This couple and their wedding day just filled me with a lot of “awwwws”. Their love story is so cute because it was unknowingly already in the making when they were both still kids. Can you imagine that these two cannot stand each other before? Maybe it is true that boys who pick on girls are actually just hiding their secret crushes.
Add to that, their wedding is precious as well because of the intimacy of the event. They only invited people (and critters, awww!) that they most cared about. This goes to show that on a wedding, it’s all about the couple and what they feel most comfortable with. Jeanna is a shy person and the thought of standing in front of a multitude just makes her uncomfortable so instead of having to please everyone, every bride needs to follow her lead and learn that a wedding day needs to be centered around the feelings and preference of the two people being united. Congratulations Jeanna & Bryan!
What is your story as a couple, how did you meet & fall in love?
Bryan was a friend of my brother’s for many years. He used to hang out with my brother and pick on me as a kid. About 4 1/2 years ago I got a friend request from him on Facebook and we became friends ourselves and connected after I hadn’t seen him since I was younger. We began to really like each other and realized there was a connection between us. We became a couple and never left each other’s side from there. One year ago he proposed to me after pretending to find a message in a bottle and then asking me in my favorite place in the world, St. George Island, just 15 minutes from where we held our wedding. Funny to think back on all the year’s ago and how I used to couldn’t stand him when I was younger.
What makes the two of you a perfect match?
We both are so similar. Some people say opposites attract, but I love that we love the same things and have the same sense of humor. He can say what I’m thinking sometimes before I even say it, and it’s so awesome to have that with someone!
What was the best advice you received when you were planning your wedding?
Don’t do the big wedding! I’m a shy person at heart and when I started thinking about having to stand in front of lots of people, I decided intimate and small was best. We also were trying to land a destination wedding from 8 hours away and I kept hearing that planners and coordinators take lots of stress away. This turned out to be very true. I was also not sure whether to have my dogs there, and my cousin Melissa, our photographer, made me realize it was our wedding. It was only going to be once and it’s important to have no regrets! So glad I listened to her and had them there.
What were some challenges you faced planning your wedding & what would you have done differently to avoid them?
We were trying to plan the wedding from 400 miles away. We also had a to plan a time that was convenient for everyone to make the trip that was coming. We hired Amy to coordinate everything and this made the challenge seem to disappear.
What inspired your wedding décor? Why did you choose the things that you did?
I have always loved the southern and vintage look. I wanted to use lanterns and thought they went even better with it being a summer wedding. Hydrangeas were chosen because they have always been my favorite flower!
What was the wedding budget?
The total cost of planning and the meal afterwards was around $3500.
Where did you save the most money?
My cousin Melissa Dunstan of Tangled Lilac is an amazing photographer and she did our photography for us! It was the most amazing gift we could have ever received!
How many guests were invited in your wedding and what was the final guest count?
I think round 38 people in all were invited. Final count- I think we had 22-24 including wedding party
What songs did you use during the ceremony?
We had a guitarist play and am not sure of the songs.
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We stayed in the area and vacationed on St. George Island, FL.
What are you most excited about for the future?
Spending my life with my best friend. Hopefully we can still take our annual vacations there for years to come as well.
Do you have advice for couples still in the planning process?
Don’t stress over the small stuff. Remember it’s not about putting on a show for everyone and just try and remember to enjoy it and don’t let it overwhelm and stress you out! Remember what it’s all about in the end.
What would you say, the overall story for this album?
This album is the story of the day of marriage to my best friend in beloved Apalachicola. This hot summer day will forever be remembered as a wonderful celebration of our joining and happy memories created on the Apalachicola Bay.
What inspired the wedding day outfits?
I wanted a vintage look with some more popular styling of now. I liked the one shoulder shorter dresses for the bridesmaids because it seemed like a cooler option given the time of year as well as the color for the time of year.
What was your favorite part of the day?
My favorite part of the day was the reception at the Owl Café. It was a beautiful place with a wonderful atmosphere and food to die for. Best of all was spending the evening with the closest people in our lives.
Was there any Do it Yourself (DIY) projects? If so, can you describe them in detail?
I strung some letters in an old suitcase my mom had after an idea I’d seen on pinterest. I also took a letter E from Walmart and wrapped it in twine for another table decoration.
What were the highlights from the ceremony & reception?
The highlight of our ceremony was when we were saying our vows and my dogs started whimpering. I didn’t know why, but a man had his dog running loose in the park and they wanted to go up to it. I was trying not to laugh at the sounds coming from them. The highlight of the reception was getting to dance with Bryan. We never had really shared a dance. The food was also a highlight- soo good.
Their photographer, the bride’s cousin, also had some details to share with us on how genuinely lovely this wedding is.
What was your favorite part of the day?
Spending time with the couple right after the ceremony doing their couple photos, you could see just how much they adored one another. I love this time after the ceremony, away from the guests, when the couple gets just a few moments alone to let it soak in they are finally married.
What were the highlights from the ceremony & reception?
During the ceremony, the couples boxer dogs(Boss and Rosco) were walked down the aisle just like an attendant. It was adorable.
Vendors
Photographer: Tangled Lilac Photography
Event Venue: Lafayette Park
Caterer: Owl Cafe
Hair Stylist: Salon Lux
Event Planner: Bayside Weddings & Events
