Southern Weddings

Ready for those cake inspirations? Garrett had a surprise for him at the reception. His groom’s cake was a Florida State University beer pong table. Yes, a beer pong table… check it out!  Of course, the wedding cake was stunning, too. All cakes by {Sweet Weddings}.  To see more of Megan + Garrett’s big day and see the sideshow, check out Heather of Ha! Photography’s {Blog}.  Thanks so much for sharing this inspiring wedding with us, Heather!

Favorite design element of your big day: There were so many of them. But one of my favorites was our invitations, we handmade them all. They were my blood sweat and tears, but I couldn’t have been any happier in how they turned out.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: It was at the third store. At that point I had given up picking out something myself. I told the sales lady to pick something out for me since I wasn’t having too much luck with my choice. Low and behold she was right. I loved it from the moment I put it on.
Describe your wedding flowers: The main flowers were green and aqua hydrangeas. Simple yet classic—I loved them.
Describe your wedding cake: We loved our cake. It was a Four-tear square cake with a paisley print on two layers and simple green and blue ribbons on the other two. We also had a groom’s cake that looked just like our Florida State beer pong table that we made together. It was a surprise for Garrett, and needless to say he was shocked.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our cake, it brought everything together—and to top it off it tasted wonderful too!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Coordinating with four families. Both of our parents are divorced and remarried, so needless to say we have a big extended family. It all worked out in the end, but it was definitely a challenge.
Were there any special family traditions you included in the wedding? Not really, we’re not really “traditional” people.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Megan: The moment right before I stepped out to walk down the aisle. I had to stop and take a deep breath—I couldn’t believe the moment was here. Garett: Hearing the music at the start of the ceremony—it’s when I realized that this was really happening. 
The most unexpected event on our wedding day was: The fire alarm going off at 2 a.m. on our wedding night. Standing in a robe outside the hotel was not how I imagined spending my wedding night.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Fun, excited and memorable.
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding? Do the things you want. It is your wedding day and make it what you want. Also, stay organized and stress-free, the morning of our wedding was wonderful and carefree because everything was taken care of.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We’re looking forward to working on the house we just bought along with enjoying married life. Garrett has one more year left until he gets his MBA, so after that who know where life will take us.

Congratulations Megan + Garrett!  We wish you a lifetime of happiness!

Megan + Garrett tied the knot after being together for over seven years. The two met in high school and began dating after a week of knowing each other. Love at first sight! This St. Augustine, Florida wedding at the {Casa Monica} is so elegant with incredible draping and dark chandeliers filling the ceremony tent. Take a look at Megan’s shoes which she monogrammed in blue. Stay tuned for the second post to come later this afternoon with a Groom’s cake that might even get the most uninterested groom to say “wow!”  Photography by Heather of {Ha! Photography}.  Floral decor by Laurie Reesh of Jacksonville Wedding Florist.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story… We met in the high school marching band. We started dating a week after we met and have been together ever since.
Describe the proposal: We went on a cruise to celebrate out seven-year anniversary. The second night of the cruise (our anniversary) was formal night, so we were all dress up. We had a few minutes before dinner so we walked up to the top of the boat. We started talking how perfect everything was, and I next thing I know I turn around and Garrett is on one knee.
What attracted me to my husband was: His sense of humor. He can always make me laugh. Also, he is a very caring down-to-earth person who thinks of others before himself.
Why do you love your husband? I love Garrett because he is my best friend. He can read my mind and knows me inside out.
What attracted me to my wife was: She makes me smile all the time. We can always be goofy around each other and we have the same interests in life. And to top it off she is completely gorgeous. 
A date we went on that we’ll always remember: As cliché as it sounds, out first date. I was 16 and couldn’t even drive yet so my mom had to drop me off at the movie theater. Garrett was waiting for me at the entrance to the theater.  It was so cute.
The weather on our wedding day was: Beautiful and sunny—until we walked down the aisle. At that time the heavens opened and it rained (on our tented outdoor ceremony). But you know what? We didn’t care. There was thunder in the background as we said our vows and it continued to rain right until the recessional was over. That’s summer in Florida for you. They say rain on your wedding day is good luck—we’re hoping for that!
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? A simple paisley was the design element that continued throughout the wedding. It was on our invitations, favors and cake. It made everything look modern yet classic. I loved it.

Check back later to hear and see more from Megan + Garrett!

Happy Monday ya’ll!  We’re off to Celebration, FL, today for Engage 08 but we are leaving you with some fabulous wedding inspiration while we are gone.  We’ll be back Wednesday.  Enjoy these beautiful weddings in our absence!   How about Alison’s bright bouquet of ranunculus, mokara orchids, tulips and yellow callas?  Perfect for her stunning Florida fete.  I love that Rick proposed using a Dr. Seuss book and the couple cut the cake to Jake Johnson’s “Better Together”.  Special thanks to KT from {KT Merry Photography} for submitting these stunning images to us. The ceremony and reception were held at the {Pierre’s Restaurant}. Event planning and decor by {Israel Sands}. To see more details of Alison + Rick’s big day click on KT’s Blog {Post 1}, {Post 2} & {Post 3}.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story… Rick’s brother, Joe, and his wife were vacationing at The Moorings Village (Islamorada) in November of 2005. He had arranged for another couple to fly in from Missouri to join them (since they had a large 3 bedroom cottage).  When the other couple had to cancel due to a work emergency, he invited Rick and a few other guys down. Rick was having a slow work week and took him up on the offer. It happened to be a full moon that week, and Pierre’s (the restaurant owned by the same person as the Moorings) hosts an incredible full moon party on the beach~ complete with bonfires, Junkanoos and fireworks!  I happened to be there and Joe introduced us.  For me, it was love at first sight. When he left to go back to Missouri, I was heartbroken. Little did I know that he had retrieved my number from his brother’s cell phone and the long distance romance began. We racked up some minutes/hours on the phone….fortunately, all he needs for work is a laptop, so he was able to visit me often.
Describe the proposal: Rick: I asked her parents for permission to marry Alison a couple months before I actually proposed.  I wanted to get her away and take her to someplace special.  Due to schedules~ that never worked out.  Before leaving for Florida the time I knew I would propose, I customized Dr. Seuss’ book, “All the Places You’ll Go.”  I had cut out several dozen Alison heads and pasted those on the different characters, along with many other pictures all over the book.  At the end there was a letter written to her and a card she had to open with the question, “Will you do me the honor and say yes?”  I had been in Florida for a few days and was not sure when the opportunity would arise.  After an evening workout I figured this was as good of time as any, at least it would catch her off guard.  I retrieved her big surprise I had told her about, I think she was a little disappointed when she thought it was just a book.  As she read through the book laughing the whole way she still had no idea what was to come.  She read the letter at the end and then opened the card.  She read the question aloud twice and nothing really clicked until she saw me on one knee holding a ring, she still swears I never got down on one knee.  Lucky for me, she still said yes.  I realize it was not the most elaborate proposal, but I would not change a single thing about any of it.
What attracted me to my husband was: So many things… Mostly, his quick wit, sense of humor and his big hazel eyes.
Why do you love your husband? Because he is the most amazing person I’ve ever met. He is consistently nice to everyone and a very happy person.
What attracted me to my wife most was: Alison has an amazing sense of compassion for any and every creature that walks the earth.  She cares more than anyone I have ever met.
A date we went on that we’ll always remember: Our first date, Definitely! We met in Memphis and went to the Rum Boogie Café on Beale Street. We listened to The Billy Gibson Band…it was a great night!
The weather on our wedding day was: So completely perfect! There was rain to the north and south of us, but in Islamorada it was sunny skies. We were blessed with a brilliant sunset too.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? The sunset….Pierre’s Restaurant is  set on the bay side of the island-which is where the sun sets. It is a very grand colonial building, white with bright blue shutters. I wanted my colors to “pop” against the building, so I knew that I needed to go with bold, bright happy colors, varying shades of yellows, oranges, pinks, and lavenders.
Favorite design element of your big day: Candles…I wanted the dining room to be glowing. It just gave the restaurant a warm feeling. Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I purchased dress number one immediately after I said yes…I though it was perfect…until we did the invitations. Then I decided it was lacking in something, it was a little to plain…so my mom and I rushed out and found dress number two, by Casablanca Bridal. It was ivory, satin and strapless with a sweetheart neckline. It had the tiniest amount of beading along the empire waist and an A line floor length skirt with beaded buttons down the entire back.
Describe your wedding flowers: Gerbera daisies, veronica, tulips, and spray roses…in joyous oranges, pinks and purples, The bridesmaid’s bouquets consisted of yellow, orange and pink tulips. My bouquet: renonculous, mokara orchids, tulips and yellow callas.
Describe your wedding cake: The wedding cake was a four tiered, ivory fondant with key lime cake inside.  It was decorated it with very simple flowers. We cut the cake to Jack Johnson’s Better Together.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The bright yellow bridesmaid dresses, which were the wrong color originally, but we had no time left to order different ones! They turned out to be just perfect. It’s funny how things work out.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Balancing a demanding work schedule with planning…If it weren’t for my mom…it wouldn’t have happened.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Every single moment was memorable….I can’t pick just one.
Scariest moment? American Airlines had the recall of the MD 80’s the week of our wedding. My husband has a HUGE family flying in from all over.  We really thought they would not make it and we would have to postpone the wedding. Fortunately, our prayers were answered!
Funniest moment?  Our most fun thing at the wedding was a photo booth that our photographer, KT Merry suggested. I ordered a bunch of “tacky tourist” Florida props. Things like a
rubber fish, a fake lobster, life preservers, funny hats, a blow up flamingo. It was so much fun! Everyone was cracking up! We have the craziest pictures from that. I laugh just looking at them.
The most unexpected event on our wedding day was: My colleagues completely surprised me by placing a white runner with rose petals from the front door of the house where I was getting ready to the door of my boss’s blue Bentley. I was so shocked!  I had not even thought about how I would get to he ceremony. I just assumed I would ride over with my parents.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: AMAZING, MAGICAL and PERFECT!
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding?  Don’t sweat the small stuff! It all works out in the end…even things that seem like huge problems have a way of turning into good things!
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration. My best advice that Someone told me and it was SO true the day goes by so fast…enjoy it…..cherish every moment….and really listen to the words the pastor (officiate) says. Take a few minutes to step back with your partner and look at all the people you love, all in one place, to celebrate your marriage. It is the most special day.
What’s next for you as a couple?  Staring a family, since Rick and I are both in our mid thirties, that’s a priority for us.

Congratulations to Alison + Rick!  We wish you a lifetime of joy and happiness!