Are you guys ready for this gush fest? It's about to get real emotional real fast. Melissa first came into my life through instagram- which seems to be how many of my relationships form recently. She was starting her letterpress/gold foil company and was looking to connect with local wedding peeps. We grabbed a cup of tea and clicked immediately. I still remember sitting there chatting and feeling like we had been friends for ages. She's just my kind of girl. We talked about her friends, her move to Florida, and how she met her boyfriend Chris, which was quickly followed up with, "we're not getting engaged anytime soon". Low and behold about two months later I get a text and it's a picture of her finger with a new shiny sapphire and diamond accessory. Chris clearly had other plans.

From there we started talking about their wedding day dreams, their likes and dislikes, and what they wanted the night be like for their loved ones. It's crazy to think that all those chats and all those dreams became realities. Sure, there were some hiccups along the way, some dreams had to be altered, but in the end these two cried and laughed through their vows, danced for hours, hugged every single person, and celebrated for a whole weekend.

Melissa and Chris wanted to keep decor minimal and modern with pops of vibrant colors and nods to our Floridian surroundings. Her bouquet was full of bright blooms in shades of pink, oranges and yellows and accented with wild greens that seemed to dance out of the sides. When designing their ceremony backdrop, we wanted to keep it modern while still feeling natural. We used greenery with defined lines and stark shapes making a bold and modern impact. Fluffy blooms were sprinkled throughout their cocktail style reception, and bold tropical greens lined the walls. Their sweetheart table featured a vintage barkcloth table runner and a bright and lush centerpiece, while guests clinked vintage champagne coupes.

I always stress the importance of working with your venue and the location you've selected. Melissa and Chris did just that. Social House is a modern blank slate with plenty of Floridian charm, and midcentury frame work. That allowed us to design a modern Floridian wedding with old Florida accents - which to me really is the best of both worlds.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again- Melissa and Chris are two of the most emotionally connected couples I know. They get each other. They appreciate every bit of the other person. They know they are flawed and they kind of revel in that. Their cores are so completely tied, like little magnets that lock onto each other and don't let go. Life isn't always easy, it can throw you for a loop, it can break you down and leave you feeling lost and helpless, but I see them, I see the love they have for each other and it is so evident that these two will always have each other's backs wherever life takes them. At the end of the day that's what it's all about. It isn't about what design decisions are made, whether you have peonies or garden roses, or whether its a hot dog food truck or taco truck. It's about the rest of this messy, intricate, short life and who you want with you on that ride.