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
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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
Nicole & Daniel | Flagler Museum Wedding
This year will go down as the year of the garland. With so many of our brides asking for the lush greenery look, it left me racking my brain trying to come up with alternative ways to evoke that lush simple tablescape, while staying true to each bride's individual style.
This year will go down as the year of the garland. With so many of our brides asking for the lush greenery look, it left me racking my brain trying to come up with alternative ways to evoke that lush simple tablescape, while staying true to each bride's individual style. For Nicole and Daniel we went for a refined romantic tropical design and created greenery runners that felt dynamic and more textural than the more commonly seen wrapped garlands. With this design, we were also able to incorporate those feminine romantic moments with garden roses and other seasonal white fluffy blooms. Nicole placed all of her trust in us, was open to every idea I threw her way, and I think seeing her elated smile in each wedding picture says it all.
Photography | Shea Christine Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Planning | Majestic Vision
Cake | Earth and Sugar
Videography | Anchor Weddings
Catering | Ann Z Catering
Venue | Flagler Museum
Kai Kai Farms Vow Renwal Inspiration
Pulling up to the sweetest farm and unloading buckets of flowers and branches into a breezy screened in pavilion is not the worst way to spend a Saturday. It is an uncharacteristically cool Florida afternoon, with no sign of storm clouds. For the next couple of hours we are able to design on a seculded farm not too far from home.
Can I describe my perfect day to you? It goes a little something like this: Exiting the highway and entering a long stretch of road flanked on either side by farm land that seems to go on for eternity. Pulling up to the sweetest farm and unloading buckets of flowers and branches into a breezy screened in pavilion. It is an uncharacteristically cool Florida afternoon, with no sign of storm clouds, and music is being excitedly played through various speakers. For the next couple of hours I'm installing branches and vines overhead, putting the final touches on a poppy-filled centerpiece, creating boutonnières with accents of broccoli flower, and filling vintage ceramic bud vases with textural bits such as astilbe and astrantia. The day is topped off with a little photo shoot and a delicious meal is served up as part of an on-going Farm Suppers series. Flowers, open air, a cool Florida afternoon, a gourmet meal, wine, and a full day shared with close friends. Yep, I'd say that perfectly describes a perfect day.
See more from this day featured on Ruffled.
Photography | Jessica Bordner Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Planning | Desiree Dawn Events
Venue | Kai Kai Farm
Tent, Chairs, Lighting | Sperry Tents
Linens, Glassware | Classic Party Rentals
Vintage Rentals | Port + Palm Co.
Music | Keith Michaud
Valerie + Ryan | Flagler Museum Wedding
During one of our meetings, when trying to decide on the direction to take for their ceremony decor, Valerie came right out and said, "I want Lilly's Jungle". Of course by Lilly she meant Lilly Pulitzer, and that told me all I needed to know. I wanted to pull those words into not just her ceremony decor, but into her entire wedding design. I wanted to make sure we played with color in a bold way, that we showcased a variety of greens that felt timeless and a bit Floridian, and I wanted to make sure the flowers leant themselves to playful movement and plenty of whimsy.
Designing with Valerie's style in mind was such a sweet joy. Every time I enter a wedding's design I think about my clients. I think about the pictures they've shared with me, what they've worn when we've met, the venue they've selected, and the words they tend to use when describing their style.
During one of our meetings, when trying to decide on the direction to take for their ceremony decor, Valerie came right out and said, "I want Lilly's Jungle". Of course by Lilly she meant Lilly Pulitzer, and that told me all I needed to know. I wanted to pull those words into not just her ceremony decor, but into her centerpieces, bouquet, her candle votive holders, and even the corsages. I wanted to make sure we played with color in a bold way, that we showcased a variety of greens that felt timeless and a bit Floridian, and I wanted to make sure the flowers leant themselves to playful movement and plenty of whimsy.
Valerie's wedding design also proves that it doesn't have to be peony season to make a lush and colorful impact. A February wedding can make a bold floral statement, it just may take a little poppy and amaryllis to do the trick.
Photography | Shea Christine Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Planning | Simply Couture Weddings
Venue | Flagler Museum
Ashleigh + Ben | Delray Beach Wedding
Ashleigh and Ben traveled to the states from Australia to tie the knot. Ashleigh loved the natural beauty of the oceanside estate, but was also drawn to a neutral and romantic garden style. Romantic, loose and overgrown garden details provided a perfect marriage of seaside + garden. Which, if you ask me, really is the best of both worlds.
I still remember the day Ashleigh contacted me. Ashleigh and Ben were traveling all the way from Australia and planning a destination wedding at a family member's estate in Delray Beach. I had to catch my breath. First of all, Australia is basically where all of the incredible creative things ever created come from. Ok, that might be an exaggeration, but I will spend hours on end scrolling through Australian wedding publications and will lurk Australian creatives on instagram until my eyes turn red. Second, she mentioned Delray Beach which just happens to be my hometown and a major source of sentimental material for me. I was hooked, I was attached, and I was so ready to dive into a creative adventure with these two.
Since they were traveling such a far distance, their wedding was incredibly intimate with only 20 people in attendance (and we all know how I feel about small intimate weddings - give me all of them!). Ben's aunt graciously opened up her home to their nearest and dearest and was such a champ when a mini-monsoon decided to hit during setup. The ceremony was moved indoors meaning our large wood arbor found its new home right in their formal living room. Like I said, champ.
Seeing a forecast of windy, sideways rain/downpour pop up on your phone the day of a wedding is never an ideal situation. It affects timing, portraits, alters setup locations, and can leave many couples upset and bummed. However, some of my favorite pictures and moments from weddings we've been a part of happen when storms strike. The soft overcast beach portraits with Ashleigh and Ben are everything and wouldn't be what they are without the crazy storm that decided to invite itself to their wedding.
Ashleigh loved the natural beauty of the grounds, but was also drawn to a neutral and romantic garden style. We pulled in blue tones through privet berries, blackberries, and navy centered anemones to pay tribute to the gorgeous ocean surrounding the estate, while keeping the larger blooms fluffy and in shades of white and blush. Vines and branches were incorporated to add those loose and overgrown garden details providing a perfect marriage of seaside + garden. Which, if you ask me, really is the best of both worlds.
Photography | Finding Light Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Cake Design | Chic and Sweet Artisian Cakes
Catering | Silver Sac
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!
Jen + Rob | Social House Wedding
Jen and Rob were that reminder that this is what I love to do. Pinning Rob's boutonnière on, seeing Jen's face light up when she held her bouquet, and having them notice the little details that made their wedding day florals uniquely them. Those moments are everything.
Pinning Rob's boutonnière on, seeing Jen's face light up when she held her bouquet, and having them notice the little details that made their wedding day florals uniquely them. Those moments are everything.
Jen wanted to make sure a few personal details were included in her bouquet and Rob's boutonnière. We incorporated pussy willow in memory of Rob's grandmother throughout the wedding's design. Copper accents were pulled in to compliment Jen's rose gold engagement ring and wedding band. We wrapped Rob's boutonnière copper wire and hand tied Jen's bouquet with a rose gold ribbon.
I left that evening feeling all the love and so thankful for our couples who are filled with so much joy. It was such a wonderful experience working and designing for you two, cheers to many more hearty laughs and two-person dance parties!
Photography | Todd Good Photography
Planning | Desiree Dawn Events
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Cake | Earth and Sugar
Venue | Social House