A Classic Palm Beach Inspiration Shoot | The Colony Palm Beach
As a South Florida native, you may think that I would have grown tired of bright colors, bold patterns, and tropical details by now. To that I say, nope! There is something timeless and endlessly charming about Palm Beach. The Colony Hotel located on Palm Beach Island showcases all of it's whimsy and elegance in the perfect way.
When I first stepped foot in the Colony Palm Beach hotel I immediately thought: this is exactly where Cinderella would tie the knot if she chose a destination Florida wedding. It is classic and elegant, with a whole lot of whimsy. There are bold patterns and an eclectic mix of bright blues, corals, pinks and yellows that are splashed across every wall. Designing with the Colony in mind was a dream come true and allowed for us to pull in so many exciting colors, play with movement, and allow the grounds and the flowers to have a little mini love affair.
See more of this playful shoot featured on Inside Weddings.
Photography | Kir Tuben Photography
Floral Design, Vintage Rentals, and Event Design | Port + Palm Co.
Venue | The Colony Palm Beach
Cake | Johnson's Custom Cakes
Stationery | IBA Paper Goods
Rentals | Atlas Party Rentals
Planning | Wanderlust Wedding Co.
Gift Boxes | Gala Tuesday
Bridal Salon | Brittany Burns Bridal
Makeup | Eventful Looks
Making the Biggest Impact with Your Floral Budget | Style Tips
So often I hear from a friend, a recently married couple, or an engaged couple that flowers are not/were not the priority in their budget because flowers are just so expensive. These are the floral design details I feel make the most impact and will make your budget happy.
So often I hear from a friend, a recently married couple, or an engaged couple that flowers are not/were not the priority in their budget because flowers are too expensive. I've even heard some couples say they never emailed me because they assumed I would be way out of their budget. Sad! Always email your dream vendor, you never know what might end up happening!
Often times the alternative suggestion of faux silk flowers will arise, but sadly these are usually no more budget friendly than the real thing. I can almost guarantee you will never touch those fake flowers again after your wedding so often times they end up in the trash not long after the “i dos”.
Shea Christine Photography
Exception to the rule: paper flowers. These are stunning, are made of a more natural material and when my friend, Hayley Sheldon gets her hands on anything it turns into a magical creation. There’s something about a natural material that makes it feel a bit more special and something you might want to keep around for home decor.
With that being said, you can allocate your floral budget to those show-stopping, highly photographed moments or areas and keep within a $3,800 budget. These are the moments I feel are the most important and the floral details you can skip.
The Details to Keep
Bridal Bouquet
average cost, $350
Shea Christine Photography
You will treasure your bridal bouquet. When my bouquet was handed to me on my wedding day sh*t got real. It was magic. This little bundle of flowers was created just for you and there's something so special about that.
Ceremony Decor
average cost, $900 - 2,200 +
Jose and Teresa Photography
So the ceremony is kinda a big deal. It is like the whole reason you're having a wedding, right!? Yes. So many pictures are captured in this one spot. Your ceremony and family portraits take up a big chunk of your album so you want to make sure it is pretty. Defining the space with an arbor accented with a large floral installation or choosing layered and stacked pedestal arrangements are each great ways to make a lush impact.
Sweetheart/Head Table Design
average cost, $400
Jessica Bordner Photography
Some of the sweetest pictures of you as a couple on your wedding day come while you're enjoying speeches and a brief moment slightly separated from your guests. Make it special.
Reception Tables
average cost, $350 per table
Erica J Photography
This is where a HUGE chunk of your floral budget ends up, especially those couples who opt for round tables. My suggestion for couples looking to cut back on reception table cost and still have a floral design element - go for the banquet (rectangle) tables in multiple rows or in one long row. I normally suggest an anchor arrangement placed in the center with bud vases and candles placed along the length of the table. guests and candles intertwined. For a 100 person wedding you're looking at a spend of about $2,000.
The Details to Skip
Boutonnières/Corsages
average cost, $25
Lauren Louise Photography
They end up being floppy and forgotten, put on incorrectly, or a point of contention because one family member was forgotten in the final count. I say skip it.
Aisle Markers
average cost, $60 per aisle
The only time I see these being necessary or impactful is if your venue is a bit of a blank slate and you're going for that lush garden vibe. If you go for the aisle markers, opt for something that is placed on the ground or a chair garland and forgo the ribbon-wrapped mason jar hooked on the chair.
Cocktail Table Arrangements
average cost, $40
Place candles in a design savvy votive/lantern here instead and you'll save a good amount of money. Cocktail hour comes and goes so quickly and is rarely revisited. Bar arrangements will make a more substantial impact and will be visited throughout the evening by your guests.
Bathroom Arrangements
average cost, $40
Find a venue with a cute bathroom and you're good to go.
Other Details to Keep in Mind
When reviewing your floral design quote keep in mind that the final cost includes time spent communicating your vision, sourcing, ordering, designing, setup and breakdown the day of your wedding. While you're getting your hair done and relaxing with your bridesmaids your floral design team is loading up their delivery van and prepping every arrangement for delivery. Hiring a team of professionals saves you and your family valuable time and minimizes stress on your wedding day.
Glass of bubbly > moving boxes of centerpieces
Shea Christine Photography
Jennifer + Beau | Flagler Museum Wedding
We absolutely adored working with Jennifer and Beau. They were a couple with incredible taste - I mean hello, they selected The Flagler Museum as their wedding venue - and they were both filled with so much love for each other as well as their family and friends. Here are just a few of the moments we loved from their big day!
This week we received a few sweet things in our email and mailbox. One was a gallery full of breathtaking images, the other was a sweet handwritten card from our couple which includes the magical line: "When I opened your gift, I actually said you were my spirit sister- cocktails and candy? LOVED IT!"
We absolutely adored working with Jennifer and Beau. They were a couple with incredible taste - I mean hello, they selected The Flagler Museum as their wedding venue - and they were both filled with so much love for each other as well as their family and friends.
Jennifer and Beau wanted to create an evening that left their guests feeling cared for and free to move about the night, all while enjoying a delicious spread of food, bumpin' live music, and the gorgeous Palm Beach waterside views that surround The Flagler Museum.
I will remember these two for years to come and will always look back fondly on our time together. They challenged me, they welcomed me into their planning process and their love story, and left Glen and I feeling like such an integral part of their journey and wedding day. I even got to drive Jennifer to her first look! 100 layers of tulle and all in my front seat. No amount of June Florida rain and humidity could damper that moment.
From the couple: "Thank you sweet Jenny for all your help in planning and the beautiful florals. If anything went wrong on Saturday, we had no clue. You were always there when we needed something and I'm going to miss our emails! The flowers and garlands looked and smelled amazing. So again, thank you for everything before and on our wedding day. Finding you and Port + Palm Co. was pure luck but we were the lucky ones. We hope you remember us and our wedding as fondly as we'll remember you!"
Thank you for trusting us and being such a gracious duo. I can't wait to visit Boston someday soon, share a cocktail and stories of marriage. Cheers you two!
Floral Design + Coordination | Port + Palm Co.
Photography | Shea Christine Photography
Venue | Henry Morrison Flagler Museum
Ceremony | Royal Poinciana Chapel
Cake Artist | Earth and Sugar
Catering | Chez Gourmet
Hair + Makeup | Kiss This
Rentals | Atlas Party Rental
Transportation | Molly's Trolleys
Videography | Illuminate Productions
Band | Bay Kings Band
Alex + Sam's Bubbly Romance | Post-Elopement Celebration
When Francesca of Coco Prop Shop asked me if I wanted to help put together a sweet post-elopement celebration for one of her former co-workers, I jumped at the opportunity. The couple had recently tied the knot at the local courthouse and Francesca wanted to do something special for them before the newlywed haze had the chance to fade.
When Francesca of Coco Prop Shop asked me if I wanted to help put together a sweet post-elopement celebration for one of her former co-workers, I jumped at the opportunity. The couple had recently tied the knot at the local courthouse and Francesca wanted to do something special for them before the newlywed haze had the chance to fade.
Keeping it simple, romantic, bubbly, sweet, and local we took a Lake Worth couple and showered them with a little champagne at Social House, with a sweet mini cake from Earth and Sugar, and a photo session with Coco Prop Shop in downtown Lake Worth.
We wanted to keep the floral design simple while maintaining a romantic color palette. We chose minimal blooms while adding a variety of loose greenery in various shades and textures to keep the bouquet interesting and full of movement. We finished the bouquet with a trailing ribbon in a vibrant shade of blue which perfectly complimented the groom's suit and played nicely with the green of the candlesticks.
When styling the bar cart we took most of our inspiration from a found antique book of love stories. From there we pulled in intricate details, greens, and gold tones to compliment the gorgeous details found within the book.
The couple's story is definitely one that has weathered the test of distance and time.
Alex and Sam met in August of 2012 while on a trip in Puerto Rico with a group of mutual friends. Once they connected, Samantha initiated a long distance relationship with Alex until she graduated from college at FGCU. After a few years she eventually returned home to be with Alex, but their time got cut short when he had to relocate for the Marine Corps. The distance and time spent apart only made them appreciate one another more. They share a passion for traveling, experiencing the outdoors and exploring the water, but just being with each other is an exciting adventure in itself. Alex recently graduated as an officer and felt it was the perfect time to ask Samantha to spend the rest of her life with him. She said yes and within two weeks they were married!
Photography + Props | Coco Prop Shop
Floral Design, Styling + Rentals | Port + Palm Co.
Bride's Attire | Wildeflower Boutique
Hair + Makeup | Nina Lares
Venue | Social House
Cake | Earth + Sugar
Location | Lake Worth
Meaghan + Joe | Classic Palm Beach with a Modern Twist
When I first met with Meaghan, I knew we were going to be fast friends and that we were about to plan one beautiful and elegant wedding. There was an easiness about her and something so inherently elegant. She expressed a love for classic Florida style, simple palms, and wanted to keep the overall design of her wedding modern while still pulling influence from the natural surroundings of her venue. We worked together to bring her vision to life, and I couldn't be more excited to share Meaghan and Joe's wedding day!
When I first met with Meaghan, I knew we were going to be fast friends and that we were about to plan one beautiful and elegant wedding. There was an easiness about her and something so inherently elegant. She expressed a love for classic Florida style, simple palms, and wanted to keep the overall design of her wedding modern while still pulling influence from the natural surroundings of her venue. We worked together to bring her vision to life, and I couldn't be more excited to share Meaghan and Joe's wedding day!
The sweetest words from the bride (which make me weep on a regular basis): "Where do I begin? Jenny and Glen are amazing. When Jenny was first recommended to us, my photographer spoke so highly of her. I was a little lost at the time and knew we needed someone to assist with our wedding. We were previously recommended another wedding coordinator but their style was not what I was looking for. I was looking for a hybrid. In marketing you call this person a strategist, in event planning a stylist."
We used potted plants to define their ceremony location. The ceremony took place at the end of a dock with a naturally beautiful view while the plants added that extra bit of lush greenery.
"The moment I met Jenny I knew she was ‘the one,’ no pun intended. The first time we met, we didn’t talk too much about the wedding but I instantly felt a connection. She understood me and we had so many things in common! And that’s important, when you are planning a wedding.
Fast forward to planning. Jenny was not only my event and floral designer but last minute we made a few adjustments and Port + Palm Co. provided a few specialty rental items.
When Joe and I first started planning we decided the vision we were aiming for was elegant Floridian with a modern twist. We had a lot of family coming in from out of town and wanted to create an atmosphere where our guests would be able to experience Florida in one night. Thanks to Jenny, her awesome husband Glen and the Port + Palm crew the vision came to life effortlessly with minimum direction or feedback from us."
"Jenny also assisted with finding us a band, which we still get compliments on, as well as a lighting and draping company, that helped set the ambiance for the night. If something came up during the setup, ceremony, or reception, (and I’m sure something happened because there was a public concert happening across from the ceremony location), we didn’t know about it. Jenny is so relaxed, so even-tempered, so warm she just exudes confidence. Making it so easy to trust her, allowing us to enjoy the night. I can honestly say I don’t think our wedding would have been as beautiful were it not for Port + Palm Co.
Fast forward to now. I miss our emails and have experienced some withdrawals but that expected when you connect so well with your hybrid stylist extraordinaire, right?"
We couldn't have asked for a more trusting couple. Glen and I are both so thankful, and will remember their wedding day for years to come.
Photography | Chelsea Erwin Photography
Floral Design, Coordination + Vintage Rentals | Port + Palm Co.
Lighting + Drapery | Celebrations by Kathy
Music | SOSOS
Catering | Cafe Chardonnay
Rentals | Panache
Makeup | Cathy Canavan
Hair | Allison Dunleavy
Venue | Lake Pavilion, West Palm
Ann Norton Sculpture Garden Elopement | Inspiration Shoot
I remember the first time my mom took me to the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden. Which is pretty phenomenal considering she has dragged me into countless house museums and historic home tours. The woman is obsessed with history and architecture, a love I never quite understood or fully appreciated until recently.
I remember the first time my mom took me to the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden. Which is pretty phenomenal considering she has dragged me into countless house museums and historic home tours. The woman is obsessed with history and architecture, a love I never quite understood or fully appreciated until recently.
So when Chelsea of Chelsea Erwin Photography suggested putting together an inspiration shoot at The Ann Norton Sculpture Garden, I immediately said "yes"!.
Chelsea and I both share a love for small intimate weddings and elopements. We feel weddings should be so much more about the couple and this incredible commitment they are making to one another, rather than throwing a big party with every person you've ever said, "hi" to. Showcasing an elopement style wedding, in a gorgeous intimate location, with a few unique pieces intertwined, was our main focus.
Chelsea wanted to pull in deep rich colors, which gave us a great starting point for the overall design. We created an eclectic tablescape full of unique details including an indigo hand dyed Silk and Willow runner, an assortment of vintage botanical dinner plates, and vintage gold accented glassware, while the floral arrangement featured anemones, peonies, and roses in rich romantic shades of pink and purple.
Our rental inventory is comprised primarily of midcentury modern and art deco pieces, which we felt played nicely against the modern sculptures placed throughout the lush tropical gardens.
Collaborating on this shoot with so many local creatives was such a rewarding experience, and we hope it encourages couples to consider a custom designed elopement complete with vintage and handmade details.
Photography | Chelsea Erwin Photography
Design, Floral Design, and Rentals | Port + Palm Co.
Stationery | Gold Cotton Print
Jewelry and Gem Stones | Kattilac Gems
Hair and Makeup | Palm Beach Makeup Pro
Wedding Dress | Wildeflower Boutique
Venue | Ann Norton Sculpture Garden
Models | Taelor May + Walker Shipley
A Vintage, Modern and Bold Intimate Wedding | Inspiration Shoot
Earlier this year, when I happened upon an abandoned plant nursery in Delray Beach I knew it was time to start pulling a shoot together. Once I found this incredible dress, which fell perfectly in line with the style we were trying to capture - modern vintage with a touch of natural and wild elements, all the pieces came together.
Lauren, of Lauren Louise Photography, and I try to collaborate on styled shoots at least once a year. This year, when I happened upon an abandoned plant nursery in Delray Beach we knew it was time to start pulling the pieces of a shoot together. Next up for inspiration was this incredible dress which seemed to fall perfectly in line with the style we were trying to capture - modern vintage with a touch of natural and wild elements. The dress was a bold statement but offered a lot of possibilities given the variations in color found in the pattern and the brass buttons fastened across the shoulders.
When shoot day came, we loaded the cars and headed out to what was once an abandoned nursery, but was now a construction zone. Womp. Thankfully, we knew of an abandoned golf course right down the street which acted as the overgrown backdrop.
When it came time to design the reception, we knew we wanted to keep blue as the focal point while pulling in warm autumnal tones and bright pops of pink. I love to use brass and gold accents in my designs, and I was able to pull those materials in through the flatware and geometric candle holders.
The black chairs pictured were a labor of love and I'm so happy with how sleek and modern they are. My husband and I spent two days refinishing and reupholstering them and it was well worth the hours spent trying to get black paint out of every nail bed.
We wanted to show couples planning a wedding, elopement, cocktail party, or any intimate gathering that they can have fun with color and vintage pieces, while still keeping the overall style modern and current. I hope this inspires more couples to try something different, and approach vintage details in a new fresh and modern way.
Photography | Lauren Louise Photography
Floral Design, Styling + Rentals | Port + Palm Co.
Cake Design | Chic & Sweet Artisan Cakes
Stationery and Handlettering | Rachel Vanatta
Bridal Hairpiece | Nestina Accessories
Reception Venue | Social House
See the full shoot published on
Floridan Social
Bohemian Bridal Inspiration Shoot | Behind the Scenes
"Today is the day!", was the text I sent to Lauren, just moments before she pressed the send button on her own phone with the same message.
It was the day that all of our ideas would come to life. We had been planning this bohemian bridal shoot for about 2 months, and it had all stemmed from an impulse buy at Urban Outfitters after what I would like to call, "The Weekend I Forced Lauren to Go Everywhere with Me". From there we collaborated with a dream of a florist and person: Helen of Ever After Event and Floral Design, found ourselves a rather gorgeous model (who just also happens to be a gorgeous lifelong friend of mine), scouted the perfect location, sourced props and styled a tablescape, prayed to the rain gods for stellar weather, and woke up Saturday morning to the perfect day for a little bohemian bridal inspiration.
Here are a few behind the scenes shots to tie us over!
