Alex + Cris | Seagate Beach Club
Alex is a light and she loves her people with every ounce of her being. Cris looks at her with total wonder struck across his face every single time. He is calm and steady, creating an energetic balance we all hope to find in a partner. This was their magical wedding day.
There are some clients I hop on the phone with and by the end of the call I know we’re going to make some wedding magic happen. Alex was definitely one of those brides. I spent the majority of our 45 minute call laughing and feeling like I was talking to one of my life long friends. She’s just a fireball of energy that doesn’t quit. She’s a light and she loves her people with every ounce of her being. Cris looks at her with total wonder struck across his face every single time. He is calm and steady, creating an energetic balance we all hope to find in a partner. Plus, on top of it all they just straight up glow when they are next to one another. The amount of love they share for each other clearly extends right on over into their group of friends and family. They traveled in from New England to celebrate an undeniable love in their favorite city by the sea.
On a personal note, I thought this was going to be one of the last weddings I designed. I had moved to Oregon a few weeks before connecting with Alex, and was pondering hitting the pause button on my business, but their wedding changed all of that for me. Their excitement, the warm hugs they offered when we met for the first time the day before their wedding in a parking lot, the supportive messages along the way, and the notes of utter and complete joy following the wedding recharged me. I fell in love with weddings and this floral business all over again and for that I’m forever grateful to Alex and Cris. Congrats you two, I can’t wait to visit and drink rosé with you on a porch in New England sometime soon!
Photography | Hunter Ryan Photography
Planning | Always Yours Events
Floral | Port + Palm Co.
Venue | Seagate Beach Club
Stay oceanside with Charlotte and Lonnie’s classic Ocean Club of Florida wedding. >> View Next
Laura + Dino | Miami Beach Woman's Club
My friendship with Laura started when my family moved back to Florida and I was plopped in a tight knit class of 36 kids who had already known each other for 4 years. I was the new girl and a quiet slightly uncomfortable 7 year old. I'm not entirely sure when Laura and I became inseparable but it happened pretty quickly and I just knew she was going to be my best friend to the end.
Laura and Dino...oh where to begin? My friendship with Laura started when my family moved back to Florida and I was plopped in a tight knit class of 36 kids who had already known each other for 4 years. I was the new girl and a quiet slightly uncomfortable 7 year old. I'm not entirely sure when Laura and I became inseparable but it happened pretty quickly and I just knew she was going to be my best friend to the end. We've spent countless hours together, growing up and learning about life. We've been side-by-side on the stage, on a cheerleading squad, in the music room, on art projects, on the swing set, and now on her wedding day. I treasure our friendship and our memories and couldn't imagine any guy truly deserving of her silly awkward compassionate and loyal self, but then there was Dino. They complete one another in every sense of the word. Each second is genuine, every moment is cherished, and they make each little piece of time spent together a memory that matters.
Creating the florals for Laura and Dino's wedding will always be a surreal moment. Seeing your longest friend marry her better half is priceless enough. But watching her walk down the aisle, holding a bouquet that was just in my hands moments ago, that is something that can never be replicated. I was so lucky to spend my childhood and early adult life with Laura right there next to me all along, and Dino is just about the most perfect person to take it from here.
Photography | Chelsea Erwin Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Engagement Ring | Catbird
Dress | BHLDN
Venue | Miami Beach Woman's Club
Ana + Jack | Jupiter Private Residence
I'll never forget setting up the day of Ana and Jack's wedding. I was sitting in the middle of the grassy lawn, applying aisle markers to their ceremony chairs, soaking in some sun rays and watching as her wedding team buzzed about setting up detail after detail. It was a day full of sweet little moments, team work, and gorgeous views that all ended with a beautiful and intimate party complete with Stella's in the bride and groom's hands on the dance floor.
There is an effortlessness to Ana and Jack. Jack is a classic Florida boy who could live in flip flops and t-shirts, while Ana has a clean and simple style that leaves you feeling like you could never look that elegant in white shorts and a tank top. They are relaxed, but particular and knew exactly what they were looking for when it came to the wedding's design and atmosphere. Ana didn't want anything to be too fussy. She didn't want details where they weren't needed, and wanted everything to feel personal, a bit whimsical, and a touch garden inspired. Their ceremony decor was light and ethereal, while the moodier reception centerpieces felt grounded, well-traveled and freshly gathered.
I'll never forget setting up the day of Ana and Jack's wedding. I was sitting in the middle of the grassy lawn, applying aisle markers to their ceremony chairs, soaking in some sun rays and watching as her wedding team buzzed about setting up detail after detail. It was a day full of sweet little moments, team work, and gorgeous views that all ended with a beautiful and intimate party complete with Stella's in the bride and groom's hands on the dance floor.
Photography | Kat Braman
Planning | Desiree Dawn Events
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Paper Flowers | Hayley Sheldon
Lighting/Tent/Chair Rentals | Sperry Tents
Linens | La Tavola
Cake | Earth and Sugar
Marianne + Ted | Social House Wedding
Marianne and Ted's guests walked into Social House that night expecting to spend the evening celebrating an engagement, but instead they were all lucky enough to be a part of a gorgeous wedding.
As you all know by now, a Social House wedding is my favorite kind of wedding. When you add in the element of surprise and a couple that beam with love for one another, you've just hit a whole new level. Marianne and Ted's guests walked into Social House that night expecting to spend the evening celebrating an engagement, but instead they were all lucky enough to be a part of a gorgeous wedding.
Marianne wanted her florals to be simple, modern, playful, and accented with tropical colors and details. We filled large copper bottomed bud vases with monsteras and a pop of pink. A trailing of vines and ferns draped along their ceremony backdrop and was illuminated by flickering candlelight.
Designing for Marianne and Ted was such a fulfilling and wonderful experience, they truly trusted us to do our "thing". I always try to tap into my client's personality when I step into the studio. I want to design not just another bouquet with garden roses, but instead a bouquet that screams, "I belong to (insert name here)". When I started the design process for Marianne I kept coming back to the word "joy". Like I mentioned in the beginning of this post, these two beam, so it wasn't hard to latch onto that and design with that in mind. Congrats you two!
Photography | Carolina Guzik Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Venue | Social House
Planner | Stacey Catena Events
Caterer | Hampton Forks
Tent | Sperry Tents
Cake | Earth and Sugar
Rentals | Coco Prop Shop
Coral Cove Inspiration Shoot
There's something so sentimental and classic about a beach wedding, and this shoot was no exception. We wanted the florals to be loose and romantic while still speaking to the natural beauty of the ocean and it's surroundings. Every creative involved truly embraced the vision and brought so many beautiful moments to the day.
True collaboration can be hard to come by. To me, collaboration is finding a group of people who challenge and influence you, working together to find a vision everyone can stand behind, and then letting that talented collective do what they do best. Of course there are the hiccups, the unexpected rain storms, the near meltdowns, and the sore muscles. But when you find a group of people who can look at you sweaty and near tears, jump right in and offer a hand, and even a hug, you walk away feeling so fulfilled and grateful.
For me, this Coral Cove inspiration shoot is a perfect example of how wonderfully a collaboration can work. I was first connected with Teresa of Jose and Teresa Photography through a few of my fellow Social House members. She was looking to rebrand her website and was hoping to pull together a collection of photos that spoke to her own style.
I love how every detail came together. The florals were loose and romantic while still complimenting the natural beauty of the beach. The table top accents reminded me of my favorite parts of the beach - whispy pink clouds, fragmented bits of sea glass, and found treasures. My favorite floral detail has to be the clay-looking eucalyptus pods used in the arbor's design. They offered the perfect amount of natural contrast against the more romantic blooms used throughout the bouquet and centerpiece.
Beach weddings don't need to be full of starfish and sea shells. I love how we as a group were able to showcase a fresh and romantic approach to a beach wedding that allowed the natural beauty of the beach to act as a soft and complimentary backdrop.
Photography | Jose and Teresa Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Rentals | Coco Prop Shop
Planning | The Golden Pineapple Event Co.
Stationery | Every Little Letter
Bridal Gown | Wildeflower Boutique
Models | The Hip Suburban
Cake | Cloud 9 Bakery
Hair + Makeup | Beauty by VM
Melissa + Chris | Social House Wedding
The first time Melissa and I met we grabbed a cup of tea and I still remember sitting there and feeling like we had been friends for ages. She's just my kind of girl. We talked about 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.
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.
See Melissa and Chris's wedding featured on Junebug Weddings!
Photography | Lauren Louise Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Planning + Event Design | Port + Palm Co.
Catering | Aioli
Venue | Social House
Tent | Sperry Tents
Invitations | Gold Cotton Print
Makeup | Palm Beach Makeup Pro
Bride's Hairpiece | Acute Design Shop
Bride's Attire | Rachel Marie Hurst
Video | By Design Films
Rentals | Atlas
Vintage Rentals | Port + Palm Co.
See their emotional first look featured on Junebug Weddings, BuzzFeed, and Huffington Post!
Anika + Brad | Swank Farms
When we first met, Anika had just said "yes!". California's wine country was tossed around as a destination for friends and family, but Anika and Brad ultimately ended up falling for Swank Farms right here in South Florida. Planning Anika and Brad's wedding was a true labor of love. We would meet over donuts, chat about all the pretty details and by the end of it all, they had a magical night with their closest friends and family - along with a few cows and pigs.
Anika and I first met via instagram, like all good friendships of mine start these days. She runs her own food blog, Miles and Mimosas (how cute!) and we had made a date to meet business owner-to-business owner when she unexpectedly became engaged! We grabbed a bite to eat at Max's Harvest, chatted about food, life, and by the end of the evening we were talking about all the possibilities for her wedding. California's wine country was tossed around as a destination for friends and family, but Anika and Brad ultimately ended up falling for Swank Farms right here in South Florida. Planning Anika and Brad's wedding was a true labor of love. We would meet over donuts, chat about all the pretty details and by the end of it all, they had a magical night with their closest friends and family - along with a few cows and pigs.
Anika and Brad exchanged vows under a chuppah made of foraged branches her mom had gathered. Friends and family huddled for an intimate ceremony and enjoyed craft cocktails served from vintage glassware followed by an intimate and delicious family-style dinner.
The night ended with a massive dance party, where sweaty button downs and smiles were stuck on each guest. As my team and I sat on the sidelines watching the night come to a close, you could just feel the love. Everyone was there to celebrate these two incredibly giving and in love people. Thank you Anika and Brad for your trust and hospitality throughout the entire planning and design process. You two couldn't be a more perfect pair.
Planning + Design | Port + Palm Co.
Photography | Big Day Photography
Floral Design | Julia Rhode Designs
Catering | Max's Harvest
Vintage Rentals | Port + Palm Co.
Rentals | Simple Rustic
Venue | Swank Specialty Produce
