Southern Weddings

Let’s cut right to the chase: I love (I mean love) this Florida wedding from J. Monet Studios!  But really, from the bride’s stunning open-back lace Alfred Angelo gown to the perfectly pink centerpieces from Designs by Elsa (305-470-1834), what’s not to love?  While the Deering Estate in Miami, Florida where Archie + Danny exchanged their vows is a picturesque throwback to a sprawling Southern plantation, the portraits of the couple have a sleek and modern edge to them.  Can we say breathtakingly stunning?  Event designer Nora Salario from Absolutely Famous Weddings and Events perfectly captured the sophisticated and ultra-glam undertones the couple tried to weave into their wedding day celebration.   Every now and then, wedding cakes look (almost) too good to eat, and the feminine five-tiered confection courtesy of Mr. Bee’s Cakes is definitely one of those masterpieces.  Can we have a slice?

 How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We had both gone to play pool at Dave and Busters. We were introduced through a mutual friend and immediately hit it off. We talked about everything under the sun, including our shared love for everything Will Ferrell. I knew we were a perfect match and have been together ever since!
Describe the proposal: It was our one year anniversary, and little did I know that Danny and my mom had planned a huge surprised for me. That night, I was dropped off at the beach with only my cell phone. Danny called me and guided me to where he was. As I got closer, I saw him waiting for my by the water. He had prepared a beautiful candlelit beach blanket and had even brought a bottle of champagne! Soft music was playing in the background, and I realized that it was a play list of every song we had ever dedicated to each other.  At some point Danny slipped away and returned with a large gift box. I opened it and found a smaller box. Upon opening that box, I found an even smaller box. I finally came to the last and smallest box and Danny told me to stop there. He then played our song, “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain, and began to read a poem he had written entitled “If Love Is.”  The poem ended with the best line ever: “Archelle Coll…will you marry me?” With the music playing, the waves crashing behind us and the love of my life proposing to me, it was truly like a fairy tale!
The weather on our wedding day was: It didn’t rain! Because we were having an outdoor wedding, rain was our biggest concern. The weather report had called for a 60% chance of rain! Fortunately, the sun was out all day and it was a beautiful day! We were still able to have a beautiful outdoor ceremony!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Vintage, elegant and magical!
Describe your wedding flowers: My flowers were perfectly pink, with a mix of peonies, roses and my favorite — tulips!
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding? Getting married is truly a once in a lifetime event! You should have fun and don’t sweat the small stuff! Don’t let the minute details get the best of you and make you make your day happy and memorable rather than stressful and rushed! It’s also important to not bicker with those closest to you, and to keep in mind that they are trying to help you and make you happy! Finally, this is not just your day: don’t forget that there wouldn’t be any wedding if it weren’t for that that incredible man standing next to you!
What’s next for you as a couple? I just graduated from nursing school and will start working as an RN, while Danny is in the process of starting nursing school. But right now we are really focusing on starting our careers and playing house in our adorable apartment!

Congratulations, Archie + Danny!  Best of luck with your new careers!