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Author: Marissa

Bride Annie’s tropical wedding at Sunkin Gardens.

Please meet today’s bride Annie! You’re not going believe me when I share how she and BK cut costs at their wedding… Annie made the centerpieces and her bridesmaids made their own bouquets! Y’all! After falling in love with the striking flower King Proteas, she knew she wanted to include them in her wedding, so she ordered the flowers from a wholesale distributor and got to work! Not only are the flowers absolutely gorgeous but by including her gals in the process the florals became an extra personal detail of their Florida wedding! Keep reading for more sweet details and fun memories from Annie!

Big SW hugs to Everence Photography for sharing!

What was your favorite thing about wedding planning? Wedding planning was a huge creative outlet for me. I loved taking an idea I had in my mind and finding a vendor who would make that idea a reality. It’s a cool feeling seeing your dreams come to fruition.

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? I ordered flowers from a wholesale flower distributor and made my own centerpieces, and my bridesmaids made their own bouquets! It saved us a ton of money, and it made the decor and flowers more personal to me.

What were some of the most meaningful or special parts of your ceremony? We both agree that writing our own vows made the ceremony extra special. We both made promises, reminisced about our romantic beginnings, and even had some moments where we started laughing hysterically. I have to admit the funny parts were my favorite, because they put me at ease.

Did you decide to do a first look? We decided against a first look simply because we wanted to feel all the emotions when I was walking down the aisle. I’m happy with our decision; seeing Blake for the first time that day during our ceremony made it all the more special.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? I always dreamed of having an outdoor wedding. Sunken Gardens was the only place that felt magical to us. It was more than just a garden to me, it was like a little jungle nestled in the heart of historic St. Pete.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. My favorite songs from our wedding were our ceremony song and our wedding party entry song. I chose “Nuvole Biance” because it had a light, airy piano sound, and it was something I had never heard at anyone’s wedding. We chose “The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson for our wedding party entry song, as inspired by the movie Center Stage. It always gets me dancing!

What was Southern about your wedding? The venue really brought in a ton of Southern charm. Nothing screams “South Florida” louder than flamingos and tropical foliage.

What did you serve for your wedding cake or dessert? We had a two-tier buttercream cake, macarons, cake pops, and cupcakes! We wanted something for everyone. My personal favorite were the macarons.

Tell us your love story in one sentence. Two weirdos bond over memes and a love for tacos and fall happily ever after.
Tell us all about the proposal! I thought we were getting ready for a date night with his mom, who had invited us to see a play! After a romantic dinner, as we were looking out at the Lincoln Memorial from the rooftop of the Kennedy Center, Blake proposed. He said, “Did you really want to see that play tonight?” (drops down on one knee) “Because there is no play… will you marry me?” I said yes, and a secretly-hired photographer captured the entire moment. We spent the next thirty minutes taking sunset photos with the scenic backdrop of Washington, D.C. behind us.
When did y’all get married? May 6, 2018
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 64
What was your favorite detail from your wedding? I loved our flowers. I fell in love with King Proteas after seeing them in an arrangement, and knew we had to include them in our wedding!
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$25,000
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day? We both loved the ceremony so much. I half expected to be either nervous or maybe even bored, but the ceremony was fun and romantic.

Photographer: Everence Photography | Videographer: Lucky Lemon Films | Planner: Southern Glam Weddings | Venue: Sunken Gardens | Florist: 2 Birds Events | Dessert baker: Hands On Sweets | Caterer: Carraba’s | Rentals: Coast to Coast and Rent-All City | DJ: Grant Hemond | Paper products: Zazzle | Bride’s gown: BHLDN | Hair stylist: Anna from Style Hair and Makeup | Makeup artist: Lindsay Travis Artistry | Bridesmaid dresses: JJ’s House | Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse | Officiant: Scott Lortz of Weddings & Wellness

marissa Written with love by Marissa
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Bride Sarah shares her classic Cypress Trees Plantation wedding.

Please meet today’s bride, Sarah! Her South Carolina wedding to Dustin was filled with intentional details and lots of Southern charm – the perfect combination in my book! And as a matter of fact, Sara was voted “most likely to have a dream wedding” in high school. Something I’m sure her past classmates would confirm she absolutely accomplished! You’re going to want to keep scrolling to see more of Sarah and Dustin’s classic, blue and white celebration.

SW hugs to Jennings King Photography!

What were some of the most meaningful or special parts of your wedding? That’s a hard question, as I literally tried to make everything meaningful to us since we are a very sentimental couple! I was also voted “most likely to have a dream wedding” in high school, so I had a lot to live up to :) To start things off, I had some of my grandmother’s lace from her wedding dress and some of my mother’s lace from her wedding dress sewn on the inside of my dress with a patch. I had my seamstress make a handkerchief with my grandmother’s lace, my mother’s lace, and a little fabric from my dress, embroidered with “love always,” and gave that to my mom on the day of the wedding. My bouquet had part of my grandmother’s jewelry attached to it. I also had on a pearl bracelet my dad had given to my when I was twelve for confirmation at church. The white Bible used in the ceremony was my father’s that was given to him at birth. The cross that stood next to us during the ceremony traveled from my home church along with the preacher that officiated. The sweet grass basket the flower girl carried has been my Easter basket ever since I was little. The bagpipe songs were played at our college graduation. Our wedding cake was prepared by a family member. Lastly, our dog, Walker, and my parents’ dog, Jack, were able to visit us right before we took pictures with our wedding party.

Tell us the highlights of finding your wedding dress. I visited three places to find my wedding dress and found my dress on the third try. While I loved just about every dress I put on, my main goal was to find a dress that “looked like me.” On our third trip, my mom and I picked several dresses to try on at Fabulous Frocks in Charleston. I chose my wedding dress particularly because I liked the fabric – crazy, I know! After trying on many dresses in the store, I narrowed it down to two. My dress had a skirt that was detachable, and attached with a removable bow. The sales consultant said, “That dress does have a bow that you can put with it, but most people don’t.” Little did she know that bows are my thing — I love them! The other dress I was considering had a blush undertone. I loved them both and couldn’t decide, so my mom and the sales consultant each wrote down her favorite, knowing that if my mom told me I would probably pick the one she said because that is just how I am. After thinking it through, I chose the bow gown — and it was the one my mom had picked, too! (Which made me so, so happy!) The dress was everything I wanted: simple, elegant, and classic.

Did you decide to do a first look? We did decide to do a first look, primarily to ease our nerves a bit. We were skeptical at first, but would highly recommend it now. Getting a chance to share that special moment in private is something we will always cherish!

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? The venue was on Edisto Island, which is our favorite place! My parents have a beach house on Edisto, and Dustin and I go there religiously to relax and spend time with family and friends. I knew immediately when we stepped foot on Cypress Trees Plantation it was the one. Being so close to the water really made us feel the true beauty of God’s creation.

What was Southern about your wedding? We both grew up in the South and have held true to our roots, so most things were Southern about our wedding! There were Southern touches everywhere, from the shrimp and grits cake to the men’s Charleston sweet grass roses as boutonnieres. The tables at the reception had beautiful blue flowers and oyster shells as centerpieces, and we danced the night away to Motown and beach music songs. The shag, which is the South Carolina state dance, was danced by friends and family on the dance floor.

What did you serve for your wedding cake? We served a delicious cake that was made by a family member. It was a four-tiered vanilla cake with chocolate-covered candies on each tier, placed on a wicker stand. We also served mini key lime pie tarts and gave everyone a sugar cookie with the outline of a Labrador retriever in honor of our dog, Walker.

Tell us your love story in one sentence. Meeting my best friend and falling in love made my life complete.
Tell us all about the proposal! Dustin asked me to be his wife on March 17, 2017 on Edisto Beach! We had been planning to go to the beach for the weekend with my parents for awhile, but I had no idea what else was in store. Dustin bought the ring from Windsor Jewelers in Augusta, GA, which is just outside of my hometown of Aiken, SC — this is special, because Dustin asked my Mom to help him pick the ring out! The ring wasn’t scheduled to be ready until Friday the 17th, so Dustin arranged for my parents to pick it up before heading down to Edisto for our weekend together. Luckily (and with a lot of stalling by Dustin), my parents beat us down there and were able to hide the ring in a towel closet in the bathroom. When we got to the house, Dustin went to the restroom and then asked if I wanted to go out on the beach and see if my parents were out there. After taking just a few steps outside, Dustin proposed! It was all coordinated perfectly, as my hidden parents and brother were able to see and photograph the whole thing!
When did y’all get married? April 21, 2018
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 175

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. We had a harpist and a bagpiper play music during the ceremony. The bagpiper played “Highland Cathedral” and “Scotland the Brave,” which were both played at our college graduation. Our first dance song was “With this Ring” by The Platters, because it’s fun and upbeat and we love oldies!
What was your favorite thing about wedding planning? My favorite thing about planning our wedding would be deciding on flowers, decorations, and our invitation suite — some of my easiest decisions! Those were places where we were able to add our special touches and display our personalities.

Photographer: Jennings King Photography | Videographer: Hart to Heart Media | Planner: Meagan Warren Weddings | Venue: Cypress Trees Plantation | Florist: Cote Designs | Wedding Cake or Dessert Baker: Family friend | Caterer: Southern Way Catering | Rentals: Ooh! Events and La Tavola Linen | Lighting: Ambient Media | Band: Men of Distinction via ECE | Paper Products: By Farr Design Studio |
Bride’s gown: Pronovias | Hair stylist: Hunter Gray at Gloss Salon | Makeup artist: Pamela Lesch Makeup | Bride’s shoes: Jack Rogers | Bridesmaid dresses: Lula Kate via Bella Bridesmaids | Menswear: Granger Owings of Columbia and Brackish Bowties | Ring bearer outfits and flower girl dress: Southern Belles | Live artist: Megan Carn

Meagan Warren Weddings, ECE, and By Farr Design are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
1 Comment
  1. avatar Sara Dunn reply

    Oh my gosh, I LOVE the elegant white color palette of the bride & groom portraits. So classy! And the portrait with their dogs is adorable.

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Today’s bride Debby is a wedding photographer herself, so planning her wedding to Richard was a joy… and a challenge! She said, “Being a wedding photographer, I knew what I wanted and what I didn’t. And while she had joked that she did wanted a courthouse wedding, her sweet husband-to-be knew she actually wanted a full celebration. So in front of 40 of their closest family and friends, these two said “I do” in their favorite oak tree-filled park in Richard (and mine, by the way!) hometown of Mobile! Y’all know I’m always partial to weddings in Mobile, but Debby and Richard’s does not even need my favoritism, its sweetness speaks for itself.

And while they opted out of that courthouse wedding, be sure to keep reading because Richard gave Debby a courthouse proposal instead!

Thanks to Elizabeth Gelineau for sharing!

What was your favorite detail from your wedding? One was my rings. Richard purchased the center oval stone for my engagement ring then paired it with diamonds that my dad gave my mom and some of my grandmother’s, as well. I love having a unique and timeless piece of jewelry that includes generations of love stories. I also loved my bouquet. I’ve made florals for all my best friends’ weddings, but knew when it came down to my day I needed to trust someone else. My bouquet was also wrapped in my dad’s shirt — although he couldn’t be there to walk me down the aisle, he was holding my hand every step of the way.

Did you decide to do a first look? YES! I am a wedding photographer, so this was a no brainer for me. Not only did I want more portrait time with my groom, but I also wanted to enjoy the day with him versus apart. I also had a first look with my bridesmaids, because I kept my dress a secret from them for months. And it was totally worth it. I mean, my matron of honor was completely in the air! And my first look with my stepdad was special. He’s been with me since I was 12, so I am his little girl, too.

What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day? All morning I waited anxiously until it was time to see my groom. Our first look took place on the porch of our venue. In the moment before he turned around, I just couldn’t help but cry at the fulfillment of a promise. God knows our every need and when we need them. Richard before me was that fulfillment: my husband, the one I would spend forever with.

What were some of the most meaningful or special parts of your ceremony? Richard and I exchanged our own vows during our first look. In my vows, I wrote, “You are the strongest yet gentlest man I know. Your kind eyes reassure my soul that I am home…. May the dessert and road trips to new places never cease. I look forward to raising all the pups and maybe a couple of adorable kids together, too. And I hope that fifty years from now this smile you’ve given me remains and laughter fills our home.” He wrote, “I can, in fact, say I have found my person. The person who loves me for the nerdy, perfectionist, goofy, brunch-loving, night owl that I am…. The person who’s smiles after a kiss makes me melt EVERY SINGLE TIME.” We also kept our ceremony small and intimate. Our parents, siblings, and bridal party were the only ones in attendance. My brother walked me down the aisle, and I was given away by my mom, stepdad, and brother.

What was Southern about your wedding? We buried bourbon at our ceremony site because we certainly didn’t need it to rain — and it didn’t! We had brunch food at our wedding (hello, biscuit bar!) because our first date was brunch in downtown Mobile, and our late-night pass was milk and Chick-fil-a cookies. Finally, my girls prayed over me before the ceremony. For so many years we’ve prayed over each other and the men that we’d marry, so to have that moment of promise fulfilled was overwhelming and so special.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Washington Square Park is my favorite park in Mobile, where Richard grew up and I came here for college and never left. The oak trees that scatter the park are so dreamy, and it’s nestled in the Oakleigh District, which is a beautiful area of the city.

What did you serve for your wedding cake or dessert? I often joke that the main reason I photograph weddings is for the cake! So when it came time for my own, I knew I wanted Cakes by Judi, who is the best! We chose three different flavors, because why not?! White almond with raspberry filling, chocolate, and strawberry, all with cream cheese icing.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I walked down the aisle to Kari Jobe’s “My Beloved.” We recessed from the ceremony to John Mayer’s “Wildfire” because Richard said it reminded him of our summertime romance from last year :) Our first dance was to Arctic Monkey’s “Baby, I’m Yours,” a fun, sweet song. Richard danced with his mom to “Bridge over Troubled Water,” one of his mom’s favorites.

Tell us your love story in one sentence. Completely unexpected, yet our greatest adventure thus far.
Tell us all about the proposal! I always joked that I wanted to have a courthouse wedding, but Richard knew that deep down I would want a full celebration. So he gave me a courthouse proposal! We were on a walk around the square in Opelika, Alabama, when he said he had something to show me. He had prepared a small journal of blessings for me to read from my parents and brother and even my pup along with his handwritten proposal. At first I said, “Are you serious??? Is this really happening?!” Followed by, “Yes! Of course!” He had designed the most gorgeous ring with the help of Lou’s Jewelry in Mobile, Alabama. My photographer friend, Anna Robbins, was there to capture the whole scene. AND then our parents arrived to surprise me! Goodness, I cried.
When did y’all get married? April 28th, 2018
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 40 of our closest family and friends attended our ceremony, and then 150 joined us for our reception
Tell us the highlights of finding your wedding dress. POCKETS for handkerchiefs! My husband is a paraplegic, so I knew that I would need to be able to sit down and move around easily in my dress, but also be able to dance in it, too!
What was your favorite thing about wedding planning? My favorite challenge was making it my own day, not something seen on Pinterest. Being a wedding photographer, I knew what I wanted and what I didn’t.
If you are comfortable responding, what range did your wedding budget fall into? $25,000-$50,000
What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? We opted for a DJ versus a band, and allowed our bridal party to purchase their own dresses from different stores.
What advice would you give to someone currently planning a wedding? Keep a short engagement. Make it your own day, not what everyone else wants. If you want a small ceremony, have a small ceremony. If you want a big party, have a big party. Find someone you trust to take care of the details so that you and your mom especially can enjoy the day — after all, she’s waited for this day probably longer than you have! And set aside a day the week of the wedding for just the two of you, because when your friends start to arrive, you’ll get busy and not be able to focus on that relationship as much.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your wedding? My dad passed away eight years ago, and I wanted to be intentional about including him in my wedding day. I had my brother and stepdad wear two of my dad’s ties. I also used one of my dad’s shirts for the ring bearer pillows and to wrap my bouquet in. (We displayed family photos, including a picture of my dad in the shirt I used for my bouquet, in a hutch at our reception to help guests make that connection.) We also had a special dance at the reception where I invited all dads and their daughters to the dance floor to dance to the Temptations’ “My Girl.”

Photographer: Elizabeth Gelineau | Videographer: Lifehouse Films | Planner: Heather Pfefferkorn with Classic Events | Ceremony Venue: Washington Square Park | Reception Venue: The Pillars | Florist: Sarah Beth’s Florist | Wedding Cakes: Cakes by Judi | Caterer: Chef Rob | Rentals: SOHO | DJ: DJs by the Bay | Bride’s gown and accessories: Bella’s Bridal & Formal | Hair stylist: Mallory Gleason with Root 43 Salon | Makeup artist: Courtney Matthews | Bride’s shoes: Kate Spade Keds | Bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen attire: Purchased individually | Groom’s attire: Samuelsohn from Oak Hall | Rings: Lou’s Jewelry | Invitations: Minted | Koozies: SipHip Hooray | Watercolor of bride and father dancing: Melissa Munger

marissa Written with love by Marissa
2 Comments
  1. avatar Debby reply

    Ah! Thank you so much for sharing our love story. Our wedding day was the best day ever! Hope this inspires many more Southern brides as they plan their big day.

  2. avatar Tessa Berg reply

    I love an intimate, elegant ceremony. What a beautiful celebration!

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