer: Bridget Magee Photography

Chic Beach Wedding in Costa Rica

By Car

For today’s inspiration, we take you to a gorgeous peninsula located at the edge of the Pacific on a perfect white sand beach. Allie and Jeff had their destination wedding at the Four Seasons Costa Rica. Together with Sue Kelson Events, the bride’s vision of a chic beach wedding was created using a monochromatic color scheme of creams and white – all white flowers, white benches for the ceremony seating, and the guests wearing versions of white or creams. Something else you mustn’t miss–the candlelit reception that is so much romantic and adds intimacy to the celebration! There’s so much to talk about this wedding, but I’ll leave the rest for you to see through these snaps taken by Jenny & Eddie! Happy viewing!

We’re All About the Details!

The Tufted Chairs in Candlelight

The bride and groom sat in large King and Queen tufted chairs, while their guests sat comfortably in modern Louis XV style chairs. The beach was glowing with candlelight from the tables, large chandeliers hung overhead in addition to string lights, and up lights on the trees in a champagne white color. The perfect party favor were white flip flops and sunglasses!

All White Décor and Flowers

Vases of pure white lilies, roses, and orchids adorned the tables, along with succulents and shimmery gold candles. The place settings were laid with gold rimmed chargers a piece of driftwood scripted in white lettering for the place cards.

Couture Wedding Dress

The bride wore a custom Galia Lahav gown. Her bridesmaids, heralding the current wedding trend, wore white Jovani gowns. The groom and his groomsmen wore crisp white shirts with beige pants.

The Wedding Arc

The wedding arch featured driftwood, and large white garden roses which climbed up and over the arch…and then floated out into the ocean.

Destination Wedding in Costa Rica

White dinner tables filled with vases and vases of white tulips, orchids lilies, garden roses, stock, and a sprinkle of succulents. There’s one last detail to complete Allie’s vision, and that is lighting. Crystal chandeliers hung above the dinner tables, and up lights shined a champagne light on the trees. It was just like a girl dream about…marrying her love on a beach, by the ocean.

Take this Advice

Remember to breathe! Everyone will have advice for you, but take it in stride, and in the end, have the reception of YOUR dreams! Hiring a wedding planner can help to reduce a lot of stress – let the planner worry about the details, while you focus on your beloved. ~Sue Kelson/Wedding Vendor

Money Matters

$45,000 +

About the Wedding Vendor
Sue Kelson Events is a boutique wedding firm that specializes in planning Dallas weddings and destination weddings. Being a boutique firm, Sue and her team plan only an exclusive number of weddings per year, as Sue knows that each bride should receive undivided attention, to make her dream wedding come true. Based in Dallas, Texas Travels Worldwide, Call for Estimate 972.447.8300 or this website.

Vendors

Photographer: jenny & Eddie
Cake Designer: Victoria Zoch
Equipment Rentals: Costa Mesa
Reception Venue: Four Seasons Costa Rica
Event Planner: Sue Kelson Events

Beach Boho Wedding

By Car

You can say what you want about weddings, but today, it’s going to be all about the modern and colorful beach boho style in a destination setting! This amazing morning beach destination styled wedding shoot is full of beautiful eye candy! Everything from the colors of the flowers to the gorgeous décor is an exciting contrast to the lovely blue ocean, sky, and sand. The gold on the cake and the trendy style just proves that going boho can still be chic, elegant, and oh-so-romantic. The parachute dress, bomber jacket, and kimono pillows were created by Eco-designer Deborah Lindquist that intertwines with the bohemian theme and just adds to the simple sophistication of the overall style. The hair and makeup were designed to give our African American bride an enhanced and natural look. Thanks to Raelyn Elizabeth Photography, for showcasing this lovely styled shoot.

We’re All About the Details!

Deborah Lindquist is a eco-conscious clothing, accessories, and home decorative accessories designer. The gown she created for the bride is a gown made of a vintage parachute. Light as a feather, it is a unique but also very practical gown for a beach wedding. They got splashed by waves, windblown, and covered in sand but the gown dried in a flash and looked perfect throughout the day. The windy beach day was perfect for creating a dramatic flair with the long full train flying.

The gold vintage kimono fabric bomber jacket is a perfect addition to the gown as the temperatures chill later in the day. The vintage kimono pillows accent the relaxation area on the sand atop a natural jute rug.

Take this Advice

Be personal in your approach to your wedding. This beach wedding is simple but dramatic, romantic and colorful. The overall effect is effortless and uniquely creative. Weddings can be done all kinds of ways, from the most planned, extravagant event to an elopement. The important thing is that it reflects the personality of the couple and that its fun. I truly think that fun is an important part of a wedding. The couple should be relaxed, happy, and have a good time. And of course a fabulous dress is important. I’m happy to help with that. ~Deborah Lindquist/Wedding Designer

About the Designer
I am an eco designer as I mentioned above. It is my desire to make women look and feel beautiful, and at the same time consider the environmental impact of the clothing I create. I create wedding gowns out of a combination of organic, sustainable, and recycled materials. While I do have an offering of gowns on my website and in my studio, I also do custom orders and very proficient at alterations as I am a classically trained designer. Visit my website for more information on how I work, and see my themed lookbooks. I live and work in the Los Angeles area. I work with brides all over the world. I can be contacted by phone 310-993-3248 or email.

Vendors

Photographer: Raelyn Elizabeth Photography
Invitation Designer: Boxed Wedding Invitations
Bakery: Charly’s Cakes
Model: David Shepherd
Dress Designer: Deborah Lindquist Eco Couture
Floral Designer: Flowersy by Alicia
Etsy Designer: Foswick Collectibles
Makeup Artist: Mimi The Hairstylist
Model: N/a