Tropical with a Tiki Twist
The tropical aesthetic can sometimes get stuck in an all green space. Incorporating color and a bit of retro “kitsch” can take the tropical vision to a playful, but still classic realm.
The tropical aesthetic can sometimes get stuck in an all green space. Incorporating color and a bit of retro “kitsch” can take the tropical vision to a playful, but still classic realm.
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
Stephanie & Cal | Gulf Stream Bath and Tennis Club Wedding
Cal and Steph's wedding marks the 4th time I've been able to design with and for friends and I'm so in love with how everything came together. Cal and Steph wanted something elegant while also being boldly tropical. Their ocean side reception was a little tropical oasis for the evening and the room was quickly filled with plenty of laughs and an electrifying dance party.
I've hit that time in my life where I'm lucky enough to create for friends and for their families. The first few years of business I mostly worked for clients who happened to find me on a vendor list or an internet search, which was amazing and allowed me to meet new people who I still keep in touch with. Cal and Steph's wedding marks the 4th time I've been able to design with and for friends and I'm so in love with how everything came together. Cal and Steph wanted something elegant while also being boldly tropical. For their ceremony we pulled in tropical leaves and more traditional flowers such as hydrangea and calla lilies to line the aisles and adorn an entry arch. When guests arrived at their reception, they were welcomed into a lush tropical affair with vines intertwined in large chandeliers, birds of paradise brightly popping up on tables, and greenery runners sprinkled with bright pops of color and textural florals. Their ocean side reception was a little tropical oasis for the evening and the room was quickly filled with plenty of laughs and an electrifying dance party.
Photography | Chelsea Erwin Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Planning | Sheila Camp Motley Events
Rentals | Atlas Event Rentals
Venue | Gulf Stream Bath and Tennis Club
Courtney & Drew | Flagler Museum Wedding
Courtney and Drew wanted to welcome guests into an ethereal waterfront estate wedding. We filled their tables with lush greenery garlands with touches of white blooms incorporated throughout. Courtney's bouquet was a dreamy neutral collection of dainty hellebores, fluffy peonies, plush scabiosa, and champagne roses. Everything felt elegant and delicate, bringing the garden inside and setting the tone for a romantic wedding among the stars.
Courtney and Drew wanted to welcome guests into an ethereal waterfront estate wedding. We filled their tables with lush greenery garlands with touches of white blooms incorporated throughout. Courtney's bouquet was a dreamy neutral collection of dainty hellebores, fluffy peonies, plush scabiosa, and champagne roses. Everything felt elegant and delicate, bringing the garden inside and setting the tone for a romantic wedding among the stars.
Photography | Michelle March
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Planning | Breeze Taylor
Catering | Chez Gourmet
Cake | Earth + Sugar
Stephanie Joy & Jason | Sundy House Wedding
Stephanie and Jason are one of those couples who make you believe in true, deep, never-ending soulmate love. When she would talk about him in our meetings her face illuminated. She loved the details, and wanted her wedding to be beautiful and different - but at the end of the day all she cared about was the fact she got to say, "I do", to a guy she was head over heels in love with.
Stephanie and Jason are one of those couples who make you believe in true, deep, never-ending soulmate love. When she would talk about him in our meetings her face illuminated. She loved the details, and wanted her wedding to be beautiful and different - but at the end of the day all she cared about was the fact she got to say, "I do", to a guy she was head over heels in love with.
Stephanie's vision was a departure from the neutral romantic requests I often receive. She wanted something moody, rich, and creamy. Sourcing florals for her arrangements was such a creative nosedive for me and I'm so in love with the early fall color palette. It is edgy but natural and muddy in the best way.
I wish I could plan a wedding with Stephanie once a year. The excitement and joy she brought to the whole experience fueled me up for the rest of this wedding season. Forever grateful for her family and being a small part of her wedding day journey.
Photography | Melissa Marshall
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Planning | Fabuluxe Events
Venue | Sundy House
Cake | Johnson's Custom Cakes
Bridal Gown | Lighthouse Bridal
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
Francesca & Gordon | Harbour Island, Bahamas
Frankie + GA are each other's greatest adventure and for their wedding day they invited their favorite people to share in that adventure. Every single moment of their wedding weekend was intimate from the tiny airplane ride over to the island, to the morning after when most wedding guests spent their last few island time moments soaking in the salty ocean and huddled around the bar ordering mojitos and Bahamian beer.
When I flip through these pictures so many emotions bubble up. Frankie and GA aren't just a bride and a groom to me. They are dear friends who have been supportive of me creatively, emotionally, and personally for the past three years, but it will always feel like they have been a part of my life far longer. Their relationship gives me goosebumps when I see how they interact with each other, how they talk about one another and how they casually hang out on the couch, legs entangled having two different conversations at once. I've seen the light hearted silliness of their relationship and the real not-so-happy-with-one-another moments. They are each other's adventure and for their wedding day they invited their favorite people to share in that adventure. Every single moment of their wedding weekend was intimate from the tiny airplane ride over to the island, to the morning after when most wedding guests spent their last few island time moments soaking in the salty ocean and huddled around the bar ordering mojitos and Bahamian beer.
For their flowers I didn't want to do anything overtly tropical since the surroundings were lush with tropical greens of every shape and size. Instead, we wanted to play with texture to compliment the unpolished nature of the island. We pulled in bundles of blushing bride protea to hint at the pink sands that sprinkle the shoreline, baby pineapples to pay homage to Bahamian culture, and navy centered anemones for the beautiful blue waters that surrounded us.
It was the best weekend spent celebrating two people helplessly in love. Every moment of that weekend holds a special place in my heart and in case you were wondering whether this is just another mooshy blog post about another couple - I'll leave you with this. After being together for nine years and going through their first major conflict as a married couple, Frankie told GA mid-argument, "I don't think you realize how obsessed I am with you". In the end, that is really all any of us really need and search for. Someone who makes your blood boil but leaves you hopelessly in love and fighting for each other, keeping the adventure alive.
Photography | Joshua Kane Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Videography | Key Moment Films
Venue | Coral Sands Resort
Dress | Lighthouse Bridal
Invitation Suite | Paper & Palm
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