hotel - Beach Bride

Shells, Stars and Sand

By Chie

Sometimes, beach weddings are only classified into that category because of the venue and nothing else. So it’s nice to see a wedding like this that has embraced other elements, such as shells and starfishes, that is known to represent the beach. The decor, the entourage accessories (i.e ring bearer’s pillow) and specially, the cake are adorned with accents that matched the entire wedding. We also loved the pink and blue color theme and the groom’s cake shaped like a helicopter (in honor of his military background). Congratulations to our bride and groom!

Bride:

What do you think is the overall story for this album?

“Love is patient, love is kind.” I know everyone likes this verse, but I have a good story. We wanted a picture of our wedding rings in the spine of Groom’s deceased mother’s bible (her most prized possession) that with the right shadow, creates a heart. I wanted the rings to be in Songs of Solomon, but since it was in Spanish, we couldn’t find it. Heather flipped to this verse in 1 Corinthians and Groom’s mom had highlighted this verse. Furthermore, I am very impatient and it took me becoming patient before the Lord blessed me with Groom. He also had a nasty previous marriage and his patience and faith got him through it.

What inspired the wedding day outfits?

Groom is active military as are his groomsmen so we were able to save some money by them wearing their uniforms. I originally wanted sleeves, but my mom said try some strapless. So I decided I liked the sweetheart neckline. I always have liked lace and never wanted anything over the top–I didn’t want to be a robot on my wedding day. I found my dress on the first day after trying on about 10 dresses. My mom, sister, and best friend were with me and my mom’s expression sold me on my dress. It helped that it didn’t need much alterations! Since two of my bridesmaids were with me, they tried on dresses and agreed on the same dress. They all liked the idea of short dresses and loved the coral. It helps that it’s a dress they can hopefully wear again.

What was your favorite part of the day?

Having all our loved ones together and seeing their love, support, and joy

Was there any Do It Yourself (DIY) projects? If so, can you describe them in detail?

Oh yes, my sister and best friend helped quite a bit so when I say “I”, I meant “we”.

I made a guestbook on Shutterfly with only a couple pages for guests to sign and the rest were pictures and stories of how our relationship evolved. I kept a journal since before I knew Jorge so I revisited what I wrote at the time.
I made a 3 layer ribbon to go around the invitations and sealed it with a sand dollar
I made a vase with sand and seashells for the sparklers and my sister made the bow. Also made a similar vase for Groom’s mom’s remembrance candle.
I added matching ribbons and seashells to the baskets we used for programs, wish lanterns, and candle lighters as well as the “Sparkler Send-Off” chalkboard
I made the flower girl baskets and ring bearer pillows. After seeing many images on Etsy, I decided I could buy very basic stuff at Hobby Lobby and spice it up. Saved money and I was able to incorporate the same ribbon and seashells.
We got custom labels for chapstick to use in our favors and glued mini starfishes to the back of the “Thank You” tags
I am most proud of the Broquets we made after seeing this idea on Pinterest. We ordered personalized steins for the groomsmen (Groom served with all his groomsmen in Germany (except his brother-in-law) and stuffed a bunch of wooden dowels in them with mini liquor bottles, gum, advil, candy, beef jerky, cologne, and cigars taped/glued on. We put these in personalized backpacks with built in coolers with a flask and cans of coke.

What were the highlights from the ceremony and reception?

There was a rainbow for our ceremony and it had been raining the whole day prior plus the morning of our wedding

Was there a theme for the ceremony and reception?

We wanted a romantic beach theme

What part of the ceremony did you and your groom find the most memorable?

We both found the anticipation of me walking down the aisle most memorable as well as the end with the wish lanterns because things finally slowed down and we could take more in

Vendors

Photographer: Limelight Photography
Makeup Artist: Beautiful You Makeup & Hair Services
Event Planner: Confetti Events
Dress Store: David’s Bridal
Ceremony Location: Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort
Event Venue: Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort
Caterer: Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort
Floral Designer: Iza’s Flowers
Cake Designer: sweets by the bay
Paper Props: wedding paper divas

Simple and Sentimental Beach Wedding

By Chie

Simple, sweet, sentimental, and beautiful. I love it when weddings capture the meaning of these four words. We totally adore details and decors as much as the next bride but at the end of the day, weddings are only supposed to be a part, albeit a big one, of a wonderful relationship not the culminating event of it. So I am very captivated by Kevin and Gina’s special day. The details were simple but striking. But what I love the most is that this was not just a wedding of two loving people, but the marriage of one complete and happy family. Their children were their entourage and it’s such a great idea that they let them be a part of the sand ceremony. Congratulations to this beautiful family!

Photographer:

Although the Hotel Del Coronado is always beautiful, it’s not every day that it looks like a tropical island somewhere in the Bahamas! The wedding featured today was just such a day…absolutely magical with almost white sand beaches and gorgeous clear blue skies dotted with wispy cloudys. Gina and Kevin were a really special couple. I was touched by their kindness and loving hearts that showed in the way the treated everyone. Susanne Duffy of Crown Wedding coordinated this beautiful event and the decor was unique, vibrant, elegant, and everything a bride could dream of for one of the most important days of her life! Susanne worked with Emily Smiley of Platinum Pro on the florals and overall look of the beach wedding and the visual collaboration was vibrant and unique with lot’s of unexpected details and texture like driftwood paired with lanterns and succulents paired with bright pink and purple flowers!

Vendors

Photographer: Vallentyne Photography
Event Planner: Crown Weddings and Events LLC
Event Venue: Hotel Del Coronado
Floral Designer: Platinum Pro
Other: Side by Side Cinema
Linens and Coverings: Wildflower Linens

Aqua + Tangerine Wedding in Cancun

By Chie

The sunset and the sky must be very jealous from the vibrancy of the colors in this beautiful wedding. But that’s only one of the number of things that made this event an eye candy and one for the books. Some of the details of the day were simultaneously playful and classy which matches our couple’s free-spirited personality. And just by judging from the pictures, it’s not hard to say that everyone in this wedding had fun, I mean, who wouldn’t? The wedding itself is an epitome of fun colors and accents! Congratulations Marian & Andrew!

Word from the photographer…

This was a beautiful wedding where two cultures came together, where friends and family traveled from all over the world to celebrate Marian & Andrew’s wedding in Cancun, Mexico.

These two met while working for the same company in different countries; Marian in Mexico and Andrew in the U.S. – for many months they spent a lot of time corresponding to each other via the internet not knowing (nor having any interest in what the other person looked like). Two years ago, they finally met for the first time at a work event and immediately fell for each other. After some time dating far apart and not knowing when they can finally be together in one place – they were determined to make it work and a year later when Andrew proposed, Marian also found a wonderful job here in the U.S. With so much gratitude and love – they are now enjoying their days together with their sweet pup Millie and looking forward to this new chapter in their lives!

Both Andrew & Marian are incredibly intelligent & hardworking yet free spirited, curious and excited about the possibilities and adventures in life. They decided to have their wedding in Mexico where their families could embrace the beauty of Mexico and soak up the sun for a handful of days.

The ceremony took place in an amazing chapel with stunning views of the sea followed by a rooftop terrace reception where their families shared so much laughter & joy, singing and dancing the night away!

Word from the groom…

How did you meet?

Marian and I met virtually through work at Ford Motor Company. I was transferred into the Chassis group, and Marian was my co-buyer in Mexico for the commodities I was responsible for. We worked closely together for 6+ months before we met face-to-face in September of 2011, and it has all just happened since then.

The fact we knew and respected each other for months prior to meeting is important – she thought I was a 40+ year old fat gringo, and I thought she was a mid-thirties chunky Mexican. To experience our chemistry when we met is the most amazing thing we have ever experienced.

What are the words you would use to describe the style of your wedding?

Beachy, Classy, Enjoyable

What colors are you using in the ceremony and reception?

Aqua and tangerine

Vendors

Photographer: Love in Photographs
DJ: MANNIA AUDIO Y VIDEO
Calligrapher: Papineau Calligraphy
Invitation Designer: Papyrus
Floral Designer: Maya Floral
Other Location: Grand Caribe Real Resort

Out of the Box Antique Wedding

By Chie

Antique but entirely elegant. These are the words that would perfectly describe this wedding. Our bride certainly loves old-fashioned decors but despite this fascination, she did not lose hold of making this wedding completely gorgeous. The reception setup is already enough proof of this description for the gold tones really brought out the elegance of the venue.

Here is what our bride told us about the road to this lovely wedding day.

What is your story as a couple, how did you meet & fall in love?

Ricky and I met for the first time at a party the summer after my senior year- he had graduated from the same high school 2 years before. At the time we were both in relationships but became very good friends quickly! We had a lot of the same interests and it felt like I was talking to someone I had known for years. A year and a half later we re-met at a bar and we’re instantly drawn to each other! We had both just gotten out of the relationships we were in when we had met the first time and we exchanged numbers solely for the purpose of keeping in touch. We QUICKLY became inseparable, starting off as friends and turning into a love story. 4 years after dating Ricky asked me to marry him and 2 years later we were husband and wife. Ricky and I have been visiting Clearwater Beach every year since we met. As much as we love our home city we knew Clearwater had our hearts. We were blessed with over 100 guests at the Hilton Clearwater Beach on May 31, 2014.

What makes the two of you a perfect match?

We are best friends! We have the same interests, life goals and the same sense of humor- we are truly a reflection of each other.

What was the best advice you received when you were planning your wedding?

The best advice I received while planning was to enjoy every second! I can’t express how much I miss it every day. It was a long process- but when you see it all come together on your wedding day you realize every second(no matter how stressful) was all worth it.

What were some challenges you faced planning your wedding & what would you have done differently to avoid them?

Planning a wedding from far away is not easy but totally worth it. We didn’t get to taste our food, we didn’t get to see the linens or chairs, I didn’t get to see my flowers- nothing! Being as”hands on” as I am it was hard to let go and trust my vendors but they were beyond amazing. Read reviews and take your time picking the people who are going to be taking care of things for you.

What inspired your wedding décor? Why did you choose the things that you did?

My vision for my wedding was antique, romantic and simple- with antique being my main focus. I’ve had a lot of people tell me I’m kind of like a grandma in a young persons body- I couldn’t agree more. I found all of my bottles for centerpieces, my cake cutter, forks, and earrings all at local Milwaukee antique stores and used old crates I’ve bought at yard sales. I wanted to keep the colors very neutral with gold and blush tones. The glitter tablecloths I used for the cake table and the head table we’re very out “out of the box” for me but they gave the room just the right amount of sparkle. Adding personal little touches were also very important to me. The charm on my bouquet, the grooms cuff links, and our cake topper were purchased on Etsy. There were pieces of my mom’s veil in my bouquet, I used my grandmothers ring for something old, and my something blue and something borrowed was a necklace I borrowed from my mom.

How many guests were invited in your wedding and what was the final guest count?

We invited about 140 and were blessed with 100 guests. It was way more than we expected and it was perfect.

How did you narrow down your list?

A little- with destination weddings it’s a little easier because you stick to family and close friends. You can always have a reception when you get home!

What songs did you use during the ceremony?

Processional- “Part of your world” instrumental- The Little Mermaid
Brides Entrance- Jurassic Park Theme
Recessional- “Viva La Vida”- Coldplay
Grand March- “Jump” Kriss Kross
First Dance- “Feel my love” Adele
Father Daughter- “Sweet child of mine” acoustic version

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Grenada- an Island in the West Indies. If you ever have a change to go- GO. It was truly paradise.

What are you most excited about for the future?

We are most excited to start our lives together! We can’t wait to travel back to the Hilton Clearwater Beach and relax this time! We love to travel so we have a few places we need to see before we think about little ones.

Do you have advice for couples still in the planning process?

Try to keep your focus on the main goal- marriage. Yes, the wedding is a huge deal! But once the show is over there is nothing left but the two of you. Try not to let the wedding day put a kink in your relationship.

What inspired the wedding day outfits?

I haven’t been envisioning my wedding day since I was little like most girls. I have, however, imagined my wedding dress. Lace has always been my only option(my mom’s wedding dress was lace) and with the Little Mermaid being my favorite movie I needed to have a dress that made me look like one. My dress was really special because I was able to take my cap sleeves off after the ceremony and have a fun strapless dress for the reception! I was originally set on mismatched bridesmaid dressed but all of the bridesmaids liked the same dress! The all looked gorgeous in it so we agreed on different neutral colors. It was exactly what I had envisioned. Because we were having a beach wedding we wanted to groomsmen to be a little more casual. With neutral colors being our palette we decided on grey groomsmen with the groom in a slightly lighter gray. We did not rent our suits! The guys bought their pants and the groom bought the vests and ties, we allowed the groomsmen to wear whatever white shirts and black shoes they wanted- it ended up being perfect! They all looked so handsome.

What was your favorite part of the day?

My favorite part of the day(other than seeing all of our family and friends in one place)was when we were announced husband and wife. I’m in love with the shot our photographer got of our first kiss!

Was there any Do it Yourself (DIY) projects? If so, can you describe them in detail?

I found all of my bottles for centerpieces, my cake cutter, forks, and earrings all at local Milwaukee antique stores and used old crates I’ve bought at yard sales. I had my cake cuter and forks hand stamped with the date. A lot of my decor was also DIY- I found mismatched gold picture frames and filled them with different little sayings and thank yous. I printed out my own little thank you cards for each place setting and had an entire kids table with pictures to color, crayons, sand buckets, shovels and candy

What were the highlights from the ceremony & reception?

Walking down the aisle with my dad was amazing. I was sure I was going to be hysterical but I kept it together(mostly because I didn’t look at anyone but Ricky). Our first dance and my father daughter dance were unforgettable but once everyone hit the dance floor it was out of control! A moment I will never forget is everyone that attended dancing to “Shout”. It was a sight to see.

Was there a theme for the ceremony and reception?

Romantic, antique, neutral

Vendors

Photographer: Life Long Studios
DJ: Grant Hemond and Associates, Inc.
Event Venue: Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort
Event Planner: K & K Events
Floral Designer: Iza’s Flowers
Videographer: Lexoria Wedding Films
Hair & Makeup: Destiny & Light
Day of Coordinator: Confetti Events
Chair Rental: Modern Day Events
Cake: Chantilly Cakes
Officiant: Sensational Ceremonies

Justine & Jeremy – Tropical Elegance

By Chie

Who would’ve known that tropical and elegance can be put together? Whenever brides and grooms decide on a beach wedding, there’s some sort of casualness and laid-back vibe present during the event, it’s almost always uncanny. I guess it’s because we associate beaches with relaxation and vacation. But for Justine & Jeremy, they were able to recreate the beach vibe but also, add some elegance to it. All thanks to their amazing reception set-up that looked so amazing with all the metallic details. The refined aura of silver plus the casual vibe of the sand equals to something unique and gorgeous.

Congratulations Justine & Jeremy!

How did you meet?

The story for Jeremy and I began five years ago, as we met through mutual friends. It was love at first sight for us and after only after three months together, we knew that we were meant to be husband and wife. Our relationship works because we respect one another and the characteristics that one person lacks, the other makes up for. We are the epitome of a team.

How did he propose?

In the spring of 2013, Jeremy and I went for a walk on a trail that we often walked on near our house and one that we walked on during one of our first dates getting to know on another. We stopped on a bridge that overlooks a river and were talking and laughing when all of a sudden Jeremy got down on one knee and asked me to marry him… well you can tell now how that went!

Tell us something about the wedding.

When deciding on a wedding destination, the ocean was our first choice. The beach has always been a special place for us, as it is always our “go to” vacation place. We visited many places, the Breakers being one of the venues that we looked at in Florida. After seeing the Breakers in Palm Beach, nothing else could compare and we found ourselves comparing everything to the Breakers. It was definitely our idea of a beautiful destination wedding. We knew that this would be the perfect place to host our friends and family from Michigan, as the service, the beauty and the amenities of the Breakers is unparalleled from the moment you pull into the drive.

One of our favorite moments from the wedding was the First Look. The love and emotions that we have and hold for one another could definitely be felt and seen by all. At this moment, we definitely felt like the most special couple in the world a couple that were having their dream wedding surrounded by friends and family and excited to spend the rest of our lives together. Another favorite moment of ours, was when the Priest, Father Leo began to cry because he could sense and feel the love that we have for one another.

The following are from the accounts of their photographer.

What would you say, the overall story for this album?

The Bride & Groom live in Michigan and decided to have a destination wedding. The ocean was their first choice. It has always been a special “go to” place for them. After visiting many venues, nothing else compared to The Breakers in Palm Beach! What a perfect place to host their friends and family from Michigan for a fabulous destination beach wedding!

What was your favorite part of the day?

The Bride and Groom said that the “First Look” was their favorite part of the day. Also, when their priest began to cry. The Bride and Groom said that when this happened they could sense that he could actually FEEL their love for one another.

What were the highlights from the ceremony & reception?

There were some pretty emotional toasts.

Was there a theme for the ceremony and reception?

No particular theme – just an elegant destination beach wedding at the most prestigious place in South Florida!

Vendors

Photographer: Jeff Kolodny Photography, Inc
Bridesmaid Dresses: Arena Bridal and Formal
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Beauty: Frank Cassini Salon
Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstrom
Jewelry: Tapper’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry
Reception Venue: The Breakers Hotel
Event Designer: The Design Studio at The Breakers
Band: The Powerhouse Band
Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Vera Wang